This week it was an absolute pleasure to chat with Stu Locke, an elite powerlifting coach and owner of Kodiak Barbell.

Listening to Stu’s story, it’s not just about strength, but about resilience.

From serious injuries to a near-death experience, what he’s been through and how he’s responded, will change how you think about setbacks.

If you’ve ever been injured, stuck, or frustrated with progress this one will hit.

In this episode we break down:

⚠️ The injuries and life-threatening challenges Stuart has overcome
🧠 How to build the mindset to keep moving forward
⏳ Why patience and realistic timeframes are everything in recovery

👉 Join the newsletter

Follow Stu:

👉 @stu_kodiakbarbell

Follow me:

👉 @coach_cuthbert

👉 @strength_chat

Just because something has always been done a certain way, doesn’t mean it’s the best way.

This week I chatted with Sophia Nimphius, a Professor of Human Performance with 20+ years in elite sport.

Sophia challenges outdated thinking and wants to push strength & conditioning forward, not by guessing, but by asking better questions.

If you coach, train, or care about performance this episode will make you rethink a lot.

In this episode we break down:

🏋️ What strength and robustness actually mean 🧠 What robustness looks like in a real training environment 📊 Why we need to rethink how we test and measure performance

If you’ve ever followed a method just because “that’s how it’s done”, this will challenge your thinking.

👉 Join the newsletter

Follow Sophia:

👉 @docsoph

👉 https://www.docsoph.com/

Follow me:

👉 @coach_cuthbert

👉 @strength_chat

Getting older doesn’t mean slowing down. It means training smarter.

This week I was joined by Susan Niebergall, personal trainer and strength coach who lives what she teaches.

She’s proof that strength training isn’t just about aesthetics, it’s about quality of life, confidence, and longevity.

And more importantly, the results you think are “for other people”, aren’t.

In this episode we break down:

💪 Why strength training becomes more important as you age
🚫 What actually holds people back from getting started
🔥 Susan’s journey, challenges, setbacks, and wins

If you’ve ever thought “it’s too late” or “that’s not for me”, this will change your perspective.

👉 Join the newsletter

Follow Susan:

👉 @susanniebergallfitness

👉 https://susanniebergallfitness.com/

Follow me:

👉 @coach_cuthbert

👉 @strength_chat

What does it actually take to last 10+ years in professional rugby?

This week I sat down with Ross Harrison, former Sale Sharks prop with 300+ professional appearances.

After a decade playing at the top level, Ross is now transitioning into coaching while balancing family life which gave us a great chance to reflect on what really drives success both on and off the pitch.

If you’re an athlete, coach, or just someone trying to train better for the long run, there’s plenty to take from this one.

In this episode we cover:

🏉 The similarities and differences in training during and after professional rugby
🥗 Why nutrition plays such a huge role in performance and recovery
🧠 Key lessons Ross learned from 10 years at the top level

👉 Join the newsletterFollow Ross:

👉 @rossharrisonfr

Follow me:

👉 @coach_cuthbert

👉 @strength_chat

If you’re a rugby player trying to get stronger, faster, and more dominant on the pitch, this episode is for you!

This week I sat down with Joel Harries, a strength & conditioning coach whose knowledge comes from real success and real mistakes during his rugby career.

Now he’s helping players avoid the common mistakes that once held him back.

In this episode we break down:

🏉 The most common mistakes rugby players make (and how to avoid them)
📈 How to add direction and structure to your training
🥗 Why nutrition isn’t optional if you want to perform

If you’ve been training hard but not seeing it transfer to the pitch, this conversation will shift your thinking.

Join the weekly email list 👉 https://mailchi.mp/c596e11d086b/vqfx9t7rgl

Follow Joel:

👉 @joelharries.strengthsolution

👉 https://coaching.strengthsolution.co.uk/work-with-us

Follow me:

👉 @coach_cuthbert

👉 @strength_chat

This week I was joined by Stephane Cazeault, Founder of KILO Education.

If you care about programming, this episode is absolute gold.

Stephane brings serious depth when it comes to detail, structure, and delivering a high standard of service. No guesswork. No flashy trends. Just systems that hold up over time. And that’s exactly what we unpacked.

In this episode we break down:

📊 What periodisation really means (and how to apply it properly)

🔁 How to build a programming system you can repeat with confidence

⚠️ The most common mistakes coaches make, and how to avoid them

If you’ve ever felt like you’re “writing workouts” instead of building a system, this will sharpen your thinking immediately.

Join the newsletter 👉 https://mailchi.mp/c596e11d086b/vqfx9t7rgl

Follow Stephane:

👉 @stephane.cazeault

👉 @kiloeducation

👉 https://trainkilo.com/

Follow me:

👉 @coach_cuthbert

👉 @strength_chat

This week I had the opportunity to sit down with Ross Leppala, Reactive Training Systems coach and 2x Masters Powerlifting World Champion.

As lifters get stronger physically, what often holds them back isn’t their body, it’s their mind.

The good news is that, just like strength, mindset can be trained. And that’s exactly what we unpacked in this episode.

In this conversation, we break down:

🧠 Are your limits real or self-imposed?

🔥 The impact of confidence on performance

📈 Why progress requires stepping outside your comfort zone

If you’re stuck at a plateau, second guessing attempts or playing it safe in training, this one will be helpful for you.

Want more insights like this every week?👉 Join the newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/c596e11d086b/vqfx9t7rgl

Follow Ross:

👉 @ross.leppala

👉 @intentionalathlete_podcast

Follow me:

👉 @coach_cuthbert

👉 @strength_chat

This week I was joined by Kyle McKee, strength & powerlifting coach and Pre-Script Level 3 coach.

There’s no shortage of “quick fixes” in training. Tweaks. Hacks. Adjustments. Shortcuts. Promises of faster results.

But most of them don’t last.

In this conversation, Kyle and I talk about something far more powerful:

How to make success inevitable, without constantly changing your programme.

In this episode we break down:

🔥 Trying harder vs. changing your programme
🏋️ How to get more out of the training you’re already doing
📈 How to build a system where progress becomes unavoidable

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing a lot but not moving forward, this episode will challenge how you think about progress.

Join the Built By Strength Community - https://mailchi.mp/c596e11d086b/vqfx9t7rgl

Follow Kyle:

👉 @_kylemckee

Follow me:

👉 @coach_cuthbert

👉 @strength_chat