Episodes

Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
ASAP Podcast with University of Kentucky Head Athletic Trainer Chris Simmons
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
Wednesday Jan 18, 2023
This is a re-issue of my podcast with the late Chris Simmons, who has passed unexpectantly. just this week, January 2023. He was the best! Chris spent over ten years as The University of Kentucky Mens Basketball Head Athletic Trainer with Head Basketball Coach John Calipari. He will be dearly missed as a friend and ASAP associate and podcast guest. He truly loved Kentucky Basketball and he had the good fortune of working with "Coach Cal" for many a Wildcats victory. All of the Athletic Trainers from coast to coast mourn this loss of a great human being who touched the lives of many.
Chris Simmons .Head Athletic Trainer at The University of Kentucky. He joins ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power~ Podcaster Ed Cicale for ASAP's 100th Podcast. Simmons' responsibility is the Kentucky Wildcat Basketball team. The winningest program in all of college basketball. Presently, his main focus is helping to make sure the recent arrivals, the incoming freshman class.... get oriented to their new collegiate experience.
The topics discussed in this podcast are:
- 2011 Freshman Class Arrival
- Coach Calipari
- Educational Background to becoming Head Athletic Trainer
- Inspiration in Mississippi
- Keeping Players fresh for Tournaments
- Tendinitis
- Ankle Sprains: his secrets to returning the Wildcats back to action quickly
This podcast is sponsored by The Bill Jacobs Power Company, and by The CBD HealthCare Company

Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Thursday Jun 09, 2022
Columbus, Ohio
There's a countdown clock in the Ohio State Buckeyes' massive strength training complex. A constant reminder to everyone involved with this program of when the BIG game kicks off. If you're a player, it's in one's subconscious. Time is ticking away..... will you be ready? Have you applied enough effort into the workout sessions? How's your bodyweight? Is it where it needs to be? The Mettler~Toledo® scale is right across from the countdown clock that every player steps onto for their daily weigh-in as a strength coach takes notice and records the data on a master sheet. The scale is right between Coach Mick's office and the assistant strength coaches' office. There's no question that it's a big deal. Mickey Marotti, the Director of Football Sports Performance for the Buckeyes knows what each player is expected to weigh. At the basic level, he and his very knowledgeable staff, are responsible for making sure the players are packing on muscle and report to fall camp at their prescribed weight. The added muscle combined with being in great football condition along with daily improvement of their speed, agility and balance is critical and paramount to superior results in the coming fall season. Superior results in this program means WINNING.
The foam rollers were out in the Buckeyes' indoor facility as the players filed in for this morning training session and grabbed one. The strength staff; Marotti, Kenny Parker, Niko Palazeti, Quinn Barham and Zach Higgins are set for the first of three groups this morning. There's no question as to the tradition here. Championship, as in National Championship, banners adorn the walls of this indoor facility. The players know the expectations here. Win. And, win championships. Yet, down on the west wall of the 130 yard facility are the words 'TOUGH LOVE'. And, after observing Marotti-led programs for over thirty years, this slogan is the epitome of the strength and conditioning program here.
Coach Quinn Barham pictured here instructing Buckeye participants at the 2022 OSU ProDay
The tough love is doled out mostly by the strength and conditioning staff. They spend more hours with the squad than anyone else, including head coach Ryan Day! So, for today's Athletic Strength and Power Podcast, we reached out to the team's assistant director of strength and conditioning, Quinn Barham. Like the players on this football squad, he knows the expectations of being at Ohio State, as well. The banners and the expectations at Ohio State drive the competiviveness of the strength coaching staff. Barham is beginning his seventh year as a coach for the Buckeyes and like the other members of Marotti's staff, Quinn definitely possesses all of the necessary qualifications of a head strength and conditioning coach at the NCAA Division 1 level as well as professional football, too. Though, working with the Buckeyes and fellow coaches, Parker, Palazeti and Higgins is very rewarding as they're all highly motivated and working in a positive climate.
The countdown clock is visible from Coach Barham's office desk and for him, every minute of every day counts.... there's no time to waste. He know what's expected.
And like the guy whose name is on the building, Woody Hayes, stated, "You Win with People".
The Buckeyes are in good hands!
Today's podcast discussions points are:
- training for speed
- tall lean falls
- three bucket pose
- barbell and split squats
- hip mobility
- improving team speed
- leadership and competitiveness
This ASAP Podcast is sponsored by:

Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
ASAP PAC-12 Feature: Arizona State Football Strength Coach Joe Connolly Podcast
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
Tuesday Nov 16, 2021
- his carrer path that led him to working with Herm Edwards at ASU
- Developmental Fridays"
- the extensive in-season training program
- what Sun Devil legend Pat Tillman means to ASU and all of Arizona
This ASAP Podcast is brought to you in part by:

Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
ASAP Podcast with Tennessee State Football Head Strength Coach Scott Holsopple
Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
Tuesday Sep 07, 2021
This ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power Podcast with Head Strength & Conditioning Coach Scott Holsopple was recorded on loaction in Nashville, Tennessee at one of America's Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Tennessee State University.
Coach Holsopple, the Director of Sports Performance, is a twenty-two year veteran in the collegiate strength and conditioning profession and is excited to work along side the likes of former NFL head coaches Jeff Fisher and Hue Jackson as well as new TSU Tighers' Head Football Coach, former Tennessee Titans and Ohio State Football star Eddie George. college football's 1995 Heisman Trophy recipient.
This podcast is sponsored by TEAMBUILDR, the online strength & conditioning software, and by ON Milk/ One Source the only portable high protein milk supplement made From 2% milk that does not require refrigeration
https://1sourcenutrition.com/
https://www.teambuildr.com

Wednesday Jun 16, 2021
ASAP at Cincinnati Bearcats Football: Strength Staff Podcast
Wednesday Jun 16, 2021
Wednesday Jun 16, 2021
ASAP Podcaster Ed Cicale ventured to The University of Cincinnati Bearcats, post-pandemic, to check in on what last years' media darling college football team is up to and how they are preparing to make another move toward becoming a top ten program.
This podcast is a group interview with the strength staff assembled by Bearcats' Director of Football Sports Performance Brady Collins. He's put together an "amped up and juiced" staff comprised of:
Coach Jeremiah Ortiz
Coach Zach Higgins
Coach Danny Folino
Coach Jimmy Rodenberg
The podcast was recorded at the Cincinnati Bearcats strength staff office where each coach was able to explain and detail many of the parts of the Bearcat strength and conditioning program.

Monday Jun 07, 2021
Monday Jun 07, 2021
Robert Rolf M.D. is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and a graduate of La Salle High School. He attended the University of Notre Dame where he received a BS in Chemical Engineering. This served as the foundation for furthering his studies into medicine and eventually, a specialty in the shoulder following his advanced research conducted at The Boston Shoulder Institute at Harvard under the guidance and fellowships with world reknowned shoulder surgeons. Nowadays, Dr.Rolf is the Co-Director of the Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine sports medicine fellowship program. He's also a guest for our ASAP Podcast on the shoulder joint and rotator cuff.

Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Rocky Boiman NFL, ESPN & WLW Radio ASAP Podcast with Ed Cicale
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Tuesday Mar 23, 2021
Former NFL star and Super Bowl winner, Rocky Boiman joins ASAP Podcaster Ed Cicale at the 700 #WLW Radio studio. We talk everything NFL, draft day, Notre Dame, Tennesse Titans
https://www.athleticstrengthandpower.com/
https://www.teambuildr.com/en/
https://blackironstrength.com/
http://loadthebar.com/
https://www.specathletic.com/
https://700wlw.iheart.com/featured/eddie-rocky/

Saturday Oct 17, 2020
ASAP Podcast with Anthony Schlegel The DIFFERENCE USA & Strength Coach
Saturday Oct 17, 2020
Saturday Oct 17, 2020
We've featured Coach Anthony Schlegel on our site in the past. His colorful and demonstrative personality is pure linebacker.
Nowadays, Anthony spends the majority of his time running his business, THE DIFFERENCE USA out of his workshop in Columbus, Ohio. It’s basically just a short drive from Ohio Stadium where he once roamed the field seeking a chance to attack and dominate!
ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power stopped by the shop to talk shop with Schlegel to catch a podcast. I wasn’t too early -- he rises everyday around 4:00 a.m. to conduct a Columbus based morning “drive time” radio show with former Buckeye & NFL baller Bobby Carpenter and co-host Brandon Beam that’s guaranteed to get listeners “juiced” up. The show is appropriately called “The Morning Juice”.
In our ASAP Podcast, we discuss:
- The ‘Morning Juice’ Radio Show
- THE DIFFERENCE USA
- Hand striking purpose and goals
- Strength training workouts
- Anthony’s skills of dog hunts & wrestling wild boars in Texas
THE ASAP PODCAST with Anthony Schlegel:

Friday Sep 25, 2020
ASAP Podcast with Cincinnati Bearcats Head Strength Coach Brady Collins
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Friday Sep 25, 2020
Coach Brady Collins.
He's the guy that Coach Fickell has entrusted to lead his Bearcats as the Director of Football Sports Performance. Once Fickell had landed from the short flight south of Columbus, Ohio, he summoned Collins for the task. Coach Collins has been well schooled for the assignment, as he spent a the entry level years at the University of Kentucky Wildcats with Ray "ROCK" Oliver and Ted Lambrinides. From there, he made his way south and deeper into SEC Football at Mississippi State at first with Matt Balis and then under Rick Court. Then it was on to Columbus and the Ohio State Buckeyes where he worked under Master Strength Coach Mickey Marotti. What a ton of great athletes and coaches whom Brady Collins has been around! Now, Brady Collins and his great young staff of Zach Higgins, Danny Folino, Jeremiah Ortiz and Dustin Tripp are preparing this 2020 COVID19-tested, #13 ranked @GoBearcatsFB for another journey at The University of Cincinnati! Good Luck Brady!
This ASAP PODCAST is sponsored by SPECATHLETIC: The Flooring Professionals
Podcast discussion points:
- In_Season Football Strength Training
- How things are getting "juiced up" in Cincinnati
- Some training ideas and tips from the trenches

Friday Sep 18, 2020
Friday Sep 18, 2020
- Hip and leg issues, and problems stemming from:
landing mechanics
recurrent hamstring tears
achilles tendonitis
weak core & flexibility issues related to lowered athletic performance & further injury - The Shoulder and labrum tears
Dr Burger was a former Notre Dame Fighting Irish football player who worked himself into the starting line-up on a team that had Joe Montana as their starting quarterback. The hard work that Burger embraced, earned him an opportunity for a National Championship with that squad! Years later, Dr. Burger's son Bobby also made the Notre Dame team, he was a tight end/fullback. Another son, Chris starred at Xavier University in Cincinnati as a Captain of the Musketeer golf team and brother John played there for Xavier Golf, as well. Meanwhile, another son, Joe Burger, starred and was a team captain at Ohio State Football, himself playing for a National Championship in 2014. Later, OSU scholar athlete was elected Captain for the 2016 Buckeyes.
"the important thing is not just the success that you did or didn't do, but it's what you've learned through the process" Dr. Robt Burger Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Burger is the Head Team Physician and Medical Director for Xavier University Athletics, Orthopaedic Consultant for the Cincinnati Reds, and head Orthopaedic Team Physician for the College of Mount St. Joseph Athletics. Additionally, he is Head Team Physician for the Cincinnati Steam and his alma mater, Cincinnati LaSalle High School.
ASAP PODCAST sponsored by"
Black Iron Strength andThe Bill Jacobs Power Company
The Bill Jacobs Power Company
513-277-1938
www.CoachBillJacobs.com
Bands-Bumpers-TRX-MedBalls-Benches-Ropes-Virus/Bacteria Disinfectant
Recent studies have shown that copper alloy surfaces kill E coli O157:H7. More than 99.9% of E. coli microbes are killed after just 1–2 hours on copper. On stainless steel surfaces, the microbes can survive for weeks. ... Copper's antibacterial effect was found to be intrinsic in all of the copper alloys tested.

Friday Jul 31, 2020
ASAP BASEBALL PODCAST with MLB Pitcher Bronson Arroyo
Friday Jul 31, 2020
Friday Jul 31, 2020
ASAP Podcaster Ed Cicale caught up with former MLB star pitcher Bronson Arroyo. The 6'5 finesse thrower spent the bulk of his career with the Cincinnati Reds. However, prior to that time the strength training enthusiast spent time with the Boston Red Sox where he had the opportunity to pitch in a World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
During an eight year stint with Cincinnati, Arroyo never missed a start in manager Dusty Baker's pitching rotations. He followed an extensive training plan in Cincinnati with then @REDS Strength & Conditioning Coach Matt Krause, where the two devised a meticulous program that accounted for strength training and conditioning, elbow and rotator cuff specialization, recovery and sports nutrition.
This ASAP Podcast is sponsored by:
The Bill Jacobs Power Company
513-277-1938
www.CoachBillJacobs.com
Bands-Bumpers-TRX-MedBalls-Benches-Ropes-Virus/Bacteria Disinfectant

Sunday May 17, 2020
ASAP Podcast with TEAMBUILDR Founder Hewitt Tomlin
Sunday May 17, 2020
Sunday May 17, 2020
TEAMBUILDR, one of our longtime ASAP sponsors, has continued to make some great strides in the strength training and conditioning business, even during a COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, their industry leading online strength & conditioning software has become even more of a game changer for strength coaches everywhere. While the Tennessee Vols, West Virginia Mountaineers and the Golden State Warriors strength and conditioning programs have been major players who have reaped the rewards of using TEAMBUILDR, many other high schools, college programs and professional teams are now under the TEAMBUILDR umbrella. And as a matter of fact, the most fiscally successful and most prominent collegiate athletic program in all of sports, the Ohio State University Buckeyes, have signed on with Hewitt Tomlin's TEAMBUILDR, as Coach Mickey Marotti is delving into the software.
In the ASAP Podcast, our initial attempt at a ZOOM recording, TEAMBUILDR founder Hewitt Tomlin explains the many advantages of using this powerful coaching tool, which is becoming even more beneficial during a shutdown that has left a strength coaching fraternity scrambling for ways to train their athletes from a distance.

Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
ASAP Podcast with Dusty Baker, All-Star MLB Player & Manager
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
Wednesday Jan 29, 2020
Think you've seen and know a little bit about baseball? Imagine being involved with nearly 6,000 games! That's how much involvement in the game of baseball that today's ASAP Podcast guest Dusty Baker has had. Baker knows the history of the game from his days as a kid...with his own heroes. History of the game as a star player. History of the game with today's brand of game and players, too. And he has the stories to go with the experience. For example, in this podcast, Dusty talks about some of the "strength training" that he and the great and legendary Hank Aaron did. He also tells about the evolution of strength training in baseball and how different it was.
And how about these stats?
- NLCS MVP
- World Series Champ
- Two time All Star
- Gold Glove Award
- Silver Slugger
- Four Times Manager of the Year
Today's ASAP Podcast is made possible through the generous sponsorship of
TEAMBUILDR Online Strength & Conditioning Software

Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
ASAP Podcast with Retired Cincinnati Bengal Strength Coach Kim Wood
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Tuesday Jan 14, 2020
Coach Kim Wood spent thirty years as a coach with the Cincinnati Bengals. He was hired by the venerable founder and first coach of the @Bengals Paul Brown. Keep in mind that this was during the Bengals' hey day, as the team appeared in two Super Bowls, one of which San Francisco 49er stars Joe Montana and Jerry Rice led hall of fame type performances in the final minutes to take the win out of the grasp of the Cincinnati Bengals, quarterback Boomer Esiason and their head coach Sam Wyche.
In this podcast, Kim Wood reminisces about the former coach who recently succumbed to complications with melanoma.
We also discuss:
- the 2020 NCAA College Football National Championship match-up
- The NFL Play-offs
- the late Bengal head coach Sam Wyche
- the upcoming 2020 Michigan State Strength & Conditioning Clinic
- His son, John Wood will be a speaker/presenter at the Michigan State Strength Clinic, his Oldtime Strongman website and Functional Hand Strength
This ASAP Podcast episode made possible due to the generous support from
SPECATHLETIC:
The Sports Flooring Professionals
with the industry best Regupol floors.
Kevin Cassidy
Regional Manager SPECAthletic.com
614-736-1533
email: kevin@specathletic.com

Sunday Nov 03, 2019
Sunday Nov 03, 2019
Following the game, Buckeye Head Coach Ryan Day presented the Buckeyes' head strength and conditioning Coach Mickey Marotti with the game ball stating that "he's the guy this whole thing is built upon. He's the backbone.... the blood that runs through this whole program. And to say that we're tough, it's beacause of him and his strength staff and all the work that they put in with these (Buckeyes)".
>
Coach Mick Marotti (right) with Parris Campbell watching SBJ at a recent PRO-DAY
The Michigan State Spartans, ranked #25 came into Ohio Stadium with one thought in mind. Knock off the #4 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. MSU Coach Mark Dantonio knows how it can be done. He and his MSU squad had done it before and certainly believed it could be done again. And, with only a three point deficit after the first quarter, Michigan State, with their much vaunted and respected defense, had to feel that they could keep things tight. Then, Ohio State stumbled on capitalizing on turnovers. Third down conversions didn't gel. Michigan State played their patented tough-as-nails Spartan "D". However, the Spartan offense struggled to get a foothold against a Buckeye defense that is extremely stingy in their own right. In fact, OSU defensive line coach Larry Johnson has been cranking out a ton of talent lately. Past stars Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa Sam Hubbard, and now Chase Young are all members or former members of Johnson's "rushmen" crew. If you can't find ways to score on these guys, it's just a matter of time before the Ohio State offense, loaded with speed and size that can strike at almost anytime, will put up enough points to win the contest.
Following the game, Buckeye Head Coach Ryan Day presented the Buckeyes' head strength and conditioning Coach Mickey Marotti with the game ball stating that "he's the guy this whole thing is built upon. He's the backbone.... the blood that runs through this whole program. And to say that we're tough, it's beacause of him and his strength staff and all the work that they put in with these (Buckeyes)

Friday Oct 18, 2019
Friday Oct 18, 2019
This ASAP Podcast is sponsored by Pitshark Strength Training Equipment. @Pitshark
Today's ASAP Podcast was recorded at the Brenda Lawson Training Center on the campus of The University of Tennessee with the Director of Olympic Sports Performance, strength and conditioning expert Coach Dan Wirth.
Coach Wirth discusses the eye popping training center utilized by the Olympic sport team at Tennessee Vols. He also details all of the sports science technology applications being used at Tennessee. For example, the TEAMBUILDR Online Strength and Conditioning Software, and the TRX MAPS powered by PHYSMOTO

Tuesday Sep 03, 2019
ASAP Podcast with Duke Football Asst Sports Performance Coach Drew McDuffie
Tuesday Sep 03, 2019
Tuesday Sep 03, 2019
ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power rolled back into Durham, North Carolina to check in with the Duke University Football program strength and conditioning program and Head Strength Coach Noel Durfey. While we were there for this trip, we cornered the guy who works with the Duke quarterbacks..... Assistant Sports Performance for Football Coach Drew McDuffie. We have to think that he's been doing a great job there, he started perfecting his craft while working with the Clemson Tigers and after working tirelessly with the 6th pick overall in the 2019 NFL Draft Daniel Jones we definitely took notice.
So, check out this ASAP PODCAST with Coach Drew McDuffie (photo right). Today's podcast is brought to you by SPECATHLETIC The sports flooring with the highly acclaimed ®Regupol technology.

Tuesday May 28, 2019
ASAP Podcast with Kim Wood Cincinnati Bengals Retired Strength coach
Tuesday May 28, 2019
Tuesday May 28, 2019
ASAP PODCASTER Ed Cicale traveled up the Clifton incline toward The University of Cincinnati, where just down the road, lives retired strength coach Kim Wood. He spent over thirty years with the Cincinnati Bengals and hung around with the legendary NFL coaching great, Paul Brown.
Coach Wood is still a huge fan of the game and has a great grasp on what's going on in the NFL. In addition, he continues to spread the strength training gospel at his annual strength gathering held in Cincinnati, ohio every summer! And again tghis summer on July 20 & 21 it will be held at The Micro~Mini Cinema Theater in Cincinnati's Over the Rhine section.
Admission is free to members of the Iron League www.ironleague.com
Though he's not in the Cincinnati Bengal weightroom anymore, retired Cincinnati Bengal Coach Kim Wood still has iron in the fire. He still lives strength training. He still has one of the finest home gyms that you'll ever see, still has strength training apparatus in every room of his home and deck, and still has tons of books, magazines and documents throughout his home pertaining to strength development. And, he's still putting on strength training clinics. In fact he has another one coming up on July 20& 21st 2019.
In this podcast, Athletic Strength And Power catches up with the legendary coach..... and his four Shih Tsu dogs.... and gets all the pertinent information on the upcoming clinic.

Tuesday Apr 09, 2019
ASAP Podcast with Dr Ken Leistner (February 2009)
Tuesday Apr 09, 2019
Tuesday Apr 09, 2019
ASAP~Athletic Strength And Power recently check out the strength and conditioning clinic at Michigan State. In fact, that's where we caught up with Dr. Ken Leistner. Leistner has written about training in publications like "Physical Development", "H.I.T. Newsletter", "HardTraining", "Powerlifting~USA" and his own, "The Steel Tip Newsletter". He's also an entertaining speaker at strength and conditioning clinics.
All Rights Reserved
Copyright 2009 Athletic Strength And Power www.athleticstrengthandpower.com
blogpost and podcast by Ed Cicale
Lead in Music: "Somebody" Glenn Frey/ Joe Walsh, Eagles; The Long Road Out of Eden