#367 Matt Wenning - Biomechanics, Strength, and Mental Toughness

#367 Matt Wenning - Biomechanics, Strength, and Mental Toughness

Author: Andrew Coates May 27, 2025 Duration: 53:50

Matt Wenning is a rare combination of high level education (Masters Degree in Biomechanics) and high level competition success (3x World Champion powerlifter and multiple record holder). Matt joins me to share his thoughts on:

-Biomechanics, specifically practical and tactical nuance, and underrated ideas he feels aren’t utilized often enough

-Why he feels variety is important but how to apply variety

-Why experienced lifters may benefit from thoughtful variety in their programming and why newer lifters benefit more from more time focusing on consistent skills

-How to train for power and explosiveness

-How to get strong

-How to develop grit and mental toughness

-And much more


02:35 The Importance of Gym Environment

06:22 Biomechanics and Training Variety

13:12 Strength Training and Injury Prevention

23:15 Plyometrics and Practical Applications

28:44 Concerns About Long-Term Athletic Performance

29:02 The Reality of Genetic Gifts in Fitness

29:32 The Importance of Patience in Strength Training

30:09 Practical Tips for Everyday Strength

30:33 Stress Management for Firefighters

31:12 The Role of Recovery in Strength Training

32:29 Understanding Muscle and Strength Development

38:25 The Importance of Exercise Variation

41:40 Mental Toughness and Physical Limits

47:21 Developing Grit and Consistency

I’ve been putting a lot of time and effort into making these new episodes valuable for you. You can help me get these great guests and their knowledge in front of more people by:

-Subscribing and checking out more episodes

-Sharing on your social media (please tag me - I promise I’ll respond)

-Sharing with the friend you think of who needs this episode


Follow Andrew Coates:Instagram:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@andrewcoatesfitness⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join My Email List:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.andrewcoatesfitness.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get the RP App at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.rpstrength.com/coates⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - use the code COATESRP

Use Code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS to save 10% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://justbitememeals.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Use Code ANDREW for extended free trial of MacrosFirst Premium ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.macrosfirst.com/


Andrew Coates hosts Lift Free And Diet Hard, a conversation grounded in the belief that strength and wellness are built on more than just routines. This podcast moves beyond quick fixes to examine the principles and personal stories that shape a sustainable, intentional life. You’ll hear from a variety of inspiring guests who share not only their expertise but also the real-world challenges and triumphs they’ve faced. The discussions naturally weave together the science of fitness with the practicalities of daily choices, offering a nuanced look at what it means to truly care for your physical and mental health. Each episode is designed to provide actionable insights you can use to navigate your own path, fostering resilience and confidence whether you're in the gym or the kitchen. By focusing on informed decision-making over dogma, the Lift Free And Diet Hard podcast becomes a resource for anyone looking to cut through the noise of wellness culture. Andrew facilitates these explorations with a focus on empowerment, ensuring every conversation adds a layer of understanding to the complex journey of building a strong, healthy life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates
Podcast Episodes
#423 Melody Schoenfeld - Vegan Myth Busting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:38
Melody Schoenfeld is an author, gym owner, nutrition coach, and holds a Master's in Health Psychology. She brings deep expertise, a sharp nonsense detector, and evidence-based nuance to one of the most polarizing topics…
#422 Dr. Allan Bacon - Breaking Fat Loss Plateaus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:44
Dr. Allan Bacon returns to break down one of the trickiest parts of health and fitness: fat loss plateaus.Allan blends evidence, coaching experience, and no-nonsense communication to clarify why plateaus happen, why most…
#421 Alex Allen - You’ll Never Hate Yourself Into a Body You Love [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:39
Alex Allen is one of the most skilled coaches in the industry at communicating nuance around training, lifestyle, and nutrition. She brings deep compassion and lived experience to the conversation - including weight gain…
#420 Chris Duffin - Resilience Engineered [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:30
Chris Duffin is an iconic strength athlete, entrepreneur, inventor, author, and educator known for engineering both world-class feats of strength and world-class systems of mindset.In this episode, Chris opens up about h…
#418 Jaime Filer - Is Anxiety Interfering With Your Progress? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:54
Jaime Filer is the founder of Filer Fitness and a respected speaker and educator in the fitness industry.In this episode, Jaime brings a mix of humor, vulnerability, and hard-earned wisdom to help unpack the very real wa…
#415 Kris Gethin - How To Transform Your Body, Mind, and Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:33
Kris Gethin is one of the most recognizable figures in the global fitness industry, known for his role as the longtime Editor-in-Chief of Bodybuilding.com, his transformation programs, and his relentless commitment to ph…