#395 Josh Taylor - Beating Gym Anxiety, Video Games, and The Problem With “Science Based Influencers”

#395 Josh Taylor - Beating Gym Anxiety, Video Games, and The Problem With “Science Based Influencers”

Author: Andrew Coates September 2, 2025 Duration: 57:36

Josh Taylor is coach who’s media combines evidence based information with his love of gaming. 

Josh opens up about his personal experience and shares:

-His experience with gym anxiety and how he worked through it

-How the fitness helps with mental health struggles

-The challenges dealing with a large and engaged social media presence

-The evidence based benefits of gaming

-How set boundaries and enjoy personal joys without guilt

-Why he distanced himself from the “science based label”

-The problem with influencers who speak in absolutes 

-How to best apply research to real world experience

-Why “boring makes for good results but not for good content”

-And much more

00:51 Struggling with Gym Anxiety

01:43 Dealing with Personal Challenges

04:54 Impact of Home Stress on Gym Attendance

06:02 Finding Refuge in the Gym

09:46 Overcoming Gym Anxiety

11:18 Fitness and Mental Health

14:54 Navigating Social Media Pressures

20:12 Balancing Work and Downtime

22:05 Guilty Pleasures and Relaxation

29:01 Critique of Modern TV Shows and Movies

30:21 The Witcher: A Deep Dive

33:58 Gaming: Benefits and Misconceptions

40:48 The Science-Based Lifting Debate

54:35 The DiCaprio Method and Rep Ranges

56:43 Final Thoughts and Resources

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 MacrosFirst for tracking nutrition ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.macrosfirst.com/⁠⁠

Go to www.knkg.com/Andrew59676 for 15% off your KNKG bag.



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…