#459 Dean Somerset - Personal Trainer Career Masterclass

#459 Dean Somerset - Personal Trainer Career Masterclass

Author: Andrew Coates April 9, 2026 Duration: 1:28:07

Author, personal trainer, and prolific fitness industry educator Dean Somerset returns as we film live in person (watch on YouTube or Spotify).


Dean shares his experience with:


Is it reasonable to expect to live completely pain free for life

What acute factors increase injury risk

His best practices to minimize injury risk

How to communicate with clients dealing with pain

How to manage and work around pain and injury

When to refer out to allied health care professionals like physical therapists

Training with injured limbs

And more


Dean also gives a breakdown of many fitness career success thoughts including:


Why he feels starting a career now is completely different than when we started, both challenges and opportunities

Should you start in a commercial gym today

What skills to work on early

In-person and online coaching

Trying different ideas and figuring out what you enjoy

Why he’s still committed to full time in-person training

How he uses semi-private training to expand his capacity

His love for writing

How to approach writing now in a fitness career

And a goldmine of other career success ideas


Dean also shares details about:


His Complete Fit Pro Blueprint seminars with Tony Gentilcore

The NSCA Alberta Provincial Clinic in Calgary May 2nd where Dean, Andrew, Chad Landers, and others are presenting

More info: https://www.nsca.com/events/state-and-regional/alberta-provincial-clinic/

Some early details about his second book


Instagram: @dsomerset1


CHAPTERS


00:53 New Seminar Blueprint

03:20 Pain Is Common

04:22 Pain-Free Expectations

05:31 Sponsor Break – Meal Prep

06:36 Injury Risk Factors

09:09 Pain Perception Talk

21:14 When To Refer Out

22:30 Training Around Injuries

25:19 NSCA Clinic Preview

25:56 Cross Education Rehab

28:12 Modern Trainer Challenges

32:51 Influencers And The Attention Economy

41:17 In Person Vs Online Coaching

44:52 Arnold Expo Encounters

45:42 In Person Training Value

47:06 Scaling With Semi Private

50:11 Delivering Semi Private Well

53:45 Rolling Starts And Flexibility

57:10 Business Systems Mindset

01:02:53 Choosing Projects You Enjoy

01:08:49 Writing Skills And Platforms

01:16:04 Email Lists Over Algorithms

01:24:19 Events, Travel And Wrap Up


SUPPORT THE SHOW


If this episode helped you as a coach or trainer, you can support the show by:


• Subscribing and checking out more episodes

• Sharing it on social media (tag me — I’ll respond)

• Sending it to a trainer or coach building their career


FOLLOW ANDREW COATES


Instagram: @andrewcoatesfitness

https://www.andrewcoatesfitness.com


PARTNERS AND RESOURCES


RP Strength App (use code COATESRP)

https://www.rpstrength.com/coates


Just Bite Me Meals (use code ANDREWCOATESFITNESS for 10% off)

https://justbitememeals.com


MacrosFirst – FREE Premium Trial

Download MacrosFirst and during setup select: ANDREW


KNKG Bags (15% off)

https://www.knkg.com/Andrew59676


Versa Gripps

https://www.versagripps.com/andrewcoates


TRAINHEROIC – FREE 90-Day Trial

https://www.trainheroic.com/liftfree


Reply to the email you receive (or email trials@trainheroic.com

) and let them know Andrew sent you


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: 50

Lift Free And Diet Hard with Andrew Coates
Podcast Episodes
#505 Elizabeth Ward & Hillary Wright - Menopause Nutrition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:36
Elizabeth Ward and Hillary Wright are registered dietitians, authors of *The Menopause Diet Plan*, and together are known as The Menopause Dietitians.They join me to cut through the noise around menopause nutrition and e…
#504 Harley Pasternak - Diets and GLP-1 Use in Popular Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:15
What happens when evidence-based nutrition collides with celebrity culture, fad diets, GLP-1 medications, and increasingly extreme body-image trends?Harley Pasternak is an internationally renowned trainer, author, educat…
#503 Kevin Carr - How to Train for Independent Aging [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:45
Kevin Carr is co-owner of several businesses and brands, including Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning and Certified Functional Strength Coach, and author of the new book Prescribing Movement as Medicine.Kevin returns t…
#501 Stan Efferding - Nutrition for Muscle Growth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:53
Stan Efferding is an icon of bodybuilding, powerlifting, and elite evidence-based coaching.Stan returns with his unique ability to interpret cutting-edge research and combine it with decades of real-world experience coac…
#500 Dr. Layne Norton - You Will Not Outwork Me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:07
I’m honoured to celebrate episode #500 with Dr. Layne Norton as my guest.Layne is an icon of the fitness industry: a prolific educator, author, champion, world-record-holding powerlifter, and a major influence throughout…
#499 Dr. Sean Pastuch - Live More, Hurt Less [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:30
Dr. Sean Pastuch returns to share lessons from his career and his new book, Live More, Hurt Less.Sean joins me to discuss:• How he defines “Live More, Hurt Less”• What that philosophy looks like in real life• Why helping…