Evolving Performance

In this episode of the Evolving Performance Podcast, Kevin is joined by Eric Cressey, Director of Player Health and Performance for the New York Yankees and President and co-founder of Cressey Sports Performance. They delve into the importance of developing maximum strength for athletes and key characteristics of effective strength training methods. Eric discusses how to recognize when an athlete is strong enough and ready to pursu...

In this episode of the Evolving Performance Podcast, Kevin is joined by Mike Robertson, President of Robertson Training Systems and co-owner of Indianapolis Fitness and Sports Training (IFAST), named one of the top ten gyms in America by Men's Health. They explore the foundational principles of program design, individualizing training, and navigating the complexities of an athlete's career. Mike introduces his "7 Rs&...

In this episode of the Evolving Performance Podcast, Kevin is joined by clinical pharmacist, author, and metabolic health expert Jim LaValle to dive deep into the interconnected systems that underpin human health and performance. Jim introduces his “Five Triads” framework—an integrative approach that helps identify root causes of fatigue, poor recovery, gut dysfunction, and hormonal imbalances. They explore how stress, inflammation...

In this episode, Brijesh Patel discusses the critical role that leadership, character, and daily habits play in athlete development and long-term success, including:

• What coaches are really evaluating during recruiting and playing time decisions
• Common behavioral red flags that predict performance and developmental issues
• How to develop athletes who can handle adversity and lead themselves and others
• Practical strategies for improv...

In this episode, Andrew Hauser discusses the significant impact respiratory training can have on both performance and recovery, including:

• The science of breathing and how the relationship between carbon dioxide and oxygen can impact performance 
• Specific breathing strategies to immediately impact short-term performance
• Longer-term adaptations to respiratory training
• Programming recommendations on how different breathing methods al...

In this episode, renowned hypertrophy expert Pat Davidson does a deep dive on building muscle, including:

• The required stimulus for hypertrophy – what is required for your body to put on muscle
• Key training considerations to maximize muscular development
• How the longstanding assumption that a specific hormonal response to training was required for building muscle may be misguided
• Special considerations for athletes that want to put...

In this episode, Maria Mountain, who specializes in goalie-specific training for hockey, shares her insights on:

• What makes the goalie position unique from forwards and defensemen and the implications this has for off-ice training
• Why certain methods lead to goalies “over pushing” and getting out of position, and specific strategies to fix the issue
• The role of strength training for goalies, and important information for goalies w...

In this episode, Vicki Bendus shares incredible insights into speed training for hockey, including:

• Key findings from her research on identifying the most impactful physical factors and related off-ice tests for on-ice speed
• Speed profiling strategies to identify where a player ranks relative to their peers and what qualities they need to improve to maximize their speed
• Specific training strategies players can use to improve their...

Welcome to episode 0 of the Evolving Performance Podcast!

As a quick introduction, my name is Kevin Neeld, and I’m currently the Director of Performance for the Boston Bruins. Prior to working in pro hockey, I spent time with USA Hockey’s women’s national team, and as a director at a private sports training facility working with athletes across a wide range of levels and sports. In 2020, I got my PhD in Human and Sport Per...