PODCAST · health
LTB Podcast
by Claire Winter
The Lift the Bar Podcast is a place where personal trainers can gain education, insight and knowledge from other personal trainers. It's aim is to provide personal trainers with the know-how and inspiration to build the kind of career they want to build.Every week the show will feature interviews with fantastic guests who are at the top of their game in different areas specific to helping personal trainers.
Episodes
-
#476 Curiosity, Context and Change
In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore how curiosity can help us move beyond self-blame and judgement. Together, they discuss the attribution trap, the impact of systemic barriers on behaviour and change, and why asking better questions can create more compassion, understanding and meaningful...
-
#475 Running A Workshop
What does it take to run a workshop that people actually remember and act on? In this episode, Claire speaks with Maggie about the art of facilitation and why a great facilitator is often "the glue that holds everything together." They explore how to create safe, engaging learning environments,...
-
#474 The Coaching Trap: When Helping Gets in the Way
In this episode, Maggie and Claire explore why personal trainers and coaches often fall into the role of problem-solver and how that instinct can sometimes get in the way of lasting behaviour change. They unpack the difference between "fixing" and coaching, discussing how curiosity, autonomy, and...
-
#473 The Motherhood Penalty: Why "Just Get Back to Moving" Isn't Enough
Everyone talks about getting mums moving again postpartum, but what happens once they're back at work? In this episode, Maggie sits down with PT and mum-of-two Elle Brown to unpack the Motherhood Penalty and how it plays out in fitness spaces. They dig into the structural failings behind "busy…
more -
#472 The Coaching Experience: What Clients Really Remember
This episode explores how stepping into unfamiliar fitness environments can be one of the most valuable learning experiences for coaches. Claire and Maggie reflect on the difference between feeling welcomed and supported versus judged and overlooked, and what those experiences reveal about great...
-
#471 What Does Evidence-Based Really Mean
What does it really mean when something is described as "evidence-based"? In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore how to evaluate research and separate credible evidence from misleading claims. From peer review and study design to conflicts of interest, sample size, and the hierarchy of...
-
#470 You Are Not Your Ideal Client
Are you marketing your personal training business to people like you... or to the people you actually want to serve? In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore a common mistake many trainers make: assuming their clients think, act, and make decisions the same way they do. They discuss how this...
-
#469 Taking Fitness Outside: The Realities of Outdoor Personal Training
What does it take to train clients outside the gym? In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore the realities of outdoor personal training, from navigating unpredictable weather and park distractions to creating engaging workouts with minimal equipment. Maggie shares how she built a successful...
-
#468 Decoding The New Physical Activity Guidelines
In this episode, Maggie and Claire discuss the latest UK public health guidance on physical activity and what it means for coaches, trainers, and everyday people. They explore the shift away from rigid exercise targets toward a more inclusive message: any movement is better than none. Together,...
-
#467 The GLP1 Conversation
GLP-1s are transforming the weight loss landscape, and personal trainers need to understand what that means for their clients. In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore how medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy work, their impact on appetite, muscle and bone health, and the importance of...
-
#466 Why Kettlebells Aren't Going Anywhere
In this episode, Claire and Maggie dive into the world of kettlebell training, exploring their versatility, unique benefits, and why they've stood the test of time in the fitness industry. From common concerns like wrist pain and swing technique to favourite exercises such as the snatch, clean…
more -
#465 AI, Expertise and the Human Touch
AI is everywhere but is it helping or hindering coaches and fitness professionals? In this episode, Claire and Maggie share their honest experiences using AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT in their businesses and everyday work. They discuss how AI can be a powerful tool for brainstorming ideas,...
-
#464 The Truth About Niches in Personal Training
Do personal trainers really need a niche and if so, what does that actually mean? In this episode, Claire and Maggie challenge the traditional approach to niche marketing and explore why focusing on demographics may be less effective than understanding the people you genuinely enjoy helping. They...
-
#463 Training Clients With Chronic Pain Or Fatigue
What does it really take to support clients living with chronic pain and fatigue? In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore the complex, biopsychosocial nature of chronic pain and discuss why exercise is only one piece of the puzzle. They unpack the differences between chronic pain, chronic...
-
#462 Keeping Programming Simple
How much programming is too much programming? In this episode, Claire and Maggie unpack their evolving approaches to personal training programming, from overcomplicated plans and periodisation spreadsheets to flexible, client-centred frameworks that actually work in the real world. They explore…
more -
#461 Understanding Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating
In this episode, Claire and Maggie discuss eating disorders and disordered eating, including the often-overlooked intersection between the fitness industry and eating disorders. Maggie shares insights from her new course for personal trainers, breaking down the spectrum from diagnosable…
more -
#460 Ben Jones: Less Clients, More Impact A Trainer's Reset Story
In this episode, Claire sits down with Ben Jones, a personal trainer with 17 years of experience, to explore his journey from gym owner to running a thriving one-to-one coaching business from a small training space in Hertfordshire. Ben shares why he stepped away from the pressures of managing a...
-
#459 Training Clients With ADHD
In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore how personal trainers can better support clients with undiagnosed ADHD and other neurodivergent traits. They unpack the barriers to formal diagnosis and explain why many clients may never use clinical labels, even when they relate to the symptoms. The...
-
#458 Comparison Is The Thief Of Everything
In this episode of LTB Podcast, Claire and Maggie unpack how constant comparison within the fitness industry fuels imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and indecision. They explore how trainers absorb unrealistic "shoulds" from peers and marketing, leading to overthinking and a loss of confidence....
-
#457 Trauma-Informed Coaching
In this episode Claire and Maggie explore what it really means to take a trauma‑informed approach to coaching in fitness spaces. They unpack how assuming every client may carry some form of past trauma shifts the focus from "fixing" individuals to creating environments that feel safe, supportive,...
-
#456 Setting Up A CIC
In this episode, Claire sits down with Maggie to unpack the realities of setting up and running a Community Interest Company (CIC) as a personal trainer. Maggie shares what a CIC actually is, why she chose this route, and how it's allowed her to deliver meaningful, community‑focused work…
more -
#455 From Couch To Confidence: Training Runners
Claire and Maggie explore how personal trainers can coach runners more effectively, whether they're complete beginners or chasing a new PB. You'll hear practical frameworks for building a runner from the ground up (progressions, run–walk intervals, technique cues, and effort-based pacing), plus…
more -
#454 When business meets joy - Inside 'The Yoga Lady's' kids' holiday clubs
Hayley Simpson, known locally as the Yoga Lady, has built something genuinely special in Prestwich, North Manchester. Her Ofsted-registered kids holiday clubs bring together movement, play, and a whole lot of joy, and in this episode she pulls back the curtain on exactly how she did it. Maggie…
more -
#453 Cycle Syncing: Hype, evidence and what good coaching should look like
Does cycle syncing actually improve training outcomes or is it being oversold? In this episode, Claire and Maggie dig into the science and real‑world realities of menstrual cycles and training. They explore what the research really says (including why many cycle‑based programming claims don't…
more -
#452 Claire and Maggie: The Problem Of Perfect: A Look At Perfectionism and Training
The Problem of Perfect explores why striving to "do it all right" in fitness coaching can sometimes do more harm than good. Claire and Maggie unpack the difference between healthy conscientiousness and unhelpful perfectionism, looking at how rigid rules, all‑or‑nothing thinking, and…
more -
#451 Weight Neutral Coaching: Coaching Beyond Weight Loss
In this episode, Claire speaks with Maggie about what weight‑neutral coaching really looks like in practice. They explore how moving away from weight‑centric fitness shifts the focus toward function, joy, and client autonomy, and why this approach can create safer, more inclusive coaching...
-
#450 Anti-Glycolytic training- all the effort, none of the burn
Claire and Maggie explore anti‑glycolytic training, a high‑intensity, high‑rest approach rooted in Soviet sport science, and why avoiding the burn can lead to better endurance, recovery, and long‑term results. Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/ Instagram:...
-
#449 Caroline Farrow: Better Together: The PT and Physio Relationship
In this episode, Maggie sits down with Caroline, physiotherapist and founder of Rebalance Physiotherapy, a mobile and care home practice serving South Manchester, Cheshire, and Derbyshire. Caroline works with some of the most complex client presentations in the field, incl neurological…
more -
#448 Claire and Maggie: Belonging In Practice
In this episode, Maggie and Claire explore what belonging really looks like in personal training. They discuss how trainers can create connection through listening, language, and intentional culture‑setting, without forcing community or relying on surface‑level friendliness. Drawing on real...
-
#447 Megan Kelly: Strength Without Ego
What does it take to lift over 23,834kg in a single hour? We're joined by world-record holder and personal trainer Megan Kelly to discuss the mental and physical grit required to achieve a Guiness World Record. But this isn't just a talk about stats; it's a deep dive into the heart of coaching....
-
#446 Steffie Murray: What It Takes To Be The Strongest Woman
In this episode, Claire chats with Steffie Murray to explore her journey as a competitive strongwoman, from discovering the sport to becoming Scotland's Strongest Woman, Britain's Strongest Woman, and finishing second in the world. Steffie shares what drew her to strongman competition, the…
more -
#445 Mara Moon, Helen Butler, and Eleanor Palmer: What Clients Wish Trainers Knew
What is it actually like to be on the receiving end of our coaching? To find out, we've flipped the script. In this episode, Maggie sits down with three of her own clients, Mara, Helen, and Eleanor, to get the unvarnished truth from the gym floor. From the initial nerves of walking into a gym to...
-
#444 Claire and Maggie: Building A Values Lead Business
What if your personal training business was guided by your values, not just trends or tactics? In this episode, Claire and Maggie explore how clearly defined values can act as a compass for decision making, client relationships, pricing, policies, and team culture. Drawing on real examples from...
-
#443 Pete Yardley Patel: Running A Successful Business In A Commercial Gym
Claire chats with Pete Yardley Patel about his personal training career. Pete qualified 13 years ago and has built a sustainable business in a commercial gym and it is brilliant to hear about his long term success in an environment which can sometimes be seen as a short term stepping stone Find...
-
#442: Dr Dharmi Kapadia: Beyond Willpower: Racism, Stress and Health
Why do some clients struggle to achieve results despite having the 'perfect' plan? In this episode, we step outside the gym bubble to talk with Dr. Dharmi Kapadia from the University of Manchester. We dive into the systemic, social, and environmental barriers that personal training qualifications...
-
#441 Simon Graham: Coaching Everyday Athletes - Smart Training and Nutrition
· Claire chats with weight loss coach and personal trainer Simon Graham about how starting sport later in life led him to become a personal trainer and continues to shape the way he coaches people with more athletic or sports focused goals. From fuelling strategies and periodised training plans…
more -
#440 Claire and Maggie: Understanding Behaviour Change: Beyond Goals And Motivation
Maggie and Claire chat about behaviour change and relevant models to support it in clients. Exploring how individual capabilities, both physical and psychological, influence a person's ability to change, as well as the importance of identifying and addressing environmental and social…
more -
#439 Danielle Bemmer: Training Through Injuries, Empathy, Adaptation, and Creative Solutions
· Claire chats with Dani from Curious Fitness to explore the art of training clients with injuries and niggles. From integrating prehab and rehab into regular sessions to fostering trust through clear communication, they share practical strategies and personal insights from their experiences of...
-
#438: Elle Brown: Finding Your Movement Groove
Maggie chats with personal trainer and mother Elle Brown to explore what it really means to help clients "find their movement groove" in a world that often makes that far more complicated than it needs to be. Together, they dig into: The role running has played in Elle's life and how her...
-
#437 Claire and Maggie: New Year Expectations
Claire and Maggie dive into the realities of New Year fitness trends, exploring why January isn't always the best time for goal-setting and how to keep clients engaged beyond resolutions. They share practical strategies for client retention, marketing timing, and re-engagement, plus insights on...
-
#436 Tom Morgan: Jump Into Strength: Mastering Plyometrics
Claire chats with Tom Morgan about what actually counts as plyometric training, the benefits general-population clients gain when plyos are programmed well, what coaches get wrong about it, how to progress plyometrics and much more. Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website:...
-
#435 Kim Stacey: Fitness For Every Body
Maggie sits down with Kim from Body Image Fitness to explore what it truly means to train for joy rather than aesthetics. Kim shares how her weight‑neutral studio creates space for every body to move, belong, and thrive, free from the pressures of diet culture. Together, they unpack why fitness…
more -
#434 Productivity Reclaimed: From Shame To Strategy
Claire and Maggie chat about productivity including the negatives of hustle culture as well as some practical tips for being productive when action is genuinely needed. Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar
-
#433 Self Sabotage: It's Not What You Think
Claire and Maggie discussed the concept of self-sabotage, challenging its scientific validity as well as ways personal trainers can approach clients who may be exhibiting maladaptive / sabotage like behaviors. Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/ Instagram:...
-
#432 Zac Fennell: The Art Of Making People Feel Fabulous
Chris chats to Zac Fennell, owner of BA1 Hair about the importance of looking after your customers, creating a brilliant team and much more. Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar
-
#431 Beyond SMART Goals - Supporting Clients Who Just Want To Feel Better
Claire and Maggie chat about the role of goals and working with clients who don't have something that fits in a nice structure. Find Out More About LTB Membership: Website: https://liftthebar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar
-
#430 Jake and Sally Chat About Building Your Online Coaching Service
Jake talks to Sally about the world of Online Coaching and what Personal Trainers should consider having ready in the early stages of building their Online Coaching service. Find Out More About LTB: Website: https://liftthebar.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liftthebar
-
#429 Claire, Maggie and Jake: How Do We Know What We Know Is Accurate
Claire chats to Maggie and Jake about how we can be confident in our knowledge and ways to verify our beliefs, or those stated by others, so that we know how to support our clients and aren't adding to the misinformation out in the world. Find Out More About LTB: Website: https://liftthebar.com/...
-
#428 Katie Rungrojkitiyos: The Accidental PT
Katie first stepped into the gym as Maggie's PT client and now she's one of the trainers who works alongside her. In this episode, Katie shares how her relationship with fitness has evolved: from her first goals, to discovering a love for kettlebells, to unexpectedly finding herself on a whole…
more -
#427 Charlie Beestone: What PTs can Learn from Other Businesses
Charlie speaks about his experience starting out in the exercise industry before finding himself working with more corporate clients. He introduces some great ideas about how personal trainers could begin to look at other businesses to improve their own. You can access a free guide from Charlie...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS SHOW
The Lift the Bar Podcast is a place where personal trainers can gain education, insight and knowledge from other personal trainers. It's aim is to provide personal trainers with the know-how and inspiration to build the kind of career they want to build.Every week the show will feature interviews with fantastic guests who are at the top of their game in different areas specific to helping personal trainers.
HOSTED BY
Claire Winter
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does LTB Podcast have?
LTB Podcast currently has 479 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is LTB Podcast about?
The Lift the Bar Podcast is a place where personal trainers can gain education, insight and knowledge from other personal trainers. It's aim is to provide personal trainers with the know-how and inspiration to build the kind of career they want to build.Every week the show will feature interviews...
How often does LTB Podcast release new episodes?
LTB Podcast publishes regularly with 479 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to LTB Podcast?
You can listen to LTB Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts LTB Podcast?
LTB Podcast is created and hosted by Claire Winter.
URL copied to clipboard!