The Professional Amateurs Podcast

Perception vs. Reality in Athlete Development

Zach and Alex sit down for a conversation about coaching, athlete development, and the gap between what people think they’re doing and what’s actually happening. They discuss feedback, making adjustments, learning new movement patterns, and why improving often starts with being honest about reality instead of relying on perception. The conversation also touches on communication, training, and how small changes can lead to better long-term results. A practical discussion on coaching, self-awareness, and getting better over time. Follow us on socials for updates and more content: MacStrength Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macstrengthmn MacStrength Website: https://www.macstrengthmn.com Dr. Alex Twenge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralextwenge Coach Zach Elder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachzachelder

Building a Service Business: Referrals, Margins, and Difficult Customers

Zach and Alex have a practical conversation about what they’ve learned from building service-based businesses. They discuss earning referrals through great customer service, why relationships matter more than transactions, when it’s okay to fire a difficult customer, understanding gross vs. net margins, and how to manage your time as a business owner. A straightforward episode on the realities of running a business and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Follow us on socials for updates and more content: MacStrength Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macstrengthmn MacStrength Website: https://www.macstrengthmn.com Dr. Alex Twenge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralextwenge Coach Zach Elder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachzachelder

The Enhanced Games & The Future of Performance Enhancement

Zach and Alex break down the first-ever Enhanced Games and the reactions that followed. They discuss whether performance-enhancing drugs actually delivered on the hype, why so few records were broken, and what the event says about the future of sports. The conversation moves through athlete compensation, Olympic culture, anti-aging trends, and the broader question of how far society should push human performance. A candid discussion on competition, incentives, and the tradeoffs that come with chasing an edge. Follow us on socials for updates and more content: MacStrength Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macstrengthmn MacStrength Website: https://www.macstrengthmn.com Dr. Alex Twenge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralextwenge Coach Zach Elder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachzachelder

Youth Sports Have Lost the Plot & The New Steroid Debate

Zach and Alex dive into two topics that have been getting a lot of attention lately: the state of youth sports and the growing conversation around peptides and performance-enhancing substances. They discuss year-round sports specialization, overloaded schedules, travel ball culture, and why many young athletes are competing more than ever while playing less actual baseball. Later, the conversation shifts to peptides, recovery, performance enhancement, and where the line should be drawn between helping athletes recover and giving them an unfair advantage. A candid discussion on modern sports culture, athlete development, and the unintended consequences of chasing an edge. Follow us on socials for updates and more content: MacStrength Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macstrengthmn MacStrength Website: https://www.macstrengthmn.com Dr. Alex Twenge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralextwenge Coach Zach Elder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachzachelder

When Confidence Becomes a Problem

Zach and Alex sit down for a conversation about confidence, coaching, and the balance between belief and self-awareness in athlete development. They talk about how confidence can help athletes grow but also hold them back when it turns into ego or resistance to feedback. The episode moves through stories from coaching, observations from working with athletes, and discussions on communication, development, and how people respond differently to pressure and expectations. A straightforward conversation about mindset, growth, and learning how to improve over time. Follow us on socials for updates and more content: MacStrength Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macstrengthmn MacStrength Website: https://www.macstrengthmn.com Dr. Alex Twenge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dralextwenge Coach Zach Elder Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachzachelder