Performance Talk

On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with sports psychologist Dr. Haley Perlis for a powerful conversation about the mental side of athletic performance. They explore how athletes can build confidence when entering new environments, navigate setbacks and rehabilitation, distinguish useful feedback from mental “noise,” and learn to perform even when they don’t feel ready.

From embracing progress over perfection to giving your best effort with whatever you have that day, this episode offers practical insights for athletes, coaches, parents, and performance professionals looking to develop greater mental toughness and unlock their potential.

🎙️ Listen now and discover why you don’t have to feel ready to be ready.

What does it take to prepare elite Paralympic athletes to perform at the highest level?

On this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with Morgan Blatnik, strength and conditioning coach at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Morgan shares his experience working with the U.S. Men's and Women's National Goalball Teams, coaching visually impaired athletes, and adapting training without compromising intensity or performance. The conversation also explores the value of vision training, clear communication between coaches and athletes, building trust in the weight room, and the collaborative approach that helps Olympic and Paralympic athletes stay healthy and compete at their best.

Whether you're a strength coach, athletic trainer, therapist, or sports professional, this episode offers practical insights into simplifying coaching, understanding athlete feedback, and creating a performance environment where everyone works together toward one goal: helping athletes reach their full potential.

Listen now to Performance Talk with Dr. Ewell Gordon.

From breaking his arm during PT school to becoming a board-certified specialist working with elite athletes, Brent Rachall's journey is a masterclass in resilience, humility, and lifelong learning.

In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon and Brent Rachall explore what separates good clinicians from great ones, why mentorship matters, how rehabilitation is about people—not just protocols—and why true performance comes from collaboration between therapists, coaches, athletic trainers, and physicians.

Whether you're a clinician, coach, athlete, or parent, this conversation offers valuable insights into building trust, embracing growth, and helping athletes return stronger than before.

Listen now and discover why the best rehabilitation starts with understanding the person—not just the injury.

In this episode of Performance Talk, Dr. Ewell Gordon sits down with veteran trainer and gym designer John Damon for a wide-ranging conversation about what it really takes to create effective training environments and develop athletes. With decades of experience working with elite athletes, John shares his philosophy on gym design, individualized training, foundational movement, exercise selection, and the importance of knowing what you actually know.

From designing a facility around its mission to choosing the right exercises for an athlete's sport, position, body type, and goals, this conversation challenges common training assumptions and emphasizes a simple principle: good performance starts with good information.

🔑 Key Takeaways

Design the facility around the mission: A performance facility should reflect the athletes and training goals it is built to serve—not simply be a room filled with equipment.

Individualize the training: Training should account for an athlete's sport, position, physical makeup, injury history, and specific performance demands.

Master the fundamentals: Foundational movement and appropriate exercise selection matter more than chasing trendy training methods.

Use equipment with purpose: Tools like the hex bar can provide tremendous versatility when they're selected and applied appropriately.

Collaboration makes athletes better: Strength coaches, physical therapists, trainers, and other professionals can create better outcomes when they communicate and work together.

Stay curious: Great professionals avoid becoming dogmatic. Being willing to question your assumptions and update your knowledge is essential to long-term success.

Don't confuse a test with performance: A single exercise or benchmark—such as the bench press—doesn't define an athlete's overall ability or potential.

Build for the people you actually serve: From gym location and convenience to equipment and layout, successful facilities require an understanding of their clientele.

We’re bringing back a powerful conversation in this Encore Episode of Performance Talk 🎙️

Dr. Ewell Gordon reconnects with Joe Drake—fitness educator and co-founder of a training and performance company based in Boca Raton, Florida—for an in-depth discussion on how exercise science has evolved and where it’s headed. Together, they explore why building a strong foundation is critical for athletic success and share practical perspectives on developing young athletes the right way.

From long-term athlete development to smart, sustainable training principles, this episode offers timeless insights for coaches, practitioners, and performance-minded athletes alike.

🔔 Don’t miss this encore conversation packed with real-world performance wisdom.