From Pool to Peaks: How to Adapt Strength Training for Any Goal
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Release Date: 08/19/2025
Strength Training for Moms: Nikki’s Journey through Pregnancy, Postpartum, & Unstoppable Consistency
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
In this inspiring episode, Nikki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with two of Barbell Logic’s most recognizable names: Nikki Berman (Director of Client Experience) and Coach Bekah Creek (PT and longtime BLOC coach). Together, they dive deep into what strength training for moms really looks like—during pregnancy, postpartum, deployments, sleepless nights, and every chaotic season in between. Nikki shares the full arc of her journey: from chasing “skinny” through extreme dieting and cardio, to discovering barbell training, to becoming a mother of four and finding her strongest, most...
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Strength Training for Couples: Kayleigh’s & Jeff’s Journey Through Weight Loss, Burnout, & Renewal
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
In this inspiring Beast Over Burden episode, Nikki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with Kayleigh and Jeff to explore strength training for couples, overcoming burnout, building sustainable routines, and transforming body composition with intention and patience. What This Episode Is About When Kayleigh and Jeff started lifting together, they didn’t just change their strength — they changed their lives. What began with a difficult vacation photo became a powerful journey of discipline, weight loss, personal growth, and deep partnership. Today, they train together four days per week in their...
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Lifting Through Setbacks: How Scott Came Back Stronger Through Injury & Loss
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Life doesn’t stop for your training — but your training can help you survive life. In this episode, we sit down with Scott & Coach Jamal to explore what it really looks like to keep lifting through setbacks while raising kids, grieving a parent, and rebuilding after injury. This is not a highlight-reel story — it’s real-life resilience, one rep at a time. What You’ll Learn Why strength matters most in life’s hardest seasons Training through nerve pain and rebuilding confidence How parents can fit training into chaotic schedules The value of flexible, customized...
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Lifting Through Chemo: Motherhood, Strength, and Beating Breast Cancer
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
When Elizabeth Blair began lifting postpartum, she had no idea that strength training would one day become one of her most important tools in fighting cancer. In this powerful episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with coach Nikki Berman and her client Elizabeth to explore the transformation that comes not from chasing PRs, but from choosing to show up when life hits hardest. Elizabeth shares her journey from new mom learning to deadlift, to receiving a diagnosis of aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, to lifting through chemo, surgery, and recovery. She and Nikki walk us through...
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Do You Really Need a Coach? Why Guidance Beats AI & Templates Every Time
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Even with all the AI training apps and free workout programs out there, real coaching still matters. In this episode of Barbell Logic: Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson explain why coaching remains essential for lifters who train for strength, health, and longevity. They explore how personalized feedback, accountability, and real human judgment can never be replaced by algorithms or templates. Through a live Q&A, they answer listener questions about core strength, nutrition, joint pain, and mindset—and show how consistent, adaptable coaching leads to lasting results....
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Can Women Do Pull-Ups? (Yes.) How to Get Your First Chin-Up + The Protein Milk Trend
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Can women do pull-ups? Yes—absolutely. In this standalone Beast Over Burden episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson break down the controversy around new pull-up standards and use it as a springboard to tackle one of the most common fitness myths: that women can’t do pull-ups. You’ll learn: Why benching your bodyweight often predicts your first chin-up How to progress from bands and negatives to unassisted reps Why bench and chin training sometimes interfere—and how to fix it The truth about “high-protein” food trends like Starbucks’ new protein milk This episode is a...
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Why You Don’t Need a Gym to Get Strong: Linda & Chrissy’s Coaching Story
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Stronger at any age: discover why you don’t need a gym to get strong. Linda’s story proves that with the right coaching and consistency, you can build strength, health, and confidence at home—no matter your age or equipment. You don’t need a gym to get strong. In this episode of The Coaching Advantage: Real Stories of Strength & Nutrition, Niki and Andrew reflect on the powerful journey of Linda, a 70-year-old lifter who transformed her health with the guidance of Barbell Logic coach Chrissy. From overcoming intimidation and training at home with nothing but bodyweight, to building...
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Stronger at 70: Linda’s Story of Scoliosis, Osteoporosis & Smart Strength Coaching (with Chrissy)
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
In this episode of The Coaching Advantage: Real Stories of Strength & Nutrition, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson sit down with Barbell Logic coach Chrissy and her client Linda to share how consistent coaching transforms life at every age. Linda began lifting in her 70s while navigating scoliosis and later osteoporosis. With the right coaching and smart training modifications, she built confidence, strength, and muscle that carry over into everyday life—from carrying groceries to picking up grandkids. You’ll learn how coaching provides accountability and structure, why restraint matters...
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Why We Coach: How Strength & Nutrition Coaching Transform Everyday Life
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Struggling to turn your training into lasting results? In this kickoff to The Coaching Advantage series, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson share their personal journeys, why they coach every day, and how strength and nutrition coaching transform everyday life. From breaking through plateaus to reclaiming health and longevity, this conversation shows why coaching matters for everyday lifters who want more than just numbers on the bar. What You’ll Learn Why Niki and Andrew became coaches — and what keeps them motivated after years of daily coaching. The “magic moments” when coaching...
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Find Your Why: Reigniting Strength Training When Motivation Fades
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Feeling stuck under the barbell? This Strength With Purpose episode dives into how to find your why so you can train with consistency and purpose even when motivation fades, life gets messy, or the excitement of chasing PRs wears off. Nikki Sims and Andrew Jackson share how to punch the clock with minimum-viable sessions, bring variety into your training without losing progress, and lean on coaching and community to reignite purpose for the long haul. What You’ll Learn in This Episode How to recognize when your training motivation has dipped—and what that really means. Practical...
info_outlineYour training should match your goals — but what happens when those goals go beyond PRs? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, we show you how to adapt strength training for any goal, whether that means balancing swim workouts with barbell lifts, building knee resilience for high-altitude hunting, or nailing the StrongFirst kettlebell snatch test.
Through three in-depth case studies, you’ll hear exactly how we adjusted programming to fit real-life demands:
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Reducing gym volume for a competitive swimmer in peak season
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Using high-bar squats, pause squats, and rucking to prepare a hunter for steep terrain
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Prioritizing kettlebell snatch work without sacrificing barbell strength
We cover how to use the SAID Principle to match your training to your outcome, what to change in your volume and intensity when another sport takes priority, and how to manage recovery so you can perform when it matters most.
Whether you lift for performance, adventure, or everyday life, you’ll walk away knowing how to adapt strength training for any goal without losing the muscle, strength, and motivation you’ve worked hard to build.
PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.