Erik Johnson & Aaron Thigpen - The Brand & The Source

About Erik Johnson & Aaron Thigpen - The Brand & The Source

Straight talk on the culture of sport, athletic development and sports performance. For athletes, parents coaches, trainers and anyone enthusiastic about the current state of youth, high school and college sports.

Publisher

Aaron Thigpen & Erik Johnson

Category

sports

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Jul 2020

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

219 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   What Does Training Look Like- Why Athletes Need a Plan, Not Just More Work

   Why Athletes Need a Plan, Not Just More Work The urge to train harder can be a strength—until it gets in the way of training well. Coaches Eric Johnson and Aaron Thigpen say athletic progress depends on more than effort: it takes a plan that connects each workout to a sport-specific goal, room to recover, and enough patience to master the work.

2. 

   6 Oct 2026

   Scout the High School Program Before Choosing It

   A high school’s winning record can look like proof that it is the right place for an athlete. But wins alone don’t show whether a program develops players, gives them a fair chance, or helps them move toward their next goal. Coaches Aaron Thigpen and Erik Johnson argue that families should investigate a school’s athletic program before committing—not after an athlete has spent years in the wrong situation.

3. 

   26 Sept 2026

   Beyond the Radar Gun: Why Chasing Pitching Velocity is a Losing Strategy

   Young pitchers are obsessed with throwing hard, but this "chasing velocity" mindset is leading to burnout and injury. Learn how to build a sustainable, year-round plan for arm health and peak performance. In the world of baseball recruiting, the radar gun often feels like the ultimate judge. Young pitchers, their parents, and even some coaches have become singularly focused on one metric: pitching velocity. This obsession has created a culture of "chasing velocity," where athletes jump from one quick-fix program to another, often at the expense of their long-term health and development as a complete pitcher. In a recent discussion, veteran coaches Eric Johnson ("The Bran") and Aaron Thigpen ("The Source") of the "Ask Aaron and Ask EJ" podcast broke down the pitfalls of this trend and outlined a smarter, more sustainable path to becoming a high-level pitcher.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.9 / 5

14 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 58 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

86

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

77

Contact Erik Johnson & Aaron Thigpen - The Brand & The Source

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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