Where Optimal Meets Practical
Claim This Podcastby Jordan Lips
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Podcast Overview
<p>When it comes to nutrition and training...talking about what's optimal is always fun, but making it practical changes lives. On this show we'll dive deep on all things training, nutrition, and mindset optimization while making sure to drive home the practical and applicable side of things.</p><p></p><p>-JL</p>
Language
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Publishing Since
6/16/2020
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Recent Episodes
May 11, 2026
292: Alex Thieme - Motivation, identity & building better habits
Host Jordan Lips interviews coach Alex Thieme about building sustainable habits through environmental optimization and self-belief, offering practical strategies for lasting behavior change.
April 14, 2026
291: Alec Blenis - Hybrid training, movement optimism & the truth about “perfect form”
<p><strong>Episode Description</strong></p><p>In this episode, I sit down with hybrid coach and athlete Alec Blenis to break down what it really means to train for both performance and longevity. We dive into his goal of running a sub-2:30 marathon while maintaining strength, the biggest mistakes people make with running volume, and why “perfect form” might actually be limiting your progress.</p><p>We also unpack the concept of movement optimism, why pain doesn’t always mean stop, and how the fitness industry has unintentionally made people more fragile. If you’ve ever worried about technique, injury, or balancing lifting with endurance training, this one will shift how you think about it.</p><p>--- </p><p><strong>Guest</strong></p><p>Alec Blenis is a hybrid coach and athlete specializing in combining endurance and strength training. He’s been coaching for over a decade and is currently documenting his pursuit of a sub-2:30 marathon while maintaining gym performance.</p><p>---</p><p><strong>What We Cover</strong></p><p>0:00 – Intro + hybrid training misconceptions</p><p>2:00 – Alec’s background and coaching journey</p><p>5:00 – Why Austin is a hub for hybrid athletes</p><p>8:20 – The sub-2:30 marathon goal + recent 2:40 PR</p><p>11:00 – Overcooking training + bouncing back after a DNF</p><p>13:30 – Increasing mileage from ~40 → 70+ miles/week</p><p>17:00 – Why the “10% rule” for running is flawed</p><p>20:00 – Quality vs quantity in endurance training</p><p>23:30 – Why most runners get injured (not overtrained)</p><p>26:00 – What “movement optimism” actually means</p><p>28:00 – How the fitness industry creates fear around movement</p><p>30:30 – Pain during training: should you stop or keep going?</p><p>33:00 – Pain monitoring system (practical framework)</p><p>38:00 – Why you shouldn’t catastrophize minor injuries</p><p>40:00 – When to rest vs when to load</p><p>41:30 – “Weird” exercises (Jefferson curls, knees over toes)</p><p>44:00 – Risk vs reward in training</p><p>48:00 – Is any movement inherently dangerous?</p><p>49:30 – RDLs, lumbar flexion, and technique nuance</p><p>53:00 – Why technique must be viewed across the full program</p><p>56:00 – The problem with chasing “perfect form”</p><p>58:00 – Individual anatomy and why cues don’t work for everyone</p><p>1:00:00 – What actually matters for hypertrophy and progress</p><p>---</p><p><strong>Connect with Alec</strong></p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/alecblenis/">https://www.instagram.com/alecblenis/</a></p><p>YouTube: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.youtube.com/c/alecblenis">https://www.youtube.com/c/alecblenis</a></p>
April 7, 2026
290: Bryan Boorstein - Does your training split actually matter?
<p>Does your training split actually matter… or are we overthinking it? In this episode, Jordan and Bryan break down the bro split debate, why most training roads lead to the same place, and what actually drives long-term progress. They also dive into the “bulking is dead” conversation, range of motion nuances, and why chasing perfection might be holding you back more than helping.</p><p>---</p><p><strong>Guest 👇🏼</strong></p><p>Bryan Boorstein is a coach and founder of Evolved Training Systems as well as the co-founder of Paragon Training. He is known for his practical, experience-driven approach to strength and hypertrophy.</p><p>---</p><p><strong>What We Cover👇🏼</strong></p><p>0:00 – Intro + catching up</p><p>3:00 – The return of the bro split and why it still works</p><p>7:30 – Do different training splits actually lead to different results?</p><p>10:00 – Frequency vs volume vs sustainability</p><p>15:00 – What people obsess over vs what actually matters</p><p>18:00 – The “bulking is dead” debate explained</p><p>22:00 – Why a small surplus still matters in practice</p><p>26:00 – The most practical way to think about gaining muscle</p><p>27:00 – Range of motion: general vs muscle-specific training</p><p>30:00 – Squat depth, internal rotation, and quad targeting</p><p>34:00 – How much technique cueing actually matters</p><p>37:00 – “Analysis paralysis” in training execution</p><p>38:00 – The case for being a fitness generalist</p><p>43:00 – Strength training vs mobility (and why the line is blurry)</p><p>48:00 – What mobility training actually looks like in practice</p><p>52:00 – Kids and lifting: how to approach it the right way</p><p>57:00 – Letting kids lead vs forcing structure</p><p>1:00:00 – Final takeaways on range of motion and training balance</p><p>---</p><p><strong>Connect with Bryan</strong> </p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/bryanboorstein/">https://www.instagram.com/bryanboorstein/</a></p><p><strong>Connect with Jordan</strong>👇🏼</p><p>Instagram: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/jordanlipsfitness/">https://www.instagram.com/jordanlipsfitness/</a> </p><p>WOMP Coaching: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/workout-plan/team/womp-gym-home-bundle?attrib=548099-ig">https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/workout-plan/team/womp-gym-home-bundle?attrib=548099-ig</a></p>
292 total episodes available with 101 transcripts
Recent guests on Where Optimal Meets Practical
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Alex Thieme
Guest
Akash Patel
Guest
Ruth Maleski
Guest
Kasey Jo
Guest
Jordan Lips
Guest
Barbie Boules
Guest
Bryan Boorstein
Guest
Patrick McCarthy
Guest
Edin Sehovic
Guest
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Where Optimal Meets Practical?
<p>When it comes to nutrition and training...talking about what's optimal is always fun, but making it practical changes lives. On this show we'll dive deep on all things training, nutrition, and mindset optimization while making sure to drive home the practical and applicable side of things.</p><p></p><p>-JL</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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