XPT, Training in Water and Fitness Weirdos: Jumping In With XPT Director Of Performance PJ Nestler (Sandlot Jax & GORUCK Games Series 2023)

The Jedburgh Podcast

Water is the great equalizer. For most, it’s where our true limits are found, tested and overcome. Where failure becomes the stepping stone to greatness.

In this episode, PJ Nestler, the Director of Performance at XPT: Extreme Performance Training, joined Fran Racioppi and Jessie Graff on the final day of the 2023 Sandlot Jax and GORUCK Games to share how the highest achievers embrace discomfort to win no matter the challenge.

PJ coaches athletes in the NFL, NHL, MLB and UFC and reveals the secrets behind XPT's unique training philosophy including their Performance Model of Breath, Move, Recover, Fuel & Connect. Founded by elite athletes Laird Hamilton and Gabby Reese, XPT puts water at the center of their training model, forcing athletes to face their fears early and often to build a foundation of hard work and resilience aimed at dealing with everyday life.

PJ also illustrates how making gains requires a deliberate process, variation in our training and a focus on building connections with ourselves, others and purpose beyond our own goals. We can be great at one thing, but versatility across many things is the key to longevity and overall health.

Learn more about XPT and PJ Nestler on the web or follow them on social media.

Learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website. Subscribe to us and follow @jedburghpodcast on all social media. Watch the full video version of our conversation on YouTube.

Highlights:

• 0:00 Welcome to The Jedburgh Podcast and the ice bath
• 2:42 Laird Hamilton & Gabby Reese found XPT Fitness
• 6:15 Why breathwork is the foundation of performance
• 11:47 How variable fitness improves health
• 15:00 Doing fitness vs having a plan
• 20:02 The benefits of the ice bath
• 23:09 How connection increases performance
• 28:46 How to translate training discomfort to life

Quotes:

• “How can we be better parents? How can we be better business people?” (3:05)
• “Your breathing can either be a weakness or a weapon.” (6:54)
• “Movement should be variable. Let’s look at the things you’re not developing.” (12:37)
• “Just doing a bunch of fitness is like driving randomly and hoping you’re going to get to a destination.” (15:05)
• “All these people are probably the weirdos in their neighborhood.” (25:10)
• “We will find your failure limit very quickly.” (29:47)

PJ’s Three Pillars of Connection

• Connection to self
• Connection to others
• Connecting to something outside themself

This episode is brought to you by Jersey Mike’s, Compass Workforce Solutions and GORUCK.