We’re back this week, live from Sorinex (https://www.sorinex.com/), and pull up our chairs with Jon Heck and Gabe Watson for a conversation that starts with rivalries and ends up somewhere much more useful. Jon walks through his shift from NFL and college strength coaching to his Hammer and Chisel Performance Podcast(https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hammer-and-chisel-performance-podcast/id1835141652) and running his own business full-time built on every coach's favorite training app, TrainHeroic (https://account.trainheroic.com/create-account). Gabe shares the story behind his first full-time college gig, as a former player who has seen what every division of college football looks like, landing an assistant role at Colorado State after a DM to a coach he barely knew turned into a job offer within 24 hours, and talks about navigating the whirlwind of college strength and conditioning, where a single phone call can mean packing up your life within days.

From there the group digs into the power of just showing up and following up at industry events, why authenticity matters more than looks or a jacked physique when it comes to being an effective coach, and the so-called "sleeper build" debate: can a coach who isn't shredded still be great at their job? They also get into staying the authority in the room with clients, giving yourself grace after a missed lift, and why leaving a job the right way always comes back around.

Whether you're a coach navigating team vs. private sector, or just someone building a personal brand in fitness, this one's packed with real talk on relationships, reinvention, and staying in your lane.

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the show!

TRAINHEROIC: Trusted by top coaches since 2012. Plans start at just $10/month– And you get your first 14 days free. Head to trainheroic.com/thekidstable to start your free trial now.

LETS GET SOCIAL:

Jon Heck:

Insta - (https://www.instagram.com/what_the_heck71/?hl=en)

Youtube - (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMfKtcEK85qgSOB7rKdUmpw)

TrainHeroic - (https://marketplace.trainheroic.com/brand/Hammer%20and%20Chisel)

Gabe Watson:

Insta - (https://www.instagram.com/gabe_watson_33/?hl=en)

About Jon Heck:

My name is Jon Heck. I played football at the University of North Carolina where I was a 4 year starter and 2x All-ACC selection at offensive tackle for the Tar Heels. I graduated with a degree in Exercise Sport Science, and immediately received certifications as a nutritionist and strength and conditioning coach. I began my career as a strength and conditioning coach and spent nearly a decade working in football strength and conditioning at the NFL and Division-1 college level, as well as working in the private sector at a combine prep facility. I competed at a high level in powerlifting and strongman, and have always been passionate about strength sports in general. A big part of my educational background is in nutrition, and that has been a large component of my coaching in football and the private sector.

About Gabe Watson:

Gabe Watson was added to the Colorado State football strength and conditioning staff in January of 2026. It will be his first full-time role in the field.

He spent the past two years working at Nebraska in football development performance in a quality control role. Previously, he did an internship in football performance at Texas.

Watson played at Sioux Falls, were he gained 1,980 career yards as a running back with 27 touchdowns, and was a finalist for the Harlon Hill Award (D2's Heisman Trophy) in 2018. Finished his playing career at Texas, playing two seasons.

Produced and Edited by: The Cast Collective (Nashville, TN)

YouTube – (‪@TheCastCollective‬)

Instagram – (https://www.instagram.com/TheCastCollective)

TikTok – (https://www.tiktok.com/@castcollective)

Another year, another (https://www.sorinex.com/). Former NFL offensive lineman John Welbourn joins The Kids Table at this year’s SS19 conference for a conversation that goes far beyond football. Alongside Kids Table veteran Ed Streit, John reflects on what happens after the game ends and why the best competitors never stop finding new mountains to climb.

The conversation traces John's path from a decade in the NFL to helping build CrossFit's athletic training methodology, launching Power Athlete, and mentoring the next generation of coaches and athletes. The four of them explore confidence, career transitions, leadership, and why collaboration always beats competition when you're focused on playing the long game.

John also opens up about his own battle with brain injuries after football and the years he spent searching for answers. He shares the mindset that helped him rebuild, the lessons he's learned about health and longevity, and why curiosity has become one of his greatest competitive advantages.

Whether they're talking about coaching elite athletes, supporting friends instead of competing with them, or finding purpose after reaching the highest level of sport, this episode is packed with perspective on what it means to keep growing long after the scoreboard disappears.

Pull up a chair for a conversation about reinvention, resilience, and why the strongest competitors are always willing to become students again.

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the show!

TRAINHEROIC: Trusted by top coaches since 2012. Plans start at just $10/month– And you get your first 14 days free. Head to trainheroic.com/thekidstable to start your free trial now.

LETS GET SOCIAL:

John Welbourne:

Insta - (https://www.instagram.com/johnwelbourn/)

Facebook - (https://www.facebook.com/powerathlete/)

X - (​​https://x.com/johnwelbourn)

Website - (https://powerathletehq.com/)

Ed Streit:

Insta - (https://www.instagram.com/strengthcoach_ed)

X - (https://www.x.com/strengthcoached)

About John Welbourn:

John Welbourn is a former NFL offensive lineman, entrepreneur, and one of the most influential voices in modern strength and conditioning. After spending 10 seasons in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, John transitioned into coaching and education, helping bridge the gap between elite athletic performance and everyday training.

He is the founder of Power Athlete, a coaching and education company that has trained thousands of coaches, athletes, and tactical professionals around the world. Known for his direct approach and deep understanding of performance, John has become a respected authority on strength development, leadership, resilience, and life after professional sports.

Today, John continues to educate through seminars, online programming, and his Power Athlete podcast, where he explores everything from human performance and health to business, mindset, and personal growth. His work is driven by one belief: the pursuit of strength extends far beyond the weight room.

Produced and Edited by: The Cast Collective (Nashville, TN)

YouTube – (‪@TheCastCollective‬)

Instagram – (https://www.instagram.com/TheCastCollective)

TikTok – (https://www.tiktok.com/@castcollective)

This week at The Kids Table, Jen and Gunnar sit down with Justin Cross, founder of Earn Your Booze and a man whose entire philosophy can be summed up in one simple idea: Earn it.

What starts as a conversation about fitness, training, and the early days of bodybuilding quickly turns into a much bigger discussion about confidence, discipline, mentorship, and why so many people today feel disconnected from their own potential. Justin shares stories from his military background, the origins of the Earn Your Booze movement, and the lessons he's learned helping men push through physical and mental barriers.

Along the way, the group dives into everything from Arnold Schwarzenegger's influence on an entire generation of lifters to why struggle is often the missing ingredient in personal growth. They discuss modern comfort culture, raising resilient kids, coaching through failure, building confidence through action, and why the gym remains one of the best places to practice life.

It's a conversation about earning rewards, embracing discomfort, and learning that the things worth having usually live on the other side of effort.

Whether you're chasing a new PR, building a business, raising kids, or simply trying to become a stronger version of yourself, this episode is packed with reminders that confidence isn't something you're born with. It's something you build.

So grab a drink, pull up a chair, and ask yourself one question: have you earned it yet?

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting the show!

TRAINHEROIC: Trusted by top coaches since 2012. Plans start at just $10/month– And you get your first 14 days free. Head to trainheroic.com/thekidstable to start your free trial now.

Justin Cross:

Insta - (https://www.instagram.com/justin.j.cross)

Website - (https://earnyourbooze.com/)

Produced and Edited by: The Cast Collective (Nashville, TN)

YouTube – (‪@TheCastCollective‬)

Instagram – (https://www.instagram.com/TheCastCollective)

TikTok – (https://www.tiktok.com/@castcollective)