We Do the Heavy Lifting

Huffines Institute 316: Megan Williams on Psychological Health

An athlete's success can depend on many factors, and their training, recovery, and nutrition are often the first that come to mind. However, success frequently depends on more than these well-known objective measures. An athlete's psychological health can have an enormous influence on performance, as well as life beyond sport. This episode features Dr. Megan Williams, a faculty member in the School of Public Health at Texas A&M University. She was also a former collegiate volleyball player. Dr. Willams shares her experience finding identity after collegiate athletics and emphasizes the importance of psychological support for student-athletes. How team environments can enhance an individual's accountability and stress management skills are also discussed.

Huffines Institute 315: Erin Randall on Habit Formation and Achieving Goals

Making goals for the new year is an excellent way to kick off 2025, but what's the best way to make sure your goals don't fall by the wayside a few weeks after the year begins? We look at this question in the latest episode of the Huffines Institute We Do the Heavy Lifting podcast. Erin Randall, an organization and life coach, gives practical advice for anyone looking to implement new habits or goals. She discusses the importance of systems and how to prioritize tasks to get the most out of your time.

Huffines Institute 314: Major Evan Carson

Being part of an Airforce Special Operations Team entails many rigorous physical and mental challenges. To keep the operators healthy and ready to perform, they must be supported by an exceptional group of medical professionals. In this episode we speak with Major Evan Carson, an active-duty physical therapist in the United States Air Force. Hear how Major Carson oversees a dynamic team of medical professionals dedicated to ensuring the health and performance of Air Force operators and provides insight into a lesser-known area of physical therapy practice. Major Carson shares his journey to becoming a physical therapist working with elite tactical athletes and his experiences providing treatment to operators in the field, frequently without typical clinic resources.

Huffines Institute 313: Dr. Laura Marsh

In this episode we spoke with Dr. Laura Marsh. Dr. Marsh is on the Huffines Advisory Board in addition to her role as the director of the sports medicine fellowship at Texas A&M. Being a family and sports medicine physician for over a decade Dr. Marsh has great insight into holistic approaches to healthcare. During the episode she shares how she applies this approach to elite athletes as well as the general population. Additionally, we discuss her journey to becoming a sports medicine physician and the role she plays bridging the gap between orthopedist and primary care.

Huffines Institute 312: PT & ATC The Sports Med Breakdown (Part 2)

Welcome back to part 2 with Dr. David Regan Suarez, a physical therapist, and Saul Luna, an athletic trainer. Both are part of the excellent sports medicine staff here at Texas A&M. During the episode, David and Saul address more nuanced topics such as the process of returning an athlete to sport and the psychology of injury.

Huffines Institute 311: PT & ATC The Sports Med Breakdown (Part 1)

Welcome back to our latest episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting!Today we speak with Dr. David Regan Suarez, a physical therapist, and Saul Luna, an athletic trainer. Both are part of the excellent sports medicine staff here at Texas A&M. During the episode, David and Saul address the differences between physical therapists and athletic trainers, sharing the pros and cons of each. In this initial episode, both practitioners share practical advice for students interested in the field of sports medicine and human performance. This episode is just part 1 of a 2-part series, where part two focuses on more nuanced topics such as the process of returning an athlete to sport and the psychology of injury. Thank you for tuning into this week’s episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting! If you have any comments or topics you would like to hear from us, email us at Huffines@tamu.edu. As always, have an active and healthy week!

Huffines Institute 310: Pathway to Athletic Training and Owning Your Practice

Welcome back to our latest episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting! This week, our guest is Dr. Joyce Terrell, athletic trainer, professor at Morehouse College, and owner of her own private practice. This episode is filled with knowledge for those looking to learn about the challenges of becoming an athletic trainer and some of the ins and outs of owning a business. Dr. Terrell's journey is an inspiring one that teaches us to trust the process of what is meant to be, and she shared wisdom that can help an uprising student, and also anyone looking to fulfill their purpose amid the challenges and struggles of life.

Thank you for tuning into this week’s episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting! If you have any comments or topics you would like to hear from us, email us at Huffines@tamu.edu. As always, have an active and healthy week!

Huffines Institute 309: Navigating the Past, Present, and Future of Name Image and Likeness

Welcome back to our latest episode of We Do The Heavy Lifting! This week, our guest is Dr. Paul Batista, Texas A&M faculty athletics representative. Dr Batista is a seasoned professional in law. He has been a county judge, is currently a professor of law in the sport management department at Texas A&M, and is the primary liaison for Texas A&M representing the SEC to the NCAA. On top of all this, he leads students in a study abroad every summer, expanding Aggie connections and influence to Germany and Austria. This educational episode will provide knowledge of the history that has lead us to this critical point in collegiate athletics and the possible legal ramifications that will shape the future of sports.

Thank you for tuning into this week’s episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting! If you have any comments or topics you would like to hear from us, email us at Huffines@tamu.edu. As always, have an active and healthy week!

Huffines Institute 308: The Intuition for your Nutrition

Welcome back to our latest episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting! This week, our guest is Bryan Snyder, with Texas A&M Athletics. Mr. Snyder has a multitude of experience with athletes and coaches at the world-class level, making him a seasoned veteran in the field of nutrition. Texas A&M is fortunate to have him currently, and our listeners will gain new insight that has helped him develop top performers. Whether you are a fitness guru, or simply interested in improving your health status, this episode with Bryan Snyder is for you!

 

Thank you for tuning into this week’s episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting! If you have any comments or topics you would like to hear from us, email us at Huffines@tamu.edu. As always, have an active and healthy week!

Huffines Institute 307: New Modalities for Unpacking Fatigue

Welcome back to our latest episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting! This week, our guest is Dr. Steven Riechman, assistant professor and chair of Kinesiology at Texas A&M University. He shared insight into his research on physical and mental fatigue. We all know what it's like to be tired and low on energy, but what exactly is causing us to be fatigued, and what are the different types of fatigue? Watch this video to understand what type of fatigue you are displaying, combat your fatigue, and to be inspired to solve new research problems! Whether you are a student interested in research, or you want to become more efficient in your day to day life, this episode can provide new wisdom for you to navigate a healthier lifestyle. 

 

Thank you for tuning into this week’s episode of We Do the Heavy Lifting! If you have any comments or topics you would like to hear from us, email us at Huffines@tamu.edu. As always, have an active and healthy week!