Episode 188: In this episode of the Inform Performance Podcast, Andy McDonald is joined by Stephanie Grubbs, a Strength & Conditioning Coach and Sport Scientist currently working with the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball. With prior experience across top-tier programs including the University of Pittsburgh, Clemson Athletics, and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Stephanie brings a diverse and practical perspective on applied sport science in elite sport.

In this conversation, Stephanie shares her journey through high-performance environments and reflects on the strategies, systems, and relationships that have shaped her approach to athlete development.

• The evolution of sports science in the U.S. high-performance landscape

• Building strong relationships and implementing impactful ideas

• Designing effective systems and processes in sports science programs

• The use of microdosing in strength training

• Adapting training methods to the unique demands of baseball

• The importance of intent and communication in daily training

• Exploring innovative recovery strategies

• Thoughts on career development and mentorship in elite sport

Whether you're a coach, practitioner, or sports science student, this episode delivers valuable insights into optimizing performance support in team sports.

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Where you can find Stephanie:

• LinkedIn
• X (Twitter)
• Instagram

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Sponsors

VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training

Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.

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Where to Find Us

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following Inform Performance on:

• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website

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Our Team

• Andy McDonald
• Ben Ashworth
• Alistair McKenzie
• Dylan Carmody
• Steve Barrett
• Pete McKnight