Mind Pump: Raw Fitness Truth
Episode 2682: Nine Fitness Coaches That Should Be Fired
Release Date: September 11, 2025
Hosts: Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, Doug Egge
Episode Overview
This episode tackles a no-nonsense evaluation of the biggest red flags within the fitness coaching world. Sal, Adam, and Justin break down nine types of trainers who do more harm than good—urging listeners to fire these archetypes before they wreck progress, motivation, or even health. With their trademark blend of humor and hard-earned industry insight, the hosts illustrate how bad coaching can destroy a client’s relationship with fitness and provide listeners with the tools to identify quality coaching versus toxic approaches.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Why Bad Coaches Can Be Worse Than No Coach
- The hosts stress that while a good coach is "worth their weight in gold," a bad coach can not only stall progress but actively ruin a client’s long-term health and outlook on exercise.
- Bad coaching often leads clients to become discouraged and quit fitness altogether, sometimes for years.
"Bad coaches are worse for people than no coaches."
— Sal (04:03)
Breakdown: Nine Coaches Who Deserve to be Fired
1. The Hype Machine (Motivation Junkie) — [05:00]
- Focuses solely on external motivation and hyped energy.
- Clients become reliant on a temporary high rather than building real discipline and behavioral change.
- These coaches burn out quickly themselves, and their clients just as fast.
"You can't hate yourself into better health, at least not in the long term. It just doesn't work that way."
— Sal (08:09)
- Notable analogy: Justin calls this coach a “drug dealer” of motivation, supplying a short-lived fix.
- This style attracts beginners, but ultimately fails at teaching autonomy.
2. The Shame Trainer — [09:32]
- Uses guilt and embarrassment as tools to keep clients "in line."
- Fosters secrecy and discourages honest communication.
- Clients eventually disappear, ghosting the coach out of discomfort.
"The first person you should want to talk to is your trainer, not the last person."
— Sal (11:45)
3. Intensity Over Technique Coach — [12:53]
- Prioritizes “going hard” at all costs, disregarding exercise form and safety.
- Increases risk of injury, decreases long-term results.
- This is recognizable in some group fitness classes and “bootcamp” environments ("Biggest Loser" style).
"Exercise is only as effective as the way that they're performed."
— Sal (12:13)
4. The Low Calorie Fixer (Diet Slasher) — [14:51]
- Solves every problem by dropping calories further.
- Ignores metabolic health and sustainability, resulting in weight regain and diminished wellbeing.
- “Jenny Craig coach” is their nickname for this avatar.
5. The Absent Coach — [16:55]
- Usually an online trainer who delivers generic, one-size-fits-all programs with zero personalization or ongoing support.
- Sparked by influencer trends and the explosion of virtual coaching.
- Managing huge client loads, they simply can't provide genuine coaching.
6. The ‘Everything But the Kitchen Sink, All At Once’ Coach — [18:59]
- Front-loads every possible change—workouts, diet, sleep, supplements, etc.—on a new client.
- Overwhelms and dooms clients to failure by not focusing on stepwise behavioral change.
"A good coach meets you where you're at...step by step, so you can develop these disciplines."
— Sal (20:27)
7. The Talker (Never Listens) — [20:54]
-
Loves to lecture but never asks about the client’s lifestyle, preferences, or obstacles.
-
Fails to personalize programs. Sometimes devolves into social hour without real progress.
-
Adam describes a trainer who turned every session into a chat instead of a training opportunity.
-
Good trainers ask questions; e.g., “Which kind of cardio do you enjoy?” or “What’s your schedule?”
8. The Know-It-All/Science Nerd — [23:57]
- Never admits “I don’t know;” gives advice beyond their expertise, sometimes even wrong.
- Can either be the “fake expert” or the technical “science nerd” who lacks real-world experience.
- Good coaches know when to refer out or learn more before answering.
"Most trainers and coaches know some stuff...but what they also know, or should know, is people who know things they don’t."
— Sal (24:05)
9. The ‘Treats Everyone Like a Competitor’ Coach — [25:54]
- Uses bodybuilding/competition prep methods on everyday clients.
- Pushes extreme regimens meant for elite athletes, damaging clients' metabolism and hormones.
- Common in trainers with competition backgrounds, particularly with the rise of Instagram "coach" culture.
"The last thing you should do is train like a competitor or eat like a competitor. That is not sustainable for competitors. Competitors don’t even do that all the time."
— Sal (26:18)
- Adam emphasizes the importance of assessing a client’s metabolism before crafting a diet or prep plan, and calls out coaches who put clients on extreme diets unsafely.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On quitting after bad coaching:
"It’s easier to get somebody who's never worked with a trainer...than it is to get somebody who's hired three or four bad trainers, because they've had such bad experiences."
— Sal (04:22) -
On intensity and form:
"A good trainer would educate the client on what actually produces good results. Technique is everything."
— Sal (13:45) -
On coaching as a relationship:
"The first person you should want to talk to [after screwing up] is your trainer, not the last person."
— Sal (11:45) -
On behavioral change:
"A good coach meets you where you’re at, and they have to step by step this process so that you can develop these disciplines, you can develop these behaviors."
— Sal (20:27) -
On knowledge boundaries:
"A good coach or a trainer...should know people who know things that they don't, that they could refer to. That’s what a good coach is."
— Sal (24:05)
Timestamps of Key Segments
- Intro & Purpose of Episode — [01:08-03:44]
- How Bad Coaches Can Cause Harm — [03:44-05:00]
- #1: The Hype Machine — [05:00-09:32]
- #2: The Shame Trainer — [09:32-12:13]
- #3: Intensity Over Technique — [12:53-14:51]
- #4: The Low Calorie Fixer — [14:51-16:55]
- #5: The Absent Coach — [16:55-18:59]
- #6: Everything But the Kitchen Sink — [18:59-20:54]
- #7: The Talker (Never Listens) — [20:54-23:57]
- #8: The Know-It-All/Science Nerd — [23:57-25:54]
- #9: Treats Everyone Like a Competitor — [25:54-29:56]
- Closing Thoughts & Practical Tips — [29:56-end]
Core Takeaways
- A good coach is invaluable, but a bad one can cause irreparable harm.
- Seek coaches who prioritize individualized, sustainable change, not hype, shame, short-term fixes, or copy-paste regimens.
- Communication, flexibility, humility, and a stepwise, personalized approach are the hallmarks of real coaching.
- Beware of online influencers or “celebrity” trainers who overload, under-support, or mimic contest prep for general clients.
For more, find the Mind Pump team on Instagram @mindpumpmedia or visit mindpumppodcast.com for resources and training programs.