Episode Details

AI, Coaching, and Accountability: What Fitness Pros Must Know (with Michelle Blakely) | Iron Radio

On this special Iron Radio episode, Dr. Lonnie Lowery hosts fitness professional and AI expert Michelle Blakely, an NSCA-CPT and former USA Weightlifting sports performance coach who recently began a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer program at the University of Chicago Booth. They discuss how AI is already impacting coaching, programming, nutrition planning, and education, emphasizing that while AI can rapidly generate meal plans and training drafts, coaches remain vital for accountability, community, and human connection. 

Blakely advises using AI as a drafting and efficiency tool with a human-in-the-loop to review errors and hallucinations, recommends moving from free to paid AI models for privacy and tracking team use, and argues practitioners must “radically accept” rapid exponential change to avoid a near-term divide between AI-literate and AI-illiterate professionals. The episode also includes updates on Iron Radio’s new distribution channels and related resources.

00:00 Welcome to Iron Radio

00:36 Meet Michelle Blakely

02:09 AI Anxiety to Action

03:27 AI in Education and Coaching

06:03 Accountability Beats Algorithms

10:38 Paid Tools and Privacy

13:57 Governance and Human Oversight

15:24 Show Updates and Resources

18:42 Will AI Replace Humans

23:38 Exponential Change and Adaptation

27:45 Apps vs Real Community

33:23 Wrap Up and Contact Info

35:17 Disclaimer and Sign Off

Michelle Blakely - 

• Here is Michelle Blakely's link to jump on a complimentary 15-minute call to discuss any AI questions as offered in the show: https://meetings.hubspot.com/info2033?uuid=64509963-36cf-4737-bd4c-516b5b00b210
• Here is the link to the "48 hours of no AI" article from the New York Times Michelle referenced: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/style/48-hours-without-ai.html

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com 

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie