In this episode, we delve into the fascinating intersection of music and fitness with our special guest, Katie O'Brien. With her background in music education and personal training, Katie offers a unique perspective on how these two worlds collide. We learn about her journey into personal training while pursuing her music degrees, eventually leading her to pursue a PhD in music teaching and learning.

Katie provides insight into her current role as a trainer at Athletes' Potential. She emphasizes that each training session is tailored to the individual client, taking into account their specific goals, fitness level, and needs. One key aspect of her training approach is identifying and addressing weaknesses, while always keeping the client's desired destination in mind.

As part of her PhD research, Katie focuses on performance anxiety in middle school music students. She shares her findings that anxiety often serves as a leading cause for students dropping out of music programs. Her current research aims to shed light on the prevalence of anxiety and students' experiences. Looking forward, she hopes to explore pedagogical interventions that can effectively address anxiety in music education.

During the conversation, Jake and Katie draw parallels between teaching music and training clients, highlighting the importance of building skills and helping individuals overcome their own obstacles. Moreover, Katie offers intriguing insights on how music can impact performance and mood. The discussion explores the role of music in influencing human behavior, such as the way casinos manipulate sensory experiences.

In conclusion, this podcast episode provides a comprehensive overview of Katie's dual background in fitness and music education. We explore her valuable research on music performance anxiety and the potential for improving teaching methods. Additionally, Katie shares her approach to personal training, which is centered around addressing individual needs and goals.