Dan McDonnell

Zac Langdon played in the AFL for GWS and West Coast. In this episode he takes us inside what professional fitness actually looks like, the testing, the preseasons, and what happens to your training when the system stops paying for it. He also breaks down how he went from AFL footballer to running a 2:53 marathon and building his own coaching business. A good one for anyone who’s ever wondered what elite athletes actually do differently.

Liam Henderson is no stranger to pushing the limits, having completed countless ultra marathons before turning his attention to the marathon distance. In this episode, Liam shares his experiences across the fitness industry, shoe rotations and how his social media presence has grown significantly over the past year.

Three weeks out from Melbourne Marathon and this one is worth a listen. Hoff and Drew sit down and go through everything that goes into race prep at this stage the new course, tips and tricks, what our previous experiences have taught us and exactly what you should be focused on over the next three weeks. Whether it's your first Melbourne or you've run it before, there's something in this for you. Have a listen and let's get to the start line ready. 🎙💪

This week on The Engine Room, we down with Maddy Brancatisano, a AFLW player who has carved out a professional football career at the highest level of the women's game. Maddy opens up about what the journey to the top actually looked like, the sacrifices, the setbacks and the moments that shaped her into the athlete she is today. We get into the full picture of what professional football life looks like across preseason, in season and off season, covering training loads, nutrition, recovery and everything in between. If you have ever wondered what it genuinely takes to compete at the highest level of women's football in Australia this one is for you.

This week on The Engine Room we sit down with Jack Hanley, ultrarunner, challenge chaser and someone who has redirected his addictive personality into pushing the limits of human endurance. Jack has come a long way and channelled that drive into some seriously crazy running challenges. We dive into the mindset behind it all, what it takes to keep going when everything says stop.

This week Drew & Hoff sits down with Dan McDonnell, professional triathlete and co-founder of Maple Movement. They cover life as a pro triathlete, the gut issues that led to the creation of Maple Movement, and what it actually takes to build a business from scratch as an athlete

Should runners be doing Pilates? Is shredding actually beneficial for performance? And why does the fitness industry keep recycling the same basic thinking? In an industry full of people saying the same thing, Angus has his own thoughts and that's refreshing. 

We came in with a list of quickfire questions, this is part one of our chat with Angus Bradley. That's what happens when you get someone like Angus in the room, every answer opens up a new conversation. This one was just a genuinely fun chat and if you've followed Angus for any amount of time you'll know exactly why.

This week on The Engine Room, Drew and Hoff break down the Enhanced Games, what actually happened, what the athletes were taking, and whether the whole thing is just a very expensive drug store advertisement. They also get into peptides, how they work, and why they're becoming increasingly accessible. Plus, CrossFit vs Hyrox. Who built it, who's winning, and what's next?

This episode dives into fake online narratives, AI coaching backlash, Strava comparison culture, and whether coaches actually need lived experience to guide athletes through hard moments. We unpack why underdog stories dominate social media, how comparison quietly pushes runners into stupid training decisions, and why blaming AI or influencers for injuries oversimplifies things. We also debate Hyrox in the Olympics, inflated Strava marathon times, and the growing tension between authenticity, performance, and validation online.