Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanner Barley.
Hi Tanner, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I grew up as a borderline bubble boy—severe asthma, extreme allergies, and a childhood spent indoors more than out. That isolation led to two things: a passion for art, and a full-blown obsession with comic book superheroes. I didn’t just admire them—I wanted to be one. The muscles, the resilience, the purpose… all of it.
Once I finally outgrew the hypersensitive life, I jumped into martial arts. That opened the door to weight training—and that’s where everything clicked. From bodybuilding and rehabilitation-focused lifting to calisthenics, hybrid fitness, and eventually powerlifting (where I got massive and, admittedly, a bit fluffy near 400 lbs), I became obsessed with understanding the human body, biomechanics, and the science of performance.
Originally, I was in school for physical therapy. But during the recession, the program timeline changed, student loans weren’t an option, and I didn’t have many financial lifelines. The little bit I had left—money inherited from one of my parents’ wills—I used to pivot into nutrition and culinary studies instead. I wanted to understand the full picture of health, inside and out.
I started training people part-time in my early twenties, eventually turning it into a full-time mission. After spending most of my life in the Lowcountry, I moved to the Upstate for a change of scenery—and a chance to reach more people.
While studying the demographics of Greenville before the move, I saw a unique opportunity: to build something that would resonate. That’s when Squatch Strength was born. I wanted a name and a brand that would be instantly recognizable, a little rebellious, and ultimately inspiring—something people could see themselves in.
Now I help clients rebuild their strength, reignite their love for movement, and overcome the injury stories they’ve carried for far too long. I may get paid to coach, but at my core, I’m a teacher and a helper. And I couldn’t ask for a better way to live out both.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road, but every setback shaped the mission.
Growing up sick and isolated made me see my body as something fragile. It took years of movement, strength training, and deep study to rewire that mindset. When I finally found training, it wasn’t just about lifting. It was about understanding. I dove headfirst into biomechanics, recovery science, nutrition, and everything in between.
But for a long time, that kind of borderline clinical approach made me the odd one out. Most people weren’t looking for that level of depth. They wanted what they saw in a health magazine or a celebrity routine. Quick fixes, generic workouts, and surface-level advice. Meanwhile, I was building systems rooted in how the body actually works. And I kept going, even when it felt like I was speaking a different language.
College added its own weight. I had to pivot from physical therapy to nutrition and culinary studies when the economy shifted and student loans fell through. I started coaching part time to get by, eventually turning it into something full time with a bigger purpose.
There were seasons of burnout, injury, financial strain, and constantly having to prove myself while building a brand around a method most people didn’t understand yet. But now, as exercise science finally starts to enter the mainstream, people are beginning to see the value in doing things the right way from the start.
Squatch Strength was born from all of that. It’s not just a brand. It’s the product of years spent doing the work the hard way so my clients don’t have to.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Squatch Strength isn’t your typical fitness brand because I’m not your typical coach. This isn’t about selling generic workouts or hyping people up for two weeks of motivation before they burn out. I specialize in long-term transformation through resistance training, injury recovery, performance-based nutrition, and sustainable habit change.
I work with everyday people who’ve been stuck. People who’ve been told their pain is permanent, that their metabolism is broken, or that getting in shape means giving up their life. What sets Squatch Strength apart is that I teach them how to work with their body instead of fighting against it. Every program I write is fully personalized and grounded in exercise science, not recycled Instagram advice.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is that Squatch Strength represents something real. It’s honest. It’s direct. It meets people where they’re at and gives them the tools to stop guessing, stop stalling, and finally take control of their health. Whether someone is training for strength, rebuilding after injury, or just tired of spinning their wheels, I give them structure, support, and a little awkward humor to keep things grounded.
I’m also incredibly proud of the visual identity behind Squatch Strength. Both of my logos and the black and burnt orange branding scheme were designed by one of my brothers, who’s actually done design work for Marvel. So building a brand around superheroes and strength, and having his art front and center, has been a full-circle moment and a double dream come true.
At its core, Squatch Strength exists to help people get strong, move better, and feel like themselves again—not just for summer, but for the rest of their lives.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
There are a few ways people can work with me or support what I do.
I offer both in-person and online coaching through Squatch Strength. Whether someone’s trying to build muscle, recover from injury, or finally follow a plan that actually makes sense for their body, I create fully customized programs that adapt with them over time.
For collaborations, I’m always open to connecting with people and brands that value science-backed training, honest messaging, and gear that actually serves the people wearing it. As someone who’s 6’6″ and nearly 300 pounds, I’ve never really fit the mold when it comes to athleisure—and I know I’m not alone. A partnership with a brand that makes high-quality apparel for people outside the “standard” build would be a game changer. It’s something I’m passionate about because I live it every day.
And for anyone who just wants to support the mission, sharing my content or referring someone who’s been stuck in the fitness cycle helps more than you know. Squatch Strength was built to serve real people, and every connection makes a difference.
You can find me on all of the socials, or directly through my site at squatchstrength.com.
Pricing:
- Pricing for in-person training scales with the frequency of each program.
- Online coaching is a flat rate.
- Hybrid coaching (some in person, some online) varies by what we set up together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Squatchstrength.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/squatchstrengthsc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/squatchstrength
