Episodes - Page 6 | 50% Facts with Silent Mike & Jim McD

Oct. 4, 2023

What are your best and worst traits as a lifter?

Avi Lieu joins us for an open discussion on how our personality traits – things we don’t have a ton of control over – impact our performance as lifters. Look for Avi on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/avi.lieu. Have a question for one of our...

Sept. 29, 2023

Best guests we can’t get (because they’re dead)

This week’s question from our Discord is kind of a tough one. Dom Oviedo asked, “Who are the top 5 dead people you wish you could have on your podcast?” Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media...

Sept. 27, 2023

BS High | A 50% Facts review

Of all the documentaries we’ve reviewed, this has got to be the strangest. How does a team of supposedly high school-aged football players, who are supposedly students of a school that doesn’t really exist, end up on ESPN getting walloped by one of...

Sept. 22, 2023

Best way to improve your overhead press?

This week’s question from members of our Discord: Keo asked, “What program would you recommend for increasing the OHP from 1.5 plates to 2? I’ve been stuck for over 2 years now.” Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question”...

Sept. 20, 2023

Untold: Swamp Kings | A 50% Facts review

The 2005--2009 Florida Gators football team, led by coach Urban Meyer, is one of the most legendary teams in college football history. He pushed them to two national championships in three years and an undefeated season. This 4-part Netflix series...

Sept. 15, 2023

Is there one weird trick for finding your strongest bench press grip?

Back to our Discord for another question: Detesestro asked, “What's the ideal way to tell your ideal bench press width?” Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag...

Sept. 13, 2023

International competition: When is it legit? When are you ready? When is it worth it?

We explore what makes international competitions across all sports different from those even at the national level. Should international competition be one of your goals? Should a certain number of countries be included before it’s called a “World...

Sept. 8, 2023

Intensity vs arousal: Are you using either one of these words correctly?

“Intensity” has a specific meaning as related to lifting – a much different meaning than in the rest of the world – yet lifters misuse it all the time. The same is true of “arousal.” That one might spark a bit of a giggle, but when it comes to...

Sept. 6, 2023

Untold: Hall of Shame – A 50% Facts Review

BALCO. Victor Conte. Steroids. The Netflix Untold documentary series looks back at a time when we all wanted to believe that athletes were suddenly capable of record-breaking achievements simply by perfecting their diets, training, and...

Sept. 1, 2023

What sucks (and doesn’t suck) about home gyms? | Topic Thunder Rewind

We’re taking a short Labor Day break and have this classic Topic Thunder (our panel format) episode. Labor Day Weekend is always a good time to fill in the gaps in your wardrobe! Head over to 3sb.co and use the code “pod” for 10% off your entire...

Aug. 30, 2023

Untold: Johnny Football – A 50% Facts Review

We’ve been big fans of the Netflix documentary series Untold. The new season debuted with a look at the rise and fall of Johnny Manziel. A winning Texas high school quarterback. A wildly inventive freshman season at Texas A&M that propelled him to...

Aug. 25, 2023

Powerlifting belts: Prong, prongs, or lever?

This week’s (somewhat paraphrased) question is from Instagram: What kind of belt do we prefer? Do single-prong, double-prong, or lever belts all work the same? Or are there advantages and disadvantages to each one? Further, how much can you expect to...

Aug. 23, 2023

Real talk: Are you too injured to lift in your meet?

So many lifters get banged up in the course of meet prep and find themselves wondering if it’s even worth doing the meet they had planned. Should they just heal up and wait for the next one? If you can’t PR. If you can’t win. Is the juice worth the...

Aug. 19, 2023

What’s your gym fit inspiration?

This week’s question from our Discord member, msoli: “You have talked extensively about how style or fashion has come from the hip hop community, the skateboarding community, and the basketball community. Where do you see style coming from now? The...

Aug. 16, 2023

Mikey Doucet: A former foster kid who taught himself to hope and dream

From the age of eight, Mikey Doucet lived in uncertainty. Who would truly care for him? Would he have enough to eat? Would he get along with the people who were supposed to be responsible for him or would he end up on the outside of another closed...

Aug. 11, 2023

The most complicated part of owning a gym in 2023?

This week’s question comes from social media, and Mike gets it pretty often: “What’s the most complicated part of owning a gym?” Owning any business is complicated. Which complications are specific to gyms? Our own Avi Lieu join us for this...

Aug. 9, 2023

Shaun White: The Last Run --- A 50% Facts Review

Snowboard phenom Shaun White faces the end of his storied Olympic career in this Prime Video documentary series. We take a look at the first episode of this four-part series chronicling his start as a skateboarder and surfer and how his whole family...

Aug. 4, 2023

Are top powerlifters ever at 100% when then compete?

This week’s question from our Discord: ChrisAllDownHill asked, “How often are professional powerlifters competing at 100% (physical health)? I feel like I’m always battling some sort of strain, or injury, or discomfort so is it unrealistic to...

Aug. 2, 2023

“Quarterback” on Netflix: A 50% Facts Review

We took a look at the first episode or so of the 8-part Netflix doc series that follows Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota through the 2022 NFL season. Are these three athletes engaging enough to carry a series? Or a winning football...

July 29, 2023

Fitness apps: Do they help or hurt?

We were asked about this via Instagram rather than Discord this time. Tracking apps and “AI” style apps for nutrition and training are being used all over now. What’s our experience been? Do you need to pay for an app to have a good experience?...

July 26, 2023

Should PhDs call themselves “Doctor” when marketing themselves in fitness?

In some states, only specific medical professionals (physicians and surgeons) can use the title “Doctor.” California law is particularly strict about this. Are potential clients confused when other professionals with doctorate degrees use the title,...

July 21, 2023

Who will be the next great athlete who also succeeds in business, media, etc.? | One Good Question

This week’s question from our Discord: Chili72 asked, “Do you ever think there will be another athlete that rivals Shaq in terms of dominating their sport, then continuing to branch out across different areas on at a high level Examples: DJ Diesel,...

July 20, 2023

“Stone Cold” Steve Austin Documentary: A 50% Facts review

Just a couple of times have been able to watch a documentary about someone we’ve met in person and podcasted with. This time it’s Stone Cold Steve Austin. We checked out the Biography Channel documentary on his life and career, which became free on...

July 14, 2023

How to calculate a calorie deficit?

This week’s question from our Discord: Fluffy999 asked: “How should I calculate a caloric deficit? Been struggling to find the perfect amount of calories without starving myself.” Avi Lieu join us for this one. She’s on Instagram at...