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Episodes

Lift to the same standard or don’t compare your lifts? | Topic Thunder
April 7, 2023

Lift to the same standard or don’t compare your lifts? | Topic Thunder

Joe pitched this one from one of his followers: You can lift anyway you want, but you can’t compare your lifts to anyone else’s if they are not to the same standard. Can you really compare lifts across federations or different equipment standards?...
Rewind: @Trippadvice on where to meet girls
April 4, 2023

Rewind: @Trippadvice on where to meet girls

We’re still on a production break for a couple of weeks or so due to a trip out of the country, so we’re revisiting some valuable episodes from the beginning (and original format) of the show. (Plus, you get to hear us to an ad read we didn’t have...
Do audio books count as reading? | Topic Thunder
March 31, 2023

Do audio books count as reading? | Topic Thunder

Joe Stanek (@joe_gameday) sat in as guest host on this one, along with Mike, Nico (@nicoflores83kg), and Elexa (@nanoo31). ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag...
Rewind: Dr. Mike Israetel on nutrient timing
March 29, 2023

Rewind: Dr. Mike Israetel on nutrient timing

We’re on a production break for a couple of weeks or so due to a trip out of the country, so we’re revisiting some valuable episodes from the beginning (and original format) of the show. (Plus, you get to hear us to an ad read we didn’t have time to...
Is texting cheating? | Topic Thunder
March 24, 2023

Is texting cheating? | Topic Thunder

Joe Stanek (@joe_gameday) sat in as guest host on this one, along with Mike, Nico (@nicoflores83kg), and Elexa (@nanoo31). ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag...
Physical 100 on NetFlix: Gimmick or a good look for fitness?
March 22, 2023

Physical 100 on NetFlix: Gimmick or a good look for fitness?

Netflix recently dropped the South Korean fitness competition series “Physical 100.” The premise? Collect 100 athletes — mostly Korean and all Korean-speaking — from many different disciplines and put them through multiple rounds of strength and...
What does the perfect powerlifting federation look like for you?
March 17, 2023

What does the perfect powerlifting federation look like for you?

Deadlift bar or stiff bar? Twenty-four hour weigh-in or two-hour weigh-in? Owned by lifters or owned by an individual? These are some of the factors on which lifter preferences differ. What do we, or more specifically Avi Leiu, think would be her...
Avi wins the Arnold!
March 15, 2023

Avi wins the Arnold!

But what does it really mean to be a pro? What could federations do to make the pro rank more prestigious and more financially feasible? Avi and her coach, Michael Kieu, joined us in Columbus the day after the meet to break down these questions, and...
Relationships hurt your gains? | Topic Thunder
March 10, 2023

Relationships hurt your gains? | Topic Thunder

Do athletes perform better when they’re not in a relationship? Niko and Elexa joined us again, for this particularly relevant question. You can find Nico at http://instagram.com/nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok and Elexa at @nanoo31 on...
JP Gallardo, Evan Holmes, and John Nealon
March 8, 2023

JP Gallardo, Evan Holmes, and John Nealon

We’re joined by bodybuilding coach and huge (3 million!) TikTok influencer, JP Gallardo, another coach and social media content creator, Evan Holmes, and Hoka shoe designer John Nealon. Barbell Brigade’s Nadeem Hamidy also joins near the end. We...
Most overrated shoe? | Topic Thunder
March 3, 2023

Most overrated shoe? | Topic Thunder

The question: Are Jordan Ones the most overrated shoe? Niko and Elexa joined us for this one. You can find Nico at http://instagram.com/nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok and Elexa at @nanoo31 on Instagram and TikTok ____ Have a question...
Do golfers need to be jacked? | Full Swing documentary | PGA vs LIV
March 1, 2023

Do golfers need to be jacked? | Full Swing documentary | PGA vs LIV

The Netflix documentary series “Full Swing” takes a look at the struggles players go through to end up in the money on the PGA tour, and a new alternative format where everyone gets paid regardless of performance. There was a time when golfers just...
Would we ever try strongman? Guest Omar Isuf | One good question
Feb. 24, 2023

Would we ever try strongman? Guest Omar Isuf | One good question

One good question from our Discord (https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq): Bronzielocks asks: Would you ever try doing strongman? That would be a cool series to see, kind of like when you did the oly series. Our best-est friend from north of...
Omar Isuf
Feb. 23, 2023

Omar Isuf

Our best-est friend from north of the border joins us in studio. Omar has been a force in YouTube fitness for years, and last year he led “Ancient Workouts with Omar” in association with the History Channel. We launched into a broad discussion...
Deadlifts are not worth the risks? | Topic Thunder
Feb. 17, 2023

Deadlifts are not worth the risks? | Topic Thunder

We’re still in Topic Thunder mode this week. Our panel tries to find agreement (or not) with the suggestion that training deadlifts the risks if you’re not a competitive powerlifter. Are they actually dangerous? Or are there just better ways to...
Guest: Omar Isuf
Hook grip is unreliable? | Topic Thunder
Feb. 15, 2023

Hook grip is unreliable? | Topic Thunder

We’re still in Topic Thunder mode this week. Our panel unpacks this hot take, “Hook grip Is unreliable and may be overrated.” Hook grip is a bandwagon that most lifters jump on at one time or another to try to up their deadlift. Is that a...
Things NOT to overlook when you’re planning a meet | Topic Thunder
Feb. 10, 2023

Things NOT to overlook when you’re planning a meet | Topic Thunder

Our panel takes on a couple of related questions about the giant meet we just ran from members of our Discord: AR17 asked, “What do you believe was the most under (over) looked aspect of running/ prepping a meet?” Keith Honeycutt asked, “What...
Powerlifting has become a meme? | Topic Thunder
Feb. 8, 2023

Powerlifting has become a meme? | Topic Thunder

We just hosted a great big meet – maybe the largest local USAPL meet ever – and we’re beat so we’re slipping into Topic Thunder mode for a bit to recover our calm and our voices. Topic Thunder episodes are short, sometimes rant-filled, panel...
Do you need a mentor? | One Good Question
Feb. 2, 2023

Do you need a mentor? | One Good Question

This week’s question from our Discord: EvilFern asked, “How important is having a mentor? Am I missing out by not having one? Feel like it's something that should happen naturally instead of seeking one out somehow.” Joe Stanek of Gameday...
Our best and worst takes on what powerlifting looks like in 5 years Guest: Joe Stanek
Feb. 1, 2023

Our best and worst takes on what powerlifting looks like in 5 years Guest: Joe Stanek

Joe Stanek of Gameday Barbell joins us for this discussion. You can find Joe on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@thejoestanek ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag...
Ground turkey vs ground beef vs ground chicken | One Good Question
Jan. 27, 2023

Ground turkey vs ground beef vs ground chicken | One Good Question

This week’s question from our Discord: ArrogantFool asked, “Why do people use ground turkey instead of ground beef to lose weight when the macros and calories are nearly identical and there isn't a cost advantage?” We kinda misread this question...
The Pandora’s Box of Powerlifting
Jan. 25, 2023

The Pandora’s Box of Powerlifting

Where’s the line between holding an organization accountable for turning a blind eye to unspeakable acts and stirring an angry mob to chase Frankenstein’s monster with torches and pitchforks? (Are there any more metaphors we can muddle here?) Can...
Can you be too talented to need a coach? | NetFlix Doc series Break Point
Jan. 18, 2023

Can you be too talented to need a coach? | NetFlix Doc series Break Point

Dean Saddoris is back to help us break down the first episode of the new Netflix documentary series “Break Point,” which documents up-and-coming tennis stars during the 2022 Grand Slam season. Gifted “bad boy” Nick Kyrgios and his play during the...
Most people give low effort in the gym? | Topic Thunder
Jan. 13, 2023

Most people give low effort in the gym? | Topic Thunder

This episode is about reacting to a hot take that was sent to us: Most people are putting in such low effort in the gym, it’s a waste of time! Our own Kyle Castro and Sebastian Brambila on Instagram join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram...