#426 What Powerlifting Judges See (But Never Tell You) | Valerie Smith

Jun 29, 2026

You aren't truly learning how to lift until someone forces you to pull the slack out of a stiff bar with an opener that’s completely out of your league.

For multi-time world champion Valerie Smith, transitioning from a decade in corporate HR to the elite tiers of Master's powerlifting meant trading worst-case scenario...

#425 We've Broken Our Natural Hormones to Survive the Modern World | Mike Stratton

Jun 22, 2026

Your body naturally produces testosterone, but it doesn't make the gallons of coffee you are using to survive a modern, unsustainable lifestyle.

Mike Stratton built a multi-million dollar health optimization empire from the ground up, yet he nearly killed himself in the process by abandoning his own health to keep the...

#424 You Learn More From One Loss Than 100 Wins | Phil Daru

Jun 18, 2026

Most people think discipline is about pushing harder, but Phil Daru argues that real growth begins the moment failure exposes the flaws in your plan.

From coaching UFC champions and elite performers to nearly destroying his body attempting a 150-mile ruck, Phil’s most valuable lessons didn’t come from victory—they...

#423 Powerlifting's Dirty Secret (The Real Freaks Haven't Arrived) | Matt Levine

Jun 15, 2026

The elite coaches dominating the fitness industry aren’t out-programming you; they are out-communicating you.

For twenty years, Matt Levine didn’t just survive the brutal meat grinder of competitive powerlifting—he used its systemic failures to rewrite the rules of modern strength education. Now, he’s lifting...

#422 The Barbell Giveth, and the Barbell Taketh Away | Jim Wendler, Matt Rhodes, & Vincent Dizenzo

Jun 11, 2026

If you think your current training routine is built for longevity, you are lying to yourself about what decades under a heavy barbell actually does to the human frame.

For over twenty years, Jim Wendler, Matt Rhodes, and Vincent Dizenzo chased the white rabbit of absolute strength through the unforgiving gauntlet of...