BarBend Podcast

Jordan Feigenbaum is an accomplished powerlifter and strength coach and the founder of Barbell Medicine. In 2016, Feigenbaum received his doctorate of medicine from the Eastern Virginia Medical School and has grown Barbell Medicine to accommodate multiple athletes from all walks of life across the globe. In today's episode, we cover how Barbell Medicine is bridging the gap between resistance training and medicine, what the public often gets wrong about pain, where Jordan's favorite "coffice" is, and much more.

Sarah Furman is a figure competitor turned strongman athlete who has witnessed firsthand the sport's massive growth in the United States. We talk training for looks versus performance, the factors attracting more women to strongman competition, and what event organizers need to do to keep competitions fresh and spectator-friendly.

Powerlifter Russel Orhii is rewriting the record books and making us rethink what's possible in his sport. And it's all happened in a few short years. Find out what makes Russel tick, where he thinks the sport is headed next, and his goals — including specific numbers, like an 800 pound deadlift — for the next few years of competition.

Adam Bornstein is a New York Times bestselling author, former Fitness Editor for Men's Health, and advisor to Arnold Schwarzenegger. Today, he spends much of his time as the Chief of Nutrition for Ladder, a supplement company founded by Arnold and Lebron James. We dive deep on issues in the supplement industry, how Adam approaches formulation, and the toughest part about making products tested by Lebron James.

What fuels athletes like Rich Froning, Annie Thorisdottir, and Mattie Rogers? Hint: It's nutrition, backed by science. In under five years, Nick Shaw built Renaissance Periodization from an upstart seller of diet templates into a nutrition empire. He joins us to talk nutrition myths, information fatigue, and the truth about carbs.

For nearly a decade, Heber Cannon directed films for CrossFit HQ and brought the CrossFit Games and culture to a worldwide audience. Today, he's one half of The Buttery Bros, a dynamic duo that travels the world making videos with their favorite athletes. Heber joins us to talk filmmaking, CrossFit HQ layoffs (of which Heber was a part), and the future of CrossFit Games documentaries.

Craig Lindell set out to help people move better; building a global following of more than 500,000 followers almost happened by accident. As one third of "The Prehab Guys," Craig has become one of the world's most followed physical therapists, but it's not always easy creating content that can actually scale to help so many people. Can Craig leverage that visibility to change his industry for the better?In this episode, we talk about the limits of physical therapy, managing expectations, and where the industry NEEDS to evolve in order to help more people achieve their wellness goals.

As BarBend's Fitness Editor, Jake Boly has written literally thousands of articles helping people train smarter. But there's a buzzy term in strength he thinks deserves a closer look: powerbuilding. (Yep, that's "powerlifting" and "bodybuilding" mashed up into one term.) We discuss the methodology and logic behind powerbuilding, specific training elements to keep in mind for maximum impact, and why some folks can have the best of both worlds. This episode is brought to you by Gravitus, an interactive mobile app that lets you track and record workouts written by the top minds in the strength industry.

Phil Andrews has been CEO of USA Weightlifting since early 2016. Under his leadership, America has broken long Olympic and World Championship medal droughts, established itself as an international weightlifting contender, and grown its staff with names like Pyrros Dimas. Of course, it takes a village, and Phil joins us to talk about the different leaders, athletes, and programs behind USAW's journey to the Tokyo Olympics. We also chat anti-doping measures, hosting international competitions, and what America still lacks on the weightlifting front.

Silent Mike broke new ground in the world of fitness content. From the early days putting his life and training online with Mark Bell and Super Training Gym to a successful podcasting career, Mike — real name Mike Farr — wrote the playbook we see so many fitness influencers emulate today. Silent Mike joins us to talk about his personal evolution, what social media did to strength, and some shoutouts he almost never discusses online.

Sean Waxman is one of America's most accomplished — and outspoken — weightlifting coaches. The USA Weightlifting Board Member and Waxman's Gym founder talks about his career and approach to coaching. He also explains the most pressing issue in American weightlifting and shares the story of how he discovered CrossFit, which is one of the most incredible tales we've ever heard on the podcast.

Cole Sager is a CrossFit Games veteran and Spirit of the Games Award Winner. He's a full-time athlete who spends an incredible amount of energy trying to reach people outside the sport. Find out why Cole is so focused on showcasing his life outside the gym, and learn where this former D1 football player (and one-time CrossFit critic) thinks the sport will take him. We also discuss Cole's weightlifting hero and thoughts on the cuts at the 2019 Reebok CrossFit Games.

Steve Cotter didn't invent kettlebells, but it's impossible to talk about their popularity in the Western world without mentioning his name. Since the early 2000s, he's given over 600 seminars and presentations on kettlebell training, in addition to authoring books and producing countless videos for everyone from beginners to competitive athletes. We talk with the coach and IKFF founder about the rise of kettlebells and what so many of us miss about the mental aspect of training.

Tom Boyden is one half of the dynamic duo Juji & Tom. Find out how he partnered with Jujimufu and cracked the code on the way to building one of YouTube's craziest and most successful video channels.

Greg Nuckols, world record setting powerlifter and founder of Stronger By Science, walks us through his unorthodox career, the coolest strength sports, and bridging the gap between studies and what's actually useful in the gym.

Emily Abbate is a veteran fitness journalist who walks the walk (okay, more like runs). She's best known as the creator and host of Hurdle, one of the most popular fitness podcasts in the world. Emily has interviewed fitness icons like Tia-Clair Toomey, spent a day in the life of Rich Froning, and asked tough questions of sports celebrities like Alex Morgan. And she's only getting started.But her fitness cred goes beyond the podcast space. A contributor to Women's Health, Men's Health, GQ, SELF, and many more, Emily has covered almost everything hot, new, and relevant in wellness. That makes her INCREDIBLY good at seeing through the smoke and mirrors to determine what's legit — and what's fluff — in fitness and nutrition. Emily joins the BarBend podcast to discuss the past, present, and future of fitness journalism. She also gives us tips on how to separate the real from the hype online, including which types of fitness influencers to avoid. Emily also opens up about her personal struggles, and how leaning into wellness inspired the creation of Hurdle and fueled its growth.

Brandon Heavey's story is epic: He's a former NASA engineer who, after a personal fitness revelation, decided to change careers and become a fitness trainer. Heavey swapped Mars rovers for squat cycles and never looked back. Now nearly a decade into his second career, he's one half of the husband/wife duo behind Evidence Based Athlete, using his scientific mind to help optimize results for elite athletes and reformed couch potatoes alike. We talk about his transition from the world of space exploration to fitness closer to home (though the conversation also touches on the future of fitness in zero-gravity). We also talk about his successful podcast — publishing weekly for five straight years! — and the problem with most strength training studies. Brandon is one of the most prolific evidence-based trainers and podcasters around, and he shares some serious knowledge here!

James Newbury is the 5th Fittest Man on Earth, a 4-time Australia's Fittest Man, and one of the most cerebral athletes we've ever spoken with. Learn about the changes to training, nutrition, and recovery that catapulted him to his best-ever CrossFit Games result in 2019 — and where James thinks he has even more room to improve. He also gives his thoughts on format changes for the CrossFit Games, including the cut structure that quickly narrowed the field in 2019. Since starting CrossFit in 2011, James Newbury has made a name for himself as one of Australia's best in the sport. He has four Games appearances under his belt, and through consistent improvement and some important changes heading into 2019, James came away with a coveted 5th place finish in Madison. James and David Thomas Tao talk in-depth on the strategies James uses to keep improving, from elevation training to coaching and the mental strategies that keep him going in tough workouts.They also dive into James' life post-Games and his preparation for the 2020 CrossFit Games season.

If you've ever read about fitness and strength training online, chances are you have Tony Gentilcore to thank, at least in part. Tony is a trainer and author who was one of the first to take his thoughts online, creating an early bridge between in-gym experience and the web's fitness community. Back around 2010, there weren’t a ton of places to turn to when it came to learning about the ins and outs of strength training online. But Tony’s name was one that popped up everywhere, a testament to his ability to take real-world experience and translate that into the written word.Tony’s known for a lot of things: He co-founded Cressey Sports Performance in 2007, has trained countless elite athletes in pro sports, and remains one of the most prolific writers in the entire world of strength training.In the days before Instagram, Tony helped mold the blueprint of the trainer-author, paving the way for some of today’s biggest online fitness influencers. He’s someone who excels at combining his real-world coaching experience with the latest evidence and research.Today, Tony still dedicates a huge chunk of his time to training clients in-person at his Massachusetts studio. He’s still a prolific writer, with an active web presence at TonyGentilcore.com, and is also an in-demand speaker for fitness events around the globe. In this episode of The BarBend Podcast, I chat with Tony about what’s changed as strength training becomes increasingly mainstream, along with what too many athletes and coaches are STILL getting wrong when it comes to getting stronger. Here’s a hint: We’re probably overcomplicating things.

There are few people in fitness — much less fitness entrepreneurs — who keep it honest and real like Aaron Hinde. He's an open book, someone who's just as eager to explain the bad as he is to celebrate the good. The Co-Founder and President of LIFEAID Beverage Company — makers of FITAID — Aaron is a constant presence at the CrossFit Games, where his company is one of the sport's most visible sponsors. He counts top athletes and coaches among his friends. But that success didn't come without major sacrifice and some serious "lean times" that left Aaron questioning whether his path was really correct. In this episode of The BarBend Podcast, we talk about LIFEAID's rise from scrappy startup to major fitness player. That includes guerilla marketing campaigns, bootstrapped operations, and trying to build a brand while living from one week to the next.We also dive into how Aaron's background as a clinical chiropractor impacts his perspective even today, allowing him to spot trends in fitness before they take off. Aaron also shares some of his craziest CrossFit Games stories, along with what you might not realize about the world's top CrossFitters. If you want to know what's coming next in fitness, or simply need a dose of perspective when it comes to fitness entrepreneurship, tune in!

Alexandra LaChance has been an elite collegiate gymnast, CrossFit Games athlete, and — most recently — a National Champion weightlifter, winning that title in May 2019. Her progression through sports has fantastic lessons for athletes of all types, particularly when it comes to the demands of strength training."I love CrossFit. I still love CrossFit. I still love doing CrossFit for fun," says LaChance. "Training at the level where you're trying to make the games, your training with other games athletes, training together as a group, I think is the most fun thing I've ever done."In this podcast, Alexandra opens up about the highs and lows of success, especially in CrossFit during a time when that sport was absolutely exploding in popularity. How did her gymnastics background help and hurt her? Why did she make the switch to weightlifting full time, and what are her ultimate goals in that sport?We also talk about overtraining, working through and around injury, and what Alex wishes she'd known about nutrition all along.

Danny Camargo leads one of the largest and most successful weightlifting programs in the United States. Himself a former international-level lifter, Danny's Team Oly Concepts is a major force for the sport here and abroad. He's also gained an increased level of recognition for coaching Mattie Rogers, a World Championships medalist and one of America's most successful elite weightlifters this millennium.But after nearly three decades in the sport of weightlifting, Danny Camargo isn't done leaving his mark. And his position today resulted from a major life decision that, had it gone a different way, could have put Danny's livelihood in jeopardy.In this episode of The BarBend Podcast, Danny and host David Thomas Tao dive deep on the sport's growth, the myth of instant gratification, and what Danny thinks most are getting wrong about athlete-driven training. (Hint: The phrase itself can trigger debate in many weightlifting circles.) We also touch on the pros and cons of remote/satellite coaching and Danny's hopes and trepidations for the future of the sport.

How do you self-identify? What happens when life takes a U-turn and you undergo a fundamental shift in how you operate as a person, athlete, or coach? And how the people around you perceive that shift? Changing your mindset is often the hardest part, but Liz Adams has tackled that issue head on — twice. CrossFit competitor and coach Liz Adams joins us to discuss how mindfulness and mental strength impact our development as people and athletes.Liz shares her story of evolving from one type of athlete to another. She leans on mental strength and mindfulness practice to better understand her own growth as a person. Shifting perspectives and roles in your community is never easy, but Liz provides some great tips on how you can turn a personal shift into a net positive for the people around you.Our conversation focused on self-assessment and being honest with yourself in more ways than one. Whether you're an athlete, a coach, or simply experiencing a shift in life, Liz's experience and insights are helpful in working through major change.

Jake Boly is a writer, powerlifter, and online personality who has written (literally) thousands of articles covering the world of strength sports. He's also BarBend's Fitness Editor and a huge part of our social media team. Over the past three years, Jake has had a ringside seat to one of the biggest issues plaguing the strength community: social media trolls. In this episode of The BarBend Podcast, Jake gives his honest take on the impact trolling has on the strength community, and why so much of that hate is directed at a couple of sports and strength disciplines in particular. We examine the origins of online criticism and how it's shaping today's discourse on strength training, especially the development of new techniques and strategies when it comes to getting stronger. "Every time you post a CrossFit video or a post or an article, whether it be positive, negative, and so forth, there's always at least one troll comment, no matter what," says Jake. "Without fail, there's always one comment."Jake and David also talk about some of the strength athletes they admire most, along with why it's more common to see athletes jump between strength sports in a particular pattern.

Back when CrossFit® was a still budding grassroots community — and when the CrossFit Games took place on a dusty country ranch — Pat Barber made a name for himself as one of its early stars. He taught courses, created some of CrossFit HQ's earliest videos, and competed at the sport's highest levels in a time well before giant endorsement deals. (And live streaming? Forget about it.) Originally from California, Pat was one of the first big name CrossFit personalities to go international, where he played a massive role in growing the methodology and sport in New Zealand and Australia.These days, the 6-time CrossFit Games athlete and Level 4 CrossFit Trainer is still heavily active in the CrossFit community. (By his own estimate, Pat has put roughly 15,000 people through their CrossFit L1 certifications.) In addition to coaching seminars, Pat and his wife Taz run Warmup & Workout, a programming and coaching development platform for gyms around the globe.Pat's in a unique position to give thoughts on the past, present, and future of CrossFit both as a training methodology and sport. Though our conversation covered Pat's optimism for fitness moving forward, we also touch upon some important snags CrossFit — and other fitness methodologies — will continue to face as communities become enmeshed with their online counterparts.

With a nickname like "The Godfather," Dave Spitz is clearly doing something right. The founder and mastermind behind much of California Strength's growth, he's a massive figure in American weightlifting. His team (not to mention his direct coaching) has produced some of the top U.S. lifters in the last decade and helped popularize the sport with an early and huge online following. If you've ever searched the web for lifting motivation and stumbled across videos of Donny Shankle, Jon North, Spencer Moorman, or other Cal Strength athletes, chances are you have Dave to thank.But Dave Spitz is just getting started. In this episode of The BarBend Podcast, we dive deep on a number of topics, including:Cal Strength's growthBeing early YouTube strength pioneersDave's experience coaching NFL stars and prepping college players for the combineDoes the U.S. "lose" top weightlifters to other sports?The Bulgarian SystemWhy Wes Kitts is a once-in-a-decade (or rarer) athlete for Cal Strength

Powerlifter. Coach. Vlogger. Movie star? Bryce Krawczyk's journey in strength started with his desire to bulk up, and it's led him down a pretty incredible path. In this episode, Bryce Krawczyk shares his evolution from complete beginner to world record holding powerlifter and documentary subject in a groundbreaking film. Now a renowned coach and the face behind Calgary Barbell, Bryce is one of Canada's top lifters and ambassadors in strength. It's a journey he hopes will eventually take him to the World Games, a competition Bryce calls the "pinnacle" of powerlifting for athletes around the globe.Bryce and host David Tao also dive deep on misconceptions around the sport of powerlifting — especially when it comes to raw vs. equipped lifting — and why Canadian powerlifters have some of the best nicknames in the sport.

Tom Sroka has done it all — literally. A former standout thrower in track & field, Tom has competed in weightlifting, powerlifting, GRID, and Highland Games competition. He's excelled in each to an impressive degree, making him one of the world's most well-rounded strength athletes, period.Tom's also built a reputation for coaching all levels of strength athletics, particularly when it comes to weightlifting. You can find him at countless national competitions as he trains and develops athletes, often from the ground up.Recently, Tom has developed a passion for — and elite-level skills in — the rising sport of Mas Wrestling, where athletes face opponents one-on-one in something that resembles a cross between deadlifting and tug-of-war. Tom's rise in the sport took him to the World Championships, where he got firsthand experience with the sport's Siberian roots and old school training techniques.

Athletes dedicate their lives to achieving their full potential, or as close to it as possible. So why do so many of us — strength athletes especially — take shortcuts when it comes to recovery? That's the question Will Ahmed, CEO and Founder of WHOOP, set out to address when he was still an undergraduate. WHOOP makes hardware and software to track recovery, performance, and sleep for athletes from the everyday to elite.WHOOP built its brand working with pro athletes in leagues like the NBA and NFL (Kevin Durant is an investor), and now Will and his team have set out to help strength athletes quantify and better manage their recovery, working with athletes like multi-time CrossFit Games Champion Katrin Davidsdottir.

Strongman is one of the most physically demanding — and visually impressive — strength sports on the planet. And perhaps no one has done more to grow the sport's presence online than Kalle Beck.Kalle is the founder of StartingStrongman.com, a fantastic resource covering training in the sport, as well as event results and coverage. And what started as a personal blog — born out of a frustration over the lack of strongman resources online — has evolved into one of strength's more dedicated communities.No one — and I mean no one — has followed the sport more closely over the past decade.But Kalle's goal isn't just to provide online resources for aspiring strongman athletes. He wants to prove that everyone has the potential to participate, not just the 400 pound behemoths we see once a year on television.Find out what drives one of strongman's most visible personalities, along with his motivations and hopes for the sport's continued expansion into the mainstream.StartingStrongman.comBarBend.com

Chad Vaughn is many things: weightlifter, Olympian, father, husband, coach, broadcaster, and mentor. He’s one of the most decorated athletes in American weightlifting history, with more national titles and international team appearances than we can count (seriously). And while Chad is best known for his two Olympic Games appearances — 2004 and 2008 — his career continues to this day in both Senior and Masters competition.In fact, Chad just narrowly missed out on yet another national title in May 2019 — and he did it at age 39. That’s incredible longevity, and while it’s increasingly common to see older lifters competing for Masters titles, it’s rare to see them doing so against competitors 20 years younger.

World record holding powerlifter Emily Hu joins the podcast to talk about training, recovery, and her stint on NBC's "The Titan Games." David and Emily examine the factors that helped her excel so quickly in the sport, along with what's it means for strength sports to go more mainstream.

Active Life Rx Founder Sean Pastuch joins David to discuss what it takes to build a brand in the fitness space. Is working with Instagram influencers good or bad for growing companies? And what's going on behind the scenes of athletes on social media?

Olympic medalist and snatch world record holder Cheryl Haworth talks about finding weightlifting and making the Olympics at age 17. Find out how she's leveraged her time as an athlete to build a career in coaching.

Multi-time CrossFit Games competitor Tim Paulson sits down with David to talk about the huge changes for qualification in 2019. Based out of Ithaca, New York, Tim has been in the CrossFit world since 2012 and at the sport's highest levels since 2017, when he first qualified for the Games. Now a three-time CrossFit Games athlete, Tim is in some very rare and elite company. Tim joins The BarBend Podcast to chat on everything from training volume to the changing landscape of CrossFit Games qualifiers.