BarBend Podcast
299 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 186 ratingsLearn from the top athletes, coaches, and influencers in strength! Each week, the BarBend Podcast brings together some of the world's biggest strength names across weightlifting, powerlifting, CrossFit, strongman, and more. BarBend Editor and Co-Founder David Thomas Tao sits down with the strength community's smartest and strongest minds to with a focus on their learnings through training, competition, and coaching. We dive deep on their journeys and where strength training has taken them. World record holders share their competition secrets. Coaches give their most underrated tips. And top thinkers and researchers from the realm of strength science go deep on their most promising findings. This podcast is the perfect companion for experts and beginners alike, covering a wide range of topics to keep listeners up to date on the world of strength.
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Episodes
Dr. Mike T. Nelson: The Truth About Changing Your Metabolism
December 30, 2019 15:00 - 45 minutes - 31 MBDr. Mike T. Nelson is one of the most knowledgeable people in human performance, and he's got the resume to prove it. Dr. Nelson joins us to talk about metabolic flexibility and how to determine whether your body is more tuned to utilize fat or carbohydrates for fuel. He also discusses the most ignored metabolic pathway for top athletes and tells us what many aspiring CrossFit Games competitors are still getting wrong.
Josh Bridges: Mental Toughness, Dave Castro, and His Competition Future
December 23, 2019 18:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBJosh Bridges is a multi-time CrossFit Games athlete and podium finisher who's also had a remarkable career as a Navy SEAL. (And before Josh's CrossFit Games days, Dave Castro was actually one of his military instructors.) Josh joins us to talk about his time in the SEALs, comparing mental toughness in the military to CrossFit, his favorite athletes to train with, and the massive changes in the CrossFit Games structure and season. We also discuss Josh's recovery from injuries and his competit...
Rob Kearney: Competing Against Giants and Being An Openly Gay Strongman
December 19, 2019 17:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBRob Kearney is a multi-time World's Strongest Man competitor and the 2019 Arnold Australia Strongman champion. He's one of the rising stars in the sport, even while weighing up to 150 pounds less than other top competitors in his division. In addition, Rob is one of the most visible openly gay strength athletes in America. Rob joins us to discuss his training, career goals, and the impact he hopes his success can have on breaking stereotypes and increasing acceptance across sports. Our conv...
Eric Helms: Understanding RPE and Hypertrophy
December 16, 2019 18:00 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBEric Helms, PhD, double masters holder, CSCS, and the current Chief Science Officer of 3DMJ is an incredible source of knowledge in the world of fitness and training. He’s published multiple peer reviewed studies on exercise and nutrition and plays a role in MASS, a monthly research review for strength and physique athletes. In addition to his impressive research background, Eric has coached hundreds of athletes and has dabbled in nearly every strength sport himself. In today’s episode, we ...
Eric Helms: Understanding RPE and Hypertrophy
December 16, 2019 18:00 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBEric Helms, PhD, double masters holder, CSCS, and the current Chief Science Officer of 3DMJ is an incredible source of knowledge in the world of fitness and training. He’s published multiple peer reviewed studies on exercise and nutrition and plays a role in MASS, a monthly research review for strength and physique athletes. In addition to his impressive research background, Eric has coached hundreds of athletes and has dabbled in nearly every strength sport himself. In today’s episode, we ...
Mike Matthews: What You Don't Know About Supplements
December 12, 2019 16:00 - 49 minutes - 34 MBMike Matthews is the CEO of Legion Athletics and bestselling writer of numerous fitness books. He's also a no-BS kind of guy who isn't afraid to call out what he thinks are shortcomings in the supplement industry. Mike joins us for a candid conversation that touches on beginner gains, marketing falsehoods, and the limits of natural performance.
Kenny Santucci: How to Learn Forever and Strong New York
December 09, 2019 16:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBKenny Santucci is a coach, actor, and athlete who first gained fame in the world of reality TV. Now, through the Strong New York event series, he's bringing together top minds from around the strength world to present and share knowledge under one roof. The Strong New York founder joins us to talk about building fitness experiences, the athletes who inspire us the most, and how we can turn learning into a lifelong pursuit.
James FitzGerald: 1st Men's CrossFit Games Champ Talks Optimal Performance
December 05, 2019 13:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBJames FitzGerald was the first-ever men's CrossFit Games Champion, winning the inaugural competition in 2007. He's also the founder of OPEX and one of the world's most in-demand experts on coaching mindset and training. We talk about the early days of CrossFit competition, "waking up" the coaching industry, and the origins of James' famous "OPT" moniker.
James Fitzgerald: 1st Men's CrossFit Games Champ Talks Optimal Performance
December 05, 2019 13:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBJames Fitzgerald was the first-ever men's CrossFit Games Champion, winning the inaugural competition in 2007. He's also the founder of OPEX and one of the world's most in-demand experts on coaching mindset and training. We talk about the early days of CrossFit competition, "waking up" the coaching industry, and the origins of James' famous "OPT" moniker.
Jordan Syatt: World Record Deadlifts and the Great Calorie Debate
December 02, 2019 16:00 - 42 minutes - 28.9 MBJordan Syatt is a record-setting powerlifter and content producer who's best known to many as Gary Vaynerchuk's personal trainer. We sit down to talk about sacrificing everything to reach lifting goals, the psychological components of fitness, and the number one thing everyone in fitness can do to improve their communication skills. Jordan also shares a personal story of how Westside Barbell kept him from dropping out of college.
Dr. Jordan Shallow: Your Warmup Is Broken
November 25, 2019 15:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBAccording to Dr. Jordan Shallow, the way we warm up — and the way most people think about movement — is fundamentally broken. The chiropractor, internationally competitive powerlifter, and presenter joins us to talk about the root cause of injuries, how we can prep our bodies to move better, and why the human body wants to operate "like lightning."
Chad Wesley Smith: 900 Pound Squats and the Ultimate Strength Debate
November 21, 2019 15:00 - 41 minutes - 28.5 MBChad Wesley Smith has squatted over 900 pounds, started one of the world's most respected strength centers, and built an AI-powered system for training programs. Now, the Juggernaut Training Systems founder reflects on a decade of growth and talks about how artificial intelligence is helping his team train more athletes with greater precision.
Dr. Jordan Feigenbaum: What We Get Wrong About Pain
November 18, 2019 17:00 - 57 minutes - 39.9 MBJordan 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 "coffic...
Sarah Furman: Finding Unconventional Strength
November 14, 2019 16:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBSarah 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.
Russel Orhii: Powerlifting's Next Big Thing
November 11, 2019 14:00 - 35 minutes - 24.2 MBPowerlifter 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: The Mastermind Behind Lebron & Arnold's Supplements
November 07, 2019 21:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MBAdam 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.
Nick Shaw: Building a Nutrition Empire
November 04, 2019 21:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBWhat 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.
Heber Cannon: Fitness Life with a Buttery Bro
October 31, 2019 13:00 - 34 minutes - 23.8 MBFor 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: Can We Fix Physical Therapy?
October 28, 2019 14:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBCraig 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, a...
Jake Boly: The Ultimate Guide to Powerbuilding
October 24, 2019 15:00 - 34 minutes - 23.7 MBAs 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 ...
Phil Andrews: What's Next for USA Weightlifting
October 21, 2019 17:00 - 37 minutes - 25.7 MBPhil 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,...
The Life and Times of Silent Mike
October 17, 2019 14:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBSilent 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: Where Does Weightlifting Go From Here?
October 14, 2019 17:00 - 33 minutes - 22.9 MBSean 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: Can He Change Your Life?
October 10, 2019 16:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBCole 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: Kettlebell Culture and Upping Your Mental Game
October 07, 2019 16:00 - 39 minutes - 27.3 MBSteve 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: Tricking, Jujimufu, and the New Age of Fitness Media
October 03, 2019 15:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBTom 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: A Better Way to Approach Strength Research
September 30, 2019 14:00 - 40 minutes - 27.9 MBGreg 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: What We Need in Fitness Journalism
September 26, 2019 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBEmily 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,...
Emily Abbate: What We Need in Fitness Journalism
September 26, 2019 15:00 - 35 minutes - 24.5 MBEmily 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,...
From NASA to Fitness with Brandon Heavey
September 23, 2019 15:00 - 34 minutes - 24 MBBrandon 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 spac...
James Newbury: What It Takes to Succeed in CrossFit
September 19, 2019 12:00 - 31 minutes - 22 MBJames 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...
James Newbury: What It Takes to Succeed in CrossFit
September 19, 2019 12:00 - 31 minutes - 22 MBJames 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...
Tony Gentilcore: What's Really Important in Strength
September 16, 2019 14:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBIf 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 t...
Fitness, Change, and Sacrifice with FITAID's Aaron Hinde
September 12, 2019 12:00 - 33 minutes - 22.8 MBThere 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 ...
Alexandra LaChance: From the CrossFit Games to Weightlifting National Champion
September 09, 2019 15:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBAlexandra 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 g...
Athlete Driven Success with Danny Camargo
September 05, 2019 18:00 - 33 minutes - 23.1 MBDanny 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 l...
Mental Strength with Liz Adams
September 02, 2019 20:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBHow 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 ...
Strength Trolls and Social Media with Jake Boly
August 29, 2019 15:00 - 40 minutes - 27.7 MBJake 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 s...
CrossFit's Past, Present, and Future with Pat Barber
August 26, 2019 18:00 - 44 minutes - 30.6 MBBack 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, wher...
The Pinnacle of Cal Strength with Dave Spitz
August 23, 2019 23:00 - 33 minutes - 23.2 MBWith 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, S...
Powerlifting Fact and Fiction with Bryce Krawczyk
August 21, 2019 15:00 - 32 minutes - 22.2 MBPowerlifter. 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...
Lasting Strength and Mas Wrestling with Tom Sroka
August 14, 2019 21:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBTom 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 ath...
What You're Missing About Recovery with WHOOP CEO Will Ahmed
August 13, 2019 15:00 - 33 minutes - 22.7 MBAthletes 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 NB...
The Evolution of Strongman with Kalle Beck
August 06, 2019 00:00 - 43 minutes - 29.8 MBStrongman 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 c...
From Olympian to Coach with Chad Vaughn
July 30, 2019 23:00 - 38 minutes - 26.4 MBChad 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 ...
World Records and Game Show TV with Emily Hu
July 13, 2019 20:00 - 32 minutes - 22.6 MBWorld 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.
Weightlifting's Future with Olympic Medalist Cheryl Haworth
July 13, 2019 20:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MBOlympic 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.
Building a Fitness Brand with Sean Pastuch
July 13, 2019 20:00 - 34 minutes - 23.9 MBActive 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?
How the CrossFit Games Are Changing with Tim Paulson
July 12, 2019 20:00 - 45 minutes - 31.1 MBMulti-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 qual...