Latest Episode
4 Years from Weightlifting Newb to American Record Contender (w/Mary Theisen-Lappen)
Today I'm catching up with American weightlifter Mary Theisen-Lappen. A former collegiate thrower (track & field), Mary found weightlifting about four years ago through a USA Weightlifting recruitment program. Since then, she's made astounding progress in the sport and is...
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Join the Smartest Minds In Strength
Learn from the top athletes, coaches, and influencers in strength! Each week, BarBend Editor and Co-Founder David Thomas Tao sits down with the strength community’s smartest and strongest minds to get their thoughts on training, competition, and coaching. World record holders share their competition secrets. Coaches give their favorite tips. And top thinkers and researchers from the realm of strength science go deep on their most promising findings.
More Episodes
How I Switched from Powerlifting to Bodybuilding (with Amanda Kohatsu)
Today I’m chatting with a repeat guest on the BarBend Podcast: Powerlifter turned (now professional) bodybuilding competitor Amanda Kohatsu. Amanda originally made a name for herself in strength through her powerlifting accomplishments. But
Margaux Alvarez: The CrossFit Games, Wine, and Long Drive Competitions (Podcast)
Margaux Alvarez is a 7-time CrossFit Games athlete, long drive competitor, coach, and wine entrepreneur. She’s one of the most multi-talented personalities in fitness, and her future in CrossFit — and beyond —
Bouncing Back from Triceps Rupture and Testicular Cancer (w/Rob Kearney)
Today I’m chatting with strongman Rob Kearney, who joins the BarBend Podcast for a second time. (Rob is also a BarBend contributor.) Rob has been through a lot in the past two years,
2021’s Biggest Strength Stories (Podcast)
Today on the BarBend Podcast, we welcome two of the BarBend Team’s finest: Managing Editor Andrew Gutman and Senior Writer Phil Blechman. We dive into our favorite strength stories, feats, records, and competitions
17 Year-Old Weightlifting World Champion (with Hampton Morris)
Hey folks, we have a short and sweet one for you. Today I’m talking to American weightlifter Hampton Morris. Just 17 years old, Hampton has an athletic resume that is nothing short of
Heather Connor: What We’re Getting Wrong About Injuries
Heather Connor is a 2-time IPF World Champion and the first female IPF powerlifter to deadlift 4 times her bodyweight raw. Heather joins us to talk about the injury that sidelined her for
Treat Your Training Like a Stock Portfolio (w/Graciano Rubio)
Today I’m talking to weightlifter, CrossFitter, pro strongman, financial advisor, and coach Graciano Rubio, best known online as the Wall Street Weightlifter. He’s also the owner of CrossFit Valley View. In today’s episode,
The First Time He Deadlifted, He Pulled 500 Pounds (with Andy Huang)
Today I’m talking to powerlifter Andy Huang, perhaps better known online as That Huge Asian Guy. Andy has put up some of the world’s all-time great totals at 275 lbs bodyweight, and after
How Long It Takes to Become World’s Strongest Woman (w/Donna Moore)
Today I’m talking to Donna Moore, a British legend in the sport of strongman and a three-time World’s Strongest Woman and atlas stone record holder. Donna has been competing in strongman since 2012,
Why We Lie to Ourselves About Fitness (w/ James FitzGerald)
Today we have a rare repeat podcast guest, James Fitzgerald. James was the first-ever men’s champion at the CrossFit Games – back in 2007 — and since then he’s built a reputation as
Jen Widerstrom: From “American Gladiators” to Go-To Trainer (Podcast)
From the BarBend Podcast Classic archives: Jen Widerstrom rose to the national spotlight as a star on “American Gladiators,” but after the show was canceled, a career in the fitness industry didn’t happen
The Secret to Strength Commentary (w/Big Loz)
Today I’m talking to legendary strongman competitor Laurence Shahlaei, better known in the strength community as Big Loz. Loz has a storied strongman career, having competed in more than 10 World’s Strongest Man
