I (Joshua Gibson) interview elite level weightlifters, coaches, and experts in the field of strength and power development.
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A light-hearted take on many topics loosely related to Powerlifting. We cover training advice, coaching, nutrition, injury management, performance enhancing drugs, psychology, general sport science as well as featuring some of the finest strength athletes in Ireland and the world.
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Step into the exhilarating vortex of the "Weird and Strong Podcast," where the extraordinary is the norm and strength comes in fascinating forms! We're not just a podcast; we're a movement, dedicated to casting a spotlight on the awe-inspiring individuals who dare to make waves in the vast ocean of the ordinary. Our guests hail from every corner of the human mosaic, and they're here to jolt your senses, challenge your perceptions, and leave an indelible mark on your understanding of what it ...
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Ep. 289: How Heavy Should You Train? | Jessie Stemo
1:01:37
1:01:37
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1:01:37Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Jessie will present on her experiences as an elite athlete, elite weightlifting coach, and the CEO of Power and Grace Performance! Register here for an early bird discount: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Jessie: https://www.instagram.com/jessiestemo/ https://powerandgraceperformance.c…
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Ep. 288: Unlocking Human Potential | Scott Barry Kaufman
59:03
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59:03Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a psychologist, professor at Columbia University, best-selling author, and host of The Psychology Podcast. His work has reshaped how we think about intelligence, creativity, and self-actualization—and in this conversation, he brings those ideas to life. In this episode, we explore topics like reframing trauma, overcoming …
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Ep. 287: How Many Sets & Reps to Build Size | Jake Remmert, PhD(c)
1:10:35
1:10:35
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1:10:35Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Jake will present on the development of muscle hypertrophy. Register here to attend the greatest online Strength Power event in 2025: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Jake: https://www.instagram.com/jake.remmert_coach/ https://www.jakeremmert.com/ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ja…
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Ep. 286: Slow Progressions, Creative Programming & Competition Debriefs | Jessie Stemo
42:12
42:12
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42:12Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Jessie will present on her experiences as an elite athlete, elite weightlifting coach, and the CEO of Power and Grace Performance! Register here for an early bird discount: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Jessie: https://www.instagram.com/jessiestemo/ https://powerandgraceperformance.c…
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Ep. 285: Basics of Speed Training & Conditioning | Chris Taber, PhD
39:54
39:54
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39:54Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Chris will present on power development for athletes. Register here for an early bird discount: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Email Chris to express interest in Lori S. Bigelow scholarship: [email protected] Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/drchristaber/ https://www.researchg…
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Ep. 284: Six Keys to Enhance Psychological Well-Being & Resilience | Steven Hayes, PhD
1:11:57
1:11:57
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1:11:57Steven Hayes returns to the podcast! If you're unfamiliar with his work, he is one of the most cited psychologists in the world, publishing 47 books and over 700 journal articles. In addition to his prolific publications, he's the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and has played a massive hand in developing the Psychological Fle…
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Ep. 283: Tempo Variations and Long-term Planning | Jessie Stemo, CEO Power & Grace
1:06:11
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1:06:11Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Jessie will present on her experiences as an elite athlete, elite weightlifting coach, and the CEO of Power and Grace Performance! Register here for an early bird discount: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Jessie: https://www.instagram.com/jessiestemo/ https://powerandgraceperformance.c…
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Ep. 282: What is Sport Science? | Andrew Stuart, PhD(c)
1:12:49
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1:12:49Andrew Stuart and I first met at the NSCA conference in Baltimore, Maryland. At the time, we discussed his role as the Assistant Director of the Athletic Performance Lab at Nebraska, his experience with US Speed Skating, and how weightlifting fits into the broader picture of performance. In this episode, we explore some fundamental questions in the…
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Ep. 281: The Keys to Building a Coaching Business | Zack Bartell, SoCal Powerlifting
1:10:05
1:10:05
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1:10:05Zack Bartell got his start in athletics, developing an insane level of strength while training for football and, eventually, powerlifting. Fast forward nearly a decade, and he's turned that passion for training into building an incredibly successful in-person gym called SoCal Powerlifting. Through that process, he's built his own business and exper…
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Ep. 280: Guided Imagery & Mindfulness to Improve Health and Performance | Peter Giacobbi, PhD
59:32
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59:32Dr. Peter Giacobbi and I first met in a bar where we ended up discussing various philosophical interests and ways of understanding the world. Little did I know I was talking to one of the foremost experts in sport psychology and guided imagery. Since that fateful day, he's become a member of my dissertation committee and enlightened me to the many …
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Ep. 279: The Science of Competition Coaching | Chris Taber, PhD
1:03:57
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1:03:57You're in the backroom with your athlete and they just smoked their opener. As they walk off the stage, you need to figure out how many kilos to bump up. Is there a science to attempt selection? Is it all based on intuition? Is it both? In this episode, Chris details his recent work examining the jumps elite weightlifters take in competition and ho…
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Ep. 278: All Things Strength Development | Tim Suchomel, PhD
1:07:32
1:07:32
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1:07:32Strength is a hot commodity in the sport of weightlifting. Every coach and athlete will claw and scratch for every kilo they can add to their squats, pulls, and presses. This is for good reason - strength underpins all forms of movement. So, the question becomes, what's the best way to develop it, and is it even that important in the first place? L…
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Ep. 277: Training Talks w/Max Aita | Top Pull Variations, High/Low Days, & Creating Your System
56:28
56:28
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56:28Many athletes struggle with similar aspects of the lifts. This is because snatches and cleans will always be snatches and cleans, without much external unpredictability. Pull variations are intended to emphasize phases of the lift that must be trained perfectly. How you program these movements, including high and low stress days, to your specific p…
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Ep. 276: Training Talks w/Max Aita | Rethinking Program Design
1:10:50
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1:10:50The longer you write programs, the less they look like templatized, cookie-cutter 12-week blocks. Eventually, the programs morph into something more akin to something found in the Russian manuals. This is due to the critical nature of training volume, intensity, and exercise selection driving the adaptive response. Blanket prescriptions (5x5) go th…
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Ep. 275: The Keys to Great Leadership | Steph Mock Grubbs, MLB S&C Coach
43:22
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43:22Steph Mock Grubbs hails from Pennsylvania, spending the last four years as the Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Performance at the University of Pittsburgh. As of 2025, she's accepted a position as a MLB Strength Coach with the Houston Astros, taking her understanding of S&C, sport science, and leadership to H-Town. In this episode of the pod…
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Ep. 274: Derek Miles, DPT | No Silly BS, Training for Power After Injury, & Being More Disagreeable
1:01:42
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1:01:42Derek Miles, DPT, is a no silly BS rehab specialist who runs his own physical therapy clinic (Miles Rehab and Performance) in Cincinnati, Ohio, and works on the Pain and Rehab team for Barbell Medicine. In this episode, we discuss many pain and rehab-related topics, how to become more disagreeable when communicating science, training for power afte…
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Ep. 273: Austin Baraki, MD | What the Health "Optimization" Gurus Get WRONG
1:31:15
1:31:15
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1:31:15Austin Baraki should be a household name. Aside from being a kickass Internal Medicine Physician, he's a member of the Barbell Medicine team where he puts out some of the highest quality information related to health, nutrition, physical activity, and rehab. In this episode of the podcast, Austin and I discuss the concept of health (i.e., what is g…
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Ep. 272: Olivia Reeves | Olympic & World Champion
52:39
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52:39I welcome Olivia Reeves back on the podcast! She was previously on episodes 219 & 236, where we discussed her background in the sport, her thoughts on making it to the Olympics, and what it would take to reach the podium. In this episode, we relive her Olympic victory, where she took gold in the 71 kg class at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. But that…
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Ep. 271: Predicting Weightlifting Trends in 2025 | Seb Ostrowicz, Weightlifting House
1:13:59
1:13:59
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1:13:592024 was one heck of a year for weightlifting. Olivia Reeves won Olympic gold, Karlos Nasar stole our hearts (thanks, Weightlifting House), China won 5 Olympic golds, and the sport doesn't seem to be slowing down. In this episode of the podcast, I was joined by the one and only Seb Ostrowicz, founder of Weightlifting House. Seb and I discuss the pa…
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Ep. 270: Should Weightlifters Jump? (How to Program Plyometrics) | Chris Taber, PhD
44:03
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44:03Chris Taber, PhD in Sport Physiology, joins me yet again to tackle training questions through a science-informed lens. During this episode of the podcast, we discuss flywheel training, jumps, plyometrics, and how to program power-based movements. Enjoy Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/drchristaber/ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christ…
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Ep. 269: Meredith Alwine | Worlds, Retirement, & Future Plans
56:20
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56:20Meredith Alwine is one of the most decorated weightlifters in the USA. She's a 3x Pan American Champion, 2021 World Champion, and Junior World silver medalist. Along with being an incredible athlete, she's also an avid thinker, finding her love of philosophy at thirteen years old. Join us as we discuss Meredith's most recent performance at Worlds, …
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Ep. 268: Coaching at Two Olympic Games, Leaving Power & Grace, and High School S&C | Spencer Arnold
45:51
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45:51Spencer Arnold has coached at two Olympic Games, helped produce countless D1 athletes, and continues to leave his mark in the sports performance world. Listen in as we discuss his experience at the Paris Games, why he decided to step down from Power and Grace, and how Hebron Christian manages to produce so many elite athletes. This is an episode yo…
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Ep. 267: Science of the Jerk and Overhead Pressing Derivatives for Weightlifting and S&C | Marcos Soriano, PhD
1:08:55
1:08:55
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1:08:55Marcos Soriano is a PhD working in both academia and athletics. He has been conducting and publishing some of the coolest research in weightlifting, all centered around understanding performance. Listen to this episode of the podcast as we explore the split jerk and weightlifting overhead pressing derivatives. This includes the role of the press, p…
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Ep. 266: Personality of Elite Coaches, Long-term Planning, and Max's Biceps
58:43
58:43
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58:43"Good coaching is thinking in patterns and not pieces." This is a quote that has stuck with me since I heard it on the On Coaching podcast. Long-term planning is a process of managing the patterns in training, attempting to produce the best competition result when it's needed. CoachLogik has really pushed a long-term planner that was part of the im…
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Ep. 265: 3 sets of 10, Strategic Variation, and Programming Mistakes
1:03:47
1:03:47
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1:03:47Max and I were definitely in a mood when we recorded this episode of the podcast. When we started spitballing topics before the show, we couldn't come up with much. Unsurprisingly, this turned out to be one of the best episodes yet. Listen in as we discuss Coaches College, 3 sets of 10, principles of programming, the biggest mistakes we've made, an…
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Ep. 264: Building a Big Squat, Moving Weight Classes, & Dreaming Big | Dani Myers Glynn
1:06:33
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1:06:33Dani Myers Glynn is a powerlifter in the USAPL. She's competed across two different weight classes, soon to be three, qualifying and placing in the top 10 for the last three years in both the 100 + and 100 kg categories. By day, she is an HR specialist, and by night, she is one of the strongest people in the country. Listen in as we discuss the Arn…
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Ep. 263: Three Principles of Coaching Greatness
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47:07In this episode, Max and I dive into the fundamentals of effective coaching, breaking down our three key principles: rapid iteration, utilizing tools over rigid schools of thought, and the importance of execution. Enjoy! Follow Max and sign up for the CoachLogik beta: https://www.instagram.com/max_aita/ https://app.coachlogik.com/login Follow me an…
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Ep. 262: Revolutionizing Cognitive Therapy | David Burns, M.D.
2:01:37
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2:01:37This was the most meaningful podcast that I've recorded to date, as I was joined by the legend Dr. David Burns. David is a psychiatrist and author known for his contributions to cognitive behavioral therapy. His book "Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy" explores the philosophical underpinnings of how our thoughts influence our emotions and behavior…
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Ep. 261: The Art of Successful Remote Coaching
59:56
59:56
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59:56I am once again joined by the magnificent Max Aita, this time to discuss remote coaching. We chat about the Xs and Os of successful remote coaching, including the importance of inter- and intrapersonal skills, thinking in patterns and not pieces, and where intuition fits in. Enjoy. Follow Max and sign up for the CoachLogik beta: https://www.instagr…
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Ep: 260: Favorite Exercises, Training Too Light, & Improving the Squat | Max Aita
55:43
55:43
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55:43The podcast is BACK and this week I am joined by the great Max Aita. We discuss programming after a competition, training too light, our favorite exercises, and the state of CoachLogik. Enjoy. Follow Max and sign up for the CoachLogik beta: https://www.instagram.com/max_aita/ https://app.coachlogik.com/login Follow me and get coaching: https://www.…
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Ep. 259: Hormones, Subjective Questionnaires, and Philosophy of Science | Drake Eserhaut, PhD (c)
52:21
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52:21We wrote a book! You can pick up your copy here: Weightlifter's Guide to the Clean and Jerk Drake Eserhaut is a PhD student at the University of Kansas, where he studies the endocrine response to exercise and sport, specifically including blood flow restriction training for strength and power athletes. In this episode, we discuss subject and object…
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Ep. 258: Clean and Jerk Masterclass | Chris Taber, PhD
53:43
53:43
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53:43We wrote a book! You can pick up your copy here: Weightlifter's Guide to the Clean and Jerk Follow Chris: https://www.instagram.com/drchristaber/ https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christopher-Taber Follow me and get coaching: https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/ Weightlifting House: https://www.weightliftinghouse.com/ code PHILWL for 10% off O…
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Ep. 257: Strength and Conditioning at the Olympic Training Center | Ambrose Serrano, MSc
1:02:55
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1:02:55Ambrose Serrano is currently the Lead Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Winter Olympic athletes training at the Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Lake Placid, NY. In this episode, we discuss the OTC's S&C structure, Ambrose's day-to-day responsibilities, advice for new S&C professionals, and what Ambrose looks for when hiring new coache…
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Ep. 256: Regional Hypertrophy: What the Science Says | Alex Long, PhD
1:00:30
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1:00:30Alex Long is a recent graduate of ETSU, earning his PhD in Sport Physiology studying the physiological adaptations following a strength endurance block performed with accentuated eccentric loading or traditional resistance training. In this episode, we discuss Alex's research line, particularly training-induced morphological adaptations in skeletal…
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Ep. 255: Meg Stone | 2x Olympian & 1st Female D1 Strength Coach
1:05:32
1:05:32
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1:05:32Meg Stone is a titan in athletics; going to two Olympic Games and becoming the NCAA's first female D1 head strength coach. In this episode, we discuss Meg's background as an athlete and a coach and her experiences as a female in the strength and conditioning profession - particularly with D1 football in the 1980s. Follow the ETSU Center of Excellen…
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Ep. 254: The Secret to Great Coaching | Christian Carter, PhD
1:37:25
1:37:25
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1:37:25Christian Carter received his PhD from East Tennessee State University, where he studied accentuated eccentric loading and assisted with the weightlifting team, women's soccer, and men's and women's golf teams. He is currently the Director of Strength and Conditioning for Olympic Sports at James Madison University. Very infrequently do you come acr…
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Ep. 253: Max Aita | What is Coachlogik + Q&A
59:23
59:23
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59:23It's Nationals week and what better way to kick it off than a podcast discussing Max's new business! Coachlogik is a coaching platform that will revolutionize how we write and communicate training. In this episode, Max explains Coachlogik and then we answer a handful of questions of the Weightlifting.ai discord. Enjoy. Sign up for the Coachlogik wa…
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Ep. 252: Beyond the Sets & Reps | Newton Cheng, Director of Health + Performance at Google
48:42
48:42
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48:42As coaches, sport scientists, and athletes, we love intellectualizing our sport. There is an attempt to understand as much as possible so we can prescribe training to maximize performance. Behind all of this, the person carrying out this training can get lost amidst a myriad labels. In this episode, I sit down with Newton Cheng, National champion p…
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Ep. 251: Why We Miss Lifts and Applied Biomechanics | Wanda Sihanath
52:30
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52:30There are many questions coaches and athletes knowingly (or unknowingly) want the answers to. We have research at our fingertips that may be able to inform our coaching practice, but how do we translate it? In this episode, I sit down with Wanda Sihanath, a PhD student studying under Dr. Kristof Kipp at Marquette, to discuss why weightlifters miss …
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Ep. 250: Sex-Based Differences in Training Response | Lauren Colenso-Semple, PhD
1:13:30
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1:13:30There are a lot of unspoken, even unrecognized, assumptions when we think about how individuals respond to training. Regarding gender, we think we know how females will adapt to training compared to males, but are these assumptions valid? Lauren Colenso-Semple, a PhD in muscle physiology, sits down to chat about her work and the larger body of lite…
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Joshua Gibson & Max Aita: Evolving the Coaching Landscape in Weightlifting
1:20:49
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1:20:49Welcome back Weirdos to another episode of the podcast! This is another episode for my fellow Weightlifting Nerds out there with a guest double feature of Joshua Gibson and Max Aita. Join us as we explore the needs for evolving the current landscape of understanding in Weightlifting for both lifters and coaches. How we can continue to be curious to…
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Ep. 249: Better Exercise Sequencing = Better Results? | Chris Taber, PhD
51:54
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51:54The ability to effectively stack together productive training blocks is the hallmark of great programming. It sounds simple, but it can be challenging to do, let alone do well across long stretches of time. In this episode, I sit down with Chris Taber, PhD, to discuss exercise variation, peridization, and the ins and outs of long-term planning. Enj…
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Max Aita: Unpacking a Methodical Approach to Coaching
1:13:34
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1:13:34For this episode of the Weird and Strong Podcast, we step into our Weightlifting Nerd Era! We talk all things weightlifting coaching and training with Max Aita of Team Aita and Weightlifting.Ai. Max brings a wealth of over 20 years of experience in the sports of both Weightlifting and Powerlifting having been trained and mentored by legendary coach…
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Ep. 248: Biomechanics Research and Weightlifting Performance | Kristof Kipp, PhD
1:24:07
1:24:07
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1:24:07Researchers in lab across the world are trying to better understanding the biomechanics of weightlifting. Why isn't that information accessible to coaches and why is it so difficult to translate to practice? In this episode, I sit down with Kristof Kipp, a Doctor PhD and associate professor, to discuss all things related to biomechanics and weightl…
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Why isn't science straightforward? In this episode, I sit down with Michael Ray, a Doctor of Chiropractic medicine and assistant professor, to discuss the bridge between pain science and its communication and application. We examine how we know what we know, pain science and physical activity, and academia. Enjoy. Follow Michael: https://www.instag…
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Ep. 246: Rahmat, Clarking, & Philosophical Weightlifting | Max Aita & Declan Smithies, PhD
1:08:27
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1:08:27Have you ever wondered what bats, zombies, and epistemology have to do with weightlifting? If so, that's odd... But if you haven't, let's change that. In this episode of the podcast, Max and I sit down with Declan Smithies, who has a PhD in philosophy, to discuss the bridge between the mind and weightlifting. We discuss the blow up with Rahmat in T…
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Ep. 245: How Weightlifting Got Into Florida High Schools | Danny Camargo & Cory Aun
1:06:36
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1:06:36This could be an all-time episode! Danny and Cory detail exactly what is going on in Florida, a place where weightlifting is a high school sport. Listen in on how you can bring high school weightlifting to your state and change the landscape of the sport forever. Enjoy. Follow Danny and Email Cory: https://www.instagram.com/olyconcepts/ https://www…
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Ep. 244: The Impact of Strength Training on Mental Health | Dr. David Puder, MD
41:47
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41:47David Puder, MD, runs an outpatient psychiatry practice for patients, where he looks holistically at diet, exercise, lifestyle, traditional psychiatric medication needs, and also psychotherapy needs. He also hosts one of the foremost podcasts on mental health, Psychiatry and Psychotherapy podcast. This episode should act as a resource for all coach…
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Max Aita joins me to recap the first few days of the IWF World Cup. By its end, this could be one of the greatest competitions since the 1984 Friendship Cup. Don't miss any more of it. Subscribe to Weightlifting House TV here: https://weightliftinghouse.tv Enjoy. Sign up for our coaching mentorship group -- our next call is 4/5 at 12 pm EDT! https:…
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Ep. 242: A History of Sport Science and Skill Acquisition | Keith Davids, PhD
1:07:04
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1:07:04For the few of you who don't know Keith Davids, he is a PhD and Professor of Motor Learning at Sheffield Hallam University and one of the foremost experts on skill acquisition. This episode may go down as one of the most thorough examinations of skill acquisition and sport science that you'll find! Along the way, we touched on other topics, includi…
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