In this episode of the 2 Girls 1 Bar podcast, Mandi and Wanda are joined by Joelle Emery - athlete, coach, dog mom, and so much more. Joelle shares her path to discovering weightlifting through CrossFit and why she chose to focus solely on weightlifting. They discuss the importance of redefining success in competition, the challenges faced by athletes, and the joy of coaching kids in weightlifting. Joelle emphasizes the significance of creating a supportive environment for young athletes and shares insights on addressing safety concerns with parents. 

Follow Joelle on Instagram Listen to Joelle's lifting playlist

Resources from Joelle on lifting for youth

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

It's just the girls today for a super casual catch-up episode. Wanda is back from her presentation in Switzerland and Mandi finally doesn't have a fever. They chat about travel, Texas, Finals, and meet rituals as well as the upcoming online meetup (NEXT WEEK) on this episode!

RSVP for the very first Ladies of Strength Online Meetup on Wednesday, August 27th, at 8pm EST/7pm CST. It is aboslutely FREE to attend, but we want to get everyone registered so we can send out updates via Eventbrite and make sure everyone has the link to join. This is for ALL LADIES who are interested in strength sports, from athletes to coaches to spectators to someone wondering if they want to start lifting. Join us to chat and ask questions. We'll have a featured guest with Mandi and Wanda each time, the first one being the one and only Dani Glynn Myers. Join from your gym. Join from your car. Join from your couch.

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

Mandi and Wanda welcome Kayla Cocker, weightlifter, coach, and super mom, to the podcast. Kayla shares her journey from literally every sport ever, including track and rugby, to discovering her passion for weightlifting. She discusses the transition from CrossFit to weightlifting, the importance of supportive coaching, and her experiences in competitions. Kayla also opens up about the impact of amazing coaches on her desire to coach, including her very first CrossFit/weightlifting coach Katrina - who we want to shout out for being the original inspo for Kayla (and who is now also a full-on weightlifting coach).

Follow Kayla on Instagram here

RSVP for the very first Ladies of Strength Online Meetup on Wednesday, August 27th, at 8pm EST/7pm CST. It is aboslutely FREE to attend, but we want to get everyone registered so we can send out updates via Eventbrite and make sure everyone has the link to join. This is for ALL LADIES who are interested in strength sports, from athletes to coaches to spectators to someone wondering if they want to start lifting. Join us to chat and ask questions. We'll have a featured guest with Mandi and Wanda each time, the first one being the one and only Dani Glynn Myers. Join from your gym. Join from your car. Join from your couch.

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

Mandi is joined by the amazing Grace Jenkins discuss Grace's journey in the world of weightlifting, her role at Power and Grace, and the importance of community and support in sports. They explore Grace's background in cheerleading, her transition to weightlifting, and how competing has changed her perspective on the sport. The conversation highlights the significance of personal growth, the culture within Power and Grace, and the future goals for the team and its athletes.

Follow Grace on IG here Follow Power & Grace Performance on IG here

RSVP for the very first Ladies of Strength Online Meetup on Wednesday, August 27th, at 8pm EST/7pm CST. It is aboslutely FREE to attend, but we want to get everyone registered so we can send out updates via Eventbrite and make sure everyone has the link to join. This is for ALL LADIES who are interested in strength sports, from athletes to coaches to spectators to someone wondering if they want to start lifting. Join us to chat and ask questions. We'll have a featured guest with Mandi and Wanda each time, the first one being the one and only Dani Glynn Myers. Join from your gym. Join from your car. Join from your couch.

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

Mandi and Lenka discuss Lenka's journey from being an Olympic weightlifter to becoming a coach. They explore the challenges and joys of coaching, the growth of the weightlifting community in Minnesota, and the balance between college training and national team commitments. Lenka shares her experiences with competition, the importance of community in coaching, and her passion for weightlifting that blossomed during the COVID pandemic. Lenka also reflects on her journey towards becoming a nurse while balancing her weightlifting goals, emphasizing the significance of having a life outside of sports.

Follow Lenka on Instagram here.

RSVP for the very first Ladies of Strength Online Meetup on Wednesday, August 27th, at 8pm EST/7pm CST. It is aboslutely FREE to attend, but we want to get everyone registered so we can send out updates via Eventbrite and make sure everyone has the link to join. This is for ALL LADIES who are interested in strength sports, from athletes to coaches to spectators to someone wondering if they want to start lifting. Join us to chat and ask questions. We'll have a featured guest with Mandi and Wanda each time, the first one being the one and only Dani Glynn Myers. Join from your gym. Join from your car. Join from your couch.

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit: August 2-3 ONLINE!

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

Mandi and Wanda are tired af. They share personal updates about their lives, including travel plans, packing challenges, and fitness goals. They discuss the importance of coaching education, mentorship, and the need for more organized support for coaches. The conversation also touches on recent competitions, research insights, and the significance of community in the coaching world.

RSVP for the very first Ladies of Strength Online Meetup on Wednesday, August 27th, at 8pm EST/7pm CST. It is aboslutely FREE to attend, but we want to get everyone registered so we can send out updates via Eventbrite and make sure everyone has the link to join. This is for ALL LADIES who are interested in strength sports, from athletes to coaches to spectators to someone wondering if they want to start lifting. Join us to chat and ask questions. We'll have a featured guest with Mandi and Wanda each time, the first one being the one and only Dani Glynn Myers. Join from your gym. Join from your car. Join from your couch.

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit: August 2-3 ONLINE!

*HABITUÉ: Being a regular somewhere, a regular or loyal patron.

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

Mandi and Wanda are joined again by the amazing Dani to recap USAPL Nationals, including her preparation, performance, and the emotional journey surrounding competition. They delve into the importance of family support, nutrition strategies during travel, and the challenges of managing breaks from training.

Follow Dani on Instagram here.

RSVP for the very first Ladies of Strength Online Meetup on Wednesday, August 27th, at 8pm EST/7pm CST. It is aboslutely FREE to attend, but we want to get everyone registered so we can send out updates via Eventbrite and make sure everyone has the link to join. This is for ALL LADIES who are interested in strength sports, from athletes to coaches to spectators to someone wondering if they want to start lifting. Join us to chat and ask questions. We'll have a featured guest with Mandi and Wanda each time, the first one being the one and only Dani Glynn Myers. Join from your gym. Join from your car. Join from your couch.

Apply for the Women's Scholarship for the Power & Strength Summit

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit: August 2-3 ONLINE!

*HABITUÉ: Being a regular somewhere, a regular or loyal patron.

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

Mandi and Wanda are joined by Christine Na, a seasoned weightlifter and physical therapist. Christine shares her journey from gymnastics and cheerleading to discovering her passion for weightlifting. She talks about her experiences as a competitive athlete, her transition into physical therapy, and her insights on balancing motherhood with training.

Follow Christine on Instagram

Apply for the Women's Scholarship for the Power & Strength Summit

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit: August 2-3 ONLINE!

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

Mandi and Wanda catch up on recent escapades across the US and chat about USAW Nationals (very briefly, because neither of them were there).

Apply for the Women's Scholarship for the Power & Strength Summit

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit: August 2-3 ONLINE!

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

We are excited for our very first bonus episodes (aka dude episodes) with one of our favorite men in strength sports - Joshua Gibson.

The girl and Josh talk about Dani's impressive performance at Nationals, the importance of training philosophy, and the upcoming Power & Strength Summit aimed at elevating coaching standards. Joshua also introduces a scholarship for female coaches to encourage more women to enter the strength sports field.

Apply for the Women's Scholarship for the Power & Strength Summit

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit: August 2-3 ONLINE!

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda