Summary

In this episode of the 2 Girls 1 Bar podcast, hosts Mandi and Wanda welcome Alexa Snyder, a national-level Olympic weightlifter and nutrition coach. The conversation covers Alexa's journey from competitive cheerleading to weightlifting, her experiences with injury and recovery, and her passion for empowering women in sports. They discuss the importance of coaching, the challenges of balancing online and in-person training, and the creative outlet of vlogging. Alexa shares her insights on motivation during recovery and her goals for the future, all while maintaining a positive outlook on her journey.

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

This one is for the girls. Join Wanda and Mandi as they discuss the intricacies of pursuing higher education and career opportunities in sports biomechanics and beyond. From the challenges of grad school applications to the serendipitous moments that shape career paths, this episode offers insights and advice for anyone considering further education or a career pivot. Learn about Wanda's journey from undergrad to PhD in sports biomechanics and the role of luck and preparation in career opportunities.

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

Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon in Louisville on June 28th

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 coach, mom, business owner, athlete extraordinaire - Olga Pisarskiy. Olga shares her path to gym ownership and coaching (and no, it wasn't planned). She also talks us thru when she almost quit (and we're glad she didn't). The girls dive into her transition from CrossFit to Olympic weightlifting, the importance of competition, and how she encourages her athletes, especially masters athletes, to find joy in the sport.

Follow Olga on Instagram. Follow North Augusta Barbell on Instagram.

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

Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon in Louisville on June 28th

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

Nikki Mohnsen shares her journey from being a photography enthusiast to becoming a prominent weightlifting photographer. She discusses the challenges and joys of capturing moments in strength sports, the importance of media in the community, and how her business has evolved over time. Nikki also reflects on the balance between her photography work and her day job as a teacher, as well as her aspirations for the future.

Follow Nikki on Instagram and hire her for Nationals!

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Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon

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

The girls are finally joined by their Julie - the one and only Julie Jahn. Julie shares her unique upbringing in the 80s, her early experiences with physical activity, and how she eventually found her passion for athletics in high school. The conversation delves into the importance of personal invitations from coaches, the impact of media on her athletic identity, and her pursuit of a career in sports education. They also discuss the challenges of burnout and mental health in the sports industry, emphasizing the importance of redefining one's identity beyond athletics.

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit

Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon

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

Welcome to another late-night episode with just the girls. In this episode of the 2 Girls 1 Bar podcast, Mandi and Wanda catch up and chat about the importance of community women hold for each other. They explore how societal perceptions can impact female coaches and athletes, the significance of finding a supportive community, and the empowerment that comes from strength training. 

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit - Early Bird Registration available until May 1

Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon

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 the absolute badass Meghan Scanlon, 2-time IPF World Champion, 5-time National champion, coach, and mom. They explore the evolution of women's strength sports, the impact of motherhood on athletic identity, and the nuances of training and competing in powerlifting. Meg talks about Sheffield (obviously) and her plans for future competitions as well as multiple aspects of coaching.

Follow Meg on Instagram here.

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit - Early Bird Registration available until May 1

Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon

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

This week on 2 Girls 1 Bar, Mandi and Wanda go full weightlifting and yap with the one and only Suzy Sanchez, previous USA Weightlifting employee and forever weightlifting competitor. Suzy shares her passion for competing and the joy of being part of a supportive sports community, while also addressing the need for better local events and the role of technical officials in weightlifting. She also talks about working in sport and what an NGB is really like and dives into everything from competing to hot takes (obvi) with the girls.

Follow Suzy on IG here

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit - Early Bird Registration available until May 1

Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon

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

This week on 2 Girls 1 Bar, Mandi and Wanda hang out with Olympian and fellow Wisco-girl Mary Theisen Lappen! Mary gets real about the highs and lows of competitive lifting, how she keeps it fun, and why finding the right gear is a game-changer. She talks about building community in the sport, her super chill coaching style, and how she balances being a total powerhouse with keeping things simple and human. (We also talk about her tattoos.)

Get one of Mary's favorite training playlists here.

Follow Mary on IG here (and get all of her links in her LinkTree).

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit - Early Bird Registration available until May 1

Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon

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

Don't mind if we already tell you that this was one of our favorite episodes so far...

Mandi and Wanda are joined by Meredith Alwine, Team USA weightlifter, momentary powerlifting queen (you'll see), and future law student. Buckle up because we relive the absoute rollercoaster of the last Olympic quad including SO many meets, SO much training, as well as injuries and crying and not even knowing what day it is or where you are. Meredith talks to us about her first bomb-out, her long history of sport and intense training, elite coaching, and the moment she decided to retire.

Follow Meredith on Instagram here. Follow the USAW Athletes Advisory Council on Instagam here.

Click here to shop the Amazon Wish List for Parish Barbell Athletics

Sign up for the Power & Strength Summit - Early Bird Registration available until May 1

Sign up for The Lift Off at HomeGymCon

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