It is JUST THE GIRLS for this episode of the 2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi and Wanda. They download on Wanda's travels, USA Weightlifting Masters National Championships in Atlanta, as well as everything from torn quads to powerlifting meets to girls traincations (yes yes yes).

Want to check out the articles referenced in this episode on Masters Weightlifting? Access them here:

• Age-associated Performance Decline and Sex Differences in Olympic Weightlifting
• The Masters athlete in Olympic weightlifting: Training, lifestyle, health challenges, and gender differences
• How Heavy Lifting Lightens Our Lives: Content Analysis of Perceived Outcomes of Masters Weightlifting

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

In this episode of the 2 Girls 1 Bar podcast, Mandi and Wanda are joined by Team USA's Sophie Shaft. They discuss Sophie's extensive athletic journey, from her early days in gymnastics to her transition into CrossFit and ultimately weightlifting. They explore the challenges Sophie faced, including burnout and coaching styles, and how she found a supportive environment with her current coach, Zach Cawell. The conversation also touches on the importance of sports psychology and how Sophie's experiences shape her approach to coaching youth athletes.

Follow Sophie on Instagram here Support Sophie by shopping Onyx Weightlifting Co. with the code SOPHIE10 Follow Sophie on TikTok 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

In this episode, Mandi, Wanda, and Chelsey discuss Chelsey's journey in weightlifting, the establishment of her women-only gym, Girls Gone Buff, and the challenges of balancing coaching, competing, and personal life. They explore the importance of creating a supportive environment for women in strength sports, the transition from athlete to coach, and the emotional rollercoaster of training. Chelsey shares her experiences with injury, recovery, and her journey towards motherhood, including fertility treatments and the decision to adopt.

Chelsey also talks about her nonprofit initiative aimed at introducing youth to weightlifting, Parish Barbell Athletics, and we’ll be helping to fundraise for her nonprofit for the month of April. Please help us to cross items off their Amazon wish list by sending them straight to the group from Amazon. If you want to contribute $ towards a larger item, please just DM us or Chelsey!

Help with the Parish Barbell Athletics Amazon Wish List Follow Chelsey on Instagram Follow Girls Gone Buff on Instagram

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 the 2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast, Mandi and Wanda welcome powerhouse powerlifter Dani Myers Glynn to the show. Dani shares her journey from lifting on a porch during COVID shutdowns to competing at the Arnold and chasing her USAPL pro card. She opens up about overcoming self-doubt, finding confidence through strength, and why having a training partner can be a game-changer. They also talk about cutting weight classes while maintaining strength, learning proper nutrition (spoiler: strawberries are life-changing), and the unexpected pre-lift snack that fuels Dani’s big pulls. Plus, the girls dive into meet day rituals, gym pet peeves, and how to encourage more women to step onto the platform.

Follow Dani on Instagram: @daniliftsheavy

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, Mandi and Wanda sit down with CrossFit athlete, coach, and firefighter Liz Wishart. Liz shares her journey in the sport, from starting out in bodybuilding to competing as an elite CrossFit athlete. She talks about what it was like making the switch from individual to team competition at Wodapalooza and how that experience changed her perspective. They dive into the mental side of competing, the importance of mindset shifts for long-term success, and how Liz applies those lessons in coaching. She also discusses the challenges of balancing intense training with her career as a firefighter, how she prepares for travel competitions, and her go-to snacks for quick fuel during events. Plus, they talk about bad gym habits, the chaos of lifting with a team, and why her entire family is freakishly strong.

Follow Liz on Instagram: @lizwishart

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 are joined by weightlifter, coach, and former Division I gymnast Shelby Pflug! Shelby shares her journey from gymnastics to Olympic weightlifting, how she overcame multiple injuries, and the mindset shifts that helped her build confidence and strength. She also dives into coaching youth athletes, fostering a positive training environment, and her goals in the sport. Plus, we pull some of her fire tweets from the archives and get her take on everything from gym pet peeves to post-meet meals.

Where to Find Shelby:

• Instagram: @ShelbyPflug

• Follow her youth weightlifting team: @MethodWeightlifting

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 episode it is just the girls. Join Mandi and Wanda as they recap their experience at the VIRUS Weightlifting Series I and The Arnold. They talk about everything from bombing out to passing out on the platform to furries (yes, sorry).

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 Join the 2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast email list here.

In this episode, the girls are joined by Melanie Lin, the CEO of VIRUS to chat about all the revival of the brand and their new partnership with USA Weightlifting. Mel speaks on her fitness journey and her experience as a yogi and how that practice affects her leadership style as well as how she handles adversity as a business woman. Her newfound journey in weightlifting has brought her to cross paths with new friends and see first hand these communities built through the sport and how impactful VIRUS can both support and benefit the sport.

Follow Virus on Instagram here and shop on their website here.

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 Join the 2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast email list here.

Jessie Stemo joins Mandi and Wanda on the podcast to talk about her transition from an elite competitor in Olympic weightlifting to her new endeavor as the owner and  head coach of the dominant  and still-growing team Power and Grace Performance. As one of the few women-lead club owners, Jessie dives into the highlights and lowlights of her career as an athlete and when it clicked for her that coaching was the natural next step. Upon taking on Power and Grace, Jessie discusses the vision she has for the team to take care of the whole athlete – mind, body, and spirit – and how she’s adjusting to life after competitive lifting. 

Follow Jessie on Instagram: @jessiestemo Follow Power & Grace on Instagram: @powerandgraceperformance Check out Power & Grace Performance on their website here. Sign up for Yoga X King and use the code FIRSTMONTHFREE for a one-month trial!

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 Join the 2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast email list here.

 

The girls started a freakin’ podcast.

Mandi and Wanda kick things off by introducing themselves and sharing their excitement for the upcoming Arnold competition. They dive into their own strength sports journeys—Wanda’s transition from a quick CrossFit fling to full-on weightlifting and Mandi’s start in the sport through coaching. Along the way, they chat about the power of community in weightlifting, how sports science and coaching go hand-in-hand, and the bigger mission behind the podcast: to celebrate women in strength sports and share some seriously inspiring stories. They welcome listeners to chime in on their experiences by sharing their own stories and wins in the world of strength sports. 

Follow the podcast on Instagram: @girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda Join the 2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast email list here.