Berserker Strength Radio: The Strength and Anger Podcast

This week, Bain and Stone toss around the questions:  What would it take to make powerlifting "mainstream?"  What does it even mean to be "mainstream?"  And would we even want powerlifting to achieve such a status?  In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discuss the April 1990 issue, which has one of the gnarliest photos likely ever taken at a powerlifting meet from 1990 USPF Natural Nationals.

This week, Bain and Stone interview The Man, The Myth, The Legend that is Putt Houston.  He's probably been mentioned on the podcast more than any other person.  Strap in, Putt takes you on a journey of a man who has been competing in powerlifting for 30+ years, has a 6,000 sq. foot home with 11 fridges, pour ammonia in his eyes, and enjoys being tased.

This week, the boys answer YOUR questions from social media.  They also cover TWO hot topics of the day, and Stone tells a "Stone Story" for the ages.  In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys cover the September 1983 issue of Powerlifting USA.  The cover of that PLUSA featured 275lb class winner from 1983 USPF Seniors, John Gamble.  That epic '83 Seniors was loaded with legendary lifters like Lamar Gant, Rickey Dale Crain, Mike Bridges, a 19-year-old Ed Coan, Ernie Frantz, Fred Hatfield, and Bill Kazmaier among others.

This week, the boys chat with the biggest equipped bench presser of all-time, Jimmy Kolb.  Jimmy has the title of the biggest lift of any type in competition with his 1320lbs unlimited bench, and also has benched 1120lbs in a single-ply shirt.  Jimmy has been competing for almost 15 years, starting when he was in high school.  He talks about his bench progression, his opinion on band vs. traditional shirts, pro powerlifting, and what he has planned next among other topics.

FINALLY, the Strength & Anger Podcast is BACK!  The boys give lots of life updates that prevented them from recording for the past (3) months.  Then they kick around the idea of whether or not the bench arch should be banned or not.

This week, Bain and Stone take a deep dive into the 2021 removal of USA Powerlifting (USAPL) as the US affiliate of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF).  They go through a full timeline of events of how changes in WADA policy affected the IPF constitution and by-laws, and ultimately led to the IPF removing the USAPL.  In the "PLUSA Throwback," the boys discuss the June 1994 issue, which had Paula Suzuki and Bill Nichols on the cover.  In addition, the boys discussed the the Women's ProAm, and the "Hot Topic" of holes in singlets.

Bain and Stone are back!  After a too-long-hiatus, they are back this week talking about their thoughts on how multi-ply pro powerlifting can succeed long-term.  Bain is fresh off of (another) trip to Florida to help with the WPO Bench Bash, and has some feedback from that event.  Stone was at USAPL "Frat Nats" and his thoughts on that event.  In the "PLUSA Throwback," the boys go all the way back to July 1993, where they were also dicusssing the future of pro powerlifting, after apparently the "first professional bench press meet."  Finally, The Don gives his eulogy of the recently passed Louie Simmons.

This week, Bain and Stone had a chance to chat with long-time powerlifter, Rebecca Roberts.  Rebecca has been competing since 1997, and has competed in single ply, raw, multi-ply, and even strongwoman.  She started as a collegiate powerlifter with the USAPL, became an equipped powerlifter with the APF, had some stints in raw and strongwoman, and now is back in multi-ply.  In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discussed the January 2011 issue, which had legondary bencher Joe Mazza on the cover--who at the time had the raw, single-ply and multi-ply bench records at 165 at 487 / 670 / 705 lbs respectively.  The boys also discussed TWO hot topics, discussing (once again) the ever-popular topic of band "shirts" as well as the some's contention that "raw w/wraps is dead."

This week, Bain and Stone discussed the topic of comparing raw and equipped numbers.  If a raw lifter can ask an equipped lifter, "What can you do raw??" can an equipped lifter ask a raw lifter, "What can you do equipped??"  The topic was prompted by guest of the show Shawn Deal, who talked with Bain about the situation that prompted the topic.  In the "PLUSA Throwback," the boys discussed the May 2001 issue, which had the GOAT Ed Coan on the cover.

 This week, Bain and Stone had Bob Merkh back on the podcast to talk about transitioning from Raw to Equipped powerlifting.  He and Bain talked about their reasoning for switching from raw to equipped, how they adjusted their training, what they would differently, and more.  In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discussed the July 1990 issue, which had the then-recently deceased Dave Pasanella on the cover.