How to receive and digest Judge Feedback in Bodybuilding and Powerlifting -

Getting feedback from judges can be one of the most emotionally charged moments in a competitor’s journey — especially when you feel like you brought your best to the stage. In this episode, TC and Chris Nicole break down how to interpret, process, and apply judge feedback without letting ego, emotion, or confusion get in the way.

They explore:

• What judges are actually looking for (and how it can shift between shows or federations)
• Why many athletes get defensive — and how to move past it
• The difference between feedback and critique
• What to do when your coach filters feedback (for better or worse)
• How to tell when it’s time to evolve your look — or change your strategy entirely

Whether you're a first-time competitor or a seasoned pro, this episode is your mindset reset after a tough scorecard. Learn how to turn subjective criticism into objective progress — and keep your head in the game.

Table of Contents - -

1. Intro – Why Feedback Matters Setting the stage for why this conversation is needed and what athletes are missing.
2. What Judges Actually Look For Pulling back the curtain on what goes into a scorecard and how subjective judging works.
3. The Disconnect: Expectations vs. Reality When what you bring doesn't match what the judges want — and why that's hard to swallow.
4. Getting Defensive: The Athlete’s First Reaction “But I looked my best ever!” — breaking down that emotional backlash we all feel.
5. When Coaches Filter Feedback Why coaches soften the blow or add context — and when that hurts more than it helps.
6. Sifting Through the Noise Separating ego from truth, and finding the “useful 10%” inside even bad feedback.
7. Confidence vs. Confirmation Bias Walking the line between self-belief and delusion.
8. The Best Athletes Ask Better Questions How to mine judge feedback for gold and frame it as data, not a dig.
9. Callback: You’re Not Owed Anything A return to the idea that showing up doesn’t entitle you to praise.
10. Closing – How to Actually Grow from Criticism Practical mindset shifts and questions every athlete should ask post-show.