After the usual news, Dr. Lowery and Jon Mike get hungry. With Holiday

Season bulking days upon us, it's time to tell tales of heroic eating. What are some

favorite high-calorie yet nutrient-rich foods? And what stories go with them?

Further, what if these foods were broken down into high-carb, high-fat, and

high-protein categories? It's a fun discussion that's also informational. Come on

in, grab some meat pie, and break through your mass gain barrier!

In an extra long holiday episode, the guys get grateful. The news covers

the health benefits of counting one's blessings as well as the nutrition knowledge

of sports coaches. Then, in the Topic of the Day, a web search sets the tone for

what muscle heads are thankful for. Favorite exercises, supplements, and foods get

attention. What are YOU most thankful for? Then, it's time to Enter the Fortress.

It's not Thanksgiving up North, so Rob instead shares his thoughts on the anabolic

steroid scene in his part of Canada. Brace yourself for Fortress' usual frank talk.

Thanks for joining-in!

Like news and topical questions from listeners? If so, this show is for

you. The mail bag was stuffed and there's the usual news coming aboout, so the guys

wade through a good portion of it. Topics seem to congregate around fat loss but

range all over. Lonnie, Phil, and Big Jon cover coffee phytochemicals beyond

caffeine, bad Internet searches by those seeking fat loss, a controversial new study

on fed-versus-fasting cardio, how a big man cuts down to 12 percent fat, and tons

more. There's also information in this one on how to earmark a donation to the show

if you'd like to fund Lowery's research or Phil's sponsorship of worthy competitors.

Got time? We've got talk!

Yes, you read the title correctly. Politics. They affect us all, on

multiple levels. So, after some news on hidden factors that may be packing fat on

your frame, the guys tackle the forbidden. In what ways do politics and government

regulations affect us as lifters? Discussion ranges from health and nutrition

licensure, which are state regulated, to dietary supplement differences between

republicans and democrats, to healthcare. Even in-the-gym politics get attention.

Bodybuilders, powerlifters, olympic lifters - on a micro-level, can we manage

ourselves better than dysfunctional politicians do? Liberal or conservative, feel

free to join the discussion!

This week the guys jump right into an interview with sports nutrition and

muscle researcher Dr. Chad Kerksick. Lots of questions get answered. Does a

scientist's research change how he lifts, himself? What populations stand to benefit

from resistance training most? And where do many resistance trainers make mistakes

when they could simplify and make progress? Then, after a bit of listener news,

everyone moves to the Topic of the Day. The conversation ranges from liquid creatine

to protein blends, to the stigma surrounding dietary supplements, and more. Come on

in and stay up on the literature!

In the news, Lonnie and Phil talk about new science on what oats do for the

body, about the beta-version of the Iron Radio store, and about current lifting

meets. Then, in the Topic of the Day, the guys cover another textbook training

principle - reversibility. How long does it take to lose size and function of

various bodily systems? From muscle mass, to cellular energy processes, to bone

density, to the nervous system, several important areas get attention. And of course

the guys cover the practical and coaching aspects of reversibility, like programming

and gaining maturity to reduce the fear of loss. Tune in to prevent gray matter

atrophy!

In the news, Lonnie, Mike Nelson, and Jon Mike share info on detox scams,

sensory deprivation tanks, and caffeine habituation. Then in the Topic of the Day,

guest Rich Colasante shares insider information on the present and future of

orthopedic - mostly spinal - treatments for heavy lifters. Do you do anything to

keep yourself pain-free, performing optimally and with a long training career ahead

of you? Or do you just keep training, pop anti-inflammatories, live on pain killers,

and hope for the best? The guys cover prehab, getting serious with compliance, stem

cells, PRP therapy, communicating with your surgeon, preventive traction via bar

hangs and tons more. Pull up a bench and get in on this!

After some nutrition and drug-related news, the guys check in with Highland

Games world champion Matt Vincent. The news covers colorful foods and recovery, and

dimethylsulfoxide - DMSO - as an anti-inflammatory and drug delivery agent. Then,

Highland Games world champion Matt Vincent talks about his recent victory, peaking,

weight loss, and other late-season factors that helped him win. Then, after the

break, Matt drops some knowledge bombs regarding explosive lifts to enhance throwing

event performance. Learn what lifts he feels are essential, what he thinks about

missing lifts in training, how much throwing practice is necessary, how long he

programs strength versus speed cycles, and more. The guys even wax philosophical

about balance in the life of a strong dude. Come on in!

Dr. Lowery and Big Jon Mike geek out with professor and sports nutrition

researcher Bill Campbell. Dr. Campbell is yet another example of how a love of

bodybuilding is not only congruent with, but actually drives academic pursuits. The

guys discuss plenty. Topics include meal frequency, arginine products and

vasodilation, flexible undulating periodization, and an over-emphasis on sports

supplements. Take your seats, muscle class is in session!

With Phil at a competition, Lonnie and Mike Nelson share news and have a

chat with tactical training coach, Matt Holmes. First in the news, listener mail

regarding body recompositioning gets attention. Then, binging on sugar at Halloween,

and the central nervous system get discussed. In the Topic of the Day, Matt, a coach

with a difficult past and a history of overcoming obstacles, shares thoughts on

tactical training. What is it? How does he get results? And how does military

fitness differ from typical training programs? No time for a warm up, let's get into

the discussion!