If comparison is the thief of joy, then what hope do competitive bodybuilders have for happiness? In a sport where you stand before a panel of strangers who numerically rate your nearly nude body in comparison to others, you’d think it’d be impossible. But is it? What happens to bodybuilders’ body image over time? Is it true that whether they place 3rd at the all-valley “championships” or 1st at worlds, they still feel small? If it’s not true, why not, to what degree, and in what circumstances? In this episode, we explore whether or not it’s true that the day you start lifting is the day you become forever small, and how this mindset can manifest, change, and differ between groups and individuals. 00:00 An update on the Iron Culture documentary and the frequency of episodes 04:50 Self-perception in the social media fitness space Omar’s YouTube video will be linked here when it is published! 11:00 Mental and physiological distress in physique athletes Helms 2019 Towards a Sustainable Nutrition Paradigm in Physique Sport: A Narrative Review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31315180/ 19:29 The marketing of bodybuilders and the “desirable” physique 37:21 The motivation to become a bodybuilder and physique (dis)satisfaction  Jankauskiene 2007 Muscle size satisfaction and predisposition for a health harmful practice in bodybuilders and recreational gymnasium users https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17485962/ 1:00:55 The stressors and influence of the fitness industrial complex  Iron Culture Ep. 28- The Problem With The Fitness Industry (with Chip Conrad) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2rtKZ3AnXM 1:17:25 Tethering your expectations to people who can provide you with constructive criticism 1:26:23 Closing out: the internet is terrible but listen to our podcast (on the internet)  

Ep. 206 - Is the day you start lifting the day you become forever small?

Iron Culture was started by Eric Helms and Omar Isuf as a means of exploring the world of physical culture and attempting to distill a unified philosophy of lifting and to help listeners find greater meaning from the iron. The lifting community has become fractured over the last ~70 years and this Podcast will attempt to explore the fundamental threads that unite these different tribes.  The Podcast focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, bouncing from history, to philosophy, to contemporary lifting culture issues, to science. This can range from teaching the audience about lifting, programming, nutrition, supplements/PEDs and the history of lifting culture. The format includes casual conversations between the two hosts on a variety of topics, discussions with a panel of experts and interviews with authoritative figures in the lifting community.

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Health & Fitness

The man, the myth, the legend, Mike T is back! Fresh off a 900kg total, an 800lbs deadlift, and placing just off the podium at Powerlifting America National by bodyweight, Mike T is showing how much longevity can be had for the lifelong lifter, even at the highest level. We’ve only got a penlight in this pitch-dark morphing cave, but that’s apparently all you need. Join us on this episode where we discuss mental maturity and growth as a lifter, Mike’s journey and his future plans in equipped lifting! 00:00 Introduction to a homecoming episode Iron Culture Ep. 4- Periodization & Autoregulation Roundtable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIVw1OxvZUA 07:15 Catching up on Mike T’s achievements and competing equipped Iron Culture Ep. 46- Powerlifting: Raw vs Equipped Lifting (Ft. Calgary Barbell, Corvus Strength & RTS) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG618RmkoPA 22:13 Keeping the spark for lifting and training Lepper 1973 Undermining children's intrinsic interest with extrinsic reward: A test of the "overjustification" hypothesis.  https://web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/15341_Readings/Motivation/Lepper_et_al_Undermining_Childrens_Intrinsic_Interest.pdf Fishbach 2012 When thinking about goals undermines goal pursuit  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0749597812000222  30:42 Mike T’s athletic arc 37:30 Facing and navigating adversity: injuries and load management 50:10 What has changed over time for Eric, especially with his injuries   01:04:18 The ‘hot streak’, sticking with it, and moving forward 01:19:15 We are all getting out of this cave together… or do we even need to get out? 1:25:44 The plan for Mike T the athlete and where to find him Instagram: @miketuchscherer https://www.instagram.com/miketuchscherer/ Threads: @miketuchscherer https://www.threads.net/@miketuchscherer Reactive Training Systems Coaching https://pages.reactivetrainingsystems.com/coaching  RTS Lab https://pages.reactivetrainingsystems.com/rts-training-lab

Ep. 272 - Mike Tuchscherer: Peaking  After 20 Years of Powerlifting

Trextopia, this is your episode. We peel back the layers of pro natural bodybuilder, exercise science researcher & co-host of Iron Culture, Eric Trexler. Learn how he got into lifting, what low bar squatting 500lb ATG will do to your body & why there might be more controversy in Iron Culture’s near future. This might be the peak of Iron Culture but Trexler is no fan of peak weeks. 00:00 Introduction to an episode with Eric without the other Eric 03:06 An inside peak into Trexler’s day as a scientist (Trex lore)  09:42 Trexler’s foray into powerlifting 19:47 T-Nation and what informed Trexler’s training practices 27:12 Wrestling, lifting, and experimenting with training 36:02 Change of perspective: different approaches to training 42:44 The evolution of Trexler’s training and getting into science 48:37 “Optimisation” for bodybuilding and peaking (Helm’s hat cameo) 1:00:45 The pros and cons of different approaches 1:04:53 Diving into different research topics and the recent challenges in Trexler’s fitness journey  1:16:57 Growing and learning from the experiences (and the return of the T-Rex) 1:30:41 Closing out this monster episode 

Ep. 271 - Powerlifting, Natural Bodybuilding & Science (Eric Trexler’s Journey)

We here at Iron Culture have been on a mission to better inform you, dear listener, as to the inner workings of science. From what goes on in the lab itself, to the publication process, to dissemination, to eventual meta-analysis, the challenge of interpretation and communication of science, the optimistic promises of open science, and the increasing focus on replication, it’s been a hopefully eye-opening and overall encouraging discussion. However, while the scientific method is inherently self-correcting, the apparatus of science is far from perfect and there is a big problem with its principle tool of correcting the peer-reviewed record: retraction. What leads to a paper being retracted? What is the process? How does it impact the literature? Most importantly, does it effectively change the understanding of the science in the community the studies are meant to serve? Join the Erics in this most recent episode as they break it all down! 00:00 Retraction in science and a recently retracted study on cold water immersion Néma 2024 Impact of cold exposure on life satisfaction and physical composition of soldiershttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36599485/ Iron Culture Ep. 267- Addressing Data Fraud in Nutrition Science https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZqQ0_pweTs 16:00 A peak behind the sport science curtain 25:19 The process of retraction and its flaws Soria-Gila 2015 Effects of Variable Resistance Training on Maximal Strength: A Meta-Analysishttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25968227/ Retraction Watch https://retractionwatch.com/ 41:15 Keeping up to date with retractions and critically appraising studies Wakefield 1998 Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9500320/ 1:00:54 Wild claims from science communicators and their responsibility 1:11:09 Letter to the editor and the retraction process Phillips 2017 Changes in body composition and performance with supplemental HMB-FA+ATPhttps://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28301440/ 1:22:53 The open science movement and the dangers of unreliable findings 1:30:04 Moving forward: the effective science communicatorand alternative publishing models 1:39:16 Closing out this intervention episode for Helms

Ep. 270 - Scientific Retractions Aren’t Working

Whitney Houston said it best: “I believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way.” Here at Iron Culture, we’re old, irrelevant and out of touch. But, we believe in platforming the next generation of educators to carry on the torch (or at least pandering so they’ll platform us in return when we can no longer pay the bills). In this Roundtable we’re joined by Dr. Milo Wolf, Dr. Pak, and first-time guest Max Coleman, to discuss the challenges of growing a following using social media in 2024 as an evidence-based content creator. The game has changed what worked for us, won’t be as successful, and striking the right balance is not easy, and getting it wrong comes with lashback. Are we all just doing more harm than good? Join us as we discuss! 00:00 Ignoring our actual guests and introducing Jim Powers 05:06 Actually introducing the young pioneers and getting into the topic 13:22 Milo’s thoughts and using the hook of the title and the thumbnail Iron Culture Ep. 268- Science Communication, Gatekeeping & The Fitness Industry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOuoJoF5IDA 20:43 The rise of Eric’s visibility and gaining a foothold in social media fitness  28:52 Dr. Pak’s perspective and how he shapes his content 36:28 Playing the social media game 49:18 Nuance, and (finally) getting Max Coleman’s viewpoint   1:00:54 Doing it for the fame, the saturation of the landscape, and finding yourself within it 1:10:24 Milo’s tips for new content creators (one weird trip to explode your social media presence) 1:22:05 Max’ favourite movies and some applications to takeaway 1:33:20 Closing out and where to find our guests (to increase their subscriber count by 2) Milo https://www.youtube.com/@WolfCoaching, IG @wolfcoach_ , wolfcoaching.com   Dr Pak https://www.youtube.com/@Dr__Pak IG @dr__pak , drpak.com Max  IG @coleman.et.al

Ep. 269 - Are Social Media PhDs Ruining Fitness? (feat Dr. Milo Wolf, Max Coleman & Dr. Pak)

Dr. Pak is back on Iron Culture for his third appearance! This time, he sat down with Omar and Dr. Helms for a meta-discussion on the challenges of science communication. How do you maintain credibility when you’re using social media as a science communication tool? This challenge has changed, but it isn’t new by any means. The “Sagan effect” describes the well-researched phenomenon by which the scientific community perceives other scientists who get more media exposure as less legitimate scientists - despite the fact that, on average, scientists more active in science communication typically publish slightly more often and with a higher impact than scientists less active in science communication. In modern times, however, the incentive structures are different, and many instances of expert creep, “selling out” and pseudoscience have been propagated on social media by some academics or members of the medical community. In this episode we discuss the challenges of attempting to communicate science without being criticized for doing so, how this has and hasn’t changed over time, and the instances of gatekeeping which are ultimately counterproductive to increasing scientific literacy. 00:00 Introduction to Helms Haven/Deep 04:57 The Dr Pak Trilogy and The Grizzly at the Raskol booth at the Arnold 16:13 The Grizzly backstory 32:52 Pak’s experience with The Grizzly 42:43 The academic and the memer 52:18 The scientific community and public scientists Martinez-Conde 2016 Has Contemporary Academia Outgrown the Carl Sagan Effect? https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26888919/  1:13:53 Getting the reps in within the science communication game and being critiqued 1:35:00 Academics and science communicators across social media platforms  1:42:35 The closing pieces to this monster episode  Where to find Dr. Pak Instagram: @dr__pak https://www.instagram.com/dr__pak/ YouTube: @Dr__Pak https://www.youtube.com/@Dr__Pak Website: https://www.drpak.com/

Ep. 206 - Is the day you start lifting the day you become forever small?

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