PL DEN | The Powerlifter's Den

Mark Plummer joins The Powerlifter’s Den for Episode 150. Mark has been competing in powerlifting since he was 16, breaking IPF sub-junior 93kg world records and climbing as high as 8th in the world at 198 before injuries pulled him away from the sport for several years.

We talk about his return to powerlifting, why he thinks the sport has gotten boring, the misconception that you need to get fat to lift heavy, and how the level of competition has changed over the years. We also dive into life as an influencer, how much of what you see online is fake, and why Mark wants to make sure he’s remembered as a great powerlifter—not just an internet personality.

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Jared Simmons joins The Powerlifter’s Den to talk about a strength journey built around more than just the total. From getting sober and finding his way back into the weight room, to decades in strength sports, coaching, gym ownership, and helping create more opportunities for adaptive athletes, Jared’s focus is on leaving the sport better than he found it. PL Den Pre-Episode Guest Questi…

We talk about training with purpose, intensity and intent, why you don’t need to be “strong enough” before entering your first meet, what truly custom coaching should look like, and the importance of bringing more adaptive athletes into strength sports. Jared also opens up about sobriety, family struggles, a broken back, and the experiences that shaped both his lifting and his outlook on life. PL Den Pre-Episode Guest Questi… PL Den Pre-Episode Guest Questi…

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In Episode 148 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Hunter Henderson, a professional powerlifter and bodybuilder who has set multiple squat records and is currently ranked 4th in the world overall.

Hunter talks about returning to the platform after three years away, the relationship between muscle and strength, staying healthy in a demanding sport, training with a real crew, and learning to embrace the long process of getting better. She also opens up about overcoming serious medical challenges while balancing elite lifting with a demanding healthcare career

In Episode 147 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Joe Sullivan, former 220 lb all-time world record holder and longtime coach who has helped other lifters reach world-record performances of their own.

Joe talks about why “optimal” doesn’t exist in performance coaching, leaving powerlifting better than he found it, some wild meet stories, and the mentality behind Adapt or Die after years of serious injuries and setbacks. We also discuss the tomfoolery of internet clowns attempting to powerlift for clout.

In Episode 146 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Ed Coan, widely regarded as the greatest powerlifter of all time.

Ed talks about the lifters who influenced him, including Bill Kazmaier, old-school training and competition, the evolution of powerlifting, SWIS, and the lessons he’s picked up from decades of competing, coaching, and being around some of the strongest people in the sport.

A conversation about powerlifting history, training, and the people who helped shape it.

In Episode 145 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Tara Duncan, a 10-year powerlifter with experience in both raw and multiply, a 705 lb squat, and pro totals in three weight classes.

We talk about her transition into geared lifting, raising a daughter who now powerlifts, the downside of comparison and social media, the “mass moves mass” argument, and what she learned through injury, weight loss, and depression.

In Episode 144 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Mason Mills, a 1000kg Big Dogs totaler, full-time coach, and one of the strongest heavyweight powerlifters in the UK. We discuss competing around the world, why progress isn't always linear, memorable stories from Big Dogs, and his pursuit of becoming the first British man to squat 1,000 pounds.

In Episode 143 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Delroy McQueen, a lifter whose career has spanned more than two decades across both Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. From competing internationally in weightlifting to building an elite career in single ply, multi ply, raw, and raw with wraps, Delroy has proven that longevity is one of the greatest achievements in strength sports.We dive into his transition from Olympic lifting to powerlifting, the mindset that's kept him competing for over 20 years, and the incredible story of squatting 1010 pounds with only two people in the gym. Delroy also reflects on recovering from a career threatening elbow injury, pulling 909 pounds, and why his next mission is to become one of the few lifters to deadlift 400kg in competition at over 50 years old.

In Episode 142 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Niko Chaprales—former IPL Raw 308 World Champion, professional strongman, and strength coach to some of the biggest names in the sport, including Evan Singleton, Inez Carrasquillo, and Katie Blunden.

Niko shares his journey from retiring as a world champion powerlifter to building one of the top coaching teams in strength sports. We dive into developing elite athletes, why too many new lifters skip the fundamentals, gym etiquette, and the mindset required to compete at the highest level. He also opens up about overcoming multiple career threatening injuries, his goal of becoming a world champion in both powerlifting and strongman, and what it takes to stay in the game for over two decades.

Outside of strength sports, we talk about Niko's life on the water as a commercial tuna fisherman and his experience starring on Discovery Channel's Harpoon Hunters, making for one of the most unique conversations we've had on the show.

In Episode 141 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with one of the most accomplished equipped powerlifters in history, Chris Della Fave.

Since entering the sport in 2007 after his football career at the University of Rhode Island, Chris has built a resume that few lifters can match. Holding the all time records at 242 in single ply, multi ply, and unlimited, Chris has totaled as much as 2870 pounds, squatted an all time world record 1160 pounds, and pulled some of the biggest deadlifts ever performed by an American lifter.

We dive into the evolution of equipped powerlifting, his rise through the ranks, what it takes to stay at the top for nearly two decades, and the mindset required to continually push the limits of human performance.

If you're a fan of big squats, equipped lifting, and powerlifting history, this is an episode you won't want to miss.