PL DEN | The Powerlifter's Den

In Episode 140 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Ryan Kennelly, the first man to ever bench press 800 pounds and the former all time world record holder with a 1075 lb bench at 308.Ryan shares stories from his rise through the sport, meeting Louie Simmons in 2001, the evolution of bench shirts over the last 30 years, and the mindset it took to become one of the greatest bench pressers in history. We also discuss his legendary bodyweight and calorie intake, life after competition, and a wild trip to Ukraine to compete that has to be heard to be believed.If you're a fan of powerlifting history, bench pressing, and the golden era of the sport, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In Episode 139 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Duncan Hundley, director of strength and conditioning at Gray Collegiate Academy and a lifter with over 11 years of experience in both raw and equipped powerlifting.

Duncan shares how watching World’s Strongest Man and WWE first sparked his love for strength sports, eventually leading him to winning Powerlifting America Bench Nationals and chasing bigger goals in equipped lifting. We dive into training culture, why consistency beats intensity, and the importance of staying curious in a sport where too many people think there’s only one correct way to train.

We also talk about balancing lifting with life outside the gym, overcoming injuries including a torn ACL and hip issues, and stories from legends like Bill Gillespie, Brent Tracey, and the Cell Block crew. This episode is packed with insight for lifters who want to keep learning, evolving, and enjoying the process.

In Episode 138 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with one of the most respected coaches and thinkers in powerlifting, Mike Tuchscherer. As the founder of Reactive Training Systems and a coach with nearly 30 years in the sport, Mike has helped shape modern approaches to training through data driven decision making, individualized programming, and structured experimentation.

We dive deep into fatigue management, emerging training strategies, and velocity based training (VBT), discussing how lifters can make better in the moment decisions instead of blindly following a spreadsheet. Mike also breaks down common misconceptions around performance, why you do not need to feel your best to perform your best, and how predictable preparation leads to consistent results on the platform.

From world level coaching to long term injury management and building systems that actually work in the real world, this episode is packed with practical insight for lifters, coaches, and anyone trying to train smarter.

In Episode 137 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Alexander Freeman, someone he actually went to high school with, making this episode a little more personal than most. Since those days, Alex has transformed himself into a serious force in powerlifting, building a 2000 raw total and 500 DOTS while preparing to make the jump into multi ply competition.

Alex opens up about how athletics shaped his early years, how powerlifting gave him new direction, and how the loss of one of his best friends became the catalyst for completely changing his life. From grief, growth, and discipline to finding the right crew and learning how to truly live with intention, this episode dives into the mindset behind building not just strength, but a life worth being proud of.

We also talk about his evolution in the sport, transitioning into equipped lifting, and why powerlifting can be one of the most powerful tools for personal transformation

In Episode 136 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with RJ Butcher — a lifter who’s been competing since 2009 and has built his career through experience, resilience, and time under the bar.

RJ shares his journey from training in old-school gyms to stepping on the platform across multiple weight classes, totaling 2104 at 242 in wraps, and now setting his sights on multiply. We dive into the reality of staying in the sport long-term, the toll injuries take, and why progress isn’t always clean or pretty.

From ruptures and tears to continuing to show up anyway, RJ talks about what it really means to push forward when everything hurts — physically and mentally. We also get into gym culture, competition mindset, and lessons learned from being around some of the sport’s most respected lifters.

This episode is about longevity, grit, and earning every pound the hard way.

In Episode 135 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Sam Brown — a human performance expert for the United States Air Force, McGill Method Certified Practitioner, and multi-ply lifter with a 2100+ total.

Sam shares his journey from training at elitefts and learning under Westside-influenced lifters to working with pilots and aircrew in high-stress environments. We dive into what actually matters in training, why there is no “secret sauce,” and how overcomplicating the process is holding lifters back.

We also talk about the realities of equipped lifting, the misconception that gear does the work for you, and what it takes to perform both on the platform and in real-world high-pressure situations. From bombing out at the Arnold to building consistency over time, this episode is all about simplifying the process and focusing on what actually drives progress.

This week on The Powerlifter’s Den, we sit down with Alejandro Wickham—a 40-year-old masters lifter proving that elite performance doesn’t have an expiration date.

Alejandro has totaled over 2070 lbs in tested competition while balancing the discipline and mindset forged through his military background. We dive into what it takes to stay competitive at a high level into your 40s, how his time in the military shaped his approach to training and life, and the realities of competing drug-tested while still pushing elite numbers.

We also get into longevity in the sport, adapting training as you age, and what separates lifters who last from those who burn out.

If you’re chasing strength for the long haul, this one hits

In Episode 133 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Erin Murray — 4x World’s Strongest Woman and one of the only athletes in strength sports to hold world titles across multiple weight classes.

Erin shares her journey from getting into lifting as part of recovery, to competing on the Arnold stage and becoming one of the most dominant athletes in strongman. We dive into what it takes to reach that level, how she balances high-level competition with life outside the sport, and the mindset behind her mantra: “Disrespect the Impossible.”

We also talk about her transition through different phases of strength sports, upcoming competitions across the world, and why being elite doesn’t have to come at the cost of everything else in your life.

In Episode 132 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Karl Wedel — an international lifter with his sights set on a 1080kg total at ABS Pro 8, where he’ll face off against current title holder Nicolas Du Preez.

Karl shares his journey from getting into powerlifting just to compete with a friend, to building elite strength while working full-time shift hours in a windmill factory. We dive into the mindset and grit required to progress in the sport, why he doesn’t believe in overcomplicating training, and the myths around accessories, diet, and what it really takes to get strong.

He also opens up about overcoming a grade 2 quad tear, coming back stronger, and why focusing on the long game is the only way to succeed in powerlifting. This episode is raw, direct, and centered around one thing — doing what it takes to keep progressing.

This week on The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Tony Carlino—elite equipped bencher, full power competitor, and one of the few lifters in history to bench over 1000 pounds in multiply, with a massive 1036 bench in 2024.

Tony talks about how he got hooked on powerlifting after watching Road to the Arnold, what it means to be in the tiny group of lifters to bench 1000+ in poly, and becoming just the second person ever to squat and bench 1000+ in the same meet. The two also dive into bench shirts, why people misunderstand equipped lifting, the mindset behind chasing huge numbers, and what still drives Tony to keep pushing the limit.

They also touch on EverStrong, the mission he cofounded with his wife Shelly, and the goals he’s still chasing: 1000+ single ply, 1100+ single/multi ply, and 1300+ unlimited.

Follow Tony:
IG: @sirbenchalot1k
TikTok: @sirbenchalot1k

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