Iron Radio

Lonnie, Rob and Phil catch up with natural pro bodybuilders Layne Norton and Ben Hartman, despite Skype's inability to obey our commands. Then Ben educates us on how the term -natural- differs from terms like legal, drug tested, etc. What equals natural? How do natural bodybuilders prepare differently for a competition? How do they make money, if any, from their sport? Tune in and find out! ***Finally, we'd like to start a new section here in our feed notes - appreciation of deserving listeners. Here's a hearty thanks to some of our newest supporting members, like JR, Jon, and Seth, for stepping up to help us improve Internet media for bodybuilders and strength athletes. Fifty thanks, guys! Your mugs are on the way!***

Anyone in the iron game should listen closely to this guest for their own sake. Rob, Phil and Lonnie talk with bodybuilding legend Bill Pearl, now 80 years old, about how society perceives bodybuilders, whether or not the opinions are correct, and how bodybuilders should handle themselves. Bill also touches on his master work - a book on strength and muscle building throughout human history. Bill, thank you sir, for being a hero to us all.

After some breaking news blurbs, Lonnie, Rob and Jon Mike nominate some of the least legitimate and cheesiest things in the fitness industry for Iron Radio Schincter Awards. What's the cheesiest advertisement we've seen or heard? Which dietary supplements or pieces of exercise equipment are laughable? What embarrassing events have happened in bodybuilding that are worthy of tounge-in-cheek derision? Tune in and find out!

Phil fills in for us all with a special insider scoop and interview! Jesse Burdick reveals juicy secrets behind the Get-swole 72 supplement breakthrough! Don't be afraid of gaining four inches on your guns in a few days.

Rob (Fortress) and Lonnie answer a question specific to powerlifting... What exactly is competitive status? From performance classifications (Elite, Masters, Class I, II, III, IV) to drugs, to support gear, a ton of info. gets shared. Can YOU compete and break into one of these powerlifting categories? Can you go to the top of them without drugs OR gear? Time to get an idea. Opinions and science fly everywhere in this episode, as usual. ***THIS IS NOT THE FLAGSHIP IRON RADIO PODCAST, BUT A DIFFERENT SHOW THAT WILL SOMETIMES APPEAR***

After some breaking news blurbs, Lonnie, Rob and Phil spill the beans about their own origins and motivations. How and why did these salty dogs and veteran competitors become "lifers"? What moves someone from his or her initial exposure to lifting, toward fully embracing the lifestyle? There are some commonalities that you may identify with!

Lonnie, Rob and Phil talk about the hidden intangibles of training in the iron game. Questions abound! What are these skills? Can they help you determine when to push forward versus call it a day in the gym? Will they ever help you decide when to eat big, pick a competition date, or train around an injury? Can YOU develop these skills of bodily and psychological hyper-perception? Get these questions answered in a way that can't be found on the pages of a magazine or textbook. (We do not get hokey but instead try to explain with anecdotes and professional opinions.)

Rob, Phil and Lonnie talk with champion powerlifter Chad Aichs. This dude is outrageously strong - 1000+ lb. squats, 800+ lb. bench presses and other insanity. How does he do it? Partly it's proper form - and he's not kidding when he says this. How do you get form like this giant powerhouse? Who do you turn to and who do you avoid? Listen and learn. Plus, we discuss how this relates to bodybuilding and regular gym goers who just want to be big and strong.

Lonnie, Rob and Vegas-Phil talk with physicist-turned-physiologist John Keifer. He discusses his background and his diet books. Can you really get ripped gulping down doughnuts at night? How on earth would THAT happen? Find out if this approach to dieting is beautiful or bupkiss! Also tune in to learn the truth about how energy balance -calories in versus calories out- actually operates in the real world. This could answer why you're not gaining or losing as planned!

Phil, Lonnie and Rob talk with Coach Ian King about his background, his thoughts on the fitness industry versus athletics and on the obsession with leanness and how it can be a problem in sports, including bodybuilding itself! How ripped should YOU be? Are the Americans leading the whole bloody world down the primrose path of abs-at-all-costs? Find out! Note: Please forgive the change in audio quality about minute 28; a Skype glitch altered the recording process but with Ian's help we emerged victorious!

Again on the road, we forge onward. Phil, Lonnie and Rob talk about compteting and about past and future guests as they do a year-end funds drive. In a sense we are like Public Radio; please help us stay on the air by going to www.IronRadio.org and clicking the DONATE button. And a big Holiday Thank You for helping us grow so much!

We made it! This Holiday episode was patched together RAW and UNCUT on the road with a little netbook. Such is our mania. Phil, Lonnie and Rob talk to power athlete Jesse Burdick about drop sets, among other stuff. Then we do a year-end funds drive. In a sense we are like Public Radio; please help us stay on the air by going to www.IronRadio.org and clicking the DONATE button. And a big Holiday Thank You for helping us grow so much!

Jon Mike and Lonnie answer the question, What exactly equals competitive status in amateur powerlifting and strongman? Textbook science on physical strength norms from the average population get compared to more rigorous rules of thumb for competitors. Are YOU strong enough to compete? Find out! Also check out a new, second part of the show from Phil and Mark Bell on power sport events.***THIS IS NOT THE FLAGSHIP IRON RADIO PODCAST, BUT A DIFFERENT SHOW THAT WILL SOMETIMES APPEAR***

Phil, Lonnie and Rob hear from Johnny -Pain- Schaeffer. He talks about his background, garage lifting, injuries, etc. Then there's some discussion on how much frequency and volume are really needed for rapid physical change. There's a difference between overtraining and just being a wus. ***NOTE: We are about to start our Winter Iron Radio fund raiser / donation drive. In a sense we are like Public Radio; please help us stay on the air by going to www.IronRadio.org and clicking the DONATE button. Thanks - fifty times!***

Phil, Lonnie and Rob talk with one brave and positive dude - Geoff Starling. He's a trainer and professional coordinator of other trainers but also a man who's bounced back from some major surgeries. Feeling a little sorry for yourself for having been injured or ill? It's natural but you can also rise above it... like Geoff.

Phil, Lonnie and Rob talk shop with strength coach Danny John. Find out what prinicples make Dan such a popular - and successful - coach and speaker. For those few who don't know about Dan, now you will. This guy is the kind of authentic mentor and coach to whom we would like our own sons exposed. It's mostly just gym talk this time around but that's the point! Not everyone lives in a place where power sports and bodybuilding are popular enough to supply this kind of thing. Surrounding yourself with positive, informed gym buddies is as easy as downloading the show.

Phil, Lonnie and Rob talk shop with powerlifter and new magazine editor Mark Bell. First he talks about his background and his new invention. Then we talk journalism in the strength world. How does a magazine begin? How does one get it distributed in big retail stores? Can powerlifting and bodybuilding coexist on its pages? Find out! Also, academically minded listeners should surf to Iron Radio.org and check out a NEW listener commentary by sociology grad student Jaya Dixit.

This time, Lonnie, Phil and Rob talk to newly-minted PhD Layne Norton about his background in bodybuilding and his lab experiences with protein and the amino acid leucine. Listen-in for tips on how to use this protein-synthetic amino acid properly, right from the horse's mouth. Also, academically minded listeners should surf to Iron Radio.org and check out a NEW listener commentary by sociology grad student Jaya Dixit.

NOTE - Audio quality is low this time but we are MOVING THIS SHOW TO SKYPE IN NOVEMBER. Tune in for far better audio quality as soon as we get Fortress to buy a mic headset. This time, Phil, Rob and Lonnie talk to strongman David Whitley about the history of strongmen and about training principles versus training methods. Also, academically minded listeners should surf to Iron Radio.org and check out a NEW listener commentary by sociology grad student Jaya Dixit.

Lonnie, Phil, and Fortress talk to T-Nation Editor Chris Shugart about his latest - and dramatic - take on near-fasting while preserving muscle mass. Is there a way to actually feel okay while eating almost nothing, all the while torching fat and leaving hard-won muscle alone? Listen to the conversation and you decide! Plus, listen to the announcement at the end of the show about our final week of the Most Intersting Contest in the World. Prizes like Iron Radio mugs and pricey nutrition textbooks could be yours. Finally, academically minded listeners should surf to Iron Radio.org and check out a NEW listener commentary by sociology grad student Jaya Dixit.