Episodes

Should men and women train differently? It’s a basic question with a pretty easy answer, so I dig a bit deeper into the weeds on what they SHOULD do specifically. Also, an open invitation to roast me, on my own show! Clearly, I’m a masochist.

Are you bringing it on your lifts every day? No, I mean *really* bringing it? Listen to find out what I mean.

I went to the Knox Classic this last weekend to take in the sights – and yeah, it’s an amateur show and YOU don’t know anyone there so I’ll spare you the gory details but I do have some takeaway thoughts. And, spoiler alert, yes, I *DO* now have a coach (details around the 18:00 mark). Also a great question from a client: how to get into doing online coaching and how to know if it’s something you CAN/should do? Details around 23:50

Want to make food substitutions to your meal plan but are uncomfortable in your skills and abilities to do so? Learn the secrets as I go over a couple examples – a basic one where we change out a carb source, and a more complex example where changing a protein source has a cascading effect that necessitates other changes. Also: my thoughts on the updated guidelines issues by the NPC/IFBB on women’s divisions.

It’s Panic City at Five Starr HQ as I’m heading out to dinner tonight with just a couple hours notice to plan what I’m doing at a place that does NOT have nutritional facts available for their menu. What ever shall I do? Listen and find out!

It’s time to talk calorie tracking & heart rate monitors! What to rely on and believe, what NOT to trust, and a bit of a game-changer as I talk about relative vs. absolute figures (it’s more exciting than it sounds…maybe).

Had an online coach before that really was just a perfect little shit? You aren’t alone. I talk a little here about some of my own lousy experiences and share some horror stories from clients as well – all names withheld, though I debated just outing some people…

This isn’t an episode about the technical ways in which you can have an effective cut, but instead about all the things you can and SHOULD do *before* starting your diet in order to ensure it’s as effective as it possibly can be. Thinking about a show in 2019? NOW is when you should start thinking about some of these things!

Bodybuilding is all about the long game. Remaining as injury-free as possible in order to keep progressing. What exercises are most likely to mess you up and cause you to miss time? My thoughts may surprise you – a quick 20 minute rundown!

So easy to overlook – but outside of the actual LIFT, what else do you do at the gym when you’re there? Let’s talk warmups, stretching, what to bring and what (not) to wear. It depresses me that the last part of that is necessary but alas, it’s 2018 and here we are.

In this first MINI EPISODE of The Dropset (no frills, 20 minutes!) I talk about Comfort Zones: what they are how, how to find them, why they suck, how to get out of one, and WHY it is so valuable to do so!

It’s been a wild summer but I’m BACK and we have big plans for the weeks and months ahead. I kick things off this week as I week you through an unrehearsed construction of my new cutting diet. I talk about what my macros are and why, how many meals I’m having, we’ll build them all from scratch, make mistakes and fix them, and I’ll talk about how I expect it to change in the weeks and months ahead. Also, a review of the training program I’ve been following for the past 14 weeks!

FINALLY – enough listener input for a full-on Q&A segment, THANK YOU to all who contributed. Also: something sneaky to watch for if you’re searching for an online coach, and what exactly happens on show day? Not as far as food/water/etc, but like…what goes on backstage and how can you be as prepared as possible? I have a good answer!

I’m baaaaaack! In this episode I steal Drea & Britney from Ravish Sands for a good half an hour to talk suits – what to consider when shopping for one, how to save a few bucks, and some common pitfalls to avoid. Also, I weigh in on some ill-advised back and forth between two Olympia winners that had me shaking my head. Also: why I am a big, huge idiot (that’s at the end!)

What are the most common “big picture” mistakes people make in the gym? My Facebook group participants had ALL KINDS of ideas and I flesh them out here. Also, what’s the deal with peak week? Why do people do all this crazy crap and how much of it actually works in a productive way? Listen and find out!

My client Alex drop in to discuss her experience from start to finish and beyond in taking a year to get ready for her first two shows. We also discuss vegetarianism and how it impacted her prep along with Crohn’s disease and how she manages it. In other news, The Drop Set wants YOU to call in and ask questions! Call 865-518-2974 and leave a message to have your question played and answered in the next episode!

Labdoor is a company that conducts independent testing of supplements for quality, purity, and accuracy of contents – this episode includes my extended conversation with it’s founder and CEO, Neil Thanedar. Also, how long should you prep for? I divide people into 2 groups and then delve into the particulars for both!

Episode 52 features my interview with OCB competitor and show promoter Shar LeGree, as we discuss all things related to the OCB, which is a natural competitive organization that is growing rapidly. We talk about how you become an OCB pro, what makes this organization different, specifics of drug testing, and more.

Dean is a former client of mine and we have a nice long chat about his time competing last year, what bodybuilding is all about to him, and how it played a role in turning his life around from a very dark place just a few years ago. You absolutely don’t want to miss this.

If you’ve ever had trouble picking the right show or have literally ZERO idea how to start that process, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for.

Today’s topics: Gym OCD and how it’s either A) ruining your workouts, B) holding you back, C) driving you crazy, or D) all of the above. Also, what makes a good bodybuilder? I answer the “what makes a good client” question which is essentially the same thing!

This week I get into the weeds a bit on my personal experience with both ketosis and intermittent fasting. Not a lot of clinical/research data here, but more of a practical perspective based on the biases I had before trying them out and my thoughts after giving each a spin.

It drives me insane that social media is nothing more than a highlight reel – for many reasons, most of all because of the distorted perception it creates of bodybuilding for those just starting out. I rant and rave about that this week as well as diving into my general philosophy for peak week and covering the ins & outs and the good and the bad of the stretch reflex, as well as plenty more!

Long overdue, but finally a guest appearance from someone and your chance to hear a voice other than mine! Main topics today include 2 age-old debates: free weights vs. machines, and bulking styles: clean vs. dirty!