Episodes

Lots of ground to cover today. Michelle called in with some solid questions concerning peptides and deloads (separate questions…not a weird combination of deloading peptides), and I ramble on for a bit about trying to find the right mix of what is OPTIMAL versus what is often the most PRACTICAL path forward as it relates to training, diet, and everything else. Also, let’s talk about scale fluctuations a bit, why they matter (if they do at all) and how to make sense of them. Call in and leave a ...

Throwback episode! No not a ‘greatest hits’ release but just going back to the old formatting. Call me an optimist but I think after 237 episodes I’m starting to get the hang of this podcast thing. A few “confessions” to go over today which is really just exposing my ridiculous OCD, but also an update on what I’ve been up to and also some common client issues that seem to be on repeat of late. Let’s dig in! Call in and leave a question! Drop me a voicemail at 865-518-5659 Check me out on YouTu...

Future generations will look back and see Episode 236 of The Drop Set as a watershed moment for humanity. Maybe. Ok, maybe not so much. But let it be known I’m trying some different stuff here, so as always let me know what you think. This is a solo episode published as audio-only AND video (on YouTube), and does incorporate a little video into the mix so the audio listeners WILL be a little in the dark – apologies! Going forward I might break that segment out into it’s own YouTube series which...

Hannah Hussein and I have one thing in common (well, we probably all do) – we both did dumb shit in our 20’s. The difference is that today, she’s here on the hot seat to talk about hers while mine will continue to go unreported (at least for awhile). Hannah won her IFBB pro card in women’s bodybuilding earlier in September at North Americans, and she sat down for a lengthy interview with me where we covered her extensive history in bodybuilding and got in depth about what’s next for her as well...

I recently had the chance to have an extended conversation with IFBB Pro women’s bodybuilder Sherry Priami. Sherry turned pro in women’s physique in 2018 and quickly turned in a string of steadily improving placements before taking a year off and making the plunge into women’s bodybuilding – a decision that has, so far, paid off well. She’ll be competing this upcoming weekend at the Rising Phoenix and will also be on the Olympia stage a few short weeks later. Check out Sherry on Instagram here:...

In episode 233 of The Drop Set I had the chance to sit down with Paige Sandgren following her narrow miss at an IFBB Pro card at North Americans. We talk about that experience, what’s next, and cover a lot of coaching-related topics including binge eating behavior, one of her specialties. Follow Paige on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/beefnuggette/ Watch the full video interview on YouTube:

In episode 232 of The Drop Set I am super excited to have the opportunity to chat with former Olympia competitor Dani Reardon – now OUT of bodybuilding for about 6 years and exploring entirely new areas of her life. We talk about her competitive days, why she got out, how she feels about it looking back, if she has any regrets, and of course dig in on what she’s doing now – including her current gym routine (might surprise you). Follow Dani on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/dani.rea...

In episode 231 of The Drop Set I welcome BACK Wendy Levra, NPC NQ bodybuilder and empowerment coach who was last here following a narrow miss at an IFBB Pro card at North American’s last year – following that, she had a bit of a rough time. But as one might expect, she regrouped and is back now with a new and improved focus – we talk about the highs and lows of her last year and also dig in on how she dug herself out of that hole to get to where she is now – in a good, peaceful and productive sp...

In episode 230 of The Drop Set I interview my own coach – IFBB Women’s Physique Pro Kristyn Lia (I kinda bury the lead on that but it’s mentioned in there somewhere – space case!) She has recently moved to the US from Australia for the express purpose of having better opportunities to compete as a pro – that’s a pretty big leap and a lot of work, so it says something about how dedicated she is to the sport. Check it out as we go over her history and break down her competitive season that just wr...

In episode 229 of The Drop Set I catch up with returning Drop Set Champion Paige Sabedra, after having wrapped up her first year as an IFBB Pro in which she hit THREE shows in pretty rapid succession. We talk about the results of those shows, the feedback she got, prep details (diet, cardio, supplementation), and how she managed to drop ANOTHER 12 pounds between shows 2 and 3. Always a good chat with Paige. Check out her channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3v3vXW05NCgnD2O6y7f4vA And follo...

In episode 228 (following a 1 month hiatus) I offer a recap of the local Knoxville NPC show that was held last weekend as, because you know I can’t resist, offer some suggestions on how I’d do it differently. No fault to the promoter who’s a good dude and knows what he’s doing, this is largely about the overall structure of shows in general. https://knoxclassic.com/ And also Grace returns with a couple questions about supplement needs for plant-based athletes as well as asking about the lessons...

Today we tackle a question from my (former) client Paul asking about the mental side of bodybuilding – well not really a question, just asking me to talk about it a bit, and so I oblige. How it CAN be a thing that’s good for someone’s mental health (as opposed to bad, which it also can be) and how to hopefully keep it there. And then Trevor asked about tips for becoming an online coach, which led to me just asking questions of YOU instead on a possibly huge upcoming project – so check that out ...

The podcast episode so epic it took 3 days to record. Or maybe the host was experiencing some squirrel-like ADD in spite of tooting his own horn in the first segment of today’s episode. So that first segment is about time management – why it’s so damn important and some easy things you can implement if it’s something you struggle with. Next up, my client Leslie had some questions about macro calculators and how they arrive at the numbers they give you – instead, I’m going to talk about “genera...

…and now for something completely different. It used to be a recurring segment here to break down recent TV shows I’ve watched so I figured I’d bring that segment back IN FORCE with an entire episode doing that…with my TV watching partner in crime (my wife). This won’t be for everyone and I get that – so no harm, no foul. For the record (as you know), I’m always open for other topic suggestions so bring ’em on!

First up: a warning! I kick things off today with a fairly profanity-heavy rant based on a weekend experience. For the faint of heart (really, are there any of you listening to this podcast if you’re faint of heart?), skip to like 8:30 (you’re welcome). BEYOND THAT, we have questions about natural bodybuilding and the integrity thereof, as well as talking about optimal sugar intake and what kind of health and programming considerations we should be watching if it’s higher. Call-in number! Call...

We’re back today with a whole mish mash of stuff ranging from gym bag contents to macro specifics and all the kind of nonsense you’ve come to expect from me. Including the seemingly standard 14 month break between episodes. Working on that part!

Back at it with 2 episodes in 2 days! Don’t forget to call in with your question at 865-518-6569 and have your voice heard! Today it’s a topic that came from a client check-in, I floated the idea of transitioning her OFF a meal plan and towards a macro based plan to make regular travel a bit easier to handle – and she’s on board with the idea, but needs a primer covering all the “what do I need to know?” type stuff – and that’s exactly what we’re covering here. If you’ve been following a meal p...

In 221 we have a guest appearance of sorts from Grace, the reigning MVP of The Drop Set – she calls in to give us some insight on how she approaches prep and deals with times when she is kinda forced to be “less than perfect”, as we all have to deal with it some point (or points). And then as if to show off her MVP trophy, she comes back around with some great coaching related questions that I dive into one at a time. Call 865-518-6569 and leave a message to be a part of the discussion!

Back it today with a HUGE grab bag of Q&A, coming from voicemails as well as sourced from a Facebook group I’m a member of – as the saying goes, give the people what they want – and these were the questions getting asked so I know they’re relevant – a wide spectrum of stuff ranging from somewhat beginner-ish to more advanced. Got a question you’d like answered? Call 865-518-6569 and leave a message!

Based on a couple questions, I knew it was time for a deeper dive into the world of what “natural” bodybuilding really means, in the competitive world. Are there different, fluctuating definitions on what this means? When might an exception be made? Do *you* qualify or not based on something you may have taken in the past? Let’s dive in!

Well if that isn’t a super sexy and attention-getting topic, I don’t know what is. Returning from a brief hiatus, in 218 I field first of the RETURN OF THE CALL-IN SEGMENT, which will continue running despite low turnout – call in to 865-518-6569 and give me your questions! Also head to TheDropSet.com and vote in the latest poll. And rounding out this short episode, an update on my lil’ buddy Taz and his eye saga.

First up and most important – THE CALL IN NUMBER IS BACK! Call 865-518-6569 and leave a message and I’ll play it in an upcoming episode – and I won’t be screening these prior! Anything goes. Jay Cutler made a great point in a recent interview about the Olympia weekend basically (paraphrasing here) being a shitty fan experience. Too much show, too long, and just WAY too much for anyone to take in. People buy tickets for 2 days worth of events and maybe spend 2 hours actually watching it? It’s a ...

Well, another Olympia weekend has come and gone so it’s time for the annual tradition of complaining about results and lamenting all the ways in which bodybuilding has “lost its way” – kinda joking, kinda not. There are definitely some trends in judging I think set a bad precedent from this weekend, and some very easy calls where things mostly looked great. The open men failed to impress, which seems like a weird thing to say when everyone on the stage is an absolute freak of nature but for me, ...

In 215 I’m mostly going over the latest installment in the Washington Post’s deep dive into the dark recesses of bodybuilding, going over drug protocols and competitor deaths. You can read the original reporting here (paywall may be in effect, the article can be found elsewhere also). https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/interactive/2022/bodybuilding-extreme-training/?itid=hp-foryou-readinghistory_p009_f003 I have some additional details on deaths not covered in the article that I go ...