Strong By Design Podcast

Ep 396 Real Life Iron Woman & HOF Powerlifting Champion ft. Suzanne (Sioux-z) Hartwig-Gary

Mar 12, 2025

01:28:05

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She is a FORCE to be reckoned with…

She is small but MIGHTY and a pocket-sized POWERHOUSE.

Suzanne Hartwig-Gary embodies all of this and more.

But you can just call her Sioux-z.

Sioux-z has been in competitive lifting for 35 years. In that time, she has done 33 international competitions:

1 – Pan American, 2 – World Games, 2 – NAPF (North American Powerlifting Fed.), and 28 - World Championship Competitions (once WDFPF)

She is an 8-time World Champion, 2-time NAPF Champion, 33-time National Champion and a World Record Holder in multiple lifts!

In 2010 Sioux-z was inducted into the USAPL Women’s Hall of Fame.

She is the recipient of the Brother Bennett Award (a prestigious honor by USA Powerlifting recognizing extraordinary individuals in the sport).

Sioux-z is also a personal and head coach to multiple World Champions.

There is so much more to say about this outstanding human being so let’s dive into the conversation with today’s host Jo ‘Animal’ Miller.

A few past SBD episodes hosted / guested by Jo Miller:

Ep 385 – Believe Big, Love Heals ft. Jo ‘Animal’ Miller

Ep 228 – Never Defeated: It’s About the Size of the Fight Inside ft. Jo and Matt Miller

Ep 217 – An Unbreakable Bond for Life ft. Jo Miller

Time Stamps

01:05 - Welcome to the Strong By Design podcast!
01:29 - Meet today’s special guest, Suzanne Hartwig-Gary, aka Sioux-z
03:15 - Host Jo Miller shares how she first met Sioux-z
07:31 - How she got into lifting and eventually powerlifting
15:00 - Do you need to be genetically gifted to excel in powerlifting?
18:22 - Sioux-z’s secret to effortlessly connect with people
25:16 - What gave Sioux-z the courage to move across the country
29:33 - Sioux-z shares what fueled her competitive drive
36:26 - Sioux-z's story about her mother and competing after her passing
44:42 - How to master the art of discipline
54:22 - Guess Sioux-z's best raw squat!?
56:34 - How to handle 'game day' pressure like a Pro
1:05:40 - What do Game Day coaches actually do?
1:13:50 - Sioux-z shares her journey to a World Record
1:19:30 - Her go-to music playlist revealed
1:23:10 - Jo delivers a heartfelt message
1:25:25 - Follow and learn more about Sioux-z on social media
1:26:56 - Please share, and leave ratings & reviews for the SBD podcast!