Evil Genius with Russell Kane

Father of bodybuilding, Joe Weider

Jun 25, 2025
Join stand-up powerhouse Jess Fostekew and ex-bouncer turned comic Emmanuel Sonubi as they explore the life of Joe Weider, the father of bodybuilding. They delve into his transformative journey in fitness, highlighting his impact on mainstream culture and iconic figures like Arnold Schwarzenegger. The duo shares hilarious gym fail stories and addresses the darker side of bodybuilding, including issues of body image and toxic masculinity. Their lively debate raises questions about Weider's legacy as either a genius or an opportunist.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
ANECDOTE

Joe's Embarrassing Gym Fail

  • Joe Sutherland shared a gym fail where people laughed at him during tricep extensions due to an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction.
  • This highlights the humorous and embarrassing moments gym-goers often face while trying to impress others.
INSIGHT

Joe Weider Created Modern Bodybuilding

  • Joe Weider created bodybuilding as we know it by starting from scratch with his homemade weights and bodybuilding magazine.
  • His hustle turned a marginal activity into a mainstream fitness movement.
ANECDOTE

Weider Mentored Arnold's Rise

  • Joe Weider mentored Arnold Schwarzenegger, helping him move to the US and boosting his career despite Arnold's limited English.
  • He even convinced film producers Arnold was a Shakespearean actor to get a role.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app