Iron Culture presented by MASS
Eric Helms & Eric Trexler
Iron Culture was started by Eric Helms and Omar Isuf as a means of exploring the world of physical culture and attempting to distill a unified philosophy of lifting and to help listeners find greater meaning from the iron. It's now hosted by Eric Helms and Eric Trexler, who repeatedly beg Omar to return as a guest.
Iron Culture focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, bouncing from history, to philosophy, to contemporary lifting culture issues, to science. The format includes casual conversations between the two hosts on a variety of topics, discussions with a panel of experts and interviews with authoritative figures in the lifting community.
Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review.
Iron Culture focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, bouncing from history, to philosophy, to contemporary lifting culture issues, to science. The format includes casual conversations between the two hosts on a variety of topics, discussions with a panel of experts and interviews with authoritative figures in the lifting community.
Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review.
Episodes
Mentioned books
33 snips
Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 10min
Ep 345 - Hot Topics in Fitness (ft. Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple)
Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, a research-minded fitness communicator and co-host of Front Page Fitness, dives into the science of creatine supplementation. She critiques the marketing of 'women-only' creatine and addresses common myths, including issues with creatine gummies and the concept of cycling. The conversation shifts to the critical role of exercise in bone health, offering evidence-based strategies for fracture prevention, alongside dietary recommendations for optimal bone outcomes.
13 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 1h 22min
Ep 344 - Sports Science In Elite Athletics (ft. Dr. Marc Lewis)
In this engaging discussion, Dr. Marc Lewis, the Director of Applied Sports Science for the Houston Texans, shares insights into maximizing athlete performance. He highlights how sports scientists navigate the complexities of data collection and analysis, emphasizing the importance of tailored training protocols. The conversation also explores the realities of overtraining in elite sports versus general fitness, the evolution of sports science, and offers valuable advice for aspiring professionals in the field.
28 snips
Sep 3, 2025 • 1h 29min
Ep 343 - Q&A: Is Collagen Useful?
The hosts dive into the latest buzz in college football and powerlifting, celebrating athlete achievements. They tackle the controversial topic of collagen supplementation, dissecting its benefits for tendon health and muscle growth. Creatine is also on the table, with discussions on its dosing, effects, and common myths. Listeners gain insight into improving muscular endurance and the connection between strength training and performance outcomes. Practical dieting tips and the impact of rest days add a well-rounded perspective on fitness.
17 snips
Aug 27, 2025 • 1h 29min
Ep 342 - New Data: Does Growth Really Drive Strength Gains?
Explore the intriguing relationship between muscle growth and strength gains in this insightful discussion. The hosts dive into groundbreaking research revealing that bigger muscles don’t always mean greater strength. They also dissect the complexities of sex differences in training outcomes, shedding light on how men and women experience gains similarly, albeit differently. The importance of nuanced statistical analysis in exercise science is emphasized, alongside light-hearted anecdotes from personal experiences and community events in the fitness world.
21 snips
Aug 20, 2025 • 1h 34min
Ep 341 - Unpacking Individual Responses to Training Volume
Dr. Zac Robinson, a PhD graduate and researcher specializing in resistance training volume, joins the discussion to uncover how individuals uniquely respond to varying training intensities. He dives into his dissertation findings, emphasizing that not everyone benefits from high-volume workouts. The conversation highlights the importance of personalized training regimens and the need for adaptive strategies in coaching. They also tackle the complexities of individual variability and the exciting shifts in resistance training research, suggesting future directions for optimizing training practices.
47 snips
Aug 13, 2025 • 1h 21min
Ep 340 - Protein: Valuable, But Overvalued
Dive into the intriguing discussions about the modest effects of protein on muscle gains and how hospital logistics play a role in athlete health. Explore the surprising link between sleep quality and nutrient timing, alongside the implications of dietary choices for vegan lifters. Discover the controversies surrounding the recent ban on smelling salts in the NFL. The hosts also tackle the complexities of training protocols and the nuances of bodily responses to nutrition, ensuring you get all the insights on performance optimization!
Aug 6, 2025 • 1h 47min
Ep 339 - ECA Stack & Yohimbine
This discussion dives into the intriguing world of the ECA stack and yohimbine. The hosts cover the stack's history, its impact on weight loss, and the regulatory shifts that shaped it. They explore how ephedrine, caffeine, and aspirin work together for fat loss. The conversation also reveals yohimbine's unique effects, from fat mobilization to its implications for male performance. With humor and insight, they reflect on the evolution of fitness supplements and doping in sports, making for an engaging and informative listen.
Jul 30, 2025 • 1h 21min
Ep 338 – The many eras of evidence-based fitness (ft. Dr. Jim Stoppani)
In this engaging conversation, Dr. Jim Stoppani, a PhD in exercise physiology and founder of his own supplement line, shares his journey from academia to fitness communication. He reflects on how the fitness industry and science communication have evolved over the years. They delve into the challenges of maintaining integrity in a digital age filled with misinformation, emphasizing the significance of transparent, evidence-based communication. Jim also discusses fostering audience engagement and promoting a positive approach to fitness education, offering a fresh perspective on navigating the changing landscape.
14 snips
Jul 24, 2025 • 1h 50min
Ep 337 - Is There A Crisis In Exercise Science?
This discussion tackles the replication crisis in exercise science, drawing parallels with the issues in psychology. The hosts examine the challenges of research reproducibility and the risks of over-relying on individual studies. They emphasize the significance of meta-analyses for understanding true effects and urge cautious interpretation of new findings. Additionally, they highlight the systemic barriers to research transparency in exercise science and stress the importance of collaboration and critical evaluation in the fitness community.
28 snips
Jul 16, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep 336 - The Science Of Being Cool & Attractive
In this engaging talk, Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, a psychologist and co-author of the Mass Research Review, dives into the science of attractiveness and coolness. They explore how body composition influences perceptions of attractiveness and discuss the irony of societal expectations. The conversation shifts to how personality traits shape workout preferences, examining the link between fitness habits and individual characteristics. Humor and insight abound as they advocate for a tailored approach to fitness based on psychological traits.
