Iron Culture presented by MASS

Hard work is undeniably an essential element of success in the iron game and life. Yet, while that is true, just like telling someone who is depressed to "cheer up", telling someone struggling with their progress to "try harder" doesn't help. Despite that, so much of our signaling on social media, our shared community values, and our identities as lifters come down to expressing, celebrating, and worshipping that exact sentiment. In this episode, we explore why this happens, and the rare cases when telling someone to simply try harder actually might be helpful, in what context, for whom, and also discussing all the times this advice falls flat at best, or at worst, is actually harmful. Get ready to dive deep on this one folks, as we take a hard look at the motivations of the lifter.

It's all downhill when you hit years old!" is one of the most heard phrases by not yet middle-aged lifters at family events. But is that true? In this episode we address "metabolic myths" related to energy expenditure changes over the lifespan, so-called "differences" between the sexes, and also cover some crazy realities like the true extent of individual differences in energy expenditure, and how things change (or don't change) during pregnancy. Make sure to tune in to this episode of Iron Culture so you can start more sentences with "umm actually…" at family gatherings.

We are back with another question and answer episode! This one includes a deep dive into exercise selection, execution, and ways to maximize time efficiency as it relates to exercise selection, covering both strength and physique goals, those who have both goals, and other nuances on these topics that people often don't consider. Further, we discuss what competitive natural bodybuilding could do to improve the experience of both competitors and fans alike. And finally, we talk about frequency of training and recent shifts in our perspective on the topic.

Dr. Ben House, expert in testosterone replacement therapy, discusses the risks and considerations of TRT, the relationship between obesity and testosterone levels, factors contributing to low testosterone, the prevalence of low testosterone, marketing pitfalls of TRT, the Joe Rogan Experience and TRT, and the risks of testosterone replacement therapy.

For better or worse we committed to the Iron Culture mission statement of being "for all lifters"…even for endurance athletes who lift. Yes, you heard that right, endurance athletes. In this episode we are joined by Professor Sara Mahoney, who has her Ph.D. in exercise physiology, researches nutrition for endurance athletes, is a runner herself, and coaches Division 1 and 2 cross country and track and field. She's on to talk about how she uses resistance training to help her endurance athletes improve performance. Shockingly, she's joined in this episode by one of her clients, none other than Dr. Mike Zourdos. Yes that Zourdos, Dr. DUP, Dr daily max squat, who in this episode breaks the silence on the earth-shattering secret that, in fact, he now only lifts occasionally, and when he does, it's supplementary to his running.

Natty limits, genetic potential, everyone talks about these concepts, but most people truly get it wrong. You've heard the tropes, "you reach 80% of your muscular potential in your first X years of effective training." It sounds great in theory, but it is the exception rather than the rule when it plays out this way in the real world. How often do people start off with effective training? How does regular dieting, either for competition or for the likes impact this timeline? What about injuries, time off, school, kids? How about simply figuring out what works best for you after years of being unable to? Despite the "rule" being so volatile and highly variable due to these factors (and others), it's surprisingly common to hear people use this "logic" to justify anything from slacking off on training, to hopping on anabolics, to even supposedly identifying fake natty's. Join us in this episode as we talk about the not-so-linear timeline of approaching the asymptote that is your potential.

Dr. Conor Heffernan, the Strength historian, and Ben Esgro, the dual-masters degreed sports nutrition/pharmaceutical chemistry formulation artiste are both back on Iron Culture for this monster episode on the history of the supplement industry. Learn what it was like in the days of Sandow's cocoa and how at one point in America's history, every lifter had a little Bob Hoffman in them…literally. Contrast and compare that history with the contemporary experiences Ben has had in the supplement industry for over a decade, and you'll see what has and hasn't changed in this insider's view into the world of powder and pills.

This episode will hit your ears like a sonic boom, changing your perspective on "broscience" in a flash. Where do lifting myths come from? Locker room convos between Chad Broseph and Chance Halfsquat? Sometimes. But more often than not, the myths of today were the scientific truths of yesterday. So how do we pursue truth when faced with the reality that some of what we think we know today is incorrect? Well, we must avoid over concluding on the limited evidence we have, seeking to evaluate not only what that evidence can tell us, but also what it can't. Tune into this episode to learn more about this process.

If you don't train to failure, you'll be a failure. It not only sounds good, but it also appeals to the hardcore inner masochist in every serious lifter that's just waiting to strike in the comments section. But, is the saying true? In this episode, we're joined by Zac Robinson from Data Driven Strength to find out. He's a powerlifting coach who did his master's degree specifically on the effects of training to and short of failure on hypertrophy and strength with Dr. Mike Zourdos at Florida Atlantic University. You'll learn that there are in fact pros and cons to training to failure, and there are times, exercises, goals, and situations that may warrant training to failure, or *GASP*….quite far from it! So as you tune in, prepare your inner hardcore masochist for jimmy-rustling, feather-ruffling, and maybe even some gear-grinding.

The cornerstone of scientific thinking is updating your beliefs based on the available evidence. Unfortunately this conflicts with the cornerstone of being a cult of personality guru leader, which requires doubling down and never admitting fault or when you're wrong. In this episode we break the fourth wall, coming down off the top of the pyramid to have a non-canon discussion about all the times we've changed our minds and updated our beliefs. Not only is each instance an opportunity to discuss how specific evidence has changed over time and the nuances of a given topic, but the entire episode serves as a meta-discussion on continually learning. Make sure to tune into this one to hear all the times we've been wrong, but then quickly forget about it because Omar and I are never wrong.