Iron Culture presented by MASS

We are joined today by pro natural bodybuilding world champion Dirk Emmerich. Dirk is one of the many emerging stars of the newest era of competitive natural bodybuilding. In 2021, in his very first bodybuilding season, he made history. He won his WNBF pro card in the most impressive way possible, by not only winning his class at WNBF Worlds but then - as a bantamweight - he won the WNBF world overall amateur bodybuilding title, the first bantamweight ever in the then 32-year history of WNBF Worlds to do so. This year, Dirk made just as much of an impact in his pro debut as he did in his bodybuilding debut, as he medalled in multiple pro shows, including winning the pro lightweight WNBF Valhalla title. Finally, his season culminated in winning the WNBF Pro Worlds Lightweight title in the largest lightweight pro class in history, consisting of 16 competitors. How did he do it? What type of planning, mentality, talent, and coaching does it take to be so successful in your debut seasons as an amateur and professional bodybuilder? Join us to learn what went into these historic rookie seasons. 00:00 Eric… Trexler… Helms? And introducing Dirk 05:13 What got Dirk into lifting 11:20 The art of bodybuilding 16:48 Dirk’s natural talent 20:30 Dirk’s calories and individual variation 32:27 The next steps for Dirk and his relationship with Berto 39:16 Dirk’s experience of Worlds and success 45:33 What does competitive bodybuilding mean to Dirk? 53:23 DASGYM and the ANBF 57:00 Rivalry and camaraderie with Benjamin Schuster 1:04:29 The final words and where to find Dirk Instagram @dirkemmerich_ https://www.instagram.com/dirkemmerich_/?hl=en https://linktr.ee/dirkemmerich 

The Great Competition, 1901, Royal Albert Hall, London…this was the birthplace of modern bodybuilding. The one and only Eugen Sandow managed to persevere through multiple years of war, logistical setbacks, and a political and cultural climate that viewed physique displays as potentially indecent, sometimes immoral, and at worst, as illegal pornography, to host the first championship bodybuilding show to find the “best built man in Britain and Ireland”. To even compete, entrants had to place top three in a full series of regional qualifiers where hundreds upon hundreds of athletes battled against one another in the years prior. Further, to even enter these regional qualifiers, entrants had to send in their pictures to Eugen Sandow’s magazine for initial screening. The eventual championship in 1901 was truly a spectacle. Nearly ten thousand attendees packed Royal Albert Hall to the brim, an astonishing number that rivals the attendance of any modern bodybuilding competition…even the Olympia. Indeed, this historic event reverberates into the modern era, as modern Olympia winners receive “the Sandow”, a replica of the trophy given to the third-place winner of The Great Competition. In this episode, we’re joined by Marcus Kment, a filmmaker, physical culturist, and amateur historian, who recently produced an excellent documentary on the Great Competition and the athletes who competed in it to discuss its significance and their story. Additionally, he’s joined by our very own Dr. Conor Heffernan who consulted on this project. Join us to learn about this jaw-dropping history, as once again, history proves stranger than fiction! Barbell Films YouTube & IG: @barbellfilms 00:00 It happened again… Where is Trexler? And the hierarchy of the Iron Culture Obelisk  8:58 Reviewing reviews 13:01 Introducing Marcus to the Iron Culture Pantheon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha80AQqXpT4 17:38 Marcus’ introduction to physical culture and why he does what he does 23:01 The great competition and its grand scale 41:16 The logistical barriers and generating interest 55:05 What happened on show day and the prizes 1:04:52 The dress code (black tights!?), judging criteria, and the winners 1:12:00 A festival of physical culture and what came after 1:20:22 The impact of the great competition 1:37:09 The personal stories spanning generations: the starting point of physical culture 1:43:43 The value this great documentary brings 1:47:44 Jumping to the top of the pyramid (that matters) and what’s next for Marcus Where to find our guests Instagram @barbellfilms https://www.instagram.com/barbellfilms/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@BarbellFilms https://physicalculturestudy.com/  https://www.ironhistory.com/ 

We’re back. We’re so back (except for Dr. Trexler, he’s sick …but he will be so back). Omar is getting his body composition tested in July and he has publicly guaranteed that he’s going to have increased his lean mass by then. Likewise, Dr. Helms just publicly announced his monogamous commitment to bodybuilding and his push to become a pro champion now that he’s turned pro. How are these not-so-spring chickens going to do it? More importantly for you dear listener, how are you going to do it if you’ve been in the game a while? It’s a complex question, requiring us to define what advanced even means, to understand whether there actually is such a thing as a “natural limit”, both technically and functionally, and to understand the complexity of such an assessment. Does it apply to your whole physique, or is it body part specific? Is there a limit on your muscle mass that is universal, or does it differ at various levels of body fat? More so, one must figure out what tools we even have to assess one’s proximity to your natural potential and also how to assess diagnosis, and ultimately overcome plateaus. It’s a lot! But don’t worry, we get into all of it! 00:00 They tried to stop us… Introducing another monster episode 6:23 Speaking of working… the natural limit and advanced hypertrophy 14:26 The definitions of being an advanced lifter Kouri 1995 Fat-free mass index in users and nonusers of anabolic-androgenic steroids https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7496846/  Abe 2018 Skeletal Muscle Mass and Architecture of the World’s Strongest Raw Powerlifter: A Case Study https://brieflands.com/articles/asjsm-61763 28:55 Measuring and tracking your progress Straddling the line 35:35 Your limitations and how an advanced competitive bodybuilder may approach their training   Believe 2024 - Forging the Unlikely Pro Champion: Episode 1, Physique Assessment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_S9u1suE70 49:25 Gaining weight for non-competitors Helms 2023 Effect of Small and Large Energy Surpluses on Strength, Muscle, and Skinfold Thickness in Resistance-Trained Individuals: A Parallel Groups Design https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37914977/  Rozenek 2002 Effects of high-calorie supplements on body composition and muscular strength following resistance training https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12094125/ 1:05:15 Specialisation cycles and bringing up weak parts 1:14:26 The quasi-transactional mindset and the motivation behind it all 1:25:08 Where can we find Eric? https://3dmusclejourney.com/ https://massresearchreview.com/ Instagram @helms3dmj https://www.instagram.com/helms3dmj/  

Dr. Helms recaps WNBF Worlds and explores motivations of bodybuilders. Dr. Trexler discusses muscle loss during weight loss and the misconceptions surrounding it.

Dr. Mike Israetel, a sports scientist in bodybuilding, discusses the spirit of bodybuilding in this episode. They talk about the highs and lows of a competitor's journey, the personal growth through criticism, the significance of perseverance, and the motivations behind competing. They also touch on the negative effects of using steroids and the potential use of myostatin inhibitors in bodybuilding.

This podcast episode dives into the significance of leucine in muscle protein synthesis and the recent doubts cast on its importance. It explores conflicting outcomes of protein consumption studies and the boundaries of optimal protein strategies. The hosts also discuss the importance of pre-digested information in the fitness space and the desire for optimization in fitness journeys.

Two bodybuilders-turned-scientists share their personal journeys in bodybuilding, exploring motivations, self-discovery, and the fusion of athleticism and art. They discuss the mindset of competitive bodybuilding and powerlifting, as well as overcoming challenges such as excessive training, concussions, and persistent nerve injuries. The podcast also touches on the early years of lifting, bodybuilding preparation, and the meaning found in a wacky sport like bodybuilding.

Exploring the misconceptions around bulking for muscle growth, a recent study reveals surprising results about the impact of different size surpluses on muscle gains. The podcast also delves into the significance of tattoos, congratulates one speaker on turning pro, and discusses the peer review process and study design. Analyzing weight gain protocols, the effects of bulking on muscle growth are examined, along with the importance of identifying problems and finding solutions in training programs.

The podcast explores controversies surrounding the hosts' identities. They discuss the limitations of using BMI as a clinical metric and advocate for considering other factors. The speakers also delve into bodybuilding experiences, challenges of peaking for shows, and the discrepancies between lab mice and humans. They touch upon the importance of advocacy, social change, empathy in weight loss journeys, and the impact of weight loss drugs on appetite.

Dr. Eric Trexler examines the impact of macronutrient changes and body composition on testosterone levels. Topics include the relationship between fat & carbohydrate intake and testosterone, the effects of caloric restriction and adiposity on hormone production, and the misconception that high adiposity impairs muscle growth.