

Do You Even Lift Bro?
Presented by Garage Gym Experiment
A bi-weekly podcast hosted by @mattpendergraph and @kaizendiygym covering a wide range of home gym topics.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 26, 2025 • 1h 41min
DYELB episode 58 - Tommy Defea
In this conversation, Kyle and Mike discuss their personal fitness journeys, focusing on the evolution of their home gym setups, the challenges of injuries, and the importance of community in the fitness world. They explore how collaboration among fitness content creators, like Massonomics, enhances the home gym culture and the growing popularity of home gym tours as engaging content. The discussion highlights the significance of training consistency and the impact of quality equipment on workout experiences. In this conversation, the boys discuss the challenges of maintaining workout consistency, the importance of finding a personal training style, and the significance of setting goals in fitness. He shares insights on home gym equipment, including a humorous take on the 'Mount Rushmore' of gym gear. The discussion also touches on the intersection of politics and gym culture, the overrated or underrated status of various gym technologies, and future plans for expanding home gym spaces.Follow Tommy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/tomahawk_d/Follow Massenomics on IG: https://www.instagram.com/massenomics/Follow Massenomics on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MassenomicsFollow Michael on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicelikemike__/Follow Kyle on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kaizendiygymFollow Michael on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JsmAFsAGqRpyWMNxL15QwFollow Kyle on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFGCfbYPyFpITa0mbwbTmhA 👉🏼 👉🏼 HomeGymCon ‘26 Save 10% with code DYELBChapters00:00 Introduction and Catching Up03:03 Injuries and Recovery Strategies05:38 Home Gym Evolution and Equipment08:17 Tommy DeFe Joins the Conversation11:30 Home Gym Journey and Equipment Acquisition14:08 The Addiction of Home Gym Equipment17:00 Innovative Products and Ideas20:01 Current Home Gym Setup22:50 Favorite Purchases and Regrets25:34 Identity and Community in Home Gym Culture28:22 Content Strategy and Home Gym Focus32:24 The Evolution of Massanomics Gym37:11 Community Engagement and Gym Tours41:57 The Importance of Events and Networking46:49 Balancing Training and Life53:36 Finding Motivation in Home Gym Equipment01:04:33 Escaping the Political Noise01:06:35 The Overrated Underrated Game01:08:57 Magnetic Resistance Equipment Discussion01:12:48 Future Home Gym Plans01:17:17 Indoor Gym Space Development01:23:54 Overrated or Underrated: Music and Narration

Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 37min
Sam Presley: Inside Garage Gym Review’s Playbook
Sam Presley of Garage Gym Reviews returns with an inside look at HomeGymCon 2025, from ATX's booth takeover to the mystery behind STEPR’s cardio gear. The crew dives deep into GGR’s content strategy, big wins, and what the future of the home gym community could look like.👉🏼 👉🏼 HomeGymCon ‘26 Save 10% with code DYELBhttps://garage-gym-experiment.myshopify.com/products/homegymcon-2028Follow Sam on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamggrsamChapters00:00 – Intro, Beanies in Summer, and Dress Codes in IT02:30 – Fan Talk: Woozu vs. Lasco, Costco Deals & Practical Purchases04:15 – Mic Setups, Desks, and Gear Upgrades06:25 – HomeGymCon Recap: Chaos, Boxes, and the GGR Experience08:00 – ATX Booth Domination & Why Location Matters for Vendors10:30 – Sam’s Pitch to Improve HomeGymCon: Panels, Inventions & Vegas Venue15:00 – YouTube Strategy: Longform Content, Editing on the Fly & Viewer Reaction21:00 – Rogue's Mysterious Vibe & Stepper's Oddly Familiar Cardio Line25:00 – Location Mistakes, Booth Presence, and Missed Opportunities28:00 – GGR's B-Roll Strategy, Community Expectations, and Creative Risk32:00 – Six Hours of Content: Lessons from Year 3 vs. Veteran Content Creators35:00 – U-Haul Drama & How Thor Saved the Day38:30 – MrBeast’s Gym, Content Budgeting, and Gym Tour Strategy43:00 – Building Community vs. Creating Content: Sam’s Five-Year Vision47:00 – Inspirations: MKBHD, Seth’s Bike Hacks, and The Y-Files52:00 – The Coop Comeback: Why GGR Feels More Community-Focused Now59:00 – The Arnold Giveaway Mystery1:00:40 – Community Q&A: Belt Squats, Force USA, Freak Athlete & Dowd Motion PraiseFollow Michael on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicelikemike__/Follow Kyle on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kaizendiygymFollow Michael on YouTube: youtube.com/@nicelikemikeFollow Kyle on YouTube: youtube.com/@KaizenDIYGym

Jul 9, 2025 • 1h 38min
HomeGymCon 2025 Recap
The conversation provides a detailed recap of the HomeGymCon 2025 experience in Louisville, KY, highlighting the excitement, networking opportunities, and challenges faced during the event. The Mike and Kyle reflect on their experiences, the vendors they interacted with, and the equipment they tested. They also discuss the growth of the event and the community surrounding it, emphasizing the importance of collaboration among vendors and content creators. The episode concludes with thoughts on improvements for future events and a heartfelt thank you to attendees.00:00 Home Gym Con Experience Recap02:36 Arrival and First Impressions05:30 Networking and Connections08:39 Exploring Louisville11:27 Vendor Setup and Anticipation14:01 Content Creation and Interviews17:02 Friday Highlights and VIP Dinner30:20 Dinner with Garage Gym Reviews33:48 Saturday Adventures at Home Gym Con37:15 Dinner and Networking with Industry Peers39:33 Late Night Conversations and Casino Adventures42:55 Reflections on Home Gym Con Experience44:48 Growth of Home Gym Con Over the Years52:01 Top Equipment Picks and Vendor Highlights01:01:00 Affordable Gym Equipment Innovations01:04:03 Missed Connections at Home Gym Con01:07:48 Suggestions for Future Events01:12:55 Improvements and Challenges Faced01:16:51 Haul Highlights and Personal Experiences01:23:32 Reflections on Vendor Experiences

May 28, 2025 • 1h 12min
The End of Iron? How VOLTRA Is Redefining Home Gyms
This episode centers around Michael and Kyle reflecting on the impact of their recent Coop interview, the rise of smart fitness equipment like the VOLTRA, and how innovation is reshaping home gyms. They also explore personal fitness journeys—Kyle’s bodybuilding transformation and Michael's experiments with "sugar fasting"—and discuss current controversies and trends in the home gym community.

May 12, 2025 • 1h 16min
Coop from Garage Gym Reviews
Cooper Mitchell, Founder of Garage Gym Reviews, shares his expertise on home gym innovations and community building in fitness. He dives into the evolution of gym equipment, highlighting the rise of digital resistance technology. Personal stories about moving gym gear provide a humorous touch. The conversation emphasizes the importance of transparency in the fitness industry and the value of online communities. Coop also shares insights on balancing work and family while nurturing a passion for fitness and fostering connections within the home gym world.

May 7, 2025 • 1h 12min
Home Gym Innovations: The Story Behind Megalith Handles
In this episode, Kyle and Michael chat with Rory Ellis, founder of Rorman Strength. Rory shares his journey from being a musician in metal bands to discovering weightlifting during his time in the military. He talks about what led him to start a home gym and eventually create the Megalith handles. Rory discusses the challenges of building a business in the fitness industry, including manufacturing hurdles and potential partnerships.

Apr 14, 2025 • 59min
Rogue's Redemption
👉🏼 👉🏼 HomeGymCon ‘25 Save 10% with code DYELBhttps://garage-gym-experiment.myshopify.com/products/2025-homegymconChapters0:00 The Bougie Traveler's Dilemma03:05 Product Testing and Equipment Reviews05:53 Innovations in Home Gym Equipment09:07 The Importance of User Feedback11:55 Navigating Pre-Orders and Consumer Trust14:54 Rogue's Redemption Tour18:12 The Future of Home Gym Equipment30:18 Navigating Controversy and Resolution35:09 Lessons Learned from Conflict40:24 Excitement for HomeGymCon 202544:00 Embarking on a Bodybuilding Journey49:27 Motivation and Transformation Stories53:14 New Equipment Innovations in Home GymsFollow Michael on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicelikemike__/Follow Kyle on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kaizendiygymFollow Michael on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4JsmAFsAGqRpyWMNxL15QwFollow Kyle on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFGCfbYPyFpITa0mbwbTmhA

Apr 5, 2025 • 1h 12min
Rack Chaos & Rail Revival: When Smith Machines Return
HomeGymCon ‘25 Save 10% with code DYELBhttps://garage-gym-experiment.myshopify.com/products/2025-homegymcon

Mar 21, 2025 • 1h 20min
Origins of Garage Gym Reviews
HomeGymCon ‘25 Save 10% with code DYELBhttps://garage-gym-experiment.myshopify.com/products/2025-homegymcon

Mar 5, 2025 • 1h 7min
From Celebrity Trainer to Fitness Innovator: Emily Samuel’s Booty Box Journey
Kyle and Michael welcome fitness entrepreneur Emily Samuel. Emily shares her journey from training celebrities to launching the Booty Box, tackling manufacturing challenges, partnering with Fringe Sport, and highlighting the untapped potential of female-focused fitness products.Follow BootyBox on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bootyboxplatform/Follow Emily on IG: https://www.instagram.com/emilyy_fitness/👉🏼 👉🏼 HomeGymCon ‘25 Save 10% with code DYELBhttps://garage-gym-experiment.myshopify.com/products/2025-homegymcon00:00 - Intro & Catching Up03:00 - Optimizing Home Gym Setups07:00 - Gym Equipment Talk: Attachments & Monolifts12:30 - The Business of Assembly Videos14:30 - Home Gym Con 2025 VIP Experience16:30 - Special Guest: Emily Samuel Joins the Podcast29:00 - The Booty Box: From DIY to Market Success34:00 - Social Media Strategy for Fitness Brands42:00 - Why Women’s Fitness is an Untapped Market in Home Gyms48:00 - Will Emily Attend Home Gym Con?54:00 - Future Innovations: Booty Box 2.0 and More1:01:00 - Home Gym Community & Closing ThoughtsMichael on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicelikemike__/Kyle on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kaizendiygymMichael on YouTube: youtube.com/@nicelikemikeKyle on YouTube: youtube.com/@KaizenDIYGym