Do You Even Lift Bro?

Overview Home Gym Con was a fantastic weekend filled with camaraderie and excitement. The highlight of the event was the people, with attendees and vendors alike expressing their love for the home gym community. The scale of the event was also impressive, with a significant increase in vendors and attendees compared to the previous year. ATX Equipment stood out as a major contender, with their unique and well-engineered equipment making a big impression. Mayhem's fluorescent flecks plates and other plates also caught attention for their aesthetic appeal. The event provided an opportunity for vendors to connect with the community and gain exposure, emphasizing the importance of engagement and immersion in the home gym community. Home Gym Con 2025 is set to take place in Louisville, Kentucky, with a larger venue and more accessibility. The event has grown significantly since its inception and continues to attract both vendors and attendees. Some big vendors were unable to attend this year, including Sorinex, Bulletproof Fitness, and Giant Lifting. Coop from Garage Gym Reviews also did not attend, sparking some controversy and discussion within the community. The importance of collaboration and support among content creators was emphasized, and the overall experience of Home Gym Con was highly positive and exciting. Takeaways: Community Spirit: The hosts emphasize the importance of the people and community at HomeGymCon, noting that many attendees felt the best part of the event was the sense of camaraderie. Impressive Equipment: The hosts highlight ATX's equipment as particularly innovative and well-engineered, indicating that the company will be a major contender in the US market. Event Scale: The size and scale of this year’s event exceeded the hosts' expectations, with more vendors and people in attendance, creating a busy but exciting atmosphere. Health and Wellness: The hosts note the importance of maintaining adequate nutrition and hydration during events, as they experienced fatigue and exhaustion due to neglecting these aspects. Future Plans: The hosts are excited about the future of HomeGymCon, particularly with its next venue being more accessible, and encourage others to attend. Episode Outline: 00:00 The Power of Community 11:55 ATX Equipment: A Major Contender 26:55 Engagement and Immersion: Keys to Success 27:52 Home Gym Con 2025: Bigger Venue, Better Accessibility 32:49 Notable Absences: Vendors and Coop

Summary The podcast episode features a lively discussion between Kyle and Michael, focusing on various aspects of the fitness industry, particularly the nuances of brand management and marketing strategies within niche markets like fitness expos. The conversation revolves around a specific incident involving REP Fitness, which faced consequences for not obtaining permission to use Arnold Expo's branding on their merchandise. This led to a broader discussion on the importance of adhering to brand guidelines and the potential financial implications of such oversights. They also touched on upcoming events like HomeGymCon and shared their personal experiences and insights on product reviews and the dynamics of community engagement within the fitness industry. Outline 00:00 Controversy and Exclusion: Rep Fitness at the Arnold Expo 07:48 Possibility of Participation: Strongman and Grip Competitions 20:22 The Future of Kabuki Strength 26:38 Favorite Cable Attachments for a Cable Tower Setup 32:52 Mount Rushmore of Cable Attachments 39:13 Angles90 Handles: Love or Hate? 48:07 The Frustration with Affiliate Links 54:15 DIY Pieces That Should Be Brought to Market Follow Michael on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicelikemike__/ Follow Kyle on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFGCfbYPyFpITa0mbwbTmhA Follow Kyle on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kaizendiygym

Summary The conversation covers the announcement of Rep Ares V2, the frustration of Rep Ares V1 owners, Rep's approach to new product releases, the use of affiliate links by influencers, the controversy between Garage Gym Reviews and The Strength Co, and the influx of Chinese equipment manufacturers in the home gym market. We also cover topics such as buying knockoff products, supporting American companies, the ethics of buying knockoffs, controversy over GymPin's product and upgrading equipment. Takeaways Rep's announcement of Ares V2 has generated excitement and anticipation, but also frustration among recent buyers of the Ares V1. Rep's approach to new product releases has varied, with some products being teased out and others being announced without warning. The use of affiliate links by influencers can feel spammy and may not always align with the best interests of the consumer. The controversy between Garage Gym Reviews and The Strength Co highlights the influence of affiliate links in product recommendations. The home gym market is seeing an influx of Chinese equipment manufacturers, which can lead to a flooded market and potential issues with quality and originality.  Buying knockoff products can be tempting due to their lower prices, but it raises ethical questions about supporting the original creators and American companies. The home gym community is divided on the issue, with some prioritizing cost savings and others valuing supporting the originators. The availability of knockoff products on platforms like Alibaba makes it difficult for consumers to differentiate between genuine and counterfeit items. Upgrading equipment can be a personal choice driven by aesthetics, functionality, or a desire for change. Chapters 00:00 Rep Ares V2 Announcement 02:48 Disgruntled Rep Aries V1 Owners 06:33 Rep's Approach to New Product Releases 08:51 Affiliate Links and Influencers 10:46 Garage Gym Reviews and The Strength Co Controversy 15:34 Chinese Equipment Manufacturers and Flooded Market 36:30 Supporting American Companies 39:35 The Ethics of Buying Knockoffs 42:52 Controversy Over Mammoth Belt Squat Kickstand 45:13 Jim Pin's Competing Product 50:39 Upgrading Equipment 55:47 New Equipment Purchases 01:04:09 Live Episode at Home Gym Con Follow Follow Michael on IG: https://www.instagram.com/nicelikemike__/ Follow Kyle on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFGCfbYPyFpITa0mbwbTmhA Follow Kyle on IG: https://www.instagram.com/kaizendiygym

Episode Outline (00:00) Introduction and Personal Updates (02:47) Benefits of Outdoor Activities (06:10) Balancing Content Creation and Training (08:53) Thoughts on Content Creation (13:37) Hot Takes and Questions from the Community (23:45) New Product Debuts at Home Gym Con (26:08) Exciting and Innovative Equipment (30:01) Modular Storage System (33:19) Overcomplicating Lifting (39:18) Drama in the Home Gym Space (52:32) Drama with Steadfast Lifting (57:09) HomeGymCon Plans

*Use code dyelb to save on ⁠HomeGymCon Episode Outline (1:36) HomeGymCon Prep (4:40) Marketplace (13:43) Content in 2024 (21:40) Barbell Collections (40:05) Other Updates Follow Follow ⁠⁠@nicelikemike__⁠⁠ on IG Follow ⁠⁠Kyle⁠⁠ on YouTube Follow ⁠⁠Kyle⁠⁠ on Instagram

*Use code dyelb to save on HomeGymCon Episode Outline (0:00) Introduction and Return to Podcasting (3:00) Home Gym Con and Content Strategy (8:00) Challenges of Moving Home Gym (13:00) Dealing with a Flood (18:00) Challenges of Content Creation (20:00) Black Friday Equipment Purchases (25:00) Training and Goals (35:00) Training for Spartan Race (45:00) Holiday Plans and Content Creation (48:14) Capturing Memories and Content (51:01) Goals for the New Year (55:36) Looking Forward to Home Gym Con (56:05) Favorite Christmas Movies (59:55) Wrapping Up and Returning to Podcasting Follow Follow ⁠@nicelikemike__⁠ on IG Follow ⁠Kyle⁠ on YouTube Follow ⁠Kyle⁠ on Instagram

(Get Tickets Here for 2024 Here) Mike & Kyle chat about their HomeGymCon experiences. (0:00) Intro (4:07) Mike's Journey to HGC (8:44) Kyle's Journey (10:24) Prior Weekend Plans (22:52) Testing equipment for the first time (30:18) The Sadness After

Mike &  @KaizenDIYGym  chat Arnold, HomeGymCon, and make another big announcement!

Episode Outline (0:35) Attachment recommendations for the DIY rack (1:22) Ideal Physique (3:22) Cons of home gyms (5:34) Tutorial for a leg holder for the wall-mounted pulley to do lat pulldowns? (7:39) DIY sandbag that won't break? (9:04) How can I do a strong and comfortable hip thrust machine (+300kg) with a bar? (10:10) Any new DIYs that you want to make? (13:15) Biggest mistake while making something for the home gym? (16:20) Leg curls on a reverse hyper? (17:07) How long has Mike been growing his luscious locks? (18:35) Why does Mike squat? (21:05) Where did your rack kettlebell storage shelf go in your latest workout reel? Is it coming back? (22:19) 2023 training goals? (26:30) Dream piece of equipment if money & space are non-factors? Follow Follow @nicelikemike__ on IG Follow Kyle on YouTube Follow Kyle on Instagram

Episode Outline (0:20) Catching up on weather, dust, and more (5:11) Mike's gym updates (10:27) Pulley setup time (18:44) Pug Box (25:21) New gym equipment Follow Follow @nicelikemike__ on IG Follow Kyle on YouTube Follow Kyle on Instagram