

Starting Strength Radio
Mark Rippetoe
Starting Strength is the bestselling book on the most fundamental and effective approach to strength training ever written. Mark Rippetoe hosts Starting Strength Radio where he discusses topics of interest, primarily to him, but perhaps also to you.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 13, 2023 • 52min
Fossil Future with Alex Epstein | Starting Strength Radio #234
Rip talks to the author of Fossil Future, Alex Epstein, about the need for increased usage and accessibility of fossil fuels, the advantages of fossil fuel consumption, the impact on global warming, and the role of nuclear energy.
00:33 Alex Epstein
01:26 Fossil Future
04:29 Rip’s position
10:07 Philosophy of science
14:30 Global warming
19:53 Selecting the terminology/Naming the state of things a catastrophe
26:33 Fear and guilt
31:06 Nuclear energy
41:44 Incentives
48:38 In conclusion

Oct 9, 2023 • 60min
MD, Gym Owner, 300 Lb Deadlifter Megan Yeh Starting Strength Gyms Podcast 61
Megan Yeh, co-owner of SS Columbus, and Ray Gillenwater discuss the responsibilities of being a hospitalist, the advantages of strength training, and the common tendency of individuals to overlook their health by making unwise choices.
01:38 - Medical background
02:37 - Hospitalist
03:19 - Starting numbers and current PRs
05:45 - Discussing strength training with patients
07:15 - Aspiring to be a doctor
10:11 - Position on strength training as a medical professional
18:56 - Pregnancy and back pain
33:44 - Taking our health for granted by making poor decisions
36:32 - Keeping the running habit
39:40 - Gaining body weight and in the same size clothes
44:06 - Age and height
45:09 - Telling more stories/sharing more experiences
52:10 - Does the curriculum have flaws?
55:17 - Two biological sexes
56:05 - What's it like owning SS Columbus?
58:47 - How to find Megan

Oct 6, 2023 • 1h 16min
Q&A Episode - Sumo, Rip's Bright Idea, and Missing Reps | Starting Strength Radio #233
Rip answers questions from Starting Strength Network subscribers and fans.
05:02 Things we like
10:26 Comments from the Haters!
22:40 Sumo is gay
30:51 Chin-ups vs. pull-ups
33:23 Programming during a cut
39:00 Which type of testosterone is best?
44:23 Belt for power cleans
46:14 Does the house always win?
49:53 Rip’s lightbulb moments
59:15 Alcohol is a part of the program
1:02:17 Missing reps

Sep 29, 2023 • 1h 3min
Greg Ellifritz - Cancer Treatment and Men's Health | Starting Strength Radio #232
Rip talks to Greg Ellifritz, who underwent the TULSA procedure at Dr. Busch's office in Atlanta, about prostate cancer, treatment, and quality of life.
00:31 Greg Ellifritz
09:19 The diagnosis
16:24 Joe Busch and the TULSA procedure
25:30 After surgery
30:45 Quality of life over quantity
35:33 About the procedure
45:35 Research on decision making

Sep 25, 2023 • 1h 9min
How to Manage Your Heart Health with Dr. Ovadia | Starting Strength Gyms Podcast #60
Heart surgeon Dr. Philip Ovadia joins Ray on the show today to discuss the most important topics from Ovadia's book, Stay Off My Operating Table. The cholesterol controversy, diagnostic testing, blood panel specifics, and other areas of interest related to avoiding heart disease are reviewed in as much detail as an hour show allows.
01:17 - Stay Off My Operating Table
06:37 - The standard of practice
10:28 - Why are there so many sick people? / Being red-pilled
13:19 - How do I take back control of my health?
18:31 - Don't overeat if you're not using the energy
19:27 - Most common patient
24:13 - 5 basic levels of metabolic health
27:48 - Metabolic syndrome
33:59 - Sugar is damaging to the bloodstream
39:49 - Efficiency is important
45:30 - Calcium score
50:34 - Preventative heart surgery
53:57 - Insulin resistance
59:30 - Red blood cell count
01:03:09 - Distinction between polycythemia and secondary erythrocytosis
01:06:40 - The body is a complicated system

Sep 22, 2023 • 1h 42min
Process vs. Outcome with John Welbourn | Starting Strength Radio #231
Rip talks to former NFL football player John Welbourn about the NFL, process vs. outcome driven individuals, and applying field strength.
00:32 John Welbourn
07:12 Zangus
11:23 College
18:01 Process vs. outcome
25:18 John’s move to Austin
33:27 The education system and politics
42:44 About the NFL
54:12 Brain injuries in the NFL
1:09:11 Learning and teaching
1:17:21 Displaying strength
1:24:39 Rip and John do two different things
1:38:34 Let’s table that topic for next time

Sep 15, 2023 • 1h 35min
Q&A Episode - Neuromuscular Disease, Training Kids in Season, and Elbow Replacement | SS Radio #230
Rip answers questions live from Starting Strength Network subscribers and fans.
01:57 Comments from the Haters!
16:57 Programming and certification questions
29:53 Overweight and having spine problems
42:57 Kids and training while in season
56:39 Elbow replacement and deadlift
1:00:32 NLP and deadlift numbers
1:11:35 Why increase in weight if still making progress?
1:26:39 Neuromuscular disease and fatigue

Sep 11, 2023 • 1h 12min
How to Become an Intermediate with Nick D | Starting Strength Gyms Podcast #59
Ray and Nick review the steps in the NLP and go through progressions to intermediate programming for each lift and examples of common issues with making changes.
01:47 Squat progression - Novice to Intermediate
03:37 Start with the basics - only make changes when needed
06:22 Technique/form
09:23 Adding a light day
11:59 Changes are individual dependent
13:51 Go up on the first set of five
15:33 Anything that's not adding five pounds to a workout isn't NLP
16:54 40-year-old/last steps for progression/decide which day is the heavy day
19:19 Triples
21:44 Considerations on program changes at this level
24:00 Women will move to threes pretty early
25:42 Programming issues - determining what change to make
26:36 Too much stress or not enough?
30:16 Not enough stress
31:49 If you make a change, make a small change
37:48 Standard progression on the deadlift
41:15 Simplifying things
44:37 Alternating the deadlift with another pulling movement
52:19 Making 10-pound jumps on the deadlift
55:09 Bench progression
57:30 Press progression
1:03:10 Nick's clients grinding through reps
1:04:39 Post novice - continue increasing stress

Sep 8, 2023 • 1h 22min
Coaching Crutches and Wasting Client Money | Starting Strength Radio #229
Rip discusses the inappropriate use of the rack pull and coaches' reliance on modifications rather than fixing technique issues. Interesting topics include: coaches not doing their job, when to use a tool, the reason for alternate lifts, and the importance of having a deep coaching toolbox.

Sep 1, 2023 • 1h 16min
Q&A Episode - Rip's Mental Health, Night Sweats, and Afrin | Starting Strength Radio #228
Rip answers questions from Starting Strength Network subscribers and fans.
01:27 S&C coaches are upset with Rip
03:35 Comments from the Haters!
22:36 What does Rip believe / Afrin
25:17 Accessory lifting book
27:42 Asymmetric loading
31:30 Can osteoporosis be irreversible?
37:21 Disrupting homeostasis
44:13 Rips mental health and his steak
53:46 Night sweats after lifting heavy
56:13 Training for music
58:27 Lowering blood pressure
1:03:52 Working in the heat and then lifting