
Iron Culture presented by MASS
Iron Culture was started as a means of exploring the world of physical culture and attempting to distill a unified philosophy of lifting and to help listeners find greater meaning from the iron. It focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, bouncing from history, to philosophy, to contemporary lifting culture issues, to science.
Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review.
Latest episodes

Feb 3, 2024 • 1h 5min
MASS Office Hours Episode 21 (Food Tracking, Staying Lean, Hypertrophy Training)
Topics discussed include food tracking, staying lean, hypertrophy training, metabolically healthy obesity, importance of macronutrients, estimating RPE, clean bulking controversy, and gratitude for Dr. Helms.

Jan 29, 2024 • 1h 46min
MASS Office Hours Episode 20: Response Variation, Individualizing Training, Protein Consistency
Topics discussed in the podcast include response variation, individualizing training, movement screens, rest days, protein intake recommendations and consistency, interference effect of rucking on strength training, effects of alcohol on metabolism and body composition, pros and cons of caffeine, and training in unconventional locations.

Jan 20, 2024 • 1h 25min
MASS Office Hours Episode 19 (Bulking, Body Image, Volume Progression)
Topics discussed in this podcast include bulking calories, pursuing fat loss with negative body image, creatine options, contaminants in protein powders, sleep impact on workouts, pre-exercise stretching effects, optimal training frequency, and a comprehensive approach to volume progression.

Jan 14, 2024 • 1h 22min
MASS Office Hours Episode 18: Lifting for Endurance, HR Zones for Lifting, Lower-Back Training
Topics include lifting recommendations for endurance athletes, heart rate zones for lifting, lower back training, finding the right set volume, troubleshooting training plateaus, sacrificing sleep for training frequency, and more.

Jan 6, 2024 • 1h 22min
MASS Office Hours Episode 17 (Bulking/Cutting, Alcohol, Low BMIs)
Topics include bulking and cutting phases, fat intake, hormonal contraceptives, alcohol intake, amenorrhea, protein intake, and the health effects of low BMI values.

Dec 27, 2023 • 47min
MASS Office Hours Episode 16 (Client-Centered Coaching)
In this pre-recorded episode, Dr. Eric Helms discusses client-centered coaching and its practical applications. He explores self-determination theory and intrinsic motivation in athletes, as well as the relationship between motivation, behavior, opportunity, and capability in behavior change. The importance of supporting autonomy and being a client-centered coach is highlighted, along with the impact of marketing tactics on attracting clients.

Dec 23, 2023 • 1h 22min
MASS Office Hours Episode 15 (Plateaus, Caffeine, Warming Up)
Topics discussed in this podcast include optimal protein intake per meal, warming up for workouts, the effects of caffeine on sleep disruption, tracking body weight throughout the menstrual cycle, consistency of calorie surplus while bulking, artificial sweeteners and insulin resistance, troubleshooting plateaus in training, post-workout nutrition for evening workouts, and improving RPE and RIR accuracy. They also have a casual conversation about picture books and reconfiguring parenting approaches.

Dec 16, 2023 • 1h 33min
MASS Office Hours Episode 14 (Machine Exercises, Low-Protein Diets, Exercising for Longevity)
In this live episode, Dr. Eric Trexler and Lauren Colenso-Semple answer questions on topics like favorite exercises, exercise prescription errors, balancing lifting and cardio for health, pros and cons of machine exercises, lengthened partials, making gains on low-protein diets, and more.

Dec 10, 2023 • 1h 44min
MASS Office Hours Episode 13 (Periodization, Behavior Change, Exercise vs. Fitness)
Topics discussed in this episode include the importance of periodization, effects of food scarcity on eating behavior, behavior change tools, training frequency, saturated fat intake, implementation of cluster sets, and the unique benefits of exercising versus being fit.

Nov 30, 2023 • 1h 12min
MASS Office Hours Episode 12 (Recovery Modalities, Slow Eccentrics, BFR Training)
Dr. Mike Zourdos and Dr. Eric Helms discuss recovery modalities, NSAIDs, cardio-lifting balance, blood flow restriction training, rest times, intensification techniques, and slow eccentrics in this episode. These experts provide valuable insights and guidelines for optimizing training and performance.