Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast

This week, I sat down with Dr. Lee Bell — researcher, practitioner, and senior lecturer in Sport & Exercise Science — to explore one of the most misunderstood areas in strength training: how hard we should train.

Lee has spent years studying overreaching, deloading, and the messy realities of bridging science with practice. We dive into his recent squat-overreaching study, the challenges of defining terms like “overtraining,” and why the human side of training — trust, communication, and honest feedback — matters.

We talk about why some athletes feel terrible yet hit PRs, how allostatic load shapes performance, and what coaches can learn from observing training rather than chasing perfect models.

Enjoy.

Follow Lee's work:

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lee-Bell

https://www.instagram.com/lee3ell/?hl=en

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This week, I sat down with Leo Totten — coach, educator, and founder of Totten Training Systems and East Coast Gold Weightlifting.

Leo has spent over five decades shaping American weightlifting as an athlete, coach, and mentor. We discuss the evolution of training — from learning the Olympic lifts out of old Strength & Health magazines to building one of the most successful club systems in the country.

We talk about the roots of programming, the balance between research and experience. Leo also reflects on the importance of mentorship, legacy, and doing things “the right way, for the right reasons, with the right people.”

Enjoy.

Sign up for Leo's mentorship group:

https://www.tottentraining.com/coaching-mentor-program

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This week, I’m joined by Seb Ostrowicz of Weightlifting House to break down the IWF’s new bodyweight categories and what they mean heading into LA 2028.

We get into:

• - Why the new classes were created and how the IOC forced the reshuffle

• - The 65/75/85/95/110/+110 and 53/61/69/77/86/+86 structure and where it makes zero sense

• - Who wins, who gets screwed, and why some lifters now have to make insane jumps

• - How stricter testing, body size, and talent pools are reshaping top-end performances

• - A quick life + projects catch-up, including my PhD work and what’s next for Weightlifting House

  
  

If you care about elite weightlifting, qualification strategy, or how these changes will shape the next generation of freaks on the platform, this one’s for you.

Enjoy.

Follow Seb and WH:

https://www.instagram.com/seb_ostrowicz/

https://www.instagram.com/weightlifting_house/

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This week, I sat down with Dr. Chris Taber — researcher, sport scientist, and professor at Sacred Heart University — to unpack the art and science of program design.

We dive into how hypertrophy, novelty, and creativity fit into long-term athlete development, and why variation may be the key to sustaining progress. Dr. Taber also shares findings from his latest research comparing traditional and motor-assisted flywheel training for hypertrophy.

Enjoy.

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This week, I’m joined by Dani Myers Glynn — better known as @DaniLiftsHeavy — alongside today's co-host Mandi from the Two Girls, One Bar podcast. We discuss Dani’s prep for the upcoming IDFPA World Championships in South Korea and what it really takes to get butt-ass strong.

We break down the training model that’s carried her from Nationals to Worlds, including how we’ve shifted from traditional high-rep progressions to lower-rep, high-intensity blocks, managed volume across lifts, and adapted training after dropping weight classes. We also dig into athlete psychology, the coach–athlete relationship, and the fine line between “high-performance mindset” and training for health.

Outside of training, we talk about fundraising for Worlds, building community through authenticity, and how Dani’s Lift Heavy brand has become a movement for inclusivity and strength at every size.

Enjoy.

Help us get to South Korea:

Donate directly - https://bio.site/daniliftsheavy

Buy merch - https://www.bonfire.com/daniliftsheavy/ and https://www.bonfire.com/hot-people-lift-heavy/

Follow Dani:

https://www.instagram.com/daniliftsheavy/

Follow Mandi and the 2 Girls, 1 Bar podcast:

https://www.instagram.com/mandimurakami/

https://www.instagram.com/2girls1barpod/

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