Mark Bell's Powercast

We’re still in Topic Thunder mode this week. Our panel tries to find agreement (or not) with the suggestion that training deadlifts the risks if you’re not a competitive powerlifter. Are they actually dangerous? Or are there just better ways to spend your training time? Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday and Nico @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentf

We’re still in Topic Thunder mode this week. Our panel unpacks this hot take, “Hook grip Is unreliable and may be overrated.” Hook grip is a bandwagon that most lifters jump on at one time or another to try to up their deadlift. Is that a mistake? Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday and Nico @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50

Our panel takes on a couple of related questions about the giant meet we just ran from members of our Discord: AR17 asked, “What do you believe was the most under (over) looked aspect of running/ prepping a meet?” Keith Honeycutt asked, “What all did you learn from hosting this massive USAPL meet? What did you do right? What did you do wrong? Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday and Nico @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get

We just hosted a great big meet – maybe the largest local USAPL meet ever – and we’re beat so we’re slipping into Topic Thunder mode for a bit to recover our calm and our voices. Topic Thunder episodes are short, sometimes rant-filled, panel discussions about a listener-submitted topic. In this episode, we discussed whether powerlifting has become almost too predictable and jokey to grab attention on social media. Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday and Nico @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3

This week’s question from our Discord: EvilFern asked, “How important is having a mentor? Am I missing out by not having one? Feel like it's something that should happen naturally instead of seeking one out somehow.” Joe Stanek of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/ 50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network.

Are we experiencing a plateau in the popularity of powerlifting? What happens if the sport falls off the social media radar? Will it still be able to attract young, new-to-the-sport competitors? Will the old guard lifters running federations be willing to pass the baton? Or will they be a source of toxicity that drives competitors, meet promoters, and sponsors away? Joe Stanek of Gameday Barbell joins us for this discussion. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podca

This week’s question from our Discord: ArrogantFool asked, “Why do people use ground turkey instead of ground beef to lose weight when the macros and calories are nearly identical and there isn't a cost advantage?” We kinda misread this question in prep for this episode, so ground chicken got thrown in the mix as well. ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/!Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/ 50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network. ____ Hosted b

In the time since we discussed this situation last week, the scandals of a particular powerlifting federation -- the USPA --have come into sharper focus. Pandora’s Box has been flung open, and there’s been a scramble to stuff the evil and suffering back inside. Where’s the line between holding an organization accountable for turning a blind eye to unspeakable acts and stirring an angry mob to chase Frankenstein’s monster with torches and pitchforks? (Are there any more metaphors we can muddle here?) Can organizations recover when called on the carpet for their lack of accountability? How are lifters supposed to react, and better yet, where should they lift? How much change can members truly expect if leadership changes but ownership remains the same? We have more questions than answers, but the questions bear discussion. Listener resources: That first IG post about the USPA ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodqu

Dean Saddoris is back to help us break down the first episode of the new Netflix documentary series “Break Point,” which documents up-and-coming tennis stars during the 2022 Grand Slam season.Gifted “bad boy” Nick Kyrgios and his play during the Australian Open is the focus of episode 1. He has no coach, only plays tennis nine or ten weeks a year, and has an explosive on-court personality. We explore whether some athletes are so gifted that coaching and consistent, disciplined practice might make them LESS successful. We kick off the episode with a conversation about a series of IG posts by @goob_u2 detailing scandals within the USPA and the federation’s unwillingness to deal with them. Dean Saddoris of Caffeine & Kilos is back for this discussion. You can find Dean on IG @deansaddoris.ck and at caffeineandkilos.com Listener resources: Break Point on IMDB That IG post about the USPA____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hasht

This episode is about reacting to a hot take that was sent to us: Most people are putting in such low effort in the gym, it’s a waste of time! What’s the right amount of effort for most people? Is any effort really better than sitting on the couch? Is any time in the gym really wasted? Our own Kyle Castro and Sebastian Brambila on Instagram join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo and Sebastian at @sebastian_brambila . ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion.If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentfac

We catch up with one of our favorite lifters from one of our favorite eras of powerlifting, Pete Rubish. We chat about adapting to drug-free lifting, how powerlifting has grown and changed in the last decade, and how it feels to no longer be one of the young, up-and-coming lifters. We also get Pete’s thoughts on three years of owning a gym, and what impresses him when evaluating young lifters in his gym. Pete’s on Instagram at @pete.rubish and his website koa-strong.com ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out

Not every gym member knows the unwritten rules…or follows the written ones. How should gym owners handle those situations? Our own gym manager Kyle Castro and lead trainer Avi Lieu join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo and Avi on @avi.lieu. ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/ 50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network. ____ Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) https://www.instagram.

What’s your go-to that perks up any meal? Mike thinks he has the ultimate answer. (He’s wrong. The correct answer not appearing in this episode is salt.) Our own Kyle Castro and Sebastian Brambila on Instagram join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo and Sebastian at @sebastian_brambila . ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/ 50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network. ____ Hosted by

Balls and strikes in baseball may soon be called by “robot” umpires -- basically, technology that can give a more consistent strike zone. Should powerlifting meets be judged by similar technology? Our own Kyle Castro and Sebastian Brambila on Instagram join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo and Sebastian at @sebastian_brambila . ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/!Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/ 50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the O

This was recorded as a Friday episode, but since it’s a bit longer and we’re on a holiday break, we moved it to a Wednesday episode. This week’s question from our Discord: Frequent contributor Keith Honeycutt asked, “What are some unexpected changes you have had to make to the gym or your business model since opening the doors?” Our own Kyle Castro and Avi Lieu join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo and Avi on @avi.lieu. ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits!Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percen

We’re in Topic Thunder mode for most of our episodes over the holiday break.What’s Topic Thunder? It’s the name of our roughly 10-minute “rant” show with a four-member panel who throw out as ideas as possible about a particular topic. Sometimes we’re serious, but mostly we’re not. We always have fun. This episode’s question is about random encounters and the weird things people say to or ask strangers. Our own Kyle Castro and Avi Lieu join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo and Avi on @avi.lieu. ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits!Get

It’s the time of year that everyone is making resolutions. Maybe a better idea is to set goals.Resolutions sound like goals, but they’re really just things you want to change about yourself. They try to make a positive out of a negative personal trait or habit. Goals, on the other hand, are things you want to ACCOMPLISH. They’re not really bound to a specific year. They’re on whatever timeline you choose. But wouldn’t it be even better to decide what you want your legacy to be, and build your goals around that? Goals that support a legacy are more relevant than random ones. When you think about your legacy, what do you want the story of your goals – set, met, or even brilliantly failed – to be? Our own Kyle Castro and Avi Lieu join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo, and Avi on @avi.lieu. ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Jo

This week’s One Good Question comes from our Discord: Iced-T asks: “Why is it that I keep seeing people offer coaching but they have a coach themselves? No hate here just a good example, I have noticed Mike keeps referring to a coach since his latest push for a deadlift PR while he also just recently opened up applications for coaching of his own.” Maybe the better question is, what kind of progress can you make coaching yourself? ____ Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us! Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdq Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP! Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com h

Our friend and local gym (HyperThrive Athletics) owner, Joe Grinstain, got bored with powerlifting meets and decided to find something else to compete in. He chose running, and he recently qualified for the 2024 Boston Marathon. We talk about how he made the leap into marathons, and what his training, lifting, and nutrition look like. We kick it off with a topic from a previous episode. Why would anyone make a young kid do a wall sit so long that he’s in tears? What would that accomplish and why are people defending it on Mike’s TikTok? Also, Joe was the first one to even alert us about the existence of the Liver King, so we had to get his take on recent developments. He even had some inside scoop to share.You can find Joe in Instagram @coachjoehta. ____Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us!Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzd

In fitness, in social media, in life period, there are some words we’re just sick of hearing. Do you have any? Like if we never heard the word “liver” again…____Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something special from us!Join our Discord for free! https://discord.com/invite/XVvJ5eNzdqCheck out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/ and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co https://3sb.co/! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our NEXT DROP!Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network.____Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) https://www.instagram.com/silentmikke/ and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). https://www.instagram.com/thejimmcd/Produced by Jim McDonaldProduction ass