This week, Bain and Stone toss around the questions: What would it take to make powerlifting "mainstream?" What does it even mean to be "mainstream?" And would we even want powerlifting to achieve such a status? In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discuss the April 1990 issue, which has one of the gnarliest photos likely ever taken at a powerlifting meet from 1990 USPF Natural Nationals.
This week, Bain and Stone interview The Man, The Myth, The Legend that is Putt Houston. He's probably been mentioned on the podcast more than any other person. Strap in, Putt takes you on a journey of a man who has been competing in powerlifting for 30+ years, has a 6,000 sq. foot home with 11 fridges, pour ammonia in his eyes, and enjoys being tased.
This week, the boys answer YOUR questions from social media. They also cover TWO hot topics of the day, and Stone tells a "Stone Story" for the ages. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys cover the September 1983 issue of Powerlifting USA. The cover of that PLUSA featured 275lb class winner from 1983 USPF Seniors, John Gamble. That epic '83 Seniors was loaded with legendary lifters like Lamar Gant, Rickey Dale Crain, Mike Bridges, a 19-year-old Ed Coan, Ernie Frantz, Fred Hatfield, and Bill...
This week, the boys chat with the biggest equipped bench presser of all-time, Jimmy Kolb. Jimmy has the title of the biggest lift of any type in competition with his 1320lbs unlimited bench, and also has benched 1120lbs in a single-ply shirt. Jimmy has been competing for almost 15 years, starting when he was in high school. He talks about his bench progression, his opinion on band vs. traditional shirts, pro powerlifting, and what he has planned next among other topics.
FINALLY, the Strength & Anger Podcast is BACK! The boys give lots of life updates that prevented them from recording for the past (3) months. Then they kick around the idea of whether or not the bench arch should be banned or not.
This week, Bain and Stone take a deep dive into the 2021 removal of USA Powerlifting (USAPL) as the US affiliate of the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). They go through a full timeline of events of how changes in WADA policy affected the IPF constitution and by-laws, and ultimately led to the IPF removing the USAPL. In the "PLUSA Throwback," the boys discuss the June 1994 issue, which had Paula Suzuki and Bill Nichols on the cover. In addition, the boys discussed the the Women's ProA...
Bain and Stone are back! After a too-long-hiatus, they are back this week talking about their thoughts on how multi-ply pro powerlifting can succeed long-term. Bain is fresh off of (another) trip to Florida to help with the WPO Bench Bash, and has some feedback from that event. Stone was at USAPL "Frat Nats" and his thoughts on that event. In the "PLUSA Throwback," the boys go all the way back to July 1993, where they were also dicusssing the future of pro powerlifting, after apparently the "fir...
This week, Bain and Stone had a chance to chat with long-time powerlifter, Rebecca Roberts. Rebecca has been competing since 1997, and has competed in single ply, raw, multi-ply, and even strongwoman. She started as a collegiate powerlifter with the USAPL, became an equipped powerlifter with the APF, had some stints in raw and strongwoman, and now is back in multi-ply. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discussed the January 2011 issue, which had legondary bencher Joe Mazza on the cover-...
This week, Bain and Stone discussed the topic of comparing raw and equipped numbers. If a raw lifter can ask an equipped lifter, "What can you do raw??" can an equipped lifter ask a raw lifter, "What can you do equipped??" The topic was prompted by guest of the show Shawn Deal, who talked with Bain about the situation that prompted the topic. In the "PLUSA Throwback," the boys discussed the May 2001 issue, which had the GOAT Ed Coan on the cover.
This week, Bain and Stone had Bob Merkh back on the podcast to talk about transitioning from Raw to Equipped powerlifting. He and Bain talked about their reasoning for switching from raw to equipped, how they adjusted their training, what they would differently, and more. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discussed the July 1990 issue, which had the then-recently deceased Dave Pasanella on the cover.
This week, Bain and Stone take YOUR questions, covering a wide array of topics. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discuss the November 1995 issue, which had highlights from the John Inzer produced "Greatest Bench Press in America" meet, in which John Inzer pulled his historic 780lb deadlift at 165lbs. The boys also discuss the recent "Professional Powerlifting Championships" announcement from WRPF.
On the final episode of 2021, Bain and Stone discuss their "Top 3s" of everything 2021: Top 3 Episodes, Top 3 Interviews, Top 3 Powerlifting Events, Top 3 Non-Powerlifting Events, Top 3 Least Favorite Things, and Take-Aways from 2021. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discuss the July 2008 issue, which had highlights from 2008 WABDL Push-Pull Nationals on the cover. They also discuss the new USAPL "Pro Series."
This week, Bain and Stone had a chance to chat with Hunter Hernandez, bench press specialist and band "shirt" advocate. He recently benched 518lbs at 148lb bodyweight in a so-called "band shirt," which puts him the top 20 all-time on OpenPowerlifting.com. In addition to talking about his start in the sport, Hunter and Stone discussed opposing view points on allowing band shirts in competition, whether or not they consituted a "shirt," and effects they could have on the sport overall. In the "PLU...
This week, Bain and Stone had special guests, Leah Reichman and Amber Hansen, to discuss their new endeavor, The Main Event Project. Leah and Amber discuss their inception of the project of promoting women's powerlifting. They also discuss the petition they have been circulating with the goal of expanding women's weight classes in powerlifting. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys disuss the November 2000 issue, which had German bencher Markus Schick on the cover. Stone also relayed one of...
This week, Bain and Stone argue about the of the many issues argued countless times in powerlifting on message boards and social media, the 24-hour weigh-in. Stone takes the "gold standard" position of banning 24-hour weigh-ins, while Bain defends the age-old practice. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys go back to January 1987, which had 17-time IPF World Champion Hideaki Inaba on the cover. The boys also discuss the controversial IG post by Jen Thompson comparing a high-board press to a...
This week, Bain and Stone gave a full review to the book, "10/20/Life, Second Edition," by Brian Carroll. They went chapter by chapter giving the book a full overview, as well as detailing the basics of the training cycles included in the book. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys covered just one month prior to last episode's review, looking at the July 2005 issue. On the cover was Garry Frank, Becca Swanson, and Joe Bayles from 2005 APF Senior Nationals.
This week, Bain and Stone interviewed the 2021 Women's WPO Super Finals Champion, Deana D'Andrea. In only her 3rd multi-ply meet, Deana "came out of nowhere" to unseat the 2-time WPO Women's Champion Tara Webber. Deana totaled 1790 lbs at 181lbs with lifts of a 727 lb squat, 429 lb bench, and 582 lb deadlift, good for a All-Time Total Record. We discussed how Deana got involved in powerlifting, how and why she switched over to multi-ply, and what her future goals are. In the "PLUSA Throwback" se...
This week, Bain and Stone recap the 2021 WPO Super Finals, which took place August 21-22, 2021, in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Bain was on the platform both days, and Stone was there coaching one day, and working the next day. They recap the meet overall, the lifters' performances, and the future of the WPO. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discuss the February 1991 issue, which had Juha Hyttinen of Finland on the cover.
This week, special guest host Dr. Jennifer Gimmell joins Eric Stone to discuss the technicalities surrounding the various coefficient formulas / tables that are used in powerlifting meets to determine "Best Lifter" awards. Bain is in for the Intro and Outro, and he and Stone discuss the Powerlifting USA from June 1999 in their "PLUSA Throwback." In addition, the boys continue to discuss the ongoing "disagreement" between the USAPL and IPF.
This week, Bain and Stone discuss the common phenomenon of new lifters leaving the sport almost as quickly as they started. They postulate the reasons why they leave the sport, and how it differs from older lifters who "retire" from powerlifting. In the PLUSA Throwback segment, the boys discuss the February 2011 issue, which had 2010 WABDL Worlds on the cover.
This week, Bain and Stone talk with one of the strongest powerlifters of all-time, Dan Bell! Dan has some of the highest raw lifts of all-time, and has even dabbled in equipped. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys go all the way back to June 1982, which had "Dr. Squat" Fred Hatfield on the cover.
This week, Bain and Stone got to chat with female powerlifter Amber Hansen, who has had a high level of success both raw and equipped in a short period of time in powerlifting. She talked about her start in the sport, how she and her coach handle her training both for raw and equipped, and future plans. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discussed the Sept. 2006 issue, which had Westside bencher Mike Wolf on the cover.
THROWBACK - Andrew Billing started PowerliftingCast back in March of 2008, and Eric Stone was his first guest. Well before the days when seemingly everyone had their own podcast, Andrew was well ahead of his time, hosting the audio files directly on his own website. Andrew would go onto train with Team Stone part-time for a time, and has since left the sport of powerlifting. But, he did give Eric Stone permission to use the podcasts he recorded back in '08 - '09. If there's interest, we will pos...
This week, Bain and Stone were able to chat with long-time EliteFTS sponsored powerlifter, Jo Jordan. They talked about his start in the sport, how he got involved with EFS, and his many injuries and how he has overcome them. In the "PLUSA Throwback," the boys discussed the April 1993 issue, which had Pat Succo on the cover
This week, Bain and Stone look into one of the craziest political stories in the history of powerlifting: the 1998 attempted "takeover" of the WPC. Back at 1998 WPC Worlds in Austria, APF / WPC Founder and President Ernie Frantz was banned for the meet, with armed guards hired specifically to keep him out of the venue. In an instant classic "Stone Story," Eric recalls his recent trip to pick-up another monolift. The phrase "BOTH?" is likely to become a popular meme. In the "PLUSA Throwback," the...
This week, Bain and Stone had a chance to sit down, in person, with Pete Arroyo. Pete goes way back to the early 2000s competing and coaching with Eric. Pete talked about his early days in the sport, the lessons he learned, his start in coaching, and what eventually took him away from competing in the sport. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys discussed the January 1999 issue, which had "Bull" Stewart from WABDL Worlds on the cover. They also ran into some details on the 1998 WPC Worlds, ...
This week, Bain and Stone examine the topic of being a "handler" for another lifter at a meet. What does it mean to be a "handler?" What types of things would you need to do for a raw vs. an equipped lifter? Also included is a classic "Stone Story" that goes back to one of the first IL Raw Power Challenge meets. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys go back to the July 1986 issue, which had some interesting insights on some of the powerlifting federation politics at the time.
This week, Bain and Stone take YOUR questions. The boys also discuss results from 2021 AAPF Nationals. In the "PLUSA Throwback," they discuss the May 2006 issue, which had Ryan Kennelly on the cover, and had an article on the "Rubber Band Man" Dick Hartzell.
This week, Bain and Stone go back to 1997 to discuss how USA Powerlifting (USAPL) became the US affiliate to the International Powerlifting Federation (IPF). It started with a meeting on March 1, 1997 between the current US affiliate, the USPF, the organization then known as the American Drug-Free Powerlifting Association (ADFPA). It ended at the 1997 IPF Men's Worlds at their annual meeting, where the USPF was voted out of the IPF, and the USAPL was immediately voted in as their replacement US ...
This week, Bain and Stone continue their "Why" series, looking at why the two of them are often seen helping at powerlifting meets. They also go through a recap of the 2021 Women's ProAm, which both of them helped work. In the "PLUSA Throwback" segment, the boys go back to the March 1987 issue, which had quite the interesting "Power Prevu" article by PLUSA Editor-in-Chief Mike Lambert.
