94: Angela Gargano: The Real Reason You’re Not Stronger Yet (It’s Not What You Think)

Feel like you're lifting heavy but still not getting stronger? You might be missing the real markers of strength—and Angela Gargano (former D1 gymnast and 4x American Ninja Warrior) joined me to set the record straight. We’re talking about the biggest misconceptions women have about strength training, how to train through your cycle without burning out, and why confidence in the gym translates to confidence everywhere else. Angela also shares her personal story of injury and recovery—and how it changed her entire approach to fitness. Whether you’re working on your first pull-up or just trying to feel more powerful in your body, this episode will fire you up with tools, mindset shifts, and no-BS advice that actually works. Angela Gargano is a 4x American Ninja Warrior, former D1 gymnast, and certified strength coach. She’s also the founder of Strong Feels Good and a leading expert in helping women conquer their first pull-up. We Also Discuss: 03:22 – Why Angela stopped chasing aesthetics and started chasing real strength 09:47 – What American Ninja Warrior taught her about confidence (and failure) 17:05 – The pull-up mindset shift every woman needs to hear 21:33 – The truth about upper body strength most women don’t know 26:42 – How to train pull-ups if you can’t do any yet 33:18 – Grip strength hacks that actually work 44:11 – Why women hold back in the gym—and how to stop Thank You to Our Sponsors: BROADS: The smart strength training app for women. Home and gym workouts built for progress (not burnout). Try it free at broads.app and use code PODCAST for 20% off your first month. Legion: Use code Tara20 for 20% off your first order and double loyalty cash back any order after that when you shop at LegionAthletics.com Momentous: Head to livemomentous.com and use code TARA for up to 35% off your first order. Because foundational health isn't optional – it's everything. Find more from Tara:   Website: https://www.taralaferrara.com/ Instagram: @taralaferrara @broads.podcast @broads.app Youtube: Tara LaFerrara Tiktok: @taralaferrara Find more from Angela Gargano Website: https://www.angela-gargano.com/ Instagram: @angela_gargano Pull-Up Revolution: https://www.pulluprevolution.com/