50% Facts
by Jim McDonald
A podcast that examines how health, fitness, nutrition, mental health…even sex...are portrayed in popular culture, including movies and social media. And how those portrayals are sometimes distorted beyond recognition. Veteran podcaster Jim McDonald hosts discussions with guests from the world of weights, fitness, and sometimes entertainment and sports. Jim is the owner of Third Street Barbell in Sacramento, CA. Mike "Silent Mike" Farr appeared as co-host through mid-2025. Business inquiries: [email protected] Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts--5538735/support.
Episodes
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Scrooged! (1988)| 50% Facts Holiday Special Review | Guest cohost Josh Hajar
In this conversation, Jim and Josh discuss the Christmas movie 'Scrooge'd', reflecting on its nostalgic value, Bill Murray's career, and the themes of corporate greed and morality. They explore the film's impact on their childhood memories, the casting choices, and how it compares to other…
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Creating safe outlets for coping with trauma| Guest: firefighter Chad Dillon
In this conversation, Jim McDonald and firefighter Chad Dillon delve into deeper topics surrounding mental health, community, and self-expression through photography and music. They discuss Chad's journey from firefighting to founding the nonprofit, Ruted Above, aimed at fostering community...
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Die Hard 2: Die Harder | Holiday Film Fest | Guest co-host Josh Hajjar
In something of an annual tradition, the Holiday Film Fest is back with this Christmas flick for Thanksgiving. Yes, Die Hard 2 is a Christmas movie! In this film, detective John McClane (Bruce Willis) tries to stop a terrorist plot at Washington D.C.'s Dulles International Airport on Christmas…
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Paul Oneid | From Injury to Strength
In this conversation, Jim and Paul Oneid discuss the current state of gyms post-pandemic, sharing insights on the challenges faced by gym owners and members alike. They delve into Paul's personal journey of injury recovery after a severe quad injury, exploring the innovative rehabilitation...
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Larry Wheels with John Gaglione | The Power of Resilience
This is something of a follow-up to episode 491 with John Gaglione about the training environment. This time, Larry Wheels, who was coached by John and has become an iconic figure in the fitness world, joins (from Russia!). In this conversation, Larry Wheels Williams discusses his journey in...
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Mission-driven Fitness | Guest Kevin Meier (@purebullfit)
In this conversation, Jim McDonald speaks with Kevin Meier, a former Marine, video game character, and fitness coach, about his journey from military service to the fitness industry. Kevin has survived and learned to cope with a devastating accidental injury. Through his employment at Blizzard...
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John Gaglione: The Evolution of Powerlifting Culture
John Gaglione joins to discuss the evolution of powerlifting, coaching philosophies, and the importance of community in strength training. They explore the challenges of weight loss expectations, the significance of performance goals, and the shift in training approaches over the years. John…
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Comedian Nick Scopoletti
Comedian (and personal training manager) Nick Scopoletti returns to chat about growing his comedy career, working with Lisa Lampanelli, managing personal trainers, and how his personal warmth has been kind of a cheat code. You can find Nick on Instagram @nickscopes...
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Things that make dieting hard (plus some influencers who are getting it right)| Guest: Jerry Molinero
Jerry Molinero, one of our trainers here at Third Street Barbell, joins to talk about losing over 100 lbs and some of the habits, foods, and situations that make dieting harder. We also discuss a few influencers we think are getting it right on social media. You can find him on Instagram...
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Navigating Parenthood and Performance | Guest: Jonathan Gregg
In this conversation, Jim McDonald and Jonathan Gregg explore a variety of themes, including parenting, the dynamics of living in New York City, the journey of performance and acting, mental health, and the impact of social media on personal identity. They discuss the importance of authenticity,...
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David Thomas Tao
David Tao returns to the show to take us inside the world of theater production and spirits (not the BOO!) kind. Following up his role as the successful CEO of Barbend.com, David has taken on two new roles he’s passionate about: producing theater in New York, and writing about spirits – primarily...
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Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser | 50% Facts Review
From 2009 to 2020, The Biggest Loser was a phenomenon. A huge cultural moment. What it wasn’t, however, was a show about healthy lifestyles and healthy weight loss. Netflix’s Fit for TV: The Reality of the Biggest Loser examines what it was like for some contestants on the show and some members…
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The inside scoop on rehabbing an on-the-job injury | Guests: Ammar Alhaidar and Mohammed Rashed
Our gym, Third Street Barbell, is blessed to have three physical therapy providers as members at the moment. Ammar and Moe work together in a clinic that treats patients covered by workers comp insurance. Are the metrics of physical therapy success different when return to work is the goal? You…
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Getting older but getting stronger | Guest: Ralph Caggiano
Some things definitely diminish with age, but the need for strength is not among them. After being introduced to designing fitness training for others in the Coast Guard and a career in the California Highway Patrol, Ralph Caggiano turned to helping clients get stronger as they age. While he does...
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Journey to bodybuilding | Guest: Riley Corbett
Unlike some powerlifters who turn to bodybuilding, Riley always knew it was something he wanted to do. Other goals and priorities simply got in the way. When the opportunity came to leave construction work and retail management for personal training, he jumped in with both feet. Riley is our head...
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What should powerlifters eat to maximize performance? | Guest: Dan Feldman, RD
Powerlifter and Registered Dietitian Dan Feldman guests this episode to break down some nutrition strategies for competitive powerlifters. Is a crazy amount of protein necessary? Are carbs around workouts good or bad? You can find Dan on Instagram @powerlifterdietitian...
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USAPL calls out the IPF on drug testing | Guest co-host: Josh Hajar
The former International Powerlifting Federation affiliate representing the United States, the USAPL, took to instagram recently to criticize the integrity of its drug testing program through WADA. The post using quotes from Olympic athletes casting doubt on some actions made by the testing…
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The keys to fitness for executives | Guest: Justin Wright
Justin Wright is a sales executive who found himself in a position that’s all too common for executives: overweight and out of shape. Work stress, the demands of travel and entertaining, inconsistent diet, family responsibilities, etc., had taken control. He felt that he had to take it back. So…
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The “Okayest Coach” on finding purpose as a male military spouse and the essentials of good coaching | Guest: Toby Ralph
Toby spent a decade as a first responder -- with all the stress and hazards those careers entail. Then, he left it all behind to marry a woman with a military career. Military families are used to not having control of a lot of the conditions of their lives, especially where they live and what...
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The Voices of Men (2020) | Men’s mental health documentary | 50% Facts Review
Just a couple of days past the official Men’s Mental Health Month, we take a look at a short, but powerful documentary available on YouTube, “The Voices of Men.” It was produced in the UK and is driven by men telling their personal stories of struggle with mental health conditions such as...
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Untold: The Fall of Favre (2025) | 50% Facts Review
Some athletes are made for super stardom on the field of play, but truly fumble in their personal lives. Brett Favre is one of them. From dick pic scandals to alleged fraud, Farve tarnished his legacy with a series of seemingly boneheaded moves. This Netflix documentary series takes a sharply...
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What to look for in a good physical therapist (or coach)? Guest: PT Dr. Patrick Bell
At Third Street Barbell, we’re lucky enough to have three physical therapists as members. Jim’s been working with Patrick Bell on a shoulder injury and has been very impressed with his knowledge and how he structures and communicates his rehab exercise selections. Since Patrick’s clients are…
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Why don’t lifters share a bar anymore? Guest: Jacob Ross
Jacob Ross joins Jim to take on the question, “Why do so many lifters resist training in groups in the current age of powerlifting?” We also cover Jacob’s time working with the South Sudanese Olympic Basketball team in Paris for the Olympics last year. We also share stories of gym ownership…
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Josh Hajar: Staying positive, beating cancer, and losing over 100 lbs
Mike is out of town, so Jim brought in one of Third Street Barbell’s most consistent and inspirational members, Josh Hajar. Josh is an emergency department nurse who faced a harrowing fight with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and then suffered an injury that set back his recovery and fitness goals. When...
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Netflix’s How to Change Your Mind (2022) | Review
Psychedelics in psychotherapy. That’s the theme of this four-part documentary from Netflix. Can psychedelics break damaging thought patterns and allow people to heal from depression and trauma? This doc series would like to prove that they at least hold promise to do that. We cover episodes #1...
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Netflix’s Untold: The Liver King | Review
Netflix’s Untold documentary series takes a look at the phenomenon of The Liver King. Purportedly already a multi-millionaire, Brian Johnson launched a muscular social media and YouTube presence as a “primal” influencer who used raw organ meats, including testicles, rather than steroids to build...
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The IPF reverses on stiff knee sleeves plus World’s Strongest Man quiz
Under pressure from, well, pretty much everyone, it appears the IPF will allow stiff knee sleeves through the end of 2026. World’s Strongest Man is back in Sacramento this week, just about a mile from our gym. We take a look at the history of WSM and take an online trivia quiz. Join our Discord…
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The Way Down rewind | Examining media about cults
We’ve been talking about cults and how they’re covered in the media. Back in 2021, we looked at the HBO documentary series “The Way Down: God, Greed and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin” on a couple of episodes. It is about a crazy, scary religious cult. This week, Mike’s under the weather, and we…
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How YouTubers covered the downfall of a Scientologist’s skateboard channel | Examining media about cults
The founder of the biggest YouTube skateboarding channel is a Scientologist. Has that fact become public, explaining the channel's drop in popularity over the past few years? Was it the money he spent climbing the rungs of this cult (and not on his skaters and staff)? Or was it just the normal…
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Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief (2015)| Review | Examining media about cults
We’re taking a closer look at a topic that we’ve touched on briefly before: Media covering the effects and inner workings of cults. The HBO documentary Going Clear is one of the most recognizable documentaries about the Church of Scientology. Celebrities like Tom Cruise have deep ties to this…
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Getting stiffed by knee sleeves : The politics of IPF approval
A couple of episodes ago, we talked about a dramatic change in leadership at the International Powerlifting Federation. The latest wrinkle is that the federation has recently notified the manufacturers of “stiff” knee sleeves that their products are banned from use in competition – immediately.…
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Hungry for Change (2012) | A 50% Facts Review
A stroll back 13 years in time takes us to a very “well-reviewed” nutrition documentary that ultimately only delivers a laundry list of fear appeals, misinformation, and pro-vegan propaganda. Not that there’s anything wrong with being a vegan, but getting there because you’ve been told that every...
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IPF drama at the top, AI stealing jobs at the bottom?
We take a stab at which jobs AI might eliminate (do you want your drive-through order taken by a bot?). Plus, the long-time IPF president resigned suddenly a few weeks ago. Is there any situation where a quick exit from a top position like that doesn’t mean really bad things have happened? Join…
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Court of Gold | Netflix Documentary | Olympic Basketball (2025) | A 50% Facts Review
The 5-part Netflix Documentary Court of Gold chronicles the 2024 Olympic Basketball tournament in Paris. It’s obviously a love letter to the gold medalist US team, but more specifically, Kevin Durrant, Steph Curry, and to a lesser extent, LeBron James. The episodes follow the tournament's...
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Generation Iron: Natty 4 Life (2020) | A 50% Facts Review
The third sequel to the bodybuilding documentary Generation Iron is all about the natties. It follows a group of competitors during the countdown to the Natural Olympia of 2019. Will natural bodybuilding ever gain the kind of traction that its “enhanced” counterpart does? And are the competitors...
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Would you rather live under the ocean or on the moon?| One Good Question
We’re pulling from our backlog of short, unreleased One Good Question episodes to fill this week’s gap in scheduling due to travel. This time, we tackle a listener question that’s pretty philosophical in nature: Would you rather live under the ocean or on the moon. After a bit of detour into…
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CT Fletcher: My Magnificent Obsession (2015) | A 50% Facts Review
The “Superman from Compton” took YouTube in the 20-teens by way of a video called “The Strongest Man You’ve Never Heard Of.” Who was this man who “commanded” his arms to grow and reminded us over and over that it was indeed still our set? This documentary sketches a portrait of a man whose great...
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Generation Iron (2013) | A 50% Facts Review
This documentary, the first from Generation Iron, covers the runup to the 2012 Mr. Olympia bodybuilding contest. Phil Heath is a repeat winner, but Kai Greene is pushing him hard. A number of other well-known competitors are also hoping to dominate the Olympia stage. Do any of them have a chance...
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Is powerlifting in a slump?
Have you noticed that powerlifting is experiencing a bit of a dip in popularity? We have. What might be the cause? We kick around some possibilities. Is the last wave of lifters starting to age out and move on to other hobbies? Is it turmoil among the federations? How do other hobby sports…
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Ronnie Coleman: The King (2018) | A 50% Facts Review
This documentary from Generation Iron recaps the career of 8-time Mr. Olympia, Ronnie Coleman, as he prepares for yet another back surgery. While we don’t gain a lot new information, it’s a nostalgic look at some of the most iconic training footage from his long Olympia run, along with a painful...
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Generation Flex | A 50% Facts Review
This documentary from Men’s Health tells us that body dysmorphia is running rampant among teenage boys in America. It follows four teens who take “extreme” measures to try to match the body images they see on social media (sorta). Then, the video takes a turn into a “debate” about supplements for...
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Don't Die: The Man Who Wants to Live Forever |A 50% Facts Review
Bryan Johnson, former head of the firm that owned Venmo (and sold it to Paypal), is obsessed with slowing down his aging process. Is there anything he won’t try toward that end? Dozens of daily vitamins, nearly religious workouts, red laser masks, and even experimental gene splicing are all in...
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Weight Loss Island and East Coast travels
And we’re back with a fresh 2025 episode! Mike headed to Florida to coach three streamers to losing 25 lbs each while streaming 24 hours a day from "Weigh Loss Island." Jim went to Canada for some family time, and to NYC for some shows, including a spot in the audience for a Stephen Colbert…
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If you could start a business with zero risk, what would it be?
We’ve still had some holiday and non-holiday travel going on, so we’re dipping into the vault again for a One Good Question episode to fill the gap. FRESH 2025 EPISODE NEXT WEEK. A listener asked, “If you could start a business with zero risk, what would it be?” We had to make a call about…
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How to make new friends in the gym?
We’ve got some holiday and non-holiday travel going on, so we’re dipping into the vault for a couple of One Good Question episodes to fill the gap. A lot of people are joining gyms at this time of year. Some for the first time. Gyms can make you feel isolated…or part of a community. How do you...
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Do vegans crave meat?
We’ve got some holiday and non-holiday travel going on, so we’re dipping into the vault for a couple of One Good Question episodes to fill the gap. This episode features one of our gym members who is a practicing vegan, Nick Squires, sharing some more about how he transitioned from being an…
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Top Fitness Trends for 2025
It’s a new year, and it’s time once again to examine at least one publication’s ideas for fitness trends in the coming year. This time, we tapped into a more serious -- and less pop culture – source: the American Council on Exercise. Let us know on our Discord or in YouTube comments if you agree…
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Lethal Weapon (1987) | A 50% Facts Review
Is this the most Christmas movie of our little film festival? Probably. Is it even better that we’re dropping it on Christmas Day? For sure! Mel Gibson and Danny Glover starred in one of the first really great buddy cop movies. Will they catch the bad guys before Gibson offs himself? Did Rorion...
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Just a quick little break in the action
Well, we had some confusion about the movie we were planning to cover on that day, a guest who couldn’t make it, and an acute shortage of time. So, we punted with a quick discussion about the state of streaming services, a crazy old music video, and thoughts on handling public accusations. Next...
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Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) | A 50% Facts Review | Christmas, not Christmas
There’s a Christmas in the first Harry Potter? Yes! Three of the eight films include a bit of Christmas. This one seems to show Harry’s first Christmas gifts ever. There are a ton of other firsts as well. This film set the tone for the seven films that followed and wove itself into kids'...
About this show
A podcast that examines how health, fitness, nutrition, mental health…even sex...are portrayed in popular culture, including movies and social media. And how those portrayals are sometimes distorted beyond recognition.
Veteran podcaster Jim McDonald hosts discussions with guests from the world of weights, fitness, and sometimes entertainment and sports. Jim is the owner of Third Street Barbell in Sacramento, CA.
Mike "Silent Mike" Farr appeared as co-host through mid-2025.
Business inquiries: [email protected]
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts--5538735/support.
Hosted by
Jim McDonald