PODCAST · sports
Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast
by Joshua Gibson
Join me as I explore the minds of elite athletes, coaches, and experts in strength, power, and human performance. During these conversations, I often look for the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and well-being; a combination you've never seen before and will never hear again!
Episodes
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Ep. 333: Praying in a Mosque Next to Akbar | Seb Ostrowicz
What's it like to spend 99 hours in Uzbekistan with the best weightlifters on the planet? Seb Ostrowicz joins the podcast to discuss his recent trip with WH media team member Nate Cerwinske to the other side of the world. We discuss all of the behind-the-scenes information you won't hear anywhere...
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Ep. 332: The Science of Performance Enhancement | Nick Goode, PhD
Nick Goode, athlete safety and performance physiologist for the Enhanced Games, joins the podcast to discuss all things Enhanced Games! We start with a background of the EG, what it is/wants to do, and then how the company integrates that with sport science and athlete monitoring. Enjoy. Follow...
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Ep. 331: Max Aita | Return of the Podcast!!
I am back in California!! This time Max and I have the pleasure of recording in person. In this episode of the podcast, Max and I explore the idea of coaching as a profession. We deep dive on our approaches to running a business in strength sports, as well as other projects on the horizon. Enjoy!...
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Ep. 330: Block Periodization, Coaching Philosophy, and Stoicism | Alex Borgs, PhD
(Note: Alex's origin story ends around ~35:00. After that, we start discussing more applied coaching and sport science topics.) Alex Borgs joins the podcast to discuss an unconventional journey that took him from Germany to Wyoming football, military service, coaching, and ultimately a PhD in…
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Ep. 329: Max Aita | Inside the Enhanced Games
The podcast welcomes back one of its most beloved guests, Max Aita! In this episode, we discuss the Enhanced Games! We deep dive into Max's commentary, the structure of the event, its future, and why this is a great situation for the sport of weightlifting. Enjoy. Follow Max and CoachLogik:...
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Ep. 328: Seb Ostrowicz | Recapping Euros, Pan Ams, & Asians!
The podcast is back! After finishing up nearly all of my school work and research, I have time to dedicate to the podcast again. What other way to reintroduce the show than with an episode featuring the Voice of the People, Seb Ostrowicz! In this episode, we recap the continental championships,...
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Ep. 327: Miranda Ulrey | Squatting 180 at 59, Winning Junior Worlds, and What's Next
Miranda Ulrey has competed with and beaten the best of the best. She's a junior world champ, Pan Am champ, and plans on making a statement at the Olympic Games in 2028. Even with a huge social media following, no other podcasts or interviews exist that deep dive into her background as a…
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Ep. 326: Celia Gold | The Mindset of an Elite Weightlifter
This goes down as one of my favorite episodes of the podcast! I had the honor of speaking with Celia Gold about her journey from an obsessive CrossFit competitor to a weightlifter who is competing on the international stage for Israel. We discuss competing at the Arnold on the Rogue Strength…
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Ep. 325: Training Talks w/Max Aita | High Frequency Training
There is a growing popularity in high frequency SBD (squat, bench, deadlift) training. Is it a fad or something worth incorporating into your program? In this episode of the podcast, Max and I discuss: High frequency SBD Testing vs training Skill development, as it relates to strength How coaches...
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Ep. 324: Seb Ostrowicz | Olivia Reeves, WLing's New Format, & Absurd Lifts
Everyone loves a classic podcast episode. That's exactly what Seb and I delivered: discussing a recent 215kg squat "controversy", USAW's finest athletes, and how Weightlifting House is breaking the clothing game! Follow Seb and WH: https://www.instagram.com/seb_ostrowicz/...
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Ep. 323: Caden Cahoy | World Record Visions
Caden Cahoy isn’t “new”— he’s been lifting since he was 8. But the last year made something obvious to the whole world: he’s not just talented… he’s one of the best in the world. We talk legacy, pressure, and the long game: Florida’s weightlifting pipeline and growing up in the sport Why strength...
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Ep. 322: Training Talks w/Max Aita | Training Principles Over Programming Noise
In this episode, I’m joined by Max Aita for a wide-ranging coaching conversation sparked by our trip to Seoul, South Korea for IDFPA Worlds. We talk peaking and tactics, why the best programs often look “boring,” and how better execution beats better programming for real lifters with real lives.…
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Ep. 321: Brandon Victorian | Chasing the LA28 Olympic Games
This week, I was joined by Brandon Victorian — Team USA weightlifter and one of the most physically imposing athletes in American weightlifting — to talk about the journey from garage to world stage. Brandon walks through how he found weightlifting through football, bodybuilding forums, CrossFit,...
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Ep. 320: Applied Research in Elite Weightlifting | Shyam Chavda, PhD
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Shyam's presentation: https://powerandstrengthsummit.com/ This week, I sat down with Shyam Chavdar for a deep dive into applied sport science in elite weightlifting. We begin with a case study following Cyril Chachet, the first...
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Ep. 319: Grassroots Sport Science | Andrew Stuart, PhD
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Andrew's presentation: https://powerandstrengthsummit.com This week, I sat down with Andrew Stuart to talk about what sport science looks like outside of the lab. Andrew walks through how monitoring and assessment systems are…
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Ep. 318: Sets, Reps, & Exercises of an Olympic Champion | Sergii Putsov, PhD
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Sergii's presentation: https://powerandstrengthsummit.com/ In today's episode, Sergii and I sat down to unpack one of the most insightful projects in weightlifting: the complete training log of Ruslan “Uncle Rus” Nurudinov. We…
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Ep. 317: Athlete Testing 101 (and Where to Start) | Chris Taber, PhD
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Chris' presentation: https://powerandstrengthsummit.com/ This week I’m joined by Dr. Chris Taber, one of the most frequent guests on the Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast, to talk about something that separates “I think this is...
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Ep. 316: The Gray Area of Rehab and Performance | Derek Miles, DPT
This week, I sat down with Derek Miles to talk about the gray area where rehab and performance overlap. Derek works daily with strength athletes navigating pain, injury, and the messy process of getting back to overloading training. We discuss how to think about injury beyond simple labels, why...
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Ep. 315: On Mentors, Chance, & Choosing Your Life | Seb Ostrowicz (Weightlifting House)
This week, I sat down once again with Seb Ostrowicz — founder of Weightlifting House, commentator, and professional voice-note philosopher — for a conversation that’s a little different from our usual banter on weightlifting Xs and Os. We use the upcoming Power and Strength Summit (January 24–25)...
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Ep. 314: Maintaining High Performance in the MLB | Steph Mock Grubbs
This week, I sat down with Stephanie Mock Grubbs — former Division I athlete, collegiate S&C coach and athletic director, and now Major League strength coach with the Houston Astros — to talk about what high performance really looks like over a 162-game season. We discuss how she uses microdosing...
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Ep. 313: What We Get WRONG About Deloads (& Overreaching) | Lee Bell, PhD
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...
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Ep. 312: Old School vs. New School Weightlifting | Leo Totten (East Coast Gold)
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…
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Ep. 311: Seb Ostrowicz | Shaking Up International Weightlifting
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...
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Ep. 310: Why Hypertrophy Still Matters in Strength Sports | Dr. Chris Taber
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...
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Ep. 309: How to Build World-Class Strength | Dani Myers Glynn
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...
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Ep. 308: Pulls vs Squats & Building a Career in Weightlifting | Jessie Stemo
This week, Jessie Stemo joins me for a wide-ranging conversation on building a career in weightlifting. We dig into her journey from “hobby land” coaching to doing it full-time, and what it really takes to make coaching sustainable in a sport without much money. Jessie shares how she balanced...
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Ep. 307: The Art of Going 6 for 6 | Jessie Stemo
After a brief hiatus, Jessie Stemo and I are back! This week, we dive into the art of meet week preparation — from tapering, warm-ups, and attempt selection to the mental side of competition. Jessie shares her perspective on building confidence and helping athletes manage nerves on competition…
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Ep. 306: Primers, Drop Sets, & Waves (Oh my!) | Jessie Stemo
I’m joined by none other than Jessie Stemo (Power & Grace Performance) to dive deep into variations and progressions that create elite-level technique. We also talk block design (consolidating stressors, sequencing variation → specificity), anchoring with heavy sets, and using cues athletes can...
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Ep. 305: From Cal Strength to Commentating Worlds | Seb Ostrowicz
I welcome Seb Ostrowicz, the founder of Weightlifting House, for a reflective episode sparked by a Facebook memory: our 2019 California trip that led straight into his first World Championships in Thailand. We revisit the scrappy beginnings of filming with a $200 camera, pilgrimages to gyms like...
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Ep. 304: Rep Maxes, Missing Lifts, & Workout Intent | Jessie Stemo
This week I’m joined by Jessie Stemo, a frequent guest of the podcast and CEO of Power and Grace Performance. We dive into the heart of effective training: what it really means to train with intention. From athlete camps to day-to-day programming, we explore how to push hard without burning out,...
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Ep. 303: What Separates Great Coaches | Sean Rigsby
As a follow-up to our past conversations, I welcome back Sean Rigsby — coach, lifter, and founder of Heavy Metal Barbell. Sean has long been recognized for his curiosity and commitment to continual coach development, and in this episode we explore how that mindset has shaped his career. We…
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Ep. 302: Beyond Sets and Reps – Rethinking Coach Education
As a follow-up to years of conversations on the podcast, I sit down to reflect on the evolution of coach education — using the recent Power and Strength Summit as a springboard for discussing what it is, why it matters, and how we can do it better. We explore lessons learned from research and...
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Ep. 301: Building Stronger Athletes | Quincy Johnson, PhD
In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Quincy Johnson — strength coach, sport scientist, and Assistant Professor at the University of Kansas. Quincy’s career spans from high school powerlifting champion to working with elite athletes in the NBA, MMA, and NCAA. We discuss the role of maximal strength…
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300th Episode Special | Seb Ostrowicz, Weightlifting House
What better way to bring in a milestone like the 300th episode than having on one of the most influential people in my life: Seb Ostrowicz For those not in the know, Seb is the founder of Weightlifting House. In this episode... or better yet, metasode, we chat all things podcasting…
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Ep. 299: Conditioning for Health & Longevity | Jordan Feigenbaum, MD
As a follow-up to a series developing on the podcast, I welcome Jordan Feigenbaum, founder of Barbell Medicine, physician, strength coach, and expert on many things health and performance. In this episode, we discuss conditioning (cardio) and its role in augmenting health-related adaptations.…
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Ep. 298: Heavy Carries, Top Singles, & USAW/USAPL Nationals | Jessie Stemo
In this episode, Jessie and I debrief on our experiences at USAPL and USAW Nationals. We explore the successes, what could have gone better, and how we are approaching our programming and coaching differently to navigate those needs. Follow me and get coaching:...
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Ep. 297: Dr. Michael Roberts | Muscle, Longevity, and the Biology of Aging
We are joined by Dr. Michael Roberts, a professor and researcher at Auburn University and one of the most published scientists on muscle hypertrophy and skeletal muscle biology. In this episode, we explore the mechanisms of muscle growth, individual response to training, and how skeletal muscle...
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Ep. 296: Endurance Training for Strength Athletes | Jacob Goodin, PhD
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, the best damn strength and power conference in 2025!! Register here: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Dr. Jacob Goodin is an associate professor of kinesiology and Director of Sport Science at Point Loma Nazarene University. He holds a PhD in…
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Ep. 295: REAL Coach-Athlete Relationships, Training Remotely, & 2025 Nationals | Red Gauge Crossover
Every episode of my podcast covers some aspect of training theory, coaching, psychology, and nutrition. Pretty much anything related to performance. With that comes a lot of abstract thinking and imagining how it would play out in practice. Until now... In this crossover episode, Dani and I get...
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Ep. 294: Bridging the Gap Between Weightlifting and S&C | Zach Caswell
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Zach will present on bridging the gap between weightlifting and sports performance. Register here: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Zach: https://www.instagram.com/ciniman_waffle/ https://www.instagram.com/optimus.performance/...
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Ep. 293: The DNA of Champions | Sergii Putsoff, PhD
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit: Register here: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Sergii: https://www.instagram.com/putsoff/ https://torokhtiy.com/ Follow me and get coaching: https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/...
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Ep. 292: Utilizing Plyometrics | Mike Young, PhD
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Mike will present on plyometrics for sport! Register here: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Mike: https://www.instagram.com/mikeyoungphd/?hl=en https://www.athleticlab.com/ Follow Jessie: https://www.instagram.com/jessiestemo/...
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Ep. 291: How to Develop Elite Technique | Max Aita
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where presentations will cover all things strength, hypertrophy, power, and MORE. Register here to attend the greatest online Strength Power event in 2025: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Max and sign up for CoachLogik:...
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Ep. 290: What Makes People Curious? | Todd Kashdan, PhD
Todd Kashdan is an intellectual idol of mine. He has a PhD in clinical psychology, is the founder of the Well-Being Lab at George Mason University, and a leading educator to the public. He's written books on curiosity, negative emotions, and the art of insubordination. His writings alone have...
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Ep. 289: How Heavy Should You Train? | Jessie Stemo
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Jessie will present on her experiences as an elite athlete, elite weightlifting coach, and the CEO of Power and Grace Performance! Register here for an early bird discount: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Jessie:...
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Ep. 288: Unlocking Human Potential | Scott Barry Kaufman
Dr. Scott Barry Kaufman is a psychologist, professor at Columbia University, best-selling author, and host of The Psychology Podcast. His work has reshaped how we think about intelligence, creativity, and self-actualization—and in this conversation, he brings those ideas to life. In this episode,...
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Ep. 287: How Many Sets & Reps to Build Size | Jake Remmert, PhD(c)
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Jake will present on the development of muscle hypertrophy. Register here to attend the greatest online Strength Power event in 2025: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Jake: https://www.instagram.com/jake.remmert_coach/...
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Ep. 286: Slow Progressions, Creative Programming & Competition Debriefs | Jessie Stemo
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Jessie will present on her experiences as an elite athlete, elite weightlifting coach, and the CEO of Power and Grace Performance! Register here for an early bird discount: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Follow Jessie:...
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Ep. 285: Basics of Speed Training & Conditioning | Chris Taber, PhD
Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit, where Chris will present on power development for athletes. Register here for an early bird discount: https://www.powerandstrengthsummit.com/ Email Chris to express interest in Lori S. Bigelow scholarship: [email protected] Follow Chris:...
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Ep. 284: Six Keys to Enhance Psychological Well-Being & Resilience | Steven Hayes, PhD
Steven Hayes returns to the podcast! If you're unfamiliar with his work, he is one of the most cited psychologists in the world, publishing 47 books and over 700 journal articles. In addition to his prolific publications, he's the originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and has…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Join me as I explore the minds of elite athletes, coaches, and experts in strength, power, and human performance. During these conversations, I often look for the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and well-being; a combination you've never seen before and will never hear again!
HOSTED BY
Joshua Gibson
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast have?
Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast currently has 255 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast about?
Join me as I explore the minds of elite athletes, coaches, and experts in strength, power, and human performance. During these conversations, I often look for the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and well-being; a combination you've never seen before and will never hear again!
How often does Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast release new episodes?
Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast publishes regularly with 255 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast?
You can listen to Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast?
Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast is created and hosted by Joshua Gibson.
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