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PODCAST · health

THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK!

by James McDermott

Hosted by James McDermott, THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! is a podcast of interviews and solo shows on coaching and training.James (@jamesamcdermott) holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from SUNY Cortland. He is a multi-book author, L3 CrossFit Trainer, USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach, and long-time Head Coach at Albany CrossFit. James's goals are to share the knowledge gained from the last 15 years of his career, learn from amazing guest, and motivate others to be better. Feedback = growth. Please send any comments or questions to James. If you like what you hear share the show!

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Episodes

  1. Ep. 116 | ADK Series Meet Recap

    On this episode, Miguel and James discuss the recent ADK Series weightlifting meet and transitioning from one training method to another.

  2. Ep. 115 | Crystal Lake Triathlon Recap

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss Miguel’s recent triathlon experience.

  3. Ep. 114 | 2026 Shatter Slam Recap

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the recent Shatter Slam event results.

  4. Ep. 113 | As The Dust Settles

    In this episode, Miguel and James continue the discussion on the recent CrossFit Games and the overall 2026 season and the upcoming Shatter Slam event.

  5. Ep. 112 | Run Through The Finish Line

    In this episode, Miguel and James the ongoing CrossFit Games, our newest Barbell Baby, James completing his UltraTrax race along with finally reaching the gates of Mordor.

  6. Ep. 111 | Things Change

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss how things once thought correct can change over time along with a bunch of random topics.

  7. Ep. 110 | 2026 CrossFit Semifinals

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the 2026 CrossFit Semifinals.

  8. Ep. 109 | CNY Regional Open Recap

    In this episode, Miguel and James recap the 2026 CNY Regional Weightlifting Open.

  9. Ep. 108 | It's Won't Always Be perfect

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss evaluating your progress, building new routines around your weak points, coaching thoughts, and more!

  10. Ep. 107 | The Enhanced Podcast

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the recent Enhanced Games, Memorial Day Murph, setting standards in classes, and more!

  11. Ep. 106 | Memorial Day Prep

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the upcoming Memorial Day Holiday and the tradition of doing the Hero WOD Murph on that day.

  12. Ep. 105 | Words of Wisdom

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss recent big events on the barbell club and some words of wisdom from Louie Simmons.

  13. Ep. 104 | 2026 ADK Regional Open Recap

    On this episode, Miguel and James discuss the recent ADK Regional Open and ACBC athlete results.

  14. Ep. 103 | What's New In Weightlifting?

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss all the things going on in the world of weightlifting.

  15. Ep. 102 | Investigating Quarterfinals

    In this episode, Miguel and James take a look at the programming from the CrossFit Quarterfinals and discuss coaching some of the workouts.

  16. Ep. 101 | Stronger, Smarter Athletes

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the CrossFit article titled: Stronger, Smarter Athletes: Why Building CrossFit Athlete IQ Should Be Every Coach’s Priority By Morgan Mann Grant, CF-L3.https://www.crossfit.com/pro-coach/crossfit-stronger-smarter-athlete-iq

  17. Ep. 100 | Recovering from Open WOD 26.3

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss CrossFit Open WOD 26.3 with special guest Mike!

  18. Ep. 99 | The Horrors of Open WOD 26.2

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss CrossFit Open WOD 26.2!

  19. Ep. 98 | Open WOD 26.1 Aftermath

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the first workout from the 2026 CrossFit Open. They dive deep into their thoughts on the WOD, experiences from completing it, and thoughts on coaching. With special guests Shaaf & Mike.

  20. Ep. 97 | Programming Our Own CrossFit Open

    In this episode, Miguel and James take a shot at programming their own CrossFit Open. They'll each program three workouts that would span three weeks of competition for the event.

  21. Ep. 96 | Top 3 CrossFit Open Moments

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss their top 3 moments that have come from the CrossFit Open. They answer the questions of how these moments inspired, motivated, or were just cool for them to see as athletes and coaches.

  22. Ep. 95 | Why Fitness

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the CrossFit Journal article titled "Why Fitness" by Greg Glassman. Article: https://media.crossfit.com/library/free/pdf/23_04_why_fitness.pdf

  23. Ep. 94 | Does Core Work Transfer to Skills?

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss an weightlifting philosophy and an article from Power Monkey titled "Why Core Work Doesn’t Always Transfer to Skills".

  24. Ep. 93 | Finding the Sweet Spot

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the CrossFit article titled: "Finding the Sweet Spot: Mastering CrossFit's Mechanics-Consistency-Intensity Hierarchy."

  25. Ep. 92 | What About Recovery?

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the CrossFit Journal article titled "What About Recovery?" along with more on coaching and training.https://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/29_05_What_About_Recovery.pdf

  26. Ep. 91 | Order of Operations

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss CrossFit's Theoretical Hierarchy of Development, lesson planning for classes, and more!https://www.crossfit.com/essentials/theoretical-hierarchy-of-development

  27. Ep. 90 | Roll of the Dice

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the CrossFit Journal article | "Interval Generator" by Greg Glassman, the calm before the storm of the new ACBC training cycle, and more on coaching.

  28. Ep. 89 | We Start On Monday

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss what they're grateful to take away from 2025, goals and what they're looking forward to in 2026, getting a head start on the New Year, the aftermath of the 12 Days of ACBC workout, and more.

  29. Ep. 88 | Leveling Up

    In this episode, James discusses Miguel's experiences in taking the CrossFit Level 2 Trainer's Course.

  30. Ep. 87 | Lucky Number 7

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss James's experiment with the One Punch Man workout, Miguel coaching barbell club and multiple CrossFit classes in a week, and the upcoming CF Level 2.

  31. Ep. 86 | Thanksgiving Aftermath

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss "Thanksgiving with the Girls", Miguel covering Barbell Club, and the "One Punch Man workout".

  32. Ep. 85 | We're Back! A Barbell's Story

    In this episode, Miguel and James are back and discuss counting machine calories in workouts, living a lifestyle vs. deathstyle, how waiting for the "right time" can hold you back, and making progress by ditching current training compensations.

  33. Ep. 84 | Blurring The Lines

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss training beginners, integrating them into group classes, and where the line between learning and training begins to blur.

  34. Ep. 83 | Hotel California

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss weightlifting. How the sport always pulls you back in, the recent IWF World Championships, and the ACBC Winter Off-Season Arc.

  35. Ep. 82 | 2025 NYS Championships Recap

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the 2025 NYS Championships which took place on the weekend of September 27-28.

  36. Ep. 81 | Everyone Makes Mistakes

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss topical CrossFit and Weightlifting news, making mistakes while coaching, and what is it that sets CrossFit apart from other fitness training systems (and even one gym from another).

  37. Ep. 80 | How you build something that last

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss adapting vs. scaling CrossFit workouts, coaching small groups and the effort you put in, and more on coaching.

  38. Ep. 79 | CrossFit Musings

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss coaching new athletes in class, guiding athletes to hit the intended stimulus of a workout, using the squat rack vs. cleaning a weight from the floor in a metcon, and using the SkiErg in a metcon.

  39. Ep. 78 | The Road to States

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss ACBC training and the upcoming NYS Championships.

  40. Ep. 77 | Shatter Slam Recap

    In this episode, Miguel and James recap the 2025 Shatter Slam!

  41. Ep. 76 | Shatter Slam Preview

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the upcoming Shatter Slam competition taking place on Saturday, August 23rd. They also discuss stepping outside the "Coaching Comfort Zone" by teaching new things or doing things differently to avoid routine.

  42. Ep. 75 | Fittest In Albany

    In this episode, Miguel and James catch up on many topics including the ADK Series I, The CrossFit Games, and starting on the road to the NYS Championships.

  43. Ep. 74 | Game Time

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss the upcoming CrossFit Games Week in Albany, New York. Topics include events happening at Albany CrossFit, the competition, and some discussion on recent training and coaching.

  44. Ep. 73 | 0 to 100

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss big ACBC squat PRs, adaptation to training, should CrossFit classes include consistent strength programs?

  45. Ep. 72 | Running 62 Miles Monthly for a Raise

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss a company that has incentivized its employees to exercise by offering a 130% salary bonus for those who run 62 miles throughout each month. Additional topics include fueling enough for hard training, and jumping back into CrossFit classes and competitions.

  46. Ep. 71 | Games Bound

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss realistic vs. unrealistic expectations from training, the pull-up bar experiment, and all things about the upcoming CrossFit Games.

  47. Ep. 70 | Your Mission Should You...

    In this episode, Miguel and James dive into a fun hypothetical scenario: could Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise's character from the Mission: Impossible movies) snatch and clean and jerk specific weights if the fate of the world depended on it?They also explore how athletes can learn to do more with less...

  48. Ep. 69 | The Big Picture

    In this episode Miguel and James welcome Josh back to the show to talk about planning for and coaching the Filthy 50 workout. They also discuss focusing on toes to bar training in June, and thoughts on training.

  49. Ep. 68 | Days of Future Past

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss looking through old Albany CrossFit YouTube videos, learning from the past and planning for the future, lesson planning for complex WODs, and being humbled in training.

  50. Ep. 67 | No Place for Second

    In this episode, Miguel and James discuss a variety of topics such as a recap of the 2025 CNY Regional Open, big ACBC training PRs, the pros and cons of lifting equipment, and a "no place for second" mindset.

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Hosted by James McDermott, THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! is a podcast of interviews and solo shows on coaching and training.James (@jamesamcdermott) holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from SUNY Cortland. He is a multi-book author, L3 CrossFit Trainer, USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach, and long-time Head Coach at Albany CrossFit. James's goals are to share the knowledge gained from the last 15 years of his career, learn from amazing guest, and motivate others to be better. Feedback = growth. Please send any comments or questions to James. If you like what you hear share the show!

HOSTED BY

James McDermott

CATEGORIES

health fitness

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! have?

THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! currently has 203 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! about?

Hosted by James McDermott, THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! is a podcast of interviews and solo shows on coaching and training.James (@jamesamcdermott) holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from SUNY Cortland. He is a multi-book author, L3 CrossFit Trainer, USA Weightlifting Level 2 Coach, and...

How often does THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! release new episodes?

THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! publishes regularly with 203 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.

Where can I listen to THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK!?

You can listen to THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! 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 THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK!?

THE BARBELL STRIKES BACK! is created and hosted by James McDermott.
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