Bodybuilding Down Under

Podbean Caption: Welcome back to Part 2 of the Comp Prep Playoffs! We pick up right where we left off, diving into the quarter finals, semis and ultimately crowning a winner. The people have spoken and zero cardio has been sent packing, so with the final eight locked in, the bracket really heats up. Refeeds versus coaching, high protein versus low stress, quality training versus the meal plan, and...

Welcome to Episode 207 of the Bodybuilding Down Under podcast! In this episode, we run a contest prep playoffs, putting key bodybuilding strategies head-to-head to determine what actually matters most across a successful prep. We work through a range of common approaches used by competitors and coaches, comparing how different strategies stack up in practice and where they may (or may not) make a...

Welcome to Episode 206 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week we are joined by special guest Richard Collins, a coach whose background spans basketball, football and strength and conditioning across semi-professional and professional sport before transitioning into the bodybuilding and body composition world. Richard breaks down a concept he's developed around categorising athletes as e...

Welcome to Episode 205 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week, we are back to break down one of the most talked-about topics in competitive bodybuilding: peak week. The conversation opens with what a good peak week actually looks like and why the goal for most athletes should be a refreshed, recovered physique rather than a last-minute push for extra conditioning. From there, we dive in...

Welcome to Episode 204 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week, we are joined by one of the most respected coaches in natural bodybuilding, Cliff Wilson. With No. 1 and No. 3 in the world at the most recent WNBF World Championships, Cliff's track record speaks for itself. Cliff shares how he got his start in coaching, why he felt disappointed in both the bro science and evidence-based ca...

Welcome to episode 203 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week we open with some updates going into season A and what the final weeks of prep really look like from a coaching perspective.   From there, we tackle a listener question: in prep, is it better to run higher calories with higher output, or lower calories with lower output? We break down energy flux, hunger management, step coun...

Welcome to Episode 202 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week we are unpacking some of the most common early training mistakes and how their programming has evolved over the past decade. The conversation kicks off with DY's experience training at a new gym on the Sunshine Coast, featuring full Citadel, Strive and Cybex setups, and what it's like to finally get hands on some of the best...

Welcome to episode 201 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! In this episode, we kick things off with a recap of the second BDU Lift & Greet before diving into some talking points.   We explore where the line sits between self-improvement and self-obsession in bodybuilding, what green flags coaches look for before taking someone into a contest prep, and whether flexible dieting has ultimatel...

Welcome to Episode 200 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! To celebrate the milestone, we bring on a very special guest, Chris Black. Coach, exercise scientist, reigning under-90s Queensland IFBB and NABBA Queensland champion, and brand new father. In this episode, Chris breaks down his case for bro splits, using frequency as a tool based on individual physique needs. We get into his relaxed p...

Welcome to Episode 199 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week we are joined by Dr. Martin Refalo, researcher, coach, and new WNBF Australia President for a wide-ranging conversation bridging the gap between science and the stage. Martin shares his own journey from old-school prep in 2016 to evidence-based bodybuilding, and why those two contrasting experiences shaped everything that fol...

Welcome to episode 198 of the Bodybuilding Downunder Podcast! In this episode, we break down how we actually structure a successful contest prep from both a coaching and competitor perspective.  The conversation dives into pre-prep phases, appropriate rates of loss, and the pros and cons of longer versus shorter prep timelines. We also explore when prep truly starts to feel like prep, how athletes...

Welcome to Episode 197 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! In this episode, we take a different direction and explore the psychology behind bodybuilding ambition, unpacking the concept of mimetic desire and how our goals may be shaped more by influence and status than we realise. We discuss whether physique goals are truly internal or socially driven, how social media amplifies comparison, and...

Welcome to Episode 196 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! In this episode, we dive into the realities of long-term bodybuilding, including burnout, injuries, shifting priorities, and what it really takes to sustain progress over years in the sport. We discuss the moments where bodybuilding stops being fun, how to adjust training and lifestyle to maintain longevity, and why chasing perfection...

Welcome to Episode 195 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week, the boys tackle some of the most debated topics in bodybuilding and nutrition. We break down which categories are truly the hardest to compete in, the pros and cons of IIFYM versus structured meal plans, and whether tracking macros forever is actually necessary for progress. The conversation also dives into food quality, bui...

Welcome to Episode 194 of the Bodybuilding Down Under podcast! This week, the boys are joined by exercise scientist Dr. Milo Wolf for a deep dive into the latest hypertrophy research. Milo breaks down what the evidence really says about lengthened partials, stretch-biased training, training to failure, volume, recovery, and long-term progress.  From practical programming tips to injury considerati...

Welcome back to episode 193 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast. With 200 episodes fast approaching, the boys take a step back and reflect on where it all began; the very first gym sessions, early training influences, questionable choices, and the moments that shifted bodybuilding from a casual hobby into a long-term pursuit. We unpack our individual journeys into the sport, from backyard worko...

Welcome to Episode 192 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week, we dive into a topic that sits at the core of the bodybuilding experience: discomfort, when it’s necessary, when it’s unavoidable, and when it’s often self-inflicted. The episode opens with a discussion around the idea that bodybuilding should feel hard at times. From brutally demanding training sessions to the realities of...

Welcome to Episode 191 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! In the first episode of 2026, the boys kick things off with a wide-ranging Q&A discussion covering the realities of contest prep, natural bodybuilding, and where the sport may be heading this year. We open with a deep dive into a question many competitors quietly ask after their first show: how many people actually come back to com...

Welcome to episode 190 of the Bodybuilding Down Under podcast!  This week only two of us locked in, and somehow the podcast still rolls on. In this episode we wrap up a massive 2025 for Bodybuilding Down Under, not missing a single weekly episode, turning up to nearly every national show, commentating NBA Nationals, meeting listeners from all over the world, and hitting 45,000 listeners. From ther...

Welcome to Episode 189 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast! This week the boys sit down for a slightly different end-of-year episode, recorded as we head into the final days of 2025. A reflective discussion on the year that was, unpacking the biggest wins, lessons learned, and moments that didn’t quite go to plan across competing, business, and life outside of bodybuilding. The boys then dive d...

Welcome to Episode 188 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast This week the boys are back together for a full catch-up. Lawrence recaps his recent trip to the United States, sharing his experiences training at Alphaland and Destination Dallas, comparing gym equipment, atmosphere, and overall training experience. The boys then work through current training and nutrition updates, including post-trav...

Welcome to episode 187 of the Bodybuilding Down Under podcast! The boys are joined by Dr. Eric Helms for a wide-ranging and honest conversation following WNBF Worlds 2025. We start with a full Worlds wrap-up from an athlete perspective, unpacking what actually matters on the day, judging quality, stage lighting, athlete experience, communication, and how this year stacked up against previous World...

Welcome to episode 186 of the Bodybuilding Down Under podcast! The boys are (almost) all back this week, diving into a full discussion on mental fortitude, the athlete mindset, and navigating wins and losses in bodybuilding. We start with DY’s return from overseas, training across time zones and managing routine while traveling. We also chat about new gym environments, atmosphere, and how the righ...

Welcome to episode 185 of the Bodybuilding Down Under podcast! It’s another two-man episode this week with Jack and DC holding things down while the boys are overseas and we dive into a full Q&A centred around training, injuries, nutrition, and the realities of bodybuilding across seasons. DC gives an update on getting back into training post-hernia surgery, how he’s managing load, and why sma...

Welcome to episode 184 of the Bodybuilding Down Under podcast! This week, it’s just DC and Jack holding down the fort while DY and Lawrence are off travelling which means a rare two-man episode and a chance to dive deep into training, recovery, and navigating adversity as a natural bodybuilder. We chat through how our own off-seasons are unfolding, the mental and physical shifts that come from yea...