The Storey StrengthCast

Shane Storey sits down with Irish powerlifter Ryan McCann to unpack the habits, training decisions, and nutrition strategies that helped him build an Irish squat record and a personal best total of 822.5kg. Ryan shares how he navigates international travel, maintains performance while eating over 5,000 calories a day, and manages life as a celiac while competing at the highest level in Ireland. Ti...

Join us on the Storey StrengthCast as Ronan Michael shares his inspiring journey from Ireland to Australia, navigating the highs and lows of professional rugby league. Discover insights into mindset, training, facing adversity, and building a life beyond playing. Main Topics: Transition from rugby union to rugby league and moving from Ireland to Australia The mental and physical demands of profess...

Shane Storey sits down with Darragh Mac Namara, fresh off a huge bodybuilding weekend that included redemption, a pro card win, and a major mindset shift. Darragh opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of competition, the pressure of living up to expectations, and what it really takes to stay in the game long enough to succeed. From bodybuilding prep and nutrition to alcohol abstinence, conten...

In this episode of the Storey StrengthCast, Shane Storey breaks down one of the hottest topics in the fitness and health world right now: peptides. From GLP-1 medications like semaglutide (Ozempic) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro) to newer compounds such as retatrutide, Shane explores what these substances are, how they work, and why they’ve become so popular in both the media and the fitness industry....

In this episode of The Storey StrengthCast, hear Shane's candid take on balancing life's celebrations with fitness goals, overcoming setbacks, and optimizing training routines. Whether you're dealing with post-party recovery or seeking effective ab development strategies, this episode offers practical insights with a relaxed, honest tone. Key Topics: Shane recounts his wedding celebrat...

In this episode of the Story Strengthcast, Shane Storey shares a wide-ranging Q&A focused on practical coaching advice for physique athletes and lifters. He opens with a personal reflection on paying off wedding vendors and connects that experience to training, business, and long-term goal setting: small, consistent actions compound over time, whether you’re saving for a wedding, building musc...

In this episode, Shane Storey reflects on the lessons learned from spending the last year fully focused on bodybuilding after years of alternating between powerlifting and bodybuilding. He breaks down how his training mindset, nutrition habits, recovery, and long-term goals have evolved as he works toward stepping on stage again in 2027 Major Takeaways Powerlifting can be a powerful gateway into b...

Chapters 00:00 Maintenance After Cutting 01:11 Coaching and Accountability 02:29 Shredding for Wedding Recap 05:18 Why Maintenance Matters 07:39 Progress Without the Scale 09:40 Finding Maintenance Calories 09:52 Reverse Diet vs Direct Jump 12:36 Scale Jump and Glycogen 16:31 Maintenance Range and Macros 18:58 Portion Tweaks and Food Choices 20:59 Modifiable Carb Choices 21:59 Meal Prep Rice Cooke...

This week on the podcast I spoke with my first bodybuilding coach, Brad Loomis of Team 3DMJ. Brad has competed in natural bodybuilding since 2003 from when it was practically unknown to where it is today as a masters competitor. He is a wealth of knowledge, experience & passion for the sport - this is an episode that will surely light the fire in you to keep lifting through the ages. Chapters...

Adam McDonald is a health and performance coach who helps frustrated yet ambitious men reach their full potential through optimizing their health, fitness & physique. He is a natural bodybuilder, a former international basketballer and holds an MSc in Nutrition and currently doing a Doctorate in Human performance and Innovation. In this episode, we delve into the science and misconceptions sur...

Derrick is a natural bodybuilder, PhD candidate & researcher based in McMaster University, Canada. He recently released a narrative review alongside the esteemed Stu Philips & Jeff Nippard about "Load-induced human skeletal muscle hypertrophy: Mechanisms, myths, and misconceptions". In today's podcast we delve into that paper & what that means for our training. Chapters 0...

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Pain and Performance 03:00 Evolution of Pain Management Approaches 05:47 Understanding Pain: History and Trends 06:14 Common Injuries and Their Causes 06:14 The Role of Movement Quality in Injury Prevention 09:19 The Importance of Education in Pain Management 12:32 The Impact of Training Methods on Longevity 15:30 Mechanics vs. Muscle Activation 18:03 The Role of Cue...

In this episode of The Storey StrengthCast, 2023 WNBF World Champion Dirk Emmerich breaks down his 1.5-year “gain-taining” off-season, quad and arm specialization, intuitive eating approach, and the mindset shifts that keep him at the top of natural bodybuilding. We dive into training intensity vs. precision, managing volume as an advanced lifter, slow and strategic fat loss for 2026, peaking with...

In this episode, I’m joined by Eric Helms for a deep dive into long-term muscle gain, aging, and how advanced lifters should actually think about training progress. We start by discussing Eric’s decision to step away from competition and why meaningful progress at an advanced level often requires years , not months. From there, we unpack how experienced lifters should assess progress when traditio...

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Diet Strategies 02:16 Understanding Refeeds and Diet Breaks 03:28 The Importance of Adherence in Dieting 05:53 Physiological Changes During Prolonged Dieting 08:57 The Role of Hunger and Energy Expenditure 11:35 Impacts of Dieting on Mood and Well-being 14:44 Defining Refeeds, Diet Breaks, and Cheat Days 16:31 The Drawbacks of Cheat Days 19:38 Calorie Cycling as a Fl...

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Episode 02:10 Meet Declan: The Avatar for Fat Loss 04:11 Understanding Declan's Current Situation 07:38 The Three Tier Model for Adherence 09:38 Setting Up a Timeline for Fat Loss 12:00 Creating a Caloric Deficit 18:14 The Role of Macronutrients in Fat Loss 23:13 Implementing the Three Tier Nutrition Model 30:52 The Importance of Fiber in Your Diet 34:20 Unde...

AJ Morris is one of the leading figures in modern Natural bodybuilding both as an athlete, coach and ambassador for the sport. In today’s chat we cover a wide range of topics from taking PEDs, the evolution of natural bodybuilding, drug testing & what AJ has changed his mind on across the last few years. Chapters 00:00 The Allure of Natural Bodybuilding 05:36 Coaching Dynamics in Bodybuilding...

David O'Shaughnessy is a coach & natural bodybuilder from Tuam, Galway, who competed this year in his 3rd competitive season which was his best to date. David brought his best package to stage in the PCA Ireland, WNBF Ireland & WNBF Worlds, finishing the season with 1 Overall, 2 class wins & a 3rd place finish on the biggest stage in Natural bodybuilding. Chapters 00:00 Post-Competitio...

Chapters 00:00 Understanding Behavior Change in Coaching 02:51 The Importance of In-Person Coaching 05:45 The Role of Client Motivation 08:50 Navigating Client Expectations and Dissatisfaction 11:38 The Impact of Dissatisfaction on Change 14:40 Positive vs. Negative Motivators for Change 17:54 Finding Joy in the Process 20:32 Shifting Focus from Outcomes to Habits 23:50 Overcoming Obstacles to Hab...

Dr. Scott Stevenson, PhD, is an exercise physiologist, coach, author, and long-time competitive bodybuilder with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Holding a doctorate in applied exercise physiology, along with credentials from ACSM and NSCA, Scott blends scientific rigor with real-world coaching expertise. He’s the creator of Fortitude Training®, author of Be Your Own Bodybuilding Coach...

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Christmas Challenges 02:57 Understanding the Impact of Christmas on Fitness Goals 05:39 Setting Realistic Expectations for Christmas 08:57 Personal Reflections on Christmas Choices 11:45 Navigating Social Events During the Holidays 14:34 Prioritizing Enjoyment and Discipline 17:55 Strategies for Maintaining Fitness During Christmas 20:49 Training Adjustments for the...

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Bulk Phase 06:26 Managing a Successful Gaining Phase 11:58 Common Mistakes in Gaining Phases 18:52 The Importance of Tracking Progress 24:05 Lessons from a Long-Term Gaining Phase 30:29 Shifting Focus to Performance Goals 38:32 Progressive Goals in Training 41:08 Mistakes and Learning in Gaining Phases 42:06 Caloric Adjustments and Body Composition 48:40 The Impo...

Chapters 00:00 Exploring the Mind: Programming Thoughts and Beliefs 03:04 The Journey of Powerlifting and Coaching 05:54 Behavioral Psychology in Nutrition Coaching 08:54 The Temptations Post-Bodybuilding Shows 12:02 Navigating Body Image and Identity in Bodybuilding 14:42 The Pursuit of Aesthetic Goals in Powerlifting 17:44 The Long Game: Commitment to Bodybuilding 30:18 The Journey to a Desired...

Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:04 The Journey into Bodybuilding 05:53 Mindset and Motivation in Bodybuilding 08:56 The Role of Team Sports in Bodybuilding 12:02 Inspirations and the Natural Bodybuilding Path 15:08 The Challenges of Bodybuilding Prep 18:07 The Impact of Social Media on Bodybuilding 21:08 Balancing Bodybuilding with Life 24:05 Understanding the Prep Experience 27:05 T...

Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Q&A Episode 02:06 Understanding Appetite and Meal Structure 09:59 Increasing Caloric Intake and Meal Frequency 13:43 Optimizing Nutrient Sources for Appetite 20:12 Balancing Fiber and Caloric Needs 26:54 Controlled Free Living and Appetite Management 33:50 Strategies for Increasing Caloric Intake 39:59 Balancing Macronutrients for Optimal Gains 47:31 Practical Ti...