TO the bar

Join Aaron and Jess as they review the 2026 British Weightlifting Championships in Telford and the Paddy Haynes Open Farm Strongman competition, exploring technique, atmosphere, and community spirit. 

Coach Kristian McPhee joins Aaron and Jess to discuss developing young male lifters, training alongside Olympic greats, and the philosophy behind London Strength and Brunel Weightlifting Club. This episode offers a rare insight into the mind of one of British weightlifting's most thoughtful coaches. Kristian McPhee's journey from parkour to the podium, his commitment to continuous learning...

To The Bar: Season 3 Premiere! Join Aaron and Jess as they kick off Season 3 with a deep dive into British Weightlifting's talent ID system, review their experience at the 2026 Arnold Classics at the Birmingham NEC, and explore the growing crossover between weightlifting and strongman. A New Season, A Broader Vision - it's Season 3 of the To The Bar and we've been stepping back from th...

Join British Weightlifting Technical Officials Aaron and Jess as they review three major 2025 UK strength events: the English Champs, ATHX, and the SBD Classic. Get the insider's perspective. In this comprehensive episode of  To The Bar , hosts Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slaney sit down to unpack a packed season of British strength sports. Moving from the platform to the podcast, they offer t...

Behind the Barbell at the 2025 Rogue Invitational Join To The Bar behind the scenes at the 2025 Rogue Invitational in Aberdeen as LuxiaoJun UK's media team, capturing Colten Mertens and the world's strongest. A Front-Row Seat to Strength History To The Bar takes you beyond the platform and into the heart of the action. In this landmark episode, hosts Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slaney deli...

Get behind the scenes at Mem's Weightlifting with Mehmed and Silvia. Learn their Rush Slowly philosophy, training secrets, and community mission. Where World-Class Meets Community Heart A quick note: you might hear the occasional rumble of trains overhead - we recorded this episode right in the heart of Mem's iconic arch 301 gym, and we wouldn't trade that authentic atmosphere for perfect audio! J...

Lift Me Up 2025, Mem's Junior Showcase & Rogue Invitationals: Community, Charity, and the Future of Weightlifting Relive Emily Muskett’s Lift Me Up 2025, celebrate Mem’s Juniors, and preview our Rogue Invitational coverage. Powered by LuXiaoJun UK. Where Compassion Meets Competition. In this landmark episode of To The Bar, hosts Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slaney reflect on three pillars t...

British Weightlifting Championships 2025: Triumphs, Tears, and the Future of UK WeightliftingRelive the 2025 British Champs through the eyes of technical officials, Athletes and Coaches, Aaron & Jess. Record lifts, athlete breakthroughs, and the power of community. Watch now! To The Bar is officially sponsored by LUXIAOJUN UK – Where performance meets purpose. Use code tothebar5 for 5% off all...

To The Bar ft. Nigel Barber – Redefining Inclusivity in Weightlifting with WODAPTIVE and the Adaptive Open. To The Bar is officially sponsored by LUXIAOJUN UK – Where performance meets purpose. Use code tothebar5 for 5% off all products at luxiaojun.co.uk By the weightlifter, for the weightlifter. Trigger Warning: Brief references to self harm &/or suicide Join Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slan...

Join Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slaney in this milestone Episode 204 of To The Bar, officially sponsored by Luxiaojun UK (luxiaojun.co.uk) as they welcome Lee, CEO of LuXiaoJun EU, for an inspiring conversation about bridging high-performance gear with grassroots growth in Olympic weightlifting. Exclusive offer! Use code TOthebar5 for 5% off all LuXiaoJun UK products—because “strength shouldn’t b...

Join Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slaney in this dynamic episode of  To The Bar , recorded live at the  2025 BUCS Weightlifting Championships  in Brunel, as they sit down with  Claire Deacon —British Weightlifting’s Events Lead, coach, and driving force behind groundbreaking competitions. Claire’s dual expertise in event management and coaching offers a rare glimpse into the logistics, passion, and...

🔥  NEW EPISODE ALERT!  Join Aaron and Jess at  Oxford PowerSports  for an inspiring conversation with  Julie Morrish —British Weightlifting’s unsung hero, master coach, and architect of tomorrow’s champions! 🏋️♀️ 🌟  From Masters Champion to Mentor : Once a dominant force in the 53kg class (2x British Masters gold medalist 🥇), Julie’s journey took a pivot when illness ended her competitive caree...

🎙️ To The Bar: English Championships 2024 Debrief | Behind the Scenes at the NEC, Birmingham’s Biggest Lifts & TO Survival Secrets | Strength in Every Story Step into the chaos and glory of the  2024 British Weightlifting English Championships ! Fresh off the platform at Birmingham’s iconic NEC, Aaron and Jess pull back the curtain on the UK’s most electrifying weightlifting showdown. From jaw...

🎙️ To The Bar: Paris 2024 Olympics Weightlifting Debrief | Emily Campbell’s Glory, Nino Drama & Lasha’s Bittersweet Farewell | Strength in Every Story The Olympic barbells have fallen silent, but the echoes of Paris 2024’s weightlifting spectacle still ring loud! Join Aaron and Jess—fresh off the plane from France—for a  no-holds-barred  breakdown of the Games’ most jaw-dropping lifts, heart-s...

🎙️ To The Bar: Episode 112 – Emily Muskett | Olympian, World Medalist & BWL’s Talent Architect on Postpartum Lifting, Tokyo Trauma & Building Weightlifting’s Future | Strength in Every Story From Olympic heartbreak to European glory—and now shaping the next generation— Emily Muskett  (3x Commonwealth Games medalist, Tokyo Olympian, and British Weightlifting’s  Talent Transfer Lead ) joins...

🎙️ To The Bar: Episode 111 – The Club Cup Revolution | Henry Woodason & Przemek Borak on Redefining Competitive Weightlifting | Strength in Every Story Meet the visionary coaches shaking up UK weightlifting! Join Aaron and Jess as they sit down with  Henry Woodason  (Guildford Weightlifting Club) and  Przemek Borak  (Hampshire Barbell Club) to unpack  British Weightlifting’s groundbreaking Clu...

🎙️ To The Bar: Episode 110 – BUCS Weightlifting 2024 Debrief | Behind the Platform Drama & Student Athlete Triumphs | Strength in Every Story The barbells are racked, the chalk dust has settled—but the excitement of  BUCS Weightlifting 2024  is just heating up! Join Aaron and Jess, British Weightlifting technical officials and hosts of  To The Bar , as they unpack the highs, lows, and unforget...

🎙️ To The Bar: Episode 109 – British Masters Champs 2024 (Part 2) | Age is Just a Number, Strength is Forever | Strength in Every Story The platform isn’t done yet—Aaron and Jess are back with Part 2 of their electrifying coverage of the  2024 British Masters Weightlifting Championships  in Bangor! Day 2 shifts focus to the  younger  Masters athletes (yes, “younger” here starts at 35+ 💥), proving...

🎙️ To The Bar: Episode 108 – British Masters Champs 2024 | Age is Just a Number, Strength is Forever | Strength in Every Story Step onto the platform with Aaron and Jess as they recap an unforgettable Day 1 at the  2024 British Masters Weightlifting Championships  in Bangor—a event where grit, camaraderie, and lifelong passion for the sport take center stage. Hosted by the  British Masters Weightl...

🎙️ To The Bar: Episode 107 – Khrys Speed (Ronin Strength) on Coaching, CrossFit, and Building Weightlifting’s Future | Strength in Every Story Join Aaron and Jess for a dynamic conversation with  Khrys Speed —founder of  Ronin Strength , British Weightlifting coach, and a powerhouse bridging rugby grit with Olympic weightlifting excellence. From semi-pro rugby rejections (“too small for the hooker...

🎙️ To The Bar: Episode 106 – BWL CEO Matt Curtain on Weightlifting’s Future, Paris 2024 & the CrossFit Connection | Strength in Every Story Join Aaron and Jess for an exclusive sit-down with  Matt Curtain , CEO of  British Weightlifting  (BWL),  IWF Executive Board Member , and one of the most influential figures in global weightlifting. With a storied career spanning the  Paris 2024 Olympics...

To The Bar: Episode 105 – BWL English Championships 2023 Debrief | Strength in Every Story | Behind the Scenes with Technical Officials Ever wondered what goes on  behind the lifting platform  at a major weightlifting championship? Strap in—this episode is your backstage pass! Join Aaron and Jess, British Weightlifting technical officials and hosts of  To The Bar , as they unpack every thrilling,...

To The Bar: Episode 104 – Jess’ “Piece of the Platform” | Strength in Every Story | Weightlifting Community Q&A Step into the spotlight with Jess Roebuck-Slaney in this empowering installment of  To The Bar ’s  “Strength in Every Story”  series! As a British Weightlifting technical official, coach, and passionate advocate for the sport, Jess takes center stage to tackle the  four iconic questi...

To The Bar: Episode 103 – Aaron’s “Piece of the Platform” | Strength in Every Story | Weightlifting Community Q&A Dive into the heart of the weightlifting community with  To The Bar ’s special  “Strength in Every Story”  series! In this shorter-but-mighty episode, host Aaron Holt steps into the spotlight to answer the  four iconic questions  we’ve asked athletes, coaches, and fans across the w...

Pull up a seat and join Aaron and Jess for an in-depth, 90-minute dive into the latest happenings in the world of competitive weightlifting! In this episode, we break down the key moments from the  IWF World Championships , including the shocking weigh-in experience of Kate Vibert and our take on the technical officials involved. We also dissect the  IWF’s newly announced strategy plan , which has...