50% Facts

While the main show is on a holiday break, please enjoy this episode of our show, Topic Thunder.  How do people decide that they need a boost just to get through a workout? Are some too much and some not enough? What can you get from a pre-workout than you can’t get from a cup of coffee or a caffeine pill? Dan Stornaiuolo joined us in this discussion. You can find Dan on IG @stormcloud415, along w...

Does it matter when you decide to set goals and make changes in your life? Should you keep your goals private until you’ve made some progress? Does stating your goals out loud more or less likely to keep pursuing them? Is any period of improvement worth it…even if you don’t meet your goals? Dean Saddoris of Caffeine & Kilos joined us in this discussion. You can find Dean on IG @deansaddoris.ck and...

While the main show is on a holiday break, please enjoy this episode of Topic Thunder. Which four people have contributed the most to the current state of the fitness industry? Or what you enjoy about the industry? Who’s had the broadest impact, and who has meant the most to us? Dean Saddoris of Caffeine & Kilos joined us in this discussion. You can find Dean on IG @deansaddoris.ck and at caffeine...

When did it become a thing to have specialized shoes for everything? Are flat shoes better than heeled shoes or vice versa? If you’re thinking about putting your Christmas money into lifting shoes…or you’ve got a really specific opinion…give this one a listen. Dean Saddoris of Caffeine & Kilos joined us in this discussion. You can find Dean on IG @deansaddoris.ck and at caffeineandkilos.com, along...

We partnered with Caffeine & Kilos to hold an unsanctioned deadlift meet at our gym. What did we find out that we didn’t know before? We’ve participated in running meets in the past, but this was our first shot at making it happen by ourselves. Shout out to Barbell Brigade and Vibe Health Bar for helping us sponsor prizes for this meet! Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbel...

We throw our minds back to our first ideas of what “fitness” meant when we were first exposed to it as kids. Was it gadgets like the Thighmaster? Was it Richard Simmons? Was it bodybuilding magazines in the supermarket? Oh, the nostalgia… Dean Saddoris of Caffeine & Kilos joined us in this discussion. You can find Dean on IG @deansaddoris.ck and at caffeineandkilos.com, along with our gym manager,...

We’re taking our first jump into scripted film territory.   Will Smith stars as the father, and sometimes coach of, Venus and Serena Williams in this 2021 “definitely-not-a-documentary” biographical film. Does the film do justice to the amazing rise of the Williams sisters or is it mostly a Will Smith film awards-baiting vehicle?   Is the film sending a message about overbearing “sports parents” o...

MLB’s Hall of Fame recently voted on a slate of potential inductees from baseball’s “steroid era.” The game benefited from the performance of these players. Specifically, they helped bring enthusiasm and crowd back to the sport after a bitter work stoppage. Is it hypocritical for baseball to deny them enshrinement in the hall? What about other sports? Do any of them really want to police steroid u...

We take our year-end traditional look at what websites and bloggers project to be the top fitness trends for next year. Hybrid workouts, new wearables, outdoor workouts, and bringing (say it with us ) balance. How likely do we think these things are? Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com and subscribe for updates about our apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and...

We recently (episode #155) accidentally posted the opening of an episode about chiropractors, stretching, and foam rolling with the body of an episode about fitness gimmick devices. Honest mistake, since they all fit into the broad category of interventions that you might decide to try as a lifter. Anyway, what we’re offering here is the episode about chiropractors, etc, that you haven’t heard pai...

After some period of time away from the gym, how do you deal with the mental impact of being WAY off your PRs? Are meal replacements worth or it or a good idea? What have we learned that we didn’t know while making this show? What would we tell our younger selves if we had the chance? Is it a good time to start a gym? Is it normal to bleed from your butt after heavy squats? (Not the first time we’...

Does shaming actually motivate anyone? Why shame someone else anyway? And they really just shaming themselves? We talk through our thoughts. Dean Saddoris of Caffeine & Kilos joined us in this discussion. You can find Dean on IG @deansaddoris.ck and at caffeineandkilos.com, along with our gym manager, Kyle Castro @kyle.castroo. You can watch the documentary for free on YouTube. Check out our gym (...

It’s fitting that Rogue Fitness would decide to underwrite an expansive documentary on the life of Terry Todd -- a name known to many in the strength world for decades. As a lifter and coach, he was a formative presence in Olympic lifting, powerlifting, and strongman. In many ways, he helped define the industry. The documentary details his contributions through interviews with Larry Pacifico, Mark...

Is curling in the squat rack a huge break of gym etiquette or just a practical solution? Is loading the leg press up with every plate in the gym, five linebackers, and 7 cheerleaders a good move? Does training on an inflated half-sphere ever make sense? And is there a better drink holder than a reverse hyper?   Our friend and gym member Dan Storniuolo @stormcloud415 joins us, and our gym manager,...

In a bit of a mashup between a regular 50% Facts and one our shorter Topic Thunder episodes, we sat down with our friends from Caffeine & Kilos to take another swing the advantages and disadvantages of home gyms. We also hit on “do not disturb” on smart phones, the disappointment of “skipfree” portable CD players in the 90s, and announce our first big event, The North Pull! Meet information is her...

Everybody loves peanut butter, or do they? Many people love it so much that they think it’s a great protein source, but it’s not relative to its calorie count. We talk about the allure of nut butters, what we like and don’t like, and which protein sources actually make more sense for someone on a diet. Our friend and gym member Dan Storniuolo @stormcloud415 joins us, and our gym manager, Kyle Cast...

The Tillman Story: Documentary review Pat Tillman, who walked away from NFL millions to join the Army and was later killed, is a legendary heroic figure. What was the real story of his death by friendly fire? This documentary reflects his family’s efforts to find the truth and get the military and the government to admit to efforts to cover it up. Dean Saddoris of Caffeine and Kilos joins us in ou...

We discuss the rights and wrongs of trying to get dates, or even talk to strangers, at the gym. Can you do it without throwing up red flags? Are there times that it’s ok, and times it’s really not ok? Our friend and gym member Dan Storniuolo @stormcloud415 joins us, and our gym manager, Kyle Castro @kyle.castroo. You can check out the video version of this episode on Mike’s channel here. Check out...

We’re lucky to have not one, but two physical therapy docs as members of our gym. We sat down with Emily Snee and Dominic Violi to discuss what it really takes to get back in the game, and the stuff that’s probably just a waste of time and money. It didn’t shock us, and it shouldn’t shock you, that they’re fans of some folks we’ve interviewed in the past and that their approach emphasizes the basi...

We discuss which strategies for dealing with the aches and pains of both lifting and life have worked for us. We’ve seen both scams and actual relief. We’re joined on the panel by Dean Saddoris of Caffeine and Kilos, and our gym manager, Kyle Castro. You can find Dean on Instagram @deansaddoris.ck, and at caffeineandkilos.com. Kyle’s at @kyle.castroo. You can check out the video version of this ep...

In this episode, we discuss the final chapters of The Way Down. These episodes cover the impact on the lives and families of the cult surrounding the Remnant Fellowship and diet guru Gwen Shamblin Lara. Many former members detail the extent to which the cult controlled their behavior and actions, and their struggle to get free of its grip. Check out this article for some good coverage of the issue...

We take a lighthearted look at the world’s most minimal gym wear. Are stringer tanks a fashion statement or just a way to get around the rules that make you wear a shirt in the gym? Should they be banned, or should only some people be allowed to wear them? We’re joined on the panel by Dean Saddoris of Caffeine and Kilos, and our gym manager, Kyle Castro. You can find Dean on Instagram @deansaddori...

The author of the bestselling diet book The Weigh Down, Gwen Shamblin, appeared on national TV talk shows and sold her weight loss philosophy to people across America. Especially churchgoers. By 1999, she had essentially started her own Tennessee church (or cult depending on your point of view). Her background as a nutritionist brought some actual common sense to the diet, but when she put herself...

In this mini-episode, we share are thoughts and experiences with lifting in home gyms versus commercial gyms.  The pandemic forced a lot of people into home gym situations. Some people hated it, while others joined the ranks of long-time home gym lovers What’s missing when you lift at home? And what makes it better than lifting away from home? We’re joined on the panel by Dean Saddoris of Caffeine...

To what extent is “canceling” someone in 2021 just a way to take someone off the board? Does intent matter? And can people really be educated/rehabilitated? We take a look at the recent scandal around former Raiders’ head coach/GM John Gruden’s emails and his hurried resignation. We kick it off with a discussion history of using nonsense words in music, and we’re led down the rabbit hole on a site...