Iron Culture presented by MASS

In today's episode of Iron Culture, co-hosts Eric Helms and Eric Trexler are joined by MASS colleague Dr. Mike Zourdos. After a brief chat about bodybuilding, powerlifting, and college football news, the crew addresses a number of questions about topics including optimal protein intake, what soreness can (or can't) tell us, detraining & retraining, vegan protein sources, heavy metals i...

In Episode 311 of Iron Culture, hosts Dr. Eric Trexler, Dr. Eric Helms, and Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple deliver a comprehensive exploration of hormones, health, and performance optimization. The episode opens with a deep dive into recent research on stretching protocols and muscle adaptations, examining groundbreaking case studies that challenge conventional wisdom about flexibility training and mus...

In today's episode, Drs Trexler and Helms discuss a wide range of fitness topics including metabolic stress, "the pump," targeting the different heads of the biceps, individualising diets and supplement protocols, maximal rates of fat loss, blood flow restricted training, the philosophy of science, and much more! We had some technical issues while recording this episode live, but it&...

In this episode of Iron Culture, Eric Helms and Trex discuss a variety of evidence-based fitness topics. In this conversation, Dr. Trexler and Dr. Helms delve into the complexities of muscle gain, recovery, and the role of nutrition in performance. They discuss the nuances of identifying plateaus in training, the impact of training volume, the importance of food quality, and how psychological fact...

In this episode, Eric Helms is joined by returning guest, his fellow 3DMJ coach and WNBF Pro bodybuilder, Alberto Nuñez, who is also the  male WNBF athlete rep. In addition, they are joined by first time guest Steff Noble, a WNBF Figure pro, experienced coach, and president of WNBF UK. The trio first reflects on what was arguably the most competitive natural bodybuilding season to date, and the ov...

In this episode of Iron Culture presented by MASS, Dr. Eric Trexler and Dr. Eric Helms explore the science and debate surrounding lengthened partials, a training technique often celebrated for its hypertrophy and strength benefits. Drawing on recent studies, they discuss how emerging evidence challenges some hyperbolic claims of lengthened partials as a superior training method, suggesting instead...

In this crossover episode of Iron Culture, co-hosts Danny Lennon and Eric Trexler are joined by fitness professional and fellow Sports Nutrition Association (SNA) advisory board member Laurin Conlin. Together, they dive into the complex relationship between mental health, physique sports, and fitness coaching. Laurin shares her personal experiences and insights on how disordered eating and body im...

Who is the strongest? Is it the person with the biggest Powerlifting total? Weightlifting total? The current Worlds Strongest Man/Woman Champion? Or, perhaps, the current Arnold Strongman Classic Champion? It’s an oft-debated question, typically occurring around the proverbial fitness water cooler. However, recently Dr. Kind, Dr. Veit, Dr. Heffernan, and our very own Dr. Helms made this debate int...

In this episode of Iron Culture, hosts Eric Trexler and Eric Helms begin with a brief discussion of Trex's recent MASS article on the misapplication of modern pain science in the fitness industry. They then discuss the nuances of protein recommendations, debating the merits of using body weight versus fat-free mass as a basis for determining protein needs. The conversation also touches on current...

This week we’ve got a MONSTER episode in the form of a live Q&A episode with Dr. Helms and Dr. Trexler. The Good Doctors begin with a recap of the recent WNBF World Championships, followed by an insightful discussion about whether or not humans have a “factory error” in our design that promotes obesity. This is followed by a number of listeners’ questions about functional anatomy, exercise sel...

In this Iron Culture, Sigma Nutrition Radio, SNA crossover, Dr. Joe Klemczewski returns! Dr. Joe, possibly the first online bodybuilding coach and person to advise clients to track macros before IIFYM was an acronym, joins us to reflect on the past and help us navigate the future. In the modern information age, there is more information than ever, which is a good thing, right? Perhaps, except that...

Today’s episode of MASS Office Hours is truly special, and not just because it’s airing on a Monday. First, the MASS crew announces a new era of Office Hours as the show has formally merged with the Iron Culture podcast. After making this announcement, the crew lets listeners know what they can expect as the show pushes forward and climbs to new heights. After that, the crew has an insightful disc...

The Lost Episode of MASS Office Hours will be discussed for decades to come. Was the episode buried and all copies destroyed because it was simply too controversial? Did the hosts reveal a secret too dangerous to publish? Did Eric accidentally delete the episode by hitting the wrong button after they recorded? We may never know. In this re-recorded episode of MASS Office Hours, Dr. Eric Trexler is...

In lieu of a live episode, tonight we bring you a piece of content from the MASS Research Review archive. This video is from a "Journal Club," which is a live recording that is only accessible to members of the MASS Community. This is a replay of a video that was recorded (live) a few months ago. It gives you a sneak peak at a small portion of what MASS members have access to every month. In this...

In episode 59 of MASS Office Hours, Dr. Eric Trexler is joined by Dr. Eric Helms to discuss practical implications of strength asymmetries, purportedly anti-catabolic supplements, troubleshooting pain while lifting, the lifting volume needed to maintain gains during a weight loss phase or period of reduced training, and much more. The MASS crew goes live for Office Hours every Wednesday night at 7...

In Episode 58 of MASS Office Hours, Dr. Trexler is joined by special guest Josh Pelland to discuss Pelland's recent meta-analysis which investigates the effects of training volume and frequency on hypertrophy and strength outcomes. The analysis synthesizes data from numerous studies and quantifies dose-response relationships by which higher training volumes and/or frequencies may lead to greater s...

In episode 57 of Office Hours Live, Dr. Eric Trexler is joined by Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple for a wide-ranging discussion on fitness, sports, and research. They begin by chatting about recent college football events and transition to the serious topic of concussions and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), with Dr. Trexler sharing insights from his own research and personal experiences. After t...

In Episode 56 of "Office Hours Live," Dr. Eric Trexler and Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple discuss a wide range of health and fitness topics. Dr. Colenso-Semple tackles the question of whether estrogen is anabolic and its role in muscle hypertrophy, explaining the lack of substantial human research but providing insights from animal studies. Dr. Trexler responds to concerns about ultraprocessed protein...

This episode of "Office Hours Live" features Dr. Eric Trexler and guest Dr. Mike Zourdos discussing a wide range of topics in exercise science and nutrition. The show begins with a little college football talk before diving into more scientific content. Dr. Zourdos previews his upcoming article on exercise and memory, highlighting the cognitive benefits of aerobic exercise and potential effects of...

This episode of "Office Hours Live" features Dr. Eric Trexler and guest Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple discussing a wide range of topics related to exercise, nutrition, and physiology, with a particular focus on female-specific issues. They delve into the effects of hormonal contraceptives and menopause on fat loss, emphasizing that while hormonal changes can influence body composition, they...

In this 53rd episode of "Office Hours Live" by MASS Research Review, hosts Dr. Eric Trexler and Dr. Eric Helms celebrate the show's one-year anniversary while covering a wide range of topics in exercise science and nutrition. The episode begins with a discussion on nasal breathing and the safety of microwaving food in plastic containers, highlighting the hosts' approach to addres...

In this solo episode of "Office Hours Live" by MASS Research Review, Dr. Eric Trexler covers a wide range of topics in exercise science, nutrition, and recovery. He begins by discussing the importance of step counts for health, cautioning against sacrificing sleep for increased steps. The conversation then shifts to sleep duration, exploring its effects on recovery and mortality. Dr. Tre...

In this episode of "Office Hours Live," Dr. Eric Trexler and Dr. Mike Zourdos delve into a wide range of topics related to bodybuilding, strength training, and sports science. After a brief discussion about college football, they focus on the timing and planning of bulking and cutting phases, emphasizing the importance of long-term, intentional approaches rather than frequent switches ba...

In this episode of "Office Hours Live" by MASS Research Review, Dr. Eric Trexler and guest Dr. Mike Zourdos cover a wide range of topics in exercise science and nutrition. The main focus is on volume cycling in resistance training, with Dr. Zourdos providing an in-depth explanation of its principles, implementation, and potential benefits. The discussion then shifts to a Q&A session,...

This episode of "Office Hours Live" featuring Dr. Eric Trexler and guest Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple covers a wide range of topics in nutrition, exercise science, and physiology. The hosts begin with a discussion on bulking strategies, emphasizing the importance of calorie surplus for muscle growth and providing recommendations for different athletes. They then dive into an extensive Q&amp...