PL DEN | The Powerlifter's Den

Steph Mager (@stephm.fit) went from collegiate gymnast to ATWR-holding powerlifter in just a few short years — and she didn’t take the easy route to get there. In this episode, Steph sits down with Cam to talk about walking away from gymnastics after a national title, finding powerlifting by accident, and learning how to fail forward after bombing a meet and immediately signing up for another. We...

Jared Maynard (@jared.unbreakable) is a strength coach, physical therapist, and powerlifter whose story is one of the most powerful comebacks in the sport. In 2023, Jared was diagnosed with a rare and often fatal immune condition (HLH), spent weeks in the ICU, lost over 40 lbs of muscle, and had to relearn basic functions — walking, talking, breathing on his own. A year later, he returned to the p...

Sam Belliveau (@sambelliveauu) is a 5x Canada’s Strongest Woman , North America’s Strongest Woman , and a world record holder in the circus dumbbell. In this episode, Sam sits down with Cam to talk about her journey from hockey player to powerlifter to one of the most dominant strongwomen in the world. She opens up about training at Westside Barbell , rebuilding after a major pelvis injury, and th...

AJ Roberts is a Westside Barbell legend , former world-record-holding powerlifter, and one of the few lifters to total nearly 2,900 lbs . In this episode, Cam sits down with AJ to talk about his journey under Louie Simmons, the evolution of strength culture, and what happens when you step away from chasing numbers to chase purpose instead. From breaking records at Westside to redefining success be...

Amanda Smith (@thesmithmachine75) is one of powerlifting’s rising stars — a 631 DOTS lifter who’s already competed internationally and has her sights set on the IPF stage and Sheffield . In this episode, Cam talks with Amanda about her comeback from life’s toughest chapters, rebuilding confidence on and off the platform, and keeping the focus on lifting — not the drama. From spotting at the Americ...

JP Carroll (@jp_carroll_fyfm) has spent 15 years under the bar — benching 600 raw, totaling 2282 lbs, training with some of the strongest crews in the country, and helping shape powerlifting’s culture from the inside. In this episode, JP joins Cam to talk about his journey from football to powerlifting, what it was really like training at Westside, and the lessons he’s learned running his own gym...

Kyle Sheridan (@sheridanstrength) is a 2000+ total lifter, coach, and co-owner of Legends 24/7 Gym . In this episode, Kyle talks about powerlifting through the eras — from his early bodybuilding days and training under Paul Childress to building The Crew at Legends and bouncing back from a string of brutal injuries. We dive into gym culture, learning from legends, old-school vs new-school lifting,...

Rebecca Roberts (@notmrsdonjohnson) has been competing for nearly three decades as a powerlifter and strongwoman — and she’s still breaking barriers. In this episode, Cam sits down with Rebecca to talk about her journey from early days on the platform to coming back with a 600lb deadlift just 8 months after major surgery . A 29-year veteran, molecular biologist, and pro strongwoman, Rebecca brings...

Carlos Reyes (@creyes242) has spent nearly two decades in strength sports — from winning 3x amateur national titles in strongman to chasing down a 2101 total in powerlifting. In this episode, Cam talks with Carlos about training under Derek Poundstone’s CT Strength Crew, the long road to finally breaking 2100 after seven years of chasing it, and what those battles taught him about mindset and long...

Devonte Lewis (@liftsbylew) has been in powerlifting for less than a year, but he’s already rewritten the record books with the third highest drug-tested total ever and the highest drug-tested subtotal in history . In this episode, Cam talks with Devonte about his rapid rise, managing the pressure of expectations, and what it means to qualify for Nationals after just one meet. From his Houston roo...

Rodney Woodward Jr. (@rwjr1085) just locked in a massive 3,025 lb total , cementing himself among the strongest lifters in the game. In this episode, Cam sits down with Rodney to talk about the journey to one of the biggest totals of all time, competing at Blue Collar Barbell’s Strength of Heroes 5 , and what it takes to push the limits in multi-ply powerlifting. From training philosophy to the mi...

Stacy “Bama” Burr (@bamaburr) is a world-record-setting powerlifter, strongman competitor, coach, and owner of Bad Dog Barbell . In this episode, Cam sits down with Bama to talk about chasing the highest Wilks score in history , the mindset of becoming the Best in the World , and the battles she faced along the way — including a near-suicide in 2018, brutal weight cuts, and the pressure that comes...

Chad Aichs has been in the game since 1997, with achievements like a 1000lb drug-free squat and decades of competition experience. In this episode, Cam and Chad dive into the mental side of lifting and life, why recovery and sleep matter more than just “training hard,” and the lessons from a career that spans powerlifting, Highland Games, coaching, and podcasting. Chad also opens up about his stru...

Blake Lehew (@deadliftingorangutan) has been competing for over 16 years, breaking John Haack’s 181 record and pushing past a 2K total while building one of the most consistent careers in powerlifting. In this episode, he talks with Cam about the truth behind training heavy singles year-round, why sleep is the most underrated performance tool, and what it really takes to stay elite for nearly two...

Jenna Odziana (@jodziana) went from rupturing her ACL to breaking an all-time world record squat in the same year. In this episode, she sits down with Cam to talk about resilience, the cardio myths holding lifters back, and what it takes to win the Women’s ProAm while chasing a 700 squat and 700 glossbrenner score at the WPO. Elite totals, comeback stories, and a training philosophy that’s as toug...

Naomi Sheppard (@naomi.phoenixperformance) joins Cam to talk about breaking multiple all-time world records, rebuilding after a broken back, and why most lifters are wasting time with programs that ignore phases, recovery, and real structure. With over 13 years of coaching experience and a background in biochemistry, Naomi breaks down the science and mindset behind high-level strength — and how sh...

Travis McKinney (@tkinneyv2.0) joins Cam to talk about being self-coached, multiply-built, and relentlessly committed to lifting and leading. From a 1124 squat at 220 to coaching a 50-lifter high school program and Special Olympics team, Travis breaks down how to go elite without a crew — and why giving back matters just as much as putting weight on the bar. This one’s for the lifters building alo...

Justin Zottl (@fullzottl) joins Cam to talk about being the strongest Canadian powerlifter ever and why overthinking ruins real strength. From a national champion cyclist at 17 to one of the heaviest squats in his class, Justin shares raw stories about lifting through divorce, loss, and why his lifters know: simple standards always win. If you want hype, look somewhere else — if you want honesty,...

Two years later and hundreds of pounds heavier on the bar — Jimmy Kolb (@kolbstrong) is back on The Powerlifter’s Den . The first human to bench 1,200, 1,300, and now 1,400+ pounds breaks down the mindset it takes to push the impossible even further. From reverse grip secrets to what’s next in his chase for 1,500, Jimmy opens up about staying grounded, staying dangerous, and why he’ll never settle...

Tommye Arnold (@tommye_teamstorm) joins Cam to prove that strength really doesn’t come with an age limit. As the owner of Perfect Storm Gym, Tommye holds top 10 spots in raw, single-ply, and multiply for women over 60 — and she’s not done. She opens up about switching from bodybuilding to powerlifting at 53, building a community that keeps lifters hooked, and why equipped lifting keeps you in the...

Patrick Warren (@pdubs1019) joins Cam to break down how a former college cross-country runner turned into a WPO podium finisher. Patrick talks about stepping away and then coming back stronger with the Barbell 4:13 crew, why multiply lifting still matters, and what’s killing real competition in powerlifting today. From steel shop days to Vegas lifts, this one’s about standards, loyalty, and keepin...

Heidi Howar (@mommy_n_ry_lifts) joins Cam to talk about chasing massive numbers, staying mentally sharp, and what it took to come back from a broken arm to total 11x her bodyweight. Known for her raw and multiply accomplishments — including a 685 squat at 148 and a 535 deadlift at 131 — Heidi brings both power and perspective. From gear talk to first meet advice, this one’s equal parts grit, humor...

In Episode 95 of The Powerlifter’s Den , Cam is joined by Shawna Mendelson-Curry (@mendelsonstrength), a veteran of the sport with over 25 years on the platform and 20 years of coaching experience. From stepping out of her brother Scot Mendelson’s shadow to building her own legacy through Blue Collar Barbell, Shawna shares her journey through equipped lifting, coaching philosophy, and the evolutio...

In Episode 94 of The Powerlifter’s Den , Cam sits down with Crystal Tate (@ctate87) and longtime teammate Shaun Kopplin to talk about legacy, loyalty, and lifting for the right reasons. Crystal was the first woman to deadlift 600lbs raw and squat 700lbs in wraps — but she’s never chased the spotlight. After spinal reconstruction and a full knee replacement, she’s back chasing single-ply records at...

Behzad “Bear” Bakhshandeh (@behzadbear) joins Cam to talk about squatting 1000+ lbs, self-rehabbing a broken back, and what lifters get wrong about pain and recovery. As the founder of Summit Performance Therapy , Bear breaks down his clinical approach to healing, how he balances strength with intention, and why mindset is everything. We also dig into the gear myths, the scam-filled side of fitnes...