Rockwell Barbell Podcast

In this episode Lawrence/Matt have Taylor Sharpe on the podcast, a competitive powerlifter, state chair of Illinois and meet director Powerlifting United. They reflect on a meet that was held at RWBB back in April and how they worked together in unique ways to make the meet better than before.    They also discuss her father Paul who is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, how his love for martial...

In this episode, Lawrence sits down with Tom and Emil to talk about their journey into the automotive world and how they carved out a space in Porsche culture. We dive into what makes air-cooled cars unique and how to make these cars feel less intimidating to work on. We also touch on the evolution of Porsche culture, the rise of EVs, and what it's like building a business around passion. They als...

Lawrence has Bide Akande on to talk about his career as a public defender in the City of Chicago as well as him being an actor and improv comedian. They discuss his outlook on staying positive amidst the challenges of modern life, his recent engagement, traveling and his lifting at RWBB.

In this episode Lawrence has the boys on to talk about making friendships a priority, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, cars, driving on the Road America track together, social media's effect on powerlifting, Conjugate vs linear programming and relationships now compared to when they were younger.

Lawrence/Matt Blankenberger have Bill Guschwan & Justin Moore on to talk about philosophy, religion, video games, flow state, Jiu Jitsu and higher levels of thinking.

In this episode Lawrence has Diego Collado on the podcast along with his coach Matt Blankenberger. They get into Diego's experience at RWBB, training with his family in the gym, Strongman training, family values, being a former collegiate shotputter, cannabis, chess and electronic music.

In episode 49, Lawrence has Andy Bizub on, one of the owner's of Midwest Performance Cars, Co-Founders of CheckedItOut and Co-Authors of the new book 'Off the Map".  This book showcases the love for the Porsche cars and the welcoming community they created in Chicago based on that mutual interest. The book elegantly tells the origin story of CIO and walks the reader through with photos from pro's,...

On this episode, Lawrence sits down with several Rockwell trainers to discuss their experience at the Conjugate Tactical coach's course at Westside Barbell.

In this episode, Lawrence Scott welcomes Dan Rosales, a longtime friend and founding member of Rockwell. They discuss his journey from lifting and grappling to ultramarathons, as well as his transition from the military into a career in cybersecurity. They also touch briefly on the current state of cyber warfare.

In this episode, Lawrence Scott talks with Jake Smelley of Gideon (IG: @gideonal ) about the deep connections between music, experiences, and memory They discuss Hank Williams Jr.'s influence on punk and rock, the challenges of authenticity in music, and mental health. The conversation concludes with insights on Gideon's new single, "Till the Wheels Fall Off," emphasizing resilience and personal r...

In this episode, the hosts chat with Adam, Andy, and Dan about the Chicagoland Porsche community and their event, Checkeditout . Lawrence shares how a surprise from his wife introduced him to Porsche car culture, emphasizing the importance of connection and storytelling among enthusiasts. They discuss event planning, the evolution of car culture, and their outreach work with Crushers Club , a ment...

In this episode, Lawrence chats with Pat , Alex , and Mike . They share personal stories from their early training, and Pat share how judo enhances jiu-jitsu skills. Alex talks about his journey to being a black belt and being at Balance Point . Mike talks about his progression to brown belt. They discuss downtime from jit-jitsu, trusting your sparring partners, and how they all ended up at Balanc...

In this episode, host Lawrence Scott welcomes Tony Lullo, an expert gaffer and lighting technician known for his work on "Chicago Fire" and many notable films. They talk about how they met during a filming session at Rockwell Barbell. Tony shares his Midwest values and the sense of camaraderie he feels on set. They also discuss industry mentorship, the ins and out of the Chicago film industry, and...

In this episode, Lawrence speaks with tattoo artist and shop owner, Caroline Moody (IG: @forever_moody ) about their friendship, being at the Rockwell Barbell, and training together. She shares her experiences of working in the tattoo industry for 18 years. She talks about celebrating the ten year anniversary of her tattoo shop,  Copperplate Tattoo . They discuss the balance of passion and profess...

In this episode, Lawrence Scott speaks with Adrienne Eades (IG:  stronger_with_adrienne ) about her experience preparing for the Paris Marathon. They discuss her 16-week training journey leading up to the marathon, and the unique atmosphere of Paris compared to Chicago. Adrienne shares the importance of support from her partner leading up to and during the marathon. Adrienne also talks about coach...

In this episode, Lawrence Scott catches up with Matt Blankenberger ( @americanmeatball80_ ). They talk about the evolution of their friendship and careers. Matt talks about his experiences as the Vice President of Rockwell Barbell, the owner of Pig Collective, and being the co-owner of the clothing brand, Ritual . They discuss the supportive community and family in powerlifting. They also share th...

In this episode, Lawrence and Katie ( @katieeenguyen.scott ) hosts champion strongwoman athlete Inez Carrasquillo ( @Inez_prostrongwoman ). Inez shares her journey from a severe injury to winning the North American Arnold Classic Strongwoman competition. She also goes over her experience as a Rogue Invitational champion and new records. Katie talks about her experiences that lead her into becoming...

In this episode, Lawrence and Ed talk with Dan Strauss. Dan is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under Roger Gracie and Strength Training Aficionado. He talks about his journey from traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and training under legends like Roger Gracie. They also cover philosophies on live sparring versus drilling. You can find Dan on Instagram ( @raspberry_ape ) or at w...

Bill and Justin join Lawrence on this episode, where they discuss the links between creativity, formative experiences in education, strong mentorship, and personal growth. Bill shares his journeys taking him from Big Tech, to becoming an educator, and insights from his experience in tech entrepreneurship. They also cover resilience through trauma, teamwork complexities in the video game and tech i...

In this episode, Lawrence speaks with Ty Horn, aka Mobility Monster ( @mobility_monster74 ), about his journey from college football to strength coaching and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ty touches on his individualized training approach, the use of unconventional techniques, and the importance of community in martial arts. Ty shares insights from his experiences training with some of the top Jiu-Jitsu gr...

In this episode, Lawrence talks with professional CrossFit athlete Dana Paran and owner of Iron Mind Rehab and Performance, Becca Ward. Dana shares her experiences participating in CrossFit competitions. They discuss Dana's experience at the Rogue Invitational, recovering from a significant ankle injury, and the sense of community in CrossFit and powerlifting. Dana and Becca also share how they me...

In this episode, Lawrence talks both Al Jakich and Terry Strand, bodybuilding veterans. They talk about how they met, where they've been, and the history of fitness culture of Chicago. Terry shares humorous insights on how bodybuilding shaped his life. Al shares his experiences growing up on Chicago's west side and his passion for bodybuilding. They also reminisce about the golden age of gyms, the...

Tom O'Neill, a long time trainer at Rockwell Barbell, joins Lawrence on the podcast. They chat about how they connected through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and powerlifting. Tom also dives into their transition from casual lifting to powerlifting and strongman competitions. Then, Lawrence and Tom highlight the ways in which their training philosophies evolved over time, training injuries, motivation, and...

Becca Ward ( https://www.ironmindrehab.com/) joins Lawrence to discuss her experiences as a physical therapist and powerlifting coach. Becca talks about her path from a newcomer in powerlifting into embracing the sport and its culture. She also touches on the intersection of strength training and rehabilitation, as well as managing her own practice, Iron Mind . They also chat about the advantages...

Adam Kern ( @adammkern ) joins Lawrence on the podcast to discuss all things Porsche, car culture, and building a community with a common passion. Adam shares the origins of the CheckedItOut ( @checkeditout.io ), a premier Porsche enthusiast gathering that he established. He also discusses his brand Low End Garage ( @lowendgaragechicago ), working with artists to bring a vision to life for his eve...