The USA Weightlifting Podcast

This week on the USA Weightlifting Podcast Cheryl and Chad are breaking down a modified version of the Front Squat – the Frankenstein Squat AKA the Zombie Squat, and how it can help you perfect your technique. Tune in to learn more about this squat variation and its benefits including when and why to use it and how to perform a Frankenstein Squat.

Today we’re joined for the first time by Jackie Berube-Black. Jackie, was an Academic All-American gymnast at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. She also competed one year on the varsity men’s wrestling team in the 118 pound weight division. After college she wrestled on the USA Women’s National Wrestling Team and won a silver medal at the World Championships in 1996. In 1998 while working a...

In honor of pride month, we’re excited to introduce gym owner, Kurt Roderick. Kurt is the owner and head coach of Murder of Crows Barbell Club, an all inclusive, premiere training hall located in New York City. Kurt’s welcoming environment has led to increased participation in our sport and we couldn’t be more grateful. Joining Kurt in today’s episode are Gayge, Holly, and Annalisa, who share thei...

Joining the USA Weightlifting Podcast, we have Dean, Monica, and Meena from one of the coolest apparel companies out there, Kinda Fit Kinda Fat, LLC. KFKF is a community dedicated to those who love fitness and food! They are also the official body diversity sponsor of USAW. For more on this community or to check out their gear be sure to head to their website, enjoy the show! Resources: www.kindaf...

For this week’s episode we are joined once again by USA Weightlifting’s Senior Director of Sports Performance, Coach Mike Gattone. Coach Gattone talks us through a recap of the recent Junior Worlds where our Men’s team placed 3rd, and our Women’s team WON the team title! Included in the conversation is some explanation to some new statistics that are being gathered on our international teams, and...

Today we are back with our THIRD episode in the ongoing series of pet peeves in weightlifting. We obtained this specific annoyance from an Instagram poll where there was a common complaint for ego lifting. Ego lifting includes loading too much on the bar too soon and not taking the time to first progress in technique, constantly missing reps or forcing ugly makes in training, taking percentages of...

Today as we’re talking to Phil Andrews for the last time as our CEO. As many of you may already know, Phil will be stepping away and moving on to other ventures. Please join us in saying thank you and good-bye to this individual that has made such a positive impact in so many ways within USA Weightlifting and the Sport of Weightlifting in general through his tenure. Enjoy the show!

We have yet another Quick Tip for you today, this time for the clean. Whereas with our last quick tip on the snatch we talked about confirming the beginning of the lift; the start position, today for the clean we’re talking about ensuring that you’re getting to the end of the lift from extension most efficiently and effectively; and this is zoning in the pull under portion of the lift. In this epi...

We have another Quick Tip for you today, and with it we are aiming to bring your extreme attention to the start position, as well as the first inch of the lift off of the ground. It is common to see athletes with their hips set too high in the start position, and/or for them to lose the best characteristics as the initiate. Tune in to learn what you should FEEL when you’re in the right position, a...

This week on the USA Weightlifting Podcast we are joined by USAW’s very own Pedro Meloni and JP Nicoletta to recap the recent 2022 NAO Series 1 and the 2022 National University Championship. There were an unprecedented amount of broken records during this competition, including being declared the largest strength competition ever. Tune in for more about the events and some highlighted performances...

This week on the USA Weightlifting Podcast we’re joined by Sr. Director of Sports Performance, Mike Gattone, and National Teams Director, Lorene Halford, for our quarterly high performance update. In today’s episode both Mike and Lorene are here to talk about some strategies for USAW’s top athletes, potential challenges after 2024, and the hopeful inclusion of Weightlifting in the Olympics beyond...

In honor of Oscar Chaplin III we are rereleasing this episode that we did with him almost 4 years ago now. The 2-Time Olympian passed away recently on Saturday, February 5th at the age of 41. The family lost a cherished brother and son. Many of us lost a teammate and a friend. We at USA Weightlifting and the community lost a superstar, an idol, and one of the best weightlifters in US history! We a...

Avery Owens is a multiple time international medallist for Team USA and is heading into her final year as a junior. In today’s episode she shares some of her most recent successes as well as some common stereotypes and misconceptions about weightlifters. If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review and share it with a friend!

Welcome back for another quarterly Phil-in episode on the USA Weightlifting Podcast. This week USAW CEO, Phil Andrews joins us again for some general updates and current happenings within the organization as well as his perspective on weightlifting being in or out of the 2028 Olympic Games. Enjoy the show!

This week on the USA Weightlifting Podcast we’re joined by the Director of Events and Sponsorships, Pedro Meloni and the Director of Coaching Education, JP Nicoletta. In Today’s episode we’re going through a full recap of the North American Open Finals in Denver, Colorado as well as the highlights and controversies of the event. Tune in for more details about what’s to come in the new year. Enjoy...

Max Newlon is the CEO and President of FocusCalm, an EEG headband and app designed to help you reduce stress, control your mindset, and improve your overall performance. In this episode Max talks about brain training, the power of neurofeedback, as well as tips on how you can learn to remain calm in high stress situations. If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review and share it with a fr...

This week on the USA Weightlifting Podcast we’re shifting our awareness to your breathing. In today’s episode we’re sharing some quick and easily applied breathing techniques that are sure to improve your jerk. If you enjoyed this episode please share it with a friend and leave us a review! Sponsors: www. RomWOD.com - Optimize Your Performance

Pedro Meloni is the USAW Director of Events and Sponsorships. In today’s episode we’ll be discussing the upcoming North American Open Series Finals in Colorado, as well as what to expect for athletes, coaches, and spectators. If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to leave us a review and share it with a friend! Sponsors: www. RomWOD.com - Optimize Your Performance

Coach Danny Camargo is joining the USA Weightlifting Podcast this week to discuss both good and bad training cycles and how they can affect your competition results. Tune in to learn some of our tips and tricks to ensure you’re performing to the best of your ability in competition and how to manage training cycles. If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review and share it with a friend! Sp...

We have another Quick Tip for you today that you can easily apply to your training. We want you to HOLD in your standing with weight overhead completion positions of your snatch and jerk on the last and heaviest 3-5 sets for 10-20 seconds on at least some of your workouts. This can also be done with your cleans, squats, presses, deadlifts, and so on for extra strength and stability work in each of...

Steve Galvan is a USAW Level 2 national coach and lead instructor as well as the recent 2021 Youth World Championships team lead in Saudi Arabia. In today’s episode Steve shares some of his experiences of traveling the world as an IWF photographer as well as defining the roles and responsibilities for team leaders. Our goal is to bring awareness to this USAW position and encourage individuals to c...

Sally Van de Water is one of the most frequently heard MC’s in Olympic Weightlifting. In today’s episode Sally gives us a run down of all the different positions required to run a successful weightlifting competition. Tune in to learn more about how you can volunteer at any capacity for future competitions. Sponsors: www. RomWOD.com - Optimize Your Performance

Today is about a quick and simple tip that you can easily apply to your training and within whatever program you are currently on. By pausing at a position in your pull that is most meaningful to you on some of your snatch and clean warm up sets, you can increase awareness, comfort, and strength of the position and improve your movement and potential as a whole. Please leave us a review and don't...

This week on the USA Weightlifting Podcast we’re talking about programming. More specifically we’re diving into the best way to add supplementary work into your program without throwing everything off balance. Please leave us a review and don't forget to share us with a friend! What you’ll learn: Adding more to your program vs adding too much Supplementary work Sponsors: www. RomWOD.com - Optimize...

We’re excited to host Harrison Maurus for his third appearance on the USA Weightlifting Podcast. In today’s episode Harrison talks us through his 5 of 6, fourth place finish at the Tokyo Olympics where he broke his American record. We also dive into his preparation for the competition as well as what he plans to do now that he is out of training. Enjoy the show! Sponsors: www. RomWOD.com - Optimiz...