PL DEN | The Powerlifter's Den

Lisa MacDonald joins The Powerlifter’s Den for Episode 151. With over 15 years in the fitness industry and nearly a decade competing in multiply powerlifting, Lisa has built her career around pushing limits, overcoming setbacks, and competing alongside some of the strongest lifters in the world.

We talk about the mental side of powerlifting, taking big numbers off a pedestal, overcoming fear and self-doubt, and why being physically strong enough doesn't always mean you're mentally ready. Lisa also shares her experiences competing at the WPO, dealing with injuries and setbacks, and why powerlifting is far from an...

Mark Plummer joins The Powerlifter’s Den for Episode 150. Mark has been competing in powerlifting since he was 16, breaking IPF sub-junior 93kg world records and climbing as high as 8th in the world at 198 before injuries pulled him away from the sport for several years.

We talk about his return to powerlifting, why he thinks the sport has gotten boring, the misconception that you need to get fat to lift heavy, and how the level of competition has changed over the years. We also dive into life as an influencer, how much of what you se...

Jared Simmons joins The Powerlifter’s Den to talk about a strength journey built around more than just the total. From getting sober and finding his way back into the weight room, to decades in strength sports, coaching, gym ownership, and helping create more opportunities for adaptive athletes, Jared’s focus is on leaving the sport better than he found it. PL Den Pre-Episode Guest Questi…

We talk about training with purpose, intensity and intent, why you don’t need to be “strong enough” before entering your first meet, what truly custom coaching should look like, and th...

In Episode 148 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Hunter Henderson, a professional powerlifter and bodybuilder who has set multiple squat records and is currently ranked 4th in the world overall.

Hunter talks about returning to the platform after three years away, the relationship between muscle and strength, staying healthy in a demanding sport, training with a real crew, and learning to embrace the long process of getting better. She also opens up about overcoming serious medical challenges while balancing elite lifting with a demanding healthcare career

In Episode 147 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Joe Sullivan, former 220 lb all-time world record holder and longtime coach who has helped other lifters reach world-record performances of their own.

Joe talks about why “optimal” doesn’t exist in performance coaching, leaving powerlifting better than he found it, some wild meet stories, and the mentality behind Adapt or Die after years of serious injuries and setbacks. We also discuss the tomfoolery of internet clowns attempting to powerlift for clout.

In Episode 146 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Ed Coan, widely regarded as the greatest powerlifter of all time.

Ed talks about the lifters who influenced him, including Bill Kazmaier, old-school training and competition, the evolution of powerlifting, SWIS, and the lessons he’s picked up from decades of competing, coaching, and being around some of the strongest people in the sport.

A conversation about powerlifting history, training, and the people who helped shape it.

In Episode 145 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Tara Duncan, a 10-year powerlifter with experience in both raw and multiply, a 705 lb squat, and pro totals in three weight classes.

We talk about her transition into geared lifting, raising a daughter who now powerlifts, the downside of comparison and social media, the “mass moves mass” argument, and what she learned through injury, weight loss, and depression.

In Episode 144 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Mason Mills, a 1000kg Big Dogs totaler, full-time coach, and one of the strongest heavyweight powerlifters in the UK. We discuss competing around the world, why progress isn't always linear, memorable stories from Big Dogs, and his pursuit of becoming the first British man to squat 1,000 pounds.

In Episode 143 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Delroy McQueen, a lifter whose career has spanned more than two decades across both Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. From competing internationally in weightlifting to building an elite career in single ply, multi ply, raw, and raw with wraps, Delroy has proven that longevity is one of the greatest achievements in strength sports.We dive into his transition from Olympic lifting to powerlifting, the mindset that's kept him competing for over 20 years, and the incredible story of squatting 1010 pounds with only two people in the gym. Delroy also reflects on...

In Episode 142 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Niko Chaprales—former IPL Raw 308 World Champion, professional strongman, and strength coach to some of the biggest names in the sport, including Evan Singleton, Inez Carrasquillo, and Katie Blunden.

Niko shares his journey from retiring as a world champion powerlifter to building one of the top coaching teams in strength sports. We dive into developing elite athletes, why too many new lifters skip the fundamentals, gym etiquette, and the mindset required to compete at the highest level. He also opens up about overcoming multiple career threatening injuries, hi...

In Episode 141 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with one of the most accomplished equipped powerlifters in history, Chris Della Fave.

Since entering the sport in 2007 after his football career at the University of Rhode Island, Chris has built a resume that few lifters can match. Holding the all time records at 242 in single ply, multi ply, and unlimited, Chris has totaled as much as 2870 pounds, squatted an all time world record 1160 pounds, and pulled some of the biggest deadlifts ever performed by an American lifter.

We dive into the evolution of...

In Episode 140 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Ryan Kennelly, the first man to ever bench press 800 pounds and the former all time world record holder with a 1075 lb bench at 308.Ryan shares stories from his rise through the sport, meeting Louie Simmons in 2001, the evolution of bench shirts over the last 30 years, and the mindset it took to become one of the greatest bench pressers in history. We also discuss his legendary bodyweight and calorie intake, life after competition, and a wild trip to Ukraine to compete that has to be heard to be believed.If...

In Episode 139 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Duncan Hundley, director of strength and conditioning at Gray Collegiate Academy and a lifter with over 11 years of experience in both raw and equipped powerlifting.

Duncan shares how watching World’s Strongest Man and WWE first sparked his love for strength sports, eventually leading him to winning Powerlifting America Bench Nationals and chasing bigger goals in equipped lifting. We dive into training culture, why consistency beats intensity, and the importance of staying curious in a sport where too many people think there’s only one correct way to...

In Episode 138 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with one of the most respected coaches and thinkers in powerlifting, Mike Tuchscherer. As the founder of Reactive Training Systems and a coach with nearly 30 years in the sport, Mike has helped shape modern approaches to training through data driven decision making, individualized programming, and structured experimentation.

We dive deep into fatigue management, emerging training strategies, and velocity based training (VBT), discussing how lifters can make better in the moment decisions instead of blindly following a spreadsheet. Mike also breaks down common misconceptions around performance, wh...

In Episode 137 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Alexander Freeman, someone he actually went to high school with, making this episode a little more personal than most. Since those days, Alex has transformed himself into a serious force in powerlifting, building a 2000 raw total and 500 DOTS while preparing to make the jump into multi ply competition.

Alex opens up about how athletics shaped his early years, how powerlifting gave him new direction, and how the loss of one of his best friends became the catalyst for completely changing his life. From grief, growth, and di...

In Episode 136 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with RJ Butcher — a lifter who’s been competing since 2009 and has built his career through experience, resilience, and time under the bar.

RJ shares his journey from training in old-school gyms to stepping on the platform across multiple weight classes, totaling 2104 at 242 in wraps, and now setting his sights on multiply. We dive into the reality of staying in the sport long-term, the toll injuries take, and why progress isn’t always clean or pretty.

From ruptures and tears to continuing to show up anyway...

In Episode 135 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Sam Brown — a human performance expert for the United States Air Force, McGill Method Certified Practitioner, and multi-ply lifter with a 2100+ total.

Sam shares his journey from training at elitefts and learning under Westside-influenced lifters to working with pilots and aircrew in high-stress environments. We dive into what actually matters in training, why there is no “secret sauce,” and how overcomplicating the process is holding lifters back.

We also talk about the realities of equipped lifting, the misconception that gear does the work for...

This week on The Powerlifter’s Den, we sit down with Alejandro Wickham—a 40-year-old masters lifter proving that elite performance doesn’t have an expiration date.

Alejandro has totaled over 2070 lbs in tested competition while balancing the discipline and mindset forged through his military background. We dive into what it takes to stay competitive at a high level into your 40s, how his time in the military shaped his approach to training and life, and the realities of competing drug-tested while still pushing elite numbers.

We also get into longevity in the sport, adapting traini...

In Episode 133 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Erin Murray — 4x World’s Strongest Woman and one of the only athletes in strength sports to hold world titles across multiple weight classes.

Erin shares her journey from getting into lifting as part of recovery, to competing on the Arnold stage and becoming one of the most dominant athletes in strongman. We dive into what it takes to reach that level, how she balances high-level competition with life outside the sport, and the mindset behind her mantra: “Disrespect the Impossible.”

We also talk...

In Episode 132 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Karl Wedel — an international lifter with his sights set on a 1080kg total at ABS Pro 8, where he’ll face off against current title holder Nicolas Du Preez.

Karl shares his journey from getting into powerlifting just to compete with a friend, to building elite strength while working full-time shift hours in a windmill factory. We dive into the mindset and grit required to progress in the sport, why he doesn’t believe in overcomplicating training, and the myths around accessories, diet, and what it really takes to...

This week on The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Tony Carlino—elite equipped bencher, full power competitor, and one of the few lifters in history to bench over 1000 pounds in multiply, with a massive 1036 bench in 2024.

Tony talks about how he got hooked on powerlifting after watching Road to the Arnold, what it means to be in the tiny group of lifters to bench 1000+ in poly, and becoming just the second person ever to squat and bench 1000+ in the same meet. The two also dive into bench shirts, why people misunderstand equipped lifting, the mindset behi...

In Episode 130 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Connie to talk about her journey through the sport of powerlifting and what it takes to keep showing up when the work gets hard.

We dive into how she found her way into lifting, the lessons learned through training and competition, and the mindset required to continue pushing forward in a sport that demands consistency, patience, and resilience. Connie shares the highs, the struggles, and what keeps her motivated to keep chasing strength.

From training philosophy to the realities of competing, this episode is a...

In Episode 129 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with legendary bench presser Bill Gillespie — a world record holder, elite masters competitor, and former NFL and college strength coach.

Bill shares stories from decades in the iron game, from coaching athletes at the highest levels of sport to building one of the most respected bench press legacies in powerlifting. We dive into what it takes to stay competitive for decades, how strength training differs between athletes and powerlifters, and why discipline and consistency are the real keys to longevity in the sport.

We a...

In this episode of The Powerlifter’s Den, we sit down with Bob Merkh to talk about his new book Moderation for Cowards, now available on Amazon, and the mindset behind a lifetime under the bar. Bob breaks down the philosophy that drove the book, why embracing intensity matters in strength sports, and the lessons learned from decades of competing.

We also dive into his final meet, Holy Wars III, reflecting on the preparation, the emotions behind closing out a competitive career, and what it means to go out on your own terms. From old-school li...

In Episode 127 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Lyndsay Bramble — Holy Wars competitor, WPO athlete, and a lifter who has put a 655 lb squat on the platform while climbing into the top ranks of the sport.

With a 6th all-time squat and 8th all-time total, Lyndsay opens up about what it takes to compete at the highest level — and what happens when life forces you to reset. She talks about her fallout with the sport in 2022, rebuilding from depression and bad life decisions, and how powerlifting ultimately brought her back to herself.

W...

In Episode 126 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Jake Seibert — a lifter who’s totaled over 2400, squatted over 1000 pounds, and tested himself on the WPO stage. This episode is a deep dive into what it really takes to perform at the highest level of powerlifting without losing perspective along the way.

Jake breaks down his journey through elite competition, the lessons learned chasing big numbers, and how experience, consistency, and mindset separate lifters who last from those who burn out. We talk multiply lifting, the realities of preparing for world-level meets, and wh...

In Episode 125 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Carina Davis — former elite full power lifter, bench-only specialist, meet director, and one of the strongest women to ever compete in the sport. Once ranked among the best total, squat, and bench lifters in powerlifting, Carina opens up about what it truly took to reach that level — and the cost that came with it.

Carina shares how nearly dying from meningitis in 2016 pushed her to finally chase her dreams, the sacrifices and pain required to become one of the best, and the injuries that ultima...

On Episode 124 of The Powerlifter’s Den, we’re joined by Delco Jesus — a lifter whose journey is built on struggle, discipline, and earned perspective. From losing over 100 pounds to grinding out a 705lb squat on one of the hardest days of his life, Delco opens up about what powerlifting has taken from him — and what it’s given back.

We dive into mental health in the sport, the importance of real standards and federations, RPE versus reality, and why time spent spotting, loading, and battling head-to-head matters more than social media hype. Delco shares what it’s like to ch...

On Episode 124 of The Powerlifter’s Den, we’re joined by Shane Haller — former ATWR holder, decade-long competitor, and now full-time coach with an eye on the bigger picture of the sport. Shane dives into his journey from lifting for football and wrestling to totaling 2430 in wraps, squatting 925 raw at 308, and building real credibility both on and off the platform.

We get into what competing for 10 years teaches you that social media never will, how a serious back injury shaped his entire career, and why coaching, athlete development, and understanding the landscape of powerlifting matters more now than e...

In this episode of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Michael “MJ” Greeno, one of the most respected coaches in powerlifting with nearly 30 years in the sport. While MJ downplays his own lifting career, his coaching résumé speaks for itself — his athletes make up 20% of the top raw totals in the world, including 3 of the top 10 biggest raw squats of all time.

We dive into the realities of elite coaching, why most people misunderstand what coaching actually is, the future landscape of powerlifting, and why failure — not success — is what builds great lifters. This episode pulls...

In this episode of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Jordan Wong — gym owner, meet director, and one of the greatest squatters of all time. A 2x All-Time World Record holder at 220, Jordan is chasing one final run at the ATWR and a 2,000 lb total before hanging it up.

Jordan opens up about surviving catastrophic spine injuries, nerve damage, pec surgery, and being told he’d never train again — only to come back and squat 800 lbs just 11 months later. We talk about training for longevity, maximizing your prime years, building life outside the gym, and what pow...

In this episode of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Kyle Shreve, a Detroit-based electrician and multi-ply / unlimited powerlifter whose path into the sport was shaped by Westside Barbell influence, hard work, and using the gym as a way out of depression. Kyle talks about starting his training in 2017, stepping on the platform for the first time in 2021, and building himself into a serious competitor through discipline and consistency.

We get into training at RPS, the mindset required for unlimited lifting, what separates real training environments from commercial gyms, and what it means to truly es...

In this episode of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with JT Krivinskas — the University of New Haven football player who also happens to hold the heaviest teenage squat and total of all time. At just 19, JT already has a top-15 all-time total and top-12 squat in the 242 class… and he’s nowhere near done.

We get into how he started lifting in his garage at 15, the moment a Facebook-Marketplace bench shirt changed his life, and what it was like building himself into an elite lifter before he was legally allowed to drink. JT opens up...

In this episode of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Tyler Williamson to break down his journey through the sport of powerlifting — from early training days to the mindset it takes to chase long-term success under the bar. Tyler opens up about the discipline, setbacks, and sacrifices required to keep progressing when motivation fades and pressure rises.

Whether you’re a competitor or just someone obsessed with getting stronger, this episode dives into what it really takes to level up — mentally and physically.

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 dive into raw vs equipped culture, training in an environment that actually raises your standard, and the mindset shift from “just training” to training to win.

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 platform and pulled a lifetime deadlift PR while navigating progressive vision loss.

In this episode, Jared and Cam dive into resilience, rebuilding from rock bottom, the flaws in powerlifting rehab, and th...

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 the no-excuses mindset that keeps her climbing to the top of every stage she steps on.

If you love strength, grit, and athletes who train hard and stay humble — this is you...

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 beyond the bar, AJ brings perspective, grit, and the lessons learned from a lifetime in strength.

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 American Pro to competing on it the next year, Amanda’s story is about courage, consistency, and doing it scared anyway.

Amanda Smith (@amandanicoleee_) is one of powerlifting’s rising stars...

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 and hosting meets.Unfiltered, old-school, and brutally honest, JP brings stories, humor, and perspective from a lifetime spent chasing strength.