<![CDATA[Iron Minds]]>Great powerlifting isn't just built in the gym. It's built in the conversations between coaches: the debates about programming, the lessons from failed attempts, the ideas most people never get to hear. Iron Minds brings those conversations to you. Every episode features a coach worth knowing, talking about the work they actually do and why they do it that way.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Fri, 18 Sep 2026 21:42:35 GMTSat, 09 May 2026 11:26:04 GMT60Sam Bolotta<p>Great powerlifting isn't just built in the gym. It's built in the conversations between coaches: the debates about programming, the lessons from failed attempts, the ideas most people never get to hear. Iron Minds brings those conversations to you. Every episode features a coach worth knowing, talking about the work they actually do and why they do it that way.</p>episodicSam Bolottasam@thestrengthguys.comno<![CDATA[Could You Coach Agata? Not Without Climbing the Ladder First w/ Matt Sharafinski]]>In the eighteenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Matt Sharafinski to talk about why he'd trust bar speed over a lifter's word, what successful training blocks have in common, when a coach should follow a gut feeling, and why lifestyle, not technique, is where he sees injuries come from.

0:00 - Intro

1:13 - How Matt got into powerlifting in the raw era

4:06 - Why powerlifting: objectivity and owning every variable

6:42 - Objective, pragmatic, logical: Matt as a coach

11:38 - The coach-athlete relationship, and where it should end

16:47 - Ranking six variables: the Sheffield lifter vs the average lifter

26:02 - What great genetics actually look like

31:48 - What successful blocks have in common

39:30 - Could he coach a 7x-a-week lifter? Stepping stones, not leaps

45:40 - Protect the downside, then chase the upside

49:28 - Can you force the rate of progress?

53:41 - Tell lifters less and watch what they pick

58:11 - How each week of a block should feel

1:05:39 - Technique: top-down until it doesn't work

1:10:22 - Deadlift grip: skill for hook, setup for mixed

1:18:07 - Programming: top-down with caveats

1:24:32 - Autonomy, RPE and load caps

1:30:49 - Why velocity is the most useful metric

1:42:16 - Intuition vs data: the duck-footed lifter who switched to sumo

1:55:58 - Getting lost in the weeds as a coach

1:59:37 - The biggest cause of injuries: lifestyle

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Matt: https://www.instagram.com/the_sheriff_lifts/

]]>bc5cf7d7-063a-48fc-ab42-bd133ea833c5Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:41:24 GMT<p>In the eighteenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Matt Sharafinski to talk about why he'd trust bar speed over a lifter's word, what successful training blocks have in common, when a coach should follow a gut feeling, and why lifestyle, not technique, is where he sees injuries come from.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>1:13 - How Matt got into powerlifting in the raw era</p><p>4:06 - Why powerlifting: objectivity and owning every variable</p><p>6:42 - Objective, pragmatic, logical: Matt as a coach</p><p>11:38 - The coach-athlete relationship, and where it should end</p><p>16:47 - Ranking six variables: the Sheffield lifter vs the average lifter</p><p>26:02 - What great genetics actually look like</p><p>31:48 - What successful blocks have in common</p><p>39:30 - Could he coach a 7x-a-week lifter? Stepping stones, not leaps</p><p>45:40 - Protect the downside, then chase the upside</p><p>49:28 - Can you force the rate of progress?</p><p>53:41 - Tell lifters less and watch what they pick</p><p>58:11 - How each week of a block should feel</p><p>1:05:39 - Technique: top-down until it doesn't work</p><p>1:10:22 - Deadlift grip: skill for hook, setup for mixed</p><p>1:18:07 - Programming: top-down with caveats</p><p>1:24:32 - Autonomy, RPE and load caps</p><p>1:30:49 - Why velocity is the most useful metric</p><p>1:42:16 - Intuition vs data: the duck-footed lifter who switched to sumo</p><p>1:55:58 - Getting lost in the weeds as a coach</p><p>1:59:37 - The biggest cause of injuries: lifestyle</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Matt: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/the_sheriff_lifts/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/the_sheriff_lifts/</a></p>no02:04:36118Could You Coach Agata? Not Without Climbing the Ladder First w/ Matt Sharafinskifull<![CDATA[Rush a Talented Junior Into High Frequency and You Run Out of Keys w/ Nicolas Peyraud]]>In the seventeenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Nicolas Peyraud, a fellow coach at TSG and an elite lifter who has spent eleven years in powerlifting after playing high-level rugby in France. They talk about ranking the variables of long-term success, why average intensity is the one number he would keep, how velocity tracking can be both the most honest tool and the hardest to live with, and why he would slow a talented junior down before handing them high frequency.

0:00 - Intro

0:49 - From high-level rugby in France to powerlifting

4:46 - Cardio, and what rugby taught him about hard training

7:43 - Junior aggression vs. patience in a slow sport

12:29 - Ranking the six variables, and his sister's deadlift

19:02 - Why intermediate lifters plateau

20:36 - Self-talk and his counting routine under the bar

22:32 - If a block works, run it again

24:21 - The one variable: average intensity

28:40 - Total weekly dose vs. primary and secondary days

31:36 - Percentages, RPE, and why velocity doesn't lie

35:55 - Why he stopped tracking velocity for six months

38:38 - A slow bar means fatigue, not weakness

41:01 - Top-down or bottom-up programming

43:45 - Technique: let the body find it, one cue a week

47:36 - Intuition vs. data, and how high frequency caught on

50:53 - Would he put a young Agata Sitko on high frequency?

53:49 - The mistake coaches make with talented juniors

56:47 - Injury risk: not listening to your body

59:41 - Powerlifting in ten years, and why local meets matter

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Nicolas: https://www.instagram.com/nicolas.peyraud/

TSG: https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/

]]>7c2d0fcc-5145-4a12-94b1-50040d4a69a0Fri, 11 Sep 2026 12:58:42 GMT<p>In the seventeenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Nicolas Peyraud, a fellow coach at TSG and an elite lifter who has spent eleven years in powerlifting after playing high-level rugby in France. They talk about ranking the variables of long-term success, why average intensity is the one number he would keep, how velocity tracking can be both the most honest tool and the hardest to live with, and why he would slow a talented junior down before handing them high frequency.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:49 - From high-level rugby in France to powerlifting</p><p>4:46 - Cardio, and what rugby taught him about hard training</p><p>7:43 - Junior aggression vs. patience in a slow sport</p><p>12:29 - Ranking the six variables, and his sister's deadlift</p><p>19:02 - Why intermediate lifters plateau</p><p>20:36 - Self-talk and his counting routine under the bar</p><p>22:32 - If a block works, run it again</p><p>24:21 - The one variable: average intensity</p><p>28:40 - Total weekly dose vs. primary and secondary days</p><p>31:36 - Percentages, RPE, and why velocity doesn't lie</p><p>35:55 - Why he stopped tracking velocity for six months</p><p>38:38 - A slow bar means fatigue, not weakness</p><p>41:01 - Top-down or bottom-up programming</p><p>43:45 - Technique: let the body find it, one cue a week</p><p>47:36 - Intuition vs. data, and how high frequency caught on</p><p>50:53 - Would he put a young Agata Sitko on high frequency?</p><p>53:49 - The mistake coaches make with talented juniors</p><p>56:47 - Injury risk: not listening to your body</p><p>59:41 - Powerlifting in ten years, and why local meets matter</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Nicolas: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/nicolas.peyraud/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/nicolas.peyraud/</a></p><p>TSG: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/</a></p>no01:05:05117Rush a Talented Junior Into High Frequency and You Run Out of Keys w/ Nicolas Peyraudfull<![CDATA[I Train World Champions at Under 50% of Their Max w/ Josef Eriksson]]>In this new episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Josef Eriksson to talk about why his world-level athletes train at under half of their one-rep max, almost never take a single before a meet, and why he thinks most lifters peak themselves into a worse total.

0:00 - Intro

0:50 - A hip problem at nine, and finding the bench press

12:16 - Ranking the variables: why genetics doesn't belong on the list

15:54 - Sheffield lifestyles, five hours of sleep, and Kjell Baklund

21:11 - Technique isn't the perfect position — it's owning the position

26:01 - Lift 100kg the way you lift 50kg

33:53 - Why he doesn't use RPE, and the champion who called it lazy coaching

39:19 - Velocity-based training, and the correlation he couldn't find

55:14 - The one thing he'd monitor: intention and integrity

1:04:04 - How fatigued a lifter should be going into a meet

1:07:19 - A 251.5kg world record, five days after 12 reps with 200kg

1:12:51 - Jonathan Henningson's 49.7% average training weight

1:18:19 - The pause is a rule, not a bench

1:22:31 - Where the high-rep method came from

1:26:47 - Devil's advocate: when rep PRs don't convert

1:36:21 - "We peak ourselves to death"

1:54:50 - Why injuries are stress over time

2:09:50 - How leverages, not gender, decide your reps at a percentage

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Josef: https://www.instagram.com/josef_eriksson/

]]>a1f3befb-1061-4d91-933b-df1c4e058d07Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:19:47 GMT<p>In this new episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Josef Eriksson to talk about why his world-level athletes train at under half of their one-rep max, almost never take a single before a meet, and why he thinks most lifters peak themselves into a worse total.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:50 - A hip problem at nine, and finding the bench press</p><p>12:16 - Ranking the variables: why genetics doesn't belong on the list</p><p>15:54 - Sheffield lifestyles, five hours of sleep, and Kjell Baklund</p><p>21:11 - Technique isn't the perfect position — it's owning the position</p><p>26:01 - Lift 100kg the way you lift 50kg</p><p>33:53 - Why he doesn't use RPE, and the champion who called it lazy coaching</p><p>39:19 - Velocity-based training, and the correlation he couldn't find</p><p>55:14 - The one thing he'd monitor: intention and integrity</p><p>1:04:04 - How fatigued a lifter should be going into a meet</p><p>1:07:19 - A 251.5kg world record, five days after 12 reps with 200kg</p><p>1:12:51 - Jonathan Henningson's 49.7% average training weight</p><p>1:18:19 - The pause is a rule, not a bench</p><p>1:22:31 - Where the high-rep method came from</p><p>1:26:47 - Devil's advocate: when rep PRs don't convert</p><p>1:36:21 - "We peak ourselves to death"</p><p>1:54:50 - Why injuries are stress over time</p><p>2:09:50 - How leverages, not gender, decide your reps at a percentage</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Josef: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/josef_eriksson/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/josef_eriksson/</a></p><p></p>no02:17:19116I Train World Champions at Under 50% of Their Max w/ Josef Erikssonfull<![CDATA[If Everyone Says Mindset Matters, Why Does Nobody Train It? w/ Dr. Kate Cohen]]>In the fifteenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Dr. Kate Cohen, sport psychologist with a PhD in sport psychology from Florida State, two-time USA Powerlifting national champion and USAPL national record holder in the deadlift and the total at 48kg, who now teaches sport psychology at the college level in New Jersey. They talk about why every coach ranks the mental side near the top and almost nobody actually trains it.

0:00 - Intro

2:50 - Fourteen years competing, national records, and a PhD in sport psychology

5:41 - Before and after the PhD: the nervous wreck in the warm-up room

8:06 - The Michael Jordan problem: is a toxic mentality something you fix?

13:44 - Why no one working with him wanted to touch that part of him

15:20 - The talented, anxious teenager — preserve the fire or calm it down?

17:02 - What happens when a PR shrinks to 1.25 kilos

19:55 - Powerlifting vs team sport: one shot, and you have to generate the anger

22:15 - The coach-athlete relationship, and an American-vs-Italian culture gap

25:47 - Winning the athlete vs helping the human: are they the same job?

29:53 - Psychological plateaus, and what flow state actually is

31:29 - Manipulating the environment to make flow more likely

33:19 - Four traits psychologically strong athletes share

35:16 - Failure, plateaus, bad meets: "you missed the point"

39:14 - How much of the mental side is genetic?

43:18 - Advice to parents raising a future athlete

46:26 - Male vs female athletes: what the research actually shows

49:02 - Top-down or bottom-up: how she runs a first session

56:54 - The data: no coach ranked psychology lower than second

58:07 - Not a value problem — a knowledge-implementation gap

59:30 - Treated as an outcome instead of a trainable component

1:02:52 - Why the physical side has the infrastructure and the mental side doesn't

1:07:32 - The stigma: if you seek help, you must be mentally weak

1:11:24 - Stoicism, journaling, and why you can't theory your way to a squat

1:15:58 - When powerlifting coaches try to be the psychologist

1:18:14 - Sport psychology in powerlifting ten years from now

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Kate: https://www.instagram.com/kateco220/

TSG: https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/

]]>1d63f0eb-ad5d-44f9-92c2-a152b0fe702eThu, 27 Aug 2026 12:01:10 GMT<p>In the fifteenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Dr. Kate Cohen, sport psychologist with a PhD in sport psychology from Florida State, two-time USA Powerlifting national champion and USAPL national record holder in the deadlift and the total at 48kg, who now teaches sport psychology at the college level in New Jersey. They talk about why every coach ranks the mental side near the top and almost nobody actually trains it.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>2:50 - Fourteen years competing, national records, and a PhD in sport psychology</p><p>5:41 - Before and after the PhD: the nervous wreck in the warm-up room</p><p>8:06 - The Michael Jordan problem: is a toxic mentality something you fix?</p><p>13:44 - Why no one working with him wanted to touch that part of him</p><p>15:20 - The talented, anxious teenager — preserve the fire or calm it down?</p><p>17:02 - What happens when a PR shrinks to 1.25 kilos</p><p>19:55 - Powerlifting vs team sport: one shot, and you have to generate the anger</p><p>22:15 - The coach-athlete relationship, and an American-vs-Italian culture gap</p><p>25:47 - Winning the athlete vs helping the human: are they the same job?</p><p>29:53 - Psychological plateaus, and what flow state actually is</p><p>31:29 - Manipulating the environment to make flow more likely</p><p>33:19 - Four traits psychologically strong athletes share</p><p>35:16 - Failure, plateaus, bad meets: "you missed the point"</p><p>39:14 - How much of the mental side is genetic?</p><p>43:18 - Advice to parents raising a future athlete</p><p>46:26 - Male vs female athletes: what the research actually shows</p><p>49:02 - Top-down or bottom-up: how she runs a first session</p><p>56:54 - The data: no coach ranked psychology lower than second</p><p>58:07 - Not a value problem — a knowledge-implementation gap</p><p>59:30 - Treated as an outcome instead of a trainable component</p><p>1:02:52 - Why the physical side has the infrastructure and the mental side doesn't</p><p>1:07:32 - The stigma: if you seek help, you must be mentally weak</p><p>1:11:24 - Stoicism, journaling, and why you can't theory your way to a squat</p><p>1:15:58 - When powerlifting coaches try to be the psychologist</p><p>1:18:14 - Sport psychology in powerlifting ten years from now</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Kate: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/kateco220/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/kateco220/</a></p><p>TSG: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/</a></p><p></p>no01:21:27115If Everyone Says Mindset Matters, Why Does Nobody Train It? w/ Dr. Kate Cohenfull<![CDATA[The Best Programming in the World Looks Vanilla w/ Chris Ferratti aka Big Body]]>In the fourteenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Chris "Big Body" Ferratti to talk about why he ranks mentality above everything and genetics last, why he has never once used a velocity tracker, and why he thinks the new IPF bench rule has quietly killed leg drive.

0:00 - Intro

0:36 - August on the Flex roster: Sheffield, Houston and run-through meets

2:45 - The Chance Mitchell comeback rumours

4:58 - Taekwondo, football and what other sports taught him

9:38 - Two years without a deadlift PR, and the film database

12:57 - Ranking the six variables that build an athlete

14:00 - Why mentality outranks genetics

20:11 - What separates Sheffield athletes: Gustav Hedlin's routine

24:48 - Technique only has to be good enough to pass

28:46 - "I enjoy boring": Agata Sitko and Alba Boström

32:31 - Programming and technique are both just coaching

37:56 - Why genetics ranks last

41:35 - The most common reason lifters plateau

48:42 - The one variable he'd track: bar speed and RPE

54:24 - "The closer you ride to the sun"

1:03:12 - One squat day a week, two sets, fried

1:11:06 - Intuition vs data tracking, and vanilla programming

1:20:22 - Russ's third bench attempt at Sheffield

1:28:03 - Ugly PRs, and when movement quality is allowed to drop

1:31:06 - Waiving depth on secondary squat days

1:39:56 - Injury risk: lifestyle, and lifting crooked

1:44:04 - Hot take: there's no leg drive under the new bench rule

1:48:13 - Hot take: America has the most potential to sweep Worlds

1:59:18 - The question he wishes someone would ask him

2:03:19 - "It's uncomfortable to be unique": the cost of greatness

2:09:26 - Chris turns the mic around on Samuele

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Chris: https://www.instagram.com/theofficialbigbody/

Flexx Training Systems: https://www.instagram.com/flexxtrainingsystems/

Flex Training Systems: {Flex Training Systems Instagram URL}

]]>199d4472-ad81-48e3-b77a-140c39841a51Wed, 19 Aug 2026 14:25:21 GMT<p>In the fourteenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Chris "Big Body" Ferratti to talk about why he ranks mentality above everything and genetics last, why he has never once used a velocity tracker, and why he thinks the new IPF bench rule has quietly killed leg drive.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:36 - August on the Flex roster: Sheffield, Houston and run-through meets</p><p>2:45 - The Chance Mitchell comeback rumours</p><p>4:58 - Taekwondo, football and what other sports taught him</p><p>9:38 - Two years without a deadlift PR, and the film database</p><p>12:57 - Ranking the six variables that build an athlete</p><p>14:00 - Why mentality outranks genetics</p><p>20:11 - What separates Sheffield athletes: Gustav Hedlin's routine</p><p>24:48 - Technique only has to be good enough to pass</p><p>28:46 - "I enjoy boring": Agata Sitko and Alba Boström</p><p>32:31 - Programming and technique are both just coaching</p><p>37:56 - Why genetics ranks last</p><p>41:35 - The most common reason lifters plateau</p><p>48:42 - The one variable he'd track: bar speed and RPE</p><p>54:24 - "The closer you ride to the sun"</p><p>1:03:12 - One squat day a week, two sets, fried</p><p>1:11:06 - Intuition vs data tracking, and vanilla programming</p><p>1:20:22 - Russ's third bench attempt at Sheffield</p><p>1:28:03 - Ugly PRs, and when movement quality is allowed to drop</p><p>1:31:06 - Waiving depth on secondary squat days</p><p>1:39:56 - Injury risk: lifestyle, and lifting crooked</p><p>1:44:04 - Hot take: there's no leg drive under the new bench rule</p><p>1:48:13 - Hot take: America has the most potential to sweep Worlds</p><p>1:59:18 - The question he wishes someone would ask him</p><p>2:03:19 - "It's uncomfortable to be unique": the cost of greatness</p><p>2:09:26 - Chris turns the mic around on Samuele</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Chris: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/theofficialbigbody/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/theofficialbigbody/</a></p><p>Flexx Training Systems: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/flexxtrainingsystems/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/flexxtrainingsystems/</a></p><p>Flex Training Systems: {Flex Training Systems Instagram URL}</p>no02:13:12114The Best Programming in the World Looks Vanilla w/ Chris Ferratti aka Big Bodyfull<![CDATA[The Coach Who Does Not Track Any Metrics w/ Giuseppe Gargiulo]]>In the thirteenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Giuseppe Gargiulo — one of the most decorated coaches in Italy — to talk about Soviet vs American programming, why he ranks technique above programming, and why he thinks coaching is an art rather than a science.

0:00 - Intro

0:47 - Junior Worlds, Tommaso Buscaroli and three Italian records

7:47 - Italy is pushing its juniors too fast

9:36 - Build strength all year, express it only in competition

12:43 - Why he never writes RPE on variations

16:09 - Two tapers: the cyclic and the Soviet acyclic

22:12 - Ado Gruzza, Sheiko, and learning the Russian method

28:04 - What he changed his mind about in ten years

32:54 - Italy's junior injury problem, and the one who survived it

37:59 - Volume, frequency and pacing are all connected

48:00 - Ranking the six variables

51:50 - Why technique sits above programming

56:35 - "Coaching is an art, it's not a science"

1:01:29 - Being friends with your athletes, and losing authority

1:05:35 - Can an elite athlete have bad technique?

1:11:39 - Against the body self-organizing

1:16:53 - One bad session — and when he lies to an athlete

1:25:02 - Why he doesn't trust velocity trackers

1:40:29 - Powerlifting in ten years: the professionalization problem

1:48:32 - The question nobody asks him

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Giuseppe: https://www.instagram.com/giuseppe_gargiulo_ebbast/

]]>4d86e9dd-6e09-44df-8b03-9a779630e2d0Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:36:40 GMT<p>In the thirteenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Giuseppe Gargiulo — one of the most decorated coaches in Italy — to talk about Soviet vs American programming, why he ranks technique above programming, and why he thinks coaching is an art rather than a science.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:47 - Junior Worlds, Tommaso Buscaroli and three Italian records</p><p>7:47 - Italy is pushing its juniors too fast</p><p>9:36 - Build strength all year, express it only in competition</p><p>12:43 - Why he never writes RPE on variations</p><p>16:09 - Two tapers: the cyclic and the Soviet acyclic</p><p>22:12 - Ado Gruzza, Sheiko, and learning the Russian method</p><p>28:04 - What he changed his mind about in ten years</p><p>32:54 - Italy's junior injury problem, and the one who survived it</p><p>37:59 - Volume, frequency and pacing are all connected</p><p>48:00 - Ranking the six variables</p><p>51:50 - Why technique sits above programming</p><p>56:35 - "Coaching is an art, it's not a science"</p><p>1:01:29 - Being friends with your athletes, and losing authority</p><p>1:05:35 - Can an elite athlete have bad technique?</p><p>1:11:39 - Against the body self-organizing</p><p>1:16:53 - One bad session — and when he lies to an athlete</p><p>1:25:02 - Why he doesn't trust velocity trackers</p><p>1:40:29 - Powerlifting in ten years: the professionalization problem</p><p>1:48:32 - The question nobody asks him</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Giuseppe: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giuseppe_gargiulo_ebbast/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giuseppe_gargiulo_ebbast/</a></p><p></p>no01:50:17113The Coach Who Does Not Track Any Metrics w/ Giuseppe Gargiulofull<![CDATA[Most of the Individualization Happens Outside the Gym w/ Meghan Scanlon]]>In the this new episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Meg Scanlon to talk about where individualization actually belongs, what actually causes plateaus, and how to chase your genetic potential without letting the sport eat your life.

0:00 - Intro

2:50 - Gymnastics, soccer, marathons: the road into powerlifting

6:56 - The squat-every-day phase, and why fun still matters

10:17 - People respond similarly — individualization lives outside training

11:12 - Getting closer to genetic potential means giving things up

23:53 - Tonnage on squat and bench, deadlift as a byproduct

28:58 - What actually causes plateaus

35:52 - Her biggest risk: going all in on powerlifting

37:10 - Training that fits your life, not the reverse

43:49 - Ranking the six factors

46:43 - Programming vs. coaching — the underrated half

50:58 - "It's your life": lifestyle, expectations, and keeping people lifting

55:40 - What technique actually is, and the technique continuum

59:52 - Over-cueing, perfectionism, and chasing perfect reps

1:13:04 - Two variables: average intensity and tonnage

1:19:25 - Autoregulation without fearing hard sets

1:22:22 - Intuition: what makes good coaches great

1:26:00 - Injury risk and the moment load starts climbing

1:38:12 - "I don't care what's on the barbell"

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Meg: https://www.instagram.com/megscanlift/

]]>0fd829b0-2e7a-4919-bc6f-49f516652b68Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:21:17 GMT<p>In the this new episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Meg Scanlon to talk about where individualization actually belongs, what actually causes plateaus, and how to chase your genetic potential without letting the sport eat your life.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>2:50 - Gymnastics, soccer, marathons: the road into powerlifting</p><p>6:56 - The squat-every-day phase, and why fun still matters</p><p>10:17 - People respond similarly — individualization lives outside training</p><p>11:12 - Getting closer to genetic potential means giving things up</p><p>23:53 - Tonnage on squat and bench, deadlift as a byproduct</p><p>28:58 - What actually causes plateaus</p><p>35:52 - Her biggest risk: going all in on powerlifting</p><p>37:10 - Training that fits your life, not the reverse</p><p>43:49 - Ranking the six factors</p><p>46:43 - Programming vs. coaching — the underrated half</p><p>50:58 - "It's your life": lifestyle, expectations, and keeping people lifting</p><p>55:40 - What technique actually is, and the technique continuum</p><p>59:52 - Over-cueing, perfectionism, and chasing perfect reps</p><p>1:13:04 - Two variables: average intensity and tonnage</p><p>1:19:25 - Autoregulation without fearing hard sets</p><p>1:22:22 - Intuition: what makes good coaches great</p><p>1:26:00 - Injury risk and the moment load starts climbing</p><p>1:38:12 - "I don't care what's on the barbell"</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Meg: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/megscanlift/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/megscanlift/</a></p>no01:40:46112Most of the Individualization Happens Outside the Gym w/ Meghan Scanlonfull<![CDATA[What Coaches Get Wrong When a Program Stops Working w/ Marcellus Williams]]>In the eleventh episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Marcellus Williams - the "swolefessor" - to talk

about why pacing, not structure, decides your best blocks, how genetics really works, and why powerlifting undersells sports psychology.

0:00 - Intro

0:42 - Coming off IPF Worlds with eight clients, and what's next

2:59 - How long he's really been coaching

3:46 - Calisthenics with his dad, boxing, and lifting at 17

7:20 - Discovering raw powerlifting in college

9:10 - Doing everything to the best of your ability

10:11 - The quality he values most: truly caring about people

12:16 - Why a client's trust is a big deal

15:54 - The biggest influence: his dad, the pastor and firefighter

18:11 - Knowing when to be tender, when to be blunt, and saying "I don't know"

22:20 - Ranking the six variables

24:17 - Genetics sets your ceiling; effort fills it

28:53 - Why we shouldn't obsess over a ceiling we can't see

33:51 - Why powerlifting underrates sports psychology

35:28 - Why so few coaches talk about the mental side

37:06 - Retention, and the Brandon Petrus story

38:55 - Is good technique a point or a spectrum?

40:32 - Principles over positions: consistent, repeatable technique

44:09 - Guiding the athlete "within a box" as they change

47:29 - Technique, hypertrophy, and missing the forest for the trees

49:39 - Cue first: the least invasive change wins

51:43 - Symmetry for performance, not for its own sake

55:19 - Top-down vs bottom-up, and the five-hours-of-sleep trap

57:14 - Deadlifting first: a principle, not a problem

59:19 - The low-volume-responder myth

1:02:23 - The common thread in every great block: pacing

1:05:33 - The one variable he'd track

1:07:53 - Static vs dynamic RPE

1:12:01 - The fatigue-to-fitness ratio he wishes existed

1:18:45 - Velocity tracking, and why it's the least useful tool

1:20:48 - Variable percentage-based training

1:24:14 - Intuition vs data, and how the curve bends back

1:26:16 - The Ashton week-four story that became a metric

1:30:26 - The Agatha six-days-a-week thought experiment

1:38:18 - The most common cause of plateaus

1:40:36 - Powerlifting in 2035

1:45:55 - The question nobody asks: legacy

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Marcellus: https://www.instagram.com/theswolefessor/


]]>c2fd0cce-cf90-46eb-be7a-54ba32d83ef2Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:00:40 GMT<p>In the eleventh episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Marcellus Williams - the "swolefessor" - to talk</p><p>about why pacing, not structure, decides your best blocks, how genetics really works, and why powerlifting undersells sports psychology.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:42 - Coming off IPF Worlds with eight clients, and what's next</p><p>2:59 - How long he's really been coaching</p><p>3:46 - Calisthenics with his dad, boxing, and lifting at 17</p><p>7:20 - Discovering raw powerlifting in college</p><p>9:10 - Doing everything to the best of your ability</p><p>10:11 - The quality he values most: truly caring about people</p><p>12:16 - Why a client's trust is a big deal</p><p>15:54 - The biggest influence: his dad, the pastor and firefighter</p><p>18:11 - Knowing when to be tender, when to be blunt, and saying "I don't know"</p><p>22:20 - Ranking the six variables</p><p>24:17 - Genetics sets your ceiling; effort fills it</p><p>28:53 - Why we shouldn't obsess over a ceiling we can't see</p><p>33:51 - Why powerlifting underrates sports psychology</p><p>35:28 - Why so few coaches talk about the mental side</p><p>37:06 - Retention, and the Brandon Petrus story</p><p>38:55 - Is good technique a point or a spectrum?</p><p>40:32 - Principles over positions: consistent, repeatable technique</p><p>44:09 - Guiding the athlete "within a box" as they change</p><p>47:29 - Technique, hypertrophy, and missing the forest for the trees</p><p>49:39 - Cue first: the least invasive change wins</p><p>51:43 - Symmetry for performance, not for its own sake</p><p>55:19 - Top-down vs bottom-up, and the five-hours-of-sleep trap</p><p>57:14 - Deadlifting first: a principle, not a problem</p><p>59:19 - The low-volume-responder myth</p><p>1:02:23 - The common thread in every great block: pacing</p><p>1:05:33 - The one variable he'd track</p><p>1:07:53 - Static vs dynamic RPE</p><p>1:12:01 - The fatigue-to-fitness ratio he wishes existed</p><p>1:18:45 - Velocity tracking, and why it's the least useful tool</p><p>1:20:48 - Variable percentage-based training</p><p>1:24:14 - Intuition vs data, and how the curve bends back</p><p>1:26:16 - The Ashton week-four story that became a metric</p><p>1:30:26 - The Agatha six-days-a-week thought experiment</p><p>1:38:18 - The most common cause of plateaus</p><p>1:40:36 - Powerlifting in 2035</p><p>1:45:55 - The question nobody asks: legacy</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank"><b>https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</b></a></p><p>Marcellus: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/theswolefessor/" target="_blank"><b>https://www.instagram.com/theswolefessor/</b></a></p><p><br /></p>no01:49:34111What Coaches Get Wrong When a Program Stops Working w/ Marcellus Williamsfull<![CDATA[RPE Is Overrated w/ Anas Anbar]]>In the tenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Anas Anbar to talk about why you can't separate fatigue from the stimulus that builds strength, and what that means for how we program, cue, and read a lifter.

0:00 - Intro

1:55 - Growing up on soccer in Jordan, then finding the gym

4:26 - The coach's line that stuck: "the gains begin after you get tired"

8:05 - The most important quality in a coach

10:06 - What he changed his mind about: expanding the dosage continuum

11:46 - Hot take: RPE is overrated

17:04 - The John Song contrast — RPE as a teaching tool

18:38 - Second hot take: the golden microcycle will die out

20:26 - You can't separate the fatigue from the stimulus

22:59 - Why you shouldn't be scared of fatigue

24:36 - Strength depends on other qualities you have to build

30:47 - Raise the floor, don't just chase the ceiling

36:13 - Top-down vs bottom-up, and why it depends on the lifter

41:43 - Powerlifting as a moving target

44:04 - Is there objectively good and bad technique?

47:35 - Reading technique: levers, hip drop, center mass

53:24 - Coaching technique: environment vs cueing vs learning

1:03:53 - The most common cause of plateau right now

1:06:34 - What success looks like: force production, not top sets

1:10:39 - Velocity, and force as mass times acceleration

1:16:24 - Ranking the six variables

1:23:53 - How injuries actually happen: stress vs capacity

1:29:23 - The mocha-pot analogy for dosing stress

1:32:19 - Data vs intuition

1:38:21 - Powerlifting in ten years

1:47:25 - The question nobody asks: projects and gratitude

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Anas: https://www.instagram.com/anasanbar/

]]>2521abe3-df8f-4276-a7d6-8f4ff4ec0ad9Wed, 22 Jul 2026 12:30:53 GMT<p>In the tenth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Anas Anbar to talk about why you can't separate fatigue from the stimulus that builds strength, and what that means for how we program, cue, and read a lifter.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>1:55 - Growing up on soccer in Jordan, then finding the gym</p><p>4:26 - The coach's line that stuck: "the gains begin after you get tired"</p><p>8:05 - The most important quality in a coach</p><p>10:06 - What he changed his mind about: expanding the dosage continuum</p><p>11:46 - Hot take: RPE is overrated</p><p>17:04 - The John Song contrast — RPE as a teaching tool</p><p>18:38 - Second hot take: the golden microcycle will die out</p><p>20:26 - You can't separate the fatigue from the stimulus</p><p>22:59 - Why you shouldn't be scared of fatigue</p><p>24:36 - Strength depends on other qualities you have to build</p><p>30:47 - Raise the floor, don't just chase the ceiling</p><p>36:13 - Top-down vs bottom-up, and why it depends on the lifter</p><p>41:43 - Powerlifting as a moving target</p><p>44:04 - Is there objectively good and bad technique?</p><p>47:35 - Reading technique: levers, hip drop, center mass</p><p>53:24 - Coaching technique: environment vs cueing vs learning</p><p>1:03:53 - The most common cause of plateau right now</p><p>1:06:34 - What success looks like: force production, not top sets</p><p>1:10:39 - Velocity, and force as mass times acceleration</p><p>1:16:24 - Ranking the six variables</p><p>1:23:53 - How injuries actually happen: stress vs capacity</p><p>1:29:23 - The mocha-pot analogy for dosing stress</p><p>1:32:19 - Data vs intuition</p><p>1:38:21 - Powerlifting in ten years</p><p>1:47:25 - The question nobody asks: projects and gratitude</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Anas: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/anasanbar/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/anasanbar/</a></p>no01:51:20110RPE Is Overrated w/ Anas Anbarfull<![CDATA[There's No Direct Relationship Between Effort and Results w/ Filippo d'Albero]]>In the ninth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Filippo d'Albero - a former MMA fighter and engineer who came to powerlifting through injury rehab and turned it into a data-driven coaching practice and a decade of content - to talk about genetics, technique, data vs intuition, and what actually moves the needle for a lifter.

0:00 - Intro

0:50 - From MMA and a shoulder surgery to powerlifting

5:36 - AI and data analysis in powerlifting

12:42 - Who shaped him: Jason Tremblay & Eric Helms

15:41 - What he learns from his athletes

21:41 - Ranking the 6 variables (genetics first)

30:54 - Hot take: the underdog can't beat talent

40:51 - Why lifters really plateau

49:01 - What good technique actually is

55:28 - The squat: why the hips shoot up

57:04 - Fix the oven, don't split the line (the donut analogy)

1:07:20 - Programming: theory vs what works (Brett Gibbs)

1:15:37 - Data vs intuition

1:21:15 - The one variable to track: estimated 1RM

1:23:12 - VBT, RPE and the encoder

1:33:11 - Injury risk

1:37:54 - Powerlifting in 10 years

1:42:48 - The question no one asks

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Filippo: https://www.instagram.com/filippo_dalbero/

]]>4f6de200-1d66-4649-8fec-dd6a6730b61bWed, 15 Jul 2026 12:15:27 GMT<p>In the ninth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Filippo d'Albero - a former MMA fighter and engineer who came to powerlifting through injury rehab and turned it into a data-driven coaching practice and a decade of content - to talk about genetics, technique, data vs intuition, and what actually moves the needle for a lifter.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:50 - From MMA and a shoulder surgery to powerlifting</p><p>5:36 - AI and data analysis in powerlifting</p><p>12:42 - Who shaped him: Jason Tremblay &amp; Eric Helms</p><p>15:41 - What he learns from his athletes</p><p>21:41 - Ranking the 6 variables (genetics first)</p><p>30:54 - Hot take: the underdog can't beat talent</p><p>40:51 - Why lifters really plateau</p><p>49:01 - What good technique actually is</p><p>55:28 - The squat: why the hips shoot up</p><p>57:04 - Fix the oven, don't split the line (the donut analogy)</p><p>1:07:20 - Programming: theory vs what works (Brett Gibbs)</p><p>1:15:37 - Data vs intuition</p><p>1:21:15 - The one variable to track: estimated 1RM</p><p>1:23:12 - VBT, RPE and the encoder</p><p>1:33:11 - Injury risk</p><p>1:37:54 - Powerlifting in 10 years</p><p>1:42:48 - The question no one asks</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Filippo: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/filippo_dalbero/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/filippo_dalbero/</a></p>no01:52:5419There's No Direct Relationship Between Effort and Results w/ Filippo d'Alberofull<![CDATA[There's a Difference Between Fatigue and Your Movement Crapping the Bed w/ John Song]]>In the eighth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with John Song — one of the most successful coaches in the world as well as a physical therapist — to talk about how he reads technique, writes programs, and manages fatigue for elite lifters.

0:00 - Intro

0:42 - From violin and wrestling to powerlifting and PT

5:09 - Coach McHugh and what makes a coach dependable

10:01 - What his athletes taught him

13:25 - Ranking the six variables of long-term success

18:22 - Why psychology is the long-term end-all

20:58 - Good technique as a boundary, not a point

31:07 - Programming: fundamentals-first vs bottom-up

37:39 - How a lifter should feel heading into a meet

42:50 - RPE/RIR vs percentages vs velocity

46:49 - Coaching intent and constant-velocity squatting

49:26 - Angelo's ultra-slow squat, explained

51:40 - The most common cause of plateaus

54:16 - Data vs intuition when writing programs

56:53 - The role of AI in powerlifting

1:01:31 - Where injury risk really comes from

1:06:04 - Where powerlifting will be in ten years

1:09:13 - The question nobody asks

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

John: https://www.instagram.com/john_song_dpt/

]]>8de7ea03-70ae-4e84-9f0c-dbee2c04daa2Wed, 08 Jul 2026 13:26:08 GMT<p>In the eighth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with John Song — one of the most successful coaches in the world as well as a physical therapist — to talk about how he reads technique, writes programs, and manages fatigue for elite lifters.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:42 - From violin and wrestling to powerlifting and PT</p><p>5:09 - Coach McHugh and what makes a coach dependable</p><p>10:01 - What his athletes taught him</p><p>13:25 - Ranking the six variables of long-term success</p><p>18:22 - Why psychology is the long-term end-all</p><p>20:58 - Good technique as a boundary, not a point</p><p>31:07 - Programming: fundamentals-first vs bottom-up</p><p>37:39 - How a lifter should feel heading into a meet</p><p>42:50 - RPE/RIR vs percentages vs velocity</p><p>46:49 - Coaching intent and constant-velocity squatting</p><p>49:26 - Angelo's ultra-slow squat, explained</p><p>51:40 - The most common cause of plateaus</p><p>54:16 - Data vs intuition when writing programs</p><p>56:53 - The role of AI in powerlifting</p><p>1:01:31 - Where injury risk really comes from</p><p>1:06:04 - Where powerlifting will be in ten years</p><p>1:09:13 - The question nobody asks</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>John: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/john_song_dpt/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/john_song_dpt/</a></p>no01:10:2918There's a Difference Between Fatigue and Your Movement Crapping the Bed w/ John Songfull<![CDATA[Technique Is the Most Overhyped Thing in Powerlifting w/ Youssuf El Adlani]]>In the seventh episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Youssuf El Adlani to talk about why an athlete's mindset matters more than genetics, technique or programming, and how he adapts the method to the lifter instead of the other way around.

0:00 - Intro

0:47 - From tennis and martial arts to powerlifting

2:36 - Rafael Nadal and his first coach Anthony Graziani

6:33 - Ranking the 6 variables: mindset #1, technique last

10:57 - Being relentless & the comparison trap

16:37 - Diagnosing a plateaued lifter

20:33 - Finding the pattern & coaching block-to-block

27:25 - How a block should feel & back-end deloads

30:43 - The one variable to track: average intensity

32:38 - Quality of work over tonnage

36:35 - Reactive coaching, RPE & the 5x5 question

41:14 - Can AI and data analytics help powerlifting?

46:03 - Intuition stories: Noemi Alabert & the junk-volume lifter

52:02 - Adapt the method to the athlete, not the reverse

57:41 - Good vs optimal technique & submaximal loads

1:05:29 - Velocity tracking as a monitoring tool

1:10:08 - Changing his mind & the women/volume hot take

1:14:34 - What really drives injury risk

1:17:49 - The future: 10 years, the Olympics & Sheffield

1:23:36 - Getting through the lows

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Youssuf: https://www.instagram.com/youssuf_el_adlani/

]]>751313b3-cbb9-455b-8a59-a0a67a0090b5Wed, 01 Jul 2026 09:40:09 GMT<p>In the seventh episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Youssuf El Adlani to talk about why an athlete's mindset matters more than genetics, technique or programming, and how he adapts the method to the lifter instead of the other way around.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:47 - From tennis and martial arts to powerlifting</p><p>2:36 - Rafael Nadal and his first coach Anthony Graziani</p><p>6:33 - Ranking the 6 variables: mindset #1, technique last</p><p>10:57 - Being relentless &amp; the comparison trap</p><p>16:37 - Diagnosing a plateaued lifter</p><p>20:33 - Finding the pattern &amp; coaching block-to-block</p><p>27:25 - How a block should feel &amp; back-end deloads</p><p>30:43 - The one variable to track: average intensity</p><p>32:38 - Quality of work over tonnage</p><p>36:35 - Reactive coaching, RPE &amp; the 5x5 question</p><p>41:14 - Can AI and data analytics help powerlifting?</p><p>46:03 - Intuition stories: Noemi Alabert &amp; the junk-volume lifter</p><p>52:02 - Adapt the method to the athlete, not the reverse</p><p>57:41 - Good vs optimal technique &amp; submaximal loads</p><p>1:05:29 - Velocity tracking as a monitoring tool</p><p>1:10:08 - Changing his mind &amp; the women/volume hot take</p><p>1:14:34 - What really drives injury risk</p><p>1:17:49 - The future: 10 years, the Olympics &amp; Sheffield</p><p>1:23:36 - Getting through the lows</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Youssuf: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/youssuf_el_adlani/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/youssuf_el_adlani/</a></p>no01:27:4217Technique Is the Most Overhyped Thing in Powerlifting w/ Youssuf El Adlanifull<![CDATA[I Went Two Years Without a Total PR — and a Lot of It Was a Mental Block w/ Matthew Henry]]>In the sixth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Matthew Henry — an Irish powerlifting coach, sports and exercise science graduate, and elite lifter heading to Worlds — to talk about why most plateaus are psychological, how to build and ride momentum, and why he keeps a toolbox of methods instead of a single doctrine.

0:00 - Intro

1:04 - Who Matt was before powerlifting

5:19 - The coach who shaped him & talent that works hard

8:46 - Ranking the six variables of strength

13:39 - Coaching technique: cues vs programming

16:09 - Reacting to a bad session & stacking the cards

20:32 - Diagnosing the stuck intermediate lifter

25:51 - Why lifters plateau & the junior-to-open crisis

30:01 - Momentum vs forcing progress: Jordan's road to Worlds

35:51 - RPE, percentages & velocity in prescription

41:11 - The one metric that tracks real progress

45:34 - Velocity drop-off & work capacity

48:20 - Top-down vs bottom-up programming

53:14 - Brett Gibbs & the work-capacity debate

59:16 - Intuition vs data

1:05:59 - Hot take: stop taking powerlifting so seriously

1:08:10 - What he changed his mind about

1:11:18 - The future of elite coaching

1:17:38 - Legacy & the question he wishes he'd be asked

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Matt: https://www.instagram.com/mhenry94/

]]>af07886e-7a9f-4726-bb51-050f40cad462Wed, 24 Jun 2026 10:47:01 GMT<p>In the sixth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Matthew Henry — an Irish powerlifting coach, sports and exercise science graduate, and elite lifter heading to Worlds — to talk about why most plateaus are psychological, how to build and ride momentum, and why he keeps a toolbox of methods instead of a single doctrine.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>1:04 - Who Matt was before powerlifting</p><p>5:19 - The coach who shaped him &amp; talent that works hard</p><p>8:46 - Ranking the six variables of strength</p><p>13:39 - Coaching technique: cues vs programming</p><p>16:09 - Reacting to a bad session &amp; stacking the cards</p><p>20:32 - Diagnosing the stuck intermediate lifter</p><p>25:51 - Why lifters plateau &amp; the junior-to-open crisis</p><p>30:01 - Momentum vs forcing progress: Jordan's road to Worlds</p><p>35:51 - RPE, percentages &amp; velocity in prescription</p><p>41:11 - The one metric that tracks real progress</p><p>45:34 - Velocity drop-off &amp; work capacity</p><p>48:20 - Top-down vs bottom-up programming</p><p>53:14 - Brett Gibbs &amp; the work-capacity debate</p><p>59:16 - Intuition vs data</p><p>1:05:59 - Hot take: stop taking powerlifting so seriously</p><p>1:08:10 - What he changed his mind about</p><p>1:11:18 - The future of elite coaching</p><p>1:17:38 - Legacy &amp; the question he wishes he'd be asked</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Matt: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/mhenry94/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/mhenry94/</a></p>no01:21:0216I Went Two Years Without a Total PR — and a Lot of It Was a Mental Block w/ Matthew Henryfull<![CDATA[Genetics Is the Most Overrated Variable in Powerlifting w/ Matt Vena]]>In the fifth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Matt Vena — a Canadian èlite coach, competitive powerlifter with a 2,100+ lb total, and exercise-science grad — to talk about why psychology outranks programming, why he believes genetics is the most overrated variable in the sport, and how a submaximal, motor-learning-first approach drives long-term strength.

0:00 - Intro

0:40 - From high school gym class to Starting Strength

2:03 - Alec Blenis & how cardio coaching reshaped his thinking

3:39 - How aerobic training added 80kg to his total

6:00 - Ranking the six variables: psychology is 50%

10:17 - Coach-athlete relationship, autonomy & buy-in

14:32 - Diagnosing a year-long plateau & the role of externals

19:10 - What a successful block feels like & training at RPE 4-6

21:10 - Submaximal training & motor learning

23:22 - The one variable to track: a fatigue rating

26:20 - Workload over primary/secondary days

29:33 - Velocity tracking & the case against auto-regulation

35:04 - Top-down programming, bottom-up technique & biomechanics

39:05 - Planning backwards & his 16-week progression

42:12 - Coaching a Sheffield athlete & "lying by omission"

43:48 - Intuition vs data analysis

45:29 - Hot take: genetics is the most overrated variable

51:10 - What actually predicts injury

53:16 - What he's changed his mind on

55:22 - Why powerlifting will decline in ten years

1:01:05 - The motor-learning gap nobody talks about

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Matt: https://www.instagram.com/mattvena/

]]>837058cb-4347-4615-b334-ccd99b1ec072Wed, 17 Jun 2026 16:08:05 GMT<p>In the fifth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Matt Vena — a Canadian èlite coach, competitive powerlifter with a 2,100+ lb total, and exercise-science grad — to talk about why psychology outranks programming, why he believes genetics is the most overrated variable in the sport, and how a submaximal, motor-learning-first approach drives long-term strength.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:40 - From high school gym class to Starting Strength</p><p>2:03 - Alec Blenis &amp; how cardio coaching reshaped his thinking</p><p>3:39 - How aerobic training added 80kg to his total</p><p>6:00 - Ranking the six variables: psychology is 50%</p><p>10:17 - Coach-athlete relationship, autonomy &amp; buy-in</p><p>14:32 - Diagnosing a year-long plateau &amp; the role of externals</p><p>19:10 - What a successful block feels like &amp; training at RPE 4-6</p><p>21:10 - Submaximal training &amp; motor learning</p><p>23:22 - The one variable to track: a fatigue rating</p><p>26:20 - Workload over primary/secondary days</p><p>29:33 - Velocity tracking &amp; the case against auto-regulation</p><p>35:04 - Top-down programming, bottom-up technique &amp; biomechanics</p><p>39:05 - Planning backwards &amp; his 16-week progression</p><p>42:12 - Coaching a Sheffield athlete &amp; "lying by omission"</p><p>43:48 - Intuition vs data analysis</p><p>45:29 - Hot take: genetics is the most overrated variable</p><p>51:10 - What actually predicts injury</p><p>53:16 - What he's changed his mind on</p><p>55:22 - Why powerlifting will decline in ten years</p><p>1:01:05 - The motor-learning gap nobody talks about</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Matt: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/mattvena/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/mattvena/</a></p>no01:03:5315Genetics Is the Most Overrated Variable in Powerlifting w/ Matt Venafull<![CDATA[A 500kg Squat Is Coming Before 2035 w/ Matt Gary]]>In the fourth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Matt Gary — a coach with three decades in powerlifting, a kinesiology background, multiple national-team head-coaching stints, and the man behind Ray Williams — to talk about what actually drives long-term athlete success and how he blends hard data with a trained eye, especially on game day.

0:00 - Intro

0:42 - Hearing the word "powerlifting" in 1982 (and quitting on day one)

5:43 - His first national-team role; coaching Susie to a world title

9:54 - The figures who shaped him: Mike Tomlin & Susie

13:28 - Psychology and the circle of control

17:06 - Ranking the six variables of athlete success

25:07 - Atypical technique and world-record kneecave

31:54 - Diagnosing a stalled athlete: look in the rear-view mirror

36:32 - How an athlete should feel block to block

41:46 - The one variable worth tracking: volume over time

44:43 - Ray Williams: why squat frequency went up, not down

50:05 - Principles vs tools: percentages, RPE, perception & reception

58:16 - Top-down vs bottom-up and the Brett Gibbs deadlift

1:03:57 - Intuition vs data in programming and on game day

1:10:06 - Injuries and the greatest ability: availability

1:15:47 - What he's changed his mind about

1:18:29 - Powerlifting in 2035: AI, the IPF, the Olympics & the records to

come

1:28:30 - His Mount Rushmore of game-day coaches

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Matt: https://www.instagram.com/mlgary72/

]]>dc413552-fed4-42d5-b4c3-61cc6687e7efWed, 10 Jun 2026 11:54:56 GMT<p>In the fourth episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Matt Gary — a coach with three decades in powerlifting, a kinesiology background, multiple national-team head-coaching stints, and the man behind Ray Williams — to talk about what actually drives long-term athlete success and how he blends hard data with a trained eye, especially on game day.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:42 - Hearing the word "powerlifting" in 1982 (and quitting on day one)</p><p>5:43 - His first national-team role; coaching Susie to a world title</p><p>9:54 - The figures who shaped him: Mike Tomlin &amp; Susie</p><p>13:28 - Psychology and the circle of control</p><p>17:06 - Ranking the six variables of athlete success</p><p>25:07 - Atypical technique and world-record kneecave</p><p>31:54 - Diagnosing a stalled athlete: look in the rear-view mirror</p><p>36:32 - How an athlete should feel block to block</p><p>41:46 - The one variable worth tracking: volume over time</p><p>44:43 - Ray Williams: why squat frequency went up, not down</p><p>50:05 - Principles vs tools: percentages, RPE, perception &amp; reception</p><p>58:16 - Top-down vs bottom-up and the Brett Gibbs deadlift</p><p>1:03:57 - Intuition vs data in programming and on game day</p><p>1:10:06 - Injuries and the greatest ability: availability</p><p>1:15:47 - What he's changed his mind about</p><p>1:18:29 - Powerlifting in 2035: AI, the IPF, the Olympics &amp; the records to</p><p>come</p><p>1:28:30 - His Mount Rushmore of game-day coaches</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Matt: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/mlgary72/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/mlgary72/</a></p><p></p>no01:32:2914A 500kg Squat Is Coming Before 2035 w/ Matt Garyfull<![CDATA[The Week 1-to-4 Pipeline Is Burning Lifters Out w/ Ronnie Vallejo]]>In the third episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Ronnie Vallejo — powerlifting coach and owner of Access Training Systems — to talk about predictability in programming, the psychological traits that correlate with success, and how identity, technique, and load management shape an athlete's long-term progress.

0:00 - Intro

0:44 - From mental health work to powerlifting coaching

4:01 - Coaching influences: Phil Jackson and Bill Belichick

8:33 - What makes a coach–athlete relationship work

15:22 - Psychological traits, neuroticism, and presence

21:13 - When powerlifting becomes your identity

25:42 - Ranking the six variables of athletic success

33:41 - Top-down vs bottoms-up programming

38:50 - Intuition vs data in coaching

44:07 - AI, motion capture, and the future of the sport

46:02 - Injuries, load management, and movement quality

50:16 - Why he doesn't change technique right away

1:01:25 - Dose, priming, and sequencing

1:09:07 - RPE, percentages, and pacing strategies

1:15:33 - Forcing progress vs letting it emerge

1:22:15 - Predictability as the core of his system

1:28:12 - Taylor, Perk, Keiko: longevity vs pushing

1:32:18 - Wrap-up

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Ronnie: https://www.instagram.com/ronnieronnn/

]]>8a395ea2-30d5-44d6-9b7a-526659133a2eWed, 03 Jun 2026 11:44:40 GMT<p>In the third episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Ronnie Vallejo — powerlifting coach and owner of Access Training Systems — to talk about predictability in programming, the psychological traits that correlate with success, and how identity, technique, and load management shape an athlete's long-term progress.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:44 - From mental health work to powerlifting coaching</p><p>4:01 - Coaching influences: Phil Jackson and Bill Belichick</p><p>8:33 - What makes a coach–athlete relationship work</p><p>15:22 - Psychological traits, neuroticism, and presence</p><p>21:13 - When powerlifting becomes your identity</p><p>25:42 - Ranking the six variables of athletic success</p><p>33:41 - Top-down vs bottoms-up programming</p><p>38:50 - Intuition vs data in coaching</p><p>44:07 - AI, motion capture, and the future of the sport</p><p>46:02 - Injuries, load management, and movement quality</p><p>50:16 - Why he doesn't change technique right away</p><p>1:01:25 - Dose, priming, and sequencing</p><p>1:09:07 - RPE, percentages, and pacing strategies</p><p>1:15:33 - Forcing progress vs letting it emerge</p><p>1:22:15 - Predictability as the core of his system</p><p>1:28:12 - Taylor, Perk, Keiko: longevity vs pushing</p><p>1:32:18 - Wrap-up</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Ronnie: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/ronnieronnn/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/ronnieronnn/</a></p><p></p>no01:32:53The Week 1-to-4 Pipeline Is Burning Lifters Out w/ Ronnie Vallejofull<![CDATA[Chasing Perfect Reps Kills Your Ability to Troubleshoot w/ Kedric Kwan]]>In the second episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Kedric Kwan — a powerlifting coach and nutritionist who leans heavily Bayesian — to talk about what actually builds a strong lifter: why genetics outweighs technique, how to read fatigue from bar speed, and why a coach's intuition is an unreliable instrument.

0:00 - Intro

0:34 - Before powerlifting: a skinny volleyball kid in Malaysia

6:07 - Arsène Wenger and coaching through adaptability

11:54 - The expanding support staff of a modern lifter

13:02 - Funding, nutrition, and an expensive hobby

18:29 - Ranking success: genetics 33%, psychology 20%

27:12 - Why technique is only 5%

36:50 - Perfection vs "good enough"

40:55 - Top-down vs bottom-up, and the Bayesian coach

46:43 - Brett Gibbs and reverse periodization

53:33 - The coach who runs on pure intuition

59:53 - The one variable to track: velocity at 65–70%

1:01:50 - Velocity loss as a fatigue proxy

1:07:48 - Percentages, RPE, or velocity?

1:11:55 - Tapering, overreaching, and the Sheffield study

1:18:36 - Digging deep vs blind auto-regulation

1:25:59 - Rethinking injury as cessation of training

1:34:28 - Platonist or Aristotelian?

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/

Kedric: https://www.instagram.com/kedric.reformance/

]]>308762e6-f7a2-44e7-a3a9-dcefc4d56b37Wed, 27 May 2026 11:48:54 GMT<p>In the second episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Kedric Kwan — a powerlifting coach and nutritionist who leans heavily Bayesian — to talk about what actually builds a strong lifter: why genetics outweighs technique, how to read fatigue from bar speed, and why a coach's intuition is an unreliable instrument.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro</p><p>0:34 - Before powerlifting: a skinny volleyball kid in Malaysia</p><p>6:07 - Arsène Wenger and coaching through adaptability</p><p>11:54 - The expanding support staff of a modern lifter</p><p>13:02 - Funding, nutrition, and an expensive hobby</p><p>18:29 - Ranking success: genetics 33%, psychology 20%</p><p>27:12 - Why technique is only 5%</p><p>36:50 - Perfection vs "good enough"</p><p>40:55 - Top-down vs bottom-up, and the Bayesian coach</p><p>46:43 - Brett Gibbs and reverse periodization</p><p>53:33 - The coach who runs on pure intuition</p><p>59:53 - The one variable to track: velocity at 65–70%</p><p>1:01:50 - Velocity loss as a fatigue proxy</p><p>1:07:48 - Percentages, RPE, or velocity?</p><p>1:11:55 - Tapering, overreaching, and the Sheffield study</p><p>1:18:36 - Digging deep vs blind auto-regulation</p><p>1:25:59 - Rethinking injury as cessation of training</p><p>1:34:28 - Platonist or Aristotelian?</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a></p><p>Kedric: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/kedric.reformance/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/kedric.reformance/</a></p><p></p>no01:39:2212Chasing Perfect Reps Kills Your Ability to Troubleshoot w/ Kedric Kwanfull<![CDATA[Powerlifting Never Actually Learned to Periodize w/ Jason Tremblay]]>In the first episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Jason Tremblay — head coach at The Strength Guys and one of the most accomplished powerlifting coaches in the world — to talk about what actually drives long-term success in the sport.

0:00 - Intro 0:40 - Jason's background before powerlifting 7:17 - The coaches who shaped his thinking 11:11 - Top-down vs bottom-up in training 15:41 - Rate of progress: when to push, when not to 19:36 - Competition frequency and career longevity 21:46 - Managing injury risk 25:37 - Ranking the variables: genetics, lifestyle, programming, technique 40:07 - What single variable to track 43:47 - How volume evolves across a career 50:32 - Signs of appropriate training load 52:07 - What makes a training block successful 54:49 - Weekly dose vs session structure 56:51 - RPE, percentages, and VBT 1:03:34 - RPE vs reps in reserve 1:06:24 - What Jason has changed his mind on

Samuele: https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/ Jason: https://www.instagram.com/jasontsg/ The Strength Guys: https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/

]]>ed489cd0-8ca5-40af-93d3-9160bef9bd5dWed, 20 May 2026 13:10:11 GMT<p>In the first episode of Iron Minds, Samuele sits down with Jason Tremblay — head coach at The Strength Guys and one of the most accomplished powerlifting coaches in the world — to talk about what actually drives long-term success in the sport.</p><p></p><p>0:00 - Intro 0:40 - Jason's background before powerlifting 7:17 - The coaches who shaped his thinking 11:11 - Top-down vs bottom-up in training 15:41 - Rate of progress: when to push, when not to 19:36 - Competition frequency and career longevity 21:46 - Managing injury risk 25:37 - Ranking the variables: genetics, lifestyle, programming, technique 40:07 - What single variable to track 43:47 - How volume evolves across a career 50:32 - Signs of appropriate training load 52:07 - What makes a training block successful 54:49 - Weekly dose vs session structure 56:51 - RPE, percentages, and VBT 1:03:34 - RPE vs reps in reserve 1:06:24 - What Jason has changed his mind on</p><p></p><p>Samuele: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/giulianodontario/</a> Jason: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/jasontsg/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/jasontsg/</a> The Strength Guys: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/thestrengthguys/</a></p>no01:12:1611Powerlifting Never Actually Learned to Periodize w/ Jason Tremblayfull