Episodes - Page 14 | 50% Facts with Silent Mike & Jim McD

Nov. 24, 2021

The Commissioner of Power | Documentary Review and Reaction

It’s fitting that Rogue Fitness would decide to underwrite an expansive documentary on the life of Terry Todd -- a name known to many in the strength world for decades. As a lifter and coach, he was a formative presence in Olympic lifting,...

Nov. 19, 2021

What do we hate to see in the gym? | Topic Thunder (Mini-episode)

Is curling in the squat rack a huge break of gym etiquette or just a practical solution? Is loading the leg press up with every plate in the gym, five linebackers, and 7 cheerleaders a good move? Does training on an inflated half-sphere ever make...

Nov. 17, 2021

Home gyms (revisited) | The North Pull | w/Caffeine & Kilos

In a bit of a mashup between a regular 50% Facts and one our shorter Topic Thunder episodes, we sat down with our friends from Caffeine & Kilos to take another swing the advantages and disadvantages of home gyms. We also hit on “do not disturb” on...

Nov. 12, 2021

What’s a good protein source and why does everyone think it’s peanut butter? | Topic Thunder (Mini-episode)

Everybody loves peanut butter, or do they? Many people love it so much that they think it’s a great protein source, but it’s not relative to its calorie count. We talk about the allure of nut butters, what we like and don’t like, and which protein...

Nov. 11, 2021

The Tillman Story: Documentary review

The Tillman Story: Documentary review Pat Tillman, who walked away from NFL millions to join the Army and was later killed, is a legendary heroic figure. What was the real story of his death by friendly fire? This documentary reflects his family’s...

Nov. 6, 2021

Should you be trying to get dates at the gym? | Topic Thunder (Mini-episode)

We discuss the rights and wrongs of trying to get dates, or even talk to strangers, at the gym. Can you do it without throwing up red flags? Are there times that it’s ok, and times it’s really not ok? Our friend and gym member Dan Storniuolo...

Nov. 3, 2021

Two physical therapists who powerlift explain why sometimes moving “wrong” is actually right

We’re lucky to have not one, but two physical therapy docs as members of our gym. We sat down with Emily Snee and Dominic Violi to discuss what it really takes to get back in the game, and the stuff that’s probably just a waste of time and money. It...

Oct. 29, 2021

Foam rollers, mobility, etc.: What interventions actually helped us? | Topic Thunder (Mini-episode)

We discuss which strategies for dealing with the aches and pains of both lifting and life have worked for us. We’ve seen both scams and actual relief. We’re joined on the panel by Dean Saddoris of Caffeine and Kilos, and our gym manager, Kyle Castro....

Oct. 28, 2021

How do you escape from a scary religious cult? | The Way Down docu-series parts 2 and 3

In this episode, we discuss the final chapters of The Way Down. These episodes cover the impact on the lives and families of the cult surrounding the Remnant Fellowship and diet guru Gwen Shamblin Lara. Many former members detail the extent to which...

Oct. 22, 2021

Should stringers be banned? | Topic Thunder (Mini-episode)

We take a lighthearted look at the world’s most minimal gym wear. Are stringer tanks a fashion statement or just a way to get around the rules that make you wear a shirt in the gym? Should they be banned, or should only some people be allowed to wear...

Oct. 21, 2021

What happens when a diet guru launches a scary religious cult? | The Way Down docu-series Part 1

The author of the bestselling diet book The Weigh Down, Gwen Shamblin, appeared on national TV talk shows and sold her weight loss philosophy to people across America. Especially churchgoers. By 1999, she had essentially started her own Tennessee...

Oct. 15, 2021

What sucks (and doesn’t suck) about home gyms? | Topic Thunder (Mini-episode)

In this mini-episode, we share are thoughts and experiences with lifting in home gyms versus commercial gyms. The pandemic forced a lot of people into home gym situations. Some people hated it, while others joined the ranks of long-time home gym...

Oct. 14, 2021

Ba-dee-ya, Myers Briggs, and canceling Gruden?

To what extent is “canceling” someone in 2021 just a way to take someone off the board? Does intent matter? And can people really be educated/rehabilitated? We take a look at the recent scandal around former Raiders’ head coach/GM John Gruden’s emails...

Oct. 8, 2021

Who you gonna let yuck your organic yum? | Topic Thunder (Mini-episode)

Welcome to another short Friday episode of the show we’re now calling “Topic Thunder with the Gossip Boyz” (subject to change). In this episode, we discuss not so much whether organic food is better but whether we should pay any attention to...

Oct. 7, 2021

More things people say without knowing what they mean w/ Dan Storniuolo

Dipping back into a kind of causal series we’ve been doing about common words are phrases that we use all the time, but we may not entirely understand: Do you really want someone to “break a leg?” Does “getting the upper hand” have anything to do with...

Oct. 1, 2021

Does giving up “self love” equal “self improvement?” | The “no fap” trend | Topic Thunder (Mini-episode)

Welcome to another short Friday episode of the panel discussion segment we’re now calling “Topic Thunder with the Gossip Boyz” (subject to change). In this episode, we take on the “No Fap” trend which has guys (and maybe girls?) give up masturbation...

Sept. 30, 2021

How do you make your first meet a success? w/ Sebastian Brambila

Hey, powerlifting-specific content! We asked one of our gym members who had just competed in his first meet, the USAPL California State Championships, to talk about the experience. We also share our personal experiences and best practices. What...

Sept. 24, 2021

Who are you really training to impress? | "Topic Thunder" Mini-episode

We wanted to share a side project that we’re working on. It’s a panel show that mostly relies on opinions – some outrageous, some insightful, and some just well…funny. All packed into roughly ten minutes. We’re joined on the panel by Dean Saddoris of...

Sept. 22, 2021

Documentaries about star athletes we didn’t know were trans (Part 2)

We spend a couple of episodes talking about a couple of high profile (in their sports) transgender athletes through the lens of documentaries about their lives: “Transformer” about the life of powerlifter/bodybuilder Janae Kroczaleski, and “Untold:...

Sept. 16, 2021

Documentaries about star athletes who were secretly transgender (Part 1)

We spend a couple of episodes talking about a couple of high profile (in their sports) transgender athletes through the lens of documentaries about their lives: “Transformer” about the life of powerlifter/bodybuilder Janae Kroczaleski, and “Untold:...

Sept. 10, 2021

Do we need heroes?

Humans seek heroes. They probably always have, but is this a good thing? And who qualifies as a hero? Can you be considered a hero just because of your job title? Does performing a heroic act make someone a hero? Do heroes have to be perfect people in...

Sept. 4, 2021

Anxiety self-help, carb cycling, conjugate versus progressive overload questions. | September Q&A

Discussion about the book, "The Power of Now" and other approaches that help people with anxiety live in the moment. Viewer questions include our funniest gym moments, whether carb cycling is worthwhile, and making progress on the bench. We also talk...

Aug. 26, 2021

Is sharing explicit content (of yourself) on social media going too far to make a buck ?

This is a conversation about the limits and challenges of monetizing a presence on social platforms. Last week the OnlyFans platform announced an end to explicit content. This week that decision was reversed. Since many personalities and creators in...

Aug. 19, 2021

“Untold: Malice in the Palace” Documentary Review – How did the Pacers-Pistons brawl really start?

The 2021 Netflix documentary “Untold: Malice in the Palace” unpacks some overlooked elements of a riot that broke out during an Indiana Pacers/Detroit Pistons in November 2004. The careers of Pacers’ Jermaine O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Stephen Jackson,...