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Welcome to The Powerlifter’s Den — the ultimate hangout for lifters, strength athletes, and iron addicts. Hosted by Cam Smith, this podcast dives deep into the world of powerlifting, featuring real conversations with top lifters, coaches, and industry experts. Whether you're chasing PRs, building your total, or just love talking shop about squats, bench, and deadlifts, you've found your tribe. Check out our official merch and gear at PLDen.com , built for lifters who live the lifestyle.
127 Episodes
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Stacy “Bama” Burr (@bamaburr) is a world-record-setting powerlifter, strongman competitor, coach, and owner of Bad Dog Barbell. In this episode, Cam sits down with Bama to talk about chasing the highest Wilks score in history, the mindset of becoming the Best in the World, and the battles she faced along the way — including a near-suicide in 2018, brutal weight cuts, and the pressure that comes with living at the top.From leading Bama Brick Squad Training to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Stacy’s story is raw, unfiltered, and all about pushing limits inside and outside the gym.
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.We dive into earning your space in warm-up rooms, chasing top-5 all-time status, the mental side of big-stage competition, and why you don’t need to wait until you feel “ready” to step on the platform. This is an episode about growth, humility, execution, and climbing back stronger than before.
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 why longevity matters more than hype in a sport that demands everything from you.If you’re interested in what it actually takes to reach the top — and stay there — this episode delivers.
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 ultimately led her to step away from full power lifting. She speaks candidly about surviving a domestic violence relationship, navigating chronic injuries, and finding renewed purpose through bench-only competition and hosting meets like Bummy’s Beatdown in Los Angeles.This episode is about resilience, knowing when to evolve, competing before you feel “ready,” and why ego can be the biggest limiter in strength sports. Honest, emotional, and powerful — this is a conversation every lifter should hear.
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 chase strength while carrying personal weight, navigating the mental toll of competition, and staying grounded when lifting stops being fun.This episode is raw, honest, and unapologetically real — a must-listen for lifters who care about longevity, integrity, and earning their place under the bar.
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 ever. From insane meet stories (including his first 900lb squat) to hard-earned lessons about longevity, Shane brings experience, honesty, and perspective you don’t hear often enough.This episode is for lifters, coaches, and anyone who wants to understand what it really takes to last in the sport.
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 back the curtain on what it really takes to develop champions and sustain longevity in the sport
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 powerlifting actually looks like beyond social media.If you care about staying in the sport, building something real, and chasing greatness the right way — this one hits deep.
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 establish yourself as a lifter. With a 2920 total at NOTB and bigger goals still ahead, this episode is about grit, identity, and earning everything you get under the bar.
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 about missing 1100, coming back to smoke it when it mattered, balancing college football and powerlifting, and how he thinks young lifters should approach the sport.Raw, driven, and already built like a veteran — this is one of the strongest 19-year-olds to ever touch a barbell.
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 the mindset behind Jared’s message: “You’re not done yet.”
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 your episode.
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 — 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.
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.
Kyle Sheridan (@sheridanstrength) is a 2000+ total lifter, coach, and co-owner of Legends 24/7 Gym. In this episode, Kyle talks about powerlifting through the eras — from his early bodybuilding days and training under Paul Childress to building The Crew at Legends and bouncing back from a string of brutal injuries.We dive into gym culture, learning from legends, old-school vs new-school lifting, and what it takes to stay in the sport when things get tough.
Rebecca Roberts (@notmrsdonjohnson) has been competing for nearly three decades as a powerlifter and strongwoman — and she’s still breaking barriers. In this episode, Cam sits down with Rebecca to talk about her journey from early days on the platform to coming back with a 600lb deadlift just 8 months after major surgery.A 29-year veteran, molecular biologist, and pro strongwoman, Rebecca brings a unique perspective on crew culture, recovery, mindset longevity, and what it takes to keep lifting when everyone else burns out.
Carlos Reyes (@creyes242) has spent nearly two decades in strength sports — from winning 3x amateur national titles in strongman to chasing down a 2101 total in powerlifting. In this episode, Cam talks with Carlos about training under Derek Poundstone’s CT Strength Crew, the long road to finally breaking 2100 after seven years of chasing it, and what those battles taught him about mindset and longevity.Now a Lieutenant and training officer for the Bridgeport Fire Department, Carlos also breaks down the biggest myths in tactical fitness, the differences between tested and untested training, and why consistency will always beat hype.
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