The MUSCLE GROWTH Podcast

Ben Yanes, known as The Modern Meathead, is a prominent figure in the fitness and lifting community. He hosts the popular Modern Meathead Experience podcast, sharing his insights and expertise on various topics related to muscle growth and overall well-being. With a strong online presence on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, Ben has built a significant following and is frequently featured as a guest on other popular fitness podcasts, including the Key Nutrition Podcast and now The Muscle Growth Podcast. Ben has an excellent grasp on often overlooked key aspects of lifting and uses science and anatomy to create intelligent courses and communities for people who love to lift. In today’s episode, we can look forward to insights from Ben on Anchoring and anchoring principles, fundamentals, common fitness myths, fear-mongering in fitness, biomechanics, injury prevention, debunking “functional training”, improving exercise selection and exercise positioning and first principles.

Dr Vonda Wright is a double-boarded, fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon and internationally recognized authority on active ageing and mobility. Dr. Wright’s practice focuses on minimally invasive surgery for hip preservation, shoulder and knee reconstruction, cartilage restoration, orthobiologics, and the latest in injury prevention and performance optimization. Dr Wright is the founding director of the Performance and Research Initiative for Masters Athletes (PRIMA), and her pioneering research in mobility, and musculoskeletal ageing is changing the way we view and treat the ageing process. In today’s episode, we can look forward to insights from Dr Wright related to musculoskeletal health, how we can age better, life expectancy vs health expectancy, vitality in older age groups, the importance of lifting heavy weights, how to flatten your glucose curve and reduce the severity of sugar spikes.

Max Coleman, a Lehman College graduate and lecturer, is a passionate researcher who delves into how training variables affect muscle hypertrophy. His love for science, muscles, and cooking is evident in his work, making him a valuable scientific advisor @builtwithscience. Max Coleman's research at Lehman College is not just about understanding muscle growth but also about optimizing it through practical strategies. His work explores the mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy, the impact of different training variables, and the role of nutrition. By focusing on topics such as periodization, training volume, and recovery, Coleman's findings provide actionable insights for individuals, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts striving to achieve their muscle growth goals. In today’s episode, we can expect insights from Max related to his research studies and vast knowledge of using science to drive muscle hypertrophy gains.

Max Coleman, a Lehman College graduate and lecturer, is a passionate researcher who delves into how training variables affect muscle hypertrophy. His love for science, muscles, and cooking is evident in his work, making him a valuable scientific advisor @builtwithscience. Max Coleman's research at Lehman College is not just about understanding muscle growth but also about optimizing it through practical strategies. His work explores the mechanisms of muscle hypertrophy, the impact of different training variables, and the role of nutrition. By focusing on topics such as periodization, training volume, and recovery, Coleman's findings provide actionable insights for individuals, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts striving to achieve their muscle growth goals. In today’s episode, we can expect insights from Max related to his research studies and vast knowledge of using science to drive muscle hypertrophy gains.

This white male podcast host humorously introduces himself as just another guy with a podcast. He holds degrees in Mathematical Science and Computer Science from Stellenbosch University and the University of Cape Town. Beyond academics, he is a skilled tennis and squash player, representing his province multiple times and winning the South African National Championship Racketlon tournament in various age categories. After school, he prioritized tennis, academics, and fitness. He is a software engineer passionate about the gym and helping others chase their hypertrophy goals through science-based methods. He aims to enable people to become bigger, stronger, and better versions of themselves. In this episode, you can look forward to a deep dive into optimal nutrition for muscle growth based on scientific literature, as well as a free workout program and seeing his 5-year goals which include a 300kg deadlift!

Jake has a B.S. (honours) in exercise science and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is currently a researcher, lecturer, and PhD candidate at Florida Atlantic University, where he is working in the Muscle Physiology Laboratory. Here, his research focuses on optimizing program design to maximize hypertrophy and strength. Jake is also a coach with Data-Driven Strength, where he provides educational services and 1-on-1 coaching for clients with goals ranging from elite powerlifting performance and competitive bodybuilding to recreational strength, muscle growth, and fat loss. He is a competitor himself as well, with nearly 10 years of training experience and multiple competitions under his belt. In today’s episode, we can look forward to insights from Jake related to his projects in academia and using research studies and data-driven techniques to drive strength and hypertrophy gains.

Jake has a B.S. (honours) in exercise science and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. He is currently a researcher, lecturer, and PhD candidate at Florida Atlantic University, where he is working in the Muscle Physiology Laboratory. Here, his research focuses on optimizing program design to maximize hypertrophy and strength. Jake is also a coach with Data Driven Strength, where he provides educational services and 1-on-1 coaching for clients with goals ranging from elite powerlifting performance and competitive bodybuilding to recreational strength, muscle growth, and fat loss. He is a competitor himself as well, with nearly 10 years of training experience and multiple competitions under his belt. In today’s episode, we can look forward to insights from Jake related to programming and using data-driven techniques to drive strength and hypertrophy gains.

Pak did his PhD in Sports Science at Solent University (UK) on the topic of “the minimum effective training dose for strength in powerlifters.” His research focuses on muscle strength, hypertrophy, and strength sport performance. Pak has worked for over 5 years with physique athletes, powerlifters, and recreationally active individuals looking to get stronger and improve their body composition. He believes that a genuinely evidence-based approach to training and nutrition should be guided by the current available scientific evidence as well as professional experience, while factoring in individual preferences and idiosyncrasies. As a coach, his aim is to create a collaborative atmosphere, based on the consolidation of his experience and the client's feedback, which in turn will generate an adaptive plan of action that best suits the client's goals.

Despite his extensive background in healthcare, Jared acknowledges its shortcomings, especially in addressing injuries. His personal encounter with health struggles took a significant turn when he fell critically ill, spending five weeks in the ICU due to HLH disease. Enduring a 40-pound weight loss, predominantly lean tissue, Jared attributes his survival to the initial muscle tissue he had built over the years. Now weighing over 180 pounds, a remarkable recovery from his ICU weight of 150 pounds, Jared underscores the importance of muscle for longevity and for overall well-being. His story embodies the essence of bouncing back, with a focus on strength and muscle memory, helping to bring him back to his original 193 pounds from his time in the ICU and his current resilient state.

Riley is a sleep consultant who has helped high performers achieve more out of their personal and work lives using cutting-edge scientific lab testing, strategies, and techniques. To hear more about Riley and to get his first portion of this 2-part episode, please feel free to check out TMGP episode 7 for more sleep-improving-related value. In today's episode, we can look forward to sleeping tips, achieving sleep nirvana, optimizing sleep and recovery, improving your sleeping environment, waking up rituals, circadian rhythms, advanced sleeping techniques and hacks, falling asleep faster, sleep supplements, sleep tracking, and more!

Riley is a sleep consultant who has helped high performers achieve more out of their personal and work life using cutting-edge scientific lab testing, strategies, and techniques. With only so many waking hours in the day, the quality of hours sleeping is what can make the difference between peak performance and functioning at a fraction of your true potential. Currently residing in Vancouver, Canada, Riley spends most of his time in the outdoors hiking, snowboarding, and finding the next exciting adventure. Inside the “sleep lab”, he enjoys reading the latest sleep intel, collaborating with other thought leaders, and helping clients get life changing results. Riley is also a qualified Health Coach for Peak Performance & Flow and a qualified sleep consultant coach at TheSleepConsultant.Com In today's episode, we can look forward to advice about supplements for energy, focus, sleeping aids, general health and hormone supplements, discussions about health, genetics, and biohacking.

Ginny is an actress, dancer, and competitive athlete in both Ninja Warrior and swimming. Ginny rekindled her acting career in retirement in and also began strength training, inspired by her daughter, Jessie Graff, who has gone farther than any female on American Ninja Warrior. At 63 years old, Ginny did her very first pull up and later competed on American Ninja Warrior, Season 9, 10, and 15, making history at age 71 as the oldest person to complete an obstacle. She was named the oldest competitive female ninja athlete in the 2024 Guinness World Record Book! Ginny continues to compete regionally in ninja competitions and local state and national swim meets. In today's episode, we can look forward to advice from Jessie Graff, discussions about it never being too late or too old to start your fitness journey, slow, but continuous progress, the importance of pull-ups, Ninja Warrior, women lifting weights, discipline and commitment, strength being ageless, and movement being key.

Beyond the world of coaching, Leo leads a double life as a business intelligence analyst, where he specializes in creating and analyzing data models. It's a job that keeps him on his toes, but Leo’s true passion lies in the realm of fitness and muscle growth. Currently, Leo has the privilege of working with a diverse group of 55 clients, ranging from those embracing the lifestyle to competitive athletes, with a notable 65% being phenomenal women. The proof of their collective hard work is reflected in 2023's impressive placings: 9 first places, 4 second places, and 7 third places. It's a testament to the dedication and commitment of the incredible individuals that he has the honour of coaching. As a programming and hypertrophy expert, Leo brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Tune in to learn from coach Leo.

Ashleigh is multitalented: a mom of 2, a student studying to become a teacher, an ex-gymnast, pole dancer, New Zealand’s female arm wrestling champion, and now the world’s strongest female equipped bench presser. She smashed the world record for female-equipped bench press on her second attempt at her last powerlifting meet and then smashed her own world record on her third attempt hitting a whopping 700lbs or 317.5kg!

Morgan is an online fitness coach who helps men and women between the ages of 30-50 who work a desk job to take ownership of their health and fitness goals. She is a college rugby player and an avid gym goer who has managed to amass an astonishing 30lbs of muscle in 4 years, while also losing fat and getting stronger! She can deadlift 180kg and knows how to tackle so she is not someone that you want to mess with! Tune in to listen to her tips on how to effectively recomp your body!

Dr Wolf has a Ph.D. specializing in muscle hypertrophy and strength research. For over four years, Milo has been a guiding force, helping individuals achieve their goals of gaining muscle, increasing strength, and achieving leanness. Drawing from his extensive background in both bodybuilding and powerlifting, Milo brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to his coaching, having not only trained but also competed in these disciplines. Now is your chance to hear his views on evidence-based methodology to maximize your muscle growth!

Coach Benjamin is a professional lifestyle coach, bodybuilder, and a level 5 certified nutritionist from Glasgow in the United Kingdom. Benjamin overcame bullying in his younger years to become a top international bodybuilder and fitness coach. Ben now helps people from all walks of life who share a common goal of being healthy and getting fit, and now you have the opportunity for him to help you too!