Philosophical Weightlifting Podcast

Miranda Ulrey has competed with and beaten the best of the best. She's a junior world champ, Pan Am champ, and plans on making a statement at the Olympic Games in 2028.Even with a huge social media following, no other podcasts or interviews exist that deep dive into her background as a competitive weightlifter. In this episode, we discuss her introduction to the sport, what's kept her competing at the highest level, and a few of her favorite variations (hint: she's very good at them).Enjoy.Follow Miranda: https://www.instagram.com/miranda_ulrey/Follow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This goes down as one of my favorite episodes of the podcast! I had the honor of speaking with Celia Gold about her journey from an obsessive CrossFit competitor to a weightlifter who is competing on the international stage for Israel. We discuss competing at the Arnold on the Rogue Strength stage, sharing the platform with some of the best athletes in the world. We talk about the chaos of competition environments and what it takes to stay focused when the stakes are high.We also dive into her journey into the sport — from CrossFit and the CrossFit Games to committing fully to weightlifting, training with coaches like Bo Sandoval and Bob Morris, and representing Israel internationally.Along the way, we discuss training philosophy, learning to compete with patience and intention, managing injuries, and how athletes evolve mentally as their careers progress.Enjoy.Follow Celia: https://www.instagram.com/celiagold/Follow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

There is a growing popularity in high frequency SBD (squat, bench, deadlift) training. Is it a fad or something worth incorporating into your program?In this episode of the podcast, Max and I discuss:High frequency SBDTesting vs trainingSkill development, as it relates to strengthHow coaches can improve their own philosophies and skill setsFollow Max and sign up for CoachLogik:https://www.instagram.com/max_aita/https://app.coachlogik.com/signupFollow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

Everyone loves a classic podcast episode.That's exactly what Seb and I delivered: discussing a recent 215kg squat "controversy", USAW's finest athletes, and how Weightlifting House is breaking the clothing game!Follow Seb and WH:https://www.instagram.com/seb_ostrowicz/https://www.instagram.com/weightlifting_house/Follow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/philosophicalweightlifting/Weightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

Caden Cahoy isn’t “new”— he’s been lifting since he was 8. But the last year made something obvious to the whole world: he’s not just talented… he’s one of the best in the world.We talk legacy, pressure, and the long game:Florida’s weightlifting pipeline and growing up in the sportWhy strength isn’t always the first superpower—and how he’s building it nowThe 85kg move: maturity, mass, and the runway to LA 2028How elite lifters think when the bar feels impossibly heavy, but they lift it anywayBahrain, Worlds, and the mindset behind taking world-record-level attemptsThe difference between being scared of the moment vs. loving itIf you want a look behind the totals and inside the mindset of an athlete aiming at Olympic greatness, this one’s for you.Follow Caden:https://www.instagram.com/cadencahoy/Follow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

In this episode, I’m joined by Max Aita for a wide-ranging coaching conversation sparked by our trip to Seoul, South Korea for IDFPA Worlds. We talk peaking and tactics, why the best programs often look “boring,” and how better execution beats better programming for real lifters with real lives.We also dig into:Principle-based training vs. chasing optimizationHow coaches get “less wrong” over timeVolume ceilings, intensity trade-offs, and distributionWhy speed of implementation matters more than perfect ideasHow to sequence sessions and variations for better transferIf you’re a coach or lifter trying to cut through noise and get more from the work you’re already doing—this one’s for you.Follow Max and sign up for CoachLogik:https://www.instagram.com/max_aita/https://app.coachlogik.com/signupFollow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

This week, I was joined by Brandon Victorian — Team USA weightlifter and one of the most physically imposing athletes in American weightlifting — to talk about the journey from garage to world stage.Brandon walks through how he found weightlifting through football, bodybuilding forums, CrossFit, and eventually a weightlifting club that changed everything. We trace his rise from local meets to national podiums, international competitions, Pan Am Games, and Worlds — and what it takes to compete in one of the most stacked weight classes in the world.If you’re an athlete trying to see how far commitment, patience, and belief can really take you, this episode is for you.Enjoy.Follow Brandon:https://www.instagram.com/mrvic27/Follow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Shyam's presentation: https://powerandstrengthsummit.com/This week, I sat down with Shyam Chavdar for a deep dive into applied sport science in elite weightlifting.We begin with a case study following Cyril Chachet, the first refugee weightlifter to compete at the Olympic Games. Shyam walks through coaching and monitoring a single athlete across multiple years, including adjustments made during COVID, limited access to technology, and the challenge of balancing performance, health, and uncertainty.From there, we explore Shyam’s current work examining trunk strength and its relationship to lower-body force production, discussing posture, force transfer, and why trunk capacity may matter more than assumed in the snatch and clean.Enjoy.Follow Shyam:https://www.instagram.com/coach_chavda/?hl=enhttps://x.com/shy_2tweetFollow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Andrew's presentation: https://powerandstrengthsummit.comThis week, I sat down with Andrew Stuart to talk about what sport science looks like outside of the lab.Andrew walks through how monitoring and assessment systems are built in environments with limited staff, time, and resources. We discuss needs analysis, selecting meaningful metrics, scaling testing from “bronze to gold,” and building reporting systems that coaches will use.We also explore how interns are developed in applied sport science roles, what skills matter most early in a career, and how performance monitoring fits into day-to-day coaching rather than sitting on a hard drive.This episode serves as a preview of Andrew’s upcoming presentation at the Power & Strength Summit and a practical framework for coaches looking to apply sport science without overcomplicating the process.Enjoy.Follow Andrew: https://www.instagram.com/coachastuart/https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Andrew-Stuart-14Follow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠

Sign up for the Power and Strength Summit (Jan. 24th/25th) to hear Sergii's presentation: https://powerandstrengthsummit.com/In today's episode, Sergii and I sat down to unpack one of the most insightful projects in weightlifting: the complete training log of Ruslan “Uncle Rus” Nurudinov.We walk through how this project came to life, why analyzing a full preparation from an Olympic champion and world-record holder matters, and what coaches can actually learn from the day-to-day realities of elite training.The discussion covers exercise selection, general physical preparation, tapering, recovery, and how theory bends when it meets real athletes, real fatigue, and real constraints.If you’re a coach or athlete interested in how elite programming actually works — beyond myths and highlight reels — this episode is a must-listen.Enjoy.Follow Sergii:https://www.instagram.com/putsoff/https://torokhtiy.com/Follow me and get coaching:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/josh_philwl/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.philosophicalweightlifting.comWeightlifting House: code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.weightliftinghouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Onyx: with code PHILWL for 10% off⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.onyxstraps.com/⁠