Sorry about the sound quality on this one, guys! Worth it for the content. This episode we are joined by two of Alberta's strongest coaches, Bryce Krawczyk and Shane Martin, to shoot the shit about the ins and outs of dat coaching life. From an athlete's perspective, we explore the when, who and how of getting a coach, and we get the inside scoop from the coach's side on what it's like dealing with athletes. New this episode: LIGHTNING ROUND! 15 questions, no time to think! Good times for all.

This week on episode 4 of the first season of GutsXGritXGrind, the This is Female Powerlifting podcast, we summon the spirit of the festive season to bring you a Santa hat full of powerlifting-related, rant-invoking topics. Take four dirtbag powerlifters, two angel powerlifters (to balance it out) and a five minute timer that signals when it's time for whiskey shots and you have the worst thing we've ever done. The best thing we've ever done? Sorry mum. Sorry everyone.

3:07 Topic 1: STUPID "US VS THEM" POWERLIFTING DISPUTES. We don't care what fed you lift in, but posting dumb memes and whining about perceived slights against you because of the fed you lift with is ridiculous. Why is our sport so fragmented?

4:51 More feds, more records. Default gold for everyone!

5:12 We explain what a sub-master is. Sort of. Tess asserts dominance.

6:15 We call out the IPF. BOOM!

9:05 Topic 2: EARNING YOUR OPINION CARD. What is the magic point that we're allowed to have an opinion on something?  Do we need a degree?  Time in the sport? A certain Wilks?

9:40 Have you considered someone might be smarter than you?

10:30 Darron hates people. (But especially those who don't recognize other people expertise)

13:05 Bonus time to discuss the Lifting Concern Police. Eff you, windbags!

15:10 Topic 3: IS YOUR PR A PR? If you have added the caveat "no, he didn't touch the bar I swear" to your PR, you probably didn't do it alone. Is your competition lift PR really a PR when it's a mile high, or your butt came off the bench? Are we just too judgemental?

16:40 Be honest with yourself. If your PR isn't sport specific, it's irrelevant to your sport.

17:22 Darron wants to see your butt! Show us your butt!

19:02 Gaïa ruins Christmas

19:55 Topic 4: CHEER UP, GYM EEYORES. Please, be happy about something you've done, even just once. For me. For you. For everyone.

20:19 Truth bomb: you might not PR during every single training cycle

20:54 Default gold. It's not Tess' fault that no other fat old ladies have shown up.

24:08 "Let's get fucking profound now here, bitches"

26:00 Topic 5: SO YOU'RE INJURED. STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND START DOING SOMETHING ABOUT  IT. You've posted 800 times about your injury/"injury". You've posted 0 times about what you are doing to fix it. This leads us to believe you are doing nothing. When is an injury a legitimate injury and when is it an excuse?

27:40 That time Tess tore her achilles and Darron heard it snap.

29:00 Go see a professional! Quit trying to fix it yourself.

29:15 We all love dry needling.

30:28 Tess and Darron get closer. "You're the gayest woman that loves my husband."

31:35 Topic 6: POWERLIFTING OR FITSPO. Let's be real here. Is that account full of semi-nudes with inspirational captions about powerlifting? Or is it soft core fitspo porn?

31:55 "It is not about what you look like. Lift the thing. That is all."

33:40 We really can't emphasize enough how much we like butts. Or at least we don't think we can. Because we can't stop talking about it.

35:15 Your ab selfie isn't powerlifting. Your cleavage selfie isn't powerlifting. Your traps selfie isn't powerlifting. They're just cool selfies.

36:28 Shout out to @kittycatlifting's awesome butt!

37:09 Topic 7: GYM PDA: stop cuddling on the ER rack, we all know you're in loooooove. What do we think about couples cuddling at the gym?

37:23 Beans advocates a return to Victorian-era modesty at the gym.

38:40 Darron and Tess re-enact some gym PDA. You'll want to check out the YouTube version of our podcast to get the full impact.

39:45 "JUST SCISSOR ALREADY!"

41:25 Topic 8: BABY'S FIRST WATER CUT: No one cares that you were the best at weigh-ins - and other ways people get distracted when it comes to meet prep.

42:02: Rhaea Stinn said it best with "live at your weight." That was Rhaea, right? RHAEA? RHAEA CAN YOU HEAR US?

45:20 Imagine how powerful you could be if you were bigger!

46:48 Topic 9: TOO LONG, DIDN'T WATCH. We sit through 45 seconds of you wriggling around on the bench for 2 seconds of a 85% single. Lingering over your set-up while glossing over your lifts and other training video pet peeves.

47:54 Please stop trying to make set-up gains.

49:05 We discuss Beans' squat set up. "But you're cute as pie when you stomp your feet." "I'M ANGRY. I'M NOT CUTE. LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF MY HOOVES"

50:33 Use the trim function. You know it's there. Use it.

51:53 Topic 10: PROGRAM JUMPERS - and their complaints that "nothing is working". What are the signs someone is sabotaging themselves?

56:00 If you lie to your coach about what you're doing, you're sabotaging yourself. Follow the program honestly, keep honest records.

57:40 "You can't control the speed of the gain train."

58:55 Is part of being a powerlifter feeling like a sack of shit the majority of the time? We sure seem to think so.

1:00:22 Topic 11: I HAVE A BUBBLE, DON'T VIOLATE MY BUBBLE. What are some of the common ways people invade your space at the gym?

1:00:53 Drunk Beans tells a story about a time some dude invaded her space at the gym.

1:04:20 Want to talk to someone? Pick your moment. Maybe don't hit on Vanessa when she's in the MIDDLE of a squat.

1:05:27 VERBAL WARNING: We do yet another shot and things *really* begin to deteriorate. Beans does two shots for good measure. Gaïa forgets the F in TIFPL. We all let loose with a stream of creative curse words. Then, Darron tries to get us back on track.

1:07:50 Topic 12: TERRIBLE SPOTTERS - also UNSOLICITED SPOTTERS: if your presence makes us more nervous than no spotter at all, please go away. Also, please stop using spotting as an excuse to grab boobs. You're not fooling anyone. How to spot an incompetent spotter and how to tell him or her to buzz off.

1:09:15 We discuss with great gravitas the difference between getting grabbed on the boob and being spotted properly around the midsection.

1:10:08 We reflect on Gaïa's grinding ability. Darron desperately tries to make the conversation make sense again. She fails.

1:11:42 A fun game for you to play would be to take a shot every time one of us says "Ok, but seriously..." or some variation thereof.

1:14:18 Darron tries to wrap it up. We do one last shot. Thank you for joining us! Please accept our sincere apologies and send your complaints to the TIFPL complaints department, Jon at Evolve Strength.

Our first podcast guest, international level IPF powerlifter Dani Savoie (now Martin!) regales us with tales from her experience at the recent 2016 IPF Open World Championships, the fun and not so fun parts of equipped lifting, what it's like to run a meet, and gives us the inside scoop on what it's really like to date and marry another powerlifter. We also go down the rabbit hole of Gym PDA and whether that's cool or not. (mostly not... let us know if you disagree!)

This week on episode two of GutsXGritXGrind – the This is Female Powerlifting podcast, we are fresh off competing at Power Surge 7, an APU/CPU sanctioned meet here in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada that just so happens to be one of the largest in Western Canada.  We share our meet experiences and sprinkle in tips along the way as we move from the week before to the night of, to the meet in all its glory! 

1:10 – The week before.  Beans cries.  Tess needed the deload.  Gaia went to a fancy event in the mountains and ate butter.  Darron still manages to make workouts take forever.

6:00 – The night before.  Distractions, Oreos and #pantrygains

9:20 – Who sleeps the day before a meet?

10:30 – Weigh ins.

12:45 – Things you brought that you were glad to have and things you didn’t bring that you wish you had.

· 16:10 – Beans brings a full loaf of bread to meets

16:30 – PSA – things you can/cannot wear at a meet

· 15:00 – T-shirt rules in the CPU/IPF

· 18:00 – Darron isn’t exactly sure what a headband is

o Discussion of hair requirements for women, particularly for bench

· 18:55 – The Russian with pigtails is Maryana Naumova.  More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Naumova; if you search her on YouTube you’ll find some pretty impressive lifts

· 19:10 – The difference between sleeves and wraps

o Sleeves - https://www.innerstrengthproducts.ca/allcategories/ipfapproved/sbdkneesleeves

o Wraps - https://www.innerstrengthproducts.ca/allcategories/ipfapproved/gripperkneewrap

§ In addition to knowing the difference between sleeves (compressive knee covers) and wraps (something you literally wrap around your knees) also make sure to know what brands of sleeves/wraps are allowed within your federation.

· 20:20 – Ask your questions before the meet!  The stupid question is the one you don’t ask that burns you when you get to your meet.

· 22:00 – if you need/want a mama bear, just tell someone at a meet that it’s your first day

23:30 – Pre-Game

· 25:00 – Two-hour weigh-ins and killing time during those two hours

· 26:25 – Warm-ups – guess what?  You’re going to share a platform!

· 29:15 – Talking with your coach about what your warm up looks like before the meet

33:50 – The real deal!  Let’s start with squats

· 35:30 – TIFPL hot tip:  walk on the platform sometime after weigh ins.  Just get a feel for it so you know what to expect when you lift on it later.

· 39:00 – Gaining confidence in your lifts

46:00 – Onto bench!

· 47:15 – Make sure you know your rules!  You can beat records by as little as 0.5 kilos

· 50:50 – TIFPL Hot Tip:  do not be married to success being only a certain weight – have goals, but be kind to yourself about your goals

52:45 – Pick things up and put them down – the DEADLIFT!

· 54:00 – Pee.  It happens, so let’s talk about it

o 55:25 – sponsorship from Poise please!  For real though, they are a great option if you’re worried about peeing on the platform.  Don’t let pee fear stand in the way of your PRs. http://www.poise.com/products/absorbency-guide

· 1h:00 – Gaia needs new goals – feel free to send your recommendations!

· 1h:05 – Jason Luo – awesome 59 kilo junior lifter.  Great guy.  Catch him at @drysnots on Instagram

1h:06 – Refereeing commentary

· 1h:06 – TIFPL PSA:  Referees are not out to get you; they want to see you succeed.  If you get a red light and you do not know why – ASK. 

· 1h:09 – props to TIFPL’s favorite referee, Angelina (@ms.vangainzwyk on Instagram).  Not only did she compete in her first equipped bench only; she then got out of her shirt and reffed for the entire rest of the day.  Thank you for everything you do!

1h:10 – Final thoughts on Power Surge

· 1h:12 – shout out to Imran (@imran3 on Instagram) for spotting/loading all day and providing the best hand-offs in the business! 

1h:13 – TIFPL Shout Outs – if you have recommendations, #tifplshoutouts on Instagram!

· Stacy Burr (@bamaburr on Instagram) – IPL WR squat of 435# at 148.  You can watch it here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BMpLMXLjqvV/?taken-by=bamaburr

· Joanna Reiber (@littlejo.r on Instagram) – OPA Provincials – 9/9, 137.5/90/155, PRs in all three lifts, PR Wilks of 483, and best female lifter.  As a 52 kilo lifter, Joanna is one kilo shy of a 3x bw deadlift.

1h:14 – #tifpldirtbagbconfessions – this week we mainly just talked about poop.  If you have a dirtbag confession, please hit us up!

This week on the first episode of GutsXGritXGrind – The This is Female Powerlifting podcast, we are going to revisit our origin story and discuss why we don’t owe anyone pretty (and what is it that means). We’ll also talk about how the growth of our community has not only vastly exceeded our initial expectations, but the lessons we’ve learned so far from it, and how community growth has intersected with our own personal growth. We’ll also ramble on a bit about our own personal meet prep and give share some thoughts on cool things happening in female powerlifting right now and in the near future. We hope you enjoy this, our first show!

0:30 – Introductions – putting names to these awesome voices and giving a little bit of insight into who we are and what we do in real life/the real world.

3:30- - What is This is Female Powerlifting and how did this whole thing get started?

6:30 – There is no “one true way” to be a powerlifter

8:30 – Liz has actually written a great blog post for us and it will be available shortly on our blog at https://thisisfemalepowerlifting.com/

10:00 – What I lift matters, not what I look like while I do it

11:40 – Evolution of TIFPL from our three friends to a community of lifters across the globe

13:30 – Fighting back against traditional notions of beauty

14:30 – Jaime and Darron go full Canadian and name drop NHL hockey players

15:05 – What is the Boner Kill Brigade?

15:52 – Beans is the Boner Kill Brigadier

16:50 – What does it mean to not owe anyone pretty?

18:48 – PSA on 55 second long one rep Instagram videos. While this will be a topic later, here’s a teaser.

19:05 – The transition from Instagram group chat to TIFPL, the Instagram with 10 followers, to a much larger community

20:30 – TIFPL Manifesto

• https://thisisfemalepowerlifting.com/blogs/news/test-blog-yolo

22:30 – Dudes and TIFPL / dudes who TIFPL

26:00 – Dude challenges and leveling the playing field – aka why TIFPL matters

• 27:30 – Here is @mollyKM’s 495# deadlift Darron is talking about (also read the caption): https://www.instagram.com/p/BKhiVcphPfQ/?taken-by=mollykm

28:20 – Fail videos, the Lifting Concern Police and vulnerability

29:30 – It’s ok to be “ugly” and not everything is a quest for gratification

30:50 – Owning your butt selfies and not trying to somehow link them back in to powerlifting

32:30 – “Juicy peaches” and other contrived bodily expectations – take ten lifters and you will have ten different bodies.

34:50 – YOU DO YOU.

35:30 – Being real, and expressing vulnerability – sometimes that includes fails.

• @ejanss on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ejanss/

38:00 – TIFPL challenge: To post our next fails.

38:30 – TIFPL bat signal – we need recommendations for an emoji

39:30 – Power Surge meet prep discussions

41:15 – Compared to WHAT: what/who are you comparing yourself to, and WHY?

• 41:30 – Ryan Stinn and Climb Your Hill: Climb Your Hill comes from a Facebook post written by Saskatchewan lifter Ryan Stinn. You can read it here: https://www.innerstrengthproducts.ca/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=266 (it’s also on a t-shirt!)

42:30 – Meet performance – in the grand scheme of life, what does this one single meet really mean?

44:45 – Goal setting in powerlifting

47:05 – Shout-Outs

• Samantha Coleman 600# deadlift - https://barbend.com/samantha-coleman-600-lb-deadlift/ - You can find her on Instagram here: @samathacoleman

• Sara Cowan – goes 200/110/218 at Ontario Junior/Sub-Junior Provincials in Ontario. Her squat surpasses her 197.5 world record from Worlds in June, while her deadlift is a 5.5 kilo (!!!) increase from her world record pull of 212.5, also at Worlds.
  Deadlift - https://www.instagram.com/p/BMNq26dgYGI/?taken-by=innerstrengthproducts
  You can find Sara on Instagram here @saracowan95

• IPL Worlds – Las Vegas, NV – all women’s weight classes are going down on Thursday November 10. You can find live streams here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVziZHFadg0ffN3vv4P310g/videos?view=2&flow=grid

  • TIFPLers that are competing and where you can find them on Instagram: @onestrongnurse; @bamaburr; @momtocalky
    

50:45 – Teaser for #TIFPLdirtbagconfessions