Is powerlifting in a slump?

Is powerlifting in a slump?

Author: Jim McDonald February 19, 2025 Duration: 52:18
Have you noticed that powerlifting is experiencing a bit of a dip in popularity? We have. What might be the cause?  

We kick around some possibilities. Is the last wave of lifters starting to age out and move on to other hobbies? Is it turmoil among the federations? How do other hobby sports maintain their popularity?  

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Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) https://www.instagram.com/silentmikke/ and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). https://www.instagram.com/thejimmcd/

Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Sam McDonald and Sebastian Brambila. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo (@jmanzo523)

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Ever notice how a movie scene about training or a social media trend about nutrition can feel a bit off, like the reality got lost in translation? That’s the space where 50% Facts lives. Hosted by veteran podcaster and gym owner Jim McDonald, this series digs into the wide gap between how popular culture depicts our well-being and how things actually work. Each episode takes a closer look at the portrayals of health, fitness, mental health, and more in films, TV, and online media, questioning where the truth ends and the distortion begins. Jim brings his perspective from running Third Street Barbell in Sacramento to conversations with a diverse range of guests, from fitness experts and athletes to voices from entertainment. The discussions are grounded, often surprising, and focused on separating Hollywood flair from actionable knowledge. Tune in for a podcast that doesn’t just review media but investigates the stories we’re told about our own bodies and minds, all through Jim’s straightforward and experienced lens.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 500

50% Facts
Podcast Episodes
A Powerlifting Quiz? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:05
Sometimes, we need to take a minute to look at what people outside of powerlifting think about the sport. We take a look at a powerlifting quiz published by a fitness site. Some questions were easy, and others…a bit hard…
A shocking loss for powerlifting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:46
We were saddened to learn of the accidental death over the weekend of Kim Tran AKA Kim Valentine. We discussed some of her accomplishments on the platform and the role she played in bringing women and Asian lifters into…
Why isn’t there an apples-to-apples way to compare deadlifts? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:03
You probably think that pulling sumo is the biggest variation between deadlifts, but there are many more. It can even be challenging to tell the conditions of a particular lift, let alone compare them. Is it wrong to “ga…
CrossFit athlete association demands assurances of safety and change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:55
Understandably, the fallout from the death of CrossFit Games athlete Lazar Đukić is far from over. We discuss some posts and articles about the private meetings held at the Games concerning whether to continue and the de…
CrossFit tragedy: Who is responsible for athlete safety? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:30
The unthinkable happened. CrossFit lost an athlete during the games. Without having all the answers yet about exactly what happened when Lazar Đukić drowned, clearly sufficient safety measures were not in place. Athletes…
Olympic controversies: Who decides who competes? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:32
We talk through a couple of the actual Olympic incidents and controversies. Who knew that pole vault and volleyball would draw focus? Which Olympic entity decides if a convicted rapist gets to compete on the Olympic stag…
Do you really need to forgive people who hurt you? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:17
Last week, we talked a little about public figures who have committed terrible acts, been “canceled,” and then somehow rehabilitated their public images. Apologies – sometimes heartfelt, sometimes performative – have bee…
The value of not falling in with a crowd? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:07
We’re back in the studio together after several weeks away. We talk about the importance of South Sudan’s near victory over the US in a warmup Olympic basketball and admire the commitment of Luol Deng (and our friend, Ja…
Celebrity Death Match but influencers? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:01
Well, maybe not precisely “death” matches, but can we build a brand new, fun, competitive sport from existing sports and fitness elements?Dean Saddoris (@deansaddoris.ck) joined us for this exercise/thought experiment. S…