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Artwork for Iron Culture presented by MASS

Iron Culture presented by MASS

Eric Helms & Eric Trexler
Bodybuilding
Powerlifting
Nutrition
Exercise Science
Resistance Training
Hypertrophy
Natural Bodybuilding
Protein Intake
Strength Training
Caffeine
Microplastics
Body Composition
Science Communication
Coaching
Social Media
Training Volume
Mental Health
Evidence-Based Practices
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Meta-Analysis

Iron Culture was started by Eric Helms and Omar Isuf as a means of exploring the world of physical culture and attempting to distill a unified philosophy of lifting and to help listeners find greater meaning from the iron. It's now hosted by Eric Helms and Eric Trexler, who repeatedly beg Omar to return as a guest. Iron Culture focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, b... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes397Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Health & Fitness

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Iron Culture presented by MASS

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Eric Helms and Richard Collins explore the art and science of coaching, emphasizing the importance of motivation, rapport, and tailored strategies in achieving long-term success in fitness and bodybuilding. In this episode, Richard s... more

YouTube

In this episode, Eric Trexler and Eric Helms explore the energetic cost of building human skeletal muscle, discussing recent research, practical implications, and misconceptions about muscle growth and energy expenditure.

Relevant papers: p... more

YouTube

Trexler and Helms dig into sleep and how it intersects with body composition and supplementation. They open on the sleep-and-lifting landscape, then work through the frequently cited 2010 study on insufficient sleep and fat loss, laying out its desig... more

YouTube

Trexler and Helms dig into Helms's new MASS article, "Are studies on untrained lifters irrelevant to trained lifters?" It's built around a new umbrella review by Andy Fry and colleagues. The recurring internet claim is that most exercise research is ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Richard Collins
Coach with a strength conditioning and physique coaching background
Full Potential Academy
Episode: Ep 388 - What Most Bodybuilders and Their Coaches Miss (ft. Richard Collins)
Steve Hall
Bodybuilding coach and figure in the lifting community
Episode: BONUS: Bulking Is Dead - Eric Helms & Steve Hall
Laura Giangregorio
Professor and bone health researcher
University of Waterloo, Kinesiology and Health Sciences
Episode: Ep 382 - The Science of Building Bone (ft. Dr.Lora Giangregorio)
Kjell Bakkelund
Former Sheffield champion, world-class powerlifter from Norway
Independent athlete / competitive powerlifting
Episode: Ep 368 - Sheffield 2025 Champ Kjell Bakkelund
Dr. Conor Heffernan
Published author and sports historian.
Not mentioned
Episode: Ep 364 - The Evolution of Physical Culture (ft. Dr. Conor Heffernan)
Shreenath Ganesh
New short classic physique world champion at WNBF Worlds
WNBF
Episode: Ep 362 - WNBF Champ Shreenath Ganesh
Eddie Saldana
WNBF overall Pro Bodybuilding, Light Heavyweight and overall World Champion
Episode: Ep 360 - WNBF Champs Eddie Saldana and Max Melchard
Max Melchard
Vice World Champion for the light heavyweight division and accomplished natural bodybuilder
Episode: Ep 360 - WNBF Champs Eddie Saldana and Max Melchard
Heitor Sousa
WNBF World Champion, renowned for his performance in men's physique.
Episode: Ep 357 - WNBF Champs Heitor Sousa and Adão Martins

Hosts

Eric Trexler
Host of long-running science-forward discussions; collaborates on research reviews and coaching insights.
Eric Helms
Co-host and researcher-focused host; provides scientific framing and industry connections.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.8k ratings
  • Iron Platinum

    Iron Culture is pure affiliation with exercise science. This podcast communicates from the deepest level of the framework it operates on. While the expectation to fulfill the need of public engagement with science is generic to these circumstances, Iron Culture holds itself accountable to this vision. By directly approaching the challenge of framing practical outcomes and strictly residing within their respective scientific paradigm, the hosts publish episodes that are easy for the audience to a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VP983
    United States4 months ago
  • Omar

    I’m not going to purport to be an og fan of this podcast because I’m not. I have been listening for several years however; long enough to remember the 30+ minute long banter sessions between Omar and Eric that kicked off each episode. The dichotomy of a host with significant formal education and one without (although still clearly very bright) helped give this podcast its culture. That contrast mattered. It created humor, tension, and accessibility in a way that felt rare and genuine.

    Do I stil... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    metzcar
    United States8 months ago
  • Highy recommended

    Love and appreciate both Erics 🙌🏼

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1997X.Y
    Germany9 months ago
  • Best Fitness/ Sport Science Podcast bar none.

    Simply the best. The 2 co-hosts deliver week after week knowledge jewels, in the most entertaining way. Can’t get enough of the ball busting sense of humor, and deep dive geeking out on all things bodybuilding, powerlifting, nutrition and exercise research. This podcast is gold!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gui Forest
    Canadaa year ago
  • Great practical and science- based fitness podcast

    This podcast falls into my favorite genre of “competent people talking shop with some semblance of structure”. Toes a great line of going beyond surface level but not throwing science words at the wall that only a phd would fully understand. Also does a great job of explaining what a person can actually do with the new information .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    therikshak
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

A data-driven take on lifting culture with strong practical coaching.
Hosts balance deep research with relatable storytelling and guest insights.
Listeners praise the depth and practical relevance; some note long episodes.
Smart, rigorous science banter that stays engaging and entertaining.
High praise for the science literacy and coaching applicability.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#236
United Kingdom/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#81
India/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#123
Netherlands/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#134
Finland/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#141
Denmark/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#180
Singapore/Health & Fitness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 388 - What Most Bodybuilders and Their Coaches Miss (ft. Richard Collins)
Q: What is the biggest gap you see in physique athletes regarding mental performance?
Mental performance and daily goal setting are often neglected; it's crucial to train athletes to focus on controllable factors, build internal motivation, and practice exposure to higher-pressure situations through structured routines and gradual increases in challenge.
Ep 388 - What Most Bodybuilders and Their Coaches Miss (ft. Richard Collins)
Q: Why is coaching so central to your career and your philosophy on helping athletes access their potential?
Coaching is a way to translate a love for sport into a framework that helps others experience the same emotions and progress I did, by guiding them through challenges and helping them internalize motivation rather than rely on external pressures.
Ep 383 - Q&A: Imbalances, Fatigue, & REDs
Q: I've been training for a year and made big leg gains, but my upper body is lagging. Should I swap a lower-body day for an upper-body day to balance things out?
The overall approach should focus on quality of stimulus for lagging muscles first and avoid unnecessary back-to-back heavy training on the same muscle. If upper body lag persists, increase targeted upper-body volume or adjust exercise selection rather than simply swapping days; ensure training quality and recovery are kept in mind.
Ep 380 - Bulking, Cutting, and Recomping
Q: Why should protein intake increase during an aggressive deficit, and what causes muscle loss when deficits exceed about 500 calories per day?
Protein helps preserve lean mass during energy restriction, and deficits can impair muscle building due to limited exogenous fuel; individual body composition and energy deficit magnitudes modulate the balance of muscle protein synthesis and breakdown. Larger deficits, especially in lean individuals, dampen synthesis and increase breakdown unless countered by adequate protein and training.
Ep 380 - Bulking, Cutting, and Recomping
Q: From Natalia: being severely overweight and untrained, should I spend three months in a small bulk to build as much muscle as possible before cutting, or focus on recomposition while cutting?
Helms argues that you likely don't need to bulk intentionally; as Natalia has high body fat, a mild deficit or maintenance-level intake can support muscle gains through recomposition without a deliberate surplus. The key is tailoring energy intake to support training and muscle growth, recognizing that gains can still occur in a deficit for experienced lifters and that bulk phases are not mandatory for progress.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Iron Culture presented by MASS

What is Iron Culture presented by MASS about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-forward, practitioner-oriented show that blends rigorous exercise science with practical coaching insights. Across episodes, the hosts explore training methods, nutrition strategies, and the behavioral realities of lifting culture, often grounding discussions in current research while staying accessible for lifters, coaches, and clinicians. Frequent topics include how to interpret measurements and studies, how to optimize volume and energy balance, and how new pharmacology or body-composition concepts might influence training and dieting. A standout aspect is the mix of deep-dive science with candid banter and real-world coaching anecdotes, sometimes featuring expert guests to expand on complex topics. This combination likely appe... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Iron Culture presented by MASS?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Iron Culture presented by MASS:

1. 3D Muscle Journey
2. The Revive Stronger Podcast
3. RP Strength Podcast
4. Barbell Medicine Podcast
5. Front Page Fitness

How many episodes of Iron Culture presented by MASS are there?

Iron Culture presented by MASS launched 8 years ago and published 397 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Iron Culture presented by MASS?

Recent guests on Iron Culture presented by MASS include:

1. Richard Collins
2. Steve Hall
3. Laura Giangregorio
4. Kjell Bakkelund
5. Dr. Conor Heffernan
6. Shreenath Ganesh
7. Eddie Saldana
8. Max Melchard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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