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Artwork for Iron Culture presented by MASS

Iron Culture presented by MASS

MASS Research Review
Bodybuilding
Hypertrophy
Resistance Training
Nutrition
MASS Research Review
Strength Training
Exercise Science
Natural Bodybuilding
Powerlifting
Muscle Hypertrophy
Protein Intake
Training Volume
Body Composition
Strength
Microplastics
Fat Loss
Saturated Fat
Periodization
Metabolic Adaptation
Menopause

Iron Culture was started 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 focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, bouncing from history, to philosophy, to contemporary lifting culture issues, to science. Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MA... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes163Founded3 years ago
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Health & Fitness

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Artwork for Iron Culture presented by MASS

Latest Episodes

Trexler and Helms step back from training specifics to talk about how science gets interpreted, communicated, and applied.

Trexler opens with two anecdotes that exposed a blind spot in his own communication — a one-minute clip of a talk on the Minne... more

Trexler and Helms dig into training frequency and hypertrophy, prompted by a wave of recent discussion and two new papers: a new original study comparing three weekly sessions of three sets against one session of nine, and a new preprint from an inde... more

YouTube

In this episode, Eric Helms and Steve Hall explore the nature of aging, the importance of self-awareness, and practical insights into nutrition and training for bodybuilders.

They share personal stories, scientific perspectives, and coaching tips t... more

This episode looks at bodybuilding before steroids became widespread, arguing that the era is far more useful (and more complicated) than the usual “pure, simple, natty golden age” story. Drs Eric Helms and Conor Heffernan break down how strength spo... more

YouTube

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Iron Culture presented by MASSEric Helms & Eric Trexler

Recent Guests

Conor Heffernan
Historian and educator who teaches sociology of sport
Episode: Ep 391 - What Can You REALLY Learn From Pre-Steroid Era Bodybuilders? (with Dr. Conor Heffernan)
Richard Collins
Coach with a background in strength and conditioning and bodybuilding
Full Potential Academy (online education platform)
Episode: Ep 388 - What Most Bodybuilders and Their Coaches Miss (ft. Richard Collins)
Eric Helms
Co-host of the show and researcher/coach known for work with MASS and 3DMJ
MASS Research Review; 3DMJ
Episode: BONUS: Bulking Is Dead - Eric Helms & Steve Hall
Steve Hall
Coach and coach/athlete with extensive experience in bodybuilding and coaching
Unknown (appears as a frequent collaborator/guest on Stronger Culture and related podcasts)
Episode: BONUS: Bulking Is Dead - Eric Helms & Steve Hall
Laura Giangregorio
Professor of Kinesiology and Health Sciences, University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
Episode: Ep 382 - The Science of Building Bone (ft. Dr.Lora Giangregorio)
Kjell Bakkelund
Former Sheffield champion, world-class powerlifter from Norway
Independent athlete
Episode: Ep 368 - Sheffield 2025 Champ Kjell Bakkelund
Dr. Conor Heffernan
Published author and historian specializing in physical culture
Iron Culture
Episode: Ep 364 - The Evolution of Physical Culture (ft. Dr. Conor Heffernan)
Shreenath Ganesh
New WNBF World Champion in Classic Physique
WNBF
Episode: Ep 362 - WNBF Champ Shreenath Ganesh
John Russon
Fitness coach and author known for his work on pain-free performance.
Episode: Ep 359 - Tribalism in Evidence-Based Fitness

Hosts

Eric Trexler
Host of Iron Culture, co-host and interview conductor; associated with MASS Research Review.
Eric Helms
Co-host, researcher and coach; long-running host with MASS and related projects.
Steve Hall
Host and frequent collaborator; prominent voice in discussions on training and bodybuilding culture.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 340 ratings
  • Maybe the Best

    The 2 Erics are among if not the best at at making what could be extremely boring, tediously nuanced things digestible and entertaining. Trex’s dry humor is sneaky good and Helms can pretty much explain anything and even a dumb guy like me understands. … I listen to probably 4-5hours of podcasts a day, I think this is the only review I’ve written

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Blah 11blah blah111
    United Statesa year ago
  • Mass office hours is hot and everyone knows it

    These fellas know a thing or two about strength and muscle building

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    KORTKNEEE1989
    United States2 years ago
  • Time Stamps

    Time Stamps are wildly inaccurate.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Brad Ekegren
    United States2 years ago
  • Absolutely top notch 👌

    One of the best exercise related podcasts out there. Highly recommend 👌

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Adjev#24
    Sweden3 years ago
  • Give Omar A Raise!

    I came here from the Iron Culture podcast. I’ll stay here as long as you make a public promise to TRIPLE Omar’s salary on the Iron Culture podcast. If you deny my request… You’re dead to me! P.S… Love the podcasts!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Public Commenter
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Great blend of academic rigor and real-world coaching experience.
High-quality, nuanced discussions with practical coaching insights.
The hosts explain complex topics clearly and make science approachable for lifters and coaches.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep 391 - What Can You REALLY Learn From Pre-Steroid Era Bodybuilders? (with Dr. Conor Heffernan)
Q: What do you think are the biggest valuable lessons that we can take from the pre-steroid era of bodybuilding that was mostly entangled with Olympic weightlifting, but was becoming its own thing for a brief decade before we had steroids coming out?
Heffernan says contest standards and exercise systems are human-made and change over time. He recommends learning broad patterns such as progressive overload, consistent training, nutrition, recovery, and choosing training to match a specific goal.
Ep 391 - What Can You REALLY Learn From Pre-Steroid Era Bodybuilders? (with Dr. Conor Heffernan)
Q: So, what would you define as the pre-steroid era in bodybuilding? We're going to be reasonably confident that we're seeing physiques that aren't meaningfully altered by anabolic.
Heffernan uses 1958 as a practical marker for the United States, when Dianabol was produced with a direct connection to the fitness industry. He distinguishes drug development and awareness from widespread use among bodybuilders.
Ep 381 - Q&A: GLP-1s, Tendon Training, & Rep Ranges
Q: Do protein requirements scale with training volume?
The hosts agree that protein intake should generally be sufficient to cover daily needs and support recovery, with a practical takeaway being to ensure at least around 1.6 g/kg of protein per day for those training hard, while recognizing that higher volumes may argue for marginally higher intake but not to a large, universal degree.
Ep 368 - Sheffield 2025 Champ Kjell Bakkelund
Q: How did Kjell approach the weight-class transition from 74s to 66s and what changed in his preparation?
He adopted a more sustainable nutrition plan, raised baseline calories to reduce cravings, and adjusted training to support the lighter weight class while maintaining strength. The shift also involved better communication with his coach and nutritionist, enabling a steadier prep and fewer drastic measures.
Ep 367 - Q&A
Q: Is there a theoretical point where high soy/isoflavone intake could impact hormones or fertility, and what does the data say?
Overall data show no meaningful harm to reproductive hormones from soy/isoflavones in typical diets; some mixed findings exist for sperm counts, but current evidence leans toward negligible clinically meaningful effects, though more targeted trials would help clarify.

Audience Metrics

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

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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?

Listeners lean toward rigorous, evidence-based discussions about strength, muscle, and health with a practical coaching edge. The show frequently threads together biomechanics, nutrition, and training philosophy, often challenging common dogmas while offering actionable frameworks for long-term progress. Expect deep dives into body recomp, measurement accuracy, energy balance, and the ethics and realities of modern bodybuilding culture, all anchored by two primary hosts and a rotating group of experts and collaborators. A standout element is the clear emphasis on nuance, data-driven decision making, and accessible explanations that appeal to coaches, athletes, and serious lifters alike.

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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. Front Page Fitness
2. The Revive Stronger Podcast
3. Iron Culture presented by MASS
4. RP Strength Podcast
5. Sigma Nutrition Radio

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

Iron Culture presented by MASS launched 3 years ago and published 163 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. Conor Heffernan
2. Richard Collins
3. Eric Helms
4. Steve Hall
5. Laura Giangregorio
6. Kjell Bakkelund
7. Dr. Conor Heffernan
8. Shreenath Ganesh

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