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Starting Strength Radio

Mark Rippetoe
Strength Training
Starting Strength
Barbell Training
Nutrition
Powerlifting
Bodybuilding
Fitness Industry
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Personal Training
Weightlifting
Adaptation
Covid-19
Crossfit
Health and Fitness
Fitness Myths
Injury Prevention
Barbell Lifts
Transgender Athletes
Testosterone
Fitness Coaching

Starting Strength is the bestselling book on the most fundamental and effective approach to strength training ever written. Mark Rippetoe hosts Starting Strength Radio where he discusses topics of interest, primarily to him, but perhaps also to you.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes500Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Health & Fitness

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Artwork for Starting Strength Radio

Latest Episodes

Rip answers questions from Starting Strength Network subscribers and fans.

Rip and crew discuss how science and mainstream media outlets are increasingly promoting strength training as an important component of health.

Rip answers questions live from Starting Strength Network subscribers and fans.

Rip and John talk about their favorite action movie stars, behind the scenes production, and what makes an action movie work.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Recent Guests

John Musser
Guest with a background in security and protection for high-profile individuals and film productions
Independent security professional
Episode: Action Movie Stars with John Musser | Starting Strength Radio #353
Jim Steel
Guest, longtime strength coach and industry veteran
Starting Strength Network
Episode: Two Old Guys Talking | Starting Strength Radio #351
Carl Raghavan
Starting Strength coach in the UK, has been traveling for three years.
Starting Strength
Episode: Training Heavy, Olympic Lifts, and Strength with Carl Raghavan | Starting Strength Radio #339
Karl Denninger
Economist and contributor at marketticker.org
Market Ticker
Episode: Costs and Consequences with Karl Denninger | Starting Strength Radio #336
Dr. John Ford
An internist with broad experience in various medical settings, focusing on the frail elderly in a corporate medicine model.
Private practice, California
Episode: Healthcare: A View from the Inside | Starting Strength Radio #334
Kelly Fristoe
Health insurance industry insider and author of 'It's Not Personal, It's Just Business. Health Care.'
Episode: It's Not Personal, It's Just Healthcare | Starting Strength Radio #331
Drew Estell
Founder of Baer Solutions, expert in weapons training
Baer Solutions
Episode: Combat Effectiveness with Drew Estell | Starting Strength Radio #323
Ray Gillenwater
One of the key figures behind the Starting Strength Gyms franchise.
Starting Strength Gyms
Episode: The Gillenwaters and the Gyms | Starting Strength Radio #322
Ben Gillenwater
Co-founder of Starting Strength Gyms.
Starting Strength Gyms
Episode: The Gillenwaters and the Gyms | Starting Strength Radio #322

Hosts

Mark Rippetoe
Lead host focusing on strength training methodology, coaching philosophy, and gym business.
Jim Steel
Experienced strength coach and industry veteran providing coaching insights and historical context.

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • You know why you're here

    You know what to expect. You get what you expect. Entertainment.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    PlasmaFuzer
    United States3 months ago
  • Best in the business

    The foremost expert in strength training. Great commentary.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kurt Wachowski
    United States4 months ago
  • Rusty’s politics need to go

    Rusty stepped over a pretty bright line having nothing to do with starting strength. I don’t get the vapors but he should stay on topic.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Glorified G
    United States5 months ago
  • Condescending and apart of a MAGA cult.

    I enjoy listening to barbell training talk. I loved Matt Reynolds’s old podcast so I thought I would enjoy this but I just can’t.

    This is just Rip’s outlet for living out a Rush Limbaugh type fantasy. Rip will just condescend every question that comes in. He rarely actually gives advice and these cackling yes men stooges are on the side just encouraging him and clapping like seal.

    Anytime anyone associated with starting strength gets an ounce of criticism they start crashing out. So I’m sure... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bri-2-J
    United States7 months ago
  • Love it

    Love it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cman817263
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate practical coaching tips paired with candid, no-nonsense discussion.
Audience enjoys the blend of training content with personality-driven banter.
Some critics note heavy political commentary at times, which can polarize listeners.
Late-stage episodes with controversial takes may deter some sponsors or guests.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#129
Ireland/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#215
Finland/Health & Fitness
Apple Podcasts
#227
South Korea/Health & Fitness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Q&A Episode - Weight, Height, and Ice Cream | Starting Strength Radio #356
Q: What is the recommended approach after a medical setback like a surgery or medical condition?
Consult healthcare professionals and reintroduce loading carefully, starting with light sets and gradually increasing load to rebuild strength and bone density while monitoring health status.
Q&A Episode - Weight, Height, and Ice Cream | Starting Strength Radio #356
Q: What about the role of non-barbell 'assist' exercises in a program?
Non-barbell exercises can help manage systemic stress when needed, but for most people the focus should be on progressing the main lifts and adding stress only when it meaningfully contributes to adaptation.
Q&A Episode - Weight, Height, and Ice Cream | Starting Strength Radio #356
Q: Should I worry about weight class while staying strong in NLP and long-term training?
Yes—prioritize getting strong and training durability; if weight-cutting becomes a factor, adjust after you've built sufficient strength and technique, rather than forcing a weight target early.
Q&A Episode - Weight, Height, and Ice Cream | Starting Strength Radio #356
Q: How heavy should I get to finish the novice progression and what about weight class considerations for jiu-jitsu?
The guidance centers on strength development first: aim to reach solid plate milestones (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4 plates) while staying flexible about weight class, because it's often better to be strong at an appropriate weight and then adjust if competition demands it.
Goals, Habits, and Work | Starting Strength Radio #354
Q: How should a intermediate lifter structure back-off work within a Texas Method-like setup?
Use lighter back-off sets that mimic the top set volume but at significantly reduced intensity; emphasize the balance between heavy day intensity and volume day recovery to sustain progression.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Starting Strength Radio

What is Starting Strength Radio about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, opinionated show centered on strength training, coaching quality, and running gyms. Episodes frequently cover real-world coaching, programming fundamentals, and the business side of operating strength-focused gyms, with frequent debates about simple, results-driven training versus marketing hype. The host and guests also explore broader topics like hormone optimization, peptides, and even current events or politics, often tying them back to training culture and leadership in gym communities. A notable strength is pairing long-form technical coaching with candid, sometimes provocative banter, making it appealing to serious lifters, gym owners, and coaches who want both actionable insights and personality-driven discussions.

Where can I find podcast stats for Starting Strength Radio?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Starting Strength Radio. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Starting Strength Radio and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Starting Strength Radio get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Starting Strength Radio, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Starting Strength Radio?

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How many subscribers and views does Starting Strength Radio have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Starting Strength Radio has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Starting Strength Radio?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Starting Strength Radio:

1. Strong and Sleek Podcast
2. Power Athlete Radio
3. Barbell Medicine Podcast
4. The Dan John Podcast
5. Barbell Shrugged

How many episodes of Starting Strength Radio are there?

Starting Strength Radio launched 13 years ago and published 500 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Starting Strength Radio?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Starting Strength Radio?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Starting Strength Radio from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Starting Strength Radio?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Starting Strength Radio. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Starting Strength Radio?

Recent guests on Starting Strength Radio include:

1. John Musser
2. Jim Steel
3. Carl Raghavan
4. Karl Denninger
5. Dr. John Ford
6. Kelly Fristoe
7. Drew Estell
8. Ray Gillenwater

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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