Rockwell Barbell Strongcast

In this episode, Lawrence Scott talks with Jake Smelley of Gideon (IG: @gideonal) about the deep connections between music, experiences, and memory They discuss Hank Williams Jr.'s influence on punk and rock, the challenges of authenticity in music, and mental health. The conversation concludes with insights on Gideon’s new single, "Till the Wheels Fall Off," emphasizing resilience and personal reflection.

In this episode, the hosts chat with Adam, Andy, and Dan about the Chicagoland Porsche community and their event, Checkeditout. Lawrence shares how a surprise from his wife introduced him to Porsche car culture, emphasizing the importance of connection and storytelling among enthusiasts. They discuss event planning, the evolution of car culture, and their outreach work with Crushers Club, a mentorship program for at-risk youth. The episode wraps up with updates on upcoming events and their book, “Off the Map.” Adam Kern @adammkern Co-Founder of @checkeditout.io Andy Bizub @andybizub Co-Founder of @checkeditout.io and Founder/Co-Owner of @mpcars  Dan Cubric @crankcasecarrera Architect of @checkeditout.io

In this episode, Lawrence chats with Pat, Alex, and Mike. They share personal stories from their early training, and Pat share how judo enhances jiu-jitsu skills. Alex talks about his journey to being a black belt and being at Balance Point. Mike talks about his progression to brown belt. They discuss downtime from jit-jitsu, trusting your sparring partners, and how they all ended up at Balance Point.

In this episode, host Lawrence Scott welcomes Tony Lullo, an expert gaffer and lighting technician known for his work on "Chicago Fire" and many notable films. They talk about how they met during a filming session at Rockwell Barbell. Tony shares his Midwest values and the sense of camaraderie he feels on set. They also discuss industry mentorship, the ins and out of the Chicago film industry, and the personalities in it.

In this episode, Lawrence speaks with tattoo artist and shop owner, Caroline Moody (IG: @forever_moody) about their friendship, being at the Rockwell Barbell, and training together. She shares her experiences of working in the tattoo industry for 18 years. She talks about celebrating the ten year anniversary of her tattoo shop, Copperplate Tattoo. They discuss the balance of passion and profession, the significance of family in Caroline's art career, the personal significance of tattoos, and the importance of mentorship and community in both powerlifting and the art world. They also talk about smart rings and health technology.

In this episode, Lawrence Scott speaks with Adrienne Eades (IG: stronger_with_adrienne) about her experience preparing for the Paris Marathon. They discuss her 16-week training journey leading up to the marathon, and the unique atmosphere of Paris compared to Chicago. Adrienne shares the importance of support from her partner leading up to and during the marathon. Adrienne also talks about coaching while balancing running and lifting goals. They also discuss what what drove Adrienne to join Rockwell Barbell as a trainer, and the work that goes into changing careers. She also shares some of her future goals in fitness and in life.

In this episode, Lawrence Scott catches up with Matt Blankenberger (@americanmeatball80_). They talk about the evolution of their friendship and careers. Matt talks about his experiences as the Vice President of Rockwell Barbell, the owner of Pig Collective, and being the co-owner of the clothing brand, Ritual. They discuss the supportive community and family in powerlifting. They also share their love for hardcore music and perspectives on training as they get older.

In this episode, Lawrence and Katie (@katieeenguyen.scott) hosts champion strongwoman athlete Inez Carrasquillo (@Inez_prostrongwoman). Inez shares her journey from a severe injury to winning the North American Arnold Classic Strongwoman competition. She also goes over her experience as a Rogue Invitational champion and new records. Katie talks about her experiences that lead her into becoming a personal trainer and the Director of Operations at Rockwell Barbell. Then, they discuss their collaboration and performance at Lollapalooza, and the supportive community at both Rockwell Barbell and Surge gyms.

In this episode, Lawrence and Ed talk with Dan Strauss. Dan is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under Roger Gracie and Strength Training Aficionado. He talks about his journey from traditional Japanese Jiu Jitsu to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and training under legends like Roger Gracie. They also cover philosophies on live sparring versus drilling. You can find Dan on Instagram (@raspberry_ape) or at www.apeacademyonline.com.

Bill and Justin join Lawrence on this episode, where they discuss the links between creativity, formative experiences in education, strong mentorship, and personal growth. Bill shares his journeys taking him from Big Tech, to becoming an educator, and insights from his experience in tech entrepreneurship. They also cover resilience through trauma, teamwork complexities in the video game and tech industries, along with the ongoing process of learning through shared experiences.

In this episode, Lawrence speaks with Ty Horn, aka Mobility Monster (@mobility_monster74), about his journey from college football to strength coaching and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ty touches on his individualized training approach, the use of unconventional techniques, and the importance of community in martial arts. Ty shares insights from his experiences training with some of the top Jiu-Jitsu grapplers, and how technique can overrule size on the mat. They both touch on blue collar work ethic and how it influenced their training. They also discuss the growth that comes from stepping outside comfort zones and unorthodox paths to finding their strengths in fitness and in life.

In this episode, Lawrence talks with professional CrossFit athlete Dana Paran and owner of Iron Mind Rehab and Performance, Becca Ward. Dana shares her experiences participating in CrossFit competitions. They discuss Dana's experience at the Rogue Invitational, recovering from a significant ankle injury, and the sense of community in CrossFit and powerlifting. Dana and Becca also share how they met and bonded through fitness. Also, they discuss Dana's travels, the current state of CrossFit, and some future plans.

In this episode, Lawrence talks both Al Jakich and Terry Strand, bodybuilding veterans. They talk about how they met, where they've been, and the history of fitness culture of Chicago. Terry shares humorous insights on how bodybuilding shaped his life. Al shares his experiences growing up on Chicago's west side and his passion for bodybuilding. They also reminisce about the golden age of gyms, the evolution of training practices, and discuss the importance of community, mentorship, and tradition in fitness.

Tom O'Neill, a long time trainer at Rockwell Barbell, joins Lawrence on the podcast. They chat about how they connected through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and powerlifting. Tom also dives into their transition from casual lifting to powerlifting and strongman competitions. Then, Lawrence and Tom highlight the ways in which their training philosophies evolved over time, training injuries, motivation, and being accountable to oneself when training.

Becca Ward (https://www.ironmindrehab.com/) joins Lawrence to discuss her experiences as a physical therapist and powerlifting coach. Becca talks about her path from a newcomer in powerlifting into embracing the sport and its culture. She also touches on the intersection of strength training and rehabilitation, as well as managing her own practice, Iron Mind. They also chat about the advantages of bypassing traditional insurance models and the benefits of patient focused care.

Adam Kern (@adammkern) joins Lawrence on the podcast to discuss all things Porsche, car culture, and building a community with a common passion. Adam shares the origins of the CheckedItOut (@checkeditout.io), a premier Porsche enthusiast gathering that he established. He also discusses his brand Low End Garage (@lowendgaragechicago), working with artists to bring a vision to life for his events, and road tripping with a Porsche in tow. Find out more about CheckedItOut and Low End Garage here: https://www.checkeditout.io/ https://www.lowendgaragechicago.com/media

In this episode, Lawrence talks with Charles Lewis, a Rockwell Barbell regular. They discuss how they met and how their friendship developed with time. With a background as a nuclear procurement engineer, Charles also shares his childhood challenges and path to a successful career. Then, they explore the evolution of training through mental fortitude and unconventional methods, drawing inspiration from solo outdoor routines akin to Musashi Miyamoto's discipline and swordsmanship.  Charles also shares some anime recommendations with Lawrence, and touches on how anime and gaming has influenced his passion for training. They also cover injury, recovery, and not letting a setback break consistency in training. They also touch on diverse training techniques, machine workouts versus working with restrictions during training, and fostering a supportive fitness community. 

Anja Schuffner shares insights about her training leading to and competing in the Arnold Strongman Classic. Anja also discusses challenges faced by Asian athletes, and her mission to empower Asian women in strength sports. Lawrence and Anja covers insights on work-life balance, contrasting work cultures globally, and a glimpse into Anja's training routine in Hong Kong. They also cover the landscape of Strongman and powerlifting in Asia. Visit our sponsor, Eaternal Nutrition. https://eaternalnutrition.com

On this episode, David (@basketball.biology) and Lawrence talks about social media and the impact one can have with sharing vital information with others to expose yourself to new ideas. They also discuss the value of communicating with new people, the benefits of asking for help, and reaching out to others. They talk about mobility techniques and things they've tried and changed over time. They also discuss how David's athletic history influences the work that he does now, as well as his connection to the world of basketball.

On this episode, Dan joins Lawrence on the podcast. Lawrence and Dan discuss how they met, their different life trajectories and experiences. They also cover skate parks, punk houses, and the types of people and experiences that come with them. Dan also touches on his experience as a first responder, being deployed to Iraq, and adjacent topics.