Stronger By Science Podcasts

Whether you’re trying to gain, lose, or maintain weight, strategic management of hunger and appetite can come in handy. In today’s episode, Eric Trexler discusses a variety of practical strategies for managing hunger and appetite to support a more successful and enjoyable dieting experience. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Join the Research Spotlight newslette…

In today’s episode, Eric takes a comprehensive look at how physical activity and cardiovascular exercise can impact general health and weight management. Specific topics of discussion include non-exercise physical activity, exercise snacks, step counts, appetite, exercise energy compensation, interval versus steady-state cardio, the interference ef…

In today’s episode, Eric responds to a few pieces of listener feedback, then covers two popular nutrition topics. In the first, he discusses the utility of calorie counting or diet tracking, and how to make the process as feasible and effective as possible. After that, he provides a thorough overview of mindful eating, while addressing some common …

In today’s episode, Eric Trexler continues his discussion about some of the advantages and disadvantages of popular diets, and explores some common misconceptions in the world of nutrition. Topics include low-fat diets, the Ornish diet, vegetarian diets, vegan diets, cleanses, detoxes, single-food diets, time-restricted feeding, intermittent fastin…

In today’s episode, Eric Trexler discusses some of the advantages and disadvantages of popular diets, and explores some common misconceptions in the world of nutrition. Topics include low-carb diets, the Zone diet, the South Beach diet, the glycemic index, continuous glucose monitors, gluten-free diets, “eating clean,” ketogenic diets, the Atkins d…

Today’s show is a continuation of our series leading into the New Year. Weight loss is one of the most common New Year’s Resolutions, so this episode explores and answers some of the most common questions about weight loss diets. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Join the Research Spotlight newsletter: Get a two-minute breakdown of one recent study every Wednesd…

In today’s episode, Greg and Eric discuss a new study reporting that 85% of highly cited meta-analyses in the field of strength and conditioning research contain at least one statistical error. The conversation covers common meta-analysis errors, how to spot them, and how to critically interpret meta-analyses. After that, Eric presents a segment on…

In preparation for the new year (and the resolutions that come with it), we’re replaying Episode 71, which is all about goal setting and behavior change. In this episode from the SBSPOD archive, Eric and Greg have a long, evidence-based conversation about the research on setting effective goals and successfully changing health behaviors. The discus…

In today’s episode, Greg and Eric field listener questions about exercise selection for general strength purposes, testing protocols for overall fitness levels, vegan diets, optimizing exercise selection and execution based on anatomical principles, incline bench pressing, deadlifting on an uneven floor, and work-life balance. SUPPORT THE PODCAST J…

In today’s episode, Greg and Eric field listener questions about dietary fat targets, future competition plans, ergogenic effects of music, testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), statistics-focused content, and the circulation of misinformation and disinformation in the world of health, fitness, and nutrition. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Join the Research…

In today’s episode, Greg and Eric field listener questions about insulin, maintenance phases, controversial fitness opinions, maintaining muscle while cutting, the effects of NSAIDs on training adaptations, deltoid training, ashwagandha supplementation, content creation, social media, and the best gauge of overall strength. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Join…

After Eric’s first earthquake experience, today’s episode begins with a brief discussion of natural disasters. That’s followed by Greg’s segment, which covers popular weight loss advice that may do more harm than good. While most of the ideas that catch on and get popular originate with bodybuilders and physique athletes, they are often misapplied …

Today’s episode begins with a discussion about an ambitious experiment in the world of academic publishing, and the real-world costs of striving for bench press excellence. After that, Greg presents a segment about partial range-of-motion (ROM) training for strength outcomes. Greg digs into the available research about whether or not partial reps c…

Today’s episode begins with a discussion about the very predictable scandal that rocked Fat Bear Week. After that, Greg presents a segment about accommodating resistance (that is, training with bands and chains). Greg digs into the available research and explains why accommodating resistance is beneficial for power development and explosive muscle …

In today's episode, Greg and Eric pat themselves on the back for breaking the 100 episode barrier, in addition to sharing their picks for Fat Bear Week 2022. After that, Greg encroaches on Eric’s territory with a segment about body composition assessments. In the segment, Greg discusses what common body composition devices actually measure, how acc…

In today's episode, Eric briefly addresses some feedback and responses to his previous article and segment about reverse dieting. After that, it’s all about differences in gains between individuals. Greg begins by exploring research that describes the degree to which training-induced improvements in strength, muscularity, and aerobic fitness vary f…

Mechanical tension, muscle damage, and metabolic stress are often viewed as the key stimuli for muscle hypertrophy. A new study asserts that mechanical activation of fast-twitch muscle fibers is the strongest determinant of muscle hypertrophy, which suggests that mechanical tension is the most noteworthy stimulus for muscle growth. This is an intui…

It’s very common to assume that group-level findings from research will reliably predict how you (or your clients) will respond to a particular training strategy, but that’s not always the case. In today’s episode, Greg discusses the substantial amount of inter-individual variability observed in responses to training interventions, and how to navig…

Today’s episode is a celebration of the one-year anniversary of launching MacroFactor. It was recorded with a live YouTube audience on September 16, 2022. In this episode, Greg and Eric answer some viewers’ questions that are specific to MacroFactor, but they also answer several unrelated questions about a wide range of training and nutrition topic…

We’re officially back for a brand new season! In today’s episode, Greg discusses the research behind how resistance training range of motion impacts muscle growth, with a special focus on stretch-mediated hypertrophy. After that, Eric dives deep into the topic of reverse dieting, which is often touted as a remedy for metabolic adaptation and a stra…

Fireside chats are a collection of conversational, off-topic episodes hosted by Greg Nuckols. In Fireside Chat #13, Greg sits down with Eric Trexler to discuss cooking, leisure time activities (other than exercise), organization and efficiency tips, the loneliness epidemic, and a bunch of other miscellaneous topics. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Join the Res…

Fireside chats are a collection of conversational, off-topic episodes hosted by Greg Nuckols. In Fireside Chat #12, Greg sits down with Eric Trexler to discuss celebrity look-alikes, facial hair, student loan forgiveness, pivotal life moments, least favorite jobs, music, movies, trolley problems, the Road to Enlightenment, and a bunch of other misc…

Fireside chats are a collection of conversational, off-topic episodes hosted by Greg Nuckols. In Fireside Chat #11, Greg sits down with Eric Trexler to discuss freak athletes, pets, luxury items, alternative careers, podcast recommendations, and a bunch of other miscellaneous topics. SUPPORT THE PODCAST Join the Research Spotlight newsletter: Get a…

In today’s episode, Eric kicks things off by answering two questions from listeners. The first is about proper mixing and storage of creatine, and the second is about rediscovering and restoring motivation to work out. Next, Greg provides a research-packed answer to a listener’s question about whether or not there is a point of diminishing returns …

In today’s episode, Eric shares a sauna update that explores the effects of sauna bathing on exercise recovery and training adaptations. Next, Greg presents a research review segment that covers the surprisingly positive effects of plyometric exercises on muscle hypertrophy. After that, Eric answers a listener’s questions related to intuitive eatin…

In today’s episode, Eric discusses his newest article that describes the drawbacks of “cheat meals” while recommending some more advisable alternatives. After that, Greg presents a Research Review about the time course of detraining when you take some time off from the gym. Finally, Eric answers a listener’s question about the potential health bene…

Today’s show begins with a recap of results from the men’s division of the IPF world championships and USAPL Mega-Nationals. After that, Eric revisits the topic of beta-ecdysterone and turkesterone supplementation in light of some controversy within the supplement industry. Next, Greg discusses the newest Stronger By Science article by Cameron Gill…

Today’s show begins with a recap of results from the women’s division of the IPF world champions. After that, Greg shares a hybrid Article Discussion/Tech Support segment about a new article covering MacroFactor’s revamped food logging system, which makes it (objectively) the fastest food logger on the market. After that, Greg and Eric debut the “A…

In today’s episode, Greg and Eric revisit the topic of buffering supplements and fatigue as Eric presents a Research Review about the mechanisms driving neuromuscular fatigue. After that, Greg discusses his cover story from the most recent issue of the MASS Research Review, which is also available at strongerbyscience.com. In the article, Greg expl…

Today’s episode begins with a spoiler in the Feats of Strength segment, as we discuss the winner of this year’s World’s Strongest Man competition. After that, Eric presents a Research Roundup segment about buffering strategies. The segment is mostly about new research on beta-alanine and a couple of related ingredients (carnosine and anserine), but…

Today’s episode begins with two unconventional but remarkable Feats of Strength. After that, Eric presents a Research Review segment about the deleterious effects of sedentary time (even in people who regularly exercise), and some practical strategies for reducing sedentary time. Next, Greg reviews a study linking certain masculine traits to mating…

Today’s show is an uncharacteristically anecdote-heavy episode of the podcast. After Greg shares some new Feats of Strength, Eric presents a Coach’s Corner segment about a modified version of the “one-meal-a-day” (OMAD) eating pattern. This strategy, which may be described as protein-sparing-modified-time-restricted-eating, aims to capitalize on th…

Today’s episode features two remarkable Feats of Strength – one from a human, and one from a tree. After that, Eric presents a Research Review segment in defense of dietary fiber, and Greg responds to some feedback about previous segments on oral contraceptives and the impact of exercise on mortality. Finally, the show closes with a discussion abou…

Today’s episode features a crazy (and historic) Feat of Strength, which leads into a discussion about whether or not sumo deadlifting is cheating. After that, Eric answers a few questions from listeners about topics including easy vegetarian protein sources, how to deal with a tendency to procrastinate, how long a weight loss phase can last, and wh…

Today’s episode features a huge breakthrough in Eric’s Road to Athens segment, which leads to a mini Coach’s Corner segment about training around hip pain. After that, Eric discusses his recent Stronger By Science article about body recomposition and gaining strength or muscle mass while in a caloric deficit. Finally, much of the show is dedicated …

Today’s episode features a big milestone in Greg’s Road to the Stage update, followed by a Research Review that’s sure to stir up some controversy and debate. Researchers recently reported that a little bit of resistance training is associated with lower risk of chronic disease and mortality, but doing more than 2-2.5 hours per week appeared to be …

Today’s episode features a Road to the Stage update by Greg, followed by a fascinating Research Review about the effects of spirulina supplementation on symptoms of allergic rhinitis. After that, Greg and Eric answer a few questions from listeners, covering topics including the effects of dietary fat intake on satiety, the pros and cons of suppleme…

To begin today’s episode, Greg and Eric clear the air and provide some updates about the recent chaos within the Stronger By Science Cinematic Universe. After that, Greg shares some Feats of Strength, followed by a Q&A segment. Topics covered include scaling protein recommendations to various body size metrics, how muscle fiber types should (or sho…

In today’s episode, Greg and Eric explore the art and science of “peaking” for physique athletes. The discussion covers carbohydrate loading, water intake adjustments, and electrolyte manipulation for the purpose of transient physique optimization. This conversation digs into the limited research available, while also providing practical recommenda…

In today’s episode, Eric discusses the ins and outs of protein digestion speed, and why you probably don’t have to worry about consuming “fast proteins” post-workout and “slow proteins” pre-bed. After that, Greg and Eric field a number of questions from listeners, covering a range of topics including the relationship between exercise variety and hy…

In today’s episode, Greg presents a deep dive into the multifaceted benefits of walking. Rather than focusing exclusively on correlations from observational studies, this Research Roundup covers several meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. During the conversation, Greg and Eric discuss how walking might impact general health and wellness,…

In this week’s episode, Greg shares some incredible Feats of Strength, followed by an in-depth discussion about how to do an “energy audit” to troubleshoot weight loss plateaus. The conversation covers topics including metabolic adaptation, energy compensation, and a long list of factors that may lead us to overestimate energy expenditure or undere…

In this week’s episode, Eric presents a Research Review about the effects of fish oil on recovery and body composition, and answers a listener’s question about body-fat set points, settling points, and alternative models to explain weight regulation. In addition, Greg shares a brief research review about sports psychology, and answers listeners’ qu…

In this week’s episode, Eric presents a Coach’s Corner segment about how to set up a diet for body recomposition. After that, Greg shares a research review about eating french fries, which kicks off an in-depth discussion about how to interpret different types of research, ranging from animal models and epidemiology to randomized controlled trials …

In this week’s episode, Eric shares a research review with an updated perspective on the constrained energy expenditure model and compensation for calories burned during exercise. After that, Greg shares a research update on whether or not lifters need to worry about the interference effect when they add some cardio to their weekly routine. Finally…

In this week’s episode, Greg and Eric answer a number of questions from listeners. Topics include protein overfeeding, aches and pains during deloads, ashwagandha supplementation, the impact of weight loss on strength, interval training versus steady state cardio, and the potential value of personalizing/individualizing training programs. To close …

We are officially back from winter break with a brand new schedule! We’ll be releasing episodes more frequently from this point forward, with new episodes posted every Thursday. In today’s episode, Greg and Eric share some updates on their Road to the Stage and Road to Athens segments, which is followed by a discussion of some recent Feats of Stren…

In preparation for the new year (and the resolutions that come with it), today’s episode is all about goal setting and behavior change. Eric and Greg have a long, evidence-based conversation about the research on setting effective goals and successfully changing health behaviors. The discussion yields several evidence-based tips for setting better …

Today’s episode begins with updates from the dueling “Road to the Stage” and “Road to Athens” segments, followed by Feats of Strength. After that, Eric gives some contextualized clarifications about how the concept of “reverse dieting” has, in his opinion, been commonly misapplied. Next, Greg explores mortality rates among untested bodybuilders usi…

Today’s episode begins with a reminder about the current Black Friday Sale for the MASS Research Review, which ends November 29. After that, Greg and Eric share updates regarding their dueling Road to the Stage and Road to Athens segments. Next, Greg delivers the Feats of Strength segment, which features a legend in the world of iron sports. After …