Podcast
Beast over Burden powered by Barbell Logic
Hosted by Barbell Logic · EN
Join expert voices from Barbell Logic and others from the world of strength for resources to help you get strong for life. Get coaching options and more educational content at barbell-logic.com.
49episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Training Through Back Pain: How to Keep Going Without Forcing It
3d ago00:31:39Tap to summarizeTraining through back pain does not mean forcing your old numbers or pretending nothing hurts. In this Beast Over Burden episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson discuss Niki's long process of training through and around back pain. Niki shares how her mindset shifted from trying to get back to heavy barbell lifting as fast as possible to focusing on training consistently, building muscle, and finding movements that felt productive. That shift changed everything. Instead of measuring progress only by old PRs, Niki learned to use more exercises, modify movements, manage recovery, and train hard without constantly aggravating her back. Niki and Andrew also talk about the role of machines, belt squats, leg presses, controlled training, recovery, travel, jiu-jitsu, and patience during a long injury process. This episode is a realistic conversation about pain, progress, training identity, and learning how to keep going when your body does not cooperate the way you want. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →Strength Training After 40: Hunting, Family & Getting Stronger with Beau Baggett
6d ago00:52:46Tap to summarizeStrength training after 40 should help you do more than lift weights in the gym. It should help you stay capable, active, and strong for the life you actually want to live. Beau Baggett joins Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson to talk about building strength for backcountry hunting, family life, and long-term health. After years of running marathons and focusing on endurance, Beau realized he had the cardiovascular fitness to move through the mountains but not the strength to pack out heavy loads during hunting trips. That realization led him to Barbell Logic, where his training evolved from linear progression into a more goal-driven, conjugate-style approach. Beau explains how rotating heavy singles, specialty lifts, single-leg work, reverse hypers, belt squats, and smart accessory work have helped him keep training hard while managing recovery in his 40s. The conversation also covers early morning training, parenting young kids, protecting sleep, building a home gym, training for annual hunts, and why consistency matters more than intensity. Beau shares how his father's continued activity into his 70s inspires him to train for the long haul and how he hopes to pass that same active lifestyle on to his own kids. Strength training after 40 is not about slowing down. It is about training with purpose, adapting intelligently, and building strength you can actually use. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →Strength Training After a Stroke: Melissa's Story
1w ago00:34:35Tap to summarizeMelissa McGregor's strength training journey began years after suffering a stroke while 10 weeks pregnant. In this Beast Over Burden episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson are joined by Barbell Logic coach Joel Rasmussen and client Melissa McGregor to talk about stroke recovery, adaptive strength training, coaching, and rebuilding physical confidence. Melissa shares what it was like to regain the ability to move, lift, cycle, ski, and do the physical things that mattered to her and her family. Joel explains how he coached her through proprioception challenges, drop foot, balance issues, neurological fatigue, modified lifts, pain signals, and the long process of rebuilding movement. They also discuss the importance of trust between coach and client, why pain does not always mean something is broken, and how consistent training can help people keep moving forward after serious injury or neurological setbacks. This is a powerful conversation about strength, recovery, family, resilience, and refusing to give up on your body. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →Powerlifting After a Heart Attack: Michael Gaudet's World Championship Comeback
2w ago00:37:55Tap to summarizeMichael Gaudet joins Beast Over Burden to share his remarkable story of powerlifting after a heart attack, living with type 1 diabetes for 50 years, and becoming a world champion at 62. Michael has lived many athletic lives: wrestler, competitive cyclist, sports car racer, mountaineering instructor, and competitive powerlifter. After surviving a 100% LAD "widowmaker" blockage in 2023, he returned to heavy training, competed at World Cup Masters, earned a spot on the U.S. team, and won a world championship in Seoul. Niki, Andrew, and Michael discuss strength training after 60, training with type 1 diabetes, rebuilding after a heart attack, the value of coaching, why consistency matters more than complexity, and how strength supports a life full of adventure. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →How to Build Physical Freedom Through Strength Training
2w ago00:31:54Tap to summarizePhysical freedom does not come from constantly starting over. In this Beast Over Burden episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson discuss what it really takes to build physical freedom through strength training. They explain why freedom in training is not just doing whatever you want in the gym. It comes from building muscle, developing skill, gaining training experience, and learning how to adjust when life gets messy. Niki and Andrew talk about why the first 18–24 months of structured strength training are so important. During that time, lifters build muscle, learn the basic lifts, create sustainable routines, work through setbacks, and begin to understand how training fits into real life. They also discuss why coaching can accelerate this process, why many lifters plateau or keep starting over, and how long-term training helps you build confidence, independence, and peace around your physical life. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →Getting Stronger with Age: PRs, Purpose & Training for the Long Haul with Eric Dahl
3w ago00:58:57Tap to summarizeEric Dahl joins Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson on Beast Over Burden to share how he continues getting stronger with age, setting major PRs in his mid-40s while balancing work, family, coaching, and recovery. Eric has been part of the Barbell Logic family since 2017 and has built an impressive strength resume, including a 507-pound bench press and a 628-pound deadlift at 46 years old. But this conversation is about more than big lifts. Eric shares how strength training became his version of a midlife crisis, why hard training provides purpose, and how he has learned to adjust recovery, competition, and programming as life has changed. He also discusses his long-term coaching relationship with Caleb, his experience becoming a coach himself, and the powerful story of helping his mother-in-law begin strength training after an osteoporosis diagnosis. This episode is a reminder that strength is for everyone. Whether you are chasing PRs, training for independence, or simply looking for a meaningful outlet for hard work, getting stronger with age is possible. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →How to Reset Your Nutrition After the Holidays
3w ago00:35:49Tap to summarizeFeeling off after the holidays does not mean you need to panic, crash diet, or punish yourself with extra cardio. In this Beast over Burden legacy episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson talk about how lifters can reset their nutrition after the holidays while still supporting strength training, muscle, and long-term progress. They discuss the post-holiday tipping point: feeling bloated, fluffy, tired, or ready for change after a season of more food, more alcohol, less sleep, and less consistency. Instead of overcorrecting, they explain how to stabilize first, choose better metrics, and make nutrition changes that are realistic and sustainable. Niki and Andrew cover fat loss versus weight loss, waist measurements, rolling weight averages, alcohol, high-protein meals, single-ingredient foods, fruits and vegetables, weighing and measuring, hand-portion guidance, and why long-term body composition change requires time and consistency. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →Strength Training After 70: How to Stay Strong, Active, and Consistent for Life with Michael Taylor
4w ago00:50:57Tap to summarizeStrength training after 70 is not about pretending age does not matter. It is about adapting, staying consistent, and refusing to quit. In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson talk with Barbell Logic client Michael Taylor, a 73-year-old lifter who started strength training at 60 and has continued training through arthritis, joint pain, exercise modifications, and the normal challenges of aging. Michael shares how his training has changed over time, why he moved from some barbell lifts to machine variations, and how coaching has helped him continue training hard while managing pain and preserving quality of life. He also explains why he no longer obsesses over the weight, even though he still trains progressively and continues to hit PRs. This conversation is a powerful reminder that strength training for seniors is not about chasing your younger self. It is about building and maintaining the strength, muscle, discipline, and independence you need to live well. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →How to Keep Training While Traveling
Jun 1900:31:43Tap to summarizeTraining while traveling does not have to be perfect to be useful. In this Beast over Burden legacy episode, Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson discuss how to keep training while traveling for work, vacation, or any trip that disrupts your normal routine. They explain why doing something is often better than doing nothing, especially when you want to maintain strength, muscle, momentum, and consistency. Andrew shares how his mindset shifted from "barbells or nothing" to finding a useful training stimulus wherever he is. Niki and Andrew also talk about why travel workouts can help you feel better, reduce the "travel yuck" feeling, and make it easier to return to normal training when you get home. They also cover practical strategies for finding gyms, using hotel gyms, packing simple training gear, doing full-body workouts, using supersets and drop sets, and focusing on effort instead of exact weight. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →Strength Training in Your 40s: From Back Pain to a 465 Deadlift with Dalton Stanage
Jun 1600:37:03Tap to summarizeStrength training in your 40s often starts with limitations—nagging injuries, inconsistent training, and the feeling that your best years are behind you. But what if this is actually the decade where you build your strongest, most resilient body? In this episode of Beast Over Burden, Niki Sims talks with Barbell Logic client Dalton Stanage about his journey from chronic back pain to deadlifting over 465 pounds in his mid-40s. After years of throwing his back out doing everyday tasks, Dalton was hesitant to even attempt a deadlift. But through consistent, coached strength training, he not only fixed his back issues—he became stronger than ever. The conversation explores what strength training in your 40s really looks like. It's not about chasing your twenties or relying on perfect conditions. It's about building consistency, trusting the process, and making steady progress over time. Dalton shares how showing up week after week—regardless of how he felt—led to dramatic improvements in both strength and overall quality of life. They also discuss how priorities shift in your 40s. Training becomes less about short-term goals and more about long-term capability—being strong for your kids, your grandkids, and the demands of everyday life. Dalton, a father of eight and a grandfather, explains how strength training allows him to stay active, engaged, and present with his family. The episode also dives into the role of nutrition, recovery, and discipline. As Dalton shifts toward improving body composition, he shares how tracking food, prioritizing protein, improving sleep, and reducing alcohol have all played a key role in his continued progress. These lifestyle changes are essential for anyone looking to get stronger and leaner in their 40s and beyond. Finally, the conversation highlights the value of coaching. Instead of trying to figure everything out alone, having a coach provides structure, accountability, and a clear path forward—helping you avoid mistakes and accelerate results. Strength training in your 40s is not about decline—it's about building a foundation for the decades ahead. Whether your goal is to eliminate pain, gain strength, or become the "jacked grandpa," this episode shows what's possible with the right approach. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to get strong, this episode will change your perspective—and give you a clear path forward. PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE. Connect with the hosts Niki on Instagram Andrew on Instagram Connect with the show Barbell Logic on Instagram Podcast Webpage Barbell Logic on Facebook Or email podcast@barbell-logic.com
Transcribe →