Thank you For Listening. Click here to Send us a comment if you have any thoughts on the episode!

Phones often prevent conversations from ever getting started and sometimes can end a conversation because of it's distraction. "Tales is a great way to get conversations started at any gathering. We start this interview with a couple of "Tales" questions: what’s the best way to grow old, and what actually makes you feel most alive? Benji Harris doesn’t hesitate. The gym is his happy place, and where he really feels alive pumping iron. From there, we trace how a small-town kid who grew up hunting and fishing built a serious strength training lifestyle and eventually stepped onto the bodybuilding stage.

Benji walks us through the unglamorous mechanics of bodybuilding competition prep: sticking to a plan, learning from losses, and choosing the right division. He explains the difference between men’s physique and classic physique, why conditioning can beat added scale weight, and what judges look for when they talk about symmetry, flow, and muscularity. He also shares the day-to-day reality of a 14-week prep, including repeatable meal prep, a high protein diet built around basics like chicken and rice, and the discipline to say no when it matters.

Then the story gets intense: qualifying for nationals, walking backstage in Pittsburgh with nearly a thousand competitors, and earning a pro card in 2019. We talk pro shows, the truth about sponsorships, and why supplements are never “magic.” Benji also gets honest about health tradeoffs in competitive bodybuilding and why longevity, family, and a new grandson helped him decide to step back. We close with how he built Infinite Fitness into a 24/7 gym that’s welcoming for beginners and serious lifters alike. If you like this kind of straight talk on bodybuilding, classic physique, and sustainable fitness, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review. What part of Benji's discipline do you want to try for yourself?

Beyond The Beacon
Join Bishop Kevin Sweeney for inspired interviews with Catholics living out our faith!

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Keep on Striving!

Don't Forget to leave a review and rating. Let us know your thoughts about the episode. You can also follow on the following:

YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@thejacksonhowellpodcast

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/TheJacksonHowellPodcast

Tik Tok

https://www.tiktok.com/@thejacksonhowellpodcast

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/jacksonhowell5/