The Dylan Gemelli Podcast

Episode #80 Featuring Lori "ICE" Fetrick! – The QUEEN of American Gladiators UNFILTERED!
Released: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

In this high-energy and wide-ranging conversation, Dylan Gemelli sits down with legendary American Gladiator Lori "ICE" Fetrick. The duo dives into Lori's iconic past on American Gladiators, her transition into wellness and fitness, and her perspectives on health, hormone therapy, aging, mindset, and nutrition. Lori brings her trademark candor and humor, offering inspiration and actionable insight for women (and men!) seeking to take control of their health and redefine what’s possible at any age.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lori’s Path from Gladiator to Fitness Icon

• Lori reflects on her journey from bodybuilding into television as "Ice" on American Gladiators.
• She shares how her early athletic background and entry into competitive bodybuilding paved the way for her Gladiator fame.

  “A guy walked over to me and he goes, wow, you have the genetics to be a bodybuilder. Have you ever thought about it? And I looked at him and ‘what's that?’ Seriously, I had no idea.” (29:17 – Lori)

• Lori describes the abrupt end of the show:

  “When the show ended, it ended. Like, it stopped. No, there wasn't... Hey, by the way, we don't think we're gonna film again. Chains were on the door, no phone call, no email, no thank you, nothing. Like, it just ended.” (46:41 – Lori)

• Post-Gladiators, Lori tried her hand at gym ownership, real estate, insurance, and ultimately, returned full circle to the fitness industry, building a modern brand around her reputation, experience, and message.

2. Hormone Health, HRT, and Aging Gracefully

• Lori is adamant about the power and importance of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for both men and women, especially during aging and menopause:

  “I contribute a lot of my energy and... keeping going and new projects and everything to honestly, hormone replacement therapy. Without that... my energy runs low. My zest for life kind of drops off.” (04:27 – Lori)

• The conversation takes aim at outdated stigmas and medical misconceptions regarding women and testosterone/HRT. Both discuss the challenges of educating women, overcoming resistance, and the shortfalls of traditional medicine and “normal” lab ranges.

  “Most women, they just kind of go underground, and all of a sudden, they just kind of like, ‘no, I'm just going to grow old gracefully.’ I'm like, why? You don't need to.” (04:57 – Lori)
  “If you want to listen to me, yes, you need to get your bloodwork done… And by the way, you can't just go to a normal general doctor.” (08:05 – Lori)

• Lori shares a personal story about persistent health issues during perimenopause that were only solved after hormone testing and proper supplementation—highlighting the need for medical self-advocacy.

  “Until I went to one doctor and he goes, ‘let's check your hormones’...The minute I started taking progesterone, everything cleared up.” (10:34 – Lori)

3. Biohacking, Bloodwork, and Supplement Strategies

• Lori and Dylan jump into peptide use, the rise of “web MDs,” and dangers of unregulated supplements. Both stress the importance of deep, regular bloodwork and working with specialized or naturopathic doctors.
• Lori’s panel: Every 6 months, deep bloodwork, closely monitoring the impact of nutrition, sleep, and stress:

  “I know when my body's off and I can usually tell what's kind of making it off, you know, a little bit. I am so in tune with what I'm eating, how much sleep I'm getting, my stress...” (18:03 – Lori)

• On peptides:

  “There are so many different peptides out there that they don't know what to do, what to take, how to take it, how to mix it... you need to learn how to take them.” (15:25 – Lori)

4. Nutrition Evolution: From Bodybuilder Diets to Carb Cycling

• Despite 35+ years of experience, Lori’s approach to nutrition is remarkably consistent—clean eating, moderation, and “food is fuel.”
• Body composition changes with age, and she made significant adjustments for recent bodybuilding competitions—especially integrating carb cycling.

  “I've stayed away from fried foods, I've stayed away from dairy... as far as like sugar, we all know it's the worst thing you could put in your body, but yet we crave it, you know.” (20:34 – Lori)
  “I never tried [carb-cycling]...Holy shit. I tried it. Fired up my metabolism like you would not believe… I went from 18% body fat down to 9.5% body in three months.” (22:21 – Lori)

• Lori details her macro split, cycling 2 days low-carb (30–50g), 1 day high-carb (up to 200g), with constant high protein, adjusting fats depending on carb intake.

5. Body Image, Aging, and Longevity Myths

• Both hosts challenge cultural expectations around aging:

  “What you need to try to do, I think, is make people think what you do is normal, not aging is normal. …The way that you're living, you need to normalize it.” (52:18 – Dylan)
  “That's my whole thing. It's like, you don't need to grow old.” (51:57 – Lori)

• Lori wants to redefine what’s expected for women—and men—at 50, 60, and beyond. Her message: “If I can touch one woman at a time, or man or whoever it may be, to want to take care of themselves better... that's my whole thing.” (51:57 – Lori)

6. Inside American Gladiators: Stories, Injuries, and Life Backstage

• Lori reminisces on the events, injuries, and camaraderie of the original run:
  • The infamous “Joust” and “Powerball” (most injuries occurred in Powerball, mainly ACL tears, and the human cannonball event taking its toll).
  • Lori’s favorite events: “Powerball” and “Pyramid,” describing them as a blast and fun as being a kid.
  • The show’s abrupt cancellation, touring life, ego dynamics amongst the cast, and trying (unsuccessfully) to get involved with subsequent reboots or documentaries despite brand ownership disputes.
• She talks about building her podcast (“Chillin with ICE”) to showcase not just the persona but the real people behind the spandex.

7. Supplements & Recovery: Lori’s Current Stack

• Lori’s current must-haves:
  • Collagen (“all about the skin and the hair and... slowing that process down” – 55:12)
  • Creatine (newly accepted for women: “This is really good for us.” – 54:39)
  • Whole-food protein (“I get my protein through whole foods...That is why it's called a supplement.” – 55:13)
  • NMN (precursor to NAD, for cellular vitality)
  • D3 with K2, DHEA, a multi-vitamin, omegas, ZMA (zinc + magnesium) for sleep and recovery
  • Peptides: BP157, TB500, GHK CU (hair and skin)
• She stays away from plant protein and pre-workouts except “occasionally for a pump.”

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Breaking Age Stereotypes:

  “Most women, they just kind of go underground... ‘no, I'm just going to grow old gracefully.’ I'm like, why? You don't need to.” (04:57 – Lori)

• On Women's Reluctance with Testosterone/HRT:

  “They get freaked out, even broaching HRT that they're going to get man attributes... Even when I talk about it, they're... still scared of it.” (06:10 – Lori)

• On Carb Cycling Transformation:

  “Fired up my metabolism like you would not believe. I went from 18% body fat down to 9.5% in three months. I wasn't hungry... It was more food than I wanted to really eat.” (22:20 – Lori)

• On Normal "Lab Ranges":

  “What they're telling you is normal is based upon a number of people that are already unhealthy.” (11:56 – Dylan)

• On Show Business Realities:

  “After Gladiators, I started bartending, to be quite honest with you, because I didn’t know what else to do... when the show ended, it ended.” (46:41 – Lori)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:17 – 02:55 | Dylan introduces Lori and their connection through Jim Lazay
• 04:27 – 09:00 | Lori discusses the impact of HRT, menopause, and the stigma against women and testosterone
• 10:34 – 11:17 | Personal anecdote: hormone imbalances, perimenopause, and health issues solved by progesterone
• 14:53 – 19:13 | Deep-dive into peptides, bloodwork, and the pitfalls of general practitioners
• 19:40 – 25:58 | Nutrition approaches: from 80s bodybuilding to modern carb cycling with practical advice
• 29:17 – 35:33 | Iconic American Gladiators stories: auditioning, hitting the big time, favorite events, injuries
• 46:41 – 48:32 | Life after Gladiators: entrepreneurship, podcasting, returning to fitness
• 54:23 – 58:15 | Lori’s supplement stack and the evolution of beliefs about creatine, collagen, NMN, and more
• 59:02 – 59:57 | Lori plugs her podcast and social media

Where to Find Lori "ICE" Fetrick

• Podcast: Chillin with ICE [all platforms]
• Website: lorifetrick.com
• Socials:
  • Instagram/TikTok/X: @LoriIceFetrick

Tone and Takeaway

Lori’s message is empowering, unfiltered, and relentlessly optimistic—challenging listeners to rethink what aging, fitness, and vitality can look like if you’re willing to question, learn, and put in the work. Dylan creates an open, supportive space for broad-ranging banter that’s both technical and relatable. The takeaway is clear: You don’t have to accept the status quo. With dedication and the right knowledge, “growing old gracefully” can mean growing stronger, healthier, and more vibrant than you ever imagined.