Westside Barbell: The Conjugate Method Podcast
The Conjugate Method, straight from the source. Westside Barbell is where the method was built, and this is the podcast where it gets taught. Host Mac McFarland sits down with the coaches, athletes, and specialists using conjugate training to build strength and speed in the real world. NFL, UFC, grappling, track, wrestling, and the weight room floor at 705 Hadley Drive. Tom Barry, Head Coach of Westside Barbell, joins to answer your training questions and break down gym topics. Tom was mentored and chosen by Louie Simmons to carry the method forward after his passing. Every episode: max effort, dynamic effort, special exercises, and the reasoning behind them. If you coach athletes, train yourself, or want to understand why the Conjugate Method works, this is your show. New episodes Monthly. Learn the system at westside-barbell.com.
Episodes
October 2, 2026 • 64 mins
Do What Others Won't Collection: https://www.westside-barbell.com/collections/do-what-others-wont-limited-winter-release
Become a Certified Conjugate Coach: https://www.westside-barbell.com/pages/conjugate-coach-certification
The Conjugate Method for athletes looks different than the powerlifting version. Tom Barry explains how Westside runs a 3-day system for field and combat sport athletes.
Tom walks through the weekly split used...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
September 25, 2026 • 73 mins
Do What Others Won't Collection: https://www.westside-barbell.com/collections/do-what-others-wont-limited-winter-release
Become a Certified Conjugate Coach: https://www.westside-barbell.com/pages/conjugate-coach-certification
Volleyball strength training from Coach Brian Bott, head strength coach for LOVB Madison and a 13-year Big Ten football strength coach at Wisconsin. Here is how he uses the Conjugate Method to build jumping po...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
September 18, 2026 • 57 mins
Become a Certified Conjugate Coach: https://www.westside-barbell.com/pages/conjugate-coach-certification
Ally Kennedy is the fastest player in women's lacrosse and the 2026 World Championship MVP. She breaks down the training behind 19.3 mph and what most lacrosse players get wrong about lifting.
Ally Kennedy sits down with Mac McFarland at Westside Barbell after a summer that included a world championship in Jap...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
September 11, 2026 • 38 mins
Become a Certified Conjugate Coach: https://www.westside-barbell.com/pages/conjugate-coach-certification
Mac McFarland sits down with Tom Barry, whom Louie Simmons entrusted to carry Westside Barbell forward, to discuss the line between real adaptation and borrowed vocabulary. Tom covers why definitions matter, what max effort and dynamic effort actually mean, and the questions he asks a coach who says they run their own version...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
September 4, 2026 • 64 mins
Become a Certified Conjugate Coach: https://www.westside-barbell.com/pages/conjugate-coach-certification
Dante Leon, the world's #1 pound-for-pound grappler, breaks down what it actually takes to be a professional jiu-jitsu athlete. He sits down with Mac McFarland on the Westside Barbell Podcast to talk ADCC preparation, training under strength coach Tom at Westside, and what separates a real professional grappler from someone w...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 28, 2026 • 59 mins
Westside Barbell's functional fitness lead coach Zach Filer joins Mac McFarland to talk Conjugate Method for functional fitness and CrossFit.
Zach spent 17 years running a CrossFit affiliate, taught kettlebell sport with Jeff Martone at CrossFit Kettlebell, and joined Conjugate Tactical with Jason Gusic before Tom brought him on to lead functional fitness for Westside. He explains how he runs the Conjugate Method for functional fit...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 21, 2026 • 28 mins
Join The Club: https://www.conjugateclub.com/
In this episode of the Westside Barbell Podcast, host Mac McFarland sits down with Burley Hawk to break down his recent article on introducing the dynamic effort method for beginners.
Burley explains what the dynamic effort method is, why it's essential for improving rate of force development, and how to properly implement it with athletes who are new to the conjugate system. The conver...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 14, 2026 • 26 mins
Learn The Method That Built Records: https://bit.ly/4xF9RP0
In this episode of the Westside Barbell Podcast, Tom Barry steps into the guest seat as he officially passes the podcast over to the new host Mac McFarland.
Tom looks back at how the podcast started with Louie Simmons, why it became an important way to share Louie’s knowledge with people around the world, and some of the lessons and memories that stand out from his y...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
May 12, 2026 • 110 mins
Joe "Big House" Kenn coached strength in the NFL for nearly a decade. He sits down with Tom Barry for four decades of lessons.
From a guard at Wake Forest to leading strength programs at Boise State, Utah, Arizona State, and Louisville, Joe Kenn has built one of the most decorated coaching careers in the NSCA. He created the Tier System, served as head strength and conditioning coach for the Carolina Panthers from 2011 to 2019, and...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 6, 2026 • 29 mins
In this episode of the Westside Barbell podcast, hosts Tom Barry and Burley Hawk discuss the importance of transitioning from hard work to smart training methods for athletes. They explore the differences between athletes with seasonal structures and those without, emphasizing the need for tailored training approaches. The conversation also delves into understanding athlete personalities, particularly the dynamics between introvert...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 16, 2026 • 59 mins
Become a Certified Conjugate Coach: https://www.westside-barbell.com/pages/conjugate-coach-certification
In today’s episode of the podcast, Tom and Burley answer your questions on various aspects of strength training. Topics discussed include dynamic effort training, max effort training frequency, the importance of strength in grappling, and the common misconceptions surrounding the conjugate method.
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
January 16, 2026 • 59 mins
In today’s episode of the podcast, Tom and Burley answer your questions on various aspects of strength training. Topics discussed include dynamic effort training, max effort training frequency, the importance of strength in grappling, and the common misconceptions surrounding the conjugate method.
00:00 Intro
00:29 Dynamic Effort For Raw Lifters
02:04 What Does A Training Week Look Like
03:04 Posture & Plyo Day
04:4...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
October 28, 2025 • 43 mins
Download The Conjugate Method: Introduction to Bench Press Training (E‑Book) here
Tom & Burley delve into the intricacies of bench pressing, focusing on the methods employed at Westside Barbell. It covers the max effort, dynamic effort, and repeated effort training methods, emphasizing the importance of technique, safety, and the role of various training parameters. The hosts also address common questions regarding bench pressi...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
August 15, 2025 • 70 mins
In this episode of the Westside Barbell podcast, the Tom & Burley delve into the complexities of the Dynamic Effort Method, discussing its purpose, execution, and the importance of rate of force development. They explore the three-week wave format, emphasizing the need for proper technique and execution to ensure safety and effectiveness. The conversation also covers the role of accommodating resistance, the significance of res...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
July 17, 2025 • 39 mins
In the debut episode of the Westside Barbell Combat Sports Strength & Conditioning Podcast, hosts Tom Barry and Burley Hawk introduce listeners to the world of strength training tailored for combat athletes, including competitive Jiu-Jitsu athletes, Wrestlers, and MMA fighters. They discuss the influential legacy of Westside Barbell founder Louie Simmons, who revolutionized modern strength training through the Conjugate Method....
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
July 12, 2025 • 16 mins
In this power-packed episode, we dive deep into the Max Effort Method—not just the “what,” but the “how” and “why” behind one of the most effective tools in strength programming. Whether you're a coach programming for athletes, a gym owner refining your training cycles, or a lifter pushing for consistent PRs, this conversation breaks down the nuance.
We cover:
What an optimal warm-up should...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
July 2, 2025 • 36 mins
Join Tom Barry and Burley Hawk as they explore the mindset, culture, and methods behind Westside’s Maximal Effort training. From Louie Simmons’ legendary principles to the chaos of group training that runs like a machine, this episode covers everything from exercise selection to the art of coaching and self-assessment. Learn why brutally strong athletes are built with smart intensity—not reckless effort.
Key Point...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
June 13, 2025 • 32 mins
In this episode, we dive into why the Conjugate Method, pioneered and popularized by Louie Simmons and Westside Barbell, is particularly effective for high school football athletes. We explore the crucial role of strength training in enhancing football performance, discussing how absolute strength, explosive power, speed, and durability directly impact success on the field.
You'll learn the essentials of the three pillars of the Co...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
June 4, 2025 • 45 mins
Today's episode is the Unracked: Mastering the Conjugate Method webinar Tom did with BridgeAthletic
"UNRACKED is a live event series from BridgeAthletic where top coaches break down the training systems, methods, and philosophies that drive elite performance.
In this session, Tom Barry, CEO of Westside Barbell and one of Louie Simmons’ handpicked successors, offers a focused walkthrough of the Conjugate Method in practice: ho...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
February 7, 2025 • 23 mins
In this episode of the Westside Barbell Podcast, Tom Barry and Burley Hawk break down Dynamic Effort Training, its role in building explosive strength, and how Westside has adapted it for powerlifters, MMA fighters, and Jiu-Jitsu athletes.
Topics Covered:
What is Dynamic Effort Training & how does it work?
How to apply the three-week wave system for speed & power
Why powerlifters, MMA fighters, and grapplers use this method...
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!