50% Facts with Silent Mike & Jim McD
Mike "Silent Mike" Farr and Jim McDonald are entrepreneurs (lifestyle apparel company and a barbell gym) and veteran podcasters. In every episode, they try to answer a single question. Any question is fair game, but most involve health, fitness, nutrition, mental health, culture…even sex. They examine common misconceptions and then try to get to the correct answer -- often with the help of subject matter experts. They walk away with a better sense of the facts…and so do you. Full episodes every Wednesday. Shorter episodes every Friday, dedicated to answering a question from listeners. Business inquiries: Jim@thejimmcd.com
Episodes
March 24, 2023 • 8 min
Simple enough question, and yet...
If you’re in a relationship, is texting with someone that it’s possible that you could be in a relationship with at some point considered cheating?
Joe Stanek (@joe_gameday) sat in as guest host on this one, along with Mike, Nico (@nicoflores83kg), and Elexa (@nanoo31).
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodques...
If you’re in a relationship, is texting with someone that it’s possible that you could be in a relationship with at some point considered cheating?
Joe Stanek (@joe_gameday) sat in as guest host on this one, along with Mike, Nico (@nicoflores83kg), and Elexa (@nanoo31).
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodques...
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March 22, 2023 • 40 min
Netflix recently dropped the South Korean fitness competition series “Physical 100.” The premise? Collect 100 athletes — mostly Korean and all Korean-speaking — from many different disciplines and put them through multiple rounds of strength and endurance events. The final winners, male and female, take home about $250K (US).
If this sounds anything like CrossFit it’s really not, but do the events really measure who is most fit? A...
If this sounds anything like CrossFit it’s really not, but do the events really measure who is most fit? A...
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March 17, 2023 • 10 min
Deadlift bar or stiff bar? Twenty-four hour weigh-in or two-hour weigh-in? Owned by lifters or owned by an individual?
These are some of the factors on which lifter preferences differ. What do we, or more specifically Avi Leiu, think would be her perfect fed to compete in?
How would you answer this question? Let us know on our Discord!
You can find Avi on Instagram at @avi.lieu.
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good ...
These are some of the factors on which lifter preferences differ. What do we, or more specifically Avi Leiu, think would be her perfect fed to compete in?
How would you answer this question? Let us know on our Discord!
You can find Avi on Instagram at @avi.lieu.
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good ...
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March 15, 2023 • 45 min
Our own Avi Lieu took the top spot in the women’s professional portion of the USAPL meet at the Arnold!
But what does it really mean to be a pro? What could federations do to make the pro rank more prestigious and more financially feasible?
Avi and her coach, Michael Kieu, joined us in Columbus the day after the meet to break down these questions, and to reflect on the experience of preparing for and winning the meet.
You can fin...
But what does it really mean to be a pro? What could federations do to make the pro rank more prestigious and more financially feasible?
Avi and her coach, Michael Kieu, joined us in Columbus the day after the meet to break down these questions, and to reflect on the experience of preparing for and winning the meet.
You can fin...
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March 10, 2023 • 6 min
Do athletes perform better when they’re not in a relationship?
Niko and Elexa joined us again, for this particularly relevant question. You can find Nico at @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok and Elexa at @nanoo31 on Instagram and TikTok
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something sp...
Niko and Elexa joined us again, for this particularly relevant question. You can find Nico at @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok and Elexa at @nanoo31 on Instagram and TikTok
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something sp...
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March 8, 2023 • 53 min
Recorded in Columbus, Ohio, the day after the Arnold.
We’re joined by bodybuilding coach and huge (3 million!) TikTok influencer, JP Gallardo, another coach and social media content creator, Evan Holmes, and Hoka shoe designer John Nealon. Barbell Brigade’s Nadeem Hamidy also joins near the end.
We talked about the years of preparation that goes into becoming an overnight success, the best ways to gain the kind of experience need...
We’re joined by bodybuilding coach and huge (3 million!) TikTok influencer, JP Gallardo, another coach and social media content creator, Evan Holmes, and Hoka shoe designer John Nealon. Barbell Brigade’s Nadeem Hamidy also joins near the end.
We talked about the years of preparation that goes into becoming an overnight success, the best ways to gain the kind of experience need...
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March 3, 2023 • 12 min
Slipping back into a Topic Thunder episode.
The question: Are Jordan Ones the most overrated shoe?
Niko and Elexa joined us for this one. You can find Nico at @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok and Elexa at @nanoo31 on Instagram and TikTok
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something ...
The question: Are Jordan Ones the most overrated shoe?
Niko and Elexa joined us for this one. You can find Nico at @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok and Elexa at @nanoo31 on Instagram and TikTok
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the hashtag #onegoodquestion. If your question is picked, you’ll get something ...
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March 1, 2023 • 62 min
The Netflix documentary series “Full Swing” takes a look at the struggles players go through to end up in the money on the PGA tour, and a new alternative format where everyone gets paid regardless of performance.
There was a time when golfers just played golf to prepare to compete at golf. That time has passed. Now, most players are in great shape and are always looking for an edge. That edge is important because it’s difficult t...
There was a time when golfers just played golf to prepare to compete at golf. That time has passed. Now, most players are in great shape and are always looking for an edge. That edge is important because it’s difficult t...
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February 24, 2023 • 12 min
One good question from our Discord (goodcompanydiscord.com):
Bronzielocks asks: Would you ever try doing strongman? That would be a cool series to see, kind of like when you did the oly series.
Our best-est friend from north of the border joined us for this one. Omar has been a force in YouTube fitness for years, and last year he led “Ancient Workouts with Omar” in association with the History Channel.
You can find Omar on YouTu...
Bronzielocks asks: Would you ever try doing strongman? That would be a cool series to see, kind of like when you did the oly series.
Our best-est friend from north of the border joined us for this one. Omar has been a force in YouTube fitness for years, and last year he led “Ancient Workouts with Omar” in association with the History Channel.
You can find Omar on YouTu...
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February 23, 2023 • 87 min
Our best-est friend from north of the border joins us in studio. Omar has been a force in YouTube fitness for years, and last year he led “Ancient Workouts with Omar” in association with the History Channel.
We launched into a broad discussion about the things we didn’t know about training 10 years ago, whether not enjoying something that’s “classic” make you a tasteless idiot, and whether there are really any weight classes in th...
We launched into a broad discussion about the things we didn’t know about training 10 years ago, whether not enjoying something that’s “classic” make you a tasteless idiot, and whether there are really any weight classes in th...
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February 17, 2023 • 14 min
We’re still in Topic Thunder mode this week.
Our panel tries to find agreement (or not) with the suggestion that training deadlifts the risks if you’re not a competitive powerlifter.
Are they actually dangerous? Or are there just better ways to spend your training time?
Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday and Nico @nicoflores83kg on Instagram...
Our panel tries to find agreement (or not) with the suggestion that training deadlifts the risks if you’re not a competitive powerlifter.
Are they actually dangerous? Or are there just better ways to spend your training time?
Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday and Nico @nicoflores83kg on Instagram...
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February 15, 2023 • 9 min
We’re still in Topic Thunder mode this week.
Our panel unpacks this hot take, “Hook grip Is unreliable and may be overrated.”
Hook grip is a bandwagon that most lifters jump on at one time or another to try to up their deadlift. Is that a mistake?
Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday and Nico @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok
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Have...
Our panel unpacks this hot take, “Hook grip Is unreliable and may be overrated.”
Hook grip is a bandwagon that most lifters jump on at one time or another to try to up their deadlift. Is that a mistake?
Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday and Nico @nicoflores83kg on Instagram and TikTok
____
Have...
Mark as Played
February 10, 2023 • 13 min
Our panel takes on a couple of related questions about the giant meet we just ran from members of our Discord:
AR17 asked, “What do you believe was the most under (over) looked aspect of running/ prepping a meet?”
Keith Honeycutt asked, “What all did you learn from hosting this massive USAPL meet? What did you do right? What did you do wrong?
Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. Yo...
AR17 asked, “What do you believe was the most under (over) looked aspect of running/ prepping a meet?”
Keith Honeycutt asked, “What all did you learn from hosting this massive USAPL meet? What did you do right? What did you do wrong?
Joe Stanek and Nico Flores of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. Yo...
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February 8, 2023 • 10 min
We just hosted a great big meet – maybe the largest local USAPL meet ever – and we’re beat so we’re slipping into Topic Thunder mode for a bit to recover our calm and our voices.
Topic Thunder episodes are short, sometimes rant-filled, panel discussions about a listener-submitted topic. In this episode, we discussed whether powerlifting has become almost too predictable and jokey to grab attention on social media.
Joe Stanek an...
Topic Thunder episodes are short, sometimes rant-filled, panel discussions about a listener-submitted topic. In this episode, we discussed whether powerlifting has become almost too predictable and jokey to grab attention on social media.
Joe Stanek an...
Mark as Played
February 2, 2023 • 14 min
This week’s question from our Discord:
EvilFern asked, “How important is having a mentor? Am I missing out by not having one? Feel like it's something that should happen naturally instead of seeking one out somehow.”
Joe Stanek of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use...
EvilFern asked, “How important is having a mentor? Am I missing out by not having one? Feel like it's something that should happen naturally instead of seeking one out somehow.”
Joe Stanek of Gameday Barbell joined us in addressing this question. You can find Joe on TikTok @joegameday
____
Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use...
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February 1, 2023 • 53 min
Are we experiencing a plateau in the popularity of powerlifting? What happens if the sport falls off the social media radar? Will it still be able to attract young, new-to-the-sport competitors? Will the old guard lifters running federations be willing to pass the baton? Or will they be a source of toxicity that drives competitors, meet promoters, and sponsors away?
Joe Stanek of Gameday Barbell joins us for this discussion. You ...
Joe Stanek of Gameday Barbell joins us for this discussion. You ...
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January 27, 2023 • 11 min
This week’s question from our Discord:
ArrogantFool asked, “Why do people use ground turkey instead of ground beef to lose weight when the macros and calories are nearly identical and there isn't a cost advantage?” We kinda misread this question in prep for this episode, so ground chicken got thrown in the mix as well.
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Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the has...
ArrogantFool asked, “Why do people use ground turkey instead of ground beef to lose weight when the macros and calories are nearly identical and there isn't a cost advantage?” We kinda misread this question in prep for this episode, so ground chicken got thrown in the mix as well.
____
Have a question for one of our Friday “One Good Question” episodes? Hit us up on social media and use the has...
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January 25, 2023 • 32 min
In the time since we discussed this situation last week, the scandals of a particular powerlifting federation -- the USPA --have come into sharper focus. Pandora’s Box has been flung open, and there’s been a scramble to stuff the evil and suffering back inside.
Where’s the line between holding an organization accountable for turning a blind eye to unspeakable acts and stirring an angry mob to chase Frankenstein’s monster with tor...
Where’s the line between holding an organization accountable for turning a blind eye to unspeakable acts and stirring an angry mob to chase Frankenstein’s monster with tor...
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January 18, 2023 • 58 min
Dean Saddoris is back to help us break down the first episode of the new Netflix documentary series “Break Point,” which documents up-and-coming tennis stars during the 2022 Grand Slam season.
Gifted “bad boy” Nick Kyrgios and his play during the Australian Open is the focus of episode 1. He has no coach, only plays tennis nine or ten weeks a year, and has an explosive on-court personality. We explore whether some athletes are so gi...
Gifted “bad boy” Nick Kyrgios and his play during the Australian Open is the focus of episode 1. He has no coach, only plays tennis nine or ten weeks a year, and has an explosive on-court personality. We explore whether some athletes are so gi...
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January 13, 2023 • 8 min
This episode is about reacting to a hot take that was sent to us:
Most people are putting in such low effort in the gym, it’s a waste of time!
What’s the right amount of effort for most people? Is any effort really better than sitting on the couch? Is any time in the gym really wasted?
Our own Kyle Castro and Sebastian Brambila on Instagram join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo and Sebastian at @sebastian_b...
Most people are putting in such low effort in the gym, it’s a waste of time!
What’s the right amount of effort for most people? Is any effort really better than sitting on the couch? Is any time in the gym really wasted?
Our own Kyle Castro and Sebastian Brambila on Instagram join us for this one. Kyle’s on Instagram at @kyle.castroo and Sebastian at @sebastian_b...
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