Ever wondered what it takes to elevate bodybuilding to unprecedented heights? Join us in an exclusive conversation with the masterminds behind Mr. Olympia—Jake Wood and Dan Solomon—as well as the reigning champion, Derek Lunsford. Broadcasting from the iconic Resorts World in Las Vegas, we uncover the strategic planning and challenges that have shaped the prestigious competition since 2019, including the pandemic's impact. Jake and Dan offer an insider's perspective on their successful partnership with Resorts World, the honor of receiving the keys to Las Vegas, and their relentless efforts to create an unparalleled experience for bodybuilding fans.
Derek Lunsford shares his awe-inspiring journey from being a USA champion to clinching a top-five Olympia spot in just two months. Hear firsthand how competing against his idols drove him to new heights, the complex transition from the 212 division to the Open division, and the triumph of winning the Mr. Olympia title. Derek opens up about the significant role faith and fatherhood play in his life, offering an authentic glimpse into the personal motivations and challenges that come with being at the pinnacle of bodybuilding.
We delve into the broader culture of bodybuilding, exploring its transformative impact on mental health and personal growth. Learn about the ambitious plans to make the sport more inclusive and accessible, the efforts to enhance the production experience of the Mr. Olympia event, and the intricate process of transforming the Weider offices. With a focus on expanding Olympia's global reach, Jake and Dan discuss potential new venues and partnerships that promise to take the competition to even greater heights. Don't miss this insightful episode filled with inspiring stories and visionary goals for the future of bodybuilding.
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----- Content -----
00:00:00 - Intro
00:08:56 - Evolving as a New Champion
00:20:51 - Building a Legacy in Bodybuilding
00:24:40 - Insights on Bodybuilding Culture
00:30:08 - Building a Bodybuilding Legacy
00:39:30 - Expanding Olympia's Global Reach
00:47:58 - The Olympia Showdown
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
straight out the lab flex and rock rock.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
We got a special podcast today indeed, here we
are at eight lounge.
We got the mr olympia team hereand it's really exciting to be
able to talk to you guys todayhere at Resorts World.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Absolutely.
Jake Wood, owner of Mr Olympia.
Don Solomon, the man that I'veknown for many years, many
stories we're going to betalking about.
He is the promoter of MrOlympia and, to my right, the
champ.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
The champ Derek.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Lunsford In the building.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Welcome all to the podcast guys.
Straight with the lamp.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Flex, think about all the times I've interviewed you
over the years, after thosetriumphant conquests at the
Olympia, those seven Olympiatitles.
You and I would be backstageand I'd be interviewing you in
those moments of victory.
And then here we are the tableshave completely turned.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
It truly has.
I was thinking about this whenwe were talking about doing the
podcast and how the tables havetruly turned when now I'm doing
interviews with Mr Olympia's andmany other athletes and many
other champions in their ownright again.
But it all started frombodybuilding and this is the
platform that set my nexttrajectory off, and I'm very
excited now to get everybody inthe room because we have a big
(01:24):
year.
This year we have the 60th, mrolympia, guys, obviously and
today the keys to the city.
What, first of all, what anachievement to have the keys to
las vegas.
Tell us about that, guys it's.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
It's quite an honor.
I know jake and I.
When jake bought the olympia,he and I sat down and we we
compared those visions and bothof us and j drove the bus.
The vision was to take thissport and to bring it to levels
that few had even had thecourage to do in over the years.
And we had a plan in place andwe really wanted to connect this
(01:56):
sport with newer audiences.
We wanted to bring it aroundthe world in a way that it
hadn't been transported yet andwe were willing to do whatever
it took.
And if that involved increasingproduction value, spending more
money on stage production,increasing prize money, whatever
we had to do to attract morepeople men, women and children
to this lifestyle, we were goingto do it.
(02:17):
So I know, Jake, I can onlyspeak for myself in this case,
but I'd imagine for you, thismust be a bit of a culmination
of the initial vision.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
It is.
There's no doubt, Dan.
I remember when you and I firstlaunched this plan, we were
sitting up there in Hollywood asa matter of fact, at
Yamashiro's restaurant up there.
That's right and we laid allthis out in 2019.
Damn, and we keep rolling.
It keeps happening.
Of course, 2020 was a littlebit of a hiccup.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I was going to say 2020 had to have put a little
bit of a damper on everythingright, A big damper yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
It's wild Because, flex, I know you knew Joe Weider
, yeah, and we can only lookback at how hard Joe worked to
get the world to receive andaccept bodybuilding right.
So here we are in theentertainment capital of the
world, las vegas, beingcelebrated, being recognized,
and I'd imagine joe must beincredibly proud of what's
happening this weekendabsolutely what an achievement
(03:11):
from from the two brothers thathave taken this sport to where
it was.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Arnold obviously has helped propel that, and now from
that and them, generations nowwe have guys like this who are
incredible champions, not juston stage but off stage too.
And that's what I want to saytoo is now we have so many
different categories, but everycategory has an incredible
champion that promotes the sport, not, as I said, on stage, but
(03:37):
off stage too.
But that's a testament to yourguys vision and the promotion of
how this is growing.
And again, now we're in resortsWorld.
This is an incredible place tobe hosting the Mr Olympia, the
60th Mr Olympia.
So how did you guys link upwith Resorts World to get to
this magnitude of the Olympia?
Speaker 4 (03:54):
That would be Dan's story there.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
So we were connected.
We all share friends, right?
That's the beautiful thingabout Las Vegas Everybody's
connected to everybody.
And I was having a casualconversation with my good friend
, mark Anthony and I go way backand he and I were talking about
different venue possibilitiesand he had said that I needed to
meet his friend, ryan Chastain,who of course, is one of the
guys who runs Zouk and does sucha great job, and he's a
(04:17):
bodybuilder and a bodybuildingfan.
So I sat down and talked toRyan a little bit about the
opportunity to open up somedialogue and Ryan deserves a lot
of credit because Ryan reallyworked hard, stepped up and
brought everybody to the tableand we had some incredibly
productive conversations.
And it's hard to find a home forthe Olympia, because the
Olympia we ask for a lot.
We ask for tens of thousands ofroom nights in a room block.
(04:39):
We ask for a stage venue thatcan house a world-class
production and also seat anadequate number of people.
We need convention center space, we need supporting community,
volunteerism, all kinds ofthings.
There's so many elements ofwhat we need from a community,
from a city, from a hostproperty, and it's hard and we
(04:59):
have conversations with manyproperties around the world and
they don't always go anywherebecause we'll hit one of those
markers and they just can'tsupport it.
Resorts World stepped up and welove it here because Resorts
World is different.
A lot of times you do a dealwith a venue or a hotel and they
hand you the keys, they put youin a room and they say, okay,
put on your show and we'll sendyou a bill.
But Resorts World takes it toanother level and I really
(05:22):
appreciate that.
They really get involved.
They try to do everything thatthey can to bring visibility to
what we're doing.
They do what they can toprovide experiential support,
make sure that our visitors aregetting more for their visit,
and they get involved with whatwe're doing and, as evidenced by
the fact that we're sittingright here in Resource World
talking to you guys, it's reallyturned out to be a nice
partnership yeah, I would say,coming from the vegas
(05:44):
perspective, right, like it's aperfect time for you guys to be
coming in and doing this here invegas specifically.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Right, like we just had the f1, we just had super
bowl, vegas is really geared up,as you said, the the nightlife
or the entertainment destinationin the united states, and it
really has become that with allthese giant events, we we got
baseball coming right, we gotbasketball coming this city
never had those things.
So, bringing Olympia here, theexcitement, the entertainment,
(06:11):
it's all here, right.
And I think doing thepartnership, obviously with
Resorts World, ron and Ryan andthe team, like they really get
it and they bring a lot of valueto Olympia or other partners
that they do bring in and theysee that value.
And I think it's an amazingyear to be doing the 60th and
doing it here in Vegas is reallyexciting.
So we'll figure out how we canpump it up too.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
And I got to give you both credit, because one of the
reasons why Jake and I were soexcited to come here and talk to
you guys is you guys are doingsuch an important thing in terms
of spreading the word offitness and that
transformational power ofbodybuilding, and I know I'm
anxious to hear from Derek onthis, because Derek's doing a
great job too.
It's so great to have a champion, to have a iconic seven-time
(06:54):
Olympia champion in your cell,flex, who understand the
importance of spreading thatmessage and connecting more
people to the sport, to thislifestyle.
And what you're doing with thisshow, with other projects you
have going on connecting to newcommunities, whether it's the
UFC community or Hollywood orother businesses.
That's what we try to do everyday.
That's what Jake and I focus on.
(07:14):
How can we tap into newaudiences and grow this thing?
And, derek, you're doing anamazing job.
And, flex, I got to tell youit's fun.
I don't get it doesn't get lostto me seeing you guys here,
because I would imagine, flex,this must be frustrating having
to sit next to Derek Lunsfordbecause Derek did the thing that
you were planning to do as aformer 212 champion to win the
(07:36):
title.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
You can see Don still got that podcast gene in him.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I was going to say Shut up, and harass him.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Listen, I have killed that ego long ago, hence why
I'm a lot lighter.
But again I look at Derek andI'm so proud of this guy because
we've had our battles.
We've obviously Derek's been onthe show as well, we've had
these conversations, but I'veseen this young, again,
genetically blessed athlete withincredible work, ethic winning
the USA and then he was beingpushed hard to get into the 212
(08:08):
class and then, of course, thebattle the first battle between
myself and you was beingpromoted and we had many battles
.
But of course, when I steppedaway, I got to see this guy then
take his first title and, ofcourse, as you said, gone to do
something that I would love tohave done and hope to have done
but didn't.
But I got to live throughsomebody that I truly love and
(08:29):
again look at as somebody, as agreat champion.
So now, as the champ somethingI never was able to do you got
that title, my friend, and ifanybody was to get it it would
be you, because you do anincredible job.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
But welcome to the show again, derek.
Thank you so much, man.
I tell you what when I talk toanybody, I tell them that Flex
Lewis is the guy that made metrain harder than any
professional body else, for acouple reasons.
You were a great champion.
Your physique stands alone.
As an up-and-comer, I was stilla fan.
Like you said, I had a quickrise, going from USA champion
(09:03):
all the way up to the top fivein Olympia in just less than two
months.
So I was still a fan of youguys, especially you.
You were one of the guys thatactually I saw and would watch
and was like man, I want to bedoing that.
So you inspired me from thebeginning.
But also when we had ourrivalry, I was like all right,
my idols are now my rivals.
(09:23):
I want to beat them andunfortunately, you got that 2018
title, but unfortunately to me.
But I thought it was rightfullyso.
I thought it was great.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Like I said, you pushed me so hard I really had
to level up at that point in mylife and in my career because of
you.
So thank you, my man, and levelup you done after that too,
because it's all very well beingon the 212 stage and making the
weight for that, which I knowis difficult for you.
But then we all got to see thetrue potential of Derek Lunsford
.
When that cap was off and againyour first year on the Olympia
stage, you scared a lot ofpeople and, needless to say, you
coming back and then takingthat title the next year, derek,
(10:01):
just tell us about that journeyfrom the 212 to the Open and
that next level you had to tapinto.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Man, it's really been unreal, especially this past
year after winning the MrOlympia title.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Whew.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
Let me just first say this If I could have wrote my
own bodybuilding story, my ownbodybuilding career, it wouldn't
have been half this good.
That's why I always praise myLord and Savior, jesus Christ,
any chance that I get.
So I know it was him workingthrough me, living through me.
Of course, I had to get up anddo my cardio, stick to my diet
and train, but he allowed me togo through me.
Of course, I had to get up anddo my cardio, stick to my diet
and train, but he allowed me togo through some challenges.
(10:39):
After you stepped away in 2018,I had a rough couple of years
where I just wasn't getting that212 title and people ask me oh,
I'm sure you wish you wouldhave done things different.
To be honest, no, because Ijust needed to go through what I
went through during that kindof valley, so to speak, in my
life to be able to come out ofit on the other end and be
(11:00):
better, be stronger and realizethat God is in control and it's
not me.
So all praise and glory andhonor to him.
But I'll tell you what when Iwas placing second in the 212 to
finally winning the 212 in 2021, you don't think, oh, one
placing is that big of adifference.
Oh no, it is.
Being the champion is special.
(11:21):
There's only been a few in thehistory of bodybuilding.
In each division, right, that'sbeen the champion.
There's a massive differencegoing from second place to first
place.
And then I went from first placein the 212 to second in the
Open the following year, which Ihad no idea I was going to be
doing, that I was planning ondefending my title.
Halfway through the year.
(11:42):
I also got sick for a fewmonths.
That set me back whenever Idecided, ok, I want to go Open.
Placing second was a challenge,to be quite honest.
That was better than what weexpected, despite all the
adversity throughout that year.
But once I placed secondrealized, wow, like that, mr
olympia title the open divisionis.
There's a reason why it's thepinnacle, it's at the top.
(12:03):
There's a big difference and Ialmost forgot that second to
first place.
But whenever I finally achievedand walked away with that mr
olympia title and that sandow mygosh, my life has completely
changed?
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Tell us how some of life has changed since you won
the Mr Olympia.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Where do I even get started?
Side note I'm now a father,which is amazing.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Congratulations, thank you.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
That's the best thing of this year.
So she's coming up on sixmonths now and it's great to
watch her and be a father justwatching her and my wife become
a mother too.
So outside of that, I've had,I've done some pretty incredible
things this year.
Not to get political, I haddinner at marlago, which I
thought was pretty cool, gotinvited, um to go have dinner
there.
(12:45):
When I go to these expos, suchas like fibo or I went to korea
this year to the expo over there, like the crowds are just
crazier and crazier.
So the impact that you're'rehaving on the bodybuilding
community itself is justexponentially crazier.
And being a part of this the60th anniversary, the key to the
city being able to speak withthe mayor of Las Vegas and Dan
(13:06):
Solomon and Jake Wood yourself,like my gosh, I wouldn't be able
to do that if I didn't win theMr Olympia title.
So there's a lot of reallyspecial, and that's just a few
things.
There's a lot of really specialthings that come with being the
Mr Olympia, but I will saythere's a lot of challenges that
come with it too.
It's not easy to be Mr Olympiaand to carry the torch strong,
(13:27):
but I'm telling you what I'mdoing, whatever I can, to
maximize every opportunity, notjust for myself, but as a fan of
bodybuilding and having thepassion and love for it, I want
to see it all grow.
I want to see everybody winning.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
You talk about pressure and there's certainly
pressure when you come with theterritory of being a champion,
right?
But then add in the fact thatyou're a new dad as well.
Tell us how that has changedyour life and the motivation
going into the Olympia as a newdad, I think pretty well, too
right For me.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
I didn't know what it would be like.
I knew I would love my child,no matter what.
Praise God that she's healthy,super healthy.
And some people could think itcould be distracting, but
without even trying, there'sjust this extra gear that you
have, that you want to be ableto do more and you, just you
don't make excuses, you go overand above and you have that.
You want to be able to do moreand you, just you don't make
(14:16):
excuses, you go over and aboveand you, just you want, you
expect more from yourself.
So and it's not just aboutproviding, but you just know you
can do more.
You want more for your child,you want more for your family
and just everyone, as I justmentioned, not just my family or
myself, but you just realizethat you just want to be able to
do more and you can do more.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
So it's that extra gear that you have.
Derek, I'm going to want to askyou a question.
All right, when you're in themiddle of your prep, you're
feeling horrible.
It's 2 am and the diapers needchanging.
Who's doing that?
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Put the pillow over your head and pretend like you
didn't hear it.
I remember them days, jack.
I pillow over your head andpretend like you didn't hear it.
I remember them days, jack.
I haven't been there yet.
I don't know.
We're about to find out.
Yeah, my wife is an amazingmother, so she she's typically
the one that gets up in themiddle of night.
I say typically.
She is the one that gets up themiddle of night and takes care
of our daughter, and so she'ssuper supportive of me.
Great mother, yeah, so I canimagine that she'll be doing the
(15:13):
same thing during prep.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Dan, obviously you've got one great champion.
We've got a lot of athletesthat are chasing this man.
To my right We've got HardyChopper, the champion that.
We've got Samson, we've gotAndrew Jack, we've got Hunter
Labrador.
We've got so many names in thehat and all these guys all
believe that they can win the MrOlympia this year.
And that's what makes this yearso much special, because
(15:37):
everybody has that chance.
No offense, derek, as this is acompetition, but everybody
believes in their heart ofhearts.
But this year is going to be anincredible battle up there, not
just in the Open, but multipledifferent classes.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Yeah, so the Olympia is 11 divisions, right, and it's
the division that Derekcompetes in, of course is the
holy grail of our sport.
It's the title that everyonewants, and every person that you
just named should feel likethey have a chance, because they
do.
The Hadi Chupan story, to me,is really compelling.
I'm a huge fan of Hadi Chupan.
(16:09):
I think he is a tremendousbodybuilder and I love the
debates between Hadi and Derekand that's what makes this sport
amazing and what I appreciateabout Derek.
And I love the debates betweenHottie and Derek, and that's
what makes this sport amazingand what I appreciate about
Derek, and I'll tell you thisright now I appreciate the fact
that you embrace the idea thatbodybuilding is an art form and
everybody looks at artdifferently.
There's been champions in thepast that take personal offense
(16:30):
when they hear somebody elsepraise a rival, and I've always
thought the absurdity of that.
That's what makes this sportamazing, and there were poses
where Hadi beat you, and therewere poses.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Oh, wait a minute.
No, to be fair.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But you'd be the first.
No, there were poses where Hadibeat you and then there were
poses where you beat Hadi, andit was a tremendous battle back
and forth.
I would not have wanted to be ajudge at that table.
In the end, the judges didtheir job.
You were the champion and itwas a clear and moderately
debatable outcome.
Right, it's not a pure applesand oranges.
We've seen apples and orangesin the past.
(17:06):
This is not your classic applesand oranges, but it's two
gentlemen with very differentstrengths, and a lot of people
say Olympias are one from theback.
If that's the case, you're MrOlympia for a long time, because
I don't know that I've seen aback in this sport not named
Ronnie Coleman.
That's as impressive as yours.
It is that good when you turnaround.
It is pretty much unbeatablewhen you turn around, thank you.
(17:28):
Then, when Hadi turns around,he brings some things to those
front shots that you don't bring, and that's what makes the
sport amazing, and I love thefact that you appreciate that,
you embrace that idea and youknow that you just have to
continue to get better andbetter.
So that way we won't even havethese conversations or it won't
be up for debate, but the fansin Iran are amazing.
They are passionate, they caredeeply about the sport, they're
(17:49):
some of our most intensefollowers and and I love it and
I cannot wait to see you andHeidi Chopin get, get after it
again it's going to be exactlyright, though you have to
embrace it.
Speaker 5 (17:59):
Like when I look at my competitors now, back when
Flex and I were competing, Ididn't have that mindset.
I can say I came from awrestling background where it
was just I want to beat this guyand of course, we all want to
win right, but it's really youversus you.
So where does the competitionlie in that conversation?
Really, it's just holdingyourself accountable.
Those competitors are doingwhatever they can each and every
(18:21):
day to make themselves better,and that holds you accountable
for you to get better, and sothat's why I said thank you to
Flex Lewis for making me levelup.
That's what now Hottie, nickSamson and all the rest of these
other guys are doing.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Yeah, that's an interesting point and you said
it earlier.
When your idols become yourrivals right and Flex was that
for you who are the guys?
You could feel that from now,because now you're in the spot
right.
So now you got all these guyswho looked up to you and are
gunning for you, but now they'reactually going to be competing
against you.
So do you feel that from theseguys, or is that something you
feel from them?
You feel that competition, likethey're coming at you.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
I definitely understand that I have to
continue to improve and I wantto improve, just as someone
who's passionate aboutbodybuilding and want to be my
best.
That alone motivates me.
But, like I said, thecompetition simply holds me
accountable because I know theseguys are working.
I know that they are, but,realistically, for me this is a
(19:19):
good mindset to have.
Once I won the Mr Olympia, theopen division, I realized that I
just became the first two, thatto achieve that, really that
weight was lifted off and now Ijust get to have fun, keep going
(19:41):
and thinking and wondering isthat ever going to happen?
Is gone.
So someone may hear that andsay, oh boy has he?
Does he now feel like he's thechampion?
He can lay off the the gaspedal?
Absolutely not.
Yeah, everybody's gunning foryou now.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
No way, it's almost like even in some sports like
fighting sports, right like whenyou do become the champ, he can
lay off the gas pedal.
Absolutely not.
Yeah, everybody's gunning foryou now.
No way.
It's almost like even in somesports like fighting sports,
right Like when you do becomethe champ, you actually become
better Because you have thisaura around you now and you have
something there.
So did you feel like that, onceyou became champ, like I'm good
now and I'm able to carry thisforward To?
Speaker 5 (20:10):
be honest with you, when I first won meaning the
night that I won you can see iton my YouTube channel because my
guy, trevor here filmed it allas I'm coming backstage off of
the stage I think I was in shock, honestly.
I think I kept saying what justhappened and I just was like
total shock.
So really, I think it took me acouple of months for it to set
(20:32):
in.
Like I'm Mr Olympia, I alwaysknew I was knocking on the door.
I was one of the top guys inthe world, but I'm now the guy
carrying the torch and so Ithink it took me a couple of
months to actually let that setin.
But now that it has, you know,it actually has strengthened me
and given me more confidence towant to go out there and do it
again.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Yeah, yeah.
And then you're going intogoing into the to the next years
.
Does that put pressure on youbecause of that as well?
Speaker 5 (20:56):
No, I think the pressure is just what you put on
yourself.
People can try to put pressureon you, but really it's only if
you allow it in.
And the pressure that I put onmyself is just for me to be my
best.
I always have, I've always beenmy worst critic.
I've always, even the best dayin the gym.
I come home I tell my she asked, my wife asked how'd the
workout go?
I said it was good, but I couldhave been a little bit better,
even my best day.
(21:16):
So I think that's just.
I think every champion feelsthat way, but I can sure tell
you that's how I am.
The only pressure I have isjust to beat the version of
myself last year and seek myfullest potential.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
You versus you.
Yeah, I like it One legacy.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
I want to turn this over to Dan as a promoter what
is your legacy and the impactyou want to make on the Mr
Olympia?
I?
Speaker 3 (21:39):
just want to make the sport more accessible.
I want people to understandwhere the pathway is to
participate in this lifestyle.
I want to show that there arehealthy ways to participate in
this lifestyle and that thereare people out there that are
trying to overcome all sorts ofthings health issues, young
people out there that aregetting bullied.
There are people out there thatare getting bullied.
There are people out there thatare trying to overcome obesity.
There's so many stories thatlive in this space.
(22:00):
We focus here on the bestbodies in the world guys like
Derek, guys who are practicallycartoon characters out there in
the world.
Real life superheroes, right,but the real superheroes to me
are the people that you talk toin the gym, or that guy who's in
there just getting started andhe just finally got the courage
(22:20):
to get that gym membership andhis family's rooting for him.
I love that and how thatconnects to bodybuilding.
Is that what you're doing,derek, inspires that guy?
He might never look like you,he might never achieve what
you've achieved in that space,but it's that, it's those
stories, it's that, it's whatyou and Chris Bumstead and Jen
Dory and all of you guys aredoing that are inspiring that
person and you're providinginspiration, you're providing
motivation, you're providingeducation and you're lifting
(22:42):
people up, and to me, that'swhat we're trying to achieve Now
.
As we're doing that, we alsowant to do whatever we can to
create an elevated productionexperience.
We want people who are spendinggood money, who are getting on
airplanes traveling from allaround the world, we want them
to experience this with sensoryoverload.
We want them to feel things.
(23:03):
We want them to have a visceral, powerful experience so that
when they leave, they come backyear in and year out and we're
so proud that's what happens.
I love meeting people who cometo the Olympia for the first
time and check that bucket listitem in their life.
I love seeing the way theyrespond, their emotional
response.
I love seeing the athlete who'scompeted at the Olympia for the
(23:23):
first time and what that doesfor him or her.
It's all so powerful and a lotof times we always talk about in
order to be great at something,you have to find your juice
right.
Your juice cannot be gettingrich.
That can't be your juice.
That's not good enough.
Your juice cannot be gettingrich.
That can't be your juice.
That's not good enough.
Your juice cannot be living inthe big house.
(23:44):
That's not juice.
Juice is when you connect withsomething more meaningful and
it's what drives you and fuelsyou.
And for me, my juice is thelife-changing impact that what
we do has on so many people.
And I know, jake, for youthat's why you bought the
Olympia, because you wanted toparticipate in that and I know
we've been.
We've had a lot of fun doingthat together.
Let's talk about that story.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Tell us how this came about, Jake, how you purchased
the Olympia, and again take onwhat Dan just said.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
First of all, what Dan just said there.
He and I overlap a great dealon that because we've talked so
much about it over the years.
But how did the deal come about?
I can't tell you the truth.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Maybe later yeah one of these days, jake, we should
write a book about the assemblyof the olympia acquisition, the
things that went into it because, jake, it's really a story that
can be told in a businessschool, but that's another day
for another show.
Yeah, yeah, there's a a storythat can be told in a business
school, but that's another dayfor another show.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Yeah, it's a true story.
It really involves somepersonal items about other
people that are not myself.
But for me the dream reallybegan so many years ago out in
the middle of the San FernandoValley.
I didn't live too terribly faraway from the Weider offices and
I used to ride my bike by therequite a bit and I was a
(24:58):
15-year- a 15 year old, 16 yearold kid going man, I want to
work there one day and I triedapplying for a job.
It wasn't going to work out formany different reasons and I
never got hired.
Yeah, and I thought, yeah, I'llbe back.
And one day the opportunitycame around to buy it.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
You came back all right, good yeah you came back.
That's crazy, that's.
Yeah, I had no clue how youtook over this, but I'm very
glad that you did again.
If that story comes out in thefuture, I'd love to hear.
But again, I'm very happy,obviously as many of the
champions, that you've taken itover and you have teamed up
together, uh, with dan, to takethis to that next level.
(25:33):
I've seen this growtremendously and a couple of
points that you mentionedearlier, dan.
You're talking about theexperience.
You're talking about production.
What is this Olympia and how isthis Olympia different to any
others?
Speaker 3 (25:44):
The theater here at Resorts World allows us to do a
lot of things visually, withsound, with lighting, with just
overall stage creativity.
We're able to do some things,and it's funny because one of
the areas that we struggle withas producers of the show and our
producer is Tamer Al-Gindi.
He does a great job with us andyou can't please everybody.
(26:05):
You can't, please everybody, youcan't.
And it's very difficult becausewe really focus on creating
something visual that the peoplewho are sitting in the building
, who have spent a lot of moneyon tickets, feel something and
they leave there feeling likethey just witnessed some
bodybuilding version of a rockconcert.
Now, granted, we want torespect the sport, we want to
(26:26):
make the physiques present withvisual clarity and all that, and
we understand that a guy likeDerek and you guys don't spend
all year building a physique tohave it not seen with the
clarity that you deserve.
However, we walk this linebecause we want to create
something visually andexperiential for the attendee.
Now, the problem is, you havethe people in the building.
(26:47):
They respond to something, andthen you have the folks watching
at home on TV or pay-per-viewand it looks different there,
that's true.
You have the sight lines fromthe judging table.
They expect something different.
You have the photographers, andthose things are not always the
same.
It is impossible to makeeveryone happy, just like when
(27:09):
you build a physique.
Right, you can say, okay, I'mgoing to go hard on the
condition, or I'm going to gohard on the size, or I can try
to find a middle ground that'sgoing to please the guy who
cares of the judge, who caresabout aesthetics and cares about
whatever it is.
It's the same dilemma that wefall in and each year we try to
tweak it, we try to improve it,but we have accepted that when
you are in the business of massconsumption, where you produce
(27:29):
something that millions consume,you are never going to make
everyone happy.
And the 10% of the people whoare the least happy are the ones
you're going to hear it from.
The 90% of the people who lovedit, who spend money, who buy
tickets every year, who watch iton pay-per-view, who love
everything about the Olympiaexperience.
You're not going to hear fromthem.
You're going to hear about theguy who said the lights were
(27:52):
overwhelming.
The contrast wasn't right.
Right, the lines on thephysique didn't present.
That's who you're going to hearfrom, and we understand and we
respect those opinions and we dowant to make this enjoyable for
everybody, but it is not easy.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
Fact the matter is, the olympia is over in a night.
Okay, the people that werethere, they're only there for
one night.
How many hours and videotapephotographs.
They live forever.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so yeah.
So it's an interestingrelationship there.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Yeah, something that you said earlier that resonated
with me, and just the health andwellness industry in general
has just blown up and we'reseeing that obviously these guys
, they're the idols, and I grewup looking at muscle and fitness
magazine with Jay Cutler andall these guys and I think that,
like in our country, even wehave a mental health problem and
(28:43):
I, for me, being in the gym wasmy therapy and I think that's
true for a lot of people outthere, right?
Not just athletes who aretrying to compete, but you're
inspiring people just to getinto the gym, get some mental
health, get that workout done.
Do you feel that Like cause?
You're really inspiring peopleto better their lives?
So I think that's an importantthing to touch on For sure.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
Actually, how I fell into bodybuilding was, I
mentioned earlier, I had awrestling background where I
went to college to wrestle for ashort period of time and I
realized very quickly thatwrestling probably wasn't going
to pay the bills in the future.
I probably wouldn't have acareer in that.
So I thought, okay, let'scontinue to go to school and get
my degree which I did get, abusiness degree but I just I
(29:22):
didn't really enjoy anything.
I was serving tables and theonly thing I realized at that
time that was consistent in mylife, that I loved and was
passionate about, uh, was goingto the gym.
Yeah, and quite frankly, Ididn't even know what
bodybuilding was.
I'd never even heard of the MrOlympia, jay Cutler, anybody
like that.
I just loved being in the gym.
And, long story short, some ofthe guys in the gym real jacked
(29:46):
guys.
Man, who are these guys?
Are they football players?
Surely not.
There's no football team aroundhere.
Okay, they're not fighters.
They're too muscular to be asolid fighter.
What do they do?
Who are they?
They said well, we'rebodybuilders.
What do you mean, yourbodybuilders?
We compete in bodybuilding.
What are you talking about?
Oh, npc, mr Olympia, ipbprobably.
Oh, there's like competitivebodybuilding.
(30:08):
I thought about it.
I was like man, I'm just.
I have not the greatestdiscipline in my life at this
time and I had no real future inmind other than, like I said,
going to school and hoping oneday I'd figure it out.
So I thought to myself okay, togive me structure, to give me
something to focus on in my life, a goal to achieve and go for
(30:30):
every day.
I'm going to commit to doing abodybuilding show and, mind you
too, I thought maybe, like theUFC, the fighting, the MMA route
might have been appealing to mebeing a wrestler at the time.
But I thought, before I committo getting my face punched in
for years and years, let me trythis bodybuilding thing, because
I'm in the gym training everyday anyway, I'm cutting weight
(30:50):
for wrestling, so I know how todiet hard and suffer and
sacrifice.
And so it just competing in myfirst show mainly was for me to
just get out of my funk.
Give me foundation, give mediscipline, give me a goal to
achieve and going off what Dansaid earlier about the first
time competitor, the NPCcompetitor, those are some of my
(31:11):
greatest bodybuilding memories.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
You're doing what you love, right?
Like you followed something youcouldn't figure out.
Now I'm doing exactly what Ilove and you're going to pay me
for it.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
And at that time I was an amateur.
I was competing at NPC and Iwas weighing 150, 160 pounds, so
no way was I going to beat aFlex Lewis or a Phil Heath at
the time, or nothing.
I had some sort of ignorantconfidence is what I like to
call it that maybe one day Iwould get there.
If I dedicated myself like Idid, to wrestling, to
(31:42):
bodybuilding, maybe I could getthere one day.
So I did have some belief thatone day it might happen.
Faith, yes, amen, brother, andbut at the time, really, it's
just.
I can remember that those weresome of the greatest memories
that my friends and family wouldcome to the show and we would
go out and have a cheat meal andmaybe cheesecake factory after
the show, after finals.
So those are memories that I'lljust, I'll never, ever forget.
Those are some of the greatestmemories I've had in
(32:03):
bodybuilding.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
I know you are the champ, Derek.
What are your goals andaspirations whilst competing and
then retiring?
Have you got anything you wantto do when you're done with the
sport?
Speaker 5 (32:14):
I took a play out of your book, my man, I'm building
a gym right now over in theTampa Clearwater area.
So I remember when you had theDragon's Lair before the
Dragon's Lair, when it was justa private training facility for
yourself and some friends, andso at first that was my idea,
that I just wanted to getsomething for me, and then I
realized that I want to becompeting for years and years,
(32:35):
as long as I possibly can.
I want to be doing this.
I feel like I'm just gettingstarted.
I know I can continue toimprove.
I plan to be here for a while,so in that meantime I do want to
keep it more exclusive, towhere the gym isn't getting
crazy packed with tons of peopleand you're bringing the right
atmosphere there.
But I realized, too, there willbe a day that this comes to an
end.
(32:55):
The right atmosphere there, butI realized, too, there will be a
day that this comes to an endand I really and what I mean by
that is the competitive side ofbodybuilding and I just I have
so much passion and love forbodybuilding that I really see
myself in this sport for myentire life and I want to truly
give back to the next wave ofguys coming and I feel that with
my experience I can really helpmentor and push the next wave
(33:16):
of guys.
So I feel that with myexperience I can really help
mentor and push the next wave ofguys.
So I hope that people willeventually come to Florida, to
Tampa Clearwater area, and I canhelp push them in the gym and
kind of mentor them on how to tostay focused and stay right in
this sport, because at somepoint it's not as physical as it
is mental.
So being able to give back inthat way is something I look
forward to many years down theroad when I'm done competing.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
The mental aspect, if I could, because we work out
together at the gym and whatnot,and he pushes me a bit, but
he's always telling me he's, bro, like back when I was competing
, I wouldn't even be able to sithere with you like this.
You'd think I was a straight upasshole, and he's just.
I was a straight up asshole,and he's just.
I was a completely differentperson.
Do you have that switch whereyou're the different person?
Oh, nice.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
No, bro, I wish I could say no, man, I'm the same
easygoing person all year.
Yeah, no, no, no, theredefinitely is a switch that
flips and it's go time.
Yeah, we're 15 weeks out assoon as I get back home from
this trip tomorrow.
It's go time.
Yeah, for the olympia.
We're 15 weeks out as soon as Iget back home from this trip
(34:18):
tomorrow.
It's go time.
There is no beats that aremissed.
It's really a crazy mindset.
Like you put everything youneed to do first, everything you
need to do as far as cardio,meals, training, rest, therapies
, all that stuff, the posing allof that day in, day out, months
and months, everything elsetakes a back seat.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yeah, you just have to but does that become harder
now that you're a dad?
Speaker 5 (34:40):
right, because now you have this other factor in
life and motivation yeah like Isaid earlier, I feel like it
gives me that extra gear to notcomplain, and certainly done it
for me.
Yeah, it just kind of givesthat extra kick of no, I can do
more, and it's it the love youhave for do you?
Speaker 2 (34:57):
I have, no, I haven't had a kid.
But everybody who around me,all the men around me who've,
you know, even the guys who,like you, would never think that
they would have the kid guys,are like this is the best thing
that's ever happened.
You need to start having kidsright away, like all of them,
just change you live through meas well, right, yeah?
Speaker 5 (35:12):
definitely it's the greatest man and, like I said,
that's why I said before I knewI would love my child, but I
didn't realize when she was bornhow much I would truly love my
child, and you can't explain it.
It's not something you try for,it just is what it is.
Yeah, and so I, like I saidearlier, this is my first time
prepping with a child, being afather, but I I think it's just
(35:33):
going to give me even moremotivation like that.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Yeah, it's wild when you think about it, he got the
title of mr olympia and dad.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Yeah in a few weeks.
Yeah, it's awesome back to backit's wild I know two
championships back unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Yeah, and congratulations.
In the gym I heard whispers,but I wanted you to tell me, so
this is now going to besemi-open to the public.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
Yeah, at least until towards the end of the year it's
going to be semi-open to thepublic.
Yeah, at least until towardsthe end of the year it's going
to be just private for me andeverything.
Oh just, is this the place we?
Speaker 1 (36:00):
go Private only because you are going to become
your camera guy's up there.
You're going to become DerekLunsford and people are going to
be like I don't know if I'mgoing to train you anymore, but
that's what you need you nothingbut a church-like atmosphere.
And every time I walked intothat gym I had control of
everything I bought my trainingpartners in.
I had every dial on point forme to win and defend that title
(36:22):
and the fact you're doing thatright now.
I know chris bumstead's donethe same thing too.
Not the public gyms adistraction, because I've
trained in public gyms up untilI decided open mind.
But then, to get that onepercent out to you, don't look
back and go.
Man, did I not train as hardbecause I went to the gym and I
spoke to people, because I wasthe champ?
Or can I keep the championmentality and when I go out into
(36:46):
public and become that guy andenjoy it and then when I need to
train, I can turn that switch,as you said?
Speaker 5 (36:51):
definitely.
That's why I'm going to keep itmore private while I'm
competing, like we'll havemembers, but it's going to be
like being able to control theatmosphere, like invite only
yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I know there's a lot of niceness in the air, don, I'm
going to stir the pot, uh-oh.
What has Hadi Chopan got to doto beat Derek Lunsford this?
Speaker 3 (37:07):
year, my days of answering questions?
No, they're not.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
They're on my podcast .
Speaker 3 (37:13):
I actually miss the days when I was paid to give
those opinions.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
I'm not paying you enough to do that?
Speaker 3 (37:18):
No, but to be honest with you, it's going to be tough
.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
It's going to be tough for Hadi to take the title
, he first needs to get in thecountry.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Yeah, he's got to get here.
But I know what that battlemeans to the fans and to see you
guys go at it.
It's everything you could wantin a rivalry.
It's respectful, it's built ontwo differing types of physiques
, two of the hardest workers inthe sport, two people, two
(37:47):
athletes who are at the top oftheir game, and that's what
makes this so compelling.
You guys are both in yourcompetitive prime at the same
time and this battle is going tobe amazing.
There's something else I wantto throw out to you.
You asked me earlier aboutResorts World and the
relationship.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
I want to talk about all that after that.
Yeah, no problem.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Yeah, one of the things that we get to do here,
which is amazing.
So the tickets for the Saturdaynight Olympia finals they sold
out in two and a half days.
Two and a half days, meaningdays meaning congratulations and
a lot of events talk aboutsellouts.
Right the day of the showthey'll say oh yeah, we were
sold out.
We're sold out with months togo.
You cannot buy a ticket tosaturday night what are we on
timeline right now?
Speaker 1 (38:20):
how many weeks out?
Speaker 5 (38:22):
we're 15 weeks.
You should know this.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
I always defer to the athlete.
So this was what I know.
A few weeks ago that this wasannounced, month done, so
basically 20 weeks out it wassold out now the reason why I
mentioned this.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
It's actually bad news for some, but there's some
really good news happening.
So the hottest club in Vegas isZouk.
Zouk is the spot and of courseit's right.
Here at Resorts World, zouk isgoing to host we're doing
something that's never happenedbefore the official Olympia
watch party on Saturday night,and this isn't just going to be
a room with a TV in it.
(38:53):
You guys know what goes on inZouk.
Zouk is badass and there'svisuals everywhere, there's
screens everywhere and we'regoing to pump in the live,
real-time sound.
They're not going to be in Zoukwatching the pay-per-view and
hearing that.
They're going to experience theraw footage, live as it happens
, of the call-outs and theaction on the stage, with full
(39:14):
bar service and everything youcould want, surrounded by the
most beautiful people in theworld and the best energy and
hardcore bodybuilding fans andfitness enthusiasts.
And it's going to be theofficial watch party and it's
going to be at Zouk and ticketsare going to go on sale for that
soon and it is going to beamazing.
We were just in there.
We just walked the property anddid some promo there and we saw
the configuration and I'll behonest with you and I'm not just
(39:36):
saying this the experience atthe Zouk watch party might
actually prove to be better, interms of overall enjoyment, than
being in the building.
It's going to be amazing.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
The acoustics alone are incredible and obviously
you've got to have the Nelson.
Sorry Jack.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
I was just going to say, Zouk adds in another 2,500
people to watch the show for us.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
Wow, and all the bells and whistles right.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
They've got the lasers and the explosions and
all these crazy things.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
It's going to lasers and the explosions and all these
crazy things.
It'd be awesome.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
We're hoping we can get you guys there.
Pop in, see the fans, andthat's what's going to happen
throughout the night.
If you're at the Zouk watchparty, you're going to see
celebrities like you guys there,you're going to see industry
insiders, you're going to seelegends there, and then you're
going to see a couple thousandof the most hardcore fans in the
world who, instead of paying$1,000 plus for a VIP package to
(40:20):
watch the show if you weren'table to get one, go in there.
Tickets are going to be prettyinexpensive.
Go in there and just be a partof an incredible party and watch
history being made at theofficial watch party.
So we're starting to get theword out for that and I think
people are going to really loveit.
Speaker 5 (40:34):
Yeah, you got to be pumped up.
I know that's like the one andonly an only downfall to being
on stage.
I know you missed this and nowI can enjoy all this stuff.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
I know you guys got a hard stop so I want to ask a
quick couple of questions.
Obviously, the Olympia thisyear is going to have so much
more bells and whistles.
Can you add anything that we'vemissed out, that you'd like to
fill in with the fans, any fanexperiences, and outside of the
Expo that's going on?
Speaker 3 (40:56):
Yeah, so the Expo this year is going to be
upgraded quite a bit, so we'readding a lot more square footage
to the Expo.
Oh, wow, we are adding, thefirst time ever, the Olympia
Combat Zone, which is going tobe a whole upper level at the
Las Vegas Convention Center,which is going to provide a
showcase for everything frombare-knuckle fighting and all
sorts of mixed martial arts andother combat sports and just a
(41:19):
whole myriad of things that willcater to the combat community,
the martial arts community.
There's going to be manydisciplines.
Dr Goldman's getting involvedand he's bringing a lot of his
martial arts disciplines withhim, so it's going to be a real
showcase for all things in thecombat sports world and that's
going to give our event a wholedifferent dimension.
But you mentioned earlier aboutbringing all these different
(41:39):
industries together.
Now, of course, it's known thatin the fitness industry, the
endemic brands, the categories,are supplementation, apparel and
equipment.
But the great news for us isJake and I have worked so hard
to go beyond that and oursponsors, our big sponsors, our
companies that are in categoriesthat go beyond that and that's
what we're really working togrow.
We have our three main sponsors, respectively are based in um,
(42:04):
brazil, korea, and now a greatnew relationship that we're
forming in germany.
So that's what we're loving.
Speaker 4 (42:09):
We're connecting the whole world to this sport and I
think you're going to feel thatwhen you come to the event this
year, it's amazing, jake, andthat's been one of our goals
from the very beginning, goingway back from 2019, when we're
first talking about it is how dowe spread it throughout the
world?
Make it for everybody, ignoreborders?
We're there for the people,yeah, and that's still what
we're trying to do.
Speaker 1 (42:30):
I'd like to ask both of you a question, whether you
split up the answer or not.
If I was able to give you amagic wand right now, where
would you like to see theOlympia in the next couple of
years?
Speaker 3 (42:41):
Where would we like to see it?
Jake?
We talk about this all the time.
I have some very bold ambitions.
I'll let you go first on thisone, jake.
Speaker 4 (42:46):
I would love for it to still be here, right here at
Resorts World.
I think that they can be afantastic partner.
Sometime we might want totravel with it a little bit.
Speaker 2 (42:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (42:56):
And, of course, one thing that's a dream is the
sphere, the MSG Sphere Come onJack.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
That's going to be great man.
Come on Jack.
The UFC is doing their firstthing there.
I might have to make a comeback.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
I might have to make a comeback for that Sphere.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
So it's opening the door.
It's actually opening the doorfor that.
With the UFC doing their firstevent there this Mexican
Independence Day weekend.
That's going to really openthat door.
Speaker 4 (43:22):
I yeah, that could be very interesting, but I do know
that it is a huge upfrontinvestment just in all of your
artwork and videography andeverything to actually make use
of what you have there.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
It's pricey, it's pricey, not in Vegas, I know all
about this stuff.
But Olympia is big enough thatyou can have that conversation
with them.
It's still another step aboveus.
We're talking 20, the it seatsin there.
Speaker 4 (43:44):
Yeah, we're also talking probably 10 million
dollars.
Yeah, just to get you in thedoor there that's the goal right
, so at least that's there butwe want to travel too.
There's all kinds of greatplaces around brazil.
We wouldn't do it every singleyear, but maybe every fourth
year, fifth year, something likethat.
Take it out somewhere, becausethe emerging markets are not
(44:06):
here where we're sitting, andthis is the best market.
It's the biggest market today,but it's not the emerging market
.
Speaker 3 (44:13):
So I've seen the popularity of the Olympia reach
heights that we never even hadthe courage to dream of.
I see the way tickets sell.
I see the pace at which theysell.
I see the consumer'swillingness to make big
commitments to be at the Olympia, and I see it and I measure it
and I watch it very closely.
(44:33):
It is my opinion that at somepoint it might not be next year,
it might not even be in a fewyears but at some point it might
not be next year, it might noteven be in a few years, but at
some point we're going to holdthe Olympia in a stadium.
I think we can get there.
I'm so convinced and confidentin our ability to sell tickets
and bring large crowds to whatwe do.
When I watch WrestleMania everyyear and they hold it in
(44:55):
stadiums and I see what they doI look at that and I feel like,
yes, there are practicalobstacles.
You want to put a bodybuildingshow in an inside venue, you
want to protect the climate, allthat sort of thing.
But I am convinced that at somepoint just the same way Joe
Weider predicted back in the1940s that the world would
become, would embrace the ideaof strength training and fitness
(45:17):
and people looked at him likehe had two heads, like he had
crazy, because back thenathletes looked like babe ruth
and there were no strengthtrainers and there were no gyms
and there were no supplementcompanies.
People thought he was crazy.
But I'm going to take it onestep further.
Speaker 1 (45:27):
I'm crazy enough to think that at some point in time
we'll have this in a stadiumand we'll sell 50 60 000 tickets
look at dana white, done withthe ufc he's a big dreamer
everybody called him crazy totake on a failing business that
had mixed martial arts and havepeople from all over the world
fighting each other and nobody'slaughing right now, right?
Speaker 2 (45:46):
I have personal friends with Dana.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
He is the best promoter and obviously in Las
Vegas he makes dreams come trueand, as you guys know, I've seen
the same thing.
You have to be called crazy,dan, to be a big dreamer.
I was called crazy to jump on aplane and come to the United
States, sleep on a sofa for afew and a half and I was able to
succeed and achieve my dream.
So I think anybody who callsyou crazy I feel is a compliment
(46:11):
.
And keep on being crazy, dan,keep on reaching.
Speaker 2 (46:13):
I see it, I definitely see it in stadiums.
And just speaking of the UFCspecifically, right Like they've
branched out now.
Now they're doing events, moreworldly events, because they're
in the same mindset of trying toreally expand into global right
.
So they've started doing thosetype events.
I think that in the future anddoing these traveling Olympias
would be really amazing in theseother sectors of the world for
(46:35):
sure.
Speaker 1 (46:35):
Rock.
I was in Brazil for the Arnold,just Ehafa and let me tell you
that fan base is I have never,ever been to a country that has
a fan base that has middle-agedwomen screaming for Flex Lewis.
Have you ever been to Welch?
I don't even get that bit.
What an incredible market.
(46:55):
But there's many more andbodybuilding, as you guys said,
now is global and thanks to, to,to sponsors who are investing
in the olympia, they they getinto see their logo on that
stage, go back to respectivecountries and promote the
fitness injuries in itself.
But I know you guys have a hardstop, you know, um, in wrapping
this up, where you're for anhistoric event, where keys to
(47:17):
the city and you guys are goingto be doing your political thing
, kissing babies, shaking hands.
But I just want to say, guys,from a previous champion, I'm
sitting next to the currentchampion, owner of the Miss
Olympia promoter, extraordinaireDan Solomon.
I appreciate you guys for thistime, this opportunity, and I'm
looking forward to seeing thisyear's Olympia and us being part
of it on whatever level theycan give us Rock, yes sir, can't
(47:39):
wait.
Can't wait to see you guys.
Guys, stop the great work.
Speaker 3 (47:41):
You guys are killing it and we're honored to be with
you.
So thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (47:44):
Is there any sign-off guys you want to do direct to
the fans?
Speaker 2 (47:47):
No, I just appreciate your support and I would say
get your tickets to the Olympia,but they're sold out, so
Congratulations.
This is a big key indicator.
Speaker 1 (47:58):
And one thing as a person who loves marketing I've
sat next to somebody who livesthis life I truly feel you and
Hardy have such a Rocky moviegoing on right now.
Speaker 2 (48:08):
It's such a Rocky IV Apollo and USA Rocky IV.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
It is an incredible story.
You guys are one for one andthis is going down to this year.
And again, Derek, this is amovie, my friend.
And I'm looking forward to it.
Dan, sorry, it's a nail-biter.
Speaker 3 (48:22):
No, it is.
It's Rocky IV.
Is it Drago versus Rocky IV?
I don't know.
In fact, I don't even know ifit's fair to call how Did you
Fan Drago, because how Did youFan?
And you guys you train inimpressive facilities and you
guys both carry that sameblue-collar approach, so it's
probably not a great comparison.
But you're right, this isbefitting of a movie and that's
why we're making one about thisyear's Olympia.
Speaker 1 (48:43):
And that's a whole other story for another show.
But, gents, I appreciate youguys.
I know we've run out of time.
I could have asked much morequestions, but the time that we
had, I truly appreciate it Fromme and Rock guys, straight out
of there, we are out.
straight out the lab flex and rock rock.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
We got a special podcast today indeed, here we
are at eight lounge.
We got the mr olympia team hereand it's really exciting to be
able to talk to you guys todayhere at Resorts World.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Absolutely.
Jake Wood, owner of Mr Olympia.
Don Solomon, the man that I'veknown for many years, many
stories we're going to betalking about.
He is the promoter of MrOlympia and, to my right, the
champ.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
The champ Derek.
Speaker 3 (00:41):
Lunsford In the building.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
Welcome all to the podcast guys.
Straight with the lamp.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Flex, think about all the times I've interviewed you
over the years, after thosetriumphant conquests at the
Olympia, those seven Olympiatitles.
You and I would be backstageand I'd be interviewing you in
those moments of victory.
And then here we are the tableshave completely turned.
Speaker 1 (01:01):
It truly has.
I was thinking about this whenwe were talking about doing the
podcast and how the tables havetruly turned when now I'm doing
interviews with Mr Olympia's andmany other athletes and many
other champions in their ownright again.
But it all started frombodybuilding and this is the
platform that set my nexttrajectory off, and I'm very
excited now to get everybody inthe room because we have a big
(01:24):
year.
This year we have the 60th, mrolympia, guys, obviously and
today the keys to the city.
What, first of all, what anachievement to have the keys to
las vegas.
Tell us about that, guys it's.
Speaker 3 (01:36):
It's quite an honor.
I know jake and I.
When jake bought the olympia,he and I sat down and we we
compared those visions and bothof us and j drove the bus.
The vision was to take thissport and to bring it to levels
that few had even had thecourage to do in over the years.
And we had a plan in place andwe really wanted to connect this
(01:56):
sport with newer audiences.
We wanted to bring it aroundthe world in a way that it
hadn't been transported yet andwe were willing to do whatever
it took.
And if that involved increasingproduction value, spending more
money on stage production,increasing prize money, whatever
we had to do to attract morepeople men, women and children
to this lifestyle, we were goingto do it.
(02:17):
So I know, Jake, I can onlyspeak for myself in this case,
but I'd imagine for you, thismust be a bit of a culmination
of the initial vision.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
It is.
There's no doubt, Dan.
I remember when you and I firstlaunched this plan, we were
sitting up there in Hollywood asa matter of fact, at
Yamashiro's restaurant up there.
That's right and we laid allthis out in 2019.
Damn, and we keep rolling.
It keeps happening.
Of course, 2020 was a littlebit of a hiccup.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
I was going to say 2020 had to have put a little
bit of a damper on everythingright, A big damper yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
It's wild Because, flex, I know you knew Joe Weider
, yeah, and we can only lookback at how hard Joe worked to
get the world to receive andaccept bodybuilding right.
So here we are in theentertainment capital of the
world, las vegas, beingcelebrated, being recognized,
and I'd imagine joe must beincredibly proud of what's
happening this weekendabsolutely what an achievement
(03:11):
from from the two brothers thathave taken this sport to where
it was.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
Arnold obviously has helped propel that, and now from
that and them, generations nowwe have guys like this who are
incredible champions, not juston stage but off stage too.
And that's what I want to saytoo is now we have so many
different categories, but everycategory has an incredible
champion that promotes the sport, not, as I said, on stage, but
(03:37):
off stage too.
But that's a testament to yourguys vision and the promotion of
how this is growing.
And again, now we're in resortsWorld.
This is an incredible place tobe hosting the Mr Olympia, the
60th Mr Olympia.
So how did you guys link upwith Resorts World to get to
this magnitude of the Olympia?
Speaker 4 (03:54):
That would be Dan's story there.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
So we were connected.
We all share friends, right?
That's the beautiful thingabout Las Vegas Everybody's
connected to everybody.
And I was having a casualconversation with my good friend
, mark Anthony and I go way backand he and I were talking about
different venue possibilitiesand he had said that I needed to
meet his friend, ryan Chastain,who of course, is one of the
guys who runs Zouk and does sucha great job, and he's a
(04:17):
bodybuilder and a bodybuildingfan.
So I sat down and talked toRyan a little bit about the
opportunity to open up somedialogue and Ryan deserves a lot
of credit because Ryan reallyworked hard, stepped up and
brought everybody to the tableand we had some incredibly
productive conversations.
And it's hard to find a home forthe Olympia, because the
Olympia we ask for a lot.
We ask for tens of thousands ofroom nights in a room block.
(04:39):
We ask for a stage venue thatcan house a world-class
production and also seat anadequate number of people.
We need convention center space, we need supporting community,
volunteerism, all kinds ofthings.
There's so many elements ofwhat we need from a community,
from a city, from a hostproperty, and it's hard and we
(04:59):
have conversations with manyproperties around the world and
they don't always go anywherebecause we'll hit one of those
markers and they just can'tsupport it.
Resorts World stepped up and welove it here because Resorts
World is different.
A lot of times you do a dealwith a venue or a hotel and they
hand you the keys, they put youin a room and they say, okay,
put on your show and we'll sendyou a bill.
But Resorts World takes it toanother level and I really
(05:22):
appreciate that.
They really get involved.
They try to do everything thatthey can to bring visibility to
what we're doing.
They do what they can toprovide experiential support,
make sure that our visitors aregetting more for their visit,
and they get involved with whatwe're doing and, as evidenced by
the fact that we're sittingright here in Resource World
talking to you guys, it's reallyturned out to be a nice
partnership yeah, I would say,coming from the vegas
(05:44):
perspective, right, like it's aperfect time for you guys to be
coming in and doing this here invegas specifically.
Speaker 2 (05:50):
Right, like we just had the f1, we just had super
bowl, vegas is really geared up,as you said, the the nightlife
or the entertainment destinationin the united states, and it
really has become that with allthese giant events, we we got
baseball coming right, we gotbasketball coming this city
never had those things.
So, bringing Olympia here, theexcitement, the entertainment,
(06:11):
it's all here, right.
And I think doing thepartnership, obviously with
Resorts World, ron and Ryan andthe team, like they really get
it and they bring a lot of valueto Olympia or other partners
that they do bring in and theysee that value.
And I think it's an amazingyear to be doing the 60th and
doing it here in Vegas is reallyexciting.
So we'll figure out how we canpump it up too.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
And I got to give you both credit, because one of the
reasons why Jake and I were soexcited to come here and talk to
you guys is you guys are doingsuch an important thing in terms
of spreading the word offitness and that
transformational power ofbodybuilding, and I know I'm
anxious to hear from Derek onthis, because Derek's doing a
great job too.
It's so great to have a champion, to have a iconic seven-time
(06:54):
Olympia champion in your cell,flex, who understand the
importance of spreading thatmessage and connecting more
people to the sport, to thislifestyle.
And what you're doing with thisshow, with other projects you
have going on connecting to newcommunities, whether it's the
UFC community or Hollywood orother businesses.
That's what we try to do everyday.
That's what Jake and I focus on.
(07:14):
How can we tap into newaudiences and grow this thing?
And, derek, you're doing anamazing job.
And, flex, I got to tell youit's fun.
I don't get it doesn't get lostto me seeing you guys here,
because I would imagine, flex,this must be frustrating having
to sit next to Derek Lunsfordbecause Derek did the thing that
you were planning to do as aformer 212 champion to win the
(07:36):
title.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
You can see Don still got that podcast gene in him.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I was going to say Shut up, and harass him.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
Listen, I have killed that ego long ago, hence why
I'm a lot lighter.
But again I look at Derek andI'm so proud of this guy because
we've had our battles.
We've obviously Derek's been onthe show as well, we've had
these conversations, but I'veseen this young, again,
genetically blessed athlete withincredible work, ethic winning
the USA and then he was beingpushed hard to get into the 212
(08:08):
class and then, of course, thebattle the first battle between
myself and you was beingpromoted and we had many battles
.
But of course, when I steppedaway, I got to see this guy then
take his first title and, ofcourse, as you said, gone to do
something that I would love tohave done and hope to have done
but didn't.
But I got to live throughsomebody that I truly love and
(08:29):
again look at as somebody, as agreat champion.
So now, as the champ somethingI never was able to do you got
that title, my friend, and ifanybody was to get it it would
be you, because you do anincredible job.
Speaker 5 (08:41):
But welcome to the show again, derek.
Thank you so much, man.
I tell you what when I talk toanybody, I tell them that Flex
Lewis is the guy that made metrain harder than any
professional body else, for acouple reasons.
You were a great champion.
Your physique stands alone.
As an up-and-comer, I was stilla fan.
Like you said, I had a quickrise, going from USA champion
(09:03):
all the way up to the top fivein Olympia in just less than two
months.
So I was still a fan of youguys, especially you.
You were one of the guys thatactually I saw and would watch
and was like man, I want to bedoing that.
So you inspired me from thebeginning.
But also when we had ourrivalry, I was like all right,
my idols are now my rivals.
(09:23):
I want to beat them andunfortunately, you got that 2018
title, but unfortunately to me.
But I thought it was rightfullyso.
I thought it was great.
Speaker 1 (09:41):
Like I said, you pushed me so hard I really had
to level up at that point in mylife and in my career because of
you.
So thank you, my man, and levelup you done after that too,
because it's all very well beingon the 212 stage and making the
weight for that, which I knowis difficult for you.
But then we all got to see thetrue potential of Derek Lunsford
.
When that cap was off and againyour first year on the Olympia
stage, you scared a lot ofpeople and, needless to say, you
coming back and then takingthat title the next year, derek,
(10:01):
just tell us about that journeyfrom the 212 to the Open and
that next level you had to tapinto.
Speaker 5 (10:09):
Man, it's really been unreal, especially this past
year after winning the MrOlympia title.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
Whew.
Speaker 5 (10:17):
Let me just first say this If I could have wrote my
own bodybuilding story, my ownbodybuilding career, it wouldn't
have been half this good.
That's why I always praise myLord and Savior, jesus Christ,
any chance that I get.
So I know it was him workingthrough me, living through me.
Of course, I had to get up anddo my cardio, stick to my diet
and train, but he allowed me togo through me.
Of course, I had to get up anddo my cardio, stick to my diet
and train, but he allowed me togo through some challenges.
(10:39):
After you stepped away in 2018,I had a rough couple of years
where I just wasn't getting that212 title and people ask me oh,
I'm sure you wish you wouldhave done things different.
To be honest, no, because Ijust needed to go through what I
went through during that kindof valley, so to speak, in my
life to be able to come out ofit on the other end and be
(11:00):
better, be stronger and realizethat God is in control and it's
not me.
So all praise and glory andhonor to him.
But I'll tell you what when Iwas placing second in the 212 to
finally winning the 212 in 2021, you don't think, oh, one
placing is that big of adifference.
Oh no, it is.
Being the champion is special.
(11:21):
There's only been a few in thehistory of bodybuilding.
In each division, right, that'sbeen the champion.
There's a massive differencegoing from second place to first
place.
And then I went from first placein the 212 to second in the
Open the following year, which Ihad no idea I was going to be
doing, that I was planning ondefending my title.
Halfway through the year.
(11:42):
I also got sick for a fewmonths.
That set me back whenever Idecided, ok, I want to go Open.
Placing second was a challenge,to be quite honest.
That was better than what weexpected, despite all the
adversity throughout that year.
But once I placed secondrealized, wow, like that, mr
olympia title the open divisionis.
There's a reason why it's thepinnacle, it's at the top.
(12:03):
There's a big difference and Ialmost forgot that second to
first place.
But whenever I finally achievedand walked away with that mr
olympia title and that sandow mygosh, my life has completely
changed?
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Tell us how some of life has changed since you won
the Mr Olympia.
Speaker 5 (12:20):
Where do I even get started?
Side note I'm now a father,which is amazing.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
Congratulations, thank you.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
That's the best thing of this year.
So she's coming up on sixmonths now and it's great to
watch her and be a father justwatching her and my wife become
a mother too.
So outside of that, I've had,I've done some pretty incredible
things this year.
Not to get political, I haddinner at marlago, which I
thought was pretty cool, gotinvited, um to go have dinner
there.
(12:45):
When I go to these expos, suchas like fibo or I went to korea
this year to the expo over there, like the crowds are just
crazier and crazier.
So the impact that you're'rehaving on the bodybuilding
community itself is justexponentially crazier.
And being a part of this the60th anniversary, the key to the
city being able to speak withthe mayor of Las Vegas and Dan
(13:06):
Solomon and Jake Wood yourself,like my gosh, I wouldn't be able
to do that if I didn't win theMr Olympia title.
So there's a lot of reallyspecial, and that's just a few
things.
There's a lot of really specialthings that come with being the
Mr Olympia, but I will saythere's a lot of challenges that
come with it too.
It's not easy to be Mr Olympiaand to carry the torch strong,
(13:27):
but I'm telling you what I'mdoing, whatever I can, to
maximize every opportunity, notjust for myself, but as a fan of
bodybuilding and having thepassion and love for it, I want
to see it all grow.
I want to see everybody winning.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
You talk about pressure and there's certainly
pressure when you come with theterritory of being a champion,
right?
But then add in the fact thatyou're a new dad as well.
Tell us how that has changedyour life and the motivation
going into the Olympia as a newdad, I think pretty well, too
right For me.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
I didn't know what it would be like.
I knew I would love my child,no matter what.
Praise God that she's healthy,super healthy.
And some people could think itcould be distracting, but
without even trying, there'sjust this extra gear that you
have, that you want to be ableto do more and you, just you
don't make excuses, you go overand above and you have that.
You want to be able to do moreand you, just you don't make
(14:16):
excuses, you go over and aboveand you, just you want, you
expect more from yourself.
So and it's not just aboutproviding, but you just know you
can do more.
You want more for your child,you want more for your family
and just everyone, as I justmentioned, not just my family or
myself, but you just realizethat you just want to be able to
do more and you can do more.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
So it's that extra gear that you have.
Derek, I'm going to want to askyou a question.
All right, when you're in themiddle of your prep, you're
feeling horrible.
It's 2 am and the diapers needchanging.
Who's doing that?
Speaker 5 (14:50):
Put the pillow over your head and pretend like you
didn't hear it.
I remember them days, jack.
I pillow over your head andpretend like you didn't hear it.
I remember them days, jack.
I haven't been there yet.
I don't know.
We're about to find out.
Yeah, my wife is an amazingmother, so she she's typically
the one that gets up in themiddle of night.
I say typically.
She is the one that gets up themiddle of night and takes care
of our daughter, and so she'ssuper supportive of me.
Great mother, yeah, so I canimagine that she'll be doing the
(15:13):
same thing during prep.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
Dan, obviously you've got one great champion.
We've got a lot of athletesthat are chasing this man.
To my right We've got HardyChopper, the champion that.
We've got Samson, we've gotAndrew Jack, we've got Hunter
Labrador.
We've got so many names in thehat and all these guys all
believe that they can win the MrOlympia this year.
And that's what makes this yearso much special, because
(15:37):
everybody has that chance.
No offense, derek, as this is acompetition, but everybody
believes in their heart ofhearts.
But this year is going to be anincredible battle up there, not
just in the Open, but multipledifferent classes.
Speaker 3 (15:48):
Yeah, so the Olympia is 11 divisions, right, and it's
the division that Derekcompetes in, of course is the
holy grail of our sport.
It's the title that everyonewants, and every person that you
just named should feel likethey have a chance, because they
do.
The Hadi Chupan story, to me,is really compelling.
I'm a huge fan of Hadi Chupan.
(16:09):
I think he is a tremendousbodybuilder and I love the
debates between Hadi and Derekand that's what makes this sport
amazing and what I appreciateabout Derek.
And I love the debates betweenHottie and Derek, and that's
what makes this sport amazingand what I appreciate about
Derek, and I'll tell you thisright now I appreciate the fact
that you embrace the idea thatbodybuilding is an art form and
everybody looks at artdifferently.
There's been champions in thepast that take personal offense
(16:30):
when they hear somebody elsepraise a rival, and I've always
thought the absurdity of that.
That's what makes this sportamazing, and there were poses
where Hadi beat you, and therewere poses.
Speaker 4 (16:42):
Oh, wait a minute.
No, to be fair.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
But you'd be the first.
No, there were poses where Hadibeat you and then there were
poses where you beat Hadi, andit was a tremendous battle back
and forth.
I would not have wanted to be ajudge at that table.
In the end, the judges didtheir job.
You were the champion and itwas a clear and moderately
debatable outcome.
Right, it's not a pure applesand oranges.
We've seen apples and orangesin the past.
(17:06):
This is not your classic applesand oranges, but it's two
gentlemen with very differentstrengths, and a lot of people
say Olympias are one from theback.
If that's the case, you're MrOlympia for a long time, because
I don't know that I've seen aback in this sport not named
Ronnie Coleman.
That's as impressive as yours.
It is that good when you turnaround.
It is pretty much unbeatablewhen you turn around, thank you.
(17:28):
Then, when Hadi turns around,he brings some things to those
front shots that you don't bring, and that's what makes the
sport amazing, and I love thefact that you appreciate that,
you embrace that idea and youknow that you just have to
continue to get better andbetter.
So that way we won't even havethese conversations or it won't
be up for debate, but the fansin Iran are amazing.
They are passionate, they caredeeply about the sport, they're
(17:49):
some of our most intensefollowers and and I love it and
I cannot wait to see you andHeidi Chopin get, get after it
again it's going to be exactlyright, though you have to
embrace it.
Speaker 5 (17:59):
Like when I look at my competitors now, back when
Flex and I were competing, Ididn't have that mindset.
I can say I came from awrestling background where it
was just I want to beat this guyand of course, we all want to
win right, but it's really youversus you.
So where does the competitionlie in that conversation?
Really, it's just holdingyourself accountable.
Those competitors are doingwhatever they can each and every
(18:21):
day to make themselves better,and that holds you accountable
for you to get better, and sothat's why I said thank you to
Flex Lewis for making me levelup.
That's what now Hottie, nickSamson and all the rest of these
other guys are doing.
Speaker 2 (18:35):
Yeah, that's an interesting point and you said
it earlier.
When your idols become yourrivals right and Flex was that
for you who are the guys?
You could feel that from now,because now you're in the spot
right.
So now you got all these guyswho looked up to you and are
gunning for you, but now they'reactually going to be competing
against you.
So do you feel that from theseguys, or is that something you
feel from them?
You feel that competition, likethey're coming at you.
Speaker 5 (18:57):
I definitely understand that I have to
continue to improve and I wantto improve, just as someone
who's passionate aboutbodybuilding and want to be my
best.
That alone motivates me.
But, like I said, thecompetition simply holds me
accountable because I know theseguys are working.
I know that they are, but,realistically, for me this is a
(19:19):
good mindset to have.
Once I won the Mr Olympia, theopen division, I realized that I
just became the first two, thatto achieve that, really that
weight was lifted off and now Ijust get to have fun, keep going
(19:41):
and thinking and wondering isthat ever going to happen?
Is gone.
So someone may hear that andsay, oh boy has he?
Does he now feel like he's thechampion?
He can lay off the the gaspedal?
Absolutely not.
Yeah, everybody's gunning foryou now.
Speaker 2 (19:53):
No way, it's almost like even in some sports like
fighting sports, right like whenyou do become the champ, he can
lay off the gas pedal.
Absolutely not.
Yeah, everybody's gunning foryou now.
No way.
It's almost like even in somesports like fighting sports,
right Like when you do becomethe champ, you actually become
better Because you have thisaura around you now and you have
something there.
So did you feel like that, onceyou became champ, like I'm good
now and I'm able to carry thisforward To?
Speaker 5 (20:10):
be honest with you, when I first won meaning the
night that I won you can see iton my YouTube channel because my
guy, trevor here filmed it allas I'm coming backstage off of
the stage I think I was in shock, honestly.
I think I kept saying what justhappened and I just was like
total shock.
So really, I think it took me acouple of months for it to set
(20:32):
in.
Like I'm Mr Olympia, I alwaysknew I was knocking on the door.
I was one of the top guys inthe world, but I'm now the guy
carrying the torch and so Ithink it took me a couple of
months to actually let that setin.
But now that it has, you know,it actually has strengthened me
and given me more confidence towant to go out there and do it
again.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Yeah, yeah.
And then you're going intogoing into the to the next years
.
Does that put pressure on youbecause of that as well?
Speaker 5 (20:56):
No, I think the pressure is just what you put on
yourself.
People can try to put pressureon you, but really it's only if
you allow it in.
And the pressure that I put onmyself is just for me to be my
best.
I always have, I've always beenmy worst critic.
I've always, even the best dayin the gym.
I come home I tell my she asked, my wife asked how'd the
workout go?
I said it was good, but I couldhave been a little bit better,
even my best day.
(21:16):
So I think that's just.
I think every champion feelsthat way, but I can sure tell
you that's how I am.
The only pressure I have isjust to beat the version of
myself last year and seek myfullest potential.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
You versus you.
Yeah, I like it One legacy.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
I want to turn this over to Dan as a promoter what
is your legacy and the impactyou want to make on the Mr
Olympia?
I?
Speaker 3 (21:39):
just want to make the sport more accessible.
I want people to understandwhere the pathway is to
participate in this lifestyle.
I want to show that there arehealthy ways to participate in
this lifestyle and that thereare people out there that are
trying to overcome all sorts ofthings health issues, young
people out there that aregetting bullied.
There are people out there thatare getting bullied.
There are people out there thatare trying to overcome obesity.
There's so many stories thatlive in this space.
(22:00):
We focus here on the bestbodies in the world guys like
Derek, guys who are practicallycartoon characters out there in
the world.
Real life superheroes, right,but the real superheroes to me
are the people that you talk toin the gym, or that guy who's in
there just getting started andhe just finally got the courage
(22:20):
to get that gym membership andhis family's rooting for him.
I love that and how thatconnects to bodybuilding.
Is that what you're doing,derek, inspires that guy?
He might never look like you,he might never achieve what
you've achieved in that space,but it's that, it's those
stories, it's that, it's whatyou and Chris Bumstead and Jen
Dory and all of you guys aredoing that are inspiring that
person and you're providinginspiration, you're providing
motivation, you're providingeducation and you're lifting
(22:42):
people up, and to me, that'swhat we're trying to achieve Now
.
As we're doing that, we alsowant to do whatever we can to
create an elevated productionexperience.
We want people who are spendinggood money, who are getting on
airplanes traveling from allaround the world, we want them
to experience this with sensoryoverload.
We want them to feel things.
(23:03):
We want them to have a visceral, powerful experience so that
when they leave, they come backyear in and year out and we're
so proud that's what happens.
I love meeting people who cometo the Olympia for the first
time and check that bucket listitem in their life.
I love seeing the way theyrespond, their emotional
response.
I love seeing the athlete who'scompeted at the Olympia for the
(23:23):
first time and what that doesfor him or her.
It's all so powerful and a lotof times we always talk about in
order to be great at something,you have to find your juice
right.
Your juice cannot be gettingrich.
That can't be your juice.
That's not good enough.
Your juice cannot be gettingrich.
That can't be your juice.
That's not good enough.
Your juice cannot be living inthe big house.
(23:44):
That's not juice.
Juice is when you connect withsomething more meaningful and
it's what drives you and fuelsyou.
And for me, my juice is thelife-changing impact that what
we do has on so many people.
And I know, jake, for youthat's why you bought the
Olympia, because you wanted toparticipate in that and I know
we've been.
We've had a lot of fun doingthat together.
Let's talk about that story.
Speaker 1 (24:04):
Tell us how this came about, Jake, how you purchased
the Olympia, and again take onwhat Dan just said.
Speaker 4 (24:10):
First of all, what Dan just said there.
He and I overlap a great dealon that because we've talked so
much about it over the years.
But how did the deal come about?
I can't tell you the truth.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Maybe later yeah one of these days, jake, we should
write a book about the assemblyof the olympia acquisition, the
things that went into it because, jake, it's really a story that
can be told in a businessschool, but that's another day
for another show.
Yeah, yeah, there's a a storythat can be told in a business
school, but that's another dayfor another show.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Yeah, it's a true story.
It really involves somepersonal items about other
people that are not myself.
But for me the dream reallybegan so many years ago out in
the middle of the San FernandoValley.
I didn't live too terribly faraway from the Weider offices and
I used to ride my bike by therequite a bit and I was a
(24:58):
15-year- a 15 year old, 16 yearold kid going man, I want to
work there one day and I triedapplying for a job.
It wasn't going to work out formany different reasons and I
never got hired.
Yeah, and I thought, yeah, I'llbe back.
And one day the opportunitycame around to buy it.
Speaker 1 (25:12):
You came back all right, good yeah you came back.
That's crazy, that's.
Yeah, I had no clue how youtook over this, but I'm very
glad that you did again.
If that story comes out in thefuture, I'd love to hear.
But again, I'm very happy,obviously as many of the
champions, that you've taken itover and you have teamed up
together, uh, with dan, to takethis to that next level.
(25:33):
I've seen this growtremendously and a couple of
points that you mentionedearlier, dan.
You're talking about theexperience.
You're talking about production.
What is this Olympia and how isthis Olympia different to any
others?
Speaker 3 (25:44):
The theater here at Resorts World allows us to do a
lot of things visually, withsound, with lighting, with just
overall stage creativity.
We're able to do some things,and it's funny because one of
the areas that we struggle withas producers of the show and our
producer is Tamer Al-Gindi.
He does a great job with us andyou can't please everybody.
(26:05):
You can't, please everybody, youcan't.
And it's very difficult becausewe really focus on creating
something visual that the peoplewho are sitting in the building
, who have spent a lot of moneyon tickets, feel something and
they leave there feeling likethey just witnessed some
bodybuilding version of a rockconcert.
Now, granted, we want torespect the sport, we want to
(26:26):
make the physiques present withvisual clarity and all that, and
we understand that a guy likeDerek and you guys don't spend
all year building a physique tohave it not seen with the
clarity that you deserve.
However, we walk this linebecause we want to create
something visually andexperiential for the attendee.
Now, the problem is, you havethe people in the building.
(26:47):
They respond to something, andthen you have the folks watching
at home on TV or pay-per-viewand it looks different there,
that's true.
You have the sight lines fromthe judging table.
They expect something different.
You have the photographers, andthose things are not always the
same.
It is impossible to makeeveryone happy, just like when
(27:09):
you build a physique.
Right, you can say, okay, I'mgoing to go hard on the
condition, or I'm going to gohard on the size, or I can try
to find a middle ground that'sgoing to please the guy who
cares of the judge, who caresabout aesthetics and cares about
whatever it is.
It's the same dilemma that wefall in and each year we try to
tweak it, we try to improve it,but we have accepted that when
you are in the business of massconsumption, where you produce
(27:29):
something that millions consume,you are never going to make
everyone happy.
And the 10% of the people whoare the least happy are the ones
you're going to hear it from.
The 90% of the people who lovedit, who spend money, who buy
tickets every year, who watch iton pay-per-view, who love
everything about the Olympiaexperience.
You're not going to hear fromthem.
You're going to hear about theguy who said the lights were
(27:52):
overwhelming.
The contrast wasn't right.
Right, the lines on thephysique didn't present.
That's who you're going to hearfrom, and we understand and we
respect those opinions and we dowant to make this enjoyable for
everybody, but it is not easy.
Speaker 4 (28:03):
Fact the matter is, the olympia is over in a night.
Okay, the people that werethere, they're only there for
one night.
How many hours and videotapephotographs.
They live forever.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, so yeah.
So it's an interestingrelationship there.
Speaker 2 (28:19):
Yeah, something that you said earlier that resonated
with me, and just the health andwellness industry in general
has just blown up and we'reseeing that obviously these guys
, they're the idols, and I grewup looking at muscle and fitness
magazine with Jay Cutler andall these guys and I think that,
like in our country, even wehave a mental health problem and
(28:43):
I, for me, being in the gym wasmy therapy and I think that's
true for a lot of people outthere, right?
Not just athletes who aretrying to compete, but you're
inspiring people just to getinto the gym, get some mental
health, get that workout done.
Do you feel that Like cause?
You're really inspiring peopleto better their lives?
So I think that's an importantthing to touch on For sure.
Speaker 5 (29:01):
Actually, how I fell into bodybuilding was, I
mentioned earlier, I had awrestling background where I
went to college to wrestle for ashort period of time and I
realized very quickly thatwrestling probably wasn't going
to pay the bills in the future.
I probably wouldn't have acareer in that.
So I thought, okay, let'scontinue to go to school and get
my degree which I did get, abusiness degree but I just I
(29:22):
didn't really enjoy anything.
I was serving tables and theonly thing I realized at that
time that was consistent in mylife, that I loved and was
passionate about, uh, was goingto the gym.
Yeah, and quite frankly, Ididn't even know what
bodybuilding was.
I'd never even heard of the MrOlympia, jay Cutler, anybody
like that.
I just loved being in the gym.
And, long story short, some ofthe guys in the gym real jacked
(29:46):
guys.
Man, who are these guys?
Are they football players?
Surely not.
There's no football team aroundhere.
Okay, they're not fighters.
They're too muscular to be asolid fighter.
What do they do?
Who are they?
They said well, we'rebodybuilders.
What do you mean, yourbodybuilders?
We compete in bodybuilding.
What are you talking about?
Oh, npc, mr Olympia, ipbprobably.
Oh, there's like competitivebodybuilding.
(30:08):
I thought about it.
I was like man, I'm just.
I have not the greatestdiscipline in my life at this
time and I had no real future inmind other than, like I said,
going to school and hoping oneday I'd figure it out.
So I thought to myself okay, togive me structure, to give me
something to focus on in my life, a goal to achieve and go for
(30:30):
every day.
I'm going to commit to doing abodybuilding show and, mind you
too, I thought maybe, like theUFC, the fighting, the MMA route
might have been appealing to mebeing a wrestler at the time.
But I thought, before I committo getting my face punched in
for years and years, let me trythis bodybuilding thing, because
I'm in the gym training everyday anyway, I'm cutting weight
(30:50):
for wrestling, so I know how todiet hard and suffer and
sacrifice.
And so it just competing in myfirst show mainly was for me to
just get out of my funk.
Give me foundation, give mediscipline, give me a goal to
achieve and going off what Dansaid earlier about the first
time competitor, the NPCcompetitor, those are some of my
(31:11):
greatest bodybuilding memories.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
You're doing what you love, right?
Like you followed something youcouldn't figure out.
Now I'm doing exactly what Ilove and you're going to pay me
for it.
Speaker 5 (31:21):
And at that time I was an amateur.
I was competing at NPC and Iwas weighing 150, 160 pounds, so
no way was I going to beat aFlex Lewis or a Phil Heath at
the time, or nothing.
I had some sort of ignorantconfidence is what I like to
call it that maybe one day Iwould get there.
If I dedicated myself like Idid, to wrestling, to
(31:42):
bodybuilding, maybe I could getthere one day.
So I did have some belief thatone day it might happen.
Faith, yes, amen, brother, andbut at the time, really, it's
just.
I can remember that those weresome of the greatest memories
that my friends and family wouldcome to the show and we would
go out and have a cheat meal andmaybe cheesecake factory after
the show, after finals.
So those are memories that I'lljust, I'll never, ever forget.
Those are some of the greatestmemories I've had in
(32:03):
bodybuilding.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
I know you are the champ, Derek.
What are your goals andaspirations whilst competing and
then retiring?
Have you got anything you wantto do when you're done with the
sport?
Speaker 5 (32:14):
I took a play out of your book, my man, I'm building
a gym right now over in theTampa Clearwater area.
So I remember when you had theDragon's Lair before the
Dragon's Lair, when it was justa private training facility for
yourself and some friends, andso at first that was my idea,
that I just wanted to getsomething for me, and then I
realized that I want to becompeting for years and years,
(32:35):
as long as I possibly can.
I want to be doing this.
I feel like I'm just gettingstarted.
I know I can continue toimprove.
I plan to be here for a while,so in that meantime I do want to
keep it more exclusive, towhere the gym isn't getting
crazy packed with tons of peopleand you're bringing the right
atmosphere there.
But I realized, too, there willbe a day that this comes to an
end.
(32:55):
The right atmosphere there, butI realized, too, there will be a
day that this comes to an endand I really and what I mean by
that is the competitive side ofbodybuilding and I just I have
so much passion and love forbodybuilding that I really see
myself in this sport for myentire life and I want to truly
give back to the next wave ofguys coming and I feel that with
my experience I can really helpmentor and push the next wave
(33:16):
of guys.
So I feel that with myexperience I can really help
mentor and push the next wave ofguys.
So I hope that people willeventually come to Florida, to
Tampa Clearwater area, and I canhelp push them in the gym and
kind of mentor them on how to tostay focused and stay right in
this sport, because at somepoint it's not as physical as it
is mental.
So being able to give back inthat way is something I look
forward to many years down theroad when I'm done competing.
Speaker 2 (33:40):
The mental aspect, if I could, because we work out
together at the gym and whatnot,and he pushes me a bit, but
he's always telling me he's, bro, like back when I was competing
, I wouldn't even be able to sithere with you like this.
You'd think I was a straight upasshole, and he's just.
I was a straight up asshole,and he's just.
I was a completely differentperson.
Do you have that switch whereyou're the different person?
Oh, nice.
Speaker 5 (33:58):
No, bro, I wish I could say no, man, I'm the same
easygoing person all year.
Yeah, no, no, no, theredefinitely is a switch that
flips and it's go time.
Yeah, we're 15 weeks out assoon as I get back home from
this trip tomorrow.
It's go time.
Yeah, for the olympia.
We're 15 weeks out as soon as Iget back home from this trip
(34:18):
tomorrow.
It's go time.
There is no beats that aremissed.
It's really a crazy mindset.
Like you put everything youneed to do first, everything you
need to do as far as cardio,meals, training, rest, therapies
, all that stuff, the posing allof that day in, day out, months
and months, everything elsetakes a back seat.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
Yeah, you just have to but does that become harder
now that you're a dad?
Speaker 5 (34:40):
right, because now you have this other factor in
life and motivation yeah like Isaid earlier, I feel like it
gives me that extra gear to notcomplain, and certainly done it
for me.
Yeah, it just kind of givesthat extra kick of no, I can do
more, and it's it the love youhave for do you?
Speaker 2 (34:57):
I have, no, I haven't had a kid.
But everybody who around me,all the men around me who've,
you know, even the guys who,like you, would never think that
they would have the kid guys,are like this is the best thing
that's ever happened.
You need to start having kidsright away, like all of them,
just change you live through meas well, right, yeah?
Speaker 5 (35:12):
definitely it's the greatest man and, like I said,
that's why I said before I knewI would love my child, but I
didn't realize when she was bornhow much I would truly love my
child, and you can't explain it.
It's not something you try for,it just is what it is.
Yeah, and so I, like I saidearlier, this is my first time
prepping with a child, being afather, but I I think it's just
(35:33):
going to give me even moremotivation like that.
Speaker 3 (35:35):
Yeah, it's wild when you think about it, he got the
title of mr olympia and dad.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Yeah in a few weeks.
Yeah, it's awesome back to backit's wild I know two
championships back unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Yeah, and congratulations.
In the gym I heard whispers,but I wanted you to tell me, so
this is now going to besemi-open to the public.
Speaker 5 (35:52):
Yeah, at least until towards the end of the year it's
going to be semi-open to thepublic.
Yeah, at least until towardsthe end of the year it's going
to be just private for me andeverything.
Oh just, is this the place we?
Speaker 1 (36:00):
go Private only because you are going to become
your camera guy's up there.
You're going to become DerekLunsford and people are going to
be like I don't know if I'mgoing to train you anymore, but
that's what you need you nothingbut a church-like atmosphere.
And every time I walked intothat gym I had control of
everything I bought my trainingpartners in.
I had every dial on point forme to win and defend that title
(36:22):
and the fact you're doing thatright now.
I know chris bumstead's donethe same thing too.
Not the public gyms adistraction, because I've
trained in public gyms up untilI decided open mind.
But then, to get that onepercent out to you, don't look
back and go.
Man, did I not train as hardbecause I went to the gym and I
spoke to people, because I wasthe champ?
Or can I keep the championmentality and when I go out into
(36:46):
public and become that guy andenjoy it and then when I need to
train, I can turn that switch,as you said?
Speaker 5 (36:51):
definitely.
That's why I'm going to keep itmore private while I'm
competing, like we'll havemembers, but it's going to be
like being able to control theatmosphere, like invite only
yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
I know there's a lot of niceness in the air, don, I'm
going to stir the pot, uh-oh.
What has Hadi Chopan got to doto beat Derek Lunsford this?
Speaker 3 (37:07):
year, my days of answering questions?
No, they're not.
Speaker 1 (37:11):
They're on my podcast .
Speaker 3 (37:13):
I actually miss the days when I was paid to give
those opinions.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
I'm not paying you enough to do that?
Speaker 3 (37:18):
No, but to be honest with you, it's going to be tough
.
Speaker 4 (37:22):
It's going to be tough for Hadi to take the title
, he first needs to get in thecountry.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Yeah, he's got to get here.
But I know what that battlemeans to the fans and to see you
guys go at it.
It's everything you could wantin a rivalry.
It's respectful, it's built ontwo differing types of physiques
, two of the hardest workers inthe sport, two people, two
(37:47):
athletes who are at the top oftheir game, and that's what
makes this so compelling.
You guys are both in yourcompetitive prime at the same
time and this battle is going tobe amazing.
There's something else I wantto throw out to you.
You asked me earlier aboutResorts World and the
relationship.
Speaker 1 (38:00):
I want to talk about all that after that.
Yeah, no problem.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Yeah, one of the things that we get to do here,
which is amazing.
So the tickets for the Saturdaynight Olympia finals they sold
out in two and a half days.
Two and a half days, meaningdays meaning congratulations and
a lot of events talk aboutsellouts.
Right the day of the showthey'll say oh yeah, we were
sold out.
We're sold out with months togo.
You cannot buy a ticket tosaturday night what are we on
timeline right now?
Speaker 1 (38:20):
how many weeks out?
Speaker 5 (38:22):
we're 15 weeks.
You should know this.
Speaker 1 (38:24):
I always defer to the athlete.
So this was what I know.
A few weeks ago that this wasannounced, month done, so
basically 20 weeks out it wassold out now the reason why I
mentioned this.
Speaker 3 (38:32):
It's actually bad news for some, but there's some
really good news happening.
So the hottest club in Vegas isZouk.
Zouk is the spot and of courseit's right.
Here at Resorts World, zouk isgoing to host we're doing
something that's never happenedbefore the official Olympia
watch party on Saturday night,and this isn't just going to be
a room with a TV in it.
(38:53):
You guys know what goes on inZouk.
Zouk is badass and there'svisuals everywhere, there's
screens everywhere and we'regoing to pump in the live,
real-time sound.
They're not going to be in Zoukwatching the pay-per-view and
hearing that.
They're going to experience theraw footage, live as it happens
, of the call-outs and theaction on the stage, with full
(39:14):
bar service and everything youcould want, surrounded by the
most beautiful people in theworld and the best energy and
hardcore bodybuilding fans andfitness enthusiasts.
And it's going to be theofficial watch party and it's
going to be at Zouk and ticketsare going to go on sale for that
soon and it is going to beamazing.
We were just in there.
We just walked the property anddid some promo there and we saw
the configuration and I'll behonest with you and I'm not just
(39:36):
saying this the experience atthe Zouk watch party might
actually prove to be better, interms of overall enjoyment, than
being in the building.
It's going to be amazing.
Speaker 1 (39:45):
The acoustics alone are incredible and obviously
you've got to have the Nelson.
Sorry Jack.
Speaker 4 (39:49):
I was just going to say, Zouk adds in another 2,500
people to watch the show for us.
Speaker 2 (39:54):
Wow, and all the bells and whistles right.
Speaker 4 (39:56):
They've got the lasers and the explosions and
all these crazy things.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
It's going to lasers and the explosions and all these
crazy things.
It'd be awesome.
Speaker 3 (39:59):
We're hoping we can get you guys there.
Pop in, see the fans, andthat's what's going to happen
throughout the night.
If you're at the Zouk watchparty, you're going to see
celebrities like you guys there,you're going to see industry
insiders, you're going to seelegends there, and then you're
going to see a couple thousandof the most hardcore fans in the
world who, instead of paying$1,000 plus for a VIP package to
(40:20):
watch the show if you weren'table to get one, go in there.
Tickets are going to be prettyinexpensive.
Go in there and just be a partof an incredible party and watch
history being made at theofficial watch party.
So we're starting to get theword out for that and I think
people are going to really loveit.
Speaker 5 (40:34):
Yeah, you got to be pumped up.
I know that's like the one andonly an only downfall to being
on stage.
I know you missed this and nowI can enjoy all this stuff.
Speaker 1 (40:41):
I know you guys got a hard stop so I want to ask a
quick couple of questions.
Obviously, the Olympia thisyear is going to have so much
more bells and whistles.
Can you add anything that we'vemissed out, that you'd like to
fill in with the fans, any fanexperiences, and outside of the
Expo that's going on?
Speaker 3 (40:56):
Yeah, so the Expo this year is going to be
upgraded quite a bit, so we'readding a lot more square footage
to the Expo.
Oh, wow, we are adding, thefirst time ever, the Olympia
Combat Zone, which is going tobe a whole upper level at the
Las Vegas Convention Center,which is going to provide a
showcase for everything frombare-knuckle fighting and all
sorts of mixed martial arts andother combat sports and just a
(41:19):
whole myriad of things that willcater to the combat community,
the martial arts community.
There's going to be manydisciplines.
Dr Goldman's getting involvedand he's bringing a lot of his
martial arts disciplines withhim, so it's going to be a real
showcase for all things in thecombat sports world and that's
going to give our event a wholedifferent dimension.
But you mentioned earlier aboutbringing all these different
(41:39):
industries together.
Now, of course, it's known thatin the fitness industry, the
endemic brands, the categories,are supplementation, apparel and
equipment.
But the great news for us isJake and I have worked so hard
to go beyond that and oursponsors, our big sponsors, our
companies that are in categoriesthat go beyond that and that's
what we're really working togrow.
We have our three main sponsors, respectively are based in um,
(42:04):
brazil, korea, and now a greatnew relationship that we're
forming in germany.
So that's what we're loving.
Speaker 4 (42:09):
We're connecting the whole world to this sport and I
think you're going to feel thatwhen you come to the event this
year, it's amazing, jake, andthat's been one of our goals
from the very beginning, goingway back from 2019, when we're
first talking about it is how dowe spread it throughout the
world?
Make it for everybody, ignoreborders?
We're there for the people,yeah, and that's still what
we're trying to do.
Speaker 1 (42:30):
I'd like to ask both of you a question, whether you
split up the answer or not.
If I was able to give you amagic wand right now, where
would you like to see theOlympia in the next couple of
years?
Speaker 3 (42:41):
Where would we like to see it?
Jake?
We talk about this all the time.
I have some very bold ambitions.
I'll let you go first on thisone, jake.
Speaker 4 (42:46):
I would love for it to still be here, right here at
Resorts World.
I think that they can be afantastic partner.
Sometime we might want totravel with it a little bit.
Speaker 2 (42:56):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (42:56):
And, of course, one thing that's a dream is the
sphere, the MSG Sphere Come onJack.
Speaker 2 (43:00):
That's going to be great man.
Come on Jack.
The UFC is doing their firstthing there.
I might have to make a comeback.
Speaker 1 (43:04):
I might have to make a comeback for that Sphere.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
So it's opening the door.
It's actually opening the doorfor that.
With the UFC doing their firstevent there this Mexican
Independence Day weekend.
That's going to really openthat door.
Speaker 4 (43:22):
I yeah, that could be very interesting, but I do know
that it is a huge upfrontinvestment just in all of your
artwork and videography andeverything to actually make use
of what you have there.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
It's pricey, it's pricey, not in Vegas, I know all
about this stuff.
But Olympia is big enough thatyou can have that conversation
with them.
It's still another step aboveus.
We're talking 20, the it seatsin there.
Speaker 4 (43:44):
Yeah, we're also talking probably 10 million
dollars.
Yeah, just to get you in thedoor there that's the goal right
, so at least that's there butwe want to travel too.
There's all kinds of greatplaces around brazil.
We wouldn't do it every singleyear, but maybe every fourth
year, fifth year, something likethat.
Take it out somewhere, becausethe emerging markets are not
(44:06):
here where we're sitting, andthis is the best market.
It's the biggest market today,but it's not the emerging market
.
Speaker 3 (44:13):
So I've seen the popularity of the Olympia reach
heights that we never even hadthe courage to dream of.
I see the way tickets sell.
I see the pace at which theysell.
I see the consumer'swillingness to make big
commitments to be at the Olympia, and I see it and I measure it
and I watch it very closely.
(44:33):
It is my opinion that at somepoint it might not be next year,
it might not even be in a fewyears but at some point it might
not be next year, it might noteven be in a few years, but at
some point we're going to holdthe Olympia in a stadium.
I think we can get there.
I'm so convinced and confidentin our ability to sell tickets
and bring large crowds to whatwe do.
When I watch WrestleMania everyyear and they hold it in
(44:55):
stadiums and I see what they doI look at that and I feel like,
yes, there are practicalobstacles.
You want to put a bodybuildingshow in an inside venue, you
want to protect the climate, allthat sort of thing.
But I am convinced that at somepoint just the same way Joe
Weider predicted back in the1940s that the world would
become, would embrace the ideaof strength training and fitness
(45:17):
and people looked at him likehe had two heads, like he had
crazy, because back thenathletes looked like babe ruth
and there were no strengthtrainers and there were no gyms
and there were no supplementcompanies.
People thought he was crazy.
But I'm going to take it onestep further.
Speaker 1 (45:27):
I'm crazy enough to think that at some point in time
we'll have this in a stadiumand we'll sell 50 60 000 tickets
look at dana white, done withthe ufc he's a big dreamer
everybody called him crazy totake on a failing business that
had mixed martial arts and havepeople from all over the world
fighting each other and nobody'slaughing right now, right?
Speaker 2 (45:46):
I have personal friends with Dana.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
He is the best promoter and obviously in Las
Vegas he makes dreams come trueand, as you guys know, I've seen
the same thing.
You have to be called crazy,dan, to be a big dreamer.
I was called crazy to jump on aplane and come to the United
States, sleep on a sofa for afew and a half and I was able to
succeed and achieve my dream.
So I think anybody who callsyou crazy I feel is a compliment
(46:11):
.
And keep on being crazy, dan,keep on reaching.
Speaker 2 (46:13):
I see it, I definitely see it in stadiums.
And just speaking of the UFCspecifically, right Like they've
branched out now.
Now they're doing events, moreworldly events, because they're
in the same mindset of trying toreally expand into global right
.
So they've started doing thosetype events.
I think that in the future anddoing these traveling Olympias
would be really amazing in theseother sectors of the world for
(46:35):
sure.
Speaker 1 (46:35):
Rock.
I was in Brazil for the Arnold,just Ehafa and let me tell you
that fan base is I have never,ever been to a country that has
a fan base that has middle-agedwomen screaming for Flex Lewis.
Have you ever been to Welch?
I don't even get that bit.
What an incredible market.
(46:55):
But there's many more andbodybuilding, as you guys said,
now is global and thanks to, to,to sponsors who are investing
in the olympia, they they getinto see their logo on that
stage, go back to respectivecountries and promote the
fitness injuries in itself.
But I know you guys have a hardstop, you know, um, in wrapping
this up, where you're for anhistoric event, where keys to
(47:17):
the city and you guys are goingto be doing your political thing
, kissing babies, shaking hands.
But I just want to say, guys,from a previous champion, I'm
sitting next to the currentchampion, owner of the Miss
Olympia promoter, extraordinaireDan Solomon.
I appreciate you guys for thistime, this opportunity, and I'm
looking forward to seeing thisyear's Olympia and us being part
of it on whatever level theycan give us Rock, yes sir, can't
(47:39):
wait.
Can't wait to see you guys.
Guys, stop the great work.
Speaker 3 (47:41):
You guys are killing it and we're honored to be with
you.
So thanks for having us.
Speaker 1 (47:44):
Is there any sign-off guys you want to do direct to
the fans?
Speaker 2 (47:47):
No, I just appreciate your support and I would say
get your tickets to the Olympia,but they're sold out, so
Congratulations.
This is a big key indicator.
Speaker 1 (47:58):
And one thing as a person who loves marketing I've
sat next to somebody who livesthis life I truly feel you and
Hardy have such a Rocky moviegoing on right now.
Speaker 2 (48:08):
It's such a Rocky IV Apollo and USA Rocky IV.
Speaker 1 (48:11):
It is an incredible story.
You guys are one for one andthis is going down to this year.
And again, Derek, this is amovie, my friend.
And I'm looking forward to it.
Dan, sorry, it's a nail-biter.
Speaker 3 (48:22):
No, it is.
It's Rocky IV.
Is it Drago versus Rocky IV?
I don't know.
In fact, I don't even know ifit's fair to call how Did you
Fan Drago, because how Did youFan?
And you guys you train inimpressive facilities and you
guys both carry that sameblue-collar approach, so it's
probably not a great comparison.
But you're right, this isbefitting of a movie and that's
why we're making one about thisyear's Olympia.
Speaker 1 (48:43):
And that's a whole other story for another show.
But, gents, I appreciate youguys.
I know we've run out of time.
I could have asked much morequestions, but the time that we
had, I truly appreciate it Fromme and Rock guys, straight out
of there, we are out.
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