The Powerlifter's Den

In Episode 139 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Duncan Hundley, director of strength and conditioning at Gray Collegiate Academy and a lifter with over 11 years of experience in both raw and equipped powerlifting.Duncan shares how watching World’s Strongest Man and WWE first sparked his love for strength sports, eventually leading him to winning Powerlifting America Bench Nationals and chasing bigger goals in equipped lifting. We dive into training culture, why consistency beats intensity, and the importance of staying curious in a sport where too many people think there’s only one correct way to train.We also talk about balancing lifting with life outside the gym, overcoming injuries including a torn ACL and hip issues, and stories from legends like Bill Gillespie, Brent Tracey, and the Cell Block crew. This episode is packed with insight for lifters who want to keep learning, evolving, and enjoying the process.

In Episode 137 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Alexander Freeman, someone he actually went to high school with, making this episode a little more personal than most. Since those days, Alex has transformed himself into a serious force in powerlifting, building a 2000 raw total and 500 DOTS while preparing to make the jump into multi ply competition.Alex opens up about how athletics shaped his early years, how powerlifting gave him new direction, and how the loss of one of his best friends became the catalyst for completely changing his life. From grief, growth, and discipline to finding the right crew and learning how to truly live with intention, this episode dives into the mindset behind building not just strength, but a life worth being proud of.We also talk about his evolution in the sport, transitioning into equipped lifting, and why powerlifting can be one of the most powerful tools for personal transformation

In Episode 135 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Sam Brown — a human performance expert for the United States Air Force, McGill Method Certified Practitioner, and multi-ply lifter with a 2100+ total.Sam shares his journey from training at elitefts and learning under Westside-influenced lifters to working with pilots and aircrew in high-stress environments. We dive into what actually matters in training, why there is no “secret sauce,” and how overcomplicating the process is holding lifters back.We also talk about the realities of equipped lifting, the misconception that gear does the work for you, and what it takes to perform both on the platform and in real-world high-pressure situations. From bombing out at the Arnold to building consistency over time, this episode is all about simplifying the process and focusing on what actually drives progress.

In Episode 133 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Erin Murray — 4x World’s Strongest Woman and one of the only athletes in strength sports to hold world titles across multiple weight classes.Erin shares her journey from getting into lifting as part of recovery, to competing on the Arnold stage and becoming one of the most dominant athletes in strongman. We dive into what it takes to reach that level, how she balances high-level competition with life outside the sport, and the mindset behind her mantra: “Disrespect the Impossible.”We also talk about her transition through different phases of strength sports, upcoming competitions across the world, and why being elite doesn’t have to come at the cost of everything else in your life.

This week on The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Tony Carlino—elite equipped bencher, full power competitor, and one of the few lifters in history to bench over 1000 pounds in multiply, with a massive 1036 bench in 2024.Tony talks about how he got hooked on powerlifting after watching Road to the Arnold, what it means to be in the tiny group of lifters to bench 1000+ in poly, and becoming just the second person ever to squat and bench 1000+ in the same meet. The two also dive into bench shirts, why people misunderstand equipped lifting, the mindset behind chasing huge numbers, and what still drives Tony to keep pushing the limit.They also touch on EverStrong, the mission he cofounded with his wife Shelly, and the goals he’s still chasing: 1000+ single ply, 1100+ single/multi ply, and 1300+ unlimited.Follow Tony:IG: @sirbenchalot1kTikTok: @sirbenchalot1kShop merch: plden.comSponsored by Wicked Wolf Beard Co.

In Episode 129 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with legendary bench presser Bill Gillespie — a world record holder, elite masters competitor, and former NFL and college strength coach.Bill shares stories from decades in the iron game, from coaching athletes at the highest levels of sport to building one of the most respected bench press legacies in powerlifting. We dive into what it takes to stay competitive for decades, how strength training differs between athletes and powerlifters, and why discipline and consistency are the real keys to longevity in the sport.We also talk about the mindset required to push world-class weights, lessons learned from the coaching world, and how Bill continues to inspire lifters across generations.If you love powerlifting history, elite bench pressing, and hard-earned wisdom from someone who’s truly lived the strength life — this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

In Episode 127 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Lyndsay Bramble — Holy Wars competitor, WPO athlete, and a lifter who has put a 655 lb squat on the platform while climbing into the top ranks of the sport.With a 6th all-time squat and 8th all-time total, Lyndsay opens up about what it takes to compete at the highest level — and what happens when life forces you to reset. She talks about her fallout with the sport in 2022, rebuilding from depression and bad life decisions, and how powerlifting ultimately brought her back to herself.We dive into earning your space in warm-up rooms, chasing top-5 all-time status, the mental side of big-stage competition, and why you don’t need to wait until you feel “ready” to step on the platform. This is an episode about growth, humility, execution, and climbing back stronger than before.

In Episode 125 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Carina Davis — former elite full power lifter, bench-only specialist, meet director, and one of the strongest women to ever compete in the sport. Once ranked among the best total, squat, and bench lifters in powerlifting, Carina opens up about what it truly took to reach that level — and the cost that came with it.Carina shares how nearly dying from meningitis in 2016 pushed her to finally chase her dreams, the sacrifices and pain required to become one of the best, and the injuries that ultimately led her to step away from full power lifting. She speaks candidly about surviving a domestic violence relationship, navigating chronic injuries, and finding renewed purpose through bench-only competition and hosting meets like Bummy’s Beatdown in Los Angeles.This episode is about resilience, knowing when to evolve, competing before you feel “ready,” and why ego can be the biggest limiter in strength sports. Honest, emotional, and powerful — this is a conversation every lifter should hear.

On Episode 124 of The Powerlifter’s Den, we’re joined by Shane Haller — former ATWR holder, decade-long competitor, and now full-time coach with an eye on the bigger picture of the sport. Shane dives into his journey from lifting for football and wrestling to totaling 2430 in wraps, squatting 925 raw at 308, and building real credibility both on and off the platform.We get into what competing for 10 years teaches you that social media never will, how a serious back injury shaped his entire career, and why coaching, athlete development, and understanding the landscape of powerlifting matters more now than ever. From insane meet stories (including his first 900lb squat) to hard-earned lessons about longevity, Shane brings experience, honesty, and perspective you don’t hear often enough.This episode is for lifters, coaches, and anyone who wants to understand what it really takes to last in the sport.

In this episode of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Jordan Wong — gym owner, meet director, and one of the greatest squatters of all time. A 2x All-Time World Record holder at 220, Jordan is chasing one final run at the ATWR and a 2,000 lb total before hanging it up.Jordan opens up about surviving catastrophic spine injuries, nerve damage, pec surgery, and being told he’d never train again — only to come back and squat 800 lbs just 11 months later. We talk about training for longevity, maximizing your prime years, building life outside the gym, and what powerlifting actually looks like beyond social media.If you care about staying in the sport, building something real, and chasing greatness the right way — this one hits deep.

In this episode of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with JT Krivinskas — the University of New Haven football player who also happens to hold the heaviest teenage squat and total of all time. At just 19, JT already has a top-15 all-time total and top-12 squat in the 242 class… and he’s nowhere near done.We get into how he started lifting in his garage at 15, the moment a Facebook-Marketplace bench shirt changed his life, and what it was like building himself into an elite lifter before he was legally allowed to drink. JT opens up about missing 1100, coming back to smoke it when it mattered, balancing college football and powerlifting, and how he thinks young lifters should approach the sport.Raw, driven, and already built like a veteran — this is one of the strongest 19-year-olds to ever touch a barbell.

Steph Mager (@stephm.fit) went from collegiate gymnast to ATWR-holding powerlifter in just a few short years — and she didn’t take the easy route to get there. In this episode, Steph sits down with Cam to talk about walking away from gymnastics after a national title, finding powerlifting by accident, and learning how to fail forward after bombing a meet and immediately signing up for another.We dive into raw vs equipped culture, training in an environment that actually raises your standard, and the mindset shift from “just training” to training to win.