Ep. 7: The Muscle You Refuse to Build Is Costing You Strength

Ep. 7: The Muscle You Refuse to Build Is Costing You Strength

May 29, 2026 · 54 min · Season 1 · Episode 7

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of building muscle for long-term strength gains in powerlifting and strongman training.

Too many powerlifters and strongman athletes become obsessed with max-effort lifts, heavy singles, and testing strength while neglecting the one thing that drives long-term progress: building muscle. In this episode of The Unfiltered Strength Podcast , Connie and Zach break down the relationship between hypertrophy and strength, why accessory work matters, and how skipping volume work can leave serious gains on the table. We discuss common mistakes strength athletes make, the fear of gaining size, and why muscle mass is one of the biggest predictors of future strength potential. Whether you're a powerlifter, strongman competitor, or someone looking to get stronger, this episode will help you understand why building muscle isn't a distraction from strength training, it's a critical part of it. In this episode we cover: Why hypertrophy is the foundation of strength The problem with constantly chasing PRs and heavy singles How accessory work improves performance Common training mistakes that stall progress Powerlifting and strongman programming considerations Building muscle without losing athleticism How to break through strength plateaus If you enjoyed this episode, please Like…

People in this episode

Hosts: Zach Price, Connie Nightingale

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Organizations: Unfiltered Strength

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