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Iron Culture presented by MASS

Iron Culture presented by MASS

By: Eric Helms & Eric Trexler
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About this listen

Iron Culture was started by Eric Helms and Omar Isuf as a means of exploring the world of physical culture and attempting to distill a unified philosophy of lifting and to help listeners find greater meaning from the iron. It's now hosted by Eric Helms and Eric Trexler, who repeatedly beg Omar to return as a guest. Iron Culture focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, bouncing from history, to philosophy, to contemporary lifting culture issues, to science. The format includes casual conversations between the two hosts on a variety of topics, discussions with a panel of experts and interviews with authoritative figures in the lifting community. Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review.(c) 2024 Eric Helms Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Ep 374 - Processing, Palatability, and Bingeing
    Apr 29 2026

    This episode begins with a slightly defensive rant by Eric Trexler, followed by a very defensive rant by Eric Helms. After that, they dive into new research uncovering the complexities of ultraprocessed foods, their impact on obesity, binge eating, and the food industry's role in creating and promoting hyperpalatable ultraprocessed foods.


    Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review (massresearchreview.com)


    If you're in the market for some high-quality gym gear or apparel, be sure to support our friends at elitefts.com and use code "MRR10" for a 10% discount.


    Chapters
    00:00 Intro
    10:14 Trexler & Helms respond to social media criticism
    15:48 Slightly defensive rant by Trexler
    23:10 Extremely defensive rant by Helms
    32:25 Roles in The Ecosystem of Science Communication
    41:39 Exploring the Impact of Ultra-Processed Foods
    46:20 Understanding Ultra-Processed Foods and Their Nuances
    51:16 The Role of Food Processing in Feeding a Growing Population
    55:53 Hyper-Palatable Foods and Their Effects on Eating Behavior
    59:07 The Evolution of Eating Disorder Treatment Perspectives
    01:04:30 The Relationship Between Hyper-Palatable Foods and Binge Eating
    01:09:05 Neurophysiology of Food Consumption and Addiction
    01:12:20 Conclusions & practical applications for food selection

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    1 hr and 26 mins
  • Ep 373 - Does Bone Predict Hypertrophy?
    Apr 22 2026

    This episode begins with a discussion about the importance of scientific rigor in fitness research and science communication. After that, hosts Eric Trexler and Eric Helms discuss the relationship between skeletal structure and muscle growth, including whether or not your bone structure can predict how much muscle you gain in response to training or your maximum level of muscularity.

    Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review (massresearchreview.com)

    If you're in the market for some high-quality gym gear or apparel, be sure to support our friends at elitefts.com and use code "MRR10" for a 10% discount.

    Chapters
    00:00 Intro
    11:19 Expert Creep and Science Communication
    21:22 Responsibly Expanding Your Domain of Expertise
    31:42 Exploring Bone Structure and Muscle Growth
    32:51 Study Overview: Bone Characteristics and Hypertrophy
    41:13 Interpreting the results of a new study
    47:50 Methodological nuances
    58:30 Hypertrophy versus total muscularity
    01:02:48 Finding the right sport for your frame and bone structure
    01:12:23 Practical applications

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • Ep 372 - New ACSM Lifting Guidelines
    Apr 15 2026

    In this episode, Eric Trexler and Eric Helms discuss the latest updates in resistance training research, the evolution of training principles since 2009, and practical applications for trainers and athletes. They explore key points from the new ACSM position stand, the importance of training frequency, volume, and specificity, and reflect on how scientific understanding has advanced over the years. In this engaging discussion, Eric Trexler and Eric Helms explore the evolution of training philosophies, hypertrophy research, and practical applications for lifters. They reflect on past training trends, dissect scientific findings, and share insights on optimizing workout strategies for strength and muscle growth.


    If you're in the market for some new lifting gear or apparel, be sure to use code "MRR10" at elitefts.com for a 10% discount


    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates
    07:37 The new ACSM Position Statement
    17:50 Overview
    34:47 Key findings
    37:44 The Impact of Training Frequency on Strength
    44:45 The Role of Volume in Strength Training
    59:12 Training For Hypertrophy & Proximity to Failure
    01:09:17 Eccentric Training
    01:12:57 How Perspectives About Training to Failure Have Changed
    01:19:08 The Role of Structured Training Programs
    01:25:06 The Evolution of Fitness Communities
    01:30:25 "Power Training"
    01:39:05 Wrapping Up

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    1 hr and 44 mins
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