In this episode of the Shaw Strength Podcast, Brian sits down with pro strongman Nick Guardione to explore the wins that don’t come with trophies, the 50-pound PRs, the calmer mind under bright lights, and a training log filled with solutions instead of excuses. At the heart of the conversation is Nick’s journey, a story that starts with loss and adversity and ends with a clear, deliberate plan to keep climbing in the pro ranks.

We unpack Nick’s early obsessions, the moment life collapsed, and the friend who dragged him to the gym until it became a lifeline. From there, it’s a masterclass in process: how six months of focused newbie gains turned into a dominant novice debut, why “punching up” against harder fields accelerates growth, and how he studies every contest to find the exact fix for the next block. Nick shares the mental framework that keeps him steady—clearing distractions, checking equipment, and protecting the flow state—so he can go all-in when it counts.

We also dive into the spectacle that makes strongman special. Visual events, character, and tension bring new fans to feats of strength; innovation matters even when the internet nitpicks. We talk candidly about risk, backlash, and owning a vision for a sport that needs both heavy lifts and memorable moments. Along the way, you’ll hear why a “last place” deadlift can be a massive personal victory, how to measure progress without losing sight of the podium, and what Nick is building this offseason to push toward Worlds finals and consistent top-five finishes.

If you care about mindset, performance, and the craft of competing—this conversation is your playbook. Listen, share with a friend who needs the push, and leave a review so more lifters find it. Then tell us: what punch-up are you taking next?

In this episode of the Shaw Strength Podcast, Brian welcomes his longtime training partner, Tyler Stickle, a familiar face from many of Brian's YouTube videos. The conversation spans their lengthy shared history, beginning in the late 2010s when they started training together in various makeshift gyms, including Brian's parents garage, a storage area behind a fitness center, and brians storage condo. Tyler recounts his path to Strongman, starting as a "skater kid" who enjoyed snowboarding and eventually transitioned from amateur bodybuilding to powerlifting after winning a state bench press championship, before ultimately entering into his first Strongman contest where he won the novice 105kg class. Tyler and Brian reminisce about the rigorous, close-door training sessions leading up to Brian's first World's Strongest Man victory in 2011, emphasizing the value of their tightly-knit training group, the competitive spirit of "iron sharpens iron," and how that focused environment, free from social media distractions and often battling extreme temperatures, was critical to both of their respective successes, including Tyler earning his Pro 105kg card in 2012.

On this episode of the Shaw Strength Podcast, Brian sits down with Steven Harvalias, owner of Super Fitness, to explore the unconventional journey of building his fitness equipment business. Steven shares his early struggles as a young bodybuilder who opened his first gym in 2006 with just a motorcycle and $10,000 during the economic downturn. Facing near financial failure, he began selling used gym equipment piece by piece on Craigslist, uncovering a market need for accessible fitness gear. He also discusses a pivotal meeting with his landlord and a handshake deal for a larger warehouse that allowed him to scale his business into a multi-million-dollar gym equipment empire.

If you have questions for Brian, topics you would like to hear Brian talk about or guests you would like to see on the podcast email them to: askbrian@shawstrength.com

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