In this episode, Gus Cooke (Lifters League) and Sarah Rainbow tackle one of the most debated questions in powerlifting: Sumo vs. Conventional Deadlift.

They dive into the pros and cons of each style, the role of anatomy in choosing your stance, injury risk, and how to make smart long-term decisions as a lifter. Along the way, they share their own experiences switching between sumo and conventional, why mastery and precision become critical at higher strength levels, and how social media hype can distract lifters from what actually matters: lifting the most weight safely and sustainably.

Whether you’re new to deadlifting, an athlete chasing longevity, or just curious about why the internet can’t stop arguing about sumo, this short, sharp conversation will give you clarity on which approach might be right for you—and why the real answer is “it depends.”

In this episode, Gus Cooke (Lifters League) and Sarah Rainbow tackle one of the most debated questions in powerlifting: Sumo vs. Conventional Deadlift.

They dive into the pros and cons of each style, the role of anatomy in choosing your stance, injury risk, and how to make smart long-term decisions as a lifter. Along the way, they share their own experiences switching between sumo and conventional, why mastery and precision become critical at higher strength levels, and how social media hype can distract lifters from what actually matters: lifting the most weight safely and sustainably.

Whether you’re new to deadlifting, an athlete chasing longevity, or just curious about why the internet can’t stop arguing about sumo, this short, sharp conversation will give you clarity on which approach might be right for you—and why the real answer is “it depends.”

The best way to make weight without impacting your performance... as much. We share an insight to the strategies I developed over the last 15 years.

n a world where PEDs are more accessible—and more misunderstood—than ever, this episode cuts through the noise. We sit down with leading voices in performance, harm reduction, and coaching to explore the real conversation around anabolic use.

You’ll learn:

• Why chasing “the best cycle” is a trap
• The harm of ignoring sleep, nutrition, and training quality
• How PED use is evolving—especially among women
• The social and economic pressures pushing early, heavy use
• How coaches can set ethical boundaries without losing trust or results
• The myth of “safe use,” and what smarter, safer use really looks like

This is the episode every athlete, coach, and aspiring lifter needs to hear. It’s not about fear. It’s about clarity, honesty, and taking responsibility for your performance decisions.

📌 Whether you’re deep in the game or just trying to make sense of it all—this one’s for you.

This is Sarah's story on why she switched to strongman, before we decide to re-break her own record all time record and title as the strongest female in the world.

Earlier in the week I posted something on social media about coaching the person, not the athlete. So we dived into it a bit further today.