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We sit down with USS Strongman owner Willie Wessels and get the behind-the-scenes truth about what it takes to build a fair federation, run better contests, and keep masters athletes competing longer. Willie shares how community and service keep the sport alive, plus a raw survival story from his leukemia diagnosis that reframes what “no excuses” really means.
• Willie’s path from a sports-obsessed kid to leading USS Strongman
• How benefit shows like Love Like Ben raise real money and build real community
• What Willie actually does when he travels to events, from media to judging
• Why consistent national judging matters for records and trust
• The reality of chemo, fatigue, and rebuilding strength from zero
• How masters divisions and weight classes make the sport more sustainable
• Why efficient show flow, enough staff, and taking care of loaders changes everything
• Best advice for masters athletes, recovery first and compete against yourself
If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review. To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide.

@masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night

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We sit down with 60-plus strongman Ed Shore to talk about the mix of technique, conditioning, and stubborn grit that keeps him competing at a high level. We trade stories on multi-sport athletic development, adapting when events change, and why masters athletes often outshine younger lifters on mindset and community.
• Ed’s athletic family background and how he defines his own edge through motor, technique, and analysis
• Why multi-sport training builds better balance, agility, and long-term durability than early specialization
• How youth sports economics pushes year-round play and what parents can do instead
• Coaching methods that keep kids moving, learning skills, and building confidence without quitting
• Old-school toughness stories that shape standards for effort and follow-through
• Coming back from serious injuries including Achilles rupture and shoulder damage through rehab and prehab
• Competition tactics for stones, sandbag carries, breathing, bracing, and fast resets under pressure
• Training for failure points like heat, equipment changes, no-tacky rules, and forgotten gear
• Why we keep competing after 40 and 60 for fun, memories, and the people around the platform
If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review. To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide.

@masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night

Send us Fan Mail

We break down what it really takes to run a competition that feels fun, tight, and safe, using our strongman charity event as the template. We talk through the decisions we make as athletic directors so athletes, volunteers, sponsors, and spectators all leave wanting to come back.
• treating safety as the first job, not a footnote
• choosing controllable events and building in physical safeguards
• managing crowds, kids, and spectator flow in a small space
• using cleanliness and layout as part of risk reduction
• building a reputation that grows entries without begging
• recruiting and organizing volunteers so the day runs smoothly
• planning for costs, seed money, weather pivots, and delays
• using insurance and registration platforms to protect the event
• delivering sponsor value and thinking about ROI
• showing where charity dollars go through grants and community support
• creating community connections that keep rippling outward

Please comment. Comment below. Donate to the LovelikeBen9.com.
If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please share it with others, post it on your social media, or leave a review.
To catch all the latest from us, you can follow us on Instagram at Masters Athlete Survival Guide.

@masters_athlete_survival_guide on IG

New podcast episodes come out every other Thursday!

Masters Mindset Minutes should be your new performance habit every Sunday night