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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.

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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.

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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 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

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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.

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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 ask what masters athletes should chase as they age, then realize the proudest moments often have nothing to do with medals. We lay out how we pick competitions that fit our bodies, build community, and keep the sport fun for the long haul.
• redefining pride as a memory and a milestone
• why masters athletes compete for benchmarks, learning and joy
• experiences versus medals as the main driver after 40
• choosing events that match your body and recovery
• why cherry-picking easy wins poisons the culture
• local competitions as the fastest way to build community
• travel, time zones, money and schedule as real filters
• competing for camaraderie and shared venues like the Arnold
• avoiding poorly run meets and managing long competition days
• volunteering and helping as a shortcut to belonging
• lightning-round preferences on PRs, max distance and bucket-list venues
• what “hard” means with overhead, joints, health and aging reality

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.

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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 bring Dr. Ink Young on to cut through peptide hype and talk about what peptides are, where they may help, and why chasing a shortcut can backfire. We also lay out the foundational habits that actually drive healthspan so any advanced tool sits on a solid base.

• defining peptides as signaling tools and why supervision matters
• setting a clear goal before choosing any peptide
• treating peptides as a tool in a toolbox rather than a replacement for basics
• seven foundational habits that support healthspan: community, nutrition, smart supplementation, hydration, movement, daily silence, sleep
• why daily silence improves stress, focus, and creativity
• how poor sleep drives cravings and derails body composition goals
• cycling on and off peptides and tracking outcomes with a provider
• research-grade peptides versus provider-supervised peptide therapy
• why 503A compounding pharmacy standards change the safety picture
• cost ranges, possible HSA coverage, and why cheapest is not safest
• GLP-1 weight loss benefits alongside muscle and bone concerns
• real-world examples including BPC-157, sermorelin, and NAD+

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.

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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 start with a disgusting Instagram ad and somehow end up in a real conversation about the advice we wish we could give our 15-year-old selves. We talk mindset, training basics, smart risks, and why we might not change a thing even after plenty of mistakes.
• there is no time, start today and let consistency compound
• letting the small stuff go, caring less about what people think
• mastering basics that carry over into sport, work, and health
• choosing the harder path on purpose and taking smart risks early
• slowing down, resting, and balancing intensity with recovery
• finding motivation through other people’s stories and building your tribe
• regret, identity, and why your messy path still makes you you
• upcoming strongman and Love Like Ben Foundation events
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.

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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 Ginger Vieira "The Diabetes Nerd" to unpack why “Type 2” can be the wrong diabetes label for active adults and how understanding LADA may change what works for you. We leave with concrete tests, training insights, and mindset shifts that make diabetes management feel less like guessing and more like coaching ourselves with better data.

• LADA defined as latent autoimmune diabetes in adults and why it’s type 1
• Adult-onset type 1 facts and why misdiagnosis is common
• C-peptide testing and what it reveals about insulin production
• Autoantibody testing, stages of type 1, and why screening matters
• How to advocate for yourself when appointments are short
• Caffeine and liver glucose release as a cause of “mystery” spikes
• Artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohol concerns plus real-world tradeoffs
• Building a sustainable diet with room for treats and smart insulin timing
• Medication stigma, metformin basics, and what GLP-1 drugs can do
• Overprescribing risks, dose escalation pressure, and insurance incentives
• Why anaerobic exercise and adrenaline can raise blood sugar
• Basal insulin clues and how CGMs can expose patterns

Follow The Diabetes Nerd @diabetes_nerd on IG

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

@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