John Gaglione: The Evolution of Powerlifting Culture

50% Facts with Silent Mike & Jim McD

Jim McDonald

Fitness, Entrepreneurship, Tv & Film, Business, Health & Fitness, Film Reviews

4.9 • 2.1K Ratings

🗓️ 22 October 2025

⏱️ 71 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

John Gaglione joins to discuss the evolution of powerlifting, coaching philosophies, and the importance of community in strength training. They explore the challenges of weight loss expectations, the significance of performance goals, and the shift in training approaches over the years. John shares his experiences in bodybuilding and the impact it had on his powerlifting journey, while also emphasizing the need for realistic expectations in fitness. The discussion also touches on the rise of strict curl competitions and the accessibility of strength sports, highlighting the importance of making fitness enjoyable and sustainable for everyone.

You can find John on Instagram @gaglionestrength https://www.instagram.com/gaglionestrength/

All the info for the strict curl competition at Larry Wheels’ gym in California> https://meets.revolutionpowerlifting.com/2026/01/17/larry-wheels-west-coast-curl/

Check out our gym (Third Street Barbell) at ThirdStreetBarbell.com https://www.thirdstreetbarbell.com/!
Check out our podcast website: 50percentfacts.com https://www.50percentfacts.com/
50% Facts is a Spreaker Prime podcast on OCN – the Obscure Celebrity Network. ____

Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) https://www.instagram.com/silentmikke/ and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). https://www.instagram.com/thejimmcd/
Produced by Jim McDonald
Production assistance by Sam McDonald and Sebastian Brambila. Theme by Aaron Moore. Show art by Joseph Manzo (@jmanzo523)

Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:02 Powerlifting Journey and Coaching Philosophy
05:55 Bodybuilding Experience and Personal Goals
10:06 Realistic Expectations in Weight Loss
13:51 Lifestyle Changes and Community Support
17:57 Training Culture and Powerlifting Evolution
21:35 The Role of Coaching in Powerlifting
27:50 Long-Term Goals and Consistency
36:36 The Importance of Realistic Coaching Expectations
39:38 The Dark Side of Bodybuilding Coaching
40:21 The Evolution of Powerlifting Training Methods
43:12 Long-Term Health in Strength Sports
45:47 The Balance Between Competition and Longevity
48:38 The Future of Strength Training and Coaching
50:40 The Rise of Strict Curl Competitions
01:06:26 Promoting Strength Sports Accessibility

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Transcript

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0:00.0	All righty, welcome.
0:12.7	I'm back after a couple weeks of just like needing to take a couple of weeks to not record.
0:19.8	When I don't, you know, with Mike out, when I don't have guests lined up and my schedule
0:26.3	doesn't really, really sync up with that, then I just don't do it.
0:29.9	And that's after a dozen years of powercasting, did I just say that?
0:36.1	That was a Freudian slip.
0:37.6	Podcasting, starting with the powercast.
0:41.3	Which this show has actually been going on longer and has more episodes than that show
0:44.9	did by this point.
0:47.0	But yeah, it's freeing to just not do it sometimes, you know.
0:51.0	Not that I don't enjoy it, but, you know, sometimes.
0:54.4	So I'm here with my guest, Mr. Gags himself, John Caglione, the guy that we used to call
1:01.5	the mafia accountant for some reason.
1:05.7	Yeah, that's right.
1:07.5	Yeah, I did a very important deal, you know, with the whole Reebok shoe dealings.
1:12.9	It was in Massachusetts, you know, my life's work right there.
1:20.3	So how are you doing, guys?
1:22.3	I'm doing really well.
1:23.7	It's always great to catch up.
1:26.7	So going into 2026, it'll be my 15th year with a,
1:32.9	you know, Gaglione Strength, my, you know, my coaching company, my, my original gym in New York.
1:39.1	And it'll also be my 20th year competing as a competitive power lifter.
	...

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