Welcome back to episode 193 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast.

With 200 episodes fast approaching, the boys take a step back and reflect on where it all began; the very first gym sessions, early training influences, questionable choices, and the moments that shifted bodybuilding from a casual hobby into a long-term pursuit.

We unpack our individual journeys into the sport, from backyard workouts and school gyms to first contest preps, early coaching experiences, and the hard lessons that only time (and mistakes) can teach. The discussion also explores how our beliefs around training volume, food choices, bulking, and recovery have evolved over the years.

To wrap up, we reflect on what keeps us involved in bodybuilding today, the responsibility that comes with coaching, and what we hope listeners take away from hearing the unfiltered realities of our beginnings.

Welcome to Episode 192 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast!

This week, we dive into a topic that sits at the core of the bodybuilding experience: discomfort, when it’s necessary, when it’s unavoidable, and when it’s often self-inflicted.

The episode opens with a discussion around the idea that bodybuilding should feel hard at times. From brutally demanding training sessions to the realities of long build phases, calorie surpluses, and contest preparation, the boys unpack where discomfort is an essential part of driving adaptation, performance, and long-term physique progress.

From there, the conversation becomes more nuanced, exploring whether certain phases of bodybuilding are made unnecessarily difficult through misinformation, poor expectations, or chasing extremes. The boys debate energy surplus size, bodyweight gain, maintenance phases, and whether progress truly requires constant discomfort, or simply better execution over time.

The discussion also touches on athlete maturity, exposure to the process, and how experience changes what feels “hard,” alongside considerations around longevity, lifestyle stress, and setting athletes up for sustainable progress rather than short-term extremes.

This episode is a grounded, honest look at the difference between productive discomfort and avoidable suffering, and how learning to tell the difference can shape better outcomes in both bodybuilding and life.

Enjoy!

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Bodybuilding Down Under: https://www.instagram.com/bodybuildingdownunder/?hl=en

Jack: https://www.instagram.com/jack.radfordsmith/

Daniel C: https://www.instagram.com/daniel.chapelle/

Lawrence: https://www.instagram.com/general.muscle/

Daniel Y: https://www.instagram.com/dy.fit/

Welcome to Episode 191 of the Bodybuilding Down Under Podcast!

In the first episode of 2026, the boys kick things off with a wide-ranging Q&A discussion covering the realities of contest prep, natural bodybuilding, and where the sport may be heading this year.

We open with a deep dive into a question many competitors quietly ask after their first show: how many people actually come back to compete again and what factors influence whether someone returns for a second or third prep. From lifestyle demands and expectations to placings, enjoyment of the process, and long-term goals, we unpack why contest prep tends to be a make-or-break experience.

The conversation then shifts to natural bodybuilding integrity, including discussion around emerging peptides, appetite-modulating drugs, and where the line sits between recovery tools, unfair advantage, and the spirit of drug-tested sport. We also explore supplement quality, third-party testing, and the realities of contamination risk for natural athletes.

To wrap up, the boys reflect on major fitness and bodybuilding trends from 2025, make some early predictions for 2026, and discuss individual training priorities, exercise selection, and performance goals moving into the new year. Enjoy!