50% Facts

Latest Episodes:

“The Last Blockbuster” | A preview of the death of retail? w/Dean Saddoris of Caffeine and Kilos Apr 01, 2021

Show notes

The fifth show of any month could literally be about anything. This time it’s a documentary review with our buddy Dean Saddoris. Think of it as meathead movie nerds looking for lessons for our own lives in popular media. The hot Netflix documentary “The Last Blockbuster” is a humorous – and quirky – look at the fall of a business that was a huge cultural institution. Could the business cycle of a retail category like video rental stores foretell what effects technological advancements, changes in consumer taste, and well…greed can have on other brick and mortar retail? Even those in the fitness industry? We talk about our experiences with having to actually leave our houses to get movies, and the characters and structure of this super low-budget doc about the Bend, Oregon movie rental store that’s the very last of the chain. Some of our questions: What personality traits do you need if you’re going to fight an uphill battle to keep a business alive? Could Blockbuster really have bought Netflix, and did Netflix really kill it? Are we supposed to know who all the people featured in the movie are? Would a Blockbuster first date have been the perfect first date? Why didn’t this doc talk about game rentals, too? You can find Dean on Instagram @deansaddoris.ck and at Caffeineandkilos.com Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our next drop! Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Sam McDonald. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
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What do ya wanna know? | March Q and A Mar 25, 2021

Show notes

Time for our monthly swing at your questions. Some of the topics: Who are our favorite Lord of the Rings characters? Which powerlifting bars do we have in our gym? Did Eleiko really start out making waffle irons? Is our gym open to the public? Do you have to be rich to be fashionable? What does it take to grow an online business? What are our long- and short-term goals? Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our next drop! Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Sam McDonald. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
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What do you need to know when starting a gym (or any business)? Mar 18, 2021

Show notes

This started out as a question asked on Mike’s Instagram: What did we learn in starting a gym? It quickly evolved into a larger discussion of the challenges associated with starting any business. We cover some of our previous experiences (this is not our first rodeo) and how they informed our approach to what we’ve been working on for the last year. It’s fair to say that we’ve learned at least as much about ourselves and each other as we have actual business knowledge. Some of the topics: If you can’t come up with a succinct pitch for your business, should you even start one? How critical is your broader business description or even “brand story” in developing every part of your business structure, product offerings, etc.? What type of people make good partners, collaborators, or employees? Is it actually a bad idea to go into business with friends? How much alike (or different) should you and your business partner be? Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our next drop! Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Sam McDonald. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
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Did “Pumping Iron” create the fitness industry? | Reaction & Review w/Dean Saddoris of Caffeine and Kilos Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

In 1977, moviegoers were presented with images of sweaty, oily, and extremely muscular men wearing as little clothing as possible. Many cultural observers believed this was the dawn of what is now a multi-billion-dollar industry as members of the general public started working to make themselves “healthier” and more fit…by pretty much any means available. How did this low-budget documentary featuring relative unknowns Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno helmed by a first-time director become the top documentary the year it was released? We invited Dean Saddoris to break it down with us: Were the conflicts real? Who were the best and worst characters? If steroids were still legal then, why didn’t anybody talk about them? Would the film have had any impact at all without Arnold? Why do these guys look so different than top bodybuilders do now? How did the extreme look – and training – of bodybuilders fuel a desire for regular people to become more healthy and fit? Some factual updates from random topics that popped up in the episode: Studies since the 1940’s have shown that cigarette smoking can cause cancer. Jack Lalanne was indeed born in San Francisco in 1914. He is often cited as another major influence in the creation of the fitness industry. Arnold’s first film was Hercules in New York (1970). His character’s voice was dubbed over by another actor. Spray tan had been around since the 1950s, but tanning beds and spray tans didn’t become popular until the 1980s. Actor Bud Cort was indeed in Harrold and Maude (1971), Dogma (1999), and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004). Coca-Cola first tried mixing Coke and coffee back in 2006 with Coca-Cola Blåk. You can find Dean on Instagram @deansaddoris.ck Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Get early access to our next drop! Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Sam McDonald. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
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What do regular gym guys think of powerlifting? w/Fat Dan & his brothers from the Bridge to Bridge Podcast Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

We brought in two of our buddy Dan Stornaiuolo’s hilarious and engaging brothers, Dom and Mike, to give an outsider’s perspective on powerlifting accomplishments – particularly their “little” brother’s lifting. Don and Mike host the Bridge to Bridge Podcast featuring interviews with SF Bay Area sports figures. Both grew up as athletes, so we unpack and contrast training and competition experiences among various sports. Other questions that came up: Do Silent Mike and Dom look alike and what celebrities do they remind people of? What activities have they used to stay sane during the pandemic? Why can nobody locate their dad’s episode of “Dirty Jobs?” Did a van really run over Dan’s leg when he was a kid? This is part 1 of 2. You can find part 2 on an upcoming episode of The Bridge to Bridge podcast with Mike Stornaiuolo and Dominick Bei. And check out their Instagram @bridgetobridgepodcast Dan is @stormcloud415 on IG. Next week we’re going to talk about the influence of the documentary “Pumping Iron” in an episode. send us your written comments or voice memos to social@50percentfacts.com. Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Connor O’Neal @connoroneal. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
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How do parents (or any busy people) fit fitness into family life? | Monthly Q&A Feb 24, 2021

Show notes

We’re setting a new pattern of episodes for the next few months. The final episode of each month will be a Q & A about…whatever you (our audience) want to talk about: previous episodes during the month, business, life, training, health, or whatever. Here are some of the questions we touched on this time: What happens if the Earth speeds up…or slows down? FMK – Cold brew, espresso, and brewed coffee? How’s the gym going so far? Is it a good idea to start two businesses at the same time? What’s the most critical thing to get right about a cold sales pitch? How do you fit working out into a busy life, especially if you’re a parent? Are ever going to be a regular “interview” show again? In the second week of March, we’re going to talk about the influence of the documentary “Pumping Iron” in an episode. send us your written comments or voice memos to social@50percentfacts.com. Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Early access to the next drop on 2-14-21. Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Connor O’Neal @connoroneal. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
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What would a perfect powerlifting federation look like? w/Marcus “Filipino Thunder” Sannadan Feb 18, 2021

Show notes

Our long-time friend and teammate Marcus Sanadan joins us. We review some old lifting footage from not long after we all met and from his recent meet. Then we take Jonnie Candito’s recent video announcing his break with the USAPL as a jumping-off point for a discussion. We examine what we think is wrong with many current federations, and discuss how they might be addressed: Is it finally time to give up on powerlifting’s Olympic dream? Is consolidation among federations even possible, or are there too many differences that can’t be reconciled? Are federations or meet directors more responsible for the problems? Is the concept of “all-time records” something we just need to let go of? Are federations even necessary now? We lead off with the breaking news that the World's Strongest Man will be held in our city -- Sacramento, California -- for the next few years. The first is just a few months away in June 2021. Next month, we’re going to talk about the influence of the documentary “Pumping Iron” in an episode. send us your written comments or voice memos to social@50percentfacts.com. Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Early access to the next drop on 2-14-21. Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Connor O’Neal @connoroneal. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts--5538735/support.

“Fake Famous” | What did Instagram do for (and to) fitness? Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

The HBO documentary “Fake Famous” examines some of the ways that Instagram can be manipulated to create “influencers” with large followings (50-60% of which might just be bots) that advertisers are willing to pay to reach. We talk through our impressions of the doc, and discuss the relationship between the growth of the fitness/lifting community and the rise of social media: Are lifters using some of the same methods to grow large followings? What can you actually gain by buying followers, likes, and engagement? Where do we draw the line between ethical and unethical promotion of products and services? What’s the mental/emotional impact on influencers…and their followers? Is the real goal of social media to make you feel bad about your own life and circumstances? Next month, we’re going to talk about the influence of the documentary “Pumping Iron” in an episode. send us your written comments or voice memos to social@50percentfacts.com. Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Early access to the next drop on 2-14-21. Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Connor O’Neal @connoroneal. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts--5538735/support.

What do new studies say about training for powerlifting vs bodybuilding? (and other discussions) w/ Eric Helms & Omar Isuf Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

Full transparency, the main question is discussed in the last 15 minutes of the show. In part 1, we talk about what we’ve been up to during our production break for the holidays and plans for some future episodes of the show. NOTE: Next week we’re going to discuss the HBO documentary “Fake Famous” (trailer here) and the relationship between the fitness/lifting community and social media. If you’ve watched the doc, send us your written comments or voice memos to social@50percentfacts.com. Next month, we’re going to talk about the influence of the documentary “Pumping Iron” in an episode. In part 2, we’re joined by Eric (in New Zealand) and Omar (in Toronto). We really missed talking to these dudes! We talked about how we’ve all weathered the isolation of the pandemic, how current conditions have impacted our businesses, and whether we really even liked travel anyway. Eric holds a BS in fitness and wellness, an MS in exercise science, a second masters in sports nutrition, a PhD in strength and conditioning, and is a research fellow for AUT at the Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand. Omar is a successful YouTube content creator from Canada, a partner with Mike Farr and Bart Kwan on Kizen Training, as well as pursuing other business ventures. He’s also a keen observer of media. You can find Eric at 3DMuscleJourney.com and on Instagram: @helms3dmj You can find Omar on his hugely successful YouTube channel. And Instagram as @omarisuf. You can find them both on their podcast, Iron Culture. Check out the episode of Iron Culture we recorded with them the same day. It’s a nice companion piece. Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits!
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Top fitness trends for 2021? Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

Our second annual take-a-random-trends-list-and-unpack-it episode. Do trends lists offer any real insight or is it all too obvious? Has the current situation made it basically impossible to predict? We also offer some heartfelt thoughts on how to help the world start to pull its collective dick out of the dirt sometime in 2021. Happy Holidays. See you next year! Subscribe for updates about our new gym (Third Street Barbell) and apparel line at 3sb.co! Local memberships and international fresh fits! Hosted by Mike Farr (@silentmikke) and Jim McDonald (@thejimmcd). Produced by Jim McDonald Production assistance by Connor O’Neal @connoroneal. Theme by Aaron Moore. Branding by Joseph Manzo.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/50-facts--5538735/support.

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