PL DEN | The Powerlifter's Den

Mark Plummer joins The Powerlifter’s Den for Episode 150. Mark has been competing in powerlifting since he was 16, breaking IPF sub-junior 93kg world records and climbing as high as 8th in the world at 198 before injuries pulled him away from the sport for several years.

We talk about his return to powerlifting, why he thinks the sport has gotten boring, the misconception that you need to get fat to lift heavy, and how the level of competition has changed over the years. We also dive into life as an influencer, how much of what you see online is fake, and why Mark wants to make sure he’s remembered as a great powerlifter—not just an internet personality.

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Jared Simmons joins The Powerlifter’s Den to talk about a strength journey built around more than just the total. From getting sober and finding his way back into the weight room, to decades in strength sports, coaching, gym ownership, and helping create more opportunities for adaptive athletes, Jared’s focus is on leaving the sport better than he found it. PL Den Pre-Episode Guest Questi…

We talk about training with purpose, intensity and intent, why you don’t need to be “strong enough” before entering your first meet, what truly custom coaching should look like, and the importance of bringing more adaptive athletes into strength sports. Jared also opens up about sobriety, family struggles, a broken back, and the experiences that shaped both his lifting and his outlook on life. PL Den Pre-Episode Guest Questi… PL Den Pre-Episode Guest Questi…

Follow Jared: @theplatformao

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In Episode 148 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Hunter Henderson, a professional powerlifter and bodybuilder who has set multiple squat records and is currently ranked 4th in the world overall.

Hunter talks about returning to the platform after three years away, the relationship between muscle and strength, staying healthy in a demanding sport, training with a real crew, and learning to embrace the long process of getting better. She also opens up about overcoming serious medical challenges while balancing elite lifting with a demanding healthcare career

In Episode 147 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Joe Sullivan, former 220 lb all-time world record holder and longtime coach who has helped other lifters reach world-record performances of their own.

Joe talks about why “optimal” doesn’t exist in performance coaching, leaving powerlifting better than he found it, some wild meet stories, and the mentality behind Adapt or Die after years of serious injuries and setbacks. We also discuss the tomfoolery of internet clowns attempting to powerlift for clout.

In Episode 146 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Ed Coan, widely regarded as the greatest powerlifter of all time.

Ed talks about the lifters who influenced him, including Bill Kazmaier, old-school training and competition, the evolution of powerlifting, SWIS, and the lessons he’s picked up from decades of competing, coaching, and being around some of the strongest people in the sport.

A conversation about powerlifting history, training, and the people who helped shape it.

In Episode 145 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Tara Duncan, a 10-year powerlifter with experience in both raw and multiply, a 705 lb squat, and pro totals in three weight classes.

We talk about her transition into geared lifting, raising a daughter who now powerlifts, the downside of comparison and social media, the “mass moves mass” argument, and what she learned through injury, weight loss, and depression.

In Episode 144 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Mason Mills, a 1000kg Big Dogs totaler, full-time coach, and one of the strongest heavyweight powerlifters in the UK. We discuss competing around the world, why progress isn't always linear, memorable stories from Big Dogs, and his pursuit of becoming the first British man to squat 1,000 pounds.

In Episode 143 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Delroy McQueen, a lifter whose career has spanned more than two decades across both Olympic weightlifting and powerlifting. From competing internationally in weightlifting to building an elite career in single ply, multi ply, raw, and raw with wraps, Delroy has proven that longevity is one of the greatest achievements in strength sports.We dive into his transition from Olympic lifting to powerlifting, the mindset that's kept him competing for over 20 years, and the incredible story of squatting 1010 pounds with only two people in the gym. Delroy also reflects on recovering from a career threatening elbow injury, pulling 909 pounds, and why his next mission is to become one of the few lifters to deadlift 400kg in competition at over 50 years old.

In Episode 142 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Niko Chaprales—former IPL Raw 308 World Champion, professional strongman, and strength coach to some of the biggest names in the sport, including Evan Singleton, Inez Carrasquillo, and Katie Blunden.

Niko shares his journey from retiring as a world champion powerlifter to building one of the top coaching teams in strength sports. We dive into developing elite athletes, why too many new lifters skip the fundamentals, gym etiquette, and the mindset required to compete at the highest level. He also opens up about overcoming multiple career threatening injuries, his goal of becoming a world champion in both powerlifting and strongman, and what it takes to stay in the game for over two decades.

Outside of strength sports, we talk about Niko's life on the water as a commercial tuna fisherman and his experience starring on Discovery Channel's Harpoon Hunters, making for one of the most unique conversations we've had on the show.

In Episode 141 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with one of the most accomplished equipped powerlifters in history, Chris Della Fave.

Since entering the sport in 2007 after his football career at the University of Rhode Island, Chris has built a resume that few lifters can match. Holding the all time records at 242 in single ply, multi ply, and unlimited, Chris has totaled as much as 2870 pounds, squatted an all time world record 1160 pounds, and pulled some of the biggest deadlifts ever performed by an American lifter.

We dive into the evolution of equipped powerlifting, his rise through the ranks, what it takes to stay at the top for nearly two decades, and the mindset required to continually push the limits of human performance.

If you're a fan of big squats, equipped lifting, and powerlifting history, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In Episode 140 of The Powerlifter's Den, Cam sits down with Ryan Kennelly, the first man to ever bench press 800 pounds and the former all time world record holder with a 1075 lb bench at 308.Ryan shares stories from his rise through the sport, meeting Louie Simmons in 2001, the evolution of bench shirts over the last 30 years, and the mindset it took to become one of the greatest bench pressers in history. We also discuss his legendary bodyweight and calorie intake, life after competition, and a wild trip to Ukraine to compete that has to be heard to be believed.If you're a fan of powerlifting history, bench pressing, and the golden era of the sport, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In Episode 139 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Duncan Hundley, director of strength and conditioning at Gray Collegiate Academy and a lifter with over 11 years of experience in both raw and equipped powerlifting.

Duncan shares how watching World’s Strongest Man and WWE first sparked his love for strength sports, eventually leading him to winning Powerlifting America Bench Nationals and chasing bigger goals in equipped lifting. We dive into training culture, why consistency beats intensity, and the importance of staying curious in a sport where too many people think there’s only one correct way to train.

We also talk about balancing lifting with life outside the gym, overcoming injuries including a torn ACL and hip issues, and stories from legends like Bill Gillespie, Brent Tracey, and the Cell Block crew. This episode is packed with insight for lifters who want to keep learning, evolving, and enjoying the process.

In Episode 138 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with one of the most respected coaches and thinkers in powerlifting, Mike Tuchscherer. As the founder of Reactive Training Systems and a coach with nearly 30 years in the sport, Mike has helped shape modern approaches to training through data driven decision making, individualized programming, and structured experimentation.

We dive deep into fatigue management, emerging training strategies, and velocity based training (VBT), discussing how lifters can make better in the moment decisions instead of blindly following a spreadsheet. Mike also breaks down common misconceptions around performance, why you do not need to feel your best to perform your best, and how predictable preparation leads to consistent results on the platform.

From world level coaching to long term injury management and building systems that actually work in the real world, this episode is packed with practical insight for lifters, coaches, and anyone trying to train smarter.

In Episode 137 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Alexander Freeman, someone he actually went to high school with, making this episode a little more personal than most. Since those days, Alex has transformed himself into a serious force in powerlifting, building a 2000 raw total and 500 DOTS while preparing to make the jump into multi ply competition.

Alex opens up about how athletics shaped his early years, how powerlifting gave him new direction, and how the loss of one of his best friends became the catalyst for completely changing his life. From grief, growth, and discipline to finding the right crew and learning how to truly live with intention, this episode dives into the mindset behind building not just strength, but a life worth being proud of.

We also talk about his evolution in the sport, transitioning into equipped lifting, and why powerlifting can be one of the most powerful tools for personal transformation

In Episode 136 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with RJ Butcher — a lifter who’s been competing since 2009 and has built his career through experience, resilience, and time under the bar.

RJ shares his journey from training in old-school gyms to stepping on the platform across multiple weight classes, totaling 2104 at 242 in wraps, and now setting his sights on multiply. We dive into the reality of staying in the sport long-term, the toll injuries take, and why progress isn’t always clean or pretty.

From ruptures and tears to continuing to show up anyway, RJ talks about what it really means to push forward when everything hurts — physically and mentally. We also get into gym culture, competition mindset, and lessons learned from being around some of the sport’s most respected lifters.

This episode is about longevity, grit, and earning every pound the hard way.

In Episode 135 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Sam Brown — a human performance expert for the United States Air Force, McGill Method Certified Practitioner, and multi-ply lifter with a 2100+ total.

Sam shares his journey from training at elitefts and learning under Westside-influenced lifters to working with pilots and aircrew in high-stress environments. We dive into what actually matters in training, why there is no “secret sauce,” and how overcomplicating the process is holding lifters back.

We also talk about the realities of equipped lifting, the misconception that gear does the work for you, and what it takes to perform both on the platform and in real-world high-pressure situations. From bombing out at the Arnold to building consistency over time, this episode is all about simplifying the process and focusing on what actually drives progress.

This week on The Powerlifter’s Den, we sit down with Alejandro Wickham—a 40-year-old masters lifter proving that elite performance doesn’t have an expiration date.

Alejandro has totaled over 2070 lbs in tested competition while balancing the discipline and mindset forged through his military background. We dive into what it takes to stay competitive at a high level into your 40s, how his time in the military shaped his approach to training and life, and the realities of competing drug-tested while still pushing elite numbers.

We also get into longevity in the sport, adapting training as you age, and what separates lifters who last from those who burn out.

If you’re chasing strength for the long haul, this one hits

In Episode 133 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Erin Murray — 4x World’s Strongest Woman and one of the only athletes in strength sports to hold world titles across multiple weight classes.

Erin shares her journey from getting into lifting as part of recovery, to competing on the Arnold stage and becoming one of the most dominant athletes in strongman. We dive into what it takes to reach that level, how she balances high-level competition with life outside the sport, and the mindset behind her mantra: “Disrespect the Impossible.”

We also talk about her transition through different phases of strength sports, upcoming competitions across the world, and why being elite doesn’t have to come at the cost of everything else in your life.

In Episode 132 of The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Karl Wedel — an international lifter with his sights set on a 1080kg total at ABS Pro 8, where he’ll face off against current title holder Nicolas Du Preez.

Karl shares his journey from getting into powerlifting just to compete with a friend, to building elite strength while working full-time shift hours in a windmill factory. We dive into the mindset and grit required to progress in the sport, why he doesn’t believe in overcomplicating training, and the myths around accessories, diet, and what it really takes to get strong.

He also opens up about overcoming a grade 2 quad tear, coming back stronger, and why focusing on the long game is the only way to succeed in powerlifting. This episode is raw, direct, and centered around one thing — doing what it takes to keep progressing.

This week on The Powerlifter’s Den, Cam sits down with Tony Carlino—elite equipped bencher, full power competitor, and one of the few lifters in history to bench over 1000 pounds in multiply, with a massive 1036 bench in 2024.

Tony talks about how he got hooked on powerlifting after watching Road to the Arnold, what it means to be in the tiny group of lifters to bench 1000+ in poly, and becoming just the second person ever to squat and bench 1000+ in the same meet. The two also dive into bench shirts, why people misunderstand equipped lifting, the mindset behind chasing huge numbers, and what still drives Tony to keep pushing the limit.

They also touch on EverStrong, the mission he cofounded with his wife Shelly, and the goals he’s still chasing: 1000+ single ply, 1100+ single/multi ply, and 1300+ unlimited.

Follow Tony:
IG: @sirbenchalot1k
TikTok: @sirbenchalot1k

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