It was an absolute pleasure to connect with strength athlete and author extraordinaire Alyssa Ages and have such an insightful and enlightening chat for Episode 24!

Alyssa is someone who jumped into the strength world with both feet and has found significant purpose in not only developing her own physical capabilities, but also in helping the broader public understand why so many of us find intense meaning and reward in our pursuit of strength.

In her book, "Secrets of Giants: A Journey to Uncover the True Meaning of Strength" (which we highly recommend you all check out!), Alyssa did a phenomenal job in conveying her own journey of self-discovery through strength while also shining a light on the incredibly kind and communal nature of the strength community, and highlighting the stories of many of the strongest competitors to have walked this Earth. She compassionately conveyed how, beneath the slabs of hard-earned mass and indominable exteriors, there are human beings that have sought to armour themselves with strength as a means of growing beyond periods of vulnerability in their lives, unmasking a relatability that is seldom showcased in the world of Strongman.

Alyssa has also been a fantastic advocate for Stonelifting, relaying both its rich history and the intensely rewarding experience of hoisting heavy rocks within her book, but also in broadening its viewership through authoring Stonelifting centric articles in world-class magazines and newspapers!

Thank you, Alyssa, for all you have done to help document and grow the incredible practice of Stonelifting and its community!

In this episode we had an awesome time talking with Tom "War Yoga" Billinge. A martial artist, author, and Stonelifter (among many other things), Tom has travelled the world seeking to obtain knowledge from historically rooted physical practices. He has a deep understanding of ancient Greece's culture of strength and competition, and has even rediscovered and placed his hands on a piece of Greece's Stonelifting past that is nearly 3,000 years old!!! Tom has also witnessed firsthand (and partaken in) the varied Stonelifting practices of South Asia, and more specifically Pakistan, where the feats of strength performed are so impressive many find them difficult to believe! It was an absolute pleasure talking with Tom who has a wealth of Knowledge and a knack for sharing it in a very very enthusiastic and entertaining way!!!

In this episode we had the honour of speaking with Stonelifter extraordinaire John Gibb. In just a handful of years, John has gone from someone who dreamed of lifting the Dinnie Stones to having lifted and WALKED the Dinnie Stones, Shouldered the Ardvorlich stone, and lapped the Húsafell Stone with ease (to name just a few). He has also put his lifting prowess on the line, having won multiple Stonelifting competitions including having won both Scotlands's Strongest AND Britain's Strongest Stonelifter in 2024. As proof that mental resolve, grit, and dedication can help you achieve incredible things in a relatively short period of time, John is a prime example for us all that success is earned and the worth are rewarded!!!l