Plague of Strength

Over the last couple of months, I’ve filmed a 30 for 30 that will air next year on ESPN (in a sleeveless shirt, but as a historian rather than an athlete) and done a couple of rad podcasts, both of which dropped yesterday in a bizarre synchronicity. In this hour long episode I discussed the history of weightlifting, which I am now pegging with the birth year of 1848 for reasons you likely already understand but if you don’t, all it will take is opening your earholes for 59 minutes of Jamie-filled joy.

If you want to know exactly what was discussed, here’s the episode description- and although you guys might be aware of how much I’ve hated doing podcasts in the past, I really enjoyed my discussions with both podcasts, so that will likely become a semi-regular occurrence (though until someone approaches me with a staff of some kind, I’m not even discussing attempting to do another one myself). In other words, you will be seeing and hearing a lot more of me in the future (including the occasional cameo on a Vice reality show called The Joint, which features the weed church where I bounce the door a couple of times a week, and two horror movies filming in August).

A synopsis of the episode follows, but while you’re skimming and clicking and shit, be sure to follow these guys on the Gram, FB, and Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Episode Description

In the 114th Episode of The Breakthrough Secrets Podcast, Mike, Chris and our special guest, BA in History and East Asian Studies from the University of Arizona, an MBA from the Vienna University of Economics and an iMBA from the University of South Carolina Jamie Lewis will talk about powerlifting, the bodyguards of Abraham Lincoln and the history of weightlifting.

Join us in this insightful and captivating talk!

In this chapter you will discover:

(0:40) Introducing our special guest, BA in History and East Asian Studies from the University of Arizona, an MBA from the Vienna University of Economics and an iMBA from the University of South Carolina Jamie Lewis @plagueofstrength

(1:30) What inspired Lewis to learn the history of weightlifting

(3:00) True fan of history

(5:00) About veganism, paleo and other diets

(6:10) Powerlifting is easy

(6:50) A powerlifter who hates powerlifting

(7:30) “Learn to enjoy the process” – Jamie Lewis

(8:30) How did weightlifting begin here in the US

(11:20) 1799 first gym in Denmark

(13:30) Lola Montez of 19th century

(15:20) Lola Montez one of the first action stars in the world

(18:40) American dream for the ones who are non-conformers

(21:20) Muscular Christianity, book by Clifford Putney https://www.amazon.com/Muscular-Christianity-Manhood-Protestant-1880-1920/dp/0674011252 

(23:50) Weightlifting in the 1800’s

(26:50) Weightlifting in the 1st world war

(27:00) 120 gyms in Austria in 1912, while 4 gyms in Germany

(29:30) What were the gyms composed of, if not barbells and dumbbells?

(30:40) Indian clubs

(31:00) Kettlebells in 1939

(32:40) The non-conformist people writing history

(38:10) Does Jamie apply everything he reads?

(39:40) Why were there over 100 gyms in Austria in 1912?

(42:00) The history behind the history

(42:10) The bodyguards of Abraham Lincoln

(42:20) George Washington and the spies

(44:10) Obsessed about learning

(49:00) Weird and effective people in history

(52:00) Where to reach out to Jamie Lewis @plagueofstrength http://plagueofstrength.com

Liked it? Take a second to support Jamie Chaos on Patreon!