AI, Coaching, and Accountability: What Fitness Pros Must Know (with Michelle Blakely) | Iron Radio

On this special Iron Radio episode, Dr. Lonnie Lowery hosts fitness professional and AI expert Michelle Blakely, an NSCA-CPT and former USA Weightlifting sports performance coach who recently began a Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer program at the University of Chicago Booth. They discuss how AI is already impacting coaching, programming, nutrition planning, and education, emphasizing that while AI can rapidly generate meal plans and training drafts, coaches remain vital for accountability, community, and human connection.

Blakely advises using AI as a drafting and efficiency tool with a human-in-the-loop to review errors and hallucinations, recommends moving from free to paid AI models for privacy and tracking team use, and argues practitioners must “radically accept” rapid exponential change to avoid a near-term divide between AI-literate and AI-illiterate professionals. The episode also includes updates on Iron Radio’s new distribution channels and related resources.

00:00 Welcome to Iron Radio

00:36 Meet Michelle Blakely

02:09 AI Anxiety to Action

03:27 AI in Education and Coaching

06:03 Accountability Beats Algorithms

10:38 Paid Tools and Privacy

13:57 Governance and Human Oversight

15:24 Show Updates and Resources

18:42 Will AI Replace Humans

23:38 Exponential Change and Adaptation

27:45 Apps vs Real Community

33:23 Wrap Up and Contact Info

35:17 Disclaimer and Sign Off

Michelle Blakely -

• Here is Michelle Blakely's link to jump on a complimentary 15-minute call to discuss any AI questions as offered in the show: https://meetings.hubspot.com/info2033?uuid=64509963-36cf-4737-bd4c-516b5b00b210
• Here is the link to the "48 hours of no AI" article from the New York Times Michelle referenced: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/28/style/48-hours-without-ai.html

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie

Iron Radio: Popular Peptides in Strength Sports (Sermorelin, TB-500, PEG-MGF) + Show Updates

On Iron Radio, hosts Dr. Lonnie Lowery and Dr. Mike T. Nelson (with Coach Phil Stevens joining later) discuss what an AI scan identified as popular peptides in strength sports, focusing on sermorelin, TB-500, and PEG-MGF. They review purported mechanisms and typical injection use, emphasize limited human data and anti-doping restrictions, and share anecdotes about mixed results—especially for sermorelin and tissue-healing peptides often paired with BPC-157—while raising questions about GH/IGF-1 testing, pituitary responsiveness with age, and product quality from research chemical sources versus compounding pharmacies.

They also touch on movement and brain health, mention Dr. Tommy Wood’s book, note Iron Radio’s updated distribution/feed changes and Mike’s newsletter, and preview Phil’s upcoming meet as he manages knee pain while preparing his 10-year-old son to attempt national-record lifts.

00:00 Welcome to Iron Radio

00:49 Hosts and intros

01:13 Kiteboarding and GoPro

02:05 Movement for brain health

03:11 Treadmill vs real running

03:43 AI peptides overview

05:02 Sermorelin GH booster

12:37 TB-500 tissue repair

19:33 Oral peptides and collagen

22:36 Show updates and promos

25:34 PEG-MGF muscle growth

28:27 Peptide Site Injections

28:51 Phil Joins Peptide Talk

29:31 Tesamorelin Fat Loss Hype

30:28 Standalone Results and Sleep

31:58 Legal Access and GH Tradeoffs

34:22 Pituitary Limits and Testing

36:30 Hormone Spikes vs Real Gains

39:15 Peptide Wild West Risks

41:04 Sourcing and FDA Crackdowns

42:36 Meet Prep and Youth Records

44:53 Wrap Up and Disclaimer

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie

Iron Radio: Top 3 Reasons to Compete in Strength & Physique Sports

Hosts Coach Phil Stevens and Dr. Lonnie Lowery discuss their top three reasons to compete in strength and physique sports: competition provides direction and purpose that sharpens training and nutrition through a clear timeline and accountability; it forces honesty and adherence to strict standards under rules, exposing true performance and differentiating meet PRs from gym PRs; and it ends “someday” thinking by offering a tangible “receipt” of achievement via judged results and public performance. Lonnie adds that competing is also a courage test—overcoming fear and being evaluated in public—while both note the importance of using competition anxiety productively and focusing on personal progress. They also emphasize the value of team support and leading by example, especially when coaching and training with others, and encourage listeners to try competing rather than waiting for perfect conditions.

00:00 Iron Radio Intro

00:42 Leg Press Banter

01:20 Why Compete Today

02:01 Reason One Purpose

06:27 Reason Two Honest Rules

09:36 Reason One Courage Test

11:16 Using Fear on Stage

13:09 Crowd Wants You Win

14:00 Stop Waiting Sign Up

14:24 Meet Day Receipts

16:01 Iron Radio Updates

17:11 Newsletter And New Book

18:59 Compete For Yourself

21:58 Chasing Real Greatness

24:50 Team Effort And Coaching

26:51 Final Push To Compete

29:14 Disclaimer And Wrap Up

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie

Iron Radio: AI’s Impact on Coaching & Peer Review, Urolithin A in Sports Nutrition, and Cold Water Immersion Updates

On Iron Radio, hosts Dr. Lonnie Lowery and Dr. Mike T. Nelson discuss how AI may speed content distribution, assist with business tasks, and potentially replace some lower-level coaches while still lacking context for peer review and research interpretation, raising concerns about regulation, healthcare profit motives, and data-center resource demands. They revisit urolithin A (a gut microbiota–derived metabolite linked to mitochondrial effects), referencing a 2025 Frontiers in Nutrition paper and Mike’s personal and client experiences, noting modest perceived recovery/HRV benefits, high cost, and possible responder differences due to gut conversion. Mike also summarizes a broad review on cold exposure and metabolism across organ systems, highlighting mixed recovery data, evidence that immediate post-hypertrophy cold-water immersion can reduce muscle protein synthesis via reduced blood flow, lack of clear anti-inflammatory marker changes, and practical guidance based on season, logistics, and athlete preference.

00:00 Welcome to Iron Radio

01:13 Mike’s Vegas Mastermind

01:30 AI for Content Creation

03:18 AI Limits and Assumptions

03:57 Peer Review and Academia

05:42 Jobs at Risk in Healthcare

10:23 AI in Coaching and Diets

13:10 Regulation and Data Centers

15:24 AGI Race and Safety

17:36 Urolithin A Research Overview

20:49 Mike’s Experience with UA

22:33 Gut Conversion Variability

22:58 Iron Radio Feed Update

24:10 Free Daily Newsletter

24:48 New Supplements Book

25:57 Postbiotics and Skepticism

28:04 Safety First Testing

29:00 Cold Exposure Review

31:06 Hypertrophy Tradeoffs

35:31 In Season Ice Baths

40:03 Measuring Recovery Reality

43:15 Whole Body Effects

45:51 Wrap Up and Disclaimer

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie

Iron Radio: Protein Labeling, Plant Proteins, and Arnold Classic Highlights

On Iron Radio, hosts Coach Phil Stevens, Dr. Mike T. Nelson, and Dr. Lonnie Lowery discuss a recent Food and Nutrition Policy (Feb 2026) proposal to eliminate in vivo protein digestibility requirements (PDCAAS) for protein content claims in North America, arguing it would favor plant proteins and could mislead consumers by focusing on grams per serving rather than usable amino acids. They debate implications for athletes, older adults, and the general public, raise concerns about industry-driven label changes, and note how protein blends and undisclosed ratios could be used for profit. The episode also includes show updates (new distribution via the Iron Radio Nutrition Radio Network, newsletter and book mentions) and a brief recap of Arnold event results, prize money disparities, expo changes over time, and how strongman deadlift numbers have escalated.

00:00 Iron Radio Introductions

00:55 Vegas Trip Chatter

01:40 Protein Labeling News

02:59 PDCAAS vs DIAAS Explained

04:30 Plant Proteins and Policy Push

09:57 Athletes vs Gen Pop Impact

11:59 Confusion and Digestibility Debate

15:33 Industry Motives and Sponsorship

17:03 Protein Blends and RTD Cutting

19:18 Novel Proteins and Vegan Examples

20:38 Protein Priorities Debate

21:41 Plant Based Politics

22:03 Iron Radio Network Update

23:14 Mike Nelson Newsletter Plug

23:52 New Supplements Book

25:00 Arnold Winners and Payouts

27:37 Expo Changes Since COVID

31:09 Strongman Deadlift Explosion

33:43 Media Pass Ideas and Wrap

35:03 Final Disclaimer and Outro

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie

RPE in Strength Training: Why Beginners Misuse It (and How to Calibrate It)

On Iron Radio, hosts Coach Phil Stevens, Dr. Lonnie Lowery and Dr. Mike T. Nelson discuss rate of perceived exertion (RPE) and why it can be misapplied in strength training. They define RPE as a subjective intensity scale (including the Borg 6–20 scale) and contrast it with objective measures like heart rate and percentages of 1RM. Phil argues RPE requires calibration through experience and that newer lifters often avoid hard work because they don’t yet know what true maximal effort feels like, while “tough guys” may under-rate effort. The group recommends pairing RPE with objective targets, tracking output over time for patterns, using coaching to calibrate effort, and reserving true all-out attempts for the competition platform to reduce injury risk.

00:00 Show Intro

00:33 Hosts And Agenda

01:26 RPE Hype And Pitfalls

02:53 Percentages Plus RPE

03:45 Coaching New Lifters

04:15 Strain Versus Pain

05:46 Mike Joins And Defines RPE

06:59 Subjective Versus Objective

08:32 Beginners Need Calibration

13:50 Westside Daily Max Explained

16:05 Track Output Over Time

16:24 Avoiding The RPE Hole

17:21 Peaking With RPE

18:19 Objective vs Subjective Load

19:20 RPE Ego And Failure Culture

19:44 Coaching For Psychology

21:09 Calibrating RPE Signals

23:17 Percent Work Plus RPE

24:13 Extra Work As Reward

25:47 Training Toughness Adaptation

28:19 Patterns And Outlier Days

29:40 Warmups Dont Overthink

31:13 Wrap Up And Disclaimer

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie

Iron Radio: Nutrition Knowledge, Diet Quality, and Where Athletes Get Their Info

On Iron Radio, hosts Coach Phil Stevens and Dr. Lonnie Lowery discuss how heavy training taxes recovery, then focus on athlete nutrition knowledge and diet quality using a Current Developments in Nutrition editorial summarizing six articles. They note adolescents often get nutrition info from social media, with athletes valuing credible sources more and viewing food as fuel, while non-athletes see food as social. They discuss YouTube as a major information source and how expert content may lack trust-building communication compared to non-experts. A study in Ireland found sensory appeal as the top driver of food choice even in active populations. Data from Florida State Division I cross-country athletes showed inadequate carbs, calcium, and vitamin D, but adequate protein, fat, and iron, alongside poor overall diet quality. They also cover Iranian bodybuilders’ supplement use patterns and debate how veteran strength athletes simplify supplement choices.

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

00:35 Meet Prep and Big Lifts

01:30 Squat vs Deadlift Grind

03:01 Risk and Willpower

04:00 Lonnie Background and Credentials

05:01 Today Topic and Upcoming Guests

06:39 Athletes Nutrition Knowledge

08:12 Social Media and Mentors

10:23 YouTube Experts vs Influencers

12:11 Taste Drives Food Choices

14:17 Athlete Fuel Mindset

15:44 Learning to Eat for Gains

16:47 Taste Preferences Get Skewed

17:38 New Podcast Feed

18:48 Mike Nelson Newsletter

19:27 Supplements Book Update

20:35 Runner Diet Quality Study

23:12 Elite Sport vs Health

27:27 Bodybuilder Supplement Habits

31:59 Old School Protein Tales

34:29 Athletes More Mindful

35:04 Wrap Up and Disclaimer

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie

Urolithin A for Strength & Mitochondria + Avoiding Wearable-Driven Analysis Paralysis

On Iron Radio, Coach Phil Stevens and Dr. Lonnie Lowery discuss Phil’s upcoming meet and a client question about urolithin A, reviewing a 2022 randomized placebo-controlled trial in middle-aged adults showing about 12% strength improvement plus lower inflammation and acyl-carnitines, while noting the results may not apply to trained lifters and that more research is needed; they also explain urolithin A as a postbiotic derived from polyphenol precursors found in foods like berries and nuts, tying it to “eating like an adult” rather than relying on ultra-processed foods. After show updates and promos, they pivot to “analysis paralysis,” arguing that overreliance on perfect programming, wearables, HRV/sleep scores, RPE, and bar-velocity tracking can become a crutch, and emphasizing hard work, trends over time, and performance as the key markers.

00:00 Show Intro and Hosts

00:44 Meet Prep and Records

01:37 Lonnie Updates and ISSN Talks

03:07 Urolithin A Supplement Buzz

04:52 Study Breakdown and Dosing

09:58 Food Sources and Adult Eating

12:36 Break and Network Updates

15:52 Analysis Paralysis in Training

18:29 Grit Over Perfect Metrics

20:29 Real World Meet Chaos

22:25 Stop Over Measuring

22:53 Train With Fire

24:32 Midnight Strap Squats

25:28 Which Metrics Matter

29:03 Trends Beat One Offs

32:08 Be Researcher Athlete

36:20 Use Data Build Habits

37:59 Measurement Error Reality

39:13 Coaching Fatigue Context

40:02 Final Takeaways Disclaimer

Donate to the show via PayPal HERE.

You can also join Dr Mike's Insider Newsletter for more info on how to add muscle, improve your performance and body comp - all without destroying your health, go to www.ironradiodrmike.com

Thank you!

Phil, Jerrell, Mike T, and Lonnie