In the 1990s fitness guru Susan Powter rose to fame with her sassy late night TV infomercials, short cut platinum hair and her catchphrase: “stop the insanity!” Do you remember “stop the insanity?” Well the insanity never stopped. For the last 50 years, corporations have been making a lot of money by waging war on our bodies- stressing us out, forcing bad food and bad lifestyles on us, resulting in good people feeling out of shape, sad and broken. Let’s Grow Big Together! A podcast that’s like your very own broken beer bottle in the bar fight for your life. In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today fitness guru and 90s talk show queen Susan Powter joins us to look at why there is still so much money to be made in keeping people sick. Susan fills us in on her adventures after being a TV fitness icon, and making right wing haters in Texas drop their jaws over her outrageous passion for muscle and fitness. Please enjoy this classic podcast episode.

When you’re busy making gains in the gym, it’s easy to overlook your own vulnerabilities. Because workouts can be exhausting, it’s easy to let your guard down and fall for bad ideas, snake oil supplements, scams or even worse. Let’s Grow Big Together! You got big dreams, you want big muscle? Well here is where you pay, with SWEAT. In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today we take a look at bad ideas good bodybuilders fall for. Also known as bro science- how athletes fall prey to scams and conspiracies that stand in their way of success. Feast of Fun is made possible because of listeners like you, thank you! ★ Check out Shameless Care: shamelesscare.com/feasts FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: ★ instagram.com/faustofernos ★ instagram.com/marcfelion Plus-- • A look at the fake fitness profile industry. • How you think about your food may be more important than you… think. • David Laid and Chris Bumstead pretend to be gay lovers for views, and we love it!

In the 1980s, actress and workout guru Jane Fonda popularized the mantra “no pain, no gain” as a way to suggest that discomfort is necessary for muscle growth. Unfortunately, this type of thinking can lead folks to ignore the very injuries that might be holding back their gains. Let’s Grow Big Together - The podcast that hurts so good it should be illegal, and sometimes it is. In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today physical therapist Dr. Jesse Roles joins us to look at effective and outrageous things bodybuilders have done over the years to overcome injury and pain to maximize their gains. For over a decade, Dr. Jesse has used joint & tissue manipulation, dry needling and cupping to help everyday people and athletes look and feel their best. Plus-- • Which supplements from the vitamin shop will help you recover and which ones are junk? • Foam rolling, yoga, and dynamic warmups, and the power of walking. • Love as the ultimate muscle building therapy.

We live during an extraordinary time for building muscle. What started out over a hundred years ago as a theatrical curiosity has grown to become a sport and art form that has millions of people pumping iron all around the world. And while genetics certainly plays a factor, from Hollywood to your friends at the gym, there are more jacked up folks around these days than ever. How do they do it? Let’s Grow Big Together: the podcast that starts off wearing a hoodie, then takes it off to reveal the pumped muscle hiding underneath. Today my coach Matt Claussen, powerlifting and bodybuilding legend, joins us to look back on my winning the silver in Classic Physique Masters Division at the NPC Mid American Winter Classic 2023, the contest that had the jacked up Santa Claus mascot warning us “Winter is Coming.” What are the attributes of successful bodybuilding athletes and coaches? FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: ★ instagram.com/mattclaussen ★ instagram.com/faustofernos ★ instagram.com/marcfelion Plus-- ➤ Kristen Stewart stars in deadly lesbian bodybuilding thriller ‘Love Lies Bleeding.’ ➤ The Enhanced Games- an Olympic style competition where performance enhancing drugs are not only permitted but encouraged. ➤ The evolution of bodybuilding categories and controversy over the new Men’s Wellness winner, Brazilian non-binary bodybuilder San Moraes. ➤ All your questions that will even make an abductor machine blush!

There’s a belief that fitness and comedy are at odds with each other. We’ve seen many comedians get jacked and then they don’t appear to be as funny. Carrot Top famously said he stopped bodybuilding because it didn't fit his style. Dave Chappelle put on muscle and started trolling trans people, and who can forget those awful Bud Light TV ads from the 80s where Joe Piscopo dressed up in drag and flexed his bulging biceps? But even for all those comedic tragedies, Instagram is packed with muscle men who get the laughs and the lifts. Let’s Grow Big Together, I mean, Welcome to Feast of Fun! The podcast that always makes you sore in all the right places. Today comedian and obstacle course athlete Joel Bryant joins us to chat about racing, lifting and comedy. When he’s not working as a comedy host or doing stand up, Joel is dodging giant foam blocks in an American Ninja style race or crawling through the mud in a Tough Mudder. Listen as we pit Joel Bryant against the AI robot to see who is funnier, muscle man or machine? JOEL BRYANT: https://joelbryant.net Plus-- ➤ The Feds issue new guidelines discouraging comedy from highway safety billboards and signs. ➤ The Smithsonian Institution releases over 4.5 Million historic images into the public domain, ➤ Rest in pudding Ron DeSantis’ political career.

Last weekend in Bloomington, Illinois, over 210 bodybuilders showed up to go for the glory at the NPC Mid-American Winter Classic. The competition was intense, but surprisingly friendly and juiced up with sportsmanship. Let’s Grow Big Together! The podcast that reminds you the biggest prize of all is the friends we make along the way. Today we take you to the NPC Mid-American Winter Classic, where I as a first time novice stepped onstage to compete in Men’s Classic Physique, and like all roller coaster rides, it was scary as hell and tons of fun! Plus-- • What’s it really like backstage at a bodybuilding show? • The steps you need to take if you want to compete yourself! FEATURED VIDEO: Emma Hyndman, the Posing Pro ★ https://youtu.be/v1lxXCEXebA?si=nK9UaIlGwB8jYH9z Kick your bodybuilding to the next level, fitness consultation now available for $99 (on SALE from $149) for a hour we look at your current workouts, nutrition, supplements and more, answer all your questions and set you on the right path to growth! Message me on social media: "Let's Grow Big Together." FAUSTO FERNOS: ★ instagram.com/faustofernos ★ facebook.com/faustofernos ★ twitter.com/faustofernos MARC FELION: ★ instagram.com/marcfelion ★ facebook.com/marcfelion ★ twitter.com/marcfelion

When training for any athletic event, a lot can go wrong. Even worse: your mind can start playing tricks on you. So it helps a great deal to have a great coach guide you on the road to become a legend. Let’s Grow Big Together! The podcast that climbs the Stairmaster along with you, but not on the same machine, cause people are gonna look. In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today, I’m just a few weeks out from my first bodybuilding contest at the young age of 51, and we’re thrilled to introduce you to my coach Matt Claussen. As a powerlifter, Matt Claussen is highly regarded as a four time National Powerlifting Champion. As a bodybuilder, Matt Claussen has won five major championships including first place in the 2005 NPC East Coast Classic and guided over 75 clients to get stage ready for their own contests. COACH MATT CLAUSSEN: https://www.instagram.com/mattclaussen/ NPC WINTER CLASSIC DEC 2, BLOOMINGTON IL: https://npcmidamericanwinterclassic.com Plus-- • Getting ready for your first coach. • Coming out of the closet to your parents as a bodybuilder. • Are powerlifters really using butt plugs to stabilize their core? • Weightlifting horror stories to put a chill down your spine.

Almost a third of American gym goers will use performance enhancing substances at some point in their lives. There’s always risks to consider when supplementing to get big muscles and many doctors just don't have the training or knowledge to help prevent serious complications. So what do you do? It’s the podcast that squeezes the juice to the last drop. In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today, bodybuilding coach Tyler Fluitt joins us to look at harm reduction for anabolic steroids. Tyler specializes in training natural athletes to compete as well as helping enhanced athletes compete in safer ways. Tyler is a popular bodybuilding coach in Austin Texas and now Nashville, and is training for his 19th bodybuilding competition. TYLER FLUITT: https://instagram.com/level_up_physiques Plus-- New DEA rules could make it harder for everyone to get telemedicine for testosterone replacement therapy.

Bodybuilding legend Ronnie Coleman loves to say “Everybody wants big muscles but nobody wants to lift no heavy ass weights!” But lifting heavy ass weights isn't the most difficult part of bodybuilding for everyone. For some, the biggest challenge to coming home with that sword in a competition is the ability to shred body fat without losing muscle mass. Let’s Grow Big Together - It’s the only bodybuilding podcast that slays at the gym, on the stage and the runway baby! In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today tech developer, daddy and up and coming NPC Classic bodybuilder George Ward joins us to talk about getting ready for the stage, his adventures in bodybuilding and working with Dorian Yates to build an impossible physique. We met George Ward at the food court at the Arnold Sports Festival and were so charmed by him we had to get him on the show. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: ★ instagram.com/georgewardfitness ★ instagram.com/faustofernos ★ instagram.com/marcfelion

When it comes to building muscle, eating is fundamental. Besides being incredibly good looking, bodybuilder and film star Derek Bolt is great at fixing yummy things in the kitchen to help build his legendary physique. Let's Grow Big Together: the podcast that shows you the things you need to put in your body to make it grow! In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today we chat once again with Derek Bolt- amateur bodybuilder, architect, film star, and overall renaissance man on maximizing your meals for building muscle. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: ★ instagram.com/derekboltfit ★ instagram.com/faustofernos ★ instagram.com/marcfelion Plus- ➤ How did Derek do in his last competition when he entered under his name assigned at birth? ➤ Why are athletes susceptible to political and nutritional misinformation? ➤ Low carb pizzas: the good, the bad and the freaky. Episode #3072

Bodybuilding can be very lonely as you toil away at the gym, make your meals and rest a lot all by yourself. So in the endless pursuit of building muscle it’s important to always be looking for inspiration that reminds you of why you fell in love with it in the first place. Let’s Grow Big Together- the podcast that screams “come with me if you want to lift!” In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today we find inspiration to recharge our batteries in the neverending quest to build muscle, as we look back at our amazing weekend at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio. FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: ★ instagram.com/faustofernos ★ instagram.com/marcfelion Plus-- • Far out and brilliant fitness products we saw at the Arnold. • Who started the butt grabbing tradition between Chris Bumstead and Ramon Rocha Queiroz? • Why setbacks are an inevitable part of the growing process. Episode #3069

Every great adventure begins with an explosion that sets our heroes on a new path, and bodybuilding is no exception. When the journey begins, it’s great to have the wisdom of a good teacher to help illuminate the path towards building muscle. Let’s Grow Big Together - where sticks and stones may break your bones but squats make you a badass. In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today Shea Menchaca, Austin’s bodybuilding glamazon, coach, guru, chef and owner of the legendary gym Metroflex ATX, joins us to talk about inspiring others to overcome their struggles and build lots and lots of muscle. SHEA MENCHAKA: instagram.com/shea_glamazon_of_metroflx_ifbb FAUSTO FERNOS: instagram.com/faustofernos MARC FELION: instagram.com/marcfelion Plus-- • Bodybuilding on the cutting edge with peptides, stem cells and hormone replacement therapy. • 100 repetition finishers for biceps and triceps, do they work? • Do you put whey protein in your coffee?

If you want to be big, you have to eat big. When it comes to building muscle, the cornerstone of bodybuilding is nutrition, not just what you eat, but when you eat it to keep those gains in motion. But it’s not always that easy, for some people it’s incredibly hard to get the calories and protein they need to grow in size.Let’s Grow Big Together- the podcast that is on the ABCDEFG diet plan: Always Be Consuming Delicious Edible Food! (Goddamit.) In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to putting on muscle. Today bodybuilding coach, nutritionist and boxer Chris Bickley joins us to look at bodybuilding nutrition and the outrageous things bodybuilders have done over the years to get big or die trying.A jacked up 5’10” 230 lbs, Chris turned to becoming a full time coach and nutritionist during the pandemic, and judging from the results of his clients, Chris knows what he’s talking about. CHRIS BICKLEY: instagram.com/ctbickley FAUSTO FERNÓS: instagram.com/faustofernos MARC FELION: instagram.com/marcfelion Hire Chris Bickley as your coach or nutritionist: https://chrisbickleycoaching.com Plus-- ➤ Are German gummi bears anabolic? Why highly branched cyclic dextrin is awesome and is there any benefit to doing hard drugs before hitting the gym? ➤ Protein rich pumpkin pie and Mexican chicken thighs al pastor. Protein Rich Pumpkin Pie: https://www.egglandsbest.com/recipe/protein-pumpkin-pie Chicken Thighs Mexican Pineapple "Al Pastore Style" https://masonfit.com/oven-roasted-chicken-al-pastor/ Episode #3066

One of the drawbacks of following bodybuilders on social media is you come across a few muscle giants who unfortunately have fallen for a lot of right wing nonsense, sexism and bigotry. Thankfully, the kids are all right and a rising tide is shifting to invite everyone to pump iron and bring on the gains. Let’s Grow Big Together - the podcast that helps put meat on the bone and then slathers it in gravy. In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today Canadian bodybuilder, fashion model and fitness influencer Carter Kissick joins us to talk about bigotry as the ultimate gains goblin. Listen as Carter takes on the haters while squatting a whole lot of weight, and of course while wearing fabulous fashion. CARTER KISSICK: instagram.com/classic_kissick FAUSTO FERNÓS: instagram.com/faustofernos MARC FELION: instagram.com/marcfelion Plus- Swallowing raw eggs to build your chest arms and legs. Does Viagra work to get a pump in the gym? Are you an alpha, beta, delta, sigma, omega or lambda male? Take our quiz and find out!

Folks used to discourage training your legs because they thought it would make your butt too big! Today we know better, weightlifting not only gives you a strong core and legs, but now everyone wants a muscular booty! Let’s Grow Big Together - the podcast that loves big butts and can not lie even when others try to deny. Today Erica Nix, a very famous, Austin specific workout guru joins us to talk about bodybuilding, fitness and her journey of self discovery as seen in her debut film “Erica’s First Holy Sh!t” which premieres next week at San Francisco’s club Oasis. Erica loves fitness culture and even appears in the last workout video Richard Simmons ever made. Today, Erica works with people outside of normative physical culture to rediscover bodybuilding, fitness and living their best life. ERICA NIX: https://workoutwithericanix.com SCREENING OF "ERICA'S FIRST HOLY SH!T": https://www.sfoasis.com/events ➤ Listen as we talk about the highly legitimate practice of pec and boobie hypnosis. ➤ Coping with a diagnosis of MS. ➤ The legacy of Arnold’s Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding. ➤ How we originated the modern lesbian pride flag. https://www.reddit.com/r/QueerVexillology/comments/ssngyk/history_and_origin_of_gay_and_lesbian_flags/ Episode #3062

A lot of great bodybuilders begin their journey by overcoming huge challenges. Some people’s bodies fall apart long before they begin to build them back up, so when they step onstage, the battle has already been won. Let’s Grow Big Together- the podcast that tastes as good as it looks! In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today personal trainer, kidney transplant recipient and bicep god Hamilton Parks joins us to talk about overcoming medical his challenges to build a gloriously jacked physique. FOLLOW US: • HAMILTON PARKS: https://www.instagram.com/pecsnpeaks • FAUSTO FERNOS: https://www.instagram.com/faustofernos • MARC FELION: https://www.instagram.com/marcfelion Plus- If you want big biceps, train like a gymnast. Why sweet potatoes will make you swole. Be sure to check out our protein packed Sweet Potato pie recipe, so delicious that both Ronnie Coleman and Patti Labelle would approve. HIGH PROTEIN SWEET POTATO PIE: Whip together: 1 Pound Sweet Potatoes (roasted and cooled in oven) 1/2 cup almond milk 2 large 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce 2 Scoops Vanilla Protein Powder ¾ Cup Sweetener (stevia, monkfruit etc) 2 Large Whole Eggs ½ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 1½ Teaspoon Vanilla Extract Pour batter into a non-stick sprayed pie plate, bake at a 350 degree oven for one hour, then cool, then refrigerate overnight (or at least 3 hours.) Serve with stevia/monkfruit sweetened whipped cream or pre-made light whipped cream from a bottle.

If you’ve never been to a bodybuilding competition in person, it might seem quite intimidating with all that muscle painted dark and greasy, strutting it on stage. But in reality a lot of these contests have a wide variety of people from different ages, backgrounds and bodies ready to showcase their physiques. Category is: jacked up butch queen realness! Today our friend John Paul O’Neil, long time listener, first time caller talks about dazzling the crowds at his first two bodybuilding contests by posing to Madonna’s song Vogue ending with a death drop that shook the judges. John has been lifting for 5 years and after his first two bodybuilding contests he’s earned the title of NPC Classic Physique Bodybuilder. JOHN PAUL O'NEIL: instagram.com/jpo_physics_fitness FAUSTO FERNÓS: instagram.com/faustofernos MARC FELION: instagram.com/marcfelion Plus- ➤ Box squats and applesauce ➤ Getting the perfect spray tan to look your best. Episode #3055

When it comes to building muscle, it helps to fearlessly be yourself. Amateur bodybuilder Derek Bolt raised eyebrows and shook the bigots when he competed in a bodybuilding contest wearing purple nail polish that matched his purple posing trunks. Although Derek loved the presentation, he felt the look, along with his career as a film star, was too much for the judges and hurt his ranking in the contest. Let’s Grow Big Together- the podcast whose nail polish always complements the posing trunks! In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today Derek Bolt, amateur bodybuilder, architect, film star, and overall renaissance man joins us to look at breaking boundaries in bodybuilding as a openly gay, polyamorous man. DEREK BOLT: https://www.instagram.com/derekboltfit FAUSTO FERNOS: https://www.instagram.com/faustofernos MARC FELION: https://www.instagram.com/marcfelion Plus- Why yoga and stretching is so important to building muscle. Derek shares his yummy recipe for anabolic fried rice: DEREK BOLT'S ANABOLIC FRIED RICE: • 200g cubed steak (grilled) • 200g cooked rice • Sliced peppers • Sliced onion • Sliced baby portabella mushrooms • Snap peas • Broccoli • 1T minced ginger • 1T minced garlic • Soy sauce • Sriracha • Dash of MSG (optional) Put peppers, onions, mushrooms, snap peas, and broccoli into a nonstick pan. Add one spritz of Pam or olive oil spray and cook over medium heat until veggies are soft. Add minced ginger and garlic, cook until aromatic. Add steak and rice and continue to cook until warm. Add soy sauce, sriracha, and MSG and stir till thoroughly combined. Remove from heat and serve.

When you think of musical theater you don’t often think of bodybuilders, but the roles of Rocky in Rocky Horror Picture Show, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast or Tarzan in Disney’s stage adaptation all require a certain amount of muscle to portray the role. Let’s Grow Big Together- the podcast that has a sophisticated charm and plenty of muscle! In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle, adventures in bodybuilding, muscle gods, muscle worship and practical advice to put on the gains. Today florist, musical theater actor and bodybuilder Jimmi Cook joins us to look at playing all the jacked up musical theater roles including Rocky, Gaston and Tarzan and his new enterprise as a competitive bodybuilder seeking to win his IFBB Pro Card. Jimmy Cook made his television debut on the reality TV series Full Bloom on HBO Max, and now runs a flower and gift shop called White Barn Decor in Belfair, Washington. FOLLOW JIMMI COOK: https://www.instagram.com/cookjimmi FAUSTO FERNOS: https://www.instagram.com/faustofernos MARC FELION: https://www.instagram.com/marcfelion Episode #3050

Going to the gym can make some folks want to shout “Hallelujah!” In a world that often positions the body as sinful, taking the time to build muscle can shift you into a spiritual place that connects you with the swole divine. Let’s Grow Big Together- the podcast who asks for forgiveness on our cheat days, as we forgive those who curl in the squat rack. In this series, we’re taking a look at the passion for muscle- the incredible journey of bodybuilding, muscle gods and muscle worship, literally! Today bodybuilder, queer Christian and ordained minister Father Ethan Jewett joins us to talk about the spiritual connection between building muscle and creating queer space in places where it doesn’t normally happen. Best known on Instagram as the Jacked Priest, Fr. Jewett turned to bodybuilding as a way to connect with his spirituality and his identity as a gay man. FOLLOW REV. ETHAN JEWETT: https://www.instagram.com/jackedpriest/ FAUSTO FERNOS: https://www.instagram.com/faustofernos MARC FELION: https://www.instagram.com/marcfelion Plus-- The 80s Bodybuilding Televangelists The Power Team, and the motto God’s Gym: His Pain is Your Gain. And what are the best protein rich pancake recipes? Try ours and share yours! ———————— MY THREE FAVORITE PROTEIN PANCAKE RECIPES. * Once you have the batter ready, cook over medium heat on a large skillet or griddle with non-fat cooking spray or butter. 
 * Serve with greek or whole milk yogurt, thawed blueberries, peanut butter and/or maple syrup or sugar free maple syrup. ———————— Chris Bumsteads Protein Pancakes BLEND: 4 eggs 1 1/4 cups (100 g) of old fashioned oats 1 banana One scoop of whey protein 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon lemon or lime zest 1/4 teaspoon of salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder ———————— Father DeBeer’s Protein Pancakes 
BLEND: 2 cups oatmeal 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese 1/8 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 6 eggs, zest of one lime or lemon (optional). Use a handheld emotion blender or regular blender to combine all ingredients ———————— Protein Cornmeal Johnnycakes SIFT TOGETHER: 1 cup finely ground cornmeal 1 /2 cup white flour 1/2 cup of coconut flour (or almond flour or both) 1 scoop whey protein 1½ tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda ¼ tsp salt MIX IN A SEPERATE BOWL: 3 eggs ½ cup plain yogurt (or greek yogurt) 1/2 cup almond milk 3 tbsp honey 1½ tsp apple cider vinegar Add more almond milk to get desired consistency.