Written by Garett Reid | NSCA, CSCS, CISSN, M.S.E.S.S
Fact checked by Kiel DiGiovanni, Co-founder
FACT CHECKED
We live in an amazing time to be in the fitness game. "Back in our day," the only information we got about fitness was from bodybuilding magazines and our friends. Now, lifters can access unlimited information, such as all the fitness podcasts and YouTube channels – any answer can be found online. Well, if you know where to look.
We have so much information now that we have crossed the spectrum where there's information overload, not to mention misinformation. Therefore, we will help you and wade through the nonsense to give you the top fitness podcasts and YouTube channels.
In no particular order, we're just gonna get right into it.
1. Mind Pump
Mind Pump is one of the top fitness podcasts, if not the top. However, it didn't become so by providing dumbed-down info to please listeners. Rather, the premise is to break down all the myths and lies spread by all the "fitness charlatans." They deliver cold, hard facts; every episode is packed with truths, even if they are not what you want to hear.
The primary team at Mind Pump, consisting of Sal Di Stefano, Adam Schafer, Justin Andrews, and Douge Egge, is a powerhouse of knowledge. They use a round-table discussion format that allows for a natural flow of conversation. Each episode is a blend of science, study breakdown, anecdotal evidence, education, stories, and experience, all delivered with the perfect amount of humor.
Listening to a podcast is terribly easy. It feels like you're just listening to a bunch of friends if your friends were leading experts in the fitness industry.
2. Stronger By Science
If you're looking for a science-backed fitness podcast, the Stronger By Science podcast and YouTube channel is for you. The term "science-backed" has been hijacked in the fitness industry, and just about anyone who heard from a friend that heard from a friend that read an article will use it.
Well, Stronger By Science really is.
Stronger By Science, founded by Greg Nuckols, is a beacon of knowledge in the fitness world. Despite not having a PhD, Nuckols' wealth of information and ability to break down scientific research in a way the general public can understand is commendable. His Master's in Exercise Science, multiple all-time powerlifting world records, and years of experience as a fitness writer make him a trusted source of information.
He does have his Master's in Exercise Science, multiple all-time powerlifting world records in the 220lb and 242lb classes, and years of experience as a fitness writer. He has publications in T-Nation and Men's Health and serves as Chief Content Director for Juggernaut Training Systems.
The entire brand includes a website, YouTube channel, and podcast. With this much going on, a team runs Stronger By Science with Knuckols on lead. On the podcast, he's joined by Dr. Eric Trexler, Dr. Milo Wolf, and Dr. Pak Androulakis—a lot of doctors and world-class lifters.
Now, some people may find it too sciency with too much information. If you're looking for a fitness podcast that mainly tells you "what to do" rather than "why you should do it," Stronger By Science might not be for you.
3. Barbell Medicine
Barbell Medicine is an awesome podcast; we want more people to know about it! Its entire premise is to push the Exercise Is Medicine movement, an area of fitness that emphasizes using fitness to treat and prevent various conditions.
For example, it speaks on topics such as:
- Preventing cancer
- Improve bone growth
- Treat sleep apnea
- Lower blood pressure
- Treat diabetes
It is extremely interesting and informative and an absolute must for anyone looking for a different way to stay healthy from modern medicine. This makes it stand out from other fitness podcasts, so it's unique – you won't find most of their information anywhere else.
To be clear, they do not criticize modern medicine or provide sketchy information, so no worries there. Instead, everything is research-based and meant to educate the public on how essential fitness is for our health.
3. BioLayne/Dr. Layne Norton
Dr. Layne Norton has been on social media in the fitness world forever. He has a YouTube channel and a podcast, Biolayne. Dr. Layne Norton was a world-class powerlifter and pre-natural bodybuilder who is now one of the most sought-after physique coaches. In addition, he's a prominent researcher and holds a PhD in Nutritional Science, completing his thesis on the role of leucine in muscle protein synthesis.
His content tends to focus more on nutritional topics and biohacks, specifically busting myths – things like whether seed oils are harmful to you, whether eating at night causes you to get fat, and whether ice baths work. However, he does touch on bodybuilding and powerlifting topics as well.
Dr. Norton has climbed the ranks in the world of fitness social media thanks to his high levels of knowledge and practical knowledge. At the same time, he has a very charismatic personality, making this content very easy to listen to and learn useful stuff!!
4. Renaissance Periodization (RP Strength) W/ Dr. Mike Israetel
Renaissance Periodization was founded by Dr. Mike Isratel, known as Dr. Mike for short. Dr. Mike Israetel is a true fitness expert and holds a PhD in Sport Physiology. Previously, he was a professor in the School of Public Health at Temple University in Philadelphia, where he taught courses such as Nutrition for Public Health, Advanced Sports Nutrition and Exercise, and Nutrition and Behavior.
Renaissance Periodization, founded by Dr. Mike Israetel, is a comprehensive resource for fitness enthusiasts. Dr. Mike, a true fitness expert with a PhD in Sport Physiology, leads the team. Their YouTube channel and podcast, featuring Dr. Mike and Nick Shaw, cover a wide range of topics, with a focus on bodybuilding and muscle hypertrophy training. However, their content spans the entire spectrum, and their team consists of various experts.
Now, what people like about RP is Dr. Mike himself. The YouTube channel is very simplistic and contains Dr. Mike sitting at a table with a little informational window. That's it. However, Dr. Mike perfectly blends his expertise with humor and breaks down concepts so they're easily digestible. This makes content from RP Strength highly binge-worthy and a community favorite.
5. More Plates, More Dates
More Plates, More Dates (MPMD) is a unique channel that provides in-depth information on all things anabolic steroids, SARMS, TRT, and more. While we do not advocate the use of these substances, we believe it's essential to be educated properly if you have ever thought about it. MPMD is the channel to follow if you are interested or have questions about these topics.
MPMD is a bit unique as it's run by the founder, who is simply known as Derek. As far as we can tell, Derek seems to have a degree in business, with all of his fitness and steroids education being self-researched. But don't worry, he lists every piece of evidence and study in his videos. He has found himself on numerous other podcasts speaking about this stuff, including the king of podcasts, Joe Rogan!
If you are interested in or have questions about this, More Plates, More Dates is the channel to follow.
6. Buff Dudes
Buff Dudes is an OG fitness channel that dates back 12 years or so. This means they have a ton of content and currently have 757 videos. Buff Dudes is a set of brothers, Hudson and Brandon White. Similar to More Plates, More Dates, it seems like the Buff Dudes just have a ton of knowledge from all their years of training, which is sometimes the best as they know what people need.
Now, with 757 videos, you can imagine they have a ton of content. However, they tend to focus their information on bodybuilding and nutrition.
Buff Dudes is known for their light-hearted, comedic personalities as they cover various topics in their videos. The topics can include:
They cover everything. Just because it's done a bit light-hearted doesn't mean it's not bad information. Buff Dudes provides solid content in a style that suits viewers who find "fitness talk" a bit boring. Excellent content that's easily digestible, simple to understand, and highly applicable to your training makes Buff Dudes an excellent choice for those new to fitness.
7. Jeff Nippard
Jeff Nippard has one of the most popular fitness and bodybuilding YouTube channels, with 5.4 million subscribers. He's a highly successful natural bodybuilder and powerlifter with a bachelor's in biochemistry. Jeff has coached numerous elite bodybuilding competitors and presented at numerous summits and conferences.
With that said, his channel is known for being based on using science-backed research. Every video has plenty of studies to back up the information presented, so you know the information is legit. At the same time, Jeff uses his own experience to merge science with practical applications so that you can optimize your training.
We also like that he's not dogmatic about anything he presents, which is how a true science-backed fitness channel should be. If there is a negative point, some people may find some information dry, but this will not be the case if you're genuinely interested in learning and understanding deeper concepts in bodybuilding.
8. Scott Herman Fitness
We'd need to check some records, but Scott Herman might be the first fitness YouTube channel to take off. He's largely considered the original YouTube fitness OG, and you can still find his oldest videos, which go back 15 years! In addition, Scott Herman is a highly sought-after trainer, BSN athlete, influencer, and founder of MuscularStrength.com.
His library currently contains 1,800 videos, and while his output has slowed down, he still releases a couple of videos every month or so. His channel is built on the concept of; No Bro-Science, No Drama, No Click-Bait!
And this is what he delivers, for the most part. He does have some drama with Athlean-X, which he has several videos about, and is always a bit fun to get into. However, this can even educate you on some of the issues in the industry.
Anyways, Scott is an OG and paved the way for all others who came behind him, giving them a template. For that, Scott will always be one of the best fitness YouTube channels, and you should check him out.
9. Barbell Shrugged
The Barbell Shrugged podcast is your go-to source for achieving physical and mental health goals. With new episodes every week, it covers everything from gut health and macros to building resilience and optimizing sleep. The podcast explores the Science behind trending health and fitness topics and those you might not have heard about yet.
It's run by a highly qualified team and hosted by Anders Varner. Varner is a four-time CrossFit regional competitor and member of John Cena's "One Ton Club." Anders has trained with and coached high-level NFL, WWE, and CrossFit athletes.
It seems they are currently inactive, but all 1,600 videos dating back 12 years are still available on their YouTube channel or Podcast catalog.
10. Iron Culture (Omar Isuf & Eric Helms)
"Iron Culture was started by Eric Helms and Omar Isuf as a means of exploring the world of physical culture and attempting to distill a unified philosophy of lifting and to help listeners find greater meaning from the iron."
Iron Culture is a simple setup with Omar Isuf and Eric Helms chatting on various topics with various guests from time to time. Each session usually revolves around a single question or topic, such as "Do Advanced Lifters Need More Volume?" or "A Scientific Examination Of The Carnivore Diet?" This setup makes it extremely easy to scroll through the episodes to find what you want.
The primary purpose of the podcast is to talk about various topics in the fitness community that have caused division or confusion. Combining personal experience with high levels of education, each podcast attempts to explore the topic and arrive at a concussion based on Science.
If this sounds interesting, go and browse their library to see if a topic meets your needs!
11. Revive Stronger
Revive Stronger is a YouTube channel and Podcast hosted by Steve Hall and his crew. The podcast evolved after Steve's near-death experience and his subsequent recovery, hence the name. Of all things, bodybuilding motivated and pushed Steve to improve his body and health—this podcast is a conglomerate of everything he's learned along the way.
The podcast covers everything, but many cover topics such as life growth and lifestyle. For example, topics include "Finding A Hobby Outside Bodybuilding" and "The Skill Of Dieting," as well as handling a range of myths and misconceptions.
12. Mark Bell (Power Project & Super Training Gym)
Mark Bell is a bit of a legend in the strength and powerlifting world. During his 20s and 30s, Mark became a world-ranked powerlifter. He is currently ranked in the top 10 all-time powerlifters with an all-time total of 2,628 lb. His best lifts are a 1,080 lb squat, 854 lb bench press, and 766 lb deadlift.
He was also a professional wrestler and inventor of several pieces of powerlifting equipment, such as the Sling Shot, which aids in the bench press. At the same time, he owns Super Training Gym in California, where he hosts numerous guests to produce content for his YouTube channel. At the same time, he also hosts his podcast Mark Bell's Power Project with his two co-hosts, bodybuilder & grappler Nsima Inyang and producer Andrew Zaragoza.
Both channels cover various topics, but his YouTube channel focuses more on lifting and programming. On the other hand, the podcast covers a range of social and conversational topics in sports and fitness, such as;
- Genetics vs. Hard Work
- PED Side Effects
- Effect Of Blue Light
There's also plenty of myth-busting and breakdowns of various controversies in the industry.
Keep On Learning!
All of these Youtube channels and podcasts are awesome and contain a ton of legitimate information that you can apply to your fitness journey. You can choose to check them all out or just one; the most important thing is that you always keep learning. Your fitness journey is long, and constantly replenishing your brain with the newest information will ensure you can optimize your training and time in the gym!
Garett Reid
Author