30. JOELLE EMERY "Beyond Personal Records"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
Release Date: 08/29/2025
48. NOORIN GULAM "Consistency is Momentum"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
The girls chat with our very first International (living and competng) athlete, Noorin Gulam, who has an infectious positivity and determination that you will want to try to adapt. Nooring talks about her journey in weightlifting and emphasizes the significance of self-reflection and mental resilience in sports, as well as her passion for coaching and empowering others, particularly South Asian women in weightlifting. Follow Noorin on Instagram and find all of her support links Grab a 2G1B shirt/sweatshirt or an "I am a woman in strength sports" shirt. Apply for the 2G1B Arnold...
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47. MADISON MACKAY "Weightlifting is Fun"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
The girls chat with Madison Mackay and talk about her journey into weightlifting, her coaching philosophy, and the importance of community in sports. They explore the balance between Madison's law career and her coaching responsibilities, the growth of Clintonville Barbell, and the significance of female coaches in the weightlifting community. She emphasizes the importance of problem-solving, adaptability, and creating a safe environment for athletes. FOLLOW MADISON ON IG FOLLOW CLINTONVILLE ON IG FOLLOW OSU WL ON IG Follow the podcast on Instagram: Follow Mandi on...
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46. 2026
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
The first episode of 2026. We're literally not giving you anything else...just listen lol. We're officially back from our winter break. Follow the podcast on Instagram: Follow Mandi on Instagram: Follow Wanda on Instagram:
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45. "CHAOS: The Last Pod of 2025"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
This episode is just the girls and it is CHAOS, but we just want to say THANK YOU. Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. Thank you for believing in women in strengh sports. Follow the podcast on Instagram: Follow Mandi on Instagram: Follow Wanda on Instagram:
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44. ALEXA MINA "I Will Succeed"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
In our final guest episode of 2025, we’re joined by Alexa Mina, Olympic weightlifter for Team Lebanon and the owner of Cedars Nutrition. Alexa shares her journey from competitive cheerleading to international weightlifting, what it’s really like representing a country you didn’t grow up in, and how she worked through identity, imposter syndrome, and language barriers along the way. We also talk about her elbow injury and long recovery, competing at major games events like ISG, and the very real sacrifices that come with international sport. On top of that, Alexa dives into building...
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43. KELLY BENFEY "Onward and Upward"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
In this episode of the Two Girls One Bar podcast, the girls are joined by Kelly Benfey who shares her journey from being a competitive athlete in gymnastics and CrossFit to becoming a physical therapist and co-owner of Onward Physical Therapy in Milwaukee. She discusses her recent experience with Hyrox, the importance of community in fitness, and how to overcome barriers in competitions. Kelly emphasizes the need for a fitness-focused approach in physical therapy, integrating her athletic background into her practice. Links & Resources Follow the podcast on Instagram: ...
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42. CLAIR CRAWFORD "Lift or Die"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
In this episode of the 2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast, Mandi and Wanda are joined by Clair Crawford - mom, horse girl, powerlifter, all-around amazing woman. Clair has GRIT and also so many stories about powerlifting and her path to competing at an elite level. You are going to want to be her best friend and also go smash weights at the gym. (You've been warned.) Links & Resources Follow the podcast on Instagram: Follow Mandi on Instagram: Follow Wanda on Instagram:
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41. TAYLOR LUCAS "Ridiculously Stonger"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
In this episode, the girls are joined by Taylor Lucas who shares her journey as a registered dietitian and Olympic weightlifter. She discusses her transition from CrossFit to weightlifting, the importance of nutrition and mindset for athletes, and her experiences with injury (yeah, that big one you remember) and recovery. She also talks about her new business venture, Elevare, which focuses on creating unique weightlifting singlets. Throughout the conversation, she emphasizes the significance of community support and the challenges of balancing athletic performance with nutrition. ...
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40. BONUS: MATT SICCHIO
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
In this special bonus episode, Mandi and Wanda sit down with Matt Sicchio, the President & CEO of USA Weightlifting, for a wide-ranging conversation about the inner workings of the NGB, the growth of women in weightlifting, the volunteer engine that keeps the sport alive, and Matt’s own late-in-life journey into weightlifting as a masters athlete. Links & Resources • Women’s Coaching Collective • Coaching Course Scholarships (Level 1 & Level 2) • WeCoach Partnership • Volunteer Opportunities & Committees • Membership & Support Reach USAW anytime at: ...
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39. ALYSSA AGES "Find the Heart"
2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda
This week Mandi and Wanda chat with athlete, journalist and author Alyssa Ages. Alyssa shares how lifting got her through phases of change and growth and how her writing and training worlds collide. She opens up about competing in strongwoman events, balancing a freelance writing career, and writing for major publications while staying true to her strengths. They talk about how strength training helped shape her identity, the physical and mental shifts that come with intense training, and what it’s like being a woman in strength sports and in media. Alyssa also shares her take on the...
info_outlineIn this episode of the 2 Girls 1 Bar podcast, Mandi and Wanda are joined by Joelle Emery - athlete, coach, dog mom, and so much more. Joelle shares her path to discovering weightlifting through CrossFit and why she chose to focus solely on weightlifting. They discuss the importance of redefining success in competition, the challenges faced by athletes, and the joy of coaching kids in weightlifting. Joelle emphasizes the significance of creating a supportive environment for young athletes and shares insights on addressing safety concerns with parents.
Follow Joelle on Instagram
Listen to Joelle's lifting playlist
Resources from Joelle on lifting for youth
Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod
Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco
Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!
Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda