Iron Culture presented by MASS Podcast By Eric Helms & Eric Trexler cover art

Iron Culture presented by MASS

Iron Culture presented by MASS

By: Eric Helms & Eric Trexler
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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. It's now hosted by Eric Helms and Eric Trexler, who repeatedly beg Omar to return as a guest. Iron Culture focuses on dispensing practical, useful information to the listener, bouncing from history, to philosophy, to contemporary lifting culture issues, to science. The format includes casual conversations between the two hosts on a variety of topics, discussions with a panel of experts and interviews with authoritative figures in the lifting community. Iron Culture is proudly presented by the MASS Research Review.(c) 2024 Eric Helms Hygiene & Healthy Living
Episodes
  • Ep 371 - Popular Pseudoscience
    Apr 1 2026

    In this episode, Eric Trexler and Eric Helms delve into the complexities of scientific research integrity, recent controversies in nutrition studies, and debunk common myths in health and fitness. They emphasize the importance of transparency, ethics, and critical thinking in science and everyday beliefs. In this episode, Eric Helms and Eric Trexler debunk popular myths in psychology, medicine, and animal behavior, exploring the science behind Stockholm syndrome, the hungry judge effect, stress ulcers, sugar hyperactivity, and the Stanford Prison Experiment. They emphasize critical thinking and scientific rigor in understanding complex topics.

    If you're in the market for some new lifting gear or apparel, be sure to use code "MRR10" at elitefts.com for a 10% discount

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction
    03:23 Update on LDL Research Controversy
    14:30 "Ethics" in the Research Context
    26:45 Conspiratorial thinking and communication in science/research
    29:45 Pop Science Myths and Misconceptions
    39:25 Debunking Learning Styles
    48:17 Debunking Stockholm Syndrome
    1:02:04 Debunking the "Hungry Judges Study"
    1:07:53 Stress Ulcers: The Complex Truth Behind a Common Belief
    01:13:42 Debunking the "Sugar Rush" Myth
    01:25:23 Other Popular Myths and Misconceptions

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    1 hr and 41 mins
  • Ep 370 - Calories: Labels vs Reality
    Mar 25 2026

    In this episode, Eric Helms and Eric Trexler explore the complexities of food labeling, energy absorption, and the impact of food choices on energy balance. They discuss a recent lawsuit against David protein bars, delve into scientific research on metabolizable energy, and practical strategies for dieting and food selection.

    If you're in the market for some new lifting gear or apparel, be sure to use code "MRR10" at elitefts.com for a 10% discount

    Chapters
    00:00 Introduction and Updates
    08:16 The David Protein Bar Lawsuit
    21:43 Labeling Complications and Nutritional Misunderstandings
    25:25 The Impact of TEF, Fiber, and Resistant Starches
    34:00 The Impact of the Specific Food Matrix
    37:22 More Research on Dietary Intake Versus Absorption
    40:06 Nuances Behind Calories In vs Calories Out
    47:00 Tracking Variable Foods Versus Keeping Food Choices Consistent (IIFYM/Flexible Dieting Implications)
    57:06 The Case for "Eating Clean" Within a Flexible Dieting Framework

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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Ep 369 - New Controversy in LDL Research
    Mar 18 2026

    Editorial note:
    We recorded this episode on March 4. This is an important detail for contextualizing the timeline of events discussed in this episode, as well as our understanding of the matter at the time of recording.
    Since we recorded this episode, the paper discussed has been officially retracted. We will provide additional updates on this story as they become available.

    Episode summary:
    Join Eric Trexler and Eric Helms as they dissect the chaotic rollout of a controversial study on LDL cholesterol and lean mass hyper responders, explore issues in science communication, and debate the integrity of research in the age of social media.

    If you're in the market for some new lifting gear or apparel, be sure to use code "MRR10" at elitefts.com for a 10% discount

    Chapters
    00:00 Intro
    09:18 Social media dust-up
    17:27 Revisiting the "Lean Mass Hyper Responder Study"
    23:25 New controversy surrounding the study
    33:14 Investigations regarding data integrity
    41:43 Historical Context: NUSI and Its Implications
    50:55 Steelmanning the argument
    55:22 Potential issues with the "citizen science" movement
    01:01:50 The death of expertise and the future of science communication

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    1 hr and 19 mins
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