Bodybuilding Legends Show

Rick Valente - My Life's Ride

Rick Valente is the guest on this episode of the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast. Rick is the author of his new book, My Life's Ride, and he talks about his life journey from growing up in Conneticut, moving to Florida and then finally relocating to Southern California. Rick also talks about training at Gold's Gym during the Golden Age of Bodybuilding and all the famous and influential people he met during this period of his life. At the end of the interview, host John Hansen reads the article "Rick Valente: Between Myth and Reality" written by Rick Wayne for the October, 1984 issue of Flex Magazine. Links: John Hansen Fitness Programs [https://www.johnhansenfitness.com/programs/] Rick Valente book on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/My-Lifes-Ride-Rick-Valente/dp/1962693236/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2BO9WWCJLNE3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yy_EC7u0tCI2RE2sJAhmwOq9zf4moHhhdW_bw3_weER_ONBFUGX2V1XfsvOX11BPrGkCaD5_gPqmx44oJp2AyVWttDUf38KeDgaPkPRZvkHKMBBHIKNQYLUl3d9r7i25uS8t_hAvFwXkDaSTlzvtpbtZvRNjuhfzvtsPlUdBpyhW0na_wgSpLltNKeTa8X_LzZQ_zo8jl98aVRtdNv5tVrMwJSM27XcQ5JUohs712AM.URwSEiQKaLuHEZm0VQVIKoegHQQsY50aVnh19Re5DtE&dib_tag=se&keywords=rick+valente+book&qid=1762303578&sprefix=%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1] Become a Patreon Member [https://www.patreon.com/c/johnhansen?alert=2] Bodybuilding Legends website [https://www.bodybuildinglegendsshow.com/]

Bob Birdsong

Bob Birdsong, 1974 IFBB Mr. America winner, is the guest on this episode of the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast. Bob was one of the best bodybuilders during the Golden Age and he trained at the original Gold's Gym in the early 1970's alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Franco Columbu and Kent Kuehn. Bob made a comeback to competition in the early 1980's and placed very high in the IFBB professional competitions. Bob talks about how he started bodybuilding, competing in the AAU Mr. America in the early 1970's, switching over to the IFBB in the mid-1970's and competing against Lou Ferrigno, Sergio Oliva and others. At the end of the podcast, host John Hansen reads the article "Bob Birdsong's Pilgrimage to Mr. America" written by Armand Tanny from the June, 1975 issue of Muscle Builder/Power magazine. Time Stamps: 3:00 - Emails to the Podcast 11:24 - Start of interview with Bob Birdsong 12:00 - When Bob started bodybuilding 18:37 - Bob's early competitions 22:50 - Moving to California 24:00 - Training at the original Gold's Gym 31:00 - Competing in the IFBB 36:00 - Taking a different path 45:15 - The 1974 contest season 47:35 - Returning to competition 53:00 - Steroids in the Golden Age 1:08:15 - John Hansen reads the article "Bob Birdsong's Pilgrimage to Mr. America" written by Armand Tanny from the June, 1975 issue of Muscle Builder/Power magazine. Links: Become a Patreon Member [https://www.patreon.com/c/johnhansen/membership] John Hansen's Online Workout Diet Programs [https://www.johnhansenfitness.com/programs/] Bodybuilding Legends website [https://www.bodybuildinglegendsshow.com/] Bodybuilding Legends YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@bodybuildinglegendsshow1459] Bodybuilding Legends on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bodybuildinglegendsshow/]

John Little, author of Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus, Part Two

On this episode of the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast, author John Little talks about his new book Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus. In Part Two of his interview, John talks about Mike Mentzer's physique progress in regards to his genetics vs his Heavy Duty training style. John also talks about Mike's challenge of competing in the Frank Zane era, his weight for the 1980 Olympia Time Stamps: 2:23 - Emails to the Podcast 7:20 - Start of interview with John Little 12:00 - Mike Mentzer's Challenge of competing in the Zane Era 16:50 - Mike's weight for the 1980 Olympia 22:00 - 1980 Olympia coverage in the book 31:20 - Was Kal Szkalak the heir apparent to Arnold? 35:40 - Joe Weider vs Arthur Jones 39:37 - The lawsuit between Arnold and Joe Weider 44:00 - What if Arnold had guest posed at the 1980 Olympia? 50:35 - Host John Hansen reads the article "Rest Pause Training" written by Mike Mentzer from the June, 1979 issue of Muscle Builder Magazine. Links: Become a Patreon Member [https://www.patreon.com/c/johnhansen/membership] John Hansen Training and Nutrition Programs [https://www.johnhansenfitness.com/] Bodybuilding Legends Website [https://www.bodybuildinglegendsshow.com/] John's YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@naturalolympia]

John Little, author of Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus, Part One

On this episode of the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast, author John Little talks about his new book Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus. In Part One of his interview, John talks about the reason he wanted to write a biography about his friend Mike Mentzer to fully explain his life and tragic ending. John also talks about Mike's early years in Bodybuilding including training as a teenager, his shoulder injury that almost ended his career and his many variations of the Heavy Duty system that he created from Arthur Jone's initial teachings. At the end of the podcast, host John Hansen reads the article "High Sets, Low Sets" which is an interview with Mike Mentzer conducted by writer Rick Wayne for the January, 1978 issue of Muscle Builder magazine. Time Stamps: 4:20 - John's Competitions this year 8:15 - Start of interview with John Little 11:00 - The decline of Mike Mentzer 12:30 - The current popularity of Mentzer 19:40 - Going against the grain 25:00 - Why John wrote this book 30:30 - Mike Mentzer's destiny to be a bodybuilder 37:00 - Mike Mentzer's shoulder injury 44:15 - Mike's need for knowledge 46:50 - Why Mike didn't train after he stopped competing 49:35 - John reads the article "High Sets, Low Sets" written by Rick Wayne for the January, 1978 issue of Muscle Builder magazine. Links: John's Online Training and Nutrition Programs [https://www.johnhansenfitness.com/programs/] Become a Bodybuilding Legends Member [https://www.patreon.com/c/johnhansen/membership] Bodybuilding Legends website [https://www.bodybuildinglegendsshow.com/] John's YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@naturalolympia] Mike Mentzer: American Odysseus on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Mike-Mentzer-American-John-Little/dp/1770417842/ref=sr_1_6?crid=2F637GBOX7SVV&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GVjkvnPHGX97ZvWMvTOpo6MUegGZ5FzXgdCGoDKQki8vlakSU7gKiR16uzkKJUGr-_Dh6arKwEvdEaOD_B-0KyQSRQu3H6KyHBNyy0fi8q3AMnX5E0AHD-Sc-Ihr-CqnzKqi2dgtgSSGEo7pvhXXazGru_nYuGOwLsS3XeSAniFNHiU4pLH4vJFeUhPKhH4WdW8GYMg4TjCGzGslqDTh_E_eoL-mxY46v1rSeS6dBnU.nQ9AqhfO8xFt8OICuR9440Iv2nYP9skicm5vkX0G0Hc&dib_tag=se&keywords=mike+mentzer+book&qid=1755796718&sprefix=mike+mentz%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-6]

Mike Sapp, Arnold's Training Partner in 1980

Mike Sapp, who trained with Arnold Schwarzenegger during the summer of 1980 right before the Mr. Olympia contest, is the guest on this episode of the Bodybuilding Legends Podcast. Mike talks about when he started training, his time working out at Gold's Gym in the late 1970's and, of course, his time training with Arnold during the summer of 1980. At the end of the podcast, host John Hansen reads the article "My Olympia Comeback" written by Arnold Schwarzenegger for the February, 1981 issue of Muscle & Fitness Magazine. Time Stamps: 1:40 - John's Contest Prep 5:20 - Upcoming interviews for the Podcast 6:35 - Emails to the Podcast 9:05 - Contest Prep Video Series 9:54 - Interview with Mike Sapp 12:00 - Meeting Bill Pearl 16:30 - Training at Gold's Gym in the '70's 30:15 - Meeting Arnold 42:45 - Training at World's Gym in 1980 47:15 - Mike's collection of gym shirts 49:45 - Vince's Gym 51:30 - Breakfast with Arnold 57:50 - Working out with Reg Park 1:00:35 - Going to the first Arnold Classic 1:35:00 - John reads the article "My Olympia Comeback" written by Arnold Schwarzenegger for the February, 1981 issue of Muscle & Fitness magazine. Links: Become a Patreon Member [https://www.patreon.com/johnhansen?alert=2] John Hansen Workout and Diet Programs [https://www.johnhansenfitness.com/programs/] John's YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@naturalolympia] Bodybuilding Legends website [https://www.bodybuildinglegendsshow.com/]