# 16 James “Shed” Hollingshead: The Cost of Modern Bodybuilding

# 16 James “Shed” Hollingshead: The Cost of Modern Bodybuilding

James “The Shed” Hollingshead joins the podcast for a conversation on bodybuilding, identity, authenticity, and the pressure of trying to stay true to yourself in a world that constantly rewards the opposite. A British IFBB Pro Men’s Open bodybuilder, James earned his pro card in 2017, went on to win major pro shows including the 2020 Europa Pro and 2022 Tsunami Cup, and has competed on both the Olympia and Arnold stages. From redefining your why in bodybuilding, to the effect social media has had on the culture, to fatherhood, grief, purpose, and the internal battle between contentment and ambition, this is a conversation with real depth. We discuss: - How your why for bodybuilding changes over time - Why “fuck you” energy can get you started but won’t sustain you - Bodybuilding as art and self-expression - Whether bodybuilding improves your life or exposes what is already off - Why not everyone who trains should compete - Cheap dopamine, overstimulation, and modern life - Social media, marketing, and the loss of authenticity in bodybuilding - The pressure of building an income around your online presence - Fatherhood, health awareness, and how having a daughter changed James’ perspective - Grief, premature loss, and how bodybuilding has been tied to every emotion in life - Why he nearly stepped away from the sport - The value of in-person coaching at the highest level - Why more condition is not always a better bodybuilding look - Top 5 games, storytelling, and how profit has cheapened art across every industry - Protecting your energy and staying grounded in reality

#15 Hannah Mitchell- All my health issues would be fixed with assistance

OCB Pro and posing coach Hannah Mitchell joins the podcast for a conversation on resilience, identity, and building something from the ground up in and beyond bodybuilding. From starting with nothing and working three jobs alongside university to build financial security, to being diagnosed with autism, to growing her posing coaching into what it is today, this is a conversation about depth, self-belief, and becoming who you actually are. We discuss: - Starting from nothing - Working 3 jobs alongside university to create financial security - Hannah’s autism diagnosis - The depth behind just being a positive person - Why being happy go lucky gets mistaken for being unserious - Dealing with negativity in the industry - How Hannah built her posing coaching to where it is today - How her relationship with Nat changed and allowed her to become more herself - Whether Hannah would ever become assisted - Navigating bodybuilding while staying true to yourself And much more.

#14 Dean White- I want to win the 212 Olympia

Olympia 212 competitor Dean White joins the podcast to break down the mindset behind his rise, setback, and return to the biggest stage in bodybuilding. From winning his IFBB Pro card and Mr Universe, to competing at the Olympia while building a gym, to rebuilding his body after spinal fusion surgery, this is a conversation about resilience, risk, and what it actually takes to compete at the highest level. We discuss: - The spinal fusion that forced Dean out of competing - A car crash that reset his recovery - Winning Mr Universe and earning his IFBB Pro card - Competing at the Olympia while building Falcon Gym - Bodybuilding with one kidney - Planning a return to the Olympia stage - Would he ever move to the Open class? - Dean’s approach to PEDs - Training with bodybuilding legends leading into the O - The true margin for error at the Olympia - Bodybuilding in America vs the UK And much more.

#13 Dan McNab - Remain Hardcore

Mr Universe winner Dan McNab, known as Big Pale Nasty, joins the podcast to unpack the mindset that built his physique and reputation. From intensity in the gym to the discipline outside it, this is a conversation about what it really takes to win. We discuss: - How PED usage has changed - What's wrong with modern day bodybuilding - Why losing is important - What people get wrong about low volume -Social media and much much more

#12 Wade Smith - How to make a passion a living

From a kitchen-table side hustle to a multi-million-pound brand, Wade Smith shares the story of how Doughnotts became one of the UK’s leading doughnut businesses.   We discuss: - How it started vs how it's going - Mistakes people make in business - Scaling down to scale upwards - Bodybuilding and much much more