Tag: Talking Huge
Talking Huge With Craig Golias: Will Ronnie Coleman Ever Stop Training?
[embedded content]
Craig Golias reacts to Ronnie Coleman’s latest training video and muses over whether or not he will ever stop training in his life.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias reacts to the recent deaths in bodybuilding, Big Ramy vs Larry Wheels armwrestling, and Ronnie Coleman’s latest training video update.
Unfortunately, there were reports of three bodybuilding deaths since the last time we recorded Talking Huge. So we start off this episode on a somber note to reflect on those we lost and to get Craig Golias’ reaction. After that we jump into more viral topics such as Big Ramy’s recent arm wrestling match against Larry Wheels. Was it legit or just a staged video for fun? We also talk about Blessing Awodibu working with George Farah. And we cover the recent viral video of Ronnie Coleman training. It’s a jam packed episode so let’s jump right into it.
Blessing Awodibu teams up with George Farah
George Farah is considered by most to be a legendary guru and coach in the sport – including Craig Golias. He has had his hands behind many champion bodybuilders. In his more recent years, he also updated his coaching style to focus more on longevity and health. His argument is that he can still help build massive bodybuilding champions without taking some of the more modern risks that we see in today’s bodybuilders.
Blessing Awodibu is a bodybuilder who has a lot of hype and potential behind him – but ultimately fell a bit short when he finally appeared at the New York Pro 2021. He’s now taking a short break to focus on building up better and coming back to the stage with a vengeance. It seems that George Farah is a part of that plan.
Craig Golias sees this as nothing but a very good thing for the rising star. Blessing Awodibu can see some major improvements with the help of a legend like George Farah. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up the next time he competes.
Ronnie Coleman’s latest training video – will he ever stop?
Ronnie Coleman made waves this past week by posting a new training video showcasing some seemingly increased gains. This is, in some ways, surprising due to not only his age but also the many injuries and issues he suffers in his back and hips. Which begs the question – will a legend like Ronnie ever stop training?
Craig Golias reacts to this idea. Can someone as in love with lifting ever hang up the towel for good? Will we ever see legends such as Jay Cutler, Ronnie Coleman or Dorian Yates stop training completely? Craig believes that it’s too deep in their DNA to ever fully stop. Of course many of these athletes have trimmed down – but they don’t pull away from the gym completely.
Craig Golias himself can’t imagine ever fully stopping. Having dealt with his recent injury over the past year or so – he’s had to pull back. But he can’t imagine ever pumping the breaks completely.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. Watch Craig go into full detail about additional topics such as Big Ramy vs Larry Wheels and the recent deaths in bodybuilding this past week plus more! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias: Are Big Name Bodybuilders Cheating Clients With Their Coaching Plans?
[embedded content]
Craig Golias reacts to famous bodybuilders hiring staff to create coaching plans for clients.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias shares his thoughts on bodybuilding coaching plans, Aaron Singerman’s sentencing, and Mark Wahlberg’s recent physique update at 50 years old.
This was another news-packed week in the world of bodybuilding and strength sports. So we broke down the top news stories with Craig Golias to get his thoughts, reactions, and insight on the most engaging moments in bodybuilding this past week. Our key topics discussed cover Aaron Singerman’s 4.5 year prison sentence and whether he will serve a full sentence. Craig also provides insight as a fellow bodybuilding coach about top tier coaching plans. Is it okay for a big name bodybuilder to hire staff to help write their plans and coach clients? Lastly, Craig reacts to Mark Wahlberg’s recent physique transformation. Let’s jump into it.
Aaron Singerman’s Prison Sentence
It was announced over the past week that Aaron Singerman was finally sentenced after a long legal battle regarding his previously owned company Blackstone Labs. He ultimately plead guilty for conspiracy to sell anabolic steroids and other banned substances in his Blackstone Labs products – as well as promoting misinformation on said projects.
Craig Golias holds a pretty stern stance here. Do things the right way and you won’t have to worry about getting caught. Craig doesn’t understand why Aaron Singerman and Blackstone Labs felt the need to include banned substances in their products. Would it really lead to that many more sales?
How legitimate are famous bodybuilder coaching plans?
This week’s biggest topic covers the concept of bodybuilding training plans. Is it fair for a big name bodybuilder or coach to hire a team to help guide clients? If a training plan is promoted as directly from the mind of a famous coach or athlete? Is the client getting cheated if the person messaging them is actually a staff member and not the legend himself?
Craig Golias initially thinks that this is a cheat. That bodybuilders and coaches should always directly train their clients. Blanket training plans don’t account for the individual needs of a client. A major bodybuilding legend or guru should understand this. If they take a clients money only to have a staff member give a cookie cutter plan (perhaps overseen by the legend), it’s not the same thing as direct coaching.
That being said, Craig Golias warns that you get what you pay for. If you are paying lower towards $100 for coaching, you’ll probably get a bad training plan. There are no bargain coaches that are truly worth paying for. Invest in good coaching and you’ll get a good experience.
But what about famous bodybuilders who receive likely thousands of requests? How do they upscale to successfully train a larger clientele? Craig Golias considers this and starts to backtrack slightly. Perhaps there is a fair way to hire staff to help so long as the bodybuild or guru is also very hands on. But ultimately, if a person simply uses their name to sell a program made by others – it’s a scam.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. Watch Craig go into full detail about additional topics such as Mark Wahlberg’s latest physique and answer fan questions. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge: Craig Golias Reacts To Hulk Hogan’s Physique At 68 Years Old
[embedded content]
Craig Golias talks Hulk Hogan’s recent physique update, Flex Lewis’ Olympia qualification status, and leg training in modern bodybuilding.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias decides whether or not Hulk Hogan is still jacked or not and weighs in on the Flex Lewis Olympia qualification controversy.
This week, we dive head first into three of the most engaging stories published on Generation Iron over the past week. The three topics discussed are Flex Lewis’ qualification status for Olympia 2022, Milos Sarcev’s recent comments on leg training in modern bodybuilding, and Hulk Hogan’s latest physique update at 68 years old and the comments that followed. Let’s jump into it!
Hulk Hogan’s Physique at 68 Years Old – Is He Jacked Or Not?
Hulk Hogan posted recently on Instagram showcasing a front double bicep pose at 68 years old. The image caught attention across the mainstream web for his impressive physique at an older age. When shared via Generation Iron and other bodybuilding news outlets – the bodybuilding community criticized his physique. Claiming that he was not really very jacked at all.
Craig Golias looks over the image and weighs in with his thoughts. He’s shocked how harsh the bodybuilding fans were – claiming that holding that level of muscle at 68 years old is extremely impressive. In fact, Golias believes that the internet will always find ways to criticize and spread negativity. In fact, odds are it’s a small but loud minority that pushes the narrative.
Hulk Hogan may not look like a Men’s Open bodybuilder that the fans are used to seeing – but even many former bodybuilding legends are smaller than Hogan appears in his recent post. Craig Golias is willing to call a spade a spade. And in his mind, Hulk Hogan looks impressive for his age.
Should Flex Lewis Get Automatic Qualification To Mr. Olympia 2022?
Dan Soloman made headlines this week by posting an Instagram story that seemed to claim Flex Lewis is only qualified for Men’s 212 Olympia this year. This seemed to imply that Flex would have to qualify this year to get into the Men’s Open competition. The internet went into a frenzy – claiming that he deserved a special invite. Soloman back tracked the next day – stating that it is only January and that special invites have not been decided yet.
Craig Golias believes the entire situation is a mess. To Craig, it’s clear that a legend like Flex Lewis should have automatic Olympia qualification for any division he wants to compete in. If in fact he will receive a special invite – the misleading statement made as of now drummed up controversy for no reason.
Do Bodybuilders Today Not Train Legs Hard Enough?
Craig Golias also weighed in on Milos Sarcev’s recent statements in our GI Exclusive interview. Sarcev stated that today’s bodybuilders have weak legs – and there is no excuse for it. In fact, Sarcev believes training legs is easy but modern bodybuilders simply don’t want to train them as hard.
Craig isn’t quite sure about this statement. He thinks this all comes down to genetics. Sarcev’s belief that training legs is easy probably comes from the luck he had with genetics. For others on the Olympia stage – they most likely train just as hard but their genetics make it harder to build those muscle groups up.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. Watch Craig go into full detail about Hulk Hogan, Flex Lewis, Milos Sarcev and also watch Craig answer some fan questions. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 24: Should Bodybuilders Downsize After Retirement?
[embedded content]
Craig Golias, a man who loves being HUGE, muses about downsizing after retirement.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias reacts to Kai Greene’s possible downsizing and shares his thoughts on bodybuilder physiques post-retirement.
It’s been a while since we’ve been able to reconnect with Craig Golias, but he’s back and better than ever in a new episode of Talking Huge. After relaxing with some holiday and new years celebration – Craig is ready for some big changes in 2022. He’s already teased a new sponsorship and he briefly talks with us about getting a brand new custom car.
But the big topic we cover this week is the concept of downsizing in bodybuilding. More specifically, downsizing after retirement. Kai Greene recently made headlines as fans started to speculate that he was finally downsizing. Kai has not competed since 2016. But for many years after his unofficial retirement, Kai always maintained a massive and shredded physique.
Due to maintaining this size, nearly every single year since his retirement fans have speculated that he would make a surprise return. This has yet to happen. Now in recent video posts on his social media, fans are noticing that he looks slightly smaller. Is he actually downsizing? Or does he simply look “off” right now? We don’t really know at the moment – but as time passes we will certainly see.
Regardless of Kai Greene’s current status, downsizing after retirement is somewhat common. But it’s also somewhat controversial among fans. Even if a bodybuilding icon no longer competes – his or her physique is the biggest selling point to their brand. Some feel the need to maintain a massive physique to keep that brand sharp. Others simply love training so much that they refuse to downsize despite no longer competing.
On the other end, legends like Dorian Yates, Lee Haney, and Jay Cutler (to name a few) all noticeably downsized after retirement. Dorian has been extremely open on how downsizing is necessary for a healthy life post bodybuilding. Jay has also spoken out about how he disliked his massive size to win Olympia. He still carries big muscle, but nowhere near as big as his prime.
Craig Golias is a man who loves being huge above all else. He barely ever competed but has kept his weight near or above 300 pounds for majority of his adult life. More than a brand, being huge is a way of life for Craig. So what does he think about downsizing later in life?
Surprisingly, Craig Golias has actually slowed down his own growth in recent years. This is largely due to the nerve damage he suffers in his shoulder/arm area. But he has also become more responsible about his health. He’s not sure if this is just a temporary break before getting truly huge again – or perhaps the beginning of a new way of life.
But he’s not quite sure if he would downsize to the level of someone like Dorian Yates. He admits to having bigorexia, and will likely never be able to settle with a skinnier physique. However, he understands why some bodybuilders would choose to downsize. Its a personal choice, and health is a big factor in that choice. While fans might become disappointed, we must all also accept that nothing stays the same forever. And thankfully, there will always be new mass monsters rising in the ranks to fill the void left behind.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. Watch Craig go into full detail about downsizing, comment on Tony Huge’s recent health scare, and more. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge | EP 23: The Iranian Hulk Gets Mad At Craig Golias & Generation Iron
[embedded content]
The Iranian Hulk reacts to Craig Golias’ statements from our previous episode. Now Craig responds back.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias follows up on his comments about the Iranian Hulk – who took offense to Craig’s statements. Craig also makes his picks for the best bodybuilders in different categories of 2021.
Last week on Talking Huge, Craig Golias shared his thoughts on the upcoming boxing match between the Iranian Hulk and Martyn Ford. Specifically, Craig stated that he believes the Iranian Hulk’s physique is photoshopped. His waist, in particular, appears to be too narrow for such a massive hulking frame. Craig assumed that by the time we see him in the boxing ring – we would get a better idea of his physique. Knowing this, Craig also seems confident that the boxing match will never happen and be cancelled last minute.
The Iranian Hulk saw Craig Golias’ comments and took offense to this – claiming he was being harassed on the Talking Huge podcast. Is a beef forming between Craig Golias and Iranian Hulk? Golias doesn’t seem to want to engage too far into the argument. Upon hearing about the Iranian Hulk’s offense – Craig had this to say on the matter.
“We didn’t harass him. He needs to relax… I wasn’t harassing him. I don’t harass anybody bro. I’m one of the most chill guys out there… I don’t know man, does he want to fight me? Because I’m a lover not a fighter.”
Vlad Yudin also agreed, stating that they were just having some fun and he was surprised that of all people to get offended by Craig Golias and Generation Iron – he never thought it would be the Iranian Hulk.
Craig Golias then doubled down on his original statement, saying that he still thinks that the boxing match will get cancelled last minute. With a date in April 2022 approaching fast – we’ll soon find out.
Craig Golias’ Picks For Best Bodybuilders Of 2021
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin also discuss the ongoing Bodybuilding Awards 2021 that is running currently via Generation Iron. The awards are an opportunity for the fans to vote on the best athletes across 15 different categories. Vlad runs by a few of the highlight categories and nominees past Craig to see what his vote would be.
Below are Craig Golias’ picks for the best bodybuilders across different criteria:
Best Back: Akim Williams
Best Arms: Tie between Brandon Curry, Nick Walker, and Michal Krizo
Best Guru: Tie between Dennis James and Milos Sarcev
Best Up-And-Comer: Nick Walker
Best Legs: Tie between Derek Lunsford, Nick Walker, and Big Ramy
Best Male Athlete: Chris Bumstead
Women’s Bodybuilding And Popularity Of Different Divisions
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin also touch upon the topic of the growing divisions in the IFBB and NPC. Not only has the Wellness division officially entered the Olympia weekend – but Women’s Bodybuilding has also been making a comeback over the past few years. Craig discusses how the division should never have been abandoned – and how femininity should never come into the equation when discussing caliber of physiques in judging.
Craig also shares his thoughts on which division is most popular. Could Men’s Open ever be overtaken as the number one highlight of the sport? Craig is absolutely confident that Men’s Open will remain number one and thinks that the talk of Classic Physique overtaking it will never happen.
He does acknowledge that some divisions are more popular in terms of registered athletes. Classic Physique, Men’s Physique, and Bikini all have a very large number of registered competitors – especially in the amateur division. But when it comes to the audience, Craig remains steadfast that Men’s Open will remain supreme.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. Watch Craig go into full detail about the Iranian Hulk, best bodybuilders of the year, Women’s Bodybuilding, and more. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 22: How To Get Rich In Bodybuilding & Social Media
[embedded content]
Craig Golias goes in-depth about how to make money as a bodybuilding influencer.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias goes into great detail about how he found financial success as a bodybuilding influencer. He also shares key tips for aspiring bodybuilders on how to make a living using social media.
Craig Golias is known for being HUGE but he’s not a competitive bodybuilder. While he did compete for a brief stint earlier in his life, Craig’s success now comes through his own brand and sponsorships. This is a far cry from what was possible in bodybuilding just a few decades ago. Social media has allowed individuals to build their own businesses using their own platform.
But this is easier said than done. In order to make enough money for a living, you need to have a loyal and large fan base. This is where the work comes in. Becoming a successful social media influencer is a skill unto itself. With millions of people wanting to get insta famous – what are the key tactics for standing out among the crowd?
For Craig Golias, he focused on getting as huge as possible. He then fused that with his sense of humor to make a name for himself. But the road to success took time – and he admits it has only been over the past 2-3 years that he started truly living solely off of his own brand alone. Now through that experience – Craig opens up about the do’s and don’ts of becoming a successful (and lucrative) bodybuilding influencer. Let’s jump into it.
Always Build A Loyal Following First
Craig Golias stresses the importance on building an organic and loyal following first before selling anything via your own channels. The reason people enjoy using social media is to feel as though they are getting to know the personal life of a larger than life figure. For Craig, not only did he post pictures of his massive physique – but he showed his personality and his personal life. By doing so – the fans who may have only stopped first to see his unrealistically massive body stuck around because they felt a connection to his character.
Over time, this not only helps build followers in general. It also helps build loyal and dedicated followers. These are people who genuinely enjoy your content and feel a connection to your personality. Once that kind of loyalty is built among enough people – then you can start building your brand with sponsorships or selling directly to your fanbase.
Make Sure Your Sponsorships & Products Fit Your Brand
Once you have a loyal following – it’s important to respect that following with what you are selling. If it appears obvious you are just shoving random products down their throats, people will start unfollowing. Ensure that you believe in what you are sponsoring. Or if you are selling a direct product of your own – make it true to yourself and part of how you want to connect to the audience rather than a cold promo.
For example, Craig Golias over time built a catchphrase “SAAAP!” that he would use in many of his videos. This was just an organic part of his personality that caught on. So he turned it into a t-shirt. His fans love his catch phrase and are more than willing to own something like that. The same goes for Craig’s training programs. He has a massive body and wants to provide a service. So promoting his training and coaching feels genuine and not like a bait and switch.
Always Be Posting
Craig Golias also stresses the importance of always posting and engaging on social media. Make sure to always use Instagram stories, or Tik Tok, or typical wall posts on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Your social media platforms are your business. It’s your direct connection to your audience. Even when you aren’t selling something. Post every day. Reinvent what and how you post. Keep things fresh. This is vital to maintaining your business.
For example, Craig Golias often gets up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom. He always uses this as an opportunity to post something on socials. Even if it’s a throwback. He’s away at an odd hour of the day. He can reach different fans across the globe at this time. He’s awake – so why not? That’s kind of mentality keeps him engaged – and keeps his audience engaged.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. Craig Golias goes into far more detail about his biggest tips and biggest mistakes through his social media journey. You can use these to help avoid the same mistakes and perhaps shorten your journey to personal brand success. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 21: Is The Iranian Hulk Photoshopped?
[embedded content]
Craig Golias thinks Iranian Hulk is photoshopped and shares his thoughts on photoshopping in bodybuilding.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias reacts to the death… and then not death of legendary bodybuilder Victor Richards and also discusses where the line is drawn regarding substances in natural bodybuilding.
Craig Golias is a man who is extremely large – being HUGE is part of his entire persona. It’s very obvious to anyone who met him that he’s truly large in real life. But there are many people who think that Golias’ photos are edited or photoshopped to look more impressive. Craig claims that he never photoshops his images – but admits to using extreme angling to create the illusion that he’s bigger than he really is. In either case, there’s no denying that Craig is an extremely massive person physically.
But photoshopping in bodybuilding is a very real thing. In fact, it’s very real beyond bodybuilding as well. Whether it’s filters on Instagram or airbrushing models in magazines and commercials – the human body is constantly being altered to look “perfect.” For the bodybuilding industry, this is almost always seen by fans as a betrayal. Bodybuilding is about perfecting the body into something larger than life. To fake that is essentially a cheat.
That’s why in this week’s episode of Talking Huge we discuss about a variety of different topics that all tie into one theme – photoshopping. The discussion springboards first from a discussion about the Martyn Ford vs Iranian Hulk boxing match and snowballs into various stories involving photoshop scandals and the very concept behind photoshopping in bodybuilding. Let’s jump into it.
Is The Iranian Hulk Photoshopped?
The Martyn Ford vs Iranian Hulk boxing match was a sudden an unexpectedly popular announcement. Set to take place in April 2022, seeing one of the tallest bodybuilders face off against one of the largest bodybuilders is a sort of freak show fans are excited to see. But Craig Golias thinks that Iranian Hulk uses photoshop to appear more shocking than he actually is. Specifically, Craig believes that the Iranian Hulk’s waist is being tapered in with photo editing.
There’s of course no proof – but Craig Golias being a 300+ pound man himself finds it unlikely that the Iranian Hulk could have such a tight waist. He also points out that beyond certain photos – he’s often seen with a baggy hoodie on.
Can Photoshopping Be Acceptable In Bodybuilding?
This leads into the bigger conversation about photoshopping. Vlad Yudin and Craig Golias debate about whether or not photoshopping can be acceptable in certain situations for bodybuilders. Craig admits that angling in photos is basically a form of photoshop. It’s using illusion to look more impressive. Photo editing is just the next step of that.
That being said – Craig Golias thinks that to photoshop heavily is misleading and goes against the very goal of bodybuilding. A bodybuilder wants to look larger than life and make people see the impossible. To use photo editing to fake that is to defeat the goal of bodybuilding in and of itself.
But Craig Golias also looks back at the Devin Physique Shredz scandal and wonders of the photoshopping criticism was over-exaggerated. Craig points out that Devin is clearly shredded and muscular in real life. But he used photoshop to alter the smaller details to look more perfect. This doesn’t mean he doesn’t have an impressive physique. It just means that he tightened up the small lagging details – like many people do outside of the industry these days with filters.
That being said – it should be noted that Devin Physique was using his photos to sell training programs. So altering his image in an effort to promise those kinds of results are certainly misleading. Which was a part of the scandal at the time.
Wrap Up
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. There were far more topics than could be covered in this article – including Craig deciding his favorite physique between Ronnie Coleman and Jay Cutler. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 19: Remembering Shawn Rhoden
[embedded content]
Craig Golias and Vlad Yudin spend the entire episode this week reflecting on Shawn Rhoden’s life and his tragic passing.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias reacts to the passing of former Mr. Olympia Shawn Rhoden, reflects on his legacy, and speculates if the bodybuilding industry could have done more for Rhoden.
2021 has been a very tragic year for the bodybuilding industry. There have been numerous reports of too-soon deaths ranging from active competitors and retired athletes – most under the age of 60. Sadly some far younger. Most recently, Shawn Rhoden passed away at 46 years old. It was gut punch in the sport after an already very challenging year.
This week, we dedicated our entire episode of Talking Huge to the memory of Shawn Rhoden. We discuss the reporting of his passing, look back on his illustrious career and eventual Mr. Olympia victory, and talk about the allegations that came shortly afterwards. Many in the bodybuilding community have been quick to point fingers at AMI and the IFBB/NPC for abandoning Rhoden. Some even believe that Rhoden died of a “broken heart.” Craig Golias is one such bodybuilder.
Craig Golias believes that the stress of the allegations alongside losing his entire career and nearly all sponsorships contributed to so much stress that Shawn Rhoden suffered a heart attack and died. While it’s easy to look back in hindsight and wonder “what if” – what is most important is respecting the legacy of the man who we have lost. While Craig is certainly frustrated – he is also respectful and somber in a way we rarely see Craig on Talking Huge.
Is Craig Golias Concerned For His Personal Health?
Craig Golias also discusses how Shawn Rhoden’s passing alongside many other recent deaths might be changing his perspective. Craig Golias is a very large bodybuilder, even by bodybuilding standards. That’s been his entire brand. So is he worried for his health and possible future heart complications?
The answer, somewhat surprisingly, is yes. Craig Golias states that he is starting to slow down for the time being due to thinking harder about his health. He’s thinking – what kind of repercussions might he face for his current lifestyle? Since Craig is currently suffering from nerve damage anyways, he figures now is the right time to overall reconsider his tactics.
Will Shawn Rhoden’s Death Change The Bodybuilding Industry?
Towards the end of our conversation, Vlad Yudin asks Craig Golias if he thinks Rhoden’s death alongside George Peterson’s will change the industry moving forward. Craig plainly and somewhat nihilistically says no. He thinks nothing will change. Instead, small actions will be taken for publicity – but no real meaningful change will occur.
Craig Golias believes that bodybuilders will always do whatever it takes to be the best and biggest in the world. And he doesn’t believe the pro leagues will start doing mandatory drug testing before every major competition. Unless something that drastic happens – nothing will deep change about the sport or the community.
Wrap Up
To wrap it all up, we asked Craig Golias how he believes Shawn Rhoden will be remembered. Craig thinks he will be remembered first and foremost as a Mr. Olympia champion. And second, he will be remembered as a gentle giant. A man who hardly anyone can say a bad word about and was a kind father, friend, and man – more than just a bodybuilder.
You can check out the full conversation in the latest episode of Talking Huge above. Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 18: Shaun Clarida & Flex Lewis’ Men’s Open Future
[embedded content]
Craig Golias reacts to Shaun Clarida’s Men’s Open win and debates about his potential in Men’s Open Olympia alongside Flex Lewis and Hadi Choopan.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias discusses the growing number of Men’s 212 athletes moving to Men’s Open including Shaun Clarida, Flex Lewis, and Hadi Choopan. He also talks thoughts on Only Fans and neck training.
The bodybuilding season might be coming to a close but there’s still a lot of exciting news coming out of the sport post Olympia. While the European Tour is no where near as momentous as it was in decades past, some interesting results have surfaced over the last few weeks. The biggest news was not simply Shaun Clarida winning a Men’s Open competition – but his announcement that he wants to try and compete in both Men’s 212 and Men’s Open Olympia next year.
This news alongside Hadi Choopan’s switch two years ago and the impending debut of Flex Lewis in Men’s Open is bringing a wave of Men’s 212 athletes into Men’s Open. How will it all turn out? Vlad Yudin connected with Craig Golias for a new episode of Talking Huge to discuss at length. Let’s jump into it.
Shaun Clarida’s Men’s Open Victory
At the Legion Sports Fest Pro 2021, Shaun Clarida turned heads by announcing he would compete in the Men’s Open division. This put him against the likes of Regan Grimes and Sergio Oliva Jr. Even more surprising were the results – Clarida beat out Grimes and Oliva Jr. for his first victory in Men’s Open. We asked Craig Golias his thoughts on the victory.
While Craig Golias congratulates Shaun Clarida for the victory – he doesn’t see this as a big change for Clarida’s career. In Craig’s opinion, Clarida wasn’t going up against the best of the best Men’s Open competitors. Craig also points out that Clarida isn’t just any Men’s 212 athlete – he’s the former Olympia champion. A Men’s 212 Olympia champion going against a lineup of non-Olympia champion Men’s Open competitors is very different than if Clarida was competing in the Men’s Open Mr. Olympia.
Of course, it seems that Shaun Clarida knows this as well. He’s already made a statement in a recent interview claiming that he’d like to try and compete in the Men’s Open Olympia. In his perfect world, he’d be allowed to compete in both Men’s 212 and Men’s Open. If and when that occurs, we’ll be sure to follow up with Craig Golias on his take.
The Bigger Picture: More Men’s 212 Athletes Move To Men’s Open
We also asked Craig Golias his opinion in the wider view regarding Men’s 212. Over the past few years, a handful of impressive Men’s 212 athletes have moved over into Men’s Open. Hadi Choopan has been competing in Men’s Open Olympia for three years and has made it into the top 5 each year. Flex Lewis has been preparing for his Men’s Open debut at Mr. Olympia – but has not yet competed due to personal circumstances. And now – Shaun Clarida looks to be making waves in Men’s Open.
Could this be a signal that size is starting to play less importance in Men’s Open? After decades of “mass monster” physiques reigning supreme, will aesthetics start edging out size as a deciding factor for victory? Craig Golias is excited to see what happens. He’s curious to see what Shaun Clarida can do in Men’s Open Olympia. He’s by far the shortest competitor in Men’s 212 to make the transition. Craig is most excited for Flex Lewis. He believes if any Men’s 212 competitor could move up and win Men’s Open Olympia – it would be Lewis.
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. Craig Golias also discusses the world of Only Fans and if he would ever make an account. He also talks about neck training and gives an update on his nerve damage injury. You can check it all out in the latest episode of Talking Huge above! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!
Talking Huge With Craig Golias | EP 17: All Bodybuilders Suffer From Bigorexia
[embedded content]
Craig Golias talks about the difference between hateful feedback and critical feedback and revisits his thoughts on bigorexia.
Welcome to another episode of Talking Huge – a weekly digital series in which Craig Golias talks in-depth with Vlad Yudin on the latest trending topics in bodybuilding. Raw, honest, and uncut – Craig Golias shares his opinions on all things bodybuilding. In this episode, Craig Golias talks about bodybuilding feedback – the difference between pure hate and actual constructive criticism. He also revisits the concept of bigorexia and how it affects bodybuilding.
Craig Golias was one of the featured athletes in our documentary film Bigorexia. The film explored the inner workings of those who never felt big enough – no matter how big they become. It’s been over a year since the film was released so we decided to reconnect with Craig about his thoughts on the film and also his own relationship with bigorexia as a mental disorder. We also discussed bodybuilding criticism of physiques – when is criticism constructive and when does it become opinionated hate. Let’s jump into it.
Hateful Feedback Vs Constructive Criticism In Bodybuilding
Bodybuilding is a subjective sport and is completely revolved around judging physiques. But far too often we’ve seen competitive bodybuilders get defensive about statements about their physiques. Whether it’s disagreeing with the judges or finding fan comments offensive – there is a fine line between actual criticism and hurtful feedback.
We asked Craig Golias his thoughts on bodybuilding criticism in the social media space. Golias is not a competitor but is a bodybuilding influencer. As such, he will sometimes share his opinions on pro physiques and results from major bodybuilding shows. He’s done just very that on episodes of Talking Huge recently. When does criticism become unwarranted in a world full of constant comments and notifications?
Craig Golias tries to separate the difference between opinion and criticism. Yes, both involve subjective viewpoints – but one is constructive while the other is just gut reaction. Not all opinion can be hurtful but it can more often lead to defensiveness from those receiving the opinion.
For example, saying a certain pro bodybuilder should not have won a show is opinion. Breaking down what they believed was flawed about their physique and how it could improve – that’s more constructive criticism. A bodybuilder is far more likely to be offended by being told they shouldn’t have won. They worked hard for that big win. A bodybuilder might get offended by more detailed criticism if they don’t agree – but far more often will take it in stride and perhaps learn from it. This is especially true when the criticism comes from a reliable source.
Craig Golias: All Bodybuilders Have Bigorexia
We also discussed with Craig Golias about his involvement in Bigorexia and reflecting on the film over a year later. More specifically, we discuss his relationship with bigorexia as a mental condition. Craig has no qualms admitting that he has bigorexia. In fact, he embraces it. You can argue that that’s part of the condition – that he doesn’t see it as a real issue with both good and bad effects on his life.
But Craig Golias attributes bigorexia to his success. His obsession with getting huge is what brought him sponsorship contracts and allowed him to become a personal trainer with a handful of clients. For Craig, the best parts of his life came from his obsession with being as big as possible.
He also goes on to say that all bodybuilders suffer from bigorexia. He believes that is the only reason any sane person would want to try being a bodybuilder. The amount of work, sacrifice, and risks that come with being a mass monster are too great for a completely logical person to stick with. Craig thinks that every bodybuilder sees someone too small in the mirror. Do you agree?
Wrap Up
There are far more topics discussed in this episode than we can cover in this article. Craig Golias also discusses the pros and cons of being an influencer and also muses over whether or not he would like to train pro bodybuilders for competitions. You can check it all out in the latest episode of Talking Huge above! Make sure to check out Talking Huge every week on Friday – only on the Generation Iron Fitness Network!