Women in Weightlifting: Recent Episodes
Mark House and Jessica Saxon
Everyone has a story. Most of us know the stories of our athletes on the platform. We watch them lift amazing totals, and marvel at the displays of strength. That, however, is really only part of the story. Over the years of being involved in Weightlifting, I have discovered that the women in USAW have some of the most captivating stories to tell, so I wanted to take the opportunity to have these remarkable women tell their stories. Join me and my co-host, Jessica Saxon, as we talk to the 55 kilo elite athletes in USAW and hear their stories about life both on and off the platform.
Jessica Saxon is a National Champion weightlifter and an attorney. I am a regular announcer at USAW events as an IWF Cat2 Referee, and am an attorney and law professor.
Super fun interview with Brittany Witt, who recently made the transition from being a 49 to a 55. My apologies for the delay in getting this out, as it was done well in advance of the Arnold.
Soon to be Dr. Shannon McAmis joins me this week to discuss her fascinating trek through her academic pursuit of a doctorate in Plant Medicine. Shannon also lifts at a very high level, having won University Nationals in 2020.
Welcome to Season 3 of the Women in Weightlifting Podcast. This season is dedicated to the national athletes with advanced degrees. Our first guest in Laura Caggiano, Ph.D. She has a doctorate in Bio Medical Engineering. We talk about both her academic path and current research projects as well as her goals in weightlifting.
Jess and I are joined in this episode by Dr. Jeff Durmer. Jeff is the sleep doctor for USAW and is one of the top sleep researchers in the world -- not to mention just a fascinating person. We talk about the effect of lack of sleep, how to improve sleep, and even why drinking to help sleep is a bad idea.
In our last episode before the NAO Finals, we talk to 59-kilo lifter Alexa Colwell, who competes internationally for Lebanon. Lex and Jess talk nutrition in this episode. There is a brief update on the IWF.
Jess and I got to talk to Junior National Champion Leila Cook right before the Pan Am Junior Championships. The former short-track speed skater has been rising quickly through the junior ranks in USAW. Also, we discuss a challenge to a gentleman who thinks women don't train hard enough to get strong (still debating whether I want to even validate his comment with a challenge).
We return back to the 59's to talk to Emily Sallome as she prepares for the North American Open Finals in Denver.
In our first episode after the NAO2 in Albuquerque, we are joined by Nikki Houghton for a great discussion about body image in weightlifting and her transition from a 64 to a 55.
Youth Pan Am Gold Medalist and Youth Pan Am Record Holder Katie Estep joins us for this episode. There is an IWF update at the end of the show.
We are joined this week by Masters Lifter Amy Richardson, who shares her great work on mindset and her development as a high-level athlete.
2021 Snatch Gold Medalist Maria Hayden joins us this week to discuss her life as a high-level lifter and a first-grade teacher. This week's episode was recorded just before the IWF meeting in Doha, so there is some discussion of the Constitutional Congress.
Tiffany Beaupre joins Jess and Mark this week as she prepares for NAO2 and her quest to make a world team.
We begin Season 2 of the Women in Weightlifting Podcast with co-host 2020 National Champion Jessica Saxon. This season is focused on the 55 weight category.
Shayla Moore joins us for the final interview before Nationals. In addition to being a high-level weightlifter, Shayla is also the head coach for acrobatics at Emmanuel College in Georgia.
Dr. Kelly Wild, the first American 59 kilo lifter to C&J double bodyweight in competition, joins the Podcast in this episode.
We are joined by Kate Wehr, who competed on the Junior World Team as she describes her amazing accomplishments.
2018 World University Champion, national record holder, and multi-time world and Pan Am youth and junior team member Kaija Bramwell joins Mark and Kristi today for a fun walk through her storied history in weightlifting.
Pan American Bronze Medalist and American Record holder Taylor Turner Wilkins joins Kristi and Mark to discuss her 6-for-6, record-breaking performance at Pan Ams and her life on and off the platform.
Newly-minted Masters Lifter Joelle Emery joins Kristi and Mark to discuss her life in weightlifting.
National University Champion Maddie Staniszewski joins the Women in Weightlifting Podcast this week.