2 Girls 1 Bar Podcast with Mandi & Wanda

The girls are joined by absolute powerlifting legend Jen Thompson, and honestly… we're still not over it. Jen takes us all the way back to her start in the late '90s, when she literally stumbled onto a competition at Muscle Beach and thought, "yeah, I can do that." From lifting in a basement gym with college friends to becoming an 11-time IPF World Champion, her story is equal parts grit, curiosity, and just sticking with it over time. We get into what it actually looked like to grow up in strength sports as a woman when there were barely any women competing, and how she's watched that shift to nearly a 50/50 split today. Jen talks about the role strength played in transforming her confidence and shares how mental training, visualization, and honestly just getting mad enough to push through helped her overcome competition nerves early in her career. Jen will convince you that you are capable of so much more tha you even thought. Follow Jen on Instagram here Grab a 2G1B shirt/sweatshirt or an "I am a woman in strength sports" shirt. Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! Join the 2G1B Patreon to support the podcast and fund ongoing scholarships for women in strength sports. JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST  Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

The girls recap the tornado that was The Arnold this past weekend in Columbus. Wanda competed and bombed (again) and talks about what that means for her mental game and what she will do next. Mandi coached and did so much media and also now doesn't believe anything her Garmin watch says. They talk about everything from the mental training needed for competing to the new funding opportunities and when they compete next (yes, both Mandi and Wanda have meets on the schedule). Grab a 2G1B shirt/sweatshirt or an "I am a woman in strength sports" shirt. Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! Join the 2G1B Patreon to support the podcast and fund ongoing scholarships for women in strength sports. JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST  Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

The girls welcome Syuhaidah Ahman, a weightlifter from Brunei, who shares her unique journey into the sport. Syuhaidah discusses her dual career in construction and weightlifting, revealing how her childhood interest in building and design led her to manage multiple campuses in her professional life. She reflects on her initial exposure to weightlifting through her father's interest in the Olympics and how she eventually found her way into the sport while studying abroad in the UK. The conversation highlights the importance of community in weightlifting, as Syuhaidah recounts her experiences training with Wanda and other lifters, emphasizing that the camaraderie and support from teammates have been crucial to her development as an athlete. Follow Syu on Instagram here Grab a 2G1B shirt/sweatshirt or an "I am a woman in strength sports" shirt. Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! Join the 2G1B Patreon to support the podcast and fund ongoing scholarships for women in strength sports. JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST  Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

Our first bonus episode of the year is officially here! The girls are joined by Will Edmonds of USA Weightlifting who discusses his career journey, the evolution of communications within USA Weightlifting, and the importance of highlighting grassroots athletes. They explore the challenges of media representation in weightlifting, the need for transparency in communication, and Will's personal goals as he prepares for upcoming competitions. We highly encourage you to comment on Will's photos to ask him to play the trumpet for us. Follow Will on Instagram here Follow USA Weightlifting on Instagram here Grab a 2G1B shirt/sweatshirt or an "I am a woman in strength sports" shirt. Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! Join the 2G1B Patreon to support the podcast and fund ongoing scholarships for women in strength sports. JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST  Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

The girls are officially on their 50th episode and ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!! Grab a 2G1B shirt/sweatshirt or an "I am a woman in strength sports" shirt. Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! Apply for the 2G1B Arnold Scholarship here. Want to help fund more scholarships? DM us on Instagram. Join the 2G1B Patreon to support the podcast and fund ongoing scholarships for women in strength sports. JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST  Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

The girls chat with weightlifter, coach, and gym owner Stefani Warnick. Stefani shares her journey from soccer to CrossFit to weightlifting as well as the emotional toll of competing in sport. She shares her evolving relationship with the sport, from the impact of injuries to shifting focus between competing and coaching to the importance of integrity and grit. Follow Stefani on Instagram HERE. Grab a 2G1B shirt/sweatshirt or an "I am a woman in strength sports" shirt. Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! Apply for the 2G1B Arnold Scholarship here. Want to help fund more scholarships? DM us on Instagram. Join the 2G1B Patreon to support the podcast and fund ongoing scholarships for women in strength sports. JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST  Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

The girls chat with our very first International (living and competng) athlete, Noorin Gulam, who has an infectious positivity and determination that you will want to try to adapt. Nooring talks about her journey in weightlifting and emphasizes the significance of self-reflection and mental resilience in sports, as well as her passion for coaching and empowering others, particularly South Asian women in weightlifting. Follow Noorin on Instagram here and find all of her support links here Grab a 2G1B shirt/sweatshirt or an "I am a woman in strength sports" shirt. Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! Apply for the 2G1B Arnold Scholarship here. Want to help fund more scholarships? DM us on Instagram. Join the 2G1B Patreon to support the podcast and fund ongoing scholarships for women in strength sports. JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST  Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

The girls chat with Madison Mackay and talk about her journey into weightlifting, her coaching philosophy, and the importance of community in sports. They explore the balance between Madison's law career and her coaching responsibilities, the growth of Clintonville Barbell, and the significance of female coaches in the weightlifting community. She emphasizes the importance of problem-solving, adaptability, and creating a safe environment for athletes.  FOLLOW MADISON ON IG HERE FOLLOW CLINTONVILLE ON IG HERE FOLLOW OSU WL ON IG HERE Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR PATREON TO SUPPOR THE PODCAST AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN IN STRENGTH SPORTS JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST TO FIND OUT ABOUT 2026 SURPRISES! Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

The first episode of 2026. We're literally not giving you anything else...just listen lol. We're officially back from our winter break. Shop the 2G1B Gear on Bonfire!!! JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR PATREON TO SUPPOR THE PODCAST AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN IN STRENGTH SPORTS JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST TO FIND OUT ABOUT 2026 SURPRISES! Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda

This episode is just the girls and it is CHAOS, but we just want to say THANK YOU. Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. Thank you for believing in women in strengh sports. JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR PATREON TO SUPPOR THE PODCAST AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR WOMEN IN STRENGTH SPORTS JOIN THE 2 GIRLS 1 BAR EMAIL LIST TO FIND OUT ABOUT 2026 SURPRISES! Use the code 2G1B at Virus USA to save 10% off everything and support the podcast! Follow the podcast on Instagram: @2girls1barpod Follow Mandi on Instagram: @mandimurakami @meetweekco Get coached by Mandi - schedule an athlete interview!  Follow Wanda on Instagram: @wl.wanda