Ep 320 - Myths Versus Theories in Exercise Science (ft. James Steele)

Iron Culture

The MASS Crew

Sports & Recreation, Health & Fitness

4.8 • 827 Ratings

🗓️ 26 March 2025

⏱️ 118 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode of Iron Culture, hosts Eric Helms and Eric Trexler engage in a lively discussion with Dr. James Steele about the evolving landscape of sports science, particularly focusing on the critiques of periodization and the importance of scientific theory in exercise research. They explore the philosophical underpinnings of scientific inquiry, the challenges of conducting robust research, and the implications of recent studies on training effects. The conversation emphasizes the need for a more theory-driven approach in exercise science to enhance the validity and applicability of research findings. In this conversation, James Steele and Eric Helms discuss the intricacies of designing meaningful studies in hypertrophy research, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, causal inference, and the need for high-powered studies. They explore the challenges of resistance training research, the significance of theory corroboration, and the future directions for the field. The discussion highlights the necessity of passion and purpose in research, advocating for a focus on practical applications and the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms of training effects.

Time stamps:

00:00 Introduction
03:55 The Role of Periodization in Sports Science
11:45 Critique of Periodization and Scientific Methodology
24:50 Philosophy of Science in Exercise Science
33:12 Understanding Sports Science Models
35:56 Philosophy of Science in Sports Research
40:00 The Importance of Critical Thinking
44:35 Diving into the Study
48:38 Theory of Adaptation in Resistance Training
54:47 Intervention Effects and Practical Implications
59:10 Meta-Analysis and Evidence in Sports Science
01:19:50 The Value of Individual Studies vs. Meta-Analyses
01:24:03 Understanding Causal Inference in Research
01:27:41 The Importance of Baseline Theory in Training
01:29:28 Identifying Small Effects in Research
01:33:16 The Role of Collaboration in Sports Science
01:38:38 Leveraging Data for Performance Insights
01:41:08 The Distinction Between Sports Science and Exercise Science
01:44:59 Learning from Other Fields: Causal Inference in Sports
01:47:29 Passion and Purpose in Research
01:50:02 Concluding Thoughts on the Future of Research

Transcript

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0:00.0	What's going on, everybody?
0:06.4	Welcome to another episode of Iron Culture presented by Mass.
0:09.8	I am back with my comrade in arms, Dr. Eric Trexler.
0:14.9	How are you doing tonight, man?
0:16.5	I am doing great. How are you?
0:18.5	I can't complain, you know.
0:20.7	We've got a great guest on. We are joined by Dr. James Steele, who is working very hard to be one of the most hated people in sports science.
0:32.2	It's laying on me. I can't stand this guy. Yeah, we had to have a pretty strong back and forth debate to even allow this episode to happen.
0:41.2	So I do appreciate the time you've spent studying Buddhism and becoming at peace with things,
0:48.3	because I think there's a prior version of Eric where this episode just wouldn't happen.
0:52.9	Yeah, I've grown up a lot, and I've also realized that you can't conquer your
0:56.9	foes unless you face them head on.
0:58.6	So this is me trying to destroy James and his career.
1:03.0	Spoken like a true Buddhist.
1:04.5	I love it.
1:05.8	Um, no, that's great.
1:07.2	And, uh, yeah, before we, we actually let James speak on his own behalf, because that's not a thing we do here at Iron Culture very much, at least not in the first 10 minutes of banter.
1:16.5	Let's just say, hey, we hope you folks have been enjoying some of these pre-recorded episodes with the guests we've been having.
1:22.2	We're trying to mix it up and also bring some of the live episodes where we engage with our audience.
1:27.0	We are absolutely going to be
1:28.1	getting back to that, but we want to make sure that we're also getting these deep dives on the
1:32.0	specific topics and leveraging the expertise of the folks we have in the field. So if you've
	...

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