Perfectly Leveraged for the Squat
Nov 10, 2026 · 35m
Summary
This episode explores the history of women's strength through the life of Jan Todd, the first woman to lift the legendary Dinny Stones in Scotland. Todd recounts her journey from a 1970s college student to a pioneering powerlifter who helped establish rules for women's competitive lifting. The narrative also delves into the cultural anxieties surrounding female muscle, tracing a shift from Victorian-era pseudoscience to modern acceptance, while highlighting Todd's work preserving the history of physical culture at the Stark Center.
Topics discussed
Lowe's Black Friday Deals
Betterment: Automating Smart Investing
Jan Todd and the Legendary Dinny Stones
The Tradition of Manhood Stones
Jan's Frustration and the Whiskey Man
Lifting the Stones and Historic Firsts
Building Women's Powerlifting
Strength as Currency and Status
19th Century Myths About Women's Strength
Pseudoscience and Reproductive Anxiety
Shift to Fitness for Attractiveness
Jack LaLanne and Early Fitness Culture
Jan Todd's Childhood and Family Background
Meeting Terry Todd at Mercer University
The Caber Toss and Early Bonding
Crushing Bottle Caps and Marriage
Title IX and the Battle of the Sexes
Jan's First Gym Experience
Breaking the Deadlift World Record
Shattering Records and Media Attention
Questioning the History of Women's Strength
Betterment: Trusting Your Team
Angie: Hiring Skilled Home Pros
SimpliSafe: AI-Powered Home Security
The Otley Coulter Collection
Discovering Victorian Strongwomen
Majestic Womanhood and Historical Context
Jan's Ovarian Cancer Diagnosis
Creating the Stark Center Archive
Current Life and Legacy of Strength
Modern Cultural Shift Toward Strength
The Importance of Progressive Overload
The Unknown Limits of Women's Strength
Episode Credits and Production Team
LifeLock: Identity Theft Protection
Angie and SimpliSafe Promotions
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