The Macro Lounge Podcast

Chris Bold and Rachel Mead

🎙️ Welcome to The Macro Lounge Podcast Your backstage pass to the world of bodybuilding and bikini competition. Hosted by Chris Bold, Head coach of Team Bold Physique and Rachel Mead of Accentuate Bikinis, this podcast dives deep into everything from prep and posing to post-show rebounds.
 Whether you're a seasoned athlete, first-time competitor, coach, or just curious about what goes on beyond the tan. 💪 Real talk about training, nutrition, mindset & stage prep and suits
 🔥 Tips, Q&As and hot takes
 Subscribe and join us as we flex, learn, and laugh our way through the sport we love.

  1. 4d ago

    Wedding Dress Shopping vs Bikini Prep: Is Rachel's Big Day Just Another Show?

    One year into the Macro Lounge Podcast and Chris and Rachel are celebrating the only way they know how - by turning Rachel's wedding dress search into a full-blown prep breakdown. Turns out choosing a wedding dress has more in common with picking a competition bikini than you'd think - the confidence question, the fit issues, the "is this the right shape for my physique" spiral, all of it. Rachel shares what actually happened in the fitting rooms so far, the comments fitness women get told about their arms and shoulders on their big day, and why the goal was never to be the skinniest bride. Plus a Christchurch posing workshop is on the horizon, so stick around for that. Like and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube - it helps more than you'd think. Find us here: 🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify 📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast ▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMacroLoungePodcast 📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com Work with us: 👙 Posing School: Accentuate Posing Academy https://www.instagram.com/accentuate_posing_academy/ 💪 Coaching with Chris: Team Bold Physique https://www.instagram.com/teamboldphysique/ ✨ Competition Bikinis with Rachel: Accentuate Bikinis https://www.instagram.com/accentuatebikinis/

  2. Jul 5

    What Judges Are Actually Looking For in Bikini - Ep 23 Season 2

    Ever wondered what's actually going through a judge's head while you're on stage? Chris pulls back the curtain on 25+ years of judging experience, breaking down muscularity, conditioning, symmetry, balance and presentation, and why the written criteria is way vaguer (and more open to interpretation) than most competitors realize. They compare how IFBB/NPC, ICN and OCB each rank these differently, unpack the difference between graininess and striations, and get into judges' pet peeves (overposing, bad sportsmanship, elbow fights on stage). Plus the line every competitor needs tattooed on their brain: stop trying to impress the judges, start trying to become the obvious winner. Like and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube - it helps more than you'd think.Find us here:🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMacroLoungePodcast📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com Work with us:👙 Posing School: Accentuate Posing Academyhttps://www.instagram.com/accentuate_posing_academy/💪 Coaching with Chris: Team Bold Physiquehttps://www.instagram.com/teamboldphysique/✨ Competition Bikinis with Rachel: Accentuate Bikinishttps://www.instagram.com/accentuatebikinis/

  3. Jun 28

    Don't Wait to Feel Ready - Confidence, Body Image & the Photo Shoot ft. Peter Morris Ep 22: Season 2

    In this episode, we explore the art and psychology of physique photography with Peter Morris, a photographer with over 30 years of experience behind the camera. Peter shares what three decades of shooting bodybuilders, competitors and everyday people has taught him about confidence, body image and the stories people carry into a shoot. We get into: the "handbrake" effect, and why so many people hold back instead of giving a shoot everything they've gothow social media has reshaped trends in bodybuilding and what "stage lean" is supposed to look likethe difference in how men and women approach a photo shootwhy capturing your journey through photos matters, even when you're not where you want to be yetpractical advice for anyone considering their first shootIf you've ever told yourself you'll do it "once you're ready," this episode is for you. You can find Peter on Instagram right here: https://www.instagram.com/peter_at_photoshoot/ Like and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube - it helps more than you'd think. Find us here: 🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify 📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast ▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMacroLoungePodcast 📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com Work with us: 👙 Posing School: Accentuate Posing Academy https://www.instagram.com/accentuate_posing_academy/ 💪 Coaching with Chris: Team Bold Physique https://www.instagram.com/teamboldphysique/ ✨ Competition Bikinis with Rachel: Accentuate Bikinis https://www.instagram.com/accentuatebikinis/

  4. Jun 21

    Where Does the Bikini Bodybuilding Industry Actually Make Its Money? | Ep. 21 Season 2

    From supplement stacks 14 tablets deep to posing coaches charging a fortune for fancy hair flicks that judges aren't even scoring - the bikini bodybuilding industry has a lot of ways to take your money. This week, Chris and Rach pull back the curtain on where the money actually flows in this sport, and more importantly, how to figure out what's worth spending yours on. They break down the coaching industry - from secret glute programs and six-week challenges that all look the same, to big-name coaches you'll never actually work with. They get into the supplement world, the posing industry, affiliate codes, shadow coaches, and why asking "why am I taking this?" might save you hundreds a month. Plus - the ICN World Physique Games in Bali wrap-up, Ash and Lou at the Toronto Pro Show, and the Don't Be a Dick Revolution t-shirts are officially getting orders. Send a cat photo to jump the queue. This week on The Macro Lounge: Why transparency around commissions and affiliate codes actually mattersThe supplement stack myth - what's working and what's just flavoured waterPosing industry deep dive: what judges are actually scoring vs what looks good on InstagramShadow coaches, tiered programs, and reading your contract before you signWhy going to shows in your off season matters more than you thinkLike and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube - it helps more than you'd think. Find us here:🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast▶ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheMacroLoungePodcast⁠📩 Email: ⁠hello@boldphysique.com ⁠ Work with us:👙 Posing School: Accentuate Posing Academy ⁠https://www.instagram.com/accentuate_posing_academy/⁠💪 Coaching with Chris: Team Bold Physique ⁠https://www.instagram.com/teamboldphysique/⁠✨ Competition Bikinis with Rachel: Accentuate Bikinis ⁠https://www.instagram.com/accentuatebikinis/⁠

  5. Jun 14

    Viva la revolution!! The Criteria Hasn't Changed (And Other Lies Bodybuilding Tells Itself) - S2 E20

    "The criteria hasn't changed" Sound familiar? Chris and Rachel are calling it out - because if it truly hasn't changed, how do you explain Fit Model existing? Or an Olympia champion from six years ago who probably couldn't place today? This week they're pulling apart the evolution of bodybuilding criteria across categories and federations - from the original Miss Olympia to the current pro stage, from Europe to Asia to South America, and why the results look so wildly different depending on where you're standing. They also get into what actually drives category growth, who's responsible for the criteria drift, and what happens when athletes outgrow their division but have nowhere comfortable to go. It's an honest, unfiltered conversation about an industry-wide problem - and why the athletes themselves might be the only ones who can change it. Like and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube - it helps more than you'd think. Find us here:🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast▶ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMacroLoungePodcast📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com Work with us:👙 Posing School: Accentuate Posing Academy https://www.instagram.com/accentuate_posing_academy/ 💪 Coaching with Chris: Team Bold Physique https://www.instagram.com/teamboldphysique/ ✨ Competition Bikinis with Rachel: Accentuate Bikinis https://www.instagram.com/accentuatebikinis/

  6. Jun 7

    FOMO Is Costing You More Than You Think - Episode 19 | Season 2

    FOMO might be the most underrated physique killer in the sport. In this week's episode, Chris and Rachel get into the real reason so many athletes stall out year after year - and it's not their training program. From prep envy to watching your competitor walk away with a pro card, to skipping your sister's wedding for a regional show, FOMO shows up in more ways than most people admit. They cover: Why competing out of FOMO often costs you more muscle than it gains youHow to actually "math out" whether a season is worth itThe difference between FOMO and the fear of being left behindWhy Instagram has turned bodybuilding into a spectator sportHow to balance life goals alongside competing goalsWhy the stage will always be there - but some moments won'tPlus, Chris confesses the most expensive FOMO decision he ever made (his wife (the producer) will definitely have opinions on this), and Rachel weighs in on whether going broke to compete at Worlds was worth it. Raw, honest, and genuinely useful for anyone who's ever texted their coach mid-off-season asking to start prep. Like and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube - it helps more than you'd think. Find us here:🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify 📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast ▶ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheMacroLoungePodcast⁠ 📩 Email: ⁠hello@boldphysique.com⁠ Work with us:👙 Posing School: Accentuate Posing Academy ⁠https://www.instagram.com/accentuate_posing_academy/⁠ 💪 Coaching with Chris: Team Bold Physique ⁠https://www.instagram.com/teamboldphysique/⁠ ✨ Competition Bikinis with Rachel: Accentuate Bikinis ⁠https://www.instagram.com/accentuatebikinis/⁠

  7. May 31

    ICN Great Lakes Classic 2026: Full Show Recap | Episode 18 Season 2

    It's a show recap episode - and what a show it was! Chris and Rachel are back from the ICN Great Lakes Classic in Taupo, breaking down every category from Women's Bodybuilding to Bikini, with honest takes on placings, posing, and the athletes who stood out (and a few who were in the wrong category entirely). They cover the men's divisions, a stacked Figure lineup, the return of Runway (now with a 40+ class), the Transformation category - and they have some strong words for keyboard warriors who think it's okay to tear down transformation athletes online. Don't be that person. Plus: a six-hour commute, a volunteer Instagram live held together with power banks and good intentions, and Rachel's swim coach voice making an unexpected appearance. 00:00 - Intro and weekend recap02:30 - The venue, the vibe, and the livestream drama05:00 - Women's Bodybuilding10:00 - Men's Bodybuilding16:00 - Pro Qualifier breakdown (what does PQ actually mean?)20:00 - Figure25:00 - Classic Figure30:00 - Swimsuit - first timers, novice, and open40:00 - Runway (including the new 40+ class)48:00 - Classic Physique52:00 - Transformation - and a message to the haters56:00 - Wellness1:02:00 - Fitness Model1:08:00 - Bikini Model1:16:00 - Sports Model1:19:00 - Wrap-up, season prep tips, and suit order reminders Like and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube - it helps more than you'd think. Find us here:🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast▶ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheMacroLoungePodcast⁠📩 Email: ⁠hello@boldphysique.com ⁠ Work with us:👙 Posing School: Accentuate Posing Academy ⁠https://www.instagram.com/accentuate_posing_academy/⁠ 💪 Coaching with Chris: Team Bold Physique ⁠https://www.instagram.com/teamboldphysique/⁠ ✨ Competition Bikinis with Rachel: Accentuate Bikinis ⁠https://www.instagram.com/accentuatebikinis/⁠

  8. May 24

    Across the Federation Lines with Brenda McDonell ICN New Zealand President | Episode 17 Season 2

    What happens when you cross the federation lines in New Zealand bodybuilding? This week, Chris and Rachel sit down with someone who's been in the sport for over three decades, competed across IFBB, NABBA, and INBA, traveled to the Natural Olympia, and then decided to build something completely different. Brenda McDonell is the co-founder and President of ICN New Zealand. She and her husband Andy launched ICN NZ in 2019 after years of competing and a career spent working as a socaik worker. What started from personal dissatisfaction with the competitive experience has grown into four annual shows and 350+ athletes a year. We are incredibly grateful to Brenda for giving up her time just three days out from the ICN Great Lakes Classic 2026 to sit down with us for this conversation. That generosity says everything about the kind of person she is and the kind of federation she runs. In this episode, we get into how Brenda went from her first show in 1989 to co-founding a federation, why the ICN athlete experience keeps people coming back, the realities of drug testing in natural bodybuilding (including WADA protocols and anonymous reporting), federation politics in New Zealand, judging standards and what ICN is doing to evolve them, and what success looks like for ICN five years from now. This one was long overdue. Whether you compete with ICN, another federation, or you're just trying to figure out where you fit, this conversation is for you. 00:00 - Welcome and introductions01:04 - Brenda's journey from IFBB in 1989 through NABBA, INBA, and beyond08:14 - How competing in different federations shaped the ICN vision12:38 - Launching ICN NZ, COVID, and navigating personal tragedy17:03 - Handling public criticism as a federation leader19:23 - What Brenda is most proud of: the ICN community21:27 - When ICN became bigger than just Brenda and Andy25:26 - The hidden workload behind running a federation29:28 - Do federations actually make money?32:37 - What a good athlete experience looks like35:19 - How natural is natural bodybuilding?39:12 - Eligibility, PED policies, and WADA testing protocols46:03 - Who's responsible for protecting natural bodybuilding?51:28 - Federation politics and why hostility doesn't have to be the norm56:11 - Social media, online abuse, and the ugly side of the sport1:04:07 - The evolution of divisions across federations1:17:14 - The future of ICN New Zealand and the pro pathway1:22:36 - Rapid fire with Brenda1:28:26 - How to get involved with ICN Like and subscribe on Spotify and YouTube - it helps more than you'd think. Find us here:🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast▶ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@TheMacroLoungePodcast⁠📩 Email: ⁠hello@boldphysique.com⁠ Work with us:👙 Posing School: Accentuate Posing Academy ⁠https://www.instagram.com/accentuate_posing_academy/⁠ 💪 Coaching with Chris: Team Bold Physique ⁠https://www.instagram.com/teamboldphysique/⁠ ✨ Competition Bikinis with Rachel: Accentuate Bikinis ⁠https://www.instagram.com/accentuatebikinis/⁠

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About

🎙️ Welcome to The Macro Lounge Podcast Your backstage pass to the world of bodybuilding and bikini competition. Hosted by Chris Bold, Head coach of Team Bold Physique and Rachel Mead of Accentuate Bikinis, this podcast dives deep into everything from prep and posing to post-show rebounds.
 Whether you're a seasoned athlete, first-time competitor, coach, or just curious about what goes on beyond the tan. 💪 Real talk about training, nutrition, mindset & stage prep and suits
 🔥 Tips, Q&As and hot takes
 Subscribe and join us as we flex, learn, and laugh our way through the sport we love.

Information

  • Creator
    Chris Bold and Rachel Mead
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Chris Bold and Rachel Mead
  • Show Website
    The Macro Lounge Podcast