Trust The Taper

Kwaku Nyarko ; Sunil Vittal
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Ivy League powerlifters bringing you all the most exciting powerlifting news, recaps, and analysis through captivating interviews and stories.

Episodes

  1. Sep 20

    Sophia Fortin Carr: The Future of the American 63s!

    Sophia Forin, the junior world champion, shares her experiences of competing in South Africa, her transition from gymnastics to powerlifting, and her journey with her current coach. She discusses her first meet, the challenges she faced, and the evolution of her coaching relationship. She also highlights the impact of her background in gymnastics on her powerlifting journey. The conversation covers Sophia's powerlifting journey, including her competition wins, transition to Powerlifting America, and the impact of her education on her athletic performance. It also delves into her travel experience to South Africa for Worlds and the challenges she faced due to illness and exhaustion. Sophia Fortin shares her experience of competing at Worlds, her nerves, mindset, and the venue. She discusses her performance, training, and plans for the future, including open division competitions. She also reflects on her motivation, mindset, and the unique experience of planning her wedding around her powerlifting career. Chapters 00:00 Competing in South Africa04:44 Transition from Gymnastics to Powerlifting09:22 Challenges Faced in First Meet15:57 Evolution of Coaching Relationship17:55 Powerlifting Achievements and Transitions19:37 Impact of Education on Athletic Performance38:32 Travel Challenges and Impact on Training42:33 Preparing for Worlds43:02 Nerves and Mindset at Worlds45:12 Reflecting on the Venue and Competition46:24 Performance and Plans for the Future51:10 Motivation and Mindset01:07:15 Wedding and Gratitude

  2. Sep 7

    The BEST battle from 2026 Junior Worlds: Cardin Do and Valentin Dupoy

    The conversation begins with a discussion about the rising stars, Cardin Do and Valentin Dupoy in the 59kg class. They just put up 640kg and 637.5kg, respectively at the 2026 Junior Worlds Championships, giving them top 10 totals of all time in the 59kg Open DIvision. They discuss their friendly rivalry, followed by a deep dive into recovery and preparation for competitions The conversation covers the journey of Cardin and Valentine at the 2026 Junior World Championships, highlighting their resilience, strategic decision-making, and reflections on the competition experience. It also delves into their ambitions and future goals in the weight class. Cardin, within 20kg of the best totals from the other two 59s at Sheffield, makes his case for a wildcard selecion at this year's Sheffield! Chapters 00:00 Rising Stars and Friendly Rivalry02:25 Recovery and Preparation28:22 The Power of Provocation29:13 The Battle at Open Nationals30:07 The Fifty-Nine Kilo Class36:10 The Role of Antagonism in Powerlifting49:10 The Impact of Team Spirit50:19 Overcoming Setbacks51:20 Confidence and Resilience52:11 Strategic Decisions and Mind Games53:42 Bench Press Event58:02 Deadlift Strategy and Execution01:15:04 Reflections on the Competition Experience

  3. Aug 21

    Justin Nguyen the 59kg Phenom: Aiming for 700kg at Worlds

    The conversation covers Justin Nguyen's journey in powerlifting, from his early start to his aspirations for the future. It also delves into his experience with injuries, training, and competition. Justin's approach to powerlifting and his goals are highlighted, along with the impact of influential figures in the sport. It covers Justin Nguyen's perspective on powerlifting, his approach to competition, and his future plans as he transitions to the 66kg weight class. He discusses the impact of competition on his training and the importance of setting new records. Justin shares insights on his training mindset and the lifters who motivate him to push himself. The conversation covers a wide range of topics, including powerlifting, competition, and personal experiences. Justin Nguyen shares insights into his journey, his competitors, and his approach to the sport. The conversation also delves into Justin's experiences with social media, school, and his perspective on standing out in the powerlifting community. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Powerlifting01:40 Unofficial Record Breaker03:14 Training and Injury18:57 Transition to Powerlifting America22:32 Aspirations and Approach25:06 The Impact of Competition29:29 Transition to the 66kg Weight Class43:12 Training Mindset and Motivation59:50 The Powerlifting Journey01:01:15 Chasing the Greats01:02:48 The Longevity of Legends01:03:30 Retiring the Greats01:05:40 The Impact of Social Media01:07:50 Standing Out in the Spotlight01:18:09 Personal Experiences and School01:23:32 Wrapping Up and Final Thoughts

  4. Jul 27

    When Not IF: Chasing the Crown ft Elliott Sykes

    In this episode we chat with the 2nd strongest pound for pound male powerlifter in the world currently, Elliott Sykes. We discuss his plans for his competition next month, his timeline for catching up to Austin Perkins, his hot takes on topics that are overrated in powerlifting, his motivation for the sport, and the habits/mindset he maintains to be an elite powerlifter while juggling responsibilities as a college student who also works a job.

    When Not IF: Chasing the Crown ft Elliott Sykes

  5. 01/24/2025

    63kg World Champion Meg Scanlon- Sheffield Prep

    Meg Scanlon, 2x IPF World Champion is THE strongest woman in American history and a proud mother of twins. She joins us to discuss her career history including her past as a "hybrid athlete", how she took a break from powerlifting to come back even stronger, how she was able to continue being a competitive athlete after giving birth to twins, her Maine Classic meet performance, and her plans for Sheffield 2025 where she has the fiercest weight class battle against Alba Bostrom of Sweden and Lya Bavoil of France.

    63kg World Champion Meg Scanlon- Sheffield Prep

  6. 01/22/2025

    66kg Sheffield Underdog: "Opor" Kasemsand Senumong

    In this episode we interview the reigning 66kg World Champion and total world record holder, Kasemsand Senumong (aka "Opor"). He discusses his challenges with injuries, COVID, and redeeming his 2023 worlds performance. He also talks about why he likes being an underdog and how he's able to maintain his joy in the sport while competing at a high level. Finally we dive into Sheffield, the biggest meet of his career. He discusses thought on his competitors at that meet and what his goals are for this meet

    66kg Sheffield Underdog: "Opor" Kasemsand Senumong

  7. 01/15/2025

    The STRONGEST Teens in the World! Elliott Sykes & Jack Reynolds

    Jack Reynolds & Elliott Sykes discuss their world record-breaking performances at the 2024 Sub/Junior World Championships: establishing themselves as some of the strongest teenagers in the history of powerlifting pound for pound, what their future plans look like (including potential weight class changes), future competitors they want to battle, Sheffield predictions and more!

    The STRONGEST Teens in the World! Elliott Sykes & Jack Reynolds

  8. 11/05/2024

    Alba Boström- Rising to the Top – A Champion's Journey and Advice

    In this episode, we celebrate Alba Bostrom's incredible achievement: her Best Lifter award at the IPF 2024 Junior Worlds, where she secured a stunning 596.5 dots – the 6th highest of all time. Not only did she beat the best total in her class from 2024 Open Worlds , but she came within 3.5 kg of her weight class’s world record total. Beyond the platform, she’s a powerful advocate for athletes, offering honest advice on handling tough topics like mental health, body image, and building a sustainable training routine to prevent burnout. Tune in for insights from a true champion, both on and off the stage.

    Alba Boström- Rising to the Top – A Champion's Journey and Advice
  • 8 Episodes

About

Ivy League powerlifters bringing you all the most exciting powerlifting news, recaps, and analysis through captivating interviews and stories.

Information

  • Creator
    Kwaku Nyarko ; Sunil Vittal
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Kwaku Nyarko ; Sunil Vittal
  • Show Website
    Trust The Taper