Stage Talk Podcast
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Stage Talk Podcast
Why Everyone Is Talking About Miami?!
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All right, let me put my face on for my men's physique comment again.
SPEAKER_03And that's so annoying because I wasn't on a proper rant about that and I was like, oh yes, but it's okay. So hello again.
SPEAKER_00We got two minutes into recording and then we both froze. But hello everyone. Okay, so one weekend when we pretend to have this energy again. This one was fucking awesome.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00My emuls is amazing. And yeah, I mean, that was that was a great weekend. That was like, shout out Tyler. That show was amazing. Like it was the the expo, the location, nothing was overly packed. Like um JM told me actually that they turned away a handful of vendors. And I was like, that's awesome. Like they weren't just doing it to fucking line the pockets with money. They were like, they wanted to have the space to be able to have the public come in and not be like this walking around every single step. And like I loved it. Everything was great. The stage production, the lighting was beautiful.
SPEAKER_03I think I I've never obviously done Pittsburgh ever before. And obviously, even now that they've turned it into the expo, I think this was like this was like Olympia level production. I personally feel like in terms of like how they did the stage and how focused they were on making sure that the experience of the athletes was like that. Like I loved the backstage area, it was huge. Like we had so much space and like everything like that. Like that was really, really good. And then they had like the the stage in general was just incredible. Like that was just yeah, I really, I really liked it. Big stage, yeah, like massive stage. So I feel like that definitely like warranted the hype, and I liked all the hype going into it as well, in terms of like what they were posting and all that type of thing. So I really highly recommend anyone pro or amateur, and also the amateurs doing the natural show were so competitive, they look so good, very, very competitive. So, like, it's really cool to kind of see that level of like competitiveness from all angles, not just from the pros, but from the amateurs as well. So that's cool, yeah. That's really, really cool. Um, but yeah, I mean, my obviously like we were saying before, my experience with Pittsburgh absolutely loved it. So happy with the result for me to be behind in that like top four lineup that those the top 10 Olympians, and I'm right behind that for me, is like a win, and that's how I wanted to end out my season. Like I even said it to Jamie. I was like, if I could be because Tyler always does it, he does the top four, he always brings that to top four, he always talks about the top four. So I was like, I need to be in that top four. Like, I need to be in that top four because I want him to give me feedback, I want him to talk about me, and I want to be next to those girls, I want to be next to them. So for me, that was a massive win, and I'm glad that I was able to present that. And I think, especially after six shows, I'm like surprised. Not, I'm not surprised in any way, shape, or form, because Jamie's great at what she's done and she's done incredible with my prep and stuff like that. But I feel like it's cool to see my body still responding at this later in the year. Like I six shows in, and the I personally feel like this is probably my favorite look.
SPEAKER_00Um, yeah, that's a huge testament to you and Jamie both, too, because like you've been away from home, you've been away from Max, and like everything was like you still could have done more. Like, obviously, you're not, but you're still in a place health-wise, mentally, etc., where you could keep going, and that's a testament to you both, all around on the nutrition side, on the mindset side, like you fucking killed it. Like, that was a good ass season.
SPEAKER_03So, yeah, it's cool. And I think moving forwards now, because I know obviously people were asking, we'll probably get into it deeper later on in other episodes and stuff. But I think what we've realized is that I need more density, which is crazy saying that. And when I say that to people, people are like, what the fuck are you talking about? But I think people, what people don't understand, it's not just sheer size that density is like comes from, it's actually like the volume as well. So I do feel like I size-wise, absolutely fine. Like, they don't want me any bigger than what I am now, but what they do want is more detail. So, like they want more yes, conditioning from the back, but they don't want me to lose any of my fullness. So, Tyler for New York wanted me to be a bit fuller, uh tiny bit fuller. He liked the conditioning, but then for this one, he preferred this look overall, but he did say he wanted a little bit more detail from the back, a tiny bit more conditioning. So I was like, well, okay, so that means, in my opinion, and that mine and Jamie's opinion, more density. Because we don't, we can't at the moment we're sacrificing one or the other because I haven't got enough density in the road.
SPEAKER_00So you've seen you've seen the right conditioning lacking a little fullness, and then you've seen the right amount of this lacking a little bit of this. And so you're like, okay, how do we make up for this? A little bit more density going into the Olympia, and you'll be able to fucking nail it.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, and again, it's not huge. Like I literally said to one of the judges, I said, Oh, do you need do you want me to get uh build more muscle? And again, it's how you ask the question, because again, for me saying, Do I need to build more muscle? He was like, No, no, no, no, no. Like, you don't need to build more muscle. I said, Okay, do I need to stay the same size, but to create more density? And he said, Yes. So it's trying to like, so and this will come over time. Like anyone listening that's obviously like wanting to know how to get feedback from judges, is that like how you ask it is very important. So it's not just like, hey, do I need to build more muscle? They and they might say no, but they they might actually want you to still have like the muscle you have, but just it be denser. Um, or conditioning-wise, it's a it but that's uh also an experience thing, like over time, you're gonna learn how to ask the questions, what that actually means as well.
SPEAKER_00Like, how to interpret the feedback, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Exactly. Um, because they yeah, he said title, and I'll be like, okay, cool, I could come in leaner, but then I'm still gonna come in, like that's still not gonna have enough density to the fullness that he wants to see me at, you know. Um but yeah, it was really, it was really cool and like massive. Obviously, this whole Pittsburgh experience was really, really cool. Like, obviously, the stage was sick, like I loved the whole expo vibe. Like, I've never done Pittsburgh before, so like this was really like different for me, and it was very much like an Olympia, in my opinion, like an Olympia level production.
SPEAKER_00So I'm it felt like I mean the the production, the people on stage, like everything about it was Olympia level everything. So it was it was a badass weekend.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it was really cool. So a massive congrats to Laura Lee. She looked absolutely incredible for me. This was her best hair conditioning. I feel like I've seen her in a while, in terms of like still keeping the fullness, still keeping that density that she usually has. I feel like they really nailed a good amount of balance between the two, for sure. 100%.
SPEAKER_00This was cool to see uh the best Laura Lee that I think has ever stepped on stage. And me, me and Cash were sitting together, like front row. The second she walks out, we looked at each other and just chuckled. And he goes, It's fucking game over today. Like it was it, like she came out with that energy and that look in that pop in the conditioning, and everything was like 11 out of 10 across the board. And just like like everyone knows that I'm extremely unbiased with this stuff. Like when you guys got off stage at Arnold prejudging, I texted Drew, congrats, Amy won that. Like, I knew it. Like we I geared, like I in my mind, I was like, Yeah, there's no doubt in my mind at all. At Pittsburgh here, they got off the stage for pre-judging. It was Laura Lee slammed the door shut on that show. Like, I had her 100% of the way at this one.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it was interesting because I do I for me, obviously being on a stage, I'm like, I don't know. So, like when I was looking at photos, I was like, I actually I personally was like, I don't know. And even a lot of people were like, the photos are different to what it was in person. So I was like, I don't know who's got it. It could be honestly either or so when you're what and that's why I kept on asking you questions, like what did you see? Like, what did you because everyone it is very interpreted very, very differently to what it is online, and I didn't know what it actually looked like from a perspective in person, so but I think they both looked absolutely incredible. I do think that it was interesting to see Lorely a little a little more conditioning, uh conditioned, and then Amy was a little bit fuller, and it was completely different of what it looks from both of them. So I I like that because it then isn't like hey, everyone looks the same. Do you know what I mean? Like I like when girls look different because it's everyone is different from a level of athletes, you know? Um, but yeah, I loved it. I honestly loved it, and I even love it even more that like they're going up against each other again this weekend, like which we'll get into in a second. But like that is so good. So, so good. Um, but yeah, anything else about Pittsburgh? We'll obviously get into it and stuff like that in a sec.
SPEAKER_00But uh congrats to Kate landing a fifth place there and adding but six more points, I think, to her name for that. Like she she was telling me that she had to end her season and go back home. She's a nurse, I believe, and had to go home and work. She couldn't take more time off. And she ended that now, she's like second on the points list going home. So I'm like, fuck yeah.
SPEAKER_03I think she's first. I think she's first. Yeah, she's first.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, could be first. I might have misseen it was.
SPEAKER_03She's got 20, she's got 28.
SPEAKER_00Hell yeah, perfect. That's that's awesome. Good.
SPEAKER_03Which is more than enough. And I think that's always the hard part when it's a points game. And like I liked because I think she did like a post. Everyone's like, oh, congrats on getting qualified. And I love her mentality because she was like, I'm not qualified until the 31st of August. And if my name is still on that list, that's when I'm when qualified. So she was like, right now I'm where I am, but I'm not qualified. And I was like, that's a really good way of looking at it because again, like you never know what's gonna happen. But I think it's cool that she's like, Cool, I'm gonna go back home. I'm gonna do my thing. Obviously, I've been away from home, so like that's fine. If the time comes where I'm being pushed down and all that type of thing, then I'm gonna come back and do what I need to do. But I love that mentality of like, I'm not qualified until the cutoff date, you know? Like that's so it keeps you fighting, like instead of being like, Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, it's okay. And that's an easy way to let your guard down, you know. Um, even even though she is at the point, in my opinion, I said even said to her, you're gonna be fine. Like you are going to be fine, I personally think. Yeah, but I like her mentality of being like, it's not over until it's over, you know? Yeah, which is good.
SPEAKER_00Um, I mean, and if if anything, like I I told her this too. I was like, if anything, you're gonna come to the States two to three weeks before the Olympia anyway. Like you could hit, if you need to, you could hit one cutoff show date on the um on August 29th. Three weeks before the Olympia, just hit that last show if you just think you're gonna need a couple more points. Like if it's like if she's like 20 to 25th on the list, come back, hit a top five at like the the Gold's Gym Classic over in Carolina and get your points, and like next three weeks you're just chilling in the States already into the Olympia. It's what they do every year anyway.
SPEAKER_03So well, she could also do Asia shows because then sh that's a little closer to her versus coming all the way because it you forget that she's New Zealand, so it's fucking ages away. And again, traveling such a far time, it it makes it so much harder to then obviously go back and forth and then yes, come to America before the cutoff point, but then that means staying in the what in the States for four weeks before, which to be fair isn't that long, but or a few more weeks before, but it can she get time off work? Does that mean she's gonna have to go back home? Like all these things you have to forget about, and then the travel takes in effects and yada yada, all that type of thing. So, but I honestly I've been loving like all these interviews that have been coming out. Like, you've got Sandy coming out with an interview, you've got Tyler with an interview, Jim Banion, even with an interview.
SPEAKER_00Like I know shout out BTS getting Tyler and Jim both on the microphone. It's cool, it's really cool.
SPEAKER_03It's not, I think I it's weird because I do think that we're in a well, we're in an era of like social media where like, which again we'll get onto this because there's so much social media stuff to talk about, but like I I like it because it's it's becoming more publicized where people can have more like bodybuilding is getting more reached, not just from the guy's side, but honestly from the girl side as well. Not just for bikini, but like other categories as well, and it just makes it more exciting to watch from everyone's perspective versus it just being bodybuilding for men, you know? Um I like it. Umriana was in that top six as well. The judging, the scoring, I don't think was a straight shooting. So first and second were close together, and then second and third were far apart, but then me and Maria were close points-wise. Um so there was a big gap in between obviously first and second, so it was quite off, like obvious between kind of those two markets, which is cool. And I even got told I I some of the judges put me in third, which is for me nice to know that because it's like it's interesting to see the perspective of okay, it wasn't just an obvious thing, I was pushing real, which is cool because like for me, this is a come my comeback year, and I I wanted to see what I could do moving forwards with that.
SPEAKER_00So I I I think that's cool, and that honestly has given me a little bit of fight going into my kind of like um in in this show specifically, when you look at the conditioning and fullness of each individual in the top four, Laura Lee and Maria were very on par with each other, and you and Amy were very on par with each other. I agree. And there's obviously just that like little percentage more in Amy's favor or in um Laura Lee's favor to be that like automatic one and two, if you will. Um, and so that's why they were up there. But regardless, the physiques matched very well with one and three and two and four. Um, and that's just the the way the cards fell that week. So I yeah, I mean, it was it any like we just saw, um, or we saw at the Arnold, like Amy won, and now we have Laura Lee winning and getting it back in Pittsburgh, and now we got Miami coming up this week. So I guess they get their tiebreaker this week.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it's gonna be cool. So, but yeah, I really loved I know not everyone's in the photos, but I do think that this is such a good lineup across all boards. It was very, very cool to kind of see, and it was cool for me to be in this, if I'm honest. Like, this was my favorite. So I think Adriana and Kate. Yeah, this is crazy. This is definitely the most conditioned I've seen her.
SPEAKER_00For sure. And this is where you and I talk about it. Not in a way that's like this as a sorry. No, go ahead. I think I think I'm like two seconds behind you. And you can you talk, but you're not talking on my end. Um, using this as an example to what you and I have discussed many times, where the criteria looks different on each individual, Laura Lee is able to push this amount of conditioning, but it doesn't over because she has such good glute density and such good shape to her glutes, she can get to this level of conditioning where it doesn't make anything else, or glute conditioning, I should say, where everything else is still on par with criteria, and the glutes are just like a wow factor, but still balanced throughout the entire back pose. They're not dominant in comparison to her hamstrings or in comparison to the overall hourglass. Everything is balanced. The glutes are just a holy shit, wow factor here, but she's able to push that level of conditioning without going flat, without like losing that fullness because she has that level of density to her glutes.
SPEAKER_03And I think that's been a huge thing this whole year is like a lot of the girls are dense as fuck. Like the everyone, it's it's not like a case of like, hey, you can just be conditioned and that be enough. Like it is density that they are looking for. And like you can see that in a lot of the people that have been winning shows and stuff like that recently. It's like it is density, it is a density game. Like they want to see that full round muscle with paired with a good amount of conditioning, you know. Um so it's cool, it's really, really cool to see this, honestly, quite honestly.
SPEAKER_01So yeah.
SPEAKER_00I love how Adriana and that scaling of that back pose looks like she's like two inches tall. It was like the horse scaling of the back pose.
SPEAKER_03Oh my gosh, yeah. I didn't even realize that. I was like, what do you mean? That's so funny. It's cool as well because, like, again, we uh we spoke about this obviously last time, obviously, with me and Maria from New York, but like again, so many different height level, like levels in this. Like, there was tall girls, there was short girls that like me and Lorely were very similar height, but then Amy and Maria, not similar height, but obviously they're shorter. And again, it doesn't matter on what that is, it all depends on what you look like and what your physique is willing to break. Do you know what I mean? And I think that's what people need to really remember is like you need to be able to take up space in your in your size parameter, you know?
SPEAKER_00And then we've got I'm home alone with Finley right now, so he's gonna walk in every like 20 minutes, but no, you're good, you're good.
SPEAKER_03And then we've got Fit Model, which also huge congratulations to Liz because she jumped so much in this. Like, I know she I can't remember what her last show where she placed. I don't know if it was outside. She got like 10th or 11th in her last one, she jumped a ton. Just top 10 or whatever, and this is like again clear like indication of like whatever happens on stage, like doesn't all like previously before previous placings, don't define you, like don't allow previous uh placings to define you at all. Yeah, because she absolutely smashed it out of the park. Obviously, I know she um I think did she join Cash or she was Yeah, Liz is with Cash.
SPEAKER_00Um I think I think she's been with Cash, but yeah, he they went from getting I think 11th together to getting second here, and um I actually had so physique-wise, I had Carla winning this show, but then when they went into the um first call-out transitions, all of that, Carla just needs that like next level of confidence and poise to herself in these fit model poses, and it was almost throwing off her physique a little bit because I think that she had like the winning physique that day, but it wasn't the winning presentation, and that went a long way when you have Shay and Liz who are just as on par physique-wise, but just had that next level of poise to their posing.
SPEAKER_03Mm-hmm. Yeah, you can see that first and second were a decent amount apart, but then you've got third and fourth.
SPEAKER_00Where no, I was saying, oh, they one point to each of them there. Third place lost a point, and fourth place got a point.
SPEAKER_03Oh, I was like, what do you mean? Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. So I think it's small on my screen.
SPEAKER_00I was trying to look.
SPEAKER_03It's interesting because it's like it again, it's not always a straight shooter. Again, like it never is. Um but I do think that this that this Fit Model lineup, it was cool to kind of see. Um, because you got Emily here, you got Jane, which Emily. No, she did New York. Emily did New York, didn't she? Yeah. Um who's this girl? I'm interested.
SPEAKER_00Aisha. I just started training her.
SPEAKER_03Oh nice.
SPEAKER_00She's placed she's placed well in the room. She's got a really nice physique.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, very do you know what I'm really I'm really noticing, which I think a lot of people are also noticing as well. Like these girls, these football girls has density. Like they have some good density on them. And um I think it's a certain level of density that not everyone can require. Like, you can't just be small and that be it, and that be enough. It is more so like you I don't know, I don't know how to explain it. It's weird. It's like you have to be, yes, you're small enough, but then you also need the density and a certain level of conditioning behind you as well to be able to.
SPEAKER_00Almost is what we were just saying about bikini in like what I was just saying about Lower Lee, but in fit model scale, where they have to have the glute density to like a really good high level because you're not supposed to be as conditioned. So when you're not as conditioned, if you don't have that level of glute density or density in the right areas, you're not going to present a proper like stage package. You're not going to be on stage with glutes that have that shape and fullness to them because you don't have the conditioning there for that criteria to be able to show those tie-ins, show those lines. It's literally just meant for glute shape and glute fullness and glute density, minus like that just little bit less conditioning. So it's it's one of those where again, when it comes to coaching and training and presentation on stage, it's a it's another very tough division. But um, like she presents it great here. Uh this the top six here was really, really, really solid.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, like she has such a good, she has such a good balance. I think she's that if she's listening, if she ever is, like, definitely keep going. Please, because she's got such a great physique. Like, I'm literally looking at it and I'm like, oh my god, I love oh my god.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, she's not done yet. I don't I don't want to say what she's doing, but she's not done yet.
SPEAKER_03Okay, good. Because she looks great. Okay. Um I'm obsessed with all this this because I just saw this one. This is the best thing ever.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_03This is the best thing ever, honestly.
SPEAKER_00They're all so good. They're all so good.
SPEAKER_03It's funny, but we'll go into that in a minute.
SPEAKER_00We'll go into Miami and then we'll go into that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, quite literally. We've got quite a few, and we've also got um a few shows.
SPEAKER_00Poland's a really good list.
SPEAKER_03So we've obviously got Amy, the box office, obviously Amy, Laurie, and Issa at this show. Again, we've got some really like other good athletes, very, very good athletes as well. We've got um uh Nevea.
SPEAKER_00Nivea, Romina's a good one.
SPEAKER_03Romina, I know because do you know what? And I know it sounds really bad, but book I got so distracted by looking at when this first came out. Yeah, I saw Lorelee and Amy, and I was like, wait, what? I didn't know, and then I forgot to obviously look at the rest of the list, and then when I was looking the second time, I was like Romina's? Yeah, yeah, I was like, there's Romina, there's um there's uh Nevea, then you've got um You got Maya, you got Yulia, you got Brittany in there, you got you got Allison in there.
SPEAKER_00Like, there's so many good names on this list.
SPEAKER_03I was like, oh my god, I was like, I completely and then you got Carrie, you got miss, I missed so many, and I was like, wait, there's so many in this.
SPEAKER_00Oh, I didn't even see Carrie. I don't know why I thought she was on the Poland list. I thought she was on the Poland list for some reason.
SPEAKER_03No, what a show, what a show. And there's yeah, so I I do think this is gonna be a really cool show, and like I'm excited to see what Issa brings because obviously she's not been on stage either for a very long time. Like, you know, like so. I do think that this is gonna be really cool for her, and I do think that again, I love that Laura Lee and Amy are then now competing again because it makes it just makes things interesting. Because I do think that you know it's easy to kind of you know want to be like, cool, like we're done, we're not, we're qualified, we don't need to do any more shows, but like why not? Like, why not? Why would you not want to do any more shows and like do more? You even got Britney Hamilton here as well, yeah, who's been off stage for a while as well.
SPEAKER_00So, like great names up here.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, there's loads of things going on. So I do think that it's it's gonna be interesting, it's gonna be really, really fun. And I think, yeah, we're gonna keep going through the list and stuff like that. But like, where how do you feel like Issa? I want to see actually, where is Issa?
SPEAKER_00We know that Issa has that unbelievable wow factor cannot be replicated front post, right? And um the the distinction in her physique that's always, I don't want to say held her back, she's won the Olympia. But what always has like in the last several years, what's dropped her a little bit was when they face the back, she hasn't kept up glute density-wise, an overall projection in comparison to who she's next to. That's why she got, I think. Yes, and I think that's why she's been in that like six, seventh spot the last couple Olympias she's done. But seeing where she is at, seeing what they've been posting lately, it looks like the best back pose that she has ever brought or will bring to the stage. Obviously, it's like check-in photos here and there, and it's not stage lighting and all that, but where she's at right now, conditioning looks spot on, glutes look like they've damn near doubled in size. Uh, and she hasn't she hasn't added a fucking millimeter to her waist. So it's it's still gonna be that Issa front pose uh that blows everyone away. And then when they turn to the back, we're gonna see her literally compared to two of the best in the world. So yeah, it's gonna be great.
SPEAKER_03It's kind of crazy looking at her photos from obviously this is Pittsburgh Pro from I don't know what how many years ago this was.
SPEAKER_002018 in the caption.
SPEAKER_03Oh, 2018. Wow. Almost 10 years ago, eight years. That's crazy. But no, I agree with everything you mentioned um in that. Like, I do think this is definitely one of the best conditionings again from what we've seen photo-wise at the moment, the best conditioning she's brought. And I'm again excited to kind of see if this is gonna hold up and what they need to be bringing for like the Olympia moving forwards. And again, this is why she's doing these shows. Like, she could easily have been like, no, I'm just gonna wait and just do the Olympia. But why would you want to do that and like miss an opportunity to be competing and getting the feedback?
SPEAKER_00Where is it?
SPEAKER_03Let's see. I love this is six or seven. This is why it's so funny because it's like for me, it's hey Kerrigan. Hey Kerrigan. Um I love doing this because it literally makes me feel like the biggest stalker, but it's fine.
SPEAKER_00One more. There you go. Oh wow. Like that's that's glutes. That's a back pose. That's good. Very, very good. So we're gonna see. Obviously, when you're standing alone, you don't know. Like, we don't know. We can see conditioning is there, we can see that glute fullness and overall shape is damn near spot on. Um, now, how is that going to look in comparison projection-wise, next to Lorely and Amy? So that's what we gotta see this weekend, because you don't know until they're standing next to someone.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, no, 100%. And it's hard because again, like that's the aim of the game, that's the whole point of the game. Like, you don't know what's gonna happen until you get next to people, which is why she's doing this now.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03Before Olympia, because why would you wait until the Olympia? You know? Yep. Um, which is why Maria, for example, Maria Acosta, she's qualified. She didn't need to do Pittsburgh or New York, but she did it because she was like, I need to know if I've improved, I need to know if there's anything else that we need to do. And I think that's why you're seeing a lot more of the top-level girls competing and keep competing because of this reason. Because bikini has never been this fucking exciting before. And like this this good before either.
SPEAKER_00Who's uh Mike was coaching Romina, but he stopped coaching because he's promoting and judging now. I I wonder who's co- I don't know who's coaching her now.
SPEAKER_02I'm not too sure.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'll have to look at that. I'm not positive. Oh, you've got um I'm excited to see her up there.
SPEAKER_03You've got some rookie, you've got um Jess.
SPEAKER_00Oh, she's had an insane season so far. This is a great like throw her in this lineup too. Like, that's gonna be the that's gonna be like the rookie of the year right there. Like she's gotten what two, three second places already? Like, she's killing it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, then you've got Jennifer Perez.
SPEAKER_00I feel like this is Drew's girl, right? She looks fucking amazing.
SPEAKER_03Is this her pro debut?
SPEAKER_00I'm not sure. It'll probably say John would have wrote that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I feel like it is, but I don't know if it is. So, like, like she looks great. Yeah, yeah, it's pro debut, hashtag pro debut.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, awesome.
SPEAKER_03That's crazy. Yeah. So I mean, again, I feel again, not none of the thing, nothing is final, but predictions-wise, I feel like there's gonna, you know, there's the top three spots there. You've got Laura Lee, Amy Issa.
SPEAKER_00Anyone coming in third, uh fourth, or fifth, that's gonna be some serious like comparison that you're gonna be next to, which is really, really the comparison to be in that four, five, six, when you look at the names on this list, when you have everyone from Carrie to Allison to Britney to Yulia to Maya, like these girls that in the last few shows have consistently been in the top ten or even in the top five. Um, like Yulia's got points on the board. Like it, this is just a really, really damn Liana's in there too. She looked amazing. I just saw that as well. I was like, wait, she's dead. Right? Like, what a good show.
SPEAKER_02It's I can't be like, oh, there's loads.
SPEAKER_00James posted on his story a couple days ago how bad he feels for Tyler going into this show, having to head judge this. Like, that is this is probably gonna be just knowing that I'm assuming Amy and Laura Lee are done after this. Um, until Olympia. Again, who knows? We didn't know this. Yeah, who knows, right? Just my guess, but like this this is almost harder to judge than Pittsburgh with how deep the lineup goes. Like, there's just so many names that can be in that four, five, six, seven, however big the first call-out is, it's gonna be some gnarly comparisons.
SPEAKER_03Before we move on from Miami, obviously there's like I which I wanted to disclose it and obviously like talk about it anyway, because obviously people are gonna talk about it anyway. But what do you think of all the there's no rivalry in what in any way, shape, or form. This is all fun in my opinion. But what do you how do you I don't know how to interpret it or how to say it, but what do you think of there being more talk behind the bikini division per se? So I see that.
SPEAKER_00The men's physique guys out there need to take some notes on how to not shit talk each other and still have passion and hype behind what we're doing. Uh, by all means, if you guys want to do that, because I know some of these men's physique dudes just would go at each other's throats if they could. But regardless, like Phoebe just said, there isn't that in bikini. Like, I'm sure just human nature, there's probably some people that don't like each other, but whatever, that's not this case. This is literally the case of a couple of the top competitors in the world, year after year after year, are choosing to go at it head to head again. Like, I think it's cool that um Jamie and Amy were like, hey, Laura Lee's doing the show this weekend. Let's go hop in it again. Like, Tyler's head judging again. Let's get right back at it. You had one point on her um from Pittsburgh, so let's go see if we can get first place this week. And if not, um, like we also get to stand next to Isa and get feedback against her, against Laura Lee, and whatever Amy's feedback might have been in Pittsburgh, they try to capitalize on that. Or they try to play with another look, whatever it may be. Laura Lee. I like how she called it phase 2.5, because I don't know if they were even planning on doing this show, but it's like she just had her best physique that she has ever put on a bikini stage, ever. Uh, in my opinion, one of the best physiques that's ever been on a bikini stage, period, not just Laura Lee's best. Um, and so I think that that's going to be in um like the the hype behind Jamie hopping on an interview and Damien hopping on an interview, and then cash on his stories just kicking his feet up, like, hey, my girls are resting, you guys have fun competing. All I care about is that fucking Olympia title. Like, it's amazing. It's so cool to see. Like, I love it. I love it.
SPEAKER_03I think we've never had this in bikini before. And I think, don't get me wrong, I know a lot. There's a few people that like, oh, I don't, I don't like when you know people are doing this or people are talking like this. But you're not used to seeing this though. Like there's bikini has never, I personally feel like been this exciting before, where there are athletes actually going up and saying, no, this is our this is our strategy, this is what we're doing, and we're really excited to do this because it gets people wanting to watch. And I think, yeah, we're probably not used to a lot of women speaking like this, especially from the bikini side of things. And I think this is why I like it so much, is because I do think that this is needed for the for the sport to stay interesting and to stay to keep people watching.
SPEAKER_00I mean, I remember so engaged. The comment sections are going off in a positive way. No one's like, fuck that, fuck them for doing this. No one's doing that. It's like comments with like popcorn and like popcorn memes, and like people are like, I'm living for this right now.
SPEAKER_03Like no one explains so much. I think I got tagged in one of them or something like that, because I was just tagged in the captional whatever. And then I think I think it was the cash one I got tagged in. Where is it? This one where yeah, because it was like, Oh, where am I? I was there, I was there. Oh, there you go, there. I was there. I obviously he's tagged me in it, you know, and then I was like, oh my god, this is gonna be so fun. But again, it's like, I don't know. I think none of this is like so. Obviously, yeah, you've got uh beyond the stage being like rivalry of 2026, rivalry meaning, like it's all I personally feel like it's all fun and games, like it's not in done in a malicious way, it's not done in a personal way, it's done in a way that I feel like shows off the competitiveness of these athletes in a way that can be presented or should be presented.
SPEAKER_00I will say, Jamie, you had a missed opportunity there with Cash's story saying the only goal is Anne knew. She totally should have screenshot of that, put it on her story, and been like, yeah, Amy.
SPEAKER_03Like oh my god, no. Stop, stop it now. But do you know what I mean? I think this is it's never been like this before. And I do think that like it creates, yeah, it just creates a lot more fun for things, and it also just creates something that allows athletes, especially for me, in my opinion, for women, to be competitive. Like, honestly, it's it's very like because it's not been done before, like it's always like, okay, we need to sit back, we can't say much, we don't want to say much. There's never been that opportunity for people to or like if I'm honest, like, yeah, there's been a few comments that Amy people have said Amy is catty. I don't think it's catty. I think it's because people have never seen women be this competitive in a way that is confident. Do you know what I mean?
SPEAKER_00Because I feel like a part of it is the the gate has been kind of lifted for this to happen. When you have someone like Damien that comes into bikini, and now cash has been here for a minute, and they bring that energy that other divisions have, and they're bringing it over here. Like Damien made a good, a very good point where other than Hani Rambod, Damien has the most wins in history as a coach, like the most titles. He's won how many Olympias? And so he literally put that in an interview, like said that on his page. And then you have uh like other people jumping in because bikini hasn't had that type of coaching presence where people are out there doing that. Like Jamie's always been head down, work, we fucking win. Kimoto, head down work, we win. But now people are being a little bit more lively about it because, and that's what I'm saying, that's why I agree with you. It's not a rivalry, no one dislikes each other like this. They're not like, oh, who the fuck is this guy talking like that? It's like, oh, you want to come over here and start doing this? We'll we'll jab back at you too. And it's it's really fun to see, it's really cool to see.
SPEAKER_03I do think that that's and and that's what I feel like the women's divisions need in a way that isn't malicious because it's none of it's done in a malicious way. I do think that it's just something that people aren't used to seeing. So, yeah, people are gonna have mixed opinions about women speaking up about how they feel because they're allowed to be confident and they're allowed to be you know confident in their ability to want to win. And I don't think that's a bad thing, but I do think it's different. So people are like, I don't know if I like this side. Well, this is the side that the men show a lot of the times, and that's okay to do. Whereas I don't think, I don't think people disregard it, and I but I do think that it's just not seen as much, and I think this is a perfect opportunity for people to say, yeah, I'm not afraid. Like, I I've never seen so many like coaches and even judges being on so many interviews, which again, shout out to Beyond the Sage and John and whatever everyone that's doing their thing to allow us to get this kind of exclusive information from all of these people because it keeps the sport alive. And I do think bodybuilding is something that is go ahead. I do think this is needed, this is needed for the sport to kind of stay alive as well.
SPEAKER_00I was trying to get ahead of it because I thought there was still a two-second cutoff going on. Apparently, I'm on the same time as you now. Um, um it bodybuilding's likely never going to be like on ESPN, right? And so we have to create our own. And beyond the stage and John, like they're doing that in a very positive way. They're bringing eyes, and these things are these interviews are circulating in ways that they wouldn't before. Like, yeah, have we had Instagram for a while? Of course, but that doesn't mean everyone's gonna see it because not everyone follows everyone, but everyone's following beyond the stage. They're got like a hundred thousand followers now, and that's all industry. That's all sponsors, promoters, judges, competitors, coaches. And so they're making that stuff like go viral within our industry and our community, and it's doing very positive things. So I like that a lot. Um, hilarious story while we're on this topic, because we've talked about this several times about like, what if like bikini was just like, what if we just did something like men's physique or like open and how they like trash talk? Hilarious story for you from this weekend. Me and Cash are sitting together, men's physique is on stage, okay? And um Cash's gonna hear this and crack up because it was one of the funniest moments I've experienced at a show. So Ali Balal and Chiron are on stage, right? One and two. For those of you that don't watch Men's Physique, they're listening to this. Ali is like a top guy, second at the Olympia a couple times. Kyron has been away from the stage for a minute. So Chiron's coach is sitting next to us, and him and Ali must be cool. But they're on Ali is on stage on the diagonals, waiting for call-outs, right? And Chiron's coach is sitting next to us, and he catches eyes with Ali, and Ali starts blowing him kisses, like down into down into the stands. And so Kyron's coach like gets out of his seat and looks and starts pointing at him and going like this to him, like, you're done, you're done. And they're like having banters while Ali is on stage. I look at Cash and I go, Hey, uh, how much should you give me if I start doing that during bikini tomorrow? I just fucking like look at Laura Lee while she's on stage. You're fucking done. Like you're like, can you can you imagine if that happened in bikini? I was dying at that happening. I was like, no way that would ever happen in another division. Drama. I think it was crazy.
SPEAKER_03I will say it now. I think mental physique is probably the most dramatic category of all time. Like 1000%. They are because and to be fair, I I even saw um one of the men's physique competitors that didn't compete, but he was there. I think his name's is it King George?
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_03He uh we had a little conversation after, and like I actually really respect because again, Ali gives it online like a lot. And like I do know it keeps it interesting, it keeps it fun, but he also lost with grace as well. Like he said, well done, he did a little speech and everything like that, and like he's running for the Olympia. That's how you lose graciously, right? In my opinion, I feel like he could have had an opportunity to be like this, that, the other, blah, blah, blah, all that type of thing, but like, which also he can do whatever he wants. But I think that's what why it's it's it's exciting to watch men's visitors because yeah, they give it all of that, but there's nothing personal about it. It is just literally, it's just literally what they're doing. That's it, that's what it comes down to.
SPEAKER_00It's not like Amy takes like a note from that in a sense of passionate and positive, but still like a little drama behind it, where like they can there can be some banter between coaches, maybe between some athletes, but then Amy goes and gets second place with Grace on stage. I see her in the caption she made congratulating Laura Lee, and then they want to go back at it again in Miami. Like those two things right there are on opposite ends of the spectrum, but are both very positive ways of doing things. Like, I'm gonna congratulate you, and now I'm coming for you. So it's like that's it's really cool to see. Like Bikini has never had this before, so it's awesome.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and I think it's I I like I said before, I think it's needed to keep the vision alive, quite honestly. Like, because we want to create excitement, but not in a way that's dramatic on purpose, but like because we are competitive women and we can speak about how passionate we are.
SPEAKER_00You had James Holland's head in the comment sections rooting for you on like the teeny news pages. Like that's it's so cool the hype that's being delivered.
SPEAKER_03James is my my bro. James is my bro. I love James Holland's head. But like again, like going back to also being able to step into our power and actually speak confidently and strongly about how we are in the division. We don't have to sit back. In my opinion, I really, really like this. And I I don't know if I'm looking into it too much, or people who are like, shut up, Phoebe, like it's it's just like talking, but it is more than that, in my opinion. It is allowing women to be feel and speak confidently about how they are competitors. And for me, that is a huge thing because yeah, you can say, like, oh, you know, it's too much, it's catty, it's whatever. It's really not, it's actually allowing women to be able to step confidently into this space without being feeling like they can't because again, bikini's always been looked at as one of the divisions that's like, oh, you know, it's bikini. No, it's bikini, you know, like we have muscle, we have density, and we should be allowed to kind of like talk about how confident we feel and competitive we are, you know?
SPEAKER_00Yep. Anyway, and there's it's also bringing like there's a tension on bikini that there hasn't really been. Like I was sitting with Hunter Labrada, like we stayed in the Airbnb together this weekend, and he came to bikini with me and was literally asking me questions about the criteria. He's like, How do you tell first and fourth apart right here? Like, what are you looking at? And I told him, and he's like, Okay, okay, there's people literally like that wouldn't have cared about bikini otherwise, like maybe years ago, taking more interest because whether they like it or not, like it's being shoved in their faces online in a positive way. Like all this banter, all of this like positive banter and positive drama and the the quote unquote rivalries that like some pages are trying to act like there is. Like, it's more fun to watch for people that aren't you and me. Like I can sit through 80 bikini competitors at the Olympia and love every second of it. But not everyone can do that. So it's creating more positivity for them to also enjoy the division, which in the long run ends up bringing more eyes to the division, more sponsorship opportunities, potentially more pay. Like it's very positive all around in the long run.
SPEAKER_03And I do think people are actually taking it more seriously as well, because I do think that again, people because in my again, in my opinion, when people like Laurelie, like Amy, speak up and talk confidently about how passionate they are about their division, people take that seriously. We're not just bikini girls that are pretty with boobs of whatever. Like that, and I know that's not to say that that's what they are, but I know that's how people view bikini.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's an interpretation of it for a lot of people. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and people view it like that. And I I I for me, I want people to speak up and talk about things in a different manner so people take it seriously. And again, it doesn't matter like who takes it seriously or not, but again, it does because it creates, like you said, more sponsorships, more opportunities, but move things moving forwards. And I think this is the start, honestly, of something fucking massive in terms of if people continue to again not cause drama for no reason, but speak confidently about like Issa going up and talking about XYZ or like Issa and James did an interview. Like these types of things we've never seen before. We've never seen coaches and clients and top-level clients going and actually talking and generally talking about how like they're feeling versus it being like, oh yeah, like we'll see what happens. Like it's not that anymore. It's like, no, we want to know the scoop. And like, yeah, yeah, I love it. Anyway, that's my rank of it.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna tune our own horn here because after they all all the coaches do this, come over to Stage Talk and get the unbiased opinion, guys. Like, we'll take what all of them are saying and we'll bundle it up for you guys.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, we should do like a watch party or something like that. We should watch like all their interviews and then be like, right, that was hilarious. This is what we think. Um, but yeah, anyway, that was my view, and that's something I definitely wanted to I wanted to speak about massively because I don't think again, you see comments, I don't think people get it. Like people don't get what is actually happening in terms of like why Amy and Jamie did like that interview, or why people are just doing interviews in general because I feel like it is needed, you know? Yeah, anyway. That's my two cents. So I'm a bit passionate about that when it comes to stuff like that. So right. And then we've got Poland's a really good show.
SPEAKER_01Oh wait, I think.
SPEAKER_00I think you got Anna, you got Evie.
SPEAKER_01Is Evie doing Poland? Where the hell is this?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, she went back into Europe.
SPEAKER_03Oh yeah, you have. Do you feel like Evie improved from last so I know she's you know gone down a little bit in placings from New York to Pittsburgh and stuff like that, and like what do you feel like she would have needed to do from Pittsburgh, uh from New York to Pittsburgh?
SPEAKER_00Um, I'm trying to remember New York off the top of my head, but looking at her in Pittsburgh, I didn't I don't know what her feedback was. I actually think it's um sitting in a message for me to go look at, but um I I thought she looked too hard when she came out. Her and Allison both came out to me and just like stuck out to me as a little bit too conditioned. Um, I thought that Evie looked great muscularly and overall pop, like she looked like revitalized. I was like, holy shit, like that's some muscle, that's some pop to your physique, that's some fullness. But it was almost like every step that she took looked a little bit too conditioned in comparison to obviously the top four, top five at this show. Um, so that's so I think going into Poland, um, I think like bring down that conditioning a tad bit, and I think that she's gonna be golden. Um, you got Anna in there, who's no easy person to beat, obviously. Um Lisa's in the show. Yeah. So really, really good show in Poland as well. That's a fun one to watch.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, where is she? Yeah, she's got some crazy glites.
SPEAKER_03She's got some crazy glites. It'd be cool to see her and Evie next to each other. And then who else we've got? We've got Lisa as well.
SPEAKER_00Lisa's in it.
SPEAKER_03And we've got Alessia.
SPEAKER_00Alessia's in there. Oh, Irene's in it too.
SPEAKER_03And you've got um, I think Mia. She did FIBA and got third. That's right, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. So God, I I feel like the season's just starting, but we're already through. It's fucking crazy.
SPEAKER_03I know. I'm like, it's gone very quickly. Yeah, all of a sudden, but also there was we got three months still cut off.
SPEAKER_00Oh, is it three? I thought it was four for some reason. August 29th. We're at the end of May, June, July, August, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Crazy. Yeah, then we've got Lisa as well.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, we've got loads, we've got loads of people. I'm excited. I think this is a really cool lineup to kind of see how everyone gets on. And then it's gonna be good. Oh my god, then we've got an Asia show as well.
SPEAKER_00Oh yes. There was um who is in here? I saw one name. I looked at her photos and I was like, I have oh the yeah, the the rookie. I don't know what her name is there, but says it's her second approach. I looked at her page, she was impressive.
SPEAKER_02Which one?
SPEAKER_00Uh her you clicked her handle. The uh she looked good. A lot of pop to her physique. Good delta good glues. Yeah. Wow. This is crazy guys. Yeah, like long tie-ins pop in really well for the great. So excited to see this one too. Excited to see the results here.
SPEAKER_03This isn't really interesting.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, there we go. That top right photo there is really good. Who's this?
SPEAKER_02This is Helena. I don't know. Oh, she's been in the cruise.
SPEAKER_00Okay.
SPEAKER_03This is a very good transformation. I'm not too sure when that was from to, but this is a good transformation. She's held up fullness very well in the in the low body and stuff.
SPEAKER_02It's gonna be cool.
SPEAKER_03I mean, this season, honestly, like I feel like overall, with where it's gone, like already, the level of like competitors that have already come out the first like first half of the this season is been incredible. Like people that are winning the shows, people that are like the dead the le I think people don't under aren't understanding how the level of density these girls actually have.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it's crazy. Um it's it's cool, especially cool, because I think that seeing where bikini is at right now and seeing where fit model is at right now, there's such a it's not even a fine line. It is so clear the difference between the two. And we've seen who the top fit model girls are. You see Shay, you see Gabby, you see the girls that are consistently winning, consistently top five, and then you see Phoebe and Amy and Laura Lee. And there is not even the slightest comparison between the two. It's it's such a distinction between the divisions, and I love that that standards have been set. Um love the direction of fit model, love seeing how big the rosters are at the shows, and this is this is my all-time favorite look on bikini in bikini history. I love where it is right now.
SPEAKER_03I agree. I feel like it's a really good look where it's like density, conditioning, like it's not too conditioned where it's like too much, where it I don't know, I don't know how to explain it, but it is just like a good overall balance of the two. Whereas I do feel like sometimes it was like, but it also allows like athletes to be able to keep training as well. Because I feel like there was a lot a period of time where there was a lot of athletes that were just capped completely, yeah, and it was like, cool, we can't get any bigger than this, and like it's hard when it's like that because you want to, as athletes, be able to be our best and train hard and keep improving in that way. But when you're capped and you're like, cool, no, you're not you don't need to do anything else. It kind of is like that, it's not as exciting for the athlete.
SPEAKER_00Like big tip of the hat to the to Tyler and the judges because the the criteria is still being upheld, regardless of how much muscle and density there is on the bikini physiques. They still knock you for shoulder striations, they still knock you for walking to the back and having glute striations, they still knock you for too big of adductors. So everything is still very balanced, very hourglass, very S-curve. But on the coaching end of things, it's like a fun science project because it's okay, we know that we can get muscular. Now let's find the right conditioning, the right fullness without teetering over that line of having striations, of being too much, of having that grainy look to our skin. And so it's just fun all around because, like you said, there's there's that cap has been raised a bit in terms of like, oh, like we can get bigger and more shapely and more glute density as long as it's balanced, as long as the conditioning is correct. And so it's it's really cool. And that's why I said it's my favorite look of all time for bikini right now. I'm very, very stoked with where this is at.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I agree. I agree.
SPEAKER_00Have we got any questions for the I no, we kind of answered, like answered everything. I got sent the I got I got sent all the BTS interviews like 50 times from people, and so we touched on everything that people cared about this week.
SPEAKER_03Same everyone was literally like, and again, even me when I went to see one of my friends to train today, she was like, dude, did you see the the drama? And I'm like, this is why it's so fun, because it's like it's just exciting, and it's not done in I personally feel like in a way that is any way, shape, or form malicious. It's just very exciting, which I love to see from my division, you know.
SPEAKER_00Yep. So and I want to touch on that before we end too. I'm gonna put us off on a very like positive but serious note. Remember everyone that comments on these things and is making videos that were a little bit more human than other sports. Other sports have multi-million dollar contracts, they are very wealthy. The MLB, the NFL, like people talk shit all the time about athletes on other teams and the Lakers and the this, right? Like people can speak all they want about LeBron James negatively, the man sitting there rolling around his billions of dollars, like, oh boo-hoo. We don't have that in bikini. We don't have that necessarily in bodybuilding. And so when you're going to make comments online, knowing that, oh, they're getting a little bit more like uh like gossipy, a little bit more dramatic here with this stuff, it is for the most part fun in games. It is obviously like fun rivalry, but there's no malicious intent behind it. So remember that like if you say something about Phoebe online, she is reading her comments. Like she is, like, she sees her DMs. She isn't a billionaire with 20 million followers on Instagram that, like, oh, look, just another hate message. Shit can actually affect people, uh, male or female in bodybuilding. So, like, watch how you come across with stuff. Like, I had to like kind of put someone in their place on some bullshit comment they made about Amy earlier on something. I was like, this is stupid. Like, why are you on here making these comments? Like, this is meant to be like a fun rivalry. Like two people that are going at each other, trying to climb the totem pole, going into a show, and you had to turn it into something that it's not. Like, there's a line there with this stuff. So remember that bodybuilding as a sport, as athletes, is a little bit more human than other sports because we most of us still at the end of the day go home to a Monday to Friday job or go home to like regular lives, if you will, in comparison to having multi-million dollar contracts in other sports. So remember that when you're commenting on social media, you're you're commenting to the person directly and they will see it.
SPEAKER_03Very, very true. And like even there's a person behind who you're talking about, like every single time. So just remember that because it's really easy to kind of like get lost. Well, for some people, it's easy to get lost and be like, oh, this is this, and like you don't know what's going on in anyone's lives. So just remember that. So yes, okay, cool. Well, very good episode, very strong, passionate episode. So uh thank you guys for um tuning in, of course. See you guys next week with the results of the video. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Oh boy. Let me see.
SPEAKER_00Oh, are we in a thousand yet? No, we were in 99.
SPEAKER_03Still, I really wanted it, I really wanted it to say, oh fuck, we can't see it. I really wanted to say that.
SPEAKER_00Stevie is giving away a lifetime free posing to someone. Just not doing that.
SPEAKER_03No, I'm not, bitch. But someone, one person. Someone go make a fake email and subscribe. Literally, I'm gonna do it myself at this point. I'm literally like doing it like I wanted it, I really wanted to at the end of the podcast be like, we're at a thousand. No, we're not at a thousand. Thanks guys for ruining it. But um, make sure you subscribe because we are literally so close to a thousand. And when we are at a thousand, we are gonna do another giveaway. And last time, our last giveaway got six thousand comments, and we gave away a full on suit. So when we get to a thousand, we're gonna do the same again, or something similar. So, yeah, right.
SPEAKER_00Thanks for tuning in.
SPEAKER_03Thank you so much. We'll see you in the next one.