Video summary
In this episode titled "Forearm day with James Smith," the host and guest engage in a candid discussion that oscillates between fitness philosophy, personal anecdotes, and heated banter regarding performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The conversation begins with skepticism about energy drinks and sleep habits before shifting to accusations of drug use. The speaker defends his physique against rumors involving Mike Burst, noting that while the latter is knowledgeable, their training dynamic has caused friction due to intense sparring in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. A significant portion of this debate centers on blood work results; although James Smith's data from a year ago showed naturally elevated testosterone levels around 8 nmol/L without hypertrophy training or PEDs, the host questions whether such metrics are natural given his current leaner and stronger appearance alongside expensive car purchases. The dialogue highlights the tension between objective biological markers and subjective perceptions of "unnatural" gains in bodybuilding circles. The workout segment focuses heavily on specific exercises tailored to avoid injury while maximizing forearm development and upper back strength, acknowledging past lower back issues that have forced modifications to traditional lifts like power cleans, devil presses, deadlifts, and squats. James Smith demonstrates a preference for chest-supported dumbbell rows over standard variations because they allow him to adjust the arc of movement between an upper-back bias and a lat focus without engaging his compromised lumbar region. He also expresses strong enthusiasm for TRX suspension training, particularly the row variation which he considers superior despite common claims that it does not build significant mass. The session includes practical demonstrations of reverse lunges with suitcase carries to activate glutes safely, emphasizing form adjustments like leaning slightly forward to mitigate back strain and prevent cramping in tight spaces or awkward positions. Beyond physical training, the podcast delves into lifestyle choices, nutritional strategies involving creatine sourced from non-Chinese manufacturers, and the psychological impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive function. The speakers discuss how artificial testosterone elevation affects body temperature and energy levels, leading to a humorous yet critical examination of alcohol consumption as another "drug" that alters behavior. There is also a meta-commentary on podcast production dynamics; James Smith notes how seating arrangements at long tables versus sitting with elbows on the table significantly change conversational flow and intimacy, arguing that leaning forward fosters better engagement than reclining back. This observation extends to their broader network of connections in Austin and beyond, joking about being so well-connected that they could theoretically reach anyone from Joe Rogan to Elon Musk via text message if necessary. The conversation takes a sharp turn toward socio-political topics, specifically abortion rights and the speaker's unique position as an adoptee who was once close enough to be considered part of the "abortion community." James Smith uses this personal history to deflect accusations of being right-wing or anti-abortion, framing his stance on bodily autonomy within that specific context. The discussion touches upon current political climates in Australia regarding Trump and trans ideology, with the host expressing frustration over perceived government overreach and a desire for freedom from deportation threats. Ultimately, the episode concludes with reflections on resilience against external pressures—whether they be physical injuries, societal judgments about drug use, or political instability—and an assertion of independence through strong personal networks that protect them from being silenced by authorities like ICE.
Read the full video transcript
show them what you show them what
something n worse see this I know a good
energy drink when I see one after all
we've been through
it Sleeping with the Enemy how can I
trust you now do you really sleep on an
anink I promise I do ag1 element I just
don't know who to believe or what to
believe anymore are you really friends
with Mike Israel or is that just AI put
your nomatic bag back
on they're good they sleeps on a n Sleep
using a manta eyass nomadic backpack
consider him influenced no no GRE
consider him influenced if the price is
right I'll come you know I'm very I'm
very anti-aging one but if I bring if I
bring the podcast
back tell you what do you know who is
good to train with Mike burst he is good
to train with and he's super
knowledgeable but
sorry apart from making me feel like a
skinny tail [ __ ] but to make me feel
bad I he [ __ ] had in my jiujitsu but so
imagine this the other day I am I was
joking around in a video talking about F
Naes and I messaged Mike thirst as we
recording go and send me a Blog work and
he sent it within like an hour well he
works with a company in Dubai now yeah
but the thing is his free test is at
like 4:50 has anyone seen James Smith's
blood work that's what I want to see
yeah I've got it
this it's just got trim my arms they
look bigger when you trim hair it makes
you look more jacked right okay all of
this from last year so if we can
actually try and cut to us in Canada I'm
just doing my session well you seem bit
defensive mate that's all you just seem
a little bit defensive did they
naturally gets testosterone up to8 or
unnaturally I'm not saying we should
start rumors that he is on the HMS good
[ __ ] James accusing me of being on
performance enhancing drugs well just
look at the now a father much more
expensive car about to buy another
expensive car no time to really go to
the gym that much objectively bigger
leaner and stronger whilst having done
no hypertrophy training at all and
wrecking your knee this year so it's
like we all know what it feels to me
it's like unnatural we all know the
benefits of creating we all know them
they're well documented and I'm looking
to get into the creating Market thanks
thanks a lot for telling that did you
know that there is only one brand of
creatine on the entire planet that is
not made in
China freure if it's not PR pure German
every other creating on the planet is
either supplied by or created in Trina
China
who thank you very 4 hours sleep
was all
excitable I
mean sympathetically
aroused
[Music]
Yes
dear oh God
bless God
bless had two breakfasts today but I'm
sure bit of back and chest R yet you're
to breakfast yeah I was some people I
don't really the old bang bang I haven't
got any I don't delegate any work cuz
I'm a terrible
boss what do you mean I just hate giving
things to people no no no I understand
what delegate means I mean what do you
mean trying to say that you don't
delegate anything like the the poor
video slave that you've brought with you
he's didn't get breakfast this morning
he's a he's a creative he didn't even
get he doesn't let look bloke holding
the camera you'll notice very steady
that's because his blood sugar levels
have been regulated with all of the
lovely food that he got inside of
himself before he had to work this
morning de on the other hand did I tell
you what happened about the guillotine
in Vegas he didn't so we we got to the
room bit drunk while afternoon and I'm
wrestling Jaden Darren and um we' like
get a bit sweaty on the floor whatever I
poun at dein right he puts me in one of
the tightest skill tees I've ever felt
and I had to tap because I was going out
and I get up and I'm like whoa whoa whoa
what has just happened here he's never
really done jiujitsu before but he knows
how to do a guil team but he does
calisthenics so he can do like 15 strict
chinups without as a warm up on the bar
so the dude's got freak
St I get taed by a guy that doesn't
change
Jiu-Jitsu
embarrassing caught me off guard I've
increased his pay
since if you're not slightly fear you're
threatened yeah just so he doesn't choke
me out
again that's exactly why I train I don't
train
to be stronger or fitter or live longer
I do it so that the staff are terrified
to ask for a pay rise yeah that's right
you just got to St store them out and
give them a pay cut with inflation bro
now Trump's in office I can [ __ ] I
can do what I
want you can what time to be
alive first show in
Australia Canon monster Trump president
trans ideology down the draam the big FL
it's no longer
fashionable row up he says after telling
a story about wrestling sweaty man on
the floor or front rack reverse
lunges hold a ball like this step back
and you come back up M I've been
acrostic workout once I've got cramp in
my glutes like running like I've never
for me glute activation from r revers l
nothing
there Step ups for me leaning a little
bit of a lean forward d in either hand
suitcase that's why sometimes like a
reverse lunge because there's no lenting
[ __ ] that can benefit the content true
so why I mean by that is when you're
stepping up onto a box you bring your
weight forward and you come up when you
start your concentric down here there's
like no way to do I tried to avoid too
much uh way the pie for the old level
back so if I was doing it I'd do how is
the level fine but because I'm now I
mean you've [ __ ] known me since it
was good bad good again it's your kill
Rapture keep turn off no it was before
that the the original [ __ ] the
original injury was lower back but it's
good because I worked at it and now I
just don't do stuff that hurts it I
don't do power cleans I don't do devil
press I don't do deadlift I don't do
back back squat I just work around it
and now it doesn't give me any jet at
all have you seen Scorpio
[Laughter]
Masters I'm [ __ ] it's like quite a
lot ready Fierce all
right so just think of the lower
backs all
right for those of you that don't follow
James on Instagram he has this it's like
if you've been framed prank fall over
videos was made for the Tik Tok
generation that's all of his reals faal
compilations loves them
yep quite nice do you know what I like I
love the TRX row good suspension
trainer the
most X poor PT movement ever absolutely
like I once worked in a pure gym where
there was no kit available so I actually
had to Gaslight myself into thinking
that TRX rows no one ever got big doing
TRX rows ever ever no one ever got big
no one ever got strong at least one
person did starts with t doesn't finish
with RS
what have you seemen very cognitively
benefited since I've account of that can
I say 4 hours sleep one of these I'm
[ __ ] God right
now wow that's a midet
deodorant the body the body becomes
hotter when it's got artificially
increased levels of
testosterone is that right James these
rumors getting in trouble well I mean
like the ones that you tried to start
about me in Canada last year ah
retribution Revenge a dish best served
cold very one year cold actually most of
the day slightly St it's the uh fouryear
aniversary of when I moved George Mack
out to deai with me because we were flee
fleeing the UK's lockdowns do you know
it' be it'd be a lot easier to make
these accusations if W more Jack than it
yeah well poot Carol black situation
hard work pays off as Matt Fraser once
said and then printed on a t-shirt all
right
good if
like that's true I mean there's a number
of people that came up last night and
went [ __ ] hell mate you weren't
kidding were
you one would ask where the
forearm
right
so they are good forms that did you do
no what did you that do for work yeah
that's why engine your forearms
that sounds a lot like ancestral trauma
that James epigenetics oh I know about
my
lat oh just cuz I'm ad doct D rub it in
Sal in the Lo Christ Jo Chris come
Chris singing absolutely put about this
your mom your dad the one you never had
James SMI
[Music]
[Laughter]
bring back abortions James can you do
your bid about how everybody talks about
abortion and sort of campaigns for it
but there's nobody who actually
represents the abortion Community closer
than an adop
te don't do it guys because just have it
and give it away if you're an adoptee a
conversation was had at one point so you
were as close to an aborted baby as it's
possible to beat so really no one can
ever call James right wing yeah that's
your protection vote for who you want
James that's true vote for Trump again
it's like when you're non-binary and you
can just be protected from everything
that's you yeah exactly yep
but do what you want it's your body your
choice so good
yeah unless you're in Ireland in 1989 I
want to do I just don't like can we do
chest supported dumbbell rose on a bench
I quite like this one but I why don't we
do this I'm we can know to it just it
just doesn't the arc the
curve when you've done that I a never
like never liked him I don't like having
we activated my lower back she I have no
lower back I don't think this does
activate the reason I have a preference
to chest support
DB is one I get more P for my chest to
be support on then I can move towards
more of a LP bias or more upper back
bias so even it's let's say I'm 15 reps
I could be doing upper back then as I
start to feel mean drop set just change
that up mechanical drop that and also
yeah I just I just feel like and here I
can relax a bit more
contract
relax TR do you know what so I but this
is T I had one beer last night one beer
I can feel it alcohol is [ __ ] well
such a [ __ ] drug dude I know it's such a
[ __ ] drug but then will know what the
drugs
avater but is true
here's a question to you do you think
cuz I've noticed this I am a different
guest on a podcast with my elbows on a
table yeah and I actually realized I was
like I was trying to figure it out so I
did some podcast really well and did
something different when I have my
elbows on a table and I'm like this I'm
a different person and I've come to
realize even when I make content the
setting that you're in whether you're
standing moving whatever the podcast us
us in Austin is really nice but the seat
arrangement I feel like it misses a
table and then when I cuz I listen to
your pod you have
such different conversations across a
long table than doing the shio right and
even though the questions the same but
demean is different you want sitting the
way that I think about it you want
people to be able to sit forward you sat
back like Schultz flagrant Matt and
Shane's Secret show Mark Norman we might
be drunk they're back here they're Ling
around I I want that energy I want like
leaning in forward Joo well [ __ ] eyes
down that's what I want think about this
right this is the crazy thing I think is
so so exciting if you were getting
deported you're one text away from Rogan
from no one you could go to Rogan but
then also you could just float it to
Elon Tim Kennedy Kyle from Bo RFK you're
so well connected now that I'm not even
like being right to the top you can't
get rid of me because the uis is
watching you can get rid of me but
please don't but then I can l honestly
imagine Elon going this guy's great for
Amica there yeah we sort him out we are
so back we are so back