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What happens when you’ve finished your Novice Linear Progression? In this episode, Stronger is Better host Nick Delgadillo joins Ray Gillenwater to discuss what to do next — how to transition intelligently from the Starting Strength Program into effective intermediate training.

Nick breaks down how to recognize when it’s time to move beyond novice programming, how to make changes reluctantly and purposefully, and how to manage stress and recovery as you advance. He walks through practical examples for each lift — the squat, press, deadlift, and bench press — explaining how small, deliberate adjustments extend your progress for months or even years.

🗓️ Note: This episode originally aired on the Starting Strength Gyms Podcast on September 11, 2023.

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🔗 Brought to you by https://www.startingstrengthgyms.com

🎧 New episodes every other week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

📩 Send feedback or questions to: podcast@ssgyms.com

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In this powerful episode of the Stronger is Better Podcast, Nick Delgadillo is joined by UK-based client and father James Collinge to discuss how strength training has transformed his life—not just in the gym, but in parenting a disabled child.

James shares how barbell training prepared him physically and mentally for the unpredictable demands of caring for his autistic son, and how strength offers freedom, control, and peace of mind in even the most chaotic moments. Whether you’re a parent, a coach, or someone seeking a deeper reason to train, this episode is a must-listen.

00:00 - Intro: Meet James Collinge

01:45 - Training overview and coaching relationship

06:00 - Programming simplicity and advanced progress

09:00 - Current lifts and Dinnie Stones goal

13:20 - Grip work and unconventional lifting prep

18:56 - Specialization vs tradeoffs in strength

21:00 - Daily life with recovery, food, and structure

27:30 - How strength helps parenting a disabled child

30:30 - Real-life travel and care challenges

33:45 - Physical freedom and reduced anxiety

36:30 - Strength makes things easier—not just possible

38:11 - Strength changes social dynamics and confidence

40:40 - Controlling physical situations safely

43:41 - The emotional toll of high-stress parenting

46:00 - A message to parents of disabled children

48:33 - Capability = lower life stress

50:45 - Capability for the long haul: aging with responsibility

53:08 - It's your responsibility to stay strong

55:00 - Final reflections and future of Starting Strength Gyms

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🔗 Brought to you by https://www.startingstrengthgyms.com

🎧 New episodes every other week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

📩 Send feedback or questions to: podcast@ssgyms.com

Send us a text

In this episode of the Stronger is Better Podcast, Nick Delgadillo shares a talk he delivered at the Starting Strength Cincinnati Member event in August 2025.

This talk dives deep into the consequences of modern comfort, the transformative value of hard physical effort, and the role of barbell training in reclaiming your physical existence. Nick outlines how stress, recovery, and adaptation aren’t just for strength gains — they’re foundational to becoming a better human.

He also explores the three dimensions of capability: intelligence, connection with others, and connection with your physical body — and how barbell training uniquely activates all three.

If you’re looking for meaning in your training — or need a reminder of why it matters — this is the episode to watch.

Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: The power of community at SS Cincinnati

02:00 – Why strength training is still underrated

05:00 – Better people through hard physical things

07:00 – Stress–Recovery–Adaptation and the S.A.I.D. principle

10:20 – Why lifting gets harder, and why that’s the point

13:00 – Accumulated stress and managing recovery

16:00 – Why performance is non-negotiable

18:00 – The “Three Capabilities” model: Mind, connection, body

21:00 – Why physical capability is a human-level multiplier

25:00 – Strength training as a humbling and clarifying process

28:00 – The law of diminishing returns in real time

30:00 – Why you don’t need to quit lifting for cardio

33:00 – Understanding the physical spectrum

36:00 – Bigger muscles = health, longevity, and looking better

40:00 – Why barbells are the most disruptive and accessible tool

43:00 – Three ingredients for happiness (from Matt Larsen)

46:30 – “The lust for comfort murders the passion of the soul”

48:00 – Final thoughts and closing quote from Rip

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🔗 Brought to you by https://www.startingstrengthgyms.com

🎧 New episodes every other week on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify

📩 Send feedback or questions to: podcast@ssgyms.com