#477 Stuart Locke - Being Hard to Kill, Being Easy to Coach
Stuart Locke, founder of Kodiak Barbell and a powerlifting coach, recounts surviving a near-fatal medical crisis triggered by a rare genetic mutation (RYR1) that caused malignant hyperthermia during surgery. After rupturing his bicep and being exposed to a dangerous anesthetic, his body plunged into a catastrophic metabolic cascade—complete rigor mortis, extreme fever (42.5°C), kidney failure, and brain swelling—leading to a coma and life support. Miraculously, his creatinine kinase dropped 40,000 points in just four hours, and he woke up fully intact. The episode dives into the paradox of resilience: how his intense physical conditioning and aggressive mindset may have contributed to his survival, even as his muscle mass amplified the biological storm. Locke then shifts to practical training philosophy, rejecting extreme bulking and cuts in favor of a sustainable, periodized approach—36 weeks of moderate surplus, 16 weeks of cutting—resulting in steady muscle gain without excessive fat. He emphasizes that most people don’t need hyper-technical training; the basics work. He also unpacks the psychological barriers to coaching, especially neuroticism, and introduces tools like 'playing it out' to dismantle irrational fears. Finally, he advocates for authenticity online: showing your real self—flaws, hobbies, and all—because people don’t pay for polished NPCs; they pay for genuine connection and trust.
Survive a near-fatal malignant hyperthermia episode triggered by RYR1 gene mutation and anesthetic reaction, with creatinine kinase dropping 40,000 points in four hours.
Muscle mass increases risk in RYR1-related crises, but also likely contributed to survival through physical resilience and conditioning.
Use a 36-week moderate surplus (300–500 calories/day) followed by 16-week cut to gain 7–8 lbs of muscle over two years with minimal fat gain.
Most people don’t need complex training—just progressive overload on basic lifts like bench, squat, and press.
Neuroticism is the biggest barrier to coaching; use 'playing it out' to deconstruct irrational fears and build mental toughness.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
The Near-Death Experience: A Genetic Crisis
“I was in acute kidney injury, I was in kidney failure. And then they had controlled my fever. Things were looking okay. And then the second night. My body just to try as like control, alt, delete and process, like just get rid of it.”
The Medical Meltdown: From Coma to Recovery
“They ended up having to put me on this like huge exothermic cooling suit that runs like ice cold water all over your entire body.”
The Dumbest Ways to Gain Weight (And Why They Failed)
Stuart shares three failed attempts to gain weight: drinking a gallon of milk daily, eating pizza, and using steroids and extreme carbs to gain 37 pounds in 10 weeks.
The Sustainable Muscle-Building Blueprint
“You do that for a couple years. I've had guys that are with me three, three and a half years at this point. They're maybe seven or eight pounds heavier than they were at the start.”
The Myth of Overtraining and the Power of Basics
Stuart argues that fatigue is overrated for most people; the basics—progressive overload on fundamental lifts—work for 90% of people.
“Uh, and then by the next day, like I was in acute kidney injury, I was in kidney failure. Uh, and then they had controlled my fever. Things were looking okay. And then the second night. My body just to try as like control, alt, delete and process, like just get rid of it.”
“And if people vibe with you, cool. If people don't vibe with you. That's fine. They were probably never going to pay you anyways,”
“So it's not so much that they failed to squat. It's that failing a squat makes them feel bad about them and it's changed their perception of themselves.”
Host
Guest
Stuart Locke
person
Andrew Coates
person
Kodiak Barbell
organization
Ozzy
other
RYR1
other
RP Strength
organization
Just Bite Me Meals
organization
Jordan Feigenbaum
person
Jen Kish
person
Cody Locke
person
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