Dr Mike Israetel, The Philosopher Bodybuilder: Quillette Cetera Episode 36

Dr Mike Israetel is a well-known figure in the fitness and bodybuilding community, recognised for his expertise in sports science, particularly in the areas of hypertrophy (muscle growth), strength training, and nutrition. He holds a PhD in Sport Physiology and has a background in competitive bodybuilding, powerlifting, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

As someone with a keen interest in bodybuilding, I’ve been following Dr Mike for a while and appreciate how he blends his expertise in sports science with witty humour and quips on “woke” ideology. Bodybuilders aren’t often known for their intelligence, but Dr Mike is an exception. His interest in philosophy, politics, and free-market economics led him to discover Quillette.

When I saw that he started following Quillette’s Instagram page, I invited him on the podcast to talk, not about protein, squats, and bench-presses, but about the Enlightenment, religion, war, and antisemitism.

For those of you who know Dr Mike, I hope you enjoy seeing his more philosophical, political side. For those of you who don’t know him, I hope this conversation inspires you to not only train your brain (by reading Quillette) but also train your body. As Dr Mike says in this conversation, “I think challenging yourself in the gym can become something that teaches you a little bit more about the deeper wisdom in life,” something that Ancient Greek philosophers such as Socrates would probably agree with.

An Apology of the Body

Among the earliest meditations on the relationship between the body and soul are the dialogues of Socrates. Drawing from three different works—Plato’s Apology, Phaedo, and Xenophon’s Memorabilia—Socrates argues for the broad moral appeal of improving one’s body, the significance of which far exceeds the domain

QuilletteJoe Lombardo