Muscle for Life with Mike Matthews

Mike Matthews ran Muscle for Life for over a decade, racking up nearly 1,200 episodes and more than 25 million downloads before stepping away in early 2025. The show's massive back catalog is still one of the best resources in fitness podcasting. Mike built his reputation as the guy who could take complex exercise science and strip it down to practical, actionable advice without dumbing it down. About 70 percent of episodes are solo Q&A sessions where Mike answers questions pulled from his Instagram followers -- covering everything from training frequency and progressive overload to fat loss plateaus and supplement efficacy. The remaining 30 percent feature longer interviews with researchers, coaches, and athletes. Episodes range from quick 30-minute hits to deep 90-minute conversations depending on the format. What made the show work was Mike's ability to be opinionated without being dogmatic. He'd stake out a position, explain the evidence behind it, and acknowledge where the science was still unclear. As the founder of Legion Athletics, he obviously had a business angle, but the podcast itself stayed focused on education rather than sales pitches. With a 4.8 rating from over 4,500 reviews, the audience clearly agreed. The show is currently on hiatus, so no new episodes are dropping. But the archive alone -- covering muscle building, fat loss, health optimization, and even personal development -- is worth working through if you want evidence-based fitness content delivered without unnecessary fluff.