The Drop Set with Darin Starr: Bodybuilding for the Masses

Darin Starr has been coaching bodybuilders for over 15 years, and his podcast reflects that no-nonsense coaching mentality. The Drop Set positions itself as "bodybuilding for the masses" -- meaning it's not exclusively for IFBB Pros or stage-ready competitors. Darin covers contest prep, training programming, and nutrition with the kind of balanced, science-informed perspective that works for both competitive athletes and serious recreational lifters. Most episodes are solo affairs running 40 to 60 minutes, where Darin works through a topic methodically. He also takes voicemail questions from listeners, which keeps the content grounded in real problems people are actually dealing with. Interview episodes with IFBB Pro athletes and fitness professionals tend to run a bit longer, usually 60 to 80 minutes. One thing listeners consistently praise: Darin gets to the point. He doesn't pad episodes with an hour of rambling before delivering the actual information. The show has 282 episodes and a 4.6 rating from 99 reviews. Recent topics have included critiques of the new Olympia point system, budgeting strategies for competition costs, and practical nutrition approaches. Darin isn't afraid to take strong stances -- his episode titled "Why the New Olympia Point System Sucks" is a good example of his willingness to call out industry decisions he disagrees with. The most recent episode is from September 2025, so the release schedule has been inconsistent lately. But the back catalog is packed with practical, actionable advice for anyone navigating the bodybuilding lifestyle.