Episode 231 - The Sweaty Pig: Building Strength, Community & Breaking Barriers | And If Love Remains Podcast
Mon Sep 22 2025
What happens when passion for strength meets the power of community? 🏋️♀️🐷Host Mike Leavitt sits down with filmmaker Josh Badal and the powerhouse duo behind The Sweaty Pig gym, Jenny Draper (pro strongwoman & founder of Athena’s Arena) and Connor Gordon, to dive into the world of strongman training, women breaking barriers, and how a quirky gym with a funny name became a life-changing community.From working in Antarctica, to creating one of the most inclusive gyms in the country, to running all-women competitions that sell out overnight, this episode is packed with stories of grit, humor, and heart.💡 Whether you’re into lifting, documentaries, or just love hearing about people changing lives through authenticity, this one’s for you!⏱ Show Notes & Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to And If Love Remains02:10 – Meet Jenny Draper: pro strongwoman & founder of Athena’s Arena06:30 – What is Strongman? Beyond fitness into functional extremes12:00 – Connor Gordon’s Antarctica story: lifting at the bottom of the world ❄️20:45 – Founding The Sweaty Pig gym in Salt Lake Valley29:15 – Why women deserve better equipment & competitions35:00 – Building a culture of support, humor, and authenticity43:50 – The documentary project: telling The Sweaty Pig story 🎬51:20 – How strongman helps with mental health & community58:00 – Success stories: women going pro and nationals surge1:07:00 – How to connect, support, and join the movement🔗 Links MentionedThe Sweaty Pig Gym (Salt Lake Valley): InstagramAthena’s Arena Competition: Learn MoreGood Works Documentary (Josh Badal’s project): Website | Instagram📢 Call to Action👉 Like, comment, and share to spread the word about this incredible community.👉 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations on And If Love Remains.👉 Support Josh’s documentary by donating at goodworksdoc.com.🏷 Hashtags#AndIfLoveRemains #TheSweatyPig #Strongman #Strongwoman #AthenasArena #CommunityStrength #WomenWhoLift #Powerlifting #Documentary #FitnessMotivation #ViralPodcast
More
What happens when passion for strength meets the power of community? 🏋️♀️🐷Host Mike Leavitt sits down with filmmaker Josh Badal and the powerhouse duo behind The Sweaty Pig gym, Jenny Draper (pro strongwoman & founder of Athena’s Arena) and Connor Gordon, to dive into the world of strongman training, women breaking barriers, and how a quirky gym with a funny name became a life-changing community.From working in Antarctica, to creating one of the most inclusive gyms in the country, to running all-women competitions that sell out overnight, this episode is packed with stories of grit, humor, and heart.💡 Whether you’re into lifting, documentaries, or just love hearing about people changing lives through authenticity, this one’s for you!⏱ Show Notes & Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to And If Love Remains02:10 – Meet Jenny Draper: pro strongwoman & founder of Athena’s Arena06:30 – What is Strongman? Beyond fitness into functional extremes12:00 – Connor Gordon’s Antarctica story: lifting at the bottom of the world ❄️20:45 – Founding The Sweaty Pig gym in Salt Lake Valley29:15 – Why women deserve better equipment & competitions35:00 – Building a culture of support, humor, and authenticity43:50 – The documentary project: telling The Sweaty Pig story 🎬51:20 – How strongman helps with mental health & community58:00 – Success stories: women going pro and nationals surge1:07:00 – How to connect, support, and join the movement🔗 Links MentionedThe Sweaty Pig Gym (Salt Lake Valley): InstagramAthena’s Arena Competition: Learn MoreGood Works Documentary (Josh Badal’s project): Website | Instagram📢 Call to Action👉 Like, comment, and share to spread the word about this incredible community.👉 Subscribe for more inspiring conversations on And If Love Remains.👉 Support Josh’s documentary by donating at goodworksdoc.com.🏷 Hashtags#AndIfLoveRemains #TheSweatyPig #Strongman #Strongwoman #AthenasArena #CommunityStrength #WomenWhoLift #Powerlifting #Documentary #FitnessMotivation #ViralPodcast