922: John Romano

Sal, Adam & Justin speak with John Romano, a longtime fitness insider and performance-enhancement drug specialist. He has authored several bodybuilding and fitness books and has appeared on HBO, ESPN, ABC's 20/20 and the documentary Bigger Stronger Faster. John is a great storyteller and in this episode he talks about doing time in prison, dealing anabolic steroids, helping CrossFit athletes pass drug tests and other behind the curtain truth about the fitness industry most would rather he kept hidden.
How did he get started in the bodybuilding space? His chance meeting with The Original Guru, Dan Duchaine. (4:06) He openly shares in his time in prison and what got him there. (12:19) Who did he write for initially? (18:57) Did he encounter push back from his articles? The dark side of the bodybuilding world. (21:15) Hustling to Learn. 927:50) The origin story of steroids. (29:40) The evolution of anabolic steroid use in bodybuilding. (31:42) Would he say the ’90s was the ‘death’ of female bodybuilding? (43:20) The genesis of ‘Muscle Worship’ with female bodybuilders. (46:30) What was his connection with Bill Phillips? (51:25) What did Dan go to jail for? (57:00) What is his take on the current state of social media? (58:28) An education of the drug market in Mexico. (1:03:00) Does he believe anabolic steroids should be legal in the US? (1:08:50) What consequences has he suffered from poor lifestyle choices? (1:20:25) Does he still write for publications? (1:22:25) What does he think of the space now? (1:25:41) What does he think of the sport of CrossFit? (1:32:37) How would he cycle off a CrossFit athlete? (1:37:08) What’s the deal with SARMS (Selective androgen receptor modulator)? (1:38:50) People Mentioned: Dan Duchaine Joe Weider Dorian Yates (@thedorianyates) Instagram Flex Wheeler ® | Official (@officialflexwheeler) Instagram Ronnie Coleman (@ronniecoleman8) Instagram Products Mentioned: December Promotion: Enroll in Any MAPS Program - 1 Year of Forum Access for FREE! 2,4-Dinitrophenol Underground Steroid Handbook II: Incorporating Material from the Original Underground Steroid Handbook, Ultimate Muscle Mass, and the USH - Book by Dan Duchaine Doping in East Germany Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 Blood and Guts - Book by Dorian Yates Inside the Lucrative World of Female Muscle Worship - VICE Sports Supplement Review 3rd Issue - By Bill Phillips DRUGS IN SPORTS; An Athlete's Dangerous Experiment Bigger, Stronger, Faster* Testosterone and the Heart - NCBI - NIH T Nation: Strength Training, Bodybuilding & Online Supplement Store RxMuscle -- The Truth in Bodybuilding - KZbin

[@ryanreid4905]

John is a legend

[@klote82]

Romano is an absolute legend! Great interview!!

[@DrZalian]

GREAT INTERVIEW! Please interview John Romano again!

[@carlosl.garcia2745]

Amazing, can't get more real than Romano! The real truth in bodybuilding 💪😎

[@chrisbroomheadcoaching]

That’s the 3rd podcast I’ve listened to today ❤️

[@sambiscotto6237]

I wish that John Romano would write a movie script about his life and Dan Duchene about steroids and bodybuilding back in the day to Howard progress now... That would be awesome!!!

[@psalm3721]

Word! Agree fully!

[@brandi33]

I wish John & Dave would have an Iron Debate on #RXMuscle about Dan Dushaine. Great podcast btw, I'm a huge Romano fan!

[@travismcdonald6576]

Dr. Kayfabe Romano is awesome. Straight shooter and smart.

[@psalm3721]

Totally agree brother. I am a fan of John, Dave and Chris Would love more insights concerning Duchaine!

[@travismcdonald6576]

Peeled out of my mind Same here. Will Brink wrote a few articles about Duchaine and the time he spent with him. Duchaine was very unique.

[@itsdeltime]

Great synergy with the group in this interview.

[@chestnutsev7]

I had one of those old steroid handbooks in the 80s,police took it from me after searching my house.

[@marshallmccolgin5623]

John Romano is my freaking ro-model

[@Jay-L33]

This was fantastic

[@psalm3721]

Great fan of Romano. Loved the interview. Thanks guys. You do a great job. Just found the channel. Suger Shawn Ray interview was great also. Greatings from Europe / The Netherlands

[@itsdeltime]

Romano is the man.

[@keiththornton5351]

Was watching you guys this morning and you guys were talking about your products, John. When I go to Mexico where do they stock your Bionics products. Do they have them in any shops or gyms or is it by internet?

[@michaeltrout9590]

Next time ask about when he dated siren from American gladiators

[@bryanfrombuffalo7685]

Jon do his own podcast by himself and just tells stories

[@FieldBoy111]

Legalize steroids. Make Merica great again lol

[@oliverposniak1254]

GREAT Interview.Make a fake I.D. to read books!!!!tell this the Kids today.

[@jonjohnson3865]

What's the lame deal with the beanie caps, bandanna's, etc...?

[@4anewdeal190]

bald

[@theemptyatom]

Once the Bodybuilders started looking pregnant I lost all interest in watching them. The need to go back to the smaller waists and being more proportional.