Life & Training, Self Confidence & Self Worth | Janae Marie "Kroc", Dave Tate's Table Talk

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Welcome Janae Marie Kroc to the Dave Tate's Table Talk podcast for episode #293
Janae Marie Kroc is an American transgender athlete, motivational speaker, and author, renowned for her accomplishments in powerlifting and bodybuilding. Born Matthew Raymond Kroczaleski, she gained prominence in the powerlifting world for her impressive lifts and the development of the "Kroc row," an intense dumbbell row variation. As Matthew, she set numerous records and was named the 2006 Arnold Classic WPO Powerlifting Champion. After transitioning in 2015, Janae has become an advocate for transgender rights and inclusivity in sports, sharing her journey and experiences to inspire and support others.
Janae owns Kroc's Gym, which is based in Navi, Michigan. Kroc's Gym is an old-school-style gym that focuses on serious strength training but is welcoming to experienced powerlifting, bodybuilding, and strongman competitors and beginners.
Janae's IG: www.instagram....
Kroc's Gym: www.krocsgym.com/
ABOUT THE HOST
Dave Tate is the founder and co-owner of elitefts.com. He is the author of twenty books and has logged more than 40,000 hours of training and consulting. Dave is married to elitefts co-owner Traci Arnold-Tate, and they reside in London, Ohio, with their two sons. Personal Credo: Live, Learn, Pass on™.
Dave's IG: www.instagram....
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TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - 10:00: Introduction, Early Challenges in Training
10:00 - 20:00: High School Athletics and Powerlifting Beginnings
20:00 - 30:00: Marine Corps Experience and Early Training Strategies
30:00 - 40:00: Training Adjustments and Mental Toughness
40:00 - 50:00: Competing at High Levels and Injury Management
50:00 - 1:00:00: Transitioning to Jiu-Jitsu and Mental Skills
1:00:00 - 1:10:00: Training Programs and Coaching Strategies
1:10:00 - 1:20:00: Developing a Champion's Mindset
1:20:00 - 1:30:00: Overcoming Mental Barriers in Lifting
1:30:00 - 1:40:00: Overload Techniques and Confidence Building
1:40:00 - 1:50:00: Balancing Training and Life Challenges
2:00:00 - 2:10:00: Reflections on Career and Future Goals
2:20:00 - 2:30:00: Handling Social Media Pressure and Influence
2:30:00 - 2:40:00: Navigating Gender Identity and Athletic Career
2:40:00 - 2:50:00: Hormone Optimization and Health Management​
2:50:00 - 3:00:00: Finding Balance and Moving Forward​

[@AlanThrall]

As a Marine stationed at camp David, who loved powerlifting, reading about Kroc going through the same thing I was going through motivated the hell outta me. I even went to the gym when ordered not to because I thought “if Kroc did it, I will too.”

[@rudolphrictor5167]

Janae is such a badass. I can't imagine the courage it takes to hit the peak of what society considers masculinity and transition because you know it's what's right for you. Awesome talk.

[@doug3297]

My greatest memories when I got into powerlifting was watching all the elitefts stuff with Kroc and wendler and Dave, only the good times.

[@BrianNassar]

Janae had my respect ever since the first time I trained with her over 22 years ago. Incredible human being!

[@corneliusparkin2401]

Ah Krock! He used to be a big inspiration as he was ripped and a PLer. I was similar albeit younger and at the time about 40lb muscle smaller. As I did 198s. 18 years later I am glad she is doing well. Great podcast.

[@RegenerativeTrainingSystems]

These stories about breaking into the weight room at 1am to lift are hilarious / awesome. Kroc is a complete badass and anyone who listened to this only with zero previous knowledge would ALL agree.

[@JBruff]

What a beautiful, moving story. Including the stories about breaking into gyms to lift. The definition of "all in." And if you told me 15 years ago some of my favorite podcasts would be helmed by Dave Tate, I would have laughed. He's so good at this.

[@johndonovan5521]

I don't care who you are, Kroc has done some extreme weights and workouts. Still an OG in my book

[@wiredshark1]

Some would say, he’s not half the man he use to be.

[@willthomas7666]

Yea ikr right... anyone who says this mofo isn't tough needs to do there research...dude was a beast back in the day

[@davidfranks5543]

Strong as fuck, why would anyone care what she identifies as. She’s not hurting anyone. There’s probably a few people out there listening to this that could identify and realize they’re not alone. Thanks for having her on Dave.

[@adamzevchik1385]

Watched Kroc squat 1100@ 220 with no knee wraps and a loose suit. Insane

[@uradumby25]

Dave Tate is a fucking REAL ONE. Didn't abandon his friend

[@xXxDigitalBathxXx]

Thanks for having her on! ❤

[@kamel48088]

Listened to the podcast today at work but had to come to the channel and say this was one of my favourite episodes!

[@taylorsholes596]

Kroc is great. If the gender stuff weirds you out, that is okay- you don’t have to understand or like it. But the person talking was a huge part of the powerlifting community and helped the sport and is a wealth of knowledge and I personally will always be thankful for the inspiration they gave me when I was just learning about powerlifting

[@bobcarchedi6540]

What a great interview. Thank you for sharing so much and being open. It says a lot without saying anything when Dave and elite fts were the only ones not to drop the sponsorship for Janae. Actions truly speak volumes

[@ChimpFlipperJr]

Awesome. Kroc was one of the people I followed back in the 2000s. When T nation was popular and you had westside guys, Dave Tate, John Meadows, Wendler, and a whole lot more writing articles and part of the conversation.

[@brogandowney7713]

Thanks for bringing Kroc on Dave

[@阳明子]

Dave is a great interviewer and Janae is a great interviewee.

[@Gargarks]

Hell yeah, Janae!

[@midwestdistress]

Excellent episode! So much respect for Janae for being who she is in the current climate.

[@jaspermaynard-zhang8958]

You're an inspiration, Kroc! Sending love

[@Apollonia93]

Thank you Janae, thank you Dave.

[@mrjdq]

Such a great conversation.

[@HellBoy-id6ss]

One of the best interviews ever..🤟

[@gucciestnajah9731]

Great interview Dave and Jenae!!

[@winanderson4143]

Janae, I am sorry for your loss.

[@martynhill9583]

Good to see janae back at elitefts

[@Justmyopinion761]

Kroc is absolutely awesome

[@uradumby25]

the legend

[@davidwalker8754]

Still do my Kroc Rows...a Navy seal, idc about everything else, great cast

[@wr4thbringer]

Janae is pure honesty

[@nateshipman8031]

Great interview!

[@watsonkushmaster3067]

Man...even thinking of one of my children dying brings pure terror to my mind...its worst thing that can happen to anybody

[@chrisscrivacomedy]

2 absolute legends

[@jon-kd5st]

Love your kroc rows.

[@LeeH3nson]

This was awesome, the transformer documentary was a great watch and hearing janae talk now, I hope she finds true happiness

[@LiftingForFun-xk6oe]

What a great quote to end the podcast.

[@drip369]

People always hate on people that do cheat reps yet that's called aiding in the eccentric overload, and when are you doing high volume/reps, the Kroc Row is extremely valuable

[@timothynavratil437]

Excellent interview, I wish Janae all the best.

[@666specter666]

In B4 the haters show up !

[@ROBERT-ml7ml]

Bringing in negativity... what would be there to hate?

[@garyanthony4854]

Thank you both so much for doing this podcast and sharing with the rest of us.

[@stullsy21]

The way he trains his lifters is almost exactly the way I train mine. The only difference is I use 5% increases over 4 week waves between 70-80%

[@baconblaster6422]

kroc always a legend

[@dr.christle]

KWEEEEEN ❤🎉

[@anthonyesposito7144]

I have the book by him at the time.

[@anthonyesposito7144]

You need to write a new book with year life then end with some training programs for the reader

[@tabularasa820]

Kroc Rows and Tate Press

[@poolman20001]

The he breaths in his nose as hard and as fast as he can. But the mic amplifies ir. It's every pod cast, it's annoying. It's the number one reason I can't watch for long.

[@HumanMechanism]

Kroc is as heavy to take in as her rows, and far more important.

[@user-jn2tn5lc7c]

Run a gram of Tren and feel awesome? Wow... I appreciate his honesty re the 500 -1000 mg a week of test during 'off' periods. 1-1.5g test and 100mg Tren a day plus the anadrol is very potent, I don't think he'd need any more.

[@justinspike1669]

😍😍👊🏼

[@mikecartier6163]

Was he competing against women in BJJ? I might have missed that part multitasking.

[@johndonovan5521]

@@mikecartier6163 nope.....she has always stated it's not fair for her to compete against biological women and never will. It was in a vid from a few years ago.

[@mikecartier6163]

Thats good, at least he's using common sense

[@wiredshark1]

And, this is why you shouldn’t juice kids.

[@eslaubachel]

Not sure about Kroc

[@thecadincolehour6502]

Well he she is stronger than you

[@johndonovan5521]

What are u not sure about?

[@drip369]

Listen and learn because you might really really really become sure that this guy is awesome

[@johndonovan5521]

@@drip369 very true, tons of knowledge on lifting

[@justinspike1669]

@@drip369chick* girl* lady*

[@NunyaBerzness]

I’m out - sick

[@Simon53188]

I respect his lifts and his accomplishments. But I don't respect all this weird gender stuff. He needs professional help. Very sad to see this.

[@jsamuel251]

Lmfao hard pass on this one

[@SantoryuKauboi]

Your loss on not listening to one of the greats.

[@Gargarks]

K

[@lodykarsen]

Kroc was one of my huge motivators growing up. GREAT EPISODE! Thank you! And hell since it was mentioned I might have also broken into places to train as well. Maybe… maybe not 🫣

[@danmoldovan3]

Used to follow Kroc back in the day. He used to be the best. Then he decided to chop off his Johnson. Oh man... Mental illness is so cruel. 😢

[@K1NG931]

Gayyyy