Ep. 17: The Modern State of Gym Influencers
- Keenan Lee
- Aug 9
- 2 min read
The Modern State of Gym Influencers, Ranked S to F
In episode seventeen, Keenan and Jared rank the gym influencers who shaped how they think about training, from the science-heavy educators to the pure entertainment channels. As always, this list mixes actual educational value with nostalgia and personal enjoyment. Some names rank high purely because of what they meant to Keenan or Jared early in their own fitness journeys.
THE RANKINGS
S tier: Mike Israetel, Jeff Nippard, Eugene Teo, Chris Bumstead, David Goggins
A tier: Will Tennyson, Jesse James West, Sam Sulek, Anatoly
B tier: Sam Sulek, Bradley Martin, Chris Heria, AthleanX, Anatoly, Alex Eubank
C tier: Tren Twins, Diamond Gym, Larry Wheels, Alex Eubank
TAKEAWAYS
1. The highest-rated creators back their claims with research, not just experience. Both hosts pointed to Jeff Nippard and Mike Israetel as the gold standard because they cite the literature directly rather than just saying "this worked for me." That distinction is worth applying anytime you're evaluating fitness advice online.
2. Loading the stretch position of a lift is a major part of our training. After following Mike Israetel's approach, pausing and loading a deep stretch, Jared put on eight pounds of muscle in six to eight months as an already-trained lifter. It's a concept worth testing in your own program.
3. Entertainment value and educational value are two different things. Know which one you're getting. Some creators are genuinely informative. Others are almost purely entertainment, which isn't a bad thing, but it's worth knowing the difference before you take their advice as programming.
4. Be skeptical of anyone promoting unregulated peptides or performance enhancers. Keenan and Jared were direct about this: substances like unregulated peptides lack long-term research, and the audience they're often marketed to (people just wanting to look good) isn't the population they were designed for. If you're ever curious about anything in this category, talk to a licensed medical professional first, not a stranger online.
Pro Tip: A motivational voice in your ear can get you through a workout you're dreading. Jared started putting David Goggins clips on during runs he didn't want to do. If you're consistently skipping a certain type of training, this is a low-effort way to push through the mental barrier!
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