In this episode of the Fiercely Fueled Nutrition Podcast, Coach Joni sits down with powerlifting coach and United In Strength founder Dennise Bacolas to talk about strength, community, and creating spaces where women feel truly welcome in sport.
Dennise shares her journey from struggling with fitness and body image to discovering powerlifting and falling in love with what the body can do instead of how it looks. Together, they discuss the growth of powerlifting in Australia, evolving coaching philosophies, and the importance of making strength sports more inclusive and supportive for all women, including trans women.
They also dive into Dennise's women-only meet, Queens of the Platform, which removes many of the intimidating aspects of competition and focuses on building confidence, connection, and fun.
Episode Highlights:
✅ Dennise Bacolas shares her journey from "couch potato" to powerlifting coach and community leader
✅ Why powerlifting helped shift the focus from appearance to performance
✅ The story behind *Queens of the Platform* and creating women-centered lifting spaces
✅ Making strength sports more welcoming and accessible for beginners
✅ The importance of inclusive environments for all women, including trans women
✅ How coaching philosophies evolve to support real life, recovery, and longevity
✅ The rapid growth of powerlifting in Australia and the community behind it
This episode is a powerful conversation about empowerment, accessibility, and redefining what strength really means both on and off the platform.
Connect with our Guest:
Follow Dennise Bacolas on Instagram: @unitedinstrength https://www.instagram.com/unitedinstrength/
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