Does the Deadlift Still Matter? How to Make It Work for Your Life

Does the deadlift still matter in your training? If you’ve ever felt beat up by barbell pulls or unsure how to keep deadlifting as your goals and body evolve, this episode is for you. Niki Sims and Andrew Jackson unpack how the deadlift should serve you—not wear you down.

From trap bars to kettlebells, from smart programming to pain management, this is a no-nonsense guide to making the deadlift work for life—not just your PR sheet.

🎧 This is part of the Rethinking the Big Lifts series—where we challenge conventional thinking to build training that’s smarter, sustainable, and aligned with what matters most.

✅ What You’ll Learn

• Why the deadlift is more than just a max-effort pull from the floor

• When it’s time to modify—or skip—the conventional deadlift

• The benefits of trap bar and other variations

• How to manage fatigue and avoid overtraining

• What to do when the deadlift causes pain or stress

• How to deadlift for longevity, not just numbers

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 – Intro: Does the deadlift still matter?
01:58 – What is the deadlift really for?
04:30 – Trap bars, kettlebells, and why they’re not cheating
08:45 – Programming the deadlift without burning out
13:10 – When to modify, reduce, or skip barbell deadlifts
16:35 – If it hurts: programming fixes vs. ego traps
20:30 – Long-term lessons: deadlifting for life, not just PRs

🏷 Hashtags

#deadlifttraining #beastoverburden #rethinkingthebiglifts #barbelllogic #trapbardeadlift #strengthtrainingpodcast #longevityfitness #smarttraining #trainforlife #strengthoverego #liftingafter40 #backfriendlydeadlift #functionalstrength #barbelltraining #fitnesspodcastforlifters #customtraining #deadliftpainfix #liftinglongevity #coachedstrength #strengththatlasts

PS - IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN TAKING ONLINE COACHING FOR A TEST RUN, CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Connect with the hosts

• Niki on Instagram
• Andrew on Instagram

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