00:00.00 nextlevelguypodcast and Yeah, so you were saying about the having ah like honest people in the gym. Is that the thing we need to be called out by our brothers to kind of push us to... 00:12.92 Andy 100%, 100%, you know, if you look at any other sport, you know, like tennis, for example, they guys are training seven days a week. They're out, they've got five or six different coaches for different things, you know, their speed coach, their power coach, their gym coach. 00:31.43 Andy And they're all calling them out saying, look, you're not fast enough today, you're not strong enough today, you're not quick enough today, blah, blah, blah. So I think if you're training with someone and you're warming up for a big deadlift and he says, mate, you're not fast, you' you're slow, and you need to wake up, then you well that's what's going to happen. 00:51.08 Andy You're going to wake the fuck up and you're going to dig 00:55.70 Andy If you go and do a comp, and your coach sits you down at the end it and goes, oh, think you've done really well. You know, you've done great and all five events, and was that it? There's nothing I can prove on. No, you need somebody to be honest with you and say, mate, your conditioning was shit. You know, you were out of breath, or your deadlifts were sloppy. If you neaten that up, you could have got the extra two reps that could have won the event. 01:20.79 Andy You know, I just think, tough love, you know, just honesty, just somebody honest with you when you're warming up, when you're competing, just saying, like, you can do better. or Somebody that knows you, that trains me and says, look, I know you can do better. 01:37.16 Andy And I think that really, really is a massive help for me personally. 01:43.12 nextlevelguypodcast you think that's probably a part of why there's been such a Scottish dominance in the powerlifting and strongman scenes recently? Whereas we lift heavy, we come from tough places with shitty weather and shitty conditions. 01:57.77 Andy I 01:58.36 nextlevelguypodcast So you you know you have to grow up to be big and strong. But also that we call each other cunts as a sign of endearment. We push each other, but we are you know we also talk to each other like 02:05.55 Andy think so. 02:09.27 nextlevelguypodcast given what you need rather than this false bullshit that you see elsewhere. 02:14.25 Andy I honestly think so. I mean, like, you know, I think in Scotland the language can be quite harsh. So you obviously just take that as an example. 02:26.41 Andy The language is quite harsh, so you're quite adept to that. So if some fucking jahidi terrorist was on a plane and he's going, fuck you, you cunt, you're not going to go, oh, he's just called me a cunt. 02:38.52 Andy You know, my mum calls me a cunt. 02:38.93 nextlevelguypodcast to 02:40.22 Andy You know what I mean? 02:40.58 nextlevelguypodcast but 02:41.27 Andy um I'm not obviously overly petrified. So if we put that into scenarios of, everything else in life. I'm a big believer of when you train hard, you fight easy. 02:53.34 Andy You know, Mohammed Ali said it, you know, something like that. 02:56.05 nextlevelguypodcast No. 02:58.77 Andy It makes sense, you know, if you go to a gym and you've got to unload the sandbags and take them outside and do your training and then put them away, them the comp day when they're sitting at the start line and all you need to do is move them 20 metres. 03:13.88 Andy Fucking hell, it's easy, isn't it? In Scotland, like you said, we've got the fucking worst weather. 03:16.67 nextlevelguypodcast Mm. 03:19.85 Andy Gyms are cold. Everybody's opening gyms in old factories, big cold warehouses. You're going to a gym with your shorts on, your socks pulled up to your boss. 03:31.72 Andy You know, tro five years cuddling around a heater in between sets. So then when you go to fucking... OSG in Texas and you've got the heat and that's fucking hell, this is easy. 03:46.54 Andy you know. 03:47.86 nextlevelguypodcast How did that happen, though? Like, mean, if you think about, it you know, you've done these competitions and smaller crowds, you know, you've worked in some of these cold ass places and lifted like with your mates and that. 04:00.54 nextlevelguypodcast And then suddenly you're on the sidelines as a last minute replacement in the world's strongest man. And they're going, actually, we need you to compete. How have you gone from standing, watching, and you know, taking part, like absorbing the atmosphere to, ah, shit, I've got Brian Shaw in front of me competing. 04:18.20 Andy That was probably one of the most exciting and scary things in my life, if I'm honest, because obviously they took me out as an equipment tester. I tested the bus pull, the grip event, some bits and bobs. 04:35.04 Andy I had no real inclination that I was going to be competing. Jerry Pritchett was there. He was also a reserve. So I kind of had in my head, well, if they need someone, they'll use Jerry. Jerry. 04:45.94 Andy you know, um and then obviously there was a mishap with Pa, he couldn't compete, and I just remember Dan Sadler being like, all alright mate, you're competing tomorrow, and I was like, fuck off, are you serious, and I literally was, yeah, I know you're never going to say no, but I just wasn't, for me it was scary, because I wasn't best prepared, they only gave me like two weeks notice that I was going out to America, you know, 05:16.02 Andy I was trying to train, but on two weeks notice, you're not going to do anything for special. And then I was testing the equipment and fuck me, everything felt heavy. remember testing things thinking this feels heavy. 05:29.60 Andy and And when I got the shout to go in, it was just like, who gives a fuck, you know? Even if I'm last, I'm the last 30th strongest man in the world that year. 05:42.50 nextlevelguypodcast but exactly like you said only one percent of the world will probably get a chance to compete 05:42.59 Andy Who gives a fuck? You know? 05:48.26 Andy It's not even, think, I think somebody worked it out one day and it's like zero, zero, zero point, you know, points of a percent of people that get to go and do this. 06:00.02 Andy you know, get to actually have the privilege to go and do this. So some little guy, you know, who's never even won Scotland's Strongest Man, writing on a group chat, and he's shy, just doesn't bother me anymore. And I think it's just like, it's just do the work, be proud of what you've done, enjoy your journey and celebrate your successes, you know. 06:28.12 nextlevelguypodcast I love how you can do that. You know, it's that because there's be so many people going, oh, Billy pulled more than me. Sandy did that. Whereas you're kind of like pull against yourself, do it for yourself. 06:40.03 nextlevelguypodcast Then I get your friends to say what you need to work on for the next one. you think we Do you think we overtake overcomplicate it? 06:44.75 Andy 100%, honestly. 06:47.20 nextlevelguypodcast You know, that we... 06:48.39 Andy Oh, obviously, everyone does. Everyone does. Look at these, you know, novice lifters that are hiring £300 a month coaches and nutritionists and, you know, they're spending a fortune on recovery and the best I meet. 07:07.17 Andy Like, you're not Brian Shaw. You don't need all that. You know, you just don't. Go and do it because you enjoy doing it. Don't do it because it's a chore and you need to spend all night cooking and all night getting a hot tub ready and then all morning getting a cold tub ready. 07:27.74 Andy you' You're not that, you know, you're not Evan Singleton, you're not Brian Shaw, you're not Eddie Hall. 07:34.12 nextlevelguypodcast Mm-hmm. 07:35.34 Andy At most levels, just do it because you fucking enjoy it. Do it because you enjoy the training, and you enjoy the The chat with the guys, I think simplifying things is the way forward, honestly. So many people just now, know, people ask me sometimes in the gym, know, they're training away and they're struggling to put on weight and they're like, jenny, I should hire a nutritionist. think you should just fucking go and eat more food. 08:02.73 Andy I'm like, no. 08:04.01 nextlevelguypodcast That's good point. 08:04.16 Andy I don't get it. Just go and fucking eat food. You're not gaining weight. Eat food. You're gaining too much weight. Eat less food. Yes. A nutritionist is an amazing thing to have. 08:16.69 Andy And if you're at a point in your career where you're willing to like really try and get that extra percent out yourself. Go and do it. 08:27.19 Andy 100%. But I think for 95% of people just just enjoy the journey. See if you want a Big Mac. Go and fucking have it. Just Count it into your calories that day. 08:38.81 Andy You know, just simplify things for sure. 08:42.70 nextlevelguypodcast Because just now you'll have people sitting there going, oh, but I need my foam roller. I need my this. I need my that. And how often do you see these guys like weight belts on when they're doing like curls with a dead? 08:54.79 Andy oh Honestly. 08:55.89 nextlevelguypodcast And you're just like, what the f... 08:58.10 Andy Honestly, it's crazy. 09:00.04 nextlevelguypodcast So if you had that magic... 09:00.53 Andy do you know what? 09:02.07 nextlevelguypodcast was going to say, if you had that power, that magic wand, what would you say to everybody? 09:03.63 Andy In you go, there you go. 09:08.76 nextlevelguypodcast What would you tell them or make them do differently? 09:14.60 Andy Enjoy yourself. 09:18.31 Andy Really enjoy yourself. I think that's something we've lost in the sport sometimes and I think sometimes I was certainly guilty of putting so much pressure on myself that I didn't enjoy the experiences I was having. 09:34.22 Andy You know, if I'm brutally honest, some of the Giants live shows I've done, I just felt sick and anxious the whole time because I was worried about trying to do the best I can do. 09:46.54 Andy Whereas if I just relaxed and enjoyed the day, might have done better, might have done worse, but I would have enjoyed the day a lot more. So really that's all that matters in two years' time when I look back, you know. 10:02.47 nextlevelguypodcast And have you worked on that like that controlling of your emotions? you know like Because I'm assuming you'll be used to that thing of your body screaming, fuck, this is heavy, put it down. 10:13.23 nextlevelguypodcast But how do you deal with the nerves, the comparisons? Have you have you worked on that with a sports coach? Or have you figured out 10:19.75 Andy I did. Yeah, i was I was working with Amelia at Cerebral Strength for a long, for about a good six months to a year. 10:32.24 Andy And I think she the biggest thing she taught me was just to accept it. Like, it's okay if I'm nervous. It doesn't mean I'm going to be any worse tomorrow. It's just my body's way of dealing with it, you know. Yeah. 10:46.18 Andy There was some minimal coping mechanisms like, you know, just taking a minute to myself and even if it was just something daft like saying the alphabet in my head, just something to ground me for two or three minutes. 11:00.16 Andy But it's okay to be nervous if that's how my body produces adrenaline, then that's how it's going to do it. So embrace the nerves, be nervous, but... 11:11.42 Andy Enjoy the day. you know Don't put so much pressure on yourself. And I think that's the biggest takeaway is you can be nervous without putting pressure on yourself. You can enjoy the day. Just enjoy the day. 11:24.51 Andy Whether it's a novice competition, world's strongest man, powerlifting meet. Just enjoy the day because... You've sacrificed the time. 11:36.88 Andy You've spent the money. You've done the hard work. You know, this is your day to put it all together and enjoy yourself. 11:45.35 nextlevelguypodcast I like that. That's really helpful because it's a lot of people think it's just going balls to the wall in the gym, but they forget it. All the other things about the, that voice in your head going, you're shit, you're worthless. 11:54.23 Andy Nah. 11:57.58 nextlevelguypodcast And, you know where we need that kind of, but we also don't track our own wins. 11:58.69 Andy Yeah. 12:03.12 nextlevelguypodcast You know, like you're saying, celebrate your small wins, even if, how no matter how small they are. 12:07.12 Andy Celebrate everything. 12:07.82 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah. 12:09.09 Andy Celebrate everything. You know, I'm a big believer in fucking celebrate everything. I don't care if it's an actual deadlift PB or a stiff deadlift PB. 12:20.36 Andy Be proud of it. I'm not saying you need to fucking expect a certificate and a pat on the back from everyone around you. nobody they Don't expect anyone else to care, but you be happy about it. 12:32.79 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah. 12:32.90 Andy And I think that's a big change in my life in the last year of... I don't need your validation. you know what mean? If I walk into the gym and I know I've never done a, for example, I've never done 400 kilo axle deadlift. 12:52.19 Andy If I walk into the gym tomorrow and pull 400 kilo on the axle, I'm going to be fucking buzzing. um I might post it on Instagram, but don't give a fuck about MD's validation. i don't need MD to be like, oh, Andy, that was amazing. I'm happy. I'm fucking over the moon. 13:07.04 nextlevelguypodcast I she should be. 13:07.48 Andy I've just done it. 13:07.86 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah. 13:08.16 Andy um I know and know what it took to do it, so I'm fucking happy. But I think that was the the biggest change, was before ah think I needed reassurance from people, and I would do a lift, and I needed the reassurance. 13:23.91 Andy Like, was that okay? Or was it not good enough? can i do Should I be doing more? Whereas now I've got real mindset of, see if I go into a gym when I feel like shit, and I can only pull 200 kilos and I know i felt like shit and I was maybe up all night being sick and I didn't eat and I pulled 200 kilos feeling like shit fuck it I'm okay with that you know like if that's what if that's what I've done that day cool but I think the big thing for people and I really I see it in the gym so many times lot of guys ask my bench I don't have a big bench my bench is like 180 now for guy my size that's been at world's strongest man a 180 bench is 14:06.50 Andy in that locker room in Bavison, you know, and they wee guys are like, fuck, that's amazing, so is your 110 bench, so is your 120 bench, because I'm fucking 200 kilo, know what mean, like, don't give a fuck about my lifts, just what you lifting, and let's be fucking happy about that. 14:27.56 nextlevelguypodcast Because I interviewed Monster Michael Todd, you know, the the arm wrestler. And that's what he said. 14:32.59 Andy Yeah, yeah, 14:33.88 nextlevelguypodcast He said he used to struggle and focus on wins only. And then he realized at the end of the day, he's going to say to his wife and his mom and that, oh, I won. Oh, congratulations. Oh, I lost. 14:44.18 nextlevelguypodcast Oh, congratulations. 14:44.67 Andy um process 14:45.97 nextlevelguypodcast And he's saying that, you know, but he realized he's still to have a wife who loves him. 14:46.21 Andy hundred percent 14:49.85 nextlevelguypodcast He's still going wake up the next day. He's still going to have grandkids who he loves and gets to spend time with. You know, I think we focus on the lifts, the numbers, rather than how we're feeling. Does it make our trousers feel a bit looser? 15:03.00 nextlevelguypodcast Are we going upstairs easier? When you look back at this journey, you did all these amazing things. 15:07.32 Andy you know 15:12.03 nextlevelguypodcast At what point did you think i'm going to complicate my life by starting a bodyguard agency? 15:19.83 Andy Yeah, know. Do you know what i think it is? I think when you become a certain stage of an athlete, you almost become unemployable. 15:33.84 Andy You know, you're so set in your ways. You want to eat the food when you're due eat it. You want to train when you want to train. And see fitting that into someone else's 95 that they need productivity out of you. 15:47.33 Andy It just doesn't work. So I think sometimes if you're going to go and do a sport or, you know, take a hobby a bit further than a hobby, if you're in a position where you think you could be self-employed, it's probably going to actually make your life a wee bit easier because you're going to not be fighting for days off work. 16:01.32 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah. 16:08.85 Andy There's going to be other struggles because you're going to need to earn money. You're not going to get sick pay. But in general, it's that, like, accountability of... Right, I'm going to go to World's Strongest Man, and I know I'm not going to make any money at work, but I've worked for a year for this, so I'm going to go and enjoy it. 16:29.97 Andy you know what 16:31.20 nextlevelguypodcast but i pulling out chicken breasts like every couple of minutes and they're going, no, we need you to that spreadsheet and you're like, okay wait a minute here, I need my protein. 16:35.30 Andy mean? 16:38.52 nextlevelguypodcast like 16:39.84 Andy Yeah, it's hard to be. 16:40.82 nextlevelguypodcast I still get strange looks with the picnic bag. 16:44.48 Andy Yeah, exactly, exactly. 16:47.54 nextlevelguypodcast And how have you juggled that? you know like You've got the missus, you've got the the kids, you've got the business, you're competing, you're having to train, you're having to eat, you're having to do your recovery. 16:58.97 nextlevelguypodcast how How on earth do you juggle all these things? 17:01.62 Andy I mean, it's it's difficult. You know, like security for me is such a trade-off because it gives me time, but it takes up a lot of time. 17:13.01 Andy So if I'm busy at work that day, I'm busy at work. You know, i'm not getting leave a gym and I'm just going to have to eat what I can eat. But if the next day I'm quiet, I can train all day, I can i can cook food, I can see my kids... 17:29.39 Andy It's just, there's trade-offs and it's like everything in life. It gives me more control to make my own decisions of how big I want those trade-offs to be. But there's always trade-offs. 17:41.65 Andy You know, like, for example, today we were at a job fair. we were down in Greenock with stuff we had to do. you know, I didn't train today. probably didn't eat the best today. 17:54.27 Andy I drank a few extra protein shakes. I made the best I could do. to Today wasn't a very strenuous day on my body. So although it wasn't active recovery, I've certainly recovered. I feel fresh. 18:08.11 Andy It just means tomorrow I make sure I get up early, have a good meal when I go to the gym. 18:15.19 nextlevelguypodcast It's like you're saying don't overcomplicate it. 18:15.54 Andy You know, it's just, don't overcomplicate it. 18:16.78 nextlevelguypodcast All right. 18:19.08 Andy Today was a fuck up. Who gives a fuck? Bash a few protein shakes. 18:25.30 Andy Accept the fact that today's now a rest day that wasn't planned. 18:31.20 Andy Tomorrow's another 365 days in a year. You know, not every one of them's got to be perfect. and Not every one of them needs to be perfect. Just do the best you can. 18:45.32 nextlevelguypodcast And for those listening, I mean, what would you say if you had to so um if you had to look at all of this? you know How has becoming a father changed you? If you had to look back over the last 10, 20 years of your training, from the guy the the kid that you were to the man you are now, how has competing, training changed? 19:06.61 nextlevelguypodcast you know ah Is there a lesson that you would give people that you you could sum from that to say, this is the key thing I've learned? Or is it just enjoy the journey and don't don't overcomplicate it 19:15.33 Andy Yeah. 19:18.70 Andy I think enjoy it. Enjoy it. Try, and if your kids are remotely interested, try and see if they can enjoy it with you. You know, there was definitely times where I went myself to a competition and I just wished I took my kids or one of my kids or, you know, my youngest daughter, she's really into it. She loves it. 19:45.83 Andy And it's a trade-off. Like, yeah, if I take the kid, it's going to mean less focus. But am I going to be more relaxed because I've got my kid there? 19:58.29 Andy For example, I'll be honest with you, I want to win Scotland's Strongest Man next year. And it's not because I want to be Scotland's Strongest Man. It's because I want three trophies, one for each of my kids. 20:09.90 Andy that That's what I want. 20:10.96 nextlevelguypodcast Yeah. 20:12.30 Andy It's nothing to do with the title. It's nothing to do with the Giants live invites. I want three Scotland's Strongest Man trophies because I want each of my kids to have Scotland's Strongest Man trophy. 20:24.71 Andy I don't care if they don't want them. ah Tough shit. I want to give them them. I don't care. I want them to have them because one day... Right now they're young and they maybe don't care. 20:37.10 Andy But one day ah think they'll realise, fuck, my dad was Scotland's strongest man. Not every kid in school saying that. Not every... date they can go on who's going to have that as a conversation not every wedding speech has got that involved but I want them all to have a Scotland Strongest Man trophy and I will fucking do my best to make sure ah get one more trophy so that all my kids whether they get them when I'm fucking dead and gone whether they want them in their house when they move house I don't care it's something for me that I want them to have 21:16.70 nextlevelguypodcast I love that level of motivation. It's just, I want to have a legacy to give to my kids. Cause yeah. How many, how many times do you hear that? 21:22.79 Andy That's what it is, you know. There's no... Yeah. 21:29.37 nextlevelguypodcast I don't mean how many times you hear that in a fight. 21:29.79 Andy but The leg 21:31.31 nextlevelguypodcast Oh, my dad's tougher than my, your dad. and you're like, well, my dad's one world's strongest man and has a bodyguard agency. 21:34.82 Andy the 21:37.57 nextlevelguypodcast What you going to do about it? 21:39.60 Andy is... 21:39.75 nextlevelguypodcast What's, 21:39.76 Andy No. My daughter loves it. You know, my youngest, she's only 10. And she's always like, when I pick her up from school, she's always like, I was telling my captain you know my friends, you're a bodyguard. If they're cheeky, you'll just batter them. 21:53.49 Andy And do you know what? Fucking go on, because my dad would have fucking killed anyone for me. See, when I was a kid, I can remember a teacher being a horrible bastard to me one day. 22:03.05 nextlevelguypodcast Mm-hmm. 22:07.22 Andy i mean, the guy was a horrible bastard. And I went home and told my dad, i remember when I remember the next day I was walking through the halls and I thought, fuck that guy looks like my dad. And it was my dad going in to fucking chin this cunt. 22:22.32 Andy He went in and he tuned this 40-year-old man right And he was a proper dad. Don't ever fucking speak to my son like that, you fucking baldy bastard. 22:33.29 Andy I'll fucking kick your cunt. He gave this teacher the riot act. And I just always remember thinking... My dad's cool as fuck. 22:43.93 Andy And um I love the fact that my daughter thinks, or knows, it's not even thinks, but knows that if somebody's giving her shit, I'll go and batter her da. You know, that's what you'll do for your kids, and I like that. 22:57.96 nextlevelguypodcast it when you're I would say you're in the running for James Bond as well because I've seen the pictures of you in the suits and it wouldn't take much to for you to get into that 23:06.00 Andy And listen, bless don't think Slater's had enough material, but they got us one. 23:12.31 nextlevelguypodcast Well, that's I've got to wear a kilt for my brother's wedding, and I'm just like, it's like a tarpaulin at the minute. I'm just like six foot three, and I'm quite overweight at the minute. 23:19.00 Andy oh 23:21.55 nextlevelguypodcast i'm you know I'm just like, oh, I can see their eyes go, oh, Jesus, here we go. um how Then how has that changed you now for your goals? Because you are the brand. You're creating business. You're having to look after customers and that. 23:35.85 nextlevelguypodcast But you're saying you're you know you want to do strongman comps and stuff like that. What's next for you? 23:41.71 Andy ah My next is just focus on winning another Scotland's Strongest Man. Obviously i had to withdraw this year. I want to get wee hernia surgery done. it's come up It's been in the background for the last 18 months. m I'm finally now in a position where I'm going to go and get it done. 24:02.76 Andy need to do the qualifier in April. so I'll go and I'll do the qualifier. And then um'm I'm just going to look forward to the final. And I'm just not going to... set myself up for too much next year just focus on maybe a big deadlift scotland's strongest man and then the rest of the time is like family and work so i'm just not going to bite off more than can chew 24:27.29 nextlevelguypodcast You're not going to overcomplicate it. You're going to focus on what makes you happy. 24:30.11 Andy keep it simple just keep it simple you know 24:31.47 nextlevelguypodcast Perfect. 24:34.41 nextlevelguypodcast Well, i think we're going to have to have you back on to focus on like how you prep and how you prepare for that, because coming up to something like that would be amazing. 24:40.72 Andy Anytime, that's been great texting. It's been nice talking to you. 24:44.06 nextlevelguypodcast What would you say to people who want ah kind of a summary of this or a motivation or a challenge to go forward with? 24:54.00 Andy I would say whether it's strongman, business, a relationship, anything, just Make a start. Just start. 25:04.51 Andy Whether you're starting at the bottom and to work your way up or whether you're able to start a wee bit further, just start. Honestly, it's the biggest thing for me. I've been nervous about things in my life. 25:16.04 Andy And see, when you start it, the ball starts rolling. You build momentum. And if you can keep that momentum going, you'll do whatever you want. So just grow a pair of balls and give it a go, you know. 25:30.76 nextlevelguypodcast love it. And how can people keep in touch? How can we follow you on this journey? How can we see you compete and, you know, come to the gym and get coached, et cetera? 25:42.94 Andy Yeah, I mean, just my Instagram's just Andy Black. and I don't do coaching or charge anymore. If you want to come and train, you're more than welcome to come and train. 25:53.59 Andy I train in a fantastic gym, Muscle Hut in Falkirk. and It's got great equipment. It's got everything I need. If you want to come and train deadlift, come and train deadlifts. 26:05.83 Andy If you want to come and do log, come and do log. Just message me. You know, the more the merrier. It's not an issue. Pop along. I think it's like £5 for a day pass. 26:17.44 Andy That's all it'll cost you. 26:20.99 nextlevelguypodcast Well, i know rubber time