Meet Your Hosts | To The Bar Podcast
Where Technical Expertise Meets Weightlifting Passion
đź‘‹ Welcome to the Bar!
We’re Aaron Holt and Jess Roebuck-Slaney—athletes, coaches, British Weightlifting technical officials, and your guides to the raw, unfiltered world of competitive weightlifting. From Instagram’s chalk-dusted corners to the Olympic platform, we’ve built a community where every lift, rule, and story matters.
Who Are We?
Aaron Holt
Former British Record Holder (and still chasing PBs!)
Podcast Co-Host | IWF Technical Official | Coach & Co-Owner Atticus Barbell Club | Athlete
Known for: Breaking down complex rules with humor and grit.
Jess Roebuck-Slaney
2024 British Weightlifting Technical Official of the Year
Podcast Co-Host | Coach & Co-Owner Atticus Barbell Club | Technical Official | Athlete
Known for: Turning officiating drama into must-listen stories.
Why We Started To The Bar
What began as a cheat sheet for technical officiating exploded into a viral Instagram hub—and now, the UK’s most trusted weightlifting podcast. Why? Because you asked for more:
- No Fluff, Just Facts: Demystifying rules like the “dirty clean,” press-out debates, and IWF strategy shifts.
- Behind-the-Scenes Access: From Paris 2024’s Olympic chaos to grassroots comps at the NEC.
- Strength in Every Story: Amplifying voices from rookie lifters to legends like Emily Campbell.
What We Do Beyond the Mic
- Official British Weightlifting Media Partners: Hosting live streams, athlete interviews, and social takeovers at national competitions.
- Event Commentators: Bringing fire to platforms at the English Champs, British Masters, and beyond.
- Proudly Sponsored by LuXiaoJun EU Store: Fueling our mission with gear that’s as elite as our guests.
Why Lifters Trust Us
- We’ve Been There: Aaron’s competed; Jess’s officiated; both of us have survived midnight programming for 10-platform chaos.
- No Agenda, Just Passion: Not sponsored by hype—just here to grow the sport we love.
- Your Questions, Answered: “Why was Mattie Rogers’ lift overturned?” “What’s a real TO’s day like?” We tackle it all.
Join the Movement
🚀 Subscribe to the Podcast
Spotify | YouTube | Apple
Dive into 100+ episodes and short behind the scene clips across platforms dissecting Olympic drama, coaching secrets, and the joy of a perfectly timed lift.
📸 Follow the Chaos
Instagram | YouTube Shorts
Watch warm-up room antics, comp-day meltdowns, and Karlos Nasar’s gravity-defying lifts.
🛍️ Support Our Sponsors
LuXiaoJun EU Store | British Weightlifting
Where champions shop and dreams get programmed.
There’s Strength in Every Story—Yours Included.
Got a question? A comp story? A rant about the press-out rule?
DM us on instangram @_to_thebar or tag #ToTheBarPodcast—we’re here to listen, learn, and lift the sport higher.
