Iain Valliere Unfiltered: Why He Retired… and If He’d Ever Come Back

In this episode of the Unwracked Podcast, hosts Andrew Berry and Kyle Wilkes sit down with Iain Valliere, retired IFBB Pro Champion and Olympian. Iain opens up about the realities of retirement, the transition into “normal life,” and the mental battles bodybuilders face when stepping away from the stage.

The conversation dives deep into training philosophy, coaching dynamics, PED strategies, growth hormone, peptides, and the overlooked fundamentals that actually drive progress: sleep, nutrition, consistency, and mindset. Iain also breaks down the recent Mr. Olympia, previews the Arnold Classic, and speaks on the future of Open bodybuilding.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

-Retirement can feel surprisingly similar to peak bodybuilding routine.
-Competitive pressure can drain the joy out of bodybuilding.
-Transitioning to normal life means new hobbies, interests, and experiences.
-Mental fatigue often leads to relaxed eating post-retirement.
-Strong rapport with a coach is essential for long-term success.
-Competition mistakes become valuable lessons.
-Trusting your coach improves execution and outcomes.
-Sleep and nutrition remain the most important variables.
-More PEDs ≠ better results — method beats megadosing.
-Fixing small habits over time produces massive progress.
-EQ can trigger anxiety in some individuals.
-Anadrol and D-bol often destroy appetite.
-Growth hormone remains a useful tool for bodybuilders.
-Derek looked incredibly impressive in person at the Olympia.
-Samson’s showing fell short of expectations.
-Andrew’s physique impressed Iain significantly at the Olympia.
-Bodybuilding popularity moves in cycles over time.
-Phil Heath was a major early influence for Iain.
-Iain wishes he started YouTube earlier to document his journey.

CHAPTERS

00:00 – The Journey of Retirement
05:49 – Reflections on Competitive Bodybuilding
13:23 – The Evolution of Training Philosophy
20:19 – Strength and Training Partners
30:09 – Coaching Insights and Future Aspirations
38:13 – Personal Growth & Development in Bodybuilding
40:30 – The Coach–Client Dynamic
42:34 – Lessons From Coaching Relationships
43:39 – Why Trust Matters in Coaching
50:11 – PEDs: Iain’s Personal Journey
01:03:38 – Mr. Olympia Reflections
01:10:31 – The Future: Open vs. Classic
01:12:18 – Depth of Competition Today
01:14:34 – Bodybuilding Favorites Over Time
01:17:14 – Life After Bodybuilding
01:20:59 – Social Media’s Impact
01:22:49 – Rapid-Fire Bodybuilding Insights
01:32:10 – Mentorship & Continuous Learning

🎧 Hosted by:
Andrew Berry – @berryswole‪@berryswole‬
Kyle Wilkes – @kyle.wilkes ‪@Sirkylewilkes‬
👤 Guest:
Iain Valliere- @iainvalliere ‪@iain_valliere‬