Marc Sanchez, Strongman, Powerlifter, and the Reality of Building the Sport

Introduction: Never Die, Motherfucker

Never. Fucking. Die. That’s how we start this off, because that’s the mindset. You keep showing up, you keep pushing, you keep finding new ways to evolve. And this episode right here — I sat down with Marc Sanchez, veteran powerlifter, strongman competitor, and now a strongman promoter — is the perfect example of how that mindset plays out in the real world.

Marc’s not just another guy picking up heavy shit. He’s a pro-level competitor, a coach, a promoter, and someone carrying the flag for the Filipino community on some of the biggest stages in strength sports. We talked about everything — competing at the Santa Monica Classic with Martins Licis, pulling monster numbers on the platform, representing his culture, putting on his first strongman show, and what it really takes to get sponsors in this sport.

This isn’t a polished magazine feature. This is raw. This is the truth. This is the Angry Dad Podcast article version — no fluff, no filter. Let’s break this conversation down.

The Santa Monica Classic: Competing in Front of the World

Marc called it one of the best shows he’s ever done. And I get it. Imagine lifting cars and logs right on the Santa Monica Pier, roller coaster buzzing behind you, people screaming who didn’t even know they were gonna see a strongman show that day. That’s what Martins Licis put together.

For most strongman shows, you gotta sell tickets, promote the hell out of it, and hope the crowd comes through. This? This was different. Tourists and locals just stumbled into one of the wildest athletic displays of their lives. Free admission. Organic energy. People losing their minds watching athletes deadlift cars.

Marc said it plain: “That was probably my favorite show I’ve ever done.” And I believe him.

Representing the Filipino Community

Marc represents the Philippines in strongman, and when he competes in Los Angeles, the Filipino community comes out heavy. He laughed about people calling him the biggest Filipino they’ve ever seen — because, let’s face it, at 6’0” and 320 pounds, he’s huge compared to most.

But here’s the thing: he’s still considered “small” in the strongman world. That’s the crazy paradox. Big to most people, average or undersized compared to the monsters on the world stage. And yet, Marc proves — with work, leverage, and strategy — that size isn’t the only thing that matters.

He leans into his sprinting background for moving events, his elite powerlifting foundation for static lifts, and he trains smart. This is where his philosophy comes through: know your weaknesses, build them up, and make your strengths undeniable.

From Powerlifting to Strongman

Marc came out of powerlifting with serious numbers. We’re talking:

• 840 lb squat
• 420 lb bench press
• 815 lb deadlift

And since then? He’s pushed even further. In strongman competition he’s squatted 881 lbs and pulled 926 lbs in training with a deadlift suit. That’s not “average strong guy” strength. That’s elite-level monster strength.

But as we discussed, strongman isn’t just about numbers on a barbell. It’s about awkward implements, bad conditions, and adapting on the fly. Like when an event breaks mid-show and organizers swap it out last minute. You can’t just peak for a perfect deadlift. You gotta be ready to lift heavy, ugly, and unpredictable weights whenever they throw them at you.

The Camaraderie of Strongman

Here’s where strongman really shines. Marc explained how his first show changed his perspective. Competitors giving him gear, cheering him on, helping clean tacky off his arms. Even the guy he was going head-to-head with would turn around after his run and start yelling for him.

That’s what makes strongman different. Powerlifting has support, sure, but it’s way more individual. In strongman? It’s a warzone with a family vibe backstage. Everyone wants you at your best. Nobody wants to win because you failed — they want to beat you at your strongest. That’s respect. That’s community.

Promoting His First Show

And now Marc’s giving back by promoting his own shows. His first novice-level strongman competition in Colorado sold out with 40 athletes. He got sponsors, volunteers, and built a community event where even beginners felt like pros — with custom shirts, names on the back, and a real competitive environment.

Behind the scenes? Stress as hell. Logistics, porta-potties, chairs, warm-up equipment, volunteers. Sponsors backing out last minute. But he pulled it off. And he’s already planning the next ones: a novice show every year, and eventually sanctioned open-level competitions in Colorado Springs.

That’s what builds the next generation. That’s what keeps the sport alive.

Sponsorships: Don’t Chase, Become the Billboard

This is where we really got real. Too many athletes chase sponsorships thinking it makes them legit. But Marc spelled it out: if you’re spending more time trying to get sponsors than becoming an athlete worth sponsoring, you’re already lost.

“Don’t chase the money. Don’t chase the logos. Become the billboard companies want to slap their name on.”

That’s truth right there.

He explained how sponsorships aren’t free money. They’re contracts, obligations, content creation, and extra work when you’re already grinding in the gym. If you don’t love the product, don’t do it. If it takes away from your training, it’s not worth it.

Focus on being great at your craft. The right companies will come to you.

Longevity: Playing the Long Game

Marc doesn’t just want to compete. He wants to last. He looks at legends like Mark Felix, still competing in his 50s, still setting records, and he says that’s the goal.

Anybody can burn out in a couple of years chasing glory. Few can sustain it for decades. That’s why he spends more money on recovery, mobility work, chiropractic care, and bloodwork than on new knee sleeves or lifting gear. Because the real key to longevity isn’t just lifting heavy — it’s staying healthy enough to keep lifting heavy.

That’s the mindset more athletes need.

Final Words: Have Fun or What’s the Point?

Marc closed it perfectly: “Without the fans, we’re just dudes picking up rocks.”

And he’s right. Strongman is hard. It’s painful. It breaks you down. But if you don’t love it, if you don’t enjoy it, then what the hell are you doing?

Competing at the Santa Monica Pier, in front of strangers screaming like you’re a superhero — that’s the magic. That’s the fuel. Win or lose, podium or zero an event, you gotta have fun or the whole thing is pointless.

Closing

That’s the lesson right here. From the platform to the pier, from powerlifting records to promoting novice shows, Marc Sanchez is carving his own lane in strength sports. He’s not chasing clout, he’s not chasing sponsors — he’s building something real.

So if you’re an athlete, a fan, or someone just looking for that push to keep grinding: take this to heart. Work your ass off. Focus on your craft. Stay healthy. And most of all — never fucking die.