Episode
050 Are circuits for hypertrophy the next big thing?
- Podcast
- Hypertrophy Past and Present
- Published
- May 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4262
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://share.transistor.fm/s/5a147193
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Summary
In this episode of Hypertrophy Past & Present, Jake and Chris explore the use of circuits in hypertrophy training, starting with a 1960s circuit-style routine published by John McCallum. The episode examines how circuit-style training was used in the silver era, before transitioning into a physiology-first breakdown of when circuits might actually make sense for muscle growth today, and when they likely fall short. Key topics include: • A breakdown of McCallum’s Peripheral Heart Action (PHA) circuit routine • Why inserting low-fatigue exercises between compounds can improve performance • How circuits may reduce the exercise order effect across a workout • When circuits might outperform straight sets (and when they won’t) • How to structure circuits using clusters, low reps, and reps in reserve • The practical limitations of circuits in busy gyms