Chad Landers still remembers what he told people who asked what he wanted to be when he grew up: “I want to be a muscle man.” The ROVA Class of 1986 grad joined Galesburg’s Morning News on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, ahead of a Saturday book signing at Wordsmith Bookshoppe, to talk about his new book, “Building Strength and Muscle After 50,” and the path that took him from a basement weight bench in Oneida to a 33-year career training clients in Los Angeles.
Chad Landers joined Galesburg’s Morning News on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. Listen to the full interview above.
They talked about:
- Training as a teenager at Brad’s Gym, and touring ROVA’s weight room this week as an alum
- How he stumbled into kinesiology and ended up managing a gym before he’d even graduated
- Three things he’d tell anyone over 50 who’s thinking about starting
- Why creatine is the one supplement he recommends to everybody
- The client he says taught him the real meaning of his job
Related story: From Brad’s Gym to Hollywood: ROVA grad’s book makes the case for lifting weights after 50
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