Record-smashing powerlifter, 68, says she lives for the 'clang' of the weights

Michelle Shephard is an award-winning author, journalist, filmmaker, and podcast host and producer. She’s the author of Guantánamo’s Child: The Untold Story of Omar Khadr and Decade of Fear: Reporting from Terrorism’s Grey Zone. Her films include the Emmy-nominated documentary Guantánamo’s Child, The Perfect Story, The Man Who Stole Einstein’s Brain, and The Way Out. Her most recent book is Code Name: Pale Horse, which she co-wrote with retired Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Scott Payne, and which was published by Simon & Schuster in 2025. Michelle and I talk about...