This marks the second episode of a special CrossFit Podcast collaboration with the CrossFit Medical Society.



This week, we welcome Daniel Chaffey, a longtime leader in the CrossFit space. He owns CrossFit Louvre in Paris, one of Europe’s most established affiliates with over 3,100 members across three locations. 



He also founded the major European competition, The French Throwdown, and Operating With Excellence, a workshop platform dedicated to helping affiliate owners build thriving businesses. 



In this conversation, host Jocelyn Rylee dives into the essentials of CrossFit affiliates with Daniel: leadership, hospitality, and community. Chaffey, known for never mincing words, shares point-blank perspectives on everything from the future of CrossFit to the responsibility of affiliates in shaping that future. 



Topics Covered




The role of leadership in affiliate success and sustainability



The difference between service and hospitality in gyms



Building and maintaining community in CrossFit



CrossFit’s role in health across generations



Optimism, anxiety, and the future direction of CrossFit



The importance of education and HQ’s role in supporting affiliates




Resources Mentioned




Jordan Peterson/Peterson Academy (leadership courses)



Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs (applied to member experience)



CrossFit Level 1 and Level 2 Courses



Affiliate gatherings/events (e.g., Banff, Canadian Affiliate Gathering)




Community Highlight



Saxon Panchik is having a full-circle moment.



With six CrossFit Games appearances, he’s now putting more energy into giving back to the community that built him.



His message:




Get into an affiliate and be active.



Uplift those around you.



Keep each other accountable.




“It is life-changing. We all have things we wish we knew when starting our fitness journey. Take a minute to share that with someone just beginning.”



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Email us [podcasts@crossfit.com] or complete our survey here.

Over the next few weeks, we’re rolling out something different: a special CrossFit Podcast collaboration with the CrossFit Medical Society. Why? Because the CFMS isn’t sitting quietly on the sidelines. They are in the fight to cure chronic disease and put affiliates in the driver’s seat as the true health homes of their communities. This is a grassroots health revolution, and everyone should be paying attention. The mission is simple: empower affiliates, coaches, and members with real tools to reclaim their health and step out of the sickness economy. No quick fixes. Just CrossFit.



In this episode, Dr. Tom McCoy and Jenn Pishko, founders of the CrossFit Medical Society, join host Jocelyn Rylee to break down how affiliates can become the front line of community-based health care.



Recorded live at the 2025 CrossFit Owners and Coaches Conference and the 2025 CrossFit Games, the conversation digs into physician burnout, the launch of CommunityCare, and why the affiliate model is poised to be the future of preventative health.



Topics Covered




Burnout rates in primary care and why doctors are leaving medicine



How CrossFit affiliates can act as community health hubs



Launch of the CrossFit Medical Society and its goals



CommunityCare: a new model challenging U.S. health insurance



Biomarkers, bone density, and measures of health in CrossFit



Building trust between affiliates, coaches, and members



Shifting from “sick care” to true preventative health




Resources Mentioned




CrossFit Medical Society



CommunityCare program



Biomarker Hub



CEUs and CMEs




Community Highlight



Bobby Peters is the assistant superintendent of a rural California school district. He’s also an L2 trainer, a garage gym guy, and the founder of CrossFit Sierra Pacific, a nonprofit affiliate based in a public high school.⠀



It started small. A few local P.E. teachers got their L1s. Then came a weight-room renovation, a CrossFit course for students, and a 5 a.m. class open to any staff who wanted to move before the school day.



But Bobby didn’t stop there.



He helped launch a CrossFit program inside a juvenile incarceration facility. The setup is simple — bikes, sandbags, bodyweight movements — but the impact is massive.



“These kids didn’t talk to each other at first,” Bobby says. “Now they cheer each other on. They fist bump. They give feedback. It’s completely different.



”Bobby’s building confidence, leadership, and the possibility of a different path. His vision is clear: help these kids earn their L1s and reenter the world with something real.



He’s also pushing to get CrossFit recognized as a state-approved high school fitness curriculum — and he’s laying the groundwork to make it happen.



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Email us [podcasts@crossfit.com] or complete our survey here.

Nutrition is one of the most debated topics in health and fitness — and it’s central to CrossFit’s methodology. 



In this livestream, host James Hobart sits down with Jocelyn Rylee, Joe Alexander, and Jenn Pishko to talk nutrition. The conversation tackles CrossFit’s nutrition principles, how they apply in real life, and what the science actually says.



With so many competing voices in the space, we cut through the noise to address strategies for everyday CrossFit athletes, elite athletes, and those battling chronic disease. Expect honest discussion on food quality vs. quantity, calories in vs. calories out, the 80/20 rule, food addiction, and more.



Let us know what you think --> podcasts@crossfit.com



Follow us on YouTube to join future livestreams.

We talk about “the standard” in CrossFit all the time — but what does it really mean?



In this livestream, Denise Thomas sits down with Nicole Carroll, Chase Ingraham, and Adrian Conway to get real about what it takes to hold the standard in our gyms and on the competition floor.



The crew digs into where the standard came from, why it matters, and what happens when we don’t uphold it. They’ll break down coaching, defining fitness, and the ultimate goals of health and performance longevity. 



Expect a candid conversation about what “holding the standard” actually means, why it matters, and how we’re doing on hitting the goal. 



Let us know what you think --> podcasts@crossfit.com



Follow us on YouTube to join future livestreams.

Zach Long, DPT, better known as The Barbell Physio, joins Jocelyn Rylee to dig into the myths and realities around CrossFit injuries, mobility, programming, and long-term health. They unpack the latest research, expose scientific bias, and share practical strategies for athletes, coaches, and affiliate owners.



Read Zach’s point-by-point refutation of misleading CrossFit research here.



Zach brings his perspective as a physical therapist and longtime member of the CrossFit community to explain how to train through injury, why less is often more in mobility and programming, and how CrossFit has and continues to evolve.



Topics Covered




Is CrossFit dangerous? Injury data vs. public perception



How mobility training should actually work



Scientific integrity and fighting back against biased research



Training through injury vs. taking time off



Building medical-professional networks around affiliates



Programming pitfalls: volume vs. intensity and coaching time



Why complex skills (like the snatch) belong in CrossFit



Older adults as a critical growth area for affiliates



Zach’s advice for athletes, coaches, and the future of CrossFit




Resources Mentioned




Zach’s website: thebarbellphysio.com



Zach on Instagram/Facebook: @thebarbellphysio



CrossFit.com – Scientific Integrity Under Fire article



Zach’s YouTube channel: The Barbell Physio




Community Highlight



Trevor Pogue started CrossFit in 2020 with no lifting background and no plans to stick around. But it flipped everything.



He was working in medical research at the University of Florida, first in cancer, then anesthesiology, when he realized something: many of the problems hospitals treat could be prevented through lifestyle.⠀



In 2023, he bought CrossFit 1088, a small affiliate in Ocala, Florida that was about to shut down. The name comes from the gym’s youngest and oldest original members: 10 and 88. That spirit — CrossFit for everyone — is what Trevor is rebuilding.⠀



He took over with 32 members. A year later, they’re at 120 and growing.⠀



At their last anniversary party, Trevor watched 88-year-old Martha climb a massive water slide and fly down it while younger members stood by saying, “No way.”⠀



“That’s why we do CrossFit,” he said.



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Email us [podcasts@crossfit.com] or complete our survey here.

We’re sitting down to have an honest, nuanced conversation about Ozempic (semaglutide), other GLP-1 drugs, and their role in lifestyle intervention and health. We want to understand who benefits, who profits, and what the implications are for individuals, coaches, and the broader CrossFit community. 



The goal is not to provide all the answers or be the experts, but to create space for a thoughtful discussion around an important and highly visible issue, especially in light of GLP-1 provider Ro’s recent sponsored post featuring Serena Williams. 



Host Denise Thomas is joined by Dr. Tom McCoy, Jocelyn Rylee, and Joe Alexander. 



Let us know what you think --> podcasts@crossfit.com



Follow us on YouTube to join future livestreams.

Jason Fung, MD, is a Canadian nephrologist and world-renowned expert in intermittent fasting and low-carb nutrition. He is the author of best-selling books including "The Obesity Code" and "The Diabetes Code," and co-founder of The Fasting Method, where he helps people use evidence-based nutrition strategies to prevent and reverse chronic disease.



Dr. Jason Fung joins host Jocelyn Rylee on the CrossFit Podcast to unpack the myths and realities of fasting, obesity, and the role of hormones in nutrition. He explains why “starvation mode” is misunderstood, why calories alone don’t tell the full story, and how hunger — not willpower — is at the center of sustainable weightloss.



The conversation covers fasting as a therapeutic tool, the risks and uses of drugs like Ozempic, the dangers of ultra-processed foods, and the influence of our environment on health. Fung also shares insights from his upcoming book, “The Hunger Code,” which explores the three types of hunger — homeostatic, hedonic, and conditioned — and how to address each.



Topics Covered




Myth-busting “starvation mode” and fasting



Calories vs. hormones



Insulin, GLP-1, cortisol, and the hormonal drivers of fat storage



Ozempic, risks, misuse, and ethical prescribing



Ultra-processed foods and the rise of food addiction



The role of environment and social influence in obesity



Practical strategies: satiety, whole foods, fasting, and community




Resources Mentioned




Jason’s YouTube channel and website 



Jason Fung’s books: “The Obesity Code,” “The Diabetes Code,” “The Cancer Code,” “The PCOS Plan,” and upcoming “The Hunger Code”



CrossFit Health lecture: “Fasting as a Therapeutic Option” (2019)



New England Journal of Medicine study on social influence and obesity




Community Highlight



In 2023, Megan Mulvey walked into CrossFit PTC looking for a challenge. She had no idea she was preparing for the fight of her life.



Just months later, she was diagnosed with leukemia. After 51 rounds of chemo, a bone-marrow transplant, and months in and out of the hospital, her doctors told her, “You were preparing your body, and you didn’t even know it.” As she put it, "CrossFit didn't just change my life; it saved it."



When she returned to the gym, she’d lost her muscle — but not her spirit. Her community rallied with fundraisers, rides to treatment, and daily check-ins.



Now, Megan’s paying it forward. She launched Box of Hope, a nonprofit supporting CrossFit athletes and families facing cancer. Their first effort helped a local family cover their mortgage and car payment while their daughter battles terminal brain cancer.



“If I had to go through the worst,” Megan says, “I’ll make sure others don’t go through it alone.”



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here. 



Share Your Thoughts: Email us [podcasts@crossfit.com] or complete our survey here.

In this episode of the CrossFit Podcast, host Denise Thomas sits down with Rory McKernan and Angelo DiCicco to talk about everything from their hopes for the CrossFit community to stories from their early days. 



Community Highlight



Bob Moran has been a police officer in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, for 23 years. For much of that time, he was drinking … until Jan. 1, 2023. That was his last drink.



He went cold turkey. One day at a time. And through it all, CrossFit was his anchor. His gym, RDT CrossFit, welcomed him back without judgment.



Now 18 months sober, Bob is training consistently and leading from the front. He helps run Signal 30, a weekly fitness and mental wellness program for current and retired law enforcement. Every Sunday at 8 a.m., officers show up to move, connect, and reset.



“I’m not afraid to share it,” Bob says. I was a f*ing drunk. And I want people to know that’s not the end of the line. There’s more past that.”⠀



Next up: earning his Level 1 Trainer credential and continuing to give back. Because he knows what’s at stake and what’s possible.



Celebrate his soberversary workout on Jan. 2, 2026:



10 rounds for time of: 10-calorie bike10 back squats from floor (95/135)10 burpees over the bar



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast here or email us [podcasts@crossfit.com].

On this week’s livestream, we’re unpacking why and how CrossFit’s community is different — to the point that some even call us a cult. 




Is it the culture or the community that makes us different? What’s the difference between them? What defines them?  



What does “community” even mean if everyone says they have it?



Do you believe that walking into a CrossFit gym is palpably different from walking into any other brand of gym? What creates this? 



Why have we been called a cult? 



What are the social components of health and fitness? How important are they?



What role does the methodology play in promoting and preserving the culture? 




Guest host Matt Souza is joined by Nicole Carroll and Jenn Pishko. 



Let us know what you think --> podcasts@crossfit.com



Follow us on YouTube to join future livestreams.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT – Yann Martel, Author of “Life of Pi”



Yann Martel is best known as the author of the modern classic “Life of Pi.” But he also happens to be a longtime member at CrossFit Brio in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In this conversation with host Jocelyn Rylee, Yann shares how CrossFit became part of his life more than 14 years ago, and why he still shows up to class five days a week.



The two also discuss his writing process, the symbolism behind “Life of Pi," and how fiction and fitness both shape how we understand ourselves and the world. Surprise guest Dave Castro crashes the conversation midway through to meet the author and share why “Life of Pi” is one of his favorite books of all time.



EPISODE TOPICS




Yann’s first CrossFit workout (and why he loved it)



How Dave and Yann first connected



The symbolism behind “Life of Pi” (and what the ending means)



How Yann structures his writing process



How fiction makes us better thinkers




RESOURCES MENTIONED




“Life of Pi” by Yann Martel



“East of Eden” by John Steinbeck



“Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck



“Call of the Wild” and White Fang” by Jack London



The Bible, Quran, and Book of Mormon (mentioned by Dave)



Yann's upcoming book: “Son of Nobody”




Community Highlight



Shannon Schleifer has been bringing CrossFit to public schools in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the past decade. At Fremont Academy, she built a CrossFit elective where students learn to move with intention, and understand how it connects to what they’re studying in science class.



The setup is simple: folding rigs, barbells, dumbbells. But the impact is huge. Her classes stay full, and kids are gaining confidence in what their bodies can do.



Shannon retires this year, but she’s not done. Her goal is to expand CrossFit in public schools because for many kids, this is their only shot.



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

Age-group athletes are the purest expression of what CrossFit stands for: proof that elite health has no age limit. From teenagers stepping onto the competition floor for the first time to 70+ athletes rewriting what aging looks like, age-group athletes are the tip of the spear — living examples that you can take ownership of your health at any stage of life and never hand it back to the system.



Join host James Hobart with Adrian Conway, Chase Ingraham, and Scott Panchik as we celebrate the monsters in every division — the ones who prove, year after year, that the cure works in every decade.



Surprise guest Carolyne Prevost jumps in part way through the conversation from the airport on her way to compete at the 2025 Age-Group CrossFit Games.



Watch the 2025 Age-Group CrossFit Games. 



Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

CrossFit’s new ad pulls no punches — but it’s only the starting point.



In this livestream, Jocelyn Rylee sits down with Matt Souza, Jenn Pishko, and James Hobart to respond to the ad together, unpacking what it means in the context of CrossFit’s mission to make the world a healthier place.



Whether someone is seeking to dominate their sport or improve their quality of life, CrossFit works. Our program can be scaled for anyone. But even in meeting people where they are, CrossFit requires hard work.



“CrossFit is for anyone, but not for everyone.” We own this adage because it is in the challenge of CrossFit that people come to understand what they are capable of, where true potential is unlocked, not just in terms of belief in ourselves, but in terms of our health and fitness — our degree of capacity and vitality for life.



“Tens of thousands of coaches around the world teach functional movement, nutrition, recovery, and resilience … They build relationships, and they track results.



This is what real public health looks like.” [CrossFit Is the Cure]



Let’s talk about what it all means. Buckle up. We’re Forging Elite Fitness.



Community Highlight



Elina Villemure was born in Bulgaria, adopted at 5, and grew up in Michigan chasing her brothers — on one leg above the knee, and one below.



She found CrossFit through Forging Youth Resilience, and after surgery left her in a wheelchair, she assumed training was off the table — until her school counselor said otherwise.



Her first Open? She did it from a wheelchair.



Now, at 20, Elina runs the Adaptive Athlete Experience — a traveling seminar that helps gyms better serve athletes of all abilities. She’s already hosted more than a dozen events.



“Whether or not I lose a leg or break a leg, I still have to adapt in the gym. The only difference is one is three months and the other is the rest of your life.”



Follow her story. And if you own a gym, consider bringing her in.



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

Catch up on this livestream from August 8th, 2025.



The 2025 CrossFit Games delivered big moments — but more than that, they offered perspective.



In this conversation, Denise Thomas, James Hobart, and Adrian Conway reflect on what stood out and what it means moving forward. The discussion goes beyond the leaderboard to focus on the connection between the Games and the larger CrossFit community — what we saw this year, how it resonated inside and outside the arena, and how we can build on it.



This conversation explores what the Games can and should mean for CrossFit’s future — not just for elite sport, but for the everyday affiliate, the larger mission, and the community that makes it all work.



Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

EC Synkowski joins Denise Thomas to talk about CrossFit, food, and how to cut through the confusion. EC is the founder of OptimizeMe Nutrition and the creator of the 800g Challenge, but her insights go way beyond a single method. They cover why some of us slide into food neurosis, how to know when your diet is actually "done,” and the biggest mistakes people make when chasing health. 



EC also discusses the role of processed foods, challenges common rhetoric about carbs and seed oils, and breaks down her 10 principles of nutrition, which serve as the backbone of her Three Pillars Method. This is an episode about simplifying nutrition, ditching dogma, and learning to trust what works.



Episode Topics




Food neurosis and how to bounce back



How to know when your nutrition is "done"



The role of processed foods in modern health problems



The power of simplicity and sustainability in diet design



EC's Three Pillars Method and how it builds on CrossFit's foundation



The 10 principles of nutrition 




Resources Mentioned




The Consistency Project (EC’s podcast)



OptimizeMe Nutrition



The 800g Challenge



Three Pillars Method App



Street Parking podcast episode with EC




Community Highlight



Aaron Hoff is using CrossFit to change more than lives — he’s changing an entire island.



Born and raised on Kauaʻi, Aaron knows the grip of addiction firsthand. By his early 20s, he was in active addiction and suicidal. But one Christmas Eve, he hit a turning point. He’s now 27 years sober.



In 2013, he opened his first CrossFit gym. Today, through the Keala Foundation, he runs two affiliates focused on keeping kids out of the cycle he escaped.



The gyms are free for youth. Each class starts and ends with a “word of the day” — like honesty or integrity — and a coach-led reflection. “Words are the tools that help you process trauma,” Aaron says. “If you don’t understand the language, you’re lost.”



He reaches over 500 kids a year. Some stay for years. Some become coaches.



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here or email us at podcasts@crossfit.com.

James Hobart has been part of CrossFit since the early days. He’s competed at the Games, demoed for CrossFit’s movement videos, worked on Seminar Staff, and spent nearly two decades watching the culture evolve. In this episode, he sits down with Denise Thomas to talk candidly about the state of CrossFit — and whether it’s lost its soul.



From what it felt like to walk away from competition, to the mindset shift required to keep training into middle age, James opens up about what keeps him coming back to the gym and why he still believes in the methodology. They discuss the difference between nostalgia and stagnation, why CrossFit's messiness is part of the magic, and what it really means to "teach yourself out of a job.



TOPICS COVERED




Has CrossFit lost its soul?



The evolution of CrossFit.com and community norms



Competing as a masters athlete



The shift from performance to purpose



Letting go of dogma and embracing change



Making peace with "CrossFit Grumpy"



Why small goals matter more than big ones




RESOURCES MENTIONED




James Hobart's podcast: Podcast of the Day



CrossFit Mafia in Erie, Colorado



CrossFit.com



Ruck Race League




COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT



Mark and Dana Harris are the founders of Equip Products — a company based in rural Illinois that’s making CrossFit more accessible for adaptive and neuro athletes around the world. 



It started with a conversation at the CrossFit Games. Kevin Ogar mentioned the need for better gear to train from his wheelchair, and that led to their first product: the lap mat.⠀Today, Equip offers nearly 150 tools that help athletes train safely and independently, regardless of ability. 



For Mark and Dana, this isn’t just business — it’s a way to make sure no one hears, “That’s it. You’re done.” Their message is simple: You’re not done. You’re just getting started.



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

Adrian Conway has competed at the highest level of CrossFit, coaches athletes of all levels, is a Seminar Staff member, and a CrossFit Games commentator. In this conversation with Denise Thomas, he explains the symbiotic relationship between the CrossFit Games and CrossFit affiliates.



Adrian offers a perspective on how the sport has evolved and how the professionalism of the sport depends on the very athletes who participate in it. This episode is about the future of CrossFit, the spirit of the community, and bridging the gap between the sport and the affiliate.



Topics Included




Adrian's evolution from competitor to coach, and what he learned in that transition



The cultural evolution of the CrossFit Games



How competitors can help their own future by integrating with their affiliates



How competitors could gain an advantage through an understanding of the methodology 




Resources Mentioned




The CrossFit Games



TTRU Fitness



The Barbell Spin




Community Highlight



Carolyne Prevost is a three-time CrossFit Games athlete (four times after this year), a former pro hockey player, an 11-time national champion across four sports, and a full-time high school teacher in Sarnia, Canada. But what sets her apart isn’t just the accolades. It’s the impact.



In 2018, Carolyne launched CrossFit GAGE — an affiliate inside her school — to teach students how to move well, take care of themselves, and build real confidence. She’s proof that being elite doesn’t mean being out of reach. It means showing up, coaching, and leading by example.



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

Episode Description Angie Manson is the CEO of Elevate Addiction Services, a residential rehab program that integrates CrossFit into daily life. In this conversation with Denise Thomas, Angie opens up about her own recovery, what CrossFit gave her, and why every coach needs to understand addiction.



Angie explains how EAS operates — from an on-site CrossFit affiliate to community classes to post-rehab support — and what she's learned after helping thousands of people rebuild their lives. This episode is about fitness, but it’s also about humanity, hope, and second chances.



Topics Included




Angie’s story of addiction, recovery, and finding CrossFit



How Elevate Addiction Services integrates CrossFit



Why structure, challenge, and community matter in rehab



The coach’s role in supporting people in recovery



Building trust, habits, and a new identity



How affiliates and coaches can get involved




Resources Mentioned




Elevate Addiction Services (Santa Cruz + Tahoe)



CrossFit EAS (on-site affiliate)



The Phoenix



Narcotics Anonymous (NA)



Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)




RESOURCES FOR ADDICTION



Elevate Addiction Services – https://elevaterehab.org/Immediate Help




SAMHSA National Helpline (U.S.): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information.https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline




Treatment & Recovery Resources




Substance Abuse Treatment Locator (SAMHSA):Find nearby treatment facilities for substance use and mental health issues.https://findtreatment.gov



Shatterproof:A nonprofit focused on science-based addiction resources and stigma reduction.https://www.shatterproof.org



Partnership to End Addiction:Offers support for families navigating a loved one’s substance use.https://drugfree.org




Peer Support Communities




Alcoholics Anonymous (AA):https://www.aa.org/find-aa



Narcotics Anonymous (NA):https://www.na.org



SMART Recovery:A secular, science-based alternative to 12-step programs.https://www.smartrecovery.org




Community Highlight



Tammi Saunders is the head coach at The Barbell Saves Project — a nonprofit CrossFit affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona, offering free classes to anyone in recovery.



The only requirements: 48 hours sober and a commitment to keep showing up.⠀Every coach on staff, including Tammi, is in recovery. They run five community classes a day, plus sessions for sober-living homes and treatment centers. But fitness is just the beginning.



What they’re building is trust, discipline, and integrity – under stress, in community.Tammi has helped develop seven Level 1 trainers through the program, many straight out of prison or early sobriety. She’s built a trauma-informed culture rooted in empathy and consent.



She still remembers walking into a gym for the first time: smoking two packs a day, struggling with disordered eating, unsure what came next. Now she’s a Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer, trauma-informed, and a Masters Games athlete.“If I can become this version of myself,” she says, “anyone can.”



This is what it looks like to hold the door open for the next person.

Dr. Stacy Sims is an exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist, TEDx speaker, and the bestselling author behind the viral phrase "Women are not small men." In this episode, she joins Denise Thomas to unpack what we really need to know about women’s physiology — and how most training and nutrition advice completely ignores it.



They get into the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, postmenopause, and how to train through it all. Stacy explains why women lose power during certain phases, how training affects the brain, and what female athletes should do differently when it comes to strength, conditioning, recovery, and stress. They also break down cold plunges, sauna use, and why CrossFit coaches and gym owners have an opportunity to lead the way in changing the narrative.



Topics Included




Biological differences in training, recovery, and metabolism



Power, hormone shifts, and the menstrual cycle



When and how to modify workouts



Why fasting and cold plunges don’t affect men and women the same way



How to feel and perform your best during perimenopause and postmenopause



Raising the next generation of girls to understand their physiology for performance




Resources Mentioned




Dr. Stacy Sims’ TEDx Talk: Women Are Not Small Men



Book: “Roar” by Stacy Sims



Book: “Next Level” by Stacy Sims



DrStacySims.com



Proov or Oova (hormone-tracking tools)



OsteoGains app




Community Highlight



Arielle Loewen is a household name in CrossFit — fierce on the floor, kind in every interaction. But behind the scenes, she’s also quietly mentoring the next generation.⠀Last year, she supported eight teenage CrossFit Games athletes, checking in weekly to discuss the mental aspects of elite competition. One even flew out to train with her in person.



Arielle’s leadership comes from lived experience. In 2013, she couldn’t afford her first competition — someone else covered the entry fee. Now, she pays it forward. She designs and sells “Strong Mom” shirts to help other moms cover local competition costs.



Her message is simple: “When you think you’re done, you’re not done.”Arielle’s a bright spot in the CrossFit community — and we’ll be cheering her on at the 2025 CrossFit Games.



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here



Share Your Thoughts



Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here

Conor Murphy has worn many hats: Navy serviceman, CrossFit Games athlete, Seminar Staff trainer, and, now, head of Big Night Fitness and affiliate owner in Boston, Massachusetts. In this raw and real conversation with Denise Thomas, Conor opens up about the moments that nearly broke him — and how CrossFit gave him a second chance.



From losing his shot at a military career, to training celebrities on tour buses, to building a space where community comes first, Conor reflects on the power of mentorship, growth through failure, and what it means to truly live your values. His message to aspiring coaches and owners? Focus on people, not optics. Do the work. Stay humble. Keep showing up.3. 



Topics Included




Military injury and finding direction through CrossFit



Competing at the Games and becoming a Seminar Staff member



Coaching celebrities vs. everyday athletes



Building community at Big Night Fitness



Lessons in leadership, ego, and growing up



Launching an affiliate with purpose and perspective




Resources Mentioned




CrossFit PB (Pacific Beach)



CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course



CrossFit Seminar Staff



WOD on the Waves



Big Night Entertainment Group



CrossFit TILT




Community Highlight



In 2023, Ernesto Reyes saw a gap: no CrossFit events in Mexico offered adaptive divisions. So he decided to change that.As the owner of CrossFit Cholula, Ernesto didn’t start with experience in adaptive training — just a love for competition and a drive to make the sport more inclusive. He visited a local rec center and invited adaptive athletes to try CrossFit. Over 20 showed up. A few kept training. That first competition changed everything.



Now, he coaches more than 10 adaptive athletes regularly. And the mission has become clear: this is his calling.As his late father once said, “Maybe Ernesto found the meaning of life — helping people.”This year, his gym is launching Personas con Determinación, a fundraiser to support competition costs. Together, they’ll hike one of Mexico’s highest peaks to prove a point: accomplishment doesn’t require perfection — it requires determination.



Follow the journey. Or join the climb.



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Dr. Major Allison Brager is a neuroscientist, a two-time CrossFit Games athlete, and one of the military’s leading experts on sleep and circadian biology. In this episode, host Denise Thomas and co-host Jocelyn Rylee dig in to what happens in the body during sleep, how your chronotype affects your performance, and the importance of sleep for recovery.



They also unpack strategic caffeine dosing, sleep myths, and the direct impact sleep has on your hormones, recovery, mood, and even long-term health risks. Whether you’re training hard or just trying to function better day-to-day, this conversation will change how you think about rest.



Topics Included




What actually happens when we sleep



Chronotypes, circadian rhythms, and ideal training times



Sleep banking, shift work, and real-world application



How sleep affects hormones, mood, and injury risk



The impact of caffeine, alcohol, and blue light



Strategies for better sleep: environment, timing, and habits




Resources Mentioned




Dr. Brager’s book: “Meathead: Unraveling the Athletic Brain”



Power Monkey Camp



CrossFit Open



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia



Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire



National Sleep Foundation




Community Highlight



Jeff Winchester is a middle school counselor just outside of San Diego, California. In 2024, he launched CrossFit La Presa — a nonprofit school affiliate created with full support from his district and school leadership.



La Presa Middle School serves a largely underserved community, where many students face challenges outside the classroom. For Jeff, this program isn’t just about fitness — it’s about offering strength, structure, and connection to kids who need it most.



The results are powerful: students are gaining confidence, teachers are rediscovering their health, and kids who once stayed on the sidelines are now trying out for sports. Jeff says launching CrossFit La Presa has been one of the most meaningful moments of his 15-year career in education.⠀



Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.



Share Your Thoughts



Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.