In this episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, host Marco Mejia sits down with Ryan Talley, an Everyday CrossFitter from CrossFit Apollo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ryan’s story breaks through one of the biggest misconceptions about CrossFit — that it’s only for elite athletes — and shows how the methodology truly meets people where they are.
Growing up active in multiple sports, Ryan talks about what happened when life, work, and routine slowly took priority over fitness. His return to movement through CrossFit reminded him what it means to be part of a team, push limits, and enjoy the process again. From self-doubt to rediscovering consistency, this is a conversation that captures why so many people find their spark again inside a CrossFit gym.
Highlights from this episode:
Why CrossFit is for everyone — not just elite athletes
Ryan’s athletic background and transition into CrossFit
How the CrossFit community helped rebuild confidence and consistency
Lessons from balancing fitness, work, and life
Ryan’s advice for anyone intimidated to start
Ryan’s perspective is a refreshing reminder that progress in CrossFit — and in life — isn’t about perfection; it’s about showing up, scaling when needed, and never losing sight of why you started.
In this episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, host Marco Mejia talks with Stacy Grindell, a CrossFitter from CrossFit Extra Mile in St. Louis, Missouri, whose story perfectly embodies the idea that it’s never too late to start.
Stacy began CrossFit at age 50, and what started as a step toward better health has become a complete lifestyle transformation. In this episode, she shares how she overcame self-doubt, discovered a supportive community, and found strength that she didn’t know she had.
Her message is simple but powerful: fitness is for everyone, at any age. Whether you’re new to CrossFit or returning after years away, Stacy’s story will remind you that the hardest part is just walking through the door.
Highlights from this episode:
How Stacy found CrossFit later in life — and why she fell in love with it
The mental barriers she faced starting at 50
Why community support matters more than perfection
How CrossFit has changed her health, confidence, and outlook
Her message to anyone who feels “too old” or “too late” to start
Stacy’s story is proof that strength, courage, and change aren’t limited by age — they’re defined by willingness.
In this episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, host Marco Mejia sits down with Courtney Samudio, a CrossFit Level 1 coach at CrossFit Fury in Phoenix, Arizona. Courtney opens up about her athletic background, her transition into coaching, and the perspective shifts that came after a serious injury — one that forced her to reexamine why she trains and what true fitness means.
Courtney’s story is about more than competition. It’s about longevity, passion, and rediscovering purpose through community. She shares how she builds trust with her athletes, why empathy matters as much as programming, and what it means to “train for life.”
Highlights from this episode:
How Courtney went from a national champion in College Volleyball to CrossFit coach
Lessons learned from injury and recovery
The importance of trust and connection in coaching
How to stay motivated when you can’t train at 100%
Why “training for life” is the ultimate goal
This episode is a reminder that being an athlete isn’t just about physical strength — it’s about adaptability, humility, and finding joy in the process, no matter where you are in your journey.
In this episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, host Marco Mejia sits down with Mike Ward, a Level 2 CrossFit coach from CrossFit Fury in Phoenix, Arizona. With nearly 15 years in the CrossFit world, Mike has seen the evolution of the methodology from its early days to what it’s become today — and he shares how it continues to challenge and shape both his fitness and his mindset.
This conversation blends years of experience with practical wisdom for anyone — whether you’re stepping into a box for the first time or coaching others to reach their potential.
Highlights from this episode:
How Mike discovered CrossFit and why it stuck
Lessons from 15 years as both an athlete and coach
The evolution of CrossFit culture and training methods
Why “checking your ego at the door” matters for growth
Coaching insights for building long-term consistency and community
Mike’s story is a testament to how CrossFit can evolve with you — from a personal fitness pursuit into a lifelong practice of discipline, humility, and continuous improvement.
If Mike’s experience resonated with you, Subscribe and share this with someone who needs that reminder to just start — no matter where they’re at.Connect with Silverback MediaInstagram: @silver_back_media
In this episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, host Marco Mejia sits down with Dave Fennell, whose journey from over 550 pounds to performing strict pull-ups became a featured story on CrossFit.com.
Dave’s transformation is far more than a story about weight loss — it’s about confronting food addiction, rebuilding self-belief, and discovering how consistency and community can rewrite a life.
Dave opens up about what it felt like to live inside a 600-pound body and how CrossFit gave him the structure and accountability to fight his way back. This conversation goes beyond fitness — it’s a story about perseverance, purpose, and proving that no starting point is too far gone.
Highlights from this episode:
The moment Dave realized something had to change
The mindset shift from survival to growth
What it meant to find real community and accountability in CrossFit
How small daily wins became the foundation for massive change
Dave’s story is living proof that no matter how heavy the weight — physically or mentally — transformation is always possible with consistency, courage, and support.
🔗 Related Link:
The Differentiator Is CrossFit: David Fennell Goes From 550 Pounds to Strict Pull-Ups (CrossFit.com)
In this powerful episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, host Marco Mejia sits down with Craig Pierson, a long-time member of CrossFit North Scottsdale, to share a raw and inspiring story of redemption, resilience, and self-discovery.
Craig opens up about his early years — a period marked by destructive choices and near tragedy — and how finding CrossFit helped him rebuild his life piece by piece. What started as a workout became a lifeline, giving him purpose, discipline, and the community he needed to turn everything around.
Highlights from this episode:
Craig’s deeply personal story of hitting rock bottom and finding redemption
How fitness became a foundation for emotional and mental strength
The role of community in rebuilding confidence and accountability
Why CrossFit is more than workouts — it’s a catalyst for lasting change
This is one of those stories that reminds you why the Everyday CrossFitter matters — proof that the gym can be the place where people find themselves again.
If Craig’s story hit home, don’t forget to follow and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.
Connect with Silverback MediaInstagram: @silver_back_mediaYoutube: Silverback Media
In this episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, Marco Mejia sits down with Matt Howell, an everyday CrossFitter with a passion for adventure that’s taken him from the gym to the slopes of Mount Everest. Matt opens up about the parallels between CrossFit training and preparing for high-altitude climbs, sharing stories of grit, mindset, and what it takes to push through the most extreme challenges.
Highlights from this episode:
How CrossFit built the foundation for Matt’s mountaineering pursuits
Lessons from training and climbing at high altitude
The mental side of pushing past fear and fatigue
What CrossFitters can learn from mountaineers — and vice versa
Matt’s story is proof that everyday athletes can take extraordinary paths. Whether you’re chasing PRs or life-changing adventures, this episode will fire you up to dream bigger.
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We’re back for week 2 introducing you to the coaches fromUntapped Nutrition, and this week we talk to Rocky DiPalma!
Rocky is a CrossFit Level 2 coach at CrossFit North Scottsdale, a NASM certified Nutrition Coach, and she also leads our Hyrox classes as well!
In this episode, we go back through Rocky’s story including:
- What her initial motivation was to get into fitness as a young adult
- How her perspective shifted on health from beingfocused on the weight scale, to being focused on her health and wellness, which led her to CrossFit
- How her experiences in CrossFit led her to Coaching classes and Nutrition coaching
Untapped Nutrition is the coaching group out of CrossFitNorth Scottsdale, and they are getting ready to launch their Fall Nutrition Challenge for 2025!
The deadline to sign up is September 30, so if you areinterested go to the Untapped Nutrition Instagram page (@untapped.nutrition) and fill out the link in the bio to register!
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This week is part 1 of a 2-part series introducing you tothe coaches from Untapped Nutrition, and this week we’re starting with Rachal Davis!
Rachal is a CrossFit Level 2 coach at CrossFit NorthScottsdale and a certified Nutrition Coach with Untapped Nutrition. In this episode, we go through Rachal’s backstory on how she got to this point in her career.
We go through topics like:
- What types of activities Rachal got into as a kid (this one surprised me!)
- Rachal’s work journey before she found fitness, and how that developed into what she does today
- How she found CrossFit (or was brought to it by another CFNS coach) and how CrossFit changed her perspective on Fitness and Coaching
Untapped Nutrition is the coaching group out of CrossFitNorth Scottsdale, and they are getting ready to launch their Fall Nutrition Challenge for 2025!
The deadline to sign up is September 30, so if you areinterested go to the Untapped Nutrition Instagram page (@untapped.nutrition) and fill out the link in the bio!
Next week, we will have on the other half of the UntappedNutrition coaches for the challenge, so be ready to tune in to hear both stories!
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Joining me on the show this week is Nick Alcocer, owner ofMotionRx!
Nick offers personalized Mobility solutions for his clientsranging from assisted stretching protocols to cupping/scraping, and nutrition guidance as well to give you the tools to get back to performing your best in andout of the gym!
Nick’s client base includes a wide range of CrossFit gymmembers, so we sat down to talk about what he sees from the people that come to work with him, and his top tips for “pre-hab” work that CrossFit gym members can do to continue to take care of their bodies and move at the level they want.
Along with that, we dive into Nick’s own backstoryincluding:
- His introduction to fitness and organized sportsat a young age
- How a significant health scare in his collegeyears set him on a path to regaining his health and fitness
- The path that led him to finding and joining aCrossFit gym
- How he used his experience in the gym to getinto the Mobility/Stretching field and open his own practice
If you want to work with Nick, you can reach out to him onhis website, www.motionrxaz.com, or reach out to him on Instagram at @motionrxaz as well!
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This week’s guest is DJ Dykes!
DJ joined me to share about Scottsdale Friday Night Lights, his Youth Flag Football league, that is starting in September in the Scottsdale, AZ,area.
Along with that, we dive into DJ’s backstory including:
- His experience playing high-level Division 1College Football
- DJ’s struggle with addiction through, and after,college
- His path to sobriety and recovery, and how hecontinues to fight that battle to this day
- How he found CrossFit and how that has helped hisdevelopment, physically and mentally
If you want to learn more about DJ’s Flag Football League,go to www.scottsdalefnl.com or follow them on Instagram at @scottsdalefnl to follow along!
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We are mixing it up this week!
I have a surprise guest on the show who wants to quiz me on some CrossFit trivia!
The trivia categories range all the way from CrossFit Gameshistory to some deep theory about the CrossFit methodology, so we cover a wide range of questions!
As you can imagine, there were some deep tangents andrabbit holes along the way, so come along for the ride!
Feel free to play along while you’re listening and see howmany questions you answer correctly too!
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My guest this week is Drew Woerther!
Drew has been a member at CrossFit Xtra Mile in St. Louis, MO, since 2021, and in this episode, we getto unpack his background that led him to find CrossFit.
In this episode, we talk about:
- Drew’s upbringing and how he initially beganfocusing on Fitness
- The cycles he went through between phases offitness
- How he eventually made his way into a CrossFitgym after the things he had heard about CrossFit before trying it himself
- The lessons Drew has learned in the CrossFit gymthat have benefited him in his life outside the gym
📩 Connect with me:
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Youtube: Silverback Media
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On the show this week is Rachel D.!
Rachel was a member at CrossFit North Scottsdale in Phoenix, AZ (she recently left for a big opportunity that you’ll need to listen to find out why).
Rachel only recently found CrossFit, so we talk about:
- What she thought about CrossFit before trying it herself
- The final push that got her to actually try CrossFit(this one may surprise you)
- How CrossFit has helped her heal and the learningthe power of showing up
- We wrap up with Rachel sharing the opportunityshe will be pursuing next and how she plans to keep CrossFit in those plans!
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Youtube: Silverback Media
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This week’s guest is the Hall Monitor / Mayor of the 6:30 AMclass at CrossFit Xtra Mile in St. Louis, MO, Jeff Cooper.
Jeff is a model of what consistency in the CrossFit gym cando over a very long period of time, but he wasn’t always this way.
He shares his journey of his lifestyle choices as a youngadult building a career and raising his family, then trying to get in shape “yo-yo” dieting from one weight loss challenge to the next, and then to the moment that changed it all for him and sent him on this 11 year transformation with CrossFitas the foundation.
Jeff has taken his experience and knowledge and is usingthat to help others as a coach with Larger Than Life. If you want to work with Jeff, you can find him on iamlargerthanlife.com.
📩 Connect with me:
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Youtube: Silverback Media
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You may have seen this week’s guest on Instagram in recentweeks as she’s come into the CrossFit space online!
She goes by the Instagram account name @when_nerds_teach (definitely give her a follow!) and has been sharing her reactions to CrossFit workouts from her car as soon as she finishes classes.
In this episode, we go through her backstory, the challengesshe faced from a health perspective, and how all of those hurdles ultimately led her to walking into a CrossFit gym.
📩 Connect with me:Instagram: @silver_back_media
Youtube: Silverback Media
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This week, I have my good friend, Dan Adler, on the show!
Dan is a Level 2 coach at CrossFit Xtra Mile in St. Louis, MO,which is where we first met. He is also a father, husband, race car driver, andworking professional in the Financial Services industry.
In this episode, we go over:
- Dan’s early athletic background growing up
- His journey to working out of some bad healthhabits that were developed during and after college
- How he first made his way into a CrossFit gym,and his journey from Athlete to Coach
- How he balances all of his responsibilities, andstill prioritizes his health and fitness following the CrossFit methodology
- Oh, we also talk about 24.1… (IYKYK)
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Today, I have two guests on the show: Ash Bennett and SarahBackus! Ash and Sarah qualified to compete as a team in the 1st Phorm Monster Games, which will be held next week in Kansas.
With that coming up, we had them on to talk about each oftheir fitness journey’s and how that led to them teaming up for this competition!
Ash is a co-owner of CrossFit North Scottsdale here in Phoenix, AZ. She is also a full-time professional, mom, wife, and CrossFit Level 1 Coach.
Sarah is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Pelvic Floor Specialist with Anatomy Optimized (with locations inside of Fortified Fitness and CrossFit North Scottsdale).
In this episode, we go over:
- Their early exposures to fitness with their momsand how that shaped their views on exercise at an early age
- How they first heard about CrossFit, and whatgot them into it
- How they ended up meeting and teaming up for theMonster Games qualifier (and ultimately qualifying)
- We wrap up with a discussion on body image, eachof their struggles with that, and how they overcame that
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Youtube: Silverback Media
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This week’s guest is none other than Nick Kennedy! Not onlyis a Nick member at CrossFit North Scottsdale, but he is also a husband, father, the Executive Chef at Geordie’s at Wrigley Mansion here in Phoenix.
Along with all of that, Nick is also the “voice” of the Silverback Media Podcast! He was gracious enough to lend his voice for the intro and outro you hear on each episode! Nick has voiced 2 audiobooks that we talk about on this show that you can find on Audible as well!
In this episode, we talk about:
Nick’s upbringing and the impact of his parents’ health hadon him
How working as a Chef impacted his health and lifestyle
The impact of getting married had on his health outlook
And how all of those experiences led him into a CrossFit gym
📩 Connect with me:Instagram: @silver_back_media
Youtube: Silverback Media
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We are back for episode 3, and today I am joined by MKTengler! MK is a member of CrossFit North Scottsdale and is also a competitor in the Tactical Games.
For anyone that has participated in CrossFit for a longtime, we understand the importance of the community as a part of the whole puzzle that makes it effective. The workouts and lifestyle change drive the real results, but the community component holds it together.
That idea can have some fun poked at it, but this story willgive you an example of what we mean when we talk about the power of the community of CrossFit.
In this episode, we talk about:
MK’s athletic background in her younger years, and how thatled to playing College Basketball
Her journey to find meaning in her fitness after her collegecareer was finished
Her first experience with CrossFit at a time she needed itmost, and how CrossFit helped with grieving
Her best piece of advice for her younger self on overcomingthe fear of trying CrossFit for the first time
📩 Connect with me:
Instagram: @silver_back_media
Youtube: Silverback Media
🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share if this episode resonates with you!