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.