Podcast thumbnail with the CrossFit Medical Society Logo and text saying What makes a CrossFit affiliate thrive? with images of Daniel Chaffey and Jocelyn Rylee

[CFMS SERIES] Daniel Chaffey: Unpacking CrossFit’s Evolution and Affiliate Success (EP. 039)

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On September 29, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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:

  1. Get into an affiliate and be active.
  2. Uplift those around you.
  3. 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.

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Thumbnail that says WE POWER HEALTH in all caps with images of host Jocelyn Rylee and guests Dr. Tom McCoy and Jenn Pishko laughing during a podcast recording with the CrossFit Owners and Coaches Conference graphic text displayed in the background

[CFMS SERIES] The Future of Health (Care) in CrossFit Affiliates (EP. 038)

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On September 22, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

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.

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Thumbnail image stating Cutting through the Noise on Nutrition Live Podcast" featuring James Hobart in a white t shirt and a background image of healthy food on a cutting board

[LIVE] Cutting Through the Noise on Nutrition (EP. 037)

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On September 19, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

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[LIVE] Why the Standard Matters (EP. 036)

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On September 17, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

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Thumbnail of CrossFit Podcast Episode #35 asking Will You Get Injured Doing CrossFit? featuring Dr. Zach Long the Barbell Physio and an image of him coaching a client in a CrossFit gym

‘CrossFit is Dangerous’: How Junk Science Sabotages Public Health (EP. 035)

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On September 15, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

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.

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Digging into the GLP-1 Trend Live CrossFit Podcast

[LIVE] CrossFit, GLP-1s, and the Serena Williams Ad (EP. 034)

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On September 11, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

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Dr. Jason Fung

Fasting, Ozempic, and Food Addiction With Dr. Jason Fung (EP. 033)

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On September 8, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

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. 

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Ro & Angelo

Hanging Out With Rory McKernan and Angelo DiCicco (EP. 032)

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On September 1, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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 bike
10 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].

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CrossFit Podcast Livestream Community, Culture, and Cults

[LIVE] CrossFit: Community, Commitment or Cult? (EP. 031)

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On August 29, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

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Life of Pi Author Yann Martel on CrossFit Podcast with Dave Castro

CrossFit Legend Meets Literary Icon: Dave Castro x ‘Life of Pi’ Author Yann Martel (EP. 030)

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On August 25, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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.

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