Jocelyn Rylee and Dave Durante with text WHERE CROSSFIT AND THE OLYMPICS COLLIDE and the CrossFit MEdical Society logo podcast thumbnail

[CFMS SERIES] Dave Durante on Life After the Olympics (EP. 053)

By

On November 17, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

Olympian and Power Monkey Fitness co-founder Dave Durante joins the CrossFit Podcast to talk about the transition from elite competition to lifelong fitness. After representing the U.S. in gymnastics at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Dave discovered CrossFit, and it changed his life.

He shares how CrossFit helped him stay healthy and strong beyond his competitive years, the story behind Power Monkey Camp, and why gymnastics remains one of the best foundations for athleticism at any age.

TOPICS INCLUDED

  • Life after elite sport: finding purpose and health beyond competition
  • How CrossFit reignited Dave’s passion for training
  • The creation and evolution of Power Monkey Camp
  • Building bridges between gymnastics and CrossFit
  • The importance of play, curiosity, and community in adult fitness
  • Why gymnastics is the ultimate foundation for all sports

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Community Highlight

After two decades studying cancer genetics, Dr. Jennifer Beebe-Dimmer wanted to give patients something they could act on today. That’s how the CAPABLE program was born, a free, 12-week, CrossFit-based intervention for cancer survivors.

Coached by Level 1 trainers, participants train three times a week and complete pre- and post-testing for strength, conditioning, and biomarkers. Since 2019, more than 275 people have gone through the program, most of whom had never done anything like it before.

The results speak for themselves: significant improvements in quality of life, body composition, sleep, and A1C, with cognitive function up next.

Beebe-Dimmer calls CrossFit the “secret sauce,” not just for the workouts, but for the coaching and community that keep people coming back.“

When I look back at my career, this will be the most meaningful thing I’ve done.”

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

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

Join us LIVE every Thursday at 10 a.m. If you love this podcast, please drop us a rating and review, and share it with everyone you love.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Images of Denise Thomas and Sara WIlkinson with text A DIFFERENT LOOK AT CHAD1000X thumbnail

Sara Wilkinson: “Grief Is Love With Nowhere to Go” (EP. 051)

By

On November 10, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

You’ve probably heard of the workout CHAD1000X (1,000 weighted step-ups for time) and The Step Up Foundation – the organization using fitness to raise awareness for mental health and veteran suicide prevention. 

In this episode, we get to know the selfless leader behind both: Sara Wilkinson. After losing her husband, Navy SEAL Chad Wilkinson, to suicide in 2018, Sara turned grief into purpose, creating a global movement that’s brought thousands together each year to honor his legacy and support others who are struggling.

She opens up about what it means to carry grief, how community heals, and the importance of looking people in the eye and asking, “How are you, really?”

Topics Included

  • The story behind Chad1000X and its growth into a global movement
  • How Sara transformed grief into purpose through The Step Up Foundation
  • Compassion, resilience, and the power of community in healing
  • Suicide awareness, mental health, and the language we use around loss
  • The realities of military life, brain injury (CTE), and post-service transition
  • The importance of small acts of kindness and connection

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

Cory and Sara Fulana don’t just run two gyms — they run on purpose.

At Silk City CrossFit and CrossFit Hartford, service is part of the workout. Every month, they rally their community for something bigger — suicide awareness events with Uplift, women’s WODs supporting local female-owned businesses, Toys for Tots drives, marathon rows for the Boys and Girls Club, and Hero WODs that honor those who have served.

Their question is always the same: How can we give back?

Because for Cory and Sara, CrossFit isn’t just about fitness — it’s about using strength to serve others.

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

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

James Hobart, Don Faul, Zia Rohrbaugh with text CATCHING UP WITH DON AND ZIA LIVE PODCAST thumbnail

[LIVE] The Latest From CrossFit’s CEO and A Top Affiliate Owner (EP. 052)

By

On November 8, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

CrossFit CEO Don Faul and Affiliate Council Chair Zia Rohrbaugh join host James Hobart for a pulse check on what’s happening across the company and the community. They discuss the role of CrossFit HQ and CrossFit affiliates, the importance of the CrossFit brand for affiliates, and how to support international communities.

Stay till the end to hear from special guests Troy Peterson of ValorFit and Mike Egan, as they preview their plans for Veterans Day. 

Support Mike in his effort to break a world record and raise money for ValorFit HERE.

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

Follow us on YouTube to join us every Thursday at 10 am PT.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Nicole Carroll, Denise Thomas, and Craig Howard with text FORGING ELITE FITNESS IS BACK LIVE PODCAST thumbnail

[LIVE] Understanding the Return to Forging Elite Fitness® (EP. 048)

By

On November 7, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

“Forging Elite Fitness®” has been part of the CrossFit brand since 2003. And now, it’s representing CrossFit front and center once again after a few years of lurking behind the scenes. But what does it really mean? And what doesn’t it mean? And why are we bringing it back? 

In this show, Denise Thomas is joined by Nicole Carroll, Craig Howard, and Jocelyn Rylee to unpack the phrase that debuted its revival tour this week in our new “Forging Elite Fitness” video and accompanying article. They’ll talk about where the misunderstanding often lies: Is it only about Games athletes? Is “elite” too aggressive? Or does it perfectly capture what CrossFit does for anyone who walks through the door, from grandparents to Games competitors?

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

Follow us on YouTube to join us every Thursday at 10 am PT.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Thumbnail image of host Denise Thomas with Text #49 The Viral Teacher Who Tried CrossFit and small screen in screen image of guest Dr. Fatty Acid completing a deadlift at her gym

The Story Behind the Viral @When_Nerds_Teach – Meet Dr. Fatty Acid (EP. 049)

By

On November 3, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

Dr. Fatty Acid, the viral creator behind @When_Nerds_Teach, joins Denise Thomas for a refreshingly honest conversation about finding CrossFit, battling fatty liver disease, navigating Wegovy, and rediscovering strength. A lifelong teacher, she talks about humor, vulnerability, and learning to love movement for what it gives, not how it looks.

Topics Included

  • Discovering CrossFit as a total beginner and overcoming intimidation
  • Balancing modern medicine (Wegovy) with lifestyle change
  • Teaching, burnout, and how CrossFit helps with decision fatigue
  • Managing body image, binge eating, and food anxiety

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

At just 16, Harrison Kennedy is already competing at the highest levels of CrossFit, but his story is about more than training.

After facing mental health struggles, Harrison found purpose again at CrossFit Delta Fox in northern England, a gym partnered with The 180 Project, which helps people rebuild their lives after prison, addiction, or trauma.

Now he’s giving back, coaching younger athletes and showing them the same thing CrossFit showed him: that community and hard work can change everything.

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

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Thumbnail with James Hobart, Adrian Conway, Craig Howard with the text LIVE PODCAST Why are competitors important?

[LIVE] The Value of Competition (EP. 044)

By

On October 31, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

James Hobart, Adrian Conway, and Craig Howard discuss competition within the fitness world. They share their perspectives on the role of rivals and how it impacts their community. The conversation explores both external competition and healthy rivalry among affiliates.

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

Follow us on YouTube to join us every Thursday at 10 am PT.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Jocelyn Rylee, Josh Plosker, and Zia Rohrbaugh with CrossFIt Medical Society logo and the words THE NEXT REVOLUTION

[CFMS SERIES] The Healthcare Revolution Starts in The Affiliate (EP. 047)

By

On October 27, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

CrossFit affiliates are the force transforming how the healthcare system operates.

Zia Rohrbaugh of CrossFit Counter Culture and Josh Plosker of Invictus Boston have turned their gyms into full-service “health homes,” offering blood panels, IV therapy, and access to Community Care health plans — all built around CrossFit’s foundational principles.

In this conversation, Jocelyn Rylee explores how affiliates bring these systems to life, how members save money through HSA and FSA programs, and what it means for the future of CrossFit and community-based healthcare.

TOPICS INCLUDED

  • How affiliates are transforming into “health homes”
  • Partnering with the CrossFit Medical Society
  • Offering blood panels, IV therapy, and telemedicine in gyms
  • How Community Care provides affordable health coverage
  • Using HSA/FSA and TrueMed to make CrossFit memberships tax-free
  • The future of CrossFit as a global healthcare model

RESOURCES MENTIONED

Community Highlight

In 2011, Jaeho Woo discovered CrossFit as a college athlete in Seoul. What started as training for basketball became a lifelong passion — one that eventually took him to the most remote place on Earth.

After serving in the Korean military and coaching CrossFit, Jaeho opened an affiliate in Seoul — then shipped 500 lb of equipment to Antarctica to found the first CrossFit affiliate on the continent.

For 10 months, he’s coached his 18-person crew in a tiny gym surrounded by glaciers. When the endless dark set in and isolation hit hard, Jaeho kept showing up — knocking on doors, reminding his teammates: When you train together, you feel better, and you’re never alone.

As he prepares to leave Antarctica, Jaeho’s message is simple: Isolation is real. Resilience comes from connection. Wherever you are, don’t go 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.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Seth PAge, Dave castro, and James Hobart featured behind text that reads Are the CrossFit Games and CrossFit Incompatible? LIVE PODCAST

[LIVE] The Relationship Between the CrossFit Games and CrossFit (EP. 046)

By

On October 24, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

Are the CrossFit Games CrossFit? 

How does the test for the Fittest on Earth fit into the grand scheme of CrossFit as a brand? 
Where are the pain points and synergies between the tip of the spear and the rest of the community? 
The sport expression of CrossFit is a vital one, but how is it best incorporated into the brand so it serves the entire CrossFit ecosystem?  

James Hobart, Dave Castro, and special guest Seth Page discuss this relationship and where they see the Games contributing to or detracting from the CrossFit brand.

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

Follow us on YouTube to join us every Thursday at 10 am PT.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Thumbnail image of Calley Means with an image of healthy foods surrounding a pile of pills and the CrossFit Medical Society Logo with the text Public Health's Cultural Awakening

[CFMS SERIES] Calley Means and the Fight to Fix a Broken Healthcare System (EP. 045)

By

On October 20, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

Calley Means is a former food and pharma lobbyist turned healthcare reform advocate. He co-authored “Good Energy” with his sister, Dr. Casey Means, and co-founded TrueMed, a company working to make root-cause health solutions like exercise and nutrition eligible for HSA/FSA dollars. 

In this conversation, Calley explains why our healthcare model is built to manage disease instead of preventing it, how CrossFit and lifestyle interventions are effective, and what policies and cultural shifts could finally turn the tide against chronic illness.

Topics Covered

  • Why the U.S. healthcare system is built to manage, not prevent, disease
  • The role of food policy, SNAP reform, and FDA guidelines in chronic illness
  • Calley’s personal journey from industry lobbyist to health advocate
  • The promise of functional medicine, biomarkers, and personalized care
  • TrueMed and making fitness/food eligible for HSA/FSA healthcare dollars

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

Nick Johnson founded CrossFit Liminal, a nonprofit affiliate outside Atlanta serving one of the most diverse refugee communities in the U.S. What started in his garage with five members from Syria and Nepal, has grown into programs for Afghan women, refugee youth training for free, and community events like “Ruck for Refugees.”

As Nick puts it: “Trauma gets you out of your body. CrossFit gets you back in it.”

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

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

signs of an excellent crossfit gym live podcast thumbnail

[LIVE] Every CrossFit Gym Should Do This (EP. 042)

By

On October 15, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

What does the ideal CrossFit experience look like?

In this livestream, hosts James Hobart and Denise Thomas break down the non-negotiables of a great affiliate, as well as stylistic touches that make each gym unique. From the 60-minute class to the full journey, the conversation explores what members should expect, what owners and coaches must deliver, and how the best affiliates create environments where people thrive. Whether you’re a coach, owner, or member, this episode will leave you with a clear picture of what the “ideal member experience” really means in CrossFit.

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

Follow us on YouTube to join future livestreams.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Page 2 of 7

Previous

Next

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén