Denise Thomas – Page 2 – The CrossFit Podcast

Thumbnail of a live podcast from CrossFit that reads "Live Podcast, The Standard: Coaching, Judging, and Results" featuring images of Denise Thomas, Chase Ingraham, and Adrian Conway with a rig in the background

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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Digging into the GLP-1 Trend Live CrossFit Podcast

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

By CrossFitHQ

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

By CrossFitHQ

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

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

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2025 CrossFit Games Recap on the CrossFit Podcast with Denise Thomas, Adrian Conway, and James Hobart

[LIVE] 2025 CrossFit Games: Top Moments and What It Means Going Forward (EP. 027)

By CrossFitHQ

On August 14, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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.

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CrossFit Podcast with EC Synkowski and Denise Thomas, Episode 026

CrossFit and Food Neurosis: ‘There is a Point in Nutrition at Which You Can Be Done’ (EP. 026)

By CrossFitHQ

On August 5, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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

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.

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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.

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CrossFit Podcast with James Hobart and Denise Thomas, Episode 025

“There’s No Going Back. Things are Only Moving Forward.” – James Hobart on the Future of CrossFit (EP. 025)

By CrossFitHQ

On July 29, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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.

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The Story Behind CrossFit’s Celebrity Trainer (EP.020)

By CrossFitHQ

On June 24, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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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Your Sleep Questions Answered With an Army Neuroscientist (EP.019)

By CrossFitHQ

On June 17, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

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.⠀

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Meet CrossFit’s Most Experienced Seminar Staff Member: Chuck Carswell (EP. 002)

By CrossFitHQ

On February 18, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

Chuck Carswell has been part of CrossFit for nearly two decades, making an impact as a coach, mentor, and longtime member of CrossFit’s Seminar Staff. He’s one of the most experienced trainers in the world, having taught thousands of athletes and coaches through the CrossFit Level 1 and Level 2 Certificate Courses.

In this episode, Chuck sits down with Denise Thomas to share his journey — from playing in the NFL to discovering CrossFit and dedicating his career to coaching and education. He reflects on the evolution of CrossFit’s training methodology, the lessons he’s learned from coaching at every level, and his philosophy of “Big Team, Little Me.”

Topics Covered:

Chuck’s early athletic career and time with the Miami Dolphins
His introduction to CrossFit and first experience with the workout Helen
The evolution of CrossFit’s trainer seminars and credentialing
The impact CrossFit has had on the fitness industry

Media & Resources Mentioned:

CrossFit Training and Certifications – Learn more about the Level 1 and Level 2 Courses: CrossFit Training
CrossFit Open Registration – Sign up and test your fitness: games.crossfit.com
What Is Fitness? (2002) – The foundational CrossFit Journal article defining CrossFit’s approach to fitness.
Chuck as a Dawg – Watch the play Denise references

Community Spotlight:

This week, we’re highlighting the team at RISE, a platform dedicated to supporting women in the CrossFit community. RISE provides mentorship, resources, and opportunities for female athletes, coaches, and gym owners, helping them thrive in both fitness and leadership roles.
Learn more about RISE and how to get involved at riseathletes.org or follow them on social @rise_athletes_org.

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Nicole Carroll and Preserving the Heart of CrossFit (EP. 001)

By CrossFitHQ

On February 11, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

In this episode of The CrossFit Podcast, Nicole Carroll sits down with Denise Thomas to reflect on her 20-year journey — from how she discovered CrossFit in 2004 and the lessons she’s learned over two decades, to why she believes CrossFit is more relevant now than ever.

Topics Covered:
Nicole’s fitness journey and introduction to CrossFit
The evolution of her role within CrossFit
The importance of preserving CrossFit’s foundational principles
The relevance of CrossFit today

Resources and Media Mentioned:
CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course
CrossFit for Health Summit – Own Your Health
Nicole’s Jedi Knight Speech
Magic of CrossFit – Content and Resources for Affiliates

Community Highlight:
This week, we recognize Keefa Hawkins of CrossFit Iconz in Lilburn, Georgia, for her work with Next Steps Fitness and Rehabilitation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting disabled veterans. Next Steps provides free CrossFit classes, nutrition guidance, and social support to help veterans rediscover their strength, resilience, and sense of community.

To learn more and support Next Steps, visit vetsteps.org

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