Tag: mental health

Image of Bill Anthes with text HOW HARD SHOULD YOU REALLY GO?

Rucking, Psychedelics, and the Truth About Mental Fitness

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On May 26, 2026

In The CrossFit Podcast

Former Green Beret, longtime CrossFit coach, and licensed therapist Bill Anthes joins Jocelyn Rylee for a conversation that cuts straight to the heart of what it means to train the whole human. Drawing from military selection, years on Seminar Staff, clinical practice, psychedelic integration work, and the creation of the Ruck Race League, Bill explores the deep connection between physical stress, psychological patterns, and nervous-system awareness.

He and Jocelyn dig into failure as a training tool, why monotonous work exposes truth, how coaches can hold space without overreaching, and what it means to listen to the body instead of overriding it. 

Topics Covered

  1. Using physical stress to access deeper psychological insight
  2. Coaching beyond mechanics: listening, curiosity, and psychological tolerance
  3. Failure as an intentional training tool and catalyst for growth
  4. The rise of rucking as both sport and self-exploration
  5. Psychedelic preparation and integration through a whole-person lens

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

Parker Fontecchio is a beacon of hope for the younger generation of CrossFit athletes. At 24 years old, he’s not only the head coach at CrossFit Tempe, but also dedicates his life to raising funds for veteran causes using his fitness.

He’s carried 22 lb for 72 miles to raise awareness for veteran suicide, flipped a tire for 24 hours, rope-climbed the height of Everest, and most recently pulled a truck for 31 miles.

Every challenge is powered by CrossFit and a mission to show what’s possible when you refuse to quit — especially for the veterans who often feel forgotten.

“Every event might look individual, but there’s always a crowd around me — friends, family, my gym,” Parker says. That’s what makes CrossFit, CrossFit.”

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Image of Dr. Stephanie Arel with the text RECOVERING FROM TRAUMA... IN THE GYM

How to Use CrossFit to Support Trauma Recovery

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On May 19, 2026

In The CrossFit Podcast

What if trauma recovery is not just about talking, but about training?

In this episode, host Jocelyn Rylee sits down with Dr. Stephanie Arel, whose work bridges religion and psychology. She holds a master’s degree in religion and psychiatry, and a Ph.D. in theology and trauma studies, along with clinical training and experience working at an eating disorder hospital. Drawing on her academic research, clinical work with trauma survivors, and personal journey as a CrossFit athlete, Arel explores how CrossFit’s methodology intersects with trauma recovery.

Arel explains how trauma permanently alters the stress system and why trauma recovery must involve the body, not just the mind. They unpack big T and little T trauma, how triggers show up in the gym, and why high-intensity training can help recalibrate the nervous system when paired with agency, trust, and appropriate scaling. The conversation explores the parallels between EMDR therapy and constantly varied functional movements, the role of competence in reducing fear, and why community is essential for recovery.

This is not about turning coaches into therapists. It is about becoming trauma-informed, understanding how stress and physiology interact, and recognizing the profound impact of intensity, skill development, and community inside a CrossFit affiliate.

If you care about mental health, nervous system regulation, coaching, or the deeper effects of training, this conversation will change how you see your next workout.

Topics Covered

  • The difference between big T and little T trauma
  • How trauma alters the stress response and nervous system
  • Why high-intensity training can recalibrate arousal systems
  • The role of agency, competence, and scaling in recovery
  • Community, vulnerability, and trust inside a CrossFit affiliate

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

Nick McCombs owns a nonprofit CrossFit affiliate — and nearly half his members train for free.

In 2017, he and his wife, Whitney, opened Branded One CrossFit in Las Vegas, Nevada, with a simple promise: any disabled service member or first responder — with a 0-100% disability rating — can train at no cost. No catch. Just show up.

Today, veterans with PTSD, athletes missing limbs, and first responders rebuilding their lives make up a huge part of the community. The gym is sustained by paid memberships, fundraising, and people who believe fitness should change lives — not just physiques.

Nick doesn’t measure success by podium finishes. He measures it by watching someone walk again after a stroke. By seeing a man trade his walker for a run. By witnessing people reclaim strength, independence, and confidence.

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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)

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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.

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This Rehab Has a Secret Weapon: CrossFit (EP. 023)

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On July 15, 2025

In The CrossFit Podcast

Episode Description Angie Manson is the CEO of Elevate Addiction Services, a residential rehab program that integrates CrossFit into daily life. In this conversation with Denise Thomas, Angie opens up about her own recovery, what CrossFit gave her, and why every coach needs to understand addiction.

Angie explains how EAS operates — from an on-site CrossFit affiliate to community classes to post-rehab support — and what she’s learned after helping thousands of people rebuild their lives. This episode is about fitness, but it’s also about humanity, hope, and second chances.

Topics Included

  • Angie’s story of addiction, recovery, and finding CrossFit
  • How Elevate Addiction Services integrates CrossFit
  • Why structure, challenge, and community matter in rehab
  • The coach’s role in supporting people in recovery
  • Building trust, habits, and a new identity
  • How affiliates and coaches can get involved

Resources Mentioned

  • Elevate Addiction Services (Santa Cruz + Tahoe)
  • CrossFit EAS (on-site affiliate)
  • The Phoenix
  • Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

RESOURCES FOR ADDICTION

Elevate Addiction Services – https://elevaterehab.org/

Immediate Help

  • SAMHSA National Helpline (U.S.): 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
    Free, confidential, 24/7 treatment referral and information.
    https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

Treatment & Recovery Resources

  • Substance Abuse Treatment Locator (SAMHSA):
    Find nearby treatment facilities for substance use and mental health issues.
    https://findtreatment.gov
  • Shatterproof:
    A nonprofit focused on science-based addiction resources and stigma reduction.
    https://www.shatterproof.org
  • Partnership to End Addiction:
    Offers support for families navigating a loved one’s substance use.
    https://drugfree.org

Peer Support Communities

Community Highlight

Tammi Saunders is the head coach at The Barbell Saves Project — a nonprofit CrossFit affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona, offering free classes to anyone in recovery.

The only requirements: 48 hours sober and a commitment to keep showing up.⠀Every coach on staff, including Tammi, is in recovery. They run five community classes a day, plus sessions for sober-living homes and treatment centers. But fitness is just the beginning.

What they’re building is trust, discipline, and integrity – under stress, in community.Tammi has helped develop seven Level 1 trainers through the program, many straight out of prison or early sobriety. She’s built a trauma-informed culture rooted in empathy and consent.

She still remembers walking into a gym for the first time: smoking two packs a day, struggling with disordered eating, unsure what came next. Now she’s a Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer, trauma-informed, and a Masters Games athlete.“If I can become this version of myself,” she says, “anyone can.”

This is what it looks like to hold the door open for the next person.Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.

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