Dr. Kelly Starrett joins the CrossFit Podcast to look back on the early days of CrossFit and ahead to what the next 20 years can become. From finding CrossFit through a grainy GIF in the early 2000s to opening one of the first affiliates in the world, Starrett reflects on the ideas that shaped the methodology and the lessons learned through decades of coaching athletes, Olympians, and everyday people.
This conversation explores durability over time, why pain is not a failure but a request for change, and how movement quality, range of motion, and basic strength set the foundation for performance at every age.
Starrett and host Jocelyn Rylee dig into the future of CrossFit, from longevity and conditioning to the irreplaceable value of affiliates as places built around coaching and community. This episode is an honest look at what CrossFit has always been about and what it can become if we apply what we have learned.
Topics Covered
- The early days of CrossFit and the original affiliate culture
- Mobility, durability, and reframing pain in training
- Why youth athletes need movement literacy before specialization
- Training for sport versus training only for fitness
- The future of CrossFit and longevity-focused strength and conditioning
Resources Mentioned
- The Ready State
- Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett
- Built to Move by Kelly Starrett and Juliet Starrett
- 800-Gram Challenge
- Power Monkey Fitness
- The Anxious Generation
- Kelly on Social
Community Highlight
Kristin Savage grew up around autoimmune disease. By age 5, she was dealing with joint inflammation, and years later, she was formally diagnosed with lupus.
She found CrossFit in 2012 and later trained and coached at CrossFit Gambit, where she was mentored by Kelly Jackson. Kristin earned her Level 1 and Level 2 Trainer credentials and now has aspirations to pursue her Level 4.
After a severe flare-up forced her to reassess how she trained, Kristin shifted her focus to nutrition, recovery, and scaled training — learning to work in rhythm with her body instead of against it. Within a year, she qualified for Desert City.
Today, Kristin coaches CrossFit in Las Vegas and spends much of her energy helping others navigate training and chronic illness — sharing what she’s learned through experience.
Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.
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