Josh van Zeeland joins the 8x8 Podcast to talk about what happens when you suddenly find yourself racing at the front of HYROX.

We get into the pressure of the Elite field, blocking out outside noise, mental battles at the top, and the moment you stop chasing and start believing you belong. We also talk future race times, the idea of a perfect HYROX relay, and what this sport could look like in the next few years.

Straight talk. No fluff.

This week’s episode breaks the usual format, no structure, no script, just a real conversation with Luke Greer, the newcomer who’s already rewritten what’s possible in the UK HYROX scene.

Luke has only been in the sport for a year and somehow he already holds the UK record. He walks into the studio looking like the most normal, down-to-earth guy… and then you remember he’s running times that don’t make sense for someone this early in their career.

We ask him the question that everyone else has been whispering: “How does it feel to have the community calling you the future of HYROX?” And for the first time, he talks honestly about what that label does to him: the pressure, the excitement, and the expectations he’s still learning to carry.

We go deeper into the three-year break he took from sport, the moment he quit his job after Chicago to go all-in, the speed he had long before HYROX, and what last week’s race in London meant to him on a personal level. It’s raw, funny, and real, exactly why he’s our first guest in the new “Rising Star” series.

In this episode, we sit down with Ida Mathilde Steensgaard, the athlete, yes, but more importantly, the person behind for a very real conversation about pressure, expectations, and the strange way imposter syndrome can creep in, even when you’re performing at a high level.

We also get into the deeper question of why some people chase bigger and bigger goals. Is it because we genuinely love the challenge… or because it helps us avoid the tougher parts of life? Is it passion? Is it pain? Is it escape?

Ida shares her experience qualifying for the World Championships, getting lost in a training bubble, and using that focus as a way to escape everything else happening around her. 

She also opens up about the contrast between her corporate career and her life as a multisport athlete — and how she tries to keep both worlds balanced.

A very honest look into ambition, pressure, and the mindset behind high performance: the happy and positive minded Ida Mathilde Steensgaard.

Tomas Tvrdik doesn’t exactly live life in the slow lane. 

His friends call him T1000. He’s a husband, a dad, a soldier, and a guy who loves anything with an engine, but he’s also someone who decided that “average” wasn’t an option.

He talks about what it’s like to live at a constant high heart rate, both in HYROX and in life. He went from 109 kilos to one of the athletes in the Elite 15, while juggling family life and joining the military at 37. 

We hear why he chases adrenaline, how hard it is to shave off fractions of a second at this level, and what it felt like during the qualification race with Sean. We also touch on his podcast, his personality, and yes… his secret dance move. 

It’s the story of someone who really meant it when he said “f*ck average”: a man who lives loud, trains hard, and refuses to let age or expectations set his limits.

Inside the Mind of Kate Davey: Crazy Energy, Real Friends & a Bloody Nose 

In this episode of the 8x8 Podcast, Kate Davey brings her crazy energy, honesty, and humor to the table. She talks about the side of herself most people never get to see: from the random things she's obsessed with, to coming out of the water with a bloody nose.

Kate opens up about what truly makes her happiest, how training keeps her grounded, and the mental strength she’s built along the way of recovery. She also shares how helping others ended up helping her, and how tough moments have taught her who her real friends are.

This conversation is full of laughter, real talk, and pure “Kate energy.” You’ll definitely walk away inspired.

Tom Rodgers is a HYROX Elite athlete with the engine, focus, and discipline to compete at the top level.

As a full-time police officer, he balances demanding shifts with intense training, building strength, speed, and strategy that make him stand out in the HYROX community.

Currently sidelined by injury, Tom shares what it takes to stay disciplined, maintain his mindset, and prepare for the day he’s back on the course.

This is a look at an athlete who combines elite potential with real-world grit — and why Tom Rodgers is one to watch.

#TomRodgers #HYROX #HYROXElite #HybridAthlete #PoliceOfficer #Injury #RecoveryMindset #ElitePerformance

In this special 8x8 Pod episode, the HYROX Elite 15 share their best advice on how to cut 10 minutes off your HYROX time.

Featuring Alexander Roncevic, Lauren Weeks, James Kelly, Dylan Scott, Tim Wenisch, Sean Noble, Jon Wynn, Hidde Weersma, Vivian Tafuto, Pelayo Menendez, Beau Willis, Jess Pettrow, Amy Bavilacqua, and Harry Thompson, this episode is packed with elite-level insights to help you race smarter, train harder, and perform better.

We finally made it happen! 

After last week’s chaos, we’re back and this time we actually got to sit down with the amazing Vivian Tafuto. A former D1 swimmer turned hybrid fitness athlete, Vivian brings the perfect mix of insight, energy, and humor.

The banter is top-tier. We laughed, we overshared, and somehow managed a proper conversation in between it all. From training talk to total behind-the-scenes mayhem, this episode has everything: laughs, chaos, and a seriously well-balanced athlete at the center of it.

Watch for the laughs, stay for the chaos; it’s a good one.

#8x8Podcast #VivianTafuto #PodcastLife #HybridAthlete #HYROX #HYROXWorld

We finally got to sit down with Hidde Weersma, one of the best HYROX athletes in the world — and honestly, this one hit different.

What started as a chat about training and performance quickly became something deeper. We talked about balance, mindset, life, and what it really takes to stay grounded when you’re at the top.

There’s also a really personal side to this story — a part of his life that made this win mean so much more than just a race. It’s a reminder that behind every athlete, there’s a person fighting battles we don’t always see.

This conversation was moving, honest, and full of perspective.

#HYROX #HiddeWeersma #Mindset #Performance #8x8Pod #AthleteStory #Balance #TheCostOfGreatness

Last year, Alexander Rončević said he wanted to dominate HYROX.

This year he has started like he will, with a world record performance major 1.

But behind the wins and records, there’s always a story people don’t see — the grind, the pressure, the moments that never make it to social media.

Season 2 starts with Alex — the World Champion, the teacher turned athlete, the guy who somehow makes pain look easy.

We talked about everything:
how things changed with coach Tiago, what pressure really feels like when the sponsors and cameras show up, and what separates the champion from everyone else when the field is stacked and everyone’s ready to bleed for it.

We even went a bit off-script — desert island albums, the “sex symbol” thing (you’ll want to hear his take 😅), and what his life might’ve looked like if HYROX had never existed.

This one hits deeper.
Welcome to Season 2.

🎧 Episode 1 with Alexander Rončević is out now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

#HYROX #AlexanderRoncevic #Podcast #Season2 #AthleteMindset #HYROXWorld #TrainingMindset #FitnessCulture