On this episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, Josh sits down with Carrie Rieger, a four‑time CrossFit Games athlete, devoted mom of three, and one of the most disciplined Masters competitors in the sport. At 50 years old, Carrie is heading back to the 2026 CrossFit Games, marking her return after stepping away to be fully present for her sons’ final years of high school — a decision that reflects the deep intentionality she brings to both family and fitness.Carrie shares the story of raising three athletic boys, each carving out their own impressive path in basketball, soccer, and academics. She talks about the role she and her husband play in modeling consistency, discipline, and healthy habits — and how those values show up in her kids’ achievements. From adventure racing to marathons to triathlons, Carrie has always chased challenge, but discovering CrossFit in 2012 lit a new fire. The humbling first workout, the thrill of throwing weight overhead, and the community that pushed her — she was hooked instantly.Carrie opens up about the crash she experienced years ago from ignoring recovery and pushing too hard, and how that season reshaped her entire approach to training. Now, she trains smarter, listens to her body, and uses the Bolder Athlete program with intention — modifying volume when needed, prioritizing sleep, and balancing the demands of elite training with the realities of being a mom.This conversation is full of honesty, wisdom, and the kind of grounded strength that defines the Masters community. Carrie’s story is a reminder that you can chase big goals, raise a thriving family, and still reinvent yourself at any age — as long as you’re willing to work, adapt, and stay true to your values.Chapters: 🏁 Welcome & Introduction👨‍👦‍👦 Meet the Rieger Family💪 Modeling Fitness & Discipline at Home🏡 Choosing Stay‑at‑Home Motherhood🎽 Carrie’s Early Athletic Roots🔥 Discovering CrossFit in 2012📈 Training for the Games: Volume & Strategy⚠️ The Crash: Overtraining & Recovery🧠 Smarter Training at 50📊 Why Bolder Athlete Works🎉 Closing Thoughts & Looking Ahead to San Jose//// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level.Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible.Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life.Become a Bolder Athlete today.

In this episode, Josh sits down with Dave Hippenstiel, one of the most decorated and respected Masters athletes in CrossFit history. At 70 years old, Dave is preparing for his 12th CrossFit Games appearance, carrying a résumé that includes three consecutive championship titles, six total podium finishes, and a win at the Masters Fitness Championship during the 2020 season. Fresh off his victory at the Del Mar Semifinal, Dave joins the Bolder Athlete community with momentum, gratitude, and a lifetime of perspective.Dave shares the remarkable story behind his journey — one that didn’t begin with a childhood of structured athletics, but with rebellion, rock‑and‑roll dreams, and a pivotal turning point that changed the trajectory of his life. He opens up about the awakening that pulled him away from destructive habits, the role his faith played in reshaping his purpose, and how discovering fitness (and later CrossFit) gave him what he calls a “second wind to life.”Josh and Dave dive into his early years, his transition into decathlon training, and how his daughter Heather introduced him to CrossFit — eventually leading to the unforgettable moment when both father and daughter qualified for the Games in the same year. Dave reflects on the joy of training with his kids, the discipline of staying in peak shape across decades, and the humbling gratitude he feels for the athletes he has inspired along the way.This conversation is rich with wisdom, humility, and heart. Whether you’re a Masters athlete, a parent, or someone who believes it’s “too late” to start, Dave’s story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to change your life — and never too late to chase greatness.Chapters: 🏁 Welcome & Introduction🔥 Dave’s Legendary CrossFit Resume🏆 Del Mar Semifinal Win & Meeting Josh📜 The Early Days: Discovering CrossFit 🤸‍♂️ Gymnastics, Invictus & Family Athletic Roots🎯 Dave’s First Games Qualification Story⏳ Rewinding the Clock: Dave’s Troubled Teen Years⚡ The Awakening That Changed Everything📖 Faith, Purpose & Finding Direction🏃‍♂️ Decathlon Training & Falling in Love With Fitness💪 Longevity, Inspiration & Competing Into His 70s🎤 Reflections on CrossFit’s Impact & Saving Lives//// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level.Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible.Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life.Become a Bolder Athlete today.

In this episode, Josh sits down with 45-year-old CrossFit standout Andy Timm, fresh off his dominant win at the Del Mar Semifinal and officially heading to the CrossFit Games for the first time. Andy opens up about the long road that led him here — from his days as a collegiate gymnast at Arizona State, to discovering CrossFit 15 years ago, to battling injuries, rebuilding confidence, and finally breaking through in the 45–49 division.Andy shares what it’s like growing up as a triplet, how gymnastics shaped his athletic foundation, and why the humbling “7 minutes of burpees” Open workout hooked him for life. He and Josh dive into the mental side of competing, the importance of goals, the grind of staying consistent, and the two-year plan that ultimately pushed Andy over the edge into Games qualification.They also talk about Andy’s decision to join Bolder Athlete, the power of community, and how training alongside other elite Masters athletes has elevated his game. From strategy talk to funny competition stories to the realities of balancing training, work, and family — this episode is packed with insight, humility, and the kind of fire that defines a true competitor.If you love stories of perseverance, late-career breakthroughs, and athletes who simply refuse to quit, this one’s for you.Chapters: 🏁 Intro & Welcome🔥 Andy’s Breakout Season🤸‍♂️ Gymnastics Background🎯 The Road to the Games🏆 Winning Legends & Del Mar🤝 Joining Bolder Athlete📊 Training & Strategy Talk💪 Del Mar Event Recaps🥗 Competition Fueling🎉 Final Thoughts//// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level.Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible.Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life.Become a Bolder Athlete today.

At 51 years old, Sarah Longshore Hayes is the definition of grit, leadership, and longevity in fitness. In this episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, Josh sits down with the owner of seven thriving gyms — Empire Fitness, CrossFit Madison, CrossFit Empire South, CrossFit Athens, CrossFit Hazel Green, CrossFit Shades, and Rocket City CrossFit — to unpack the story behind her “overnight” empire.Sarah opens up about her early days teaching group fitness, her rise through Gold’s Gym, and the life‑altering moment when her mother was diagnosed with stage‑four breast cancer — the moment that ultimately led her to Huntsville and sparked the creation of Empire Fitness.She shares how she built multiple gyms from the ground up, the leadership standards she refuses to lower, and the mindset that has carried her through decades of coaching, competing, and business ownership. You’ll hear how she balances high‑energy gym life with quiet farm life, why she still teaches classes every day, and how being a Bolder Athlete has reshaped her as both a coach and competitor.If you’re an athlete, coach, entrepreneur, or anyone who values discipline, faith, and purpose‑driven work, this conversation will hit home.Chapters: 🏃‍♀️ Sarah’s background & early fitness career💗 Her mother’s diagnosis & the birth of Empire Fitness🏢 Building and scaling seven gyms🎤 Why she still teaches group fitness🧭 Leadership, standards & culture✨ Faith, resilience & navigating hard seasons🔥 Becoming a Bolder Athlete🕊️ Longevity, competition & what drives her today

In this special episode, Gina Grubb steps into the spotlight in this warm, funny, and deeply human conversation with host Josh Boonstra. In this episode, Gina opens up about her life as the heart of the Grubb family—sharing stories from her Colorado upbringing, what it was like growing up as the youngest with two older brothers, and how those early experiences shaped her compassion, curiosity, and quiet grit.She and Josh dive into her journey into photography, the season when she and Jason built a wedding‑photography business together, and how those skills now show up behind the scenes at competitions. Gina also talks candidly about marriage, homeschooling, supporting Jason’s athletic career, and learning to carve out space for herself in a busy, purpose‑driven household.You’ll hear about naps, homemade pizza nights, perfect days, pet peeves (sorry, Jason), and the values that guide her—especially empathy, faith, and seeing the world through someone else’s eyes.It’s a conversation full of heart, humor, and honesty—an intimate look at the woman who keeps the Grubb family grounded, thriving, and full of love.📣 Introduction ⚡ Lightning Round 😂 Pet Peeves: The Jason Edition🧒 Childhood, Colorado Roots & Family Dynamics💍 Meeting Jason & Becoming a Family🏡 Marriage, Roles & Running the Household📸 The Photography Era

In episode 43 of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, host Josh Boonstra and 6x Champ, Jason Grubb, pull back the curtain on Masters competition and the training engine behind Bolder Athlete. Together, they share a candid, detailed breakdown of their experience at the first-ever in‑person Masters Semifinals in Del Mar — a historic milestone and a weekend packed with intensity, strategy, and hard lessons.Jason and Josh revisit the highs, the heartbreaks, and the razor‑thin margins that defined the event, including the brutal chipper that left athletes clawing for every rep and the split‑second decisions that shaped the leaderboard. They talk openly about what it feels like when a Games ticket slips away by seconds — and how to turn that sting into growth.Then the episode shifts into an exclusive behind‑the‑scenes look at Bolder Athlete’s upcoming Divergence Cycle, launching May 11. Jason explains why this is the one time each year when the Elite track breaks away from the rest of the program, what true Games‑level volume looks like, and how the rest of the community will rebuild their foundation with smart, sustainable training. Expect insights into cycle structure, strength priorities, skill development, and the philosophy that keeps Bolder athletes competitive and durable.Whether you're chasing the Games or building your base, this episode gives you a rare look at how elite Masters athletes think, train, and evolve.

In this episode of The Bolder Athlete Podcast, host Josh Boonstra sits down with Gina Cacciotti‑Wellner—a 58‑year‑old lifelong competitor, dental hygienist, NASM‑certified personal trainer, CrossFit Level 1 coach, and Bolder athlete. Gina’s story is a masterclass in longevity, resilience, and the joy of staying in the arena.From growing up as the youngest of four in a sports‑driven family, to competing in everything from college basketball and softball to triathlons, marathons, and even Eco‑Challenge‑style adventure racing, Gina has lived a life defined by movement and grit. She opens up about the blessing and curse of being extrinsically motivated, the challenge of “finding chill mode,” and how she balances humility with an unshakeable competitive fire.Josh and Gina dive into parenting athletes, coaching youth sports, the emotional rollercoaster of competition, and the art of sitting with adversity instead of running from it. Gina also shares her 14‑year CrossFit journey, her approach to this year’s Open and Quarterfinals, and her excitement about qualifying for the Magic City Semifinals—her personal CrossFit Games.This conversation is equal parts inspiring, honest, and deeply human. Whether you're a competitive athlete, a coach, or someone who just loves the grind, Gina’s story will hit home.

Chapters

🎙️ Introduction and Background

 👨‍👩‍👧 Parenting and Coaching Perspectives 

🏋️ CrossFit Season and Upcoming Competitions 

🛡️ Navigating Criticism and Feedback 

🚀 The Next Level Mindset 

🔀 The Journey of a Hybrid Athlete 

🤝 The Importance of Community in Fitness 

🔥 Resilience Through Adversity 

🧘 Sitting in the Mud Puddle

Carl Christensen may call himself “just a regular dad trying to be as fit as he can,” but his story proves he’s anything but ordinary. In this episode, host Josh Boonstra sits down with Carl—an anesthesiologist, father of two, musician, artist, baker, former collegiate distance runner, and Bolder Athlete—to unpack how one person can balance a demanding medical career, elite‑level fitness, and a staggering list of creative passions.Carl shares what life is really like as an anesthesiologist working 60+ hours a week, including 24‑hour trauma calls, and how he still manages to train at 4 a.m. in his garage—quietly, thanks to his wife’s “no dropping weights” rule. He opens up about mentoring medical residents, the importance of intentionality with time, and how he learned to protect family life by being fully present at home.They also dive into Carl’s surprising artistic side—graphite portraits for athletes like Stacey Tovar and Noah Ohlsen—and his hilariously stressful wedding‑cake‑baking adventures (“transporting a wedding cake is more stressful than a 3‑2‑1 go”).Carl gets vulnerable about overcoming an unhealthy relationship with food that began during his early running years, and how CrossFit helped him shift from obsessing over calories to fueling his body with purpose—thanks in part to a simple but powerful strategy from his wife: “count vegetables, not calories.”Finally, Carl shares his long‑term plan to become a CrossFit Games athlete in the Masters division, the role Bolder has played in his progress, and how community, humility, and even imposter syndrome can fuel greatness.This episode is packed with wisdom, heart, humor, and inspiration—perfect for anyone trying to balance ambition with real life.Chapters: 🎧 Introduction to Carl Christensen 💉 Life as an Anesthesiologist 🏡 Balancing Work and Family Life ⏱️ Intentionality in Time Management 🎨 Exploring Hobbies and Interests 🏋️ The Journey to Becoming a CrossFit Athlete 🤝 Community and Competition in CrossFit 💪 The Importance of Health and Movement 🧠 Embracing Imposter Syndrome 🎯 The Path to the CrossFit Games

Eric reflects on the realities of active duty versus reservist life, the influence of family and early athletics, and how parenthood reshaped his approach to training. He shares how he overcame his doubt, feelings of "imposter syndrome," and learning to trust his own abilities.From the high of winning a DECA world championship, to the low of dealing with injury, and the quite, transformative moments in between - found in community - Eric offers a blend of humility and high-performance insight. Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, a leader, or someone striving for personal growth, this episode delivers a candid look at what it means to pursue excellence with purpose.Chapters: 🎙️ Introduction to Eric Moore⚓ Life in the Coast Guard🏃‍♂️ Athletic Background and Family Influence🏆 Winning the DECA Strong World Championship🩹 Navigating Competition and Injury Management🧠 Feeling Like an Imposter: The MFC Experience🤝 The Value of Competition: Motivation and Community🏔️ Joining Bolder: Community and Personal Growth📊 The Leaderboard Obsession: Motivation and Analysis

In this very timely episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, host Josh Boonstra sits down with CrossFit Games athletes Aaron Houchin, Justin Brewer, and Paul Delanoy to catch up, and share tips & tricks from their test runs of each quarterfinals workout. They talked through each event in detail—what caught them off guard, where they made mistakes, what they'd change, and how they're planning to approach quarterfinals. They discuss pacing strategies, managing fatigue, and nuances within each workout they anticipate having to navigate on gameday —like grip management, the value of transitions, and which workouts to avoid coming out too hot. They also talk about the mental side of this stage of the season — conditioning your mind for the redzone, how to stay composed, and how confidence (or lack of it) can completely change your performance. If you’re heading into Quarterfinals, be sure to catch this post test debrief —sharing what worked, what didn’t, and the tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your performance.