Brute Strength Podcast

Winning the CrossFit Games once didn’t feel the way James Sprague expected. In this conversation, the two-time champion explains what changed when he won again—and why his goals, faith, and perspective matter as much as the result.On the Brute Training Podcast, James talks about chasing a third Games title one step at a time, building a sustainable career in CrossFit, and staying grounded beyond competition. He also shares how he approaches training through injuries, what he’s learned about recovery and nutrition, and why he’s interested in investing and planning for life after sport.In this episode:-Why his first Games win felt overshadowed—and how the next one was different-His goal of winning a third CrossFit Games title-Enjoying the training process and building a strong training environment-Turning CrossFit into a career and choosing brand partnerships-Faith, family, and finding purpose beyond performance-Financial planning, investing, and life after competition-Managing aches and injuries, communicating with your coach, and adapting training-The role of sleep, nutrition, and recovery in his routineFor CrossFit athletes and fans curious about the mindset, decisions, and everyday realities behind competing at the top level.Strivee is a platform for coaches and box owners that covers programming, athlete tracking, community, and payments. Use code Brute20 for 20% off your first six months on a box or coach account. https://pro.strivee.app/signup/accounts?utm_campaign=bruteBrute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/BRUTE?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fall-eligable-for-affiliate-discount

Your coach's plan feels slow, but is it actually wrong? Coach Matt Torres joins George on this Brute Brief to explain why trusting your coach, slowing down, and collecting the right data are what make training work over the long haul.Athletes feel today's session. Coaches see the whole season. Matt and George show how to close that gap so you and your coach pull in the same direction, and what to do after a hard competition so the next block starts from a good place.What you'll get from this episode:-How to build coach-athlete trust: athlete input, shared goals, and an explanation of why each piece of training exists-A simple way to test a plan: commit to a fixed four-week block, report your data, then adjust based on the results-How to turn competition notes and disappointing workouts into training targets, using Dallin Pepper's season as an example (handstand push-up endurance, grip endurance, running capacity)-A gradual return after competition: recovery and rest first, then easy controlled training, then harder conditioning and more training time, returning to normal based on athlete needs. Matt's rule is to underdo it rather than overdo it, and to take real time away from the gym-A step-by-step approach to Rogue Invitational Workout 4 (Pack Out): five rounds of a 750m run, 30/25 toes-to-bar, and a 20-foot heavy yoke carry. Grip endurance is the key limiter, so the plan builds toes-to-bar volume, manipulates rest, and adds a heavy overhead carryGeorge's story of his first remote coaching client: the self-doubt, recording splits, asking the athlete what made them slow down, and how confidence grows from collecting evidence over timeSkip the guesswork about whether to trust the process. This one is useful whether you're an athlete wondering why your plan looks the way it does, or a coach who wants to build credibility with the people you train.Strivee is a platform for coaches and box owners that covers programming, athlete tracking, community, and payments. Use code Brute20 for 20% off your first six months on a box or coach account. https://pro.strivee.app/signup/accounts?utm_campaign=bruteBrute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/BRUTE?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fall-eligable-for-affiliate-discount

Can competitive fitness become a sustainable career for more athletes, in more places? Brian Friend has stepped away from coaching to travel full-time and tell the stories behind the sport, and he lays out how WFP is trying to change the path to a world championship.Brian joins the Brute Training Podcast to talk about his shift from coaching to full-time travel and media work with WFP. His goal is to tell stories about athletes and the sport, and he believes the methodology can help people far beyond the competition floor.He explains how WFP shapes its competition model and season changes by listening to athletes, fans, coaches, vendors and communities. The aim is more opportunities for more divisions to compete and qualify for a championship. One example is the Down Under Championships, which gives athletes in that region a direct path to a world championship.You'll hear:-How WFP's season and competition format respond to feedback from the whole community-Why athlete payouts, guaranteed income and prize money matter for career sustainability-How athletes are choosing between competition circuits as opportunities grow across competitive fitness-What the rising standard in CrossFit means for youth development, athlete longevity and competitive age rangesThen the debate gets fun. Brian weighs in on a hypothetical Matt Fraser comeback and how long he might have stayed competitive. He also reflects on Tia's exceptional dominance and longevity, Patrick Vellner's long run of podium finishes, and how different eras of Games competition compare.Brian closes by sharing where he will be next: the Down Under Championships in Wollongong, then Copenhagen for the World Fitness Finals.Perfect for competitive fitness athletes, coaches, fans and anyone curious about where the sport is heading and how athletes can build a lasting career in it.
Brute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/BRUTE?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fall-eligable-for-affiliate-discountBrute Strivee Code BRUTE20 for 20% OFF for 6 months (BOX / COACH ACCOUNT) https://pro.strivee.app/signup/accounts?utm_campaign=brute

Fee Saghafi is back on the Brute Strength Podcast, and she is the show's first repeat guest. She talks openly about a frustrating year of injuries, why she moved home to Cleveland, and what she's building toward in 2027.In this episode:-Moving back to Cleveland after three years in Jacksonville, and training at Mentality-Withdrawing from the WFP after a torn rotator cuff and new lower-body setbacks-Why training lost its fun when she was away from her people, and how that tested her faith-Staying patient through the ups and downs of rehab-The origin of her podcast, Girls Unfiltered, and what it's taught her about friendship and competing-Her 2027 goals: top three out of semifinals, a top ten finish at theGames, and getting back to Rogue-Building her aerobic capacity with her coach, Matt Torres-Her next events: Hyrox and a Xenom competition in Miami in DecemberIf you've dealt with injury, a move, or a stretch where training stopped feeling fun, this one is for you.Subscribe to the Brute Strength Podcast for more conversations with athletes.Brute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/B...Which Program Is Best For You: https://www.brutestrengthtraining.com...

Dallin takes the Rogue Invitational title, James finishes second, and Brute has another massive weekend. So what made the difference?

Matt Torres joins the Brute Training Podcast to break down Rogue Invitational, the performances that stood out, and what these results mean heading into the next season.

In this Rogue recap, we cover:

00:00 Dallin’s breakthrough win and what it means for his confidence

03:00 How confidence affects performance under pressure

06:00 Why consistency matters more than winning every event

08:30 James vs. Dallin: Two different athletes, one rivalry

10:45 Emma Lawson’s progress and the strength she’s building

12:25 What makes Rogue such a difficult competition

17:15 Training for progression and longevity

21:30 Matt’s favorite events and the workouts that stood out

24:00 Grip fatigue, rope climbs, and the details that separate athletes

28:00 The Duel, execution, and preparing for odd objects

33:00 Training the log and knowing when to rest between reps

37:00 How Rogue exposed new training priorities

40:00 Coaching James and Dallin through a head-to-head finish

From managing grip fatigue and pacing heavy workouts to building confidence and knowing when to back off, Matt shares what he takes away from competition and how those lessons carry into training.

👇 Join the conversation:
Which athletes impressed you most? Which event was your favorite? Drop your answer in the comments.

Your preparation doesn't start when the clock starts. It starts with how you approach the workout, prepare your body, and build the engine to sustain your effort.

In this episode of the Brute Brief, Matt Torres and the George Rhigas break down the mindset, training, and coaching lessons that help CrossFit athletes perform at their best.

From visualizing the toughest parts of a workout to building a more effective warm-up, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can bring into your next training session.

IN THIS EPISODE

Mindset: See It Before You Do It
Learn how to use visualization to rehearse your workout, anticipate the point where fatigue sets in, and prepare yourself to respond. Matt explains how mentally walking through the hard parts can help you execute when the pressure is on.

Training: Build a Warm-Up Around the Workout
A good warm-up has a purpose. Break it into four parts: mobility, heat-up, priming, and specific preparation. Learn how to get ready for the demands of the event without wasting time or fatiguing yourself before you compete.

Performance: How Emma Lawson Cut Her 5K From 21:40 to 19:30
Brute Endurance Coach Mark Cullen outlines Emma's 10-month aerobic development. Matt discusses why identifying an athlete's real limiter matters, how aerobic and anaerobic development affect performance, and why more hard sessions aren't always the answer.

Coaching Reflections: The Athlete Who Walked Away
Matt shares a personal lesson about coaching capacity, athlete relationships, and the difficult decisions that can shape you as a coach. Learn why pursuing your own goals can sometimes come at a cost, and what it takes to grow from those experiences.

TRAIN WITH BRUTE

Want to improve your endurance and build an engine that supports your CrossFit performance? Check out Brute Endurance and find the training that fits your goals.

Subscribe to the channel for more coaching insights, athlete development, and practical ways to get more out of your training.

Jack Farlow is chasing the next level in CrossFit, and he's making some big changes to get there.

On this episode of the Brute Training Podcast, Jack sits down with us to talk about his current training with Coach El, the weaknesses he's working to improve, and what it takes to compete consistently against the best in the sport.

We also get into one of the biggest talking points from Jack's recent content: eating around 900 grams of carbs a day. He explains why his training demands that much fuel, how he uses liquid carbs around his sessions, and what he learned from cutting down to 200 pounds.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE and let us know in the comments: What's the most carbs you've ever eaten in a day?

What if the leaderboard isn’t the best way to measure your progress?

In Brute Brief #012, we’re talking about what it takes to build a long career in the sport, from the way you communicate with your coach to the way you define success.

We break down why your training results and limiters matter, when you need to pay attention to your energy and recovery, and how focusing on micro-wins can help you stay focused on the things you actually control.

We also take a look at Aline Wirz’s rise from around 100th in the CrossFit Open to the top 10 and break down the training approach that helped get her there.

Plus, we look at where Brute is heading over the next five years and what it means to build a coaching system that helps athletes and coaches find their ceiling.

If you’re serious about getting better, competing for the long haul, and making the most of your training, listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Brute Brief bi-weekly newsletter.

And if this episode gave you something to think about, send it to an athlete or coach who needs to hear it.

Weightlifting is far more technical, less popular, and much harder to master than most people realize - and Greg Everett explains why the sport still demands true obsession to succeed. If you care about Olympic lifting, CrossFit, coaching, or building real expertise, this conversation will change how you think about progress, training, and what it actually takes to make it in the sport.Greg Everett - one of the most influential weightlifting coaches of the last two decades and the force behind Catalyst Athletics - breaks down the realities behind coaching at scale, why he chose to stay deeply hands-on instead of building a purely automated business, and how that decision shaped his legacy. He also shares how his writing career, early online content, and sheer timing helped him become one of the first major voices in the digital weightlifting world.You’ll discover:Why in-person coaching still matters, even in a remote-first worldHow Greg built a massive library of weightlifting education before social media made content easyThe mental shift from athlete to coach after injury forced a new pathWhy weightlifting needs more than perfect technique dogma - and why flexibility mattersHow CrossFit helped create a much bigger audience for weightlifting and new opportunities for athletesWe also get into the sport’s biggest misconceptions, including why so many outsiders drastically underestimate the difficulty of weightlifting, why elite lifters are often misunderstood by the general public, and why performance and health don’t always move in the same direction. Greg’s take on general physical preparedness, recovery, and the limits of “more conditioning” cuts through a lot of the noise that surrounds strength training.If you want a smarter view of Olympic lifting, athlete development, coaching, and the evolving relationship between CrossFit and weightlifting, this episode delivers both the big-picture context and the practical lessons. Essential listening for lifters, coaches, and anyone who wants to understand how great sports get built.Brute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/BRUTE?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fall-eligable-for-affiliate-discountWhich Program Is Best For You: https://www.brutestrengthtraining.com/quiz/

What goes into building a major fitness competition from the ground up? Dylan Malitsky, head of WZA Sports, joins the Brute Training Podcast to give us a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce events like WZA Miami and WZA SoCal.

From weather contingencies and building venues on the sand to managing hundreds of vendors, broadcast production, athlete experience, and the Battle of the Camps, Dylan breaks down the work that happens long before athletes step onto the competition floor.

We also talk about:

• Dylan's journey from starting CrossFit in 2011 to becoming a key part of WZA.
• The differences between WZA Miami and WZA SoCal.
• How the Battle of the Camps came together and the rivalry it brings to team competition.
• The real costs and logistical challenges of producing a large-scale fitness event.
• Why WZA is expanding beyond functional fitness into a broader fitness festival.
• The role competition can play in motivating people to train, eat better, and pursue healthier lifestyles.
• The future of WZA, including potential international expansion.

If you've ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a major CrossFit competition, this episode is for you.