Chasing Excellence

By Ben Bergeron

Health Self-Help Fitness & Nutrition

What's Chasing Excellence about?

Chasing Excellence is a show dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, both inside the gym & out. On each episode, we'll deep dive on various aspects of being an athlete & maximizing your potential.

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#086: The Class Experience ...

08.19.2019

We’re taking a look at a theoretical scorecard I put together to judge how effectively a class is being organized and run. We cover subjects like how you set-up the room, why you coach more and talk less, & how ...

Chasing Excellence episodes:

08.19.2019 #086: The Class Experience Scorecard We’re taking a look at a theoretical scorecard I put together to judge how effectively a class is being organized and run. We cover subjects like how you set-up the room, why you coach more and talk less, & how ...
08.12.2019 #085: The 10 Components of Fitness We’re going over the ten general physical skills that we’re trying to maximize in the gym, the sports that test them best, and whether I think practicing is more difficult than training.
08.05.2019 #084: Two Minute Drill #8, w EC Syncowski EC is back to tackle some listener questions! We talk about supplementation for average CrossFitters, what a healthy diet looks like for kids, and whether gut microbiome tests are worth doing.
07.29.2019 #083: The Origins of NOBULL We’ve got the co-founder of NOBULL, Marcus Wilson, on to talk about how to spot the right people to work with, why NOBULL had to build a brand before they had products to sell, and how it was that they ...
07.22.2019 #082: How to Start CrossFit By Yourself We’re discussing how I would advise different kinds of people who want to start CrossFit but who are unable or unwilling to go to an affiliate.
07.15.2019 #081: Leaderboarding in Real Life We’re talking about the dangers of comparing ourselves to others, the role education has in setting us up to chase the wrong things, and how we can learn from our peers without letting their lives dictate our own pursuits.
07.08.2019 #080: Building a Stronger Brand We’re diving deep into marketing, branding, and advertising. We cover topics like the marketing hourglass, why advertising doesn’t work for CrossFit affiliates, creating talk triggers, and understanding your three uniques.
07.01.2019 #079: Two Minute Drill, #7 We’re answering more of your questions, covering topics from how to deal with doubt midway through a workout to what advice I’d give leaders who are tasked with motivating reluctant people.
06.24.2019 #078: 25 Questions for E.C. Synkowski E.C. Syncowski of OptimizeME Nutrition is back for a round of rapid-fire questions. We get her thoughts on everything from probiotics, dairy, and bacon, to bread, powdered greens, and alcohol.
06.17.2019 #077: Comparing Solo & Group Training We’re talking about what type of athletes thrive in a one-on-one environment, the differences between progressions and periodization in your programming, and whether I think coaches should specialize in either group or individual training.
06.10.2019 #076: 14 Ways to Recover Better We're talking about a bunch of ways to recover from our workouts better, from simple foam rolling to electric stimulation and float tanks.
06.03.2019 #075: Scaling Culture at CrossFit TILT We’ve got Max Isaak in to talk about what we’re doing at CrossFit TILT, how I think about scaling culture across multiple gyms, and the distinction between being a leader and a business owner.
05.31.2019 #074: Win or Learn We’re talking about failing, the difference between pain and suffering, and why I think the ability to learn from our failures is a skill everybody should learn to cultivate.
05.20.2019 #073: Two Minute Drill #6 We're tackling some more of your questions this week, including the food I'd recommend you eat before a workout, what I'd do differently if I was starting CFNE today, and my tips on overcoming performance anxiety.
05.13.2019 #072: Optimize Your Nutrition, w/ EC Synkowski We’ve got EC Syncowski of OptimizeMe Nutrition in to talk about the fundamentals of a good diet, the 800g Challenge, and whether it’s more important to focus on the quality or the quantity of our food.
05.06.2019 #071: The Theoretical Development of a Business We’re walking through the framework I’ve developed for building CrossFit New England, which has five areas of focus: Culture, Product, Marketing, Management, and Systems.
04.29.2019 #070: Top Trends Inside the CrossFit Community We’re exploring some of the common trends we’ve seen come and (sometimes) go within CrossFit over the years, including the Zone Diet, post-workout chocolate milk, and subscriptions to mobility programming.
04.22.2019 #069: Embrace the Chase We’re tackling the concept of chasing excellence head on, talking about putting first things first & why pursuing success isn’t as meaningful as the pursuit itself.
04.15.2019 #068: The Changing Landscape of CrossFit We’re diving into all the changes at CrossFit, why the Sanctionals are better tests than Regionals, and how re-learning what it takes to get to the Games now.
04.08.2019 #067: Danger Foods We’re covering some of the foods you want to consider avoiding in your pursuit of better health, as well as a breakdown of how some simple changes can have a huge impact on the overall quality of what you’re eating.
04.01.2019 #066: Two Minute Drill, #5 We’re tackling more of your questions, talking about training seniors, active recovery, and whether I’ve ever considered a vegan diet.
03.25.2019 #065: Prioritizing the 5 Factors, w/ Katrin Davidsdottir Katrin is back to talk with us about the difference between pursuing health and optimal performance, as well as some of the hacks we’ve found to sleep better, eat cleaner, and train harder.
03.18.2019 #064: Responding to Training Setbacks We’re diving into some ways to avoid overuse injuries in the gym, how to think about coming back from whatever setbacks may have derailed your training, & what we do as an affiliate to try to minimize injuries from happening ...
03.11.2019 #063: 10 Principles of Connection We’re covering the ten ways we can all do a better job of connecting with each other - things like seeking first to understand, asking interesting questions, and complimenting without hesitation.
03.04.2019 #062: Two Minute Drill, #4 We're tackling some of your questions, covering topics from mobility, to what I think about people who train to the point of sickness, to whether bodybuilding has a role inside of CrossFit training.
02.25.2019 #061: How I Think About Coaching We’re talking about how to climb the ladder of leadership with your athletes, why you should never ask a client why something isn’t working, and how to get the most out of your coaches.
02.18.2019 #060: Building Stronger Nutritional Strategies We’re talking about some of the ways you can set yourself up for nutritional success at home, at the office, and when you go out to eat.
02.11.2019 #059: Running Your Gym Like a Private School We're talking about how CrossFit New England on-boards new members, the three things we believe can guarantee our members' success, & why gyms should be paying attention to their churn rate.
02.04.2019 #058: Embracing Vulnerability, with Heather Bergeron Heather joins us in this episode to talk about living a life of honesty, dealing with the judgments of others, & why being vulnerable is how we can build trust.
01.28.2019 #057: Two Minute Drill, #3 I'm answering your questions on subjects like ideal body fat for health, whether fear is a good motivator for change, & what I would do if I had to start my coaching career over from scratch.
01.21.2019 #056: Taking Small Steps Toward Big Goals, with Katrin Davidsdottir Katrin joins us to talk about how we came to start working together, how we think about & build toward our goals, & when we start creating the year's training plan.
01.14.2019 #055: Defining & Pursuing Balance We're breaking down what I mean when I say that I'm seeking balance in my life.
01.07.2019 #054: Starting a Career in CrossFit We're talking about the journey I took from being a personal trainer to building CrossFit New England as it stands today, what young trainers who want to start a gym should do first, & my best advice for owners who ...
12.17.2018 #053: 10 Principles for Better Sleep We’re talking about developing better sleep habits & why optimizing our sleep is really optimizing our health.
12.05.2018 #052: A Masters Athlete's Guide to Competing In this episode: We're talking about strategies for maximizing the competitive career of a master's athlete.
11.24.2018 #051: Learning to Flip Fear Around We're talking about evolutionary sources of fear, the role it has played in my life, & how to use fear to make yourself better.
11.16.2018 #050: Favorite Books, Podcasts, Films, & People In this episode: We're covering the books & other resources that I most frequently recommend.
11.05.2018 #049: Game Day Nutrition We're talking about the best practices & common mistakes of keeping your nutrition on point during your next CrossFit competition.
10.25.2018 #048: What it Means to be Productive We're talking about putting first things first, the number of hours the average American spends watching television, & how I schedule my days & weeks to ensure I'm being effective.
10.15.2018 #047: Two Minute Drill, Take #2 We’re answering listener questions, including my advice to young athletes who want to make CrossFit a professional endeavor, recommended approaches to uncover food sensitivity issues, & my morning routine.
10.05.2018 #046: Earning Trust & Building Teams We're talking about the philosophy & the process we take at CFNE to hire new people, the value of trust, & how to share your vision so that the whole team buys into it.
09.25.2018 #045: Don't Get Bamboozled by Big Food We're talking about some of the reasons we're set up to fail when trying to eat clean, as well as a bunch of foods & ingredients to look out for as we pursue better health.
09.11.2018 #044: Talent, Opportunities, & Effort We're talking about whether Katrin, Fraser, & Tia are more talented than other athletes, the value of deliberate practice, & why I think it's important to first define what you would consider a success.
08.28.2018 #043: What to Do About Your Weaknesses In this episode: We're talking about how to attack weaknesses in the gym, how to play to our strengths outside the gym, & how I've come to think about the areas in my own life I want to focus on ...
08.15.2018 #042: Desert Island Health In this episode: We're imposing some imaginary constraints to explore some of my health & fitness principles. Topics include which CrossFit benchmarks workouts I'd pick to repeat forever if I had to, what single meal I would eat if I ...
08.03.2018 #041: Tips to Improve Competitive Performance In this episode: We're talking about ways to be more competitive in the sport of CrossFit. Topics include how to get better at muscle-ups, tips for improving your double unders, & my best advice for athletes who don't have a ...
07.18.2018 #040: Effective Parenting Tactics I'm covering some of the most impactful parenting tips I've learned, including praising effort instead of talent, not keeping any junk food in the house, and why we don't let our kids quit. Show Notes: 01:33 - All Pro Dad ...
07.03.2018 #039: 10 Ways to Lead from the Front in Your Gym In this episode: I'm going through ten of the ways I try to lead in my affiliate, including taking our own classes, welcoming feedback, & following through on what I say. Show Notes: 01:50 - #1: Take your own classes ...
06.20.2018 #038: Why CrossFit is Different than the CrossFit Games In this episode: I'm talking about the primary differences between the CrossFit that happens in our gym & the CrossFit that happens in Madison every summer. Show Notes: 02:02 - How I've come to think about the differentiation between CrossFit ...
06.05.2018 #037: The Benefits of Negative Visualization In this episode, we're talking about tactful conflict resolution, the benefits of talking through "If, Then" scenarios, & why thinking through what might go wrong is a great way to make things go right.

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