Once upon a barbell, there was a man who could lift more than most of us could ever dream — but what makes Sam Dancer unforgettable isn’t the mountains he moves with his strength, it’s the size of the space he holds for others.

Years ago, Sam wasn’t the giant of spirit you see today. He was a kid with a lot of power, a lot of questions, and a heart that felt things deeply — sometimes too deeply to fit inside the rigid boxes the world wanted to put him in. Over the years, he learned that the heaviest thing he could ever lift wasn’t a barbell — it was the burden of living a life that didn’t feel true to who he was. So he stopped trying to fit in. He chose love over ego. He chose service over status. And he’s been building bridges ever since.

Today, through the Dancer Love Foundation, Sam and his wife Jenn are using strength, soul, and radical inclusion to rewrite what community means — not just for those with intellectual and physical disabilities, but for every human who wants to lift heavy, love hard, and live free.

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🎧 In This Episode:

0:00 — Intro & Backstory:

Bryce sets the tone with the story of how he and Sam became brothers in spirit, bonded by sweat, real conversations, and a shared mission to turn fitness into a vessel for a bigger life.

8:12 — Strength That Serves:

Sam breaks down how he went from being known as “the strong guy” in CrossFit to becoming a stronghold for people who needed love more than they needed another rep.

16:35 — The Birth of Dancer Love Foundation:

How Sam & Jenn started their nonprofit — the mission, the impact, and the lessons learned about inclusion, service, and unconditional love.

27:00 — Lifting Others Up:

Stories from the adaptive community that will make you rethink what strength looks like. Tears, triumph, and transformation.

38:42 — Mindset, Faith & Freedom:

How Sam approaches mindset training — and how he’s learned to surrender control, open his heart, and play the long game of loving people well.

50:20 — What Community Really Means:

Why vibe is everything, how to hold space for people’s full selves, and how fitness can be the catalyst for human connection.

1:02:17 — The Big Takeaway:

Bryce & Sam wrap up with an invitation: to step outside your own ego, serve others without keeping score, and lift the heaviest thing of all — the people next to you.

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🫶 Quotes to Carry With You

“The heaviest thing you’ll ever lift is your own ego. The strongest thing you’ll ever build is a community rooted in love.” 

“Strength is just the start. The real power is what you do with it.” 

“If you want to go heavy, go alone. If you want to lift forever, lift together.” 

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💥 Listen With Depth. Live With Love.

This isn’t just an episode to run in the background — it’s an invitation to let Sam’s perspective remind you that your strength is a gift for the world, not against it. Let this one crack you open and set you free.

We want to be real with you — the audio quality on this one didn’t hit our standard, and we’re bummed about that too. But the love, magic, and wisdom inside this conversation are worth every second. We’re always working to bring you the best possible experience, and we appreciate

Thank you for Listening! Learn more below.

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