Shortcuts are tempting. Especially when you want the weight off, the fitness up, and the results yesterday.

In this episode, Nick and Josh talk through the pull toward quick fixes in nutrition, training, weight loss, and fitness in general. All with the goal of asking a better question: are we building the habits that make results last?

We talk about:

• Why discomfort is usually the thing we’re trying to avoid

• Why “I tried everything” needs an honest second look

• The Fortem stack: nutrition, training consistency, and recovery

• Why weight loss alone is not always the same as health

• How to think about medications, peptides, and other tools without making them the whole plan

• Why showing up one more time than you do now can actually move the needle

The long way is not flashy, but it works. Eat well, train consistently, sleep enough, recover, and get help when you need it.

If you’ve been chasing the next thing instead of building the boring things, this episode is for you.

What actually goes into planning a week of training at Fortem?

Nick and Josh pull up a full week of programming and talk through it in real time, the workouts they love, the changes they consider, and the bigger picture behind all of it.

We talk about:

1. How we adjust programming with Fortem members in mind

2. Balancing strength, conditioning, recovery, and the occasional mountain of burpees

3. Why scaling is part of progressing, not something to feel bad about

4. How to get more from your warm-up and strength work

5. Where extra skill or accessory work can fit into the week

The goal isn’t to make every workout comfortable. It’s to help you get fitter and stronger, keep you healthy, and make sure your training still serves you years from now.

If you’ve ever looked at the whiteboard and wondered, “Why are we doing this today?”- this episode is for you.

Fortem Monthly is more than a gym newsletter. It is a collection of tools to help you get more out of your training and build a healthier life outside the gym too.

In this episode, we walk through everything included each month:

1. Mindset and coaching blogs

2. Practical meal prep recipes

3. Monthly movement challenges

4. Accessory and gymnastics skill work

5. Member stories and community updates

You do not need to add another hour of training to your week. A few intentional minutes before or after class can go a long way.

This episode will help you understand how to actually use Fortem Monthly!

What does real fitness actually look like?

In this episode, we break down CrossFit’s classic “World-Class Fitness in 100 Words” and talk about why it still gives such a clear blueprint for what we’re building at Fortem.

We talk through:

• Why nutrition comes first

• Why everyone needs to lift weights

• Why gymnastics skills are worth the work

• Why conditioning should include hard, fast efforts

• Why routine can hold you back

• Why your fitness should show up outside the gym

If you’ve ever wondered why we train the way we train, this episode is for you.

What does real fitness actually look like?

In this episode, we break down CrossFit’s classic “World-Class Fitness in 100 Words” and talk about why it still gives such a clear blueprint for what we’re building at Fortem.

We talk through:

• Why nutrition comes first

• Why everyone needs to lift weights

• Why gymnastics skills are worth the work

• Why conditioning should include hard, fast efforts

• Why routine can hold you back

• Why your fitness should show up outside the gym

If you’ve ever wondered why we train the way we train, this episode is for you.

What does real fitness actually look like?

In this episode, we break down CrossFit’s classic “World-Class Fitness in 100 Words” and talk about why it still gives such a clear blueprint for what we’re building at Fortem.

We talk through:

• Why nutrition comes first

• Why everyone needs to lift weights

• Why gymnastics skills are worth the work

• Why conditioning should include hard, fast efforts

• Why routine can hold you back

• Why your fitness should show up outside the gym

If you’ve ever wondered why we train the way we train, this episode is for you.

Trying CrossFit for the first time can feel intimidating, but it does not have to be.

In this episode, we talk about Bring a Friend Week at CrossFit Fortem, happening April 27 through May 2, and why it’s such a great opportunity for someone new to get a real feel for what we do.

We talk about:

1. What Bring a Friend Week looks like

2. Why a full week gives a better first experience than one random class

3. How coaching, scaling, and community make CrossFit approachable

4. Our own very different first experiences with CrossFit

5. Why inviting someone might be a bigger deal than you realize

Whether you’re already part of Fortem or you’ve been curious about trying CrossFit for the first time, this episode is for you.

What the Open Reveals, and What We Wish We Knew Sooner ⎸ Ep. 11

The Open is over, but the bigger question is: now what?

In this episode, we debrief the 2026 Open and talk about what it really exposes, what actually helps you improve, and the lessons we wish we knew when we first started CrossFit.

We talk about:

1. What this year’s Open showed people about their fitness

2. Why pacing, consistency, and skill work matter

3. How nutrition changes everything

4. Why the Open is really about growth, not just scores

5. The CrossFit lessons we had to learn the hard way

Whether you’re new to CrossFit or a few years in and still figuring things out, this episode is for you.

Getting fitter doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes it means doing the right things more consistently.

In this episode, we break down six simple training upgrades that support strength, durability, and long-term progress, without adding chaos to your schedule.

We talk about:

1. Strict pull-ups and why they matter

2. Overhead joint health and stability

3. Accessories and muscle as protection

4. Static holds and control

5. Carries and real-world strength

6. Low-impact steady state work and recovery

These are small inputs with big returns. Pick a couple, commit to them, and let the basics carry you forward.

The Open isn’t just for elite athletes. It’s for regular people who want to test themselves, get better, and be part of something with their gym.

In this episode we talk about:

• What the CrossFit Open is and how it works
• Why everyone can (and should) participate
• What committing to it builds: confidence, grit, and direction
• Why doing it together hits different
• How we approach the Open at Fortem and what to expect

Whether you’re new to CrossFit or you’ve been around awhile but never jumped in, this episode is for you.