Hungry Dog Barbell Podcast

The conversation covers Liz's journey in weightlifting, including her recent competitions, challenges, and experiences. It also delves into her athletic background and early sports experiences, highlighting her competitive spirit and determination. Liz Earley shares her journey from shot put and discus to hammer throw, her experience with weightlifting, and her introduction to Olympic lifting through CrossFit. She also discusses her participation in strength competitions and her role as an athlete representative for the Weightlifting State Organization.

Takeaways

• Competitive spirit and determination
• Challenges and experiences in weightlifting Hammer throw as a natural fit
• Challenges of weightlifting as a woman

Chapters

• 00:00 Journey in Weightlifting
• 03:26 Competitive Goals and Challenges
• 13:12 Early Athletic Background
• 19:03 Discovering Hammer Throw
• 20:22 Challenges of Weightlifting for Women
• 23:49 Introduction to Olympic Lifting
• 24:16 Strength Competitions and CrossFit
• 29:02 Role as Athlete Representative

The conversation covers Liz's journey in weightlifting, including her experiences at various competitions and her background in sports. It also delves into her early athletic experiences and the competitive spirit that has driven her throughout her life. Liz Earley shares her journey from shot put and discus to hammer throw, her experience with weightlifting, and her introduction to Olympic lifting through CrossFit. She also discusses her participation in strength competitions and her role as the athlete representative for the Weightlifting State Organization (WSO).

Takeaways

• Competitive spirit in sports
• Challenges and successes in weightlifting Hammer throw as a natural fit
• Challenges of weightlifting for women

Chapters

• 00:00 Early Athletic Background and Competitive Spirit
• 19:03 Discovering Hammer Throw
• 20:17 Transition to Weightlifting
• 23:49 Introduction to Olympic Lifting
• 24:16 Competing in Strength Competitions
• 29:02 Role as Athlete Representative
• 32:37 Future Goals and Community Impact

This week I'm joined by good friend and fellow weightlifter Christie Shapiro. We dive into her journey of continuing to lift and challenge herself after her recent M.S diagnosis. The conversation covers topics such as preparation for an Olympic weightlifting meet, experiences with weightlifting and CrossFit, and gym pet peeves. The hosts discuss their physical and mental preparation for the meet, their experiences with weightlifting and CrossFit, and their gym pet peeves. The conversation covers topics related to weightlifting etiquette, gym behavior, and the experience of being diagnosed with MS while continuing to train and compete in weightlifting. It also delves into the emotional and mental aspects of recovery and the challenges of returning to heavy lifting post-diagnosis.

Takeaways

• Technical difficulties with audio and video equipment can impact the quality of virtual conversations.
• Physical and mental preparation for an Olympic weightlifting meet involves aspects such as sleep, nutrition, and hydration.
• Transitioning from CrossFit to weightlifting can be a significant change in focus and training.
• Gym pet peeves, such as complaining about programming and receiving cues from others, can impact the training environment. Gym etiquette and behavior can significantly impact an athlete's training experience.
• The emotional and mental aspects of recovery and returning to heavy lifting post-diagnosis are crucial for athletes.

Chapters

• 11:20 Transition from CrossFit to Weightlifting
• 14:05 Experiences with Weightlifting and CrossFit
• 25:33 Gym Pet Peeves
• 26:49 Gym Etiquette and Behavior
• 32:39 The Diagnosis and Recovery Journey
• 48:05 Returning to Heavy Lifting Post-Diagnosis
• 39:26 The Emotional and Mental Aspects of Recovery

From Youth Sports to the National Stage with Dr. Taylor Maginnis

What does it actually take to stand on a national platform? In this episode, we sit down with physical therapist and competitive weightlifter Dr. Taylor Maginnis to unpack her incredible 9-year journey to qualifying for the USA Weightlifting National Championships.

Follow her to continue the conversation

Personal: @coachtaylorpaynedpt

Club: @tristate_barbell

Clinic @ironpt

The conversation covers a range of topics including event planning, yearly strategy, the history and purpose of the Babes and Barbells event, business development, sales and value proposition in fitness, and relative intensity in workouts. Key takeaways include the emphasis on value over cost and the importance of consistency in fitness. The conversation delves into the concept of the 'third place' and its significance in community building. It then explores the upcoming summer events and community engagement initiatives. Finally, it discusses the importance of building business relationships and cultivating a strong community culture.

Takeaways

• Value Over Cost
• Consistency is King Community Cultivation
• Building Business Relationships

Chapters

• 00:00 Relative Intensity and Visualizing Exertion
• 32:47 Summer Events and Community Engagement

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We sit down with John Edward Heath to talk about making adaptive fitness accessible, building identity beyond labels, and replacing inspiration culture with informed coaching and real inclusion. From military roots to amputation to leadership, John maps a path any gym can follow.

• why adaptive days focus on education and resources, not hype
• how machines and simple drills teach real adaptations
• why inspiration culture harms and how to replace it
• the cost reality of adaptive sport and travel
• identity beyond athlete, veteran, and amputee labels
• grief, addiction, faith, and choosing normal life
• building networks among gyms, PTs, and adaptive athletes
• how affiliates can host adaptive seminars and prepare staff
• performance goals that serve purpose, not ego

Interested in hosting a Break the Barrier hosted by Adaptive Athletics Foundation of Maryland? It’s a great resource for gym owners , staff and everyday gym goers. Reach out to John @carbonfiber_john_ or @adaptiveathletics_md 

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Website : hungrydogathletics.com

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We pull back the curtain on the WheelWOD Adaptive Games with Cowboy Dave, from forklifts and floor plans to contracts and coverage. Along the way we unpack CrossFit’s pending sale, affiliate value, and practical tactics to grow a small business without burning out.

• year three working WheelWOD and an expanded role
• unloading trucks, staging gear, building floors and rigs
• space changes, floor layout math, livestream planning
• athlete control, dispute handling, volunteer coordination
• licensed events vs one mega-games and visibility trade-offs
• private equity context and affiliate dues reframed as marketing
• CAP as time savings and included value for owners
• how to get five new clients by giving value first
• simplify website paths, fix listings, refresh photos for conversions
• goals for gym growth, consulting, and future plans

If anybody's got ideas, I would love content ideas, and I'll try to make them happen

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We trace our paths from school sports to CrossFit, then take a hard look at the Open—what it tests, what it misses, and how cheating and video standards skew results. We debate scaled divisions, movement safety, and whether “Fittest on Earth” is even the right title, before sharing coaching tips, training environment trade-offs, and goals for the season ahead.

• school and college sports feeding stronger movement foundations
• early lifting setting up skills and body control
• the Open’s bias toward accessibility and engine
• missing heavy and high-skill tests at the first stage
• video audits, cheating risk, and leaderboard integrity
• movements to cut: pistols, wall walks as tests, weighted muscle-ups
• safer strength tests at locals versus 1RMs in tight spaces
• scaled divisions versus intermediate as the baseline
• who excels: gymnastics and swimming backgrounds
• coaching versus training environment trade-offs
• upcoming comps, qualifiers, and season goals

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Website : hungrydogathletics.com

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We sit down with Jen Forick, nurse practitioner and co-owner of CrossFit T1, to explore how coaching, caregiving, and community can build lasting health. From palliative care lessons to snatch Sundays and Wellness Wednesday, this is about turning a gym into a true wellness engine.

• what palliative care really is and how it shapes Jen’s view of quality of life
• using workouts as an emotional reset and resilience builder
• the path from commercial gyms to barbell proficiency and gymnastics capacity
• simple nutrition rules: walk more and eat enough protein
• EMOMs for fundamentals: chest-to-bar, toes-to-bar, and smart progressions
• lessons from ownership: respond slowly, be visible, earn trust
• building T1 as a one-stop wellness hub: nutrition, PT, and responsible hormone literacy
• community churn, returns, and keeping the culture strong
• watching CrossFit HQ’s next chapter and what it could mean for affiliates
• longevity over aesthetics: training that pays dividends in everyday life

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Love this convo ?? Subscribe to our show to check out dozens of other inspiring and informative people tell their stories on what they’re passionate about .

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Instagram : @hungrydogbarbell 

Website : hungrydogathletics.com

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We're joined by Amie Landis, nutrition coach and owner of Fueling Fitness Nutrition, who shares her journey from martial arts to CrossFit and how proper fueling transforms performance.

• Beginning martial arts at age 7 and discovering her love for competition when she won her first tournament
• Using personal experiences with different diets to inform her nutrition coaching approach
• Overcoming Lyme disease while continuing to train in CrossFit
• The importance of tracking macros as a learning tool before transitioning to intuitive eating
• Why consuming carbohydrates is essential for high-intensity activities like CrossFit
• How sustainable nutrition plans should accommodate life events like vacations and celebrations
• The misconception that lifting weights makes women "bulky" when in reality it takes years of dedicated training
• The value of focusing on "non-scale victories" rather than just weight loss
• Working with clients to establish realistic timelines and expectations for nutrition goals
• The 80/20 nutrition approach allowing flexibility while maintaining consistent progress

If you're looking for nutrition coaching, reach out to Amie Landis at Fueling Fitness Nutrition to help you maximize your performance and health.

https://fuelingfitnessnutrition.com/

IG @fuelingfitnessnutrition

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Love this convo ?? Subscribe to our show to check out dozens of other inspiring and informative people tell their stories on what they’re passionate about .

Follow us on social media 

Instagram : @hungrydogbarbell 

Website : hungrydogathletics.com