Hybrid Fitness Media

Matt, Cheryl, and Dave are joined by Matt Kemp to discuss

• Hiller’s YouTube channel removal and what it means for creators
• ATHX Miami recap - format, judging, volunteers, and athlete experience
• HYROX Boston - sled conditions, course layout, and race-day experience
• Whether a premium HYROX race package is worth the extra cost
• The Beijing incident making Saturday Night Live
• HYROX ticket demand, Flex passes, and spring race availability

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

HYROX Toronto brought a deep field of Pro athletes and plenty of strong doubles teams. In this combined interview episode, Matt speaks with athletes across the weekend, from the Pro Women and Pro Men races to some of the top doubles teams.

Singles interviews:

• Maddy Eybergen
• Vivian Tafuto
• Rachael Wade
• Chelsea Ribeiro
• Lindsay Bessegato
• Laura Sliapnic
• Courtney Hayre
• Bethany McChesney
• Frédéric Dubé
• Ryan Douglas
• Stirling Peters
• Ryan Callahan

Before the doubles interviews, Matt catches up with Alyssa McElheny, who was in Toronto supporting some of her teammates.

Doubles interviews:

• Rachael Wade and Dr. Erika Tvedten
• Christina Matthews and Charlotte O’Neill
• Quinlan Hickey and Lindsay Bessegato
• Imogen Cross and Elise McClintic
• Isaac Sanderson and Brendan Neely
• Jarrett Newby and Matt Baysinger
• Kevin Gregory and Ryan Casey
• Stirling Peters and Chase Stevenson
• Jack Driscoll and Kelly Meredith
• Cole Learn and Frédéric Dubé
• Ryan Reid and Shane McKenzie

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Listen on Apple or Spotify.

Matt, Kevin, and Dave are back after HYROX Toronto, with Cheryl joining the conversation from home. They break down the weekend, including the Canadian-heavy podiums, the venue and spectator experience, judging, and what stood out on course. They also discuss LT Games, and why it is a strong event that needs better promotion.

Then it is a deep dive into the HYROX Elite Town Hall:

• The plan for recurring Elite Series cities and separate grid racing
• Why athletes were frustrated by the pre-submitted-question format
• Ticket access, Flex passes, and qualification loopholes
• Rulebook clarity, judging consistency, and who should make the rules
• Athlete kits, outside content teams, media accreditation, and sponsor conflicts

They also talk about XENOM’s new Foundations division and one-day events, plus CrossFit’s new Open Doubles format.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

F45 Deputy Director of Athletics, Johry Batt, joins Matt to discuss how the brand builds its workouts, the athletes featured on its in-studio screens, and the future of F45 Peak 500.

• How F45 selects its on-screen athletes from within its own community
• What goes into programming more than 100 F45 workout formats
• F45’s global footprint and studio growth
• The history of F45 Playoffs and the evolution into Peak 500
• Plans for larger Peak 500 events open to the public in 2027

Then, Matt and Ser Bryan break down The Mad King, the new Game of Thrones stage play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, then revisit the full HBO series.

• Matt’s trip to Stratford-upon-Avon and what it was like seeing The Mad King live
• How the play handles Harrenhal, Robert’s Rebellion, Rhaegar and Lyanna, the Mad King, and the Tower of Joy
• The set design, battle scenes, casting choices, and whether the four-hour runtime works
• A Game of Thrones rewatch: the great early-season moments, character arcs, and details that pay off later
• Why the first 7 seasons hold up but the ending does not.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

Matt B. Davis, Cheryl Snow, and Matt Kemp discuss:

• HYROX Major schedule, Elite 15 prize money, and kit rules
• The new Challenger 15
• PUMA’s Project Podium and athlete sponsorships
• Matt Kemp's first ATHX workout at Strong New York
• HYROX’s upcoming Elite Athlete Town Hall
• DEKA World Championship ticket prices
• Toronto weekend and the LT Games

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

Willow Collins

• Breaking Gonzaga’s 3K school record at the time
• Running 15:50 in her first 5K
• Finding HYROX after college
• Racing in New York, at Worlds and in Salt Lake City
• Improving burpee broad jumps and wall balls
• Her goal of breaking 60 minutes
• Racing Women’s Doubles with Molly Chambers
• Olympic Trials ambitions in the marathon

Follow Willow on Instagram:

“Mo” Iqbal

• The original FitLab vision and why it made sense on paper
• Why operational experience and discipline matter in fitness acquisitions
• What happens when founders leave after their companies are acquired
• The role Nike’s partnership may have played in investor confidence
• Why FitLab’s use of merchant cash advances raised concerns
• What the fitness industry can learn from FitLab’s collapse

Learn more about SweatWorks

Aaron Travers

• Moving from Gaelic football and boxing into HYROX
• Running a 56-minute HYROX while weighing more than 240 pounds
• A 16:28 track 5K and a 16:43 road 5K at 253 pounds
• Winning the ATHX events in Dublin and Copenhagen
• His goal of winning the ATHX World Championships
• Training with Chris Baines to improve his strength and mobility
• Holding records in TRYKA and The Hybrid Games
• SkiErg marathon record - 2:29:52 with no breaks
• Why DEKA, Deadly Dozen and other fitness races may suit him next

Follow Aaron

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is also sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

This week, Matt, Cheryl and Dave discuss Joanna Wietrzyk’s apology and withdrawal from HYROX Beijing, what a real return to racing could look like, and the misinformation that followed the incident.

Cheryl recaps racing HYROX Salt Lake City with her son, including his first HYROX experience, the event’s crowd and finish-area issues, the new sled runners, and the U.S. debut of HYROX Youngstars.

Also covered: HYROX co-founders Christian Toetzke and Moritz Fürste confirming their involvement with XENOM, why the CrossFit-focused competition has struggled to gain traction, and DEKA’s announcement of new two-person and four-person team racing in London.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

Liz Plosser on HYROX Beijing, Reporting, and Sauna Culture

Liz Plosser joins Matt to discuss her GQ story on the HYROX Beijing incident, why nobody stopped Joanna Wietrzyk during the race, and the responsibility judges and officials have in moments like that. They also discuss covering controversy in a niche sport, social-media backlash, misinformation around the false PUMA rumor, and reporting fairly while still having relationships within HYROX.

Then Liz explains Aufguss, the German sauna ritual combining heat, music, essential oils, and towel work. They talk sauna and cold-plunge routines, recovery, wearable data, aging, and body image.

Alyssa McElheny on HYROX Beijing, Sled Lanes, and Her Road to Hamburg

HYROX World Champion Alyssa McElheny joins Matt from Beijing after starting her season in China. They discuss her Adidas trip, new COROS partnership, massive fan response in Beijing, and why she chose the race as an early-season test.

Alyssa breaks down her difficult sled lane, the extra lap both she and Joanna Wietrzyk ran, travel and illness, racing Joanna, and what she learned ahead of the first HYROX Major in Hamburg.

Join Liz Plosser Substack and follower her on Instagram.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

Matt B. Davis, Cheryl Snow, Ugly Dave and Matt Kemp discuss the most global story in HYROX History.

The global reaction to Joanna Wietrzyk’s Beijing race incident.

Whether Hybrid Fitness Media was right to report the story.

HYROX China’s statement and the lack of a clear protocol.

Why judges could have intervened under existing rules.

How the extra lap affected Joanna vs. Alyssa McElheny.

The wider issue of inconsistent HYROX penalties and DQs.

Why athletes may be reluctant to publicly challenge HYROX.

New shortened sled lanes coming to future North American races.

Why the revised sled layout allows more lanes and more athletes.

ATHX announces its 2027 North American schedule and divisions.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

We were live in Crystal Palace last weekend for the first ever Deadly Dozen World Champs. We spoke with a ton of podium finishers plus more in attendance.

Gemma Rouse

David Parkin

Alexia Yannaros

Jude Reynolds

Hoyeon Yoo

Rachel Hodgkinson

Natalie Lawrence & Jana Lebenstedt

Fabian Eisenlauer & Jennifer Nikolaus

Tony Revell & Ciaran Parkinson

Natalie Crompton & Rachel Hodgkinson

Jude Reynolds & Chad Headford

Tobias Kiefer & Lukas Zajons

Tania Thies & Noelia Perez Tur

Jason Curtis

Ian Kay

Bex Ward

Today’s episode is sponsored by Wodify. When your HYROX gym needs to run smoothly, Wodify delivers. From scheduling and programming to performance tracking and milestone celebrations, all the tools you need are built right in. Book a demo here.

Today’s episode is sponsored by Metl. MetL™ stands for honesty and health. Every ingredient is listed clearly, no fillers, no hidden sugars, no gimmicks. It’s more than a beverage; it’s a movement redefining what it means to stay energized, for kids, parents, and future generations. Learn more at metldrink.com

Listen on Apple or Spotify

Cover Photo by Ian Kay of UKHXR