Michael Dalton has lived the creative grind, from sleeping in vans on tour, to running lights for a band, to shooting weddings and eventually making the leap into CrossFit media. Over a decade with the CrossFit Games, he contributed to every “Fittest on Earth” documentary before moving into his own client and brand work.

In this episode we talk about:

• Touring days and working odd jobs to get by

• Building a career in creative work without losing yourself

• CrossFit media, from Savon to Tia to Fraser

• Why paying people what they’re worth matters

• Organization, burnout, and finding balance as a dad and business owner

Guest Links: | Michael Dalton | 

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Things get heated as Matt, Cheryl, Dave, and special guest Jay (joining from the UK) tackle the fallout from Deadly Dozen’s latest event. What started as a couple of Instagram clips spiraled into thousands of views, dozens of comments, and a full-blown debate about judging, movement standards, and world record legitimacy.

The crew digs into why the community reacted so strongly, whether “bad reps” can ever be waved off, and how Deadly plans to fix judging issues before prize money and championships hit in 2026. Plus, Jay calls his shot: UK athletes will dominate unless U.S. elites step up.

We also hit on:

• Why hybrid fans might just be bored post-Worlds.

• Dave Parkin’s lightning-fast Deadly performance (and its controversies).

• How Deadly Dozen is investing in judges, pay scales, and head-judge systems.

• The bigger picture: building culture, enforcing standards, and handling criticism.

• Cheryl’s DEKA Mile at Camp Rhino and finding joy in fitness when times are tough.

• The Lifetime Games tease: 17 stations, big volume, and no hiding.

• HYROX Atlanta ticket sales — slowing demand or just timing issues?

• The new HYROX Conditioning Test (HCT) from Lauren Rantala.

• Revisiting The Biggest Loser documentary and lessons for today’s fitness community.

Guest Links: Ugly Dave | Cheryl Snow | Deadly Dozen

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Oscar Moreno spent 18 years in the Army with tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo. After retiring in 2020 he found DEKA FIT in 2022 and went all in, competing everywhere, qualifying for Worlds, and eventually opening Flagal Fitness in the San Fernando Valley. From there he launched the San Fernando Valley Games, a new strength and endurance race format, and now he is hosting a HYROX simulation weekend in Sylmar, CA on October 18 and 19. Day one is HYROX Strong, all stations with no running. Day two is the full simulation with solo, doubles, and relay divisions. Timing chips included.

John Hickey is the creator of Best of LinkedIn, the account that skewers corporate cringe and fake “my kid said this” posts. What started as parody became a career shift. John moved from ad sales into directing major ad campaigns. We talk Made Up Kid Monday, the infamous crying CMO, where satire ends and doxxing begins, and why people melt when their thought leadership gets exposed.

Guest Links: Oscar Moreno | Best Of LinkedIn

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The first ever Hunner Percent Games happened last Sunday in Ayr, Scotland at the Riverside Sports Arena.

We spoke with Graham Halliday and Kristopher McSherry, Joda Quiqley and Natalie Morrison| Jorg Gurney and Ross Walker | Creator Liam Walker |DJ/Photographer Zakk Wild |Coach Chelsea| Plus more from the HPX community.

Full race results for the HPX Hunner Percent Games - 2025.

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HPX: The Hunner Percent Race A Community Fitness Event for a Cause That Matters

HPX is a high-energy same-sex pairs event built around teamwork, effort, and community. Athletes take on a challenging course that tests strength, endurance, and grit. But this race is about more than fitness. All proceeds go to Harbour, a local addiction charity supporting individuals and families in recovery.

This race is held in honor of John Gilardi, a friend, training partner, and someone who lived all in. The John Gilardi Legacy supports the kind of work that changes and saves lives.

Race Format Same-sex pairs (Male/Male or Female/Female) All work is split evenly All running is done together

Divisions Competitive: strict judging, full effort, real prizes Non-Competitive: scaled, no pressure, just show up and push

Race Flow

1. 125/100 Cal Bike Erg
2. 800m Run
3. 100 Dumbbell Snatches (20kg men, 12.5kg women)
4. 800m Run
5. 125/100 Cal Row
6. 800m Run
7. 100 Box Overs (24 inches, jump or step)
8. 800m Run
9. 125/100 Cal Ski Erg
10. 800m Run
11. 100 Partner Wall Balls (passed over a post)
12. Earth Worm Carry (two 20kg or 12.5kg sandbags) one lap
13. 100 Burpees Over Worm
14. 100m Earth Worm Lunge (in sync, both partners carrying)
15. Sprint to the Finish

Why Hunner Percent Because that’s how John lived Because that’s what this race asks of you

Whether you’re racing to win or racing to show up, you give everything. For your partner. For the cause. For the legacy.

This week on the Not So Live Show, we cover everything from CrossFit Games programming wins to DEKA Northeast’s blue-floor battles — plus quick hits from HPX Scotland. Matt, Cheryl, and Dave debate the “fitness racing” vs “hybrid” label, recap the Games’ biggest changes, and dig into the latest Spartan/DEKA payout controversy.

We also hit on:

• Pegboard issues and equipment fairness

• Brooklyn’s world record performance

• International athletes climbing the DEKA leaderboard

• Joe DeSena & Yancy Culp’s reaction to unpaid elites

• HPX Scotland highlights and takeaways

Guest Links: UUgly Dave | Cheryl Snow 

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Lauren Rantala has been in the hybrid fitness racing scene since 2021. She and her husband, Marc, were the original U.S. team visiting gyms and inviting people to try this new thing called HYROX. Since then, she’s moved on to work with Output Sports and was brought out this week for the first-ever Red Bull Coaches Camp.

We talked about the new HYROX Conditioning Test (HCT) she helped develop, broke down the Coaches Camp, took a trip down memory lane to those early HYROX days, and much more.

Guest Links: Lauren Rantala | Output Sports

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Join insightful podcast discussions about HYROX, DEKA, and The Deadly Dozen with athletes, event directors, and industry insiders. Stay tuned for engaging content about the dynamic world of fitness racing.

The HFM Live Show is always live, except for when it’s the Not So Live Show. It’s always up on Youtube Monday Night and on Podcast players early Tuesday morning.

Connect & Support:

Follow today’s guest: Cheryl Snow | Ugly Dave | Matt Kemp

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Sully joins the show to talk about how he went from CPA to roasting corporate life for a living. We get into improv, stand-up, viral videos, and why his fake Zoom calls hit so hard.

Plus: creativity, comedy, and how ChatGPT will save us all.

Sample Clip - https://www.tiktok.com/@sullyfinlay/video/7310347007216880938

Connect & Support:

Follow today’s guest: Sully

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HYROX fears the elderly. HYROX goes to Ottawa (and a bunch of other places). DEKA starts pre sales.

Join insightful podcast discussions about HYROX, DEKA, and The Deadly Dozen with athletes, event directors, and industry insiders. Stay tuned for engaging content about the dynamic world of fitness racing.

The HFM Live Show is always live, except for when it’s the Not So Live Show. It’s always up on Youtube Monday Night and on Podcast players early Tuesday morning.

Connect & Support:

Follow today’s guest: Cheryl Snow | Ugly Dave |

Support us through The Cup Of Coffee.

Follow Hybrid Fitness Media on IG.

Enjoy behind the scenes live from Windsor Canada at the HAP Hybrid HYROX Sim. They had pro, open, doubles, and relay. Plus a new TRYROX division. We chatted with the event director and some other folks behind the scenes after a great day of racing.

Then we catch up with Declan from DEKA Aus/NZ/Fiji about the upcoming DEKA events in Australia and the hybrid fitness racing scene down under.

Follow today’s guests: Hesman Athletics and Performance | Declan McGovern from DEKA

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