Not In My Box | The Fitness and Coaching Podcast

The CrossFit Open is here — but is it actually good for most members?

Danny Lehr sits down with Blair Morrison to talk honestly about the Open, gym culture, programming mistakes, Friday Night Lights, and why the Open exposes cracks in gyms more than it creates them. From redo culture and RX pride to running the Open across multiple affiliates, this episode is a must-listen for coaches and gym owners heading into Open season.

Wes Kitts lifted in two Olympics and won four Pan American championships. He also trained in the same room I did, back when we were both just trying to make a lift.

This one goes where most coaching conversations don't. What a decade at the top actually costs, how he thinks about training now that the platform isn't the point, and the question the sport argues about in public and avoids in private.

We get into the Enhanced Games, and whether the current system is as consistent as it claims to be.

Honest, unfiltered, not tidy. That's the show.

Training doesn’t stop when you become a dad — it just gets chaotic.

In this episode, Danny Lehr is joined by Seth Page and Wes Piatt to talk about what training actually looks like with babies, toddlers, zero sleep, and real responsibilities. From stroller walks that double as meetings to hotel hallway lunges and baby-as-kettlebell workouts, this is an honest conversation about training in the margins, ditching fake standards, and staying fit when life gets loud.

If you’re a dad trying to train — or a coach who works with them — this one’s for you.

How do people actually get strong, without blowing up their joints or chasing internet myths?

Danny Lehr sits down with elite powerlifter and world-record holder Tom Kallas to break down real powerlifting training: weekly structure, volume vs intensity, accessory work, CNS fatigue, meet prep, and why most lifters misunderstand “hard training.”

If you’ve ever argued with yourself about deadlift frequency, maxing in training, or “trusting the process”… this one’s for you.

Are we actually setting beginners up for success in CrossFit, or just overwhelming them on Day One?

Danny Lehr is joined by Blair Morrison and Wes Piatt to debate whether the 9 fundamental movements are still the best way to onboard new members, what skills beginners really need first, and how on-ramps impact coaching quality, culture, and retention. From deadlifts vs push-ups to running form, med-ball cleans, and movement standards, this episode is for coaches who care about teaching well, not just fast.

Specialty classes: essential, overrated, or just passion projects disguised as business strategy? Danny and Wes dive into CrossFit Silver, Parkinson’s training, kids programs, weightlifting cycles, six-week courses, and why most gyms accidentally create their own demand. From real success stories to gym-floor chaos, this episode breaks down what’s actually worth running — and what’s just adding hours of cleaning chalk.

Front squat or back squat first? Hang clean or power clean? Strict press or bench? Danny sits down with Olympian Wes Kitts, S&C Coach of the Year Ryan Metzger, and world-record powerlifter Tom Kallas to break down real coaching progressions with zero filter. If you coach (or argue about the clean), this episode is for you.

Gym culture isn’t the warm-fuzzy extra, it is the product. Danny Lehr, Blair Morrison, and Wes Piatt dig into rep shavers, CrossFit Open drama, AM vs PM class wars, firing toxic members, coaching honesty, and why gyms always end up looking like their owners. This is a must-listen for coaches, gym owners, and anyone who’s survived a Friday Night Lights meltdown.

Is HYROX the new CrossFit — or just CrossFit with fewer chalk clouds and more running?

In this episode, Danny Lehr, Wes Kitts, Wes Piatt, Kenny Santucci, and Alen Kunica debate the future of functional fitness: Is HYROX a rival, an ally, or just CrossFit’s younger, shinier cousin? From programming and community to business models and branding, they unpack whether gyms should embrace both — or pick a lane.

Featuring:

• Danny Lehr — Caffeine & Kilos founder, gym owner, and your friendly moderator who’s gonna ask your opinion… then tell you why you’re wrong.

• Wes Kitts — 2x Olympian, gym owner, and the strongest guy you know who still hates running.

• Wes Piatt — CrossFit red shirt, longtime coach’s coach, affiliate owner, and voice of reason when things get spicy.

• Kenny Santucci — HYROX athlete, CrossFitter, and host of Strong AF Podcast who made the jump from MTV reality TV to functional-fitness authority.

• Alen Kunica — Owner of CrossFit The Den in Oregon, where CrossFit and HYROX coexist without a turf war.

Topics include:

• Should CrossFit embrace HYROX — or defend its turf?

• Why “predictable” HYROX races are thriving while CrossFit doubles down on chaos

• How hybrid fitness could reshape programming, competition, and coaching

• What gym owners risk (and gain) by flying both flags

• The real question: are we watching history repeat itself?

If you’ve ever debated HYROX vs CrossFit, this one’s for you — whether you’re a coach, competitor, or someone who just loves a good sled push.

Are local CrossFit comps building your athletes and community, or breaking your programming?

In this episode, Danny Lehr, Blair Morrison, and Seth Page debate whether local throwdowns are actually good for your members or just glorified chaos. From overtraining and “competition programming” to judging horror stories and why most gyms do it wrong — this one’s for every coach who’s ever taped a floor lane at 5 a.m.

Featuring:

• Danny Lehr — Caffeine & Kilos

• Blair Morrison — CrossFit OG, tie-dye–wearing affiliate owner, and the only 3x Games athlete to play wide receiver at Princeton University

• Seth Page — Jump Ship Training founder, programming purist, and the internet’s favorite CrossFit contrarian

Topics include:

• When (and why) people start training like Games athletes for parking-lot events

• The truth about “competition programming”

• How to coach members through comp season without losing your mind