PAC Talk with Pieter Vodden

In this episode of PAC Talk, we (Piet and Emylee) break down the second anchor of our PAC Perspective series: Move With Purpose—Anticipate the Need. This anchor is at the heart of everything we do at Pharos Athletic Club, from how we train to how we lead.

We talk about what it means to act with intention and develop intuition, how quality beats speed, and why humility and awareness are non-negotiables in our space. Whether you’re lifting, coaching, leading, or learning, this one’s for you. We dive into the ways our coaches and community create an experience that’s thoughtful, elevated, and deeply personal—where everyone shows up to be 1% better every day.

We also share stories from inside the gym and offer insights on reading the room, managing energy, and meeting people where they are—because moving with purpose doesn’t just build better athletes, it builds better humans.

Check out the Pillars series on our website

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the first episode of our PAC Perspective Anchors series on PAC Talk, hosted by Pieter Vodden and Emylee Covell. This episode breaks down the first core anchor that defines the culture at Pharos Athletic Club: "Show Up to Build Others."

From pandemic parking-lot workouts to creating an unshakable tribe of support, Piet and Emylee unpack what it means to lead by example, cultivate community, and build a gym culture rooted in effort, accountability, and human connection.

Whether you're a coach, gym member, or just someone seeking more meaning from your fitness experience, this episode dives into the values that drive sustainable transformation—and why showing up for others is one of the most powerful things you can do for yourself.

Check out the Pillars series on our website

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it really mean to be resilient—not when things are easy, but when life is actively falling apart? In this powerful episode of Pac Talk, Piet Vodden and Emylee Cavell get honest about the emotional, financial, and physical weight of building something meaningful from scratch. From personal struggles and $2 million in debt to opening four gym locations without big corporate backing, this is the behind-the-scenes story of grit, growth, and grit again.

Together, they break down the three pillars that keep them in the game:

1. Build your environment
2. Do hard things
3. Live out your purpose—with pleasure

This episode is not a highlight reel. It's a real-life playbook for staying strong when everything around you says give up. If you're building something, parenting through chaos, or simply trying to survive the day—this one’s for you.

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you stay healthy, grounded, and strong when summer throws your routine off track?

In this episode of PAC Talk, Pieter Vodden and Emylee Cavell share their real-world travel tips—from road tripping with kids to staying fit without a gym. They reveal how they personally navigate vacation workouts, nutrition on the go, and family time without letting it all fall apart.

Plus, they introduce the PAC Travel Guide—a free resource packed with at-home workouts, mobility videos, nutrition strategies, and mindset tips to help you survive (and even thrive) through your strong summer.

Whether you're camping in the mountains, chilling at the beach, sweating in the desert, or bouncing around SoCal, this episode gives you the tools to stay consistent—even when life’s a little wild.

Grab the PAC Travel Guide Here

And remember: just because it’s summer doesn’t mean your progress has to melt.

Enjoy, listen, share, and comment. Thanks, and see you in the gym!

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I sit down and discuss the top 10 lessons I learned from this year’s Limitless Challenge. How did people lose so much fat, gain so much muscle, and improve their lives? We always learn as much as we teach because the challenge is a collection of individualized experiences. Everybody goes through their own set of obstacles and wins, and the information and data we get back helps us better prepare for the future — maybe through correlation, maybe through inspiration, maybe through connection. We gather, and we grow.

Enjoy, listen, share, and comment. Thanks, and see you in the gym!

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Pac Talk, Pieter and Emylee Vodden share the real metrics that matter when it comes to progress—beyond just the number on the scale. After working with 75 people over a six-week challenge, Pieter and Emylee Vodden, reflects on what actually leads to meaningful transformation. From energy levels and mood to sleep, hunger cues, and performance, this episode helps you redefine what a “win” looks like. Plus, they break down six essential habits for long-term success, and explores how accountability, courage, and freedom play a role in staying consistent—even when motivation dips.

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I sit down with John Kim—aka The Angry Therapist. John is a therapist and author currently working on his seventh book. This is our fifth podcast together, and I think it’s our best yet. John was one of the first people I met in L.A. and my first roommate in the U.S. We’ve both been on a journey that’s led to a natural fork in the road. New beginnings are on the horizon after an unforeseeable tragedy. But sometimes, light comes from darkness—and what we thought was the end is really just the end of Act One. It’s a reflective conversation—sometimes sad, sometimes funny—but ultimately a lesson in rejuvenation and possibility. Thank you for taking the time, John. I’ll miss you, my friend… but I’ll see you up the road.

Enjoy, like, and share. Thanks for listening—and see you in the gym!

Connect with John

Website

Instagram

TikTok

His Book Series

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s Limitless Challenge call, Emylee Vodden walks you through a powerful framework for habit formation, inspired by Atomic Habits by James Clear. Whether you're trying to build a morning routine, save money, or finally ditch the doom scroll, this episode helps you get clear on the “structured how.” Learn how to make good habits obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying — and break bad ones by reversing the formula. Plus, Emylee shares real-life examples from her own journey and the community’s progress to help you systemize the life you actually want.

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people think they’re in a caloric deficit… until they realize they’re not. In this clip from the Limitless Challenge weekend call, I break down what a true caloric deficit actually looks like, why it’s essential for fat loss, and how to track it without obsessing over every bite. If you’ve hit a plateau or are frustrated by your results, this might be the missing piece. Let’s make sure the work you’re putting in is actually getting you closer to your goals.

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emylee here back once again!

This week, I’m sharing something personal from inside the Limitless Challenge—a practice I’ve been using to call out the quiet, sneaky stories I tell myself that hold me back. Stories like “I have no time,” “I have no self-control,” or “I don’t finish what I start.” Sound familiar?

In this episode, I walk through how I’ve been learning to separate story from truth—and how that shift is helping me take real action toward the life I want. If you’ve ever felt stuck in shame, overwhelm, or procrastination, I hope this conversation helps you feel seen, supported, and ready to rewrite your own story. You don’t have to do this alone—we’re stronger as a pack.

Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.

If you are in Southern California come train with us 

Echo Park

Redondo Beach

Idyllwild

Palm Springs

Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.