Product Market Fitness

Today’s episode is with Garrett Bastianelli — owner, head coach, and GM at CrossFit Prevail. We talk about his journey from military service to gym ownership, the realities of running a CrossFit affiliate, and how he’s balancing coaching, business, and personal fitness.

He shares how his military background shaped his leadership and adaptability, the origin story of CrossFit Prevail (spoiler: it started in a one-car garage), and how the Carolina Summer Games grew from year one to a standout event in the region.

We also talk about:

* The value of building a coaching team

* Letting go of the “Games athlete” identity

* The L3 certification process

* Fitness as a tool for living, not just competing

It’s a real look behind the curtain of affiliate life — from sweaty palms and spreadsheets to finding joy in movement again.

Today’s episode is brought to you by STERLING FITNESS.

Wanna get a little better at lifting? gymnastics? Maybe you want to lose a few pounds or get ready for a big event coming up (Fittest of the Coast anyone?).

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⏱️ Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro to Garrett & CrossFit Prevail03:45 – Recap of the Carolina Summer Games08:20 – Event programming strategy & future ideas13:05 – Garrett’s fitness origin story & military background19:30 – Getting his L1 and L3 certifications25:15 – What it’s like to take (and fail) the L3 exam29:45 – Life after the military: transitioning to gym ownership35:20 – From garage gym to full facility39:55 – Challenges of first-time business ownership44:30 – Fitness as a relationship business48:10 – How Garrett’s personal fitness goals have evolved53:00 – Why he let go of the “Games” dream56:30 – CrossFit’s recent marketing campaign59:15 – Garrett’s take on intensity, community, and longevity01:02:00 – Shoutouts: Randy Moss, The Rock, and what Garrett’s excited about

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

Cameron White didn’t buy Impact Fitness Co. to chase clout.She did it to create real change for real people — and that starts with redefining what success in fitness actually looks like.

In this episode, we cover:

* How Cameron defines and obsesses over impact

* Her shift from chasing athlete outcomes to helping people move better and feel stronger

* Building a world-class team around her skillset

* How she balances personal performance with business ownership

* The moments that make gym ownership worth it

Whether you run a gym, coach, or just care about doing fitness the right way — this one hits.

🎧 Listen in now

⏱ Timestamps

00:00 — Intro + how PMF found Cameron03:41 — Her coaching journey + starting Impact Fitness Co17:36 — Hiring coaches: what matters most23:50 — How she balances coaching, ownership, and training herself29:41 — Stories that keep her motivated to stay in the game34:10 — Challenges of gym ownership that no one talks about

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

Carrie McClenaghan isn’t just building AI content at Whoop.

She’s also hammering training sessions and coaching at one of the fittest gyms in South Carolina—Reaction Fitness Collective.

And she gets to do all of this because she specifically designed her work life to match and enable her fitness pursuits.

In this episode, we discuss:

* How Carrie prioritized her lifestyle goals before choosing her job

* What it’s like working at Whoop on the AI and content team

* How she manages full-time work + training

* What to watch for at this year’s CrossFit Games

Timestamps:

04:21 – From athlete to coach: how gymnastics and CrossFit shaped her work ethic09:03 – Why Carrie prioritized a flexible career to support her fitness lifestyle14:18 – How working at Whoop influences her personal training18:32 – Inside Whoop’s AI and content strategy: Carrie’s role on the team23:50 – What Carrie’s learned coaching at Reaction Fitness Collective38:56 – How Carrie structures her day to balance remote work and training52:24 – Why community is her competitive edge56:33 – Crossfit Games Preview 82:45 – Carrie’s final thoughts on training, fulfillment, and community

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

Got an incredible episode for you this week.

I’ve known this week’s guest, Jacob Farley, since 2009. In the summer of 2013, we were in a wedding together.

He shared during that time that he had cancer and was going to be losing his leg.

What follows is a story of perseverance, incredible struggle and loss, adaptation, and the determination to never give up even when everything was stacked against him.

Jacob shares how going through chemo, losing physical function, and rebuilding from scratch helped him re-discover his love of fitness. The role his family and faith played in helping him get where he is today. And how he’s developed a deeper sense of meaning through it all.

What We Cover:

* How the worst thing ever (cancer) led Jacob to the Adaptive Games

* Why “full send” training isn’t always the answer

* Balancing intense training with business building

* The seasonality of hard pursuits

* How he’s building a family, his fitness, and his business

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro(03:10) Getting diagnosed with cancer (11:20) CrossFit as a part of recovery(15:00) Getting into competition and qualifying for the Games(25:50) Managing fatigue and adapting his programming(30:30) Mindset shifts: identity over achievement(35:45) Building a financial advisory firm(41:10) Lessons from fitness that translate to business(46:15) Encouragement for anyone starting over(51:00) Final thoughts and where to follow Jacob

So grateful for Jacob sharing his story.

Who else is pushing the edges of fitness and business? Reply to this email and let me know. I love featuring great stories we can all be inspired and encouraged by.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

This week, I sat down with Amy Fryt—owner of Reaction Fitness Collective in Greenville, SC.

Amy’s story starts with competitive gymnastics and winds through years of collegiate athletics, competitive crossfit, and entrepreneurship. Eventually, she took the leap into gym ownership—and she hasn’t looked back.

We talked about how she’s building a gym culture that doesn’t just produce fit people, but also healthy and strong communities of people who enjoy spending time together.

In this episode, we cover:

* How her athletic background shapes her coaching philosophy

* Why she built Reaction Fitness Collective for everyday people, not only elite athletes

* The tension between doing it all and doing it well

* What it looks like to run a business rooted in relationships and consistency

* How she views fitness and competition past the age of 30

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a gym, a business, or a community while chasing your own fitness, this one’s for you.

Timestamps

05:00 – Intro and Amy’s early background in competitive gymnastics18:00 – Building Reaction Fitness: the vision and the first clients24:30 – Why she coaches “regular people” over elite athletes28:10 – The risk of burnout in gym ownership and how she avoids it35:00 – The mental game: how her mindset has evolved over the years39:25 – How she fosters community without forcing it55:00 – What success really means to her now1:02:00 – Final advice to anyone chasing a vision

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

Builders push hard.

We set goals. We chase them. We optimize inputs, refine outputs, and obsess over getting to the next level.

But sometimes, that obsession can backfire.

This week, I’m sharing a solo episode about a lesson that’s been changing how I operate in both business and fitness: letting go of control.

Not quitting. Not being passive. But learning to yield, especially when you're doing everything right and still not seeing results.

🎙️ In this short holiday episode, I cover:

* Why high performers often grip too tight (1:22)

* The danger of obsessing over your “why” (4:11)

* Letting go in business — and seeing better results (6:25)

* Why fitness isn’t supposed to make life harder (10:03)

* Trusting your team and your training (12:30)

* Playing and suffering as a team > going solo (14:18)

* A first-principles gut check to close (16:02)

As always, let me know what hits or misses. Just reply to this email — I read every one.

— Adam

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

Jantzen Raymond has done what a lot of people dream about — he’s built a career in sports.

But not as an athlete.

Jantzen started his sports career at Nike, worked his way into a full-time role, made a leap to the NCAA, and is now at NoCap Sports — a startup connecting athletes and brands.

What stands out is not just the impressive resume — it’s how he did it.

Quietly. Strategically. Without cutting corners. And while prioritizing personal fitness.

In this conversation, we talk about:

* The real behind-the-scenes of working at Nike

* What it’s like to switch from a big brand to a lean startup

* His personal fitness evolution from college basketball to Crossfit to HYROX

* Why he prioritizes people over platforms in business & fitness

* How he’s stayed grounded while working at the top of the sports world

Whether you’re trying to build a meaningful career or navigate a high-performance life, this one delivers.

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Intro to Jantzen(02:10) – Jantzen’s path from Nike internship to full-time(07:12) – What working at Nike actually looked like(12:46) – Jumping from Nike to the NCAA(18:33) – Why NoCap Sports felt like the right next move(25:02) – How Jantzen thinks about startup life vs corporate(30:49) – Advice for people breaking into the sports business(35:25) – The role of relationships and “people bets”(41:03) – His personal evolution in fitness post-basketball(47:00) – The disciplines that keep him grounded(51:20) – What’s next for NoCap and Jantzen’s growth

On shared suffering

How Jantzen lost 45 pounds.

The importance of having a community to help you reach your goals.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

Richard Hernandez was living the resume dream.

MIT. Yale. Fast-moving startups. Big exits.But at the height of his career, he felt broken. Spiritually flatlined. Physically drained. Emotionally spent.

So he did the unthinkable…he slowed down. Not to rest, but to rebuild.And in the process, he developed real mental toughness.

Inspired by David Goggins, Richard set out on a mission to forge mental toughness through physical adversity. His new metric for success wasn’t venture capital or accolades—it was discipline. Daily pain. A mind that didn’t quit.

This episode is about that journey—from winning on paper to winning in real life.

What we cover:

* Richard’s pedigree: MIT, Yale, and startup wins

* Why his early success nearly cost him everything

* The wake-up call that led him to “do hard things”

* Building an identity around toughness and ownership

* What endurance training taught him about business

* Documenting the process so others can follow it too

Timestamps:00:00 – Intro + Richard’s background (MIT, Yale, Bain, startups)04:47 – The connection between high performance and insecurity09:55 – Watching Goggins live and choosing to pursue pain14:32 – First steps into physical training and mental transformation21:18 – Why CrossFit became his mental testing ground27:40 – Comparing elite academics vs. elite athletes32:30 – How Richard balances startup leadership with training41:15 – Choosing hard things in the digital age48:44 – Building habits when nobody’s watching55:22 – What’s next for Richard’s business and personal goals01:03:01 – Final thoughts on suffering, faith, and focus

Richard challenged us to do hard things. What’s your hard right now? Reply and let me know.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

Before he was a coach, Daniel Sterling was just trying to get in shape.

He was a frustrated high schooler carrying too much weight mentally and physically.

So he made a change. And over time, he transformed not just his body, but his career. Now Daniel coaches athletes across the country, helping busy professionals and competitive CrossFitters alike get stronger, leaner, and more focused.

In this episode, we cover how Daniel:

* Found fitness and changed the trajectory of his life

* Transitioned from athlete to coach to entrepreneur

* Programs for high-performing professionals

* Stays consistent with his own training and mindset

* Thinks about long-term health and business success

🎧 Listen!

📍Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro03:15 – How Daniel got into fitness and why it mattered09:23 – Evolution to competitive athlete12:34 – Training smarter (and hard enough)19:36 – The training system for busy executives 34:16 – How to evaluate your current fitness level37:47 – The biggest mistake people make in fitness45:06 – Rapid Fire: Entrepreneur, Athlete, Exciting Events

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

Most of us think of community as a “nice to have.”

Maybe you join a group workout.Maybe you show up to a co-working spot once in a while.

But deep down you believe that’s all soft emo stuff. Business and fitness building happens alone in the trenches.

If that’s you… you’re wrong.

I mean, I agree with you. But the data tells us otherwise.

In this week’s solo episode, I walk through the science behind why community is a strategic advantage. Not a soft skill. Whether you're trying to get in shape or scale your business, this one principle will accelerate your journey.

Here’s what I cover:

* Why we’re literally dying younger—and how loneliness plays a role

* The stats behind community as fuel for consistency (hint: 65–95% improvement)

* How joining the right group can help you skip steps and avoid rookie mistakes

* What Strava, Y Combinator, and Brickyard understand about compounding leverage

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro + Why community isn't a luxury04:02 – The loneliness epidemic and its effects06:35 – How community fuels long-term consistency10:24 – Business stats: peer groups and founder survival rates13:50 – Real-world examples: Brickyard, Startup Chile, and more17:21 – Community as a shortcut: skip steps and avoid pain20:17 – Compounding benefits and Metcalfe’s Law24:22 – A challenge to introverts and practical next steps

Let me know what stuck with you this week. I always love hearing your thoughts.

— Adam

PS: Reply “References” to get the links of all the studies I cited in this pod

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness