Red Wolf CrossFit - Pack Mentality

Being a dad, finding time to train, and competing against guys half your age isn't easy.

Phil joins us to talk about how he balances fitness with being a dad, what advice he'd give to fathers struggling to make their health a priority, and his experience competing at Gymreapers WZA SoCal.

Phil finished 8th in the Intermediate Division, going head-to-head with athletes half his age.

We get into his competition recap, what he learned, and why getting older doesn't mean you have to stop pushing yourself.

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P.S. Studies show that people who train at Red Wolf are smart and hot. Check it out here: www.redwolfcrossfit.com

Brittney has been a member at Red Wolf for five years, so we brought her on the podcast to talk about her experience.

We get into how she got started, her fitness journey over the last five years, and what she's learned along the way.

We also talk about something almost everyone struggles with: finding the time to work out when life gets busy and getting yourself to the gym when motivation is low.

Brittney shares what she'd tell someone who's been putting off getting started or having a hard time sticking with it.

What happens when you show up to one of the biggest CrossFit competitions in Southern California sick and running a fever?

In this episode Coach Aaron joins me to break down his experience competing Gymreapers Wodapalooza SoCal.

We talk about the challenges of competing while sick, how personalized 1:1 coaching helped prepare his athletes for the competition, and why individualized coaching can make such a big difference in performance.

We also share our biggest takeaways from the weekend, what we liked, what could have been better, and Aaron's overall rating of WZA SoCal.

Was the event worth the hype?

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Want some free fitness help? Click here: https://www.redwolfcrossfit.com/e-books

Red Wolf member Lisa joins us to share her fitness journey and her experience at Gymreapers WZA SoCal. We talk about what led her to take on the competition, what she learned along the way, and how training at Red Wolf helped her feel prepared. It’s a conversation about challenging yourself, building confidence, and putting your hard work to the test.

Joshee P., owner of CrossFit Anaheim, joins us to share how the Gymreapers WZA Gym Tour got started and talk about life as a gym owner. We also go behind the scenes of Gymreapers WZA SoCal, exploring the media production, planning, and work that goes into capturing the event.

www.redwolfcrossfit.com

Ashley, a mom of three and longtime Red Wolf member, joins us to talk about making time for herself through motherhood. She shares what first brought her to Red Wolf, what keeps her coming back, and her experience in Coach Caitlin’s postpartum program. We also explore personal growth, lessons that carry over into parenting, and her advice for other moms thinking about joining.

How did Gill go from getting into CrossFit to owning CrossFit Papio in Omaha, Nebraska? We get into her story, her experience running the gym, and what it was like volunteering at Gymreapers Wodapalooza for the first time.

Caitlin joins us to recap Gymreapers WZA SoCal! We talk about what she thought of the event, how we prepared at the gym, and our impressions of the competition overall. Plus, we highlight standout Red Wolf performances and look ahead to what’s next.

Coach Aaron joins Matt to talk about the habits that helped him lose 40 pounds over the last year. No magic fix or extreme plan, just cutting out alcohol, getting serious about protein, and showing up to train consistently.

They also get into why the hours outside the gym matter just as much as the workout itself, how to make healthier food something you actually want to eat, and why small choices add up over time. If you’re trying to get back on track or build a routine you can actually stick with, this one’s for you.

Gymreapers Wodapalooza SoCal brings 30,000 people and 1,500 athletes to the Huntington Beach Pier this September and Matt Banwart has a front-row seat to all of it.

He's owned Red Wolf CrossFit on Beach Boulevard since 2012, and he breaks down what the festival actually looks like from the sand, plus why the gym everyone assumes is for hardcore competitors is mostly busy parents squeezing in an hour before work.

What you'll learn:

- What the Gymreapers Wodapalooza SoCal festival is, why HB beat out every other SoCal beach town for it, and what spectators can actually watch on the sand September 25–27

- How "The Gauntlet" lets non-competitors jump in for a one-hour taste of the competition floor - Why Matt says 95% of CrossFitters look nothing like what Instagram shows you

- The 42-day mark: what Red Wolf's own client data shows about when results start showing up

- Why Red Wolf runs body composition scans before writing anyone a program

- The Red Wolf love story involving the Chamber of Commerce and a proposal on the gym floor

🏪 Red Wolf CrossFit | 16929 Beach Boulevard, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 | (949) 876-7482 | redwolfcrossfit.com

Free Intro: redwolfcrossfit.com/programs/get-started

Instagram: @redwolfcrossfit

🎟️ Gymreapers Wodapalooza SoCal | Sept 25–27, 2026 | Huntington Beach Pier (Main St. & PCH) socal.wodapalooza.com — use code MATT15 for 15% off tickets, 20% off Gauntlet registration