James Hobart has been part of CrossFit since the early days. He’s competed at the Games, demoed for CrossFit’s movement videos, worked on Seminar Staff, and spent nearly two decades watching the culture evolve. In this episode, he sits down with Denise Thomas to talk candidly about the state of CrossFit — and whether it’s lost its soul.

From what it felt like to walk away from competition, to the mindset shift required to keep training into middle age, James opens up about what keeps him coming back to the gym and why he still believes in the methodology. They discuss the difference between nostalgia and stagnation, why CrossFit’s messiness is part of the magic, and what it really means to “teach yourself out of a job.

TOPICS COVERED

RESOURCES MENTIONED

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHT

Mark and Dana Harris are the founders of Equip Products — a company based in rural Illinois that’s making CrossFit more accessible for adaptive and neuro athletes around the world. 

It started with a conversation at the CrossFit Games. Kevin Ogar mentioned the need for better gear to train from his wheelchair, and that led to their first product: the lap mat.
⠀
Today, Equip offers nearly 150 tools that help athletes train safely and independently, regardless of ability. 

For Mark and Dana, this isn’t just business — it’s a way to make sure no one hears, “That’s it. You’re done.” Their message is simple: You’re not done. You’re just getting started.

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.

Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

Adrian Conway has competed at the highest level of CrossFit, coaches athletes of all levels, is a Seminar Staff member, and a CrossFit Games commentator. In this conversation with Denise Thomas, he explains the symbiotic relationship between the CrossFit Games and CrossFit affiliates.

Adrian offers a perspective on how the sport has evolved and how the professionalism of the sport depends on the very athletes who participate in it. This episode is about the future of CrossFit, the spirit of the community, and bridging the gap between the sport and the affiliate.

Topics Included

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

Carolyne Prevost is a three-time CrossFit Games athlete (four times after this year), a former pro hockey player, an 11-time national champion across four sports, and a full-time high school teacher in Sarnia, Canada. But what sets her apart isn’t just the accolades. It’s the impact.

In 2018, Carolyne launched CrossFit GAGE — an affiliate inside her school — to teach students how to move well, take care of themselves, and build real confidence. She’s proof that being elite doesn’t mean being out of reach. It means showing up, coaching, and leading by example.

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.

Share Your Thoughts: Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

Episode Description Angie Manson is the CEO of Elevate Addiction Services, a residential rehab program that integrates CrossFit into daily life. In this conversation with Denise Thomas, Angie opens up about her own recovery, what CrossFit gave her, and why every coach needs to understand addiction.

Angie explains how EAS operates — from an on-site CrossFit affiliate to community classes to post-rehab support — and what she’s learned after helping thousands of people rebuild their lives. This episode is about fitness, but it’s also about humanity, hope, and second chances.

Topics Included

Resources Mentioned

RESOURCES FOR ADDICTION

Elevate Addiction Services – https://elevaterehab.org/

Immediate Help

Treatment & Recovery Resources

Peer Support Communities

Community Highlight

Tammi Saunders is the head coach at The Barbell Saves Project — a nonprofit CrossFit affiliate in Phoenix, Arizona, offering free classes to anyone in recovery.

The only requirements: 48 hours sober and a commitment to keep showing up.⠀Every coach on staff, including Tammi, is in recovery. They run five community classes a day, plus sessions for sober-living homes and treatment centers. But fitness is just the beginning.

What they’re building is trust, discipline, and integrity – under stress, in community.Tammi has helped develop seven Level 1 trainers through the program, many straight out of prison or early sobriety. She’s built a trauma-informed culture rooted in empathy and consent.

She still remembers walking into a gym for the first time: smoking two packs a day, struggling with disordered eating, unsure what came next. Now she’s a Certified CrossFit Level 3 Trainer, trauma-informed, and a Masters Games athlete.“If I can become this version of myself,” she says, “anyone can.”

This is what it looks like to hold the door open for the next person.Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.

Share Your Thoughts

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

Dr. Stacy Sims is an exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist, TEDx speaker, and the bestselling author behind the viral phrase “Women are not small men.” In this episode, she joins Denise Thomas to unpack what we really need to know about women’s physiology — and how most training and nutrition advice completely ignores it.

They get into the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, postmenopause, and how to train through it all. Stacy explains why women lose power during certain phases, how training affects the brain, and what female athletes should do differently when it comes to strength, conditioning, recovery, and stress. They also break down cold plunges, sauna use, and why CrossFit coaches and gym owners have an opportunity to lead the way in changing the narrative.

Topics Included

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

Arielle Loewen is a household name in CrossFit — fierce on the floor, kind in every interaction. But behind the scenes, she’s also quietly mentoring the next generation.⠀Last year, she supported eight teenage CrossFit Games athletes, checking in weekly to discuss the mental aspects of elite competition. One even flew out to train with her in person.

Arielle’s leadership comes from lived experience. In 2013, she couldn’t afford her first competition — someone else covered the entry fee. Now, she pays it forward. She designs and sells “Strong Mom” shirts to help other moms cover local competition costs.

Her message is simple: “When you think you’re done, you’re not done.”Arielle’s a bright spot in the CrossFit community — and we’ll be cheering her on at the 2025 CrossFit Games.

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here

Share Your Thoughts

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here

Conor Murphy has worn many hats: Navy serviceman, CrossFit Games athlete, Seminar Staff trainer, and, now, head of Big Night Fitness and affiliate owner in Boston, Massachusetts. In this raw and real conversation with Denise Thomas, Conor opens up about the moments that nearly broke him — and how CrossFit gave him a second chance.

From losing his shot at a military career, to training celebrities on tour buses, to building a space where community comes first, Conor reflects on the power of mentorship, growth through failure, and what it means to truly live your values. His message to aspiring coaches and owners? Focus on people, not optics. Do the work. Stay humble. Keep showing up.3. 

Topics Included

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

In 2023, Ernesto Reyes saw a gap: no CrossFit events in Mexico offered adaptive divisions. So he decided to change that.As the owner of CrossFit Cholula, Ernesto didn’t start with experience in adaptive training — just a love for competition and a drive to make the sport more inclusive. He visited a local rec center and invited adaptive athletes to try CrossFit. Over 20 showed up. A few kept training. That first competition changed everything.

Now, he coaches more than 10 adaptive athletes regularly. And the mission has become clear: this is his calling.As his late father once said, “Maybe Ernesto found the meaning of life — helping people.”This year, his gym is launching Personas con Determinación, a fundraiser to support competition costs. Together, they’ll hike one of Mexico’s highest peaks to prove a point: accomplishment doesn’t require perfection — it requires determination.

Follow the journey. Or join the climb.

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here

Share Your Thoughts

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here

Dr. Major Allison Brager is a neuroscientist, a two-time CrossFit Games athlete, and one of the military’s leading experts on sleep and circadian biology. In this episode, host Denise Thomas and co-host Jocelyn Rylee dig in to what happens in the body during sleep, how your chronotype affects your performance, and the importance of sleep for recovery.

They also unpack strategic caffeine dosing, sleep myths, and the direct impact sleep has on your hormones, recovery, mood, and even long-term health risks. Whether you’re training hard or just trying to function better day-to-day, this conversation will change how you think about rest.

Topics Included

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

Jeff Winchester is a middle school counselor just outside of San Diego, California. In 2024, he launched CrossFit La Presa — a nonprofit school affiliate created with full support from his district and school leadership.

La Presa Middle School serves a largely underserved community, where many students face challenges outside the classroom. For Jeff, this program isn’t just about fitness — it’s about offering strength, structure, and connection to kids who need it most.

The results are powerful: students are gaining confidence, teachers are rediscovering their health, and kids who once stayed on the sidelines are now trying out for sports. Jeff says launching CrossFit La Presa has been one of the most meaningful moments of his 15-year career in education.⠀

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here.

Share Your Thoughts

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here.

Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng is an ICU doctor in Ottawa who spent the pandemic treating some of the sickest patients in Canada. In this conversation, he explains how his experience in the ICU during COVID changed the course of his life — and set him on a mission to keep people out of his ward.

In his episode, he talks candidly about what it’s like to deliver bad news to families, what we’re getting wrong about chronic illness, and how fitness and strength training save lives. Dr. K is also the author of the book “Prevention Over Prescription” and the host of a podcast by the same name. This episode is a rallying cry for coaches, affiliate owners, and anyone trying to improve the health of their community.

Topics Included

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight:Mike and Katelyn run Chalkdust CrossFit in Powell, Ohio — a 10-year affiliate built from grit, loyalty, and a lot of long nights.When their old gym closed, they started over, training a few loyal members in the park before opening a space of their own. In the early days, they slept at the gym just to keep things afloat, coaching late into the night and first thing in the morning.

Now, Chalkdust is known for balance. Most members compete locally and move with sharp technique — but they also show up for “Self-Care Saturdays,” a weekly blend of yoga, breathwork, and reflection.That mix of intensity and recovery has become the heartbeat of their culture.

Mike and Katelyn keep it simple: they just want to help people “be more awesome.”

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here

Share Your Thoughts

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here

Dr. Rhonda Patrick is a leading researcher in nutrition, aging, and metabolic health. She’s known for translating complex science into practical tools for longevity and performance — and now, after a year of doing CrossFit, she has new insights to share. In this episode, Rhonda joins Denise to break down the cellular mechanisms behind high-intensity exercise, why lactate is more than a waste product, and how CrossFit helps train your brain, not just your body.

They cover topics like VO2 max, mitochondrial repair, post-meal inflammation, aging muscles, and the science behind “exercise snacks.” Rhonda also shares her personal transformation from intimidated beginner to committed athlete — and why she believes CrossFit may be one of the most powerful tools for lifelong health.Topics Included

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight

Kenny Kane has been coaching since 2005 and took over CrossFit Oak Park in 2015.When the Los Angeles wildfires hit, nearly a third of the gym’s members were displaced — and 20 lost their homes.

In the middle of it all, priorities shifted. First: safety. Then, helping people meet basic needs. Running classes came second.What stood out most to Kenny wasn’t the hardship — it was the response. The Oak Park community came together fast. Members organized donations, raised money, and supported one another in every way possible.

For years, Kenny poured everything into building that community. In return, they showed up tenfold.CrossFit Oak Park has always focused on helping people live well outside the gym. In a moment of crisis, that philosophy held strong.This is what the CrossFit community looks like.

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here

Share Your Thoughts

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here

Scott and Gwenna Bradley are the heart and backbone of Underground PDX, a nonprofit CrossFit affiliate that serves kids and families in one of Oregon’s most high-risk communities. In this episode, they open up about trauma, healing, and the power of love and consistency. 

Scott shares his personal story — from addiction and incarceration to ministry and coaching. Gwenna reflects on how structure, emotional regulation, and compassion allow them to reach kids dealing with poverty, violence, and instability. This isn’t just about workouts. It’s about showing up, building trust, and helping young people believe they matter.

Topics Included

Resources Mentioned

Community Highlight: 

Erin Rees has owned an affiliate before. But this one — CrossFit Comeback — is different.

After hiding her own struggles with alcohol during her first run as a gym owner, Erin eventually hit a breaking point. With the support of her family and a treatment program, she got sober. And when she found her way back to CrossFit in 2022, it became part of her healing.

Now, she’s giving that same lifeline to others.

At CrossFit Comeback in Clinton, Mississippi, Erin and her husband run a free class specifically for individuals in recovery. They train for 30 minutes — then sit together and talk about recovery. Nine of those 25 participants have become full members.

As Erin puts it: “It’s never too late for a comeback.”

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here

Episode Description

CrossFit Competition Director Adrian “Boz” Bozman joins the show to reflect on the evolving landscape of the sport and its roots. With nearly 20 years in the CrossFit ecosystem — as an athlete, coach, judge, long-time Seminar Staff member, and even Games director — Boz brings a unique perspective on the methodology’s intent and its interpretation.

Boz and Denise dig into CrossFit philosophy, the challenge of honoring tradition while pushing boundaries, and why discomfort is part of the job. Get to know the man whose fingerprints are all over CrossFit — including the “no-rep.” This conversation reveals what Boz looks for in coaches, how he views criticism, and what he hopes CrossFit never forgets.

Topics Included

Boz’s journey from personal trainer to Seminar Staff to competition director

The evolution of training: traditional personal training vs. coaching CrossFit

How Boz approached programming the Games 

How Boz’s relationship with training has settled in over time 

Resources Mentioned

Boz and Pat Sherwood’s podcast: Varied, Not Random

Ro v. Boz

Street Parking Garage Gym Video 

Dotcom 404

Community Highlight: 

After losing his grandfather to suicide in 2013, Mark Moss stayed quiet, unsure how to help others facing the same darkness. Then he found CrossFit. And with it, a spark.⠀

In 2022, he launched UPLIFT — starting with T-shirt sales to raise awareness and funds for mental health support. Today, alongside Emma Skelley, Mark is partnering with local affiliates to offer free memberships to those struggling with mental health. They host an annual memorial workout each fall. And one day, they hope to take the program nationwide.⠀

This year’s T-shirts are available now. Go check it out, and when you see an UPLIFT T-shirt in the wild, give that human a high five. 

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here → https://crossfit.surveysparrow.com/s/CrossFit-Community-Stories/tt-PrkSJ 

Let us know what you think about the podcast and how we can improve here → https://crossfit.surveysparrow.com/s/The-CrossFit-Podcast—Feedback-Survey/tt-lf9Gf?ep=015