Before you can lead others, you must lead yourself.

In this episode, Tim and Zach break down what it truly means to Lead Yourself First in life, leadership, and personal growth. Progress doesn’t stop when you reach the top of your current level, that’s often where the hardest transition begins. Moving into the next level means starting again at the bottom, carrying new responsibility, pressure, and expectation.

As the levels rise, the fundamentals don’t disappear, they demand greater intention. Discipline, structure, habits, and standards become more important, not less.

We discuss the responsibility of ownership, the danger of outsourcing blame, and the importance of asking the hardest leadership question:

Have I done everything possible to help myself succeed?

This episode explores modern wisdom and practical philosophy around accountability, self-leadership, and growth through adversity, reminding us that real leadership is built long before anyone else is watching.

If you’re navigating transition, chasing your next level, or refining your standards as responsibility increases, this conversation will challenge you to recommit to the basics and lead from the inside out.

Tim and Zach talk about how Zach got involved with Patrol Base Abbate and Big Fish Foundation, and how he’s worked to translate what he learned through his involvement with those organizations into how he builds the community at CrossFit Republic. The goal is simple: create a place where people feel supported, understood, and challenged to grow.

Not everyone carries military trauma, but many people carry something heavy. Most are struggling in silence, without a community that understands their stress, their setbacks, or the patterns that keep them from stepping into their purpose.

What we’re building at CFR is built on that awareness. People need people. They need structure. They need accountability. And they need a place where their burdens don’t disqualify them—where they’re encouraged to rise above them.

That’s the conversation. And it’s the mission.

Zach's good friend Rickie Lee Young stopped by while he was in town — and this one’s a story worth hearing.

From battling setback after setback on his path to becoming a Marine Corps Infantry Officer to earning a spot on a Hotshot Wildfire Crew out west, Rickie has lived through some of the toughest trials imaginable.

He’s no stranger to fear, uncertainty, and doubt — and he’s learned to overcome all three.

We dive deep into his journey, and this episode will keep you hooked from start to finish.

We hope you enjoy this one.

Nutrition doesn’t have to be confusing. In this episode, Tim and Zach cut through the noise to bring some sense back to how we view food, performance, and progress. They talk about what actually matters for long-term results—how to eat for energy, performance, and recovery—and why the scale isn’t always the best measure of success. Whether you’re training hard or just trying to feel better day-to-day, this episode gives you practical tools you can actually use, not another set of rules to follow.

Conflict and confrontation are uncomfortable for most of us, and we’ll be the first to admit—we’re not experts. In this episode, Tim and Zach open up about their own experiences with hard conversations, the mistakes they’ve made, and what they’ve learned along the way. From ways to de-escalate tension to approaching tough situations with clarity and respect, this is a real and vulnerable look at how we can all handle conflict a little better.

In this episode of The Daily Forge Podcast, Tim and Zach dive into the unpredictable and often humbling world of parenting. With Tim raising three kids and Zach navigating life with a toddler (and another on the way), they share honest reflections on the mistakes they’ve made and lessons they’re still learning. This isn’t a parenting guide—it’s a conversation about managing expectations, emotions, and actions in the chaos of raising kids. And if you’ve got advice, they’re all ears.

In this episode, Tim and Zach dive into the fundamental differences between motivation and discipline and how each plays a role in building sustainable habits. They explore why relying solely on motivation often falls short and how discipline can create consistency over time. The conversation shifts to the power of accountability as a tool for reinforcing discipline, with practical strategies and measures to integrate it into your daily life.

In this episode, Tim and Zach dive into the origins and significance of the Memorial Day Murph Challenge, a workout that’s become a cornerstone in fitness communities across the U.S. They break down how the meaning behind the challenge has shifted in some spaces, often overshadowed by competition and showmanship. The conversation explores why understanding the purpose of Murph matters and how to bring the focus back to what it stands for.

They also touch on balancing the grind of hard work with being present for your family, and finish up with a discussion on handling confrontation, hard conversations, and the importance of offering grace when it’s needed.

In this episode, Tim and Zach discuss:

• • Zach's room temperature understanding of advertising from his short stint at the local business journal in Springfield, MO.
  • The challenges and opportunities of navigating social media.

• A behind-the-scenes look at The Barbell Games from an organizer’s perspective.

• Practical tips for managing summer activities, travel, and great weather without losing the progress you’ve made over the past few months.

Tune in for insights, lessons learned, and strategies to keep you on track. Let us know what resonates with you.

In this pilot episode of "The Daily Forge," Tim Wilson and Zachary Standeford sit down to briefly discuss the origin of their relationship and the inspiration behind the idea of "The Daily Forge." Tim digs into Zach's vision for his newly acquired business, CrossFit Republic, moving forward into the future and how ownership of CrossFit Republic came to be in the first place.

Disclaimer: Zach figured out how to create and add music to this episode so they do in fact have an intro and outro track contrary to Zach's first few comments.

Tim and Zach plan to get this podcast into other streaming platforms as the project progresses.