The Keep Chasing Podcast

In this no-fluff conversation, Josh Bridges breaks down the real engine behind long-term performance: discipline, honest self-assessment, and loving the process more than the podium. He relives the lows—missing the 2015 season and getting exposed on heavy/deadlift work—and how attacking weaknesses turned into wins later. We get inside the decision to step away after a brutal high tibial osteotomy (2018), the identity shift that followed, and why fatherhood made competing optional—but standards non-negotiable. His line you’ll steal: “It’s not a goal if you don’t have a plan. It’s a hope.”

What you’ll learn

• How to turn public failures into your next win (post-mortems that actually change training)

• A simple system for programming weaknesses until they score points (not just reps)

• The mindset to retire clean: identity beyond sport, family first, edge intact

• Discipline vs. motivation: why plans beat hype and “hope” every time

• Confidence vs. cockiness: how elite performers carry themselves under pressure

  
  

About Josh BridgesCrossFit Games legend and former U.S. Navy SEAL; multiple Games appearances, known for high-pain tolerance, comeback wins, and ruthless self-honesty.

Who this episode is forAthletes, coaches, and builders who want durable performance without burning down the rest of life.

Follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs this.

Keywords: Josh Bridges, CrossFit Games, discipline, weakness training, identity, fatherhood, knee surgery, high tibial osteotomy, failure analysis, confidence vs cockiness, Navy SEAL mindset, process over podium

At a routine primary-care visit, Courtney Fournet was told the words no one expects: “You have acute lymphoblastic leukemia.” In hours, she went from “I’m fine” to packing a 21-day hospital bag, and within two days, she began hyper-CVAD chemo. Hair gone in two weeks. Strength wiped out. Control? Gone. This episode is the step-by-step of what came next: moving to Houston in 48 hours for a new treatment plan, learning to win with small controllables (laps with an IV pole), and rebuilding identity, marriage, and career on the other side. Courtney gets practical and real about fear of recurrence (why it’s scarier after you know the pain), switching careers to protect family time, and turning recovery into service—LLS fundraising, ACS CAN lobbying, and running marathons to take her body back. If you need a framework for crisis, this is it.

What you’ll learn

• How to move from shock → action in the first 72 hours

• The “control the controllables” routine (hospital laps, relationships, rules)

• Caregiver dynamics: transitioning from patient/caregiver back to partners

• A realistic mindset for fear of recurrence (known pain vs. unknown)

• Career and boundary resets that protect what matters most

• How advocacy and goals (LLS/ACS CAN, marathons) accelerate healing

  
  

About CourtneyAttorney turned advocate and survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia; relocated for care, returned to redesign work/life; fundraises for LLS, lobbies with ACS CAN, and runs major marathons in recovery.

Who this episode is forAnyone facing health upheaval (patients, partners, caregivers) who needs a clear, calm playbook for the hardest days.

Follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs this.

Keywords: leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hyper-CVAD, MD Anderson, caregiver, marriage, fear of recurrence, career change, advocacy, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, ACS CAN, New York City Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, mindset, control vs. acceptance, Courtney

At a routine primary-care visit, Courtney Fournet was told the words no one expects: “You have acute lymphoblastic leukemia.” In hours, she went from “I’m fine” to packing a 21-day hospital bag, and within two days, she began hyper-CVAD chemo. Hair gone in two weeks. Strength wiped out. Control? Gone. This episode is the step-by-step of what came next: moving to Houston in 48 hours for a new treatment plan, learning to win with small controllables (laps with an IV pole), and rebuilding identity, marriage, and career on the other side. Courtney gets practical and real about fear of recurrence (why it’s scarier after you know the pain), switching careers to protect family time, and turning recovery into service—LLS fundraising, ACS CAN lobbying, and running marathons to take her body back. If you need a framework for crisis, this is it.

What you’ll learn

• How to move from shock → action in the first 72 hours

• The “control the controllables” routine (hospital laps, relationships, rules)

• Caregiver dynamics: transitioning from patient/caregiver back to partners

• A realistic mindset for fear of recurrence (known pain vs. unknown)

• Career and boundary resets that protect what matters most

• How advocacy and goals (LLS/ACS CAN, marathons) accelerate healing

  
  

About CourtneyAttorney turned advocate and survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia; relocated for care, returned to redesign work/life; fundraises for LLS, lobbies with ACS CAN, and runs major marathons in recovery.

Who this episode is forAnyone facing health upheaval (patients, partners, caregivers) who needs a clear, calm playbook for the hardest days.

Follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs this.

Keywords: leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, hyper-CVAD, MD Anderson, caregiver, marriage, fear of recurrence, career change, advocacy, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, ACS CAN, New York City Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, mindset, control vs. acceptance, Courtney

In med school with $8 and no W-2, Dr. John Pasteur Hamide closed a $2M parking-garage deal in ~90 days. This episode breaks down the exact moves—asset-backed financing, operator partnerships, and decision rules under pressure—so you can copy the playbook.

What you’ll learn

• How he bought a $2M asset with almost no cash on hand

• Asset-backed lending 101 (what it is, when it works, risks to avoid)

• Structuring your first deal when you have no track record

• Turning professional expertise (medicine/law) into leverage in business

• Finding operator partners and negotiating without giving away the upside

• Systems for stacking careers without burning out—and why giving back matters

  
  

About Dr. Hamide

Radiologist turned entrepreneur and investor from New Orleans; semi-pro soccer in Spain; now operating across medicine, law, and real estate.

Who this episode is for

High performers, builders, and first-time acquirers who want a direct, step-by-step look at getting a meaningful deal done.

If this helped, follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs a push today.

Keywords: entrepreneurship, real estate, asset-based lending, first acquisition, radiologist, law, operator mindset, deal flow, parking garage, Dr. John Pasteur Hamide

In med school with $8 and no W-2, Dr. John Pasteur Hamide closed a $2M parking-garage deal in ~90 days. This episode breaks down the exact moves—asset-backed financing, operator partnerships, and decision rules under pressure—so you can copy the playbook.

What you’ll learn

• How he bought a $2M asset with almost no cash on hand

• Asset-backed lending 101 (what it is, when it works, risks to avoid)

• Structuring your first deal when you have no track record

• Turning professional expertise (medicine/law) into leverage in business

• Finding operator partners and negotiating without giving away the upside

• Systems for stacking careers without burning out—and why giving back matters

  
  

About Dr. Hamide
Radiologist turned entrepreneur and investor from New Orleans; semi-pro soccer in Spain; now operating across medicine, law, and real estate.

Who this episode is for
High performers, builders, and first-time acquirers who want a direct, step-by-step look at getting a meaningful deal done.

If this helped, follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs a push today.

Keywords: entrepreneurship, real estate, asset-based lending, first acquisition, radiologist, law, operator mindset, deal flow, parking garage, Dr. John Pasteur Hamide

In this raw conversation, CrossFit icon Sam Dancer lays out a direct, identity-first framework for beating fear in competition—and in life. He explains why anxiety isn’t from the light, how to name it fast, and the exact language shift he uses to flip panic into productive excitement. Sam also shares the pivotal moment on a long run that led him to buy a ticket the same day to get baptized—a reset that changed how he competes, leads, and serves.

What you’ll learn

• How to beat competition anxiety on command

• The identity check that kills fear at the source

• Fast reframe: fear → excitement (without self-delusion)

• Practical cues for training under pressure (breath, language, posture)

• Turning fitness into service: the Dancer Love Foundation & adaptive sport

  
  

About Sam Dancer

CrossFit Games athlete and coach; founder of Dancer Love Foundation, empowering special-needs/adaptive athletes through competition, community, and real training.

Who this episode is for

Athletes, coaches, and high performers who want faith-backed, no-fluff tools to compete calm, sharp, and confident.

If this helped, follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs this today.

Keywords: CrossFit, performance anxiety, competition mindset, identity, faith, baptism story, mental skills, breathing, reframing fear, adaptive athletes, Dancer Love Foundation, CrossFit Games, Sam Dancer, high performance, sports psychology

In this no-fluff episode, Nik Hecht explains how he wasn’t even planning a full season—then landed himself in a Masters CrossFit Games qualifying spot while prioritizing family and business. We break down the exact levers he pulled: short, high-yield training blocks (often 30–90 minutes), smarter weekly planning, and the mindset shift from “full-time athlete” to husband/father first—without lowering standards. Nik also opens up about the earlier setback that changed his trajectory (a broken femur) and how that toughness now powers a life with a gym, a construction company, a protein brand, and real-estate plays—while still competing at an elite level.

What you’ll learn

• How to qualify without training full-time (minimal-effective training blocks)

• Weekly planning that balances kids, work, and the season

• When to cut junk volume and double down on what moves the needle

• How to use your support system (spouse, staff, training partners) for accountability

• The identity shift that keeps ambition high and burnout low

  
  

About Nik Hecht3× CrossFit Games athlete (Team ’22 & ’23; Masters qualifier). Gym owner (Philadelphia), operator across construction, protein, and real-estate. Husband and father.

Who this episode is forAthletes, parents, and business owners who want to perform at a high level with limited time.

Follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs this.

Keywords: CrossFit, Masters, time-crunched training, minimal effective dose, EMOM-style density, family systems, entrepreneurship, gym owner, construction company, protein company, real estate, semifinals, CrossFit Games, performance mindset, Nik Hecht

In this straight-shot conversation, Patrick Vellner breaks down how he balances podium-level performance with being a present husband and dad. He shares the pivotal moment many athletes avoid admitting—realizing a “great season” isn’t worth it if it costs two weeks of being absent at home—and the rules he now uses to prep smarter, say no faster, and keep family first without losing his competitive edge. We dig into identity (athlete vs. person), delaying gratification, and how to make training decisions when recovery, time, and attention are real constraints—not theory.

What you’ll learn

• How to keep elite standards while protecting family time

• The decision rules he uses to cut junk volume and conserve focus

• Process > outcome: staying steady through setbacks and no-reps

• Scheduling that reduces stress spikes in peak season

• Identity work that prevents burnout and post-comp blues

  
  

About Patrick VellnerMultiple-time CrossFit Games podium finisher and perennial contender; former competitive gymnast; healthcare professional; husband and father.

Who this episode is forAthletes, coaches, and high performers who want to stay world-class without torpedoing home life.

Follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs this.

Keywords: CrossFit, Patrick Vellner, competition mindset, fatherhood, balance, identity, process over outcome, training volume, recovery, deliberate practice, delayed gratification, community, CrossFit Games

In this no-fluff conversation, Alex Gazan breaks down the exact mindset and decisions that turned a brutal training accident—a fractured fibula with nerve complications—into a real comeback path. She relives the moment (“it’s broken”), the initial 4–6 week optimism that didn’t match reality, and the rules she used to direct energy when she couldn’t do “normal” training. We get into imposter syndrome, burnout, and how she reframed fear so it stopped running the show. You’ll hear how family, coaches, and community kept her centered, why “permission to fail” accelerates growth, and how faith, technology, and tight feedback loops helped her compete with a clearer head—and more joy.

What you’ll learn

• How to train when injured: what to keep, what to cut

• A fast reframe for anxiety → action on game day

• Identity > outcome: killing imposter syndrome at the root

• Simple weekly structure to rebuild capacity without burnout

• How to ask for (and use) support from coaches/family

• Why “permission to fail” leads to bolder, smarter attempts

  
  

About Alex GazanCrossFit Games athlete from Oregon, now training in Las Vegas; known for grit, composure under pressure, and rapid year-over-year development.

Who this episode is forAthletes and high performers rebuilding after setbacks—and anyone who wants a clear plan to compete calm and confident.

Follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs this.

Keywords: Alex Gazan, CrossFit, injury comeback, fractured fibula, nerve damage, anxiety, imposter syndrome, burnout, identity, training while injured, competition mindset, CrossFit Games, Las Vegas, Oregon

In a down market, most people panic or chase hype. Chad Shaw started his career at the end of ’08/early ’09—in the teeth of a recession—and built a repeatable system that still wins: save first (automate), invest consistently, and ignore the casino. We tear down the “get-rich-quick” trap (the Vegas effect), the behavioral biases that blow up portfolios, and why clarity + discipline beat product picking and hot tips. Chad also shares how a recent strategic merger doubled his operation, plus the daily habits (morning routine, decision rules, faith, community) that keep him steady when markets swing.

What you’ll learn

• A simple save-first, automate system you can set up in one afternoon

• How to invest through downturns (no market-timing, no hero trades)

• The biggest behavioral finance traps—and how to avoid them

• A practical morning routine for sharper money decisions

• How to align money with purpose (faith, family, community) so you stick to the plan

• When a merger/partnership actually makes sense for growth

  
  

About Chad ShawFinancial advisor and entrepreneur (16+ years). Launched in the 2008–09 recession; recently merged his team to double operations.

Who this episode is forBuilders who want lasting wealth without gambling, hype, or burnout.

Follow The Keep Chasing Podcast on Spotify, drop a 5-star rating, and share it with one person who needs this.

Keywords: wealth building, recession investing, behavioral finance, save first, automation, long-term investing, compounding, purpose, faith, morning routine, strategic merger, financial advisor, Chad Shaw