This week on the podcast, we are bringing you episode 3 ofthe Coach’s Corner series between myself and Kaitlyn Kenna Smith that we have been doing.

We have joked that this series can have a subtitle of “Battlingthe All or Nothing Mentality” and, in this episode, we take that to the next level in talking about how to handle your workouts/training when “life” happens.

Short on time? Don’t have the equipment you need? Injury??

All of these things happen, and what we walk through todayare tactical strategies, and mindset tips, to help you be able to get a solid workout done in whatever circumstance you find yourself in.

The reality is that, 99.9999% of the time, getting a workoutdone is way better than skipping it. We want this episode to empower you to continue training through the hard seasons of life, while modifying what you need to, so that you can continue to make progress over the long run!

This episode is a re-broadcast from Kaitlyn's podcast, ThePowerhouse Mentality Podcast, as a part of our monthly "Coach's Corner" series.

Connect with Kaitlyn:

Instagram: @kaitlynkennafitness @thepowerhousementality@thepowerhousejournal

Apple/Spotify: The Powerhouse Mentality Podcast

Connect with Silverback Media:

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: @SilverbackMedia

Have you ever thought about taking the CrossFit Level 1 course?

Maybe you heard about it, but think "I don't want to coach, so it's not for me"?

Well then, this episode will give you a real look at how that weekend course can be for anyone interested in learning more about the CrossFit methodology, regardless of where you are on your fitness journey.

Both of my guests this week, Jillian (aka @when_nerds_teach on instagram) and Dave Fennell, recently completed their Level 1 and joined me to recap their experience.

They share:

- How that weekend has reshaped their perspective on the purpose of CrossFit

- How working with the Seminar Staff coaches helped them better understand their own movement

- What their goals are now after completing the Level 1 and how they want to use it to improve their communities

This is a must listen for anyone on the fence about taking the Level 1, whether you want to coach or not!

Want to connect with Jillian and Dave:

Jillian: @when_nerds_teach on Instagram and listen to her full story on Episode 7 of the Silverback Media Podcast

Dave: @fentastic_76 on Instagram and listen to his full story on Episode 18 of the Silverback Media Podcast

Connect with Silverback Media:

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: @SilverbackMedia

My guest on the Podcast this week is Megan Vogel!

Megan is an Assistant Coach for the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA, and she is also an Everyday CrossFitter at CrossFit North Scottsdale in Phoenix, AZ.

In this episode, you will hear about Megan's basketball journey and how strength development helped her achieve her dream of being drafted to play in the WNBA. After injuries shortened her playing career, she shifted to coaching and is now on the coaching staff on one of the best teams in the WNBA.

As her coaching career continued to flourish, she found CrossFit and was immediately drawn to it. From scratching that competitive itch to helping her continue to build strength and capacity to work with her players on the court, CrossFit became a critical piece of Megan's routine, and she explains why throughout this interview!

Connect with Silverback Media:

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: @SilverbackMedia

We've all dealt with adversity, right? We've all had things happen to us that we didn't expect, and honestly, would not wish to happen to others?

The real question behind that is, how did we respond to those things when they did happen? What did we do to adapt to the reality of the situation?

This week's guest is Katie Rambo, and her story is about how she responded to the adversity in her life.

Katie is a member at CrossFit North Scottsdale, and her story will remind you of a simple message that she shares; anything is possible if you set your mind to it.

If you're in a season of your life where you feel like the cards are stacked against you, and things keep knocking you off track, then this episode is for you.

Want to connect with Katie:

Instagram: @kkatiee814

Connect with Silverback Media:

Instagram: @silver_back_mediaYoutube: @SilverbackMedia

Every single year, hundreds of thousands of CrossFitters around the world register for the CrossFit Open and participate in this annual test of fitness.While it is the first stage for athletes to eventually qualify for the CrossFit Games, for the vast majority of those involved, the Open is the only stage of the competition they will compete in.So the question is, now that the Open is over, what do I do with this experience and the information? How do I use what I learned about my fitness in these 3 weeks to improve my training going forward?That is exactly the question that I tackle in this week's episode with two CF-L2 coaches, and previous guests on the Silverback Media Podcast, Dan Adler of Arnold CrossFit, and Mike Ward of CrossFit Fury. We are sharing our best tips, from a coach's perspective and as athletes, of how you can use the experience of the Open to continue to improve your training over the rest of this year and beyond.Whether you just finished your first Open, or you qualified for Quarterfinals, we will have tips for you to take away!Disclaimer: this conversation isn't technically tailored to Semifinal-level athletes and above as we assume those athletes have their own coaches they are working with (and most of them do).What is one tip from this conversation that you can take into your training going forward?? Let me know in the comments!Want to connect with Dan and Mike?:Dan on IG: @daracer50 Dan on the Podcast: Episode 6 for his full story!Mike on IG: @mrwardyyMike on the Podcast: Episode 19 for his full story!

🔗 Connect with Silverback Media

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: @SilverbackMedia

*THIS EPISODE IS A RE-BROADCAST OF EPISODE 0*

Why I Started This Podcast | Everyday CrossFit Stories

Welcome to the very first episode of the Silverback MediaPodcast — a podcast and YouTube series dedicated to telling real stories from real people in CrossFit gyms. This intro episode shares the heart behind this project — why I started it, who it’s for, and what you can expect going forward.

My goal? To break the stereotype that CrossFit is only for the elite and showcase that anyone can do it.

Expect honest conversations, inspiration, and proof thatyour fitness journey is valid — no matter where you start.

🔗 Connect with Silverback Media

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: @SilverbackMedia

What if you and your partner were completely on the same page around the importance of health and fitness?

What if that partner was, not only your biggest supporter, but walking the path with you every step of the way?

That describes my guests on the show this week, Reece Ellsworth & Sara Thomas.

Reece & Sara are members are CrossFit North Scottsdale and have been involved in CrossFit for a number of years. In this story with them, they share:

- The early health experiences that changed their outlook on fitness in their lives

- How they met (spoiler alert, it was at a CrossFit gym)

- What it means to each of them to have a supportive partner and how they each strive to be that much better for each other every day

- How being engaged in CrossFit has helped them in other competitions outside of the CrossFit space (Hyrox for Sara and Tactical Games for Reece)

You will laugh, you might cry, but most of all, you will leave this episode ready to take on any challenge that comes your way.

To connect with Reece and Sara on Instagram:

Reece: @reece.ellsworth

Sara: @sara_therese

🔗 Connect with Silverback Media

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: @SilverbackMedia

We are two months into 2026. How are those fitness goals and New Year's resolutions going for you?If you're reading this, and have already fallen off the tracks, or feel stuck with your progress, then this episode is for you. Kaitlyn Kenna Smith and I share the keys to properly tracking your progress to keep you in the game and on the path towards your fitness and health goals.We talk about the reality of how goals are typically tracked, focusing on the outcomes only, and how flipping the script on that can set you up for the long-term success you've been looking for all this time.This episode is a re-broadcast from Kaitlyn's podcast, The Powerhouse Mentality Podcast, as a part of our monthly "Coach's Corner" series. Connect with Kaitlyn:Instagram: @kaitlynkennafitness @thepowerhousementality @thepowerhousejournal Apple/Spotify: The Powerhouse Mentality PodcastConnect with Silverback Media:Instagram: @silver_back_mediaYoutube: @SilverbackMedia

My guest this week is Geo Ortega, better known as the "Scaled Athlete" on Instagram!

Geo is an Everyday CrossFitter in Virginia, and has been consistently doing CrossFit since the beginning of 2024, when he was challenged to try it and fell in love with it.

In this episode, we talk through Geo's backstory before he found CrossFit. We go over:

- What it was like for Geo to grow up splitting time between the US and the Philippines

- How he worked to overcome the intimidation he felt walking into gyms when he was younger

- What it is that Geo loves about CrossFit more than basketball or drag racing

- The rough moments in Geo's life that forced him to refocus on his own health- How the "Magic of the CrossFit Open" was what sealed it for him to stick with CrossFit

Geo is building his Scaled Athlete brand to help show more people that CrossFit, and fitness in general, are a welcoming space to seek out.

Not just for elite athletes or competitors, but for the everyday person looking to improve their life.

🔗 Connect with Geo:Instagram: @scaled.athlete

Fresh Off the Barbell Website: *Use the link in his Instagram bio*

🔗 Connect with Silverback Media

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: @SilverbackMedia

This week's guest is a 3x Master's CrossFit Games athlete, and CF-L2 coach, Lon Allen!While Lon has qualified for the Games 3 times, and competed twice, his fitness story leading up to that point is a story of persevering through hardship and finding purpose in the failures along the way.We talk about Lon's physical background and how he got started in fitness in early adulthood after serving in the Navy, how that led to him completing multiple Ironman triathlons, and then finding CrossFit in his 40's after burnout from triathlon training.We go over what drew him into CrossFit initially as a member, and then the road to him deciding to go after the goal of competing at the CrossFit Games on the biggest stage. If you have a big goal that you're working towards and are feeling frustrated with the hurdles and bumps along the way, Lon's story is for you!🔗 Connect with Silverback Media

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: @SilverbackMedia