The Silverback Media Podcast

In this episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, host Marco Mejia sits down with Dave Fennell, whose journey from over 550 pounds to performing strict pull-ups became a featured story on CrossFit.com.

Dave’s transformation is far more than a story about weight loss — it’s about confronting food addiction, rebuilding self-belief, and discovering how consistency and community can rewrite a life.

Dave opens up about what it felt like to live inside a 600-pound body and how CrossFit gave him the structure and accountability to fight his way back. This conversation goes beyond fitness — it’s a story about perseverance, purpose, and proving that no starting point is too far gone.

Highlights from this episode:

• The moment Dave realized something had to change

• The mindset shift from survival to growth

• What it meant to find real community and accountability in CrossFit

• How small daily wins became the foundation for massive change

Dave’s story is living proof that no matter how heavy the weight — physically or mentally — transformation is always possible with consistency, courage, and support.

🔗 Related Link:
The Differentiator Is CrossFit: David Fennell Goes From 550 Pounds to Strict Pull-Ups (CrossFit.com)

In this powerful episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, host Marco Mejia sits down with Craig Pierson, a long-time member of CrossFit North Scottsdale, to share a raw and inspiring story of redemption, resilience, and self-discovery.

Craig opens up about his early years — a period marked by destructive choices and near tragedy — and how finding CrossFit helped him rebuild his life piece by piece. What started as a workout became a lifeline, giving him purpose, discipline, and the community he needed to turn everything around.

Highlights from this episode:

• Craig’s deeply personal story of hitting rock bottom and finding redemption

• How fitness became a foundation for emotional and mental strength

• The role of community in rebuilding confidence and accountability

• Why CrossFit is more than workouts — it’s a catalyst for lasting change

This is one of those stories that reminds you why the Everyday CrossFitter matters — proof that the gym can be the place where people find themselves again.

If Craig’s story hit home, don’t forget to follow and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Connect with Silverback MediaInstagram: @silver_back_mediaYoutube: Silverback Media

In this episode of the Silverback Media Podcast, Marco Mejia sits down with Matt Howell, an everyday CrossFitter with a passion for adventure that’s taken him from the gym to the slopes of Mount Everest. Matt opens up about the parallels between CrossFit training and preparing for high-altitude climbs, sharing stories of grit, mindset, and what it takes to push through the most extreme challenges.

Highlights from this episode:

• How CrossFit built the foundation for Matt’s mountaineering pursuits

• Lessons from training and climbing at high altitude

• The mental side of pushing past fear and fatigue

• What CrossFitters can learn from mountaineers — and vice versa

Matt’s story is proof that everyday athletes can take extraordinary paths. Whether you’re chasing PRs or life-changing adventures, this episode will fire you up to dream bigger.

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Instagram: @silver_back_media
Youtube: Silverback Media

We’re back for week 2 introducing you to the coaches fromUntapped Nutrition, and this week we talk to Rocky DiPalma!

Rocky is a CrossFit Level 2 coach at CrossFit North Scottsdale, a NASM certified Nutrition Coach, and she also leads our Hyrox classes as well!

In this episode, we go back through Rocky’s story including:

-           What her initial motivation was to get into fitness as a young adult

-           How her perspective shifted on health from beingfocused on the weight scale, to being focused on her health and wellness, which led her to CrossFit

-           How her experiences in CrossFit led her to Coaching classes and Nutrition coaching

Untapped Nutrition is the coaching group out of CrossFitNorth Scottsdale, and they are getting ready to launch their Fall Nutrition Challenge for 2025!

The deadline to sign up is September 30, so if you areinterested go to the Untapped Nutrition Instagram page (@untapped.nutrition) and fill out the link in the bio to register!

📩 Connect with me:
Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: Silverback Media

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This week is part 1 of a 2-part series introducing you tothe coaches from Untapped Nutrition, and this week we’re starting with Rachal Davis!

Rachal is a CrossFit Level 2 coach at CrossFit NorthScottsdale and a certified Nutrition Coach with Untapped Nutrition. In this episode, we go through Rachal’s backstory on how she got to this point in her career.

We go through topics like:

-           What types of activities Rachal got into as a kid (this one surprised me!)

-           Rachal’s work journey before she found fitness, and how that developed into what she does today

-           How she found CrossFit (or was brought to it by another CFNS coach) and how CrossFit changed her perspective on Fitness and Coaching

Untapped Nutrition is the coaching group out of CrossFitNorth Scottsdale, and they are getting ready to launch their Fall Nutrition Challenge for 2025!

The deadline to sign up is September 30, so if you areinterested go to the Untapped Nutrition Instagram page (@untapped.nutrition) and fill out the link in the bio!

Next week, we will have on the other half of the UntappedNutrition coaches for the challenge, so be ready to tune in to hear both stories!

📩 Connect with me:
Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: Silverback Media

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share if this episode resonates with you!

Joining me on the show this week is Nick Alcocer, owner ofMotionRx!

Nick offers personalized Mobility solutions for his clientsranging from assisted stretching protocols to cupping/scraping, and nutrition guidance as well to give you the tools to get back to performing your best in andout of the gym!

Nick’s client base includes a wide range of CrossFit gymmembers, so we sat down to talk about what he sees from the people that come to work with him, and his top tips for “pre-hab” work that CrossFit gym members can do to continue to take care of their bodies and move at the level they want.

Along with that, we dive into Nick’s own backstoryincluding:

-           His introduction to fitness and organized sportsat a young age

-           How a significant health scare in his collegeyears set him on a path to regaining his health and fitness

-           The path that led him to finding and joining aCrossFit gym

-           How he used his experience in the gym to getinto the Mobility/Stretching field and open his own practice

If you want to work with Nick, you can reach out to him onhis website, www.motionrxaz.com, or reach out to him on Instagram at @motionrxaz as well!

📩 Connect with me:
Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: Silverback Media

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This week’s guest is DJ Dykes!

DJ joined me to share about Scottsdale Friday Night Lights, his Youth Flag Football league, that is starting in September in the Scottsdale, AZ,area.

Along with that, we dive into DJ’s backstory including:

-           His experience playing high-level Division 1College Football

-           DJ’s struggle with addiction through, and after,college

-           His path to sobriety and recovery, and how hecontinues to fight that battle to this day

-           How he found CrossFit and how that has helped hisdevelopment, physically and mentally

If you want to learn more about DJ’s Flag Football League,go to www.scottsdalefnl.com or follow them on Instagram at @scottsdalefnl to follow along!

📩 Connect with me:
Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: Silverback Media

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We are mixing it up this week!

I have a surprise guest on the show who wants to quiz me on some CrossFit trivia!

The trivia categories range all the way from CrossFit Gameshistory to some deep theory about the CrossFit methodology, so we cover a wide range of questions!

As you can imagine, there were some deep tangents andrabbit holes along the way, so come along for the ride!

Feel free to play along while you’re listening and see howmany questions you answer correctly too!

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Youtube: Silverback Media

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My guest this week is Drew Woerther!

Drew has been a member at CrossFit Xtra Mile in St. Louis, MO, since 2021, and in this episode, we getto unpack his background that led him to find CrossFit.

In this episode, we talk about:

-           Drew’s upbringing and how he initially beganfocusing on Fitness

-           The cycles he went through between phases offitness

-           How he eventually made his way into a CrossFitgym after the things he had heard about CrossFit before trying it himself

-           The lessons Drew has learned in the CrossFit gymthat have benefited him in his life outside the gym

📩 Connect with me:

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: Silverback Media

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On the show this week is Rachel D.!

Rachel was a member at CrossFit North Scottsdale in Phoenix, AZ (she recently left for a big opportunity that you’ll need to listen to find out why).

Rachel only recently found CrossFit, so we talk about:

-           What she thought about CrossFit before trying it herself

-           The final push that got her to actually try CrossFit(this one may surprise you)

-           How CrossFit has helped her heal and the learningthe power of showing up

-           We wrap up with Rachel sharing the opportunityshe will be pursuing next and how she plans to keep CrossFit in those plans!

📩 Connect with me:

Instagram: @silver_back_media

Youtube: Silverback Media

🔗 Subscribe, rate, and share if this episode resonates with you!