Talking Elite Fitness

How do you hold an event during a pandemic?  Will Bald may have the answer.  He put on the Bacon Beatdown in Florida in July, an event that hosted nearly 1,000 athletes and fans.  Sean and Tommy talk to him about why he decided to go ahead with his event in the midst of COVID-19, the safety protocols he put in place and the things he learned that other events should do if they're thinking of doing something similar.

The Eric Roza era has begun.  CrossFit's new owner and CEO held his first virtual town hall on Wednesday.  He answered questions on everything from diversity, helping affiliates outside the United States and the CrossFit Games season.  Sean and Tommy give their reactions to what they heard and what they didn't.  Plus, the Masters Fitness Collective is getting kicked off in Indiana and Crazy Things We Saw This Week.

It's not how you start, it's how you finish.  In this episode of Podium Picks Sean and Tommy rank their top fantastic finishes over the years from the CrossFit Games season.  Wins that launched legendary careers, costly no-reps that dashed an athlete's hopes, clutch comebacks and photo finishes are all part of an exciting trip down memory lane that will have you reliving some of the most memorable moments from the sport of fitness.  

The champ is here!  Four-time CrossFit Games champion Mat Fraser joins Sean and Tommy to talk about the recent change to the CrossFit Games format, his impressions of Eric Roza, having Tia Toomey as a training partner and why he sometimes uses cold, hard cash as motivation.  Mat also answers questions from our Patrons and tells us if going team could ever be in his future.

The CrossFit Games are going virtual.  Sean and Tommy discuss the decision to hold the first part of the Games online with the top five men and women advancing to Aromas for an in-person competition.  They talk about what we know, what needs to be figured out and possible reasons behind some of the decisions.  The Titan Games is the Rock's show, but a handful of CrossFit athletes stole the spotlight.  Plus, Crazy Thing We Saw This Week and Sean rescues a parakeet.

They love sports and they love movies. So why not do a Podium Picks that combine both? Sean and Tommy count down their favorite sports movies of all time.  Get some popcorn, find a seat and see if any or your favorites make the cut.  It may be a Rocky road to the top of the podium, but you're sure to leave Happy. Some picks may have you yelling, "You're killing me, Smalls!" and others may make you say, "It's in the hole!"  Drop the puck, ring the bell, put on the foil and enjoy!  

No news is good news as the CrossFit Games are still a "go" for September.  Sean and Tommy discuss what we've learned so far from the returns of the NBA, NHL and MLB and what best practices from those leagues CrossFit might employ.  We found out about Berkshire Partners and their involvement with the purchase of CrossFit last week.  This week Sean and Tommy talk with investment professional Brendan Corcoran to learn all about the world of private equity and what could be ahead for CrossFit under Eric Roz

There have been plenty of big lifts during big moments throughout the years, but which ones are the biggest of them all? Tia's 270? Fraser's clean in 2019? Cody Anderson's 310 in 2014? Sean and Tommy run down their top competition lifts in this edition of Podium Picks.

CrossFit officially has a new owner.  Sean and Tommy discuss some of the initial details of the finalized sale to Eric Roza.  We have another member of the 500 pound back squat and sub-5:00 mile club.  What's it like to be Dave Castro's guinea pig?  Three-time CrossFit Games athlete Sean Sweeney stops by to talk about testing the Games events at the Ranch.  Plus, Mayhem Madness cancels, some important community support and plenty of Crazy Things We Saw This Week.

It was bound to happen sooner or later.  Grab your Infinity Gauntlet, a Vibranium Shield, Mjolnir and get settled in your Helicarrier as Sean and Tommy run down their top Marvel movies on this edition of Podium Picks (because that's what heroes do.)  Tommy also drops some serious comic book knowledge and offers some informative insight on the stories and character arcs.  You're bound to learn something in this super hero-sized episode (other than Sean and Tommy are huge geeks).

California is shutting back down, but plans for the CrossFit Games continue to ramp up.  Dave Castro and some athletes are busy testing events at The Ranch, but are they being overly optimistic?  Sean and Tommy discuss the latest on the conditions in California and if it's even worth holding the CrossFit Games at this point.  Plus, President of the IF3 and four-time CrossFit Games athlete Gretchen Kittelberger stops by to recap her experience at the Future of CrossFit Summit in Colorado last week.

It's a sing along time as Sean and Tommy tune up their top karaoke songs!  From crooner classics to recent hits, they are definitely in tune as they figure out which song tops the charts.  What songs will survive?  What songs will wind up in low places?  What songs are livin' on a prayer and what songs never felt so good?  Sean and Tommy may not be musically inclined, but they definitely hit all the right notes in this edition of Podium Picks.

Score one for the big guys!  Sean and Tommy discuss Adam Klink's 5:00 mile and 500 pound back squat and try and figure out what the next challenge should be.  The CrossFit Scholarship held its first L1 in Atlanta.  Incoming CrossFit CEO Eric Roza is holding a Future of CrossFit Summit in Colorado.  Games athlete Steph Chung stops by to talk about what happened on day one, what she hopes to hear on day two and the newly formed Professional Fitness Athletes Association. 

Athena Perez is a Transformation Life Coach and CrossFit L1 trainer who's new book is entitled Lifting the Wait.  It chronicles her abusive and traumatic childhood, the unhealthy relationship with food that resulted from it, and how she came to weigh 500 pounds.  Athena found CrossFit in 2017 and immediately started turning her life around.  Since then she has lost 225 pounds, earned her L1 Certificate and is planning on opening her own affiliate.

You have to start somewhere.  Before some of the biggest names in CrossFit became the dominant athletes we know today, they turned heads as rookies at the Games.  Who takes the gold when it comes to making a first impression?  In this episode of Podium Picks, Sean and Tommy give us their top rookie moments from single event domination to record setting wins.