Brute Strength Podcast

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THE GODFATHER OF WEIGHTLIFTING - Greg Everett | Brute Training Podcast Oct 03, 2026

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Weightlifting is far more technical, less popular, and much harder to master than most people realize - and Greg Everett explains why the sport still demands true obsession to succeed. If you care about Olympic lifting, CrossFit, coaching, or building real expertise, this conversation will change how you think about progress, training, and what it actually takes to make it in the sport.Greg Everett - one of the most influential weightlifting coaches of the last two decades and the force behind Catalyst Athletics - breaks down the realities behind coaching at scale, why he chose to stay deeply hands-on instead of building a purely automated business, and how that decision shaped his legacy. He also shares how his writing career, early online content, and sheer timing helped him become one of the first major voices in the digital weightlifting world.You’ll discover:Why in-person coaching still matters, even in a remote-first worldHow Greg built a massive library of weightlifting education before social media made content easyThe mental shift from athlete to coach after injury forced a new pathWhy weightlifting needs more than perfect technique dogma - and why flexibility mattersHow CrossFit helped create a much bigger audience for weightlifting and new opportunities for athletesWe also get into the sport’s biggest misconceptions, including why so many outsiders drastically underestimate the difficulty of weightlifting, why elite lifters are often misunderstood by the general public, and why performance and health don’t always move in the same direction. Greg’s take on general physical preparedness, recovery, and the limits of “more conditioning” cuts through a lot of the noise that surrounds strength training.If you want a smarter view of Olympic lifting, athlete development, coaching, and the evolving relationship between CrossFit and weightlifting, this episode delivers both the big-picture context and the practical lessons. Essential listening for lifters, coaches, and anyone who wants to understand how great sports get built.Brute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/BRUTE?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fall-eligable-for-affiliate-discountWhich Program Is Best For You: https://www.brutestrengthtraining.com/quiz/

WZA: The Fitness Festival That Goes Beyond CrossFit With Dylan Malitsky | Brute Training Podcast Sep 24, 2026

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What goes into building a major fitness competition from the ground up? Dylan Malitsky, head of WZA Sports, joins the Brute Training Podcast to give us a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to produce events like WZA Miami and WZA SoCal.

From weather contingencies and building venues on the sand to managing hundreds of vendors, broadcast production, athlete experience, and the Battle of the Camps, Dylan breaks down the work that happens long before athletes step onto the competition floor.

We also talk about:

Dylan's journey from starting CrossFit in 2011 to becoming a key part of WZA.
The differences between WZA Miami and WZA SoCal.
How the Battle of the Camps came together and the rivalry it brings to team competition.
The real costs and logistical challenges of producing a large-scale fitness event.
Why WZA is expanding beyond functional fitness into a broader fitness festival.
The role competition can play in motivating people to train, eat better, and pursue healthier lifestyles.
The future of WZA, including potential international expansion.

If you've ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a major CrossFit competition, this episode is for you.

HOW TO GET STRONGER With Jesse Bifano | Brute Coaches Podcast Sep 23, 2026

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What actually takes an elite CrossFit athlete to the next level: more strength, better positions, or smarter programming?

Jesse Bifano and Coach El break down a real athlete profile, looking at squat ratios, bodyweight, biomechanics, bracing, bands, chains, and the difference between training strength in the gym and using it under competition pressure.

They also discuss why training age can matter more than biological age, when gaining size is worth it, and how small technical changes can unlock bigger numbers.

A deep dive into the details that move the strength needle.

FROM INJURED TO 2ND FITTEST ON EARTH | Emma Lawon and Nicole Torres On The Road Back From Injury Sep 18, 2026

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A bulging disc at L5 took Emma Lawson off the 2025 CrossFit Open floor and forced her to rebuild from the ground up.In this episode of the Brute Training Podcast, Emma sits down with Nicole Torres to walk through the reality of her comeback and what it looked like, felt like, and took to get to where she is now. They cover what the injury felt like in training, the decision to sit the season out, how they programmed around pain instead of through it, and what it took to get Emma back on the competition floor for the World Fitness Project.We get into:-The moment the back went and why it was ignored at first-What a real rehab plan looks like for a Games-level athlete-How to train hard without blowing up the same tissue again-The mental side of watching a season slip while everyone else keeps competing-The lessons Emma and Nicole would give any athlete currently stuck in the “I should be able to push through this” phaseIf you’ve ever been injured, coached someone through one, or you’re trying to come back without rushing the process, this one is for you.Brute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/B...Which Program Is Best For You: https://www.brutestrengthtraining.com...

Identifying & Attacking Weaknesses | The Brute Brief Sep 14, 2026

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You’re probably not as “bad” at that movement as you think; you’re just avoiding the real weakness or training the wrong things. Comment the one thing you hope never shows up in a workout and how you plan to attack it going forward.

The fastest way to improve isn’t chasing what you’re already good at, but getting honest about the limiter that keeps showing up on your scorecard.

If your engine is huge but your strength lags, stop pretending it doesn’t matter.

If you’re strong but die after 12 minutes, that’s not a personality trait. That’s data.

The goal isn’t to become someone else. It’s to raise your floor without losing your best weapons.

Training partners help too - not because you need to beat them every day, but because they reveal what’s possible.Maybe that’s the whole game.Brute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/B...Which Program Is Best For You: https://www.brutestrengthtraining.com...

Pat Vellner: Closing The Chapter | BRUTE TRAINING PODCAST Sep 10, 2026

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In this episode, Pat Vellner shares insights on his career, early retirement, injury recovery, and future plans, offering valuable lessons on resilience, mindset, and life after sports.

Expect to discover:

How to navigate the mental hurdles of injury and retirement without losing your identity as an athlete.
The surprising peace that can come from circumstances beyond your control.
Strategies to stay motivated and maintain a positive mindset during challenging times.
Insights into the psychology of performance and how to cope with setbacks in any competitive field.

This episode is not just for athletes; it’s for anyone facing unexpected life changes or grappling with their own limits. Vellner's story illustrates the universal struggle of letting go and finding strength in vulnerability.

20 YEARS OF COACHING WISDOM With Kyle Ruth | Brute Training Podcast Sep 03, 2026

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Kyle Ruth joins the Brute Training Podcast to talk about the difference between GPP and performance training, how CrossFit programming has evolved, and why doing more work isn’t always the answer.

At the highest levels of the sport, Kyle has seen a shift away from simply piling on volume and toward more intentional use of volume, intensity, and density. Athletes are becoming more specific about their weaknesses, their goals, and how their training is organized across the week.

We also get into why understanding the principles behind a training method is more valuable than simply copying what you see from another coach, why CrossFit is still far from having a true set of best practices, and what coaches can do to better prepare athletes for an unpredictable and constantly evolving sport.

In this episode:

• GPP vs. performance training
• Why training hard every day isn’t the same as training for performance
• How CrossFit programming has changed over the last decade
• Volume, intensity, and density as training levers
• Demands analysis and working backward from the goal
• Why weaknesses should drive your training priorities
• The importance of understanding the “why” behind your programming
• The challenges of coaching in an evolving sport
• Kyle’s new coaching community for remote coaches

If you’re an athlete, coach, or simply someone who wants to understand CrossFit training at a deeper level, this conversation is for you.

Watch the full episode, subscribe to the Brute Training Podcast, and let us know in the comments: are you training for performance, or are you just training hard?

THE POWER OF THE DELOAD WEEK | The Brute Brief Aug 31, 2026

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Rest is not laziness.It’s the thing that lets you train hard again next week.Save this for the next time you feel guilty or anxious about taking a deload.The "no-days-off" mindset sounds tough until it turns into burnout, bad sessions, and little injuries you keep ignoring.

A smart athlete knows this:You recover when you’re out of the gym.Deloads keep your body fresh and your mind sharp.Longevity beats one more “hard” day every time.If your coach told you to back off, that’s not a loss.That’s part of the plan.What do you struggle with more - training hard or actually resting?

APPRECIATE WHAT'S IMPORTANT With Justin Cotler | Brute Training Podcast Aug 27, 2026

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From CrossFit Games prep to life in the desert, Justin Cotler gets real about what it takes to stay elite in sport, business, and family.We talked about the pressure of coaching at the highest level, the identity shift that comes with big life changes, and the lessons that come from being forced to slow down and reassess.The biggest takeaway: Success isn’t just about performance, but about staying present, adapting, and protecting what matters most.Huge respect to Justin for his honesty and perspective.#CrossFit #FitnessPodcast #Coaching #Mindset #ElitePerformance #BruteStrength #PodcastClip #AthleteMindset #LasVegas #ResilienceBrute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/BRUTE?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fall-eligable-for-affiliate-discount

Josh Godinez | The Brute Coaches Podcast Aug 20, 2026

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You can be strong and still be underpowered.This gap shows up fast when the current strength numbers don’t match the goal.Drop a comment if you’ve ever had an athlete who looked strong but moved like they were stuck in mud.If you only look at one bucket of absolute strength, you’ll miss the real limiter and possibly miss out on huge gains. What’s harder in your experience: building strength or turning it into speed?Brute Redmond Code https://living.redmond.com/discount/BRUTE?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fall-eligable-for-affiliate-discount____________________________________________________________________________Like and subscribe to our podcast:Brute Strength Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brute-strength-podcast/id1568567695Follow us on Social MediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/brute.strengthFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/brUTE-Strength-1527828040783218/Twitter: https://twitter.com/brutestrength_#CrossFitCoach #StrengthAndConditioning #BruteStrength #AthleteDevelopment #PowerDevelopment

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