More than Fitness

Latest Episodes:

Adam Neiffer — Happy, Hungry, Awesome May 26, 2023

Show notes

“Justin is just a very unique individual. Early on, I think it was hard to put your finger on … what’s possible for this guy, but I am really, really, really excited to find out. We’ve had the opportunity to coach a lot of athletes over the years in our affiliates, and the rate at which Justin could learn and implement things and improve is just something I have never seen before.”
Owner of CrossFit Fort Vancouver and CrossFit Level 3 Trainer Adam Neiffer sits down with host Adrian Conway to share his wisdom and experience as a former competitive athlete, an affiliate owner, and coach to two-time Fittest Man on Earth Justin Medeiros.
Neiffer was introduced to CrossFit by his brother who came across the sport online. Having grown up playing sports, including football, Neiffer thought he was “pretty fit,” but was quickly humbled after taking on his first CrossFit workout Angie.
Neiffer went on to be a 10-time Games team competitor with CrossFit Fort Vancouver — a 14-year-old affiliate — and won the Affiliate Cup in 2010. In 2019, he began working closely with Medeiros, coaching him to his Games debut in 2020 and through his back-to-back championship seasons (2021-2022).
In today’s episode, Neiffer opens up about his personal CrossFit journey — competing as an athlete, becoming a business owner, and mentoring coaches and athletes at his affiliate.
Pulling from his experience, he explains how he’s created a “happy, hungry, awesome” environment at CrossFit Fort Vancouver to elicit a positive change for coaches and members of the community. He also shares what makes working with two-time Games champion Medeiros so special.
Tune in to today’s enlightening episode to learn more from Neiffer’s experiences in the sport, how and why he fell in love with CrossFit, and how CrossFit has been influential in other parts of his life, especially as a wildland firefighter.

Lauren Fisher — Grown Strong May 25, 2023

Show notes

“I’ve constantly learned from the people I’m around. … I feel like you learn so much from, not just coaches, but I think from training partners. And I think that in itself is so valuable compared to just training by yourself, following a program. … It might work for some people, but that doesn’t work for me. I need to be around other people.”
Multi-year CrossFit Games athlete and business owner Lauren Fisher joins the show to share her experience as a professional CrossFit athlete, competing with Annie Thorisdottir and CrossFit Reykjavik, and starting Grown Strong.
Fisher grew up playing team sports and did her first CrossFit workout in 2008 after her brothers convinced her to train with a coach at a local gym to help with her basketball training. The intensity, competitiveness with herself and the time cap, and enjoyment left Fisher hooked.
By 2012, Fisher qualified for the Northern California Regional — her first — and placed 12th overall. A year later, she competed at the CrossFit Games with team CrossFit Invictus, finishing seventh. Fisher went on to compete at the CrossFit Games six more years — four as an individual and three on a team.
On today’s episode, Fisher opens up about starting CrossFit and her evolution through the sport. She shares memories and wisdom gained competing and training alongside more experienced athletes as an individual, competing as a team member, and working with experienced coaches and athletes in the space to improve her training.
Fisher also gets candid about the demands of having a social media presence and the challenges of balancing expectations from sponsors, growing her brand, and staying connected to her fans and community.
Tune in to find out how Fisher and two-time Fittest Woman on Earth Annie Thorisdottir connected about becoming teammates for the 2022 CrossFit Games, how her business Grown Strong is designed to help women grow mentally and physically stronger, and how Fisher is gearing up for the 2023 season.
Although she lives in San Diego, Fisher is currently training at Training Think Tank and will compete at the North America West Semifinal as an individual on May 25-28.

Eric O’Connor — Skeptic Turned CrossFit Flowmaster May 24, 2023

Show notes

“We have such a big pocket of people … that are unhappy. Chronic diseases … more than what it should be. … If there’s a way to hopefully reach them and get them more involved in a box, I think that the CrossFit affiliate saves lives.”
CrossFit Seminar Flowmaster and former Games athlete Eric O’Connor joins host Adrian Conway on the podcast to share his experience of becoming an integral part of CrossFit HQ.
O’Connor was introduced to CrossFit in 2006 by multi-year Games athlete Chris Spealler.
O’Connor — a former collegiate wrestler — enjoyed the workouts, but was skeptical. It wasn’t until he started researching CrossFit and exploring The Journal that he was all in on the methodology and the sport.
In 2008, O’Connor decided to take his Level 1 and began coaching. He eventually pursued his Level 2, interned on the Seminar staff, and now holds the highest CrossFit coaching certification — Certified CrossFit Level 4 Coach. Over his career, he has taught more than 450 CrossFit courses.
In this episode, O’Connor dives deeper into his CrossFit \story. He describes his journey as an athlete and coach through CrossFit’s evolution, gives insight into coaching as an introvert, and discusses the benefits of feedback and being a continuous learner.
He also explains his previous and current involvement in the company, from content creation to being a head judge to mentoring future CrossFit trainers.
As always, stay to the end to hear O’Connor’s answers to Conway’s Final Five.
Additional Resources
Become a CrossFit Trainer → https://www.crossfit.com/certificate-courses/level-1
Read “What Is Fitness?” → https://journal.crossfit.com/article/what-is-fitness
Explore the CrossFit Level 1 Training Guide → http://library.crossfit.com/free/pdf/CFJ_English_Level1_TrainingGuide.pdf

Alex Gazan — Staying True to Who You Are May 17, 2023

Show notes

“Unpopular opinion, but I like (the 2023 season programming). I like the twists and the turns. … I like when we get thrown new things.”
Alex Gazan, currently ranked 29th in the world, joins host Adrian Conway on the podcast to talk about joining Underdog Athletics, finding balance as a competitive athlete, and her experience at her CrossFit Games debut.
Gazan started CrossFit in 2017 at the encouragement of her high-school physical education teacher, who saw her potential. She signed up for her first Open in the Girls 16-17 division in 2018, and by 2022, she had qualified for her first CrossFit Games after finishing fourth at the Granite Games.
Gazan placed 24th in her Games debut.In today’s episode, the three-time Semifinalist shares her CrossFit beginning and how she came to work with Justin Cotler of Underdogs Athletics. Gazan opens up about the lessons she’s learned about herself as an athlete and the sacrifices competitive athletes make, especially during the peak of the season.
Gazan, who has always had a competitive spirit, describes her experience competing at the 2022 Granite Games and the Games, and touches on the differences in atmosphere between in-person and online competition.Tune in to hear how Gazan feels about the programming this season, her favorite pastimes, and navigating the demands of the CrossFit season as a wife, athlete, and coach.
In the 2023 season, Gazan placed fifth worldwide in the Open and second on the North America West leaderboard in the Individual Quarterfinal. Watch Gazan compete at the North America West Semifinal May 27-29.

Ep. 016: Noah Ohlsen — Happy, But Hungry May 10, 2023

Show notes

“No regrets. I think (2019) was an awesome year. … I could reflect on that and be like, ‘Man, that was the year that I almost won’ and be disappointed and have it always be bittersweet, but I like to look back on that as the year that I took second and the year that I got on the podium for the first time and just celebrate that because that was a huge goal of mine to begin with.”
On today’s episode, nine-time CrossFit Games athlete Noah Ohlsen opens up about his final year as an individual athlete and his decade-long CrossFit career.
Ohlsen started CrossFit in 2010 after seeing a poster of a “shredded” Guido Trinidad and thought, “I want to look like that guy.”
He made his Games debut in 2014 while pursuing his master's degree at the University of Miami, and placed eighth that year. Ohlsen has qualified for the Games every year since and had his best placement in 2019 — second Fittest Man on Earth.
In today’s episode, Ohlsen shares some of his favorite moments from his career and reflects on the lessons he’s learned, the relationships he’s made, and the kind of athlete he’s become and wants to be remembered as. He gets candid about pressures, expectations, and insecurities as an athlete and the demands of training competitively on the body and the mind.
Ohlsen also explains why this season will likely be his last as an individual and teases the possibility of becoming a team competitor in the future with friend Chandler Smith.
Tune in to learn about Ohlsen’s evolution in the CrossFit space, why he’s ready for a change, and what the future holds.

Ep. 015: Becky Harsh — Strong, Capable, Healthy May 03, 2023

Show notes

“Being part of Seminar Staff is the hardest I’ve ever worked to get a job and the hardest I’ve ever worked to keep a job. It matters because of the respect I have not only for CrossFit and its methodology but the people I get to work with. We raise each other up and we expect a lot from each other. It’s a constant state of sharpening the sword.”
CrossFit Athlete Communications Manager Becky Harsh joins the show to explain her role, detail her path to becoming a part of the community and company, and express her love for all parts of the sport.
Harsh completed her first CrossFit workout in 2006 at the suggestion of a trainer who worked for her when she was a personal-trainer manager at a gym. The unexpected experience of feeling “unfit” left the former high-level swimmer wanting to learn more.
Eventually, Harsh found CrossFit.com, took the Level 1 Certificate Course in 2007, and went on to take the Level 2 the following year. After years of volunteering as a judge at CrossFit events, Harsh was granted an internship to become part of the Seminar Staff, and just last year, she became a liaison between competitive athletes and CrossFit as the Athlete Communications Manager.
In today’s episode, hear from Harsh as she describes the many hats she wears in her current role to help strengthen the communication and relationship between CrossFit and athletes.
Also learn more about her CrossFit beginnings, her experience being coached by well-known CrossFit names like Greg Glassman and Nicole Carroll at her Level 1 and 2 courses, and her driving force for becoming more involved in the CrossFit space.
In addition to being CrossFit’s Athlete Communications Manager, Harsh is also a wife, mother of two boys, a CrossFit Level 4 Coach, and a CrossFit Seminar Flowmaster.

Ep. 014: Jason Khalipa — As Many Reps As Possible Apr 26, 2023

Show notes

“You could be competing and it’s so easy to want to kind of like hermit up in the corner, but if you make yourself accessible, you’d be so shocked at like how meaningful it is for these people who are there who come watch you at the CrossFit Games just to give them a little bit of time and take a picture. It’s so meaningful to them. I would encourage any athlete listening to remind themselves — I told myself a long time ago I’d never say no to a picture or whatnot because without the fans the sport would not be able to be there, and I think that it’s important that they feel the love so that it continues to snowball, to get more and more fans engaged in the sport.”
The 2008 Fittest Man on Earth Jason Khalipa joins the More Than Fitness podcast to chat with host Adrian Conway about his experience as a competitive CrossFit athlete, being an entrepreneur, and spreading CrossFit across the world.
Khalipa is a well-known name in the CrossFit space and fitness community with a resume that speaks for itself. In addition to being the 2008 CrossFit Games champion, he is a three-time Games podium finisher, an eight-time consecutive Games athlete, the recipient of the 2009 Spirit of the Games award, founder of NCFIT, a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer, and a multi-business affiliate owner. He is also a husband, a father of two, an author, and a philanthropist.
Khalipa found CrossFit in 2006 and has been passionate about bringing awareness to and growing the sport since.In today’s episode, Khalipa recounts stories from his years as a competitive CrossFit athlete, including winning the Spirit of the Games award and competing on Team USA from 2012-2014 during the Invitational, and opens up about some of the most grueling events he’s experienced at the CrossFit Games.
He also shares his journey of opening CrossFit Santa Clara, his first affiliate, and growing his business worldwide while being a professional athlete. Passionate to help CrossFit affiliates and athletes expand and thrive, Khalipa offers advice about connecting with the CrossFit community, driving engagement and interest, and implementing better business practices in the affiliate.
Learn about Khalipa’s AMRAP mentality, his current training schedule, which includes jumping into classes at his affiliate and jiujitsu, reaffiliating with CrossFit, and the impact he hopes to have on CrossFit coaches and subsequently, the CrossFit community.

Ep. 013: Dave Eubanks — Keeping Score for the CrossFit Games Apr 19, 2023

Show notes

“My first Fran time was just over 20 minutes. It’s better now, but strict L-sit pull-ups, probably three thrusters at a time … but I just kept doing (CrossFit) because I realized, hey, whatever I’ve been doing wasn’t helping me up until this point, so I need to do more of this stuff.”
Long-time member of the CrossFit staff Dave Eubanks joins the podcast to share his story of finding CrossFit, working his way up to Senior Manager of Competition, and balancing the criticism that comes with leading scoring.
Eubanks — who was a personal trainer at the time — first found CrossFit in 2007 through a short blurb in a magazine he picked up while waiting for his grandmother to get her bloodwork done. He spent the weekend reading the CrossFit Journal and was hooked.
Eubanks took his Level 1, opened an affiliate, and then pursued his Level 2, which led to a position on the Seminar Staff. After success in other roles within the space, he was asked to head Scoring for the CrossFit Games.
In addition to leading the competition team, managing video submissions, and reviewing scores during the Games season, Eubanks has also been a prominent figure in creating the new Worldwide Ranking System.
Listen in as Eubanks reminisces about his experience training CrossFit for the first time, shares stories from his Level 1 and Level 2 courses, being taught by well-known names like Nicole Carroll and Todd Widman, and details his CrossFit career.
Learn how CrossFit and the competition team are working toward growing and progressing the sport, and providing athletes and the community with a great experience through all stages of competition.

Ep. 012: Elijah “EZ” Muhammad — Getting the Job Done Apr 05, 2023

Show notes

Whether it’s providing for his family, training as a competitive athlete, or empowering and educating underserved youth, Elijah Muhammad puts forth the effort to get the job done.
Two-time Games athlete, multiple CrossFit affiliate owner, and co-founder of Project Onyx Elijah “EZ” Muhammad joins today’s “More Than Fitness” episode for an open conversation about balancing life as an athlete and father, giving back to the community, and diversity in CrossFit.
In addition to being a competitive athlete, Muhammad is a husband and a father of four. After playing Division 1 basketball, he started CrossFit with the encouragement of his college coach who believed Muhammad could excel in the sport.He met and worked closely with Regional and Games athletes, including Rich Froning, learning from their experiences. He became a well-known name in the CrossFit space, not only for his fitness and accolades but also as one of the few competitors representing the Black community.
But Muhammad’s reputation extends far beyond the competition floor.
Understanding that underrepresented and underserved people of color face racial disparities in health and fitness, Muhammad co-founded Project Onyx with partner Patrick Ford to help eliminate those barriers and empower the underprivileged youth in his local community.
After some time away, Muhammad is now working toward qualifying for the Men’s 35-39 division for the 2023 season.
In this episode, hear more from Muhammad about how he leveraged his fitness ability and CrossFit knowledge to not only provide for his family — his main priority — but also to empower the kids in his community through health and fitness education, mentorships, and connection.Learn more about Muhammad’s experience as a person of color in CrossFit, diversifying the space, and being present as a father and husband.
If you are interested and in a position to support, learn more and donate to Project Onyx here → https://www.projectonyxdsm.com/donations
Watch "Project Onyx Is Making A Difference" → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KLt28QVO5M
Watch "EZ Muhammad Co-Founds Project Onyx to Eliminate Racial Health Disparities" → https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hocNPvN-Y5Q

Ep. 011: Kyle Kasperbauer — Going for the Win Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

“There’s no ending to fitness, but fitness compared to competitive fitness is a whole different ball game.”
Ten-time CrossFit Games qualifier, father, and affiliate owner Kyle Kasperbauer joins host Adrian Conway on today’s episode of More Than Fitness to chat about balancing life as a competitive athlete, a parent, and a business owner.
Kasperbauer is a former collegiate running back who started CrossFit in 2009 as a way to continue scratching his competitive itch. His sports background, combined with the knowledge he gained with CrossFit training and working with a coach, allowed him to find success and longevity in the sport, competing at the Games as an individual, team member, and masters athlete throughout his career.
After shoulder surgery in 2014 prevented him from competing in the following CrossFit season, Kasperbauer continued to pursue his love for fitness by opening up CrossFit Kinesis. With the help and support of the team around him, he was able to pursue a Games qualification in the masters division, while still managing his affiliate and being a father of two. Kasperbauer went on to win the Men’s 35-39 division three times — 2017, 2018, and 2021.
“Masters division is no joke,” he says.
In this episode, learn more about the commitment and sacrifices Kasperbauer made as a competitive athlete, and how his training and mindset shifted from an individual competitor to a masters competitor.
Find out how the CrossFit Level 1 course empowered him as an athlete and coach, how a good coach helps others grow outside of the gym, and why he has no regrets about hanging up his competitive shoes to prioritize his family and personal life.
As always, listen to the end of the podcast to hear Kasperbauer’s most memorable Open workout, the impact he hopes to leave in the world, and why you get more than just a “box with equipment” at CrossFit Kinesis.

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