More than Fitness

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 09: Ben Smith — Learning From Success, Failure, and Others Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

“I just love training. I love pushing myself. I wanted to find the boundaries. I wanted to be that test subject to see what I was capable of. I still do love it. … I haven’t turned off that competitive switch just yet.”
In today’s episode, 2015 Fittest Man on Earth and owner of CrossFit Krypton Ben Smith opens up about his CrossFit career, owning an affiliate, and training with 2022’s third-fittest woman on Earth Laura Horvath.
Exposed to sports at a young age, Smith’s CrossFit beginnings started when he was 16 years old. He watched CrossFit videos online, mixed-and-matched his programming from different sources to see what worked best, and learned from his successes and failures, which ultimately shaped him to be a better athlete, coach, and affiliate owner.
Most recently, Smith has worked closely with seven-time Hungary National Champion and multi-year Games podium finisher Horvath as her coach and explains that they often act like training partners, pushing each other to be the best version of themselves.
Smith is an 11-time Games athlete, competing consecutively from 2009-2019. He shares his experiences competing and learning from other top athletes and former champions in the sport like Rich Froning and Jason Khalipa and also discusses what it takes to be a competitive athlete.
Learn more about Smith’s desire to start CrossFit Krypton, his relationship with his family, including his brothers Alec and Dane, why 2014 was his toughest Games, and which two CrossFit movements he least prefers.
For the 2023 season, Smith has teamed up with brother Alec, Caroline Spencer, and Erin O’Donnell to make a run for the Affiliate Cup.

Ep. 08: Emma Cary — Growth On and Off the Competition Floor Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

“I’m a very different person competing than I am just in day-to-day life.”
Two-time CrossFit Games athlete Emma Cary, 18, joins the podcast in a candid interview about bouncing back from an injury, moving to Naples to train with Brute Strength as a teenager, and growing up in the CrossFit spotlight.
Cary fell in love with CrossFit at the age of 10 and after a few years of kids classes, she became serious about one day winning the CrossFit Games. With full support from her parents, Cary began training competitively and eventually moved to Naples, Florida, in 2020 to train one-on-one with Brute Strength coach Matt Torres.
After winning the Girls 14-15 division at the 2019 CrossFit Games, Cary qualified for her first Games as an individual in 2021. She was just 17 years old.
Later that year, Cary faced a back injury at the Dubai CrossFit Championship that not only knocked her out of the competition, but also forced her to step away from the 2022 season.
After a year of recovery, Cary competed at 2023 Wodapalooza, finishing third overall, and hopes to qualify for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games.
In this episode, hear more from Cary about her difficult decision to step away from the 2022 season and how she grew both mentally and physically from that experience. Find out more about her relationship with coach Torres and how the supportive environment at Brute has helped her develop her character along with her CrossFit skills.
Also, hear from the self-described high achiever about her work ethic, misconceptions others have of her and CrossFit, and learning about herself on and off of the competition floor.
Cary recently won her second Open event, finishing Open Test 23.1 with 269 reps. Her first Open event win was Open Workout 21.2.

Ep. 07: Michelle Palmer — Empowering Others Physically and Mentally Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

“It’s really easy to stand back and tell your kids what to do, but showing them is a different story.”
Affiliate owner of CrossFit Tsavo and 2021 Games athlete (Women 35-39) Michelle Palmer joins host Adrian Conway on the podcast to share her experience as a competitive athlete, coach, parent, and role model for others.
Palmer wears many hats. She is a wife, mother of three, a two-time Semifinals athlete, a business owner, coach, and a CrossFit competitor — and she’s no stranger to training and competition.
Palmer grew up dancing competitively and later participated in a physique competition. She found CrossFit right before getting pregnant with her third child and once she started, knew she wanted to one day compete at the Games.
In this episode, Palmer shares how her training as a dancer and value in hard work transferred to CrossFit. She also opens up about shifting her mindset about her physique to a performance-based focus, highlighting the importance of fueling your body properly as an athlete, and the struggles with body image that can arise.
Palmer shares her story of becoming an affiliate owner, diving into her role as a leader and coach in the space, and expresses her vision of empowering people of all ages.
Learn more about Palmer’s and Conway’s relationship as athlete and coach, how she balances her personal and professional life, and her experience as a Games athlete.

Ep. 10: Jennifer Hunter-Marshall — Setting Herself Apart Mar 16, 2023

Show notes

“How can you distinguish yourself? Because once you do, no one can take that away from you. What you’ve earned, you’ve earned.”
CrossFit Seminar Flowmaster and CF-L4 Jennifer Hunter-Marshall joins today’s episode of More Than Fitness to tell her life’s story, opening an affiliate and joining the CrossFit Seminar Staff, being a life-long learner, and leading by example.
In addition to holding the highest coaching certification in CrossFit, Hunter-Marshall is a mother of two, a wife, a former bodybuilder, an artist, a CrossFit Games competitor, and co-owner of CrossFit Garden City.
Her parents’ upbringing and her own personal experiences shaped her to be dedicated, resilient, and committed, distinguishing herself and working hard. After starting CrossFit, Hunter-Marshall became an affiliate owner with her husband and joined CrossFit Seminar Staff. She has since been devoted to creating a welcoming space for anyone interested in CrossFit.
In this episode, Hunter-Marshall shares stories from her parents’ life that impacted and shaped her own. She opens up about her personal health and fitness journey, mentoring future CrossFit trainers, and learning from positive and negative experiences.
She also gives advice on dealing with judgmental comments on and offline, becoming a new or aspiring affiliate owner, and making your own mark in the world.
Additional LinksBecome a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer. Learn more here → https://www.crossfit.com/certificate-courses/level-1
Learn more about Jennifer Hunter-Marshall’s CrossFit career → https://youtu.be/bTpkMb9o2E0
Learn more about who Jennifer Hunter-Marshall is → https://youtu.be/AEv-kKyi3s4

Ep. 06 — The CrossFit Open Is About More Than Fitness Feb 17, 2023

Show notes

“If you think the Open isn’t for you, this is something that you need to hear.”
Host Adrian Conway uses his experience as a five-time Games athlete, coach, CrossFit enthusiast, and gym owner to communicate all the reasons why you should sign up for the 2023 NOBULL CrossFit Games Open.
“The difficulties, the struggles, the challenges — all these things that the Open brings exactly depict the seeds of its worth,” Conway says.“
Challenge every hesitation that you have,” and join Conway for this year’s Open. See why the “Open is about a lot more than fitness.”
Sign up today → https://games.crossfit.com/register/open

Ep. 05 — Heather Lawrence, Equity and Inclusion in Sports Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

“As a female, I’ve always gravitated towards, ‘Hey, how can I not only contribute up into whatever ranks may be above me as far as being very comfortable course-correcting individuals or groups that maybe aren’t keeping diversity of all areas into perspective in decision making,’ as well as thinking about, ‘How do I impact those that are coming up to become those great leaders.’”
CrossFit’s Director of Sport Operations Heather Lawrence joins host Adrian Conway on today’s episode of More Than Fitness to discuss her role in CrossFit, her experience with sports operations and academia, and advocating and bringing awareness of equity and inclusion in sports.
Lawrence explains how she first became involved with CrossFit as a sport and expands on the journey that ultimately led to her working with CrossFit as a company, gleaning from her background in academia and involvement with other sports programs.
Lawrence also draws attention to equity and inclusion in sports, and how contributing toward a more inclusive society through educating and influencing others has been a focus and passion of hers throughout her career.
Hear about Lawrence’s first Open workout experience, the impact she hopes to have on improving relationships between athletes and CrossFit, and why she thinks everyone should try a CrossFit workout, if even just once.
Learn more about some of the work going on behind the scenes in CrossFit, where CrossFit is headed in the future, and how Lawrence balances her work with the company and her personal life.
Lawrence is a published author, has an M.S. in Sports Management, and a P.h.D. in Higher Education Administration, and currently serves on the Board of Directors for USA Wrestling.

Ep. 04 — Maddie Sturt, Balancing Athletic Expectations Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

“I loved (CrossFit) from the get-go. I just loved how there were always so many new things, so many things to learn, you were just constantly trying to get better and improve.”
On this episode of “More Than Fitness” with host Adrian Conway, four-time CrossFit Games athlete Maddie Sturt discusses her evolution in CrossFit, becoming a plant-based eater, and how her training has changed over the years.
Encouraged by her mom, Sturt, an Australian native, was about 13 when she started CrossFit. She officially signed up for her first Open in 2011 and has competed every year since. She was 17 when she qualified for her first Regional competition — 2014 — and qualified for her first CrossFit Games in 2016 at 19 years old.
Sturt opens up about her growth and maturation through the sport, highlighting how her training has evolved, lessons she’s learned along the way — especially as a young Games athlete — and how to balance internal and external expectations.
Sturt also shares how she is preparing for the 2023 season — under the tutelage of well-known and revered coach, athlete, and affiliate owner Rob Forte — her goals for the year, and how choosing a plant-based diet has affected her training and recovery.
Also in the episode, find out how Sturt felt about seven minutes of burpees in Open Workout 12.1, how she manages competing, work, and school, and the mark she wants to have in CrossFit.

Ep. 03 — Cole Sager, Fatherhood and Setting an Example Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

“I’m not in this sport to gain or to get. That’s not why I’m doing this. I’m doing this because I believe somewhere down the line somebody’s gonna be inspired by my story and by my journey.”
On this episode of “More Than Fitness,” nine-time CrossFit Games athlete Cole Sager opens up about his introduction to CrossFit, his evolution as an athlete, and the impact he hopes to leave on the community.
Sager retells the story of how he was introduced to CrossFit in 2013 by his best friend Cody, who recently died from brain cancer, and how he knew he wanted to be competitive in the sport. He shares the story of finishing Grace — his first CrossFit workout — in 3:33, realizing after the workout that he used 155 lb instead of 135 lb as is prescribed.
Sager also describes his path through the CrossFit space, training with former Games athlete Rory Zambard, eventually quitting his job to be a full-time athlete, and working with Ben Bergeron and CompTrain.
A new father, Sager candidly talks about the premature birth of his son, Jack, and how that experience, the recent death of his friend, and other moments in his life have given him perspective and have made him grateful for his life’s journey.
In this episode, learn more about the inspiration Sager hopes to be for others, his first Open workout in 2013, and how he learned to do bar muscle-ups on a park swing set.

Ep. 02 — Kloie Wilson, Firefighter, Coach & Elite Athlete Jan 22, 2023

Show notes

“Training sometimes sucks and that’s just how it is. … Not everyday is like rainbows and sun. You just push through.” — Kloie Wilson
*We apologize for the audio in this episode.
In this episode of the “More Than Fitness” podcast, firefighter, coach, and three-time Regional competitor Kloie Wilson joins Adrian Conway to give an inside look at what it’s like juggling her career and her goal of one day competing at the CrossFit Games.
Wilson describes how she balances being a firefighter and coach while training as an elite athlete. She breaks down a typical training day, sleeping habits, and how she finds motivation to train.
After Semifinals last year, Wilson was invited to be on the 2022 NOBULL CrossFit Games Demo
Team. She shares her experience as one of the first to test the workouts, including her post-workout soreness, and how being on the Demo Team impacted her as an athlete.
To close out the show, Wilson highlights her standout moment from a past Open, and shares the music she likes to listen to when she works out, the impact she’d like to have on the community, and how she would encourage someone to try CrossFit.

Ep. 01 — Tyler Christophel, Learning from Disappointment Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

Minute 58:14 “There are so many positives to (CrossFit). … Maybe I’m not the best example of an everyday CrossFit goer, but my mom goes and I think that’s just so cool. My mother does CrossFit. … Just go. Just start.”
On today’s episode of “More Than Fitness,” three-time CrossFit Games athlete Tyler Christophel joins host Adrian Conway to talk about his CrossFit beginnings, training at CrossFit Mayhem, and balancing life as an athlete and partner with his new fiancée, four-time Games athlete Baylee Rayl.
Christophel’s first CrossFit Games appearance was in 2017 on team CrossFit 417. He competed with the team once more in 2018 and made his individual Games debut in 2020. Christophel describes his growth as an athlete over the years, and how his experiences shaped his training and his decision to try his hand at individual competition.
Christophel also opens up about working with Rich Froning at CrossFit Mayhem, learning from less-than-ideal performances, and dialing back intensity in his training.
To close out the show, Christophel shares his most memorable Open workout, his favorite workout tunes, and the impact he hopes to have on the CrossFit community.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected