Pursuing Health
Episodes
Digital Wellness with Nina Hersher PH231
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nina Hersher is CEO of The Digital Wellness Institute and co-founder of the Digital Wellness Collective, a global trade association of digital wellnes...
CrossFit Health Tip - What is chronic inflammation? with Mike Mallin, MD PH230
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chronic inflammation: It's a term we hear all the time, but just what is it, and what causes it? Check out these tips from Mike Mallin, MD, to figur...
Using Genomics to Improve Health + Performance PH229
16 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare practitioners discuss the applications of using genomics to improve health and performance. Panelists Dr. Matt Dawson and Dr. Mike Mallin...
CrossFit Health Tip - What is precision medicine? with Mike Mallin, MD PH228
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is precision medicine? In short, it's a data-driven approach to healthcare that recognizes we're all unique and a one-size-fits-all approach to c...
Gut Health + the Microbiome with Dr. Lucy Mailing PH227
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy Mailing is a microbiome researcher, educator, and passionate scholar of integrative, evidence-based gut health. She received her Bachelor’s ...
CrossFit Health Tip - Avoiding Injury with Amy West, MD PH226
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"The idea that CrossFit is dangerous is actually not supported in the scientific literature," says Amy West, MD. Her number-one tip for avoiding injur...
CrossFit + Cancer PH225
02 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare practitioners, cancer advocates and a cancer survivor discuss the applications of CrossFit for individuals diagnosed with cancer. They sh...
CrossFit Health Tip - What is HRV with Mike Mallin, MD PH224
28 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Wearable devices can measure the variability between the beats of your heart and can indicate how relaxed you are-- "an objective measure of how chill...
Tapping to Reduce Stress with Nick Ortner PH223
26 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Ortner is the creator and executive producer of the documentary film, The Tapping Solution, as well the author of the New York Times bestsellin...
CrossFit Health Tip - The State of Primary Care with Eric Roza PH222
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What is primary care? In theory, it’s a long-term relationship between a healthcare practitioner and a patient encompassing preventative health prac...
Using Wearables to Improve Health, Recovery & Performance PH221
19 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare practitioners and wearables experts provide insights on several different types of wearable devices for CrossFit and health, including trac...
CrossFit Health Tip - Must Haves for Great Sleep with Matt Dawson, MD PH220
14 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“Are you waking up rested and without an alarm clock?” asks Dr. Matt Dawson of CrossFit Precision Care. His advice to get the rest and recovery...
Solving Chronic Disease PH219
12 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare practitioners and affiliate owners discuss limitations of the conventional healthcare system, the power of the CrossFit affiliate to transf...
CrossFit Health Tip - Do I Have Insulin Resistance? with Tom McCoy, DO PH218
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
1 in 3 Americans have prediabetes, and 84% don’t even know it. Family physician Tom McCoy, DO, describes the mechanism behind insulin resistance, ...
Revolutionizing Healthcare: CrossFit Precision Care PH217
05 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
CrossFit CEO Eric Roza and Wild Health co-founder and CEO Matt Dawson, MD join me to discuss the evolution of CrossFit Health and the inception of Cro...
CrossFit Health Tip - Real vs. Processed Food with EC Synkowski PH216
30 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“You want food that goes bad,” says EC Synkowski, CF-L4 and founder of OptimizeMe Nutrition. “When we’re looking at nutrition for general over...
Mentally Fit: Tarryn Harvey PH215
28 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When Tarryn Harvey was in her early 20’s, an unexpected heartbreak left her struggling with depression, anxiety, and the early stages of anorexia. A...
CrossFit and Injuries PH214
21 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Healthcare practitioners speak on what drew them to CrossFit when their colleagues might have said it was dangerous, how the risk of injury in CrossFi...
Moving Through Ankylosing Spondylitis with Scott Young PH213
14 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
After years of experiencing mysterious intermittent pain in his back, Scott Young was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory autoimmun...
Healing the Brain with Functional Fitness: Jenna Muri-Rosenthal PH212
06 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jenna Muri-Rosenthal is a speech-language pathologist, certified brain injury specialist, and a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer. As the founder of Fit t...
Quiet Consistency, Big Weight Loss: Jen Dudley PH211
31 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jen Dudley shares her amazing story of personal transformation. Her struggles with career anxiety and the stress of nursing school had led to an 80 ...
HRV + Pregnancy with Dr. Shon Rowan PH210
24 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Shon Rowan is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He completed his medical training at the West Virginia University School of Medicine...
Taking the Fear Out of Cancer: Fran Whitfield PH209
17 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fran Whitfield is a London based personal trainer who, at age 25, learned she has breast cancer that had metastasized to her brain and was given a pro...
From 450 Lbs. to Fit: Athena Perez PH208
10 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Athena Perez is the owner of Scaled Nation CrossFit, the author of the book, Lifting the Wait, and is an advocate for the inclusivity of obese and ove...
From Aneurysm to Recovering Athlete with Vanessa Lew PH207
03 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As a second degree black belt in Taekwondo, two-time New York City marathon finisher, and long-time CrossFit athlete, Vanessa Lew was shocked when she...
James Hobart + Austin Malleolo on Developing Better Trainers PH206
27 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Austin Malleolo and James Hobart have been leaders in the CrossFit community for over a decade. Austin is a 7-time CrossFit Games competitor, includin...
The Power of Being Present: Michael Asterino PH205
20 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Asterino shares his journey from young lacrosse athlete managing a chronic stomach condition known as gastroparesis, to college sophomore stru...
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon on Maximizing Muscle Mass for Health PH204
13 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a functional medicine physician specializing in the concept of muscle-centric medicine, which focuses on the largest organ in th...
Using CrossFit to Battle Cancer PH203
06 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Britton is the founder of Battle Cancer, a non-profit that uses functional fitness events to raise funds for cancer charities, as well as provid...
Environmental Toxins and Your Health with Jackie Bowen & Oliver Amdrup PH202
29 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jackie Bowen is the executive director of the Clean Label Project, a non-profit with the mission to bring transparency to food and product labeling by...
Sam Briggs: Sights Set on Fittest 40-Year Old PH201
22 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Samantha Briggs has been a staple athlete within the CrossFit community for over a decade. Her nickname, “The Engine,” refers to her incredible wo...
Q+A: Celebrating 200 Episodes PH200
15 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
200 episodes of Pursuing Health, wow! To celebrate, I decided it was time for a long overdue Q+A style episode. Thank you to everyone who respo...
Roll Up Your Sleeves: Dr. Francis Collins on the COVID-19 Vaccine PH199
08 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., is the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and the only presidentially appointed director to serve more th...
Fighting Parkinson’s with CrossFit: Dr. Jeff Livingston PH198
01 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Jeff Livingston is a retired maternal fetal specialist who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the relatively young age of 36 after noticing a...
The Right Dose of Exercise with Dr. Mark Goodman PH197
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The secret to training success? The right type of exercise in the right dose for the right person. Dr. Mark Goodman is an emergency and sports medicin...
A Diagnosis Doesn’t Define You: Thriving with Asperger’s PH196
18 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At age 20, Sarah Adams was surprised to learn she had Asperger Syndrome. She had taken advanced classes in school, played competitive sports, atten...
Pace Yourself: Max Finkbeiner and Kate Caines on Metabolic Conditioning PH195
11 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
"Imagine you’re doing thrusters, but you can breathe like you’re going for a walk." Max Finkbeiner and Kate Caines have developed a methodology to...
Don’t Call it a Comeback: Scott Switzer PH194
04 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Scott Switzer is a former athlete, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, and a familiar face at CrossFit events across the country. He has a remarkable transfor...
Superhuman: Dr. David Haase on Unlocking your Brain’s Potential PH193
27 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
David Haase, MD, is a doctor, teacher, author and innovator. In his practice, he strives to be a super-generalist, looking at the human body as a whol...
PGA Pro Scott Stallings on Becoming the Fittest on the Fairway PH192
20 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Three-time PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings has been a professional golfer since 2010. Despite turning in successful performances on green, off the c...
Ultra-endurance Athlete Katie Spotz on Testing Your Limits Katie Spotz PH191
13 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Katie Spotz is an incredibly impressive ultra-endurance athlete who has undertaken enormous adventures across the globe to help raise funds for clean ...
Jess Esch on Treating Yourself with Value PH190
06 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At a very young age, Jess Esch became aware that her shape and size did not fit in amongst her friends. She struggled with years of shame and insecu...
Chris Kresser on HPA Axis Dysfunction and the Stress Response PH189
30 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Chris Kresser is a leading clinician and top educator in the fields of Functional Medicine and ancestral health, and the New York Times-bestselling au...
Surviving Colon Cancer: Sharon Cabe PH188
23 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Sharon Cabe was a young, vibrant, active wife and mother of two, so she was shocked when an exploratory colonoscopy resulted in finding a mass so larg...
From Overweight to Fittest in the UK: Zack George PH187
16 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Zack George finished the 2020 Open as the Fittest Man in the UK and 26th worldwide, but hearing this accomplishment, you would never guess how far he’...
Growing Into Her Best Self: Haley Morrone PH186
09 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
“I have changed so much as a person over these past 5 and a half years, I almost don’t recognize myself. I feel as if I have lived my life as tw...
CrossFit After COVID: Darryl Chajon PH185
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
47-year old Darryl Chajon didn’t start CrossFit until later in life, but once he did, he was hooked. After several years of regular training, he e...
A Neurosurgeon on Healing Back Pain with Functional Movement: Dr. David Johnson PH184
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. David Johnson is a brain and spinal neurosurgeon who has had a pioneering role in the establishment of multidisciplinary spinal practices and holi...
Pursuing Wild Health: Robb Wolf on The Case for (Better) Meat PH183
16 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Robb Wolf is a former research biochemist and 2X New York Times/Wall Street Journal Best-selling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired To Eat. He and...
Reversing Prediabetes with Dr. Robert Oh PH182
09 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Seemingly healthy and in his late thirties, Robert Oh was shocked when routine blood work showed that he was prediabetic. He was at a healthy w...
Alec Smith: Finding Growth Outside Your Comfort Zone PH181
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Alec Smith is a 3-time CrossFit Games competitor who is perhaps best known for his incredible expertise at gymnastics, and for being one of the first ...
Putting Scleroderma into Remission with Katie Spilka PH180
26 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This week’s story features Katie Spilka who shares her story of being diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called scleroderma at age 16 and how ...
Half His Size: Physical Therapist Alan Fredendall on Losing 200 Pounds and Introducing Patients to CrossFit PH179
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At age 18 and finishing high school, Alan Fredendall topped the scales at over 400 pounds. Climbing a single flight of stairs to attend class on the...
Haley Adams: Poised to Top the Podium PH178
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Despite being the youngest Individual competitor at the 2020 CrossFit Games, Haley Adams brought a wealth of experience to the field, including three ...
Living with Lyme Disease: Maddie Tretter PH177
05 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Maddie Tretter was an accomplished Division 1 swimmer at Cleveland State, preparing for the Olympic Trials, when she she started coming down with a la...
Pursuing Wild Health: Women are Not Small Men with Dr. Stacy Sims PH176
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“If a woman can understand how she feels on different days her cycle, then she can start dialing and being more personalized with her training....
Pursuing Your Passion with Jonny + Libby Diaz PH175
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I think the biggest thing that I take away are these transferable skills where, you would think that touring the country and hustling and maki...
Building Stronger, Smarter, High Character Kids PH174
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We noticed her speech was definitely years ahead of her age, her confidence, her ability to walk into a room and own it, and other people started...
Small Steps, Big Results: Carrie McCall PH 173
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“For all my friends who are struggling to find where to get started, just do something. Just find something you love. It does not have to be Cr...
Optimizing Health through Genomics Based Personalized Medicine PH172
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“The model of medicine where you base treatment of patients on statistics and epidemiology- what works for most people- we felt like we could d...
Benefits of High Intensity Interval Training for Brain Optimization PH171
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“When we think about exercise in general as sort of a hermetic stressor, it just makes sense to think about, if you’re going to do it at a h...
Brooke Wells on What it Takes to be a Top CrossFit Athlete PH170
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Six-time CrossFit Games athlete Brooke Wells was just 19 when she qualified for her first CrossFit Games in 2015, and she's competed at every Cro...
Taking Control of Multiple Sclerosis with Jasmine Joy PH169
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“You have something like a major surgery, whether you have MS specifically or whether you have any other type of autoimmune disease or anythin...
Dr. Kwadwo Kyeremanteng on Avoiding the ICU and Racism in Medicine PH 168
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As you learn more, and more, and more about disease, prevention is the key. Why get sick in the first place? Don’t get sick! Why are we go...
Three-time Fittest American Woman Kari Pearce on Preparing for the 2020 CrossFit Games PH166
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I think that’s part of why I love competing, is being side-by-side with people, having the spectators cheer you on and scream you on, and j...
Thriving on the Unexpected: Cory Schmidgall PH165
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I have learned how to adapt to the unknown and unknowable. I have learned to focus on what I CAN do. This led me to my main mantra to date wh...
Boosting Immunity and Reducing COVID Risk with Dr. Aseem Malhotra PH164
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I think a lot of doctors kind of know this but don’t really… it’s never really been at the forefront of their minds until now. We know,...
Simple, Sustainable Nutrition with EC Synkowski PH162
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“There's no diet plan, there's no 30 day challenge that's going to stick with you forever. You, ultimately at some point, are in the driver'...
An Unlikely Antidote to Anorexia with Becky Fox PH161
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“My journey to finding myself and my will to live began with finding CrossFit.” - Becky Fox The stress of everything was just too much. If s...
Chandler Smith: Brotherhood, Heart, Attitude, Warrior PH160
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I think if I just limited myself to being an athlete I’d be doing a disservice to the other demographics that I represent. I’m a wrestl...
Eric Roza: CrossFit’s new CEO on Health, Happiness, and Performance PH158
25 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“So, you have this term sheet, and the term sheet is non-binding, either party can walk away. The most important part of it is that you’re...
Be Kind, Work Hard with Cole Sager PH157
18 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“When you think of the CrossFit community, you think of people who are going to the gym to challenge themselves, to be better than they were t...
Adapting to Muscular Dystrophy with Dano Lotz PH156
11 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“When I was 12, I played my last season of parks and rec basketball in braces, and after that, everyone was basically like, 'Hey, no sports. ...
FACTS about Fertility with Dr. Marguerite Duane PH155
04 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“When women learn to chart these observable external signs or symptoms that help them understand what’s happening internally with their horm...
Mat Fraser + Sammy Moniz: Sweethearts on a Mission PH153
21 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“If you're wrapping up your identity in the results… there’s a lot of things that go on that you have no control over that can sway the re...
Overcoming Grief & Losing 65 Pounds PH152
14 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“We have life changing events, and at the time, they feel as if they are life-ending but they really mold us into somebody who we are meant to...
Mentally Tough: Kristin Holte, Second Fittest Woman on Earth PH151
07 Jul 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I can say with probably 99% [certainty], I would never be at the Games if it weren’t for my mental coach. I think I would be good but I w...
The Science of Spontaneous Healing with Dr. Jeffrey Rediger PH149
23 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I think spontaneous healing is a lot more common than we realize. I’ve asked a room of doctors before, 'How many of you have seen a case of...
Fighting Back Against Fibromyalgia PH148
16 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“‘Olivia, you're healthy.’ I held it in in the moment, but when I left the [doctor’s] office that day I cried. I had never had a doctor ...
Cancer, Racism, and Speaking Up with Deb Cordner Carson PH147
09 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“The thing about it, she said, ‘Why are they destroying our city?’ And I said, ‘What if you were trying to get mommy and daddy’s att...
2019 Third Fittest Woman Jamie (Greene) Simmonds PH145
26 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“I love competing and testing. You know what you were like the last time you competed, or the last time you did this sort of training block…...
We Work Until It’s Done: Caity Henniger on Rogue Fitness and its Response to COVID-19 PH143
12 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Everybody puts their boots on the same way. And what that means is, it doesn’t matter your title here. It could be the people on our leade...
From the CrossFit Games to Pregnancy with Annie Thorisdottir + Camille Leblanc-Bazinet PH141
28 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“Being a professional athlete, it’s a really selfish lifestyle that you need to lead. You’re number 1, 2, and 3. You think about yoursel...
Stress: The Elephant in the Room with Dr. George Slavich PH139
14 Apr 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. George Slavich is a leading expert in the conceptualization, assessment, and management of life stress and it's relationship to poor health....
Immune System Strength with Dr. Leonard Calabrese PH135
17 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
“What we’re talking about is systemic, low-grade inflammation where the body’s barometer for this inflammatory response is turned up just modest...
Healing Through Functional Movement with Dr. Amy West PH132
18 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What does good movement mean? And what are the principles of good movement? And sometimes people have a hard time articulating that, physiatrists, p...
Dave Castro on Changes in Life and the CrossFit Games PH131
04 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Im still the Director of the Games. Im still Director of Training, also. I still have that responsibility to conduct it. I still have a lot of free...
Kristi OConnell on Training for Joy and Balance PH130
21 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We, ultimately- we love CrossFit, but we also view CrossFit as a way for us to be fit and do things outside of the gym. And do them together. We alw...
Improving Your Fitness from the Ground Up: Nutrition Basics with Nicole Aucoin PH129
07 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I believe something as fundamental as nutrition shouldnt be complicated, and if you keep it simple, and you help people make changes, and you encourag...
Dr. Jeffrey Geller on Loneliness and the Power of Groups PH128
24 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
But if my model works, I am positive people can copy it. And group visits certainly have been part of the solution. You see a lot of patients, you p...
Fighting Breast Cancer with Barbells: Barbells for Boobs Founder Zionna Hanson PH127
10 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
She said when she went in with the lump they basically denied her mammogram and said, Youre too young for breast cancer, and they wrote on her medical...
Nicole Christensen on Coaching Pregnant Athletes PH126b
03 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
“It was really fascinating because I think theres such a disconnect, right? So, on one hand, we have the whole population of people that are critici...
Nicole Christensen on Growing a Thriving CrossFit Affiliate PH126a
26 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
“I think I talked about nutrition so much, and I talked about functional movements, and I talked about scaling and intensity so many times in blog p...
Bridging the Gap Between the Hospital and the CrossFit Affiliate PH125
12 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We are trying to reach the populations that would otherwise never consider walking into a CrossFit gym. That was goal #1 was, when we first put this ...
Breaking Barriers with Adaptive Athlete and Coach Kevin Ogar PH124
29 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I think weve seen a lot of these to-be athletes, these persons with disabilities be told no, or that they cant, and then they just give up or they sto...
Zoë Harcombe on Dissecting Nutrition Research and Dietary Guidelines PH123
15 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For me its so easy, its just so easy. So, if we could put aside the conflicts, would we all be able to agree that we should eat real food and not pro...
Competing in the CrossFit Games while in Medical School: Singapore's Fittest Man Ian Wee PH122
01 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There was, of course, a lot of shock, a lot of happiness, a lot of pride because we all knew that this was the first time that Singapore gets to send ...
Christy Adkins & Lindy Barber on Transitions in Life and Fitness PH121
17 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
“So, you get to the CrossFit gym, and you see- or I see other moms, I see other dads, I see people who have competitive aspirations and Im able to m...
All About Keto with Dr. Dom DAgostino PH120
03 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
So, for me, it was kind of liberating that once youre in ketosis youre not that hungry. And then, in the context of elevated ketones, theyre sort of ...
Josh Bridges on Recovering from Knee Surgery and Paying the Man PH119
20 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I remember asking my Chief, I was like, Hey, I think I want to try to go do this CrossFit Games thing, and Im not going to have to miss a lot of train...