Pursuing Health

The State of CrossFit with Coach Greg Glassman - PH118

06 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

There was an orchestrated mass media campaign by our critics to portray us as dangerous- by the opposition. And thats all waning now, because of the c...

Functional Bodybuilding & Earning Intensity with Marcus Filly PH117

23 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“We’re so resilient as people that we can deal with a lot of stuff. And if you pull back on the intensity, and you give your body a chance to hea...

How Healing Works with Dr. Wayne Jonas PH116

09 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I call that integrative health. Integrative health is a little different than complementary medicine, is different than integrative medicine. Int...

Becoming a CrossFit Games Athlete: Rookies Fee Saghafi & Erin Vandendriessche PH115

25 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I didn’t start CrossFit to be competitive, and I didn’t get into the competitive side until several years later. And, I would say, I didn’t ...

Practicing CrossFit for Health with Dr. Maude Dull PH114

11 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I really just… kind of wanted to get more into the CrossFit community. More interested in sort of where things were going, especially as we were...

2009 CrossFit Games Champion Tanya Wagner on Training through all Seasons of Life PH113

28 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“It was awesome [her first CrossFit Games experience in 2008]… There were no expectations and there was only one Games so nobody really knew what...

Eating for Longevity with Dr. Valter Longo PH112

14 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I always say, if you cut yourself, within a couple weeks the repair is perfect and you go back to normal. How is it possible that inside the body ...

A New Model for Primary Care with Dr. Ken Rictor PH111

30 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“Well, the one thing was the change in family medicine, and we started seeing family physicians being pushed out of the hospital systems in place of...

Kara Saunders on CrossFit and Expecting Baby She-Bear PH110

16 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“But I had been working very closely on- holistically- on keeping my hormones and all those types of things- that’s always been really important t...

All About Functional Medicine with Dr. Elizabeth Bradley, Medical Director of the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine PH109

02 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“So, [with] functional medicine we look at the root cause of why someone has a chronic disease or illness, and we dive much deeper in looking at not...

Training Smarter, not Harder: Prevention and Recovery from Injury with Pure Physio PH108

19 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I think it’s, too, just getting people used to what physical therapy means to us, and I think that’s a little bit different than what they’ve...

Play the Hand You’re Dealt: Choosing to Thrive Despite a Rare Genetic Condition and Congenital Heart Defect with Stephen Douglas PH107

05 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I had seen all these different elements come into play of how fitness can impact your life and how CrossFit was working for some people and how bod...

Saxon & Spencer Panchik: Keeping Fitness a Family Affair PH106

19 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I think that’s super important, to have just great people around you to train with, especially brothers. You can say whatever you need to say to...

Sleep, Stress, and Brain Health with Dr. Nate Bergman PH105

05 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I mean stress is like an illness. It’s like this black box, we don’t have a lot of names for it, we should probably instead of saying stress w...

Physical Therapist & CrossFit Games Athlete Amanda Barnhart PH104

22 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“I love incorporating one on myself, I experiment a lot with myself. And if I can feel something myself, like, ‘I was having this knee pain, and ...

What to Eat When with Dr. Michael Roizen PH103

08 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

“If you look at the data really carefully now, we’re not sure but we think that aging can be… we’re slowing it now, we’re doing what we call...

Jason Khalipa and the AMRAP Mentality PH102

25 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“I wasn’t being present and focused, specifically around the family, that’s where it was most impactful. And, when I looked at my fitness caree...

Building a Champion Mindset with Dr. Joe Janesz PH101

11 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“If you have awareness, and you have this ability to regulate mood states and thinking, you have this mental agility, and then you have this ability...

Q+A: Your Questions, Answered PH100

27 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Can you believe we’re at 100 episodes?! It’s been a slow and steady process over the past 3+ years, but consistency sure pays off! I want to than...

Dr. Axel Pflueger on Fighting Chronic Disease with Fitness PH99

13 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“As a nephrologist, a kidney doctor, in the Mayo Clinic, you see primarily patients with advanced kidney disease at that time. So, these were patie...

Fittest Teen to Thriving Post Liver Transplant: Sydney Sullivan PH98

30 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“It just got really bad. I honestly don’t really remember that much, but looking back, it’s like ‘man I was sick’… and I can’t say it [...

Challenging Conventional Cancer Care with Dr. Thomas Seyfried PH97

16 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“I think the biggest thing is that you’ve got to convince people that this is a metabolic disease, it’s a mitochondrial metabolic disease. Ok, s...

A Hospital Affiliate: Kirby Medical Center and CrossFit KMC PH96

02 Oct 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“I really think there is an opportunity for the CrossFit affiliates to work with the hospitals, and to say, ‘We have a big piece of this puzzle th...

Optimizing Your Nutrition with EC Synkowski PH95

18 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

EC Synkowski started CrossFit in 2006 to break out of a globo-gym rut, and shortly thereafter she completed her CrossFit Level 1. Her enthusiasm and ...

Danica Patrick on Trailblazing and Shifting Gears PH94

04 Sep 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“From a young age, I was never put… I wasn’t put on the same platform as just girls, it was everyone. It wasn’t like, ‘Oh you’re the best...

Debunking Nutrition Myths with Gary Taubes PH93

21 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“You spend your whole life sort of cycling in and out of diets. I was a football player, I’m the kind of guy who gains weight easily. I know wha...

Bob Harper on Surviving a Heart Attack PH92

07 Aug 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“But I really think one thing I’ve learned during this situation is to not sweat the big things or the little things. How important it is. We ar...

Mind Over Matter: Improving Performance in Athletics and Beyond with Sports Psychiatrist Dr. MaryEllen Eller PH91

24 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“And when it comes to mental preparation, it requires the same level of intention as any other training program. It’s not gonna happen overnight....

CrossFit Games GM Justin Bergh: The Man Behind the Magic PH90

10 Jul 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“But I’m really happy that I had that experience of being at the Ranch and understanding culturally what that was. And it wasn’t lost on me. I...

No Slowing Down: Two-Time 60+ Fittest Man on Earth Dave Hippensteel PH89

27 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“I’ve always had trouble with the whole… I always never wanted to age. You know, I like Neverland, and, growing up, it’s like, I’m just a k...

From Hypocrite to Advocate: Dr. Rebecca Blonsky PH88

12 Jun 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“And then in clinicals, I’m actually seeing people who are suffering from complications of obesity. I remember seeing a patient whose BMI was I t...

Stacie Tovar: From Legendary Competitor to Thriving Coach PH87

29 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“Having a husband as a business owner, it’s literally all we do. It’s all we think about, and whereas before, when we weren’t owning the gym, ...

James Maskell on Fighting Chronic Disease with Community-Based Healthcare PH86

15 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“A transparent system by which people come together to share their cost is the way that things will be done in the future, and ultimately we’re tr...

Back on Track with Carleen Mathews PH85

01 May 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“When I have a barbell in my hand, I’m not looking at any flaws. I’m looking at how… I’m seeing how strong I am, and all my focus is [on] pu...

Chasing Excellence with Ben Bergeron PH84

17 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“Having said that, every day we’re chasing excellence. We’re trying to make it better every single day. So, I love that differentiation betwee...

Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes with Julie Wiebe, PT PH83

03 Apr 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“So then, what I needed to understand, and as a former female athlete, and still… I love to be fit, I wanted to be fit postpartum. They wanted to...

Training during Pregnancy and Healing Diastasis Recti with Lisa Ryan PH82

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“I think the biggest message that I’m trying to get out there is, ‘Take the time when you’re pregnant. Don’t look at it as a, ‘okay, what...

Postpartum Training and the Road Back to the CrossFit Games with Lindsey Valenzuela PH81

20 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“The process of competing and getting to there is super stressful for me. But there is nothing that can… there are not a lot of things that can r...

Greg Glassman on Networking CrossFit Physicians and Fighting Chronic Disease PH80

06 Mar 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“A CrossFit physician is a special physician, that’s not an ordinary doctor. A CrossFit doc, she knows something that is not a consensus view, an...

Sam Briggs on Going Back to Basics and Training for Longevity PH79

20 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“I think… because I didn’t start CrossFit until I was 27, I’ve already done quite a lot before CrossFit, and I love training. I just love pus...

Lifestyle and Brain Health with Dr. David Perlmutter PH78

06 Feb 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“And I became, as a neurologist those first few years, very disenchanted with the notion of pretty much, ‘Diagnose and Adios.’ Meaning, we make...

Austin Malleolo on CrossFit and Corporate Culture PH77

23 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“My big, my goal… if someone asked me, “What’s your goal for the gym?” I’d say “I wanna get the 50 people in the company that don’t wo...

Working Against Gravity with Adee Cazayoux PH76

09 Jan 2018

Contributed by Lukas

“Especially in a field like this, it’s not…it’s not just about the food that you eat. This is just the medium that I use to help people trans...

Growth through Adversity with Kyle Maynard PH75

26 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I think the big takeaway there, you know, and also a similar takeaway to what my parents had is that they didn’t buy into the inherent limitation...

Brooke Wells & Jessica Griffith on Forging Friendships & Striking a Balance PH73

12 Dec 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I just really want to inspire other people. I’m so young, and I just want people to understand that they can do more than just school, that they...

RISEing to the Occasion with Olympic Swimmers Caroline Burckle and Rebecca Soni PH73

28 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I counted my confidence as a swimmer to be the main reason that I was able to win the races that I won. I’m not super tall, I’m not super stro...

Finding Balance with Two-time Third Fittest Man Patrick Vellner PH72

14 Nov 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I’ve always kind of thought that you really make time for things you care about, and so if you love to do something, and if you really want to do...

The Sugar Free Revolution with Karen Thomson PH71

31 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“For us, one is too many and a thousand is never enough. Once I start, I cannot teach myself to eat sugar in moderation. I just can’t do it. You k...

USA Track & Field Heptathlete Tiffeny Parker on Beating the Odds PH70

17 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I was the first person at the track and, and I was the last person at the track. And for me, it was, it was an Olympic gold medalist telling me tha...

From ”Obese to Beast” with John Glaude PH69

03 Oct 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“Yes losing weight is important, but you have to understand that the mental aspect of it is, I would have to say, almost more important. If you want...

Pat and Taz Barber on CrossFit, Coaching, and Kids PH68

19 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“The strongest thing a coach can have is a high level of emotional intelligence. So the ability to connect with people and see what they need and wh...

Sobriety Through CrossFit: Brian Reap’s Story PH67

05 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“My dog won’t release the twig in his mouth unless I offer him a huge branch. Alcohol was my twig. CrossFit and recovery is my branch.” – Sobr...

Cleveland Clinic CEO Dr. Toby Cosgrove on Lifestyle, Healthcare, and Persistence PH66

22 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I was not a good student. I attribute a lot of that to the fact that I am dyslexic. The thing that got me through it was just plain persistence. I ...

Rory McKernan: CrossFit Games Update Show Host PH65

08 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“When you and I were doing the Update Show for example [in 2011], was a year after I had testicular cancer, a major surgery, and a child. And that’...

Haley Adams: A CrossFit Games Teen with Talent PH64

25 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“Keep your eyes on the prize. Don’t get distracted. That’s pretty much what I think about every day.” – Haley Adams Haley Adams is a 16-year...

Sara Sigmundsdottir on Finding Her Happy Place PH63

25 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

‘[A healthy life looks like} being happy. I think that’s just what matters the most. People often think that healthy is being skinny and looking g...

Becca Voigt: the woman, the myth, the legend PH62

11 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“When I was introduced to CrossFit, it was one of those things where I fell in love – and as many people have probably already heard – I fell in...

Ron Ortiz on fighting fires and raising the bar with age PH61

11 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I think the sad thing is, our society has accepted the fact that with age, you are going to be a certain way. That is one thing that CrossFit has a...

Chris Spealler on training for longevity and becoming a Master PH60

27 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I do CrossFit just because I love it. I do it for the health and longevity. But, that looks very very different. I really do, and I am passionate a...

Annie Sakamoto on the evolution of CrossFit and setting an example for future generations PH59

27 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“There was a group of us…and we often would workout together. But it was such trial and error back then. They would give us some workouts, see how...

Nicole Carroll on the Early Days and Preserving the Culture of CrossFit PH58

13 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I’ll never forget that. It was recent too – or at least within the last couple years. Someone asked – Greg was doing a Q+A at a Level 1 and o...

Annie Thorisdottir and Fred Aegidius on Team Work and Individual Performance PH57

30 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I do one year at a time. For me, I learned that especially after the back injury. One year at a time – you can’t predict what’s going to happ...

Katrín Davíðsdóttir and Ben Bergeron on the Process of Creating a Champion PH56

16 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“Katrin came on at the exact right time when I was switching my approach to a more 360 degree holistic approach for a coach. I started investing mor...

Lindy Barber on Overcoming a Life-Changing Injury and Finding Her Flow on Team CrossFit Mayhem PH55

02 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

‘I don’t think the girl who didn’t break her back would have qualified [to the CrossFit Games]. Because, she hadn’t been through the same kind...

Neal Maddox: From Football to Forty PH54

17 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“Everyone says I’m a lock for whatever. I’m not a lock for anything. I have to put my head down and I have to work. I know how hard I am working...

Amelia Boone on achievement and growing through obstacles PH53

04 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“I reached a point about a year and a half ago where I said ‘Do I really enjoy this? Is the pressure getting to me?’ It was actually the injury ...

Tia-Clair Toomey on realizing her CrossFit and Olympic dreams and finding confidence PH52b

21 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“It was still so hard to admit that I wanted to win, because I was scared of failure. I was so scared to say I want to win the CrossFit Games and I ...

Tia-Clair Toomey on realizing her CrossFit and Olympic dreams and finding confidence PH52a

21 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“If it wasn’t for CrossFit I would have never picked up on the weight training. At the time I thought, why not do both? What if one thing doesn’...

Dick Costolo on Taking Risks and Finding Fitness PH51

07 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“Every time in my life, every time I have taken a risk – a big risk that wouldn’t make any sense for what you would do if you wanted to go and b...

A Healthy Life PH50

07 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Well here we are – I can’t believe we’ve already made it to the 50th episode of Pursuing Health! First of all, I want to say a HUGE thank you to...

Ben Smith on why he trains and the evolution of The CrossFit Games PH49

21 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Attention! This week I’ve put together a brief survey to better understand who YOU are and what you’d most like to hear more of on Pursuing Health...

Jen Widerstrom: Health, Habits and Why You Are Enough PH48

07 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“This is why I love fitness and health. It does not live in the gym. What we do, what we take on mentally in a workout that scares us translates in ...

Coffee Talk with Katrin, Jen, and Kelley at the Reebok Athlete Summit PH47

24 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Each year, Reebok brings together CrossFit Games athletes at an annual summit. During this time, athletes are introduced to Reebok’s brand campaign,...

Living and training with Type 1 Diabetes with Brendan Snyder PH46

24 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“You can’t really start making strides forward until you start telling yourself that maybe [having Type 1 Diabetes] makes you stronger, or maybe y...

Dan Bailey on Moving West, Training for 2017 and Danny Broflex PH45

10 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

“Having a passion for what you do, and a purpose for what you do. Those two things are probably going to be bigger than anything else in terms of ha...

5 Tips for New Year Nutrition and The HealthySelf Reset with BeingBrigid - PH44

27 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode I catch up with Brigid Titgemeier, functional dietitian nutritionist at the Center for Functional Medicine and nutrition blogger at Be...

Jason Wachob: Founder and CEO of mindbodygreen and Inspiration To Live Your Best Life - PH43

13 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

“True health, true success, true happiness, it’s not going to be any books, it’s not going to be any guru. It’s unique to you. Fortunately or ...

Against All Grain's Danielle Walker on Advocating, Healing, and Celebrating PH42

29 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

“Is there anything I am eating, or not getting enough of, or deficient in, or something I am eating constantly that might be aggravating [my symptom...

Graham and Savanna Holmberg: From Fittest Man, to Faith and Family - PH41

15 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Graham Holmberg, 2010 Fittest Man on Earth and six-time CrossFit Games athlete, along with his wife Savanna have built a positive, healthy and faithfu...

CrossFit to prepare for and recover from total knee replacements with David Mendenhall - PH40

01 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

“CrossFit didn’t break me – it made me stronger and more resilient. Other sports broke me down. CrossFit continues to make me more ‘bulletproo...

Nutrition challenges and Practical Paleo with Diane Sanfilippo - PH39

18 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Diane Sanfilippo is the owner and founder of Balanced Bites, a certified Nutrition Consultant, and two-time New York Times bestselling author of Pract...

Micronutrients and quality supplementation with Oliver Amdrup and Julius Heslet - PH38

04 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Oliver Amdrup and Julius Heslet met in the gym, and it wasn’t long before they realized they both shared a passion for nutrition and specifically, f...

PH37 Steph Hammerman on overcoming obstacles, teaching CrossFit, and crushing cancer

20 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Steph Hammerman was born 3 months premature and has been defying the odds of what it looks like to live with cerebral palsy ever since. With a backgro...

PH36b Dominique Moceanu on gymnastics, healing, and health

06 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Dominique Moceanu is the youngest member of the “Magnificent Seven,” the US gymnastics team that made history by winning the first ever team gold ...

PH36 Dominique Moceanu on gymnastics, healing, and health

06 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Dominique Moceanu is the youngest member of the “Magnificent Seven,” the US gymnastics team that made history by winning the first ever team gold ...

PH35 Coach Greg Glassman on CrossFit, Chronic Disease, and the "5 Buckets of Death"

23 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Coach Greg Glassman grew up in southern California as a gymnast and he supplemented his training with modalities including weightlifting and cycling. ...

PH34 Sal Masekela on his Achilles rupture, growing from setbacks, and CrossFit family

09 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Sal Masekela is perhaps best known for his work as a commentator and journalist on platforms including NBC’s Red Bull Signature Series, ESPN’s Sum...

PH33 Bob Harper on CrossFit, The Biggest Loser, and prioritizing health

26 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Bob Harper has an extensive background as a personal trainer and is perhaps best known for his role on NBC’s The Biggest Loser. He has been a part o...

PH32 Pete Servold on fine dining, Paleo, and making the most of your meal prep

12 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Pete Servold developed a love for food and cooking early on and worked in the culinary and restaurant industry since the age of 17. He graduated from ...

PH31 Robert Porter and his coach Patrick Flannery on losing 90 pounds with CrossFit and finding the right community for you

28 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Robert Porter was a swimmer growing up and active through high school and college. As the years passed, he became more sedentary, and with his job as ...

PH30 Nadia Johnston on how CrossFit helped her to overcome eating disorders and depression

14 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Nadia Johnston just completed her first year studying psychology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, but several years ago her life looked very ...

PH29 Dave Castro on applying lessons learned as a SEAL, his daily routine, and directing the CrossFit Games

31 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Dave Castro knew he wanted to become a Navy SEAL before graduating from high school, and it wasn’t long after that he enlisted in the Navy, graduate...

PH28 James Hobart on teaching, competing, and the real purpose of CrossFit

17 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James Hobart found CrossFit in 2007, and over the past decade he has served the CrossFit community through a variety of different roles. James joined ...

PH27 Adrian Bozman on teaching CrossFit, judging at the CrossFit Games, and garage gym training

03 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Adrian Bozman, known to many as “Boz,” has been a staple figure in the CrossFit community for nearly the past decade. Coming from a well-rounded f...

PH26 James Maskell on Functional and Integrative Medicine and the impact of community on health

19 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

James is the creator of Functional Forum, the world’s largest integrative medicine conference which meets live in New York and in meet up groups aro...

PH25 Christy Adkins on overcoming injury, training for the 2016 CrossFit Games, and the future

05 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Christy is a 6-time CrossFit Games athlete on a quest for her 7th CrossFit Games appearance this year, and she’s been a close friend of mine since w...

PH24 Airrosti doctors Ty Nickleberry and Jason Garrett on soft tissue treatment

22 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I visit the Airrosti Rehab Centers headquarters in San Antonio, TX and speak with two of the first Airrosti doctors, Dr. Jason Garret...

PH23 Lindsey Valenzuela on pregnancy, affiliate ownership, and competition

08 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Lindsey Valenzuela. Lindsey has been an athlete all her life and played collegiate volleyball at California Lutheran...

PH22 Brigid Titgemeier on Functional Nutrition

23 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode Pursuing Health, I sit down with Brigid Titgemeier, Functional Nutritionist at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine. Br...

PH21 Pat Sherwood on CrossFit, the Games and quality of life and longevity

09 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this episode, I sit down with Pat Sherwood. Pat has been deeply involved in CrossFit for over 10 years. He served in the US Navy as a SEAL from 19...