The Adaptive Athlete Podcast
Episodes
Wait! They Run Like Me?! (Feat. Leo Merle)
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mat Hotho sits down with Leo Merle for a conversation that covers the full arc of what it means to build a life around the things you love. Leo compet...
Cerebral Palsy, Parasailing, and the CrossFit Open (Feat. Adam Billany)
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mat Hotho sits down with Adam Billany, a British adaptive athlete competing in both parasailing and CrossFit. Adam was diagnosed with cerebral palsy a...
If You Can See It, You Can Be It (Feat. Natalie South-Law)
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode the Adaptive Athlete Podcast, Mat Hotho sits down with Natalie South-Law, a UK-based adaptive athlete with spastic diplegia cerebral p...
Why Not Me? (Feat. Jacob Peterson)
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mat Hotho sits down with Jacob Peterson, an adaptive powerlifter from Alabama living with mild cerebral palsy. Released during Cerebral Palsy Awarenes...
What It Actually Takes to Be Inspiring (Feat. Aaron Trent)
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mat Hotho sits down with Aaron Trent, a former para cyclist who placed second and third at the UCI Para-Cycling World Championships in 2009 and spent ...
Have Fun, No Regrets (Feat. Shana Coissard)
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mat Hotho sits down with Shana Coissard, a French adaptive athlete with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome who's carved out an impressive path through wheelc...
A Championship Mindset and the Brother Behind the Scenes (Feat. Lance King & Kyle King)
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mat Hotho sits down with Lance King — three-time CrossFit Adaptive Games champion in the Intellectual Disability without Chromosomal Condition divis...
The Power of Being Different (Feat. Julia Halberstam)
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mat Hotho sits down with Julia Halberstam, who competes in the Upper Two Point division and placed second at the 2025 CrossFit Adaptive Games. Their c...
Why Winning Wasn't the Point (Feat. Luke Reeson)
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mat Hotho sits down with Luke Reeson, a former British Army sniper who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he was shot three times across two deploy...
Everyone Is an Athlete: Adapting the Open for All Abilities (Feat. Sarah Tucker)
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat Hotho sits down with Sarah Tucker, founder of Uncharted Adaptive Fitness Virginia, to explore the transformative power of Adaptiv...
It's All Kevin's Fault (Feat. Brandon Mantz)
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat Hotho sits down with Brandon Mantz, a seated athlete who secured a third-place podium finish at the CrossFit Games for four conse...
Fund Your Season: A Simple Framework
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Candice Arnone joins Mat Hotho for a practical conversation about fundraising and sponsorships for adaptive CrossFit athletes without the awkwardness,...
046: Amy Bream
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode of The Adaptive Athlete Podcast, Mat Hotho is joined by adaptive athletes Amy Bream and Brett Palser for a wide-ranging conversa...
045: Mike Egan
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode of the Adaptive Athlete Podcast, I sit down with wheelchair athlete, coach, and new dad Mike Egan to unpack his 24-hour Guinness...
044: Letchen du Plessis
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
South African adaptive athlete Letchen du Plessis joins the show to talk about her journey from a scholarship netball player to an adaptive CrossFit c...
043: The Cowboys of Adaptive CrossFit
08 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat Hotho and Brett Palser sit down with David “Cowboy Dave” Needham and Kevin “Cowboy Carl” Carlson, two of the key figures ...
042: Kym Dekeyrel
18 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this bonus episode, Mat Hotho sits down with Kym Dekeyrel, a completely blind CrossFit athlete and the founder of Finding the Light—a fundraising...
041: Mat Hotho
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We wrap up Season One of The Adaptive Athlete Podcast by flipping the script. Host Mat Hotho sits down with past guest Sean Eberle, but this time Mat ...
040: Kyle Harper
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
CrossFit Games rookie, Kyle Harper joins the podcast to talk training with hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy, the long road from strict pull-ups to bar and ri...
039: Shannon Ogar
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Head Judge of the Adaptive CrossFit Games, Shannon Ogar, joins the podcast to talk about her path from University of Alabama athletic trainer to adapt...
038: Florian Gruhlke
08 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Florian Gruhlke joins from Germany to talk about training with two little kids at home, a new 2-hour daily commute, and squeezing sessions in from 9–...
037: Kevin Ogar
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
WheelWOD’s Kevin Ogar joins the podcast from Las Vegas a week before the Adaptive CrossFit Games. We trace his path from Missouri “country proble...
036: Amy Johnson
01 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amy Johnson joins The Adaptive Athlete Podcast to share her journey from living with a brachial plexus injury to finding CrossFit as a lifeline. She ...
035: Lisa Gaal
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
WheelWOD's Director of Marketing and Technology, Lisa Gaal joins the podcast to unpack what it takes to grow adaptive CrossFit from the inside ou...
034: Amalia Ortuño
25 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From San José, Costa Rica, adaptive athlete Amalia Ortuño shares her path from dance and triathlon to adaptive CrossFit after a series of surgeries ...
033: Debbie O'Connell
18 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat Hotho sits down with Debbie O’Connell, a British Army veteran turned adaptive athlete. After a life-changing injury in 2015, De...
032: Sean Eberle
11 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Sean Eberle shares his journey as an adaptive CrossFit athlete living with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a rare form of dwarfism. Se...
031: Josh Robinson
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Adaptive Athlete Podcast, Mat Hotho sits down with Josh Robinson. Josh competes in the neuro minor category and lives with mult...
030: Dan Long
28 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat Hotho sits down with Dan Long, an adaptive CrossFit athlete living with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Dan shares his jou...
029: Sarah Perry
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Adaptive Athlete Podcast, Mat Hotho sits down with Sarah Perry, a competitive CrossFit athlete and coach living with significan...
028: Emily Cairns
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we sit down with Emily Cairns, an elite adaptive CrossFit athlete known for her incredible determination, joyful spirit, and innovativ...
027: Lysbeth Shirley
07 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lysbeth Shirley is an adaptive CrossFit athlete who trains in a wheelchair due to paralysis from a stroke at birth and is also deaf. Despite these ch...
026: Lauren Sall
30 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Sall was an active college athlete who experienced a significant stroke at age 21. In this conversation, Lauren discusses the details of her st...
025: Anthony Monaco
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Adaptive Athlete Podcast, Mat Hotho talks with Anthony “Curly” Monaco, a competitive adaptive CrossFit athlete living with ...
024: Bayleigh Hooper
16 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat Hotho sits down with adaptive athlete Bayleigh Hooper, whose journey spans dance, gymnastics, collegiate rowing, and elite adapti...
023: Brett Palser
09 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Palser, a multi-year adaptive CrossFit athlete competing in the Seated 2 (with Hip Function) division, has overcome challenges in training and l...
022: Sabrina Schoenberg
02 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We sit down with Sabrina Schoenberg—a competitive ballroom dancer and adaptive CrossFit athlete. Sabrina shares how growing up with a rare neurologi...
021: Hailey Kuhn
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Adaptive Athlete Podcast, we sit down with Hailey Kuhn—adaptive CrossFit athlete and artist. Hailey shares her journey from a...
020: Hadar Kaufman
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with adaptive CrossFit athlete Hadar Kaufman to talk overcoming obstacles, creative adaptations, and the relentless pursu...
019: David Kellam
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we talk with David Kellam about his journey from a college football player to a spinal cord injury in 2010, discovering CrossFit in 2...
018: John Prescott
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with John Prescott, a early figure in adaptive CrossFit and a passionate advocate for adaptive athletes. John shares his ...
017: Josine van Paassen
28 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we chat with Josine van Paassen, an adaptive athlete and researcher from the Netherlands. Josine shares her experience living with Hy...
016: Lexi Kuppler
21 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lexi Kuppler, an accomplished adaptive athlete, shares her journey from a boating accident that resulted in the loss of her left leg to becoming a Par...
015: Jon Falkenburg
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with adaptive CrossFit athlete and coach Jon Falkenburg, who competes in the short stature division. Jon opens up about g...
014: Meg McCreight
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Meg McCreight, an adaptive CrossFit athlete and radiology professor, to discuss her journey with Erb's palsy, C...
013: Tom Miazga
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat sits down with 2008 Paralympian and 8-time Fittest Seated Man with Hip Function, Tom Miazga. From the early days of discovering f...
012: Brett Horchar
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brett Horchar is a two-time CrossFit Games champion in the Neuromuscular division, and WheelWOD Games champion in the Standing Diagnosed division.In t...
011: Megan Gleason
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This episode features Megan Gleason, a para climber and national team athlete with cerebral palsy. Megan shares her journey from fearing heights to fi...
010: Abbey Phillipson
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Abbey Phillipson, Head Strength and Conditioning coach for Paralympic athletes at the University of Michigan. Abbey...
009: Sam Wapshare
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with adaptive CrossFit athlete Sam Wapshare, who has cerebral palsy (CP). Sam shares how he got started in fitness almost...
008: Emily Saler
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with CrossFit competitor and above-knee amputee, Emily Saler, who shares her journey from sustaining a life-altering leg ...
007: Elicia Meairs
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Mat is joined by Elicia Meairs, an adaptive athlete with cerebral palsy affecting her lower limbs. Elicia competes in Paralympic Track and Field. She...
006: Morgan Ramos
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of The Adaptive Athlete, Mat sits down with Morgan Ramos. Morgan is an adaptive CrossFit Games athlete who competes in the Lower BK ...
005: Sydney Peterson
03 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we sit down with Sydney Peterson, an adaptive CrossFit athlete and nutrition coach, to talk about her journey with cerebral palsy, co...
004: Emily Avery
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat sits down with Emily Avery to talk about her journey from discovering CrossFit as a teenager to becoming a competitive adaptive a...
003: Lloyd Burns
24 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Adaptive Athlete we sit down with Lloyd Burns. Lloyd is an Upper Two Point of Contact adaptive athlete and a CrossFit L2 coach...
002: Elina Villemure
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of The Adaptive Athlete, host Mat Hotho sits down with adaptive athlete and CrossFit Level 1 coach, Elina Villemure, who was born miss...
001: Jocelyn Casker
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Mat sits down with Jocelyn Casker (Upper Two Point), whose rare genetic condition affects her arms, hearing, and other joints. Jocely...