The CrossFit Podcast

Congrats on making it to the end of the 2026 CrossFit Quarterfinals, presented by Velites!

Stay tuned for an update on the CrossFit Podcast over the coming weeks.

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Jocelyn Rylee is leading the charge to bring nutrition back to the center of the CrossFit conversation. A longtime affiliate owner and Seminar Staff trainer, Jocelyn blends science, education, and deep experience in her approach to food and fitness.In this episode, Denise and Jocelyn dig into the foundations of health, the evolution of nutrition in the CrossFit world, and the difference between eating for performance and eating for longevity. You’ll walk away rethinking your plate and your pantry.

Topics Included

Why nutrition is foundational to the CrossFit methodology.

The Zone diet and the early culture of CrossFit nutrition.

The difference between performance eating and long-term health.

Why we need to cook again — and how it made us human.

Practical, simple, and realistic steps to address nutrition.

Congrats on making it to the end of the 2026 CrossFit Open, presented by Air National Guard! 

Stay tuned for an update on the CrossFit Podcast over the coming weeks. Until then, enjoy this episode with of our community favorites, Nick Wells and Gino Aviles. 

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Redemption Road CrossFit started inside Colorado’s prison system, where a small group of men turned CrossFit workouts into the first affiliate behind bars. Today, it’s a nonprofit changing prison culture through mentorship, accountability, and community — cutting recidivism to just 1.6% compared to the national average of 80%.

This week, we welcome Redemption Road CrossFit’s founder Nick Wells and founding member Gino Aviles to the show. Nick and Gino share their journey, from addiction and life sentences to freedom, sobriety, and leadership, and show how CrossFit’s methodology can transform not just fitness, but lives.

Topics Covered

Personal journeys from addiction, incarceration, and transformation

The origins of CrossFit in Colorado prisons

Building Redemption Road: the first affiliate inside a correctional facility

Overcoming stigma, violence, and systemic barriers through community fitness

Partnerships with CrossFit HQ and the broader community

Redemption Road’s measurable impact on recidivism and prison culture

Resources Mentioned

Redemption Road CrossFit – RF2.org

CrossFit Journal coverage of Redemption Road: Community Behind Bars and CrossFit in Prison

Morning Chalk Up articles on Redemption Road: Nick Wells and Mat Fraser

Books used in coach candidate curriculum: Overcoming Gravity,” “Becoming a Supple Leopard, “100 Days of Technique

From now until the end of the 2026 CrossFit Open, presented by Air National Guard, we’re resharing the episodes you all loved the most. Catch a most-played episode every two weeks, right here in your podcast feed. 

Good luck in the Open, and we’ll see you on the leaderboard.

Dr. Rhonda Patrick is a leading researcher in nutrition, aging, and metabolic health. She’s known for translating complex science into practical tools for longevity and performance. Now, after a year of doing CrossFit, she has new insights to share. In this episode, Rhonda joins Denise to break down the cellular mechanisms behind high-intensity exercise, why lactate is more than a waste product, and how CrossFit helps train your brain, not just your body.

They cover topics like VO2 max, mitochondrial repair, post-meal inflammation, aging muscles, and the science behind “exercise snacks.” Rhonda also shares her personal transformation from intimidated beginner to committed athlete and why she believes CrossFit may be one of the most powerful tools for lifelong health.

Topics Included

Why Rhonda started CrossFit — and how her perspective shifted after a year of training

What lactate actually is and why it’s a powerful signal for brain and muscle health

How high-intensity exercise triggers mitochondrial repair and neurogenesis

The relationship between sedentary behavior, inflammation, and cancer risk

The research behind exercise “snacks” and how to use them throughout your day

The benefits of CrossFit for aging adults, and Rhonda’s vision for senior fitness

Resources Mentioned

Dr. Patrick’s website and podcast “Found My Fitness”

Dr. Martin Gibala podcast episode

Rhonda at the CrossFit for Health Summit

From now until the end of the 2026 CrossFit Open, presented by Air National Guard, we’re resharing the episodes you all loved the most. Catch a most-played episode every two weeks, right here in your podcast feed. 

Good luck in the Open, and we’ll see you on the leaderboard. Sign up at games.crossfit.com.

Dr. Stacy Sims is an exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist, TEDx speaker, and the bestselling author behind the viral phrase “Women are not small men.” In this episode, she joins Denise Thomas to unpack what we really need to know about women’s physiology — and how most training and nutrition advice completely ignores it.

They get into the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, postmenopause, and how to train through it all. Stacy explains why women lose power during certain phases, how training affects the brain, and what female athletes should do differently when it comes to strength, conditioning, recovery, and stress. They also break down cold plunges, sauna use, and why CrossFit coaches and gym owners have an opportunity to lead the way in changing the narrative.

Topics Included

Biological differences in training, recovery, and metabolism

Power, hormone shifts, and the menstrual cycle

When and how to modify workouts

Why fasting and cold plunges don’t affect men and women the same way

How to feel and perform your best during perimenopause and postmenopause

Raising the next generation of girls to understand their physiology for performance

Resources Mentioned

Dr. Stacy Sims’ TEDx Talk: Women Are Not Small Men

Book: “Roar” by Stacy Sims

Book: “Next Level” by Stacy Sims

DrStacySims.com

Proov or Oova (hormone-tracking tools)

OsteoGains app

From now until the end of the 2026 CrossFit Open, presented by Air National Guard, we’re resharing the episodes you all loved the most. Catch a most-played episode every two weeks, right here in your podcast feed. 

Good luck in the Open, and we’ll see you on the leaderboard. Sign up at games.crossfit.com. 

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Dr. Fatty Acid, the viral creator behind @When_Nerds_Teach, joins Denise Thomas for a refreshingly honest conversation about finding CrossFit, battling fatty liver disease, navigating Wegovy, and rediscovering strength. A lifelong teacher, she talks about humor, vulnerability, and learning to love movement for what it gives, not how it looks.

Check out the latest content with Dr. Fatty Acid here.