Stronger Together with Sandpoint Strength

Tammy is a corporate controller who makes spreadsheets for her recipes, topped out at 155mph on a Yamaha FZ1, got a truck stuck in the Ruby Mountains for three days, walked out of a single track trail in the dark with fresh bear scat nearby, and hiked Mount Whitney while her dad called her husband every hour asking if she was okay. She also kept coming to the gym through a shoulder injury, a wrist...

Courtney grew up ski racing at Schweitzer, got sent to a camp alone at age 10 with a hundred bucks and a good luck, and ended up at the University of New Mexico on a Division I ski team after emailing every school she could find in April of her senior year. She beat Michaela Shiffrin on one run. She got knocked from the US Ski team and passed over by Denver University and landed somewhere better....

Cassie Fagan joined SSC at 40 years old because a Tinder date with a coach made it feel safe enough to try. A few months in she got tennis elbow so bad she couldn't pick up a coffee cup, lost the pull-up she'd just earned, and spent months barely able to lift anything. She kept coming back anyway. She's also a relationship coach — a path she found after realizing in her 40s that she was allowed to...

In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, host Kenny Markwardt speaks with Tess Howell about her journey of joining a gym during the pandemic, transitioning from a physically demanding job as a whitewater raft guide to a more structured fitness routine. They discuss the importance of community support, personal growth, and the challenges of navigating emotional health while maintaining a f...

summary In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, host Kenny Markwardt interviews Alix Randall, a coach and jewelry maker who shares her inspiring journey of moving to Sandpoint in search of a more fulfilling life. Alix discusses her transition from a career in the Department of Defense to coaching and running a jewelry business, emphasizing the importance of community, asking for help, an...

In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, Kenny and Jenn Markwardt discuss the challenges and strategies for navigating summer with kids at home. They emphasize the importance of maintaining structure and routine, teaching independence, setting realistic expectations, and incorporating fitness and nutrition into family life. The conversation highlights the need for parents to model healthy...

In this conversation, Kenny Markwardt, Jonathan Riley, and Trevor Riley explore their journey into combat sports, particularly focusing on Jiu-Jitsu and its applications in self-defense and cage fighting. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding martial arts, the importance of control and technique over brute strength, and the distinction between being a fighter and a martial artist. The conver...

Rick Decker came to SSC in 2013 as a summer visitor from Steamboat. He and his wife Mariah kept extending their stays until one day they just didn't leave. He credits the CrossFit Open and Kenny's gym for why they live in Sandpoint. This conversation is about what happens when you're a goalkeeper — the last line of defense, the one who never gets carried off on anyone's shoulders — and you carry t...

Eric ruptured a disc in 2006 at 34 years old, had surgery, and spent the next 14 years protecting his back. No deadlifts. No squats. When he walked into SSC in 2020, he started with a PVC pipe. Months later he lifted 75 pounds and felt like he'd won something. Now at 52 he's training for an 80-100 mile solo ridge traverse along the Selkirk Crest — eight days, 30,000 vertical feet, off-trail, with...

Lisa House runs Lift and Thrive — a women-only strength class at SSC for women 45 and up who are done fighting their bodies and ready to build them. The class is full of women who tried high-intensity cardio, didn't see results, and finally found something that works. This conversation covers why strength training builds bone density, why the elliptical doesn't, what a smart women's training week...

Kenny and Jenn strapped on continuous glucose monitors from Abbott Labs for two weeks and tracked everything — tacos, oatmeal, chocolate chip cookies, alcohol, beans, tortillas, and one very unfortunate incident involving a needle that was never supposed to stay in Kenny's arm. The results were surprising. Jenn's blood sugar was excellent. Kenny's swings were not. And both of them came away with a...

In this engaging conversation, Tim Corcoran shares his journey from being a gym-averse individual to embracing fitness and health after a wake-up call from his doctor regarding high cholesterol. He discusses the importance of lifestyle changes, the nuances of understanding cholesterol, and how these changes have positively impacted his life. The conversation then shifts to his newfound passion for...

In this conversation, Kenny Markwardt discusses the significance of youth fitness programs, emphasizing the importance of training, nutrition, and community building for young athletes. He highlights the evolution of training methods, the necessity of cross-training to prevent injuries, and the role of coaches in fostering a positive environment. The discussion also touches on the nutritional habi...

In this engaging conversation, Kenny Markwardt interviews his mother, Lissa Markwardt, reflecting on their shared experiences in fitness, adventure, and the importance of support in pursuing one's passions. Lissa shares her philosophy on staying active and embracing new challenges, driven by a strong sense of FOMO and the desire to make the most of life. They discuss the role of fitness as a means...

summary In this conversation, Kenny and Jenn discuss the importance of supporting your spouse, particularly in the context of fitness and health. They explore the dynamics of motivation, the impact of one partner's lack of interest in fitness on the relationship, and the deeper emotional implications of these choices. The discussion emphasizes the need for open communication and understanding in r...

summary In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, host Kenny Markwardt engages in a lively conversation with John Aspinwall, exploring themes of family, work ethic, aging, and the impact of media on society. They reflect on their personal experiences, the importance of discipline in sports, and the lessons learned from leadership roles. The discussion also touches on the challenges of mode...

keywords gymnastics, CrossFit, coaching, nutrition, mental health, body image, youth sports, personal training, empowerment, fitness journey summary In this conversation, Kenny Markwardt shares his journey from a competitive gymnastics background to becoming a CrossFit coach. He discusses the challenges he faced in gymnastics, including emotional and verbal abuse, and how these experiences shaped...

keywords nutrition, fitness, macronutrients, weight loss, healthy eating, meal planning, coaching, habits, simplicity, protein summary In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, hosts Kenny and Jenn Markwardt discuss their contrasting yet complementary approaches to nutrition and fitness. They explore the importance of understanding macronutrients, the significance of small dietary tweaks,...

This conversation is with a close friend — a Special Forces 18 Delta medic who just completed the Q Course, one of the longest and most demanding military training pipelines in the world. He talks through combat casualty care, SERE school, Robin Sage, and what it actually feels like to get a green beret. Then he connects all of it to something most people can use right now: the idea that resilienc...

summary In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, hosts Kenny Markwardt and Jennie Cooper explore their backgrounds in fitness, military service, and education. They discuss the importance of language in coaching, the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life, and the complexities of pain management in muscle activity. The conversation also touches on the value of lifelong...

keywords law enforcement, fitness, mental health, personal growth, conflict resolution, community, resilience, ego, meditation, stress management, fitness, gym community, functional fitness, dietary changes, carnivore diet, food addiction, psychological eating, mobility, aging, wildlife summary In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, host Kenny Markwardt engages in a deep conversation wi...

summary In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, Kenny Markwardt shares insights from a recent workshop he attended with leading strength and conditioning coaches. The discussion revolves around the concepts of lifespan and healthspan, emphasizing the importance of strength training and conditioning for longevity and quality of life. Kenny explains how strength training can enhance health...

keywords fitness, CrossFit, gym, personal journey, January joiners, scaling workouts, moderation, pacing, enjoyment, health, physical limits, sustainable habits, passion, saying no, social invitations, compassion, emotional responses, conflict resolution, perspectives, self-interest, gym culture, anxiety, meditation, community, growth, vulnerability, hunting, personal development summary In this e...

keywords fitness, CrossFit, Spartan race, personal growth, resilience, self-talk, competition, coaching, mental health, family, self-improvement, mental health, masculinity, fitness, gratitude, emotional support, aging, personal growth, vulnerability, resilience summary In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, host Kenny Markwardt interviews Rick Evans, co-owner of Evans Brothers Coffee a...

keywords fitness, CrossFit, personal growth, coaching, health, injury recovery, career change, empowerment, chronic ailments, healthcare challenges, proactive healthcare, health data, self-advocacy, commitment, recovery, movement, nutrition, protein summary In this episode of the Stronger Together podcast, host Kenny Markwardt interviews Trina Kennedy, who shares her inspiring journey of overcomin...