Comeback Athlete

From Rugby Pro to Business Owner | Jed Holloway Story ✅ From a small country town in Australia → professional rugby in just ONE year  ✅ What it’s really like stepping into pro sports at 18 years old  ✅ The reality of potential vs discipline (and the lessons learned the hard way)  ✅ Dealing with injury, pressure, and identity as an athlete  ✅ How trauma, loss, and avoidance can impact performa...

You're showing up. You're putting in the work. So why do you feel exhausted, stalled, and beat up? It's not about working harder — it's about training smarter with the right foundation. In this episode, Blake breaks down the 3 principles every former athlete needs to stop spinning their wheels and start training with real intention again. ✅ PURPOSE — Know your macro goal, your...

Chronic pain isn’t always a tissue problem. In many cases, the tissue has already healed… but the nervous system remains sensitized. In this episode, I sit down with physical therapist Jeremy Baber to discuss how chronic pain changes the brain, nervous system, and movement patterns — and how his Baber Method helps retrain the nervous system to restore normal function. This conversation will comple...

Are your symptoms really caused by hormone imbalances—or are lifestyle, stress, and nutrition the real culprits? In this episode, I sit down with Jill Thornton , hormone health expert and founder of Breakthrough by Jill , to break down what’s actually holding most people back from feeling, looking, and performing their best. 🟢 In this episode, we cover: How to tell the difference between true hor...

In this episode, we sit down with Dave Lipson , a former CrossFit Games athlete, strength coach, and the founder of ThunderBro . Dave shares his journey from competing at the highest levels of CrossFit to creating a movement that bridges the gap between bodybuilding and functional fitness. ✅ Dave’s transition from CrossFit to founding ThunderBro  ✅ The origins and vision behind ThunderBro  ✅ Ho...

In this inspiring episode of the Comeback Athlete podcast, we sit down with Elijah Muhammad—athlete, coach, father, and leader—to unpack his incredible journey. Raised in a poor community in Columbus, Ohio, Elijah found his way to Tennessee Tech, where chance encounters with legends like Dan Bailey and Rich Froning led him into the world of CrossFit. From there, he climbed to the CrossFit Games, c...

In this episode of the Comeback Athlete Podcast , I sit down with Cheryl Brost , 3x CrossFit Games Champion and one of the most inspiring athletes in the sport. We talk about: ✅ Battling back from career-threatening injuries  ✅ What it takes to train like a champion in your 40s and beyond  ✅ The mindset shift needed to keep competing—and winning—through life’s ups and downs  ✅ Her legacy in Cr...

What does it mean to live a larger life? In this episode, I sit down with James Fitzgerald—founder of OPEX, CrossFit Games champion, and one of the deepest thinkers in the fitness world—to talk about the evolution of CrossFit and how fitness can (and should) serve a bigger purpose in our lives. We dive into: ✅ The early days and original vision of CrossFit ✅ Why James shifted away from the sport...

In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Coach Mike Boyle —one of the most respected voices in strength & conditioning—to talk about the transition from sport to lifelong fitness . Whether you're a former athlete trying to find your rhythm again, or a coach guiding others through that shift, this conversation is packed with timeless wisdom and hopeful perspective. We dive deep into:...

What happens when the competition ends but your love for movement stays? In this powerful episode, Coach Blake sits down with Marcus Filly — former CrossFit Games athlete and founder of Functional Bodybuilding — to talk identity, purpose, and rediscovering the joy of training. ✅ What Marcus misses about CrossFit ✅ How it felt to leave the sport and lose a big part of his identity ✅ Why high-lev...

Is Vitality Just BS? With Michael Bann — Why Mobility Screens, Pain, and "Wellness" Need a Reality Check 📝 Episode Overview: In this unfiltered 60-minute conversation, Coach Blake sits down with veteran coach and educator Michael Bann to challenge mainstream fitness narratives around vitality, mobility, and pain. If you’re tired of gimmicks and want the truth about long-term health, thi...

What happens when training becomes a burden instead of a blessing? In this episode, I sit down with coach Misbah Haque to talk about how to bring purpose, fun, and sustainability back into training—especially for burned-out CrossFit athletes who’ve lost their spark. We cover:  ✅ Early signs of burnout and athlete fatigue  ✅ Common struggles among ex-competitors and overtrained athletes  ✅ How t...

What happens when training becomes a burden instead of a blessing? In this episode, I sit down with coach Misbah Haque to talk about how to bring purpose, fun, and sustainability back into training—especially for burned-out CrossFit athletes who’ve lost their spark. We cover:  ✅ Early signs of burnout and athlete fatigue  ✅ Common struggles among ex-competitors and overtrained athletes  ✅ How t...

🎙️ 3 Killers of Testosterone & How to Get It Back Naturally Welcome to the Comeback Athlete Podcast — today we’re diving deep into the 3 biggest reasons your testosterone might be tanking… and how to naturally bring it back without pills, injections, or gimmicks. If you’ve been feeling tired, soft around the midsection, unmotivated, and not quite like yourself — this episode is for you. ✅ In...

✅ Nick Cheesman’s coaching background ✅ His college soccer experience and how it shaped his coaching philosophy ✅ Competing in CrossFit and Hyrox ✅ The challenges and rewards of training for functional fitness competitions ✅ Preparing for fatherhood and its impact on his training philosophy ✅ How Nick’s coaching approach has evolved over time ✅ Helping former athletes reconnect with their p...

🎧 Protein: The Most Important Nutrient You’re Probably Undereating 🔗 Apply for Coaching → https://comeback-athlete.com/apply In this episode of the Comeback Athlete Podcast, Coach Blake breaks down everything you need to know about protein—in simple, no-fluff language. 👉 What is protein (and why is it more than just for bodybuilders)? 👉 Why you NEED it for fat loss, recovery, energy, and hormo...

Fats: The Most Misunderstood Macronutrient | Coach Blake Podcast Are fats bad for you? Do they make you fat? Coach Blake breaks down the truth about dietary fats—why they’re essential for hormone health, recovery, and long-term performance, especially for former athletes. 💥 In this episode: Why fats got a bad reputation How fats support hormones, brain function & energy Signs you’re not eatin...

Are carbs really the enemy? In this episode, I break down one of the most misunderstood topics in nutrition— carbohydrates . You’ll learn: ✅ What carbs actually are (and the difference between simple & complex)  ✅ Why your body loves carbs and prefers them for energy ✅ How carbs affect your hormones, stress, and sleep ✅ What happens when you run out of carbs (including the wild “Rabbit Sta...

Listen in as I interview New Coach Gabe Woody. Learn about his studies in Exercise Sports Science, Playing College Football, Training people, and more. 

Join us as we chat with mindset coach Joe Jardin about the connection between mindset and physical health. In this episode, we cover: Implicit Bias: How subconscious beliefs can influence your fitness and health decisions. Journaling: Using reflection to gain clarity, set goals, and track progress. Mental Grit: Building resilience to overcome obstacles and stay consistent. Meditation Tools: Practi...

This weeks podcast I'm joined with Dr. Sean McGovern.  We do a deep dive into lab work and how to use the information to ask better questions with your primary care physician, as well as simple lifestly changes that can improve your health "underneath the hood". Listen in and learn from Dr McGovern and if your interested in working with us, you'll get to experience a deep dive...

Do you Travel a lot?  Does your work schedule have you inconsistent in the gym?  Then this podcast is for you!  Listen to client Keiths story of how he increased his fitness, strength, and body composition while traveling 20 out of the 52 weeks in a year. 

0:00-2:00 : Introduction and personal story. 2:00-5:00 : Understanding the fear of failure and why it’s common. 5:00-8:00 : Reframing failure as part of growth and building a growth mindset. 8:00-10:00 : Actionable strategies to overcome fear of failure (start small, set expectations, shift perspective, seek support). 10:00-12:00 Conclusion and call to action.

Blake discusses how fitness can be the wrong tool for handleing your stress. And why so many people quit fitness or burn 🔥  out. So, if your looking to keep the fitness gainz 💪 going for the long haul listen in for this 12min podcast of wisdom. 

Finding your way out of the trap of being a victim and learning to have victory in your life can be challenging. Today's guest Doug Bopst talks us through his amazing story of being incarcerated and how fitness saved his life.  Learn: - About Dougs story  - How to overcome the motivation trap - Why radical ownership is key to gaining your health and joy - Learning why mindset is really a stat...