Misfit Podcast

What if the secret to leveling up this season isn’t a new cycle, but the courage to keep showing up when everything says stay home? We call it monsoon season: the messy middle when daylight fades, holidays crowd the calendar, and motivation leaks. The athletes who keep climbing the leaderboard aren’t chasing hacks; they’re mastering simple behaviors done relentlessly and refining how they think wh...

We map the full Phase Two plan and explain how to pick the right track, set clear priorities, and train with intent through the toughest stretch of the year. From squat clean peaking and volume squats to Echo Bike zone two and muscle-up progressions, we show how to build a season-proof base. • choosing between Pro, Hatchet, Masters and GPP • variable training system and what is mandatory vs option...

Most athletes don’t lose because they’re undertrained; they lose because their systems fail when it counts. We unpack a full, practical framework for competition prep and execution that turns hard-earned fitness into points on the leaderboard. From building a “maturity meter” through daily habits to knowing exactly when to chase threshold and when to game a Metcon, you’ll get a clear plan you can...

We lay out the Montezuma phase and show how deadlifts and wall walks, paired with smart cardio and GPP rotations, build a sturdy trunk and a stronger culture. We share why narratives matter, how PAP and reset deadlifts teach bracing, and how wall walks outperform handstand walking for GPP. • Montezuma phase theme of midline and posterior chain • Deadlift heavy days with PAP and reset mechanics • G...

We lay out a simple matrix to fix pulling and pressing gymnastics: audit, plan, execute across mobility, stability, strict work, low-rep checks, capacity, intervals, and metcons. Coaches get a system to diagnose and program; athletes get clear steps that trade ego for durable skill. • moving community chat from Discord to Telegram • early-bird camp at CrossFit Roots announced • why practice hard t...

The season just got sharper. Quarterfinals are back, the pathway is clearer, and the middle tier finally means something again. We break down how the top 25% advance from the Open and why landing inside the top 2,000 in Quarterfinals is the new threshold for Semifinal eligibility. Beyond the headlines, we talk about what this structure does for real athletes who need meaningful checkpoints, not gu...

Ever wonder why some athletes crumble under pressure while others seem to thrive? The difference often isn't talent or even preparation—it's confidence. But not the shallow, Instagram-quote variety. We're talking about the deep, unshakeable confidence that comes from understanding exactly who you are and what you're capable of. In this revealing conversation, we break down the five essential steps...

Does pushing your fitness to the extreme eventually circle back to poor health? How do elite athletes train through injuries and still perform at their best? When does scaling a workout become self-sabotage? The Misfit Athletics podcast tackles these thought-provoking questions and more in this comprehensive Q&A episode. Drawing from their experience coaching Games-level athletes, the hosts sh...

Dive into the evolution of precision pacing with the newly updated Gears Matrix 2.0, a game-changing tool developed through 11 years of coaching data and countless athlete testing cycles. This episode unveils the comprehensive framework that has revolutionized how competitive CrossFit athletes approach machine-based conditioning. The Gears Matrix organizes training intensity into eight distinct "g...

The 2026 season kicks off with Arkham Phase, a meticulously designed training cycle that builds on summer programming while introducing new movement biases to create well-rounded CrossFit athletes. Drew and Hunter dive deep into the front squat and squat clean focus of this phase, explaining how these movements represent a logical progression from the deadlift and back squat work of previous cycle...

The Misfit Athletics team unveils their vision for Year 14 of their renowned CrossFit programming with Phase One launching September 1st. Under the powerful theme "Rain or Shine," they explore what truly separates elite competitors from the rest: unwavering consistency regardless of circumstances. Drawing from real-world examples including Justin LaFala's fourth podium finish and Kelly's impressiv...

The evolution of CrossFit Games programming tells us everything about what elite fitness truly means. In our deep dive into the 2025 CrossFit Games workouts, we uncover how traditional movements executed at extraordinary levels continue to define the sport's pinnacle. This breakdown reveals fascinating patterns: running dominated as the most programmed movement (appearing three times), while found...

What happens when you're at the pinnacle of your sport and suddenly your body betrays you? Seven-time CrossFit Games athlete Paige Semenza takes us through her remarkable journey of injury, adaptation, and triumph that culminated in her best Games finish yet—despite training through debilitating back and shoulder injuries. The conversation starts with Paige revealing the moment in April 2023 when...

The CrossFit Games season might end in August, but the journey to the 2026 season begins July 28th with Misfit's Phase Zero. This critical five-week baseline testing period establishes your starting point across strength, skill, conditioning, and workout proficiency before launching into nine-week training phases designed to systematically build your competitive engine. In this comprehensive roadm...

When it comes to supplements, the fitness industry is flooded with products promising everything from superhuman strength to rapid fat loss – but which ones actually deliver results? In this comprehensive breakdown, we cut through the noise to reveal our evidence-based tier list of supplements that truly work. We start by establishing the critical foundation: supplements should only enter the conv...

Strength, endurance, and adaptation converge in Misfit Affiliate's The Wolf Phase, inspired by Herb Brooks' famous quote "the legs feed the wolf." This special edition podcast dives deep into the programming philosophy that prioritizes back squats and running as foundational movements for developing well-rounded fitness. The conversation explores how alternating heavy back squat days with metaboli...

What does it take to transform from promising talent to elite competitor? For Erica Folo, the answer lies not in the gym, but between the ears. Erica's journey began as a sprinter who was drawn to CrossFit after spotting a "jacked" teammate who was secretly training at a local box. Despite her initial assessment of the warehouse gym as "looking like a jail," she found herself immersed in the commu...

What would happen if you decided that something was possible instead of impossible? Brandon True's remarkable transformation from struggling CrossFit athlete to two-time semifinals competitor provides a compelling answer to that question. Brandon's journey began with a casual bet against two 40-year-old CrossFitters who claimed they could beat him in a workout. His competitive spirit ignited, Bran...

Imagine training for years but never truly reaching your potential. This episode reveals why linear progression—the simple concept of systematic improvement—might be the missing piece in your fitness journey. We begin by introducing "The Ramp Theory," a powerful visualization tool that explains why so many athletes fail to progress despite consistent training. Picture yourself as a cyclist facing...

What separates the physically capable from the truly elite competitors? In this revealing episode, we take you behind the scenes at the Syndicate Crown CrossFit competition to examine the critical mental game that makes all the difference when athletes step onto the competition floor. Fresh off witnessing the intensity of high-level CrossFit competition, we unpack what makes execution under pressu...

How much does the time of day affect your workout performance? According to our latest deep dive, it could be impacting your results by as much as 25-30%. During this illuminating episode, we unpack the fascinating relationship between mental load and physical output. Even with perfect nutrition, hydration, and recovery, the accumulated stress of daily life dramatically alters how your body respon...

The long-awaited Off-Season Block 2 program launches May 26th, bringing exciting changes to Misfit Athletics' programming structure and delivery platforms. We're thrilled to announce three new subscription tiers tailored to different athlete needs: Pro ($69/month) for elite athletes with two daily sessions and direct coach access through Telegram; Comp ($49/month) bundling Hatchet, Masters, and GP...

What happens when an entirely new fitness competition bursts onto the scene with high production values and a roster of elite athletes? We take you inside the inaugural World Fitness Project (WFP) event in Indianapolis for a comprehensive, no-holds-barred review of this potentially game-changing addition to the competitive fitness landscape. Drawing from firsthand experience at the event, we disse...

Ever wondered why Forrest Gump's iconic cross-country journey began with Nike Cortez shoes? Our newest training phase draws inspiration from this powerful symbol of fundamental movement - running - while building a comprehensive foundation for the entire training year ahead. The Cortez Phase represents our commitment to starting fresh with the most basic and essential human movements. We're focusi...

The Individual Semifinals workouts have arrived, and they're a brutal test that separates those heading to the Games from those whose season ends here. Our coaching team breaks down each workout in depth, offering strategy insights you won't find anywhere else. From the ascending ladder of muscle-ups paired with back squats to the punishing double dumbbell overhead walking lunges at 70/50 pounds,...