PAC Talk with Pieter Vodden

In this PAC Talk episode, Pieter sits down with Cyto-Wellness founder and traditional naturopath Mitzi Avila to break down one of the most overlooked performance tools in the fitness world: biometric scanning. Mitzi explains how her Meridien-based scan can read over 2,000 internal markers—from mineral deficiencies and gut imbalances to sleep disruptors, neurotransmitter patterns, toxic load, paras...

In this live PAC Talk session, coach Pieter Vodden sits down with writer and strength-training historian Michael Joseph Gross to explore what strength really means — not just for performance, but for longevity and quality of life. They trace the history of strength culture from ancient Greece to modern gyms, unpack how we’ve told stories about muscle over the centuries, and why we’re only just beg...

You don’t need a better diet — you need a better philosophy. Today’s session is one of the most transformational of the 7-Day Results Accelerator. In this 30-minute conversation, Piet and I unpack how to break free from diet culture and step into a sustainable, empowering way of eating that actually moves the needle — physically, mentally, and emotionally. We cover: 🍎 Fuel: how to eat to support...

Most people think training starts and ends in the gym — but that’s only two hours of your day. The other 22 hours? That’s your lifestyle, and it’s where true progress happens. In this PAC Talk Mini , Pieter Vodden breaks down the underestimated power of lifestyle — sleep, recovery, relationships, hydration, habits, and small joys — that define how you perform, think, and feel. From horse therapy i...

In this PAC Talk Mini, host Emylee Vodden shares a simple nightly ritual she practices with her kids — one that’s quietly reshaped how she approaches gratitude, leadership, and growth. Each night before bed, she asks them: “What was the best part of your day?” Sometimes the answers come easily. Other times, she has to pull a little, dig deeper, and remind them — and herself — that gratitude is a p...

In this PAC Talk Mini, Emylee Vodden shares a big update from the Pharos team: after nine years and more than 20 Limitless Challenges, she and Pieter have built something new— a digital school and 7-Day Results Accelerator designed to help you reset your focus, rebuild momentum, and create a roadmap for the season you’re in. This isn’t about more information. It’s about catalyst—clarity, excitemen...

Most of us default to one style of “help,” even when another would serve better. In this PAC Talk, we break down the difference between Push, Pull, and Hold —and give you a quick self-check to pick what you need today. Push = pressure + accountability to raise your ceiling (targets, deadlines, coaching cues). Pull = inspiration + vision that draws you forward (community energy, role models, events...

In this episode of PAC Talk, host Pieter Vodden sits down with multiple CrossFit Games champion Leka Fineman about what comes after competition. Leka opens up about: Stepping away from elite CrossFit after burnout Discovering a new sense of purpose through surfing and longevity training Navigating perimenopause and hormone therapy (HRT) with strength and curiosity Learning how to “train for life”...

Emylee shares her mom’s decade-long fight with trigeminal neuralgia and the lesson it forged: lead with light. Joy can coexist with pain—and sometimes you borrow someone else’s light until your own returns. If you are in Southern California come train with us  Echo Park Redondo Beach Idyllwild Palm Springs Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content. Hosted on...

Not toxic gloss—action. Emylee defines “relentless positivity” as acting despite how you feel: micro-joys, gratitude, and forward motion when the marathon gets long. Name the hard, then move anyway. If you are in Southern California come train with us  Echo Park Redondo Beach Idyllwild Palm Springs Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content. Hosted on Acast....

Most of us get to 90%—then stall. Emylee riffs on remodel chaos, human nature, and why coaching, accountability, and a good crew carry you across the finish line. If you’re stuck, borrow a tribe and close the gap. If you are in Southern California come train with us  Echo Park Redondo Beach Idyllwild Palm Springs Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content. Ho...

Emylee sits down with artist-entrepreneur Alex Camacho—the force behind Acid Queen Jewelry—for a real talk on fitness, mindset, and building a business that lasts. We cover her athlete-to-artist journey, how the Limitless Challenge reframed goals, why “80% done is 100% perfect,” and how to use AI as a tool (not a shortcut) to analyze data, calm emotions, and stay the course. We get into macros, pe...

We’ve all missed alarms, overextended ourselves, or completely goofed up a plan. In this Pac Talk Mini, Emylee Vodden shares how a simple client message turned a potential scheduling disaster into a reminder of the power of planning, accountability, and community. Instead of stressing about mistakes, what if we built systems—and relationships—that anticipate needs before problems arise? This short...

In this Pac Talk mini, Emylee Vodden opens up about anxiety, stage fright, and the lessons his parents taught him about butterflies in the stomach. Instead of letting fear paralyze us, we can choose to use that nervous energy as fuel for action, courage, and growth. From high school performances to everyday challenges, Emylee shares simple mindset shifts to reframe anxiety into empowerment. If you...

In this episode of Pac Talk , Emylee Vodden dives deep into how we talk to kids about food—and how those conversations shape their relationship with health for life. What starts as a heartbreaking moment with a five-year-old worried about “getting fat” turns into a powerful reflection on breaking generational cycles of diet culture, shame, and restriction. Emylee shares her framework for sustainab...

Piet Vodden breaks down what “coaching” really means in 2025—how we got from big-box machines to CrossFit’s barbell revolution, and now to the hybrid model that blends functional bodybuilding, conditioning, running clubs, and community. Piet explains why great coaching is a learned craft: commanding a room, progressing skills safely, creating energy, and delivering results without burning people o...

In this episode of Pac Talk, Emylee Vodden sits down with her longtime mentor Andrea Marcum—yoga teacher, retreat leader, and author of Close to Om. Andrea shares her 20+ years of experience in yoga and fitness, from running a grassroots LA studio to leading transformative retreats in Bali, Italy, Mexico, and beyond. Together, they explore the power of curiosity, resilience, and community in susta...

On this solo episode of Pac Talk , Pieter Vodden dives deep into the reality of sacrifice in fitness. What does it take to be great at one discipline—and what do you give up along the way? From bodybuilding to Hyrox, half marathons, endurance hikes, and strength training, Piet shares how he balances competing priorities while still preserving muscle, family time, and long-term health. At 47, Piet...

Procrastination isn’t a time‑management problem—it’s an emotion‑management one. In this solo episode, I unpack how shame fuels the procrastination loop and why “I’ll do it tomorrow” keeps us stuck. (This framing comes from researcher Tim Pychyl’s work showing procrastination is about regulating feelings, not calendars.) I walk through a simple “Head, Heart, or Hands” check to pinpoint what’s reall...

In this episode of PAC Talk, Piet sits down with longtime friend and first-ever PAC coach, Shepherd Tate. From his early CrossFit days in Memphis to becoming Head Coach at Pharos Athletic Club, Shep shares the journey, lessons, and philosophy that shape his approach to programming, coaching, and community building. They dive into the evolution of PAC’s training model, the importance of progressive...

In this episode of PAC Talk, I sit down with fitness industry legend Paul Fetters to talk about a lifetime in bodybuilding, business, and the pursuit of sustainable health. From training at the iconic Gold’s Gym during bodybuilding’s golden era to pioneering personal training, launching semi-private training studios, and building a nationwide nutrition program, Paul shares the lessons that kept hi...

In the final installment of our PAC Perspective Anchors series, Piet and Emylee dive into their favorite core value: Lead with Light — to be the best part of someone’s day . Rooted in the origins of the Pharos lighthouse, this anchor is about showing up with intention, positivity, and human connection. It’s not just about reps and sets — it’s about smiling when people walk through the door, offeri...

In this episode of PAC Talk , we (Piet and Emylee) break down the second anchor of our PAC Perspective series: Move With Purpose—Anticipate the Need. This anchor is at the heart of everything we do at Pharos Athletic Club, from how we train to how we lead. We talk about what it means to act with intention and develop intuition, how quality beats speed, and why humility and awareness are non-negoti...

Welcome to the first episode of our PAC Perspective Anchors series on PAC Talk, hosted by Pieter Vodden and Emylee Covell. This episode breaks down the first core anchor that defines the culture at Pharos Athletic Club: "Show Up to Build Others." From pandemic parking-lot workouts to creating an unshakable tribe of support, Piet and Emylee unpack what it means to lead by example, cultivate communi...

What does it really mean to be resilient—not when things are easy, but when life is actively falling apart? In this powerful episode of Pac Talk, Piet Vodden and Emylee Cavell get honest about the emotional, financial, and physical weight of building something meaningful from scratch. From personal struggles and $2 million in debt to opening four gym locations without big corporate backing, this i...