Pursuing Health

Healthcare practitioners speak on what drew them to CrossFit when their colleagues might have said it was dangerous, how the risk of injury in CrossFit compares to other sports, the risk vs. benefits of exercise, the most effective recovery modalities, how we can change the perception of CrossFit in the medical community, and more. You can connect with the featured panelists via Instagram: Sean Ro...

After years of experiencing mysterious intermittent pain in his back, Scott Young was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an inflammatory autoimmune condition that, over time, can cause the bones of the spine to fuse. In this episode, he shares how his physical therapist encouraged him to start CrossFit to improve his movement mechanics, and how, over time, that’s led to his realization that st...

Jenna Muri-Rosenthal is a speech-language pathologist, certified brain​ injury specialist, and a CrossFit Level 2 Trainer.  As the founder of Fit to Function Recovery, she has blended these areas of expertise into a program that combines functional fitness with cognitive rehabilitation.     Jenna works with survivors of brain injury and strokes, both one-on-one and in a community environment to he...

Jen Dudley shares her amazing story of personal transformation.  Her struggles with career anxiety and the stress of nursing school had led to an 80 pound weight gain, and no matter how many times she told her friends and family she was ready to make a change, she always seemed to wind up back where she started, feeling embarrassed for her lack of success.  She finally got the wake up call she nee...

Dr. Shon Rowan is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology.  He completed his medical training at the West Virginia University School of Medicine and continues to work there as an Assistant Professor.  He is clinically active in reproductive medicine including infertility and In Vitro Fertilization, and recently led a research study exploring how monitoring pregnant women’s resting heart rate...

Fran Whitfield is a London based personal trainer who, at age 25, learned she has breast cancer that had metastasized to her brain and was given a prognosis of 2 years to live.  Unwilling to settle for such a grim diagnosis, Fran sought the help of a care team who was willing to fight the disease with her.  She credits her hedge of fitness with helping her recover quickly from brain surgery, and h...

Athena Perez is the owner of Scaled Nation CrossFit, the author of the book, Lifting the Wait, and is an advocate for the inclusivity of obese and overweight athletes in the CrossFit community. She has a remarkable transformation story, and she draws on her experiences to support others in need. A survivor of child abuse, Athena has struggled with her relationship with food since the age of 5, but...

As a second degree black belt in Taekwondo, two-time New York City marathon finisher, and long-time CrossFit athlete, Vanessa Lew was shocked when she experienced a ruptured brain aneurysm while working out. Thanks to the quick thinking and fast reaction of her CrossFit community, she quickly received the appropriate medical attention, and within weeks was on the road to recovery.   In this episod...

Austin Malleolo and James Hobart have been leaders in the CrossFit community for over a decade. Austin is a 7-time CrossFit Games competitor, including two individual finishes inside the Top 10. James is an 8-time Games veteran, including two first place finishes as part of Team CrossFit Mayhem Freedom.   Austin and James are also two of the most prolific CrossFit Seminar Staff Flowmasters, having...

Michael Asterino shares his journey from young lacrosse athlete managing a chronic stomach condition known as gastroparesis, to college sophomore struggling with alcohol and drug abuse. When Michael recognized that his addictions were damaging his relationships and preventing him from upholding commitments, he sought help from others who were sober. With their support, he started on a path to self...

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon is a functional medicine physician specializing in the concept of muscle-centric medicine, which focuses on the largest organ in the body, skeletal muscle, as the key to health and longevity.  By using high-quality protein diets, supplements, and resistance training, she helps a variety of patients, from those suffering with sarcopenia or pre-diabetes to elite military operators...

Scott Britton is the founder of Battle Cancer, a non-profit that uses functional fitness events to raise funds for cancer charities, as well as provides free training programs to help cancer survivors thrive post-treatment.   Originally a small, personal fundraising initiative, Scott quickly recognized that when it came to creating a big impact, there is strength in numbers.  He recruited others a...

Jackie Bowen is the executive director of the Clean Label Project, a non-profit with the mission to bring transparency to food and product labeling by using analytical chemistry and data investigations to research top selling products. Jackie has a Master of Science in quality engineering from Easterm Michigan University, a Master of Public Health in management and policy from University of Michig...

Samantha Briggs has been a staple athlete within the CrossFit community for over a decade. Her nickname, “The Engine,” refers to her incredible work capacity in longer events, but it now seems to apply to her longevity in the sport as well.  Sam is a 9-time CrossFit Games competitor, the 2013 Fittest Woman on Earth, and in 2022, she has her sights set on becoming the fittest 40 year-old in history...

200 episodes of Pursuing Health, wow!    To celebrate, I decided it was time for a long overdue Q+A style episode.  Thank you to everyone who responded to my email request for questions; there were so many fantastic ones, and I wish I was able to cover them all!    To make this Q+A session extra special, I enlisted the help of my friend Pat Sherwood.  Pat was one of the first people to interview m...

Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph. D., is the Director of the National Institutes of Health, and the only presidentially appointed director to serve more than one administration.  In this role, Dr. Collins oversees the work of the largest supporter of biomedical research in the world, spanning the spectrum from basic to clinical research. A pioneer gene hunter, Dr. Collins led the Human Genome Project...

Jeff Livingston is a retired maternal fetal specialist who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the relatively young age of 36 after noticing a tremor in his finger.   Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative, progressive neurological disorder that leads to reduced dopamine production and can result in tremors, balance problems, stiffness, and even depression.   For many years Jeff did very litt...

The secret to training success? The right type of exercise in the right dose for the right person. Dr. Mark Goodman is an emergency and sports medicine physician who utilizes this secret  to help athletes understand how to make the most of their time spent in the gym.  Dr. Goodman received his medical training at Oregon Health and Science University and completed his residency at University of Uta...

At age 20, Sarah Adams was surprised to learn she had Asperger Syndrome.   She had taken advanced classes in school, played competitive sports, attended college, and overall enjoyed a happy, healthy childhood.   After receiving her diagnosis, some of the symptoms and signs of the condition she experienced as a child began to make sense.   Rather than feel limited by her diagnosis, Sarah has been a...

"Imagine you’re doing thrusters, but you can breathe like you’re going for a walk." Max Finkbeiner and Kate Caines have developed a methodology to help do just that.  By using science, data, targeted assessments, and technology, they derive relative intensity personalized to individuals.  These athletes can then use this information to inform their training, making sure to work on all of their ene...

Scott Switzer is a former athlete, CrossFit Level 1 Trainer, and a familiar face at CrossFit events across the country.  He has a remarkable transformation story, having lost nearly 250 pounds and reversing his diabetes with the help of his neighbor, his family, and his CrossFit community.   But Scott’s journey has not been without setbacks.  Back surgery, a vascular condition, and an ongoing stru...

David Haase, MD, is a doctor, teacher, author and innovator. In his practice, he strives to be a super-generalist, looking at the human body as a whole and applying relentless curiosity to identify and treat the root cause of a patient’s disease. Dr. Haase received his medical training at Vanderbilt University and completed his residency in family medicine at the Mayo Clinic. He is board certified...

Three-time PGA Tour winner Scott Stallings has been a professional golfer since 2010.  Despite turning in successful performances on green, off the course, Scott struggled with sleep, excess weight, and lack of energy, all compounded by a grueling travel schedule.   He finally decided enough was enough and made a huge lifestyle overhaul.  He worked with a physician to address hormone imbalances an...

Katie Spotz is an incredibly impressive ultra-endurance athlete who has undertaken enormous adventures across the globe to help raise funds for clean water and sanitation for underserved communities.   Just a few highlights: at 22, she rowed solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 70 days, becoming the youngest person ever to do so.  In 2020, she ran 138-miles nonstop in 33-hours across the state of Mai...

At a very young age, Jess Esch became aware that her shape and size did not fit in amongst her friends.  She struggled with years of shame and insecurity and fell into a pattern of starving herself, followed by large binges.  By 16, her weight peaked at 220 lbs, and her doctor began discussing the potential for gastric bypass surgery.   Jess was devastated by the idea, and instead turned to her fa...