Chasing Excellence
364 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2K ratingsExploring how we can live a life of better health and increased fulfillment. We answer listener questions about the five factors of health, dive deep into what it takes to live a life of excellence, and explore the strategies and frameworks to help us chase what truly matters.
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Episodes
Great Coaches Beat Great Programming (2:00 #23)
January 26, 2021 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBWe're reaching back into the grab bag of your questions for this month's 2:00 Drill, talking about helping kids with mindset, scaling businesses, my thoughts on the value of hypertrophy training alongside CrossFit, and more. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Jump to a question: 03:15 - How I can get my 12-year-old son to understand the concept, power, and impact that mindset can have in every aspect of his life? 05:45 - I have been doing the same exact job for three years and worked in th...
Great Coaches Beat Great Programming (2:00 Drill #23)
January 26, 2021 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBWe're reaching back into the grab bag of your questions for this month's 2:00 Drill, talking about helping kids with mindset, scaling businesses, my thoughts on the value of hypertrophy training alongside CrossFit, and more.
Steven Kotler on Accomplishing the Impossible
January 19, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 64.7 MBSteven Kotler is the author of 13 books, including "The Rise of Superman." His newest book, "The Art of Impossible" is a deep dive into how to achieve peak performance, and is out now.
More Books, Movies, & Podcast Recommendations
January 12, 2021 11:00 - 38 minutes - 35 MBWe're always getting questions about the books, movies, and podcasts we've enjoyed lately - so this week we're doing a 3x3 to help fill your bookshelves, Netflix queues, & Spotify playlists. All links are in the show notes!
Don't Chase Happiness
January 05, 2021 11:00 - 29 minutes - 27.4 MBIs the advice to "just do what makes you happy" a bad strategy? That's what we're talking about today, diving into what creates fulfillment, why we have to be careful about always opting for "fun," and loving the process.
Advice to a 12-Year-Old CrossFitter (2:00 Drill #22)
December 29, 2020 11:00 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBThe 2:00 Drill is back this week, answering your questions about discipline and consistency, why I no longer do certain movements in my training, and my advice for how to work with and lead "sled dogs."
What's the Big Thing You're Chasing? (HopperTalk #01)
December 22, 2020 11:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBWe're testing out a new (fun?) show format this week called 10 Questions. Patrick and I share our answers to a handful of random questions, including popular things that are annoying and the most underrated CrossFit athletes.
What's the Big Thing You're Chasing? (10 ?s #01)
December 22, 2020 11:00 - 51 minutes - 46.9 MBWe're testing out a new (fun?) show format this week called 10 Questions. Patrick and I share our answers to a handful of random questions, including popular things that are annoying and the most underrated CrossFit athletes. Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick Jump to a Question: 02:10 - What is something popular now that annoys you? 04:30 - What pro athlete from outside CrossFit would you want to coach? 08:45 - What is the craziest, most outrageous thing you want to achieve? 17:20 - If you...
The Hierarchy of Mindset
December 15, 2020 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.1 MBDo you need to develop a killer instinct to get to the top of your chosen sport or profession? That's what we're talking about today, diving into my hierarchy of mindset and the 80/20 rule for tapping into the dark side.
Opening Gyms, Leadership Skills, & Mindset Hacks
December 08, 2020 15:18 - 52 minutes - 48.5 MBIn this month's rendition of the 3x3, I'm tackling not obvious things to do before opening a gym, lead more effectively, and ways to develop more of a growth mindset.
Back to Training After COVID (2:00 Drill #21)
December 01, 2020 11:00 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBBack at the 2:00 Drill this week, answering your questions about the importance of heart rate, how to work with clients who aren't bought in, how Katrin overcame her back injury, and lots more.
5 Characteristics of an Effective Coach
November 24, 2020 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBThis week, I'm breaking down the five traits all coaches need to strengthen to be effective: enthusiasm, curiosity, empathy, confidence, and subject matter expertise.
Telling Stories, Hard Conversations, & Life Lessons
November 17, 2020 11:00 - 26 minutes - 24 MBWe're back at our 3x3 this week, talking self-fulfilling prophesies that don't serve us, ways to enter into difficult conversations, and the lessons I've learned the hard way.
Designing a High School Health Curriculum
November 10, 2020 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.1 MBWhat would I do if granted the ability to design and implement a high school health curriculum? That's the hypothetical we're talking about today, covering the different ways I'd introduce the Five Factors to the students.
Reflections on the 2020 CrossFit Games
November 03, 2020 11:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBWe're home from the 2020 CrossFit Games and have lots of thoughts, hope for the future, and work to do. Here's my recap of our time out in Aromas.
James Clear on Working Backwards From Magic
October 27, 2020 10:00 - 49 minutes - 45.1 MBAuthor James Clear joins us this week to talk about opportunity costs, why reading is such a valuable habit, and why entrepreneurship is such a powerful engine of personal growth.
The Best Workout After a Cheat Day (2:00 Drill #20)
October 20, 2020 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.2 MBWe're jumping back into your questions this week, covering things like training for the CrossFit Games as a teen, how to warm-up for an early-morning workout, and the advice I hear all the time that I think is bad.
Lessons from Six Months of Lockdown
October 13, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.8 MBReflecting on the last six months of being in lockdown, today we're talking about being a realist, what to do when we're surrounded by negativity, and balancing being in the moment and anticipating the future.
Define Success, Eliminate Everything Else
October 06, 2020 10:47 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBI recently joined Greg McKeown on the Essentialism podcast, where we talked about measuring the most important things, learning about my leadership biases, and editing our lives to be sure there's space for the essential few. Here's our conversation.
CrossFit Games Lessons, Benchmarks, and Trends
September 29, 2020 10:00 - 40 minutes - 37.5 MBPost Stage 1 of the 2020 CrossFit Games, we're talking about the lessons I'm taking away from the weekend, the benchmarks I'd use to assess an athlete's capacity, and what I'm anticipating for the future of the sport.
Common Mistakes CrossFit Coaches Are Making
September 22, 2020 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBThere are best practices that every CrossFit coach can use to make their classes more professional and more effective. They include things like starting workouts better, not making eye contact, and using too many filler words.
Don't Try to Win Today (2:00 Drill #19)
September 15, 2020 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.5 MBWe're diving back into your questions this episode, covering topics from Wim Hof to why we don't program high-level gymnastics movements at CFNE to my advice for gyms as we continue to navigate these tough economic conditions.
Building a Goals First Nutrition Strategy
September 08, 2020 11:24 - 45 minutes - 41.3 MBIn early 2017, we did an episode about simplifying nutrition. This week, we're continuing to think about how to cut through the noise, focusing on how our goals and our eating styles should determine our nutrition strategy.
10 Principles of Training for Longevity
August 31, 2020 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.3 MBThese days, I'm no longer training for peak performance, but for longevity and function. In this episode, we break down the ten principles you should be focused on in the gym if you want to do the same.
Valuable Skills, Health Metrics, & Resiliency Tips
August 24, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBIn this round of our 3x3, I'm giving my three hot takes on skills worth developing, health metrics to track, and strategies for staying resilient. We touch on the power of focus, parenting with a growth mindset, and more.
Peloton vs C2 Bike for CrossFit? (2:00 Drill #18)
August 17, 2020 10:00 - 25 minutes - 22.9 MBWe're diving back into listener questions this week, talking about the difference between being proud and being prideful, my advice for using weightlifting shoes during metcons, what's on the horizon for CompTrain, and more!
How to Use CrossFit to Train for Other Sports
August 10, 2020 10:00 - 52 minutes - 47.8 MBWe often talk about using CrossFit to get better at CrossFit, but what if your athletic pursuits happen outside the gym? We're talking about that this episode, focusing on lifestyle, competitive, and endurance athletes.
Assessing Each of the 10 Components of Fitness
August 03, 2020 10:00 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBWe've talked before about paying attention to all ten of the components of fitness. Today, we're looking at how I might measure and assess each one in an attempt to understand where an athlete's weakest link might lie.
Mindset Strategies for Your Next Workout
July 27, 2020 11:03 - 42 minutes - 39.1 MBWe talk a lot about the power of mindset. Today we're bringing many of the principles we've touched on before down to the level of tomorrow's training session, discussing tips for before, during, and after a workout.
Creating a Hierarchy of Values (2:00 Drill #17)
July 20, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBThe 2:00 Drill returns this week! We're answering your questions about self-sabotage, using movements like burpees as punishment for kids, and the powerlifting program I'd recommend alongside CompTrain programming, and more.
Silver Linings, Performance Factors, & CrossFit's Direction
July 13, 2020 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.7 MBThe 3x3 is back! I'm offering some thoughts on 3 silver linings I'm paying attention to, 3 factors that determine performance, and 3 signs that will make me hopeful about CFHQ's new leadership.
#132: Measuring Consistency w/ EC Snykowski
July 06, 2020 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBEC Synkowski from OptimizeMe Nutrition is back to talk about how the five factors compare to the four measurables she tracks through The Consistency Project and the importance of simplifying our pursuit of health. Find us on Social: EC | Ben | Patrick Listen to EC's new podcast Get more info on EC's gym nutrition program About the Show Chasing Excellence is dedicated to dissecting what it means to live a life of excellence, inside the gym & out. New episodes every Monday. Abou...
#132: Measuring Consistency w/ EC Synkowski
July 06, 2020 10:00 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBEC Synkowski from OptimizeMe Nutrition is back to talk about how the five factors compare to the four measurables she tracks through The Consistency Project and the importance of simplifying our pursuit of health.
#131: The Last Two Weeks in CrossFit
June 29, 2020 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBThese last few weeks have certainly been the craziest in the history of CrossFit. We break down what's happened, the current state of things, and my thoughts on CFHQ's new owner.
#130: Answering Your Questions About Training
June 22, 2020 10:44 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBWe're back with an AMA I did on the CompTrain Instagram page. I'm answering questions about coming back to the gym post-COVID lockdowns, if we'll continue doing CrossFit benchmarks, getting better at toes-to-bar, and more.
AMA on Current State of CrossFit
June 15, 2020 10:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBThis week, we've got an AMA I did on Instagram Live, answering some of your questions on the current state of CrossFit, affiliation, and certification, as well as my hopes for the future.
#128: The Four Virtues w/ Ryan Holiday
June 08, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBWriter Ryan Holiday joins us to talk about Stoicism, the current unrest in the U.S. as we grapple with racial injustice, and the importance of developing self-awareness.
#127: AMRAPing Life w/ Jason Khalipa
June 01, 2020 11:23 - 52 minutes - 48.2 MBJason Khalipa, former CrossFit Games champ and founder of NCFIT, joins us this week to talk about the AMRAP Mentality, earned confidence, and the value of consistently checking in with yourself.
#126: We are Prepared for This
May 25, 2020 09:57 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBIf you're struggling to keep your head up during these tough times, if you're stressed about what might happen, if you need a reminder of just what you're made of ... this episode is for you.
#125: Assessing Mindsets, Pursuing Opportunities, & Reopening Gyms (3x3, #08)
May 18, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 34.8 MBThis week's 3x3 includes three ways you can assess your mental toughness, three things I'm focused on while being in lockdown, and three things gyms should keep in mind as they begin to reopen.
#124: Staying Competitive Despite the Lockdowns
May 11, 2020 09:50 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBTalking this week about how we're thinking about and planning for the 2020 CrossFit Games, my advice to athletes looking to continue making progress during the lockdowns, and why programming for yourself is a bad idea.
#123: How to Keep the Training Intensity at Home (2:00, #16)
May 04, 2020 10:00 - 41 minutes - 38.3 MBWe asked you guys to send us some lockdown specific questions for this week's 2:00 Drill, and you didn't disappoint. We tackle whether I think gym members should be paying full price right now, limiting words, and what to do to make sure we don't get too down.
#122: Useful Supplements, Uncommon Exercises, & Trust Buiding (3x3, #07)
April 27, 2020 21:11 - 22 minutes - 20.5 MBThe 3x3 returns this week with my hot takes on the 3 supplements every CrossFit athlete should take, the 3 exercises we should be doing (that won't show up in your CrossFit programming), and 3 ways to develop trust.
#121: 10 Habits to Avoid During Quarantine
April 20, 2020 10:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBThis week, we're revisiting one of our most popular episodes - but for our quarantine times. Here is my list of 10 bad habits to avoid while we're all locked in our houses.
#120: The Unknown and the Unknowable
April 13, 2020 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.4 MBThis week, Patrick and I catching up after a few weeks of quarantine and talking about shifting our routines, how we responded at CFNE, and the best way to fight the anxiety of the times.
#119: Success Isn't About Working Harder
April 06, 2020 10:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBThis week's episode is borrowed from Jason Khalipa's podcast, Business of Fitness. Down at WODapalooza this year, Ben & Jason sat down to talk about managing, working hard, delegation, & leadership.
#118: Knowing When it's Time to Make a Change
March 30, 2020 10:00 - 24 minutes - 22.4 MBWe're talking about knowing how to differentiate between when it's time to go (change gyms, leave a job, end a relationship) and when it's time to make the situation better by making ourselves better.
#117: Athlete Reads, Garage Gym Gear, & Sleep Tips (3x3 #06)
March 23, 2020 10:00 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBThe 3x3 is back this week! I give you 3 books every athlete should read, 3 pieces of gear I'd recommend for any home gym, and 3 ways to get at better night of sleep tonight.
#116: Turning Broad Goals into Concrete Action
March 16, 2020 10:00 - 32 minutes - 29.6 MBWe're breaking down the process I've used to transform my higher-level goals into daily actions, why accountability partners are so helpful, and why it's not enough to say things like, "I want to lose 15 pounds this year."
#115: Benchmarks Worth Testing Yearly (2:00 Drill #15)
March 09, 2020 10:00 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBThe 2:00 Drill returns! This time around, we're answering your questions about whether we should be doing HSPU, how triathlon training can help someone's CrossFitting, and what kind of benchmark workouts you should be keeping track of.