Chasing Excellence
348 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 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
#048: What it Means to be Productive
October 25, 2018 13:39 - 45 minutes - 42 MBWe're talking about putting first things first, the number of hours the average American spends watching television, & how I schedule my days & weeks to ensure I'm being effective.
#047: Two Minute Drill, Take #2
October 15, 2018 22:42 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBWe’re answering listener questions, including my advice to young athletes who want to make CrossFit a professional endeavor, recommended approaches to uncover food sensitivity issues, & my morning routine.
#046: Earning Trust & Building Teams
October 05, 2018 10:00 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBWe're talking about the philosophy & the process we take at CFNE to hire new people, the value of trust, & how to share your vision so that the whole team buys into it.
#045: Don't Get Bamboozled by Big Food
September 25, 2018 11:00 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBWe're talking about some of the reasons we're set up to fail when trying to eat clean, as well as a bunch of foods & ingredients to look out for as we pursue better health.
#044: Talent, Opportunities, & Effort
September 11, 2018 09:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBWe're talking about whether Katrin, Fraser, & Tia are more talented than other athletes, the value of deliberate practice, & why I think it's important to first define what you would consider a success.
#043: What to Do About Your Weaknesses
August 28, 2018 16:17 - 37 minutes - 34.9 MBIn this episode: We're talking about how to attack weaknesses in the gym, how to play to our strengths outside the gym, & how I've come to think about the areas in my own life I want to focus on improving. Show Notes: 01:54 - How I think about getting to the bottom of movement or performance issues 8:55 - Why I don't only competitive athletes should be focusing on their weaknesses 16:48 - What I think are the cross-over benefits to real life of learning how to attack weaknesses in the gym 23:...
#042: Desert Island Health
August 15, 2018 16:54 - 32 minutes - 34.3 MBIn this episode: We're imposing some imaginary constraints to explore some of my health & fitness principles. Topics include which CrossFit benchmarks workouts I'd pick to repeat forever if I had to, what single meal I would eat if I had to only eat one meal for the rest of my life, & what single movement I'd choose if I could only do one. Show Notes: 01:30 - My pick for what movement in the gym I would pick if I could only do one for the rest of my life 08:00 - If I could only do 3 CrossFit ...
#041: Tips to Improve Competitive Performance
August 03, 2018 17:57 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBIn this episode: We're talking about ways to be more competitive in the sport of CrossFit. Topics include how to get better at muscle-ups, tips for improving your double unders, & my best advice for athletes who don't have a coach. Show Notes: 02:06 - Quick recap of the Theoretical Development of a Champion 03:55 - My best advice for a competitor I've never seen compete or train 09:36 - Something I think too many athletes are doing in daily training 12:35 - Something I think not enough athlet...
#040: Effective Parenting Tactics
July 18, 2018 19:11 - 43 minutes - 40.3 MBI'm covering some of the most impactful parenting tips I've learned, including praising effort instead of talent, not keeping any junk food in the house, and why we don't let our kids quit. Show Notes: 01:33 - All Pro Dad article: https://www.allprodad.com/10-things-i-hope-my-children-remember-about-me-as-a-father 02:30 - Put your spouse first, not the kids 05:18 - Praise effort, not talent or achievement 05:56 - Grab "Grit" by Angela Duckworth here [https://amzn.to/2Lg2nP1], & "Mindset" by C...
#039: 10 Ways to Lead from the Front in Your Gym
July 03, 2018 14:10 - 30 minutes - 28.4 MBIn this episode: I'm going through ten of the ways I try to lead in my affiliate, including taking our own classes, welcoming feedback, & following through on what I say. Show Notes: 01:50 - #1: Take your own classes & follow your own programming 04:53 - #2: Move well 06:25 - #3: Eat clean 10:04 - #4: Use people's names & look them in the eye 17:14 - #5: Follow through on what you say 19:46 - #6: Welcome feedback & don't be defensive 22:04 - #7: Admit when you don't know something 24:05 - #8:...
#038: Why CrossFit is Different than the CrossFit Games
June 20, 2018 19:29 - 17 minutes - 16.5 MBIn this episode: I'm talking about the primary differences between the CrossFit that happens in our gym & the CrossFit that happens in Madison every summer. Show Notes: 02:02 - How I've come to think about the differentiation between CrossFit and the CrossFit Games 04:05 - My Mt. Everest analogy 07:01 - Why your focus shouldn't be on intensity 08:03 - Mechanics 09:59 - Consistency 10:35 - Appropriate Intensity 13:21 - How the goals of a CrossFit gym member is different than those of a CrossFi...
#037: The Benefits of Negative Visualization
June 05, 2018 11:00 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBIn this episode, we're talking about tactful conflict resolution, the benefits of talking through "If, Then" scenarios, & why thinking through what might go wrong is a great way to make things go right.
#036: 10 Habits You Should Stop Having
May 22, 2018 11:00 - 24 minutes - 22.5 MBI cover 10 things we shouldn't be doing, including hitting the snooze button, watching the news, & leaving dishes in the sink.
#035: The Secret to the Good Life
May 08, 2018 13:28 - 12 minutes - 11.7 MBIn this short episode: I talk about the two questions you should be asking yourself consistently if you want to live a fulfilled life, and why you shouldn't always trust your feelings in pursuit of your goals. Show Notes: 00:01:55 - The first question everyone should be asking themselves 00:04:04 - The second question everyone should be asking themselves 00:04:30 - Grab Stephen Covey"s "7 Habits" [http://amzn.to/2miHUMI] & "First Things First" [https://amzn.to/2KJU9LR] 00:06:05 - Why your fee...
#034: Frequently Asked Nutrition Questions
April 24, 2018 11:00 - 25 minutes - 23.5 MBI'm answering some of the most common nutrition questions we get at the gym, from which supplements I recommend to intermittent fasting, from hydration to how much red meat is too much. Show Notes: 00:00:50 - Watch all the CFNE Way Episodes here: https://goo.gl/u8Nfkv 00:02:22 - What sources would you recommend for a deeper dive into learning about nutrition? 00:04:30 - Grab Michael Pollan's books here: "In Defense of Food [https://amzn.to/2qOazd4], "Omnivore's Dilemma" [https://amzn.to/2qLRY...
#033: Assessing Health by Measuring Fitness
April 11, 2018 22:32 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBTalking about going to the doctor, why how many burpees you can do in a minute is an indication of more than just your fitness, & the difference between being a swim coach & a lifeguard.
#032: Breaking Down the Five Factors of Health
March 28, 2018 13:29 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBWe're talking about good habits & bad, the three steps of every habit, & about taking small steps in the right direction. // You can see the poster here: https://goo.gl/hi4BhA
#031: A Recipe for Better Habits
March 07, 2018 19:11 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBWe're talking about good habits & bad, the three steps of every habit, & about taking small steps in the right direction. // Grab "Chasing Excellence" here: http://amzn.to/2vSjU4q
#030: Two Minute Drill, Take 1
February 23, 2018 00:52 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBIn this episode: Answering some listener questions, including the how to balance intensity & volume in training, what I'm working to improve these days, & my recommendations for athletes coming back from injury.
#029: Getting the Most Out of Your Training
February 07, 2018 14:24 - 31 minutes - 29.2 MBWe’re talking about why we put so much emphasis on recovering well, touching on nutrition, sleep, muscle work, icing versus heat, stress, & much more.
#028: Strengthening Your Grit Muscles
January 17, 2018 21:40 - 22 minutes - 21.1 MBWe're talking about resilience, a fixed mindset versus a growth mindset, & why hard work is more important than talent.
#027: The Development of a Champion
January 02, 2018 16:51 - 24 minutes - 22.9 MBWe're breaking down the theoretical development of a champion & what makes the difference between good athletes & great athletes.
#026: Answering the Questions from Tribe of Mentors
December 14, 2017 14:12 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBWe're answering the 11 questions posed in Tim Ferriss's new book Tribe of Mentors. Subjects include the books that have influenced me the most, how caffeine is amazing in small doses, & why I don't believe in failure.
#025: The Value of Thinking Big
November 29, 2017 22:19 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBWe're talking about how CFNE, CompTrain, Project:Elevation, & working with Elite CrossFit Games athletes are all part of the same mission.
#024: Fueling the CrossFit Athlete
November 07, 2017 11:49 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBWe're talking about why nutrition is so important in the sport of CrossFit, ideal body fat percentages for athletes, & what supplements I recommend CrossFit athletes take.
#023: Maximizing Your Minutes
October 24, 2017 18:38 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBTalking about time management, putting first things first, & why it'd be great if email wasn't a thing.
#022: The Importance of Being Strong Enough
October 11, 2017 19:42 - 20 minutes - 18.9 MBIn this episode: We're talking about why athletes who want to make waves in the sport of CrossFit need to focus on getting strong enough to actually be competitive.
#021: W.H.O.O.P.I.E.
September 28, 2017 01:58 - 20 minutes - 18.5 MBWe're breaking down an acronym that can help you set better goals & achieve bigger things.
#020: 2017 CrossFit Games Debrief
September 01, 2017 13:46 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBWe're talking about Madison, the programming, & the lessons we learned during the 2017 season
#019: Katrin Davidsdottir
August 01, 2017 13:53 - 47 minutes - 43.4 MBIn this episode: Talking with Katrin Davidsdottir about moving to the U.S. to train, surrounding yourself with the right people, & putting in 100% effort.
#018: Putting Character First
July 26, 2017 18:37 - 27 minutes - 25.4 MBWe're talking about why I always start with character, the value of spending time in silence, & what most people are missing in their training.
#017: Preparing for the Games
July 11, 2017 17:18 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBTalking about my month-long CrossFit Games training camp, why eliminating distractions are important, & how excellence is contagious.
#016: How to Train with Intention
June 06, 2017 12:26 - 27 minutes - 25.6 MBWe're talking about the difference between practice, training, & competition, & why you should go into every session at the gym knowing which mode you're in.
#015: Redefining Adversity
May 24, 2017 15:42 - 23 minutes - 21.6 MBTalking about why a busted ACL can be a good thing, what Brent Fikowski, Tom Brady, & Katrin Davidsdottir have in common, & why you should focus less on what happens & more on how you respond to what happens.
#014: Simplifying Nutrition
May 03, 2017 21:00 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBWe're talking about why I prefer to keep my nutritional advice simple, the value of getting blood work done, & why both quality & quantity matters.
#013: Working With Members Who Compete
April 18, 2017 12:35 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBTalking about the best ways I've found to work with my members who want to compete in CrossFit, without losing their connection to our community.
#012: How to Chase Happiness
April 03, 2017 18:33 - 28 minutes - 25.8 MBWe talk about why happiness doesn't live on the other side of achievement, gratitude, & why relationships matter more than money.
#011: Cole Sager
March 21, 2017 13:25 - 52 minutes - 48.1 MBCole Sager stops in to talk about growing up in a small town, his football career, & the "why" behind everything he does.
#010: Conditioning-Biased Programming
March 07, 2017 13:37 - 26 minutes - 24.8 MBTalking about the difference between programming for competitors versus members of our affiliates, the downfalls of strength-biased programming, & why less is almost always more.
#009: Living Based on Core Values
February 21, 2017 15:41 - 30 minutes - 28.5 MBWe discuss how I think about Core Values today versus how I used to think about them, & why they're so important to think about every single day.
#008: Brooke Wells
February 08, 2017 17:19 - 36 minutes - 33.4 MBBrooke Wells stops in during a weekend of training with Ben to talk about her background, her training, & her hopes going forward.
#007: Becoming a Leader
January 24, 2017 13:56 - 30 minutes - 28 MBTalking about the different levels of leadership, the definition of trust, sincere listening, & how to build a staff of strong leaders.
#006: Daily Discipline
January 10, 2017 16:16 - 29 minutes - 27.5 MBTalking about goal-setting, building habits, & why you want to strive to keep the chain of success going.
#005: The 2030 Games Champ
December 27, 2016 17:53 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBTalking about how I might guide a young athlete toward future success in the sport of CrossFit.
#004: Practical Ways to Boost Your Community
December 13, 2016 20:30 - 32 minutes - 29.9 MBIn this episode: We're talking about some of the small (but important) ways CFNE shows their members they care, touching on topics like thank-you notes, what your programming says about your priorities, & the value of giving your coaches constraints.
#003: Evaluating Opportunities
November 29, 2016 15:10 - 27 minutes - 25.7 MBIn this episode: We're chatting about how I think about opportunities, some of the reasons we decided to cancel the East Coast Championships, & why I made the decision years ago to stop being a competitive athlete.
#002: Maximizing Your CrossFit Open
November 15, 2016 18:26 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBIn this episode: We talk about how to maximize your CrossFit Games Open. Topics include how to fit the events into your normal training schedule, what might be coming in 2017, & the value of leaderboarding.
#001: Building a Coaching Team
October 26, 2016 17:28 - 25 minutes - 23.7 MBWe look back to when CrossFit New England was first ready for us to build a coaching team, the mistakes we made while we figured that out, & what we look for in new coaching hires these days. Web: http://www.builtbybergeron.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbergeron/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/builtbybergeron/