Barbell Shrugged - Talking Training W/ Crossfit Games Athletes, Strength Coaches & More

Chris Hinshaw specializes in aerobic capacity coaching and programming for CrossFit athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and sports specialists.   Hinshaw has successfully coached 28 CrossFit Games champions and his athletes have filled more than 38 podium spots since 2013.   A former All American swimmer and an experienced professional triathlete with 10 Ironman finishes with 7 Ironman’s in Kona, Hawaii.  His top international finishes include a 2nd place overall finish at the Hawaiian Ironman World Championships, 2nd place overall finish at the Ironman World Championships in Canada, and a 1st place overall finish at Ironman Brazil.  He has been a CrossFit athlete since 2008.   CrossFit Headquarters selected Coach Chris as their Subject Matter Expert (“SME”) in Aerobic Capacity.  He specializes in endurance coaching for the CrossFit athlete. Hinshaw is a founding partner of Brute Strength as well as former NorCal CrossFit coach from 2012-2018. He currently shares his coaching and endurance programming through aero

In this week's episode I sit down with a fan boy named Herky Garcia (@herkygarcia). Herky emailed me back in 2015 to work and train at my gym. I said no. He continued to stay persistent and even came down for a visit one weekend and asked me again in person. I said no again. Eventually he decided to just move to Orange County and gamble on this dream of working out at CHALK and hanging out with one of his idols (me). Fast forward to today and he not only has a job here, but we consistently have sit downs where I give him motivating talks and try to teach him as much as I can. The reason I think this show is so great is because like Herky, there’s a ton of people out there reaching out to their idols and trying to make a move like this. In this episode Herky tells me how he had several living situation mishaps while being here including a few weeks where he slept in his car and even the gym. He asks me questions that he’s always wanted to know and I also answer a few questions off of social media. If you’ve e

Thane Marcus has spent the past four years deep diving into personal development. Although the object of that development was the arena of professional golf, the subject of that development was himself. During Thane’s golf career, he left no stone unturned in regards to maximizing his human potential. This ceaseless striving has given him a strong grasp of the process involved in producing his best work, whether that be within an office, sweating in the gym, or for the business he’s creating.   The main service that Thane is providing is what he calls Collaboration — Development and Performance Coaching (a combination of Coaching, Consulting, and Creating).   Along with these services, Thane is committed to providing consistent and thought-provoking content through written blog-posts each month, and through the content he produces on The Up & Comers Show. He says that this is as much selfish as it is selfless - since writing is an exercise which gives him more life than he can share with others in return.

Mansal Denton (@mansaldenton) is the founder of Nootropedia, an unbiased and accessible online nootropics resource to help you improve your cognitive abilities. Nootropics are substances that enhance mental functions, such as memory. He previously co-founded and grew Pure Nootropics into one of the 3 largest nootropics commodity ecommerce sites and exited after 15 months with buyout. In his spare time, he enjoys exploring the world of personal development, travel, meditation, and acro yoga. In this episode we dive into Mansal’s background, the mistakes you can make with nootropics, how the health of your mitochondria can increase your longevity, the supplements Mansal is currently taking, why obsessing over your body can be problematic, hunting, and much more.   Enjoy! -Mike   Episode Breakdown:   ⚡️0-10: Mansal’s background, thoughts on nicotine and other stimulants, and the mistakes you can make with nootropics    ⚡️11-20: How the health of your mitochondria can help increase your longevity and the work Man

Dr. Ralph Esposito (@dr.ralphesposito) is a New York based naturopathic physician, acupuncturist and functional medicine practitioner specializing in integrative urology, men’s health and nutrigenomics. He has designed education modules for health professionals specifically on urological conditions, male and female hormone dysfunction, hypogonadism, exercise, men’s health and sexual dysfunction. He's an adjunct professor at New York University where he lectures on integrative medicine. Currently, Dr. Esposito serves as a medical consultant and research analyst.   This week we talk all things hormonal health: ways to increase testosterone in men and women, enhancing fertility, what certain symptoms can tell you about your hormone health, the key lifestyle factors for optimal hormone balance, and much, much more with functional medicine physician Dr. Ralph Esposito.   Enjoy! -Ashleigh   Minute Breakdown: 11-18: An intro to Dr. Esposito and his background 18–24: Importance of your history and ancestry as it rela

Guido Trinidad (@guidotrinidad) is the owner and Founder of Peak 360 CrossFit. Guido began CrossFitting in 2008 and hasn’t stopped since. Along the way, he has earned himself a trip to the CrossFit Games, 6 South East Regional appearances, and a Peak family that he could not be more proud of.   Guido is a family man, owner and founder of Peak 360, and the creator of Wodapalooza. Guido helps teach people how to  enjoy the process of becoming a better you while not being too hard on yourself. He views training no as a class you take a couple of times a week, but instead as a place where people get to be active and have fun.   In this episode of Barbell Shrugged, we talk about where Guido’s journey started, how he opened Peak 360 with just $3,000 in the bank, the creation of Wodapalooza, the keys to building culture, the secret to having jacked arms, where the sport of Crossfit is headed, and much more.   Enjoy! - Anders and Doug   Episode Breakdown: ⚡️0-10: Where it all started and how Guido started Peak 360 wi

We're flipping the script this week: I've just met Lauren (@laurentickner), and she's going to interview me on my own podcast. It gets deep, it gets weird, it gets a little spiritual—this chick is not afraid of asking probing questions. We dive into how I found my passion, what makes me relentless, and the things that scare me (spoiler alert: one of them is Everest). Lauren shares what being a mentor of influencers looks like, and we both take a look back on the ways our brands have evolved.   We've got lots of great advice on how to be successful at just about anything, but the one thing you won't find here is a shortcut to achieving your goals. If you want to see your dreams become reality, you've got to put in the work, and it won't always be pretty. But someone less qualified than you is already out there killing it—so what are you waiting for?!   Go start failing! -Ryan   1:15 No pain no gain: Ryan as a child 5:30 The comp FOMO, how life changes 8:00 Where the drive comes from: sometimes you just know 14

Ryan Fischer’s entire life has always been about fitness. At the age of 12 he was a world ranked BMX racer. In high-school he ran track, played lacrosse, and football. Then, he got into skeleton and bobsled, and even qualified for the US Olympic Team Trials for both sports. Fischer is also a big time crossfitter, who finished top 5 in the CrossFit Regionals for multiple years. He went from being homeless, couch surfing, stealing food at Whole Foods, and a stint as a male stripper, to becoming owner of the most successful gym in Orange County, CrossFit Chalk. He also created Chalk Online, a groundbreaking corporate wellness program. Fischer always had a belief that life would work itself out if he kept working hard on his passions. In this episode Ryan and I talk about all things Instagram, Ryan’s roundabout sales pitch, old man syndrome, high intensity bodybuilding, and much more. Come join us at www.thestrongcoach.com   -Mike   Episode Breakdown:   ⚡️0-10: Figuring out where to put your energy, the time suck

In 2004, Jeff and Mikki Martin (@thebrandxmethod) imagined a better future for youth and began working toward that future by developing the original strength-and-conditioning program specifically designed for kids. Almost 15 years later, they continue to do what’s best for kids on a daily basis with The Brand X Method™, the world leader in youth fitness.   The Martins teach and speak all over the world; sit on the boards of fitness industry-leading organizations such as StandUp Kids and TeenLIFT; and are partnering with OPEX Fitness, the International Functional Fitness Federation, and Kerri Walsh’s p1440. They recently launched the first seminar in their new The Art of Growing Up Strong ™ live seminar series. The Brand X Method is currently represented worldwide by dozens of official Training Centers.   With decades of collective coaching experience between them in fitness and self-defense, the Martins have developed a method for optimal youth athletic development that combines state-of-the-art movement skil

Canadian-born Valentine Thomas (@valentinethomas) is a trained lawyer who worked in finance in London for six years before leaving it all to travel the world and spread the word about eating and fishing responsibly. She’s a Freediving Instructor with PADI, professional traveller, accomplished chef, TEDx speaker, entrepreneur and soon-to-be cookbook author.   Learn why a trained lawyer left her cushy job and life in London to live in her car before becoming a freediver, spearfisher, chef, and sustainable fishing and eating advocate. We discuss the risks and joys of working in the ocean; the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated profession; how she got over a near-drowning and subsequent fear of the water by becoming a freediving instructor; tips on how to hunt, shop, and eat sustainably and ethically; and why it’s important to spend your time doing what you love (even if it’s risky).   Episode Breakdown:   4-16 Why Valentine quit her lucrative career to become a spearfisher and free diver, and what i

Mathew Fraser (@mathewfras) is an American professional CrossFit Athlete. With a coined mantra of “Hard Work Pays Off” (HWPO), he has been a dominant force on the CrossFit Games stage since the beginning of his career defining a legacy in the sport. In 2014, his debut year at the CrossFit Games, he claimed 2nd place atop the podium and was awarded Rookie of the Year. In 2015, as the favorite to win, he claimed 2nd place again. Fraser recalls this 2015 moment not as a “win for 2nd” but a “loss for 1st”. In 2016, Fraser hit the competition floor and took 1st place, it was the first historic victory of his career, winning by the largest margin of victory in Games History. In 2017 and 2018 Fraser repeated not only his overall finish but each year has bested his own set record for winning by the larger margin of victory in Games History. In 2016 he led by 197 points, in 2017 he led by 216 points and in 2018 he led by 220 points. Fraser holds accolades in competitive sport before his time as reigning and defending

I'm teaming up with two CrossFit OGs for this episode, comin' atcha from Wodapalooza weekend! As veterans of Regionals, the Games, podcasting in the fitness community, gym-owning, and everything in between, Blair (@morrison_blair) and Ben (@ironmile_ben) need no introduction—which is why they don't get one. We get right down to airing our unfiltered opinions on Sectionals, Ben Smith's post about event programming, Rich Froning's shoes, Jen Widerstrom, and why the CrossFit community brings together the most awesome people.

  Dr. Matt Kreinheder is a transformational healer, speaker, and coach. He has a doctorate in chiropractic, a master's degree in acupuncture and has professionally written for publications all over the globe. Dr. Matt has been trained at the highest level of Network Spinal Analysis and mentored under Donny Epstein, a world renowned healer. Dr. Matt helps entrepreneurs and high performers step into the next level of who their soul is calling them to be.   After 4 college degrees, running his own business and studying some of the most transformational and profound healing work in the world, Dr. Matt came to the realization that something wasn’t working. He was helping people but there was a gap, an incongruity that was both stifling his happiness and his impact on the world. Dr. Matt realized that he was being called to more. In 2011 he realized that he had to get crystal clear on his soul purpose After an intensive writing and self discovery process Dr. Matt found his purpose in helping others become their mor

Jesse Elder’s (@jesseelderlive) own journey to self-mastery unfolded as he grew up in a family of 7. Being homeschooled, Jesse was given the gift by his parents of being largely self-directed in his education and spent hours exploring ideas that interested him. At the age of 9 Jesse was introduced to martial arts. Hitting the mats every week became a passion that would play a powerful role throughout Jesse’s life.   Coming out of his teenage years, Jesse learned that some things in life are too important to ignore and even though it might be uncomfortable, you must do what you think is right. This lesson helped give Jesse the courage to open his own school, which eventually transformed into him realizing that big ideas aren’t just for one person, but for anyone who desires more out of their life. The result of this realization is his website, jesseelder.com, which is a “vault” of mind videos at anyone's disposal.   In this episode we talk with Jesse about unconditional acceptance of self, developing a mindset

Devon Larratt (@devlarratt) is a world champion arm wrestler (in both arms) and received mainstream fame with his YouTube video defeating The Mountain Thor Bjornsson in an armwrestling match. He’s also a twenty-year veteran of the Canadian military, with time spent in an elite special forces unit, and one of the most dedicated athletes on the planet–with a healthy dose of humor, stoicism, and just plain genetic freakiness.   In this deep-dive interview with Devon, we talk about how he found the sport of armwrestling, how he came to dominate the sport–including his training, diet, mindset, and even psychological warfare tactics against his opponents. We also talk about his military service and how he is able to transfer the intensity and stress of that job to help him excel in his chosen sport, and in life in general. We also go on tangents including drugs and drug testing in armwrestling, how women are navigating the traditionally male-dominated sport, and pain and injury management— and how many arms Devon’s

Dr. Jordan Shallow (@the_muscle_doc) is a chiropractor and a competitive powerlifter who champions getting movement right, from the outset. Jordan's patients range from world-class athletes to 9-5 weekend warriors. Understanding the needs of each individual and subsequent demand of each of their lifestyles is the cornerstone on which his clinical practice is built. In this episode of Barbell Shrugged,  we talk to Dr. Shallow about research clickbait, the 3 pillars of evidence based research, why he thinks the hip thrust is BS (@ Bret Contreras), taking ownership of your healthcare, why learning terrifies people, and much more.   Enjoy! - Anders and Doug   Episode Breakdown: ⚡️0-10: Sliding into the DM’s and the hip thrust vs. front squat controversy ⚡️11-20: Research clickbait, the 3 pillars of evidence-based research, and why Dr. Shallow thinks the hip thrust is B.S. (yes, he and Bret Contreras have talked) ⚡️21-30: Injury risk management, the problem with the T-bar row, and knowing why you’re doing specific

Chandler Smith (@blacksmifff) is making a name for himself in the fitness world while holding it down in the Army—except for one time he got his finger chopped off. (You bet that story is included in this episode!) But he's fine, and crushing it on the Misfit team at Wodapalooza.   What does it take to be an athlete with a brand? We talk about the way the game has changed, being competitive while working a day job, and how sometimes you just need to fail until something works. Chandler gives us a glimpse into the influence Army training has had on his fitness career, and tells us what's next for him.   It may not always love us back (injuries, bad judges, the new Games qualification format) but we've got a lot of appreciation for this sport and all the crazy people we get to do it with. Whether you're a failed athlete in another sport, or you peaked and needed a new outlet, or you're just a savage addicted to the pain cave, there's room for you.   Now get out there and kill it! -Ryan   1:00 How the game has c

Max Shank (@maxshank) has written 3 books and taught over a hundred courses in countries around the world. These experiences have allowed Max to help 10's of Thousands of people across the globe improve their lives through physical fitness. Max has also had the pleasure to operate one of the best gyms in Encinitas, CA called Ambition Athletics, where hundreds of people get better every day. Max likes to experiment and explore the human condition. He believes that there is so much joy to be had from taking great care of your body and enjoying humans ability to navigate the world in a limitless variety of ways. If you get the wild idea to take up tennis, kickboxing, wakeboarding, or gymnastics in your 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond, Max wants to make sure you can do it-- without the fear of getting injured.   In this episode of The Strong Coach, Mike and Danny talk with Max about how to adopt the craftsman mentality, why humans need challenge to evolve, the power of taking care of the individual to preserve the commu

Conner Moore (@connerwanders) has spent years working with individuals and groups. The experience of reaching so many people led Conner to notice that everyone has an undeniable urge to connect to others with purpose and confidence in their contribution. Conner started to seek an understanding of what keeps us from accessing the fundamental human desire to be seen and understood. He became obsessed with removing what was limiting us from tapping into the most full and expressive versions of ourselves.   Conner’s obsession started a journey that led to the creation of The Realness and The Lifestyle Design Coaching programs. Sharing these experiences is Conner’s passion and he is incredibly grateful to work with others to take genuine ownership of their lives. Conner also created The Realness Podcast and Realness Retreat Costa Rica to further his ability to create connection and understanding for others.   In this episode, we talk with Conner about the 10 year challenge, frat life, finding your way through dark

Dr. Sean Pastuch (@drseanpastuch) is a doctor, coach, educator, coach to athletes, and founder of Active Life Rx, which he founded with a belief that the world deserves better solutions than the current modern medical model. Active Life Rx is the only company in the world helping thousands of people to get out of pain without going to the doctor or missing the gym. They also educate health care providers and fitness professionals on how to provide solutions to their clients the way we do for ours. In this episode of Barbell Shrugged,  we talk to Dr. Sean Pastuch about developing professional coaches, why clarity of vision is the most important conversation you will have in any relationship, finding your niche, and how to create space for mentorship both for yourself and those you are developing.   Enjoy!   - Anders and Doug   Episode Breakdown:   ⚡️0-10: Why the fitness industry is failing coaches ⚡️11-20: The system Dr. Pastuch has created to develop better coaches and why you should have a target audience ⚡