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I asked Lynn to be on the podcast right around when I started it.  She has a really cool story of recovering from an eating disorder.  We met at CrossFit during one of my first ever workouts in the class.  I became friends with her and have been friends ever since. I had just met Dallas during the podcast, and I was glad I got to talk with both Lynn and Dallas.  We talked about nutrition and training and what it was like working together to overcome an eating disorder and develop a healthy relationship with food. Lynn and Dallas both powerlift, and they have used those talents to help others through different organizations, like Relentless and Hope Kids. I really enjoyed this podcast, and I hope you do as well!  

Leslie Franklin was such an awesome interview.  Especially for my 40th Episode!  Loved getting to sit down and talk fitness, hard work, diet and about everything else. What I loved about our conversation was how you could tell she cared about what she was doing and how she was passionate about helping people and passionate about her own goals.  You can tell she loves what she does and loves helping those around her. Loved talking about how she took the leap of faith and chased her dreams to be a trainer after she realized being trapped behind a desk wasn’t for her. It was cool to talk about powerlifting and body building and what it takes to do both and how the mindset works while training for either.  We talked a lot about diet and getting your head right and “deciding your hard.” Hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.  Follow Leslie at the links below! https://www.instagram.com/leslie_teamgorman/ www.team-gorman.net snapchat @leslielilbadass

Seth was a fun interview and was super glad I got to talk to him before he moved to Virginia. We talked about a lot of fun stuff! We talked about his experience with going to the CrossFit Games the last two years.  What it is like seeing the all stars of the sport and then competing with them to become their friends. Seth did a lot of his training while in college alone in his garage.  There wasn’t a CrossFit where he was at, but it didn’t stop him from training. Hope you all enjoy this episode of the Unbroken Podcast and remember to check out this episode’s sponsor Axom Performance.   On apparel purchases use the discount code ‘Unbroken’ for a 10% discount.

John Gorman is such a good guy! So much fun to talk to and has such a wealth of knowledge when it comes to weight loss.  In his busy schedule, he took the time to sit down with me, and we talked a little bit about everything: weight loss, writing books, relationships, starting his business and working hard for your dreams. We also talked about his son Jay’s new business, the Phat Muscle Project.  Be on the lookout for his apparel company.  I got myself one of his shirts, and they are awesome. John has also just released his second book, “The Flexible Fat Loss Solution.”  Find it on Amazon, or click HERE. When I posted this link, it was on sale for $14.27.  Go get it!  I am reading it now, and it has put a fire under me to get back after it and do it right. Check out all of the ways your can follow John.  My personal favorites are Snapchat and Facebook.  He drops knowledge bombs on you daily and makes you laugh all while inspiring you to be better.  So grab a “White Trash” energy drink, and check out this episode of the Unbroken Podcast! Find John in the links below. www.team-gorman.net www.facebook.com/teamgorman www.facebook.com/teamgorman.395 www.instagram.com/team_gorman https://1stphorm.com/athlete/john-gorman/ Periscope- @teamgorman Snapchat- @teamgorman [email protected]

Chris Baker was a fun podcast to record.  We recorded this episode earlier in July but I have been a little out of pocket as of late and have just now got to post it.  I apologize we have not had an episode every week for July.  August will be better. Chris Baker is a wellness coach for Cigna and is assigned to work with O’Reilly Auto Parts.  This is where I work, so I have seen his post and comments at work through mail and newsletters and I know he would be a great guest on the show. We talk about his background in fitness and his professional career.  From playing professional soccer, to biking and Olympic weightlifting and to being a wellness coach.  I had a lot of fun recording the episode with Chris!

This was a fun interview. Melody is a down-to-earth person who has some fun stories!  She is a morning anchor for KSPR in Springfield Missouri.  She has also lost over 50 pounds and managed to keep the weight off over a year. Melody, like myself, does not like to run, but we both know the importance of doing it. She has found joy in doing triathlons. I love that she really doesn’t have a training plan that she follows; she just knows that she needs to do work and puts it in. It works for her, and it’s what keeps training fun. After college, she gained weight. She was playing college basketball and ate whatever she wanted. Once she stopped playing, she kept eating and noticed a weight gain. With the help of a good friend, she was able to find the motivation to head to the gym and eat healthy. Loved just sitting down and talking to a friend. Hope you all enjoy this episode of the podcast!

This episode of the Unbroken Podcast I interviewed Rob Bernet.  I enjoyed talking to him and left the interview feeling like I made a new friend. Rob is a graphic designer as his day job but understands the benefit of exercising and bettering himself. I’d be more than happy to look like Rob at his age. When Rob was just a kid, he was small and skinny but tried out for football and, in his words, was not very good. So him and a friend on the back of a comic book saw an ad for a bodybuilding guide.  They ordered it and over the next year they really put some work in and gained some serious size and strength.  Rob found himself being on top of the players on the team the next year.  He went from being picked on to people leaving him alone.  That set the tone for the rest of life in aspects of fitness. Rob found CrossFit back in 2007 when it was still fairly new.  Just trying to figure out what to do with the workouts that were posted at crossfit.com.  In 2011, he thought he tweaked his back, but turned out he had a staph infection in his spin that caused some of his vertebra to fuse together. He had a fight for his life and was told that he might not even be able to walk again. Against the odds and due to his great physical shape and help of pure determination on his part, he is again in the gym killing workouts.  Rob even got 1st place in the Granite Games in the 50+ division in 2015! Also very excited to announce that this episode was brought to you by Axom Performance.  Check them out for your all your rig needs.  Looking to upgrade the rig at your box or put something up in your home garage? Axom has what you need. Also, check out the rental rig they have to rent so you can  host that competition you have always wanted to do.  They also have some amazing apparel to buy for all your functional fitness needs.  Use the code “Unbroken” to get 10% off your apparel purchase!

This was a fun podcast.  Seth is the owner of Axom Performance.  He is a very down-to-earth guy, and you can tell he loves what he does.  I loved talking shop with him on the ins and outs of running a business that sells and rents rigs. I Learned a lot about what kind of need there is for rigs.  Not only for CrossFit gyms, but also Seth has seen more of the traditional gyms wanting to purchase a rig.  Schools and hospitals are also wanting rigs for their employees and students. Axom Performance also rents out rigs for competitions, and there is such a big demand for it. A weekend off for Seth is rare, because he is bringing his rigs to competitions.  He has met all kinds of people at those events. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it.

So grateful that Cara said yes when I asked her to be on the podcast. Such a cool interview. This has been one of my favorite episodes by far.  Just hearing about some of the things she has overcome and her strength of will has inspired me so much. Cara has lost over a hundred pounds and overcame cancer twice. We talked about how she had tried almost everything in the book to lose weight but nothing stuck.  Then, she found out she had cancer. In her mind, she felt like her weight was the cause of the cancer.  This put a fire under her to lose the weight. She has not looked back since. Love the story she tells about how she decided to bike a 300-mile race across Missouri because she saw a Groupon.  She had never done a race or even owned a bike at that time. Not only did she do the race, but she did it on a Walmart bike. She has just finished chemotherapy and is waiting to hear if she is cancer free. As of the recording, she had not heard yet, but I have great news.  She is in remission!  Hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did recording it!

Tommy Barker was a blast to have on the podcast. He is super inspirational and an awesome guy.  Loved getting to know him better.  It’s not everyday you get to sit down with a ninja and talk shop! Tommy owns two martial arts studios, Kicking It Martial Arts, and has been practicing it for over 30 years.  We talk about how he went from being an angry kid and almost being sent to military school to thriving with martial arts. I know Tommy through CrossFit Republic, and we talk about how applying the tools he has learned through mentors and his coaches in life has made him into a better person and coach.  Every mentor and coach that he has had, either through martial arts or any other aspect of fitness, has made him into the person and coach he is today. Hope you enjoy the episode.

Ben Davis has been an inspiration to me for a long time.  His video, My 120 Pound Journey, is what got me started down the path of health over 5 years ago.  Seeing someone change his life and start running got my butt off the couch and moving. Ben has taken another journey as of late. He started a walk across the United States in Los Angeles, and he will end in Boston July 23rd. When I interviewed him May 21, he was in Columbia Missouri. I was so excited to drive up to meet him and talk to him about his adventures. We talk about many things including some of the nights alone in the dessert with only Taylor Swift’s 1989 to keep him company and meeting all sorts of amazing people on his walk. We talk about the struggle of weight loss and diet.  Working out is the easy part for both of us; it is the eating right that is the hard part. Photo credit Jason Tracy I loved getting to talk to Ben.  He is a down-to-earth guy who lives for the moment.  Little known fact… I can deadlift more than him…

Alissa was someone I have always looked up to in the CrossFit world. She is a great coach and super strong.  She was a coach at the gym where I started CrossFit. One day, she was talking about rope climbs to the class, and I said to someone under my breath, “I will never be able to do that.” She whipped around and told me that she will get me there. I was excited to talk to Alissa, because she just recently lost quite a bit of weight to compete in an Olympic weight lifting competition. We got to talk about the struggles of balancing strength with weight loss. Alissa was a lot of fun to talk to.  I hope you enjoy her episode as much as I did to record it.

I was really excited when Eric said he would be on the podcast.  I have known Eric since I started running 5 years ago.  He helped me buy my first real pair of running shoes at The Starting Block, and I have been his friend on Facebook ever since.  I have been able to follow some of his story and training since then. Eric is the store manager of Ultramax in Springfield, Missouri.  We talk about why he started running and training.  He realized he was a natural at running, and it was something he was good at.  This eventually translated into a career after he saw a need for a store specializing in running in Springfield. He has fit several thousands of people in new shoes since he started doing it, and in doing so, he has learned a lot and plans on writing a book on fitting people into shoes. Eric was a blast to have on the podcast, and I learned a lot from him. I hope you enjoy it and learn a lot, too.

Part of the reason I love doing what I am doing now is that I get the opportunity to meet people like Jacob and Joe Hamby.  They were just a really cool family of CrossFitters that I would see at local competitions.  Me being who I am had to introduce myself to them and a quick friendship grew between me and the whole West Plains crew, especially the Hamby family. So I had to sit down with these rock stars.  Joe Hamby was one of the people who helped bring CrossFit to West Plains over 6 years ago.  He brought his family along, and admitting at first, they really didn’t care for it. But over time, everyone came around to really loving the sport, and now it is something they all do together as a family. Jacob has just turned 17 and is snatching and cleaning and jerking more than I have ever imagined.  He is super strong and hitting numbers that people twice his age dream of. Very humble and mature for his age, too. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did making it.  So cool to see a father and son bonding over something they both love.

Had the opportunity to sit down with Jeremy Mhire at his gym at CrossFit Springfield a few weeks ago and talk for an hour about a little bit everything. Jeremy was my first CrossFit coach when I started three years ago. I got to ask him what he thought when seeing someone who was super sedentary change their lifestyle and try something like CrossFit. Jeremy was in a boy band in the early 2000’s called Plus One! It was fun to talk to him about how he got that opportunity and how being in that band translates into his coaching today. We also had the opportunity to talk about HOA, Heart Of America Competition, and how it came about.  Started off really small at the local box and has grown into a major event in this region.  We talk about the reasons behind Heart of America and how he discovered that his wife has a rare heart condition and almost died on the side of the road. I really enjoyed talking to Jeremy about all things fitness and family.  Hope you enjoy the podcast, and here is a video to enjoy from his boy band days!  

Jeff swore off three things after he got out of the Marines.  Running, camping and shooting. Now he does those three things more than ever, especially running. I met Jeff 5 years ago when I started running with Nixa Running, and now, we are both Idiots in the Idiots Running Club. In the last 5 years, Jeff has gone from running a 5k and then his first marathon to running several ultra marathons.  We talk a lot about how Jeff has learned to listen to his body and become a better runner. After completing several marathons, Jeff also talks about how to look for the next challenge. Jeff has a wish list of really fun races that he wants to do that most people wouldn’t even imagine doing. Loved this episode.  Jeff is a great friend and great athlete.

It is so cool to have 25 episodes of the podcast, and I am thrilled that this episode is with Jessi Neal. Some call her the mother of CrossFit in the southwest Missouri area.  I got to sit down and get to know more about her. Jessi was not always an athlete. She grew up playing music and was a music major playing  the cello. Somehow, she found a love for theme park management and started perusing that career. She even learned how to drive a steam engine at Silver Dollar City. When she was interviewing for her dream job, she had a brain aneurysm. We talked a lot about how she was one of the people who brought CrossFit to this area and how it has grown so much.  There were a couple of times when it didn’t make it off the ground. I loved talking to Jessi and getting to know her.  Enjoy the episode! Also go check out the Hero Showdown by clicking HERE.  If you want to donate check out their Amazon Wish List by clicking HERE

I got to drive to Branson Missouri to record this podcast with a friend, Justin Jones.  We were able to sit in the back office of Crossfit Branson and talk about what he has been doing! Justin and I met through local athletic competitions. We talk about how he started a few competitions in southwest Missouri. We also discuss his day in the life of a firefighter and how he became one. Justin and his wife are driven by goals and have accomplished many things.  They were the owners of CrossFit Branson but have since sold the business to some other members and then started a corporate wellness business.  He also joined the Navy.  We talk about how excited he is to serve his country. I loved talking to Justin, and I hope you enjoy listening to this podcast episode! Also, do not forget to check out the MO’ Weight Lift Off at MO’ Fitness on April 23rd.  Come set a PR on your Clean and Jerk and Snatch!  Only $40! Click Here to sign up! The Unbroken Podcast will be there with these other amazing sponsors: 2Pood Complete Nutrition Rhode Blocks Livesore Axom Performace https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mo-weight-lift-off-tickets-20899917215

This podcast was a lot of fun.  Talking to a fellow Chris, you know it will be good! Chris is a chiropractor in Joplin Missouri at Carlson Chiropractic Center, and I took the opportunity to pick his brain regarding back health while trying to be healthy. Love that he said that Crossfit has made him a better chiropractor.  We talk about how sitting in chairs is killing us.  We talk about how he gets the chance to help others with his love for fitness with his profession.  We also talk about becoming a dad! His is very passionate about fitness and helping others.  I hope you all enjoy this podcast as much as I did recording it. Also, do not forget to check out the MO’ Weight Lift Off at MO’ Fitness on April 23rd.  Come set a PR on your Clean and Jerk and Snatch!  Only $40! Click Here to sign up! The Unbroken Podcast will be there with these other amazing sponsors: 2Pood Complete Nutrition Rhode Blocks Livesore Axom Performace https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mo-weight-lift-off-tickets-20899917215 Audio Player

Justin Olds was a fun interview.  He is the owner of CrossFit Jomo and the person who brought CrossFit to the Joplin area. We talk about his history of fitness, how he played college football and continued with training and training others after football ended. We talk about what brought him to CrossFit from being a fitness professional in a traditional gym.  The story behind CrossFit Jomo is pretty awesome and how his wife supported him in his goal to open a gym.  They opened not too long after the Joplin tornado, and we talk about that as well. Justin is an awesome guy with a really amazing gym.  I got to talk to a handful of his members, and it is fun seeing the Jomo community at the local events!  Enjoy this episode! Also, do not forget to check out the MO’ Weight Lift Off at MO’ Fitness on April 23rd.  Come set a PR on your Clean and Jerk and Snatch!  Only $40! Click Here to sign up! The Unbroken Podcast will be there with these other amazing sponsors: 2Pood Complete Nutrition Rhode Blocks Livesore Axom Performace https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mo-weight-lift-off-tickets-20899917215