Brute Strength Podcast

Today we’re joined by Mr. Personality himself - James Sprague. James is a 2x CrossFit Games athlete. Did we mention he’s only 19? Not only is James a professional athlete, but he also owns his own business, Next Gen Programming, and runs a local gym.

We discuss how he has navigated a changing sport, including how he dealt with depression in his adolescent years and how finding CrossFit changed him for the better. This episode is packed with some great stories and even some judging drama from the 2021 West Coast Classic. 

9:40 How depression helped James find himself and CrossFit

15:45 What should have been a career-ending injury 

19:37 “Going into the season I wasn’t going to compete”

37:50 The Newest Training Camp

43:23 “The weirdest normalized thing” we do as humans 

50:00 The controversial “no rep”

Links: Connect with James

James’ Online Programming

Resources: Start your journey as an elite-level CrossFit athlete today. Our 1-to-1 coaching staff would love to hop on a free consultation with you to find out how we can help. Click here to get started.

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In today’s episode, we're joined by Matt Torres. We pick his brain on what it takes to become a champion in the sport of CrossFit (he’s built quite a few of those), and which key “process” most athletes overlook in their early developmental years.

Matt Torres, has taken 8+ athletes to the CrossFit Games over the last few years including  Jason Carroll (12th in the 2019 CF Open), Dallin Pepper (2018 Fittest Teen 16-17), Tudor Magda (2018 Fittest Teen 14-15), and Emma Cary (2nd in the 2020 CF Open). It’s no secret that this guy knows something about building champions that other coaches don’t. 

5:05 The Skill we don’t learn as kids 

6:28 The 1 key reason most teens reach out to Matt

23:45 What Matt has learned from his athletes

32:00 The “F” Word

40:20 How to buy-in with an athlete

50:23 What the competitive CrossFit community is missing

53:23 The Eisenhower Matrix 

Links: Connect with Matt

Resources: Start your journey as an elite-level CrossFit athlete today. Our 1-to-1 coaching staff would love to hop on a free consultation with you to find out how we can help. Click here to get started.

Reviews: 

Enjoy the show? Take a second to leave us a review! Your feedback will help us grow and continue to produce more sweet, sweet content in the future.

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The boys are back in town! On this episode Micah is joined by CrossFit Games athletes Joey Tortora and Dex Hopkins to discuss all things West Coast Classic. Of course, the fun doesn’t stop there as they look ahead to the most competitive event of the year - the Last Chance Qualifier - and ultimately the 2021 CrossFit Games.

On today’s episode, we’re joined by athlete Zach Watts. Zach is no stranger to the CrossFit space as he’s competed at regionals a handful of times but was always left wanting more. This season, he punched his ticket to the CrossFit Games at the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Crossfit Challenge Semi-Final. Although an impressive feat, we were astonished when he revealed that he had made it to the Games with just 2 hours of training per day. Tune in as Zach unpacks what’s going to be a wild rookie season.

3:28 How Zach Managed expectations of the big stage 

9:30 What was Zach’s biggest takeaway from the Semi-Finals

11:30 How he handled the pressure of having to produce 2 top 5 finishes on the final day

13:44  What was the moment like when you realized you were headed to the CrossFit Games

19:08 Dealing with Imposter Syndrome 

30:50 Zach reveals his secrets

40:00 The end goal of Crossfit

On today’s episode, we’re joined by our elite, up and coming team, The Ohio Brutes. After watching their dreams of qualifying for the CrossFit Games disappear last year due to COVID-19, these guys are hungrier than ever before. Before watching them punch their ticket at this year’s West Coast Classic, we wanted to dive into who these guys are, and how a tragic end to their 2020 season helped shape them into a stronger, tighter unit. Tune in to today’s episode for all the juicy details.

6:05 How the Ohio Brutes came together

7:40 Their experience working with Brute Strength

8:58 The tragic end to their 2020 Season

12:09 How team training differs from individual training 

16:15 How they used the “Mullet Test” to assign their team captain

27:10 What it’s like to perform the Quarter Finals Qualifiers at 10 PM 

30:17 The Redemption Shot

Links: Consider Contributing to the Ohio Brutes 

Resources: Start your journey as an elite level CrossFit athlete today. Our 1-to-1 coaching staff would love to hop on a free consultation with you to find out how we can help. Click here to get started.

Reviews: 

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On today’s bonus episode, we’re joined by 2x Crossfit Games Athlete, Joey Tortora. Micah and Joey break down the wild finish at the 2021 Granite Games Crossfit Semi-Final, including the much anticipated head to head matchup between two teen phenoms: Mal O’Brien and Emma Cary.

On today’s episode, we’re joined by 3x Crossfit Games Teen Champion, Dallin Pepper. At just 19 years old, Dallin has seen more success in our sport than your average CrossFit Games Competitor. With a 300 lb. Snatch and a 360 lb. Clean & Jerk, Dallin is well equipped to compete alongside the big dawgs - but are these incredible feats of strength enough to become one of the best?

Tune into today’s conversation to find out how Dallin has been preparing his mind & body for a dominating performance at this year’s West Coast Classic. We also get into finding balance between training and his new marriage, and what it takes to become a CrossFit Games Champion. You’re in for one hell of a show with one of the rising stars in our sport.

2:39 Why Dallin chose Brute Strength 

6:52 How Dallin’s parents supported him as an athlete

12:30 Does age matter in CrossFit now?

16:35 How Dallin developed laser-like focus

24:25 What traits define a champion

26:30 How to deal with the anxiety of competition

30:49 Balancing training & a new marriage 

39:15 Dallin’s Legacy

Resources: Start your journey as an elite level CrossFit athlete today. Our 1-to-1 coaching staff would love to hop on a free consultation with you to find out how we can help. Click here to get started.

Reviews: 

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In this episode, Micah and Nick Fowler discuss week 1 of the CrossFit Games Semi-Finals, focusing on Kara Saunders' dominating performance at the Torian Pro. The conversation doesn’t stop there, though. They discuss Nick’s experience with coaching some of CrossFit’s most elite athletes and what he’s learned along the way. Speaking with Nick is downloading the cheat codes to your favorite video game. Whether you’re a fan of the sport, competitor, or just like good conversation, there’s something for you in this episode.

Nick Fowler is a leading elite coach in the fitness industry. He’s coached elite athletes since 2003, including Kara Saunders, Brooke Ence, Jared Stevens, and many more.

Resources: Start your journey as an elite-level CrossFit athlete today. Our 1-to-1 coaching staff would love to hop on a free consultation with you to find out how we can help. Click here to get started.

Reviews: 

Enjoy the show? Please take a second to leave us a review! Your feedback will help us grow and continue to produce more sweet, sweet content in the future.

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On Episode 3 of the New Brute Strength Podcast, we are joined by one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport of fitness, El Senouvor. El has an impressive repertoire of CrossFit Games Athletes under his belt including the Sowder brothers, and 2017, & 2019 Fittest Teen On Earth, Chloe Smith.

If you’re interested in learning about El's process for building the fittest athletes on planet Earth and how he qualifies the “doers'' from the  “dreamers” in his athlete selection process, you won’t want to miss this episode.

8:53 The secret sauce behind El’s coaching process

12:27 The most important question every serious athlete should answer

15:38 Coaching challenges and struggles

22:10 What it really takes to become an elite athlete.

30:04 How to manage an athlete’s expectations

41:45 What’s actually keeping you from reaching your potential

44:40 Ryan Sowder’s Custom Games Prep Training Program 

Resources: Start your journey as an elite level CrossFit athlete today. Our 1-to-1 coaching staff would love to hop on a free consultation with you to find out how we can help. Click here to get started.

Reviews: 

Enjoy the show? Take a second to leave us a review! Your feedback will help us grow and continue to produce more sweet, sweet content in the future.

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Ready for the 2021 CrossFit Games season to unfold? We know we are. 

In today’s special Bonus Episode, Micah Shoemaker is joined by former CrossFit Games Athletes, Dex Hopkins & Joey Tortora to discuss all things CrossFit. The boys get nostalgic as they reminisce on the good ole days of going head to head in the CrossFit Games arena. Today’s episode may, or may not involve a little friendly trash talk. You’ll have to tune in to find out.

5:52 The Heated Rivalry between Dex and Joey 

8:48 The Infamous Story of the 2019, 5th place Games finishers, the Central Beasts

15:13 COVID’s impact on the ‘20 Games Season

23:50 What the guys are looking forward to most in this year’s Semi-Finals

29:04 This year’s biggest upset?

44:20 2021 CrossFit Games podium predictions

Resources: Start your journey as an elite level CrossFit athlete today. Our 1-to-1 coaching staff would love to hop on a free consultation with you to find out how we can help. Click here to get started.

Reviews: 

Enjoy the show? Take a second to leave us a review! Your feedback will help us grow and continue to produce more sweet, sweet content in the future.

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The Brute Strength Podcast is back! With the rebirth of the Podcast, we’re returning to our roots by giving you some nitty gritty CrossFit content that will entertain, educate and make you an all around better human.

In our first episode back, our host, Micah Shoemaker interviews Brute’s CEO and Co-Founder, Matt Bruce on the history and origins of Brute Strength.  

Matt Bruce, an Olympic Weightlifting National Champion, has been developing explosive, powerful athletes across a variety of sports since 2006. After a brief trip down memory lane, they look ahead at what’s to come in the always evolving landscape of CrossFit.

2:25 - Matt’s Introduction to CrossFit

5:10 - The Origin of Brute Strength

12:50 - Brute Strength’s Mission

16:47 - How Past Mistakes Have Shaped Matt’s Future

19:10 - What’s Next for Brute

23:00 - How to Assess Your Own “CrossFit DNA”

Find out what your CrossFit DNA is here! https://brutestrengthtraining.typeform.com/to/W2Fvy9V