Podcast & Video
The Bolder Athlete Podcast
Conversations with Masters athletes, coaches, and competitors. Real training talk — programming decisions, competition prep, and the long game of staying competitive after 35.
Hosted by Josh Boonstra.
Latest episodes
Oct 25, 2026
The Future of the Masters CrossFit Games with Micah Shoemaker | #56
Big news is officially here. In this special episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, Josh sits down with Micah Shoemaker to discuss the announcement that Magic City Games will host the 2027 Masters CrossFit Games. What started as a local competition on a gravel field has evolved into one of the most influential organizations in Masters CrossFit. Micah pulls back the curtain on that journey, sharing how years of intentional growth, countless lessons learned, and an obsession with athlete experience helped position Magic City Games for this opportunity. The conversation goes far beyond the announcement itself. Micah dives into the philosophy behind building world-class events, why creating memorable athlete experiences matters more than flashy programming, and how attention to small details can completely transform how competitors feel when they arrive on competition weekend. Josh and Micah also explore the importance of sustainable growth, lessons learned from the inaugural Masters Semifinals, and why the focus remains firmly on crowning the fittest Masters athletes on earth while building something that can continue to evolve for years to come. If you're a Masters athlete, a fan of the sport, or simply interested in leadership, event design, and building something meaningful, this episode offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at what's ahead for the future of Masters CrossFit. Key Chapters 🏆 The Big Announcement 🚀 From Local Throwdown to Global Stage 🤝 The Conversation That Started It All 🌎 Lessons from 50+ Competitions 🎯 The Magic City Formula 🧠 The Psychology of Great Experiences 🎪 Designing the Athlete Journey 📈 Building the Future, Not Rebuilding the Past 💬 Communication Matters 🏅 What Makes the Games Different 🎯 A Singular Focus: Crowning the Fittest on Earth 🏗️ Building Something That Lasts 🔮 Looking Ahead to 2027 //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Oct 22, 2026
The Road to the Open Starts Now | Inside Look with Jason & Josh | #55
In this episode, Josh and Jason pull back the curtain on the next cycle of Bolder Athlete programming. They discuss lessons learned from the current offseason cycle, and the roadmap to the CrossFit Open. The conversation also dives into AffiliateCon, Jason's presence and presentation on why most affiliates are serving athletes over 35, but many are still programming as if they're coaching 25-year-olds. From training intensity and recovery to RX standards and long-term athlete development, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the philosophy driving Bolder Athlete. Episode Chapters 🏋️ Testing Week Reflections and Recent PRs 🦵 Recovering from Injury and Rebuilding Confidence 🗺️ The Roadmap to the 2027 CrossFit Open 📈 Why We're Returning to Focused Four-Week Cycles ⚙️ Inside the Programming Process and Weekly Structure 🔥 Building Intensity Without Burning Out 🧠 Preparing Mentally for Open-Style Competition 👴 Changes Coming to Masters Age-Group Programming 🎤 AffiliateCon Preview and Speaking on Masters Fitness 🎯 Why "Program for the Best, Scale for the Rest" Falls Short ✅ Helping More Athletes Earn the RX Button 🚀 Creating Better Fitness Experiences for Athletes Over 35 //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Oct 8, 2026
Transformed at 55. Chad Stewart's Three Simple Changes That Changed Everything | #54
In Episode #54 of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, Josh sits down with Chad Stewart, a longtime CrossFitter, Texas lineman, husband, father, and newly crowned CrossFit Games silver medalist. Chad shares the unlikely journey from one-hour-a-day workouts and garage training to standing on the Games podium in his first-ever appearance. The conversation explores the mindset shifts, lifestyle changes, and years of consistency that ultimately led to breakthrough success. Chad discusses quitting alcohol, losing 20 pounds, dialing in nutrition, embracing structured Masters programming, and learning to trust the process. Along the way, he offers a refreshing perspective on competition, confidence, pressure, and longevity. Whether you're chasing the podium or simply looking to become a stronger, wiser, and bolder version of yourself, Chad's story is packed with practical lessons and inspiration. Stronger. Wiser. Bolder. 🎙️ Welcome 🏆 Overcoming imposter syndrom 🔥 Realizing he belongs and chasing the podium 🥈 Discovering he made the podium 🧪 The athlete disqualification and moving from third to second place 📈 Starting CrossFit in 2011 and the long road to mastery 🍎 Quitting alcohol, improving nutrition, and losing 20 pounds 🎯 The Open, Quarterfinals, and earning a Magic City invite 🎪 Inside the Magic City semifinal experience 🏅 Winning Magic City and securing a Games berth 🧠 Why structure and consistency changed everything 🚀 How Bolder Athlete programming transformed his capacity 📚 Predictability versus progress in training 👴 Staying competitive after 55 and preparing for what's next 🏋️ Strength, skill work, and longevity as a Masters athlete 💥 Stronger. Wiser. Bolder. What Chad's journey teaches all Masters athletes //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Oct 1, 2026
From Grief to the Games: Betty Hardin's Journey to the Podium | #53
When Betty Hardin walked into her first CrossFit gym at age 60, she couldn't have imagined where the journey would lead. What began as a way to support a daughter navigating unimaginable loss became a path to healing, community, and eventually the CrossFit Games podium. In this episode, Betty shares her remarkable story, from qualifying for the Boston Marathon in her 40s to discovering CrossFit through family tragedy, finding purpose in the Masters community, and earning a third-place finish at the 2026 CrossFit Games. Along the way, she reflects on faith, perseverance, aging boldly, and the power of surrounding yourself with people who help you become more than you thought possible. This is a conversation about resilience, second chances, family, and what can happen when you refuse to let age define what's still possible. Stronger. Wiser. Bolder. Chapters: 🎙️ Welcome t 🐎 Growing Up Before Women's Sports 🏃 Chasing Boston at Age 40 💔 When Tragedy Struck the Family 🔥 The Night CrossFit Changed Everything 💡 “If They Can Do It, I Can Do It” 🏅 Catching the Competition Bug 🌟 Making the CrossFit Games at 66 🔴 What Community Should Feel Like 🏋️ Surviving the 2026 CrossFit Games 🙏 There Was Jesus 💪 What It Means to Be a Bolder Athlete 🎬 Final Thoughts & Farewell //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Sep 24, 2026
Pressure, Perspective, and Becoming a CrossFit Games Champion with Emma Leigh | #52
In this episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, Josh Boonstra sits down with Bolder Athlete and 2026 CrossFit Games Champion Emma Leigh, winner of the Women's 50-54 division, to unpack the remarkable journey that took her from "just hoping to qualify" to standing atop the Games podium. Emma shares the unlikely story behind her championship season, including overcoming injury, winning the Open, navigating the pressure of leading the CrossFit Games heading into the final event, and discovering what it feels like when a lifelong dream becomes reality. Along the way, she offers a refreshing perspective on competition, aging, recovery, family priorities, and the mindset required to perform at a world-class level without losing sight of what matters most. Josh and Emma also dive into the emotional highs and lows that Masters athletes know all too well: post-competition slumps, balancing fitness with family life, injury setbacks, motivation struggles, and the challenge of staying healthy while continuing to pursue excellence. Whether you're chasing a podium, rebuilding after injury, or simply trying to become a stronger version of yourself, Emma's story is a powerful reminder that success often arrives when we focus on the process instead of the prize. In this episode: 🏆 Emma's unexpected path to winning the CrossFit Games 😬 Managing pressure while leading the competition 🎯 Why winning was never the original goal 🩹 Lessons learned from injury and recovery 🎢 The emotional reality of elite Masters competition ⚖️ Finding balance between sport, family, and long-term health 🔄 Why taking time off can make you stronger 🧠 The mindset that helped Emma perform when it mattered most //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Sep 3, 2026
Competing, Coaching, and Finding Perspective with Kyle Ruth | 51
A raw, insightful, and surprisingly hilarious conversation between two top‑10 CrossFit Games masters athletes who finally get the chance to sit down and actually talk. Josh Boonstra and Kyle Ruth unpack everything—from curiosity‑driven training rabbit holes to hamstring tears, sprint mechanics, strategy traps, emotional meltdowns, and the reality of competing while coaching elite athletes at the same time. Across this long-form, candid dialogue, they break down Games programming, dissect event strategy (including the infamous Echo DT and sandbag rope climb workouts), explore the psychology of competition, and reflect on the moments that shaped their seasons—both good and brutal. Kyle opens up about coaching while competing and navigating the emotional cost of wearing both athlete and coach hats. Josh shares the highs of an event win, the lows of a sandbag implosion, and the mental battle required to finish strong. They close by digging into off‑season priorities, running struggles, accountability, rebuilding weaknesses, and the philosophy of athlete IQ—why knowing yourself matters as much as fitness itself.It’s thoughtful, vulnerable, funny, and packed with wisdom for any athlete who loves the sport, wants to improve, or simply enjoys hearing two competitors talk shop with total honesty. Chapters: 📘 Opening & Connection🏊 Kyle’s Background & Curiosity 🧠 Curiosity vs. Action🏃 Velocity Training 🏟️ Games Performance Review 🧩 Event Strategy Deep Dive 🧑🏫 Coaching While Competing 🔄 Mindset & Emotional Load 🔮 Off‑Season Priorities //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Aug 20, 2026
The 2026 Games - Reflections, Reactions, and the Road Ahead | 50th Episode
In this special, 50th episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, host Josh Boonstra sits down with now seven‑time CrossFit Games champion Jason Grubb and Chief Operations Officer, Adam Aldrich to reflect on the 2026 CrossFit Games, discuss feedback from the community, and look ahead to what's next. The trio kicks things off with Jason’s reflections on his seventh championship—what it takes to stay hungry, how fear fuels focus, and why comfort is the enemy of progress. Adam shares the wild logistics behind bringing the Bolder Athlete booth to life, including his 7,500‑mile road trip across the country and the behind‑the‑scenes chaos that makes the Games unforgettable. Then the conversation turns to the 2026 CrossFit Games experience and the feedback that’s shaping the next chapter for Bolder Athlete. The team unpacks what they heard from athletes and fans—everything from event structure and scheduling to the sense of community connection—and how those insights are driving improvements in athlete support, recovery experiences, and brand engagement. They also reveal findings from the Bolder Athlete community survey, highlighting what members value most: authenticity, accessibility, and the drive to keep pushing boundaries. These insights are now informing new initiatives in programming, athlete development, and event presence for 2027 and beyond. It’s a celebration of 50 episodes, seven titles, and one relentless mission: to support those invested in the Masters and Bolder Athlete Community. Chapters: 🎉 Opening & The 50th Milestone 🏆 Jason’s Seventh Championship 😅 Fear, Focus & The Champion’s Edge 🧑🤝🧑 Rivalries & Respect 🛠️ Behind the Booth: The Work No One Sees 🏟️ Reflections on the 2026 Games Experience 📣 Community Feedback: What Athletes Told Us 📊 The Bolder Athlete Survey Results 🔮 What’s Next for Bolder Athlete //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Jul 18, 2026
Games Prep + New Cycle | What We’ve Tested, What We Know, What’s Coming | #49
With the 2026 CrossFit Games just days away, Josh and Jason sit down for a raw, behind‑the‑scenes conversation about testing events, managing fatigue, and navigating the unknowns of Games week. From weighted runs to brutal grip tests to the lightning‑fast thruster sprint, they break down what they’ve learned from the first five released workouts — and what still keeps them guessing heading into day three. They also pull back the curtain on the new Bolder Athlete training cycle launching right after the Games. After months of threshold work and maximal effort, the upcoming cycle flips the script with a refreshing off‑season structure, new weekly flow, and a few surprises. It’s a candid look at how elite Masters athletes think, prepare, adapt, and evolve — both for the biggest stage in the sport and for the long game of training year‑round. If you want a true insider’s view of Games prep, event testing, athlete strategy, and how Bolder builds its programming from the inside out, this episode delivers. Chapters: 🏁 Games Week Kickoff ❓What We Know So Far 🏃♂️ Event 1: Weighted Run 🔗 Event 2: TTB, DUs & Snatches 🚣♂️ Event 3: Row + Handstand Walk 🧤 Event 4: Grip Gauntlet 🔥 Event 5: Thruster Sprint 🔄 Training Fatigue & Timing 🛠️ New Cycle Preview 🔍 Behind the Programming //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
More video
Oct 22, 2026
Introducing Bolder Metcon: Bolder Athlete To Go
Bolder Athlete just got a ninth track — and this one is built for your busiest days. Bolder Metcon launches Monday, October 26, 2026. If Elite and Compete are the six-course meal, Metcon is the takeout order: one workout that carries the full recipe of the day — the same movements, the same stimulus, the same color of intensity — in a compact session you can get done in about 45 minutes. In this video I break down what Metcon is, who it's for (busy athletes, and anyone who just wants to be generally fit and healthy and get in and out), the optional 10-minute hypertrophy piece built into most days, how the colors still run the week, and the RX written for your decade. CHAPTERS 0:00 Track Nine Is Here: Bolder Metcon 0:32 What Is Bolder Metcon? 1:01 The Six-Course Meal vs. The Takeout Order 1:48 One Workout, the Full Recipe of the Day 3:02 The Optional Hypertrophy Piece 3:45 The Colors Still Run the Week 4:56 A Week in Bolder Metcon 6:13 Programmed for Your Decade 6:42 All 9 Tracks, One Membership //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\ 👉 Start your 3-week trial: https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed for masters athletes — balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, with an RX for every age group. Questions about Metcon or your training? Leave them in the comments, or join the conversation in our Circle community. Become a Bolder Athlete today. #BolderAthlete #MastersAthlete #CrossFit
Oct 21, 2026
How Bolder Athlete Programs a Week
I won CrossFit Games championships on programming that was built for young elite athletes and scaled down for me — and it beat me up. After the 2022 Games I had to take two months off just to heal. There had to be a better way. Bolder Athlete is that way: programming built for masters athletes from the first decision — not scaled down. The recipe has two parts: purposeful variation in intensity (the Intensity Spectrum) and RX written for your age group. In this video I break down the full spectrum — Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red — what each color means, how we paint a week with them, and why the goal is a stronger heart, a more efficient metabolism, and fitness you can keep for decades. CHAPTERS 0:00 The Cost of Scaled-Down Training 2:11 Built for Masters, Not Scaled Down 2:40 The Bolder Recipe (2 Parts) 3:56 The Intensity Spectrum 4:21 Green & Yellow: Build Capacity 5:40 Orange: Threshold / Competition Pace 6:28 Red: Max Effort 7:29 The Engine: Build It, Use It, Add Horsepower 8:17 Blue: Recovery Is Programmed 9:11 The Week, Painted in Colors 10:51 What It Feels Like 11:46 RX for Your Age Group 12:22 The Long Game: Training 10 Years From Now //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\ 👉 Start your 3-week trial: https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed for masters athletes — balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, with an RX for every age group. Questions about the spectrum or your training? Leave them in the comments, or join the conversation in our Circle community. Become a Bolder Athlete today. #BolderAthlete #MastersAthlete #CrossFit
Jul 25, 2026
2026 Masters Crossfit Games - Day Three - Behind The Scenes
Raw behind the scenes footage as we take the stage on Day 3 at the Games in San Jose, California! //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Jul 23, 2026
2026 Masters Crossfit Games - Day Two - Behind The Scenes
Raw behind the scenes footage as we take the stage on Day 2 at the Games in San Jose, California! //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Jul 22, 2026
2026 Masters Crossfit Games - Day One - Behind The Scenes
Raw behind the scenes footage as we take the stage on Day 1 at the Games in San Jose, California! //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
Jul 21, 2026
2026 Masters Crossfit Games - Day Zero - Behind The Scenes
Raw behind the scenes footage as we prepare to take the stage tomorrow for Day 1 at the Games in San Jose, California! //// Unlock Your Boldest Potential with Bolder Athlete \\\\\\ 👉 https://www.bolderathlete.com/ Ready to transform your fitness and redefine your limits? Bolder Athlete delivers expertly-crafted training designed to elevate your strength, endurance, and performance—no matter your current level. Our proven programming combines balanced intensity, targeted recovery, and sustainable progression, empowering you to achieve lasting results. With Bolder Athlete, you'll train smarter, recover better, and accomplish more than you ever thought possible. Join a passionate community committed to fitness, growth, and relentless improvement. Take the first step toward becoming stronger, healthier, and more confident in every aspect of your life. Become a Bolder Athlete today.
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