Talking Elite Fitness

Rory McKernan, longtime CrossFit community leader and Mayhem team executive, previews the Mayhem Classic and reflects on event production. He shares behind-the-scenes broadcast prep, secrets to keeping workouts under wraps, operational surprises, and how Mayhem approaches programming and athlete experience. A tribute to Rob Orlando is also part of the conversation.

Quartefinals have come and gone and once again they were not without controversy. Our good friend and 7-time CrossFit Games athlete Tim Paulson of PRVN joins the show to recap the most recent stage of the 2026 season. He talks about how he and his athletes approached Quarterfinals, what he would like to see change with this stage of the season, what athletes in his camp stood out and whether or not he's optimistic or pessimistic about the future of the sport. This episode is presented by Thirdzy. Head to thirdzy.com and use the code "TEF" to save 20% on their Rest and Recovery collagen and improve the way you sleep and recover.

It's another year of Quarterfinals and that means another year of issues. And once again the controversy centers around the video review process, or more accurately, the lack of one. Sean, Tommy and Lauren talk about the issues and what might be done to fix things moving forward. This episode is presented by Thirdzy. Head to thirdzy.com and use the code "TEF" to save 20% on their Rest and Recovery collagen and improve how you sleep and recover.

Keith Barlow, founder and CEO of Xenom, introduces XENOM as a two-day, 10-event 'decathlon of fitness' with standardized global scoring. He explains event order, divisions for all levels, season plans, and partnerships with Rogue and CrossFit. The conversation covers scoring logic, athlete experience across a competition weekend, and plans for broadcast and future cities.

The first week of the CrossFit Games Open is officially behind us, Tommy and Lauren try to shake off the DOMS in their legs and recap the 26.2 workout and live announcement. Open registration numbers are finally in, but are they a win? Don Faul has officially stepped down as the CEO of CrossFit after a tumultuous four year tenure, where does the company go from here? This episode is presentd by Thirdzy. Head to thirdzy.com and use the code "TEF" to save 25% on their Rest and Recovery Collagen from now until March 16.

Pat Vellner is calling it a career. One of the most popular athletes in the sport has decided that 2026 will be his last season on the competition floor. Sean and Tommy discuss his legacy and tell us why they think he will continue to make an impact on the sport and the community. Jayson Hopper is getting set to take the first step in defending his championship as he is ready to throw down in the live announcement of 26.1. He talks with Sean and Tommy about winning the Games in 2025, what is was like walking on at Clemson and his interest in conspiracy theories. This episode is presentd by Thirdzy. Head to thirdzy.com and use the code "TEF" to save 25% on their Rest and Recovery Collagen from now until March 16.

Dallin Pepper has grown up competing in CrossFit. The former two-time teenage champion is hoping to duplicate that achievement as an individual. The last two years at the CrossFit Games, Pepper has not finished lower than 4th and was one spot away from standing atop the podium in 2024. This year, Pepper is hoping to complete the journey and be crowned Fittest Man on Earth. Tommy Marquez and Lauren Kalil talk with him about his goals for 2026, how his public persona has changed over the years and his unique friendship with Jayson Hopper. This episode is presented by Thirdzy. Head to thirdzy.com and use the code "TEF" to save 20% on their Rest and Recovery Collagen and improve how you sleep and recover.

It's time to take a trip down memory lane! Sean and Tommy rank their five favorite Open announcements from the last 13 years. From garage throwdowns to clashes of champions, they take a look back at the most memorable productions from the start of seasons gone by. This episode is presented by Thirdzy. Head to thirdzy.com and use the code "TEF" to save 20% on their Rest and Recovery Collagen and improve how you sleep and recover.

Lucy Campbell is coming of one of the most improbable years in CrossFit Games history. After battling through a career-threatening wrist injury, Campbell finished in second place at the Games in 2025. Lucy joins Tommy Marquez and Lauren Kalil to talk about her incredible run towards the top of the sport and how she hopes to build on that momemtum in 2026. Plus, Open registration continues to trend in a positive direction, the idenities of the athletes who will be participating in 26.1 have been revealed, Pat Vellner has a minor heart procedure and the World Fitness Project signs more athletes to pro cards. This episode is presented by Thirdzy. Head to thirdzy.com and use the code "TEF" to save 20% on their Rest and Recovery Collagen so you can improve how you sleep and recover.

CrossFit's Competition Director Adrian Bozman joins Sean and Tommy to talk about programming for the Open, the challenges of fitting an appropriate test into three weeks instead of five, the return of Quarterfinals, bringing the Games back to California and what he's looking forward to the most in 2026. This episode is presented by Thirdzy. Head to thirdzy.com and use the code "TEF" to save 20% on their Rest and Recovery Collagen and improve how you sleep and recover.