On Episode 380 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed Jacob Heppner, who finished 18th at the CrossFit Games in 2014. This episode was webcast on May 5, 2015.

2:59 Jacob Heppner talked about how he addressed his weaknesses over the last year, which helped him finish first in the Open in the North Central region and ninth worldwide. Heppner said he found success working out at a variety of CrossFit affiliates this year, and he spoke about the challenges of interacting with a long-distance coach. With the North Central athletes paired up with the tough crowd from the Central East in the Central Regional, Heppner speculated on his chances of qualifying for a return trip to the Games. All regional events have now been announced, but Heppner offered the test he would program for Event 1 if he were sitting in Dave Castro’s chair.

On Episode 379 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed CrossFit Level 1 Seminar Staff member Jason Ackerman, as well as top athlete Travis Mayer. This episode was webcast on April 29, 2015.

2:14 Jason Ackerman recently sold his third CrossFit affiliate and moved from New York to Florida for better weather. He talked about why and how he sold the affiliates, and he said it was refreshing to transition from business owner to coach. As a former gym owner, Ackerman might be one of the most experienced employees in the community, and he detailed different suggestions he’s made to help affiliate owners find success. A member of CrossFit’s Level 1 Seminar Staff, he said he works hard to ensure everyone finds value in the seminar—even those who have a great deal of CrossFit experience.

14:56 Tops in the South East, Travis Mayer also placed seventh worldwide in the Open. He talked about how he balances training with running CrossFit Passion in Alpharetta, Georgia, and he described some of the things he’s done in order to find greater success in the CrossFit Games. Mayer said he’s been working with a sports psychologist and explained how he motivates himself on days when training feels like a grind. With regionals quickly approaching, Mayer shared the tests he’d offer competitors if he were programming the events.

On Episode 378 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed Chelsey Hughes, who finished seventh overall in the CrossFit Games Open and first in the North East. This episode was webcast on April 22, 2015.

1:50 Hughes is an experienced competitor who was part of the Brick CrossFit team that finished 13th in the Affiliate Cup at last year’s CrossFit Games. In 2015, she’ll be competing as an individual, and she explained why. While her results in the Open have given her confidence, she knows the regional round of competition will be very challenging, and she described how she’ll use her team experience to help her perform solo at the East Regional, to be held May 22-24 in Hartford, Connecticut. Hughes talked about how her training has evolved to include daily mobility work, and she detailed how she has moved around the United States in the pursuit of fitness.

On Episode 377 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed two athletes who were at the top of the regional leaderboards in the CrossFit Games Open. Carleen Mathews placed first in the North West, and Christian Lucero was No. 1 in the South West. This episode was webcast on April 15, 2015.

2:18 Best in the North West, Carleen Mathews was also 17th worldwide, putting her in very elite company. The owner of CrossFit Saint Helens in Oregon said her Open performance has given her confidence as she prepares for the West Regional, to be held May 29-31 in Tacoma, Washington. Mathews talked about her work on the mental side of competition and offered advice on choosing a trustworthy coach who can help an athlete prepare for the tough CrossFit Games season. As an affiliate owner and competitor, Mathews explained how she finds balance in her busy life.

12:12 Christian Lucero talked about his results in the Open and described his athletic background. With the South Regional set for May 15-17 in Dallas, Texas, Lucero reflected back to the 2014 South West Regional, where he and several others contracted a debilitating case of the flu and had to drop out of the competition. He explained how last year’s unfortunate results motivated him in 2015. Lucero, a coach at Backcountry CrossFit in Littleton, Colorado, offered some insight into his training as regionals approach, and he said keeping things light and fun helps him prepare for the pressure that will come in less than a month.

On Episode 376 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed this year’s winners of the CrossFit Games Open. Two-time CrossFit Games champion Annie Thorisdottir is featured in the first half of the show, and Mathew Fraser joins Judkins on the second. This episode was webcast on April 8, 2015.

1:00 After recovering from an injury that sidelined her in 2013, Annie Thorisdottir returned to form in 2014, finishing second at the CrossFit Games. She followed that up with a win in this year’s Open. “Iceland Annie” gave her thoughts on the Open and described what the next six weeks will look like as she prepares for the Meridian Regional, to be held May 29-31 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Thorisdottir is heavily involved in CrossFit affiliates in both Iceland and the United States, and she talked about how she manages her training and her business interests. She ended by describing what it’s like to work out with “The Dave Castro,” as the Director of the CrossFit Games is known on social media.

12:34 Mathew Fraser finished second to Rich Froning at the CrossFit Games in 2014 but evened the score by taking top spot in the Open in 2015. The two competed against each other live in Massachusetts immediately after Workout 15.1 was released, and they danced at the top of the Open Leaderboard right down to the wire. Fraser talked about how he was able to lock down the competition by tying for first in the final Open workout. The athlete from Champlain Valley CrossFit said his fitness has improved over the past year and explained how he’ll handle the pressure that comes with being a favorite to win the CrossFit Games. First, Fraser will have to qualify for the Games at the East Regional, set for May 22-24 in Hartford, Connecticut. As he prepares for regionals, Fraser said he plans to keep training fun despite his lofty goals.

On Episode 375 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed CrossFit Blacksburg owner Amy Crawford. This episode was webcast on April 1, 2015.

7:51 CrossFit Blacksburg in Virginia became an affiliate in 2008, and since then Amy Crawford has worked hard to create a culture in which members give back to their community. She described how her crew uses the CrossFit Games Open as a fun way to compete but also to raise funds for local organizations in need. When introducing new athletes to CrossFit, Crawford said she uses a system of levels instead of the foundations or elements classes that are very common. She also detailed how the gym’s Slim Down Competition helps its athletes add a solid nutrition plan to their lives.

On Episode 374 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed CrossFit NorthRidge owner Chris Majors and Blue Star CrossFit owner James Wende. This episode was webcast on March 25, 2015.

2:35 Chris Majors’ affiliate is a bit different from most others: CrossFit NorthRidge in Northport, Alabama, is part of a 2,600-member fitness facility. As general manager of the larger facility and owner of the CrossFit affiliate inside, Majors explained how the two businesses coexist and how his affiliate benefits from the relationship. All synergy aside, Majors said he’s made the culture of his affiliate distinctive from that of the traditional gym that surrounds it.

14:40 James Wende explained how he approaches the subject of nutrition with athletes at Blue Star CrossFit in San Antonio, Texas. In the near future, he’ll take things further and offer nutrition classes for his members. The forward-thinking affiliate owner is also starting a new program called Metcon Membership. These classes will still feature intensity, constant variation and functional movements, but the emphasis will be on gymnastics movements, and barbells will be absent. Finally, Wende described a program he started to help wounded veterans and adaptive athletes achieve fitness.

On Episode 373 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed Brennan Morton, owner of NEPA CrossFit in Plains, Pennsylvania. This episode was webcast on March 18, 2015.

1:52 Morton opened the show by explaining how his athletes are doing in the CrossFit Games Open, and he gave his thoughts on how the new “super regionals” have affected his team. Morton said attending the old Coach’s Prep Course (now officially known as the Level 2 Certificate Course) improved everything at his affiliate. The gym owner explained what he learned about programming and said the course made him realize he needs to avoid trying to fit too much into one training session. NEPA CrossFit offers a barbell club, and Morton explained how he coordinates that option with his regular CrossFit classes. He said he likes to provide choices for his athletes every day, and he believes offering many diverse programs is a good thing for the affiliate.

On Episode 372 of CrossFit Radio, Justin Judkins interviewed CrossFit Naperville owner Neil Khant and multiyear CrossFit Games competitor Michele Letendre. This episode was webcast on March 11, 2015.

1:43 Over the years, Neil Khant has used a lot of creativity to build a successful affiliate in Illinois. With St. Patrick’s Day on the horizon, one of Khant’s favorite signature events is coming up: the sixth annual edition of Green Beer and Burpees, a workout and pub day. Khant spoke about the origins of the popular tradition, and he also described several programs he offers at CrossFit Naperville before giving his opinion on good programming.

12:52 Michele Letendre competed with Emily Bridgers immediately after Open Workout 15.2 was announced. Letendre talked about her experience at the event in Austin, Texas, and said she had a hunch 15.2 would be a repeat of a test from a previous year. She explained her strategy for the couplet of overhead squats and pull-ups, and she said she loves competing live in front of a crowd. The Canadian said she believes she’s a more well-rounded athlete this year, and she spoke about trying to land on the podium this year after finishing fourth at the CrossFit Games in 2014.

On Episode 371 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed the athletes atop the CrossFit Games Open Leaderboard after workouts 15.1 and 15.1A: Maude Charron and Nick Urankar. This episode was webcast on March 4, 2015.

3:01 Maude Charron was virtually unknown until she crushed 15.1 and 15.1A to edge out defending CrossFit Games champion Camille Leblanc-Bazinet by 4 points in the overall standings. Charron, who has a background in gymnastics and acrobatic training for circus performance, talked about finding CrossFit and lifting heavy for the first time. She described her reaction when she heard Games Director Dave Castro announce the first workouts, and she detailed a strategy that included two attempts at the paired challenges. To close, she shared her thoughts on the rest of the competition season.

13:40 Nick Urankar competed in the CrossFit Games in 2012, and his performance in the first week of the Open shows he’s working hard to qualify again in 2015. Urankar said he decided to redo 15.1 and 15.1A at his wife’s suggestion, and he talked about the adjustments he made after his first attempt. Urankar is happy to be atop the standings but knows a lot of work still separates him from his ultimate goal. Sharing some strategy, the Central East athlete explained what he looks for as top competitors perform the workouts immediately after they’re announced. The affiliate owner closed by talking about how CrossFit 061 in Granger, Indiana, has grown and will soon be moving into a bigger building.

On Episode 370 of CrossFit Radio, host Justin Judkins interviewed CrossFit South Bend owner Brandon Wilton. This episode was webcast on Feb. 25, 2015.

2:03 In honor of this year’s edition of the CrossFit Games Open, Judkins played a clip from a presentation by Jason Khalipa. In “Building Your Engine,” the perennial CrossFit Games athlete spoke about changes he’s made to his fitness in order to perform better in competition.

6:43 Brandon Wilton wants all members of CrossFit South Bend to participate in the Open this year, and he spoke about how he encouraged his athletes to sign up. Wilton has plans to make the Open extra special for his members, including hiring a photographer to take pictures during each workout. With competitive athletes always looking for ways to get more reps in less time, Wilton explained why he sometimes coaches people to “game” a workout. Turning toward the day-to-day operations of his affiliate, Wilton spoke about getting his coaches to meet his standards of excellence, and he provided details about some of the different programs at his box in Mishawaka, Indiana.