Linchpin Conversations

Linchpin Conversations is a podcast covering health, fitness, personal development and random musings regarding life.

I Hate the Olympic Lifts. 11/17/2025

I Hate the Olympic Lifts. Scaling to avoid DOMS? Calculating "Super Fitness Robot" times. Are Cleans & Snatches necessary? Importance of a Squat Rack. Kettlebell Swings Chiropractors...worthwhile or useless? /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39063550

Race Cars & the Stock Market. 11/14/2025

Race Cars & the Stock Market. Ike is a husband & father of 3 children. He has spent many years of his life as an investor in the stock market. What he shares in this episode is NOT financial advice, it is just his personal experience & opinions. He also loves racing cars & has been a student, as well as an instructor. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39038270

What if you Never Kip Again? 11/10/2025

What if you Never Kip Again? What if you Never Kip Again? Rearranging workouts when sick. Bar dips vs Ring Dips. Different style deadlift grips. Building Ring Muscle-up capacity. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38982685

6 ft. 7 in. Tall, 53 years old & taking a GLP1. 11/07/2025

6 ft. 7 in. Tall, 53 years old & taking a GLP1. Jeremy is a husband & father of 3. He has been big, tall & heavy for all of his life. When he stopped playing sports his weight started to become an issue. He decided to take a GLP1 to help him lose weight & improve some of his health markers. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38953795

The Secret to Long Term Fitness 11/04/2025

The Secret to Long Term Fitness Training vs Testing. The gym owners dilemma. Life is busy…focus on food or fitness? Learning handstands. Fitness while traveling. (Links to another question) Working out in public. Favorite Ice Cream. Dangerous movement combos. Warm-up sets vs Working sets Midline work. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38910515

Living the dream as a Dive Instructor. 10/31/2025

Living the dream as a Dive Instructor. Matt is a husband & father of two girls. He has been a fulltime dive instructor for over 25 years. This occupation has enabled him to travel the world seeking adventure & opportunity. He was born & raised in the U.K., but he has called the Philippines home since 2003. He currently owns a dive business & resort focused on scuba adventures. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38861200

Thumbs around the Pull-up Bar...Yes or No? 10/27/2025

Thumbs around the Pull-up Bar...Yes or No? Our favorite workout style. The story behind "Linchpin". Reverse Hypers. 2026 Games Meet up? Struggling with Dips. Thumb wrapped around pull-up bar, yes or no? What has CF taught me that applies to life? Testing workouts. Extreme Scaling of workouts. Help! Air Squats destroy me! /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38797735

Not your typical Soccer Mom. 10/24/2025

Not your typical Soccer Mom. Steph is a wife & mother of 3. Her days are hectic. She works from home full time as an underwriter. When she is not occupied with that she is caring for her 3 kids & running them around to soccer practice & games. She found fitness later in life & has found a way to make it a daily habit. This is her story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38771585

Doctors, Dumbbells & Doomsday Prepping. 10/20/2025

Doctors, Dumbbells & Doomsday Prepping. Linchpin Conversations…intro Manual Treadmills The Daily Videos Dumbbells for Heavy Days Doomsday Prepping. Finding a good doctor. Choosing an Air Runner. CrossFit Medical Society. Leaderboards. “Tactical Games” /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38648380

Helping Amputee Soldiers. 10/17/2025

Helping Amputee Soldiers. Dawn is an Occupational Therapist who currently works with Ukrainian soldiers who have lost arms and/or legs in the war. She helps them learn to use their new prosthetic limbs so they can function in the real world & perform life's tasks. This is her story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38621165

How to Increase your Deadlift. 10/13/2025

How to Increase your Deadlift. Open Heart Surgery & Linchpin. What I wish I knew when I started CrossFit. Weight belts…necessary or not? Odd Objects & the Transverse Plane. Programming Games workouts. Pull-up rep schemes. How long does programming take? Increase your deadlift. Swapping around training days. Wall Walks. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38566440

Former State Representative of Missouri 10/10/2025

Former State Representative of Missouri Mike is a husband & father of two children. His life has been a combination of practicing law & serving in politics. He resides in Kansas City, Missouri where he has served the people of that state in various capacities. He talks us through politics as well as his fitness journey. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38543315

McDonald's & Competitor Programming. 10/06/2025

McDonald's & Competitor Programming. Hand maintenance. Power Clean stance. How to avoid McDonald’s. Dealing with Tendonitis. Pregnancy & core work. Linchpin Test 13 origins. Competitor programming. Programming & AI. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38483855

Navy Senior Chief builds Linchpin Army. 10/03/2025

Navy Senior Chief builds Linchpin Army. Ken is a Senior Chief currently on active duty in the Navy. He has served 16 years so far & is about to transition to a new duty station in Greece. He got exposed to CrossFit while on deployment & was shocked by how difficult the workout was for him to complete. This sparked his interest & he never looked back. He has been the catalyst for many other Sailors & Marines to join the Linchpin community. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38458255

HYROX, Back Squats & Cookies. 09/29/2025

HYROX, Back Squats & Cookies. HYROX racing. Accessory work. Dumbbells & Sandbags. Intentionally “burning out” certain muscles? Distance Conversions for Air Runners. Respect the Heavy Days. Skip the warm-up or Cool down? What if you never Back Squatted again? /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38395295

Life as an EMT working 24 hour shifts. 09/26/2025

Life as an EMT working 24 hour shifts. Kevin is a husband & a father of a little girl. He spent many years of his life as a coach at various gyms. When he learned he was going to be a father he knew something in his life needed to change. He quit being a coach & became an EMT. This has been a great career transition for him, but his work schedule is demanding. He works two 24-hour shifts each week & still eats well & trains. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38372870

CrossFit Brand vs People’s Perception. 09/22/2025

CrossFit Brand vs People’s Perception. CrossFit brand vs people’s perceptions. How to train during your lunch break. VNR Jump Rope course. Rogue Invitational in Scotland. Linchpin & Soccer. Top CrossFit Journal articles. Tips for someone new to fitness. Switching training days around. Heavy day strategies. Linchpin workout options explained. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38306470

Skinny Runner Adds 30 lbs of Muscle! 09/19/2025

Skinny Runner Adds 30 lbs of Muscle! Dermot is a husband & a father of two boys. He lives in Ireland with his family & works for the government doing IT work. His commute to the office is 150 km! (93 miles) He does this commute 3 times a week. On those days he gets up & works out at 5:30am. He spent many years as a distance runner, but embraced CrossFit about 10 years ago. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38285425

Increase Your Strict Pull-ups 09/15/2025

Increase Your Strict Pull-ups Linchpin Test 13 The VNR 1.5 Mile Run program Front Rack position struggles. Choosing the right workout option. A Better Warm-up How to increase strict pull-ups When to do yoga. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38226870

Busy Mom with no free times stays Fit. 09/12/2025

Busy Mom with no free times stays Fit. Alainna leads a busy life. She is a wife & a mother of two little girls. Her occupation as a dental hygienist means she is caring for people all day long, & then has to go home & care for her family. She is committed to being strong & healthy for herself, as well as her family. She gets up early in the mornings to make sure her workouts happen. This is her story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38197275

Lifting or Cardio…pick only one! 09/08/2025

Lifting or Cardio…pick only one! Weightlifting Shoes. An unhealthy obsession with being healthy. Fitness Freedom. Lifting or Cardio…pick only one! Why are push-ups so hard? Mobility work into the accessory work? The best coach I ever had. Introducing a friend to fitness. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38131020

Being a Single Mom & working on planes. 09/05/2025

Being a Single Mom & working on planes. Darcy is a hard working, driven single mom with a teenage daughter. She spent many years of her life in difficult, physically demanding professions that historically were dominated by men, such as being an aviation mechanic. After years in that profession she transitioned to being a teacher. She finally has landed her dream job that blends the worlds of aviation & education. This is her story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38106795

Can you be Fit & Fluffy? 09/01/2025

Can you be Fit & Fluffy? How to push past your limits. Working around a busy schedule. Strategy vs Cheating. Can you be Fit & Fluffy? Maintaining hook grip. Banded Pull-ups Pacing longer workouts. Extra Lifting. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38046310

Gym Owner chooses Linchpin. 08/29/2025

Gym Owner chooses Linchpin. Connor is the owner of CrossFit Winnebago. He tried several different programming options for his gym before deciding that Linchpin was the best choice. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/38022850

Help…I can’t do a Pull-up! 08/25/2025

Help…I can’t do a Pull-up! Tips to enhance recovery. Is walking 10k steps necessary? Grips Help…I can’t do a Pull-up! When to use a weight vest. Strategy for “Death by” workouts. Golfer’s elbow. Coming back from double knee surgery. Air bike with broken monitor Prepping for a Marathon Row /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/37949725

Working out at the YMCA. 08/22/2025

Working out at the YMCA. Melanie is a Data Systems Archival Analyst, a birth doula, a post partum doula, & an infant care specialist. Needless to day, she is a busy woman with a hectic schedule. She excels at being available to people during critical & pivotal times on their lives. This is her story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/37922450

What is "Wizard Pepper"? 08/18/2025

What is "Wizard Pepper"? How & when to learn a new skill. Thoughts on the CrossFit brand. Linchpin Test 13. What is “Wizard Pepper”? Good substitutes for Deadlifts. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/37866030

The John Muir Trail & Veganism. 08/15/2025

The John Muir Trail & Veganism. Craig is a husband & a father. He lives in Melbourne, Australia & grew up as a swimmer. Over the decades he let his fitness slip away & then decided to regain it. He has been living a vegan lifestyle for roughly 10 years. He loves hiking & has tackled the famous 211 mile John Muir trail. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/37837625

Mickey Mouse & Dragon Boat Racing. 08/08/2025

Mickey Mouse & Dragon Boat Racing. Tabitha grew up playing tennis & basketball. In college she did Dragon Boat racing & even represented the U.S. in Hong Kong. She also spent time doing long distance running before finally developing a love for CrossFit. When her gym in L.A. closed, she began working out at home & discovered Linchpin. This is her story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/37737105

My Doctor told me Not to Squat Heavy! 08/04/2025

My Doctor told me Not to Squat Heavy! Unhealthy obsession with being healthy Are complex movements really necessary? Box jumps on heavy days. Competition vs longevity. Recovery strategies. No room to run. Does the order of workouts matter? (Comes up twice) Run a marathon with Linchpin? Help! My doctor told me not to squat heavy. “High Intensity” in real terms. Movement modifications. Linchpin & BJJ. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/37665760

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