Linchpin Conversations

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

Russia, David Goggins & Covid. 01/09/2026

Russia, David Goggins & Covid. Irina was born in Russia & lived there through her early 20's before coming to America. She is a software architect at a tech company in Portland, OR. One of her coworkers is a Linchpin member & during Covid talked her into doing the David Goggins Challenge & into joining Linchpin. This is her story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39674950

Coming back from an Injury. 01/05/2026

Coming back from an Injury. Coming back from an injury. Avoiding bias when programming. Accessory work. Skill work. Heavy Day at a High Heart Rate. Has the culture of CrossFit changed? Train as a busy parent with a new baby. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39615380

Confessions of a Program Hopper. Part 9 01/02/2026

Confessions of a Program Hopper. Part 9 Ashley is a mom, a wife, a program hopper, a farmer & she holds down a full time job! Needless to say, she is a busy woman. She struggled after her daughter was born to find the time & motivation to workout. In this episode she shares her journey & what works for her. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39591075

Confessions of a Program Hopper. Part 8 12/26/2025

Confessions of a Program Hopper. Part 8 Alistair lives in the U.K., works from home & mostly trains using Linchpin's "limited equipment option". His fitness journey began in 2014 as a runner. Over the last 10+ years he has been a member of several different physical gyms as well as tried out various online programming options. All of this experiences lead him back to Linchpin. He shares his story in this episode. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39537615

Linchpin Succession Plan. 12/22/2025

Linchpin Succession Plan. Linchpin succession plan. Stats that influence programming. Pacing for interval workouts. Would I go back & change original Linchpin workouts? Things I miss about my time in the Navy. No pull-up bar, what should I do? How long does programming take? Barbell complexes. Difference between the Linchpin Tests & the monthly Tests? /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39509775

Confessions of a Program Hopper. Part 7 12/19/2025

Confessions of a Program Hopper. Part 7 In the past, Forrest has been a notorious program hopper. Over the years he has followed 8 different online competitor programs as well as 6 or more online program for non-competitors. We has run marathons & pursued powerlifting for 3 solid years. After all this, he finds himself back at Linchpin. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39476475

Training only with Dumbbells, Good or Bad? 12/15/2025

Training only with Dumbbells, Good or Bad? Open workouts. 12 Days of Christmas workout. Machines & CrossFit What’s new at Linchpin? HYROX Programming Paleo Kits Modifying loads Clean & Jerk vs Snatch Only Dumbbell workouts. Training when you work irregular hours. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39416470

Drugs, Alcohol & Hockey. 12/12/2025

Drugs, Alcohol & Hockey. Rick has always been a talented athlete. From a young age he was playing hockey, running track & competing at a high level. When he was a teenager he became addicted to alcohol & later to drugs as well. These substances negatively affected his athletic goals as well as his entire life. Today he is 22 years sober & helps other people achieve their physical & life goals. This is his story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39384290

What is "Fran Cough"? 12/08/2025

What is "Fran Cough"? Favorite Thanksgiving foods. Ring Rows vs Aussie Pull-ups. How to log dumbbell loads in btwb. Scale the load or the reps? What is “Fran Lung”? btwb “Committed Club”. Xebex Rower & calories. Zone 2 for Rest Days. Promoting health with your family. Front Rack positions. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39324685

Living full time in an RV! 12/05/2025

Living full time in an RV! Chris & Danielle decided to sell their home in Virginia & travel the United States living out of an RV. They sold a bunch of their possessions, put the rest in storage & hit the open road. They have been on a never ending road trip around the U.S. for one year. They have had their ups & downs, highs & lows. No matter where they are, they make fitness happen with dumbbells or an outdoor adventure. This is their story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39292850

Selling Tulip Bulbs & Being a Mom 11/28/2025

Selling Tulip Bulbs & Being a Mom Lillian is a busy mom & a business owner. Two years ago she purchased a business that sells tulip bulbs all across New Zealand. She has a 2.5 year old son & a 10-week old son. Needless to say, she has her hands full & her free time is very limited. She does not let this prevent her from finding time every day to workout. This is her story. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39199405

Favorite Sandbag movements 11/24/2025

Favorite Sandbag movements Favorite Sandbag movements Getting Humbled. Can’t Overhead Squat heavy. Linchpin meet-up & throwdown Pegboard Preparing for Competition Learning HSW & HSPU. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39156440

Gym in the U.K. follows Linchpin. 11/21/2025

Gym in the U.K. follows Linchpin. Barry is a husband, father & a grandfather. He played Rugby for about 30 years & lived to tell the tale. He is currently a coach at Defiance Fit, based in Brighouse in the U.K. They follow Linchpin programming & have a thriving community. /episode/index/show/linchpinconversations/id/39125025

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

Linchpin Conversations

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