In this episode, we sit down with Dave Lipson, a former CrossFit Games athlete, strength coach, and the founder of ThunderBro. Dave shares his journey from competing at the highest levels of CrossFit to creating a movement that bridges the gap between bodybuilding and functional fitness.

✅ Dave’s transition from CrossFit to founding ThunderBro
✅ The origins and vision behind ThunderBro
✅ How hypertrophy training complements functional fitness
✅ Lessons learned as an athlete, coach, and entrepreneur
✅ Advice for athletes looking to train smarter and build muscle

Whether you’re a CrossFitter, bodybuilder, or just someone looking to train smarter, this conversation is packed with insight and inspiration.

👉 Learn more about ThunderBro and their programs: https://thunderbro.com

In this inspiring episode of the Comeback Athlete podcast, we sit down with Elijah Muhammad—athlete, coach, father, and leader—to unpack his incredible journey.

Raised in a poor community in Columbus, Ohio, Elijah found his way to Tennessee Tech, where chance encounters with legends like Dan Bailey and Rich Froning led him into the world of CrossFit. From there, he climbed to the CrossFit Games, competing at the sport’s highest level.

We go deep into topics that matter:
✅ How faith shaped his path and decisions
✅ The role of family in his drive for success
✅ Why fitness is a tool for personal and community transformation
✅ His mission today—teaching youth CrossFit classes to impact the next generation
✅ The importance of being present and intentional as a father

If you’re an athlete, a parent, or someone chasing purpose in your own journey, you won’t want to miss this conversation.

📌 Connect with Elijah Muhammad:
🌐 https://ezmuhammad.com/

📌 Let’s connect:
🎯 1:1 Coaching for Former Athletes → https://comeback-athlete.com
📺 Subscribe for more stories and training insights: [YouTube Link]
📸 Follow on Instagram: @comeback.athlete

In this episode of the Comeback Athlete Podcast, I sit down with Cheryl Brost, 3x CrossFit Games Champion and one of the most inspiring athletes in the sport. We talk about:

✅ Battling back from career-threatening injuries
✅ What it takes to train like a champion in your 40s and beyond
✅ The mindset shift needed to keep competing—and winning—through life’s ups and downs
✅ Her legacy in CrossFit and what keeps her motivated today

Whether you're a former athlete or just someone looking for a second wind in life, this episode will light a fire under you.

👉 Want to train like a champion again—without burning out or breaking down?
Comeback Athlete offers personalized remote coaching for former athletes ready to look, feel, and perform like athletes again.

💪 Apply for 1:1 Coaching Today:
📩 comeback-athlete.com
📥 Or email us directly at: blake@comeback-athlete.com

What does it mean to live a larger life?

In this episode, I sit down with James Fitzgerald—founder of OPEX, CrossFit Games champion, and one of the deepest thinkers in the fitness world—to talk about the evolution of CrossFit and how fitness can (and should) serve a bigger purpose in our lives.

We dive into:

✅ The early days and original vision of CrossFit
✅ Why James shifted away from the sport and toward individualized coaching
✅ The philosophy behind sustainable fitness and living with intention
✅ What it really means to pursue a “larger life” through movement
✅ Why fitness is a practice, not just a performance

Whether you're a coach, former athlete, or someone rethinking your relationship with training, this episode will challenge and inspire you.

👉 Learn more about James at https://www.opexfit.com

🔥 Brought to you by Comeback Athlete
We help former athletes look, feel, and perform like athletes again—with personalized training, nutrition, and coaching that fits real life.
Learn more at https://comeback-athlete.com or follow us on IG @comeback_athlete

In this episode, I sit down with the legendary Coach Mike Boyle—one of the most respected voices in strength & conditioning—to talk about the transition from sport to lifelong fitness.

Whether you're a former athlete trying to find your rhythm again, or a coach guiding others through that shift, this conversation is packed with timeless wisdom and hopeful perspective.

We dive deep into:
✅ Why training still matters when sport ends
✅ The identity crisis many former athletes face
✅ Common pitfalls ex-athletes fall into
✅ How to train smarter, not just harder, in your 30s, 40s, and beyond
✅ The biggest changes Mike has seen in the fitness industry
✅ What he's hopeful for in the future of coaching and training
✅ Simple, sustainable practices to stay athletic for life

Coach Boyle also shares powerful stories from his 40+ years coaching athletes at every level—and what he's learned about movement, mindset, and meaning long after the final whistle.

🌐 Learn more about Mike Boyle & MBSC:
👉 https://www.bodybyboyle.com/

📘 Check out his books & certifications:
👉 New Functional Training for Sports
👉 Advances in Functional Training
👉 CFSC: https://www.certifiedfsc.com/

💪 Comeback Athlete helps former athletes look, feel, and perform like athletes again.
We build customized strength, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching programs to reignite your purpose, power, and performance.

📲 Learn more at: https://www.comeback-athlete.com
📩 Contact: blake@comeback-athlete.com
📸 Follow us on IG: @comeback.athlete

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to:
✅ Like
✅ Subscribe
✅ Drop a comment on your biggest takeaway!

What happens when the competition ends but your love for movement stays? In this powerful episode, Coach Blake sits down with Marcus Filly — former CrossFit Games athlete and founder of Functional Bodybuilding — to talk identity, purpose, and rediscovering the joy of training.

✅ What Marcus misses about CrossFit
✅ How it felt to leave the sport and lose a big part of his identity
✅ Why high-level athletes often feel lost after the “glory days”
✅ How he fell back in love with training — on his terms
✅ The birth of Functional Bodybuilding
✅ What former athletes can do to find passion in fitness again
✅ One mindset shift that changed everything for Marcus
✅ Encouragement for anyone in a season of reinvention

If you’ve ever asked, “Who am I without the sport?” — this episode is for you.

🟥 SUBSCRIBE for more stories, strategies, and mindset shifts to help former athletes train for life again.

🖤 Learn more about coaching: https://comeback-athlete.com
📲 Follow us on IG: @comeback.athlete | @marcusfilly
🎯 Apply for Coaching: [Insert Calendly or Leadform Link]

#IdentityShift #RediscoverFitness #MarcusFilly #FunctionalBodybuilding #ComebackAthlete #FormerAthlete #AthleteMindset #Podcast

Is Vitality Just BS?
With Michael Bann — Why Mobility Screens, Pain, and "Wellness" Need a Reality Check

📝 Episode Overview:

In this unfiltered 60-minute conversation, Coach Blake sits down with veteran coach and educator Michael Bann to challenge mainstream fitness narratives around vitality, mobility, and pain. If you’re tired of gimmicks and want the truth about long-term health, this one’s for you.

✅ Who Michael Bann is and his 15+ years of experience in the fitness industry
✅ Why many mobility and FMS assessments are just scalable sales tools
✅ How the reality of pain and getting out of it is much more nuanced than people think
✅ The problem with treating "vitality" like a product or checklist
✅ What practical approaches to training and lifestyle actually support long-term health
✅ Mindset shifts coaches and athletes need to move from fixing problems to building resilience

What happens when training becomes a burden instead of a blessing?

In this episode, I sit down with coach Misbah Haque to talk about how to bring purpose, fun, and sustainability back into training—especially for burned-out CrossFit athletes who’ve lost their spark.

We cover:
✅ Early signs of burnout and athlete fatigue
✅ Common struggles among ex-competitors and overtrained athletes
✅ How to rebuild trust in your body and enjoy training again
✅ Shifting from intensity to intentionality
✅ Programming strategies that reduce pain and increase consistency
✅ Emotional patterns in burned-out athletes (and how to coach through them)
✅ The difference between training for competition vs longevity
✅ What athletes really want once the scoreboard fades

Whether you're a former competitor or coach, this episode will show you how to build—not burn—the athletes you work with (or yourself).

🎧 Listen On:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Buzzsprout | YouTube

🔗 Connect with Misbah:

Instagram: @misbah.haq
Website: misbahhaque.com

💬 Let’s Work Together:

Apply for coaching → comeback-athlete.com/apply

🔖 Hashtags (YouTube & IG):

#BuiltNotBurnt #ComebackAthlete #BurnoutRecovery #FormerAthlete #CrossFitCoach #PainFreeTraining #AthleteMindset #SustainableFitness #MisbahHaque #BlakeScheidtPodcast #RemoteCoaching