Jake and Sam welcome their first-ever guest to Out of Bounds — elite CrossFit athlete and LGBTQ+ trailblazer Alec Smith.

This episode is packed with everything:

• Our brand-new Kink of the Week segment (yep, guns??)

• Anonymous listener confessions about sex, gym class trauma, and coming out

• Alec’s candid journey from conservative small towns to the CrossFit podium — including how he came out publicly, met his fiancé Riley, and his honest take on competing as one of the few openly gay male CrossFitters

• Plus, the emotional highs and lows of starting a family and his new obsession: Grid League

Funny, heartfelt, and a little spicy — this one goes way out of bounds.

Follow us on Spotify & Instagram (@outofbounds) and share your confessions for a future episode!

Timestamps & Chapters

• 00:00 – Welcome & What’s New

  Jake and Sam kick off with the usual laughs and introduce their first-ever guest tease.

• 00:21 – Kink of the Week: Guns?!

  Listener suggestion leads to a hilarious debut of the “Kink of the Week” segment.

• 02:17 – Anonymous LGBTQ+ Confessions

  From calling Apple about Grindr, to gym class trauma, and coming out stories — listeners spill all.

• 09:50 – First Times & Gold Star Gays

  Jake and Sam share their own “first time” stories and talk about gold star gays.

• 17:05 – Introducing Alec Smith

  CrossFit star Alec Smith joins the pod as their first guest and shares his background.

• 19:06 – CrossFit Career & Stepping Away

  Alec talks about competing at the highest level, injuries, and his evolving relationship with CrossFit.

• 21:14 – Alec’s Coming Out Journey

  How Alec came out to friends, family, and the public — and why representation matters.

• 27:56 – CrossFit Culture & Community Reactions

  Gossip, acceptance, and what changed after Alec’s public coming out.

• 31:39 – Growing Up Religious & Delayed Coming Out

  The challenges of coming out in conservative and religious environments.

• 33:10 – Funny Pre-Coming Out Stories

  Alec’s hilarious attempts to “prove” he wasn’t gay in high school.

• 39:59 – Love Story: Meeting Riley & Getting Engaged

  How Alec met his fiancé, quarantined together, and their journey toward marriage and family.

• 44:56 – Family Planning Struggles & Resilience

  Alec opens up about the emotional and financial challenges of starting a family as a gay couple.

• 46:03 – Grid League: Alec’s Next Chapter

  Alec explains the exciting co-ed sport he now competes in and why it’s so inclusive.

• 49:00 – Weekly Pulse Check & Wrap-Up

  Jake and Sam reflect on training, golf lessons, and pickleball tournaments; the usual cool-down fun.

Welcome back! Episode 3 is packed with laughs, hot takes, and a few deep dives. Jake kicks things off with birthday celebrations, a Gymshark surprise, and a countryside wedding in Devon, while Sam recaps a wild (and slightly anxiety-inducing) weekend at Fire Island’s Pines Party. They unpack the role of party culture in the gay community, body image, and how PEDs and aesthetics intersect in sport.

They celebrate out athletes making headlines at the USA Track & Field Championships, chat about CrossFit representation, and get candid about mental health — from the pressure of professional athletics to the high stakes of entrepreneurship. Plus, a debate on confidence vs. competition, some musical theatre love, and the snack you didn’t know you needed: pickle-in-a-pouch.

🔥 Episode Highlights

💬 Catching Up: Weekly Chaos & Reflections

• Sam recaps his whirlwind week: Wisconsin wedding, a 15-hour drive, and a baby shower.
• Jake returns from Ibiza and dives into Gymshark filming, BTND Pride activations, and a roundtable on impact within the queer fitness community.

❤️ Relationship Deep Dive

• Jake & Paul: How getting deported from the U.S. led Jake to meet his partner Paul. They discuss their 22-year age gap, thoughts on marriage, and future plans for children.
• Sam & Jared: A spontaneous Instagram DM led to a long-distance love story that culminated in marriage.

🏳️‍⚧️ Olympic Ban on Trans Athletes

• The hosts critique the recent decision to ban trans women from Olympic competition.
• Discussion includes:
• • Media weaponization and political agendas
  • The need for nuanced conversations
  • Personal support for trans inclusion
  • Calls for guest voices to share lived experience

🌈 Visibility in Sports: Why Don’t More Athletes Come Out?

• Hosts weigh in on why so few elite athletes are publicly out.
• Jake reads listener responses: fear of being dropped, lack of role models, locker room dynamics.
• They discuss examples from rugby, the NFL, and the acting world (hello, Jonathan Bailey).
• Strong emphasis on the importance of representation and leading by example.

🏋️ Training & Lifestyle Check-In

• Jake’s training: altitude chamber, event workouts, and a busy schedule.
• Sam’s recovery focus: rehab, strength return, and prep for Hyrox Boston in six weeks.
• Reflections on managing expectations, social media realism, and tuning advice to your life stage.

📚 What We’re Learning

• Jake: Audible binging, breathing science from The Oxygen Advantage, and planning guitar/golf lessons.
• Sam: Embracing imperfect training weeks and building sustainable structure.