This is a somewhat polarizing topic within the functional fitness space. We posted about it recently on our social media and got a large response from both sides of the aisle. So we figured it would be a worthwhile topic to spend a little more time on. Where do you come in on this matter, and what are your reasons? We would love to hear from you. ••••• EPISODE SPONSORED BY: https://icebarrel.com/ Cold water therapy is one of the fastest, easiest, and most natural ways to reset your body...

Our guest is Dr. Craig Heller, a professor of Biological Sciences and Human Biology at Stanford University. Dr. Heller made an incredible discovery several years ago surrounding the mechanism that drives fatigue and limits physical performance. Since then he has developed a tool that has allowed professional athletes, special operation soldiers, and a host of others to recover faster, and increase performance, almost like they were on steroids. Behind it all is the concept of localized...

Alethea Boon has one of the most impressive athletic careers of any guest on the show. She is a 5-time CrossFit Games athlete, she competed at the Commonwealth Games for her native country of New Zealand 3 times, both in the spot of gymnastics as well as the sport of weightlifting. She competed in gymnastics for Bringham Young University, and now she is also a mother. But being a mother hasn't stopped her from pushing herself physically, these days she is a cast member on the Australian...

Jason Khalipa has done it all. He has been a CrossFit Games Champion, he operates an international fitness company, he competes in the Tactical Games, and Jiu Jitsu tournaments, he is a father, and he has faced no shortage of personal adversity. The list goes on, but you get the point. He is experienced, and he is successful. But how? Listen in as we discuss his approach to life and what Jason calls, The AMRAP Mentality. Jason's IG: @jasonkhalipa   www.powermonkeyfitness.com

In this episode we ask the question: "Should You Be Kipping Your Pull-Up?". We posted about this recently on our social media and had some great discussions with many of our followers. This has been a long-debated topic within the world of CrossFit and Functional Fitness. We feel strongly about the points made throughout this discussion, some of which might be surprising to many of you. Enjoy https://www.powermonkeyfitness.com/

On today's episode, we have a return guest, Dr. Andy Galpin. Andy is a tenured professor at Cal State Fullerton. He is the co-director of the Center of Sport Performance and the founder and director of the Biochemistry and Molecular Exercise Physiology Lab. He is a human performance scientist with a Ph.D. in human bioenergetics and has written over 100 peer-reviewed publications and presentations. We focused our conversation with Andy today on two topics, Human Performance Optimization, and...

Our guest today is coach to the Fittest Man on Earth! Her name is Caroline Lambray, and she is here to discuss strategies going into the final week of the CrossFit Open. Not only does Caroline coach the Fittest on Earth, but she owns and coaches at CrossFit Wonderland. And today she is going to help give some tips for the everyday CrossFitter, taking on 24.3. Annie's IG: @lambrayliving •••• This episode is brought to you by Sisu Sauna. Sauna and contrast therapy offers a natural and...

Our guest today is the always impressive, multi-time CrossFit Games athlete and legend, Annie Sakamoto. Last week, Annie was on the live stream for CrossFit going over strategy and tips for those watching the announcement of 24.1. Today, we have the privilege of discussing insight, strategy and tips with Annie on how you, the everyday athlete should look at tackling 24.2…enjoy. Annie's IG: @anniekimiko •••••⁠ ⁠ This episode is brought to you by Bubs Naturals -⁠ ⁠ We are so thankful to...

The 2024 CrossFit Open is here and with that we would like to discuss the very first workout and give actionable tips and strategy to the everyday athlete. What we all watched on TV with the Games Athletes performing this workout is most likely NOT what it will look like for the majority of us. To help us break down the workout and develop a game plan is the CEO and Head Coach of Brute Strength: Matt Torres. Grab your note pad, and lets get after this first workout! Throw your score in the...

It's commonplace to say that someone is kind and has a great energy about them...but in the case of our guest today Fee Saghafi, that can't be overstated enough. Fee is truly a source of joy and light wherever she goes, and we are certain that point will come across over the course of this episode. Fee is a multi-time CrossFit Games athlete. She thrives on the community aspect of the sport and finding ways to connect with people. Whether it is through coaching, getting involved in...

Our guest today is CrossFit athlete Alison Scudds. Alison's ultimate goal within the sport of CrossFit is to qualify for and compete as an individual at the CrossFit Games. This pursuit has led her to shift gears and her approach to some of her training. Specifically that of olympic weightlifting, which she has generally excelled, however now she has choosen to really dial in the finer technical points of those lifts in an effort to build her confidence at the barbell.  As a Power Monkey...

In another addition of a movement focused podcast, we welcome our good friend Chris Gatti to the show. Chris is a former collegiate gymnast who went on become an incredible circus performer with Cirque Du Soleil and eventually one of the best hand balancers in the world. Today, when not focused on his own training, Chris is a highly sought after hand balancing coach, which is why the focus of this episode is on the similarities and differences between how Dave and Chris approach teaching...

Our guest today is Steph Mireles, who you may be more familiar with as Steph Chung. Steph was a CrossFit Games athlete who has recently made the shift into the medical world beginning a career in Boston as a Physicians Assistant. We discuss what that change in lifestyle and training has been like as well what she believes can change in the healthcare and fitness world to bridge the gap and provide better services and longevity for patients and clients.  We also take some time to discuss how...

We figured that after more than 200 episodes of the podcast that it was time to give a bit more insight into the founder and leader of Power Monkey Fitness. Today we chat with Dave Durante. Starting with his earliest exposure to gymnastics in Garwood New Jersey, all the way up through his time competing at Stanford and onto the 2008 Olympic Games. These stories will illustrate where his drive,  competitive spirt, and passion for being a part of team he considers family comes from.  We hope...

On today's movement focused episode, we welcome 3 time US Olympian, Olympic Bronze medalist, and World Record Holder: Cheryl Haworth to debate the benefits and limitations of the Split Jerk vs Squat Jerk with our very own weightlifting head coach and National Team Member Mike Cerbus. We hope that you enjoy this episode format, as we intend to bring you many more of this type where we debate the nuances and approaches of various movements within the fitness world. Cheryl's IG:...

Our guest today is Evan Slaughter, more commonly know by his social media handle on Instagram and TikTok as: Fit2Serve1. Evan has an interesting story, having formerly been quite fit and competitive, but after being injured on a tour in Iraq and developing an opiate addition he slid into a pretty dark place.  After getting clean, Evan has reignited his passion for fitness and comedy, and uses both on his social media channels to try to bring joy to all of those he can reach. Evan is a...

Today's "movement focused" episode revolves around the skill of spotting. We believe that this truly is a skill that is all too often discredited or overlooked outright. As a coach, having the ability to spot someone correctly serves many purposes. Obviously creating a safe environment is primary, but even at higher levels, the ability to spot an athlete through a movement so that they can feel what their body is supposed to be doing with proper form is so incredibly important. Usually what...

Bo has an incredible resume. Dave originally met Bo when he was a Strength Coach for a huge variety of sports at the US Olympic Training Center. Since then, Bo has been the Director of Strength and Conditioning at the UFC, the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning at the University of Michigan, and he is Currently the Assistant Athletic Director at Texas A&M. Bo has worked with such a wide variety of different athletic disciplines that it makes his skill set incredibly unique....

For our 200th episode, we brought on one of the OG's of CrossFit. Dave Lipson was a multi-time Games Athlete, a professional baseball player, and a long time member of the prestigious CrossFit Seminar Staff. Dave is an absolute wealth of knowledge when it comes to fitness and performance. Most recently, Dave has taken his years of experience and directed them towards his new fitness goals within the world of Bodybuilding.  We spend a large part of the conversation discussing how training for...

Today we welcome Pat Vellner back to the show for his second time. Pat had an incredible season this year, winning WZA on a team, being crowned the Second Fittest Man on Earth at the Games, and most recently winning the Rogue Invitational. We love having Pat on the show, he is fun to chat with and always speaks with passion and excitement about whatever topic is at hand. We cover everything from the challenges of parenthood while having two professions, his training, the differences between...

As we prepare for the launch of our newest program in the Power Monkey Training App, Handstand Walking - Advanced, we decided to take an episode and pick the brain of our Captain and the creator of the plan, Dave Durante. Dave goes into depth regarding what the new plan entails, and what you will get out of it. Specifically, this plan will take an athlete who can Handstand Walk in a straight line and develop their skills such that they can walk in any direction, over and around any obstacle,...

We welcome back today one of our favorite people, and wealth of knowledge when it comes to the nutritional sciences: Dr. Mike Molloy, owner and founder of M2 Performance Nutrition. Today we had a very specific topic that we wanted to discuss with Dr. Mike. Training for Performance vs. Longevity.  Recently we have become more and more interested in what it means to eat and train while keeping our future health in mind, not just whether we can write a faster time up on the board. We realized...

Megan was a world class athlete in maybe one of the most insane sports there is. Imagine flying head first down a sheet of ice at speeds of up to 80 MPH, on essentially a baking tray. That is the sport of Skelton, and Megan was one of the best in the world at it. There is no surprise that it takes a special mindset to subject yourself to such risk, and to do it at such a high level while managing the undeniable nerves that goes into such an event. Which is why once Megan retired from the...

We are excited to welcome our friend, Dr. Julie Foucher onto the show. Julie, as many of you may know, had an incredible career as a CrossFit Games Athlete before she retired from the competition world and continued to pursue her medical career. Today she is a practicing physician of functional medicine within a direct primary care model at Wild Health. Julie takes a holistic approach to wellness with her patients, and this is where the bulk of the conversation centered today. She shares...