Product Market Fitness

Adam Vazquez

Product Market Fitness is a show about the mindset and practices of modern builders. Hosted by entrepreneur, marketing strategist and gym rat Adam Vazquez, each episode explores one (or all) of three pillars: Product — How real founders built what they built Market — The content, tactics, and strategy behind their growth Fitness — The physical and mental practices that keep them sharp Some episodes are interviews with founders, marketers, and athletes. Others are short solo riffs with honest reflections from the trenches. Whether you’re running a business, scaling a brand, or just trying to stay healthy while doing hard things — this show is for you. New episodes weekly. www.productmarket.fitness

  1. 08/14/2025

    From Infantry to Affiliate Owner: Garrett Bastianelli is on a Mission

    Today’s episode is with Garrett Bastianelli — owner, head coach, and GM at CrossFit Prevail. We talk about his journey from military service to gym ownership, the realities of running a CrossFit affiliate, and how he’s balancing coaching, business, and personal fitness. He shares how his military background shaped his leadership and adaptability, the origin story of CrossFit Prevail (spoiler: it started in a one-car garage), and how the Carolina Summer Games grew from year one to a standout event in the region. We also talk about: * The value of building a coaching team * Letting go of the “Games athlete” identity * The L3 certification process * Fitness as a tool for living, not just competing It’s a real look behind the curtain of affiliate life — from sweaty palms and spreadsheets to finding joy in movement again. Today’s episode is brought to you by STERLING FITNESS. Wanna get a little better at lifting? gymnastics? Maybe you want to lose a few pounds or get ready for a big event coming up (Fittest of the Coast anyone?). Daniel is the coach you need. He’ll design a plan that fits with your goals and schedule. Coach you on the best way to execute, and ensure you’re accountable to yourself. Book time with him today! ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro to Garrett & CrossFit Prevail03:45 – Recap of the Carolina Summer Games08:20 – Event programming strategy & future ideas13:05 – Garrett’s fitness origin story & military background19:30 – Getting his L1 and L3 certifications25:15 – What it’s like to take (and fail) the L3 exam29:45 – Life after the military: transitioning to gym ownership35:20 – From garage gym to full facility39:55 – Challenges of first-time business ownership44:30 – Fitness as a relationship business48:10 – How Garrett’s personal fitness goals have evolved53:00 – Why he let go of the “Games” dream56:30 – CrossFit’s recent marketing campaign59:15 – Garrett’s take on intensity, community, and longevity01:02:00 – Shoutouts: Randy Moss, The Rock, and what Garrett’s excited about This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

    1h 3m
  2. 07/17/2025

    Beating Cancer. Building a Business. Competing at the Games.

    Got an incredible episode for you this week. I’ve known this week’s guest, Jacob Farley, since 2009. In the summer of 2013, we were in a wedding together. He shared during that time that he had cancer and was going to be losing his leg. What follows is a story of perseverance, incredible struggle and loss, adaptation, and the determination to never give up even when everything was stacked against him. Jacob shares how going through chemo, losing physical function, and rebuilding from scratch helped him re-discover his love of fitness. The role his family and faith played in helping him get where he is today. And how he’s developed a deeper sense of meaning through it all. What We Cover: * How the worst thing ever (cancer) led Jacob to the Adaptive Games * Why “full send” training isn’t always the answer * Balancing intense training with business building * The seasonality of hard pursuits * How he’s building a family, his fitness, and his business Timestamps: (00:00) Intro(03:10) Getting diagnosed with cancer (11:20) CrossFit as a part of recovery(15:00) Getting into competition and qualifying for the Games(25:50) Managing fatigue and adapting his programming(30:30) Mindset shifts: identity over achievement(35:45) Building a financial advisory firm(41:10) Lessons from fitness that translate to business(46:15) Encouragement for anyone starting over(51:00) Final thoughts and where to follow Jacob So grateful for Jacob sharing his story. Who else is pushing the edges of fitness and business? Reply to this email and let me know. I love featuring great stories we can all be inspired and encouraged by. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

    53 min
  3. 07/10/2025

    From Gymnast to Gym Owner: Amy Fryt Keeps Defying Gravity

    This week, I sat down with Amy Fryt—owner of Reaction Fitness Collective in Greenville, SC. Amy’s story starts with competitive gymnastics and winds through years of collegiate athletics, competitive crossfit, and entrepreneurship. Eventually, she took the leap into gym ownership—and she hasn’t looked back. We talked about how she’s building a gym culture that doesn’t just produce fit people, but also healthy and strong communities of people who enjoy spending time together. In this episode, we cover: * How her athletic background shapes her coaching philosophy * Why she built Reaction Fitness Collective for everyday people, not only elite athletes * The tension between doing it all and doing it well * What it looks like to run a business rooted in relationships and consistency * How she views fitness and competition past the age of 30 If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to build a gym, a business, or a community while chasing your own fitness, this one’s for you. Timestamps 05:00 – Intro and Amy’s early background in competitive gymnastics18:00 – Building Reaction Fitness: the vision and the first clients24:30 – Why she coaches “regular people” over elite athletes28:10 – The risk of burnout in gym ownership and how she avoids it35:00 – The mental game: how her mindset has evolved over the years39:25 – How she fosters community without forcing it55:00 – What success really means to her now1:02:00 – Final advice to anyone chasing a vision This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

    1h 8m
  4. 06/26/2025

    Left Nike. Built Community. No Regrets.

    Jantzen Raymond has done what a lot of people dream about — he’s built a career in sports. But not as an athlete. Jantzen started his sports career at Nike, worked his way into a full-time role, made a leap to the NCAA, and is now at NoCap Sports — a startup connecting athletes and brands. What stands out is not just the impressive resume — it’s how he did it. Quietly. Strategically. Without cutting corners. And while prioritizing personal fitness. In this conversation, we talk about: * The real behind-the-scenes of working at Nike * What it’s like to switch from a big brand to a lean startup * His personal fitness evolution from college basketball to Crossfit to HYROX * Why he prioritizes people over platforms in business & fitness * How he’s stayed grounded while working at the top of the sports world Whether you’re trying to build a meaningful career or navigate a high-performance life, this one delivers. Timestamps: (00:00) – Intro to Jantzen(02:10) – Jantzen’s path from Nike internship to full-time(07:12) – What working at Nike actually looked like(12:46) – Jumping from Nike to the NCAA(18:33) – Why NoCap Sports felt like the right next move(25:02) – How Jantzen thinks about startup life vs corporate(30:49) – Advice for people breaking into the sports business(35:25) – The role of relationships and “people bets”(41:03) – His personal evolution in fitness post-basketball(47:00) – The disciplines that keep him grounded(51:20) – What’s next for NoCap and Jantzen’s growth On shared suffering How Jantzen lost 45 pounds. The importance of having a community to help you reach your goals. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

    59 min
  5. 06/19/2025

    Ivy League to Iron Mind: The Richard Hernandez Story

    Richard Hernandez was living the resume dream. MIT. Yale. Fast-moving startups. Big exits.But at the height of his career, he felt broken. Spiritually flatlined. Physically drained. Emotionally spent. So he did the unthinkable…he slowed down. Not to rest, but to rebuild.And in the process, he developed real mental toughness. Inspired by David Goggins, Richard set out on a mission to forge mental toughness through physical adversity. His new metric for success wasn’t venture capital or accolades—it was discipline. Daily pain. A mind that didn’t quit. This episode is about that journey—from winning on paper to winning in real life. What we cover: * Richard’s pedigree: MIT, Yale, and startup wins * Why his early success nearly cost him everything * The wake-up call that led him to “do hard things” * Building an identity around toughness and ownership * What endurance training taught him about business * Documenting the process so others can follow it too Timestamps:00:00 – Intro + Richard’s background (MIT, Yale, Bain, startups)04:47 – The connection between high performance and insecurity09:55 – Watching Goggins live and choosing to pursue pain14:32 – First steps into physical training and mental transformation21:18 – Why CrossFit became his mental testing ground27:40 – Comparing elite academics vs. elite athletes32:30 – How Richard balances startup leadership with training41:15 – Choosing hard things in the digital age48:44 – Building habits when nobody’s watching55:22 – What’s next for Richard’s business and personal goals01:03:01 – Final thoughts on suffering, faith, and focus Richard challenged us to do hard things. What’s your hard right now? Reply and let me know. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.productmarket.fitness

    1h 6m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Product Market Fitness is a show about the mindset and practices of modern builders. Hosted by entrepreneur, marketing strategist and gym rat Adam Vazquez, each episode explores one (or all) of three pillars: Product — How real founders built what they built Market — The content, tactics, and strategy behind their growth Fitness — The physical and mental practices that keep them sharp Some episodes are interviews with founders, marketers, and athletes. Others are short solo riffs with honest reflections from the trenches. Whether you’re running a business, scaling a brand, or just trying to stay healthy while doing hard things — this show is for you. New episodes weekly. www.productmarket.fitness