Savagely Scaled

Blake Walker and Joyce Santos

Savagely Scaled is where we, average CrossFitters talk about the history of the sport, community, events, workouts and of course the culture! We will also be speaking to our own personal goals and experiences with the sport. We hope this can help introduce the sport to some of you out there who have always been curious about Crossfit as well as a space for current Crossfit athletes to share in their love for the sport.

  1. 14h ago

    Episode 99: Camel Toe Chronicles

    Absolutely! I’d make it more listener-focused and bring the special guests into the description, while ending with a clear call-to-action for finding and contacting Savagely Scaled. 🚨 COURT IS NOW IN SESSION! 🚨 We’re kicking off a brand-new Savagely Scaled segment: Savagely Scaled Takes You to Court! 👩‍⚖️⚖️ And for our first case, we’re putting one of the most awkward, relatable, and sometimes unavoidable gym situations on trial… 🍑 CAMEL TOE & MOOSE KNUCKLE! Blake and Joyce are joined by four special guests — Terri, Jen, Ginger, and Mimi — to get their honest opinions, stories, and verdicts on gym wardrobe malfunctions. We’re talking about everything from leggings and seams to underwear choices, body confidence, see-through clothing, and that dreaded moment when you realize your workout clothes may be showing a little more than you intended. 😳 But this episode isn’t just about making jokes. We’re also talking about the awkward side of fitness, body confidence, and whether your gym bestie has an obligation to tell you when something… isn’t quite right. 😂 The Camel Toe & Moose Knuckle debate 🍑 Should your gym bestie tell you if something is showing? When workout clothes betray you 😩 Leggings, seams, gussets & underwear Fitness clothing fails Body confidence and gym insecurities Would YOU want someone to tell you? Our special guests give their honest opinions Fitness brands that have made us say, “Seriously?!” And, of course… the final verdict! ⚖️ This is the first episode of Savagely Scaled Takes You to Court, and we want YOU involved! Have a gym topic that deserves to go on trial? Have a funny gym story? Want to be one of our future special guests? 📩 Send us your ideas, hot takes, stories, or topics! Follow us on Instagram & TikTok: @savagelyscaled 🎥 YouTube: Savagely Scaled 🎧 Find us on:Spotify • Apple Podcasts • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio 📧 Want to reach out, suggest a topic, share your story, or be a guest? savagelyscaled1@gmail.com And remember… If this podcast is your swig of pre-workout, make sure you share it with your gym bestie! Don’t be a Karen, be a Sharon and keep sharing! Until we meet at the White Board again! 🏋️‍♀️💥

  2. Sep 8

    Video 18: September Goals- High Fives, Fun EMOMs and Crazy Dogs

    September is here, which means it’s time for another Savagely Scaled goal check-in! This month, Blake and Joyce are setting goals that go beyond just lifting heavier or chasing PRs. They’re working on the little things that can make a BIG difference. For Blake, September is all about getting more steps, getting outside, and managing anxiety — with a little help from her crazy dog! 🐕😂 Instead of simply saying “I need to walk more,” she’s challenging herself to make movement more fun by finding an activity she actually enjoys. And because apparently walking the dog isn’t already an adventure, she’s also working on helping both herself AND her four-legged chaos machine stay a little calmer. Joyce is taking a different approach this month: learning to recognize her wins. Sometimes we accomplish way more than we give ourselves credit for, but we’re so focused on what we didn’t do that we completely overlook what we DID accomplish. Joyce is working on being less critical of herself, celebrating the progress, and giving herself some well-deserved high fives! 🙌 And then there’s the September training goal: EMOMs! Joyce is bringing more EMOMs into her month to specifically attack her weaknesses, build consistency, and become more comfortable with movements that don’t always come naturally. Because sometimes the best way to improve something is to stop avoiding it and put in the work — one minute at a time. This episode is a reminder that goals don't always have to be about a bigger lift, a faster time, or a new PR. Sometimes the biggest wins are: 🐾 Taking more steps🧠 Working on your anxiety❤️ Giving yourself some grace🙌 Recognizing the wins you normally overlook🏋️‍♀️ Working on your weaknesses⏱️ Showing up for another EMOM😂 Finding ways to make fitness fun Blake and Joyce are getting real about what they want to improve, where they tend to be too hard on themselves, and how they’re going to keep each other accountable throughout September. So grab your coffee, lace up your shoes, and get ready to set some goals, celebrate some wins, and maybe give yourself a damn high five. Because progress doesn't always look like a PR. Sometimes… progress looks like taking the dog for a walk without losing your mind. 😂 Savagely Scaled — where we’re still figuring it out, one rep, one step, and one questionable decision at a time. 📱 Follow us: @savagelyscaled📧 Email: savagelyscaled1@gmail.com This could also make a great episode title: “September Goals: High Fives, Heavy EMOMs & Crazy Dogs”. September Goals: High Fives, Heavy EMOMs & Crazy Dogs

  3. Sep 1

    Episode 98: What the Heck is Happening in Fitness?- The Savage News Desk

    CrossFit is changing—and it's not the only game in town anymore. In Episode 98, Blake and Joyce sit down for the first-ever Savagely Scaled Savage News Desk to break down everything happening across the world of CrossFit and competitive fitness. From HYROX partnering with Amazon to XENOM making its debut, Reebok jumping into the XENOM scene, and the growing competition between CrossFit, HYROX, World Fitness Project, Rogue and Wodapalooza, there is A LOT happening in the fitness world right now. We also take a moment to give one last salute to Pat Vellner as he closes out his individual CrossFit Games career and talk about what his legacy means to the sport. And because apparently we can't have a news episode without a little drama…we're talking about the WFP Tour 2 withdrawals of Dani Speegle, Sara Sigmundsdottir, Saxon Panchik and Spencer Panchik—without the internet speculation and with a focus on what those withdrawals could mean for the competition. Then there's Wodapalooza's Battle of the Camps, the upcoming Rogue Invitational, and the athletes fighting their way through The Q. And finally, we get into something that really has us asking questions: The Community Cup is designed to give everyday CrossFit athletes another opportunity to compete, but are we doing enough to actually showcase the people who make up the CrossFit community? Because CrossFit isn't just the Games. It's the affiliate down the street. It's the Masters athlete. It's the person doing their first competition. It's the mom squeezing in a workout between kids' activities. It's the person who has been training for years. And we think those stories deserve to be seen too. 🏃‍♀️ HYROX + Amazon — What does this partnership mean for the future of fitness? 🏆 Pat Vellner's final Games — One last salute to one of CrossFit's legends. 👽 XENOM — What is the “Decathlon of Fitness” and how did its Dallas debut go? 👟 Reebok + XENOM — What does another major brand getting involved mean for competitive fitness? 👶 Ricky Garard is having a BOY! — Congratulations to Ricky and Michelle! 🌴 Wodapalooza Battle of the Camps — PRVN, Brute, Training Think Tank or The Outcasts? ⚔️ Rogue Invitational — Who is making their way through The Q? 🌎 World Fitness Project — The growing competition for elite functional fitness athletes. 🤔 WFP withdrawals — What do the latest withdrawals mean for Tour Stop 2? 📣 Community Cup — Is CrossFit missing an opportunity to showcase everyday athletes? 🔥 Savage Takes — Blake and Joyce each bring their hottest opinions. ⚖️ CrossFit Court — We put the overloaded competitive fitness calendar on trial. 🚨 Big Deal or Who Cares? — Because not every CrossFit headline deserves our attention. Is CrossFit still the center of the fitness universe—or are we entering a new era where HYROX, XENOM, WFP, Rogue and other competitions are all fighting for their piece of the fitness world? As always, Blake and Joyce aren't afraid to give their opinions, disagree with each other, and probably say something they shouldn't. 😂 Listen in, tell us what YOU think, and let us know what CrossFit news we should cover next! Follow us on Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @savagelyscaled 📧 Email: savagelyscaled1@gmail.com And if you enjoyed the episode, share it with your gym bestie, coach, or that person who always has an opinion about CrossFit. Stay Savage. Stay Scaled. 🩷💙

  4. Aug 25

    Episode 97: When CrossFit Stops Being Fun- Do You Need to Quit or Just Change Something?

    When CrossFit Stops Being Fun: Do You Need to Quit or Just Change Something? What happens when the thing you used to LOVE starts feeling like a chore? In this episode of Savagely Scaled, Blake and Joyce get real about a side of CrossFit that athletes don't always want to admit: sometimes CrossFit just stops being fun. Maybe you're skipping classes. Maybe you're constantly dreading the workout. Maybe every bad lift feels like a failure, the leaderboard has taken over your brain, or you're comparing yourself to everyone around you. Maybe competition has gone from something exciting to something that is consuming you. And sometimes, you don't even realize it's happening until you're already burned out. Blake and Joyce talk about the difference between having a workout you absolutely hate and genuinely losing the desire to train. They break down the warning signs of burnout, the pressure we put on ourselves, the danger of comparing your journey to someone else's, and how social media can make it even harder to appreciate your own progress. They also get into something incredibly important: CrossFit can become part of your identity. When your friends, schedule, goals, competitions, social media, and even your conversations revolve around the gym, what happens when you need to step back? The answer isn't always to quit. Sometimes you need a rest day.Sometimes you need to change your programming.Sometimes you need a new goal.Sometimes you need to try something completely different.And sometimes you simply need to remember why you started in the first place. Because you're more than a PR.You're more than a leaderboard.You're more than the number on the bar.And you're definitely more than how you performed in today's WOD. So if you've ever walked into the gym and thought, “I just don't want to be here anymore,” this episode is for you. Maybe you don't need to quit CrossFit. Maybe you just need to find the fun again. When CrossFit slowly starts feeling like a chore The difference between a bad workout and true burnout When cherry-picking workouts is actually listening to your body Signs that you may need a break Why constantly chasing PRs can take the fun away Comparing yourself to athletes who have been doing this for years Leaderboards, competition, and the comparison trap The pressure of competition and unrealistic expectations How social media affects the way we see our own progress When CrossFit becomes part of your identity Why taking a break doesn't mean you're quitting Changing your programming, goals, or class schedule Finding a new challenge to bring back the excitement And the biggest question: Why did you start in the first place? Bad days are normal. Bad workouts are normal. Missing a lift is normal. Not wanting to go to the gym every once in a while is normal. But if you consistently dread something you used to love, don't ignore it. Take a step back. Reassess. Change something. And most importantly, remember why you started this crazy journey in the first place. Have an Episode you want us to deep dive into? Want to be on the Podcast? Reach out to us by email savagelyscaled1@gmail.com or DM us @savagelyscaled Don't forget to give us those 5 stars, leave us a review letting us know if we PR'd or No Rep. Until We Meet At the Whiteboard, Again! BYE

  5. Aug 18

    Video 17: Stack Your Goals- Progress, Accountability & Doing Hard Things

    Absolutely. Based on the full conversation, Video 17 is really a goals/check-in episode with a lot of relatable pieces: staying consistent while traveling, learning to measure progress differently, CrossFit vs. “RX,” nutrition and family boundaries, upcoming competitions, HYROX, and why accountability and community matter. Video 17: Stack Your Goals — Progress, Accountability & Doing Hard Things We’re back with another Savagely Scaled check-in—and this one is all about goals, progress, and what happens when life gets in the way. Joyce is back from a week of family time in California, where she had to figure out how to stay consistent with her goals while traveling, running, and being surrounded by people who were much more interested in vacation mode than workout mode. Meanwhile, Blake is balancing weightlifting, nutrition, an upcoming meet, and a brand-new endurance goal. We talk about why progress isn't always about hitting RX, why choosing a number you can consistently achieve can be more valuable than forcing a workout, and why you have to remember your wins instead of obsessing over the days when things don't go your way. Joyce shares her progress with toes-to-bar, shoulder strength, running, and preparing for HYROX Pro. Blake talks about making weight for her next weightlifting competition, preparing for a Huntington Beach meet, and her August focus on Zone 2 and building endurance for HYROX. But the biggest conversation might be about accountability and community. As adults, nobody is standing over us telling us to have goals, work hard, or keep going. Sometimes we have to create that accountability ourselves—or find people who will do it with us. And yes… we also talk about the emotional roller coaster of trying to get those HYROX tickets. 😂 This episode is your reminder that goals don't have to be perfect. They just have to matter enough for you to keep showing up. You don't have to accomplish everything at once. Sometimes progress looks like adding one more rep. Sometimes it means running when you hate running. Sometimes it means choosing the scaled option so you can actually complete the workout the way it was intended. And sometimes the biggest win is simply having people around you who remind you why you started. Blake and Joyce are stacking their goals, adjusting when life happens, and figuring out what works for them—not trying to be perfect. Now it's your turn: What goal are you working toward right now? Are you stacking goals, or are you still working on your first one? Pick one goal for the next month. Not ten. Not everything you want to accomplish this year. Just one. Write it down. Tell somebody about it. Give yourself a way to be accountable—and then come back and tell Savagely Scaled how it's going. Because we're not trying to be perfect. We're trying to get better, do hard things, and have a damn good time doing it. If Savagely Scaled is your little hit of pre-workout, make sure you follow the show, leave us a five-star review, and share the episode with your gym crew. We want to hear from you, too! Have a story, goal, hot take, gym experience, or an episode idea? Send us a DM at @savagelyscaled or email us at savagelyscaled1@gmail.com. And don't forget to tell us: Are you hitting your goals… or are you getting no-repped? Until next time—meet us at the whiteboard.

  6. Aug 11

    Episode 96- Breaking the Stigma Around Prptides with Alexis

    Absolutely — I pulled the key points from the full conversation and kept the description educational rather than making it sound like a recommendation for peptide use. Peptides are one of the biggest—and most controversial—conversations happening in the fitness and athletic world right now. Are they performance enhancers? A shortcut? A recovery tool? A health and wellness option? Or is the answer much more complicated? In this episode of Savagely Scaled, Blake sits down with Alexis for an honest, open conversation about peptides, GLPs, recovery, hormones, health optimization, and the stigma surrounding their use in the fitness community. Alexis brings a unique perspective to the conversation. After 14 years in the CrossFit world, competing as an athlete, owning her own functional fitness gym, and working closely with athletes and members, she shares her personal journey of realizing that working harder wasn't always the answer—and that sometimes your body needs more than simply "eat less and train harder." What peptides are and why athletes are becoming interested in them The stigma surrounding GLPs and peptide use in fitness The difference between using something as a "quick fix" versus using it as part of a larger health and lifestyle plan Nutrition, training, recovery, stress, sleep, and hormones Why getting older can change the way our bodies respond to training and nutrition Alexis's personal experience with GLPs and other peptides Recovery and longevity for athletes Why education matters before putting anything into your body The importance of working with qualified medical professionals The concerns surrounding questionable online peptide sources Competitive athletes, drug testing, and why regulations matter Creating a fitness culture where people can ask questions without being judged Alexis's new physician-led health and wellness company and why education is at the center of what she's building One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation isn't that everyone should use peptides—or that nobody should. It's that we need to be willing to have the conversation. Athletes should understand what they're putting into their bodies, ask questions, understand the potential risks and regulations, and make informed decisions with appropriate professional guidance. As Alexis says throughout the episode, education needs to come before blindly following what someone on social media tells you. This is an educational conversation, not medical advice or a recommendation to use peptides. Peptides are a broad category with different compounds, uses, claims, regulations, and considerations. What's appropriate for one person may not be appropriate—or permitted—for another, particularly competitive athletes subject to drug-testing rules. Alexis and her team offer free consultations for people who have questions and want to learn more about their options. Their program officially launches August 19. 📧 Reach Alexis and her team:info@ryznhealth.com Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't be afraid to have the conversation. And don't let the stigma stop you from educating yourself. Have a topic you want Blake and Joyce to tackle?Have a crazy gym story?Know an affiliate we should visit?Want to be a guest? 📧 savagelyscaled1@gmail.com📱 Instagram: @savagelyscaled And as always... Train hard. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to have the conversation. Until we meet at the whiteboard. 🏋️‍♀️ I can also make a shorter Spotify/Apple Podcasts version if you want something that grabs listeners faster while keeping the full show notes for your website. Episode: Breaking the Stigma Around Peptides with AlexisIn this episode, we talk about:Want to learn more?Keep up with Savagely Scaled

  7. Aug 4

    Episode 95: Confessions Of A CrossFit Volunteer

    Ever wondered what it's really like to volunteer at the CrossFit Games? In this episode of Savagely Scaled, Blake takes you behind the scenes of the 2026 CrossFit Games and shares what it's like to wear the black volunteer shirt. From the application process and early mornings to setting up events, working Fan Experience, touring the legendary Ranch, and meeting athletes from around the world, this episode gives you a perspective most fans never get to see. Blake and Joyce also talk about: How to apply to volunteer for the CrossFit Games. What volunteers actually do each day. The incredible organization that goes into running the Games. Funny behind-the-scenes stories (including a few awkward athlete encounters!). The friendships built with volunteers from across the globe. Why volunteering gave Blake a whole new appreciation for the CrossFit community. Whether you've dreamed of volunteering one day or just want to know what happens behind the cameras, this episode is packed with laughs, insight, and a reminder of why the CrossFit community is so special. If you've ever volunteered at a CrossFit event, we'd love to hear your experience! Send us a message. 📩 Email: savagelyscaled1@gmail.com📱 Instagram: @savagelyscaled If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star review, follow the podcast, and share it with a friend. Every share helps us continue bringing stories from the CrossFit community to athletes everywhere. We appreciate every single one of you—thanks for listening to Savagely Scaled!

  8. Jul 21

    Episode 94: Building Stronger Communities with Dave Rafuse- The Future of Fitness

    Episode 94: Building Stronger Communities with Dave Rafuse What makes someone stay at a gym? Is it the workouts... or the people? This week on Savagely Scaled, Blake and Joyce sit down with Dave Rafuse, longtime affiliate owner, entrepreneur, and creator of the new Train With Us platform, to talk about one of the biggest challenges in fitness today: building genuine community in a digital world. Dave shares his journey from the early days of CrossFit to owning a thriving affiliate with hundreds of members, becoming one of the first HYROX affiliates in Eastern Canada, and developing a platform designed to help gyms create stronger member connections both inside and outside the gym. In this episode, we discuss: Dave's CrossFit journey and how the sport has evolved. The explosive growth of HYROX and what it means for everyday athletes. Why community—not equipment—is what keeps members coming back. How coaches can improve member retention through meaningful relationships. Building friendships as adults through fitness. The role of "micro communities" within an affiliate. How the new Train With Us app helps gyms connect members, improve communication, and strengthen coaching relationships. Dave's vision for the future of fitness and why he believes community is the key to changing lives. Whether you're a coach, affiliate owner, or someone who simply loves the community your gym has given you, this conversation is packed with insights on why connection is just as important as training. A huge thank you to Dave Rafuse for joining us and sharing his passion for growing stronger communities. 📩 Have a guest suggestion, gym story, or episode idea? We'd love to hear from you! Email: savagelyscaled1@gmail.comInstagram, TikTok & YouTube: @savagelyscaled As always, thank you for listening and supporting Savagely Scaled. Stay Savagely Scaled!

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Savagely Scaled is where we, average CrossFitters talk about the history of the sport, community, events, workouts and of course the culture! We will also be speaking to our own personal goals and experiences with the sport. We hope this can help introduce the sport to some of you out there who have always been curious about Crossfit as well as a space for current Crossfit athletes to share in their love for the sport.