Bolder Athlete Podcast

Bolder Athlete
  • 5.0 (5)
  • FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Inspiring stories of strength, wisdom, resilience, and more, from within the masters community. bolderathlete.substack.com

  1. MAR 26

    Quarterfinals Breakdown - Test Runs, Tips, and Targets | #39

    In this very timely episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, host Josh Boonstra sits down with CrossFit Games athletes Aaron Houchin, Justin Brewer, and Paul Delanoy to catch up, and share tips & tricks from their test runs of each quarterfinals workout. They talked through each event in detail—what caught them off guard, where they made mistakes, what they'd change, and how they're planning to approach quarterfinals. They discuss pacing strategies, managing fatigue, and nuances within each workout they anticipate having to navigate on gameday —like grip management, the value of transitions, and which workouts to avoid coming out too hot. They also talk about the mental side of this stage of the season — conditioning your mind for the redzone, how to stay composed, and how confidence (or lack of it) can completely change your performance. If you’re heading into Quarterfinals, be sure to catch this post test debrief —sharing what worked, what didn’t, and the tips and tricks that can help you get the most out of your performance.

    57 min

  2. MAR 19

    Comfortable Being Uncomfortable with Karen Rotondo | #38

    In this episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, host Josh Boonstra sits down with Karen Rotondo—aka Fit Grandma—a 63-year-old athlete, registered nurse, and relentless competitor who’s redefining what it means to age strong.With over four decades in healthcare, Karen has seen firsthand the consequences of inactivity—and it’s fueled her commitment to living with discipline, strength, and purpose. From discovering CrossFit in her 50s to pushing the limits of competitive fitness, her journey is equal parts inspiring and cautionary.Karen opens up about the mindset that drives her—“get comfortable being uncomfortable”—and the double-edged sword of that mentality. She shares hard-earned lessons from injuries, including a devastating hamstring tear, shoulder surgery, and a life-threatening pulmonary embolism that she believes her fitness helped her survive.This conversation dives deep into:💪The reality of training hard as a masters athlete ⚖️The thin line between competitiveness and injury 🔥Why discipline in fitness reflects discipline in life 📋The importance of coaching, structure, and recovery 🧠 How to stay mentally sharp and physically capable as you age Karen’s story is raw, honest, and packed with wisdom. Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, or just someone who wants to stay capable for life—this episode will challenge how you think about fitness, resilience, and what’s possible in every season of life.

    58 min

  3. MAR 12

    Strength to Serve: Fitness, Fatherhood, and Finding Purpose with Kaleb Campbell | #37

    In the 37th episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, host Josh Boonstra sits down with Kaleb Campbell as he shares his inspiring journey, pursing a passion to help others that led him from a career in law enforcement to becoming a dedicated personal trainer. Along the way, he discovered how fitness could transform not only physical performance but also mindset, resilience, and purpose. Kaleb opens up about the challenges and rewards of balancing his professional ambitions with the responsibility of parenting a child with special needs. Through his story, he highlights how discipline and adaptability play a critical role in both his fitness and everyday life. The conversation also goes deep into the mental strategies that help athletes perform at their best and why personalized training beats one-size-fits-all fitness plans. Whether you’re an athlete, a parent, or someone navigating a major life transition, Caleb’s story offers meaningful insights on perseverance, purpose, and building strength—both inside and outside the gym. Chapters: 🎙️ Introduction🚔 The Transition from Law Enforcement to Fitness👨‍👧 The Impact of Parenthood on Career Choices🏋️ Discovering CrossFit 💪 Physical and Mental Transformation ❤️ Motivation to Stay Fit for Family 🩺 The Importance of Health in Caregiving🧠 Mindset Differences: Everyday Athlete vs. Competitive Athlete📈 Building Confidence Through Consistency♟️ The Importance of Strategy in Workouts

    46 min

  4. MAR 7

    Bouncing Back - A story of resilience and determination with Luke Schmitt | 36

    In the 36th episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, Josh Boonstra sits down with Luke Schmitt for an honest and inspiring conversation about resilience, recovering from injury, and the impact of community support. Together, they unpack the stubborn determination it takes to push through setbacks—and why grit alone isn’t always enough.Luke shares personal stories from his own journey through injury and recovery, revealing the mental battles, unexpected lessons, and small daily choices that made the biggest difference. You’ll hear why patience is more powerful than pride, how humor can lighten even the hardest seasons, and why surrounding yourself with the right people can accelerate both mental and physical healing.Whether you're navigating an injury, facing a personal challenge, or simply looking to build stronger habits, this episode delivers practical advice and real-world encouragement to help you take the next step forward—no matter how small.Chapters: 🐺 Introduction - Wolf Pack OG 😂 Using Humor and Finding Support 🚑 The Journey of Injury and Recovery🏥 Surgery and the Path to Recovery🌅 Navigating Recovery and Rediscovering Joy⚡ Lightning Round: Insights and Reflections💪 Lessons in Resilience and Personal Growth

    46 min

  5. FEB 26

    Becoming a Bolder Affiliate with Roar O'Brien and Steve Hagarty | #35

    In this episode, Josh Boonstra sits down Steve Hegarty and Roar O’Brien, from Cork, Ireland, for a thoughtful and practical conversation about coaching, programming, and building long-term athlete success as a Bolder Affiliate. Drawing from their diverse sporting backgrounds—including Irish hurling and Taekwondo—they reflect on how their early athletic experiences shaped their coaching philosophies and ultimately led them to become a Bolder Affiliate. They share how Bolder’s approach has transformed their gym, creating a training environment that supports athletes of all ages and abilities while prioritizing injury prevention, sustainability, and long-term progression.Throughout the conversation, Steve and Roar offer an inside look at how programming decisions are made behind the scenes, the value of clear structure and color-coded systems, and how managing intensity is key to member longevity. They discuss the importance of coaching context—understanding the “why” behind training decisions—and how that clarity improves both coach confidence and athlete trust.Beyond programming, this episode highlights the power of community and cohesion inside a gym. From member feedback to navigating competitive seasons like the Open, the trio explores how thoughtful leadership and aligned systems create a positive, motivating training culture.Whether you’re a gym owner, coach, or athlete, this episode offers practical insights into delivering better training experiences, building stronger communities, and creating programming that truly stands the test of time.Chapters: 👋 Introduction and Backgrounds🏑 Exploring Hurling and Athletic Experiences🥋 Roar's Journey into Taekwondo🔄 Transition to Bolder Programming🧠 Behind the Scenes of Programming🎨 Color Coding and Coaching Dynamics❤️‍🔥 Managing Intensity and Member Longevity🔎 Understanding the Importance of Context in Coaching🧩 Identifying the Right Fit for Bolder Programming🚀 Looking Ahead: The Open and Future Coaching Goals

    52 min

  6. FEB 19

    Behind Bolder - with the Bolder Athlete Leadership Team | 34

    In this episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, the leadership team pulls back the curtain on the people and priorities shaping the community—spotlighting the personal backstories of Aaron Buley and Adam Aldridge, sharing some areas top of mind for Bolder, and addressing questions submitted from the Bolder Athlete Community. Get to know more about Adam and Aaron - moments that shaped who they are today, from growing up on a farm, building and selling a tech company, to battling back from cancer. Their journeys not only shaped who they are, they help shape Bolder Athlete’s values and how we approach building community. Hear what's top of mind for the leadership as they invest in expanding the Bolder Affiliates program, explore potential training camps, strengthening community and support for the women of Bolder and continuing to gather feedback from the Bolder Athlete community - reinforcing their commitment to listening and adapting quickly.The team also addresses questions submitted from the Bolder Athlete community, including alignment with CrossFit HQ, support for scaled and longevity-focused athletes, and injury prevention strategies. At its core, Bolder Athlete is growing—but staying rooted in what matters most: relationships, responsiveness, and a community built to last.Chapters: 🎙️ Introduction 👟 Meet the Team: Adam Aldridge's Journey💪 Aaron Buley's Inspiring Story🌄 The Power of Perspective and Community🏔️ Top of Mind: Bolder Athlete Experience♀️ Empowering Women in the Community⚡ Nimbleness in Feedback Response📈 Growth of Bolder Affiliates🔁 Responding to questions from the community

    1h 9m

  7. FEB 12

    Behind the Scenes of the Qualifier Cycle - Up Next - with Jason Grubb | 33

    Surge is nearly complete and the Qualifier Cycle is up next. In this episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, Josh Boonstra and Jason Grubb go behind the scenes on how the upcoming Qualifier Cycle is built, why it’s structured the way it is, and how it sets athletes up for success as the CrossFit season ramps up. They unpack key training decisions, the role of interference, and how different tracks are designed to meet athletes where they are while still driving performance forward. The conversation also dives into how to train through the CrossFit Open without derailing long-term progress, highlighting the balance between specificity, volume, intensity, and recovery. From gymnastics endurance and weightlifting batteries to capacity sessions and community challenges, this episode pulls back the curtain on what’s coming—and how to approach the season ahead with confidence, clarity, and purpose.Chapters: 🎙️ Introduction 🔄 Transitioning from Surge Cycle to Qualifier Cycle ⚙️ Understanding Interference in Training 🏁 Exploring Training Tracks: Elite vs. Compete 🔥 Training Through the Open 🎯 Specificity in Training 🤸 Building Gymnastics Endurance 📊 Managing Volume and Intensity 🛠️ Addressing Movement Inefficiencies 🔋 Battery Sessions Explained 😴 Importance of Recovery Protocols 🤝 New Community Challenges

    50 min

  8. FEB 5

    Addiction, Recovery, and Rediscovery with Andie Scelsi | 32

    In this deeply honest episode of the Bolder Athlete Podcast, host Josh Boonstra sits down with Andie Scelsi for a raw conversation about identity, survival, and rebuilding a life from the ground up. Andie shares her unique journey from earning a full-ride college swimming scholarship, struggling with a loss of identity, to her drug and alcohol addition, and becoming homeless before ultimately rebuilding her life. Motherhood sparked a profound shift—awakening a desire not just to survive, but to heal. Through recovery, coaching, and rediscovering competition as a master’s swimmer, Andie slowly rebuilt her sense of self. Her journey continued with CrossFit, where she found new challenges, community, and a renewed belief in her own strength.This episode is a powerful reminder that identity can be rebuilt, purpose can be rediscovered, and transformation is possible—even after losing everything. Andie’s story is one of courage, accountability, and hope for anyone navigating difficult circumstances in life. Chapters: 🌱 Introduction 🖤 Journey Through Addiction and Homelessness🔄 Reflections on Recovery and Personal Growth💪 Becoming a Mother and Rediscovering Fitness🏊‍♀️ Rediscovering Passion for Swimming🧠 The Shift in Competitive Mindset🏋️‍♀️ Exploring CrossFit and New Challenges🤝 The Power of Community

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Inspiring stories of strength, wisdom, resilience, and more, from within the masters community. bolderathlete.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Bolder Athlete
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    39
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Bolder Athlete
  • Show Website
    Bolder Athlete Podcast

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