Linchpin Conversations

Alistair lives in the U.K., works from home & mostly trains using Linchpin's "limited equipment option". His fitness journey began in 2014 as a runner. Over the last 10+ years he has been a member of several different physical gyms as well as tried out various online programming options. All of this experiences lead him back to Linchpin. He shares his story in this episode.

Linchpin succession plan. Stats that influence programming. Pacing for interval workouts. Would I go back & change original Linchpin workouts? Things I miss about my time in the Navy. No pull-up bar, what should I do? How long does programming take? Barbell complexes. Difference between the Linchpin Tests & the monthly Tests?

In the past, Forrest has been a notorious program hopper. Over the years he has followed 8 different online competitor programs as well as 6 or more online program for non-competitors. We has run marathons & pursued powerlifting for 3 solid years. After all this, he finds himself back at Linchpin. This is his story.

Open workouts. 12 Days of Christmas workout. Machines & CrossFit What's new at Linchpin? HYROX Programming Paleo Kits Modifying loads Clean & Jerk vs Snatch Only Dumbbell workouts. Training when you work irregular hours.

Rick has always been a talented athlete. From a young age he was playing hockey, running track & competing at a high level. When he was a teenager he became addicted to alcohol & later to drugs as well. These substances negatively affected his athletic goals as well as his entire life. Today he is 22 years sober & helps other people achieve their physical & life goals. This is his story.

Favorite Thanksgiving foods. Ring Rows vs Aussie Pull-ups. How to log dumbbell loads in btwb. Scale the load or the reps? What is "Fran Lung"? btwb "Committed Club". Xebex Rower & calories. Zone 2 for Rest Days. Promoting health with your family. Front Rack positions.

Chris & Danielle decided to sell their home in Virginia & travel the United States living out of an RV. They sold a bunch of their possessions, put the rest in storage & hit the open road. They have been on a never ending road trip around the U.S. for one year. They have had their ups & downs, highs & lows. No matter where they are, they make fitness happen with dumbbells or an outdoor adventure. This is their story.

Lillian is a busy mom & a business owner. Two years ago she purchased a business that sells tulip bulbs all across New Zealand. She has a 2.5 year old son & a 10-week old son. Needless to say, she has her hands full & her free time is very limited. She does not let this prevent her from finding time every day to workout. This is her story.

Favorite Sandbag movements Getting Humbled. Can't Overhead Squat heavy. Linchpin meet-up & throwdown Pegboard Preparing for Competition Learning HSW & HSPU.

Barry is a husband, father & a grandfather. He played Rugby for about 30 years & lived to tell the tale. He is currently a coach at Defiance Fit, based in Brighouse in the U.K. They follow Linchpin programming & have a thriving community.

Scaling to avoid DOMS? Calculating "Super Fitness Robot" times. Are Cleans & Snatches necessary? Importance of a Squat Rack. Kettlebell Swings Chiropractors...worthwhile or useless?

Ike is a husband & father of 3 children. He has spent many years of his life as an investor in the stock market. What he shares in this episode is NOT financial advice, it is just his personal experience & opinions. He also loves racing cars & has been a student, as well as an instructor. This is his story.

What if you Never Kip Again? Rearranging workouts when sick. Bar dips vs Ring Dips. Different style deadlift grips. Building Ring Muscle-up capacity.

Jeremy is a husband & father of 3. He has been big, tall & heavy for all of his life. When he stopped playing sports his weight started to become an issue. He decided to take a GLP1 to help him lose weight & improve some of his health markers. This is his story.

Training vs Testing. The gym owners dilemma. Life is busy…focus on food or fitness? Learning handstands. Fitness while traveling. (Links to another question) Working out in public. Favorite Ice Cream. Dangerous movement combos. Warm-up sets vs Working sets Midline work.

Matt is a husband & father of two girls. He has been a fulltime dive instructor for over 25 years. This occupation has enabled him to travel the world seeking adventure & opportunity. He was born & raised in the U.K., but he has called the Philippines home since 2003. He currently owns a dive business & resort focused on scuba adventures. This is his story.

Our favorite workout style. The story behind "Linchpin". Reverse Hypers. 2026 Games Meet up? Struggling with Dips. Thumb wrapped around pull-up bar, yes or no? What has CF taught me that applies to life? Testing workouts. Extreme Scaling of workouts. Help! Air Squats destroy me!

Steph is a wife & mother of 3. Her days are hectic. She works from home full time as an underwriter. When she is not occupied with that she is caring for her 3 kids & running them around to soccer practice & games. She found fitness later in life & has found a way to make it a daily habit. This is her story.

Linchpin Conversations…intro Manual Treadmills The Daily Videos Dumbbells for Heavy Days Doomsday Prepping. Finding a good doctor. Choosing an Air Runner. CrossFit Medical Society. Leaderboards. "Tactical Games"

Dawn is an Occupational Therapist who currently works with Ukrainian soldiers who have lost arms and/or legs in the war. She helps them learn to use their new prosthetic limbs so they can function in the real world & perform life's tasks. This is her story.

Open Heart Surgery & Linchpin. What I wish I knew when I started CrossFit. Weight belts…necessary or not? Odd Objects & the Transverse Plane. Programming Games workouts. Pull-up rep schemes. How long does programming take? Increase your deadlift. Swapping around training days. Wall Walks.

Mike is a husband & father of two children. His life has been a combination of practicing law & serving in politics. He resides in Kansas City, Missouri where he has served the people of that state in various capacities. He talks us through politics as well as his fitness journey.

Hand maintenance. Power Clean stance. How to avoid McDonald's. Dealing with Tendonitis. Pregnancy & core work. Linchpin Test 13 origins. Competitor programming. Programming & AI.

Ken is a Senior Chief currently on active duty in the Navy. He has served 16 years so far & is about to transition to a new duty station in Greece. He got exposed to CrossFit while on deployment & was shocked by how difficult the workout was for him to complete. This sparked his interest & he never looked back. He has been the catalyst for many other Sailors & Marines to join the Linchpin community. This is his story.

HYROX racing. Accessory work. Dumbbells & Sandbags. Intentionally "burning out" certain muscles? Distance Conversions for Air Runners. Respect the Heavy Days. Skip the warm-up or Cool down? What if you never Back Squatted again?

Kevin is a husband & a father of a little girl. He spent many years of his life as a coach at various gyms. When he learned he was going to be a father he knew something in his life needed to change. He quit being a coach & became an EMT. This has been a great career transition for him, but his work schedule is demanding. He works two 24-hour shifts each week & still eats well & trains. This is his story.

CrossFit brand vs people's perceptions. How to train during your lunch break. VNR Jump Rope course. Rogue Invitational in Scotland. Linchpin & Soccer. Top CrossFit Journal articles. Tips for someone new to fitness. Switching training days around. Heavy day strategies. Linchpin workout options explained.

Dermot is a husband & a father of two boys. He lives in Ireland with his family & works for the government doing IT work. His commute to the office is 150 km! (93 miles) He does this commute 3 times a week. On those days he gets up & works out at 5:30am. He spent many years as a distance runner, but embraced CrossFit about 10 years ago. This is his story.

Linchpin Test 13 The VNR 1.5 Mile Run program Front Rack position struggles. Choosing the right workout option. A Better Warm-up How to increase strict pull-ups When to do yoga.

Alainna leads a busy life. She is a wife & a mother of two little girls. Her occupation as a dental hygienist means she is caring for people all day long, & then has to go home & care for her family. She is committed to being strong & healthy for herself, as well as her family. She gets up early in the mornings to make sure her workouts happen. This is her story.

Weightlifting Shoes. An unhealthy obsession with being healthy. Fitness Freedom. Lifting or Cardio…pick only one! Why are push-ups so hard? Mobility work into the accessory work? The best coach I ever had. Introducing a friend to fitness.

Darcy is a hard working, driven single mom with a teenage daughter. She spent many years of her life in difficult, physically demanding professions that historically were dominated by men, such as being an aviation mechanic. After years in that profession she transitioned to being a teacher. She finally has landed her dream job that blends the worlds of aviation & education. This is her story.

How to push past your limits. Working around a busy schedule. Strategy vs Cheating. Can you be Fit & Fluffy? Maintaining hook grip. Banded Pull-ups Pacing longer workouts. Extra Lifting.

Connor is the owner of CrossFit Winnebago. He tried several different programming options for his gym before deciding that Linchpin was the best choice. This is his story.

Tips to enhance recovery. Is walking 10k steps necessary? Grips Help…I can't do a Pull-up! When to use a weight vest. Strategy for "Death by" workouts. Golfer's elbow. Coming back from double knee surgery. Air bike with broken monitor Prepping for a Marathon Row

Melanie is a Data Systems Archival Analyst, a birth doula, a post partum doula, & an infant care specialist. Needless to day, she is a busy woman with a hectic schedule. She excels at being available to people during critical & pivotal times on their lives. This is her story.

How & when to learn a new skill. Thoughts on the CrossFit brand. Linchpin Test 13. What is "Wizard Pepper"? Good substitutes for Deadlifts.

Craig is a husband & a father. He lives in Melbourne, Australia & grew up as a swimmer. Over the decades he let his fitness slip away & then decided to regain it. He has been living a vegan lifestyle for roughly 10 years. He loves hiking & has tackled the famous 211 mile John Muir trail. This is his story.

Tabitha grew up playing tennis & basketball. In college she did Dragon Boat racing & even represented the U.S. in Hong Kong. She also spent time doing long distance running before finally developing a love for CrossFit. When her gym in L.A. closed, she began working out at home & discovered Linchpin. This is her story.

Unhealthy obsession with being healthy Are complex movements really necessary? Box jumps on heavy days. Competition vs longevity. Recovery strategies. No room to run. Does the order of workouts matter? (Comes up twice) Run a marathon with Linchpin? Help! My doctor told me not to squat heavy. "High Intensity" in real terms. Movement modifications. Linchpin & BJJ.

Scott is a husband & father of 3. He served a 20 year career in the Air Force flying aircraft such as the B-52, MC-12, E-11, E-4 & others. Plenty of time during his career was spent in harsh conditions away from his family. These days he is a civilian who flies for FedEx & enjoys being able to spend time with his family. This is his story.

Jean has been a Linchpin member for nearly 6 years. He was recently elected to the Halifax Regional Council in October 2024. He is doing his very best to leverage his communications background & fitness IQ to navigate his new role in politics. His work schedule is demanding & unpredictable, which makes fitness challenging. This is his story.

How to get stronger with limited dumbbells. Rower vs Bike Erg vs Air Bike 1RM's after 40 years old. Linchpin & Rugby. Workout in AM, accessory work in PM. Modifying distances based on gender. Slam balls. What does being "Quad dominant" mean?

Mark is a husband and a father who does Linchpin, while also coaching at an F45 gym. He has worked his entire life in the electro-mechanical technology field for various chemical industries. He shares insight into his occupational history as well as telling us the difference between F45 & CrossFit in his opinion.

Mark is a husband and a father who does Linchpin, while also coaching at an F45 gym. He has worked his entire life in the electro-mechanical technology field for various chemical industries. He shares insight into his occupational history as well as telling us the difference between F45 & CrossFit in his opinion.

Linchpin & Jiu-jitsu Are all air bikes the same? Box Jumps "any style" Help me pick the right loading. How to incorporate more running. How to program workouts. Outfitting my dream gym. 1 Rep Maxes

Linchpin & Jiu-jitsu Are all air bikes the same? Box Jumps "any style" Help me pick the right loading. How to incorporate more running. How to program workouts. Outfitting my dream gym. 1 Rep Maxes

Amber is a busy wife & mother of 2 kids. She has a demanding profession as the Director of Academic Success Coaching at the University of Central Florida. 70,000 students attend that school, making it one of the largest in the U.S. Amber discusses the current academic landscape & challenges facing students these days & how she still makes fitness a priority.

Amber is a busy wife & mother of 2 kids. She has a demanding profession as the Director of Academic Success Coaching at the University of Central Florida. 70,000 students attend that school, making it one of the largest in the U.S. Amber discusses the current academic landscape & challenges facing students these days & how she still makes fitness a priority.

Fixing unilateral strength imbalances. Cherry Picking workouts. Staying FAST as you age. Useful data for programming. How to do Linchpin forever? What is a "good base" of strict pull-ups? Nutrition while working night shift.