Complete Human Performance Radio

 Clay Foster has been a part of Complete Human Performance for years, and has been doing the hybrid thing for even longer. He won The Crucible Pro Men's Division in 2024, he's competed in the Hybricon Games (2023), and is registered for Rally in the Valley 2025 to name a few things. A coach himself, Clay's training has run the gamut from bodybuilding to CrossFit to 100-milers, and he's excited to spend 2025 enjoying his hard-earned fitness. Listen in and follow Clay on Instagram at @clayfostfitness

Pete Nelson is the founder of SISU Lifestyle, a Northeast-Ohio company specializing in handcrafted saunas and contrast bath technology. He joins us on the CHP Podcast as a long-time user of our Strength + 50k and Marathon templates (most notably, winning the inaugural Antarctica 50k) and brings with him boatloads of wisdom.  Too much to summarize, dive in with Pete and learn about what keeps him focused, how he prioritizes as a father of 2 young children and devoted husband, and what he's most excited about in 2025. Notable timestamps: 00:00:00 - Intro to Pete Nelson 00:01:07 - Hell on Hogsback Endurance Race Series & Charity Race 00:03:15 - More about dad & SISU Lifestyle 00:09:00 - Partnerships and giving to Veterans in 2025 00:11:30 - Pete's athletic journey (basketball, military, crossfit, running, ultramarathons) 00:18:30 - The journey and the process.  00:19:20 - Being the kind of person who will train for a 100-miler 00:23:30 - Unsung heroes  00:27:00 - The magic of delegating 00:30:00 - It's n

Ariana, Alex, and Trevor try to work out how they'd rate the relative importance of 20 training priorities, from 1-20 (1=most important, 20=least important). In this hour they manage to discuss roughly 10, so expect a second episode for sure. The theme of today is "It Depends." The 20 "Commonly Discussed Priorities" are as follows (and in no particular order, trust me): Individualised coaching, NEAT, Structured training, General nutrition, Intra workout nutrition, Sleep, Training periodization, Training volume, Training specificity, Extra recovery (cold plunges, saunas, thera guns, etc), Body work (self or massages), Stretching and mobility, Mental grit, Consistency, Training Intensity, Training environment, Equipment, Data acquisition tools (smart watches, power meters, etc), Basic supplements (creatine, stimulants, protein), Specific supplements (fat burners, beta alanine, testosterone boosters). Discussed at length were: Extra Recovery, Sleep, Intra Workout Nutrition, Mental Grit, Consistency, Training Env

Join Ariana as she chats with Matt Stevens, race director of Rally in the Valley, an incredibly fun and exciting hybrid competition held in Hurricane, WV every year since 2023. Matt is also the Head Judge at Hybricon Games, held at the end of October, and brings his rich military experience and experience as an athlete and gym owner (ShotFire Fitness) to the table for each event he's involved in. Learn about what it takes to host a multi-day hybrid competition (a lot), how many people it takes to put one together, the need for strong sponsors in the hybrid space, and a recap of 2024. Teasers for 2025, Geiger Training Camp 2025 (1 spot left as of recording)  The importance of training in groups, especially for often solo hybrid athletes - training as a competitor, etc Learning from mistakes, learning from failure Designing a competition without a qualifier, with room for every athlete of every level (truly). What does it take? Reach Matt at his Rally In the Valley IG: https://www.instagram.com/rallywestvirgini

With the safeties off.   Ariana and Alex discuss what he meant by "hybrid" the first time, how it's evolved (for better or for worse), what they think it means and who it refers to (and doesn't), which hybrid athletes they believe embody the spirit of hybrid the most, and why hybrid events are still heavily endurance (but getting better). @completehumanperformance @alex.viada 

Join Ariana Scalfo and Alex Viada as they do their first ever (???!! but first of many) podcasts of them just talking to each other about stuff they're doing, planning, building, and why they're excited about all of it. How did an offhand idea about deep-diving into Space Marines/metahuman supersoldiers train turn into a 100+ page protocol? And why are we turning it into a group training program? What does that look like?  Largely just gabbing about what "hybrid" is, what it means to them, and what programming would look like for complete physical preparedness (not just "general". cpp?). @alex.viada @running_peaches

Coach Trevor Tartaglia takes the reigns of the CHP Podcast to chat with Alex Viada about the utility of TSS Scores (TrainingPeaks) and other "fatigue/stress" tracking algorithms for hybrid athletes. How they work, the pros, the cons, and how coaches can fully utilize these metrics (or similar) all included, as well as coaching insights from them both.  Discussed:  What workouts are Trevor and Alex doing, and enjoying lately? How can athletes use TSS for strength workouts, if at all? What metrics can you use to overcome cons of TSS, as a mixed-sport athlete? Does TSS even have value for a hybrid athlete? Is it worth using? More about what TSS is, how it's calculated, and how to use it (if you want to) Various tangents Follow Trevor and Alex on Instagram

Join Ariana as she chats with Tyler Koch about his time working as a Subject Matter Expert for the United States Air Force, overseeing Human Performance within the F-35 fighter pilot community. He was also integral in founding the first ever Human Performance Initiative within Undergraduate Pilot Training. He has an M.S. in Exercise Science from George Washington University and prior to his role in the Air Force, he owned a gym, worked with professional athletes, and thoroughly explored the private sector of strength and conditioning. Currently, Tyler is training to become a Physician Assistant at Penn State’s Medical School. Discussed: Immediately, Ariana getting Tyler's last name wrong, even though she asked him how to pronounce it right before she hit record What it takes to be a Fighter Pilot, what school looks like, and what training looks like The purpose of the Human Performance Initiative, and its positive impact on the fighter pilot community Testing to become a fighter pilot: how do you train to res

Ariana and Trevor sit down and chat about the V3 template changes, what's next for CHP templates, and why they chose to push hard in this direction (app development aside). Plus, it's a general introduction into who Trevor is and how he ended up a military yoga teacher who also did CrossFit (it's true).  New to CHP: Strength + 5k Strength + 10k Trail + Distance Strength + Half Marathon Follow Trevor at @trevor.tartaglia 

Susan Lopez MS, RDN, CSSD, LD, TSAC*F is a Registered Dietitian working for a Special Operations unit, and boy does she have some fascinating insight for hybrid and tactical athletes. Susan outlines the different strategies she uses for the two most common athlete archetypes she encounters in Special Operations, including approaching protein intake, total calories, supplementation, and working around their difficult and unpredictable lifestyles. Learn how she provides for her team by protecting their health and performance in the now, and designing their intake and supplement protocols to support their health and longevity in the military. Follow Susan on In1stagram at @tactical.dietitian

Meet Jack Driscoll, self-proclaimed "overall fitness enjoyer," firefighter, coach, and phenomenal hybrid athlete. A guy who enjoys launching himself at a wide variety of fitness events, Jack burst into the competitive scene by winning Rally in the Valley, around the same time that he was tackling Hybricon Regionals, followed by a bodybuilding competition, and then an Ironman. Back to back to back. There may have been a powerlifting meet in there, too. Jack discusses how he trained for a sub-3 hour marathon in 18 months, as a dude who "runs like a refrigerator" and doesn't even particularly like distance running. How did he trick himself into doing the long runs? How slowly, carefully, and sustainably did he start out?  Fitness shouldn't be a punishment, and Jack finds joy in trying new things and developing his fitness in new ways. Jack of all trades, Master of none - with the unbeatable mindset that treats failure as a lesson and a challenge, not an end. "Send it" with Jack as he trains for his 100-miler on

Vera Stepina is a lifestyle and nutrition coach, a hybrid athlete who was doing hybrid stuff before it was hybrid, a client of Alex Viada's, and a woman with 3 children who is rediscovering her potential after at least a year of considering it "dead in the water." Listen to Vera and Ariana discuss the mindset required for massive lifestyle overhauls and shifts, the common roadblocks people experience (including themselves), the trials and tribulations of Kettlebell Long Cycles, and how Vera surprised the shit out of herself for at least the 3rd time this year. The good, the bad, the ugly, and some insights from long-time nutrition coaches who both came into their athleticism much later in life (after spending a lot of their lives considering athleticism entirely off the table). See also: Why it's incredibly important to volunteer at events, why it's important to try new things, and be totally okay with being really, really bad at them.  Follow Vera on Instagram at @vera_stepina Follow Complete Human Performan

Kaleb is a tenured Spartan pro athlete, HYROX racer, DEKA athlete, and hybrid competitor - listen to him discuss how he arrived at this competitive level, what appeals to him about hybrid sport, and the pros and cons of being a "larger" competitor (6'3, 210+ lbs). On top of that, Kaleb is an upstanding gent and brilliant sportsman, bringing a ferocity and amicability to the start line that few people balance just right. Kaleb discusses how he gets into the right mindset for competition, how that's evolved during his time as a competitor and after his time in the military, and how his network of fellow competitors keep him focused. Hybricon 2024 sounds like it's going to be lit, and he's already signed up for Rally in the Valley 2024. Coming right off of crewing Kris Rugloski at the World's Toughest Mudder 2023, Kaleb discusses the planning and challenges that come with a 24 hour race (plan A needs a plan B, C, D, E, F, and Z), and the ways he's prepping for this DEKA and Hyrox Season alongside Hunter McIntyre

Sit down (although I'm pretty sure he stood the whole time) with Phillip Muscarella, the champion of the 2023 Hybricon Games.  Dealing with competition anxiety, and operating from a place of gratitude and joy Coming into "hybrid" from a CrossFit background Differences and improvements from last year at the Hybricon Games Creating a balanced hybrid competition ("you can't call this a strength event if there's running in it") and seeing "creator bias" in event selection Bettering yourself and finding your fullest potential using sport The way a competition plays out doesn't represent you, or your total value, as a person.  "How big and strong can you be, but how fast can you still move?" Pushing the boundaries on both sides of the coin to find true human capability. The value of competition for development and growth Listen in and leave your thoughts!  Follow Phillip on IG at @pmuscky55 @officialsportacademy @hybricongames @thebattlebunker @completehumanperformance    

Meet Dr Sam Spinelli. Doctor of Physical Therapy, gym owner, powerlifter, strongman, Olympic weightlifter, ultrarunner, Spartan obstacle course racer, father, and 2022's Crucible Pro Champ, Sam goes all-in on everything he does with the same kind of self-awareness, mild craziness, and uninhibited zeal found in high-level Hybrids. Listen in as Sam discusses how he found the idea of "hybrid," and what compelled him to take the leap into lifting and running. Sam discusses with Ariana how he had to adjust his mindset, approach, and expectations in the shift from exclusively lifting, to training for endurance, and how he assists his clients and patients in approaching similar hurdles (doing things you don't like doing, or find unfamiliar or uncomfortable; the "broccoli"). And finally, Sam chats all things Crucible, goals for 2024, and how his training evolved from 2022 to 2023. If you want to follow Sam on Instagram, go to @dr.samspinelli  If you want to work with Sam, follow @citizenathletics1 If you want to lear

Ariana chats with her friend Matt Davis, who created and runs Obstacle Racing Media and Hybrid Fitness Media, two of the only forms of media purely covering Obstacle Course Racing and Hybrid Fitness Events. They discuss how they've seen hybrid events develop and grow, the industry and community, and the events that have popped up with increasing regularity year after year. The two "big events" are Hyrox and Deka, but with Hybricon Games, Rally in the Valley, Go Ruck Games, 3KO, Grit Games, etc flooding the field - what kinds of athletes will we see drawn to these events? If you don't compete in any competition, can you call yourself a competitive "hybrid athlete?" How has CHP aimed to solve that with the yearly virtual competition, The Crucible? Why are most hybrid events "mostly endurance, with some strength" and what kind of athletes could we see drawn to hybrid events if they were more strength-focused? Or would that just be CrossFit? Follow Matt on Instagram and YouTube at @Obstacleracingmedia for your ob

Join Director of Coaching Ariana Scalfo as she chats with her friend (and hero) Lauren Weeks. Lauren is a 3x Hyrox World Champion, CrossFit competitor, DekaFit solid, 2x GoRuck Games competitor, Spartan Games Champion, Spartan Race winner, and Battle Bunker finalist 2022/contender 2023. After her explosion into hybrid athletics thanks to Deka's unstoppable Yancy Culp, Lauren has dominated every sport she touches. She's also a mother of a 1 year old daughter, and has competed in nearly all of these competitions within the last year. What brought Lauren to hybrid training from CrossFit? How did she adjust her training initially, and how has her approach to training for these events evolved as she has spent more time training and competing? How does she choose which competitions to prioritize, when she's got so many to choose from? What were the challenges in pregnancy and postpartum, and how does she feel it's affected her priorities and fitness a year later? Advice for new moms (Ariana's 20 weeks into her own

CHP Director of Coaching Ariana Scalfo sits down with Laura Gordon, who is both a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology and an extraordinarily talented hybrid athlete. Recently at Battle Bunker Regionals in Texas, Laura uses her career to educate her fitness and coaching practice, while simultaneously using her fitness and coaching practice to assist her in her career. Areas of interest for Laura include: trauma informed weight lifting, ocean therapy, recreational therapy, and breath work. Laura's sports include: surfing, weightlifting, running, big mountain adventures, and Deep End Fitness. Listen in as Laura and Ariana discuss:  Laura's work in detox and addiction rehabilitation facilities What maladaptive coping mechanisms can look like at their most extreme, and their most "normalized" The benefits of graded exposure to noxious/uncomfortable stimuli for athletes, especially athletes with PTSD/CPTSD, substance abuse, or chronic pain or disease Replicating stress-scenarios that could be found in sport pract

A 60min primer with Director of Coaching Ariana Scalfo on how to think about approaching nutrition as a hybrid athlete, including common mistakes, the best way to approach recomposition as a hybrid athlete, and answers to some more specific questions like: Some hybrid/endurance athletes are using BCAAs during long runs/events - do you recommend? Is the spacing of macronutrients throughout the day important, other than protein? Training events and race nutrition - always train with race day nutrition? Or just race-pace/race replica workouts? Supplements - should I take ??? ??? ??   Want to ask questions, learn more, or schedule a nutrition consult?  www.completehumanperformance.com IG: @completehumanperformance @Running_peaches

Dr. Quinn, a member of the primary care team for the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) joins host Anthony D'Orazio for a discussion on what her life on tour is like. How does her team interact with the professional athletes of the tour? What are they looking for when they evaluate athletes? What can you learn from her experience working with these high level athletes? Listen in to find out. Follow Dr. Quinn on IG @drquinnmedwmn Follow Anthony on IG @dorazioanthony Follow CHP on IG @completehumanperformance For one to one coaching, nutrition, and training templates head to: completehumanperformance.com