Lauren Rutan is an IFBB Pro Women’s Physique competitor, mother of 4, and personal trainer. Lauren started competing right out of college in 2003 in fitness then went on to figure. She then got involved with CrossFit and weightlifting. She competed twice regionally in CrossFit and became ranked 8th in the USA in weightlifting. From there in 2014 She began powerlifting. She won the USPA 56kg class National title in 2017.  She came back to the stage in 2017 and received her Pro card at Nationals in 2017. In 2018 Lauren competed in her first 2 Pro shoes where She placed 3rd and 5th. Currently She is prepping for the 2019 Arnold Classic.

NPC Nationally qualified bodybuilder who graduated from Georgia State University (B.S. in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition) with certifications including USAW, USAPL, NASM CPT, Precision Nutrition N1, and Metabolic Specialist.

11 years personal training and 4 years nutrition experience in the field.

Phillip Blow is a health & Wellness coach out of Atlanta and worldwide competition prep coach. He turned PRO in 2016, featured in Flex magazine and Muscle and fitness magazine. He was the winner of the 2014 Mr Olympia Muscle and Fitness model search.

Seb Ostrowicz is the owner of Weightlifting House, host of the Weightlifting House Podcast, author of The Greatest Weightlifters of All Time, and manufacturer of the Weightlifting House Barbell. After graduating in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Exeter, he went on to help coach alongside Glenn Pendlay, and helped start and continues to coach on Pendlay WOD. Alongside this Seb is the coach of his own weightlifting team in the UK and still competes as an athlete. The sport of Weightlifting is Seb's passion, and there are no limits to the work he will put in towards his pursuit of growing the sport.

Tom Sroka is the owner and head weightlifting coach at The Strength Agenda, a Sports Performance and Weightlifting training center based in Elmhurst, IL. He graduated from Aurora University in 2010 with degrees in Exercise Science, Physical Education, and Health Education. On top of running The Strength Agenda, he's also a grade school PE Teacher at Immaculate Conception Grade School, as well as the Strength and Conditioning coach for the Elmhurst Rugby Club and Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep Wrestling team. As an athlete Tom is a 3x NCAA All-American in the shotput, 2013 American Open Gold Medalist in the 105+kg as a part of Team MDUSA Weightlifting, drafted by the New York Rhinos of the NPGL in 2016, 2-time World Team member (2017, 2018) for MAS Wrestling USA, and just finished his first season on the professional circuit in the Highland Games. As a coach, Tom was a throws coach at North Central College coaching 2 All-Americans, 5 National qualifiers, and helping the men's team win back to back national championships in 2011 and 2012. As a coach in USA Weightlifting, he's a National Level Coach working with athletes ranging from ages 10 to 70 years old of various skills and ability levels. This year alone the weightlifting team (Team SAW) had four lifters compete at Senior Nationals, 6 Masters Nationals Medalists (4 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze), 5 Matsers World Championships Medalists (4 Golds, 1 Silver), and 12 athletes qualify for the American Open Final. Tom's goal is to help athletes get stronger while moving proficiently and has helped 1,000's of athletes do just that in the last 8 years.

Robert Hall is the founder and head coach of Atlanta Performance. As an athlete, Rob competed on an elite level as a Junior and University athlete, winning the 2000 Junior Nationals, and standing on the podium in 2001, 2002, and 2003, and well as being the Junior Pan American Champion in 2002 and 2003. On the University level, he was the 2004 and 2005 University and Under 25 Champion, and a silver medalist in the 2009 and 2010 University Nationals. The pinnacle of his career came in 2005, when he won the American Open. Currently, Rob holds the National Masters Records in the 81kg M35 class.

Rob is a USAW Advanced Sports Performance Coach, with eight years of experience, coaching on both the national and international levels. Rob is available for coaching daily at CrossFit HD, and can be reached via email or social media. [email protected] @AtlantaPerformance

Brandon Phillips is a multiple time CF games individual athlete, CF Games team athlete, and successful CF gym owner. So when I asked him if he thinks CrossFit is relevant or needed in the world we live in today, you may be surprised at his answer.

Joseph is a long time Athlete, business owner, sports performance coach, and Massage Therapist. He has a vast knowledge of the body and how it works. In this episode we talk about his craft, the key points to mobility, self diagnosis, and more. 

Dan Figler, held a world record at age 16, was in a wreck that left him in a coma for months and then basically paralyzed after that. Not only has he defied the doctors and pushed whats deemed capable of the human body, he has done it in silence. In a fitness world dominated by social media, Dan (at the time of this podcast) didn't have so much as a Facebook account. Listen to his story and see if I convinced him to share his story and journey back with the world.

Dan started his athletic pursuits in the martial arts world earning his way to instructor levels in 3 martial arts, culminating in a 4-0 kickboxing and a 9-2 MMA career. Once he retired from competitive martial arts he found CrossFit and opened CrossFit Thrive. Through that he stumbled into Strongman and Powerlifting. Dan realized that strength sports were a better fit than fitness. So he sold CrossFit Thrive and dove all in taking 11th as an undersized Open Heavyweight at USS Nationals and in 2016 he placed 4th at IPL Worlds. Currently he coaches online powerlifting and strongman teams. His focus for 2019 is strongman and plans on dominating at nationals in the 265 and 275 classes.

Matt is literally one of the strongest men in the world. He has held and broken every record you can imagine in powerlifting including the most weight ever lifted in a total by anyone. Ever. But he also has an amazing story coming from a broken back and building it only his body but an amazing business as well. This premiere of the gym gypsy podcast is a must listen!