Welcome to Fortem Talk, the official podcast of CrossFit Fortem!
This is where fitness meets real life. Whether you're new to training or a seasoned athlete, we bring you conversations that inspire, educate, and keep you moving forward. Hear from coaches and members as they share training tips, nutrition advice, mindset strategies, and ways to build lifelong health habits.
Strength goes beyond the gym—it’s about how you show up in life. Tune in, stay connected, and keep pushing forward. Let’s get Fortem Strong together!
Fitness Is the Buffer: Health, Sickness, and Training for Life ⎸ Ep. 17
What does it actually mean to be healthy?
In this episode, Nick and Josh talk through the sickness, wellness, fitness continuum and why fitness is about a lot more than getting better at workouts.
We talk about:
Why health and fitness are connected
Why “not sick” is not the same thing as being fit
How training builds a buffer for stress, injury, sickness, and aging
Why muscle mass, strength, body fat, conditioning, and blood work all matter
How CrossFit helps move the needle over time
Why community helps you keep showing up
Fitness does not make you invincible. But it does build a reserve. And that reserve matters when life gets hard, when stress hits, when your body changes, and when you want to keep doing the things you love for a long time.
This is Train for Life in real terms.
1 Sept 2026
The Long Way Works: Shortcuts, Discipline, and Doing It Right ⎸ Ep. 16
Shortcuts are tempting. Especially when you want the weight off, the fitness up, and the results yesterday.
In this episode, Nick and Josh talk through the pull toward quick fixes in nutrition, training, weight loss, and fitness in general. All with the goal of asking a better question: are we building the habits that make results last?
We talk about:
Why discomfort is usually the thing we’re trying to avoid
Why “I tried everything” needs an honest second look
The Fortem stack: nutrition, training consistency, and recovery
Why weight loss alone is not always the same as health
How to think about medications, peptides, and other tools without making them the whole plan
Why showing up one more time than you do now can actually move the needle
The long way is not flashy, but it works. Eat well, train consistently, sleep enough, recover, and get help when you need it.
If you’ve been chasing the next thing instead of building the boring things, this episode is for you.
2 Aug 2026
What Goes Into a Week of Training? ⎸ Ep. 15
What actually goes into planning a week of training at Fortem?
Nick and Josh pull up a full week of programming and talk through it in real time, the workouts they love, the changes they consider, and the bigger picture behind all of it.
We talk about:
How we adjust programming with Fortem members in mind
Balancing strength, conditioning, recovery, and the occasional mountain of burpees
Why scaling is part of progressing, not something to feel bad about
How to get more from your warm-up and strength work
Where extra skill or accessory work can fit into the week
The goal isn’t to make every workout comfortable. It’s to help you get fitter and stronger, keep you healthy, and make sure your training still serves you years from now.
If you’ve ever looked at the whiteboard and wondered, “Why are we doing this today?”- this episode is for you.
14 Jul 2026
Use the Tools: How Fortem Monthly Can Make You Better ⎸ Ep. 14
Fortem Monthly is more than a gym newsletter. It is a collection of tools to help you get more out of your training and build a healthier life outside the gym too.
In this episode, we walk through everything included each month:
Mindset and coaching blogs
Practical meal prep recipes
Monthly movement challenges
Accessory and gymnastics skill work
Member stories and community updates
You do not need to add another hour of training to your week. A few intentional minutes before or after class can go a long way.
This episode will help you understand how to actually use Fortem Monthly!
16 Jun 2026
Real Fitness: The 100-Word Blueprint ⎸ Ep. 13
What does real fitness actually look like?
In this episode, we break down CrossFit’s classic “World-Class Fitness in 100 Words” and talk about why it still gives such a clear blueprint for what we’re building at Fortem.
We talk through:
• Why nutrition comes first
• Why everyone needs to lift weights
• Why gymnastics skills are worth the work
• Why conditioning should include hard, fast efforts
• Why routine can hold you back
• Why your fitness should show up outside the gym
If you’ve ever wondered why we train the way we train, this episode is for you.
25 Apr 2026
Bring a Friend: Why CrossFit Is Better Together ⎸ Ep. 12
Trying CrossFit for the first time can feel intimidating, but it does not have to be.
In this episode, we talk about Bring a Friend Week at CrossFit Fortem, happening April 27 through May 2, and why it’s such a great opportunity for someone new to get a real feel for what we do.
We talk about:
What Bring a Friend Week looks like
Why a full week gives a better first experience than one random class
How coaching, scaling, and community make CrossFit approachable
Our own very different first experiences with CrossFit
Why inviting someone might be a bigger deal than you realize
Whether you’re already part of Fortem or you’ve been curious about trying CrossFit for the first time, this episode is for you.
27 Mar 2026
What the Open Reveals, and What We Wish We Knew Sooner | Episode 11
What the Open Reveals, and What We Wish We Knew Sooner ⎸ Ep. 11
The Open is over, but the bigger question is: now what?
In this episode, we debrief the 2026 Open and talk about what it really exposes, what actually helps you improve, and the lessons we wish we knew when we first started CrossFit.
We talk about:
What this year’s Open showed people about their fitness
Why pacing, consistency, and skill work matter
How nutrition changes everything
Why the Open is really about growth, not just scores
The CrossFit lessons we had to learn the hard way
Whether you’re new to CrossFit or a few years in and still figuring things out, this episode is for you.
11 Feb 2026
Get Stronger and More Durable: Six Simple Training Upgrades ⎸ Ep. 10
Getting fitter doesn’t always mean doing more. Sometimes it means doing the right things more consistently.
In this episode, we break down six simple training upgrades that support strength, durability, and long-term progress, without adding chaos to your schedule.
We talk about:
Strict pull-ups and why they matter
Overhead joint health and stability
Accessories and muscle as protection
Static holds and control
Carries and real-world strength
Low-impact steady state work and recovery
These are small inputs with big returns. Pick a couple, commit to them, and let the basics carry you forward.
23 Jan 2026
The 2026 CrossFit Open | Ep. 9
The Open isn’t just for elite athletes. It’s for regular people who want to test themselves, get better, and be part of something with their gym.
In this episode we talk about:
What the CrossFit Open is and how it works
Why everyone can (and should) participate
What committing to it builds: confidence, grit, and direction
Why doing it together hits different
How we approach the Open at Fortem and what to expect
Whether you’re new to CrossFit or you’ve been around awhile but never jumped in, this episode is for you.
17 Nov 2025
Hero Workouts & CHAD1000X: Training Your Mind for Real Life | Ep. 8
This episode explores hero workouts like CHAD1000X and how they cultivate mental resilience for real-life challenges, offering insights into pushing beyond perceived limits.
2 Oct 2025
Real Drivers of Progress in CrossFit and Health | Ep. 7
CrossFit Fortem's Nick, Josh, and Aidan discuss the fundamental elements that drive progress in CrossFit and overall health, emphasizing the importance of sleep, hydration, and threshold training.
11 Jul 2025
Meet Aidan: How CrossFit Changed His Mindset, Habits, and Coaching | Ep. 6
Coach Aidan Guerrero discusses his personal journey with CrossFit, from unhealthy habits to full-time coaching, in an interview with Nick and Josh, highlighting the transformative power of fitness.
11 Jun 2025
What Is CrossFit? Understanding the Method Behind the Movement | Ep. 5
Hosts Nick and Josh define CrossFit's core principles, explaining how understanding its methodology enhances training effectiveness in this episode.
13 May 2025
Drawing the Line: When Nutrition Rules Help (and When They Hurt) | Ep. 4
Nick and Josh dive into the nuance of food rules — when they’re helpful for progress and when they start to backfire.
You’ll hear:
- Examples of when hard nutrition lines are healthy and intentional
- Signs your food rules may be leading to stress, shame, or burnout
- How to anchor to principles, not perfection
- What it looks like to pursue food peace instead of food obsession
Whether you’re just starting your nutrition journey or trying to break free from an all-or-nothing mindset, this episode is for you.
10 Apr 2025
Nutrition Starts Here: Stories and Shifts | Ep. 3
Episode 3 kicks off the first of many future conversations on nutrition. Nick and Josh share their personal journeys, the lessons they’ve learned, and the mindset shifts that truly move the needle. This isn’t a deep dive into complex nutrition science—it’s real talk to help you think about food in a way that works for your life and goals.
25 Feb 2025
The CrossFit Open | Ep. 2
In this episode of Fortem Talk, Nick and Josh dive into one of the most exciting events in the CrossFit world—the CrossFit Open. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or brand new to CrossFit, the Open is for everyone. We’re breaking down what it is, why it matters, and (most importantly) why you should get involved this year.
We’ll talk about how the Open isn’t just a competition; it’s a chance to test your fitness, connect with the global CrossFit community, and push yourself in ways you didn’t think possible. From setting personal milestones to sharing amazing moments with your gym crew, this event is all about growth, challenge, and fun. Let’s get after it!
15 Feb 2025
Fortem Misson Statement | Ep. 1
Welcome to the first episode of Fortem Talk! We're kicking things off by diving into the foundation of our community-our mission statement. What does Fortem stand for? How do bravery, community, and a balanced approach to fitness shape everything we do? In this episode, we break down the core values that drive our training, coaching, and overall philosophy, setting the stage for future conversations on training, lifestyle, and mindset. Tune in and get to know what makes Fortem more than just a gym!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 25 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
50
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Contact Fortem Talk: The CrossFit Fortem Podcast
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Questions about Fortem Talk: The CrossFit Fortem Podcast
Who hosts Fortem Talk: The CrossFit Fortem Podcast?
Josh and Nick host the show. Published by Joshua Keith Pollema.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes monthly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Fortem Talk: The CrossFit Fortem Podcast take guests?
Yes. Guests have been identified in episode analyses.
Host of Fortem Talk: The CrossFit Fortem Podcast?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
