What if the secret to success isn't following a straight path, but deliberately putting yourself in rooms where you don't belong?

Our guest, Chaz Rogers, shares how "stacking experiences" transformed him from a kid in Dayton, Ohio into a fitness industry veteran who's worked with NBA legends, met Joe Namath, and built a 25-year career by showing up in uncomfortable places.

The Stacking Experiences Framework: •

Put yourself where you know NOTHING - that's where you learn •

Don't wait to be qualified - show up anyway and figure it out •

Every experience becomes an opportunity, and opportunities become your career •

Meet people not for what they can do for you, but for what you can learn

Stop waiting for the perfect time or perfect qualifications. Chaz switched to fitness full-time at 38 and never looked back. The message: go where you don't know anything, get comfortable being uncomfortable, and stack those experiences relentlessly.

In this episode, we dive deep into the Super Bowl 2026 halftime show controversy - from Bad Bunny's all-Spanish performance to the alternative Turning Point USA show, and what it all says about where we are as a country.

Key Topics: • Bad Bunny's historic halftime performance and the cultural significance • The unprecedented alternative halftime show and why it happened • Political division in America and how it's affecting entertainment • The lost grass bundle that stole the show • The first-ever Super Bowl halftime wedding • Why leadership and love matter more than political division • What makes America truly American - celebrating diversity

Our Take: The Super Bowl halftime show should unite us, not divide us. Whether you understood the Spanish lyrics or not, Bad Bunny's message was about togetherness, love, and celebrating culture. We applaud the NFL for not backing down and showcasing diverse artists.

Question for You: What did you think of the halftime show's message? Is this what we need more of to heal our country? Drop a comment below!

In this week’s Random Thoughts episode, we ask a simple question… Could you go 72 hours without your phone?

Spoiler: it’s harder than it sounds.

We dive into how deeply ingrained our tech habits have become—from morning scrolling before we’re fully awake to late-night doomscrolling that wrecks our sleep. Bliss shares how he uses a “brick” device and app blockers to shut down social and entertainment apps until 9:30 a.m., forcing intentional use instead of unconscious scrolling. We also unpack: Shocking weekly screen-time reports How blue light disrupts sleep and recovery GPS dependence vs. the old-school road atlas & MapQuest days Why vacations (especially overseas) feel more peaceful without constant connectivity What would actually happen if an entire city lost phone access for 72 hours? Calm? Chaos? Both? The conversation turns bigger as we explore algorithmic manipulation, targeted ads, and the reality that your attention is the most valuable commodity in the world today. We recommend watching The Social Dilemma on Netflix if you haven’t already—it’s eye-opening. We also talk about emerging tech like Meta Quest and where AI integrations could take us next.

Could you do a 72-hour phone break?

Drop a comment and let us know:

Could you actually unplug for 3 full days? What would be the hardest part? Would it bring peace… or panic?

Join the hosts for a candid post-race debrief following HYROX Phoenix, where they achieved an 8-minute PR despite leg issues and challenging conditions. This episode covers their race experience, training insights, hydration challenges in dry climates, and future competition plans. The conversation takes entertaining detours into grooming habits, potential Pilates adventures, and the evolution of HYROX as a fitness phenomenon.

Ultra runner and coach Alyssa Clark joins us to discuss her journey from Vermont cross-country skier to San Diego-based ultra runner, her wild 95-day marathon streak during COVID, and how she's helping build Everyday Ultra into a coaching powerhouse. We dive deep into coaching philosophy, the challenges of balancing elite athletics with coaching responsibilities, and why human connection will always beat AI-generated training plans.

Alyssa Clark

• Ultra Runner & Running Coach
• Chief Creative & Community Officer at Everyday Ultra
• Based in San Diego, CA

Join us for a hilarious conversation "Phone a Friend" convo with Kimo Burleigh. He calls in from Maui where he's living the aloha spirit (shirtless, naturally). From infrared sauna fires to one of the worst road trips in history, this episode is packed with stories that prove sometimes the best adventures are the ones that go completely sideways.

Kimo - Boulder gym veteran turned Maui resident personal trainer, Hyrox competitor, and survivor of the legendary San Francisco road trip disaster of 2004.

An in-depth conversation with Chip Dykes, Vice President of Community and Military Relations at Front Wave Credit Union. Chip shares his journey from Marine Corps veteran to community leader, the story behind the Front Wave Arena naming rights deal, and how a credit union founded by 8 Marines in 1952 became a cornerstone of the Oceanside community.

Welcome to a special New Year’s episode! The hosts kick off 2026 with gratitude for their listeners, reflecting on the past year and the journey of the podcast. They discuss the challenges of the holiday season, unexpected changes in plans (including a race cancellation due to weather), and the importance of adapting to life’s curveballs.

Key Topics:

• Thanking the community and reflecting on the growth of the podcast
• Navigating holiday fatigue and the unpredictability of New Year plans
• The tough decision to cancel and reschedule a race, and the logistics behind it
• Lessons learned from handling setbacks and the value of clear communication
• Deep dive into New Year’s resolutions: why the hosts don’t set them, and the importance of self-reflection over arbitrary goals
• Personal stories about change, resilience, and learning from life’s challenges
• The difference between setting realistic, incremental goals versus lofty resolutions
• The impact of entrepreneurship on personal relationships and self-identity
• Encouragement for listeners to take inventory of their lives, reflect on who they are, and make meaningful changes any day of the year—not just January 1st

Thank You! Thank you for being part of the NFA family. Here’s to another year of growth, honesty, and great conversations. Happy New Year!