Advertise on podcast: Legends and Masters Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Dee Dee Hoffman qualified for the CrossFit Masters Games in 2020 and made her Games debut in 2021, but she admits she didn't fully believe in herself as a successful Masters athlete until returning to the Games in 2025. In this conversation, the three-time Games athlete, Level-2 Coach and Mom of Five opens up about the obstacles, setbacks, and self-doubt she overcame, the dedication required to make it back to the Games, and the lasting love for fitness that continues to drive her every day.

Send us Fan Mail Episode Description — A Lifetime Outdoors, Three Trips to the Games, and a Season Changed by a Medical Challenge 3‑time Masters CrossFit Games athlete in the 65–69 Age Group, and an avid outdoorsman from Victoria, British Columbia, John Guthrie joins Warren for a reflective and heartfelt conversation. A biker, hiker, kayaker, skier, husband, father, and grandfather, he shares the story of a life built around movement, exploration, and challenge. From his early days playing college hockey to decades spent adventuring in the outdoors, he walks through the path that eventually led him to CrossFit — and ultimately to three appearances on the Games floor. He discusses what keeps him coming back, how the sport fits into his identity, and the joy he finds in training and competing at the highest level of Masters athletics. This episode also dives into the difficult reality of his 2026 Games season, where a significant medical challenge struck at the worst possible time. He talks openly about how those issues affected his performance, including the heartbreaking impact on a legitimate opportunity to finish on the podium. His honesty about his medical challege, aging, and resilience offers a powerful look at what it means to compete when your body doesn’t cooperate. A thoughtful, grounded, and inspiring conversation with an athlete who embodies grit, humility, and a lifelong love of the outdoors.

Send us Fan Mail Episode 70 — Rick Choppa: A Lifelong Athlete Still Pushing the Limits Rick Choppa, a 2024 Masters CrossFit Games athlete in the 65+ division, lifelong competitor, and standout Masters Track & Field Long Jumper, joins Warren for a wide‑ranging conversation about a lifetime spent chasing performance, passion, and purpose through sport. Rick reflects on his early love of fitness, the discipline that carried him through decades of training, and the thrill he still finds in the Long Jump and Triple. He shares his experience competing at the 2024 Masters CrossFit Games, offering insight into what it takes to stay competitive at the highest level well into his sixties. The conversation also dives into Rick’s perspective on TRT and the recent Senior Masters suspensions at the 2026 Games, exploring how the community is navigating fairness, longevity, and evolving standards. Fresh off his victory at the New England Masters Championship, Rick talks about what that win meant to him and looks ahead to his upcoming trip to Aruba, where he’ll represent the USA Functional Fitness Team. A thoughtful, energetic, and honest discussion with an athlete who has spent a lifetime proving that age is only one part of the story.

Send us Fan Mail Greg Weate, 8th place finisher at the 2026 Masters CrossFit Games in the 60–64 division and winner of the Magic City In‑Person Semi‑Finals, joins Warren for a powerful and candid conversation. Greg shares how he discovered CrossFit, the years of development that shaped him as an athlete, and the progression that ultimately earned him a spot at the 2026 Games. He opens up about the significant health challenges he faced leading into the season — challenges that forced him to make decisions most people would never consider, driven by his commitment to compete on the Games floor. After returning from San Jose, Greg’s medical reality changed dramatically, leaving him unable to train in any capacity. He discusses the care he’s received, the choices he’s made, and the mindset required to navigate life when competition is no longer possible.

Send us Fan Mail Lifetime Canadian athlete Sarah Pennington joins Warren to share her remarkable journey through gymnastics, water polo, synchronized swimming and finally CrossFit — a foundation that still fuels her elite movement capacity today. At 67 years old, Sarah can handstand walk with ease and is actively working toward her first Bar Muscle-Up as she pushes to qualify for the 2027 Masters CrossFit Games. A proud member of the Vegan Strong Team and http://plantbuilt.com/, Sarah explains how her vegan nutrition has become the centerpiece of her athletic longevity and performance. She breaks down the misconceptions around plant-based fueling, proving through her own training that upper-level competitive CrossFit does not require animal protein to thrive.  Sarah’s story is one of discipline, curiosity, and relentless improvement — a masterclass in what’s possible when you combine smart training, intentional nutrition, and a lifetime love of movement.

Send us Fan Mail Wayne O’Hara, 65–69 Age Group athlete, 2× CrossFit Games competitor, winner of the Magic City In‑Person Semi-Final, and 2nd‑place finisher at the 2026 CrossFit Masters Games in San Jose, joins Warren for a candid and wide‑ranging conversation. Wayne reflects on his early athletic background, discovering CrossFit 16 years ago, and the journey that led him to multiple Games appearances and a podium finish in 2026. He also opens up about the difficult aftermath of the season — learning he failed the post‑Games drug test due to TRT he began in 2025, unaware it was prohibited under CrossFit’s published Drug Testing Policy. This episode explores the highs of elite Masters competition, the realities of aging and performance, the responsibilities of being a CrossFit Masters Games Athlete, and the lessons Wayne has taken from both triumph and setback.

Send us Fan Mail Heidi Piehl Moody wears more hats than almost anyone in the CrossFit community — and in this episode, she joins Warren to talk about all of them. A Level 3 CrossFit Coach at CrossFit Boston, Masters Judge, adaptive coach, licensed social worker and therapist, Phoenix sober athlete and coach, Team Hoyt runner and team0-member, mountain climber, mom, and a long‑time listener of the Legends and Masters Podcast, Heidi brings a depth of experience that few can match. We dive into how she balances her professional life in mental health with her passion for coaching, what she’s learned from working with adaptive athletes, and how sobriety and service shape her approach to training and community. Heidi also shares stories from the trail, the gym, and the competition floor — and reflects on what keeps her inspired as both an athlete and a coach. This conversation is a celebration of versatility, resilience, and purpose. If you’re a Masters athlete, a coach, or someone who simply loves the CrossFit community, Heidi’s perspective will leave you energized and thinking differently about what it means to live a fully integrated athletic life.

Send us Fan Mail  Dave Hippensteel — 12 Games Appearances, 4 Championships, and the Future of Masters Competition   Legend of Legends and Masters icon Dave Hippensteel joins Warren for a deep, candid conversation about his extraordinary career in the Masters division. With 12 CrossFit Games appearances, 7 podium finishes, and 4 championship titles—including his 2020 victory at the Masters Fitness Collective—Dave reflects on the longevity, grit, and mindset required to compete at the highest level for more than a decade.  Now competing in the 70+ division, Dave opens up about the physical challenges that come with aging, the realities of recovery, and the personal hurdles he’s navigating as he continues pushing himself in elite competition. He also shares honest thoughts on recent Games programming, why certain changes have raised concerns for Masters athletes, and how those issues may influence his decision to return—or step away—from future seasons. This episode is a rare look into the evolving landscape of Masters competition from one of its most decorated champions. Dave’s perspective is thoughtful, experienced, and refreshingly direct. Whether you’re a Masters athlete, a coach, or a fan of the sport, this conversation offers insight into what it truly takes to stay competitive for a lifetime.

Send us Fan Mail Episode 64 — Tonia Osborne: Returning to the Podium Tonia Osborne, a 6‑time Masters Games Athlete, joins Warren to reflect on her remarkable two‑chapter career in competitive Masters CrossFit. After stepping away from the sport for seven years, Tonia made a triumphant return — placing 3rd at the 2026 Masters CrossFit Games and proving that experience and resilience can reignite elite performance. A veteran of both Carson and Madison Masters Games, and a former competitor in the Grid League, Tonia shares how her background as a high‑level gymnast shaped her approach to CrossFit when she discovered it in her early 40s. She dives into the mindset behind her comeback, the evolution of the Masters division,  and what it takes to stay competitive after years away from the floor.

Send us Fan Mail 2027 CrossFit Games hopeful Jenny Gatz joins Warren for an in‑depth conversation about the lifelong athletic journey that has shaped her into one of Masters CrossFit’s rising contenders. From childhood gymnastics to collegiate rowing, from triathlon to the competitive CrossFit floor, Jenny’s path is a study in grit, curiosity, and relentless evolution. With a PhD in Science Education and an under-graduate degree in Exercise Science, Jenny blends academic rigor with athletic excellence—bringing a rare dual perspective to training, coaching, and human performance. In 2026, while preparing for the 2027 Games season, she made her mark by getting an invite to the Magic City In-Person Semi-finals and a Second Place podium at the Monster Games, proving she’s a force in the Masters field. Jenny opens up about balancing elite training with quality coaching, navigating the unique challenges Masters athletes face, and cultivating the mindset required to stay competitive, healthy, and hungry for more. This episode is a deep dive into discipline, identity, and the pursuit of the sport’s highest honor—told by an athlete who’s standing right at the edge of her biggest season yet.

Send us Fan Mail Elizabeth Hannigan—2X CrossFit Masters Games athlete and this year’s 3rd-place finisher in the 60–64 division—joins us to break down her experience at the San Jose Games. She shares what it was like to win the Torian Pro in-person semifinals, the realities of traveling internationally from Melbourne, Australia to California, and the highs and lows of this year’s competition. Elizabeth opens up about her favorite moments, the challenges she faced, and her honest thoughts on returning to the Masters Games stage in 2027.

Send us Fan Mail In celebration of James Sprague’s second championship at the 2026 CrossFit Games, we’re revisiting Episode 9 featuring his father, Patrick Sprague. A 4X Masters Games athlete, Patrick breaks down his experience at the 2025 Age-Group CrossFit Games—from the venue and athlete reception to judging standards and the unique challenges presented by this year’s programming. He offers thoughtful suggestions for improving next year’s Games and shares how faith shapes both his life and his family’s approach to competition. Patrick also reflects on what it’s like to be the father of the 2024 Fittest Man on Earth, adding a personal and inspiring layer to the conversation.

Send us Fan Mail 2X Games Athlete Lon Allen joins Warren and Pat Haverty for a spirited conversation about Lon’s long road to the Masters CrossFit Games, the cancelled 2020 season, his experiences in Madison and Birmingham and the evolving landscape of the Masters CrossFit Games since separating from CrossFit HQ. We also dig into how Hyrox and other CrossFit‑style competitions are reshaping the competitive calendar for Masters athletes, what that means for training, and how Lon is approaching the future of his own competitive career.  It’s an honest, high‑energy look at the past, present, and next chapter of Masters fitness.

Send us Fan Mail Four-time Masters Games athlete Leigh Coates has never been one to back down from a challenge. Competing in the 55–59 age group, she traveled halfway around the world chasing her dream of returning to the Games in 2026. After learning she hadn’t qualified through the Semi-Finals video review, Leigh refused to let that be the end of her story. She packed her bags and headed to Colombia for the Latam In-Person Semi-Finals — determined to earn her spot the hard way. There, she proved why she’s one of the sport’s most respected competitors, climbing to first place before injury struck. It was a moment that tested her resolve, but also reminded everyone watching what true perseverance looks like. Leigh’s journey isn’t just about competition — it’s about courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.

Send us Fan Mail Episode 58 — Dennis McTaggart: The Long Road to the 2026 Masters Games Dennis McTaggart set his sights on the Masters CrossFit Games years ago — a commitment he made as he stepped away from a demanding career as a Corrections Officer. After coming up just short of qualifying through the standard path, Dennis accepted an invite to the 2026 Latam In‑Person Semi‑Final, traveled to Colombia, and delivered the performance that finally punched his ticket in the 60–64 Age Group. In this conversation, Dennis reflects on the years of disciplined training that followed his retirement, the mindset shift required to chase the Games with full focus, and the pivotal decision to compete in Latam. He shares what he learned from the experience, how he’s approaching the final stretch before San Jose, and what he hopes to prove once he’s on the floor. Dennis also opens up about a couple of challenging questions around belonging — what it means to earn your place, how Masters athletes navigate doubt, and why the journey matters as much as the qualification itself. A grounded, honest, and motivating look at an athlete who refused to let the door close on his Games dream.