From Firefighter to Full-Time Videographer: Betting on Yourself and Making It Work

Why Waiting Until You're Ready Is Holding Your Career Back

In this episode, Chad Mueller shares his journey from a secure corporate career at Oracle to building a thriving creative business in the CrossFit and fitness industry. Chad discusses how years of side projects, networking, and intentional relationship-building eventually gave him the confidence to leave a six-figure job and pursue creative work full-time. JT and Chad dive into the realities of freelancing, building long-term client relationships, working with brands like Magic City and the World Fitness Project, and why being a generalist has become one of Chad’s biggest strengths. They also discuss leadership, communication, entrepreneurship, AI, sports broadcasting, and the importance of creating opportunities instead of waiting for them to appear. The conversation explores what it takes to thrive in creative industries, how networking actually works, lessons learned from startup environments, and why celebrating progress is often harder than achieving it. In this episode, we discuss: - Leaving a corporate career to pursue creative work full-time - Building relationships and networking in the CrossFit space - Working with Magic City, World Fitness Project, and fitness brands - Sports broadcasting and what happens behind the scenes of live events - Leadership, communication, and managing creative teams - Using AI as a tool for creatives and entrepreneurs - Balancing risk, business ownership, and family life - Goal setting, manifestation, and building a life by design Whether you're a designer, videographer, entrepreneur, or creative professional looking to bet on yourself, Chad shares valuable lessons on building a sustainable career while staying adaptable in a rapidly changing industry. Watch or listen to Capture the Reps Podcast every week Thursdays @11:00PM PST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JTHealy Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ngElayXWgbvV8tgJUR8QE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capture-the-reps-podcast/id1802393762 Follow us, stay updated and catch behind the scenes footage on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturetherepspodcast/

Building a Career Without Waiting for Permission | Lauren Kalil on Sports Broadcasting, Branding & Betting on Yourself

In this episode, Lauren Kalil (https://www.instagram.com/laurenkalil/) shares her journey from local television news to becoming a respected freelance sports broadcaster, commentator, and media personality in the CrossFit and fitness space. Lauren opens up about leaving the security of traditional news, navigating burnout, building a personal brand, and learning to create opportunities through cold outreach and self-belief. JT and Lauren dive into the realities of freelancing, negotiating rates, dealing with rejection, and finding the confidence to pursue opportunities before feeling fully ready. Lauren also shares how she landed opportunities with Tactical Games and other sports broadcasts, why authenticity matters when building a personal brand, and how staying adaptable has helped her continue growing across multiple sports and media platforms. In this episode, we discuss: - Lauren’s transition from television news to freelance sports broadcasting - Why cold emails and self-advocacy changed her career - Handling rejection, rates, and the realities of freelance work - Building an authentic personal brand in media and sports - Learning new skills quickly and doing things before you feel ready - Tactical Games, expanding into new sports, and future broadcasting goals This conversation is packed with insight for creatives, broadcasters, entrepreneurs, and anyone navigating career uncertainty while trying to build something meaningful on their own terms. Watch or listen to Capture the Reps Podcast every week Thursdays @11:00PM PST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JTHealy Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ngElayXWgbvV8tgJUR8QE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capture-the-reps-podcast/id1802393762 Follow us, stay updated and catch behind the scenes footage on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturetherepspodcast/

From Photojournalism to the CrossFit Games

In this episode, Sara Ines (https://www.instagram.com/saraineschew_cf/) shares her incredible journey from teenage party photographer in Guatemala to photojournalist, CrossFit media creative, and international sports photographer. Sara opens up about how photography became her second chance after life took an unexpected turn, and how CrossFit helped pull her out of depression while reigniting her passion for storytelling through a camera. JT and Sara dive deep into the realities of building a creative career from scratch, learning to handle rejection, adapting from journalism into commercial photography, and navigating the challenges of working internationally in the fitness space. They also discuss media teams, volunteering at major events, covering the CrossFit Games, and the mindset required to continuously improve as a creative. In this episode, we discuss: - How Sara went from photojournalism to CrossFit photography - Why rejection and cold outreach helped shape her career - The biggest differences between journalism and commercial photography - Covering events like Wodapalooza, semifinals, and the CrossFit Games - Learning photography and video through feedback, mentorship, and repetition - Sara’s long-term goal of photographing the Olympics This conversation is packed with insight for photographers, videographers, creatives, and anyone trying to build a meaningful career through persistence, storytelling, and taking chances on themselves. Watch or listen to Capture the Reps Podcast every week Thursdays @11:00PM PST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JTHealy Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ngElayXWgbvV8tgJUR8QE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capture-the-reps-podcast/id1802393762 Follow us, stay updated and catch behind the scenes footage on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturetherepspodcast/

How Fitness Creatives Break Into Events, Build Their Style, and Avoid Burnout

In this episode, Brett Taylor shares how a health setback unexpectedly pushed him into photography and eventually into the CrossFit media world. From shooting local competitions to working major events like Magic City and Wodapalooza, Brett breaks down how he learned everything through experience, YouTube, trial and error, and simply saying yes to opportunities. JT and Brett also dive into creative burnout, imposter syndrome, building confidence as a photographer, balancing a full-time career with creative work, and why documenting your progress matters more than chasing trends. The conversation explores networking in the fitness space, leading media teams, shooting athlete photo packages, venue creativity, and what it actually takes to survive long competition weekends as a creative. In this episode, we discuss: - Breaking into fitness photography without film school - Learning photography through YouTube and repetition - Shooting CrossFit competitions and athlete packages - Building confidence while battling imposter syndrome - Why creatives should document their progress publicly - Creative burnout and balancing a 9-to-5 career - Networking with photographers and media teams - How venue design affects photography and storytelling - Gear addiction, camera upgrades, and creative tools - Why saying yes early on accelerates growth - Leading a media team for the first time - Transitioning from photography into video work This episode is packed with relatable lessons for photographers, videographers, and fitness creatives trying to carve out their place in the industry while still keeping the process fun and sustainable. Watch or listen to Capture the Reps Podcast every week Thursdays @11:00PM PST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JTHealy Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ngElayXWgbvV8tgJUR8QE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capture-the-reps-podcast/id1802393762 Follow us, stay updated and catch behind the scenes footage on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturetherepspodcast/

Finding Your Style, Navigating Trends, and Building a Creative Life

In this episode, JT Healy and Chris Null break down what it really means to develop your own style as a creative while balancing trends, client work, and personal growth. They explain how style is built over time through repetition, experimentation, and understanding what you like to create. They also get into presets, LUTs, and editing workflows, why relying on trends can hold you back, and how to stand out in a crowded space. The conversation expands into freelancing, travel, creative pressure, and navigating major life changes like preparing for fatherhood while staying consistent with your work. In this episode, we discuss: - Developing your own creative style - Presets, LUTs, and consistent workflows - Why trends come and go - Shooting for clients vs creating for yourself - Learning on the fly and building confidence - The reality of freelancing in fitness media - Travel, burnout, and staying consistent - Balancing career growth with real life changes This episode brings together both the creative and personal sides of the journey, offering a clear perspective on how to grow your work while staying grounded in what actually matters. Watch or listen to Capture the Reps Podcast every week Thursdays @11:00PM PST YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JTHealy Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ngElayXWgbvV8tgJUR8QE Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/capture-the-reps-podcast/id1802393762 Follow us, stay updated and catch behind the scenes footage on our Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/capturetherepspodcast/