The Daily Forge Podcast

The Daily Forge Podcast - Episode 10: Leading Yourself First and Achieving the Next Level

Before you can lead others, you must lead yourself. In this episode, Tim and Zach break down what it truly means to Lead Yourself First in life, leadership, and personal growth. Progress doesn’t stop when you reach the top of your current level, that’s often where the hardest transition begins. Moving into the next level means starting again at the bottom, carrying new responsibility, pressure, and expectation. As the levels rise, the fundamentals don’t disappear, they demand greater intention. Discipline, structure, habits, and standards become more important, not less. We discuss the responsibility of ownership, the danger of outsourcing blame, and the importance of asking the hardest leadership question: Have I done everything possible to help myself succeed? This episode explores modern wisdom and practical philosophy around accountability, self-leadership, and growth through adversity, reminding us that real leadership is built long before anyone else is watching. If you’re navigating transition, chasing your next level, or refining your standards as responsibility increases, this conversation will challenge you to recommit to the basics and lead from the inside out.

The Daily Forge Podcast - Episode 9: From Trauma to Purpose: Why Community Matters

Tim and Zach talk about how Zach got involved with Patrol Base Abbate and Big Fish Foundation, and how he’s worked to translate what he learned through his involvement with those organizations into how he builds the community at CrossFit Republic. The goal is simple: create a place where people feel supported, understood, and challenged to grow. Not everyone carries military trauma, but many people carry something heavy. Most are struggling in silence, without a community that understands their stress, their setbacks, or the patterns that keep them from stepping into their purpose. What we’re building at CFR is built on that awareness. People need people. They need structure. They need accountability. And they need a place where their burdens don’t disqualify them—where they’re encouraged to rise above them. That’s the conversation. And it’s the mission.

The Daily Forge Podcast - Episode 8: From Marine Corps Officer to Hotshot Crew Wildfire Firefighter with Rickie Lee Young

Zach's good friend Rickie Lee Young stopped by while he was in town — and this one’s a story worth hearing. From battling setback after setback on his path to becoming a Marine Corps Infantry Officer to earning a spot on a Hotshot Wildfire Crew out west, Rickie has lived through some of the toughest trials imaginable. He’s no stranger to fear, uncertainty, and doubt — and he’s learned to overcome all three. We dive deep into his journey, and this episode will keep you hooked from start to finish. We hope you enjoy this one.

The Daily Forge Podcast - Episode 7: Making Sense of Nutrition

Nutrition doesn’t have to be confusing. In this episode, Tim and Zach cut through the noise to bring some sense back to how we view food, performance, and progress. They talk about what actually matters for long-term results—how to eat for energy, performance, and recovery—and why the scale isn’t always the best measure of success. Whether you’re training hard or just trying to feel better day-to-day, this episode gives you practical tools you can actually use, not another set of rules to follow.

The Daily Forge Podcast - Episode 6: Conflict, Confrontation, and Hard Conversations

Conflict and confrontation are uncomfortable for most of us, and we’ll be the first to admit—we’re not experts. In this episode, Tim and Zach open up about their own experiences with hard conversations, the mistakes they’ve made, and what they’ve learned along the way. From ways to de-escalate tension to approaching tough situations with clarity and respect, this is a real and vulnerable look at how we can all handle conflict a little better.