Best Jason Ackerman Podcasts (2026)

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AffiliateCon 2026 Announcement! | BHOTD x Mayhem 53:11

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7h ago53:11

53:11

Austin Malleolo joins Jason Fernandez and Jason Ackerman to break down what Best Hour of Their Day and CrossFit Mayhem are building with AffiliateCon 2026. They share why this event exists, what makes it different, and how it’s designed to raise the standard for coaches, owners, and the broader CrossFit community. Click here for more info: https://…

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How to Clear Your "Head Trash." Charlie Gilkey 32:34

10m ago32:34

32:34

Here are three provocative questions that arise from this Change Signal conversation with Charlie Gilkey: What if success scares you more than failure? Where is your “head trash” quietly derailing your best ideas? And who belongs in your corner so your ambitious projects don’t stall? In this episode, I’m joined by Charlie Gilkey — author, coach, an…

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Why Your CrossFit Gym Feels Stuck (Even Though You’re Hustling) 11:38

8h ago11:38

11:38

👉 Use the Lead Need Calculator (free) https://www.besthouroftheirday.com/lead-need-calculator In this video, we break down why chasing more leads often makes growth feel harder — not easier. Most CrossFit gyms don’t stall because they’re invisible. They stall because they’re leaking members, sales, or both — and don’t know the math behind it. Growt…

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Choosing Engineering When I Was Wired for People (Angie Callen) 39:32

4m ago39:32

39:32

Episode Page Angie Callen — founder of Career Bend, host of No More Mondays, and author of Scary Good: Discovering Life Beyond the Sunday Scaries — shares why choosing engineering school became her favorite mistake. In this episode, Angie reflects on becoming an engineer despite being deeply people-oriented, how that decision shaped her thinking, a…

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Bertha González Nieves 19:00

20h ago19:00

19:00

Casa Dragones is a luxury sipping tequila, made from 100% blue agave. Bob Pittman, founder of MTV, is Bertha’s partner. Madonna, Martha Stewart, Oprah, and Le Bernadin Chef Eric Ripert are among Casa Dragones’ celebrity fans. The first batch of Casa Dragones, about 12,000 bottles, was launched in 2009. Bertha speaks with Jessica Harris about how sh…

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Stop Overcomplicating Weightlifting in CrossFit | Cody Looney 1:06:14

5d ago1:06:14

1:06:14

Most CrossFit gyms don’t have a weightlifting problem — they have a coaching problem. Cody Looney from Burgener Strength breaks down how to simplify barbell instruction, build real weightlifting skill inside group classes, and create a stronger barbell culture without overengineering your programming. -- Ready to your develop your coaching, advance…

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The HR Tool That Accidentally Fired Everyone - Mistake of the Week 3:58

11m ago3:58

3:58

In this week’s Mistake of the Week, a company’s HR team accidentally sent a mass termination email to the entire workforce — including the CEO. The culprit was an offboarding automation tool left in the wrong mode, turning a routine test into a company-wide panic. Mark Graban explores what this moment teaches about automation, human fallibility, an…

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Friction. Good or Bad in Change? Robert Sutton 29:56

11m ago29:56

29:56

Here are three big ideas that stand out in Bob Sutton’s conversation: leadership is about being a trustee of people’s time friction isn’t the enemy—it’s the signal and power makes you blind to the mess you’ve created. Bob—Stanford professor, author, and organizational psychologist—joins me to explore why good intentions in big organizations often c…

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Startup Mistakes That Linger: Jason Sherman on Co-Founders, Smart Money, and MVP Learning 46:34

21h ago46:34

46:34

In this episode of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban talks with Jason Sherman, an entrepreneur, startup advisor, and educator, about the early startup mistakes that quietly shape everything that follows. Episode page with transcript, video, and more Jason shares hard-earned lessons about choosing co-founders, distinguishing “smart money” from money …

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Luis von Ahn 30:43

8d ago30:43

30:43

Luis is an inventor and computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon. He is one of the creators of CAPTCHA, a system that allows websites to determine whether you’re a human or a computer. CAPTCHAs are wavy, distorted words that people need to type out when they’re submitting a form to a website. Luis’ company ReCAPTCHA proved users were humans wh…

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What Actually Builds Great CrossFit Coaches | Matt Souza 1:05:08

4d ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Matt Souza joins Todd and Kristin on Coach Development Live to talk about how he actually develops coaches inside his Affiliate, CrossFit Livermore. They'll cover hiring, onboarding, and building a staff that can deliver a consistent, high-quality experience every class. -- Ready to your develop your coaching, advance your career, and level up your…

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Why New Year’s Resolutions Fail: Willpower vs. System Design 5:19

8d ago5:19

5:19

Why do New Year’s resolutions fail so predictably—and what does that teach us about change at work? In this Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban explores why treating change as a test of willpower is a reliable setup for frustration, both personally and in organizations. Drawing on behavioral psychology and leadership examples, the episode connects fai…

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How to Lead With the Plan: Charles Conn 33:30

6d ago33:30

33:30

Here are three provocative questions that arise from this Change Signal conversation with Charles Conn: What’s the smallest experiment you can start today? Where can you loosen control without losing direction? And could your team learn faster if you planned less? Charles Conn — investor, conservationist, and author of The Imperfect Leader — joins …

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Why This CrossFit Gym Owner Can’t Keep Coaches (And What She’s Doing About It) 49:44

16d ago49:44

49:44

Jason Ackerman sat down with Carleen, an affiliate owner of 11+ years who’s still struggling to build and retain a coaching team—despite high standards and a strong community. We break down the real tradeoffs between coaching quality, sustainability, and family life, and what Carleen is actively changing to make her gym work long term. -- Ready to …

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Nick Saban’s “Dumbest” Call—and Why His Players Loved It 3:53

10d ago3:53

3:53

Nick Saban calls it “the dumbest decision I ever made” — a fourth-and-one call from the 2001 SEC Championship Game that still sticks with him. In this episode, Mark Graban breaks down why even the greatest coaches make mistakes, what Saban learned from the moment, and how leaders can turn high-pressure missteps into opportunities for trust and grow…

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Orion Hindawi 19:00

10d ago19:00

19:00

Tanium is a cybersecurity company that focuses on providing internet safety for the US government and Fortune 500 companies. Clients include Amazon, Target, Best Buy and the Department of Defense. Orion started Tanium with his father David. Orion speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Tanium, from scratch. Listen to the interview…

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What “Trust State” Are You In? Rachel Botsman 29:06

13d ago29:06

29:06

Here are three provocative questions that arise from this Change Signal conversation with Rachel Botsman: What kind of trust are you actually building? How much uncertainty can you hold before you grab for control? And when was the last time you slowed down enough to build real trust instead of just speed? Rachel Botsman—Oxford University lecturer,…

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Why Referrals Outperform Ads for CrossFit Gyms (By the Numbers) 29:26

15d ago29:26

29:26

Jason Ackerman and Jason Fernandez break down why referrals consistently outperform ads for CrossFit gyms—using real numbers, not opinions. They walk through the math behind cost to acquire a member, lifetime value, and why a properly structured referral offer drives faster growth, higher retention, and more profit.--Ready to grow your box, increas…

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Mick Mountz 30:01

23d ago30:01

30:01

Kiva Systems is a mobile robotics company that automates the warehouse fulfillment process. Kiva robots deliver inventory shelves to stationary human operators who then pick and pack the product. Mick started Kiva Systems in 2003, and the company was acquired by Amazon for $775 Million in Spring, 2012. Customers include Diapers.com and Zappos (both…

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Mayhem Gym Development Weekend Recap 1:05:17

18d ago1:05:17

1:05:17

The Mayhem Gym Development Weekend brought CrossFit affiliate owners and coaches together to train, learn, and solve real problems alongside the Mayhem team and Best Hour of Their Day. In this live recap, Austin Malleolo and the Mayhem team break down the biggest takeaways around programming, coaching development, and building a gym that wins on th…

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Love and Thundr Podcast: Jordan Herndon 'The Whole Hearted Man" 1:01:19

19d ago1:01:19

1:01:19

What's up Bro's and Brosephines! On this week's episode of the Love and Thundr Podcast - Dave sit's down Jordan Herndon from Wholehearted Ministries. Dave talks to Jordan about his new book "The Wholehearted Man" which explains and extensive leadership and development guide book for men!

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How a Mistake Turned Jingle Bells into a Christmas Song 4:19

19d ago4:19

4:19

Jingle Bells is one of the most recognizable Christmas songs ever written… except it wasn’t written for Christmas at all. In this week’s Mistake of the Week, we unpack one of America’s most enduring cultural misconceptions: the belief that Jingle Bells has anything to do with Christmas. Originally titled One Horse Open Sleigh, the song debuted at a…

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Are You Measuring What Matters? Dr. Ryan Brown 26:26

20d ago26:26

26:26

Here are three provocative questions that arise from this Change Signal conversation with Dr. Ryan Brown: What are you measuring that doesn’t matter? Where might your data be lying to you? And what if the “immeasurable” parts of change are exactly what count? Ryan’s a behavioral scientist who studies how organizations measure what actually works—es…

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From Medicare Fraud to Military Leadership: Learning Accountability After a Career-Defining Mistake (Dr. Josh McConkey) 42:16

1M ago42:16

42:16

In Episode #332 of My Favorite Mistake, Mark Graban talks with Dr. Josh McConkey — emergency physician, Air Force Reserve Commander, combat-deployed medevac leader, and Pulitzer Prize–nominated author. Known as the “MacGyver Doc,” Josh has spent his career solving problems in high-pressure environments where you rarely get a second chance. Episode …

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Mike Krieger 31:01

30d ago31:01

31:01

Instagram is a photo sharing app that was released through the Apple App Store in October, 2010 and reached one million users in just three months. Facebook acquired Instagram in 2012 for one billion dollars. Mike and his partner, Kevin Systrom, are both graduates of Stanford University. Mike speaks with Jessica Harris about how he launched Instagr…

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CrossFit is for anybody, but your gym isn't... yet. | Alec Zirkenbach 1:07:32

1M ago1:07:32

1:07:32

We confront the 'Inclusivity Illusion', which is the dangerous assumption that simply believing 'CrossFit is for anybody' makes your gym accessible. Alec Zirkenbach explains why most affiliates are failing adaptive athletes by default, and gives you the actionable steps to turn your passive inclusivity into actual preparedness. -- Ready to your dev…

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The Obvious/Elusive Idea That Transforms Meetings: Misha Glouberman 7:24

25d ago7:24

7:24

Here are three big questions that Misha Glouberman asks in the quest for better change gatherings: What if the way you’re structuring your events is stopping the very change you want to create? How might things shift if you assumed everyone involved was a competent adult? And are your “best practices” actually working against your goals? Misha Glou…

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How a Lab Error Led to an Unnecessary Surgery 4:21

28d ago4:21

4:21

A 32-year-old woman in Switzerland underwent an unnecessary surgery after her lab sample was mixed up at Basel University Hospital. Doctors believed she had cervical cancer. She didn’t — but the procedure went ahead anyway, potentially affecting her ability to carry a pregnancy in the future. In this Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban unpacks how suc…

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What Project Management Must Be Today: Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez 30:26

27d ago30:26

30:26

Here are three big questions that arise from this Change Signal conversation with Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez: Are your projects actually shaping your future? Is your team a true team — or just a group of people in meetings? And what if success isn’t about deadlines at all? Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, author of Powered by Projects and one of the world’s l…

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How Much Should You Charge for CrossFit in 2026? (Reverse Engineer It) 44:11

29d ago44:11

44:11

Join Jason Fernandez and Christian Genson as they break down why rising operational costs and inflation mean your current CrossFit pricing model guarantees you will make less money in 2026. You’ll learn how to reverse engineer your revenue goals and apply the "7-7-7" strategy to protect your profit margins without chasing unrealistic member growth.…

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Recovering from Workplace Bullying—and What Leaders Often Miss (Andy Regal) 57:28

29d ago57:28

57:28

My guest for Episode #331 of My Favorite Mistake is Andy Regal, a longtime media executive whose career has included leadership roles at The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, Consumer Reports, Court TV, and CBS College Sports. He is also the author of the forthcoming book, “Surviving Bully Culture: A Career Spent Navigating Workplace Bullying and a Guide…

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Andrew Cherng 19:00

1M ago19:00

19:00

Panda Express is an American Chinese food chain with 2,000 restaurants located in airports, malls, universities, military bases, amusement parks, among other locations. Andrew started Panda Express with his wife Peggy in 1983. Panda’s first restaurant was located in a mall in Glendale, California. Andrew speaks with Jessica Harris about how he buil…

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Is the CrossFit Open Still Worth Running in Your Affiliate? | Chase Ingraham 1:11:10

1M ago1:11:10

1:11:10

Chase Ingraham joins Todd and Kristin on Coach Development Live to break down what the CrossFit Open can mean inside an affiliate and why it still matters for coaches and members. They’ll share practical ways to run the Open well and use friendly competition to build excitement, confidence, and community in a positive way.-- Check out Get With the …

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How a Landing Gear Error Was Caught Before Disaster 4:36

1M ago4:36

4:36

In this Mistake of the Week, Mark Graban breaks down an incident involving an American Airlines A319 on final approach to Phoenix — captured on video with its landing gear still up. A cockpit alert sounded, the crew realized what was missing, and the pilots executed a safe go-around. Their explanation to air traffic control? A perfectly understated…

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Are You Influencing Without Knowing It? Vanessa Bohns 31:08

1M ago31:08

31:08

Here are three big questions that arise from this Change Signal conversation with Vanessa Bohns: Are you overlooking the influence you already have? What if social proof beats every logical argument? Could your smallest comments be shaping culture the most? Vanessa Bohns, professor of organizational behavior at Cornell and author of You Have More I…

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How we would run a terrible CrossFit box (yes, we've done these...) 42:57

1M ago42:57

42:57

Sometimes the best business advice is simply knowing exactly what to avoid at all costs. Ackerman and Fern lay out the ultimate blueprint for running a terrible CrossFit box, admitting that they are personally guilty of committing almost every disaster on the list. -- Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact? Apply for Affiliate …

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Why Curiosity Drives Better Leadership (Debra Clary) 40:47

1M ago40:47

40:47

My guest for Episode #330 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Debra Clary, a leadership strategist, researcher, and executive coach with more than four decades of experience at organizations including Frito-Lay, Coca-Cola, Jack Daniel’s, and Humana. Episode page with video, transcript, and more She’s also a TEDx speaker, former off-Broadway perfo…

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John Zimmer 30:22

2M ago30:22

30:22

Lyft is a transportation network company with a peer-to-peer mobile app that enables passengers to request rides with their smartphones. Prior to starting Lyft, John co-founded Zimride in 2007, a carpooling ride-share company available predominantly in college communities. Zimride was sold to Enterprise Rent-A-Car in 2013. Lyft is available across …

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Why You Build Belonging Before Belief: Hahrie Han 35:12

1M ago35:12

35:12

Here are three big insights that emerge from this Change Signal conversation with Hahrie Han: Are you creating value or just convenience?; Does belonging come before belief in your organization?; and Are you building agency or just compliance? Hahrie Han, political scientist at Johns Hopkins University and author of How Organizations Develop Activi…

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Inside 18 Years of CrossFit South Brooklyn: How David Osorio Built an 800+ Member Box 41:57

2M ago41:57

41:57

David Osorio has been running CrossFit South Brooklyn for 18 years, growing it into an 800+ member powerhouse without ads, funnels, or high-pressure sales. In this episode, he and Jason Ackerman break down the systems, culture, programming, and leadership decisions that built one of the most iconic affiliates in the world. -- Ready to grow your box…

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From Toxic Culture to Empathic Leadership: Lessons in Empathy and Accountability (Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller) 41:58

1M ago41:58

41:58

My guest for Episode #329 of the My Favorite Mistake podcast is Dr. Melissa Robinson-Winemiller, a TEDx speaker, empathy and leadership expert, and author of The Empathic Leader: How EQ via Empathy Transforms Leadership for Better Profit, Productivity, and Innovation. Episode page with video, transcript, and more Melissa shares the story of her “fa…

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Uri Levine 29:49

2M ago29:49

29:49

Waze is a crowd sourced traffic navigation app. Drivers share real-time traffic and road information to help other users on the same route. Uri founded Waze in Israel in 2007 and the company was sold to Google in 2013 for $1.1 Billion. Uri is also the founder of FeeX, which also uses crowd sourced information— this time to uncover hidden fees in pe…

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Teaching Gymnastics in CrossFit: Progressions, Spotting, and Safety | Dave Durante 1:02:43

2M ago1:02:43

1:02:43

Dave Durante joins Todd Occhiuto and Kristin Bowen to break down how coaches can teach and safely spot gymnastics movements for athletes of all levels inside a CrossFit class. Learn how to keep every athlete progressing with clear progressions, smart spotting, and simple cues that elevate your coaching. -- Learn more about Power Monkey https://www.…