We sat down with Jay Taheny, owner of CrossFit Cygnus in Richmond, Kentucky, coming up on six years in business. Jay walks us through his own fitness journey, from a bodybuilding split routine that left him unprepared for his very first CrossFit workout, to opening a gym during Covid that grew far beyond what he expected. We dig into the CrossFit methodology and why intensity, not specialization, is the key to real fitness, how the same workout can be scaled for a 64 year old grandmother and an 18 year old competitive athlete, and why Jay believes cost is rarely the real barrier keeping people out of the gym. Jay also opens up about the best and hardest parts of being a gym owner, from non-scale victories and watching kids build confidence, to the weight of caring about people who aren't ready to make a change. Plus, a look at his upcoming event, "Are You Fitter Than a Crossfitter," designed to test that exact question.

Highlights:

00:01:38 — Jay's first CrossFit workout ever ("Jack") humbled him fast, even though he thought he was already in shape from years of bodybuilding splits.

00:05:16 — Why CrossFit's biggest strength is scalability: a 64-year-old grandmother and an 18-year-old competitive athlete can do the same workout side by side.

00:06:39 — How Covid pushed Jay from coaching at other gyms into opening his own, starting as a garage gym setup meant to just cover rent.

00:09:05 — The community accountability effect: how CrossFit gym members notice and check in when someone stops showing up.

00:11:06 — Jay breaks down the CrossFit methodology in one word: intensity, and why being decent at everything beats being elite at one thing.

00:15:32 — Jay's personal health turnaround: how CrossFit reversed pre-diabetic markers and high cholesterol in his early thirties, and did the same for his wife.

00:18:30 — Why Jay says cost isn't really the biggest barrier to joining, it's whether health becomes a genuine priority.00:21:05 — Jay's candid take on clients using weight-loss medications without pairing it with strength training.

00:24:31 — Details on his upcoming "Are You Fitter Than a Crossfitter" competition and who he's hoping to attract.

00:29:30 — The best and worst parts of being a gym owner: life-changing transformations versus the emotional weight of watching people who aren't ready to change.

We finished 75 Hard, and now we're finding out what the discipline actually built. In this episode we turn the lens on business: Kim breaks down her first week pitching UGC (user-generated content) deals to brands, landing her first paid partnership, and what sets a media-company-backed creator apart from a typical UGC creator. Kyle explains why he restructured his offer into simple, one-hour, three-video sessions for busy clients, and how he used AI to figure out which service actually made the most sense to sell. We also dig into how Kim's coaching business and client avatar evolved after she coached herself through 75 Hard, why business coaching often comes down to real talk over algorithm hacks, and the case for consistency beating perfectionism on social media (including a wild seven-figure example from a creator's "Yap Challenge"). Plus: an honest look at what's already slipping on the Big Ass Calendar, three days into the quarter.

Highlights:00:01:27 — Post-75 Hard check-in: which habits carried the discipline forward (weekly restaurant night, macros, CrossFit) and which didn't (the water jug).

00:04:37 — Kim explains what UGC (user-generated content) actually is, and how the discipline of showing up daily applies just as much to pitching brands.

00:05:37 — How owning a media company turns into a business edge — professional filming without losing the casual, "phone in the kitchen" feel brands want.

00:08:28 — Kim's first UGC brand deal and how the pay structure works (flat fee vs. percentage of ad spend).

00:09:50 — The numbers behind Kim's first week: ~50-70 pitches sent, and the difference between platform applications and cold outreach.

00:10:05 — Kyle's new three-video, one-hour session package — and how he used AI to stress-test which offer would actually convert.

00:14:36 — How coaching herself through 75 Hard reshaped the way Kim coaches clients, and shifted who her ideal client even is.

00:19:10 — The Jessie Jean story: how authenticity — not chasing algorithm hacks — led to a creator making seven million dollars in two months.

00:21:10 — The "300 pots" story — why consistency and repetition beat perfectionism, on the mat and on social media.

00:26:28 — Q3 business goal: ramping up personal content and exploring outsourcing client account management to avoid burnout.

After 75 straight days, we're finally on the other side of 75 Hard and this episode is an honest look at what actually changed. We break down the physical transformations, the mental challenges, the habits we kept, and the unexpected lessons that had nothing to do with weight loss. From waking up at 4:30 AM and completing 150 workouts to navigating family life, business, and nutrition, we share what worked, what didn't, and whether we'd do it again. If you've ever considered 75 Hard or you're looking for a reset in your own life, this conversation will give you a realistic perspective on what it takes and what you can gain. Listen now and find out why the biggest transformation wasn't what we saw in the mirror.

Highlights

00:00 – We Finally Finished 75 Hard

• After months away from the podcast, Kyle and Kim return to share what completing 75 Hard was really like.

07:30 – The First Two Weeks Were Harder Than We Remembered

• Looking back at journal entries reveals just how difficult the early days felt compared to how easy they seem now.

18:45 – Why the Scale Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

• Massive strength gains, body composition changes, and lessons about inflammation prove progress is more than a number.

31:30 – The Habits We're Keeping for Life

• Early morning walks, meal prep, tracking nutrition, and simplifying daily decisions became lasting lifestyle changes.

42:00 – Would We Do 75 Hard Again?

• Kyle and Kim explain who they think 75 Hard is really for, what they'd do differently next time, and why accountability made all the difference.