Heather Gammel | Shifting Your Identity from Performance to Purpose

What does it mean to keep going when everything in you wants to quit?

In this raw and inspiring #HolyAlivePodcast episode, we sit down with CrossFit Games athlete, wife, mom of three, and coach Heather Gammel to talk about the long road to the Games—including the years she came heartbreakingly close, the team she thought she’d be on but wasn’t, and the brutal injury she’s currently competing through: a spinal fluid leak.

Heather opens up about the mindset required to persevere through disappointment, the emotional toll of training through chronic pain, and the decision to choose joy—especially when joy feels out of reach. She shares the moment God became real to her in a new way, how her marriage was tested and strengthened through her competitive career, and what it looks like to shift identity away from performance and into purpose.

Whether you’re navigating setbacks, chasing a goal, or trying to find faith in the hard seasons, this episode is a reminder that you can keep going—and you don’t have to do it alone.

What we cover in this episode:

➡️ The emotional and spiritual toll of chronic injury

➡️ Letting go of performance identity in faith, motherhood, and fitness

➡️ What changed when Heather truly understood her need for a Savior

➡️ The shift from CrossFit being everything to simply something she loves

➡️ How she and her husband fought for their marriage in a competitive season

➡️ Raising daughters in a world obsessed with aesthetics

➡️ What it means to show up even when you’re not at your best—and let God do the rest

Links from the episode:

Point One Vision: www.pointonevision.com

Point One’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/pointonevision

Heather’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/simplyhappy3

Hosted by Lindsey Heidel, The Holy Alive Podcast brings you interviews, advice, and education on how to improve your physical life along with your mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual experiences.

Holy Alive is a production of Point One Vision, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that equips, empowers, and educates the fitness industry to exercise biblical living and what it means to be “strong to serve.”

Cover Image Photography: www.instagram.com/photopro_lubov

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

In this episode of the #HolyAlivePodcast, award-winning Ugandan filmmaker Dons Enock shares his extraordinary journey of faith and resilience. At just 14 years old, his father asked him to leave home because the family couldn’t afford to care for him. With no one else to turn to, Dons went to his church, fell to his knees, and prayed a simple but life-altering prayer—inviting God to become the Father he needed.

We talk about:

➡️ The pivotal moment he entrusted his life to God as a Father
➡️ How faith took root through hardship and survival
➡️ The deeper mission behind his award-winning storytelling
➡️ Why film became a redemptive space to reflect truth, beauty, and hope

This conversation is a powerful reminder that God meets us in the lowest places—and shows us what He can create from them.

You can support Enock’s journey and award-winning work by tapping the link below and watching his most recent film.

Links from the episode:

Point One Vision: www.pointonevision.com

Point One’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/pointonevision

Dons’ Film: enocktimothyjjemba.gumroad.com/l/thechickenthief

Dons’ Instagram: www.instagram.com/donsenock

Hosted by Lindsey Heidel, The Holy Alive Podcast brings you interviews, advice, and education on how to improve your physical life along with your mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual experiences.

Holy Alive is a production of Point One Vision, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that equips, empowers, and educates the fitness industry to exercise biblical living and what it means to be “strong to serve.”

Cover Image Photography: www.instagram.com/photopro_lubov

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

Is ambition inherently selfish—or can it be sacred?

In this thought-provoking episode of the #HolyAlivePodcast, we sit down with Quinn Rivera to explore the tension between drive and devotion. As a visionary leader and entrepreneur, Quinn shares his personal journey of wrestling with ambition: when it fueled his purpose, when it got in the way, and how he’s learned to surrender success to something greater.

We unpack questions like:

• Can ambition and humility coexist?

• What does it look like to pursue excellence without idolizing achievement?

• How do we discern whether our goals are God-given or self-driven?

Whether you're building a business, chasing a dream, or simply trying to be faithful with what’s in your hands, this episode offers honest insight and encouragement for anyone who wants to glorify God with their gifts—without losing their soul in the process.

Links from the episode:

Point One Vision: www.pointonevision.com

Point One’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/pointonevision

Quinn’s Website: www.humbleddaily.com

Quinn’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/quinnriv

Humbled Daily Instagram: www.instagram.com/humbled_daily

Newsletter Sign Up: www.humbleddaily.com/pages/newsletter

Hosted by Lindsey Heidel, The Holy Alive Podcast brings you interviews, advice, and education on how to improve your physical life along with your mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual experiences.

Holy Alive is a production of Point One Vision, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that equips, empowers, and educates the fitness industry to exercise biblical living and what it means to be “strong to serve.”

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

What if emotional eating wasn’t something to fix, but something to understand? In this episode, Lindsey sits down with Scaled Nation founder Athena Perez to unpack the deeper story behind our patterns with food—and why true healing is less about macros and more about safety, softness, and self-awareness. Athena shares her powerful insights on disarming shame, rewriting narratives, and building the kind of support that actually helps.

What you’ll learn in this episode👇🏽

• Why emotional eating is a signal—not a failure

• What looks like dishonesty is often just disconnection

• Why you can’t fix this with a food plan

• The emotional “types” that show up in our relationship with food

• How to support someone healing without control or critique

• Practical tools for building emotional regulation and resilience

• Why healing is quiet, messy, and absolutely worth it

This one isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

Links from the episode:

Point One Vision: www.pointonevision.com

Point One’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/pointonevision

Athena’s Website: www.athenamperez.com

Scaled Nation Website: www.scalednation.com

Athena’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/athenamariebt

Scaled Nation Instagram: www.instagram.com/scaled_nation

Hosted by Lindsey Heidel, The Holy Alive Podcast brings you interviews, advice, and education on how to improve your physical life along with your mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual experiences.

Holy Alive is a production of Point One Vision, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that equips, empowers, and educates the fitness industry to exercise biblical living and what it means to be “strong to serve.”

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

We mix it up today as podcast host Lindsey Heidel does a solo episode. Are you afraid of your own story or so disconnected from your life that you don’t see how God is at work? This question is one we tackle, while also diving into the Full Armor pillar of observation. At the end of the episode, our Full Armor segment walks you through Breath Awareness 101.

What you’ll hear about in this episode 👇🏽

• Your story matters-

• • We are all storytellers- there's never a moment where we aren't actively or passively telling a story to ourselves and others.

  • Big S and Little S Stories

• We need to know who God is and how he defines us

• • To be a storyteller you have to know your Storymaker

  • We need to accept what the Storymaker says about us

• We need to approach and observe our lives with humility and courage

• • Our identity in Christ and that rootedness in whose we are gives us the strength and courage to openly and honestly observe our own lives.

• How we can put observation into practice

• • What is observation

  • When we observe, we do not judge

  • We look at physical, emotional, spiritual, mental, and relational events- past and present

• How we start understanding breath and moving out of dysregulation

Links from the episode:

Point One Vision: www.pointonevision.com

Point One’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointonevision

Hosted by Lindsey Heidel, The Holy Alive Podcast brings you interviews, advice, and education on how to improve your physical life along with your mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual experiences.

Holy Alive is a production of Point One Vision, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that equips, empowers, and educates the fitness industry to exercise biblical living and what it means to be “strong to serve.”

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

When the crisis happens, do you know who you will and won’t be?

In this episode of Holy Alive, limb difference mentor and leader Josh Reed shares how he wrestled with these questions after facing the worst situation of his life—a motorcycle accident that claimed his leg. Josh discusses how he decided the kind of man he wanted to be and how he continues to choose, every day, who he will not be in order to thrive in the life ahead of him.

What you’ll hear about in this episode 👇🏽

• How Josh felt God’s presence in the midst of his accident

• The turning point for him as he recovered from his amputation

• His biggest piece of advice for anyone facing a crisis

• How to prepare for the day when the worst occurs

• The importance of relationships and community

• The difference between honesty and vulnerability

Links from the episode:

Point One Vision: www.pointonevision.com

Point One’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointonevision

Oahu Pentalon: www.oahupentathlon.com

Oahu Pentalon Instagram: www.instagram.com/oahupentathlon/

Hosted by Lindsey Heidel, The Holy Alive Podcast brings you interviews, advice, and education on how to improve your physical life along with your mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual experiences.

Holy Alive is a production of Point One Vision, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that equips, empowers, and educates the fitness industry to exercise biblical living and what it means to be “strong to serve.”

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

“I never felt called to do anything. I was a ‘Pew Sitter’ for most of my walk. Which is not what we’re called to, but I was comfortable there… there’s not a lot of growth in comfort zones. Then one day scrolling my Instagram feed, I happened upon this post about a woman who’d had a brain aneurysm." In this episode, Faith and Fitness Springfield Director shares his story of how God called him to start a fitness ministry in his gym and how the faithful obedience of believers led him to where he is today.

What you’ll hear about in this episode 👇🏽

• How Chris came to know the Lord

• Why Chris started a faith and fitness focused community in his gym

• How he has grown and been challenged leading his Faith + Fitness ministry as someone without “official” ministry experience

• What is it like being a believer in Oregon

• How he structures the workouts and message

• How has his ministry impacted the local gym community

Links from the episode:

Point One Vision: www.pointonevision.com

Point One’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointonevision

Hosted by Lindsey Heidel, The Holy Alive Podcast brings you interviews, advice, and education on how to improve your physical life along with your mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual experiences.

Holy Alive is a production of Point One Vision, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that equips, empowers, and educates the fitness industry to exercise biblical living and what it means to be “strong to serve.”

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay

“I was not raised in a Christian home, I was raised in a cannab*s home.” In this episode, Coach Danny shares his story of how he went from being an non-Christian athlete and CrossFit coach, raised in the cannab*s world, to becoming a pastor. We also wrestle with the questions of vocational ministry calling versus lifestyle ministry callings and the importance of fitness and health professionals seeing their careers as missional opportunities.

What you’ll hear about in this episode 👇🏽

• How Coach Danny came to know the Lord

• Why it is important for believers to care about their health and wellness

• Practical advice on how to start getting fit

• Details on the upcoming SERVE trip

Links from the episode:

Point One Vision: www.pointonevision.com

Point One’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pointonevision

Hosted by Lindsey Heidel, The Holy Alive Podcast brings you interviews, advice, and education on how to improve your physical life along with your mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual experiences.

Holy Alive is a production of Point One Vision, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that equips, empowers, and educates the fitness industry to exercise biblical living and what it means to be “strong to serve.”

Music by Coma-Media from Pixabay