Episode 94: Building Stronger Communities with Dave Rafuse

What makes someone stay at a gym? Is it the workouts... or the people?

This week on Savagely Scaled, Blake and Joyce sit down with Dave Rafuse, longtime affiliate owner, entrepreneur, and creator of the new Train With Us platform, to talk about one of the biggest challenges in fitness today: building genuine community in a digital world.

Dave shares his journey from the early days of CrossFit to owning a thriving affiliate with hundreds of members, becoming one of the first HYROX affiliates in Eastern Canada, and developing a platform designed to help gyms create stronger member connections both inside and outside the gym.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Dave's CrossFit journey and how the sport has evolved.

• The explosive growth of HYROX and what it means for everyday athletes.

• Why community—not equipment—is what keeps members coming back.

• How coaches can improve member retention through meaningful relationships.

• Building friendships as adults through fitness.

• The role of "micro communities" within an affiliate.

• How the new Train With Us app helps gyms connect members, improve communication, and strengthen coaching relationships.

• Dave's vision for the future of fitness and why he believes community is the key to changing lives.

Whether you're a coach, affiliate owner, or someone who simply loves the community your gym has given you, this conversation is packed with insights on why connection is just as important as training.

A huge thank you to Dave Rafuse for joining us and sharing his passion for growing stronger communities.

📩 Have a guest suggestion, gym story, or episode idea? We'd love to hear from you!

Email: savagelyscaled1@gmail.com
Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @savagelyscaled

As always, thank you for listening and supporting Savagely Scaled.

Stay Savagely Scaled!

.In Episode 93 of Savagely Scaled, Blake and Joyce dive into a topic every athlete faces but doesn't always talk about enough: boundaries.

Whether you're a competitive CrossFitter, a busy parent trying to make class, or someone balancing work, family, and fitness, it's easy to feel like you have to say yes to everything. Extra workouts. Competitions. Social events. Coaching. Helping everyone else before helping yourself.

This episode explores why healthy boundaries aren't selfish—they're essential for staying consistent, avoiding burnout, and continuing to enjoy the sport we all love.

• Recognizing when your schedule is becoming too much

• The difference between discipline and burnout

• Setting boundaries with training, work, family, and social commitments

• Why recovery deserves just as much attention as your workouts

• Learning to say "no" without feeling guilty

• Protecting your mental health and energy

• Personal stories from Blake and Joyce about balancing CrossFit, coaching, family, work, and the podcast

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stretched too thin, or like fitness was becoming another obligation instead of something you love, this conversation is for you.

Thank you for being part of the Savagely Scaled community! If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast and leave us a 5-star review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts—it helps us reach more athletes and continue sharing stories from the CrossFit community.

Have a topic you'd like us to cover? A funny gym story? A question for Blake and Joyce? We'd love to hear from you!

📩 Email us at savagelyscaled1@gmail.com

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Thank you for listening, and as always...

Stay Savage. Stay Scaled. We'll see you in the next episode!

Episode 93: Boundaries Like a Savage – Protecting Your Time, Energy & TrainingIn this episode, we discuss:

Here's the updated version with a call to action at the end:

Episode 94: Goals Check-In – Finding Balance & Changing the Way We Talk to Ourselves

It's time for another monthly goals check-in!

This month, Blake and Joyce get real about what June looked like—the wins, the struggles, and everything in between. Blake opens up about balancing family, training, nutrition, and the negative self-talk that can creep in when life gets overwhelming. Joyce shares her first month of committing to running, what she's learned about patience, pacing, and why progress doesn't always happen overnight.

Together, they talk about:

• Why balance is harder than it looks.

• The importance of speaking kindly to yourself.

• Learning from setbacks instead of letting them define you.

• Finding joy in the process instead of chasing perfection.

• Setting intentional goals for July and continuing to stack healthy habits.

Whether you're chasing a PR, trying to build consistency, or simply looking for a reminder that you're not alone in your struggles, this episode is for you.

Remember, progress isn't about being perfect—it's about continuing to show up.

We hope this conversation inspires you to keep stacking your goals, celebrate the small wins, and give yourself the same grace you'd give someone you care about.

Have a story, question, episode idea, or want to be a guest on the show? We'd love to hear from you! Reach out to us by sending us a DM on Instagram @savagelyscaled or email us at savagelyscaled1@gmail.com. Your message could inspire a future episode, and we're always excited to connect with fellow athletes and members of the community.

Thanks for listening, and we'll see you at the whiteboard!

In this episode of Savagely Scaled, Blake and Joyce dive into the world of recovery and the tools athletes use to stay moving, performing, and feeling their best. From sleep routines and hydration to massage guns, cupping, compression boots, CBD creams, and cold plunges, they break down what’s actually helpful versus what might just be hype.

The conversation covers personal recovery habits, favorite recovery gadgets, experiences with sports massages, mobility work, and the reality of balancing training with everyday life, work, and family responsibilities. Along the way, you'll hear stories from competitions, thoughts on sleep tracking devices like the Apple Watch and WHOOP, and an unexpectedly passionate debate about bananas.

Whether you're training for competition, tackling your weekly CrossFit classes, or simply trying to recover smarter, this episode offers practical insights and honest experiences to help you find what works best for your body.

Tune in and join the conversation: What recovery tools or routines have made the biggest difference for you?

Episode 91: New Boss, Same Burpees?

CrossFit has a new CEO, and for the first time in a while, it feels like a familiar face is stepping into the role.

This week, Blake and Joyce sit down to discuss Bruce Edwards, CrossFit's newest CEO, and what his leadership could mean for affiliates, athletes, coaches, and everyday members. As a former CrossFit COO during one of the sport's biggest growth periods, affiliate owner, and fitness industry executive, Bruce brings a unique combination of CrossFit culture and business experience to the table.

The conversation dives into:
🏋️ Who Bruce Edwards is and his history with CrossFit
📈 Why CrossFit chose him to lead the company
🤝 The importance of affiliates and community
📣 Why transparency and communication matter more than ever
🏆 The challenge of competing with HYROX and other fitness trends
💪 Whether CrossFit needs innovation—or simply strong leadership
❤️ What makes CrossFit special and why so many athletes continue to call it home

Will Bruce Edwards help bring CrossFit back to its roots? Can he rebuild trust and strengthen the affiliate network that built the sport? Blake and Joyce share their thoughts, concerns, and hopes for the future of CrossFit.

Whether you're an affiliate owner, coach, competitor, or someone who just loves showing up for class each day, this episode is for you.

🎙️ Grab your coffee, lace up your Nanos, and join the conversation.

Stay Savage.

June means it's time for another Savagely Scaled Goal Check-In!

This month, Joyce recaps her incredible experience competing at the Northern California Classic, surviving three grueling days of competition, and the lessons she learned about recovery, mobility, and listening to her body. With NCC in the books, she's setting her sights on HYROX by tackling a new challenge: building her running endurance one mile at a time.

Meanwhile, Blake reflects on balancing weightlifting programming, HYROX training, motherhood, summer activities, and everything else life keeps throwing her way. From aggressive weightlifting percentages to finding peace with doing "enough," her June focus is all about balance.

The girls also dive into HYROX prep, competition strategy, gym class logistics, Disney dreams, nutrition confessions, and why sometimes a milkshake is exactly what the recovery plan calls for.

Remember: goals don't have to be huge. Pick one, stack it, and keep moving forward.

Episode 90: Best in the West? Joyce Takes on NCCEpisode Description

What happens when you qualify for one of the biggest CrossFit-style competitions on the West Coast and step onto the competition floor as an individual athlete?

This week on Savagely Scaled, Joyce takes us through her entire experience at the Northern California Classic (NCC). From qualifying workouts and travel plans to battling through six grueling events over three days, she shares the highs, lows, lessons learned, and everything in between.

We dive into the pressure of competing solo, the mental challenges of standing on the competition floor alone, meeting some of CrossFit's biggest names, surviving sore legs and tired knees, and discovering exactly what areas need attention before the next big competition.

Whether you're thinking about signing up for your first competition, chasing a qualifier, or just love hearing what happens behind the scenes at major events, this episode gives you an honest look at what it's really like to test yourself against some of the best athletes around.

Join us as Joyce shares her NCC journey, the moments that made her proud, and why stepping outside your comfort zone is always worth it.

Topics Covered:

• Qualifying for NCC

• Competing as an individual athlete

• The toughest workouts of the weekend

• Weightlifting PRs and breakthrough moments

• Meeting CrossFit stars like Jorge Fernandez and Danny Speegle

• Lessons learned from three days of competition

• What’s next for Joyce's training

Tune in, subscribe, and remember:

Don't be a Karen, be a Sharon and keep sharing!

Until we meet at the whiteboard again... BYE!

Episode 86: Better Together – The Road to HYROX

This week on Savagely Scaled, Blake and Joyce sit down to talk about their next big challenge: taking on a HYROX Doubles race together this December! HYROX combines 8 kilometers of running with 8 functional fitness stations, making it one of the fastest-growing fitness races in the world. In the Doubles division, partners tackle the entire race together, sharing the workload at each station while pushing each other every step of the way. (Hyrox Fitness)

In this episode, they discuss:

• Why they decided to sign up for HYROX together

• The excitement (and nerves) of preparing for a new challenge

• How their training styles complement each other

• The strengths each of them brings to the race

• What they expect to be the toughest stations and biggest obstacles

• How they'll balance training, recovery, and everyday life leading up to race day

• Their goals for the event and what success looks like beyond the finish line

Whether you're considering your first HYROX, training for your next event, or just enjoy hearing two friends tackle a huge fitness goal together, this episode is packed with laughs, honesty, and motivation.

Tune in and follow Blake and Joyce as they begin their journey toward December—one workout, one run, and one step closer to the finish line.

Remember, don't be a Karen, be a Sharon and keep sharing! Until we meet at the whiteboard again... BYE! 🎙️💪🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️