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Skol Sessions

Skol Sessions

By Viking Athletics

Where Strength Meets Smarts!

Viking Athletics podcast, hosted by Erik Castiglione. We go beyond CrossFit and talk about all things health, wellness, and fitness related. Nutrition, lifting, current events in the health world - it's all on the table. Skol!
Currently playing episode

Skol Sessions - Episode 6: What Does it Take to Be A Coach?

Skol SessionsJun 18, 2022

00:00
35:51
Skol Sessions - Episode 19: Post 2024 CrossFit Open

Skol Sessions - Episode 19: Post 2024 CrossFit Open

In this episode, Coach Erik and Coach Nivi discuss the 2024 CrossFit Open. They explain the thought behind the CrossFit Relentless Intramural Open at Viking Athletics, and why we host it for the members. Then they review each of the 2024 CF Open WODs, viewing them through the lens of "traditional CrossFit."

Mar 19, 202455:18
Skol Sessions - Episode 18: Talking Inflammation with Dr. Charles Cavo

Skol Sessions - Episode 18: Talking Inflammation with Dr. Charles Cavo

Inflammation is a popular buzzword these days. Certain foods are demonized as being "pro-inflammatory," while others are "anti-inflammatory." Furthermore, there are several people in the fitness and nutrition space selling diets and supplements as "anti-inflammatory." Inflammation in and of itself is not a bad thing. Short bouts of inflammation are important to help the body deal with stress. Acute inflammation in particular, is a part of the strength and muscle building process. So, in this month's episode, I'm joined by Dr. Charles Cavo of Pounds Weight Loss. We cover the differences between acute and chronic inflammation, how to test for inflammation, and some practical ideas on how to use nutrition as an intervention.

Dec 16, 202355:34
Skol Sessions - Episode 17: Body Dysmorphia

Skol Sessions - Episode 17: Body Dysmorphia

In this month's episode, Coach Erik talks with member and psychologist Michael Shelby about body dysmorphia: what it is, where it comes from (historical variations and pop culture today), our own history with it, and how to combat it. Enjoy! Chapters:

00:00 Introduction
00:50 Michael Shelby - Background
04:00 Dysmorphia Defined
06:00 Origins of Body Dysmorphia for Men
11:00 Leanness vs. Health/Sustainability
13:58 Male Movie Superhero Physique
18:00 Female Beauty Standard
20:00 Strong is Healthy Movement
25:17 Muscularity Outside the US
27:56 Form Following Function
30:00 Erik's Training/Dysmorphia History
32:50 Circling Back to History and Current Trends
37:45 How to Move Beyond It
40:22 Conclusion

Sep 25, 202342:37
Skol Sessions - Episode 16: Training vs. Testing

Skol Sessions - Episode 16: Training vs. Testing

Are you pushing at 100% intensity every time you set foot in the gym? Maxing out your lifts daily and going full send on your metcons? Do you avoid repeating WODs? If so, you're spending all your time testing your fitness, rather than building it. Most of what we do in the gym should be training, with the occasional test to gauge progress. That's this month's topic. Enjoy!


Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

00:42 Calculation Beer Calories

01:30 CrossFit Games Events Were "Tests"

02:21 Constant Testing Outside the Gym Example

04:49 Constant Testing Inside the Gym Examples

07:31 Training vs. Testing Examples in the Gym

11:00 Mixed Modality Training / CrossFit

14:01 Soreness Is a Poor Metric

16:24 Progressing in Mixed Modality Training

19:57 Competitions and Workout Previews

22:59 "Fran" Preparation Case Study

33:24 CrossFit Benchmarks as Tests

34:20 Needs of Competitive Athletes

Aug 11, 202336:51
Skol Sessions - Episode 15: Education in Fitness

Skol Sessions - Episode 15: Education in Fitness

In this episode Coach Erik dives into what kind of education is necessary to be a coach. Do degrees matter? What about certifications? And how much does practical experience count for? All this and more. Enjoy!

Jul 20, 202336:34
Skol Sessions - Episode 14: Hero WODs

Skol Sessions - Episode 14: Hero WODs

In this episode of Skol Sessions, Coaches Erik and Nivi discuss Hero WODs. Why we do them, where they come from, and how they fit in with our local community, and the CrossFit community at large.

Jun 02, 202350:03
Skol Sessions - Episode 13: Youth Training

Skol Sessions - Episode 13: Youth Training

In this episode, we discuss the importance of exercise for our nation's youth, which has been on the decline for a couple of reasons. We talk about what led to it, and how we, at Viking Athletics, can help plug that gap. Interested in learning more about our youth program? Please email Coach Monique Mount at monique@vikingathletics.net.

Apr 27, 202339:35
Skol Sessions - Episode 12: Post 2023 CF Open

Skol Sessions - Episode 12: Post 2023 CF Open

In this month's episode, Coach Erik is once again joined by Coach Nivi. They break down each of the 2023 CF Open WODs, discuss what was being tested, how the Open went overall, and the direction of the CF Games.

Mar 17, 202301:11:07
Skol Sessions - Episode 11: The 2023 CrossFit Games Open

Skol Sessions - Episode 11: The 2023 CrossFit Games Open

In this episode, Coach Erik is once again joined by Coach Nivi to discuss the 2023 CF Games Open. In it, they cover:

- How the Intramural Open will be run at Viking Athletics this year

- Why you should participate

- The changes we expect to see now that there is a new CF Games Director.


Enjoy!

Jan 19, 202350:32
Skol Sessions - Episode 10: Mindset and Mentality with Coach Nivi

Skol Sessions - Episode 10: Mindset and Mentality with Coach Nivi

In this episode, Coach Nivi Carbonell joins Coach Erik to talk about mindset and mentality. Specifically, what's the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset? How do we change our thought process to go from one to another? And how can we adjust our expectations and strategies to achieve our goals? We hope you enjoy the discussion!

Dec 30, 202256:26
Skol Sessions - Episode 9: Dr. Charlie Cavo and Pounds Transformation Center

Skol Sessions - Episode 9: Dr. Charlie Cavo and Pounds Transformation Center

In this episode Coach Erik interviews Dr. Charlie Cavo, the Chief Medical Officer of Pounds Transformation Medical Weight Loss. He and his team have 3 locations across Connecticut. He and Erik discuss Pounds target demographic, their approach to nutrition, and the interplay between MD's and nutritionists and how it has evolved in the last several years. Enjoy!

Oct 21, 202255:49
Skol Sessions - Episode 8: Is It CrossFit?

Skol Sessions - Episode 8: Is It CrossFit?

Numerous former CrossFit athletes are establishing their own brands and bashing CrossFit as a way to promote their "new" methods. And, in the early days of the CrossFit Games, it was a running joke that the best CrossFit athletes "didn't actually do CrossFit." In this month's episode, we explore these ideas and discuss what makes CrossFit, CrossFit.

Aug 27, 202220:31
Skol Sessions - Episode 7: Cardio vs Conditioning

Skol Sessions - Episode 7: Cardio vs Conditioning

Why do people joke that anything over 5 reps is cardio? What is cardio, how is it different from conditioning, and how do they feed off one another? If you want to understand how to train properly to achieve your goals, it's important to know the difference between 5+ reps of lifting, cardio, and conditioning - they're not the same. In this month's episode, we pop the hood and look at what happens to you physically in each case. Enjoy!

Jul 13, 202234:00
Skol Sessions - Episode 6: What Does it Take to Be A Coach?

Skol Sessions - Episode 6: What Does it Take to Be A Coach?

CrossFit HQ recently released a video in which many high level trainers maintain that all you need to be a coach is your CrossFit Level 1. BUT then they all qualify this statement by charging L1 trainers to keep learning, and to keep developing. In other words, the L1 is just a starting point. In this episode, Coach Erik shares his thoughts on the subject, reviews many of the certifications he's taken over the years, and explains the process to become a coach at Viking Athletics. Enjoy!

Jun 18, 202235:51
Skol Sessions - Episode 5: Murph

Skol Sessions - Episode 5: Murph

In this episode, Coach Erik discusses "Murph." It's more than just a CrossFIt hero WOD. We delve into the history of the workout, why it's so important in the CrossFit world, and how/why we prepare for it at Viking Athletics. Enjoy!

Apr 29, 202224:44
Skol Sessions - Episode 4: The CrossFit Relentless Intramural Open

Skol Sessions - Episode 4: The CrossFit Relentless Intramural Open

In this episode Coach Erik describes the CrossFit Relentless Intramural Open. To do it justice, he covers the history of the CrossFit Open, which involves a history of the Games, and CrossFit in general. And of course, some speculation on CFHQ's decision to part ways with Dave Castro.

Jan 21, 202247:49
Skol Sessions - Episode 3: The Coach/Athlete Relationship

Skol Sessions - Episode 3: The Coach/Athlete Relationship

In this episode, Coach Erik dives into the Coach/Athlete relationship. How does this relationship evolve from your time as a youth athlete to where you are now? What is the difference between a coach vs. a trainer? What are the responsibilities of the coach, and what are your responsibilities as a paying athlete? We unpack all this and more!

Dec 31, 202125:54
Skol Sessions - Episode 2: Strength Training As Injury Prevention for Other Sports

Skol Sessions - Episode 2: Strength Training As Injury Prevention for Other Sports

In episode 2, Coach Erik chats with former NBA player and Viking Athletics member Donyell Marshall about strength training as injury prevention for other sports. They cover Donyell's experiences both as a player, and as a coach.

Nov 27, 202158:07
Skol Sessions - Episode 1: Why We Care About Programming

Skol Sessions - Episode 1: Why We Care About Programming

In our inaugural Viking Athletics podcast, we're discussing why we're launching a podcast, and the intended format. Then, we delve into a common question that Coach Erik gets: "Is [insert program here] a good program?" What makes a good program, and why does Viking Athletics harp on programming so much? Take a listen and find out!

Oct 08, 202127:01