Skip to main content
Chasing Excellence

Chasing Excellence

By Ben Bergeron & Patrick Cummings

Every week here on the show, we dedicate time to exploring how we can live a life of better health and increased fulfillment. We answer listener questions about the five factors of health, dive deep into what it takes to live a life of excellence, and explore the strategies and frameworks to help us chase what truly matters.
Available on
Amazon Music Logo
Apple Podcasts Logo
Google Podcasts Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

#069: Embrace the Chase

Chasing ExcellenceApr 22, 2019

00:00
37:11
Increasing Our Social Fitness, with Robert Waldinger

Increasing Our Social Fitness, with Robert Waldinger

Dr. Robert Waldinger is the head of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, and the author of The Good Life. We discuss the importance of connection, being proactive in our relationships, judgment, curiosity, and more.

EXPECT TO LEARN:  

📍 How impactful social isolation and loneliness are on our health
📍 Why good relationships are stress regulators
📍 What “secure attachment” is and why it matters
📍 The difference between hedonic and eudemonic happiness  
📍 The two things Dr Waldinger thinks we need to live the good life  

GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE: 

 Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  

ABOUT US:  

📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram. 

 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.


Jan 31, 202301:00:07
How to Build Shared Values
Jan 24, 202352:00
We’re Rewriting the Purpose of the Gym
Jan 17, 202352:01
The Worst Things Could Become the Best Things
Jan 10, 202358:59
Benchmark: Building a Life of Focus
Jan 03, 202301:01:52
Become Calm in the Many Faces of the Mind
Dec 27, 202201:18:12
Do What Sets Your Heart on Fire
Dec 20, 202201:08:02
How to Make a Healthier Society
Dec 13, 202255:36
The 30 Days of Kindness Challenge
Dec 06, 202255:13
Developing Critical Power in CrossFit Games Athletes

Developing Critical Power in CrossFit Games Athletes

We’ve got a conversation Ben had recently with Matthew DesRoches of the Oxidative Potential podcast. They geek out about training for the CrossFit Games and the psychology of being an athlete.

EXPECT TO LEARN:  

📍 The difference between first, second, & third wave adaptations
📍 Why CrossFit & MMA are so similar
📍 The timespan of a CrossFit Games athlete
📍 Why young athletes are so dominant in the sport now  

GET A QUESTION IN THE QUEUE:  

Send Patrick a DM with your Five Factors questions!  

ABOUT US:  

📍 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain. Find him on Instagram.
📍 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding. Find him on Instagram.

Nov 29, 202201:48:01
F’d, Flow, Focus
Nov 22, 202235:50
Know Why You’re Training
Nov 15, 202253:53
What It Means to Chase Excellence
Nov 08, 202231:57
Vacation is not Recovery
Nov 01, 202250:46
My Current Morning Routine (Rare Sense Rebroadcast)

My Current Morning Routine (Rare Sense Rebroadcast)

We’re sharing a conversation I had recently with Chris Irwin of the Rare Sense podcast. We get into a lot, including the power of visualizations, adapting the elite athlete mindset to everyday life, and what my morning routine looks like these days.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Oct 25, 202201:30:39
Benchmark: 10 Principles of Sleep
Oct 18, 202234:12
We Are All Chasing the Same Thing (2:00 #38)

We Are All Chasing the Same Thing (2:00 #38)

Your questions are back! We’re talking about the anxiety that comes with being a hard charger, eliminating gossip from a work culture, my thoughts on whether a coach has to be the fittest person in the room, and more!

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Questions About:

00:55 - Dealing with the stress of being a hard-charger

12:55 - Taking care of yourself without guilt as a parent

16:04 - Healing a back injury without feeling lazy or undertrained

17:40 - Learning how to deal with comments about weight loss

09:00 -  Recommending healthy snacks

21:50 - Ridding a work culture of toxic gossip

25:25 - Knowing how often to max out your lifts

27:10 -  Being a coach without being the fittest person in the gym

28:55 -  Becoming competitive in CrossFit without PEDs

//

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Oct 11, 202232:54
Colin O’Brady on the 12 Hour Walk
Oct 04, 202235:38
Colin O’Brady on Crossing Antartica Solo
Sep 27, 202232:03
Making the Games Season Better (HopperTalk #12)

Making the Games Season Better (HopperTalk #12)

We’ve got four questions this round of HopperTalk - discussing ways we think the CrossFit Games season could improve, Eckhart Tolle, noise, misinformation, and more.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Questions Answered:

01:00 -  What are two ways you would make the CrossFit season better?

06:00 - What’s the one problem you want to be known for helping solve?

08:30 - What are we living in the golden age of?

15:35 - What is the single most liberating thought you’ve ever had?

//

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Sep 20, 202223:48
The Best Teacher is Example (MiFit Rebroadcast)

The Best Teacher is Example (MiFit Rebroadcast)

We’re bringing you a conversation I had recently with DJ Hillier of the MiFit podcast. We dive into transformational coaching, how I got into the mental side of competition, balancing passion and obsession, and more.

Find us on Social: DJ | Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Sep 13, 202201:22:01
There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Workout (2:00 #37)

There’s No Such Thing as a Bad Workout (2:00 #37)

Your questions are back in the spotlight this week! We’re talking about how to design a non-competitive after-school program, why being clear is kind when running your gym, why CrossFit Games athletes don’t move perfectly, and more.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Question About:

01:00 - Distinguishing between complaining and helping
03:00 - Responding to death in the family
06:10 - Dealing with grandparents and junk food
07:50 - Stretching right after a hard workout
09:30 - Getting strong with limited equipment and time
10:40 - Designing a non-competitive after-school program
12:50 - Blurring the line between moving fast and moving perfectly
15:10 - Coming back from a bad working
16:20 - Creating selection criteria for a sports team
17:50 - Distributing cubbies fairly in a CrossFit gym
20:00 - Having different prices for different members of a gym

//

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.


Sep 06, 202221:40
Eat Clean, Eat Light
Aug 30, 202249:19
Top 10 Takeaways from the 2022 CrossFit Games
Aug 23, 202242:60
Benchmark: 10 Principles of Connecting
Aug 16, 202223:20
High Expectations, Low Stress
Aug 09, 202231:59
Be Aware of Where You Are (Michael Caz Rebroadcast)

Be Aware of Where You Are (Michael Caz Rebroadcast)

We’re sharing a conversation I had recently with Michael Caz. We dive into leadership, Unlocking Potential, simplicity, making moments matter, using pain as a gift, and so much more.

Find us on Social: Caz | Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Aug 02, 202201:02:31
What We’re Reading #02

What We’re Reading #02

Patrick & I talk about the last five books we’ve each read, some of our biggest takeaways, my experience with dyslexia, how to strengthen the habit of reading, and more.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Books mentioned:

  • Life Force by Tony Robbins
  • Indistractible by Nir Eyal
  • The Talent War by Sarraille & Randle
  • The Inner Game of Tennis by Timothy Gallwey
  • Insanely Simple by Ken Segall
  • The Minimalist Entrepreneur by Sahil Lavingia
  • Marketing Full Circle by Wayne Mullins
  • Free Time by Jenny Blake
  • Clockwork by Mike Michalowicz
  • The Scout Mindset by Julia Galef

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Jul 26, 202257:08
Being Your Spouse’s Biggest Fan, w/ Heather B
Jul 19, 202236:34
The Voice in Our Heads, w/ Heather B (HopperTalk #11)

The Voice in Our Heads, w/ Heather B (HopperTalk #11)

Find us on Social: Heather | Ben | Patrick

Question Answered:

01:40 - What did you finally realize was just a huge waste of time?
17:00 - What skill or life lesson do you wish your parents would’ve taught you?
33:36 - If you had enough money to build your dream house, what’s a strange room or feature you’d include?

//

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Jul 12, 202241:40
Visualizing Failure vs. Success (2:00 Drill #36)

Visualizing Failure vs. Success (2:00 Drill #36)

Your questions return this week! We’re talking about visualizing failure vs success, talking with kids about hard work, bench presses, knowing when to quit, and a bunch more.

To get your question in the cue, send Patrick a DM on IG.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Question About:

01:50 - Making sure our professional ladder is up against the right wall.

07:30 - Knowing if quitting something is the right move.

09:40 - Ensuring fitness is a priority when work is overwhelming.

13:20 - Why CrossFit doesn’t include more bench pressing.

15:18 - Passing judgement on someone’s love of the gym.

19:35 - Visualizing failure vs success.

22:30 - Understanding strength endurance.

25:20 - Being competitive in CrossFit as an ectomorph.

26:45 - Helpful cues & phrases for coaching a longer metcon.

29:25 - Using tone to avoid complaining.

30:20 - Talking with kids about hard work.

33:00 - Building a positive environment from scratch.

34:45 - Doing everything at a gym vs starting my own gym.

40:00 - Encouraging kids to have a curious competitor mindset.

//

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

//

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Jul 05, 202242:29
The Balanced Champion (Mark Bell Rebroadcast)

The Balanced Champion (Mark Bell Rebroadcast)

I recently joined the gentlemen from Mark Bell’s Power Project for a wide-ranging conversation and wanted to share it here. We talk about word choices, why success isn’t binary, the mantra for a happy life, and much more.

Find us on Social: Mark | Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Jun 28, 202202:04:16
Benchmark: 10 Principles of Training
Jun 21, 202245:12
Make Big Ag Illegal (HopperTalk #10)

Make Big Ag Illegal (HopperTalk #10)

In this edition of HopperTalk, we’re talking about the one law we would create if we could, how much money Elon Musk makes every day, why weddings aren't worth the money, Jurassic Park, playing CDs in the car, and more.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Question Answered:

01:10 - What is something that is practically useless but it is treated as a luxury item?
06:30 - What are some things your children will never experience the way you did?
13:50 - If you could create one law for your country what would it be?
24:00 - What’s a crazy statistic?
33:20 - If you could go back in time 10,000 years & make a cave painting to confuse everyone in the future, what would you draw?

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Jun 14, 202236:15
Ishan Shivanand on King’s Yoga vs Merchant Yoga

Ishan Shivanand on King’s Yoga vs Merchant Yoga

Ishan Shivanand is a mindfulness teacher and founder of Yoga of Immortals. He joins us to talk about the 4 aspects of meditation, integrative healing, starting from a place of joy, the responsibility of organizations, and more.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Jun 07, 202201:15:40
Building a Life of Focus
May 31, 202201:01:20
Life Gives Us Exactly What We Need (2:00 Drill #35)

Life Gives Us Exactly What We Need (2:00 Drill #35)

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Question About:

01:30 - Getting a spouse into CrossFit
05:50 - Knowing if it’s too late to be a competitive Games athlete
10:30 - Making the best of a sub-optimal job choice
16:00 - Incorporating spirituality into the think factor
23:20 - Earning trust as a coach
29:00 - Raising children to embrace challenges
34:20 - Learning how to move better in the gym
37:30 - Training athletes who don’t eat meat
41:50 - Thanking new members of your gym

//

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

May 24, 202245:52
The Story About the Old Farmer (CP&W Rebroadcast)

The Story About the Old Farmer (CP&W Rebroadcast)

I recently chatted with Peter White of Coffee, Pods, & WODS, and wanted to share it here too. We covered a lot, including my ideal CrossFit Games athlete, the three decisions that dictate our future, reading books, and more.

Find us on Social: CP&W | Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

May 17, 202201:37:55
Chasing Athletic Perfectionism
May 10, 202235:38
The Antidote to Anxiety is Action (HopperTalk #09)

The Antidote to Anxiety is Action (HopperTalk #09)

This round of HopperTalk has us talking through life’s cheat codes, things that are criminally over-priced, lessons from the pandemic, and more.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Questions Answered:

01:05 - What are some cheat codes you’ve found in the game of life.
07:25 - What improved your quality of life so much that you wish you did it sooner?
15:20 - What’s criminally over-priced to you?
24:30 - What seems harmless but is actually dangerous?
30:50 - Looking back at COVID, what are some of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned?

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

May 03, 202241:39
Motivating Kids to Work Out (2:00 Drill #34)

Motivating Kids to Work Out (2:00 Drill #34)

We’ve got your questions on tap this week. We’re talking about what a de-load week looks like, how to prioritize health when life is busy, choosing the best kind of bodywork, and more.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Questions Answered:

01:55 - Building confidence as a coach
04:15 - Admitting our least productive habits
06:45 - Dealing with long-term challenges
13:00 - Choosing the best kind of bodywork
15:10 - Designing a better physical education fitness test
22:20 - Understanding de-load weeks
26:20 - Motivating kids to workout
28:00 - Prioritizing health when life is busy
34:40 - Getting better at metcon workouts
38:45 - Buying a gym and eliminating class offerings
48:10 - Predicting the success of the young guns in CrossFit

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.
👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.
Apr 26, 202248:30
Stephen M.R. Covey on Trusting & Inspiring
Apr 19, 202201:02:50
Benchmark: 10 Principles of Nutrition
Apr 12, 202234:21
Anonymous Leaderboards (2:00 Drill #33)

Anonymous Leaderboards (2:00 Drill #33)

Your questions are back this week! We’re talking about goals versus purpose, whether anonymous leaderboards might work, how to think about Fran, buying a gym, and more.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

Questions Answered:

02:50 - Working with a challenging employee
06:30 - Focusing on goals or purpose
08:45 - Earning trust with co-worker
11:15 - Taking vitamins & supplements (or not)
12:30 - Training when not sleeping enough
17:20 - Doing Fran for fitness or as a test
21:10 - Getting better at burpees
25:30 - Making leaderboards anonymous
29:50 - Buying a gym
36:00 - Making a Peloton-like version of CrossFit

About Us:

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Apr 05, 202248:55
Dr. Nate Zinsser on Winning the First Victory

Dr. Nate Zinsser on Winning the First Victory

Dr. Nate Zinsser is the author of the book “The Confident Mind.” He joins us to discuss the mental toughness strategies he’s developed over 30 years of working with cadets at West Point and elite athletes at every level.

Find us on Social: Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Mar 29, 202255:12
Be Confident, Earn More, & Increase Impact (3x3 #08)
Mar 22, 202227:09
Things Happen For You, Not To You (HopperTalk #08)
Mar 15, 202244:47
Mark England on Moving from Victim to Competitor

Mark England on Moving from Victim to Competitor

Mark England and Kimberly Kesting from Enlifted Coaches are back to continue our conversation about the victim mentality, should statements, soft talk, the imposter syndrome, writing down our scary thoughts, and much more.

Find us on Social: Enlifted Coaches | Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Mar 08, 202201:10:30
Mark England on the Power of Words, Breath, & Story

Mark England on the Power of Words, Breath, & Story

We’ve got Mark England and Kimberly Kesting from Enlifted Coaches in town this week to talk about the victim mentality, soft talk, owning your story, pressure language, and much more. Be sure to tune in next week for part two.

Find us on Social: Enlifted Coaches | Ben | Patrick

👉🏼 Ben Bergeron is a best-selling author, coach to 7 CrossFit Games champions, and founder of CompTrain.

👉🏼 Patrick Cummings is a long-time CrossFitter, podcaster, and creator of Functional Branding.

Mar 01, 202201:03:25
Seesaws vs Frisbees (2:00 Drill #32)
Feb 22, 202201:04:55