Hosted by Jason Ackerman, Best Hour of Their Day is a show dedicated to helping the CrossFit community. We cover all aspects of fitness including coaching, training, competing, starting and growing a business, and everything in between. Regular guests include world-class athletes, some of the best c…
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The Best Hour of Their Day podcast is an invaluable resource for gym owners and coaches in the CrossFit community. The hosts, Jason Ackerman and Jason Fern, provide a wealth of information and insight on a variety of topics related to fitness training and running a successful gym business. This podcast has personally helped me grow as a coach more than any other resource I've come across.
One of the best aspects of this podcast is the banter between Ackerman and Fern. Their playful back-and-forth adds a fun and entertaining element to each episode. Moreover, their advice is consistently spot on. They offer practical tips and strategies that can be immediately implemented to improve coaching techniques and enhance the overall experience for members.
While there are numerous positive aspects to this podcast, one potential downside is the frequent use of curse words. Some listeners may find this excessive or off-putting, especially if they prefer more family-friendly content. However, it's worth noting that Ackerman acknowledges this criticism and has expressed a willingness to reduce the amount of profanity in future episodes.
In conclusion, The Best Hour of Their Day podcast is an exceptional resource for gym owners and coaches in the CrossFit community. It offers valuable insights, actionable advice, and entertaining discussions that keep listeners engaged. Despite some minor drawbacks like occasional strong language, the overall quality of the content makes this podcast well worth listening to for anyone looking to improve their coaching skills or run a more successful gym business.
Dave Durante joins Todd Occhiuto and Kristin Bowen to break down how coaches can teach and safely spot gymnastics movements for athletes of all levels inside a CrossFit class. Learn how to keep every athlete progressing with clear progressions, smart spotting, and simple cues that elevate your coaching.--Learn more about Power Monkeyhttps://www.powermonkeyfitness.com/https://www.powermonkeycamp.com/--Ready to your develop your coaching, advance your career, and level up your credential?
Taylor Self and Jason Ackerman go head-to-head on the issues every CrossFit coach and affiliate owner wrestles with overtraining, identity, and the culture you allow inside your gym. This conversation digs into the hard truths behind why coaches burn out, why athletes chase volume, and what it really takes to build a healthy, professional CrossFit community.--Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University
Taylor Self joins Todd and Kristin to unpack what “virtuosity in programming” really means and how to apply it in daily training. They explore how great coaches make the hard, unglamorous work engaging and help athletes stay motivated through the stuff they need but don't always love to do--Learn more about Sentinel Training here:https://www.trainsentinel.com/--Ready to your develop your coaching, advance your career, and level up your credential?
Filmed live at AffiliateCon, Eric Hinman shares how he built a lifestyle brand that attracts opportunities without chasing them. Learn how gym owners and coaches can use authenticity, consistency, and daily habits to turn their life into their most powerful marketing tool.--Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University
Most CrossFit coaches overthink nutrition. EC Synkowski is breaking down how to simplify nutrition coaching inside your affiliate so members actually understand it, apply it, and see real results.--Learn more from EC and OptimizeMe Nutritionhttps://optimizemenutrition.com--Ready to your develop your coaching, advance your career, and level up your credential?
When your best coach leaves to open their own gym, it can feel like betrayal, but it might actually be a sign you're doing something right. In this episode, Ackerman , Chad, and Karen unpack the hard truths, lessons, and opportunities behind one of the toughest parts of affiliate ownership.---Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University
Ready to sell your CrossFit gym? In this episode, Ackerman, Fern and PushPress CEO Dan Uyemura break down how to value your affiliate, prepare for the sale, and avoid leaving money on the table when it's time to exit.---Watch "How to Buy A CrossFit Gym"https://youtu.be/nrWn0OiYtgw--Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University
We're teaming up with Mayhem to take affiliate and coach development to the next level. In this live conversation, Austin Malleolo joins us to talk about why this partnership matters, what it means for the CrossFit community, and what's happening at CrossFit Mayhem this December that every affiliate owner and coach needs to know about.--Join the waitlist for AffiliateCon 2026https://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliatecon--Develop your coaching in The Knowledgehttps://www.besthouroftheirday.com/theknowledge--FREE 3-minute Affiliate Assessment:https://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliate-blueprint-assessment---FROM OUR SPONSOR: PUSH PRESSStreamline and grow your fitness business with AI-powered software built by gym owners, for gym owners.https://www.pushpress.com/
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Jess was the first person Jason Ackerman ever mentored in business, and her leap of faith turned a 700-square-foot “house studio” into six thriving hot yoga locations. In this episode, they revisit the advice, mindset shifts, and wild moments that shaped both of their entrepreneurial journeys.--Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University
CrossFit Flowmasters Denise Thomas and Lisa Ray break down the three non-negotiables every new coach needs to develop. If you're coaching on vibes and hoping it lands, this episode shows you what to master first.--Join us at AffiliateCon Oct 24-26 in Dallas, TXhttps://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliatecon--Ready to your develop your coaching, advance your career, and level up your credential?
Jason reconnects with his very first CrossFit client, Donna, who started training with him before Albany CrossFit even opened. Now at 83, she's still working out, traveling the world, and proving what longevity in fitness really looks like.--Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University
Pamela Gagnon is a former Division I gymnast, multi-time Regionals and Masters competitor, and co-creator of Performance Plus Programming, where she specializes in gymnastics progressions for CrossFit athletes. In this episode, we're digging into how coaches can better teach and program gymnastics movements in group CrossFit classes—from strict strength foundations to cueing, scaling, and progressions for everyday athletes.--Join us at AffiliateCon Oct 24-26 in Dallas, TXhttps://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliatecon--Learn more from Pamelahttps://www.instagram.com/pamelagnon/https://performanceplusprogramming.com/--Subscribe to The Knowledge YT Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@theknowledgebhotd--Develop Your Coaching with The Knowledge:https://www.besthouroftheirday.com/theknowledge---FROM OUR SPONSOR: REP FITNESSGet EXCLUSIVE Discounts on Equipment from REP Fitness
Saša Mirković shares how real leadership is built through trust, delegation, and resilience under pressure—not authority or force. This episode explores why people choose to follow some leaders instinctively while resisting others, and what it takes to earn genuine buy-in.--Join us at AffiliateCon Oct 24-26 in Dallas, TXhttps://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliatecon--Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University
Dr. Kelly Starrett joins us to explore why CrossFit continues to endure, the role of great coaching, and what makes a gym truly matter to its community. From member experience to long-term sustainability, this conversation looks at the deeper side of running an Affiliate.--Join us at AffiliateCon Oct 24-26 in Dallas, TXhttps://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliatecon--Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact?Apply for Affiliate University
Learn how to apply practical leadership skills that will help you grow as a coach and make a bigger impact on your athletes. In this episode, Nathan Bird, CEO of The Gymnastics Course and founder of Bird Box Coaching, shares tools to develop your coaching presence and lead with confidence.---Join us at AffiliateCon:https://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliatecon---Learn more about Bird Box and The Gymnastics Coursehttps://birdboxcoaching.com/http://thegymnasticscourse.education/---Ready to your develop your coaching, advance your career, and level up your credential?
Jason Ackerman and James McDermott revisit Albany CrossFit, Jason's original affiliate, to unpack how a simple internship became a 14-year coaching career. They share what keeps great coaches engaged long-term, how a gym can evolve from chaos to community, and the lessons every affiliate owner can apply to retain staff, strengthen culture, and build something that lasts.---Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact? Apply for Affiliate University
Austin Malleolo shares how CrossFit Mayhem is redefining affiliate programming by focusing on results, simplicity, and coaching adaptation. He dives into why emotional intelligence is the most important coaching skill, how to balance new athletes with veterans, and what really keeps members coming back.---Join us at AffiliateCon: https://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliatecon---Learn more about Mayhem Nation: https://www.mayhemnation.com/---Ready to your develop your coaching, advance your career, and level up your credential?
Jason Ackerman and Caleb Nelson reunite to unpack the hard lessons they learned from running Albany CrossFit together—and why their partnership ultimately failed. If you own a CrossFit affiliate, you'll discover the leadership mistakes, partnership pitfalls, and clarity issues to avoid so your gym doesn't repeat the same story.---Ready to grow your box, increase profit, and make an impact? Apply for Affiliate University
Learn how to effectively break down jump rope skills in your CrossFit classes with RX Smart Gear founder David Newman. From teaching double-unders to cross-overs and beyond, David shares progressions, cues, and strategies to help athletes at every level succeed.---Join us at AffiliateCon: https://www.besthouroftheirday.com/affiliatecon---Learn more from David & Rx Smart Gear: https://rxsmartgear.com/---Ready to your develop your coaching, advance your career, and level up your credential?
Learn more about RF2 here: https://www.rf2.org/--
Partnerships and teams aren't always easy. In this episode, Best Hour of Their Day owners Markus, Jay, and Fern share how they've built a partnership that works—even when they fight—and the lessons you can use to create more trust, respect, and success in your own gym.--
Cody Looney from Burgener Strength joins Todd & Kristin to break down how to effectively teach Olympic lifts in a group setting. You'll learn how to simplify progressions, keep classes moving, and help athletes of all levels lift with confidence and precision.--Click here to join the movement at AffiliateCon in Dallas, TX, October 24-26--Learn more about Burgner Strength programming and seminars.
With the rise of CrossFit, Chris Hinshaw explores what the rise of Hyroxmeans for the future of CrossFit's Affiliates, Coaches, and Athletes. ----
Jason Ackerman sat down with the team behind HustleUp at the CrossFit Games. We break down how HustleUp is simplifying gym management and bringing the global CrossFit community together.----
Take control of your coaching growth—even if your gym doesn't have a formal development program. In this episode, we share practical, budget-friendly ways CrossFit coaches can level up their skills, improve class impact, and keep progressing.--
After 16+ years of affiliate ownership and a lifetime of lessons, Fern has learned firsthand why running a business is never easy. In this episode, he shares the hard realities of gym ownership and what it truly takes to succeed.--
Join Kristin Bowen and special guest Katie Hayes from CrossFit Seminar Staff as they tackle one of the biggest challenges coaches face: how to run a well-executed class when the programming feels overloaded. Learn practical strategies to prioritize, prepare, and deliver an intentional and effective coaching experience no matter what is on the whiteboard.--
CrossFit affiliates are at a turning point. Veteran Owners, new buyers, and the entire industry are facing changes no one is talking about. In this video, Fern and Markus reveal the hidden shifts shaping the future of CrossFit gyms and what Owners must do to thrive in the next era.--
How bad can a CrossFit class be? Todd and Kristin share how they would coach a terrible class that their athletes would never forget.--
Struggling to communicate with your CrossFit business partner? In this episode, we break down simple frameworks to fix miscommunication and strengthen your gym partnership.--
CrossFit Games champion Jason Khalipa joins us to talk about the brutal burpee test that breaks most people in five minutes, the hard seasons that shaped him as a father and business leader, and the mindset needed to turn passion into a lasting business. From winning the CrossFit Games to building NCFit and Train Hard, Jason shares unfiltered lessons on fitness, discipline, and leadership.
Learn how to effectively plan and coach single-modality days like heavy lifts, long endurance workouts, and gymnastics skill sessions. Todd and Kristin will walk you through their live lesson planning process to maximize athlete engagement and results.--
Todd Occhiuto and Kristin Bowen break down how to coach threshold training effectively in a group class setting. Learn how to help athletes push their limits without sacrificing mechanics and why the magic happens where technique and intensity meet.--
Many gym owners don't know how to calculate member retention or implement effective retention strategies. Fern 7 Jay break down why retention is the key to predictable growth for your gym. You'll learn exactly how to calculate your monthly lead need based on your churn rate so you can grow with clarity and confidence.---
Jason Fernandez helps CrossFit 770 owner Jason Devore create a clear plan to raise prices and grow monthly revenue without sacrificing member relationships. They break down the math, debunk pricing fears, and reveal five key levers every Affiliate Owner can use to increase revenue and build a sustainable gym.--
How long should a workout take? How many reps should you get? When should you scale or push for RX?We're going to teach you how to look at any workout, determine the stimulus, and figure out when to scale athletes.--
CLICK HERE to watch Fern's Games presentation, where he covers the Ansoff Matrix and the $100K loss he learn from it.
How do you write a CrossFit workout? How do you program a week, month, or year of workouts?Whether you're doing your own programming or following someone else's, this episode is for you.We're going to teach you what every program should have and how to cater it to your athletes and facility.--
In CrossFit, we're trying to get people fit, but what does that actually mean? We're revisiting CrossFit's definition of fitness why you need to know it to better coach your athletes.Join Todd & Kristin every Thursday at 9am EST for LIVE Coach Development!--
You can teach the snatch, but can you teach someone how to handstand walk? In this episode, we're diving into how to teach high-skill gymnastics to everyone from Games athletes to Grandma.Join Todd & Kristin every Thursday at 9 AM EST for LIVE Coach Development!--
Knowing CrossFit's progressions and the Burgener Warm Up isn't enough. In this episode, we're covering how to build progressions for ANY barbell movement.Join Todd & Kristin every Thursday at 9am EST for LIVE Coach Development!--
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