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The Born Primitive Podcast
TAKE A JOURNEY DOWN THE HARD ROAD
Trailer: The Born Primitive Podcast
The Born Primitive team has rapidly built a name and community around their performance apparel, with values and ideas that truly resonate: Embracing hard work, fostering resilience, and recognizing the sacrifices made by those who’ve given us the freedom we all enjoy. On the Born Primitive Podcast, co-founder and CEO Bear Handlon–along with his team and monthly, hand-selected guests–equip fans, customers, and aspirational audiences with the insights that have helped to shape and grow one of the industry’s most cutting-edge, against-the-grain brands.
Turning Setbacks into Success: Lessons from Entrepreneur Baker Leavitt
Today’s guest is entrepreneur Baker Leavitt, Director of Strategic Relations for Black Rifle Coffee Company, a veteran-owned and operated company based in the U.S., and founder of 2pood, the official supplier of lifting gear to the Crossfit Games and the Official Belt for USA Weightlifting. Baker shares some of his current successes and what he’s learned from his experiences in business, real estate investing, and overcoming setbacks.
To learn more about Baker Leavitt follow him on Instagram @blackbaker
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Turning Adversity into Opportunity: The Path of Entrepreneur Bedros Keuilian
Today’s guest is entrepreneur, investor, author, and podcaster, Bedros Keuilian.
Bedros is the founder of Fit Body Boot Camp which was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 fastest-growing franchise brands. He’s also the author of Man Up – How To Cut The BS and Dominate In Business and In Life and the host of The Bedros Keuilian Show.
To learn more about Bedros Keuilian, follow him on instagram @bedroskeuilian or bedroskeuilian.com
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @BornPrimitiveApparel
Author Brian Johnson: Excellence, Emotional Stamina and the Hero’s Journey
Today’s guest is Brian Johnson, the founder and CEO of the Heroic social training program and the author of Areté: Activate Your Heroic Potential.
Heroic is a social training platform that blends ancient wisdom, modern science, and scientifically proven behavioral design tools. Their mission is to empower individuals to embody their best and most Heroic versions of themselves.
To learn more about Brian Johnson, follow him on instagram @heroicbrian or visit heroic.us.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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CrossFit Legend Patrick Vellner: Being Elite While Still Living a Balanced Life
On today’s episode, Bear and Tony talk to CrossFit athlete, Patrick Vellner.
Throughout his CrossFit Games career, Patrick has had three 2nd place finishes – in 2018, 2021, and 2023 and two 3rd place finishes, in 2016 and 2017. He also holds a degree in kinesiology and is a practicing chiropractor.
In this episode, Patrick shares about his CrossFit career, chiropractic advice he’d give to fellow CrossFitters, and what his future looks like as a CrossFit Games athlete.
You can follow him on Instagram @pvellner
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Pushing Your Limits: Ultra-Marathoner, CrossFit Athlete and Tough Mudder Champion Katie Knight
On today’s episode, Bear and Tony talk to Katie Knight.
Katie is an ultra-marathoner, hybrid athlete, coach, and model who won her first title at the World’s Toughest Mudder Championship in 2022.
She’s competed and earned titles in strength and endurance sports including the GoRuck Games, Spartan Ultra World Championships, Hyrox events, and swimming competitions.
Today we discuss her journey as a competitive strength and endurance athlete, some of the obstacles she’s had to overcome, and her recent experience at the Tactical Games.
You can follow her on Instagram @k80_knight and learn more about her training methods at knighttimetraining.com
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Q&A: The Future of the Brand, Balancing Fitness and Parenting, CrossFit Games, New Savage1, and More
On today’s episode of the Born Primitive podcast, CEO Bear Handlon and Vice President Tony Strasiser answer audience questions and reveal some of the latest designs for the Savage1 CrossFit shoe, address the rising rumors of Born Primitive potentially sponsoring the Crossfit Games, and give some practical tips on how to start a business and build a successful brand.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Anson Frericks: Former Anheuser-Busch Executive on What Went Wrong - The Born Primitive Podcast
On this episode of the Born Primitive Podcast, Strive Asset Management President Anson Frericks joins Bear and Tony as they discuss how corporate America became woke and shifted its focus from shareholder interests to pushing DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) requirements. Anson is the former President of Anheuser-Busch Sales & Distribution Co., and co-founded Strive Asset Management with Vivek Ramaswamy. Is a graduate of Yale University and holds an MBA from Harvard.
Anson talks about Strive, an alternative to asset management companies like BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street, and how you can ensure your investments are prioritized over social agendas.
To learn more about Anson Frericks and his asset management firm, Strive, visit strive.com and follow him on Instagram @strivedunds or on X at @StriveFunds.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Defending America’s Meat Supply Chain from Complete Disaster (with Brooke Ence and AJ Richards)
On this episode of The Born Primitive Podcast, CrossFit athlete and Hollywood actress Brooke Ence and combat veteran and rancher AJ Richards join Bear and Tony as they discuss the degradation of American agricultural independence and their business plan to build back self-sufficiency in America’s meat supply chain.
To learn more about Brooke and AJ’s movement, Feed the People by the People, visit feedthepeoplebythepeople.com, or follow them on Instagram @brookeence and @a.j_richards.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Top Takeaways from Building a Multi-Million Dollar Brand - The Born Primitive Podcast
As Born Primitive celebrates ten years in business as a multi-million dollar brand, Bear and Tony discuss key takeaways and the importance of building and staying true to a brand personality and values.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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How World Series MVP Ben Zobrist Mastered the Mental Game (and How You Can Too)
On this episode of the Born Primitive Podcast, Ben Zobrist joins the Born Primitive team to discuss one of the highlights of his career, winning the 2016 World Series with the Chicago Cubs and earning the MVP title after hitting the game-winning double during extra innings of Game 7. Ben gives advice on dealing with fear, thriving regardless of success, and addressing our greatest enemy - ourselves.
Ben had 13 Seasons in MLB, playing for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Oakland Athletics, Kansas City Royals, and the Chicago Cubs. His teams played in three World Series, winning two consecutively in 2015 for the Kansas City Royals and in 2016 for the Chicago Cubs, also earning the title World Series MVP during his 2016 season.
To learn more about Ben’s non-profit, Champion Forward, visit championforward.org, follow them on Instagram @championforward, and follow Ben on Instagram at @benzobrist18.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Get the Life You Want: Wagon Pullers vs. Wagon Riders - The Born Primitive Podcast
On today's show, join Bear and Tony as they discuss the difference between wagon pullers, those who take control of their destiny and contribute to society, and wagon riders, those who take advantage of others’ hard work and are not present in family and relationships.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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The Mindset That Made Jason Khalipa a CrossFit Legend - The Born Primitive Podcast
On today’s episode of the Born Primitive Podcast, Bear and Tony sit down with an OG in the CrossFit community, Jason Khalipa, and talk about how fitness prepares you to deal with adversity, and the intrinsic value of community in our culture today.
Jason is the founder and CEO of NCFIT gyms and TRAIN HARD online training. He is a CrossFit Games Champion and 3x Team USA CrossFit member. Jason is also a pediatric cancer advocate after his daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2016, host of the Jason Khalipa Podcast, author of As Many Reps as Possible, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt.
To learn more about Jason Khalipa and NC FIT, his training and fitness program, visit www.nc.fit or follow Jason on instagram: @jasonkhalipa.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @BornPrimitiveApparel
Why Sacrificing Short-Term Comfort Leads to a Happier Life (w/ Best-Selling Author Michael Easter)
This episode features a conversation with New York Times best-selling author and speaker, Michael Easter.
Michael talks about the need to address the cause behind unhealthy habits and how to rewire the brain to form a positive lifestyle. He emphasizes the need to reject a comfort-centered mentality for a task and skill based methodology that will enhance your quality of life in the long run.
To order Michael's books Scarcity Brain and The Comfort Crisis and subscribe to the 2% newsletter, visit eastermichael.com or follow Michael on social media @michael_easter.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Censorship: The Biggest Danger to American Democracy (And What We Can Do About It)
On today’s show , in a rare solo episode, our CEO Bear Handlon talks about the dangers of censorship and cancel culture, and what we must do as Americans to protect freedom of speech at all costs. Hint: the answer isn’t sitting back and letting it happen...
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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UFC Champ Miesha Tate: Finding Strength to Stand - The Born Primitive Podcast
On today’s show, Bear and Tony speak with UFC Women’s Champion, Meisha Tate.
Meisha is the former UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion and Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion. She is currently ranked 12 in the UFC Women's Bantamweight Rankings.
On today’s show, Meisha addresses the polarizing emotions fighters face, why she walked away, and how she has discovered the value of putting family first.
You can follow Miesha on Instagram @mieshatate.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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CrossFit Champion Rich Froning: Faith, Family, and Fitness - The Born Primitive Podcast
In this show, Bear talks with 10x CrossFit Champion, Rich Froning.
Rich is known in the CrossFit community for winning four back-to-back CrossFit Games championships as an individual and six Affiliate Cup Championships. He is the founder of CrossFit Mayhem and Mayhem Athlete, based in Cooksville, TN.
Rich shares his thoughts on the future of CrossFit, his hunting passion, and why faith and family have made him who he is today.
You can follow Rich on YouTube @Crossfit Mayhem, on X @RichFroning, and on Instagram @RichFroning.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Winning at the Gym - The Born Primitive Podcast
On today’s episode of the Born Primitive Podcast, Bear and Tony talk about what it takes to win in the gym. They discuss shaping a winning mindset, why fitness matters, and personal training successes and failures.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/57tLOxYrQg612Hi7ei1WOB?si=c77369b537af4d6a
Stipe Miocic: Return of the Champ - The Born Primitive Podcast
On today’s show, Bear and Tony talk with former 6-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic.
Stipe holds the record for most wins in heavyweight title fights and holds the longest title defending streak in the heavyweight division. He is regarded by critics and commentators alike as the greatest heavyweight fighter of all time.
On today’s podcast, Stipe shares adaptations to his training program, balancing life and work as a firefighter, and how to rise above the critics’ noise.
You can follow him on X @stipemiocic, on Instagram @stipemiocic, and on his website stipemiocic.com.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Q&A: Bear and Tony Answer Listener Questions- The Born Primitive Podcast
On today’s episode, Bear and Tony answer a wide range of questions submitted by listeners. From inquiries about the inner workings of Born Primitive as a business to personal questions delving into parenting style, nothing is off limits in this candid and unfiltered conversation.
To learn more visit bornprimitive.com
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Joe De Sena: The Spartan Way - Pushing the Limits on Human Capability - The Born Primitive Podcast
On this special episode, Bear and Tony talk with Joe De Sena, founder and CEO of Spartan, a leading endurance sports brand.
Joe is a New York Times bestselling author of the books Spartan Up, Spartan Fit, and The Spartan Way. He has seen success with Spartan as an endurance racing brand through its multiple events: Spartan Trifectas, Spartan Trail, DEKA, Tough Mudder, and many others. He currently hosts CNBC’s business bootcamp No Retreat.
On today’s podcast, Joe shares his mission to inspire others to forgo comfort and challenge the expectation of human possibility to build a better life.
You can follow him on X @realJoeDeSena, on YouTube @joedesena6033, and on Instagram @realjoedesena.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Sage Steele: Standing for Free Speech - The Born Primitive Podcast
On today’s show, Bear and Tony speak with sports broadcaster Sage Steele.
Sage is well-known for hosting numerous shows and live events including SportsCenter’s coverage of the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the World Series, The Masters, and many others. She has been a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live, a featured guest host on The View, and has been featured in publications including Variety, The Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, and Rolling Stone.
The former ESPN anchor recently settled a lawsuit with the network and its parent company Disney. She left the network in 2022, alleging that they infringed upon her free speech and retaliated against her for privately held opinions after, explaining that she had been “sidelined” for speaking out against ESPN’s COVID vaccination policy.
You can follow Sage on Instagram @Sagesteele and on X @Sagesteele
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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Tony's Story: From the Warehouse to Vice President - Born Primitive Podcast, Ep. 10
On today’s episode, Bear and Tony discuss Tony’s journey from a Born Primitive warehouse employee to the current Vice-President of the company.
A former D1 baseball player from West Virginia, after some unexpected career disappointments, Tony started working for Born Primitive in 2019 as an hourly paid warehouse employee and rose to leadership during the challenges of COVID.
He shares the importance of seizing opportunity, working hard for the right reasons, and the value of curiosity and humility.
To learn more, visit bornprimitive.com
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Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-born-primitive-podcast/id1701862625
Jack Carr: Success Doesn’t Happen By Accident - Ep. 09
In this episode, Bear and Tony talk with former Navy Seal Sniper, No. 1 New York Times best-selling author of The Terminal List series, executive producer of the Amazon Prime Video series starring Chris Pratt, and host of the Danger Close podcast, Jack Carr.
Jack always knew he wanted to be a writer, but as he explains in this episode, it didn’t happen by accident or by luck. He took a tactical approach and developed a strategy from the very beginning, writing the novels with the plan for Pratt to one day play the main character of James Reece – after transitioning from his military career.
Today, Jack tells his story and we learn how taking an intentional, strategic approach can lead to success – no matter the odds.
You can follow Jack Carr on Instagram @JackcarrUSA and X @JackCarrUSA
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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CrossFit’s Arielle Loewen: Confessions of America’s Fittest Woman - Born Primitive Podcast, Ep. 8
In this show, Bear and Tony talk with America’s Fittest Mom and Third Fittest Woman on Earth, CrossFit star and Born Primitive athlete Arielle Loewen.
Arielle first competed at the CrossFit Games in 2021 when she won the Granite Games, qualifying her for her rookie year in the challenge to find the Fittest on Earth. Since then, she has made three consecutive appearances at the Games improving her placement every year and landing on the podium this season.
Ariell shares her journey of discovering CrossFit, falling in love with the sport, and gives insights into balancing motherhood and being a high-performing athletic pursuit.
You can follow her on YouTube @arielleloewen1 and on Instagram @arielleloewen.
To check out our brand visit: https://bornprimitive.com/
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The Secret to Going All In: The Power of a Disciplined Mindset - The Born Primitive Podcast, Ep. 7
On today’s episode, Bear and Tony share some insight on what it means to “Burn the Boats.”
What’s holding you back from going all-in on an endeavor, a dream, an ambition, a pursuit or even a relationship? Sometimes, we have to burn the boats on the things standing in the way of being the people we want to be.
Burning the boats can signify a mindset of total dedication and determination to achieve a goal, with no fallback options or safety nets. It's about fully investing in a pursuit and not allowing oneself to be distracted or discouraged by setbacks or difficulties.
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Riley Gaines: Transgender Athletes and Fairness in Women’s Sports - The Born Primitive Podcast Ep. 6
On today’s episode, Bear and Tony talk with Riley Gaines, one of the prominent voices championing the integrity of women’s sports.
Riley is former NCAA Division 1 swimmer for the University of Kentucky where she was a 12X All-American. She made the All-SEC Freshman Team in 2019, the All-SEC Second Team in 2019 and 2022, and in 2022, was named the Southeastern Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
Riley gained national attention after tying trans swimmer Lia Thomas at the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships and speaking out, and has since traveled the country advocating for fairness in women’s sports. Today Riley is an advisor at Independent Women’s Voice.
You can follow her on X @Riley_Gaines_ and on Instagram @rileygbarker
To learn more visit bornprimitive.com
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Overcoming Adversity and Conquering Barriers: The Born Primitive Origin Story, Part 2
Note: This is part 2 of a 2-part series. Be sure to watch part 1 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFYj9qfymmo
On today’s episode of the Born Primitive Podcast, Bear and Tony are joined by Born Primitive’s COO and co-founder, Mallory Riley. What initially started as a business centered on a single item operated from a garage has evolved into a worldwide lifestyle brand with a wide range of top-quality fitness and tactical apparel and footwear. Get the inside scoop on Bear and Mallory’s journey of building Born Primitive from the ground up, and the challenges, risks, and sacrifices they both had to overcome as entrepreneurs and former spouses to achieve the brand’s global success.
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Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-born-primitive-podcast/id1701862625
From $10K to $100M: The Born Primitive Origin Story, Part 1 - The Born Primitive Podcast, Ep. 4
On today’s episode of the Born Primitive Podcast, Bear and Tony are joined by Born Primitive’s COO and co-founder, Mallory Riley.
What initially started as a business centered on a single item operated from a garage has evolved into a worldwide lifestyle brand with a wide range of top-quality fitness and tactical apparel and footwear. Get the inside scoop on Bear and Mallory’s journey of building Born Primitive from the ground up, and the challenges, risks, and sacrifices they both had to overcome as entrepreneurs and former spouses to achieve the brand’s global success.
Follow us on IG @bornprimitivepodcast and @bornprimitive
Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-born-primitive-podcast/id1701862625
Dave Castro: The Evolution of the CrossFit Games - The Born Primitive Podcast, Ep. 3
In this episode of The Born Primitive Podcast, Bear and Tony talk with one of the OG names in the CrossFit community, Dave Castro, the creator and original director of the CrossFit Games.
Dave talks about the complexities of testing to find the “Fittest on Earth” and the evolution of CrossFit–as a brand and as a sport. He also shares his thoughts on the future of the sport and addresses the controversial ousting of CrossFit founder Greg Glassman.
More about Born Primitive: bornprimitive.com
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Subscribe to the podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-born-primitive-podcast/id1701862625
Chasing Success +- False Summits - The Born Primitive Podcast Ep. 2
What does it mean to truly chase success? On this episode, Bear and Tony discuss concepts including embracing resilience, adaptability in the face of challenges, navigating the journey of growth and achievement, and more.
Subscribe to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-born-primitive-podcast/id1701862625
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/57tLOxYrQg612Hi7ei1WOB?si=6OYL0Tg3Rsy_XthY-RTp2A
Learn More: https://bornprimitive.com/
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The Modern Savage Mindset - The Born Primitive Podcast Ep. 1
On the first episode of the Born Primitive Podcast, Born Primitive’s co-founder and CEO Bear Handlon and Vice-President Tony Strasiser discuss one of the brand’s most foundational principles: what does it mean to have a modern savage mindset in a world that is consumed by victim mentality.
Subscribe to the Podcast:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-born-primitive-podcast/id1701862625
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/57tLOxYrQg612Hi7ei1WOB?si=6OYL0Tg3Rsy_XthY-RTp2A
Learn More: https://bornprimitive.com/
Follow us on IG: @bornprimitive
Trailer: The Born Primitive Podcast
On the new Born Primitive Podcast, you’ll hear from Born Primitive co-founder and CEO Bear Handlon, VP Tony Strasiser, core members of the Born Primitive team, as well as athletes, business leaders, thinkers, entrepreneurs, and others about ways you can take your life and pursuits to the next level.
Coming 8.22.23
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Follow & subscribe:
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-born-primitive-podcast/id1701862625
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/57tLOxYrQg612Hi7ei1WOB?si=13b31304c1c84c5c
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