Welcome to the PAC Talk where we help you explore your capacity to move better, push further and achieve your limitless potential through fitness, nutrition, recovery, and lifestyle. I’m your host Pieter Vodden, co-owner of PHAROS Athletic Club in Echo Park. Thanks for tuning in and Welcome To The PAC!”
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Los Angeles swing by to our gym at 1316 Glendale Blvd in Echo Park.
Check out our website here for class times and follow us Pharos and Piet on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the PAC Talk where we help you explore your capacity to move better, push further and achieve your limitless potential through fitness, nutrition, recovery, and lifestyle. I’m your host Pieter Vodden, co-owner of PHAROS Athletic Club in Echo Park. Thanks for tuning in and Welcome To The PAC!”
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Los Angeles swing by to our gym at 1316 Glendale Blvd in Echo Park.
Check out our website here for class times and follow us Pharos and Piet on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this PAC Talk episode, Pieter sits down with Cyto-Wellness founder and traditional naturopath Mitzi Avila to break down one of the most overlooked performance tools in the fitness world: biometric scanning. Mitzi explains how her Meridien-based scan can read over 2,000 internal markers—from mineral deficiencies and gut imbalances to sleep disruptors, neurotransmitter patterns, toxic load, parasites, and more. Pieter shares his firsthand experience with the scan and how it immediately uncovered the root causes of his sleep and energy issues.
Mitzi dives deep into gut health, hydration, electrolyte balance, mineral deficiencies, heavy metals, red light therapy, nootropics, and why so many high performers secretly operate in burnout mode. She breaks down her 4 Golden Rules for decoding cravings and energy dips, explains why most people are dehydrated even when they drink a gallon a day, and outlines how the body actually repairs during Delta/REM sleep.
Whether you’re a serious athlete, a stressed professional, or someone who wants to understand their own body on a deeper level, this episode gives you real, actionable tools to fine-tune your health from the inside out. Mitzi now works out of Pharos Palm Springs every Friday & Saturday — offering full biometric scans, supplement audits, and personalized wellness plans.
💪 Join the 7-Day Results Accelerator to build clarity, momentum, and sustainable joy in your routine. pharosathleticclub.com
Connect with Mitzi
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
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In this live PAC Talk session, coach Pieter Vodden sits down with writer and strength-training historian Michael Joseph Gross to explore what strength really means — not just for performance, but for longevity and quality of life. They trace the history of strength culture from ancient Greece to modern gyms, unpack how we’ve told stories about muscle over the centuries, and why we’re only just beginning to understand how powerful strength training is for living longer, better lives.
Michael shares how learning a scary new sport in his 40s pushed him into serious training and ultimately into eight years of research on strength — from motor units and neurology to myth, culture, and identity. He and Pieter break down why strength training has to become as automatic as brushing your teeth, how a simple, consistent program can change your body and mind at any age, and why the real magic happens when strength becomes part of your story, not just your routine.
They dive into the science of muscle and aging, including landmark studies on people in their 90s who dramatically improved strength, independence, and life expectancy after just eight weeks of resistance training. Michael explains how lifting can reduce risk for chronic disease, support brain health, and even rival antidepressants for many people. The conversation also tackles the myth of “brain vs. brawn,” showing how muscle actually supports cognition, emotional resilience, and empathy.
A big part of this talk centers on women and strength, featuring the story of Jan Todd and the fight to normalize heavyweight training for women. Pieter and Michael break down persistent myths about “bulking,” “girl exercises vs. boy exercises,” and the way fitness marketing has confused people about what really works. They also talk about the synergy between strength and cardio, the pros and cons of bodybuilding culture, why relatability matters more than extremity, and how community gyms like Pharos help people build not just muscle, but a shared sense of meaning and connection through training.
Connect with Michael
💪 Join the 7-Day Results Accelerator to build clarity, momentum, and sustainable joy in your routine. pharosathleticclub.com
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
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You don’t need a better diet — you need a better philosophy.
Today’s session is one of the most transformational of the 7-Day Results Accelerator. In this 30-minute conversation, Piet and I unpack how to break free from diet culture and step into a sustainable, empowering way of eating that actually moves the needle — physically, mentally, and emotionally.
We cover:
🍎 Fuel: how to eat to support your training, recovery, hormones, and energy — not punish yourself for what you ate yesterday.
😋 Joy: how to enjoy food again without guilt or extremes — and still stay aligned with your goals.
💪 Results: how to use awareness, data, and feedback to fine-tune your nutrition for performance and body composition.
And most importantly — we’ll help you understand the two nutritional approaches that every successful athlete and everyday mover needs to master:
1️⃣ Intuitive: learning to listen to your body — hunger cues, cravings, and energy signals — and build trust through awareness and flexibility.
2️⃣ Calculated: using structure, tracking, and measurable metrics as temporary tools to build discipline, awareness, and precision.
When you understand how to flow between these two modes — when to be intuitive, when to be strategic — you stop “starting over” and start evolving. Tune in, let us know what you think! Piet will see you at 8am and I'll see you at 12!
Whether you’re part of the Pharos Accelerator or just trying to optimize your day, this episode challenges you to design a lifestyle that actually supports your goals — not one that burns you out.
💪 Join the 7-Day Results Accelerator to build clarity, momentum, and sustainable joy in your routine. pharosathleticclub.com
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Most people think training starts and ends in the gym — but that’s only two hours of your day. The other 22 hours? That’s your lifestyle, and it’s where true progress happens.
In this PAC Talk Mini, Pieter Vodden breaks down the underestimated power of lifestyle — sleep, recovery, relationships, hydration, habits, and small joys — that define how you perform, think, and feel. From horse therapy in Gardner Valley to Taco Tuesday and family movie nights, Pieter shows how balance and awareness drive sustainable success.
Whether you’re part of the Pharos Accelerator or just trying to optimize your day, this episode challenges you to design a lifestyle that actually supports your goals — not one that burns you out.
💪 Join the 7-Day Results Accelerator to build clarity, momentum, and sustainable joy in your routine. pharosathleticclub.com
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this PAC Talk Mini, host Emylee Vodden shares a simple nightly ritual she practices with her kids — one that’s quietly reshaped how she approaches gratitude, leadership, and growth.
Each night before bed, she asks them:
“What was the best part of your day?”
Sometimes the answers come easily. Other times, she has to pull a little, dig deeper, and remind them — and herself — that gratitude is a practice, not a mood. It’s how we learn to look for light even on the hard days.
Emylee reflects on how this small act of reflection has grown into a larger philosophy at Pharos: to lead with light, to find joy in the process, and to systemize positivity in a world that constantly demands more.
✨ Try it tonight: Ask yourself — what was the best part of my day?
💪 Join the 7-Day Results Accelerator to build clarity, momentum, and sustainable joy in your routine. pharosathleticclub.com
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
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In this PAC Talk Mini, Emylee Vodden shares a big update from the Pharos team: after nine years and more than 20 Limitless Challenges, she and Pieter have built something new— a digital school and 7-Day Results Accelerator designed to help you reset your focus, rebuild momentum, and create a roadmap for the season you’re in.
This isn’t about more information. It’s about catalyst—clarity, excitement, and accountability.
Whether you’re a 500 Club veteran or just trying to find your rhythm again before the holidays, this seven-day experience will help you reconnect to what drives you.
Take the free 3-minute quiz to get a personalized 90-day plan
Join the 7-Day Results Accelerator (Nov 10 – 16)
Reignite your motivation and head into the holidays without restriction, without burnout, and with joy.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
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Most of us default to one style of “help,” even when another would serve better. In this PAC Talk, we break down the difference between Push, Pull, and Hold—and give you a quick self-check to pick what you need today.
We’ll map common training/life scenarios to each mode, plus a 60-second quiz to decide your next move. Right help, right time. That’s the game.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of PAC Talk, host Pieter Vodden sits down with multiple CrossFit Games champion Leka Fineman about what comes after competition.
Leka opens up about:
Together, they explore the evolution of the fitness industry, the myths around menopause and performance, and how both men and women can train smarter, not harder, as they age.
📘 Download Leka’s Free Menopause Blueprint: lekafineman.com
Follow Leka on Instagram: @lekafineman
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
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Emylee shares her mom’s decade-long fight with trigeminal neuralgia and the lesson it forged: lead with light. Joy can coexist with pain—and sometimes you borrow someone else’s light until your own returns.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
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Not toxic gloss—action. Emylee defines “relentless positivity” as acting despite how you feel: micro-joys, gratitude, and forward motion when the marathon gets long. Name the hard, then move anyway.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
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Most of us get to 90%—then stall. Emylee riffs on remodel chaos, human nature, and why coaching, accountability, and a good crew carry you across the finish line. If you’re stuck, borrow a tribe and close the gap.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
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Emylee sits down with artist-entrepreneur Alex Camacho—the force behind Acid Queen Jewelry—for a real talk on fitness, mindset, and building a business that lasts. We cover her athlete-to-artist journey, how the Limitless Challenge reframed goals, why “80% done is 100% perfect,” and how to use AI as a tool (not a shortcut) to analyze data, calm emotions, and stay the course. We get into macros, petite body composition, pull-up milestones, meditation for money fear, and the parallels between training and entrepreneurship.
You’ll learn:
Routine goals vs outcome goals (and why that changes everything)
Using scans, wearables & photos without spiraling
Petite strength & aesthetics: precise tweaks that move the needle
Facing money fears with data + daily practice
Where AI helps (and where it doesn’t)
If this episode helped, hit Subscribe, drop your current routine goal in the comments, and share with a friend in their “80% done” season.
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
Connect with Alex
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We’ve all missed alarms, overextended ourselves, or completely goofed up a plan. In this Pac Talk Mini, Emylee Vodden shares how a simple client message turned a potential scheduling disaster into a reminder of the power of planning, accountability, and community. Instead of stressing about mistakes, what if we built systems—and relationships—that anticipate needs before problems arise? This short mountain-drive reflection is about being proactive, reducing anxiety, and leaning on the right people in your corner.
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this Pac Talk mini, Piet Vodden opens up about anxiety, stage fright, and the lessons his parents taught him about butterflies in the stomach. Instead of letting fear paralyze us, we can choose to use that nervous energy as fuel for action, courage, and growth. From high school performances to everyday challenges, Piet shares simple mindset shifts to reframe anxiety into empowerment.
If you’ve ever felt stuck by nerves or fear, this episode will remind you that sometimes all it takes is one small, brave step forward.
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of Pac Talk, Emylee Vodden dives deep into how we talk to kids about food—and how those conversations shape their relationship with health for life. What starts as a heartbreaking moment with a five-year-old worried about “getting fat” turns into a powerful reflection on breaking generational cycles of diet culture, shame, and restriction. Emylee shares her framework for sustainable nutrition—fuel × joy × results—and explores how parents (and adults re-parenting their inner child) can create a healthier, more joyful relationship with food. Whether you’re raising kids or healing your own food story, this conversation offers a practical and compassionate path forward.
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
#NutritionBeyondThePlate #HealthyKids #FoodEducation #BreakTheCycle #StopDietCulture #SustainableNutrition #ParentingHealth #PositiveNutrition #KidsAndFood #PacTalkPodcast
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Piet Vodden breaks down what “coaching” really means in 2025—how we got from big-box machines to CrossFit’s barbell revolution, and now to the hybrid model that blends functional bodybuilding, conditioning, running clubs, and community. Piet explains why great coaching is a learned craft: commanding a room, progressing skills safely, creating energy, and delivering results without burning people out. Piet breaks down the lost art of group coaching, the difference between PT and group leadership, and why education, reps on the floor, and standards matter more than TikTok tips. If you’re a coach, gym owner, or member who thrives in coached sessions, this is your playbook—and an open invite to help raise the bar at Pharos.
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
#PacTalk #PieterVodden #FitnessPodcast #Sacrifice #HybridTraining #Bodybuilding #EnduranceTraining #Hyrox #MarathonTraining #LongevityFitness #StrengthAndConditioning #MuscleAfter40 #RecoveryMatters #GeneralPhysicalPreparedness
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In this episode of Pac Talk, Emylee Vodden sits down with her longtime mentor Andrea Marcum—yoga teacher, retreat leader, and author of Close to Om. Andrea shares her 20+ years of experience in yoga and fitness, from running a grassroots LA studio to leading transformative retreats in Bali, Italy, Mexico, and beyond. Together, they explore the power of curiosity, resilience, and community in sustaining a long career in health and wellness.
Emylee and Andrea reflect on their own origin story, how a life-changing Bali retreat planted the seeds for Pharos Athletic Club, and why impact matters more than influence in today’s fitness world. They also dig into the importance of balancing strength training, yoga, and recovery—especially for women navigating perimenopause, bone density, and long-term vitality.
Whether you’re a yoga teacher, fitness coach, entrepreneur, or simply someone seeking sustainable health practices, this conversation is packed with wisdom on building a meaningful career and life rooted in movement, mentorship, and connection.
Connect with Andrea
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
#PacTalk #PieterVodden #FitnessPodcast #Sacrifice #HybridTraining #Bodybuilding #EnduranceTraining #Hyrox #MarathonTraining #LongevityFitness #StrengthAndConditioning #MuscleAfter40 #RecoveryMatters #GeneralPhysicalPreparedness
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On this solo episode of Pac Talk, Pieter Vodden dives deep into the reality of sacrifice in fitness. What does it take to be great at one discipline—and what do you give up along the way? From bodybuilding to Hyrox, half marathons, endurance hikes, and strength training, Piet shares how he balances competing priorities while still preserving muscle, family time, and long-term health.
At 47, Piet has learned that the real key isn’t chasing perfection in one lane but building general physical preparedness (GPP)—a foundation of muscle, conditioning, and mobility that serves you for life. He covers:
Whether you’re chasing a marathon PR, training for Hyrox, or just trying to stay strong and healthy as you age, this episode will help you define what’s worth sacrificing—and what isn’t.
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
#PacTalk #PieterVodden #FitnessPodcast #Sacrifice #HybridTraining #Bodybuilding #EnduranceTraining #Hyrox #MarathonTraining #LongevityFitness #StrengthAndConditioning #MuscleAfter40 #RecoveryMatters #GeneralPhysicalPreparedness
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Procrastination isn’t a time‑management problem—it’s an emotion‑management one. In this solo episode, I unpack how shame fuels the procrastination loop and why “I’ll do it tomorrow” keeps us stuck. (This framing comes from researcher Tim Pychyl’s work showing procrastination is about regulating feelings, not calendars.)
I walk through a simple “Head, Heart, or Hands” check to pinpoint what’s really blocking action—overthinking (head), emotional resistance (heart), or missing tools/skills/environment (hands)—and how to respond to each.
Then we borrow from Anne‑Laure Le Cunff’s Tiny Experiments and make a short pact: a tiny, curiosity‑driven step (your “bare minimum habit”) that trades judgment for feedback and momentum.
By the end, you’ll have one micro‑action to break the cycle today—and a playbook to repeat tomorrow.
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode of PAC Talk, Piet sits down with longtime friend and first-ever PAC coach, Shepherd Tate. From his early CrossFit days in Memphis to becoming Head Coach at Pharos Athletic Club, Shep shares the journey, lessons, and philosophy that shape his approach to programming, coaching, and community building. They dive into the evolution of PAC’s training model, the importance of progressive overload, injury recovery insights, and how the 30-60-90 plan keeps members engaged and improving. Plus, a preview of the upcoming Monster Meet and why PAC’s long-term programming stands apart from the quick-fix fitness trend.
Connect with Shepherd
Welcome to the Pac, please make sure you subscribe wherever you are listening to this show and if you loved this show please leave us a 5 star review in the iTunes store. It is the currency of podcasts and it really goes along in helping us grow our show.
If you are in Southern California come train with us
Follow Pharos, Piet and Emylee on Instagram for more fitness related content.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.