
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!
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!

Skol Sessions - Episode 3: The Coach/Athlete Relationship
Skol Sessions - Episode 3: The Coach/Athlete Relationship
Skol SessionsDec 31, 2021
00:00
25:54

Skol Sessions #12 - Post 2023 CF Open
Skol Sessions #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