Katie Rose Hejtmanek, "The Cult of CrossFit: Christianity and the American Exercise Phenomenon" (NYU Press, 2025)

This episode explores the intersection of CrossFit, Christianity, and American culture, focusing on Katie Rose Hejtmanek's book, "The Cult of CrossFit." The discussion begins with an examination of cultural Christianity within the secular space of CrossFit gyms, highlighting how Christian narratives of sin and salvation are mirrored in the transformative experiences of CrossFit participants. Against the backdrop of CrossFit's demographics, which skew towards an elite white American demographic, the conversation pivots to the capitalist elements embedded in CrossFit's business model, contrasting its grassroots origins with its rapid corporate growth. More significantly, the episode delves into the myths of the frontier and the garage, revealing how these American ideals are mobilized within CrossFit spaces to cultivate a hyper-masculine environment, while also exploring the complex role of women in this fitness regimen. As the discussion progresses, the pervasive theme of the apocalypse in American culture is examined, noting its influence on CrossFit's training ethos and workout nomenclature. The conversation culminates with a discussion of the challenges CrossFit faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting shifts in the community, reflecting emerging industry patterns of reckoning with issues of race, equity, and safety.