The Story Behind CrossFit’s Celebrity Trainer (EP.020)

The CrossFit Podcast

CrossFit LLC

Health & Fitness

4.3 • 757 Ratings

🗓️ 24 June 2025

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Conor Murphy has worn many hats: Navy serviceman, CrossFit Games athlete, Seminar Staff trainer, and, now, head of Big Night Fitness and affiliate owner in Boston, Massachusetts. In this raw and real conversation with Denise Thomas, Conor opens up about the moments that nearly broke him — and how CrossFit gave him a second chance.

From losing his shot at a military career, to training celebrities on tour buses, to building a space where community comes first, Conor reflects on the power of mentorship, growth through failure, and what it means to truly live your values. His message to aspiring coaches and owners? Focus on people, not optics. Do the work. Stay humble. Keep showing up.3.

Topics Included

Military injury and finding direction through CrossFit
Competing at the Games and becoming a Seminar Staff member
Coaching celebrities vs. everyday athletes
Building community at Big Night Fitness
Lessons in leadership, ego, and growing up
Launching an affiliate with purpose and perspective

Resources Mentioned

CrossFit PB (Pacific Beach)
CrossFit Level 1 Certificate Course
CrossFit Seminar Staff
WOD on the Waves
Big Night Entertainment Group
CrossFit TILT

Community Highlight

In 2023, Ernesto Reyes saw a gap: no CrossFit events in Mexico offered adaptive divisions. So he decided to change that.As the owner of CrossFit Cholula, Ernesto didn’t start with experience in adaptive training — just a love for competition and a drive to make the sport more inclusive. He visited a local rec center and invited adaptive athletes to try CrossFit. Over 20 showed up. A few kept training. That first competition changed everything.

Now, he coaches more than 10 adaptive athletes regularly. And the mission has become clear: this is his calling.As his late father once said, “Maybe Ernesto found the meaning of life — helping people.”This year, his gym is launching Personas con Determinación, a fundraiser to support competition costs. Together, they’ll hike one of Mexico’s highest peaks to prove a point: accomplishment doesn’t require perfection — it requires determination.

Follow the journey. Or join the climb.

Know someone you think deserves to be highlighted? Nominate them here

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Transcript

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0:00.0	I wouldn't be where I am now if I didn't make this, if I didn't make mistakes.
0:03.4	What I will do is be better.
0:05.8	Use those experiences to make sure that, you know, I get back to the position that I was in.
0:11.5	When you say you have this perception, and I think we all probably do this in some way, shape or form, is I believe I am this person.
0:19.5	My actions do not show that. I've heard you say before
0:22.7	that your level one was like a second chance at life. Losing your ability to be in the Navy really
0:27.7	shot you down. And then this was almost like that second breath of fresh air. When I sat down in the
0:32.4	car and I opened that up, it was a feeling that I hadn't had. The seeds of the CrossFit level one course,
0:38.8	paired with the passion of the trainers, is the reason why I am where I am today.
0:47.0	Hello everyone and welcome to the CrossFit podcast, where we welcome guests who are
0:51.1	dedicating their lives to making the world a fitter and healthier place.
0:56.1	And we are shaking things up this time. That's right. We have been removed from the basement
1:01.5	of glory. And here we are in the heart of Boston, home to the Boston Bruins or the garden, as the
1:08.3	locals will call it, with none other than my incredible friend,
1:12.9	Connor Murphy.
1:14.4	Now, you're probably asking, well, who the heck is Connor Murphy?
1:17.6	And what are you doing in Boston?
1:19.3	Well, buckle up, people, because you're in for a treat.
1:23.5	Connor is probably one of the most hardworking, playful, fun, energetic, adventurous trainers that CrossFit has.
1:32.9	And his life is very interesting, from the military to what I call him the mayor of St Thomas.
1:40.0	He's a CrossFit games competitor.
1:42.2	He joined CrossFit seminar staff.
	...

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