Noah Ohlsen: Inside the Mind of One of the Fittest Athletes in the World

May 12, 2025

Noah Ohlsen, an elite CrossFit athlete with a 'happy but hungry' mantra, shares his inspiring journey from a scrawny kid to a top competitor. He discusses the importance of self-discovery and authenticity in sports. Noah emphasizes trying new things to build resilience and explores the struggles of ambition versus happiness. He reflects on how CrossFit transformed his identity and highlights the lessons learned through tough workouts, reminding listeners that true success involves staying whole while chasing greatness.

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ADVICE

Embrace Failure to Find Purpose

Try new things even if you're afraid to fail, as fear can prevent you from discovering your purpose.
Failure isn't final; keep trying to find what you truly excel at and enjoy.

ADVICE

Release Before Perfect

Avoid waiting until perfection to share your work.
Sharing even 80% finished work has impactful value and connects with people.

ANECDOTE

First CrossFit Workout Love

Noah fell in love with CrossFit during his very first workout, finding it both exhausting and exhilarating.
This immediate connection fueled his commitment to pursue competitive CrossFit seriously.

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Save 10% off your Marek Health order by using code “MULLIGAN” at https://www.marekhealth.com/ #ad Unlock exclusive ad-free interviews, behind-the-scenes content, and unseen footage. Join our Patreon for the ultimate Mulligan Brothers experience- https://www.patreon.com/mulliganbrothers Places to find Noah Ohlsen: https://www.instagram.com/nohlsen/ https://www.instagram.com/happybuthungryrunclub/

In this episode, Jordan sits down with elite CrossFit athlete Noah Ohlsen for a candid and inspiring conversation about chasing greatness without losing your humanity. From being a self-described "scrawny kid" in high school to becoming one of the most respected names in competitive fitness, Noah shares how he transformed both physically and mentally—navigating insecurity, identity, and the pursuit of purpose.

Noah opens up about his journey from discovering CrossFit at university to nearly becoming the Fittest Man on Earth. He discusses the mindset it takes to compete at the highest level, why “happy but hungry” became his life mantra, and how true success means not just winning—but winning while staying whole.

Whether you're an aspiring athlete, entrepreneur, or just someone searching for deeper meaning, Noah's story is a raw, refreshing reminder that it's possible to go all in without losing yourself in the process.

Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:02 - Noah Ohlsen's Early Years 00:02:53 - Discovering Athleticism 00:03:56 - From Scrawny to Strong – The Crossfit Journey 00:05:53 - How Noah Found His Competitive Edge 00:07:50 - Uncovering Life Purpose 00:13:06 - Fighting the Fear of Failure 00:15:41 - Redefining Success 00:17:18 - Empathy & Perspective 00:18:03 - Perfectionism vs Progress 00:18:52 - How Noah Ohlsen Discovered CrossFit 00:21:40 - The Crossfit Qualification Process 00:26:59 - The Mindset Shift to Winning 00:31:38 - Becoming Authentic and Overcoming Self-Doubt 00:35:08 - Studying Psychology 00:37:58 - The Hardest Workouts 00:42:04 - Internal Motivation 00:44:31 - The Hard Truth About Being the Best 00:47:40 - Role Models & Mentors 00:49:07 - Balancing Success & Sacrifice 00:51:08 - Achieving the CrossFit Physique 00:54:10 - Staying Lean 00:55:12 - Steroids 00:56:46 - Resources

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