Sevan Matossian (00:01):
BA I’m more live. Sometimes I go early. Rarely do I go early, but this morning I went early. I got a, uh, I got into a good, good fight on Instagram with someone this morning. Hi
Alex Gazan (00:14):
Al. Hi. Good morning.
Sevan Matossian (00:15):
Good morning.
Alex Gazan (00:16):
How are you?
Sevan Matossian (00:17):
I’m awesome.
Alex Gazan (00:18):
Good.
Sevan Matossian (00:20):
This, I don’t know if this happens to you, but oh, I have an amp on my phone. I, um, I got in a fight with someone today on Instagram, in, in the DMS, like a good one. Like we were going hard and then we reconciled.
Alex Gazan (00:31):
Oh really?
Sevan Matossian (00:32):
Yeah. It was so nice.
Alex Gazan (00:34):
That’s cool.
Sevan Matossian (00:35):
Yeah.
Alex Gazan (00:36):
What was like, how did it get, I guess, resolved? Like how did it,
Sevan Matossian (00:41):
He called me, um, condescending arrogant. What did he say? I was just rereading it. I was like, it’s such good feedback. Mm-hmm <affirmative> what did he say? You’re disrespectful and condescending. It’s funny on your shows, but in real life, it’s like, no. Good. And you think you’re better than other people? I don’t think I’m better than other people, but I do. But part of my shtick is being, it’s funny. It’s funny. I, I wonder if people who are condescending don’t know they’re condescending. Are you ever condescending?
Alex Gazan (01:12):
I don’t think so.
Sevan Matossian (01:14):
Um, you, uh, I’m ston by the way. Hi.
Alex Gazan (01:19):
Hi. I, well, I met you kind of on,
Sevan Matossian (01:21):
On the field. Yeah. When you were like in, in Hulk status <laugh> you were superhero status.
Alex Gazan (01:29):
That was a fun day. That
Sevan Matossian (01:30):
Was even, is that a different person than the person here I’m talking to now?
Alex Gazan (01:34):
No,
Sevan Matossian (01:34):
No, same.
Alex Gazan (01:36):
Yeah. Maybe like a little more like emotional, but the same person.
Sevan Matossian (01:42):
Um, there was a, um, I was watching your interview with Jared and he asked you that question about the train, like motion people. Mm-hmm <affirmative> yeah, fuck. That made me uncomfortable. And then, and then, um, uh, there was a point in the podcast where he talks about how nice you are. And, and I think in another podcast, you, the, the, the person I, I was, uh, listening to interview was talking about how nice you are. And you’re like, yeah, I’m a nice person. But at the end of the podcast, when you brought the question back around to him, what would you do with that train thing? I was like, yeah, that’s the Alex GZA. That’s like, kinda like, Hey, fuck you. Was that like, kinda like, fuck you for asking me that.
Alex Gazan (02:24):
Well, I don’t know. I feel like people when they ask questions like that, like, I, I don’t, I know Jared wasn’t judging me, but like, obviously, like they’re gonna have opinions about your answer. Yeah. And so I’m always curious, like, if someone’s gonna throw me a hard ball, like I wanna throw it back and see what they do.
Sevan Matossian (02:41):
Yeah. I’m not gonna ask you any hard questions.
Alex Gazan (02:44):
<laugh>
Sevan Matossian (02:45):
There was just so you guys know that the, the question was something like, uh, if, if you could save someone you love or save five people, what would you do? And then, then, then the next question fall was, if you could save someone you love or a hundred people. Yeah. And I’m just like, Hey, I just wanted to just scream at the TV. That would never happen. <laugh> shut the fuck up. That would never happen. God, that made me so uncomfortable.
Alex Gazan (03:08):
<laugh>
Sevan Matossian (03:09):
I wonder if that means it’s a good question.
Alex Gazan (03:11):
I mean, yeah. I guess it’s a good question. Like, cuz it makes you think, but like it’s an uncomfortable question cuz you don’t wanna answer it. <laugh>
Sevan Matossian (03:19):
Did you think about not answering it by just saying no, I’m not answering that.
Alex Gazan (03:22):
No. Um, I answered it. I said I’d kill the strangers and save Jake.
Sevan Matossian (03:26):
Oh yeah. I heard you. Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I heard you <laugh> I, I think I’d kill the strangers too.
Alex Gazan (03:32):
Well, like it’s
Sevan Matossian (03:33):
Hard, but I, but I don’t think it’s a fair question cuz it’s not real at all. Right?
Alex Gazan (03:37):
Yeah. That’s true. Yeah. Like it’s it would never actually happen unless it did. And then
Sevan Matossian (03:44):
<laugh>. I mean he, there there’s times the, the only thing I can think of is like there’s a cricket in the house. Right. And I pick him up and I don’t have any clothes on and it’s raining outside. I could just walk to the bathroom and flush ’em down the toilet or I could go over and open the door and throw ’em outside. How about that is a question. I like that. It’s little easy. Yeah. I would go over to the door and throw ’em outside. I’d be like, just suck it up. Don’t kill. ’em fuck that.
Alex Gazan (04:09):
Yeah. I mean, I don’t really care about like walking outside naked. So I’d just throw ’em outside.
Sevan Matossian (04:13):
It’s cold and rainy too.
Alex Gazan (04:15):
Oh, I mean, yeah. I still don’t really care.
Sevan Matossian (04:17):
Yeah. Yeah. Um, I, I suspect that maybe I, I was trying, I see something in you that you might have. Um, uh, you, you might have something special.
Alex Gazan (04:37):
Thank you. <laugh>
Sevan Matossian (04:40):
I think a lot of people see Danielle, Brandon, and they think that what’s special about her is, is that she’s got this insane body and big butt and boobs and, and, and that’s what they think they’re seeing. I don’t think that that’s what they’re really seeing. I think that they’re seeing someone who kind of doesn’t give a fuck.
Alex Gazan (04:55):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (04:56):
Yeah. And they’re confused. They’re confused by her looks, but they’re re everyone’s really attracted to her. Like, like, oops, my middle fingers went up. Like she didn’t plan that, but they went up and I did it with a smile, you know? Yeah. And the hair and the, the I’m not getting the vaccine in her story. And I think there’s a, um, there’s a, I think people are attracted to the truth. And in your interview, I, I, I think you’ve been set free by the truth. There’s two things. There’s things that you should be afraid of that you’re not afraid of in one of your interviews, you said, um, uh, I might just be really emotional. Cause I’m on my period right now. I was like, wow. She’s just like, it’s just coming off. <laugh> and then the other thing is definitely, um, uh, significantly heavier at 20 years old, you would think that you would be hiding your past. You would be trying to hide your parents yeah. Because of your past, but you’re not, you’ve accepted it you’ve been set free. Yeah.
Alex Gazan (05:55):
Yeah. I mean, I don’t know. I feel I’ve kind of always been an open book to the point where like, sometimes I’m like, oh, maybe I shouldn’t have said that. But like, I don’t know. Like, everything that you do is like a part of who you are. Like, I maybe shouldn’t have told the whole world I was on my period, but it was like, it just comes out. I don’t know.
Sevan Matossian (06:14):
I think you should. Well, here’s the thing, man. When you’re free, you have so much energy. Right. Mm-hmm
Alex Gazan (06:18):
<affirmative> totally.
Sevan Matossian (06:21):
Do you feel free?
Alex Gazan (06:22):
Yeah. I mean, like, I feel free in the sense of like when I’m around people and especially people that know me, like in person, like they know me, like they don’t know a version of me or like someone I’m pretending to be like they know me and like they can tell if I’m sad or like, um, like just the other day I had some stuff going on with my parents and like, I walked into the gym and I like smiled. And my, uh, one of my best friends, like CA and Brent from the gym, like they looked at me and they’re like, what’s up? Like,
Sevan Matossian (06:55):
They they’re like, that’s a fake ass smile. <laugh> like, they just knew.
Alex Gazan (06:58):
And like, it’s cool to have relationships like that and like be vulnerable with people because you just get so much closer to them.
Sevan Matossian (07:07):
Uh, Justin Kotler, uh, says I’m on a plane. It sounds like that’s about to be the, the opening lyrics for a rap song. The wifi sucks. Oh, he, he is lyrical. I like, see he is lyrical. He is a musician. Yeah. Just coming on to say how fucking cool it is that Alex is on with you. Someone makes me so fucking happy. Love. You’all have fun. Awesome. Uh, thanks Justin. She’s
Alex Gazan (07:25):
The best beast.
Sevan Matossian (07:26):
He’s
Alex Gazan (07:26):
Best. Yeah. He’s the best.
Sevan Matossian (07:28):
I I’m tripping on this. Um, on this crew that he’s put together. Um, uh, I, I, I did a, a little, uh, I, I, I did a little, um, stick on it. Making fun of you guys. Like you guys are the crew, like when you guys go to the airport, you guys still have a pocket knife in your bag and there’s cigarettes in your bag and you guys used to smoke and that you’re the rag tag crew. You know what I mean?
Alex Gazan (07:49):
Yeah. Maybe not cigarettes in a knife, but I get stopped every single time
Sevan Matossian (07:55):
At the airport.
Alex Gazan (07:56):
Yeah. I like try so hard. Like I separate my food. I separate my, I don’t know, every time, every single time.
Sevan Matossian (08:05):
Um, are you and Daniel close?
Alex Gazan (08:08):
Um, like we’re not like we don’t have beef, but I wouldn’t say we’re like close, close. Like we haven’t.
Sevan Matossian (08:14):
Wow. That’s a great place to start. We don’t have beef <laugh>
Alex Gazan (08:18):
Well, no, like we just haven’t like, I guess we haven’t got to like create like a strong bond outside of the gym. Like we haven’t really hung out a whole lot outside of the gym and like in the gym a lot of time it’s business. So like, you’re not always like buddy, buddy, but like, yeah, like we’re, we’re good. And like, I really like, she’s funny and she’s a really talented athlete and like, I would love to get to know her, like beyond the surface. You know what I mean?
Sevan Matossian (08:48):
Do you think maybe, um, I’m gonna, I’m gonna, backstep everything I said, do you think maybe that, um, you’ve, you’ve, you’ve tricked me and maybe you are guarded and that, um, maybe you just have me tricked that you are open and I, and, and, and there’s more to that. That’s a loaded question. I apologize, but I’m gonna tie to Dan that’s. I’m gonna tie it to Danielle in a second. Yeah. Cause I never brought up Danielle’s name when I interviewed Degos, but there’s a very specific reason why I bring up her name with you.
Alex Gazan (09:13):
Okay. I’m really curious to know what that reason is. Can I ask you before I answer? Yes. Or do I need to answer first?
Sevan Matossian (09:19):
No, no, no. You, I I’ll tell you, um, there’s a component of your life that you guys have as children that you are that, I mean, she, basically, she came on the show. She was in she’s awesome. I love her as awkward as every show is with her, I look forward for running full heads first into the awkwardness of it all. Yeah. Um, but she and I had another friend, Travis be and a professional arm wrestler who told me the same thing. Her life at home was so fucked up. She knew that the only way out was sports and she wanted to get things through sports. Yeah. So like, like meals from other people, my friend, Travis didn’t even have a shower in his house. So he wanted to do good at sports so that the other parents would invite him to their house. So he could take a shower.
Alex Gazan (09:58):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (09:59):
And you guys both have this sort of, um, sports was your, your outlet mm-hmm <affirmative> but she has like a, um, her openness is that she’s guarded.
Alex Gazan (10:11):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (10:12):
Like, fuck you. I’m guarded. You know what I mean? Like she’s open, but she’s open about her guardedness.
Alex Gazan (10:18):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (10:19):
Um, and, um, but, but, but your path seems to be the same. There was some shit going on at home that you’re like, fuck this.
Alex Gazan (10:25):
Yeah. I guess the difference like, cuz I see what you’re saying. Um, I wouldn’t say that like I’m trick and my Godness is fake because I think
Sevan Matossian (10:34):
Through that, your openness, that your openness.
Alex Gazan (10:37):
Yeah. Like I’m my openness is genuine in the sense of like yes. In sports you sought that like you sought security in, like there was a lot like yeah, like going to dinner, whatever. But like there were so many people in my sports communities that I relied on. So not just like the material things or like resources, but like there are so many parents, I could name like 10 from my old lacrosse teams that like I could call them today in Las Vegas and be like, Hey, I need you. And they would fly down. Like, um, so I think being open and like creating those relationships, like yeah. Maybe there was times where my parents weren’t around, but I had other parents through that. Does that make sense?
Sevan Matossian (11:24):
Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Totally.
Alex Gazan (11:26):
And like, I think like, just, yeah, like with anyone you meet, like if they know the real you and like, I don’t know. I, yeah. I just, I feel like relationships with people are kind of what saved me. Like yes, sports saved me, but it was because I had relationships with people in those sports.
Sevan Matossian (11:49):
Are, would you consider yourself kind of a master at, at, at creating relationships out of necessity?
Alex Gazan (11:56):
Not, well, I mean, I’m generally nice to everyone. So like, and I like enjoy conversations, so like it’s easy to like, I guess talk to people, build like surface level relationships. Um, I wouldn’t say I’m like a master at like, oh, this person’s gonna be my best friend. Like not like there’s only a few people, you know, like you really click with and like the relationship like grows.
Sevan Matossian (12:21):
Yeah. I, I saw this documentary on this diver. Um, mm-hmm <affirmative> he, he was like the, the world’s greatest free diver. Right. You know, like one of those guys who holds his breath for 20 minutes or something. Yeah. And he said that basically you can’t even having thoughts, um, consumes energy and energy consumes oxygen. So you can’t even have thoughts. You have to really just slow everything down. And another way of, of, I think of managing that is to be, if you can’t silence, your mind is to be accepting of every thought as it comes in. Right? Yeah. So it comes in and you let it go, it comes in and you let it go. It comes in and you let it go and you’re just letting them pass through.
Sevan Matossian (13:01):
And I, and I just, and I just see something about you of having already mastered that, like there’s something bigger in your life that, that transcends all the other noise around you. And because of that, you’ve, you’re somehow, um, just drawing so much energy from, from whatever the source is. I, I think, I think of human beings as kind of antennas, we’re all antennas walking around on the planet. Mm-hmm <affirmative> and energy comes into us. Mm-hmm <affirmative> and, and then it comes out of us, but some, but if you get offended by something or you think you’re something, it slows the energy down to create around you. Yeah. That’s the trick. But if you don’t think you’re anything and you don’t get offended by anything, the energy passes through you and more and more passes through you and the more and more passes through you, the brighter you burn and the greater you are. That’s kind of how I, I like that. That’s the se matosian cosmology.
Alex Gazan (13:48):
I love it.
Sevan Matossian (13:49):
And um, I just feel like you’re, you’re, you’re just burning bright. You’re just letting just so much shit pass through you.
Alex Gazan (13:56):
Thanks. Yeah. I feel like, I mean, I’m open about this too. Like my faith is a huge part of that. Um, like I feel like having that, um, bigger perspective on life makes it a lot easier to let all that stuff go.
Sevan Matossian (14:13):
She’s not even old enough to drink yet. Sev on the psychological interview coming out with the deep questions earlier. I don’t, I had a little, I had, I tried, I tried to pace myself. I just get so excited when it’s
Alex Gazan (14:25):
Are. It’s all good.
Sevan Matossian (14:26):
Yeah. Uh, it’s all good. You’ve been doing a lot of podcasts. Mm-hmm <affirmative> how come
Alex Gazan (14:31):
People ask? And I’m like, yeah, it sounds fun.
Sevan Matossian (14:34):
<laugh> you’re not getting tired of it.
Alex Gazan (14:37):
No, I mean, I, like, I got to speak with, uh, Bryce yesterday from Invictus and uh, like it’s cool to like, get to know him and like, it was a really good conversation. And I did one with Lindsay from RX a few days ago and like most of the people that ask me are really fun to talk to. So like it doesn’t get boring.
Sevan Matossian (14:58):
Right. Have you done one yet? That where it’s just holy shit.
Alex Gazan (15:02):
No, I,
Sevan Matossian (15:03):
No, you haven’t been scarred yet. Okay, good. No
Alex Gazan (15:06):
<laugh>
Sevan Matossian (15:06):
Um, your management team is elevated management. Mm-hmm <affirmative> do they say any and, and does, and Benji’s your guy. Yeah. And does Benji ever say, Hey, slow down on the podcast or don’t do this or don’t say this, or do
Alex Gazan (15:19):
They coach you? He did. He did tell me he was like, just be prepared. And I was like, what? For Savane’s podcast? He’s like, yeah, like he might ask you some stuff and like, just be prepared to like navigate if you don’t want to answer a question. And I
Sevan Matossian (15:32):
Was like, oh, that’s good advice.
Alex Gazan (15:34):
I was like, I’ll be fine. Uh,
Sevan Matossian (15:37):
You will, you will, you will. Of course be fine. But that is the thing too, that people, so some people will say the thing that people get upset at me the most there’s like, Hey, why did you ask that? You know, like, uh, why did you ask someone that that’s only an 18 year old girl? It’s like, Hey man, the best advice you could give to someone who’s about to do an interview is like, Hey, you’re always open to say, I’m not gonna talk about that.
Alex Gazan (15:55):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (15:56):
Yeah. You’re totally open to say that. Yeah. It’s it’s, it’s it’s good. Well, that’s good advice. I like Benji. I, for some reason I have an adverse reaction to management managers. Um, just the, the word, like I picture them as kind of like,
Alex Gazan (16:11):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (16:12):
Don’t I better not say it, but I like him already. He did good.
Alex Gazan (16:14):
Yeah. I don’t really like when I, like, my first adjective would be like, he’s my friend. And then, oh, I like him manager. Like I met him at west coast last year and he was with James Sprague. Um, and like, he was just like a really good dude to like be around. He was super helpful. Um, I didn’t have a coach at that time. Um, my friend Alex was like my coach in the back. Like she was helping me and she had to leave early and Benji just like took right on over, like I finished an event. He’s like, here’s your shake? Like your stuff’s over there. Like just like, boom, boom, boom. And so we developed a friendship and then started working together, like later in the season.
Sevan Matossian (16:53):
Yeah. That’s awesome. Um, uh, you want a manager, I guess who actually is a manager and doesn’t wanna play manager. It’s like that in the movie business too. The executive producer of a movie, uh, has no problem bringing water to everyone. He’s the boss. Yeah. He doesn’t give a shit. He’ll do anything. He’ll fucking fold your underwear. He’s the boss. Yeah. But, but his job as the boss is to make sure that the whole project moves forward. And it sounds like this guy, as opposed to wanting to play the executive producer, it’s like being an athlete. You can’t play being an athlete.
Alex Gazan (17:25):
Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
Sevan Matossian (17:28):
But I think that that role as agent probably has been so romanticized.
Alex Gazan (17:32):
Yeah. I mean like it’s probably, yeah. I would say it’s romanticized cuz like the idea of like, oh, I’m just gonna connect her in this business and like they’re gonna get a deal and it’s gonna be awesome. It’s like, no, it’s more like, Hey, I’m gonna message this guy. See if I can get, make a contact. Okay. I made a contact. Okay. Like they can’t talk for like two weeks. Like there’s a lot of more like minute details. I feel like that goes into
Sevan Matossian (17:56):
It. And you’d never have time to do that.
Alex Gazan (18:00):
Oh, I mean, yes and no. Like, like I said, I’m totally open to like reaching out to people. But I think having someone that’s like more, a he’s like more knowledgeable as far as like contracts and like what I what’s realistic. Like what could I expect? Like I feel like I would probably go into something and get low balled and I wouldn’t know it and I’d be like, okay. Um, and like he’s good at making sure like things are good
Sevan Matossian (18:27):
For sure. Me too. And I don’t wanna do anything more to sponsors than say hi to them.
Alex Gazan (18:32):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (18:33):
I don’t wanna do anything. I don’t wanna talk about any of that shit.
Alex Gazan (18:36):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (18:37):
I got shit to do like you, you have handstand pushups to do.
Alex Gazan (18:40):
Yes, sir.
Sevan Matossian (18:41):
Where were you born?
Alex Gazan (18:43):
Uh, I was born in Oregon, um, port, well, I lived in hood river, but like close to Portland.
Sevan Matossian (18:50):
And uh, and how did you end up in Vegas?
Alex Gazan (18:53):
Um, I got married and
Sevan Matossian (18:55):
Jake man. Your husband’s proud of you.
Alex Gazan (18:59):
Sorry
Sevan Matossian (18:59):
Man. Your husband’s proud of you.
Alex Gazan (19:01):
Yeah, it’s so cute. It’s so good. Um, yeah, we got married and he works for his dad. Um, they do like fire prevention and stuff and so kind of wherever his dad goes, like he had to go and uh, his dad and family moved to, um, Las Vegas kind of like spur of the moment, like, Hey we’re we think we’ll really like it here. And so he moved and um, this was before we got married, we were just doing long distance. Um, and then we got engaged still long distance and then COVID happened. We were gonna get married in December. Um, but then COVID happened and we’re like, eh, let’s just like do it. So we got married in our friend’s living room. Um oh, awesome. And we did long distance again for a while. Uh, but then it like with COVID like, my job was kind of like up in the air training was up in the air at the gym at the time. And it was like, well, if I don’t have the gym and I don’t have a job, like I might as well move. So then I moved to Vegas.
Sevan Matossian (19:56):
Wow. Um, so he, is he a free spirit, bit of a free spirit himself?
Alex Gazan (20:01):
Like in what way?
Sevan Matossian (20:03):
Just like he, I mean, it’s just so like you just got married and like you were having a long distance relationship and even after you got married, you weren’t living together and it was just like just easy peasy.
Alex Gazan (20:13):
Yeah. I feel like we’re, I mean, Jake is really, um, he’s really mature in a different way. I would say like, he just knows what he wants and he wants it, like we were dating and he started talking about marriage, like so fast. And I was like, whoa, like, no, <laugh> like, you’re scaring me, like stop talking about it. Or like, I’m gonna break up with you kind of thing. And he didn’t stop talking about it and I didn’t break up with it. <laugh> um, so like, yeah, like he was long distance sucks, but like, he was like, yeah, it’s fine. Like we have to do this right now cuz like you’re doing this, I’m doing this. And like it’ll work out later. He’s very like, um, not one track minded, but like that’s the best way to put it. Like his brain’s just very like this, that, that.
Sevan Matossian (21:02):
Um, do you read any books or listen to any books?
Alex Gazan (21:05):
Um, sometimes.
Sevan Matossian (21:07):
Do you do mindset books or anything like that?
Alex Gazan (21:10):
No, not really. I probably should, but no
Sevan Matossian (21:13):
<laugh> um, does Justin talk to you guys about that stuff?
Alex Gazan (21:15):
About mindset? Yeah. Yeah. Like before granite, like he spoke to Matt and I for like 30 minutes, just like, um, talking
Sevan Matossian (21:24):
About who’s Matt who’s Mattie,
Alex Gazan (21:26):
Matt Delks. Oh,
Sevan Matossian (21:27):
Oh, okay. Okay. Sorry. No that’s okay.
Alex Gazan (21:29):
Okay. Um, and like, yeah, he spoke to us for like 30 minutes. Just like talking about like visualizing the events. Like for me a huge thing is like believing like, Hey, like you do belong there. Um, stuff like that. So he definitely like talks about it for sure.
Sevan Matossian (21:45):
You’re 20 years old. And you qualified for the CrossFit games?
Alex Gazan (21:48):
Yeah, I did.
Sevan Matossian (21:50):
Yeah. It’s crazy. Yeah. Um, was that the plan for it to happen this year?
Alex Gazan (21:54):
Well, not my plan. Um, I started when I was 16, like almost 17. Um, I found out there was a teen division and I was like, oh cool. Like I wanna try to do that. Um, granted, like I didn’t understand at the time how much like went into being like a games athlete and like the hundreds of things you have to be good at and CrossFit. Um, so I like barely missed it. And then, uh, my coaches at like at that gym and friends were like, don’t worry, like think bigger, like think individual, like just keep having fun and like doing your thing and eventually like you’ll make it. And so I’ve kind of just had this, like
Sevan Matossian (22:34):
That was 2018 mm-hmm
Alex Gazan (22:36):
<affirmative>.
Alex Gazan (22:38):
Um, and so I’ve kind of just had this like, not philosophy, but just like approach of like do the work, enjoy it. And like when it happens, it’s gonna happen. And um, I remember talking to Justin, uh, at the beginning of the season and that’s what I told him. I was like, Hey, like I wanna make it to the games. Like I don’t care when, but I want to. Um, and then we had a little goal meeting probably around the open, like Carrie came in and like asked us to all like verbally state our goals for the season. And like we all went around and I remember like sitting there, like being like, I hate unrealistic goals. Like I just think it’s like, I don’t wanna say a recipe for disaster, but like if you set a goal to deadlift 500 pounds and you don’t deadlift every week, like you’re just setting yourself up to be like disappointed.
Alex Gazan (23:28):
And I don’t like that. Um, so I was like, I remember being so nervous like, oh, what am I gonna say? Like is like top 10 and semi is a good goal. Like, should I be aiming higher? Like, what’s my goal. And I think, I remember just starting to be like, yeah, I just wanna do better than last year. And like top 10 and semis be cool. And like Carrie was like games, like save the games <laugh> um, and like at that time I still, like, I just didn’t believe it. Like I last year I barely made it to semis and like granted a lot can happen in a year, but I just didn’t think anything. And then quarter finals happened and I got 12, but I was like, oh, there was lifting. Like that was a fluke, like, yeah, I did well, but I don’t know. And then, then it happened.
Sevan Matossian (24:14):
Can you imagine, um, uh, Elon Musk said he was gonna build a rocket ship and go to space. Can you imagine that people around him must have been like your fucking <affirmative> you’re fucking crazy. Yeah. You’re you’re never gonna do that.
Alex Gazan (24:28):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (24:31):
Someone has to think that they’re gonna be the best.
Alex Gazan (24:34):
Yeah. And I think that’s what I’m working on is like not caring so much about what other people think. Cuz I do like, that’s probably one of my faults, like
Sevan Matossian (24:41):
Me too. I care what people think too.
Alex Gazan (24:43):
Yeah. And it’s like bad. Like someone could be mad at me and I’ll think about it for like all day until it’s fixed like all day.
Sevan Matossian (24:51):
Oh, maybe with talking about something different. I care what they think about me, but I don’t know if I I’m, I care what they think about me, but I don’t care about it. Like, um,
Alex Gazan (25:07):
Enough to act on it.
Sevan Matossian (25:09):
No, I care about it a lot. I’m trying to think there’s a there’s it’s it’s like weird. It’s like, you know that line that, um, Jay-Z says I’m the, the businessman won what’s what is it? I’m not a businessman. I’m a business man. <laugh>, you know, it’s like, there’s two that play on words. I care what people think about me, but I don’t care what they think about me. I like, I like I’m I’m cur like, like that was really, that was really fascinating to me. That that guy said that shit to me in my DMS today. Yeah. Like I cared. I was like, wow, I really care. Like I was really enjoying like this. Wow. This guy’s telling me what he thinks about it. Yeah. Yeah. And I know he is a bit frustrated cuz we’re in DMS and, and, and he’s, and so he’s, he’s borderline attacking me and, and telling me what he thinks. But, but I, but I’m not, but I don’t care like is in the sense, like it doesn’t hurt me.
Alex Gazan (25:57):
Yeah. Yeah. I, I don’t know what it is. I like, I struggle with, sorry, I’m just letting my dog out real quick. Um, yeah. I struggle with like, if I think someone doesn’t like me or I think that like, something’s wrong. Like I definitely want it fixed. Like I’m not good at just being like, oh, it doesn’t matter. I mean, as long as I know the person, like a stranger, I don’t care. Like if a, if someone that I didn’t know, commented on a post or like DM, the Avego like that doesn’t matter. But if it’s someone I know personally, then I really
Sevan Matossian (26:26):
Care. I think that’s super normal for 20.
Alex Gazan (26:29):
Yeah.
Sevan Matossian (26:30):
Super normal for 20 duper normal. Have you thought, what could you do to make your, um, uh, your, your training better? Do you think you could isolate yourself more or do you like the big group?
Alex Gazan (26:41):
Um, oh, I, I got asked this question yesterday in a different way. Like the pros and cons of training alone versus together. Um, I think like the biggest con or like sometimes the hardest part of training in a big group. It, for me, especially like, as an athlete is I get afraid to like take risks cuz you don’t wanna like, instead of losing by like a few seconds, you would lose by a few minutes if you like go out too hot and like blow up. Um, so like for myself that’s probably the hardest part is remembering. Sometimes you have to train and not compete, um, like with Metcons. Um, but with that said like, I love like training next to people and like, Hey, if we’re doing cleaning jerks in the EAM, like let’s stagger so we can watch each other. And like, um, cuz obviously Justin’s there, but it’s also nice to have extra eyes. And like there’s something to be said about if you’re on rep free of five of a squat and someone’s like, Hey, like let’s go, you have that extra like accountability to like make it happen.
Sevan Matossian (27:44):
Um, you know, that rope climb workout. Mm-hmm <affirmative> the run rope climb. Is there any benefit to being in your gym and doing that and just doing three rounds? Absolutely. As fast as you can rest three minutes. Um, do it three times the same way you might do Cindy instead of doing Cindy 20 rounds, do five rounds as fucking hard as you can rest three minutes and do it again. And, and sort of what you do then is you trick yourself around that you, you you’re fucking with your ego a little bit, right? Because you can leave your ego, you know that there’s nothing that’s gonna stop you in that, those three rope climbs.
Alex Gazan (28:16):
Yeah. Oh yeah, for sure.
Sevan Matossian (28:17):
Like, and so, and so you kind of like set your ego free of having to worry about failing in, in round 10.
Alex Gazan (28:23):
Yeah. I mean, I think not necessarily that work out for me, like I wasn’t worried about failing, but like other things, yes. Like there for me, a lot of it’s like, Hey, could you have done those toes of bar and broken? Like things like that. Like could you have, uh, gone faster on the burpees or were you like purposefully going slow? Like stuff like that is where like I have to like trick myself.
Sevan Matossian (28:48):
Are you getting smarter?
Alex Gazan (28:52):
Yes and no.
Sevan Matossian (28:52):
Like, are you like, wow, I know <laugh> are you like, wow. I never even thought of doing that.
Alex Gazan (28:58):
Oh yeah. Like in the gym, like I’m getting smarter, like just learning from everybody and learning from Justin in real life. I’m definitely getting dumber. <laugh>
Sevan Matossian (29:09):
You’re, you’re, you’re born, you’re born in Oregon, uh, outside of, outside of Portland. And you’re born in, uh, in, in the two thousands.
Alex Gazan (29:17):
Mm-hmm <affirmative> 2001.
Sevan Matossian (29:19):
Holy shit. Okay.
Alex Gazan (29:21):
<laugh>
Sevan Matossian (29:22):
And uh, and, and are your parents married when you’re born?
Alex Gazan (29:25):
Mm-hmm <affirmative> they were
Sevan Matossian (29:27):
And uh, are and do, and you’re the, you were the fir their first child.
Alex Gazan (29:31):
I’m their only child.
Sevan Matossian (29:32):
Only child. Oh, but you have a five year old brother?
Alex Gazan (29:34):
I do.
Sevan Matossian (29:37):
And, and is that your mom? That’s your mom’s baby
Alex Gazan (29:40):
Mm-hmm <affirmative> yeah, dad. Yeah. She, um, actually kind of crazy story. Like she’s had multiple relationships since, um, me, me too, me too. <laugh> since her and my dad got divorced, they got divorced when I was like five. So I was very young. Um, but like she was remarried. Like she like.
The above transcript is generated using AI technology and therefore may contain errors.
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