Botox and Burpees

In this episode of Botox and Burpees, host Sam Rhee invites Dr. Lawrence Tong, a renowned plastic surgeon from Toronto, to discuss the tragic passing of 31-year-old Brazilian influencer Ana Bárbara Buhr Buldrini @anabmusi following cosmetic surgeries traveling from Mozambique to Istanbul, Turkey. 

They explore how the transactional nature of trading surgical procedures for social media exposure potentially compromised stan...

The battle against premature aging begins with a single, crucial step—applying sunscreen daily. But with countless options flooding the market, how do you select one that's not only effective but also something you'll actually use consistently?

Two seasoned plastic surgeons, Dr. Sam Rhee and Dr. Lawrence Tong @yorkvilleplasticsurgery, cut through the noise with clarity that only comes from years of treating facia...

There are friendships that defy expectations—bonds between people who, on paper, shouldn't connect. Yet these unexpected relationships often teach us the most profound lessons. My friendship with Stephen Rice was exactly that kind of connection.

Steve passed away on April 8, 2025, after suffering an unexpected stroke. Though we primarily knew each other from CrossFit Bison, rarely seeing each other outside the gym, we...

Creatine stands as the most heavily researched supplement in the fitness world, yet myths and questions about its use persist. What exactly happens when this natural compound enters your body? Who should take it? Is it truly safe?

Diving deep into the science, host Sam Rhee delves deep into the topic of creatine supplementation. how it works in the body, and its benefits for different age groups including teens, young adul...

Cultural identity exists in the spaces between languages, generations, and countries. When Sasha joins her father for this candid conversation, they unravel what it means to grow up Korean American through their distinct generational lenses.

Sasha, a third-generation Korean American with suprising Korean reading and speaking abilities, proudly embraces her heritage while acknowledging its complexities. Her father takes a d...

What happens as an athlete when your own body becomes its own worst enemy? In this raw and powerful conversation, CrossFit athlete Laura "Legit" Romanek @mcskins opens up about her journey with rheumatoid arthritis, a diagnosis that threatened to redefine everything about her athletic identity.

From waking up with a mysteriously swollen wrist on Open Quarterfinals day to navigating a complex web of medications, L...

Magnesium has become the one of the most popular supplements in the world, but does it deserve the hype? As both a physician with nearly three decades of experience and someone who's relied on magnesium to combat debilitating muscle cramps, host Sam Rhee looks at the science behind this popular mineral and his personal journey with the supplement.

Beginning with his experience during surgical internship and years late...

S05E105 Navigating High School and the College Admissions Journey with Nicholas Rhee

Ever wonder what it's really like to navigate the high-stakes world of college applications as a teenager today? In this family conversation, host Sam Rhee sits down with his 18-year-old son Nicholas to unpack the reality behind the high school experience and college admissions process.

Nicholas shares his journey from elemen...

College admissions - the high-stakes game that dominates the lives of high school students and their families. In this episode, my guest is my spouse Susan Rhee @susanrhee as we unpack how our two children successfully navigated their way to Duke University, despite both facing deferrals in the early decision round.

Susan shares the rollercoaster of emotions we experienced as parents - from the crushing disappointment of i...

The way we've been taught to treat athletic injuries could be completely wrong. In this eye-opening conversation with certified athletic trainer Kayla Andrews @kay__wellness, we challenge the decades-old RICE protocol (rest, ice, compression, elevation) that has dominated injury management since 1978.

Kayla reveals why immediate, extensive icing might actually impede your body's natural healing processes and how ...

Does yoga have a place in a CrossFit athlete's training regimen? In this eye-opening conversation with yoga instructor Kristen Fazio @kristenfazyoga, we explore the surprising synergy between these seemingly opposite disciplines.

Kristen, who brings an athletic approach to her yoga instruction, explains why mobility matters tremendously for CrossFit performance. Most athletes struggle with depth in squats, overhead po...

The secretive world of Wall Street recruitment has always fascinated outsiders – but few understand just how early the talent pipeline begins. Host Sam Rhee chats with his daughter, Sasha Rhee, about her journey and experiences in securing a summer internship at an investment banking firm. Sasha, a sophomore at Duke University, walks us through the intensive networking process, the technical preparation, and the strategic self-mark...

What happens when you miss your competitive goals despite giving your all? In the world of CrossFit, where success is measured in seconds and pounds, missing qualification cuts can feel devastating—especially when you made it the year before.

This raw, honest conversation with @crossfitbison athlete Kristen Torres @kristenan explores the emotional rollercoaster that follows disappointment in competitive fitness. We unpack ...

Would you like to live 10, 15, or even 20 years longer just by taking a weekly pill? Join us as we dive into the buzzworthy world of rapamycin, a drug lauded by researchers as potentially the most powerful anti-aging treatment ever discovered. 

Dr. Rhee shares his personal journey of considering rapamycin, offering an in-depth look at its history, how it works by inhibiting the mTOR pathway, and its promising results in ex...

Join host Sam Rhee on this episode as he explores the surprising empathy skills of AI chatbots and what we can learn from them to become better listeners. Drawing from Jamil Zaki's insights, we discuss how chatbots like ChatGPT often outperform humans in making people feel heard and understood. 

He explains how chatbots avoid common human mistakes by focusing on the other person, validating their feelings, and asking ...

With six current company gyms, how can Station Athletics @stationathletics reach their goal of 120 gyms in 10 years?

Chris Hardenberg @c_hard_fit, the Head of Operations for Station Athletics shares his journey from being a high school wrestling coach and teacher to becoming a central figure in one of the largest CrossFit gym chains in the country. 

We  delve into Station Athletics' unique expansion strategy,...

In this fun episode of Botox and Burpees, host Dr. Sam Rhee is joined by his daughter Sasha Rhee for an in-depth discussion on skincare. 

They unravel the myriad of products Sasha orders from Amazon, showcasing Sasha's diverse skincare routine, influenced heavily by Korean beauty trends and TikTok recommendations. 

Sasha reviews some of her favorite products, and highlights the importance of a multi-step skin...

Special guest Senior Writer for Morning Chalk Up and CrossFit Trainer at CrossFit Union Square @crossfitunionsquare in NYC, Teaganne Finn @tfinn94 shares her journey from journalism to CrossFit coaching, illuminating the power of community in personal transformation and the evolving dynamics within CrossFit HQ. 

The conversation delves into the state of CrossFit as a company, the challenges affiliates face, and the evolving fitness ...

Join us as we welcome Jessica Wende @jwbfitness3, a remarkable fitness and nutrition coach who’s a shining example of resilience and passion. From conquering childhood health challenges to achieving All-American status in the 100 meters and earning an esteemed Hall of Fame nomination, Jessica’s story is a testament to dedication and perseverance. 

Her journey is filled with insights from two decades of educating students i...