Listen to Episode 106: For Time with Myriad — available on Youtube HERE.
If you’ve ever walked into Myriad Fitness + Yoga and felt like someone was quietly sizing you up before deciding whether to talk to you — don’t worry, it wasn’t personal. That was just Richie being Richie. And as he put it himself, he went from “staring at someone for six months before deciding to talk to them” to becoming one of the most impactful coaches this gym has ever seen. Introvert surviving an extrovert’s job? Absolutely. Thriving at it? Undeniably.
In Episode 106 of For Time with Myriad, we sat down with Richie for a proper send-off as he prepares to trade his coaching clipboard for a fire helmet. In just 13 days (yes, there was a countdown), Richie begins the recruit academy with the Noblesville Fire Department — a six-month, Monday through Friday program that will have him suiting up for a whole new kind of intensity.
From Barefoot Snatches to Full-Time Coach
Richie’s Myriad story started the way a lot of great ones do — as a member in 2016, showing up at our Monon location to make his karate better. (Mission accomplished, by the way.) He came in with a background in biomechanics and kinesiology but had never touched a barbell in his life. His introduction to the gym? Memorable, to say the least. Let’s just say there’s a legendary story involving a barefoot full snatch that immediately told everyone everything they needed to know about this guy.
After three years as a member, a fateful hike with Peter planted the seed, and by September 2019 Richie was officially on staff — coaching classes, cleaning every single bike and rower in the building, and learning the craft from the ground up under Anna, Peter, and weightlifting coach Jess Granger. The grind was real. We’re talking 12-hour days and baseline-competence-before-anything-else kind of humility.
The Evolution of a Coach
Richie went from early-morning equipment wipe-downs to becoming Myriad’s lead programmer, implementing the Level Method, spearheading our coach development program, and building a full personal training roster that changed lives one session at a time.
On the fitness side, he snatched 225 pounds before he could string together 30 double-unders — a detail that is both hilarious and extremely on-brand. He’s cleaned and jerked 315 and logged workouts that, by his own admission, nearly killed him trying to keep up with Nate, Jason, and Joe (coaches and former coaches).
What stands out most, though, is the growth beyond the barbell. Richie leaned into feedback that wasn’t always easy to hear, evolved his ability to connect with clients and new members, and became a cornerstone of what makes Myriad’s coaching staff as dialed-in as it is today. As he described himself: “an introvert surviving an extrovert’s job” — and getting better at it every single year.
What Richie Built at Myriad
Behind the scenes, Richie’s fingerprints are all over this gym. Here’s a snapshot of what he’s contributed during his time on staff:
- Lead Programmer — designed and adapted all gym programming, including customizing the Level Method to fit Myriad’s community
- Coach Development Program — built the framework we now use to train and develop all of our coaches
- Personal Training — built a full client roster, helping members hit goals they never thought possible
- Equipment Steward — put hands on every piece of equipment every single week for years (the bikes and rowers thank you, Richie)
What’s Next — and What Stays the Same
Richie officially wraps up his full-time role the week of the 20th, then heads into a six-month recruit academy with the Noblesville Fire Department. After that, he’ll be working 24-hour shifts — gone for 24, home for 24, repeat.
The good news for all of us? Richie isn’t fully disappearing. He’s continuing to program for Myriad through the academy and beyond. You might even catch him getting his morning workout in before the recruits come calling.
A Few Parting Words
Richie summed it up better than we ever could: “It’s a very cool job. I get to help people do things they’ve never done, never thought they could do.” From that first pull-up to a first muscle-up — there’s nowhere else in life you get to witness that kind of moment, and Richie got to be part of thousands of them here at Myriad.
Richie, thank you for the reps — all of them. The programming, the coaching, the feedback, the early mornings, and yes, even the six months of side-eye before you warmed up to us. We can’t wait to cheer you on from the sidelines.
3, 2, 1 — go get ’em.
🎙️ Listen to the full conversation with Richie on Episode 106 of For Time with Myriad. New episodes drop weekly.
