The Gravel Family Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Gravel Family Podcast
Hosted by Sofia Gibson and Jason Strohbehn, the Gravel Family Podcast is an encouraging space to motivate more people to get on their bikes and enjoy the community that gravel sports create. We will share a variety of stories from hometown pirates to the top of the podium pros. Throughout the series we will share training tips and insight on Gravel Worlds as well as answer your questions that arise during your training season.
We are loving this new tradition of kicking off our seasons with interviewing the DFL winner of Gravel Worlds! This year's DFL winner is Alan Abrams who joined us to talk about his journey from finding out about our event to being our last place finisher on his first Gravel Worlds race!
Well, what a year! Lauf Gravel Worlds 2025 is done and dusted, and we are still riding that wave of "I can't believe that happened!" We unpack the whole week of events in this episode, going back through all the amazing moments!
Registration for Gravel Worlds 2026 is OPEN with early bird pricing through September. Go to www.gravelworlds.com to learn more.
We're back, we're back and we're so stoked for Gravel Worlds 2025 THIS WEEK! We haven so much to tell you about this week, and we can't wait to share everything we've been planning!
If you haven't signed up yet, there's still time! Check out www.gravelworlds.com for all the details.
In this episode, we sit down with Shane and Jeremy Hutsell, a father-son duo who took on the grueling Unbound 200 together. But this ride wasn’t just about miles and mud. It was a journey fueled by purpose, love, and a reason much bigger than themselves. Tune in as they share what drove them through the Flint Hills, the highs and lows of riding side by side, and the powerful story behind why they showed up to the start line.
We're back! After a small hiatus due to busy season (planning for this little event called Gravel Worlds, have you heard of it?!) we're BACK and better than ever- with an awesome interview! This episode features Anne Hed, owner and operator of Anne Hed, who has changed the wheel game in the cycling industry! As a wealth of knowledge in gravel, triathlon, and road, Anne makes this an episode a must listen!
An episode long overdue, we finally got the chance to chat with Morgan Chaffin, a back to back two time champ of the Gravel Worlds 75, to talk about her wins, her journey into cycling, and her very unique training program!
This episode is sponsored by GOODLIFE Nutrition. Fuel your GOODLIFE with nutrition that works! Head over to www.fuelyourgoodlife.com and use code GRAVELFAMILY for 20% off your first order.
On this episode we talk with Bobby Wintle, the lead promoter of The Mid South Gravel. This past weekend Stillwater, Oklahoma experienced unprecedented wildfires that burnt thousands of acres of forests and grass lands, destroyed wildlife habitats and farmland, took over 70 homes, and ultimately cancelled one of gravel’s most beloved events. We sit down with Bobby to process through the highs and lows and aftermath from this weekend. This is by far our most emotionally charged podcast as we let Bobby talk through all the feelings, actions, and timeline of the entire Mid South week.
This is also the first video podcast we’ve done and will be released on Mid South’s Youtube very soon.
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Thank you to all the first responders who tirelessly worked to keep everyone safe. Because of them, there were no reported deaths and hundreds of homes were saved.
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You can support Stillwater by donating to the https://www.unitedwaypaynecounty.org/form/donate-or-pledge-2022. Gravel Worlds will also be donating 50% of race entry fees between now and April 8 to support #StillwaterStrong
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This episode is sponsored by GOODLIFE Nutrition. Use code GRAVELFAMILY for 20% off your first order.
Last weekend, Chase Wark had his eyes on winning the 2025 Mid South Gravel, but his plans were cancelled by catastrophic wildfires that wiped out homes, land, and animals. While Chase could have gone home, he instead decided to stay and chase the Mega Mid South FKT with eyes on now raising money for the community of Stillwater. This podcast is about how he did it.
To donate, head to: https://www.midsouthgravel.com/shop/p/stillwater-wildfire-relief
Crystal Kovac's impact on our sport has been felt so heavily in the last few years as she has been an advocate for women and beginners in the gravel world! She also happens to be the founder of Dirt Squad, a team aimed at educating and creating community. We talk all about this endeavor, as well as her journey into the world of gravel and how she became an advocate for people new to this sport!
If you are interested in joining Dirt Squad go to https://dirtsquad.co/
This episode is sponsored by GOODLIFE Nutrition. Check out their line of performance fueling products at https://fuelyourgoodlife.com/
On the heels of his brand new film premiere: LUKAS, we had a chance to sit down with the movie star himself, Lukas Coon, and his amazing mom, Jen, to talk about his incredible journey in gravel. Starting out at the first Adventure for All Lincoln athlete to learn how to ride a bike, to completing Gravel Worlds, his story is one that inspires.
The Film LUKAS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ3PGQ9uRvw
This episode is sponsored by GOODLIFE Nutrition. To learn more about GOODLIFE's lineup of nutrition products go to www.fuelyourgoodlife.com
In this episode, we’re joined by Marcus Robinson, one of the founders of Ride for Racial Justice, a powerful movement combining cycling with the fight for racial justice. Marcus shares the mission behind the organization, the events they’ll be attending this year, and how cycling is used as a tool for advocacy. We also take a detour into some BBQ talk- because why not? You won't want to miss this one to hear about how Ride for Racial Justice is making strides in our community!
To get involved with RFRJ, you can email Marcus at marcus@rideforracialjustice.org and give them a follow in Instagram: @rideforracialjustice
This episode is sponsored by GOODLIFE Nutrition, check out their line of breakthrough fueling products at www.fuelyourgoodlife.com
In this episode, we’re joined by Heidi and Jeff from Rasputitsa for a conversation that’s a little heavier than usual. We’re talking about Anthony, one of the founders of Rasputitsa, and his ongoing fight with stage 4 lung cancer that’s spread to his brain and bones.
Heidi and Jeff open up about what Anthony’s going through and how his strength continues to inspire everyone around him, even in the toughest moments. It’s a powerful conversation about this gravel community, resilience, and supporting each other through life’s hardest challenges. Plus, we also talk a bit about their incredible Rasputitsa event and some memorable moments from that race.
This episode might be emotional, but it’s also about the bonds that brings this Gravel Family together.
Lauren Stephens is back on the Gravel Family Podcast to talk about her 2024 Gravel Worlds WIN! As the back to back Champion of the Gravel Seas, she shares about her experience winning yet again and what her 2025 year will look like!
This episode is sponsored by GOODLIFE Nutrition, check out the line up of performance fueling products at www.fuelyourgoodlife.com and use code GRAVELFAMILY for 20% off your first purchase.
On this episode, we chat with Becca Book, the 2024 Gravel Worlds Long Voyage champion who finished in just over 18 hours making her the Gravel Worlds Long Voyage record holder. We also got to chat with her about her epic adventure in Chile for a thrilling backpacking race!
In this episode, we sit down with Luke Hall, the 2024 Long Voyage 300 winner, to dive into his incredible record breaking journey at Gravel Worlds, his personal cycling story, and what’s on the calendar for 2025. Luke shares insights into the challenges and nutrition strategy of his 2024 victory, how Gravel Worlds tested his limits, and what drives him to continue pushing the envelope in the sport. We also get a glimpse of his goals for the upcoming year, including the races and ambitions for his 2025 season.
In this episode, we sit down with Simen Nordahl Svendsen, the youngest-ever winner of Gravel Worlds and an absolute powerhouse in the gravel racing scene. Riding for PAS, Simen has made a name for himself with back-to-back wins at the Rifts and a dominant performance in the 2024 Gravel Earth series. We dive into his journey into the sport, what it was like to conquer Gravel Worlds, and the unique tradition he’s created for himself whenever he races in a new location. Whether you’re a fan of gravel racing or just love hearing from rising stars, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. Tune in for insights into the mind of one of the sport's most exciting up-and-comers!
This episode is sponsored by GoodLife Nutrition. To learn more GoodLife Nutrition's lineup of science backed products, head over to www.fuelyourgoodlife.com
Please note we had a few technical difficulties including the mic picking up Jason and Sofia's keyboards to take down show notes, and some microphone feedback
Sam Hansen, the 2024 Gravel World's Non-Binary Champion is not only a cyclist, but a mathematics communicator, librarian, and a podcast producer!
Having years of experience in the cycling world, they are an activist for Gender Expansive categories in the cycling industry. We chat all about their professional work, Gravel World's experiences and where they hope to see the sport in years to come!
Happy Holidays to our Gravel Family listeners!
We appreciate you more than you know and we're so lucky to be able to have the best listeners in the world. We will be taking a few weeks off to celebrate the holidays, but we will be back in 2025 with brand new episodes for you!
As the youngest known summiteer of Mauna Kea, and podiuming at races all over the country, Greer Peed is making his name in the cycling world! We chat about his inspiring summit, his 2024 Gravel Worlds 75 mile finish, his Everest experience on Zwift, and much more!
This episode is sponsored by GoodLife Nutrition. Check out their line of products including their great tasting Carb Mix (made with Cluster Dextrin, a better carbohydrate that digests easily like food), EAA's, Protein, and Endurance Recovery mixes online at www.fuelyourgoodlife.com or follow them on Instagram at @fuelyourgoodlife
In this season of Thanks, we wanted to thank all of our listeners, sponsors, friends, and family for an incredible 2024 season! We are so lucky and honored to have some of the best listeners in the industry!
While Trevor Slawnyk may be new to the race director scene, you'd never know it after participating in his Dozinky Doozy race in southeastern Nebraska. In this episode, we talk about his new event, what it takes to put on a new race, and another fun idea he possibly has up his sleeve!
Howard Florence, Kentucky native, came to Nebraska to ride on our gravel roads- and left soaked with champagne from his DFL First to Last win! We got to hear all about his day, what the First2Last party meant to him, and he tells us about a smell he still can't get out of his car- post champagne spray.
Following our announcement earlier this month about our new title sponsor: Lauf, we had the CEO of Lauf Cycles, Benedikt, on our podcast! He talks all about Lauf, the engineering of the bikes, and a tiny sneak peek of what could be next for Lauf!
In what may be our most inspiring and most entertaining podcast yet, we sit down with our Gravel Worlds 2024 75 Mile Para Champion!
Patrick Halgren isn't just a cyclist though, he spends the majority of his team on the slopes, training on Team USA for skiing.
This is a, "Don't wanna miss," episode!
We're back with our first guest of season four! And for this series, we're starting with the after DFL finisher, Trevor White who rolled in (from completing the double) only eight minutes after our DFL was crowned. On top of that accomplishment, he was a super volunteer- putting in countless hours behind the scene from Wednesday-Friday of Gravel Worlds week!
Hey Gravel Family!
We're BACK- for Season FOUR!
In this episode, we talk all about Gravel Worlds 2024, what we are expecting for 2025, and our plans for season four!
This week's episode is a little different... We teased that we would have an epic power couple to round out the series, and it's finally here!
When down at Unbound, we decided to grab people off the expo and ask them our iconic question, "What does the Gravel Family mean to you?" Their answers? Incredible.
This episode was sponsored by Lauf Cycles. To check out Lauf's impressive line up of bikes, head to www.lauf-cycles.com
Sylvie D’Aoust, endurance athlete, race promoter, and Secrets From the Saddle Podcast Host, joined us at Unbound before her UnboundXL experience! We were able to talk about last year’s XL race, her own race she promotes, and her podcast!
This episode is sponsored by Lauf Cycles! To check out Lauf’s impressive lineup of bikes, check out www.laufcycles.com
Caroline Wreszin has made her mark in the elite women’s field, topping podiums across the country and since we were crossing paths in Emporia for Unbound, we had the chance to sit down with her and talk about her incredibly impressive year she’s had!
This episode is sponsored by Lauf Cycles. To check out Lauf’s impressive line up of bikes head over to www.laufcycles.com
Bikes are about community, and Beth McBride has proven that in her finishes at Gravel Worlds, MidSouth, and Unbound! First finding gravel through our 1000 women of gravel initiative, she has proven her tenacity through the last few years and has become a motivation for others through her experience as DFL at MidSouth2024.
In this episode, we talk about the amazing year on the bike, our upcoming First2Last party at Gravel Worlds, and of course her DFL finish!
This podcast is sponsored by Lauf Cycles. To check out Lauf’s amazing lineup of bikes, head to www.laufcycles.com
Continuing on our Unbound series, we got to talk to Leah Van der Linden- Lauf athlete, LTGP contender, and an age group champ of Garmin Gravel Worlds! We talk about her experience at Garmin Gravel Worlds, the upcoming race at Unbound, and her plans for the year!
This episode is sponsored by Lauf Cycles. To see all of Lauf's incredible bikes head to: www.laufcycles.com
We made it, we did it! This is Gravel Family Podcast episode 100. We're not gonna give many details about this episode, so click that play button and give it a listen!
Emily Joy Newsom, a professional gravel privateer, started racing on road back in 2013 and after having an impressive career on the road (including racing in the Tour de France Femmes) she started racing gravel where she has been no stranger to podiums!
Continuing on our Unbound series, we talked to Emily about her career, her family, and of course about her (at the time) upcoming Unbound race!
Next up in our lineup of Unbound episodes presented by Lauf, is the one and only LDC! Lauren has been dominating the gravel scene in the last few years with wins at MidSouth, Unbound, and is a two time champ of Gravel Worlds!
In the past year, Lauren has jumped into the privateer life and we were lucky enough to sit down with her again to talk about that change, her new Shopify store which raises money for TBI survivors, and we of course had to talk a little bit about Unbound!
To shop LDC's store, head over to https://e9aece-3.myshopify.com/
To learn more about the Craig Foundation go to: https://craighospital.org/foundation
The newest induction of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, winner and finisher of countless endurance events including the Tour Divide, Iditarod and “short” endurance events like Trans Iowa, Unbound, and so many more, JP is an absolute icon in this sport who now happens to be a race promoter!
We were so excited to interview this guest, and he left us speechless, inspired, and reflecting. This is a can't miss episode!
If you are looking for a cool summer family friendly event, check out his race: Teton Valley Backyard Rally on July 6th in Victor, ID!
Happy Unbound week!!! We cannot wait to party it up with y'all down in Emporia KS, AKA Gravel City USA!
We talk about the schedule for the week, how you can get your hands on some Gravel Family stickers, and give a preview about our guests! BUT it doesn't stop there... Keep listening when you think the episode is over... We bring on a very special guest, Kristi Mohn, to talk about the event and what to expect down in Emporia!!
Triathlete turned gravel cyclist, founder and co-host of the very popular Girls Gone Gravel podcast Kathryn Taylor wears many hats in the cycling community and we were so lucky to be able to sit down with her to hear her story about how she got into gravel, the beginning of the Girls Gone Gravel Brand, and what's to come for her own podcast!
As an exclusive offer for listeners of this podcast, use code "GIRLSGONEGRAVEL" for 15% off your registration in the women's or non-binary category of Gravel Worlds 2024!
Doug Orey-Everett is a long time supporter of the gravel community. We talk about his passion of spreading awareness of mental health and using the bike to help us all on our physical and mental health journeys. We talk about starting his new cycling club, Sad Velo Cycling Club, that is dedicated to encouraging us all to acknowledge and work on our own mental health. “Ride Bikes. Go To Therapy.”
Professional cyclists Hannah Shell and Jake Magee are not only incredible athletes on the bike, but they have a passion for people and this community that brings us all together! We were able to catch up with Hannah and Jake for an episode full of event stories, their story of how they met, and we also talk a little bit about Hannah's new role as the First to Last Coordinator!
Collectively finishing dozens of races and events including multiple Gravel Worlds, Cole and Kelsi are bothinvolved in the Iowa Gravel Project, run weekly gravel group rides, and now host three separate gravel events! It was an honor to sit down with them to talk about Iowa Gravel, RAGBRAI, and the events they put on in the community!
As long time friends and supporters of Gravel Worlds John Wilmeth and Venny Alub sit down with us for another episode on the Power Couples series! Together they have finished countless gravel and mountain bike events around the country are the owners of Cantu Wheels, and they are just all around incredible people! We talk about their adventures both on and off the bike, how Cantu came to be, and.... Pickleball?!
Taking a week break from our power couple series (don't worry... we have a few more coming up) we thought it would be a great time to catch up and talk about our favorite thing.. GRAVEL WORLDS!
This week's couple has hands down been the most requested power couple, yet! While Ali is the most winningest female of Gravel Worlds, as well as being on the top podium of countless other races, her husband Blaize is the National Account Sales Manager at SRAM- so you could say they know a thing or two about bikes and the cycling world!
In this episode we talk about their experiences traveling the world together, how they met, and update on their life since we last had them on the podcast!
This episode is not only a continuation of the Power Couples series, but it piggy backs on last week's episode about NICA as we interview Vanessa Hauswald, the Executive Director of NoCal NICA and her husband Yuri Hauswald who is the community manager of GU Energy Labs, Unbound Gravel champion, and a class of 2023 Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame member!
We talk about Vanessa's experience in NICA, being a stage 4 cancer survivor, Yuri's experience at GU, and their love for bikes as a couple!
You can find Yuri and Vanessa on Instagram at:
@yhauswald
@vhaus
Taking a break from our Power Couples series, Josalyn Poore and her dad, Jesse Poore join us to talk about our local NICA league, Lancaster Composite and what it's like to be part of that culture and community!
If you are interested in more information about NICA for either a coaching position or as an athlete, check out the links below:
Nebraska Interscholastic Cycling League: https://nebraskamtb.org/
Lancaster Composite Mountain Bike Team: https://lancastermtb.com/
NICA: https://nationalmtb.org/
Putting on a combined total of 55 successful events, being event directors for 24 years, and being married for 28 years- this power couple knows a few things about both bikes and love so it was only natural to have them on our podcast! Being promoters for Pine Island Gravel Odyssey, 28 Below, and Dakota 5-0, Kristi and Perry Jewett shared their experiences through their years of both riding and event directing and we are so lucky to get to share those stories with you!
When you think of the phrase "Power Couples" Ted and Laura King fit that description to a T! While Ted is a former world tour pro who hit the gravel rolling in 2016 to go on to win countless podiums, Laura has been on those same podiums and between her work on the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame board and advocacy work for women in cycling, she has become an inspiration for women around the world. We talk all about their busy life raising two young children while balancing the life in the cycling world, their van life adventures, and what their next year will look like!
Dave and Selene are the epitome of a power couple in the cycling industry! On her side she brings a wealth of knowledge about women's health in sport as she runs the "Hit Play Not Pause" podcast, as well as competing in almost all of the big name gravel events around the country. On the other hand, Dave is the promoter of UnPaved Pennsylvania and Monkey Knife Fight, and has been a crucial part of the growth of gravel cycling on the East coast.This is not one you will want to miss!
We're starting off strong with our "Love Month" series interviewing Kristen and Nick Legan!
We truly could not ask for a better couple to talk to about their dynamic as active cyclists and leaders in the industry. We talk about Kristen's upcoming year in the Lifetime Grand Prix, Nick's upcoming Great Divide Mountain Bike Route adventure!
It's been a long time coming, but we finally had to chance to talk to the first ever winner of Gravel Worlds- Mike Marchand!
An absolute legend, incredible person, and librarian, Mike brought his wisdom of his years in gravel cycling at different events and sheds light on the evolution of the sport!
Chase Wark has numerous accolades including being the 2021 Randy Gibson Climbers Jersey Winner, 2023 Gravel Worlds 2nd place overall, and winning multiple other races in 2023 including two Para National Championships!
Coming off an incredible year, we had the chance to pick his brain on being a race promoter for some incredible grassroots events, and got to hear about his incredible Gravel Worlds experience!
You can find more information about his events below:
Warkscyclingservices.com
While Geno Villafano is well known for his Tiktok presence, he has so much more to share with the world! On the heels of his move to Berlin, we were able to sit down with him for a conversation about his racing history (including his 2023 Long Voyage win), how he first went viral on social media, his recent move to Germany, and also his unique wedding story!
You can follow Geno on both Instagram and Tiktok under the username: @Spieo
Kaci is no stranger to the running world, and as two time champ of the Gravel Worlds Land Ho, she knows a thing or two about winning races! We talk about her history as an athlete and also dive into her new found passion for cycling!
From our team to you, HAPPY HOLIDAYS! No matter where you're from, who you are, or what you ride, we are proud to call you family!
We will see you in 2024 for a whole new batch of episodes.
As the founder of both Pure Gravel and Lift Creative Studios, a board member of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, and as we learned in the episode, the inventor of the bar end shifters on triathlon road bikes, Steve Driscoll has etched his name in gravel history.
In this episode, we talk about his history of cycling, his endeavors in both Pure Gravel and Lift Creative Studios, and we pick his brain on what has changed and evolved in this sport over the years!
For more information about Pure Gravel: https://puregravel.com/
While Shane Peed started out as a triathlete and Ironman, he has found a love for gravel cycling and has done so much for the community through his team, Slowtwitch Good Life Racing. We were able to snag some time with this busy business owner (he also owns Certified Piedmontese) to talk about his Ironman and triathlon experiences!
To find out more information about Certified Piedmontese- https://www.piedmontese.com/
To find out more about Good Life Racing-
https://www.goodliferacing.com/
Not only is this week's guest a talented cyclist with plenty of podium finishes throughout his career (including 5th place at Gravel Worlds 2023), but he is a world champion in U23 rowing! Clearly Brennan Wertz is a multi-dimensional athlete and we were lucky enough to talk to him about his last few years at races across the country, and his experience as a world champion rower!
Instagram:
brennan.wertz
What are we thankful for this year? YOU! Jason and Sofia kick off Thanksgiving week with a short episode, summing up our thankfulness for the next year, featuring a few special guests!
Calling in all the way from Iceland, the Marketing Director of Lauf Cycles, Oli (Olafur) Thorarensen speaks to us about Iceland riding, the new Lauf Úthald, and shares some experiences he's had at races around the country!
To donate to the Haleakala Climb For Good, for your chance to win the New Lauf Uthald, head over to the link below!
https://pledgeit.org/haleakala-climb-for-good
Conor O'Brian is an incredible human with a heart for people and bikes, and he happens to be really fast as well! Coming off of his Gravel Worlds Long Voyage 300 second place podium, he has now set his eyes on the next goal- raising money for Discover Imua!In this episode, Conor talks all about his experiences at Pedal Imua, as well as his Gravel Worlds 300 ride!
You can learn more about Discover Imua at https://discoverimua.com/
and follow Conor on Instagram at conor.obrian
Dan Hughes who is a first round Hall of Fame Inductee, 4x winner of Unbound, 2014 winner of Gravel Worlds, winner of the OG Tripple Crown, and the manager of Sunflower Bike Shop in Lawrence Kansas, sits down for a conversation about OG gravel, and his experiences at Gravel Worlds, Unbound, and TransIowa!
Leading up to Pedal Imua on December 2nd, we had the chance to talk about the event with Dean and Marni to talk about what the Imua Family is, what they do, and the special events they out on around the year!
To learn more about Pedal Imua or the Imua Family go to www.discoverimua.com
To keep our long distance endurance series going, we catch up with our two time Long Voyage Champion, Paige Redman, to get her 2021 and 2022 Gravel Worlds race reports. Additionally we talk about her recent riding and supporting roles she has been involved with over the last year.
We had the chance to sit down with our 300 Long Voyage Champion, Tina Hart for a conversation about her race- including her bike set up and nutrition, as well as talking about other endurance races she has done, such as the UNBOUND Gravel 350!
Lauren Stephens swept the Nebraska races in August as she won at Garmin Gravel Worlds and then two weeks later went and won US Gravel Nationals! And of course in between those races she won Dakota 5-0 in South Dakota! Coming off of three incredible weeks we had the chance to sit down and get race reports about both Gravel Worlds and Gravel Nationals, as well talk about what this next year looks like- including her road schedule!
Our 2023 Garmin Gravel Worlds Captain of the Gravel Seas, John Borstelmann sits down with us to recap his winning race!
It's here! Gravel World's week is HERE! This episode is a little different... We introduce each member of our team and everyone gives their favorite Lincoln recommendations! Then we break down the schedule of our whole week- From Wednesday night to Sunday morning!
Adventure for All is on their summer tour and we had the chance to sit down and talk to them about their initiative!
If you've spent time at local grassroots events around Nebraska and Kansas, there's a good chance you've shared the road with this week's guest. Trisha Luke is no stranger to long distance endurance gravel events (on her single speed) and she has big goals for this coming year. We talk about her latest adventures, including the 1000 mile Flint Hills Ultra, and what's to come for her!
You can find Trisha on Instagram at @trishridesbikestoseecows
Jason and Sofia switch roles and Jason has the opportunity to interview Sofia about her experience helping out with Gravel Worlds, her entry into the cycling world, and she is finally asked that burning question: "What does the Gravel Family mean to you?"
This episode has lots of good stories, memories, and history of the event we know and love now- Gravel Worlds
After an unexpected break in the podcast, we are back and better than ever! We talk about how our summer has been going and a rough overview of what Gravel Worlds 2023 will look like!
Laura King who is an avid cyclist, mom to two darling kids, and wife, shares her journey as a cyclist and her life as an active mom!
You can find her on Instagram at @lauracameronking
Thank you to Lauf Cycles for sponsoring this episode!
We're taking it all the way back this episode by interviewing the man who had a huge hand in not only the inspiration of Unbound, but other gravel events around the country. His presence in this community has created ripples in these gravel seas through his event TransIowa, his blog, and his reviews of cycling products. It's no wonder he is in the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame!
You can find his blog here: https://g-tedproductions.blogspot.com/
You can find him on Instagram at @g.ted.productions
Welcome to the Unbound episodes! Starting off, we have Iz King! We talk about what got her into the sport, her inspiration in riding, and she answers a lot of your submitted questions from Instagram- including what her second favorite color is!
You can find Iz on Instagram at @king_iz
Sitting down with the Founder of Gravel Worlds, Corey Godfrey, we learned so much about what went into his experience riding his bike from Canada to Mexico- The good, the bad, and the ouch.
Check out this film from Pearl Izumi about the Great Divide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEEGIt6FC34
It's time to get to know your hosts! First up on the docket we have Jason! As promoter and Director of Operations and Marketing of Gravel Worlds, you mostly know him as Gravel Worlds Jason. In this episode we really dive into who Jason is outside of the race.
To know Paige Onweller is to admire Paige Onweller, and we're so lucky to have gotten to talk to Paige about her transition from PA to professional cyclist, her passion for encouraging women to dive into this sport, and her plans for the next year!
You can find Paige on her Instagram: @paigepowered
And on her blog: www.paigepowered.com
The owner of Silca, Josh Poertner, sat down with us for a super informative episode covering everything technical from tubes, to bar tape, to tire pressure!
We learned a ton, and we sure you will too!
As always, listen and subscribe at (www.gravelfamily.bike)
@silca_velo
We had the chance to sit down and talk with Yatika Starr Fields at Midsouth! Yatika is a painter, runner, cyclist, and an incredible activist who poured out so much intention and education into this interview. We are honored to have had this conversation with him, and we left the interview better people because of it. You can find Yatika on Instagram at @yatikafields
Dr. Meg Fisher who has won one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal for Team USA at the Paralympic Games, holds a doctorate in Physical Therapy, was the 1st Para Champion of Gravel Worlds, and was the first para athlete to do Leadboat, took some time out of her busy Midsouth schedule to chat with us! We talked about her experiences at the Paralympic Games and Leadboat, and her background as a cyclist- her dog actually helped inspire her to start riding, how cool! Meg is one of those people we could have talked for hours to and it still wouldn't have been enough.
Use code MEG10 to take 10% off your registration fee at Gravel Worlds in the Para Category!
You can find Meg on Instagram at @megfisher
American former road racing cyclist and current off-road cyclist, winner of the last two BWR Utahs, 4th at Unbound for the last two years, and last but definitely co-founder of FocoFondo- Whitney Allison sat down with us at MidSouth talking about her experience as both a cyclist and a race promoter, her company Bike Sports, and her journey into the gravel scene.
You can follow Whitney on Instagram:
whit.allison
and on Youtube:
BikeSportsCo
We have officially been podcasting for ONE year! Thank you a million times over to our incredible listeners, guests, and supporters! This would not be possible without you. There are so many fun interviews that we will be releasing in the next few weeks.
We have to know... What does the Gravel Family mean to you?
Logan Jones-Wilkins sat down with us at Midsouth and blew us away with his insight on the gravel scene! He shared some of his adventures, how he balances everything as both an athlete and a college student, and his answer of what the gravel family means to him was unlike any we've heard before.
You can find Logan on Instagram:
@ljoneswilkins
We had the chance to sit down at Midsouth with the legendary Ted King who is the Co-owner of Untapped Maple, 2016 and 2018 Unbound champion, 2019 SBT champion, former world road pro, husband to the amazing Laura King, and father to two amazing kids Hazel and Hayden. We talked about his entrance into the gravel scene, how he travels the country with a young family, his set backs in 2022, as well as what he is looking forward to... Hint.. It's XL'ent!
Instagram:
@iamtedking
Information about Ted's XL'ent Adventure:
https://www.iamtedking.com/xlent
Bonus episode alert!!We knew we had to interview the Midsouth legend himself while down in Stillwater, and boy are we glad we did. If you weren't able to make it down to Midsouth this year, it would be hard to be inspired not to go next year after listening to this episode. Big big thank you to Good’r for sponsoring the episode, as well as Stonecloud Brewing Company for hosting us!
Kristi Mohn- Promoter of Unbound, first round hall of fame inductee, co-host of the Girls Gone Gravel Podcast, athlete, proud mother of twins, and tandem winner of Gravel Worlds.. As well as an inspiration to all. We end Women's History Month by talking to Kristi Mohn who shares about Unbound, Emporia, the Hall of Fame, and diversity in the sport!
“It’s not spinning out your legs, it’s spinning out your brain.” -Betsy Welch
Senior Editor for the Outside Cycling Group which includes Velo News, Cycling Tips, and Pink Bike- Betsy Welch sits down to share her experiences of being both a writer and rider! We talk all about her years as an editor, her trip post Tour de France where she rode through France and Italy, and we touch on the topic of women in the cycling industry and what the future looks like for the next generation!
You can find Betsy on Instagram at @thebootsappeal
2022 Outspoken Award winner for coach of the year, Shimano sponsored gravel pro, wife, dog mom, and the 2022 Gravel Worlds 75mile female champ- Kristen Legan shares her wisdom from her experience as both a gravel pro and coach, as well as sharing some epic bike stories including her time riding the Tour de France route!
You can look into hiring Kristen as a coach here: http://rambleur.com/coaching
And you can find her on Instagram at @kplegan
GravelFamily is my life. It is a vibrant group of like-minded people who hug you regardless of your wins or losses. It is about encouraging more people to get on bikes and celebrating the day. It is about being raw and vulnerable and finding that soft place to land when you need it, and a raging after-party when it is time. Gravel family brings a bike party every day. - Alison Tetrick
Alison Tetrick is a former road racer who made the switch to gravel going on to win Unbound 2017 and Gravel Worlds 2017, 2018, and 2019. Holds a Masters in Clinical Psychology and an undergrad in Bio Chem, sits on the board for USAC, is part of AAC Leadership for Team USA, and is the founder of Saga Ventures.
Kicking off Women's History Month, we have Alison Tetrick on the podcast to talk about her racing experiences, her Gravel Worlds wins, and she shares her wisdom about why women being present and showing up in gravel is so important!
You can buy saga ventures bandanas at: https://saga-ventures.myshopify.com/
“It’s more about bringing the people at the race along with you on that journey. The podium can be a lonely place. All the training and sacrifice that goes into getting there, it takes you away from other priorities in life. And the older you get, you realize that those other priorities are the ones that a lot of times matter more.” - Blaize Baehrens
National sales manager and professional bike washer (aka husband) to Alison Tetrick, Blaize Baehrens sits down for a conversation about his journey in cycling, how he and Alison have switched gears from a full on racing mentality to focusing more on community at races, as well as what it's like to start training as a runner!
You can follow along with his adventures at @blaize_bikes
Podcast host, race promoter, athlete. Amanda (Panda) Nauman chats about her race, Mammoth Tuff, as well as a camp she will be hosting in the Flint Hills! We also chat about women in the sport of cycling and why it is so important to have representation!
Previous road world tour rider turned gravel pro, Ian Boswell shares his journey in cycling, his involvement with team Amani, and the differences between the road and gravel scene.
Denesha Snell:
Board member of the Hall of fame. Member of Major Taylor’s Kansas City. Producer of public programs. Sits on the board of KC Public Library. Strong advocate for diversity and inclusion. All around incredible human.
She shares her cycling journey and shares wisdom about how to grow this sport and diversity within it. This is a good one that you won't want to miss.
This is a special one! Rounding out our Big Sugar interviews, we have the Adventure for All crew on the show! Founder Chase Petty talks all about his incredible athletes and how much it's changed his life. He is followed by Adventure Athlete and Assistant Adventure Coach Josh and Adventure Athlete Riley who share what they love about being Adventure Athletes and what the Gravel Family means to them!
Learn more about Adventure for All below:
https://adventureforall.org/
Founder of I Race Like a Girl and Girls Get Gritty, Angela Naeth is no stranger to the triathlon and now the gravel scene! We talk about her experience as a professional cyclist and why having teams like I Race Like a Girl and Girls Get Gritty is important!
After a break for the holidays, we are back with another episode. Lots of great information about this next year is discussed- Gravel Camp, Winter Endurance, Gravel Worlds, and our future podcast guests!
From Jason and Sofia, Happy Holidays! It's been an incredible year full of fantastic conversations and connections and we are so looking forward to 2023!
Co-Founder of All Bodies on Bikes and just exceptional human, Marley creates spaces for inclusion in the gravel community! We talk about what All Bodies on Bikes is, her journey into this community, and of course what the Gravel Family means to her!
Originally from Australia, Jake Magee brought his love for two wheels to the states. Starting as a crit racer, he eventually found his love for gravel and the rest is history!
Elite gravel racer, mom to traveling cats, and an all around incredible human. Hannah sits down with us to talk about her history as a cyclist and why the 99% of cyclists matter.
Peter Stetina is someone we like to call a champion both on and off the bike. He has a long history in the cycling world, including years on the pro world tour and most recently has been a force to be reckoned with on the gravel.
Bobby Thompson, promoter and director of Rock Ridge Gravel Grinder and Flint Hills Gravel, sits down to talk about his experiences both as a race director and a cyclist.
The incredibly talented Heather Jackson joins us this week to talk about her Ironman/triathlon experiences, her dominating entrance into the gravel scene, and of course- what the gravel family means to her!
This one is different. It's full of good feels and people passionate about getting more women on bikes. Without further ado- The Anonymous Donor from Gravel Worlds 2022
You asked, we answered. Without further ado... The tandem of Patrick Bos and Tristan Bangma talk about their Gravel Worlds experience and their history of incredibly successful cycling careers.
With the amount of miles Robb Finegan has put on his bike, he is bound to have some stories. Lucky for us, he sat down to share those stories from both his running and cycling careers, shares highs and lows of his life, as well as what #joypower means to him. Our local legend, Robb Finegan.
Inno Zavyalov is no stranger to the professional gravel scene. In this episode of the Gravel Family Podcast, Inno shares his background in cycling, why he loves volunteering, and explains what its like to be a full time professional athlete.
@premium_russian
Our two time (2019 and 2021) champion and captain of the Gravel Seas, the one and only John Borstelmann sits down to chat about his season competing in Lifetime Grand Prix Series, his start into cycling, and what the next year holds for him. Also- gravel purity??? It's a thing.
Christie Tracy is no stranger to endurance sports. With a background of countless national and world championships under her belt we sit down at Cycle Works to talk all things Team Tracy ATX, her career as a cyclist, and her comeback from injury.
Amber Neben has a long list of accomplishments including being a 3x Olympian, multiple time World Champion and Pan-Am Champion. We were lucky enough to sit down with her at Cycle Works before Gravel Worlds to talk about her incredible career and her newest journey as a gravel cyclist.
Sofia and Jason recap Gravel Worlds 2022! They reflect on the week, share their top 3 memories, and Sofia explains how Jason broke her nose. Be careful, those champagne bottles are dangerous. We will see you next week for our first in the series of sit down interviews at Cycle Works!
Happy Gravel Worlds week! We are so so so excited to see your smiling face in Lincoln! What better way to prepare then going back to the very start of Gravel Worlds? Corey Godfrey (Founder and Executive Director of Gravel Worlds) and Craig Schmidt (Founder of Pirate Cycling League) sit down to give us a history lesson on this iconic event! We talk all things pirates, trophies, and some fun things to do while you’re here in Lincoln! See ya soon!
The absolutely ICONIC (Craig) Schmidty-Schmidt joins to give a background on Pirate Cycling League and shares some must hear stories from riding bikes in Nebraska. You'll definitely want to stick around until the end to hear him drop some beats.
Joe Billesbach: Creator of Solstice Gravel Grinder, Pub Pedalers, all around incredible person and one of the only humans that can say they have PCL tattooed on their body.
Jamie Granquist is no stranger to Gravel Worlds. She has been involved in every aspect from volunteering, to riding, to winning, to now in her role as Volunteer Coordinator. We talk about what volunteering means to her and why this event is so special to her. Oh, and her answer to what the gravel family means to her leaves us speechless...
We sit down in studio with the owner of Fleet Feet- Lori Borer and Scott Ramey- Ultra Endurance runner, to talk all things running and the upcoming Land Ho 50K Ultra Marathon.
Izzy Sederbaum joins us to talk about inclusivity in the sport of cycling and why it's important, what got him into cycling, and his experience at the Mid South Double! You can find Izzy at:
@obvi_duh
@wild.composite.racing
Bobby Wintle, the Minister of STOKE! The man behind MidSouth and District Bicycles. First round Hall of Fame inductee. The list goes on for this incredible human. We talk the upcoming Double Double, the meaning behind the name change of Mid South, and of course what the Gravel Family means to Bobby!
Rebecca Rusch. Where do we begin? 7x World Champion, 3x Unbound 200 winner, 1x Unbound XL 350 Champion, Gravel Worlds Champion, Founder/Promoter of Rebecca’s Private Idaho, Founder of The Be Good Foundation, and probably most incredible the First Human Inducted into the Mountain Bike and Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame.
We talk her Hall of Fame induction, her Be Good Foundation, and of course a bit about her incredible history on the bike.
@begoodfoundation
@rebeccarusch
@rebeccasprivateidaho
Venny Alub is an accomplished cyclist, runner, and now business owner at Cantu Wheels! She sits down with us in Emporia Kansas to talk about her experience of the Unbound XL last year and her attempt this year (which by the way she FINISHED) and she finishes the episode with the most creative answer to, "What does the Gravel Family mean to you?"
Frank Pike
Founder of Beyond Category Coaching
www.beyondcategorycoaching.com
We sit down with Frank to chat about nutrition, training tips, and advice on how to have the best event you can possibly have. This may be the most informative episode you will listen to!
Frank hails from Lincoln, NE and now make his home in Denver, CO. Lincoln is where Frank fell in love with cycling and stated his training back in the early 90s, but it wasn’t until later in life he fell in love with the “science” of training and now is dedicated to coaching athletes full time. He is an advanced level coach with both USA cycling and Training Peaks as a level 2 coach as well as a certified coach with INSCYD which uses a unique performance software to perform remote metabolic profile testing for deeper insights on performance and physiology.
Frank coaches athletes from North America as well as Europe and Mexico. He has helped beginner as well as elite athletes crush their goals including multiple state champions, multiple gravel event podiums, national podium finisher in Great Britain, and the 2021 overall men’s winner of RAAM (race across America) which is known as the world’s toughest most grueling nonstop bike race.
Welcome to the first in the series of in person podcasts recorded down in Emporia, KS. We (literally) sat down with an absolute legend, Yuri Hauswald talking all things nutrition, perseverance, and his Unbound experiences.
Neil Taylor (@ministerofgravel) joins us for yet another motivating episode of the Gravel Family Podcast! We talk all things double double including nutrition, bike and shoe choices, and the difference between the MidSouth and Gravel Worlds courses. He shares a bit about his experiences at Unbound and how being an actual minister, (yes, it's not just an Instagram handle) impacts his cycling career. We finish off the episode with one of the most meaningful explanations of what the gravel family means to him.
You can connect with Neil on Instagram:
@ministerofgravel
@gravelguru
Please consider supporting the memory of Moriah "Mo" Wilson by donating or purchasing a water bottle at www.thefeed.com/ridelikemo This week we have the pleasure to sit down and chat with Lauren De Cresenzo with Team Cinch. She has absolutely dominated the gravel scene this past year with wins at Unbound, SBT, and Gravel Worlds under her belt. We talk about her job pre- pro cycling, her pre race rituals, and shine light on the horrible accident she endured 6 years ago.
"When I fell for bikes, I fell hard. And the only thing I knew that would make it any better was to share it with anyone and everyone that would listen to my gravel cycling ramblings."
With Garmin Unbound Gravel just around the corner, we sit down to talk to the legendary Lelan Dains. Lelan is a man who has worn several hats from Lead Promotor of Unbound to his current position of director at Visit Emporia. Through the years of his various positions, one thing is for sure, he helps make the "Superbowl of Gravel Events," possible.
He starts off introducing a ride concept that has been years (literally 10 years of dreaming) in the making, a route that traverses the great plains region from North Dakota to Texas. Lelan gives us some insights on a few "must attend" events during Unbound week including BIKE CHARIOT RACES?!? We then have a down to earth chat about the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, and he does an incredible job describing each of the extremely deserving recipients in the inaugural class.
To reserve your ticket to the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, go to: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-gravel-cycling-hall-of-fame-induction-banquet-tickets-321512040167
Garmin Unbound Gravel takes place in Emporia, Kansas.
Chase Pettey, Founder of Adventure for All and GTFO Co. joins us to talk about the inspiring athletes with exceptionalities that he gets to work with and train! He walks us through the training process, introduces each athlete that will be at this year's race, and we share some stories from Gravel Worlds 2021. Be prepared to leave the episode inspired and motivated to create your own adventure!
You can find more information about Adventure for All and donate at:
https://adventureforallfund.org/
You can buy hats at:
https://www.gtfoco.com/ (They are buy one get one free from now until Monday May 16th)
And follow along on the adventures:
@adventureforallfund
@gtfoco
@theadventuretrainer
Sofia Gibson and Jason Strohbehn of The Gravel Family Podcast interview Corey Godfrey, who is practically gravel royalty. He is a first-class inductee of the Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame, has completed the tour Divide, has the most starts and finishes of any competitor of Unbound (formerly DK) which includes winning in 2010, making the podium in 2009, and 2 XL350 finishes. Above all he is our friend and the founder and forever promoter of Gravel Worlds in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Sofia Gibson and Jason Stohbehn talk about what the Gravel Family Podcast is. We cover who we are, what we do, and who we are going to feature on our podcast! We will see you back here next episode where we will feature our first guest.