YogiTriathlete Podcast: Recent Episodes
Jess & BJ Gumkowski
YogiTriathlete and its co-founders, Jess and BJ, are waking up and shaking up the world of endurance sports. Their approach is anything but mainstream and they are known to go deep. Buckle up because jumping on this train has the power to change your life forever.
YogiTriathlete co-founders Jess and BJ come together today for their monthly installment of the OH Show. In this episode, Jess downloads the abundant nature of being on a yoga adventure in the Galapagos Islands (a few rooms left for our 2025 trip), and then they shift gears to talk about taper and pre-race mindset. Both Jess and BJ are departing to separate parts of the country to race on the same date, BJ to IRONMAN Lake Placid and Jess to IRONMAN 70.3 Oregon. Both races will include several members of the ever-growing Team YogiTriathlete - stay tuned, BIG NEWS coming August 1st!Thank you for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016. It is one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen. By joining our Patreon community, you can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts and the early release of every podcast episode.In this episode:- Leaning into possibility- Trapped in trying- We have the recipe to apply to any challenge- Working through the final miles mentally through a gratitude practice- Galapagos yoga adventure recap- When can you go to the Galapagos?- Top taper guidelines- Think outside the box if options don’t initially align- Mindset the week leading into a race- Pratyahara from Awake Athlete- Journaling about the things you think you “should” have done- The Tour de France binge
Aurora Leon-Conde, along with her partner Joaquin, joined Jess and BJ to debrief her recent finish of the Tahoe 200. The journey was not without massive resistance, all of which Aurora overcame in the end using the power of her mind.Aurora is a pillar of strength and a long-time member of Team YogiTriathlete. She has completed many epic feats throughout the year and serves as a leader in the YT Community for doing hard things with grace. Aurora discovered running while studying medicine in New York, eventually leading her to run the NYC marathon in 2011. Through endurance sports, she realized that she was capable of accessing parts of her mind that were dormant in regular life.She became fascinated by this and started running longer distances to see what else she could access. Her most recent endeavor, and the catalyst for finally having her on the show, was her successful finish of the Tahoe 200. There is so much more that this woman has accomplished, and her list of future accolades continues to grow. We hope that she inspires you as much as she inspires us.Thank you for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016. It is one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen. By joining our Patreon community, you can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts and the early release of every podcast episode.In this episode:- intentional community living- beginners mindset- training for a 200- being present with what is right now- Aurora's running origins- Tahoe 200 breakdown- Biggest unknown- Dirt naps- Trying to quit- Spiritual breakthrough- The final miles- What’s next
In this episode, BJ flies solo with long-time friend, consultant, and keynote speaker Michael Silva, who is on a mission to save the physical therapy industry.Mike was the president and founder of FOUNDATIONperformance Sports Medicine for 20 years, a leading outpatient physical therapy practice in New England with three offices in two states. He is also the creator of RUNstrong®: A comprehensive conditioning program for runners and coaches. His experience and expertise in the running world have allowed Michael to work with amazing athletes from all over the world, including Olympians and world record holders. He has traveled all over the USA to educate and motivate runners and coaches through lectures, clinics, keynote speeches, and as a guest panelist.With over 40 years of friendship and collaboration, Mike and BJ come together for this episode to share their wealthy bank of knowledge and we hope you enjoy the show.Thank you for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016. It is one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen. By joining our Patreon community, you can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts and the early release of every podcast episode.In this episode:- value of belly laughs- adventure to Portugal- the role of yoga as strength for runners- weight training at home- importance of seeking bodywork guidance- perfection mindset- doing the best you can with the tools you have- it’s ok not to know- an experience that shaped you- doing what you want vs. what you should- belief that you will be ok- self-sabotage- shifting away from negative thinking- movement is critical- saving the physical therapy profession
It's been a minute since the coaches came together for a chat, and so here they are—Master Coach BJ, Triathlon/Run Coach Melissa, and Mindset/Adventure Leader Jess. They dive deep into the mindset of athletes, of course, but also the ins and outs of training and racing to equal a successful lifestyle, which YogiTriathlete is founded on: the endurance sports lifestyle of swim, bike, run, mindset.Thank you for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016. It is one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen. By joining our Patreon community, you can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts and the early release of every podcast episode.In this episode:- what the coaches are excited about right now with their athletes- struggling with morning workouts- changing your relationship to sleep- beliefs are powerful- performance on lack of sleep- mindset is the biggest factor in the achievement of your goal- celebrating some amazing athlete moments- Melissa quit her full time job and has embraced her creative side- ideal athletes for our coaching style- staying flexible and fluid- rewiring the brain to keep moving forward- yoga teaches you to relax into the intensity of workouts and life- Bj’s love of progression runs- Melissa loves 5x1km off the bike- upcoming First-timers at Ironman Arizona- breaking 5 hours at Oregon for Melissa- going beyond in training for a shorter race builds confidence
We're fired up to have ultrarunner Jake Jackson with us for this episode following his maiden voyage of Cocodona 250, although, in the weeks following, Jake was already on the top of the podium at the Nanny Goat 12-hour and at the time of this recording, days away from the San Diego 100.Jake is a dad of three, husband, full-time professional with UPS, and former smoker-partier who realized alongside his wife that they needed to adopt a healthier lifestyle. So they traded their cigarettes for running shoes. After road running and finding success as a fast runner, Jake turned to the trails. His ultra sign-up CV is long, reporting his first trail race in October of 2014, although he had already been lacing up his shoes for several years at that point.Jake has twice represented Team USA in the 24-hour World Championships, been last man standing at a last-man-standing race, taken wins and stood on the podium countless times, grinded away miles and managed to get it all in despite working full-time, being a dad, and giving space to his wife, Missy, to hit the trails and get in her training.He's credited with a reputation for positivity and lifting others up along the way, and we are certain you are going to love his laid-back, no-excuses demeanor.Thank you for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016. It is one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen. By joining our Patreon community, you can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts and the early release of every podcast episode.In this episode:- New film project coming soon- Becoming Mr. nutrition guy at his job with UPS- Getting up early- Racing more frequently- What his body is capable of- Build into Cocodona 250- Biggest challenge of sleep deprivation- Failure vs learning- Effects on the body after running 250 miles- Magical moments on Mt Eldon and Sedona at sunrise- What keeps you going and not quitting- 24 timed races vs mileage races- Nutrition plan when going long- Buffet aid stations at Cocodona- What did you learn about yourself?- Pushing your limits- Recovery takeaways- Thoughts leading into San Diego 100- The big dream- No excuses
BJ is hot off the heels of Ironman 70.3 Western Massachusetts, where he beat a personal best from 2009. They dive into his race experience, give insight into the race course, and detail his new nutrition plan, which is paying dividends already. Stay tuned all the way to the end for some exciting news and hints of something to come from YogiTriathlete this summer.Thank you for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016. It is one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen. By joining our Patreon community, you can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts and the early release of every podcast episode.In this episode:- Fastest half-ironman in years- Willingness to put yourself into the possibility- Changes in training to achieve- Power of belief- IM 70.3 Western Mass and Team YogiTriathlete- Course Breakdown- Racing in the rain- Trail running for IM racing- New fueling plan- Upcoming adventures!- Hints of something new coming....
Like many of you, the YogiTriathlete team was glued to this year's coverage of the Cocodona 250, and today, you get to hear all about it from first-time finisher Dandelion Dullvio-Scott.Chris Thornley, the founder of Squirrel's Nut Butter, introduced hosts Jess and BJ to Dandelion, their fellow SNB Adventure Teammate, after her grueling 105:28:27 journey from Black City Canyon to downtown Flagstaff. This point-to-point foot race, the Cocodona 250, is not for the faint of heart, with over 40,000 feet of vertical gain and 34,000 feet of loss over the 250 miles. It culminates in a challenging climb up Mt. Elden before a final descent into town to the finish line.From her mountaineering roots, Dandelion stepped into trail racing in 2018 with her first fast-pack event and has accumulated countless miles and finishes over the years, but Cocodona was her first race of the 200-mile flavor.Thank you for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016. It is one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen. By joining our Patreon community, you can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts and the early release of every podcast episode.In this episode:- curiosity in what is possible- choosing to go through suffering- training in extreme environmental conditions- move with the terrain, not against it- panic happens- relationship to the unknown- Cocodona crew- breakdown of the race- challenges to sticking to the plan- sleep deprivation- pacer responsibilities- feelings coming into the final climb just before the finish- emotions coming off a big race- mental training from hard sessions and workouts
Jess and BJ sit down with triathlete Sebastian Radilla, who recently captured the overall win at the now-infamous Ironman 70.3 Morro Bay. This year's race will go down in triathlon history as having some of the most chaotic conditions, which resulted in DNF rates close to 400. Most of these occurred during the swim due to a current that we heard was about 5 knots.The conversion is 1.15 miles per hour x 5—almost 6 miles per hour, which is faster than most people can swim.Sebastian, who swam competitively throughout high school and has continued to work on his swim through triathlon, came out of the water first in his age group and then moved through the field to capture the W on the day.Jess and BJ dive in with this champion to get a first-hand recount of his day and insight into what it takes to be a champion.Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016. It is one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining our Patreon community.In this episode:- riding the highs and lows of racing- what have you learned about yourself so far on this triathlon journey- healing yourself through movement via InnerRunner- going slow in order to get faster- stop thinking and do what you gotta do- how do you navigate when to push and when to hold back- the only way to trust your intuition is to practice training your intuition- breathing for mindfulness training- Ironman 70.3 Morro Bay race recap- prep for his first Ironman that didn’t happen- what life was like growing up in Mexico City- how did he choose the sport triathlon- nutrition changes to boost run performance- nullifying the nerves of the unknown by practicing it over and over- the swim experience in Morro Bay- ambitions and dreams in the sport for the future- self-coaching process
Six years ago, Hannah Hoetmer had zero climbing experience and could barely run a mile. But here she is now, a professional alpinist for The North Face. Of course, with all that is life, her journey has not been without challenges, but certainly, her story is a nudge to taking risks and finding purpose in life.Hannah is involved in her own adventure goals but also deeply invested in the success of others and breaking down barriers in the climbing world by providing accessible training, resources, and support for climbers with diverse needs. She is also a big champion for women achieving their dreams and is endeavoring to complete a project she calls 30 before 30, which is to mentor 30 women before she turns 30 next year. This is an inspiring conversation for those on the edge of making shifts and taking risks, please share this episode with your community and let the trickle effect commence.Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016, one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining one of our paid tiers on Patreon.In this episode:- The Infinity Loop - Venturing into the unknown - Summiting the volcano- Inspiration and vision behind 30 under 30- Alaska experience as a glacier guide- Assisting women in overcoming the obstacles to their success- Defining what is successful to you- What are the qualities that help you achieve a dream- Contrast is good for personal growth- Working with North Face- Climbing 14’ers on limited experience but firm belief- Not everything needs to make sense on paper- What if what you’re doing now is worst case scenario- Just do something when faced with fear and doubt
BJ and Jess are back with some awesome questions from the community on combining mindfulness practices with endurance sports—obstacles to adopting a practice and benefits for injury. They also dive into BJ's build into Ironman Lake Placid and his history with this race. There is lots of gold, so please dive in!Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016, one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining our Patreon community.In this episode:- Taking possibilities to the very end- The culture of giving up- Palomar Shuffle ride- Fueling workouts with Blank Nutrition and The Right Stuff- Doing all the things to stay healthy- Round 2 Patagonia Yoga Adventure- Special Rhode Island Event - June 10th- The biggest obstacle for athletes and meditation- Nothing is outside of mind training- Pool clock as a mindset training tool- Flow state- Can a meditation practice help with injury and rehabilitation
We're thrilled to bring you this first-hand IRONMAN Texas smackdown with Team YogiTriathlete, so much gold in this episode and great insight into the strong mindset of a YogiTriathlete athlete.Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016, one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining our Patreon community.In this episode:- Welcome YT team members Derek and Jeremy- The power of a calm mind- The race laboratory- Mental toolbox on the packing list- Obstacles leading into Ironman Texas- Positive side to every negative component- Snakes in the water!- Race day recaps- Power of gratitude- Mantras: I am here, I am calm- Finish line feels- Takeaways applied to their everyday life- Being fully present is the key to success
Just days after placing 2nd at the IRONMAN North American Championship in Texas, professional triathlete Penny Slater graciously accepted our invitation to smackdown her incredible performance for this community.With an overall time of 8:44:36 and the second-fastest run split of the day, Penny earned her spot to the IRONMAN World Championship in Nice, France, this year and executed what she describes as a breakthrough race.She generously shares all the details, pretty and not-so-pretty, of what it took for her to deliver this world-class performance that was years in the making. There are many nuggets of gold in her words, so grab your journal and pen because you will not want to miss a beat.Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast since 2016, one of the OG podcasts of the endurance sports world.If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining our Patreon community.In this episode:- Moving forward, despite all the signs to the contrary- Coming in under the radar- Focusing on what you can do- Crop dusting on the bike- 1% dehydrated = 10% decreased performance- As long as you don’t give up…- Power of a “no quit” mindset- Chewing gels to trick the gut- Pulling back time and onto the podium- Why it was a breakthrough race- Pressure is a privilege- "Taking the leap" mindset- Training your gut is KEY- Ari Klau swimming with the Aussies- Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do what you love
We're taking it wild in this episode with mountain runner Emily Keddie.Emily is the queen of over 20 FKTs. She is an ultrarunner who never saw her life going in this direction until it did, and now she's en route to realizing her goal of climbing 2 million vertical feet in 2024.She says she is leading with her heart more than ever this year and has learned more than once along the way that sustainable love for and belief in oneself do not come from outward achievement and that imposter syndrome is something that we all experience.50ks, 100s, 200s, and beyond, Emily has a library of experience that lives within her heart, muscles, and mind. We are grateful to her for flowing her wisdom and experience to all of you.If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining our Patreon community.In this episode:- Going after 2 million feet of elevation in 2024- Lost Coast Trail FKT attempt- Embracing flexibility and uncomfortable situations- Her drivers and evolution- Imposter syndrome- Fighting the bad wolf- Being relentless- Sleep deprivation prep- Mental vs. physical strength during a 200- Be the example for women to blaze the trails
Thanks so much for tuning in for the OH Show with YogiTriathlete co-founders BJ and Jess. Today, these two dive into what it means to live the demonstration, but first, the importance of not waiting to live! We hope you take away many nuggets of gold. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it.In this episode:- Patagonia 2025 is ON!- Travel tips- Don’t wait to live- Have an experience - what does it mean?- You must earn the right to deviate - Are you strengthening the possibility of failing?- Greatest qualities or greatest enemies- What it means to live the demonstration- Transforming the energy that disturbs us- Taking risks from a place of alignment- Slow down to get faster
Welcome to the first race smackdown of 2024, and it's not to be missed! Today, we bring together the minds and muscles of YT head coach BJ and Finding Endurance coach Jennifer, both of whom smashed the course while remaining focused on their bigger goal of IRONMAN Texas at the end of April.This race is a YT favorite, just a few miles down the road from YogiTriathlete headquarters in Carlsbad. Thank you to everyone in the community who introduced yourselves, attended Jess and BJ's breath-focused workshop, and cheered on the YTs on the course this year. We'll be back in 2025 and invite you to join us in training and racing for the year to come.Thanks so much for tuning in. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining our Patreon community.In this episode:- Jennifer’s first Oceanside 70.3- BJ’s 4th go at the race- Prep for cold temperatures- Success or sabotage- Pro Tips- Getting a slot to IMWC Nice, France- How to make a bike go fast- Pack cycling in non-drafting races- When the legs don't show up- Feel it, let it go, focus- Fastest run split in 13 years- Nutrition break down- Risking more in Texas- What else is possible- Time to play and time to be serious- Join us in 2025 at IRONMAN Oceanside 70.3
We've got first-year professional triathletes and power couple Mitch Ott and Caroline Kaplan on the show today. These two have big dreams and are committed to making them a reality.BJ found their YouTube channel Rise and Tri a few months ago, and has been following since. Their honest accounts, relationship nuances, and dedication to training are all on display as they share generously about what it looks and feels like to be burgeoning professionals in the fast-changing landscape of triathlon.Sometime during their successful 2023 racing year, which included Caroline's win at the USAT Long Course Triathlon National Championship at Clash Daytona and Mitch's second-place podium finish, which he earned by breaking the 4-hour barrier, they decided that 2024 was the year to take the leap.Jess and BJ dive into their progression from age group to pro and their grand visions for the future. We hope you enjoy the show and give Caroline, Mitch, and Rise and Tri a follow to help increase their exposure in the world of professional triathlon.Thanks so much for tuning in. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining our Patreon community.In this episode:- new pursuit excitement- moving from age group to professional- volume & intensity increase- recovery challenges- focus on nutrition- listening to how you feel- staying calm when pushing efforts- favorite swim sets- exploring a new life- Working Triathlete- bringing out the best in each other- professional dreams- making decisions that don’t make sense to others- planting seeds of belief
We're thrilled to welcome professional triathlete turned professional trail runner Eli Hemming to the show.Jess and BJ followed Eli's career through Olympic distance draft-legal racing on the world stage until he chose to step away from his career as a professional triathlete. Despite being ranked #1 in the U.S. because of his multiple World Cup podiums, Eli's happiness factor was falling, and he could no longer ignore that it was time for a radical change.When he hit the trail running scene in 2021, he immediately found success qualifying for the 2022 Mountain Running Championships, and when he crossed over from sub-ultra to ultra-distance racing with a 2nd at the Way Too Cool. He finished that year with several podiums but did not claim victory at a race until 2023, a year of continued improvements and highlights like placing 2nd at the Marathon Du Mont Blanc.Since the calendar turned to 2024, he's been on a winning streak; it's almost as if the trails have been patiently awaiting his arrival.Jess and BJ caught up with Eli less than a week after he took the win at the Big Alta 50k by over 20 minutes in a cool 3:38:33, an incredible feat considering this race came on the heels of crushing his competition at the Black Canyon 60k just two weeks prior, where he broke the tape by 30 minutes over 2nd place in 4:06:39. Smoking fast!Thanks so much for tuning in. If you enjoy the show, please leave a review on your favorite place to listen to it. You can also support the commercial-free nature of the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts by joining our Patreon community.In this episode:- The feeling of winning- Finding fulfillment now- Hot from the start or slow build?- Opportunities for growth in his trail running skills- Knowing where the bar is set with competition- Racing in Europe versus the US- Routine philosophy- Importance of specificity of racing- Black Canyon Ultra goals- Why don’t we fuel enough while racing?- Big Alta learnings on nutrition- Golden Trail World Series- The uprising of sub-ultra racing- What does happiness feel like
Coaches Jess and Melissa are back with the third and final episode in their Women's Wellness Series.Jess, Mindset and Wellness coach for YogiTriathlete, has practiced and educated others on the ancient sciences of yoga (the mind) and ayurveda (optimal health) for decades. Melissa, Herbalist and Triathlon/Running Coach for Team YogiTriathlete, trains and races while supporting herself and her athletes with herbal medicine and wellness practices.Their inspiration to begin this series was to serve and spread the good word about what remains a mystery on a mass level. Many have lived decades navigating hormonal imbalances, cramps, cycles, and symptoms without a community, but now we have one. These episodes are important for women and their partners to better understand the full scope of the feminine entity.Today, based on feedback and some questions, the coaches dive in a bit more on the cycle from an Ayurvedic standpoint and also talk about support throughout the decades of our lives.Thank you for tuning in, and please help others find the show by leaving a review on your favorite place to listen.In this episode:- What I wish I knew- Menopause - never too late or too early to embrace- Melissa’s going the seed route for her garden this year- Nighttime elixir- How to best support the phases of life- Oat straw benefits- Pitta phase: stress relief and rejuvenation- Making tea in a French Press with herbs- Vata phase: making the most of change- Salty vs. sweet tastes in the phases- Benefits of Ginseng- Later phases of life: relish and rebirth, grace- Raspberry infusions loaded with minerals- Ginger and turmeric to get your flo moving- Lions Mane benefits- Kapha dosha - slow-moving and heavy- Is napping for Kapha good?- Unexplained weight gain- Importance of high-intensity work
The North American IRONMAN triathlon season kicks off just weeks away at Oceanside 70.3, and YogiTriathlete will be on site. In this episode, coaches Jess and BJ advise those attempting to conquer this course, and BJ shares his race plan as he balances his pursuit to his fastest IRONMAN in Texas later that same month.And then, from a completely different hemisphere, where summer is fading into fall, Jess returns from leading her first yoga adventure in Patagonia, Chile. We dive into her experience, transition home, and future intentions. Yoga adventures are expertly curated adventure travel experiences grounded in daily yoga practice. They are the perfect retreat for those who desire to stay active, explore new land, be immersed in local culture, and spend a little time on the mat to keep fit and soak it all in.We hope you will join her in the future - the Mediterranean Bliss, Sicily Yoga Adventure, September 28-October 5, is now open for registration. Perhaps the perfect accompaniment to the women's world championship in Nice, France, on September 22nd.In this episode:- Oceanside 70.3 is right around the corner!- Tips for Oceanside 70.3- Stay on top of nutrition even in the cooler temps- Freedom to travel without tethers- Results of stuffing our feelings and emotions- Patagonia Yoga Adventure- Letting go- Finding peace and calm anywhere- The power of the Futa- Answer your calling- Release the need to know WHY- The only reason we fear- Patagonia 2025?
Having checked out from the Ojas Retreat center just hours before following their first-ever Women's Wellness Retreat, BJ sat down with retreat leaders Meg, Val, and Jess to download the experience.This episode is a firsthand, fresh recollection of a powerful community of women coming together to remember their true nature. There is something for everyone in this episode, as returning to our true nature is not just for the women on this retreat but for every person navigating the complexities of life.Remembering our true nature through the practices of yoga and ayurveda has become a recurring theme with the retreats led by this trio, and more are in the making.The three are planning to return to Costa Rica in 2025; this is a very popular retreat; if you are interested in joining them, please make a comment, and we will put you on the list to receive word of this beloved retreat and access to early registration.In this episode:- Ojas Retreat Center- NEW OFFERINGS in Ayurveda and Somatic Breathwork- Purpose of somatic breath work- Nervous system sovereignty- The cave you fear holds the treasure you seek- Safe space for vulnerability- It's not just what we eat- Self-love workshop- Gua Sha practice on the body- Notice. Open. Allow.- Intentions for the retreat leaders- Retreat life joy, fun, and belly laughs- Hiking in silence with a curiosity about what's ahead- Dance parties and drum-offs- Who are these retreats for?
Professional triathlete Matti Weitz is our guest today, and he is living the example of what it looks like to answer a calling.Thriving as an age group triathlete, Matti was also successful in business as a Sports Physiotherapy; he was on route to building an empire, and by all means, society would say he should have continued toward the professional and financial success that was inevitable, but that's not what he did.As his passion for triathlon was building, his fulfillment in his profession was falling, and he couldn't help but wonder what life would look like if we put 100% of his focus into his sport.In 2023, Matti took the leap despite his fears and stepped up into a role that he could no longer ignore. He's been documenting his journey on his YouTube channel from mindset to frugality, workout sessions, and recovery; Matti is openly sharing his story.He is embracing patience, facing fears, and putting himself out there for us all to see as he documents his patient pursuit of becoming the very best in the sport of triathlon. Jess and BJ were thrilled to connect with Matti and look forward to connecting in person this spring at Ironman Oceanside 70.3. Will you be there? Let us know.In this episode:- Beginnings started with excelling at Judo- Not quitting this time - Choosing passion over profession- Growing up in Germany and expectations of the culture- Shadow careers- Developing intuition - 10-day training cycles- Having objective people around you for honest feedback- Living the monk lifestyle- The central governor system- Being in the moment- Journaling - 3 things I’m grateful for- How did martial arts form your current mindset- His first pro-race experience- Comparison is the thief of joy- Staying process-driven vs outcome-oriented- Feeling fear vs repressing it- Building community through Live Q&A on his YouTube- Staying frugal with triathlon expenses- What is the big dream and vision- Growing up in a culture that shares the same mindset- Learn to dream
Belgium Professional Triathlete Claire Michel is back on the show!Claire first launched into the YogiTriathlete community in 2018, and in that episode, the three of them go into detail about Claire's backstory and much about her resilient mindset.As she now pursues her third Olympic games in Paris this summer, it was the perfect time to invite her back onto the show to catch up, dive in, and give space for her to share her athletic wisdom with us all as she did back in episode 116.Inspired to be an Olympian at the age of 12 after finding newspaper clippings about her mom's debut at the 1976 Olympics, Claire first focused on swimming, then running. But it wasn't until 2012, when Claire started competing in triathlon, that she found multisport to be the ticket to fulfilling her Olympic Dreams.In 2015, she stepped into her professional multisport career, which has afforded her experiences of high highs and low lows, but through it all, Claire has stood the test of time. Thank you for tuning in; we hope that you enjoy the show!In this episode:- the lure of Girona, Spain- Moving into her next career phase- Improve relationships with the Belgium federation- Solution-oriented mindset- Talent detection- Betting on yourself- Olympic build- Paris triathlon course- Training with ranges- Keeping the big picture in mind- Going longer- Belgium Olympic mixed relay team- Managing nerves- Trusting yourself- Sign up for her newsletter
Welcome to part two of the Women’s Wellness Series with YogiTriathlete coaches, Jess and Melissa. Today's episode is all about the cycle. We take a leisurely stroll through the feminine cycle while sharing ideal training during the cycles, herbs to support, and foods to gravitate toward.Thank you to all who listened in for part one, which launched last month, and for letting us know that you found it to be enjoyable and helpful. We’d love to hear more: what did you take away, what have you tried, and did it work? Let us know.In this episode:- Benefits of dandelion tea- Boosting iron through herbs- What workouts did you do this morning- Go-to wellness practices right now- Stretching before bed + yoga nidra- Stage 1: menses- Ashawanga properties- Stage 2: follicular- When to add intensity and when to ease off during your cycle- Importance of chewing your food- Coconut curry dish recipe- Blood builders- Stage 3: ovulation- Self-reflection time is important- Pituitary gland balance heading into menstruation- Stage 4: luteal- Sleep is necessary during certain phases- Do we need as much sleep as we think- What do you want to hear about on the last episode of the series?
Today, Jess and BJ welcome Love.Life Telehealth doctor Keary O'Connor to the show (formerly known as PlantBased Telehealth).Keary is an osteopathic physician board certified in Family Medicine; she is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and the American Board of Lifestyle Medicine. She is a certified yoga instructor, pranayama educator, and certified in plant-based nutrition through Cornell and medical nutrition therapy from Columbia University.Dr. O'Connor has been an avid athlete most of her life, and she is passionate about promoting a WFPB diet and lifestyle medicine because she has seen the benefits in her own life and the lives of her patients.In this episode:- Background as an athlete- Functional training- Swimming as a meditative practice- The best form of exercise is the one you’re going to do- Extend your lifespan- Building self-esteem- Entry to yoga- Ahimsa and letting go of self-judgement- A dare to go plant-based- Know where you are in order to go where you want to go- Show up and be consistent- F-A-I-L- Cutting out carbs can lead to insulin resistance- Gut biome and changing taste buds- A passion for breathwork
Welcome to the OH Show, where each month, Jess and BJ dive into listener questions and dish on the goings-on of entrepreneurial life as co-founders of YogiTriathlete as well as long-time age-group triathletes, coaches, and a couple bonded by business, sport, and love.In this episode:- Navigating the waves of life - challenge and joy- Jess’s desire to travel the world is manifesting- Sicily this fall- Working through fear of the unknown- Wellness is everywhere- Run/walk to sustainable running- Complements to a return to running- No need to give up before you even try- Guaranteed resistance- Swim sets can help us work the mind- Hurried disease- BJ’s fastest Ironman pursuit
Joanne Murphy is among the most sought-after race day announcers worldwide, but she is so much more than her beautiful brogue articulation.Joanne is a long-time triathlete and cyclist, founder of the all-female Galway Baybes cycling team, Global IRONMAN Women For Tri Ambassador, host of the popular Tri Talking Sport podcast, and a woman who leaped in 2016 to follow her dream to work full-time in the arena of sport; a career launched from a fractured pelvis that she now considers one of the silver linings of her life.Originally from Cork but now based in Galway in the West of Ireland, she is a recognized voice on the IRONMAN finish line in Ireland and the UK. And was the first ever female voice to grace the IRONMAN World Championship announcing team.She is an inspiration to many, as it seems there is no end to her energy. However, I think she'll share with us today just how intense and exhausting being a race announcer can be, especially stepping in as lead announcer at the 2023 World Championship in Kona, a day dedicated to women accomplishing their dreams.Pop in your earbuds and get ready to enjoy the boundless enthusiasm of Joanne Murphy.In this episode:- Why Lucy Charles Barclay drove 90-minute round trip to swim practice- Schedule training on your calendar- Her triathlon journey- Taking the leap- How injury launched her career- Solution energy- Best Race: IRONMAN Wales- Slay the dragon- The pressure of race-announcing.- Intense. Immense. Incredible.- Giving the winner the same energy as the final finisher- Nice World Championship course - take your spot!- Managing comparison energy.- How she cares for her voice.- Why Lucy Charles Barclay woke up early and drove far for swim practice.
Welcome to the YogiTriathlete podcast and Join Jess, Mindset and Wellness Coach for YogiTriathlete, and Melissa Herbalist and Triathlon/Running Coach for the first in a series of conversations dedicated to Women's Wellness.So, unbeknownst to either of these women, they were both contemplating how to use their experience and knowledge to better serve women in endurance sports. And when Jess received a hit to create this series alongside Melissa, she came on board without hesitation.These two coaches are here for you, for spouses and partners of women, to explore curiosities about women's wellness within athletics and how herbs and wellness practices can better support performance and overall health.So please reach out and let them know what you want to know.In this episode:- Why we love Adaptogens- Aging gracefully starts early- Ayurveda 101- Signs & symptoms of hormonal imbalance- Being told you may die- Women are cyclical beings- Effects of stress on hormonal imbalance- What happens when we are low in estrogen- What are hormones, what do they do?- The importance of protein as we age- Building Iron- Pre-sleep routine- Hot flashes- Yoga poses for helping thyroid function and adrenal glands- Don’t be afraid to slow down right now
Jess and BJ are thrilled to welcome back Dr. Daya Grant to the show.Daya is a mental performance consultant, neuroscientist, yoga teacher, writer, athlete and mom. For the past 20 years, she's studied the brain and how it relates to athletic performance. Combined with her knowledge of yoga, which is the ancient science of the mind, she brings together old and new world science and wisdom to assist athletes in reaching their performance potential.Dr. Grant was first on the show in August of 2021 for episode 275, where she shares her backstory and in-depth knowledge about the neuroscience around mindfulness and meditation in sport. Thank you for tuning in and supporting the show.To keep these podcasts commercial-free, please consider making a pledge on Patreon for as little as five or ten dollars a month; you can ensure the continuance of this show while enjoying exclusive content.In this episode:- FLOW- Moving through resistance to get to flow- Chemicals released in the brain when in flow- Mindfulness vs Meditation- Goals of pursuing a quiet, still mind, zero-point awareness- Calmness exists- Re-wiring going on behind the scenes as we meditate consistently- Why incorporate routines before performance- Can journaling help?- New research on the brains of endurance athletes- Reaching the physical limits, but not mental- Myth-busting- Increasing recovery time through mindset training- Thoughts on goal setting by determining core values first- Action precedes motivation- Little doses of dopamine
Welcome to the first OH Show of 2024, recorded on the first day of 2024. Jess and BJ dive into listener questions as well as dish on their one piece of inspiration for the year ahead. Be sure to stay until the very end of this episode, where you will receive a special add-on to today's show.In this episode:- Wellness shouldn’t be a surprise- Devotion AND/IN technique- Let nothing shake you- Live life in the possibilities- Epic swell hits California- A wonderful way to express life- How do you know what you want?- YT take on New Year resolutions- A recommitment to the enhancement of self- The importance of surfing the small waves- Vocalizing your big goals - BJ’s fastest ironman ever- The importance of data in pursuing goals- Warrior finesse
As the YogiTriathlete podcast enters into its 8th year of broadcasting, we want to have a pause and thank each one of you for tuning in and supporting the show. We have seen many meaningful conversations unfold on this channel over the years, and we have no plans of stopping soon. Here's to an incredible year ahead for all. Thank you for listening to this episode. In Gratitude - Jess and BJ*Professional Triathlete Laura Siddall shares the mic with Jess and BJ today to smackdown her amazing win at Patagonman Xtreme Tri. Not only did she take the women's win, but she was second overall. Another example that women are truly thriving within the extreme triathlon world.So much has shifted since Laura raced her first Ironman as an age grouper in 2009, in the sport and her life, but what has stayed the same is her ability to grasp the W on race day.This conversation concludes an intense year of life for Laura, having begun with a terrible biking accident and then coming out on top at the bottom of the earth just last month. This conversation is a blast, we hope you enjoy the show.In this episode:- Pro-triathlete nomad lifestyle- Working with Lawrence VanLingen- Turning the corner on injury- The triathlon at the end be of the world- Team aspect for Xtreme Tri- Race breakdown- Water temperature report: "It's really F(&$ing Cold"- How she stayed warm- Women level the playing field at Xtreme Tri events- Overthinking never gets us anywhere- When all can do is nothing, what do you do?- Knitting stress- Blessings- Ironman World Championship - Nice, France 2024
Dr. Dave is rounding out his three-peat performance on the YTP, having been the star of episode 166 back in 2019, then alongside his incredible wife, Dr. Lindsay, in 2020 for episode 238, both of these conversations diving deep under the surface chatter and into meaningful topics for performance and life.After following Dave's recent 100-mile journey, Jess and BJ were inspired to bring him back onto the show, not just because he ran 100 miles but because of his mindset around this adventure, his training (up until three months ago, he never ran more than 5 miles and that was when he was in high school) and also because of his surprising takeaways including his reflection that with just three months of training, running 100 miles is not hard.Dave is the founder of Inside Out Strength. He holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and several strength, fitness, and performance certifications. Although all of that is very impressive, it's Dave's journey to finding his own strength and health, along with his unshakeable resolve, that makes him the very impressive ultrarunner, husband, dad, and human that so many have not just benefited from but come to love and deeply respect.In this episode:- Strong limiting thoughts- The text from BJ- Detachment tested- The race got canceled- The ripple effect- Show up for yourself to inspire others- The rare core values of today- Drowning in mediocrity- Balancing strength and 100-mile training- The hill that Dr. Dave will die on- Strength training vs mobility- Fueling for 100 miles- Takeaways- The most powerful place to look for answers
Thank you for joining BJ and Jess for another installment of the OH Show; your listenership is greatly appreciated. Get ready to open to joy as belly laughs prevail, training knowledge flows freely, and Jess's newest US-based yoga and wellness retreat is revealed.In this episode:- Joy stories- Single leg drills on the bike- Bike camp demands- Training space audit (see latest blog post)- A great question to ask: Who’s in charge?- The root of all suffering- How to shift attention away from the thoughts- Benefits of a progression run- Yoga retreat news- How to buffer excessive loads of laundry?- Hair and skin care for swimmers- Eco-friendly gear care- Squirrel's Nut Butter, Sesame Oil massage & Castor oil wraps- Our youngest athlete and his amazing mantraEpisode 397 Show Notes:On the Blog - Optimizing Your Training Space: A Comprehensive Audithttps://www.yogitriathlete.com/optimizing-your-training-space-for-endurance-athlete-success-a-comprehensive-audit/Jim Carrey's Thoughts On Thoughts - VIDEOhttps://youtu.be/uIaY0l5qV0c?si=Xrypz3PS7OccIVuATiger Balmhttps://amzn.to/3RPWZnfWeleda Arnica Massage Oilhttps://amzn.to/3tqreI0Dr. Bronners Peppermint Castille Soaphttps://amzn.to/3RlmXxaDetergent Sheetshttps://amzn.to/41pixu5Squirrel’s Nut Butter Happie Toeshttps://amzn.to/3txl2OdONE ROOM LEFT - Women's Yoga & Wellness Retreat - February 17-21, 2024https://www.awake-minds.com/ojas-cali-retreatTWO SPOTS LEFT - Yoga Retreat Adventure in Patagonia March 2-9, 2024http://bit.ly/yogainpatagoniaSIGN UP TODAY - YogiTriathlete Training Camphttps://www.yogitriathlete.com/coaching-services-yogitriathlete/training-camp-carlsbad-california/Connect with YogiTriathlete YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/theyogitriathleteFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/yogitriathlete/Twitter - https://twitter.com/yogitriathlete?lang=enInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/yogitriathleteJoin Team YogiTriathleteRunning - https://www.yogitriathlete.com/coaching-services-yogitriathlete/run-coaching/Triathlon - https://www.yogitriathlete.com/coaching-services-yogitriathlete/triathlon-coaching/Mindset - http://www.awakeathlete.com/Join YogiTriathlete on Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/yogitriathleteMeet the Coaches of YogiTriathletehttps://www.yogitriathlete.com/meet-the-coaches/
Dr. Alex, as she's commonly known through our local channels, is a doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental medicine. Jess and BJ initially connected with Alex through yoga, and since then, she has assisted them, as well as other members of Team YogiTriathlete, in reaching higher levels of health and wellness.After a recent visit with Dr. Alex, Jess realized that although both BJ and she have sought treatment through Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine for twenty years now, they had not had a doctor of this medicine on the pod...until...today.In addition to a doctorate in Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Dr. Alex's dedication to being the best healthcare provider she can be has led her to advanced certifications in acupuncture techniques, herbal medicine, nutrition, exercise, yoga, meditation, mental wellness practices, and mind-body therapies.She specializes in pain management, stress reduction, menopause support, hormone balance, digestive health, and emotional well-being, all of which are relevant to the longevity of endurance athletes since, after all, endurance is all about being in it for the long haul.So please, dive into this episode and enjoy this brilliant soul and skilled practitioner of one of the world's oldest and most effective medical systems.Your listenership is greatly appreciated; thank you for tuning in.In this episode:- Working with a fear of needles- What is Chinese medicine?- Definition of a cell- The CEO of the body- Lifestyle signals through your pulse, tongue, and energy- Benefits of cupping- Cold vs. warm foods- Menopause in Chinese medicine- Men's health- Endurance sports and Chinese medicine- Building blood- Dr. Alex has your back- Origins of Dr. Alex’s career path- Pursuing your passion
Jess and BJ sit down for this episode with Harita Davies, who completed her fourth 3100-mile Self-Transcendence foot race in New York after 51 days, 16 hours, 42 minutes, and 11 seconds. The race started on August 30th and finished on October 20th - can you imagine running that many days straight?Founded in 1997 by Sri Chinmoy, the self-transcendence event is the world's longest-certified race, although the course itself may surprise you. Sri Chinmoy was an Indian spiritual leader who moved to New York City in 1964 to teach meditation and spirituality. He lived a life dedicated to serving humanity, and he was also an athlete who valued athletics as an essential piece of a balanced spiritual life. He created the Sri Chinmoy marathon team, which has grown into athletes and racing events all over the world.This episode was recorded at the Sri Chinmoy Center in San Diego after Jess, BJ, and Harita shared a beautiful lunch at Jyoti-Bihanga, the oldest vegetarian restaurant in San Diego and a part of the center. If you are ever in the area, make sure to put Jyoti-Bihanga on your list of dining musts.Your listenership is greatly appreciated; thank you for tuning in.In this episode:- Recovering from running 3100 miles- What is Self-Transcendence?- Finding peace within ourselves in order to contribute to peace- Who is Sri Chinmoy?- Inner running and outer running- Having no expectation to finish allows her to finish- Meditation practice- 5 parts of the family- Looking happy but feeling terrible- 3100-mile lessons- How many pairs of sneakers for 3100 miles?- 3100-miles of foot care- 52 days of fuel- Why a mango a day?- Integration of East and West
Jess and BJ welcome ultrarunner and recent Moab 240 victor Jesse Haynes to the show. It's safe to categorize this one under story-telling; for the majority of this episode, Jesse takes us through his incredible journey like a verbal journal entry. From his relentless yet unsuccessful pursuit to drop out and the surprise visit on the trail that had him sprinting full gas to the finish, Jesse gives us all the details of his unexpected win.Jesse has been in the ultra game for over a decade now but has been a runner even longer. With too many races under his belt to count, Jesse has taken some epic wins, a few DNFs, and many top tens and podium spots. Still, perhaps something even more important is that at 50, Jesse appears to have found a longevity recipe in the sport of running that keeps him going and at the top of his game.Not only does running run through his bones, but it also runs through his household in partnership with his wife, ultrarunner, race director extraordinaire, and YTP guest Keira Henniger, who we had on the show in November 2020.Thank you so much for tuning in; we truly hope you enjoy the show.In this episode:- Jesse's Moab 240 recovery- Having a plan but a loose plan- His only goal for Moab 240- Three-minute naps and the solar eclipse- Working through pulmonary edema- Planning to drop and ultimately winning- Power of being in first place- Chasing a headlamp that was never there- Jesse's turning point in the race- Being hunted- Hallucinations and falling asleep standing up- All things are possible
Welcome back to the OH Show, where Jess and BJ open up and get honest about life, training, and racing. They are here to answer your questions, dive in deep, and uncover the limitations holding us back that we may not otherwise uncover. Submit your questions today for the next OH Show, DM, or comment on this post.Thank you for tuning in for this episode; sit back, relax, and get ready as BJ opens up about his preparation to race his fastest IRONMAN yet!To follow along his journey, join him over at patreon.com/yogitriathlete for his weekly Vlog leading into IRONMAN Texas 2024.In this episode:- Episode 400 guest?- Art of manifestation- We must use our will to concentrate the mind- Interval training for the mind- BJ’s journey to his fastest Ironman- Backup races - Yay or Nay?- What does it take to achieve your fastest race yet- Unrealistic desires- Big goals, mental requirements- Inspired action- First-timers race - Ironman Arizona 2024- The myth of choice- Exciting adventures aheadNamaste-Jess
Jess and BJ welcome back Dr. Monica Davern to the show.Dr. Monica Davern, MD MPH, is a practicing pediatrician, vegan athlete, and mom to 2 little boys. She is the creator of Mighty Roots, an elevated resource for parents seeking better health and connection with their kids. Be sure to read this entire post for a special YTP listener offer!Jess and BJ first met Monica in 2017 at Ironman 70.3 Santa Rosa, briefly in the expo and then the following morning in the wee dark hours as they boarded athlete shuttles to the swim start in Lake Sonoma.Over these years, they have stayed in touch; Monica was on Team YogiTriathlete for a time and is now turning her attention to her latest offering, Mighty Roots.The three of them dive into that and much more as they catch up with fellow athlete and friend Dr. Monica Davern.SPECIALThank you for joining Jess and BJ for this episode; if you are enjoying this commercial-free content, make your pledge, as little as $5/month, on patreon.com/yogitriathlete today.In this episode:- moving forward from the "sucks enough" moment- the high stakes of emergency care- the day Monica will never forget- parenting two adventurous sons- bringing plant-based lifestyle to families- Monica’s plant-based story- inspiration for Mighty Roots- important gut biome and education- family meals critical bonding and obesity prevention- time in nature without structure- Leafy Littles: masterclass for families- What we need to know about cow’s milk, antibiotics, allergies and more- overcoming picky-eaters- iron absorption fussiness- progress over perfection- exposing a variety of foods to children- include children in the shopping and preparing of mealsOFFER FOR YTP LISTENERS:Her new offering is Leafy Littles, a 5-week online course to help parents on a transformative journey to plant-based nutrition for the whole family. In this course, you'll learn how to confidently provide perfect plant-based nutrition for your kids and rediscover calm, clarity, and connection at mealtimes.Whether you are looking for a total wellness overhaul or have been vegan for years and want to be confident providing the right nutrition to your littles... THIS COURSE IS FOR YOU!Head https://www.mightyroots.org/leafylittles to enrollUse the code YOGITRI for a 20% discount.
Jess and BJ welcome professional triathlete and flight attendant Svenja Thoes to the show today.Svenja never thought or lived like she would race the best of the best on the big island, but that is precisely what she did a few weeks ago. Today, the three of them unpack her experience, unlikely backstory, and vision of the future.After winning a contest at work, she was given entry into Ironman 70.3 Mallorca. At the time, she didn't swim, she didn't bike, and sometimes she ran with her dog. But when race day showed up, so did Svenja.She claimed 2nd in her age group that day and qualified for the 70.3 World Championship, where she went on to win her age group.Over a decade later and a recent top 20 finish at the big dance on the big island, we can safely assume this woman was meant for triathlon.Thank you for joining Jess and BJ for this episode; if you are enjoying this commercial-free content, make your pledge, as little as $5/month, on patreon.com/yogitriathlete today.In this episode:- big change from when she was a child- her journey in turning professional- pressure to race as a pro vs age group- first Ironman experience- goals for her Ironman World Championship race- what calls her to persevere- 5th fastest run in Kona- feeling all alone and being ok- running on fumes to the finish- making a decision to risk it in spite of fears, doubts- who Svenja looks up to- going all in with triathlon- starting from the unknown- coach/athlete relationship- training sessions she loves- plans for the future- shifting to a positive mindsetNamaste-Jess
Alec Merlino is living a big life, pursuing his dreams, exploring opportunities, pushing his limits in endurance sports, and figuring it out as he goes along.Having walked away from a full-time career to pursue a life unscripted, we're sure Alec has come upon a moment or two of uncertainty as he creates his life. We dive into it all during this episode.Alec came into our awareness after moving to Carlsbad, and I believe it was during one of his endurance challenges of which he has done his fair share - 5k a day, Calendar Club Challenge, going for a KOM on Kauai and most recently plunging into an ice cold bath every day of the year. For you Survivor buffs, you may know Alec from Season 37, aired in 2018, and also in the global obsession White Lotus, Season One.We were so grateful to sit down in person with Alec earlier this month and hope you enjoy his adventurous spirit and unwavering belief in his dreams.Thank you for joining Jess and BJ for this episode; if you are enjoying this commercial-free content, make your pledge, as little as $5/month, on patreon.com/yogitriathlete today.In this episode, we discuss:- Roots of his love for cycling- Detachment from outcomes- Craving big challenges- Why endurance sports?- Life moments that led to being on Survivor- KOM love- The upbringing that shaped his adventurous life- From panic attacks to riding with full presence- Lone wolf mentality- Leaning into fear, doubt, and anxiety to move through it- Alec's relationship to patience- The journey of life IS the joy- Rule of thirds- Desire to push the mental limits moreNamaste-Jess
Many years ago, 2009 to be exact, YogiTriathlete founders BJ and Jess took the double win at a local triathlon in Boulder, CO taking home the grand prize of two big burritos. Since that day, every time they both take the win, they refer to it as the "Big Burrito Win" and they almost had another just a few weeks ago at the Mission Bay Triathlon in San Diego. However, BJ's first-place ranking quickly moved to second place as the results rolled in, and then was left to watch how his mind wanted to cling to the top step of the podium. Oh, the work of taming the mind is never done but it assuredly does become easier to let things go along the way.This episode is a great reminder to all triathletes and the triathlon-curious that swim, bike, run is a triathlon at any distance. On this particular weekend, Team YogiTriathlete athletes spanned the distances from the Ironman World Championship full distance of 140.6 to the mini kids sprint in the birthplace of triathlon. So no matter the distance, no matter the pace triathlon is meant to be celebrated, not minimized.Thank you for joining Jess and BJ for this episode, if you are enjoying this commercial-free content make your pledge, as little as $5/month, on patreon.com/yogitriathlete today.In this episode, we discuss:- Travel to unseen lands without bumping into tourists- Women's only IRONMAN World Championship in Kona- Making your strength stronger- Many touches in the water- The run record in Kona goes down - Longtime Team YogiTriathlete athlete races Kona!!! - "Acting as if" is not "fake it till you make it"- Mission Bay Triathlon recap- Big burrito win!- How the mind reacts to race results- Lose the word “just”- Building a local YogiTriathlete San Diego team- Training camp January 12-14, 2024 SIGN UP TODAYNamaste-Jess
Time and again, year after year, we continue to hear the unfolding of the amazing lives shared on this show, and it's always so cool when we connect with a YT listener who is finding great purpose in life and willing to share.Jayme Linker reached out a few weeks ago to introduce herself, which left our jaws on the ground. This woman is living off the front of adventure and fueling it with a purpose of service and an attitude of health and well-being for all, including herself.Jayme has been an extreme adventure athlete for over a decade, starting in Obstacle Course Racing and now a world record holder as an ocean rower.Jayme is the 1st US female to row both the Atlantic and Mid-Pacific Oceans and is working towards the next record-breaking project for the summer of 2024. Her team will become the first to embark on a circumnavigation attempt of all three oceans, starting with the Indian Ocean, then the Atlantic Ocean, and ending with the Pacific Ocean.Jayme and her teammate Owen will row for several causes, including Eating Disorder Awareness, which is close to Jayme's heart and life experience.We know that pain transmuted is fuel for a purposeful life that can serve many, and by utilizing her own battle with eating disorders, Jayme is committed to facing her fears so that others may benefit.It's an inspiring episode of one woman's great battle and the undefeatable spirit that keeps her reaching for more.In this episode, we discuss:- Jayme's journey with eating disorder- Obstacle course racing- Gathering the skills of a rower- Ocean row metrics- Trusting your teammates and your skills- Making her own food for her ocean crossings- Training on no water and little sleep- Practice eating "fear foods" so the brain will not restrict- Training for survival adventures on land- 6-8 hours training daily- One hour per week spent rowing- Logistics of rowing, fueling, and sharing space- Eating disorder awareness and raising funds- Circumnavigation of three oceans back to back to back- Dimensions and features of her ocean boatNamaste-Jess
Today, we have not one but two of the most sought-after coaches in the world.Lawrence Van Lingen and Erin Carson have risen to legendary status in the world of endurance sports by following their curiosity and not worrying too much about what the mainstream says about mobility and strength for athletes.Guided by intuition and strong intellects, these two coaches are staples in the lives of A-List athletes like Jan Frodeno, Rudy Von Berg, Taylor Knibb, and Paula Findlay.Erin is making her three-peat appearance on the show today, having first come on the show back in 2018 for episode 114 and then just a few months ago for episode 373.Lawrence first came on the show in 2019 for episode 184, which was also his first podcast ever. After recently speaking to Erin and then learning that Lawrence has left his So Cal contingency for the athletic mecca of Boulder, Colorado, we were inspired to get these two on together.They eagerly said yes because they are amazing and love this community, and we love listening to the passion they have for everyone to realize free movement in their body.Thank you for tuning in, and please comment to let us know how you enjoyed this episode.If you find value in the YogiTriathlete and Awake Athlete podcasts, please join us on Patreon for as little as $5/month to make a difference in the life and reach of these shows.In this episode, we discuss:- Letting go of labels- A creative way of being- We are not all created equal- The drudgery of sameness- Being on a journey, not just solving problems- Memorable moments from 2023 PTO, IRONMAN and WTS racing- Working with Jan Frodeno in his final year of racing- Mastery of movement vs outcome- Ashleigh Gentle, Alex Yee, Rudy Von Berg, Cassandra Beaugrand- Why the Nice course demands presence- PTO's influence on the future of triathlon- Relax to run fast- Cushioning vs compliance- Running is an efficiency sport- Taylor Knibb and Jason Pohl's successes- Humans learn through play- Pulling tiresNamaste-Jess
Today, we are thrilled to welcome professional ultra trail runner and Ironman triathlete Lucy Bartholomew to the show. Lucy has talked so openly about the high highs and the low lows of doing what she is called to in this life, and yet she continually persists to, as she says, uplevel to a new devil.At age 27, Lucy is already a trail running veteran with course records, podium finishes, and many lessons along the way. Lucy has crossed the finish line at the most significant events in the sport, like the Tarawera Ultramarathon, Western States, and, most recently, Ultra Trail Du'Mont Blanc, where she placed 10th.She has also embarked on solo adventures that have taken her to the limit, like the 231 K trek along the Larapinta Trail in Australia's Northern Territory. Salomon Running created a fantastic film, Running Out, which documents this incredible feat. But the piece that caught our attention was last year when Lucy crossed the finish line at Ironman Western Australia and qualified for the Ironman World Championship, which takes place in Kona, Hawaii, in just a few weeks.Trail and triathlon, they said it couldn't happen, and now it is all the time. We love the crossover, we love what we've seen in following Lucy's story, and we're so grateful to have this beam of sunshine with us today. We hope you enjoy the show.Thank you for listening. Be sure to check out NEW PATREON tiers to support this, and the Awake Athlete podcasts; let's keep both commercial-free!In this episode, we discuss:- Finding flow again at Tarawara- UTMB and Ironman World Championship- Pinnacles of the sport side by side- Endurance sports is problem-solving with a little exercise in between- Happening "to" you or "for" you- Process and privilege of getting gritty- The honor of knocking on the pain cave door and being let- Calm, confident, curious- Outrun the love of running- When you think you know it, you don’t- All gear, no idea- Biggest learning from Ironman Western Australia- Nutrition changes from ultrarunning to triathlon- Lucy’s dad's experience at Western States 100 Endurance Run- Trusting intuition to fuel the body with plants- Favorite dish from her cookbook - Dahl - zero waste recipe- Resonating with professional athlete Heather Jackson- Favorite moment of UTMBNamaste-Jess
It's been a minute since our last race smackdown, and we're excited to be bringing back the tradition today.In this episode, BJ and I share the mic with YT coach Melissa Gansz and YT athlete Patrick Testoni, who crossed his first 70.3 finish line at this race. These two faced their fair share of obstacles in their training, traveling, and race execution. They are both generous and honest with the information they share and how much of their experience is aided by their mindset training.We hope you take many nuggets of gold away as you listen, and if you desire more community in your life, perhaps joining Team YogiTriathlete is your next step. We'd love to have you with us!Thank you for listening. Be sure to check out NEW PATREON tiers to support this, and the Awake Athlete podcasts; let's keep both commercial-free!In this episode, we discuss:- First time experiencing IM 70.3 Santa Cruz- A journey to becoming a swimmer- Challenges as a part of feeling fulfilled- The barrage of pre-race obstacles- Being a leader when no one is looking- Let go or be dragged- Santa Cruz bike course- Race mantras- First time 70.3 finish line experience- The power of community- Nurturing the desire for something more in life- Finding the right fit for coachingNamaste-Jess
When YogiTriathlete first came to be over two decades ago, it was "The YogiTriathlete." There was always something that felt limited about the name as we both knew YogiTriathlete was meant to serve many.Years later, we dropped the first word, and it became a business in 2016, but even before this, we had many followers who did not identify as athletes but very much felt aligned with the community. This has continued and serves to remind us that YogiTriathlete is more than sport.It's a recipe for life that hits all the bases: body, mind, and spirit.And so, after many years, we are thrilled to announce our Wellness Coaching offering, which brings physical movement, mental health, and vibrant nutrition together as you wish in a supportive relationship that is meant to transform and grow.It's become obvious that it is a fantastic option for athletes who want to take a break from traditional sport specific training or are healing from something in their life but want to remain in good health and wellbeing. We talk about this new coaching option towards the end of today's show.Thank you for listening. Be sure to check out NEW PATREON tiers to support this and the Awake Athlete podcasts; let's keep both commercial-free!In this episode, we discuss:- going against the grain- we'll get knocked down until we say "no more"- going in when the energy outside intensifies- memories and finding truth- what is unacceptable in others is actually unacceptable in us- our senior quotes- vocalizing struggles reduces the hold they have on us- becoming the master of your response- IM World Championship in Nice - reflections- takeaways from BJ’s Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz- BJ's process to create race stategy- running pain free- introducing wellness coaching- Awake Athlete season 4 podcast is coming!- Next stop: Malibu Triathlon and Super LeagueNamaste-Jess
We are thrilled to have Vuori and Athletic Brewing athlete Jason Hardrath back on the show to smack down the successes and challenges of his latest FKT project.
At the beginning of August, Jason smashed the previous record of 60 days with his completion of the Rocky Mountain Grand Slam in less than 40 days. This project included 122 peaks, 698 miles, and 318,799 feet of elevation gain; an endeavor equivalent to summiting Mt. Everest from sea level 11 times.
We first had Jason on the show in July of 2022 to celebrate his conquering of Washington state's Bulgers List and his 100th FKT, Have a listen; it's episode 322. And be sure to watch the Athletic Brewing Journey to 100 film so you're all caught up for another film releasing in October on Jason completing an Infinity Loop around Mexico’s Pico de Orizaba.
But today is all about diving into The Rocky Mountain Grand Slam, and we're pumped because Jason is always up for diving under the surface chatter to unearth meaningful messages and education for us all.
Thank you, enjoy the show! And afterward, be sure to check out NEW PATREON tiers to support this and the Awake Athlete podcasts; let's keep both commercial-free!
In this episode, we discuss:
- Rocky Mountain Grand Slam
- In comparison to his Bulgers FKT
- Meaningful burdens
- Element of mastery and the spirit of exploration
- Adjusting as the body ages
- Finite chance to participate in an infinite game
- "Do" to teach
- Magic magic land
- Being present with it all
- Changing the experience of suffering
- Carrying your burden well
- Being a leader when others don’t follow through
- When your standards are high, the body will follow
- Finding excellence through the cruxes
- What matters to be the person you want to be
- Soaking in the moments that are idyllic
- Being able to answer what you wonder
Namaste- Jess
Life is an ever-changing ocean of motion, and we may have many iterations of ourselves throughout our lives, so I think purpose can take on many looks and feels.We can have a sense of purpose throughout our day as we serve others or achieve our goals; we can pay attention to life with purpose so that we are more present in our day-to-day or in the case of today's guest, we can feel an innate draw to something and follow that calling, and sometimes that becomes our way of life.Even though Bryan Mineo was raised 250 miles away from the nearest ocean, he felt a love for the ocean from as early as he can remember. He dreamt about swimming in its waters and spending time on its shores but also a distance between what was calling him and his physical surroundings.He bridged the gap as best he could with pool swimming, then open water swimming in lakes, and eventually moving to Southern California's Pacific coast and, over time, into the purpose that he lives today, bridging the gap for people between living on land and the great element of water.Bryan is the founder of The Swim Mechanic and One with the Ocean, which is centered around improving humans' relationship with the ocean.If you have been following our stories, you know we've been joining the Sunday morning open-water workouts at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas. They are incredible training sessions; they are so much fun and also relevant to improving triathlete skills.Admittedly, we knew about Bryan and his incredible organization, but joining the group took us a few years. Why? We really don't have a good reason, but we trust the divine orchestration of the timing of our connection and this episode.Thank you, enjoy the show! And afterward be sure to check out NEW PATREON tiers to support this and the Awake Athlete podcasts, let's keep both commercial-free!In this episode, we discuss:- Bryan’s happy place in Grand Cayman- communing with the ocean- ocean connects our global family- first traumatic open water experience- first awareness of ‘breath’- deep-rooted fears about the water- importance of creating a first, positive experience- ocean is our teacher- the beauty of the impact zone- hold your breath or let it go- learning the frequency of the wave- SHARKS and the truth- what is the dream?Namaste-Jess
So we may be biased, but this is really an awesome episode - don't miss it!
As BJ and I open to the stream of infinite intelligence, the same one that is available to all of you, we continue to learn from the conversations we have. Awake Athlete is the perfect example, and I talk about the force that moved through me to realize the book, the podcast, and all of the teachings that continue to allow me and many others to grow and expand.
The second half of our conversation taps into BJ's wealth of Ironman distance experience and coaching wisdom, so if you are 140.6, curious, stay to the very end.
Thank you, Patreon members, for pledging to keep this and the Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. New Patreon tiers and member benefits launching on Friday, September 1st!
In this episode, we discuss:
- New Patreon tiers
- The birth of Awake Athlete
- Book club begins September 1st
- Early feedback on the book
- Book signing at Ironman Santa Cruz 70.3
- Powerful excerpt from the book
- BJs return to Ironman Lake Placid
- Power of detachment
- Limiting beliefs on racing Ironman
- Breaking beliefs down
- When to start training for an Ironman
- Importance of working with a coach early in your Ironman journey
- Building run fitness
Namaste- Jess
We are thrilled to have Lynda Layng back in the house today.
Lynda is a whole food plant-based chef, recipe developer, food editor, and certified health coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.
She is passionate about whole food, plant-based nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Lynda has been in the vegan publishing and recipe development space for over a decade. She has had the pleasure of working on cookbooks, such as The Plant-Powered Way by Rich Roll & Julie Piatt, Self Magazine Drop 10 Cookbook, Dining at the Ravens, treasured recipes from The Stanford Inn Vegan Resort and The YogiTriathlete Cookbook. Her most recent work includes No Meat Athlete, Health Made Simple Meal Plan, Mississippi Vegan’s YouTube Cooking Channel, and website.
You have heard Lynda on the show before, and if you haven't checked out those episodes, see the show notes for links to listen in. As previously mentioned, Lynda didn't just work on the YogiTriathlete cookbook; she was instrumental in assisting us in completing the book at a time in our lives when we really needed help. Lynda was then and continues to be in service as she assists us with this podcast and athletes in the community with their overall health and nutrition.
It was time to bring this shining light back to the forefront to dish on all things plants, mindset, and life. Be sure the check the show notes for a powerful meditation and two incredible recipes!
In this episode, we discuss:
- Late summer easy meals
- New special sauce
- Manifestation meditation
- Chips Attack
- Mindset and healing relationship around food
- Lynda's new dream job
- Getting clear on what you want
- How do you care for yourself?
- Navigating non-vegan restaurants
- Overcomplicating food choices
- Be patient; not everyone understands vegan
- Tom Cruise comes to dinner; what do you make?
- Beautiful insight on the adoption of Lynda's son, Finn
Namaste- Jess
Welcome to the YogiTriathlete podcast; we are excited to be in person today with two YogiTriathlete team members: Liz Perkoski and her coach Melissa Gansz.
We recorded this podcast during a recent visit with Melissa, who was in town from Pennsylvania, which she calls home, and she joined us to smackdown Liz's recent seven-day solo thru-hike on the Tahoe Rim Trail.
We hope you feel empowered to take the leap in your life that calls to you and that you have the clarity to determine the next logical step in making your dreams a reality.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Biggest obstacles before hitting the trail
- The big bear outside her tent
- Headspace before, during, and after the adventure
- Pivot on training to prepare for the trails
- Body gratitude for showing up to do hard things
- Strength training to prepare for the hike
- Trusting in yourself and nullifying doubt and fear
- Support from the universe
- Thoughts on altitude and caffeine
- Impact of the snow on trails
- Using breath to find calm
- Coach Melissa’s perspective on her athlete
- What has meditation opened to you in life
- 83.5 miles / 13,000 feet of elevation on the Tahoe Rim Trail
- Nutrition breakdown
- What did you learn about yourself
- Don’t underestimate the kindness of strangers
- Sunset from ‘the bench’
Namaste- Jess
Let's start this post with massive namastes, and congrats to Jason for claiming the 2nd podium spot at the PTO US Open in Milwaukee, WI, this past weekend and putting down an insane run split over his competitors. Well done.
We caught up with Jason at the beginning of his taper for this race, and he admits to feeling top-notch.
As of July 31st, Jason is ranked 16th in the world and 3rd in the US according to the Professional Triathletes Organization, and if he keeps racing like he did last weekend, we're sure to see him climbing those ranks steadily.
Jason started his triathlon career at sixteen and acquired a high level of mental toughness early on as his training consisted of one-speed, full gas. Jason continued to race through college, where he studied kinesiology and then headed to Boulder to pursue a triathlon career.
And that leaves us where we stand now, an ever-emerging star in the sport of triathlon and an absolute threat to all his competitors on the run. We are so grateful to have shared this conversation with Jason and loved his energy and take on mindset.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Self-coaching with a close network of advisors
- Working through nerves and challenging workouts
- Having a strong work ethic
- Early triathlon training plan
- Learning how to mentally cope with suffering
- Mindset training
- Moving forward from poor race performances
- Needing the contrast to strengthen our desire
- Loving the process
- Making money as a PRO - finding a way
- The race that kept him going
- Betting on yourself
- Working with doubt and negative self-talk
- Jason’s exciting month of racing ahead
Namaste- Jess
Thanks so much for joining us for our July OH Show. BJ and I were traveling for a few weeks separately, so this podcast was the first time we had a chance to sit down and catch up. We kick things off by sharing one of our morning rituals with you all and let it flow from there. We appreciate each one of you for tuning in - enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
- Medicine cards
- Really getting to know yourself
- 21-day meditation challenge
- Importance of having a coach or guide
- Continue to have more experiences
- There is no luck in this life
- What’s the next logical step?
- Finding time to train in your busy day
- Being the boss of your mind
- BJ and Daniel's epic ride
- Following your intuition
- Surrendering to the flow of life
- Come see us at Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz
Namaste- Jess
Tamara Jewett has become a prominent competitor since turning pro in 2019 and, just this year, threw everything into the basket of triathlon when she left her full-time career as a lawyer and went full-in to training and racing as a pro.
Tamara kicked off the year with a win at the iconic Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, a season opener like no other known for its honest course and A-list competition. Competing alongside Paula Findlay and current Ironman world champion Chelsea Sodaro, Tamara was 4th out of the swim, 5th off the bike, and then took the win after throwing down a 1:13:00 half marathon.
She placed 6th at the PTO European Open in early May and followed it up with 2nd at 70.3 ex-en-Provence a few weeks later.
Tamara has a background in high-performance middle-distance track, and since turning to triathlon, she became the first woman to run under 74 minutes at a 70.3.
Triathlete.com launched an article in April claiming that Tamara is becoming the most feared runner in triathlon.
We have a feeling she will continue to blow our socks off, and we're so excited to dive into the story of this incredible athlete.
In this episode, we discuss:
- importance of days off for Tamara
- healing around food and nutrition
- brutal acceptance of the now
- injury is not a pause in life
- patience
- leaving her career to go all in with professional triathlon
- sleep for recovery
- sifting through the noise
- racing at the competitive edge of the sport
- permission to have ups and downs
- learning about your emotions to work through them
- The dream
Namaste- Jess
We are in person for this episode with San Diego running legend George Greco. And although his legendary status is well known in this area, I imagine by now that the trickle effect of George's presence far exceeds Southern California.
George quit cigarettes for running shoes at the age of 45 after his young daughter asked him to stop smoking for her birthday. He ran his first ultra-marathon at the age of 69 and, since tying up his laces, has raced over 600 races with close to 400 1st place finishes in his age group and was ran himself just 3 seconds shy of the all-time record for his age at the well-known State Street Mile in Santa Barbara, California.
He has lived a life, hit rock bottom, woken up, and now shares his joy for life and running with all who cross his path. I was fortunate to align with this fine sir shortly after moving to San Diego, and one of the first things he said to me was, "punch me in the stomach." If you know George, you've most likely been asked the same and found the same thing I did - a rock solid core on a 75-year body, a vessel he uses as a laboratory in his endless pursuit to be an experiment of one for his life.
In this episode, we discuss:
- poet at heart
- self-talk that pulls you away from your goal
- finding your edge
- George pre-running
- time with Timothy Leary & Ram Dass
- moments of awakening
- hitting rock bottom
- better choices lead to better outcomes
- the starting point for his running career
- planting seeds of possibility & empowerment
- creating more quiet
- ultras on 20 miles per week
- morning routine for a 75-year old
- you gotta love the process, the journey
- longevity
- shithouse intuitional good fortune
- the power of curiosity
Namaste- Jess
Let's go!
We're here with the coaches, diving into many topics to satisfy your yogi and triathlete needs. Let us know what you take away from the episode, and thank you to all for tuning yourselves into the YT channel.
In this episode, we discuss:
- coach Melissa's70.3 World Champs qualification
- hill repeats on the bike
- first-year 70.3 race intel: Massachusetts and Pennsylvania
- coach Daniel is back to racing with gratitude
- comfort minutes
- we're pumped about...
- racing in community
- One with the Ocean open-water swims
- saying yes to the flow of life
- are we addicted to the drama?
- a lesson learned and applied
- trusting the inner voice
- how yoga has helped the coaches train and race
- leaning into your edges
- gratitude showers
Namaste- Jess
We’re so grateful to welcome back Erin Carson to the show. Strength guru to the endurance sports world, Erin was the steward of the iconic Rally Sport gym in Boulder, Colorado, for decades.
She has an A-list roster of current and former world champions and many age-group triathletes like us balancing life and sport. She is a magnet for any athlete seeking excellence; she exemplifies the same in her work. She generously shares her knowledge and is fearless in collaborating with other movement specialists and coaches.
Erin is one of the most sought-after and accessible coaches in the world. She was our incredible guest from episode 114 in July of 2018 when BJ and I were in town for the Boulder Peak triathlon, and here we are five years later with timing that feels oh so perfect.
In this episode, we discuss:
- don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy because it happened
- moving forward from Rally Sports in Boulder
- Taylor Knibb’s return to racing
- nurturing a beginner’s mindset
- the marginal decade
- rooting athletes in the present moment
- Director of Happiness
- practicing the fundamentals
- breathing and its effects on performance
- mobility to strength work
- commit to honesty, respect, and trust
- expanding our movement bubble
- does strength come from mobility, or mobility comes from strength
Namaste- Jess
Welcome to our June installment of the OH Show. It's powerful, to the point, and here for you to take away what resonates and put those things into action today. If you have questions you'd like us to address next month, please post in the comments or send us a message.
If you are enjoying this podcast, whether you have been a listener since 2016 or you have just discovered the wellspring of the YTP, please consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/yogitriathlete which keeps this and the Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free, just the way we all like them to be.
In this episode, we discuss:
- sun gratitude is high
- when BJ is a better podcast host
- stay focused on your goal
- be willing to win and willing to fail
- there is no too good to be true
- do you believe in yourself or not
- spiritual accounting
- existence bliss
- releasing attachment to the outcome
- fear of success
- the flow of letting your yes be yes
- good enough is not enough
- a hero at the beginning
- show me who you are in the middle
- if you don’t love it, you won’t relentlessly pursue it
- the battle of you and you
- Team YogiTriathlete racing
Namaste- Jess
Today we are so grateful to be sitting in person with professional triathlete, coach, and scientist Isaac Diaz. Isaac's mission within his work in the world is to positively transform lives through sport and help bring humanity to a higher state of consciousness.
He is an avid practitioner and teacher of pranayama, or exercises to control the breath. This powerful practice leads to the management of life force, which is the vibrant energy that moves our breath.
He uses this discipline to increase vitality in the whole person, ultimately leading to optimal performance in sport and life. And like all authentic teachers, he is practicing what he teaches as he moves closer to his highest expression.
Believing that we live in a universe of growth, Isaac is always looking for the next step, and this year he moved from elite age group athlete to the professional ranks.
Last month, he placed 11th at Ironman 70.3 St. George in what he called a "nice breakthrough" performance, and only days ago, he announced that he will dial it up to the full distance in a few weeks at Ironman Couer d'Alene.
In this episode, we discuss:
- lower breathing rate = increased performance and calm
- benefits of being a calm athlete
- breath as an edge over your competitors
- signs of poor breathing
- importance of breath awareness
- mouth vs. nasal breathing
- flow state and presence in racing
- perseverance
- doubts can be a way to grow
- the power of hard work and discipline
- losing your swim stroke
- going ALL IN now
- burning the boats and leaning into fear
- takeaways from Ironman 70.3 St. George (11th pro)
- the best way to increase your aerobic capacity
- working through imposter syndrome
- compound effect
- vision for the future
Namaste- Jess
We are thrilled to be welcoming Corey Bellemore to the show today. Although we have known of Corey for some time now, we were introduced to him last month by Heather Sloane of Heali Medical.
Corey is one of Heali's athletes receiving the great benefits of their magnesium and menthol-infused K-tape.
Heather and her business partner Li, were the guests of episode 365, which launched in March of this year, so make sure to listen to that episode.
Meeting Corey and having him here with us today is yet another example of the power of community and the connection that naturally arises from within.
Corey is a Canadian track and field athlete with insane personal bests like 3:57 for the mile, 3:39 for the 1500m, and 1:47 for the 800 m.
He is a National medalist and well known for being the Beer Mile World Record Holder, which he ran in 4:28. Corey has a background in competitive swimming from high school and has been known to train with some well-known professional triathletes so we'll see where that's all leading.
We hope you enjoy this episode! Thank you for supporting the YogiTriathlete mission and this podcast by listening, sharing, and being a patron.
In this episode, we discuss:
- meeting his soulmate
- tapering for a 1500m race
- embracing long-term development
- razor's edge between super fit and injured
- cross-training to maintain a healthy balance
- 80/20
- fear and control
- strength training
- having a coach/community
- qualities of a great coach
- the journey is the destination
- trust, tactics & flexibility all in a 3 min race
- his competitive history with Lionel Sanders
- recovery routine, including stillness
- don't be afraid to eat
- beer mile obsession
Namaste- Jess
We are thrilled to bring you today's episode, recorded live from El Bunker in Tambor, Costa Rica. El Bunker is the cycling hub for the local cycling community that we pair up with during the Pura Vida Cycling Challenge. We have talked about the beauty of this local community and the lifelong friendships that form almost instantaneously, and today, you all get to hear directly from a few of these special people.Pura Vida Cycling Challenge co-founder Dan Casey is my co-host and translator for this episode. It's heartfelt, funny, and connected despite the language barriers. We genuinely expect our guests' love and selflessness will come through to you loud and clear as you listen.Pro tip: If you are not fluent in Spanish or English, set up Google Translate on your phone as you stream the video on YouTube, and you'll hear the natural words of our wonderful friends.Thank you to all YogiTriathlete patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- the vision where it all started- why the Pura Vida charity event is so important- El Bunker- former professional cyclist and national cycling legend, Joel- meet the locals and hear why Pura Vida Cycling Challenge is so important for their community- the impact of El Bunker on the local community- uprising of strong Costa Rican women leading by example- cycling as a healthy outlet for lifeNamaste-Jess
Hola YogiTriathlete community! We are so glad you are here with us for our May OH Show. We recorded this episode post cycling challenge and yoga retreat. We dive into takeaways, and through those, we discuss ways to live with less effort and more aligned with our nature.We hope you enjoy the show, and thank you so much for tuning in.We are sending a big shout-out of gratitude to YogiTriathlete patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- thoughts on our extended stay in Costa Rica- trusting the process and staying the course- practicing ahimsa and non-stealing- yamas & niyamas = GPS system for life- Costa Rica takeaways- voice of the small self- never count yourself out- showing up for the possibility- living against the grain requires courage- daily practice of awareness- something for everyone at Awake Minds Yoga Retreats- retreat routine supports your life, digestion, and mindset- a day in the life on retreat- it takes no effort to be you- releasing the need to know why- living an awake lifeNamaste-Jess
We are coming to you on location for this episode at the Pura Vida Hotel in Alajuela, Costa Rica. Complete with background sounds of the bustling local community and nature at night as we gathered around our community table after stage two of the Pura Vida Cycling Challenge, La Vuelta al Mundo.The longest of the five stages, this route is filled with microclimates and highly diverse terrain. Our day began with a relatively flat warmup (by Costa Rican standards). Then it took us through lush tropical mountain terrain, cigar and coffee plantations, a low desert climate near the Pacific Coast, and one of the most famous climbs that Costa Rica has to offer, "El Aguacate."We share this episode with five athletes participating in this May's challenge, including co-founders Jennifer Vollman and Dan Casey. We intend for you to feel the familiarity within our group and the camaraderie that formed almost instantaneously. Lifelong friendships, many laughs, and long climbs, we hope you capture the vibe. Thank you for being on this ride with us and tuning into this episode.NEXT CHALLENGE: September 2-6, 2023 | 10% Early Bird Discount available - Code: GRIT23Thank you to our patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- Pura Vida vision as reality- more smiles and laughs in 5 days than anywhere else- inclusivity with the local community- what brought the riders to the Pura Vida Cycling Challenge- most memorable feelings so far in the challenge- language barriers do not compromise connection- jungle heat and humidity- Swedish coffee schedule- cycling in Europe vs. Central America- growth of female riders at Pura Vida- local guides- setting yourself up for a successful Pura Vida experience- SAG vehicle experience- experiencing joy through the eyes of the riders- the roads are for everyoneNamaste-Jess
Our guest today is Jeffrey James Binney, and he encourages us to look at the crazy thing we’ve always wanted to do and know that this is the time. He reminds us that we only live once, and we must make the most of it.Jeffrey is a trail runner, adventure travel host, comedian, and speaker. He is the producer and director of "Once Is Enough," which is a film that documents his journey from losing his mom to obesity-caused heart disease to stepping onto the starting line of the world’s more difficult 100-mile ultramarathon.This vegan son-of-a-pig-farmer has loved adventure from a very early age, and this film brings it all together; the inspiration, the loss, pain, exhaustion, failure, and triumph of life. "Once Is Enough" is a must-see, and this podcast is a must-listen, so thanks for tuning in.Thank you to our patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- getting more people outside- don’t put off living life- inspiration from mom- aspirations of being an astronaut and having adventures- obsession with Lewis & Clark- death as motivation to be healthy- fixed mindset vs growth mindset- motivation through external doubt- moving to a plant-based lifestyle on a dare- couch to 20 miler to 50 miler to 100- path to making the indie film- the miracle baby- during the tough times in a race, pulling upon mom’s strength- challenges in making the film- Pacific Crest Trail adventure- travel host experiences focused on inclusivityNamaste-Jess
Melissa is the newest addition to YogiTriathlete's coaching team. She started with us on January 1st, and her magnetism as a coach has attracted spectacular athletes to her roster so far. We love having her on the team alongside coaches Daniel, Chef Lynda, BJ, and myself.The other piece we love so much is how it all went down.Melissa and I connected on Instagram a few years ago, and I had the honor of spending seven nights and eight days with her on a retreat last year in Costa Rica. Of course, I now understand that experience poured the foundation for our expanded relationship that began last fall. On November 28th, we launched the OH Show, announcing we wanted to hire a running coach. On December 5th, Melissa posted on Instagram that she was looking to take on athletes for coaching, a post I saw the following day.I immediately sent her a DM to see if she was open to talking, which she answered absolutely! But even before her response, I knew the person I described in my ask to the universe was just delivered. However, in all that is universal love, Melissa is everything we asked for and more. She is a long-distance runner, coach, triathlete, and herbalist currently finishing her Master's in Clinical Herbal Medicine at the Maryland University of Integrated Health.Melissa's coaching surrounds running, strength training, cross-training, mobility, whole-body wellness, and herbal consultations for athletes who seek optimal human performance.Her philosophy focuses on "pushing the boundaries we draw for ourselves and stepping past resistance."Thank you to our patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- Melissa's path to YogiTriathlete- the experience of "retreat life"- growth from contrast- coaching perspective- in giving, we receive- band nerd to endurance athlete- knowing when to rest in order to absorb fitness- how cycling and swimming benefit run performance- consistency and routine helps build good habits- trust over fear- connecting with ourselves through nature- herbalism for athletes- Melissa’s ethos - meditation, nutrition, mindset, and consistencyNamaste-Jess
Today's guest is Damien Fitzpatrick, founder and CEO of Pillar Performance, a sports micronutrient company based in Australia. Damien and his team at Pillar are filling a gap between traditional sports supplements and pharmaceutical intervention to keep athletes doing what they love longer into their lives.And we love that, and of course, we love the vegan tab on their website recognizing the growing population of athletes choosing to no longer eat animal-based products as a means to perform well.But what we love even more and are committed to sharing is the story behind the product, the series of events that led to the creation of Pillar, and the "chance" meeting that initiated this and many of the 360-something podcasts that precede this one.Indeed, this happens when you follow your heart, learn from your pain, and live life purposefully; the universe will conspire to support you and bring you the people that align with what you offer the world.And this happened just a few weeks ago at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside when we met Damien. Within minutes I knew he had a story we wanted to share, and after trying the Pillar Performance product that night, it was evident we needed to get him on the show.Damien is a former professional athlete well known for his injuries, which became a growing challenge that ultimately guided him to where he sits today and no doubt fuels his passion for supporting athletes' longevity in sport.Thank you to our patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- Damien's background as a professional rugby player- his unique injury and how he prolonged his career- a-ha moments- do anything mentality- work ethic trumps talent- retirement and the launch of Pillar- getting more athletes to more start lines more often- why triathletes inspire Damien- the biggest challenge for Pillar- why triple magnesium?- timing of micro-nutrition reaps major benefits for performance- morning routine, meditation & swimming- debuting Pillar at IM 70.3 Oceanside- future and vision for Pillar PerformanceNamaste-Jess
Thank you for tuning in for our April OH Show. Coming together for an hour each month to throw down and reflect on life is a great joy. We intend that you take away many nuggets of gold. And please, a special request for this month. Post a comment and let us know if you want to sleep on Machu Picchu or live amongst giant tortoises.One final shoutout to our patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- Getting ready for the Pura Vida Cycling Challenge- FOMO vs. JOMO- Move, Meditation and Mindful Eating: A Class To Feed Your Soul.- Awake Minds Newest Retreat February 17-21, 2024- Pulling on the thread of curiosity- What is a yoga adventure? Is it different from a yoga retreat?- CAST YOUR VOTE: Sleep on Machu Picchu or live amongst giant tortoises?- Ironman 70.3 Oceanside OH Show reflections- Carlsbad 5000Namaste-Jess
While active in her early years, Callie adopted a lifestyle in college that left her staring down an early death sentence. It was a reality that her physician brought to her attention more than once, but it wasn't until she faced a one-mile walk to brunch that she decided to change.A decade later, we find Callie on the other side of numerous ultrarunning events, including the Moab 240. And currently, she is gearing up for the iconic Western States 100 endurance run this coming June, where she will represent the Indigenous advocacy nonprofit Rising Hearts and GU Energy Labs.Please enjoy this story of a woman who took charge of her health and created herself a better world inside and out.Thank you to our patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- the brunch that changed her- building momentum slowly- journey to running- Moab 240- running in the dark- inspiration for others to pursue their passion- food as fuel, not just pleasure- fueling with GU Energy- the ongoing forgiveness process & loving your body- rebranding a runner's body- what are you waiting for? Just do it- the inchworm story- full circle to the Western States 100Namaste-Jess
Welcome to our first smackdown of the 2023 season! Hot off the heels of IM 70.3 Oceanside, we are joined by Coach Daniel and three members of Team YogiTriathlete. We love capturing these episodes when the memories are fresh, and the muscles are still sore.We intend that you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed listening to these fantastic athletes share their experiences. Thank you to our patrons who support this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast on Patreon. If you want to learn about what it means to be a patron, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In this episode, we discuss:- our guests' life-changing stories- of course, you can- breathing practice to find calm- working through the doubts/fears- training with a heart condition- feel more confident in swimming- bike course unknowns- race nutrition- perspective is critical to success- detaching from race results- power of community- parenting and training for a triathlon- feeling worth the investment- it’s not ALL or NOTHING- communication is key for coaching at YT- takeaways and growthNamaste-Jess
Gene Baur is the co-founder and president of Farm Sanctuary. He is the star of YTP episode 17, which we recorded in 2016 when BJ and I lived on the road. We were staying in Ithaca, New York, and we'd drive to Watkins Glen, drop Clark off at a dog sitter, and then head to Farm Sanctuary, where we volunteered for seven days. It was a profound experience of transformation and hard labor.Gene has been relentless in his advocacy of animals for almost four decades. He has visited hundreds of farms, stockyards, and slaughterhouses, documenting deplorable conditions. Through his investigative and rescue work, he has educated millions about the plight of modern farm animals.His message of compassionate living transcends age, race, or class and hits deep into the essence of who we are and begs the question - if we can live well without causing unnecessary harm, why wouldn't we?From hob-knobbing with Hollywood royalty to debating on national television, countless public addresses, and authoring two books, Gene is showing this world that compassion is a superpower for good and in effect, has inspired many to shift their mindset around animals to friends, not food.We loved this beautiful conversation and hope you do too! Thank you for tuning in. If you are enjoying the show, if it's assisting you with positive change in your life, please take a moment to leave a review on your preferred listening station. And then head over to Patreon and check out the perks of support; we couldn't do this each week without our patrons.In this episode, we discuss:- compassion is a superpower for good- update on Watkins Glen, NY & Acton, CA locations- the profound impact of veganic agriculture- lawns transitioning to gardens- find common ground to educate- only 4% of mammals live free in the wild- we are losing biodiversity- obstacles to moving to a vegan lifestyle- Hilda's story- positive videos to raise awareness and open hearts and minds- animals are social beings- long walks in nature to process- animal advocacy legislation- future of Farm SanctuaryNamaste-Jess
Welcome to the March OH Show, where we show up, perhaps a bit punchy for this episode. Thank you for tuning in, and please send us your topics or questions for us to dive into next month.Thank you, Patreon supporters, for keeping this and the Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you enjoy the show, please consider becoming a Patron to support your weekly content and indulge in great perks like weekly yoga or the Awake Athlete community.In this episode, we discuss:- running off the bike- recap of our training days- make time for the things that are important to you- challenge habits and beliefs- inner runner mobility program- minimizing subscriptions- minimal furniture- decision fatigue- things that make us lazy- thrift books- giving up before you startNamaste-Jess
Today we are so excited to be talking with professional ultrarunner, podcast host, dog mom, and scientist Keely Henninger who is so much more than those labels I just rattled off.During her ten years of racing, Keely has seen great success but also has faced the limitations of a runner trying to fit a mold. She has under-fueled, over-trained, and resisted rest until one day when Keely said "no more" as it became clear that her health was hanging in the balance.She became curious about the kind of runner she desired to be. And this curiosity led to positive change dictated by her desires, not the expectations of others. As a result, Keely now dedicates herself to assisting women in overcoming the detrimental impacts of improper training while she races strong at the top end of her field.Keely is no stranger to the podium and most recently set a new course record at the Black Canyon 100k, where she walked away with one of two coveted Golden Tickets for the Western States 100, which takes place this coming June.We thoroughly enjoyed our conversation with this impressive woman and hope that she inspires you to appreciate your own unique journey. Thank you for tuning in!In this episode, we discuss:- studying for the MCAT- mindset going into a practice test vs trails races- working with the doubt of doing enough training- saying your goals out loud- Black Canyon Ultra recap- mindset training for races- practicing the calm- choosing to not engage in other energy/not calm- being true to yourself- sucks enough moment- asking for help- see vulnerability to be vulnerable- resistance to pushing as well as easing off- thoughts on having a coach- training on feel vs pace- embracing hills and running strong up & down- Western States and goals for 2023- going all in on something- how do you know you’re presentNamaste-Jess
We are delighted to welcome professional gravel racer and ultra runner Heather Jackson back to the show.Our first episode with Heather launched in January 2020. So much has transpired since then, including her retirement from racing triathlon at the professional level and Heather and her husband Wattie becoming parents with the arrival of Stevie pup, who was introduced to the world via Instagram last September.Heather finished off 2022 in a huge way, having raced her final Ironman in Kona at the World Championships, then two weeks later placing 14th female at the Big Sugar 100-mile gravel race, and then one week later took the ultra running scene by storm with her 5th place finish at Javelina Hundred 100-mile after leading the race through mile-60.And most recently, she just crushed the Black Canyon 100k after an iconic battle with heavy hitters like Keely Henniger and Ida Nilsson. She finished 2nd on the day, coming in under the previous course record with a time of 8hrs 47 minutes, and 59 seconds.So much newness and unknown during this conversation, and of course, we dig for her treasures of wisdom which she always shares so generously.Thank you for tuning in! If you enjoy the show, please consider making your statement known on Patreon - this community is solely responsible for keeping the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free.In this episode, we discuss:- moving to the dirt sports- going out too hot- Ironman endurance on the trails- beginners mindset- the art of downhill running- trail running requires presence- nutrition practices for these longer trail races- Heather's support crew- joy and gratitude- epic trail battles- gravel riding to support healthy running- Western States 100 Endurance Run- what are you waiting for?- 2023 race calendarNamaste-Jess
Today we’re excited to be joined by two female entrepreneurs who are assisting athletes in feeling better in their bodies, which, as we all know, has such an impact on our minds. Heather Sloan and Enwei Li are healthcare practitioners, friends, and working moms with almost 30 years of combined healthcare experience. In their over 15-year friendship, they have shared many patient success stories, methods of healing, and wellness go-tos.From their experience with injury coupled with assisting their athlete clients with injury prevention and healing, they kept running into a wall when it came to being mobile and healing simultaneously. They became frustrated with the gap in the healthcare products market, and out of this came Heali, the first-ever tape that offers pain relief, recovery, and support at the same time. Addressing an untapped market area, these ladies won over the investors on Dragon’s Den and walked away with a deal.Beej and I have been using this tape since November. Our athletes on Team YogiTriathlete are also using it, and we couldn’t wait to get these ladies onto the show so that more and more athletes can experience the support and recovery we have been experiencing over these last few months.The product is impressive, but we want to shine a light on the women behind the offering because knowing who we are supporting is just as important as the support this product offers us all. Thank you for tuning in!In this episode, we discuss:- background of Heali- so stylish you may even want to fake an injury- turning inspiration into action- biggest roadblocks in the development of the product- creating the winning formula- keys to the success of a partnership- Dragon’s Den experience- why menthol and magnesium- how it works- importance of mobility in recovery and injury prevention- confident movement- easy application- empowering athletes to take ownership of our health- vision for the future of Heali MedicalNamaste-Jess
Our guest today is Mike Reilly, a true legend in the hearts and minds of many and someone who has witnessed the finish point of hundreds of thousands of dreams.As the lead announcer for Ironman triathlons across the globe for over three decades, Mike is most celebrated for creating a universal language consisting of four simple words."You Are An Ironman" has been a primary motivator for countless triathletes to get out of bed each morning and get after their goal of finishing the iconic Ironman distance triathlon.Mike was our guest for the 100th episode of this podcast in 2018, on which we dive into his back story, the journey to his reign on the red carpet, and the Big Island moment when that famous phrase was born.Enjoy this meaningful conversation with not just a voice but the kind and compassionate heart of this Ironman hero.In this episode, we discuss:- life after Ironman- trusting it will all work out for you- family as his anchor- his final Kona- living a life of no regrets- we have one thing we can control on race day- we must motivate ourselves- sharpening your skill of presence- no limits mindset- playing the role of a connector- we are not alone in not knowing who we are- teach to learn- exercise is the best medicationNamaste-Jess
Welcome to a special edition of the OH Show focused on Ironman 70.3 Oceanside, less than seven weeks away. We answer questions from listeners, coaches, and YT athletes looking to express their greatest success on race day. We cap off this episode with a personal message from race director Sabrina Houston who emphasizes the most important quality to bring to race day.We intend this episode to assist you all with your Oceanside experience and future races. Thank you for tuning in.In this episode, we discuss:- how to stay calm during the surf entry- when we are calm, we are invincible- the benefit of more touches in the water- training practices to increase confidence and reduce anxiety- fear and excitement - we have a choice- technique for getting past the break- official practice swim the day before Ironman 70.3 Oceanside- preparing for the Oceanside bike course- strategy for the run course- YogiTriathlete workout meetups before race day- Carlsbad 5000- Prep tips for a great race day- a message from your Ironman 70.3 Oceanside Race Director, Sabrina HoustonNamaste-Jess
In this episode, BJ takes the role of host and interviews Meg Leighton, Valerie Griffiths, and me. These women are dear friends of ours and my retreat co-hosts. Throughout the show, BJ assists us in articulating our yoga stories and sharing how the practice has positively affected our lives and relationships.Meg's business, Awake Minds, has become the entity under which the three of us consciously curate meditation and yoga retreats across the globe. These have become sell-out offerings, and we look forward to announcing some new locations for 2024. So please stay connected with us by subscribing to our newsletter and following us on Instagram to be the first to learn about upcoming retreats.We hope you absorb many tangible teachings in this episode, thank you for tuning in and supporting the show through Patreon.In this episode, we discuss:- background stories- when work feels meaningful- intellect vs. experience- trusting where you are in your life is exactly where you need to be- the difference between intellect and intelligence- working to become more detached- disturbance inside is a sign of your work- how yoga has influenced- aware of the limitations of the mind- no limit vision for your work in the worldNamaste-Jess
In this episode of the YTP, we share the mic with Instagram sensation, comedic content creator, and storyteller Laura Green.Laura has taken the running world by storm through her comedic reels that ask all runners and running companies to lighten up. In any given video, she is either poking fun at herself, others, major running brands, or all three.She is a lifelong athlete who we hear was a stand-out in everything, including a unique artistic expression she coined, air-violin.She is an OG November Project coach, physical therapist, and runner.Laura is also the originator of Folk Tale Film, where she creates Family Films, Legacy Videos, and brand features. In addition, she’s an east coaster, wife to Connor, and mom of two abnormally large young boys.And with that said, I think it’s time to queue up this episode and listen for yourself.In this episode, we discuss:- the beginnings of her reel craze- loving the process of creation- capturing the beauty of running but in a funny way- staying grounded- the false illusion of time- living life with no regrets- adventure in Nepal- entry into sports- competitive and working to be the best- worth is not dependent on race results- surrounding yourself with good people- following your passion- creating boundaries- are her stories too risky?- current relationship with running- vision for the futureNamaste-Jess
Thank you for tuning into our February OH Show, a monthly episode where BJ and I come together to riff on the ever-changing circumstances of life and how we are navigating them.We begin this episode with a shout-out to our Patreon community, who are responsible for the continuance of this commercial-free podcast and the team of people it takes to produce it weekly. To say we are thankful does not seem like enough, so we will continue to express our gratitude by bringing you all uninterrupted streams of content each week.If you are a longtime listener and open to assisting the show in the future, please check out patreon.com/yogitriathlete.In the meantime, please enjoy this month's installment of the OH Show.In this episode, we discuss:- welcome run coach - Melissa Gansz- trust vs. fear- importance of being an awake athletemantra for 2023: I believe all things are possible- recipe for manifestation- bike camp update- Pura Vida Cycling Challenge in Costa Rica- Costa Rica retreat - ONE ROOM LEFT!- training camp- "Awake Athlete"- the bookNamaste-Jess
We are thrilled to bring you this beautiful Q&A with two YogiTriathlete coaches; plant-based chef and health coach Lynda Layng and the Vegan Power Athlete Daniel Reintjes.This episode is heartfelt and honest, and it may have you making veggie chili just so you can grate a sweet potato on top - tried it the other night, and it's dreamy, especially with a fresh loaf of sourdough or vegan cheese and tortilla chips.We hope you enjoy the show. We are truly humbled by the greatness of this coaching team.In this episode, we discuss:- Chef Lynda's plant-based journey- Daniel’s inspiration for becoming vegan- being told you'll be on medication for life- what makes the perfect burrito- how to get the crunch in a crunch wrap- vegan and non-vegan within the family- spreading awareness through actions, not words- putting yourself into service for your family- starter recipes for those moving to a plant-based diet- maintaining eating healthy while on the road- favorite dish to bring to a potluck- using foods to fuel performance vs. quick sugars- biggest hurdles to adopting a plant-based dietNamaste-Jess
Today we are diving in with YogiTriathlete’s very own Liz McHutcheon, along with amazing photographer and filmmaker Leigh Orne of Heart Space Studio. Leigh and Liz are good friends and runners who recently teamed up to document Liz’s 2022 return to the Lake Sonoma 50 Mile after her first attempt in 2019.The film, "More Than Enough" debuted a few months ago at the Mammoth Trail Fest and has been making its way across the world of endurance sports steadily since. "More Than Enough" shines a light on questions around worthiness, failure, and reclaiming success. In this episode, we discuss:- storytelling- vulnerability and celebration- how to realize your passion- the backstory behind the movie- proving your worthiness through racing- DNF dark moments- water the seeds of your passion- capturing the epic moments - scary moments of the filming- launching the film to the world - being enough- detachment from outcome- show up as you are- follow your inspiration and it will happenNamaste-Jess
Over the almost 350 episodes of this podcast, we have been blessed to share the mic with professional athletes, doctors, coaches, yogis, and every day peeps, just like us, who feel like they have found their thing.And a great honor of hosting this show is when we revisit a story and reconnect with a guest like this episode today.Professional triathlete Taylor Spivey was the star of episode 88, which launched in January 2018. In that episode, we talked about growing up in Redondo Beach, her experience as a surf lifeguard, her start in the sport of triathlon, and the mental game for athletes.In the blog post's conclusion, which accompanied the launch of that show, I wrote, "Expect big things from this girl in the future; I feel an unstoppability about her that is the sign of all great athletes."Today, at 31 years old, Taylor is described as one of the most consistent athletes in the World Triathlon Series (WTS) competition. Since our conversation, she has yet to finish further down the ladder than 10th in any WTS race since June of 2018 and is also a major player in the world of Super League Triathlon.Taylor maintains a bright future as a professional triathlete. She shares so generously with us in this episode and is surfing life challenges, just like you and me.In this episode, we discuss:- importance of having a supportive community in triathlon- the Super League vibe- winning SL Malibu in front of her hometown crowd- celebrating your competitor's successes- turning frantic energy into a top performance- giving all you have in a race vs. fear of blowing up- getting out the door for a workout- finding flow outside of sport- Paris Olympics 2024- Tokyo Olympic selection reflections- many small wins - attachment to outcome- climbing the ladder of performance - fighting for the win- rise to the challenge- interest in PTO & 70.3 racesNamaste-Jess
Guiding athletes to supersede the limitations of the mind is what YogiTriathlete was founded on. Living a more vibrant life through a clear mind is synonymous with better performance, and as Beej and I continue to clean up our inner mud, we have realized a better world from the inside out. I'm so excited about our conversation today because our guest aligns with our core belief: to reach athletic potential, we must train our minds with the same, if not more, tenacity as we train our bodies.Lauren Ammon started swimming at age five and nearly two decades later retired after graduating college and swimming for a D1 school. She has an impressive single sport legacy, but what truly piques our interest is that she walked away feeling she never reached her potential, like she had more to give. This dissatisfaction led to a personal quest to figure out how to overcome the obstacle of her mind and the eventual creation of Performance Reimagined, where she supports elite student-athletes to train their minds and overcome the mental blocks that keep them from their potential. If you enjoy the ongoing theme of mind training on this podcast, settle in because this is another deep conversation. In this episode, we discuss:- impact of the Olympics in 2020- perspective on why she was better at practice swimming- breaking the cycle of perfection- taking your power back to make choices- being right where you are supposed to be- thoughts lead to emotions, lead to choices- when did you become ‘aware’- leaving corporate America- working through tough swim sets, facing doubt and fear- stress or pause- attachment to the result or outcome- when reaching your goal is not enough- being conditioned for negativity- breathing practices for athletes- building self-worth but through experience- secret weapons for athletesNamaste-Jess
Thank you for joining us for the final OH Show of 2022. It's hard to believe that we are moving into year seven of this podcast. From our kitchen table in Rhode Island to Hell's Kitchen in NYC, from the back of Mishka Shubaly's van to countless Air Bnbs across the country, and from at least one tree house to remote interviews from the other side of the world, the YTP has a track record for getting it done.If you know anything about us or Team YogiTriathlete, then you know we live and breathe consistency. A little bit every day over a long period of time.And so we wrap up another year of offering meaningful content to the world; we thank you for listening and supporting the show through Patreon.In this episode, we discuss:- detachment changed BJ’s life- run/walk- if you feel disturbance, look no further for your work- Pura Vida Cycling Challenge in May- Team YogiTriathlete bike camp- pushing the platform of authenticity- protecting ourselves from the judgment of others- being you, the true you- the truth will set you free- authentic moments in our lives- welcome them freely; let them go freely- how do we find out who we are?- the trickle effect of an experienceNamaste-Jess
Our guest today is Will McCloy, and from what I gathered, Will is most certainly on the path to his purpose. As host and commentator for Super League Triathlon, it is apparent that many of Will's gifts come in the form of vocal artistry. Still, after listening in, you'll also learn that Will is so much more than a spectacular voice.He is a dad, husband, reporter, journalist, traveler, producer, writer, presenter, and author of Before I Slip Away, a novel about personal and social connection, finding the courage to confront your past, and the strength to shape your future.Will came into our awareness with the birth of Super League in 2017, and it didn't take long for us to lock in on our desire to bring him onto the show. Last month when Will crafted a post on Instagram entitled "Grateful," we knew the time had come to extend an invite. Thankfully, he said yes!This conversation is the result of that "yes," and we do hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it. In this episode, we discuss:- what is Super League Triathlon?- figuring things out as you go- working with anxiety daily- years as a newscaster- tools to work through anxiousness- creating an event that you don't want to miss even a minute- creating rules on the fly- perspective on Ironman World Championship- engaging commentary - coming into triathlon with a fresh perspective- Will's book: Before I Slip Away- Rising Kings men's group- detaching from the outcome- pushing the platform of authenticityNamaste-Jess
We are on a mission to create a better world, and the cornerstone of this better world begins when we commit to training our minds.Today we are grateful to have Sun Sachs on the show. Sun is the CEO & co-founder of Rewire Fitness, a Neuro Performance Platform For Athletes that take a holistic approach to mental fitness.Sun is also a long-time endurance athlete, meditator, and animal advocate. He is the co-creator of thebeet.com, which later merged with Forks Over Knives to Create Upbeet Brands; he is a plant-based culinary chef and a former instructor from Matthew Kenny Cuisine.We dive into so much during this conversation and hope you enjoy where it took us.In this episode, we discuss:- all-in to burnout- sport as a means to heal from bullying- unlocking flow state- what is flow state?- in order to succeed, we may need to care less- Rewire Fitness app- readiness to train- recovery experience for your mind- managing cognitive fatigue- recovering perfectionist- calm mind is the greatest tool for athletic performance- plant-based story - rigid mindsetNamaste-Jess
Dr. Susannah Bozzone is a lifestyle medicine physician and yogi who is also a member of the esteemed team of doctors at Plant-Based Telehealth.As a physician working in the traditional western medicine model, she realized she could not offer what her patients really wanted and needed from their doctor.She had a deep desire to practice medicine more in accordance with nature's guidance and, most importantly, in a way that addressed diseases from their root cause rather than covering up symptoms.So she broke away from the constraints of medical insurance billing and partnered with registered nurse and health coach Christine Smith to create True Health Journey. A healthcare service that promotes support, encouragement, accountability, and dedication - everything needed to endeavor the journey to true health.In this episode, we discuss:- her path to medicine- be at ease with the struggle- yoga for healing- unraveling our conditioning- reframing health care- importance of listening vs. telling- separating emotions toward food from the food itself- helping the planet through positive community change- stress inhibits the absorption of fuel- emotional eating- getting clear on your purposeNamaste-Jess
Hello YT Community! Thank you for joining us for the November OH Show. Without much agenda, we hit record and let it flow. We hope you find this content helpful and, at the least, an enjoyable past-time for your day.
Thank you, Patreon members, for keeping this show alive and commercial-free. Without you, there is no YTP.
So, onward yogis, shine your lights bright and set your goals big!
In this episode we discuss:
- make the known, unknown, and make the certain, uncertain.
- jnana and vijnana
- when BJ learned to be himself
- getting out ahead of your thoughts
- patience in creating new habits
- the discomfort of silence
- is your mind tuned to the noise or the silence
- anxiousness on the swim
- is my belief true?
- bike camp for YT athletes
- seriously considering ourselves into nothing
- "no" is an acceptable answer
- looking to welcome in an additional YT running coach
Namaste- Jess
The turn-around on this podcast was about as fast as Ben Kanute's race at Ironman Arizona yesterday.
When we saw Ben announce, just one week after 70.3 Worlds, that he was going to race IMAZ, we reached out to see if he was up for a YTP three-peat experience.
And so here we are.
Less than 24 hours after claiming the third podium spot and a Kona slot, Ben arrived at our hotel this morning to share his experience with this community. What a guy! We are so grateful to Ben and to all of our listeners. This community is amazing, thank you for being a part of it.
In this episode we discuss:
- takeaways from Ironman 70.3 World Championship
- Slowtwitch distractions
- working with a mental coach
- the monkey mind
- racing his first Ironman
- how the day unfolded at Ironman AZ
- being strategic but staying within himself
- patience
- the longest miles of the day
- racing in his backyard vs. traveling
- Briella's first Ironman race
- getting his Kona spot
- Dad strength, is it real?
Namaste- Jess
Photo Credit/IG: schiffsphotography
Thank you for tuning in for another race day smackdown. In this episode, we are coming to you hot off the Ironman 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah. Joined by competitors Coach BJ, Cjaye Media, and Juan Rocha, we dive into race day joy, preparation for the cold, challenges, successes, learning opportunities, and more.
We are grateful that you are here and throw out an extra special thank you to all our Patreon supporters who make this podcast possible. Interested in finding out more, please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete.
In this episode we discuss:
- Coach Daniel's co-host debut
- mental & physical preparation for the cold
- Juan's hot chest and cold feet
- late wave starts and nutrition
- fueling your best in cooler weather
- how did the swim go on race day
- mindset during the night before race day
- bike performance based on beliefs
- using a mantras
- feeding off the energy of the crowd
- running with joy and gratitude
- embracing the unknown
- mental challenges of race day
Namaste- Jess
Just days away from the Ironman 70.3 World Championships, we sat down with premier Danish triathlete Miki Taagholt.
After racing for years on the ETU and ITU circuits for the Danish National Team, he earned his first professional podium in 2017 at the Challenge Denmark Half.
Miki made his Ironman debut in 2019 at 70.3 Oceanside, where he placed 8th, and then returned in 2021 to claim 2nd place on the day just weeks after finishing 4th in the world at the 70.3 World Championship.
This year we saw Miki take 4th at Challenge Family Championship, 2nd at Ironman 70.3 Elsinore, and 10th at the PTO Canadian Open in a very stacked field. Of course, these are just a handful of his results, so please make no mistake; Miki is no stranger to the podium.
We are so grateful to have chatted with him in person and hope you enjoy our conversation with one of the best triathletes in the world.
In this episode we discuss:
- Miki’s first homestay in Oceanside
- thoughts for a new dad
- races his best when he’s happy
- unfinished business after PTO Dallas
- maturity in the sport
- internal or external pressure
- Ironman 70.3 St. George course
- Norwegian train vs Danish Cartel
- racing the ITU speedsters
- PTO races
- racing the best in the world
- knowing the moment to push vs hold back
- mindfulness and meditation
- how to feel grounded in chaos
- first Ironman announcement
- message to his son Carl
- paying it forward to young Danish athletes
Namaste- Jess
Thank you for tuning into our October OH Show; we captured this during our brief turnaround between world championships in Hawaii and Utah.
We take time in this episode to reflect on the Awake Minds Yoga & Meditation Retreat that took place the week before the Ironman World Championship. We discuss how the body feels after 3-hours of yoga and meditation per day and how BJ kept up his training during the retreat. We also talk a bit about what yoga truly is for those athletes and coaches who may be apprehensive about incorporating a practice into their endurance training.
As always, a big thanks to our Patreon community, who are the sole reason this podcast can still exist and exist commercial-free. If you are finding benefit and enjoyment from this show, please consider a monthly pledge to keep it going - you can find out more at patreon.com/yogitriathlete.
In this episode we discuss:
- green smoothies
- Maui yoga & meditation retreat
- moment of appreciation & gratitude
- transformative experience leading into Kona
- how the body adjusts to a daily yoga practice
- thoughts for people apprehensive of yoga
- yoga is the science of the mind
- meditation brings a deep sense of calm
- traversing attachment to a timeline
- trust and allowing
- what we focus on expands
- loosen the firm grip on life
- we came here to suffer
- winning the day
- freeing up the fitness inside
Namaste- Jess
We are excited to have you join us for this special episode from the Canyon Bikes showroom in Carlsbad, California, in front of a live audience and in the company of some spectacular athletes.
Today we come together with KIS Coaching and welcome coaches Scottie DeFilippis and Carrie Lester, whom we met in 2019 for our first live podcast at Canyon. Also with us today are three KIS Performance athletes and the stars of this episode:
*Mollie Hebda, since turning professional in 2021, has 5 top 8 finishes in the 70.3 distance, including 2- 4th place finishes just off the podium.
*Britt Vocke who turned professional in 2021, and at her first pro-Ironman race in Cozumel, came out of the water first with Carrie by her side. This year she raced herself into two top 10 finishes at Ironman.
*Sebastian Radilla, a top age group athlete, claimed 2nd in his age group at the uber-competitive Ironman 70.3 Boulder, 2nd in his age group, and 4th overall at Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz, and just last week took the overall W at the Mission By Tri.
I could go on with their impressive stats, but I think we'd all rather hear from the guests themselves. So thank you for tuning in; we hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode we discuss:
- the vision of KIS Coaching
- moving from age group to professional athlete - the chatter in the mind
- benefits of having a coach
- balancing fun and work
- how do you know you are giving your best
- the constant finesse of learning to race well
- building a support system to help achieve your goals
- benefits of group training
- expectations suffocate athletes
- process goals vs outcome goals
- the unknown future of triathlon
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
Aloha from Kailua-Kona, where we recorded this smackdown the day after Coach BJ realized his dream to compete at the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. Jennifer Vollman joins us for this episode as she also fulfilled her Kona dream a few days before.
Jennifer is the co-founder of the Pura Vida Cycling Challenge, a life-transformational 5-day Costa Rica cycling experience in which BJ and I took part last May. She is also the founder of Finding Endurance coaching and the star of YTP 314, where we learned more about her background and discussed the cycling challenge with her Pura Vida partner Dan Casey.
Jennifer and BJ generously share about their big island race experiences, and we hope you take away many nuggets of gold for your training and racing. Thank you to those who sent in such wonderful questions, I can't believe it, but we managed to hit them all!
In this episode we discuss:
- calorie consumption
- how do you know if you are fueling enough?
- the importance of developing a sense of FEEL
- Maui yoga & meditation retreat the week before Kona
- "eh ho mai" mantra
- gain or drain in the Energy Lab
- training in a dry, desert climate for Kona
- key training sessions for Kona
- mental preparation for racing a championship
- dig one big hold
- challenging mental moments
- train the ego
- most unexpected experience
- Jennifer’s transition to a plant-based diet
- crossing the finish line at IM World Championship
- road to Kona
- happy birthday, Jennifer!
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
Purpose comes in unexpected ways, but as I reflect on my life experience, I see a million moments that logically led to where I sit today. For our guest today Shaleen Shah, it started many decades ago with a love for horses. A love that led to a rescue of a horse named Haa-lee led to another rescue and eventually to the creation of Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary located in Erie, Colorado.
To date, Luvin Arms has rescued over 800 animals from circumstances of neglect, abuse, and the systematic terror of animal agriculture. They have exponentially raised awareness among humans that animals are individuals with families, emotions, and community needs. They have taught tens of thousands that these sacred beings have the same right as people to live peaceful and loving lives in their natural habitats.
Steeped in the principle of Ahimsa, Luvin Arms is dedicated to a way of life that embraces nonviolence toward all living beings. As stated on their website, they provide exceptional lifelong social, emotional, and cognitive care to rescued farmed animals, and advocate for those who have not been rescued by sharing our residents’ stories to inspire, educate, and empower others to embrace a more compassionate and sustainable lifestyle.
Shaleen and his wife Shilpi founded Luvin Arms in 2015 with zero ideas of how to build a sanctuary. They faced an extraordinary task ahead but could not deny the circumstances that unfolded or the knowing that the universe was asking them to step into a completely new purpose in life. So with a deep calling on their hearts, two young children, and a mountain of obstacles ahead of them, they went for it.
We are so grateful for the conversation before you; admittedly, my heart was deeply touched while researching for this show, and I shed a few tears along the way.
Thank you for tuning in.
In this episode we discuss:
- a day in the life at the Farm Sanctuary
- dairy industry practices
- discovering and figuring out veganism
- cheese addiction
- rescuing horses from auction
- cannot deny calls from the universe
- how Luvin Arms was born
- scariest moments in the transition from entrepreneurship to saving animal lives
- stories of first rescues
- animals learning to trust humans again
- commitment to the practice of ahimsa
- compassion for all beings
- purity is within us, peace is within us
- inspiration for the creation of Open Sanctuary
- how to start a sanctuary
- the purpose of antibiotics in the farming industry
- living a full ahimsa life
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
On August 12th Travis Soares completed perhaps the craziest FKT attempt in the history of FKTs when he finished climbing the Sierra Peaks Section List in the fastest known time.
247 peaks in 117 days, 8 hrs, and 34 minutes over 700,000 ft of climbing, all the while raising funds to support the Bishop Paiute Tribe Food Sovereignty Program, which aligns with Travis’s passion for decreasing food waste and making more environmentally responsible foods accessible to those who need it.
Before Travis discovered his love for the mountains, he spent many years growing up as an oddity in his hometown of Barrington, RI.
Getting in trouble for not wearing shoes and skipping school to meditate were commonplace for Travis as he navigated an innate knowing that he was not where he wanted to be.
He discovered a love for the writings of John Muir and Henry David Thoreau at a young age and, after high school, began to spread his wings and follow the path which put him atop those 247 peaks.
In this episode we discuss:
- growing up in Barrington, RI with supportive parents
- inspiring a generation of people to give them permission to pursue their dreams
- fully immersed into the experience of wilderness packing
- running as an outlet to move
- relationship with impermanence here on Earth
- how to come back to the present moment
- the desire to quiet the mind through meditation
- breath is important to anchor into calm
- first big climbing challenge
- trial and error are helpful in accomplishing the SPS Project
- hiking the Appalachian Trail
- how he supports his parents through this adventurous life
- beating the king of FKT and quickly becoming friends
- the durability of the physical body through 247 peaks
- fueling for this 4-month FKT 5-7000 calories per day
- dumpster recreation, composting & food waste
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
We hope you enjoy it as much as we did when we recorded it. We feel this community growing stronger every day, and we are grateful that you are a part of it.
In this episode we discuss:
- recovery protocol after a race
- active recovery favorites
- racing is a mirror for our work
- ego 101
- the way out is within
- meditation is the start of making change
- using ego to benefit your performance
- be the leader of your mind
- in presence, the ego cannot exist
- toxic relationships
- transmute anger into love
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
I was excited to come together with fellow competitors and coaches Daniel and BJ to record this episode. Today, we smackdown our experience at Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz and, in doing so, reflect on the power of community.
Team VPA and Team YT represented the course in droves, and we feel blessed to be the stewards of such notable entities.
Thank you for tuning in, and please let us know if this episode leaves you with any questions unanswered. Next up and waiting in the smackdown queue - Maui Yoga & Meditation Retreat, Ironman World Championship in Kona, 70.3 World Championship in St. George, Utah, and Ironman Arizona.
We hope to see you at the races or on the yoga mat soon!
In this episode we discuss:
- Team VPA and Team YogiTriathlete
- ahimsa - least amount of harm in any situation
- sharing experiences from the Team YT members
- navigating race weekend challenges
- the immersion YT training camp
- Daniel’s PR swim and race recap
- finding calm before the swim start
- concentration and meditation show us our power within
- Liz’s first triathlon ever in Santa Cruz
- having expectations without attachment
- our bike course recaps
- be your best on the day
- "for the good, for the good of all" mantra
- "be the change" mantra from one of our team members
- importance of training on feel vs data
- our run experiences at Santa Cruz
- Jess having too much fun out there
- moving away from what is not helping you
- working through moments of doubt
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
The waves of life are here to stay but how we learn to surf them is where the difference is made.
Our guest today, Connie Riet has faced immense waves in her life which have called her to lean deeply into her meditation and mindful practices. It is through her experience as well as deep study that she has become the mindfulness coach, meditation teacher, and professional optimist that she is today.
Connie has lived a diverse life spanning a 30-year career as a film and television actress to raising children as a single mom, full-time RV living, and surviving a near-fatal car accident which left her with a traumatic brain injury and a massive mountain of healing to climb.
Connie is dedicated to helping others find peace, health, and happiness. She is a passionate minimalist and shares so many helpful videos on her YouTube channel and writings on her blog.
In this episode we discuss:
- the value of the moment
- self-love
- embracing surrender and compassion
- seeing the gift in her brain injury
- introduction to meditation and yoga
- the role of meditation for an actor
- slowing the breath
- how she survived an almost fatal car accident
- depression and brain injury
- when gratitude for life was unattainable
- little tiny drops of joy
- don’t fake it till you make it
- grieving the loss of who you used to be
- psyching yourself up to lose
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
Today we welcome all of the YogiTriathlete coaches to the show. We have come together to answer questions and dive into topics we’ve been working with athletes on as they endeavor to achieve their goals through physical, mental, and nutritional training.
BJ and I are sharing the mic with Liz McHutcheon or Running On Venti, Daniel Reintjes, otherwise known as the Vegan Burrito, and Lynda Layng or Chef Lynda, as she is known in the Awake Kitchen.
We hope you enjoy the unique voice of each coach as we deliver a similar message on the topic discussed.
In this episode we discuss:
- starting from right here
- pay attention to what you’re doing while you’re doing it
- nutrition practices and/or diets
- what’s the next best thing I can do?
- tiny changes are the profound changes
- does goal setting hurt or help you?
- releasing the timeline
- how to come back to the moment
- letting go of rules
- nutrition hacks
- detachment vs not caring
- healthy meal prep hacks for athletes
- go-to sauces
- how to fill your cup before serving others
- transition wisely
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
Welcome back to the Open and Honest Show, where BJ and I dive into life, racing, training, and coaching every month. Sometimes we turn off the microphones and feel uneasy because with honesty comes vulnerability. But time and again, as we breathe through the discomfort and hold steady to our promise, to be honest, we find that vulnerability has an important place in our roles as coaches and athletes. Without it, it's hard to be fully open and honest.
We hope you enjoy this month's episode of the OH Show and please let us know your questions or topics of delight so we can dive in next month.
In this episode we discuss:
- watering seeds of potential
- easeful efforting
- a new way of training the mind
- love over ego-driven need to be right
- selfless service
- east coast visit
- one-day yoga retreat recap
- thank you Patreon community
- training camp January 12-16, 2023
- Big Bear Lake race recap
- racing at elevation
- tiny house living
- consistency is the cornerstone of success
- the "all or nothing" mindset
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
We are super pumped to have former professional triathlete Leanda Cave with us today.
Leanda is a multi-time world champion, coach, an absolute legend in the sport of triathlon, and most recently, an Ultraman athlete. Leanda placed 2nd overall at Ultraman Canada, beating the first male overall by 11-minutes which means that women claimed the first two podium spots. So very, very cool.
Leanda started competing in triathlon in 1993 at the age of 14, eventually leading her to become a Junior Elite in Australia. At age 21, she returned to her home country of Great Britain, where she pursued a professional career in multisport.
In the early days of her professional career, she focused on Olympic distance draft-legal racing and, in 2001, became the European Under-23 Olympic Distance Champ. In 2002 she won a silver at the commonwealth games, silver at the European championships, and her first world title in Cancun.
Five years later, she moved into long-distance triathlon, winning her second world title at the ITU long-distance world championship. And then, in 2012 became the first woman in history to complete the double when she won the Ironman 70.3 and 140.6 World Championships just five weeks apart.
She is one of the greatest athletes to ever compete in the triathlon and BJ, and I have followed her career for a long time. So we are honored that she is sharing the mic with us, and we hope you enjoy the show.
In this episode we discuss:
- not scared of figuring things out
- seeking the path with the most obstacles
- singular focus vs having fun & enjoying life
- the mental side of Ultraman
- tricks to bring the mind back into focus
- why pursue Ultraman?
- racing for something bigger than yourself
- injury is part of the job description as an athlete
- cross training for Ultraman
- how to train an athlete through injury
- being intuitive vs fixated on data
- race day is a dance floor
- taking life too seriously
- passions of being a coach
- using training to dial in nutrition to fuel performance
- mobility, stability, and strength training
- focusing on what you can do, not what you can’t do
- the approach going into Ultraman World Championships
- fueling advice for entering into long-distance triathlons
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
Dr. Alon Sitzer is a board-certified family and lifestyle physician calling his patients to higher levels of health as he guides the healthcare industry back to a relationship-building partnership of wellbeing.
Dr. Sitzer is the founder of Empowerment, based in West Newbury, Massachusetts, providing family, lifestyle, and spiritual medicine virtually and in person. Empowerment is one of the growing number of private practices that have moved away from the traditional insurance-based model and into a patient-first experience.
Dr. Sitzer intends to inspire, motivate, support, and encourage people to become proactive about their health needs and foster a sense of Self-Compassion, Care, and Kindness.
He believes that the body is an amazing creation that knows how to heal and that healthcare is genuinely a self-care process.
He is also one of the wonderful doctors offering patient care through Plant-Based Telehealth, and we’re so honored that he is spending time with us today.
We hope you enjoy the show.
In this episode we discuss:
- the reality of living in Tel Aviv during war
- a life parallel to The Alchemist
- asking for signs and guidance
- finding what you love most in life and making it your profession
- the choice of becoming a doctor
- the intention of getting to know the patient
- plant-based potlucks
- keeping patients on track through community
- making health care more human
- be the captain of your ship
- unconditional love allows us to feel safe, to be honest
- you don’t have to be perfect to begin making healthy choices
- working through indecisiveness
- finding truth on the way to Taos
- spiritual medicine
- embracing where life leads you
Thank you to all patrons on Patreon for keeping this podcast commercial-free, we are grateful for you.
Namaste- Jess
We are grateful to have professional triathlete Amber Ferreira with us for this episode.
We've followed the story of this well-accomplished athlete for many years. Amber has raced triathlon as a professional for over a decade and has stepped onto more podiums already than most will ever experience, including 4x at the National Snowshoe Champion.
But Amber is not only a pro triathlete, as many overachievers tend to do; she wears many hats. She holds a doctorate in physical therapy; she is a coach, a business owner, a wife, and most recently, mom to Charlie. She is the head coach and owner of Granite State Endurance which has a large contingency within New Hampshire and the country. She hosts training camps and team races throughout the year.
Amber has a contagious laugh and an easy-to-be-with demeanor. We hope you find that same. Thank you for listening and for all those who support the podcast through Patreon. YogiTriathlete's patrons of the show are the sole reason this podcast is commercial-free. Please visit patreon.com/yogitriathlete to check out all the perks of being a show patron.
In this episode we discuss:
- lessons from Charlie
- slowing down and being in the moment
- low volume, low intensity and still producing good results
- training through pregnancy
- a happy athlete is a fast athlete
- becoming a professional athlete
- setting goals too small
- mindset practices to manage the suffering
- Charlie makes an appearance after her nap - YAY!
- consistency in training
- gray zone work
- takes confidence to slow down
- action creates momentum
- electrolyte replacement
Namaste- Jess
We are super pumped to have John Foley, call sign Gucci, on the show with us today. John is a former lead solo pilot of the Blue Angels, a Sloan Fellow at Stanford School of Business, a top-rated Keynote Speaker to over 1500 organizations worldwide, a bestselling author, and perhaps our favorite title for this guy, gratitude guru.
As a Blue Angel pilot, John represented 1/10 of 1/10 of 1% of all pilots worldwide. Flying at speeds of more the 500 miles per hour and in formations as close as 18 inches apart, John is no stranger to excellence, focus, and precision that rides the absolute razor's edge of life and death.
He has learned to make his mind one-pointed and discovered that being grateful is the base of living in a high-performance zone.
We are tremendously thankful for this conversation and loved the direction it took, we hope you feel the same.
In this episode we discuss:
- gratitude and joy are a state of being
- glad to be here mindset
- where inspiration meets action
- inspiration breathes life into
- morning routines to wake up happy
- dogs as teachers
- following dreams in spite of rejection
- finding your passion and pursuing it relentlessly
- difference between being fearful and being afraid
- the importance of consistency
- talking about it vs doing it
- 300% better from your best performance
- mindset then process
- cadence of execution
- systematize the debrief
- vulnerability and truthfulness allows us to be better
- check your ego at the door
- being self-aware and celebrating the daily wins
- loving the underdog role
- watering the seeds without attachment to outcome
- glad to be here wake up and nightcap
- rebooting with gratitude
- morning movement practice
- how do you begin to build trust
- give first before you can receive
Namaste-
Jess
In this episode, we are joined by fellow Team YogiTriathlete athletes Chris Elmore and Daniel Reintjes.
We recorded this episode about 48 hours after the completion of Ironman 70.3 Oregon. We love to capture these conversations when we still have fatigue in the brain, soreness in the body, and relative remembrances of the feels of race day.
Chris or CJaye is the creator of Endureus, which helps organizations protect the planet by donating all proceeds from products, donations, and earnings collected through Endureus initiatives. He has a huge YouTube following and just completed documenting his 16-week build-up to Oregon. We highly recommend checking out Chris's offerings.
Also with us is Coach Daniel one of our triathlon coaches here at YogiTriathlete and the founder of Vegan Powered Athlete. This powerful movement expressed itself through Daniel after the sudden loss of his mom to chronic lifestyle disease. VPA’s mission is to influence, educate and provide resources for an athletic vegan lifestyle, so nobody has to face the pain of losing a loved one to a disease that is highly preventable with proper diet and lifestyle changes.
These two athletes are not just crushing workouts and races, but BJ and I feel honored to say that they are both furthering YogiTriathlete’s mission to create a better world.
We hope you guys enjoy this smackdown and if we left any stone unturned for you, please reach out with your questions.
In this episode we discuss:
- river swim experience
- working with expectations of a race
- being in calm energy
- Jess’s return to 70.3 racing
- things you see on an Ironman bike course
- train the mind to not resist the current situation
- fast transitions
- shifting focus away from the pain towards something else
- nailing your nutrition takes presence
- words can shift your story
- bike fitness to run to your potential
- the meaning you give to pain
- favorite volunteer story
- working through panic in the swims
- goals and desires
Namaste- Jess
Welcome to the July episode of the OH Show in which we leave no stone unturned. This month we dive into many juicy topics regarding the mental side of training which helps us overcome our limitations in sport and life. We hope you enjoy this episode and if you have a question or topic you would like us to dive into during a future OH Show please post a comment.
In this episode we discuss:
- swim set - 30 x 100 on short rest
- beliefs that have power over you
- showing up without attachment
- pool math requires presence
- contentment - nothing needs to change
- "opposite George"
- breath is the perfect tool
- what is the truth?
- doubt is a mind virus
- doubt is a lazy mechanism of the mind
- running improvements made when you’re NOT running
- upcoming Ironman 70.3 Oregon
- meditation is more restful than sleep
- beliefs are just thoughts that we repeatedly think
- working through fear of open water
- unrealistic desires
- watch what you are consuming
Namaste- Jess
"No stream rises higher than its source" - Frank Lloyd Wright
Jason Hardath, is the King of FKTs, subject of the Athletic Brewing "Journey to 100" documentary, and our gracious guest today. He is the first human to complete 100 FKTs or Fastest Known Time routes, and for his 100th FKT he conquered Washington state’s 100 highest peaks known as the Bulger’s list. Jason has been on the media train talking about this outstanding accomplishment and he is incredibly generous with sharing his journey with us in this episode.
We hope you enjoy the show.
In this episode, we discuss.
- how early life shaped who he is today
- chasing the 6-minute mile
- biking across the US
- surviving his first Ironman triathlon
- facing trauma and setbacks early in life
- discovering FKT
- creating a-ha moments for others
- human beings are like a tube of toothpaste
- what should you do, what could you do, what will you do.
- self-limiting beliefs
- showing the film to his students
- faulty concept of competition
- behind the scenes of Journey to 100
- stories that didn’t make the final cut
- the golden hour
Namaste- Jess
Just because you find your thing does not mean that the waves of life cease; in our experience, finding purpose tends to kick things up a notch because it keeps calling us to more. And with that, we traverse more, more intensity but also more joy, and that's alright because there's something about finding your thing that makes it all feel purposeful.
BJ and I were super excited to dig into the story of our guest today because she is not someone who ever intended to be competing in triathlon and certainly not at the level at which she competes today.
Jocelyn McCauley is just coming off a loaded spring after taking the win at Ironman Texas in April and placing 12th at the World Championships in St. George, Utah.
Jocelyn competed in her first half Ironman just ten weeks after giving birth to her first child and turned pro the following year. She is no stranger to victory or failure; she has navigated it all over her seven years of racing professionally.
We go deep in this episode and how you take away something to put into action in your life today.
In this episode, we discuss.
- racing gravel & her Unbound experience
- putting health ahead of finish lines
- self-forgiveness to moving on
- is triathlon a selfish sport?
- a commitment to being your best
- spokes of her wheel
- gain experience and train your brain
- takeaways from Ironman WC in St. George
- coming back after 2nd child
- monthly cycle doesn’t need to mean the world is over
- doing the mental work to race strong at Kona
- powerful words to ground you in the moment
- strong, powerful, relentless
- mantras, journaling, and meditation to train the mind
Namaste- Jess
photo credit: digital knight productions
We hope you pull away lots of value from this discussion but most importantly, put something into action. Let us know what you want us to dig into, and send your questions now for July's installment of the show. Until then....live the demonstration of what you dream to see in the world.
In this episode, we discuss.
- elevated gratitude for life
- we can’t escape what you came here to learn
- changing to be the same
- learn to play the game of life
- "yabba dabba do" this and "yabba dabba do" that
- playing roles in your day
- bridging the gap between meditation and putting presence into practice
- make meditation your life
- takes time to change a habit, but an instant to set the intention
- every choice is a chance
- 1440 moments in a day
- 4000 weeks
- RED-S relative energy deficiency in sport
- the body is not the limitless part of us
Namaste- Jess
Bill Shufelt is co-founder and CEO of Athletic Brewing. The first US-based beverage company focused on brewing high-quality, great-tasting non-alcoholic craft beer.
Named by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 most influential companies, Athletic Brewing was born from a dissatisfaction with the metallic tasting, watered-down non-alcoholic options on the market.
Athletic Brewing is a haven for the ever-growing sober curious trend we see, especially amongst those who hold active lifestyles and feel good as a priority in life.
With limited edition brews like Sunset Stoke, Idaho 7 Cashmere, Soul Sour, and Nature Nut, it is clear that the creative juices are flowing, and to my best guess, the stream of well-being is behind it all. Bill and his crew at Athletic Brewing are on a mission to positively impact their customer's health, fitness, and happiness while impacting their communities and environment for the better.
As someone who loves a tasty IPA but not so much the numb cheeks, and dull mind that goes along with it, I knew when I took my first sip last year at IM 70.3 St. George that I had to find out who was behind this brew and that we had to invite them onto the podcast.
We hope you enjoy this episode. Bill's story is incredibly inspiring for those craving something more meaningful in life!
In this episode, we discuss.
- hops, malt, and the moment
- the first beer feels good, not the 8th beer
- leaving a job that no one had ever left before
- left alcohol to fuel an endurance lifestyle
- penalty box existence
- delusional optimism and confidence
- overcoming major walls and obstacle
- what it takes to be grassroots in the marketing and branding
- reflecting on the grind fondly
- 1000 true fans
- importance of giving back & employee ownership
- Journey to 100 film
- daily meditation practice
- goal setting and gratitude
- Two for the Trails program
- "community first" mentality
- Athletic Brewing Ambassador Team
Namaste-
Jess
Today we welcome Plant-Based Telehealth team member Dr. Elisabeth Fontaine to the show. Dr. Fontaine is a double board-certified in OB/GYN and Lifestyle Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.
Before specializing in women’s health, in which she has an extensive background, she focused on obesity management and exercise physiology. And now, Dr. Fontaine finds herself seeing patients through Plant-based telehealth and coaching fellow physicians on lifestyle changes equating to increased well-being in their lives and professions.
There is a vast scope of knowledge to learn from in this episode, and we intend that you take away inspiration that you then put to action. Thank you for listening.
In this episode, we discuss.
- Dr. Fontaine's plant-based story
- making changes in the hospital
- sudden death studies on long-distance runners
- exercise and diet contribute to peak performance
- 80% invested in healthcare is for chronic diseases
- plant-based athletes transforming their performance
- fueling your workouts as a plant-based athlete
- are you getting enough calories for training
- men vs women adapting to strength training differently
- bone density development
- menopause and the benefits of a WFPB diet
- yoga and pilates to supplement weight training
- changing behaviors
- community-based intervention
- prevention of childhood obesity
- power of community to share successes
- nickname “grit” a trailblazer
- inspired to grow group visits and athlete community
- coaching a village to health
Namaste- Jess
Tim Waggoner joins BJ in this episode as I was in Costa Rica at the time of its recording. Tim or "Lucho," as he’s better known from the Endurance Planet podcast, has a wealth of experience and insight around endurance sports. He always thinks outside the box, and at the age of 50, he is crushing miles and speedy track intervals.
We met Tim in 2007 when we sat next to him on an airplane, heading back to Denver following Ironman Arizona - Tim's last pro-race. During that flight, BJ and Tim joined in a conversation that filled the entire flight time and shifted BJ's mindset moving forward. Tim eventually became BJ's coach and remains a mentor for him as he continues to uplevel his game in endurance sports.
BJ and Tim recently reconnected in person as they shared the Ironman St. George course last month. Tim's first Ironman in 15 years, a special moment between long-time friends and one that BJ wanted to capture for our listeners. We hope you enjoy this conversation.
In this episode, we discuss.
- did Tim find his “why” on race day?
- pressure to have to do something
- being fit and strong at 50
- carousel of baggage
- expectations and the meaning we give it
- what it takes to qualify for Kona
- key recipe to attain: easy and fast
- new outlook and appreciation on 12+ hour finishers
- be open to the light, the higher power
- willingness to open your mind
- living in the box
- what is your purpose
- belief in signs
- regrets
Namaste- Jess
Hello, YogiTriathlete community!
BJ and I have landed from an ever-so unique spring in which we just kept saying "yes." We cover it all in this month's OH Show, from the Awake Minds Costa Rica yoga & meditation retreat to St. George Ironman World Championship to the multi-day cycling challenge that changed our lives forever.
We hope you have fun listening to our jet-lagged conversation (we always find more honesty when we are a bit broken down) and share it with anyone you know who may be ready for a positive spin on saying "yes" to life.
We love you and could not do any of this without you!
In this episode, we discuss.
- season 3 of awake athlete
- Ironman World Championship vibes
- BJ's goal for the race
- surrender to the day - allow all things
- fit enough but do not achieve goals
- replenishing electrolytes during a long race
- the race is never over
- presence is your north star
- aligning the energy before big events
- a typical day at the yoga retreat
- silent breakfast
- Awake Minds retreat - who is it for?
- law of circulation
- Pura Vida Cycling Challenge recap
- keys to being successful
- patience, fueling, and recovery
- the right stuff jet fuel
- saying ‘yes’ to all opportunities
- most memorable moments from the Pura Vida Cycling Challenge
Namaste- Jess
Elizabeth Inpyn is a competitive athlete and sports performance nutrition guru whose aim is to assist everyone in living their best self which she believes is who we all want to become.
She is a long-time and well-accomplished athlete. Elizabeth was an NCAA swimmer, which was a path that began in a backyard, 25-yard pool. And after receiving a bike as a birthday gift, she stepped into her role as a triathlete which eventually led to her living her purpose as a nutrition guide for professional, elite, and age-group endurance athletes.
Elizabeth has an undergraduate degree in Biochemistry, an MS in Sports Performance Nutrition, an MS in Applied Exercise Science, and an MA in Education in Health Sciences. She is a certified sports nutritionist and holds her plant-based nutrition certification from the T Colin Campbell Institute.
She’s got the educational cred but perhaps even more important, she has years the experience of putting her knowledge into action with her own athletics and through the journeys of the athletes she guides.
We love talking about reaching higher levels of health and really enjoyed this conversation, we hope you do as well.
In this episode, we discuss.
• what it means to be your best self ever • commitment to show up every day • living a balanced life and prioritizing health • becoming a sports nutritionist • effects of not consuming enough calories • RED-S syndrome • sifting through the nutrition noise • importance of the health of your gut • our gut is trainable • late-night training and eating • fiber consistency • practicing race day nutrition • Fuelin • teaching people how to fuel their body efficiently
Namaste- Jess
If you don’t know already, we are all about following signals from the universe to go after big things in this life. Things that no doubt invite fear along for the ride since giant leaps take us into the unknown, you know, that place where all our possibilities live.
BJ and I were in that place right at the time of this interview as we were preparing to join our guests in Costa Rica for a multi-day cycling camp. Dan Casey and Jennifer Vollman are co-founders of the Pura Vida Cycling Challenge, the place where grit meets paradise.
Jennifer is an endurance coach, avid triathlete, and an Ironman world championship qualifier in recent years at the 70.3 and 140.6 distances. Dan is a former pro-triathlete and NCAA swimmer with many podiums and victories under his belt. When BJ and I decided to join these guys for what we feel a bit more comfortable calling a cycling tour, we knew we wanted to get them on the show and share their beautiful souls with the community.
We hope you feel the gratitude, love, and joy shared in this conversation.
In this episode, we discuss. * Dan’s backstory as a triathlete/cyclist/swimmer * Through loss you gain perspective * Things that just don’t matter * Sharing fulfilling experiences * Importance of giving back to the community * Culture & community of Costa Rica * Jennifer’s journey to who she is today * Bringing mindfulness into sport * Keep going to find your thing * Living it to build out the cycling challenge * Artisans hand-painted gems as you ride through small towns * Sugar cane juice and the jungle lodge * Charity component of Pure Vida Cycling * Importance of cycling in the Costa Rica way of life * Day by day breakdown of challenge * Cycling in Costa Rica compared to Europe * Living in the possibilities of life * Cost to waiting * Facing fear to draw the power from within * Celebration of the experience on the last day
Namaste- Jess
Exhausted and caffeinated, here we are! Fresh off the Mendocino 50k, the coaches of YT came together to record this ultra smackdown for you. We begin with Coach Liz's recent experience at Lake Sonoma 50 and then move on to the stellar performances of Coach Daniel and BJ at the Mendocino 50k. I take up the rear with a few moments on my experience which was my 4th running of this breathtaking course.
We had a blast pulling this episode together and hope you take away many nuggets of gold for your journey ahead.
In this episode, we discuss.
- Liz’s recap of her Sonoma 50 race
- Doing what you can to maintain momentum
- Favorite moment from the trails
- Training your mind
- No effort is a waste
- Are they lessons or hardships?
- Taking life too seriously
- What it takes to put yourself out there into the unknown
- Difference between participating and racing a race
- Building confidence through experience
- Nutrition to fuel an ultra as a vegan athlete
- Mantras
- Being willing to explode
- Using caffeine to propel you swiftly forward
- Reminders that we are alive
- Lazy boy recliners, what?
- Ebbing and flowing
Namaste- Jess
Jackson Laundry is a professional triathlete and podcast host who saw victory in what many are calling the biggest upset in the history of Ironman 70.3 Oceanside. Amongst a stacked professional field, this 28-year-old from Canada gave us all a beautiful show as he executed a race performance that granted him the "W" on the day.
Jackson has been on our radar, but after taking the tape in Oside, we knew it was time to dive into his story and get to know this professional who is someone to watch as he continues to make his way up the line, currently ranked 8th in the world by the PTO.
We had a great time smacking down his victory in Oceanside and everything else we traversed along the way.
We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss.
- takeaways from winning Oceanside 70.3
- doing the best you can always is a win
- story of where it all started
- introduction of ‘easy’ workouts
- training with his dad for triathlon
- experiencing the pro-level
- racing often helps to learn from mistakes
- his first Ironman
- staying focused amongst media chatter
- overestimate what we can achieve in the short term
- underestimate what we can achieve in the long term
- taking the long approach
- mindset training & visualization
- how to know how hard to go in a race
Namaste- Jess
In the episode, we catch you up on where we are in life, currently a flow although admittedly sometimes it's an ebb. And this is the truth of our existence, the waves will continue to come but through training our minds we can be the masters of our response.
We dive into the grow of the sports we love and how important it is to release our attachment to how change unfolds. BJ and I love coming together each month for the OH Show and encourage you all to have dedicated time to converse with the ones you love.
We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss.
- ebb or flow
- Costa Rica
- walk the talk
- holding a vision without attachment
- letting logistics dictate your life
- chasing training numbers
- is Ironman getting soft
- drama around getting to the pool
- unrealistic desire
- paying for doubt
- release the resistance and move forward
- the one thing we have control over
- old every thought captive
- taper mindset
Namaste- Jess
One of our earliest missions with YogiTriathlete was to spread awareness that living a more vibrant life is within reach for all. I think we can all agree that our general nutrition has a large stake in the vibrancy of our life. After all, what we put in us, becomes us.
So needless to say, we’re super excited to be having a conversation with yet another, spectacular physician from Plant-Based TeleHealth.
Dr. Amy Zacharias is a board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician who realized that the most important aspect of her job was to assist her patients in preventing disease.
As she opened to this mindset, she realized that it was not just food but other lifestyle components that equal a healthy life. Today, she finds great interest when working with patients to reach their ideal weight and athletes to reach peak performance by following a whole-food plant-based diet.
We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss.
- Amy’s journey to a plant-based diet
- slowing down and be mindful to make lasting change
- gratitude practice
- benefits of a plant-based diet for athletes
- removing oil from your diet
- happiness factor
- permission to not be perfect
- not eating enough calories
- milk doesn’t do the body good
- misinformation from coaches
- future of medicine and nutrition
- patients have the power to help themselves
- "I wish I had done this sooner"
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
It's been a minute since we've recorded a race smackdown, but the 2022 race season is upon us, so buckle up! Today we are smacking down not one but two 70.3 performances by YT coaches Daniel and BJ. If there is anything you want us to dig a little deeper on, please leave a comment.
In this episode, we discuss.
- getting derailed by "possible" race conditions
- race to give your best
- results of training the mind daily
- running your own race
- taking back your power to find calm
- "am I going hard enough?"
- be willing to learn (fail)
- transitions are free speed
- race day nutrition
- what recovery looks like
- what’s next?
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Ashly Winchester is an adventure journalist, outdoor guide, endurance athlete, and host of the Women In the Wild podcast. She is also someone who is well on her way to being the first female to claim 100 Fastest Known Time routes.
She has succeeded in claiming over 50 FKT routes to date, and with her partner, Jason Hardrath, by her side, there seems to be no end to the heights Ashly will reach, and I know she knows that she will not reach those heights without challenge because discomfort is where we grow.
In this episode, we discuss.
- What is an FKT?
- Death Valley FKT and unsupported attempts
- Embracing fear in the outdoors
- staying curious on the trails
- endeavoring something that is bigger than you
- quitting your job to pursue your passion
- being too comfortable
- mountaineering journey to Mt. Shasta guide
- dreams do come true, even those you do not have
- Women in the Wild podcast
- failure or learning
- managing discomfort
- FKT competition element
- plans for 2022
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Today we’re bringing you Peter Mortimer, ultra runner, coach, fellow Squirrels Nut Butter teammate, and someone who turned his life around through running and has since evolved into a seeker of the toughest races on earth.
Races like the Georgia Death Race, a 74ish mile endurance run with 35,000 feet of elevation change. A race in which you are discouraged from finishing and told to simply show up and die.
Also, the Dragons Back 200 across Wales, which covers 60,000 feet of climbing in an orienteering style stage race, and the Orcas Island 100 which is described as cold, wet, dark, steep, and not for the faint of heart. Most recently, Pete won the HURT 100 on the island of Oahu, known for its unforgiving terrain.
Pete is passionate about inspiring others and sharing the beauty of trail running. We were so excited to dive into the details of this runner’s journey and hope you enjoy where our conversation takes you.
In this episode, we discuss.
- bad habits that led to 250lbs
- power of patience
- the drinking group with a running problem
- ski accident to 3:15 marathon
- DNF’d his first trail race and was hooked
- 50 miler to 100k to 100 mile
- self-coaching vs having a coach
- working with the uncertainty
- training for a 200 trail race
- impressions of the Cocodona 25o
- HURT 100 victory
- 100 miles of hopscotch uphill
- there’s always 8 more miles
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Thank you for tuning in for another installment of the OH Show. We are grateful to you for your support and content contributions that help us create an open and honest conversation for you. We hope that you take away some nuggets for your journey ahead.
In this episode, we discuss.
- truthfulness
- waiting to make that big change
- repetition builds confidence
- working with your emotions
- life lessons vs hardships
- embracing injury
- the unshakability inside all of us
- it will be whatever you believe it to be
- slowing down to speed up
- rehashing and rehearsing
- learning to trust the present moment
- strong enough to do big things, but at what cost
- secret training
- we are at our best in the present moment
- highs and lows vs consistency in training
- joy boy
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Tina created Running For Real, the largest global community of runners contributing and connecting positively to the world around them.
She is the host of the Running for Real podcast and, more recently, co-host of Running Realized, a podcast that holds a mission to explore running culture as a vehicle to realize its full potential and one that asks us all to be a part of the solution.
Tina is recognized as one of the lead climate activists in the running space and, in 2021, began collaborating with the United Nations on climate change initiatives.
She is a runner, mom, and entrepreneur who plays many roles daily and holds decades of experiential knowledge that flows naturally as our conversation ensues. We hope you take away many nuggets of gold and put one thing into action today!
In this episode, we discuss.
- breaking out of the boxes we create about our identity
- mental and physical burnout from running
- breakdown to breakthrough
- the challenge of not doing
- armor up and get it done
- the ‘fixing’ mentality
- embracing silliness vs seriousness
- being the mom who dances with her kid
- running to chase the fun
- climate change and the health of our planet
- pro-environmental lens - what we focus on expands
- 71% emissions coming from 100 companies
- talking about the environment is activism
- explore close to home
- working with UN
- daily non-negotiables
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Today we have another powerful transformation story that, like so many stories, took a long time to begin. But once Anthony Masiello decided and stuck with it, he realized the big permanent changes he lives today.
Anthony is positively affecting the health of countless others by not only sharing his experiential wisdom with the world but through Plant-Based TeleHealth, whose mission is to see a world where plant-based lifestyle medicine is available to all.
He is a nationally board-certified health and wellness coach, a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, and holds certifications in food addiction and plant-based nutrition.
I can't even imagine if he didn't finally decide to change and then back it up with his actions. I'm sure it was difficult at times, but also, in my experience, when the rewards start rolling in, you realize that there's no other way to go.
In this episode, we discuss.
- Putting your worth on the shape of your body
- Accepting your mistakes & taking ownership of your life
- What are you willing to settle on in life?
- Focus on getting healthy, not losing weight
- Get obsessed with the process
- Run/walking format
- Eat more vegetables. fruits, and some nuts & seeds
- Details can derail your growth
- The origin of Plant-Based Telehealth
- Working for a higher purpose than just money
- Minimalism
- Shift the needle from management to the prevention and reversal of the disease
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
We are excited to welcome Lynda Layng Tama back to the show. Lynda first graced your listening ears in episode 54, which we recorded just days after meeting her at the Mendocino 50k packet pick-up.
Lynda is a whole food plant-based chef, recipe developer, food editor, and certified health coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She is passionate about whole food, plant-based nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness.
Lynda has been in the vegan publishing and recipe development space for over ten years. And has had the pleasure of working on cookbooks, such as The Plantpower Way by Rich Roll & Julie Piatt, Self Magazine Drop 10 Cookbook, Dining at the Ravens, treasured recipes from The Stanford Inn Vegan Resort, and the YogiTriathlete Cookbook. Her most recent work includes No Meat Athlete, Health Made Simple Meal Plan, and Mississippi Vegan’s YouTube Cooking Channel and website.
If you are a regular listener, you have heard us mention her name in gratitude as she continues to book us the most amazing guests through her role as Marketing and Production Assistant for this podcast. But today, we are talking with Lynda about another role that she plays as YT's Nutrition Coach. Tune into this episode to hear more about Lynda's story and the beautiful Awake Kitchen program launching under her guidance Monday, March 7th.
In this episode, we discuss.
- the parting gift of losing her parents
- exercise as a distraction to working through the stuff
- recipe writing days in Hoboken
- make the mess and be creative
- acting on inspiration
- there are bigger hands at play
- Awake kitchen jump start
- creativity in the kitchen
- it’s all about the sauce
- shopping with your eyes
- more is caught than taught
- when you feel better you do better
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Thank you for joining us for another episode of the OH Show, we have some juicy topics today for the athlete community, and we hope you enjoy the show. Please send us questions or topics that you would like us to dive into, and we will take those into our next recording.
If you enjoy this commercial-free show, consider becoming a Patreon member at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We have several tiers of membership to choose from and wonderful perks to assist you in realizing your greatest potential in life and sport.
In this episode, we discuss.
- the glory days
- the conditioned mind is not that reliable
- seeking relief from discomfort
- cultivating a relationship with failure
- there is a time to endure
- how never to quit
- thoughts and focus too close for comfort
- quitting a meditation practice
- leaning into who we were
- let your yes be yes
- training for both ultrarunning and triathlon
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
We are excited to welcome Dr. Niki Davis to the show, another spectacular physician from Plant-Based Telehealth.
Dr. Davis is a rocket scientist but certainly not because that is required to eat a whole foods plant-based diet. In fact, her move away from eating animal products was sparked by an intuitive feeling that eating animals was not healthy, and so at the age of 13, she began her shift towards a more vibrant life.
Dr. Davis has learned from many of the greats in lifestyle medicine, including YTP guests Dr. Michael Klaper and Dr. Alan Goldhamer.
We hope you take away many nuggets of gold as we shine a light on the gifts Dr. Davis is here to share.
In this episode, we discuss.
- taking the leap from a comfortable job into your passion
- entertaining doubt
- finding confidence in yourself
- patience in moving from SAD to WFPB
- effects of dairy on the body
- what is inflammation and is it bad?
- recovery with athletes on a WFPB diet
- fasting benefits
- interrupting habits
- children eat the foods you continue to give them
- know your WHY for eating more plant-based
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Welcome to the 300th episode of the YogiTriathlete podcast. Thank you to all who have been listening since episode one.
It's been a super vibrant and challenging adventure but we've always known that this community was by our side and that is everything to why this podcast still exists today. So, thank you for sticking with us, we are grateful for you and we're excited to see how it all evolves from here.
Enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss.
- Liz's birthday blizzard
- you don’t know until you get there
- stay with it, it’s going to change
- finishing stronger than you started
- get comfortable with the uncomfortable so it becomes normal
- 300th episode
- never be degraded by your self-will
- swimming for runners
- living the example
- “The Liz” at Lofty Coffee
- Power of presence
- shifting your mindset sooner
- first cars
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Manami Iijima Martin is a professional triathlete from Guam who is making a name for herself in the sport as she represents the island she loves. A swimmer from a very young age, Manami has carried her competitiveness in the water to her professional career as a triathlete.
She was first out of the water in Oceanside just a few months ago, where she finished 8th on the day and second out of the water at Ironman 70.3 Indian Wells.
She moved up the PTO ranks in 2021 and holds a goal to crack the top 100 in 2022 amongst a field of top-notch females.
She is passionate about putting Guam on the map in the triathlon world, and we believe that she is a woman to watch in these coming years. In this episode, we discuss:
- working through nervousness and tears
- Guam culture & climate
- competitive swimming from a young age - 6 years old
- how she started running
- the taboo of depression
- importance of community
- vulnerability hangovers
- building running volume as a swimmer
- understanding injury and the signs of niggles
- celebration of getting to a race
- training on the island of Guam
- the quest to put Guam on the Olympic map
- teaching kids to swim (3-5yr olds)
- 10 minutes / 10 days swim program
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Thank you for tuning in for another installment of the Open and Honest Show. Like all the other OH Show episodes, this conversation leans heavily into mindset training for athletes. BJ and I also share our experiences with our first eight-hour meditation.
Thank you to our Patreon community for helping us keep this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying the podcasts, please consider making your pledge to soak in more content without the interruption of advertisements.
In this episode, we discuss:
- resolutions vs intentions
- what we can expect from 2022
- ingredients for thriving relationships
- show up!
- without commitment and contrast, we will never grow
- how far are you willing to go to stay awake?
- injury - what is true?
- the catastrophizing mind
- sometimes things get worse before they get better
- take risks to strengthen your intuition
- training the mind is like training a puppy
- are you taking your meditation into life?
- eight-hour meditation
- tuning to the non-physical and becoming it
We hope you enjoy the show.
Namaste- Jess
Lisa Roberts, former professional triathlete turned ultrarunner, is a big believer in developing a Jedi mindset, so obviously, we had to invite her onto the show.
After a long and successful career in the triathlon world, including countless podiums and course records, Lisa came out of the gates blazing in 2020 when she hit the ultra running community. Between August and December of last year, Lisa set two-course records, beat most of the men, and won all three ultras that she raced.
We are excited to offer you this conversation, especially because we have several Team YogiTriathlete athletes prepping for another great year of triathlon and trail racing. BJ and I love to see these two communities blending and seeing that athletes can have success in both.
In this episode, we discuss:
- from running to triathlon to ultrarunning
- wide runway to goals
- being easy and brutally honest with yourself
- yin and yang/trial and error
- getting better at the entire process, the results will come
- navigating the voice of negative self-talk
- HALT
- the shift to racing professionally
- overcoming not being a swimmer
- no substitution for showing up every day
- accepting where you are now is the road to getting better
- the party of her last pro triathlon
- the pull to ultra running
- road pace doesn't translate to the trail
- expectations going into a 100k
- pounding the legs for ultras
- two-a-days, three-a-days
- the FORCE
Namaste- Jess
Dr. Christina Miller worked as an emergency room physician for a decade and served as the president of the Colorado chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. She advocated the care of emergency patients and doctors and then was forced to turn that advocacy towards herself as she began to experience her own health concerns.
Her path to reclaiming her own health led her to change the way she practiced medicine. Dr. Chris now focuses exclusively on nutrition and lifestyle changes as a means to treat the root cause of disease which to me means, healing.
We are so excited to be chatting with another member of the Plant-based Telehealth team of physicians and we encourage you to pay close attention as you listen because the takeaways are endless.
In this episode, we discuss:
- patience when moving to a plant-based diet
- moving through fear
- people who heal are in a good mindset
- focusing on the journey
- we are not victims
- we are energy beings - science to support that
- stress response explained
- why the bathroom line is so long at races
- leaky gut in endurance athletes
- the downfall of eating late at night
- the lowdown on intermittent fasting
- why we shouldn’t be eating all the time
Namaste-
Jess
David Richman was once a sedentary overweight smoker living within an abusive marriage and negative headspace. He was not caring for himself and spent most of his time living what he thought everyone else wanted until he looked in the mirror and asked himself, "who do you want to be?".
David's journey took a turn that day, and a door opened that led to a more fulfilling life that he now lives in a healthy, athlete body. He started training for endurance sports while rehabbing his life and, in the last decade, has completed 50 plus triathlons, more than 50 ultras, and one super epic bike ride.
As David walked his path towards a more vibrant life, his sister traversed a very different path that led to the loss of her life and, ultimately, David's most recent book, Cycle of Lives.
We hope you enjoy this episode as we dive under the surface with someone whose transformation has not surprisingly revealed great purpose in his life.
In this episode, we discuss:
- when you find out that you are the problem
- the challenge of being selfish
- self-serving not self-centered
- learning to be who you want to be
- connecting through emotion and story
- winning in the middle of the pack
- running to vs running from
- the importance of talking about trauma
- Cycle Of Lives
- the one reality of a 4700 bike ride
Namaste- Jess
Welcome back to the OH Show as we prepare to wrap up another year within this rich itinerary of life. With each passing day, BJ and I commit to living awake to the lessons of this earth school while not forgetting to indulge in our power to manifest, which is a gift from the universe to ensure we have fun along the way.
And so, as we move into 2022, may we all carry good-hearted intentions to embrace life's lessons, forgive those who lose their way, share our gifts freely, and have more fun!
We hope you take away many nuggets of gold from this month's show.
In this episode, we discuss:
- intentions vs resolutions
- the energy of change is available now
- act despite - "sticktoitness"
- walking more to get fit
- 2021 reflections
- be a deliberate creator in your life
- living a more vibrant life
- cutting out oil and shutting down processed foods
- ask for what you want
- unconditional love
- opportunities to rise to higher levels
- new t-shirt: ‘do better” or “you’re welcome”
Namaste- Jess
Today, our guest is Dr. Michael Klaper, an American physician, vegan health educator, internationally-recognized teacher, and sought-after speaker on nutrition and health who has been shining his light in the medical community for many decades.
Dr. Klaper graduated from medical school in 1972, turned vegan in 1981, and holds a level of experience and expertise that is near impossible to surpass. He is a member of the PlantBased Telehealth family and the first doctor we have spoken to who is now going into medical schools to share the evidence and health benefits of living a whole-foods plant-based life.
Dr. Klaper teaches that health comes from healthy living and dedicates himself to the healing and flourishing of all living beings and our planet.
I will assume that most of our listeners have seen Dr. Klaper in paradigm-shattering documentaries and heard him speak many times, and if that is the case, I will also assume that you are like BJ and I and can’t get enough. We hope you enjoy the show.
In this episode, we discuss:
- how his childhood shaped his life
- why milk is not worth the effort
- whey protein
- protein powders is an unnatural food
- Dr. K’s take on paleo & keto diets
- we’ve already cut down half our trees
- the long game
- living a life of ahimsa
- favorite animal on the farm
- a lifelong mission to wake patients up
- moving medicine forward
- pharmasclerosis
- turn on the plant-based light
- benefits of fasting
- the ultimate answer is growing in the garden
Namaste- Jess
Over his four-plus decades of coaching, Bobby McGee has supported athletes of all levels, including Olympians, top-ranked ITU Triathletes, world class runners, world record holders, world champions, and age groupers from triathlon to race walking and everything in between.
He served as development coordinator for USAT for several years, identifying the next generation of elite athletes. Bobby is renowned for his skills in assisting athletes find their optimal running form and is sought after in the realm of mental training.
It’s difficult to encapsulate the wealth of knowledge that Bobby holds, and we hope this episode is to the great benefit of all who listen.
In this episode, we discuss:
- thrive mentality
- flow state - metabolize stress
- the meaning we give
- objective observation to move forward past trauma
- coalface of who you are
- these are the times of your life
- believe in self as an athlete
- vulnerability
- grace, gratitude, guts
- self-efficacy vs self-confident
- embracing our dark side
- going slow to go fast - there may be another way
- pacing is the last frontier
- no prizes at the mile 16 mark
- don’t stop the dialogue - keep the conversation going
Namaste- Jess
Matt Frazier is the founder of No Meat Athlete, which holds a mission to provide world-class inspirational and educational experiences to support the growth and well-being of the plant-based athletic community. He is a runner, dad, husband, co-founder of Complement nutrition company, and best-selling author.
Chances are, if you are awake to the plant-based lifestyle, then you’ve heard of his most recent book, The Plant-Based Athlete. And perhaps you have listened to Matt, and his co-author Robert Cheeke talk about their game-changing creation, which is assisting athletes daily in feeling more confident about the switch to an entirely plant-based lifestyle.
Matt’s been on our radar for a while now and is one of the first people we looked to when we turned vegan almost a decade ago. We feel excited to bring you our conversation and hope that you take away some nuggets of gold for your life.
In this episode, we discuss:
- be an experiment of one
- the first time Matt hit "publish"
- faith in truth-telling
- vulnerability
- habit brings ease
- taking a stance instead of diluting the message
- seven-year quest to qualify for Boston
- nothing is impossible anymore
- be good at not quitting
- the leap is about not knowing all the details
- goals and timelines
- loosening the grip on life
- frequent mistake when turning plant-based
- The Plant-Based Athlete
Namaste- Jess
We hope you enjoy this month's installment of the OH Show where we answer a few listener questions and riff on our recent goings-on. Thank you so much for tuning in and for those who are helping us keep this podcast commercial-free through our Patreon community.
In this episode, we discuss:
- time apart from each other
- burning ceremony and clearing the past
- being in service
- The Four Agreements - Awake Athlete Community
- doing things for the greater good?
- cleaning up the inner house
- staycation rundown
- the life that you are not living
- 8-hour meditation
- feelings on Kona and St. George WC
- let the universe do the heavy lifting
- stress and its effects on training
- breath is the perfect tool
- deexciting the mind
- relaxing is receiving mode
Namaste- Jess
Dr. Kim Scheuer is a board-certified family physician and lifestyle medicine physician. She is on staff with the Plant-Based Telehealth family and is licensed to practice medicine in 20 states. After her wake-up realizations in 2011, she has seen firsthand the transformative effects of coming out of the fog and into a vibrant whole-foods plant-based life.
Over this past decade, she has shifted her focus from disease management to disease reversal with great success and believes that small changes make the most significant impact. We’re honored to have yet another esteemed plant-based physician on the mic for you today, and we hope you take away heaps of momentum and knowledge for your path.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Dr. Kim's athletic background
- milky way vegetarian to daily green smoothies
- dairy fog
- the three things that blew her mind
- getting out the soapbox and getting results
- forgiveness
- the subtleties of a plant-based diet
- nutrition re-education
- batch cooking
- eating more and losing weight
- a curious mind
- depression and plants
- we inherit genes and recipes
- changes needed in hospital food
Thank you to all who keep this podcast commercial-free through your pledge on Patreon. We would not be able to do this without you.
Namaste- Jess
In this episode, we bring you a roundtable discussion with all four YogiTriathlete coaches, Liz, Daniel, BJ, and me. We hope you enjoy this show and take away many mounds of gold for your training, racing, and life experiences.
If there is something that you want to learn more about or wish we dug in a little deeper during this episode, please leave us a comment. If you are finding value in this show, please show your support by leaving a review wherever you listen each week.
In this episode, we discuss:
- crap races
- everything is for you
- Coach BJ's nutrition withholding plan
- show up no matter what
- when your pride gets hurt
- dark moments are here to awaken us
- not getting enough calories
- eat less animals = eating more plants
- nutritionless calorie bomb
- training to your ability
- fueling workouts
- find what works instead of making something work
- throwing out data for feel
- panic training
- first concerts
Thank you to all who keep this podcast commercial-free through your pledge on Patreon. We would not be able to do this without you.
Namaste- Jess
I met IzzyB shortly after I moved to San Diego with a new purpose to complete my first ultra-marathon, and since knowing her, although we don’t see each other often, I have watched her level up in so many ways.
It’s always a treat to join one of her UltraBuds group runs or when I run into her on the trails, which happens occasionally. Izzy plays so many roles in this life and is another guest who leaves us with no excuses.
She is president of Janovick Communications, a marketing strategy firm, founder of UltraBuds running group, and co-founder of Ghost Runners Coaching alongside YTP guest Vera Stepina from episode 196. Izzy is an ultra runner herself and an obstacle course racer training for and has since completed, the Dallas Spartan Ultra 50k, which includes over 60 obstacles.
I would describe Izzy as driven. She completes what she starts and continues to grow past her limitations as I see her empower her athletes to do the same. When she’s not out there crushing it for herself or her athletes, she’s in service of others. She recently paced a friend at the Badwater 135 and just announced that she is the race director for the North County Beer run.
So how did she get here? Well, that’s what we dive into during this episode and more.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Spartan racing
- Wimpy gyms
- her upcoming and first 100-mile trail run
- the intersection of strength and endurance running
- from a broken back to trail running
- mental training techniques
- burpees everyday
- nutrition for athletes
- “F” macros
- balancing a love for beer with a commitment to fitness
- carb loading
- heat training
- pacing at Badwater
Thank you to all who keep this podcast commercial-free through your pledge on Patreon. We would not be able to do this without you.
Namaste-
Jess
Nastasha is the founder and CEO of Choice Juicery, San Diego’s largest women-owned vegan food chain. She is leading a growing dynasty of integrity that has matured into so much more than a grab-and-go eatery.
We first sat down with Nastasha back in 2018 for episode 103, in which we dive into the back story of the life she is living now. We then recorded a YTP mini with her in June 2020 as BJ, and I watched her business expand within a global pandemic.
With company policies rooted in mindfulness practices, Nastasha and her team are living the demonstration for a better world. We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
- thriving in the midst of a storm
- integrity as a true north
- certainty in trust
- magic of everyday
- surrender to get to the next level
- the emotional moat
- Choice's company ethos
- the secret menu
- why cold-pressed, non-pasteurized juice served in glass
- gamma radiation!
- the story of the bread that teaches yoga
- the future of Choice
Thank you to all who keep this podcast commercial-free through your pledge on Patreon. We would not be able to do this without you.
Namaste-
Jess
Dr. Jeff Pierce is a board-certified family physician who uses diet and lifestyle choices to guide his patients to a longer and healthier life. He is a part of the esteemed community of docs that comprise the Plant Based TeleHealth team and is currently seeing patients both in-person and online from his home base in northern California.
He believes that with the correct information and motivation, people can get to the root cause of their disease and heal themselves, which I believe is a sign of a brilliant doctor because the focus is on healing the whole person and empowering them to be a part of the process.
In this episode, we discuss:
- healing the whole person
- the pivot point for change
- fulfillment factor
- the wave of medicine that has not crested yet
- current medical model vs. new medical model
- the expense of chronic conditions
- living a healthy life is not just nutrition
- six pillars of lifestyle medicine
- nudges built into our lives to stay healthy
- whole food plant-based pregnancies and babies
Thank you to all who keep this podcast commercial-free through your pledge on Patreon. We would not be able to do this without you!
Namaste-
Jess
Welcome back to another episode of the OH Show, we recorded this episode after a rich week of life experience. We hope that you pull away some gold for your day and wisdom to share with your community.
In this episode, we discuss:
- giving people space to have their process
- Friends From College on Netflix
- what you bring is what you're going to get
- BJ manifested our car accident
- full allowing of getting what you want
- be the producer of your life
- an experience of letting go
- navigating life from the view of an expanded mind
- we are all just trying to feel good
- January training camp
Thank you to all who keep this podcast commercial-free through your pledge on Patreon. We would not be able to do this without you!
Namaste- Jess
Each week we shine a light on people looking, finding, and living their purpose. People who are making shifts in their lives towards what they love and away from what society deems as the path.
In the case of today’s guest, professional triathlete Ari Klau, the shift was radical. He quit his well-paid full-time job as a software engineer to pursue a calling to figure out how good he could be at endurance sports.
Ari is no stranger to competition, having been an NCAA runner, but as a rookie pro triathlete, he still has much to experience as he trains and races himself up the ranks.
Ari’s story comes with trauma and loss as his life intensely shifted overnight in January of this year. It was an event that catapulted him into a whole new reality and profession.
He shares his journey on his YouTube channel, and he doesn’t do it bashfully. We know you guys appreciate the open and honest conversation, and this guy brings it fully! We hope you enjoy the show.
In this episode, we discuss:
- the mundane life of a pro triathlete
- first pro race
- falling into the trap of limitation
- commit and give it everything
- the fickleness of motivation
- expecting to win
- strong spros only
- the events that shifted everything
- strug pro
- training with Lionel Sanders
- money is not enough
- risks are not a big as you think
- lessons of pain and grief
Namaste-
Jess
Celebration day on the world stage is what we are smacking down today with Team YogiTriathlete athletes Telsys Tarallo and Matthew Ligman along with our head coach BJ. We dive into a number of topics and feels during this conversation. We hope you pull away something valuable for your toolbox.
Thank you to our Patreon supporters who are keeping this podcast and the Awake Athlete podcast commercial-free. We are committed to serving you an uninterrupted stream of knowledge and wisdom through the art of story and reflection but we cannot do this without your support.
In this episode, we discuss:
- the feel of toeing the line at a world championship
- storm stories
- race nutrition
- course insight
- adjusting race plan for the day that unfolds
- awake and ready
- mindset toolbox
- the fourth discipline
- why love people who complain
- pee talk
- the death of imposter syndrome
- the value of a strong mind
- presence is power
Namaste- Jess
Meghan Leighton is a yoga instructor, certified mindfulness educator, retreat leader, and student of Ayurveda. She has spent the last several years working in schools systems throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island implementing groundbreaking mindfulness programs for children.
Meg’s journey began twenty years ago when she started practicing meditation with absolutely no idea of the impact it would have on her life. As the benefits and shifts showed up, Meg’s enthusiasm for the practice grew immensely leading her to her purpose to share the teachings of yoga and meditation with others.
We go deep in this episode and we hope you take away a cavern of knowledge to share with your community and the world.
In this episode, we discuss:
- searching for a guru
- how to get control of the mind?
- her seven seconds of clear mind
- our minds are conditioned for fear and distraction
- how to understand that you are not your thoughts
- expect that life and meditation will not always be comfortable
- the three things science says about thoughts
- living life connected to our higher mind
- Ayurveda, the science of life
- lose the ice
- the extreme techniques don’t last
- it’s not about fixing, it’s about accepting
- what happens in the magic moment
- mental hygiene
We are fairly certain this is a multi-listen episode, so download to your library of favorites and return to it whenever you need support in tweaking your response. And beyond all else, remember you matter.
Namaste-
Jess
Oh yeah, we're back with the OH Show. Thanks so much for all the feedback on this monthly happening, we appreciate your questions and we dive into them today.
In this episode, we discuss:
- learning to experience life as it is
- feeling without attachment
- the good and bad of our baked-in efficiency
- authenticity is effortless
- why the Bhagavad Gita?
- book recommendations for self-study
- how BJ desensitizes his mind
- knowledge is nothing without action
- feeling is a point of data
- being an active participant in the decision-making process
- how to strengthen our intuition in training
- translation of meditation to race performance
We are fairly certain this is a multi-listen episode, so download to your library of favorites and return to it whenever you need support in tweaking your response. And beyond all else, remember you matter.
Namaste-
Jess
Sally McRae is a world-renown trail runner, lifelong competitive athlete, coach, mom, writer, and businesswoman who ran her first ultra at the age of thirty and turned pro at thirty-three.
She has run some of the world's greatest ultra trail races, including Lake Sonoma 50, NorthFace Endurance Challenge, Western States, UTMB, Tarawera, and most recently, completing a 10-year dream to win the Badwater 135, which she did just last month.
On paper, this woman blows many out of the water. But what has held our attention over the years is her gratitude, honesty, and the graciousness with which she repeatedly reminds us all that we matter, our dreams matter and what sits on our hearts has a purpose, no matter what.
In this episode, we discuss:
- patience to fulfill a decade long goal
- when our pride hurts
- every race is an opportunity to be better, even when you win
- what is the action that comes from anger?
- what is more impactful than being tough
- if there is breath in your lungs, there is a purpose for your life
- the art of surrender and gentleness
- can we align the stars?
- giving your best
- preparation for Badwater 135
- when is specificity in training important
- excuses as a means to self-sabotage
We are fairly certain this is a multi-listen episode, so download to your library of favorites and return to it whenever you need support in tweaking your response. And beyond all else, remember you matter.
Namaste-
Jess
Bobby Aldighieri is a former professional mogul skier, Olympic athlete, and two-time Olympic coach. He competed in the 1992 Olympic Games in Albertville, France, which was the first year mogul skiing was included in the games. He was a member of the national ski team for seven years, achieving a top-five world ranking; he was on the professional ski tour for three years and was the first mogul skier in history to win a World Cup and pro event.
Bobby was the head coach for the Canadian Freestyle team and helped them earn a gold medal in Torino Italy in 2006. In addition, he has coached many athletes to their prospective National team and the Olympics, including National Champions, World Championship medalists, and Olympic Medalists.
Most recently, Bobby has made perhaps his most significant career decision yet in choosing to step down from his position as freestyle program director for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club to pursue the next phase of life.
We’re excited to dive into this guy’s extensive experience and learn from him as we hold the intent that you will walk away with a few takeaways to better go after your dreams today.
In this episode, we discuss:
- learning from your mistakes
- patience with the grind
- less frustration, more determination
- self-doubt
- going through the motions vs being present
- fanatical about the details
- surrender of the ego
- luck and destiny
- on a mission to get to the Olympics
- serving youth as an honor
- the gratification of coaching up
- conquering fears
- discipline to get good at something you’re not good at
Namaste-
Jess
Today, our guest is Dr. Colin Zhu; he is a double board-certified family and lifestyle medicine physician and one of the cutting-edge doctors in the PlantBased Telehealth family.
In addition, he is a public speaker, podcast host of Thrive Bites, creator of the THR5 Formula and its coinciding masterclass, culinary chef, and author of Thrive Medicine: How to Cultivate Your Desires and Elevate Your Life.
His purpose has manifested into the Chef Doc website, an informational portal of resources born in 2017 out of a realization that he needed to assist others in combating chronic lifestyle-related disease and fill the deficit he recognized in medical school and medical training across the nation.
Dr. Zhu, an Osteopathic doctor, heavily influenced by his mother, a traditional Chinese medical doctor, is combining the qualities of compassion and holism with the healing benefits of a whole foods plant-based diet to assist people in reaching higher states of health.
Dr. Zhu lives the demonstration of health and well-being for others to follow and dares us all to choose a life that allows us to thrive. We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
- The Chef Doc
- the interconnectedness of our physical, mental, and emotional health
- patient goals
- lifestyle medicine
- the web of connection
- speaking on behalf of the self vs the collective
- benefits of a plant-based diet for endurance athletes
- top benefits of fiber intake
- importance of knowing how you are feeding your microbiome
- Plantbased TeleHealth, a sigh of relief
Namaste-
Jess
Welcome back to the monthly OH Show; we are grateful for your listenership. BJ and I riff on many topics in this episode; the fruits of staying the course, the myth of choice, the importance of having a nutritional framework, and more.
Thank you to everyone who assists us in keeping this podcast commercial-free by maintaining a monthly pledge in our Patreon community. For as little as $5 a month, you can assist us in making a positive impact in the world. Check out all the perks and tiers at patreon.com/yogitriathlete
In this episode, we discuss:
- the vision drives us forward in moments of fear
- why total annihilation is always there
- tasty swim time trial with no watches
- temperature gauges in life
- patience and humility
- plank challenge
- what is resistance and what to do with it?
- the truth of what happens when we make a change
- the essence of the fear of success
- see it to believe it or believe it to see it?
- the myth of choice
- importance of a nutritional framework
- monitoring digestion and chewing food
- miracle of zucchini sweat
Namaste- Jess
Today, our guest is Dr. Daya Grant, mental coach, neuroscientist, triathlete, mom, and yogi. We are so excited to bring her to this community, this conversation was a long-time coming.
Daya holds a master's in Sports Psychology and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience. She has the academic expertise and the experiential knowledge of being a yogi and an athlete.
She is on a mission to empower athletes to realize their greatness, attack their goals, and know fulfillment in the pursuit.
This conversation rocks; we hope you feel the same!
In this episode, we discuss:
- what pumps her up about sports psychology
- why acceptance is key
- the bias in our recollection
- trust that your feathers are ruffled for a reason
- flush it
- tranquility equals the greatest effect
- what is bliss
- the soul of who we are
- the beauty of pain
- the default mode network of the brain
- the best meditation she ever had
Thank you so much for being so supportive of the show; if it has made a positive impact, please consider pledging on Patreon, where you will be assisting us in keeping the YogiTriathlete and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free.
Namaste- Jess
We are so excited to have Michael Wardian back in the house today; we first sat down with Mike in 2016 for episode 25, where we talked about relentlessly pursuing passion and pushing the limits of what has been made possible.
Mike is an international shipbroker, speaker, coach, business owner, dad to two boys and two vizslas, Rosie and Bash, and of course, a very well-known ultra runner, which almost feels too blah of a descriptive for this guy.
His resume on UltraSignUp dates back to 1998. Anyone who knows of Mike never seems to be surprised at his FKT attempts, robust race schedule, or solo adventures like his Guinness book world record attempt for the fastest known time for a marathon in a highland dress.
Still, I have to say, his win at last year's Quarantine Backyard Ultra was one of the most epic challenges I've witnessed, thanks to social media. It was a virtual race that started with over 2,400 runners from more than 50 countries. It ended over 60 hours later with only two runners left, Mike and Radek Brunner, who missed the start of the 63rd lap, making Mike the winner after 422 kilometers of running.
As I said, the resume is massive, and we're super pumped for you to listen in and hear what he is relentlessly brewing up for the future.
In this episode, we discuss:
- winning the quarantine backyard in 2020
- FKT for the run across America
- coming back from injury
- injury as an opportunity
- grow incrementally and stay consistent
- do weird things that you wouldn't normally do
- limiting yourself because you don't want to learn something
- mental game crossover of ultra running and chess
- perspective on engineered nutrition for racing
- pickleball training for a high altitude ultra
- unique challenges of a graduate-level 100-miler
- running on the moon
Thank you so much for being so supportive of the show; if it has made a positive impact, please consider pledging on Patreon, where you will be assisting us in keeping the YogiTriathlete and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated.
Namaste-
Jess
Jackson Foster is our guest today and someone who has lived an odyssey that is undoubtedly against the grain of consensus thinking in just shy of three decades on this earth.
Despite growing up in the concrete jungle of Los Angeles, Jackson always felt a deep pull to be outdoors.
During his high school years, he found the High Mountain Institute, where he spent a semester connecting with nature on a deeper level, and he was hooked.
Returning to his upscale private high school only further confirmed his need to take the road less traveled in life.
His biggest adventures started between high school and college when he rode his bike across America, traveled to Asia for a backpacking adventure, volunteered at an orangoutang orphanage, and apprenticed with a master potter. All of which sealed his knowing that he had to continue to live an alternative and adventurous lifestyle.
Jackson is a visionary who is bringing his visions to manifestation. He is a yogi, a vegan advocate, a farmer, most recently an ultrarunner, and a voice for all to take risks and dream extreme.
In this episode, we discuss:
- climate change and policy around the environment
- embracing trouble & experiences
- try many new things to find who you are
- follow your childhood dreams
- detach from expectations
- his longest run yet
- lifestyle of gratitude
- 50k fueling as a vegan
- Costa Rica permaculture farming
- upcoming retreat offerings
- Maggie - the vegan dog
Thank you so much for being so supportive of the show; if it has made a positive impact, please consider pledging on Patreon, where you will be assisting us in keeping the YogiTriathlete and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated.
Namaste- Jess
Dr. Laurie Marbas knew her purpose was to become a doctor at the age of 10 and 19 years later, she attended medical school while simultaneously playing wife and a mother to three young children. Her climb was steep and motivation high. While in medical school, she wrote seven books making Dr. Marbas another YTP guest that leaves us with no excuses.
She received her dual degrees (MD and MBA) from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine and TTU School of Business. She is a double board-certified family medicine and lifestyle medicine physician who has been utilizing food as medicine since 2012.
She is co-founder of Plant-Based Telehealth, which provides access to plant-based lifestyle medicine across the United States, and she holds a license to practice medicine in all 50 states. In addition, she is co-founder of Healthy Human Revolution, which has the mission is to provide resources that will empower individuals with the knowledge, tools, and mindset to successfully adopt and sustain a whole-food, plant-based (WFPB) diet.
To sum it all up, she is a medical doctor in this modern world who believes that a whole food plant-based diet is often more potent than her prescription pad, and we want to shine a big ole light on that. We hope you enjoy the show.
In this episode, we discuss:
- the patients that changed her life
- the time God broke her freezer
- healing without harming
- what would your life be like if...
- do we need to ingest cholesterol?
- using data to make better decisions
- healthy human revolution
- trust that timing is perfect
- plant-based telehealth
- knocking down obstacles
- plugging back into the mothership
- just because something is hard doesn't mean you shouldn't do it
Thank you so much for being so supportive of the show; if it has made a positive impact, please consider pledging on Patreon, where you will be assisting us in keeping the YogiTriathlete and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated.
Namaste- Jess
Welcome back to the show, and thank you for stopping in for a listen. We dedicate this month's OH Show to smacking down BJ's Kona qualifying experience at Ironman Coeur d'Alene. After many years of relentlessly pursuing his dream of racing on the big island, YogiTriathlete will be making the trek this October.
We look forward to seeing many of you there!
Aloha and Mahalo.
In this episode, we discuss: - strategy for extreme heat - navigating the lowest point - "I am the heat" mantra - chafe-free Ironman - train on the hills, run the hills - the midnight finish - how it feels to have a Kona qualification - there's no comparison to being consistent - testament to believing in something and relentlessly pursuing it - how do you KNOW? - detachment to how things must happen - the ultimate goal is to become nobody - no kitchen, no car, no problem - what's the goal now?
Thank you so much for being so supportive of the show; if it has made a positive impact, please consider pledging on Patreon, where you will be assisting us in keeping the YogiTriathlete and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. Any amount helps and is greatly appreciated.
Namaste- Jess
This podcast is where we share stories of people looking, finding, and living their purpose. It sounds so glamorous, so lucky for those who have found it, but I speak from experience when I say the road to purpose can be messy and scary and, in most cases, will bring you to your knees more than once.
Our guest today is Adam Sud, and he found his purpose through the brink of death. Almost losing his life in 2012 through an attempt to end his life at the hands of drug addiction, disease provoking food choices, and the denial that he had the power within to rise and be his own solution.
Thankfully, he was unsuccessful and today is a transformed individual spreading awareness of living a plant-based lifestyle and coaching others to know the inherent wisdom of their bodies and the undeniable healing power of love.
Adam survived his suicide attempt, lost 180 pounds, reversed diabetes, got sober, and now lives the demonstration of what it means to overcome the odds. Adam’s story is shocking, inspiring, sad, hopeful, and another notch in the well-told story that we have everything we need when we conjure the courage to take charge of our life and, in doing so, wake up to our innate worthiness in this world.
In this episode, we discuss:
- everyone’s story is one of self-love
- the moment his body became his adversary
- taking 450 - 1000 mg of Adderall per day
- the things we choose to believe have consequences
- what if your body has always been your ally
- groundbreaking study on addiction recovery
- the meaningful bonds of life
- depression as your body’s grief for not living life as you should
- the problem with identifying ourselves as broken
- be willing to have faith in yourself
- be truthful and not shameful for it
- redefining addiction recovery
Namaste- Jess
In the episode, I am welcoming back Liz and BJ to the show.
Liz is Yogitriathlete’s run coach. She has been running for over 40 years, coaching for more than five years, and on YogiTriathlete's coaching team since 2020. BJ, co-founder and head coach of Team YogiTriathlete has focused on the sport of triathlon for the past 18-years. He recently qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona at Ironman Couer d'Alene. So we have lots of experience in the house for this episode, and we hope you find great value in the content.
In this episode, we discuss:
- telltale signs that you need nutrition
- training for Everesting
- building strength through the chosen sport
- one element to becoming a better runner
- type of athlete who benefits from a coach
- how to know if an athlete is not trusting themself
- the race that is hunting Liz down
- elements of a good taper
- slowing down pace without losing form
- mentors and most "proud of" moments
- pushing limits
- the work no one wants to do
Namaste- Jess
When we become more aware and take action on what we see within ourselves that is keeping us from joy, we allow for more flow, more authentic expression, and above all else, more happiness.
Sid Garza Hillman is back in the house, and he has a new book on this very topic. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘪𝘹 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘴, 𝘓𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘉𝘺 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘛𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘴 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘉𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘺, 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘞𝘰𝘯'𝘵 lays it all out for us, plain and simple.
Sid is also the author of 𝘈𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭: 𝘈 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘰 and 𝘙𝘢𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴: 𝘚𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘵𝘦𝘱𝘴, 𝘓𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘺.
Sid is a public speaker, host of the What Sid Thinks podcast, certified nutritionist, Small Steps Coach, race director of Mendocino 50k, and podcast guest of YTP 52, launched in May of 2017.
We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.
In this episode, we discuss:
- the real reason we do anything
- prepare your mind for wisdom
- learning and acting at the same time
- be the best selfish person you can be
- excitement is not happiness
- mind first, body second
- oxygen advantage breathing
- listening to yourself vs talking to yourself
- living the example more important than what you say
- mental and physical fasting
- the return of Mendocino 50K
- he didn't get his own audiobook gig
Namaste- Jess
BJ and I are back for another installment of the OH Show. Thank you for sending in your questions, and we have already received more for next month. Keep them coming, and we'll keep showing up, open and honest.
In this episode, we discuss:
- should you build up in distance or just jump in?
- it's ok to bring the ego out to play as long as you stay in charge
- pratyahara as a way to nail taper
- is your gratitude practice baked in?
- welcome Daniel Reintjes to the YT coaching staff
- takeaways from Iron Cowboy's Conquer 101
- question if you are living a big enough life
- power of community
- give the mind no leniency
- anything can change in an instant
- maintaining authentic lifestyle
- how do you know are healed from injury
- turmeric tea or beer?
- give yourself a shot at the best life possible
Namaste- Jess
We believe it's important to remember that each of us is here on purpose for a purpose. We founded the YTP on sharing stories of purpose, and today's episode is more of the same.
Rudy Von Berg found his purpose at the young age of five when his dream was born to win Kona as a professional triathlete.
He was on the big island watching his dad, who remains one of the best in the world in his age group, compete at the Ironman World Championship.
After graduating college in 2017, Rudy went right into triathlon as his singular focus. Although he is not even racing the Ironman distance yet, his dream remains very much alive, and I'd say he's well on his way to attaining it.
At the age of 27, he's already gained serious street cred with several memorable performances, including ending Jesse Thomas's six-year win streak at Wildflower in 2018, a third-place finish at the 2019 Ironman 70.3 worlds in Nice France, as well as many podium finishes along the way and a spectacular 5th place at Challenge Daytona at the end of 2020.
He is currently ranked 8th in the world by the Professional Triathletes Organization, and indeed we are to see him in the number one spot in the future.
Although this conversation was the first time we met, we knew going into it that Rudy has a relentless fire to attain his goal and be the absolute best in whatever he pursues.
In this episode, we discuss:
- why IM 70.3 St. George set a fire like no other race
- does Rudy think he can beat Sam and Lionel?
- PTO is a game-changer
- showing us the real Rudy
- it's ok to have an awesome life
- going after your dreams
- visualizing but not too much
- feeling bad in training is more common than not
- Collins Cup will be a show to watch
- doing what you love and the way you love to do it
- going to the end of what you start
- how to train your mental toughness
Namaste- Jess
When we start paying more attention to what we are doing while we are doing it, we open to our power of choice. Whether in our sport, our food choices, relationships, or profession, being more mindful puts us ahead of our patterns and back in charge of our lives.
Today, our guest is Chef AJ, a fantastic example of someone who has overcome significant obstacles, shifted non-serving habits and is back in charge.
She has most definitely ridden the waves of life, highs, and lows, traumas, and joys all to find herself serving a great purpose in the realm of nutrient-dense, whole plant foods. She has helped thousands of people transform their relationship with food, and she has a rich story of transformation to share.
We hope you enjoy the show as much as we enjoyed recording it.
In this episode, we discuss:
- day in the life of an obese junk-food vegan
- the effects of not eating fiber for 40+ years
- the pleasure trap and the motivational triad
- obesity and processed food correlation
- an industry that creates disease then sells a solution that doesn't work
- what it takes for people to make change
- why you don't want to be like everyone else
- freedom from the obsession
- the power of upgrading choices
- dates as methadone
- excuse-a-tarians
- fasting for food addiction
- the danger of the "bliss point"
- parents creating sugar-addicts in their kids
- puppy cravings are real
Namaste-
Jess
We know you've heard it hundreds of times, but the fact remains, we believe that we all come to this earth on purpose with a purpose, and our responsibility is to find that purpose and live it. We hope you will get curious about yours and, through conversations like with our guest today, find guidance to dive deeper into the uniqueness of you.
In this episode, we sit down with Chris Hauth, former Olympic swimmer, Ironman age group champion, ultra runner, and now a coach for ultra-endurance athletes through his coaching service AIMP. Chris is one of the most respected endurance coaches today, and he is no stranger to mindset training. One thing we respect so much about Chris is his willingness to dive deep into the mental game.
We intend that you find the same as you listen in and experience the submergence of this conversation into the athlete mindset and the multilayered process of reaching the desired outcome of a goal.
In this episode, we discuss:
- allowing the portal to open
- our higher self knows the plan
- what happens when the ego gets exhausted
- flipping the energy and feeling more confidence
- importance of being around people who are not like-minded
- the deeper why
- clarity, intention, and purpose
- desired outcomes vs goals
- mental training toolbox
- the heavy path and the easy path
- finding success overall in life, not just one finish line
Namaste-
Jess
Ailsa Mac Donald found her purpose in endurance sports at a young age as she accompanied her Scottish mountaineer grandfather on many an adventure.
Today, at 40 years old, Ailsa is a Canadian Ultra Runner, Ironman Triathlete, and Saucony athlete who is no stranger to course records, beating out the men’s field to take an overall win at ultramarathons and qualifying for the Ironman World Championship.
She is very successful at what many may say is impossible, balancing a training schedule that spans long-distance trail running and long-distance triathlon. Ailsa is bridging the gap between these two communities and we had a blast diving into her story.
Thank you for tuning in, we hope you enjoy the show.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Key training leading into a 100-mile run
- Survivorfest Ultra
- Expeditions with her Gramp
- Chasing FKTs
- Ditching the watch to help your racing
- Learning how not to go out too hard
- Crossover between ultrarunning to Ironman
- Yoga benefits for athletes
- How to become a good downhiller on the trail
Namaste-
Jess
Thank you for joining us for another installment of the OH Show. Once a month, BJ and I come together to answer questions or not but always to dive deep and share openly and honestly our perspectives on life and sport.
A special shout out to our Patreon community, who makes a statement each month with their pledge to keep this and the Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. They are also collecting on some sweet perks like weekly yoga classes and monthly Awake Athlete meet-ups.
We love seeing this community grow as an arm of its mothership, and it warms our hearts to see friendships blossoming amongst Team Yogitriathlete, Awake Athlete, and YT as a whole. There were many years when it was BJ, me, and the crickets, but we knew you were coming. We kept faith in what our hearts were telling us, and we showed up each day for ourselves and the unrelenting force of YogiTriathlete. We are glad to be here, enjoy the show.
In this episode, we discuss:
- new weekly yoga class
- Team YogiTriathlete and our superfly gear
- What happens when you don’t let your yes be yes
- Air travel trifecta
- Costa Rica retreat - 2022 dates released
- IM 70.3 St. George
- the reward of feeding a small spark
- how to not allow the mind to catastrophize
- anything can change in an instant
- race day as delivery of experience
- qualifying for 70.3 worlds
Namaste-
Jess
Dr. Alan Goldhamer is the co-founder of True North Health Center, the world's largest facility specializing in medically supervised water-only fasting. Founded in 1984 and located in Santa Rosa, California, Truth North has seen well over 20,000 people complete upwards of 40-days of consuming only water.
The True North health experience is a fully supported adventure that includes modalities like meditation, yoga, psychotherapy, workshops, and education. True North is an alcohol-free, stimulant-free environment designed to allow guests to fast, detoxify, lose weight and make the lifestyle changes they desire in a health-promoting, therapeutic environment.
Dr. Goldhamer is co-author of a game-changing book that I read many years ago entitled The Pleasure Trap; Mastering the Hidden Force that Undermines Health & Happiness.
As you can imagine, anything with the word "mastering" in its title has our attention because, for YogiTriathlete, mastery is the only option. This episode is information-rich, we hope you enjoy it and take something away to uplevel your health today.
In this episode, we discuss:
- the pleasure trap
- why people are obese in industrialized countries
- what is poo’ing inside of you?
- living a good life and dying a good death
- why athletes age out of their sport
- healthy people need younger friends
- dehydration as a cause for injury
- strategic fasting for athletes
- the foundations of health
- radical life of eating well and exercising
- ancient roots of fasting
- what the research says about feeding windows
- hard workouts during a fast is a mistake
- the most powerful way to mobilize visceral fat
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Megan Searfoss is a business owner, seasoned triathlete, runner, coach, wife, and mom of three daughters who learned to run because she found it an inexpensive, time-saving, and mostly mind-saving exercise.
As described by one of our friends who live in Megan's hometown, "she is so remarkable, a ring leader of the local triathlon community. Positive, even-handed and supportive of all other businesses, nonprofits and individuals".
We know a bit about her background from our digging around, and we know that although her positivity may be innate, her life experience has not been without challenge.
Megan is the founder of Run Like Mother 5k, a national race series, and author of See Mom Run: Every Mother's Guide to Getting Fit and Running Her First 5K.
We're excited to be in the company and learn from this pillar of the community. Thank you for joining us; enjoy the show.
In this episode, we discuss:
- solving the world’s problems on long training rides
- accepting what you cannot control
- the diagnosis that drastically changed her life
- don’t squash your feelings
- runs are perfect for ugly cries
- racy ladies
- the birth story of Run Like A Mother
- trust your crazy ideas
- Megan’s craptacular life
- terrorists would not bomb if they were runners
- being all that and being who you want to be
- failing forward
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
For five years, this podcast has shined a light on people who are looking, finding, and living their purpose. Once per month for those five years, BJ and I have taken over the mics to share the awake and ready recipe for life. The introduction of the OHShow just a few months ago invited you all in a bit deeper as we all grow into higher states of mental and physical health.
Thank you for your questions and the generosity of your time to listen. We are on a mission to create a better world, and it starts with each of us turning inward in search of our excellence.
Racing is back, and we're excited to be heading off to Ironman 70.3 St. George this week. We have several YogiTriathlete athletes racing and looking forward to seeing many faces from this community. Coach BJ is racing, and I will be spectating all over the course.
In this episode, we discuss:
- YTP 5-year anniversary
- not staying safe is actually safe
- earning the tasty workouts
- the time we took on Trivial Pursuit
- swimming in the weeds
- when negativity ignites
- eating for pleasure vs purpose
- how fasting affected our training
- favorite snacks
- taking a selfie of your mental state
- Awake Athlete podcast season two is here
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Each week for five years, this podcast has shined a light on people who are looking, finding, and living their purpose. For some, it takes some years of sifting and sorting, while for others, it comes with one decision that shifts the trajectory of their lives.
Bottom line, we are all here on purpose; there are no mistakes and if you are feeling like you are still sifting and sorting, know that every moment is your purpose of finding your purpose, and you never know when it will show up.
Today's guest is Ellie Salthouse, undeniably one of the fastest triathletes in the profession right now. She is no doubt someone who is on purpose with what she came to this earth to do, and it all began at the age of 11.
One morning while munching on her cereal Ellie noticed an ad on the cereal box for the Weetabix triathlon. She had her mom sign her up, she completed the race, started training with a coach the following week, turned pro at 17, and now resides under the esteemed guidance of Siri Lindley, our beloved guest from episode 39.
Initially an ITU pro, Ellie turned to half distance triathlon in 2016 and finished her first season with four titles, multiple podium finishes, and a top 10 at the 70.3 world championship.
At 28 years old, she is a veteran in the sport of triathlon, and we are so excited to be in the company of such a fantastic athlete whose beautiful personality only makes her light shine brighter.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Aligning with your purpose
- Vying for a spot in Collins Cup
- Effects of increased race coverage on racing
- On being coached by Siri Lindley
- Learning from your experiences
- Priming each day
- Power of being grateful
- Techniques for race day nerves
- World champion fire burning within
- Having a mental toolbox
- Nutrition and cravings
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
We are excited to have Shoshana Chaim of PlantTrainers back on the show today. BJ and I shared with mic with Shoshana and her husband Adam in early 2019, and we went deep right off the bat. An organic dive into their story brought to the surface important and tender topics like PTSD and mental wellness. So if you have not listened to that episode, it’s 148 and linked up in the show notes.
It’s a compelling story that started with two seemingly healthy people that faced two devastating diagnoses that threatened to end Adam’s life before the age of forty. Doctors told them to cross their fingers, which for Shoshana meant, prepare for the worst.
Pregnant with their second child at the time and entirely overwhelmed by the unknown of their future, Shoshana experienced a day-to-day trauma that led to perhaps the greatest battle of her life; to regain her mental health. Shoshana is a public speaker, podcast host of the PlantTrainers podcast, health and wellness guru, and author with a brand new book we will learn today.
She is on a mission to heal people from the inside out and dedicates her time to spreading the messages of eating well, living well, and healing as individuals and families.
We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
- Life challenges are meant to happen
- Accepting the gift in challenging experiences
- Guided meditation vs silent meditation
- Living the demonstration
- Living with integrity
- The real meaning of the expression ‘Rule of Thumb’
- Calming your energy through mindfulness
- A Peaceful Goldfish - New book available
- Power of developing the tool to breath
- Allowing more silliness & playfulness in life
- Practicing power under control
- There is no magic pill
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Matt Dixon is a world-class triathlon coach with a background as an elite swimmer and exercise physiologist. Matt is a former professional triathlete who is all too familiar with the highs and lows of athleticism. I have heard him describe himself as the example of doing a professional career very poorly, a heavy admittance that he has since used to his advantage to learn and grow.
Matt has evolved into one of the most sought-after coaches in the world. He has seen great success in applying his methodology to guide athletes to the very top of triathlon. Matt is the founder of Purple Patch Fitness, an international community of coaches and athletes; he is the Purple Patch podcast host and author of The Well-Built Triathlete and Fast-Track Triathlete.
We are excited to share our conversation with Matt because although his focus may appear to be athletic potential, it is ultimately about reaching human potential, which is something we believe we are all meant to realize in this life.
Enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
- developing a coaching style that was against the grain
- fit and fatigued = no ROI
- the journey, not the goal, is what amplifies life
- pillars of performance, education, and community thoughts
- time-starved athlete
- proper training hours for the context of your life
- low expectations are not the same as no expectations
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Our guest is Verna Volker; she is a Hoka One One Global Ambassador, a runner, a mom, and a wife living now in Minnesota but born into and still very much a part of the Navajo Nation.
Verna is the founder of Native Women Running who’s mission is to be a community that features and encourages Native women runners on and off the reservation to gain more visibility in the running world. Verna began her running life in 2009, and although it was initially a means for weight loss, she found, what so many of us find, a journey within that drives us to expand, serve and live with deeper meaning.
Through Native Women Running, Verna is shining a bright light on the intense truths of being a native woman and giving voice to the voiceless. Since its inception, Native Women Running has evolved into a community of inspiration, motivation, and visibility. Verna’s hope is for native women to find belonging within the sisterhood that she has created.
We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
- celebrating 12 years of running
- growing up in Navajo Nation
- “The Long Walk”
- native women running
- Hoka One One and Project Carbon X2
- negative stereotypes of native women
- healing trauma through running
- missing and murdered indigenous women
- systemic racism found in running
- navigating haters
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Photo Credit: Hoka One One and Jayllyn Gough
We are excited and a bit petrified to introduce the OH Show, our monthly podcast. BJ and I are committed to being open and honest as we answer your questions, explore training topics and lifestyle of mindful endurance athletics. Thank you for sending in your questions, and please keep them coming.
We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
- the importance of being open and honest
- Costa Rica retreat
- changes implemented since our bloodwork confessional
- fasting for 24-hours
- five-day birthday cake hangover
- no hardlines to stay in flow
- breaking fast with kitchari and how we make it
- interrupt the process of excuse
- discerning mind-stuff from intuition
- persistence and openness to all things
- die to your past every day
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
In this episode, we share the mic with one of the most accomplished American triathletes in history. Tim DeBoom, USAT and Ironman Hall of Famer, is the last American to win an Ironman World Championship title, his back-to-back wins in 2001 and 2002 took us all to new heights of what may be possible. An athlete his entire life, Tim's professional career spanned from 1995 through 2012, from the age of 24 to his final season of racing at the age of 40.
f you are a regular listener, then you know Tim's wife Nicole, and if you follow Nicole, perhaps you received her newsletter in late January entitled "So there's this guy…"
Well, we did and were so excited to hear, as Nicole wrote, that Tim was emerging from his cocoon and putting himself out there into the world. As we read on, we learned that Tim is pulling back the curtain and sharing what helped him become the best in the world. From his two Ironman Triathlon World Championships to a happy, extremely fit 50-year old, Tim shares his tried and true tenets of what he calls A Dedicated Life.
We hope you enjoy the show!
In this episode, we discuss:
- a dedicated life
- compassion, moderation, humility
- seeing Kona through the eyes of his daughter Wilder
- shooting all his competitive bullets
- sound body, sound mind
- mano a mano exhibition race
- be-nighted
- strength every day
- seeing the perfect moments
- eliminate things in life that cause overthinking
- evolution of nutrition
- training the gut
- power of oolong tea
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
There are so many people in this world making powerful and positive impacts, and today we get to share the mic with one of those gorgeous beings.
Holly Skodis is a yogi who has studied the ancient science of yoga for the past two decades, a practice for living that typically begins on the mat but through repetitive practice has the power to transform the lives of its practitioners.
This is true for our story; as most of you know, YogiTriathlete was born during one of my quiet practices, and from what I know of Holly’s story, this type of intuitive directive rings true for her as well.
Holly is a yoga instructor, certified vegan lifestyle coach and educator, podcast host, and Yoga founder of Yoga is Vegan, a project focused on inspiring yogis to go vegan. This project started with a collection of articles from vegan yoga teachers and students sharing their perspectives on why Yoga is Vegan. Its latest evolution comes into form as a fundamental component of the upcoming Yoga Goes Vegan one-day virtual retreat on March 20th, which has been declared “meat out day” since 1976.
In this episode, we discuss:
- weekly 24-hour water fasting
- 16/8 intermittent fast
- utilizing the fast to be a better animal advocate
- the pure properties of a sattvic diet
- journey to yoga and eating vegan
- embracing ahimsa and letting go of dairy
- burning up generational cycles
- understanding the nuances of food
- Yoga Goes Vegan, a one-day virtual retreat on 3/20/21
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Laura Townsend is a mother of FIVE, a race director, and an ultra runner who is set to complete fifty ultras before the time she turns fifty years old. She is the creator of Survivorfest, a 24-hour running event that raises money for the Saffron Centre, a sexual assault support center in Alberta, Canada.
A survivor of sexual abuse herself, Laura no doubt living her purpose as she no longer carries the burden of her secrets but is successfully transmuting evil into goodness through sharing her story and being in service of others who have walked the same dark path.
We are honored that she is with us for this episode and hope you enjoy this meaningful and inspirational story of life.
In this episode, we discuss:
- choosing running over triathlon
- getting hooked in to Paula Findlay
- from hating running to finding a love for running
- it's all about layers
- frustrations and life-changing benefits of heart rate training
- 450 plus day run streak
- fifty ultras before the age of fifty
- survivorfest ultra marathon
- living off the front
- making peace with the past
- and she loves yoga!
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Hello Community! We love coming to you each month with this show and following the recording of this episode we received a brilliant contribution for what to call our monthly musings. The new name will be unveiled in our March episode, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy this open and honest conversation.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Awake Athlete podcast: season two
- intangibles and reflections on our training camp
- decision hack
- Yoga Goes Vegan - one day retreat March 20, 2021
- Awake Minds Yoga and Meditation Retreat - April 10-17, 2021
- Merry Christmas BJ!
- Inside Tracker - blood testing and results
- inner ages revealed
- the glug!
- results are just a snapshot in time
- change that is the same
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
We get super jazzed about sharing meaningful conversations with people looking, finding, and living their purpose, and this episode is no different.
Today we have Renee Kiley on the show, a once pack-a-day smoker who worked and partied hearty for many years before transforming her life and becoming a professional triathlete in less than 3.5 years.
Renee was an active child; she honed in on basketball and played on the state and national level. Dedication and discipline were not her weaknesses, but she channeled those strengths towards a workaholic life that left her fitness in the dust for over a decade.
Her health was steadily declining until one day in 2013 when she spectated at the Noosa Triathlon, and a fire ignited that would not extinguish.
We love this story and hope you enjoy a listen!
In this episode, we discuss:
- smoothie bowls make everything right again
- the detriment of having to be in control
- escalation of an unhealthy lifestyle
- the "gift" of an addictive personality
- waking up feeling like an ashtray
- the life-changing experience at the Noosa triathlon
- saying "yes" to find your passion
- the inspiration for turning professional
- pushing yourself to come in last
- its harder when you don't expect it to be hard
- motivation is a consequence of life being good
- ten-star moments in life
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
We have an addiction in this world to label everything and everyone; we hold opinions about where people are vs. where we think they should be. We judge people for their actions and behaviors, and all the while, we ignore that life itself is a spiritual path that loves us unconditionally. We are all heading in the same direction.
For some, the path comes with extreme intensity while others seem to cruise the waves of life from a seat of comfort but remember, until we walk in another's shoes, we are only seeing what makes sense to us through the filter of our mind.
Today we graced with the presence of a beautiful man with a compassionate heart who for many years lived a life of crime and violence through a massively constricted heart. Anthony Bucci's actions caught up with him in his 30s when we received a 19-year sentence in federal prison.
While in solitary confinement, a place that he was no stranger to during his time in prison, he experienced a spiritual awakening, and from that moment on, he steered his focus towards a new life. The one he lives today. It is a life of kindness, vulnerability, service, and non-harm. He dedicates himself to assisting others and raising awareness of the natural alignment of eating a vegan diet.
We have been eagerly awaiting the launch of this conversation, and we are so grateful to be connected with meaningful stories such as Anthony's story.
In this episode, we discuss:
- a rock bottom spiritual awakening
- being a ruthless thug
- having everything on the outside and being empty on the inside
- breaking generational cycles
- thrust into society after 15.5 years in prison
- meditation as a means to heal anxiety
- surfacing from the "shoe" as a vulnerable man
- a heart of black to a heart of ruby red
- the body is not a tomb
- making amends after a lifetime of wrongdoing
- always chasing your dreams
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Rip Esselstyn has lived a plant-strong life since the 1980s and spent a decade as a top-level professional triathlete. He helped change, if not save his mates' lives at the now-famous Engine 2 firehouse in Austin, Texas, by introducing a plant-based challenge and then writing the national best-selling book, "The Engine 2 Diet". The first of several books Rip would go on to write.
Prominently featured in the documentary "Forks Over Knives", the Engine 2 story profoundly affected the transition of many to a plant-based diet. Rip is an executive producer on the myth-shattering documentary Game Changers; he is the PlantStrong podcast host, the PLANTSTRONG food line creator; he's a husband, dad, and significant inspiration for living a heart-attack proof life.
He's a legend in the plant-based world, and we're so honored to share this conversation with the YT community.
In this episode, we discuss:
- why a plant-strong life checks all the boxes
- our genetic makeup is not necessarily our destiny
- fiber and the microbiome connection
- salt, sugar, fat addiction
- why people can't get rid of their dairy crack
- pulling on the thread of oil
- triumph of marketing over science
- label reading ninja warriors
- the real trouble of an underperforming penis
- Rip's rubber leg
- Galileo Moments
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Skye Moench left her full-time job to follow a belief that she could be good at triathlon. It has proven to be one of her best decisions yet.
Her first year as a professional was 2016, but it wasn't until 2018 that she started to feel that she was beginning to tap into her potential. Over the past few years, she gained much familiarity around the podium and put her name on the map in lights when she took the win in Frankfurt and was named the 2019 European Ironman Champion. She followed up that memorable day with a win at Boulder 70.3 some five weeks later. 2019 was no doubt a dazzling year for Skye, and it set her up to land a 2020 PTO ranking of 10th in the world amongst her peers.
Her resume is impressive, but for us, it was her energy that captured our attention. We followed her race at the Bear Lake Brawl last year and listened to her share her story with Bob Babbitt just days before claiming a 6th place finish at Challenge Daytona, which was arguably the most competitive field we've ever seen in the sport.
We hope you enjoy this episode and give Skye a follow if you are not already; her energy is contagious.
In this episode, we discuss:
- using willpower to get out of a funk
- racing the Oscars of triathlon
- living the best you can with what you have
- rough conditions at Bear Lake Brawl
- how PTO has impacted professional triathlon
- remembering your "why" in the face of rejection
- the need for wake-up calls in life
- training based on "feel"
- the value of training in community
- the importance of nutrition for attaining big goals
- the power of being well-fueled and in a good mental state
- being your own biggest cheerleader
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
We are kicking the year off with some tasty topics! 2021 brings massive opportunity to make changes that we've desired for a long time, although a light will be shined on our weaknesses in the process. We say, keep going! Never give up on your most remarkable expression in this life. You matter; we believe in you and cannot wait to see what manifests from here.
Thank you for tuning in; we hope you love this show as much as we loved letting it move through us.
In this episode, we discuss:
- virtual training camp
- injury update from Jess
- allow things to be as they are to allow for more joy, smiles, and happy feet
- a good enough life is like weak coffee
- late-season racing = consistency now
- earning the tasty workouts
- crack for athletes
- sifting and sorting of what is real and what is not
- everything goes through the filter of our mind
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
The YogiTriathlete podcast exists to shine the light on people looking, finding, and living their purpose. Peeps taking risks, going big, doing things that they never thought possible, and learning about themselves through the process. We love to dive in, we love to laugh, and we love to find meaning between the words.
We are excited to have two amazing ladies with us today who embarked on an epic adventure, believed in themselves, experienced the feels, and went for it. Kara Wilson and Jen McMahon are the stars of the documentary Road To 50 Miles, which chronicles the journey as they train for and run their first 50-mile ultramarathon.
We hope you enjoy the show as much as we enjoyed recording it with Jen and Kara.
In this episode, we discuss:
- cross-training with the elderly
- playing the long game
- professional support crew
- insider stories that did not make the movie
- how to pack when the start line is underwater
- biggest obstacles to overcome
- navigating the naysayers
- removing the word "can't" from your vocabulary
We recognize our Patreon community for their support. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
It's time to dive under the surface with YT coaches BJ and Liz. These accomplished athletes share their expanse of experience with our community today, and there is much gold in their answers. They had no preview of the questions, so everything you hear comes from their awareness in the present moment.
In this episode, we discuss:
- how a small portion of the YT community is making a positive impact on our global mission
- doing the scary things to feel joy
- what is a coach's job?
- how awful it feels to let go and the confidence that results
- the important skill of self-regulation
- responding to athletes when coaches are triggered
- learning to fall with ease
- going in to find out what is right for you
- what YT looks for when signing on an athlete
- future of Team YogiTriathlete
We recognize our Patreon community for the support they are lending to YogiTriathlete. They are the sole reason why this podcast is commercial-free. If the YT podcasts help you live a better version of yourself and allow you to flow through life with a bit more ease, then make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We are a small business with a massive global mission. We appreciate your support.
Namaste-
Jess
Today we are grateful to welcome back to the show one of our favorite power couples, Eric Lagerstrom and Paula Findlay. We hosted these guys individually on the YTP back in 2017 and 2018, and they joined us for a mini-podcast in January of this year, which is available on our youtube channel.
When we interviewed Eric in 2017, he told us that his mission was to leave the triathlon sport better than he found it. Unbeknownst to Eric at the time, he had already planted the seeds for That Triathlon Life. Their TTL weekly videos have been a light for so many Sunday mornings this year, and no surprise to us, Eric continues to raise the bar for what so many triathletes are just now catching onto, that triathlon life is more than swim, bike, and run. They also welcomed a beautiful 4-legged baby boy into their lives this year. As most of us recently witnessed, they are closing off 2020 on a celebratory note with Paula’s historic performance at Challenge Daytona.
In this episode, we discuss:
- the initial intent for That Triathlon Life
- becoming open to receiving from others
- being nobodies in Portland and superstars in Tucson
- the turnover cycle of getting better
- Challenge Daytona
- biggest gifts of 2020
- shoutouts of gratitude
- Flynn!
Thank you to our growing our Patreon community. You are single-handedly keeping the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying this commercial-free format, consider making a monthly pledge to support the uninterrupted stream.
Namaste-
Jess
And we're back this month with the ever enlightening topics of death and injury. As you listen, we hope that you see how necessary it was to record this episode. We are so grateful for you all - thank you for your constant words of encouragement to keep going.
Just for the record, we have no plans of taking our foot off the gas!
In this episode, we discuss:
- the perfect series of events that followed the recording of November's Ask YT
- cranking up the dial on love
- time is death
- what happened when Jess fought for her limitations
- the true meaning of LOL?
- evolution of Jess's relationship with injury
We give a big shout-out to our growing our Patreon community, helping us keep the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying the commercial-free format, consider making a monthly pledge to support your uninterrupted stream.
Namaste-
Jess
For as long as we have known Craig Howie, we have known him to take risks and follow his heart. He is someone who is living his purpose, which has come with incredible challenge and risk. In this episode, we share his story.
Craig came into our lives during our early days in Boulder, Colorado, where he pursued his triathlon dreams through racing and coaching. Craig became our first triathlon coach, one of my first massage therapy clients, and a lifelong friend who was always there to support our goals and visions of the future. Craig went on to become a professional triathlete and ultra runner while keeping his love for music alive. He and his wife Jen were in a band for many years.
Their most recent reality creation is their guitar company, Howie Guitars, where Craig hand makes every guitar—having zero ideas of starting a guitar company or making a guitar did not stop him. Craig's ventures are always fueled by what he calls the Beginner's Brain, and coupled with his wife's philosophy to "fail fast," Craig has allowed himself space to go for it in life.
In this episode, we discuss:
- our roots in triathlon
- VO2 workouts on O2 at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine
- six-year run streak
- feeling lost in life and hitting a low point
- beginners brain
- the journey from professional triathlete to ultrarunner to guitar creator
- the Golden Ratio
- let excitement be your guide
- the best port-a-john story ever
We give a big shout-out to our growing our Patreon community, helping us keep the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying the commercial-free format, consider making a monthly pledge to support your uninterrupted stream.
Namaste-
Jess
Our guest today is Sunny Lawrence, and as her name suggests, she is a ray of light for us all. She is real about her struggles and strengths and is no stranger to trying times. Sunny is the wife of James Lawrence, who we had on the show in episode 41.
In case you’ve been living under a rock, I’m referring to IronCowboy, who in 2015 rocked the world by completing 50 Ironmans in 50 states in 50 days. BJ and I were living in Rhode Island at the time; on the day that the Cowboy and crew arrived, we got to be a part of their Lil'Rhody adventure. I remember seeing Sunny that day and just being in awe at her level of support for her husband’s dreams and wondering if I could be as strong as her.
We are grateful to have her on the show today to get to know her better and understand how she manages to keep shining her light in the world.
In this episode, we discuss:
- your greatest strength is also your greatest weakness
- guiding children instead of telling them what to do
- living off $1000/month as a family of seven
- dumping our inner garbage to stay optimistic
- feeling defeated vs. being defeated
- explanations vs. excuses
- soaking in the swamp of victimhood
- belief repatterning
- knowledge is worthless without execution
We give a big shout-out to our growing our Patreon community, helping us keep the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying the commercial-free format, consider making a monthly pledge to support your uninterrupted stream.
Namaste-
Jess
Dr. Dave and Dr. Lindsay Paczkowski, power couple, strength gurus, and Inside Out Strength and Performance owners, are with us for this episode. One of the many things we love about them is that they hold a one-pointed focus on getting to the source of pain and guiding their patients towards improved performance.
Dave and Lindsey are committed to unearthing the truth behind pain symptoms and working with their athletes to guide them out of surviving and into thriving. Their methodology puts a great onus on the athlete to show up for their healing work because, as we all know, I mean I hope we know by now, that no-one can change us for us. We have to show up and do the work.
In this episode, we discuss:
- filling the gap between pain and performance
- pelvic floor strength and rehabilitation for men and women
- anatomy and importance of breath
- entertaining possibility by asking, "why not me?"
- looking ahead while remaining present
- losing hope and staying the course anyway
- running a business as a married couple
- leaving the ego behind and surrendering to outcomes
- it's not always about stopping our sport; sometimes it's just a tweak
We give a big shout-out to our growing our Patreon community, helping us keep the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying the commercial-free format, consider making a monthly pledge to support your uninterrupted stream.
Namaste-
Jess
Wow! We span the topics in this podcast, perhaps more expansive than ever before. Thank you for sending us your questions and consistently asking us to go deep. In this episode, we explore topics of training including consistency and high-altitude ultras, we celebrate BJ's new hoodie, and we share raw contemplations on death.
In this episode, we discuss:
- quality over quantity
- a little bit of training vs. skipping workouts
- the boomerang effect of life
- trapped in trying
- the catalysts for Jess and BJ to start meditating
- finish line energy
- training for a high-altitude race from sea level
- contemplations on death
- the subtly that holds the mysteries of the universe
- the purpose of suffering on this earth
We give a big shout-out to our growing our Patreon community, helping us keep the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying the commercial-free format, consider making a monthly pledge to support your uninterrupted stream.
Namaste-
Jess
This past August, Craig Lewin did what many said he couldn't and shouldn't do, but he did it anyway. Following his heart and finding a way, Craig completed a successful crossing of the English Channel, making him one of a small pod of marathon swimmers to complete the coveted Triple Crown. International traveling to fulfill a goal during a pandemic left him with a narrowed circle of support, and some bridges burned. Craig let nothing stand in his way, and today we dive into his story.
It's an epic conversation that reveals Craig as being one of those coaches that walks the walk. We enjoyed recording this interview and hope you guys love it too!
In this episode, we discuss:
- going from the black line to the open water
- night swimming for triathletes
- sleeping with ice packs
- developing confidence to have your own experience
- shutting off from fear
- find a way; our resistance is where our work is
- don't fight the ocean because you're never going to win
- evolution of a great coach
- flow state of mind
- the fear of dying alone in his Air Bnb in England
- not swimming for two weeks leading up to his channel crossing
We give a big shout-out to our growing our Patreon community, helping us keep the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying the commercial-free format, consider making a monthly pledge to support your uninterrupted stream.
Namaste-
Jess
After breaking her ankles ten months apart in 2016, Christine Warren committed herself to a new life of fitness. Her journey began at Orange Theory and, as it ensued, guided her to find a love for triathlon. Her first tri was in September 2017, and she has never looked back.
We recently met Christine via Instagram following her Ironman 70.3 Arizona, and we loved her energy right away. We followed our heart, invited her to be on the show, and today we release yet another meaningful conversation with the endurance sports world. We hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it.
In this episode, we discuss:
- when something devastating becomes your most wondrous gift
- trusting more in life
- how being a musician prepared her for triathlon
- doing the work regardless of the outcome
- little wins along the way as a means of having a successful race
- mental training as its own discipline to practice
- Ironman COVID protocols in Arizona
- what discovery moved her to a plant-based diet
- athletes' widespread under-fueling flaw
We give a big shout-out to our growing our Patreon community, helping us keep the YTP and Awake Athlete podcasts commercial-free. If you are enjoying the commercial-free format, then consider making a monthly pledge to support your uninterrupted stream.
Namaste-
Jess
Keira Henninger is someone who found what she loves and continues to do more of it. Keira is a long, like long, time ultra trail runner with an impressive resume and race results dating back to the early 2000s on ultra-signup.
She has run the distances, taken the wins, DNF'd, DNS'd, and after years of racing on the elite level, learned to become a more balanced athlete via a 3-year journey to reclaim her mind and body. Keira is the creator of Keira Henninger Trail Races and the Dirt Divas and Dudes Trail team.
She directs some of the most iconic west coast races, she loves to cook and be outside as much as possible, but our favorite thing about our new friend is her belief that the universe is ultimately good.
In this episode, we discuss:
growing up on the trails earthing her ultimate demise runaway train mentality when nothing is good enough feeling so bad and focusing so much on it tomorrow is only going to bring wonderful things I know, that I know, that I know.
Thank you to everyone supporting the show, sharing the show, and putting the life-transformative wisdom shared on the show into action in the world.
Namaste-
Jess
We back with our monthly show and diving deep. A shout-out to our friend Helen for her fantastic question with which we wrap up this episode. We had a blast recording it; we hope you enjoy it too!
In this episode, we discuss:
- why we have dropped the "S"
- training like an awake athlete
- hydration as a mindfulness practice
- the gift of a bored mind
- intellect is your guru
- the best workout to do when you are feeling overwhelmed
Thank you to everyone supporting the show, sharing the show, and putting the life-transformative wisdom shared on the show into action in the world.
Namaste-
Jess
Scott Reutter grew up as a swimmer and basketball player in Tucson, AZ, who went on to college at the University of Arizona. He's completed multiple Ironman and half Ironman distance triathlons and, as many endurance athletes do, discovered the ultra-endurance world as a means to push the boundaries even more. He placed 6th overall at the 2019 Ultra520k in Canada, claiming the 5th fastest swim in the event's history.
Scott turned vegan in January 2014 and has uncovered a purpose in animal rights and is active with the organization Anonymous for the Voiceless. He's been living sober since September 1st, 2019, and his driving passion is to make this world a better place for animals and assist those suffering from alcohol addiction to reach a life of sobriety.
In this episode, we discuss:
- training for Ironman while his drinking was out of control
- his last blackout night
- the injury that crushed his dream
- calling himself an alcoholic for the first time
- focusing on our similarities, not our differences
- figuring out how to be vegan as an endurance athlete
- the supply and demand for violence
- his why for long endurance events
Thank you to everyone that is supporting the show, sharing the show, and putting the life-transformative wisdom shared on the show into action in the world.
Namaste-
Jess
Rodrigo "Troy" GC is a professional triathlete and coach based in Puebla, Mexico. He’s been with us for episodes 63, 64, 110, and today, number 231. Troy is a risk-taker, and he shows us all that when we take our dreams to the edge, the universe will conspire to support us, time and again. Our first interview with Troy back in 2017 revealed his positive mindset and compassionate character that scored him a favorite within the YT community.
We are excited to be catching up with Troy on how he is living his dreams, supporting his athletes, and defining what it means relentless.
In this episode, we discuss:
- learning how to be a professional triathlete 24/7
- how the mental side works for everything, not just athletics
- trust as a fundamental element of training and relationships
- injury and learning how to listen
- coach and athlete relationship - communication is key!
- meditation
- Troy's new YouTube channel [ SUBSCRIBE ]
- why he transitioned to a plant-based diet
- what it means to be relentless
Check out the YogiTriathlete community on Patreon, where our supporters drive the YT mission forward. We are here to wake up and shake up the world of endurance sports by bringing you meaningful conversations of the YTP and the wiz bombs of our short-form sister, Awake Athlete. These podcasts are alive and commercial-free because of our patrons, allowing us to focus on pumping out more life-transformative content.
Thank you to everyone that has supported the show; many of you have been with us from the beginning. We are grateful to you all. Enjoy this week's episode with Rodrigo "Troy" GC!
Namaste-
Jess
Professional triathlete Danielle Dingman is joining us today to smackdown her win at the PTO supported Bear Lake Brawl in Idaho just a few weeks ago. It was first the triathlon in the states with a professional field since before the pandemic. With only a few weeks' notice, pros from all over packed their bags and headed to Idaho's southeast corner to throw down old school style. With a stacked field, brutal conditions, and YTP guest, Talbot Cox getting up close with live coverage, it was an epic re-entry into racing.
In this episode, we discuss:
- 2020 training season and what Danielle's coach had to say about her progress this year
- the PTO and why they are essential to the success of professional triathlon
- race morning routine and nutrition
- race visualization practice
- wanting it more and knowing it
- ignoring your purpose rather than just living it
Check out the YogiTriathlete community on Patreon, where our supporters drive the YT mission forward. We are here to wake up and shake up the world of endurance sports by bringing you meaningful conversations of the YTP and the wiz bombs of our short-form sister, Awake Athlete. These podcasts are alive and commercial-free because of our patrons, and that lets us focus on pumping out more life-transformative content.
Thank you to everyone that has supported the show; many of you have been with us from the beginning. We are grateful to you all. Enjoy this week's show.
Namaste- Jess
Coach BJ and I are back this month to answer questions from the YT community. We recorded this episode about 48-hours out from the launch of the Awake Athlete podcast and we dedicate a bit of time in the beginning to discuss the birth of this new arm of YogiTriathlete and the online community that serves as a support for listeners between seasons. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed recording. Thank you for your participation and support as we come together as a community to create a better world.
In this installment, we discuss:
- living inwardly as we live outwardly
- the great distress caused by time
- the endpoint of detachment and why we humans need to learn it
- how to let go of sentimental items
- we are never going to escape feeling intense things but we can get good at it
- not waiting for life to suck in order to change
- the "feeling" as the creation
- consistence, resistance, and persistence
- releasing ourselves from the push-pull struggle
- how to take what you learn in meditation to your training
Please check out the YogiTriathlete community on Patreon where our supporters are assisting us in keeping the YTP commercial-free and gaining access to exclusive content like monthly Awake Athlete meet-ups, yoga classes, YT gear, and monthly calls with Beej and Jess. YogiTriathlete is more than a podcast, more than physical and mental training; it is a powerful way of living and connecting with like-minded warriors who are here to make a difference. We are the ones we've been waiting for, so let's get after it!
Namaste- Jess
In December 2003, Nicole DeBoom, a professional triathlete, caught a glimpse of herself in a storefront window while on a training run in Lyons, Colorado. At that moment, she felt her motivation sizzle into a burning desire to feel more empowered, feel more body positivity, and feel more like her beautiful feminine, fierce self in everything she did. She wanted it all, performance, comfort, and cute-factor, and it was clear from what she saw in her reflection that day that she didn’t have it yet, but knew that she was on to something epic.
Nicole created the world’s first performance running skirt; she opened a space for women worldwide to come together and support one another through the Skirt Sports apparel brand. Over the last 15 years, Nicole and her skirt army successfully curated a new category of performance wear for women. They turned a single style into a fully merchandised, multi-category brand.
Today, we dive into all the feels around the letting go of Skirt Sports and everything that needed to happen for things to fall perfectly into place.
In this episode, we discuss:
- the moment she realized why she is here
- walking away vs quitting
- the awkward the had to happen
- healing a deep wound, and the perfection of timing
- challenges with alcohol from the first sip, drinking to the edge, and eventually quitting altogether
- getting rid of the shame around the things that we know are not good for us
- athlete mindset in business - when it serves us and when it doesn't
- the support that will fuel her for the rest of her life
Thank you so much for tuning in. Please check out our newest launch of the Awake Athlete podcast and the BONUS episodes that just dropped last week. If you are liking the shows and finding they help ease life's navigation, please leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste- Jess
Sabrina Houston, marathon swimmer and Ironman race director, is back with her husband and crew chief Matt to smackdown the 20 Bridges open water swim around Manhattan. This latest feat is the second stop on the way to finishing the Triple Crown of open water swimming before she turns thirty years old. We first heard about Sabrina's life long love for swimming during podcast 170 just over a year ago after her Catalina Channel Crossing, and if you haven't listened to that episode, I highly suggest you check it out.
In this episode, we discuss:
- training for marathon swimming when you can't swim
- doughnut Thursday and honing in nutrition
- preparing within an 8-week window that has no room for error
- swimming scared the entire time
- the transition from sprint swimmer to marathon swimmer
- the swim of a lifetime
Thank you so much for tuning in. Please check out our newest launch of the Awake Athlete podcast and the BONUS episodes that just dropped last night! If you are liking the shows and finding they help ease life's navigation, please leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste- Jess
Sue Reynolds embarked on her life transformative journey in 2010 when she pushed her breakfast away and said, "no more." At 335 pounds, Sue was morbidly obese and unable to tie her shoes, but she was ready for change on that day. She started small with a walk to her neighbor's mailbox, and although it felt like a marathon to Sue, she got up the next day and walked again.
In four short years, Sue turned herself into a world-class triathlete, and in 2017 she placed 6th at the Sprint World Championship. Sue is the author of The Athlete Inside: The Transforming Power of Hope, Tenacity, and Faith, and in this episode, she shares her inspiring story with us all.
In this episode we discuss:
- pleasing other people does not equal change
- the diet that works is not a diet
- discovering the competitive beast within
- when "the way" doesn't work, find another way
- the price of choice
- believe that we can get to a joyful place
Thank you so much for tuning in. Please check out our newest launch of the Awake Athlete podcast. If you are liking the shows and finding they are helpful in easing the navigation of life then please leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste- Jess
Mark Allen is a triathlon legend and someone who has been committed to the deep work of mental training for decades. Mark is a 6x Ironman World Champion and Olympic Distance World Champion. He holds the longest winning streak in the history of triathlon and was named the Greatest Endurance Athlete of All Time by ESPN. He is a member of the Ironman Hall of Fame, USAT Hall of Fame, ITU Hall of Fame and if there was a mental training Hall of Fame, most certainly he would be there too.
We are so grateful to have this amazing champion and coach with us. In this episode we discuss:
- how Mark finds joy these days
- walking the marathon of the Ironman World Championship when he was trying to win the race
- the value of doing nothing
- shamanism
- MAF method of training
- the impossibility factors of Mark’s final Ironman
- surrender as a key factor to having a great race
- how to quiet one’s mind
Thank you so much for tuning in. Please check out our newest launch of the Awake Athlete podcast. If you are liking the shows and finding the they are helpful to easing the navigation of life then please leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste- Jess
From her recently confirmed Guinness Book World Record to her wellness program for veterans and her ever-evolving role as a performer, Erin is for sure sharing her gifts in this world. As part of the performance duo, ClicKlickBoom Erin is on a mission to encourage everyone to always believe in yourself and never give up on doing what you love, even if your life goes in a different direction. She has experienced, endured, and risen above massive trauma to find that she is still alive and in charge of her happiness each day.
In this episode, we discuss:
- navigating life from the studs
- living with level 10 pain all the time
- matching our internal and external life
- the risks that allowed her to heal
- changing the structure of health and wellness education in the VA
- the world record that changed her life
- feeling like hot garbage and choosing happiness
- tap that
If you love the pod then we'd love you to leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste - Jess
We're back with our monthly installment of Ask the YTs.
BJ and I rap about some recent events in our lives and how we're using those as growing experiences. We get better every day at playing this game of life and are open to sharing what we learn along the way. We hope you enjoy the show.
In this episode, we discuss:
- pain as a purifier
- staying in your lane
- the mind wants to be lazy
- BJ's recent slice and dice
- not stealing an experience from another
- more allowing, less controlling
If you love the pod then we'd love you to leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste - Jess
This week we catch up with professional triathlete Ben Kanute.
We first interviewed Ben for episode 43 back in November of 2016. We talked about Ben's roots in triathlon, the influence of one of his earliest coaches, and a detailed account of Ben's road to the Rio Olympics. At that time, he has just made the switch to his Coach Jim Vance. I highly recommend going back to have a listen to both of those podcasts; great information for life and sport.
In this episode, we dive in with Ben to find out what's been going on with this US Olympian and 3x National Champion since we last spoke. BJ and I are excited to share our conversation today, thank you so much for tuning in.
In this episode, we discuss:
- why a calm mind is a fast mind
- different states of flow
- energy management
- how yoga has informed his performance in triathlon
- honing his fatherhood skills
- the most powerful type of goals
- Ben and Courtney's languages of love
Speaking of love, if you're loving the pod, we'd love you to leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste - Jess
"We can hold our breath for six months or we can learn how to breathe" - davidji
In this episode, we are joined by davidji, globally recognized mind-body health & wellness expert, mindful performance trainer, meditation teacher & author who found his way to a life of spirituality via wall street. He has early roots as COO of the world-renowned Chopra Center and spent a decade traveling the world with Deepak Chopra and David Simon sharing the teachings of meditation and spirituality. He went on to become the lead educator and eventually the first-ever dean of the center.
davidji has educated millions of people worldwide to open their hearts, realize their power, and live the life they dream. He has an extensive free library on his website that he’s been regularly contributing to for many years. See show notes below to connect with davidji and check out the books he talked about during the episode.
This conversation is packed with relatable wisdom that is immediately applicable to life. We hope you take loads away, share it with your communities, and come back for a repeat listens.
In this episode we discuss:
the man in a cardboard box living with the parking brake on The Bhagavad Gita coming out of incubation Garmin and the Buddha glimpsing the soul
Thank you for tuning in. If you're loving the pod then we'd love you for you to leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste - Jess
A few months ago we put out a call to the YT community. We asked you guys who you wanted to hear on the podcast. Mary Knott came back as a repeated suggestion and today we are smacking down her 171.4-mile thru-hike of the Tahoe Rim Trail.
This five-peat guest is no stranger to traversing the unknown and I know we have all benefited from her experience and wisdom. Today she opens up to offer us a beautiful perspective on life and the lessons she learned along her trek.
In this episode we discuss:
her path to the TRT trailhead nutrition and bear canisters GEAR murder rocks and vulnerability swimming in the lake with leeches the magnificent beauty and power of the TRT mantras and more...
Thank you for tuning in. If you're loving the pod then we'd love you for you to leave a review on Apple Podcast.
Namaste - Jess
Thanks for tuning into our July installment of Ask the YTs today Beej and I get after it based on your generous questions. Covering all the topics that help us create the best versions of ourselves including:
Nutrition: - a full-spectrum approach to balancing the microbiome - adopting a mindset of privilege when preparing food - mono eating - go-to pre-workout meals and one bowl concoctions - custom drink mixes vs pre-formulated
Training and Racing: - on finding your shoe - hoarding shoes - solo adventures vs racing - developing the feeling of an athlete
There is no wrong time to send us your inquiries, we're already compiling for next month. Thanks for tuning in, sharing the show and assisting us in creating a better world.
Namaste - Jess
Ian Myers is back on the show this week with an up-leveled version of himself. In the spring of 2018, we sat down with Ian to share his epic transformation story, which began with living his first thirty years as vegetable-free. He was knocking on the door of lifestyle disease until he woke up to a strong desire for change. He left his job, his friends, and bad habits behind to restart his life in Colorado. This first chapter of his journey led to the birth of Ian Myers Wellness, and today we catch up to find him diving deeper to reach higher levels of health.
Ian has been spending much of his time getting out of his headspace and into his heart space. He views himself and others in more expansive ways by being curious and brave to converse in a way that gets under the surface chatter. We catch up with Ian off the heels of an epic road trip, and he shares openly about the tenderness that he is experiencing as a result of shining a light on his shadow self and practicing the art of allowing.
In all that is Ian Myers fashion, this conversation is deeply touching and heartfelt. We are grateful to have Ian in the YT community and to be able to share this episode with you all today. If you are local to San Diego or surrounding areas, make sure to join Ian for morning meditation at Moonlight Beach, we guarantee you won't regret spending time in his presence.
Namaste - Jess
Matt Russell is an American professional triathlete and veteran of the sport. He is dad, a husband, a man with strong faith, an Ironman Foundation ambassador, and a voice for the ALS community on account of very personal experience of losing him mom at a young age to the disease. Matt is a multi-time Ironman and 70.3 champion and is no stranger to racing the best of the best on the big island of Hawaii every October at the Ironman World Championship.
Anyone queued into the triathlon world hears athlete after athlete talk about the power and the energy of the big island; Matt is also no stranger to this. His son Makaio was conceived on the island in 2016, and just one year later, while racing on the world's stage of triathlon, Matt almost lost his own.
As he reeled down the road at 35 miles per hour on the backside of the bike leg, Matt had no idea that he would be riding the fragile line between life and death in an instant. As he approached an intersection, a car pulled out in front of him, and there was no time to stop. At that moment, the impact between him and the vehicle was imminent. He doesn't remember much about the accident, but what happened that day changed his life forever.
His gratitude for life is acute and he makes a practice out of doing things that make him feel alive. Matt realizes that although triathlon fills his heart, he knows there is more to life than sport. Matt considers himself an "Ambassador for Life" and hopes that by sharing his story far and wide he will inspire others to be their best.
In this episode, we discuss the accident and how life is different now. He shares his training philosophies as a triathlon coach and as a self-coached athlete. He admits that even after many years of competing he still learns something from every race. He emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset and the bond between happiness and good relationships.
We feel blessed to share this heart-felt conversation with the YogiTriathlete community, and we are grateful that Matt's work in the world is not over; there's more in store for him, and we cannot wait to see what unfolds from here.
We hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for your support. We wouldn't do this with you!
Namaste - Jess
Our guest today is Tara Calihman. She is a writer, stand-up comedian, mother to my godson, and woman who is always living big. In 2016 Tara spearheaded a family move from Boulder, Colorado to Greystones, Ireland. With her husband Adam and young son Eli by her side, Tara led the way into a new life in a new country where they knew no one and had just 90-days for Tara to find a job.
The clock ticked, but Tara was not ready to compromise. She was firm on her requirements, knew Tech was on the rise in the Dublin area, and as a student of meditation, she also knew her power to manifest. In this episode, we dive into the massive challenges that she met along the way and how she remained steadfast.
As long as I have known Tara, I have known her as someone who is not too scared to see her limitations, take the roof of those limitations, and pursue her dreams. She is always going after something that is not in her comfort zone. She is one of our dearest friends, and we are so grateful to be sharing her with the YT community.
If you enjoy this episode, please share it with a friend, leave us a review on Apple Podcast, and subscribe for your weekly dose of inspiration.
Namaste - Jess
Training and racing to our highest potential are so much more than moving the body. It's our entire lifestyle as athletes and how we move through the world that is the all-encompassing performance influencer. It's our happiness factor, our stress levels, our ability to harmonize with the negative voice in our head, and our willingness to grow even when we receive evidence to the contrary that keeps us moving past our limits.
David Roche, coveted running coach, is our guest today, and he is passionate about the happiness factor of life and guiding athletes to seeing all experiences from a loving perspective. Founder of Some Work All Play (SWAP) coaching, David and his wife Meghan coach some of the biggest names in trail running today.
David holds a commitment to unconditional love and support coupled with a process-oriented, long-term methodology for athletic fulfillment while throwing in a few puppies and unicorns along the way for safe measure. Surrounding his athletes in love has not made them soft. David's runners have taken wins at some of the biggest trail races, including Western States 100-mile Endurance Run and the infamous Hardrock 100.
David and Meghan co-authored, "The Happy Runner" in 2018, which serves as an extension of SWAP coaching and a call to loving the process as a means of getting faster. In this conversation, we talk about the common thread that he sees runners struggle with, what his athletes have taught him about himself over the years, and the belief system behind hill strides and the holy grail of coaching.
We are grateful to be sharing the mic with David for this episode; we hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for your support. If you haven't lately, check out our Patreon community, which helps to keep the YTP commercial-free.
Namaste - Jess
Just because it makes no sense and it makes no money doesn't mean that we shouldn't pursue it. When we practice paying attention and living in alignment with what feels true for us, we fulfill many endeavors that don't agree with the intellect perspective; this does not make them the wrong choice. What it does is make space for a life of creation and bravery, expansion and growth. It opens us up to a divine life experience that begins with a dedication to knowing ourselves.
There is no question, we are living in unprecedented times, and the soil is ripe for awakening. It is our birthright to know our truth and find what makes our hearts sing. We have the right to celebrate our gifts and love ourselves beyond condition.
Never on automatic and always in the Now, Julie Piatt is a living example of what I describe, and it is my great honor to welcome her to the YogiTriathlete community. Julie is a yogi, a mother, and a deliberate creator of beauty. She is the author of three best-selling cookbooks, the host of "For the Life of Me" podcast, creator of the Water-Tiger spiritual community, and founder of SriMu: Do Life. Not Cheese. She is wife to ultra-endurance athlete Rich Roll and is no stranger to doing things that make no sense.
Julie shares great wisdom throughout this episode on meditation, our addiction to constant motion, the constructs of our society that support negative neural looping, and the truth that she and Rich followed to bring them to their divine life of today. Julie encourages us all to turn inward, to cultivate self-love and dedicate ourselves to knowing ourselves for that leads us to ultimate freedom.
We thoroughly enjoyed recording this episode, and we hope that you find it enlightening. I would say revisit it a few times as the content is plentiful and the messaging deep. Thank you for your support of the show and thank you to Jeremy Allyn for producing this episode, we are so grateful for your energy in the collective.
Namaste - Jess
My experience at running the Bryce Canyon 50-miler was a rich itinerary. It was powerful through and through—the mental battles, multiple falls, and mindblowing displays of nature. The ever-changing landscape of this course allows for many different kinds of terrain and challenges along the way.
Five different distances were out there on race day: 100-mile, 50-mile, 60k, 50k, and a 30k. The 50k and 50m courses include the Red Canyon loop - pit and my pearl of the day and where the mind began to act up.
Bryce Canyon is the most challenging course in the Vacation Races catalog of events and perhaps the toughest thing I've ever done. In other words, I highly recommend that it go on every trail runner's bucket list.
Thank you for your questions! We hope you enjoy this smackdown.
Namaste - Jess
Danielle Mack had a dream to race the Ironman World Championship as a professional triathlete. She was just a little girl at the time, but without hesitation, she shared her goal with her parents and locked her focus on making it happen. Danielle entered the world of triathlon with IronKids, and she fell in love with the sport.
She worked hard for her dreams for many years, and she experienced significant success along the way. Danielle came screaming out of the gates as a professional and won her first Ironman. She went on to claim two more Ironman victories and eventually to the fulfillment of her dream to race Kona as a professional, but her path was not without challenge.
Just a few years into her career, Danielle received a devastating diagnosis that put everything she dreamed of on the line. Doctors told her that she would never be able to race at an elite level again, and even trying could drive her health deeper into the ground. She had put everything into her sport, including her identity. She was lost in darkness and desperation not knowing that what seemed like an overwhelming setback was actually leading her to her greatest blessing.
One evening, during a normal conversation with her husband, Jeff, about their day, Danielle experience a moment just as powerful as the one she experienced as a little girl watching Kona. Jeff told her about a mindfulness certification that his company was involved in, and Danielle knew that she had to do it. The first requirement was to complete a 10-day vipassana meditation, yet Danielle had never meditated a moment in her life. Feeling a deep desire and drive to follow this new path, she took the first step forward. Without knowing anything about meditation, she sat, and from that moment onward, everything about her life would change.
This conversation reminds us that there is a beautiful plan organizing for us behind the scenes, and when we surrender to the flow of life, our greatest joys and clarity rise to the surface. We are so honored to be bringing this graceful champion to the YT community, and we hope that you find great inspiration from Danielle's story. Thank you for supporting the show, and if you are interested in taking your support deeper, please check out our Patreon page where you can receive perks like LIVE yoga classes, gear, and monthly chats with me and Coach BJ.
Thank you to Jeremy Allyn for his meticulous post-production work on this episode, we are so grateful to have him on our team.
Namaste - Jess
Each of us came into this life to experience a unique journey, and there is no way to screw it up. Everything is unfolding for us and each circumstance of life is an opportunity to grow. When we fully embrace this perspective on life, we open ourselves to living our greatest expression, which is precisely what this world needs from us. Life is counting on each one of us to find out who we are and live that truth without abandon.
Although our essence is exact, our voice in this world is distinct. We came here on purpose, and we matter greatly to the whole. The path of awakening is an ever-morphing evolution, and it's essential to allow ourselves to be ever-changing by releasing the fight to stay the same.
The mind is tricky as it wants to control everything. As we train the body, we should also train the mind. Mental training is not just a byproduct of a challenging workout; it is a disciplined practice that begins with paying attention. It is critical to celebrate our uniqueness, but this cannot happen until we can see what doesn't serve our greater good. We cannot see what no longer helps us until we discipline ourselves to live from the present moment.
Today BJ and I dive into questions from the YT community. We dig into inquiries on uncoupling ourselves from a punishing mindset, the relationship of posture and pain, trail running technique, and quicker leg turn-over for increased speed. We address the mind, body and spirit because they all play a role in an athlete's ability to be their best in training and racing. We hope you enjoy this episode and appreciate your help in creating this meaningful conversation for the world of endurance sports.
Thank you for tuning in and supporting the show week after week. Please check out our Patreon page where you can now gain access to weekly live yoga classes and so much more.
Namaste - Jess
Once we know what we don't want, then we know what we do want. If we focus on what we can't do, then we are missing what we can do. If we focus on what we don't want and can't do, our happiness will forever be limited.
These are choices that we get to make many, many times a day. With each passing moment of our life, we have the free will to choose what we focus on. If we decide to focus on what we can be grateful for then, we will expand gratitude in our life. If we allow dissatisfying feelings to move through us without the indulgence of the story they are demanding to tell, we will shift out of the darkness with more ease. As we choose consciously about where we are directing our focus, it will be more natural for us to choose happiness. It's a muscle, and we must flex it.
Professional triathlete, Michelle Vesterby lives by her motto "Keep Smiling" because she knows that she can always find a reason to smile. Even as she recalls the dark days of her ITU career, Michelle can see how it brought her to find a love for Ironman. This early part of her career was a time when she felt that she didn't have a choice. She was a reserve athlete on the team and his position did not feel aligned with her heart.
Today we find Michelle shining brightly in the Ironman world as the well-known smiling Dane. Mom to Markus and wife to Claus, Michelle shares how life has shifted over the years and the profound influence that her mom has played in her life. We talk about how to pursue the best version of ourselves, the importance of moving from our gut feeling, and the burn she is feeling to beat her 4th place in Kona.
Thank you so much for choosing to tune into this podcast. We are 100% listener-supported and welcome you to check out our Patreon community. Our tiers of support give you options for live weekly yoga classes, YT schwag, and well over 100-exclusives to date. We are grateful to each one of you for showing up awake and ready to be your best.
Namaste - Jess
It was years of physical practice before Seane Corn woke up to the profound teachings of yoga. Like many, she started with poses on the mat as her end all and be all of the practice. But over time, little by little, the tension in her body chipped away to reveal deep levels of awareness. By titrating her nervous system through years of practice, Seane's body reached a point where it felt safe enough to release underlying emotions and trauma trapped in her tissues for decades. Utilizing the tools of yoga through its 8-limbs to living, Seane was able to release layers of her history and heal deep traumas of her past.
In her latest book, "Revolution of the Soul: Awaken to Love through Raw Truth, Radical Healing and Conscious Action," Seane details her life story and shares the guiding wisdom that yoga lends to her as a dedicated practitioner. Seane is an internationally acclaimed yoga teacher, human and animal rights activist, and public speaker.
In her 25-year teaching career, Seane has graced the covers of numerous magazines and raised millions of dollars for underserved populations. She has sat across from prolific leaders like Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra. Sean utilizes her platform as a means to bring awareness to global issues such as human trafficking, HIV/AIDS, social justice, and animal rights. As long time followers of this real-deal yogi, we are honored to be bringing her to the YT community today.
In this conversation, we discuss the conundrum of the athlete and why our sport can be a drug of choice. We dive into the difference between discharging energy and healing as Seane shares her own experience with athletic training and the narrative it created in her life. She shares her powerful story to veganism and the need for her to be conscious across the board.
Thank you for tuning in and supporting the show. We are on a mission to create a better world, and every single one of you is critical to that dream. There is so much wisdom in this conversation, trust that all you need will be available for you to take away and apply to your life.
Namaste - Jess
If you are a regular YTP listener, then you've heard BJ tell the story of how he transitioned from his corporate job in 2016. He talks about finding the perfect company that allowed him to shift his profession into alignment with his values and beliefs. The company was Amrita Health Foods, and this was the timeframe when Arshad Bahl, founder of Amrita, came into our lives. It truly could not have been a better situation, although it became evident in just a few months that BJ's desire to become a triathlon and run coach was commanding that he go all-in. In turn, BJ left Amrita, but we all gained a friendship.
Today we get to hear this story from Arshad's perspective and learn the beautiful story behind Amrita. Arshad had no plans of creating a plant-based nutrition product, but when he and his wife welcomed their son Ayan into the world in 2004, the pathway for Amrita was also born.
Diagnosed with Autism when he was very young, Ayan suffered greatly from GI distress. Arshad and his wife set off on a mission to ease their son's dis-ease. They chose the long-term plan to change Ayon's diet while pursuing aggressive therapies to benefit their son as much as possible. It is a journey that allowed them to step into deeper levels of faith and trust as they experienced grave moments of fear and helplessness.
Amrita is a brand that is doing its part to make the world a better place. With an aggressive give-back model and plans for future expansion, we don't expect that Amrita will be hiding in the shadows anytime soon. Arshad encourages us all to do what fills our heart and leave us feeling us purposeful. I believe his story asks us all to believe in ourselves enough to take risks so that we may experience the happiness transaction of business that he speaks of in this interview.
We absolutely loved recording this conversation, and we hope you enjoy it. If it sparks a flame, we encourage you to fa
Namaste - Jess
We are living within a collective life circumstance that is gifting us all the chance to live at higher levels of consciousness. There is a global light being shined on our pain and the willingness to notice that pain is our first step. Once we see it, we may transcend it. As we let go, we rise.
Today, BJ and I catch up on how we've been navigating these unprecedented times and how we are teaching yoga in a way that helps to prepare us for the uncertainty of life. We have been streaming classes twice a week with the YT community, and it's been a connected experience for all. We are excited for more. We also answer a few submitted questions regarding ultrarunning, my experience with the Tahoe Rim Trail 100, and gratefully, we even received a question about Clark.
Thank you all for supporting the show, we are so confident to be leading this charge with so many like-minded warriors by our side. Let's continue to rise, reveal our unshakeability, and be the change that we dream of seeing in the world.
Namaste - Jess
Being centered, letting go, and keeping things fun were tenets of Sam Long's childhood. Taught to him by his mother, who is a psychologist, Sam learned to hone his mindset at a young age. These mental skills have no doubt served him well in his triathlon career first as an age-grouper and now going into his fourth year as a professional.
Although Sam is just 24-years old, he is no rookie to the sport of triathlon. Sam raced his first Ironman at the age of 18, where he won his age group and punched his ticket to the Ironman World Championship. He earned his first Ironman win in Chattanooga last fall, which marked his 15th Ironman start. Despite three other wins over the 2019 season, it was this Ironman win that took Sam's career to the next level, and we can't wait to see what manifests from here.
Sam's genuine nature shines in our conversation, and his proclivity to have fun feels infectious. We hope that you take away a renewed commitment to fun and letting go, resting like a Kenyan runner and staying the course toward your dreams.
We are so grateful to our new Patreon supporters, Amy, Abby, and Renee, thank you so much for assisting us in keeping the lights on here at the YTP. We wouldn't exist without you guys; we are so grateful for every time you listen in, pledge your support, and share the show. Thank you.
Namaste - Jess
The goal of yoga is simple, to cease the fluctuations of the mind. To heal the mind virus that has so many people existing within loops of negative thought, doubt, and fear. Being fooled by the mind into believing there is no way out when the recipe to freedom is perhaps the most straightforward thing anyone could practice, and it starts with paying attention.
Simple, yes. Easy, no.
The battle of the mind is the greatest challenge a human can take on, but it is the only battle we must wage to align with our truth. We are powerful, loving beings who have been sold lies and programming that do not serve our highest good. This is not a conspiracy, just the product of an ego-centric world and the outward search for answers and peace.
It is our collective mission as citizens of this earth to raise our consciousness above the deluded messages and towards truth. The yogis have been sharing this message for thousands of years. In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Kest, a well-known yogi, and teacher of said truth.
Bryan began practicing yoga at the age of 14 and entered his first ten-day Vipassana meditation course at the age of 24. Bryan is the creator of Power Yoga and owner of Santa Monica Power Yoga & Meditation, which, for decades, has held the unique business model of being a donation-based studio. Bryan has led more than 24,000 classes and leads workshops, trainings, and retreats throughout the world and online with one distinct objective, to strengthen the benevolent and eradicate the malevolent.
I met Bryan years ago in Newport, RI, during one of his weekend workshops held at Newport Power Yoga. I chauffeured Bryan to and from the studio throughout his stay. I remember feeling a bit inadequate as I pulled up to meet him in our beat-up, dog-hair filled Subaru, but quickly I was at ease by Bryan's kindness and good conversation. I experienced one of his LSD classes that weekend, and I have not forgotten the transformative nature of holding a forward fold for ten minutes.
We imagine the timing of this episode is the product of the perfection of divine timing. We hope you enjoy this compassionate yogi who is as loving as he is fiery. We are grateful every time you tune into the YogiTriathlete podcast, we are 100% listener-supported and would love your inclusion as a patron on patreon.com/yogitriathlete. We would not exist without this community. Thank you.
Namaste - Jess
Two years ago, on this podcast, professional triathlete Matt McElroy claimed that he was ready to make a statement. At the time, he was still a newbie on the International Triathlon Union race circuit, and he knew that he had a lot to learn.
Like every good student, Matt sought to be his best by staying open to knowledge and experience. Everyone who has followed Matt's career since our interview with him in 2017 has watched this guy consistently "find a way" to get the work done. It is clear to us that Matt is an example of what it looks like to live your purpose.
Those who walk this path know that purpose does not come without challenge, and Matt is not immune to this truth. The 2019 season was arguably his most contrasting with a historic podium finish, hat-trick of wins, broken bones, and curbside tears. Matt has made a statement for sure, but according to him, there's still about 85% more to unleash.
Matt is competitive and passionate about his career. He is also the first to admit that he has a life beyond triathlon. Matt is an avid surfer and family man with deep roots to his home and friends in Southern California. He knows how to disconnect from his work life, and since beginning a meditation practice, he is also learning to detach from his thoughts. Matt is hot on the mindset train, and we know that just like everything else, he will be relentless in his pursuit of mastery.
We are so excited to launch this conversation into the world. We are thankful to our amazing guests like Matt, who show up with a generosity to share their life with this community. We are grateful for each one of you who supports this podcast each week, and if you find that it's making a positive impact in your life, consider becoming a Patreon supporter today.
Namaste - Jess
In this episode, we cap off our 3-part pre-season smackdown with a focused conversation on running. We recorded this podcast on March 11th, and I believe the words in the introduction are more relevant than ever. We are powerful beings, and we have free will. We can train our minds to consciously choose how to respond to the circumstances of life. We are in the midst of a call to awaken, and it's more important than ever to act on the invitation to meditate and tame the mind. We are here to support this community so please let us know if you need guidance getting started with a personal practice.
With races canceled, pools closed, and an extended pre-season upon us, this is a great time to find new ways to stay active and healthy. For many of us right now, running and walking is our most accessible sport. It's fertile ground to work on our belief systems around running and get creative with our training. We hope that this episode assists you in doing so for your health, your joy, your peace, and your contentment. If this global pandemic has shined a light on anything, it's our inter-connectedness and our collective vibration.
Thank you so much for the fantastic questions. We dive into our love for double-runs, guidance on long runs leading into Ironman, safely up-leveling distance, and the power of walking to influence fitness gains. We hope to open you up to new perspectives, take what resonates and leave the rest. We are grateful for your support and always love to hear from you guys. So thank you for reaching out during this time; we surround you all in powerful, limitless, and all-knowing love.
Namaste - Jess
Everything is always changing; this is the nature of the earthly existence we live within. Because we create patterns and behaviors automatically based on the resources of availability, we most often live under the delusion that everything is generally the same day-to-day. This is false. Everything is always changing, and never will there be a time that this is untrue here on earth. As you read these words and I write them, there are cells birthing and dying in our body. We are not the same, ever. Normalcy is a construct of the mind that allows us to feel a level of safety from the unknown, but in truth, every moment is the gateway to the unknown.
As athletes who desire their greatest successes must learn to control the controllable and let go of the rest. It means that we never lose sight of our dreams, no matter what is coming at us. It means that to stay in flow with the ever-changing circumstances of life, we need to find the finesse of forwarding momentum and releasing the fight. In surrendering against "what is" while still taking action in the direction of the life we desire to live now, we can remain steadfast and ultimately unshakeable by life circumstances. This is mastery. It's a moment to moment process that never ends.
We believe mastery is the ultimate pursuit of endurance athletes. In this episode, we dive into questions that assist us in being our best on the bike. Whether that is for triathlon or cross-training, the mastery of the bike comes from our physical activity and mindset choices. We talk about bike fitness and the role that plays in running to an athlete's potential. We answer questions on sweet spot training for a time-starved athlete, not letting the stories of yesterday determine our outlook of today, RPE vs. Watts, road bike vs. tri bike, and more.
As athletes, we are always walking into the unknown. The experienced ones know that there is no race experience that is the same, and our intention is for today's conversation is to inspire you to keep the momentum moving forward within an existence that is and forever will be ever-changing.
Thank you to Jeremy Allyn for his work to produce this show on behalf of this amazing community. We are so grateful to you all. If you've heard about the YTP Mini and want some of it, get your access today to further support the show at patreon.com/yogitriathlete.
Namaste - Jess
Keep the momentum of your dreams alive by consistently moving in the direction of your goals every day. Life will continue to happen, and its inherent waves will continue to roll in, but it is our response to those waves that dictate our reality. Family life, work-life, global pandemics - nothing is off the table, but as we commit to mastering our focus, we become deliberate in creating our reality. We are powerful beings, and this life will challenge our belief in that power throughout our experience. Keep going, we say, let nothing stand in your way.
Today is the first in our three-part pre-season smackdown of swimming, biking, and running. These episodes are not just for triathletes but for trail runners and anyone looking to up their game in sport and life. One of the beautiful things about us humans is that we do not selectively learn. As we attain skills in one area of our life, we gain skills in all areas of our life. It's the essence of the teachings that allow us to grow and transform into the athlete we desire to be in the world we dream of seeing.
Coach BJ generously lends his experiential wisdom on today's episode, including giving out a few of his favorite swim workouts. Also, we have five additional swim workouts available at yogitriathlete.com/shop. These are great for anyone looking to cross-train in the pool, especially runners.
Topics covered include bread and vegan butter workouts, strategy for a safe start to swimming, breathing, the importance of sighting, over kicking, and swimming for runners, among other wisdom dropped by Coach BJ throughout this show. Thank you so much for supporting the YTP, this community is strong because of you, and we have no plans but to grow and become more significant as a collective. We are on a mission to create a better world, and it starts within each one of us. Lean into the power of the YT community; we are a group of like-minded warriors committed to wringing out the nectar of this rich-itinerary called life.
Namaste - Jess
Dave Wiskowski believes that we are all friends just waiting to meet each other. An experienced ultrarunner and coveted crew member, Dave exemplifies the core connectedness of the trail running community. A sport he was led to via a massive life transformation that started unexpectedly one evening when he sat down to watch a movie.
Today we dive into the story of a man who uncovered a deep desire for more in life. It was less ten years ago that Dave took the first steps towards his plant-based, uber active life of today. He moved mountain after mountain along the way making more room in his life for peace. Dave watches his mind closely and finds ultrarunning to be an essential catalyst for his continued evolution.
With each race, he fine-tunes his ability to allow "what is" without a fight. Wise to the truth that all experiences serve a purpose in our life, Dave goes after the unknown even though it scares him every single time. We caught up with Dave to record this episode on the cusp of another epic adventure. Later this week, he will depart his home in Southern California to be one of four crew members for Candice Burt's overall FKT attempt at the 800-Mile Arizona Trail. Dave shares his excitement and fears for this journey ahead.
This conversation is sincere, and we are grateful to be connected with such a purposeful being as Dave. Thank you all for your support of the show. If you feel called to assist us in keeping this podcast commercial-free, consider becoming a patron through Patreon.com/yogitriathlete today. There are hundreds of extras and exclusives already in the YogiTriathete Patreon community, including all episodes of the YTP Mini.
Namaste - Jess
Like many of us overachiever types, Caitlin adopted a hustler mindset at a young age. Always taking care of others and working hard at everything left her very little time to care and connect with herself. She grew up in the belief that the harder we work, the more we have, the more we do, the more we are worth. With this mindset, there is very little room for slowing down and allowing, which are primary alignment practices to feel fully embodied in this life.
Through this "go, go, go" mentality, we risk massive disconnection from breath and body, which are the primary anchors to presence. When we push through in a state of disconnection, we create more reasons in our life to feel disconnected, which creates emotional, mental, and physical suffering. Our nature is well-being, so when we live in opposition to this nature, the body is one of the first places we will feel our misalignment.
Feeling connected is a primary need for humans. Without it, we spiral out over time into deeper levels of imbalance, which eventually manifests into physical symptoms of pain. When our lives become painful enough, we have a choice to challenge our mindset and behaviors or continue to go further into pain.
We must slow down to see what is brewing under the surface and to truly awaken to how we articulate in the world. It's a mindset that must fall away for us to realize the inherent well-being of the body, and this awakening requires presence.
Caitlin lived in pain while continually being informed that pain goes hand in hand with her chosen profession of being a dental hygenist. A hazard of the career that she better get used to it sooner than later.
During this time, Caitlin experienced her first yoga class, which led her to the first glimpse of a less painful body. This experience of yoga deepened her desire to live without pain and eventually led her to become a Yoga Therapist. Today she assists others in moving from a life of pain to a life of freedom through her speaking engagements and one-on-one patient sessions.
There is so much gold in this episode, slow down and listen up. Thank you for supporting the show, if you want more of Caitlin, then look out for our YTP Mini episode dropping later this week on patreon.com/yogitriathlete.
Namaste - Jess
There was no plan, no business strategy, and no rush. It is in the present moment that Gabby Troconis and Rusty Perez built not only their business but their lives together. Bringing as many people along with them through community support, these two creators are no strangers to the scary stuff. They are willing and ready to risk it all now because there is no better time to live our purpose in this life.
Owners of EvrBottle, Gabby and Rusty, are on a mission to achieve sustainable consumption and end single-use. They have created a space where everything gets a second chance. They combine their artistic abilities with their love for Mother Earth. They create products that are 100% recycled and 100% handmade with love. Upcycling is their passion because upcycling protects the environment, reduces our footprint, and uses less energy than creating a new product.
They have taken risks and learned along the way. Today, they teach others with intention. They believe that every drop in the pond creates a ripple, and someday, these ripples will all come together. Their energy is contagious and in this episode, we share an honest conversation with two beautiful souls.
Relationships, self-reflection, mindful consumption, and living without attachment are just a few of the life-transformative topics we discuss today. The fact is, anything and everything can be taken from us in a moment, including our own lives. The question they leave us with is, why not live NOW, for the NOW, and because of the NOW?
Namaste - Jess
Who wants to live in doubt? No one. Yet, so many of us live under the reign of uncertainty each day.
This perspective choice makes trusting our path and how it unfolds difficult. Much of what we see on our road will be a scary uphill battle as long as we indulge doubt. What we miss along the way is the variety of endless perspectives. A limited vortex of choice to see each moment. The option of how to view life is ours, always has been, always will be. This freedom to choose is because we have free will. The confusion, feeling of being "stuck," or moving backward on our path comes from believing that our first response to a life circumstance is the truth.
Let's put this into the scenario of this episode.
We have a question from an athlete on route to a spring marathon. The training was consistent; everything was going well, and then, out of the blue, old injuries showed up to impede progress. For most athletes, the initial response is that this experience negatively affects the outcome in the spring and is a setback to training.
This initial response, profoundly influenced by societal programming, is just the most practiced program. Meaning, it's an "auto-pilot" setting in the brain. It's the default belief but by no means the only choice available. There are endless perspectives on every experience in our lives, yet so often, we choose the one that keeps us in the problem.
The solutions are never in the problem.
Another deep episode on account of your thought-provoking questions. Thank you for giving us the space to share wisdom, love, and knowledge from our hearts and experience as long-time endurance athletes. And remember, no effort is a waste. Not one moment of our life is off-purpose. If we pay attention and act on the calls of our hearts, we will see the incremental moments that lead us to the next level of living.
Namaste - Jess
"When somebody tells you the truth and, before you didn't want to see it, but when you actually admit it to yourself and are honest with yourself that it is true...and you hate hearing that, but when you choose to see it and hear it and admit it to yourself, that is when your life changes."
Despite being born into a society that told her to stay inside the box, Vera Stepina refused to follow the herd. She persevered through homelessness, obesity, and unhappiness only to find her unique voice and the confidence to share her gifts unapologetically with the world. This amazing woman has lived through her fair share of contrast. She has risen above her limitations to serve others who are in search of a better way of life.
Vera grew up in Russia, where being skinny and beautiful was a competitive sport. Dieting was commonplace, even for young girls, and blending in with the others was encouraged. After losing her mother at a young age, Vera ventured to America with her friends for a new chance at life. The picture painted led her to believe that money grew on trees, and success was easy in the USA. Shortly after arriving in Oceanside, CA, Vera faced harsh realities that no doubt shaped the woman she is today.
This is a story of not giving up, resiliency, and commitment. Vera shows us all that excuses, even when we believe them to be reasons, are just words that keep us from living our greatest expression. We hope you enjoy this raw and revealing conversation with a woman whose mindset is as strong as her street cred.
Thank you to Jeremy Allyn for producing this show on our behalf - we are grateful for your support.
Namaste - Jess
Jasmine and Rebecca founded a friendship around the power of plants and discovered that they shared a love for creating food. From there, they followed the universal recipe for a joyful life; they did more of what they love. They created beautiful food and shared it with their friends.
They hosted speakeasy dinners at Jasmine's apartment until they busted at the seams. Their guests couldn't get enough. The menus were tasty, but what was shining brightly through it all were their cheesy sauces. From late-night cheese calls pleading for more to back-alley deals, it was clear that these ladies were onto something that was growing fast, and they needed to answer the call.
In the two short years that Nomad Eats has been a company, Jasmine and Rebecca have peeled tens of thousands of pounds of potatoes. They have stayed up all night, creating batch after batch of what has become known as "liquid gold." No matter how tired, no matter what time of day, no matter if they have eaten or not, they always align themselves with the process. They stay in gratitude, and they bless every batch with the intention that people will feel joyful and nourished from their offering.
These ladies are showing up in vulnerability and figuring it out along the way. In effect, they believe they are doing everything right, and through their understanding of universal law, they are finding that now, their dreams are running to them. Jasmine and Rebecca are living above the bar and from the finish line. They understand our power as deliberate creators, and they are not wasting moments entertaining negativity around their vision.
I love this conversation and what it has to offer the world of entrepreneurship. It's not just about hard work, hard work, hard work. It's also about divine appointments, allowing and not compromising. It's an exciting viewpoint of commerce that everyone can benefit from in business and life. The wisdom behind Nomad Eats gives us all permission to take the roof off limitation and dream ourselves into an ideal reality.
Namaste - Jess
"We're going to take everything away except for your basic needs, are you still going to show up and do it?" -Manmadh Rebba
Imagine this. The day before you embark on your greatest athletic adventure, you return from the pre-race meeting to enter a burglarized home. The place is a mess, your meticulous organization violated, and your items strewn about haphazardly. In shock, you take in the scene less than 12-hours out from your race start.
This unimaginable reality was the beginning of Manmadh (Mann) Rebba's first UltraMan competition weekend in 2017. His rental home, now a crime scene, left him and his crew with nowhere to sleep the night before the race. In a decision not to become victims of circumstance, Mann and his team secured a hotel and began to put the pieces back together. In other words, he stayed in flow with what life presented on that day.
Although a devastating experience, Mann is no stranger to overcoming the obstacles of life. As a now multi-time Ironman and UltraMan triathlete, Mann had to overcome the trauma of two near-drowning experiences to get where he is today. Mann is not only an example of strength and resilience but also grace. Don't be fooled by his gentle demeanor; this guy is resourceful and relentless.
Manmadh is an Ironman, an UltraMan, a Triathlon Coach, and a newly vegan yogi. We dive into his inspiration to change his diet and his deep philosophy around the food that we put into our bodies. We are thankful to have been connected with Mann through YTP guests, Mary Knott and Mel Urie. Listen to this episode with your entire being, and you will hear more wisdom than words.
Namaste - Jess
To realize a dream is not wait for it to manifest but to live it right now. To calibrate our attitudes, thoughts, and beliefs in the present moment in the direction of our dreams. As we fine-tune the feel of our life we give space for the universe to organize on our behalf. You see, our happiness is not in the future. Our abundance is not in the future. Our ideal body and nutrition are not in the future. They are all right now. The change we wish to see in the world and in our own lives is right now.
We came here on purpose to realize what is living in our hearts. We did not come here to endure misery and discontent as our life experiences. We came here to wake up to the practical use that misery and discontent serve and their role in strengthening our desire to live life to its fullest.
For what seemed like lifetimes, BJ, and I would ask our higher intelligence to show us how we can serve in this life. We had a strong desire to create a community. To yoke, or bring together like-minded warriors who were willing and inspired to be their best selves. Before the evidence showed itself, we believed. Before YogiTriathlete grew into a viable business, we remained unwavering in our trust. Today we find ourselves in the slipstream of our dreams. Growing every day and consistently walking into the unknown with the very same belief and confidence that brought us to where we are today.
Without a healthy mindset, and purposeful calibration, we would not sit in the very honored place we sit today.
Thank you for your trust and belief. Thank you for sending us your curiosities and inquiries. Today we honor you as integral members of this ever-emerging community who collectively seek a better world. A tribe of like-minded warriors who know that said world begins deep within each one of us right now.
Thank you for once again assisting us in creating a meaningful conversation with this episode. This is for you.
Namaste - Jess
Heather Jackson is a born and bred badass. A native New Englander, she credits her hard work ethic to her upbringing and the strong role models in her family. Between her 90-year old grandpa, who is not uncommonly found fixing someone's roof, to her creative disruptor husband Wattie, Heather is lifted up by her beloved family and community. She has a contagious energy of gratitude and joy that she brings to the highest level of professional triathlon. She is the example of finding what you love and putting your whole heart into it.
Of course, this doesn't mean that times have always been easy or so grand. Heather, with Wattie by her side, has mastered one step of life after the next by maintaining awareness around growth. She has taken risks and found that love is the greatest tool for navigating the unknown.
This episode gives us insight into the truth behind the woman that we so often see up-high on the podium. Thank you, Heather, and thank you YogiTriathlete community, we are in deep thanks for your support.
Namaste -
Jess
There is a purpose to everything in this life. When we practice paying attention to where we are at any given time, we open to the truth of this statement. Through presence, we make ourselves available to the elaborate inner workings of life that are always organizing on our behalf. The story of Chris Thornley, co-founder of Squirrel's Nut Butter (SNB), and the guest of this week's YTP, exemplifies this idea that life is on purpose and that we are always exactly where we need to be in any given moment.
Chris grew up in Cool, California, where adventuring in the woods and connecting with nature is commonplace. One day, young Chris and his brother Craig "coincidentally" set up camp on the Western States endurance run course on the weekend of the race. As runners came by, the boys inquired about where they were going and, in that curiosity, welcomed themselves into the ultra-endurance world. As the purpose of life would have it, Chris's brother, Craig, is now the race director of the famed Western States run while Chris finds himself providing a front-line defense for athletes by producing the world’s best all-natural, anti-chafe and restorative skin salve. A business that was born from a mission of love.
Through what Chris calls the Circle of Five - desire, focus, connection, patience, fulfillment - he is steadfastly paying attention to his contribution and expansion as a human and business owner. From running his first ultra-marathon as a kid to getting sober to his solo adventures down the Colorado River, Chris continually drops introspective wisdom throughout the show. We are grateful that we followed the call to reach out to Chris and for all of you who support the show each week. Get over to Patreon and catch up on episodes of the YTP Mini, we are getting great feedback on the episodes already posted and would love to know who and what you want to hear.
Namaste -
Jess
We are excited to share our "Best of 2019" with you guys today. Based on your feedback and our intuition we are showcasing six episodes from the past year. We are so grateful to be the conduit of wisdom and to share these guests with you. Here's to a bountiful New Year for all!
Podcast 139: Talbot Cox of Talbot Cox Media Talbot Cox is in the slipstream of his creation and knows there is no other direction to move than forward. He has faced adversity and triumphed. He has seen how fast life-savings can dwindle and how quickly a financial situation can turn into debt. Following his passion full-gas has also caused a major disruption in the norm of sports media and with that, many people are not supporters of his mission but this has not stopped him. His intention is not to upset. His intention is not to hoard the knowledge that has afforded him exceptional success in a short period of time. Talbot is very clear on his intention and that is to grow a sport that he holds very close to his heart and create abundance for as many involved as possible along the way.
Podcast 151: Tom Voss, The Meditating Vet In 2004, 20-year-old Tom Voss was deployed to Mosul, Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a part of a scout sniper platoon which meant that many days it was Tom’s job to run towards gunfire as he gathered intel for military operations. He never expected to return home alive and early on in his deployment he surrendered his resistance to death. Tom endured relentless exposure to violence and sustained what he calls, moral injury. He was diagnosed and treated for PTSD with pharmaceutical drugs that quieted his symptoms but not his deep moral wounds. He knew he needed to begin processing the deep pain and grief that could not be medicated away.
Podcast 159: Magda Boulet of GU Energy Magda is Vice President of Innovation, Research, and Development at GU and it all started many years ago when she knocked on the door and asked for help. At the time, Magda was a roadrunner looking to up her game and she knew that sports nutrition was an important piece for her to learn. That day she met the legendary Dr. Vaughan, who created the first energy gel to aid his daughter to reach her peak performance in ultrarunning. Never did Magda think that day, that she would also someday become an ultramarathoner and a GU executive.
Podcast 160: Kristin Mayer of Betty Designs Kristin Mayer started her morning on a seemingly ordinary Monday utterly unaware that her life was about to change forever. At 1 pm that afternoon, Kristin’s husband confessed that he was no longer happy and no longer committed to sharing his life with her. In those moments, Kristin experienced everything that one could imagine when their life turns upside down. One day at a time and on many days, one moment at a time she rebuilt herself and discovered strength she didn’t realize she possessed. Today Kristin finds herself at the top of one of the most recognizable brands in the endurance sports world.
Podcast 169 with Gerry Rodriguez of Tower 26 Gerry Rodrigues started swimming in the open water 50 years ago. He has over 100 open water titles and is one of the most experienced swim coaches of our time. He is the founder of Tower 26, a coaching empire that focuses on preparing triathletes to be race-ready. In this episode, he gives us the keys to the kingdom by sharing his well-informed experiential wisdom on swimming for the sport of triathlon.
Podcast 171 with Philip and Renee Philip Urso and Renee Deslauriers are co-owners of Live, Love Teach – Yoga Teacher Training School and Rhode Island Power Yoga. They are co-creators of the Yoga-Based Stress Reduction (YBSR) educational program, and their goal is to identify a more evidence-based approach to yoga classes. Philip is in his 4th-semester of graduate-level classes at Harvard University. His work focuses on medical and psychological studies on anxiety, yoga, and mindfulness.
Namaste -
Jess
We finish off 2019 in the utmost YogiTriathlete style. Going deep on our final "Ask the YTs" of the year in response to your questions. From powerful performances to exercises that yield a rock-solid core to 2020 goals and the sabotage of competitive fear, you guys call it through us, and we drop it on this episode.
What we continue to learn with every episode is that we are more similar than different. This community is open to a new way of training, racing, and living that has us all on the edge of greatness. We are all in this together. The fear, the sabotage, the desire to be our best - we feel and live it all. It's time to level the playing field in endurance athletics and realize that we are all warriors waking up on our perfect timelines. Get after it today, right now. Live, love, train, race, and grow as your best.
Thank you for everyone for your support and to our Patreon members for the inspiration to create even more content to support the collective YogiTriathlete mission to create a better world.
Namaste -
Jess
"Consistency honestly, is everything. It's absolutely everything." -Tommy Rivers Puzey
The goal was to be a professional triathlete. After accidentally qualifying for the World Championships in Kailua-Kona, he assumed a path to Ironman greatness and believed that he would return to the island year after year. The plan felt pretty perfect and would allow more time to be with his wife and young children then his previous track to attend medical school. Yet, there was a quintessential piece that he was not honest with, and as his body continued to ask him to listen, he continued to ignore its callings.
Over time this caught up to him, and his body eventually hit its limit. Tommy sustained a broken leg, and with no Plan B, this may have seemed like the worst thing possible at the time. In reality, it led to his most significant discoveries. Forced to be gentle with his body and patient in his healing, he reignited his academic career and literally walked into the next phase of his journey.
After his long day of training in the Grand Canyon, we caught up with Tommy for a meaningful conversation in his hometown of Flagstaff, AZ. If you know Tommy, then you won't be surprised that this conversation runs deep. He shares with us how he metabolizes emotion and the hard lessons he learned from going hard as well as his aspirations to be on the starting line in Atlanta this coming February for the Olympic Marathon Trials.
We cover a variety of potent topics for those who desire to be their fittest and fastest yet, including an explanation of the stress, rest, adapt cycle as we have never heard it before on this show. There is no sexy recipe to success and perhaps hearing it from one of the most versatile runners in the field may fall resonate on new ears.
Thank you so much for your support of the show and be sure to head over to patreon.com/yogitriathlete and check out the 100+ exclusives for YT patrons. We are grateful to you all, we are grateful to Tommy, and we are grateful for this medium to further our collective mission to create a better world.
Namaste - Jess
Humans are highly adaptable beings with bodies that always organize towards health. When we are younger, we experience more resiliency and, frankly, can get away with more in terms of what we put into our bodies. Yet over time, they will ask more of us, and if we don't listen, they will break down to the point where we must look closer at our choices.
For athletes, performance is one of the first areas we will see the reflection of a poor diet. Calorie deficits, combined with the physiological confusion created from consuming processed foods and an overabundance of nutrition information, leave many athletes lacking confidence in their nutrition choices. Many will throw their hands up and give up altogether.
That's where our guest today comes in. Vic Johnson has been plant-based since his high school years on account of a challenge from his mom to try a vegan diet for one week. Vic was a cross-country and track athlete. When his coach caught wind of his nutrition changes, he expressed his concern for Vic's health, thinking that he would not be able to get the appropriate nutrients required for an athlete. Vic agreed that if his performance suffered, then he would consider changing his diet again.
Almost two decades later, Vic has yet to change his diet.
Very quickly, he felt the benefits of plants on performance and now dedicates his career to assisting athletes in finding the right foods for them. He relies heavily on science-based research and is on the cutting edge of information as he works in the Prandia Lab at Northern Arizona University studying the effects of nutrition on athletes.
Vic is a wealth of information, and we are grateful that he is with us for this episode. Thank you so much for your support. Please check out our Patreon community for episodes of the YTP mini and over 100 more exclusives for our podcast supporters.
Namaste -
By our nature as endurance athletes, we are innately skilled at pushing through. I believe many will agree that backing off is where the real challenge is faced and never more so than on race day. After all the months and hours of preparation, there is an undeniable investment in finishing what we start.
The countless moments when we lace up our shoes when everything in our mind and body screams, "Netflix!". The sacrifices, the sleep deprivation, the highs, and the lows. We are endurance athletes; we do it anyway. We show up and damn it; we push through.
Telsys Tarallo did the work leading up to Ironman Arizona, even though she had a deep knowing that something was missing. She showed up on race day with her physical preparation in the barn, but there was a noticeable absence of fire. The very same quality she was fighting to retrieve in her training. Never the less, Telsys toed the lined and jumped in the cold waters of Tempe Town Lake just a few Sundays ago. She completed the swim and headed out on the bike where at mile-75, she called it a day — her first DNF. A hard reality to swallow, but what was even more troubling for Telsys was that she couldn't find her "fight".
We caught up with this amazing triathlete the morning after Ironman Arizona, and it was clear that she felt peaceful with her decision. She was living in gratitude for everything she accomplished along the way. Telsys is a beacon of light; she leans towards to positive side of life and is always open to the lessons of life. Despite not finishing her third Ironman triathlon, she has no plans of quitting anytime soon.
Telsys is a mom, triathlete, actor, entrepreneur, and yogi. She's been a YTP fan for years. She admits to drinking the same Koolaid as Coach BJ and I. We were grateful to meet her in person at Ironman Santa Rosa in 2018 and excited to introduce her deeper into the YT community with this episode. Thank you for your support of the show, we think you're going to enjoy this conversation with a woman we consider to be, a true YogiTriathlete.
Namaste - Jess
“To attain knowledge, add things every day. To attain wisdom, remove things every day.” ― Lao Tzu
We believe this walk on earth is about finding our way by fully expressing our unique journey. When we do this, we risk being judged and not being liked by others. We risk crashing and burning, but we believe we must take those risks to allow our hearts to sing and for our highest level of health to arise from within, mental, and physical.
Today we take your questions and dive into varying topics from the carnivore diet to getting started with meditation. Whatever the subject matter, it always seems to return to our willingness to train our minds and be true to ourselves.
We are grateful for your participation every month. Your curiosity allows us to fully express our experience to assist you in finding your way. If you haven't already, be sure to check out the YTP Mini on Patreon, we have eight episodes and building each week. We are in deep thanks of your support to create a better world.
Namaste - Jess
"In order to be fluid you must not have tension, you must let it go." -Lawrence Van Lingen
Lawrence worked for 20-years to achieve his dream. At his six-month review with Red Bull, he received carte blanche to build them a high-performance center for athletes. Money was no object.
Upon sharing this life-changing opportunity with his wife Gwen, she replied with her life-changing plan to move them from South Africa to Southern California. Although it made no sense on paper, Lawrence walked away from Red Bull and his home. Albeit kicking and screaming.
"Hard" is how he describes the transition. He was cross and resistant, yet when they landed in Laguna Beach, he couldn't deny an energetic resonance that felt natural to him. Years later, he and his wife still call this abundant beach community their home.
A change that Lawrence did not initially embrace, he now sees as a great gift. It was one that required him to recreate and rethink everything about the way he works with athletes.
Lawrence is a well-respected, highly sought after soft tissue therapist and performance consultant. His roster of clients includes the "who's who" of the endurance sports world. He is the founder of Innerunner, a space for people and athletes to come together to think, learn, and experience how to move better, feel better and perform better in life, sport, and work.
Lawrence is humble and wise. He is adept in the anatomy of change and the human conditions that go alongside. He has experienced the darkness and uncertainty of life and believes that it is in the calm that we remain fluid. We talk about breath, vulnerability, and the role he played in the memorable performance of Timothy O'Donnell at this year's Ironman World Championship. There are many bundles of gold in this episode. Get your notepad out and soak it up.
Thank you for supporting the YogiTriathlete Podcast.
Namaste - Jess
To look back and connect the dots is easy. Showing up and putting yourself out there before it all makes sense is scary. Yet, not impossible. Our guest today, Sonya Looney shows us how continually getting out of your comfort, strengthening our anti-quit muscle, and doing what you love can mold itself into a life of adventure and inspiration.
Sonya is a plant-based world champion mountain biker, podcast host of the Sonya Looney Show, owner of her own apparel company Moxy & Grit, speaker, and freelance writer. She is committed to helping people live better and feel more alive. She shares great wisdom from her experiences and opens up about the newest and arguably greatest achievement of her life, becoming a mom.
We discuss her plan to race once the baby is born, and she shares what she's already learned about becoming a mother. We talk about cultivating calm and how that informs our response to things that happen during a race. She admits to being a closet vegan for years in fear of offending others or being labeled harshly.
Sonya is a brave athlete living off the front and certainly someone to bring into your follow circle if she's not already there. Thank you for your support of the YogiTriathlete podcast.
Namaste - Jess
The dream is significant, and the evidence continues to pile up. Being the #1 vegan destination in San Diego is where the Spoiled Vegans Cafe is heading. The farthest thing from Todd Anderson's mind, growing up in Chicago, playing basketball and drinking lots of whey protein, was owning a vegan cafe thousands of miles away. Along with his alter ego Turnip Vegan, a well-known figure on the San Diego vegan scene, Todd is making a statement downtown despite the negative chirp of naysayers.
It was the gift of a three-day hangover that prompted Todd to take ownership of his health. Although he was always active in the gym, the truth was he didn't feel well. On that third day, he felt a fire within to seek better health. Randomly choosing to watch the documentary, Food Choices Todd set out on a pathway to health and abundance that he would never have imagined.
His story is inspiring, as it is brave. Todd gets it. He realizes there is a plan in action, and his job is to keep his eyes open for the next logical step. Todd has jumped off cliffs literally and figuratively since turning vegan. He left the security of his full-time job to go, full-time entrepreneur, and follow his heart's calling to opening up the plant-based lifestyle to the many who are ready.
Thank you for tuning in, please leave a review on Apple Podcast and share your inspiration with the world. We are grateful to all our Patreon supporters who financially make this podcast possible. The YTP is 100% listener-supported, and we intend to keep it that way. No sponsors, no commercials. Just straight up wisdom from people looking, finding, and living their purpose.
Namaste -
Jess
YogiTriathlete was born from a realization that endurance sports and yoga took me to the same place but from very different directions. I knew it was something, and even as the domain sat dormant for years, it's power grew. Over that time, I also grew while being completely unaware of where it was leading me.
Each day I keep the momentum moving forward and listen intently to the relationship I've developed with my inner compass. It continually asks me to do things that scare me, and it has taught me the truth about momentum which is that every experience we encounter is there to assist us in moving forward. If momentum halts, it's because we are resisting the life circumstances that have come our way.
Remaining solution-oriented and continuing momentum are what separates those who live out dreams and those who simply dream. When we decide each day that we will not resist but yield to our life situation, we may just be surprised at what we accomplish with ease. Perhaps even with a sustained sense of deep peace.
Today, BJ and I dive into my experience at the Javelina Jundred 100k. This epic party in the desert is all that it is cracked up to be, all the while, hundreds of runners going after their goals to complete one of the two distances available, 100-kilometer or 100-mile. We chat up my training prep, race strategy, nutrition, essential gear, and of course, the mighty mental game.
I'm pretty confident we cover it all, but if you have more questions, please reach out to us directly. We are here to support you guys as you support us. We are grateful to you all. Thank you for tuning in and supporting the show through Patreon. This podcast is 100% listener-supported, which means no sponsors and no commercials. We want to keep it that way, so if it on your heart, please make your pledge at patreon.com/yogitriathlete.
Namaste -
Jess
Imagine your next triathlon starting at 10 pm in the dark, deep waters of the Pacific Ocean. Imagine burning your mouth so severely from the saltwater intake of your 11+ hour swim that eating during the 400-mile bike leg becomes unbearable. Then imagine after 2-days of riding your bike and climbing 20,000 feet that you lace up your shoes for the final leg — a 135-mile run through Death Valley.
Imagine the years of preparation, enduring patience, and unwavering faith that it takes to show up day after day. To not just hashtag, but live, a "no excuse" life. This story is the one of Mel Urie, the first female to attempt and complete Uberman.
Mel is of the character that describes the culture of ultra-endurance athletics. Stubborn, for as long as she can remember, she knows that once the adventure begins, she will not stop until the finish line. She watches closely for limiting beliefs and tests strategies to overcome them in her training sessions. There is no time off from training the mind, and Mel is one of the few that embodies this truth on our planet today. From fatigue to extreme heat, Mel has re-programmed her brain time and again to ensure that she is always moving forward.
To say that this conversation is epic, informative, inspiring, is to try to describe in indescribable. Mel Urie shares her experience, her techniques, her gratitude, and grit with us today. We are honored to have connected with her and her husband, Michael, shortly after her Uberman finish.
Thank you, everyone, who is supporting the show on Patreon, we are in sincere thanks. Please subscribe to this podcast (below) and leave a review for us to gain even more power for our collective mission to create a better world.
Namaste -
Jess
It just takes one spark to set fire to a dream. For Jessica and Davin, it was only about two years ago that their latest and arguably, most significant project was born. The Plot, a plant-based, zero-waste restaurant soon to open in South Oceanside, is the product of their willingness to start the conversation.
Jessica is an ethical vegan who married her omnivore love, Davin, and together the two are jumping off cliffs to live their dream. A path that consistently asks them to step out of their comfort zone so they can continue to push boundaries. The core belief that has carried them through the ebbs and flow of entrepreneurship is that the universe will provide.
They have trust in the unknown and an unwavering belief that there is something powerful out there that is on our side. This belief may well be the difference between those who succeed at living their dream and those who paralyze in fear.
Jessica and Davin are walking the warrior path with fast and sure-footed feet. They are well into their journey to assist us in creating a better world. Thank you for tuning in, and thank you for contributing to Patreon. There are well over 100 exclusives for our community supporters.
Namaste -
Jess
As of Sunday, October 6, 2019, Sean Nakamura became one of two Americans and only four people in the world to complete The Great Eight of UltraRunning. To finish all eight original 100-mile races in one epic summer is the goal of this endeavor. An almost logistically impossible project to complete came to fruition on account of many little dreams along the way.
Five of the eight races were lotteries with qualifying standards, and yet all of the stars aligned for Sean this year. Despite the odds, Sean remained steadfast to complete his dream both physically and mentally. In late May, in the Massanutten Mountains of the Shenandoah River Valley, Sean lined up at the start of the Old Dominion 100-mile run. The Great Eight was officially underway - a challenge completely unfathomable just nine years ago when Sean began running.
Today we dive into Sean's journey. From the optimism and dream-making instilled in him at a young age to the "cherries on top" that he threw into the mix of this Great Eight project, we are given a peek into a life without limits. Sean's innate gratitude and gentle spirit shine through his words.
We are in sincere thanks for Sean's time and the incredible insight he shares with the YT community in this episode. Thank you all for your support of this show, you are the reason we continue to show up.
Namaste -
Jess
The journey of YogiTriathlete has been one of contrast. For BJ and I, the stewards of this amazing community, it's shown us the way to our most significant moments of growth and joy. It's been abundant and terrifying, blessed and isolating. It has required us to look deeply at the wounds we carried around and the stories that kept us living within limits. It has fed our fire to take risks and has caught us every single time we've lept in faith. We now believe that miracles are ordinary and by staying awake and ready for all the comes the way we continue to follow the force that is this collective.
Today we dive into questions that further reveal the journey that has landed us into today. This podcast has been one of our greatest teachers. It as consistently asked us to move out of our comfort zones to invite guests to be on the show and to redefine our relationship with rejection. There were several times that this show was on the verge of ending, and it was you guys that stepped us to say "keep going."
Thank you to everyone who has supported the YTP through Patreon, your emails, and comments. We are grateful for it all, and as you will hear, no matter how intense life became neither BJ nor I would change a thing. We hope you enjoy and feel inspired to follow your heart, always.
Namaste -
Jess
Today, BJ plays host to the YTP when he interviews his lifelong friend, Michael Silva. Mike is the founder and President of FOUNDATIONperformance. He is an orthopedic, sports medicine physical therapist, exercise physiologist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Much of his career since 2000 has been in rehabilitating and preventing injuries in the distance running world.
He has worked with runners associated with the USA National Olympic team, Irish National Olympic team, New Zealand National Olympic team, Australia National Olympic team, most of the colleges and universities in New England, Boston Athletic Association, and more. Some of his elite running clients include Molly Huddle, Amy Hastings-Craig, Johnny Gregorek, Roisin McGettigan, Tim Ritchie, Lauren Fleshman, Kim Smith, Amy Rudolph, Marc Carroll, Keith Kelly, Amy Mortimer, Mary Cullen, and Sara Jameison.
Today is a deep dive into Mike's story. He shares the leap of faith; he and his wife, Carla, took to open FOUNDATIONperformance during a time in their life when taking a risk did not make sense. Although he had a full-time job as a physical therapist and making good money, he was unhappy and in a bit of disbelief. The career Michael aspired to left him unfulfilled within the first year. He focused his education to become a physical therapist, spent a ton of money to pursue this career and shortly after graduation found himself miserable. He knew he needed to make a change, and so he started looking at jobs outside of physical therapy. After an "all-nighter" with Carla, they decided to forget what made sense and pursue happiness on a new level. At first, FOUNDATIONperformance had Mike living the hustle yet wholly fulfilled. He was driving all over the state to see clients at their homes and doing what it took to give his dream the wings it needed to fly. Every entrepreneur can relate to this phase of building a business.
Mike holds a high-level of expertise and experiential wisdom in the field of runner's health. He believes that staying healthy and on top of foundational balance in the body is the way to go. Michael is the creator of RUNstrong, a 55-minute circuit-style strength class aimed at creating better and less injured runners. He is a public speaker and educator for athletes and coaches across the country. He has stayed true to working with a population that inspires him to be better every day, and he created great success from not chasing the money over the years.
We are grateful to bring such a wealth of knowledge to the YT community. Thank you for your support of the show. If you are craving more, then head over to Patreon.com/yogitriathlete and join our podcast community.
Namaste - Jess
Meet the Rey's. Tony, Lynne, Sydney, Oliver, and Sophia. These guys are a divinely organized clan of explorers who live the rich itinerary of life with gusto. Fueled by Tony's long-term career in professional sailing, the Rey family has embraced and let go in order to allow for a gorgeous life of adventure to emerge.
They are connected deeply with one another, and when life began to communicate via multiple calendars, they knew they had stepped away from their core. By letting go of stereotypes and social programming, Tony and Lynne embarked on what is their now their normal. The Rey's live part of the year in Newport, RI and spend the other months aboard MV Timbalero, a Huckins 53 Atlantic yacht they so gratefully call their home on the water.
A large piece of this life is Lynne's commitment to education. Through their travel-based learning at home, onboard and abroad, Oliver and Sophia are gaining more knowledge and skill through experiential living than most will their entire lives. Collectively, the Rey's are Citizens of the World. They believe that being in the energy of giving is a crucial part of a well-lived life. They call themselves "Sea Team" and are making a significant impact on the health of our oceans and marine life.
Lynne blows away all misconceptions and lack of understanding when it comes to homeschooling practices. Their beautiful life is a result of following their hearts and not always thinking things through. She shares with us how meditation has not only shifted her life but is a skill that her children consider to be the "go-to" when life gets intense.
Tony and Lynne live of the front which keeps them full speed ahead in living a passion-fueled life. They know that what is best for their hearts and relationship is what is best for their children. This type of living takes bravery and strength. Two qualities steeped in the energy of love which is the lifeblood of this powerful family unit.
We are so honored to share this fantastic family with you all. We are on a mission to create a better world. Sharing stories like this one is so inspiring that we know many of you will take action in your life because of it. This is the trickle effect for which we intend.
Namaste - Jess
Every time we show up to the start line of a race, we walk into the unknown. Endurance sports keep you honest, so it doesn't matter if you have 15 years in the game or just went for your first swim 3.5 months ago. Every race presents its own unique experience.
From forgetting nutrition to water-filled goggles to an absence of running for almost a month leading into Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz, three members of Team YogiTriathlete navigated the unknown this past weekend. And today, we smack it down.
Ben, Amy, and Coach BJ shared their race reports, their challenges, their techniques for staying calm, and their palpable joy for multi-sport. In the YTP smackdown tradition, we dive into the mental aspects of the race and how each athlete ebbed and flowed with awareness. Team YogiTriathlete continues to grow and shine in the world of triathlon, and ultra running. We have a spot waiting for you. Perhaps it is time to break out of the box of limitations that fool us into feeling safe and race your absolute best self every day of your life.
Namaste - Jess
Hot off the heels of crewing for the women's champion at Ultraman Canada, Taryn Spates joins us today for an inspiring conversation on sport and life. She gives us the inside scoop on playing the role of support for our friend Kat at this epic 3-day ultra-distance triathlon and the challenges she faced leading into the event.
Taryn is the author of "35 Before 35, A Runner's Quest" and admits that running has always been a big part of her identity. Recently she has come up to the question that every athlete will experience if they stay in their sport long enough, which is, who are we without our sport? She shares the toughest moment of her recent navigation of injury and the importance of feeling the mucky moments of life entirely.
Taryn is a plant-based triathlete. We talk about her transition from vegetarian to vegan and the benefits that she experiences because of her nutrition choices. She shares her training and race nutrition, including her per hour caloric goals. Taryn is a positive role model for others and is not shy about talking about her struggles. She believes that we have to be selfish to be selfless and for her, that means running, and writing are musts in her life.
We are grateful for her visit to the high vibe studio and are confident you will enjoy her powerful positivity. We hope you will join us in tracking her during her upcoming performance at Ironman Wisconsin this coming Sunday, September 8th.
Namaste -
Once again, the YogiTriathlete community tasks us to address in-depth questions on this month's edition of Ask the YTs. From navigating missed workouts to maximum distance training and nutrition for going longer, we dive into the logistics of what it means to be committed in our athletic endeavors. BJ and I share our experience in the world of endurance sports and how that has affected our relationship over the years. As always, we are grateful for your support in providing us the platform for quality content. Thank you for your submissions.
After several years in the making, we are excited to announce the inaugural YogiTriathlete training camp next February 6-10, 2020. After much research and thought, accentuated by my previous career as an event planner, we say with confidence that this camp is unique in its offerings and comforts. This camp will challenge you from the inside out. It will provide exposure to the high vibrational life that we celebrate every day here in sunny Southern California. Carlsbad is a paradise and training mecca; we are excited to share it with the attendees.
Thank you for tuning in and supporting this podcast. If you have made positive shifts in your life experience as a result of listening to the YTP, consider becoming a Patreon member. Here you will gain access to well over 100 articles of exclusive content.
Namaste - Jess
Anxiety is the fear of fear, and the statistics around this fear have skyrocketed over the last decade. We see heightened levels of anxiety throughout all generations, but the most alarming is that of the IGEN population. IGEN is the generation of humans who have never known a life without technology. Clicks, alerts, and documentation of their every moment's goings-on are dominating lives and driving anxiety statistics through the roof.
Today we sit down with two very passionate yoga instructors who are committed to providing an environment that serves as a front-line defense for anxiety. One that fosters all ages and creates no division.
Philip Urso and Renee Deslauriers are co-owners of Live, Love Teach - Yoga Teacher Training School and Rhode Island Power Yoga. They are co-creators of the Yoga-Based Stress Reduction (YBSR) educational program, and their goal is to identify a more evidence-based approach to yoga classes.
We sat down with them during our recent visit to New England following our guest teaching spot at Rhode Island Power Yoga. This conversation is passionate and a product of pure presence. As microphones toss from one person to another, we hear not only the sounds of passing traffic but also Philip rifling through his piles of scientific research notes. In YTP fashion, this is a power-packed episode. Philip is in his 4th-semester of graduate-level classes at Harvard University. His work focuses on medical and psychological studies on anxiety, yoga, and mindfulness.
In this episode, we talk about our chronically over-entertained society, the staggering statistics of anxiety, the dangers of our culture of "safety-ism" and the critical elements of their YBSR program. Thank you for joining us for another episode of the YTP and for being a part of our collective mission to create a better world.
Namaste - Jess
Native to the coastal shores of Southern California, Sabrina Houston first heard about the Catalina Channel Crossing as a young girl. A swimmer by nature, Sabrina grew up swimming in the Pacific, and there was something about that crossing she couldn't quite shake. It stayed with her for decades and moved deep into her heart where it became a dream she saw to fruition less than two weeks ago.
Sabrina was a competitive athlete through high school and college, she is used to the long training hours and focused determination it takes to realize a goal. She now dedicates her professional life to the endurance athlete as co-owner of PlayTri Oceanside and race director of IRONMAN 70.3 Indian Wells - La Quinta.
The Catalina Channel crossing is one of the Oceans Seven, a list of seven-channel swims around the world that represent some of the most daunting challenges on the planet. In this episode, Sabrina takes us through this epic life event from inspiration through to the dry sands of Sacred Cove beach where she landed after 12 hours, 52 minutes and 12 seconds of swimming.
This conversation covers all the bases and thanks to Sabrina's husband and crew chief, Matt; we gain deep clarity on the challenges she faced for over 22 miles. From cross currents to water temperatures, mental waning, and intense fatigue, we all get a distinct picture of the daunting reality of a significant channel swim such as Catalina.
Thank you to the live audience who attended Friday night's taping of this episode. Thank you to our Patreon supporters who ensure the longevity of this podcast. And, thank you to the YT community at large who are living off the front and furthering our mission to create a better world.
Namaste - Jess
Gerry Rodrigues started swimming in the open water 50 years ago. He has over 100 open water titles and is one of the most experienced swim coaches of our time. He is the founder of Tower 26, a coaching empire that focuses on preparing triathletes to be race-ready. In this episode, he gives us the keys to the kingdom by sharing his well-informed experiential wisdom on swimming for the sport of triathlon.
Gerry understands the needs of the triathlete and the distinct differences between what triathletes bring to the water as opposed to swim-focused athletes. He believes that it is the job of a triathlon coach to calculate the best use of time for their busy triathletes by using swim training sets that maximize time and sport-specific benefits.
The physical is not the only thing we chat about in this episode. We also dive into the subject of doubt and Gerry's experience with feeding the wolves of our minds. He assures us all that both light and dark days are normal for every human being. Gerry is a wealth of information and a confident voice that brings clarity to an arena of much confusion.
This podcast was a long time coming, and we are grateful to share it with the YT community today. We appreciate your support of the show. More ways to support the show are below.
Namaste - Jess
From macro confusion to microbiome, Julieanna Hever shares experiential wisdom and science-based evidence for us all to stew on in this week's episode of the YTP.
Her message is simple; don't over complicate nutrition. We don't need to break it down into its elements. We don't need to pursue protein as if we were deficient and we don't need to deprive ourselves along the way to a more healthy, vibrant life.
We talk about the protein obsession and things one may expect to encounter when transitioning to a plant-based diet. Most people eat a fiber deficient diet, which is the opposite of a plant-based diet, so there most often is an adjustment period. We talk about the best source of fuel for athletes and our unique nutritional requirements.
Armed with hundreds of years of science, Julieanna is on the verge of publishing her 5th book co-authored with Ray Cronise, The Healthspan Solution. She is well-known as the Plant-Based Dietician, and we are all better educated because Julieanna is in the world.
Thank you for tuning in and if you're finding this show is having a positive impact in your life consider becoming a Patreon supporter. Over 125 exclusives already online.
Namaste -
Jess
Life is a rich itinerary that brings us the opportunity to live our fullest expression. When we keep all channels open and deepen our relationship with the stillness inside, we level up towards our fears in a way that is not overwhelming but normal and timely. Knocking down walls and seeing through our mental blocks is the norm on this warrior path. As a yogi on this journey, it is my intention to continually welcome all things. To be grateful every day for all that I have, all that I am and all that is coming my way.
This past weekend I had an experience that answered several of my deep callings. Overcoming fears and deepening my skill to navigate the unknown were just two of the opportunities gifted to me as I paced my friend, Lisa, through the night on route to her first 100-mile finish.
BJ and I dive into my experience in this episode. From my training prep to the deep spiritual work it required. I think we cover it all. It's a distance that continues to slowly move into my field and I am so grateful to have played a role in Lisa's success. Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing in our mission to create a better world through meaningful conversation, purpose, and connection.
Namaste -
Jess
Buckle up, listeners! We dive in from the start and don't come up for air until the last word of this show. Dave is a limitless wealth of body wisdom and holistic perspective. He believes that we should all be confident and thriving in our bodies. Although pain is common, Dave doesn't think that it needs to be the reality from which we live. He helps to ensure these elements of physical freedom by getting to the source of the symptoms. To find where the opportunities are in the body and work with each person to build their sturdiest foundation.
Dave is the founder of Inside Out Strength and Performance. He holds a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and several certifications in strength, fitness, and performance. He understands the body and also how the mind, specifically the stories we tell ourselves, profoundly impacts the health of the body. The very rabbit hole we were hoping we'd go down!
Dave makes a convincing case for staying on top of the signals our bodies send us. You may be inspired to dive into his extensive video library or set up an appointment with him. Either way, get connected with this guy and lets all train healthy for the long-haul.
Namaste -
Jess
George Briones is living off the front and ever passionate about sharing wisdom with his athletes. Through presence and patience, George crafts the very best training plan for each athlete by taking the time to get to know them and understand what makes them tick. George has discovered the power of listening and is most recently learning the power of listening from within.
George comes to us fresh off his decision to let go of his "A" race of the year. The Tahoe 200 is no longer a 2019 goal to achieve, and he's vulnerable in process with us today as we dive into his reasons to let it go. From teenage drug dealer to reconnaissance marine, George's willingness to be vulnerable add to his street cred and ability to continually walk into the unknown.
Thank you so much for tuning in to this week's episode. We are grateful for sharing in community with us.
Namaste -
Jess
The universe conspires to support us, and many times, that means that it will first bring us to our knees. For Tim Dixon, universal support showed up by way of getting fired from his coaching position with the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. As much as it was a shock to him and a significant blow to his ego, Tim and his wife had been looking for an exit strategy for months. This duality is a place where many of us get caught up, and when our life situation shifts, even when we were asking for change, we find ourselves split between the excitement of freedom and the fear of the unknown.
Tim looks back today at that experience as one of the best things that ever happened to him because it called him to a higher level of performance. It required him to surrender control, embark on a journey of inner work, and it taught him how to forgive, which he believes is the ultimate key to freedom. He was forced to redefine himself and play a bigger game in life, the very thing that inspired his business, The Mental Locker.
For 27 years Tim was in the arena of baseball, first as a professional player and second as a coach. He believed baseball was the end-all be-all for this professional life, but since that serendipitous day at the academy, he sees that excellence far exceeds the realm of athletics. Tim is innately competitive, and today, his internal competitiveness is towards how present he can be in his daily life. How can he be precisely where his feet are in a moment, and how can he become a better listener in the moment to assist others in being their best?
This guy has an inner fire that drives him forward, and he is learning how to use that fire with finesse and less agenda than in the past. Tim is an athlete, best-selling author, and a sports psychologist. Tim is a Performance Coach for Buffini and Company, the largest business coaching and training company in North America.
I love this guy, I love his fire, and I love that he was generous enough to not only share a podcast with us but also take questions from our Patreon community. That exclusive content is available now on patreon.com/yogitriathlete. If you're not a Patreon supporter, then head over to make your pledge and gain access to over 100 patron extras. Thank you for your support of the show, we are grateful for you all.
Namaste - Jess
Once again, you guys challenge us to go deep and authentically share our philosophies of life and sport. Today's installment of Ask the YTs covers life purpose, the definitions of success, pre-race food, training nutrition, and flexibility in our race preparations when unplanned life situations put a halt to training. Plus, bonus insight into the upcoming Awake Minds Costa Rica Retreat with Jess, which will take place on April 4-11, 2020.
It's not about what happens in our life; it's how we respond. We can set high goals for ourselves, but without paying attention to how we are moving through the world, those goals may get sabotaged through our blocks and blind spots. We live in a body temple and fueling this temple as it were a temple would remove so much suffering from our training and racing experiences. It is the what, when, and how to fuel our temples, then applying that knowledge that moves us forward on our trajectory to success. Our entire life experience is just one big piece, every thought affecting every action affecting every manifestation in life. Paying particular attention while we train, race, work, parent, live and connect with others is our most influential guide to finding purpose in each moment while fulfilling the collective goal to live our most authentic selves.
Thank you for caring, being a part of and supporting the YogiTriathlete community. We are grateful to each one of you who show up each week to soak in more purpose and presence into your life. Don't just want to be the change you wish to see, be the change. Match the frequency of the change you desire, and your most successful life will no longer elude you. Your most successful life will become your norm, and this is how we create a better world.
Namaste - Jess
Kyla had all the things. Successful yoga studio, steady following, online clothing company, a boyfriend, and she was on the verge of purchasing a condo until a profound directive from within interrupted it all. As it so often does, life from the outside looked idyllic but inside, Kyla was suffering from constant low-level anxiety. She was teaching her iconic Tuesday night Kundalini class one moment then in the next moment, she was home seeking comfort from a tub of ice cream. Her life, as she explains it, felt like reading a book too close to her face. Kyla had no space to breathe and felt claustrophobic in a seemingly perfect life.
She started to listen carefully to the voice that was arising from within, and the idea of being in service became more prevalent until she could no longer deny that she had to make a change. She began by stepping away from teaching, and then one step at a time she found her way into the adventure of a lifetime.
Kyla is currently on a 12-month, 11-city journey to spread the teachings of yoga with underserved communities across the country. Despite a fear-filled voice that tried to keep her small, Kyla is well into her year-long adventure. Today she shares about the ebb and flow of life on the road and the space she has given herself to explore who she truly is. We dive into her story of sobriety and how that led to her becoming a Kundalini teacher. She has planned to run a half marathon in each city along the way and is in pursuit to match her best half-marathon time from college before the end of her trip. A long-time runner, Kyla explains why Kundalini yoga is excellent training for endurance athletes.
We are grateful to have connected with Kyla in Ojai, California last month, and we think you are going to enjoy the variety of topics that we go into during this conversation. Thank you for your support of the show.
Namaste - Jess
Hot off a killer workout, today we bring you, Nick Isabella. Nick is a Lifestyle and Fitness Photographer that actually, does a lot of fitness. He is an Ironman triathlete, course record holder ultrarunner and professional photographer who may be ready to let go of his last thread of safety and follow his dreams full-bore.
Par for the course, we have lots of fun during this chat, and we also dive deep. We get under the covers and discover what it may be that has kept him from going "all in" as of yet. Nick shares insight into fitness as a lifelong endeavor, his wisdom on flow, and the importance of presence in creating the best possible end product. He's well on his way to living his dreams and already has so many signs from the universe that he is on the right track.
His passion for his work is palpable, and we got to experience that first hand earlier this spring when we spent the day with Nick during our recent YogiTriathlete photoshoot. Nick generously shares his beautiful art with the world via his website and social media outlets so definitely put him on your list to follow.
Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting the show as well as our guests. We are all creating a community that is changing the world, and this podcast is leading that charge. If this show has assisted you in shifting your life trajectory or perhaps your day for the better than consider making your pledge on Patreon to assist us in keeping this podcast alive. If that is not in your wheelhouse right now, then please share with your community, leave a review on Apple Podcast and let us know what is resonating most in your life. A sincere thanks to you all!
Namaste - Jess
Kristin Mayer started her morning on a seemingly ordinary Monday utterly unaware that her life was about to change forever. Married for over a decade, she knew it wasn't perfect, but she was in it for the long haul, especially since she and her husband were raising a son together. By all accounts, they were a family and a family they would remain.
At 1 pm that afternoon, Kristin's husband confessed that he was no longer happy and no longer committed to sharing his life with her. So many questions flooded in. Fear, sadness, and shock took her over. In those moments, Kristin experienced everything that one could imagine when their life turns upside down.
What would she do? How would she raise her son? Pay the mortgage? Move on? Heal? Ever love again?
One day at a time and on many days, one moment at a time she rebuilt herself and discovered strength she didn't realize she possessed. Today Kristin finds herself at the top of one of the most recognizable brands in endurance sports and living an active and more love-filled life than ever before. In this episode, we dive into the details Kristin's story and the great community of Betty Designs that was born from this life-changing experience.
This podcast was a long time coming, and we are so grateful that once again, perfect timing showed up. Not only were we able to interview Kristin in person, but we had the opportunity to do it in front of a live audience on location at Canyon's North American headquarters here in Carlsbad, California.
All had a super fun night, and we are incredibly honored to have been invited back to Canyon for another chance to host a live podcast event. Thank you to Jule's Foods and Choice Juicery for supporting the YogiTriathlete podcast by generously serving our guests some of their amazing culinary creations.
Thank you all who attended the live taping and for those across the globe who support the show every week. We are a 100% listener supported podcast, which means, no sponsors and no commercials. If the YTP has assisted you in bridging the gap between inspiration and action, then we ask that you consider pledging on Patreon to help us in sharing essential stories of people looking, finding and living their purpose.
Namaste - Jess
Following an in-depth production tour at GU Energy, BJ and I met with Magda Boulet to record this episode in her office. Magda is Vice President of Innovation, Research, and Development at GU and it all started many years ago when she knocked on the door and asked for help. At the time, Magda was a roadrunner looking to up her game and she knew that sports nutrition was an important piece for her to learn. That day she met the legendary Dr. Vaughan, who created the first energy gel to aid his daughter to reach her peak performance in ultrarunning. Never did Magda think that day, that she would also someday become an ultramarathoner and a GU executive.
Magda grew up in Poland and immigrated to the United States in 1991. She barely spoke English and started her career at Taco Bell in Southern California. She became a US Citizen on September 11, 2001. She attended Cal Berkeley and loved it so much that she never left. It is the town that she still calls home. She ran for Cal Berkeley where she met her husband and fellow runner Richie. A professional marathoner for many years, Magda trained under the guidance of Jack Daniels for over a decade.
In 2008, she placed 2nd to Deena Kastor at the Olympic Trials in Boston and earned herself the honor of representing the United States at the Bejing Olympics. An experience that she describes as her biggest disappointment but also the experience that led to a rebirth of her career and her fastest times.
Magda has generously shared her backstory on several podcasts and we've linked to a few of those below in the show notes so definitely check those out. For this episode, we wanted to tap into her knowledge bank and dive right into sports nutrition. We talk about the biggest mistake that she sees athletes make when it comes to nutrition and her perspective on low carb diets for athletes. We also talk about the importance of longevity in the sport, her relationship with Jack Daniels and her transition from road to trail.
If you've heard Magda before or met her in person then you know that she is genuinely kind and holds a contagious passion for life. She is committed to pulling the best out of herself every day whether that is on the trail, at home or in the office. Although she dreams of sleeping in until 10 am and going on vacation to do nothing, she knows that an active, full life is the only choice for her. We are so grateful to have recorded this episode with her and excited to share it with the YT community.
Namaste -Jess
Episode 158 coming to you live from Healdsburg Running Company. I love everything about this episode, the environment, Skip's energy and the subject matter which is basically, enjoy what you do in this life.
Following suit to family tradition, after many years in the internet start-up world, Skip and his wife, Holly moved up to Healdsburg full-time and opened the town's first dedicated running store. A community first business model has allowed for many folks, near and far to get into the running community and adopt an active lifestyle. To know Skip and his team at HRC is to know that they are the most inclusive, funny and up for anything type of crew. "Couch to whatever" is one of their main mottos.
We caught up with Skip the day after his annual Ironman showcase in Santa Rosa. He completed the race on a borrowed bike and 365 days out from his last training ride. Certainly not recommended but Skip is no rookie to endurance sports. He makes a habit of running at least a few 100-mile runs per year on top of other epic adventures like his upcoming Grand Canyon trip and of course, Ironman Santa Rosa. He is the race director of the Lake Sonoma 50 endurance run and he tells the story of how the great John Medinger asked him to take over. We hope you guys enjoy our chat with Skip and I can assure you, he's just as enjoyable to be with as he sounds.
Namaste -Jess
Today we recap two very different races from two very driven athletes. Mary Knott, YTP veteran, is two weeks out from the SCAR Swim Challenge, a 4-day endurance swim totaling over 40-miles, while Coach BJ is less than 24-hours out from his Ironman Santa Rosa finish.
These two share generously as they answer listener questions on fueling, training, race strategy and the all-important, mental game. Both BJ and Mary are dedicated meditators in search of racing and living their highest and best through endurance sports. Both long-time athletes and coaches, their wisdom runs deep so take notes and act on the inspiration that you receive from these two great stewards of sport.
Thank you so much for tuning in and supporting the show. The YTP would be nothing without its community and for that, we are in deep thanks.
Namaste -Jess
Tu Tran carried the flag during the 13.1-mile run at Ironman Oceanside in honor of Lance Corporal Abe Simpson. At the finish line, he handed the flag off to Simpson's mother Maria to aid in her journey of celebrating her son's life. Tu shares with us the origin story and the powerful moments before the swim start that created an unforgettable experience.
After being a Wattie Ink. team member for years now, Tu recently moved into the role of team manager. On top of his full-time job with Microsoft, a legit and growing resume in endurance sports and a young family at home, Tu signed on to lead the 600 strong Wattie Ink. athlete community as a labor of love. Tu is on a mission to create an impact in the world and do what he can to grow the sport of triathlon. Stepping into this role with Wattie is the logical next step as the cornerstone of the Wattie community is built on making an impact.
We dive into the Wattie culture and talk with Tu about how he balances everything on his plate. We discuss the deep inner work necessary to live your best, doing the work for the sake of the work and the importance of present moment awareness. This is an insightful conversation in which we take a look at the human condition.
Thank you for tuning in, we are in deep thanks for your support.
Namaste -Jess
"The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried" - Stephen McCranie
This was the quote that began Devon's Instagram post this morning following her 2:42 performance on Sunday at the London Marathon. She fought hard, braved headwinds for the final 6 miles and never gave up on herself. Her warrior efforts did not yield a personal best and she's walking away proud but admittedly hungry for more. She knows that she has more inside of her and she's willing to let it all spill out as she continues to find her highest and best with each performance.
Devon is no rookie in this school of life and she has learned so many lessons from not learning the lesson. She is queued into how it all works and knows the universe will continue to line up life situations for her to grow into her most powerful self. Today we get a deep insight into where Devon is now within her journey of life.
If you know of or have heard Devon speak before then you know you're in for some good conversation. In this episode, she opens up about embracing her self-worth and the deep work she has been moving through with the guidance from her health coach Sasha. We talk about the pressures and labels that go along with identifying ourselves as a certain type of athlete and how to live in freedom beyond those labels. Devon lives with fierce bravery and there are many moments of gold in this conversation so pay attention, take notes and definitely have a re-listen or two.
Devon has run more than 40 Marathons and 40 Ultras since 2006. She is a 3-time member of the USATF 100k National Team. She is the 2007 RRCA Marathon National Champion, 2010 50-mile road National Champion. She is a 2-time Olympic Trials marathoner and has a marathon PR of 2:38:55 which she is in pursuit to break. In 2011 she was the 100k National Champion and also that year she set the FKT on the Grand Canyon R2R2R trail with Krissy Moehl. She's taken 3rd place at the prestigious Two Oceans Marathon (56k) in Cape Town, South Africa and 5th in Comrades Marathon (89k, as well as first novice and first American). At the 2015 Javelina 100 she ran the 3rd fastest trail 100 mile ever for a North American running and also won her way into the 2016 Western States 100 via winning Sean O’Brien 100km. She placed 3rd at Western States in 2016. In 2017, she bounced back from injury (sort of) to place 2nd in the 2017 50km Road National Championship, 10th at the 2017 Comrades and then onto the win at the prestigious Leadville 100 mile trail race on a broken foot.
I can go on an on about Devon's accomplishments but the greatest achievements are the ones that she is unearthing from within. We are honored to share this beautiful woman with the YT community, someone who is not afraid to be afraid and someone who will continue to do great things in this life because of her courage.
This past weekend we had four Team YogiTriathlete athletes run the Mendocino 50k. Each one finished, each one set a PR on the course and each one had very different training based on race schedules, experience and life in general. Today, BJ and I smack it down with Jody and team veteran Liz.
BJ takes the helm and guides us into recounting our experiences from Jody's transition to a plant-based diet and proper training to the effects of meditation and race nutrition. Liz and I both ran the Lake Sonoma 50 the prior weekend so we share our unique experiences in recovering in time to both crush our personal best Mendo times.
I hope you guys gain insight from this episode and if you haven't already check out our post-Lake Sonoma 50 interview (link in the show notes) below. If we've left you with questions please reach out so we can get them answered. Team YogiTriathlete is growing again and we are taking on new athletes.
Thank you for your support of the show, we could not do this without such a strong community alongside us.
It all starts with the first step and for YiOu Wang that was a search on the internet for how to run a marathon. She set her sights on running the Boston Marathon after spectating what she describes as "the most amazing spectacle of joy and pain and suffering". Her road to Boston included a qualifying race at the Cape Cod Marathon in 2005 followed by the iconic run from Hopkinton to Bolyston Street the following spring.
At the time, she never thought she would become a sponsored professional runner but as life's purpose has a way of infiltrating our lives, she now finds herself one of the top ultrarunners in the field. She is a 2-time winner of the Lake Sonoma 50 mile, the 2017 Trail 50Km National Champion and a 2-time Marathon Olympic Trials Qualifier. She is on her way back to Western States this year after earning her golden ticket at the Black Canyon 100k in February.
YiOu shares with us what she has learned from her 100-mile experiences and the most important piece to her mental game. We also dive into the lasting impact of a once in a lifetime opportunity that took her and her husband on a 10-month world tour. She opens up about how that trip has changed her perspective and shined a light not only on global issues but those within her own community. YiOu is a fierce competitor yet she always finds things to celebrate even if the result was not what she hoped for.
YiOu placed 2nd at this past weekend's Lake Sonoma 50, losing the win by a mere 7-seconds. A sprint to the finish after 50 unrelenting miles is the only way she was going to give up that win. Next up we will see YiOu run the Transvulcania Ultramarathon which is known as the hardest mountain-ultramarathon in the Canary Islands. Word on the street is that she'll be going into this race untapered as a part of her preparation for Western States in June.
Thank you so much for listening in and for your support of the show. We are a 100% listener supported podcast, no sponsors means no commercials. If you are finding helpful shifts in your life as a result of listening to the YTP please consider making your monthly pledge of $5 or more to become a part of our exclusive Patreon community.
No matter how many times we race a specific distance or show up at a specific race, we will never be able to remove the unknown of race day. The only thing we can really do is to prepare our bodies and minds to receive our greatest success and allow the events of the day to unfold as they will without resistance.
Joe Gambles showed up fit and ready to this year's Ironman 70.3 Oceanside and within minutes of his 56-mile bike leg he flatted and quickly began to lose time on his competitors. After a long wait for bike tech and calming advice from his friend Lawrence of Inner Runner, Joe was back in his breath and on his bike.
This was not Joe's first rodeo and although he can count on one hand how many flats he has had in his career, he knew that staying flexible was key to moving forward. Joe competed in his first triathlon at the age of 12 and at 37 he is a veteran of the sport and well-respected professional triathlete and coach.
Today we're grateful to bring Joe to the YT community. In this conversation, we talk about the importance of keeping a long-term perspective for success in sport, undoing damage in the body and his personal story of transitioning to a fully vegan diet. Previously a life-long vegetarian, Joe shares the changes and benefits he's experienced as a result of getting rid of eggs and dairy from his nutritional regime. Joe also shares his tactics as coach to Heather Jackson, one of triathlon's greatest competitors and his vision for the future.
We are in deep thanks to you all for supporting the show and coming along with us on our mission to create a better world. Joe is for certain living his purpose through the sport of triathlon and showing us all the longevity is possible in doing what we love.We are a 100% listener supported podcast, no sponsors means no commercials. If you are finding helpful shifts in your life as a result of listening to the YTP please consider making your monthly pledge of $5 or more to become a part of our exclusive Patreon community.Namaste -Jess
Moral InjuryThe damage done to one's conscience or moral compass when that person perpetuates, witnesses, or fails to prevent acts that transgress their own moral and ethical values and conducts of code.
In 2004, 20-year-old Tom Voss was deployed to Mozul, Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a part of a scout sniper platoon which meant that many days it was Tom's job to run towards gunfire as he gathered intel for military operations. He never expected to return home alive and early on in his deployment he surrendered his resistance to death. Tom endured relentless exposure to violence and sustained deep moral injury as a result of his wartime experience.
When Tom returned home he was at a loss. He had no idea how to slide back into society after his experience at war. Like many war veterans, Tom turned to alcohol and drugs to support his return to normal life. He was diagnosed and treated for PTSD with pharmaceutical drugs that quieted his symptoms but not his deep moral wounds. For nearly a decade, Tom went through the motions of life while frequently abusing drugs and alcohol to a blackout state. He had very little will to live and high motivation to end his suffering. He knew he had to make a drastic move to save his own life. He knew he needed to begin processing the deep pain and grief that could not be medicated away.
Tom decided to walk to California from Wisconsin in the last ditch effort to save his own life and raise awareness of the injuries of war. The Emmy winning documentary Almost Sunrise chronicles Tom's story and trek alongside fellow veteran Anthony Andersen. This gripping film gifts the audience with a truthful look into war and it's long-lasting effects while documenting the healing process of two men who risked everything for their country.
We are beyond honored to share this episode with the YT community, thank you deeply for your support. Our Patreon community is growing and this medium of support allows us to continue to conduct in-person interviews, like this very episode today.
With three weeks to go until Lake Sonoma 50, BJ and I kick off this installment of Ask the YTs by diving into my training. New shoes, high volume weeks, long taper and nutrition experiments. We stress the importance of rest and recovery as a means to absorb fitness and adapt to training. The hay is in the barn. Now it's specificity, staying healthy and maintaining my engine. 50/50, here we come!
We also flesh out listener questions on intuition and how to be that great athlete that you see in others. We give practical tools to employ immediately to strengthen your intuitive voice and deliberately creating your best performance in sport.
Be sure to check out our Patreon community. There are two new videos up for supporters of the YTP which makes a total of 114 extras and exclusives for YTP patrons. If you believe in our mission to create a better world and want more out of your high vibe podcast experience then head over to Patreon to make your pledge today.
Namaste-
Complete with a half-burnt bike, cotton long sleeve, belt, and beard, Bob Babbitt showed up to toe the line at the third ever Ironman triathlon in 1980. Despite fueling his 140.6 adventure with Hawaiian sweet bread, rootbeer snowcones and a Big Mac Bob crossed the white chalk finish line with an understanding that his life had changed forever.
Through the years, Bob has found great purpose and profession through his dedication to growing the sport of triathlon. He is the co-founder of Competitor magazine, Competitor Radio, the Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series and the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) which was founded on the mission to provide opportunities and support to people with physical challenges, so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics.
Bob is the greatest Ironman historian the sport has known and he continues to keep himself on the cutting edge through his media empire, Babbitville. Bob is one of the best storytellers of all time and in this episode, he gifts us the first-hand goods on the history of Ironman, the back stories on his many business ventures and the playful side of Ironman legends like Scott Tinley and Mark Allen.
Bob is an out of the box thinker who always keeps the greater good in his mind's eye. His service oriented, a natural born connector and we are all more successful in our sport because of this man. We are in deep thanks for all he does to keep the sport of triathlon growing and accessible for all.
It is within the contrast of life that we are given great opportunity to heal but as we navigate the darkness it can be difficult to see these gifts of growth. None of us know what our lives have in store for us and that is why we must revere every moment. For Adam Chaim, it was his health that changed and it started with a normal afternoon of watching football.
Adam was in his mid-30s, healthy, fit and eating "clean". Shoshanah was pregnant with their second child and certainly not expecting the turn her life was about to take. Pain shot across Adam's chest that afternoon and it was just peculiar enough to warrant a visit to the doctor. It started with the detection of a tumor on his kidney and from there heart disease and life expectancy talks. With grim outlooks, they were both overcome with worry about their future as they faced Adam's mortality.
This is a story about healing; as a family, a couple and individually. Adam and Shoshanah have been through all the layers of a life-altering experience. For Shoshanah, some of the battle wounds still feel fresh. Adam's return to health was on the rise while Shoshanah dealt with deep levels of darkness and desperation. She opens up so generously about the PTSD that she has experienced since the life of her husband was threatened.
This is a story of love and a mission to prevent others from having to experience what they did in the prime of their lives. Through their business and podcast, PlantTrainers, Adam and Shoshanah are dedicated to spreading the message of eating well, living well and healing as individuals and families. They are a great resource for families looking to transition their household to plant-based as they have lived through transitioning their young children from picky palettes to plants.
These guys are a wealth of information and will help you keep your finger on the pulse of high-quality living. Thank you for tuning in and supporting the show. This is a 100% listener supported podcast and we are grateful to all who have pledged their support through Patreon.com/yogitriathlete.
Pain is the ultimate motivator for change. For our guest today, Jared Simons, it came in the form of a failed business and faltering health. Waking up every day feeling horrible, working hard and partying hard were his norms of being for years. Covering up what he was not ready to face by band-aiding his pain until one day he decided that he no longer wanted to live in a health-harming manner.
Exercise which turned into triathlon which turned into plant-based eating served as the ingredients for Jared's grand transformation. His now wife, Jen, provided a supportive environment during Jared's rise back to health which gave him the stability to heal and move forward to a better way of life. Jared is the well-known chef at LA's coveted No Name restaurant and he is a plant-based Ironman triathlete.
From a crushed high school dream to opening his first restaurant at the age of 22, Jared has always been a go-getter. He is someone who is always moving forward even through the times of muck. At the age of 26, he opened his second restaurant which served as the guiding light (and dark) to the greatest uplevel of his life. Jared's strong will and drive to be in service of others reminds us all that living an expanded life of possibility is our choice. Just keep moving forward.
This episode ticks all the YogiTriathlete boxes. Meditation, minimizing, plant-based athlete fueling, race day training simulation, and yoga. We cover a bevy of topics and questions in this month's Ask the YTs power hour. Be sure to check out the show notes for the helpful resources we refer to during this episode. Thank you for all the great questions and for your support of the show. Patreon members have new exclusive content to be checking out at patreon.com/yogitriathlete and those who are teetering on the Patreon edge, as a 100% listener supported podcast, we encourage you to dive in today.
We received lots of great feedback on last week's episode with Wendy Garafalo. Don't forget to take advantage of EVOL's generous offer to save 30% on all merchandise through February 28, 2019. Start shopping, use YOGITRIATHLETE at check out and share the love - SHOP HERE.
When we wish for another Now we send a message to the universe that the moment of life we are being gifted isn't good enough. We are denying our connection to Source energy and actively diminishing our trust in the energy that creates worlds. This energy and divinity that we are pushing against is the very same essence of our Higher Self, the one that came here on purpose to heal wounds, learn lessons and grow exponentially. This entire life experience that we all share is for us. Everything that unfolds throughout our life is for our highest and best expression. When we practice embracing all that comes our way we emerge as teachers and guides that empower others to find the very same. As a bonus, riding the waves of life becomes a smoother cruise.
Wendy Garafalo is one of these guides here on earth. Through the life-shifting diagnosis of her son Luca, Wendy has risen up as a teacher in the realm of Autism. We first shared Wendy's story in July of 2017, episode 61, and today we bring her back to the YT community to catch us up on the amazing work she's been contributing to the world. She has immersed herself into Luca's world and through this, opened herself up to educate others, change statistics and lighten the fear for other Autism families as well as Luca's schoolmates.
Wendy is a warrior who continues to follow her heart into the expansion of her work through her inspired business EVOL. As she remains on the leading edge to share the knowledge she has gained, she holds a beginner's mind of life-long learning. Now that Luca is more independent she is moving beyond her obvious reach into a mission to guide others to simply loving what is.
There are people and experiences that show up as being so obvious to BJ and I as the very reasons why we were called to uplift our secure life to move across the county, Wendy is so clearly one of those reasons. We are grateful to hold the space to share her story across the globe through this medium of connection. Thank you for tuning in and please take advantage of Wendy's generous offer to save 30% on all EVOL merch through February 28, 2019. Start shopping, use YOGITRIATHLETE at check out and share the love - SHOP HERE: http://iam-love.org/
To sign up for a 250-kilometer foot race through the Sahara Desert without having run more than 10k in your life, and with only 6-months to train, may seem like total insanity to most people but not to Luke Tyburski. Especially not at the time in his life when he decided to take on the toughest foot race on earth known as the Marathon De Sables. What Luke couldn't see at that time was that he was desperate to escape the deep pain within that was left over from unexpectantly leaving a career he dreamed of since the age of four. He did not have the tools at that time to navigate the intensity of his failed expectations and loss of identity.
So as most people do who avoid the deep pain of sadness, he ran. And he ran. And he ran. Across the Sahara Desert, down Mount Everest and through the jungle on an island off the coast China. Luke quickly moved on, or so he thought, from his identity as a professional soccer player and into the role of endurance adventurer. From running he added cycling and then swimming. In a matter of a few years, Luke took his adventuring to the extreme level and in 2015, crafted his perfect endurance overdose.
The Ultimate Triathlon: Morocco to Monaco in just 12-days included swimming across the Strait of Gibraltar, cycling along the coast of Spain and France and then running into Monaco. The entire event covered over 1200 miles and with his crew of four, Luke made history once again. But it was what occurred following The Ultimate Triathlon that spawned his greatest achievement yet.
Luke's recently released book Chasing Extreme is an up close and personal look at the story of a guy who will never give up. His vulnerability is palpable as he gives us a very raw perspective into his struggles, realizations and healing that have taken place over his lifetime. He describes the writing of this book as better than therapy and shares with us just how painful it was to relive the darkest of times in his life.
He has since entered the light and he now has clarity on how he wants to live his life. In this episode, he shares guiding principles and sage advice with our listeners. We have been following Luke for a while now and we are incredibly grateful to have connected with him to share this podcast with the YT community.
CONTEST ALERT Please share this episode on your social channels this week, tag both YogiTriathlete and Luke Tyburski and get yourself in the running to win a signed copy of Chasing Extreme. This book is a must read and we are glad that Luke chose the bravery it took to complete it. Winner announced Friday, February 15, 2019
Truth is fluid. There is nothing to hide from or pretend to be when we are living in our truth. There are no blocks to our dreams or limits to our expression when we live from a place of truth. Truth is freedom. It means we can be in the same room as all the people in our lives and not have to worry about how to act or what to say.
So many of us live from behind a mask, concerned about what others think. We can get so consumed with who we are supposed to be that we lose ourselves in the process. Truth is simplicity and it is always waiting patiently within us to be lived.
For years, Matt Llan played different roles for different people at different times. He couldn't be in the same room with all the people in his life on account of the various masks he would need to wear. He was in a battle with himself and living in between his truth and the pressure of who he thought he was supposed to be. Until the day, when he broke down his biggest barrier. It was on his 21st birthday that he gave himself the greatest gift ever, truth.
Matt is a professional marathoner with a half marathon PR of 1:01 and full marathon best of 2:12:28. Under the guidance of Ryan Hall, he is in pursuit of breaking the 2:10 barrier in his sport. Matt shows up every day to get the work done but like never before, he has realized that the physical is not enough. He is bravely diving deep within to uncover his best self. The Matt that he knows has already accomplished everything he dreams of.
We are so grateful for the depth to which Matt was willing to go in this conversation. We hope you enjoy the show and thank you for your support of our mission to create a better world.
Today is yet another deep conversation on sport and life from the perspective of yoga and we thank you for your inquiries. Staying curious is an integral piece of living yoga as a way of life (aka much easier life) so don't hesitate to send your questions anytime. We are on this mission together and as a collective, we are creating a better world.
Every time we choose a breath over an automatic reaction or we face a fear or practice gratitude, we are contributing to the betterment of the world. Practicing present moment awareness as a way of life will bring about these choices more naturally until they become your norm. A little bit every day over a long period of time is the recipe. Episode by episode you will gain more knowledge about seeing life from a higher perspective.
Keep coming back, marinate on what resonates and leave the rest.
We are not here to change or self-evolve anyone but ourselves and the motivation to do so must come from within. We also cannot change for others and expect life-changing results. There is no other sustainable fuel for change than the fire that lies inside each one of us. Some are born aware of it and for others, it comes in time or lifetimes. Most often the biggest changes come out of pain and darkness. Perhaps these have the most staying power behind them.
Stephen and Julie turned vegan over a decade ago as an act of solidarity. Julie's stepmother was finding a higher quality of life from eating a vegan diet while being treated for cancer. In support of her health, they shifted their diet and felt a positive difference which they never forgot. Over time, old behaviors were given life and slowly, meal by meal they fell away. They did not, however, fall off their path when they started eating animal products again. They were exactly where they were supposed to be. As beings on this journey of life, we are always exactly where we are supposed to be for our highest level of learning.
Life ensued for Julie and Stephen. They were busy restaurateurs and parents, they were in the flow of a flourishing life or so it seemed. Julie had not been feeling well for a while and although deep inside she knew that something was seriously off balance, she did not want to be sick. Avoiding the doctor's office, avoided a diagnosis. She played this game until symptoms worsened to a point where she was left no other choice but to seek health again.
Our conversation today, tells the story of their journey from turning vegan then turning away from being vegan to becoming vegan again. They open up about Julie's diagnosis of cancer and the hauntingly efficient pathway for care. They bring us in on an intimate level from the moment that Stephen found out that his wife was ill to the unforgettable moment when Julie faced her cancer with her own two eyes.
We are grateful that they are here today to share their incredible story and we are grateful that it brought them to the birth of Jules Foods. BJ and I have been in love with their cashew brie cheese since the first bite. They were so kind to spoil our audience with a beautiful platter at our Canyon Live Podcast event and there were so generous to take us into their trust for this episode.
I'm honored to share these beautiful people with you today. Thank you for tuning in.
Show up every day. Whatever it is that you are going after in life, show up every day to take the next step. We know this simple recipe works but simple does not always translate to easy. Every time we show up we create momentum in the universe for our life. Whether you are an age group athlete or professional, we are all subject to the human condition in which motivation waivers and belief in self will rise and fall like a kid on a trampoline. As we gain more experience from showing up, we gain confidence. The physical evidence shows up and we reap the fruits of our labor.
We know in order to reach our goals, we must face up to everything that challenges us and in this episode, we dive into the wisdom of two veteran professionals in the sport of triathlon. Carrie "Cazz" Lester and Scottie DeFilippis share their wisdom with the YT community as they open up about their differences as athletes, Scottie being the "trainer" and Carrie being the "racer", tips for staying present and not getting caught up in the hype of the mind.
These two athletes have seen great success in their careers and are now methodically looking towards their future as athletes and coaches with Keep It Simple. We are grateful to YTP guest Jess Cerra for connecting us and to Canyon Bicycles for hosting such a great event for our communities to come together.
There is no one that I have heard of who has followed their passion into a career and not been introduced to its best friend, the hustle. I also have never heard of anyone who has followed their passion into a career and not embraced the hustle. I believe that is because passion, by its nature, is such a dominant state of being that the pursuant individual is placed, by default, at its beck and call.
Passion easily takes place of sleep and food. It serves as the nectar of life and energy itself. Living a passion-fueled career is not for the faint of heart as walking this path promises to bring adversity and opportunity for growth. It will take you to the place where most people walk away in lieu of uncertainty and it will show you its power of light and dark in equal force. For those of us who have come out the other side, hopefully unscathed, find a momentum so powerful that is harder to abandon your dreams than to continue the hustle.
This is where we find our guest today. Talbot Cox is in the slipstream of his creation and knows there is no other direction to move than forward. He has faced adversity and triumphed. He has seen how fast a life savings can dwindle and how quickly a financial situation can turn into debt. Following his passion with full-gas has also caused a major disruption in the norm of sports media and with that, many people are not supporters of his mission but this has not stopped him. His intention is not to upset. His intention is not to hoard the knowledge that has afforded him exceptional success in a short period of time. Talbot is very clear on his intention and that is to grow a sport that he holds very close to his heart and create abundance for as many involved as possible along the way.
Through his passion-fueled life, there is no doubt that Talbot will exceed every dream in this life. He is certainly someone to follow into the future. Thank you for tuning in to this episode and for supporting YTP as a whole. This podcast is 100% listener supported, please check out the show notes for ways to increase your support and assist this community in creating a better world.
Moving into 2019 means we are moving into year four of the YogiTriathlete podcast. We are so grateful to this community and for all the contrast that we have experienced to land us where we are today. This listener supported podcast is a grand success not because of one or two people but because of every single one of you, our guests and "us" as a collective. Ask the YTs continues to grow as an audience favorite and today may just be one of my favorite episodes. Flow state, motivation, fear, nutrition, mindfulness. In this episode, we cover all those topics and more.
We are on the heels of the release of our second cookbook, High Vibe Pie: Pizza Night Finally Done Right and we see that there is great change on the horizon. Athletes are stepping up and speaking up for their right to not just achieve their goals but master them through true mental training and high vibrational nutrition. I see it in the questions we receive from you all that your light within is shining brighter. This light is the exact thing that is creating a better world and we encourage you all to keep living the example of what you wish to see in the world.
Stay on this path. Stay curious about your belief systems and the words you choose. There is no effort on this path that is a waste so remain steadfast in living your most limitless Self. We are right by your side.
Let's all commit to making 2019 shine brighter than any year before us in history.
After four years as a professional track and field athlete, Chelsea Sodaro began her triathlon career at the age of 28. Starting out with ITU draft-legal racing, Chelsea found her love for triathlon but not necessarily her end game. Chasing a long time dream of becoming an Olympian continued to fuel her but also a calling to long-course triathlon began to build.
While racing short-course, Chelsea lived in San Diego and her husband remained at their home in the Bay Area. The separation was starting to weigh on Chelsea but she still had goals to achieve. In June of this year, she did just that when she won the Huatulco ITU World Cup. Crossing the finish line in first place was something she dreamed about but when she opened her eyes, it was glaringly obvious that her husband wasn't there and she was ready for a change.
She knew that racing long course would allow her more freedom to train while living at home. She would also be relieved of the demanding travel and racing schedule of ITU. She made the switch and became a PurplePatch athlete under the guidance of Matt Dixon. Less than three months later, she was on the start line at Ironman 70.3 Waco. A day that would make her rookie status shine brightly. Her nutrition was a fail, she received a penalty on the bike and fell apart in the first part of the run. Her longest running race leading into Waco was a 15k. Much about Chelsea's day in Waco was a date with the unknown but, as all long-course athletes know, when you're covering that distance anything can turn around. In the second half of 13.1-mile run, Chelsea ran herself from 11th position down to 3rd and held on to a third place podium at her first ever 70.3 triathlon.
She admits that she learned a lot that day and knows that with every race she will leave with takeaways for growth. She walked away with her lessons and got back to work in prep for her season closer, the inaugural IM 70.3 Indian Wells.
A picture perfect day shined down on the more than 2,000 athletes that race morning. Cold water temperatures were the topic on hand but Chelsea was unaffected. Coming out of the water in 3rd place put her in perfect position to be relevant from the start of the pancake flat bike. Bringing that famous ITU speed, Chelsea put down the second fastest bike split in the female pro field and the fastest run split getting her the overall win.
A big part of Chelsea's purpose in life is to see what she is capable of and being that she is a fiercely competitive athlete, I'm sure that she will continue to pave her path with tenacity. She's not afraid to jump into the unknown or be flexible with her vision and that is why we're sure that we'll be seeing more greatness from this athlete in the future.
We are grateful to Chelsea for opening up about her win at Indian Wells today and for all of you who make this listener supported podcast possible. Keep tuning in, keep sharing the show with your community and please leave a review on iTunes.
A total of 321.6 miles of swimming, biking and running on the weekend after Thanksgiving is the Ultraman World Championship. Three-time podcast guest, two-time Ultraman official finisher, multi-time Kona qualifier, age group champion and experienced endurance competitor and crew member, Mary Knott is a serious badass. Inside and out, this girl is getting the work done and crushing her goals.
She has the skill to bring a goal into her life and focus on it steadfastly for a long period of time. Whatever it takes, she's all in and she is not afraid to fail. She says that she hasn't found her limits yet and I don't believe she will. Mary is a dedicated meditator. She communes every day with her higher, limitless Self. Over time that limitlessness will soak deeply into your cells.
Building from a desire to get more out of everything in life, Mary committed to a meditation practice in 2017. She has written about her experiences with meditation and wrote a special post on mantras for the SmashFest Diaries .
Mary's journey is unfolding so perfectly and we're so grateful that she chose to come back to share about her epic Ultraman flow. Thank you for tuning in and supporting the show.
Common social programmings such as money is the root of all evil and we can only make money from a stable paycheck are great disservices to our ability to align with abundance. Money is energy and bank balances are simply a reflection of our alignment with money. If what you see doesn't make you feel good then you can decide if you are ready to dissolve the beliefs that no longer serve you.
We all have belief systems around money and they were formed at a young age. They have been solidified through our actions which create the physical evidence of our financial state. Yet it is our response to money-related situations that should be tended to closely because they are the key to recognizing and shifting the reality of our alignment.
Where the brakes really lock-in is within the amount of weight we put on that physical evidence and how that evidence makes us feel. Are we frightened about where the money will come from and are we taking action from that fright? For many of us, the answer is yes. Unfortunately, that mindset only creates more of what we don't want which is financial scarcity.
There is no lack in the universe and abundance is more than just a bank balance, it is a state of being. Abundance is joy. Abundance is appreciation. Abundance is gratitude. Abundance is feeling good and the physical evidence of creating abundance in our lives is a better financial state.
The model of "work hard to make money" is definitely a model that works but as it states, it's hard. There is another model that works very well, in fact, it works every time and that is alignment. It means cleaning up your inner house, facing your fears around money and healing the barriers that keep you from living a joyful, grateful, abundant life across the board.
I'm so excited to have Goldyn Duffy back in the studio today. She has lived in the flow and the scarcity of finance. Through her own deep commitment to meditation and mindful living, she has ended the patterns that do not serve her and now lives in a state of deep trust and faith that everything always works out. She shares with us her great wisdom of the abundance mindset as BJ and I take a further investigation at our early engrained belief systems.
Thank you for supporting the show. Please share this episode with everyone that you feel will benefit. So many of us are suffering every day in our relationship to money and the thing is, we have the power to start the shift right now.
With just enough money to pay rent and buy food, Branden and his son left their environment of negativity and gang affiliation for a new shot in San Diego. After years of falling in step with his surroundings, he followed a voice from inside that told him, "there's a better way".
The change of environment was a must in Branden's situation and it was a great start, but his unhealthy lifestyle habits were a bit harder to shake. He eventually topped out at 270 pounds with much dis-ease in his life. All the while, the voice still called to him, "there's a better way".
Then, just about 4 years ago, he woke up mentally locked-in and ready for a massive change.
Today Branden is a shredded powerhouse, topped off with plenty of plant-based muscle. He's turned health into his lifestyle and his profession. He's educating his children about the benefits of eating a plant-based diet and he's inspired many to take a risk in the name of health.
He's getting the work done every day. He's living the example and he's serving a great purpose in the world. We're psyched to have him on the show today. Thank you for your support.
If you feel inspired after listening to Branden's podcast then we challenge you to take action and move closer to your goal.
Joy is our birthright yet within the complexity of our world, I think a lot of us have lost touch with this truth. Joy does not have to be reserved for the days we wake up feeling good. It does not have to be separate from our professional experiences. Joy can be the foundation from which we operate our lives. It is a state of being that can be applied to everything we do in our day including the things we "don't want" to do.
We need to practice joy. We need to remind ourselves that we have the right to feel good and bring that back into normalcy. A mindset of joy brings about feelings of excitement, power, and love to all life situations. Gail Alofsin is a master of applying joy across the board of her life while working for the betterment of all. Within moments of listening to this podcast, you will feel the love and joy that exude from her thoughtful words.
BJ and I have known Gail longer than we have known each other and we're so happy to share her with the YogiTriathlete community. This conversation is about leadership and gratitude, service and connectedness. Gail is someone who works for the love of it and not for the money yet she has a bevy of impressive titles and accolades that follow her. She is an internationally recognized speaker that never planned on being a speaker. She is the living example of doing what you love and allowing the rest to follow. It will be hard not to leave this podcast with feelings of gratitude and inspiration. Then it's up to you to continue to take action on those feelings and create your world.
The unknown is what scares most of us out of having an experience. But what if we adopted a new mindset about what lies in the abyss? One that is full of excitement about the possibilities that exists in the unknown. One that is sewn from the fertile ground of freedom that defies the needs of certainty demanded by the mind. And one that allows us to grow closer to the person we seek to be from deep within.
How would that change your life?
As we hear today from someone (me) who has made it her life's purpose to seek the unknown and get to the other side of fear, I can tell you that it allows in great amounts of joy and gratitude. As humans, we are here to pass through experiences in our lives with courage. We are on this earth for a limited time and to not live my fullest expression is the ultimate case of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
There is an expansive relationship with life that patiently waits for each one of us. It requires letting go, surrender and a shit ton of bravery. These qualities are available to every single one of us and once you walk far enough down this path you realize, there's no other way to live. It is our Divine Right to get to the other side of fear, to make our challenges our strengths and to regain ownership of our minds.
Today's episode is a little glimpse into how I have taken this into my racing and how a meditative practice has changed me on a cellular level. It's such an incredible honor to be the host of this show, to entertain your questions, to receive your support and to show up every single week to share the unique journeys of others. With deep gratitude and thanks, I give you our latest offering from the YTP.
Every quarter Brian Rose received his salary and watched his bank account increase. By all accounts of the American Dream, he believed in and pursued from a young age, his happiness balance should have also increased with each deposit. The opposite was true. The more money he made, the more disconnected he felt. With each increase, he received a decrease until he became so out of balance that drastic change was his only option.
Brian walked away from it all. The money, the high-roller lifestyle and everything that went along with it. He left it behind in search of what we all inherently seek, a connected and happy life. A life that Brian has since found through London Real, his new media, big risk venture that has consistently asked him to move beyond his comfort zone and hard limits. A medium where he gets to explore human connection and share the stories of "People Worth Watching".
It was from this new twist in his career that Brian has found a life that he never dreamed he would live. One that includes a beautiful wife and two children. A life that has since transformed Brian into an endurance athlete and into one of the stars of London Real's latest movie release, IronMind. This is where our conversation today is centered.
We dive deep and get real with Brian during this episode. From his fast lane NYC life to his cathartic Ironman journey and all that was revealed along the way. Brian is an easily relatable guy who speaks eloquently about the tough times and what he's gained on account of the contrast in his life.
We are grateful to have been connected with Brian through a YTP listener and we are grateful to every single one of you for supporting the show. Keep living large every day and as our guest today recommends, "take more risk than you think you can manage" because the reward on the other side is never less than life-enhancing.
This is an excerpt from our August 2017 episode of Ask the YTs where Jess opens up about a very intense experience where everything she believed in was questioned. She describes it as a universal ass-kicking. Listen and see how she navigated the darkness.
In February 1982 on the big island of Hawaii, a young graduate student by the name of Julie Moss showed the world what it means to never give up. Having entered the Hawaii Ironman as a means to complete her graduate school thesis and finish up her degree, Julie never dreamed that she would find herself in the lead that day.
She held her position strong until the final half mile when signs of severe dehydration began to set in. Eventually, her body gave out on her with just yards to go and she collapsed to the ground. What ensued became athletic history and made Julie a legend in the sport of Ironman triathlon.
In this episode, Julie describes a moment of surrender when she didn't feel she could make it another inch and then the immediate wave of willful energy that came over her to get up and move. From this will, she was able to get to her hands and knees and crawl herself down the shoot and over the line. These moments are emblazoned in the sport Ironman triathlon and proof to us all that anything is possible.
Julie is famous for that crawl and even named her book, Crawl of Fame, after her iconic experience but there is so much more to Julie than those last few yards of the race. Thirty five years later she is still competing in triathlon, she is a dedicated yogi, a mom and a woman on a mission to serve more in her life. We dive into all of this in today's episode and we are so grateful that you are decided to tune in and support the show.
Many small wins every day add up to your greatest success in life. These wins are as simple as catching yourself going down a road of negativity and self-doubt and they may be as obvious as crossing the finish line first. Wins come in many different forms, it's realizing that none are better than the other that levels the playing field. For every win, we find a deeper alignment with ourselves and become more skillful on our epic journies in this school of life.
Diet, training, race execution and everything else that we go after in this life, it's imperative to our success to celebrate all of the victories along the way. We do not live in a society that fosters the inner Self. We are constantly barraged with messages of needing more which creates a self-identification with the concept of lack. This identification leads to beliefs that we need more information to make a decision, more training to go the distance and more than what we have before we can get started. When in truth, we already have everything we need including a self-contained feedback system that consistently directs us into alignment with our fullest expression in this life.
I would say that alignment is the basis of our conversation today as we take listener questions on diet and nutrition, training and racing. BJ and I give updates on our own training as I am now in the specificity window of my third ultramarathon of the year and BJ is entering his 5th week of self-imposed bike camp.
We appreciate the listen and we are grateful to be the stewards of this listener support podcast. We are all a part of the mission to spread the message of purpose through the YTP and we can't imagine a better crew to team up with than all of you.
I believe that we are all brought into this world with the inner knowing that there is something far greater than our physical existence. For some, that knowing is buried deep and may never be fully realized in this life. For others, it is strong and the process to find our way can be frustrating. In a world that does not foster the intuitive self, many of us get lost trying to figure out our authentic expression.
Looking for answers in the external world left Ken Martin anxious and alone while his inner knowing screamed to be expressed. His seeking turned to defiance and in dis-ease he chose drugs and alcohol to quiet his pain at a young age.
Performing well in school was not Ken's issue, in fact, academics and athletics came very easy to him. His struggle was in his search for more knowledge of what the Bhagavad Gita calls the big Self. The external world provided him with no answers and so he continued to use drugs and alcohol far beyond their efficacy. The very formula that Ken defines as addiction.
Ken grew up in a Catholic family with a spiritual mother. He says meditation was always a part of his process. He describes his ego as relentless but it is clear that his discipline to practice overrides his active mind. As Ken says, "What active mind wants to meditate?" On most mornings he notices that his mind does not want to meditate but he does it anyway. His understands that he does not have to succumb to the internal dialogue of the mind. He describes meditation as more difficult than getting sober.
Today we go deep. Ken opens up not only about his process of addiction and his search for truth but also the after-effects of a massive heart attack that he suffered just over five years ago. I'm honored to share our guest and his story with you today. Thank you so much for tuning in, supporting the show and further the YogiTriathlete mission to create a better world.
Science has shown us that meditation can have a calming effect on the body and mind but in this episode, we get confirmation that even the greatest skeptic cannot deny. From the mouth of our very own, 11-year old YogiTriathlete, Jenny Fernandez, we hear that her meditation has helped her feel calmer not just in the moment but in her life overall. Jenny, like the rest of us, is finding her way and figuring out this game of life. Lucky for her and her family and for Team YT, she is listening to a higher calling at a much younger age than most.
Plant-based triathlete and yogi, Jenny visits us today in the podcast studio to share her recipe for happiness. She joined Team YT earlier this year after being inspired to pursue multi-sport by watching her mom train and complete her first 70.3 earlier this summer. Having just finished her third triathlon of the season Jenny shares her plans for the future, her tips for getting to the other side of fear and her simplistic reasoning for turning to a vegan diet.
We are so excited to share this gem of a girl with the YT community today. This listener supported podcast is here to share stories of purpose and to remind us all that although our lives may look different, the essence of our experiences are exact and that not one of us is ever alone in this walk.
With his crew ready for action and the window for success narrowed to one-day, Trent jumped into the chill and chop of the English Channel. He began his journey to France with an unrelenting will after two years of financial, mental and physical preparation. With currents stronger than what most of us would brave, Trent followed through one stroke after the other.
All was on track, including the random selection of disco ongoing in his mind as a means to stay mentally sharp. With waves coming from every direction, Trent constantly adapted to the conditions of the moment until the one thing he could not have prepared for entered his body.
Hour by hour he checked into his reality. He knew he could keep going but for how long? The miles ahead were undeniably in question. He thought of his crew. He thought of the spinal cord injury community that he was honoring and he no doubt remembered the moment in his life sixteen years ago when everything changed.
It was a full-moon night, after a stressful day at work on September 23, 2002, that Trent set off in his kayak completely unaware that his life was about to take a dramatic shift. On his return paddle home, he noticed a boat that was a few miles away. Not feeling a threat, Trent continued until the hum of the boat's motor grew louder. He looked back again to see that is was on a direct track towards his kayak. Knowing that he had just moments to act, he started waving his paddle and yelling loudly to alert the boaters of his presence. The boat continued towards him, he knew he was going to be hit.
Trent, an adept storyteller, generously shares the haunting details of this fateful night. From his descriptive recount of being hit to the moment when he realized he was paralyzed to his physical recovery and his struggle with forgiveness, Trent takes us behind the scenes of his life-changing experience.
From his hospital bed, he set a strong resolve not only to walk again but to check off all the items from a list he created while paralyzed. Over time and through dedicated rehabilitation, Trent regained his ability to walk. He has made peace with the men that hit him that night and he has gone on to raise over $100,000 for the spinal cord injury community through multiple endurance swim events.
This conversation is about resiliency, forgiveness and living a life that goes beyond our personal desires. Trent understands that the greatest joy in life comes from a life that is lived for the good of all. I am so honored to be connected with such a great man. Thank you for tuning into to this episode show, please share with your communities and assist us in further spreading this message of purpose.
One of the most flawed belief systems of our modern day society is that hard work is the only way to get anywhere in life. On the contrary, it just so happens that the universe requires the act of allowing to fully realize all that lies in the imagination. Now that doesn't mean we sit around binging on Netflix expecting more commas in our bank balance. It is through the fine balance of acting and allowing that deliberate manifestation will occur. We must have a relentless focus and our belief of what is possible must be beyond doubt but the importance of taking time to simply allow, between taking action, cannot be overlooked.
The universe works best when all is in flow. If we are pushing through our life like we are pushing a boulder up a hill we will weaken our resolve to create from our deepest calling. If we are working 100-hours a week and trying so hard to make something happen from exhausted energy we are calling in more suffering and exhaustion into our life. The action found in inaction or allowing is the missing piece for so many who are wanting to create. In my experience, it takes just as much strength to allow as it does to act. It's a new concept to our society but not to the universe, maximum benefit from minimal effort was set as soon as the universe began.
Today we dive in deep with our dear friend Nola Ganem to unveil her story of finding finesse in creation. Nola has used her strong resolve to stand up to her fears and she has opened her eyes to her excuses which has allowed her to step into the exact reason she came to this earth. This conversation is deep and we highly recommend a second or third listen. Take notes and soak up the wisdom because this woman has been through the gauntlet more than once in order to continue to uplevel her frequency to create.
Nola is the founder of One World Cacao which offers 100% Single Origin Eco-Forested Ceremonial Grade Cacao from Guatemala in order to support its global and local wellness, educational, and trades programs. If you have listened to this podcast before then you know how much we love Nola's cacao. But it goes deeper than the undeniable benefits of this "food for the shift", One World is on a mission to provide an authentic cacao experience for the North American market through empowered education, experience, outreach, and adventure. They serve as the bridge to connect hearts and minds, communities and cultures. Nola's purpose on this earth is no doubt steeped in removing the illusion that we are separate by creating deep connection across the globe.
This is one woman's story of manifesting her heart's desire and all that it has taken to get her to where she is today. Nola is a healer by nature and we are so grateful to her for sharing her wisdom with the YT community.
We are back! BJ and I come together in this episode to cover a variety of topics that fall ever so perfectly under the YogiTriathlete umbrella. Thank you everyone for your support of the YTP and for sending in your inquiries. We are grateful and would love to hear more from you. Keep those questions coming and we'll address them on upcoming shows.
In this month's installment of Ask the YTs we explore:
- when to push a workout and when to call it a day
- the relentless female cycle
- strengthening the aging athlete
- healing beyond the physical
- feeling less than 100%
- yay or nay on meditation apps
- fitting it all in
- cultivating gratitude
- refocusing on running
By our nature, we look for solutions to what ails us in life. For some, it is exercise. For some, it is drugs. For some, it is prayer and for some it is alcohol. We can look at those solutions and judge that some are better than others but the fact remains, the beholder of those actions is seeking a solution.
For Adam Hill, alcohol was his solution. It led him to a feeling of serenity. It hushed his anxiety and it appeared to be consequence free. It was perfect and he practiced it. His involvement with using alcohol as his solution deepened over time. It extended past college, past marriage and past having children. It stood the test of time and continued to appear to be consequence-free.
He managed it well. He created rules about when he could drink and when he couldn't drink based on what he felt was best for his life and family. These rules kept everything in check until the time when the alcohol cried louder than the rules and one by one they began to break. The final rule to be broken was the one that declared, "I will never drink and drive".
On a fate filled morning that started out with a desire to go surfing, Adam drank himself into an alcohol-induced blackout and got behind the wheel of his car. Thankfully this event ended in a non-fatal accident and arrest that served as the catalyst for Adam to change his life. Sitting in the jail cell facing a flurry of consequences, he knew that his solution had run its course. He knew he had to stand up to the results of his actions and take back charge of what alcohol had claimed.
Through triathlon and fitness, Adam transformed from what he describes as a "worthless alcoholic" to one of the top age-group triathletes in the world. Adam is a coach, a husband, a father, a triathlete and an example to all that there we are never too low to make change for the better.
Thank you for your support of the show, we are incredibly grateful when you choose the YTP. If you are finding that the show is influencing your choices and your ability to live your highest and best please become a patron on Patreon. Your support ensures that we can continue our podcast mission to share stories of purpose and increase connection in the world.
In deep, cold water in the pitch dark, a small group of athletes began their day by having no idea where the first buoy was located. All they knew was to hug the shore. James said, "Go!".
Five strokes in BJ was overcome with evidence to give up.
A 105-mile bike to Brighton Resort from Jordanelle Reservoir with just shy of 9,000 feet of vertical climbing was on tap for those who made it through the swim. The last ten miles broke many competitors as they made their way up and over Guardsman Pass. You can find out more information about Guardsman Pass on the non-profit website, dangerousroads.org.
BJ came into T2 and cried.
High into the Wasatch Mountains, a two-loop technical trail run with 6,000 feet of climbing awaited those who felt ready to go deeper.
BJ was one of them.
After a lengthy fog delay, Antoine did what he didn't think possible. He finished his first Ironman, he ran his first marathon, he crushed his goals and placed fourth overall male professional on the heels of Matt Russell and Lionel Sanders. He led the swim with no other competitors in sight except female professional Lauren Brandon who was also dominating the swim.
Antoine wasn't even thinking about placing at Ironman Mont Tremblant. He was focused on executing his own race and that's it. After all, it was a super stacked field and he hadn't even finished an Ironman yet, not to mention that just days before he was unsure if his body would be race ready.
Antoine is not only a professional triathlete, he is for sure a YogiTriathlete. He shares his plant-based transformation story, his practice of being in the Now and the ultimate, getting zen with peeing. For Antoine, race day is about forgetting the numbers and getting after it. He believes in training your weakness and racing with your strengths and that eating a plant-based diet is allowing him to compete at the highest level. We're so excited to share this guy with you today, he's compassionate, he's badass and he's definitely a professional to watch closely over these next several years.
Thank you for listening in and supporting the show. We are grateful.
Returning guest Mary Knott, a.k.a. Finding Kona, and Head Coach BJ smackdown their recent performances at Ironman Mont Tremblant. Tune in and get the inside scoop from these two top age groupers in the Ironman field. Learn about Mary's complete derailment at the beginning of her season and how she used her yogi mind skills to come back stronger than ever. Mary and BJ run down their experiences while diving into listener questions to quell the curiosity around what it takes to put together the perfect race.
Mary was the main event of YTP 50 where we recapped her journey to finding her aloha at the Ironman World Championships in 2016. Since that day she has gone on to a 2nd place finish Ultraman Australia and to being welcomed to the Ultraman World Championships that will take place in November 2018. Mary is a dedicated meditator which has taken her innate ability for deep focus to an entirely new level. She is an athlete to watch and learn from as she continues to get stronger mentally and physically every single day.
Coach BJ will continue his path towards finding his Kona qualification as he finished just 7 minutes off the last qualifying time in Tremblant. His puzzle pieces continue to show us that he is Kona worthy but they have yet to all come together in one race. We believe, without doubt, that this will happen at IM Santa Rosa 2019 where, like Mary, he will fulfill his calling to the big island.
Thank you for choosing to tune in to this episode, let us know what you find helpful or extra interesting. Please share this podcast with your communities and leave a review on iTunes to further assist us in our mission to create a better world.
Sam Shorkey became an animal ambassador while growing up in a log house in the middle of the forest in Canada. She became friendly with the local wildlife, especially the droves of deer that would come onto the property. Every year when hunting season rolled around she would hear gunfire and then ultimately have to mourn the loss of her friends.
Her parents were traditional country folk and a typical meal included meat, potatoes, and a vegetable. Over time, Sam made the connection between what was on her plate and the friends in her backyard. Once this clicked, she declared her veganism to the world and the rest is history.
Until that one time when she made history.
Fast forward from the 1990s to 2014 when Sam became the first-ever vegan World Naturals Bikini Pro. This was the win that launched her career as a vegan fitness coach and gained her much attention in the bodybuilding world. She decided to quit her extra jobs and go "all in" to create the now popular Jacked on the Beanstalk empire.
We came to know Sam a few years back when BJ hired her to help him muscle up for Ironman racing. Sam is a live wire, she is truthful and not afraid to shine a light on the dark side of aesthetic perfection. We dive into nutrition and she shares with us some of her favorite sweet tooth indulgences. We talk about how to build muscle on plants and navigate the gassiness that can surely accompany a bulked up vegan diet. But arguably what is closest to Sam's heart, is her commitment to mindfully leading her clients to achieve a cut physique without slaughtering their self-love.
Thank you so much for tuning in for this episode. This is our first shot at remote interviewing so please let us know what you think. The in-person interviews certainly cannot be duplicated but we are always keeping channels wide open over here and we didn't want to miss the opportunity to connect you with the wealth of vegan muscle wisdom that is Sam Shorkey.
It's a deeply flawed belief that more is always better when it comes to training. We've heard it all so many times.
"I have to run the full distance to know that I can do it". "I need to swim 2.4 in the pool so I know I can finish the swim". "I need to bike over 112 miles to make sure I can make the cut offs". "I need to do more to get stronger".
No, no, no and no. Any athlete who believes these types of statements and brings them into their physical training would be best served by increasing their mental training. What every single one of the statements screams to us is "I don't believe in myself". Belief is the number one element to hold close as we race towards our goals.
Jim Vance is what I would consider a master of training his athletes to believe in themselves. He knows which buttons to push and when to push them. He garners their trust through his results-producing training recipe. He understands that each athlete has a metric that is a gateway to their success. His job is to identify that metric and utilize it to his athlete's greatest advantage by creating victories throughout their training and racing journey.
Jim is the coach to Professional Triathlete and Olympian Ben Kanute. Ben came to Jim following the Rio Olympics a bit beat down and looking for a new direction. By identifying his metrics and cultivating his trust, Jim reduced Ben's physical training and in the process created an unstoppable champion. Ben is on the top right now and the biggest difference is that Ben fully believes in himself as a champion. He knows he can go faster and win more.
Coach Vance has been coined as the data guy and certainly he relies on the data but only as a reference point. He knows that mental health is the most important piece of an athlete's success. 90% is the amount that he reminds us of during this conversation. If we do not believe, we will never reach our highest potential.
To take this into a YogiTriathlete spin, belief comes from deepening our relationship with the present moment. It is only in the present moment that change can occur. It is only when we are fully awake to the moment that we are living that can we see the thoughts that are driving our lives. Present moment awareness creates a space between the thoughts and our focus. This space is where we can choose new thoughts. Ones that align us with our goals and our highest potential to believe in our abilities to reach those goals.
Hands down this is one of my favorite podcasts yet. Data guy turned mindfulness guru, Coach Vance is a master at his art. He has assisted countless athletes to great successes and I believe that his ability to fine-tune the mental game is only going to get stronger. When we tap into the power of the mind and learn how to train it, we open up a vault of unlimited potential for learning and achievement.
Thank you for tuning in, please let us know what you thought of this episode by leaving a review on Apple Podcast. We are grateful for your support.
Just like life, the questions keep coming and we've got the answers. Well, at the least, we've got our perspective and we're happy to share it. BJ and I are living a recipe of vibrancy that has helped us transform our performance in sport and life. This recipe is the foundation of YogiTriathlete and it fuels our mission to create a better world.
By sharing this recipe with our athletes, listeners, supporters, and community worldwide it is our intention that everyone who is ready, will move deeper into living their most authentic selves.
When we live in authenticity, we live from our center. It is within this hub that we tap into our inner badass. Here we find an unmatched source of power and energy that allows us to consistently move towards our highest and best expression in this life. We believe that as we strengthen our understanding of this power we will all gain more skill in walking our path in life. So thank you to everyone who listens in every week and contributes questions so that we may continue to share the information that created the recipe from which we live.
In this episode, we tackle listener inquiries on everything from healing injury to our favorite whole food plant-based snacks to 50k recovery and treadmill workouts. If you've been enjoying the show please leave a review on Apple Podcast, the first review we get following the launch of this episode will receive one of our brand new technical trucker hats.
Deep thanks to you guys for everything that you do to shine more the light in this world.
Namaste-
After multiple failed attempts to fulfill her Olympic dream, Claire Michel found herself on the starting line at Copacabana Beach in 2016. She earned her spot in the sport of triathlon to represent her country on the world's stage in Rio de Janeiro. She had every intention to shine.
Shortly into the swim, Claire knew that she was expending precious energy that could prove costly as her competitors swam in packs on either side of her. They were moving faster and using less energy while she swam by herself doing all the work. She stayed present with what was unfolding, Claire is not one to panic. She gave it everything she had on the day. She came out of the water four minutes down from the leader. She got on her bike and got to work. The race was not over yet.
As she approached the transition area to begin the 2nd lap of the bike she saw the media frenzy pass her by. She knew that the cameras were not there to capture her performance. They were there to broadcast the action of the lead pack which included 2016 medalists Gwen Jorgenson, Nicola Spirig and Vicky Holland. For the first time in her triathlon career, Claire was being lapped on the bike.
She knew immediately this meant that her day was over. Everything she dreamed of, ended in an instant. She was in a state of shock and emotional disruption but what ensued next gave her the fuel to pick herself up and set her sights on Tokyo 2020. Claire is no stranger to failure and she knows that one of the greatest gifts in failure is the opportunity to rise up again. This is exactly what she has shown herself and the world since that day in Rio.
Claire now trains under the guidance of Paulo Sousa and is a member of the coveted Triathlon Squad. She is thriving in her environment and there is no doubt in our minds that she will be shining on the world's stage again.
This is a great conversation that covers so much about what it takes to be a top-level athlete and human. Thank you for tuning in and sharing this show with your community. Please take a few moments to leave a review on Apple Podcast as this is an awesome way to support the show without spending a cent.
Information is at our fingertips everywhere we look. Phones, computers, televisions, newspapers, podcasts, music. These mediums all deliver information to us in an instant. It's to a point now where I believe there is so much information that many people become overloaded and instead of finding answers they end up with more confusion. Data and information is a great place to start but we must also develop self-awareness to feel how that data and information resonates with our individual selves.
There is an infinite information bank within each one of us that is steeped in wisdom and knowing. It's the part of us that will never steer us wrong and will always alert us when something is off kilter. It's a reliable feedback system that works through our physical and mental bodies. It is our all-knowing selves and it is involved in all that we do. The trouble comes when we identify more with our thinking minds than our deep wisdom. This is where confusion arises and fear directs. This is why so many of us are struggling with nutrition and injury, two of the topics we dive into on today's show. It's the combination of data and information with robust intuitive guidance that is the recipe for success. We hope that you gain more clarity on this balance after listening to our conversation today.
Thank you YT community for all the amazing questions for this episode of Ask the YTs. We dive into nutrition, injury and reveal a bit of BJ's race plans for the future. This is a power packed hour and we will continue the conversation in a few weeks.
Stand naturally, close your eyes and feel your body from your toe tips to the crown of your head. Without adjusting or trying to fix anything notice the natural posture of your skeleton and muscle body. If this was scaffolding on the side of a building, would you climb it? Would you apply extra weight to it and trust that it would hold you steady?
Get honest with what you are feeling. Are there areas where you are dumping into joints? Veering off to the side or turning in on one side and out on another? Are these findings bad? No. Absolutely not. They are what we call, the "what is" and they are the pathway to freedom for growth. Now that you have the "what is" you can move in the direction that will best support you in gaining strength, increasing performance and staying healthy in your sport.
This is where our guest today steps in and serves her purpose in the world. Erin Carson is strength guru to the tri-stars of our day, days past and days yet to come. She's been in the business of soaking up knowledge and body wisdom for well over two decades. She specializes in working with high-volume endurance athletes through a sport-specific approach to strength training. She is a traditionalist in that she believes in heavy lifting but she is intelligent in the ways that she loads an athlete's body.
With a focus on the core elements of functional movement and foundation training, Erin builds the athlete up from the base to ensure a properly aligned and durable structure that can healthfully bare the load. Although she is absolutely considered to be an expert in her field, we see that she has what most experts lack, a beginner's mind. Erin is a sponge, she is willing to let go of hard lines for the sake of gaining the knowledge that will benefit her athletes. She is familiar with a little bugger known as the ego and she is committed to setting that little bugger aside for the higher good of her clients and their goals.
This is a great convo, we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed connecting with Erin. Please share the show within your community and assist us in growing the YTP community. Our guests have potent information to share with the world and we do not want any of it held back. We could not do this show without you so thank you, especially our Patreon supporters who have committed financially that offers longevity to the future of this show.
Justin Daerr completed his first triathlon in 2000 and one year later, he crossed Ironman off his bucket list. With no agenda to become a professional triathlete, he found himself taken by the skill and strength of the leaders that day. It was at this race, Ironman California, where he vowed to only come back to long course when he could race with skill and strength. That vow came to fruition a few years later when he put down a 9:20 at Ironman Florida which was a massive time improvement over his first finish of 12:55.
For the last 18 years, Justin has shown up for the work. The good days and the bad. The successes and the failures and through this, he has created a quality of neutrality which I believe is his gift in continuing to move forward. He lives, he learns and he stays committed to maximizing what he has on race day, no matter what.
Longevity in sport is clearly his jam and in this conversation, he shares credible insight with our community based on his experience over the years. We are so honored to have such a seasoned athlete on the show and we are incredibly grateful for his graciousness to open up his home and life to YogiTriathlete.
Thank you for tuning in this week and every week as we share stories of people looking, finding and living their purpose. We could not do this without you. Please visit the show notes for this episode to stay connected with Justin and to learn the many ways you can continue to support the YTP.
We all know that 90% of race day performance is mental but I often wonder how many athletes are truly focusing on the mental aspect of race preparation? And how many even know how to truly dive into mindset training? This "how" is what eluded me for many decades. I would hear about people who lived deliberately, joyfully and certainly more peacefully than I but I never knew the "how" behind the process. I bought into many magazine headlines and book titles but still, the "how" had not yet been revealed in a way that I could put a practice into action.
This "how" became my mission in life. I was determined to shift the way I moved through the world and committed to sharing the "how" once I found it. I read books, practiced yoga, asked questions and searched and searched and searched until I found the answer. It came to me in what seemed like an instant and it led me to the one thing that I avoided for my entire life, mediation. My antidote was stillness and what I've found is that doing nothing has changed everything.
At first, it was a street fight. It was messy and frustrating but I was unrelenting in my pursuit to find a better way to live. I was done living with anxiety, jealousy, unworthiness, entitlement and all the other contradicting, non-loving behaviors that I had created over the years. Sure I experienced joy, I had love in my life. I wasn't living on Skid Row but I had lost my tolerance for not feeling peaceful and I was ready to do what it took to live a better way, for me.
I showed up. Just like with my physical training, I showed up every day. I trained my mind day after day, year after year and still today, I show up for my daily dose of mental push-ups. It's not glamorous or sexy. To the mind, it feels mundane, like there should be something more but I've learned that profound results are found in the most simplistic techniques.
Over the years, I've felt the benefits of meditation and mindful practices in my sport and my life but recently it's taken a quantum leap. In my last two races, I've been given great insight into the new level at which I live. Powerfully calm is not my destination but the foundation from which I walk into each day. Today we dive into listener questions about my most recent experience at the Black Mountain 50k where I experienced a 60-minute PR and 31 miles of powerfully calm execution.
I'm so grateful to be able to share in this episode with the beautiful YT community. Thank you all for your support, for sharing the show and for living the example for others to follow. We are on a mission to create a better world and we couldn't do this without each and every one of you.
On June 10th of this year, Angela Naeth lined herself up next to the best in the field at Ironman Boulder. Having only run three miles at a sub-par pace prior to this race is something that may have thrown the average competitor into a stew of self-doubt but not Angela, she was feeling blessed just to be able to move. Nine weeks prior she couldn't walk up the stairs and nine months ago she lay awake at night on account of a sudden onset of extreme burning in her legs. Besides the burning sensation, Angela felt a weakness that informed her on a deep level that something was seriously out of balance in her body.
Over the course of six months, Angela searched for the answers and found relief this past spring in a diagnosis of Lyme Disease. In talking with her doctor and staying calm through her mindful practices Angela developed hope for her recovery. She has already come a long way since receiving the news that the dis-ease in her body was not all in her head as some had speculated but actually multiple infections associated with contracting Lyme.
Angela has always been a lover of nature and in recent years a student of Shamanism, which is a practice steeped in our connection to nature. She has learned to relax her mind so that she now sees things differently in her life. Some may say it's ironic that nature has left her with an intense mountain of life to climb but the wise would see it as divine perfection. She reflects on other challenging life situations to remind her of her resiliency and strength. Her mindful approach to life and sport informs us that she will no doubt get to the other side of this wave with more skill than most.
Angela shares her experience with Lyme and her techniques for staying in the moment of life that she is living. She explains what true presence is from the perspective of a fierce competitor and makes no mistake in her conviction that it has nothing to do with being obsessed with power numbers.
Angela is no doubt making her statement in the world by serving others through sharing her story and also through her women's empowerment initiative, I Race Like A Girl. She has single-handedly created a powerful community of women who are inspiring one another to take the next step and who are creating connection across the globe.
There is so much gold in this convo and it may just be one of my favorites. It's hard to put a label like that on any of shows because all of our guests have managed to knock my socks off with their bravery and courage. Angela is no exception. I'm so grateful to have connected with this beautiful soul and I surround her in light, love, and power for her journey ahead.
On June 10th, Boulder, Colorado delivered a classic Ironman kind of day. Temperatures well into the nineties during high pollen season, a newly unveiled and arguably, tougher bike course than previous years, little to no shade and just enough false flats to make the untrained mind go crazy. Hands down this course is the real deal and today we get real in our 140.6 smackdown with competitors Troy and Coach BJ.
Both of these guys stood strong in the face of aversion. Each struggling in different parts of the day but rising above in their resolve to not quit and leave it all on the course. Literally, BJ crossed the finish line and immediately collapsed. Totally unresponsive, he was wheeled away from the finish and into the med tent where he was revived with a bag pf magic intravenous fluid. Troy swallowed his blows and fought his biggest battle during the marathon. This was the first time he experienced such a fight and it gave him a chance to live out his mantra to "be relentless".
Troy and BJ are masters of adjusting to the fluctuating circumstances that come during the course of an Ironman. They are not immune to panic or doubt and in this episode you will hear how they navigate their way to success. Not only do these two race hard but they race smart. A combination that is an art based in experience and mental focus. There are many takeaways in this show for athletes of all levels and we are certainly grateful that you have chosen to have a listen.
Nicole DeBoom is a lifelong athlete. If there was a sport she played it but nothing captured her heart like swimming. The pool became her home and for years she relentlessly followed the black line. At the age of 16, she qualified for the Olympic Trials and soon became a highly recruited college athlete. Nicole swam for Yale University and when she graduated she said goodbye to her swimming career and began the next chapter of her life.
Nicole discovered a new love for sport when she was introduced to triathlon. She turned professional in 1999 and supported her husband Tim through both of his Ironman World Championship wins in 2001 and 2001. Nicole opens up about the sacrifice of singular focus as she watched her husband give up almost everything for his championships. She realized she was not ready to give that to her sport. She knew that there was something beyond triathlon for her but it had not yet been fully revealed.
On a training run in 2003, she passed by a storefront window and caught her reflection staring back. What she saw was unflattering and uninspiring. She was so tired of looking like a boy in her ill-fitting triathlon attire and felt a pull from inside to be the change she wanted to see. Nicole cut that run short and went home to scribble the first notes of what would become the global community of Skirt Sports. She knew she was onto something good and in the fall of 2004, she won Ironman Wisconsin in a prototype design of the first-ever running skirt. Today we see running skirts covering the pages of popular magazines and websites but Nicole was the first to bring this vision to life.
We talk about how it felt when larger companies quickly began to copy her idea and how she let go to grow more. We talk about the importance of finding balance through being flexible, being willing to redefine our roles in life and to practice sitting in the hub of our perspective. This podcast is not just an interview, it's a two for one. Nicole had the brilliant idea of having two podcasts in one, so she does a fair amount of the interviewing in today's show. This same episode with Nicole's touches will also be aired through her podcast Run this World.
This is one of my favorites convos and we think you're going to enjoy it too. Let us know what you think and thank you so very much for your support. We could not do what we do without this strong community fueling us every single day.
Every day people are waking up all over the globe. They are waking up to their truth and the reality of their life. Ellie Abrahamson is not the exception, this young pro triathlete is waking up every day to the grind of what it means to be an athlete in the developmental program of USA Triathlon. Today we get an inside look into the future of multisport.
In previous episodes, we've talked about this program with USAT President Barry Siff and Team USA athletes like Ben Kanute, Eric Lagerstrom, Taylor Spivey and Matt McElroy. We have seen the results of where this program can take athletes and how it furthers the expansion of triathlon.
Ellie is one year into her program, training here in Carlsbad which we have learned is a hotbed for professional triathletes, veterans, and rookies alike. She talks about her decision to choose sport over a more traditional route out of college and the moments of awakening that she has experienced around her road ahead. She shares her long-term goals with us and her secret to not getting too far ahead of herself.
This is a conversation about not giving up. It's about showing up every day and getting the work done. It's not all unicorns and rainbows and no matter what level we are at there will always be more mountains to climb. For Ellie, her climb is going to take her to the top because this girl has the heart and tenacity of a champion.
Thank you so much for tuning in, we are grateful for your support because as you may already know, we could not do this without you. Please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcast, shopping on Amazon via the banner ad below and visiting our Patreon community to make your pledge today and get access to exclusive content just for you. This community has grown into an international movement of powerful individuals interested in living their fully expressed life and we are fired up to have you along for the ride.
Imagine training for a marathon with weekly mileage in the 60-70 mile range, no taper and speed work 20x a week. Take all that and combine it with a constant fluctuation of pace, terrain and a barrage of unexpected starts and stops. For most athletes, that would crush any hope of a confident mental game on race day not to mention a healthy body but not Kimberli Weeks. In fact, this insane training is not only her reality but it is what has allowed her mental limitations to fall away. Like so many of us, she found herself riding the highs and lows of athletic peaks and valleys until she found purpose in her pace.
One afternoon while sitting on the beach in the middle of a "poor me" pity party everything in Kimberli's world shifted when she saw a woman running on the beach with her dog. A lifelong dog lover and competitive athlete Kimberli received an inspiration to merge her two loves. That inspiration put into action grew into her thriving business known to us lucky San Diegans as Race Pace Pups.
Kimberli is a mom, a business owner, an athlete and someone who is making a positive impact in the lives of others by simply doing what she loves. This is the epitome of what we talk about here at YogiTriathlete. Love really does heal all, it is the answer and it shows up in our lives to be paid attention to. As with all of our guests, this conversation goes deep below the surface to unearth her ability to find balance as a mom, business owner, wife, and athlete. We talk about her experience as a plant-based runner and the natural transition of her husband to finding his plant side. She also dishes on how she guides and doesn't guide her children to finding their paths. We chat up the snowball effect of negativity and why we have no obligation nor should we apologize for ourselves.
Be who you are. Love what you do and show up to every moment is what I get out of this convo. Thank you so much for showing up to this community every week as we share the stories of people looking, finding and living their purpose with the intention that it will spark a fire that will be fed and beauty will gain space to grow.
Life is a game and there are many of us learning how to play it well. More and more people are waking up all over the globe to the realization that we are the creators of our reality. We are not here to go through the motions or endure our life situations but to find the freedom that is available in every single moment. Mindfulness and meditation is not just for people in yoga pants or live in caves. It is for every human and it holds the keys to the kingdom.
Today we welcome Goldyn Duffy back to the show to share the truths behind the social programming that limits our potential. Goldyn is my partner in the M21 Revolution, an online community of like-minded people who have said: "Enough, there must be a better way". It is a global society of people living the awake and ready life through daily meditation and mindful living practices. It started as a 21-day challenge an extremely powerful community that has become a massive part of both of our lives. It's hard to imagine life without Goldyn in it and that is why we simply had to bring her back today.
Goldyn started meditating over twenty years ago when she found herself on the battlefield of motherhood raising teenagers and toddlers at the same time. For almost a decade she has studied quantum physics and the universal law which has unearthed her understanding and skill to manifest. She brings exquisite knowledge and wisdom to the show today and to our M21 Revolution community. We are all in a higher capacity to grow just by having her in our awareness.
Thank you for joining us each week as we share stories with the intention to create more connection in the world. We are not alone and furthermore, we don't have to do it alone. YogiTriathlete is living proof, thank you every for your support. We would not exist today without it. We love this community and thrive on the power from each one of you.
It certainly seems like Ironman has it’s hooks into another newbie triathlete and even deeper into a seasoned veteran of the 140.6 distance. We come to you today in honor of smacking down the Ironman Santa Rosa (IMSR) race experiences of first time finisher Laura and 12-time finisher Coach Brian. They take us through their day, discipline by discipline, revealing their nutrition plans, race strategies and how they were forced to shift on the fly. We dive into what their IMSR experience showed them about themselves and they share pre-race words of wisdom for all competitors out there getting ready to hit the starting line.
We’re getting great feedback from the YT community on our post-race smackdowns and we are listening. Exhausted, inflamed and sore our athletes rally together to open up about what worked and what they would do different next time. If there is a question that we missed or a subject that was not covered in this episode please make a comment on social media or in the blog post for this episode so we can dispel the lingering mysteries.
Thank you for your support we are so grateful to everyone who shares the good word of this podcast, donates on Patreon, uses the Amazon banner ad, has purchased our High Vibe cookbook for athletes and to everyone who continues to come back week after week to connect deeper within this powerful community. Deep thanks to you all!
It's hard for me to imagine having a mindset now where I wished suffering or death upon another being. Eye for an eye was the mindset of my past. I believed punishment would bring peace. I know better now. I fully understand that love is the only answer.
Shannon Larsen was born with this wisdom. Described by her grandmother as someone who "loves where others are afraid to go" sums her up to perfection. Her motivation is always to increase the connection between herself and others. She has the undeniable foundation of what it means to be a true yogi. She is curious and it's through her curiosity that her beautiful story of life continues to unfold.
Today she shares with us her experience teaching yoga in the lockdown units of juvenile prison. The worst of the worst describe the crimes committed by the boys in her class yet Shannon was not concerned with their past. It was their present that she tended to in each class. It was their divine perfection that she taught and to their inner peace that she sang. She was the freedom within their cage and the reflection of their beautiful light. Shannon is a warrior walking her path with bravery while life continues to deliver all the feels.
We dive into the interconnectedness between us all and the importance of both the dark and the light to our awakening. We talk about the beauty of death and the gifts that it gives the living. We celebrate the freedom of when one of us leaves this world and we honor the very human depths of grief.
Shannon's story is raw and she is extremely generous in sharing how mindfulness has assisted her in the process of losing someone very special to her just a few months ago. We are so grateful to her and what she brings to our community in this episode. Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing this show with everyone that you feel will benefit from it. We are on a mission to create a better world and we believe that bringing awareness to stories like Shannon's will deepen the understanding of our oneness.
My heartbeat intensifies as I listen to Nastasha share her memories of sobbing herself to sleep out of financial fear and the unknown of how she would provide for her children. My body becomes covered in goosebumps as she tells story after story of impossible odds turning into perfect successes. And I can't help but send out a major fist pump when she describes the moment she declared to the universe that she refused to not live her dream. I feel these things so viscerally because I have lived them all in pursuit of my purpose in this world. Nastasha's story is as raw as it is inspiring and we are so excited to share her with the YT community in this episode.
Today Nastasha sits atop the successful multi-location organic juicery and vegan meal cafes known to us lucky San Diegans as Choice. In a short period of time, Nastasha went from cashing in her savings to cover payroll to just signing on her fourth location. Her dream is to become the Starbucks of her industry and provide more goodness, more pureness and more love-filled nutrition across the globe.
It wasn't long after landing in Carlsbad did BJ and I hear about Nastasha. People who barely knew us would say how much we would connect with her and that we did, just a few weeks ago in our home. This is the kind of conversation that makes you want to get up and do something big. It's a conversation that has reminded BJ and I to keep going and not to give up on what we believe in so deeply. The YogiTriathlete community is a powerful force that cannot be stopped and we are so very grateful for every Patreon supporter, every listener, every athlete on our team, every M21 member, every yoga student, every plant-based nutrition client and every single person that takes the time to leave a review for the show, for the cookbook or to share their positive experience in life because YT exists.
We are in deep thanks to you all and to our amazing guests like Nastasha who keep the motivation high and the land of the unknown a little more approachable. We hope you enjoy the show. Rock on my friends!
Today BJ and I are joined by two official ultrarunners, Liz and Jill. This past weekend the three of us threw it down on the Mendocino 50k course while BJ and Clark ran support. For months we've been stressing, resting and adapting for our big day and it all paid off with big returns. We dive into our race experiences and very individualized training which led up to race day. This podcast serves as the perfect example that there is no "one way" to train to reach a goal.
BJ and I moved to Southern California in 2016 because we were absolutely done with New England winters and eager to train outdoors all year round. Living in San Diego has delivered exactly that as well as amazing trails for me to train on so course simulation was not a stretch. Liz lives near Boston but in the country, so she did have access to trails, that is once that snow let up. Oh, it hasn't let up yet? Well, somehow she managed to get a few weeks in before the big day on top of a training weekend on the west coast with yours truly back in March. And then there was Jill who ran on the trails for the first time this past weekend. Training in Brooklyn did not lend to ideal conditions but she made the best out of what she had and ended up killing it in Mendo. In her words, "You do what you do with what you've got". Apparently, she managed to stow a lot away over her 15-week training block.
We recorded this show the morning after the race, sleep deprived and inflamed so let us know if you are left with curiosities after a listen. Reach out on social and we'll be sure to address them on our next Ask the YTs. Thank you so much for tuning in, we are in deep thanks to each and every one of you for your support. Our Patreon page continues to build and if it is placed on your heart to support the show in that way please make your pledge today.
This community is an unstoppable force and I cannot wait to see what we will all build together in the future!
In this episode, we smack it down with Professional Triathlete, Eric Lagerstrom, and our own Head Coach BJ in honor of their inaugural battles on the Oceanside 70.3 course. These competitors do not disappoint as I dive into their mindsets, pain factors and strategies.
Eric debuted with an impressive performance landing him in 4th place just on the tails of champions, Jan Frodeno, Lionel Sanders and Tim Reed. To say that this guy has what it takes is an understatement. I had the pure joy of seeing him swim just off the feet of Jan in their lonely lead pack of two and then to witness his unwavering strength on Oceanside's unrelenting run course. It was easy to see the Eric was in top form for this race but it's the race inside his head that always has my curiosity.
Also debuting on this course but certainly not his first 70.3 was Coach BJ. We dive into his race day experience which appears to have been nothing less than rough, regardless of how he describes it. BJ's recount of his race is a supreme sign of his mental state due to his uncompromising mind training. It seems impossible for him to label anything as negative these days. Rather he believes it's all about what we can learn about ourselves and take away for our next experience. Getting sick on the bike, losing nutrition and a surprising go around with pain and numbness in his leg, BJ not only kept going but he kept pushing to the very last step.
Both of these competitors are mind masters, they are either strongly focused or getting curious about the commentary in their heads. They are always pushing to become better, faster and more skillful at the sport that no doubt brings them great joy in life. For me, it was a great joy to sit with these amazing athletes and pull our their race reports for all to experience.
Thank you for tuning in, we could not do this without you. We are on a mission to create a better world and we need every single one of you towing the line right along with us. This is an unstoppable community that is growing every day across the globe. Deep thanks for helping us continue that growth by sharing the good word of the YTP, supporting the podcast on Patreon and by using the Amazon banner ad for all your Amazon purchases. Much love to you all.
Every word we speak, every action we take and every thought we indulge is the precursor to what we create in our lives. In the words of today's guest, "we are the cause of our own experience". Mike Reilly has been on the front lines of what is possible since the 1980's serving as not only the race announcer but the epitome of athletic accomplishment for countless numbers of people dedicated to pushing their limits.
In 1991, Mike said four words at the Ironman World Championship in Kona that will no doubt go down in history as the most powerful words ever spoken in the world of endurance sports. "You are an Ironman" has become a universal language and a major motivator for Ironman triathletes all over the globe.
As we approached our 100th episode both BJ and I agreed, without hesitation that Mike would be the perfect guest to share with the YT tribe. He so graciously accepted our offer and just a few weeks ago we sat down with the legendary voice in our home to record this episode. We dive into his origin story, how the famous phrase came to life and what he's learned about the human spirit to name just a few.
I know from my own experience that Mike's voice pulled me through many miles when I wanted to stop and walk. I've also heard from many athletes what it means to them to hear Mike say their name and how he serves as daily motivation to take the next step towards their finish line. As you will so clearly hear, Mike lives from a deep place of gratitude and reverence. I would say that we feel the same way about being able to share with you today, our conversation with the legendary voice of Ironman.
Through his lifestyle choices, Ian Myers was silently led to the doorstep of disease with a life sentence of medication while still in his twenties. Perscriptions for high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes were the answer said his doctor but Ian refused. With great resolve on account of his ill reality, Ian went to work on educating himself back to health.
Learning about the healing benefits of plants and the power of detoxifying the body, Ian packed up and moved west to Denver from Atlanta. Away from his friends and party time lifestyle, he set off on a solo mission to transform his life. From scratch he found his way, taking small steps. At first, he gave up nothing but simply added in one fresh juice a day. Within three months he felt a profound change in the way that he felt.
From there he continued to uplevel his vibe until all signs of his previous lifestyle fell away. Ian lost 75lbs in the course of a year and completely rebuilt himself into the lean, plant muscle machine that he is today. Ian is now dedicated to sharing his knowledge and experience to assist others in raising their level of health. He teaches and empowers people with the necessary tools to live a healthy lifestyle and maximize their human potential through plant-based eating, exercise and developing a healthy balanced mindset.
Thank you so much for tuning in today and for supporting the show. Please check out the show notes for all the ways to support the show and to connect with Ian, he is certainly a guy to connect with and follow.
We kick off our March installment of Ask the YTs with a bird's eye view of where we are with YogiTriathlete. In short, we are living on the razor's edge of everything we believe she is meant to be and total annihilation. For us, this feels normal, our mind training is on point and our hearts are fully in the game.
This is the last week of our Save the YTP March campaign so if it is placed on your heart please become a patron today. We believe that this podcast is to continue and so we are holding that intention deep in our hearts. The emails we receive from our listeners and conversations that we have with our local community is telling us that the stories we share are making a positive difference in the lives of many.
Our mission at YogiTriathlete is to create a better world. Through this podcast, we create more connection so that no one ever has to feel alone again. Our guests share their stories openly and they are so generous to dive deeper as we ask the "how" behind their healing. I believe the YogiTriathlete podcast is just beginning to come into her own at two years old and we trust fully in the plan for her future.
BJ and I share a bit about our training as we get ready for our first races of the season. Right now we are in the thick of it, I'm four weeks out from my first ultra of 2018 and BJ is less than two weeks out from Oceanside 70.3 although his eye is focused strongly on Ironman Santa Rosa in May.
If you are coming into town for Oceanside 70.3, BJ and I will be giving a talk on Mindfulness for Athletes at Endurance House on Friday, April 6th 8:30 am. The event is free and open to athletes, community members and family.
We finish up our episode today with listener questions on how to discern when fatigue is healthy and when it means we need a break as well as tips for running in the spring when it's still snowing!
Thank you, everyone, for your support of the show, we feel your love and we send it right back to you. The link to become a Patreon supporter is below, we thank you in advance for your contribution to keep this medium of connection in flow.
With a background in swimming and dance, Paula launched her triathlon career with a win at her first race. In the years following she blazed a winning streak trail at the WTS World Championship event level and rocketed herself into the spotlight. Quickly she became Canada's medal hope in the 2012 London Olympics and her path appeared to be set. Everything said that she would be the world's best on race day but her body was heading in the opposite direction. Paula opens up about riding the edge of injury during her Olympic prep and the incredible pressure that she felt during that time in her life.
Paula went to London having been able to get a good amount of training in despite a full-blown hip injury and she raced her race. An execution that was far from what she dreamed of and one that left her in dead last place. She shares with us about her experience at the Olympics, how she navigated the aftermath and the unfinished business that she plans to complete in Tokyo 2020.
Paula is currently training in Southern California as the most recent member of Paulo Sousa's Triathlon Squad. Out of her comfort zone is where she is right now and she is the first to say that it's exactly where she needs to be. Paula will be returning to WTS racing this year but first, she'll be tackling the Half Ironman distance starting with Oceanside in just a few weeks. After great success last year at her first 70.3 in Austin where she placed second, Paula is excited about exploring more miles on race day and we're excited to follow this amazing athlete into her future.
Thank you for tuning in and supporting the show. We are in the middle of our Save the YTP campaign, please consider making your pledge on Patreon. You supports will greatly assist us in our ability to move forward in our mission to create a better world through increasing awareness of the Awake and Ready life through this medium of connection.
I often wonder what the world would look like if, when in school, we had classes on "Compassion", "Healing", and "Surrender". Three elements I find to be common mysteries for many if not all of the people I have worked with on these practices. If we had just been taught the how behind these potent life management tools many of us could have avoided our rock bottoms, medications, disease, addiction and money spent on finding the answers we never found.
If I was to design these classes my first words to the students would be the same year after year. "There is nothing to learn. You have all the answers already. Everything you will ever seek is within you now so sit back, take a breath and let's begin our return". And if I was to say what I believe our world would look like as a result of these classes, I would say that it would look a whole lot different than it does today. Less violence, conflict, and suffering.
Knowing what I know about this world from a human and spiritual perspective, it begs the question, would we still need the world? What I mean by this is that the world we live within is a school. We have come here, by choice, to heal our hurts and make things right for our soul. This is the difference between someone who is waking up and someone who lives behind the veil of delusion. To believe that the violence, conflict, and suffering we see in the world today is here for anything less than our healing is to live within this delusion. Everything that comes to us, everything that passes through our awareness is there to assist us in moving towards our highest good. Through our highest good, we find our return. The place deep inside where all things rest in calm.
Everyone's path is unique that is why comparison, a beloved activity of the ego, is senseless. The most important thing we can do is focus on ourselves and live our lives to their fullest expression. Our human selves don't know all the details of what's to come but sometimes we get glimpses. You know, those knowings that we're supposed to do something or follow a particular career path or reach out to another in need. Knowings are undeniable, they come from that deep resting space of the intuitive voice. The importance is found in following those knowings with a level of trust that is unshakeable. It is from here that our blueprints play out.
For Mike Ergo, our guest today, his blueprint has been colored by the entire rainbow. The dark and the light. In fact, the darkest of his dark and absolute highest level of his light were found together in a moment of extreme danger. Mike reveals generously and open-heartedly his journey from Walnut Creek, California to the beacon of conflict in the Middle East to his post-war nosedive. This conversation has all the feels but it's Mike honesty that truly compels the beauty of his story.
Mike is a dad, husband, Ironman triathlete and dedicated meditator among many other qualities that he brings to this world. We were connected with him through social media and further through our M21 Mindful Living Challenges in which he has shown up in as a strong voice of support for others. He works full time with veterans and because of his bravery to lift his veil of delusion he is saving many lives every day.
We are honored to share this episode with the YT community and thank you for your support. Please go to Patreon and set your monthly pledge to help us keep the YTP alive. We are in deep thanks for this medium of connection.
Epic training weekend? Check. I assure you, it included all the feels. Potent mind training, time on the legs, yoga, hardcore recovery and high vibe food.
Liz is on Team YogiTriathlete and she is training for the Mendocino 50K in April. She traveled to sunny San Diego from Boston for a perfectly timed training weekend with us, missing a brutal Nor'Easter that hit in her absence. From the time she stepped off the plane, it was on. Day after day we laced up our shoes and logged the miles with the goal to put in a 50K between Friday's long trail run and Sunday's Half Marathon with lots in between.
In this episode, BJ takes the role as host and interviews Liz and me about the weekend. Nutrition, mental game, recovery, workouts and everything in between. We cover it all in this podcast. We've been working with Liz for about two years now and she is a shining example of the full buy-in. This woman is walking the warrior path and not only has her relationship to her sport shifted in a positive way but everything about how she moves through the world is more easeful.
This episode was a great way to close up what can be appropriately described as an epic training weekend. Mendo....here we come!
It's time. No really, it's time and the good news is that meditation doesn't have to be weird anymore. Science has our back and there are no-nonsense ways of teaching and practicing. It doesn't have to be the dirty little secret, you can live your mindful life out loud. Meditation doesn't make us weak. It turns us into our most badass selves.
And as athletes, isn't that exactly who we want to become?
Coming off our latest High Vibe Retreat with four Awake and Ready ladies, our meditative juices are flowing in this episode. We hope you enjoy this month's installment of Ask the YTs and invite you to join us for the next M21 Challenge beginning on March 5th. These are monthly challenges that cost $1/day and give participants everything they need to fully wake up in life.
Thank you for supporting the show, we couldn't do this without you. Every time you use the Amazon banner ad, make a pledge on Patreon, share the show with your community and leave a review on Apple Podcast you give life to the YTP. We are in deep thanks to you.
Growing up in Huntington Beach, California offered Matt McElroy a life of year-round outdoor activity. Inducted into his family's surf legacy by his dad at the age of five allowed Matt to cultivate confident open water swim abilities at a young age. A vital skill set that, unbeknownst to him, would pay dividends later on in his career.
Six a.m. surf class and after school cross county bookended Matt's high school days. Always a committed athlete his discipline and hard work led him to years of competitive surfing and a full ride to college for running. The decision to attend school in the midwest, however, left Matt in a full-on wrestling match with the dark night of his soul.
Following his heart and completely detaching from his running dreams, Matt chose happiness in the end. He finished up his college years in Flagstaff, Arizona and was opened up to a world greater than he could have imagined and Matt is living in that world today.
Training upwards of 26 hours per week as a professional triathlete and burning 5,000 - 6,000 calories a day, Matt is a machine of discipline, presence, and plants. Yes! That's right, Matt is yet another super smart athlete who has transitioned to a plant-based diet for his performance, his health, and his world. He shares with us his process, how he is maintaining his caloric intake and most importantly how he is feeling since the switch.
Gold. Yes, there is so much of it in this conversation and we believe what is also the future of what will be hanging around this athlete's neck. Matt believes in himself and he is 100% receptive to learning all of the time. This is what will allow him to continue to rise up in the ranks. His understanding that we are lifelong learners, that weaknesses are meant to be strengths and that we can always reach higher levels in life.
We are super stoked to be sharing this conversation today, thank you for your support of the show and our guests.
Leave a review on Apple Podcast Comb through the show notes on ways to connect with Matt and send him your high vibes Use the Amazon Banner ad for all your Amazon purchases (doesn't cost you a thing) Sign up for your 30-day Thrive Market free trial (banner ad at the top of this post - we LOVE Thrive!) Become a Patron on Patreon and get access to podcast previews, extras, exclusives and yoga practices taught by BJ and I. Namaste-
It is widely known through scientific research and living experience that humans can not only survive but thrive on a plant-based diet. No matter your nutritional stance and belief around taking a life to soothe an appetite, I believe we can all agree that incorporating more plant foods into our diet is a good thing.
There is nothing to fear when it comes to Meatless Mondays or Tofu Tuesday. Noone is going to take your free will away. You don't have to give up your favorite foods altogether to eat a vegan meal but what you will absolutely do every time you choose vegan is save a life and benefit the planet. You can be a toe dipper, you can conduct your own experiment eating plants, you can try one day a week and see how it goes. There are endless resources these days for veg-curious folks and the latest is the Main Street Vegan Academy Cookbook.
A compilation of over 100 vegan recipes contributed by Vegan Lifestyle Coaches from across the world who have been trained under the keen eye and brilliance of Victoria Moran and her Main Street Vegan Academy. Co-authored with JL Fields, fellow professional vegan and major "go-getter", the MSVA Cookbook is the complete guide to living a vegan life. It truly is the book that has something for everyone, soul food, raw food, sweets, treats and full-spectrum guidance for anyone looking to welcome in the high vibe way of eating that we live and love here at YogiTriathlete.
Sure, you may leave this episode with a little drool on your shirt but know that you will also leave with incredible knowledge as a result of the wisdom shared by these two outstanding ladies. We dive into their unique stories and what led them to go vegan. We talk about bridging the gap between inspiration and action, the connector where so many people give up on their dreams. They offer invaluable information on navigating multi-vore homes and share their favorite tips for creating a vegan kitchen which they were not the answers I had expected.
We met up with Victoria and JL a few weeks ago in LA while on their book tour for the MSVA Cookbook. It was a joy to spend time with these two and we think you'll feel that joy through our conversation today. Thank you so much for your support of the show, we are in deep thanks to you all. It is a fact that we could not do this without each and every one of you.
With too much weight on his body and too much drinking in his life, John Abate hopped on his messenger bike and started moving his body. A few miles turned into more and over time with consistency and awareness, John pedaled his way to the active and cleaned up version of the life he experiences today.
His discovery of cycling opened up so many doors for John. Camaraderie, mentorship, competition, purpose, deep healing and forgiveness on a level that left those closest to him in disbelief. With the addition of mindfulness and meditation, there is no limit to where he will take his sport because, as all of us who walk the warrior path know, spirituality is endless.
John reveals to us his pathway to finding meditation and the recovery that allowed him to start living his life fully. He goes into detail about the hit-and-run accident that left John broken in just about every part of his body and one that doctors say most likely would have taken his life had he not been so physically fit.
We go deep during today's conversation and although John repeatedly lets us know that he's had no formal training, his wisdom is deep and we are grateful that he shares it so generously.
Co-founder of JoJe' Bars with YTP guest Jess Cerra, John applies his mindfulness practices not only to his sport but also his business. He sees the natural transcendence of a mindful life not only to benefit certain aspects of life but as a complete blueprint for life. In addition to John's personal story, our chat weaves in big concepts such as the delusion of time, the cumulative effects of meditation, the importance of compassion and empathy for athletes, mindfulness as it applies to business and why the end goal is not present moment awareness.
Thank you for tuning in, please check the show notes before for ways to continue to support the show and connect with John. We realize you have a choice and we are so grateful that you continually choose to listen to the YTP.
We live in an ever-changing world within an ever-changing body. It could be argued that as humans we are hardwired for change yet so often the act of change is so heavily resisted. Change forces us to shift our vision and requires us to be flexible. It asks us to lighten up the grip of our vision and welcome in new opportunities. Many times these new opportunities come in the form of the unknown and without a mind that well-versed in transformation, the unknown can bring about feelings of fear. Fear can breed anger, frustration, and disbelief in oneself. All of which are detrimental to an athlete's performance.
BJ and I come together to discuss the importance of training our minds and regaining our ability to live fully. In short, we go deep. We talk about how to strengthen belief in ourselves and how to strengthen our will to be strong in the face of adversity. We consider the two kinds of fear and how one can keep us from the limitless experience that is our divine right.
This conversation comes on the heels of completing our third M21 Challenge and seeing the profound changes within this community. Athletes are effortlessly translating their work on the meditation cushion to their sport and reconstructing their relationship to past stumbling blocks. These M21 communities have created a powerful movement that is changing the world. If this episode speaks to you please join us for the next M21 Challenge beginning Monday, February 5th.
Thank you for your support of the show, please leave a review on Apple Podcast and share how this show is assisting you with making a positive change in your life. Other ways to support the show are listed below, thank you. We could not do this with you.
Heavily practiced behaviors and beliefs become the cage in which we live. For so many, the bars on their cage will never be lifted for they will never receive a moment of clarity during their entire existence here on earth. This is simply their path, it is not good or bad. It just is. The next level up from this path is to receive a moment of clarity but not take action. There are so many of us humans who lack the belief and bravery needed for change. Then there are the lot who receive a moment of clarity, see the truth of what is and choose away from what no longer serves them. They rally the courage, will, and steadfastness to lift the bars of their self-imposed cage. Mishka Shubaly is one of those gutsy folk.
Mishka walked away from his first taste of alcohol feeling that he had discovered his blueprint for living. Drinking every day to attain the satisfaction of self that he experienced when intoxicated was his plan moving forward. He succeeded wildly and just two years later while on the bus he realized he had a ruler and it was booze. Did he stop? Heck no. He spent millions of moments reinforcing the self-abusive behaviors that go hand and hand with alcoholism. Secretive living and self-loathing became the cornerstones of his life until one day when he realized the absolute depreciation of his possibilities. A once vast and promising future seemed claustrophobically small. It was this realization that sparked Mishka's commitment to providing himself with a better life.
Getting sober is a wonderful celebration but what most of us gloss over when we celebrate this for others is sobriety is just the first step. Becoming awake to the world after many years of dulled out, mind-numbing darkness gives way to the demons rise and the brick walls show up. Sobriety meant game on for Mishka and so he was forced to apply the same unwavering will to his sobriety as he previously did to drinking every day. The climb out of darkness is steep and the brightness of a lighter life can be painful but thankfully Mishka triumphed over alcohol and he has already shared so many gifts because of his fight to live.
Mishka earned an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University and he currently is on staff with the Yale Writers Conference. The author of six best selling Kindle singles and his latest full-length memoir, I Swear I'll Make It Up To You chronicle the down and up turns of his life. Now that he is experiencing a life worth living, Mishka shares his struggles as a writer and how his current state of affairs is calling him to shift gears. Mishka, also a singer-songwriter, spends most of his nights on stage sharing his music in alcohol laden nightclubs. This may seem contradictory to his commitment to staying clean yet something that tells me there is a comfort he finds in coming home as a sober artist.
We dive into a little bit of everything in this conversation including his recent transition to a plant-based diet after years of heavy reluctance to conform. Whether he will admit it or not, I see a great vibrancy and purpose in the life he is leading in this world.
We are so grateful for your support of the show, please check out the show notes below for ways to connect with Mishka and to support the YTP. We couldn't do this without you so please keep showing up for the greater good as we continue to share stories of purpose on our mission to create a better world. Deep thanks for being a part of it all.
Most people spend many years, decades even dreaming of finishing an Ironman while Taylor Spivey completed her first 140.6 while still in the womb. Today a professional triathlete, Taylor was born into a triathlon legacy. Her mom a former professional and dad a top age grouper set forth the seeds for what is turning into a very successful life choice.
Taylor showed the world that she has what it takes to be the winner on the day. Landing 2nd in Leeds this past summer at a WTS race, second only to current World Champion Flora Duffy. Beneath her sweet exterior, Taylor has a fire that burns from deep within and one that is prepping her for more podium visits in 2018.
We caught up with Taylor at our home in Carlsbad. She is in town until the spring training with her coach Paulo Sousa and his Triathlon Squad. Day in and day out she shares close quarters with her teammates and competitors in pursuit of fulfilling her dreams. Setting two of her loves, architecture, and lifeguarding aside, for now, Taylor is officially all in for her professional multi-sport career. She has a demanding race schedule set for this year and we can't wait to watch her race. Catch all of the WTS action on TriathlonLIVE, low-cost subscription for incredible action and coverage.
She shares her story of how she started in the sport, what it took for her to get her start and the incredible support received by USAT's College Recruitment Program. We recount her Leeds race from this year and we go deep on the mental game for athletes. Expect big things from this girl in the future, I feel an unstoppability about her that is the sign of all great athletes.
Imagine climbing a narrow gully of snow lined with rock faces and cliffs in the Sierra Mountains. In the cacophonous silence of this remote landscape, you hear every morsel of your breath and every crack of snow beneath you. Before you lies a 50-degree pitch on your ascent to the top and although you've been climbing for hours the sky still seems so far away. You've never been more awake in your life.
You are strapped to a child's plastic sled with only the use of your arms as the carrier to your destination. Your life is clenched tightly around a pull-up bar tethered on belay and every inch of the climb delivers searing pain that weighs heavy on your already exhausted body and mind. With seemingly nothing left to give, how do you continue?
When everything in his body told him that he had nothing left, Jeremy would exceed his limitations and complete another pull-up. He knew that if he could give 100% of himself to each one, despite the overwhelming fatigue and discomfort, that he would gain maximum travel towards reaching the top of the mountain that haunted him for seven years. Bloody Couloir is a coveted ski and snowboard destination in the Mammoth Lakes region and the spot where Jeremy showed us all what it means to put inspiration into action.
A runner at heart, he was left without the use of his legs after a motorcycle accident in 2001 but that has clearly not stopped this athlete from crushing his goals. Jeremy possesses a mass amount of grit and will and through his loss, he is exploring a whole new level of what is possible.
This is a must-listen, must-share conversation and we thank you deeply for your support of the show. If Jeremy's story resonates with you and you are finding benefit in listening to the YTP please leave a review on Apple Podcast. This month we are giving away three pairs of 2XU compression run socks, so share your words with the world and get in the running to win. Also one of the best ways to support the show is to subscribe through Apple Podcast as we look to bring on more support for the show through sponsors, subscribers make a huge difference and therefore you make a huge difference on this life of this show.
We are all here on this earth for unique purposes and there is no set timeline for how our purposes will unfold. For some, we discover our gifts and passions at younger ages while others spend their entire lives completely unaware that their individuality is to be celebrated and shared. For our guest today, passion for martial arts and disciplines of mastery entered her life at the age of twelve when her mom signed her up for Karate lessons. From there, Erika set off on her life's journey, one that has led to deep self-discovery, philosophical study and to finding her soul-partner in life.
Unlike most teenagers, extreme outdoor practice, meditative mind training, and repeating Katas through to a level of mastery were the norm for Erika. When she wasn't in the Dojo, she would either spend her time immersed in the hardcore punk scene or fitting in her homework to maintain her A-student status.
Erika lives in New York City with her love, John Joseph MacGowan, and their newly rescued four-legged son Storm. BJ and I were introduced to Erika through John during our interview with him in 2016. Erika is the perfect match for these two unruly, beautiful boys as she is a strong divine female presence with a nurturing heart and the skills of a warrior.
We cover so many topics in today's episode as we follow Erika's journey and she generously shares her wisdom on yogic philosophy, the true recipe for health and fitness and the not so joyful experience of living in the city that never sleeps. Erika is a gentle soul who encompasses the great depth of strength and we are honored to share her story with you today.
Thank you for tuning in, please share this with your friends and consider other ways to support the show - use Amazon banner ad (below) for all your purchases, become a patron on Patreon and subscribe to the show on Apple Podcast. All of these avenues greatly impact the life of the show. We are on a mission to create a better world and we ask you that never underestimate your impact to be an integral piece of this mission every time you choose to support the YTP.
Today BJ and I celebrate our 20th Christmas together and having left our closest relatives on the east coast it will be just he and I and Clark. We will teach yoga, we will take a family walk, we will meditate, we will rest our physical bodies and we will fine tune our minds because we know there is no time off for a mindful life.
When we first started our journey together we purchased and decorated trees and we exchanged presents for many years. As our curiosity and commitment to simplicity continued to grow those traditions have fallen away and our connection to the holiday of Christmas has shifted greatly. It's no longer about what we want but honoring what we have in the deepest sense of gratitude.
December 25th is the birthday of Jesus Christ, a man who I believe was here on this earth to show us all how to love more. He was a yogi. He studied in India. He was the embodiment of all things mastery. He was everything I aspire to be.
Mastery is a state of completion. A place of being where there is no lack or limits. And above all else, it is a state of neutrality. It is, in fact, a state we already possess deep within us but not until we train our minds to experience deep presence will we be able to touch that part of us. Not until we still ourselves enough to experience what is brewing under the surface will begin to experience our unshakeable selves.
It is our intention through YogiTriathlete to assist every person who is ready to walk their path to mastery in sport and life. This is where our true selves reside, this is where our goal paces get crushed and this is where there is never another disappointment to experience. This is the Awake and Ready life and this community is overflowing with natural born seekers tapping into their inner badasses every single day. We are honored to have you along for the ride.
In this episode, we take listener questions and in answering each one we share our knowledge, our wisdom and our truth. Showing up to this podcast every week has been a life-transformative experience and without your support, we would not have the platform that exists as the foundation for our mission to create a better world.
Thank you for showing up every week. Please share this show with your community, become a patron on Patreon and for sure subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcast. This month we are giving away a 2XU Transition Bag to one lucky reviewer so get yourself in the running to win.
We've all spoken them and we've all heard them and they are called excuses. Ego alibis that prevent us from living the life we really want to live. Downright justifications to keep ourselves in the inevitably uncomfortable cage of our comfort zone.
We say we'll start on Monday or once our kids are older or when we retire but the massive flaw in this line of thinking is the assumption that we are guaranteed a future when, in fact, we are not. The only thing we have is the moment we are living within, nothing more.
So why would we ever waste a moment of now to put off what we dream of for the future, when the future is only a concept? And furthermore, in using up our now moment to dream of the happiness that we hope is coming, we create a habitual behavior of missing our lives because our lives are happening right now! As an aside, I rarely use exclamation points when writing because it literally means I am raising my voice. In this case, assume I am passionately raising my voice.
This is vital information for every human to embody because we are all guilty of putting off until tomorrow what could be created today. Angela Hubbs, fitness personality, personal trainer, triathlete, life creator, public speaker and animal lover joins me today to dive into how we can start living the life we want right now.
Angela was our guest on podcast 28 and in that episode, we dive into her journey to finding happiness and stepping into the life she wants, in a body that she loves. Angela now dedicates her life to assisting others in finding the same in their own lives. Her energy is contagious, her love for all is evident and it is a great honor to have her back on the show today. Angela and I dive into the "how to" around being a deliberate creator and we share our own experiences, both successes, and failures of doing this in our own lives.
Angela is uber inspiring and down to earth, I think you're really going to enjoy our conversation. Thank you so much for your support of the show. If you've been thinking about leaving a review for the YTP on Apple Podcast this is the month to do it because you will be entered to win a 2XU Triathlon Transition Bag. BJ has been using this bag for his last few races and absolutely loves it, this would make the perfect addition to your racing needs or to gift to someone new to the sport and in need of some gear. Either way, it's a win and we appreciate the time you take to leave a few words in support of the show.
If you've already left a review there are so many ways to help us grow the YTP community: become a patron on Patreon, use our Amazon banner ad for all your Amazon purchases (doesn't cost you a thing), share the show on your social networks and become a subscriber on iTunes.
Deep thanks to all of you and lots of love, not just in this holiday season, but always!
The power of love equals the power to heal and it holds the key to our freedom yet so many of us live in a place of lack when it comes to our receptivity of love. In part two of our conversation with guest, Maryann Lekas we are shown just how dark one can go as a result of living within this lack.
We pick up where we left off last week with Maryann having just returned to the states after walking away from her Olympic dreams. Replacing her distaste for cycling with Bikram Yoga, Maryann finds herself back in San Diego in a new environment but with her same unhealthy tendencies. Shortly after coming back to California she sustains a rare injury that leads to the remarkable eight-year journey that she shares with us today. As she unveils her story, we find that it is marred by her inability to love herself.
In the years after her injury, while on a desperate quest to regain her health, she meets Tommy and falls in love in a way she never knew possible before. Though her love for Tommy was strong she was tortured every day by incessant negative thought patterns about their inevitable breakup and her unworthiness to receive such a beautiful partnership.
Maryan shares generously with us the intimate details of her injury, the secret life that she chose to live and her eventual waking up to, what I believe is the foundation of her "soul" purpose, learning to love herself. This is truly an exceptional story of how much one person can endure and that no matter how deep we go, there is always hope for a return to love.
The power of the mind is often underestimated and overlooked in the reality of our lives. What most people forget or don't realize is that every word we speak, every thought we indulge and every action we take, serve as the precursors to what we invite into our lives. There is no bad luck, good luck, happenstance or otherwise. There are only conscious or unconscious manifestations and creations. This is physics, plain and simple.
The Spiritual Laws of the Universe mirror that of the Laws of Physics and if there is one thing to take away, it's that life is a boomerang. What we throw out, we will get back. There is no way around this because it is law and the laws are neutral. They don't care if you're a great person or you volunteer or if you are following your dream or if you are going to prison for a horrible act of violence. The laws simply react to the energy that powers them and we are the creators of that energy.
In the great spiritual text The Dhammapada, Buddha reminds us that there is no way to escape the consequence of a negative thought. Our guest today knows all too well how these consequences can manifest in life and we will spend the next two weeks unveiling her story.
Maryann Lekas is the kind of girl you just want to be around. She's funny, smart, loyal and loving. She is generous with her love and learning to be generous in the realm of self-love. Her journey is one of high-level athleticism that was steeped in pain and hopelessness. Her body was fit and set to achieve alongside the best of the best but because Maryann could not find a sustainable way to believe in herself she battled every step of the way. Her path eventually led her to an 8-year span of darkness where she led a secret life and moments where her only hope for getting out was to plan her suicide. Today we share part one of our conversation with Maryann, this is a two-week podcast that you do not want to miss.
In this first episode, we follow Maryann’s story from her entry to the pool as a child to a competitive Water Polo team leader while earning her degree at Indiana University to Greece where she lived and trained in preparation for the 2004 Olympics. An extreme training regime, paired with extreme dieting left Maryann with a major injury just months before the Olympics followed by a dangerous staph infection mere weeks before her competition. Her coach came to her and presented her only hope for Olympic glory, a decision that was a character-defining moment.
In its entirety, Maryann's story teaches us all a lesson on the importance of believing in ourselves and to stop dulling our gifts and achievements. It is a story of self-love and how to find it. Our intention is to honor this incredible woman by sharing her with the YT community in hopes that anyone out there finding similarities in their story will reach out for the help they need. Maryann and her husband Tommy created MindSet Elevated for the very purpose that no athlete has to endure a secret life of doom. We are all here for a purpose and we are all sources of the loving creativity that brought us here.
We are so glad you have all showed up this week to share in Maryann's journey, we are so grateful for your support of the show. The YT community has grown into a global tribe of strong, like-minded and open individuals looking, finding and living their purpose. Our guests today are absolutely a part of this tribe and we couldn't feel more honored to share them with you over the next two weeks of the YTP.
"You have the right to work, but for the work's sake only. You have no right to the fruits of work. Desire for the fruits of work must never be your motive in working. Never give way to laziness, either." -Bhagavad Gita
Commit to the work is what you will hear from anyone who has crossed the finish line of an Ironman distance triathlon. What you may not hear is the deeper wisdom of doing the work for the sake of the work and not for the fruits of your actions. A practice in present moment awareness of completing what is in front of you without attachment or entitlement of reward is the difference between a triathlete and a YogiTrathlete. It is the difference between mastery and immaturity of the mind. It is the difference between success and failure and I'm not talking about if you cross the finish line or not. I'm talking about a skillful ability to remain the same in pleasure and pain and even-tempered in success and failure. This is what is meant by the teachings of yoga. This doesn't mean that you are not competitive or fast or kick ass, it means that you can be all of those things without the selfish attachment to those labels that cause suffering for ourselves and others.
On the show today we have two very competitive, fast and kick ass YogiTriathletes who recently threw down their mastery on the Ironman Arizona course. Jesse Davern, soul partner to Monica Davern (our resident vegan pediatrician and podcast guest of episode 69), and Coach BJ, one of the vital heartbeats behind YT, sit down in this episode to flesh out their long course experiences. Despite Jesse being a first-timer and BJ being an eleven-timer their challenges and success are similar. Ironman has a way of leveling the playing field making it no easier for the person who wins over the person who claims the final finisher title.
They dive into listener questions and so much more. Training prep, nutrition, navigating the tough times and the benefits of meditation for the athlete mind (YES!). There is a drive that Ironman creates within and these two guys are definitely following that calling. This is a deeply insightful look at what it takes to prepare, compete and finish this type of triathlon. Thank you so much for tuning in, we have some amazing guests lined up for you guys and we appreciate your support. We are actively building our Patreon community so please consider becoming a supporter to help keep this show coming to you every single week.
In this episode, we bring you a couple of yogi vegan gals chatting it up in NYC. Our dear friend Val and I met up last week in the Big Apple and recorded this podcast on the skillful navigation of holidays, family and change. From sharing Thanksgiving recipes to shedding light on the violence of this time of year, to tips on how to move from love and the practice of creating more consciousness around our choices, we cover a range of topics in this short but power-packed special holiday edition show.
You may remember Val from YTP #3 on which she shared her plant-based journey and the transition of her family to a healthier way of eating. Since recording that show some things have changed, Val has encountered challenges with her kids pushing back on vegan eating while also welcoming the turnaround of her husband Sean who dropped animals products from his diet after watching Forks Over Knives. She shares her commitment to moving forward and how she feels grateful even when what she has to do for her children is not what she would choose.
Val and I used to teach yoga together in Rhode Island and we came together in NYC last week to attend the Main Street Vegan Academy. I'm excited to say that we are both certified Vegan Lifestyle Coaches and Educators who are available to work with folks who are ready for a healthier, less violent life for themselves, the planet and the animals.
Thank you for tuning in and supporting the show. We are actively asking for your support, the YTP is at a critical point in its growth and here are the two major ways you can help us keep this podcast publishing every week:
Become a patron on Patreon Leave a review on Apple Podcast This is the all-powerful and unstoppable YogiTriathlete community and we are super fired up to have you in the tribe!
Looks can be deceiving. We all know this to be true and I wonder if we know this to be true because we've seen it play out in our own lives. Struggles experienced as a result of our human condition are quite similar if not exact in their essence. There is this an unseen and often untalked of pressure that we all experience to look a certain way, feel and act a certain way and it is through this unfocused lens that we create our story.
With the rise of social media, this has never been truer. Mr. Roarke summed it up perfectly every week on the 70's hit show Fantasy Island when he said, "Smiles everyone, smiles". As in a fantasy, we put on our smiles, take the shot and slide back into the reality of our lives. I'm not saying that every single look is deceiving or every smile is fake, I'm saying that we've all been guilty of posing our lives at one point or another.
Our guest today makes no more hiding out of her life and as a result, Tawnee Gibson has assisted many people to move back into alignment with their health. Tawnee was a model, perfectionist, top age group triathlete and the first female to host an endurance sports podcast. She was "doing it all" and living the life, all the while she struggled on the inside. For many years, even Tawnee wasn't fully aware of her struggles and the toll they were taking on her health. In fact, it took her a few rock bottom hits to wake up and take charge of her well-being.
In this episode, she shares her downside of the "go, go, go" lifestyle and how she learned to guide herself with a smart mind. She opens up about healing her relationship with food and how triathlon played a role. And most beautifully, she describes her journey to making peace with her health even if that meant sacrificing performance.
Tawnee is a Holistic Endurance and Health Coach specializing in working with female athletes suffering from amenorrhea, a condition where the menstrual cycle completely stops sometimes for years. In Tawnee's case, over a decade. She is the host of Endurance Planet podcast, writer, and speaker committed to helping individuals find their best path to full spectrum health. These days Tawnee finds herself training for an entirely new endeavor and we hear all about it on this installment of the YTP.
Today's guest can ride a bike and not just from strength and talent. Her ability to understand the bike is a gift that she brought into this world and one that has led to her deepest moments of learning in life. Her unexpected path to the saddle came through her studies in Exercise Physiology and once it showed up, she put the throttle down.
Starting out on the trails of off-road triathlon, Jess earned herself the Xterra National Championship as an amateur. Yet she had the clarity and data to see that cycling was her jam so she moved to the road and started racing and beating the best in the sport. She landed herself a contract, sponsors and a new direction in life as a professional cyclist.
This is what we would call flow. A time in life when we seemingly stumble upon a purpose and without question, begin to live it out. This is the story of Jess Cerra.
Jess is a professional cyclist, writer, chef and business owner of JoJe' Bar; a real-food bar founded on the mantra of "ingredients, balance, and energy". Dissatisfied with the bars on the market, Jess set up camp in her kitchen with a mission to create something that didn't already exist, a quality bar using the finest ingredients that tasted like a soft baked cookie. I can attest that she achieved her goal.
We dive into the birth story of JoJe', Jess's rise to professional cycling and all that has been brought into her awareness from this journey of speed, competition, joy, pain, and darkness. No matter what seems to fall within her path, Jess feels supported by a guiding light that made itself known to her many years ago. We dive into meditation, the mental game for athletes, detachment, recovery, and racing. This is a conversation that warms up in its depth and builds in its gravity of context.
Catching up this month on Ask the YTs and answering listener questions. The tribe is growing and we are taking our offerings to the next level in order to serve this community to its highest good. We appreciate you all continually pushing us to step up and with that, we talk today about our new High Vibe Retreats and the launch of the Mindful Living for the Modern World: 21-Day Challenge which is open for registration now. We dive into a few listener questions about transition stories from our years in triathlon as well as how to prepare for a 50k run.
We thank you deeply for your support of the show, this has everything to do with its life moving forward. Ways to further your support of the show include leaving a review on Apple Podcast, pledging on Patreon, sharing with your friends and community and showing up every week to further your journey to living an awake and ready life.
To leave the sport better than he found it. This is the mission of Eric Lagerstrom, professional triathlete, and creative visionary with a natural talent for producing binge-worthy videos. Through capturing the raw effort, perseverance and joy that fuels the performances of top-tier athletes he has set into motion a movement in triathlon not unlike that of free surfing video production.
Eric is a wise being, beyond his years, and one who also happens to be an amazing athlete who puts in the work every day to better himself for the love of his sport. He is kind and generous, he is tough as nails and he has a natural ability to anchor into a moment particularly when it counts like in the very seconds before the gun goes off. Moments that he describes as building supreme power that he then unleashes as he hits the water and races beyond capacity to the first buoy. He knows from the sting of failure what it means not to put this kind of effort out but as with everything he walks away from, he takes with him the intended lessons for growth. These lessons are unique to his journey and Eric has a willingness to absorb them and attain his next level.
He approaches each race with a fresh mindset. He tracks his performances, sees his waves of improvement and the notches he gains along the way but he is not defined by a single race or moment. He sees the bigger picture, he pursues his bigger mission and for that I know, he will continue on a path to greatness.
He shares openly with us about his experience going into the Olympic trials for Rio and the wedge that pressure can drive between teammates, the power of outside voices and the realization that he feels killed his momentum going into the trials in Yokohama last year. He gives us insight into the absolute warp speed necessary to compete at the top in ITU racing and how USAT works in their recruitment of new talent to build Team USA.
It was just a few years ago, after a season of flow that Eric began creating videos and in closing I just have to say that if you're looking for pre-workout motivation then check out the links below because this guy delivers, every single time.
Thank you so much for tuning in, your support is everything to the life of this show. We love this community with everything we are and see the strength within this tribe as evidence that there are positive changes happening in the world every moment. Keep tuning in, share your words with the world by leaving a review on Apple Podcast and keep reaching out to let us know you are there.
Today we honor the five YogiTriathlete podcast guests who raced the Ironman World Championship this past Saturday. Each one of them crossed the finish line safely after a long, hot 140.6-mile day.
A lifelong competitive swimmer Brittany Friedrich was well on her way to Kona glory just missing the ROKA "First Out of the Water" win at her first Ironman in Lake Placid 2016. Growing up in the Adirondacks she knew this course better than the back of her hand. She returned in 2017 to clinch 2nd place in her age group and her Kona qualification that led her to the big island and her first World Championship finish.
John Joseph McGowan dedicates his life to clean living, Ironman triathlon and assisting those less fortunate in the world. A well-known vegan activist John journeyed to his 2nd World Championship this year while raising money for the Children's Tumor Foundation in the name of his good friend Alexander. John reports that he had a rough time out there this year but with Alexander on his mind along with his impenetrable "Positive Mental Attitude" (PMA) the finish line was nothing less than mandatory.
Billy Hafferty left it all out there last year in Cozumel taking 2nd place in his age group and earning his first Kona qualification. This was a dream of Billy's and his race in Cozumel was his last chance shot as he considered letting go of his big island dream if he didn't qualify in Mexico. With all things meant to be, his dream did come true and he saw it through just a few days ago with an impressive 10:07:18 finish.
In this field of dreamers is Troy RGC, an elite competitor well on his way to athletic greatness. His intense drive, discipline and natural ability to stay in flow makes this competitor a champion any day of the week. We were with Troy when he qualified at Ironman Santa Rosa earlier this year where he won his age group and finished 2nd overall. Troy landed himself in 9th place in his age group in Kona this year with a screaming fast 9:23:21.
This brings us to the veteran of the group, Susanne Davis she has been in the sport of triathlon for over 20 years and Saturday was her 7th Kona finish. She has claimed world records and world champion status in her career and although this year was not the race she envisioned it was her best and she came through the finish line with nothing but gratitude and class. Susanne placed top 20 in her age group and claimed the ROKA first out of the water title earlier in the day.
This is our tribute to these YogiTriathlete guests and everyone who towed the line on Saturday to realize their dreams and inspire others along the way.
So you have problems in your life. Not everything is hearts and smiley faces. You've been sad, you've experienced loss, you've felt depressed and you've been anxious and too fearful to move forward. Who hasn't?
Furthermore, who doesn't?
Our struggles in their essence are very similar and arguably they are exact. The difference between those of us who continue to live within these problems, stacking them on top of each other and those who have learned to move through the peaks and valleys is called the work. The deep inner work that we're never taught in school and the kind that the negative ego will go great lengths to keep us from. But for those of us who have hit our rock bottoms, our moments in life when we say "no more" and have prayed for another way are now moving to great heights in our lives and consciousness. It's not that life doesn't continue to throw challenges our way, in fact, the challenges get bigger but we use the tools we've been taught by our spiritual teacher to stay fluid. This fluidity comes from raising our vibration as we like to say here at YogiTriathlete and it is the byproduct of finding a path that speaks to us and sticking to it with a one-pointed focus.
Lex Ferrier knows all about dancing with her shadow self and through her willingness to pick herself up from rock bottom and seek the help she needed, she is here now guiding others in the cosmic dance of life. She has an authentic way of translating the ancient philosophies of yoga to be easily understood, digested and put to work in our modern world. She tells it like it is and doesn't candy coat the fact that all of our sufferings are caused by misalignment between who we really are and our existence in the physical world.
I met Lex at Evolve Yoga in Encinitas where we both teach and within the first few minutes of taking my first class with her I knew we spoke the same language. I needed to get her on the show and share her infinite wisdom with the YT tribe. I specifically use the word infinite because Lex is the kind of teacher that opens, she stands in presence and opens to her highest being to allow the words and teachings to flow through. Through her own fall from the mountaintop and into the valley of hurt she has learned to trust, to be vulnerable and to let her passion be expressed in its highest fashion. She is the real deal and in this episode, we take it deep.
Thank you so much for tuning in, your support is everything to this show. There are over 10 minutes of podcast extras for our Patreon supporters this week so if you'd like access to early release and exclusive content become a Patron today. To make a pledge of your choice simply select the $1 option and then change to the dollar amount to your liking then submit your support. If giving monetarily is not for you then please share the show and leave a review on Apple Podcast. All of this is having a big impact on the life of this show and we are deep thanks everytime you choose to tune in.
We all know those people. The athletically blessed. You know who I'm talking about, right? The people who do their first Ironman and cross the finish line with a World Championship qualification. We are so happy for them but then there is a tiny, itty bit part that says we shouldn't like those people but we simply don't listen.
We can't, how could we?
They found their "thing", they are expressing their greatness. The greatness that is within each one of us and the one that we find by following our heart's desires. The one that looks so very different for each one of us and one that has the potential to lead to jealousy. But again, how can we let it go there? This is our fellow dreamer, our teammate in life finding their purpose and living it. Their contagious joy is just too much for any negativity to survive.
This is the story of our guest today.
Susanne Davis is truly one of triathlon's best. She is one of the fastest moms in the world who qualified for the World Championship at her first Half Ironman (yep that used to be possible) and has gone on to break course records, win countless races and take National and World Championship status over her 20 years in the sport. But I know, I just know from our conversation with her and what I took away from it that it's not those things that define her.
It's what has transpired along the way, yes, I am talking about the journey that allows her to continually find identity in her life. With this identity comes a tribe, her family and she does not take this community lightly. As head of her household (sorry guys, women just have the lead here) she is ever cognizant of the importance of keeping her family connected and communicative.
In our conversation today she shares her wisdom and tips to a healthy marriage, solid family system, realism in pursuing dreams, the crushing defeat of failure and acceptance around being a masters athlete. Susanne's mindset is rich in gratitude and her faith is deep. She is what we want to see more of in this world.
Thank you for tuning in today, if you enjoy this episode go to Apple Podcast and leave a review. I give step by step instructions on how to do this in the outro of the show so listen to the absolute end. Bonus material has been posted on Patreon for our supporters so if you are looking to deepen your support please consider making a pledge to help us keep this show moving forward. Deep thanks for listening, sharing and being more of what we need in this world.
We all do it. We beat ourselves up. We hide our shame and guilt. We buy into and live out belief systems taught to us and learned along the way. We define, justify and make deals with ourselves to temper the feel of our ever-changing life situations.
We are conditioned to craft our lives around said belief systems and are given very little encouragement to question them. What this conditioned behavior equals is a life of following the herd and covering up the truth. Yet under it all, in the depths of who we are, a place closer to us than our breath sits a wise, all-knowing being waiting with open arms for us to return inward.
For those who feel the itch to stop conforming and the ones who can feel there simply must be more to life are experiencing the very opening ceremonies to a life divine. A life that is lived in a higher vibration and one in which all things miraculous feel within reach. It's not a life in resistance of what is or frustration of what has transpired or fear of what will be but one of unwavering belief that abundance and joy are exactly what we are worthy of.
Now, that's not to say that the journey getting there is easy or painless because the letting go of our belief systems and coping mechanisms are the very triggers that keep us from walking the warrior path. Letting go may feel unreasonable, not conforming to society may seem lonely and being neutral may appear to be the makings of a boring life when in fact the very opposite is true.
I believe today's show will help thin the veil a bit if not lift it completely for those on the cusp. Goldyn is for sure living a life divine with all of its ups and downs but the difference between her and most people enrolled in this school of life is that she rides her rollercoaster close to her center. She has found, through her experiences and willingness to feel instead of cover-up that her fuel for an abundant life is found through neutrality. It is found through a place of watching and learning and witnessing herself within her process.
She brings a very needed addendum to the Law of Attraction that I feel is heavily missed in most messaging around this subject. We talk about money and the belief systems that must be dropped in order to let the energy of financial abundance to flow in. She helps us all understand more about the concept of abundance and it's wide net of support. And we talk about her new relationship with alcohol, the reason we were brought together.
Earlier this year, Goldyn became one of the thousands of people participating in the online program, "One Year, No Beer". Describing alcohol as the "abusive boyfriend" in her life she now has a new perspective that is leading her to make healthier choices, ones that are in alignment with how she wants to live her life.
We are so grateful that "One Year, No Beer" reached out to us and connected us with Goldyn. This conversation definitely warrants a re-listen or two or many because it's one of those episodes where the wisdom bombs just keep coming.
If you find this show is assisting you to make more conscious choices in your life, please go to Apple Podcast and leave your review today. As an added benefit to our Patreon supporters, we have posted exclusive extras from our chat with Goldyn on our page so check that out.
Please share this show with your friends and community. Spread the high vibe, never underestimate your impact in this life and know that if you are willing to do the work, true abundance is your birthright.
Walking into the unknown is getting to be the norm around these parts and this week's show is dedicated to BJ's recent experience with this preferred flavor of adventure. For years he has talked about traveling and racing an Ironman by his lonesome and last week he did just that. Putting it all out there yet again, BJ raced hard at Ironman Wisconsin and pulled out great knowledge from his experience to move him closer to reaching his goals.
On this month's Ask the YTs, we take listener questions about Beej's experience and he opens up about what went down in Madison, how he plans to move forward into IMAZ and his skillful navigation of the days leading up to the race, his execution, and recovery.
BJ continues to step into his warrior self and there should be no question in anyone's mind that his continued achievement will lead to nothing less than the fulfillment of his dreams. I know that watching his journey is like indulging in a movie that I can't take my eyes off of and living vicariously through his athletic greatness will make all of us better competitors. So listen up because he drops the wisdom bombs in this episode.
Deep thanks for your support. Go to Apple Podcast and leave a review for the show, if you've already done that then please share this with your friends, especially those who are contemplating IM Wisconsin next year. We are accepting new athletes now so if you feel you are ready to tap into your inner badass, contact us to get the dialogue started.
Imagine a life where you ate a bowl of cereal for breakfast and dinner every day for the rest of your life. Can you imagine the great deficiencies in your health that would arise from eating the same highly processed food over and over again? Then imagine a world where this way of eating is the life breath of the status quo in millions of households. In what world would such insanity exist?
Sadly, the world I speak of is now and this vibrancy dulling diet is the acceptable protocol for which we feed our pets.
Today we take a sledgehammer to this paradigm with the help of our beautiful new friend and creator of Benjii's Canine Cuisine, Michelle May. Benjii's is the first ever human grade dog food formula developed from organic whole foods and this conversation is going to rock your world.
As with all things flow, Michelle walked into our lives just in the nick of time. Thanks to her generosity to share her expertise in this field our sweet Clark is off a processed food diet and thriving at his ideal weight.
Having been raised vegetarian, Michelle had a head start on living her ahimsa life although in her young adulthood she digressed to an omnivorous diet for a number of years. It wasn't until she became a mom to her first pup Bodhi that she became fully vegan. Within a matter of days, she felt a massive shift in her health and it was from this shift that she began to question her pups' nutrition.
She had been feeding them a carnivorous diet of dry kibble while buying into the perpetuated myths that variety is not healthy for dogs and pre-packaged dog food was the only way to go. Her curiosity led to research which led to a crusade to find another way. This journey welcomed her into the world of plant-based nutrition for canines, a full ahimsa diet that is truly for the good of all. Born from the animal agriculture industry, pet food is some of most unhealthy, contaminated food on the market mostly due to the subpar standards set by an organization with industry interest on their mind.
Michelle explains her theories on the evolution of dogs and why a whole foods plant-based diet makes complete sense for canines. She shares the story of Benjii and the tragic event that led her to her purpose. She takes the mystery and perceived complication out of home cooking for your pet and generously shares recipe ideas. She lends incredible insight to this episode and there is a wealth of information here for everyone, not just dog lovers.
Our bodies are always organizing towards health, even when that doesn't seem to be so. The inherent wisdom that lies within the wiring of our physicality is one that zealously pursues the path of healing. I don't believe there are limits to the level of health we can achieve in these amazing vehicles called bodies and I do believe that a foundational piece of our success is determined by the food we eat.
Every time we make a food choice, whether that be for ourselves, our families or our children, that choice has a direct effect on health levels. If we fill our bodies with or prepare foods that are not of the highest vibration we make our bodies work that much harder on its path to healing. Overtime it's pursuit to health will be slowed as it reprioritizes healing to stave off illness and disease to its best ability.
Our guest today is on the front lines of the pathway to health and she's dealing directly with the future of our world. Dr. Monica Davern is a Resident Pediatrician at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland in the Bay Area. She is a living example of health for her patients as she is an active triathlete, despite her demanding work schedule, and she is 100% plant-based. She sees the effects of poor nutrition every day and educates her patients and their parents on how to heal so many of the common issues in our youth today. Chronic abdominal pain, asthma, obesity, and constipation to name a few, all have deep routes in nutrition.
Monica has a skill of connecting with people and sharing her message of health by finding out what's important to them. She meets her patients where they are at and lends a guiding hand to empower them to make simple changes that lead have a great impact not just on the children but the entire family unit.
She has seen this first hand with her husband, Jesse and soon to be Ironman who once had to abort a couch shopping mission because sitting down and getting up left him in a sea of pain and inflammation. Monica feels that going plant-based together has strengthened them as a couple.
Monica serendipitously walked into our lives at Ironman Santa Rosa 70.3 earlier this year and it was an instant friendship. We are so honored to share her wisdom and experience with you guys today. If you enjoy the show please leave a review on Apple Podcast. If you're interested in helping us lengthen the life of this podcast please consider making your pledge on our Patreon page, we are building out that page each week with exclusive and early release content including two recipes from our upcoming cookbook.
We are in deep thanks to all of you, I say it every week but I don't think I can say it enough. Thank you for the support.
A warrior is someone who is always ready for battle but never a threat to their community. One who is awake and ready. A person who is willing to see how they move through the world and someone who does not run from vulnerability but embraces it as a powerful stepping stone in the process of self-growth.
Today BJ and I share our warrior stories, news from our battlefield of life - the joyful, the intense and the dark, as in the case of Jess's recent universal butt kicking. We play catch up this month to fill you in on what's happening in our world and how we're navigating the challenges that we are encountering on our path of purpose.
BJ is less than two weeks out from Ironman #2 of 2017 and we dive into his recovery and ramp up for Ironman Wisconsin. Jess opens up about a very difficult time that she was asked to navigate in her life and admits that she wasn't always on the winning side. We talk about the importance of being a beginner and we take a listener question on how to detach while still setting goals in life.
Skill is what it takes to master this life and we hope that you are able to take away some more tools for your journey from this episode. Thank you so much for your support and we ask that you please leave a review on Apple Podcast - we are 74 reviews away from hitting our goal of 100 by the end of August. It only takes a few moments of your heart to make a major impact on the life of the show.
We are posting exclusive content every week on our Patreon page so if you've been thinking about making your pledge, please do so today. Thank you YogiTriathlete community, we are deeply grateful for your time, generosity, trust and pursuit to assist us in creating a better world.
"Do what makes you happy" was the advice Marek received from his parents throughout life. A form of guidance that left him with the responsibility to find his own way. The son of two doctors, Marek always believed that medicine was in his future until he realized in college that his heart wasn't in it.
With a degree in BioChemistry and a Masters in Education, Marek found himself where so many of us have, in the sea of life's unknown. So he did what any smart college grad would do who didn't have a career path. He packed up and moved west.
Boulder, Colorado became his new home and like most people who move to this mecca of physical activity, Marek found himself immersed in the triathlon community. He was no stranger to multi-sport or competition having been a swimmer from the age of six and a previous triathlon finisher. As his training intensified and his dedication to the sport grew, Marek started racing as an elite triathlete. It was during this time that his purpose started to show up.
Marek is a planner, he likes to know what is going to happen and so when he took a coaching job at the University of Colorado, he went in with a well-laid-out plan and strategy for success. It was cut and dry. Or so he thought.
Marek learned quickly that coaching requires much more than periodization and intervals. He was being challenged by his athletes in a way he never expected and within this, a deeper desire began to surface, one that he was passionate about. A passion that led him to where he is today.
Marek is well spoken, kind and someone who has, for certain, found a career that he loves. It was a pleasure to sit down with him and flesh out common topics that many of us athletes experience, like competition anxiety, vulnerability and self-doubt.
I think there are many relateable moments in this conversation and I'd love to know your takeaways so please share your feedback with the YT tribe and leave a review on Apple Podcast. Our goal is 100 reviews by the end of August and with your help we can make that goal a reality.
Deep thanks for your support!
Imagine yourself on mile 5 of an Ironman marathon and you feel great. You are on goal pace.
"It's all coming together, this is THE race I've been waiting for".
Then you look at your heart rate and it's 10 beats higher than what it should be and all of a sudden you don't feel as good and you slow down and your dreams are left to fade away for another day.
Sadly, this is common series of events for athletes who rely too heavily, because they have never trained any other way, on that external piece of equipment called the watch. Data is good, heck yes, but detaching from data to get to know thyself proves far more valuable when it comes down to pivotal moments in training and racing.
By practicing letting go of the watch in training we create space to develop a skillful awareness of our bodies and minds that lifts the limits that numbers can impose. Again data is good, it helps us get a sense of where we are in our pace and exertion levels but it's not the end all and be all of training. Envision going out for a workout and knowing, without question, your heart rate within a beat, pace within seconds and sustained wattage based on your breath and perceived exertion through heightened body awareness. How might that benefit you in a race when your bike computer fails or your watch battery dies?
BJ was introduced to this first hand from our guest today and has relied on it many times when his bike computer has failed and his watch battery has died. In fact, BJ's regular practice is to race without a watch and his times continue to get faster and faster.
Lucho came into our lives a decade ago on a plane ride home from Ironman Arizona. He struck up a conversation with BJ and from that moment on he was a changed athlete. Lucho soon became BJ's coach and has remained his mentor for many years.
Lucho is an accomplished athlete, he was a very active kid. He ran in high school which led to a scholarship to college which led to a unique twist which led to travels which led to a hurricane which led to his introduction to triathlon. In 2000 Lucho was the top amateur at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI and 16th overall. It was after this incredible accomplishment that he turned pro. He's a multi-time course record breaker in the sport of triathlon and ultra running. He utilizes his athletic experiences, especially the crummy ones, to self-reflect and learn so that he can rise back up to the next challenge as a better-equipped athlete and human. He is constantly reinventing himself and most recently he's been hitting the track to see what kind of speed he is capable of at this point in his life.
Lucho is so transparent, he's really an open book and I love that about him. We've known him for ten years and even though this is the second time I've met him in person I feel like I've been right by his side through times of joy and otherwise as we've followed his journey through his blog and by listening to him on his Endurance Planet podcast.
This conversation is most definitely one to listen to a few times, there is so much gold in here for athletes from the traditional training standpoint but also in the development of self-awareness and mental strength.
Thank you so much for your support, we couldn't do it with you all. We have a goal of 100 reviews on Apple Podcast by the end of August so if you enjoy today's show please go and leave a few sentences in support of the YTP.
Sit back, unplug and get ready to really plug into an awesome conversation with an accomplished athlete, coach, podcaster, dad, husband, and cake artist.
Growing up on his family's farm with 640-acres right outside his doorstep, it was almost impossible that Anton "Tony" Krupicka would avoid becoming a runner and adventurer of the earth. Inspired by his parents to remain curious about life Tony began his explorations at a young age. Fueled by his love for learning, a natural companion to curiosity, Tony attained his earliest education on running from pamphlets put out by Runner's World in the 1970s. The artistry of training the body intrigued Tony to no end and in preparation for his first marathon at the age of 12, he experimented with calorie counting, fasting and high mileage weeks.
Tony continued running through high school and college which he attended in Colorado Springs via an academic scholarship. It was here that he was introduced to some of the most iconic running races like the Leadville Trail 100. Running 100 miles seemed quite impossible to Tony which was all the more reason to aspire to it. Led by his curiosity to test human limits, Tony eventually found himself at the starting line in Leadville in 2006, a race that would introduce him to the ultrarunning scene on a grand scale.
Although he is most well-known for his achievements in the sport of ultrarunning and for being the face of several ultrarunning documentaries, Tony is also an accomplished climber, cyclist, and back country skier. He is hyper competitive but it's the intrinsic benefits that drive him to get out there every day and explore. Plagued by injury for most of his running career, Tony looks to other outdoor endeavors to keep his mind and body sharp.
Tony is the quintessential student of life. He questions, he explores, he studies, he watches and although strong in his perspective, he is open to that of others. He is what I would call a life long beginner, someone who is open to new things and not afraid to follow the scent of joy.
Thank you for tuning into the show today, we appreciate your support and if you enjoy it please go to Apple Podcast and leave a review for the show. Our goal is 100 by the end of August and we have 80 more to reach our goal. I know that together we can reach it easily so thank you in advance for your review.
We max out the mics in this episode as we bring not one, not two but six people together to recap yesterday’s Ironman in Santa Rosa. Three top tier triathletes along with their #1 supporters flesh out the goings on of Saturday’s 140.6-mile race. We answer listener questions and dive into race strategy, nutrition and navigating the hurt.
Susannah, Ironman first-timer, Troy, elite level triathlete and BJ, long course veteran, and YogiTriathlete coach come together in this episode to share their race experience. Even though their exteriors and descriptive details may be different we see once again that at the core of our being we are more similar than different.
This was a very cool experience to have such amazing energy on the show today and within the laughs and comradery is so much valuable information for athletes. If you raced Ironman Santa Rosa this you’ll surely enjoy hearing the experiences of your fellow competitors and if you are dreaming of racing in 2018 then look no further than the enthusiasm of this episode to fuel your impending registration.
Thanks so much for tuning in, if you are enjoying the show please leave a review on Apple Podcast (iTunes) we are going for 100 by the end of August. We have many to go but we believe our listeners will step up and share their experience with the YTP.
Similar to what happened to many of us long course athletes, Troy was taken by an Ironman video sent to him by his cousin and from that moment it's been game on for this triathlete. Although a little different from my Ironman story, Troy didn't even know what an Ironman was when he sat down to view the YouTube short that completely changed the path of his life. To take it one step further, he wasn't even familiar with the sport of triathlon and even further, he had very little athletic background. But none of that mattered to the burning desire in his heart to become what most people believe they never could be.
His first triathlon was in his home state of Puebla, Mexico where he joined and trained with a local triathlon team. It was a pool swim, a mountain bike ride and the typical 5k run. He placed 2nd in his age group and as Troy explains, "it was the moment that triathlon got me".
From that moment until now there's been no looking back. He went directly to the 70.3 distance then eventually onto his first full Ironman in Texas. With several podium finishes under his belt despite only a few years of triathlon in his bones he landed himself a spot on Team Sirius, an elite triathlon squad in Boulder, Colorado led by World Champion Siri Lindley.
As of last year, Troy left his life in Mexico to pursue his deep passion for the sport of triathlon so that he could train with his Team Sirius teammates. He left behind his business, his family, his friends, his dog and the naysayers that didn't approve of the massive action he was taking to follow his dreams.
He describes his process of navigating adversity as taking single steps forward every day and that each time he does, he knows he will be another level up. Another step closer to fulfilling his quest. Even though his friends at home joke about him living the good life he is very much living in the middle part between the inspiration and reaching his dream, a chunk of the process that he recognizes as the hard part.
Troy's story is fueled by his enthusiasm for life and sport and his ability to remain fluid through it all seems to be a natural gift. There's no denying that the story you're about to hear is meant to be and that we will all take many things away from his words.
Troy is a risk taker and he's an inspiration to anyone who is connecting to their purpose but doesn't quite understand the "how" just yet. And above all, he's guy that you will not avoid loving and he is, as his coach Siri describes, an amazing human.
Thank you for tuning into the show, please use the Amazon banner ad below every time you make your Amazon purchase. For those that don't want to have to think about their support, click on the Patreon banner and make your monthly pledge to help us finance the show so that we can keep it going. We are in deep thanks for all of you who are supporting the YTP and we know, for sure, without a doubt that you are going to thoroughly enjoy our convo today with Troy otherwise known as Rodrigo Romero Garcia de la Cadena.
A decade ago, with $600 to their names, Lance and his brother Tony started a race company. Without Limits Productions set its roots in Colorado with the Summer Open sprint distance triathlon, a race very much still in effect. These two guys followed a calling, put themselves on the line, risked failure and through continuous forward motion created a top notch event production company.
Most recently, Lance bought out his brother Tony to become sole owner of Without Limits and also took over the iconic Boulder Peak Triathlon held every year in July. A race that BJ and I are quite familiar with from our Boulder days. When we heard that Lance, who we've known for years as we've raced his races for years, was taking it over there was no question that we would both be on the starting line on July 9th of this year.
Lance is more than a race director, he's a community connector and the catalyst for change in many people's lives. He has had the pleasure of seeing participants climb the triathlon ladder from sprint all the way to half iron distance under his direction. He has such a deep love for the sport, growing up racing the Cape Cod triathlon series and eventually turning pro only to find a deeper curiosity behind the scenes of multi-sport events. Lance is no question in the right place, right now doing what he is supposed to be doing. He is for sure, living his purpose and through it, he's creating life transformative experiences for his racers.
Lance shares his wisdom on the history of triathlon, the booms and the tanks of participation and why there are some things that he just won't compromise on. When Without Limits is putting their stamp on a race, you better believe that it will be well run and authentic to what Lance believes in and true to the trends in the sport.
I highly recommend planning a trip to Boulder in July and race the Boulder Peak while you're there. We hope you enjoy this conversation, there's so much in here to take away so pay attention, listen with an open heart for the messages that are underlying the words and meant just for you.
Please use the Amazon banner ad below for all your purchases, it doesn't cost you a penny! And check out our Patreon page where for as little as a few dollars a month can have a big impact on the life of this show. Thank you for tuning in, we are deep thanks every time you choose to ride the high vibe with us.
“Do you have the patience to wait till your mud settles and the water is clear? Can you remain unmoving till the right action arises by itself?”
-Lao Tzu
Meet Luca, he’s five now. He loves letters and drawing and the color red but not so much, the color blue. He has the focus of a master and the drawing skills of an artist. From a very young age, he expressed his love for words. “Delicious” and “paleontologist” were the types of words that effortlessly rolled off his tongue in a little boy voice. He was curious about octagons and fonts. Friends of Luca’s parents, Wendy and Rob, told them that they were lucky because he was gifted. Luca was their first child and as all parents know, children don’t come with directions or a “how to” hand-out. They had nothing to go off of but the innate love and support that they have for their son. As time went on, some of his interests progressed into obsessions and moments of confusion into tantrums.
One night that Wendy describes as feeling like she was punched in the stomach, Rob came to her with his realization that Luca checked all of the boxes for being on the autism spectrum. Days later it came up again, this time from Wendy’s doula who helped bring Luca into this life. And so started the journey of a family with one step after the other into the unknown. A story that caused massive shifts in perspectives, parenting techniques and for Wendy the birth of her third baby, I am LOVE, an organization inspired by Luca and further expressed to Wendy via divine intervention. It was a venture that no-one saw coming.
Wendy is a friend that I met shortly after moving to Carlsbad and it was an instant of knowing that we had to share Luca’s story on the show. This conversation is about a life changing diagnosis, the power of love, the blessings that come from lightening up our grip on life and learning how to, once and for all, love ourselves. It is a powerful recount of one family’s sudden life shift and how as a unit they are learning to find more balance every day. Thank you for tuning in and we know that there will be takeaways for everyone within this episode. Enjoy!
Namaste-
“Surreal” is how first-year pro, Kevin Portmann describes his overall age group win at Ironman Couer d’Alene in 2016. I’ve heard this from many people who describe a moment in life where they realize a dream. I too have experienced moments unfold that I’ve envisioned for years and then find it hard to believe in their unveiling. I can’t help but wonder, is this because the part us of that has trouble believing we are capable or worthy of our dreams overshadows the part that always knows any dream is ours to accomplish? Is self-doubt really that strong or is it that we’re just less in touch with the part of us that remains unshakably strong and capable? I believe the root of it is due to the world in which we are conditioned to believe that we are in a constant state of lack. New car, new home, new clothes, a better job, more money, stronger, leaner and faster. We are constantly barraged with messages that we need to do more, have more and be more.
Although Kevin shares a bit about his struggle in believing in himself he shows us all that we can still take leaps of faith to follow our dreams. Clinching his pro card in 2016 Kevin is moving full force into his passion of racing triathlon as his career. And with Mariesa, his new bride, by his side, we fully believe that anything is possible for this hungry athlete. The two of them, in partnership, are navigating the triathlon circuit as new kids on the block. Finding their way, making mistakes and learning for the future. We chat about the importance of Marissa’s role in supporting Kev’s dreams and the difficulties that go along with being his good cop and bad cop.
We take the trip along Kevin’s triathlon life starting with his first race in upstate New York where, despite crashing on the bike, left him eager for more. This hunger has led him to the finish lines of countless triathlons including three Ironmans in 11 weeks, two World Championship qualifications and invitation into the elite club of professional racing. Kevin dispels the myth that the life of a professional triathlete is all glamor and he reveals for the first time a goal that he’s never talked about before to others.
We’re grateful to have such a talented athlete for you guys today and look forward to supporting his career and cheering him on. Thanks so much for tuning into the show each week. Please use the Amazon banner ad below to get to Amazon for your purchases and for those who want to take their support to another level please visit our Patreon page to pledge your monthly contribution. We have every intention to keep the show alive and we are grateful for the support of the YT community in doing so.
This is a power packed Ask the YTs fueled by listener questions, the results of our recent blood work from Inside Tracker and sacred cacao, of course. You can hear the echoes of our stirring as we sip on the ceremonial grade chocolate that we get direct from a cloud forest in Guatemala via our dear friend and podcast guest, Nola. And these days we're going through a lot more cacao than normal because BJ is making a major shift away from one of his dietary staples. You'll find out why he's hammering my stash in this episode as we reveal the innards of our blood physiology and what our plant-based, endurance lifestyle looks like from the inside. Plus we announce the winner of our Inner Age contest if that is you please reach out to us with your mailing address and we'll get your life changing LifeStraw Go bottle out to you. Life changing is not an understatement, these bottles truly make life so much easier. Say goodbye to the hunt for clean water, you will no longer need it with your LifeStaw Go in tow.
From self-sabotage to peeing in wetsuits, to fueling for endurance sports with Type 1 diabetes and elephant power we somehow manage to get it all in during this conversation. Thank you to Lauren, Brodie and Arshad for sending in questions and helping us make a great show for the YT tribe today. It's such an honor to be the stewards of this beautiful brand and we're so happy to have you all on board for our adventurous mission to create a better world.
If you want to support the show please click on the Amazon banner ad below for all your purchases and check out our Patreon page where for as little as a few bucks a month you can make a great impact. Share the show with your friends and community and if you find today's episode helpful please leave a review on iTunes.
With the spirit of the great one-day spring classics of Belgium in the air, riders from all over the world clip in each May for a 140-mile cycling adventure like no other in the United States. Complete with categorized climbs, over 40 miles of dirt, 14 water crossings and 13,000 feet of climbing, the Belgian Waffle Ride (BWR) is designed to bring each and every rider to a point where quitting is almost too good to pass up. BWR’s founder and director Michael Marckx purposefully creates an extremely challenging course each year with the intention to give his riders the chance to transcend their demons or succumb to the never-ending intensity of the course.
Born into a family of cyclists and runners with a history steeped in Belgian baking, Michael wanted to create an event that was true to his heritage while also challenging the status quo of bike racing in the US. The BWR was the result, a race that grew from just over 100 invited participants in the first year to 1,200 competitors in its young life of six years. Michael has found himself the steward of a life changing experience for many athletes who swear off the race forever only to return the following year.
Michael has lived an enriching life, one that is infused with athletic achievement, risk taking and experiments that have broadened his perspective. From a young age, Michael was encouraged to discover his gifts by nurturing his interests and following his passions. This led to running his first marathon at age 12, becoming a professional triathlete, a musician, artist, creative entrepreneur, husband, father and race director among many other life titles.
Our conversation with Michael covers the range of his colorful life. He shares the wisdom he’s gained through his experiences and of course, he dives into the play by play of this years BWR. We are so honored to have Michael as a part of the YT community and we hope you enjoy the show. Please share it with your networks, leave a review on iTunes and for all your Amazon shopping needs please use our banner ad below to support the show, it doesn’t cost you a penny. For those of you looking to take your support to another level check out our Patreon page where you can pledge a monthly contribution to help keep us on firing up the mics and creating more connection in the world.
Julia Butterfly Hill ascended a 1500-year-old redwood tree on December 10, 1997, and remained there for 738 days. Affectionately named Luna, the redwood and others surrounding it were in danger of being taken down by a logging company that was clear-cutting the area. After two years of enduring extreme weather, helicopter harassment, angry logger intimidation tactics and a ten-day siege by the company's security guards Hill saved her tree and all of the others within a 200-foot zone. Today, a motivational speaker, Julia is commonly heard asking her audience one question. "What is your tree?"
What is it that you are passionate about in life and what makes you feel purposeful? These are the questions that we get to answer if we are willing to ask them.
Kathleen Kastner, our guest today, is living in her tree and her road to finding this home within herself has been via a series of Hail Mary passes. Having the approval of those around her never stopped Kathleen from answering the deep calls from within, and as you will hear in our conversation, her leaps of faith have been perfectly supported by powers far beyond the approval of family and friends.
It may be easy to listen to Kathleen's story and think that you are different and that life could never end up so joyful for you. The truth is, the differences are found in each individuals' willingness to jump when the universe calls. When I am feeling shaky in my discomfort, and the idea of curling up in a space of comfort seems like the only reasonable action to take, I remind myself that I am here on purpose. I remind myself that I have an ever evolving purpose and outright obligation as a human to unearth the gifts I came here to share. Is this scary? Hell yes. Bumpy? For sure! But my experience has shown me that when we follow our hearts the universe conspires to support us. The path to purpose is not always pretty, I can't stress this enough.
Kathleen spent much of her life addicted to exercise, sugar and caffeine. She partied hard and like so many people, used external substances to avoid feeling true life. This is what most of us do because it's socially acceptable to wake up to coffee and go to bed with wine. It feels better to grab that 3 o'clock latte and vent to a friend than to feel the weight of our choices. These cycles are so common, they are normalized and for Kathleen, it wasn't until her first yoga class, on account of Dr. Deepak Chopra, that everything started to shift.
Kathleen holds a master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism. She is a Certified Food for Life Plant-Based Instructor with the Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine and has been vegan since 2002. She has written two books, Yoga’s Path to Weight Loss: A Mind Body Spirit Guide to Loving Yourself Lean and The Cheerleader Speaks: What God Taught Me About Men and Myself. Both books include deep insight into Kathleen's journey. A journey of intuitive strength, overcoming unworthiness and finding her tree.
Thank you for tuning in, we greatly appreciate your support and for the notes that you are sending us. Please go to iTunes and leave a review for the show, we are actively growing our reach and iTunes reviews are very helpful for our mission.
Built for speed, explosive movement and high impact, Amir Madison was well on his way to a bright career in football from a young age. Always an active child, people would comment to his parents about his innate athletic skills. Despite growing up in the recording studio with his dad and listening to music since his time in his mother's womb, Amir chose away from musical education to follow his friends to an athletic high school. A choice that turned football into his focus.
Receiving a scholarship to play in North Dakota, Amir took the next logical step on his path to making the big time although his love for the game soon turned into anger for the win. The romantic courtship of recruitment was quickly overshadowed by a steep wall of adversity that Amir had to surmount every day of his college career. The adversity that no doubt made him stronger as an athlete, more hungry to dominate yet further away from the gentle soul that sits deep within his being. Amir armored up, played hard every day and staunchly resisted everyone who cheered for his failure.
He went on for years stoking the fire of his competitive drive with anger, self-will and resistance. Every catch, every hit, every explosion of energy was all for the win, to show them all that he was a worthy recipient in his craft. And through the absolute force in which he approached his sport, he found his young body was feeling the hits. He knew what they said, "athletes die young" and he was starting to feel that this could just be true for him.
The trauma in his body continued to add up and the vision of his future started to fade away. Amir found himself in a space of unknown. He was in his mid-20s and the life that he envisioned was coming to an end. He had no idea where to turn.
There is a saying in yoga that goes, "when the student is ready, the teacher appears". Amir's teacher is yoga and not a moment too late this teacher came into his life. With nothing else to do with his day, Amir took his friend up on her invitation to join him for a yoga class and with that, set himself on a trajectory in life that he never imagined.
This is a beautiful story of a man living on the other side of anger, adversity and unworthiness. He is uncovering his gifts each day and sharing them generously with others. Amir sees now that there is another road to victory and he is dedicated to working with athletes to guide them to their greatest wins in a powerful, healthful and sustainable fashion. Everything in Amir's life has changed but he sees how every moment has led to the unfolding of his purpose which he is now living with pure grace and more power than ever before.
The well-trained mind is showing itself strong in this episode as we recap our experiences at Ironman Santa Rosa 70.3. BJ reveals insight into his mind battles on the course and how he trumped his self-sabotaging impulses to race to his potential that day.
Anyone can get the physical fitness, it's the mental fitness that makes the difference on race day. The power of mindfulness practices on athleticism is not only proving itself in scientific studies but it's proving itself in the massive rise of athletes who are now meditating and practicing mindfulness in their daily lives. The true beauty lies in the fact that it doesn't just benefit our sport, it benefits every facet of our lives leaving us to be nothing less than our best. It's simply too good to pass up! If you want in, we are awake and ready for you.
We also dive into listener questions about 50K to 70.3 training, mantras and race day meditation techniques, nutrition and prepping for an international Ironman. This episode is chock full but if there's a question you've been hoping we'd answer....well, send it in! This is a monthly show that isn't going anywhere. We've been racing triathlon and running events for two decades. We are open books and here to share our wisdom with you.
It's more than what we put on our plate and into our bodies. It's what we put into our minds. It's how we spend our time and who we spend it with. It's how, and if, we chew our food and move our bodies. Health is a lifestyle. And when we look at it this way, as a harmonic concert of many different things, big and small, working together we find ourselves living a life of wellness. This is a sustainable way to find health but for many people on this planet who are so far away from a lifestyle of wellness, it may seem unattainable. We are here to say that is a myth, a complete untruth perpetrated by ego energy. There is a way, there is always a way to finding more vibrancy in life and it is available to everyone. It is ours for the taking, have at it!
Our guest today is Lynda Layng, plant-based chef, healthy recipe creator, holistic health coach and small step advocate buddy to YTP 52 guest Sid Garza-Hillman. Like Sid, she is a big fan of small change and living a life where deprivation is the only thing we are depriving ourselves of. Adding in, not giving up is the key to long-lasting change. Lynda works with her clients to make eating healthy as easy as opening up their lunch bag at work to reveal one of her pre-made, high vibe meals. She works locally through her New Jersey network to provide homemade plant-based meals to folks who are busy but awake enough to know that without Lynda they may otherwise fall prey to poor food choices.
Lynda loves to share food with others but her underlying passion is recipe creation and cookbook collaboration. A welcomed passion that became known to us soon shortly after meeting Lynda at the Mendocino 50k last month. To say we hit it off with Lynda would be an understatement, for me, it was like finding my sister. And like any good sibling, Lynda has generously offered to support us on our cookbook quest. We will be utilizing her expertise and high vibe taste buds in our process to publish our first cookbook this summer (can you feel the accountability!).
We are so excited about having Lynda in our lives and are so honored to share her warm heart and loving story with you guys today. Enjoy the show!
“There are a lot of reasons why. Some are genetic, but the vast majority of why people have coronary artery disease or the diseases that I treat is very much lifestyle.” -Dr. Heather Shenkman
According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death globally. More people die from CVD than any other cause. There are millions upon millions of ticking time bombs out there right now, many of which don't even know they have the disease. Take our podcast guest, Gail Mc Carthy from episode nine for instance. Her husband Jimmy, a seemingly fit and healthy dad suffered a massive heart attack on the swim of a triathlon while in his early 40s. Sure there were markers but never a thought that he would be one of the people whose life would be claimed by this serial killer disease.
But is it that blind? Is this killer really something that has become so normalized that it simply sneaks up on us and selfishly just takes lives on a whim?
According to our guest today, Dr. Heather Shenkman, Interventional Cardiologist, the majority of people suffering from this disease find themselves there as a result of their lifestyle and not by chance. Regularly eating foods heavily laden with oil and animal fat. Diets devoid of fiber and phytonutrients. Lack of movement from a body that was designed to move and low motivation to make changes when medications can bring symptoms of CVD to respectable levels. All the while, plaque builds on the walls of the arteries and blood flow to and from the heart becomes compromised causing undo stress on the cardiac muscle of this primary organ that sustains life.
A doctor that talks the talk and walks the walk, Heather is a shining example of a healthy heart life for her patients and colleagues. Today we share Heather's wisdom, intellect and story of becoming the Vegan Heart Doc and a multi-time Ironman triathlete. By living the example of what she wants to see in the world, she is creating massive change in the field of cardiology and in the lives of her patients. She has the talent to meet people where they are at and effectively share the benefits of a whole foods plant-based diet and exercise on the health of the heart.
We are so honored to share this amazing woman with you today, there is no doubt in our minds that she is serving up her purpose in this life. Please share this episode with at least one person that can benefit from this information, their life may just depend on it.
Our bodies are always organizing towards health, even when the signs may not appear to be so. Our physiological reaction to stress, inflammation, vasoconstriction and dilation of our vessels and arteries, heart rate and body temperature variations, even bruising, these are all healing mechanisms of the body. We are built to survive. The question is are we helping this process or not? It seems that as a society, living amongst modern day normalities like terrorism, technology and brain numbing entertainment, we pose daily challenges to our innate selves that require constant adaptation. At the end of the day, I believe that these amazing vessels we get to walk this life in are keeping up quite impressively but there are things we can do to help.
Approaching the Natural: A Health Manifesto, authored by today’s guest is more than just a book on healthy eating. It is a guide to full spectrum wellness written from the perspective of our truest nature. It is a book that advocates small steps and celebrates any change that is in the direction of health. It doesn’t underestimate the power of adding a stalk of celery once a week or touching the actual earth with our bare hands or feet.
Sid is masterful in his approach to excite the reader about returning to a simpler life in the midst of modern chaos. He lends breathing room to the concept of change while removing the factor deprivation. In fact, his advice is almost always to give nothing up, a notion that BJ and I often recommend to our athletes and clients. Simply put, a life of deprivation is not one of sustainability, especially if we are truly enjoying something for our higher good or otherwise, giving it up may just make us want it more. Like Sid, we recommend adding the good in, something as simple as one conscious breath a day or a walk across the yard without shoes. The add-in doesn’t have to be big but over time with consistency, we will give ourselves a greater chance at creating more health promoting habits in our life.
With only one chapter on nutrition, Approaching the Natural takes health to a new level with its consideration of our familial and social networks, mental nutrition and physical movement which was the leading reason why we were able to connect with Sid for this interview. He is the creator and race director for the Mendocino Coast 50k which I ran just a few weeks ago.
This podcast is about ultra-running, small steps, big moves, solutions to stress and taking the big deal out of plant-based nutrition. Sid is a joy to share the mic with and there are many moments of laughter due to his quick-witted responses. We are excited to share his story with the YT community and thank you for every time you choose to listen in. If you are enjoying the show and can donate financially please visit our Patreon page to make your monthly pledge today. Other ways to support the show that doesn’t cost you a thing is by using our Amazon banner, leaving a review on iTunes, sharing the show on your social media outlets and choosing to ride the high vibe with us!
It was a simultaneous transfer of energy and insight into my future as Gene Baur talked about the Mendocino Coast 50k, ever so briefly, during our interview last summer. It was in those moments that I knew, without a doubt, I would be adding the title of ultra-runner to my athletic resume. I didn't know how and I didn't know when. All I knew was that I saw myself crossing the finish line of a race that I had not heard of up until that time. This was not my first rodeo with visions of the future so I knew only to bow in accordance with the divine schedule maker and surrender to the commencement of my journey to the 50k distance.
Over the next nine months, I trained. I tended to my body, I shaped my ultra-running mindset and I continually climbed over walls of fear to see the expansive view on the other side. I used those experiences as fuel to go farther than I ever had gone before, all the while training for Santa Rose 70.3 which falls just three weeks after the Mendocino ultra.
Today's conversation is a run down of my race day, a verbal race report if you will, where I answer listener questions about my experience and share what I learned from this enriching journey. What I can say for sure is that a piece of my heart was opened and is now dedicated to the art of trail running. There will be more in my future and with that, more walls of fear to climb, more miles to conquer and more finish lines to cross. I am so grateful for this wildly abundant life that I get to live but I also understand that its unveiling has not been by chance but through consciousness and a commitment to walking the warrior path.
Thank you for tuning in and for supporting the show. Please let us know what you think of this episode and if we left any questions unanswered. BJ and I are committed to being up in Mendocino for year three of the ultra and we hope you can join us for another epic adventure in life.
“Be careful what you water your dreams with. Water them with worry and fear and you will produce weeds that choke the life from your dream. Water them with optimism and solutions and you will cultivate success. Always be on the lookout for ways to turn a problem into an opportunity for success. Always be on the lookout for ways to nurture your dream.” ― Lao Tzu
At the age of six, Mary told her family that she was going to be a veterinarian and from that moment on she kept her focus on this goal. She continually shaped her mindset in support of her ambition and consistently took the next logical step to make it her reality. At the age of 19, she was accepted into veterinarian school and well, the rest is history.
Mary’s ability to focus on a goal for a long period of time had been exposed to those around her and fully unleashed within her as she entered into adulthood. Her clarity around goal setting at such a young age tells us that Mary was born with a naturally strong will which is a faculty of the mind required for long-term, uncluttered focus. It is what is required for all dream realization, goal achievement and journies into the unknown. It is the part of us that allows for one pointed fixation that grants us the clarity to take action that is in alignment with our objective. Will is powerful but when paired with patience it leads to a journey of flow and a path of purpose. Patience is the piece that gives us the vision to learn from our experiences along the way, to grow in the rough spots and no matter what happens between point A and point B, patience will always hold our dreams close to the heart. In October of 2013, Mary announced another life goal but this time it wasn’t just to her family, it was to the world. She boldly lifted the veil of her online persona, Runner Chick to introduce the deep vulnerability of Finding Kona. In a matter of a few words, Mary paralleled herself with the best of the best in the sport of triathlon and officially embarked on her quest to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.
This is a conversation about perseverance and it’s about not backing off a dream no matter how far off it appears. It’s about remaining committed and relentlessly patient so that the perfect series of events may unfold. And it’s about embracing the understanding that if we really want to a attain a goal in life we must remain 100% focused on pursuing its realization. There are many things to tempt us in life and pull us out of focus, especially if we are seekers, a title that pretty much pertains to everyone who reads this blog and listens to this podcast, but this is where our will comes into play. It is our ability to focus intensely and with intention that drives forward our momentum to reaching what we dream of in this life.
What does it feel like to truly put it all out there and give it everything you've got? Well, for those who have done this, they'd argue that there is no better feeling in the world.
But what does putting it all out there mean? How can we quantify this?
The answer is we can't, it's unique to each person and that includes, the coveted elation that putting it all out there promises to deliver. As humans, we have perspective. This is a faculty of our minds that allow us to have our a unique take on everything in life. In other words, it's the explanation for why multiple people can look at the same object and see completely different things.
Perspective, the way I see it, is also a conduit to conflict. (Enter ego!) In our pursuit to be right, which by the way can only happen by making another wrong, we sometimes fight to the death to uphold our perspective as truth. It's an interesting dance and one that played out in full expression in the days following the October 5th launch of a blog post entitled, "The Wussification of 140.6" written by today's guest, Billy Hafferty.
Needless to say, Billy was showered in perspective shortly after publishing this piece. The was response magnified once IronCowboy James shared it to his tens of thousands of Facebook followers. Some people agreed with Billy and validated the content while many argued against him. Some were more polite than others but again, it's all just in the way you see it. BJ and I watched it all go down from afar and in today's episode we talk with Billy about his intent in writing the post and what it felt like to be on the receiving end of the commentary. But Billy is more than just a controversial blog post author, he is a free-lance writer and a plant-based endurance athlete who is on the search for his purpose in this life. I love the depth of this conversation and the honesty in which Billy engages despite my constant digging for more.
Thank you for tuning in this week. Keep sharing the YTP with your community, please use the Amazon Banner ad, leave a review on iTunes and become a patron on Patreon. Deep thanks to each one of you for supporting the show.
Forward breath, two beat cross-over, Chinese take-out and driving with a snorkel. What the heck are we talking about?
Swimming, of course. Actually, we're talking about downright intelligence of technique and execution that is steeped in science and equals less resistance and more flow in movement through the water.
Eney Jones is our guest today and she is straight out of the box. In other words, she is intelligent. She has an ability to take data and information and create new concepts that yield results. She has produced innovative tools and techniques that have greatly improved the performance of many well-known athletes. Eney is always stretching possibility and she does this by remaining in a state of curiosity. She has what yogis describe as a "beginners mind". Refusing to rely on her decades of expertise, she is open to learning and by not resting on her laurels, she has become one of the most sought after swim coaches in the world.
The daughter of an Olympic swimmer and world record holder, Eney was putting down 10,000 yards a day in the pool at the age of thirteen. She was literally born to swim and through a lifetime of being submerged, she is now living her purpose more than ever as she guides athletes, every day, to finding their most efficient stroke and movement through water.
Eney combines the principles of yoga and athletics to pull out the highest potential in each athlete and she believes, above all else, that we must enjoy what we do with our heart. Combining love and strength in our sport equals our greatest performance. By not giving the negative any energy she draws upon the unique strengths of each athlete to create their optimal body/mind connection in sport and life.
To say that I enjoyed this conversation is an understatement. In my relisten, during post-production, I was so jazzed to continue our against the grain pursuit in life and I can only hope that a spark is fired up within the many who tune into this chat with one of the greats in athletics. Thank you for listening, we appreciate your support more than we can accurately express. Thank you for using the Amazon Banner Ad and for becoming patrons of the show on Patreon.
This is a clip from our conversation with Dr. Neal Barnard. In this, he explains the scientific findings around the pathophysiology of Diabetes.
Group workouts, teaching yoga, trail and tri training, living tiny, believing in ourselves and trusting our path with unwavering faith is our life these days. In a nutshell, we are experiencing the hustle that is living a dream! We are staying focused on delivering our message of high vibe living to as many people as possible while continuing to walk into the unknown every single day. We are exactly where we are supposed to be right now and our reason for being called out here continues to unfold. There is a force that is asking us to step out of our comfort zones more and we are constantly challenged to live what we teach. Although we’re not quite ready to talk about it yet, there is big news coming to our local community. The expansive energy that we felt pulling us out here is now where we sit and it’s proving to be quite powerful. There is much work to be done here and we are committed to walking into each day with open hearts and powerful backbones to continue to look, find and live our purpose in this life.
In today’s episode, we answer listener requests to find out more about our new digs and life in Carlsbad. We also dive into the topic of body image for the second month in a row, specifically creating a healthier relationship with food. We share our insight into what it takes, including an unrelenting commitment to healing and a full spectrum inventory of one’s life. It is impossible to have one imbalance and not be imbalanced as a whole being. We take a 10,000-foot view of this topic and give practical tools that can be applied today in a movement back towards balance. And we end the show with an offer to create a space for a supportive community on the topics of body image and food struggles to come together. If you are game for this please let us know. Thank you for writing in and wanting more.
Imagine a life that isn’t missed due to automatic behaviors and non-presence. A life where even the smallest details burst with color and flavor. A life where a full calendar has little effect on feelings of busyness and no task feels mundane. A life experience in which you are so aware of your actions that you are always in line with your intent, your dreams and your vision for what you want to see in the world.
What if there was one pill that you could take every morning that would open this world up to you? Would you take it?
What if I told you that living in a world like this is simply a return to our nature and that there is nothing to learn in order to experience this life?
Mindfulness is the simplest task anyone could ask you to do. In a world of action, it is a request for non-action. It is an act of doing nothing other than experiencing the moment that you are currently moving through in life. It is a deceleration from how we are conditioned to live and into how we were always meant to live. It is the seedling from which everything else in life can grow healthfully and to it’s greatest potential.
In this episode, BJ and I are joined by two people who are living this life through a daily re-commitment to their choices. Ayami and Matt “Spe” Spewak are two incredibly kind people that we are lucky enough to call friends.
Ayami, author of Mindfully Clear: 22 Day to a Clear Body + Mind is an ever wise voice on presence. She herself admits that she needs reminders to stay on track and in order for her to be authentic, as a yoga and meditation teacher, this is the only way for her to live. She hears herself teaching her students and is constantly in self-study to ensure that she too, is living in alignment with the teachings she holds so dear to her heart.
Spe is the perfect combination of spirituality and intellect, a rare find indeed. His ability to articulate his knowledge of nutrition and mindfulness makes his message accessible to the masses. Also known as the Plant-Based Yogi, Spe’s goal is to share the benefits of health and yoga through inspirational recipes, stories and philosophy.
Ayami and Spe are making their mark in this life and they devote every day to being their best while on their journey to looking, finding and living their purpose. They share so much in this podcast that you may want to have your journal nearby. To not lose sight of their incredible message we highly recommend that you connect with them through their websites, social media or in person at their home base studio in Princeton, NJ. These are two people whose vibe is crucial to the consciousness of our planet and we are all better people for their presence in this life.
Thank you for tuning in, we appreciate your support more than we can accurately express. Thank you for using the Amazon Banner Ad and for becoming patrons of the show on Patreon.
All the top level athletes and coaches know that training and racing are so much more than getting the workouts done. To be our best, to achieve our highest potential and top performances we must take into serious consideration everything in our life situation. Stree levels, sleep quality, appropriate equipment, mindset and the quality of our training. Along with this, it is essential to maintain an open line of curiosity and willingness to look at our training behaviors and adjust to stay in alignment with the envisioned end result.
Are we training in a way that elicits the change necessary to meet our goals?
Are we going easy enough on the easy days and hard enough on the hard days?
Are we using our data in a way that it informs the intelligence of our training regime?
These are all questions that Neal Henderson, head coach and owner of Apex Coaching in Boulder, CO takes into account when coaching his athletes. With names like Jamie Whitmore, Cameron Dye and Flora Duffy on his roster, Neal cannot afford to take anything for granted when training his athletes to exceed the standards of excellence in their sport.
Neal has a 10,000-foot view of his athletes and that allows him to pick up on the little things before they become big obstacles. He sees that training is a full-spectrum process and that most athletes are not spending the time necessary to prepare their minds for competition. Creating relaxation protocols, visualization and routine practices to hone one’s mental acuity is what, Neal believes, will have the biggest influence come race day. The physical training will prepare us for the physical demands of the race but without mental acuity we put every aspect of performance at risk.
Neal has been coaching since the early 1990’s and formed Apex Coaching in 1999. He raced professionally from 2000-2003 and as we chat about today, he’s still putting himself out there in the competitive field. He is well known for his work with scientific data and interpreting data in a way that informs his ability to finely tune his athletes at the highest level of competition.
This is a short yet power-packed episode with many takeaways. Neal’s wisdom is gold for all levels of athletes and we hope you enjoy the show. Thank you for tuning in for another episode, we appreciate your support more than we can accurately express. Thank you for using the Amazon Banner Ad and for becoming patrons of the show on Patreon.
Triathlon has been an integral thread in Ben Kanute’s life since he was a young boy. One of his earliest memories is watching his dad race down Lower Wacker Drive at the iconic Mrs. T’s Chicago triathlon and it wasn’t long after that, Ben found himself on a high-performance youth triathlon team. Led by a dedicated coach who dished out real-deal workouts, Ben was introduced to the triathlon lifestyle and the idea of becoming an Olympian.
At the ripe age of 25, Ben is a solid competitor on the ITU circuit. Known for his strong swimming and powerful cycling Ben is now rounding out his talents and focusing on his running to contend with the best on the day. He’s willing to put it all out there in his training and racing by consistently coming up with a plan, following through and testing it out. He’s put down picture-perfect performances and other times, fallen flat. He reflects on his sub-par performances and knows that those are there, not for self-pity, but to self-strengthen. Ben is a classic case of the champion mindset. He continually picks himself up, dusts himself off and looks deep within to come out the other side as a better athlete and person.
One such experience was that of his Rio test event which Ben describes as “embarrassing”. Following this race, he reached out for the help he needed and dug deep only to come back with an epic performance at the 2015 Chicago ITU Grande Finale. A stellar performance that not only landed him the USA Triathlon Elite National Champion title but one that set him up perfectly to claim his Olympic spot at Yokohama the following season.
“Step by step” is how Ben describes his career and road to the Rio games last summer. Ben’s Olympic road is the perfect example that dreams are not realized overnight, they are a work of art, a labor of love and many times they require years of focus, discipline and work.
He takes us through his Olympic race in Rio last summer and shares his takeaways and what he learned about where he needs to be for medal contention. He does feel that he has some unfinished business at this level of racing but is going to take the next few years to discover and play with other distances and types of triathlon racing. Ben seems to maintain a level of humility that allows him to grow and this is why we believe that he will have a long and prosperous career racing multi-sport.
We hope you enjoy today’s episode. Thank you for your continued support by using the Amazon Banner Ad and by becoming a patron on Patreon, a few dollars a month can make a big difference to the life of this show.
Today I am joined by my partner in tri, BJ to bring you our February edition of Ask the YTs. This is our monthly show where we answer listener questions on everything triathlon, running, yoga, plant-power and being a human on this earth. There is no subject that is off-limits so we encourage you to unleash your inquiry on us for upcoming shows. Reach out because we’re certain that you’re questions are shared by many.
Today we dive into some awesome topics including questions on being an Ironman newbie, issues around bike comfort and the widespread but not often talked about subject of body image issues.
Thank you for tuning in and for all of your support. Be sure to use the Amazon banner ad for all your Amazon purchases and if it is put on your heart to become a patron of the show please do so on our Patreon page. Help us continue to spread the high vibe through the YTP.
On July 25, 2015, James “IronCowboy” Lawrence took the last step of a 50-day ultra endurance feat totaling 7,030 miles. A summer vacation never to be forgotten. James, with his five children, wife Sunny and wingmen Aaron and Casey by his side, completed 50 Iron distance triathlons in 50 days in 50 states.
Despite the naysayers and the critics, James showed the world that there is no impossible. Each morning he would start with a 2.4-mile swim followed by an 112-mile bike and finish the day with a 26.2-mile run and then travel each night to the next destination only to do it all again. It was a span of time that James describes as “50 days with naps”. It was an accomplishment that he believes is impossible but because of a perfect storm of circumstances, he was able to complete his mission.
This conversation is a look into James’s life after the 50 and how this epic feat has set a new trajectory in his life. A life in which he gets to do what he loves as his profession. We talk about fear and the paralysis that it can create in life but also its necessity for growth and learning. James shares amazing insight on how to move through fear and how put inspiration into action.
James is not an overnight success, the realization of his life now has been decades in the making. He never gave up on his entrepreneurial spirit nor the belief in himself to provide for his family and come out on top. Through his experiences, he has been shown the generosity of humanity and is now able to give back to others by sharing his story, sparking the flames of inspiration in others and helping athletes realize their dreams through his coaching services at Team IronCowboy. But first and foremost, James is a family man and we got to see his beautiful community of family and friends during our stay in Utah. It’s a pleasure to know James and an honor to share his story.
Thank you for tuning in and for all of your support. Be sure to use the Amazon banner ad for all your Amazon purchases and if it is put on your heart to become a patron of the show please do so on our Patreon page. Help us continue to spread the high vibe through the YTP.
Working long hours away from his family as a physical education teacher while carrying an extra 10 to 15 lbs on his body, pounding upwards of eight cups of coffee a day to feel energized and training for an Ironman left Matt Korsky feeling exhausted. His daily grind was getting the best of him and as injuries showed up in his body he started to feel depressed. Needless to say, he never made it to the starting line of that Ironman.
It was during this time that Matt experienced a life-transformative moment which set him on an entirely new trajectory in life. It was just after taking the life of a fish he had caught for dinner that Matt felt the weight of what he had done. It was then that he realized he never wanted to kill again in order to fill his plate. This was the beginning of Matt’s plant-based journey.
Historically a person who is always up for something new, his wife was not surprised when he came home and told her that he was going vegan. He already had a head start because the school where he worked served vegetarian lunch. It was February 2013 when Matt went vegan and his wife followed just a few months later while pregnant with their second child.
Within weeks Matt felt a huge difference in his health. Diagnosed with ADD as a child he noticed a major difference in his cognitive clarity and for the first time in his life, he felt like he was in charge of his decisions. He effortlessly kicked his coffee habit and restarted his active life by signing up for Ironman Maryland. He sought out all of the rites of passage books for a plant-based athlete, Rich Roll’s Finding Ultra, Brendan Brazier’s Thrive and T. Colin Campbell’s The China Study. He spent time educating himself on the plant-power lifestyle and knew that he had to share this message of health with others. He felt a huge change in his ability to bang out big workouts and recover quickly.
Matt’s transition away from his full-time teaching job took patience and education. Although his circumstances at work became even more challenging he stayed with it until he was fully ready to make the leap. To gain more confidence and vision he attended Victoria Moran’s Main Street Vegan Academy. He also became a certified yoga instructor as a means to bring in immediate income while he was building his vegan coaching business.
Matt’s story is such a perfect example of divine guidance and living at the hands of the universal schedule maker. He is thriving in his new life creation. He is fit, happy and excited to say that everything in his life is growing, including his family. Plant-powered baby no. 3 is on its way this spring!
He is guiding people to living a more conscious and health-full life through his Plant-Powered Coaching business, his yoga classes and his work at the Ethical Choices Program where Matt finds himself back in the school system educating teens on the impact of food choices.
There is no wasted effort on the path to finding our purpose. Matt can look back and see the perfect sequence of events that led him to where he is today. He gives some great tips and permissions on how to create your purposeful life. We dive into so many topics during our conversation today so you’re just going to have to buckle in to get the full monty with our guest Matt Korsky.
The motivational images, the inspirational youtube videos and a number of people jumping into their life’s work is growing every single day. There is a massive shift in the world. There is a higher vibration on the planet that is rising up and to help us make sense of this forward motion we must understand energetic balance. The universal law commands balance and so even though we are seeing more darkness and separation, it is only a match to the massive uprising of greatness in this life.
Siri Lindley is one of the greats among us today and her life story captured beautifully in her memoir Surfacing: From the Depths of Self-Doubt to Winning Big and Living Fearlessly, showcases universal law to perfection. Painfully self-aware from a young age, Siri suffered for years to find contentment in the midst of the darkness and light in her world. Ultimately finding that the harshness of life was the very thing to push her beyond her limits of fear and doubt and into becoming a high achieving athlete.
Today she is one of the most well-known triathlon coaches of our time and dedicates her life to bringing out the greatness in her athletes. Despite her own need to be pushed, many times by force, to find her best self it seems as though Siri takes a more nurturing, although hard-lined, approach to her role as coach. She believes in connection and the deep power of inquiry. She is skillful and unique in how she approaches every one of her athletes treating each as their own entity. She has crafted a recipe that is ever evolving, a theme that she applies to her own life. Intuitive by nature, Siri knows that she has not reached her destination and in order for her athletes to grow, she too must be willing to keep pushing beyond what she believes possible.
We were so fortunate to sit down with Siri in Boulder, Colorado during our Ride the High Vibe Tour last year and we enjoyed every word of this exchange. Definitely, pick up her book and dive into the warrior path that is the life of Siri Lindley, triathlon champion, and world class triathlon coach.
Welcome home everyone! Beej and I are at it again with our monthly Ask the YT’s episode where we answer listener questions on everything swim, bike, run, plant-based nutrition and yoga. With your help every week, by tuning into and sharing the YTP, we are changing the face of athleticism. We are bringing to the forefront what science is showing us, that mindfulness, high-vibe nutrition and athleticism, when combined, lead to living our highest performance potential in sport and life.
Today we dive into topics such as achieving optimal race weight and staying motivated in the darkness of the winter months. We share our tried and true post long run fueling recipe and share a big announcement that you can get in on now. We debunk the myth behind carbohydrates and, although we didn’t have any specific questions on mindfulness, we talk a great deal about incorporating mindfulness into as many moments as we can in this life.
Deep thanks for tuning into the show today, please give us a “like” on social, leave us a review on iTunes and share the podcast, all it takes is one free click to spread the high vibe message with your world. We’ve got some super exciting things coming down the pike and we’re honored that we get to co-create them with you!
A simple yet well-appointed neighborhood cheese shop in the heart of Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights. Sounds just about right. But make that cheese vegan and it becomes a movement. Riverdel Cheese is the creation of Michaela Grob, a corporate world convert who loves animals, listened to her heart and looked for another way.
Overseeing 350 employees, 20 offices and traveling 80% of the year left Michaela feeling empty, a job she once loved was no longer bringing her happiness. Her entrepreneurial minded boss had unknowingly sparked a fire within her and even though she wanted to make a change she resisted jumping ship. Instead, she took a methodical path to finding her professional joy. She knew herself too well to throw caution to the wind, she needed a well laid out plan. Michaela took her time, planning for about a year about what she would do and how she would skillfully make her transition.
She got her ducks in a row and created her business plan. Her idea to become a shopkeeper was inspired by Miyoko Schinner’s vegan cheese cookbook and the realization the no one in New York City was offering a wide variety of vegan cheeses and fine foods. She knew that starting a business was a risk and all the planning in the world couldn’t take that away but she kept listening to a voice deep inside to keep moving her vision forward.
It was just over six years ago when Derek Mitchell fell unconscious at work after ignoring persistent signs and symptoms that his health was compromised. He was quickly diagnosed with a benign tumor on his pituitary gland that was blocking his body’s ability to produce testosterone, a symptom that goes hand in hand with obesity and the inability to maintain a healthy weight. Relying on pharmaceuticals to do their job, Derek used his diagnosis as a crutch, an excuse not to take charge of his health. Instead, he waited for the drugs to kick in and his hormones to return to normal levels before attempting to lose weight.
That all changed in November of 2014 when he stepped on the scale during a routine doctor’s visit and saw that a truth that equaled 625 pounds. In an instant, he woke up and decided that it was time to set the excuses aside and make a change in his life.
Like millions of people, he started on January 1st. His New Year’s resolutions were to cut out soda, eat healthier meals and reduce his portion sizes. And unlike millions of people, he remained true to his resolve to change. It was difficult, his cravings for soda were intense and in a time of challenge, his sister suggested that he step up his game.
A marathon runner herself, she recognized Derek’s strong will to change but saw a missing piece. He was not exercising. She encouraged him to start moving and on January 15, 2015, Derek went for a walk. He made it one block.
Derek’s sister then recommended that he sign up for a 5K in reason that it would keep him motivated to stay active. He signed up for a local race that was set to take place in March. It was this race that began his 3.1-mile journey, a quest that has since gained national media attention.
He has defied the odds, he has pushed through the pain and failed. He has picked himself up and, as Derek would say, “dusted himself off” to take another step. He has been the biggest person out there and the last person to finish. He has every reason to quit and every reason to keep going.
This is a conversation about resolve and the will to stay true to our choices. It’s a message of consistency and fearlessness to wake up every day and move, no matter what. It is a reminder to rely on our supporters and community for strength. And that finishing last is better than never starting at all. We talk about the ineffectiveness of diets and Derek shares tips on how he is shifting his relationship to food. He wipes away the excuse plate and is candid with us about his journey. It has not been perfect. Derek accepts that he will fail and sees failure as a necessity to true success.
This is such an honest conversation about moments in life that wake us up and the realization that no one gets us anywhere except for ourselves. Derek is a beautiful soul who is no doubt serving his purpose by showing people every day that we can do anything we put our minds to.
For six months, during our Ride the High Vibe Tour, BJ and I experienced many unforgettable moments as we shared the mic with some of the most vibrant souls in our nation. Today’s guest, Victoria Moran, is one of those people.
Victoria is a bestselling author, obesity survivor and current title holder of Peta’s Sexiest Vegan Over 50. Victoria lives her brilliance and intelligence by example through a vibrant vegan life. Dedicated to saving the lives of as many animals as she can while on this earth, she has created an entire lifestyle around her mission.
Most notably known for her iconic book, Main Street Vegan, Victoria is a very big name in the plant-based world and we are quite honored to share her story with the YT community. I am almost done with reading this book and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone who is plant-curious. I’ve been vegetarian for most of my life and vegan for over five years, I have learned so much from this book because honestly living a harmless life is found on so many levels. Victoria meets you where you are at and her style of writing is a joy to digest.
Victoria is the author of the first book on vegan ethics from a publisher, Compassion The Ultimate Ethic, which, was, in fact, her college thesis. She was introduced to the vegan life while living in London during her days in fashion school although she had already been living as a vegetarian for many years. She remained vegetarian because being vegan, at the time, felt too extreme.
The daughter of parents who held professional roles in the weight loss industry, Victoria describes herself as the fat kid who suffered from food addiction and weight issues for decades. Always curious about the idea of “beyond”, Victoria shares her first spiritual experience as a child and reveals the person who had a profound effect on her life at a young age.
Victoria remains a very curious person and pulls much of her literary prowess from those around her. She lives in Harlem with her husband William and their dog Forbes. She is so clearly in love with the energy of New York City and admittedly prefers coffee shop writing over seclusion.
In our conversation, we talk about everything vegan and the way in which Victoria articulates her insight makes living the vegan lifestyle feel logical and attainable. We address all the frequently asked questions, the ones that all vegans had at their vegan beginnings, and she shares beautiful advice for those who are just getting started.
Main Street Vegan opened up so many doors for Victoria, one of which is her Main Street Vegan Academy where she certifies participants as Vegan Lifestyle Coaches and Educators. Without any guarantees of anyone showing up, Victoria opens the doors to the Academy. Years later that academy is thriving and she describes it as a five and a half day miracle. The caliber of her speakers is mind-blowing as is the diversity of the program and subject matter addressed. This is a full-spectrum professional development training academy and we’re secretly hoping for one on the west coast soon.
Victoria describes her vegan lifestyle as a wonderful ethical stance and, although she is clearly in it for the welfare of animals, her vitality and vibrancy shine like the North Star.
We hope you enjoy today’s episode with Victoria Moran, she is so well-spoken and eloquent in her delivery. We truly cherished our moments with her and are so happy to have her in the YT community.
Ask the YT's: Timeless Triathlon, Yoga In Peak Training & Best Meditation Tools by Jess & BJ Gumkowski
If there is one name that is synonymous with triathlon it’s Barry Siff. An avid triathlete since 1986, Team Timex athlete, current USA Triathlon President and member of the Executive Board for both the International Triathlon Union and the American Triathlon Confederation, Barry is living a life dedicated to the sport of triathlon. His experience as an athlete and race director, well known for the iconic Boulder Peak Triathlon, allows him to bring a multi-faceted perspective to the organizations he is serving.
In today’s conversation you will get a sneak peak into the up and coming triathlon stars (can you say Gwen Jorgensen’s of the future) and why it’s so important to support our multi-sport youth athletes. Barry explains how the money from our USAT memberships are allocated. A fee that many of us begrudgingly pay once a year and often seen as an obstacle to completing our USAT sanctioned race registrations. Barry says he gets a lot of crap on social media about where the membership dues go and he clears that up today. Frankly, USAT is an organization that just wants to grow the sport and continue to keep our country in the forefront of high performance.
This year alone our country won both the men and women divisions at the Juniors Grand Final in Cozumel. This is the first time in 20 years that this has been done by one country. The US is strong right now and our programs are top notch. We brought home gold on the women’s side this year in Rio after not medaling since 2004 when Susan Williams brought home a bronze medal.
Barry shares his motivation for getting involved with USAT, a move that he never thought would end up where he is today in the organization. But if you know Barry then you know that he can’t do anything half heartedly. When he and wife Jodee were running 5430 Sports in Boulder, Colorado they were on 24/7 for years. Barry shares his wisdom on what it takes to be a great race director which, in his case, led to a very successful race company which he sold to Ironman in 2009.
It was great to reconnect with Barry after several years. He and Jodee have since moved away from Boulder to Tuscon where we caught up with him at their beautiful home. We do a good bit of reminiscing about the good ole’days in Boulder and definitely get into some name dropping but the truth is, you can’t live in Boulder and not have run ins with the who’s who of triathlon especially when you are Barry Siff. It was a joy to chat with such an esteemed member of the multi-sport community and know that with people like Barry at the helm, our sport is in caring hands.
In this episode we bring you an willful soul with an unstoppable drive to serve others. Jeannie Harrison, along with her vision come to life, Gro Huntington, is answering the cries of her West Virginia town. Huntington tops the country in overdose rates, three times the national average. This is a town that battles with issues of health, chronic disease and poverty. But in the darkness of these shadows Gro is shedding the light of love, community and the healing art of nurture for those in addiction recovery and community members alike who are looking for another way to cope with life’s challenges. Gro is an urban farm centered around supporting those in addiction recovery through nature assisted therapy.
Jeannie believes that connecting with the energy of the earth is vital in cultivating feelings of worthiness and qualities of steadfastness to remain on the path to recovery. Gro will be working with Marshall University’s School of Medicine to conduct research studies to show the positive effects that nature assisted therapy has on the brain. Scientific backing should ease the barriers to obtaining grant money and funding not only for Gro but future “Gro-like” communities across the country.
Jeannie is vocal about being fed up with felon disenfranchisement and her determination to remove the stigma associated with addiction recovery. Gro’s pilot program “Beginnings” launching in January 2016 will not only educate participants in the practices of farming but also assist them in navigating the social dishonor related to addiction and help them regain their social capital. By introducing new coping mechanisms, Jeannie believes Gro’s participants will bring more health into their lives and make a significant impact on the revitalization of Huntington as a city.
From a young age Jeannie was ready to change the world and she is willing to fight for what she believes in, nothing will keep her down. She is everything that the world needs more of and we’re so honored to being her story to the YT community. Please share the episode with your friends and family through your social outlets and help us spread the good word of our guests by leaving a review on iTunes. We appreciate every time you tune into the YTP, we know you have a choice and we are in deep thanks of your support.
We are beyond excited to bring Dr. Neal Barnard to the YT community. The author of more than 70 scientific publications and 18 books, Dr. Barnard is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, clinical researcher, adjunct professor of medicine at the George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, founding president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) and New York Time Best selling author.
He is one of the most esteemed advocates for health and nutrition, education for medical students, preventative care and higher standards in research. He hosts continuing education conferences for health care providers each year in addition to the extensive e-learning opportunities for physicians through PCRM’s website.
In January 2016, the Barnard Medical Center, a non-profit center with a staff of doctor’s, nurses and dietitians dedicated to providing complete primary care by integrating nutrition and medicine, opened its doors. Putting research to work, the Barnard Medical Center is focused on showing the medical industry that a new approach to health through preventative medicine and nutrition can help treat and reverse leading chronic conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, migraine headaches, arthritis and obesity.
Dr. Barnard is a much sought after nutrition and research expert having hosted a series of PBS television programs, been featured in several nutrition based documentaries as well as national news programs and publications. He and his team at PCRM are leading the charge on increasing awareness and scientific evidence on the far reaching benefits of a plant-based diet on our health.
Dr. Barnard grew up in Fargo, North Dakota eating roast beef, baked potatoes and corn. A diet he now refers to as a diet of deprivation whereas a plant-based diet provides endless options with many cultural influences. He is convinced that it is time to stop questioning the benefits of adopting a whole foods plant-based diet as its been shown time and again that it leads to healthier weight loss and maintenance, reversal of heart disease and other heart related issues as well as positively affecting other devastating diseases such as diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. He whole heartedly recommends avoiding animal fat 100% to ensure our greatest chance for long term health.
In this episode, Dr. Barnard clears up the confusion about diabetes; its root cause and how to treat it, he breaks down the foundation of research, the problem with eggs and dairy, the motivation behind big food industry to keep the public confused and the positive “side effects” that people experience when switching to a plant-based diet. There is so much more to this conversation but you’re going to have to plug in yourself and collect the information first hand. This is an episode you do not want to miss and certainly one to share with as many people as possible, especially those suffering from the issues we discuss with Dr. Barnard.
We all go through phases in our life when it seems the world is against us. Curveballs, blocks and signs of the opposite kind that we think we deserve just keep coming at us. What many of us forget during these times is that we have a choice to cry poor me or have faith that it is all there to prepare us for something greater. A belief that there are no mistakes and a realization that life is a series of waves. Some carry us gently to shore while others pummel us before we can even catch a breath of air. We all have times in our lives when we feel like defensive linemen and today’s guest is no exception.
Pro-triathlete Maggie Rusch knows how to stand strong in the face of adversity and keep her head held high when the punches just keep coming. These are just some of the attributes that makes Maggie one of the toughest competitors in the field. But she is tough not just because she can suffer, she is resilient and grounded enough to see that the tough times are blessings in disguise. Her challenges have led to deep introspection that has allowed her to pursue what she is passionate about in life. Triathlon.
A competitive volleyball player through high school and college, Maggie has lived the life of an athlete from a young age. She shares her what if story with us regarding her chance at triathlon, before she even started playing volleyball, only to find her multi-sport love once again after college. She was quickly reminded that she was pretty good at this sport.
At her first Ironman in 2013 she place 4th overall and qualified for the Ironman World Championship where suffered a serious case of heat stroke and, because her body temperature surpassed 108 degrees, she had a very small chance of survival. Thankfully Maggie was able to recover and she went on to win Ironman Coeur d’Alene in 2014 then returned to Kona for her redemption race.
Maggie’s story is one of overcoming adversity and getting comfortable with the uncomfortable. As a full-time consultant and professional triathlete with a bumpy track record Maggie has recently recommitted herself to her health. Better recovery, nutrition and meditation are just a few of the things that she is incorporating into her training regime. Maggie shares how just five minutes a day is already making a difference in her life. We talk about triathlon in Asheville and she shares insight into her nutrition and her tools to stay focused and away from the noise in her head.
Maggie is someone who cannot give up but she is also someone who is willing to fail. She puts it all out there, something that many are too scared to do. In 2014, in an attempt to avoid another heat stroke experience, Maggie packed up and headed to Norway for the Norseman Extreme triathlon. She describes Norseman as the hardest race she’s ever done and with a 2nd place finish Maggie Rusch, once again, shows the world that she is tough as nails.
Beyond the races, the training and her full-time career Maggie seeks something deeper, she is looking for more calm in her life. The idyllic balance to her go, go, go tendencies and quite possibly one of her most challenging goals. She knows that it is only herself that can bring this calm into view and like everything else Maggie takes on, we know she won’t give up until she finds it.
Maggie is as sweet as she is badass, we really enjoyed our time with her during our stay in Asheville and hope you enjoy the show. Please share it with your friends and consider leaving us a review on iTunes.
It was March 2010 when Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution hit the airwaves and we gathered as a country to cheer on the health of a West Virginia town. Coined as America’s “unhealthiest city”, the residents of Huntington had no choice but open up their imperfections to the entire world when ABC turned on the cameras and starting filming.
Statistically, this town was leading the nation in heart disease and diabetes while its school children were being served up a dumpster’s worth of fat each year. Viewers were stunned by the resistance of the some locals and touched deeply by the ones who were literally dying for help. With more than half of Huntington’s adults considered obese and the inability of its school children to distinguish a tomato from a potato, it was a revolution that seemed the only thing viable to light a spark of change. And in just six episodes Jamie Oliver and his crew were instrumental in revamping the local school lunch program and inspiring change within the lives of many willing residents who opened up their cabinets to the scrutiny of America.
Jamie and his crew eventually turned off the cameras and left Huntington to its own decisions once again.
So what happens after an internationally known chef comes into a town, tosses up the habits of townsfolk like a salad, builds an entire state of the art community kitchen and revamps the school lunch program, and then leaves. Who is left to carry the momentum and budget of an ABC hit show?
Well these are questions we’ve been thinking about for a while and when the Ride the High Vibe Tour starting showing its face in our lives we knew almost immediately that Huntington, West Virgina was one of the stops on our list.
In today’s episode we sit down with Marty Emerson, newly appointed manager at Huntington’s Kitchen (HK), the very kitchen that was constructed for the Food Revolution, to find out the answers to these questions, his vision for the future of the kitchen and a look into his own health struggles as a Huntington resident.
His choice to attend culinary school, at first his only option to receive financial aid, has now proved to be a gift for the Huntington community as well as for Marty. He fell in love with food and with his roll at HK is now able to share that love with his community while creating programs that not only promote health but are also fun to attend. Getting people out of the drive-throughs and into their own kitchens is one of his main goals and showing people how to create their favorite comfort foods in a “healthier way” is the first step. He wants to make learning about nutrition entertaining because he believes that this will engage his students and allow the knowledge to sink in easier. Marty meets his community where they are at, educates himself on the diseases that plague his neighbors and creates classes centered around restricted diets like Celiacs, Renal and Cancer.
Marty wants to educate on a deeper level than just food preparation. He plans to teach his residents how to shop, get creative with just a few staple ingredients and implement programs to get the entire family involved. He is passionate about continuing the momentum that Jamie Oliver brought to his town and to carry the message of health to every person that walks through the kitchen doors. West Virginia is still a leader in today’s top killers but we think you will find that that there is a great big spark of light that still remains in the beautiful town of Huntington, West Virginia.
Angela Hubbs: NYC Fitness Guru On Being Far Greater Than Our Muffin Tops by Jess & BJ Gumkowski
As we find ourselves out of states and on the brink of crossing over into California on the very day that this podcast is launching, I welcome back my co-host and soul partner BJ to parse out with me the grandest adventure of our lives.
Common questions, like Where are you? What’s next? What has life been like on the road? Where are you going to live? are coming our way in plenty from many different people and many different angles. Our answers are not always what our inquisitors want to hear but we can only speak our truth from everything we have practiced and learned over these past months.
We are feeling the concept of living against the grain of society more so than ever before as we ready ourselves to jump into the great unknown once again. Moment to moment we are lifting every last ideal of what our lives will look like from here on in. We are open hearted and trusting to what is coming our way and we are undoubtedly changed forever as a result of this adventure.
We’re so grateful to share our experiences with the YT community and are in deep thanks for all your support. Accountability to walk the walk has been fuel for our commitment to living in the moment and detaching from controlling any given outcome so that this massive life transformation can unfold before us all.
We hope you enjoy today’s show, please keep all your comments, questions and feedback coming – it lightens our hearts in times of heaviness and drives us forward on the warrior path.
In 2013, history was made when PS244, a public school in Flushing Queens, NY shifted their school lunch program to fully vegetarian. With the help of today’s guest, Amie Hamlin and her organization, the Coalition for Healthy School Food (CHSF), PS244 continues to be a landmark accomplishment in the world of health and education. Schools and parents all over the country are using PS244’s story to help enact change in their local community. CHFS’s goal is to change the way schools feed kids by introducing plant-based foods and nutrition education in schools to educate the whole school community.
It is federally mandated that all schools must have wellness policies and must have nutrition education goals but like so many, health can be a confusing and daunting subject matter. Many schools don’t have the manpower or time to research and create effective, sustainable programs. This is where CHSF can be of great service to schools. Available resources such as Wellness Wakeup Call, Nutrition Education Posters, Teachers and Nurses Make a Difference Handouts and a Hotline open to anyone looking to inspire change in their school district. CHSF makes it easy for schools to make big change and meet federal guidelines for a little bit of money. But this interview isn’t just about schools and it’s not just for parents. This podcast is for anyone looking to bring more health into their life.
Amie is a wealth of information when it comes to plant-based nutrition and living a vegan lifestyle. We discuss the uprising of veganic farming, the power of big business, especially the dairy industry and the politics of food. She shares her compelling story of how she became plant-based and why it took 10 more years before she gave up dairy. Amie is so passionate about educating others on the big changes that we can make by taking very small steps.
Amie shares generously throughout the podcast and from the time we spent with her in Ithaca, it’s just clear that she is living her purpose to serve and educate everyone who inquires. We are so grateful to have met such an inspired person who is living what she teaches. Amie is walking the walk and there is so much to learn from her.
High performance athlete Michael Warden is leaving his mark on the running scene. Marathons, ultra distance marathons, world records and a limitless vision brings greatness to everything he does. Balancing his roles as husband, father, full-time employee and runner, not to mention, his duties to his sponsors and the athletes he coaches, is not a life for the faint of heart. He is a dreamer and someone who plans to fulfill those dreams. Mike believes in relentlessly pursuing passion and continually pushing the limits of what has been made possible. He doesn’t believe in the impossible but still manages to land his feet down and maintain a lighthearted attitude in the moment. He knows how to navigate struggle and doesn’t underestimate the wisdom that comes with experience.
We sat down with him at his home in Arlington, VA to talk about his career, his secrets to finding balance, what it takes to turn inspiration into action and how he fuels his body. A plant-based athlete, he geeks out with us on the good stuff Mother Nature provides. You will hear our ridiculous excitement as we discuss subjects like hummus and avocado toast with the enthusiasm that plant-based athletes tend to do. Seeing food as fuel brings a higher element of choice and consciousness to any diet. For anyone who may think that a plant-based diet does not provide the nutrients needed for athletic excellence needs to look no further than Mike’s resume. Mike exemplifies what it means to live a limitless life and we’re all for a life of that caliber.
We really enjoyed our meet up and hope you enjoy the conversation we’re bringing to you in this episode. If you enjoy the show go to iTunes and leave your review for the YogiTriathlete podcast. This will get you in the running to win a LifeStraw Go bottle and when I say, with this bottle you will never have to worry about drinking clean water again, I mean it. You’ll find out what I mean in the show intro as I share a recent story where we put our bottles to the ultimate test. Check out the show notes below for all the details and many more links to stuff we chat about during our conversation today.
From ordering meat platters and steaks cooked Pittsburgh style (so raw that the center is blue) to raising vegan babies, running a vegan business and living as an ethical vegan, Eric Lindstrom’s story couldn’t look more different than it did just 5 years ago. And all of it, the result of a bet Eric refused to lose.
He gave up meat, dairy, alcohol and cigarettes overnight and the very next morning, took on a 30-day vegan challenge with his wife, Jen. But Eric wanted to make things more interesting and so he posed a further challenge. Whoever broke first and ate animal products would have to do the household chores for three months. Although his wife was a vegetarian already, her addiction to cheese would surely get the best of her and Eric indulged in thoughts of eating meatloaf while watching her clean the house. So he went to bed on January 4, 2012 and woke up a vegan. He had no idea of what to eat and since meat and dairy took center stage for so long, he had no clue as to where he was going to get his protein.
Early into his vegan challenge, Eric was set to go on a business trip to Minnesota with his meat-eating colleagues. Before leaving for the trip Eric “came out” to his boss as a vegan and when he ordered a cobb salad vegan style at a steakhouse, the rest of the group was queued in as well. Despite asking for the salad without bacon and blue cheese, the waitress brought it fully loaded believing that he must have been joking when he ordered. Who orders a salad at a steakhouse anyway?
Like many of us who move to the plant-based lifestyle, salad was his first go-to (well, that and french fries) but it wasn’t long before he realized the endless options, textures, tastes and experiences that can be enjoyed while eating a vegan diet. At the end of the 30-days he felt as if he could eat vegan longer so the challenge continued and Eric was still confident that he’d win the bet but five years later the bet is still going.
He says that he can’t ever imagine going back to eating animal products ever and he even created his own vegan business, ThankTank Creative. With big name clients like PlantPure Nation and Miyoko’s cheese, Eric is shown time and time again that his business is in alignment with his purpose. Plus he loves saying “thanks for all you do for the animals” when he ends a call.
The early days of not knowing what to eat quickly faded away as he discovered the delicious variety of vegan cheeses and other animal-free delights including fast food. Eric shares with us how to order vegan at Taco Bell and in fact, dedicates an entire chapter to navigating fast food as a vegan in his new book, “The Skeptical Vegan”. Eric documents his journey from carnivore to herbivore, shares his knowledge and tips to living a vegan life without feeling like you’ve given up a thing. Sacrifice and vegan simply don’t go together and this is never more true than in the case of the animals, a topic that Eric is very passionate about in his message of living vegan.
Physical strength, spot-on nutrition, mental durability and skillful navigation of the day’s unedited script is what will successfully get you to the finish line of an Ironman. Some people come to just complete the distance and others to race. In the case of today’s guests, we’ve got a few racers on our hands. A spin on our monthly show Ask the YT’s, I assume my role as interviewer and bring to you our very own Head Triathlete, BJ and YT tribe member Marc Eves in an attempt to capture their Ironman Louisville experience while still fresh and ripe for the sharing. I sat down with BJ and Marc just one day after they towed the Ironman line with a shared goal of qualifying for Kona, for Marc that would have meant a repeat performance on the big island. They share their race day recipe and the results it reaped. We met Marc at the beginning of our tour in Lake Placid and today we welcome his girlfriend Chiara, first time Ironman spectator, to share a few words on what its like to be on the sidelines at such a massive event.
We dive into their training prep leading up to the race, nutrition, race-day strategy and how that execution played out. We talk about the emotional moments, the painful moments and the moments just before the gun went off starting yet another 140.6 journey for these men. Another cog in their Kona dream wheel to gain strength and pull experience from for future races.
Athletes of all levels and distances will benefit from their insight and the differences in their prep, nutrition and strategy. Training, racing and nutrition is so unique to the individual and there is no better way to find out what’s best for you than to hear other perspectives and try out new approaches. That said, the thing I love most about Ironman racing is that there will never be a course or even a day where an exact replication of a previous event can occur. All we can do is prepare our minds and bodies as best we can and be mindful in each moment to pull out the best of us for each performance.
We talk about how athletes can be wasteful of their energy and the importance of pulling momentum from the crowds, volunteers and especially the little kids who eagerly await us to give them high fives. It’s so much more than swim, bike and run and I hope we capture that for you in this episode today.
Fleeing the Soviet Union in search of a better life, Lily and her family arrived in the United States in 1989. Introduced to sugar and malls and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, her parents moved them into an American dream-like home in suburban New Jersey. Finding employment, capitalism and freedom of choice, the family set down roots with no plans to ever return to their communist home country. They were free until the day when Lily announced to her parents that she and five other friends were creating a communal homestead in upstate New York. Haunted by memories of being forced to live under communist rule, her parents were horrified that their daughter would be choosing such a life. They had sacrificed everything to make their dream a reality and do right by their children, the only problem was, it wasn’t Lily’s dream.
Upon returning from a post-graduate summer in Yosemite, a trip that informed the future architecture of her life, Lily remembers crying day after day as she bear witness to the consumerism and nine-to-five grind of her community in New Jersey. At the time, Lily was preparing to begin her first real job as a full-time teacher. Although dreading the repetitive nature of the typical American profession she kept afloat by a deep knowing that it wouldn’t last long. Day in and day out, she begrudgingly got up at 6am and joined the grind. After one-year she was done.
Lily found herself with a college degree, no income and no job but a full heart and a future of endless possibilities. This was the beginning of the Dacha Project story, the collective vision of six friends committed to not living a life of debt but a life that would allow them to feed their passions and live their full expressions. This is story of becoming the architect of life and creating the vision that speaks clearly to your senses and fills you up everyday. It’s a story of minimizing the material to experience the priceless value of freedom.
BJ and I were divinely navigated to the Dacha Project in August where we stayed a few nights in their on-property straw bale cottage. After talking with the residents, sharing common space in their sustainably designed, earth-bermed home and touring the permaculture layout of the land we knew that we had to bring Dacha to the YT audience. Lily shares her wisdom on how she lives on $6,000 a year, her belief in social capital even if the banks disagree and the art of finding currency in areas other than monetary exchange. For this type of living, the Ithaca area is perfect. Home to the Ithaca Eco-Village, the Tompkins Time Bank and FreeSkool, the Dacha Project way of life is more than accepted, it is supported.
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Conceived during a heinous act of violence, John Joseph McGowan (JJ) was born into a dynasty of darkness and groomed for a life of brutality. Watching his mother be beat beyond recognition by his alcoholic prizefighting father, starved, bullied and abused for years in foster care, boys homes and institutions, John Joseph escaped his living hell for another. At the age of 14, he was living on the streets of New York City which was at the time, the murder capital of America. Sleeping in burnt out buildings, earning money as a drug mule and hustler John was shot, stabbed, beaten and eventually busted. In 1978 he landed himself in Spofford Correctional Institute, a juvenile detention facility known for its own type of terror.
It's difficult to encapsulate the violence JJ's lived for decades. He admits that sometimes he was so violent that he doesn't even remember and over the years he buried so much terror that he was literally over boiling with anger. Addicted to alcohol and crack-cocaine he describes himself as once being the "crazy crackhead you didn't want to meet on the streets".
But today, after following JJ for the last three years and most recently sitting across from him in his home in New York City to record this podcast, I see a man who is a living example of redemption. I see goodness and love and laughter and selfless service. I see someone who prayed for another way and took it when it appeared to him. I see resilience in a way I have never seen before and willingness to tow the line of true healing.
The John Joseph of today is a successful author, screenwriter, lead singer of the CroMags punk rock band and Ironman triathlete living the compassion of a plant-based life and dedicated to his daily spiritual practice. His atonement in life was sparked by the Bad Brains, the Rastafarian punk rock band who extended a hand to John, offered him a job, squashed a KOS (kill on site) directive on his head and got him off the streets. In return, he was to get sober and give up eating animal products.
He says that almost immediately after becoming vegan he noticed a shift in his well-being and that for the first time in his life he was able to feel a calm space within himself. He believes that was because he was no longer consuming the fear, torture and abuse of the animals that is common practice in the US food system. We live in a country that does a superb job of hiding the violence from its public and misleading men to believe they must eat meat to be masculine. For anyone who looks at John Joseph, a vegan for over 30 years, I believe they would be hard-pressed to find any lack of masculinity.
JJ has studied GMOs extensively and we talk about why Hawaii is ground zero for GMO testing. This is not conspiracy theory, he explains, but truth and agenda behind big food business. If anyone is questioning the validity of his argument a good question to ask is "why are chemical companies growing our food?". We discuss the perfectly ludicrous world of pharmaceutical commercialism and why most drugs are designed to keep their recipients sick.
This podcast covers so many topics, as John Joseph truly is so many things rolled into one of the genuine people I've ever met. He's a perfect balance of backbone and compassion and bringing him to the YT audience was something we held in our vision from its inception. JJ is authentic and true to himself, he is an open book and with that comes much colorful language.
Progress not perfection is all we ever need to continue our trek towards mastery. A focus on process rather than the goal will help to keep us aligned with this path. What we master is of our choice. In the case of today's guest, Shane Eversfield, otherwise known as ZenMan, the path to mastery is triathlon. Considered by Shane to be an art form, his triathlon training is focused on crafting the perfect technique as the means to obtain kinetic intelligence. His road to going longer with less effort and taking less of a toll on his body. His commitment to technique is founded on the basis of mindful movement, a practice he's been engaged in for his entire adult life.
Shane holds a B.A. in Modern Dance and has been a practitioner of T'ai Chi and mindful running since the late 1970's. His pursuit of mastering technique in his sport has been the basis for his massive athletic accomplishments, including racing Ironman Lake Placid on PowerCranks, finishing 12th overall at the Hawaii Ultraman World Championship and his latest endeavor, a solo 99 hours of movement celebration which totaled 500 miles of swim, bike, run. He completed this incredible feat to raise awareness for ALS in honor of his step-brother who lost his life to this neurodegenerative disease a few years ago.
Shane is the author of Zendurance: A Spiritual Fitness Guide for Endurance Athletes which teaches how to gain "effortless power" using simple zen techniques. Although a USAT Level 1 coach and Total Immersion Master coach, Shane considers himself more of a counselor for the athletes rather than a coach. He admits that he's only agreed to "train" one athlete in his history and this was because the athlete had already climbed Mt. Everest. Shane, feeling confident in his athlete's mental sturdiness, agreed to train him for Ironman Lake Placid a number of years ago. Shane says he hesitates to write a plan for someone because he's afraid they would follow it in lieu of developing the deep felt sense required to truly become a Zendurance athlete.
Finding Shane was like finding the long lost sibling of YogiTriathlete and we are thrilled to bring a mindfulness based ultra endurance athlete of this caliber to the YT audience. It was an honor to sit down with the ZenMan himself and we found ourselves captivated by his wisdom gained through decades of practicing what he teaches, mindfulness in motion.
Today we bring you US! Yes, it's true. In this episode of Ask the YT's, BJ and I are the interviewees. On our recent visit to Asheville, NC we met up with my cousin Barbara, a soul sister who we haven't seen in over 10 years. But like all soul connections, we picked up like we just saw each other hours before. Barbara was full of inquiry about our trip and since many of her questions overlapped with listener questions, we decided to fire up the mics and flip roles this month.
We open up about the birthplace of the Ride the High Vibe Tour, our greatest fears and challenges so far. We reveal why we kept it a secret and how we knew when it was the right time to let it all out. We dive in about our lives on the road, living in equanimity and how we know too much to not see and seize our opportunities for growth. Barbara is a master of holding space to share and we are so grateful for her time to open up about what's it been like to jump off the cliff of life.
Barbara is a public speaker, transformational coach and facilitator, and world traveler who has been accused of living the life of a gypsy. Just two years ago she set off on pilgrimage and hiked the nearly 500 mile Camino de Santiago, a trek that people embark on in search of spiritual growth. Barbara is a soul sister, free spirit and light worker here on earth. It was so beautiful to share this exchange with her and BJ, I hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed creating it.
Keep tuning in every week for the most inspiring, purpose driven guests that are here for you. Our hope is that maybe, just maybe these conversations will fire a spark within driving you, us and everyone closer to discovering and embracing the unique gifts that we all have to share with the world.
A little over five years ago, BJ and I crested the hill from downtown and landed our eyes on a discovery that would change our visits to Lake Placid forever. I understand that most people would not have seen the clouds part and the heavens sing for a health food store like we did that day but I believe we felt something greater because Green Goddess Natural Market is so much more than just a grocery store. It is a landing pad for wellness, a center for community education and a partner in the local schools to provide high quality nutrition for children.
Co-owners Wyndy Kate Reese and Tammy Loewy, birthed Green Goddess at the farmer's market in 2004, and without much expectation for what it would become, they focused on selling prepared foods using the fresh, local fare. The word of their delicious meals grew fast and soon people were asking for more. The universe answered the call and in fall of 2007 Tammy and Wyndy purchased a natural food store in town to which they added the Green Goddess name stepping into their next phase to becoming the go-to grocers they are today.
Five years after opening their doors, they found their current location before the first shovel hit the ground. They worked with the developer to create their dream market and community education center which includes the Scape Cafe serving delicious vegan, vegetarian and omnivorous delights. Recent winners of the 2016 Small Business Person of the Year Award, Wyndy and Tammy are consistently reminded that they are on the path of universal intelligence to serve their purpose in the world.
Today we sit down with Wyndy to discuss the life of Green Goddess, their role in the community and the concept of all encompassing health. We reveal that Wyndy is not only an award winning business owner, she is also a Holistic Health Counselor, a mom and the first woman to hike all 46 hike peaks in the Adirondacks...barefoot!
In Wyndy's honor BJ and I headed out the very next day to tackle Mount Jo, a popular local hike, sans shoes. What I can say is that walking on the earth, especially up and down a mountain, without shoes requires an acute level of mindfulness. Feeling the cool, soft earth under my feet was comforting and I was equally delighted and amazed at my ability to scale rocks with the natural no-skid feel of my feet. Although it may be our last trip to Lake Placid, that was not my last barefoot hike. We owe Wyndy for opening our eyes to this beautiful way of exercising and healing through connection with the earth.
After years of seeing Wyndy's smile and feeling her welcoming energy at the store we were so grateful to steal an hour of her time to connect on a new level. I hope you enjoy this enlightening and kind conversation with our new friend Wyndy Kate Reese.
Every day, every time we eat, every time we load our fork or spoon we have a choice and the choices we make about our food have widespread effects on our bodies, the planet and the animals.
Animals, just like humans, have innate survival mechanisms built within that drives them to stay alive and avoid death. Animals, just like humans, have social tendencies, nervous systems and bonding capabilities. And animals, just like humans, feel pain. And when we open our hearts to the daily occurrences of big business animal agriculture we cannot help but also feel pain.
Gestation crates too small for a pig to turn around, analgesic free de-beaking of chickens and turkeys, battery cages packed so tightly with egg laying hens they cannot stretch their wings, veal calves chained by their necks for their entire life to ensure minimal movement and tender meat and babies stolen from their mothers immediately after birth leaving the momma dairy cow to yell in pain for her loss are all common practices of animal agriculture in our country.
Although there is a silver lining as of late and these animals now have more advocates than ever before but there is major money in animal agriculture and Washington is definitely not a safe place for their well-being.
That is why we are so very grateful for animal angels like our guest today, Gene Baur, one of the most compassionate people I know. He is co-founder of Farm Sanctuary, a safe haven for farm animals and an educational resource to living a more compassionate life. Gene was named "the conscience of the food movement" by Time Magazine and has been selected by Oprah to be on her dream team, SuperSoul 100. Gene traveled around the country for over 25 years to raise awareness around the violence inherent in factory farming and our current food system.
He has been behind the scenes in slaughterhouses, farms and stockyards documenting the unimaginable conditions that the animals of our food system are forced to endure their entire lives. Gene has testified in court on the local, state and federal level giving those without a voice a chance for a better life. He is an animal advocate, compassionate educator, author and Ironman triathlete. He lives in alignment with his values and sincerely meets people where they are at in their journey to create helpful dialogue for change.
As far as magic bullets go, I have to say eating a plant-based diet is as close as you can get to the magic bullet of health. At least that has been our experience with our everyday life and athletic performance especially in our ability to bounce from workouts and recover quickly after races. We are not nutritionists, we are not dietitians and we are not doctors. What we are is a couple of Ironman athlete yogis in our 40s thriving on a whole foods plant-based diet.
Health begins with what we put into our bodies and mindfulness plays a major role in this because without being able to actually notice what is on the end of the fork consciousness will not play a role in our nutrition. The ability to make conscious choices about the food that goes in and the awareness to notice how that food affects us is everything to understanding which foods are health promoting and which are health diminishing. Although we do consider ourselves to be vegan and strong advocates for rights of animals, those without voices, we prefer to use the terminology plant-based because this feels more inclusive and inviting for all to participate. Plant-based eating essentially means that the foundation of the diet is plants. It also makes the assumption that diet mainly consists of whole foods filled with fiber and nutrients. High in the good stuff, low in the bad stuff.
We keep our meals very simple because like many people, we are busy and our days are full. Sometimes our dinners are no more than 2 or 3 ingredients but eating across the spectrum and stretching across the weeks it seems as though we are getting everything we need to thrive.
Today we take listener questions on plant-based eating and dive in by sharing our experience, knowledge and secrets to living a vibrant life. If something goes unanswered for you in the episode please let us know, if it sparks further inquiry please send us your question for our next installment of Ask the YTs. Never hesitate to reach out and find out how to feel more alive in your body and mind everyday!
This week Alex and I pick up where we left off in Part I with the will he or won't he be attending medical school question left on the table. Lucky for the future of the world, he's already started classes at the Frank H. Netter MD Medical School through Quinnipiac University in Connecticut. He explains that this massive undertaking originally made it feel like the other things he loves, like teaching yoga would have to fall away and that feeling was putting everything into question. The fact is, the decisions that we make in life to follow dreams and pursue big goals may tip the scales to one side for a while but it doesn't mean we have to give up what we love. Making time everyday, even if its feeding a thought about what you love, can keep it alive in all senses. It's important to remember that everything counts, every thought indulged, every action, every direction we shift, it all counts. Nothing goes unaccounted for in this life.
Like a true YogiTriathlete, Alex finds his answers by getting quiet but it's not just getting quiet, he explains, it's getting still that allows him the view into his mind and thought processes. From this he is able to pull his truth and answers to his life's burning questions. This was his process to clarity in making the final decision to move forward and take on the beast of making his aspirations in the field of medicine come true.
As athletes who meditate we've heard many times from many people that their sport is their meditation, that getting active is what clears their mind and helps them find peace. We agree that it can be an effective means to wash off the day and feel better, endorphins alone will brighten up any day, but it can also be a way to hide behind our sport while pushing away things for another time. This unfortunately only invites that energy to fester and when it resurfaces it will surely be greater. I share a training experience that perfectly encapsulates this theme of pushing down for another time.
Moving meditation or sitting meditation? The question remains which is going to help us more when our sport is taken away. Will we still be able to engage in that mind clearing, peace inducing meditation when the activity is no longer? Or will our world fall apart because we relied too heavily on our sport to help us find peace.
We go on to chat about the ever so convincing mind, the voice upstairs that most people spend their entire life answering and acting on its beckon call. These folks don't see the tendencies of the mind because they are always in their thinking mind but when we are in the witness state, at Alex describes it, we are able to see the craziness of the thoughts. I love how Eckhart Tolle describes the craziness of the mind. He says that the only difference between us and the crazy person on the street yelling out a million different things that don't make any sense is that they are verbalizing it and we are not. The monkey mind makes servants out of their hosts and without training the mind, without taking time out to see the tendencies of the mind we will inevitably become the servant. As athletes if we are the servants to our minds then we will have no defenses in the face of adversity during our training, racing and life in general. Learning how to sit in sensation either mental or physical while finding neutrality is the ultimate athletic training and what will allow us to rise above when all else falls around us.
Today I share a conversation with our friend Alex. This plant-based yogi is an athlete, aspiring MD and no doubt a major game changer of the future. He is strong, open hearted, level headed and wise beyond his years. We recorded this conversation a few months ago and it was one of those chats that could have easily gone on without time limits. This week I am trying something new since this is longer format episode, I am breaking it into parts with the 2nd half being released one week later.
We being our conversation with an intense experience Alex had on a recent trek to South America that pushed all of his buttons and put into question his ability to live in alignment with his values. He breaks down how he navigated this experience in the sense of his attentive direction, being in the moment and honoring other cultures. He shares the moment when all the dots connected for him bringing his plant-based lifestyle decisions full circle.
He shares about an internal yearning to return home from his trip early-on and the real-life loss that eventually turned this yearning into reality. Alex and I talk about the importance of have a strong back bone for travel but to also let go and allow adventure to create itself in lieu of hard-lined planning. When we are up against a mind that bases everything off past experience we must, because of its nature, chose away from the mind at times so we may step into the unknown. We agree that stepping into the vast unknown is a part of living fully.
And for Alex, the unknown is his future as a medical doctor. He shares his struggles with the mind in processing his options of pursuing a career that will require years of his focus and balancing that with his passion for holistic wellness; medicine + plant-based eating + mindfulness practice. We leave you with a bit of a cliff-hanger as we await Alex's answer on if he is going to pursue such a long and arduous path in lieu of choosing something more immediate.
We hope you enjoy Part 1 of my conversation with Alex Buell. Keep sending us your feedback and questions for future episodes. You guys are helping us make this the best podcast for you and we feel grateful to have been blessed with this role.
BJ had done the training, his nutrition plan was dialed in and his mental game was on point more so than ever before, he was ready. He was ready to race Ironman Lake Placid July 24th, 2016 and put to the test the months of sacrifice, strength training, endurance preparation and daily meditation. He was putting it all to the test as he had put himself to the test day after day after day to follow his love for long distance triathlon in pursuit of his goal to qualify for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii.
He rolled into taper with a confidence many athletes rarely experience. He knew the hay was in the barn, he was solid race material and his competition would surely be challenged in the wake of his presence on race-day. Except that never happened because he never made it to race day.
Less than a week before the gun went off and Mike Reilly wished thousands of athletes to have the best day of their life, BJ's focus was drastically shifted from the success he envisioned for months to a violent stomach virus that was the unstoppable force that led to his starting line demise. Like the flip of a switch, everything he worked for was taken away, again.
It was just two years ago, at this very race that BJ was not able to start due to a life transforming back injury sustained in the wake of caring for his dying dog and best friend, Harry. It seemed like a dream, like it wasn't happening and certainly as though it shouldn't be happening. But it was and we both felt its power over us, the wanting of resistance and an open road to darkness, sadness and upset. All of it available, ready and waiting except he was not. He was, as he had been saying almost daily leading up to IMLP, awake and ready.
What I witnessed over the course of that week was sheer mastery in the making. BJ was unshakeable, he was a warrior and he was walking the ever so uncomfortable path of a true YogiTriathlete. He faced it all with strength and grace, he was mindful and he was detached. And what I was seeing was not for just my eyes, everyone around him was seeing his inner strength radiate out as he stood strong in the wake of his re-route to be in service of those around him.
BJ opens up, I mean WAY up about this experience from the moment of becoming ill up through his future plan of attack. I've known my husband for over 20 years and I have never been more impressed with him than I am in this episode. He exemplifies the progress of practice and the road to mastery. There is so much gold in this installment that we're pretty sure multiple listens are in order. This is us, raw and honest and we hope you take something away to further your path to mastery in this life.
"Brittany Friedrich, You are an Ironman!"
Full Blog Post & Show Notes: http://bit.ly/2ait84U
These are the words that Brittany imagined hearing for her 365 days of training, mental preparation and nutrition practice. Realized in a words cannot describe type of way on Sunday, July 24, 2016 when she crossed the finish line at Ironman Lake Placid. Not only a finish but an impressive race execution placing her 4th overall in her division. A competitive swimmer for most of her life she exited the water in 2nd place missing the ROKA First Out of the Water Award by 2 seconds. She describes the swim as a "madhouse", but a seasoned pro in the water the craziness of the experience had little effect on her performance. She sailed through the day with spot on nutrition, resiliency and smart decisions taking some insight from our IMLP course preview podcast.
Brittany dishes about growing up in the Adirondacks and her earliest memories of Ironman Lake Placid, her inspiration to sign up, training and race day adventure. She shares her wisdom on how to set big goals and reach them and lends words of encouragement for those who don't think they can reach their dreams.
We're so excited for Brittany's top notch performance on Sunday and look forward to seeing this YogiTriathlete thrive in multi-sport and beyond.
It seems to me that authenticity is what is selling these days and I don't mean that from a marketing, profit-margin standpoint. What I'm referring to is that people are looking for truth and something or someone that they can believe in and relate to. Authenticity leads to feelings of inclusion and the understanding that we are more similar than different. As a yoga teacher, and fellow human, its vital to me to be authentic in what I'm teaching and how I'm leading a class or a discussion on this show. But in order to do this, I must be authentic, a state of being that took me some hard lessons to truly find and settle into with comfort. Now it's my second nature to be my true nature, I am awake to myself and the ways of the mind, the ego and the world. These are my guides to keep me on my path and to alert me when I am straying off but I want to make one thing very clear, none of this would have been possible in my life without the guidance of my teacher and one of my greatest mentors, Philip Urso.
Philip is co-founder of Live, Love, Teach (LLT), the yoga teacher training school based on principles like teaching from a place of love, not fear and the use of minimum relevant words to produce a dynamic, ass-kicking, synchronized vinyasa class that can rapidly transform lives.
Philip and I dive right in on the subject of the relevancy of yoga teachers and he reveals a shocking truth that he and his partners found early in their research on route to the birth of LLT. He shares the ultimate source of what makes a yoga teacher relevant and why so many of us need to relearn how to talk like a human. Philip and his partners at LLT have extensively studied the most effective ways for people to learn and they are applying those methods in their teacher trainings. Fostering learning environments that make people feel safe is a top priority at LLT training and this principle results in effective practice teaching, confidence and authenticity in front of the class.
Ironman Lake Placid competitors and dreamers this episode is for you. Today I welcome back the Beej and we dive into IMLP race day navigation the YogiTriathlete way. We give you a play by play of the logistics of the race, lots of first-timer tips and hopefully some inspiration to carry you through to your Ironman finish. Mike Reilly is ready to call your name and we reveal some of the key things that will help you ensure your race day success.
Even if you're not racing IMLP this year or have any inspirations to even become an Ironman there are still some good takeaways, we believe, for all sport and life.
Let us know if you have any lingering questions after tuning in. If we left any stone unturned for you please reach out so we can get your questions answered. Thanks for listening, share the show with your friends and leave us a review on iTunes to get yourself a super discount on Zeal Optics sunglasses and to enter yourself to win a free pair of Cota performance shades.
This is a story of pain and the different directions its power can take our lives. Gail and I are cousins and spending anytime with us at all would lead you to think that our bond is one of a lifetime of family ties and occasions of togetherness but our story is the opposite. It is one that was driven by the pain of loss and exacerbated by efforts to protect and inability to feel the truth. It is a story that shows us how pain can drive a family apart but it is also a story of never giving up and feeling connections of a lifetime without one single moment of contact. Desolating loss can be the great divider or as Gail shows us, can also be a dynamic driver to living fully once again.
Gail is a triathlete, mom of twins and one of the strongest women I've ever known. She joins BJ and I as we chat up triathlon and reveal for the first time our individual stories around familial tragedy. Gail opens up and shares her first-hand recount of the greatest loss of her life. She is a shining example of living the YogiTriathlete way. Her wisdom is rich and she shares it generously as she opens up about her experiences with present moment racing, our separated yet connected lives and how she has been able to thrive in the new and unexpected chapter of life.
Full Blog Post & Show Notes:
Welcome back to our monthly Ask the YTs show where we answer questions from you, the listeners and dig into topics where you are finding inquiry. We appreciate everything you thrown our way and you’ve definitely challenged us to dive into to some heavy subject matters and today is no different.
We begin on the lighter side with an update on our Ride the High Vibe tour and when I say our, I mean ours - yours and mine. This is an energetic manifestation of purpose that requires forward motion and support everyday. We’re finding that since arriving in Lake Placid and setting out on this journey that our days are full. We are so jazzed by the possibilities of this tour and the connections that we’ve already made that we are constantly reminded that we are on track. Things are starting to fall into place for our next destination and we share some exciting news about that on the show today.
We kick it off right away with talking about the roller coaster that is living in alignment. We dispel any belief that being a yogi means a peaceful life without any dark shadows. As we sip on a ceremonial dose cacao elixir we talk about everything from our low vibes to the healing effects of cacao to the amazing service work Nola just completed in the indigenous communities of Guatemala.
Nola is an absolute love who has dug deep within herself to be able to evolve into the skillful healer that she is today. We talk about the challenges in believing in ourselves and how to work with fear mongering energy.
Full Blog Post & Show Notes: http://bit.ly/1XtznCY
This will be a regular series where we reply to listener questions on everything YogiTriathlete - mindfulness, yoga, triathlon, running, nutrition and life in general. There are no limits or boundaries. Simply reach out to us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or through this website to let us know what's been hanging on your mind. Fire away! We're here to share, serve and support the YT community.
We kick off this first installment with an update on how we're doing with the process of ridding ourselves of our material belongings. I share a heartfelt email from a fellow YT that was delivered to my inbox at the perfect time. Support is fluid and reciprocal and we are so very grateful for all the messages of transformation and clarity that we are receiving from the tribe.
Forgiveness is a heavy topic for most and one that we've all had to contend with on some level throughout our lives. For me, it was a concept I was familiar with but one that I never understood the how behind getting it done. I ached for the know-how of letting go to move on but the emotions around things in my past were so strong they felt like an impenetrable wall between my resentment and freedom. I knew people who said they forgave but no one could ever explain the process. They would just say, "let go", "forgive" and those directives were never helpful in my ability to move forward. And so forgiveness remained the great unsolved mystery in my life for many years.
Inspired by a listener email, BJ and I dive in to the subject of forgiveness from our individual experiences in life, as well, as a shared experience that has left us estranged from a family member for almost four years now. I'm so grateful to say that in this episode I share very specific and effective tools to forgive. These are means that I've learned and applied through my spiritual study and techniques that have allowed me to truly let go and move on while ridding myself of the darkness that is resentment.
In this episode I bring you a very strong woman who I am fortunate to call a friend. Finding herself diminished in a romantic relationship and close to 300lbs not so many years ago, Leslie fell into a mindset of low self esteem and self-sabotage. She shares her story of lifting herself out of the darkness and after only a few visits to the gym, signing up for her first half marathon. Questioned by the registrant, who thought for sure she meant to sign up for the 5k distance, Leslie encountered her first of many subtle prejudice-like speed bumps about her size and athletic capabilities. She brings a unique perspective based on her experience as a competitive and much decorated triathlete and duathlete who races in the athena category (women weighing 165lbs or more).
Deemed in the multi-sport community as an athena advocate, Leslie is the founder of the Athena Triathletes 1,300+ member facebook group. A social network family she describes as her "soul". She is beyond dedicated, competitive, intelligent and beautiful inside and out. Despite being a compact version of her previous self she shares openly about her inability to always believe in herself and what she often sees when she looks in the mirror.
Today I welcome our good friend Valerie, fellow plant-based yogi, business owner, meditator and head of her tribe. She really is doing it all and she's doing it oh so well. We believe that is because of her commitment to being mindful in everything she does from helping with the early morning rush of getting kids off to school to teaching her students at the studio. There's not much that we don't cover in this episode. From yoga to nutrition education in medical schools to plant-based eating and multi-tasking mindfulness, this installment of the YTP has the longest running time yet.
Injury and illness is a part of this life especially for athletes who are pushing their bodies day after day. Decision making is a part of life especially for athletes who are required to constantly monitor their bodies and balance the demands of life while riding the physical and mental edge. In this episode of the YTP, BJ and I dive into listener requests about the relationship between injury and mindfulness, as well as, the how behind knowing when to push through and when to stay in bed. We share our experiences on these subjects as athletes but also from our years of working with athletes. BJ opens up about his trip down a dark road just a few years ago after sustaining a major back injury weeks out from Ironman Lake Placid. I recall a major mindset shift that healed my back injury after realizing that I was keeping myself in a state of chronic pain.
Full Blog Post & Show Notes: http://bit.ly/1T5alcb
Living in alignment with our true nature and path requires us to jump and take leaps of faith. This first episode of the YTP is an example of how we are jumping these days. After years of people asking us and telling us to start a podcast the timing was finally aligned. We hope you enjoy our conversation and want your feedback, please post a comment below. We want to make this as great as it can be, send us your questions and topics that you would like discussed in future episodes.
In this installment, I am joined by my husband BJ and we reveal some big news that we believe will not only change our lives but the lives of many. Unlike most decision-making and change, this was not born from a pro-con list or weighing options. The initial inspiration and vision was downloaded to me during a meditation with an unquestionable sense of knowing that this is exactly what we were supposed to do. And so now we embark on the journey of a lifetime steeped in service and community, involving great risk and extreme faith that we are practicing every single day.