Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas: Recent Episodes
Lauren Fleshman & Jesse Thomas
Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas are world class professional endurance athletes, authors, speakers, and co-own a nationally distributed food products business called Picky Bars. They also happen to be married, still, and are raising two small children. They use their experience, stories, writing, and humor to answer to answer listener questions about sports, family, business, and the balance between all three! It's a circus, but hey, we're all in it together!
Lauren and Jesse jump on the mic after Lauren passed a major milestone with her book and Jesse's recent win at the Bend Pole Pedal Paddle. It's been a busy year, y'know?! After some life updates, the WPL duo answer some tasty bites about board game recommendations, therapy, training for a half marathon, and more. Plus, they dig into how a triathlete can rebound after suffering severe cramps on race day, they offer advice to an active couple dealing with a tough medical diagnosis, and they answer some questions from someone who's scared about having kids when their partner's ready for family life.
It’s been a while, and just a few things have happened since our last episode. Jesse and Lauren jump on the mic to talk about Laird Superfood acquiring Picky Bars and answer some of your burnin’ Work Play Love questions. They talk about racing stress-dreams, what activities you can do with an injured partner (when you’re sick of watching movies), diet-culture lingo, WADA and Sha’Carri Richardson, and more.
Spring has sprung, there’s some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, and race season is starting up again. Everyone’s excited to get back outside and into the world, and the Work Play Love duo sits down to answer your questions about it. They answer questions about counting calories, how to properly wear running shorts (with undies, or without undies…that is the question), and how to best prepare for an upcoming race. Plus, they hear from a listener who’s struggling to achieve their “perfect” weight, they get a follow up about the hazards of having a bidet with toddlers in the house, and Jesse gives an injury update about his bruised ego.
You know it, we know it, vegetable lasagna knows it—communication is a huge help in finding balance in work, play, and especially love. Lauren and Jesse answer questions about navigating and communicating about depression in a relationship, how to find comfort with your changing body during your first pregnancy, what to think about when moving in with your partner, and how to develop a primary parenting strategy. Plus, they offer up some advice to a new business owner, talk about how they like their eggs, and of course, they answer the most important question of all: Red Vines or Twizzlers?
Finding that sweet spot between work play and love means checking your relationships with each one! And that’s just what folks are curious about in this episode. When it comes to sport, how do you balance performance (and is it OK not to?!) gains now while considering how it may affect your body and relationship with the sport in the long term? When it comes to relationships, how do you handle conflict or talking about the hard stuff when your approach is different from your partner’s? And when it comes to work, how can you fit in those big creative projects—like writing a book—when you already have a pretty full plate? Lauren and Jesse answer these questions, plus they discuss hydration, bidets, and Strava-crown glory.
It's been a while, folks! But Lauren and Jesse reach through the cobwebs in the mic closet and sit down for a (very belated, very special) Valentine's Day episode. Catch up with the WPL duo in everyone's favorite section: What's Going On, where Lauren gives and update on her book, and—probably more importantly—Jesse gives an update on his hernia. Plus, Jesse and Lauren answer tasty bites about couple stuff: you know, like dream vacations, how to compromise on a road trip, and which of your partner's bodily noises really annoys you.
In another “late night” edition of the pod, Lauren and Jesse dive into the important things in life: what is the dumbest thing they’ve fought about in quarantine? When do you wear your race medals in a socially distanced world? What would each of them most likely get arrested for? Is pro runners holding hands while they run…a thing? Plus, the Work Play Love duo answer your pressing questions about intuitive eating, how to navigate team training when your training style is different from your team mates, and balancing family life with sports.
You all asked for it, and Lauren and Jesse answer: just what does a “primary parent” do? The Work, Play, Love duo discuss what primary parenting means and share how they divvy up household responsibilities. They also answer questions about how to balance training time and family time when you’re working towards a big goal, what to do if your partner doesn’t share your values around exercise, and Lauren offers some tips for coaching during a pandemic. Plus, Lauren talks about recent meetings at Oiselle and gives a book update, and Jesse gives a preview of a new Picky product.
You all asked for it, and Lauren and Jesse answer: just what does a “primary parent” do? The Work, Play, Love duo discuss what primary parenting means and share how they divvy up household responsibilities. They also answer questions about how to balance training time and family time when you’re working towards a big goal, what to do if your partner doesn’t share your values around exercise, and Lauren offers some tips for coaching during a pandemic. Plus, Lauren talks about recent meetings at Oiselle and gives a book update, and Jesse gives a preview of a new Picky product.
Jesse and Lauren dust off their microphones and share what they’ve been up to this summer. Lauren’s found a rhythm writing her book and Jesse’s enjoying his new role as “primary parent” (Lauren is, too). Now they’re back in the hot seat to answer your questions about the balance of work, sport, and relationships. The WPL duo hear from an athlete whose eating habits have changed after injury, they offer some marriage advice to a married couple to be, they discuss what to do if your partner naturally goes at a different pace during your running date, and they talk about how anti-racism should be an ongoing effort when it comes to social media.
Lauren and Jesse are finally getting used to balancing Work, Play, and Love in…is it year 9 of stay-at-home? They catch up about their past month, including Jesse’s retirement as a triathlete and Lauren’s first race in over a year. They also answer questions about how to deal with high-pressure, high-stress situations, how to fuel when you’re burning a ton of calories during workouts, what is Lauren’s “dream” day, and how much does effort vs. luck (and privilege) play into where Jesse and Lauren are today. Plus, Lauren wonders what “crazy” thing she’ll do in response to 1,000 iTunes reviews, she shares her recent favorite reads, and she discusses why Jude camped out in the back yard.
Quarantine is dragging on and Lauren and Jesse are busy schooling their kids, having blow-ups about injuries, setting up a campground in the back yard, and dealing with the headaches of bed time. And they're not alone! Being cooped up is working for some folks, and is a major challenge for others. Lauren and Jesse hear from listeners who are frustrated and recovering from injury, a couple who thinks "hey this isn't so bad," and are considering moving in together, a couple who have more time to get a side hustle going, and from an athlete who wants some post-workout nutrition advice.
It’s been a challenging month for everyone—including all you Work Play Lovahhhs and the Flomas duo. Some folks are losing their sh*t on Zoom. Some folks are just trying to keep their spirits up, even though they can’t get outside for a run. And some folks are getting into shouting matches with their neighbors about who should be on leash—your dog, or your child?! Lauren and Jesse give an update about their life over the past month. They share their experiences home schooling, building a playground in the backyard, and what they’re doing to cope with being around their kids nonstop. Plus, they talk about their craziest race stories, answer questions about how to stay motivated during a pandemic, how to be a better ally, and more.
One day you’re busy at work or training for your next race, the next you’re buying economy-size boxes of Lucky Charms and trying to convince yourself you need that foot massaging doormat in the aisles of Costco. Yep. The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically affected most aspects of our daily lives. In this episode, Jesse and Lauren share how they’re balancing work, play, and love in quarantine with a host of new challenges. Plus, they field questions about how to train during a pandemic, how to communicate your worth to your boss, and how to think about whether or not you want to be a parent.
Appearances can be deceiving and the things you don’t know can be super surprising—like the fact that Lauren used Excel spreadsheets to cook up the first Picky Bar. in this episode, Work-Play-Lovahhhs want to know what’s going on behind the scenes. Jesse and Lauren field questions about why some (elite) athletes decide to DNF at the Olympic Marathon trials, they discuss how the first Picky Bar recipe was created, Jesse considers whether his focus on optimization sometimes gets in the way of his happiness, and they take a look at their past decisions and share what they would do differently. Plus, in wacky-Wednesday-like turn of events, the Flomas duo gives you the lowdown on what’s been going on in each other’s lives.
Links mentioned in the episode:
Strava: the social media platform for people who love to post their workouts
Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny by Kate Manne
Feminism is for Everybody by Bell Hooks
Jerry Rodriguez’s Tower 26 for swimmers, bikers, runners, and triathletes.
Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers by Robert M. Sapolsky
The Headspace App
The Run Experience YouTube Channel
Jesse called and y’all answered! This week, Lauren and Jesse field questions that are a bit out of the work-play-love ordinary. They offer advice to a married person who finds themselves in flirty situations at work, they talk about raising kids to appreciate and understand diversity, they consider when to trade sleep for working out and vice versa, and they talk about breaking up with (and getting back together with) a long-term partner. Plus, Lauren gives an update on her book and Jesse celebrates some Picky Bars successes.
How do you know when you’re overdoing it? When do your emotional, physical, and intellectual efforts start yielding diminishing returns? It’s not easy to know, especially when you’re balancing work, play, and relationships. Jesse and Lauren answer questions about persistent soreness during a training cycle (does it mean you’re over-training?), whether it’s wise to maintain a friendship with an ex when you still have feelings for them, and what it means when you start to backslide in your marathon performance. Plus, they discuss the intersection of inclusivity and competition when it comes to trans athletes, how to deal with hANGER, and Jesse’s arts-and-crafts skill level.
It’s pretty easy to fall in love with your sport, moving your body, and chasing athletic goals. But what happens when your love of sport affects your love life? Jesse and Lauren celebrate Valentine’s Day (and their first-date anniversary) by answering your questions about the intersection of love, intimacy, and sport. They dish the dirt on what happens to your libido when you’re training for a triathlon (and what to do about it). They give advice on cultivating a healthy sex life when balancing work, play, and love. They hear from a high school XC runner who’s worried about missing out on social life. And they offer up some tips on how to avoid letting your Ironman training affect your family life and work life. Plus, Lauren talks about her week meeting editors in NYC, and Jesse announces a new Picky Bars product.
It’s been a busy few weeks for the Flomas duo. Lauren’s been laser focused on completing her book proposal (with publisher meetings on the calendar!) and coaching Little Wing athletes. Meanwhile, Jesse’s been working hard on a new product launch for Picky Bars and planning for his 40th birthday. But amidst the beginning-of-the-year craziness, they get a quick Work, Play, Love date to answer your questions. Jesse and Lauren consider whether ultra-endurance events are “good for you” or not, they let you know signs of overtraining vs. constructive fatigue, they offer some advice about mixing up speed-work training, and they consider what to do when your partner suggests a vacation ahead of your “A” race. Plus, they talk wedding planning, Picky Bars and braces, and more.
Lauren’s got an exciting announcement about a new partnership and Jesse’s got updates about his knee (is it an injury? Is it something else??), the Picky Bars Co-exist campaign, and the all-new Picky Bars AmBADASSador program. Jesse and Lauren also answer questions about what to do when your partner is super focused on competing, how to get motivated and stay active when you don’t have a coach, and how to handle “retirement” as an avid runner. Plus, they offer a ton of practical advice about strength training exercises, running cadence, working on your strengths vs. weaknesses, and more.
Lauren are Jesse are BACK with allllll the 2020 vibes to answer your questions about the balance of work, play, and love. But first?! Rewind. Back in November, the New York Times published an op-ed by pro runner Mary Cain about the culture of body shaming and abuse in Nike’s (now defunct) elite running group, Project Oregon. Lauren and Jesse dedicated an entire episode (WPL 63) to discussing the article, as well as issues of eating disorders, RED-S, and body shaming that are all-too commonly experienced by athletes. In this episode, Lauren and Jesse answer follow up questions about Cain’s story, and talk about how you can cultivate a culture of balance, health, and positivity for yourself and your communities.
Advocating for yourself and your well-being can be challenging and intimidating—especially in the workplace, with family, or in a competitive team environment. And for many of us, setting boundaries isn’t the most well-honed skill. Lauren and Jesse answer questions about asking a coach for more support, how to not feel like a pushover in the workplace, and what boundaries you can model for your kids around time spent with devices and technology. Plus, Lauren shares her experience growing up with alcoholism in her family, and she and Jesse talk about a recent relationship “discussion.”
The holiday season is in full swing and your favorite Work, Play, Love hosts are going bananas with packed schedules for Picky Bars, sport, and family. And, no. The use of “bananas” is not a food pun. Lauren and Jesse catch up after not seeing each other for a bit and then dive into your WPL questions. They talk meditation and visualization, training while sick, and sponsorships. Plus, Lauren and Jesse go deep on developing a healthy relationship with food and body image, how to deal with a sibling taking over the title of “runner of the family,” fitting music into your busy life, and much more.
On the eve of Thanksgiving, Jesse and Lauren settle in for a late-night edition of Work, Play, Love. Around the holidays, everyone’s thinking about family, food, exercise, and work, and Lauren and Jesse answer your hard-hitting questions. Things like, what’s their favorite Thanksgiving food? And why are age-groupers peeing on the bike during triathlons? Plus, the Work, Play, Love duo talk about gift ideas for young athletes, how to fit in exercise in an already packed schedule, when to have kids, and how to work with a partner who has wildly different reactions to some situations than you do.
Sometimes it can take a long time (like Long-with-a-capital-“L” Long time) to achieve a goal. You might train to run a marathon for years, but persistent injuries and the balance of work, play, and love may keep you from your goal performances. It’s those experiences, though, that can prepare you for best races, relationships and achievements. Lauren shares the story behind her recent New York Times Op-Ed, I Changed My Body For Sport, No Girl Should, and explains how her decades of experience as a student, and then professional female athlete informed the article. Jesse and Lauren also get their gobble on for some meat and potatoes questions about improving marathon performance, finding love, avoiding burnout while pursuing your career, and what Picky Bars success looks like to them.
Last week, the athletic community was shaken by Mary Cain’s op-ed in the New York Times, I Was The Fastest Girl In America, Until I Joined Nike. The article outlined a culture of body shaming and abuse by one of the most elite running teams in the world. Lauren and Jesse discuss the article and how this story illustrates a far too common experience for athletes. They field questions about how you can create a safe and positive environment for athletes as a coach, parent, and teammate; and they offer athletes advice about nutrition and performance, and what to look for in a coach, program, club or team when it comes to your health.
Important links from the show:
Mary Cain’s New York Times Op-Ed, I Was The Fastest Girl In America, Until I Joined Nike
Nancy Clark’s Sports Nutrition Guidebook
Stacy Sims’s Roar
Stacy Sims’s TEDx Talk
National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA)
Amelia Boone on RED-S and struggling with anorexia
Jesse Thomas on disordered eating for Triathlete.com
Lauren Fleshman: Dear Younger Me.
Mario Fraioli on his struggles with an eating disorder: The Morning Shakeout, and Podium Runner.
Fatigue, burnout, and feeling overwhelmed. That’s what can happen when you overdo it. It’s not too far off of how you feel when you…underdo it? Jesse and Lauren reply to a marathoner who may be over-training. They talk about the controversial (and maybe over-engineered) Nike Vaporfly shoes that helped achieve a 2-hour marathon time. They respond to a listener who’s worried about her husband’s complete lack of exercise. And they talk about how to not overdo it at work. Plus, the Work Play Love duo shares the origins of the Flat Bruce, offer advice about tempo workouts, and more.
After a wild week away, it’s only fitting that Jesse and Lauren sit down for a rapid-fire episode filled with your tasty bite questions. The Work Play Love duo covers some “fun” workouts to try when you’re injured and relegated to the pool, they talk about how to introduce yourself when you’ve got a crush, they offer advice about using caffeinated gels on long runs, and they give a peek behind the scenes into the Picky Bars test kitchens. Plus, listeners write in to follow up about traveling with kids to triathlons, swimming in groups, and more.
To plan or not to plan? That is the question. Whether you’re training to close the gap between you and your competition, or you’re hashing out parenting disagreements with your partner, or you’re rebuilding your relationship to sport after grieving a loss, making a plan can help you overcome tough obstacles. And sometimes? The plan is to just be present and not have a plan at all! Lauren and Jesse are back from a short hiatus to answer your questions about the intersection of work, sports, and relationships, and they talk about how they’re implementing their own plans—or having their plans disrupted (and what they’re doing about it).
When you’re trying to strike the balance of Work, Play, and Love, there’s a lot of experimenting, seeking, learning, testing, and re-trying things. And that’s totally normal! Jesse and Lauren answer questions and share their experiences about striving for a goal vs. being content with where you are, how to navigate mental health issues as they relate to sports and personal well-being, how to stay sane while solo parenting, and how to end a coaching relationship that isn’t quite working out. Plus, Lauren talks about her recent Wilder retreat, and the Work Play Love duo offer some advice about improving speed during long runs, how to think about heart rate during training, and more.
The leaves are starting to change, and the Work Play Love duo’s wild summer schedule is starting to settle down. So what better time than now for an episode all about calming down, acknowledging the good things, and building balance into your life? Lauren and Jesse answer questions about how to handle nerves on race day, how to make race events more fun for a spectating partner, and how to build a business that leaves room for your other life goals. Plus, they count the ways having kids has improved their lives, they tell the story behind Picky Bars flavors, and more.
Lauren and Jesse sit down with Sarah Bowen Shea of Another Mother Runnerfor a live podcast recording at FootZone in Bend, OR. Sarah turns the mic around and asks the Work, Play, Love duo about the balance of family, sport, and business in their lives. Jesse and Lauren talk about sports and competition after having kids, their communication styles, Lauren’s writing goals, what they’re working on at Picky Bars, and much more.
After a short hiatus, Lauren and Jesse are BACK in action. Hey, it’s summertime y’know? A family getaway filled with play was in order and sets the tone for a sport-filled show. From how to handle niggling injuries during your training season to amenorrhea as a young athlete, and from preparing for Kona to dealing with disappointment when you’re new to a sport, Lauren and Jesse offer advice, tips, and insight to folks at many different stages in their athletic journeys.
When you’re trying to achieve balance and stability in your career, on the field, or in relationships, it can be tough to take risks. Maybe you don’t have the data you need to feel confident in a business decision. Maybe you’re struggling with the differences in parental roles. And maybe you’re running your butt off, but you can’t ever seem to close the gap with the leaders in the pack. Jesse and Lauren talk about each of these topics through their own experiences and suggest that taking risks is a great way to switch it up and find new paths forward.
Sometimes you gotta unplug to recharge so you can come back to work, play, and love on your A-game. That’s just what the Flomas duo did over the past few weeks. Fresh back from a lake vacay with family and friends, Jesse and Lauren share their reflections about getting away from technology and spending some much-needed quality time with people they love. They also talk about athletes making political statements, whether high mileage is a good idea for young runners, and how to battle injuries as an aging athlete.
Belief systems have an enormous impact on work, play, and love. Cultivating a belief in yourself can impact your performance on the field, at work, and in a relationship. Believing in a new training plan can help you get unexpected results on race day. And believing that your career doesn’t leave ample room for training can cause stress when you’re trying to achieve a big goal. Lauren and Jesse answer questions about faith and belief, concerns about training when working towards a marathon and a triathlon, how to find balance with passion career, and taking on a coaching role with a partner. Plus, Lauren’s just back from the USATF championships, which means a week of solo parenting for Jesse. They both share their highest highs and lowest lows from the week apart.
Lauren and Jesse are just back from a hilariously disastrous family camping trip. Still, despite the nightmare of being in a poison-oak-infested campground with kids under 10, your favorite podcast hosts managed to have a pretty fun(ny) time balancing play and love. They recount the story of the trip and then dive into your burning questions, like: are used running shorts a good deal, or just plain gross? Should you race when you’re sick? How do you build confidence? How do you build a healthy team? And much more about work, play, and love.
Sometimes you gotta go all-in on business while sacrificing some play time. Sometimes you and your partner are feeling the exact opposite of one another like yin and yang. It’s not perfect, but maybe that’s what balance is! There’s no precise science to juggling work play and love, there’s no “shoulds” or spreadsheets to tell you where to spend your time and energy. Lauren and Jesse take a look at how you can still find balance even in unlikely circumstances. How can you train to be your best when you’re already on your feet all day? How do you handle a big wealth gap in your relationship? Should climate change factor into your discussions about starting a family? And if you’ve been all-in on business, how can you use that experience in sport? Lauren and Jesse tackle these questions, plus they wonder about the meaning of life and share a bunch of follow ups about love.
In celebration of PRIDE and love, Lauren and Jesse answer your burning relationship questions about love, intimacy, on-again-off-again relationships, and even how to deal with a partner playing musical instruments in the house. Plus they talk birth control for athletes, polyamory, inclusivity in sports and business, and more. This one’s all. about. love.
In your athletic career and in life, keeping your eye on the horizon can take on a few meanings. When you’re balancing your busy life today, how can you stay prepared for athletic goals in the future? How do you come to terms with an aging body on and off the field? Lauren and Jesse jump in to a fast and action-packed episode to answer these questions and more. You’ll also hear about how to support your partner through a tough time, some recommendations for race-day apparel, and how to handle hilly runs.
It’s the “Dad” episode! In honor of Fathers’ Day, Lauren and Jesse field questions all about parenthood through the lens of being a dad, relationships with dads, and more. They cover topics like post-partum depression for dads, what to do when your kids favor mom more than dad, how to maintain a healthy relationship with a dad after divorce, and how to respond to your dad when he lectures you about your life choices. Plus, Jesse and Lauren talk snack science, writing workshops, and listeners write in with follow ups about mom guilt, leg-shaving, and more.
This episode is brought to you by New York Road Runners—an awesome organization whose mission is to inspire people through running. This month, NYRR is holding a virtual Pride Run 5K through Strava. You can run the race any time between 6/22-6/30. Head over to Nyrr.org/virtualracing/workplaylove to register and show your Pride today!
You want tips about work play and love? We got tips. Whether you’re wondering about the best way to fuel after a workout, how to handle all-consuming “mom guilt”, how to navigate whether you should date a teammate, or how to race your best in the heat, Lauren and Jesse offer up a healthy dose of advice on what’s worked for them. Plus, the Flomas duo talk about cool vacation spots for active couples, where to go swimming in Bend, and exercise resources for postpartum diastasis recti.
Confronting yourself or someone close to you is a major challenge, but it’s often worth it. Whether you’re approaching a tough conversation with a loved one, addressing your sleep-depriving excitement or anxiety before a race, or digging deep to get honest with yourself about how to spend your time, Jesse and Lauren offer tips on how to push through it in work, play, and love. You'll also hear about the best 5K workouts, sweet podcast recommendations, and the best jogging stroller. Plus, follow-ups about runner's PTSD, and changing your name.
What does it mean to step up at work, in sports, and in relationships? What does it take? Lauren and Jesse share their feelings about the rapidly developing story of former Nike athlete Alysia Montaño, who was recently featured in the New York Times speaking out against industry sponsors and their (lack of) maternity leave policies. They also talk about stepping up to a marathon after you’ve run a few halves, and stepping up to support your partner’s goals, even if it means temporarily sacrificing your own.
Today’s episode is brought to you by Global Running Day: a day where people around the world pledge to move their bodies. Celebrate running and movement with Jesse and Lauren! Pledge to run a mile (or more) on June 5. Pledge here: https://globalrunningday.org/workplaylove
Worrying about how you might be perceived by others can make it challenging to make decisions, pursue your goals, or figure out your next moves. If you’re failing in a project, you might be able to realize it yourself, but how do you break it to your community? If you leave work early for a weekly running group or other exercise, will it jeopardize your job? Should you keep your last name when you get married, or will your family and your in-laws be disappointed? And if your race didn’t turn out the way you expected, does that mean you didn’t train well enough, or race smart enough? Lauren and Jesse tackle these questions about perception and more—like, you know, if a triathlete pees on the bike, do they smell when they reach the finish line? Most of the time, it’s best to take a look at the evidence and let you do you.
Worrying about how you might be perceived by others can make it challenging to make decisions, pursue your goals, or figure out your next moves. If you’re failing in a project, you might be able to realize it yourself, but how do you break it to your community? If you leave work early for a weekly running group or other exercise, will it jeopardize your job? Should you keep your last name when you get married, or will your family and your in-laws be disappointed? And if your race didn’t turn out the way you expected, does that mean you didn’t train well enough, or race smart enough? Lauren and Jesse tackle these questions about perception and more—like, you know, if a triathlete pees on the bike, do they smell when they reach the finish line? Most of the time, it’s best to take a look at the evidence and let you do you.
Spring training is ramping up, and Lauren is riding high from recent workouts with her athletes. Meanwhile, Jesse wonders whether he set a world record for fastest 5K on crutches. This week, Jesse and Lauren discuss gender in sport, and the challenges that DSD athletes face in light of the recent the Caster Semenya case. They share how they mentally prepare for races, and talk about wisdom from coaches throughout their careers. Lauren talks about racing after injury, and how she worked with Mel Lawrence to recover from a string of injuries and come back to set a 5K PR at Payton Jordan 2019. They also dig in to who does what when it comes to late-night baby duties.
Don't forget that June 5th is Global Running Day! Head over to globalrunningday.com/workplaylove and celebrate moving your body by pledging to run!
This week's episode is sponsored by Jaybird wireless earbuds for athletes. Visit jaybirdsport.com and use promo code workplaylove to get 20% off your order.
Jesse’s training up for the Wings For Life World Run, where he plans to smash out a 5K. The catch? He’s doing it on crutches. He talks a bit about the race while Lauren makes some predictions about Jesse overdoing it. Meanwhile, Lauren’s just back from the Eugene Half where she ran a 1:17:27. They talk about how racing as parents has completely changed the pre-race dynamic, and how it’s difficult to take a race seriously while also taking care of the kids. The two also talk about exciting developments at Picky Bars before diving in to your questions. In this episode, Jesse and Lauren cover performance and alcohol, fatigue and iron, maintaining career motivation, and running while (trying to get) pregnant.
This week's episode is sponsored by Jaybird wireless earbuds for athletes. Visit jaybirdsport.com and use promo code workplaylove to get 20% off your order.
Sometimes when the going gets tough, the tough get to Work-Play-Love-ing…! Whether you’re going hard at a dance party after a long weekend of parenting (and racing) like Lauren, or you’ve got renewed focus at work because an injury is keeping you off the field like Jesse, balancing relationships, sports, and work is just that—a balance. Listener questions are all about the hard stuff this week. Jesse and Lauren talk about racing (or not racing) after you’ve lost a loved one. They offer some dating advice for late bloomers (like them). They talk about how to navigate relationships when you’ve got a big training commitment. And they share their thoughts on message-board trolls.
Lauren and Jesse are back on the road, traveling back to Bend from San Francisco where Jesse has just had foot surgery. Their road trip entails listening to new podcasts, discussing Jesse’s recovery outlook, and answering a bunch of WPL listener questions. They answer a question from a listener in North Carolina about training in the hot summer months, they discuss nutrition and relationship to food when you’re training vs. when you’re in an off season, they offer some bike-buying advice to someone new to triathlon, and they share the business side of Picky when they were first getting started to answer a listener question about founders’ equity. So get ready—it’s 7 hours to Bend, and you’re in the passenger seat for this week’s WPL adventure.
It’s been a rough week for the Flomas family. Jesse’s down for the count with a navicular fracture that’s nearly identical to the one he suffered in the opposite foot after Wildflower. Despite getting to zoom around on multiple devices, the injury makes balancing work and family life tough. Negotiating logistics can be hard, and Lauren and Jesse answer questions about how to navigate uncomfortable situations like supporting your competitors, skipping workouts when you’re not feeling it (and what to do the next day), finding balance on rest days, and moving in with your partner. Plus, Jesse and Lauren share new developments learned over the past week, and talk about how the injury is impacting home and Picky life. On top of that, Jesse experienced an illness that gives a new name to “man cold,” and Lauren and Jesse announce a new job opening at Picky Bars.
Sometimes when you have an extended car ride with your spouse, you run out of things to talk (or fight) about, and you decide to fire up a podcast episode! Lauren and Jesse answer listener questions during the car ride from Bend to Eugene—road noise and all—and today’s episode is all about being in touch with your body. They discuss how to identify, deal with, and hopefully avoid injury. They share how they approach their kids’ relationship to food. Plus, they weigh in on the existence of the Athena/Clydesdale division and its implications regarding body weight and performance, and they cap the episode off by talking sandbagging. It’s full of great insight from Lauren, Jesse, and WPL listeners.
Jesse and Lauren are just starting to thaw out from the winter, and the signs of spring are accompanied by a mixed bag of emotions for the Flomas fam. Lauren’s got an exciting year shaping up with Wilder retreats, and Jesse—with a recent injury—is finding that the plans for his year are changing. Today’s show dives into hard-to-answer questions. How do you push through mental fatigue during a race? How does Picky Bars decide to follow (or buck) food trends like sugar avoidance? What’s the best way to recover from play? And when do you decide to take your business to the next level vs. letting it settle in so you can spend more time with family. Jesse and Lauren tackle those questions and more.
When you’re training hard and going after a big dream, not much is more disappointing than an injury. This is especially tough when the window of opportunity to achieve your goal is small or fleeting. So what do you do when that happens? Today, Lauren and Jesse answer questions about the highs and lows of play—and how re-setting expectations can have a big impact on your mental health and your race performance.
Jesse’s just back from a Natural Products show in Anaheim and Lauren’s been solo-parenting for a week at home, and the Work Play Love hosts get to hang out for the first time in a while on the show. How appropriate, then, that today’s episode is all about transition. How do you jump from work to play to relationships, especially when one of the areas of your life, like business, is really heating up? How do you transition to and from maximum effort in a long race without sacrificing your overall time? And how do you come back to “normal life” after an intense training cycle. Tune in to hear Lauren and Jesse answer these questions and more.
Jesse’s been at home with two sick kids for almost week straight. Lauren’s just back from an epic trip to New York for the indoor championships. And the two talk about their experiences during the 2019 snowpacalypse. Now, they’re cozied up in their little studio ready to field your questions. Today Lauren and Jesse tackle your hard hitting questions about building your own training plan, dealing with the urge to poop while racing, the challenges of sleep training your baby, and jealousy in relationships.
When it comes to balancing work, play, and love, how do you draw the lines to balance it all? Today’s show is all about drawing those lines. When you’re dealing with an injury, where do you draw the line between seeking an answer vs. changing your sport goals? Where do you draw the line with work to prevent burnout from cumulative stress? When it comes to starting a family vs. starting your career, how do you work with your partner to find a time that works for you both? And when you’re just starting a business—how do you raise awareness? Jesse and Lauren answer these questions and more!
Today’s show is all about the tough stuff. Where’s the line between pushing through a challenging race and taking a DNF? What do you do when your training is disrupted by big life changes? How do split up responsibilities at home to balance emotional labor? Lauren and Jesse answer these questions and also chat about athlete sponsorship from their perspectives as athletes and business owners.
Jesse and Lauren are fresh off of a weekend full of play. Both recount their experiences of racing the Great Nordeen Nordic race. Jesse talks about his unfortunate crash during the race, and how his triathlon training came in handy. Lauren shares why her inner monologue during the race was “I hate this” on repeat. But now that they’re back in the proverbial saddle, they’re set to answer your questions about sport, family and business. Today Lauren and Jesse discuss weight loss, how to train for distance when you’re a fast-twich athlete, what the Flomases do to play as a family and as a couple, and whether or not to go pro as a triathlete.
From proper snot-rocket etiquette to how to divvy up parenting duties, this episode has something for everyone. Athletes? Lauren and Jesse go deep on the habits they developed in sport that they needed to un-learn in other areas of their lives. Parents? The Flomases talk about how they share parenting duties and what they do when they differ on a parenting approach. Biz owners? Jesse shares how he’s had to become more comfortable with failure as a business owner, and he critiques the roll-out of the latest Picky Bars product. Tune in for all that and way more.
You can experience pretty awesome wins in life. You know, like professionally competing in triathlons, breaking national running records, and growing your own business from scratch. But some days it all comes down to negotiating how many bites of food your five-year-old is willing to eat for dinner. This week’s show is all about that work-play-love balance. How do you try to excel in multiple areas of your life, and not end up feeling mediocre in all of them? How do you set athletic goals that won’t lead to burnout? How do you adjust to a new child in the family? And how can you change your role in a business you co-own with your spouse? Tune in to hear Lauren and Jesse answer those listener questions, and more.
It’s a new year and Lauren and Jesse are back in action. They catch you up on what’s been going on since the end of 2018, and talk about what they’re looking forward to in 2019. Lauren’s been writing more, and as a result she’s already seeing herself change through the process. Meanwhile, Jesse’s happy to get back to work after a really fun winter break with family, including a grand finale bouncy-castle blowout with Jude. On today’s show your questions include: what training metrics (like heart rate, power, etc.) are important to use, and when should you use them? Should we try to grow niche sports as a niche-sport community? And should I encourage my partner to go slower?!
The holiday break is starting and 2018 is winding down. And that means a break in childcare for Zadie and Jude! So Lauren and Jesse have been busier than usual at home. However, there’s naptime and school, and that gives Lauren a few windows throughout the day to do some writing. Meanwhile, Jesse’s fresh back from the Picky Bars retreat. A full-team meeting where team members review their 2018 goals and accomplishments, and discuss how this past year will shape 2019. Jesse and Lauren catch you up on some changes coming to Picky Bars in the new year, celebrate some recent workouts, and jump into your questions.
This week's Tasty Bits include: how to keep your hands warm while running and biking in the winter. How to incorporate the caffeine and sugar into your training plans. Jesse's and Lauren's favorite running shoes. And learning about why your heart rate is elevated when running in the cold.
In the meat and potatoes section, Lauren and Jesse talk about running technique, hunger management during peak training, breathing techniques, and what to do when your partner is a non-athlete, or just not into the same things you are.
Some days you have a great race day. That was the case for both Lauren and Jesse over the past week. Lauren had a fun and successful race both as a runner and as a coach at the club cross country championships. She talks about her experience and how her conditions for satisfaction have changed over her years as a runner. Jesse, perhaps to a lesser degree (but no less glamorous), had an awesome experience at the trampoline park, and went on a spontaneous 20-mile long run that prompted a dose of work/play/love advice from Lauren. Hot on the heels of the week’s athletic achievements, the two jump in to your quick, and longer form questions.
In the to-be-renamed quick-question section, you’ll find out if it’s better to support a small business by purchasing directly or through a reseller, like Amazon, how Jesse and Lauren run in snowy/icy conditions in the winter, what treadmill do they recommend (on the cheap), and how the two have handled their kids using curse words.
As for the meat and potatoes? Your question topics this week included:
- How to be supportive and helpful when your partner is dealing with injury but maybe not in the best way.
- In triathlon, how to build speed during the run (when you’re a slow runner).
- How to feel comfortable and maintain self-worth when running group dynamics spur negative self-talk.
- What a day in the life of the Flomas family looks like.
The episode rounds out with some follow-ups to last week’s episode. Listeners wrote in to weigh in on things like recovering from a bike crash or other athletic trauma and how to feel satisfied with your athletic accomplishments.
A lot of the questions this week dealt with the balance of play and love. Lauren and Jesse offer some advice about how to approach your partner when they are down and out due to injury. It could be as simple as asking if they want to take a break, or just acknowledging that there’s an issue to open the door for conversation. When it comes to increasing your running speed in triathlon, especially when you’re a stronger swimmer, Lauren recommends spending less time in the pool to build a stronger foundation on your legs while Jesse suggests sticking to your speed training rather than working on it intermittently. If you’re in a running group (great life choice!) that is making you question your abilities or self-worth (not as fun), you may want to simply find a run group that is more aligned with your approach to running, plus Jesse offers some advice on how to combat negative self talk. And rounding out your questions, Jesse and Lauren give you some insight into a day in each of their lives, and how they fit in work, play, and love—you can take a guess as to who’s more free-form with their time, and who schedules their day in 5-minute increments ;)
Some links referenced in today’s episode:
Dealing with trauma and athletic injury: https://soundcloud.com/the_sharp_end/psychological-first-aid-ep-34
Marianne Elliott: a resource for conditions of satisfaction - https://marianne-elliott.com
Jennifer Louden: a teacher who teaches about “enough-ness” and cultivating self worth - https://jenniferlouden.com
New Picky gifts for the holidays: https://pickybars.com/collections/gift-bundles
Jesse’s been alone for a week solo parenting, and Zadie’s transition from infant to toddler is in full swing, but he’s kept the Flomas house in check and even found down time to sneak in some long runs. Meanwhile, Lauren had a very work-play-love week of travel. First out to Austin for The Running Event for Picky Bars, then to Columbus, Ohio for the USATF annual meeting, and then back home to search for a Christmas tree with the fam. In what’s going on? Jesse talks about the struggle to find balance between work and play as he comes out of his training hiatus in the coming months, and Lauren remembers holiday traditions from her childhood.
In today’s Rapid Fire (pew pew pew pew pew!), you’ll learn about Jesse’s and Lauren’s pre-race warm-ups, get some gift ideas for healthy, active, expecting parents-to-be, how to manage all your running gadgets, what’s a good stationary bike, and how to manage all of the images on your phone. Other listeners had questions about:
- What to do in the off-season
- How to deal with the urge to poop during races
- Coming back from a bike crash
- Comparing yourself to others, especially in a competitive athletic community
The name of the game this week is to take it easy on yourself. In the off season, try to find something fun or engaging to do to stay active. Switch up your activities. Listen to your body and do what you feel like doing. Then, getting back to the track, if you’ve got the urge to go #2 every time you start to run, try to find a solution that gives you the time to go before your race or workout. Lauren and Jesse share what’s worked for them and for friends in the past, including checking in with a doctor. They each also share how they’ve come back from their own respective bike crashes. They recommend taking baby steps to come back to the sport and being patient with yourself in the process. Lastly, when it comes to the comparison game, don’t get caught off guard by all the noise on social media, Lauren and Jesse talk about how it’s important to cultivate a sense of internal validation, so you don’t need to compare yourself to others.
As always, submit your questions—long-form, or rapid-fire—to: pickybars.com/podcastQs
Sometimes going on a family vacation means finding…adventurous ways to strike the work-play-love balance. Whether you’re karate-chopping your way through jungle-like conditions on trail during a run date, celebrating an exciting Black Friday for your business, or navigating your infant’s new-found love of the word “no,” there’s rarely a dull moment. The Flomas family is back from Maui, and Lauren and Jesse are ready to kick off the holiday season with some of your questions. In rapid fire you’ll find out if you can microwave Picky Oats, the ideal sports bra for nursing mothers, and what to do with old sponsor gear. Other listeners wrote in about:
- As a coach, how to help an athlete celebrate successes when they don’t stop to do so themselves.
- Achieving work/play/love balance in the information age
- Moving on from a long-term coaching relationship or training situation
- Applying for a coaching job as a young, female athlete
Lauren points out the importance of practicing feeling satisfied with your athletic achievements. Just like your physical training, you need to prepare emotionally for your races—or you may end up achieving your highest goal without feeling satisfied. Being in tune with yourself applies to the next two topics as well. With so many opinions out there about how to live, how to raise your kids, how to eat, and how to work out, Jesse and Lauren share how they navigate the noise and strive for balance. And if you’re considering leaving a long-term coaching relationship, Lauren recommends healthy communication with your coach to see if you can make positive changes in your training, but both Jesse and Lauren agree that it’s important to check in with yourself and make changes based on what you think will be best for you. Lastly, a young athlete writes in to ask how she can best compete for a job as head coach given she’s younger, but not less qualified than other applicants. Jesse and Lauren offer some tips on how to approach the conversation, but it sounds like this young coach is ready to rock her interview.
As always, submit your questions—long-form, or rapid-fire—to: pickybars.com/podcastQs
Lauren and Jesse are fresh back from a work-meeting slash family-vacay slash race-day trip to Seattle where Lauren smashed out a 6k XC run. Truly work, play, and love at its finest. Tune in to hear what it was like for Lauren to pin on a number and race again (pain, cramps, and all), and hear about Jesse’s experience on the sidelines with Zadie and Jude. Then Jesse and Lauren dive in to a bunch of NEW news. Exciting new distribution opportunity for Picky Bars? Maybe so. New Picky product on the horizon? Yep. And an all-new segment on the WPL pod? You can say that again—three times fast: it’s rapid fire! Well, more like…medium fire? Jesse and Lauren try their best to quickly answer your quick questions before turning to your regularly scheduled listener quandaries. This week, the WPL couple tackle the following topics:
- What advice do you have for someone who runs marathons or half marathons and wants to transition to triathlon? (DON’T, says Lauren, jokingly).
- How do you bring back the passion after you find yourself in a post-race funk?
- How do you manage asthma while running when doctors aren’t helping?
- How do you maintain your period while training, and how does training affect fertility?
As always, submit follow-up questions, rapid fire questions, or just any ol’ work/play/love question at pickybars.com/workplaylove -
Thanks for listening!
They’re back and better than ever (at least Jesse thinks so). After a two-week hiatus for Kona and photoshoots, Lauren and Jesse dive into a solid mix of listener-submitted questions. The episode kicks off with Jesse describing how much he missed racing at Kona this year (pinky nail). He also shares some of his thoughts about watching the race. Lauren describes her time at home with the kids and the latest coaching progressions. This weeks questions are:
- What have you seen from athletes, sponsors, or the industry to help diversify triathlon?
- How did you decide it was time to give athletics a back seat in favor of starting a family?
- How do you manage to balance who you were as an athlete, with who you are now as an "adult" type person?
- Where do your business/project ideas come from and how do you know which ones to pursue?
As always, please submit follow up questions at http://pickybars.com/workplaylove. Thanks for listening!
It’s a big week in the Flomas household with Zadie’s first birthday and Ironman Championships in Kona, and the anniversary of both of those slightly large life events occuring days apart from each other last year. This go-round will be decidedly more chill, with Lauren not in the labor wing and Jesse not laboring through 140.6 miles of brutal triathloning (the debate over who was in more pain is off the table, don’t even go there). Jesse will still be traveling to the Big Island to rep Picky Bars and take in the race from the other side of the barricades - maybe he’ll shave some time off his post-race Beer Mile with fresh legs? - but not before some of Lauren’s nearly-famous birthday cake and answering some new listener questions. [Submit yours: pickybars.com/podcastQs]
Topics this episode include: * Innovation vs stasis * Breakthrough performances * Multi-year projects (athletics and other) * Staying sane/motivated in the off-season
A teacher looks for advice on keeping her enthusiasm high when the material is repetitive, which anyone would find relatable to endurance sports, performance arts, work tasks, and just general life’ing. Lessons from hosting Wilder Retreats and Picky Bars annual activities provide the bones for a good chat on getting the most out of your upfront work while giving the most to the recipients, without watering it down or overworking the dough. From there they talk about how to set yourself up for a breakthrough performance, eat an elephant (aka big, long-term goals like qualifying for the Boston Marathon), and managing guilt in the off-season, which triggers a spontaneous soft-commitment from one of them to running Club Cross Country Nationals. Enjoy!
With birthdays, anniversaries, and Jude finally realizing the joy of riding a bike (after many false starts) there’s a lot to celebrate in the Flomas house, and that’s just the family side of the work, play, love trifecta! Picky Bars is back to running full steam and the first Wilder outside of Central Oregon is this weekend, but the busyness of business didn’t keep them from their weekly date at the mics to answer some of your questions. [Submit yours: pickybars.com/podcastQs] Topics this episode include: * Eating disorders in endurance sports * Why you decided to be an endurance athlete * Family planning as athletes * Balancing innovation and stasis in business
With past disordered eating struggles, the motive (and continuing driver) for getting into athletics competitively, deciding when it was time to make a baby, and then a premature ending when question four gets shelved “so the sitter won’t quit,” this one’s personal. There’s some possibly triggering conversation about the oftentimes toxic relationship between food and endurance sports, and how fat-phobia shapes some folks’ motivation for working out. With Jesse’s personal experience with bulimia in college and Lauren’s shifting perspective on body image in motherhood, it’s insightful and hopefully productive in reducing the stigma around these very real issues. [Suggested resource if you or someone you know needs help: nationaleatingdisorders.org]
With birthdays, anniversaries, and Jude finally realizing the joy of riding a bike (after many false starts) there’s a lot to celebrate in the Flomas house, and that’s just the family side of the work, play, love trifecta! Picky Bars is back to running full steam and the first Wilder outside of Central Oregon is this weekend, but the busyness of business didn’t keep them from their weekly date at the mics to answer some of your questions. [Submit yours: pickybars.com/podcastQs] Topics this episode include: * Eating disorders in endurance sports * Why you decided to be an endurance athlete * Family planning as athletes * Balancing innovation and stasis in business
With past disordered eating struggles, the motive (and continuing driver) for getting into athletics competitively, deciding when it was time to make a baby, and then a premature ending when question four gets shelved “so the sitter won’t quit,” this one’s personal. There’s some possibly triggering conversation about the oftentimes toxic relationship between food and endurance sports, and how fat-phobia shapes some folks’ motivation for working out. With Jesse’s personal experience with bulimia in college and Lauren’s shifting perspective on body image in motherhood, it’s insightful and hopefully productive in reducing the stigma around these very real issues. [Suggested resource if you or someone you know needs help: nationaleatingdisorders.org]
With birthdays, anniversaries, and Jude finally realizing the joy of riding a bike (after many false starts) there’s a lot to celebrate in the Flomas house, and that’s just the family side of the work, play, love trifecta! Picky Bars is back to running full steam and the first Wilder outside of Central Oregon is this weekend, but the busyness of business didn’t keep them from their weekly date at the mics to answer some of your questions. [Submit yours: https://pickybars.com/blogs/the-scoop/work-play-love-podcast] Topics this episode include: * Eating disorders in endurance sports * Why you decided to be an endurance athlete * Family planning as athletes * Balancing innovation and stasis in business
With past disordered eating struggles, the motive (and continuing driver) for getting into athletics competitively, deciding when it was time to make a baby, and then a premature ending when question four gets shelved “so the sitter won’t quit,” this one’s personal. There’s some possibly triggering conversation about the oftentimes toxic relationship between food and endurance sports, and how fat-phobia shapes some folks’ motivation for working out. With Jesse’s personal experience with bulimia in college and Lauren’s shifting perspective on body image in motherhood, it’s insightful and hopefully productive in reducing the stigma around these very real issues. [Suggested resource if you or someone you know needs help: nationaleatingdisorders.org]
Lauren and Jesse mic up for another discussion on sports, business, and relationships, with a mix of their own going-ons and listener submitted questions. With the first week of kindergarten under their belts, the topic of community and making friends as adults comes up, as well as Lauren’s upcoming Wilder retreat and Jesse’s race plans for the rest of the year. That’s come with a welcomed shift onto the trails, and while it took coaching, instigating, and pacing from three of his pro buddies, he finally took the top spot in the Marketing team on the coveted Lower Whoops Strava segment in town. As the turf war between he and a begrudgingly dethroned Sarah unfolds, the first listener question from this week’s batch rings especially true... * The comparison trap * Dealing with disappointing workouts * Childcare * Sponsorship as a “mid-packer”
Whether it’s against yourself, the person next to you on the start line, or the Strava leaderboard, the comparison trap can turn motivation into unhelpful and unhealthy stress in a flash. Lauren and Jesse share tips for finding intrinsic rewards rather than times or places to feel fulfilled with your results, as well as methods for moving on from disappointing workouts. (Hint: Lowering expectations doesn’t have to mean “settling.”) They discuss the factors that went into deciding on their childcare situation and the societal pressure they felt in seeking out help initially. Lastly, a mid-pack age group athlete looks for advice on approaching sponsorships, and whether capitalizing on their unique story is exploitative or influential. Enjoy! [Submit your Qs: https://pickybars.com/blogs/the-scoop/work-play-love-podcast
It all goes so fast and before you know it, the kids are grown, the training’s done, and you’re staring down the moment you thought you’d been waiting for, wishing you could have back the bumps and bruises you cursed along the way. Whether that’s hiding in the janitor’s closet during the first day of kindergarten drop-off (ahem, Lauren) or showing up on race day feeling sub-par, this episode is all about embracing and making the most of any situation.
Listener-submitted question topics include: * Underperforming on race day * Trying to do it all * When it’s time to leave a job * Being a boss but also a “fun guy” * Chafing + chamois cream
Is it overtraining, underperforming, or a mixture of both? Showing up to the big day with a book of burned matches is no good, and Lauren and Jesse give their tips to make sure you show up fresh and ready to rock, whether you’re a first timer or veteran. That same balance theme carries over to an extra busy listener running short on hours in the day, one holding on to something unsavory for sake of something they really love, and someone who we have to assume is a Scrabble Grand Champion who also wants to be “fungi” boss. (Jesse’s requisite dad joke). Lastly, the ever important and always uncomfortable chafe talk, where Jesse burns any potential chamois cream sponsorship bridges and Lauren somehow audibly shakes her head in “I’m in the tri-world by marriage, not blood” disbelief. [Submit your Qs: pickybars.com/podcastQs]
Ah, the classic end-of-summer tale where a search crew gets sent out to fetch a boy playing outside past dark with his friends… No, Jude’s not grounded, but Jesse’s surf-wave privileges might be revoked for a bit. After a week of solo parenting while Lauren was on the east coast, perhaps we’ll call it work/play/love balance lesson, reminding everyone that when one well overflows another dries up, and eventually you’ve gotta even ‘em out with some river water... A new batch of listener questions pulls everything back inline, sparking discussions on: * Preparing for your first Ironman/140.6 * Dealing with setbacks, in business and athletics * Running safety * Dream “celebrity shot” stand-in guest hosts
Jesse relives his (albeit outlier) experience gearing up for his first crack at the 140.6 distance while Lauren’s birds-eye-view perspective gives some insight to those either currently in or considering tackling the distance. They talk about how setbacks in athletics conditioned the resiliency, determination, and risk-taking muscles needed to shoulder the latest Picky Bars changes, especially with the additional stress of their personal piggy banks footing the bill. Mollie Tibbetts’s memory inspires a chat on running safely without allowing evil to steal the freedom and joy that comes from the sport. Lastly and lightheartedly, four couples are named as Jesse and Lauren’s dream guest hosts… Who are they, and how far fetched of a shot might they be to reality? Only time will tell… Enjoy!
Enough about spreadsheets and triathlon and marriage and stuff - today’s podcast guest wants to get real on SCIENCE. This special edition episode covers technical topics like how the human body works, explained in a way even a five year old could understand… Because it’s Lauren and Jesse’s five year old son, Jude, explaining them! Jesse sits down with his eldest child (Zadie makes her presence known near act III) while Lauren was out of town to record this adorable bonus content about Jude’s favorite subject, and it does not disappoint. Full of feel-good chuckles, “don’t eat/touch/do that!” ’s, and some big picture enlightenment when the roles are reversed and Jude gets to ask his dad the questions. Don’t feel bad if you wind up learning something new - adults could take a few more lessons from children these days. Enjoy!
This episode is worth listening to if only to hear what Jesse thought the term “wet blanket” meant. After that enlightening moment he and Lauren dive into a new twist on the What’s Going On section, talking about the highs of a buzzing creative process, battling portion control with screen time and social media, and riding the sweet, sweet, chaka-all-day wave of the recent Picky Bars relaunch. Listener-submitted questions then spark the following topics: * Saying “no” during training season * Coping with social training anxiety * Supporting an S.O. through athletic disappointments * When to hold on or let go of a startup dream
When it comes to the social implications of training in sports, Lauren and Jesse have lots of varied experience and opinions. While being self-motivated and disciplined to work out solo is key for success, they agree that having training partners can be fun and empowering… but can also push you when you shouldn’t be pushed. Maintaining a balance there as well as in the work, play, love spheres when you go “all-in” is key to keeping the value of the chase in the right place, especially when the inevitable feelings of being the wet-blanket of the group set in. Finally they discuss feeling burdened by potential and knowing when to throw in the towel or keep stoking the fire on a dream, be it a new idea, athletic goal, or long standing passion project. Want to submit your own question for Lauren + Jesse? pickybars.com/podcastQs
Bars are back! Picky Bars has bars again, and all is right (or at least getting back to right) on the business side of the work, play, love triad. Like Rocky hiding out in the woods before his big fight, Lauren, Jesse, and the kids retreated to the lake for their annual family vacation. With Jesse not being in peak triathlon training mode for the first time for the trip (no Sly Stalone training montage, sorry) there was a definite reconnect with the playful side of sport, including a display of “stupid human tricks” as Lauren calls them. This leads conveniently to another batch of great listener questions: * Toeing ‘acute injury risk’ with activities outside of your sport * Dealing with short-term sickness during training * The last name debate * Encouraging (without pushing) kids’ participation in sport
A lot of this episode’s sport conversations revolve around knowing when NOT to do things - When to settle in for a “full recharge” when you’re not feeling well, and when the risk of injury from an activity outside of your sport is worth the chance, like Jesse’s wakeboard acrobatics he showed off on Instagram. (Lauren’s got the tally on how many attempts it really took…) A 90 degree turn to Lauren’s decision to keep, at least in part, her maiden name, and how the implications of their childhoods shaped their (still evolving) ideas on family names as they’ve started growing their own. Finally, a look back and forward as they discuss encouraging kids’ participation in sport. Work, play, love - nailed it. Enjoy! Want to submit your own question for Lauren + Jesse? pickybars.com/podcastQs
Lauren and Jesse roadtrip over the Cascades to visit Picky Bars new co-packer, their first manufacturing change since 2012 and the official turnaround to the recent out-of-stock battles. With the updates and changes have naturally come some challenges, and they discuss the delicate balance of small business life and ownership, which as a married couple in the car alone for multiple hours… was exactly as lively a conversation as you’d imagine.
“Big ships are harder to turn” as Jesse puts it, but things are back on track (!) and they dive right into some listener questions:
* Rebounding from a DNF
* S.O.’s disappointment with your lack of energy/time for extracurriculars during marathon training
* Sexual harassment in coaching
* Marketing/promoting yourself as an athlete
* Flat Bruce secret
This episode’s topics elicit a range of emotions and some heated conversations. From Jesse reliving the DNF that springboarded a rebound win at Wildflower (his first!) they warn of the hazards of bullying through disappointment rather than pausing and processing. A listener’s partner is disappointed with their lack of availability during marathon training, to which L & J give some very Grey’s Anatomy’ish advice (“I choose YOU, I’m CHOOSING tv time with YOU.”) Things take a pause to get real about sexual harassment in the workplace, before offering insight into the marketing minds of promotable athletes, including Jesse’s secret to those beloved #FlatBruce pre-race photos. Enjoy!
Want to submit your own question for Lauren + Jesse? pickybars.com/podcastQs
Jesse’s feeling the burn of re-entry after Challenge Roth, having stacked his off-season plate a bit too full with all the non-triathlon things he said he’d give his full attention to after the race. It’s a classic “whoops” move, but like a good work/play/love advocate he and Lauren are making sure there’s still plenty of balance amongst the chaos. This includes some new, very literal balancing activities, and we’re sure the folks at the yoga studio and surf wave are now referring to JT as “the guy with the heart rate monitor.” This week’s listener questions include some unique topics: * Periodization in training * Stuff they wish they’d done before having kids * Chasing goals you can’t afford to catch * Raising equally confident and feminist kids
Avoiding injury and burnout are two major limiters in one’s long-term training success, and Lauren and Jesse share some of their tips for cycling workloads and carefully planning around key events to keep things fresh, fun, and healthy. They shift from athlete to parent mode, discussing the things they wish they’d done before having kids, and the things they’re really glad they did. Now that they’re here, the effect of gender stereotypes in raising confident kids and what they’re doing to keep (or create!) a balance in an ever changing social landscape, which Jude and Lauren faced firsthand in the shoe store recently. Lastly, a listener with potential for running professionally struggles with the fact that she might not be able to make a living doing it, and wonders how to know if it’s a worthwhile dream to chase down. It’s a doozy from all angles - Strap on your turquoise sparkly shoes and enjoy!
This week’s episode dives immediately into the almost-TMI honest, rough water deep end about Picky Bars’ current inventory struggles. Lauren and Jesse talk candidly about the background of Picky’s production and growth cycle, and how a perfect storm of supplier, manufacturer, and brand change decisions conspired into a massive out-of-stock issue. As the company owners and without outside investment, making the call to either “ship and duck” or address the quality issues came with big implications on both personal finances and the integrity of the brand. But just like a bad race, it’s best to be honest about the real-life struggles of entrepreneurship, rather than pretending they didn’t happen, so they lay all the cards on the table, including some news about exciting updates just on the horizon. Another batch of superb listener questions pivot the conversation to a variety of topics including: * Learning to push through pain in racing * “Sharenting” * Defining and pursuing your own definition of success * Creating & maintaining a brand voice
“Practice makes perfect” might be cliche (it is, but it’s also true) and better suited for shooting free throws than getting in the hurt locker, but Lauren and Jesse have both developed a knack for embracing rather than running from the inevitable pain that comes with endurance sports. They share their tips on that before transitioning into a discussion about “sharenting” - the sharing of your kid on social media - and how much or little they consider it when posting about Jude and Zadie’s adorable(-ly awkward, sometimes) antics, pursuing your own definition of success in a vague space like sport, art, or music, and finally how they’ve managed to hold on to the core of the brand they started eight years ago while giving Picky Bars employees the reins to let it evolve and grow. Enjoy!
And they’re back! (Stateside AND in the studio…) Lauren and Jesse battle jet lag from their trip to Germany with a special episode about the “Hallmark” of the “Cool Races in Cool Places” tour - Challenge Roth! After spending a significant amount of time apart from Lauren, the kids, and Picky Bars to tune-up (Heilbronn 70.3) and dial it in for an A-race effort at Roth, the fam reunited just in time for things to get crazy. Hear about how they managed another family race-vacation - Lauren travelling internationally with the kids, Jesse trying to stay connected halfway across the world, and turning it on for what might be a last crack at competing at this highest level. Spoiler: LF gets a gold medal for pulling off that mile 17 fuel hand-up despite every possible thing trying to sabotage it. After a full recap of the race and the family circus vacation surrounding it, they answer a few listener questions. Topics include: Nutrition and fueling (Kona vs Roth), doubling as support crew and parent (LF), a Heather Jackson cameo, and improving swim and transition times. It’s the best work/play/love case study yet, and doesn’t disappoint on laughs or inspiration. Enjoy! Jesse’s Roth Race Recap: leapdaysports.com/2018/07/08/challenge-roth-race-story Challenge Roth: challenge-roth.com
This week the work, sport, family balance in the Flomas house was less of a flashy juggling act and more of a clumsy dropping things and throwing them at the wall. From birthday parties to high school reunions, peak triathlon training and sleep training, Lauren and Jesse keep it real on managing it all (or not), diffusing fights with snacks (works for kids and adults alike!), and this week’s listener questions: * Dealing with pre-race anxiety * Managing the athlete/coach relationship * Maintaining healthy body image after competitive racing/training * Approaching a “happiness differential” in a relationship
Jesse tries to compare himself to Radiohead, then gets a little more realistic with Matchbox 20, in talking about nerves before a big event. Lauren’s reflections on how she managed her nervousness with running and now performing music prove a little more insightful, especially when Jesse adds his suggestion for sandbagging as a pressure reliever. (Hey, whatever works?) The conversation continues with plenty of lighthearted and more serious revelations about coach-athlete relationships, maintaining a healthy body image after moving on from high level training and the comparison trap that comes with continuing to “run” in the same social circles, and how to support a partner going through a low point in their work happiness. Spoiler for you fix-it types out there: You might not be able to fix it, and they might not necessarily want you to, either. Enjoy!
Listen, even if you aren’t interested in the topics in this episode, do yourself a favor and listen to the final few minutes where Jesse explains the origination of #superadvanced, including a memorable dinner table moment with Jude and an avocado. (But if you are interested, here are this week’s listener questions): * When to push through fatigue in training/work, and when you need a break * Redefining athletic goals with age (Shoutout masters athletes!) * Living unfairly in someone else’s limelight * The #superadvanced backstory
Lauren and Jesse tackle an early morning recording, buzzed up on coffee and surprisingly chipper after Lauren hosted a four-day Wilder Retreat and Jesse pulled dad duty during a big block of Challenge Roth training. Of course they talk about both - that whole Work, Play, Love balance thing - and also how they help each other ease back into “normal” life feeling rejuvenated rather than frazzled and behind after time away. This week’s questions spur a lively chat about energy stores, the struggles that can come with sharing a common “space” with a partner, and aging in sport, including Lauren’s mindset after retirement and what Jesse’s next phase after pro triathlon might look like. And while it’s not looking super likely that Jude’s got a future as pro basketball player, he and Jesse have found a way to bond over the NBA Playoffs this season, although it came with some “bad news.” Enjoy!
If this week’s What’s Going On?! segment were a Friends episode, it’d be titled, “The One Where Jesse’s More Nervous for PPP than Kona.” He and Lauren recap their perspective Pole, Pedal, Paddle races - spoiler: they both rocked it - and the super secret Picky Bars conference call they just took from the living room - spoiler: it’s a secret - before diving into these listener-instigated topics: * Lessons for your younger self * Training during and after pregnancy * On-again, off-again relationships * Making time/motivation/courage to do hard stuff
Thinking big picture and not getting too wrapped up with the big-ness of a picture bookend the conversation in this episode. Some sage advice to their younger athletic selves translates into (very much in hindsight) lessons learned about themselves during their on-again, off-again relationship, including how they knew it was time to be together for real. Lauren divulges about the importance of not minimizing someone’s concern over exercising while pregnant nor the reality that it took a while to feel “like her” again, and Jesse shares his advice for supporting a postpartum partner. They finish with a proverbial snowball about making time for creative projects you might be putting off, which - shocker - applies to working out as well. Enjoy!
It’s a big week in the Flomas household, as both Lauren and Jesse prepare for the “Bend Olympics” - Pole, Pedal, Paddle! This multi, multi-sport event is the ultimate PNW challenge and a town treasure. Lauren’s holding down the run leg for her mom friend team, “Play Date,” and Jesse’s tackling the ski, ski, bike, run, kayak, sprint course solo looking for his first non-asterisk win. After some LOLs over their differing race preps, they jump into listener questions. Topics include: * Getting into a good pre-race headspace (as the athlete and how to help as a supporter) * Talking (or not) through parenting issues * Nutrition * + Differences between fueling as an elite athlete vs regularly active person + Trends, fads, extreme diets, and body shaming * Life goals/road-mapping
“That’s a great question!” is this episode’s most uttered phrase, and for good reason. Conversation floats from serious and tactical to light and laughable and back again while Lauren and Jesse discuss the neurosis of race prep (triathletes are notorious tinkerers, while Lauren’s got a thing for worst-case scenarios), how they’ve learned to communicate as co-parents, the struggle of society’s obsession with diet trends both as athletes and food business owners, and how well they’ve stayed the path on their younger selves’ life plan. Spoiler: Jesse has a spreadsheet for that. Enjoy!
Fresh off their wild Wildflower weekend, Jesse and Lauren give a glimpse at what a weekend racing as a pro athlete looks like when the whole damn family is in tow. From how the change in environment may’ve affected his performance to how well compression socks perform as emergency first aid to a four year old’s head, it’s not your typical race recap. (Actual race recap here.) From there they jump right into a batch of listener questions, tackling topics like: * Helping someone struggling with confidence issues in sport * Dealing with injuries * The perks (and downfalls!) of owning a company and an MBA
This episode covers the whole spectrum of work-play-love, with talks about mental health, physical health, body, and brain. They open up about their own experiences with no longer being the “big fish” in a small pond, Lauren’s struggle with the “attention drug” and Jesse’s with disordered eating, and offer some advice for helping someone you see going through confidence issues. Their own experiences with injury prevention and recovery hopefully give some insight to an injury-prone listener (“what even is runner’s knee?!”) and a question from someone considering business school sheds light onto the Picky Bars inception story and how Jesse’s MBA and Lauren’s “let’s just do it!” attitude help balance the trickiness of running a small business. You’ll laugh, you’ll probably not cry, you’ll cringe at the possibly NSFW Jesse’ism at minute two. Enjoy!
With race season around the corner - Can Jesse bring home a seventh consecutive W at Wildflower this weekend?? - this episode has them ramping up and dialing in the feeling of peak training. (The intro tinkering seems to have started paying some dividends...) Listener questions this week include: * Training together - yay or nay? * How to tell when it’s time to move from amateur to elite * What makes a good coach, and are all pro athletes qualified to coach by virtue of their training? * Developing hiring processes and implementing culture at work
A fun run down memory lane recounting Lauren and Jesse’s first (less-than-fun) run together leads into how they’ve come to manage their on-again, off-again exercise relationship together over the years. Asking the right questions about goals and visions for the future guide their advice for anyone looking to take the next steps in their athletic careers, as well as in seeking out a coach. Lastly, they cover the things they’ve learned - sometimes (/usually) the hard way - about the hardest part of business: hiring and having employees. Jesse also has a very profound “aha” moment about the name of the podcast.
It’s Boston Marathon morning! Lauren and Jesse are buzzing after Des Linden’s big win, which brings up her new coffee company (Linden & True), which conveniently segues into a fresh batch of listener questions about biz, sport, and life at home: * Project management at home * Getting back to training after a break * Dealing with parent guilt of time away from training and running a business * Picky Bars thoughts on bringing on investors
Jesse kicks things off by talking about how he talks too much, and Lauren eventually reveals her secret big ticket trade-in item for Picky Bars. Their starkly contrasting to-do list systems (or lack thereof) are balanced out by a similar approach towards finding rhythm, dealing with parent guilt, and the importance of being more than “just an athlete.”
Lauren and Jesse don't realize the podcast is already named, oh well. Then they answer these questions - - What’s the most effective way to spend quality time together when you’re tired from training and work? - How do you go about securing sponsorships as an athlete? - How did you get past the point of having to do everything for your business to being able to hire people to help? - When you were first starting out as entrepreneurs - how did you decide whether to offer health care for employees and how much to offer? Lauren and Jesse let their listeners in on the amazing secret benefits of....Dinner and a Movie. They discuss finding sponsors as professional athletes, creating value for those sponsors outside of race results, and the rise of the "influencer." Next is exploring the entrepreneurial process of mastering a task then hiring help to expand - Jesse recommends the book E-Myth. Finally, they discuss the gradual steps they took to offer health care to Picky Bars employees.
After an obviously unrehearsed but awesomesauce intro, Lauren and Jesse answer these questions:
- How do you make time for each other that isn't focused around business and/or training?
- How do you encourage your kids in sports without pushing them too hard?
- Do you modify your training to account for stress at work or at home?
- When you started Picky Bars, did you set a "Done" line, where you would stop the business?
The episode touches on setting work/life boundaries, particularly when you own a business, and scheduling time for your significant other to talk biz and NOT talk biz! Lauren and Jesse debate the value of sports pursuit as a child, and what they've learned trying and not trying to encourage their son to do sports he may or may not be interested in. They describe how best to stick with the training plan vs abandon it when life's stresses mount. Finally, they address how they're learning to balance the growth of a business with the increasing financial responsibilities that come with it.
Lauren and Jesse get off to a rip rocking start by introducing each other, and explain why the world needs yet another podcast! They describe how they intend to learn from each other and their listeners as they answer questions on sports, family, business, and the balance between all three.