emulation.

Zach Duke is an ordinary man with an extraordinary goal.  3 years ago he set himself the challenge to compete in the 2026 Football World Cup. Never having touched a football in his life. One might say that it is impossible, and one would probably be right. But in this journey to the impossible, Zach became alive again, he became himself again.  Pursuing the impossible sometimes sends you on the ri...

Today’s episode is a bit different—no guest, just the two of us. We’ve recorded 10 episodes so far with athletes from all kinds of sports, and we figured it was a good time to take a step back, talk about what we’ve learned, and share a bit more about ourselves. If you’ve ever wondered who’s behind Emulation, how it started, or what’s been going on behind the scenes—this one’s for you. We also ans...

Matt C Smith is a 34-year-old South African cross-country skier who recently qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics . Just two years ago, he was a complete beginner . What started as a way to stay fit through the brutal Norwegian winters quickly turned into something much bigger—a dream to represent South Africa on the world’s biggest stage. Since then, Matt has almost self-funded every step of th...

Grégoire Munster is a 26-year-old WRC rally driver with a Belgian-Luxembourgish background. Born into a motorsport family, Grégoire’s path to rallying seemed natural—but talent alone doesn’t cut it in this sport. At 18, Grégoire was a bit lost, playing video games to fill the void of an undecided future. His father gave him the push he needed to turn things around. We talk about what makes rallyin...

Jimmy Whelan is a 28-year-old Australian triathlete. After 7 years as a professional cyclist , Jimmy felt the spark fade. The risks of the sport, amplified by crashes, led him to question his place in the peloton. In October 2024, he made the difficult choice to walk away. Now, Jimmy’s diving into professional triathlon. Last Sunday, he made his pro debut at Ironman 70.3 Geelong, just his second-e...

Guglielmo Bosca is a 31-year-old Italian alpine skier who has spent years competing at the highest level, racing on the World Cup circuit. In 2024, he achieved his ultimate dream, to stand on a World Cup podium, validating years of sacrifices and doubts. In this episode, we went through his journey to the highest level, the pivotal moments of his career, dealing with major injuries, how to overcom...

Jamie Riddle is a 24-year-old South African triathlete who competed at the Paris Olympics last summer. But even with that achievement, he’s now chasing a dream he’s nurtured since he was a kid—to become the Ironman World Champion. In just a few weeks, he’ll make his debut at home, in the Ironman Nelson Mandela Bay. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to race at the Olympics at 24, how fa...

Jack Thompson is a 37-year-old Australian ultra-cyclist , known as the most extreme cyclist on earth . Yet before the successes, Jack’s life wasn’t exactly one you would wish for. Battling depression from a young age, his path led him to drug addiction—a battle he ultimately overcame. It was at this moment, thanks to his father, that Jack found his way to cycling. In this episode, we talk about Ja...

Asbjørn Hellemose is a Danish 26-year-old professional cyclist. Growing up in Denmark, watching the Tour de France on TV, Asbjørn dreamed of becoming a pro cyclist. And he did it—signing his first contract and stepping into the world he had always imagined. But just two years later, that dream slipped away. In this episode, we talk about what it takes to make it, what it feels like to lose it, and...

William Draper is a 24-year-old professional triathlete from the Isle of Man who is quickly making his mark on the sport. Starting his athletic journey as a cyclist, inspired by his brother Nathan, William eventually transitioned to triathlon and hasn’t looked back. After years of consistent training alongside the legendary Brownlee Brothers, he won his first professional triathlon this year and n...

Jack Burke is a cyclist who has spent the last 15 years of his life trying to become pro. Jack is, arguably, one of the cyclist who had to face the most setbacks during his career. From triggering hundreds online for breaking a strava KOM, to living in solitary confinement in Europe, and to almost die from a car accident in 2023, Jack has faced a ton of adversity in his life. Where most would have...

Jake Barraclough is a 2h17 marathon runner from England who left everything behind to move to Japan and fully commit to his passion for running. Balancing intense training, building a YouTube channel, and learning Japanese, Jake lives a unique life that immediately drew us in. In this episode, we explore what led Jake to make such a daring move, his experience running in local ekidens alongside Ol...