Off The Couch

As a follow-up to our Winter Running and the Meaning of Life conversation (episode #103), today we’re talking about some very practical tips, tricks, and gear recommendations to help you get out and run in colder temps and snowier environments.  TOPICS & TIMES: Layering (2:48) Thicker socks? (9:26) Some favorite cold weather gear (13:28) Gore-Tex running shoes? (15:43) Some favorite winte...

We talk to Salomon’s Mike Ambrose about running shoe design; taking a shoe from concept to production; his life in running and the running industry; European vs. North American markets; & what’s next in running shoes. TOPICS & TIMES: What does a Product Line Manager do? (2:00) How’d you get there? (6:25) Getting into running (19:41) Shoe design (24:29) Emerging research findings & shoe...

Sabrina Little is an ultra runner, a writer, & philosophy professor, and has held the American record in the 200K and the 24-Hour American Record (she ran 152.03 miles in 24 hours.) So we talk about all of the above, and also toothpaste and Harry Potter. TOPICS & TIMES: Bookshelves & toothpaste (1:04) Sabrina’s 1st 100K (12:15) 24-hour record (17:30) Philosophy background (19:51) Runni...

Yesterday, Jonathan Ellsworth sat down with Blister reviewer, Gordon Gianniny, and our new Running Editor, Matt Mitchell, to talk about winter running. But our conversation took a much bigger and broader turn. TOPICS & TIMES: Introductions & winter running (2:42) Your worst winter-running stories? (5:42) Running year round (11:11) Running & mental health (26:18) Everything is an opport...

Michele Graglia has racked up a number of major victories in his career, including wins at the Badwater 135, Yukon Arctic Ultra, the Moab 240, and more. But in this conversation, we focus on some of Michele’s recent struggles, disappointments, and difficulties, and Michele talks about what he’s learned along the way — and what he’s still learning. TOPICS & TIMES: The reception of Ultra (3:36)...

Before Kikkan Randall was winning Olympic and World Cup gold medals in XC skiing, she was a runner, and she has never stopped being a runner. In this conversation, we discuss how she got into XC skiing; some of the keys to her longevity; becoming a mother while also being a professional athlete (and how much attitudes still need to change for women in a similar position); and going from winning an...

For our 100th episode of Off The Couch, Tessa Chesser (who just podium’d at the Javalina 100 miler, earning a gold ticket to Western States) came on droppin’ mics, spittin’ inspiration, telling her story and mincing no words, and talking about how she has dealt with negativity and adversity. TOPICS & TIMES: Babes & parkour dogs (2:54) Javelina 100, NYC, & Tommy Rivs (9:08) “Diesel Mode...

Grayson Murphy is back on Off The Couch to talk about her 2021 race season; trail racing in Europe vs. the US; the Olympic trials; avoiding injuries; the biggest changes to her own training; the most ‘off the couch’ thing she’s ever done; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: “2nd breakfast” (2:24) Grayson’s sleep schedule (3:43) Cinnamon Roll loop (4:48) Recap of Grayson’s racing in 2021 (7:06) Trail rac...

Sanjay Rawal joins Jonathan Ellsworth to discuss the Boston Marathon being held on Indigenous People’s Day; why the sport of long-distance running is particularly well-positioned to create a far more equitable situation for indigenous people; what it means to have had so many high-profile marathons held so close to one another; and the mission of Shalane Flanagan. TOPICS & TIMES: Update: Self...

Olivia Amber grew up in rural Wisconsin; headed off to Maine (where she became an all-American XC skier); found her way into the tech world of San Francisco; then started getting into ultra running. Now, Olivia is a Salomon athlete who is also juggling a career in tech. We talk about all of the above, plus coffee; sleeping / not sleeping; her current & future interests in running; and more. TO...

We recently talked to Anton about a number of things, including his recent return to racing; his ongoing exploration of different ways to move through the mountains; we get his completely unfiltered take on Murakami’s What I Talk about When I Talk about Running — and that turned out to be such an interesting part of the conversation that we agreed we ought to re-read that book and then later this...

We talk to Tasha Wodak about her performance in last month’s Olympic games; the twists and turns of her running career; mental preparation and the mantras that inspire her; a critical insight to remember during life’s hardest moments; running playlists; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Jonathan is bad at pronouncing things (1:34) Tasha’s on-the-ground report on last month’s Olympics (3:16) Expectatio...

Our guest today is an ultra running legend. But beyond his impressive endurance exploits, Dean is an incredibly thoughtful and generous person who just so happens to love running. It was a real honor and a true pleasure to talk to Dean about running, his life-long interest in reading, his approach to writing, and what he is currently passionate about outside of the world of running. TOPICS & T...

Today we’re kicking off a new series on Off The Couch, and Sanjay Rawal joins us to talk primarily about track and field at the Olympics, but we also discuss the Leadville 100, as well as the longest foot race in the world, the 3,100-mile Self Transcendence race in New York. TOPICS & TIMES: Sanjay’s big night (2:37) Sifan Hassan’s 1500m, 5000m, & 10,000m (4:57) Athing Mu’s 800m American re...

Annie Hughes is 23 years old and is quickly becoming quite a force in the world of ultra running. So we talked with Annie about her preparation for the Leadville 100 and the race itself; waiting tables; potentially running for president (which is related to waiting tables); her plans to run the Moab 240 this October, and what she’s most excited about beyond this October. TOPICS & TIMES: Congra...

We talk to Dakota Jones about how motivation evolves, different chapters of life, and what led to the launch of the Footprints Running Camp . TOPICS & TIMES: Breaking bones (3:27) Footprints Running Camp (6:53) ‘What you should do’ vs ‘What you want to do’ (21:00) Dakota’s different chapters of life (26:19) What ignited your environmental passion (34:11) What are you currently studying? (36:10...

Ian Sharman is back on the podcast ( check out ep. 12 for more with Ian) and we sat down with him in Blister HQ, along with our good friend and Ian’s favorite pacer of all-time , Dana Kracaw. We talk about how Ian and Dana met; what makes a good pacer; when & when not to DNF; Tanya Harding; deer costumes; trolling; all-mountain roller skates; and yes, murder. This one is a lot of fun, so if yo...

Sanjay Rawal is back on the podcast to discuss his latest film project about the American runner, Patti Catalano Dillon; how being coached by Patti has caused him to completely overhaul how he trains; and why we all might benefit by remembering to “run easy.” TOPICS & TIMES: The Reception of the film, Gather (1:44) Sanjays' own running & latest project (8:37) Training & the signs of a...

In part 2 of our conversation with one of the top ultrarunners in the world, we discuss Michele’s book, Ultra , that comes out today; his motivation heading into the Moab 240 last year (which he won); the “art of the pull”; death; purpose; and Michele makes an announcement about a big upcoming project. TOPICS & TIMES: Today’s release of his book, “ Ultra " (2:50) Running the Atacama & Gobi...

How does a kid from a little town in Italy go from working in his family’s floral business to being a top fashion model in Miami to being one of the top ultrarunners in the world? Michele Graglia has done all of that, but he isn’t just about winning long-distance races and setting world records (though he’s won the Moab 240, Yukon Arctic Ultra, Badwater 135, & more). He is most passionate abou...

If you want to understand one of the most important developments currently taking place in the outdoor industry, then this conversation is for you. Jenny Bruso is the founder of Unlikely Hikers , and what she has started is a movement that is growing fast, and for good reason. See why. TOPICS & TIMES: Life, presently (1:32) Navigating social media & the digital world (3:54) The mission of...

We’re talking again with one of the most influential product designers in the outdoor industry, Jean-Luc Diard. He was formerly the CEO of Salomon and played a major role in the development of Salomon’s running shoes (and the first shaped skis), he co-founded HOKA One One, and he is now the VP of innovation for the Deckers Group and the head of Deckers X Lab . Yesterday, we spoke with Jean-Luc abo...

Neli Vasquez Rowland is the co-founder and president of A Safe Haven , which is a Chicago-based nonprofit whose goal is to end homelessness. So we talk to Neli about A Safe Haven’s comprehensive approach; how and why their model could be adopted by other cities around the world; their Run to End Homelessness ; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: Running in Chicago (0:53) What is A Safe Haven (5:14) What...

Brendan Leonard and Jonathan Ellsworth talk to Daryl Murphy about his Miles For Justice project; why he’s been running 5k or more every single day for over 300 days; his running background; his ideas about the future of Miles For Justice; and more. TOPICS & TIMES: What is Miles For Justice ? (1:41) What started your 5k-a-day streak? (4:13) Daryl’s background, getting into running (5:36) Did yo...

Brendan Leonard and I talk to TheGingerRunner , Ethan Newberry, about life before GingerRunner; what led Ethan to start GR and how it has evolved; anxiety and mental health; his partnership with Kim Teshima Newberry; and of course, shoe reviews. TOPICS & TIMES: On being interviewed (2:29) Life before GingerRunner (4:55) Acting Auditions (16:57) Ethan’s process of content creation (24:47) The B...