The Keifer Madness Podcast

Who gets to decide what accountability looks like in ultrarunning? This week, I'm joined by longtime ultrarunner and race director Jacob Puzey for a conversation about the controversy surrounding Cam Hanes, Mike McKnight, anti-doping regulations, and the growing divide within the ultrarunning community. With over 20 years of experience directing races, Jacob brings a perspective that's bee...

At his heaviest, Tyson Black was nearly 400 pounds. Behind the weight was a much deeper story — years of grief, addiction, shame, unresolved trauma, and the feeling that he was wasting a life he knew could be used for something more. Today, Tyson is sober, running ultramarathons, reconnecting with his faith, serving the trail running community, and chasing a version of himself he spent years being...

Brian “Wolfie” Peterson joins me for a conversation about competition, ego, suffering, and some of the unwritten rules shaping ultrarunning right now. We get into whether running is actually building resilience or sometimes just becoming another crutch, the role ego and anger can play in performance, and why maybe you don’t have to smile your way through every hard thing. From there, we dig into t...

A 20 second crew meeting in the middle of the Leadville 100 turned into nearly 400,000 views and a whole lot of opinions. Blake Bender joins me to unpack what actually happened at Twin Lakes, why a quick conversation with his family and crew pissed off so much of the internet, and the weird pace shaming conversation that followed. But this episode goes well beyond the controversy. Blake spent near...

John Baker has spent most of his life figuring out what allows people to perform when things get hard. He played professional baseball for more than a decade, reaching the Major Leagues with the Marlins, Padres, and Cubs before eventually moving from the field into coaching, mental skills, player development, and performance psychology. His career would ultimately take him from being an MLB player...

Josh Harris and I have more than a few things in common. We both built careers behind the bar, found sobriety along the way, and eventually discovered a very different kind of obsession in endurance running. Josh has been sober for 22 years, spending nearly his entire professional career in the cocktail industry without drinking. We talk about what sobriety looked like in an industry that wasn&#39...

Episode Description What happens when the thing that once defined you is taken away? In this episode, I sit down with Shelby Harrington to unpack a story that's about far more than Ironman racing. Shelby shares how she went from being a single mom with no endurance background to signing up for an Ironman in the middle of one of the hardest seasons of her life. Along the way, we talk about trai...

What does it actually mean to build a successful life without sacrificing yourself in the process? In this conversation, I sit down with my longtime friend Mycal Anders—Marine Corps veteran, leadership coach, entrepreneur, and founder of Next Level Performance Consulting—to unpack the ideas that have shaped both of our lives. We talk about the importance of keeping small promises, why so many peop...

In this episode, Keifer Gilbert chats with ultra runner and entrepreneur Ryan Lange about his journey into ultra running, the culture of the sport, and his innovative ventures in gear design. They explore the mental and physical challenges of ultra distances, the evolution of the sport, and Ryan's new business in hydration gear. RaveRunner Vests: https://raverunner.co/ Social Media Links: https://...

In this episode, Keifer Gilbert and Killian Korth explore the mental and philosophical aspects of ultra running, injury recovery, and life. They discuss embracing the present, managing ego, the impact of social media, and the deeper meaning of outdoor pursuits. In this episode, Keifer Gilbert and Kilian explore the depths of human nature, the impact of modern society on our primal instincts, and h...

IG - @ johnny___ramos This episode covers the early accomplishments of Johnny Ramos, his upbringing in Congress, Arizona, the influence of outdoor exploration and athletic background, the transition from wrestling to ultra running, the toughness of wrestling and ultra running, the mental and physical differences between the two sports, curiosity and exploration in ultra running, and the Speed Proj...

Keifer shares his journey of preparing for and participating in the Cocodona 250-mile race. He discusses his training, motivation, race experience, challenges, and aid station support. The race presented physical and mental challenges, including hydration issues, cramping, foot problems, and sleep deprivation. Keifer's journey was supported by his training community, pacing partners, and aid stati...

Chef Beau MacMillan is a celebrity chef and Food Network personality. He reigns in Phoenix, AZ and has been the face of many great dining establishments in the area. His long run at a luxury hotel property The Sanctuary was where he truly made his mark on this town. Beau is a proud father of 5, a devoted husband, and a mentor to many up and coming chefs all over the country. In this episode of the...

Jeffrey Morgenthaler is an award-winning bartender, author, and industry innovator based in Portland, Oregon, whose career spans nearly three decades across every level of the bar world—from neighborhood taverns to some of the most influential cocktail programs in the country. He is the co-owner of Pacific Standard and The Sunset Room, where his signature blend of technical precision, creativity,...

Apache Joe is an endurance athlete, father, husband and mental health community advocate. Joe resides in Phoenix, Arizona and is most known for "The Apache Joe Challenge" where he has ran an entire marathon (26.2 miles) with his mouth full of the same sip of water from start to finish. In this conversation, Apache Joe shares his transformative journey from struggling with mental health issues to f...

Owen Cole is a podcast host, restaurant operator, sobriety advocate, and proud family man. Owen is the host of 'The Dope Dad Podcast which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDopeDadPodcast-l6z IG: @thedopedadpodcast In this engaging conversation, Keifer and Owen discuss the journey of podcasting, the importance of integrity, and the challenges of sobriety. They reflect on personal grow...

Follow along on Instragram @ thekeifermadnesspodcast The podcast is designed for those pursuing passion and purpose. It aims to share stories of resilience and overcoming challenges. Conversations will feature interesting people with unique experiences. The host values the importance of storytelling in personal growth. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their own life experiences. The podcast...