In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Bolton — Olympian, founder of Bolton Endurance Sports Training, and USA Triathlon’s Director of High Performance. Ryan has coached some of America’s top athletes, including Morgan Pearson and John Reed, but today we go deeper than splits and training blocks.
We talk about the three-part framework that drives his coaching philosophy — physiology, head, and heart — and why world-class athletes need all three in balance. Ryan shares candid stories from his early days as a high-energy kid in Wyoming, how mentors like Joe Friel shaped him, and why the best performers are often the most grounded people.
We also dive into athlete identity, emotional resilience, the danger of false confidence, mentorship, traveling the world on the elite triathlon circuit, and what it really takes to develop young athletes for LA 2028 and beyond.
B.E.S.T: https://boltonendurance.com
Ryan’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachryanbolton/
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In this episode I sit down with Anders Johnson — professional track cyclist, former pro mountain biker and Xterra triathlete, and Stanford researcher – to talk about what happens when a physics brain falls in love with going fast in circles. Anders grew up in a tiny Utah valley surrounded by ski resorts, found his way onto some of the best development teams in mountain biking, and now splits his time between chasing LA 2028 and working on cutting-edge research at Stanford, including the ELITE VO₂ max genetics study and a large-scale cardiovascular health app.
We get into how his physics and math background shapes the way he trains, races, and thinks about numbers without becoming a prisoner to them, why he races so little and cares so much about the day-to-day process, and how surfing, campfires, and getting back on the mountain bike refill his mental tank. Anders also opens up about a year marked by deep personal loss, what that’s done to his sense of meaning and success, his views on religion and spirituality, and why he’s trying to stay playful and bring joy into every room he walks into—even while aiming at the biggest goal in sport.
Anders’ Studies: https://elite.stanford.edu/people/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Anders’ IG: https://www.instagram.com/andersjohnson35/
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In this episode, I sit down with Oliver Askew — a former IndyCar and Formula E driver who’s lived at 200 mph and still somehow found peace in the slow moments. We talk about growing up homeschooled in Florida, chasing adrenaline through motorsport, and the lessons that come from burnout, belief, and beginning again.
Oliver opens up about the mental demands of racing without power steering, the pursuit of flow state, and what it’s like to carry both pressure and purpose inside the cockpit. He also shares how faith, friendship, and reflection have reshaped his definition of success beyond the track.
It’s a rare, honest look at what happens when the helmet comes off — a conversation about drive, discipline, and discovering who you are when the race ends.
Oliver’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/oliveraskew/
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In this episode, I sit down with Lucas Bourgoyne, the 24-year-old U.S. Pro Criterium Champion who’s redefining what American cycling can look like. Lucas is raw, driven, and refreshingly honest — a kid from Texas who’s gone all-in on his dream and somehow still finds room for humor, faith, and a little cowboy swagger.
We talk about what it takes to grind for ten years for one perfect lap, how discipline and freedom coexist, and why stepping away from the bike can be just as important as the training itself. Lucas opens up about his parents’ influence, leadership, and the pressure that comes with newfound attention. This one’s not just about watts or wins — it’s about belief, burnout, and learning to stay grounded when the world finally starts paying attention.
Lucas’ IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucas_bourgoyne/
Team Cadence Cyclery: https://www.instagram.com/teamcadencecyclery/
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Lance talking about Lucas: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/79x4UsyjMXs
In this round-two conversation, I sit back down with retired Navy Master Chief Mark Evans — a man who’s led submarine crews around the world, survived life-changing trauma, and still finds humor in it all.
We go deep on leadership, fatherhood, faith, and the strange pull between fear and perspective — from Ironman finish lines to moments of real loss. Mark shares what it means to stay calm when everyone else is panicking, how to raise strong kids without losing your own humility, and why he believes love is ultimately an act of service.
We also wander into the big stuff: God, AI, trauma, politics, and what it means to stay human in a world that often forgets how. It’s raw, grounded, and full of truth bombs that only come from a life fully lived.
Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/frumpycob/
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Bible Verses Referenced:
In this round-two conversation, I sit back down with Brenton Ford — the man behind Effortless Swimming — to catch up on everything that’s changed since our first talk a few years ago. We start with my own Ironman California story before diving deep into swimming, coaching, and how letting go can actually make you faster.
Brenton shares what he’s learned running global swim camps, launching anti-fog goggles, and working alongside Olympic champions. We talk about the mindset behind great coaching, what it means to truly “feel the water,” and how self-awareness can change the way you move — in the pool and in life.
He also opens up about leadership, family, and learning to slow down as a dad. It’s a thoughtful, down-to-earth conversation about mastery, patience, and building something that lasts — whether that’s a business, a team, or a life you actually enjoy living.
Effortless Swimming IG: https://www.instagram.com/effortlessswimming/
HydroClear Goggles: https://shop.effortlessswimming.com?utm_source=Instagram-bio&utm_medium=Instagram-bio&utm_campaign=Linktree
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I sat down with Luke Fetzer, a 5-time national champion who’s already carving out his place in American criterium racing at just 19 years old. What stood out to me most wasn’t just his results—it was how grounded and self-aware he is for someone still figuring life out.
We talked about what it was like growing up in his parents’ bike shop, watching them close it after nearly 30 years, and how that shaped his perspective on work, risk, and legacy. Luke shared why he left one of the biggest teams in the country to bet on himself, what “champions do everything right” really means to him, and how he’s learning to balance ambition, gratitude, and patience.
It’s an honest, down-to-earth conversation about identity, drive, and becoming the kind of man you want to be—on and off the bike. By the time this episode airs, Luke will have just turned 20, so go wish him a happy birthday and check out his journey in the show notes.
Luke’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sendy_mcgee/
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Former professional triathlete Collin Chartier sits down with me for a raw, unguarded conversation about identity, faith, and healing after public failure.
We talk through his upbringing in a nomadic Navy family, the identity collapse that followed his doping suspension, and the five-month bikepacking trip that became a turning point toward grace, breathwork, and self-understanding.
Collin opens up about learning to sit in silence, reconnecting with God, and finding empathy for himself and others. We dive deep into topics like “toxic vs. rocket fuel,” body-stored trauma, somatic healing, fear as a projection of the future, and the red flags that athletes miss when their drive turns into self-destruction.
This isn’t a conversation about excuses — it’s about awareness, humility, and the long road toward being of service again.
Collin’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/collinchartier/
The Body Keeps the Score: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748
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I sit down with Dirk Friel—former pro cyclist and co-founder of TrainingPeaks—to trace how a scrappy, late-’90s idea between friends became the platform so many of us use to plan, track, and analyze training.
We talk about his entrepreneurial roots (yes, Joe Friel is his dad), racing in Belgium in the pre-internet era, and the “sweat-equity” nights that led to the first place you could view heart-rate and power files in a web browser. I ask Dirk what TrainingPeaks isn’t (spoiler: there’s no one-true method), how to treat TSS/CTL/PMC as tools—not gospel—and why most athletes overdo intensity more than volume.
Dirk shares why human coaches still beat AI (“there are more unknowns than knowns”), why good coaching often feels “too easy” at first, and how accountability—sometimes the tough kind—creates breakthroughs. We also get into TrainingPeaks Virtual and its physics-first approach (drafting, wind, and cornering actually matter), plus what he’s learned about leadership, hiring beyond your friend circle, and the purpose that drives him: helping others reach their potential.
Dirk’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/dirkfriel/
TrainingPeaks: https://app.trainingpeaks.com
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Professional operatic soprano Martha Eason joins me for a crossover conversation on music, endurance sport, and the mindset that powers both. We go from Appalachia bluegrass roots to Germany’s “fest” system, where the same resident cast performs night after night—often on tired vocal cords and tighter schedules. Martha breaks down why opera is an athletic event, how recovery, breath work, and nervous-system regulation protect those “two tiny muscles,” and what her Garmin reveals during rehearsals.
We talk technique vs. emotion (and why clear text and intention beat perfect high notes), naming the inner critic (“Hi, Brenda”), and practical ways singers taper, avoid burnout, and come back from overuse injuries. Martha shares role milestones—from Violetta in La Traviata to Missy Mazzoli’s gritty Breaking the Waves—and how faith, doubt, and real life feed performance without derailing it. Plus: the Via Francigena run, why second performances often outshine premieres, Germany’s public funding for opera, and how her “Rehearsal Notes” newsletter blends vocal pedagogy with athlete habits.
Martha’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/marthaeasonsoprano/
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In his round three on the show, TriRig founder and gear wizard Nick Salazar returns… as a filmmaker. We dive into his debut feature, The Game of Life—a two-year, DIY passion project shot largely inside his home with a tiny crew (and a big family cheering and helping behind the scenes). Nick opens up about writing, directing, acting, and scoring the film, why he designed distinct color palettes for each act, and how switching from clean spherical glass to wild anamorphic lenses created those dreamy, in-camera flares around a mysterious “skeleton key.”
We get into the story’s themes—mental health, unreliable narration, radical acceptance, and the “I am” moment—plus the nuts and bolts: 24 shoot days in three blocks, proof-of-concept scenes to win buy-in, private screenings, and what “success” looks like for a first feature. We also wander into consciousness, AI, and why imperfect human art still hits hardest.
The Game of Life (Preview): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyRZ5jH0CSY
Nick’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nick_salazar
TriRig: https://tririg.com/
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In another deeply human conversation, I sit down once again with my friend and musician Nick Goldston for what might be our most honest talk yet. We cover everything from the emotional aftermath of racing an Ironman to the evolving relationship between creativity, music, and meaning—and what happens when AI starts imitating the human soul.
Nick opens up about the quiet transformation he’s experienced through music, how he teaches emotional authenticity to his students, and why empathy may be the last frontier of human connection. We go deep on religion, truth, AI, and consciousness, asking: what makes something real? What makes it human?
This one is raw, philosophical, and full of heart—from creative process to heartbreak, forgiveness, and the beauty of just dancing again.
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Nick’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/nickgoldston/
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A little different this week. I decided to take a break from the usual interviews to talk with you guys one-on-one. I just got back from Tennessee, where I visited family, met my four-month-old niece for the first time, and raced 103 miles through the mountains of Georgia. But what really hit me was a moment with my sister—she gave me my dad’s old “World’s Greatest Dad” hat, something I hadn’t seen since 2006. With my wife now 20 weeks pregnant, that gift carried a weight I wasn’t prepared for.
I share what that moment brought up for me—grief, gratitude, and a clearer sense of what kind of father I want to be. I also talk about how my faith has reshaped the way I understand love and purpose, what it’s meant to stay clean and sober, and why I’m trying to build this podcast the same way an oak tree grows—slow, steady, and strong.
I wrap up with a look ahead to episode 200, the launch of Nothing Novel, and where I hope this show is headed. Thanks for listening and for being part of this journey with me.
Nothing Novel: No website yet - but I am working on it!
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My IG: https://www.instagram.com/seth_t_hill/
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Former draft-legal triathlete turned Adidas Terrex trail runner Eli Hemming joins me from Europe ahead of World Champs to talk swapping Olympic cycles for alpine miles, racing UTMB week (CCC), and why 2025 will be “Taber & Eli doing Taber & Eli.” We get into belief-driven training (and racing more because it’s fun), social-media detox and attention-span rehab, growing up homeschooled in eastern Colorado, coffee nerdery (yes, the caffeine-molecule tattoo), pacing JFK 50 while learning not to quit, and building a simple life in Kremmling near his wife’s family ranch. We also wander into head vs. heart decision-making and the scary honesty of “nothingness” after death—and why that makes the present matter more.
Eli’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/eli_hemming/
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In this episode I sit down with Ian Boswell—former WorldTour pro, now gravel racer, Wahoo leader, husband, father, and Vermont farmhouse fixer. We trace his journey from racing the Tour de France with Team Sky to building a life surrounded by family, gardens, and 250-year-old plaster walls.
Ian and I dive into what it means to shift identity when sport no longer defines you, how leadership looks different inside the peloton versus at home, and why self-reliance (yes, even fixing hydraulic hoses) matters. We talk about community, faith, mortality, and the legacy of his friend Sule Kangangi, whose vision for East African cycling lives on through Team Amani.
What stood out most for me was Ian’s answer to my last question: the message he wants to leave his daughters when they turn ten. His words—about showing up fully and going all in—are a reminder I think all of us can take to heart.
Ian’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/ian_boswell/
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Pro cyclist-turned-creator Phil Gaimon returns for Round 2 to pull back the curtain further on “the worst retirement ever.” We get the real behind-the-scenes of putting on Phil’s Cookie Fondo and Whiskey Tango—last-minute espresso truck rescues, county crews dynamiting boulders, volunteer scrambles, and the relentless safety calculus of hosting thousands of riders. Phil talks candidly about why he hates the word “influencer,” setting lanes for what he will (and won’t) weigh in on, and how his anti-doping stance and cycling advocacy shaped his voice.
We dig into the creator economy without the gloss: YouTube vs. sponsorships, resisting rage-bait thumbnails, learning editing late, and the quiet reality that many “pros” and influencers aren’t paid like you think. Phil also reflects on aging as an athlete, redefining goals when PRs stop coming, and why professionalism doesn’t have to depend on a result sheet.
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Phil’s YT: https://www.youtube.com/@worstretirementever
Phil’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/philgaimon/
Phil’s Cookie Fondo: https://www.philsfondo.com/
Polish triathlete Gabriela “Gabi” Gaweł sits down with me to trace a late-blooming athletic journey shaped by loss, resilience, and a cross-border life. Gabi shares how losing her father at 15 rippled through the next decade, why therapy became the turning point, and how learning to slow down in the pool became a metaphor for pacing life. She talks about growing up near the Ukrainian border, cultural humor gaps, and the confidence she found training in Tucson’s protected bike paths.
We get into sibling dynamics (the brother who said she “couldn’t” — and later bought her first bike), starting triathlon from zero during COVID, navigating visas between the U.S. and Canada, and the very Tucson way she met pro triathlete Mark Dubrick. Gabi closes with practical advice for anyone carrying unprocessed hurt: ask for help, expect work, and stay consistent.
Gabriela’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/gabriela_gawel/
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Sam Parsons—pro runner, creative, and co-founder of Faves—goes deep on passion, failure, and what’s next. We trace his path from Wilmington to Boulder, missing two Olympic teams (a torn calf in 2021, heat collapse in 2024), and why he calls “positive resiliency” the greatest competitive skill. Sam opens up about the uncle who shaped him at 16, chosen family, faith, curiosity, anxiety during big life transitions (engagement, potential move to LA), and how he’s learning to let goals “come to him” instead of forcing the grind. We also dig into his nightmare-fun Vermont trail race, what track taught him about leadership, and the mission behind Faves—building athlete shop pages that actually pay athletes (without clunky promo codes). Candid, energetic, and surprisingly vulnerable.
Sam’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/par_sam_sons/
Faves: faves.xyz
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In this episode, I sit down with David Roshak, CEO of DMR Capital, to trace a career that arcs from Big 4 accounting and Level 3 boardrooms to early-stage cyber investing, mentoring founders, and chasing Ironman finish lines. Dave shares candid stories—growing up near Warren Buffett in Omaha (yes, awkward restroom run-ins), a father who captained 747s, swapping a high-travel CFO life for a self-directed fund, and the hard reset that divorce forced on his priorities.
They dig into what it means to trade control for influence as a board member, why time (not money) is the scarcest investment, and how to design goals you’ll actually live by. The conversation winds through mentorship, friendship, and community; the cultish joy of triathlon (and wearing too much swag); religious skepticism and mortality; new-dad advice; and learning to look up—from the Willamette River to Red Rock Canyon to the late-race finish chute.
David’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/dmr2.0/
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Physical therapist, professional triathlete, and lifelong musician, Caitlin Alexander sits down with Seth to talk about who she really is—and why she’s built a life that isn’t defined by just one label. Caitlin opens up about ADHD, empathy as a superpower, and how a justice sensitivity pulls her to speak up. She traces an unlikely path from Virginia’s green hills and NYC’s music scene to Colorado, where she now runs a cash-based PT and bike-fit clinic, balances pro racing with entrepreneurship, and learns what sustainable performance actually looks like.
They dive into identity beyond sport, abusive coaching cultures vs. true longevity, why community matters when injury or burnout hits, and how music still unlocks emotion and recovery. Caitlin shares candidly about a rough race season, choosing joy over grind, leaning on her husband Brian, and getting excited to experience Kona—this time not racing.
Caitlin’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/caitalexander/
HU Performance: https://www.instagram.com/hu.performance/
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