Running On Om

In this episode, Chris Raymond, founder of City Rider and experienced cyclist, explores the mental dialogue of cycling, from the fears riding in the city to the challenges of cyclocross racing. Chris recently founded City Rider, a Boston-based company that promotes urban bicycle safety, enjoyment, and awareness through interactive on-road lessons and classroom lectures. He shares his own story as a lifelong cyclist from falling in love with the freedom of the road at age 10 to the mental state he seeks in competition.

In this episode, Amby Burfoot, 1968 Boston Marathon Winner and Runner’s World Magazine editor-at-large, tells the story of how every mile is a gift. Amby reflects on the importance of running mentorship from his time serving in the Peace Core as a distance running coach in El Salvador to the impact that John J. Kelley, accomplished marathoner and his high school coach, had on his life. He discusses his relationship to running in college marked by passion, obsession, and hard work.

“This isn’t little. This isn’t like something you know. You do not know what this looks like and I don’t care if you’re a great athlete or not, if your listening to this, you have to experience it. It is not like your running club, it’s not like a boot camp cause it’s way fucking weird and it’s really hard.” * In this episode, Brogan Graham, co-founder of November Project (NP) explains why you should show up to the November Project and to your life. Brogan tells the story of his athletic background from how he began crew in high school to rowing at Northeastern’s DI Men’s Varsity Rowing Team. He reflects on his relationship with Bojan Mandaric, his November Project co-founder and what inspired them to start NP. Brogan recounts the story of how he met Goldie Graham, his now wife and ROO Podcast Interviewee #78, at November Project Boston. He discusses the growth of the November Project, including his partnership with The North Face to the 21 NP tribes across North America. Lastly, Brogan reveals his least favorite tattoo is, the role of yoga in his training, and the most memorable November Project workout he has experienced.

“The emotional content, the emotional factor is something we have to bring back into an enjoyment. We have got to destress the body and allow the physical stress to start to melt. And once we can start to clear it, it’s amazing how the tissues start to respond.” * In this episode, Ian O’Dwyer, performance movement specialist, director of OD on Movement, and co-founder of PTA Global, tells the story of his movement background, from raising horses throughout his childhood to playing Australian rules football. Ian discusses lessons learned from co-founding PTA Global, a leadership company focused on professional fitness development. He offers advice on empowering clients in the fitness industry to see themselves as their own healers. Ian reflects on the role of emotional stress in athletic performance, and in turn, provides insight on the importance of recovery in order to move and live optimally. Lastly, Ian reveals upcoming ideas and projects he is working on.

“I couldn’t do a hundred strokes at a time, but I could do ten strokes at a time. I could create mantras or beliefs in my head that I could do anything for ten strokes and so, if all I thought about was just those ten strokes, I could do everything that I needed to.” * In this episode, Emily Saul, co-leader of November Project Boston and Lead Playmaker at Life is Good’s Playmakers, explores what is means to inspire others. She discusses how she was introduced to the mental techniques of sport psychology during her time as a Division I rower at the University of Tulsa, which later led her to receive a masters in Sports Psychology at Boston University. Emily reflects on her work as the Lead Playmaker at Life is Good’s public charity called Playmakers. She explains how her Playmakers work has lead her to believe that everyone yearns for play through engaging, connecting, and exploring one’s community and physical potential. She tells the story of how she found November Project Boston, a free fitness movement that Emily is now a co-leader of and how November Project demonstrates to her the importance of play for adults. Lastly, Emily reveals her own athletic goals.

“There are not as many people, at least I don’t meet as many people that understand the concept of work. And I don’t mean loading bales of hay or physical work. But, the understanding that you are going to have to have your hand on that plow for years, a decade, two decades, and during that time you are going to come across the most fatiguing delays, the most mortifying disappointments, and the presumptuous judgement of the ignorant on what you are trying to do. You are going to face those things and you have to keep your hand on the plow and go.” * In this episode, Tom Myers, founder of Anatomy Trains and Kinesis Myofascial Integration, discusses how he was first introduced to the power of movement in his undergraduate studies of theater at Harvard University. Tom recounts his exploration of different movement and spiritual groups in his nation-wide travels as a young adult. He explains his introduction to the structural integration work of Ida Rolf that eventually lead him to develop Anatomy Trains. Tom describes the journey of solidifying both Anatomy Trains and Kinesis Myofascial Integration and his experience teaching these modalities. Lastly, he offers insight on developing body intelligence in an increasingly industrialized world.

“I believe that you can fit everything in your life the way you want and still get better. It’s just how you structure your training to get better.” * In this episode, Karen Smyers, world class triathlete, coach, mother, race director, and cancer survivor, tells the story of how passion allowed her to persevere through cancer, injury, and setbacks to have one of the most historic triathlon careers. Karen is the only woman ever to win the 1995 Hawaiian Ironman World Championship and the short course World Championship in the same year. Karen discusses her athletic background as a competitive swimmer and her introduction to running at Princeton University. She explains how she unexpectedly made the transition to professional triathlon. Karen provides insight on how the power of passionate positivity allowed her to overcome numerous setbacks, including a freak accident that sliced her hamstring, being struck by an 18-wheel truck on her bike, another bike accident during an important race, and her battle with thyroid cancer. She reveals her relationship with triathlon now, from the challenges she faces during a race to her experience as a triathlon coach. Karen reflects on the growth of triathlon in the USA and shares her upcoming athletic goals.

“It’s medicinal to be so present. It’s medicine and wherever that student is, in that moment, they’re either able to swallow it and be like, ‘oh thank you,’ or it’s going to be so bitter, scary, and frightening that they need to go off and do some more work before they are really able to inhabit the present moment.” * In this episode, Kevin Courtney, yoga teacher and musician, tells the story of his musical background from playing guitar in his youth to exploring the healing power of shamanic ceremony music. Kevin recounts the first yoga class he ever attended and what drew him back to his mat. He discusses how his evolution as a yoga teacher has been centered on maintaining a spirit of openness, gratitude, and co-creation in a highly commercialized yoga world. Kevin reflects on his experiences teaching at Bonnaroo Music Festival and Wanderlust Yoga Festival. He shares the creative process behind his yoga music album “Nada Sadhana.” Lastly, Kevin provides insight on practicing presence in music, yoga, and everyday life.

“In life, almost more than anything else, I like the feeling of getting to the start line or getting somewhere and having no idea of what’s going to come next. And that feeling of apprehensive anticipation, where you know that you have the skills to deal with what’s going to come, but you don’t know what its going to be.” * In this episode, Loren Newman, accomplished runner and student of public policy, tells the story of his lifelong passion for running. Loren explains how he discovered his strength in longer distance trail running after not making the team at Stanford University. He reflects on his experience working at Google and the vibrant running community there. Loren shares insight on overcoming fear in running through his stories of traveling the globe for a year, including a life-changing run in New Zealand. He discusses the power of the November Project Boston community during his time studying public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Loren provides insight on how he overcomes the mental challenges of running. Lastly, Loren recounts his Western States experience and the lessons he learned.

“I think that’s why professionally I do both: so, I’m in that sweaty dark studio with the music blaring and then at the other part of my day, I’m looking at what scientifically is going on in your body during those times. So, its a really nice balance.” * In this episode, Rachele Pojednic, research fellow at the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, doctorate in Biochemical and Molecular Nutrition & Exercise Physiology, spin instructor at Flywheel Sports, and creator of Strong-Process, reflects on the lessons she learned as a coxswain for Northeastern’s DI Men's Varsity Rowing Team. She discusses how she balances spin instructing at Flywheel Sports with her full-time research fellowship at the Institute of Lifestyle Medicine. Rachele explains the numerous research studies she is involved with that are devoted to the intersection between food and movement. She also provides insight on how America can make behavioral changes that will transform the nutritional and lifestyle landscape. Rachele reveals her perspective on the numerous fad diets and discusses the science behind what really works. Lastly, Rachele previews exciting upcoming projects and research.

“What’s your training? What are you training for? Where’s your energy going? To evaluate the direction of your life, realize that the simplest movements can be profound.” * In this episode, Demetri Velisarius, creator of PranaDandaYoga, former competitive boxer, bicycle racer, social worker, experienced meditator, and Prana Flow Yoga teacher, shares about his experience leaving high school and immersing himself in the practice of boxing through owning Rocky’s Gym and his competitive boxing training. He discusses his return to school in his adulthood when he studied to become a social worker. Demetri traces his journey into training the mind through meditation, from his first meditation lecture to participating in a 108-day silent meditation retreat. He explores how boxing, bike racing, meditation, and yoga have all taught him to train the mind, body, and spirit. Demetri recounts his first meeting with Shiva Rea, his yoga teacher, now life partner, and the story of how they fell in love. He explains his development of PranaDandaYoga, a revolutionary movement practice that involves holding a five-foot staff while flowing through yoga sequences. Lastly, Demetri reveals his vision for PranaDandaYoga and his teaching journey.

“Finding little things to celebrate I think makes the process a lot easier. Whether it’s, ‘I felt great on my run today’ or ‘That was the fastest long run I’ve ever done’— just little things to get excited about. It breaks it up a little bit and gives you little milestones along the way and then, when you do get the really big things, you just appreciate it because you’ve appreciated it the whole time.” * In this episode, Kyle Merber, professional runner for Hoka One One and New Jersey New York Track Club, writer, and race director, explores celebrating the milestones in running as a metaphor for celebrating life. He reflects on his passion for literature, including what book he is reading now and how he chooses what to read. Kyle explains how he cultivates a positive internal experience during racing, calling upon his recent win at Furman University, where he ran the World/Olympic ‘A’ Standard in the 1500-meter. He recounts his early love of running and his childhood dreams of becoming a professional runner. Kyle then explains how a positive outlook kept him mentally strong throughout his collegiate career, marked by the high of setting the American collegiate 1500-meter record and the low of a year-ending injury. He describes his life as a professional runner now, from the importance of his Hoka One One sponsorship to his world-record, distance medley relay race at the 2015 World Relays. Kyle then invites his teammate Ford Palmer, ROO podcast Interviewee #119, to share the mic with him to discuss Kyle’s self-proclaimed “accidental veganism.” As a race director, Kyle shares his vision and plans for the upcoming Hoka One One Long Island Mile. Lastly, Kyle reflects on his goals and dreams in the sport of running.

“Once fame became something very different, I think you’d have to be blind not to look back on it and say, was this worth while or was this what I should have done?” * In this episode, John Malkovich, acclaimed actor, director, producer, and fashion designer, discusses his perspective on talent, fame, and failure. John reflects on his Midwestern upbringing and lessons learned from the death of numerous family members. John recounts his beginnings as an actor from the Steppenwolf Theatre Company to his breakthrough into film. He offers insight on how the world has changed during his time as an actor and the experience of questioning one’s life path. John considers the phenomenon of fame and how it has impacted his life. He shares on his passion for fashion design and the importance of failure in creative and life endeavors. Lastly, John explores how talent is a responsibility and previews exciting projects and films on his calendar.

“The little things are the big things. If you do the little things well, they will become the big things in the long run.” * In this episode, Greg Ux, wellness practitioner and creator of Deluxe Life, shares his athletic background from placing fourth in the NH state decathlon in his senior year of high school to studying athletic training, strength, and conditioning. Greg explains how his work as a wellness practitioner is beyond the limits of a personal trainer. He discusses the challenges he has faced in founding Deluxe Life, his health company, centered on fitness, well-being, and lifestyle. Greg reflects on the power of dreams, visions, and inspirations in the development of his personal wellness philosophy and business model. Lastly, Greg reveals exciting projects and events for Deluxe Life.

“I can tell you, unequivocally, if I did not have my yoga and my meditation practice, I would not have made it.” * In this episode, Krista Lester, creator of Bunny Buddhism, writer, music teacher, suicide survivor, yogi, and meditator, tells the story of how bunnies came into her life from her childhood fascination with them to owning her first bunny as an adult. Krista reflects discovering the healing powers of meditation during a long battle with depression and anxiety. She explains how the tenderness of bunnies and the wisdom from Buddhist philosophies intersected in her seated meditation practice to create the concept of Bunny Buddhism. Krista recounts the experience of tweeting one quote a day and its evolution into her book, “Bunny Buddhism.” She explores how yoga and meditation continue to provide solace in the grieving process from her husband’s suicide.