Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas

Mary Cain’s op-ed in the New York Times outlines a shocking culture of body shaming and abuse by the Nike Oregon Project, one of the most elite running teams in the world. Lauren and Jesse discuss how the story illustrates a far too common experience for athletes. They field questions about how you can create a safe and positive environment for athletes as a coach; and they offer advice for athletes about nutrition and performance, and what to look for in a coach or team when it comes to your health.   

Fatigue, burnout, and being overwhelmed. That’s what happens when you overdo it. It’s not too far from how you feel when you…underdo it? Jesse and Lauren reply to a marathoner about over-training. They talk about the controversial (and maybe over-engineered) Nikes that played a role in a 2-hour marathon. They respond to a listener who’s worried about her husband’s lack of exercise. And they talk about how to not overdo it at work. Plus, the origins of the Flat Bruce, tempo workout tips, and more.

After a wild week away, it’s only fitting that Jesse and Lauren sit down for a rapid-fire episode filled with your tasty bite questions. The Work Play Love duo covers some workouts to try when you’re injured and relegated to the pool, they talk about how to introduce yourself when you’ve got a crush, they offer advice about using caffeinated gels on long runs, and they give a peek behind the scenes into the Picky Bars test kitchens. Plus, follow ups about traveling with kids, swimming in groups, and m

To plan or not to plan? That is the question. Whether you’re training to close the gap between you and your competition, or you’re hashing out parenting disagreements with your partner, or you’re rebuilding your relationship to sport after grieving a loss, making a plan can help you overcome tough obstacles. And sometimes? The plan is to just be present and they share how they’re implementing their own plans—or having their plans disrupted (and what they’re doing about it).

Jesse and Lauren answer questions and share their experiences about striving for a goal vs. being content with the present, how to navigate mental health issues as they relate to sports and personal well-being, how to stay sane while solo parenting, and how to end a coaching relationship that isn’t quite working out. Plus, Lauren talks about her recent Wilder retreat, and the Work Play Love duo offer some advice about improving speed during long runs, how to think about heart rate during training, and mor

The leaves are starting to change, and what better time than now for an episode all about calming down, acknowledging the good things, and building balance into your life? Lauren and Jesse answer questions about how to handle nerves on race day, how to make race events more fun for a spectating partner, and how to build a business that leaves room for your other life goals. Plus, they count the ways having kids has improved their lives, they tell the story behind Picky Bars flavors, and more.

Lauren and Jesse sit down with Sarah Bowen Shea of Another Mother Runner for a live podcast recording at FootZone in Bend, OR. Sarah turns the mic around and asks the Work, Play, Love duo about the balance of family, sport, and business in their lives. Jesse and Lauren talk about sports and competition after having kids, their communication styles, Lauren’s writing goals, what they’re working on at Picky Bars, and much more.

After a short hiatus, Lauren and Jesse are BACK in action. Hey, it’s summertime y’know? A family getaway filled with play was in order and sets the tone for a sport-filled show. From how to handle niggling injuries during your training season to amenorrhea as a young athlete, and from preparing for Kona to dealing with disappointment when you’re new to a sport, Lauren and Jesse offer advice, tips, and insight to folks at many different stages in their athletic journeys.

When you’re trying to achieve balance and stability in your career, on the field, or in relationships, it can be tough to take risks. Maybe you don’t have the data you need to feel confident in a business decision. Maybe you’re struggling with the differences in parental roles. And maybe you can’t ever seem to close the gap with the leaders in a race. Jesse and Lauren talk about each of these topics and suggest that taking risks is a good way to switch it up and find new paths forward.

Sometimes you gotta unplug to recharge so you can come back to work, play, and love on your A-game. That’s what the Flomas duo did over the past few weeks. Just back from a lake vacay with family and friends, Jesse and Lauren share their reflections about getting away from technology and spending some much-needed quality time with people they love. They also talk about athletes making political statements, whether high mileage is a good idea for young runners, and how to battle injuries as an aging athlet

Belief systems, and believing in yourself can have a big impact on work, play, and love. Believing in a new training plan can help you get unexpected results on race day. And believing that your career doesn’t leave room for training can cause stress when you’re trying to achieve a big goal. Lauren and Jesse answer questions about faith and belief, concerns about training when working towards a marathon and a triathlon, how to find balance with passion career, and taking on a coaching role with a partne

Lauren and Jesse are just back from a hilariously disastrous family camping trip. Still, despite being in a poison-oak-infested campground with kids under 10, your favorite podcast hosts had a pretty fun(ny) time balancing play and love. They share the story of the trip and then dive into your questions, like: are used running shorts a good deal, or just plain gross? Should you race when you’re sick? How do you build confidence? How do you build a healthy team? And much more about work, play, and love.

Sometimes you gotta go all-in on business while sacrificing play time. Sometimes you feel the exact opposite of your partner. It’s not perfect, but maybe that’s what balance is! Lauren and Jesse take a look at how you can still find balance even in unlikely circumstances—like training when you’ve been on your feet all day, handling wealth gaps in relationships, and starting a family in the face of climate change. Plus, Lauren and Jesse wonder about the meaning of life and share a bunch of love follo

In celebration of PRIDE and love, Lauren and Jesse answer your burning relationship questions about love, intimacy, on-again-off-again relationships, and even how to deal with a partner playing musical instruments in the house. Plus they talk birth control for athletes, polyamory, inclusivity in sports and business, and more. This one’s all. about. love.

In your athletic career and in life, keeping your eye on the horizon can take on a few meanings. When you’re balancing your busy life today, how can you stay prepared for athletic goals in the future? How do you come to terms with an aging body on and off the field? Lauren and Jesse jump in to a fast and action-packed episode to answer these questions and more. You’ll also hear about how to support your partner through a tough time, some recommendations for race-day apparel, and how to handle hilly runs