Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas

They say to treasure the journey because it’s over in a flash, but in low times when you want to tell those people to “shove it”, how do still show up and give it your best? Whether it’s feeling subpar at a start line or hiding in the janitor’s closet during the first kindergarten drop off, Lauren and Jesse talk about embracing it, or at least holding it together. Other topics include when to move on from a job, being a “fun guy” boss, and chafing. Meow.

Jesse relives his (albeit outlier) experience gearing up for his first crack at the 140.6 distance while Lauren’s birds-eye-view perspective gives some insight to those considering the challenge. They talk about how setbacks in athletics conditioned the risk-taking muscles needed to shoulder the latest Picky Bars changes. Mollie Tibbetts’s memory inspires a chat on running safely while enjoying the freedom that comes from the sport. Lastly, four couples are named as Jesse and Lauren’s dream guest host

This special edition episode covers technical topics like how the human body works, explained in a way a five year old can understand… Because it’s Lauren and Jesse’s five year old son, Jude, explaining them! Jesse sits down with his eldest child for this adorable bonus content, full of feel-good chuckles and some big picture enlightenment when the roles reversed and Jude got to ask the questions. Enjoy! [Submit your Qs for Lauren + Jesse (or Jude?) to pickybars.com/podcastQs]

Burdened by potential, attaching value in the wrong places, and finding motivation rather than anxiety in working with others… They’re all discussed, and it’s up to you to decide which sphere of work, play, love to apply them to. Lauren and Jesse give first-hand advice and open up about these listener-submitted topics, and Jesse finally learns what the term “wet blanket” means, after all these years being called one during peak training season. Got a Q? Submit: pickybars.com/podcastQs

If wakeboard acrobatics and wrangling a dozen kids are to pulling sleds and carrying logs through snowy woods, this family vacation was totally like a scene from Rocky. Lauren, Jesse, and a proverbial Picky Bars emerge ready for their big test - not a vengeance fight against a Russian - a bar relaunch! That excitement carries into a lively chat led by listener questions on dealing with illness during training, acute injury risk, encouraging sport to kids, and if Flomas was ever a real thing.

From dealing with a DNF to sexual harassment in coaching, new Picky Bars developments to marketing yourself as an athlete, Lauren and Jesse cover a range of topics with an even wider range of emotions in this episode. Listener questions drive the conversation after a “What’s Going On” segment about co-dreaming as a couple and the difficulties of transition times, especially as married business owners relentlessly pursuing a balance of sport, work, and family. Plus: The #FlatBruce secret!

Jesse’s feeling the burn of re-entry after stacking his offseason plate with all the stuff he said he’d after his big race. It’s taking a lot of extra balance, which isn’t why he started going to yoga, but it might be helping. Listener questions spark conversations on periodization in training to avoid burnout and injury, stuff they wish they’d done before having kids, chasing a pro athletics dream even though it might not afford you a living, and raising confident kids in the face of gender stere

Get ready to dive into the rough-water deep end about Picky Bars’ current inventory struggles. Lauren and Jesse talk candidly about Picky’s production and growth cycle, and how a perfect storm of supplier, manufacturer, and brand-change decisions resulted in a tough out-of-stock issue. But just like a bad race, it’s best to be honest about the struggles of entrepreneurship rather than pretending they didn’t happen. So they lay all the cards on the table, including news about exciting updates on the

And they’re back! (Stateside AND in the studio…) Lauren and Jesse battle jet lag from their trip to Germany with a special episode about the “Hallmark” of the “Cool Races in Cool Places” tour - Challenge Roth! Hear about how they managed another family race-vacation, Lauren travelling internationally with the kids, and turning it on for what might be a last crack at competing at this highest level. It’s the best work/play/love case study yet, and doesn’t disappoint on laughs or inspiration.

This week, the work/sport/family-balance in the Flomas house was less of a flashy juggling act and more of a clumsy dropping things and throwing them at the wall. From birthday parties to high school reunions, peak triathlon training and sleep training, Lauren and Jesse keep it real on managing it all (or not), diffusing fights with snacks (works for kids and adults alike!), and answering this week’s listener questions.

Even if you aren’t interested in the topics in this episode, do yourself a favor and listen to the final few minutes where Jesse explains the origination of #superadvanced, including a memorable dinner table moment with Jude and an avocado. (But if you are interested, here are this week’s listener questions): When to push through fatigue in training/work, and when you need a break. Redefining athletic goals with age. Living unfairly in someone else’s limelight. And the hilarious #superadvanced backsto

If this week’s What’s Going On?! segment were a Friends episode, it’d be titled, “The One Where Jesse’s More Nervous for PPP than Kona.” He and Lauren recap their Pole, Pedal, Paddle races. Spoiler: they both rocked it - and the super secret Picky Bars conference call they just took from the living room - spoiler: it’s a secret - before diving into these listener-instigated topics: lessons for your younger self, training and pregnancy, on-and-off-again relationships, and making the time to do

It’s a big week in the Flomas household, as both Lauren and Jesse prepare for the “Bend Olympics” - Pole, Pedal, Paddle! This multi, multi-sport event is the ultimate PNW challenge and a town treasure. Lauren’s holding down the run leg for her mom friend team, “Play Date,” and Jesse’s tackling the ski, ski, bike, run, kayak, sprint course solo looking for his first non-asterisk win. After some LOLs over their differing race preps, they jump into listener questions.

Fresh off their wild Wildflower weekend, Jesse and Lauren share what a weekend racing as a pro athlete looks like when the whole family's in tow. From how the change in environment may’ve affected his performance to how well compression socks perform as emergency first aid for a four year old, it’s not your typical race recap. Then, they jump into a batch of listener questions, including helping someone struggling with confidence issues in sport, dealing with injuries, and owning a company and a MBA.

With race season around the corner - Can Jesse bring home a seventh consecutive W at Wildflower this weekend?? - this episode has them ramping up and dialing in the feeling of peak training. Listener questions this week include: Training together - yay or nay? How to tell when it’s time to move from amateur athlete to elite athlete. What makes a good coach, and are all pro athletes qualified to coach by virtue of their training? Developing hiring processes and implementing culture at work.