This is a must-listen for parents of sporty kids, anyone struggling with an injury, and folks looking for hard-earned wisdom: Running prodigy/phenom Mary Cain, author of the compelling new memoir This Is Not About Running, talks with hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Tish Hamilton. Interspersed with the hosts expressing anguish at the harassment she endured, Mary details:

• her reasons for writing a frank, heart-wrenching memoir
• the work she’s done to recover from her trauma
• how coaches should treat young athletes
• what she learned from injury that winning couldn’t teach her
• ways to advocate for one’s health and well being

Before Mary joins around 12:15, Tish shares her family’s history of jaw-dropping longevity.

Watch the episode on YouTube

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Anyone looking for riveting reads (or audiobooks) need to listen to this episode: Hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Ellison Weist rave about an incredibly smart, cleverly crafted debut novel; a new novel by a beloved author; a quirky paperback; and the latest brilliant page-turner from a hot writer. Listen all the way through, then dash off to get these books and start reading!

Yesteryear: Caro Claire Burke

More Than Enough: Anna Quindlen

The Road to Tender Hearts: Annie Hartnett

London Falling: Patrick Radden Keefe

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Anyone curious about doing a HYROX race or looking to diversify her running routine needs to listen to this insightful episode. The guests—a HYROX class instructor (Steph Peters), a cyclist/runner taking on her debut HYROX (Kathryn Taylor), and a marathoner who crushed a HYROX doubles race earlier this year (Jackie Minge)—talk with hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Britany Williams about:

• What exactly a HYROX race entails
• Why HYROX is more accessible than you might think
• Theories about why HYROX is exploding in popularity
• Why runners have an advantage going into a race
• Why one guest chose a certain podcast host to be her doubles partner!

Sarah tells tales of her recent jury duty stint (including stair repeats!) before the HYROX instructor hops on around 12:00.

Watch the episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8z0ZztmcBGI

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Anyone in search of deeper personal connections or improved athletic performance needs to listen to this episode in which Coach Liz Waterstraat delves into Revealing: The Underrated Power of Oversharing by Leslie John.

Coach Liz details why sharing thoughts and feelings helps manage the emotional load of striving; how silence sends a message (which prompts a pickleball anecdote from host Sarah Bowen Shea); and how humanizing it is to share. In true Another Mother Runner style, TMI quips abound in this ep!

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A must-listen episode if you’re looking to add a triathlon to your race calendar or to take on a new distance in triathlon: Kelly O'Mara, co-host of the Feisty Triathlon podcast and former editor-in-chief of Triathlete Magazine, shares expert insights on starting and succeeding in triathlon. In a conversation with hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Molly Williams, Kelly details:

• how to morph from being a runner to a triathlete
• overcoming fears + overwhelm about swimming
• realistic race goals (hint: think process, not outcome)
• the beauty of being part of a triathlon club
• must-have—and can-skip-for-now—gear

Before Kelly joins around 08:15, Molly and Sarah share family updates. Grab Feisty's free beginner sprint triathlon guide.

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Have a laugh with hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Ellison Weist as they talk about the newest novel from Maria Semple, author of the wildly popular 2013 (!) book Where’d You Go, Bernadette. Two of the other novels discussed share a common setting: a cruise ship. The books making a splash:

• Go Gentle: Maria Semple
• The Left and the Lucky: Willy Vlautin
• All the World Can Hold: Jung Yun
• American Fantasy: Emma Straub

Feisty Fest: Join us from September 18-20, 2026 - https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/

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Runners at all ages and stages will benefit from listening to this episode: Hillary Allen, a professional trail runner, Trail Society podcast co-host, and author of Out and Back: A Runner’s Story of Survival Against All Odds, shares insight and advice about building resilience and confidence in running (and life!). With hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Amanda Loudin, Hillary details:

• surviving a 150’ fall—and returning to racing a year later
• building your “confidence bank” with little checkpoints
• overcoming the sadness and negativity of a running injury
• best practices for effective self-talk
• how to embrace power hiking

Feisty Fest: Join us from September 18-20, 2026 - https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/

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Anyone looking to be seen and understood or to add value in their community will really appreciate this episode: Along with host Sarah Bowen Shea, Coach Liz Waterstraat unpacks Mattering: The Secret to a Life of Deep Connection and Purpose, a new book by journalist Jennifer Breheny Wallace.

The hosting duo talks about the importance of seeing the difference one makes in their world, plus what constitutes success. And Coach Liz reveals details about her “impact file.”

Feisty Fest: Join us from September 18-20, 2026 - https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/

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Whether you’re taking on your first 10K or about to run Boston, this episode offers practical, insightful advice from guest Erin Ayala, Ph.D., a Minneapolis-based sport psychologist and host of Feisty Women’s Performance podcast. Along with hosts Sarah Bowen Shea and Coach Liz Waterstraat, Erin shares:

• the value of “scary, joyful, and new” challenges;
• real-world suggestions for getting your brain on board w/ training;
• a gut-wrenching tale of a recent race going sideways;
• a 21st-century option for creating a vision board; and,
• the importance of feeling all the feels post-race.

Before Erin hops on around 07:10, Coach Liz and Sarah reveal how they approach workouts while on vacation. Hydration bonus: Chug every time Erin includes a rhyme in a response!

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Episode Resources

Erin Ayala: https://www.skadisportpsychology.com/

Feisty Women’s Performance podcast: https://feisty.co/podcasts/feisty-womens-performance/

Feisty Fest: Join us from September 18-20, 2026 - https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/

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In this episode of Miles of Books, Sarah and Ellison discuss three novels that each explore women’s lives, family roles, and the complicated ways mothers shape their children’s worlds. From the feminist awakening at the center of Meet the Newmans, to the fallout of desire and family upheaval in Lake Effect, to a fresh reimagining of Cinderella in Lady Tremaine, this conversation is full of sharp insights, lively plot setup, and plenty of reasons to add these books to your list.

Books discussed:

• Meet the Newmans by Jennifer Niven
• Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
• Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser

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