Mi Duole Cycling Podcast

Doug Owens was born and raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah and Yale Law School. He and his wife Cynthia Smart Owens have four children and are proud to call Millcreek their home.

As an attorney, Doug has three decades' experience resolving complex commercial, environmental, and employment issues. Twenty-five years ago, Doug took two years off from his career to stay home with three little boys while Cynthia finished medical residency. Cynthia currently practices medicine at St. Mark’s Hospital.

Doug is committed to improving education, keeping Utah’s economy strong, protecting our air, and preserving the places that make Utah special.

Doug is the founder of Utah Outdoor Partners, a non-profit organization launched to raise awareness of the value of Utah's outdoors and promote the creation of parks, trails and other recreation infrastructure to keep pace with population growth. 

Eric grew up in Boise, Idaho, where he enjoyed most outdoor activities, but skiing quickly established itself as the favorite. Mountain biking made a brief bid for his affection, but it wasn’t until he joined a road biking group in the Bay Area about a decade ago that things really escalated. Since then, he’s rotated through a series of hobbies involving expensive equipment and varying degrees of personal risk, including road biking, mountain biking, and, more recently, backcountry skiing.

A regular resident of the “pain cave,” Eric operates under the firm belief that happiness is merely the reward for those willing to suffer for it. When not testing the limits of what the human body should reasonably tolerate, he’s experimenting with clean eating trends and cold plunging in the freezing creek behind our house. His ideal vacation involves both biking and skiing on the same day, presumably to avoid any risk of relaxation.

Eric finds great joy in the Mi Duole riding group, where shared objectives and mild lunacy seamlessly co-exist.

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Brandon Nelson, also known as "Noodle Nelson". Listeners will learn about Brandon's journey into cycling, including how he was initially reluctant but grew to be passionate about the sport. He shares his competitive background, his weight loss story, and the strong cycling community he's found in his hometown of Idaho Falls. Brandon discusses his racing plans, his impressive achievements in events like Loaded Joe, and his love for the social and data-driven aspects of cycling. The episode also covers Brandon's Zwift setup and involvement in virtual racing leagues. Listeners will gain insight into Brandon's approach to content creation and his desire to promote a positive image of cycling. Overall, this episode provides an engaging look at Brandon's cycling life and the factors that have contributed to his success and enjoyment of the sport.

In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Lefthand, a mental health therapist who has taken the cycling world by storm in record-breaking fashion. Despite only getting into the sport in 2022, Matthew has already accomplished feats that leave even the most seasoned cyclists in awe. From riding over 500 miles in a single event to averaging an astounding 30,000 miles per year, Matthew's drive, mental toughness, and ability to push his physical limits are truly remarkable. We dive deep into Matthew's story - from his dramatic weight loss journey to his transition from running to cycling - and unpack his training philosophy centered around the power of Zone 2 work. But the real highlight is hearing Matthew's own words on the mindset that propels him forward, including the mantra "it's up to your will, not your legs" that has carried him through some of the sport's toughest challenges. With big plans for 2025, including tackling some of the most grueling ultra-endurance events, this is a must-listen episode for anyone fascinated by the limits of human potential. Prepare to be inspired by the story of cycling's newest phenom.

Some of you may remember our dear friend Taylor Cannon who left us high and dry for the "greener grass" of California several years ago. Well, he is back, but sadly no longer the fastest cyclist in his family. Currently sitting 42nd overall and 2 places ahead of his pops is none other then 14 year old phenom, Stockton Cannon.

A 14 year old getting up at 4:30 AM day after day to race bikes is the ultimate sigma rizz no cap. Stockton rides for his high school MTB team and set the fastest time trial of any freshman ever this year. With a goal of making it into the Lifetime Grand Prix in a couple years, the future is bright for Stockton.

Perhaps when we see him on the podium of Unbound he will say, "I'd like to thank the Holiday Tour de Duole for teaching me all that I know about riding bikes."

Keep it up, Stockton! You got this.

The story of Bolt Skin & Shave. We interview Adam Barker from Bolt, discussing the creation and growth of the brand. Adam shares his journey from photography to launching Bolt, a product line catering to men who shave their legs. He details the challenges, including raising $50,000, designing a unique razor, and the emotional toll of being a solo founder. Bolt has shipped nearly 1,100 orders, with a projected six-figure revenue in its first year. Key products include the Bolt Performance Razor, exfoliating leg scrub, shave butter, post-shave lotion, and CBD recovery balm. Adam emphasizes the importance of intentional design and premium quality in his products.

Adam was born in 1973 and grew up in a modest home in Sandy Utah. He is the second child of 5 children and the first son. He grew up playing baseball until high school when he switched over to playing golf.  He attended Alta High School in Sandy and then BYU where he received his BA, Masters of Accountancy and Law degree combining all three programs in order to graduate in 7 years. After his first year at BYU he served a two year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Seoul Korea. 

Adam met his wife Tracy while serving in the same mission and married around a year after returning home. They have 3 girls and twin boys. He had his first daughter his first year in law school and his second his last year of law school. He graduated second in his class. They moved to San Diego where he started his career at Latham and Watkins. He worked in Big Law for 12 years doing real estate private equity. He and his family moved back to Salt Lake in 2012 when Adam joined Bridge Investment Group, an alternative investment management firm with headquarters in Sandy.

In Episode 115 of the Mi Duole podcast, hosts Stuart and Andy Compas interview Adam O'Farrell. Adam, a seasoned cyclist, shares his journey from a demanding career in big law to becoming an avid cyclist post-retirement. He discusses his participation in various races, including the Breck Epic, Swiss Epic, and Cape Epic, and his experiences with nutrition and recovery. Adam emphasizes the importance of mental and physical recovery, the camaraderie within the cycling community, and the joy of riding with his family. He also highlights his favorite gear, such as a 10-battery charger, and his mantra for endurance: "pain is temporary."

Born and raised in Olympus Cove, Jon studied psychology at the University of Utah. He is an incredible athlete with a diverse background—from cross-country running in high school to playing rugby into his late 30’s. His  journey into cycling began thanks to the encouragement of his friend (and teammate); Eric Lavin whose support gave Jon the confidence to get back on the bike.

Jon’s passion for cycling is matched by his big heart, which he takes to a literal level—his resting heart rate of 44 often sets off alarms in the ER. And Jon is no stranger to the ER…some may say he is a little accident prone, others would say he’s adventurous. Either way, Jon is a tough guy who is constantly looking to push his limits of both mind and body.   

He’s a devoted father to three kids, two dogs, and husband to one lucky wife. Beyond his athleticism, Jon is passionate about mindset, consciousness, and the power of rewriting the limiting stories we tell ourselves. Jon is a deep thinker and loves to philosophize about, well, mostly everything.

Welcome to the Mi Duole podcast! Today, we’re thrilled to have Barrett Brandon, the CFO of Ventum, joining us. Barrett is not just a numbers guy; he’s a former professional triathlete who’s raced at the highest levels, bringing that competitive spirit and passion into his role at Ventum. His journey from the finish line to the boardroom is truly inspiring, and we’re excited to hear his insights on both racing and business. We’re incredibly grateful for the support Ventum provides to our team, and having Barrett here today is an honor. Let’s dive in and learn more about the man behind the brand!

Barrett Brandon, CFO of Ventum, discussed his transition from professional triathlete to business leader, emphasizing the importance of community and authenticity. He highlighted Ventum's new TT bike, The Tempest, and its marketing efforts at the Ironman in Kona. Brandon shared his journey from swimming to triathlon, his 11-year professional career, and his shift to gravel racing. He stressed the value of consistent effort and community engagement, noting Ventum's integration into Utah's cycling scene and its partnership with Lance Armstrong. Brandon also advised young athletes to enjoy the process and build lasting relationships.

Zach Calton is a professional bike racer who recently transitioned to racing and coaching full-time after previously working at Specialized. He discussed his victory at the 2024 Point to Point race, where he set a new course record. Zach shared his strategic approach and how he was able to pull away for the win.

Zach was recently invited to represent the United States at the Marathon World Championships, but was disappointed by the lack of support and funding provided by USA Cycling for the event. He feels this is an ongoing issue beyond just Olympic years. The hosts and Zach compared the difficulty of major endurance races like Leadville, Crusher, and Point to Point, with Zach considering Leadville to be the most challenging due to the extreme altitude.

As a participant in the Lifetime Grand Prix race series, Zach shared his thoughts on the recent changes to the format, including the reduction in the number of participants. He would prefer to see the series expand rather than contract. Zach detailed his current sponsors and equipment, riding Ventum and Yeti bikes with Shimano components. He emphasized the importance of consistency and enjoyment in cycling as advice for the team members. Overall, this was an insightful conversation providing a glimpse into the life of a top professional cyclist.