My Back 40

One of the fringe benefits of doing this podcast is having my guest’s phone numbers. I saw that RJ Sauer was getting ready for the Iditarod Trail invitational, 350-mile race across Alaska, so I reached out to him to wish him luck and to keep the rubber side down.

The next day, I was thinking to myself “Is he in Alaska already?”. When I found out that he was, I figured this would be a great opportunity to talk to RJ. The last time we spoke was back on 002. RJ Sauer - Perseverance Personified.  

This conversation was one for the books and one in which we covered a ton of topics. We talked a little about the Iditarod Trail Invitational but then, as my podcast goes, we took many tangents along the way. We talked about presence, groupthink, the Tour Divide, and selfishness. I asked him about his writing process. We also covered imposter syndrome, storytelling, and what’s your “why”, a hot topic for many endurance athletes and a question we often ask when we’re suffering in an event.

RJ first rode the 1000 mile ITI back in 2001 as a 26 year old Film Maker producing the film, Thin White Line. It was his first bikepacking race and the catalyst for many adventures to come. You can read more about his adventures over at rjsauer.com or on his Instagram page, where he more or less journals his life. You can also track his progress in the ITI 350.

It’s been too long since I last spoke with RJ. I always find our conversations a joy and a great learning experience. His humble nature and willingness to share make for a great conversation and I hope you find some takeaways as well.

Enjoy

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This week, I chat with Jonathan Hogg. Jonathan is riding the Tour Divide in 2023 and wants to raise a million dollars for Rocky Mountain Adaptive, a charitable organization that creates and provides accessible adventures for individuals living with physical and/or neuro-divergent challenges.

Jonathan discovered the Tour Divide during his recovery after breaking his leg. During that time, he also wanted to start giving back to the community somehow and hobbled into Rock Mountain Adaptive to volunteer.

In this conversation, Jonathan shares a lot about himself. He talks about his struggles with depression and being diagnosed with bipolar disorder. He discusses the tools that he uses to combat his condition, namely how cycling is “medicine for the brain”. How doing hard things and finding purpose in ones life is vital to his mental health.

I so appreciated Jonathan’s vulnerability in this conversation and I hope you find some takeaways while listening.

Please visit Jonathan’s Gofundme to donate to his cause and please share this around to your family and friends so we can all help him raise money for Rocky Mountain Adaptive. And don’t forget to follow him on Instagram to stay up to date on his progress! @jonathan.hogg.127

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Visit Rollingdale Cycle

Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Joy, Habits, Life Obstacles, Validation, Trauma, Human Design. This chat with Ryan Draper, despite being truncated by family duties, is a doozy and one of my favourite ways to podcast. No framework, just conversational flow. We get deep fast!

I know I just re-posted a podcast with Ryan, but I think the topics here are fresh and interesting. I share quite a bit about my current circumstances and how I’m navigating it. I talk about my experience with my Mindset Coach Paige Royal @paigeroyalcoaching, of Paige Royal Coaching with whom I’m learning how to let go of unhealthy emotions that have been holding me back.

Ryan shares his journey through coaching and talks about his ethos. He speaks about Human Design and how he uses that to help him navigate coaching athletes with specific personalities.

I hope you dig it.

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Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

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Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

From time to time Ryan and I connect for a chat to catch up on things that are going on in our lives and there are great things happening for him. Namely the birth of his son, Maxton.

Ryan started coaching as a passion project in 2000 as athletes in his community were asking him for help with their training. In 2014, he took the leap and Cycling 101 was born. As the name implies, Cycling 101 is your number one resource for all things cycling. They offer Coaching, lessons, guiding, and if you just picked up a new whip, what better place to have it fit than in his newly renovated bike fitting studio at his home in Canmore, Alberta.

Ryan’s strategy regarding growth in his business is organic, and his approach to taking on clients is the same. He wants to make sure the there’s a good fit between himself and his client in order to provide a friction free relationship which maximizes results. His intuitive approach to coaching and training as well as his ability to shape a program around an athletes lifestyle has been paramount to his success and the success of his athletes.

In this episode we chat about his new adventures in fatherhood, forming good, long lasting habits, self care and vulnerability. We talk about some of the exciting things that are happening at Cycling 101 and effective strategies in maintaining work life balance. We also cover the importance of knowing your limits so you can ride another day.

We are hoping to make these chats a more regular thing, so if you have any questions you’d like us to cover on the podcast, reach out and we’ll put together a special AMA episode.

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Thanks to Lakeside Bikes

In this episode of the podcast, I connect with Meaghan to talk about some of her 2022 cycling highlights, including the World 24-Hour Time Trial Championships, The trans Continental Race and Mallorca 312.

Meaghan Hackinen is a bikepacker, writer and adventure seeker cyclist from Kelowna, BC, whose two-wheeled adventures have taken her from Haida Gwaii to Mexico’s high plateaus, across Canada and the United States, and from North Cape to Tarifa along some of Europe’s highest paved roads.

She is a 4X Everester as well as wells as a Transcontinental Race, Trans Am Bike Race, NorthCape4000, Alberta-Rockies700, and Paris-Brest-Paris brevet finisher. Meaghan holds the women’s FKT for The Big Lonely, BC Epic 1000, and World 24-Hour Time Trial Championships.

Her debut travel memoir, South Away: The Pacific Coast on Two Wheels (NeWest Press, 2019) was shortlisted for two Canadian book awards; her upcoming memoir about competing in the Trans Am Bike Race is forthcoming from NeWest Press in late 2023.

Meg is always a joy to talk with and I hope you enjoy this conversation.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Thanks to Blivet Sports for their support.

Visit Rollingdale Cycle

Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

This week I thought I would chat a little about Fat Bikes and why you need one. I have had a Fat Bike in my quiver for the last 8 years or so and it’s one of my favourite bikes to ride. I mostly roll her in the winter but summer riding with a fatbike can be equally as fun!

In this episode I reflect back on the Divide. Memories that were bought back to life after a voice memo I received from Brian. I chat about fat biking, gear, layering and some of the preferences I have acquired over the last handful of years of riding in deep winter.

As much as I see the value with in-door trainers, I still think that riding outdoors is a much better way to maintain over-all fitness. Not only are you stressing your body in more variable ways, you’re also exposing it to cold temperatures and other adversity that I think is super valuable.

I couldn’t remember the names of the folks who offered AJ and I lodging and food in Horca, so I went back through my posts. Thanks again to Jason and Stacey from Red Bear Lodge in Horca for their kindness and generosity!

I hope you enjoy this episode and of course I value your feedback and opinions. Feel free to send me a message and let’s start a conversation.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Visit Rollingdale Cycle

Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

In this episode, I speak with one of my Mindset Coaches, Paige Royal. Paige and I have known each other for a many years. Last year, after being disconnected from her for a long time, I stumbled across her online. We connected for a conversation, which turned into a personal coaching opportunity.

Coaching and Therapy have been vital for me over the last few years and I have preached the benefits of having someone to talk to and give you perspective that you may not have had before. For me, it has validated my sanity and the work that I have done while I navigate my own personal growth.

“Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just starting out or you're still working your day job and building your business on the side, I genuinely give a shit about helping people just like you get unstuck and out of your own way so you can take your business and lifestyle to the next level.

I specialize in working with your mindset and help you bridge the gap from where you are now to where you desperately want to be so you can clearly, confidently and calmly work on your business taking the inspired action you now feel good about taking to move your business forward.”

https://www.paigeroyalcoaching.com/

Paige specializes is Neuro Linguistic Programming and helps entrepreneurs and business owners get out of their own paths to success by changing the way they talk to themselves. As a person who suffers from negative self talk, Paige’s specialty really resonated with me and I have benefited greatly from working with her.

This is one of my typical meandering chats that covers a ton of different topics about how to navigate our lives and dig down to the things that are holding us back.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 50% off your first month of coaching at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Visit Rollingdale Cycle

Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

In this episode of the podcast, I bring you a fantastic conversation with Valorie Masuda, Psychedelic Therapist with Roots to Thrive,

“Roots to Thrive is Canada’s first and only multidisciplinary, non-profit healthcare practice to legally offer evidence-informed, multi-week, group therapy programs that use a community of practice model, uniquely designed to address trauma and to promote resilience, and to also include the option of psilocybin-assisted and ketamine-assisted group therapy.”

source: https://rootstothrive.com/about-us/what-is-roots-to-thrive/

Valorie is a palliative care physician and general practitioner in oncology working in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island. She is an Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of British Columbia currently working on a clinical trial demonstrating the feasibility of delivering psilocybin therapy in a group set, setting and integration model with Roots to Thrive. She is certified in psychedelic medicine through the California Institute of Integral Studies and has also received training through Therapsil and Roots to Thrive. Valorie is a Fellow of the College of Family Physicians, specializing in Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care.

I am really excited to bring you this conversation. Those of you who have listened to the podcast know that, as a self experimenter, I have dabbled with the use of Psilocybin in microdoses as a way to manage depression and anxiety. Although we don’t discuss microdosing in this episode, you will still find a ton of information and insight here as we discuss the use of psilocyban mushrooms in larger doses as a way to help patients deal with existential end of life mental health difficulties.

The common thread through it all is that humans have lost their connection to one another. Human connection used to be vital for survival but is something we have lost through the way we now look at our lives with a colonial lense. We also discuss how our dismissal of indigenous culture has negatively affected our long term mental health with our disconnection from community and nature. We chat about how poor mental health is addressed with pharmacology rather than digging down to the roots of trauma and how natural medicinal compounds such as psilocybin can help.

I’ve been wanting to share a conversation like this for some time and I’m so happy to be bringing this to you now.

Therapsil
Roots to Thrive
Multidisciplinary Association For Psychedelic Studies

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Visit Rollingdale Cycle

Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Visit Rollingdale Cycle

Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!

I just wanted to check in to give some thanks to everyone for all of their support while I navigate some murky waters. It’s been super tough for me so all the love that I’m receiving has been welcome. Thank you.

I neglected to thank Mason for his voice into, as I recorded my part before I inserted his. Thanks, Mason. It’s gratifying to hear that you appreciate the work I’m doing here on My Back 40 and that you’re finding some takeaways. If you want to send me a voice intro, like Mason did, whip out your device, record me something and send it to myback40podcast at gmail dot com. I love hearing voices from the community and I think it brings us all closer together.

If you find value in the work that I’m doing, please consider supporting me financially. Check the support link in the header. Consider buying me a pint, coffee or lunch once a month by signing up to my Patreon. You can also PayPal me!

As an independents podcaster, it’s easy for my platform to get lost in the millions of other podcasts that are out there, especially the bigger ones. It’s a saturated space, so your support means the world to me. I love this podcast and your help is appreciated, especially during these times of uncertainty. I thank you in advance.

I’ll have more chats coming your way soon so stay tuned. Subscribe, share, rate and review so you don’t miss any. Also, there are tons of conversations in the archive so why not check out ones that you may have missed.

Talk to you soon.

Save 15% at Redshift Sports when you use the code MB40

Save 25% off a consultation at Cycling 101 when you use the code MB40 at checkout.

Save 25% at Dynamic Cyclist when you use the promo code MB40 at checkout.

Visit Rollingdale Cycle

Thanks to Ottalaus Inc. for their support.

Thanks to Spandex Panda for their support.

Thanks to Lakeside Bikes in Invermere for supporting me!