In this episode we meet Ross Brannigan. A runner, writer and communicator wise well beyond his years, who has experienced an eating disorder as a young man. Ross is still just 23 years old but bursting with an impressive level of self-awareness, honesty and positivity about his experiences. He is able to reflect clearly on his anorexia, and we talk about what life was like in his mind when he was struggling hard with it, what helped him move forward and what recovery looks like for him today. Ross finds solace in hill running, all things outdoor and writing for his stunning blog, Up to Summit, which you should all check out.

There’s a lot to say about William Sichel. Talking to a guy with over 600 speed and distance records to his name means a lot of learning. William is an ultra distance athlete who at age 65 is still smashing boundaries in distances from 100k to 3,100 miles, whilst running a business on Orkney, being a dad and coaching other athletes in his hugely successful training strategies. Forgetting all facts or figures, he’s an amazing example of living a non conformist life and facing discomforts, and says himself he is learning to talk openly and become more emotionally literate. William sadly lost his wife to lung cancer 18 months ago, she survived just 24 days after diagnosis, and he candidly talks about this experience as well as the peaks and dark places of his astounding running career. Some brilliant advice in here for ultra runners and endurance athletes.

Fi Martynoga is some woman. An acclaimed Scottish author writing about our natural environment and wildlife, as well as a passionate environmentalist, museum researcher, mother and grandmother. Back in 2005 she created a unique venture for herself; to live self-sufficiently as if it were 1792, alone in a one-room outbuilding. Challenged to prove that an 18th-century diet was better than today’s, she recreated the lifestyle of Scottish ancestors, living from own produce and handcrafted resources. Fi has lived an eventful life, she lost her husband suddenly when he was just 46 and more recently has been through life-changing cancer treatment. We talk about all of these life experiences and Fi's no-nonsense approach is refreshing, with a stack of gold dust advice for life thrown in there. Hugely grateful to this incredible woman for making an exception to her avoidance of the internet and media to get online with me!

There is so much to say about Jen Scotney and we had a lot to talk about. Jen is a human rights lawyer, long distance runner, dog lover, vegan athlete and partner of pro ultra runner Marcus Scotney. Over and above all of the labels she is simply a cool and down to earth human; radically honest and modest in equal part and someone who faces up square to the hurdles of life. We talk not long after her second Spine Challenger race and hear the gritty reality of what nearly 40 hours on that tough trail was like. Jen’s brother and father both passed away within a five month period and we also talk about the reality of that experience from her perspective, her grief and how it has changed since. Jen has other wisdom to share too: how she balances a sometimes harrowing career as a human rights lawyer with training for ultras; the tricky relationship between self-worth and race results; the pitfalls of the Strava culture; and her own journey with anxiety, anaemia and chronic fatigue. Enjoy this and show Jen your love on social.

This is the second part of the super special episode with Giles Ruck and Gavin Bussey, two incredible guys who I am honoured to call friends. They joined me for a marathon conversation about their life-changing adventure at a monster multi-day event called the Petit Trot de Leon (PTL) last year, the big daddy of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) series. By the UTMB's design this is not a race but a run, and quite a run it is: 25,000 metres of ascent over a highly technical, alpine 300km route, with a 152hr time limit. We hear about the kind of preparation they did as well as the gritty details of how the days unfolded; the highs to some dark and vulnerable struggles. We hear about the sleep deprivation, calories consumed, staying strong through storms, teamwork tactics and what the experience has done for their friendship. Come listen in and show these amazing guys your love!

This is the first part of a super special episode with Giles Ruck and Gavin Bussey, two incredible guys who I am honoured to call friends. They joined me for a marathon conversation about their life-changing adventure at a monster multi-day event called the Petit Trot de Leon (PTL) last year, the big daddy of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) series. By the UTMB's design this is not a race but a run, and quite a run it is: 25,000 metres of ascent over a highly technical, alpine 300km route, with a 152hr time limit. We hear about the kind of preparation they did as well as the gritty details of how the days unfolded; the highs to some dark and vulnerable struggles. We hear about the sleep deprivation, calories consumed, staying strong through storms, teamwork tactics and what the experience has done for their friendship. Come listen in and show these amazing guys your love!

Introducing the amazing Liz Richardson. This one was such a treat to record as Liz is a great friend of mine here in Edinburgh. She is a talented athlete, immersed in the world of triathlon and racing at an international level, at distances from sprint to half ironman. In terms of improvement in the sport Liz has taken it to another level altogether. From struggling to finish her first races Liz had 5 overall podium wins and 3 age group wins last year, and qualified for the half ironman world championships in Nice this summer. As well as managing a serious training load Liz has been through some challenging life experiences in the past few years, including an ongoing relationship with depression and an unsuccessful IVF attempt after making the tough decision to try for a child on her own. I'm grateful to Liz for joining me to talk publicly and frankly about all of this, as they aren't easy subjects and feelings to dig into. Share in your circle of people to help get her story out there.

Jeni Rees-Jenkins everyone! Those in the Scottish running community will know this woman well, she is a positive force in our world and an impressive regular on the ultra racing scene. After a very tough time at school Jeni has suffered with depression on and off since her youth and over the past 7 years has been through a transformation in lifestyle and mental health. Becoming a teacher, taking up running, talking truthfully, learning to be mindful and experiencing a third world country are all part of her story. In 2016 she ran over 5,000km to raise over £5K for MND Scotland and also works selflessly as an ambassador for the Scottish Association for Mental Health, a guide leader and Duke of Edinburgh leader as well as her teaching work. Jeni also has two wonderful children and a husband and manages to balance family life with her other commitments. We get into the detail of what depression has been like for her, her younger years and struggles at university, discovering running and the role of teaching others in her life and for her own recovery.

You’re about to hear from the incredible Gayle Tait. Gayle and I know each other through the running 'family' here in Scotland, we met at her first ultra in 2013. Gayle is fiercely passionate about the trails and mountains and has completed races including the UTMB CCC, Mont Blanc 90km and Ultra Trail Monte Rosa. She is a mother of two and a P/T who has her own story with mental health issues, specifically depression and suicidal thoughts. She has also been battling a potentially game-changing knee injury and has been through the end of her marriage over the past year. We talk about what life has been like for Gayle since; what has helped and what she is working on.

I can’t express enough how eye opening and refreshing it was to talk to Gayle. She has been through a huge amount but her story is not one of submission to a disease. It is one of strength and the value of living openly and vulnerably. Her words on social media and in our conversation send an important message to others; that we too can talk about the difficult feelings and thoughts on our insides, even if our outsides appear ‘normal’. Show her your love on social and pass this on to others in your world who might benefit.

Two for one in this episode! Those in the Scottish mountain biking and adventure community will know Andy and Aneela McKenna well, they are an inspiration for the advocacy they do around MS, biking, living honestly and our beautiful outdoors. They were featured in the beautiful film by Andy McCandlish, This Way Up, which has done the rounds at mountain film festivals like Kendal, giving insight into their lives as mountain bike guides with their company Go Where.

12 years ago, Andy was diagnosed with MS after two years of experiencing symptoms, getting tests and not understanding what was happening with his body. He’s been through quite a journey to develop new ways of living and working; far from an overnight process. Aneela is a positive force in the world of cycling, a diversity specialist for the Scottish Parliament as her ‘grown up job’ and a massive advocate for girls and women breaking through social norms to face fears and pick up a mountain bike - or any other kind of outdoors challenge. As this episode comes out Andy and Aneela have just launched This Way Up for public download, with a few very special offers, so go check their site out now, Stoked on MS.org.uk. There are still screenings happening in Scotland and the wider UK too. Go share!