Runbelievable

An accidental runner? Is that actually possible?

Shona Farr didn’t set out to become a runner; she just wanted to walk 5k in under 50min.

What started as power-walking at the back of the pack quietly turned into running, racing, injury setbacks, and a deep love for the running community. Along the way, Shona navigated a broken ankle (in fact, twice), torn ligaments, post-menopause training, and the self-doubt that comes with starting later in life.

In this truly uplifting episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty chat with Shona about going all-in on every run, the power of on-course support, and why inspiring other women (especially post-menopause) has become central to her running journey. From building the Slow AF Brisbane group to racing overseas and lining up a wild events, Shona's story is about courage, patience, and proving your story matters... even when you think it doesn’t.

Follow Shona's journey https://www.instagram.com/shonarunsveryslowly/

In this episode:

• Starting with walking before discovering running
• Accelerating from parkrun to 10Ks and half marathons
• Running post-menopause and inspiring other women
• Why community and on-course support matter so much
• Balancing family, travel, and running goals
• Racing overseas and what’s ahead

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

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About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Can running be used to turn destruction into direction!?

Will Pattinson didn’t ease into change; he went all in.

After years of a destructive lifestyle, Will reached a point where something snapped. No dramatic trigger. No slow build. Just a day where he’d had enough. What followed was a radical lifestyle overhaul that began with daily steps and quickly evolved into marathon running, ultra distances, and an uncompromising commitment to change.

In this raw and fast-moving episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty sit down with Will to unpack how he transformed unhealthy habits into tools for healing, channelled addiction into discipline, and embraced extreme ownership as a way forward. From his first marathon in 2024 to a 100K ultra, and huge goals on the horizon (including Marathon des Sables), Will’s story is as intense as it is thought-provoking.

It’s a conversation about identity, control, and purpose.

Follow Will's journey: https://www.instagram.com/will_pattinson95/

In this episode:

• Turning destructive habits into fuel for healing
• From first marathon to 100K ultras
• Setbacks including sodium overload in New York
• Living with ADHD and channelling addiction into training
• Strength training, structure, and extreme ownership
• Big goals ahead: sub-3, Marathon des Sables, and major marathons
• Using his journey to help others break destructive cycles

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Is this the epitome of a humble marathon runner?

Nat Rischin never saw herself as a runner.

She grew up doubting her physical ability, struggled with confidence, and spent years stopping and starting; both in running and in believing in herself.

What began with a 5km "fun run" in 2008... while still smoking... slowly evolved into something far deeper. Through knee pain, health scares, heart surgery, near-miss goals, and plenty of self-doubt, Nat kept showing up... and always with more grit than she gave herself credit for.

In this deeply personal episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty sit down with Nat to explore the long road from short jogs around The Tan to half-marathon breakthroughs, marathon friendships, and a growing confidence that’s been years in the making.

It’s a story about patience, resilience, and how running can change the way you see yourself; even when no one else is watching.

In this episode:

• Growing up without confidence in sport
• Running her first 5km while smoking
• Discovering a heart condition and choosing surgery
• Why running alone became her therapy
• The mental toll of near-miss goals
• Breaking through self-doubt with coaching support
• From half-marathon frustration to marathon fulfilment

Runbelievable: real runners, unreal stories.

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Nothing says Christmas like dragging your festive pudding to parkrun and sticking a microphone in people’s faces (we literally did that!).

In this very special Christmas episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty take the podcast out of the studio and straight to their local parkrun for a festive vox-pop extravaganza. From milestone runners and volunteers to semi-elites and everyday legends who were just happy to still be standing in the Brisbane humidity, this episode captures the true spirit of the running community.

Along the way, there’s a Christmas quiz (yup... we call it Quizmas!) absolutely no one asked for, reflections on how and when you listen to the show, and plenty of moments that remind us why parkrun.

It’s light, chaotic, festive, and very Runbelievable.

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Running with purpose, can you relate?

Natasha Sneddon never imagined she’d be a runner... and was embarrassed to even walk her first parkrun. Yet somehow, one step at a time, she found herself racking up over 100 parkruns, training with a coach, and lining up for the Sydney Marathon in honour of her late grandfather.

Along the way, running became more than exercise. It became connection, purpose, and a way to navigate the emotional weight of having Huntington’s disease in her family. As a sleep researcher and PhD student working in this area, Natasha’s running life and academic life have begun to intertwine in powerful ways.

In this episode, Joshie and Matty sit down with Natasha to talk about family legacy, the fear and pride of fundraising for a cause, and negative splitting her first marathon despite a very specific race plan.

Follow Natashs's journey:

https://linktr.ee/njsneddon?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=02c213e4-955f-4315-941c-6731346aa7e4

Check out Natasha's research (published Feb 2026):

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2026.102258

In this episode:

• From reluctant beginner to 100 parkruns
• How running helped overcome depression
• Living with Huntington’s disease in the family
• How her PhD research intersects with her running
• Running the 2025 Sydney Marathon in honour of her grandfather
• What purpose-driven running looks like for her future

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

A treadmill run being a game-changer.. really?

Garry Jackson has lived two lives: one before running… and one after.

At ~120kg, smoking up to 70 cigarettes a day and drinking hard, Garry never imagined he’d become a runner. But between his father’s terminal illness and the birth of his second child, life forced a reckoning. One day (whilst mixing tunes) he stepped onto a treadmill, ran 200 metres, and everything changed.

What followed wasn’t just weight loss or fitness, it was a complete mindset shift. A new confidence. A new identity. A belief that he could show up better for his kids, his partner, and himself.

In this raw and uplifting episode, Joshie and Matty sit down with Garry to talk about grief, fatherhood, habit changes, Strava love–hate chaos, and how a nerve issue in his foot isn’t stopping him from chasing his dreams.

In this episode:

• The life events that pushed Garry toward change in 2013–2015
• Going from a 200-metre jog to 5km in 30 days
• How running reshaped his confidence, mindset, and identity
• Navigating grief, fatherhood, and lifestyle transformation
• Staying motivated through nerve issues and setbacks

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

How can someone who hated anything physical learn to love running?

Crystal Barnes walked every school sports event. Struggled with asthma. Hated anything remotely physical. Yet somehow... became an ultra-runner.

Crystal has one of the most unexpected running journeys you’ll hear. From joining a run club at 21, to smashing out a half marathon, full marathon, and then an ultra just weeks later, Crystal’s rise was fast, determined, and fuelled by a love of community as much as the sport itself.

But the last few years have been tough. Hamstring tendinopathy, big life changes, balancing running with parenting, and the frustration of going from extremely active to barely able to run at all. Through it all, Crystal has remained grounded, philosophical, and motivated by a huge goal she’s set for 2027....

In this episode:

• Growing up hating sport and navigating childhood asthma
• How a search for “free activities” led to discovering running
• The rapid rise: club runs → half → full → ultra in two years
• Balancing running with parenthood and shifting identity
• Hamstring tendinopathy and the GC10K PB she probably shouldn’t have run
• The 42-for-42 goal driving her forward
• The full-circle moment of meeting a former teacher (this, you gotta hear!)

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Running isn’t always about pushing harder; sometimes, it’s about knowing when to pull back.

For Melbourne-based runner Eva Bertram, running has always been about joy: no Strava, no data, no watch... just the feeling of getting out the door. From conquering Point to Pinnacle (the world’s "toughest half marathon"), to a New Year’s Eve “Run the Clock” adventure at the You Yangs complete with fireworks, a wine necklace, and a gashed knee, Eva’s stories capture exactly why everyday runners are extraordinary.

But this season of life looks different. As Eva and her partner navigate the realities of IVF, she’s been forced to step back from running... a challenge that’s tested her patience, identity, and balance more than any hill ever could.

In this episode:

• Running without Strava, watches, or pace pressure
• Point to Pinnacle: 1,276m of pure uphill grit
• The unforgettable You Yangs NYE “Run the Clock” event
• Navigating safety after being chased mid-run
• The emotional challenge of stepping back from running during IVF
• Finding support and shared understanding through a running partner

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Running out the anxiety?

For carpenter and father of three Craig Parsons, running began in a rather unique way. Balancing long hours, physical work, and family life, Craig has faced anxiety, alcohol, and self-doubt head-on... proving that strength isn’t about muscle, it’s about mindset.

In this raw and honest episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty talk with Craig about the challenges of opening up in a tough, masculine industry, the lessons learned through injury and recovery, and how running helped him find focus, purpose, and community.

In this episode:

• How running entered and transformed Craig’s life
• The shift from casual jogs to marathon milestones
• Overcoming injury during Ned’s Uncomfortable Challenge
• Managing anxiety and alcohol for long-term wellbeing
• Redefining strength and balance in work, family, and running

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.

Some running stories start with a race...

Nicole’s started with a pair of worn Reeboks and a cotton T-shirt!

The day before her 40th birthday, she went for her first jog; a spontaneous decision that changed everything. From San Rafael to New York, Nicole discovered how running could rebuild confidence, reshape body image, and connect her to a global community.

In this funny, fearless, and deeply human episode, Joshie and Matty chat with Nicole about juggling hypoglycaemia, recovering from a stress fracture, and the kind of race-day mishaps you just can’t make up.

In this episode:

• How Nicole’s first 5K sparked a lifelong love of running
• Managing hypoglycaemia while training and racing
• Finding connection through international run clubs
• Rebuilding after injury and rediscovering confidence
• Rituals (cough; superstitions) and what’s on her running horizon

🌏 Episodes, community, and all things Runbelievable:

http://runbelievable.au

🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday; hit follow so you don't miss a lap!

☕ Enjoying Runbelievable?

If the show has kept you company on a run, you can help keep the stories coming:

https://buymeacoffee.com/runbelievable

About Runbelievable

Runbelievable is the podcast for every runner. From your first parkrun to your 100th marathon, from walk-run intervals to dabbling in trail running, every runner has a story worth telling. Through honest conversations with runners from all walks of life, Runbelievable explores the challenges, achievements, setbacks, and experiences that connect us through running and shape who we become.