Take Off Your Shoes

Welcome to a brand new episode with my first-ever repeat guest: Katie Asmuth.

She was my first-ever guest two years ago, and it felt like a great moment to catch up with her and get a glimpse into the changes she’s been facing, her full-circle moment at UTMB, her gratitude through it all, and so much more.

It was an episode that was emotional, but also, to me personally, inspiring and, most importantly, honest.

I hope you feel similarly, and I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

If you liked this episode and want to hear more from Katie, make sure to listen to The Trail Network Podcast also check out my first conversation with her.

The Trail Network Podcast

Take Off Your Shoes: Katie Asmuth (1st ever episode!)

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Thank you for being here, and take great care!

Welcome to a brand new episode of Take Off Your Shoes with my guest Nick Thompson.

This was not the most typical episode, but it was one I’ve been looking forward to recording for a long time.

To some of you, this Nick may be a new name because while he’s an incredibly accomplished runner, he’s better known as the CEO of The Atlantic. If you’re wondering how he could have had the time to come onto my show, listen until the end of the episode, where I actually ask him this exact question.

The thing that stuck with me most after our conversation was what he said about the importance of truly caring about the thing that you’re doing in the moment, but once it’s done, moving on. He quoted, “On to Cincinnati.” A truly important skill to learn, and one of those things that is much easier said than done.

We talked about how, in life, it’s hard to get neat answers to things, and how some questions will remain unanswered. This is true for the questions he’d like answered about his father’s life. The same is also true of his own motivations at times, and how complicated they can be to articulate.

While this may be a step outside of the ultra runners I’ve been having as guests, I’m sure you’ll enjoy this conversation, Nick’s self-reflection, and the way he conveys his emotions and thoughts in and around running and, of course, life.

Thank you, Nick, for your time and for our conversation.

It's been a very hectic, but beautiful summer, which is why I put the podcast on hiatus for a bit. I'm hoping to be back with a more regular program soon enoug h and I genuinely appreciate each and every one of you for listening.

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Nick's memoir: The Running Ground

Check the show's budding Youtube channel!

Welcome to a brand new episode of Take Off Your Shoes.

My guest today is Toni McCann!

After all my conversations, I jot down a few words to remind me of the feeling I had during and after the conversation, which usually allows me to reflect back on it more easily.

After this one, I wrote "heartwarming."

I am really grateful to Toni for her openness, humbleness, and willingness to share her thoughts and experiences around finding a new home in France, finding the right reasons, her "why" around running and chasing goals, and how she has dealt with and is still dealing with external pressures.

We talked about letting go of perfection while still striving for excellence, finding joy and excitement in the sport, and what it means to feel at home somewhere you chose to grow roots.

This was the type of conversation that made me feel so incredibly grateful that I get to do this. I was smiling and laughing throughout, and later on just kept feeling this warmth, for which I am truly thankful.

Toni, thank you so much for your openness and for sharing this conversation with me.

I hope you all enjoy listening.

• You can now watch the episode on YouTube
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Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for being here and listening.

Welcome to a brand new episode of Take Off Your Shoes! My guest today is the one and only Rachel Entrekin!

I’ve been told before that my conversations feel like therapy sessions for my guests. To be clear, I am not a therapist, but I always feel happy to hear that I allow them to share and perhaps work through things in the meantime. More than anything, I appreciate their candor, vulnerability, and openness.

This conversation with Rachel felt like a therapy session for me. Getting to know her and seeing how she has shifted her mindset to embracing hard things, in and outside of running, and how she started seeing them as moments of practice, hit home in a way that’s hard to put into words, especially how I’ve been reacting to some recent events.

One thing that I don’t think I’ll forget easily was her description of how we can choose who we are in the face of a challenge, and how we can take ownership of our responses.

I think, and hope you all agree, that the challenges we take on in the realm of (ultra)endurance go beyond the physical. I truly believe the mental side we hear about can be beautifully exemplified by Rachel’s words and actions. It’s not necessarily about pushing through and never giving up, but about who we choose to be and how we choose to show up when things get inevitably hard, whether in a race or, hopefully, when we’re able to translate our learnings into our real life.

Thank you, Rachel, for this wonderful conversation, and I hope it also speaks to you while listening.

Must read: Rachel's Substack

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Other incredible interviews Rachel's been on, which have inspired me:

• Choose Strong #126
• Rachel Entrekin | Two-Time Cocodona 250 Champion
  
• Rest Day | Rachel Entrekin Interview, Francois D'Haene's 2026 Season & Free Agency News
• I’ll Have Another Episode 624
• The Trail Network Podcast Episode 78
• The Trail Network Podcast Episode 69

Welcome to a new episode of Take Off Your Shoes!

I’ve been taking some time away, and I’m back with a wonderful guest: Adam Merry!It was amazing getting to talk to him. Heading into it, I already knew he would be very open, and indeed he was very generous and vulnerable, which I truly appreciate.We talked about how it feels to juggle being a father of now two boys, being a partner, being a full-time employee, and chasing running at the highest level. He also explained what he’s training towards and what it means to him to have a North Star worth focusing on and striving for. Adam shared how balancing the steps towards that goal looks with changing life events, such as having kids, evolving those goals, and fitting them into the next chapter of life.He underlined the importance of having a strong support system that starts with Julianne, the Boulder Boys, and many other people by his side in his process towards the big, lofty goals he always sets.With the North Star goal being… well, you’ll have to listen to find out!

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Listen to him slay the guitar on his incredible album: String Dance!

Tune in to the Boulder Boys Show and watch them on Youtube!

Lastly, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a review and shoot me a DM on Instagram.

Hello and welcome to another episode of Take Off Your Shoes!I am back with a brand new episode with Zoë Rom!It would take me more than a few posts to describe all that she does, but to sum it up, she’s a very passionate, multi-talented creator, writer, and runner.I resonated a lot with juggling multiple things at the same time and how she had a period where she was putting off her well-being, thinking one day she’d pay for the consequences but that today she would spread herself thin. She then asked herself:“What does balance look like for me, now?”To me, it seems like hers is a balancing act of wonderful things she’s doing all at the same time, which she says she’s lucky to love.Getting a glimpse into how her mind works and the passion she brings to the things she has created and continues to create was truly inspiring.To do all she does justice, we would have needed many more of these conversations, but I truly feel like I got to know Zoë in a great way.I’m sure you’ll find this one inspiring and entertaining.

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Make sure to listen to Your Diet Sucks

I'd love to know what you thought of this episode, how it made you feel, and what it made you think of. Let me know in the comments below or send me a DM!

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to a new epsiode of Take Off Your Shoes with my guest today: Ryan Montgomery!

This was a very open conversation with Ryan, where we touched not only on where he is now and what he’s currently focusing his energy on, but also on what drives him and what’s next for him.

I intended this conversation to be a deeper dive into who Ryan is, building on the wonderful conversations he’s already had with some amazing podcasters.

I truly enjoy conversations where there isn’t a predetermined roadmap, but rather an intention to be open and, where possible, vulnerable. I appreciate Ryan for allowing us to do exactly that.

I hope you enjoy listening!

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Here's the list of the podcast episodes where Ryan was a guest on, which I've listened to before this conversation:

• For The Long Run "Ryan Montgomery on Unlocking a Mind, Body, and Environmental Connection Through Professional Running"
• Freetrail "Ryan Montgomery | Always Learning"
• Trail Running Nation "A Different Discussion with Ryan Montgomery"
• The Trail Head "Ryan Montgomery on Pride, Balance and Western States, Plus Diana Fitzpatrick on WSER's Evolution"
• Borderlands Trail (+ Ultra) Running: "Ryan Montgomery: 10 Minutes with a Legend in the Making | Pre Western States 2025"

My guest today is the incredibly thoughtful and self-reflective Abby Hall.

Our conversation was an open look into how she feels, how she acts, and what she believes.

She shared how she now finds joy in going all in on her goals and dreams, choosing when to work, when to adventure, and how to be intentional in this small window of her life. We also explored what it means to care deeply about her craft, and how falling short of her goals can reflect the depth of that care.

One moment that really stayed with me was her explanation of how she uses visualization in tough moments by calling on her "best self". I found this incredibly inspiring.

I am very grateful to Abby for this conversation and for her openness. I hope you enjoy listening.

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What did you think about this episode? Please leave your comments down below!

Welcome to a new episode of Take Off Your Shoes, with my guest Mike McMonagle, aka shitinthewoods!

"I was looking forward to having something else be unequivocally my highest priority."

The contagious passion and love he has for the sport and his craft is dwarfed only by his love for his son Monte. This was a very special conversation, a true catch-up with some background questions thrown in for good measure to get a fuller “picture” (pun intended) of Mike.

I had a blast getting to know him during UTMB and getting to witness him at work first hand, and this conversation pulls the curtain back even further on his reflections around being a photographer, a father, a runner, and a very active member of the community.

A few takeaways I had from this wonderful convo were that 1) being a parent will be an indescribable experience which I’m really looking forward to yet still have no idea about, and 2) allocating time to the things you care about and value is one of the most important things we can do in life.

Thank you so much for this catch-up, Mike, and I cannot wait to chase runners again together in Chamonix.

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I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen and read this. Take care and until next time!

Welcome to another episode of Take Off Your Shoes!

Today's conversation is with the wonderful Lucy Bartholomew!

I was very inspired after our conversation with her, not because of her accomplishments but because of her attitude and how she overcomes moments of doubt and struggle while staying true to her why. She’s not one to shy away from asking and answering tough questions, and I truly appreciate her openness.

One key takeaway for me was how she defines herself not by the things she’s doing, but by the values she holds: curiosity, community, and joy.

We talked about the self-imprisonment imposed by the smiley face, how she sometimes isolated herself because her image had become tied to it. I’m very grateful to her for opening up about the pressures around the public image of a happy, smiling Lucy, hopefully helping people become more aware and start changing this pervasive narrative around “always being happy.”

She might also have a surprise announcement waiting for you 👀

Thank you, Lucy, for your generosity, curiosity, and authenticity.

Thank you for reading this, and I hope you enjoy listening to our convo!

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