Nick and Jarett unpack eight wild (and maybe terrifying) ways artificial intelligence is about to crash the aid station. Will algorithm-built shoes, real-time pacing bots, and carbon-score race calendars save our legs—or ruin the soul of ultra-running? No guest, just unfiltered debate, occasional tech meltdowns, and plenty of laughter for your next long run.

The One Where He Runs For Those Who Cant
Ice-cream miles, surprise ultra wins, and a 75-kilometre mountain-to-mountain fundraiser—Isaac “The Green Runner” Leighninger joins Nick to unpack the joy-first mindset that turns pain into purpose. From jumping cars to praying on start lines, Isaac explains how faith, fun, and community fuel his fight against pediatric brain cancer and his own battles with concussion and COVID heart issues. If you need proof that gratitude and grind can share the same trail, press play.

Want to try Isaacs go to flavor of mid run ice cream?
Check out Josh and Johns and ask for the yellow cake!

Here is also links to the some information on DIPG and research. You can find a list of fundraisers here:
DIPG Funding Alliance

🎧 Episode 14: The One Where No One Cares Anymore
In this episode, Nick and Jarett sit down to explore a quiet truth behind endurance running—what happens when no one claps anymore? We talk about the drive for external validation, the shift in family dynamics after your tenth ultra, and the deeper reasons some runners keep signing up for longer, harder, more painful efforts. Is it self-growth? Is it escape? Or is it unresolved pain we haven’t fully faced? This isn’t a training episode. It’s a heart check. And maybe a little therapy session on the mic.

The One Where We Walk Before We Run
In this episode, we sit down with Tyson Black—a laid-back, hard-working trail runner from Southeast Tennessee who just last year decided to stop making excuses and start walking. Fast forward a few months, and he’s knocking out 50Ks and 50 milers with oatmeal creme pies in hand (and sometimes on his face).
We talk about what it’s like to go from walking to ultramarathons in under a year, how self-talk keeps him moving through the pain cave, and why most people underestimate the power of slow, steady, stubborn progress. Tyson gets real about juggling life, family, and the grind, and shares the mindset that’s helping him cross the entire state of Tennessee on foot.
From ripped shirts at finish lines to UTMB dreams, this one’s full of grit, growth, and straight-up heart.

Mason Wright—aka The Buff Runner—is back on the podcast after doing the unthinkable: running 421 miles across the entire state of Utah. In this episode, we break down the run mile by mile, pain cave by pain cave, from the early injury scare to the final steps across state lines.
Mason opens up about the mental game behind multi-day suffering, what surprised him most out there in the desert, and why he still thinks the best is yet to come. We talk fuel (spoiler: it’s not all clean eating), gear, the dark moments, the spiritual highs, and what it's like to carry momentum into planning a transcontinental run across the U.S.
This is a deep dive into what it takes—not just to start something big—but to finish it.

The One Where We Get Sweaty
In this episode, we sit down with Joseph Proctor, aka Apache Joe—a husband, father of three, and a former high school and college runner who took a 23-year detour through the chaos of mental health struggles before lacing up again. What brought him back? Nose breathing, miles in the dark, and something deeper that couldn’t be ignored.
We dive into Joe’s raw and honest journey: the battle back to running, the rituals that ground him, and the philosophy behind doing hard things—sweaty things—with purpose. This is one of those conversations that’ll stick with you long after your run is over.
Whether you're just getting started, burned out, or running toward something you can’t quite name, this one's for you. Listen in, get inspired, and remember: it's okay to get weird with it.
🎧 Available wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit The Ostrich Running Store:
Ostrich Running Store
Make sure you contact Joe's wife Caitlin to see how she helped him with his nervous system reset. The link is below:
Caitlin Proctor Nervous System Healing

James Nestor Book: 
Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art

Episode 10 – The One Where Everyone Wears Hokas
This week, Nick and Jarett dive headfirst into one of the most lopsided questions in endurance sports: why are ultra runners broke while pro athletes in other sports cash seven-figure checks for playing less than three hours a week? We break down the OC Marathon results, highlight the early buzz around Cocodona 250, and explore whether increasing prize money and sponsorships would help or hurt the raw, community-driven soul of ultra running. Is more money the missing piece? Or would it turn mountain grit into a corporate circus?

www.ostrichrunning.com

The One Where I Reflect: Is It the Finish Line or the March That Matters?
escription:
In Episode 9, Nick flies solo and dives deep into some of the biggest questions we face as runners — and as people.
First, we reflect on our conversation with Dr. Jaimie Lusk about whether running truly heals us... or sometimes just hides the real work we need to do.
Then, we explore the massive new partnership between Salomon and Warner Brothers Discovery and what it means for the future of trail running — from big media deals to mid-pack heroes.
Finally, Nick takes a hard look at the age-old debate: Is it really about crossing the finish line, or is the journey itself what changes us? Featuring legendary running stories, personal reflections on training, parenthood, and the announcement of Nick's next 100-mile race.
This episode is packed with heart, questions, and the kind of honesty you won't find in a highlight reel. Whether you're chasing a buckle or chasing a better version of yourself, this one's for you. Listen, reflect, and let's keep marching.

Episode 8: The One Where the Rat Inside Got Quiet
Guest: Dr. Jaimie Lusk, PsyD
In this episode, we dive into the deep end of what fuels us to run — and what we’re sometimes running from. Dr. Jaimie Lusk, a licensed psychologist and ultra-runner, joins us to explore the powerful intersection of trauma recovery, mental health, and endurance sports. We talk about how ultra-running can be a path to healing, a coping mechanism, or, in some cases, a way to avoid the very emotions we need to face. We unpack what it looks like when your drive is tied to past pain, how healing can shift your identity as a runner, and why self-worth shouldn’t be measured in podiums, PRs, or Strava segments. Whether you run to remember, to forget, or to feel something again — this one’s for you. Topics we cover:
• How trauma shows up in running
• When ultra becomes avoidance
• Identity shifts during recovery
• Healthy vs. unhealthy motivation
👉 Follow, rate, and share if you’ve ever felt like the miles were carrying more than just your body.

Dr. Jaimie Lusk Site
Awe- By Dacher Keltner
Mans Search Meaning Viktor Frankl
Tribe by Sebastian Junger
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion Gregory Boyle

Episode 7 – Dante Liberato: 500 Miles, Psychedelics, and the Edge of Human Potential Ultra runner, psychonaut, and performance coach Dante Liberato joins us to unpack the layers behind his jaw-dropping 500-mile run — a journey that fuses endurance, trauma, recovery, and altered states of consciousness. We dig into:

• The mental preparation behind extreme distance
• How psychedelics became part of Dante's healing and performance toolkit
• The spiritual side of suffering
• What it means to come back from the edge — and choose to keep going

Nick and Jarett explore how endurance athletes like Dante push past limits not just for the finish line, but for self-transformation. This one’s part therapy session, part ultra-fueled philosophy, and one you dont want to miss.
Follow Dante:
IG:@buffalowarrior
GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/4cf9cece
Couch Milk: https://couchmilk.com/