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Most of us can't even stay awake for an entire day and night, but Sarah Lavender Smith runs races that go for 24 hours straight!  Not only that... she also runs 50ks, 100 milers, self-supported stage races (up to 170 miles over several days, carrying everything she needs on her back), trail races, and more.  And ... she has won several of them. 

In this episode, Sarah shares the "how and why" behind her passion for running:

• the physiological--and mental--benefits of running
• why her training regimen waxes and wanes
• what she eats before, and during, races (sometimes--can you believe it--she'll have chicken noodle soup mid-course!)
• why she doesn't wear earbuds while trail running (what's more dangerous: bears, snakes, or mountain bikers?)
• what it feels like to run through lightning, blistering heat, and downpours
• why she cares so deeply about taking care of one's body and hopes to keep running for at least another 25 years

Sarah's enthusiasm for running is infectious.  She just may get you excited to start circling your local track a few times--which is how she started 25 years ago.

Sarah is also a prolific writer.  Find links to her works below.


Want to know more about Sarah?

• read her book, The Trail Runner’s Companion: A Step-by-Step Guide to Trail Running and Racing, from 5Ks to Ultras
• check out her weekly newsletter: “Colorado Mountain Running & Living”
• follow her on Twitter: @sarahrunning
• find her on Instagram: @sarahrunning
• link up via LinkedIn: sarahlavendersmith

 
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• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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When Karen Petersen was fifteen years old, she got blackout drunk for the first time--at her high school's homecoming dance.  In college, the booze really began to flow, and she sometimes ended up with men she didn't even know.  Later, as a local TV reporter, she'd drink nearly two bottles of wine each night, alone.  One day, she finally admitted to her husband--and to herself--that she was an alcoholic and that she needed and wanted help.

Karen shares her incredible journey of alcohol abuse, treatment, and sobriety--the struggles, the joys, the pain, and the freedom.

It's a story of strength and vulnerability.  She takes it one day at a time.


Want to know more about Karen?

• follow her on Twitter: KSPbama
• check out her Instagram: karenspetersen
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/petersenkaren/ 

 
Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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Photographer Jeff Cable has had a front-row seat at the past seven Olympic Games--although his seat is cluttered with cameras, lenses, and laptops.  As the photographer for the United States Olympic Committee, Jeff has an all-access pass to any event he chooses.  In this episode, he shares: 

• how he edits 2600 images down to 10 in a matter of minutes
• how social media has changed the pace of his job
• how he stays focused (literally and figuratively) from 9:00 am to 2:00 am every day for nearly three weeks straight
• what Simone Biles and her teammates were talking about in those minutes before the world knew why she pulled out of the Tokyo 2020 Games
• the best angles to shoot a water polo game
• how photographers deal with bathroom breaks (or the lack thereof) in the middle of certain events
• the importance of mastering the Olympic shuttle bus system
• and much more.

There's a whole lot more to photographing Team USA than just settings and shutter speeds.  It's an exciting, exhausting gig, and Jeff approaches each Olympics like it's his one and only.


Want to know more about Jeff?

• follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeffcablephotography/
• read his blog: https://blog.jeffcable.com/
• check him out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeffcablephoto

 
Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List to receive our newsletters and insiders' information! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net (sign-ups are at the bottom of the page)
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It's not easy to get to the top of the world.  It takes a lot of training and determination, a willingness to endure pain and suffering--and no small amount of luck.  Even the most prepared climber can confront a deadly avalanche or fatal turn in the weather.

Our guest, Jeff Gottfurcht, was the first person ever to summit the tallest mountain in the world--Mt. Everest--with rheumatoid arthritis.  Hear his incredible tales of ten years of training (including climbing all of the world's biggest mountains); what a climber eats, sleeps, and wears on Everest (you'll never believe Jeff's diet!); what happened on his summit ascent in a -20 degree windstorm; and what it's like to sit at the highest point on earth.

Jeff also shares the lessons that have shaped his life that he learned while he was "dancing with fate" on Mt. Everest.


Want to learn more about Jeff?

• Check out his new company's website: cyberdive.co

Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net
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Most of us feel overwhelmed cooking and serving Thanksgiving dinner for our own extended families. Imagine doing it for 25,000 people!  That’s what the Raul Jimenez Dinner in San Antonio, Texas does each Thanksgiving.  It started in 1979 with an idea to serve senior citizens, and has grown to become the largest Thanksgiving dinner under one roof in the United States.  This “feast of the heart” is run by volunteers and funded by donations as small as $5 or some canned goods. One man’s dream has become an entire city’s tradition.

What does it take to pull this off?  

• More than a year of planning
• 4000 volunteers
• 3000 pumpkin pies
• 6000+ pounds each of green beans and yams
• 550 24-pound turkeys
• … and a whole community's commitment and love.

Want to know more about the Raul Jimenez Dinner?

•  Visit their website at rauljimenezdinner.com

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The multi-talented Ethan Herschenfeld is back! Earlier he was on the podcast to share what it's like to be a stand-up comedian.  In this episode, we get an inside look at being an actor and professional opera singer. Ethan explains the audition process--and how he's turned the experience around from seeming tortuous to fun, creative and collaborative.   He also goes into how it feels to be typecast; and breaks down a scene he shot for the TV show "Girls"--we go into the cab with him late at night in Brooklyn to find out how it was done.  (He also spills on what working with Lena Dunham was really like.)  Ethan also spent years as a professional opera singer; he tells us how he perfected his voice and why he stopped performing. Finally, we get into his definition of success.  Spoiler: it doesn't have anything to do with money.


Want to know more about Ethan?

• Watch his hour-long special, "Thug Thug Jew"
• Learn more about him at www.ethanherschenfeld.com
• Connect with him at https://www.instagram.com/eherschenfeld/

Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net
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Does being in the military really mean being awakened by bugles at 5:00am, eating stingy rations, and training in tough conditions for hours on end? U.S. Marine Corps veteran Eric Davids shares his experiences in the Naval Academy and on deployment; explains the intelligence behind "intelligence"; describes the physical and mental stresses of the job; talks about gaining leadership skills and life-long friendships; and discusses wrestling with the moral difficulties of war.

It's an eye-opening look into an institution that is steeped in discipline, order, and tradition.


Want to know more about Eric?

• Find him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/eric.davids.12

Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net
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A voice actor can be a silly animated bear one day, the voice on a luxury car commercial the next day, and ALL the characters in an audio book the following day.  On this episode, John Malone--an award-winning professional voice talent--shares what it takes to do his job... and do it well: from what a home recording studio should include, to how he finds the voices for his wide-ranging repertoire. 

There are two words in the job title: voice actor--and both are critical to success!  The acting part is huge; this job is not just about having a "good voice."  It also takes a lot of hustle and a lot of training and a lot of hard work.  If you think this is an easy money, work-from-home-in-your-pajamas type of job... think again. 

John has an inspiring story of shifting to this career mid-life that may inspire you to re-think your path as well.


Want to know more about John?

• Check out his website, Malone Zone (where you can hear lots of samples of his work):  malonezone.com
• Connect with him on Facebook: @MaloneZoneVO
• Find him on Twitter: @TheMaloneZone
• Follow him on Instagram: @malonezonevo

Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net
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If you usually watch sports couch potato-style, here's a chance to learn about the work that goes into each television broadcast.  In this episode, CBS Sports Producer Ken Mack takes us into his production truck and walks us through a typical week:  planning graphics and storylines for the broadcast, travelling from stadium to stadium, meeting with coaches and players ... and then goes into detail about the intense, exhilarating hours of live television he produces each week.  We find out:

-When do you break for commercials?
-What if an announcer says something outrageous on air?
-How do you handle six people talking to you at once... during a live broadcast?!

It's the ultimate reality show, and we have the best seat in the stadium.


Want to know more about Ken?

• Connect with him on Twitter:   @kenmackcbs
• Follow him on Instagram: @kenmackcbs

Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net
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We continue the conversation with award-winning lyricist Glenn Slater.  Love the animated movie "Tangled" or the TV show "Galavant"?  Glenn reveals some making-of stories that you need to hear.  He also shares the building blocks of creating a song; talks about the differences between writing for stage and screen; and shares how it feels to work on a song for weeks or months and have it end up "in the trunk." You'll also learn the meaning of other showbiz terms like "kill your babies" and "birthing an elephant."


Want to know more about Glenn?

• Connect with him on Twitter: @SlaterLyrics
• Check out his Instagram account: glennslaterlyrics

Want to know more about The Experience Podcast?

• Sign up to be on our Insiders' List! Go to theexperiencepodcast.net
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