Ascend Together

Ethan Cannon is a runner for the BYU cross-country team. He is also a new father and preparing to earn a graduate degree in nutritional epidemiology. Ethan is wise, well spoken, and driven! Hope you enjoy our conversation.

Ed Warr is a dentist by training who recently sold his practice to pursue an MBA at Brigham Young University. Why? He's not sure yet, other than because the Lord let him know that was what he was supposed to do. Ed is deeply spiritual and devoted to being in tune with the Holy Ghost. He also happens to be a natural born endurance athlete, casually knocking out trail marathons with minimal training. 

This episode is with ultra-runner Mike McKnight. Mike shares his story of how he went from an overweight kid to a broken back in a skiing accident to breaking records on 200 mile ultra runs. Mike is a super genuine guy with a unique gift for understanding his body’s needs and capabilities, with a lot of wisdom for his young age. We hope you enjoy the conversation!

We’re kicking off Season two with an awesome conversation with Mariah Bullock. Mariah played soccer at Stanford University and then later professionally before earning a PhD in psychology and becoming a sports psychologist at the University of Nebraska. We had a wide ranging conversation full of insight.

This is the second of our first two "beta" episodes where Ryan and Interviewed each other so we would have something to share with people and give them and idea of what we were trying to do. Ryan is one of the greats, physically and spiritually. Enjoy!

When we first launched the podcast, Ryan and I interviewed each other to have some beta episodes we could share with potential guests. For our next two episodes, we thought we’d share those interviews so you could get to know us as hosts a little better. In this episode, Ryan interviews Brigham. Brigham has a happy family of six. He has two English degrees and works for the Church as a Seminary and Institute instructor. Brigham has way to many hobbies he tries to keep up with, including art, music, and fly fishing. His favorite physical activities are backcountry snowboarding, mountain biking, trail running, and rock climbing.

Last time we talked to Joel, he was getting ready for LotoJa, the epic amateur cycling race from Logan, Utah to Jackson Wyoming. Joel and his team had their eyes set squarely on the win when a couple of training accidents put everything in question. We talk Joel's accidents, the frustration that comes with character flaws, coping with injury, the power of the priesthood, and the value of adversity in our lives.

This is part 2 of our interview with Jess Robinson, where she finishes the story of running the Boston Marathon with shingles and a nursing 8-month-old. Go back an episode to listen to Part 1.

What happens when you feel compelled to do two things that in many ways oppose each other? This week Ryan and I talk with Jess Robinson, a Southern Oregon local who has gone to great lengths to be true to her drive to compete as an endurance athlete and be a devoted wife and mother of four.

NBC sports called Sam Merrill "the most cold-blooded shotmaker in college basketball" last season, and if you've seen the highlights of any of his game-winning shots during his career as point guard for the Utah State Aggies, you'll know why. Sam led the Aggies to back-to-back Mountain West Tournament championships and is currently getting ready for the NBA draft in November. Sam is a devoted disciple of Christ who delayed his basketball career for two years to serve a mission in Nicaragua. Sam talks about why he chose Utah State over other offers, the influence of Latter-day Saints on his college basketball team, the opportunities that will come while playing in the NBA, learning to lose, and the impact of a dedicated mother.

Episode 3 features Skye Fagrell. Skye is a self proclaimed gym rat and fitness fanatic. He's also a husband, father, seminary teacher, leadership consultant and author. Skye Recently published the best-seller "More Fit 4 the Kingdom", a book drawing on a lifetime of study and practice at developing in the four areas of growth mentioned in Luke 2:52: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man." As you know, this verse is the basis for the Church's new youth program focused on spiritual, physical, intellectual, and social growth. More Fit 4 the Kingdom is particularly good at supplying practical ideas for spiritual growth based on principles taught in the arena of fitness and athletics. Skye delivers some great observations and insights in what turned out to be a very edifying conversation.

Up next we have an interview with Anita Coyle, single mother of four and world class Triathlete who lost her husband and got diagnosed with cancer in the same week. She tells a remarkable, inspiring story.

For our first official episode we talk with Joel Draxler. Joel is a husband, father of five, and a real-estate appraiser living in Northern Utah. Joel is an avid outdoorsman and in recent years has found a special knack for cycling, winning Latoja twice and recently completing an “Everest” challenge. We hope you enjoy our conversation!