Running on Joy

Joy is... Realising What Matters.Darren Evans is someone who epitomises what it means to run for a ‘why'. He is the co-founder of the Green Runners, a running community making changes for a fitter planet; the co-founder of Pair-Ups, a process and kit to help runners extend the life of the trainers, and race director of the Longbridge Backyard Ultra, a running event with sustainability at its core, aiming to use business as a tool for regeneration. In addition, Darren is an experienced trail running coach and, under the handle 3Wordruns, the creative mind behind Running Greener odes – poems that aim to inspire others to join the voices calling for systemic change in our relationship with the natural world. Follow: @3wordrunsA Runner's Ode to Climate Changewww.3wordruns.ukwww.pairups.co.ukwww.thegreenrunners.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is... Experiencing.Ivan Kashdan is an interdisciplinary artist with a passion for the environment and a drive to use his skills to change how we perceive and interact with nature. He is one of the three founders of Hermit House Games (previously known as, and referred to in this episode, as Kash & Germ), a family studio based in London who are on a mission to change how nature is portrayed and interacted with in games, telling researched stories from non-human perspectives. The trio are currently working on 'A Home Below', a 3D third-person adventure where you play as a hermit crab exploring the ruins of a house lost to sea-level rise. Ivan is also a keen runner and recently participated in the Climate Relay, running alongside ultra trail running legend, Damian Hall. Follow: @ivankashdan @hermithousegamesPatreon: Hermit House GamesMentionedHurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid: The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change - Thor Hanson (2021)Playing Nature: Ecology in Video Games - Alenda Y. Chang (2019)Otherlands: A World In The Making - Thomas Halliday (2022) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is... Running!Dan Thompson is a life-long runner and the co-founder of the Running Out of Time Climate Relay. Dan has a background as a successful executive, investor and adviser in the music, computer games, and internet sectors. His involvement in running relay races dates back more than a decade; however, it was in 2022 that he first came on my radar with the world's first and longest climate relay race called Running Out of Time. The Relay, which, this year, spanned 2,436km encourages people to run, walk, cycle, kayak, climb, wheel, swim and surf the baton across Britain for 29 days to supercharge awareness, celebrate great climate work and inspire action. Launching on June 6th at Ben Nevis, the baton arrived in Parliament Square, London on July 4th, having travelled along 210 stages, including over 80 visits to climate & nature projects, sporting bodies & venues, schools, events and iconic locations. Running out of TimeFollow: @dtruntheworld @climaterelay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is... Surrender.Jon Bilbrough (aka Wilderthorn) is known for secret gigs in disused and abandoned spaces, turning forgotten places of history and atmosphere into wild and magical ‘Wilderthorn-experiences'. Having begun his musical journey in Asia, touring his earliest gigs in Sri Lanka, Malasia, Singapore and India, he then returned to Chennai, India, to create demo recordings with local Bollywood musicians, famous for their work with award-winning Indian composer, A.R. Rahman. Out of those experiences would emerge the sounds and textures of his debut recordings and idiosyncratic performances that sway between song and improvised territory, driven by Jon's powerful, emotive voice, tinged with dark operatic tones and folk-style flourishes. In intimate settings, he can be found backed only by his acoustic guitar and in larger venues by a wave of primal rhythms, clanging dulcimers, electric guitar swells and haunting violin textures. Instagram: @wilderthornmusicYouTube: @wilderthornwww.wilderthorn.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is... Being Heard.Immy Sykes is not sure if she qualifies as a cyclist, but she certainly does a lot of it. Immy, who is based in the North-West of England and goes by the handle of Immy Cycles on Instagram, talks a lot online about her experiences on the bike and the way that it connects her to the people and world around her. She is a passionate environmentalist, with an MSc in Environmental Sustainability and is also a shining light in opening conversations in navigating the curve balls that mental and physical health can throw us. Follow: @immycycleswww.immycycles.comMentioned:The Lost Paths, Jack CornishGhost Mountain, Ronan HessionDoppelgänger: Naomi KleinElle KlatschBikes and BirdhidesHelsby Running ClubSisters in the WildTemple Cycles Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Service update: It's been a little while since the last episode due to life, work and other projects requiring energy. The podcast is a labour of love, and I am giving myself the grace that I would grant others to produce content in a way that is sustainable and uplifting for them. The things we love should be a pleasure, not a chore. I am so grateful to the podcast for the amazing connections, friendships and community that it has given me and so, as a thank you to listeners, here is a very special episode that I bring to you as a placeholder before releasing another mini series in the summer.Joy is...Tiny Little Moments.Matt Pycroft specialises in working in remote and hostile environments as a highly experienced filmmaker and photographer. Having begun his career creating short research-based films for the United Nations and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he fell in love with life on the road and expedition filmmaking. He holds a few strings to his bow and is the host of The Adventure Podcast, an ongoing series of long-form conversations with pioneers of exploration and discovery. He is also Creative Director of Coldhouse, a content agency and platform for authentic storytelling. Coldhouse reflects Matt's passion for seeking out untold stories and learning from working in extreme environments. No concept is too complex or location too remote. It might be because we quickly discovered that our brains and emotions work in a similar manner, but there is very little in this conversation about what people might instinctively think of when they hear the word ‘adventure': the mountains, the oceans, the bravado, the danger. Instead, what quickly becomes the heart of this conversation, is a much deeper and profound adventure: the adventure that comes from being truly vulnerable with ourselves, when we are broken open and have to find a way to put the pieces back together. We talk about masculinity and the difficulties of finding an emotional vocabulary in a society that conditions, men in particular, towards anger; the discomfort of stopping when our brains are wired for being constantly occupied; what success and betterment actually look like; how we can evolve and learn through celebrating and supporting others, and the power of human experience and connection. I am so grateful for Matt's openness and trust in sharing his personal reflections, and I urge you to listen to him over on the Adventure Podcast for more insightful conversations, alongside some practical specialist episodes on planning your own adventures.Follow: @mattpycroft @coldhouse_ @theadventurepodcastwww.coldhousecollective.comwww.theadventurepodcast.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Feeling Known.Lindsey Freeman is a writer and sociologist interested in endurance, hapticality, atomic and nuclear cultures, and poetics. Her most recent book, Running, is about practice, love, queerness, and long-distance running, published by Duke University Press. Although described as a feminist and queer handbook of running, it's a book for all runners. It's a book that celebrates the freedom and opportunity for self-discovery that running offers, whilst untangling identity, the body, failure, friendship...in fact the whole spectrum of what it means to lace up our shoes. Lindsey is at once both an intensely astute social and cultural observer and an incredibly gentle and empathetic soul, who embodies and explores what feeling, physically and emotionally, as well as thinking about, the world around us might mean for us individually and collectively. Running is the pivot point, both for Lindsey's book and for this conversation, but this is really about how we can create spaces from a place of deep understanding of our thinking, breathing, feeling bodies that are welcoming for all people who think and breathe and feel. In other words. /www.lindseyfreeman.net@atomic_lindsey_freeman Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Shared Humanity.Christine Yu is a New York-based, life-long athlete and award-winning journalist, who writes about sports, science and health. Her interest in the intersection between sports science and women athletes led her to her first book UP TO SPEED: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes, which disentangles myth and gender bias from real science in order to address the huge research gap in supporting women athletes to excel at every stage of life. Ultimately, this is book that is not just a road map for women and girls but an examination of the systemic injustices in sports and science that affect all people in the hope of uncovering ways to make the system more equitable for everyone. Running is so much more complex than simply lacing up your shoes; it is embedded within the cultural, political and social web that means that our bodies, particularly female and non-binary bodies, are never just, and should never be limited to, being 'one thing'. Over the course of this conversation, we unpick the assumptions and beliefs that have contributed to these limitations and explore how, by embracing the multi-faceted nature of identity in how we both conduct, interpret and act upon research, we might create spaces that feel equitable for all people.Christine is an incredibly informed and insightful person and there are so many 'a-ha' moments in this interview that I hope will speak to anyone who feels that they are being forced into a pre-existing jigsaw puzzle that doesn't fit their needs.www.christinemyu.com@cyu888 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Watching Football (with a Dog).Stef Mcloughlin is the Commercial Manager for Lewes FC, a football club that is not only committed to gender equality but is really showcasing how, with the right approach, sport can be a catalyst for societal change. There are infinite creative ways that the 100% fan owned club is doing this, but perhaps the most remarkable achievement is that Lewes FC became the first team across the globe to both pay and resource the men's and women's teams equally. Since this move in 2017, attendance and sponsorship have surged, which is testimony to the power of commitment, passion and innovation in driving real change. Stef is a brilliant advocate for the meaningful work that Lewes FC is doing, not just on a local level but on the world stage, in terms of championing women's sport. Talking to her, it is soon clear how what Lewes is doing is not just about football but how we can live, work and play in a more connected, compassionate and equitable way in all aspects of our lives. Lewes is a team but it's also a community and one that more and more people, across the world, want to be a part of.Follow: @stefmic@lewesfcwomenwww.lewesfc.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Consistency.Running on Joy is back, after an extended break, to bring you a series focussing on women doing important work to uplift others, build communities, and connect and protect the world around them.We begin with Alyssa Ages, a Toronto-based, New York-born author, freelance writer, and copywriter. Alyssa is also a mother, strongman competitor, endurance athlete (including six marathons and an Ironman), rock climber and CrossFitter. Her first book, Secrets of Giants: A Journey to Uncovering the True Meaning of Strength, is a deep dive into the science and psychology of why pushing our physical limits is so impactful. Released in September of this year, it is a powerful book, which interweaves memoir, research and adventure into an odyssey that uncovers why physical strength is about so much more than what you can put on a barbell but rather teaches us that we're capable of so much more than we know. Whilst we begin by delving into Alyssa's incredible journey, from being very much movement-adverse as a child to testing her strength and endurance in some of the toughest competitions in the world, this conversation, like her book, is about much more than numbers or finishing medals. This is a conversation about learning to trust the body again through grief and physical and mental trauma and how strength is a perspective through which we can see ourselves and the world around us, in order to assert our right to take up space, use our voice and get ‘bulky'. Thank you for your ongoing support of the podcast. Running on Joy remains ad free but if you could show your support by rating and reviewing on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, it helps spread the messages and knowledge that my guests are sharing.Follow: @alyssaageswww.alyssaages.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Real.Mauricio (Mau) Díaz is a runner and storyteller whose zeal for adventure and exploration is epitomised in his creation, along with co-founders,Manuel and Daniel, of Aire Libre, a Mexico City-based creative project that hosts immersive running experiences in exotic corners of the world. Rather than seeing running as a purely athletic pursuit, Aire Libre uses movement to explore unknown territories and foster deep transformations, with a strong focus on cultural immersion. By his own admission, running has given Mau some of the most valuable lessons of his life, and I was so grateful for the opportunity to delve deeper into what a life spent on the move means to him.Mau is someone who balances incredible wisdom with a playful curiosity in the world and people around him. Indeed, early in our conversation he quotes Picasso saying that it took him: "a lifetime to paint like a child”. Mau, instead, suggests that his memoir might be titled "A Life Spent Pointing": pointing to the horizon and the places he wants to explore next. Just as Mau encourages everyone to take a moment to pause and appreciate the present moment, I hope spending time with his thoughts encourages you to also perhaps discover the world through joyful movement.Follow: @airelibre.earth @maudacDiscover: www.airelibre.earth Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Inspiration.Patrick Stangbye might best be described as a visionary. He is a competitive ultra runner, creative director, and an advocate for a life of essentialism, of focussing on what really matters. It's a concept that drives his running, life aesthetic and creative projects: moving is to living is to communication. In essence, Patrick's is an existence driven by perspective and enrichment, and it is this perspective that I was keen to explore in this conversation.We spoke about: Having a mountain sensibility; being fluid with our creative and athletic identities; running as a space for processing and presence; living slow and staying fast as a lens through which we can assess what is necessary in how we live and what we consume; the value of an aesthetic approach to functionality; how brands and running communities can work towards inclusivity and ecological accountability, and the power of curiosity.@patrickstangbye Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Omnipresence.Simone Salvatici is a London-based composer, multi-instrumentalist, sound artist, and qualified sound therapist. One might say that he is a person on a constantly evolving, shifting journey, grounded in a deep and authentic commitment to sound. As a composer of instrumental music, Simone has released both solo and collaborative projects and has performed at venues, including Tate Modern, Sadlers Wells Theatre, the Natural History Museum, and the V&A, as well as International festivals. As a Sound Therapist, he uses his musicianship and aural skills in conjunction with experience gained from intensive studies, research, and immersive learning over the last few years to promote energetic and emotional shifts, using a variety of instruments from large gongs to tuning forks to synthesisers. Simone also now passes on his learning through Sound Therapy practitioner training.Simone is an incredibly gentle soul who thinks deeply and speaks with great consideration and awareness of the resonance of the energy that we put into the world. It's a powerful conversation, which revolves around our relationship with healing: healing of the self as a pathway to healing others; attuning to the body as instrument and the power of communication beyond words, and the vital need for egoless play as a foundation for a more connected, intuitive existence.@ssalvaticowww.sselvatico.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...An Afternoon Walk.Jim Leary is an archaeologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of York. They previously held posts at Reading University and English Heritage. Formerly also a Field Archaeologist in Residence at Cambridge University, he has directed major excavations across Britain, including Silbury Hill in Wiltshire, the largest Neolithic monument in Europe. A passionate walker, much of Jim's research centres around the way that people moved in the past, and his new book Footmarks was published earlier this summer. Footmarks takes us on a restless journey that traces 3.5 million years of human movement, in turn exploring the relationship between our ability to travel and power. From early hunter-gatherers, to drovers and pilgrims, to migration, Footmarks shows us how movement has shaped our world. Archaeology, through this lens, is far from static. Jim is generous with his incredible experience and knowledge, with a distinctively un-monumental approach to history and an empathetic enthusiasm for re-animating the distant past. Our conversation makes a case for taking time to consider the mythic architecture of the landscape that surrounds us and re-connecting with a collective identity, forged through movement and storytelling. We are all, and always have been travellers, and our footmarks are something to protect and fight for.Instagram: @jim_leary1Twitter: @Jim_Leary Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second post-journey interview of a series following the FareWays project, a collaboration between the Big Hoof, Running on Joy and the British Pilgrimage Trust. FareWays aims to connect people to the outdoors through long-distance journeys on foot and horse along the old ways of the UK for the benefits of their mental and physical health.This July, our core team of four set out on a 200-mile adventure across St Columba's Way in Scotland to raise money for the incredible work of the Venture Trust and, specifically, their new Outdoor Therapy Program, supporting the mental health of vulnerable 16 to 25 year-olds and ex service personnel. We were joined by over forty people at various points of the route, our aim being to break down what a runner, rider or hiker should look like and to open conversations around the benefits of a reciprocal relationship to nature and mindful, slow travel. Over the last few months, Running on Joy has been bringing you some of these stories, along with personal reflections and interviews with patrons and collaborators. If you feel inspired, you can find out about future FareWays projects and how to support our fundraising efforts at www.thebighoof.com/fareways. For this episode, I travelled to Kent where I spent a beautiful weekend re-connecting with Richard Hansell, an actor and artist who joined us, like Zoe, at the halfway point of the journey. You can hear a short conversation with Richard in Chapter 5 of this series, where we thought about his expectations upon joining the group. On a sunny Sunday morning a few weeks after the journey to Iona, we sat down over steaming mugs of coffee and shared our reflections on the quiet transformations that occur through intentional movement; connection to the landscape, and meaningful conversation. It's a meandering, philosophical conversation, which is, as we touch on, much like a pilgrimage itself: an ode to the kind of friendship that you make walking alongside someone. With thanks to: The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust, Gravis Advisory, Fera GB and Firepot Food for their generous support of the journey across Scotland.Image: Jessica Lauman-Lairson Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Good Stuff with Good People.Jacob Martin is a maker of things: of photography, of films, of podcasts, of adventures and, through the adventures, both micro and epic, of stories. One such adventure, of the epic variety, last summer, was to cycle 4,722 miles along the European Divide Trail from Arctic Norway to the Atlantic Coast of Portugal, a feat that only twelve people had ever undertaken before. It's a trip that Jacob has documented in a beautiful photo book Strangers Make Good Friends – a fitting title for a trip that was as much about relationships as about endurance. Jacob is a self-effacing, quietly mannered character, and much of our conversation revolved around the magic of imperfection, both in art and life. Together we reflected on the meaning of home; the importance of friendship in telling stories; empathy and the necessity for respectful, compassionate debate; self-belief and cultivating a ‘hot ticket' mindset, and how we can still cultivate awe in an age of media saturation.On the back half, after getting into the weeds of the European Divide journey and how what we deem ‘civilisation' isn't necessarily civilised, we dwelt on the ethical responsibility of content creation; the need for mindful consideration of how we contribute to culture, and how we value and respect the attention of our audiences. Follow: @mid_nowhereRead: www.midnowhere.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first post-journey interview of a series following the FareWays project, a collaboration between the Big Hoof, Running on Joy and the British Pilgrimage Trust. FareWays aims to connect people to the outdoors through long-distance journeys on foot and horse along the old ways of the UK for the benefits of their mental and physical health.This July, our core team of four set out on a 200-mile adventure across St Columba's Way in Scotland to raise money for the incredible work of the Venture Trust and, specifically, their new Outdoor Therapy Program, supporting the mental health of vulnerable 16 to 25 year-olds and ex service personnel. We were joined by over forty people at various points of the route, our aim being to break down what a runner, rider or hiker should look like and to open conversations around the benefits of a reciprocal relationship to nature and mindful, slow travel. Running on Joy has been bringing you some of these stories, along with personal reflections and interviews with patrons and collaborators. If you feel inspired, you can find out about future FareWays journeys and how to support our fundraising efforts at www.thebighoof.com/fareways. This episode was recorded over Zoom a week after the ride across Scotland, and is a conversation with Zoe Davison who joined us at the halfway point of the adventure. It was a great opportunity to delve more into Zoe's own story, as well as to capture her reflections on how she was affected by her time with the 'Big Hoof gang'.Follow Zoe: @zoe.davisonWith thanks to: The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust, Gravis Advisory, Fera GB and Firepot Food for their generous support of the journey across Scotland.Image: @idabridgeman_photography Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...one foot in front of the other.Annabel Abbs is an award-winning writer of fiction and non-fiction whose most recent offering, 52 Ways to Walk, is full of clearly presented science; snippets of fascinating history, and an enthusiasm for how walking and being out in the world can help us tackle many of life's challenges. Another recent offering, and Annabel's first foray into memoir, Windswept: Walking in the Footsteps of Remarkable Women, tells the extraordinary stories of eight women who walked long distances in wild and often remote places as they sought their own voices, including Simone de Beauvoir, Nan Shepherd, Georgia O'Keeffe, Gwen John and Daphne du Maurier. Annabel's short stories and journalism have appeared in various places including The Guardian, The Paris Review, Tatler and The Daily Telegraph.There are so many take-aways form this conversation, whether you are approaching movement from a. literary, medical, mindful or theoretical perspective. Annabel and I certainly spoke about walking but walking as both a metaphor and a method: how we find and become ourselves through walking; how we walk away, walk through, walk back and walk towards; how walking allows us to leave and how it shapes our arrival; how we walk for expression, for freedom, for joy; how we walk to stay alive. Follow: @annabelabbsRead: www.annabelabbs.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Curiosity.George Bauer is a Melbourne-raised trail runner, currently living in the Highlands of Scotland. Having run marathons and informal events across four continents, he now partners with brands to co-host holistic retreats, using yoga, trail running and profound connection to the food we eat as ways to re-connect with ourselves and those around us. Most recently, his work has led him to co-found Sundays, a creative community connecting people with the outdoors and movement through inspirational experiences and storytelling. George is someone who moves and creates in different ways and a lot of our conversation reflected on how being fluid and intentional with our movement, listening to our bodies and our surroundings, can allow us to create space for ourselves; reflect on our choices, and explore how we shape identity. Through embodying the stories we tell, perhaps, when presented with opportunities, we can practise ‘contagious vulnerability'; trust in our voices, and take the less travelled path. Follow: @_georgebauer @startwithsundays @airelibre.run Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The third in-the-field episode of a series following the FareWays project, a collaboration between the Big Hoof, Running on Joy and the British Pilgrimage Trust. FareWays aims to connect people to the outdoors through long-distance journeys on foot and horse along the old ways of the UK for the benefits of their mental and physical health.This July, our core team of four set out on a 200-mile adventure across St Columba's Way in Scotland to raise money for the incredible work of the Venture Trust and specifically their new Outdoor Therapy Program, supporting the mental health of vulnerable 16 to 25 year-olds and ex service personnel. We were joined by over forty people at various points of the route, our aim being to break down what a runner, rider or hiker should look like and to open conversations around the benefits of a reciprocal relationship to nature and mindful, slow travel. Over the next few months, Running on Joy will be bringing you some of these stories, along with personal reflections and interviews with patrons and collaborators. If you feel inspired, you can find out about future FareWays projects and how to support our fundraising efforts at www.thebighoof.com/fareways. This episode was recorded at the halfway point of the journey, an opportunity for both reflection and anticipation of the miles already travelled and those that lay ahead. I hope you enjoy being a fly on the wall to the conversations. With thanks to: The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust, Gravis Advisory, Fera GB and Firepot Food for their generous support of the journey across Scotland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second in-the-field episode of a series following the FareWays project, a collaboration between the Big Hoof, Running on Joy and the British Pilgrimage Trust. FareWays aims to connect people to the outdoors through long-distance journeys on foot and horse along the old ways of the UK for the benefits of their mental and physical health.This July, our core team of four set out on a 200 mile adventure across St Columba's Way in Scotland to raise money for the incredible work of the Venture Trust and specifically their new Outdoor Therapy Program, supporting the mental health of vulnerable 16 to 25 year-olds and ex service personnel. Our aim was to break down what a runner, rider or hiker should look like and to open conversations around the benefits of a reciprocal relationship to nature and mindful, slow travel. Over the next few months, Running on Joy will be bringing you some of these stories, along with personal reflections and interviews with patrons and collaborators. If you feel inspired, you can find out about future FareWays projects and how to support our fundraising efforts at www.thebighoof.com/fareways. In this episode, I connect with Gavin the head fundraiser of the Venture Trust, as well a some of the service users who joined us for a day on our journey. There are some simultaneously moving and hilarious reflections on what it means to truly walk alongside someone.With thanks to: The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust, Gravis Advisory, Fera GB and Firepot Food for their generous support of the journey across Scotland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Running on Joy brings you the first in-the-field episode of a series following the FareWays project. A collaboration between the Big Hoof and the British Pilgrimage Trust, FareWays aims to connect people to the outdoors through long-distance journeys on foot and horse along the old ways of the UK for the benefits of their mental and physical health.This July, a core team of four set out on a 200-mile adventure across St Columba's Way in Scotland to raise money for the incredible work of the Venture Trust – specifically their new Outdoor Therapy Program, which supports the mental health of vulnerable 16 to 25 year-olds and ex-service personnel. The aim was to break down what a runner, rider or hiker should look like and to open conversations around the benefits of a reciprocal relationship to nature and mindful, slow travel. It was a life-affirming journey as we experienced the incredible kindness of strangers and, what became known as The Big Hoof Gang, changed and grew as people from all walks of life joined us, each with their own tales to tell. We were also able to witness the work of the Venture Trust first hand as a group of their staff and service users joined us for a memorable day which started with leading six horses through central Perth and finished with hugs, smiles, tears and soggy sandwiches in the rain after a morning of walking, laughing and exchanging stories along the river.Over the next few months, Running on Joy will be bringing you some of these stories, along with personal reflections and interviews with patrons and collaborators. If you feel inspired, you can find out about future FareWays projects and how to support our fundraising efforts at www.thebighoof.com/fareways. In this episode, Francesca, Jake and Louis take a break from two days of pavement pounding and reflect on their experiences thus far; the challenges ahead; what it means to walk alongside others towards a common goal, and the relief and liberation that the comparative simplicity of putting one foot in front of the other brings. Some time is also dedicated to Jake choking on a sandwich, which has been retained for authentic effect.With thanks to: The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust, Gravis Advisory, Fera GB and Firepot Food for their generous support of the journey across Scotland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Passing the Baton.What does running sound like to you? For Jimmy Watkins it's cackling with laughter, pounding the trails to punk rock whilst waving around a GoPro and shouting like he's being pursued by a mad pack of hyenas. It's certainly a far cry from the Kansas of treadmill running, but not out of character for someone who has formed a community for the people that ‘don't fit in' to the traditional assumptions of what a club runner should look and sound like. In 2006, Jimmy reached the 800m final in the World Indoor Athletics Championships and set a Welsh indoor record, only to leave the sport, join a band and tour the world. More recently, he's found his way back to running by combining it with his passion for punk rock. It is through this unlikely union that he has finally found an anarchic, joyful harmony that has brought him the freedom to truly use his talents to spread a mutual love of music, running, and being alive with the world.There were moments of mad hyena cackling and moments of incredible poignancy in this conversation, which pretty much reflects Jimmy as person: he puts everything out there with a sincerity that is never contrived or derivative; it is simply Jimmy – all of it. We talked about the nature of competition; the joy and motivation of absurdity; navigating the grief of losing what you love and how creativity (and Kendrick Lamar) can teach us to love again; the philosophy of ‘flipping', and why we should always, in the words of Joan Didion, ‘stay on nodding terms with the person we once were'.Instagram: @nutbushjimmylimitsYou Tube: @jimmywatkins800Running Punks: www.runningpunks.comAlso mentioned:Joyce (teaser)Comedy Huel ReviewRunning Reviews Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Your Heart Bursting.This is the second episode of a series following the FareWays project, a collaboration between the Big Hoof, Running on Joy and The British Pilgrimage Trust, which aims to connect people to the outdoors through long distance journeys on foot and horse along the old pilgrims' routes of the UK, for the benefits of their mental and physical health. This July, our core team are setting out on our first 200-mile adventure along St Columba's Way in Scotland, raising money for the incredible work of the Venture Trust and specifically their new Outdoor Therapy Programme for 16- to 25-year-old sand ex service personnel. We are inviting others to join us on our journey for however long and in whatever way they can in the hope of breaking down assumptions of what a runner, rider or hiker should look like and to open conversations around the benefits of our relationship to Nature and mindful slow travel. Details of how to financially support the project or join the journey and contribute to fundraising efforts can be found below. Every little that you can give really does count towards changing the lives of vulnerable young people, some of whom will also be joining us for two days on this first journey, thanks to your support.Running on Joy will be following the adventure and there will be some incredible conversations and in-the-field storytelling emerging over the coming months, as well as interviews with patrons and collaborators connected to the project, each of whom have amazing stories and adventures of their own.Dr. Guy Hayward is our first patron interview. He started off as a chorister at Cambridge University, where he took a PhD in music. However, eschewing an academic career, he decided to tread a more intersectional pathway, exploring the rich melting pot of spirituality, psychology, the arts, nature and religion. From this melting pot has emerged The British Pilgrimage Trust, of which Guy is the founder, a charity that works to open ancient pilgrimage routes around the UK and initiate conversations around how we engage with our Christian heritage, even if we are not traditional Christians. The BPT is about helping people to re-connect to and re-enchant the land in an accessible and multi-faceted manner. Guy has also worked on the revival of evensong in the UK, launching a website where people can find local evensong services near them, and go along and listen to the beautiful music, free of charge. Guy is someone who makes your mind crackle and we dug around in the weeds philosophically for this one, but this is ultimately a conversation about bringing light to people's eyes, about what heart-led intentional living truly means and about how we might learn to unthink, rewild, spend time, take breaths and fall into rhythm with each other and the magic of the landscape around us.With thanks to sponsors and partners of the FareWays project: The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust, Gravis Advisory, Fera GB, Firepot Food, and The British Pilgrimage Trust.Donate to FareWays here.Join the journey and fundraise here.Find out more about Guy here and the British Pilgrimage Trust here.Also mentioned: Bounder and Cad and Choral Evensong Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...A Noun.There are a lot of misconceptions and misunderstandings when it comes to running and pregnancy. From the time a woman finds out she is pregnant to the postpartum period and beyond, her body goes through an intense array of changes and there is both limited and conflicting information about what activities are appropriate for her and when. It's only really been the past few years that recommendations have evolved from being either too restrictive during pregnancy, to the exact opposite 6-weeks postpartum.Rachel Selman is a Georgia-based physical therapist, specialising in pregnant and postpartum athletes, who is tackling this information and support gap head on. A mum and runner herself, she is the co-founder of the fitness app ‘Stirrups to Sit-ups', which aims to help new mums heal in the right way without having to navigate the minefield of internet advice as they try to figure out how their running will be affected by pregnancy and childbirth. Rachel is generous with both her wisdom and her own personal story, bringing both heart and science in her mission to ensure that other women do not feel alone. This interview is not only rich in practical advice but is also a call to action for recognition that this is all part of a vital conversation around women's bodies. It's a conversation about ownership, autonomy and self-identity; it's about equipping women with the language and confidence to advocate for themselves. Please listen, please share because this is not just about running – it's about freedom and it's about choice and the freedom that choice brings when we feel fully seen and heard as a whole, multi-faceted human. Because being a woman isn't about limitation, it's about opportunity.@synthesisphysicaltherapy@stirrupstositupsstirrupstositups.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Oscillations.For this live episode Running on Joy went ‘on the road' to link up with a group of very special people who have been of incredible support to the podcast the past year. Camino Ultra is a London-based ultra running and coaching crew that put on a unique series of 50k races within London. Since their founding, their mission has been to create and inspire runners to seek out trails in the city, to help skill runners to track and navigate away from the concrete, and to empower the belief that longer runs can help you open up to ways of self-discovery.The Camino crew has been running ultramarathons around the globe for over a decade but they also appreciate how important it is to look for local-based events that don't have the same impact on the planet we all love. Their intention has been to make it as easy as possible for people to join an ultra by staying local to their home city, with adventure, exploration, opportunity, and inclusivity at their core.Running on Joy joined David Bone, Camino Co-Founder, and Patrick Insole, a regular Blueways runner and supporter, to explore one of their Blueways routes along London's Historic Canals. In total, Camino have designed twelve trail routes that get emailed to challengers to complete in their own time. The routes cover all four areas of the city, giving the London Blueways subscribers a real opportunity to experience all the best that the city has to offer from a Blue perspective: think parks and green areas that are adjacent to rivers, lakes, ponds and canals. As an added bonus, they are collaborating with many of London's finest water spaces to also offer open water swimming opportunities on many of their monthly social runs.So much went wrong in the course of making this episode: there was wind, there was drilling, there was the small incident of Francesca falling over a few minutes after meeting...somehow, however, all of these beautiful imperfections epitomised a lot of the equally beautiful conversations that unfolded over the course of the morning. It really gets to the heart of what Camino is about in the fact that, from the moment that the first smiles and hugs were shared, there was a sense of implicit trust, acceptance and belonging; there was never any question of not following where David led because, wherever he steered, felt safe.During the 'walk, run, observe', this notion of safety came up a lot. What does it mean to feel safe enough to be vulnerable, to be open to connection, to let go of limiting assumptions, to challenge ourselves? Camino has a mantra of sorts: 'never do nothing'. With safety and with trust we can all take one small step on the path less travelled, one small step into the unknown, one small step into realising something new about ourselves and the world around us.And so, as you immerse yourself in the full, imperfect soundscape of the Blueway (wind, drills, tumbles, children and all), see it as an opportunity: to slow down, to tune in, to pay attention and experience what it is to truly listen to what is being said.Follow: @camino_ultraJoin: www.caminoultra.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Trust.This is the first of a special series from Running on Joy following the FareWays project.A collaboration between The Big Hoof Charity and The British Pilgrimage Trust, FareWays aims to connect people to the outdoors through long distance journeys on foot and horse, for the benefits of their mental and physical health. The core team of four are therefore inviting others to join them, be it for a morning, a day, or a week and in whatever way is accessible to them: hiking, running, riding or cycling. The first adventure is along St Columba's Way, raising money for the incredible work of the Venture Trust with their Outdoor Therapy Programme. There will be some incredible conversations and in-the-field storytelling emerging over the coming months but, with this first chapter, we start at the very beginning of the journey with the origins of the project, its aims and mission, and introduce Louis, Kiki and Francesca, their stories, motivations and vision.You can find out more on how to join the St Columba's Way adventure and donate to the Big Hoof here: www.thebighoof.com/farewaysFollow along here: @thebighoofWith thanks to FareWays sponsors and partners The Jeremy Willson Charitable Trust, Gravis Advisory, Fera GB, Firepot Food and The British Pilgrimage Trust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brendan Leonard is a writer, illustrator, adventurer, filmmaker, and the creator of Semi-Rad.com, not so much a website but a channel for, in his own words: ‘things regular folks can do, adventures for the every-person. It's a web site for those of us crushing it, kind of.' Since a problematic relationship with alcohol led to a stint in rehab, at age 23, Brendan has gone on to get a master's degree, cycle across America, author 11 (ish) books, create award winning short films, speak to international audiences, run 52 marathons in a year and multiple 100 mile ultramarathons. His editorial work has appeared in Alpinist, CNN, Outside, Men's Journal, National Geographic Adventure, Backpacker, Adventure Cyclist and dozens of other publications, and his clients have included La Sportiva, Strava and Arc'teryx.These are heady accolades; however, it is Brendan's wry, self-deprecating humour and relatability that has earned his essays, cartoons and infograms such a dedicated following. He makes you realise how ridiculous life is, not just his life but everyone's life. Yes, he writes and draws about running, but he also writes about eggs and dog food and washing dishes, and perhaps all these things are metaphors for more fundamental reflections on life or, maybe, to quote his essay on the topic, they are in fact ‘just about cooking eggs and that's enough'. The mark of a great conversation is that you sort of forget where it started, where it's heading and what you ate along the way. In this one, we talked a lot about humour, not a lot about running and perhaps too much about a raisin. I laughed so much to the point of tears throughout our time together and, at the point of tears, laughed too, because, well, you either laugh or quit – right? Brendan has this magical, understated, goofy way of talking about pizza whilst also making you realise that life comes down to some very simple choices: do we choose inaction or participation; anger or joy; laughter or quitting? He's worked a lot of that out by hating running, drawing some mediocre things (his words not mine) and continuing to fail at frying eggs. So it follows that the question we should then be asking ourselves is: if he can, surely we can too?@semi_radwww.semi-rad.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Being Yourself.Michael Doughty is a former professional footballer and co-founder of Hylo Athletics –– a brand on a mission to put considerations for the planet at the heart of the conversation around sport, starting with their renewable, carbon-negative and recyclable trainers.A lot of our conversation was about communication itself: how we open ourselves to discomfort. hold ourselves accountable and speak from a place of objectivity and truth.For Michael such communication starts with the love, gratitude and joy that can be found through embodied movement, allowing us to make the choices that determine who we are, how we represent ourselves and who we have the potential to be.@michaeldoughty_@hyloathleticswww.hyloathletics.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is the first in a collaboration with Kendal Mountain Festival, the UK's main social gathering for outdoor enthusiasts, whose mission to 'inspire more people to explore, respect and represent mountains, wilderness and their cultures' is very much in keeping with the Running on Joy ethos.Sophie Pavelle is a zoologist and science communicator, whose first book, Forget Me Not, explores the lesser-known species threatened by climate breakdown in the UK. With a down to earth, fresh writing style, Sophie takes the reader on a low-carbon journey, travelling the length and breadth of the British Isles to seek out ten animals and habitats threatened by climate change in the 21st century, ranging from seagrass and salmon to Mountain Hares. Forget Me Not is a simultaneously funny, accessible and thought-provoking, passionate call to action and a reminder that we all have a part to play in protecting the magic of the land around us; indeed, we really can't afford not to.Sophie is a sensitive and empathetic voice who makes you want to take time to be and breathe and reconnect with a less 'filtered' way of encountering the ancient wisdom of our day-to-day existence. We spoke a lot about love: the difference between true, unconditional love and romanticism and how the former is both a means and manifesto for living life with the kind of reciprocal compassion that will ultimately bring about long-term reparation and change in our relationship with the world.Instagram: @sophiepavsWebsite: www.sophiepavelle.comwww.kendalmountainfestival.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Your Own Speed.James Poole is a North Face Explorer Team ultra runner and all round enthusiast for the outdoors, who have been a long-time voice for connection and inclusivity within the running community. He has run some of the most prestigious ultra-races around the world, including the iconic Western States and UTMB, as well as epic adventures such as an unsupported, 430km journey across the Gobi Desert. He holds the fastest known time for crossing the Balearic island of Mallorca on the GR221 and has just returned from a second solo, self-supported attempt to run 340 miles from Santa Monica to Las Vegas as part of The Speed Project. Historically a relay, TSP lives and dies by the motto: No Rules, No Spectators, and, in 2021, offered the chance for individual runners to make the crossing from LA to Sin City, surviving the blazing heat of Death Valley to finish at the famous Welcome to Vegas sign.James leans into a conversation with the same open curiosity as he approaches his running: he is on the journey with you and happy to enjoy the flow, without expectation or agenda. We explored meeting each other and ourselves in the common language of movement and how enlightenment is not a place we arrive at but the person we accept along the way.Instagram: @jamesdpooleMentioned:SOLISThe Speed ProjectRun As You AreTrash Free TrailsTenzing Clean Air TrackerImage: Ben Read Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Liberation.Pola Rapaport is a writer, director, and editor of many award-winning films, as well as the producer of art-related video content, and a university instructor. I came across her work with the premiere of her new documentary Addicted to Life, a paradoxical, intimate, vulnerable and, ultimately, inspirational documentary about the Belgian Paralympic champion Marieke Vervoort who takes control of her ailing health to request medical aid-in-dying. The film charts the dramatic events of Vervoot's final inspirational three years, during which her acceptance of death becomes an affirmation of life. It is an extraordinary piece of storytelling that demystifies one of the most controversial issues of our time and captures the willpower, strength and spirit of Marieke as she fights for her right, not to die, but to truly live. This is a conversation about paradox. It's about how we die but, more than that, about how we live, indeed, how we choose to die and therefore how we choose to live. It is about how our first greeting can be our farewell, about how we come together and how we part. It is about pain and about grace. It is about the importance of conversation and the power of the pause, about the places that words cannot go. It is about witnessing and about participation, about what it is to pay attention in a world that would rather look away. It is a conversation about integrity and holding fast but also, ultimately, about what it is to let go.www.polarapaport.comInstagram: @addictedtolife_filmFacebook: @pola.rapaport.7 @AddictedtolifefilmTwitter: @Marieke_theFilm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Making an ImpactJustin Pugliese is a runner, podcast host and community leader. I was delighted to welcome him to join me on the podcast, as a fellow content creator, to reflect on why and how we do what we do and to provide a space to reflect on what is a period of change and transformation for him.This was a diverse and, at times, emotional conversation that revolves around energy: how movement gives us the grace to be open to being moved and how we, in turn, hope to move others. IListen: @justinstridepodFollow: @jpugs84 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Reynolds is a writer, a documentary producer, a run club leader and, most recently, the co-founder of an inclusive trail running adventure across the Peak District. He's told the stories of some of the world's most decorated athletes, from heptathlete, Jessica Ennis-Hill; to free skier, James Woods; to Eliud Kipchoge, to the Lionesses, drawing out the nuances of their experiences into insightful portraits that capture the voice and personality behind the media face.Tom is someone who is consistently curious about the world. He is a thinker, a craftsman, a scene-setter: someone who is not afraid to be constantly learning and evolving. Our conversation started and ended with a hot cross bun; something incidental but, perhaps, in fact, what it was all about.Insta: @tomreynoldswriter@peak.divideLionesses: Champions of Europe Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Making Memories.Scott Jenkins could be called ‘200-mile man' but it is the messaging behind the miles that perhaps most distinguishes him, as well as the actual feats of endurance. The attentive amongst you might recall a previous episode with Scott's brother Rhys, and this was a super opportunity to share an alternative perspective on some of those stories, as well as telling new ones. Like his brother, Scott is an ultra distance runner, originally from Wales, and is the current British record holder for the Moab 240 race in Utah. He is also the first Welshman to complete this race, Bigfoot 200 and Cocodona 250, as well as being the 2nd ever Welshman to complete Badwater 135. He started his ultramarathon journey running from Boston to Austin: a total of 2000 miles or 75 marathons in 75 days. Through these challenges, Scott has raised over £87,000 for a variety of different charities and, in 2015, he completed an Operation Smile mission in Mekele, where he assisted in screening and in theatre for the repair of Cleft Lips and Palates. Since then, he has been selected as one of three UK Ambassadors for the charity. Scott is a gracious man, who speaks thoughtfully and with great humility. His physical strength belies a story of a shy boy who found his voice through running and whose ultimate wish is to bring hope to faces that have never experienced the simple joy of a smile. We thought a lot about what gives life purpose; the benefits of a more instinctual and grounded way of being; holding ourselves accountable, and what we can learn from reaching beyond what might be possible. Instagram: @scotjjenkinsOperation Smile Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Staying Alive.At any moment, life could change in an instant. When that happens, what do you do? Anson Mackay is someone who inspires me on a pretty much daily basis. Up until their retirement in April 2022, they were a Professor at University College London, specialising in paleoecology, and have worked for over 30 years on assessing human and climatic impacts on some of the world's most important freshwater ecosystems, including Lake Baikal and the Aral Sea in central Asia, and the Okavango Delta in Southern Africa. Having come out in the 1980s, when the AIDS crisis was in full flow and marches and protests were rallying against Section 28, a piece of homophobic legislation in the UK, they are a passionate advocate for the queer community and pushing for a more equitable and compassionate society. They like running a lot. So much so that they have completed several 100-miler races, most recently the gruelling Arc of Attrition: a perilous winter traverse of the Southwest Coat Path. For many, that would be challenge enough for one life; however, Anson's vibrant light shines all the brighter against the shade of the reality of existing with Stage 4-HPV related cancer. Anson carries themself with grace, humility and dignity, and it is with great generosity that they share their potent story. In essence, it's a very real conversation about death. More than that, however, it's an affirmative celebration of the gorgeous, fragile fluidity of the human spirit. Anson is the kind of person who makes you realise what it is to love and that gratitude, positivity and compassion are what life is about. Each day is a miracle and that is an incredibly exciting thing.About: about.me/ansonmackayBlog: www.ansonmackay.com/blogInsta: @ansonmackay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Commitment.Peter Bromka is something of a philosopher of movement. He is an astonishingly fast marathoner and writer about running, whose ability to push the boundaries of what is physiologically possible is coupled with a curious mind that can riff from the micro details of split times to the macro questioning of why we do what we do when we run. I spent a long time immersing myself in Peter's thoughts across various media platforms in the weeks before we spoke: a veritable labyrinthine roller coaster that leaves you gasping for breath from the honesty and necessity of what he has to say. It was perhaps appropriate therefore, that our conversation revolved, not so much around the further breathless pursuit of answers, as having the grace to allow space for Peter's thoughts to percolate and unfurl.It is a rumination on paradox. The paradox of authenticity and of experience; of competition and of success; of grief; of awareness; of revelation; of searching for meaning; of going the distance; of faith and of sacrifice; of fear and of pain. Then there's the final paradox: of heartbreak. Of how breaking apart, breaking down, breaking open, let's the light in again.www.peterbromka.comMedium: bromka.medium.comInsta: @bromkaMentioned: I'm Not Alright; The Marathon Doesn't Owe You Anything Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Time.Nick Triolo is a runner, a writer, a writer about running. With a background in Environmental Studies, he is now senior editor for Outside Run and Trail Runner Magazine, whilst constantly exploring the boundaries of what it means to tell significant stories and how to use those narratives to advocate for the landscape that means so much to him.In attempting to compile the usual list of show notes, the more I typed, the more it felt like too blunt an instrument to distil the essence of the time that we shared. Ultimately, it was a conversation about conversation: how we can be present and co-create beauty in the world. I hope, perhaps, that this exchange is some small embodiment of that, and I now invite you to share it with much joy and gratitude in my heart.nicholastriolo.netMandorla 200The Crossing film: running 70 miles across Baja to stop a gold mine (Patagonia's Dirtbag Diaries episode on it) Bylines at Trail Runner and Outside OnlineMentioned: Agony and EnduranceLet's Get Promiscuous with our RunningFour Directions of Standing RockTalk Easy with Ke Huy Quan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Waking Up.Dr Kate Rawles is giving the world a wake up call. She is an outdoor philosopher, with multiple degrees to their name, a writer, cyclist and activist who is passionate about the need to find urgent, intelligent and effective responses to our multiple environmental challenges. With a love for endurance, she uses what she terms ‘Adventure Plus' journeys to communicate on environmental issues and inspire positive change. Her book, The Carbon Cycle, Crossing the Great Divide, based on a bike ride from Texas to Alaska exploring climate change, was shortlisted for the Banff Mountain Festival Adventure Travel Book Award, 2013 and her upcoming book, The Life Cycle, sets our focus on Biodiversity as she cycles over 8,000 miles from Costa Rica to the southern tip of South American on a bamboo bike she built herself. Having left academia, she now lives in Cumbria and works freelance running courses that harness the power of wild places to support personal and professional positive action on environmental sustainability, alongside her activism and writing.I spoke to Kate as she emerged from the tornado that finishing a book project entails, and I was increasingly struck, as we spoke, of the urgency of the stories that she is platforming through her writing and speaking. She is a passionate and knowledgeable communicator and, though peppered with Kate's chuckles and wry humour, many of the themes that we touched on are both shocking and vital. We discussed why statistics are not enough to wake people up; bikes as magicians and how to start conversations; the problems with a conquering mentality and being one animal amongst many; adventure as a means and metaphor for raising awareness and inspiring action; the hidden catastrophe of biodiversity loss and paying witness to both the tragedy and beauty of our relationship with the earth; the big 'Cs' of activism, and not having to be an expert. Kate's book The Life Cycle; 8000 miles in the Andes by bamboo bike, is out with Icon Books on June 1st 2023.Web: www.outdoorphilosophy.co.ukFB: www.facebook.com/biodiversitybikerideTW: @CarbonCycleKateInst: @CarbonCycleKate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Inspiration.There are many ways in which Beth French could be described: an ultra-marathon open-sea ocean swimmer who was once a Buddhist nun, a single mother who home schools her autistic son and an adventurer who suffered from a crippling chronic illness in her youth. From being confined to a wheelchair with ME at 17, in 2016 she set out to become the first person to swim across the seven most dangerous sea channels in the world, known as ‘Oceans Seven', in a 12-month period.Beth really does epitomise being your ‘own hero' and showing that we are not defined or determined by our circumstances and it was honour to share space with her and hear about her incredible resilience and determination, told with warmth, humour and sincerity.Beth was keen that this be a two-way conversation and we share some deep reflections on the perceptions of and misunderstandings around the triggers, symptoms, abilities and lived experience of chronic health conditions; re-discovering trust in our bodies; the strength in setting boundaries and why 'bigger, better, faster, more' is not the answer; how sickness can be a superpower; bucket lists and owning your future; the freedom of finding our edge; making the world ok for every body; what it means to endure; being your own uncool, and the perils of allowing your creative son to plan your adventures!www.bethfrench.co.ukWatch: Against the TidesFacebook: /bethfrenchlivesInsta: @bethfrenchlives Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Many Faces.Nick Acheson is a conservationist, author, speaker and presenter from North Norfolk where he lives in a flint cottage by a duckpond with his three-legged lurcher and a flock of rescued animals. For ten years, he lived in South America, working with conservation NGOs such as WWF and Wetlands International. He also spent three years in Asia and have worked with wildlife on every continent. Since their return to the UK they have worked for Norfolk Wildlife Trust, The Wildlife Trusts and the Hawk and Owl Trust. Having crossed the globe in search of wildlife and swum and snorkelled in every world ocean, he has become more and more invested in adopting a low carbon lifestyle and is a committed cyclist and keen runner. I spoke to Nick upon the publication of his book ‘The Meaning of Geese', a memoir of seven locked-down months in 2020-21, during which he cycled 1,200 miles around North Norfolk on his mother's 40-year-old bike, following the great flocks of Arctic geese whose wild cries haunt the county each winter.Nick is an eloquent and wise soul with a wealth of knowledge that reflects a true and intuitive relationship with the land. Our conversation flitted along many paths and we thought about what it means to pay attention in a disconnected world; heart-centred knowledge and protecting what we love; haunting and what brings us home, and the power of names and finding ourselves through smallness.Read: The Meaning of Geese, released February 2023Website themarshtit.comTwitter: @themarshtitInstagram: @thewillowtit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Quiet.Rane Roatta might sound like your typical competitive cyclist, rising early to lay down the miles, following a strict regime and sweating in the Miami sun. What makes him unique, however, is that clocking up 80 mile daily rides originated from a real necessity not to crank out watts but…fruit. Although terming himself a 'professional amateur', Rane competed in the inaugural gravel world championships last year, balancing training whilst building his business 'Miami Fruit', which provides a direct-to-consumer exotic fruit shipping service. Rane still does much of the manual labor as well as leading the business alongside his girlfriend.Rane is a contagiously positive personality and, together, we thought about being a life-long learner; the power of play; finding enrichment in goofiness, and why raising each other up, in racing and business, is the key to building sustainable communities.A note on sound: Rane was calling from a slightly windy Miami with a temperamental connection. The sound has been reconstructed as best possible but please be aware of this whilst listening!Follow: @cyclingspirit @miamifruitMiami Fruit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Wordless Happiness.Max Romey is perhaps best described as a person in motion. He is an artist who paints astonishing watercolours, often on top of mountains, which, of course, he has to get to first. He is a filmmaker who specialises in capturing athletes, particularly trail and ultrarunners, as they hurtle through simultaneously awe-inspiring and unforgiving landscapes. He is a runner himself, not simply because it enables him to keep up with their subjects, but because it is also vital to his being. However, perhaps what I find most consistent about Max is that he is a storyteller, bringing the world and people around him to life in a manner that epitomises what it means to unlock the incredible paintbox of our existence. We think about finding a path in a world beyond words; 'getting over the doorstep' in life, art and running; why there are no 'bad days' spent outdoors, and the magic of an intersectional existence.Follow: MaxRomeyProductions.com - Vimeo - YouTube - Instagram - FacebookWatch: Alaska Marine Debris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...When You Can't See It.After an early career characterised by hours at a computer, Charlie Harpur turned his back on desk work and embraced the physical elements of gardening. When not working as a Landscape Designer and Gardener, he is an impressive trail and ultra-runner who, in 2019, became the British 100km champion. His other achievements include finishing 3rd Brit at the CCC by UTMB and taking the win at Centurion Running's South Downs Way 100.Charlie epitomises the strength that comes through vulnerability, and I was humbled by how reflective and open he was in sharing about his complex journey with running and mental health, both past and present. We talked about building emotional armouries; the connectivity brought by natural neural networks; comparison culture and seeing the person behind the results; the lure of the great unknown; how plants and running can save your life, and why we would all benefit from stopping to hug the tree.Charlie and I chatted for a while after we finished recording and agreed that ideas around diversity in trail running that we touched on, in terms of life experience and body type, should not in any way detract from the need to continue advocating and addressing the issues that prevail with representation and inclusion in the sport. Charlie also dove further into his experiences with overtraining and underfueling, which led to hormonal imbalances and greatly impacted his physical and mental health, and the need for more conversations around this. We are hopefully going to schedule a follow up episode for him to share his story, as part of the process of starting those conversations. Follow: @charlie.harpur Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hailing from Edinburgh, Hannah Bailey is an award-winning photographer, journalist, and producer, who has spent the last decade immersed in the underground scenes of action sports, adventure and the outdoors, now running her own consultant company Neonstash, which specialises in adventure. Her work has been recognised with awards from the Women's Sport Trust and Campaign Magazine, and in 2020 she won the inaugural Getty Images Show Us Grant, recognising photographers working towards a genuine representation of women and non-binary in the media. Her photographs have been featured in media such as The Guardian, BBC, Vice, Positive News, i_D, Dazed, Asian Geographic, and Women's Fitness. What distinguishes her work is the focus on the free-spirited characters, in particular women, that define the worlds of skating, snowboarding and skating, rather than the sports themselves. I first encountered Hannah through the short film ‘A Land for Everyone', by the videographer Rachel Sarah, which follows her and skateboarder, Lyndsay McLaren as they explore the highlands of Scotland. The film challenges stereotypical notions of what a skater or outdoors person should look like and is reflective of Hannah's aim in all her projects to show the real face and stories of those involved in a culture to a wider audience. Hannah is a bundle of creative energy, with a passionate and true drive to make a positive impact on the world around her. We had a hugely enjoyable and diverse conversation about why activism needs activity; holding space so that others can follow; the role models that we can find around us, and the power of being a 'lovely imposter'.Follow: @neonstashwww.neonstash.comwww.hannahbaileyphoto.comSupport: skateistanWatch: A Land for Everyone Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Freedom.Angel Collinson made her name snaking improbable lines down the sheerest mountain faces in her career as a big mountain skier. In that time, she racked up nearly every accolade possible: not only world titles, but also magazine covers and starring roles in adventure movies that would typically go to men. In 2021, however, she turned her back on her professional career and instead jumped on a 40-foot sailboat named Sea Bear to embark on a trans-Atlantic crossing. She has overcome a lot of mountains in her life, both on and off the ski slopes, but this latest plunge into the unknown has taken new levels of courage.I connected with Angel upon her return to Sea Bear, after a period of reflective time on land. We shared a free-flowing space in which we explored ideas around embodiment, identity and the wild unknown. Angel reached out with a full and open heart, and I am so grateful for her emotional generosity as she navigates this 'one precious life'.Follow: @angelcollinsonImage: Pete Willauer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Love.Robbie Phillips is is a professional adventure climber and filmmaker from Edinburgh. His intrepid spirit has carried him across the globe, climbing, in his own words, 'every type of rock, in every style'. From an early career competing as part of the GB team and then working as the Scottish climbing team's head coach, he is now best known for his cutting edge ascents on alpine rock, including becoming the first Briton to climb the infamous 'Alpine Trilogy'. One of his latest challenges was climbing the world's hardest sea cliff ‘The Longhope' on St John's Head, Orkney, along with his climbing partner, Alex Moore. This big wall sea cliff had previously only been attempted by the most famous rock climbers, including Ed Drummonds and Dave Macleod. The documentary film that Robbie made of the effort, ‘Not a Hope in Hoy', premiered at Kendal Mountain Festival in 2022. I spoke to Robbie as he was putting the finishing touches to preparations for his upcoming 'Edge of the World' speaking tour, in both his capacity as a world-respected athlete and as a content curator with a flair for telling stories in an incredibly human, relatable manner.Robbie is nothing but himself, and our conversation gives a flavour of his deep and sincere connection to his country, to the natural world and to the 'tribe' that he has found few climbing. What became clear as we spoke is that Robbie's drive and hunger for adventure comes, not from the destinations, but from the journeys: the most significant of which has been with himself. He comments at one point that he doesn't really remember who he was before climbing: for him, it is the start, the vehicle and the fuel. Here are the traces of Robbie's journey, told with his characteristic, candour, humour, creativity and heart. There is no destination, only discovery – that's what makes it exciting.Instagram: @robbiephillips_You Tube: @RobbiePhillipsNot A Hope in Hoywww.robbieclimbs.comwww.urbanuprising.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Being You.A Friday 'Shining Lights' episode with a remarkable young man. At nineteen years old, Avery Seuter is not your typical teenager. In September 2022, he set off on an incredible cycle journey from his home in Maine to Key West, Florida, to raise money for the East Coast Greenway, a 3,000-mile pedestrian and bicycle path that connects the two states. Not only is the scope of the distance impressive in itself, he set out, not on two wheels, but one, riding an average of 20 to 30 miles a day on a unicycle. At the time of speaking, Avery was due to arrive in Key West in late January 2023, and I caught up with him literally 'trail side' along his epic adventure. Avery is an incredibly perceptive, compassionate and fresh voice in a time when we are encountering so much upheaval, fear and divisiveness across the world. His words resonate with deep gratitude and wonder for the places he travels and the people he meets. We chatted about: Avery's childhood introduction to unicycling through the circus; the practical adaptations and physical demands of transitioning from two wheels to one; the mentorship and community surrounding unicycling; finding new connections and exploring identity and belonging to a place through the bike; turning unexpected challenges into positive opportunities; the importance of safe, shared spaces to make cycling and a more active lifestyle accessible; being an 'accidental' athlete and the benefits of purposeful movement; creating your own natural soundscape when you 'switch off' from the noise of fast living; why 'stranger' doesn't necessarily mean 'danger'; how the microcosm of travel choices reflects wider societal divisions, and why differences can be a chance for learning; navigating the expectations of online platforms; the importance of kindness and how a cat made national news; serious thoughts on ice-cream, and the necessity of pursuing what brings you joy.Follow: @averyseuter @eastcoastgreenway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...The Fuel.Canyon and Forest Woodward are brothers who grew up in the mountains of Southern Appalachia and the North Cascades of Washington State. After childhoods spent roaming the woods and trails, Canyon would go on to forge a path as a championship level trail runner; political strategist; author, and climate activist, managing the campaign that would see his friend, Chloe Maxim, become the youngest female state senator in Maine's history, alongside setting astonishing course records and Fastest Known Times on the trails. Forest trod a different path to become an internationally published and awarded photographer and filmmaker, with his work, which engages viewers in contemporary issues through a humanistic lens, featuring in The New York Times, National Geographic, Esquire and The Atlantic, and his films, Food Chains and The Important Places, receiving critical acclaim and screening in dozens of countries and festivals including Tribeca and Berlinale.Canyon and Forest's footprints crossed this year, however, with the launch of the film Rural Runners, a meditative and intimate look at the incredible journey that rewrote progressive success in rural America and won two campaigns in red districts where they were expected to lose. The film epitomises what it means to show up in an incredibly relatable and raw manner that shines a light beyond the dark state of party politics.It was so rewarding to bring the siblings together; their relationship really does encapsulate the love that infuses all of their interactions with the world and those around them. In this incredibly creative exchange, we reflected on: growing up in the outdoors and the connective power of Nature; being open to different pathways; creativity as a philosophy of being; re-connecting to body and spirit through running; the cross-overs between the different states experienced in training and racing and other areas of life; finding a voice for change; the road to engaging in electoral politics to address a divided nation; the power of process predicating outcome; friendship as a manifesto; the importance of the formative places and people in our lives; why we need more ‘public listeners'; mindfully amplifying the energy for social and political change within the trail running society, and finding joy within ourselves and each other.Post-Script: Canyon did make it to the start line of Bandera 100km and came 3rd overall in a hugely competitive field.Follow: @canyonwoodward @forestwoodwardwww.forestwoodward.comwww.canyonwoodward.comDirt Road OrganisingWatch: Rural Runners; The Important PlacesRead: Dirt Road Revival Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...What You Have.Rhys Jenkins is a record-breaking, ultra-endurance athlete from Cardiff, South Wales, who, over the last 10 years, has raised over £125,000 for various charities. Indeed, in 2021, he was a torchbearer for the London Olympics in recognition of his incredible work. His introduction to ultrarunning was running from Boston to Austin in the USA with his brother and two friends. Since then, it's been a case of relentless forward motion. In 2019, he became Wales' first-ever competitor in the notorious Badwater 135 ultramarathon, renowned for being the hardest footrace on the planet. In 2020, he set a new fastest-know-time for the 870 mile Welsh Coast Path. In 2021, he then set a new record running the length of Great Britain whilst summiting the highest peaks in Scotland, England and Wales. Along with his wife, Rhys, is now the race director of Pegasus Ultra Running, which expanded this year to include the formidable Triple Crown of 200 mile 'Wild Horse' races. Their events are distinctive for their lack of aggressive cut-offs, which is a reflection of what a thoroughly empathetic and inclusive couple they are.Rhys is, truly, one of the biggest-hearted, compassionate human beings I have ever met. He wears his astonishing feats with modesty, preferring to focus on the motivation behind the efforts: the charities that he runs for and the people with whom he connects. He is also exceptionally entertaining, with stories that make you simultaneously laugh and cry from literally wherever his feet have trodden. We could have chatted all evening but in this small snapshot we cover: the journey from 'Burger Boy' to ultrarunner; 'boils and all' stories from running across America; developing relationships/obsessions with particular routes and races; lightening, dust storms, near-death experiences and Billy Joel in Death Valley; why we need to speak out about difficult things and the stories behind Rhys's charity fundraising; reconnecting to landscapes and people on the Welsh Costal Path; why Scotland is 'Wales on steroids'; breaking the Three Peaks JOGLE record as a family; the terror of being a new dad; 'kind' thieves and kinder strangers, and feeling grateful for the most basic, and yet most easily overlooked thing in life: love.Follow: @rjenko11Donate: www.lucyfaithfull.org.ukPegasus: www.pegasusultrarunning.com Wild Horse: www.wildhorse200.comWatch: Lighthouse in the Dark Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joy is...Juxtaposition.Hailey Moore @hailey.m.moore is a freelance writer and copyeditor based in Boulder, Colorado. She writes about the outdoors, people and communities and is herself an endurance cyclist and trail runner. She also takes incredible photographs that, like her writing, foreground the beauty of human interactions and incidental moments.Hailey is a wonderful example of cross-pollination between the arts and athletic arenas, valuing craft in everything she does. Sharing our experiences and passing ideas back and forth was so much fun! We chatted about: connection to place through movement; giving ourselves grace; the mental health benefits of feeling strong; learning to fail; the autonomy of solo bike-packing; introspection and finding a rhythm with yourself on multi-day journeys; strong female friendship; reflections on authentic connection and community; how we present ourselves as writers; deconstructing stereotypes of what a runner or cyclist looks like; self-criticism as motivation; why making stuff is cool; the relationship between writers, story-telling and industry and how outdoor pursuits can be a means of creative expression; being inspired by those doing things differently; space and balance in successful relationships, and finding full presence in time spent outdoors.Follow: @hailey.m.mooreRead: haileymoore.journoportfolio.comPhoto credit: @aaronlavanchy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.