Introducing: CRAFTED
CRAFTED is the newest addition to the Blister Podcast network — subscribe today to make sure you don't miss out on our first episode, coming this week.
Podcasts
Alex Nichols on Coaching College Cross Country, Pikes Peak Streaking, & Beekeeping (Ep.132)
After being named the head coach of Colorado College’s cross country program last year, trail and ultrarunner, Alex Nichols, has made a habit of inviting some of his athletes out to support his own racing endeavors, including his 8th-place finish at the Western States 100 back in June. So, we talked to Alex about the intersection between coaching full-time at his alma mater and running trails professionally, and a whole lot more.
Mountain Towns & Local Food Systems, Pt. 1: Setting the Stage (Ep.221)
Jonathan and Kara respond to a listener’s question about what local food is and how you can support it; how to grow food in cold places; chicken tractors and therapy chickens; and how a robust local food system keeps our mountain towns healthier.
Our (Massive) Ski Binding Shootout + Wildlife Encounters (Ep.208)
Luke, Kara, and Jonathan talk about our upcoming test, where we’ll be mounting up 20+ pairs of the same ski with 20+ different alpine bindings in the attempt to find out what really separates the most popular alpine (and 50/50) bindings from one another.
Rae Morrison on 8 Years on the EWS, Race Strategies, & Forging Her Own Path (Ep.129)
We sat down with EWS racer Rae Morrison to chat about her mental approach to racing and dialing in when to push and how hard; staying positive and returning from injuries; her unique team setup and having her husband as her mechanic; and much more.
Danielle Snyder on Rewarding Failure, Taper Tantrums, & Mental Health in Ultrarunning (Ep.131)
You’ve probably encountered the adage that running is 90 percent mental, yet despite this feeling (and how true it may be), most runners dedicate the majority of their training to making sure they’re physically fit. But the brain fatigues too, so we talked with running coach and licensed clinical social worker, Danielle Snyder, about the importance of mindset training and the connection between mental well-being and physical performance.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (July 2022) (Ep.220)
We cover Gunstock Mountain Resort’s fight to operate; access issues & potential solutions; WC DH MTBers forming a union; mountain-town advice; what we’re reading & watching (answer: TOP GUN!) and more.
Domestic Apparel Manufacturing, Supply-Chain Logistics, & More (Ep.207)
Domestic production of apparel has all but disappeared from the US, but Kitsbow is leading the charge to bring it back and hopes to be a blueprint for how other brands can do the same. And their CEO, David Billstrom, has a lot to say about how it’s been good for their brand, their customers, their community, and the planet.
Crestline Bikes on Adaptability, Collaboration, & Founding a Bike Brand (Ep.128)
We sat down with Troydon and Jimmy from Crestline Bikes to talk about their upcoming high-pivot VPP DH bike & VPP e-bike; getting advice from Greg Minnaar and Neko Mulally; starting a bike company during the pandemic; and a whole lot more.
Tailwind Nutrition Co-founder Jeff Vierling on Gut Bombs, Kitchen Chemistry, & Creating His Own Endurance Fuel (Ep.130)
Tailwind Nutrion’s products are some of the most popular fueling options for trail runners and mountain bikers alike, so we had their Co-founder, Jeff Vierling, on the show to hear all about how losing his breakfast after a mountain bike race inspired him to design his own endurance drink mix.
How to Produce More Olympic Skiers & Snowboarders, Grow Participation, & Support Rural Mtn Town Communities (Ep.219)
How do we grow participation in snowsports, support rural mountain communities, and produce more Olympic skiers and snowboarders? We sat down with Will Brandenburg of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation to discuss all of the above.
The Design Principle of “Simplexity” (Ep.206)
We talk to Naked Sports Innovations’ president and co-founder, Lindsay Dakota, about how the concept of “simplexity” drives Naked’s design process; growing a small brand sustainably; the future of footwear; and how ski racing influenced the design of their new trail shoe.
Over The Edge on Trail Building, Travel, & Rampage (Ep.127)
We sat down with the crew from Over The Edge to talk about trail building & the development of MTB towns; traveling to ride; servicing Rampage bikes; & much more.
Leah Yingling on Her Western States 100, Pacing Perfection, & the Golden Hour (Ep.129)
After finishing 6th at this year’s Western States 100, Salomon Athlete (and sometimes co-host) Leah Yingling returns to the show to give us a play-by-play of how her day panned out.
On the James Webb Space Telescope (Ep.218)
We’re still trying to process what we’re seeing, and what this all means. So today, we’re offering another brief attempt to wrap our heads around the images — and the significance — of the James Webb Space Telescope, and I provide a few recommendations for further reading & listening.
Reviewing the Reviewer: Drew Kelly (Ep.205)
We talk to the man with the best turn in Crested Butte about choss monsters, cave trolls, geek beaks, his Tinder profile, birding, the universe, gear preferences, and more.
Eric Olsen on Bikepacking the EWS (Ep.126)
Eric Olsen just returned from bike touring between the first three rounds of the EWS, so we sat down with him to hear where he got the idea in the first place; how it all went, including encountering golf-ball-sized hail and a flock of schoolchildren mid-race; the notion of bikes as transportation & European bike touring culture more broadly; and much, much more.
Paddy O’Leary on Racing Horses, Fell Running, Lacrosse, & Community Building (Ep.128)
Paddy O’Leary’s path from the farm he grew up on in Wexford, Ireland to becoming an elite runner for The North Face is by no means a linear one. So we sat down with Paddy to talk about how he ended up racing on the trails (with and without a horse); growing the sport of lacrosse in Ireland; community building; fell running; and a whole lot more.
Blister Summit ’23: New Info, Dates, & Details (Ep.217)
On our Blister Podcast, Jonathan and Blister Summit Director, Kristin Sinnott, discuss the new format for our next Blister Summit; how to get the best pricing; what we learned from past Blister Summits; and who ought to come. (Answer: YOU.)
Blister Labs: Motorcycles, Laser Art, & Mtn Bikes with Greg Vanderbeek (Ep.204)
Greg Vanderbeek talks about starting a custom motorcycle business; the mountain bike projects we’re working on at Blister Labs; and more.