Welcome to a new episode of Take Off Your Shoes, with my guest Mike McMonagle, aka shitinthewoods!"I was looking forward to having something else be unequivocally my highest priority."The contagious passion and love he has for the sport and his craft is dwarfed only by his love for his son Monte. This was a very special conversation, a true catch-up with some background questions thrown in for good measure to get a fuller “picture” (pun intended) of Mike.I had a blast getting to know him during UTMB and getting to witness him at work first hand, and this conversation pulls the curtain back even further on his reflections around being a photographer, a father, a runner, and a very active member of the community.A few takeaways I had from this wonderful convo were that 1) being a parent will be an indescribable experience which I’m really looking forward to yet still have no idea about, and 2) allocating time to the things you care about and value is one of the most important things we can do in life.Thank you so much for this catch-up, Mike, and I cannot wait to chase runners again together in Chamonix.Make sure to follow shitinthewoodsLeave a comment and send me your thoughts on InstagramI truly appreciate you taking the time to listen and read this. Take care and until next time!
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24 - Lucy Bartholomew
Welcome to another episode of Take Off Your Shoes!Today's conversation is with the wonderful Lucy Bartholomew!I was very inspired after our conversation with her, not because of her accomplishments but because of her attitude and how she overcomes moments of doubt and struggle while staying true to her why. She’s not one to shy away from asking and answering tough questions, and I truly appreciate her openness.One key takeaway for me was how she defines herself not by the things she’s doing, but by the values she holds: curiosity, community, and joy.We talked about the self-imprisonment imposed by the smiley face, how she sometimes isolated herself because her image had become tied to it. I’m very grateful to her for opening up about the pressures around the public image of a happy, smiling Lucy, hopefully helping people become more aware and start changing this pervasive narrative around “always being happy.”She might also have a surprise announcement waiting for you 👀Thank you, Lucy, for your generosity, curiosity, and authenticity.Thank you for reading this, and I hope you enjoy listening to our convo!Follow Lucy on InstagramShare your thoughts with me
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23 - Dani Aravich
Welcome back to a brand new episode of Take Off Your Shoes.After a long summer break, I’m back and stoked to introduce my guest, Dani Aravich.While she might be a “budding” trail runner, she’s also a Paralympian, having competed in both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, and now she’s preparing for the upcoming Milano Cortina Games.Of course, she’s far beyond her athletic achievements. What stood out to me most was her encouragement of curiosity and her ability to create a space where all questions are welcome. Having been on the business side, the media side, and the athlete side of the sports she’s involved in, she brings a truly unique perspective to her work and advocacy.This was an incredibly meaningful conversation where I got to learn a lot, and I’m very grateful to Dani for it. I cannot wait for you to listen.Make sure to leave your comments below and let me know what you thought!Also, be sure to follow Dani on InstagramCheck out what she and her team are doing with Culxtured!Follow the show on Instagram, and share with a friend who you think might like this episode.Thank you very much for taking the time to listen; it means a lot. Take care, and until next time!
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Take Off Your Shoes 22 - Zoë Rom
Hello and welcome to another episode of Take Off Your Shoes!I am back with a brand new episode with Zoë Rom!It would take me more than a few posts to describe all that she does, but to sum it up, she’s a very passionate, multi-talented creator, writer, and runner.I resonated a lot with juggling multiple things at the same time and how she had a period where she was putting off her well-being, thinking one day she’d pay for the consequences but that today she would spread herself thin. She then asked herself:“What does balance look like for me, now?”To me, it seems like hers is a balancing act of wonderful things she’s doing all at the same time, which she says she’s lucky to love.Getting a glimpse into how her mind works and the passion she brings to the things she has created and continues to create was truly inspiring.To do all she does justice, we would have needed many more of these conversations, but I truly feel like I got to know Zoë in a great way.I’m sure you’ll find this one inspiring and entertaining.Follow Zoë on InstagramMake sure to listen to Your Diet SucksI'd love to know what you thought of this episode, how it made you feel, and what it made you think of. Let me know in the comments below or send me a DM!
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Take Off Your Shoes 21 - Adam Merry
Welcome to a new episode of Take Off Your Shoes!I’ve been taking some time away, and I’m back with a wonderful guest: Adam Merry!It was amazing getting to talk to him. Heading into it, I already knew he would be very open, and indeed he was very generous and vulnerable, which I truly appreciate.We talked about how it feels to juggle being a father of now two boys, being a partner, being a full-time employee, and chasing running at the highest level. He also explained what he’s training towards and what it means to him to have a North Star worth focusing on and striving for. Adam shared how balancing the steps towards that goal looks with changing life events, such as having kids, evolving those goals, and fitting them into the next chapter of life.He underlined the importance of having a strong support system that starts with Julianne, the Boulder Boys, and many other people by his side in his process towards the big, lofty goals he always sets.With the North Star goal being… well, you’ll have to listen to find out!Follow Adam on Instagram.Listen to him slay the guitar on his incredible album: String Dance!Tune in to the Boulder Boys Show and watch them on Youtube!Lastly, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Leave a review and shoot me a DM on Instagram.
Welcome to Take Off Your Shoes! My podcast where I sit across people that inspire me from the sport of running, and get to know who they are once they take off their proverbial running shoes. These conversations are heartfelt, friendly and real, hoping to give you the feeling that you’re just tuning into people having a nice chat to catch up.
New Zealand