Take Off Your Shoes

Welcome to a brand new episode of Take Off Your Shoes! My guest today is the one and only Rachel Entrekin!

I’ve been told before that my conversations feel like therapy sessions for my guests. To be clear, I am not a therapist, but I always feel happy to hear that I allow them to share and perhaps work through things in the meantime. More than anything, I appreciate their candor, vulnerability, and openness.

This conversation with Rachel felt like a therapy session for me. Getting to know her and seeing how she has shifted her mindset to embracing hard things, in and outside of running, and how she started seeing them as moments of practice, hit home in a way that’s hard to put into words, especially how I’ve been reacting to some recent events.

One thing that I don’t think I’ll forget easily was her description of how we can choose who we are in the face of a challenge, and how we can take ownership of our responses.

I think, and hope you all agree, that the challenges we take on in the realm of (ultra)endurance go beyond the physical. I truly believe the mental side we hear about can be beautifully exemplified by Rachel’s words and actions. It’s not necessarily about pushing through and never giving up, but about who we choose to be and how we choose to show up when things get inevitably hard, whether in a race or, hopefully, when we’re able to translate our learnings into our real life.

Thank you, Rachel, for this wonderful conversation, and I hope it also speaks to you while listening.

Must read: Rachel's Substack
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Other incredible interviews Rachel's been on, which have inspired me:
Choose Strong #126
Rachel Entrekin | Two-Time Cocodona 250 Champion

Rest Day | Rachel Entrekin Interview, Francois D'Haene's 2026 Season & Free Agency News
I’ll Have Another Episode 624
The Trail Network Podcast Episode 78
The Trail Network Podcast Episode 69

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.

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.

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Make sure to listen to Your Diet Sucks

I'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!

Happy New Year everyone! Welcome to a new epsiode of Take Off Your Shoes with my guest today: Ryan Montgomery!

This was a very open conversation with Ryan, where we touched not only on where he is now and what he’s currently focusing his energy on, but also on what drives him and what’s next for him.

I intended this conversation to be a deeper dive into who Ryan is, building on the wonderful conversations he’s already had with some amazing podcasters.

I truly enjoy conversations where there isn’t a predetermined roadmap, but rather an intention to be open and, where possible, vulnerable. I appreciate Ryan for allowing us to do exactly that.

I hope you enjoy listening!

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Here's the list of the podcast episodes where Ryan was a guest on, which I've listened to before this conversation:
For The Long Run "Ryan Montgomery on Unlocking a Mind, Body, and Environmental Connection Through Professional Running"
Freetrail "Ryan Montgomery | Always Learning"
Trail Running Nation "A Different Discussion with Ryan Montgomery"
The Trail Head "Ryan Montgomery on Pride, Balance and Western States, Plus Diana Fitzpatrick on WSER's Evolution"
Borderlands Trail (+ Ultra) Running: "Ryan Montgomery: 10 Minutes with a Legend in the Making | Pre Western States 2025"

My guest today is the incredibly thoughtful and self-reflective Abby Hall.
Our conversation was an open look into how she feels, how she acts, and what she believes.

She shared how she now finds joy in going all in on her goals and dreams, choosing when to work, when to adventure, and how to be intentional in this small window of her life. We also explored what it means to care deeply about her craft, and how falling short of her goals can reflect the depth of that care.

One moment that really stayed with me was her explanation of how she uses visualization in tough moments by calling on her "best self". I found this incredibly inspiring.

I am very grateful to Abby for this conversation and for her openness. I hope you enjoy listening.

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What did you think about this episode? Please leave your comments down below!