Take Off Your Shoes

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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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.

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I truly appreciate you taking the time to listen and read this. Take care and until next time!

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!

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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 Instagram⁠
Check out what she and her team are doing with ⁠Culxtured⁠!
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Thank you very much for taking the time to listen; it means a lot. Take care, and until next time!