The Steep Stuff Podcast
Episodes
#181 - Simon Kearns
22 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailMount Rainier is not the place where you get to switch your brain off and “just suffer.” The route moves, the glacier breathes, an...
#180 - Taylor Stack
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA muddy mountainside, a deafening wall of fans, and a start line stacked with icons of trail running. Taylor Stack joins us right afte...
Some Thoughts on Zegama
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailZegama-Aizkorri in the rain is supposed to slow people down. Instead, it gave us one of the loudest statements of the year, and I need...
#179 - Kristina Randrup
16 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA pro trail runner who spends her days modeling blue whale populations sounds like a made-up character, but Kristina Randrup is very r...
Zegama-Aizkorri Race Companion
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailZegama-Aizkorri is the race that turns a mountain into a stadium. One steep Basque climb packed with cowbells, one technical day where...
#178 - Stevie Kremer
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailStevie Kremer's name is stitched into trail running history, but the part that surprised us most wasn’t the podiums. It was how...
#177 - Kieran Nay
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailHe flew across the world, navigated a high-stakes visa process, got sick right before travel, and still walked away with a breakthroug...
#176 - David Norris
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailDavid Norris is stacking proof-of-fitness in the most honest way possible: show up early, race hard, learn fast. We sit down to catch ...
#175 - Max King
30 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailBarkley Marathons is famous for suffering, but Max King explains the part most people miss: it’s a puzzle that rewards cooperation a...
#174 - Erin Ton
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailShe’s calling in from the backcountry of Utah with a Starlink connection, fresh off slot canyons, desert miles, and yet another FKT....
#173 - Olivia Amber
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailShe steps away from competition for years because of serious health issues then returns with a top-five at Transgrancanaria and an aud...
#172 - Marcel Höche
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA top European trail runner lands in the US, strings together races and workouts across the West, and leaves with a clearer view of wh...
Announcing Our Presenting Sponsor
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuf...
#171 - Aimee Kohler, Founder & RD of The Running Kind
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailTrail running says it loves the outdoors, but are we willing to change how we race to protect the places we run? I’m joined by Aimee...
#170 - Christopher Fisher
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailChris Fisher just came back from a three-month Ecuador adventure that started with almost no plan and turned into a full-on human-powe...
Tyler McCandless | Gorge Waterfalls 30K Pre Race Interview
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA stacked start line, a rolling course that never lets your legs settle, and a late climb that can flip the whole day on its head. Tha...
Robin Vieira Brower | Gorge Waterfalls 30K Pre Race Interview
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA fast 30K can be more intimidating than a steep ultra, especially when the trail begs you to push from the opening minute. James sits...
Mason Coppi | Gorge Waterfalls 30K Pre Race Interview
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA great race can change your season, but it can also expose every weakness you’ve been dodging. We’re joined by Mason Coppi for a ...
Grant Colligan | Gorge Waterfalls 30K Pre Race Interview
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA course that makes you hammer 5:15 pace on the road, then immediately asks you to thread technical trail like you still have fresh le...
Alexa Aragon | Gorge Waterfalls 30K Pre Race Interview
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailThe Gorge Waterfalls 30K brings a rare mix of speed and strength: runnable trail, road sections where pace changes can stick, and late...
#168 - Caleb Hardaway
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA five hour push across Boulder’s Flatirons sounds like a hard trail run until you add exposed scrambling, solo climbing up to 5.7, ...
#168 - Mountain Tiger RD's, Connor & Alice Curley
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA great trail race isn’t a distance on a flyer, it’s a line you cannot stop thinking about. I sit down with Connor and Alice, the ...
The Sub Stack Short Trail News - Episode 3
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailBig Alta didn’t just crown winners, it showed how quickly short trail racing in the U.S. is leveling up. Rachel & James break do...
Kyle Richardson Signs with Arc’teryx
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailBreaking news with a human pulse: we sit down with Kyle Richardson to unpack his move to Arc’teryx and what it means for the future ...
Zachary Erikson - 2026 Trail Team Selection
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA re-release with a purpose: we’re celebrating Zach Erickson’s selection to the 2026 Trail Team Elite and unpacking the gritty, ho...
Maya Rayle - 2026 Trail Team Selection
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA Harvard biologist who loved salamanders, a Wisconsin grad-year racer chasing deeper fields, and a Montana transplant who found her s...
Grace Strongman - 2026 Trail Team Selection
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailThe NCAA doesn’t last forever, but the hunger to train, compete, and belong to a team doesn’t magically disappear at graduation. T...
Elise Coates - 2026 Trail Team Selection
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA stress fracture can either end your momentum or teach you how to build a career that actually lasts. I’m joined by Elise Coates, f...
Paul Knight - 2026 Trail Team Selection
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailYou can feel the moment a runner starts to outgrow the track and get pulled back toward the mountains. That’s where we meet Paul Kni...
Jane Maus Signs With Arc'teryx + Debriefs of the Black Canyon 50K, Grand Teton & World Mountain Running Champs
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us Fan MailA late-race surge, a flow-state descent, and a new home with the bird—this conversation with Jane Moss is pure momentum. We kick off...
#167 - Kalie McCrystal
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textA helmet for the whole race. Crumbly rock. Big exposure. And somehow a course record anyway. We’re joined by Kalie McCrystal fresh off he...
#166 - Alex King, Founder of Terignōta
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textYou can feel the momentum from the first minute: a year after his last visit, Alex King returns with a bigger warehouse, a stronger brand s...
Robin Vieira Brower Signs with Oiselle
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textBig news meets bigger mountains. We sit down with Robin Vieira Brower to unpack her dual signing with Oiselle—as a professional athlete a...
#165 - Josh Potvin
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textThe path from a bumpy summer to a national kit isn’t straight, and that’s exactly why this conversation hits. We sit down with Canadian...
Colorado Springs Trail Running Camp for Kids (COS-TRCK) - with Dreama Walton, Joseph Gray & Annie Hughes
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textWant to see a kid light up after nailing a steep climb? We sat down with pros Joseph Gray, Annie Hughes, and Dreama Walton to unpack how a ...
Announcing Cirque Series Baldy & Jay Peak with Julian Carr & Steve White
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textBig news drops: we’re adding two late-season mountain classics to the Cirque Series calendar and turning it into a true coast-to-coast sl...
The Sub Stack Short Trail News - Episode 2
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textStart with a helmet-required skyrace where five to six hours at altitude is just the warm-up, then jump to an Olympic mixed relay finish de...
#164 - Zachary Erikson
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textWhat if getting cut—twice—was the best thing that ever happened to your running? We sit down with 2025 Collegiate National Trail Champi...
Can Skyrunning Survive Long Term in America ? (With Co Host, Tom Hooper)
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textSkyrunning on American granite hits different. We sat down with race director Tom Hooper of 603 Endurance to unpack why the Kismet Cliff Ru...
#162 - Addison Smith, Coaching Series - RPE VS HR Training
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textStart lines are loud, data is messy, and mountains don’t care about your watch. We sat down with coach and ultrarunner Addison Smith to s...
#161 - Michelino Sunseri
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textWhat happens when raw talent, relentless prep, and an unfiltered voice collide with a sport increasingly driven by optics? We sit down with...
#160 - Jackson Cole
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textSteep grades, sharper ideas, and zero fluff—this conversation with Jackson Cole tracks a season where grit meets growth. We start with th...
Introducing The Sub Stack, The News Show for all Things Short Trail
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textIntroducing The Sub Stack, The News Show for all Things Short Trail Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on...
The Sub Stack Short Trail News - Episode 1
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send a textBig changes hit short trail running, and we’re here for all of it. We kick off The Substack with Rachel Tomajczyk to unpack the new Golde...
#159 - Travis Macy, Host of Skimo Gold
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textYou press play for stoke, but stay for substance. We sit down with legendary endurance athlete and coach Travis Macy to unpack ski mount...
#158 - Aaron Barber, Race Director of Flagstaff Skypeaks
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe mountain weekend Flagstaff has been waiting for just showed up with big legs and bigger lungs. We sit down with race director Aaron ...
#157 - "Goldy" - Voice of the Beehive Bandwagon
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe voice you hear at the steepest start lines has a story—and a system. We sit down with Goldy, the announcer behind the Cirque Serie...
#156 - Matt Chorney
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWant to know how an elite mountain runner designs the very supplements he trusts on race day? We sit down with Momentus VP of Innovation...
#155 - Cam Smith
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA high-stakes relay, a new Olympic sport, and two athletes who refused to blink. We sit down with Cam Smith to unpack how he and Anna Gi...
#154 - Mason Coppi
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat does it take to race on the edge, fix your flaws, and build a season that holds up under pressure? We dive deep with Mason Copi, fr...
#153 - Grayson Murphy
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA world champion who won’t let algorithms define her worth—Grayson Murphy joins us for a candid, sharp, and hopeful conversation abo...
#152 - Coleman Cragun
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA young ultra runner with a mountain kid heart and a pro’s mindset—Coleman Cragun brings the heat. We dig into how he went from SUU ...
#151 - Tom Hooper, Six03 Endurance
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textMoney is moving up the mountain, and the Northeast is ready for it. We sit down with Tom Hooper of 603 Endurance to unpack how a new par...
State of the Steep Stuff
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTrail running deserves sharper storytelling than recycled podium posts. We open the books on Steep Stuff: what we botched in 2025, what ...
#150 - Lucy Kolpa
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA late start, a canceled senior season, and a move to Bozeman turned Lucy Kolpa from a soccer defender into one of trail running’s mos...
#149 - Tayler Tuttle Peavey
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe spark wasn’t love at first stride. Tayler Tuttle Peavey once hated running, chose softball, and struggled through PE miles—then ...
Best of 2025 - Ryan Becker Fan Favorite Episode
03 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBest of 2025 - Ryan Becker Fan Favorite Episode Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff...
Best of 2025 - Emma Cook Clarke Fan Favorite Episode
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBest of 2025 - Emma Cook Clarke Fan Favorite Episode Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steep...
Best of 2025 - Jane Maus Fan Favorite Episode
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBest of 2025 - Jane Maus Fan Favorite Episode Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_p...
Best of 2025 - Kyle Richardson Fan Favorite Episode
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBest of 2025 - Kyle Richardson Fan Favorite Episode Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steeps...
Best of 2025 - Bailey Kowalczyk Fan Favorite Episode
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBest of 2025 - Bailey Kowalczyk Fan Favorite Episode Follow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steep...
Best of 2025 - Anton Krupicka Fan Favorite Episode
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textFollow James on IG - @jameslauriello Follow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_pod
#148 - Mathias Eichler, RD Beast of Big Creek
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA world-level skyrace is returning to U.S. soil, and the path runs straight up a rugged Olympic Mountains summit. We sit down with race ...
#147 - Sean Rimmer, PT, DPT, OCS (Run Potential PT) Discussion on Hips, Pelvis & Nerve Injuries in Runners
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe ache that won’t sit still, the quad-dominant stride, the back that tightens after miles on trail—none of it is random. We invite...
Talking Prize Money with Erik from Run.Fund
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe sport keeps growing, the livestreams keep improving, and the fields get deeper every year—so why do so many iconic ultras still of...
#146 - Emma Cook-Clarke
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat does it take to choose the mountains when a different calling has your heart? We sit with Arc’teryx athlete Emma Cook-Clarke for ...
The World Skyrunner Series has Returned to the United States
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textBreaking news rarely hits mountain running like this. The World Skyrunner Series is officially returning to the United States, and the B...
#145 - Coree Woltering
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat happens when a top ultrarunner steps behind the curtain and starts managing athletes, budgets, and contracts—while still chasing ...
#144 - McKennon Woltman
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat happens when a Texas kid with marathon roots drops 60 pounds, moves across continents to mentor young athletes in Kenya, and then t...
#143 - Michael Wirth
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat happens when a mountain athlete chooses meaning over metrics? We sit down with ski mountaineer and mountain runner Michael Wirth fo...
#142 - Robin Vieira Brower
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe view from a razorback ridge can change your life—and your training. We invited Robin Vieira Brower, one of the few American women ...
#141 - Noah McMahan
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA Tahoe childhood can shape an athlete for life—and Noah McMahan proves it. At 19, he’s a Gonzaga steeplechaser who keeps his easy r...
#140 - Mali Noyes
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat happens when a Nordic engine meets Wasatch steeps and a taste for big objectives? We sit down with pro skier and trail runner Mali ...
#139 - Niko Teller
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe road from an Okinawan family dojo to the rocky spine of the Northeast isn’t as long as it looks. Meet trail runner and former Muay...
#138 - Makena Morley
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA road racer with big engine and bigger grit, Makena Morley decided to test the mountains—and then turned a curious experiment into a ...
#137 - Chad Hall
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe plan was simple: go test the 100K waters. The reality was a masterclass in pacing, hydration, and what happens when marathon instinc...
#136 - Alicia Vargo
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA broken back, a fractured knee, and nearly a year off running—then podiums at Pikes Peak Ascent, Kodiak, and Moab. That’s the arc A...
#135 - Nick Cornell, Founder of Trailhead Athlete Management
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe sport we love is growing up, and that’s a good thing—if we build it right. I’m joined by athlete and agent Nick Cornell of Tra...
#134 - Zach Colby, Founder of Dust
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA brand doesn’t become real the day the website goes live—it becomes real the day someone beats it up on a mountain and still reache...
#133 - Abby Lock
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA sharpening workout at 10,000 feet. A sudden stab in the chest. Vision slipping. Hours later, Abby Locke learned her right lung had col...
Coaching Mini-Series Episode 1 with Addison Smith
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textReady to stop signing up for everything and start building a season that actually fits your life? We sit down with CTS coach Addison Smi...
#132 - Adrian Macdonald
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA week after tackling a steep Canadian classic, two-time Leadville champion Adrian Macdonald joins us to chart a season that nearly went...
#131 - Dan Curts
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA tailbone crash on a triangle rock. A season of strange falls and late-race cramping. And then a decision to tear it all down and rebui...
#130 - Francesco Sunseri
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA short trail host, a 214-mile finish, and a brutally honest look at what it really takes to cross a 200-mile line with your head still ...
World Mountain & Trail Running Championship Recap with Paul Kirsch & Tom Hooper
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA month after Canfranc, the dust has settled but the stories still sting—sometimes literally. We sat down with Team USA leaders Paul K...
#128 - Amanda Koslosky
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat if you didn’t grow up on a track and still became a force on steep, thin-air courses? We sit down with Colorado Springs native Am...
#127 - David Sinclair
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textTen hours on the edge, a live stream watched by hundreds of thousands, and a second-place finish that announced David Sinclair to the wo...
#126 - Tyler McCandless
13 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe race began before the gun—shoulder to shoulder, 12 rows deep, with a call-up protocol that flipped expectations and turned the ope...
Golden Trail World Series Final Preview with Robert Prosser
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textGolden Trail World Series Final Preview with Robert Prosser Follow Robert Prosser on Substack - @robrunsround (substack.com/@robrunsrou...
#125 - David Hedges
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textA fall storm, ankle‑deep snow, and a west wind tearing across the Sawatch set the stage—then David Hedges took the Nolans 14 record ...
#124 - Kyle Richardson
06 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textStart in city gravel, end on a knife-edge ridge. That’s the arc of Kyle Richardson’s 1,300-mile Northeast Summits Tour—fifteen day...
#123 - Ben Robinson
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat if the best prep for a world-stage 50K isn’t altitude at all—but rock, root, and relentless decision-making? That’s the case ...
#122 - Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau
30 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat does it take to race at a world-class level when running itself isn’t an option? We sit with Meikael Beaudoin-Rousseau to trace a...
World Championships Race Preview & Analysis - Uphill, Mtn Classic & Short Trail with Robert Prosser
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textThe mountains of Spain are set to host an unprecedented gathering of mountain running talent as the World Mountain Running Championships...
Noah Williams - Pre 2025 World Trail Championship Interview
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textNoah Williams has been on fire this summer. Fresh off a breakthrough performance at Sierre-Zinal where he clocked an impressive 2:45:10 ...
Anna Gibson & Cam Smith - Pre 2025 World Trail Championship Interview
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textCam Smith and Anna Gibson join the podcast from Italy where they're juggling an extraordinary athletic challenge. Currently trainin...
Michelino Sunseri - Pre 2025 World Trail Championship Interview
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat does it truly mean to represent your country on the world stage? For Michelino Senseri, it's the fulfillment of a childhood dr...
Remi Leroux - Pre 2025 World Trail Championship Interview
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat happens when you throw away your carefully crafted race plan and follow your intuition instead? For elite mountain runner Remi Lero...
Mason Coppi - Pre 2025 World Trail Championship Interview
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textWhat happens when you suddenly find yourself among the world's elite athletes? Mason Coppi, who has exploded onto the sub-ultra mou...
Christian "Slim" Allen - Pre 2025 World Trail Championship Interview
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a textChristian Allen takes us deep into the rugged heart of the Pyrenees as he prepares to represent Team USA at the World Mountain Running C...