Great piece on an important topic. It’s an important reminder not to assume our cardiovascular health is great just because we’re runners. Unlike Karen’s a-fib and our friend Keith’s apparently Covid-related heart condition, sounds like Monica’s aortic aneurysm didn’t affect her running one iota. So scary to think something that serious could be wrong but throw off no warning signs.
I listen to loads of podcasts, but my choices are probably largely too idiosyncratic for others. 😂 Mainly I listen to true crime (Dateline and Mr Ballen are faves). Some others outside that genre that I’d recommend are Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History and a neat one on music called Strong Songs. I used to be really into This American Life and The Moth, and should probably return to them because they’re more nourishing than true crime. As for running podcasts, I also like the long form Ten Junk Miles podcast and, at the other end of the length spectrum, Between Two Pines cracks me up. Sally McRae’s Choose Strong can be hit or miss, but when she’s on I think it’s really good. I’m not really interested in news about and interviews with elites. Give me a good discussion about the mental barriers that hold us back, or how an average runner overcame challenges. Or the nitty gritty about a specific race I’m training for.
I so appreciate you bringing to light this important topic about heart health in athletes. It seems like the misconception that just by sheer nature of being an athlete, that we have a free pass to 100% good health, which isn’t always the case. Love all the podcast recommendations and agree with the criticisms on several you mention. I will add one more of my favorite running (but also, not about running) podcasts by females - Choose Strong with Sally McRae. Other non running podcast: You Are Not So Smart, Farewell (formerly, The Growth Equation) and We Can Do Hard Things.
Love this, but not just because you mentioned me. I like it when creators, thinkers, people I admire share what they are reading, watching, listening to. I can't tell you how many times I say to my wife "so and so" said this was good on their Substack. :). Thank you.
I rarely listen to podcasts while running, but when I do, it’s usually “Running Is Bullshit” (https://runningisbs.com/). It’s often goofy, sometimes serious, very entertaining. Fair warning though: The hosts, Stewart and Amy, take turns singing their Patreon supporters’ names to karaoke music. I’m mentioning this because I also listen with my phone in my pack’s pocket and no headphones, and have gotten some looks on the trail. Their singing is really bad.
As for non-running podcasts, one of my all-time favorites is “Ear Hustle” (https://www.earhustlesq.com/)—stories about life in prison (as well as post-incarceration). It’s fascinating and unlike anything else I’m currently listening to.
Youre a gem SLS .... always enjoy greeting a Wednesday with your musings...and perfect pitch teachable moments that you share...so here is mine...(dont be thrown by the podcast title) soooo, like you NPR is a go to, interviews by Teri Gross are best in class. Diverse and relevant...another you might like is focused on the entertainment industry from the Hollywood Reporter. The interviews are good mostly actors with some directors but the thing is I like listening to actors from time to time since storytelling is why I chose English as a major. Scripts are the blank slate for that. I listen to some specific ones for the that topic (Script Notes in particular) but for more general discussions it is fascinating to hear some actors (some are thinking people like George Clooney) and the pod Awards Chatter fm Hollywood Reporter is a decent diversion Since you mentioned actor Sterling K Brown here is a link for his interview (circa 2017) for you to judge and then review some of the talent that you might want to consider https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/awards-chatter/id1039032256?i=1000390981153
Great post !!!! Great medical insight and info and way to get certified!! With respect to exercise I can say from ER experience that movement is the best of medicines. If they could bottle it everyone would take it. I see 30 year olds that can’t get out of their own way and 80 year old marathoners and or farmers that are in much better shape than many 30-40 year olds I see. In many respects age is just a number and we can to some extent fight off the ill effects for quite some time. Sometimes I think that we become old when we decide that we are too old to do whatever so screw that sister.
Podcasts: I don't listen much anymore, but I love Trailrunner Nation (they were like my personal remote mentors when I was first starting to run long ultras). Much newer, but with a similar flavor, is The Running Mullet (as in business in the front, party in the back)... the cohosts (a front-of-the-pack guy and a back-of-the-pack lady, both with notable local FKTs and thoroughly plugged-in to the vibrant Pennsylvania trailrunning community) have great rapport and insightful discussions.
Really enjoyed being part of hearing Monica's story in the subscriber zoom call! And reading over again here. I listen to a wide range of podcasts too! Rich Roll is good for a long run, although depends on the guest.... I also enjoy Eat for Endurance podcast. Claire has some interesting guests and is a dietician focussing on endurance athletes. Non running but totally delightful is Rachell Belle's Your Last Meal!
What an insightful newsletter! I love everything about it, thank you. From my medical/professional perspective, I can't address enough how vital is everything you just shared. And as a somehow new runner, I keep learning about my body in ways I never knew before exercising more regularly as I do now. Not even the books during med school would teach me so much about my body.
I hope everyone reading your share here will understand the importance of taking good care of yourself, both through physical activity, and self awareness along with regular checkups.
Prevention will always be better than cure. And everyone's message and experience will always help others. 👏🏼👏🏼
Wow, so timely. First of all, I'm in shock about Monica, whom I remember from the very glory days of PNW you mentioned (and Montrail team). So grateful she's ok, as she's one of the handful few from those days who still races - and does it well. Secondly, I have a friend, former ultrarunner, who was "accidentally" diagnosed with aorta aunevrism. She hasn't chose a surgery yet, even though it's more than mild, but I wonder...And lastly, this year I got my blood test back with a very high cholesterol. Like, WTH? I'm seen my PCP in a couple of weeks, and wonder what he says and if he orders anything, but I'll keep all these stories in mind.
Thank you Olga, and good luck getting your cholesterol down. Maybe it's a case where your HDL (good cholesterol) is abnormally high so the overall number is high but it's not something to worry about too much due the high HDL? I never understood why the HDL and LDL are combined into a single number. Anyway, thank you for reading and I hope your new year is off to a good start.
But my fav over the last year has been The Big Dig, an investigation into the epic infrastructure project in Boston as an exploration for why the US can't build things anymore. I learned so much! https://www.wgbh.org/podcasts/the-big-dig
Great piece on an important topic. It’s an important reminder not to assume our cardiovascular health is great just because we’re runners. Unlike Karen’s a-fib and our friend Keith’s apparently Covid-related heart condition, sounds like Monica’s aortic aneurysm didn’t affect her running one iota. So scary to think something that serious could be wrong but throw off no warning signs.
I listen to loads of podcasts, but my choices are probably largely too idiosyncratic for others. 😂 Mainly I listen to true crime (Dateline and Mr Ballen are faves). Some others outside that genre that I’d recommend are Malcolm Gladwell’s Revisionist History and a neat one on music called Strong Songs. I used to be really into This American Life and The Moth, and should probably return to them because they’re more nourishing than true crime. As for running podcasts, I also like the long form Ten Junk Miles podcast and, at the other end of the length spectrum, Between Two Pines cracks me up. Sally McRae’s Choose Strong can be hit or miss, but when she’s on I think it’s really good. I’m not really interested in news about and interviews with elites. Give me a good discussion about the mental barriers that hold us back, or how an average runner overcame challenges. Or the nitty gritty about a specific race I’m training for.
All good points and recs! Thanks for reading. Can’t wait to talk to you.
I so appreciate you bringing to light this important topic about heart health in athletes. It seems like the misconception that just by sheer nature of being an athlete, that we have a free pass to 100% good health, which isn’t always the case. Love all the podcast recommendations and agree with the criticisms on several you mention. I will add one more of my favorite running (but also, not about running) podcasts by females - Choose Strong with Sally McRae. Other non running podcast: You Are Not So Smart, Farewell (formerly, The Growth Equation) and We Can Do Hard Things.
Thanks for reading and for the recommendations!
Love this, but not just because you mentioned me. I like it when creators, thinkers, people I admire share what they are reading, watching, listening to. I can't tell you how many times I say to my wife "so and so" said this was good on their Substack. :). Thank you.
Great post as always!
I rarely listen to podcasts while running, but when I do, it’s usually “Running Is Bullshit” (https://runningisbs.com/). It’s often goofy, sometimes serious, very entertaining. Fair warning though: The hosts, Stewart and Amy, take turns singing their Patreon supporters’ names to karaoke music. I’m mentioning this because I also listen with my phone in my pack’s pocket and no headphones, and have gotten some looks on the trail. Their singing is really bad.
As for non-running podcasts, one of my all-time favorites is “Ear Hustle” (https://www.earhustlesq.com/)—stories about life in prison (as well as post-incarceration). It’s fascinating and unlike anything else I’m currently listening to.
I haven't heard of those two pods but I'm intrigued to listen—thanks!
Youre a gem SLS .... always enjoy greeting a Wednesday with your musings...and perfect pitch teachable moments that you share...so here is mine...(dont be thrown by the podcast title) soooo, like you NPR is a go to, interviews by Teri Gross are best in class. Diverse and relevant...another you might like is focused on the entertainment industry from the Hollywood Reporter. The interviews are good mostly actors with some directors but the thing is I like listening to actors from time to time since storytelling is why I chose English as a major. Scripts are the blank slate for that. I listen to some specific ones for the that topic (Script Notes in particular) but for more general discussions it is fascinating to hear some actors (some are thinking people like George Clooney) and the pod Awards Chatter fm Hollywood Reporter is a decent diversion Since you mentioned actor Sterling K Brown here is a link for his interview (circa 2017) for you to judge and then review some of the talent that you might want to consider https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/awards-chatter/id1039032256?i=1000390981153
Great post !!!! Great medical insight and info and way to get certified!! With respect to exercise I can say from ER experience that movement is the best of medicines. If they could bottle it everyone would take it. I see 30 year olds that can’t get out of their own way and 80 year old marathoners and or farmers that are in much better shape than many 30-40 year olds I see. In many respects age is just a number and we can to some extent fight off the ill effects for quite some time. Sometimes I think that we become old when we decide that we are too old to do whatever so screw that sister.
Thanks for the heart-health reminders!
Podcasts: I don't listen much anymore, but I love Trailrunner Nation (they were like my personal remote mentors when I was first starting to run long ultras). Much newer, but with a similar flavor, is The Running Mullet (as in business in the front, party in the back)... the cohosts (a front-of-the-pack guy and a back-of-the-pack lady, both with notable local FKTs and thoroughly plugged-in to the vibrant Pennsylvania trailrunning community) have great rapport and insightful discussions.
I had not heard of that one. Thanks!
Really enjoyed being part of hearing Monica's story in the subscriber zoom call! And reading over again here. I listen to a wide range of podcasts too! Rich Roll is good for a long run, although depends on the guest.... I also enjoy Eat for Endurance podcast. Claire has some interesting guests and is a dietician focussing on endurance athletes. Non running but totally delightful is Rachell Belle's Your Last Meal!
What an insightful newsletter! I love everything about it, thank you. From my medical/professional perspective, I can't address enough how vital is everything you just shared. And as a somehow new runner, I keep learning about my body in ways I never knew before exercising more regularly as I do now. Not even the books during med school would teach me so much about my body.
I hope everyone reading your share here will understand the importance of taking good care of yourself, both through physical activity, and self awareness along with regular checkups.
Prevention will always be better than cure. And everyone's message and experience will always help others. 👏🏼👏🏼
I’m glad you found my newsletter & thanks for reading!
Wow, so timely. First of all, I'm in shock about Monica, whom I remember from the very glory days of PNW you mentioned (and Montrail team). So grateful she's ok, as she's one of the handful few from those days who still races - and does it well. Secondly, I have a friend, former ultrarunner, who was "accidentally" diagnosed with aorta aunevrism. She hasn't chose a surgery yet, even though it's more than mild, but I wonder...And lastly, this year I got my blood test back with a very high cholesterol. Like, WTH? I'm seen my PCP in a couple of weeks, and wonder what he says and if he orders anything, but I'll keep all these stories in mind.
Thank you Olga, and good luck getting your cholesterol down. Maybe it's a case where your HDL (good cholesterol) is abnormally high so the overall number is high but it's not something to worry about too much due the high HDL? I never understood why the HDL and LDL are combined into a single number. Anyway, thank you for reading and I hope your new year is off to a good start.
Love it. One podcast that generated some fun conversation among running buddies was been Rob Reiner's "Who Killed JFK?" that he put together with Soledad O'Brian: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-who-killed-jfk-127000428/
But my fav over the last year has been The Big Dig, an investigation into the epic infrastructure project in Boston as an exploration for why the US can't build things anymore. I learned so much! https://www.wgbh.org/podcasts/the-big-dig
Thanks Sam! I love deep-dive podcasts (e.g. Dolly Parton’s America).
And thanks for the pod cast recommendations ❤️👍