The Better Podcast
The Better Podcast features professional endurance coaches Joe Howdyshell and Matti Rowe discussing how to improve life through endurance sports. Other episodes pair Joe Howdyshell with athlete Grace Staberg to interview guests from the endurance industry. The hosts answer listener questions about endurance sport challenges, aiming to cut through misinformation and provide a clear roadmap to becoming better.
Episodes
Episode 59: New Year, New Subtractions?
It's that time of year. Many of us want some shit to change,... how do we go about it? By adding stuff to do? Or by subtracting?
Episode 58: Skimo Gold interview about The Book!
This one is a little different! Travis Macy and Cam Smith had me on the Skimo Gold podcast to talk about Badass Class: The Real Life Guide to Training for Endurance Sports, and we had a blast! Check it out!
Episode 57: Holidays, USA Skimo Olympics, VO2max training
Hot damn, it's the most complicated time of the year! Joe and Matti talk about how to get through the holidays, Joe's experience at the Skimo World Cup that won the US a spot to the Olympics, VO2max training, and of course, a fair share of tangents!
Episode 56: Stimulants, Adaptation, and Systems!
Weeooo! Between Matti's third kid and Joe's racing comback, this is a wild one! WE talk about caffeine, stimulants, social media, chihuahuas(?), and a whole lot more!
Episode 55: Guardrails!
How do we make sure that the amount of training is right? That it's not too much? That it's enough? Matti and I talk about the different ways of monitoring load, phsyiology, stress, and some systems of how to use them together.
Episode 54: The Return! Broken bones, aging athletes, and Joe's new BOOK!
Hot damn, it's been a minute. We're back and fired up talking about Matti's summer, Joe's new book, and lots of side-tracks of thoughts on how to help athletes. It's a good one, get into it!
Episode 53: On the benefits of competition
Catching up, ranting a little, you know, the usual. We talk about the challenges (but also benefits) of strong competition, why progress isn't a buffet line, and a bunch of our usual tangets. This one is hiiiiight energy!
Episode 52: Unbound Gravel prep with Matti and Uri
Oh Unbound, you crazy beast! We talk about why Unbound is cool even if you don't like gravel (Joe), how to not die on your first ultra (Matti), and how to actually fuel properly (Uri). While Unbound is the topic, if you do ultra (longer than 2-3 hours) events, there's some good stuff in here for you!
Episode 51: Nutrition with Uri Carlson
It's been a while since we've had Uri on, but she's one of the originals, back from Episode 8! If there's one theme here it's probably "mastering the basics." We talk about blood testing, supplementation, sweat testing, and a whole lot more!
Episode 50: Mental Map Vs. Reality
Joe and Matti talk about the dangers of not challenging assumptions, the importance of using reality as a place to make training decisions, and you, know, the usual dumb jokes.
Episode 49 with Matti: Random Show
Whew, it's been a minute, but we're back! Today Matti and I catch up about not being bulletproof, philosophy shifts, and how workouts don't happen in isolation. We have some fun, we talk about some nerdy shit, and yeah, we (I) say the F-word a few times. Good to be back!
Episode 48 with Matti: Catching up, and Compassion
After catching up on each other's fall shenanigans, we talk about how to have self-compassion for ourselves while maintaining high standards.
Episode 47 with Cam Smith: Croissants, Injuries, and Lessons from Elite Skimo
Cameron "Cam" Smith is an elite skimo racer and mountain runner. We talk about him coming back from an ACL tear in February 2023, what Americans need to do to be consistently competitive in World Cup Skimo, and how what his current croissant count is.
Episode 46 with Kylee Van Horn: Nutrition for Skimo!
Joe and Kylee sat down and talked about the nutritional differences between summer sports and skimo. How to hydrate, how to fuel, and even hour to tackle the holidays!
Episode 45 with Brynne Goldberg: Athletes and Mental Health
In this episode, Brynne and Joe sit down to talk about athlete mental health, athlete identity, anxiety, and working on how to turn down the dial on those demons.
Episode 44: Coaching Joe
Matti sits down and interviews Joe about Joe's training and what it's like working with a coach for the first time in several years!
Episode 43: EK Sports Interview with Eric Kenney
Joe sits down and chats with Eric Kenney from EK Endurance Coaching!
Episode 42: Influences of Coaching
Joe and Matti go through their years of coaching and discuss what books, coaches, classes, and friends have been the greatest influences on their coaching careers. Listen to this one if you are looking for more resources on training!
Special Episode 41: Lordy, Lordy, Joe turns Forty!
Friends sit down with birthday man Joe for a personal interview and a window into his brain!
Episode 40: Underfueling, GI issues, and more with Kylee Van Horn of Fly Nutrition
Joe talks with special guest Kylee Van Horn of Fly Nutrition about what happens when you start eating enough for training, strength and nutrition, underfueling, GI issues, and more on this weeks The Better Podcast!
Episode 39: Joe Learns Enduro, Matti Crushes Gravel
Joe and Matti are back diving deeper into Joe's first enduro mountain bike race and the skills learned racing, and Matti's experience at Unbound Gravel.
Episode 38: Bike Racing and Carbs for Athletes
Gravel and mountain biking racing is here and Joe and Matti talk about the challenges (good and bad) that come with pushing your skills on a bike, along with carbs, recovery, and adaptation as an athlete.
Episode 37: Fitness kills... the competition.
Should you break the bank on that new bike? Or is that money better spent elsewhere, or even saved?! Joe and Matti talk skimo gear, bikes, and training, and where your investments should lie on this week's Better Podcast.
Episode 36: Pelvic Floor and the Athlete
What are the benefits of a strong pelvic floor? What even IS a pelvic floor? Join Joe and Matti as they discuss with Quinn, a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pelvic health, the world of pelvic floor therapy and the benefits of strengthening the muscles you don't think about much.
Episode 35: Training When Not Young
How do you get fast and stay fast when you are not super young?... While also beating the young guns! Joe and Matti dig into the biological, social, and psychological factors at play.
Episode 34: Joe, Matti, and Morning Routines
Joe and Matti answer a listener's question about morning routines. They dig into morning workouts, sleep, alcohol, screen time, food, and much more!
Episode 33: Joe, Matti, and Ownership
Joe and Matti chat about ownership and how owning your training plan will lead to the best results. They dive into the patterns, habits, and mindset that support this process. Grab a pen and paper because this one has tons of great tips and ideas!
Episode 32: Joe, Matti, and the Holidays
Wondering how to balance the holidays with training? All those cookies... so much alcohol... too much togetherness! Joe and Matti will calm your impending stress in this week's episode. Check out these tips so you can head into next week feeling relaxed and ready for the Holidays!
Episode 31: Joe's Process
Joe and Matti discuss Joe's athletic journey and his process for getting back to training. They dive into injuries, athletic identity, coaching philosophies, and strength training insights.
Episode 30: Joe, Matti, and Summer Lessons
Joe and Matti have a fun chat to recap this summer and all the lessons learned along the way. Including Joe's mindset shift brought on by mountain biking and Matti's race experiences + gravel goals.
Episode 29: Joe, Matti, and Concepts
Joe and Matti discuss some general concepts that relate to many different areas in life, including training. These patterns can help us have clarity on the best course of action so we can get to where we want to be faster.
Episode 28: Joe, Grace, and Rea Kolbl
Joe and Grace are joined by Rea Kolbl - gymnast turned runner turned obstacle course racer turned skimo racer! She shares her unique perspective on being a professional athlete, life, training, and so much more.
Episode 27: Joe, Grace, and Sarah Cookler
Joe and Grace talk with badass athlete, Silverfork skimo coach, race director, and emergency room PA, Sarah Cookler. They chat about Sarah's background, how she started a skimo club, the future of the Powderkeg, and a ton more!
Episode 26: Coach Jaime, Kevin Clarke and Bryan MacGurn
Coach Jaime Brede talks with two of her athletes, Kevin Clarke and Bryan MacGurn. They highlight the value of planning, consistency, communication, enjoying the process, and finding your "why". This one is packed with valuable insights!
Episode 25: Joe, Brad and Nikki LaRochelle
Joe talks with badass mountain athletes and parents, Brad and Nikki LaRochelle. The three dive into how Brad and Nikki juggle training, endurance goals, family, and parenting. Joe gives a shout-out to summer coaching plans and short/fast mountain running races.
Episode 24: Joe, Matti, and Andy Rowe
Joe and Matti are joined by Andy Rowe. And yes, he is Matti's big brother! Andy went through an incredible journey to health and is here to tell his candid story. From poor eating habits, stress, weight gain, to weight loss, and achieving goals, this episode is an awesome and inspiring roller coaster. "You'll never be perfectly prepared - just move forward imperfectly. The important thing is th
Episode 23: Joe, Grace, and Rob Coppolillo
Joe and Grace talk with mountain guide, author, and skimo friend, Rob Coppolillo. They cover Rob's background in guiding, his impressive publications, living in Chamonix, and so much more!
Episode 22: Joe, Grace, and Jaime Brede
Joe and Grace talk with SEA and Team Summit coach and endurance athlete Jaime Brede. They dive into Jaime's background, racing at the pro/elite level, and her transition into coaching. Also, Jaime gives a shout-out to Team Summit, Joe encourages checking out USA Skimo and Grace promotes Skimo Stats.
Episode 21: Joe, Matti, and Relationships
Joe and Matti discuss relationships and training. They cover it all, from communication tips, setting expectations, being ok with some selfishness, and providing support. Also, Matti looks ahead to gravel races while Joe is in skimo mode, including consulting and customizing training plans.
Episode 20: Joe, Grace, and Brooke Haynes
Joe and Grace talk to SEA athlete, Brooke Haynes about her path to becoming an athlete in her late 20's. Together they chat about balancing training with work/family/friends and dive into keeping things fun! Also, Grace continues her European adventures and prepares for the French Cup while Joe is back to racing here in Summit County.
Episode 19: Joe, Grace, and Kylee Van Horn
This episode will fuel your body and soul. Joe and Grace sit down with sports dietitian extraordinaire Kylee Van Horn from Fly Nutrition. Together they answer questions like 'how much should you eat during a workout?', 'how to keep your fuel from freezing on cold days?', and 'what's the weirdest workout fuel choice you've seen?'.
Episode 18: Joe, Grace, and Doug Stenclik
Doug Stenclik, from Cripple Creek Backcountry, Wild Snow, and the Totally Deep Podcast, joins this episode to talk skimo gear, tell some comical race stories, and play a little ski mountaineering 'would you rather'. Also in this episode, Grace goes to Europe and Joe takes a vacation.
Episode 17: Joe, Matti, and High Fat Low Carb
Joe and Matti debate the High Fat Low Carb nutrition trends and their impact on athlete performance. They do a deep dive into what really happens in the body during fat adapted racing and training. Matti is back on the bike racing and Joe is back in the snow getting stoked for winter.
Episode 16: Joe, Grace, and Dirk Friel
Joe and Grace talk with Dirk Friel, Co-Founder and Chief Evangelist at Training Peaks. Get excited for winter and learn how Training Peaks can help optimize your training. Also, Grace races in Broken Arrow before heading to Europe while Joe works the Badass Class circuit.
Episode 15: Joe, Matti, and Dopamine
Eat your heart out science nerds! Joe and Matti review a podcast about dopamine and apply their learnings to optimize endurance sport and training. Joe does a deep dive into additional dopamine research and compares his findings to the podcast. They discuss how dopamine influences addiction, motivation, and what is known and unknown about how it works. Also, Matti's son has started ripping around
Episode 14: Joe, Grace, and Chris Knerl
Joe and Grace talk to Chris Knerl, Strength Coach and Performance Manager at Howard Head Sports Medicine, about strength philosophies, strategies, and Grace's box jumps. This one includes a lot of knowledge and some motivational phrases you can tape to your mirror.
Episode 13: Joe, Matti, and Injuries
Joe and Matti discuss injuries; everyday habits to prevent them and what to do about niggles (little pains that could turn into big injuries if not addressed properly). Also, Matti prepares for his final bike race of the season and Joe continues to work on an injury of his own.
Episode 12: Joe, Matti, and The Two Week Break
As the summer training and race season comes to an end, do you need to take a two week break? Joe and Matti explore the benefits of seasonal breaks and how to spend those dreaded 14 days without training and racing. Matti tells a harrowing story of getting lost during a gravel bike race. Also, how is success defined as an athlete? And is it really possible to find the perfect balance between paren
Episode 11: Joe and Grace and Ram Mikulas
Joe and Grace talk to USSMA Board President, Ram Mikulas about how the sport of skimo gets to be included in the Olympics. Also, Grace dominates The Rut, Joe is back to hard workouts, and everyone has a take on intervals called Build-A-Bear.
Episode 10: Joe and Grace and Off Season Stoke
In this episode Joe and Grace talk about off season training, how to use poles while running, and the smoke factor.
Episode 9: EK Endurance Coaching
In this episode we sit down with Erik Kenney from EK Endurance Coaching, professional multi-sport coach based out of Boulder, CO with a focus on triathletes.
Episode 8: Nutrition with Uri Carlson
In this episode we sit down with Uri Carlson, a local dietician and badass bike racer to chat about nutrition, bike racing, documentaries, and a whole lot more.
Episode 7: The Process, with Liam Doran
In this episode we talk to Liam Doran, a professional action sports photographer. One of the things I really appreciate about Liam is that things don't happen by accident. He works HARD at his craft, never taking it for granted that he will be picked. In this episode we talk about Injury, we talk about the similarities of "The process" between photography and sport, and we talk about how fitness h
Episode 6: The World Is On Fire
This week's topics include submissive urination (in dogs), the importance of setting boundaries when life and work are stressful, different ways of coping during shit times, and the joys (not) of mountain biking in snowstorms.
Episode 5: What's Cooler Than Being Cool?
COVID Contemplations: What are the best podcast? When should you take a rest week? Can I out-drink someone who weights 40 pounds more than me? How does a short-term loss of coolness result in long-term ultra coolness?
Episode 4: Sam O'Keefe
The last of our archived episodes from 2018. Sam O'Keefe joins us in top-secret SEA headquarters. One of my favorite things about Sam is that he doesn't take sports too seriously. And yet he's fast AF. He's interested in other things, he has hobbies, wants to be educate and involved, and LOVES to be/get fast. I think that's why we get along so well, because we can be suffering on a ride or clim
Episode 3: Jaime Brede
Another one from the vaults! We recorded this podcast live when Coach Jaime Brede joined the squad. We talk about her background, food, her athlete style, food, how she stays fired up after 20 years of training, and food. Jaime is a great athlete, coach, and person, I hope you enjoy getting to know her!
Episode 2: On Badassery
We talk about the definition of Badass, using performance for weight loss, and a little bit off happiness!
Episode 1: The Backstory
This podcast has been an idea for a long time. I'm recording this intro on July 4th 2020, but this episode was actually recorded on June 23rd 2018. Matti and I have been friends for years, so we thought it would be fitting to record out first episode in Grand County, Colorado, where it all began. We start chatting about following the plan, and then get into a bit of our origin story, training
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