Shows
Purple Patch PodcastGood for a Girl - A Woman Running in a Man's World (Interview with Lauren Fleshman)Matt Welcomes former professional runner, running coach, and author Lauren Fleshman to the show to celebrate the release of her autobiographical memoir, Good for a Girl: A Woman Running in a Man’s World. Lauren details her new book which uses her personal experience and the challenges she faced as a collegiate and professional athlete in a male-centric environment, as a catalyst to bring about significant change in women’s athletics. Matt and Lauren discuss women’s sports in a male arena and how to reframe the female experience in a way that is grounded in kno...2023-01-111h 09
Ali on the Run ShowRun Your Way with Lauren Fleshman "It shouldn’t be this tough. It doesn’t need to be this tough. You shouldn’t need that much toughness to succeed. Of course you need to have drive and need to work hard and all those things. That’s not the kind of toughness I’m talking about. I’m talking about dealing with the unnecessary obstacles that a lot of female athletes are faced with." Welcome to the new "Run Your Way" series on the Ali on the Run Show. If I've learned anything (and I have, I swear!) from 600 episodes of...2023-01-101h 02
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas88: Book Update! Pole Pedal Paddle, Triathlon Cramps, Morton's Neuroma, Kid FearsLauren and Jesse jump on the mic after Lauren passed a major milestone with her book and Jesse's recent win at the Bend Pole Pedal Paddle. It's been a busy year, y'know?! After some life updates, the WPL duo answer some tasty bites about board game recommendations, therapy, training for a half marathon, and more. Plus, they dig into how a triathlete can rebound after suffering severe cramps on race day, they offer advice to an active couple dealing with a tough medical diagnosis, and they answer some questions from someone who's scared about having kids when their partner's...2022-05-3056 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas87: Picky Bars and Laird Superfood Update, Racing Stress-Dreams, Sha’Carri Richardson, Diet Culture Lingo, Injured-Partner ActivitiesIt’s been a while, and just *a few* things have happened since our last episode. Jesse and Lauren jump on the mic to talk about Laird Superfood acquiring Picky Bars and answer some of your burnin’ Work Play Love questions. They talk about racing stress-dreams, what activities you can do with an injured partner (when you’re sick of watching movies), diet-culture lingo, WADA and Sha’Carri Richardson, and more. 2021-07-131h 00Ali on the Run ShowMotherhood LIVE, with Lauren Fleshman, Alysia Montaño, Stephanie Bruce, & Dawn Harper-Nelson Happy Mother's Day! Earlier this week, I had the honor and privilege of hosting a virtual live show with four inspiring, iconic women: Lauren Fleshman, Alysia Montaño, Stephanie Bruce, and Dawn Harper-Nelson. It was an open, honest, totally unfiltered conversation about the realities of motherhood — the good, the bad, the messy, the 4 AM feedings, and the pressure we put on ourselves to, sigh, "do it all." We talked about asking for help, and why that can be more complicated than it seems, and talked about what mothers need — like really need — to thrive in society today. (And we r...2021-05-081h 32Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas86: Counting Calories, The Return Of Race Season, Spontaneous vs. Responsive Desire, Achieving The “Perfect Weight”Spring has sprung, there’s some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, and race season is starting up again. Everyone’s excited to get back outside and into the world, and the Work Play Love duo sits down to answer your questions about it. They answer questions about counting calories, how to properly wear running shorts (with undies, or without undies…that is the question), and how to best prepare for an upcoming race. Plus, they hear from a listener who’s struggling to achieve their “perfect” weight, they get a follow up about the hazards of having a bid...2021-04-191h 00Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas85: Depression and Communication, Pregnancy and Body Image, Moving In Together, Primary Parenting Strategy, New Business AdviceYou know it, we know it, vegetable lasagna knows it—communication is a huge help in finding balance in work, play, and especially love. Lauren and Jesse answer questions about navigating and communicating about depression in a relationship, how to find comfort with your changing body during your first pregnancy, what to think about when moving in with your partner, and how to develop a primary parenting strategy. Plus, they offer up some advice to a new business owner, talk about how they like their eggs, and of course, they answer the most important question of all: Red Vines or...2021-03-2946 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas84: Not Caring About Speed, Hard Conversations, Short-Term Gains vs. Long-Term Impact, Finding Time for Big ProjectsFinding that sweet spot between work play and love means checking your relationships with each one! And that’s just what folks are curious about in this episode. When it comes to sport, how do you balance performance (and is it OK not to?!) gains now while considering how it may affect your body and relationship with the sport in the long term? When it comes to relationships, how do you handle conflict or talking about the hard stuff when your approach is different from your partner’s? And when it comes to work, how can you fit in thos...2021-03-191h 04Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas83: Valentine's Day Interrupted, Lauren and Jesse Catch Up, Partner's Body Noises, Awkward Dates, V-Day StoriesIt's been a while, folks! But Lauren and Jesse reach through the cobwebs in the mic closet and sit down for a (very belated, very special) Valentine's Day episode. Catch up with the WPL duo in everyone's favorite section: What's Going On, where Lauren gives and update on her book, and—probably more importantly—Jesse gives an update on his hernia. Plus, Jesse and Lauren answer tasty bites about couple stuff: you know, like dream vacations, how to compromise on a road trip, and which of your partner's bodily noises really annoys you. 2021-03-1731 min
The Running for Real PodcastJesse Thomas: Personal Improvement is the Basis of Competitive Athleticism When you have a talent, a gift, or awards to your name for a sport, it is easy to rely on those to get things in life. Of course, you work hard, but you also are boosted with constant praise and recognition for what you can do. When that sport is removed by personal choice or external force, there is a reckoning that happens. Who am I? What do I do now? Do I even matter anymore? I've had few guests on the podcast who understand that experience similar to mine. I believe that most can relate to the feeling of...2021-03-121h 22Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas81: Team vs. Individual Training, Intuitive Eating, Kids and SportsIn another “late night” edition of the pod, Lauren and Jesse dive into the important things in life: what is the dumbest thing they’ve fought about in quarantine? When do you wear your race medals in a socially distanced world? What would each of them most likely get arrested for? Is pro runners holding hands while they run…a thing? Plus, the Work Play Love duo answer your pressing questions about intuitive eating, how to navigate team training when your training style is different from your team mates, and balancing family life with sports.2020-09-1649 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas80: Training Time Vs. Family Time, Primary Parent Responsibilities, Coaching During COVID, Couples And ExerciseYou all asked for it, and Lauren and Jesse answer: just what does a “primary parent” do? The Work, Play, Love duo discuss what primary parenting means and share how they divvy up household responsibilities. They also answer questions about how to balance training time and family time when you’re working towards a big goal, what to do if your partner doesn’t share your values around exercise, and Lauren offers some tips for coaching during a pandemic. Plus, Lauren talks about recent meetings at Oiselle and gives a book update, and Jesse gives a preview of a new Pick...2020-08-0357 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas79: Eating While Injured, Partner Pace Differences, Marriage Advice, Social Media And AntiracismJesse and Lauren dust off their microphones and share what they’ve been up to this summer. Lauren’s found a rhythm writing her book and Jesse’s enjoying his new role as “primary parent” (Lauren is, too). Now they’re back in the hot seat to answer your questions about the balance of work, sport, and relationships. The WPL duo hear from an athlete whose eating habits have changed after injury, they offer some marriage advice to a married couple to be, they discuss what to do if your partner naturally goes at a different pace during your running date...2020-07-201h 06Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas78: Retirement, Dream Days, Managing Stress, Privilege, Fueling For Hard WorkoutsLauren and Jesse are finally getting used to balancing Work, Play, and Love in…is it year 9 of stay-at-home? They catch up about their past month, including Jesse’s retirement as a triathlete and Lauren’s first race in over a year. They also answer questions about how to deal with high-pressure, high-stress situations, how to fuel when you’re burning a ton of calories during workouts, what is Lauren’s “dream” day, and how much does effort vs. luck (and privilege) play into where Jesse and Lauren are today. Plus, Lauren wonders what “crazy” thing she’ll do in response to 1,000...2020-06-011h 05Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas77. Recovering From Injuries, Moving In Together, Eating Post-Exercise, Side HustlesQuarantine is dragging on and Lauren and Jesse are busy schooling their kids, having blow-ups about injuries, setting up a campground in the back yard, and dealing with the headaches of bed time. And they're not alone! Being cooped up is working for some folks, and is a major challenge for others. Lauren and Jesse hear from listeners who are frustrated and recovering from injury, a couple who thinks "hey this isn't so bad," and are considering moving in together, a couple who have more time to get a side hustle going, and from an athlete who wants some p...2020-04-241h 07Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas76: Funny Race Stories, Being An Ally, Staying Motivated In A Pandemic, Zoom MeltdownsIt’s been a challenging month for everyone—including all you Work Play Lovahhhs and the Flomas duo. Some folks are losing their sh*t on Zoom. Some folks are just trying to keep their spirits up, even though they can’t get outside for a run. And some folks are getting into shouting matches with their neighbors about who should be on leash—your dog, or your child?! Lauren and Jesse give an update about their life over the past month. They share their experiences home schooling, building a playground in the backyard, and what they’re doing to cope wi...2020-04-1756 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas75. COVID-19, Racing With Strava, Asking For A Raise, Training In Quarantine, Deciding On ParenthoodOne day you’re busy at work or training for your next race, the next you’re buying economy-size boxes of Lucky Charms and trying to convince yourself you need that foot massaging doormat in the aisles of Costco. Yep. The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically affected most aspects of our daily lives. In this episode, Jesse and Lauren share how they’re balancing work, play, and love in quarantine with a host of new challenges. Plus, they field questions about how to train during a pandemic, how to communicate your worth to your boss, and how to think about whethe...2020-03-2352 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas74: DNF Marathon Trials, The First Picky Bar, Optimization Vs. Happiness, Past DecisionsAppearances can be deceiving and the things you don’t know can be super surprising—like the fact that Lauren used Excel spreadsheets to cook up the first Picky Bar. in this episode, Work-Play-Lovahhhs want to know what’s going on behind the scenes. Jesse and Lauren field questions about why some (elite) athletes decide to DNF at the Olympic Marathon trials, they discuss how the first Picky Bar recipe was created, Jesse considers whether his focus on optimization sometimes gets in the way of his happiness, and they take a look at their past decisions and share what they w...2020-03-1147 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas73: Flirting At Work, Parenting And Diversity, Sleep Vs. Working Out, Break UpsJesse called and y’all answered! This week, Lauren and Jesse field questions that are a bit out of the work-play-love ordinary. They offer advice to a married person who finds themselves in flirty situations at work, they talk about raising kids to appreciate and understand diversity, they consider when to trade sleep for working out and vice versa, and they talk about breaking up with (and getting back together with) a long-term partner. Plus, Lauren gives an update on her book and Jesse celebrates some Picky Bars successes.2020-03-0256 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas72: Training And Soreness, Trans Competitors, Relationships With Exes, Marathon Performance ConsistencyHow do you know when you’re overdoing it? When do your emotional, physical, and intellectual efforts start yielding diminishing returns? It’s not easy to know, especially when you’re balancing work, play, and relationships. Jesse and Lauren answer questions about persistent soreness during a training cycle (does it mean you’re over-training?), whether it’s wise to maintain a friendship with an ex when you still have feelings for them, and what it means when you start to backslide in your marathon performance. Plus, they discuss the intersection of inclusivity and competition when it comes to trans athletes...2020-02-2558 minWork, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas71: Valentine’s Day, Ironman Training, Running And Social Life, Sport And LibidoIt’s pretty easy to fall in love with your sport, moving your body, and chasing athletic goals. But what happens when your love of sport affects your love life? Jesse and Lauren celebrate Valentine’s Day (and their first-date anniversary) by answering your questions about the intersection of love, intimacy, and sport. They dish the dirt on what happens to your libido when you’re training for a triathlon (and what to do about it). They give advice on cultivating a healthy sex life when balancing work, play, and love. They hear from a high school XC runner who’s...2020-02-171h 00Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas70: Ultra-Endurance Events, Racing vs. Vacationing, Constructive Fatigue vs. Overtraining, Speed Work, Wedding PlanningIt’s been a busy few weeks for the Flomas duo. Lauren’s been laser focused on completing her book proposal (with publisher meetings on the calendar!) and coaching Little Wing athletes. Meanwhile, Jesse’s been working hard on a new product launch for Picky Bars and planning for his 40th birthday. But amidst the beginning-of-the-year craziness, they get a quick Work, Play, Love date to answer your questions. Jesse and Lauren consider whether ultra-endurance events are “good for you” or not, they let you know signs of overtraining vs. constructive fatigue, they offer some advice about mixing up speed-work...2020-02-101h 10Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas69: Competitive Partners, Staying Motivated Without A Coach, Training Strengths vs. Weaknesses, “Retiring” As An AmateurLauren’s got an exciting announcement about a new partnership and Jesse’s got updates about his knee (is it an injury? Is it something else??), the Picky Bars Co-exist campaign, and the all-new Picky Bars AmBADASSador program. Jesse and Lauren also answer questions about what to do when your partner is super focused on competing, how to get motivated and stay active when you don’t have a coach, and how to handle “retirement” as an avid runner. Plus, they offer a ton of practical advice about strength training exercises, running cadence, working on your strengths vs. weaknesses, and more. 2020-01-201h 03
The Rich Roll PodcastLauren Fleshman Is Empowering Women AthletesMeet Lauren Fleshman.One of the greatest middle-distance runners in American history, Lauren has a storied history of breaking both records and paradigms. After collecting state championships as a standout high school runner, she matriculated to Stanford, where she garnered 5 NCAA titles, 15 All-American honors, and a spot in the Hall of Fame.As a professional, her accolades include two USA Championships and five World Championship berths for Team USA.Nonetheless, Lauren’s career was also marked with devastating setbacks. She holds the painful distinction of most likely being the best American distance runner never...2020-01-202h 18Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas68: What Now? 2020, Mary Cain, Nike, And Your TeamLauren are Jesse are BACK with allllll the 2020 vibes to answer your questions about the balance of work, play, and love. But first?! Rewind. Back in November, the New York Times published an op-ed by pro runner Mary Cain about the culture of body shaming and abuse in Nike’s (now defunct) elite running group, Project Oregon. Lauren and Jesse dedicated an entire episode (WPL 63) to discussing the article, as well as issues of eating disorders, RED-S, and body shaming that are all-too commonly experienced by athletes. In this episode, Lauren and Jesse answer follow up questions about Cain’s st...2020-01-131h 06Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas67: Asking Your Coach For Help, Standing Up To Aggression, Screen Time And Kids, AlcoholismAdvocating for yourself and your well-being can be challenging and intimidating—especially in the workplace, with family, or in a competitive team environment. And for many of us, setting boundaries isn’t the most well-honed skill. Lauren and Jesse answer questions about asking a coach for more support, how to not feel like a pushover in the workplace, and what boundaries you can model for your kids around time spent with devices and technology. Plus, Lauren shares her experience growing up with alcoholism in her family, and she and Jesse talk about a recent relationship “discussion.”2019-12-231h 04Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas66: Building A Healthy Relationship With Food, Family Dynamics and Sport, Playing Music, Training While Sick, Training “The Right Way”The holiday season is in full swing and your favorite Work, Play, Love hosts are going bananas with packed schedules for Picky Bars, sport, and family. And, no. The use of “bananas” is not a food pun. Lauren and Jesse catch up after not seeing each other for a bit and then dive into your WPL questions. They talk meditation and visualization, training while sick, and sponsorships. Plus, Lauren and Jesse go deep on developing a healthy relationship with food and body image, how to deal with a sibling taking over the title of “runner of the family,” fitting music in...2019-12-161h 29Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas65: Night-Time Edition - Gift Ideas For Athletes, When To Have Kids, Scheduling Workouts, Angry PartnersOn the eve of Thanksgiving, Jesse and Lauren settle in for a late-night edition of Work, Play, Love. Around the holidays, everyone’s thinking about family, food, exercise, and work, and Lauren and Jesse answer your hard-hitting questions. Things like, what’s their favorite Thanksgiving food? And why are age-groupers peeing on the bike during triathlons? Plus, the Work, Play, Love duo talk about gift ideas for young athletes, how to fit in exercise in an already packed schedule, when to have kids, and how to work with a partner who has wildly different reactions to some situations than you...2019-12-021h 02Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas64: Marathon Training, Lack of Love, Burnout vs. Commitment, Metrics for SuccessSometimes it can take a long time (like Long-with-a-capital-“L” Long time) to achieve a goal. You might train to run a marathon for years, but persistent injuries and the balance of work, play, and love may keep you from your goal performances. It’s those experiences, though, that can prepare you for best races, relationships and achievements. Lauren shares the story behind her recent New York Times Op-Ed, I Changed My Body For Sport, No Girl Should, and explains how her decades of experience as a student, and then professional female athlete informed the article. Jesse and Lauren also g...2019-11-251h 17Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas63: Mary Cain, Creating A Healthy Team Culture, Eating Disorders, Performance And Nutrition, Picking A ProgramLast week, the athletic community was shaken by Mary Cain’s op-ed in the New York Times, I Was The Fastest Girl In America, Until I Joined Nike. The article outlined a culture of body shaming and abuse by one of the most elite running teams in the world. Lauren and Jesse discuss the article and how this story illustrates a far too common experience for athletes. They field questions about how you can create a safe and positive environment for athletes as a coach, parent, and teammate; and they offer athletes advice about nutrition and performance, and what to...2019-11-111h 01Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas62: Over-Training, Couples and Aging, 2-Hour Marathon Controversy, Tempo Workouts, Work-Life BoundariesFatigue, burnout, and feeling overwhelmed. That’s what can happen when you overdo it. It’s not too far off of how you feel when you…underdo it? Jesse and Lauren reply to a marathoner who may be over-training. They talk about the controversial (and maybe over-engineered) Nike Vaporfly shoes that helped achieve a 2-hour marathon time. They respond to a listener who’s worried about her husband’s complete lack of exercise. And they talk about how to not overdo it at work. Plus, the Work Play Love duo shares the origins of the Flat Bruce, offer advice about temp...2019-11-041h 10
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas61: Swimming Workouts, Coconut Picky Bars, Writing Practice, Caffeinated Gels, CrushesAfter a wild week away, it’s only fitting that Jesse and Lauren sit down for a rapid-fire episode filled with your tasty bite questions. The Work Play Love duo covers some “fun” workouts to try when you’re injured and relegated to the pool, they talk about how to introduce yourself when you’ve got a crush, they offer advice about using caffeinated gels on long runs, and they give a peek behind the scenes into the Picky Bars test kitchens. Plus, listeners write in to follow up about traveling with kids to triathlons, swimming in groups, and more. 2019-10-2138 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas60: Being Fast vs. Being Friends, Parenting Disagreements, Grief and Loss, Life PlanningTo plan or not to plan? That is the question. Whether you’re training to close the gap between you and your competition, or you’re hashing out parenting disagreements with your partner, or you’re rebuilding your relationship to sport after grieving a loss, making a plan can help you overcome tough obstacles. And sometimes? The plan is to just be present and not have a plan at all! Lauren and Jesse are back from a short hiatus to answer your questions about the intersection of work, sports, and relationships, and they talk about how they’re implementing their ow...2019-10-141h 15
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas59: Mental Health, Striving vs. Contentment, Solo-Parenting Tips, Breaking Up With A CoachWhen you’re trying to strike the balance of Work, Play, and Love, there’s a lot of experimenting, seeking, learning, testing, and re-trying things. And that’s totally normal! Jesse and Lauren answer questions and share their experiences about striving for a goal vs. being content with where you are, how to navigate mental health issues as they relate to sports and personal well-being, how to stay sane while solo parenting, and how to end a coaching relationship that isn’t quite working out. Plus, Lauren talks about her recent Wilder retreat, and the Work Play Love duo offer so...2019-09-301h 06
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas58: Staying Calm On Race Day, Why Kids Are Good, Making Races Fun For Your Partner, Setting Up Your Business For BalanceThe leaves are starting to change, and the Work Play Love duo’s wild summer schedule is starting to settle down. So what better time than now for an episode all about calming down, acknowledging the good things, and building balance into your life? Lauren and Jesse answer questions about how to handle nerves on race day, how to make race events more fun for a spectating partner, and how to build a business that leaves room for your other life goals. Plus, they count the ways having kids has improved their lives, they tell the story behind Picky Ba...2019-09-2355 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas57: Live From FootZone in Bend with Another Mother RunnerLauren and Jesse sit down with Sarah Bowen Shea of Another Mother Runner for a live podcast recording at FootZone in Bend, OR. Sarah turns the mic around and asks the Work, Play, Love duo about the balance of family, sport, and business in their lives. Jesse and Lauren talk about sports and competition after having kids, their communication styles, Lauren’s writing goals, what they’re working on at Picky Bars, and much more.2019-09-131h 06
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas56: Tips For Racing Kona, Amenorrhea, Dealing With Disappointment, Tempo RunsAfter a short hiatus, Lauren and Jesse are BACK in action. Hey, it’s summertime y’know? A family getaway filled with play was in order and sets the tone for a sport-filled show. From how to handle niggling injuries during your training season to amenorrhea as a young athlete, and from preparing for Kona to dealing with disappointment when you’re new to a sport, Lauren and Jesse offer advice, tips, and insight to folks at many different stages in their athletic journeys. 2019-09-091h 03
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas55: The Middle Of The Race, Resentment And Family, Analysis Paralysis, Cyclocross WorkoutsWhen you’re trying to achieve balance and stability in your career, on the field, or in relationships, it can be tough to take risks. Maybe you don’t have the data you need to feel confident in a business decision. Maybe you’re struggling with the differences in parental roles. And maybe you’re running your butt off, but you can’t ever seem to close the gap with the leaders in the pack. Jesse and Lauren talk about each of these topics through their own experiences and suggest that taking risks is a great way to switch it up and...2019-08-2654 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas54: Athletes And Politics, High Mileage for Young Runners, Battling Injuries, Pros and Cons of SalesSometimes you gotta unplug to recharge so you can come back to work, play, and love on your A-game. That’s just what the Flomas duo did over the past few weeks. Fresh back from a lake vacay with family and friends, Jesse and Lauren share their reflections about getting away from technology and spending some much-needed quality time with people they love. They also talk about athletes making political statements, whether high mileage is a good idea for young runners, and how to battle injuries as an aging athlete.2019-08-191h 02Ali on the Run ShowLauren Fleshman & Jesse Thomas"As an entrepreneur, just like an athlete, you have to be almost psychotically optimistic. You have to believe, ‘We can do this, we can make it back.’ You have to have that belief because there’s so much headwind." Husband-and-wife team Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas are the co-founders of Picky Bars and hosts of the Work, Play, Love podcast. Lauren is a former professional middle-distance and marathon runner who spent 13 years competing and is now a coach for Little Wing Athletics, and Jesse is a professional triathlete. On this episode, they get "really real" about parenthood (they ha...2019-08-081h 25
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas53: Faith and Belief, Marathon Training for Triathletes, Dad Jokes, Career Transitions, Partner CoachingBelief systems have an enormous impact on work, play, and love. Cultivating a belief in yourself can impact your performance on the field, at work, and in a relationship. Believing in a new training plan can help you get unexpected results on race day. And believing that your career doesn’t leave ample room for training can cause stress when you’re trying to achieve a big goal. Lauren and Jesse answer questions about faith and belief, concerns about training when working towards a marathon and a triathlon, how to find balance with passion career, and taking on a coac...2019-08-0653 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas52: Building Confidence, Cultivating a Healthy Team, the Final Weeks of Recovery, ProposingLauren and Jesse are just back from a hilariously disastrous family camping trip. Still, despite the nightmare of being in a poison-oak-infested campground with kids under 10, your favorite podcast hosts managed to have a pretty fun(ny) time balancing play and love. They recount the story of the trip and then dive into your burning questions, like: are used running shorts a good deal, or just plain gross? Should you race when you’re sick? How do you build confidence? How do you build a healthy team? And much more about work, play, and love.2019-07-2258 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas51: Wealth and Relationships, Climate Change, Business Lessons and Sport, Love Follow-UpsSometimes you gotta go all-in on business while sacrificing some play time. Sometimes you and your partner are feeling the exact opposite of one another like yin and yang. It’s not perfect, but maybe that’s what balance is! There’s no precise science to juggling work play and love, there’s no “shoulds” or spreadsheets to tell you where to spend your time and energy. Lauren and Jesse take a look at how you can still find balance even in unlikely circumstances. How can you train to be your best when you’re already on your feet all day? How d...2019-07-081h 01
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas50: All About Love – PRIDE, Polyamory, Keeping the Spark Alive, Sharing Athletic GoalsIn celebration of PRIDE and love, Lauren and Jesse answer your burning relationship questions about love, intimacy, on-again-off-again relationships, and even how to deal with a partner playing musical instruments in the house. Plus they talk birth control for athletes, polyamory, inclusivity in sports and business, and more. This one’s all. about. love. 2019-07-011h 18
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas49: Preparing For Future Athletic Goals, Aging, Supporting Your Partner, Race-Day Clothes, Hilly RunsIn your athletic career and in life, keeping your eye on the horizon can take on a few meanings. When you’re balancing your busy life today, how can you stay prepared for athletic goals in the future? How do you come to terms with an aging body on and off the field? Lauren and Jesse jump in to a fast and action-packed episode to answer these questions and more. You’ll also hear about how to support your partner through a tough time, some recommendations for race-day apparel, and how to handle hilly runs.2019-06-2437 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas48: The “Dad” Episode - Cycling Safety, Babies and Dads, Reconciling with a Dad, Parent FavoritismIt’s the “Dad” episode! In honor of Fathers’ Day, Lauren and Jesse field questions all about parenthood through the lens of being a dad, relationships with dads, and more. They cover topics like post-partum depression for dads, what to do when your kids favor mom more than dad, how to maintain a healthy relationship with a dad after divorce, and how to respond to your dad when he lectures you about your life choices. Plus, Jesse and Lauren talk snack science, writing workshops, and listeners write in with follow ups about mom guilt, leg-shaving, and more. Thi...2019-06-171h 05
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse ThomasPost-workout fuel, Mom Guilt, Dating Teammates, Racing In The Heat, KonaYou want tips about work play and love? We got tips. Whether you’re wondering about the best way to fuel after a workout, how to handle all-consuming “mom guilt”, how to navigate whether you should date a teammate, or how to race your best in the heat, Lauren and Jesse offer up a healthy dose of advice on what’s worked for them. Plus, the Flomas duo talk about cool vacation spots for active couples, where to go swimming in Bend, and exercise resources for postpartum diastasis recti.2019-06-1057 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas46: 5K Workouts, Hard Conversations, Sleep Before Race Day, Investing Your Time, Multi-Level MarketingConfronting yourself or someone close to you is a major challenge, but it’s often worth it. Whether you’re approaching a tough conversation with a loved one, addressing your sleep-depriving excitement or anxiety before a race, or digging deep to get honest with yourself about how to spend your time, Jesse and Lauren offer tips on how to push through it in work, play, and love. You'll also hear about the best 5K workouts, sweet podcast recommendations, and the best jogging stroller. Plus, follow-ups about runner's PTSD, and changing your name.2019-06-031h 05
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas45: Alysia Montaño, Beginner Marathon Training, Balancing Individual Goals In A PartnershipWhat does it mean to step up at work, in sports, and in relationships? What does it take? Lauren and Jesse share their feelings about the rapidly developing story of former Nike athlete Alysia Montaño, who was recently featured in the New York Times speaking out against industry sponsors and their (lack of) maternity leave policies. They also talk about stepping up to a marathon after you’ve run a few halves, and stepping up to support your partner’s goals, even if it means temporarily sacrificing your own. Today’s episode is brought to you by Glob...2019-05-271h 02Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas44: Triathletes and Pee, Racing vs. Training Better, Home Workouts, Failure, Exercising During WorkWorrying about how you might be perceived by others can make it challenging to make decisions, pursue your goals, or figure out your next moves. If you’re failing in a project, you might be able to realize it yourself, but how do you break it to your community? If you leave work early for a weekly running group or other exercise, will it jeopardize your job? Should you keep your last name when you get married, or will your family and your in-laws be disappointed? And if your race didn’t turn out the way you expected, does that...2019-05-201h 09Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas43: Caster Semenya, Race Prep Psychology, Racing After Injury, Late-Night Baby DutiesSpring training is ramping up, and Lauren is riding high from recent workouts with her athletes. Meanwhile, Jesse wonders whether he set a world record for fastest 5K on crutches. This week, Jesse and Lauren discuss gender in sport, and the challenges that DSD athletes face in light of the recent the Caster Semenya case. They share how they mentally prepare for races, and talk about wisdom from coaches throughout their careers. Lauren talks about racing after injury, and how she worked with Mel Lawrence to recover from a string of injuries and come back to set a 5K...2019-05-131h 14
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas42: Performance and Alcohol, Iron Levels and Fatigue, Career Motivation, Running While Pregnant.Jesse’s training up for the Wings For Life World Run, where he plans to smash out a 5K. The catch? He’s doing it on crutches. He talks a bit about the race while Lauren makes some predictions about Jesse overdoing it. Meanwhile, Lauren’s just back from the Eugene Half where she ran a 1:17:27. They talk about how racing as parents has completely changed the pre-race dynamic, and how it’s difficult to take a race seriously while also taking care of the kids. The two also talk about exciting developments at Picky Bars before diving in to your...2019-05-061h 10
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas41: Racing While Grieving, First-Date Advice, Triathlon Training Commitment, Online TrollsSometimes when the going gets tough, the tough get to Work-Play-Love-ing…! Whether you’re going hard at a dance party after a long weekend of parenting (and racing) like Lauren, or you’ve got renewed focus at work because an injury is keeping you off the field like Jesse, balancing relationships, sports, and work is just that—a balance. Listener questions are all about the hard stuff this week. Jesse and Lauren talk about racing (or not racing) after you’ve lost a loved one. They offer some dating advice for late bloomers (like them). They talk about how to navigat...2019-04-3056 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas40: Heat Training, Cycling Intro, Eating When Training vs. Not, Founders’ Equity In StartupsLauren and Jesse are back on the road, traveling back to Bend from San Francisco where Jesse has just had foot surgery. Their road trip entails listening to new podcasts, discussing Jesse’s recovery outlook, and answering a bunch of WPL listener questions. They answer a question from a listener in North Carolina about training in the hot summer months, they discuss nutrition and relationship to food when you’re training vs. when you’re in an off season, they offer some bike-buying advice to someone new to triathlon, and they share the business side of Picky when they were f...2019-04-231h 12
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas39: Supporting Competitors, Skipping Workouts, Rest Days, Moving In With Your PartnerIt’s been a rough week for the Flomas family. Jesse’s down for the count with a navicular fracture that’s nearly identical to the one he suffered in the opposite foot after Wildflower. Despite getting to zoom around on multiple devices, the injury makes balancing work and family life tough. Negotiating logistics can be hard, and Lauren and Jesse answer questions about how to navigate uncomfortable situations like supporting your competitors, skipping workouts when you’re not feeling it (and what to do the next day), finding balance on rest days, and moving in with your partner. Plus, Je...2019-04-151h 05
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas38: Identifying Injury, Relationship to Food, Athena-Clydesdale Division, SandbaggingSometimes when you have an extended car ride with your spouse, you run out of things to talk (or fight) about, and you decide to fire up a podcast episode! Lauren and Jesse answer listener questions during the car ride from Bend to Eugene—road noise and all—and today’s episode is all about being in touch with your body. They discuss how to identify, deal with, and hopefully avoid injury. They share how they approach their kids’ relationship to food. Plus, they weigh in on the existence of the Athena/Clydesdale division and its implications regarding body weight a...2019-04-081h 10
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas37: Mental Toughness, Sugar, Recovery Strategies, Pushing for Business GrowthJesse and Lauren are just starting to thaw out from the winter, and the signs of spring are accompanied by a mixed bag of emotions for the Flomas fam. Lauren’s got an exciting year shaping up with Wilder retreats, and Jesse—with a recent injury—is finding that the plans for his year are changing. Today’s show dives into hard-to-answer questions. How do you push through mental fatigue during a race? How does Picky Bars decide to follow (or buck) food trends like sugar avoidance? What’s the best way to recover from play? And when do you decide...2019-04-011h 14
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas36: Injuries, Motivation, Setting Expectations, and Jesse’s Marathon ApproachWhen you’re training hard and going after a big dream, not much is more disappointing than an injury. This is especially tough when the window of opportunity to achieve your goal is small or fleeting. So what do you do when that happens? Today, Lauren and Jesse answer questions about the highs and lows of play—and how re-setting expectations can have a big impact on your mental health and your race performance. 2019-03-251h 07
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas35: Maxing Out, Post-Race Letdown, Work Play Love TransitionsJesse’s just back from a Natural Products show in Anaheim and Lauren’s been solo-parenting for a week at home, and the Work Play Love hosts get to hang out for the first time in a while on the show. How appropriate, then, that today’s episode is all about transition. How do you jump from work to play to relationships, especially when one of the areas of your life, like business, is really heating up? How do you transition to and from maximum effort in a long race without sacrificing your overall time? And how do you come b...2019-03-1851 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas34: Building Your Own Training Plan, Pooping While Racing, Baby Sleep, JealousyJesse’s been at home with two sick kids for almost week straight. Lauren’s just back from an epic trip to New York for the indoor championships. And the two talk about their experiences during the 2019 snowpacalypse. Now, they’re cozied up in their little studio ready to field your questions. Today Lauren and Jesse tackle your hard hitting questions about building your own training plan, dealing with the urge to poop while racing, the challenges of sleep training your baby, and jealousy in relationships. 2019-03-041h 01
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas33: Injury, Managing Stress, Deciding to Have Kids, Marketing A BusinessWhen it comes to balancing work, play, and love, how do you draw the lines to balance it all? Today’s show is all about drawing those lines. When you’re dealing with an injury, where do you draw the line between seeking an answer vs. changing your sport goals? Where do you draw the line with work to prevent burnout from cumulative stress? When it comes to starting a family vs. starting your career, how do you work with your partner to find a time that works for you both? And when you’re just starting a business—how do y...2019-02-251h 01
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas32: DNF, Training Through Hard Life Changes, Emotional Labor, Athlete SponsorshipToday’s show is all about the tough stuff. Where’s the line between pushing through a challenging race and taking a DNF? What do you do when your training is disrupted by big life changes? How do split up responsibilities at home to balance emotional labor? Lauren and Jesse answer these questions and also chat about athlete sponsorship from their perspectives as athletes and business owners. 2019-02-1856 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas31: Weight Loss, Training for Distance, Family Play, Going Pro in TriathlonJesse and Lauren are fresh off of a weekend full of play. Both recount their experiences of racing the Great Nordeen Nordic race. Jesse talks about his unfortunate crash during the race, and how his triathlon training came in handy. Lauren shares why her inner monologue during the race was “I hate this” on repeat. But now that they’re back in the proverbial saddle, they’re set to answer your questions about sport, family and business. Today Lauren and Jesse discuss weight loss, how to train for distance when you’re a fast-twich athlete, what the Flomases do to play as...2019-01-3151 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas30: Exercise vs. sleep, strength training, un-learning athletic lessons, parent-sharing dutiesFrom proper snot-rocket etiquette to how to divvy up parenting duties, this episode has something for everyone. Athletes? Lauren and Jesse go deep on the habits they developed in sport that they needed to un-learn in other areas of their lives. Parents? The Flomases talk about how they share parenting duties and what they do when they differ on a parenting approach. Biz owners? Jesse shares how he’s had to become more comfortable with failure as a business owner, and he critiques the roll-out of the latest Picky Bars product. Tune in for all that and way more.2019-01-2555 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas29: Balancing work, play and love, setting athletic goals that won’t burn you out, adjusting to a new child, changing an owner’s role in businessYou can experience pretty awesome wins in life. You know, like professionally competing in triathlons, breaking national running records, and growing your own business from scratch. But some days it all comes down to negotiating how many bites of food your five-year-old is willing to eat for dinner. This week’s show is all about that work-play-love balance. How do you try to excel in multiple areas of your life, and not end up feeling mediocre in all of them? How do you set athletic goals that won’t lead to burnout? How do you adjust to a new chil...2019-01-1750 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas28: What Training Metrics to Use (and when), Growing a Niche Sport, Asking Your Partner to Slow DownIt’s a new year and Lauren and Jesse are back in action. They catch you up on what’s been going on since the end of 2018, and talk about what they’re looking forward to in 2019. Lauren’s been writing more, and as a result she’s already seeing herself change through the process. Meanwhile, Jesse’s happy to get back to work after a really fun winter break with family, including a grand finale bouncy-castle blowout with Jude. On today’s show your questions include: what training metrics (like heart rate, power, etc.) are important to use, and when shoul...2019-01-1158 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas27: Running Technique, Hunger Management, Favorite Running Shoes, and more!The holiday break is starting and 2018 is winding down. And that means a break in childcare for Zadie and Jude! So Lauren and Jesse have been busier than usual at home. However, there’s naptime and school, and that gives Lauren a few windows throughout the day to do some writing. Meanwhile, Jesse’s fresh back from the Picky Bars retreat. A full-team meeting where team members review their 2018 goals and accomplishments, and discuss how this past year will shape 2019. Jesse and Lauren catch you up on some changes coming to Picky Bars in the new year, celebrate some rece...2018-12-2048 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas26: Conditions for Satisfaction, Supporting Your Partner Through Injury, Increasing Your Running Speed, Maintaining Self-Worth in a Group, a Day in the Life of Lauren and JesseSome days you have a great race day. That was the case for both Lauren and Jesse over the past week. Lauren had a fun and successful race both as a runner and as a coach at the club cross country championships. She talks about her experience and how her conditions for satisfaction have changed over her years as a runner. Jesse, perhaps to a lesser degree (but no less glamorous), had an awesome experience at the trampoline park, and went on a spontaneous 20-mile long run that prompted a dose of work/play/love advice from Lauren. Hot...2018-12-1448 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas25: Solo-parenting fun, What to do in the off-season, Pooping, Recovering from a bike crash, and the comparison gameJesse’s been alone for a week solo parenting, and Zadie’s transition from infant to toddler is in full swing, but he’s kept the Flomas house in check and even found down time to sneak in some long runs. Meanwhile, Lauren had a very work-play-love week of travel. First out to Austin for The Running Event for Picky Bars, then to Columbus, Ohio for the USATF annual meeting, and then back home to search for a Christmas tree with the fam. In what’s going on? Jesse talks about the struggle to find balance between work and play as...2018-12-0645 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas24: Adventure runs in Hawaii, Coaching & Celebrating Success, Finding Balance in the Information Age, Leaving a Coaching Relationship, Interviewing to be a CoachSometimes going on a family vacation means finding…adventurous ways to strike the work-play-love balance. Whether you’re karate-chopping your way through jungle-like conditions on trail during a run date, celebrating an exciting Black Friday for your business, or navigating your infant’s new-found love of the word “no,” there’s rarely a dull moment. The Flomas family is back from Maui, and Lauren and Jesse are ready to kick off the holiday season with some of your questions. In rapid fire you’ll find out if you can microwave Picky Oats, the ideal sports bra for nursing mothers, and what to do...2018-11-2937 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas23: Seattle-y stuff, Going from Marathon to Triathlon, Climbing out of a Post-Race Runk, Managing Asthma on the Track, Maintaining Your Period While TrainingLauren and Jesse are fresh back from a work-meeting slash family-vacay slash race-day trip to Seattle where Lauren smashed out a 6k XC run. Truly work, play, and love at its finest. Tune in to hear what it was like for Lauren to pin on a number and race again (pain, cramps, and all), and hear about Jesse’s experience on the sidelines with Zadie and Jude. Then Jesse and Lauren dive in to a bunch of NEW news. Exciting new distribution opportunity for Picky Bars? Maybe so. New Picky product on the horizon? Yep. And an all-new segment on...2018-11-1545 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas22: Family Planning, Triathlon Diversity, Who You are Now vs Then, Evaluating Biz IdeasThey’re back and better than ever (at least Jesse thinks so). After a two-week hiatus for Kona and photoshoots, Lauren and Jesse dive into a solid mix of listener-submitted questions. The episode kicks off with Jesse describing how much he missed racing at Kona this year (pinky nail). He also shares some of his thoughts about watching the race. Lauren describes her time at home with the kids and the latest coaching progressions. This weeks questions are: What have you seen from athletes, sponsors, or the industry to help diversify triathlon? How did you de...2018-11-0547 minAli on the Run ShowLauren Fleshman"I hope I’m always willing to be wrong, willing to learn, and able to get better." —Lauren Fleshman Lauren Fleshman is many things: She's a retired professional runner, a coach, the co-founder of Picky Bars, the co-creator of the Believe training journals, the creator of the Wilder retreat, one of the faces of Oiselle, a vocal USA Track & Field board member, a co-host of the Work, Play, Love podcast, wife to professional triathlete, and mom to Jude and Zadie. Phew! On this episode, Lauren talks about all of it, including her journey to becoming an entrepreneur, her ho...2018-10-251h 14
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas21: Sometimes kids suck… the energy out of you.It’s a big week in the Flomas household with Zadie’s first birthday and Ironman Championships in Kona, and the anniversary of both of those slightly large life events occuring days apart from each other last year. This go-round will be decidedly more chill, with Lauren not in the labor wing and Jesse not laboring through 140.6 miles of brutal triathloning (the debate over who was in more pain is off the table, don’t even go there). Jesse will still be traveling to the Big Island to rep Picky Bars and take in the race from the other side of the...2018-10-1143 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas20: Eating Disorders, Fat-phobia, and Family PlanningWith birthdays, anniversaries, and Jude finally realizing the joy of riding a bike (after many false starts) there’s a lot to celebrate in the Flomas house, and that’s just the family side of the work, play, love trifecta! Picky Bars is back to running full steam and the first Wilder outside of Central Oregon is this weekend, but the busyness of business didn’t keep them from their weekly date at the mics to answer some of your questions. [Submit yours: https://pickybars.com/blogs/the-scoop/work-play-love-podcast] Topics this episode include: Eating disorders in endurance sports Why you decided...2018-09-2744 min
the morning shakeout podcastEpisode 30 | Lauren Fleshman"I'm not trying to build some empire where I need to be liked by as many people as possible. I just want to be myself and be myself publicly—until I don't anymore, then I'll just shut down all my social media accounts."Stoked to welcome Lauren Fleshman to the podcast this week! Fleshman, who turns 37 on Wednesday, is a retired professional athlete who still maintains sponsorships with Oiselle and a number of other brands. She's won two national titles, has represented the United States in numerous international competitions, and, in 2011, placed seventh in the 5,000m at the world championships in...2018-09-251h 10
the morning shakeout podcastEpisode 30 | Lauren Fleshman"I'm not trying to build some empire where I need to be liked by as many people as possible. I just want to be myself and be myself publicly—until I don't anymore, then I'll just shut down all my social media accounts."
Stoked to welcome Lauren Fleshman to the podcast this week! Fleshman, who turns 37 on Wednesday, is a retired professional athlete who still maintains sponsorships with Oiselle and a number of other brands. She's won two national titles, has represented the United States in numerous international competitions, and, in 2011, placed seventh in the 5,000m at the world championships in...2018-09-251h 10
C Tolle Run88: Lauren Fleshman - Always Be CountingCarrie interviews world-class runner Lauren Fleshman! Lauren and Carrie discuss running, life as a mom/wife/businesswoman/coach/author, and a little bit about their European dancing experiences. Show notes for this episode can be found at ctollerun.com. Lauren Fleshman Lauren Fleshman is an influential figure in women’s sports, known initially for her finishing kick on the track, and currently for her multi-faceted involvement in the running community. Whether it’s providing balanced real food through Picky Bars, creating training tools in the Believe Training Journal Series for those seeking inspiration, tack...2018-09-2055 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas19: Going to School & Getting Schooled (on Strava)Lauren and Jesse mic up for another discussion on sports, business, and relationships, with a mix of their own going-ons and listener submitted questions. With the first week of kindergarten under their belts, the topic of community and making friends as adults comes up, as well as Lauren’s upcoming Wilder retreat and Jesse’s race plans for the rest of the year. That’s come with a welcomed shift onto the trails, and while it took coaching, instigating, and pacing from three of his pro buddies, he finally took the top spot in the Marketing team on the coveted Lower...2018-09-2045 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas18: “Take your ‘treasure it!’ and shove it.”It all goes so fast and before you know it, the kids are grown, the training’s done, and you’re staring down the moment you thought you’d been waiting for, wishing you could have back the bumps and bruises you cursed along the way. Whether that’s hiding in the janitor’s closet during the first day of kindergarten drop-off (ahem, Lauren) or showing up on race day feeling sub-par, this episode is all about embracing and making the most of any situation. Listener-submitted question topics include: Underperforming on race day Trying to do it all When it’s...2018-09-1346 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas17: Resiliency, Running Safety, and Celebrity ShotsAh, the classic end-of-summer tale where a search crew gets sent out to fetch a boy playing outside past dark with his friends… No, Jude’s not grounded, but Jesse’s surf-wave privileges might be revoked for a bit. After a week of solo parenting while Lauren was on the east coast, perhaps we’ll call it work/play/love balance lesson, reminding everyone that when one well overflows another dries up, and eventually you’ve gotta even ‘em out with some river water... A new batch of listener questions pulls everything back inline, sparking discussions on: Preparing for your first Ironman...2018-09-0640 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas16: Super Advanced: Science! [w Special Guest: Jude, 5yo]Enough about spreadsheets and triathlon and marriage and stuff - today’s podcast guest wants to get real on SCIENCE. This special edition episode covers technical topics like how the human body works, explained in a way even a five year old could understand… Because it’s Lauren and Jesse’s five year old son, Jude, explaining them! Jesse sits down with his eldest child (Zadie makes her presence known near act III) while Lauren was out of town to record this adorable bonus content about Jude’s favorite subject, and it does not disappoint. Full of feel-good chuckles, “don’t eat/to...2018-08-3108 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas15: Man on Fire and the Social Implications of SportThis episode is worth listening to if only to hear what Jesse thought the term “wet blanket” meant. After that enlightening moment he and Lauren dive into a new twist on the What’s Going On section, talking about the highs of a buzzing creative process, battling portion control with screen time and social media, and riding the sweet, sweet, chaka-all-day wave of the recent Picky Bars relaunch. Listener-submitted questions then spark the following topics: Saying “no” during training season Coping with social training anxiety Supporting an S.O. through athletic disappointments When to hold on or let go of a startup d...2018-08-2340 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas14: ‘Stupid Human Tricks’ and the Bars Are Back in Town!Bars are back! Picky Bars has bars again, and all is right (or at least getting back to right) on the business side of the work, play, love triad. Like Rocky hiding out in the woods before his big fight, Lauren, Jesse, and the kids retreated to the lake for their annual family vacation. With Jesse not being in peak triathlon training mode for the first time for the trip (no Sly Stalone training montage, sorry) there was a definite reconnect with the playful side of sport, including a display of “stupid human tricks” as Lauren calls them. This leads conv...2018-08-1644 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas13: "The Bigger the Ship, The Harder to Turn"Lauren and Jesse roadtrip over the Cascades to visit Picky Bars new co-packer, their first manufacturing change since 2012 and the official turnaround to the recent out-of-stock battles. With the updates and changes have naturally come some challenges, and they discuss the delicate balance of small business life and ownership, which as a married couple in the car alone for multiple hours… was exactly as lively a conversation as you’d imagine. “Big ships are harder to turn” as Jesse puts it, but things are back on track (!) and they dive right into some listener questions: Rebounding from a DNF...2018-08-0249 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas12: Burnout, Gender Stereotypes, and Goals You Can’t Afford to CatchJesse’s feeling the burn of re-entry after Challenge Roth, having stacked his off-season plate a bit too full with all the non-triathlon things he said he’d give his full attention to after the race. It’s a classic “whoops” move, but like a good work/play/love advocate he and Lauren are making sure there’s still plenty of balance amongst the chaos. This includes some new, very literal balancing activities, and we’re sure the folks at the yoga studio and surf wave are now referring to JT as “the guy with the heart rate monitor.” This week’s listener que...2018-07-2646 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas11: Out Of Stock: On Pushing Through Pain in Business + SportThis week’s episode dives immediately into the almost-TMI honest, rough water deep end about Picky Bars’ current inventory struggles. Lauren and Jesse talk candidly about the background of Picky’s production and growth cycle, and how a perfect storm of supplier, manufacturer, and brand change decisions conspired into a massive out-of-stock issue. As the company owners and without outside investment, making the call to either “ship and duck” or address the quality issues came with big implications on both personal finances and the integrity of the brand. But just like a bad race, it’s best to be honest about the re...2018-07-1948 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas10: Challenge Roth [Special Episode]And they’re back! (Stateside AND in the studio…) Lauren and Jesse battle jet lag from their trip to Germany with a special episode about the “Hallmark” of the “Cool Races in Cool Places” tour - Challenge Roth! After spending a significant amount of time apart from Lauren, the kids, and Picky Bars to tune-up (Heilbronn 70.3) and dial it in for an A-race effort at Roth, the fam reunited just in time for things to get crazy. Hear about how they managed another family race-vacation - Lauren travelling internationally with the kids, Jesse trying to stay connected halfway across the world, and t...2018-07-1052 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas09: Nerves, Body Image, “Happiness Differentials”, and RadioheadThis week the work, sport, family balance in the Flomas house was less of a flashy juggling act and more of a clumsy dropping things and throwing them at the wall. From birthday parties to high school reunions, peak triathlon training and sleep training, Lauren and Jesse keep it real on managing it all (or not), diffusing fights with snacks (works for kids and adults alike!), and this week’s listener questions: Dealing with pre-race anxiety Managing the athlete/coach relationship Maintaining healthy body image after competitive racing/training Approaching a “happiness differential” in a relationship Jesse tries to compare himsel...2018-06-0654 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas08: The Energy Well, Aging in Sport, #SuperAdvanced, and the NBA PlayoffsListen, even if you aren’t interested in the topics in this episode, do yourself a favor and listen to the final few minutes where Jesse explains the origination of #superadvanced, including a memorable dinner table moment with Jude and an avocado. (But if you are interested, here are this week’s listener questions): When to push through fatigue in training/work, and when you need a break Redefining athletic goals with age (Shoutout masters athletes!) Living unfairly in someone else’s limelight The #superadvanced backstory Lauren and Jesse tackle an early morning recording, buzzed up on coff...2018-05-3148 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas07: To Our Younger, On-again, Off-again, Pre-and-postpartum, Creative SelvesIf this week’s What’s Going On?! segment were a Friends episode, it’d be titled, “The One Where Jesse’s More Nervous for PPP than Kona.” He and Lauren recap their perspective Pole, Pedal, Paddle races - spoiler: they both rocked it - and the super secret Picky Bars conference call they just took from the living room - spoiler: it’s a secret - before diving into these listener-instigated topics: Lessons for your younger self Training during and after pregnancy On-again, off-again relationships Making time/motivation/courage to do hard stuff Thinking big picture and not getting too wrapped up...2018-05-2244 min
The BibRave PodcastThe BibRave Bonus Mile: Bend Road TripWe’re excited to share our 3rd edition of The BibRave Bonus Mile: Bend Road Trip Edition, sponsored by our wonderful partners at KT Tape. In this episode, Tim and Jess wander 3 hours south of Portland to explore Bend, Oregon - home of numerous world-class elite athletes. Full interviews with Ian Sharman, Stephanie Howe Violett, and Lauren Fleshman & Jesse Thomas came out over the past few weeks prior, and in the Bonus Mile we give you the behind-the-scenes look at our road trip and the lives of some of the athletes. We start discussing the lives of th...2018-05-161h 00
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas06: "The Sky is Made of PB&J" (a.k.a. Get your head right for race day, parenting issues, nutrition, and bucket lists)It’s a big week in the Flomas household, as both Lauren and Jesse prepare for the “Bend Olympics” - Pole, Pedal, Paddle! This multi, multi-sport event is the ultimate PNW challenge and a town treasure. Lauren’s holding down the run leg for her mom friend team, “Play Date,” and Jesse’s tackling the ski, ski, bike, run, kayak, sprint course solo looking for his first non-asterisk win. After some LOLs over their differing race preps, they jump into listener questions. Topics include: Getting into a good pre-race headspace (as the athlete and how to help as a supporter) Talking (or no...2018-05-1646 min
The BibRave PodcastLauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas on the business of running and running a business!We’re excited to bring you Episode 92 - our first-ever… dual… husband-and-wife chat with the founders of Picky Bars, Jesse Thomas and Lauren Fleshman. This is the 3rd installment of your series of interviews from The BibRave Bonus Mile: Bend Road Trip. Be sure to subscribe so that when the Bonus Mile comes out May 16th you get it wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts! It’ll feature some behind-the-scenes clips, including a look at Lauren and Jesse’s house in Bend. In this week’s episode we chat with Lauren and Jesse about a variety of topics st...2018-05-111h 11
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas05: Wild Wildflower, the Intersection of Work-Play-Love at its Finest (& Ugliest) Fresh off their wild Wildflower weekend, Jesse and Lauren give a glimpse at what a weekend racing as a pro athlete looks like when the whole damn family is in tow. From how the change in environment may’ve affected his performance to how well compression socks perform as emergency first aid to a four year old’s head, it’s not your typical race recap. (Actual race recap here.) From there they jump right into a batch of listener questions, tackling topics like: Helping someone struggling with confidence issues in sport Dealing with injuries The perks (and downfalls!) of owning...2018-05-1044 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas04: Training Together, Taking it to the Next Level, and Having EmployeesWith race season around the corner - Can Jesse bring home a seventh consecutive W at Wildflower this weekend?? - this episode has them ramping up and dialing in the feeling of peak training. (The intro tinkering seems to have started paying some dividends...) Listener questions this week include: Training together - yay or nay? How to tell when it’s time to move from amateur to elite What makes a good coach, and are all pro athletes qualified to coach by virtue of their training? Developing hiring processes and implementing culture at work A fun run down memory lane re...2018-05-0132 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas03: Buzzing From DesiIt’s Boston Marathon morning! Lauren and Jesse are buzzing after Des Linden’s big win, which brings up her new coffee company (Linden & True), which conveniently segues into a fresh batch of listener questions about biz, sport, and life at home: Project management at home Getting back to training after a break Dealing with parent guilt of time away from training and running a business Picky Bars thoughts on bringing on investors Jesse kicks things off by talking about how he talks too much, and Lauren eventually reveals her secret big ticket trade-in item for Picky Bars. Their star...2018-04-2434 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas02: Quality Time, Getting Sponsors, Hiring People, Workplace HealthcareLauren and Jesse don't realize the podcast is already named, oh well. Then they answer these questions - - What’s the most effective way to spend quality time together when you’re tired from training and work? - How do you go about securing sponsorships as an athlete? - How did you get past the point of having to do everything for your business to being able to hire people to help? - When you were first starting out as entrepreneurs - how did you decide whether to offer health care for employees and how much to offer? Lauren and Jesse...2018-04-0329 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse Thomas01: Making Time, Encouraging Kids, Modifying Training, Your Biz's "Done" LineAfter an obviously unrehearsed but awesomesauce intro, Lauren and Jesse answer these questions: How do you make time for each other that isn't focused around business and/or training? How do you encourage your kids in sports without pushing them too hard? Do you modify your training to account for stress at work or at home? When you started Picky Bars, did you set a "Done" line, where you would stop the business? The episode touches on setting work/life boundaries, particularly when you own a business, and scheduling time for your significant other to talk biz and...2018-04-0238 min
Work, Play, Love with Lauren Fleshman and Jesse ThomasIntro: Who we are and why you should listen to us, maybeLauren and Jesse get off to a rip rocking start by introducing each other, and explain why the world needs yet another podcast! They describe how they intend to learn from each other and their listeners as they answer questions on sports, family, business, and the balance between all three.2018-04-0207 min