Tips on performance, athlete interviews, and ski industry happenings: podcasts for working out, commuting, or keeping you company at the office.

(Cover photo: Throwback of me recording with AK on the WintryMix Podcast. Photo: @wintrymixcast)

1. Finding Mastery

   Curious how elite athletes and industry-leading badasses think? What their outlook, lifestyle, and physical/mental training practices look like? Me too. High performance sports psychologist, Dr. Michael Gervais, conducts long form interviews with these folks to learn more about them, their process, and the structure or format that led them to their successes and that pilot their everyday life. Unlike some interview styles, Gervais avoids casual banter and digs into the “how” and “why” behind the actions, thought patterns, and behaviors of his accomplished guests. His excitement and genuine interest in his guests is palpable, and makes for very interesting interviews.

   I love to listen to Finding Mastery when I’m working out- rowing or running (activities where you can get into a rhythm and focus on the dialogue).

   Some examples of Finding Mastery guests include: Retired Navy SEAL and ultra marathoner David Goggins, two-time Olympic gold medalist and FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion Carli Lloyd, Seattle Seahawks Head Coach, Pete Carroll, and big wave surf icon Ian Walsh.

2. The Powell Movement

   Mike Powell spent 18 years in the ski industry managing athletes. He knows the ski industry well, and uses his experience to chat with some of the best skiers and action sports stars to learn more about them as people. Most of the time episodes provide a bio of, and glimpse into, the lives of these professional skiers. These conversations give the skiers a chance to showcase their personalities. Most of the time their public image is relegated to photos and videos of them skiing (nothing wrong with that, either). The Powell Movement allows you to learn about their careers and who they really are beyond the cliff drops and pow shots.

   Like Finding Mastery, I like to listen to The Powell Movement when working out- rowing or running (activities where you can get into a rhythm and focus on the dialogue).

   Some examples of guests that you can find on The Powell Movement include: veteran badass skier Sage Cattabriga- Alosa, mind blowingly unique snowboarder Scott Stevens, U.S. Olympic skier (and silver medalist) Nick Goepper, and snowboarding legend Kimmy Fasani.

3. The Tim Ferriss Show

   This podcast is pretty unique; it comes from best selling author and business advisor, Tim Ferriss, and features everything from long-form interviews with guests to tips on improving your own health and productivity. The marketing nerd in me loves when he does segments on branding, writing, and business. The performance geek in me loves when he gives advice on daily structure, fitness, and organization.

   In Tim’s own words: “Each episode, I deconstruct world-class performers from eclectic areas (investing, sports, business, art, etc.) to extract the tactics, tools, and routines you can use.  This includes favorite books, morning routines, exercise habits, time-management tricks, and much more.”

   Unlike the Finding Mastery podcast and The Powell Movement, I usually will listen to The Tim Ferriss show on my daily commute instead of when I work out (unless it’s an interview with an athlete or someone that I’m particularly interested in). Listening when I’m cooking dinner is always good, too.

   Some examples of Tim’s guests include: Jamie Foxx, Edward Norton, Tony Robbins, and Terry Crews.

4. The Low Pressure Podcast

   Another one on snow sports. This interview-style podcast feels like you’re listening to conversations about what’s going on in guests’ lives over a couple beers- because you are. Mark Warner of Whistler, BC usually shares a couple of bevys while he chats with professional snow sports athletes about their latest trips, film projects, contests, off-seasons, and upcoming plans. The Low Pressure Podcast’s tagline is “the podcast for skiers”, but also features interviews with people of the ski industry like Jason Levinthal of J Skis, Matt Sterbenz of 4Frnt Skis, and Rooster and Geoff of Ski The East.

   The LPP is great for listening to at your desk while you work, or while you’re driving to the resort. I even throw it on sometimes when I’m on the uphill skin with my splitboard.

   Some examples of guests that you can find on the LPP include: veteran big mountain skier Ian McIntosh, freeskiing all star Sean Pettit, freeskiing sibling crushers Angel and Johnny Collinson, and badass skier and Powder Magazine’s Female Performance of the Year winner for 2017, Tatum Monod.

5. The WintryMix Podcast

   This ski biz podcast is different than the other snow sports ones on this list. After 3 seasons of an interview-style podcast, host Alex Kaufman switched things up. Season 4’s new format featured a call to action: a submission based approach dependent on listener engagement. For a description of how this works in Alex’s own words, check out Episode 46.

   Essentially, WintryMix is a monthly bulletin board of updates on the ski industry. No, not the TMZ version highlighting which pro skier is dating who. Episodes feature things like event promos, ski stories, press releases (that are encouraged to be unscripted), debate topics, conversation starters, rants, resort info… all told by listeners like you.

   Alex is the former mastermind behind Ski The East’s social media and partnerships. There is definitely a slight focus on New England ski culture, BUT, the combination of Alex’s ski-biz exposure and the general popularity of the podcast means that it extends across the U.S. with ease. Fun fact, you can catch me on a couple of early episodes from when I was interning with Alex and Ski The East (Episode 13‘s interview of Olympic Skier Hannah Kearney and Episode 20‘s coverage of energy consumption and snowmaking in Vermont).

   I listen to Wintry Mix a lot while driving. It usually prompts me to record a submission on my phone while still in the car. I have yet to actually submit though…