I Could Never Do That

    “I’ve always had a dream of doing a kid’s cookbook,” says Green Ninja Cooks Author and Master of Nom, Nikki Castagneto. “Who doesn’t want to be a ninja or possess superhuman powers?” Enter our hero, the Green Ninja. Of course, instead of swords, this ninja has kitchen tools and the superpowers are used for exploring the benefits, uses, and tastes of superfoods! Green Ninja Cooks is equal parts imagination and an immersive hands-on experience with food play. The ‘Play with Food’ cookbook zine series, debuting this summer and written by Castagneto and illustrated by Jess Engle, turns kids into Green Ninja cooks by teaching them how to harness the power of plant-based food. “Our Ninja wakes up, does his stretches, drinks his nutritious ninja smoothie, and sets off on a journey to explore food,” explains Castagneto. Throughout the books, kids not only learn fun facts and clever ways to interact with foods, but also accumulate three to four simple recipes as well. In addition to the zine series, Castagneto and

  Do you ever get the feeling you’ve lived a few lifetimes, or that you’re sometimes intuitively and divinely being led to go through difficult phases even though you might not know why at that moment?  That's how Audrey Wright describes her 24 years on this earth so far. It's been an emotional and transformative journey; one about seeking perfection and control through disordered eating, multiple jobs, schools, moves, and career paths. It's a familiar journey that many of us fall into - utter confusion, really, about what we’re supposed to be eating, what’s healthy, what we should be doing with our lives, what path we should take...Life is about seeking, experimenting, and, ultimately, following your gut instinct and sticking to your convictions. After following her intuition through many twists and turns, Audrey has found a love and passion for competing as a vegan bikini competitor. Believe me, we spend a big chunk of time digging into that lifestyle. How do you train for these competitions? What do you e

My guest is Two-Time Track and Field Olympian and Run Gum CEO, Nick Symmonds. Many people have a mindset that “success” is some type of destination. Like, “IF I get this job, THEN I’ll be successful,” or, “If I get this time, or marry this person, or get this job… only then could I be a success.” We know, though, that success is not a destination, but an entire journey that Nick Symmonds epitomizes in the clearest way. He’s been to the Olympics - TWICE - and that alone certainly makes him a “success.” But, rest assured, he’s not done. In fact, as CEO of Run Gum, he’s just getting started. Today, we talk about the similarities in being a high-level athlete and a successful business entrepreneur. He discusses his fears, doubts and commitment to maintain a work/life balance.  We also talk about running. What does he miss most? When did he know it was time to retire? How has the sport changed?  Of course, we talk about his company and product, Run Gum - a no sugar, no calorie, gum that is the perfect and simple

On April 1, 2018, Aaron Gonzales will launch “Paddle for Patriot PAWS” – a 400 plus mile Stand Up Paddleboard trip up the coast of Texas to raise awareness and money for Patriot PAWS Service Dogs.  Patriot PAWS is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Rockwall, TX, that trains and provides service dogs at no cost to disabled American veterans.   Starting at Boca Chica Beach at the Texas-Mexico border, he will travel solo – without a support crew – paddling north until he reaches the Texas-Louisiana border at Port Arthur.  His goal is to travel roughly 30 miles a day, camping on the beach as he goes along...Yes, beaches that are not strangers to coyotes, rattlesnakes and other predators. And, did we mention the 12 different sharks that are swimming in the Texas Gulf? Where did this idea come from? What sparked Aaron's zest for adventure and charity? And, why this event? He tells us his humbling story in this week's "I Could Never Do That." Follow along with Aaron Here: Website Instagram Patriot PAWS is an a

I met Ward Richmond back in 2011 when we were both at an Ironman training camp in The Woodlands, Texas. We kept in touch via social media and it was obvious that Ward loved being the life of the party. He was livin' large - former professional musician, Ironman athlete, Dad, Husband, a high performer at his work in commercial real estate...You name it and he was doing it and doing it well...or so he thought.  As he writes in an article for Medium, "Back in the day, I believed that 'winning' was my superhuman ability to drink like a Viking, be the life of the party, wake up early, go for a 10 mile run and have (what I thought at the time was) a productive day at work." Yes, he was putting away 10, 15 and sometimes 20 drinks a night.  A series of red flags turned into a big white flag and on December 29th, 2015, Ward checked into rehab. He's been sober ever since and everything about his life has changed. Instead of hammering watts on the bike, you'll likely find him in a yoga studio or reading books from som

  In 2006, Courtney Carver was drowning in clutter, debt, and stress. She was also suffering from myriad health problems such as extreme exhaustion, tingling in her hands and face, and vertigo. A diagnosis that very same year sent her reeling. Courtney was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, ironically, as she was training to ride the MS150 charity bike ride for a co-worker who also suffered from the disease. As she says on her website, the diagnosis, while devastating and shocking at first, has actually taught her how to really live.  In order to diminish the symptoms of MS, she had to minimize stress as much as possible. In preparation for that journey, Courtney started a blog to chronicle her efforts to simplify, de-stress and find her way back to health, happiness, and love.  As you can imagine, it has resonated with thousands. Her message is this: "Be more with less means: Be more you. Give yourself all the space, time and love to remember who you are. Living with less clutter, busyness, and stress will

Let's, once again, explore the "whys" and the motivations behind pushing our limits as "normal" human beings. Texas native, Dayna Latham is, by all accounts, an average athlete...and, by average, I mean to say that she doesn't chase speed or podiums. She has done Ironmans and she has completed Ultra Trail Runs. She does it for the love and not for the glory or the ego. As of now, she's also a mere three weeks away from competing in Ultraman Florida, a three-day ultra-endurance triathlon: Day 1: Swim 6.2 miles/Bike 92 miles Day 2: Bike 171 Miles Day 3: Run 52.4 Miles Why? Why? Why? Well, it was definitely something I was asking Dayna and her Coach, Nick Logan of Prime Endurance Multisport during this interview. Full disclosure, Dayna has been a friend for many years and I'm actually part of her crew for this event coming up February 16th-18th. We follow along in a van all three days to provide nutritional, mechanical, and, most importantly, emotional support. Not only will I capture some interview footage, but

Here is Part 2 of my interviews from The Running Event!  The Running Event made its way back to Austin this past year and this local gal couldn’t have been happier! As their website indicates, The Running Event consists of more than 250 brands including some of the biggest fitness companies on the planet as well as innovative newcomers. It is, as they say, a great opportunity to see new product before any other channel of distribution and meet with key executives at the best suppliers to the run specialty channel. It’s also the chance for the fitness-oriented companies to discuss industry trends and strategize with each other through changing times and shifting buying habits. For a fitness enthusiast, podcast and writer like me, it’s the chance to go behind the curtains, catch a glimpse and sample what’s to come. I also see it as an opportunity to highlight companies, old and new, who are working diligently to improve our well-being, safety, comfort, recovery and fitness potential. In talking to business owne

We took the "I Could Never Do That" podcast on the road to Bicycle World Austin for an expert Coach Discussion on "Planning the Perfect Triathlon Season." Our panel was moderated by Host, Carrie Barrett and featured: Natasha van der Merwe - Pro Triathlete, Coach and Director of Team Programs for Bicycle World Paul "Barney" Matthews - Pro Triathlete and Coach Steve Blackmon - USAT L1 Coach and Dave Scott L1 and L2 Coach   Show Notes: 0:00-4:55 Introductions of Coach Panel: Steve Blackmon, Paul 'Barny' Matthews and Natasha van der Merwe 5:00 What Does It Mean to Plan the Perfect Tri Season? An Overview 8:15 Coach/Athlete Meetings- When you sit down with an athlete for the first time, what do you want to know? What are you asking them? 11:15 Building Strategies for the New Year -Coming off of holidays, gluttony, etc…While we need to build slowly, races do seem to be approaching quickly. Do you have any advice on how you build people this time of year? 13:45 What Happens if You Get Sick? Should we make up workou

  The Running Event made its way back to Austin this past year and this local gal couldn’t have been happier! As their website indicates, The Running Event consists of more than 250 brands including some of the biggest fitness companies on the planet as well as innovative newcomers. It is, as they say, a great opportunity to see new product before any other channel of distribution and meet with key executives at the best suppliers to the run specialty channel. It’s also the chance for the fitness-oriented companies to discuss industry trends and strategize with each other through changing times and shifting buying habits. For a fitness enthusiast, podcast and writer like me, it’s the chance to go behind the curtains, catch a glimpse and sample what’s to come. I also see it as an opportunity to highlight companies, old and new, who are working diligently to improve our well-being, safety, comfort, recovery and fitness potential. In talking to business owners, marketing gurus and salespeople, you see their true

This week, we take the theme quite literally because my guest is Fr. Rich Andre from St. Austin Catholic Parish here in Austin, Texas.  Yes, a Catholic Priest. Quite literally, I could never do that! But, here's the thing. For much of his adult life, Fr. Rich never thought he could either. He tells us about the moment that the call to priesthood literally crossed his mind even though he was well established in his career as an Engineer. We're all called to serve each other. In fact, I think that's the recipe for happiness and fulfillment.  Ever since "I Could Never Do That" started, I've wanted to have Fr. Rich as a guest for a few reasons. First, he's very funny and quite engaging! I want to dispel the myth that even I had of priests who are just a bunch of old men that are "out of touch" with the real world. Fr. Rich is the opposite. He talks about his recent multi-day hiking adventure in the Grand Canyon with several of his engineering buddies. Plus, he was also recently selected to speak and mentor at th

  In April 2017, Helen Susannah Webb became the first visually impaired female athlete to complete Ironman South Africa. Born with a genetic condition that results in sun sensitivity and visual impairment, Webb knew that if she ever had the lucky opportunity to race in the United States, she wanted experienced American, Caroline Gaynor, to be her guide. They got their chance this past October when Webb was selected as one of only five physically impaired athletes to compete at the Ironman World Championships in KONA! Caroline and Helen didn't meet until race week, but their "Ironman Blind Date" (pun totally intended) was a huge success!  No Ironman race is without drama and Caroline and Helen certainly had their fair share of those moments. They talk about the highs and lows of their race and, ultimately, what they both learned from an event of this magnitude!     Caroline's Blog and Kona Race Report  Resources for Visually Impaired Athletes and Guides Ironman World Championship Website   Theme Music: ”Ai

From Susan's Website: They were unlikely friends. She was a young, overweight college professor with a pack-a-day habit and a bad attitude. He was her boss, and an accomplished Ironman triathlete. She was a whiner, he was a hardass. He had histogether, she most assuredly did not. Yet Susan and Carlos shared a deep and abiding friendship that traversed life, sport, illness, death, and everything in between. Amusing and poignant, Life’s Too Short To Go So F*cking Slow is about running and triathlon, growth and heartbreak, and an epic friendship that went the distance. In this interview with Author, Susan Lacke, we talk about the important role Carlos played in her life at a time when pretty much everything around her was falling apart. She shares some humorous "dumbass" moments in her own triathlon journey and why, no matter what, it's important to challenge and surround yourself with people who push you to be a better version of yourself than you ever thought possible.  Velopress Book Page Susan Lacke - Twit

  We hit the triathlon jackpot this with Coach Matt Dixon, Founder and Head Coach of Purplepatch Fitness! Dixon has worked with professional triathletes and champions like Tim Reed, Meredith Kessler, Jesse Thomas, Sarah Piampiano, Kevin Collington and many more! Do those names sound familiar? Of course they do because these are just some of the pros you see at the top of the podium at major races and World Championships.   So, yeah, this former professional athlete knows a thing or two about the sport of triathlon and producing high quality results. In his new book, "Fast Track Triathlete," Dixon offers his plan of attack for high performance in long-course triathlon—without sacrificing work or life. Developed for busy professionals with demanding schedules, the Fast-Track Triathlete program makes your PR possible in Ironman®, Ironman 70.3®, Rev3, and Challenge triathlon in about 10 hours a week. You simply don't have to bury yourself or commit "social suicide" to be a successful triathlete. We talk about pl

This week’s guest is Austin based journalist Pam LeBlanc. I’m not gonna lie, she kinda has my dream gig...getting paid to try new sports, activities, hikes and other crazy adventures.   If you live around Central Texas, you’ve, no doubt, followed Pam in the Austin American Statesman and her popular “Fit City” Column and Blog.  Pam is the real deal and by that I mean she was actually raised in Austin -- What? A local?? Even if you’re not familiar with Pam and her work, you will NO doubt, gain a tremendous amount of respect FOR her and inspiration FROM her. Because, if you think Pam was born a natural and gifted athlete, think again. She talks openly about her awkward years and low self-esteem that held her back from doing many things. It wasn’t all trophies and finish lines for this woman growing up. Good Lord no...She developed courage in spite of her fear...and it’s that courage that keeps pushing her to try new things whether it’s running a naked 5K, rappelling off a building or even writing her first novel

This week, we throw the phrase “I Could Never Do That” right out the window! I’m affectionately referring to this episode as my conversation with the bad and the smart couple, Lesley Paterson and Simon Marshall, PhD. Lesley is a 3X World Champion in off-road triathlon, an Ironman Champion, pro mountain biker and endurance coach. Her husband, Simon, is a former professor of family and preventive medicine at University of California, San Diego and a professor of sport and exercise psychology at San Diego State University. Currently, he’s the performance psychologist for the BMC Professional Race Team...He’s also the co-author of the book we’re talking about today… Brave Athlete...Calm the F*ck Down and Rise to the Occasion is a manual for your brain that addresses 13 of the most common mental conundrums all athletes face in their everyday training and racing (regardless of ability level). Chapters are devoted to things like: Having Thoughts and Feelings You Don’t Want Learning to Embrace The Suck Hardening the

  In this episode of "I Could Never Do That," I interview singer/songwriters Susan Gibson (who wrote the Dixie Chicks "Wide Open Spaces") and Jana Pochop.  They discuss their craft of songwriting and how, even during the toughest of times, they continue to curate new ideas and songs that inspire, teach and heal. Songwriting is, no doubt, an endurance sport. It takes a tremendous amount of talent, passion and strength to build those muscles of creativity. In many ways, they are OUR voice. Music heals. Music soothes. Music changes lives. I could never write a life-changing song...Thankfully, they can. Thank you, Susan and Jana!   Links: Jana Pochop Susan Gibson Dixie Chicks Girl Guitar Austin Taylor Swift Mary Chapin Carpenter Theme Music: "Aitech" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Distance Running Legend, Beardsley, is an America hero, having won a string of marathons in the early 1980s, including the London Marathon in 1981 and Grandma's Marathon in both 1981 and 1982. He's most famous ironically, though, for losing a marathon: The infamous "Duel in the Sun" 1982 Boston Marathon, where he and Alberto Salazar went step for step for 26.2 Miles. It was a colossal race finish that left an indelible imprint on the minds and hearts of running fans forever, truly illustrating the depths of competition and racing with all your heart until the very last step.    A Hero's Journey is never complete, however, without adversity and tragedy. speaks openly about multiple accidents that left him physically broken and addicted to pain killers for many years. He also talks about the recent loss of his son and the strong faith that he credits for his abounding positive attitude in the face of despair. His days of competitive running may be over, but these days, he and his wife, Jill, run their own daily

Marcus Cook lives by the quotes, "Do Something New Every Day" because "You Never Know What You're Preparing Yourself For."  Two years ago, inspired by the dying wish of a friend, then 500lb Marcus Cook made a drastic change. He knew if he didn't act quickly, he wouldn't be around to see his kids grow up and have families of their own. In September 2015, Cook had gastric bypass surgery with renowned bariatric surgeon, Dr. Garth Davis, in Houston, Texas.   And, less than two years later, Marcus crossed the finish line of his first full Ironman! How was this possible? Marcus credits two things throughout this conversation: 1) The people in his life that were willing to help him along the way 2) Taking small steps - literally. For Marcus, it was walking just 20 minutes a day. That's all he could do at first. Well, that 20 minutes daily walk turned into one mile, two miles, three miles and eventually led to triathlons, marathons and Ironmans - all in less than two years.  These days, Marcus travels the country and

The Prothro Family Wines Website says it best:  "Life is about the experiences you have and the stories you tell... and the wine you drink." Ronda and Bruce Prothro love wine. They love the work, the science, the chemistry, and the art of creating a classic wine, giving people a full and well-rounded experience with each sip.  They first started making wine together in their garage back in 1991 in Los Gatos, CA, picking, pressing, mixing, stirring, fermenting, and bottling...they did it all.  It was hard work, indeed, but so very rewarding when they got to tastes the fruits of their labor (literally) and share it with others. This passion continued until 1998 when their passion for making children took over! As they write on their website, "With two small kids and demanding careers, they diverted their time and attention to life without winemaking. With friends and families, they drank the last of their vintages, gave their equipment to another home winemaker, and put their dreams on hold." And now, almost 2