Ali on the Run Show

Latest Episodes:

276. Ali & the Experts with Mandi Woodruff, Personal Finance Expert Sep 01, 2020

Show notes

"Let's talk about our deepest and darkest fears around money."

This week on Ali & the Experts, we're talking money with Mandi! Mandi Woodruff is the senior content director at Lending Tree, and is co-host of the Brown Ambition podcast. She worked as an editor and reporter on the personal finance beat at Business Insider and Yahoo Finance, and hosted both The Money Minute and The Payoff weekly web series. Plus, she's been featured as an expert guest on Good Morning America, ABC News Tonight, CBS This Morning, NY1, and more. On this episode, Mandi answers listener questions about investing, buying a home, saving, student loans, and emotions around money.

Thank you to Athletic Greens for sponsoring this series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to athleticgreens.com/ontherun to get a year's supply of Vitamin D with your first Athletic Greens purchase!

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275. Rolanda Bell, Elite Runner Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

"You know when you're not done yet. There were goals I wanted to accomplish, and I knew they were still in me. I just needed to keep going and see what I could do."

In 2015, Rolanda Bell was living the dream. She had graduated from the University of Tennessee, where she was a member of the historic 2009 Women's 4x1500m relay team alongside Chanelle Price, Phoebe Wright, and Sarah Bowman. Together, they broke the existing Penn Relays, National Collegiate, American, and world records — several of which still stand, 11 years later. She went on to run professionally representing Panama — a lifelong dream. But at the 2015 World Athletics Championship in Beijing, Rolanda was competing in the 3000m steeplechase when she went over the water barrier, and landed face-first on the way down. On this episode, Rolanda, who works in marketing for Hoka One One, talks about falling in love with running, going pro, and getting back up and finishing that race in Beijing. She talks about bouncing back, training with the NorCal Distance Project, and why, even after a career as a professional middle-distance athlete, she felt pressure to run a marathon. (Rolanda runs a 4:38 indoor mile, a 1:16 half marathon, and ran a 2:49 in her marathon debut.) She also talks about her experiences with racism living in New York City.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! Go to ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones!

What you'll get on this episode:

Why Rolanda felt "pressure" to run a marathon (5:45)
How Rolanda got started on the run (9:15)
Why Rolanda decided to keep running after college (22:15)
Rolanda reflects on that "traumatizing" race at the 2015 World Athletics Championships in Beijing (26:00)
What life as a pro athlete with NorCal Distance looked like, and why Rolanda decided to move back to New York (41:00)
On finding "balance" when you work in the running industry (49:00)
On attending the "All Crews One Run" in NYC earlier this summer, and Roland shares her own experiences with racism (56:00)

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274. Ali & the Experts with Kaitlin Goodman, Running Coach Aug 24, 2020

Show notes

"Running isn't canceled! You can still be improving during this time."

Kaitlin Goodman is a 2:32 marathoner and four-time Olympic Trials qualifier who runs professionally for the Boston Athletic Association and adidas. Kaitlin — a frequent Ali on the Run Show guest and fan favorite — is incredibly versatile on the run. She has qualified for the Olympic Trials four times — in three different distances! (The 5K, 10K, and marathon.) And she's a running coach with a master's in public health. Kaitlin is the founder of Running Joyfully, where she coaches runners of all abilities. She's also the founder of Safe on the Road, a nonprofit education and advocacy organization that promotes pedestrian and cyclist safety.

Thank you to Athletic Greens for sponsoring this series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to athleticgreens.com/ontherun to get a year's supply of Vitamin D with your first Athletic Greens purchase!

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273. Emily Halnon, Fastest Known Runner on the Oregon Pacific Crest Trail Aug 19, 2020

Show notes

"We as humans have the capacity to surprise ourselves with how much stronger we are than we think we are. You don't get to make those discoveries unless you do something that challenges you to probe that question: Can I do this? Am I capable of this?"

The last time Emily Halnon was here, she talked about her big, brave, bold goal: to run the fastest known time (FKT) on the Oregon Pacific Crest Trail. And spoiler: She did it! And now, Emily is back to talk about how she ran 453 miles in 7 days, 19 hours, and 23 minutes. Along the way, Emily also raised more than $30,000 for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation, in honor of her mother, Andrea — "AndyJHa" — who passed away in January after being diagnosed with a rare uterine cancer. And a warning: This conversation may inspire you to go out and set your own big, brave, bold goals!

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off all wireless headphones.

What you'll get on this episode:

How Emily feels now, after running for eight days straight (3:00)
How Emily trained and prepared for this run (4:45)
On raising money for Brave Like Gabe (21:00)
Emily breaks down every day of the run (34:00)

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272. Ali & the Experts with Dr. Meggie Smith, OB-GYN & Infertility Specialist Aug 17, 2020

Show notes

"Have those conversations with yourself. Figure out, 'What is it that I want? What is my goal, essentially?' Kind of like running. What is your goal?"

Dr. Meggie is back! This week on the Ali & the Experts series, Dr. Meggie Smith, Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology at University of Southern California specializing in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, is here to answer listener questions about pregnancy, fertility, periods, birth control, and women's health during the Covid-19 era.

Thank you to Athletic Greens for sponsoring this series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to athleticgreens.com/ontherun to get a year's supply of Vitamin D with your first Athletic Greens purchase!

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271. Rebecca Mehra, Professional Middle-Distance Runner Aug 12, 2020

Show notes

"I got to this point where I had to tell myself that I deserve to be there and I deserve to be on the starting line, and say, 'You are good enough, you've put in the work, you've put in the training.' My motto was 'Just give it a go.'"

Rebecca Mehra is a professional middle-distance runner for Oiselle's Little Wing team, where she's coached by Lauren Fleshman. Earlier this year, Rebecca became a household name when she Tweeted about helping an elderly couple grocery shop at the onset of the pandemic — and that story went viral. Rebecca is an incredibly talented runner, but her life off the track is as compelling as her fast 1500m times. When she's not running, Rebecca is involved in public policy: She's the special assistant to the mayor in Bend, OR, and is the campaign manager for two local candidates. On this episode, Rebecca talks about going pro, getting political, going viral, and growing up in a biracial family (she's the daughter of an Indian immigrant father and a Jewish mother from Long Island) in California.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off all wireless headphones.

What you'll get on this episode:

What it's like training with Lauren Fleshman, and how and why Rebecca joined Oiselle's Little Wing team (8:30)
On the idea of balance vs. going all-in (15:00)
What does it mean being special assistant to the mayor of Bend? (18:45)
Rebecca talks about her family, her childhood, and going viral earlier this year (24:40)
The full story behind Rebecca's recent blog post for Oiselle, and what it was like growing up biracial (37:30)
"The electrocution incident," and what Rebecca's running looks like right now (52:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Jenny Simpson on Episode 268 of the Ali on the Run Show

Elle Purrier on Episode 210 of the Ali on the Run Show

Lauren Fleshman on Episode 103 of the Ali on the Run Show

"Mixed + Passing — Let's Talk About Race," by Rebecca Mehra for Oiselle

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270. Ali & the Experts with Jess Thomas, Therapist Aug 10, 2020

Show notes

"Our feelings are truly valid. Remember that the concerns that are leading to your struggles with anxiety and depression are valid and worthy of being talked about, gaining support, and being acknowledged."

Raise your hand if you're feeling anxious! (Mine are both raised.) Then you've come to the right place. On this episode — the second in the six-part Ali & the Experts series — NYC-based therapist Jess Thomas is here to answer listener questions about anxiety, depression, perfectionism, quarantine dating, and how to handle life during a pandemic. Jess, who is part of the Viva Wellness team, also talks about being new to therapy, and debunks all kinds of common mental health myths.

Thank you to Athletic Greens for sponsoring this series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to athleticgreens.com/ontherun to get a year's supply of Vitamin D with your first Athletic Greens purchase!

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269. Ali & the Experts with Laura Parrott, Career Coach Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

"Looking for technical solutions to people problems doesn't work."

Welcome to the Ali & the Experts series! For the next six weeks, I'll be talking with six different experts who will be answering all of your questions. We're kicking things off today with a major career pep talk, courtesy of Laura Parrott. Laura, who lives in Detroit, MI, is currently the Head of People at Floyd. Before that, she spent eight years leading recruiting work at McKinsey, seven years working in people management and leadership development at Google, and, most recently, she was the lead for manager development programming at Hubspot. Laura is also a fitness instructor and is the founder of her own coaching company. On this episode, she answers questions about people challenges at work, including dealing with a difficult boss, networking during a pandemic, being laid off, and getting back into the workforce after taking time off to have children. A must-listen!

Thank you to Athletic Greens for sponsoring this series on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to athleticgreens.com/ontherun to get a year's supply of Vitamin D with your first Athletic Greens purchase!

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268. Jenny Simpson Aug 05, 2020

Show notes

"There's always someone gunning for that spot. And if you're off your game at all, they're going to take it."

Jenny Simpson is the country's most-decorated female miler and 1500-meter runner. Case in point: She's a three-time Olympian, she won gold in the 1500 at the 2011 World Championships, she was the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic medal in the 1500 when she won bronze in Rio in 2016, and she's a two-time world silver medalist. She has won the Fifth Avenue Mile eight times, and her personal bests include a 3:57.22 1500 and a 4:16.1 road mile. On this episode, Jenny talks about how she and her husband Jason have been spending quarantine. She shares her thoughts on retirement (someday!), having a baby (someday!), and "waiting to be slow" (which may never happen!). But mostly, we talk about Truman, the dog Jenny and Jason adopted once the lockdowns started.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off all wireless headphones.

What you'll get on this episode:

All about Truman! (4:30)
What life has looked like for Jenny during the pandemic (9:55)
What do Jenny's easy days look like? (16:00)
Jenny's thoughts on the Olympics right now (18:30)
How do you know when to retire? (23:55)
Which runners are Jenny's eyes on? (30:00)
Jenny's advice for running a fast mile (39:00)
What are Jenny's sponsor obligations right now? (45:00)
Jenny talks about cheering for her husband, Jason, at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in February (51:00)

What we mention on this episode:

Jenny Simpson on Episode 96 of the Ali on the Run Show

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267. Catching Up with Emily Halnon Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

"There's this possibility to live with this duality of life. You can both grieve and have a really, truly happy day. You can be really stressed and scared, and also be extraordinarily brave."

In January, the world truly lost one of the greatest lights and coolest women on the planet: Andrea Halnon, or as she's known around here, "AndyJHa." Emily Halnon was the very first guest on the Ali on the Run Show, and is one of my dear friends, and when her mom passed away after a 13-month battle with a rare uterine cancer, it was devastating. On this episode, Emily returns to the show to graciously and openly talk about her badass mom's amazing legacy, and what the grief process is like. She also talks about how she'll be bravely and boldly honoring that legacy starting this Saturday: By running 453 miles across the state of Oregon, from the California border to Washington, in an attempt to run the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the Pacific Crest Trail. In doing so, Emily is also raising money for the Brave Like Gabe Foundation, which supports rare cancer research. CLICK HERE TO DONATE. Let's see if we can get Emily to $10K by the time she reaches Washington! This one's for you, AndyJHa. We love you.

Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for 15% off all wireless headphones.

What we mention on this episode:

Chris Heuisler on Episode 265 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emily Halnon on Episode 1 of the Ali on the Run Show

Emily Halnon on Episode 85 of the Ali on the Run Show

Brave Like Gabe Foundation

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