Obstacle Racing Media Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ella Kociuba Mar 10, 2016

Show notes

Episode 172 - Ella Kociuba burst onto the OCR scene in December of 2011. At just 18 years old, she signed up for the open wave at the Glen Rose Super. She ended up finishing faster than the winning female in the elite heat.

In 2012, she began signing up for elite heats and made the podium in her first several races. Her high point of the year was finishing 3rd at the Vermont Beast Championship race behind Claude Godbout and Amelia Boone. Arguably, the best two women in obstacle racing at that time.

A young female athlete who does well brings a lot of attention, praise, and pressure.

Ella was not ready.

What followed for her was a painful, deep struggle with eating and self image.

In this podcast, Ella opens up about hitting bottom, getting honest, and how her life has turned around since.

Today's episode is sponsored by

Obstacle Guard - OCR padded arm and leg sleeves. Code ORM is 5% off plus free shipping.

Udder Mud Run - Local favorite has 7k and 1 mile options . Code RUNORM for $10 off.

Show Notes:

Buy Ella's book.

Ella on Athlinks.

Matt, Joel, and Ella clowning in a 2013 video.

Melinda Spencer (Corssino)/Mark Ballas - GBC Mar 04, 2016

Show notes

Episode 171 - For an appetizer, this episode begins with a brief chat with Mark Ballas from The Green Beret Challenge. Matt sat down with Mark at the end of the most recent GBC. It's a quickie, but a goodie where we learn a lot about the Green Beret Challenge.

The main course is with Melinda Spencer (Corssino).

Melinda and Matt discuss :

What is the WNBF?
How does the WNBF differ from from the IFBB and other body building associations?
How does one get a "pro card" in these organizations?
Can someone train for bodybuilding competitions and OCR simultaneously? (Eating to perform versus eating to look a certain way?)
How can someone get started in competing in bodybuilding?
How do you "take it easy" on yourself, and not be too self critical in the bodybuilding and OCR worlds?

and more.

Today's episode is sponsored by

Rugged Maniac - No mandatory, unnecessary fees! Use the code Podcast for $5 off all locations in 2016.

Bone Frog Challenge - Use ORM10 for $10 off events in New England, Atlantic City, South Carolina, Atlanta, and Orlando.

Show Notes:

Melinda's Facebook Page

Melinda on Instagram

Melinda's podcast

Bob Babbitt Feb 26, 2016

Show notes

Episode 170 - The bio from Bob Babbitt's website will tell you :

Bob Babbitt started racing triathlons way back when the earth was still cooling, in the late 1970's. He did his first Ironman Triathlon in 1980 on the island of Oahu and ended up completing five more when the event moved to the Big Island. Despite being incredibly slow at swimming, cycling and running, he has somehow found his way into into both the Ironman Hall of Fame and the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame. He also co-founded Competitor Magazine and the Challenged Athletes Foundation, plus he created Competitor Radio and the Muddy Buddy Ride and Run Series.

It is safe to say that Matt dreams of being The "Bob Babbitt of OCR".

Bob and Matt discuss :

How the Muddy Buddy was formed
The business model of Muddy Buddy and The Rock n Roll Marathon
What OCR can learn from the triathlon industry
Why most of the running community still doesn't pay attention to OCR
How to turn around OCR internet haters

and much more.

Today's episode is sponsored by

The National Beer Mile Code "Obstacle" saves you 10% on all cities.

Macon Mud Run April 2nd, 2016 Macon, GA. They pride themselves on the most mud per mile!

Laz From The Barkley Marathons Feb 19, 2016

Show notes

Episode 169 - In this episode, we talk to Sandra and Gary Cantrell. You may know Gary better by his race director alias, Lazarus Lake.

We talked to Gary and Sandra right after a screening of The Barkley Documentary, in Atlanta, Georgia a couple of weeks ago.

If you know what the Barkley Marathons are, great. If you don't, we'll include a bunch of links below to help fill you in.

Either way, enjoy this lively conversation recorded at The Majestic Diner.

Today's show is sponsored by

The Liquid Run - Floating Obstacle Course- June 18th Newport Beach, CA - Code "ORM5" saves $5.00

National Beer Mile - 4 Beers. 1 Mile. One Awesome Party - Code "Obstacle" saves 10%.

Show Notes

Movie - The Barkley Documentary

Website - The most comprehensive, and best source of data on The Barkley other than Laz's brain.

Podcast - Nickademus Hollon talked about finishing Barkley and knowing every tree branch along the way.

You can use the player below to listen or use the iTunes or Stitcher buttons at the top of this post.

Andy Weinberg - The Endurance Society Feb 12, 2016

Show notes

Episode 168 - First up, as promised, Amelia and Carlo join Matt for a chat about Superbowl 50. They really planned on no running talk, but then Amelia went and placed 2nd at The Sean O'Brien 100k. That finish gave her a "golden ticket" into one of the most prestigious 100 milers around, Western States.

Then, we chat with Andy Weinberg. Andy co-founded The Death Race with Joe DeSena nearly 10 years ago. Joe and Andy have since split and Andy created The Endurance Society with his new partner, Jack Cary. We talk about the kinds of people who come to these events, and the relationships that Andy and his team end up having with participants. We also go into the format of some of the current Endurance Society races.

Today's show is sponsored by

Mud Gear - Free shipping on OCR compression socks!

Mad Anthony Mud Run- Sign up for the 5th annual race taking place February 27th.

Obstacle Guard - Free shipping plus 5% off when you use code ORM for padded arm or leg sleeves.

Show Notes

Sean O'Brien Race

A documentary about Western States

The Endurance Society

Previous podcast episode with Andy

Jesse Itzler Feb 03, 2016

Show notes

Episode 167 - Jesse Itzler used to leave funny outgoing messages on his answering machine back in college. They were so good , they went viral, the old school way. Pre-Internet, people would tell friends, who would tell friends, who would tell more friends. This led him to a record deal with Delicious Vinyl.

To many people, landing a record deal is THE dream. Like, we got a DEAL, MAN!

This, however, was just the beginning for Jesse.

Jesse and Matt discuss how landing this deal led a lot of cool business doings in Itzler's life including:

Creating music and video content for NBA (and other sports) teams.
Co founding Marquis Jets, the first private jet company allowing customers to "rent" versus "own".
Becoming part owner of The Atlanta Hawks

There is a lot to be learned in this episode from a successful man who doesn't seem to stress about any of it.

(They ran out of time before Matt could even ask about co-founding Zico Water or Jesse's new book "Living with a Seal", so hopefully there will be a part two.)

Today's episode is sponsored by Rugged Maniac. Code ORM5 saves you $5 off all 2016 locations.

It is also sponsored by Udder Mud Run. August 6th, 2016 in Macon, Georgia. Code RUNORM saves you $10.00

Show Notes

Jesse's website

Jesse Fulton Jan 29, 2016

Show notes

Episode 166 - For starters, as promised, its 15 minutes with Carlo and Amelia to talk NFL Championship games. Amelia also expands a little on the whole "enjoying dry needling in her butt" that she eluded to on The Tim Ferris Podcast. For those that hate our football chats, you can fast right the heck forward. For those that love them, enjoy.

The main course on this episode is Jesse Fulton. Jesse was a professional snowboarder for 13 years before going on to coach the Canadian Olympic snowboarding team. He also is one of the founders of 365 Sports.

365's website says that they "Specialize in Event Management, Experiential Marketing, Concept and Development and Brand Execution. We provide creative, fun and innovative athletic events to engage all participants, seasoned athletes and novices alike. We are dedicated to inspiring a healthier, happier society through the combination of fitness and philanthropy"

In other words, they put on cool ass events like ski and snowboard festivals, The Urban Slide, and 5K Foam Fest Canada. 365 was also announced as strategic partner for the OCR World Championships, which is what led to this interview.

Jesse and Matt talk about translating industry knowledge from "action/adventure sports" to OCR, how to launch a brand successfully in Canada that previously failed in the US, and what he and his team are going to bring to OCRWC.

Today's episode is sponsored by Mad Anthony Mud Run. $50 before February 10th.

It is also sponsored by Macon Mud Run. April 2nd, 2016 in Macon, Georgia.

Show Notes

365 Sports

Shreducation The TV show Jesse was a part of that was sold to 4 different networks.

You can use the player below to listen or use the iTunes or Stitcher buttons at the top of this post.

Kyle Railton AKA Coach T. Mud Jan 22, 2016

Show notes

Episode 165 - First up, as promised, its the return of Carlo talking playoff football. He's joined this week by Amelia Boone as she heard we were talking NFL and wanted in.

We then have a nice chat with Kyle Railton, better known as Coach from Tough Mudder. He got asked to lead a warm up one morning, and that led to an entire new part of his life. We dig in to find out what he was doing before being tapped by TMHQ, what he's gotten to do as Coach since, and what he's all about when not being Coach. We also spend some time talking about his experience getting 50 miles at November's World's Toughest Mudder.

Today's episode is sponsored by Udder Mud Run. August 16, 2016. Code RUNORM gives you $10.00 off.

It is also sponsored by Obstacle Guard - Free shipping plus 5% with code ORM.

Show Notes

Coach on Instagram

Joe Desena Talks Spartan Delta Jan 15, 2016

Show notes

Episode 164 - On today's show, we talk to Joe Desena about the Spartan Delta.

What is it? Why did he create it? Who is it designed for? How do you earn one?

We attempt to answer all of those questions.

First up, however, is a new feature which will run from now through SuperBowl 50. Carlo Piscitello joins the show to discuss the previous weekend's NFL playoffs and makes predictions for the upcoming weeks games. Enjoy.

Today's show is sponsored by

Rugged Maniac - CODE ORM5 gets you $5.00 off registration to all 2016 events.

Mad Anthony Mud Run-February 27th-Only $50 until February 10th.

Show Notes

The Pis and Cox Show

Spartan Delta

Dustin Dorough - Original OCR UberNerd Jan 08, 2016

Show notes

Episode 163 - If you have ever attended a Spartan Race, you have most likely had Dustin send you off with his start line speech. Did you know that he wrote that speech and now Spartan has all of their MC's use some version of it?

In this episode we learn that Dustin is one of the only current Spartan employees that goes all the way back to 2011. We also learn that he is a self-described nerd, and has been one way before it was cool. You can find him in cosplay costumes at many conventions around the country, acting in television and movies, and visiting kids in character at hospitals.

In this 90 minute plus episode, we talk Spartan, how the start line speech came to be, and how he got into the cosplay world. We also learned how he overcame the initial obstacle of being "too good looking to be a nerd" (their words, not his), and much much more.

Nerdout Warning Alert: Matt and Dustin spend a fair amount of time in the Star Wars, and Marvel Universes.

Super Spoiler Alert: Matt and Dustin talk about many plot points from The Force Awakens.

Today's show is sponsored by

Obstacle Guard - Free Shipping plus 5% off with code ORM.

Udder Mud Run - RUNORM saves you $10 off this awesome, family friendly event!

Show Notes

Lots of Cosplay and other stuff Dustin is up to - Dustin Dorough Fan Page