Podcast
Secretly Sporty
Hosted by Sebastian Langdell · EN
What if working out was about more than the workout? Each week, writer and fitness enthusiast Sebastian Langdell talks to an author, musician, comedian, filmmaker, or other creative about their exercise routine, athletic passions, approach to nutrition – and, most importantly, how their fitness practice fuels their artistic practice.
You’ll hear about how boxing and bouldering boost mental health, long bike rides offer a shortcut to transcendence, and getting physically stronger leads to more ambitious art.
By the end of the episode, you’ll be inspired to both hit the gym and write your novel.
Have someone you’d love to hear discuss their workout routine? Email us at secretlysportypodcast@gmail.com.
Note: The views expressed in this show are those of the show’s creators or the guests, and not those of any other entity or institution. Please consult with a doctor before starting any new exercise routine or nutritional program.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
20episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Eileen Myles Does Yoga with the Dead
1w ago00:27:23Tap to summarizeLegendary author and poet Eileen Myles shares with Sebastian how they fell in love with yoga during the pandemic through Yoga with Adriene, and how it changed their relationship with their own breath. They share their long history of running and the counterintuitive accessory they used to bring to the track, and how they’re attempting a return to running now, using an entirely new method. They also detail their writing process, and how the type of notebook they use influences the shape of a poem. Plus, Eileen reflects on writing poetry for Versace. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Doree Shafrir Serves Aces and Saves the Cat
2w ago00:27:42Tap to summarizeDoree Shafrir - author of Startup and Thanks for Waiting, and co-host of the Forever35 Podcast - shares with Sebastian her newfound love of tennis, how training for a marathon helped her tackle her first novel, and the joy of seeing your kid be proud of you. The two also discuss the role of plot in novels, and go deep on the acclaimed writing template detailed in Save the Cat. Plus, she helps Sebastian come to a realization about the activity in his life that commands his full attention. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Fan Favorite: Alison Bechdel’s Superhuman Strength
2w ago00:31:32Tap to summarizeIn honor of our New York Times debut and our 4-month anniversary, we're rereleasing our pilot episode with Alison Bechdel!Legendary cartoonist Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home and Spent, shares with Sebastian the weightlifting routine she’s been doing for over 20 years and discusses the magic of long bike rides and cross country skiing. The two go deep on Bechdel’s book The Secret to Superhuman Strength and bond over their mutual love of rollerblading. Plus, she outlines her tried and true tip for making sure she gets her workout in. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Carolina A. Miranda’s Aesthetically Pleasing Aerobic Adventure
3w ago00:30:19Tap to summarizeIn this month’s episode of Rest Day Radio, award-winning arts writer Carolina A. Miranda joins Sebastian to discuss her recent tour of 1980s exercise videos, including Buns of Steel and Jane Fonda’s Workouts. She details the history of those franchises and analyses what drove their aesthetics versus the starker aesthetics more common today. She also goes into how she became an arts writer and how it changed the way she sees the world, and she and Sebastian share their admiration for author Álvaro Enrigue. Plus, she makes the case against the word “protein.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sondre Lerche Flips the Running Order & Lands New Love
3w ago00:27:47Tap to summarizeAcclaimed singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche joins Sebastian to discuss his new album Acrobats, his journey to a sub-three hour marathon, and how starting to run in his 30s expanded his approach to music & boosted his performances. He shares why he’s taking a new, lower-key approach to running these days, but also why he’ll never give it up. Plus, he reveals the connection between Acrobats and Seinfeld. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Isaac Butler’s Perfect Moment for Pilates
4w ago00:26:45Tap to summarizeAward-winning writer Isaac Butler — author of The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act; and The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art and the Birth of America’s Culture Wars — shares with Sebastian how Pilates unlocked a consistent exercise habit for the first time in his life, why he’s learning the bass, and what the culture wars of the 80s and 90s can tell us about the way society views the body. The two also trade thoughts on their favorite Yo La Tengo albums and reminisce about 2 Live Crew. Plus, Sebastian and Austen celebrate Secretly Sporty’s first award! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Greg Marshall and the Speed Bike to Nowhere
Jun 2200:26:33Tap to summarizeGreg Marshall, author of the acclaimed memoir Leg: The Story of a Limb & the Boy Who Grew From It, joins Sebastian to discuss why Peloton classes give him the same sense of peace as a well-lit department store, how learning he had cerebral palsy at 30 affected his exercise routine, and why he thinks about optimization differently than his husband Lucas Schaefer (last week’s guest). Plus, he discusses how he balanced comedy and craft in Leg, and why he thinks everyone needs creativity in their lives. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Lucas Schaefer Slips into the Ring
Jun 1500:24:39Tap to summarizeAuthor Lucas Schaefer shares with Sebastian how Lord’s Boxing Gym in Austin changed his relationship with fitness and inspired his award-winning debut novel The Slip. He also dishes on his current pet peeve in the fitness industry, reflects on the parallels between writing and working out, and explains how having his first child has impacted his approach to exercise and food. Plus: he goes deep on the doubt and uncertainty he felt during the twelve years he worked on The Slip. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Lisa B. Thompson Strides to the Next Act
Jun 800:26:41Tap to summarizeCelebrated playwright and co-host of KUT’s Black Austin Matters Lisa B.Thompson talks to Sebastian about her Sunday ritual of walking while listening to gospel music, why she considers meditation a part of working out, and how she went from hating ab exercises to loving them. She also discusses the origin of Black Austin Matters, previews her new play opening this fall, and extends an invite to Ryan Coogler. Plus, she spills the tea on her favorite brand of tea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Maya Lau Salsas through Mexico City
Jun 400:29:27Tap to summarizeIn this month’s edition of Rest Day Radio, Sebastian is joined by his college friend Maya Lau, the host of Other People’s Pockets, to talk about her life-long passion for dance, her move to Mexico City, and why she thinks exercise should be enjoyable, not punishing. She and Sebastian also analyze the way the elementary-school set approaches music, and they make plans for a flash mob. Plus, Sebastian answers the lightning round questions! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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