Podcast
The Steep Stuff Podcast
Hosted by James Lauriello · EN
Your Source for all Things Trail, Mountain & Skyrunning
65episodes
Episodes
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#171 - Aimee Kohler, Founder & RD of The Running Kind
Apr 1601:11:08Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailTrail running says it loves the outdoors, but are we willing to change how we race to protect the places we run? I’m joined by Aimee Kohler race director of The Running Kind, a small but fast-growing organization putting on carbon-neutral trail races across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and upstate New York, including the brutally steep Climate For Climate in the Catskills. We talk about why the Northeast is still underrated for mountain running, and why “smaller mountains” can deliver bigger technical challenges than people expect.We also go straight at the uncomfortable stuff: the UTMB stones ecosystem, private-equity vibes in a sport that’s supposed to have soul, and the weird reality of carbon “offset fees” being pushed onto runners. Aimee shares what she’s learned from working big events earlier in her career, then building a different model focused on accessibility, community, and trail stewardship. If you’ve ever wondered whether grassroots races can coexist with mega-events, you’ll hear a candid take on why the big leagues still depend on local race directors and first-time trail racers.Then we get practical. Aimee breaks down how carbon neutrality actually works for an event: measuring emissions, submitting annual reduction plans, choosing vetted offset projects, and making real upgrades like moving from gas to solar power on race day. We also unpack permits and wilderness rules in the Catskills, why public transit matters for city runners, and why a meaningful race experience beats another free shirt every time. Climate For Climate takes place August 16, and The Running Kind is also adding new events like a backyard ultra and the Basilisk.If you care about sustainable trail running, carbon-neutral races, and protecting public lands while the sport explodes in popularity, listen now. Subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a review so more runners find the conversation.Follow Aimee on IG - aimskohFollow the Running Kind on IG - @therunningkind_Sign up for a Running Kind Race ! - @therunningkind.netUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
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#170 - Christopher Fisher
Apr 1401:03:46Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailChris Fisher just came back from a three-month Ecuador adventure that started with almost no plan and turned into a full-on human-powered volcano mission. From a base in Quito at high altitude, he links long bike days with climbs on Ecuador’s biggest volcanoes, chasing a “Big Ten” style objective that becomes nine summits once he decides an actively erupting peak is a hard no. We get into what the miles actually feel like, including a brutal opening push to Cayambe and the reality of riding loaded on highways where the risk is out of your hands.We also talk logistics that make or break a bikepacking and mountaineering trip: mapping routes with CalTopo and Strava, finding cheap hotels, staying fueled with local food, and why Ecuador can feel far more accessible than people assume. Chris shares the one sketchy moment that nearly derailed the trip, then explains why he still encourages people to explore the Andes and the Amazon with smart awareness instead of fear.The biggest shift comes in the rainforest, where an immersion with a Kichwa village reframes what “enough” looks like. That lesson carries into what’s next: a possible return to Everest to support Tyler Andrews, a growing focus on bike-to-climb projects like the Tour des 14ers, and candid thoughts on the current state of FKTs, sponsorship, storytelling, and launching a YouTube channel with Erin.If you like big objectives with real heart behind them, subscribe, share this with a friend who loves the mountains, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of Chris’s approach would you borrow for your own adventures?Follow Chris on IG - @chrisjfishContact Chris - chrisjfish.com Photo - Santiago Gurrero (@santigurrerog_)Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
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Mason Coppi | Gorge Waterfalls 30K Pre Race Interview
Apr 800:29:56Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailA great race can change your season, but it can also expose every weakness you’ve been dodging. We’re joined by Mason Coppi for a Gorge Waterfalls 30K pre-race talk that goes deeper than predictions, getting into what it really takes to show up ready when the course is fast, punchy, and technical and the men’s field is stacked.Mason shares how he’s building Hello To Running, coaching everyone from couch-to-5K athletes to runners competing at the highest level. We dig into why training theory transfers across trail running, marathon training, and even ski mountaineering, plus what coaching beginners teaches you about the fundamentals that matter most. Then we lock onto Gorge Waterfalls 30K, a course that demands constant changes in effort, smart pacing, and durability when the climbs never let you settle into a rhythm.We also talk openly about the pressure of racing as a free agent in trail running, where travel costs, sponsorship opportunity, and prize money can make every start line feel like a gamble. Mason explains how he’s thinking about hydration, early-race excitement, and the “two-hour zone,” especially while managing a recent runner’s knee flare-up. We close with a look ahead to Boston Marathon plans and how mindset swings are part of the sport for all of us.If you enjoy detailed race strategy, honest coaching insight, and trail running talk that doesn’t dodge the hard parts, subscribe, share this with a running friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What’s your Gorge Waterfalls 30K pacing rule when the course is punchy and fast?Follow Mason on IG - mcoppi44Talk to Mason about Coaching - @Hello to RunningUse code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
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Alexa Aragon | Gorge Waterfalls 30K Pre Race Interview
Apr 800:13:50Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThe Gorge Waterfalls 30K brings a rare mix of speed and strength: runnable trail, road sections where pace changes can stick, and late climbs that punish anyone who goes out too hot. We’re in Hood River with Alexa Aragon for a pre-race conversation about stepping up to 18 miles, testing her limits against a deep women’s field, and using one early-season start line to guide an entire summer of trail running goals.We talk training through an unusually warm winter, when less snow means more time on the trails and fewer ski days. Alexa explains why she treats this race as a learning opportunity, how she thinks about course prep without fully scouting, and what terrain fits her best right now. With a road and track background as a former Notre Dame steeplechaser, she also breaks down where speed can matter on a course like this and why steep grades are still a key focus in training.Then we get into what’s new off the course: Alexa shares that this will be her first sponsored race, representing Mammut and La Sportiva (footwear), and why it matters that a brand supports her student adventure club, not just her racing. We wrap with a look ahead to Broken Arrow, Minotaur, Sierra Zinal, and the Cirque Series, plus the mindset she’ll bring to the start when the pace gets spicy early.If you’re into trail running race strategy, pacing for a 30K, and the real decisions athletes make before a big day, hit play. Subscribe for more conversations like this, share it with a running friend, and leave a review with the one question you want us to ask Alexa post-race.Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
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#127 - David Sinclair
Oct 16Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailTen hours on the edge, a live stream watched by hundreds of thousands, and a second-place finish that announced David Sinclair to the world stage. We unpack how an injury scare turned into a smarter build, why he chose CCC over OCC, and the exact training and fueling choices that helped him lead for hours, survive the low points, and find the grit to hold the podium in Chamonix.David takes us inside the chaos at Worlds—from canceled flights to a sky-high vert profile—and what that taught him about specificity and course targeting. Then we go deep on the nuts and bolts: threshold-focused workouts drawn from his ski background, a summer of cross-training and uphill-only running, and the course recon that let him pace with intent. We break down his fueling strategy in plain terms—80 to 100 grams of carbs per hour, flavor fatigue management, and why separating carbs, fluids, and electrolytes can save your stomach late. With Western States on the horizon, he shares a practical heat plan: steady sauna work, relentless ice at every aid, and simple systems that keep core temperature down without overcomplicating race day.We also talk shoes and gear, including Craft prototypes that balance cushioning with stability on runnable terrain, and why East Coast training—rolling dirt roads, rooty steeps, variable weather—can build world-class durability without altitude. David’s philosophy is refreshingly clear: keep it fun, stay flexible, and double down on the basics that actually move the needle. If you’re mapping your next build or just love a front-row view of a breakthrough season, this conversation is a masterclass in turning setbacks into fuel.If this episode adds value to your training, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick rating or review. Your support helps us bring on more voices you’ll want to learn from.Follow David on IG - @david.a.sinclair.92Follow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podUse code steepstuffpod for 25% off your cart at UltimateDirection.com! Use code SteepStuff for 20% your cart on Sidas.usFollow James on IG - @jameslaurielloFollow the Steep Stuff Podcast on IG - @steepstuff_podFollow Sidas USA on IG - @sidas_usa
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