Everyday Ironman Podcast

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Mike is joined by friend, co-worker, and first-time 70.3 finisher Christopher Sprowl. From staying at Mike’s house race week to toeing the line at the inaugural Ironman 70.3 Dallas-Little Elm, Chris shares his journey from college high jumper and high school swimmer to triathlete. They dive into wetsuit struggles, heart rate zones (including a max HR of 209), and the reality of balancing training with family life. Race day brought unexpected ch...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast with Ashley Raines and Chris Curtis, Naveen Mysore shares an incredible story of resilience, patience, and perseverance. After facing temporary paralysis, Naveen began his comeback with just a few minutes of walking each day, simply looking for a way to move forward during recovery. What started as a small step turned into a marathon goal—and ultimately a journey toward becoming an Ironman in 2025. Naveen opens up about rebuilding both phys...

Amanda Duling joins The Everyday Ironman Podcast to share an inspiring journey that proves it’s never too late to transform your life. A Kansas-based athlete, wife of 20+ years, and mom to a high schooler, Amanda found endurance sports six years ago following gastric bypass surgery—and has since lost over 110 pounds. She opens up about how the triathlon community embraced her and why she’s passionate about helping female athletes navigate challenges often left unspoken. We also dive into tria...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Ashley Raines and Chris Curtis are joined by Jes Palatka, a true example of what it means to pursue big goals alongside real life. Jes lives in Ohio, is the proud mom of three adult children, works full time at a university, runs a nonprofit, and is actively working toward her PhD—all while training for Ironman. Jes’s endurance journey started early. She ran her first marathon at just 18 years old and has since completed an incredible 30 marath...

Tiffany and Caitlin Saunders—better known as Team Saunders Tri—return to The Everyday Ironman Podcast to preview the inaugural Ironman 70.3 in Little Elm, Texas. With a strong presence on social media and a reputation as accomplished triathletes, they were even featured in the race’s official announcement video. In this episode, Tiffany and Caitlin share insights from their YouTube series Train Like a Pro and break down the course after previewing it while filming race content. We also discus...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Mike and Ashley welcome Lars Mainer, a Denmark native now living in the U.S. and a teammate of Ashley on Team Zoot. Lars shares how his endurance journey began in the marathon world before evolving into long-course triathlon, including racing Ironman Cozumel. The conversation goes beyond racing as Lars explains the science of wind propulsion through his experience as a kite surfer and how those lessons translate to endurance sports. He also dis...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we’re joined by Maiki Cofer, who lives just minutes from Ironman World Championship in Kona—aka the place every triathlete dreams of racing. A longtime volunteer at the World Championship, Maiki gives real insight into qualifying from Hawaii and why it’s still far from easy. She shares her journey from a 2014 relay to her first Olympic-distance finish, racing Ironman 70.3 Hawaii multiple times, and we discuss the cost to race there when you don...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Jana Laughlin joins the conversation for a wide-ranging and honest discussion about endurance sport, resilience, and balance. Jana growing up swimming recreationally before discovering cycling later in life while recovering from breast cancer—a journey that ultimately led her to meet her husband through the cycling community. A spontaneous suggestion turned into her first triathlon just days later, and she’s been hooked ever since. Jana shares ...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we’re joined by Adam Jones—recording remotely while stuck in the Atlanta airport—for a wide-ranging conversation that Age Group Athletes will truly relate to. Adam shares how his endurance journey began not with triathlon, but with RAGBRAI, the iconic 7-day bike ride across Iowa, sparking a lifelong passion for endurance sports. Adam walks us through his progression into triathlon, starting with a Sprint distance race and a Top 5 Age Group fini...

In this powerful and honest episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we sit down with Emma Tucker, an Age Group Athlete from Australia whose journey to Ironman is nothing short of remarkable. Emma opens up about living an unhealthy lifestyle before a serious health scare pushed her to make a change that would alter the course of her life. Over the span of a year, she lost nearly 80 kilos, openly sharing her decision to undergo weight loss surgery and documenting the entire process on Instagra...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Ashley sits down with newly turned pro triathlete Sarah Spooner to talk about what it really takes to level up—without leaving life behind. Sarah isn’t just racing at the highest level; she’s doing it while working full-time as a teacher, supporting her family, and raising her 9-year-old son alongside her husband. Sarah shares how she balances training, work, and family commitments, the realities of time management, and the mindset shifts requi...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Mike and Ashley are joined by Eric Hansen, the organizer of the iconic Mackinac Bridge Swim. Eric has led the event for the past five years, operating it as a non-profit and donating proceeds back to the communities on both sides of the bridge. Spanning 4.5 miles and separating Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, this swim is as meaningful as it is challenging. Eric shares the story of first applying to be part of the event, explains why participant ...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we’re joined by professional triathlete David Guenthardt for an honest and insightful conversation about life in—and beyond—the pro field. David shares why he recently decided to step away from competing as a professional, while making it clear he’s not retiring from triathlon altogether. David opens up about the realities of racing as a pro, including the fact that he never made a living solely from the sport and has always worked a full-time ...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Mike and Ashley are joined by Dr. Iris Nafshi for a powerful conversation centered on her PhD dissertation focused on Ironmoms. Iris is a wife, a mom to four boys ranging from ages 12 to 26, a dog mom to four pups, and a multiple-time Ironman finisher with three Master’s degrees to her name. Iris breaks down what a dissertation actually is, how she landed on her topic, and why studying the tension between athletic grit and maternal guilt matter...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we’re joined by multiple-time Ironman finisher and certified triathlon coach Josh Venis for an in-depth conversation on the sport that changed his life. Josh shares how he found triathlon during a major personal transition and quickly discovered both a passion and a natural skillset for endurance racing. From earning his Ironman U Coaching Certification in 2019 to qualifying for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in 2021, Josh walks us throug...

In this reflective year-end episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Mike Bosch and Ashley Raines look back on 2025 and the moments that defined their season as Age Group Athletes and podcasters. From personal highs to unexpected challenges, they share what they’re most proud of and how they pushed through adversity both in training and in life. A big part of the conversation centers on the incredible support of The Everyday Ironman Facebook Group. Mike and Ashley talk about how meaningful it...

In this special and light-hearted episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Mike is joined by a very special guest—his wife, Diana. Together, Mike and Diana share the story of how they first met in high school, why they didn’t start dating until two years after graduation, and what their very first date was really like. Now married for 32 years, they reflect on building a life together while raising two sons who are now adults. Diana, an Instructional Coach for 5th and 6th grade, offers a pers...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, Mike and Ashley sit down with Kyle Axman for a wide-ranging conversation that blends endurance sport, fitness tech, and a little friendly chaos. Kyle and Ashley first crossed paths at the NYC Marathon Expo, and the conversation takes off from there. Kyle works with Technogym, makers of the Skill Run treadmill designed to deliver real-time biofeedback and advanced running metrics. That sparks Mike’s pitch for a future where form-fitting fabric p...

In this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, we sit down with Hayden Renoux, a standout high school senior from Olathe, Kansas, and a founding member of his school’s triathlon club. Hayden shares his journey from traditional youth sports to discovering endurance athletics in 8th grade, where he transitioned into cross country, track, and competitive swimming. After completing his first triathlon between 7th and 8th grade, he helped lead his high school triathlon team—sponsored by former g...

On this episode of The Everyday Ironman Podcast, previous guest Tyler Pedersen (Episode 197) returns to recap his performance at Ironman 70.3 North Carolina. Tyler has been chasing a sub-5 finish all year—leading him to race four times in 2025—and he walks us through the strategy behind his latest attempt. Before diving into the recap, we discuss the benefits of a hilly bike course versus a flat, aero-heavy course, especially for athletes managing lower-back issues. Tyler also shares how a re...