Stupid Questions with Seth Hill

In this round-two conversation, I sit back down with retired Navy Master Chief Mark Evans — a man who’s led submarine crews around the world, survived life-changing trauma, and still finds humor in it all.We go deep on leadership, fatherhood, faith, and the strange pull between fear and perspective — from Ironman finish lines to moments of real loss. Mark shares what it means to stay calm when everyone else is panicking, how to raise strong kids without losing your own humility, and why he believes love is ultimately an act of service.We also wander into the big stuff: God, AI, trauma, politics, and what it means to stay human in a world that often forgets how. It’s raw, grounded, and full of truth bombs that only come from a life fully lived.Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/frumpycob/Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DASQ Merch: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ Bible Verses Referenced: 2 Kings 2:11-12 (Elijah going to heaven)1 Kings 19:14-18 (More serve good than we realize)

In this round-two conversation, I sit back down with Brenton Ford — the man behind Effortless Swimming — to catch up on everything that’s changed since our first talk a few years ago. We start with my own Ironman California story before diving deep into swimming, coaching, and how letting go can actually make you faster.Brenton shares what he’s learned running global swim camps, launching anti-fog goggles, and working alongside Olympic champions. We talk about the mindset behind great coaching, what it means to truly “feel the water,” and how self-awareness can change the way you move — in the pool and in life.He also opens up about leadership, family, and learning to slow down as a dad. It’s a thoughtful, down-to-earth conversation about mastery, patience, and building something that lasts — whether that’s a business, a team, or a life you actually enjoy living.Effortless Swimming IG: https://www.instagram.com/effortlessswimming/HydroClear Goggles: https://shop.effortlessswimming.com?utm_source=Instagram-bio&utm_medium=Instagram-bio&utm_campaign=LinktreeEpisode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠

I sat down with Luke Fetzer, a 5-time national champion who’s already carving out his place in American criterium racing at just 19 years old. What stood out to me most wasn’t just his results—it was how grounded and self-aware he is for someone still figuring life out.We talked about what it was like growing up in his parents’ bike shop, watching them close it after nearly 30 years, and how that shaped his perspective on work, risk, and legacy. Luke shared why he left one of the biggest teams in the country to bet on himself, what “champions do everything right” really means to him, and how he’s learning to balance ambition, gratitude, and patience.It’s an honest, down-to-earth conversation about identity, drive, and becoming the kind of man you want to be—on and off the bike. By the time this episode airs, Luke will have just turned 20, so go wish him a happy birthday and check out his journey in the show notes.Luke’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sendy_mcgee/ Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠

Former professional triathlete Collin Chartier sits down with me for a raw, unguarded conversation about identity, faith, and healing after public failure.We talk through his upbringing in a nomadic Navy family, the identity collapse that followed his doping suspension, and the five-month bikepacking trip that became a turning point toward grace, breathwork, and self-understanding.Collin opens up about learning to sit in silence, reconnecting with God, and finding empathy for himself and others. We dive deep into topics like “toxic vs. rocket fuel,” body-stored trauma, somatic healing, fear as a projection of the future, and the red flags that athletes miss when their drive turns into self-destruction.This isn’t a conversation about excuses — it’s about awareness, humility, and the long road toward being of service again.Collin’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/collinchartier/ The Body Keeps the Score: https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠

I sit down with Dirk Friel—former pro cyclist and co-founder of TrainingPeaks—to trace how a scrappy, late-’90s idea between friends became the platform so many of us use to plan, track, and analyze training.We talk about his entrepreneurial roots (yes, Joe Friel is his dad), racing in Belgium in the pre-internet era, and the “sweat-equity” nights that led to the first place you could view heart-rate and power files in a web browser. I ask Dirk what TrainingPeaks isn’t (spoiler: there’s no one-true method), how to treat TSS/CTL/PMC as tools—not gospel—and why most athletes overdo intensity more than volume.Dirk shares why human coaches still beat AI (“there are more unknowns than knowns”), why good coaching often feels “too easy” at first, and how accountability—sometimes the tough kind—creates breakthroughs. We also get into TrainingPeaks Virtual and its physics-first approach (drafting, wind, and cornering actually matter), plus what he’s learned about leadership, hiring beyond your friend circle, and the purpose that drives him: helping others reach their potential.Dirk’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/dirkfriel/TrainingPeaks: https://app.trainingpeaks.com  Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠

Professional operatic soprano Martha Eason joins me for a crossover conversation on music, endurance sport, and the mindset that powers both. We go from Appalachia bluegrass roots to Germany’s “fest” system, where the same resident cast performs night after night—often on tired vocal cords and tighter schedules. Martha breaks down why opera is an athletic event, how recovery, breath work, and nervous-system regulation protect those “two tiny muscles,” and what her Garmin reveals during rehearsals.We talk technique vs. emotion (and why clear text and intention beat perfect high notes), naming the inner critic (“Hi, Brenda”), and practical ways singers taper, avoid burnout, and come back from overuse injuries. Martha shares role milestones—from Violetta in La Traviata to Missy Mazzoli’s gritty Breaking the Waves—and how faith, doubt, and real life feed performance without derailing it. Plus: the Via Francigena run, why second performances often outshine premieres, Germany’s public funding for opera, and how her “Rehearsal Notes” newsletter blends vocal pedagogy with athlete habits.Martha’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/marthaeasonsoprano/Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠

In his round three on the show, TriRig founder and gear wizard Nick Salazar returns… as a filmmaker. We dive into his debut feature, The Game of Life—a two-year, DIY passion project shot largely inside his home with a tiny crew (and a big family cheering and helping behind the scenes). Nick opens up about writing, directing, acting, and scoring the film, why he designed distinct color palettes for each act, and how switching from clean spherical glass to wild anamorphic lenses created those dreamy, in-camera flares around a mysterious “skeleton key.”We get into the story’s themes—mental health, unreliable narration, radical acceptance, and the “I am” moment—plus the nuts and bolts: 24 shoot days in three blocks, proof-of-concept scenes to win buy-in, private screenings, and what “success” looks like for a first feature. We also wander into consciousness, AI, and why imperfect human art still hits hardest.The Game of Life (Preview): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyRZ5jH0CSYNick’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@nick_salazar TriRig: https://tririg.com/Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠

In another deeply human conversation, I sit down once again with my friend and musician Nick Goldston for what might be our most honest talk yet. We cover everything from the emotional aftermath of racing an Ironman to the evolving relationship between creativity, music, and meaning—and what happens when AI starts imitating the human soul.Nick opens up about the quiet transformation he’s experienced through music, how he teaches emotional authenticity to his students, and why empathy may be the last frontier of human connection. We go deep on religion, truth, AI, and consciousness, asking: what makes something real? What makes it human?This one is raw, philosophical, and full of heart—from creative process to heartbreak, forgiveness, and the beauty of just dancing again.Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA Nick’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/nickgoldston/ SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

A little different this week. I decided to take a break from the usual interviews to talk with you guys one-on-one. I just got back from Tennessee, where I visited family, met my four-month-old niece for the first time, and raced 103 miles through the mountains of Georgia. But what really hit me was a moment with my sister—she gave me my dad’s old “World’s Greatest Dad” hat, something I hadn’t seen since 2006. With my wife now 20 weeks pregnant, that gift carried a weight I wasn’t prepared for.I share what that moment brought up for me—grief, gratitude, and a clearer sense of what kind of father I want to be. I also talk about how my faith has reshaped the way I understand love and purpose, what it’s meant to stay clean and sober, and why I’m trying to build this podcast the same way an oak tree grows—slow, steady, and strong.I wrap up with a look ahead to episode 200, the launch of Nothing Novel, and where I hope this show is headed. Thanks for listening and for being part of this journey with me.Nothing Novel: No website yet - but I am working on it!Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA My IG: https://www.instagram.com/seth_t_hill/SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

Former draft-legal triathlete turned Adidas Terrex trail runner Eli Hemming joins me from Europe ahead of World Champs to talk swapping Olympic cycles for alpine miles, racing UTMB week (CCC), and why 2025 will be “Taber & Eli doing Taber & Eli.” We get into belief-driven training (and racing more because it’s fun), social-media detox and attention-span rehab, growing up homeschooled in eastern Colorado, coffee nerdery (yes, the caffeine-molecule tattoo), pacing JFK 50 while learning not to quit, and building a simple life in Kremmling near his wife’s family ranch. We also wander into head vs. heart decision-making and the scary honesty of “nothingness” after death—and why that makes the present matter more.Eli’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/eli_hemming/SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this episode I sit down with Ian Boswell—former WorldTour pro, now gravel racer, Wahoo leader, husband, father, and Vermont farmhouse fixer. We trace his journey from racing the Tour de France with Team Sky to building a life surrounded by family, gardens, and 250-year-old plaster walls.Ian and I dive into what it means to shift identity when sport no longer defines you, how leadership looks different inside the peloton versus at home, and why self-reliance (yes, even fixing hydraulic hoses) matters. We talk about community, faith, mortality, and the legacy of his friend Sule Kangangi, whose vision for East African cycling lives on through Team Amani.What stood out most for me was Ian’s answer to my last question: the message he wants to leave his daughters when they turn ten. His words—about showing up fully and going all in—are a reminder I think all of us can take to heart.Ian’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/ian_boswell/ SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

Polish triathlete Gabriela “Gabi” Gaweł sits down with me to trace a late-blooming athletic journey shaped by loss, resilience, and a cross-border life. Gabi shares how losing her father at 15 rippled through the next decade, why therapy became the turning point, and how learning to slow down in the pool became a metaphor for pacing life. She talks about growing up near the Ukrainian border, cultural humor gaps, and the confidence she found training in Tucson’s protected bike paths.We get into sibling dynamics (the brother who said she “couldn’t” — and later bought her first bike), starting triathlon from zero during COVID, navigating visas between the U.S. and Canada, and the very Tucson way she met pro triathlete Mark Dubrick. Gabi closes with practical advice for anyone carrying unprocessed hurt: ask for help, expect work, and stay consistent.Gabriela’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/gabriela_gawel/SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

Sam Parsons—pro runner, creative, and co-founder of Faves—goes deep on passion, failure, and what’s next. We trace his path from Wilmington to Boulder, missing two Olympic teams (a torn calf in 2021, heat collapse in 2024), and why he calls “positive resiliency” the greatest competitive skill. Sam opens up about the uncle who shaped him at 16, chosen family, faith, curiosity, anxiety during big life transitions (engagement, potential move to LA), and how he’s learning to let goals “come to him” instead of forcing the grind. We also dig into his nightmare-fun Vermont trail race, what track taught him about leadership, and the mission behind Faves—building athlete shop pages that actually pay athletes (without clunky promo codes). Candid, energetic, and surprisingly vulnerable.Sam’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/par_sam_sons/ Faves: faves.xyzSQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this episode, I sit down with David Roshak, CEO of DMR Capital, to trace a career that arcs from Big 4 accounting and Level 3 boardrooms to early-stage cyber investing, mentoring founders, and chasing Ironman finish lines. Dave shares candid stories—growing up near Warren Buffett in Omaha (yes, awkward restroom run-ins), a father who captained 747s, swapping a high-travel CFO life for a self-directed fund, and the hard reset that divorce forced on his priorities.They dig into what it means to trade control for influence as a board member, why time (not money) is the scarcest investment, and how to design goals you’ll actually live by. The conversation winds through mentorship, friendship, and community; the cultish joy of triathlon (and wearing too much swag); religious skepticism and mortality; new-dad advice; and learning to look up—from the Willamette River to Red Rock Canyon to the late-race finish chute.David’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/dmr2.0/SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

Physical therapist, professional triathlete, and lifelong musician, Caitlin Alexander sits down with Seth to talk about who she really is—and why she’s built a life that isn’t defined by just one label. Caitlin opens up about ADHD, empathy as a superpower, and how a justice sensitivity pulls her to speak up. She traces an unlikely path from Virginia’s green hills and NYC’s music scene to Colorado, where she now runs a cash-based PT and bike-fit clinic, balances pro racing with entrepreneurship, and learns what sustainable performance actually looks like.They dive into identity beyond sport, abusive coaching cultures vs. true longevity, why community matters when injury or burnout hits, and how music still unlocks emotion and recovery. Caitlin shares candidly about a rough race season, choosing joy over grind, leaning on her husband Brian, and getting excited to experience Kona—this time not racing.Caitlin’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/caitalexander/HU Performance: https://www.instagram.com/hu.performance/SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

Cyril B. (co-founder of PURPOSE, based in Singapore) joins Seth to unpack what it really takes to build a performance apparel brand engineered for brutal heat and humidity. A Swiss native with an LVMH/Tag Heuer past, Cyril shares how he went from luxury watches to heat-obsessed tri kits (Hyper Mesh), why Southeast Asian culture shaped the product, and how diversity and inclusivity became core to the brand.Beyond business, Cyril opens up about the partnership that makes it possible—his marriage—plus fatherhood, identity, faith, and the emotional toll of entrepreneurship. He talks Kona struggles, prepping for the furnace that is IRONMAN Langkawi, and why he’d rather fail the right way than “win” by compromising ethics.Cyril’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/tridaddy_sg/PURPOSE IG: https://www.instagram.com/teampurpose/SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

Two-time world champion triathlete and entrepreneur Chris “Macca” McCormack joins Seth for a candid dive into life after elite sport: the brutal honesty endurance racing teaches, the illusion of “high performance” in the boardroom, and why risk-taking can’t end when your racing career does. From collecting marathon majors to raising kids, building Super League/SuperTri and the MANA Group, navigating COVID as a sports operator, and exploring meditation and Buddhist ideas of peace—Macca opens up about ambition, aging, family, grief, and redefining success. He talks bandwidth, ADD tendencies, why great teams beat great ideas, how he evaluates founders, and the future of tokenizing sports assets. It’s part playbook, part therapy session, and fully Macca: direct, fast-moving, and deeply human.Chris’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/maccanow/Mana SG IG: https://www.instagram.com/mana_seg/ SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

At just 23, short-course pro triathlete John Reed has already lived a life defined by movement—across states as a military kid, through hard choices between the Navy and sport, and now on the world triathlon circuit. In this conversation, John shares how constant change shaped his fearlessness, why working with mentors like Ryan Bolton and Corey Rich has grounded him, and how his faith gives him peace when doors close and others open. We dive into the challenges of staying even-keeled in a self-focused sport, the value of small but strong relationships, and what it means to care deeply while conserving energy for the moments that matter. From his family of seven siblings to his Olympic ambitions, John’s story is one of discipline, humility, and a big heart.John’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/j.reed11/SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

Klodian is back! This time, diving deep into faith, doubt, and what it means to live with intention. Klodian shares his journey into the Latter-day Saints church, the questions he still wrestles with, and how his relationship with God has shaped his family and his values.From childhood experiences exploring different religions to surviving a life-threatening illness in college, Klodian reflects on how serendipitous moments shaped his belief system and personal growth. Along the way, we explore tough questions about suffering, good versus evil, and navigating gray areas in faith. Klodian also opens up about fatherhood, marriage, and the lessons he’s learned about time, purpose, and love.This is an honest, vulnerable discussion about religion, relationships, and the pursuit of living with intention—full of laughter, reflection, and perspective.Klodian’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/klodiangosling/SQ Socks: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ SQ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this 3rd-round catch-up, Marc opens up about the stress reaction that derailed his Ironman debut, the challenge of navigating injuries as a professional athlete, and how he’s finding growth through family time, recovery, and perspective. They dive into the shifting landscape of triathlon—T100 vs. Ironman, sponsorship struggles, and the reality of making racing a sustainable career. Marc also shares his evolving approach to relationships, building long-term partnerships, and preparing for life after sport. Along the way, the conversation touches on social media strategy, investing, love languages, and even the “what if” of winning the lottery.

Marc’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/mdubrick7/

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