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/ SQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
In this episode, Seth sits down with longtime friend and mentor Jared Thurmon—a serial entrepreneur, family man, and deep thinker whose journey spans hustling at the 1996 Olympics, building businesses, and finding balance as a husband and father.Together, they dive into the power of expression as a pathway to healing, the lessons Jared carried from his father’s struggles into his own parenting, and how discipline, affection, and self-awareness shape the next generation. They unpack big questions about spirituality versus religion, the role of belief in human performance, and why stored pain can be more toxic than cigarettes.From stories of selling toys for baseball cards to building a barn-turned-office with a sauna, Jared opens up about what fuels him: relationships, impact, and the pursuit of meaningful work. This conversation weaves together faith, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and endurance—with insights you won’t forget.Jared’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/jaredthurmon/1Up (Jared’s Newsletter): https://www.1upyourlife.com/LifeApp 3-Day: https://www.lifeapp.ca/SQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
Former professional triathlete and host of Chasing the Burn, Chelsea Burns, flips the mic and steps into the interviewee seat for a candid, funny, and deeply human conversation. We trace her journey from growing up in the Pacific Northwest to competing at the highest levels of triathlon, navigating retirement, and finding purpose in unexpected places—like working at Trader Joe’s and launching Boulder’s first youth triathlon camp. Chelsea opens up about identity beyond sport, building community, the lessons learned from running a 50-mile race, and the importance of everyday human connection. We talk nature vs. city life, the emotional rollercoaster of podcasting, COVID adventures in an off-grid RV, and even dive into faith, values, and what “success” really means.Whether you’re an athlete, podcaster, or just someone figuring out life after a big chapter closes, Chelsea’s story is equal parts inspiring, relatable, and refreshingly real.Chelsea’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/cburns0/Chasing the Burn: https://shorturl.at/OzcXZSQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
Engineer, retired Navy Master Chief, triathlete, and family man—Mark Evans has lived a life defined by responsibility under pressure. In this powerful conversation, Mark opens up about his 22+ years of military service, the burden of command, and the life-altering experiences that shaped his views on mortality, leadership, and what truly matters.We talk about surviving war, leading in life-or-death situations, and carrying the weight of tragic loss. Mark reflects on the lessons learned from his father’s hard-edged love, mentors who shaped his path, and the healing power of optimism. Despite witnessing humanity at its worst, he still believes the world is good—and that making a difference starts with the people right in front of us.Whether you’re navigating your own challenges, striving to lead others, or looking for proof that resilience can coexist with deep compassion, this episode will challenge and inspire you.Mark’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/frumpycob/Mark’s Photography: https://www.instagram.com/thenordicaphotography/Mark’s Site: https://shorturl.at/EUhcmSQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
At just 22 years old, Ian Fisher is chasing his pro triathlon card with an unwavering belief in God’s plan for his life—but his story starts far from the start line. Born in Ukraine and placed in an orphanage at age eight, Ian was adopted into a loving family in the U.S., a turning point that shaped his faith and drive. In this raw and inspiring conversation, Ian shares about overcoming a turbulent childhood, finding purpose after years of partying, and discovering triathlon only 10 months ago.We dive into forgiveness, identity, and the mental battles of chasing big goals. Ian opens up about the role his fiancée plays in his journey, his relationship with God, and how he’s learning patience on and off the racecourse. Whether you’re an athlete, a person of faith, or just someone navigating your own “middle ground” between past and future, Ian’s story will remind you that broken beginnings can lead to powerful new chapters.Ian’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/iianfisher/Ian’s YT: https://www.youtube.com/@iianfisherSQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
Professional triathlete, startup leader, and immigrant dream-chaser—Klodian Mitri joins Seth for a hilarious, heartfelt, and deeply human conversation that stretches from Albania to Ironman finish lines. They talk about growing up as an immigrant in Chicago, being a 7-year-old caretaker for his little sister, crashing his way through his first triathlon (in someone else’s wetsuit), and climbing the ranks in both business and endurance sport.Klodian opens up about the pressures of proving yourself to a hard-edged father, the chaos and joy of raising kids while racing professionally, and why betting on yourself is sometimes the scariest—but best—move you can make. Whether you're into startups, sport, or stories about resilience and growth, this episode will leave you laughing, reflecting, and maybe even tearing up.Klodian’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/klodiangosling/SQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
Olympian, coach, and lifelong learner—Non Stanford joins Seth from her new home on Australia’s Gold Coast for a heartfelt conversation about reinvention, resilience, and what it means to start again. From finishing fourth at the Rio Olympics (by just two seconds) to building a new triathlon performance center with eyes on Brisbane 2032, Non opens up about the emotional toll of narrowly missing the podium, the evolution of her identity post-retirement, and the hard-earned shift from chasing medals to mentoring young athletes.Together, they explore her move from the UK to Australia, her partnership with fellow Olympian Aaron Royle, lessons from marriage, and the tension between personal ambition and meaningful contribution. Vulnerable, wise, and refreshingly honest, this episode dives deep into what success really means—and how to keep showing up when dreams don’t go to plan.If you’ve ever felt the sting of unmet expectations or wondered who you are outside your achievements, this one’s for you.Non’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/nonstanford/SQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
Tim Ford—co-host of the Endures and Talking Triathlon podcasts, elite athlete manager, and unapologetic Power Rangers collector—joins Seth for a rich and reflective conversation about grief, identity, endurance, and growth.From losing his grandfather and grandmother—two of the most formative figures in his life—to grappling with burnout, anxiety, and rebuilding resilience, Tim opens up with deep vulnerability. Together, he and Seth explore family dynamics, the joy and work of long-term marriage, the beauty of journaling, and how endurance sports mirror the slow, imperfect path toward emotional healing.They also touch on childhood nostalgia, cultural spirituality, and the hard-earned wisdom of nearly turning 40. It’s a heartfelt, funny, and deeply human conversation about what it means to keep showing up—even when life punches back.The Endurers: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FdhcuVfKTfB4ViAiOE4ok?si=3139ff264e334549Talking Triathlon: https://open.spotify.com/show/5prdYMntCJFc8FlzF69ppd?si=cab78e2d6fe8463fTim’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/tford14/Mana Group: https://manaseg.com/SQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
Elite trail runner, North Face athlete, and 2022 Dopey Challenge champion Brittany Charbonneau joins Seth for a vibrant and deeply human conversation that sparkles with laughter, honesty, and hard-earned wisdom. From winning 48 miles of Disney races in full costume to chasing dreams of Broadway and raising her newborn son Hugo, Brittany shares how she's learned to embrace her inner "mountain shark," surrender control, and let joy lead the way.Together, they explore the intersection of art, athleticism, motherhood, marriage, and identity—including why glitter is her life’s metaphor, how singing makes her a better runner, and how middle school coaching taught her what really matters. This episode is a celebration of authenticity, playfulness, and the sacred messiness of becoming who you truly are.Brittany’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/funnyrunner26.2/SQ Merch: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup
Professional triathlete and Olympian Jamie Riddle joins Seth for a powerful, soul-searching conversation that dives far deeper than training stats or race results. At just 25 years old, Jamie shares an extraordinary depth of wisdom as the two open up about faith, identity, ego, addiction, relationships, and the quiet struggle of trying to live with purpose in a performance-driven world.From growing up in South Africa and losing his brother to addiction, to finding his way back to faith after chasing fame and freedom abroad, Jamie’s story is raw, redemptive, and refreshingly honest. Together, he and Seth explore the tension between ambition and surrender, the battle against lust and ego in the age of social media, and how gratitude, discipline, and daily time with God can realign even the most restless heart.Jamie’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamie__riddle/Ogg Cast: https://open.spotify.com/show/71eqSJizlSGv56NmAhS6Eg?si=14181dd719844b0fSQ Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch SQ Newsletter: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup