Stupid Questions with Seth Hill

Benjamin Randall — known to most of the internet as Triathlete Benny — is a professional triathlete and a staff writer at Colorado State University. But his real story isn't the run splits people argue about in the comments; it's the shy only child who just wanted friends, and the years he spent training close to 40 hours a week trying to outrun something he couldn't name. What he's built since is less about fitness than about finally being a whole person.We talk about being labeled "just a runner who does triathlon," the strange math of having your worth measured in three sports, the high school journalism teacher who lit the fire that still drives his writing, and the coaches who found him at his lowest and asked what he was actually doing. Ben opens up about his eating disorder and the inpatient treatment that followed, grapples honestly with what recovery looks like when your sport rewards the same obsessiveness that nearly broke you, and shares the mental reframe that pulled him out of black-or-white thinking — plus why shoving his watch in his pocket made him faster.This is a conversation about what happens when you stop performing your identity and start living it. If who you are depends entirely on what you did last Saturday, what's left on the days you don't race?Benny’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/triathletebenny/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Tegan Phillips is a South African cartoonist, adventure writer, and creator known for her women's cycling comedy — and for riding 11,000 kilometers across Africa with her family. But her real story isn't the big adventures. It's the quieter, less glamorous choice to stay put and build something sustainable when running away would have looked braver.We talk about growing up in Cape Town and what inequality teaches a kid early, the boxes families and social media put us in, the eating disorders and comparison that shaped her teenage years, what it took to learn how to be honest in a friendship, and the gap between her chaotic online persona and the methodical business owner behind it. She opens up about the book she's been dragging her feet on for five years, and shares the most practical advice we've had on the show: if you want to make a living from your art, you have to learn how business actually works.This is a conversation about the difference between following your heart and running from discomfort — and how hard it is to tell them apart without time alone to figure out which voice is which.Tegan’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/teganphillipscomics/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Mike Reilly is the legendary voice of IRONMAN finish lines—the man who has called thousands of athletes across the finish line with four iconic words: "You are an Iron Man." But after decades of defining his life around announcing races and chasing the next event, Mike grapples with what it means to step away from the role that made him a household name in endurance sports. His real story isn't about the accomplishments or the voice—it's about learning, finally, where his actual finish lines really are.We talk about his parents' example of perseverance without preaching, what it truly means to be yourself in public, why sharing your goals with loved ones changes everything, the cost of missing anniversaries and birthdays for races, finding balance across mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual dimensions, staying sharp as you age, caregiving when you can't fix what's broken, and why your real finish lines aren't at races. Mike also opens up about his second book—a 15-month project that taught him more about writing and purpose than he expected—and why stepping away from Ironman felt like crossing the finish line he'd been training for all along.This is a conversation about finding your real finish line when the world has already built a monument to a different one. It's about presence over performance, legacy over accolades, and learning that what you do every day at home matters infinitely more than any achievement on a stage.Mike’s Book - Finding your Finishline: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFG73C6HMike’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/ironmanvoice/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

John Mollura spent 15 years leading mission-critical field testing for NASA and elite US military units. But his real gift—the ability to read people and see exactly what makes them tick—nearly destroyed everything. This is the story of how he learned to wield that power as a tool for connection instead of control, and what it cost him to get there.We talk about the moment a spiritual awakening forced him to see himself clearly, how he went from using emotional intelligence as a weapon to wielding it as a leader, and the painstaking work of separating your self-worth from your performance. John shares practical wisdom on the Enneagram, the difference between reacting and responding, why discretion is harder to develop than competence, and the quiet courage it takes to let the people you love struggle and figure things out on their own.Whether you're an athlete grappling with identity beyond sport, a leader trying to hold people accountable with grace, or someone trying to break reactive patterns that have shaped your entire life, John's journey offers both the challenge and the blueprint for transformation.John’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-mollura/John’s Site: https://johnmollura.com/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Peter Stetina is a professional gravel racer, former World Tour cyclist, father of twins, and one of the early architects of modern professional gravel racing. In this conversation, we dive deep into his career transition from the pressure-cooker of European road cycling to the emerging gravel scene—and what that journey taught him about identity, sacrifice, and what actually matters.We talk about the cost of making your body your job, the realization that comes when you're forced to let go of the dream you've chased since childhood, becoming a parent mid-career, the people who stick around when things get hard, and why "a happy racer is a fast racer" might be the most important lesson he's learned in 20 years as a professional athlete.This is a conversation about transitions, perspective, and finding peace in a life spent chasing something bigger than yourself.Peter’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/pstetina/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

James Cunnama is a former professional triathlete who finished top 5 in Kona, won Challenge Roth, and made a career of endurance. But his real story isn’t about race results—it’s about who he became after crossing the finish line.In this raw and honest conversation, James opens up about losing his identity when he retired from pro sport, struggling with suicidal thoughts, and learning that presence matters more than podiums. We discuss his coaching philosophy on removing friction to enable passion, why small daily improvements compound into life transformation, and how fatherhood forced him to answer the hardest question: Who am I?James also shares his last day working at GTN after five years, what his kids have taught him about what really matters, and why you can't help others until you're willing to reach out for help yourself.This is a conversation about mental health, purpose, family, and the often-invisible struggle behind someone who looks like they have it all figured out.James’ IG: https://www.instagram.com/jamescunnama/James’ Coaching: www.kiscoaching.com/inquirySuicide Prevention Hotlines – WorldwideUSA: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988, 24/7) BelleUSA (Crisis Text): Text HOME to 741741 (24/7) caCanada: 988 Suicide Crisis Helpline (24/7) BelleUK: Samaritans – 0800 689 5652 or 0800 689 0880 (24/7) Find a HelplineAustralia: Lifeline – 13 11 14 (24-hour) SamaritansNew Zealand: Lifeline – 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (7am–midnight) Mental Health FoundationNew Zealand (Samaritans): 0800 72 66 66 (24/7) Lifeline-internationalIndia: KIRAN – 1800-599-0019 (24/7) Find a HelplineSouth Africa: 0514445691 HealthcollectiveFrance: 3114 (24/7) Psychology TodayGermany: Telefon Seelsorge (online chat 4pm–11pm CET) Suicide StopSpain: 914590050Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Jeremiah Bishop has spent over 30 years racing bikes at the highest level — national titles, ultra-endurance expeditions, and the Impossible Route, a documentary series he created that's racked up millions of views chasing unfinishable rides across deserts most people would never attempt. He just turned 50, and instead of slowing down, he won every race he entered this season.In this conversation, Jeremiah and I get into what three decades of racing all over the world actually taught him — not about training, but about perspective: how differently the world looks depending on who's telling the story, what he learned about America from wearing the national team jersey abroad, and why he's become wary of curated narratives, whether from a broker, a news network, or his own competitive ego.We also talk about fatherhood, growing up without his own dad from age four, and how a mother battling addiction shaped both his drive and his eventual peace with her.Jeremiah opens up about chasing validation through competition for most of his career, and the slow work of learning that fulfillment has to come from execution, not outcome. We close on stoicism, fear as "the mind killer," and his honest answer to what it would mean to have lived a fulfilled life.This one goes deep — from bike racing and media literacy to grief, mentorship, and what it actually means to make peace with the past.Jeremiah’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/jeremiahbishoprides/?hl=enWays to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Mango Fetzer is Luke Fetzer's mom — and one of the most vibrant, well-lived humans I've ever had the privilege of talking to. She's spent a decade sailing across oceans, worked as a private chef around the world, survived a beaten-bound-and-bagged home invasion in Panama, and taught her kids to see life as a gift, every single day, no matter what.This conversation went places I didn't expect. Mango talks about looking a masked intruder in the eyes and telling him to look at her before he pulled the trigger. She talks about coping with PTSD through Heart Math breathing techniques and cracking Australian stock whips with an old cowboy neighbor. We get into her decade sailing the Atlantic — the doldrums, the Cape Verde Islands, a retired naval captain who couldn't tolerate the smell of curry, waking up to bioluminescent dolphins outside Antigua at night.We also talk about her mother's final moments, watching the sunrise clouds burst as she passed, the ginkgo tree Luke planted in the front yard the day they bought their Laguna Beach home, and why she believes the more people you tell your dreams to, the more likely they are to actually happen.This one is a masterclass in living wide open. Bring tissues. Bring wonder.Mango’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/mangomama_laguna/ Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Elliott Teller is the founder of People's Endurance — a cycling and running apparel company built on a simple bet: that quality doesn't have to come with a brand tax. He's also a former director of photography, a tech sales guy turned entrepreneur, a new dad, and someone who spent his first two years running the business on virtually no sleep while juggling APAC hours, a newborn, and a wife going back to work with barely any paid leave.Elliott sits down with me to talk about leaving the film industry after watching too many burned-out, divorced veterans warn him off it, his seven years in tech sales that started with a week-long trial run and an air mattress in a buddy's home office, and the wild timing of quitting his job the same week his wife found out she was pregnant. We get into the actual mechanics of the apparel industry — dyed versus sublimated fabrics, why manufacturing still has to happen in Asia, and the privateer model he's building to let athletes sponsor themselves instead of chasing brand deals that rarely pay.We also go deep on parenting, mitochondria and longevity, the small daily decisions that keep your internal compass tuned, and why he thinks bigger brands are starting to quietly copy his playbook.This one's for anyone building something from scratch while also trying to keep a tiny human alive.Elliot’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/elliottteller/Peoples Endurance: https://peoplesendurance.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqdKCZePjXPrPHD2cFVtQoHzb_sdGdXt_7TVGSqs6tEJot2rw-8Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Andrew Vos is a husband, father of two, endurance athlete, entrepreneur, and former Guinness World Record holder for the fastest mile while pushing a stroller. But this conversation isn't really about the world record—it's about the life behind it.Andrew shares how becoming a dad completely changed his priorities, why he no longer cares what other people think, and how his definition of success shifted from chasing titles and promotions to walking his boys to school every morning. We talk about growing up in small-town Wisconsin, getting cut from a Division I running team, finding a home in Division III, discovering triathlon at 34, and the hilarious story of breaking a Guinness World Record during COVID while his kids blasted fart noises through his headphones.We also dive into navigating ulcerative colitis while training, building businesses that create freedom instead of just income, raising resilient kids without overprotecting them, balancing ambition with family, and why the best legacy you can leave isn't a résumé—it's children who know they were seen, loved, and supported.This is a conversation about fatherhood, purpose, endurance, and the quiet success that often matters most.Andrew’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/andrew.vos_tri/Wild & Free Hats: https://www.instagram.com/wild_and_free_hats/ Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Alex Wormuth is a software engineer, dad of two, and the founder of Transition — an AI-powered triathlon training platform he built in his nights and weekends because the existing tools weren't quite right for triathletes, and because he had a hunch that large language models could actually coach people pretty well. Turns out he was right.Alex sits down with me to talk about growing up in Riverside, traveling solo through Europe and Nepal straight out of college, living in Guangzhou during the early days of COVID, and how all of that shaped the way he thinks about building things and understanding people. We get into the parallels between entrepreneurship and travel — the risk tolerance, the discomfort, the not knowing what's around the corner — and why his dad letting him climb 30 feet up a tree at five years old probably had something to do with it.We also go deep on AI. What it's actually doing to software engineering right now, why the jobs most at risk aren't the ones people think, what the real value of a human coach still is, and why the companies best positioned to get disrupted are the ones most afraid to disrupt themselves.And somewhere in the middle of all that, we talked about whether a paper data center is a viable business idea. I think it might be.Try Transition free for 30 days: transition.funSearch "Transition Triathlon" on the App StoreTransition IG: https://www.instagram.com/transitiontriathlonWays to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Ari Klau is back for round four — and this one goes places we haven't gone before. Fresh off a second-place finish at Chattanooga and building toward what may be the best season of his career, Ari sits down with me to talk about what's actually changed and what hasn't.We get into the mindfulness practice he picked up at a swim camp earlier this year and how it's quietly become the biggest performance differentiator in his racing. We talk about what it actually feels like to finally podium after years of grinding — and why it didn't feel the way he thought it would. We go deep on the tyranny of the mind, trusting external structure over internal impulse, and the philosophy of doing things you don't want to do as the real definition of self-care.We also talk about the mustache. It's gone. Apparently, two high-level team managers had written him off as not serious because of it. His dad saw photos from Chattanooga and said he looks formidable now. The results seem to agree.And then at the end, Ari shares something he's never talked about on here before — losing his sister in 2021, how it launched him into professional triathlon, and what it's like to still be processing that while also being the son who keeps forgetting to call on his dad's birthday. It's the same day as his late sister's birthday. It's a lot to carry.Ari’s YT: https://www.youtube.com/@archmdzAri’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/archmdz/?hl=enWays to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Dr. Cory Rich has spent 40 years trying to understand one thing — what brings out the very best in the human condition. As a mental performance coach, he's worked with elite triathletes, Native American tribes using equine-assisted healing, addiction recovery programs, and everyone in between. And at the center of all of it is a question he first started asking when his father died in a car accident and he was seven years old.Cory sits down with me to talk about losing his dad, his aunt, his uncle, and his grandmother all before he was a teenager — and why none of it turned into bitterness. We get into his Pure Intelligence framework and what he calls the fourth and crowning intelligence — spiritual intelligence — and why developing it is more predictive of health, performance, and happiness than any drug or therapy on the market. We also talk about the day a doctor told him he probably wasn't going to survive the next few days, and what that kind of clarity does to a person's sense of what actually matters.This one goes deep fast and never really comes up for air. We cover identity architecture, why 95% of our decisions are made subconsciously, the difference between post-traumatic stress and post-traumatic growth, and why the most important question you can ask yourself right now is — if I died tomorrow, would I have any regrets?Oh, and SQ doesn't just stand for Stupid Questions. Turns out it also stands for Spiritual Quotient. Cory noticed it on the wall behind me and smiled. I think that's about right.The Transformational Power of Pure Intelligence — available on AmazonCory’s Site: https://www.pureintelligence.life Cory’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/coryareich/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Night one of three at Tulsa Tough and Team Cadence Cyclery came in short of the win — but not short of heart. Lucas Burgoyne, Luke Fetzer and the crew sit down with me courtside for a raw, unfiltered recap of how the night went down.We talk about Boldy crashing 15 minutes in and getting back up, Cesar carving through the peloton like an assassin, the two-lap moment where it all almost came together — and why a fourth place finish on night one might be exactly the fuel this team needs heading into days two and three.Short, real, and straight from the finish line. This is what crit racing actually feels like.🚴 Follow Team Cadence Cyclery: https://www.instagram.com/teamcadencecyclery/

Eric Zaltas grew up in a 75,000-person apartment complex in the Bronx, winning spelling bees and getting pushed around on the playground. He needed to prove there was a body connected to the brain. So he became a competitive cyclist, raced in 47 states, rode through Harlem and the South Bronx on Saturday mornings to get to Central Park, and eventually turned a passion for sports science into a career that took him from Berkeley to Nestle headquarters in Switzerland — where he helped fund the research that now underpins how most endurance athletes think about carbohydrate intake.Now he's back in the Bronx, recently remarried, co-founder of a startup called Addra Labs, and still swimming in a 50-meter pool between meetings at a local city college.Eric sits down with me to talk about the arc of a life built around curiosity — what it was like to be beamed up to Switzerland with a young family, the London Business School professor who told him he should be running a startup instead, the near-death moment that almost killed Addra before it launched, and the strange experience he had writing a memorial for his best friend that he still can't fully explain.We also get into what it means to age well, what he learned from his first marriage, and why his 85-year-old dad still emails him at 4:30am every Wednesday to critique the science newsletter.This one is for the curious ones.Eri’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/ericzaltas/ADDRA IG: https://www.instagram.com/addra_labs/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Kyle Cokinos holds the Guinness World Record for the most holes of golf played in 24 hours — 810 holes, 98 miles on foot, one club, one summer solstice, and a hundred thousand dollars raised for kids with cancer. But that's just the headline. The story underneath it is a lot more interesting.Kyle sits down with me to talk about growing up as the oldest of six in a big loud Greek family in Houston, how a scrawny kid who got pushed around became a guy who runs Ironmans and breaks world records, and why it took him until 30 to stop treating his faith like a rulebook and start treating it like a relationship. We get into the body dysmorphia he still battles, the version of himself he's running from, and what it actually felt like the first time he got on his knees at 4am and just said thank you.We also talk about fatherhood — real fatherhood — the kind where you throw your phone into a couch at 3am and wonder if you're doing enough. Kyle has three daughters under three, a construction business, a bond agency, a YouTube channel, and somehow still finds time to train. He calls it stacking days. I call it impressive.This one's for the dads, the entrepreneurs, the guys who weren't athletes growing up and decided to become one anyway.Kyle’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=kyle%20cokinosKyle’s YT: https://www.youtube.com/@KidCoki Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Lucas Burgoyne and Luke Fetzer are back, this time together. Fresh off their win at Athens Twilight — one of the biggest criterium races in America — the dynamic duo behind Team Cadence Cyclery sat down with me still riding the high, freshly arrived in Boulder, and already plotting the next block.This conversation is everything you'd want from these two. We got into how the Athens win came together, why Lucas was eating gummy bears mid-race and nearly started on 30 PSI tires, and what it actually felt like to debut their 90-foot rig at one of America's biggest crits. Lucas breaks down the story of how the rig almost never happened — and the moment he walked back into a business meeting alone, with nothing to lose, and changed the trajectory of the whole organization.We also talk about the Patriot Effect, what scares them most about the level they're building toward, how Luke lost $10,000 worth of Lucas's gear in Salt Lake City and is still slowly paying it back in $50 increments, and why they hate each other off camera but are each other's right-hand man on the bike.Lucas’ IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucas_bourgoyne/Luke’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/sendy_mcgee/Cadence Cyclery: https://www.instagram.com/teamcadencecyclery/ Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Colin Szuch is one of the most quietly compelling athletes I've had on the show. He dropped out of aviation school at 19, moved to Spain to chase a triathlon dream with next to nothing behind him, and has been methodically building toward one goal ever since — winning Kona. He hasn't won a full Ironman yet. But he's getting close.In this round two conversation, Colin sits down with me to talk about a rough start to the season, what it actually costs to compete at the pro level, and why consistency — not training camps or testing — is the thing he keeps learning the hard way. We get into the financial reality of professional triathlon, how new sponsors and equipment add mental load most people never see, and what it felt like to hear his name screamed three deep in Chile.We also go somewhere Colin says he's never gone publicly before — his faith. He didn't grow up religious, but he picked up a Bible at 20, started praying, and two weeks later found himself on a plane to Spain. He talks about intuition, following the still small voice, and why he thinks Lionel Sanders is one of the best examples of what happens when you just keep doing what you believe.This one's got more layers than the aero helmet he tested fastest.Collin’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/colin_szuch/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Kelly Wetteland is a senior at the University of Arizona, a rising triathlete on the World Cup circuit, and someone trying to figure out how to grow up without losing herself in sport.In this conversation, we talk about identity, ambition, spirituality, burnout, and the strange transition from being a college athlete into the “real world.” Kelly opens up about breaking both arms in a bike crash, the pressure of high-performance environments, and learning how to chase big goals without letting results define her worth.We also dive into her upbringing in Los Alamos, New Mexico, life on the Arizona triathlon team, traveling through Europe to race, and why she’s fascinated by long-term thinking, history, and faith. Along the way, we get into parenting, gratitude, saying no, the importance of discomfort, and what it means to become the best version of yourself.Kelly’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/klwetteland/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Liv Dietzel is a professional triathlete, engineer, and coach who races in places most people can't find on a map — the Himalayas, Patagonia, Norway, Brazil. She's won four extreme triathlons and is chasing every one of the fifteen that exist. But underneath all of that is a story that starts somewhere much quieter — a small Catholic farming town in Wisconsin, a dad who ran all over cross country courses just to cheer her on, and a brain cancer diagnosis in 2014 that changed the trajectory of everything.Liv sits down with me to talk about losing her father to glioblastoma during COVID, why she started doing Ironmans in the first place, and what it felt like to cross that first finish line with him standing at the end of it. We get into her faith, the grief stages she did and didn't go through, and why suffering alone in silence on a mountain in the middle of nowhere is where she feels closest to God.We also dig into what makes extreme triathlon so different from the standard Ironman circuit, why she pulled out of Dallas 70.3 because she felt absolutely nothing standing at the start line, and the coaching philosophy she built around the coach she never had growing up.This one goes deep. Bring a coffee.Liv’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/olivia.dietzel/Tussle Endurance Coaching: www.tussleendurance.comWays to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Gabrielle Suver was four months out from her best season ever as a pro triathlete — fit, focused, and ready to race Ironman Cozumel. Then on a routine shakeout ride, a truck hit her and drove away. Twenty plus breaks, open fractures, a month in the hospital, and the very real possibility that she might not walk again.Four months later she's back on her road bike.Gabby sits down with me to talk about what she remembers from the crash site, the peace she found while lying against a fence not knowing if she would live or die, and why she never really felt anger toward the driver who left her there. We get into her journey from a sickly, bullied kid in New York to a late-blooming pro athlete, her battle with anorexia in high school, the string of medical setbacks throughout 2024 that she now believes were preparing her for this, and the daily practices — nutrition, journaling, gratitude, therapy, and faith — that are fueling one of the most remarkable recoveries in the sport.This one is raw, honest, and quietly powerful. Gabby doesn't perform strength — she just has it.Gabby’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielle_suver/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Jon Sammut was in the best shape of his life. Racing the Ironman Pro Series, fit, focused, and finally back in the game — until a split second of lost concentration at 50 kilometers an hour changed everything. He hit a roundabout sign head-on, shattered both legs, and spent the next 15 months navigating surgery after surgery, a near-fatal allergic reaction to antibiotics, and the very real possibility of losing his leg entirely.Jon sits down with me to talk about what it actually feels like to go from professional athlete to lying on a road screaming for 15 minutes. We get into the identity crisis that follows when sport is taken away, how a chance connection on Hinge helped ground him during his darkest stretch, and why he's now facing another high-risk procedure — not in spite of the danger, but because the Paralympic rowing team in LA is waiting on the other side.We also dig into the Ogging Squad, his new hydration startup Lightwork, and what happens when you apply the same determination that made you a pro athlete to building something from nothing.This one is a gut check for anyone who has ever taken their health, their mobility, or their next training session for granted.Jon’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/jonsammut/Ogging Squad: https://www.instagram.com/oggingsquad/Ogging Fit: https://www.instagram.com/oggingfit/ Lytework: https://www.instagram.com/lyteworklabs/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Camille Herron is one of the greatest ultra runners of all time — world record holder, multi-time world champion, and someone who has been quietly doing it all with a brain she didn't fully understand until two years ago.Fresh off discovering she's autistic and ADHD at 44, Camille sits down with Seth to talk about what it was like growing up with delayed speech and no words for what she was experiencing, how a near-fatal car accident reshaped her sense of purpose, and why she's now choosing to race visibly disabled — pink earmuffs and all.They also get into the season-shifting that saved her marriage, why she walked away from her dream job at the University of Michigan, and what it means to finally stop masking after a lifetime of trying to fit in.This one's for anyone who has ever felt wired differently and wondered if that was a weakness or a gift.Follow Camille on IG: @camilleherronNeurodivergent Runner: @neurodivergentrunnerWays to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Keira D'Amato is the second-fastest American marathoner of all time — but that's not where her story starts. She quit running in her early 20s, built a career in tech and real estate, raised two kids, navigated divorce, and then quietly laced back up — not to chase records, but just to feel like herself again. What happened next broke the American record.Fresh off hip surgery, Keira sits down with Seth to talk about what recovery teaches you about control, why motherhood made her a better competitor, and the mom guilt she's still working through. They also get into the nature vs. nurture of becoming elite, what her coaches taught her about patience and simplicity, and why she spent years talking herself out of writing a book that ended up being one of the most honest things she's ever done.This one's for anyone who has unfinished business and is wondering if it's too late.📖 Don't Call It a Comeback — out now in print and audiobook: https://open.spotify.com/show/3N46TkxMIS1OGMxEr5R5Gd?si=2dde0572ce2d49e7Keira on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/12019441Keira on IG: https://www.instagram.com/keiradamato/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

I sit down with Colin Chartier for round two, and this conversation goes way deeper than our first. We talk about breathwork—not just as a tool for performance, but as a gateway into understanding identity, trauma, and the subconscious beliefs that shape who we are.Colin shares his journey from elite triathlon to rebuilding his life after failure, and how breathwork, stillness, and self-awareness helped him process guilt, redefine success, and find peace beyond results. We get into the tension many high performers face—driven by “not enough,” yet searching for something more grounded and meaningful.We also explore mindset in sport, nervous system regulation, and what it actually means to perform at your best without attaching your identity to outcomes. This is a conversation about becoming—not just a better athlete, but a better human.Collin’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/collinchartier/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

I sit down with professional triathlete and Olympian Ben Kanute to talk about who he is beyond race results. We get into fatherhood, marriage, faith, discipline, and the mindset it takes to keep showing up through the highs and lows of a long career in sport. Ben shares how becoming a husband and dad has changed the way he trains, races, and views success, along with what it means to pursue excellence without losing yourself in the process.We also talk about obsession, burnout, sponsorships, coaching changes, the internal voices athletes battle, and why being fast is not always the same thing as being strong. More than anything, this conversation is about learning how to stay present, keep perspective, and keep chasing what matters most.Ben’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/benkanute/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

I sit down with Elise Gorman, the creator of Tri Poll Athlete, a page many in the triathlon world follow to track start lists, race results, and athletes across the sport.Elise started the page almost by accident after living with professional triathlete Renee Kiley and realizing how many athletes were racing each weekend without much visibility. What began as a simple idea—sharing start lists—has grown into a platform reaching hundreds of thousands of people each month.Outside of Tri Poll Athlete, Elise works as a general manager in Australia helping deliver healthcare services to rural communities. In this conversation, we talk about the origins of the page, the personalities endurance sports attract, and why recognition in triathlon should extend far beyond the podium.Elise’s IG (TriPollAthlete): https://www.instagram.com/tripollathlete/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

I sit down with trail builder, entrepreneur, and former professional downhill mountain biker Sean Leder to talk about the life he’s built around the outdoors. Growing up in East Tennessee, Sean turned his passion for riding into real businesses, helping launch Windrock Bike Park and founding Southern Gravity, a trail-building company shaping some of the best terrain in the Southeast. We talk about building a business in a niche sport, the lessons he learned watching his parents grow a company from their basement, and why he prioritizes freedom and time outside over chasing money. Sean also shares insights on patience, leadership, navigating difficult clients, building teams, and the discipline required to keep pushing forward when things break — both literally and figuratively — along with reflections on fatherhood, relationships, entrepreneurship, and living a life defined by more than just one pursuit.Sean’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/seanleader/?hl=enWays to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

I sit down with professional triathlete Annie Fuller, a member of the Real Tri Squad, to talk about her journey from collegiate running at Michigan State to racing in the professional triathlon scene.Annie opens up about the injuries that have shaped much of her career and the mindset it takes to keep showing up when things don’t go as planned. We talk about the difference between loving training and loving racing, and why she considers herself a racer at heart.We also dive into her past struggles with fueling and body image in endurance sports, and how triathlon ultimately helped transform her relationship with food. Along the way, we talk about family influence, community in triathlon, trusting the process, faith, and why Annie doesn’t want to be “the next” anyone else — she just wants to be the best version of herself.Annie’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/annie_fuller/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

I sit down with singer-songwriter, comedian, podcaster, and all-around storyteller Dave Barnes for a conversation that goes way deeper than music. We talk about what it really means to chase success without losing your family, how autonomy shapes the choices we make, and why joy might actually be a powerful force — not just a feeling.Dave opens up about faith, fatherhood, the changing music industry, the pressure to provide, and the tension between ambition and contentment. We also get into creativity, performing, entrepreneurship (or not), and the quiet question so many of us carry: Did I choose the right path?Dave’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUhOpeTDOAR/Dave’s Tours (Website): https://www.davebarnes.comWays to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

I sit down with Ferrari GT3 driver Custodio Toledo, whose journey into professional racing started not on the track but in business — after building and selling a software company, a spontaneous Ferrari purchase ultimately led him to compete in legendary endurance races like Le Mans and Daytona. We talk about the physical and mental demands of motorsport, how his business background shaped his approach to racing, and his perspective on luck, discipline, and surrounding yourself with the right people. We also dive into family, faith, purpose, and what it means to reinvent yourself later in life — a conversation about chasing goals, staying curious, and proving it’s never too late to pursue what once felt out of reach.Follow Custodio’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/custatoledo/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

In this episode, I sit down with world-tour cycling photographer Harry Talbot to talk about life behind the lens — from shooting races like the Tour de France and living out of suitcases to chasing creative excellence without losing yourself in the process. Harry shares what it’s really like working inside professional cycling, the chaos most people never see, and what it takes to consistently create photos that make people stop and look twice. We get into identity, ambition, travel, nature, self-doubt, and the tension between wanting more while still trying to stay grounded. Harry opens up about the constant push to improve, the fear of losing that drive, and how creativity, career, and personal fulfillment all intertwine. This one’s about purpose, perspective, and figuring out what it actually means to love what you do while still becoming who you’re meant to be.Follow Harry’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/visualsofharry/Ways to Support the Show👇🏼Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Robbie Deckard is a professional triathlete, coach, and someone I’ve gotten to know well over the last few years through shared training blocks, Tucson winters, and long conversations about sport and life. In this episode, we talk about everything from mustaches and dogs to Olympic dreams, burnout, self-coaching, and the quiet identity shifts that happen when you realize a decade has passed faster than you expected.We dig into what it’s like to dedicate your life to endurance sport without the financial security people assume comes with being “pro,” how curiosity can both elevate and derail performance, and why so many athletes struggle when it’s time to let a version of themselves go. Robbie opens up about aging, purpose, family, writing a book, and what it means to build a life around being outside rather than chasing a single result.Robbie’s SubStack: https://substack.com/@robbiedeckard?r=2d6gzd&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile&shareImageVariant=lightRobbie’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/robbie_deckard/Ways to Support the Show:Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

I sat down with Skye Munch for a second time—now as a mom to 14-month-old Lois—to talk about how motherhood has completely reshaped her identity, priorities, and relationship with triathlon. We get into the realities no one prepares you for: ongoing sleep deprivation, the emotional weight of childcare decisions, and why chasing peace mattered more than chasing fitness or results this past year.Skye opens up about sponsorship pressure, social media identity shifts, and what it was really like making it back to Kona as a new mom. Selfishly, I asked a lot of questions as my wife Ashley and I prepare to welcome our daughter Noelle—covering practical advice for new parents, what actually helps postpartum, and why the internet often makes things harder, not easier.Skye’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/skyemoench/Ways to Support the Show:Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

Season 3 kicks off with a round-two conversation with Olympic medalist Morgan Pearson—this time digging into what it really takes to reset after a long year. Morgan shares how travel, burnout, and injuries tested him, why “process goals” and small habits matter more than hype, and what changed in his training that brought his confidence back. We also get into the tension of racing the best vs. chasing easier wins, what he wishes sponsors understood, and how he thinks about grief, identity, and continuing to show up when motivation wobbles.Morgan’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/morgan_cadwell_pearson/Ways to Support the Show:Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.life Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup

This episode is different.To close out the season, Seth steps out from behind the questions and reflects on what he’s learned from nearly 100 conversations with athletes, founders, musicians, and high performers from all walks of life.After analyzing every transcript from the past year, Seth shares 10 core through-lines that kept showing up—identity, suffering, faith, high performance, mental health, community, and the quiet tension between who we are and what we do.He opens up about losing his father, becoming a husband and soon-to-be father, pornography recovery, burnout, ambition, and the ongoing work of becoming someone he’s proud of. This episode explores the real cost of chasing excellence, why “making it” rarely feels the way we expect, and why who you are when no one’s watching matters more than any résumé.The second half of the episode gets deeply personal—vision for the future of the show, lessons from building Stupid Questions over years of false starts, and why curiosity, truth, and heart have to stay at the center of everything.This isn’t a recap.It’s a reflection.And an invitation to ask better questions of yourself.Ways to Support the Show:Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.lifeSocks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merchNewsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this deeply personal and unexpectedly vulnerable episode, I sit down with Lisa Burgoyne, CEO of The Landing—a Houston-based nonprofit serving survivors of human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation through trauma-informed, Christ-centered care. Lisa’s decades of experience in child advocacy, counseling, and frontline anti-trafficking work give her a perspective that is both sobering and full of hope.What begins as a conversation about her life and mission becomes something more. As Lisa opens up about the realities survivors face—trauma, homelessness, addiction, broken family systems—I find myself drawn into sharing parts of my own story, wrestling aloud with trust, childhood wounds, and the long, messy process of healing. Together, we talk through why sexual abuse persists, how pornography and unchecked appetites fuel exploitation, why so many victims go unseen, and what it takes to rebuild a life after trauma.Lisa brings clarity, compassion, and wisdom to an issue most people avoid because it feels too dark to face. She also offers practical insight into recognizing secondary trauma, the cost of leading in this space, and how faith and community make this work sustainable.Whether you’ve experienced trauma, love someone who has, or simply want to understand the world more honestly, this conversation will likely hit deeper than expected. And if you feel moved to support Lisa’s work, visit thelanding.org—even a small act can make a real impact.Lisa’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/lisabourgoyne/ The Landing: https://thelanding.org The Landing IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelanding_hou/Support the Pod: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this episode, I sit down with South African-born athlete, coach, and entrepreneur Natasha van der Merwe—a woman whose life has spanned pro tennis, professional triathlon, coaching at the highest level, and now leading a 23-coach organization at NVDM Coaching.We go deep into the stories behind her leadership, her faith, and the experiences that shaped her—including losing her father at 15, navigating the pressures of elite sport, rebuilding her confidence through motherhood, and learning to show vulnerability without losing strength.Natasha opens up about what it means to steward a calling, how she balances ambition with faith, why relationships are the core of great coaching, and the challenges of raising a daughter while running a rapidly expanding business.This conversation is layered, emotional, and rich with perspective—from identity and grief, to entrepreneurship, to parenting and the future of triathlon. Whether you're an athlete, a leader, a parent, or someone figuring out who you’re becoming, Natasha’s story will leave you thinking long after it's over.Natasha’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/natashavdm81/NVDM Coaching IG: https://www.instagram.com/nvdmcoaching/ Support the Pod: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

After 20 years as a professional triathlete, Josh Amberger is stepping up to the start line one last time—PatagonMan XTri—his final race as a pro and maybe ever. In this round-two conversation, I get to hear Josh open up in a way he never has publicly about what it means for him to close the chapter on the only life he’s known since he was a teenager.We talk about the emotion of letting go, why he chose Patagonia Man as his farewell, the relief and grief wrapped up in retirement, the changing landscape of elite sport, the beauty of racing for experience rather than results, and what life after triathlon might look like for him—from gravel racing to rediscovering creativity to supporting Ash as she chases her own career.It’s a raw, honest conversation about transition, identity, and what happens when you stop just doing the thing…and finally let yourself feel it.

Josh’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/josh_amberger/Support the Pod: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this episode, I sit down with Josh Vernon, the North American Partnerships Manager for SuperTri and a co-host of Another Triathlon Podcast. From the moment we hit record, Josh’s calm presence and grounded perspective pulled me in.Josh talks openly about the two versions of himself: the man he was before the hurricanes hit the Virgin Islands, and the man he became afterwards—a father fighting for custody, a husband learning how to show up, and a person choosing sobriety, purpose, and a totally new way of living.Josh’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/joshmvernon/ ATP Pod: https://www.instagram.com/anothertriathlonpodcast/Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.lifeSocks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merchNewsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

I sit down with Trevor Witt—USAT Project Podium’s social media manager and the creative mind behind so many of their films. We talk about how a kid from Oregon who grew up around triathlon walked away from the sport, went to photography trade school, and stumbled into his dream job after a trip to Xterra Worlds. Trevor shares about his parents’ influence, his faith, his inner critic, and what it’s like to log 70 flights a year while trying to “smell the roses” and not get numb to it all. We get into perfectionism, stress, storytelling, and why he believes so fiercely that someone from this team will win Olympic gold. It’s a surprisingly honest conversation with a 23-year-old who’s already thinking deeply about who he is, what he’s building, and how to stay grateful along the way.Trevor’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/trev_itt/ Trevor’s 2025 racap video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbJFm3kaNWE Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.lifeSocks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merchNewsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

I sit down with singer-songwriter and Dadville co-host John McLaughlin to talk about how a borrowed bike pulled him into triathlon, what really went down during his first Ironman, and how music, fatherhood, faith, and discipline shape the way he moves through life. From his mid-race flat tire to the quiet grind behind becoming a better artist, John opens up about ambition, identity, parenting, and the power of simply listening—reminding me why growth usually shows up in the places we least expect.Jon’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/jonmclaughlin/Jon’s new Album: https://open.spotify.com/album/4wotNEGiymduDcFVvAmE1R?si=PIjtccRRSlSn_wEVwhbwiQJon’s Tour: https://www.jonmcl.com/tourNothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.lifeSocks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merchNewsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

I sit down with Jenna Caer — triathlete, Ironman age-group champion, coach, mom, and co-host of Another Triathlon Podcast. We unpack her unlikely path into sport, going from a shy, book-obsessed kid to someone who now thrives in community, coaching, and even acting and modeling. Jenna talks openly about weight loss, ADHD, building confidence, learning balance, motherhood, and what she’s learned from over a decade inside endurance sports. A grounded, honest conversation about growth, identity, and why this sport keeps pulling us back in.Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.lifeSQ Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merchJenna’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/jennacaer/Another Triathlon Pod: https://open.spotify.com/show/2FdC2xn8igfMIU6RwIvgJc?si=61f46576d3a94397Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

I sit down with professional cyclist and soon-to-be plumber Eamon Lucas—a guy whose story blends world-class racing, community roots, personal faith, and the kind of self-reflection most people never talk about publicly.Eamon and I dive into what shaped him—growing up in Pacific Grove, the influence of his father, and the untraditional path that took him from local riding to battling in the Belgian Kermesse scene. We talk about what “making it” really means, why so many endurance athletes struggle with identity, and how rare it is to walk away from a sport feeling complete.We explore faith, what it means to actually enjoy your own company, and the uncomfortable emotional work required to truly like yourself. Eamon talks about transitioning from pro cycling into plumbing, surfing as therapy, building a life with his partner, and embracing the next season with humility and purpose.Nothing Novel: https://nothingnovel.lifeSQ Socks: https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merchLucas Training Systems: https://l.instagram.com/Lucas’ IG: https://www.instagram.com/eamon_lucas/Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Bolton — Olympian, founder of Bolton Endurance Sports Training, and USA Triathlon’s Director of High Performance. Ryan has coached some of America’s top athletes, including Morgan Pearson and John Reed, but today we go deeper than splits and training blocks.We talk about the three-part framework that drives his coaching philosophy — physiology, head, and heart — and why world-class athletes need all three in balance. Ryan shares candid stories from his early days as a high-energy kid in Wyoming, how mentors like Joe Friel shaped him, and why the best performers are often the most grounded people.We also dive into athlete identity, emotional resilience, the danger of false confidence, mentorship, traveling the world on the elite triathlon circuit, and what it really takes to develop young athletes for LA 2028 and beyond.B.E.S.T: https://boltonendurance.comRyan’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/coachryanbolton/Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DASupport the Pod: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this episode I sit down with Anders Johnson — professional track cyclist, former pro mountain biker and Xterra triathlete, and Stanford researcher – to talk about what happens when a physics brain falls in love with going fast in circles. Anders grew up in a tiny Utah valley surrounded by ski resorts, found his way onto some of the best development teams in mountain biking, and now splits his time between chasing LA 2028 and working on cutting-edge research at Stanford, including the ELITE VO₂ max genetics study and a large-scale cardiovascular health app.We get into how his physics and math background shapes the way he trains, races, and thinks about numbers without becoming a prisoner to them, why he races so little and cares so much about the day-to-day process, and how surfing, campfires, and getting back on the mountain bike refill his mental tank. Anders also opens up about a year marked by deep personal loss, what that’s done to his sense of meaning and success, his views on religion and spirituality, and why he’s trying to stay playful and bring joy into every room he walks into—even while aiming at the biggest goal in sport.Anders’ Studies: https://elite.stanford.edu/people/?utm_source=chatgpt.comAnders’ IG: https://www.instagram.com/andersjohnson35/ Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA Support the Pod: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this episode, I sit down with Oliver Askew — a former IndyCar and Formula E driver who’s lived at 200 mph and still somehow found peace in the slow moments. We talk about growing up homeschooled in Florida, chasing adrenaline through motorsport, and the lessons that come from burnout, belief, and beginning again.Oliver opens up about the mental demands of racing without power steering, the pursuit of flow state, and what it’s like to carry both pressure and purpose inside the cockpit. He also shares how faith, friendship, and reflection have reshaped his definition of success beyond the track.It’s a rare, honest look at what happens when the helmet comes off — a conversation about drive, discipline, and discovering who you are when the race ends.Oliver’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/oliveraskew/Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DASupport the Pod: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ 

In this episode, I sit down with Lucas Bourgoyne, the 24-year-old U.S. Pro Criterium Champion who’s redefining what American cycling can look like. Lucas is raw, driven, and refreshingly honest — a kid from Texas who’s gone all-in on his dream and somehow still finds room for humor, faith, and a little cowboy swagger.We talk about what it takes to grind for ten years for one perfect lap, how discipline and freedom coexist, and why stepping away from the bike can be just as important as the training itself. Lucas opens up about his parents’ influence, leadership, and the pressure that comes with newfound attention. This one’s not just about watts or wins — it’s about belief, burnout, and learning to stay grounded when the world finally starts paying attention.Lucas’ IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucas_bourgoyne/ Team Cadence Cyclery: https://www.instagram.com/teamcadencecyclery/Episode #200 Survey: https://forms.gle/s72MemFFdHuL7g8DA Support the Pod: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/sq-merch⁠ Newsletter: ⁠https://stupidquestions.show/pages/newsletter-signup⁠ Lance talking about Lucas: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/79x4UsyjMXs

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