Ali On The Run Show

"If there could be a dining critic, a theater critic…why couldn’t there be a wellness critic?" —Melisse Gelula Melisse Gelula is the co-founder of the health and fitness mega-brand Well+Good. On this episode, she talks about starting — and growing — something you believe in, and how Well+Good went from an idea to fill a hole in the publishing industry to a brand reaching more than 12 million readers every month. She talks about Well+Good's focus, and why it's more than green juice and SoulCycle but isn't weight loss or looking a certain way, and talks passionately about why wellness should be taken seriously.  Big congratulations to Melisse and the Well+Good team for the launch of the Well+Good Cookbook. Head to my Instagram — @aliontherun1 — for your chance to win a copy! Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: Was Melisse’s plan always to be a journalist? Plus how Well

"I had never been driven by my own desire to get help. It was always other people pushing me to do it. Once I decided on my own and hit that rock bottom, everything got better very quickly." —Kate Landau Kate Landau is a 42-year-old single mom and physician's assistant living in Florida with her daughter, Grace. She's also a 2:33 marathoner. But the road to becoming an elite-level runner in her forties hasn't been easy for Kate, who is set to run the Boston Marathon this Monday (and is gunning for a "2:30-ish" time). Kate started running competitively as a young age, and was a star athlete at her high school. She competed in the Junior Olympics and graduated as valedictorian of her class. But, not wanting her running progress to be halted by puberty, Kate dove headfirst into an aggressive eating disorder, which became a mainstay in her life for nearly 20 years. She endured more than 25 stress fractures in seven years, and battled serious exercise addiction. It wasn't until after having Grace that Kate started

"I wanted to hug my former self. I wanted to tell her, 'It's OK! It's going to be OK. It won't be easy, but you will survive this.'" A few months ago, I recorded a solo episode talking about navigating "The Fourth Trimester." I was having a tough time — that was obvious. But then I learned: There's a "Fifth Trimester!" And that's the stage I'm in now, as I navigate life with a baby beyond the first 12 weeks and settle into a routine, a work life, and, well, some fun. On this episode, I'm talking about how parenthood has gone from terrifying to fun in the past month — and how getting to music class was a major catalyst in that crucial shift. Annie is five and a half months old now, and I can officially say we're having a blast. It's still hard sometimes, but being a mom to the coolest kid I know is pretty awesome. I'm also reflecting on loneliness, and the guilt associated with feeling lonely when, in theory, I had everything I needed. Plus, thoughts on the comparison trap, being a work-from-home mom, and the

"Numbers don’t mean anything when it comes to success." —Sadie Lincoln Sadie Lincoln is the co-founder and CEO of Barre3, the mega-popular boutique fitness brand that has more than 130 studios in the United States. On this episode, Sadie talks about being a "former hippie kid," the unconventional way she was raised, and how that shaped her as a student and, eventually, an entrepreneur. She shares the story of how she discovered fitness in college, and how she went on to realize she was working out for all the wrong reasons, leading to burnout and a much-needed change of scenery. She shares her stories of resilience and grit, confidence and failure, and loneliness, connection, and community. She talks about what stresses her out, about why, despite having trained Madonna, she's "not a celebrity trainer," and her husband's grand plan to sell everything they own and move to Portland, OR, with their two toddlers to "start fresh." Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLIC

"Start stuff. If you believe in something, just start it." —Mary Wittenberg It was an honor to host this live show at New York Road Runners the day before the United Airlines NYC Half. I was joined by four exemplary leaders in the running community: Mary Wittenberg, former NYRR and Virgin Sport president and CEO; Christine Burke, VP of Strategic Partnerships and Runner Products at NYRR; Leigh Anne Sharek, co-founder of Brooklyn Track Club; and Carly Gill, a 2:47 marathoner and one of the women behind Runner Braids. These women candidly shared their stories of success, failure, and what it's like to feel shaken to your core or rattled with insecurity. They talked about starting movements, social media, FOMO, and dealing with injury, and we talked about how to make running more inclusive. We wrapped it all up with a very special audience-participation-required edition of the Sprint to the Finish. Thanks to New York Road Runners for sponsoring and hosting this live show, which took place at the NYRR RUNCENTER Fe

"Be honest, be real, be vulnerable. That's how you find your mental toughness." —Dr. Nicole Detling This episode will change your life on the run. It's a bold statement, I know, but Dr. Nicole Detling, the founder of Headstrong Consulting in Utah, is here to help us all improve our mental game. Dr. Detling is a mental performance coach for teams and athletes including the US Ski and Snowboard Association, Ballet West, tons of Olympians, and members of the PGA, MLB, NBA, NHL, and more. On this episode, she talks about building mental strength, getting through tough workouts and races, motivation, "chunking," tapping into your "why," coming back from a break, and the importance of rest days — both physical and mental. She also talks a lot about failure — why we fear it, what it actually means, and how social media factors into that fear of failure. We wrap up the episode by talking about exercise abuse. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one mo

"Hear my voice in your head when you start trying to dig out the cysts on your face." —Dr. Rachel Nazarian Dr. Rachel Nazarian is a dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology in New York City, and is an assistant clinical professor at Mount Sinai. On this episode, she dishes some real talk about skin, including everything she wants women to know about acne, cysts, and beauty influencers.  Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: General skincare and product Q&A (2:15) All things acne (16:45) Body stuff, like nipple hair, chin hair, and stretch marks (30:00) Myth-busting (43:15) What we mention on this episode: Dove Beauty Bar Cetaphil Cleanser BioClarity Treatment System VaniCream Revision Skincare Intellishade SPF Heliocare capsules Vanish spot treatment Mario Badescu skincare Follow Dr. Nazarian: Instagram @drrachelnazarian Follow Ali: Inst

"Physical fitness and financial fitness are both simple. To get physically fit, we need to eat less and work out more, and to get financially fit, we need to spend less and make more. It sounds really simple, but if it were that simple, we’d have a bunch of skinny millionaires running around! There are a lot of emotions around both." —Shannon McLay If you want to run a marathon, you hire a running coach or personal trainer. If you want to get your finances whipped into shape, you hire Shannon McLay, founder and CEO of The Financial Gym and host of the Martinis and Your Money podcast. Shannon is a former Merrill Lynch financial advisor who created The Financial Gym to help people "kick their assets into shape and their bad money habits to the curb." Her goal is to help men and women, primarily of the millennial generation, to get financially healthy. Shannon and her team at The Financial Gym have coached more than 1,400 clients and helped them turn their bank accounts, credit scores, and investments around — a

"It’s important to have the tough conversations." —Dr. Logan Levkoff Dr. Logan Levkoff is an expert on sexuality and relationships, and she's all about promoting honest conversations surrounding both. In addition to being a sexuality educator, Dr. Levkoff is also a television regular, appearing regularly on Good Morning America, the Today show, CNN, and the first three seasons of Married at First Sight. She has worked with major brands like Dove, Pfizer, Starbucks, and Trojan, and has authored and contributed to several books on sexuality. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: All things love and relationships (3:30) Advice on sex (30:00) What we mention on this episode: The 5 Love Languages Follow Dr. Levkoff: Instagram @loganlevkoff Twitter @loganlevkoff Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava List

"Please don’t Google this stuff." —Brynn Fessette O'Neill Brynn Fessette O'Neill, DPT, is a physical therapist at Finish Line Physical Therapy in New York City. On this episode, she offers advice on prehab, injuries, and recovery. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: All about prehab and rehab (3:00) Brynn explains why specific injuries happen and how to deal with them, including IT-Band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee, and more (14:30) Everything you need to know about recovery (35:30) What we mention on this episode: Brynn on Episode 21 of the Ali on the Run Show Vibrating foam roller Follow Brynn: Instagram @bfessette Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you

"Focus on your food choices, your hunger, your fullness cues, and your body's cravings, and eat a variety of delicious foods you like." —Kelly Hogan Kelly Hogan is a registered dietitian and many-time marathoner. On this episode, she talks about what it means to be an anti-dietitian, how to question the nutrition information you find on social media, and what all runners should understand about healthy, proper fueling for optimal performance. Plus, she shares her expertise and insights on current popular health and wellness trends, from the keto diet to intermittent fasting.  Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: What it means to be an anti-diet dietitian (2:10) Running-specific nutrition questions (5:45) Kelly shares her expertise on popular health and wellness trends (29:00) What we mention on this episode: Kelly Hogan on Episode 39 of the A

"Do your own training. Get in your own routine. Don't compare yourself to what everyone else is doing and posting everywhere. Have confidence in what you're doing." —Mary Johnson Mary Johnson is a USATF Level-1 certified coach and the founder of Lift, Run, Perform. On this episode, she answers listener questions about coaching, strength training, and that crucial build-up to race day. Thank you to Strava for sponsoring Ali & the Experts Week! CLICK HERE and use code ONTHERUN to get one month FREE with your purchase of a Strava Summit subscription.   What you’ll get on this episode: General coaching questions and personal questions (4:00) Cross training and strength training Q&A (14:10) Running-specific advice (22:20) Race-related questions (41:10) What we mention on this episode: Ranfone Training Systems Nike Vomero Nike Pegasus Allie Kieffer Follow Mary: Instagram @itsamarython Twitter @itsamarython Blog Lift, Run, Perform Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog

"I’ve always been about working hard and going after things that you are excited about and passionate about and working your ass off. That’s the only way to make it happen. No one else is going to make it happen for you." —Anna Kaiser You may know Anna Kaiser as the creator, founder, and CEO of the dance cardio brand AKT. Maybe you've taken — and barely survived — her class, either in person or with AKT On Demand. Or maybe you recognize her from her professional dance days, performing on the Fame tour and dancing in the best movie ever, Enchanted. Or, let's be honest, maybe you know her as Kelly Ripa's workout BFF, or as the woman credited for keeping Shakira in shape.  On this episode, Anna talks about going from a wannabe opera singer in Zurich to an entrepreneur on the brink of opening 300 studios nationwide. She shares the mistakes, missteps, and challenges she's faced along the way, talks about why she wanted to improve upon the boutique fitness industry, and opens up about how becoming a mom two years a

"I said I want to be the best. But at what?" —Bree Branker Baby Bree Branker dreamed about growing up and becoming a professional dancer. By 19, after attending a performing arts high school, she'd made that happen, as a Rockette and on Broadway in West Side Story, Spamalot, Memphis, and Big Fish. But by her early twenties, everything changed. Bree finally accepted the nagging hip dysplasia that had been plaguing her body for years — even getting her fired from her dream job at Cirque du Soleil — and found fitness instead. On this episode, Bree, now one of New York City's top trainers and a Wilhelmina model, opens up about the mental side of injury, the state of the fitness industry, and what it's like navigating the New York City boutique fitness scene. She talks about her Instagram pet peeves, luck, determination, a cross-country move, and why she was "a terrible Rockette." Plus, she shares why she got turned down for a SoulCycle audition, what terrified her as a Flywheel instructor, and why she's current

"Running made me better for our relationship outside of running. It gave me something to give to myself." —Matt Powers I love running and I love love, so what better way to celebrate Valentine's Day than with a live show talking love on the run?! I had a blast hosting this live show with two of NYC's greatest running couples: Matt Powers and Candice Huffine (he's an entrepreneur and she's a supermodel — NBD), and Alex Salazar and Krissa Cetner ("that couple" that got married at mile 6 of the Brooklyn Half Marathon in 2017!). The crowd was amazing (THANK YOU to everyone who came!), and we had the best time talking about the role running plays in our relationships, whether or not we're competitive on the run, and of course, what it's like getting married in the middle of a race. We also covered very serious issues, like the gross things we do as runners, sweaty underwear, snot rockets, and more. Prepare to LOL and "awwwwww." Thank you to the New York Road Runners Virtual Valentine's Duo 5K for sponsoring

"Motherhood, for me, over the past three and a half months, has involved a lot of waves. I’ve ridden them and at times I’ve been drowning. Other times I'm treading water and managing to stay afloat, no matter how exhausted I’ve been. And other times, I’ve been getting along like I actually know how to swim! Right now, though, in this very moment, I’m on the drowning side of things." It's been a tricky week. So this is a quick check-in to say hi, and to [kind of] explain why I just didn't get it together to get a "real" episode out this week. Forgive me? Thanks! There's a lot of good stuff to come on the Ali on the Run Show — I just need to take a few deep breaths first!   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if y

"Stay true to yourself. It gets really good on the other side, when you’re a good person and you follow your gut on who you want to be around and what you want to do with your life." —Julie Brazitis Julie Brazitis just might be the loveliest, kindest, most positive person you'll ever meet. She's a brand and creative lead at Google, a yoga instructor, a top-honors-earning graduate of Syracuse University, and a recovering perfectionist. On this episode, Julie talks about what it's like when you realize you're living the dream — but that it's someone else's dream. She talks about what it was like growing up as a competitive gymnast, and what happened when a severe spinal cord injury derailed her high-flying aspirations. She opens up about battling alopecia in high school and ulcerative colitis in college — and the mean girls she encountered along the way. Plus, she shares her running story: how she found running, why she loved running, and how she ultimately developed an unhealthy relationship with running.

“Know your value, and don’t allow other people to limit it, question it, or minimize it.” —Jen Lada Jen Lada is a reporter and host for ESPN. She's also a mom of two, is married to a fellow sports journalist, and is a multiple-time marathoner and triathlete. On this episode, Jen, who primarily covers college football, talks about how she got into sports journalism, how she got into running, and how she's thrived in a male-dominated industry. She shares her #metoo story, opens up about her two miscarriages, and talks about the challenges of being a working and often-traveling parent. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle! What you’ll get on this episode: Did Young Jen dream of being on ESPN? (2:50) How Jen broke into sports journalism, and the unfortunate #metoo moment that started it all (10:10) How Jen met her husband, who is also a sports journalist, and her best advice for surviving a long-

“I never thought of myself as someone who was different.” —Tatyana McFadden Tatyana McFadden is one of the most decorated athletes on the planet. She's a 17-time Paralympic medalist, and she has won 24 World Marathon Majors. In 2013 alone, she won the Boston, Chicago, London, and New York City marathons. In 2015, she shattered the New York City Marathon record by 7 minutes and 20 seconds. But Tatyana wasn't born into success — she was born in Russia with Spina Bifida, a disease that left her paralyzed from the waist down. She spent the first six years of her life in an orphanage, crawling on her hands because she didn't have access to a wheelchair. At six years old, everything changed: Tatyana was adopted by Deborah McFadden, who at the time was the Commissioner of Disabilities for the Bush administration and happened to be at the orphanage on a business trip. Tatyana moved to the United States, was introduced to sports as a way to get strong, and by 15 was competing at the Paralympics. In addition to her out

"I felt broken. Physically. Emotionally. I had a complete breakdown. I felt like a broken human. I was so tired. Lifeless. And I finally Googled the one thing I hadn't really wanted to Google." In just a few days, Annie — my spankin' new daughter — will be three months old. That means I will have reached the end of what is commonly referred to as "the fourth trimester." That period postpartum when the baby still thinks its in the womb, and the mom is — I'm not sure what the mom is. But I know that for me, this fourth trimester has been tough. Trying. Exhausting. Emotional. Wonderful, amazing, monumental — but definitely hard. So on this solo episode, I talk about all of it: the pumping, the boob stuff, the expectations, the realities, and the truths. I talk about why I've been living in fear, and open up about what went down over the holidays, and how it ended with me Googling and really looking into postpartum depression. Plus, I talk about having help — thank god for help! — and answer listener questions. T