the morning shakeout podcast

Simon Freeman, co-founder and publisher of Like the Wind, joins Mario Fraioli for a candid conversation about the unseen work behind major performances. They explore why ultrarunning is a team sport, how clearly defined roles and contingency plans shape race day, and the parallels between coaching and editing. They also discuss staying calm under pressure, making goals a priority, and why great work is built by teams.

Simon Freeman, co-founder and publisher of Like the Wind, joins Mario Fraioli to explore running’s latest barrier-breaking performances, from London to Boston and Cocodona. They discuss why fierce competition makes records meaningful, the spotlight on women’s achievements, racing’s access crisis, and the appeal of local events. They also examine sustainable growth in running businesses and the value of celebrating progress before chasing the next goal.

Matt Taylor, co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Tracksmith, revisits the scrappy origins of the running brand he built. He shares how a cold letter launched his career, how a Usain Bolt game funded early prototypes, and why storytelling, photography, and running history became Tracksmith’s creative DNA. He also discusses stepping away from the CEO role, product design, and the brand’s long-term vision.

Raziq Rauf is the author of the forthcoming book, This is Running, and he also writes the popular newsletter, Running Sucks. Raz’ book, and his work in general, celebrates running as a sport, activity, and culture, and digs into the people, events, trends, and technology that push it forward.I sat down with Raz in his adopted hometown of Los Angeles before the 2026 L.A. Marathon and we covered a wide range of topics, from the increased excitement around that particular event, to the evolution of run crew culture in that city, to the growth and strength of community in general. We also discussed his background as a journalist and a runner, how his relationship to running has evolved over time, why he started writing about running a few years ago (and how that led to the publication of his first book), and a lot more.Click here for complete show notes and sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I recently sat down with my good friend and frequent podcast guest Simon Freeman, the co-founder and publisher of my favorite running magazine, Like The Wind, for our first quarterly conversation of 2026, which you can listen to wherever you get the morning shakeout podcast. An excerpt of this exchange can be found in Issue #48 of LtW, which is out now. (You can buy a copy or subscribe here.) In this episode, we discuss the launch of the U.S. edition of LtW U.S., fresh starts, various cultural differences in running, and a lot more.Click here for complete show notes and sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I recently sat down with runner and writer Devin Kelly to discuss his new novel, Pilgrims, and also talk about his process, his use of repetition throughout the book, and the parallels that exist between what he feels when he writes and what he feels when he runs. We also got into how he used the novel to explore his obsessions, the importance of committing to a daily practice, what's exciting him in running today, and a lot more.Longtime listeners may remember Devin’s first appearance on the podcast in Episode 119, a wide-ranging and impactful conversation that touched on running, writing, exploration, masculinity, shame, self-worth, hope, and more. If you’re new to the podcast, or simply missed it the first time around, you can give it a listen right here.Click here for complete show notes and sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I recently sat down with my good friend and frequent podcast guest Simon Freeman, the co-founder and publisher of my favorite running magazine, Like The Wind, for our final quarterly conversation of 2025, which you can listen to wherever you get the morning shakeout podcast. An excerpt of this exchange can be found in Issue #47 of LtW, which comes out this week. (You can buy a copy or subscribe here.)In this episode we discuss when to push and when to pull back in running, business, and life.Click here for complete show notes and sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Freeman, co-founder of Like The Wind magazine, joins to share insights on the importance of teamwork and community in running and business. He emphasizes how surrounding yourself with supportive people can elevate your performance and life experiences. They reflect on the joy of reconnecting with friends, the dynamics of transitioning roles in creative projects, and the essential role of a support crew, from training partners to family. Trust and collaboration are highlighted as cornerstones for navigating challenges together.

This week on the podcast I sit down with my right-hand man Chris Douglas to discuss the history of the morning shakeout email newsletter, which just celebrated its 500th issue. It's been published every Tuesday since November 17, 2015.This episode is brought to you by: — Tracksmith, New Balance, Precision Fuel & Hydration, and Final Surge. All of these brands have missions I believe in and products that I trust and use myself on a regular basis. One of the best ways to support the morning shakeout is by patronizing the partners that help keep them going week in and week out. Check out this page some of the discount codes and special offers available exclusively to readers and listeners of the morning shakeout.Click here for complete show notes and sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I recently sat down with my good friend and frequent podcast guest Simon Freeman, the co-founder and publisher of my favorite running magazine, Like The Wind, for our second quarterly conversation of 2025, which you can listen to wherever you get the morning shakeout podcast. An excerpt of this exchange can be found in Issue #45 of LtW, which comes out this week. (You can buy a copy or subscribe here.)In this episode we discuss the idea of "peak running," the seemingly ever-growing hype around events, fundamentals over fads in training, why chasing optimization is a fool's errand, and a lot more.Click here for complete show notes and sign up here to get the morning shakeout email newsletter delivered to your inbox every Tuesday.Music and editing for this episode of the morning shakeout podcast by John Summerford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.