Secretly Sporty

Епизоди

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  Brent Forrester Catches a Wave to The Office 14.09.2026 30мин

  Television writer Brent Forrester (The Simpsons, The Office, Space Force) shares how his passion for surfing helps him ride out the emotional roller coaster of working in Hollywood. He discusses the creative ways he’s brought fitness into the writers’ room and spills who won a push-up contest amongst the writers of The Office. He also reminisces on how he went from hating surfing to being someone who chases big waves for pleasure, and how a desire to be a better swimmer led him to compete in the Aquathalon world championships. Plus, he details the exact writing schedule that keeps him disciplined and prolific.   Check out Brent’s Instagram and YouTube for lessons on the craft of comedy. Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Emily Nemens Noses Her Way Back to Health 08.09.2026 27мин

  Acclaimed author Emily Nemens discusses her recent essay “The Back Meets the Nose”, which chronicles her harrowing experience with a debilitating back injury & its effects on her running life.  She catches us up on her recovery process, and details how devastating it was to lose her ability to run, sharing what it meant to be a runner for so long.  She also delves into her baseball novel The Cactus League, talks Nikolai Gogol, and shares some of her favorite baseball narratives of all time.  Plus, she offers a critique of Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.  Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Michael Copperman Wrestles with His Past 31.08.2026 29мин

  Author Michael Copperman discusses his new book Seeking Kenny: A Wrestler’s Journey, reveals why he loves bouldering, and reflects on the ways that his days as an elite high school wrestler still impact his approach to fitness and nutrition today.  He also speaks about his experience being raised by two Aikido masters and what techniques he still uses from the martial art.   Plus, he shares underrated aspects of climbing gyms. Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Ben Ratliff Runs to the Choir of Chaos 24.08.2026 27мин

  Award-winning music critic Ben Ratliff joins Sebastian to discuss his book Run the Song, which was longlisted for the 2025 National Book Award, and how running helps him think about music in unpredictable ways. He also shares how he started running in 40s, why he never tracks his mileage or sets goals, and how he used his daily runs to navigate leaving his job at the New York Times after 20 years. Plus, he reveals his favorite trail running shoe.  Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Laura Veirs: Lifting Pulse, Tempo Rides, and Temple Songs 17.08.2026 27мин

  Celebrated singer-songwriter Laura Veirs discusses her new album Temple Songs and how the production process was a milestone in her career.  She delves into why she loves group fitness classes and how long bike rides helped her process her divorce.  She also pushes back against the myth that an artist needs to feel tortured and unhealthy to make great work, and explains why, for her, the best songs come from when she feels healthy and stable.  Plus, she asks Sebastian for tips from past guests about how to maintain a workout schedule while touring. Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Matt Bird’s Epic Elliptical Ride 13.08.2026 24мин

  For this month’s Rest Day Radio, we break out the popcorn! Story guru Matt Bird, author of The Secrets of Story and The Secrets of Character and co-host of the podcast A Good Story Well Told, joins Sebastian to dive into the world of sports movies. Austen gets in on the fun as co-host, and the three of them discuss and debate their favorites.  Matt also breaks down the fitness routine he’s done every weekday since 1998, and reveals the cinematic way he’s kept himself motivated all these years.  Plus, Austen has a surprising reaction to one of her long-time favorite films.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Paul Yoon and the Magical Mile Six 10.08.2026 27мин

  Acclaimed author Paul Yoon (and husband of our previous guest Laura van den Berg) joins Sebastian to discuss his new novel Etna - inspired by his dog Oscar. He shares why he was initially reluctant to join a gym, and why he now loves it.  He also reveals why post-Mile 6 is where the running magic happens for him, and he goes deep on his unique writing process  —  writing in his head, like a dancer memorizing a sequence, before ever putting words to the page.  Plus, he and Sebastian delve into their experiences with pet psychics. This episode contains a discussion of a suicide.  If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or go to https://speakingofsuicide.com/resources/ for a list of additional resources.  Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Joe Goodkin’s Ultramarathon Odyssey 03.08.2026 29мин

  Award-winning musician Joe Goodkin speaks with Sebastian about his life as a modern day Homeric bard, touring the world performing music inspired by The Odyssey and The Iliad, and how he evolved from a moderate runner into an ultramarathoner, running races 50 and 100 miles long. He reveals which distance he thinks is the hardest - it’s not the one you’d think! - why he doesn’t listen to music when running, and he and Sebastian discuss their favorite music biographies. Plus, the episode features songs from Joe’s albums The Odyssey: Songs of Odysseus; and Winedark Life.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Felicia Day and the Guild of the Weighted Vest & Walking Desk 27.07.2026 27мин

  Actor-writer-producer Felicia Day (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Supernatural, The Magicians) joins Sebastian to discuss how a walking desk is key to maintaining her fitness while plotting the 20th anniversary movie for her groundbreaking webseries The Guild.  She also shares the inspiration for her graphic novel The Lost Daughter of Sparta, reveals why foreign language classes are the best thing to listen to on the elliptical, and discusses various methods used to curb her insomnia.  Plus, she reveals where to buy the best peanut butter in the world.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Eileen Myles Does Yoga with the Dead 20.07.2026 27мин

  Legendary author and poet Eileen Myles shares with Sebastian how they fell in love with yoga during the pandemic through Yoga with Adriene, and how it changed their relationship with their own breath. They share their long history of running and the counterintuitive accessory they used to bring to the track, and how they’re attempting a return to running now, using an entirely new method. They also detail their writing process, and how the type of notebook they use influences the shape of a poem. Plus, Eileen reflects on writing poetry for Versace.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Doree Shafrir Serves Aces and Saves the Cat 13.07.2026 27мин

  Doree Shafrir - author of Startup and Thanks for Waiting, and co-host of the Forever35 Podcast - shares with Sebastian her newfound love of tennis, how training for a marathon helped her tackle her first novel, and the joy of seeing your kid be proud of you. The two also discuss the role of plot in novels, and go deep on the acclaimed writing template detailed in Save the Cat. Plus, she helps Sebastian come to a realization about the activity in his life that commands his full attention.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Fan Favorite: Alison Bechdel’s Superhuman Strength 12.07.2026 31мин

  In honor of our New York Times debut and our 4-month anniversary, we're rereleasing our pilot episode with Alison Bechdel!Legendary cartoonist Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home and Spent, shares with Sebastian the weightlifting routine she’s been doing for over 20 years and discusses the magic of long bike rides and cross country skiing. The two go deep on Bechdel’s book The Secret to Superhuman Strength and bond over their mutual love of rollerblading. Plus, she outlines her tried and true tip for making sure she gets her workout in.  Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Carolina A. Miranda’s Aesthetically Pleasing Aerobic Adventure 09.07.2026 30мин

  In this month’s episode of Rest Day Radio, award-winning arts writer Carolina A. Miranda joins Sebastian to discuss her recent tour of 1980s exercise videos, including Buns of Steel and Jane Fonda’s Workouts.  She details the history of those franchises and analyses what drove their aesthetics versus the starker aesthetics more common today.  She also goes into how she became an arts writer and how it changed the way she sees the world, and she and Sebastian share their admiration for author Álvaro Enrigue.  Plus, she makes the case against the word “protein.” Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Sondre Lerche Flips the Running Order & Lands New Love 06.07.2026 27мин

  Acclaimed singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche joins Sebastian to discuss his new album Acrobats, his journey to a sub-three hour marathon, and how starting to run in his 30s expanded his approach to music & boosted his performances.  He shares why he’s taking a new, lower-key approach to running these days, but also why he’ll never give it up.  Plus, he reveals the connection between Acrobats and Seinfeld.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Isaac Butler’s Perfect Moment for Pilates 29.06.2026 26мин

  Award-winning writer Isaac Butler — author of The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act; and The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art and the Birth of America’s Culture Wars — shares with Sebastian how Pilates unlocked a consistent exercise habit for the first time in his life, why he’s learning the bass, and what the culture wars of the 80s and 90s can tell us about the way society views the body. The two also trade thoughts on their favorite Yo La Tengo albums and reminisce about 2 Live Crew. Plus, Sebastian and Austen celebrate Secretly Sporty’s first award!Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Greg Marshall and the Speed Bike to Nowhere 22.06.2026 26мин

  Greg Marshall, author of the acclaimed memoir Leg: The Story of a Limb & the Boy Who Grew From It, joins Sebastian to discuss why Peloton classes give him the same sense of peace as a well-lit department store, how learning he had cerebral palsy at 30 affected his exercise routine, and why he thinks about optimization differently than his husband Lucas Schaefer (last week’s guest).  Plus, he discusses how he balanced comedy and craft in Leg, and why he thinks everyone needs creativity in their lives.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Lucas Schaefer Slips into the Ring 15.06.2026 24мин

  Author Lucas Schaefer shares with Sebastian how Lord’s Boxing Gym in Austin changed his relationship with fitness and inspired his award-winning debut novel The Slip.  He also dishes on his current pet peeve in the fitness industry, reflects on the parallels between writing and working out, and explains how having his first child has impacted his approach to exercise and food. Plus: he goes deep on the doubt and uncertainty he felt during the twelve years he worked on The Slip.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Lisa B. Thompson Strides to the Next Act 08.06.2026 26мин

  Celebrated playwright and co-host of KUT’s Black Austin Matters Lisa B.Thompson talks to Sebastian about her Sunday ritual of walking while listening to gospel music, why she considers meditation a part of working out, and how she went from hating ab exercises to loving them.  She also discusses the origin of Black Austin Matters, previews her new play opening this fall, and extends an invite to Ryan Coogler.  Plus, she spills the tea on her favorite brand of tea.Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Maya Lau Salsas through Mexico City 04.06.2026 29мин

  In this month’s edition of  Rest Day Radio, Sebastian is joined by his college friend Maya Lau, the host of Other People’s Pockets, to talk about her life-long passion for dance, her move to Mexico City, and why she thinks exercise should be enjoyable, not punishing.  She and Sebastian also analyze the way the elementary-school set approaches music, and they make plans for a flash mob. Plus, Sebastian answers the lightning round questions!Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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  Kelly Ramsey Runs Toward Fire 01.06.2026 27мин

  Former wildland firefighter and author of Wildfire Days Kelly Ramsey talks to Sebastian about the rigorous physical training she undertook to fight some of the most intense fires in the world. She shares how she increased her running pace — and what form of exercise helps her most when she’s stuck on a writing project. She also tells Sebastian how becoming a mother has changed her relationship to exercise, and how backpacking helped her through one of the lowest moments in her life. Plus, she shares the gym playlist that gets her pumped up. Follow us on Instagram! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.