Run This World with Nicole DeBoom

I met Kerttu when I was winding down Skirt Sports and needed to find a subtenant to take over our lease on our Pearl Street store. In walked this woman with the excitement and determination that you only see in someone with true vision. She was looking to open her first pilates studio. She had been teaching for years and after countless suggestions that she start her own business, she finally decided to do it. Kerttu grew up in Estonia. She was introduced to a very unusual line of work very early by her aunt who owned a circus - she became a contortionist - traveling to shows throughout her young years. In her teens she decided to focus on becoming an actress and eventually moved to the USA to pursue this dream. One day in her early 20s when she was working out at a gym in New York, she was suddenly struck by partial paralysis. It was a mystery - no one could figure out why this happened. After years of struggle, as Kerttu was starting to look at wheelchairs and resigning herself to a life of immobility, she discovered pilates. Her life changed forever and she was able to start knitting her body back together. She found that pilates had both physical and emotional magical effects. She started to move again. She became strong again. And she fell in love with pilates. Kerttu shares this story and more. You will understand her "Why Not Today?" philosophy after you listen. And you will definitely want to visit her studio if you are in Colorado.

It was August 2019 and I couldn't sleep. I had just received word that our biggest account had decided with no notice to simply "not take" the inventory they had committed to that season. My thigh was twitching. It didn't stop for 3 months. I couldn't stop the negative thought cycle. I'd been here before. Not this exact place, but I'd been in a position with Skirt Sports where I wasn't sure how we would get through a tough time. But never before did I question if I could actually pull us out of it. I went from gearing up to sell my business with 3 strong, profitable growth years behind me, to losing more in one year than we had lost combined in ten years. There was no way I would find a buyer for my business and I definitely wouldn't get my dream exit. So I did what I've learned to do over 15 years. I took action one mile at a time. One aid station at a time. In April I realized that the COVID-era had put a stamp on our difficulties and the best decision was to close our doors. All the while I held out hope that a new owner may present herself. I know I had created something special and I hoped that there was a woman out there who had the vision, resources and guts to carry it forward. Enter Sarah Ratzlaff. In late April 2020, she replied to a 6 month old email I had sent her and said, "I know this is pretty late, but do you still want to do a cross promotion?" I replied back, "No, I don't want to do a cross promo, but if you want to buy my company, let's talk!" Four months later the ink is dry. Sarah Ratzlaff of the ZOOMA Women's Race Series is the new owner of Skirt Sports! The most important question is: Who is this woman? Sarah is a brilliant visionary. She spent her childhood in rural Kansas and her adulthood honing her craft and her passion by helping develop the RunDisney race series. She later became an entrepreneur by purchasing the ZOOMA Women's Race Series and infusing it with the new energy it needed to thrive. She's a mom of two young kids. She loves helping women find happiness. And she is driven to make this world an equal playing field for women. I couldn't have found a better fit. I'm honored to help bring Sarah's story to the world - it's her turn to shine!

Diane Berberian is dying. She called me a month ago and said this, "I have cancer again. It's incurable. My doctor told me to get out my bucket list." The funny thing is that she told her doctor, "My entire life has been a bucket list!" But as she thought about the things she wants to do with the time she has left, she decided to have one more amazing conversation on the podcast. To share her story, to help people figure out how to better advocate for themselves, and to leave all the gems and wisdom she has learned in a medium that isn't going away - through the podcast.  I am emotional writing this. I was emotional during our conversation. You may be emotional listening. That's okay. That's normal. We are soon going to lose one of our bright lights and we don't want her to go. So today just let your emotions run and open your heart to Diane Berberian. As a special gift to her, please go to her Iron Maven Facebook page. Take a minute to post what you loved most about this conversation. She wants to read it all - while she's still here.  And add this date to your calendar: August 22 is Diane Berberian Day - #golongfordiane and wear red/yellow on that day!

I met Elizabeth Carr through running. Her involvement in the world of running is not what she was originally known for but if she hadn't found running I never would have stumbled across her, as her true claim to fame is not a world I've played in. On December 28, 1981, Elizabeth was the first baby born via In-vitro fertilization in the USA. Literally THE FIRST! What comes with that title is an early life in the public eye, a huge amount of pressure to be "perfect" or else science has failed, and an early understanding of where babies come from! Elizabeth is currently in the midst of a career transition that has found her going back to her roots. She is building a community to be a resource for people navigating the fertility world. She is passionate about helping others and has recently created a private forum - The 1st Collective - where people can safely share and discover important information during their fertility journeys. For more on Elizabeth, check out her website and definitely visit her wikipedia page - I don't know many people who have one! Today we talk about: Exploring trails you've never run (figuratively and literally) Elizabeth's winding career path from the Boston Globe to Runner's World to the non-profit world to branching out on her own Following her heart, gut and passion to discover the next right thing Being 1st: literally the 1st In-vitro baby born in the USA Media circus birth, frankenbabies, tampering with Mother Nature and Playing God What it meant to grow up first Perfection standards set early: If this baby was not perfect, then "science" would take a hit Musings about Mistakes, Judgment, Fear and finally, Freedom For more on Elizabeth and to join her community go here! Her website The First Collective Contact her HERE

Nancy Hogshead was one of my childhood heroes. She was an Olympic swimming star at the age when I was a rising star. She set her first American record at age 14, won 4 Olympic medals and countless titles along the way. She was a full-package powerhouse with brains, beauty and as she says in this interview, "Talent was dripping from my fingers." Today Nancy is a civil rights attorney. Her focus mainly lies in two areas: Equal rights for women in sport and stopping the pervasive sexual abuse that continues to happen in sports today. Her story is incredible. Her experiences all lead her so perfectly to this place in life. That doesn't mean her experiences have all been rosy. Nancy was shunned as a young swimmer which taught her resilience. She had to deal with the frustration and heartbreak of missing the 1980 Olympics due to the USA boycott. And when she was at Duke University, she was brutally raped which led to major PTSD and a long emotional recovery. Despite all of this, she went on to be the most decorated athlete and one of America's sweethearts at the 1984 Olympics with three golds and a silver medal. Nancy is fun, open, honest and shares the greatest stories. I was laughing so hard for much of this conversation. As you listen, you will want to support her efforts for equality. The most important thing you can do is add your signature to support greater protections for TEAM USA athletes here. Today we talk about: Growing up a swimmer The LUCK involved in getting THE Eddie Reese as your first ever coach at age 7! Then Randy Reese when you move! How hard should we push our kids Aspen Institute - resource for parents in regards to youth sports Taking the LONG TERM approach to sport and health (mental and physical) Nancy's birth story (see pic below!) Rambles about our own parenting philosophies The Flow State: how Nancy discovered flow as a way to handle the pressure Sex assault: Nancy was raped while running at Duke University: PTSD, recovery & what Duke did right Nancy's path to becoming a champion of women: ChampionWomen.org Nancy's causes today: Equal rights for women in sport and dismantling the culture of sex abuse in sports Plus many references including: Aspen Institute Sally Roberts: Wrestle like a Girl Pablo Morales Eddie & Randy Reese Athlete A USOPU.info - help pass House Bill 7881 that was unanimously passed in the Senate Bill 2330 Nancy is a force. We could have talked for hours and gone down many more rabbit holes. I asked her after the interview what workout she did beforehand. We had both just come in from some exercise. Her answer is here and one of the reasons I adore her. All right then, that's it for today. You know what time it is. It's time to get out there and Run This World. Have a great workout and I'll see you next week.

I met Cindie Collins through the amazing Skirt Sports ambassador community. In 2019, she was one of the featured speakers at the Skirt Ambassador retreat. Her talk was called STROKE - Suffer The Results Or Kickass Everyday. When Cindie was 27 years old, she was pushing hard, working three jobs and striving for what she thought she needed to do to perform and succeed. Then she had a stroke. Because she was so young, it was not a quick or easy diagnosis. Over the years, and through her recovery (which continues today), Cindie has found comfort in this concept: She has been guided through every stage of her life and everything has happened for a reason. It's such a simple concept, especially in a world where we want to have control (or at least believe that we control). When we step back and allow ourselves to be guided, we find more peace and true gratitude. That's my hope for you after listening today: May you find peace and gratitude for yourself and your circumstances. More topics we cover: Experiencing a stroke at 27: Signs, symptoms & how she was finally diagnosed Put yourself on the list: give yourself as much love and attention as you give everyone else This: "I didn't live in my body back then." Support: Why your network is critical for healing Becoming heart-centered: Changing career from hard-driving educator to massage therapist/healer Running: the shift from driving/pushing/going to giving permission to simply move and appreciate Appreciating YOUR Epic The Sit Spot: Finding something that is Just For You Skirt Sports Community: Even if the uniting product no longer exists, the community will because WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP And so much more Hang with Cindie on Facebook & shoot her a message - as she said, she doesn't need to impact the masses, just one person at a time. ❤️

Amanda McCracken is many things: award-winning writer, ultrarunner, massage therapist, daughter, wife, soon-to-be-mom, and more recently than you'd expect, no longer a virgin. I've known of Amanda for years; we run in the same athletic circles in Boulder, Colorado. What's funny is that she's a little more well-known for her outspoken writing about a topic that many consider taboo - virginity. Amanda remained a virgin until well into her 40s. This is not to say that she didn't date or have sexual relations with men, but she simply continued to hold onto her virginity. Over time it became an empowering thing for her, but it also held her back in certain ways. The root of it was her development of relationship patterns early on. And once she fell into the patterns of chasing, being unavailable, and pushing people away, the more she formed an identity around it. We have a great conversation around relationships, self-growth, forming and shedding identities, accepting change and allowing ourselves to open up and be vulnerable. How we develop relationship patterns: The chase, the push away, the devastation Overthinking: how to stop this pattern Dealing with rejection when she said she was ready How she learned to accept and allow herself to receive love Why was she uninterested in guys who were fully available to her The slow burn romance with her husband, Dave Amanda's deep relationship with her grandma: how it was the catalyst for so many decisions in her life Making important decisions: We all have our own processes Running: she "ran the crazy out" over the years Identity: How we wrap our identities around certain things that become important to us so it's harder to change them or let go of them Longing: Keep your eyes out for her future book "How Longing Became My Lover" Some parenting chatter: Amanda asked me questions about parenting - she's clearly a journalist! And so much more For more Amanda, follow her on social media @amandajmccracken and check out her website! More articles here: Huff Post: "I waited until I was 41 to lose my virginity. But was it worth It?" NY Times: "Finally, a Wedding. It Was About Time."

Maria Solis Belizaire is a powerhouse with a vision. In her early 30s, she found the life-altering power of running and wanted to share it with other people from her community. The problem is that she couldn't find them! She knew some Latinos who run, but they definitely didn't attend races in substantial numbers. And when she talked to people in her community, she realized that there was a preconception that Latinos are fat, lazy, don't like to exercise, and were definitely not runners. The power of visibility is so important. Until you see someone who looks like you doing an activity, you may not realize that you can do it too. In 2016, she started Latinos Run (and now also Latinas Run) to bring awareness to the sport and to show Latinos that running can change their lives for the better. She's been on a mission ever since. Today we talk about: Running: how she found the sport Racial disparity in running Latinos Run & Latinas Run: the genesis of these organizations Her family: how important family is to her Racism: With a mixed race background - her dad is Belizean/Mexican and her mom is Puerto Rican - she has darker skin than her siblings and experienced racism even within her own community Her advice: how companies can show more representation and invest in more diverse communities Visibility: the power of seeing people who look like you doing activities Her magnetic appeal (especially to older white men!) Her mindset in three chapters: 14-15 years old, 30 years old, now Check out her TedX talk here!

I first met Darrietta in person at the 2018 Skirt Sports Ambassador Retreat in Boulder, Colorado. She stood out from the crowd as our only black muslim athlete but she also blended in so perfectly with her shared commitment to health and fitness that our ambassador community prioritizes. I knew I needed to have her on the podcast; I just wasn't sure when it would happen. We actually got some dates on the calendar earlier this year - and then COVID hit. So we delayed. And then Ahmaud Arbery was murdered. And then Breonna Taylor. And then George Floyd. And our country erupted. Over the past month, Darrietta has been a bold, strong, courageous voice in the movement to FINALLY end racial injustice in our country. Something that may actually be possible - if we unite together to make it happen. Even with the emotions flooding the country, we both knew this was exactly the time to get Darrietta on the show. To amplify her voice. To help us both understand and gain some direction to personally push the movement forward. You will definitely want to follow her on Instagram @concrete_rose_lifts At the end of the interview I asked the meaning behind her handle and she said that it symbolizes that has risen from a tough, barren landscape and blossomed into something beautiful. Truth! Today we talk about: Growing up on the south side of Chicago Her mother's drug addiction and how she started living a "double life" as she dealt with it Turning to gangs for community and support Finding the Nation of Islam & leaving gang life Advocating for herself and other women as early as high school when she successfully petitioned her school to include Black History as a subject Getting married at 18 and having her first of three kids at 19 The day her health became her priority (No, the day she decided to put herself first) Her weight loss journey: both nutrition and running/fitness Being a black muslim female athlete: resources and advice Racial injustice: Her efforts & her advice to others The small changes make a big difference Be an ally and stand up when you hear something that isn't right No matter what, put yourself first. Darrietta is a force and her light is only getting brighter. Be sure to follow her as she attempts to become the first "older" black muslim women powerlifter to compete at a meet! Other resources and shoutouts: @liawearaction @sistersofpowerlifting @jogonsportswear

Kristen Horler is living an intentional life. She makes sh*t happen, not in a spastic, compulsive way, but with careful thought about the message she wants to put out in the world. Over 18 years ago, Kristen had a baby. It turns out that baby birthed a business. She found herself craving connection while attempting to regain her fitness and she couldn't find a program that catered to moms with babies. You either had to wait until the baby was older and bring them to a gym that had childcare or you had to get a babysitter so you could leave your baby at home to work on yourself. One day she decided to grab some other new mom friends, bring her baby along, and do a workout together in a park. It was a massive hit. Not only did the moms get a productive workout, they didn't have to worry about leaving their babies behind. Pretty soon, there was a big group of women working out together with their babies, so Kristen started crafting stroller-inclusive exercises and moves that included baby-carrying. Then the idea became contagious and spread from northern California to Texas to cities all across the country and Baby Boot Camp was officially off and running. Kristen went from being a fitness guru to a full-on entrepreneur with a thriving nation-wide franchise. The years went on and Kristen grew the business and honed her craft. She has experienced the ups and downs that come with almost two decades of owning a business. The celebrations and the doubts. And more recently, a rebirth to Momleta - a community of resources that serve the whole mom from health and fitness to nutrition and lifestyle guidance. Kristen is a truly inspirational woman who is living her calling every single day. Today we talk about: Kristen's path to entrepreneurship: She started as a pastry chef! (Did you know a pound cake is called a pound cake because it uses a pound of butter and a pound of sugar?) Starting a business out of necessity The difference between perceiving yourself as an athlete versus being athletic How she rediscovered rowing decades after she stopped the sport The key to staying positive Why having fun with fitness is important The power of helping women and creating a community of women with shared values The Pause It's what you do most of the time, not some of the time, that matters most Her philosophy on nutrition: You should enjoy the food you eat Vegan lentil loaf: This is a must-make recipe especially for a plant-based Thanksgiving, but really for anytime! Focus on priorities, then set your values And so much more For more Kristen Horler and to get involved with Momleta check out these links! http://www.kristenhorler.com/ https://www.momleta.com/ - Virtual classes are now available! Social media: @momleta_hq & @kristenhorler Check out this fun media clip :)

Heidi and Gretchen Breuner are identical twins who live next door to each other and work side by side. They've always been best friends (except for that one time that Heidi etched "I'm mad at Mom and Gretchen" in the windowsill in second grade) and they've always supported each other. What makes their current story so amazing is that it happened by accident. Overnight, Heidi's exciting startup, Swap T's, went bust when coronavirus hit and shut down schools. It was an interactive tee shirt company that encouraged connection and communication with kids aged K-2. From the first distribution of tees at a school, it was obvious that the concept was working when the shyest kid in the class was suddenly engaged with the others as they excitedly shared stories about their patches. In fact, Swap Ts had so much potential that Heidi's husband quit his job and Gretchen started working with her too. So when schools closed, and the business had no future before it had really even taken off, Heidi and her husband did what they always did in times of uncertainty - they went into the workshop. That day, unknowingly, they reignited the flame of their iconic family business - Breuners Furniture - a business that had been shut down due to a long ago family feud. Their story is exactly what we need right now. For more on the Breuners: Breuner Furtniture website Order a table or hat or more: Heck, just send them your ideas! Follow them on social @breunersfurniture

Sara Dean is the creator and host of the Shameless Mom Academy Podcast, a top rated podcast with over 2 million downloads.  Sara’s biggest passion is helping women own their space.  After enduring her own identity crisis following the birth of her son, Sara took her background in psychology/health/wellness and rebuilt her identity, one step at a time.  Sara motivates and inspires women to stop shrinking and start shining.  She is on a mission to inspire women and moms, in particular, to live bigger, bolder, braver #everydamnday. I had the honor of being featured on her podcast - the Shameless Mom Academy Podcast - Episode 344. We talked openly about all the things that have made us who we are today. And we had so much fun that I vowed to get her on my show when the time was right. So when the pandemic struck and we were thrust into new roles as stay at home parents and virtual workers, I decided Sara was exactly who I needed to chat with. What I love most about her is that she truly is her authentic self every day. By being unashamedly true to herself, she gives other women the permission and freedom to do the same.   Today we talk about: Imperfection: why this is the key to happiness Core values: We have a big conversation about creating your own! Identity crises throughout life: How to get through these transitions Her infertility journey The importance of community and connection What she means by a transformation program And so much more For more Sara Dean: Momentum Mamas membership community Tenacious Mamas business & leadership mastermind Shameless Mom Academy Podcast Her Website Follow her on social @shamelessmomacademy

Neely Spence Gracey is not only a superstar runner, she's a superstar person. I met Neely many years ago at the Skirt Sports Half Marathon. She was a young, aspiring runner who was fortunately unsponsored at the time and looking for a training race. I gave her a skirt and a free entry and she won the race handily! I felt like she was a baby just getting ready for a big adventure. Today Neely has a baby! She's also an Adidas sponsored athlete, a world class marathoner, and a hands-on, passionate coach of runners of all levels. I have always appreciated her positive outlook, something that I think we need now more than ever.  Today we talk about: Becoming a runner Breakouts, Burnout & Comebacks The importance of changing things up Her untraditional start to marriage Coaching the coach Pregnancy and running "Life as you know it will end. 100% But for the better" Positive mindset power And so much more For more Neely: Her website: https://www.neelyruns.com/ Follow her on social @neelysgracey

Mike Reilly has called over 350,000 athletes across the finish lines of over 180 IRONMAN races around the world for the last 30 years. People spend months and even years dreaming about the day that they will cross the line of their dream race and hear these four words, "You are an IRONMAN!" Mike has literally become a symbol of accomplishment for so many people. He is the finish line voice that puts the final stamp on a journey that changes lives. Mike does not take this lightly. He understands the responsibility of his role in this transformational moment. Mike started his professional life in a classroom, but was quickly lured to southern California to work in the running industry with his brother. He got into the sport of triathlon and fell in love with the lifestyle. And he still loves it today - deeply and passionately. Mike became an announcer by accident and we're lucky he did. He's one of the best people on the planet and if you ever have the chance to be called across a finish line by him, all I can say is soak it in. Our conversation is fun, deep, insightful and inspiring. Plus there is an appearance by the elusive Tim DeBoom! We cover: Finish Lines Control: We are the cause of our own experiences Corona Era Musings When a job is actually a passion or as Mike says, he is "playing with my passion" Mike's roots: Special Ed Teacher turned running store owner turned shoe rep Accidental entrance into race announcing How Mike was signed up for Kona, but was invited to announce instead. He never did the race and has no regrets! The phrase that changes lives: 4 important words Taking care of ourselves trumps everything It's in the giving that we receive And so much more For more Mike Reilly Buy his book "Finding My Voice" Contact him here Follow him on social media @ironmanvoice

Katie Hoff is a swimming legend. She swam at the world level from the age of 15 when she qualified for her first Olympics (2004) until 2015 when she retired, a move that was accelerated by a rare issue that caused blood clots in her lungs. Because they weren't diagnosed immediately, the remaining scar tissue caused her lungs to function at less than 100%, decidedly not good enough to compete at the world level any longer. After retirement, Katie has gone through all the emotions, trials and tribulations that a world class athlete could deal with while searching for her purpose beyond the pool. She is a work in progress, and the lessons she shares are relevant to all of us, no matter what age and stage we're in. As a former swimmer, I loved connecting with Katie. I could relate to her drive, work ethic, total immersion in all things swimming, the highest highs and the lowest lows. Of course I could only relate at a fraction because Katie was literally the best swimmer on the planet at one point. But here's the magic that Katie delivers. Even though she was at the very top echelon of a sport many people are afraid of, the lessons she has learned can transcend into anyone's lives. Today we talk about: How one becomes the best swimmer in the world Competitive drive from a very young age Homeschooling: some advice for parents who are now homeschooling due to coronavirus All the things that come with competing at the highest level: Pressure, patience, hard work, motivation, learning to listen to your gut, passion, obsession & more Fast rise: competing in the Olympics at age 15 Why a silver medal didn't feel complete Coming back and stopping short: Blood clots in her lungs Embracing the suck: Why this philosophy will get you the results you want For more Katie Hoff Follow her on Instagram @kthoff7 Do her dryland workouts https://www.crowdcast.io/e/i-m--fit-with-katie-hoff/register