Episodes

  • We Ran A Marathon | .... But Why ?

    We Ran A Marathon | .... But Why ?
    Jun 14 2026
    The main question I have received is .... why do it in the first place?

    In Episode #522 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: the behind the scenes of our first official marathon, why “finishing” can be its own kind of win, the three layers of marathoners you meet on race day, solo marathon attempts compared to the buzz of an organised event, tips (racing lines, shade-hunting, aid stations), where the wheels came off (cramps and blistered feet), reflect on why we choose hard things, what it would actually take for us to go sub‑4 and why halves and 10ks might be our sweet spot.

    Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:01:15) Placings shock and expectations vs reality
    (00:03:59) Cut-offs, DNFs, and what "winning" really means
    (00:07:50) Atlas Events series and the gamification of running
    (00:13:02) Race day atmosphere: fun, roads and course quirks
    (00:17:16) Course difficulty matters: elevation and flatter options
    (00:19:14) Post-race reflections and future distance preferences
    (00:22:06) How their race unfolded: pacing, packs and turning points
    (00:25:28) The wall arrives: hills, slowing and first walks
    (00:29:29) Fuel, fluids, and the underrated racing line
    (00:33:34) On-course coaching with AI? Ethics and usefulness
    (00:38:03) Juan's rocky prep, surprises, and recovery week
    (00:41:04) Kyrin's near-perfect prep and where sub-4 slipped
    (00:45:02) Why do a marathon at all? Choosing hard things
    (00:48:12) Mental vs physical barriers: running vs lifting
    (00:51:09) What it takes to go faster: sub-4 and beyond



    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
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    57 mins
  • Catching Up On Busy Life | Missing The End Of An Era

    Catching Up On Busy Life | Missing The End Of An Era
    Jun 6 2026
    After a mini break we're back and tired as hell.

    In Episode #521 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: being very busy versus truly tired, how priorities shift as life gets more complex and why sometimes the smartest move is pruning commitments instead of optimising them, reminisce on the “end of an era”—pinpointing a final carefree night with friends before marriages, kids and tighter schedules reshaped everything & maxing out your skills to learn what truly fits.

    Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:01:32) Today’s loose topics: busy, tired, and ends of eras
    (00:04:29) Work surge, funding cycles, and context switching
    (00:07:14) Time slipping: dating, late nights, and sleep debt
    (00:10:52) Merging habits: training with podcasts, dropping networking
    (00:13:20) Reducing decision fatigue, going with the flow (kids)
    (00:18:18) Meal batching as an antidote to micro decisions
    (00:21:24) The Springwood night: last carefree gathering
    (00:25:56) Complexity vs difficulty: why coordination gets hard
    (00:31:04) Revisiting UQ: inner child, fear and growth
    (00:35:00) Wisdom with age and limits of advice to your younger self
    (00:39:37) Practices over time: identity, social media shifts
    (00:44:21) University credential vs building ‘monsters’
    (00:47:20) Purpose can wait; in youth, max your stats
    (00:51:01) Generational shift: job hopping and portfolio lives
    (00:53:38) Looks‑maxxing influencers and the price of attention
    (00:55:57) Capping off: embracing the thirties era



    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

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    V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
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    57 mins
  • Monthly Goals | June 2026

    Monthly Goals | June 2026
    May 31 2026
    It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next.

    Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why?

    Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:00:31) Juan May 2026 Review
    (00:14:18) Kyrin May 2026 Review
    (00:22:27) Juan June 2026 Goals
    (00:29:51) Kyrin June 2026 Goals
    (00:40:16) Fitness
    (00:45:06) Wrap-up



    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
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    46 mins
  • Fitter After 40: Strength, Tendons & Recovery | Chris Ryan

    Fitter After 40: Strength, Tendons & Recovery | Chris Ryan
    May 16 2026

    At some point, the body sends you the invoice.
    In this episode of the Mere Mortals Podcast, I sit down with Chris Ryan, former Division 1 runner, fitness coach, Men’s Fitness cover model, former Mirror coach and founder of Chris Ryan Fitness, to talk about what it actually takes to stay strong, durable and fit as you get older.
    The core lesson: fitness is not just about effort. It is about intelligent effort, repeated long enough to become identity.

    Connect With Chris Ryan
    Website: https://chrisryanfitness.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisryanfitness
    YouTube: Search “Chris Ryan Fitness”
    App: Search “Chris Ryan Fitness” in the App Store or Google Play

    00:00 - Welcome to Mere Mortals
    00:24 - Who is Chris Ryan?
    00:42 - From sport to Division 1 running
    01:26 - Why the 800m teaches toughness
    02:26 - From athlete to fitness coach
    02:48 - Men’s Fitness, NBC Strong and Mirror
    03:15 - Mirror, Lululemon and building an app
    04:41 - Why men learn about tendons too late
    06:00 - Prehab beats rehab
    07:09 - Why tendons need smart loading
    08:16 - Marathon training mistakes
    09:30 - The hidden cost of running on hard surfaces
    10:00 - Why elite runners avoid too much pavement
    11:19 - Zone 2 training and managing intensity
    13:07 - Body checks and relaxed running
    14:12 - What a coach sees that Google cannot
    15:27 - Consistency as the foundation
    16:10 - How to recover from a missed workout
    17:05 - Heavy lifting after 40
    18:39 - Pull-ups, grip strength and longevity
    20:12 - VO2 max training and Hyrox
    21:31 - Dumbbells, bands and simple home training
    23:15 - Teaching people why they train
    23:54 - Why people avoid hard intervals
    25:37 - Run your fastest mile first
    27:12 - Running form, heel striking and efficiency
    29:13 - Four-minute intervals and VO2 max work
    30:34 - How to raise active kids
    32:15 - Making fitness fun for children
    34:09 - Home gyms, pull-up bars and accessibility
    36:27 - Building a fitness community
    37:20 - Why community questions matter
    38:53 - Members empowering members
    40:36 - Chris’s expensive business mistake
    42:04 - Why TV apps failed
    43:36 - Let the marketplace tell you what it wants
    45:01 - The overlooked power of rest and recovery
    45:56 - Protect your bedtime
    47:37 - Programming recovery into training
    48:03 - Muscles grow when you recover
    48:44 - Why 80% consistency still wins
    49:43 - The habit most disciplined people neglect
    51:07 - Where to find Chris Ryan



    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
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    53 mins
  • Monthly Goals | May 2026

    Monthly Goals | May 2026
    May 4 2026
    It's time for our monthly check in where we review our goals from last month and see what's coming up for the next.

    Do you set yourself monthly goals and if so, how many do you set? Juan and I on the first week of every month go over our progress from the previous month and where we are heading for the next. Emphasis as always is on the shortcomings; what we didn't achieve in the previous monthly goals and how we will fix that for the month that comes. We hope you get some value from this series, showcasing our own methodology. What do you do differently and why?

    Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:01:40) April review (Juan): running ramp-up, Achilles issues
    (00:06:09) April review (Kyrin): energy, social push and AI chats
    (00:20:55) Podcasting 2.0 update: AI slop, indexing, and curation challenges
    (00:24:51) Setting May goals (Juan): body, mind, soul focus
    (00:30:14) Setting May goals (Kyrin): energy, courageous conversations
    (00:37:31) Streamlining podcast workflows: thumbnails, uploads, automation
    (00:42:31) Thumbnails by AI? Tools, costs and what to keep
    (00:44:54) Interviews vs effort: where the time really goes
    (00:48:00) Always-on media: "Monitor the Situation" and live nuance
    (00:50:12) Fitness wins: 2-minute handstand and one-arm progress
    (00:56:41) Life admin rant: hail damage, insurers, and time trade-offs
    (00:59:30) Wrap-up and next week’s plan



    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
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    1 hr
  • Dreaming Big | Life Beyond The Average

    Dreaming Big | Life Beyond The Average
    Apr 20 2026
    Can you succeed without setting expectations & goals to hit?

    In Episode #520 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: riff on dreaming big: how our top‑level life aims can stay steady for decades while the reasons and execution evolve, whether you truly need a “big dream” to reach elite performance, how to cultivate direction in your twenties by chasing curiosity and I tease a 20‑year out‑of‑this‑world goal that’s resurfaced from childhood.

    Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:03:22) Decades, seasons of life and planning horizons
    (00:07:56) Hinting at a 20-year goal out of this world
    (00:10:29) Belief, luck, and the role of drive
    (00:14:29) Stumbling into success and the power of effort
    (00:18:14) Visualisation that works: mindset vs magic
    (00:23:01) Aspirations shift: presence over prestige
    (00:29:56) Massive Transformational Purpose and skill discovery
    (00:32:01) Follow your obsession? Benefits and pitfalls
    (00:36:00) Meaning, contentment and age
    (00:40:13) Small dreams, goals, and purposeful practice
    (00:45:26) Wrap-up and value-for-value sign-off



    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
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    46 mins
  • Reward Thyself For Great Boon | Or Fall Into The Pit Of Hedonism

    Reward Thyself For Great Boon | Or Fall Into The Pit Of Hedonism
    Apr 17 2026
    When does training become trickery become manipulation?

    In Episode #519 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: the messy art of celebrating wins, the difference between admiration and genuine celebration, how expectations can warp our enjoyment of milestones, how to separate rewards from celebrations, why minimum thresholds matter, and how to design simple, sustainable rituals that create real memories and why routine can quietly erase the impulse to recognise achievements.

    Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:02:00) State of the podcast: cadence, book reviews, life updates
    (00:03:45) Milestones hit but rarely celebrated: listens, views, totals
    (00:06:50) From optimisation to ease: audio quality, AI cleanup, and routines
    (00:10:40) Gratitude for better gear versus big milestone parties
    (00:13:44) Tiny rewards after effort: beer in the shower and habit loops
    (00:16:56) Long‑term mindset: willpower, running mileage, and durable rewards
    (00:21:58) Birthdays, experiences, and low‑key celebrations for others
    (00:24:52) Do milestones create memories worth keeping?
    (00:30:00) Expectations shape feelings: two athletes, same silver, different joy
    (00:32:14) Should celebration be separate from expectations?
    (00:35:15) Rewarding effort vs outcome: half marathon thought experiment
    (00:40:05) Positive manipulation, parenting and intent behind rewards
    (00:44:45) Overblown rewards backfire: the doughnut race cautionary tale
    (00:47:56) Ritualising post‑run rewards without overdoing it
    (00:51:41) Wrap‑up: goals for next week and tongue‑in‑cheek yacht plans
    (00:55:18) Closing thanks and sign‑off



    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
    V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/support
    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
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    55 mins
  • Lifestreaming Ruins Your Life | Is 'Real Life' Interesting To Others?

    Lifestreaming Ruins Your Life | Is 'Real Life' Interesting To Others?
    Apr 5 2026

    What do Michael Gerry, Big Brother and Clavicular all have in common?

    In Episode #518 of 'Meanderings', Juan & I discuss: broadcasting everyday life (potentially 24/7), how feasible it is to capture more of life with minimal setup, early backpack rigs to Michael Gerry’s 2019 year-long life stream, the pull toward performative behaviour, the appeal of using life streaming as a mirror for self-improvement, why human interest in real humans won’t vanish in an AI-simulated world, predictions on “life media”/consent challenges/audience capture risks and why intent matters more than ever if you’re thinking about streaming your life.

    Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortals

    Timeline:
    (00:00:00) Intro
    (00:01:06) Wearables and the dream of frictionless livestreaming
    (00:05:56) Social impact: cameras change behaviour and relationships
    (00:08:46) Predicted effects on relationships and self-discipline
    (00:14:56) NSFW pivot: audience shift, consent, and consequences
    (00:17:38) Costs, logistics, and why fame is unlikely
    (00:20:55) Community, new friends, catfishing, and fallout
    (00:24:56) Why even boring streams get views
    (00:27:50) Motivations: fame, money, connectionand a private pensive
    (00:31:02) The sexual attention problem and why lines matter
    (00:34:39) If we did it: gyms, runs, handstands, and zero-edit streams
    (00:38:53) The consent minefield and protecting loved ones
    (00:41:04) Audience capture and changing your life later
    (00:45:25) AI editors, multimodal search, and the end of manual cuts (00:47:18) AI characters vs human messiness: what viewers really want
    (00:56:00) Forecast: life media expands; humans keep watching humans
    (00:58:16) Try-before-you-go: real-time looks at venues and events
    (01:06:01) Housekeeping: Boostagrams paused, V4V still valued
    (01:09:18) One-person unicorns and why wed watch their day
    (01:11:23) Wrap-up and Easter sign-off



    Connect with Mere Mortals:
    Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/
    Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBn
    Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspods
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/
    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcasts

    Value 4 Value Support:
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    Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast
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    1 hr and 12 mins