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The MicroCast

Microcosm Coaching
Nutrition
Endurance Training
Running
Endurance Sports
Ultra Running
Strength Training
Recovery
Carbohydrates
Hydration
Injury Prevention
Trail Running
Leadville 100
Goal Setting
Heat Training
Recovery Strategies
Diet Culture
Runners
Athletic Performance
Running Recovery
Protein

The Microcosm Coaching Podcast helps endurance athletes—whether you're a road runner, trail runner, or training for your first marathon or 100-miler—get more out of their training with evidence-based advice, effort-based coaching, and expert mindset support. Hosted by professional coaches and athletes, each episode explores practical strategies for race prep, running recovery, mental performance, ... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes242Founded6 years ago
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RunningSports

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Latest Episodes

Ready for your next ultra distance? Maybe. In this episode, we tackle the question of when to move up from the 50K to the 50 mile, 100K, 100 mile, and beyond, and why the "ladder" framing might be steering you wrong. Distance alone doesn't say much a... more

Zoë's article on Ability vs. Ambition

YDS Episode on "Racing Weight"

There's always a gap between where you are as an athlete and where you want to be. Zoë wrote about it for UltraSignup , "Closing the Gap Between Ability and Ambition", and this we... more

How many miles a week do you need to run to get better? It's the question coaches hear most, and the annoying answer is: enough to create an adaptation, not so much that you can't absorb it. The body doesn't experience a mileage total. A mile on a 14... more

Leadville 100 week gave Microcosm both ends of the sport in a single day: coach TJ David's athlete McKendree Hickory won the women's race in her 100-mile debut, and TJ himself dropped at the Winfield turnaround after nearly fifty miles of not being a... more

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Recent Guests

McKendree Hickory
Microcosm athlete who won Leadville 100; discussed in-depth training and race execution
Microcosm Coaching / Leadville participant
Episode: A Leadville Win and a Leadville DNF: What Both Taught Us About Training
Sean Van Horn
Endurance athlete; male perspective guest
Endurance athlete (personal background)
Episode: The Performance Trap: What Elite Male Athletes Get Wrong About Discipline, Leanness, and Control
TJ David
Coach; former professional skier and endurance athlete
Microcosm Coaching
Episode: The Performance Trap: What Elite Male Athletes Get Wrong About Discipline, Leanness, and Control
Cliff Pittman
Director of Coaching at CTS (Carmichael Training Systems)
CTS
Episode: What Good Running Coaching Actually Looks Like (And How to Find It) with Cliff Pittman, CTS Coaching Development Director
Francis Sanzaro
Author, athlete, and philosopher discussing his book on climbing and performance
Episode: The Zen of Performance with Author, Athlete and Philosopher Francis Sanzaro, PhD
Zack Russell
MicroCosm Coach, certified running coach, athletic trainer, and strength coach
Microcosm Coaching
Episode: Planning for Your A Race + Stretching, Foam Rolling, Chiros & N/A Beverages with Coach Zack Russell

Hosts

Zoë
Host/Co-host focused on endurance coaching; multiple appearances across episodes; part of Microcosm Coaching team.
James Nance
Co-host, endurance coach and head of coaching at Microcosm Coaching; frequent contributor.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 133 ratings
  • Well researched and engaging!

    I found this podcast after listening to Zoe on Your Diet Sucks. Microcast is well researched and genuinely fun to listen to! I’m an experienced coach myself and learn from them. Audio is well-produced too. A must-listen for any runner!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    L. S. Norris
    United States8 months ago
  • Best running podcast I’ve listened to in years – easily in my top 2 of all time

    TJ and Zoë somehow pack an absurd amount of truly valuable, evidence-based information into every single episode without it ever feeling overwhelming. They have this rare gift of taking really complex topics (training zones, fueling science, downhill mechanics, mental skills, hormone health, you name it) and breaking them down into clear, actionable habits you can start using the very next day. I always finish an episode with pages of notes and actual changes I actually want to make.

    On top o... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Lavranior
    Germany10 months ago
  • Vibes vibes vibes

    I like that they base their suggestions on research rather than hype, that the episodes aren’t too long. It’s funny to listen to them discuss hot or nots and controversial topics, because they’re both such strong flavors and so opinionated. Always a good time!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Yumois
    United Statesa year ago
  • Never change!!!

    These guys are legit. Out of all the running podcasts I’ve listened to, this is by far the best one and one I keep returning to! Rational, evidence-based, and plain FUN! They have already challenged some longheld beliefs I’ve had that weren’t serving me on running and training! The episodes go by really fast. Great long run listening material! Just a pleasure and a delight, thank you for all your hard work, guys!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paulina PP
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love the MicroCast!

    Love the podcast!! I joined microcosm coaching a couple of months ago and it’s been life changing for my running. The podcast gives some good advice and is something easy to listen to during my long runs or when I need (and have time for) a break at work. I really appreciate all the hard work that goes into the research for the info that they provide during the podcast as well. ❤️❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Beth the dogtor
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise depth with accessible explanations and actionable takeaways.
Rave about evidence-based, practical coaching and engaging hosts.
Audience highlights how topics apply broadly to runners, not just ultras.
High production quality and genuine passion from the hosts noted by fans.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#68
United States/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#83
United Kingdom/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#159
Canada/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#125
Germany/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#231
Italy/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#5
Singapore/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Leadville Win and a Leadville DNF: What Both Taught Us About Training
Q: Listener question warm up about pacing on treadmill vs outside and how to translate treadmill gains to outdoor racing.
Coach emphasizes that treadmill work is valid and can build fitness and pacing competency, but emphasizes transitioning to outdoor racing to apply those gains, with long intervals at marathon pace and using treadmill as an on-ramp rather than a replacement for outdoor practice.
Recovery Is the Ceiling: The 5 Things Blocking Your Recovery (Plus Soft Rock, Hot or Not, and Debriefing Your First 100)
Q: I just finished my first 100-mile event, and I'm still processing a very challenging race. As a self-coached athlete, what should I analyze to evaluate my performance and identify areas for improvement?
Begin with how the race felt and which moments were most challenging, then document wins and losses using a Start/Stop/Continue or rosebud/thorn framework. Review the data (e.g., heart rate decoupling, pacing) but prioritize feelings and psychology to guide where improvements are needed, and set a plan to address those areas in a future race.
Race-Specific Training: Are You Actually Training for YOUR Race? Plus: the best running belts, pre-race strength training, and make-up miles
Q: I missed two runs last week, including my long run, due to work and childcare. I felt guilty and added miles to other runs. Should I just let the miles go, or how do I decide when to move or add runs?
Guilt is common, but makeup miles aren't a real thing for your body. Training stress and recovery timing matter more than the sheer number of miles. It's better to preserve key sessions and recovery, adjust plans holistically, and avoid stacking hard days. If you miss a long run, don't try to cram it in by replacing it with a shorter run; instead, rebalance the week with appropriate rest and adjusted workouts.
Heat vs. Altitude Training for Runners: What Actually Works (+ Golden Hour, Probiotics & Time-Based Training)
Q: How do you think about time-based long runs in the mountains versus flatland volume?
Time on feet and vertical gain are the real drivers of endurance adaptation; long mountain runs should be interpreted via stress and RPE, not miles, and athletes should spread volume across the week to avoid overloading a few hard days.
Why You Should Always Be Training + Coach TJ's Canyons 100k Race Recap!
Q: How do you decide whether to race or train when life is chaotic?
We weigh long-term goals and day-to-day capacity, prioritizing joy and sustainability, and we adjust goals to what will be feasible and meaningful rather than forcing peak performance under stress.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The MicroCast

What is The MicroCast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A practical, evidence-based show for endurance athletes that blends coaching insight with deep dives into training science, periodization, fueling, recovery, and mental aspects of long-distance running. Episodes emphasize sustainable training, avoid burnout, and feature a mix of field-tested techniques, practical gear guidance, and real-world race planning across ultras and marathons. Noteworthy strengths include a strong coaching perspective, accessible explanations of complex topics, and a culture of skepticism toward flashy trends while prioritizing consistency, joy, and long-term health in training.

Where can I find podcast stats for The MicroCast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The MicroCast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The MicroCast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The MicroCast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The MicroCast?

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How many subscribers and views does The MicroCast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The MicroCast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The MicroCast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The MicroCast:

1. Your Diet Sucks
2. Trail Society
3. Some Work, All Play
4. The Trail Network Podcast
5. Singletrack

How many episodes of The MicroCast are there?

The MicroCast launched 6 years ago and published 242 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The MicroCast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The MicroCast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The MicroCast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on The MicroCast?

Recent guests on The MicroCast include:

1. McKendree Hickory
2. Sean Van Horn
3. TJ David
4. Cliff Pittman
5. Francis Sanzaro
6. Zack Russell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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