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Artwork for Rapid Ascent

Rapid Ascent

rapidascent
Kate Kellett
Lifetime Grand Prix
Tasmania
Trail Running
Nepal
24-Hour Endurance Cross-Country Mountain Bike Racing
Holly Ranson
Otway Odyssey
James Kelly
Fastest Known Times (fkts)
Perth To Sydney FKT
Women In Sport
Perth
Cancer
Courtney Sherwell
Gravel Racing
South Africa
Stronger For Longer
Backyard Ultra
24-Hour World Record

Welcome to the Rapid Ascent Podcast. Experts in adventure since 2004. Run, ride, swim, paddle. Bringing you the best interviews with some remarkable participants from Rapid Ascent endurance events.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes25Founded7 years ago
Categories
WildernessSportsRunning

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Rapid Ascent

Latest Episodes

In this episode of the Rapid Ascent Podcast, Jez sits down with one of the most understated yet profoundly dominant forces in the Aussie trail running scene: Piotr Babis.

Originally from Poland and now a Park Ranger based at Fortescue Bay, Piotr has... more

What does it take to go from crashing twice in your first race to becoming one of Australia's most formidable off-road endurance athletes?

In this episode, Jez sits down with Courtney Sherwell — dual Australian National Champion, 3x Queen of the Otw... more

What does it take to WIN an elite mountain biking championship WHILE working as a high-powered lawyer? In this episode, we sit down with James Kelly to deconstruct his incredible journey to claim the green and gold at the 2025 XCM Nationals. He share... more

Get ready for a rip-snorter of an episode! We're back from our summer break with a massive chat with one of the most underrated cyclists on the Aussie scene, Brent Rees.

This young gun has been tearing it up, from out-sprinting the big names to win ... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
Podcast Host

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Recent Guests

Piotr Babis
Polish-born Tasmanian-based trail runner, Arc'teryx athlete
Arc'teryx
Episode: Ep. 25: Piotr Babis: The Quiet Achiever Dominating Tasmania's FKTs
Courtney Sherwell
Elite gravel/off-road cyclist
Privateer cyclist
Episode: Ep. 24: Courtney Sherwell: The Privateer Who Hustled Her Way to 7th in the World
James Kelly
Elite mountain biker and full-time lawyer
Freelance/Lawyer at a Melbourne law firm
Episode: Ep. 23: James Kelly: The full time lawyer who WON the 2025 Elite National XCM Championship
Brent Rees
Elite mountain biker and Nationals/XCM champion
Episode: Ep. 22: Brent Rees: From Non-Cycling Teen to Winning Elite Nationals in Under 6 Years
Adam Kelsall
Renowned mountain bike coach, Hero Dirt
Hero Dirt
Episode: Ep. 21: Adam Kelsall vs ChatGPT*: Can AI create a GOOD Otway Odyssey training plan?
Brendan Trekky Johnston
Australian cyclist, professional racer in gravel, mountain bike, and road disciplines
Independent athlete
Episode: Ep. 20: Brendan "Trekky" Johnston: From Cancer-Surviving Electrician to Racing at the Top of the World
Tali Lane Welsh
Elite endurance rider known for 2024 Otway Odyssey performance
Cache Body Wrap (road racing team)
Episode: Ep 19: How to Win The Otway Odyssey with Tali Lane Welsh
Peta Mullens
Professional cyclist, seven-time Otway Odyssey winner
Rock Salt Live (team)
Episode: Ep. 18: "We're Just Riding Bikes Here": Peta Mullens & Dylan Johnson on having fun, checking egos & riding for the RIGHT reasons
Dylan Johnson
Professional cyclist with a YouTube following, Lifetime Grand Prix competitor
Rock Salt Live (team)
Episode: Ep. 18: "We're Just Riding Bikes Here": Peta Mullens & Dylan Johnson on having fun, checking egos & riding for the RIGHT reasons

Hosts

Jez Baker
Host of Rapid Ascent Podcast; multiple episode appearances; endurance and cycling focus
Jeremy Baker
Host of Rapid Ascent Podcast; cycling and endurance emphasis; frequently interviews top athletes

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 17 ratings
  • Interview with JC

    Thanks Sam, great interview with JC.

    Great to hear a down to earth conversation with this guy.

    I think I will give bike Buller another go in 2020.

    Thanks Leigh & Pamela

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pamela & leigh
    Australia7 years ago
  • Inspires to action!

    These podcasts are great -- really interesting guests and a low-key, effective interviw style. I live in Geelong so this is a real treat from a regional knowledge perspective but I'd recommend to anyone, anywhere. Go Rapid Ascent (and I hope to do Surfcoast Century some day... plonker runner today though!)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dave grinds it out
    Australia7 years ago
  • Matt Daniels

    Runs for those who can’t. Absolute legend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J.Stephens
    Australia7 years ago
  • Awesome

    Great first episode with the incredible Sean Purcell! Well done guys. Will look forward to the follow up podcast post run. There was mention of a discount code to join the Larapinta fun...

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jacqson Square
    Australia7 years ago
  • Great podcast from a great organization.

    I’ve long been a fan of Rapid Ascent’s races so was stoked to see that they are starting to do their own podcasts. This first one was really interesting and I’m looking forward to future episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kate loves events
    Australia7 years ago

Listeners Say

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

High-quality conversational style that's both informative and entertaining.
Impressive depth and practical insights from diverse endurance guests.
Strong community vibe around events and athletes; listenership seems engaged and supportive.
Guests feel authentic and down-to-earth with a genuine passion for racing and training.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#48
Australia/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#128
Finland/Sports/Wilderness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 24: Courtney Sherwell: The Privateer Who Hustled Her Way to 7th in the World
Q: How did Courtney balance training, sponsorships, and logistics when chasing Lifetime Grand Prix entry?
She and John refinanced, rented out their home, lived in a van, and relied on a network of friends and hosts in the US; the process was financially demanding but crucial for competing at the international level, with results like national titles and strong gravel showings opening doors.
Ep. 25: Piotr Babis: The Quiet Achiever Dominating Tasmania's FKTs
Q: Can you describe the Southwest Traverse and why you felt it was possible to attempt?
He linked major Tassie trails into a single mission, recognizing the route's remoteness and the challenge of sustaining pace over rugged terrain, and he planned it to maximize weather opportunities and safety with a dedicated crew.
Ep. 25: Piotr Babis: The Quiet Achiever Dominating Tasmania's FKTs
Q: When did you first become seriously involved in running, and what shifted your mindset from casual to structured training?
He began working with a coach in 2019, which introduced structure and a consistent schedule, moving from sporadic high-effort missions to planned training and goal-oriented endurance projects.

Audience Metrics

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

Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Rapid Ascent

What is Rapid Ascent about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A fast-growing endurance-focused show that hosts extended conversations with top athletes, coaches, and organizers across cycling, trail running, and multi-discipline adventures. Episodes consistently explore training philosophies, race strategy, recovery, mental resilience, and the realities of balancing high-performance sport with work, family, and logistics. A standout pattern is spotlighting performers who hustle as self-funded athletes, navigate non-traditional career paths, and build strong communities around endurance events. Noteworthy moments often center on practical how-tos, gear and pacing decisions, and behind-the-scenes culture—conversations that appeal to aspiring guests, sponsors, and listeners who value process, preparation... more

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How many listeners does Rapid Ascent get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Rapid Ascent 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 Rapid Ascent?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Rapid Ascent:

1. Peak Pursuits
2. Velo Podcast
3. THEMOVE

How many episodes of Rapid Ascent are there?

Rapid Ascent launched 7 years ago and published 25 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 Rapid Ascent?

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.

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What guests have appeared on Rapid Ascent?

Recent guests on Rapid Ascent include:

1. Piotr Babis
2. Courtney Sherwell
3. James Kelly
4. Brent Rees
5. Adam Kelsall
6. Brendan Trekky Johnston
7. Tali Lane Welsh
8. Peta Mullens

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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