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The Trailhead

UltraSignup
Trail Running
Ultrasignup
UTMB
Barkley Marathons
Treadmill Training
Adaptive Athletes
Running
Jasmin Paris
Born To Adapt
Courtney Dewalter
Winter Training
Mental Health
Ultra Running
Big Alta Races
Lululemon Further
Six-Day Ultramarathons
Accessibility
Ultra-Running
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
Mammoth Trailfest

The Trailhead isn't your typical trail running podcast—we're not dissecting splits or debating race strategies. Instead, hosts Zoë Rom and Brendan Leonard take you straight to the heart (and funny bone) of the sport, celebrating the people, stories, and quirks that make trail running so special. With a mix of humor, heart, and a little irreverence, we explore the personalities, people, artists, an... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes87Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SportsHealth & FitnessRunning

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Artwork for The Trailhead

Latest Episodes

Christie Aschwanden is a New York Times bestselling author, former lead science writer at FiveThirtyEight, and one of the sharpest science journalists working today. She's also a former elite Nordic skier for Team Rossignol and a national collegiate ... more

Brad Stulberg co-wrote Peak Performance with Steve Magness and has spent over a decade studying what excellence actually requires. He joins Zoë and Brendan to dismantle the myths of hustle culture and explain why genuine excellence isn't about optimi... more

What happens when you strip away sleep, ego, and every external measure of success for 330 kilometers? Doug Mayer, founder of Run the Alps, former Car Talk producer, and three-time Tour de Géants finisher, has spent years trying to answer that questi... more

Pat Cade has a PhD in mathematics, coaches high school cross country in Leadville, Colorado, and has finished the Leadville 100 six times. In this conversation, he explains what years of research math taught him about endurance: small steady progress... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Brad Stulberg
Author and coach focused on human flourishing
Episode: Brad Stulberg on How to Be Excellent Without Burning Out
Pat Cade
Cross-country track coach and PhD mathematician.
Lake County High School
Episode: What a PhD Mathematician Learned About Running 100 Miles
Mario Fraoli
Coach who discusses the boundaries of racing in ultramarathons
Episode: Best of 2025: On Insanity, Effort, and Choosing Your Obsessions Wisely
Sabrina Little
Philosopher and ultra runner who explores ethics in athletics
Episode: Best of 2025: On Insanity, Effort, and Choosing Your Obsessions Wisely
Steve Magness
Performance scientist focusing on the emotional benefits of running
Episode: Best of 2025: On Insanity, Effort, and Choosing Your Obsessions Wisely
Alex Hutchinson
Author who discusses effort and satisfaction in running
Episode: Best of 2025: On Insanity, Effort, and Choosing Your Obsessions Wisely
Romy Ancona
DJ and community member from the Roaring Fork Valley, passionate about running and music.
Episode: What DJs Know About Getting Runners Through Mile 80
Lindsey Freeman
A sociologist, writer, and lifelong runner.
Simon Fraser University
Episode: A Sociologist Explains Why Running Rituals Matter
Raziq Rauf
Writer at Running Sucks, a newsletter on Substack
Running Sucks
Episode: Raziq Rauf on Running, Belonging, and the Danger of Obsession

Hosts

Zoë Rom
Co-host known for her engaging storytelling and connection to the trail running community, focusing on inclusivity and personal experiences.
Brendan Leonard
Co-host recognized for his humor and artistic perspective, contributing to the rich narrative of trail running and community stories.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 220 ratings
  • Worth a listen

    Great interviews that expand beyond trail running in a good way!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Met2026
    United States15 days ago
  • Great hosts!

    Chatty, upbeat, interesting stories! I’m always intrigued to see who they’ll speak with and they ask really good questions!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Heathervdh
    Canada21 days ago
  • Great interviews!

    Brendan and Zoe are great interviewers that highlight the unique spirit and motivations of endurance athletes. A must-listen for ultra runners or fans of endurance running.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Runner gal79
    United States22 days ago
  • Immediate listen

    The Trailhead is an immediate first listen whenever it pops up on my feed. Zoe and Brendan bring the perfect blend of lightheartedness, joy, and smart thinking to a topic that very often becomes one dimensional. I love their dynamic and always enjoy the show.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bpg459
    United States22 days ago
  • Informative and Fun

    Brendan and Zoë do and great job of keeping the interviews fun and asking questions runners would ask. The guests are interesting and varied, giving different perspectives on what it means to be a trail or ultra runner.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    veerrrsix
    United States22 days ago

Listeners Say

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

The humor and organic style of hosting are frequently praised, making it an enjoyable listen for both seasoned runners and newcomers alike.
Listeners appreciate the light-hearted yet insightful conversations that explore the community aspect of trail running.
Feedback indicates a strong connection among listeners who enjoy stories about personal journeys and challenges in the sport.
Some listeners have expressed concern about the shift in focus from running analysis to broader storytelling, suggesting they prefer a balance between the two.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#3
United States/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#209
United States/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#6
Canada/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#94
United Kingdom/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#216
Canada/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#55
Germany/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Brad Stulberg on How to Be Excellent Without Burning Out
Q: Can you define zombie burnout?
Zombie burnout is when people are not engaging in enough fulfilling activities and life feels like a slog, rather than being overly busy.
Brad Stulberg on How to Be Excellent Without Burning Out
Q: What is the difference between true flow and shitty flow?
Shitty flow is engaging in activities like scrolling on social media that don't align with values and leave you feeling unsatisfied, while true flow involves engagement in meaningful activities.
Brad Stulberg on How to Be Excellent Without Burning Out
Q: What does excellence mean to you?
Excellence is not perfectionism; it's about caring deeply about something that aligns with your values while accepting that perfection is unattainable.
What a PhD Mathematician Learned About Running 100 Miles
Q: What do you think adults could learn from the kids that you're coaching?
Adults could learn about pushing through thresholds and managing their time and self-care in the middle of busy lives, similar to how kids manage their activities.
What a PhD Mathematician Learned About Running 100 Miles
Q: What makes a good coach?
A good coach is someone who can meet the athletes where they're at and work with them for their goals, pushing and motivating them while being flexible and open to conversation.

Audience Metrics

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions About The Trailhead

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

Exploring the vibrant world of trail running, this podcast takes a unique approach by focusing on the myriad personalities and stories that define the sport rather than typical race strategies or performance metrics. With a blend of humor and heartfelt narratives, the hosts connect listeners with everyday athletes, artists, and influential figures, celebrating their experiences and the communal spirit of trail running. This engaging format is likely to resonate well with a diverse audience, showcasing how the joy and challenges of trail running extend beyond mere competition to encompass rich human experiences and connection with nature.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Trailhead?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Trailhead. 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 Trailhead and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Trailhead get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Trailhead, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Trailhead?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Trailhead, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Trailhead have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Trailhead 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 Trailhead?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Trailhead:

1. Trail Runner Nation
2. Singletrack
3. The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman
4. Everyday Ultra
5. Some Work, All Play

How many episodes of The Trailhead are there?

The Trailhead launched 4 years ago and published 87 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 Trailhead?

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 Trailhead?

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

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Trailhead?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Trailhead. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Trailhead?

Recent guests on The Trailhead include:

1. Brad Stulberg
2. Pat Cade
3. Mario Fraoli
4. Sabrina Little
5. Steve Magness
6. Alex Hutchinson
7. Romy Ancona
8. Lindsey Freeman

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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