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The Trailhead

UltraSignup
Trail Running
Ultra Running
Running
UTMB
Leadville 100
Ultrarunning
Barkley Marathons
Hardrock 100
Endurance Sports
Mental Health
Ultrasignup
Community
Climate Change
Courtney Dauwalter
Burnout
Coaching
Trail Running Community
Community Engagement
Excellence
Tour De Géants

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 monthlyEpisodes105Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RunningHealth & FitnessSports

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Artwork for The Trailhead

Latest Episodes

We just launched a new show on the UltraSignup network, and this is your first listen.

The Claims Department puts fitness, health, and wellness science under the microscope. Zoë Rom co-hosts with Dr. Nick Tiller, an exercise physiologist, researche... more

Herman Pontzer is a professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University, a leading researcher on human energy metabolism, and the author of Burn and Adaptable.

In this conversation, Zoe and Brendan ask Herman whether anyone ... more

Lee Glandorf is a writer, brand marketer, former Yale rower, seven-year Tracksmith veteran, and the creator of The Sweat Lookbook, a newsletter about sports and fashion through the lens of the female athlete.

In this conversation, Zoë and Brendan f... more

Oladimeji Ajegbile, known online as Hello Dim, went viral for filming bike rides through Edinburgh with his two-year-old son perched on the handlebars, narrating every tree and bus he sees. He's also a former architect, UX designer, startup founder, ... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Nick Tiller
Exercise physiologist, researcher and author of The Skeptic's Guide to Sports Science
Episode: Introducing The Claims Department with Zoë Rom & Nick Tiller
Herman Pontzer
Professor of evolutionary anthropology and global health at Duke University, researcher and author of Burn and Adaptable
Duke University
Episode: What Exercise Does (And Doesn't Do) For Your Metabolism with Evolutionary Anthropologist Herman Pontzer
Lee Glandorf
Marketer, writer and creator of The Sweat Lookbook
The Sweat Lookbook, Tracksmith
Episode: Why Do Trail Runners Dress Like This Now? Lee Glandorf on Race Whimsy, Bandanas, and Style
Oladimeji Ajegbile
Architect, writer, video producer, founder; online creator known as Hello Dim
Photopool (startup); Seven Mountains of Scotland Ike
Episode: The Freedom of Being a Beginner with Oladimeji "Dim" Ajegbile
Margaret Glaspy
Singer and songwriter; runner
Episode: Margaret Glaspy on Pain Caves, Typewriters, and Running on Tour
Sam Robinson
Writer, blogger and content designer based in the Bay Area; runner
Bay Area, Substack Footnotes
Episode: Doing It The Hard Way is the Point - With Writer Sam Robinson
Heather Hansman
Writer, journalist, and author
Author of Downriver, Powder Days, Fierce Country
Episode: What If the Hero's Journey Is the Wrong Story? With Heather Hansman
Anastasia Wilde
Adventure photographer focusing on ultra trail running
Freelance photographer, Missoula
Episode: Race Photographer Anastasia Wilde on What 200-Milers Really Look Like
Dillon Osleger
Trail steward, author of Trail Work: Restoring the Paths and Stories of America's Public Lands
Trail stewardship around the Western US; author
Episode: Geologist and Pro Athlete Dillon Osleger on the Hidden History Written Into Every Trail

Hosts

Zoë Rom
Host of The Trailhead; engages guests with thoughtful, often playful inquiry about outdoor culture and storytelling
Brendan Leonard
Co-host; conversational, curious interviewer who brings humor and a passion for trail culture

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 285 ratings
  • Love it

    Zoe and Brendan are great co-hosts. They bring genuine curiosity to each interview. This is on my regular rotation of podcasts and I’m always stoked when I see a new one pop up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    basicbacon95
    United States2 months ago
  • Bonus knowledge

    Did not expect to find my latest music obsession on a trail running podcast! Thanks for the Adam O’Farrill reco, I’m loving the recent guests getting their geek on.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kim Humans
    United States4 months ago
  • Great hosts

    Both of the hosts are great writers. They’re also both really articulate, smart, and very funny. You’ll probably have them if you’re dumb.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gleebelo
    United States5 months ago
  • Not a running show anymore

    I used to really enjoy this show, but when the hosts changed over it was no longer a running show. The content is interesting enough but it focuses so much on writing and writers that happen to run. Running always comes up but almost as a tangent. It seems they book guests promoting a book and justify it by asking only a few running questions and diving in deep to the books and writing topics. I want to hear about their running and if writing or other hobbies are a tangent then fine.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mr Jeffrey8644
    Canada6 months ago
  • Excellent Interviews

    Humans are cool. This podcast gives some behind the scenes of people doing rad things out in the dirt. I’ve really enjoyed this!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    megwendy2.0
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some listeners feel the show shifted toward book and author themes and away from pure running topics.
Listeners praise the hosts for being articulate, funny, and insightful with strong interview skills.
They appreciate deep, varied guests that expand beyond performance talk.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#34
United States/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#23
Canada/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#248
United Kingdom/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#131
Australia/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#184
Germany/Sports/Running
Apple Podcasts
#217
Italy/Sports/Running

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What Exercise Does (And Doesn't Do) For Your Metabolism with Evolutionary Anthropologist Herman Pontzer
Q: What are the biggest myths or misperceptions when it comes to human metabolism?
Pontzer says it is difficult to boost total energy expenditure. Exercise is important for health but typically causes little weight loss, because the body compensates for some of the calories used during exercise by reducing energy expenditure elsewhere.
What Exercise Does (And Doesn't Do) For Your Metabolism with Evolutionary Anthropologist Herman Pontzer
Q: Should I get my four-year-old tested for the R allele to see if he has potential in power sports?
Pontzer says genetic testing would be less useful than observing the child sprint, lift things and see whether he enjoys those activities. Athletic potential reflects both genetics and environment, and current genetic tests are poor predictors.
Introducing The Claims Department with Zoë Rom & Nick Tiller
Q: How did you get involved with this?
Tiller says he had been reluctant to start a podcast because of the crowded media environment and production demands, but Rom's journalism, production skills and science communication made the collaboration appealing.
Introducing The Claims Department with Zoë Rom & Nick Tiller
Q: Why don't you tell me your answer to why this, why now?
Rom says she wants to examine how media incentives, social platforms and confident narratives shape public understanding of science and people's health decisions.
Why Do Trail Runners Dress Like This Now? Lee Glandorf on Race Whimsy, Bandanas, and Style
Q: Is there a way to engage with the stuff that's not purely consumerist, like expressing personal style rather than brands laundering inventory?
Lee argues for pursuing personal expression through race whimsy and finding ways to participate that feel authentic, such as mending, vintage pieces, and selecting items that tell a personal story rather than chasing new drops.

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?

This show centers on the people, stories, and culture shaping trail running, with hosts Zoë Rom and Brendan Leonard guiding conversations that mix humor, humanity, and curiosity. Episodes frequently explore outdoor narratives beyond just performance—covering gender dynamics in adventure culture, trail stewardship, philosophy of play, and the ways communities connect to place. Guests range from writers and photographers to scientists, coaches, and everyday athletes, yielding thoughtful takes on motivation, recovery, and ethics in endurance sports. Notable throughlines include reframing traditional narratives, critical thinking about wellness claims, and the intimate, human side of ultra-running that invites listeners to see running as a broa... more

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How many listeners does The Trailhead get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Trailhead?

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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. Crack A Brew With AJW
3. Singletrack
4. The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman
5. Some Work, All Play

How many episodes of The Trailhead are there?

The Trailhead launched 4 years ago and published 105 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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What guests have appeared on The Trailhead?

Recent guests on The Trailhead include:

1. Nick Tiller
2. Herman Pontzer
3. Lee Glandorf
4. Oladimeji Ajegbile
5. Margaret Glaspy
6. Sam Robinson
7. Heather Hansman
8. Anastasia Wilde

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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