Shows / Free Outside
Free Outside
Free Outside is a trail running, ultrarunning, thru-hiking, backpacking, and outdoor adventure podcast hosted by Jeff Garmire. Jeff is an Appalachian Trail record holder, professional endurance athlete, coach, author, and someone who has spent an unreasonable amount of his life running through forests and living out of a backpack. The show features honest and entertaining conversations with elite ultrarunners, record-setting thru-hikers, FKT athletes, coaches, race directors, adventurers, and…
Episodes
- Free Outside
Pro Runners vs Influencers: Who’s Really Shaping Trail Running?
In this solo episode of the Free Outside Show, I dive into something I’ve been thinking about (and living through) for a while—the difference between pro…
- Free Outside
Live from a Hotel Room: AT Training Camp Diaries
I’m recording this one live from a hotel room in New Hampshire that sounds like a prison cell and smells like ambition. I’m in the middle of my second training…
- Free Outside
In Defense of Being a Fan (And Why It’s Not Cringe)
In this episode of The Free Outside Show, I’m diving into something that might sound silly at first—being a fan. Whether it’s the NFL, NBA playoffs, Western…
- Free Outside
Appalachian Trail Record Training Camp: Alive From Bangor, Maine
I’m alive in Bangor, Maine — a sentence that somehow feels like the opening line of a novel. In this episode of the Free Outside Show, I walk you through my…
- Free Outside
From Bowhunting to Cocodona 250: Cam Hanes Unfiltered
Today on The Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by the legendary Cam Hanes—bowhunter, ultrarunner, lifter of heavy things, and yes, friend of Joe Rogan. We dive…
- Free Outside
Lavaredo, Chasing Courtney, and Hot Takes with Alyssa Clark
This week on the Free Outside Podcast, I'm joined by repeat guest and newly crowned Lavaredo 120K podium finisher Alyssa Clark. We talk all things…
- Free Outside
Western States Gets an Award Show: The Westees
Western States 100 needed an awards show—so we made one. I’m joined by Allison Mercer for the first-ever Westees, a highly serious, extremely prestigious, and…
- Free Outside
The One Where We Fix Western States (ft. Allison Mercer)
Western States may be the most iconic race in ultrarunning—but it also comes with carnage, heartbreak, and a pile of DNS and DNF drama. In this episode, I’m…
- Free Outside
Big Horn 100: No Pacers, No Headphones, All Delusions, and a Hardrock Qualifier
I just ran the Bighorn 100—no pacers, no headphones, and absolutely no planning. In this episode, I share the full breakdown of how I tackled Wyoming’s classic…
- Free Outside
Therapist Out of Office, AT FKT Coming Up
In this brutally honest solo episode, I unpack what’s been the most stressful month of my life—losing my apartment, unresolved medical issues, financial…
- Free Outside
Golden Hour Grit
On this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by coach, ultra runner, and creator Justin Andreas—aka Running in Stash. We talk about his wild…
- Free Outside
What is THE WHY? Of doing hard things...
In this solo episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I dive into a topic that every endurance athlete eventually wrestles with: What’s your why?I unpack what it…
- Free Outside
Racing (and winning) after Kids with Kate Pallardy
Kate Pallardy joins the Free Outside Podcast to talk about longevity in ultrarunning, balancing motherhood with elite racing, and how her mindset has evolved…
- Free Outside
I’m Going for the Appalachian Trail Record: Here’s the Plan
In this solo episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I share my full game plan for 2025—including how I’m building from Cocodona 250 to the Appalachian Trail…
- Free Outside
A Cinematic Cocodona 250 Race Recap
In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by Allison Powell, who turned her Cocodona 250 into a full-blown cinematic universe—with costumes…
- Free Outside
Trail TMZ: Unbreakable 2 is Broken? Western States Drama & Trail Running Chaos
Welcome to Trail TMZ, the spicy trail running news breakdown you didn’t know you needed. I’m Jeff Garmire, and this week I dive into the carnage at Western…
- Free Outside
From DNF to Done: Coree Woltering's Cocodona 250 Story
I sit down with Coree Woltering—pro athlete for Merrell, Janji, and Smartwool—for a raw and hilarious conversation about his redemption at the Cocodona 250…
- Free Outside
The Cocodona Cult and Trail TMZ
Today’s episode starts off with something I might just turn into a regular segment: Trail TMZ. We dig into the controversy surrounding William Goodge's run…
- Free Outside
Board Games and Blisters: Kevin Russ on Cocodona and Creativity
I sit down with Kevin Russ—board game designer, iPhone photography legend, thru hiker, and freshly minted Cocodona 250 finisher. We dive into Kevin’s wild…
- Free Outside
Cocodona Mom: Running 250 miles with your kids
Today we have one of the most inspiring runners I know—Jennie Chisholm. She’s a mom of four boys, a Triple Crowner, and a two-time Cocodona 250 finisher. But…
- Free Outside
Should you run Cocodona 250?
This week, I scrapped the pre-recorded episode I had ready to go and decided to hit record and talk live—from the post-Cocodona haze. After five finishes at…
- Free Outside
Cocodona 250: Hallucinations, Hailstorms, and a Five-Time Finish
The crazy story of my fifth finish at Cocodona 250. This year was full of surprises — I ran with a sickness, hallucinated witches and aliens, battled rain…
- Free Outside
Predicting How Cocodona 250 is Going, while running it. Im going out aggressive
In this solo episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I break down my full race plan for the 2025 Cocodona 250, the massive 250-mile ultra across Arizona. I walk…
- Free Outside
Cocodona 250 Deep Dive: Strategy, Forecasts, and How to Beat Courtney Dauwalter
On today’s episode of the Free Outside Show, I’m joined by runner, ultimate frisbee enthusiast, and Cocodona crewing expert Allison Mercer. We relive wild…
- Free Outside
Cocodona 250 Preview and 100 Men vs. a Gorilla
On this wild episode of the Free Outside Podcast, we talk with filmmaker Derrick Lytle and into everything Cocodona 250 — from race predictions and course…
- Free Outside
Drew Darby’s Career Glow-Up and how to film Ultramarathons
On today's episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I’m joined by outdoor filmmaker Drew Darby, and we cover everything from his unexpected start filming inside…
- Free Outside
Behind the Yellow Gate: Inside the 2024 Barkley Marathons with Hiker Trash Radio’s Doc
I sit down with Doc, the voice behind Hiker Trash Radio—a podcast that’s interviewed over 450 adventurers from thru-hikers to Barkley Marathons legends. We…
- Free Outside
From the CDT to Content Creation: The Thru Hikers Tim & Renee’s Outdoor Adventures
I sit down with Tim and Renee—better known as Simply the @reneeandtim . These two have thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and Continental Divide Trail…
- Free Outside
Arizona Monster Victory and How Pete Mortimer still slept 8 hours
I sit down with Peter Mortimer, the champion of the inaugural Arizona Monster 300-miler. Just hours after finishing, Pete was back at work—because ultrarunning…
- Free Outside
Gorge Waterfalls 100k, Course Records, And a Stabbing
I’m recording live (well, semi-live) while running through mossy, Jurassic Park-like trails outside Portland. Just minutes in, I round a corner and meet a man…
- Free Outside
Calendar Year Triple Crown with Jackrabbit: 8,000 Miles, One Year, Zero Mushroom Knorr
Today on the Free Outside Podcast, I talk with Connor “Jackrabbit” Chapdelaine, who’s attempting the Calendar Year Triple Crown—thru-hiking the Appalachian…
- Free Outside
Mantras, Marathons & the Mental side of Hard Things with Alyssa Clark
I sit down with pro ultrarunner Alyssa Clark to talk about racing at the highest level, dealing with self-worth and performance, and why hallucinating pandas…
- Free Outside
Trail TMZ, Why we need it!
In this episode, I dive into the recent controversy surrounding the Arizona Monster trail race, where a failed live stream led to a very public clash between…
- Free Outside
Voicing the Pain Cave with Chris Worden
Today on the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with the voice of Cocodona and one of the most passionate people in trail running media—Chris Worden. With over…
- Free Outside
Jeffing Everything: My Evolution from the PCT to Barkley and Cocodona 250
This one’s a little different—no guests, no live race calls—just me sharing the full story of how I went from a bullied high school runner to a thru-hiker to…
- Free Outside
Fastpacking, Filmmaking, Adventuring, Running and Just Being Chad
On this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with the multi-talented and wildly entertaining Chad Lubinski. Chad is one of the most well-rounded…
- Free Outside
The Barkley Marathons: A Race Like No Other
The Barkley Marathons is an ultra-endurance race that challenges participants both physically and mentally. Originating from a prison break, the race is…
- Free Outside
I Ran for 12 Hours Straight – Here's What Happened... Training For Cocodona
I just ran in circles for 12 hours—and somehow, I had a blast. In this episode, I break down my experience at a fixed-time ultra, a 12-hour race on a looped…
- Free Outside
Hollywood, Hiking, and Meals - The Trail Goods Co. Story
On this episode of The Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with long-time friend and outdoor entrepreneur Luke Pearsall, the founder of Trail Goods Co, a new…
- Free Outside
Bears, Moose & Mountain Lions—My Wildest Animal Encounters on Trail
In this episode of the Free Outside Show, I share a series of thrilling and humorous animal encounters from his extensive outdoor adventures. From close calls…
- Free Outside
How to train for anything - Including Cocodona 250
In this episode, I break down my complete training approach for the Cocodona 250, one of the toughest ultramarathons out there. I dive into my background in…
- Free Outside
Hallucinations and Storytelling Chaos with Joe "Stringbean" McConaughy
This episode is pure storytelling chaos. I sat down with Joe "Stringbean" McConaughy, and we covered everything from FKTs gone wrong to ultra running…
- Free Outside
If You Love Public Lands, It’s Time to Pay Attention
I’ve spent years hiking, running, and living on public lands. I’ve slept on BLM land when I didn’t have a home, hiked trails maintained by crews that just got…
- Free Outside
How to turn down a golden ticket with glitter, ft. Helen Mino Faulkner
I talk with Helen Mino Faulkner, a professional trail runner who recently placed fourth at the Tarwera 100k. We discuss her decision to turn down a golden…
- Free Outside
Preparing to thru hike the Calendar Year Triple Crown with Stella
In this episode of The Free Outside Podcast, I chat with thru-hiker and content creator Stella Hikes, who is preparing for one of the biggest challenges in…
- Free Outside
From the Classroom to the Golden Ticket – Will Murray’s Road to Western States
On this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, we welcome Will Murray, a math teacher, coach, and elite runner who recently punched his ticket to Western States…
- Free Outside
Fueling the Dream: How Kelly Newlon Merges Cooking, Trail Running, and Athlete Representation
I sit down with Kelly Newlon—runner, chef, agent, Nuggets fan, and all-around community builder. Kelly shares the journey of founding RAD (Real Athlete Diets)…
- Free Outside
Should You Sit in a Sauna or Just Run Faster? And other common running questions
In this solo episode of The Free Outside Show, I’m answering some of the biggest running questions I’ve been getting lately—especially around heat training…
- Free Outside
The Black Canyon 100K Preview: Rivalries, Predictions & Outlandish Advice
We're back with the most requested guest of the Free Outside Podcast—except it's just me requesting him. For his third appearance, Derrick Lytle joins the show…
- Free Outside
Trail Magic to Course Records: Grant Barnette’s Evolution
On today’s episode of the Free Outside Show, we’re joined by Grant Barnette—a thru-hiker turned Pro ultrarunner who has tackled some of the toughest races in…
- Free Outside
The Ultimate Chipotle Showdown: Jamil vs. Kevin
🔥 Jamil Coury vs. Kevin Russ – The Battle for Local Legend! 🔥 In this episode, I catch up with Jamil Coury and Kevin Russ—while they’re literally running back…
- Free Outside
2025 Predictions, Hot Takes, and Stories with Ken Seals of The Ultra Minute
I’m joined by Ken Seals, the creator of The Ultra Minute on Substack, for an exciting and wide-ranging episode of the podcast! Fun fact: a hurricane is what…
- Free Outside
Sodium Secrets: Sweat Science and Mastering Endurance Nutrition
In this episode, I sit down with Brooke Bjorge, the owner of Grit Sports Nutrition and an athlete herself, to dive into the critical role of sodium in…
- Free Outside
What is a Back Yard Ultra? With Shep
In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I sit down with Matthew Shepard—better known as Shep—to talk all things trail running, ultra-endurance racing, and…
- Free Outside
California Burning: Wildfires, Climate, and Communities with Pete Deneen
In this episode of the Free Outside podcast, I’m joined by Pete Deneen, a climate scientist, award-winning writer, and the Chief Executive of the Keep Sespe…
- Free Outside
Big Bend National Park Adventures, Ultra Training, Backpacking, and My 2025 Plans
In this solo episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I’m sharing all about my recent trip to Big Bend National Park—a week packed with hiking, backpacking, and…
- Free Outside
Ideas - Goals - Plans... and the Appalachian Trail Record
In this episode of the Free Outside Show, I share my journey from ideas to goals, discussing my plans for the Appalachian Trail record and the importance of…
- Free Outside
Hot and Cold: The Science of Heat Training and Cold Plunging For Runners
In this episode of the Free Outside Podcast, I dive into one of the hottest (and coldest) topics sweeping the endurance sports world: passive heat exposure and…
- Free Outside
Overcoming FKT Tragedy on The Pacific Crest Trail
In this conversation, Katie Gunvalson shares her journey attempting the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Fastest Known Time (FKT) in 2024. She discusses her…
- Free Outside
The Jeffrey Awards 2024: Highlighting the Best & Worst of Trail Running in 2024
In this special episode, Jeff Garmire and Derrick Lytle bring the laughs with The Jeffrey Awards—trail running’s greatest trophy! Join us as we hilariously…