Peace Love Moto - Where Motorcycling meets Mindfulness

Ron Francis
  • 4.8 (24)
  • PLACES & TRAVEL
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Welcome to Peace Love Moto, the podcast where motorcycling meets Mindfulness! Whether you ride to clear your mind, explore scenic backroads, or embrace the thrill of adventure, this podcast is for you. Hosted by a Passionate Rider and Professional Colorado Rocky Mountain Tour Guide, we discuss mindful motorcycling, connecting with Mother Nature, and the joy of riding with purpose. Tune in for inspiring stories and tips finding your Zen on two wheels.  Contact:  Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.com Tags: motorcycle therapy motorcycling self-discovery motorcycle metaphors riding through uncertainty life crossroads motorcycle Motofreedom on the road emotional healing through motorcycling solo motorcycling

  1. Colorado Destinations - Burt Rashbaum and the Carousel of Happiness

    1D AGO

    Colorado Destinations - Burt Rashbaum and the Carousel of Happiness

    A motorcycle road can take you somewhere beautiful, but every so often it takes you somewhere Truly Amazing.  We point our ride toward Nederland, Colorado, tucked along the Peak to Peak Highway, to visit a place I can’t stop talking about: the Carousel of Happiness. It’s a must-stop for a Colorado motorcycle ride, but it’s also good for your Soul. I’m joined by Burt Rashbaum, a poet, musician, novelist and Carousel Operator who sometimes dances in it’s center with a clown nose on. Burt shares how a kid from Brooklyn fell in love with the Rockies, why Nederland feels like a haven for outsiders and artists, and what he’s learned from meeting people from around the world one conversation at a time. If you’re hungry for things to do in Nederland, Colorado that aren’t touristy and still feel personal, you’ll want to hear what he describes. We also dig into the origin story that gives the carousel its weight. Scott Harrison, a Vietnam veteran, began carving as a way to heal and to honor friends he lost. That grief turned into something public, musical, and stubbornly hopeful. Burt tells stories of veterans being seen, older riders weeping without warning, disabled kids lighting up with pure joy, and why the motto “Don’t Delay Joy” is more than a nice slogan. If you’ve been feeling worn down by the world, this ride is a reminder that real connection still exists and it can change you.  Resources: https://carouselofhappiness.org/ From Where We Came Of the Carousel (Poems) Becoming an American Tears for My Mother A Century of Love Tags:  Mindfulness, Motorcycle riding, mindful motorcycling, motorcycle therapy, nature connection, peace on two wheels, Rocky Mountain tours, rider self-discovery, spiritual journey, motorcycle community, open road philosophy.

    47 min
  2. Feeling Lucky? Miracles and Motorcycles

    MAR 27

    Feeling Lucky? Miracles and Motorcycles

    A normal coffee run in downtown Loveland flips a switch in my head. At one table, I’m trying to write and think, and a young man paces near the door, locked into a world I can’t enter. Behind me, six teens with Down syndrome laugh with a kind of joy adults tend to hide. Sitting in that room, it hits me how high the walls can be for some people and how casually the rest of us move through doors we didn’t have to earn. That perspective follows me back to a recent 280-mile Colorado motorcycle ride on my BMW GS. I crossed the Continental Divide, rolled through Winter Park and old mining towns, and chased the kind of twisty mountain roads that make you slow down in the best way. Adventure riding in Colorado is gorgeous, but the bigger point isn’t the scenery, it’s what it takes to experience it: clear senses, steady balance, fast judgment, and a brain that quietly processes an endless stream of risk and information. Motorcycle riding is a complex neurological dance we treat as normal. Throttle precision, clutch control, braking, scanning for gravel and shadows, reading traffic, choosing lines, and adjusting to changing traction all happen at speed, often without conscious thought. That ability is autonomy, and autonomy is a gift. If you ride, take a second before you gear up, check your gratitude, and remember that simply reaching the handlebars is something to be thankful for. Subscribe for more stories that make the miles mean something, share this with a friend who rides, and leave a review if it resonates. What’s one moment that reminded you riding is a privilege? Tags:  Mindfulness, Motorcycle riding, mindful motorcycling, motorcycle therapy, nature connection, peace on two wheels, Rocky Mountain tours, rider self-discovery, spiritual journey, motorcycle community, open road philosophy.

    10 min
  3. A Mindful Approach to All The Gear - All The Time

    MAR 21

    A Mindful Approach to All The Gear - All The Time

    The easiest way to change a ride isn’t a new exhaust or a faster route. It’s the quiet minute before the engine starts, when you pull on your jacket, slide into your gloves, and hear that helmet strap click into place. We’ve all heard ATGATT as a safety rule, but we’ve started to see it as something deeper: a ritual that slows us down, steadies our mind, and helps us ride with real presence. From cold Colorado mornings to a tour-guide story in Rocky Mountain National Park, we unpack a practical truth riders and hikers both learn fast: your body makes heat, and your clothing traps it. That small detail explains a lot about comfort, wind chill, and why the right motorcycle jacket, helmet, gloves, pants, and boots can turn tension into ease. When you’re warm and properly protected, you’re not wrestling your gear or bracing for discomfort. You’re free to pay attention to the road, your body position, and the moment you’re actually in. We also go beyond motorcycle safety gear and into mindset. Gearing up can be a form of mindful riding, a discipline that mirrors meditation: deliberate, sensory, and focused. And when you treat protection as gratitude, the whole meaning shifts. The ride matters, but the rider is irreplaceable. If you want more calm on two wheels and a better relationship with risk, preparation, and peace of mind, press play. Subscribe, share this with a riding friend, and leave a review with your favorite pre-ride ritual. Tags:  Mindfulness, Motorcycle riding, mindful motorcycling, motorcycle therapy, nature connection, peace on two wheels, Rocky Mountain tours, rider self-discovery, spiritual journey, motorcycle community, open road philosophy.

    15 min
  4. The Voice in His Helmet: John Gorley shares a Father-Daughter Story

    MAR 13

    The Voice in His Helmet: John Gorley shares a Father-Daughter Story

    John is "The Voice in My Helmet" on Instagram, but there is so much more to this story.   What if a single ride could reset your sense of time, place, and what truly matters? We sit down with John Gorley from eastern New Mexico—yes, the neighbor down the dirt road where the stars burn bright—to trace a journey that moves from Route 66 nostalgia to the modern meaning of riding for peace, love, and presence. This isn’t a gear checklist or a speed brag. It’s a story of how two wheels can carry us into deeper connection with each other and the land. We start with small towns and big skies, then zoom into the centennial energy around Route 66 and what happens when interstates bypass history. John’s Honda Goldwing becomes a quiet hero: a machine so smooth it disappears, leaving the ride to do the talking. The heart beats loudest during a father-daughter trip that runs Albuquerque to Sedona, the Grand Canyon, and Las Vegas, then drops into Death Valley where June heat boils gas and vapor-lock forces a hard stop. Less than a day later, they’re above 12,000 feet in Yosemite, playing in snow. In between, there’s ice cream, laughter after a parking lot tip-over, Highway 1’s cliffs, the Avenue of the Giants’ humbling scale, and the eerie beauty of Nevada’s Highway 50, the loneliest road with Pony Express ghosts and a horizon that never seems to arrive. “The voice in my helmet” isn’t a brand—it was his daughter, the navigator, the companion who turned miles into meaning. When she said he’d miss that voice, she named a feeling every rider knows: the way presence sounds when you’re truly in it. John now uses that phrase on Instagram to share short, unscripted notes from the road—sunrises, quiet encouragement, and reminders to notice the light. We talk about why positivity matters, how riding can dissolve worry, and why gratitude grows when we choose the slow road, the older route, the scenic pass. Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway, Silverton’s night silence after the last steam train departs, and the Cumbres and Toltec line add texture to the map and proof that wonder is a renewable resource. If you crave stories that honor small places, reliable bikes, family bonds, and the simple joy of stepping outside, this one’s for you. Hit play, ride with us through heat and snow, and rediscover the peace that waits on the other side of the next bend. If it resonates, subscribe, share with a riding friend, and leave a review to help others find the road. Tags:  Mindfulness, Motorcycle riding, mindful motorcycling, motorcycle therapy, nature connection, peace on two wheels, Rocky Mountain tours, rider self-discovery, spiritual journey, motorcycle community, open road philosophy.

    31 min
  5. Ride With Confidence: Derek Hildreth solves your "Is My Bike Ready?" anxiety

    MAR 6

    Ride With Confidence: Derek Hildreth solves your "Is My Bike Ready?" anxiety

    Most of us don't ride to get somewhere. We ride to get back to ourselves. But there's one thing that has a quiet way of stealing that feeling before you even throw a leg over the bike: the nagging question in the back of your mind. Did I take care of it? Is it ready? That question hits a little harder when you're planning a big adventure ride or loading up for a long weekend on the road. The last thing you want at mile 200 is to wish you'd checked something at mile zero. Derek Hildreth is a rider from Belgrade, Montana, who knows that feeling all too well. After one too many sessions scrolling through a mile-long notes app trying to piece together his maintenance history, he did what any self-respecting engineer would do. He built something better. That something is LookOver, a maintenance tracking app built for riders who take care of their own machines, whether that's an adventure bike, a cruiser, or anything else in the garage. But what struck me most in talking with Derek wasn't the app. It was the why behind it. Because at its core, LookOver exists to protect something we all come here to talk about: that mental space that riding gives you. When your machine is taken care of, you can stop thinking and start riding. Three words sum it up perfectly: Keep Riders Riding. We talk about Derek's origin story, how the app works, and why that quiet confidence of a well-maintained machine might be one of the most underrated parts of the riding experience. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a rider in your life, and leave us a review. And tell us: what does your pre-ride ritual look like? Do you check the bike, or just trust it and go? Connect with Derek and LookOver: Website: https://lookover.app iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/lookover-powersports/id6742913673 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lookoverpowersports.app Instagram: https://instagram.com/lookover.app Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lookoverapp LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lookover-app Tags:  Mindfulness, Motorcycle riding, mindful motorcycling, motorcycle therapy, nature connection, peace on two wheels, Rocky Mountain tours, rider self-discovery, spiritual journey, motorcycle community, open road philosophy.

    34 min
  6. Motorcycles, Mindfulness and Our Community: The Beautiful Mess

    FEB 27

    Motorcycles, Mindfulness and Our Community: The Beautiful Mess

    In this episode of the Peace Love Moto podcast, we explore the metaphor of a diverse musical playlist—ranging from Billy Idol to Karen Carpenter—to describe the eclectic community of motorcycle riders. We acknowledge the weight of modern-day stresses, from global economic shifts to the rise of AI, and positions motorcycling as an essential emotional rescue. Ultimately, the episode celebrates how a shared passion for riding can bridge societal divides, creating a "wonderful world" where differences in gear, bikes, and backgrounds disappear once the garage door opens and the engine starts. Keywords: Motorcycle CommunityPeace Love MotoRiding HarmonyDiversity in BikingEmotional Rescue Tags:  Mindfulness, Motorcycle riding, mindful motorcycling, motorcycle therapy, nature connection, peace on two wheels, Rocky Mountain tours, rider self-discovery, spiritual journey, motorcycle community, open road philosophy.

    7 min
  7. Finding Your Zen in Slow Motion: How Motorcycling Can Make You Smarter

    FEB 20

    Finding Your Zen in Slow Motion: How Motorcycling Can Make You Smarter

    A stubborn work problem melts away somewhere between the wind, the road, and a quiet mind. We open with that moment of surprise clarity—the kind that shows up far from your desk—and follow it to a simple truth: speed isn’t the same as intelligence. By tracing the difference between frantic output and smooth focus, we explore why riding slower can help you think better, decide cleaner, and actually enjoy your time off. I share the pressures of fast culture—fail fast mantras, last‑minute decks, and AI-fueled urgency—and the real cognitive tax they charge. Then we pivot to an unlikely teacher: a 10 mph scooter ride to a coffee shop. Through that small habit, three insights emerge. The range paradox shows how steady pace preserves mental stamina, much like a battery lasts longer off full throttle. The high-resolution factor proves that lowering speed sharpens perception, turning background blur into the details that feed creativity. And the human connection that shows up at walking pace—hellos, brief chats, shared smiles—reminds us that clear thinking is social as much as it is cerebral. Across the ride, we talk about practical ways to design slow into a busy life. Think short, intentional low-speed rides without distractions, simple routes near water or trees, and a pocket notebook for when answers surface unannounced. If a motorcycle isn’t handy, swap in a quiet walk or transit ride without headphones; the principle is the same: reduce noise, widen awareness, and let associative thought do its quiet work. We close with honest reflections on time, regret, and the choice to practice mindfulness now rather than someday. If you’re craving fewer frantic sprints and more real breakthroughs, this one is for you. Take it for a spin, then try a deliberate slow ride before your next big decision. If it sparks something, share the episode, subscribe for more Peace Love Moto stories, and leave a quick review so others can find the show. Tags:  Mindfulness, Motorcycle riding, mindful motorcycling, motorcycle therapy, nature connection, peace on two wheels, Rocky Mountain tours, rider self-discovery, spiritual journey, motorcycle community, open road philosophy.

    14 min
  8. Simon Josey: Motorcycle Filmmaking & REEL Riders

    FEB 13

    Simon Josey: Motorcycle Filmmaking & REEL Riders

    From the rolling hills of New Zealand to the technical Singapore licensing exams, Simon Josey has seen the world from two wheels. I had a blast sitting down with the host of the REEL Riders podcast to talk about our shared love for German engineering, the upcoming Adventure Motorcycle Film Festival in the UK’s stunning Lake District and much more. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to cross three international borders before lunch or why some motorcycle films just feel right, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. The heartbeat of the episode is the launch of the Adventure Motorcycle Film Festival in the UK’s Lake District—a sold-out debut that curated over 50 global submissions down to a dozen standout films. We talk candidly about programming a lineup that moves an audience through tension, humor, and quiet; the logistics of wrangling formats and files across borders; and why keeping the project independent matters to creators and viewers alike. If you’ve ever wondered why some moto films “just feel right,” you’ll leave with a clearer checklist and new favorites to seek out. Threaded through it all is mental health and community. Weekly rides as ritual. Partners who make time possible. Dogs who reshape a work-from-home life. And the steady truth that two wheels can carry more than a rider—they can carry a week’s worth of noise away.  Subscribe, share this with a rider who needs a lift, and leave a quick review to help more folks find our corner of the road. Then tell us: what motorcycle film captured the feeling best for you? https://reelriders.buzzsprout.com/ https://www.instagram.com/reel.riders/ https://www.youtube.com/@ReelridersTV #REELRiders #BMWmotorrad #R1250GS #R1250RT #AdventureRiding #MotorcycleCinema #MotoTravel #NewEpisode Tags:  Mindfulness, Motorcycle riding, mindful motorcycling, motorcycle therapy, nature connection, peace on two wheels, Rocky Mountain tours, rider self-discovery, spiritual journey, motorcycle community, open road philosophy.

    56 min
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4.8
out of 5
24 Ratings

About

Welcome to Peace Love Moto, the podcast where motorcycling meets Mindfulness! Whether you ride to clear your mind, explore scenic backroads, or embrace the thrill of adventure, this podcast is for you. Hosted by a Passionate Rider and Professional Colorado Rocky Mountain Tour Guide, we discuss mindful motorcycling, connecting with Mother Nature, and the joy of riding with purpose. Tune in for inspiring stories and tips finding your Zen on two wheels.  Contact:  Ron@PeaceLoveMoto.com Tags: motorcycle therapy motorcycling self-discovery motorcycle metaphors riding through uncertainty life crossroads motorcycle Motofreedom on the road emotional healing through motorcycling solo motorcycling

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