the UltraNurse podcast

the UltraNurse

The UltraNurse is where endurance meets the front lines. Hosted by a flight nurse, paramedic, shift worker, father of three, and ultramarathon athlete, this show is about performing at a high level in the middle of real life. From training for 100-mile mountain races to navigating night shift fatigue, from recovery and discipline to faith and fatherhood — this podcast is built for people who serve others but refuse to neglect themselves. Inside each 20–30 minute episode, you’ll get: • Real-world ultra running lessons • Practical strategies for shift work performance • Sleep, fueling, and recovery insights • Mental resilience training • Honest conversations about addiction recovery and rebuilding discipline • Leadership at home and at work • Faith integrated naturally into endurance and life If you work long hours, carry responsibility, juggle chaos, and still want to train hard, live healthy, and show up strong — this show is for you. You can take care of yourself while taking care of others.

  1. Oct 21

    Ep 27 Big's Backyard, Race Week Illness & Getting to the Starting Line

    The Backyard Ultra World Team Championship is here, and some of the best backyard runners in the world are competing to see just how far they can go. In Episode 27, I talk about Big's Backyard, the international field, the team competition, and what makes this ridiculous format so much fun to follow. Then we get into something just about every runner dreads: getting sick the week before a big race. You've spent months training, everything is coming together, and suddenly you wake up with a sore throat, congestion, or feeling like garbage. Now what? We talk about why you need to stop worrying about fitness during race week, why trying to make up missed workouts can do more harm than good, and practical strategies involving sleep, nutrition, hydration, medications, and recovery to give yourself the best chance of getting to that starting line feeling good. I also share some thoughts from my experience as a flight nurse, paramedic, and ultrarunning coach, and why sometimes the smartest thing you can do as an athlete is absolutely nothing. I'm a UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach helping runners prepare for 50Ks, 50-milers, 100Ks, 100-milers, backyard ultras, and other endurance goals while balancing work, family, shift schedules, and real life. Interested in one-on-one coaching? Website:https://www.theultranurse.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_ultranurse TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@the_ultranurse Interested in working with The UltraNurse through podcast sponsorships, brand partnerships, or user-generated content?I'd love to have a conversation. Business inquiries:soaty82@gmail.com -Brad

  2. Oct 9

    “You Knew the Risk” & Why Your 2027 Ultra Training Starts Now

    Recent tragedies in the air medical community have brought up some difficult conversations about safety, risk, and the realities of working in flight medicine. In Episode 26, I share some thoughts on the recent REACH helicopter crash and the medical aircraft lost off the coast of Massachusetts. After nearly ten years in flight medicine, these incidents hit close to home. We talk about the attitude of "you knew the risk when you took the job," why accepting risk doesn't mean we should stop trying to reduce it, and whether there are things we can learn from other air medical systems around the world. We also get into aircraft utilization, the business side of air medical transport, and why I think we need to keep asking difficult questions about safety. This isn't about assigning blame or speculating about what caused these accidents. It's about respecting the people we've lost and continuing to look for ways to make this profession safer. Then I switch gears and give an update on my ongoing foot injury before talking about why right now is the best time to hire an ultrarunning coach for your 2027 goals. We get into building a proper foundation, developing the coach-athlete relationship, dialing in nutrition, and why waiting until a few months before your big race isn't always the best approach. A little flight medicine, a little ultrarunning, and a whole lot of real life. I'm a UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach helping runners prepare for 50Ks, 50-milers, 100Ks, 100-milers, backyard ultras, and other endurance goals while balancing work, family, shift schedules, and real life. Interested in one-on-one coaching for 2027? Website:https://www.theultranurse.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_ultranurse TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@the_ultranurse Email:theultranurse@gmail.com Thanks for listening. -Brad the UltraNurse

  3. Sep 21

    Episode 25: Backyards, Pedestrianism & Community with Daniel Herbert

    Daniel Herbert joins me for the first time on The UltraNurse Podcast after recently crossing the 100-mile mark for the first time during a backyard ultra. We get into what it was like going yard after yard in brutal heat, the mental side of pushing into unknown territory, his heat training and hot-tub sessions, hydration, fueling, and what he learned about himself along the way. But this conversation goes way beyond his race. Daniel and I get into pedestrianism, the history of ultrarunning, how the sport has evolved, the ultrarunning community, training, doing hard things, and a whole lot more. This is one of those conversations that goes in a bunch of different directions—which is usually how the best conversations about ultrarunning go. Be sure to give Dan a follow on his instagram accounts: https://www.instagram.com/rerunendurance/ https://www.instagram.com/danielherbertultra/ I’m a UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach helping runners prepare for 50Ks, 50-milers, 100Ks, 100-milers, backyard ultras, and other endurance goals while balancing work, family, shift schedules, and real life. Interested in one-on-one coaching? Website:https://www.theultranurse.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_ultranurse TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@the_ultranurse

  4. Aug 19

    Every Step Is Evidence

    "Every step is evidence that the story in your mind is not true." That line from Mark Dowdle after Last Soul Ultra hit hard — and this episode is a raw, fired-up reaction to one of the most riveting endurance performances I’ve ever watched. Brad talks through the madness of the backyard ultra format, why Last Soul was so gripping, and how watching runners go back out loop after loop lit a fire heading into his own backyard ultra at Bear River. This one is less polished and more real. It’s about FOMO, big goals, coming back from injury, saying the quiet part out loud, and what it means to go all-in on something that scares you in the right way. Brad also talks about the Do Hard Things Project, men’s mental health, and why endurance sports can become more than just racing. Sometimes the hard things we choose give us a place to keep showing up, keep fighting, and keep proving that the story in our mind is not always true. Do Hard Things Project If you’re interested in one-on-one ultra running coaching, check out The UltraNurse. For inquiries about supporting, sponsoring, or collaborating, contact me here at the UltraNurse. Website: https://www.theultranurse.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_ultranurse TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_ultranurse

  5. Aug 14

    Ricky Urias — Crazy Mountain 100 & Inside UltraSpire

    Episode 23: Ricky Urias — Crazy Mountain 100, Hardrock Dreams & Inside UltraSpire Crazy Mountain 100 tested Ricky Urias in ways even Cocodona didn’t. In Episode 23, I sit down with Ricky to talk about his recent Crazy Mountain 100 finish, training for a brutally difficult mountain hundred without unlimited access to vert, learning that more mileage isn’t always better, and the mental battle that begins when things start going sideways deep into an ultra. We also get into the deeper side of this sport—the community, recovery, anxiety, finding purpose through hard things, and why ultrarunning can teach us a hell of a lot about ourselves. Then we geek out on gear. Ricky takes us behind the scenes of his work with UltraSpire, including how products go from an idea to prototypes to thousands of miles of real-world trail testing, what’s changing with the Alpha, and what actually goes into designing gear ultrarunners can depend on. If you love 100-milers, mountain running, ultrarunning culture, or gear, this is a great conversation with one hell of an ultrarunner. I'm a UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach helping runners prepare for 50Ks, 50-milers, 100Ks, 100-milers, and other endurance goals while balancing work, family, shift schedules, and real life. Interested in one-on-one coaching? Website:https://www.theultranurse.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_ultranurse TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@the_ultranurse Thanks for Listening!!!

  6. Jul 30

    44, Haters, and Ultra Running Nonsense

    It’s my 44th birthday, so this episode is a little different. No polished script. No perfectly organized lesson. Just me sitting down and talking about the year behind me, where I’m headed next, the ultra-running drama currently taking over Instagram, and the moment I apparently became an “alpha bro ultra runner” with a coaching and podcast problem. I talk about the Sage Canaday and Kilian Jornet situation, getting called out by a random Instagram hater, why I’m far more invested in Rave Runner at Summit 200 than Badwater, and what it feels like to keep building something publicly when not everybody is going to like you. I also reflect on coaching, fatherhood, sobriety, faith, injury, money, getting older, and the things I’m telling myself as I head into 44. This one is loose, honest, funny, and probably a little all over the place. Basically, a birthday conversation with a microphone. -Brad Interested in Ultra Running Coaching? I'm a UESCA Certified Ultra Running Coach helping runners balance training with shift work, family, careers, and real life. Website:https://www.theultranurse.com Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/the_ultranurse TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@the_ultranurse Email:theultranurse@gmail.com

  7. Jul 28

    Dare Mighty Things

    What separates the people who accomplish incredible things from everyone else? It's not talent.It's not luck.It's the willingness to step into the arena. In this episode, I dive into one of Theodore Roosevelt's most powerful quotes: "Far better it is to dare mighty things..." We talk about why it's better to risk failure while pursuing something meaningful than to spend your life safely watching from the sidelines. Whether it's signing up for your first ultra, starting a business, changing careers, becoming a better parent, rebuilding your health, or simply having the courage to chase a dream you've been putting off, this episode is about choosing action over comfort. We'll also talk about criticism, why social media has made it easier than ever to tear people down, and why the people who are actually willing to risk failure deserve our respect. Because at the end of the day, I'd rather fail chasing something that matters than spend my life wondering, "What if?" If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to share it with a friend, leave a rating, and follow the show. Train smarter with The UltraNurse Coaching I'm a UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach helping runners balance training with shift work, careers, family, and real life. Whether you're training for your first 50K or chasing a 100-mile finish, I'd love to help. Coaching: https://www.theultranurse.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_ultranurse TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the_ultranurse Questions or business inquiries?soaty82@gmail.com

  8. Jul 4

    My Job as a Flight RN & Has Ultra Running Lost Its Soul?

    Ultra running has changed a lot over the past few decades. Carbon-plated trail shoes, AI training plans, super shoes, powerful headlamps, advanced nutrition, recovery technology, and more data than ever before have helped make runners faster, safer, and better prepared. But somewhere during a run, I found myself wondering... Have we lost a little bit of the dirtbag spirit that made this sport so unique? In this episode, I share a few thoughts on how ultra running has evolved, the incredible advancements that have made the sport more accessible and enjoyable, and whether all this optimization has changed the culture of trail and ultra running. I also talk about life as a flight nurse, how working in emergency medicine has shaped my perspective on running, and why I still believe the heart of this sport isn't found in the gear we wear or the data we collect—it's found in the people, the shared suffering, the volunteers, the adventure, and the stories we take home. I'd love to hear your thoughts after listening. Has ultra running changed for the better? Have we lost anything along the way? Or is the soul of the sport still alive and well? Interested in one-on-one ultra running coaching? Visit The https://www.theultranurse.com/coaching Follow along on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theultranurse/

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About

The UltraNurse is where endurance meets the front lines. Hosted by a flight nurse, paramedic, shift worker, father of three, and ultramarathon athlete, this show is about performing at a high level in the middle of real life. From training for 100-mile mountain races to navigating night shift fatigue, from recovery and discipline to faith and fatherhood — this podcast is built for people who serve others but refuse to neglect themselves. Inside each 20–30 minute episode, you’ll get: • Real-world ultra running lessons • Practical strategies for shift work performance • Sleep, fueling, and recovery insights • Mental resilience training • Honest conversations about addiction recovery and rebuilding discipline • Leadership at home and at work • Faith integrated naturally into endurance and life If you work long hours, carry responsibility, juggle chaos, and still want to train hard, live healthy, and show up strong — this show is for you. You can take care of yourself while taking care of others.

Information

  • Creator
    the UltraNurse
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © the UltraNurse
  • Show Website
    the UltraNurse podcast