Pulling Threads

Alex Cleary

Mostly shit talking, occasionally to great people...

  1. 3D AGO

    The Sport That Refuses to Recognise Half Its Athletes

    Blaine Burke dropped a carousel that put the entire backyard ultra world on notice. Women make up 5% of the field, the female world record holder gets recorded as a DNF, and the guy who invented the sport thinks splitting categories would ruin the whole point. Alex and Troy break down why that argument doesn't hold up anymore and what King of the Hill is doing differently. In this episode: - Blaine Burke's case for a women's category in backyard ultras and why the data backs him up - Lazarus Lake's counter-culture philosophy and whether it still makes sense 15 years in - How King of the Hill handled prize money with one woman on the start line in year one - The FTTK podcast blowup over "getting chicked" and why context matters but wording matters more - Trail running versus city running and why every runner eventually wants to move to the country - A near-death encounter with a massive kangaroo at 3am on a bush run - How tool companies scam you into buying full sets when you just need one socket - Core childhood memories with mum and dad, from cane toad hunting to jousting on scooters Timestamps: (00:42) Trail running in the bush versus running through industrial Melbourne (04:24) Getting charged by a massive grey kangaroo on a bush run (05:25) Kangaroo culling, dog meat, and the sanctuary that makes zero sense (12:14) Blaine Burke's carousel attacking the backyard ultra single-category format (17:25) Equity versus equality in ultra running and what the words actually mean (23:02) How King of the Hill approached gendered prize money over three years (25:48) Lazarus Lake's philosophy and why he refuses to split categories (35:38) Red Bull's playbook for turning niche sports into mainstream events (39:58) How tool companies jack up single socket prices to force you into full sets (47:10) The FTTK podcast controversy over "getting chicked" in elite running (56:01) When is banter just banter and when is it tone deaf (01:01:07) Core childhood memories. Cane toad hunting with dad in Northwest Queensland (01:06:30) Navigating with a Refidex and mum pretending she didn't know the way (01:09:11) Crashing your girlfriend's parents car doing clutch kicks at 16 (01:23:22) Dad making wooden swords and shields for front yard battles Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1h 26m

  2. MAY 17

    The Sub 2 Hour Marathon That Nobody Will Remember

    A bloke runs the first ever sub two hour sanctioned marathon and the guy who came second also breaks the world record. Nobody will remember his name. That kicks off a conversation about loneliness stats, making mates as an adult, the dumbest things operators have ever done on site, and whether wearing undies under your jammies makes you a psychopath. In this episode: - Sebastian Saur's sub two hour marathon and why second place got completely robbed - The male loneliness epidemic and how 15% of men now have zero close friends - Practical ways to actually make friends as an adult without it being awkward - The dumbest things mine site and plant operators have ever done - A sparky who electrocuted herself twice in the same socket - Wearing undies under jammies and the stats behind it - Seat Gate 2026 continues with zero complaints from the women - Creatine for sleep deprivation and why it made Alex shit himself - Tim Kaprazi smashing Sydney Backyard Ultra at 75 laps Timestamps: (00:16) Tim Kaprazi smokes Sydney Backyard Ultra (01:57) Troy's 10K pace and the sub 20 minute 5K chase (04:23) Live streaming backyard ultras and why most events won't bother (15:02) Sniffing salts, creatine, and sleep deprivation tactics for backyard ultras (23:52) Crypto stories: the dumbest things operators have ever done on site (25:24) The truck tire that rolled down two storeys into an electrical board (30:47) The Red Bull can jammed under the accelerator pedal (35:41) The sparky who electrocuted herself twice in a row (46:28) Dog Act of the Week: Sebastian Saur's sub two hour marathon (54:05) Undies under jammies and the one in ten stat (58:16) The male loneliness epidemic and making friends as an adult (01:04:29) Alex's solo experience in South Korea after a breakup (01:08:50) Seat Gate 2026 update and the birth of merch ideas (01:16:03) Feeding your partner borderline expired food Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1h 19m

  3. MAY 10

    I Prepared Like a World Champion and Still Lost

    Alex ran 38 hours at the Melbourne Front Yard Ultra and still walked away feeling like he never got to race. This is the raw, honest debrief of what went right, what went wrong, and why world-class preparation doesn't guarantee the result you wanted. In this episode: - The full breakdown of Alex's 38-yard backyard ultra debut and the knee injury that ended it - Why boring is beautiful in a backyard ultra and how Alex paced his laps - The crewing experience from Troy's perspective and what he'd do differently next time - How a wheelbarrow became the MVP of the entire event setup - The old duck with the slut dog who tried to shut down the race - Alex screaming at himself at 3am on a bridge in front of a crowd of spectators - Why Alex remembers every loss from his sporting career but forgets all the wins - The overachiever trap and why endless preparation still doesn't guarantee satisfaction - Harry's community showing up in force and the podcast listeners who surprised Alex - What's next for Alex, Harry's, and King of the Hill in 2025 Timestamps: (04:51) Welcome back and post-race depression (08:06) The full race breakdown and how the knee injury happened (16:20) Why feeling great for 35 hours doesn't matter if you're out at 38 (21:14) Backyard ultra strategy and the problem with being too rigid (27:08) Would Alex do another backyard ultra after this result (32:49) Troy's first crewing experience and event review (37:12) Screaming at himself on the bridge at 3am (42:54) The wheelbarrow hack and tradey setup that impressed everyone (46:40) Harry's street cred and the reputation growing in the community (51:55) The old duck with the slut dog who tried to shut the event down (55:05) Slut dog rankings and the French Bulldog breathing debate (01:02:51) Crewing debrief and the noodle cooking disaster (01:15:03) The overachiever who remembers every loss but forgets the wins (01:21:14) Backyard ultras as the ultimate problem solving event for tradies (01:37:19) Why Alex feels like he's stuck in a loop of preparing like a champion and still losing Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1h 51m

  4. MAY 3

    The Household Product Scam Costing You 10x More Than It Should

    Troy reverse-engineers a household scam that's been ripping off every Australian kitchen for decades, and the fix costs 17 cents and a hot glue gun. Alex breaks down the only cold weather running gear you actually need (hint: it's less than you think), and we get deep into the unwritten lore of mine sites, from the Jesus Box to the Whack Pit. In this episode:- Troy's 17-cent hack that beats the $1.70 dishmatic refill scam- The five points on your body that regulate your temperature and why gloves matter more than jackets- What Alex actually wore running in Antarctica and why it wasn't much- The toilet seat experiment that proves it was never about hygiene- Fish and chip Friday, the Whack Pit, and how one person's joke becomes workplace law- Troy's 3D printer saves hundreds on kitchen handles- The spotted gum deck disaster and why pretty timber is warped timber- Harry of the Week: Dylan Bai ran 48 hours in a Lakers jersey for charity- Sydney Backyard Ultra update and Melbourne Front Yard Ultra hype Timestamps:(00:00) Intro and the fuckup of the month calendar idea(03:06) Sydney Backyard Ultra live stream and King of the Hill hype(11:27) Running question: how to train in freezing cold weather(13:01) The five body points that regulate your temperature(16:30) What Alex wore running in Antarctica(22:05) The mindset of eating shit in training and loving it(24:24) The toilet seat experiment results after one week(29:34) Troy declares war on the dishmatic refill scam(33:27) Live hot glue gun demonstration of the 17-cent hack(38:51) Troy's 3D printer and the $0.13 kitchen handle(40:52) Spotted gum deck build and warped timber nightmare(43:27) Fish and chip Friday and how one nickname becomes law(45:27) The Jesus Box, the Hellhole, and the Whack Pit(53:19) Church night and FIFO drinking culture(56:41) Harry of the Week: Dylan Bai runs 48 hours in a Lakers jersey Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1 hr

  5. APR 26

    The Hair Loss Drug That Costs Men Their Manhood

    Alex ran 100km solo through the night and started falling asleep on his feet six hours in. Troy discovered his smoko noodles are 800 calories. And there's a hair loss drug blokes are popping like vitamins that might shut down the one thing they actually need working. In this episode:- Alex's backyard ultra sim and the moment sleep deprivation hit like a truck- Troy's calorie tracking wake-up call and what Mi Goreng noodles are really doing to him- Tim Kaprizak's new coaching app Mindset Matters and why you can't b******t him- The finasteride conversation every bloke needs to hear before popping pills for their hair- Boy math: how to justify a concrete saw, a $2500 welder, and nearly buying a bobcat- Alex fixing a two-stroke engine with zero mechanical knowledge and a screwdriver- Jacob Garlick winning backyard ultras with no crew and pure savagery- King of the Hill mind games and why prize money changes everything Timestamps:(00:00) Welcome back and the 52-minute recording disaster(01:30) Troy's calorie tracking journey and the Mi Goreng revelation(04:24) Tim Kaprizak's Mindset Matters coaching app(07:16) Alex's 100km backyard ultra simulation breakdown(22:32) Sleep deprivation hitting six hours in and falling asleep while running(25:55) Jacob Garlick winning backyard ultras with no crew(33:40) The Longreach to Bundaberg road trip and hitting kangaroos(42:45) Finasteride, hair loss drugs and the side effects blokes aren't talking about(55:46) Would you trade your dick for your hair(59:28) Pre-juvenation trend and male body dysmorphia(01:07:32) Boy math: justifying a $300 blade sharpener(01:10:08) The concrete saw saga and the hidden second slab(01:16:26) Troy's $2500 welder story and the mansion guy who couldn't Tig(01:21:52) The bobcat dream and why Alex almost pulled the trigger Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1h 30m

  6. APR 19

    The 104kg Man Who Ran 100 Miles With Zero Training

    A 104kg bloke got punched in the back of the head, couldn't sleep for months, nearly lost his mind in London, and somehow turned it all into a career helping men sleep and a movement called the Heavyweight Running Division. Jordan Stanton is one of the most honest, high-energy guests we've had on the pod. In this episode:- How a Muay Thai sparring session gave Jordan a traumatic brain injury and destroyed his sleep for months- The cortisone injection at the base of his skull that bought him two to three months of pain-free living- Why yoga and sleep became the two things that actually fixed him when nothing else worked- Running 1,500km across the UK at 104kg in 21 days with his mate and his mate's dad- The moment his girlfriend told him to move to London and he nearly chose a footy flag instead- Why the Heavyweight Running Division blew up overnight and what it means for big blokes who feel invisible in running- Sleep pressure explained and why most people have no idea how to build it- The one habit that matters more than anything else for sleep quality- Why ChatGPT will never replace a real coach- His first backyard ultra with zero training and what 16,000 calories actually looks like Timestamps:(00:00) Intro and Jordan's Muay Thai background(05:16) Moving to London and missing Australian culture(09:14) Why leaving your hometown changes everything(17:26) The traumatic brain injury that changed his life(20:02) Cortisone injection and the slow road to recovery(27:30) How yoga and sleep became his medicine(41:33) Becoming a full-time sleep coach(43:39) Running the length of the UK at 104kg in 21 days(48:14) Fuelling strategy and eating 10 gels a day(58:01) The one rule that anchors your circadian rhythm(62:17) Sleep pressure and why most blokes are wired but tired(70:37) Why human connection beats ChatGPT for coaching(90:41) The birth of the Heavyweight Running Division(97:22) Weight classes in running and why big guys deserve representation(120:55) His first backyard ultra with no training and 16,000 calories burned Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    2h 8m

  7. APR 12

    Coles Scammed Every Australian And Nobody Noticed

    Hannah finally cracked the sourdough code, Coles got caught running one of the most genius scams in Australian retail history, and we found three small things that gave us outsized returns in life. Plus we get into whether your wife not taking your last name should be a deal breaker. Spoiler: we don't agree on everything. In this episode:- Hannah's cheese and jalapeno sourdough and the evolution from banana bread baddie to bread baking bad bitch- The Coles down down scam broken down with real examples of how they inflated prices before fake discounts- Three things that gave us outsized returns: making your bed, suck and sweet of the day, tracking calories for one month- Moving away from your hometown and going backpacking as life-changing low-cost decisions- Running without headphones and why 40km of silence hit different- Fuelling for the Melbourne front yard ultra and going from 2000 to 3500 calories a day- Would your wife not taking your last name be a deal breaker and why hyphenation is the lamest compromise- Engagement rings, the psychology of price, and the bloke who recycled a ring to his next partner- The early knock at work and why Melbourne city commuters look so depressed- Scooters in the city as a genuine life hack and why motorbikes are too slow to dismount Timestamps:(01:05) Hannah's second sourdough attempt and the taste test(04:30) Training for the Melbourne front yard ultra and fuelling properly(12:38) Running without headphones and 40km of silence(18:45) Stingy or smart: the Coles down down scam explained(26:40) Toilet paper wars and the who gives a crap domestic(38:37) Three things that gave outsized returns: making your bed(43:18) Moving away from your hometown and backpacking alone(46:58) Tracking calories for one month and why it blows your mind(56:28) Life hack: owning a scooter in Melbourne(59:41) Bitch act: high beaming someone doing the speed limit(63:25) Life's little pleasures: the unexpected early knock(68:34) Would your wife not taking your last name be a deal breaker(78:16) Engagement ring psychology and the bloke who recycled a ring(82:28) Wedding planning and not giving a f**k about tradition Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1h 25m

  8. APR 5

    The $98,000 Mistake That Could Have Been Avoided

    A bloke lost $98,000 on a house deposit because he was two days late and then decided to take it to court instead of taking the money back. That story alone tells you everything you need to know about this episode. Alex and Troy get into the dumbest financial decisions blokes make, why you need to move out of home before life moves on without you, and the quiet art of winding up your partner just enough. In this episode:- The $98,000 house deposit story that will make you sick to your stomach- Why buying a two-door car is one of the worst financial decisions a young bloke can make- Credit cards, buy now pay later, and why you cannot be trusted with either before 30- The real cost of not saving while you're still living at home- Why moving out of home is non-negotiable for becoming a functional man- The case for cutting real estate agents out of the process entirely- Triggering your partner: Troy's greatest hits and why it never gets old- A prediction on Karl Stefanovic, his podcast, and a coming split from Channel 9 Timestamps:(00:30) Weekend recap: runs, renovations, and the movies(01:19) Troy's fun run gate-crash at Brimbank Park and taking souls(04:12) How race pacing and finishing strong changes how you feel about the result(06:34) The surgery pain perception trick that actually applies to racing(10:10) Worst financial decision one: buying a two-door car(14:20) Worst financial decision two: credit cards and buy now pay later(16:46) Not saving money while living at home(20:22) Europe trip on a personal loan and how the Barefoot Investor saved Alex(24:35) Why not moving out is stunting your growth as a man(28:31) Pokies, gambling, and where the line actually is(33:58) Dog act of the week: hands on the stair stepper(37:45) Life's little pleasures: triggering your partner(42:49) Prediction: Carl Stefanovic leaves Channel 9 for the podcast full time(48:44) Stingy or smart: should real estate agents even exist?(57:33) The business idea that could replace real estate agents entirely(61:24) The bloke who lost $98,000 and made it so much worse Full episode out now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.Follow the pod on Instagram: @pullingthreads

    1h 7m
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About

Mostly shit talking, occasionally to great people...

Information

  • Creator
    Alex Cleary
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    77
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Alex Cleary
  • Show Website
    Pulling Threads

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