The Art of Mountain Biking Jamie Bangerter & Danielle LeCourt

Unpacking the transformative insights of adventure psychology. 
Adventure Psychologist Dr. Eric Brymer shares insights from his research on the impact of adventure and the human-nature relationship on health and well-being, as well as effective interventions to promote personal growth and development. As a leading expert on the subject, Dr. Brymer unpacks the transformative effects of adventure psychology and discusses how thrilling pursuits can help individuals find meaning in their lives.
Dr. Eric Brymer is an endorsed sport and exercise psychologist at Southern Cross University in Australia and a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society. Eric is interested in the psychology of performance, wellbeing and learning in adventure and nature-based contexts. His research is particularly focused on the impact of adventure and the human-nature relationship on health and wellbeing and the design of effective interventions.
Themes and topics: The impact of adventure and the human-nature relationship on health and well-being.
Understanding how thrilling pursuits can lead to personal growth, development, and transformation.
The connection between human nature, meaning, and the desire for adventure.
Strategies and interventions that harness the benefits of adventure.
The profound connections between individuals and the natural world.
Insights on the process of conducting research in the field of adventure psychology.
How. the findings from adventure psychology research can be applied to improve individuals' well-being and quality of life.
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Resources mentioned in this episode: Ecological psychology, which is a school of psychology that rejects cognitive psychology’s mainstream explanations of perception
Listener Scott’s beautiful message about the moment that was meant for him
Parkour
Why Do You Ride? A Characterization of Mountain Bikers, Their Engagement Methods, and Perceived Links to Mental Health and Well-Being research paper
(I’ve also summarized a few of the findings of that one here.)
Hämeenlinna, Finland
Phenomenology 
Phenomenology and the Extreme Sport Experience by Dr. Eric Brymer and Robert Schweitzer
David Abram’s The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World
Max van Manen
Phenomenology and Nursing Research by Michael Crotty 
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The edge marks the boundary of a limitation. How can we push past it?
This episode dives into the topic of limits—both physical and mental. We discuss our personal experiences of hitting edges while mountain biking, how it manifests differently for everyone, and how to recognize and work with your edge.
Themes and topics: Identifying physical and mental limits through breath loss and other physiological indicators
Backing off from the edge to recruit skills, breathwork, and other resources
Playing at the edge mindfully to stretch limits and enter a flow state for enhanced learning
Recognizing edges manifest differently for everyone based on personality and situation
Supporting others who are at their limit without being overbearing
Managing emotions like fear, anger, and vulnerability when hitting a limit
Finding edges in various areas of life like work, relationships, health and wellness
Expanding the "window of tolerance" through challenging comfort zones in a safe way
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Resources mentioned in this episode: SkiErg
Ellie Herman’s Pilates Reformer
Episode 47 with Melissa Gill
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A listener's beautiful take on the changing nature of flow. 
Happy Friday, y'all! The weather is finally cooperating this weekend in Utah. So I hope you all are going to get out and ride, I know I am.
I completed an interview yesterday with Dr. Eric Brymer. This interview will air on Tuesday, May 21st, but we got to talking about the existential or mystical facet—the spiritual facet—of adventure, and adventure in nature, in particular.
And it was interesting that I conducted this interview right after I had received the most beautiful message from one of our listeners, Scott (Scott, if you’re here, say hi in the comments so people can respond to you directly!), who lives in Utah. He responded to the form I put out this week asking for feedback about the podcast, (thank you to everybody who filled out that form, btw. I really appreciate it.), and he suggested we talk about some of the differences in how flow feels between cross country and downhill.
So I reached out to him saying that I loved his point about cross country flow vs. downhill flow, and I asked him which one he tended to prefer. And Scott had the most beautiful response that spoke directly to what Dr. Eric Brymer was speaking of in that interview. It was so beautiful that I asked him if I could share his message with you all.
I get these messages from time to time from riders that just blow me away at who is listening to the show. If you see yourself in Scotts message, just know that there are so many of us out in nature, on a bike, finding these deep, meaningful, impactful life changing experiences out there. And I wanted to share this one.
 
If you have a message you’d like to share with the AOMTB audience, message me directly on Substack or send it to theartofmountainbikingpodcast@gmail.com.

Rebroadcasting our intimate conversation with backcountry skier Melissa Gill about loss, grief, nature, and the beauty of life.
May marks Mental Health Awareness Month, a time that calls for reflecting, learning, and engaging in meaningful dialogues about the complex world of mental health. To honor this month, we're reaching into our podcast archives to bring back a conversation that beautifully intertwines grief, mental wellbeing, and the healing power of outdoor pursuits. This is an older conversation that’s worth a re-listen.
Since we last published this episode last May, the Patagonia film The Meaningless Pursuit of Snow, which Mel references in this conversation, is now available. And it’s really beautiful, y’all. Worth a watch.
Content notice: This episode contains real and honest depictions of grief and death.
If you are reading this and you're grieving, know that your pain is valid, irrespective of what prompted it—be it the death of a loved one, a relationship at its end, or the loss of employment. It's a journey without a map, and what works for one person may prove futile for another. Einstein once said, "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." That certainly has been the case for us.
Melissa Gill is a woodworker, meditation teacher, Head of Operations for SimplyMTB and a lover of anything outdoors. She sees backcountry skiing as a playground for adventure and self development and in the summer months, can be found trail running or sleeping in a hammock in the middle of a forest. Of all things in life, she is most is passionate about mental health and creating safe spaces for healing for both her and her community. As a mindfulness meditation teacher, she believes most things in life can be solved, healed and made more beautiful with a heavy dose of self compassion. 
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Resources mentioned in this episode: Meditation teachers Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach.
Danielle has written about the loss she describes in this episode for the Medium publication Age of Empathy.
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MTB Fitness' Matt Mooney joins to discuss how fitness, nutrition, and mindset combine to create a positive upward spiral of health and performance. 
A singular focus on peak bike performance makes sense for the pros—but most riders must fit their biking practice into demanding lives. Matt Mooney of MTB Fitness provides advice on incorporating training into daily routines and harnessing the transformative power of discipline. This guidance is beneficial for riders seeking to enhance their experience on the bike as well as their mental and physical health.
Matt Mooney is a personal trainer and founder of MTB Fitness. MTB Fitness social accounts have hundreds of thousands of followers, and the MTB Fit app helps riders in over 60 countries climb easier, descend stronger, and ride further.
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Referenced in this episode: MTB Fitness
EMDR Therapy (the one where you move your eyes a certain way)
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*CK: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life by Mark Manson
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Episode 2 on positioning was our most popular of all time. In this episode, we're digging deeper into all the nitty gritty details of proper body positioning on the bike, as well as some philosophical musings on positioning for success both on the trails and off.
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Referenced in this episode: Episode 2 on Positioning
Episode 4 on Holding Center
Episode 44 with Lennard Zinn
The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel
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Please don’t forget to rate, subscribe, and share this if it resonates, and you can DM Danielle now directly on Substack! If you’ve found value in the podcast, consider sending us a tip, here.