HappyCast

In this special fourth appearance, Wes Plate returns to HappyCast with a full breakdown of the inaugural Copper Kings 100—Montana’s newest hundred-mile race and his most ambitious project yet. With co-hosts Stephanie and Andrew, Wes opens up about what it took to bring this dream to life: from months of preparation and a jam-packed U-Haul to navigating stormy skies, deadfall-filled trails, and the high-stakes logistics of a remote mountain race. Spoiler: not even a lightning storm during the race briefing could shake this crew.Stephanie recaps her experience captaining the Our Lady of the Rockies aid station—a mountaintop post where she and a team of volunteers (including both her and Wes’s moms) kept runners alive with mashed potatoes, heated bathrooms, and the occasional mid-hallucination pep talk. Between walking every runner up the hill, managing drop bags and puke blankets, and making sure no one missed the cutoff, this became a spiritual checkpoint for runners and crew alike.With 90 finishers out of 105 starters and only one DNS, the Copper Kings 100 defied all expectations for a first-year race. Wes reflects on what went right, what he learned, and how much this community has grown around a course that winds through solitude, scenery, and suffering. Whether you’re an aspiring race director, a trail runner dreaming of Montana, or just here for stories about flamingo costumes and blowing up propane heaters, this episode is packed with heart, hustle, and humor.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

In this hilariously unfiltered and surprisingly heartfelt episode, Stephanie recaps her post-Cruel Jewel adventure at the Great Divide 100 in Colorado with guests Ben Bridgeman and Liesl Standish. After a last-minute pivot to avoid altitude overload, Stephanie takes us through her thought process behind picking this particular race just three weeks after finishing one of the most brutal 100-milers in the Southeast. With loops at a “mild” 9,200–9,800 ft elevation and a deceptively runnable course, she thought this would be a safer bet. Spoiler: it wasn’t.Liesl and Ben—now proud Coloradans—served as her pacers and emotional lifelines as the race devolved from high hopes to high-altitude hell. The episode dives into the emotional rollercoaster that comes with racing at elevation while undertrained and over-beered, the importance of having the right people by your side, and the unique energy of grassroots trail races. There’s discussion on course markings, shade-hopping strategies, and the shock of how 65 degrees in Colorado sun hits different than in Texas.But it’s not all suffering and sunscreen. Between the shade breaks, trail hallucinations, and one hilariously defiant mantra—let’s just say it wasn’t about “having balls”—this episode is packed with raw trail wisdom, post-race reflection, and the kind of unfiltered fun you can only have when you’re running on fumes and friendship.Photo Credit: Zach JohnsonBe sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

In this special women-led episode of HappyCast, Stephanie teams up with guest co-host Ben Bridgeman to spotlight the incredible performances at this year’s Achilles Hill ultra event. The spotlight shines brightly on Jaclyn Lovelady, Alisa Hardy, and Lisa Decker—three powerhouse women who not only swept the competition but redefined what grit and community mean on the trail. From setting new course records to creating new divisions (hello, ruck champion!), the ladies brought fierce determination and even fiercer support for one another throughout the 48-hour endurance fest.Jaclyn claimed the coveted Last Person Standing title with 108 miles completed in 26 loops, outlasting a competitive field with steady pacing and mental toughness. Meanwhile, Alisa crushed the Miles Champion category with a record-breaking 130 miles, channeling doubts into fuel and proving once again that women belong at the top of the leaderboard. And Lisa? She went beast mode—completing a 100-mile effort while hauling a 20–25 lb ruck, outlasting most of the field and closing out the race with community-powered momentum and a smile.Beyond the numbers, this episode captures the heart of Achilles Hill: a tight-knit, fiercely supportive trail family where everyone roots for your win. From popsicle breaks to last-minute pacer gigs and pond-diving dogs to mushroom-fueled mayhem, the stories shared are as heartfelt as they are hilarious. Whether you’re chasing a buckle or just your own limits, this episode reminds us that joy, strength, and sisterhood can carry you farther than you ever imagined.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

This week on a jam-packed episode of the HappyCast, we sit down with Katie O’Connor and talk about her Cocodona 250 experience. We talk about her preparation, race execution, and most importantly, the post-race festivities. Spoiler alert: she could just be the most positive person out on the trail. So naturally, we decide to bring in some firepower and surprise her with her crew chief, Julie, joining to potentially dish out any dirt or fun tidbits about Katie’s race. With Julie joining, the shenanigans grow exponentially. And finally, we decide to invite Hans Troyer back on for his third HappyCast appearance  for a brief segment to give us an update as he approaches Western States 100. We at the HappyCast think he is a dark horse to win the race. But really, we just wanted him on to bombard him with 200 mile race questions. We have Katie try to convince him to run Cocodona, and with her charming disposition, we think it worked! But only time will tell. So join us as we enter the mind of one of the most positive, thoughtful, and organized runners out there with Katie. On all podcast platforms AND YouTube! And as always, don’t forget to leave us a review!Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

This week on the HappyCast, we are joined by THE Hilary Ann Yang as she talks about the newest 200+ mile race around, The Mammoth! 🦣 With its permits literally approved RIGHT before this recording, we talk about the hype, preparation, course, and increasing the participation of women in the 200 mile scene. Hilary will also be race directing this event, so we delve further into the process of taming the Mammoth 🦣 With a big guest comes big co-hosting responsibilities, so naturally, we kick Andrew to the curb and introduce some all-stars themselves, with Kevin Goldberg (from the Distance to Empty podcast), and Isabella “Izzy” Campos-Janovick joining Stephanie in the co-hosting chair. Be sure to check out the Mammoth, with registration still on-going! And a huge thanks to Hilary for joining this ship that continues to somehow stay afloat after all these years.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

This week on the HappyCast, we keep the 200+ mile ball rolling as we are joined by one of the pioneers of this distance, Candice Burt. She joins us to talk about the recent inaugural Arizona Monster 300, and we dissect this behemoth of a race and everything it entails. Candice opens up and talks about the ups and downs, the positives and negatives, and everything else regarding the race. The logistics, the difficulties with holding a point-to-point race this long, and the challenges of managing on-the-fly issues. She also talks about the runner feedback and some of the drama that occurred during the race. Candice offers us an intimate glimpse at the underbelly of this beast that should hopefully offer some insight.Candice also talks about the future of the race and the many changes and improvements that runners can look forward to experiencing. Arizona Monster 300 registration is now open! And with that, Triple Crown season is officially starting. With Tahoe, Bigfoot, and Moab around the corner, can the Monster find its footing in an ever-evolving and increasingly crowded 200+ mile field? We believe it can. Especially with it being one of the first mainstream 300 mile races around. So check out this episode to learn more about the inaugural Arizona Monster 300 from the creator herself!Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

This week on HappyCast, the spotlight is on cohost Stephanie, who just completed one of the Southeast’s most brutal ultramarathons: the Cruel Jewel 100. Alongside fellow runners Drew Flowers and Mike Coutu, the trio takes us deep into the Georgia mountains and even deeper into the pain cave, reliving the highs, lows, and everything in between. With 105 punishing miles and over 33,000 feet of climbing, this race tested not only their legs but their sanity. Stephanie finished in an impressive 41 hours and 25 minutes, and Drew and Mike crossed the line together at 44:18—and yes, she lets them know who finished first.From forgotten trekking poles to mid-race trail therapy sessions, the stories fly fast in this post-race debrief. Stephanie talks about running on stair machines and spite, Drew recounts pulling a hamstring in a kids’ street race, and Mike details what it’s like to deal with Crohn’s while trying not to DNF. We get the scoop on hallucinations, aid station carnage, trail naps, revenge runs, mystery runners named “Hugh Jace,” and a certain bear that ate a car door. Spoiler: everyone gets poison ivy, except Mike.Whether you’re an ultrarunning junkie or just here for the chaos, this episode is full of humor, heart, and hard-earned miles. It’s a celebration of resilience, community, and the weird, wild stuff that only happens when you spend two days running through the woods. And yes—Stephanie beat the boys. Let’s talk about it.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

On this episode of the HappyCast, we talk about a bunch of random stuff (and a little bit of Cocodona) with the Queen of Cocodona herself, Rachel Entrekin.After becoming the first back-to-back and only two time winner of Cocodona, we have a sit down with Rachel where she talks about her current recovery, her incredibly busy future, and her adjustment to becoming a rising start in the ultrarunning scene. We also talk about running as an unsponsored athlete and the process of becoming one, and the pros and cons of such a decision. And most importantly, we talk about Rachel’s contribution to the 200 mile scene and her role in helping draw interest to the distance as well as the explosive rise of Cocodona (registration drama, anyone?).We have a bit of fun with this episode, so join us as we celebrate the Cocodona champion and the future ahead! Rachel is currently an unsponsored athlete, but you can support her for racing purposes at her GoFundMeBe sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

In this deeply heartfelt and eye-opening episode of HappyCast, hosts Stephanie, Dylan and Andrew are joined by trail race director and community powerhouse Libby Jones, the force behind The Active Joe and the beloved Dinosaur Valley Endurance Run. From her accidental start in race directing to founding one of North Texas’s most inclusive and community-focused race organizations, Libby shares how a love for running, a knack for logistics, and a fierce sense of purpose shaped her journey. She recounts the wild origin story of Dino Valley (spoiler: snakes, floods, and disputed land all make appearances), and reflects on how much heart and hustle it takes to bring a race to life.Libby dives into the values that guide her work—radical inclusion, adaptive support, and putting community over profit. From Spanish-language runner manuals and pacer support for older athletes to creating safe spaces for LGBTQ and nonbinary runners, her approach is as intentional as it is inspiring. The episode doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff either: the group discusses uncomfortable truths about safety in the trail running world, the importance of speaking up, and how gossiping, in the right context, can indeed save lives.Whether you’re here for the behind-the-scenes race director stories, the raw talk on aging, equity, and community in trail running, or just want to hear about bacon-wrapped Oreos at aid stations, this one is packed with laughs, lessons, and heart. From Western States to bean salsa to “gossip with purpose,” this episode is a love letter to the dirt, the runners, and the volunteers who make it all happen.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]

In this unforgettable episode of the HappyCast, hosts Andrew, Dylan, and Stephanie welcome Canadian ultrarunner and mental health advocate Evan Birch, along with his trail-blazing running partner: his seven-year-old Vizsla, Nova. Together, Evan and Nova recently attempted the Orcas Island 100, marking what may be one of the first sanctioned 100-mile ultramarathon efforts by a human-canine team. Their story—captured in the upcoming documentary Supernova: The 100-Mile Dog—goes far beyond finish lines.Evan takes us through the years of preparation that led to this moment, from choosing Nova as a pup specifically for the trails, to learning how to communicate without words, to tailoring training and gear for the unique demands of ultrarunning with a dog. The conversation dives into the bond they’ve built over hundreds of miles and the sheer trust it takes to tackle such a challenge together.Beyond the race, this episode is a powerful reflection on mental health, identity, and resilience. Evan opens up about his background in emergency services, his own struggles, and how trail running—and Nova—became a path toward healing. Raw, thoughtful, and deeply inspiring, this episode is a reminder that sometimes, the journey isn’t just about covering ground—it’s about who we become along the way.ultrabirch.comBe sure to subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen, and we always appreciate you leaving a good rate and review. Join the Facebook Group and follow us on Instagram and check out our website for the more episodes, posts and merchandise coming soon. Have a topic you'd like to hear discussed in depth, or a guest you'd like to nominate? Email us at [email protected]