Empowering Athletes: The Wasatch Adaptive Sports Story

Dive into this inspiring episode of the Mi Duole Podcast featuring Joe Cardon, a passionate cyclist, dedicated community leader, and faithful listener of the show. Joe shares his journey from childhood rides in Idaho and Washington to becoming the president of Zone Five, one of Utah's vibrant cycling teams. Listen as he recounts personal stories of mentorship, including how friends and seasoned cyclists like Rob Stratton helped fuel his love for the sport. The discussion covers pivotal moments—like Joe’s first 200-mile LOTOJA race, the highs and lows of leadership, and the rewarding camaraderie found in the cycling community. Whether you’re a cycling enthusiast or enjoy tales of personal growth and community, this episode offers valuable insights, funny anecdotes, and genuine passion for the sport.  

In Episode 126 of the Mi Duke Podcast, we welcome Justin Spangler for an in-depth, inspiring recap of his triumphant overal victory at the 2025 LOTOJA cycling event. Justin shares his journey—from setting bold goals and rigorous training, through overcoming setbacks, to the thrill and teamwork of race day. The conversation explores the strategy behind the win, key moments and challenges on the course, and the powerful role of friendship and community in reaching big dreams. Listeners will also hear about Justin’s post-race opportunities, including an invite to the USA Cycling Team Camp and new KOM achievements. This episode is a testament to perseverance, preparation, and the support that fuels extraordinary accomplishments in cycling and beyond.

Nick is a rider who proves that passion, persistence, and maybe a touch of stubbornness can take you pretty far—whether that’s up a Wasatch climb at sunrise or across the finish line at Leadville. He grew up in Salt Lake City as the oldest of three kids. He earned his Eagle Scout, served an LDS mission in Milan, Italy, earned his Economics degree from the U and MBA from Westminster. He even found time to volunteer at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, supporting the U.S. Olympic Team with athlete services and translation. He’s been with Optum for 23 years, working his way up from sales to Director of Business Operations, and I think he’d tell you the reason he’s stayed so long is because of the people and relationships. He’s been married to his wife, Jennilynn, for 17 years - and she keeps him fueled with plenty of baked goods. He is a proud dad of two (one through fertility treatments and one through adoption), and shares his home with Bella, a 5-year-old St. Bernard who probably weighs more than all of his bikes combined. He’s been passionate about sports since he was young. He ran track and cross country, once ran a marathon, finishing in 4hrs and 4 min, and swore ‘never again,’ and eventually found his true love in cycling. Since then, he’s tackled countless endurance events—multiple century rides, six LOTOJAs, Steamboat Springs Gravel, and most recently, the Leadville 100 MTB. Nick is so grateful for the Mi Duole team. Riding with them has pushed him to grow as a cyclist while also creating meaningful friendships that extend beyond the bike.  Around the house, he’s known as the guy who fills the garage with bikes, never stops talking about cycling, and occasionally finishes a project or two in between rides. Passionate, disciplined, and just stubborn enough to keep pushing through the hard stuff is what makes him such a strong rider and a great husband and father.

Join hosts Stuart Anderson and Spencer Chipping as they explore the incredible world of Wasatch Adaptive Sports, an organization dedicated to empowering athletes with disabilities. In this inspiring podcast, you'll hear firsthand stories from remarkable athletes like Mike Ricci, learn about the organization's mission, and discover how adaptive sports transform lives. We'll dive into the journey of Wasatch Adaptive Sports, their community impact, and the incredible resilience of athletes who challenge perceived limitations. Whether you're interested in adaptive sports, community support, or simply love hearing stories of human triumph, this episode offers an intimate look at how passion, determination, and support can create extraordinary opportunities for athletes of all abilities. Donate: bit.ly/WASBikes All funds provide no-cost outdoor opportunities for hundreds of Utahns with disabilities. Volunteer: wasatchadaptivesports.org/volunteer WAS volunteers support our participants by providing community and helping hands on WAS rides and lessons. Participate: wasatchadaptivesports.org/participate Anyone with any disability is welcome to participate. Fill out our online form today!

In Episode 123, we dive deep into the world of Alec Crestani, a multifaceted cyclist who seamlessly blends family, work, and athletic passion. From his early days of BMX and motocross to becoming a dedicated road and mountain cyclist, Alec shares his unique journey of balancing entrepreneurship, fatherhood, and cycling. Learn how he trains for challenging events like Point 2 Point and LOTOJA while launching a startup and raising three young boys. With candid insights about personal growth, team dynamics, and his philosophy of "spinning plates," Alec offers an inspiring look at what it means to pursue excellence without losing sight of what truly matters. Whether you're a cyclist, entrepreneur, or simply someone seeking motivation, this episode promises to energize and inspire.

Join Stuart Anderson and Andrew Richards as they dive deep into a candid conversation about life, cycling, and navigating the complex terrain of family, work, and personal passions. Andrew shares his journey from a casual athlete to an Ironman competitor, revealing the challenges of balancing professional ambitions with family commitments and athletic pursuits. This episode offers an intimate look at Andrew's experiences with the Mi Duole cycling team, his memorable rides through Utah's stunning landscapes, and the personal growth that comes from endurance sports. From a hilarious deer encounter during a canyon descent to insights about maintaining fitness through different life stages, Andrew provides honest reflections on staying motivated, supporting family, and finding joy in life's challenging moments. Whether you're a cyclist, an endurance athlete, or someone seeking inspiration for balancing multiple responsibilities, this conversation offers valuable perspectives and heartfelt storytelling.

Doug Owens was born and raised in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah and Yale Law School. He and his wife Cynthia Smart Owens have four children and are proud to call Millcreek their home. As an attorney, Doug has three decades' experience resolving complex commercial, environmental, and employment issues. Twenty-five years ago, Doug took two years off from his career to stay home with three little boys while Cynthia finished medical residency. Cynthia currently practices medicine at St. Mark’s Hospital. Doug is committed to improving education, keeping Utah’s economy strong, protecting our air, and preserving the places that make Utah special. Doug is the founder of Utah Outdoor Partners, a non-profit organization launched to raise awareness of the value of Utah's outdoors and promote the creation of parks, trails and other recreation infrastructure to keep pace with population growth.   

Eric grew up in Boise, Idaho, where he enjoyed most outdoor activities, but skiing quickly established itself as the favorite. Mountain biking made a brief bid for his affection, but it wasn’t until he joined a road biking group in the Bay Area about a decade ago that things really escalated. Since then, he’s rotated through a series of hobbies involving expensive equipment and varying degrees of personal risk, including road biking, mountain biking, and, more recently, backcountry skiing. A regular resident of the “pain cave,” Eric operates under the firm belief that happiness is merely the reward for those willing to suffer for it. When not testing the limits of what the human body should reasonably tolerate, he’s experimenting with clean eating trends and cold plunging in the freezing creek behind our house. His ideal vacation involves both biking and skiing on the same day, presumably to avoid any risk of relaxation. Eric finds great joy in the Mi Duole riding group, where shared objectives and mild lunacy seamlessly co-exist.

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Brandon Nelson, also known as "Noodle Nelson". Listeners will learn about Brandon's journey into cycling, including how he was initially reluctant but grew to be passionate about the sport. He shares his competitive background, his weight loss story, and the strong cycling community he's found in his hometown of Idaho Falls. Brandon discusses his racing plans, his impressive achievements in events like Loaded Joe, and his love for the social and data-driven aspects of cycling. The episode also covers Brandon's Zwift setup and involvement in virtual racing leagues. Listeners will gain insight into Brandon's approach to content creation and his desire to promote a positive image of cycling. Overall, this episode provides an engaging look at Brandon's cycling life and the factors that have contributed to his success and enjoyment of the sport.

In this episode, we sit down with Matthew Lefthand, a mental health therapist who has taken the cycling world by storm in record-breaking fashion. Despite only getting into the sport in 2022, Matthew has already accomplished feats that leave even the most seasoned cyclists in awe. From riding over 500 miles in a single event to averaging an astounding 30,000 miles per year, Matthew's drive, mental toughness, and ability to push his physical limits are truly remarkable. We dive deep into Matthew's story - from his dramatic weight loss journey to his transition from running to cycling - and unpack his training philosophy centered around the power of Zone 2 work. But the real highlight is hearing Matthew's own words on the mindset that propels him forward, including the mantra "it's up to your will, not your legs" that has carried him through some of the sport's toughest challenges. With big plans for 2025, including tackling some of the most grueling ultra-endurance events, this is a must-listen episode for anyone fascinated by the limits of human potential. Prepare to be inspired by the story of cycling's newest phenom.