Liz Derstine lives at the intersection of endurance and artistry.

She is one of the most accomplished long-distance trail runners in the world, holding multiple women’s Fastest Known Times on some of the toughest trails known to man, including the Appalachian Trail (northbound), the Long Trail, the Pinhoti Trail, and Sweden’s Kungsleden. Most recently, Liz completed the 2,655-mile Pacific Crest Trail in under 70 days — the third-fastest self-supported finish by a woman.

But Liz’s story doesn’t end on the trail.

She is also an award-winning pianist and composer whose work bridges classical training with pop innovation, creating music inspired by nature, movement, and lived experience. Classically trained from a young age, Liz earned dual Master of Music degrees in Collaborative Piano and Composition from the Longy School of Music of Bard College, where she was recognized for her commitment to collaboration and innovation. Her musical career has taken her from concert halls to international touring as a keyboardist and singer, performing at iconic venues like the Troubadour and festivals including Coachella. Her original compositions have been featured on television shows such as Awkward (MTV) and Wednesday (Netflix).

In this conversation, Liz shares how thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail reshaped her creative voice, how she balances elite endurance athletics with a demanding music career, and why time in nature is central to both her performance and her art. We talk about discipline, obsession, solitude, creativity, and what it means to pursue two worlds that demand everything you have.

Liz has been featured in Outside, Runner’s World, Women’s Running, Trail Running Magazine, and on the cover of Competitor Magazine for “running by day and music touring by night.” She represents Mountain Hardwear and writes the popular newsletter Pink Feathers, where she explores the overlap between wild places, long miles, and creative life.

This episode is about pushing limits — on the trail, at the piano, and within yourself — and finding harmony between endurance and expression.

Colby Brown’s childhood was anything but stable. Raised by a mother who was constantly on the move, Colby was dragged from California to Hawaii, back to California, then Florida, back to Hawaii, and eventually Las Vegas—never long enough to feel rooted, never safe enough to feel settled. Along the way, his life was surrounded by drugs, violence, and chaos, exposing him to experiences no child should ever have to endure.

During those turbulent years, Colby suffered physical abuse, was groomed by an adult, and at the height of the madness, was forced into helping dispose of a body—a moment that would mark a breaking point in an already shattered sense of normalcy.

But this is not just a story about trauma. It’s a story about escape, survival, and choosing a different future.

In the dead of night, Colby made a quiet but life-altering decision. He slipped away from the only life he’d ever known and headed to Oregon, determined to break the cycle. There, he began rebuilding—finding stability, purpose, and eventually starting a new family with the love of his life.

This episode is a raw, unfiltered look at how far someone can fall—and how powerful the decision can be to walk away and start over.

For five years, Drew committed himself to an extreme goal: completing one million pushups in a single year. It became a daily ritual, a source of purpose, and a promise to himself. On the final day of the challenge, with just 400 pushups left, everything was supposed to end in triumph.

Instead, two detectives arrived at his door.

They were there to inform Drew that his lifelong best friend — who had been over for dinner the night before — had passed away. In an instant, the challenge that once defined the day became meaningless in the face of unimaginable loss.

This podcast is the story of that moment — the collision of discipline and grief — and what it takes to keep moving forward when the thing you were striving for no longer matters the way it once did. It’s about resilience, friendship, perspective, and learning how to finish life’s hardest set when the count no longer makes sense.

In this episode, Drew sits down with Tac for a candid conversation about the real struggles behind launching a brand-new podcast with a video component. From unexpected technical headaches and production learning curves to the pressure of booking quality guests and figuring out how to monetize fast enough to keep the lights on at home, nothing about the process has been easy. Drew and Tac pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to get a show off the ground—and the stress that comes with betting on yourself.

As the conversation unfolds, the focus shifts from podcast growing pains to personal ones, specifically Tac’s eating habits and the toll they’re taking on his health. Late-night pizza, Oreos, and eating like a wild man are starting to show up in the mirror, leading to a softer body that Tac isn’t thrilled about. The episode balances humor with honesty as they talk about discipline, accountability, and what needs to change if Tac wants his body to match his goals—on and off the mic.

A near-death accident changed everything. Nick’s story begins with an unthinkable moment that nearly cost him his life — and continues with the brutal fight to survive, adapt, and rebuild in the face of overwhelming obstacles.

Tommy Vu grew up in a traditional Vietnamese family where academics came first, and fitness wasn’t a priority. As he got older, he struggled to keep up with his peers physically. Determined to take control of his health, Tommy embarked on an incredible journey toward a stronger, healthier future. He joined the military and achieved feats of fitness most could only dream of. Today, Tommy holds multiple world records and is a devoted father, raising his young boys to follow in his footsteps.

Travis Cole grew up as a three sport athlete and found success at both the college and pro level playing football and baseball. From starring at quarterback in his hometown to playing against the biggest stars in the BIG 10. Travis would go on to play professionally for eight seasons before starting his new career as a coach and mentor to young student athletes.

After twenty three years doing afternoon and morning radio I find myself entering the amazing and scary world of podcasting. The first order of business is to tell the story of how we got here. I am joined by my good friend and radio colleague Tack. This episode will dive into the events that took place leading up to my departure from my show in Portland after ten years. The story is emotional and a little hard to get through but it is therapy for the soul. I will also explain why I decided to take on this podcast and to seek out the amazing and inspiring guests I will interview each week. This is just the beginning!