Our episode this week is brought to you live from Feisty Fest. Kathryn is joined by guest host and Marley Blonsky as they sit down with Shredley founder Ashley Rankin for a candid conversation about how a mountain bike clothing brand grew from a single ride idea into a women-centered apparel company. Shredley launched in 2012 through Kickstarter, and intentionally broke away from the standard black, baggy, pink-it-and-shrink-it mountain bike aesthetic with brighter prints and more expressive design.The discussion covers Ashley’s winding path from fashion dreams to outdoor gear, plus the product decisions behind fit, fabric, sizing, and the emotional side of getting dressed to ride. Ashley shares her perspective on what it takes to build a small, nimble apparel brand, how customer feedback shapes Shredley’s designs, and why features like pockets, drop-tail bibs, and size inclusion matter so much to riders.

Follow @shredly on Instagram.

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On this week’s episode, Kathryn and Kristi are joined by Life Time Grand Prix U23 athlete Samanth Johnson. Samanth (yes, without the “a”) is from Louisville KY, and she tells us the unique story behind her name - although she’s happy to just be called Sam too. New to the U23 Grand Prix this year, Sam cut her teeth in the world of collegiate cycling. She discusses the ins and outs of the world of collegiate cycling in the US, and shares how she moved from crit racing into gravel and ultra-endurance, including results at Southern Cross, Leadville, and Unbound 100 with Lunch Box Racing.

Sam is an alumni of Milligan University, and her community was tragically affected by the death of two cyclists, and hospitalization of many others just weeks ago as a result of a motor vehicle collision with a group of Milligan cyclists while they were out on a ride. The tragedy happened just days before Gravel Worlds, and she discusses the difficulty in deciding whether to race or not in Nebraska, and why she decided to race in her Milligan cycling kit. Sam shares how the Milligan community responded after the crash, including overwhelming support for the injured students and their families.

Follow Sam on Instagram @_samantha_mis_prime

Courses and Coaching: https://livefeisty.com/courses/

Follow us on Instagram:

@feistycycling

@feisty_media

Girls Gone Gravel Website:

https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/

Support our Partners:

Wahoo: Learn about the ELEMNT ROAM 3 at https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/6kn0Eb

Momentous: Use code GIRLSGONEGRAVEL for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com

Tifosi: Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at tifosioptics.com

This week, Kathryn sits down with Kara Folkerts, a full time trail running guide and global bikepacker, to talk about the overlap between endurance sport, travel, and cultural curiosity. Growing up a runner in Canada, Kara moved into ultra-running during university while studying ecotourism and outdoor leadership which introduced her to guided trail running trips. They cover Kara’s path into guiding, the logistics of a nomadic life, solo bikepacking, bikepack racing, and how she’s navigated RED-S, fueling, and recovery while staying active. Kara and Kathryn also discuss the realities behind the glamorous outdoors lifestyle too, including the mental load of guiding, the challenge of consistent training, and why Kara keeps choosing adventures that require problem-solving instead of perfect plans.

Follow Kara on Instagram @karafolkerts