Running Industry Alliance (RIA) Podcast

🎙️ In this episode of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast, we’re diving into Global Running Culture 2025 – a first-of-its-kind collaboration between research and creative agency Redtorch and Running Industry Alliance (RIA).

Host Matt Ward is joined by Rebecca (Becs) Richardson (RIA CEO & Co-Founder) alongside Jonny Murch (CEO, Redtorch) and Karishma Riar (Head of Research & Insights, Redtorch) for a fascinating conversation on how running culture is evolving worldwide.

Together, we explore:
🌍 How cultural forces like social media, influencers, and innovation are reshapin...

Episode 20 – Running Industry Alliance Podcast with James Shipley (ATW Events) 

Episode Overview

In Episode 20, Matt and Tom delve into the huge and consistent rise in demand for endurance events with James Shipley from ATW Events - responsible for over 100 multisport events annually. James shares ATW’s origin in 2011 as a passion project from long-distance racing & nutrition, evolving into one of the UK’s largest event portfolios.

The Event Boom

In this episode of the RIA Podcast, we dive into the world of Retail, Brand and RIA! 

Pro:Direct with Katie, shares valuable insights from one of the UK’s leading premium online sports retailers. Co-hosted with Matt and Phil. 

With a rich heritage dating back to 1981 and a pioneering online presence since 1998, Pro:Direct has evolved alongside the industry - offering a specialist approach to running and an athlete-focused mindset that drives performance, innovation, and growth.

Key topics include:

Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic – Episode #18 featuring Andrew Smith now live!

Matt and Tom are in conversation with Andrew Smith, CEO at A.S.O. UK.

In this episode, we are joined by Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. UK, to talk about his fascinating journey from early beginnings in event operations to leading some of the UK’s biggest and most ambitious mass participation events. From “tea boy to CEO” (his words!), Andrew shares how early roles shaped his passion for operational excellence from managing finish lines to launching cycling events a...

Matt and Tom are in conversation with David Bone, Running Coach and Race Director at Camino Ultra. 

In this episode you learn more about Camino and how it’s all about inclusivity, how Camino came about, the importance of local based events and communities, and the power of being local with their strong East London roots. 

David talks about his journey in ultra running and how, in addition to the established events, Camino Ultra has built something that could take the community side of events to the next level with the new London 100 taking place in M...

Episode 16 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic features a wrap up from The Running Conference 2024 presented by haku, catching some of the energy and buzz from the floor.

This episode includes sound bites from:

You can watch the  TRC24 wrap-up video (thank you to our Filming Partner Commuter Films!) and save the date for The Running Conference 2025 presented by haku >>> 7t...

Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic - Episode #15 featuring James Thurlow now live! 

Matt and Tom are in conversation with James Thurlow, MD of Open Tracking.

James’ journey in the running industry stretches back nearly two decades, initially as an event organiser but now providing the largest live GPS tracking service to some of the industry’s biggest brands and foremost events.

Having been encouraged to keep his product alive after initial challenges, Open Tacking is now regarded as the market leader and James and his team as the go-to experts. James...

Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic - Episode #14 featuring Lia Fyles now live! 

Matt and Tom are in conversation with Lia Fyles, Race Director of the London Landmarks Half Marathon.

"When you think about who are the faces of the LLHM, it’s not the celebrities or the athletes, it’s the fundraisers. We’ve always awarded Bib Numbers 1-10 not to our fastest runners but to special fundraisers who have gone above and beyond."

In this episode we speak with Lia Fyles, Race Director of the London Landmarks Half Marathon. We disc...

Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic – Episode #13 featuring Vicki Turner now live!

Matt is in conversation this month with Vicki Turner, Sales & Marketing Manager at Bridgedale. 

“All we are trying to do is keep people comfortable on the trails, whether they are walking or running. That’s it, that’s our end goal to make durable, comfortable socks. It’s a small ambition if you like but it makes a big difference to people.” 

Vicki Turner, Bridgedale 

In this episode we discuss the history and heritage of the brand with...

Matt and Becs are in conversation with Hannah Beecham MBE, Founder of RED January.

"When RED January began it was at the point in time when we were really on the cusp of talking about the relationship between movement and mental health. Now we know the benefits it is really around empowering and supporting people to move in a way that works for them" Hannah Beecham MBE 

Matt and Tom are in conversation with Charlie Allen, founder of Run Social.

‘RUN SOCIAL is a free after work weekly networking event designed to create a healthy, fun, and alcohol free platform for socialising, networking and exercising. It is a social running club where people can enjoy their running, improve the health, and meet new friends and expand their professional networks all at the same time.’

In this episode we hear all about the rapid growth of Run Social, Charlie’s own journey with running from being stood on London Bridge by himsel...

Welcome to Episode 10 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic!

Matt is in conversation this month with James Vickers, CMCO of Muuvr.

"Muuvr is much more than a sports rewards app. It is the heart and soul of a new breed of visionary sports community that is committed to independence, inclusiveness, transparency and the transformative power of sport to move the human race forward".

JOIN THE REVOLUTION, JOIN THE MUUVMENT
 
In this episode we discuss the fast development of technology and Muuvr, an endurance sports application t...

Welcome to Episode 9 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic!

Matt & Becs are in conversation this month with David Birch, CEO & Founder of Endurance Zone and Creator of CEO Unplugged.

“The rewarding way to engage, retain and learn about your customers”

We are keeping the conversation going in this episode looking at areas like:

> Fast growth of a business and how to manage that
> Funding tips and business learnings
> Finding a key focus on rewards and what that means 
> Manag...

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic!

“Getting more women on start lines and making racing better for women”

Matt & Tom are in conversation this month with Sophie Power, Founder of SheRACES. 

Sophie Power, GB Ultramarathoner famous for running the UTMB 106 mile race whilst breastfeeding her 3 month old as she was denied the opportunity to defer her place, founded SheRACES to get more women on start lines, improve their experience and value the competitive female race equally.

In this powerful and educational episode Sophie chats about how t...

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic

Today is World Mental Health Day, a day to talk about mental health and remind everyone that mental health matters. It’s also a day to let people know that it’s okay to ask for help, no matter what you’re going through.

An appropriate day to release the latest Running Industry Alliance (RIA) Podcast, episode #7 “Men's Mental Health - A Personal Journey and now a career” with Andy Caine.  An honest and open discus...

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic!
 
 The Future of Recruitment
 
Matt & Jonathan are in conversation this month with Wayne and Sophie of Drayton Partners. 

Dayton Partners are a bespoke executive search firm, with a specialism in the Consumer Goods.  Including sectors such as Apparel & Footwear, Food & Drink, Lifestyle and Consumer Tech.  Drayton’s vast industry experience and deep search expertise combine to produce nuanced and intelligent results, allowing them to recruit across all disciplines, from senior management to board-level, executive to non-executive.

Drayton...

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic!

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)

Matt & Becs are in conversation this month with Pinky Ghadiali, CEO of Netwomen

Netwomen helps organisations increase profits by retaining and elevating talented female leaders to bridge the gender and ethnicity gap and keep them there. Workplace diversity is listed as an important factor by 67% of job seekers when choosing an employer, with GenZ looking for employers who are culturally and gender diverse.

Together we talk about inclusive...

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic! 

Participation and Women's Running  : Gateway into Ultra and more

Matt & Becs are in conversation this month with Nick Tuppen, CEO of Threshold Sports; a company that lives and breathes their mantra of #MoreIsInYou. Their purpose is to help people realise their potential by creating world-class events that make the seemingly unobtainable, obtainable.

Providing this platform has seen them inspire hundreds of thousands of runners at all levels. and helped to raise millions for charity in the pr...

Welcome to Episode 3 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic!

Women's Running and Participation : Addressing Challenges and Fostering Collaboration.
   
Matt & Becs are this month with inspiring guest Holly Woodford, the Co-Founder along with Mel Berry of Her Spirit, which is on a mission to make it easier for 1 million women to get active and healthier together. Holly is also the presenter of the Women’s Sport Disrupt series which launched in April. 

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic!

Tom Kerry, an industry expert in mass participation events with over 25 years in the Running Industry, has joined  Matt and Becs to co-host episodes that focus around mass participation events, services, technology and more that help to advance the sector. 

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Running Industry Alliance Podcast in association with supersonic!

·       Welcome intro and chat with Matt, Becs and Jonathan 

·       Chat about The Running Conference by Running Industry Alliance in December 2022 and Running Industry Alliance 

·       Matt chats to Tom Kerry, Head of Sport - LimeLight Sports Group 

·       Matt chats to Dean Swingler, Senior Sales Account Manager for Scimitar Sportswear 

·       Matt chats to Pete Cooper, Co-Founder & CCO of Coopah 

·       The Running Conference 2023 “save the date” is unveiled! 

Thank you for listening and do subscribe to be the first to hear abo...