Runbelievable
WHY WE RUN | WHO WE BECOMERunbelievable is the running podcast about runners, running stories and the communities we find along the way.Hosted by Josh Rischin, each week a runner shares the story behind their running... from first-timers and everyday runners to elite athletes, marathoners, ultrarunners, record-breakers and people taking on wonderfully ridiculous running challenges.Because behind every result, every finish line and every reason for lacing up, there's a bigger story.Runbelievable explores why we run... the confidence we find, the people we meet, the adversity we navigate, the identities we build and rebuild, and the things running teaches...
EP 50 | Can Running Give You Somewhere to Belong?
Can running give you somewhere to belong... especially if belonging has never come particularly easily?
Since October 2025, Josh Rischin has encouraged other runners to open up about their lives, identities and the role running plays in them. Now, it's his turn.
In this one-off special, good friend and previous guest Shona turns the microphone around. And she doesn't go easy on him; questioning whether Runbelievable might also have provided Josh with a rather convenient place to hide.
Growing up, Josh rarely felt like he fitted in. Persistent bullying, a deep desire...
EP 49 | He’s Running 52 Half Marathons. None of Them Are Really for Him.
Why would anyone choose to run 52 half marathons in 52 weeks... for children they'll probably never meet?
Aly Robertson started running because it was cheap, accessible and required little more than putting on a pair of shoes and heading outside.
Then running became something much bigger. After completing 42 half marathons in 2025, Aly decided to attempt 52 in 2026... roughly one every week. But this time, he wanted them to mean something. So he began raising money for KidsCan, supporting New Zealand children living in material hardship.
There was just one additional rule: keep...
EP 48 | She’d Checked Out of Her First Ultra at 25km. Then Something Changed
What happens when you attempt an ultra you’re not quite ready for?
Jess never grew up as a runner. Exercise barely featured in her life, and even when running became necessary for a career change, she did what she needed to do and promptly stopped. Then, in 2024, walking became a way to clear her head. Walking became running. And running escalated quickly.
Less than two years later, Jess found herself on the start line of her first 57km ultra after a preparation that had gone anything but to plan. A traumatic experience, an injured kn...
EP 47 | She Started Running by Accident. Then Came the World Records
What if your first run happened completely by accident?
For Brookie, running was never part of the plan. After growing up with a complicated relationship with weight and body image, she spent much of her life believing running simply wasn't for her. Then, while out walking on the morning of her daughter's birthday party, she realised she was running late and needed to get home to finish icing the cake... so she ran.
The next day, she tried again. Starting driveway to driveway, roughly 100 metres at a time, Brookie completed the GC50 25km just ten...
EP 46 | Could the Secret to Running at 80 Be Training Less?
What if your biggest running goal was still decades away?
For Nick Dunn, a horrific football injury 25 years ago left him with a broken leg, dislocated ankle and lasting limitations that he still manages today. Years later, after his health and fitness had fallen away, a friend's relentless persistence led him to his first triathlon... and two goals that would change the direction of his life.
More than 100 triathlons later, Nick has represented Australia and achieved the first of those goals. The only one remaining? To still be racing when he's 80s.
In t...
EP 45 | Why Would Anyone Run Seven Marathons in Seven Days?
What happens when running stops being about you?
For Jess Peil, running quickly became much more than chasing medals or PBs. Inspired by family, driven by purpose, and fuelled by an unwavering commitment to helping others, she's completed the Bravehearts Triple Seven challenge eight times, raised more than $650,000 for charity and become an Australian of the Year Local Hero nominee.
In this conversation, Jess shares how running became a vehicle for advocacy, why community matters more than competition, the emotional highs and lows of running seven marathons in seven days, and the simple mindset that...
EP 44 | What Happens When Your Body Forces You to Run Slow?
What do you do when your body makes a decision your mind isn't ready to accept?
For Emma Hansford, running was never about chasing podiums. But after becoming a mum and later navigating perimenopause, she found herself confronting something many runners quietly experience: the need to reset expectations.
In this honest conversation, Emma shares her journey through postpartum recovery, perfectionism, identity and learning that success isn't always measured by pace.
It's a conversation about redefining what it means to be a runner... and discovering that sometimes slowing down can move us forward.
EP 43 | How Running Helped a Couple Carry Their Daughter's Memory
Can running help carry the memory of a child?
When Dan and Alicia welcomed their first daughter, Eva, into the world, they were told she had an incredibly rare genetic condition and was unlikely to live beyond childhood.
For the next seven years they navigated specialist appointments, uncertainty, and unimaginable heartbreak.
Throughout it all, they kept running... including Eva and their second child Ivy as part of their routine. The role the running community has played throughout their journey is truly remarkable.
This is a conversation about grief, resilience, community, and...
EP 42 | Why This Runner Tattooed “Made It” Above His Heart
A pair of running shoes wrapped under the Christmas tree didn't just start Rob Birchall's running journey... they changed the direction of his life.
After losing his father at a young age, serving in the Army, working as an ambulance dispatcher and quietly battling imposter syndrome, Rob spent years believing he had to hide how he really felt.
Running didn't solve every problem.
But it helped him discover something even more important... that being himself was enough.
In this episode:
Losing his father as a childThe Christmas present that sparked...EP 41 | What's Really Underneath the Kilt of a Marathon World Record Holder?
Just two years after deciding to take marathon running "seriously", Nick Ghamgosar (a.k.a the kiltedrunnerdownunder) lined up at the Gold Coast Marathon wearing a full Scottish kilt in pursuit of a Guinness World Record.
But behind the novelty was months of disciplined training, growing public pressure, and one of the toughest races of his life.
And you won't believe his HR data my goodness!
Follow Nick's journey: https://www.instagram.com/kiltedrunnerdownunder/
In this episode:
Why he decided to chase a Guinness World Record Training for a...EP 40 | She Hated Running. So Why Did She Keep Going?
For years, Caity Mulraney lived behind a mask.
Growing up around domestic violence, surviving an abusive relationship, battling addiction, and eventually reaching the darkest point of her life, she spent decades believing she wasn't enough.
Then she discovered running.
What began as a reluctant parkrun slowly became the catalyst for rebuilding her confidence, embracing vulnerability, and learning that strength isn't about never falling... it's about choosing to keep getting back up.
Follow Caity's journey: https://www.instagram.com/caitlynmulraney_/
In this episode:
Growing up surrounded by...EP 39 | Why Three Heartbreaking Losses Changed the Way She Runs
When Jovelia Shield arrived in Australia, she couldn't speak English, knew almost no one, and soon found herself trapped in an abusive relationship.
After leaving her former partner, Jovelia found herself as a single mum living in a women's refuge. Over the years that followed, she would endure extraordinary loss (losing three close family members), yet ultimately discover that running could offer something she never expected.
This is ultimately a story about resilience, kindness, and the remarkable people who helped Jovelia find hope again.
Follow Jovelia's journey: https://www.instagram.com/littlelegslittlerun/
EP 38 | When Your Mind Can Run Further Than Your Body
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is start again.
After years of partying, drinking, and feeling increasingly disconnected from himself, Lou Daeschler made a drastic decision. He packed up his life in the UK and moved to Australia in search of something different.
What followed was a complete transformation.
Running became more than exercise. It became structure, purpose, identity, and eventually obsession. But just as everything seemed to be falling into place, Lou received a diagnosis that forced him to rethink everything.
Follow Lou's journey: https://www.instagram...
EP 37 | Why Clay Dawson Might Be Australia's Most Humble Ultramarathon Champ
A market research study looking for overweight uni students set Clay Dawon on a path that would eventually lead to marathon victories, Australian representation, and some of the most remarkable endurance performances imaginable.
Yet despite all the success, Clay has spent much of his running journey battling imposter syndrome and questioning whether he truly belongs.
Clay is always looking to help shape and mentor the next generation of runners.
https://www.instagram.com/clay_dawson/
In this episode:
The research study that changed everything Losing weight through accidental run...EP 36 | How Georgia Weir Turned a 5K Into a Running Movement
In 2012, Georgia Weir was battling poor mental health, addiction, and an incorrect bipolar diagnosis.
A local 5km event became a last resort.
What followed was a journey that took her from running her first marathon in New York, to founding Deadly Runners; a movement that has helped hundreds of First Nations Australians discover what's possible through running.
But the road wasn't smooth.
After a dispute over ownership, Georgia lost everything, battled addiction, rebuilt her life, and emerged with an even greater sense of purpose.
Learn about Deadly Runners: https://d...
BONUS | She Went Back for Brisbane Marathon Redemption... You Won't Believe What Happened
Fresh off the Brisbane Marathon, a familiar Runbelievable voice returns for a special Recap episode.
When Carly Barkle first joined us in Ep. 18, she spoke openly about chasing redemption at the Brisbane Marathon. Twelve months after her first DNF, and her 6th bout of bowel surgery… the training is done, the race has been run, and now it's time to find out what really happened.
No polished summary. No social media highlight reel. Just an honest reflection whilst the emotions are still fresh.
We talk about:
Whether she found the re...EP 35 | She Walks During Marathons. Does That Make Her Less of a Runner?
Belle Ferguson started running for a surprisingly practical reason... walking took too long.
What began as a time-saving measure soon turned into something much bigger.
Today, Belle is a marathoner, Trek2Health trek leader, and passionate advocate for runners of all abilities. She's also challenging one of running's biggest misconceptions... that taking walk breaks somehow makes you less of a runner.
In this episode:
Starting running purely to save time How Trek to Health changed her life The run-walk (Jeffing) method explained Why back-of-the-pack runners deserve more respect Running marathons witho...EP 34 | Her Training Said Sub-4 Marathon. Her Mind Said Otherwise.
She religiously followed the training plan, adjusted work around key sessions, nailed her long runs, and arrived at the start line fitter than ever.
Libby Gibbins did everything right.
But midway through her first marathon… something shifted.
In this deeply moving episode, Libby opens up about imposter syndrome, identity after motherhood, and the mental battle that unfolded as her time goal slowly drifted away.
This isn’t just a conversation about marathon running.
It’s about pressure, self-belief, and the stories we tell ourselves when things stop going to plan.<...
EP 33 | He Hasn't Taken a Rest Day From Running Since 2022… Seriously How!!??
What would make someone run every single day for over 3 years?
In this episode, you’ll meet Frank Chung... a Brisbane runner whose daily running streak dates back to 28 December, 2022.
But beneath the streak lies something much deeper.
Following separation, injury, career upheaval, and periods where he felt completely lost… running slowly became the thing that helped pull him back together.
Now more than 1,200 consecutive days later, Frank reflects on discipline, identity, community, and why running became non-negotiable in his life.
In this episode:
The emotional perio...EP 32 | She Had Her Whole Life Planned Perfectly. So How Did Running Become Part of It?
Would you turn to running if life threw a massive curve-ball your way?
Mads Biddulph-Wall always had a plan.
As a teenager, she was already thinking about career pathways, maternity leave, and the future she wanted to build.
But when it came time to start a family, life took a heartbreaking turn.
In this episode, Mads opens up about pregnancy loss, grief, and the period where she felt like she lost her sense of self.
Then running entered the picture.
What started as a way to cope...
BONUS: Why TF Would Anyone Run 100km Overnight?
We can't fathom what motivates someone to run an overnight enduro!
In this special bonus episode, Joshie and Natty head down to Run The River in Brisbane; an overnight endurance event featuring everything from a midnight half marathon to brutal 100km solo efforts.
This episode captures the anticipation beforehand… the nervous laughter, final preparations, volunteers setting up, and runners quietly wondering what they’ve signed up for.
Along the way, you’ll hear from first-timers, seasoned ultra runners, relay teams, volunteers, Australian running legend Pat Carroll, and accomplished endurance runner Clay Dawson.
I...
EP 31 | He Was Told He Might Live to 30. So How Is He Running Marathons at 42?
What would you do if you were told, that best case scenario, you might live to 30?
In this episode, you’ll meet Adrian Flor… now 42, living with cystic fibrosis and diabetes, and running marathons.
His journey wasn’t straightforward. From childhood health challenges, to serious illness, to being hit by a car... Adrian had to rebuild from scratch.
It started with a treadmill. A goal to run 5K. And the fear of coming last at parkrun.
What followed changed everything...
Follow Adrian's journey: https://www.instagram.com/cf_runner/
I...
EP 30 | This Run Club Started in 1900. So Why Are Runners Still Coming Back?
What does it feel like inside Brisbane’s oldest sporting club?
In this special episode of Runbelievable, Joshie steps away from the usual one-on-one format and heads down to Thompson Estate Athletics and Running Club (TEES Athletics) to find out.
Established in 1900, TEES is Brisbane’s oldest sporting club. On a perfect Monday evening, with close to 100 runners, Joshie set out to capture something simple… the spirit of training.
What followed was anything but simple.
From sprint groups flying past at full speed, to kids laughing trackside, to coaches driving their athlet...
EP 29 | How Do You Become a Runner When You're Living With Crohn's Disease?
Running with Crohn's Disease is that even possible!?
In her own words, Mary Booth "was the most unsporty child you could ever imagine"!
Growing up, she avoided sport wherever possible; even hiding in the bathroom to get out of PE. But life had other plans.
After joining Defence and pushing through early fitness struggles, Mary’s journey took an unexpected turn when she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in her early twenties. Months of pain, weight loss, and uncertainty forced her to rethink everything she knew about her body.
In this...
BONUS | "Never... In My Entire Life... Will I Run A Marathon." About That...
Fresh off race day, previous guest Shona Farr returns for a Runbelievable Recap… a real, unfiltered debrief whilst the mind is fresh but the body is a mess.
No polished summary. No highlight reel. Just the honest reality of how the day unfolded… physically, mentally, and everything in between.
We talk about:
The worst lead up you can imagineWhat surprised her most on the day What it felt like crossing the finish line Why a marathon will NEVER be on the cards ("slap me" she says)https://www.instagram.com/sh...
EP 28 | Why Is a 13-Time Marathon Runner Telling Us to Take a Rest Day?
Can "Rest Days" make you enjoy running even more!?
In 2015, Dan Creeber was truly out of shape.
A holiday in Majorca became a turning point...and what started with a weekly parkrun soon turned into something much bigger. Fast forward to today, and Dan has logged over 10,000 kilometres, built a routine around running, and committed to completing a marathon every year “until he can’t.”
But his story isn’t just about miles.
In this uplifting episode of Runbelievable, Joshie sits down with Dan to talk about fatherhood, mental health, and the momen...
EP 27 | She Scheduled Cancer Treatment Around Running. Why?
Is seems mad right?
In 2022 Robyn Bell was flying. A truly golden year... PBs, momentum, everything clicking. Then, just days into 2023, she found a lump.
Within weeks, she went from parkrun to chemotherapy.
In this powerful episode of Runbelievable, Joshie sits down with Robyn to talk about what happened next; and why, despite everything, she kept running.
Through chemotherapy, major surgeries, and ongoing fatigue, running became the one thing she could control. Whilst others questioned her life choices, Robyn quietly kept showing up, often squeezing in runs before school drop-off.
<...EP 26 | She Had to Fight to Run Again. So How Did She Run a Marathon 10 Months Postpartum?
Some running journeys are truly fraught!
Lauren Smith is truly in the thick of it.
A full-time teacher. A mum. Running on broken sleep. And trying to carve out something for herself in between everything else.
Lauren has faced pregnancy complications, gestational diabetes, and the heartbreak of loss... all whilst navigating the physical and emotional challenges of postpartum recovery. And yet, she kept showing up.
In this episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Natty sit down with Lauren to talk about resilience, identity, and what it means to pursue something for yourself...
EP 25 | Her Life Fell Apart at 33. So How Did parkrun Help Rebuild It?
Can parkrun really be a vehicle for rebuilding?
At 33 years old, Jen Dossetto found herself starting over.
Her marriage had ended, she had moved back in with her parents, and for the first time in years she was trying to rediscover who she was outside of a relationship that had slowly taken over her life.
Then her sister suggested something simple: parkrun.
Jen had never been a runner, but something about the idea sparked a curiosity... and it completely transformed her life.
In this episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and...
EP 24 | Who Needs Strava? He Built a Running Spreadsheet in 1994
Is it possible for a runner to live without Strava?
Brett Petersen has been logging every single exercise session since 1994. Yup, madness!
Long before Strava and smartwatches existed, Brett opened a spreadsheet and started tracking his runs. Three decades later, the streak continues.
In this episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Natty (yes, you read correctly) sit down with Brett to unpack a lifetime shaped by running. From sprinting 2k home from kindergarten as a 5-year old (his poor Mum) to running a 16:24 5k in the Olympic Day Run, Brett’s story is one of...
EP 23 | COVID Forced Her to Start Over. Could Running Help Rebuild Her Life?
Was running really a saviour during COVID lockdowns?
Channa Marsh knows what it means to reset.
In 2020, she travelled from Perth to Queensland for a triathlon… and never went home. COVID border closures stripped away her house, job direction, and community overnight. What followed was months of rebuilding; and a shift from triathlon to running that would redefine her path.
Since then, Channa has podiumed in road races, won the SEQ Trail Series long course, endured her first DNF after tearing ankle ligaments at Kosci, and somehow still finished top-10 at Ultra Trail Au...
EP 22 | Her First Mile Took 18 Minutes. Could She Really Qualify for Boston?
Could a beginner runner really be that aspirational?
Jill Genereux never saw herself as “the runner type.”
When she started running in 2015, her first mile took 18 minutes.. and she nearly burnt herself out trying to improve too quickly. But what began as a weight-loss and mental-clarity experiment slowly evolved into something far deeper.
In this powerful episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty sit down with Jill to unpack her transformation; from burnout and rebuilding, to winter trail miles in Montana, to running a 5K alongside her dad before he passed away in March 2025. Jill...
EP 21 | Why Do Runners Keep Running When They Know They Shouldn't?
Most runners ignore injury advice… until they can’t run.
Joe Keain is different. An endorsed podiatrist and director at Podfit Podiatry in Adelaide... and a runner himself... Joe understands both sides of the injury conversation. From shin splints and Achilles tendinopathy to load management, orthotics, and overuse, he’s lived the mistakes many runners repeat.
In this episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty sit down with Joe to talk about running as an outlet, the fine line between pain and damage, and why managing load matters more than chasing perfect conditions. Joe also reflects on ult...
EP 20 | She Used to Be an Athlete. Why Did Running Suddenly Feel So Hard?
Can a former athlete learn to enjoy running post-partum (x3)?
Ari Ethel has always been active; but running didn’t become hers until life became proper full.
After competitive Division II soccer, three kids, and a schedule that never slowed down, running shifted from off-season conditioning to a non-negotiable outlet. What started as short, humbling runs.. became a steady practice that helped her manage anxiety, reclaim autonomy, and rebuild identity on her own terms.
In this episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty talk with Ari about the mental reset of starting over after ki...
EP 19 | How Much Can Go Wrong Before a Runner Finally Gives Up?
What does a humble, reslient, accident-prone runner look like?
Rodney Law might be the most recognisable face in the local running community... and not just because he’s routinely dressed as Santa.
Since being talked into a 500km relay back in 2014, Rodney’s running journey has been filled with highs, humour, and a truly impressive list of setbacks. Narcosis of the toes, a torn meniscus, bike crashes, and a near on-course collision with a car... yet he keeps coming back with the same grin and willingness to give back.
In this episode of Runb...
EP 18 | Six Bowel Surgeries Later... How on Earth Is She Still Running?
Runners are known to be persistent buggers but this is ridiculous!
Carly Barkle’s running journey isn’t a straight line... it’s a true masterclass in persistence.
From elite junior sport and state-level netball to months of illness with glandular fever, chronic fatigue, single parenting, and a staggering run of surgeries, Carly’s story is defined not by uninterrupted success, but by her refusal to stay down (as she says, get knocked down seven times. get up eight).
In this powerful episode of Runbelievable, Carly unpacks what it takes to keep coming back. Fr...
EP 17 | She Only Wanted to Walk 5K. How Did She End Up a Runner?
An accidental runner? Is that actually possible?
Shona Farr didn’t set out to become a runner; she just wanted to walk 5k in under 50min.
What started as power-walking at the back of the pack quietly turned into running, racing, injury setbacks, and a deep love for the running community. Along the way, Shona navigated a broken ankle (in fact, twice), torn ligaments, post-menopause training, and the self-doubt that comes with starting later in life.
In this truly uplifting episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty chat with Shona about going all-in on ev...
EP 16 | Weaponising Change... How Running Turned Pain Into Power
Can running be used to turn destruction into direction!?
Will Pattinson didn’t ease into change; he went all in.
After years of a destructive lifestyle, Will reached a point where something snapped. No dramatic trigger. No slow build. Just a day where he’d had enough. What followed was a radical lifestyle overhaul that began with daily steps and quickly evolved into marathon running, ultra distances, and an uncompromising commitment to change.
In this raw and fast-moving episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty sit down with Will to unpack how he transformed unhe...
EP 15 | They Fixed a Hole in Her Heart. How Did She End Up Running a Marathon?
Is this the epitome of a humble marathon runner?
Nat Rischin never saw herself as a runner.
She grew up doubting her physical ability, struggled with confidence, and spent years stopping and starting; both in running and in believing in herself.
What began with a 5km "fun run" in 2008... while still smoking... slowly evolved into something far deeper. Through knee pain, health scares, heart surgery, near-miss goals, and plenty of self-doubt, Nat kept showing up... and always with more grit than she gave herself credit for.
In this deeply personal episode...
EP 14 | A Very Runbelievable Christmas... Live From parkrun
Nothing says Christmas like dragging your festive pudding to parkrun and sticking a microphone in people’s faces (we literally did that!).
In this very special Christmas episode of Runbelievable, Joshie and Matty take the podcast out of the studio and straight to their local parkrun for a festive vox-pop extravaganza. From milestone runners and volunteers to semi-elites and everyday legends who were just happy to still be standing in the Brisbane humidity, this episode captures the true spirit of the running community.
Along the way, there’s a Christmas quiz (yup... we call it Quiz...
