Ali on the Run Show

"Running single-handedly saved me during this last year."

Carl Radke is best known as a longtime cast member on Bravo's Summer House. Through nine seasons of the reality show, he's been open and honest about his mental health struggles and his history with drug and alcohol addiction. Carl got sober in 2021, and this year, he opened Soft Bar, a non-alcoholic bar and café in Brooklyn, NY, where he lives. His memoir, Cake Eater, comes out next month. And this month, Carl added another title to his resumé: marathoner! In this conversation, Carl talks about how he found running and the role running plays in his sobriety journey, and he shares every detail from his first 26.2-mile race at the 2025 New York City Marathon. 

FOLLOW CARL @carlradke

SPONSOR: 

• Oofos: The best in recovery footwear! Check out Oofos's 2025 Project Pink collection, where 10% of every purchase is donated to cancer research. 

In this episode:

• How it feels to be a New York City Marathoner (1:50)
• On the fear of not finishing (11:30)
• Carl's history with the New York City Marathon (13:05)
• Carl's journey to becoming a runner (15:30)
• All about Carl's training (21:45)
• How Carl fit training into his busy life (26:55)
• Is a Soft Bar run club in the works? (32:35)
• How Carl spent the days leading up to the marathon (41:00)
• The stress of race morning (44:35)
• Carl's sights and sounds from the start line (52:45)
• Carl's high points from race day (1:00:45)
• What Carl wishes people understood about him (1:13:15)
• Carl's advice to first-time marathoners (1:16:45)

Follow Ali:

• Instagram @aliontherun1
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SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

"I just feel like when I see injustice, at this point in my life, I have to call it out."

Katie Couric has been my idol since I was in high school, and it's truly an honor to welcome her to the Ali on the Run Show! We recorded this episode in person together on the Monday after the 2025 New York City Marathon, at Katie's home on the Upper East Side. Katie is a journalist who is best known for her 15-year career on the Today Show. Today, she is the founder of Katie Couric Media, where she publishes a daily newsletter (Wake Up Call), and hosts the podcast Next Question with Katie Couric. She is the author of Going There, she's a mom of two, and she's an avid pickleball player who, despite my best efforts, will not be signing up for a marathon anytime soon!

SPONSORS: 

• Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and take advantage of Lagoon's massive Black Friday sale, in effect now!

In this episode:

• Katie's day spectating the 2025 New York City Marathon (3:20)
• Katie's history with running, and how she stays active now (6:00)
• What it's like being Katie Couric in New York City (12:00)
• On Halloween, NYC trick-or-treating, and Taylor Swift (14:00)
• Everyone has a Katie Couric story (22:15)
• Katie reflects on her breast cancer diagnosis, and what her care looks like now (33:00)
• On "feeling very strongly about certain things" (55:00)
• Katie's take on The Morning Show (1:04:00)
• Katie looks back on some of the highest and lowest points of her career (1:08:15)

Follow Ali:

• Instagram @aliontherun1
• Join the Facebook group
• Support on Patreon
• Subscribe to the newsletter

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

"Oh I'm hooked."

Last weekend, Amanda Vestri made her much anticipated 26.2-mile debut at the TCS New York City Marathon. She ran 2:25:40, good enough for ninth place in the women's pro race and a strong showing for the marathon debutante. In this conversation, Amanda breaks it all down, including how training went, why she wanted to move to the marathon this year, what she wants to do next, and what it was like running through the five boroughs. Plus, Amanda shares her training, living, and coaching plans now that her longtime training group, ZAP Endurance, is disbanding. 

FOLLOW AMANDA @a_vestri

SPONSOR: 

• Vuori: Click here for 20% off your first Vuori purchase.

In this episode:

• How Amanda is feeling post-NYC Marathon — and what's next (2:10)
• All about Amanda's new coach, and what's motivating to her in the marathon (10:00)
• Why the marathon, why now, and why New York? (12:45)
• Amanda's snapshot moment from the New York City Marathon (18:15)
• Amanda reflects on her first marathon training block and her goals for her marathon debut (19:15)
• How Amanda spent race weekend (24:10)
• How it felt standing on the New York City Marathon start line (31:15)
• Amanda's race plan (35:40)
• Amanda breaks down her race at the 2025 New York City Marathon (39:45)

Follow Ali:

• Instagram @aliontherun1
• Join the Facebook group
• Support on Patreon
• Subscribe to the newsletter

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

"They play 'New York, New York,' and everyone goes crazy."

It was another New York City Marathon to remember. It was one of the most rewarding weekends of my life and of my career. I hosted a live show with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone at Jazz at Lincoln Center, I was on the ESPN and ABC broadcasts on race day, I interviewed Katie Couric for the Ali on the Run Show, and I was on top of the world the entire time. This is my exhaustive recap of every step.

SPONSOR: 

• Shokz: Use code ALI for $10 off your next headphone purchase.

In this episode:

• Friday: Annie's Halloween parade, the drive to NYC, a run in Central Park, a fancy sushi dinner, and a New Balance party (3:20)
• Saturday: a run in the park, cheering for the Dash to the Finish 5K, the Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone live show, and broadcast rehearsals (12:50)
• Sunday: the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon! (38:45)
• Monday: a sleepless night, a run in the park with friends, and an interview with Katie Couric (1:00:00)
• Listener Q&A (1:18:10)

Follow Ali:

• Instagram @aliontherun1
• Join the Facebook group
• Support on Patreon
• Subscribe to the newsletter

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

"People always give me a hard time, they're like, 'You never show emotion after your race.' And I'm like, 'You run this and then you try to show emotion!'"

It's hard to describe the feeling of walking out into the stunning Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center, warmly greeted by 500 people in Team Ali sweatshirts, courtesy of New Balance, and getting to interview Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. This live show was magical, marvelous, magnificent, and so very memorable. Thank you to everyone who joined us, thank you to Sydney, and thank you to New Balance for the unwavering support. 

Sydney is one of the greatest track and field athletes of all-time. She's a six-time world record holder. She holds the world record in the 400m hurdles, and the American record in the flat 400m. She's a four-time Olympic gold medalist, a five-time World Championships gold medalist, a one-time silver medalist (oh we talk about her relationship with the silver), and a five-time U.S. champion. She can also juggle, and it was an absolute joy to get to know her during this event. Enjoy!

FOLLOW SYDNEY @sydneymclaughlin16

SPONSOR: 

• New Balance: Click here to get your hands on the new New Balance FuelCell Rebel v5!

Follow Ali:

• Instagram @aliontherun1
• Join the Facebook group
• Support on Patreon
• Subscribe to the newsletter

SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you're enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!