{"podcast":{"title":"Peak Pursuits","slug":"peak-pursuits-6878804","podcast_index_feed_id":6878804,"rss_url":"https://feeds.zencastr.com/f/AUs7uOLq.rss","website_url":"https://zencastr.com/Peak-Pursuits","image_url":"https://media.zencastr.com/image-files/6616228a8ec4d8939d6f673f/d0cc8b74-6f5e-4300-b47b-c60a8609b9a8.png","author":"peakpursuitspodcast@gmail.com","episode_count":199,"summary":"Welcome to Peak Pursuits, where we chase dirt-packed trails, soaring ridgelines and the thrill of a finish line like no other. Hosted by trail obsessives and elite runners Simone Brick, Brodie Nankervis, Vlad Ixel and Jess Jason — plus deep-dives with James Sieber — we bring you candid chats with Australia’s top trail runners. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, honest conversations about training, injuries, mindset and balancing life off-trail; plus the latest on Aussie races, events and endurance culture. Whether you’re lacing up your first pair of trail shoes or chasing a 100 km and beyond, we’ve got something for you. Tune in to discover unfiltered tales, practical training tips and the kind of inspiration that only comes from pushing your limits. Subscribe now — and bring your trail shoes.","last_synced_at":"2026-06-24T12:17:55.101236+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/peak-pursuits-6878804"},"episode":{"title":"Vlad Ixel | From Master of Giving Up to Professional Runner and Entrepreneur","slug":"vlad-ixel-from-master-of-giving-up-to-professional-runner-and-entrepreneur","published_at":"2026-03-14T08:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/peak-pursuits-6878804/vlad-ixel-from-master-of-giving-up-to-professional-runner-and-entrepreneur","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/peak-pursuits-6878804","url":"https://zencastr.com/z/u9aXVY4j","audio_url":"https://redirect.zencastr.com/r/episode/69ae9721ed72c5a85f660682/size/210660024/audio-files/6616228a8ec4d8939d6f673f/0b0e4bae-3773-4885-bd63-98ddd1fe54f8.mp3","summary":"You hear Vlad Ixel every week on Peak Pursuits, but this episode is the deeper story behind the mic. Vlad takes us back to the early days: the lifestyle he was living, the moment he decided to make a clean break, and how signing up for a marathon became the switch that changed everything. We get into the family thread too: his dad's ultra background in the Soviet Union, and why that planted the seed for Vlad to chase the marathon and bigger challenges later on. From there, Vlad explains what hooked him: the simple power of finishing something, and how that turned into an obsession that's now led to hundreds of races. Then we go behind Bix Nutrition. We also touch on his North Face sponsorship chapter: how it started, how it ended, and what he learned from that period. If you've ever wondered what shaped Vlad into the runner, coach, and founder he is now, this is the episode. And if it hits, share it with a mate, especially someone who's in that \"new chapter\" phase and needs a nudge to back themselves. Check out Bix [https://www.bixvitamins.com/en-au] ***Don't forget, use code PEAK at Bix's website [https://www.bixvitamins.com/en-au] for 20% off Bix products, exclusive to PPP listeners!*** Thanks for tuning in to Peak Pursuits! Connect with us on Instagram @peakpursuits.pod [https://www.instagram.com/peakpursuits.pod/] to share your thoughts, questions, and trail stories. Until next time, keep hitting the trails and chasing those peak pursuits! Follow James: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/coachjamessieber/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/48288519] | Website [https://www.coachjamessieber.com/] Follow Vlad: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/vladixel/] | Strava [https://www.strava.com/athletes/3232281] Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://up…","meta_description":"You hear Vlad Ixel every week on Peak Pursuits, but this episode is the deeper story behind the mic. Vlad takes us back to the early days: the lifestyle h…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":8777,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/peak-pursuits-6878804/episodes/vlad-ixel-from-master-of-giving-up-to-professional-runner-and-entrepreneur/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/peak-pursuits-6878804/vlad-ixel-from-master-of-giving-up-to-professional-runner-and-entrepreneur.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}