Making Strides – Details, episodes & analysis

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Making Strides

Stefanie Flippin and Carolyn Su

Sports

Frequency: 1 episode/37d. Total Eps: 23

‘Making Strides’ is a space to share the experiences of underrepresented and marginalized communities in the sport of running. Join Stefanie Flippin and Carolyn Su in discussions on navigating microaggressions and policing, sponsorship negotiations, mental health, current events, and more. We hope this podcast serves to fill in the gaps of what might not typically be covered in running industry media, and we hope that through our conversations here, we can be a safe space for learning and a launching pad for making the sport more equitable and inclusive for everyone.

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Apple Podcasts

🇺🇸 USA - running
04/10/2025
#82
🇺🇸 USA - running
15/06/2025
#79
🇺🇸 USA - running
14/06/2025
#65
🇺🇸 USA - running
13/06/2025
#76
🇨🇦 Canada - running
12/06/2025
#91
🇨🇦 Canada - running
11/06/2025
#67
🇨🇦 Canada - running
10/06/2025
#58
🇨🇦 Canada - running
09/06/2025
#34
🇺🇸 USA - running
09/06/2025
#80
🇺🇸 USA - running
08/06/2025
#84

Spotify

No recent rankings available

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https://www.sparcworldwide.org/
14 shares
https://www.stefanieflippin.com/
12 shares
https://penandpaces.com/
5 shares

https://www.instagram.com/irunfortheglory

RSS feed quality and score

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 43%

Publication history

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Episode 12 - Allyship, Intention and Impact

Monday, July 8, 2024 • Duration 01:07:41

A recent article on irunfar.com made quite a splash, when the [white] authors called for feedback on the new 'progressive' initiatives launched by the Pro Trail Runners Association, and BIPOC women answered by calling out the lack of intersectionality and diversity.

In this episode, Stef and Carolyn address the harm that was caused while still acknowledging the good intent behind the initiatives, and they discuss the bigger picture of why feminism and inclusivity must be addressed with an openness to accountability.

Show Notes

1:25 - diving into Western States 100 (WSER) and the [lack of] diversity, inclusivity, and accessibility

4:00 - "you can be a good human and still make mistakes"

5:10 - overview of WSER, including pre-race events

7:30 - context for on-going concerns with spotlight ultra events such as WSER/UTMB and the driving force behind initiatives for change

9:50 - "what we don't need is continued divisiveness; we need to hold accountability and a path forward in how to educate and work together."

11:20 - "let's not make the mistake of making the discomfort of addressing a problem, the actual problem."

12:25 - article on irunfar and what was problematic about it

15:50 - inclusion is not implied; it needs to be explicitly addressed

17:40 - DM from BIPOC ultra trail runner who was at WSER

23:55 - the imperative to speak up and why it matters

24:50 - the cost of the White Gaze

29:10 - not acknowledging an aspect (like race) of a person is erasure

37:20 - what would it be like to be able to purely focus on performance goals without having to also hold the weight of inequities, invisibility, and representation?

43:00 - burnout

54:35 - real change happens when you enter into relationships

58:50 - true inclusion requires safety

1:03:00 - looking ahead

Additional Links:

GU Energy Labs and their work with Rising Hearts and athlete Alexandria Staten

Filmmaker and Rising Hearts founder, Jordan Whetstone

Filmmaker and Podcaster, Faith E. Briggs, who intentionally centers work by BIPOC individuals across the globe

Find Stef ⁠here⁠

Find Carolyn ⁠here⁠ and ⁠here⁠

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Episode 11 - The Venn Diagram Overlap

Thursday, June 27, 2024 • Duration 01:05:55

Stef and I get more into our different experiences growing up as Asian Americans — like how I felt like I was constantly straddling two separate worlds and identities, while Stef moved about not acknowledging her Asian ancestry. We also share about the steps we’ve taken as adults to reclaim and celebrate our heritage, whether through cooking more cultural foods, amplifying Asian American runners, or participating in more Asian American-centered events.

This was a whole therapy session, yall!

We also start to touch upon our thoughts on how social media has shaped running culture and community — and full disclosure: this topic is definitely to be continued! There are lots of unpack!

Special s/o to Alexandria Staten, the Rising Hearts athlete whom Stef has been coaching and who will be lining up to run Western States 100 this weekend! Make sure to go show her some love!!

We hope you enjoy this convo (take us with you on your next run!), and of course, subscribe, leave a rating and review if you do! The Making Strides Podcast is available across all streaming platforms now.

As always, we are so grateful you’re here — in this space, in the sport, and in this world! #keepshowingup, keep running, and keep on being the change we wish to see.

Notes:

00:06 - Carolyn and Stef shoot the shit for awhile, reflecting on Further, the Boston Marathon, Vegas travels, and moving

05:05 - Stef cautiously getting back into training for her upcoming 100K

08:10 - Carolyn’s family participating in the Boston AAPI 5K, and how different of an experience it has been for her kids to grow up as Asian Americans, compared to when Carolyn was a kid

Episode 2: Brand Partnerships & Sponsorships

Season 1 · Episode 2

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 • Duration 01:01:04

“Don’t sell yourself short; don’t let imposter syndrome cause you to shrink yourself and settle. A year from now, you want to be able to look back and know in your heart and in your gut that you felt good about the partnership — that you felt seen, understood and known.” - Carolyn

This episode, we talk about WORKING WITH BRANDS: what has been the industry norm? What would it look like for companies to consider athletes, whether professional or amateur, as multi-faceted, comprehensive humans, instead of just as marketing tools or performance stats?

We also share about our own, personal experiences working with different running brands — what it looks like when a brand actually puts actions behind claims, vs how it feels when companies are merely performative — and we share advice to both athletes and brands on how to build relationships that are true partnerships.

What have your experiences been like, working with brands? What kinds of working relationships made you feel the most supported?

We hope you give this convo a listen, and let us know your thoughts!

“These brands need to support athletes — both at the ambassador levels and at the pro levels — as whole people. It’s not just about throwing up the numbers. What are the athletes doing outside of their training, outside of their performances, outside of themselves? What are they bringing in terms of representation for themselves and for the brand? It’s an outdated model — solely focusing on an athletes’ performance. It’s important to understand the work that athletes are doing as a HUMAN, because it all adds up, and it is ALL a part of the industry.” - Stefanie

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Episode 1: Hello and Welcome!

Season 1 · Episode 1

Tuesday, April 25, 2023 • Duration 35:00

Announcing, the Making Strides Podcast!

We are so glad you're here! Stefanie and I (Carolyn) are both women who stumbled into the sport of running in our 20s, and neither of us would have ever imagined how running would one day lead to us creating a podcast for YOU, our beloved, running community!

Stef is a coach and professional trail and ultrarunner based out of Colorado, where she also runs her private practice as a foot & ankle surgeon. Carolyn is a writer and marathoner based out of Boston, and she is most known for her advocacy work through the Instagram platform, @DiverseWeRun.

‘Making Strides’ is a space to share our experiences as BIPOC, female runners, as well as a space to discuss the nuances that come with our perspectives: safety, sponsorships and contract negotiations, mental health, current events in the running world and beyond, etc.

We hope this podcast serves to fill in the gaps of what might not typically be covered in running industry media, and we hope that, through our conversations here, we can be a safe space for learning and a launching pad for making the sport more equitable and inclusive for everyone.

Please enjoy our first episode*, where we make introductions and discuss what’s ahead!

Thanks you for joining us,

Carolyn & Stefanie

*apologies in advance, the audio file for the recording was corrupted during download, and we were unable to recover a clearer version. Please bear with us, as this issue is resolved by the next episode!*

Episode 10 - LIVE from the Boston Marathon!

Monday, May 20, 2024 • Duration 01:35:09

Buckle up! You're gonna wanna take notes, because in this convo, Stef and Carolyn talk with the indomitable Kayla Jeter and Charlie Dark!

This episode was recorded live, from The View Boston, during the Boston Marathon weekend -- exactly one month following the completion of lululemon's Further ultramarathon project.

We spoke about how we define ourselves and the importance of separating what we do from who we are. Charlie shared the impact of receiving Great Britain's MBE for his service and long-withstanding impacts on the community, as well as how running and training have evolved since he first entered the sport -- and what still needs to be done looking ahead. Kayla dove into her experience as a Black woman leader in a realm that often challenges accessibility, and the deeply personal significance to her of getting more people excited about health.

We are experiencing a movement right now, not a moment.

A movement that acknowledges culture and how diversity is what makes culture great.

A movement that underscores inclusivity and bridge-building as the way forward.

A movement that ultimately elevates, betters, and benefits everyone.

We are so grateful to be a small part of it, and we hope you enjoy this convo as much as we did!

Show Notes:

Start: bios and intro by Boston Community Lead, Sarah Mulvanity

3:50 - overview of convo for the day, focusing on the running journeys of Kayla and Charlie

5:10 - personal intros by each speaker, answering “who are you?”

8:00 - the significance of Charlie receiving Great Britain’s “M.B.E.” and what it represents to him personally, as well as its social and historical impact

Episode 9 - LIVE from lululemon Further Ultramarathon!

Monday, May 13, 2024 • Duration 01:25:14

Out in the desert of Palm Springs, CA, a team of ten women set out on a 6-day, ultramarathon, with the goal of breaking world records and going "Further" than any team of women had gone before: enter, the lululemon Further Project!

When the dust settled, the ten women collectively ran approximately 3,000 miles and broke 12 world records! They also provided an unprecedented amount of physiological data that will change the course of women's running.

In this episode, Stef and Carolyn -- both of whom participated in Further as an athlete and crew captain, respectively -- process their thoughts and emotions coming off this one-of-a-kind event!

This episode also includes two conversations that were recorded, live, from Further -- one with returning guest, Mirna Valerio, and the other with fellow teammate, Vriko Kwok, the day after the conclusion of Further.

Get ready to GO FURTHER!

Special thanks to our Audio Engineer, ⁠Mark Kalagayan⁠, from the non-profit, ⁠SPARC Worldwide⁠.

Show Notes:

2:45 - diving into all that was lululemon Further!

4:40 - background: the conception of Further

7:00 - background: the diversity of athletes

9:00 - background: the female-focused research component

13:55 - the implications of impact of how Further brought together representation on a global platform

17:00 - the shift mid-race from performance to presence

22:05 - *special*: live convo with Mirna Valerio on Day 5 of Further

Episode 8 - Baking In Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

Thursday, February 29, 2024 • Duration 52:30

How do you pull a seat up at the Table, when the Table has historically been an unsafe and unwelcome place for you?

Join us in another episode of the #MakingStridesPod, where we dive into the convo on why it’s so critical for companies and organizations to not simply talk about the value of DEIB, but to have Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging “baked in” the entire organizational culture.

We also chat Lunar New Year celebrations, both from our childhood and also how our perspectives have changed as adults.

As always, we would LOVE to hear from YOU: how did you celebrate Lunar New Year, what your experience has been with brands/orgs re: DEIB, and also ways you have been taking steps to challenge the status quo!

If you enjoy our convo, please leave a rating and review, as that helps more people find us!

Special thanks to our Audio Engineer, ⁠Mark Kalagayan⁠, from the non-profit, ⁠SPARC Worldwide⁠.

Thanks for being here. May we work to be the change we want to see!

Show Notes:

1:00 - Stef and Carolyn share about celebrating the Lunar New Year

4:14 - red envelope shenanigans

10:45 - how celebrating the Lunar New Year looks different, as adults

21:00 - Carolyn's experience participating in the 2024 Running USA Conference

Episode 7 - Having Peace with our Pace

Tuesday, February 6, 2024 • Duration 42:49

“Not everything that counts can be counted.” Carolyn and Stef are back! The first episode of the year includes a lot of reflections on 2023, both personally and professionally, as well as the plan and mindset for moving into 2024.

As always, thanks for being here!

If you enjoy our convos, please like, subscribe, and leave a positive review!

Show Notes:

0:18 - intro and reconnecting after the holidays

3:18 - reflections on the first year of the Making Strides Podcast!

6:05 - Stef’s reflections on social media presence and usage, and how it has been connected with her growth in self-acceptance and advocacy

11:11 - how Stef’s shift towards self-acceptance happened

18:09 - reflections on the pace of Making Strides in 2023, as well as the plan for 2024

21:32- what Stef is looking forward to in 2024, particularly in coaching

25:05 - highlighting endurance athlete, Vriko Kwok

30:08 - what Carolyn is looking forward to in 2024, and shifting her mindset from being an ‘injured runner’ to a ‘healthy athlete’

Special thanks to our new Audio Engineer, Mark Kalagayan, from the non-profit, SPARC Worldwide!

Noted in our convo:

Emily Saul, Sports Psychologist

, grassroots org working to support and elevate Native communities

Episode 6 - The Invisible Load We Carry

Season 1 · Episode 6

Thursday, October 12, 2023 • Duration 01:03:22

Carolyn and Stef talk about bearing the impact and invisible load of microaggressions and discrimination, both in running and in life. Is it fair? How to we protect our peace while continuing to show up in the sport? We also discuss the importance of naming the problems we want to change.

Show notes:

6:25 - how raising a teen daughter who is Asian American brings to light the invisible burdens that women of color need to navigate

9:00 - Stef discusses impact of being reprimanded on runs, on multiple occasions

16:30 - Carolyn's encounter with a woman claiming 'all sides matter'

24:00 - how the burden to process situations in real-time and to 'keep it together' falls on POCs

29:20 - discussion on the crowds at UTMB, vs the cheer zone at Mile 21 at the Boston Marathon

33:40 - why should the burden on bridging the divide fall on BIPOC community?

39:00 - impact of not naming the actual issues of racism and the trickle-down problems it reinforces

42:00 - people mixing up Stef and Carolyn

49:00 - the problem of colorblindness and the privilege of uniqueness that whiteness provides

54:20 - wrap up! Carolyn and Stef share things they're grateful for and what they're looking forward to in the coming weeks

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Episode 5: Barriers to Entry

Season 1 · Episode 5

Thursday, August 3, 2023 • Duration 50:56

“Even the decision to train for a race is a privilege itself.”

Episode 5 of the #MakingStridesPod, ‘Barriers to Entry,’ drops today!

In this episode, Stef and I get into how participating in a trail or ultra race event isn’t as simple as ‘just stepping outside’ (as some claim).

There’s a reason why women only comprise 23% of the trail and ultra scene (and that number drops to 16% at distances over 50 miles), or why fewer than 25% of participants in the outdoors are People of Color (and yes, that number dropped starting in 2020, as racially-charged hate crimes increased, according to the US Dept. of Justice).

In light of heated online discussions of Western States 100, along with the significance of the announcement of lululemon’s Further project, we dedicated this episode to addressing the various barriers that many populations face, when considering whether or not to participate in a trail or ultra event.

While setting aside entries for marginalized groups is a good start, it doesn’t do a person any good to throw them onto a Start Line without factoring in the social and environmental safety of the race event itself, and without giving them the tools, knowledge, and support to succeed.

We hope this convo is insightful and spurs the sport towards change!

You can find us on most podcast platforms now (yay!!), and, if you enjoy our episodes, please leave a rating and review, as it helps keep our show relevant for more listeners!