Ali on the Run Show

"Sometimes you've just gotta be a little bit fearless."
The last time Roisin Willis was on the Ali on the Run Show, the "fastest high schooler in American history" at the time was fresh off earning a gold medal in the 800m at the USA Track and Field U20 Outdoor Championships, and was headed to Stanford University. (Listen to that episode here.) Now, the middle-distance runner is wrapping up her time at Stanford — and she's gone pro! The two-time NCAA 800m champion opted to forgo her remaining NCAA eligibility in favor of signing a professional contract with New Balance, and she just made her pro racing debut with a stellar indoor season. In this conversation, Roisin talks about racing at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (she ran and won the 800m), at Boston University (she ran 1:57.97, becoming the first American woman to break 1:58 indoors, and breaking the American record in the event), and at the Millrose Games (she won the 600m). She also talks about her struggles with mental health during her time at Stanford, and about the tools that helped her through the hardest days. Plus, a peek at what's next. (First: midterms!)
FOLLOW ROISIN @roisin.willis
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In this episode:
Where in the world is Roisin Willis? (3:00)
What it's like being a professional athlete as a senior in college (4:30)
On being in a sweet spot with running right now, and where Roisin wants to improve (8:50)
The athlete Roisin looks up to most in the sport — and all about the first time they met (11:30)
What's making Roisin happy today (14:55)
Roisin's key takeaways from the short but sweet 2026 indoor season (16:35)
What it was like making her professional debut at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix (18:45)
Why Roisin decide to race the 800m at BU six days later — and how she broke the American record in the indoor 800m (22:50)
How Roisin approached racing the 600m at the Millrose Games, which she also won (27:45)
Why Roisin decided to forgo her remaining NCAA eligibility in favor of going pro, and what that process has looked like (33:20)
Roisin talks about making it through the dark days, and about the tools that helped her find the sunshine again (46:00)
What's next for Roisin on the run and off? (1:01:15)
Follow Ali:
Instagram @aliontherun1
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"Your person doesn't need you to be perfect. They just need you to be there and show up, and bring as much positivity and lightheartedness as possible. There are going to be times when it gets really heavy and hard, and if you can bring a little levity, a little humor, it goes a long way."
On December 30, 2025, I was up at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for my ninth round of chemotherapy. This time around, I was joined by my dear friend Seema Mack, who is president and CEO of KidsVax, a mom (to Sloane, 8, and Reese, 5), a wife, and an amazing friend. This is our [way too long] recap from the day at the infusion center, plus the story of how we met, and a bit about what makes Seema "The Magic Maker."
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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!

"This seems like a no-brainer. There's this company that really values what we're doing, and they don't really want to change that. All they want to do is find a way to support us."
Professional middle-distance runner Sinclaire Johnson returns to the Ali on the Run Show today — this time as a HOKA-sponsored athlete. Sinclaire is the American record holder in the mile on the track and on the roads, both of which she set last year, in addition to making two 2025 world teams and running multiple personal bests. After spending her entire career thus far as a Nike athlete, Sinclaire is excited about big changes ahead with HOKA. In this conversation, she talks about why she made the sponsor switch now, and what that means for her home base, her coaching (she's coached by fiancé Craig Nowak; listen to their Love on the Run episode here), and her next steps. Sinclaire will kick off her indoor season — in her new racing kit! — this weekend at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. 
FOLLOW SINCLAIRE @sinclairejohnson
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Lagoon: Click here to take Lagoon's 2-minute sleep quiz to see which pillow is right for you, and use code ALI at checkout for 15% off your next Lagoon order.
In this episode:
What's making Sinclaire happy today (2:20)
What Sinclaire's watching right now (6:00)
An update on wedding planning (7:35)
Why Sinclaire decided to sign with HOKA this year after a long career as a Nike-sponsored athlete (13:05)
Recapping Sinclaire's year of big changes and reflecting on her coaching change in 2025, from Union Athletics Club's Pete Julian to fiancé Craig Nowak (28:30)
Sinclaire's "big training risks" from 2025 (34:40)
Sinclaire's "failures" from 2025 (35:50)
Sinclaire's biggest successes in 2025 (40:05)
How 2025 was a year of growth for Sinclaire (52:15)
How Sinclaire is feeling heading into her indoor season opener at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, where she'll be racing the mile (55:00)
Sinclaire's hopes, dreams, and plans for 2026 (59:00)
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'm a firm believer that there are more good people than bad. No matter what, I believe that."
Hope Walz is a runner who works the night shift at a homeless shelter in Bozeman, MT. She is also the daughter — and running buddy — of Minnesota governor Tim Walz. This conversation was recorded the day after Governor Walz, Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 presidential election, announced that he wouldn't be seeking reelection in Minnesota. Hope talks about what that day (which started with a run, of course) was like from her vantage point. She talks about growing up in a political family and about the role running has played throughout her life, including on the campaign trail with her family in 2024. Plus: a very special guest pops into the Zoom room!
FOLLOW HOPE @hopewalz
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In this episode:
What's making Hope happy today (3:50)
What it was like running with dad Tim Walz the day he announced he wouldn't be seeking reelection as governor of Minnesota (5:35)
What Hope's relationship with the news is like, and how she protects her peace online (10:00)
Hope's role in big family decisions, and her earliest memories of being raised in a political family (12:25)
How Hope manages public scrutiny toward her family and herself (20:45)
How Hope found out her dad would be running alongside Kamala Harris as the vice presidential nominee in the 2024 election (22:05)
"My dad's here if you wanna say hi!" (26:15)
What it's like when your dad runs for Vice President of the United States (27:45)
What it's like having a Secret Service detail (34:40)
On the run on the campaign trail (37:10)
How Hope maintains hope in an increasingly intense, scary, and divided world (40:30)
Why running is a privilege, and why Hope wanted to talk about that publicly (43:30)
Hope's take on the running community, and how running first came into her life (46:15)
How Hope is feeling after her dad's big announcement (56:40)
Follow Ali:
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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 needed you all to know that I was drowning, and I was scared."
It's tradition: Happy New Year, and welcome to the annual State of the Ali on the Run Show episode! In this solo episode, I'm recapping 2025: the personal highs and lows, the professional highs and lows, and the beauty and chaos in between all of it. 
Last year, the Ali on the Run Show surpassed 25 million downloads. There were 82 episodes of the show with more than 70 guests (32 first-timers, and 38 recurring and returning guests), plus 11 solo episodes and six live shows. (The guest with the most podcast appearances in 2025: Cousin Jackie!)
Thank you for being her for the rollercoaster ride that was 2025, and for sticking around to see what 2026 has in store. This show may have my name in the title, but none of this exists without all of you. Thank you for choosing to be a part of this community.
SPONSOR: 
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 holiday sale, happening now!
In this episode:
The 2025 Ali on the Run Show by the numbers (2:25)
My 2025 personal and professional highlight reel — and lowlight reel (36:25)
My key 2025 takeaways (1:05:45)
Revisiting my 2025 goals (1:18:40)
Looking forward on the Ali on the Run Show (1:23:35)
The 2026 Ali on the Run Show mission statement (1:41:30)
Answering listener questions about the show and beyond (1:44:05)
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!