Episodes

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, I sit down with John A. Dailey, author of the book Tough Rugged Bastards and the RTFU newsletter, to explore how rucking can be used intentionally to develop stress tolerance, emotional control, and better decision-making under load. John breaks down how stress inoculation works, why voluntary discomfort leads to adaptation, and how ruckers can train their nervous system to stay steady during physical and mental fatigue. The conversation focuses on practica...

Rucking doesn’t stop when the weather turns cold. But winter conditions introduce new challenges that ruckers need to be prepared for. In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, Spencer sits down with Dan Vinson, founder of Wild Gym, to break down what it actually takes to ruck safely and effectively in snow and cold weather. Drawing from decades of experience as a mountain athlete, wildland firefighter, and pack designer, Dan explains how rucking in the snow differs from warm weather rucking, and w...

In this episode, I talk with Dean Pullman, founder and CEO of Man Flow Yoga, to break down how yoga for ruckers can improve posture, reduce pain, and increase longevity under load without requiring flexibility, experience, or long classes. Dean explains why most ruckers struggle with mobility due to years of sitting, poor posture, and limited movement patterns and how rucking can expose those weaknesses if flexibility and stability are ignored. You’ll learn how rucking flexibility directly impa...

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, I break down why reflective rucks matter, what a reflective ruck is, and how to use rucking as a tool for clarity, alignment, and intentional direction, especially during transitions like the end of a year or a birthday. You’ll learn: What separates a reflective ruck from a routine training ruck Why reflection turns experience into useful information How reflective rucks help you catch misalignment early—before burnout or regret The ideal weight, durati...

In this short, final episode of 2025, I take a moment to say thank you. No guest. No deep dive. Just a sincere reflection on the first year at The Rucker’s Edge—the listeners, the conversations, and the community that’s formed around rucking, long-term health, and smart training. I also share what’s ahead in 2026, including more practical insights on recovery, performance metrics, and conversations with leaders in the rucking community. If you’ve listened to even one episode this year, this o...

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, Dr. Ryan Peebles, Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Core Balance Training, unpacks what’s really happening to your spine when you ruck under load. Dr. Peebles explains why rucking back pain is rarely about having a “weak core” and is more often tied to poor core endurance, breathing mechanics, and loss of spinal stability as fatigue sets in. Rather than chasing sit-ups or isolated ab exercises, he introduces the concept of core connection (the abili...

Chris Hayes returns to The Rucker’s Edge for a breakdown of the new RuckWell app update, released on Friday, December 12th. In this episode, we go beyond surface-level features and focus on how ruckers should actually use the new tools and metrics to train smarter, recover better, and protect their long-term health. We walk through the update from the rucker’s perspective—covering the redesigned training experience, customizable alerts, map-based navigation, recovery scoring, heart rate zone a...

In this episode, we break down the most powerful teachings of Coach John Wooden and apply them directly to rucking. We unpack why Wooden’s “don’t whine, don’t complain, don’t make excuses” rule is foundational for growth, how his definition of success removes comparison from your training, and why the journey — the actual day-to-day work — must become the destination. We explore how attention to tiny details prevents injury and boosts performance, why intentness is the real separator, and how mi...

If you’ve ever wondered how to build real, functional strength for rucking — the kind that makes hills feel easier, improves posture under load, and keeps you injury-free — this episode is for you. Coach Matty Hollingdale, strength and conditioning coach and co-owner of HG Fit (an independent functional fitness gym located in Bedfordshire in the UK), joins us to break down what rucking strength training should look like. With over 20 years of coaching experience, Matty explains how new and expe...

In Part 2 of our conversation with registered dietitian Kyle Kamp from Valley to Peak Nutrition, we discuss hydration, supplements, protein timing, and recovery strategies tailored specifically for ruckers. In this episode we cover: Why consistent hydration matters more than exact formulas Whether post-ruck protein shakes are necessary The difference between animal vs. plant protein Creatine: who it helps, who it doesn’t, and why Why rucking is an effective tool for improving insulin sensi...

Today’s episode is Part 1 of my conversation with registered dietitian Kyle Kamp from Valley to Peak Nutrition, and we’re breaking down the fundamentals of rucking nutrition. Whether you’re prepping for your first 5-mile ruck or training for a 12-hour endurance event, fueling matters — and Kyle makes it simple. In this episode we cover: Why overall nutrition matters more than your pre-ruck meal When carb loading actually helps (and when it does nothing) How caffeine boosts alertness but does...

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, Clint Carr from CarrvingTrails.com joins the show to share his journey of personal growth, endurance, and transformation through rucking. Clint opens up about how he went from grinding 60-hour work weeks to finding purpose through Green Beret Fitness (GBF) events - technical endurance challenges that blend navigation, mountain rucking, and resilience. From his first GORUCK event to grueling GBF mountain courses and 24-hour endurance races in Ocala, Florida...

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, Mark Jones shares his mission-driven journey toward a world record ruck for the Oscar Mike Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering injured veterans through sports and community. Mark’s story begins with his first half marathon in 2006 and builds through a decade of testing his limits — from GORUCK Selection Finisher to multiple Death Race completions. Now, he’s taking on an 80-mile (with a 100-mile bonus) ruck while carrying 40 pounds, all to ra...

In this Fall 2025 Rucking News Roundup, you’ll hear five powerful headlines that connect gear, grit, and community. From a man rucking 1,000 miles across Texas to the latest GORUCK gear drops, this episode covers everything making waves in the rucking community right now. Here’s what’s inside: Terrence Ogden’s 1,000-Mile Texas Ruck: The founder of Official Project Grit takes on a cross-state journey to prove that movement is medicine and purpose is built through pain. GORUCK’s New Gear Lineup...

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, I sit down with the founder of West Orange Ruckers, Chad Haggerty, to talk about how a rucking routine developed during COVID turned into a thriving ruck club community. We dive into what it takes to start a local ruck club, how to grow a team that keeps showing up, and why the rucking mindset goes far beyond fitness. From community outreach to reflective rucks inspired by Michael Easter’s 2% Mindset, this conversation is all about finding purpose under the...

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge Podcast, I sit down with Giovanni Svette, a CrossFit athlete who has made the leap to competitive rucking — and is now heading to the Ruck Race League Finals. We talk about how his rucking training evolved from moderate miles to structured event prep, and how he dug deep and used familiar terrain and a determined mindset to win the “Stairway to Heaven” event — climbing over 5,000 feet of elevation with 10% bodyweight in just two hours. He also opens up abou...

This week's episode is a special roundup episode featuring five experienced ruckers sharing their top rucking tips. You’ll hear insights from: Bill Anthes – Special Forces veteran and co-creator of the Ruck Race League on why you should treat rucking like a sport. Kayla Cittadino – DEKA World Champ and performance coach on keeping it simple and just getting started. Matty Hollingdale – UK-based fitness coach and competitive rucker on how rucking helped him manage anxiety and build resilience. M...

Today we’re joined by Mike Smith, who has been training for some ambitious goals. Mike shares why rucking for weight loss has been a game-changer in his fitness journey and how it’s helping him pursue a significant fitness achievement. Through consistent rucking and smart health decisions, Mike is on track to lose 100 pounds while also preparing to take on an ultra marathon with 100 pounds on his back this October. In this episode, we cover: Why rucking is one of the most effective tools for w...

I’m mixing things up in this episode. I’m happy to announce that I’m now recording episodes where I sit down and have conversations with other members of the rucking community. I’ve got several lined up for you. Today’s episode features Chris Hayes. Chris is the founder and developer of RuckWell. An app that thousands of Ruckers are using to track their rucks and improve their wellness. We had a great conversation. We talked about: How he got started in rucking Why he continues to ruck Why...

What if your workouts could strengthen not only your body but also your bond with your kids? In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, we explore the powerful impact of exercising with your kids; from building their confidence and resilience to creating lifelong family traditions around movement. I share personal stories of nightly family walks, lessons from parenting in real time, and how kids naturally absorb the habits and values we model for them. You’ll hear how simple activities like rucking,...

In this episode of The Rucker's Edge, we dive deep into rucking injury prevention and rucking safety tips to keep you training consistently without setbacks. Whether you're a beginner rucker or training for GORUCK events, implementing some of the tips provided in this episode will help prevent common rucking injuries (pulled muscles, sprains and strains, plantar fasciitis, shin splints, achilles tendinitis, and stress fractures). We discuss: Proper rucking form The importance of rucking progre...

In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, we dive into why setting clear, achievable rucking goals is the key to building consistency, staying motivated, and improving your performance over time. Whether you’re just starting your first ruck or preparing for a GORUCK event, the right goal framework can keep you moving forward without burning out. You’ll learn: Why having rucking goals gives you focus, structure, and accountability The difference between process goals, performance goals, and outcome...

In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the most overlooked tools for becoming a stronger, more consistent rucker: tracking your rucks. Here’s the deal: what gets measured gets managed. Without tracking, it’s nearly impossible to know if you’re improving, where you’re falling short, or when you’re pushing too hard. But once you start logging your rucks, you unlock a powerful feedback loop that keeps you motivated, prevents injuries, and makes progress crystal clear. You’ll learn: Why tracki...

If you’re just getting into rucking, one of the biggest questions you’ll face is: “How much weight should I ruck with?” In this episode of The Rucker’s Edge, we answer that question and discuss when and how to scale-up. You’ll learn: How to determine your starting weight Why 10% of your body weight (or 20 lbs) is a solid starting point for most — and when to adjust lower or higher The safest way to scale up without risking injury My personal “scaled too fast” story and what it cost me in re...