SLM: Why did you start the Husky Podcast?
MO: I had the idea for a podcast more than five years ago. When web radio and podcasts started to become a thing, I was in a period of my life where I took long walks listening to these amazing radio documentaries and I think it sparked something within me. Then one day, the idea and format for Husky appeared in a crystal clear vision– like a non-religious epiphany.
Basically I wanted to create something that I myself wanted to listen to – and that has been my guiding light ever since.
SLM: For those who know nothing about podcasts, explain what it is in a sentence or two?
MO: I often joke that podcasts are “regular radio stations but without the listeners”, but I’d say that these days podcasts are a part of the regular media. Podcasts are radio shows broadcasted online and there are few borders between traditional radio and podcasts anymore. The beauty of a podcast is that almost no matter your passion, you’ll most likely find a podcast about that topic.
SLM: What is your angle and are your interviews in English?
MO: My angle is the Outdoors, and interviews with people dedicating their lives to following their passion – be it swimrun, ultra-running, mountaineering, backcountry skiing or whatever. Most of the guests are Swedish, since I live in Sweden, but I’ve already done 25 episodes in English in a “Husky International” series and I really enjoy that.
SLM: How can people access Husky podcast?
MO: I encourage people to check out a podcast app called acast because I think it’s the best by far, but you can find Husky and Husky International in any regular podcast. You can also listen to most of my episodes directly from huskypodcast.com. My goal is to publish a new episode every week, so don’t waste any time – you catch up with all the old podcasts right away.
SLM: Who have been some of your favourite interviewees?
MO: Too many to mention! The interview with Rich Roll ranks really, really high up I must say. I’ve also interviewed Gary Fischer in the international series, and an amazing climbing couple, James Pearson and Caroline Ciavaldini. In the Swedish series I am very pleased with a recent interview with photographer Claes Grundsten and, of course, with ÖTILLÖ race directors Mats Skott and Michael Lemmel …
SLM: Swimrun Life is going to start sharing some of your podcasts. Tell us about the first one, an interview with Rich Roll.
MO: American Rich Roll, author of the best-seller Finding Ultra, is often described as a plant-based ultra-endurance athlete, meaning he is on a strictly vegan diet and that he has competed in challenges such as the Ultraman Triathlon and also feats like the Epic5 that he did back in 2010.
He originally popped up on my radar a couple of years ago since he also hosts the immensely popular Rich Roll Podcast that more or less subscribes to a Top 10 position on iTunes. Just like myself, Rich started his podcast almost five years ago.
He competed as a butterfly swimmer in Stanford University but in his late twenties ended up with severe alcohol and drug addiction leading to a decision at the age of 31 to spend one hundred days in rehab to start a new chapter of his life.
When Rich Roll together with his friend and coach Chris Hauth decided to take on ÖTILLÖ Swimrun World Championship, I just had to sit with him for a long talk at the acast studio.
Ends rather abruptly
Article first published in Swimrun Life Magazine Issue #4 (October 2017)
