Work, Play, Love With Lauren Fleshman And Jesse Thomas

Lauren and Jesse jump on the mic after Lauren passed a major milestone with her book and Jesse's recent win at the Bend Pole Pedal Paddle. It's been a busy year, y'know?! After some life updates, the WPL duo answer some tasty bites about board game recommendations, therapy, training for a half marathon, and more. Plus, they dig into how a triathlete can rebound after suffering severe cramps on race day, they offer advice to an active couple dealing with a tough medical diagnosis, and they answer some questions from someone who's scared about having kids when their partner's ready for family life. 

It’s been a while, and just *a few* things have happened since our last episode. Jesse and Lauren jump on the mic to talk about Laird Superfood acquiring Picky Bars and answer some of your burnin’ Work Play Love questions. They talk about racing stress-dreams, what activities you can do with an injured partner (when you’re sick of watching movies), diet-culture lingo, WADA and Sha’Carri Richardson, and more.  

Spring has sprung, there’s some light at the end of the pandemic tunnel, and race season is starting up again. Everyone’s excited to get back outside and into the world, and the Work Play Love duo sits down to answer your questions about it. They answer questions about counting calories, how to properly wear running shorts (with undies, or without undies…that is the question), and how to best prepare for an upcoming race. Plus, they hear from a listener who’s struggling to achieve their “perfect” weight, they get a follow up about the hazards of having a bidet with toddlers in the house, and Jesse gives an injury update about his bruised ego.  

You know it, we know it, vegetable lasagna knows it—communication is a huge help in finding balance in work, play, and especially love. Lauren and Jesse answer questions about navigating and communicating about depression in a relationship, how to find comfort with your changing body during your first pregnancy, what to think about when moving in with your partner, and how to develop a primary parenting strategy. Plus, they offer up some advice to a new business owner, talk about how they like their eggs, and of course, they answer the most important question of all: Red Vines or Twizzlers?

Finding that sweet spot between work play and love means checking your relationships with each one! And that’s just what folks are curious about in this episode. When it comes to sport, how do you balance performance (and is it OK not to?!) gains now while considering how it may affect your body and relationship with the sport in the long term? When it comes to relationships, how do you handle conflict or talking about the hard stuff when your approach is different from your partner’s? And when it comes to work, how can you fit in those big creative projects—like writing a book—when you already have a pretty full plate? Lauren and Jesse answer these questions, plus they discuss hydration, bidets, and Strava-crown glory.

It's been a while, folks! But Lauren and Jesse reach through the cobwebs in the mic closet and sit down for a (very belated, very special) Valentine's Day episode. Catch up with the WPL duo in everyone's favorite section: What's Going On, where Lauren gives and update on her book, and—probably more importantly—Jesse gives an update on his hernia. Plus, Jesse and Lauren answer tasty bites about couple stuff: you know, like dream vacations, how to compromise on a road trip, and which of your partner's bodily noises really annoys you.  

Let's face it. 2020 was a really hard year. If it was a Picky Bars flavor, it might be called "Am I Still Eating This?!" Lauren and Jesse sit down to unpack 2020. They answer questions about their biggest athletic accomplishments of the year, depression, pandemic parenting, and more. Plus they talk about the upsides of the year, like the great awakening to the need for racial justice, Picky Bars having a strong year, and somehow finding more balance with Work, Play, and Love than either of them expected.

In another “late night” edition of the pod, Lauren and Jesse dive into the important things in life: what is the dumbest thing they’ve fought about in quarantine? When do you wear your race medals in a socially distanced world? What would each of them most likely get arrested for? Is pro runners holding hands while they run…a thing? Plus, the Work Play Love duo answer your pressing questions about intuitive eating, how to navigate team training when your training style is different from your team mates, and balancing family life with sports.

You all asked for it, and Lauren and Jesse answer: just what does a “primary parent” do? The Work, Play, Love duo discuss what primary parenting means and share how they divvy up household responsibilities. They also answer questions about how to balance training time and family time when you’re working towards a big goal, what to do if your partner doesn’t share your values around exercise, and Lauren offers some tips for coaching during a pandemic. Plus, Lauren talks about recent meetings at Oiselle and gives a book update, and Jesse gives a preview of a new Picky product.   

Jesse and Lauren dust off their microphones and share what they’ve been up to this summer. Lauren’s found a rhythm writing her book and Jesse’s enjoying his new role as “primary parent” (Lauren is, too). Now they’re back in the hot seat to answer your questions about the balance of work, sport, and relationships. The WPL duo hear from an athlete whose eating habits have changed after injury, they offer some marriage advice to a married couple to be, they discuss what to do if your partner naturally goes at a different pace during your running date, and they talk about how anti-racism should be an ongoing effort when it comes to social media.

Lauren and Jesse are finally getting used to balancing Work, Play, and Love in…is it year 9 of stay-at-home? They catch up about their past month, including Jesse’s retirement as a triathlete and Lauren’s first race in over a year. They also answer questions about how to deal with high-pressure, high-stress situations, how to fuel when you’re burning a ton of calories during workouts, what is Lauren’s “dream” day, and how much does effort vs. luck (and privilege) play into where Jesse and Lauren are today. Plus, Lauren wonders what “crazy” thing she’ll do in response to 1,000 iTunes reviews, she shares her recent favorite reads, and she discusses why Jude camped out in the back yard.

Quarantine is dragging on and Lauren and Jesse are busy schooling their kids, having blow-ups about injuries, setting up a campground in the back yard, and dealing with the headaches of bed time. And they're not alone! Being cooped up is working for some folks, and is a major challenge for others. Lauren and Jesse  hear from listeners who are frustrated and recovering from injury, a couple who thinks "hey this isn't so bad," and are considering moving in together, a couple who have more time to get a side hustle going, and from an athlete who wants some post-workout nutrition advice. 

It’s been a challenging month for everyone—including all you Work Play Lovahhhs and the Flomas duo. Some folks are losing their sh*t on Zoom. Some folks are just trying to keep their spirits up, even though they can’t get outside for a run. And some folks are getting into shouting matches with their neighbors about who should be on leash—your dog, or your child?! Lauren and Jesse give an update about their life over the past month. They share their experiences home schooling, building a playground in the backyard, and what they’re doing to cope with being around their kids nonstop. Plus, they talk about their craziest race stories, answer questions about how to stay motivated during a pandemic, how to be a better ally, and more.

One day you’re busy at work or training for your next race, the next you’re buying economy-size boxes of Lucky Charms and trying to convince yourself you need that foot massaging doormat in the aisles of Costco. Yep. The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically affected most aspects of our daily lives. In this episode, Jesse and Lauren share how they’re balancing work, play, and love in quarantine with a host of new challenges. Plus, they field questions about how to train during a pandemic, how to communicate your worth to your boss, and how to think about whether or not you want to be a parent.

Appearances can be deceiving and the things you don’t know can be super surprising—like the fact that Lauren used Excel spreadsheets to cook up the first Picky Bar. in this episode, Work-Play-Lovahhhs want to know what’s going on behind the scenes. Jesse and Lauren field questions about why some (elite) athletes decide to DNF at the Olympic Marathon trials, they discuss how the first Picky Bar recipe was created, Jesse considers whether his focus on optimization sometimes gets in the way of his happiness, and they take a look at their past decisions and share what they would do differently. Plus, in wacky-Wednesday-like turn of events, the Flomas duo gives you the lowdown on what’s been going on in each other’s lives.   Links mentioned in the episode: Strava: the social media platform for people who love to post their workouts Down Girl: The Logic of Misogyny by Kate Manne Feminism is for Everybody by Bell Hooks Jerry Rodriguez’s Tower 26 for swimmers, bikers, runners, and triathletes. Why Zebras Don’t Get

Jesse called and y’all answered! This week, Lauren and Jesse field questions that are a bit out of the work-play-love ordinary. They offer advice to a married person who finds themselves in flirty situations at work, they talk about raising kids to appreciate and understand diversity, they consider when to trade sleep for working out and vice versa, and they talk about breaking up with (and getting back together with) a long-term partner. Plus, Lauren gives an update on her book and Jesse celebrates some Picky Bars successes.

How do you know when you’re overdoing it? When do your emotional, physical, and intellectual efforts start yielding diminishing returns? It’s not easy to know, especially when you’re balancing work, play, and relationships. Jesse and Lauren answer questions about persistent soreness during a training cycle (does it mean you’re over-training?), whether it’s wise to maintain a friendship with an ex when you still have feelings for them, and what it means when you start to backslide in your marathon performance. Plus, they discuss the intersection of inclusivity and competition when it comes to trans athletes, how to deal with hANGER, and Jesse’s arts-and-crafts skill level.

It’s pretty easy to fall in love with your sport, moving your body, and chasing athletic goals. But what happens when your love of sport affects your love life? Jesse and Lauren celebrate Valentine’s Day (and their first-date anniversary) by answering your questions about the intersection of love, intimacy, and sport. They dish the dirt on what happens to your libido when you’re training for a triathlon (and what to do about it). They give advice on cultivating a healthy sex life when balancing work, play, and love. They hear from a high school XC runner who’s worried about missing out on social life. And they offer up some tips on how to avoid letting your Ironman training affect your family life and work life. Plus, Lauren talks about her week meeting editors in NYC, and Jesse announces a new Picky Bars product.

It’s been a busy few weeks for the Flomas duo. Lauren’s been laser focused on completing her book proposal (with publisher meetings on the calendar!) and coaching Little Wing athletes. Meanwhile, Jesse’s been working hard on a new product launch for Picky Bars and planning for his 40th birthday. But amidst the beginning-of-the-year craziness, they get a quick Work, Play, Love date to answer your questions. Jesse and Lauren consider whether ultra-endurance events are “good for you” or not, they let you know signs of overtraining vs. constructive fatigue, they offer some advice about mixing up speed-work training, and they consider what to do when your partner suggests a vacation ahead of your “A” race. Plus, they talk wedding planning, Picky Bars and braces, and more.

Lauren’s got an exciting announcement about a new partnership and Jesse’s got updates about his knee (is it an injury? Is it something else??), the Picky Bars Co-exist campaign, and the all-new Picky Bars AmBADASSador program. Jesse and Lauren also answer questions about what to do when your partner is super focused on competing, how to get motivated and stay active when you don’t have a coach, and how to handle “retirement” as an avid runner. Plus, they offer a ton of practical advice about strength training exercises, running cadence, working on your strengths vs. weaknesses, and more.