The Jake Dearden Podcast

Holly Brooks joins us for a candid conversation about fitness, running, social media and making the huge decision to leave Manchester for Los Angeles.We talk about her journey from calorie-deficit content to building Stronger Society, discovering a love for running, marathon training, the reality of moving abroad, loneliness and finding a new community - plus the lessons she's learned from building a career online.Holly also shares why she believes women should focus on becoming stronger, not smaller, and why finding a form of fitness you genuinely enjoy can change everything.New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.00:00 — Meet Holly Brooks01:00 — Holly’s Early Fitness Journey03:35 — Going Viral on TikTok05:00 — From “Smaller” to Stronger09:10 — How Holly Fell in Love With Running14:25 — Why She Moved From Manchester to LA21:00 — HYROX & Marathon Training30:50 — The Reality of Being an Influencer31:25 — Loneliness, Identity & Starting Over in LA40:15 — Building Stronger Society & Her Advice 15% off 247 Represent - Use code: JAKE247https://uk.representclo.com/collectio...BPN supplements - 10% off, Use code:JAKE:https://www.bareperformancenutrition.comWhoop — 1 month free:https://join.whoop.com/gb/en/Jakedearden

Hunter McIntyre is one of the most fascinating athletes in the world, a 10x world champion who went from addiction and rehab to becoming a dominant force in endurance and HYROX.In this episode, Hunter opens up about his lowest point, his transformation into an elite athlete, the rise of HYROX, how he approaches training, his mindset around winning, his controversial views on nutrition, and what comes next as he considers moving from athlete to mentor.00:00 — Welcome to Hunter McIntyre’s Ranch01:29 — From Trouble to 10x World Champion03:24 — Where Hunter’s Obsession Began05:38 — His Lowest Point: Heroin & Rehab09:04 — The Trident Tattoo & Turning His Life Around17:38 — Discovering Spartan Racing26:07 — How Hunter Helped Build HYROX35:03 — How Elite Athletes Should Actually Train44:16 — The HYROX World Championship Controversy51:09 — Visualisation, “The Wave” & What Comes Next15% off 247 Represent - Use code: JAKE247https://uk.representclo.com/collectio...BPN supplements - 10% off, Use code:JAKE:https://www.bareperformancenutrition.comWhoop — 1 month free:https://join.whoop.com/gb/en/Jakedearden

Anna Archer joins us for a brutally honest conversation about building a career online, turning a run club into her own brand, taking equity in a business, leaving Gymshark, and learning how to balance ambition with actually enjoying life.We also talk running, injury, burnout, moving to Australia, her autism and ADHD diagnosis, and what it really takes to build something of your own.New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.00:00 — How Anna Started on Social Media04:11 — How Anna Fell in Love With Running08:46 — Why She Took Equity Instead of Cash18:52 — How She Negotiates Brand Deals22:02 — The Accidental Birth of a Run Club25:18 — Why She Left Gymshark29:43 — Building On The Run Club31:37 — Why Australia Changed Her Life38:11 — Burnout, Ambition & Learning to Relax44:43 — Her Autism & ADHD Diagnosis15% off 247 Represent - Use code: JAKE247https://uk.representclo.com/collectio...BPN supplements - 10% off, Use code: JAKE:https://www.bareperformancenutrition.comWhoop — 1 month free:https://join.whoop.com/gb/en/Jakedearden

Becky Briggs joins us to talk about her journey from discovering running as a nine-year-old to becoming a 2:29 marathon runner and GB international. We get into elite marathon training, her first marathon disaster, injury and nutrition, learning to run sustainably, the pressure of chasing performance, her first 50K ultra, and why being happy might matter more than running your fastest ever time.New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.00:00 — Meet Becky Briggs & the 2:29 marathon02:00 — How Becky discovered running05:25 — From a 39:58 10K to a 74:57 half07:30 — High mileage & running everything fast11:00 — What Becky’s training week looks like21:15 — Her brutal first marathon experience26:00 — GB, injury & the lessons of a stress fracture33:20 — New York, Valencia & the World Marathon Majors44:00 — Becky’s first 50K ultra in Delhi48:00 — Why running slower can make you happier15% off 247 Represent - Use code: JAKE247https://uk.representclo.com/collectio...BPN supplements - 10% off, Use code: JAKE:https://www.bareperformancenutrition.comWhoop — 1 month free:https://join.whoop.com/gb/en/Jakedearden

In this episode, we dive deep into the science and practice of endurance performance — from starting sport at a young age and discovering swimming at 13, to VO2 max, efficiency, training intensity, nutrition, hydration and heat adaptation.We also explore why working harder isn't always the answer, how to structure training effectively, and the key principles athletes can use to improve performance without simply adding more hours.New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.00:00 — Intro10:00 — Discovering Swimming at 1320:00 — What Actually Drives Endurance30:00 — Training Smarter, Not Just Harder40:00 — Nutrition, Hydration & Performance50:00 — Heat & Altitude Adaptation60:00 — VO2 Max vs Efficiency70:00 — How to Structure Your Training80:00 — Hard Sessions vs Easy Sessions90:00 — The Biggest Lessons for Endurance Athletes15% off 247 Represent - Use code: JAKE247https://uk.representclo.com/collectio...BPN supplements - 10% off, Use code: JAKE:https://www.bareperformancenutrition.comWhoop — 1 month free:https://join.whoop.com/gb/en/Jakedearden

Luke joins us for a conversation about his journey from football into elite running, the decision that changed his sporting path, and his experience of competing and training in the US.We talk scholarships, cross-country, track, brutal training, racing pressure, marathon preparation, learning how to win, and the mindset required to keep pushing when the goal is to become the best possible athlete.New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.00:00 – Meet Luke & his sporting background09:50 – From football to running18:40 – The US scholarship opportunity26:30 – Discovering life as a runner35:50 – Training, pain & pushing limits44:20 – Learning how to race and win49:00 – The pressure of elite competition56:40 – Being more than just an athlete64:00 – Marathon training & 60-mile weeks73:00 – World Championship ambitions15% off 247 Represent - Use code: JAKE247https://uk.representclo.com/collectio...BPN supplements - 10% off, Use code: JAKE:https://www.bareperformancenutrition.comWhoop — 1 month free:https://join.whoop.com/gb/en/Jakedearden

Saskia is a full-time doctor, elite HYROX athlete and lifelong runner — and in this episode we get into how she balances high-level training with a demanding medical career.We talk about her journey from running at nine years old to competing at an elite level, the impact of stress fractures and RED-S, strength training, nutrition, the female menstrual cycle, performance pressure, and what it's really like trying to train around long days and night shifts.New episodes every Tuesday & Friday00:00 — Meet Saskia: Runner, Doctor & HYROX Athlete01:42 — How Running Started at Nine Years Old08:10 — Discovering HYROX & Getting Competitive15:00 — Racing Elite: Pressure, Penalties & Learning Fast21:30 — How HYROX Changed Her Training27:20 — Strength Training, Injury & Building a Durable Body31:20 — Stress Fractures, RED-S & Female Athlete Health35:00 — Nutrition, Fueling & Understanding Your Menstrual Cycle41:40 — Olympic Dreams, Performance Pressure & the Mental Game59:50 — Night Shifts, Sleep & Knowing When Not to Train15% off 247 Represent - Use code: JAKE247https://uk.representclo.com/collectio...BPN supplements - 10% off, Use code: JAKE:https://www.bareperformancenutrition.comWhoop — 1 month free:https://join.whoop.com/gb/en/Jakedearden

In this episode, HYROX World Champion Meg Jacoby shares her journey from NCAA Division 1 distance runner to becoming the first woman to break the 60-minute mark in HYROX. She breaks down her training routine—including double threshold days, high-volume cycling, and heat adaptation—and opens up about overcoming back surgery and a severe knee injury. Meg also discusses quitting her engineering job at age 32 to turn pro, being coached by her partner Benny, and her plan to return to the Elite 15.New episodes every Tuesday & Friday.00:00:00 – Intro00:01:06 – Who is Meg Jacoby? 00:02:39 – D1 Distance Running to HYROX 00:04:30 – First Race Penalty & Breaking World Records 00:06:32 – Breaking the Sub-60 Minute Barrier 00:11:14 – Quitting Her Job to Turn Pro at 32 00:15:58 – Meg's HYROX Training & Double Thresholds 00:25:28 – Recovery, Sleep, and Heat Training Secrets 00:31:20 – Battling Back Surgery & Knee Injuries 00:59:38 – Quick-Fire Questions & Advice to Her Younger Self15% off 247 Represent - Use code: JAKE247https://uk.representclo.com/collectio...BPN supplements - 10% off, Use code: JAKE:https://www.bareperformancenutrition.comWhoop — 1 month free:https://join.whoop.com/gb/en/Jakedearden