515 : The Ultra Podcast
515: The Ultra Podcast invites you inside the world of the 515km Ultraman distance. Hosted by Larry Ryan, we go beyond the race results to explore the lives of the remarkable athletes who make up the global Ultra family.
Whether you are an Ironman with aspirations for the 515km distance, a seasoned veteran of Ultratriathlon, or simply looking for inspiring stories to fill your training hours, this show is for you. Join us for deep-dive conversations, epic stories, and practical takeaways for your own bucket list.
For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com
If you like what you hear on the podcast and want to support more content, consider visiting my BUY ME A COFFEE page to show your appreciation :
https://buymeacoffee.com/larryryan
Episodes
108 episodes
S8E2 -- UM Australia Athlete in Profile | Erica Riley
What does it take to chase Ultraman while working 12-hour shifts in emergency care? We sit down with Erica Riley—critical care nurse, coach, and multi-time ultradistance triathlete—to unpack the systems, habits, and mindset that m...
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Season 8
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Episode 2
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54:10
S8E1 -- “The One and Only” Marius Butuc (Trans Sweden Triathlon’s Only Racer)
What if the most important finish line has nothing to do with a podium? We sit down with Romanian ultra-triathlete Marius Butuc, a self-taught swimmer who learned by watching the next lane and never stopped moving forward. From the Ironm...
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Season 8
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Episode 1
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1:17:00
Season Eight Trailer
Season eight is on the start line, and we’re bringing bigger stories, sharper coverage, and more ways to take you inside the 515 world. After 105 episodes reaching listeners in thousands of cities across 142 countries, we’re doubling down on wh...
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Season 8
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2:59
S7E13 -- Inside the Ultraman Florida Rift: Disqualification, Licenses Revoked, and What Comes Next
A champion crowned, then stripped. A director ousted. A brand reorganized. We trace the real timeline behind the Ultraman Florida shake-up—starting with a handlebar-mounted, voice-activated camera and ending with revoked licenses, refund confus...
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Season 7
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Episode 13
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21:52
S7E12 -- Inaugural Ultraman Mexico with Van Sanchez
The countdown to Ultraman Mexico is on—and the mountains are calling. We sit down with race director and former teenage Ultraman finisher, Van Sanchez, to map out exactly what athletes and crews will face across three days at alti...
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Season 7
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Episode 12
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46:34
S7E11 -- Details on the new 515 Race | UM New Zealand
News of the UM brand's expansion into New Zealand broke earlier this year during the UM Australia Livestream event, hosted by 515. Remarkably, the new event sold out immediately—even before athletes knew any details about the cour...
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Season 7
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Episode 11
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40:10
S7E10 -- Ohana Guest | Acyr Da Luz
The decision to change often comes at our lowest moments. For Acyr Da Luz, it wasn't a missed promotion that defined him—it was his response to it. "I'm going to change myself," he declared, setting in motion a transformation from 120kg ...
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Season 7
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Episode 10
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1:35:04
S7E9 -- Shane Kent from UM Champion 2021 to Arch to Arc 2025
Get ready to be inspired! On today's show, we're diving deep with Shane Kent, the 2021 UM Australia champion, who's about to take on a challenge often called 'The toughest triathlon in the world': Arch to Arc. You'll hear h...
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Season 7
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Episode 9
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59:56
S7E8 -- Ohana Guests | Mary and Randy Latza
Get ready for an inspiring conversation with Mary and Randy Latza! Hailing from Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, this power couple has an astonishing 32 Ultraman events under their belts either racing or crewing. They'll share invalu...
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Season 7
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Episode 8
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1:24:44
S7E7 -- Ohana Guest | John Domandl (3X World Record Holder)
Join us for an inspiring conversation with John Domandl, whose triathlon career spans over 40 years and includes more than 150 events, along with four World Championships. In 1988, John proudly represented Australia ...
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Season 7
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Episode 7
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1:40:30
S7E6 -- Ohana Guest | Beñat Oliveira
The 2025 UM Australia created a star in the man who was behind the camera for the Live stream. Beñat Oliveira is a former competitor from 2023 who returned to help out the Dream Team make more dreams come true.
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Season 7
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Episode 6
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58:19
S7E5 -- 2025 UM Australia Race Review with Champions Tim Belstead and Kirsty Sheehan
UM Australia 2025 celebrated the 10th anniversary of the event this year. We were a part of it by creating a Live Stream of all 36 hours. In this episode we speak to the champions of 2025, Tim Belstead and Kirsty Sh...
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Season 7
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Episode 5
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1:36:28
S7E4 -- UM Australia 2025 Race Preview
UM Australia race director, Jeff Morris, joins me to present the field 41 athletes who are toeing the line of the 10th anniversary race. Trying to highlight this many athletes is tough work, so we also recruited the knowledg...
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Season 7
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Episode 4
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2:00:52
S7E3 -- Ohana Guest : Fernando Lopez (Marathon Des Sables finisher)
Get ready to be inspired! We're sitting down with Fernando Lopez, an Ironman Gold All World Athlete and a true titan of endurance sports. With over 200 races under his belt, including 26 World Championships (and multiple podium...
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Season 7
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Episode 3
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58:44
S7E2 -- Age-Less at Ultraman Florida and UMAZ Athlete in Profile: Andy Yergler
Part one of this episode is a Ultraman Florida recap. First, I am joined by the youngest ever competitor to complete Ultraman Florida, Jacob Beldick. Followed by the newest 60-69 age group world record holder, Dougin Walk...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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1:52:13
S7E1 -- Ohana Guest : Billy Rickards
Billy RIckards is a veteran 515 racer that helps others to get to the finish line as an amazing crew person. He lives Aloha, Ohana, Kokua within the Ultra Fam. As a person who has chosen to call Hawaii home; it only makes sen...
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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1:02:06
S6E13 -- Ultraman Florida 2025 Preview + Athlete in Profile (Nick Gillombardo)
Jen McVeay joins me in this episode to preview the field of athletes toeing the line at 2025 Ultraman Florida, February 14-16th. We are joined by to 2 time Ultraman Champion Steve Keller.Steve offers ...
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Season 6
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Episode 13
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1:40:30
S6E12 -- Triathlon Legend : Bob Babbitt (Breakfast with Bob!)
On today's episode of 515 The Ultra Podcast, we're joined by a true legend. Bob Babbitt is the voice behind one of the most celebrated radio programs and podcasts in endurance sports – Competitor Radio and Breakfast with ...
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Season 6
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Episode 12
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1:27:16
S6E11 -- 2024 UMWC Race Review with Gary Wang, Steve King, Ultra Chamba, and Jen Annett
This episode has a number of past guests rejoining the podcast to discuss the 2024 Ultraman World Championships. First up are two of the four people who were inducted into the Ultraman Hall of Fame at this year's Thanksgiving break...
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Season 6
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Episode 11
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59:22
S6E10 -- UMWC Athletes in Profile -- Mark Moody & Keri Mandell
Happy Thanksgiving USA!When Thanksgiving rolls around 515 athletes know that it is time for the Ultraman World Championships.In this episode I speak with two athletes who will be competing in this year’s race.Mark...
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Season 6
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Episode 10
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1:18:38
S6E9 -- Jen Annett : 515 World Record Holder
Jen Annett drops by to speak about her recent record setting 515 race in Canada and preparations to take on the Ultraman World Championships at the end of the month. Jen has not had the best luck when racing as ...
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Season 6
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Episode 9
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1:10:59
S6E8 -- Ultraman World Champions! Who's your fave?
The Ultraman World Championships are coming next month. But today’s show has nine former World Champions telling stories about their experiences in Kona and about the lead up to the big race. It is just what you need to start...
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Season 6
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Episode 8
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1:40:50
S6E7 -- Ohana Guest : Gerard Charlton (Iron, Ultra, Uber)
Gerard Charlton has had a pre Ultraman sporting career and post Ultraman sporting career.Like most athletes, pre Ultraman, Gerard was all about racing Ironman in Penticton (11 times) and just trying to get a little faster. I...
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Season 6
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Episode 7
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1:12:41
S6E6 -- Ohana Guest : Tony O’Keeffe – 3 time RAAM racer
Retired Lieutenant-Colonel, Anthony O’Keeffe, member of the 2003 Canadian Armed Forces Sports Hall of Fame, joins me to discuss his sporting career. A career that includes 33 Ironmans, 9 Ultraman Hawaii races, and 3 s...
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Season 6
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Episode 6
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1:12:37
S6E5 -- Cycling Through Life with Ohana Guest Ingrid Hillhouse
Ingrid Hillhouse is a farmer, a coach, and an addiction expert due to her life experiences. She is a six time 515 distance racer who turned to ultra cycling and randonneuring. We discuss races such as Ultraman, San Diego 3...
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Season 6
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Episode 5
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1:31:37