Brendan Leonard is a writer and creative whose stories about adventure in wild places have built him a loyal following in the outdoor world and beyond. Whether it’s writing for his blog Semi-Rad, authoring eight books, or making films such as his recent How to Run 100 Miles Brendan combines humor, introspection, and skilled storytelling in an authentic way that strikes a chord with a wide range of audiences. But as you’ll hear, Brendan’s secret ingredient to success in his creative pursuits is his ability to consistently focus in and grind out the hard work, week after week, year after year.
Brendan is an Iowa native who moved West to attend journalism school at the University of Montana. After struggling with alcohol addiction in his youth, the West’s wide-open spaces brought Brendan a much-needed change of scenery and the opportunity for a fresh start. What started as short hikes around Missoula transformed into an all-in obsession with rock climbing that eventually led to writing gigs with Outside, Men’s Journal, Alpinist, and other well-known publications. Brendan is a shining example of how persistence, hard work, and a willingness to bet on yourself can lead to a fulfilling life and career doing what you love.
We had a wide-ranging, fun, and hilarious conversation about his life and career, and we also managed to wander into a few completely unexpected topics. We chatted about Brendan’s “all-or-nothing” personality, and the challenges and rewards associated with being wired that way. We discussed his ability to focus on the process rather than the goal, and how that approach is beneficial when creating or pursuing an outdoor objective. We obviously talked about climbing, but also discussed ultramarathons, specifically his recent experience running a 103-mile race through the Colorado mountains. And as you’ve come to expect, we covered favorite books, films, and a long list of other interesting topics.
This interview was so much fun, and I really appreciate Brendan having me over to chat. I highly recommend his books 60 Meters to Anywhere and Make It Till You Make It, so be sure to check those out.. Also, watch his film “How To Run 100 Miles”– I’ve watched a ton of ultrarunning films, and this one is my favorite. Check the episode notes for links to all of this and more. Hope you enjoy!
Header photo by Forest Woodward, headshot courtesy of Brendan Leonard
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Episode Notes
Topics Discussed:
4:00 – Growing up in Iowa
4:55 – Writing for the college newspaper
6:00 – Applying to journalism schools
7:45 – Falling in love with the outdoors in Montana
10:10 – Discovering rock climbing
12:00 – Deep thoughts on booze
15:35 – Soakers and non-soakers
18:30 – Lessons learned from endurance adventures
21:00 – Importance of process over goals
23:40 – The reality of the creative life
24:40 – Story of Semi-Rad
29:00 – The need for a grinding mentality
32:00 – Strategies for the new media landscape
33:10 – Brendan’s creative hustle
35:30 – Focusing on the art versus the bottomline
36:30 – Today’s work ethic versus five years ago
38:00 – Brendan’s daily routine
40:00 – Creating illustrations
41:35 – Other creatives that inspire Brendan
44:15 – Film inspiration
47:00 – Revisiting old work
49:00 – Dealing with reviews and online feedback
53:00 – Managing social media
55:15 – Importance of public lands and conservation
1:03:00 – Favorite books about the West
1:09:00 – Favorite films
1:12:45 – Surprising activities
1:14:30 – Most powerful outdoor experience
1:18:50 – Favorite location in the West
1:22:00 – Best piece of advice ever recieved
1:27:00 – Request of the listeners
1:29:15 – Connect with Brendan online
- Brendan Leonard
- Semi-Rad
- Semi-Rad on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
- 60 Meters to Anywhere by Brendan Leonard
- Make It Till You Make It by Brendan Leonard
- Brendan’s Amazon author page
- How to Run 100 Miles
- Hilary Oliver
- How to Become Great at Just About Anything podcast
- The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko
- Lionel Richie cartoon
- Dark Side of the Lens
- Fitz Cahall
- Dirtbag Diaries
- 35
- A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggars
- The Nature Fix by Florence Williams
- Barbarian Days by William Finnegan
- The Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs
- Craig Childs
- Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
- The Dog Stars by Peter Heller
- Kook by Peter Heller
- Hell of High Water by Peter Heller
- Dog Stars by Peter Heller
- The Painter by Peter Heller
- A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
- Do the Right Thing
- Mistaken for Strangers
- Jillian Lukiwski interview
- Jocko Willink