Resisting the urge to make this entire email be about Heated Rivalry. I could, easily.

But this comes to you on Jan 5, so a reflective and looking ahead summation is where we are.

AND you need to read about Heated Rivalry in the "Check It Out" section below.

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I just finished a book by one of my favorite...well, not really sure how to describe him...thinkers?

Someone whose wisdom I gobble up any time I come across it.

Someone whose previous book I LOVED so much I have purchased it for others and suggested it to countless more.

Someone I have been in of awe of since 2019 as he called out billionaires for tax evasion and spoke about the reality of what it's like to be at the Davos World Economic Forum. The video of that moment is is here. Watch the whole thing, it's powerful.

*Side note, when you watched that video, did you notice who else was on that panel, nodding in agreement?

Yep, Jane Goodall*

So yes, Rutger Bregman. Someone I admire, listen to, and learn from.

I was so excited to read his latest book, Moral Ambition, and started it a few weeks ago. I breezed through Humankind (and STRONGLY recommend you give this one a read if you find yourself questioning the state of the world and the people in it).

Moral Ambition, though.

Oh, I found it such a hard read.

I learned a lot, especially about the civil rights movement and the women's rights movement. About some of the people and factors that set them into motion. I had never learned about any of those people before. I loved the way he really spoke to the reality for many right now, that some of the brightest minds are working for companies, on products, on services that are actively harming humans and all living beings on this planet.

It is powerful and urgent, while somehow practical.

But for the first time, I found myself disagreeing with Rutger.

His approach in this book is to push people hard to leave their "bullsh*t jobs" and do something that can change the world. I don't disagree with that sentiment; I do think that a major contributing factor to the mental health challenges in this country is that deep down we know when we are working as a cog in a machine that is unsustainable at best, actively harmful or even destructive at worst.

His approach is that we should focus on the challenges in the world that are the easiest and cheapest to fix, rather than those areas that light us up and fire us up. He makes a compelling case for this. Showing how some billionaires and massively successful people have shifted their focus towards one of these changes and saved hundreds of thousands (if not more) lives. Had they stuck with their passion area, they would have saved far fewer lives, had much less of an impact.

BUT, I believe that calling people in, not calling them out, getting people started by taking a step towards action in an area that does personally impact them (or is a passion of someone they care about) is the best way forward.

Because once we realize how good it feels to inspire another human being to take action, to see your action and voice lead to positive change, it drives you to find bolder, braver ways to do more of that.

Maybe I missed that part in the book, or maybe I misunderstood, but one thing I do know within my own advocacy work is that calling people in, inviting people to support something, even if it is only to support me to start with (as they care about me) is the first critical step that opens the door to curiosity. That leads the person to think, Hmmm, what else can I do to contribute positively to the world.

Here is one other potential reality:

Maybe I found his book hard because it hits a sensitive point in me, that maybe I would be more effective pushing for change in another area that feels less personal, less, dare I say, obsessive, but would have a much greater impact.

Doing what he suggests would mean putting aside the work I do.

Maybe I can't get over that part.

But I also believe in my core that it is better to get people engaged by calling them, rather than calling them out and having them stick fingers in their ears and pretend they don't know any better.

So with that, as I look to 2026, at Racing For Sustainability we are focused on finding ways to make that actionable, verifiable, quantifiable change within the racing industry (running races), while at the same time, refining our skills at calling runners in, inviting our friends into the conversation, wherever they are starting.

And yes, that's you.

That's why this month, January, I am doing a 31-days-of-trash-pickup challenge.

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Do I think picking up trash every day in Chattanooga is going to reverse climate change?

No, but does it remove some of the unease on my heart during my runs as I see trash lining the streets, going into the drains? You bet.

Does inviting my community to do the same normalize cleaning up streets so we see more people doing it? I think so.

Does less trash on the streets mean less is dropped? Yup. The presence of existing litter makes people more likely to throw it down themselves.

Do I think it will make a huge difference if the thousands of you reading this email ALL picked up trash one day this month?

Well, we won't know unless we try. You never know who you could inspire. Last year I ended up on ABC News Live New York talking about plogging because someone was inspired by it.

So come join me one day this month. I am documenting every day on my social media, so pick any day, I will be out there with you.

Maybe you will find a creepy head like I did yesterday:

Or maybe you just feel like you are doing something to contribute positively to your community.

That matters. You matter.

A recipe for you.

I often say that one easy step to take is to try out a vegetarian dinner, and then share that with your family, friends, community by making it for others. On Christmas Day I made these Marry Me Chickpeas which I ate with potatoes, but they would easily work as a pasta sauce or on rice. I am passing it along to you as another vegetarian recipe I will be incorporating into my rotation.

I sent the printable version, so you don't have to deal with an ad filled blog ;)

As are many, I am absolutely obsessed with Heated Rivalry on HBO (MAX or whatever it is called nowadays).

It has been interesting unpacking it with others, and hearing what they take out of it.

For me, in addition to incredible writing and acting, I really identify with the women in the show, the way they show up for their queer friends. Many (if not most) of my favorite people in the entire world are LGBTQ+, so I feel personally connected to those women and how they show up, especially when it's hard.

For some friends, it is deeply personal, reflective, and healing for their own coming out journey.

For other friends who are allies, it speaks to the homophobia they were around growing up, and their unease with the immersion of it in their sport (those friends who played hockey and football, particularly). One of them is Alex, or Herm, this video is such a beautiful example of allyship in his authentic way.​

For Steve, as a coach to young adults who are on their own discovery journey, it teaches him about how to be supportive.

And did I mention it is amazing television and you will be absolutely hooked on the journeys of the characters (episode five, by the way, was given a perfect 10/10 score by IMDb).

So yeah, go watch it. Yes, there are a lot of sex scenes in there, so maybe not with your parents, but it is SO much more than that.

Be the leader you wish you had.

– Simon Sinek

Thanks to our partner, AG1

The past week, I have had horrific toothache. This afternoon I make my fourth trip to the dentist about this tooth since October. Why? Well, I could bore you with my insurance woes through Steve moving jobs, but I don't need to. Let's just say it's a mess.

So over the past few days, I have not been able to eat solid foods, as the pain after is excruciating, but one thing I have been more grateful than ever for over the past few months of this tooth stuff has been my AG1. It was there with me during marathon season, it was there during holiday travel. And this past week, knowing I am getting that level of nourishment into my system has been a huge relief.

Powered by antioxidants, probiotics, and functional mushrooms, AG1 supports immune system resilience, something I’m especially grateful for right now.

At night, AGZ helps prepare my mind and body for truly restful sleep. I’ve been blown away by how easily I drift off when AGZ helps my nervous system unwind, even on particularly chaotic days. Chocolate mint, about 90 minutes before bed, is my favorite.

Anndddd as a friend of mine, you will get lots of extra goodies. If you live in the US, UK, Canada, or Europe. Enjoy :)

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Be kind to one another, yourself, and this beautiful planet of ours.

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