Secretly Sporty cover art

Secretly Sporty

Secretly Sporty

By: Sebastian Langdell
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What if working out was about more than the workout? Each week, writer and fitness enthusiast Sebastian Langdell talks to an author, musician, comedian, filmmaker, or other creative about their exercise routine, athletic passions, approach to nutrition – and, most importantly, how their fitness practice fuels their artistic practice.

You’ll hear about how boxing and bouldering boost mental health, long bike rides offer a shortcut to transcendence, and getting physically stronger leads to more ambitious art.

By the end of the episode, you’ll be inspired to both hit the gym and write your novel.


Have someone you’d love to hear discuss their workout routine? Email us at secretlysportypodcast@gmail.com.


Note: The views expressed in this show are those of the show’s creators or the guests, and not those of any other entity or institution. Please consult with a doctor before starting any new exercise routine or nutritional program.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Varsity Arts, LLC Art Hygiene & Healthy Living Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Isaac Butler’s Perfect Moment for Pilates

    Isaac Butler’s Perfect Moment for Pilates
    Jun 29 2026
    Award-winning writer Isaac Butler — author of The Method: How the Twentieth Century Learned to Act; and The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art and the Birth of America’s Culture Wars — shares with Sebastian how Pilates unlocked a consistent exercise habit for the first time in his life, why he’s learning the bass, and what the culture wars of the 80s and 90s can tell us about the way society views the body. The two also trade thoughts on their favorite Yo La Tengo albums and reminisce about 2 Live Crew. Plus, Sebastian and Austen celebrate Secretly Sporty’s first award!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    27 mins
  • Greg Marshall and the Speed Bike to Nowhere

    Greg Marshall and the Speed Bike to Nowhere
    Jun 22 2026
    Greg Marshall, author of the acclaimed memoir Leg: The Story of a Limb & the Boy Who Grew From It, joins Sebastian to discuss why Peloton classes give him the same sense of peace as a well-lit department store, how learning he had cerebral palsy at 30 affected his exercise routine, and why he thinks about optimization differently than his husband Lucas Schaefer (last week’s guest). Plus, he discusses how he balanced comedy and craft in Leg, and why he thinks everyone needs creativity in their lives.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    27 mins
  • Lucas Schaefer Slips into the Ring

    Lucas Schaefer Slips into the Ring
    Jun 15 2026
    Author Lucas Schaefer shares with Sebastian how Lord’s Boxing Gym in Austin changed his relationship with fitness and inspired his award-winning debut novel The Slip. He also dishes on his current pet peeve in the fitness industry, reflects on the parallels between writing and working out, and explains how having his first child has impacted his approach to exercise and food. Plus: he goes deep on the doubt and uncertainty he felt during the twelve years he worked on The Slip.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    25 mins
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