Real stories. Real leaders. Real honesty.
Running Industry Alliance (RIA) Podcast returns for 2026 with a brand-new format, created from feedback of “conversations that matter” and designed to uncover the entrepreneurial journeys behind the businesses shaping the running and endurance industry.
Powered by Supersonic and anchored by Matt Ward, Series 3: Entrepreneurial Journeys > Business to Business (B2B) moves beyond company profiles and industry headlines to focus on the founders behind the brands, retailers, events, communities, suppliers and service providers that make up our sector.
Across the series, founders and entrepreneurs will share the realities of starting, building and growing businesses within the running and endurance industry.
These are not company case studies. They are founder stories.
Honest conversations about the decisions, risks, challenges, motivations and breakthroughs that sit behind the businesses shaping our industry today.
Each episode follows a simple but powerful format.
The conversation begins with a short introduction to the guest, their company, what they do, who they serve and how their journey started.
From there, the discussion goes deeper into the founder experience, exploring:
The highs and defining moments
The lows and toughest challenges
The pivots that changed direction
The mistakes and lessons learned
The breakthroughs that unlocked growth
The WHY behind the business
The WHAT NEXT for the future
At a time when many businesses are navigating changing consumer behaviours, economic pressures, technological advances and evolving participation trends, there has never been a greater opportunity for founders to learn from one another.
The aim of the series is simple: to create a platform where entrepreneurs can openly share their experiences, inspire others and contribute to a stronger, more connected industry.
While every business journey is unique, there is immense value in understanding how others have overcome obstacles, adapted to change, seized opportunities and continued moving forward.
The podcast also forms part of RIA's wider commitment to connecting, informing, educating, collaborating and advancing the industry.
Entrepreneurial Journeys sits alongside RIA webinars, roundtables, networking events (including The RIA Spring Gathering), curated industry insights, research and educational content, creating a connected journey of learning and engagement throughout the year.
The conversations started on the podcast will continue across the wider RIA ecosystem, helping to shape future discussions, educational content and industry collaboration opportunities.
This journey ultimately leads to the industry's annual gathering, The Running Conference presented by haku, taking place from 6th to 8th December 2026, where founders, business leaders and industry professionals come together to continue those conversations face-to-face.
Rebecca (Becs) Richardson, Co-Founder and CEO of Running Industry Alliance (RIA), said: "Entrepreneurs and founders are often expected to have all the answers, but the reality is that every business journey is filled with challenges, uncertainty, mistakes, pivots and breakthroughs. Those are the stories we rarely hear."
"Entrepreneurial Journeys is about creating a space for founders to speak openly about what it really takes to build a business in the running and endurance industry. Not just the successes, but the lessons, setbacks and defining moments that shape the journey and in order to help others on their own entrepreneurial journeys."
"The podcast forms part of a wider journey of learning and engagement across Running Industry Alliance (RIA). Throughout the year we connect our B2B Member community through webinars, roundtables, networking and a calendar of events, industry insights, research and educational content, all leading towards The Running Conference presented by haku from 6th to 8th December. Each touchpoint builds on the next, creating opportunities for founders and business owners to learn from one another, share experiences and ultimately help move our industry forward together."
Series 3 reflects the wider mission of Running Industry Alliance (RIA): to connect, inform, educate, collaborate and advance the running industry through meaningful conversations and shared knowledge.
The first episode will be released soon from July with each month featuring founders from across the running and endurance sector, each with their own unique entrepreneurial story to tell. Series 3 will feature 6 episodes in 2026.
Because our industry grows when we talk openly about how it's really built.
Running Industry Alliance (RIA)
