#154 Ashley Mateo on Working in Run Journalism, Ways to Vet Resources, and AI

The internet provides us with an endless amount of information about running, but between websites, social media, online magazines, and more, how do we sift through to find what's legitimate? On this episode, Andrea and Nathan are joined by journalist and influencer Ashley Mateo to talk all things running media and coaching. They take a look at the state of journalism and how it's changed over the years, vetting sources and influencers on social media, the future of AI, and more. Ashley's also a USATF-certified coach, so they explore the benefits of the athlete-coach relationship and how they can help you take your running to the next level.

Ashley Mateo is an award-winning journalist and editor who currently works as a freelance editorial consultant. She was previously the site director of Redbook and the deputy digital editor at Shape. Her writing has appeared in such outlets as The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Runner's World, Women's Running, Men's Journal, Health, Women's Health, Bicycling, and more. She received her degree in journalism from Boston University. Ashley is also an RRCA- and UESCA-certified running coach. She lives in Denver. You can find her online on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and be sure to subscribe to her phenomenal email newsletter, the rundown.

Chapters

• 0:00 - Intro
• 2:38 - Ashley's running background
• 5:35 - The Subjective: what are you favorite sources for running information?
• 10:22 - How Ashley got into writing about running
• 16:25 - How freelance journalists get assignments
• 18:22 - How writing about running has changed in the last 5-10 years
• 22:38 - How coaching has changed Ashley's writing
• 26:18 - The role of a running coach
• 31:45 - How to find reliable sources of information on social media
• 35:08 - Vetting influences who also have sponsorships and advertise
• 39:46 - The community and communication in the coaching relationship
• 44:28 - How reliable are running influencers?
• 49:24 - The comparison trap
• 55:46 - How journalism is being changed by AI
• 1:00:31 - AI in fitness machines & training plans
• 1:05:06 - Content creation & burnout
• 1:14:41 - Ashley's favorite shoes
• 1:24:24 - Wrap-up

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