As the podcast grew in popularity, Rayment and Bingham found themselves recording episodes in different locations, from their homes to the back of a camper van at a trail race, to live shows in front of an audience. They even traveled to the United States to record episodes with American trail-running stars.
But after nearly six years of co-hosting, Bingham decided to step away from the podcast to focus on other aspects of his life. This left Rayment with a decision to make: how to continue the podcast without his longtime friend and co-host. After a period of reflection and recovery from a head injury sustained during a trail race, Rayment realized the importance of the podcast to both himself and the New Zealand trail-running community.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Rayment decided to continue the podcast on his own. He has since taken on the role of sole host and continues to produce new episodes on a regular basis. Despite the challenges of moving forward without his friend and co-host, Rayment remains committed to keeping the essence of “Dirt Church Radio” intact while also exploring new directions for the podcast.
As the podcast enters this new chapter, Rayment looks forward to continuing to share stories from the trail-running community, both in New Zealand and around the world. With a deep love for the sport and a passion for storytelling, Rayment is excited to see where the next phase of “Dirt Church Radio” will take him.
And for fans of the podcast, the journey continues, with new episodes to look forward to and new stories to discover. As Rayment carries on the legacy of “Dirt Church Radio,” he remains grateful for the support of the trail-running community and the opportunity to share in the joys and challenges of the sport through the power of podcasting.
Pottinger had been a guest on the show multiple times, sharing her experiences as a runner and a mother. She had a unique perspective to bring to the podcast, and Rayment felt she would be a great addition to the hosting team.
Both McDowall and Pottinger agreed to join Rayment as co-hosts of “Dirt Church Radio,” and the podcast took on a new life with fresh voices and perspectives. The trio continued to tell stories of runners, share experiences, and build connections within the trail running community in New Zealand and beyond.
While the departure of Bingham was a difficult and unexpected turn of events, Rayment’s determination to keep the podcast going and his ability to adapt to change led to a new chapter for “Dirt Church Radio.” With new hosts and a renewed sense of purpose, the podcast continues to thrive and inspire listeners with its stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the world of trail running.
As Rayment, McDowall, and Pottinger move forward with “Dirt Church Radio,” they carry on the legacy of the podcast and the community it has built, proving that even in the face of challenges and changes, the spirit of the Kiwi way of doing things prevails.
“Pottinger y su socio Kerry Suter habían fundado la empresa de coaching Squadrun. Se encontraron con Rayment y Bingham en 2020 cuando todos estaban en Tarawera, y rápidamente se hicieron amigos. Pottinger y Suter comenzaron a tomar el micrófono en el evento para ayudar a anunciar la línea de meta del evento y encajaron naturalmente en la charla del podcast. Pottinger y Suter continuaron involucrados con el podcast durante los próximos años, ofreciendo ideas sobre la escena de las carreras y el entrenamiento.
Pottinger y McDowall parecían encajar perfectamente, convirtiendo lo que originalmente era un podcast de dos personas en uno de tres personas y trayendo perspectivas externas. Rayment dice que tuvo suerte cuando “los llamé y ambos estaban interesados”, y también señala rápidamente la incorporación de Pottinger, “Ali aporta la voz de una mujer, lo cual es muy importante”.
El Futuro
Los kiwis tienen un dicho que algo puede ser mundialmente famoso en Nueva Zelanda, un gesto algo autodepreciativo ante el hecho de que están en una pequeña isla en medio del océano con no tantas personas viviendo allí. Sin embargo, esa pequeña isla no solo ha producido algunos de los mejores atletas de trail running del mundo, sino que también ha creado una comunidad de trail running unida, y “Dirt Church Radio” ha desempeñado un papel significativo en unir a la gente. Mientras Rayment sigue grabando en un pequeño espacio entre su cama y su armario, hay un sentido de que el podcast está destinado a alcanzar alturas mayores.
Con el primer episodio con Pottinger y McDowall lanzado a principios de noviembre de 2024, Rayment no sabe a dónde irá el podcast o cómo evolucionará. Habla de reavivar los sueños originales de grabar desde Olympic Valley, California, durante el Western States 100 o Chamonix, Francia, durante el UTMB.
Por ahora, “Dirt Church Radio” continúa, brindando una plataforma para que las personas compartan sus historias. Rayment dice sobre el podcasting: “Cuando comienzas estas conversaciones con la gente, estás parado en un umbral y no sabes cómo va a salir”. Él logra hacer una conexión con sus invitados en el programa, una que valora.
Los cambios significativos en la vida nunca son fáciles para nadie, pero Rayment parece comprometido a seguir con el podcast, diciendo: “Dirt Church Radio se ha convertido en parte de mi identidad”. Y aunque reconoce que tal vez no es la mejor idea tener tu trabajo envuelto en tu autoimagen, dice: “Creo que de una manera saludable”.
Si “Dirt Church Radio” se ha convertido en parte de la identidad de Rayment, también es justo decir que se ha convertido en parte de la identidad de la comunidad de trail running de Nueva Zelanda. Y parece que ambos están mejor por ello.
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