Making ChangeMaking Change
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu Robinson talks with Altra co-founder Brian Beckstead about building a global shoe brand, slipping into alcohol addiction under intense stress and reshaping his life around health, family and balance. Their conversation links sport, outdoor pursuits and recovery in a grounded, practical way.
55:03•27 Jan 2020
Making Change: From Ultra Shoes and Stress to Sobriety and Second Chances
Episode Overview
- High stress, long hours and major life changes can quietly turn casual drinking into serious addiction within months.
- Letting go of the need to control everything and instead focusing on influence can reduce pressure and open healthier paths.
- Physical activity doesn’t have to be extreme; being an “athlete” can mean any consistent, active pursuit that supports your wellbeing.
- Outdoor practices like trail running and fly fishing can offer powerful mental relief and balance, especially during recovery.
- Honest conversations with employers and loved ones can make it possible to reshape roles, protect sobriety and still contribute meaningfully.
“We can't control every aspect of our life. But what you can do is you can influence it.”
What remarkable journeys have people faced head-on against addiction? This conversation between Coach Blu Robinson and ultra-athlete and Altra co-founder Brian Beckstead is a mix of shoe geekery, trail stories and raw honesty about alcohol use and stress. You’ll hear how a simple obsession with good running form turned into a global shoe brand.
Brian talks through the early days of hacking off heels in a running shop, quitting his job, living in his dad’s basement and racing the Wasatch 100 in what he calls “a $70,000 pair of shoes.” For the Addict II Athlete community, his work has literally put shoes on the feet of countless athletes, and he shares how emotional it is when people tell him, “Altra changed my life.” But this isn’t just a business success story.
Brian opens up about how growing pressure, acquisitions and long hours at a desk slowly pushed running, fishing and family time to the side. Casual drinking crept into something much darker: “In a matter of six to eight months… I became an addict.” He describes the shame, the stress of telling loyal staff they no longer had jobs, and the moment he chose to step down from leadership and ask for help.
There’s also a softer side here: ultra fishing (yes, running to remote rivers with a fly rod in your pack), the healing power of water and mountains, and a renewed focus on health, marriage and kids. The message is simple and disarming: you don’t have to control everything, but you can influence your path, one honest decision at a time.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re “enough” of an athlete, or worried you’ve left it too late to change, this conversation might nudge you to ask: what small step could you take today to trade control for progress?
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