Our Wild Stories

From Coma to Comeback: Madeline Reinach’s Return to the Wildflower Start Line

A story of survival, resilience, and finding your way back Featuring: Madeline Reinach, UC Davis Triathlete Hosted By: Colleen Bousman, Wildflower Experience Race Director/Owner In this powerful and deeply personal episode, we sit down with Madeline Reinach, a UC Davis triathlete whose journey back to the start line is nothing short of extraordinary. After a devastating bike accident on May 2, 2022, left her in a three-week coma, Madeline faced a long and uncertain road to recovery. What followed was a story of resilience, community, and rediscovering both life and sport. Madeline shares her path into triathlon, from her beginnings as a high school cross country runner to finding a new passion through swimming and cycling. She reflects on why she chose UC Davis, the unique spirit of the triathlon team, and her favorite parts of Wildflower race weekend—from the balance of competition and fun to her go-to race meals as a self-proclaimed foodie. Most powerfully, she takes us back to the day of her accident—what she remembers, what she’s been told, and the realities of her recovery. She opens up about waking from a coma, navigating the hardest days, and the mindset that kept her going when everything felt overwhelming. Madeline credits her identity as an athlete as a crucial part of her survival and shares the emotional milestones that marked her return to strength—including the moment she got back on a bike for the first time. We also hear about the unwavering support from her teammates, the promise she once made to never ride again, and what ultimately brought her back to Wildflower—not just to race, but to celebrate being alive. This conversation is honest, emotional, and ultimately uplifting—highlighting the strength of the human spirit, the power of community, and what it truly means to come back. Madeline leaves listeners with heartfelt advice for anyone facing their own battles and reflects on what crossing the Wildflower finish line means to her now. Proof that strength is built in the moments you don’t give up! Produced by EZF Media, LLC Podcast production and digital media partner https://ezfmedia.com

From Cal Poly to the Chute: A Collegiate Farewell is only the beginning

Featuring: Libby Hodge, Cal Poly Triathlon Team, Alumni Hosted By: Colleen Bousman, Wildflower Experience Race Director/Owner In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with a senior from California Polytechnic State University who ran down the finish chute at Wildflower Triathlon in her cap and gown — just one month before graduation. Through reflective and emotional questions, she shares what that moment felt like, whether she ever imagined her collegiate career would end in triathlon, and what crossing that finish line symbolized in this season of transition. Was it a celebration, a goodbye, or the beginning of something new? We also dive into the camaraderie of the Cal Poly Triathlon Team, her experience serving as team president, and the leadership lessons she’ll carry into her next chapter. Most meaningfully, she opens up about racing alongside her dad and what sharing the sport with him means now. It’s a conversation about identity, growth, gratitude, and the power of finishing strong — both in sport and in life. Produced by EZF Media, LLC Podcast production and digital media partner https://ezfmedia.com [https://ezfmedia.com]

Finding a Way to “your” Finish Line

Featuring: Barb Campbell - Director, Coaching Excellence Program, and Dan Caskie - Director of Growth Programs, both at Tri Dot, Predictive Fitness. Hosted by Colleen Bousman, Wildflower Experience Race Director/Owner. Description: We sit down with Barb Campbell and Coach Dan Caskie to explore how TriDot helps athletes find their finish line. We dive into data-driven training for time-crunched athletes, how AI-powered tools enhance coaching without replacing the human touch, and how coaches can use TriDot to give more personal attention to their athletes while growing their business. Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or curious about triathlon, we discuss the power of relays as a gateway into the sport, how triathlon fuels mental health, and why the energy of this community is contagious. Plus, fun debate: do you prefer uphill or downhill for the bike? Tune in to find out! 🎧 Listen now and discover how to reach your finish line — your way. Links: TriDot: Wildflower athletes train FREE for 3 months. Create your account here. Select the “Complete” plan. Checkout using code TRIWLDFLWR26. Get workouts that adapt daily, training that fits your life, and confidence on race day. [Claim Your Free Training] [https://app.tridot.com/onboard/sign-up] RunDot: Wildflower Run Athletes train FREE for 3 months on RunDot Adaptive Run Training Performance Plan. Check out using the code RUNWLDFLWR26. Get run workouts that adapt daily, training that fits your life, and confidence on race day. [Claim Your Free Training] [https://www.rundot.com/#appstore] More Free Training Resources from our friends at TriDot: * TriDot Podcast https://www.tridot.com/podcasts [https://www.tridot.com/podcasts ] * Gaining Confidence - RaceX explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NhgvbyoDg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2NhgvbyoDg]

Hooked in Our 20s: How Collegiate Racing Builds a Generation of Triathletes

Hooked in Our 20s: How Collegiate Racing Builds a Generation of Triathletes In this fun-filled episode, I sit down with student-athletes from University of California, Santa Barbara to talk about why the 20–29 age group is exploding in triathlon — and why collegiate racing is at the center of it. From the moment they first found the sport to what makes team culture so addictive, this conversation is packed with insight, laughter, and real perspective on the momentum behind young athletes in triathlon. We dive into race-morning chaos, rivalries, team pressure, balancing academics, and what it feels like when your entire squad lines the course cheering. They open up about mindset, competition, and how collegiate triathlon shapes leadership, confidence, and lifelong friendships. We also preview destination racing and their experience at the iconic Wildflower Experience — from swim, bike, and run advice to how the festival vibe turns a race into a season-ending celebration. If you want to understand the future of triathlon, start here. Links: UCSB Triathlon: www.linktr.ee/ucsbtriathlon

Break Free from the Diet Cycle and Build a Healthier Mindset around Food

Featuring: Jen Temperley and Robin White of Fly Health + Wellness Hosted By: Colleen Bousman, Wildflower Experience Race Director/Owner Podcast Description Most of the women who find Fly Health + Wellness already "know" a lot about health, they've read the articles, tried the diets, joined the challenges, but are often stagnant or stuck. We get at the root of ‘WHY’ they are stuck and how to get unstuck. In this episode we share about my experience in their Nourish 360 educational program and the amazing community of women built around a foundation as simple attention, effort and consistency. Jen and Robin share how they started their endurance-based business, why women are at the heart of what they do and their own journey in health and wellness. We are all very different and they are not here to write you a diet plan, they discuss how they give you knowledge to formulate your own well rounded health plan. Women from all walks of life have enrolled in this program so you get a chance to hear how it’s about healthy habits, not a diet as we start off the new year. So much junk is circling around out in the media today, so we are simply here to the talk through basic healthy lifestyle principles, simple ingredients and what is important. I gave this program 12 weeks to remind me of many things my brain knew, but my daily habits needed to set back as a priority – this is one podcast you will enjoy sitting and listening to as a reminder that putting yourself and your health first is not only good for you but it can change the generations watching the way you live and eating the food you set on the table. I have never enjoyed food, recipe books and food shows like ‘From the Source’ so much. Bonus: there is an awesome promotion for a travel module on how to travel and stay healthy in at the end of this quick listen as well. Fly Health & Wellness https://flyhealthwellness.com Instagram @flyhealthwellness Empowering females through 4 Pillars: 💪🏼Move | 🍎Fuel | 🛌 Rest | 👯‍♂️Connect On Demand Mini Module: Travel - Promo code: travel50, extended for listeners valid through 1/10/26