New Zealand’s Matt Rayment has many roles: father of three, husband, psychiatric nurse, runner, race director, and “a kind of ‘Dust Church Radio’ guys.” For the previous six years, alongside his good mate Eugene Bingham, Rayment has been placing out a near-weekly path working podcast referred to as “Dust Church Radio.”
With friends starting from Kiwi runners doing extraordinary issues domestically, to high-profile worldwide stars of the game like Courtney Dauwalter, and to sport leaders equivalent to iRunFar’s personal Bryon Powell, the friends are as different because the subjects they talk about. And with Rayment and Bingham on the helm of the present, every episode looks like a bunch of mates getting collectively for a chat.
However after six years, change is in — or, as a substitute, on — the air for the favored podcast.
Eugene Bingham (left) and Matt Rayment presenting a stay episode of “Dust Church Radio.” All pictures courtesy of Matt Rayment.
Whereas New Zealand is a comparatively small nation with a fair smaller inhabitants, it has all the time punched above its weight in sports activities, together with path working. With the nation’s inhabitants a mere 5.2 million, it’s produced a few of path working’s greats, together with Jonathan Wyatt, Anna Frost, Scotty Hawker, Ruth Croft, and Daniel Jones. This crop of expertise comes from a rustic the place a good portion of the inhabitants embraces sport as a lifestyle. It appears pure {that a} small working podcast that began at a kitchen desk has grown into a lot extra.
What began as an thought between two mates on a weekly Sunday run generally known as their “dust church,” the podcast has turn into a staple of listening within the New Zealand path working group — and past. Over time, it has expanded to stay reveals, race protection, a Substack publication, and extra.
However after practically six years and 300 episodes of co-hosting, Bingham determined to name it quits to give attention to different components of his life. His stepping away virtually ended the podcast earlier this yr, as Rayment was left to ponder: How does one proceed with a podcast you’ve been doing together with your buddy weekly for greater than half a decade? How do you make it totally different sufficient that it doesn’t really feel such as you’re simply changing a number? How do you do all that whereas sustaining the essence of what makes the present distinctive? Is it definitely worth the effort?
It took a head damage throughout a path race — and the next restoration — for Rayment to appreciate how very important the podcast was to him and the New Zealand path working group. And from there, there was no turning again.
Matt Rayment working the Kepler Problem, an iconic New Zealand path race.
Rayment’s Working Origins
Rayment wasn’t all the time a runner. He was first a musician who didn’t actually partake in lots of sports activities rising up, however then he grew to become a mountain biker and moved from the town to Rotorua, a mountain biking sizzling spot. However with a transfer again to Auckland, the nation’s capital and largest metropolis, on the horizon, he realized that he wouldn’t be capable to get the identical period of time using on the paths that he used to, and he knew he needed to keep energetic. He’d lived the sedentary life earlier than and wasn’t about to return to it.
So, he began working.
First, it was simply all the way down to the top of his gravel driveway and again, after which twice there and again, and slowly, over time, he constructed up working health in preparation for his transfer again to the town. As soon as in Auckland, he adopted the closest path system, Riverhead Forest, northwest of the town, as his playground.
Of the world, he says, “It’s not a working vacation spot. It doesn’t have the largest peaks or the nicest views, nevertheless it has good trails, from doubletrack to technical singletrack.” His love and appreciation of the world are obvious when describing the paths.
He rapidly began working with a bunch on Sundays. One of many group’s members would say, “Properly, I’m off to dust church at this time,” giving the group its title. Eugene Bingham was in that group of runners.
Throughout this era, Rayment was editor of the “Kiwi Path Runner” publication and labored full-time as a psychiatric nurse. Each jobs required the power to attach with folks to assist them inform their tales, one thing Rayment loved doing.
Matt Rayment (left) and Eugene Bingham on a run.
Begin of “Dust Church Radio”
Bingham was the one who initially advised beginning a podcast. The pair have been out on a run when he requested Rayment, “What would you do in the event you didn’t have ‘Kiwi Path Runner’ anymore?” This assertion was quickly adopted by suggesting they begin a podcast collectively. Bingham, an completed author whose work spans every part from smaller regional publications to the “New Zealand Herald” nationwide publication, additionally had a knack for telling tales — and serving to others inform theirs.
That they had no grand ambitions with their fledgling podcast. They recorded a fast pilot and invited their buddy Paul Charteris, the founding father of the Tarawera Ultramarathon, a fixture within the New Zealand path world, to be their first visitor. That was in July of 2018. “It was the three of us across the kitchen desk recording,” says Rayment of the low-key affair of which he had no expectations moreover having a superb time together with his mates.
Subsequent up was Kiwi Fiona Hayvice, who has made her mark within the working world specializing in multiday races, like yard ultras. Then there was Kiwi Grant Guise, who has completed the Hardrock 100 twice and likewise carried out nicely on the Tarawera 100 Mile.
Their first worldwide visitor was American Dean Karnazes, who appeared on their seventh episode, Jeff Browning chatted with them three episodes later, then Lucy Bartholomew on episode 14, Scotty Hawker on episode 15, Dylan Bowman on 17, Ruth Croft on 21, Courtney Dauwalter on 24, and Anna Frost on 25.
And that was all inside the first six months. Rayment laughs at their star-studded lineup of friends on the present, “We had a reasonably good run early on of individuals.” He goes on to say, “We have been good at cold-calling folks and asking in the event that they needed to be on our podcast.” Perhaps it was their accents or the depth of the dialog that made this podcast totally different, however folks have been saying sure.
For 2 guys recording at their kitchen desk, they have been rapidly creating one thing nicely past expectations. However that is, in spite of everything, the Kiwi manner of doing issues.
Bingham (left) and Rayment recording an episode of “Dust Church Radio.”
“Dust Church Radio” Grows
The podcast’s recognition grew rapidly, particularly in New Zealand, a rustic full of runners able to hearken to a superb yarn, and Rayment and Bingham had a knack for locating good tales. Whereas they by no means had a transparent imaginative and prescient of the place to take the podcast, it appears their expertise was speaking in regards to the tangents quite than the primary storylines.
They interviewed Kathrine Switzer, the primary lady to run the Boston Marathon, and took a deep dive into what it was prefer to be accosted by the race officers in the course of the race. Rayment mentions the interview as considered one of his most memorable, saying, “[She had] an expertise that, as a person, I’d by no means have to fret about.”
Because the podcast grew, so did the pair’s ambitions of what it might flip into. Whereas they’d traveled to the Tarawera 100 Mile, the largest 100-mile occasion within the nation, to file, they dreamed of touring internationally to do their present, with eyes on races like Western States 100 and UTMB.
However then the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, the world shut down, and goals of touring internationally have been rapidly placed on the again burner as New Zealand’s borders closed and required an in depth quarantine to journey. “Dust Church Radio” shifted its focus from the world stage to New Zealand and Australian runners, and from elites to regular folks doing extraordinary issues.
They’ve had Malcolm Regulation, a Kiwi fundraiser, race organizer, and founding father of a community-driven listing of trails within the nation referred to as “Wild Issues;” Kerry Suter and Ali Pottinger, who function the coaching platform Squadrun have been friends; the founding father of the Tarawera 100 Mile has featured prominently; and elite runner and Kiwi Nancy Jiang has chatted with the pair on a number of events.
Ali Pottinger along with her son, Sebastian. Pottinger would go on to turn into co-host of “Dust Church Radio.”
Whether or not the pair are speaking to a famous person within the sport, somebody thought of world-famous in New Zealand, or somebody with a superb story, the one fixed is that the listener will get to really feel like they’re listening to a set of mates spin a yarn whereas sitting collectively and having a superb time.
The pair has recorded in quite a lot of places — indoors, outdoor, on the aspect of a lake in the course of the evening — a recording Rayment notes was considered one of his favorites. Whereas they lack the skilled studio or recording gear of different common podcasts, it has by no means inhibited their means to inform a narrative, relate to their friends, or join with their viewers.
Adjustments of Course, Adjustments of Coronary heart
In June 2024, Bingham requested Rayment to talk at a restaurant. Bingham mentioned then that, for numerous causes, he felt that it was time for him to maneuver on from “Dust Church Radio” to pursue different features of his life.
Rayment was devastated. He says, “It felt like I used to be being damaged up with.” After six years of doing the podcast collectively, Rayment couldn’t fathom doing it with out his buddy. He determined that if Bingham was out, he wasn’t going to maintain on going with the podcast.
He mentioned on a later podcast, “I felt too previous to begin once more.” It simply wouldn’t be the identical. However Rayment understood the place his buddy was coming from and was accepting, saying, “Simply since you perceive somebody’s choice doesn’t imply you must prefer it.”
Then, in July 2024, Rayment lined as much as race the WUU2K, a 45-kilometer race outdoors of Wellington. Partway by means of the run, Rayment fell arduous, hitting his head on the bottom. Getting up, he was decided to complete the race. He admits it was half ego, of not eager to be the “Dust Church Radio” man who didn’t end the race, that saved him going to the end line. It wasn’t till he returned to work the next week that he must admit that he’d given himself a concussion and was fighting primary duties involving reminiscence.
It was a four-month restoration interval from the crash, giving Rayment ample time to mirror on the issues in life that have been vital to him. Sure, his work, household, and every part else he was engaged on, but in addition “Dust Church Radio.” He realized how a lot the podcast, and the group constructed up round it, meant to him. With this new readability, Rayment determined the podcast wanted to stay on for himself and the New Zealand path working world.
Like together with his refusal to give up the WUU2K, he says he “didn’t wish to be the ‘Dust Church Radio’ man who didn’t end ‘Dust Church Radio.’”
New Hosts, New Views
Rayment knew he didn’t wish to carry the podcast alone and wanted to discover a new co-host, or possibly two. He needed one thing totally different sufficient that it didn’t really feel like he was simply changing Bingham. “It wasn’t going to be the identical as earlier than as a result of it wasn’t going to be Eugene,” however a giant change-up would guarantee a brand new heading for the podcast.
Rayment referred to as up two people who’d been concerned with the present for a very long time, Andrew McDowall and Ali Pottinger, to see in the event that they have been involved in internet hosting with him.
Andrew McDowall stepped up as “Dust Church Radio” co-host in 2024.
McDowall had been a buddy of the podcast from the start. A sound engineer, he’d referred to as up Rayment and Bingham after their first episode and instructed them, “Your sound sucks.” He’s been within the periphery ever since, doing music for the present and being a visitor a number of instances surrounding his run on the 2024 Western States 100.
Rayment additionally referred to as up Ali Pottinger. Pottinger and her associate Kerry Suter had based the teaching firm Squadrun. They met Rayment and Bingham in 2020 once they have been all at Tarawera, and so they all rapidly grew to become mates. Pottinger and Suter started taking on the microphone on the occasion to assist announce the occasion’s end line and naturally match into the podcast’s banter. Pottinger and Suter continued to remain concerned with the podcast over the subsequent a number of years, providing insights into the race scene and coaching.
Pottinger and McDowall appeared like an ideal match, turning what was initially a two-person podcast right into a three-person one and bringing in outdoors views. Rayment says that he was fortunate when “I referred to as them up and so they have been each eager,” and can be fast to notice of the addition of Pottinger, “Ali brings a lady’s voice, which is so vital.”
The Future
Kiwis have a saying that one thing may be world-famous in New Zealand, a considerably self-deprecating nod to the truth that they’re on a small island in the course of the ocean with not all that many individuals dwelling there. Nonetheless, that small island has not solely produced a few of the finest path working athletes on this planet but in addition created a tight-knit path working group, and “Dust Church Radio” has performed a big half in bringing folks collectively. Whereas Rayment continues to be recording in a small area between his mattress and his closet, there’s a way that the podcast is destined for higher heights.
With the primary episode with Pottinger and McDowall launched in early November 2024, Rayment doesn’t know the place the podcast will go or the way it will evolve. He speaks of rekindling the unique goals of recording from Olympic Valley, California, through the Western States 100 or Chamonix, France, throughout UTMB.
For now, “Dust Church Radio” continues, offering a platform for folks to share their tales. Rayment says of podcasting, “If you begin these conversations with folks, you’re standing at a threshold, and also you don’t know the way it’s going to go.” He will get to make a connection together with his friends on the present, one which he values.
Important life adjustments are by no means straightforward for anybody, however Rayment appears dedicated to persevering with with the podcast, saying, “’Dust Church Radio’ has turn into a part of my id.” And whereas he acknowledges that possibly it’s not one of the best thought to have your work wrapped up in your self-view, he says, “I believe it’s in a wholesome manner.”
If “Dust Church Radio” has turn into a part of Rayment’s id, it’s additionally truthful to say that it has turn into a part of the New Zealand path working group’s id as nicely. And it looks as if each are higher off due to it.
Name for Feedback
- Are you a fan of “Dust Church Radio?” What’s been your favourite episode?
- What different path working podcasts do you’re keen on?