Amber speaks with entrepreneur, workplace wellness expert, and former pro cyclist Pete Morris. Pete explores the intersection of personal growth, health, and performance, drawing parallels between bike racing and workplace productivity. He discusses the importance of unlearning outdated habits and the complexities of team dynamics. Pete shares tips…

Amber speaks with Industrial Organizational Psychologist, researcher, founder, and CEO, Dr. English Sall. Dr. Sall talks about what differentiates the field of Industrial Organizational Psychology from other psychology-related fields. She untangles the complexities of building team culture, with lessons learned from her real-world experience as a c…

Amber speaks with eight-time National Champion, two-time Pan American Champion, and World Championship medalist, Brad Huff. Brad reflects on his long career in cycling, how an eating disorder almost ended his career before it began, and why his “farm kid work ethic” was both an asset and a liability. He shares how he stayed clean in a sport rife wi…

Amber speaks with Ayesha McGowan, the first African-American woman professional road cyclist. Ayesha shares why she recently decided to step away from racing (for now) and opens up about the shift in autonomy she experienced on the World Tour. She describes how she handles the different pressures and challenges of professional racing, and how she’s…

Amber speaks with Devin Cowens, connector, adventure cyclist, and founder of Radical Adventure Riders Atlanta Chapter (RAR ATL). Devin shares how she thinks about creating opportunities for people to experience bikepacking, specifically how she addresses different barriers to entry to make those experiences accessible. She describes how her backgro…

Amber speaks with professional cyclist Alexey Vermeulen, who left road racing on the World Tour to pursue a career as a professional off-road cyclist. Alexey shares why over-indexing on fun can be counterproductive, how to turn compartmentalization into a superpower, and his not-so-secret analog tool for cultivating balance, adaptability, and clear…

Amber speaks about concussion in athletes with Anthony Alessi, MD and board-certified neurologist who specializes in neurology, neuromuscular diseases, EMG, and sports neurology. Dr. Alessi is a Clinical Professor of Neurology and Orthopedic Surgery and the Director of the NeuroSport program at the University of Connecticut, and neurologist for the…

Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide and depression, with specific discussions of depression and suicidal thoughts from 12:46 to 50:15. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for help. Text or call 988 in the U.S. or check https://findahelpline.com to find help where you are. Amber speaks with Kathryn Ber…

Amber speaks with Haley Hunter Smith, a National Champion and Olympic mountain biker turned pro gravel racer. In this conversation, they discuss how mountain biking saved Haley’s life, providing purpose, presence, and solace as she navigated recovery from a life-threatening eating disorder as a teenager. Haley shares her struggles with existential …

Amber speaks with Lea Davison, a two-time Olympian in mountain biking. In this conversation, they discuss how Lea got into mountain biking and the idea and importance of competitive collaboration: how she and her American teammates worked together as a team to secure Olympic spots, in the individual sport of mountain biking. Davison shares the esse…

Amber speaks with co-founder of All Bodies On Bikes, Marley Blonsky–a fat adventure cyclist, consultant, and advocate working to make the bike industry more inclusive. In this conversation, they discuss the importance of advocating for size inclusion, building bike infrastructure and community, and what makes a community different from a group. Mar…

Amber speaks with three-time National Cyclocross Champion, Stephen Hyde, a cycling maverick who defied conventional paths to find his place as a champion in the sport. From BMX and mountain biking to professional road cycling and cyclocross, Hyde's story is one of resilience, mentorship, and community. He shares how mentoring and being mentored sha…

In this episode, we're joined by Brooke "Rowdy" Goudy herself as she tells us about her journey into bicycles via commuting, community building, mountain bikes, bikepacking and more!Von Ayesha McGowan

Amber speaks with cyclocross icon, mountain bike champion, and five-time Olympian Katerina Nash. In this conversation, they discuss how sport helped her navigate life-altering loss, what has kept her inspired and humble over a nearly 30-year career in professional sport, and her historic role with cycling’s international governing body. She shares …

Amber speaks with Downhill Mountain Biking legend, entrepreneur, and Red Bull TV analyst, Eliot Jackson. In this conversation, they discuss how a risk-averse person can transform into a world-class downhill mountain biking pro, why chasing podiums isn't always the ultimate goal, the surprising parallels between downhill racing and broadcasting, the…

Amber speaks with NCAA, US, World, Olympic Champion, television host, and mother of two, Summer Sanders Schlopy. In this conversation, they discuss Summer’s Olympic experience, her formula for performing under pressure, why she felt relief when she won Gold, the key to parenting kids in sport (according to Summer and her husband, former World Cup a…

Welcome to Be a Good Wheel! We're glad you're here. In our inaugural episode, we’ll provide an introduction to the ideas and motivation behind the show. Meet your host, Amber Pierce, who shares how her non-traditional background led her from research on the open ocean to racing bicycles, and ultimately to the studio microphone. Learn more about wha…

In this chapter, we talk to organizer, storyteller, speaker, founder of Pedal2thePeople and current executive director of All Bikes Welcome, Dr. Rachel Olzer.Von Ayesha McGowan

Welcome to Be a Good Wheel, the show that explores what it means to Be A Good Wheel through the lens of performance, potential, and the wholeness of human experience. Every other week, host Amber Pierce digs into scientific research, personal stories, and catalytic conversations to offer meaningful takeaways for everyday folks. Launching 2/27/24 on…

She’s a community organizer, event planner and advocate for BIPOC folks in cycling. She launched Radical Adventure Riders ATL (RAR ATL) in 2019 and is an avid bikepacker and gravel cyclist.Von Ayesha McGowan

Dawn Wright is a geographer and oceanographer. She is a leading authority in the application of geographic information system technology to the field of ocean and coastal science, and a cyclist! Links as mentioned in the Episode: Old UCSB cycling stories and pics from Collegiate Nationals, including how her original road bike was stolen - https://d…

This week we have the privilege of speaking with KC Cross, a queer and nonbinary cyclist, mental health clinician, speaker, and activist out of Fayetteville Arkansas. They tell us about jumping on a hybrid for a long first ride as an adult, finding their passion, and the community that followed.Von Ayesha McGowan

Analise Cleopatra tells us about getting into bikes as part of a film project (Pedal Through) in 2019 and all the places it's taken her since.Von Ayesha McGowan

Judith tells us how she created the space she wanted to see in her local area of Vancouver, Canada. She tells us all about how she started Colour The Trails and went from only renting bikes to ride when guests came to town, to co-leading a program to get BIPOC folks into Mountain Biking! She also tells us about utilizing resources, growing partners…

Lydia tells us how they went from inheriting a bike that a relative won in a grocery store raffle, to working towards opening a bike shop for queer, trans, and gender non-conforming communities of color in Brooklyn NY. Lydia also gives us an honest look at what it's like to be a Black FTW Trek employee looking for change during this time. (Recorded…

Sika Henry was very patient with me as she explained triathlon and the many setbacks she’s faced on her current path in pursuit of her pro card. When she succeeds, she’ll be the first ever African-American woman pro triathlete. PRETTY FREAKING COOL. For more on SIka, follow her @sikahenryVon Ayesha McGowan

Nam is a first-generation Tibetan-America, all-around badass, and leader at WTF Bike explorers.@goodolenam on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

In this chapter, I talk to Michelle Cook, owner of Roxbury Rides, a cycling consultant, a league certified instructor, and a moderator/ shero for the Boston chapter of Black Girls do bike. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts.@the_brown_bikenista on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Brooklyn Bell is a Mountain Biker, Skiier, Climber, outdoor enthusiast, and design student based in Bellingham, Washington. Hear how Brooklyn went from running the trails to shredding the trails at every opportunity she could find.@badgal_brooky on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Jools went from a ten-year hiatus to literally write the book on getting "Back in the Frame". Learn how she went from being too afraid to ride her new bike home from the shop to feeling confident enough to do laps around the National Velodrome.@ladyvelo on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Among other things, Gloria is a journalist and Enduro MTB racer living in Boulder Colorado. Learn how she went from an Eat Pray Love-esque adventure to adventuring in the dirt!@thats_my_line on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Susan Doram fro Leicester in the UK is traveling around the world on a "tour with a cycle." She tells us how she refound her love for bicycles as an adult, and is now on a global adventure!@susanlonghaultrucker on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Zahra Alabanza, an organizer, creative, and mom out of Atlanta Georgia tells us how she said yes to adventure, and many of the things she learned along the way.@zahra_ala on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Samantha Scipio from Chicago tells us how she went from a long stint on training wheels to a fearless endurance MTB racer.@salmonilla on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Yewande Adesida of London tells us all about her journey from rower to cyclist!@yewie_a on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Originally from Aleppo, Syria, Madonna Deeb jumped into cycling by doing a bike tour of The Way of St. James (Camino de Santiago).@madonna_deeb on IGVon Ayesha McGowan

Laura Solís, just listen... No description would ever do justice. @lalitasotera on IGVon Ayesha McGowan