Michael Mazzara: CEO of Rogue Expeditions on Running Travel

Chris Detzel is the passionate host and creator of "DFW Running Talk," the premier podcast dedicated to showcasing the vibrant running community across the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Since launching the show in October 2024, Chris has established himself as a central voice in North Texas running culture, conducting in-depth conversations with elite athletes, coaches, race directors, and inspiring everyday runners who define the region's diverse running scene. As both interviewer and active participant in the DFW running community, Chris brings an authentic perspective shaped by years of personal running experience. While he describes himself as primarily a half marathon runner rather than a marathoner - citing the extensive training commitment and unpredictability of marathon race day - his deep knowledge of running culture spans the full spectrum from 5Ks to ultramarathons. His preference for half marathons stems from their balance of challenge and accessibility, allowing him to race monthly without the intensive training demands of longer distances. Chris's connection to elite running runs through his family - his wife Lea Ivy is an accomplished marathoner who has completed the Boston Marathon 12 times consecutively, achieving a personal best of 3:14 at age 45. This personal connection to high-level competition, combined with his own running journey, gives Chris unique insight into both the elite and recreational sides of the sport. He often travels to Boston to support Lea's racing and has become part of the broader running community that gathers around major events like the Boston Marathon. Through DFW Running Talk, Chris has created more than just a podcast - he's built a platform that celebrates the depth and diversity of North Texas running talent. His interviews reveal the stories behind local legends, from sub-3:00 marathoners to innovative coaches, from race directors creating memorable experiences to everyday runners achieving extraordinary personal transformations. The show has featured conversations with accomplished athletes like Shantel Cloud (sub-3:00 marathoner), Travis Dowd (Dallas Marathon winner), and Mimi Smith (Olympic Trials competitor), alongside community builders and running industry professionals. What sets Chris apart as a host is his ability to connect with guests on multiple levels - as a fellow runner who understands training cycles and race strategy, as a community member invested in the local running scene, and as a skilled interviewer who draws out both technical insights and personal stories. His approach prioritizes authentic conversation over surface-level inspiration, resulting in episodes that offer genuine value to runners of all levels. Based in the Dallas area, Chris continues to grow DFW Running Talk's reach across multiple platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube, while maintaining strong connections to local running organizations like Dallas Running Club and participating in the broader Texas running community. His work documents and celebrates a running culture that he believes is "way more badass than it has any right to be."

Michael Mazzara, known to friends and the running community as "Mazz," is the CEO of Rogue Expeditions, a pioneering company that's redefining the running experience through immersive travel adventures. Based in Austin, Texas, Michael has built his career around the philosophy that running should be about joy, exploration, and cultural connection rather than just competition and personal records. Running Journey Michael's unconventional path to running leadership began in Brooklyn, where he famously attempted to run a half marathon without any training—a decision that led to him sitting on the Brooklyn Bridge, unable to get up after hitting the 13.1-mile mark. This experience sparked both his love for distance running and his understanding that the sport requires a more thoughtful approach than pure willpower. Despite signing up for 15-20 marathons throughout his running career, Michael has only completed three, often sidelined by injuries that taught him valuable lessons about listening to his body and finding sustainable approaches to the sport. His struggles with the traditional racing model led him to question why running culture seemed so singularly focused on competition when other recreational sports like cycling and golf offered rich community experiences without the pressure to race. Professional Background A former water polo player in college, Michael spent several years in the corporate world before discovering his true calling in the intersection of running, travel, and community building. His experience as someone who was "either running or an injured runner waiting to run again" gave him unique insights into the frustrations many recreational runners face with the traditional racing paradigm. Rogue Expeditions Under Michael's leadership, Rogue Expeditions has grown from a small Austin-based company founded by a husband-and-wife team into a respected provider of running travel experiences across the globe. The company offers immersive cultural adventures in destinations like Morocco's Atlas Mountains, Iceland's dramatic landscapes, Italy's Dolomites, and Patagonia's wilderness areas. Michael's vision centers on "immersive cultural travel for runners"—experiences that combine the joy of running with deep cultural engagement, luxury accommodations, and expert guidance. His approach emphasizes safety, customization, and creating bucket-list experiences that prioritize adventure and connection over competition. Philosophy & Impact Michael advocates for what he calls the "stop racing, start exploring" mentality, believing that the running community has become too narrowly focused on racing as the primary outlet for the sport. He's passionate about creating alternative channels for runners to experience the joy of their sport while building meaningful communities and exploring the world's most beautiful places. His work has helped establish running travel as a legitimate alternative to traditional racing, particularly for runners who love the training process but feel mismatched with the competitive racing experience. Personal When not leading the charge at Rogue Expeditions, Michael continues his own running journey, recently recovering from a groin injury that sidelined him from a planned 50-mile race. He remains committed to the process of training and the meditative aspects of long-distance running, particularly enjoying trail running at places like Rymers Ranch outside Austin.