The Runcast with John Richards

The Runcast with John Richards is KEXP's running-focused music series, built for motion rather than passive listening. John Richards brings the perspective of a runner and a DJ, using songs as fuel for the miles ahead. The format is straightforward and effective. A short spoken frame sets the pace, then the music takes over. The show has a broad idea of who counts as a runner, with room for first-timers, marathoners, walkers, and anyone trying to get out of the house. Its recurring emotional beat is persistence. The first mile may feel false, the pace may be slow, and the race may still be months away, but the show keeps returning to forward motion as the useful truth. KEXP's identity matters here because the selections are not generic workout filler. Episodes point toward indie rock, electronic production, goth and industrial textures, Latin and reggae-inflected summer music, live KEXP sessions, and artist-led guest curation. LP Giobbi's appearance adds a strong example of the show's range, connecting running with daydreaming, self-care, Eugene trails, drum-heavy production, and the freedom of letting the mind clear. Other episodes widen the feed's history through The Weekly Mix and Live on KEXP, placing the Runcast inside a larger station culture of DJs, sessions, and specialty programming. Listener messages give the series a lived-in quality. A note about a 25k along the Hiawatha Trail and a first full marathon turns the soundtrack idea into something concrete. The show can be sentimental, but it is not soft in structure. It gets to the music quickly. It also understands that motivation works best in small doses. A sentence before a song can carry a runner through a difficult stretch. A familiar KEXP voice can make a solo effort feel less isolated. The result is a music curation podcast with a practical purpose: helping movement feel possible, personal, and better scored.