Blossom Banter

It's International Podcast Day! With season two right around the corner we're taking a look back at all our favorite moments from season one and getting hyped for an all new season of Blossom Banter with the Tidal Basin Trio!

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive Producer Jared McGrath and Supervising Producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising Producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, Licensed through audio.com

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5k, and kids races, go to www.cheryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

The Trio are back for one last episode of the season and this one is fun! With their finisher medals in hand, Jared, Sharon, and Los sit down to recap the entire race weekend while tasting some of D.C.'s delicious cherry blossom inspired treats!

Thank you all for listening all season long! We hope you all enjoyed this season as much as we love making it. We will see you all next season!

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

IT'S RACE DAY!

We're LIVE from the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 miler! The Trio are out on the course running through the streets of Washington D.C. and celebrating the Runner's Right of Spring!

On this episode, Jared and Sharon are on the mics talking to run clubs, volunteers, and some of the amazing people who came out to cheer all TWENTY THOUSAND runners as they run these 10 miles together. Oh and Los...well he might have finished the race just a little bit quicker than them.

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Thank you to all our guests!

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

It's race weekend and the Tidal Basin Trio is live at the expo to speak with some of the people who will be running the 5K, 10 miler, and Double Blossom races this weekend to discuss the race, their goals, and why they love this race!

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Thank you to all our guests!

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

Today on the show the Trio sit down with an amazing athlete and DC's most well known "run-fluencer" Rob Perez! As a runner, Rob has accomplished some amazing feats, he's run TSP LA/LV solo, won the TSP Atacama solo race, run up all 94 floors of the John Hancock building in Chicago, and paced a vision impaired runner to a 1:10 at the 2025 Cherry Blossom 10 miler! As a community member with a large platform Rob seeks to highlight his community and he shows ways to make running more accessible to anyone looking to start their running journey. Rob will be participating at this year's Cherry Blossom 10 miler!

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Rob Perez

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

On today's episode the Trio are joined by an incredible elite athlete, the newly minted Women's American Record holder for the 8K distance, ASICS pro athlete, and toeing the line at the 2026 CUCB 10 mile race, Emma Grace Hurley!

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Emma Grace Hurley

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

On today's episode the Trio are graced by Cherry Blossom royalty, the one and only mascot for the race, STUMPY! Joining Stumpy is his translator and CUCB committee member, Erica Baca. The crew talk to Stumpy and Erica about Stumpy's origins, his many adventures, and his most famous TV appearance!

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Erica Baca & Stumpy

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

Dan Cao is the fourth and final member of the 2026 Cherry Blossom Race Ambassador class. This week the Tidal Basin Trio sit down with this multi talented athlete to discuss his running journey, how he fueled during a recent ultra marathon, and his passions and goals as an Ambassador for the race!

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Dan Cao

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

On today's episode of Blossom Banter, the trio are joined by Jonathon Ladson aka Fogell. He is a former race ambassador, CUCB Double Blossom Champion, and the current holder of sever fastest known times (FKTs) in the DMV area. Fogell sits down and talks about his mantra, his experiences with CUCB events and how he went from disliking running to training to be a sub-elite.

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Jonathon "Fogell" Ladson

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

Amy Gomes is another one of the 2026 Cherry Blossom Race Ambassadors. This week the Tidal Basin Trio sit down with this amazing athlete, how she advocates for new runners and her excitement to not only be an Ambassador for the race, but also her excitement to be a first time Cherry Blossom racer!

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Amy Gomes

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

This week the Tidal Basin Trio are coming to you live from the third annual Run Club Mixer! The Run Club Mixer is an opportunity for local run clubs to come together to meet each other and form bonds through exercise and a shared love of the Cherry Blossom 10 miler! Sharon and Jared join in on the fun and get to know some of the participants of this year's mixer.

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: DC Area Run Clubs

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions:

Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions:

Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiioFor more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.orgFor more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

Katie Dallimore is one of the 2026 Cherry Blossom Race Ambassadors. This week the Tidal Basin Trio sit down with another incredible athlete and discuss how this former dancer fell in love with running when the world shut down in 2020, what it means to be chosen as an Ambassador, and her love of a flat race course.

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Katie Dallimore

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

Tessa Barrett is an elite runner and Olympic Trials Qualifier for the marathon. This week the Tidal Basin Trio sit down with the local legend, two time winner of the Marine Corps Marathon, and Cherry Blossom elite field athlete to discuss here running journey, her incredible back to back Marine Corps Marathon win, and her resilience to get her official OTQ after some unfortunate set backs.

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Tessa Barrett

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

Emily Waddell is one of the 2026 Cherry Blossom Race Ambassadors. This week the Tidal Basin Trio sit down with this amazing athlete to talk about her role as a race ambassador, the importance of minority representation in sports, and what she loves about the the Cherry Blossom race.

Hosts: Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Guest: Emily Waddell

For Credit Union Cherry Blossom Productions: Executive producer Jared McGrath and Supervising producer Sharon Schwei

For Castle on the Hill Productions: Supervising producer Carlos Bonnett-Castillo

Music: Beck Nebel, licensed through audiio

For more information on the Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 mile, 5K, and kids races, go to www.cherryblossom.org

For more information on the Blossom Banter podcast, go to www.blossombanterpodcast.com

In their first sit down interview, the Tidal Basin Trio sit down with Cherry Blossom Committee member, 50th anniversary T-Shirt designer, and friend of CUCB's very now mascot Stumpy, the incredibly talent, John Hall.

The Tidal Basin Trio head to the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Kickoff Party and the start of the Cherry Blossom race season!

It's the debut of the Credit Union Cherry Blossom podcast, a behind the scenes look at the race, the community, and the traditions that make Cherry Blossom the runner’s rite of spring! On this episode we introduce you to the hosts of the show, a group of CUCB veterans who we lovingly call "The Tidal Basin Trio", Jared McGrath, Sharon Schwei, and Carlos Bonnett-Castillo.