Influencer Kate Mackz has had no shortage of “pinch-me” moments since launching her digital run series and podcast.
“We’ve done over 300 interviews, we’ve had so many unforgettable moments and we’ve been to so many places through the shows,” Mackz exclusively told Us Weekly while promoting Global Running Day, reflecting on when she knew her videos could become a career. “One of my first major collaborations ever was with Bobby Flay. We ran together on the West Side Highway and then we made pasta together afterwards. Since then, the adventures have only grown.”
Indeed they have. To name a few, Mackz walked in Brooklyn with Tim Gunn (“a surreal moment” for her as someone with a creative design background), ran through the Gershwin Theatre with Broadway’s Mary Kate Morrissey and laced up her dancing shoes in Los Angeles with Dancing With the Stars cohost Julianne Hough. Mackz has also been chased by a group of girls in New York City during a run with Jason Derulo wearing leather pants (“that was pretty funny,” she said).
“It’s been pretty incredible,” Mackz gushed. “It’s just so fun to be able to interview all sorts of people and do all different types of activities with them. It’s pretty wild, even just listing out a few of the things that we’ve been able to do.”
While Mackz has talked to content creators, actors and athletes alike, the influencer has one person in mind for her dream interview: Peloton’s Ally Love.
“I just think Ally is incredible and everything that she’s built is so amazing to just witness,” Mackz said. “Ally Love is somebody that’s always been on my dream list, and I can’t wait to one day be able to go for a run with her and hopefully have her on my podcast also.”
Mackz, who has amassed more than 780,000 followers on TikTok, noted the guests she chooses to have on her digital run series and “Post Run High” podcast are an indication of her “curiosity for life.”
“It all just comes down to hearing people’s stories and backgrounds from all walks of life. And it’s amazing when certain stories resonate with certain people,” she said. “As an interviewer, I’m just always so pleased when I hear that a story resonates with somebody.”
While many of her TikToks have garnered positive responses from fans, Mackz generated some backlash from her followers after interviewing White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. When asked about her reaction to the online criticism, Mackz told Us, “I would say, like, as an interviewer, I’m really just fascinated by people from all backgrounds, and I want to understand people and share their stories. It’s been amazing to interview people from all walks of life, and it’s amazing to see how we can connect through the power of movement.”
For Mackz, any day she can run is “special” for her — including Global Running Day. Mackz, who tore her ACL twice, shared that she’s “really never looked at running the same way” after her injuries.
“Global Running Day is amazing because it’s kind of just a nice reminder that we are so lucky to be able to move our bodies,” she said. “For me, it’s always been about clearing my head and feeling grounded through movement. So whether it’s a solo run for me or featuring somebody on one of my runs for our running interview show, running really continues to be one of the greatest gifts in my life. I feel like the Global Running Day is just another reminder of that.”