The Midpacker Podcast Interview with CBCS
On this episode Troy Meadows sits down with Malcolm Pascotti, founder of Can't Buy Cool Studios. Malcolm's journey is one of quiet evolution. He started as a road runner, lots of miles in high school and beyond, but during the pandemic, while living in San Francisco, he began exploring trails in the Marin Headlands and hills around Pacifica. That slow, natural shift eventually led him into mountain running and "DIY ultras" solo, self-supported runs of 30-40 miles, all on his own terms.
What makes Malcolm stand out isn't just distance or pace, but the way he mixes movement with creativity. Outside of running, he climbs, skis, scrambles, shoots photography (both professionally and for fun), writes poems and musings. He calls it living.
He also quietly gives back to the community: providing gear and support to fellow runners, like when he ran a T-shirt sale to help fund race entries for another runner, proof that support doesn't always need spotlight.
Malcolm is quietly building Can't Buy Cool Studios, weaving together art, running, identity, and community.
Motivational Highlights
- Embrace adventure on your own terms — solo ultras don't have to be for trophies, they can be for the soul.
- Running can be part of a creative life - movement, art, writing, identity — all deeply connected.
- Quiet generosity matters: supporting others in small ways helps build a stronger, more inclusive community.
- Balance is messy but possible: holding down a full-time job, a creative process, and still getting out for the run.
