Episodes
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Missing episodes?
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If you’re a whitewater paddler and you’ve wondered how the legendary ‘Brown Claw’ came to be, you’ll get the facts in this episode, directly from Dave Fusilli, one of the OG Demshitz.
If you’re not a whitewater paddler and that sounds like crazy talk, you’ll still want to tune in because Dave tends to bring out the best in people. He seems to effortlessly balance not taking himself too seriously while also being very thoughtful and committed to connection, kindness and kayaking, of course.
In this conversation we explore the themes of discomfort, decision-making, mindfulness, and the power of our spiritual connection to water.
Dave also generously shares how he has been navigating the recent loss of his good friend, and industry icon, Bren Orton.
You’ll come away from this episode with inspiration for being more authentically yourself, having more fun, spreading more love and being a little kinder to yourself and others.
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In this episode, certified counselor Somerville Johnston returns to the show to do a dive deep with Anna into the mental health impacts of Hurricane Helene on their Asheville community.
They candidly explore the emotional landscape of discomfort, self-care, and survivor guilt, while underscoring the essential role of community support in the healing process.
The conversation sheds light on the importance of showing compassion—for ourselves and others—as they reflect on the collective grief that follows natural disasters.
Anna and Somerville discuss the complexities of grief and loss, emphasizing how grief is an ongoing process. They share personal strategies for coping, stressing the importance of routines, presence, and allowing emotions to flow freely.
Ultimately, this dialogue is a powerful reminder of the strength found in small acts of care and the profound interconnectedness between individual struggles and community-wide recovery.
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Last week Hurricane Helene devastated parts of our town and much of Western North Carolina.
This is a solo episode on my reflections of the past week because it felt like the right thing to do rather than go to a pre-recorded interview episode.
I literally re-recorded this episode 4 times because nothing I say captures all of the emotions and thoughts that have been running through me. There are no words, and things will continue to change as the recovery continues.
Settling on the focus of compassion, gratitude, focusing on what we can create anew from this devastation, and knowing that we will be able to return to the rivers for healing when the time is right.
Thanks for tuning in to this episode where I am very much in my discomfort zone on many levels.
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If you want to learn to set better boundaries, then to tune into this week’s episode about my absolute favorite teaching from the river: How to set boundaries like river banks.
Learning how to set boundaries around what’s important to you is essential to living a life that is fulfilling and meaningful to you.
Unfortunately, boundaries can get a bad rap as too confining, rigid and not fun. However, when you look at the flow of the water in a river - full of fun, beauty, power and freedom, you’ll notice that none of that could exist without the boundaries of the river banks.
In this episode you’ll learn how to direct the flow of your energy, focus and awareness towards what’s important to you.
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If you need some positive inspo this week, this episode is for you!
Stephen Wright is one of the most accomplished and positive paddlers I know.
In this conversation Stephen shares how he navigates his discomfort zone in competition, squirt boating, coaching and starting his carbon boat building company, Dreamboat Kayaks.
You’ll learn about his coaching philosophy, and how he approaches inspiring and motivating his students through failure and success.
Stephen’s take on winning and creating the stoke he wants to see in the future of paddling is both refreshing and motivating.
We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, and share some laughs along the way.
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Join me for an inspiring conversation with Sophie Gilfillan, recent silver medalist in Junior Women at the World Freestyle Championships, who has also excelled in slalom kayaking, and creek boating.
In this episode of the Discomfort Zone Podcast, Sophie delves into the delicate balance between rational and irrational fear, sharing how she navigates the mental challenges of paddling and competition.
She reveals how the rule of thirds has become her secret weapon for bouncing back from tough performances, allowing her to keep the joy alive in both competition and everyday paddling.
As an experienced slalom paddler, Sophie offers her insights on extreme slalom, an event recently added to the Olympics. She explains how it has made slalom more accessible and fun.
With a wisdom that exceeds her years, Sophie reminds us of the true essence of success: pursuing what you love, making a positive impact, and understanding that neither accolades nor failures define us.
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Nicole Bernardin, a passionate ultra runner, reminds us to separate fact from fiction to stop ourselves from getting derailed by the lows or the highs of racing and life.
She shares her mental agility strategies for completing endurance races, and how the sport has helped her cultivate patience, resilience and confidence in all areas of her life.
Nicole also shares her story of having to face a difficult divorce after completing one of the biggest races of her career, and how her journey led her to discover the importance of giving herself personal grace in challenging times.
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Imagine recovering from a catastrophic climbing accident that resulted in major multi -systems trauma, including a skull fracture, a broken back, bruises in both lungs and 15 broken bones, to race the Green just 11 months later.
Adam Herzog, an accomplished whitewater kayaker and outdoor enthusiast, did just that.
This week, Adam shares his journey of overcoming the accident and how it has redefined his discomfort zone.
Through his recovery, Adam discovered what it means to surrender and accept help, the big power of seemingly small practices, and joy in transitioning to becoming a kayak instructor.
Adam's story is a testament to the power of resilience and determination and you don’t want to miss this conversation.
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Shane Benedict, co-founder of Liquid Logic Kayaks, is one of the most confident paddlers that I know, and in this conversation he shares how he cultivated that confidence, and has sustained it for 40+ years on the water.
He also talks about his passion for designing kayaks, and what part of the design and development process feels most uncomfortable, and most satisfying.
Shane shares the strategies he uses to stay present in the moment, and the importance of keeping kayaking fun, and resisting the pressure to constantly progress.
There are many gems in this conversation, including strategies for keeping your body injury-free, the impact of female mentors on Shane’s paddling, and how he approaches breaking down hard whitewater.
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Shawanna Kendrick, founder of The Hiking, Healing and Outdoors Life (H2O), shares how her recent expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was both a personal and generational goal, and the lessons she learned along the way.
Our conversation delves into cultivating self-awareness and personal growth through adventure, the benefits of pushing through hard, both for yourself and for others, and why it’s important to live an inspiring life for yourself and for future generations.
Shawanna shares practices and strategies she uses in her own life to ensure that she gives everything she’s got to every day, while also reminding us to rest when it’s time to rest, climb when it’s time to climb and nourish ourselves when it’s time to nourish ourselves.
This conversation is full of gems of wisdom that you can apply in your own life to motivate you to keep showing up fully when life gets hard.
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Benny Marr is known as one of the best big wave and river paddlers in the world, but I’ve always been just as impressed by his self-awareness, growth mindset and lighthearted humor.
There’s so much packed into this episode! Benny shares his thoughts on ego and kayaking, and how he has used his ego for both ‘good’ and ‘evil’ throughout his career.
He distinguishes between being self-conscious versus self-confident, and how that has helped him grow and progress on and off the water.
We talk about the satisfaction and confidence that comes from feeling that you’ve accomplished what you set out to accomplish, and followed the passions you set out to follow.
Benny also shares his processes for gaining proficiency in kayaking, including video review, choosing confidence, and incorporating yoga and breathwork.
If you want to learn from the journey of one of the best and most grounded paddlers in the world, tune into this episode!
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Brenna Keller, a top PSIA ski instructor and guide, dives into the interplay between fear and excitement, highlighting how mindset can help achieve a flow state. .She explains how fear, when managed properly, can enhance performance. The conversation also examines the discomfort zone beyond skiing, particularly in communication and relationships, where the courage to speak up can be challenging but crucial. Brenna and Anna talk about the potential dangers of constantly seeking adrenaline in both ski culture and whitewater culture, their shared experience of feeling most comfortable in leadership roles, and the importance of separating self-worth from performance. They reflect on how their passions for skiing and kayaking have evolved with age, touch on the fear of disappointing others and the necessity of letting go of the need to always do the right thing.
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In this episode, helicopter air ambulance pilot, Holley Gardel, shares strategies for transforming negative feelings into powerful cues that propel you to perform at your best.
We talk about the power of mental performance training, how it unlocks potential in every aspect of life, and how it’s not just for elite athletes. Holley champions thorough preparation, seeking support, and celebrating even the smallest victories on the path to your success.
Holley shares candid insights into her career as a female pilot in a male-dominated industry, addresses common misconceptions about aviation and the critical role of mentorship for women in the field.
Through her stories, Holley emphasizes the importance of resilience, shares wisdom she has gained from her mentors and coaches, and the joy of fulfillment that comes from committing to your passions.
If you want to learn how to adjust your attitude and altitude (I didn’t realize that there is actually something called an attitude adjuster in a helicopter cockpit) to navigate your discomfort zone with more confidence and joy, then you’ll want to listen to this conversation!
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