On Episode 45 of Mindful Warrior Radio, we welcome Brett Mayer—Policy Director at the American Canoe Association, educator, small business owner, and long-time paddler. Brett is the creator of Following Waters, a project born from his graduate research exploring the lived experiences of whitewater kayakers and how their relationships with rivers evolve over time—from initiation, to identity and stewardship.

Through long-form storytelling, Brett seeks to break down silos between athletes, educators, advocates, and storytellers, illuminating how we are all part of the same interconnected, water-based ecosystem.

Drawing on his experience, Brett shares that time on the river becomes a mirror for identity, decision-making, and intuition—revealing deeper truths about performance, leadership, risk, and the practice of making peace with uncertainty.

Brett shares his thoughts on leadership and team dynamics, “Leadership isn’t actually communicated positionally. Everyone has something to bring, and great teams know how to bring that out in each other.”

Brett reflects on his relationship with intuition and trust, “There’s a difference between nerves and intuition. The work is learning to discern—am I scared, or is something actually telling me this isn’t right?”

Brett offers his perspective on managing anxiety, “Anxiety in uncertainty is nothing more than resistance to acceptance. When you can move through that, it’s incredibly freeing.”

Brett shares his wisdom on the practice of letting go, “You have to make peace with the mystery. Not everything is meant to be explained—and honestly, that’s the greatest gift.”

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