Most paddlers are trying to build courage and skill on top of a shaky foundation — and they don't even know it.

In this solo episode, I break down why so many paddlers (and humans!) focus on the wrong thing when they're trying to improve. Whether it's your roll falling apart, your eddy peel-outs feeling frantic, or the ever-present fear of being underwater (or in any challenge that doesn't seem to ever go away), chances are you're working on symptoms instead of the actual root.

And when you build on a weak foundation? It only holds for so long… until it doesn't.

Inside this episode, you'll learn:

🌊 The real cause behind head-lifting in the roll (hint: it's not your head) 🧠 How your nervous system reacts before your brain does — and why that matters for paddling confidence 💪 Why muscling through fear eventually stops working as we age or lose flexibility 🔥 The overlooked root cause driving tension, hesitation, and rushed decision-making on the river (and in life) 🔍 How to build true self-awareness so you can stop repeating patterns that keep you stuck 📹 Why video review is a game-changer for seeing what you can't feel in the moment 🌿 How Ayurveda taught me to look deeper — and how those principles apply directly to paddling + mindset

I also share an update from my own healing journey — six months off the water, relearning how to engage my core, and rebuilding a stronger foundation inside and out. Growth isn't always sexy… but it is powerful.

If you're ready to stop skimming the surface and actually transform the way you paddle, move, and navigate fear, this episode hands you the tools to build the strong, steady core you've been missing.