Rise Resolute Podcast

Connect and Rise with Joy Miles, Pilates Instructor, Triathlon Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Running Coach, and US Masters Swimming Coach.  Find out what happened when Joy registered for her first triathlon not realizing she didn't know how to swim. Her strength and perserverance will inspire you to do the thing you think or are told you cannot do.  Joy also shares her unique perspective on running and biking to work in Chicago during the pandemic and the fear she faces at times.  It is an important message for us all to hear in order that our eyes can be opened to the changes that must be made.  Joy's outlook will lift you up and inspire you to be you, be authentic, and be fearless.  You say I can't do it? Just watch me.

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Connect and Rise with Cindy Rakowitz, fitness enthusiast and Founder/Executive Director at Fit 4 the Cause.  Cindy shares her pathway to prioritizing health and eventually founding Fit 4 the Cause, which brings exercise therapy and wellness education to the underserved. Cindy also opens up about the losses she has experienced, sharing how she recently decided to commit to working on her mental health to navigate the loss of her husband. Her advocacy for mental health services and breaking any stigma associated is very powerful. We also briefly discuss the state of our world and Cindy offers the most amazing insight: if we are at a loss for what to do or how to help, the best thing we can do is love each other. She puts love out into the world every day through programming with Fit 4 the Cause and her description of the joy she sees in the smiles (over Zoom for now) of those she is able to help will make you a believer. Please check out https://fit4thecause.org/ and donate if you are able. 

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Connect and Rise with Becky, mother,  runner, teacher, and track coach. Becky poignantly discusses the seasons in her life which have revealed her true strength. She starts by describing her journey through infertility. Becky and her husband eventually adopted and now, many years later, she has two awesome boys who are almost ready to finish high school. She can now look back with gratitude, knowing that she was always meant to be their mother. Becky then describes her diagnosis with breast cancer and her ongoing battle against the disease. She became an even more deliberate runner over the course of her treatment, deciding that she would run for anyone who was not strong enough to run and for those who did not win the battle against breast cancer. Her story of bravery and grit will bring a burst of positivity to your day. Becky would like to also remind each of you to do your self exams and get your mammograms. Early detection can save lives! 

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Connect and Rise with Leila, runner and entrepreneur who recently moved to the United States. Leila describes some of the challenges she faced growing up in South Africa and how it shaped her into the determined and strong woman she is today. After experiencing great sadness and difficulty, she made up her mind to take the hard things that happened to her and use them as fuel to become her best self. Leila helps each of us realize the value of asking ourselves: “If my situation is hard, how do I not live there in the hard? How can I work on myself and my life?” Leila shares powerful insight telling us each that we are alive for a reason and it’s not to be sad and angry. We can channel our emotion and passion into doing the most we can with our time on earth. Stay awake in your life and “never sleep on yourself.” Every day is precious time you can use to work towards your own personal greatness. 

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Connect and Rise with Shannon Mulcahy, Sport Psychology Consultant and Mental Performance Coach, who discusses her journey through the loss of her father. Shannon also shares her insight on how we can navigate difficult times by remembering to ask ourselves what really brings us joy. When everything else is stripped away, we each have to build the skill of self reflection to become clear on who we are and what we want. Shannon offers an excellent reminder about how to filter what you take in on a daily basis, based on whether it inspires you or brings you down. It’s important to tap in to your physiological response to what happens in your day and adjust your thinking and behavior accordingly. This helps maintain a positive outlook and keeps us focused on our true self and our goals. If you stay true to who you are and what you want out of life, there are no limits.

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Connect and Rise with Adina Crawford, Runner, Yoga Instructor, Certified Power, Vinyasa, and Sculpt Instructor who guides meditation weekly.  Adina serves on the Honeystinger Athletic Advisory Committee, is a BLACK Girls Run Ambassador, Black Girls Do Bike Lady Shero, Zooma Ambassador, Honey Stinger Ambassador, Nuun Ambassador, TERRY Bicycles Ambassador,Trek Bikes Advocate, and a Micro Campaign Influencer for various brands. She shares her fantastic insight on facing challenges as a female leader in the fitness world who also is African American.  She describes the importance of dispelling the idea that someone who exercises should look a certain way. Exercise is for everyone, every shape, size, and color. We also discuss recent events in our world. Adina’s powerful words urge us to embrace one another, to always choose happiness, and to own your craft.  When it comes to your life, YOU write the story.
Check out more on Adina at: https://adinacrawford.weebly.com/

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Connect and Rise with Cora Fahy, Physical Therapist Assistant, cyclist for charity, avid paddleboarder and Cancer Survivor.  Cora takes us through her battle with Breast Cancer and so poignantly discusses how all of struggles in her life (including a considerable amount of loss) prepared her with the tools to handle her diagnosis.  She also talks about the foundation she now realizes her family and ancestors gave her upon which to build her strength.  Cora describes that we all have a warrior within and when we are faced with a battle, we can access the strength we need to get through.  She beautifully reminds us that grief happens to all of us in life, whether we are grieving the loss of a loved one, a marriage, a job, our health... but it's how we respond to that grief that reveals who we are as people.  It's always a choice.  We can choose to pull on all that we've learned through our struggles to choose bravery.  We can choose to show up even when it's uncomfortable.  You can choose to remember: you are the strongest person you know.  Choose to say it and feel it and then you are it.

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Connect and rise with India, runner, co-host of the Run Duo Podcast, and Vlogger. India shares powerful insight as she takes us through both her professional journey and her journey as a runner. In life and in running when things don’t go as planned, you have to step back, adjust, and reset. Challenges are opportunities for growth. India shares how running a marathon molded her into a different person. We also discuss how she navigated her professional journey and that sometimes you have to have peace with stepping away from something that may have been your world for a long time. She shares her experience during the pandemic and the challenges of working from home, guiding us through how we can find the positives and the value of asking yourself what is truly important when you actually have time to slow down and consider it. We wrap up discussing social justice. Racism isn’t new, but what is new is the way eyes are being opened. One important way to combat racism is to have the hard conversations. Don’t ever assume you understand what someone else experiences... get educated. Step back and ask what you can do to make a difference within you. Whatever it is you want to do in life, it’s truly all about starting. If you’ve been thinking about something, just do it. Find strength and positivity within yourself. And never forget your why.

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Connect and Rise with Enna, wife, mother, cervical cancer survivor, Massage Therapist, and Personal Trainer.  Enna shares her journey through cervical cancer and what she learned along the way, including the moment that she realized that she needed to take charge of her health.  Enna also discusses strategies for life that are very relevant as we continue to battle COVID 19 and gives us her perspective on what we can do to be be more active in the pursuit of social justice.  Enna reminds us that true change starts in the home, that we have to educate ourselves, and most importantly that we must always strive to choose empathy.  She has learned through her struggles that we are all so much stronger than we think, not just as individuals, but also as communities and as a nation.  She encourages each of us to evaluate our lives and truly ask not only if we are racially biased, but also if we are actively involved in our community to help change the racial biases of any with whom we come into contact.  Lastly, Enna reminds us that despite all of the hard things we are facing on a daily basis, it is still important to take the time to enjoy life.  It's all about balance.  Don't wait for a gut punch.  Make changes now to be more healthy, to protect the vulnerable and to work for justice... but while you're at it, don't forget to eat the cake too.

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Connect and Rise with Kendra Chambers, Pro-USA Track and Field Athlete (sponsored by Oiselle) and Athlete Advocate. Kendra’s insight and perspective is so powerful! She discusses how important it is to be patient with yourself, especially during the pandemic. Sometimes the best thing we can do for ourselves is not to look too far into the future but instead to focus on the 24 hours in front of us and what we can do in that day. Kendra takes us through her journey as an elite runner experiencing kidney failure. She reminds us that each new level of our lives will require the next level of our strength and training. In hindsight, you will see that the little things turn out to be a big things, so stay focused on the small things you do on a daily basis. Kendra also shares some very powerful insight about what it means to be seen and heard as a Black female athlete. She provides excellent strategies to get involved and be a part of change. Kendra encourages us all to embrace the beauty that can be found in personal growth. In the pursuit of your “why,” make sure the little things you do every day align with that mission. 

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