Sparta Chicks Radio: Mindset | Confidence | Sport | Women

Australia’s coolest psychologist, Ali Hill is a CEO, sought-after speaker, author, podcaster, mum of 2 and runner.

Perhaps it’s no wonder that after being overcome by a tremendous sense of overwhelm 2 years ago, Ali (as a ‘head mechanic’ to use her words) went on a quest to understand society’s obsession with ‘busy’ and how to live a life filled with meaning, even amongst the busyness.

That quest resulted in Ali not only making changes in her own work and life but also writing a fantastic book called ‘Stand Out: A Real World Guide to Get Clear, Find Purpose & Become the Boss of Busy’ and launching one of my favourite podcasts, Stand Out Life.

In this conversation, we discuss where her interest in behavioural science and psychology originated from, the fear of failure, how to live a life filled with meaning (even amongst the ‘busy’) and her experience running the 22km race at Ultra Trail Australia this year.

Plus, I turn the tables and ask whether a psychologist -- with all the tools, knowledge and insight she has -- can still experience the Imposter Complex.

Steph Lowe is a triathlete, Sports Nutritionist and the Founder of the Natural Nutritionist, a business based in Melbourne, Australia dedicated to teaching how easy real food living and performance can be.

The foundation of her approach is a whole foods, lower carb higher fat (or LCHF) lifestyle, which she also describes as JERF (just eat real food).

This conversation ties together with the previous conversations I’ve had with Katee Pedicini on the podcast as nutrition is one of Katee’s key recommendations for developing happy hormones.

In this conversation, we discuss:

* the profound impact removing gluten had on Steph’s physical and mental health,

* why food is medicine,

* the benefits of adopting an LCHF lifestyle (and whether you would experience the same benefits if you are not gluten intolerant),

* the most common tell-tale symptoms a person might have that would benefit from adopting an LCHF lifestyle (listen up if you have 3.30-itis, you get hangry or if you experience cravings),

* the impact of gut health on your hormonal cycle, PMS and immune system,

* the added benefits of adopting an LCHF lifestyle for athletes (including for those who struggle with weight loss despite heavy amounts of training),

* the difference between LCHF and a keto diet, the confusion between the two and why she doesn’t recommend a keto diet to athletes,

* why carb-loading doesn’t make sense and why the intensity of your training should dictate your carb intake (not what stage of training you’re in),

* how to make the transition to an LCHF lifestyle and the ideal time to do it, and

* the benefits of fasting (and how to capitalise on what you’re already doing).

Jacqui Holth is the co-founder of the Adventurous Life Project - a community with a commitment to harness the power of play and the psychology of adventure to regain purpose, vitality and energy in life.

Born in Sydney, Jacqui spent her adult life living and working overseas before returning to Australia at the age of 42 in 2013 on a quest to reinvent herself. 

In this conversation, we talk about how she defines ‘adventure’ and what it means to live with an adventurous spirit, the lessons and insights she learnt from living and working overseas for so many years, the charity she founded in Sardinia, Italy to build a children’s playground.

Plus we discuss what inspired her to create the Adventurous Life Project.  

Who better to ask about fear and self-doubt than one of the best stuntwomen in the world, Ky Furneaux?

Ky was raised in a small country town in South Australia and has gone on to work on many big-budget Hollywood blockbusters and become one of the best stuntwomen in the world.

In this conversation, we discuss:

* her adventure-seeking ways as a child and the grandmother who inspired her love of travel,

* the car accident at 19 and the lessons she gained from that experience,

* how she found the confidence and courage to move to Canada to pursue her dream of becoming a stunt performer with no specific skills, training or even a plan,

* how to deal with the ‘no’s’ you receive when you’re chasing your goals and dreams,

* the strategies and process she uses to manage her fears (listen for the questions she asks herself when assessing her fear),

* breaking her shoulder in a stunt in Hong Kong and the pressure and expectation (both internal and cultural) not to disclose her injury, and

* why the outdoors are so empowering for women.

Born in Canada, Jill was working as a Physical Education teacher in Bavaria in September 2014 when she was hit in the head with a ball in a freak accident.

Taken to emergency and quickly discharged with only a “black eye”, Jill was later diagnosed with a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury (amongst other injuries).

2 years, 7 hospitals and 3 countries later, Jill’s black eye never re-opened and she was left with a traumatic brain injury and just 30% of her vision.

But that was not going to stop Jill from returning to her beloved mountains.

She originally set a goal to circumnavigate the world in a year on a quest to run illustrious mountain ranges with her “differently abled” body. We recorded this conversation in 2018 and she's still climbing mountains and conquering heights!

Alise Selsmark is a professional triathlete based in Noosa here in Australia.

Although Alise had a background as a competitive swimmer as a child, she only entered her first triathlon - a women’s only event - at 28. And just 4 years later, she qualified to race as a professional.

In this conversation, we discuss what she learnt from watching a boy called Alan at her first swim squad when she was 11, how she got into triathlons, her transition from racing as an amateur to a pro and why it’s important to define what success means to you.

We also discuss the choice we all make between fear and regret, her advice on racing in the heat (having just finished Ironman Philippines) and her advice to self-coached athletes.

Now if you’ve seen a proliferation of cupcakes on social media over the last few months for no apparent reason, Alise & her partner Callum Millward (from Cupcakes With Cal fame) are to blame.

Together earlier in 2018 (when this episode was recorded) they set up a triathlon team called the Cupcake Cartel. Alise will explain what it is and what they hope to achieve in this conversation.

The tables - or microphone - is turned this week onto the host of Sparta Chicks Radio and the founder of Sparta Chicks, Jen Brown. 

Interviewed by Richelle Olsen (founder of Escaping Your Comfort Zone and who was our guest on the podcast during episode 40), Jen shares her childhood, her transition from law to coaching and some of the various projects under the Sparta Chicks umbrella including the book she wrote, the podcast and the upcoming event called Sparta Chicks Unleashed.

We also discuss her recent surgery and broader issues around women’s health and what she would say to her 13 year old self. 

Back in 2013, Michelle Hocking was 41 and “overweight and overwhelmed with depression, anxiety and panic attacks”.

Then one Saturday afternoon in July 2013, she struggled to walk 5 metres without being short of breath.

Less than 24 hours later, she was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy. Her husband was asked if her affairs were in order and a heart transplant was being discussed.

Fast forward 5 years and life is very different.

Michelle (Chell) is now a trail runner and an ultra-marathon runner, having completed the 2017 UTA 50km and in October this year, 2018, she’ll line up at the start of the 74km Taupo Ultra Marathon.

In this conversation, she shares her remarkable story and her advice to you.

Jamie Moreno is on a mission to empower girls and women to get involved in motorsports and to follow their dreams regardless of age, race or gender.

A Latina woman, Jamie grew up with a passion for cars after spending hours with her dad as a child in the garage working on cars but didn’t start racing until she was 25.

However, she didn’t start racing until she was 25 because - despite a love of cars - she didn’t realise it was an avenue that was open to her (sadly, another example of the effect of  ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’).

In this conversation, we discuss:

* her childhood, the time she spent hanging out with her dad in the garage working with cars,

* one of her favourite memories from childhood that involves wanting to go fast on a ride at Disneyland (but being stuck being a slow older man!),

* the pressures of growing up in a Latino family and the expectation to conform,

* her experience as a woman, and a woman of colour, in such a male-dominated sport,

* why it’s so important to her that she is a role model for young girls to help and inspire them to chase their goals regardless of the age or gender,

* how she regained her confidence after it was shattered after a particularly bad crash, and

* the 4 lessons she’s learnt from racing and how those lessons are equally relevant in endurance sports.

Nicole Bunyon is a trail runner, mum of 3 and founder of Running Mums Australia (RMA).

RMA is an Australia-wide network and community for mums who love to, or are interested in, running. You can’t go to a running or triathlon event in Australia without seeing a woman sporting their distinctive logo.

While RMA shares many women’s stories, I wanted to turn the tables (and microphone) and Nicole and share her story. We discuss how she started running as a child and why it appealed to her at that age, her first marathon, how being diagnosed with a melanoma (skin cancer) in 2016 changed her perspective and why it’s so important to trust your gut instinct.

Nicole is also an ambassador for several running events including Ultra Trail Australia so we discuss whether she feels the weight of expectation of others or pressure to perform as a result of her public profile in the sport.