Sparta Chicks Radio: Mindset | Confidence | Sport | Women

Katee returns to the podcast for another important conversation about mental health.

We begin by briefly discussing her experience as a first time mum during a pandemic.

Next, we dive into the research and statistics around the impact that the pandemic has had on mental health in Australia (and some of the numbers are, quite frankly, shocking).

Then we transition over to talking about what we can do to look after our own, and others, mental health, primarily around the idea of ‘holding space’ (or debriefing as I call it).

Katee and I then discuss:

- what it means to ‘hold space’

- the power of connection and conversation especially during difficult times.

- how to resist the urge to ‘fix’ how someone is feeling,

- what you say after someone has shared how they’re feeling,

- how to set boundaries and/or look after yourself if you don’t have the capacity to hold space for someone else (especially important if you’re struggling too), and

- why it’s important to accept how you feel, regardless of how you feel (essentially, that it’s ok not to be ok).

Whether your mental state or life has been directly affected by the pandemic or you’re someone who has thrived this year, I know you will take a lot away from this important and, at times, uncomfortable conversation.

We have two ‘asks’ of you after listening to this episode:

- ask someone how they are, and

- do something to hold space for yourself today.

If you or someone you know needs help, in Australia you can contact:

Lifeline 24 hours per day on 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or the Black Dog Institute.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Katee on Instagram: @katee_holisticendurance

From the self-described “fat kid” at school, Caro Ryan's life changed and a deep love and connection with the bush was born after a 3-day leadership training course in the Australian bush when she was 21.

These days, she’s now one of Australia’s top bloggers in the outdoor space via her website lotsafreshair.com.

In this conversation, we discuss:

- why she describes herself as the “unexpected outdoors chick”, 

- how becoming the “red bandana girl” changed her life, 

- the stories we tell ourselves, including in Caro’s case that she “wasn’t a runner”, 

- using words, labels and phrases (such as “I’m a runner”) *before* you believe them, 

- how to manage and mitigate the most common fears of being in the bush and 

- how being in the outdoors is such a powerful catalyst for change for so many women. 

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Caro on Instagram: @lotsafreshair

Yewande Adesida grew up in London and is a self-described “up-and-coming amateur” cyclist who is currently undertaking her PhD on wearable technology in sport.

Previously a former competitive rower, Yewande switched her focus to cycling - specifically track cycling in a velodrome - in 2016 and started racing in 2017.

Just 2 years later, in 2019, and while still a relatively unknown face on the global stage, SRAM (which is one of the biggest and most well-known brands in cycling) decided to feature Yewande as the star of one of its global marketing campaigns.

As you can imagine, in a sport where marketing imagery has traditionally involved skinny white men, SRAM’s campaign featuring Yewande both very quickly raised her profile in the sport and the discussion about the importance of the representation of people of colour in a sport and industry that desperately needs more diversity.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Yewande on Instagram: @yewie_a

Stacey Copeland began training in the boxing gym run by her Granddad when she was 6 or 7.

But she was too young to realise that, at the time, boxing was banned as a sport for women.

So when the boys in her training squad turned 11 and were allowed to compete, Stacey was left on the sidelines outside the ring, watching.

An incredible football career followed. And by the time Stacey retired from football, the ban on women’s boxing had been lifted so she returned to the sport she loved.

In this episode, we don’t discuss boxing so much as Stacey’s experience of being a girl and woman involved in two sports that are traditionally seen as “male sports”.

Stacey talks openly about how she’s struggled with the perceptions and labels given to her by others who think that boxing isn’t suitable for women and how that lack of recognition fed a longstanding struggle with the Imposter Complex.

We also talk about:

- what it was like growing up in a boxing gym,

- the impact that having no female role models in her sport had on her,

- why role models are so critical,

- the power of language and

- why it’s so important to be aware of the words we use and the labels we give others.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Stacey on Instagram: @staceycopelandboxer

Peter Baines joined the NSW Police Force at 19 and worked first as a uniformed officer before he transferred across to join the Forensic Services Group and become a real-life crime scene investigator (long before it was cool).

Little did he know that decision would change the trajectory of his life.

He is now an author, speaker, consultant and the co-founder of an amazing charity called ‘Hands Across The Water’.

Peter’s work as a forensic investigator took him first to Bali to identify victims following the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people, including 88 Australia.

Then 2 years in 2004 he made his first trip to Thailand to assist with the identification of victims following the Boxing Day tsunami that killed between 250,000 and 300,000 people.

In a strange yet beautiful twist of fate, during his third rotation in Thailand, he agreed to raise money to fund a home for a group of children he had met who had been orphaned by the tsunami.

And so ‘Hands Across The Water’ was born; a charity that now owns and operates 7 homes across Thailand and cares for hundreds of at-risk children.

In his conversation, we discuss:

- why action leads to clarity and that if you wait long enough you’ll find reasons not to do the thing,

- the ‘postevent’ blues and the struggle with adjusting to ‘normal’ life after an experience that shifts your view of yourself and/or the world,

- the importance of understanding your measures of ‘success’ and making sure they align with your ‘why’,

- where the idea for the charity rides originated from, and

- the impact that bushfires and COVID-19 have had on their fundraising efforts in 2020.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Hands Across The Water on Instagram: @handsacrossthewater_anz

Jess Douglas isn’t your typical elite athlete.

She wasn’t a sporty kid. In fact, she was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma when she was 14, had her beautiful daughter at 20 and only got serious about her riding in her 30s.

But that didn’t stop her from discovering a love of mountain biking and then going on to become a World Champion in the incredibly gruelling 24-hour solo event in just 4 years after taking up the sport (and now she's a 3x World Champion!)

These days, she’s a cycling coach who is passing her unique perspective and experience onto her athletes and is passionate about getting more women on bikes.

In this conversation we talk about: - why she describes being diagnosed with cancer as a “beautiful time in her life”,

- the powerful way she uses role models to gain courage in situations where’s she’s feeling scared or doubtful,

- how important it is to understand your ‘why’,

- her struggle with depression and

- her 1% rule which was the key to her fast progression in the sport (and how you can use it too).

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Jess on Instagram: @jedouglas73

Raised in India to adventure-loving parents, Vedangi Kulkarni set out on her first epic ride - crossing the Himalayas - when she just 17.

Then in 2017 at the age of 19, she set out on her quest to become the fastest person to circumnavigate the world and to complete the journey in 100 days.

And while she missed both of those goals, after riding 29,000km / 18,000mi and 160 days, 14 countries and 1 birthday later, she became the youngest woman to ever circumnavigate the world on a bike. She was 20.

In this conversation she shares:

- her 850km solo cycling adventure across the Himalayas at 17 and what gave her the confidence to attempt it,

- where the idea to circumnavigate the world came from,

- the role visualisation played in helping her mentally prepare for the ride,

- how she still struggles with worrying about what people think,

- being told “this adventure jam is for white people” and the importance of not automatically taking on other people’s stories and beliefs,

- her experience as a woman of colour in endurance sports, and

- whether she felt like an imposter when asked to be part of a new book called ‘Tough Women Adventure Stories” that will be published later this year.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Vedangi on Instagram: @wheelsandwords

Madhu Tamilarasan is a GP (general practitioner doctor) now living in a regional country town in New South Wales who discovered triathlons in her mid-30s and has since fallen in love with off-road triathlons and mountain biking.

She’s gone onto race at both the Australian and ITU World Cross Triathlon Championships.

A proudly gay woman with an amazing wife, Madhu is also English born of Indian descent, and so she brings a unique perspective to the podcast.

And I am incredibly grateful to her for her vulnerability and openness in this very broad-ranging conversation.

We discuss everything from coming out to her parents, how she discovered triathlons, her experience as a woman of colour in a strikingly white sport and why she writes BADASS on her arm before a key race.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Madhu on Instagram: @mvt550

Janine Garner grew up on a poultry farm in the north of England and worked her way up the corporate ladder to become the Marketing Manager for high-profile brands like Citizen Watches, Oroton and Ralph Lauren.

But ultimately the lifestyle and burnout prompted Janine to walk away from her career and pursue her own business.

Fast forward 9 years and she is now a sought-after international keynote speaker and trainer who fulfils her childhood dreams to be on the stage, albeit in a different capacity (you’ll have to listen to this episode to hear that story!).

Janine is the author of 3 books including her new release ‘Be Brilliant: How to Lead a Life of Influence’ which we discuss in-depth in this conversation.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Janine on Instagram: @janinegarner

Born and raised in Tehran, Shirin Gerami settled in the UK at the age of 15.

After discovering triathlons in University, Shirin became the first woman ever to represent Iran in triathlon (women had previously been banned from participating in the sport).

She then went onto become the first Iranian - male or female - to finish the Hawaii Ironman.

She is on a mission to show that clothing should not be a barrier to participation in sport for millions of women around the world who want, need or choose to cover their body (whether for cultural or religious reasons or even humility or sun protection).

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Sparta Chicks Radio on Facebook: facebook.com/SpartaChicks 

Follow Shirin on Instagram: @ShirinGeramiTri