Sparta Chicks Radio: Mindset | Confidence | Sport | Women

“Attitude is more important than fact” might seem like one of those weary and overused motivational slogans.

But Lisa Bentley lives it every day.

A member of the Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame, Lisa is an 11 time Ironman triathlon champion, including 5 straight victories at Ironman Australia (2002 - 2006).

She also has cystic fibrosis - a genetic lung disease that results in chronic infections with limited lung capacity.

Lisa was diagnosed in 1989 at the age of 20, when the average life expectancy for those with cystic fibrosis in Canada, was also 20.

The facts would suggest Lisa was never meant to excel at endurance sports.

She’s the first to admit she wasn’t the most talented athlete around, especially given her limited lung capacity.

But it was Lisa’s approach to the mental and emotional side of sport -- and her attitude -- that set her apart.

We dive into her story and the tools she used to build that mental fitness in this conversation.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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In April 2018, Steph became the first British woman to circumnavigate the world and ride a motorbike (affectionately called Rhonda the Honda) on all 7 continents — yes, including Antarctica!

This journey covered 120,000km / 74,000 miles, across 53 countries, and took 4 years to complete.

In this conversation, Steph and I discuss:

* why you sometimes feel lost and unfulfilled despite achieving the goal you’ve set for yourself,

* how she planned the logistics of her 4 year trip,

* why people enjoy helping — and why you should ask for it,

* her experience with the Imposter Complex the day she started her ride in London,

* how she has learnt to manage her thoughts when others share their fears and doubts with her (including when someone said to her: “you’ve bitten off more than you can chew”). Notice the language she uses: I choose to believe I’ll be ok,

* her experience riding through Iran when it was illegal for women to do so,

* the experience of getting Rhonda the Honda to Antarctica on a 60’ foot sailing yacht, and then home via a Russian icebreaker,

* the times she thought about quitting and her fears of not finishing the ride, especially when injuries left her in considerable pain,

* the difference between quitting because you’ve given up or because it’s a conscious decision, and

* the expedition she is leading in 2019 - taking the first group of all-women bikers to Everest Base Camp in Tibet (Interested? There are spots available!)

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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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, that 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.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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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).

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Steph on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenaturalnutritionist/

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.  

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Jacqui on Instagram: facebook.com/jacqueline.holth

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 onto 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.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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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. It’s been over a year now and she’s going!

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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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 this year 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.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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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. 

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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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.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

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Follow Chelle on Instagram: instagram.com/chell_runs