The Discomfort Zone

If you’re a whitewater paddler and you’ve wondered how the legendary ‘Brown Claw’ came to be, you’ll get the facts in this episode, directly from Dave Fusilli, one of the OG Demshitz.

If you’re not a whitewater paddler and that sounds like crazy talk, you’ll still want to tune in because Dave tends to bring out the best in people. He seems to effortlessly balance not taking himself too seriously while also being very thoughtful and committed to connection, kindness and kayaking, of course.

In this conversation we explore the  themes of discomfort, decision-making, mindfulness, and the power of our spiritual connection to water.

Dave also generously shares how he has been navigating the recent loss of his good friend, and industry icon, Bren Orton.

You’ll come away from this episode with inspiration for being more authentically yourself, having more fun, spreading more love and being a little kinder to yourself and others.

In this episode, certified counselor Somerville Johnston returns to the show to do a dive deep with Anna into the mental health impacts of Hurricane Helene on their Asheville community.

They candidly explore the emotional landscape of discomfort, self-care, and survivor guilt, while underscoring the essential role of community support in the healing process.

The conversation sheds light on the importance of showing compassion—for ourselves and others—as they reflect on the collective grief that follows natural disasters.

Anna and Somerville discuss the complexities of grief and loss, emphasizing how grief is an ongoing process. They share personal strategies for coping, stressing the importance of routines, presence, and allowing emotions to flow freely.

Ultimately, this dialogue is a powerful reminder of the strength found in small acts of care and the profound interconnectedness between individual struggles and community-wide recovery.

Last week Hurricane Helene devastated parts of our town and much of Western North Carolina.

This is a solo episode on my reflections of the past week because it felt like the right thing to do rather than go to a pre-recorded interview episode.

I literally re-recorded this episode 4 times because nothing I say captures all of the emotions and thoughts that have been running through me. There are no words, and things will continue to change as the recovery continues.

Settling on the focus of compassion, gratitude, focusing on what we can create anew from this devastation, and knowing that we will be able to return to the rivers for healing when the time is right.

Thanks for tuning in to this episode where I am very much in my discomfort zone on many levels.

If you want to learn to set better boundaries, then to tune into this week’s episode about my absolute favorite teaching from the river: How to set boundaries like river banks.

Learning how to set boundaries around what’s important to you is essential to living a life that is fulfilling and meaningful to you.

Unfortunately, boundaries can get a bad rap as too confining, rigid and not fun. However, when you look at the flow of the water in a river - full of fun, beauty, power and freedom, you’ll notice that none of that could exist without the boundaries of the river banks.

In this episode you’ll learn how to direct the flow of your energy, focus and awareness towards what’s important to you.

If you need some positive inspo this week, this episode is for you!

Stephen Wright is one of the most accomplished and positive paddlers I know.

In this conversation Stephen shares how he navigates his discomfort zone in competition, squirt boating, coaching and starting his carbon boat building company, Dreamboat Kayaks.

You’ll learn about his coaching philosophy, and how he approaches inspiring and motivating his students through failure and success.

Stephen’s take on winning and creating the stoke he wants to see in the future of paddling is both refreshing and motivating.

We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, and share some laughs along the way.

Join me for an inspiring conversation with Sophie Gilfillan, recent silver medalist in Junior Women at the World Freestyle Championships, who has also excelled in slalom kayaking, and creek boating.

In this episode of the Discomfort Zone Podcast, Sophie delves into the delicate balance between rational and irrational fear, sharing how she navigates the mental challenges of paddling and competition.

She reveals how the rule of thirds has become her secret weapon for bouncing back from tough performances, allowing her to keep the joy alive in both competition and everyday paddling.

As an experienced slalom paddler, Sophie offers her insights on extreme slalom, an event recently added to the Olympics. She explains how it has made slalom more accessible and fun.

With a wisdom that exceeds her years, Sophie reminds us of the true essence of success: pursuing what you love, making a positive impact, and understanding that neither accolades nor failures define us.