🚀 From fighter jets to river rapids, this week's episode of The Discomfort Zone takes you on a journey of resilience, courage, and service. Anna sits down with Khalid Kure — U.S. Air Force veteran, father of five, and leader of Team River Runner Columbia, SC — who shares how kayaking became a powerful tool for healing, community, and transformation.

Khalid opens up about anxiety, fear, and facing the river with shaky legs (literally!), and how leaning into those moments of discomfort helped him level up as both a paddler and a mentor for other veterans. His passion for service, family, and empowering others shines through in every story — from practicing kayak rolls with a broom in Germany to teaching his kids the joy of the river.

🌊 Whether you're a paddler, a veteran, or simply someone navigating your own discomfort zone, this conversation is packed with wisdom, humor, and heart.

✨ Why Listen?

Hear how Khalid transformed fear into confidence and leadership — on the river and in life

Discover the power of visualization, community, and "finishing strong"

Learn why camaraderie on the water feels so much like camaraderie in the military

Get inspired by Khalid's mental toolbox for facing rapids, challenges, and life transitions

Be reminded that you're never alone — and that support is often closer than you think

🎧 Tune in for a story of courage, service, and the healing power of rivers.

What if discomfort wasn't something to avoid, but an opportunity to grow? 🌱

In this episode, I sit down with Mardae Weaver — athlete, trainer, healer, and creator of Nowhere Solutions holistic retreat center in Nashville. Mardae's path has taken him from sports and fitness to Reiki, prison work, and childhood behavioral support. Along the way, he's faced profound moments of discomfort, from life-threatening encounters to deep personal challenges — and he's discovered how leaning into those moments creates wisdom, empathy, and transformation. 💫

We talk about: ✨ Why Mardae sees discomfort as opportunity, not pain 🧘 His MISRED framework for self-investment (Mental, Spiritual, Rest, Exercise, Diet) 🔄 Parallels between children on the spectrum and men in maximum security prison 🌿 The healing power of nature and gratitude 🔥 Stories of resilience, balance, and choosing to evolve

It's a conversation about strength, flow, and what it means to reconnect to our deepest core — body, mind, and spirit.

🔥 Listen now and learn how to transform challenge into growth

In paddling and in life, nothing is wasted — every stroke counts, and every experience is money in the bank moving you toward your goal.

In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna Levesque sits down with longtime paddler, coach, and storyteller Anna Bruno — a six-time member of the USA Freestyle Team and current Marketing Communications Manager at NRS.

From pre-competition nerves that literally send her running for the bushes, to redefining her relationship with ego and identity in paddling, Anna Bruno shares the raw and relatable side of navigating discomfort. Together, Anna and Anna dive into:

🤢 Anticipatory fear — why the waiting is often harder than the rapid itself

🏆 Ego and expectations — how comparison can both drive and derail us

🌊 Community over competition — why connection matters more than results

💰 Money in the bank — why every step, even failure, builds toward future success

💡 Lessons from rejection — building resilience through vulnerability

🧘‍♀️ The wisdom of yoga and self-awareness in paddling and beyond

💭 Why Listen If you've ever felt held back by nerves, struggled with self-doubt, or questioned your path in paddling or life, this conversation will feel like a breath of fresh river air. Anna Bruno's down-to-earth wisdom invites you to step past fear, laugh at the ego, and discover the joy of your own path.

👉 Tune in and discover how to embrace discomfort, find your flow, and remember why you fell in love with paddling in the first place.

What does it mean to honor the voice inside you that says "Not today"—even when your skills say yes? In this conversation, Brett Mayer, lifelong educator, athlete, and Policy Director at the American Canoe Association, joins Anna to explore how discomfort shows up on the river, in public speaking, and in stewardship. Together, they unpack identity, ego, and the courage to choose connection over conquest.

✨ What You'll Learn in This Episode 🌊 Why discomfort on the river isn't always about skill — sometimes it's about intuition

🧠 How to separate fact from story and keep anxiety from spiraling

💪 The practice of saying "It's a no today" and why it can save you from injury or burnout

🌍 Why stewardship work matters for paddlers — and how to get involved

💡 Why Listen If you've ever felt pressure to prove yourself, whether in a rapid or in front of an intimidating audience, this episode will remind you that true courage is about presence, patience, and self-trust. You'll hear real stories of walking away, choosing differently, and finding growth not just in big drops but in everyday choices.

🎧 Hit play and discover how leaning into discomfort, protecting the rivers we love, and finding your flow can transform not just your paddling, but your whole life.

Ever feel like your inner critic has you stuck in a recirculating hole? 🙋‍♀️ Same here.

In this solo episode, I share the 5 steps to stop negative self-talk — the exact ones I use when my own mind starts spiraling - which it has been doing recently on my back-healing journey.

Here's what you'll learn:

✨ Get curious about your inner dialogue 🛑 Interrupt the negative loop 🌊 Replace it with affirmations + embodied feelings 📒 Gather evidence of your progress 🔄 Keep practicing — it's a lifelong river journey

Think of it like paddling out of a sticky hydraulic: awareness, direction, and practice set you free.

💡 Why listen? Because your self-talk shapes how you show up — on the river and in life. If you're ready to stop trashing yourself, paddle toward confidence, and feel lighter in your body and mind, this episode is for you.

🎧 Hit play now and listen to the full episode — your next breakthrough starts here.

What does it mean to reconnect with your river, your culture, and your courage — all through the power of kayaking?

In this episode of The Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Ruby Williams, a Quartz Valley tribal member and Kuduk person raised along the banks of the Klamath River in Happy Camp, California. Ruby's paddling journey began in 2022 with Paddle Tribal Waters, and has since taken her from the first full descent of the 310-mile Klamath, to training in Chile, Canada, and Africa.

Ruby shares how kayaking has transformed her relationship with fear, taught her the power of choosing her own challenges, and deepened her connection to community, leadership, and her ancestral river.

💡 In this episode, you'll hear Ruby's reflections on: 🌊 Running the full 310-mile descent of the Klamath River 💪 Learning that courage doesn't mean never being scared 🧠 The difference between "good" and "bad" discomfort 🤝 How supportive mentors and crew make all the difference 🔥 Finding her voice as a young Indigenous leader 🌍 Why rivers are more than water — they're culture, protest, and connection

If you've ever wondered how paddling can shape identity, courage, and connection far beyond the rapids — this conversation will inspire you.

🎧 Listen now to hear Ruby's story of courage, culture, and flow.

What if the mistake you're dreading is the very thing that sharpens your line?

In this conversation, I sit down with Deborah Kane—founder of Rally Crew, a new "online eddy" for whitewater paddlers—to talk about launching big ideas, running big rapids, and staying human when the outcome isn't guaranteed.

From walking away from months of work to the power of one person saying "I'd bet on you," Deborah offers an honest, practical playbook for courage and connection.

Why listen 🧭 Discomfort as a compass: Turn "I don't know if this will work" into forward movement.

👥 Crew that's truly invested: What supportive looks like (beyond "just follow me").

🧪 Mistakes = momentum: The Rally Crew pivot—and why the "wrong turn" made the final product stronger.

💪 Confidence you can practice: Collect evidence for your self-belief and ask for help (yes, that's a skill).

🎛️ Control the controllables: Manage variables, then—when it's time—be all in.

🌊 Paddling parallels that land: Hard moves in easy water, relationship with the river, and resilience in real life.

Available wherever you get your podcasts!

What does it take to fall in love with kayaking for life—not just for the next big rapid? In this episode, I sit down with Ottawa River local and Head of School at World Class Academy, Kalob Grady, to talk about the evolution of freestyle, the joy of paddling for fun, and the mindset shifts that keep you in the sport for decades.

We dive into:

🌊 Why the "middle ground" of freestyle fun matters for skill and stoke

🧠 How to build a growth mindset and embrace failure in low-consequence environments

💛 The power of community, mentorship, and connection over ego

🎯 Knowing when to push your limits—and when to walk away

✈️ Why putting yourself in the discomfort zone prepares you for life on and off the river

Whether you're chasing waves, running creeks, or just want to paddle well into your 80s (yes, we talk about that goal!), Kalob's insights will inspire you to reconnect with what makes kayaking—and life—fun.

Ten weeks after a herniated disc sidelined me, I'm finally sitting at the mic to share my biggest recovery wins—and the hard lessons I wish I'd learned sooner.

Here's what's inside: ✨ How my ego delayed my healing (and how yours might too) 🚣‍♀️ Why kayaking + heavy lifting can be a dangerous duo for your low back 🩻 The MRI that changed everything—and why I wish I'd gotten it sooner 🧘‍♀️ The surprising mind-body practices speeding up my recovery 🌿 Barefoot walks, yoga nidra, and the healing magic of slowing down

If you've ever pushed through pain, ignored warning signs, or let "I'll be fine" turn into months of recovery, this episode might just save you from making the same mistakes.

In this episode I'm joined by the co-founders of the nonprofit Bright Shadow, Chris Gragtmans, accomplished whitewater kayaker, and Somerville Johnston, licensed professional counselor. Bright Shadow creates intentional spaces for community healing and reconnection for those grieving losses to and of the natural world — a topic that's often overlooked in high-performance communities.

Together, they share how Bright Shadow came to be and why they believe it's important to acknowledge the personal impact of loss in outdoor and paddling spaces.

✨ You'll hear: 💔 Why grief is relevant in outdoor and paddling communities 🌲 How Bright Shadow supports those navigating loss 🧘 Practical somatic and peer-based approaches to healing 🎧 Reflections on how vulnerability can strengthen—not weaken—our experience as athletes and leaders

If you've ever struggled with how to support yourself or others through loss in the context of outdoor adventure, this episode offers insight, tools, and perspective.

Available wherever you get your podcasts.