Shawanna Kendrick, founder of The Hiking, Healing and Outdoors Life (H2O), shares how her recent expedition to Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania was both a personal and generational goal, and the lessons she learned along the way.

Our conversation delves into cultivating self-awareness and personal growth through adventure, the benefits of pushing through hard, both for yourself and for others, and why it's important to live an inspiring life for yourself and for future generations.

Shawanna shares practices and strategies she uses in her own life to ensure that she gives everything she's got to every day, while also reminding us to rest when it's time to rest, climb when it's time to climb and nourish ourselves when it's time to nourish ourselves.

This conversation is full of gems of wisdom that you can apply in your own life to motivate you to keep showing up fully when life gets hard.

Benny Marr is known as one of the best big wave and river paddlers in the world, but I've always been just as impressed by his self-awareness, growth mindset and lighthearted humor.

There's so much packed into this episode! Benny shares his thoughts on ego and kayaking, and how he has used his ego for both 'good' and 'evil' throughout his career.

He distinguishes between being self-conscious versus self-confident, and how that has helped him grow and progress on and off the water.

We talk about the satisfaction and confidence that comes from feeling that you've accomplished what you set out to accomplish, and followed the passions you set out to follow.

Benny also shares his processes for gaining proficiency in kayaking, including video review, choosing confidence, and incorporating yoga and breathwork.

If you want to learn from the journey of one of the best and most grounded paddlers in the world, tune into this episode!

Brenna Keller, a top PSIA ski instructor and guide, dives into the interplay between fear and excitement, highlighting how mindset can help achieve a flow state. .She explains how fear, when managed properly, can enhance performance. The conversation also examines the discomfort zone beyond skiing, particularly in communication and relationships, where the courage to speak up can be challenging but crucial. Brenna and Anna talk about the potential dangers of constantly seeking adrenaline in both ski culture and whitewater culture, their shared experience of feeling most comfortable in leadership roles, and the importance of separating self-worth from performance. They reflect on how their passions for skiing and kayaking have evolved with age, touch on the fear of disappointing others and the necessity of letting go of the need to always do the right thing.

In this episode, helicopter air ambulance pilot, Holley Gardel, shares strategies for transforming negative feelings into powerful cues that propel you to perform at your best.

We talk about the power of mental performance training, how it unlocks potential in every aspect of life, and how it's not just for elite athletes. Holley champions thorough preparation, seeking support, and celebrating even the smallest victories on the path to your success.

Holley shares candid insights into her career as a female pilot in a male-dominated industry, addresses common misconceptions about aviation and the critical role of mentorship for women in the field.

Through her stories, Holley emphasizes the importance of resilience, shares wisdom she has gained from her mentors and coaches, and the joy of fulfillment that comes from committing to your passions.

If you want to learn how to adjust your attitude and altitude (I didn't realize that there is actually something called an attitude adjuster in a helicopter cockpit) to navigate your discomfort zone with more confidence and joy, then you'll want to listen to this conversation!

Abby Holcombe, a world champion kayaker who started paddling while traveling the world with her parents in their Winnebago van, shares her strategies for overcoming fear and building confidence while pushing her limits.

Abby tells the story of running the Grand Canyon at the age of 12, and how that trip taught her the value of breaking challenges into smaller pieces, and honoring her feelings, including what she calls cry-yaking.

Abby and Anna talk about the changing culture of whitewater paddling, the impact of social media on women in kayaking and what type of support is missing for empowering up-and-coming girls in the sport.

If you're looking for a reframing of your fear, this conversation touches on the importance of knowing the difference between irrational and rational fear, and the power of knowing when to push yourself to go versus take your time.

You don't want to miss this conversation packed with insights and inspiration!

In this episode, Shaun Eggie, a military veteran who has found healing through whitewater kayaking, shares his experiences and strategies for navigating discomfort and post-military life.

Passionate about supporting veterans in re-integrating into civilian life, and healing mental injuries, Shaun talks about strategies for grounding, the importance of separating fact from story, and what you can do when you get caught up in negative narratives.

This episode will give you practical strategies for navigating discomfort, growing self-awareness, embracing accountability, and cultivating a strong community of support.

You'll get a lot out of Shaun's experience and wisdom whether you're a veteran or civilian.

What does it take to get to become World Champion, and run some of the most challenging rapids in the world?

In this episode, Freestyle World Champion and top extreme paddler, Sage Donnelly shares the strategies she uses in competition, and when taking on big whitewater, to calm her mind, stay focused and find her flow.

Not only is she a successful multi-disciplined paddler, she is committed to helping others, like her, with Type 1 diabetes, celiac and hypothyroidism not let their diseases define what they can accomplish.

This conversation is chock full of inspiration, motivation and good laughs.

In this episode Chris Gragtmans, a former professional kayaker, life-long adventurer who now works in commercial real estate, talks about setting boundaries and finding balance between family, work and adventure.

Chris shares his philosophy on working smarter, not harder, and why learning how to say no is key to his success in following your passion, and living a life that is important to you.

We also talk about why following your instincts and why walking rapids you've run hundreds of times is also a way to set boundaries with yourself, and honor your inner knowing.

If you love river analogies, and want to learn strategies for better boundary setting so you can focus on what's important to you, don't miss this episode!

Emily Jackson, a three-time world freestyle champion and marketing director at Jackson Kayak, shares what it was like growing up in a famous paddling family and how her unconventional childhood has shaped her approach to discomfort and goal setting.

She describes her journey of overcoming the fear of disappointing others, particularly her father, and the importance of choosing your own way.

Emily and Anna's conversation delves into a lot of different topics including the challenges of envy and comparison in competition, insights into the realities of sponsorship in paddlesports, and Emily's parenting philosophy.

If you're interested in learning how to befriend discomfort, and turn challenges into opportunities, this episode is for you!

Handling discomfort in high pressure situations can be challenging, and Cindy Frost, a lieutenant in the Austin Fire Department and avid adventurer, shares insights on how to respond powerfully.

We talk about parallels between firefighting and whitewater kayaking, her experience solo thru hiking the Appalachian Trail, and the lessons she learned about self-sufficiency and the power of choice.

Cindy also shares how comparing yourself to others can cause you to play small, and how celebrating your accomplishments allows you to contribute to and inspire others to do things they never thought possible.

If you're looking to change things up in your life and take on a new challenge, this episode is for you.