In this episode of the Discomfort Zone Podcast, Laura Blythe, a passionate mountain biker and proud member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians shares her wisdom on stepping into your discomfort zone to build confidence, healing and resilience.

She shares her experience running up against barriers to entry into mountain biking, why representation matters, and how she’s empowering her community to heal and grow by taking to the trails.

If you’re an outdoor educator, facilitator, or company committed to diversifying the outdoors, you’ll want to pay attention to what Laura shares in this conversation.

In this conversation we touch on:

• The importance of prepping and getting educated for the adventures and discomfort.
• How stepping into your discomfort zone can build confidence and resilience in all areas of life.
• Mtn biking as a path to healing and growth.
• Why representation, community connection, exposure and trust are crucial in creating inclusive spaces in the outdoors.
• Steps educators and companies can take to create match their actions with their words when it comes to diversifying the outdoors.

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In episode of The Discomfort Zone podcast, Joe Taft, a celebrated yoga teacher and yoga therapist, invites us to embrace every facet of the life cycle, even the challenging aspects found within the discomfort zone.

He delves into the significance of self-awareness in confronting fear, offering tangible techniques for embracing these darker moments when they arise.

Throughout our discussion, we explore the vital roles of ongoing learning and integration, debunk common misconceptions surrounding yoga, delve into the essence of reality, and underscore the importance of alignment in outdoor pursuits like paddling.

In this conversation you’ll learn:

• Practical strategies, based in yoga and breathwork, for facing your fear and navigating your discomfort zone.
• The cycles of life and seasons based in the Shakti yoga tradition, and where your discomfort zone resides within these cycles.
• How embracing the darkness can make you a master of life.
• Yoga alignment principles for kayaking.

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In this conversation, Jennifer Whitlock, a fearless nurse practitioner and accomplished open water swimmer who recently traversed the English Channel, delves into the transformative power of pushing boundaries to unlock your ambitious aspirations.     Reflecting on her journey and the hurdles she faced, Jennifer underscores the importance of forging your own path to success and refusing to be shackled by external judgments.     After you listen to this conversation, you’ll be inspired to  transcend the ordinary and embrace the extraordinary within yourself.   In this conversation we discuss:

•  How to embrace fear and failure as growth opportunities.
• The importance of defining your own context for success and celebrating your achievements.
•  How to choose big goals that inspire you.
• The power that comes from focusing on being extraordinary, rather than on the haters.
• Why you should never underestimate what you can accomplish with dedication and perseverance.

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In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Buffy Burge, a pioneer in Class V river running, talks about returning to extreme racing at the age of 50, after a 23 year hiatus, to race the Green with her teenage son.

She shares why she feels that it’s important to be a strong role model for her sons in the realm of pursuing her own passions and facing her fears.

Buffy asks Anna to remind her of a conversation they had back in 1998 on a river in Ecuador, where Buffy’s advice in an eddy was clutch in helping Anna finish out that run, and build courage and confidence in her paddling. 

In this conversation we touch on:

• How learning from mistakes and focusing on the positive aspects of performance is important for upleveling your paddling, and your personal growth.
• Strategies for getting out of your own head when facing a challenge.
• Why surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people is crucial for pursuing your passion.
• How to prioritize for your passion as a busy Mom.

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In this episode of The Discomfort Zone podcast, Philip Henderson, the leader of the first all African American Everest expedition, and pioneer in promoting outdoor activities for underrepresented communities, shares his insights on embracing discomfort and overcoming fear and anxiety.

We talk about the importance of making choices based on personal growth and happiness, rather than seeking validation from others, and how he has navigated that in his own life.

Philip shares his wisdom on how to confidently show up as yourself in the outdoors at any and all skill level for joy and growth. 

Topics:

• How to embrace discomfort and separate it from fear and anxiety to move forward in life.
• Learn from mistakes, because they shape who you are.
• How to not let the judgment of others dictate your decisions.
• How he encourages underrepresented communities to engage in outdoor activities and create a more inclusive outdoor community.
• Why connectivity can leave a positive impact and build equity and inclusiveness in the outdoors. 

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In this episode of the Discomfort Zone podcast, Anna and her husband, Andrew Holcombe, (they met on the freestyle kayak competition circuit in the early 2000s), discuss their experiences with discomfort and navigating challenges in their relationship.

They share their top 3 discomfort zone challenges as a couple, including the decision not to have children and the difficulties of competing together. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize the value of communication, common ground, and accepting what is in order to move through discomfort.

Topics Include:

• Supporting each other in discomfort requires acceptance, communication, and a willingness to grow together.
• Independence and pursuing individual goals can strengthen a relationship.
• Common ground and shared language are important for effective communication and navigating challenges.
• Working well together requires decisions that work for everyone involved.

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In this first solo episode, host Anna Levesque introduces and gives context to the Discomfort Zone podcast. A mental agility and whitewater kayak coach, Anna defines mental agility and talks about what inspired her to share conversations with extraordinary folks who take on their discomfort zones for learning, growth and following their passions.

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