Today on the show I chat with Paralympic Gold Medal Para-cyclist Darren Hicks. From age 10 to 29 Darren loved riding BMX but in 2014 a motor vehicle accident changed all of that. Darren suffered severe leg and neck trauma with his right leg being amputated above the knee, and his C2 vertebra was so severely broken it required surgical fixation.

But less than a year after the accident Darren competed for the first time as a Para-athlete in 2015.

Darren became a two-time World Champion and set a world record time in 2019 in the C2 3km Individual Pursuit and was named as Cycling Australia’s 2019 Male Road Para-cyclist of the Year.

He wore the green and gold at his first Games at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games winning a silver in the men’s 3000m individual pursuit and then Gold in the C2 24-kilometre men’s time trial.

Darren went on to receive Order of Australia Medal for service to sport as a gold medallist at the Tokyo Paralympic Games 2020

Today we talk about the accident that changed his life, his transition from riding with a prosthetic to without it and the training load necessary to become the world-class Para-cyclist he is today.

At the end of the interview, after I concluded the episode, Darren and I continued to chat and it was then that he revealed even more about his struggles in hospital after his accident. With his permission, it is included in the episode and at 10mins 38 is when you will hear it. It may be a trigger for some, so if you’re experiencing hardship at the moment, you may want to skip 2 minutes from 10:mins 38.

It was a privilege chatting with Darren and sharing his story and I hope you will be as inspired as I am.

Where to Find Darren:

Instagram: @hicksy37

Support Services:

Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Life Line: https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Mental Health Australia: https://mhaustralia.org/need-help

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.

Today on the show I chat with 2 x olympian, 3 x commonwealth games marathoner and Gold Medalist Jessica Stenson nee Trengove and to say I was excited about this conversation is an understatement.

Jess is Adelaide Running Royalty but you would never know it the way she carries herself. If she’s not running on the world stage you’ll find her at the local running events around Adelaide and the country either competing or supporting those that are racing. She ran an impressive 2:27:31 on an undulating course finishing 29 seconds in front of Kenya's Margaret Wangari Muriuki. 

Jess's comeback after giving birth to beautiful little Billy back in 2019 hasn't been a smooth one but 24 months postpartum she has run a marathon PB at the Perth Marathon with a time of 2:25:15. Running stronger than ever, her Gold at The Birmingham Commonwealth Games has put her in the history books becoming the first female athlete to win three Commonwealth Marathon medals and is Australia’s first female Commonwealth Games Marathon champion since the late Kerryn McCann.

In this episode, we chat about her lead-up and prep to the race, her mindset throughout, how she managed the conditions and the importance of her teammates and her husband Dylan and their support throughout the marathon.

An incredible athlete and an even better human being. 

This episode is not to be missed.

Where to find Jess:

Website: www.jessicatrengove.com.au

Instagram: @jess_tren

Rundies: www.rundies.com.au

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.

Ayurveda is a holistic approach to healing the body and mind while maintaining balance and preventing dis-ease. It is this philosophy and practice that has helped me understand my body, my symptoms when unwell, my state of being, what energises me and what fuels my strength, creativity and work ethic. It's truly changed my approach in everything I do. And it's because of one person;

Madeleine Holmes of Modern Ayurvedic

Madeleine has an energy and presence that will have you hanging on every word and immersed in the world of Ayurveda. She has a way of skill-fully explaining a philosophy, even if foreign to some, in a way that's easy to understand, implement and get excited about!

In the episode Madeleine breaks down:

This conversation was so fun and whilst you'll learn so much about Ayurveda, I can guarantee you will also learn more about yourself!

Where to find Madeleine:

Website: modernayurvedic.com.au

Instagram: @modernayurvedic

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.

What if I told you becoming superhuman wasn't about being the fastest, fittest, strongest, wealthiest person that ever lived? If I told you it was a feeling, would you want to know how to feel it? To experience the feeling of being Superhuman? You see, becoming superhuman doesn't mean you are rid of all sickness, pain, ailments and suffering. Superhuman, to me, is taking positive action toward, a healthier, happier, more engaged, focused and joyful experience of being oneself. I have met and spoken to many people who have been through tragic accidents, experienced scary situations, have loved, lost, loved and lost again, and who are living with the disease but are the most resilient, level-headed, opportunity seeking and taking, loving, joyous people. 

These people have mastered the art of becoming superhuman. They would never admit that though. To them, they are just getting by, day by day. 

But the thing they all do? 

Take action.

Sometimes it's great big action.

Sometimes small and humble.

And the action they take is for themselves for one sole purpose. To make a positive impact in that moment, that day or that week.

Whether that be starting or committing to a training routine, eating an extra piece of fruit, calling a loved one, drinking an extra glass of water, buying coffee for the person in line behind them or simply sleeping in an extra 30 minutes.  

Sometimes the action doesn't even matter, only that there is action. Action creates momentum. Momentum creates a mental shift, a sense of purpose, power and determination... and if it doesn't? Keep taking action until it does. Because it will.

We only have now.

How do you want to experience it?

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the below social media handles.

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Tara LaFerrara was not immune to toxic internal chatter. Unhealthy eating habits, body image issues, and even binge drinking forced her out of her collegiate track scholarship. But having a love for movement, she eventually discovered how it could play a more positive and powerful role in her life.

And it's fuelled a passion to help other women, like you, learn how to approach movement, wellness and mindset in a way that can transform how you show up for yourself.

Today on the show I chat with fitness and wellness coach Tara LaFerrara and this was such a fun chat because I have been a fan and follower of hers for a long time now and it’s so refreshing to see someone of great influence in the fitness space who is real and unfiltered and calling out the BS in the industry! (because as you probably know by now, there is a lot of it!)

She’s one of the few who is a strong advocate for building healthy relationships with yourself, with food, with fitness and movement and seeing it as something that we GET TO DO and ENJOY and not have to do as punishment, so she’s really trying to help us make this positive mindset and lifestyle shifts for the long term.

In this episode we talk about:

Where to find Tara:

Instagram: @taralaferrara

Website: www.taralaferrara.com

Training: www.taralaferrara.com/tl-method

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/taralaferrara

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.

Today on the show I have the pleasure of chatting with 2x Paralympian, Long Jumper Sarah Walsh.

Sarah was born with fibular hemimelia which led to her right leg being amputated below the knee when she was 18 months old. At 10 years years of age, whilst watching other Para Athletes compete at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, it was then that she decided she would one day compete and represent Australia at a Paralympics. 8 years later she made that dream come true and competed in her first Paralympics at the 2016 Rio Games. An experience that only fuelled the fire, set her up for a bronze medal at the 2019 Dubai World Para Athletic Championships and a second Paralympic appearance in Tokyo.

We chat about fibula hemimelia, her love of sport growing up, her dream to become a Paralympian, her passion to get better for Paris, and the importance of people with disabilities being at the forefront of mainstream media and getting the representation and equality they deserve. We also get an insight into her Long Jump routine and some of the technicalities of the sport.

We also chat about her ambassadorship with an incredible organisation Lifeline providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24-hour crisis support.

Where to Find Sarah:

Instagram: @sarah_walsh14

Lifeline: 13 11 14  https://www.lifeline.org.au/

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.

On Monday's we lift.

Today I chat with Matt Hunt and Alex Menchin owners of Global Fitness Franchise, UN1T Sydney.  Experts in helping you achieve your health and fitness goals, Matt and Alex live and breathe health and fitness and are committed to seeing every member succeed in their own unique journey.

With the motto; "We Train As One", their sole purpose – improve each member’s individual performance building strength, muscular endurance and mobility.

The UN1T training method follows meticulously structured cycles which lead members through 3 different phases each with different goals.

With over 20 years of combined experience, Matt and Alex know how to get the best from their members.  They have created a community-focused culture that is welcoming, inclusive, fun and of course when it comes to the workouts challenging and results-focused.

Today we chat about the best ways to get back into the gym after suffering covid, the mistakes people make getting started on their fitness journey, how to overcome mindset blocks, the non-negotiables on nutrition and the one thing you need to stop doing right now!!

Where to find UN1T:

Website: https://un1t.com/au/sydney/

Instagram: @un1t_sydney  @matt_un1t

YouTube: UN1T Sydney

Location:

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.

Everyone breathes. But do we breathe ‘correctly’? 

Today on the show, I chat with Oxygen Advantage Master Instructor and Breathwork coach, David Jackson, better known as Jacko, and we chat about all things, breathing. Now I know what you're thinking, what is there possibly to know about the thing that we do every second of every day of our lives? 

Well, turns out there's a whole lot that you need to know. And actually, we're probably not doing it all that great. Could we be doing it better? Yes, of course, could we use it to our advantage so that we can improve our performance? Absolutely. And that's what we chat about today. 

Jacko dives deep into the biochemistry and biomechanics around breathing, the importance of carbon dioxide and why we need it, he breaks down the BOLT score, what it is, why you need to know it, and how you can use it to measure your breathing progress and tolerance to carbon dioxide, AND ultimately, how that will improve your performance.

When we breathe effectively, the flow-on effect is that of improved focus, cognitive function, better sleep, better stress management, and the list goes on. 

Regardless if you're an athlete of any level or not, breathing is a part of life and the better we can do that, the better quality of life that we will have.

So take a deep breath (through the nose;) and listen to Jacko’s fantastic insight and advice on breathing for performance.

Where to find Jacko:

FREE App Pro Breathwork - https://probreathwork.passion.io

Certification - https://www.rootedlife.co.uk/certification-oxygen-advantage

Website: www.rootedlife.co.uk

Instagram: @jacko.david.jackson

Ring o Fire - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-jackson-breathwork

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.

If you are doing everything your training requires of you and not seeing results, maybe it's time you focus on your mental health and mindset.

Today I have the pleasure of chatting with neuroscientist, strength coach, and psychologist Julia Eyre.

Her company White Lion Performance is helping athletes, sporting clubs and institutions get the training programming that they need and the sports science and education necessary to build strong robust humans and incredible athletes.

On the show we get into the mental side of performance, performing under pressure, dealing with upsets and setbacks and building self-awareness around your own physical, mental and, emotional health.

We look at the different coping strategies you can incorporate into your routine to manage disappointment, negative self-talk, stress, performance anxiety and really anything that impacts your performance and wellbeing.

An incredibly valuable conversation whether you consider yourself an athlete or not. 

These tools will help you in life.

Where to find Julia:

Website: www.whitelionperformance.com

Instagram: @whitelionperformance

Tedx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeWfgYkijV0

you Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeGED0WdcDDDiumlxt5QKuw

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.

If you're wondering how to optimize your nutrition & training as a female, you've come to the right episode. Today I have the pleasure of chatting with exercise physiologist, nutrition scientist, researcher and author of ROAR, Dr. Stacy Sims. We dive deep into hormones, nutritional, and training considerations during the menstruating phase of life, peri-menopause, what is amenorrhea and how eating times affect hormones and recovery. 

At the core of Stacy’s work is the concept that women are not small men. Her vision is a world of healthy women who understand their bodies, know how to work with their unique physiology, know their periods are ergogenic aids and create positivity around being a woman in sport.  

If you've felt like something is missing in your training or your coaching, understanding the physiology you're working with could be the game-changer you were looking for.

Where to find Dr Stacy Sims:

Instagram: @drstacysims

Website: www.drstacysims.com

Facebook: Dr Stacy Sims 

If you enjoyed this episode of The Bodies Built Better Podcast please hit SUBSCRIBE and share it with your friends.

Head over to The bodes built better podcast page  - https://jackietann.com/the-bodies-built-better-podcast/

Follow @jackietann_rmt and @bodiesbuiltbetter on Instagram

Got questions, comments, or feedback? Get in touch via the above social media handles.