In this illuminating conversation, Rebecca reconnects with one of her most influential mentors and longtime collaborators, Dr. Andy Walshe — a pioneering performance scientist, surfer, father, and Chief Performance Officer at Liminal Collective. Known for his groundbreaking work with Red Bull, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team, and elite performers across sport, military, art, and business, Andy has spent his career studying what drives human potential. Together, Rebecca and Andy explore how true performance isn’t about doing more — it’s about understanding ourselves more deeply.

They dive into the paradox of progress, the intersection of technology and humanity, and why the best tools for mastery are often the simplest: movement, stillness, curiosity, and connection.

In this episode, Rebecca and Andy explore:

1. How Red Bull’s human performance program redefined the boundaries of elite training
2. The creation of Andy’s holistic Human Performance Model — integrating physiology, creativity, spirituality, and character
3. Why partnership, not prescription, is the key to unlocking potential
4. How discomfort and uncertainty build resilience
5. The role of curiosity and purpose in sustaining long-term growth
6. The evolving relationship between humans and technology — and what it really means to “make humans more human”
7. The importance of community as the ultimate performance enhancer

Transformative Insights

1. The Power of Purpose: Every high performer shares one trait — a purpose greater than themselves.
2. Curiosity as a Practice: The best in any field stay in “beginner’s mind,” constantly challenging assumptions.
3. Partnership Over Perfection: The most effective coaching is built on collaboration and curiosity, not control.
4. Embracing the Unknown: Performance breakthroughs often come when certainty is stripped away.
5. The Future of Performance: Technology can enhance insight, but only human connection creates meaning.

Vulnerable Moments

1. Rebecca shares the identity crisis following her concussion and how she rediscovered herself through stillness and movement.
2. Andy opens up about leaving Red Bull and navigating his own professional transition.
3. Together they reflect on the power of community, purpose, and humility in times of change.
4. Andy reveals why his favorite experiments at Red Bull weren’t about numbers or metrics — but about what happens when the plan falls apart.

Practical Wisdom

1. True mastery is not about doing more — it’s about being more aware.
2. The most valuable recovery tools are ancient: movement, time in nature, and intentional rest.
3. Technology should free us to connect more deeply, not distract us from it.
4. Building resilience starts with small, consistent practices that strengthen body, mind, and spirit.
5. Create pauses in your day — the stillness is where insight lives.

Personal Growth

1. Rebecca’s “Athlete Operating System” reframes sport as a framework for life — a daily practice of curiosity, connection, and self-awareness.
2. Andy’s mission through Liminal Collective is to democratize human performance, bringing world-class tools to everyday people.
3. Both explore how to carry the lessons of high performance into the rest of life — from the mountains to the boardroom to the dinner table.

Helpful Links

Andy Walshe

🔗 Website

🔗 Liminal Collective

🔗 LinkedIn

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch digs into the science—and soul—of exploration with journalist and bestselling author Alex Hutchinson. Known for his books Endure and The Explorer’s Gene, Alex unpacks why we’re wired to seek challenges, how curiosity fuels growth, and why doing hard things often leads to the most meaningful moments in life. Together, Rebecca and Alex dive into the psychology of pushing limits, rediscovering play, and finding purpose in both stillness and motion.

Show Notes

In this episode, Rebecca and Alex discuss:

1. The science behind The Explorer’s Gene and why curiosity drives human progress
2. The tension between exploring new frontiers and exploiting what we already know
3. How doing hard things gives life deeper meaning
4. Why we need uncertainty to grow—and how to find the right balance of risk and reward
5. The surprising link between exploration, play, and creativity
6. How sport serves as the ultimate laboratory for self-discovery
7. The difference between passive and active exploration in the age of algorithms

Transformative Insights

1. Exploration is about learning something new about yourself.
2. The “effort paradox”: we value what’s hard because it’s hard.
3. Play and exploration are deeply connected; curiosity is the bridge between them.
4. The sweet spot for growth lies between fear and boredom—where uncertainty meets possibility.
5. Hardship and learning are inseparable; meaning comes from the struggle.

Vulnerable Moments

1. Rebecca shares how her old Bronco became a symbol of independence, transformation, and letting go.
2. Alex opens up about his struggles with anxiety before races and learning to find calm through experience.
3. Rebecca reflects on losing her sense of play and how she’s rediscovering joy beyond performance.
4. Both reflect on shifting from “the next challenge” to learning how to slow down and savor the journey.

Practical Wisdom

1. You can’t outsource discovery—real learning comes from active participation, not algorithms.
2. Explore doesn’t mean “chase everything new”; it means follow what sparks curiosity.
3. To stay engaged, add novelty in small ways: take a new route, learn a new skill, have a new kind of conversation.
4. If a goal feels a little scary, you’re probably in the right zone for growth.
5. The most meaningful goals are challenging and chosen, not imposed.

Personal Growth

1. How Rebecca’s athletic evolution mirrors the explore–exploit balance.
2. Alex’s reflections on writing, family, and why building a treehouse changed how he thinks about learning.
3. Finding stillness amid ambition: learning when to slow down without losing momentum.
4. Why rediscovering play as adults is a powerful act of exploration.

Helpful Links

1. The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and Blank Spots on the Map
2. Endure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance
3. Alex Hutchinson’s website
4. Alex on LinkedIn

Support What’s the Rusch:

💬 Love the show? Share it with a friend, leave a review, or post your favorite moment on Instagram and tag @rebeccarusch. Every bit of support helps us continue these deep conversations.

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

Rebecca Rusch connects with two-time Olympian and eight-time world champion Caroline Buchanan for a powerful conversation about reinvention, resilience, and redefining success. From near-death recovery to landing the first-ever women’s front flip in competition, Caroline has pushed boundaries in every direction—but it was slowing down that gave her the strength to level up. Together, she and Rebecca explore what it takes to rebuild after loss, lead with authenticity, and find purpose beyond performance.

Show Notes:

In this episode, Rebecca and Caroline explore:

1. How Caroline transformed a life-threatening injury into a launchpad for growth
2. The identity crisis that came with stepping away from racing and learning to pause
3. Why slowing down can be the most powerful move you make
4. The mental shift from outcome-driven goals to purpose-driven living
5. Her transition from BMX Olympian to freeride pioneer and broadcast commentator
6. The creation of her new Ignite mentorship and education platform for athletes

Transformative Insights:

1. “Effort first” — how her parents instilled a mindset of earning progress, not expecting it
2. Why being “what you couldn’t see” became her lifelong mission
3. How a doctor’s simple prescription—gratitude, sunrise, and connection—reignited her joy
4. The “why” statement that became her compass for every decision
5. Using tapping, meditation, and mindfulness to rewire her nervous system for confidence and calm
6. The difference between chasing medals and living a meaningful legacy

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Caroline recounts her devastating 2017 crash that punctured her lungs and heart wall
2. The moment she realized she didn’t have the right people supporting her recovery
3. Facing depression and anxiety during two years of painful reconstruction
4. The courage it took to “put her learner plates back on” and start over in freeride
5. How slowing down forced her to find nurture, femininity, and emotional intelligence

Practical Wisdom:

1. The three healing practices that replaced medication: watch the sunrise, express gratitude, and connect with others
2. How to use mantras as mental anchors in both triumph and hardship
3. “This too shall pass”—a reminder that both pain and glory are temporary
4. How to define your “why” so clearly that it becomes unshakable
5. Viewing patience as part of performance, not a pause from it

Personal Growth:

1. Caroline’s evolution from BMX prodigy to mountain bike pioneer and mentor
2. Building Ignite to guide the next generation of athletes on professionalism and purpose
3. How her near-death experience reshaped her definition of success
4. Learning to lead from the bench—impact without medals
5. The strength that comes from blending mind, body, and spirit into one foundation

Helpful Links:

Connect with Caroline Buchanan:

1. Instagram
2. Caroline’s Website
3. Ignite Program

Mentioned in the Episode:

1. Nam Baldwin – High Performance Coach
2. Wolfpack by Abby Wambach
3. Red Bull Rampage

Support What’s the Rusch:

💬 Love the show? Share it with a friend, leave a review, or post your favorite moment on Instagram and tag @rebeccarusch. Every bit of support helps us continue these deep conversations.

Connect with Rebecca Rusch

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca sits down with one of climbing’s most accomplished couples—Emily Harrington and Adrian Ballinger. From free climbing El Capitan in a single day to summiting Everest without supplemental oxygen, they’ve each carved their own legendary paths. But beyond the bold headlines, Emily and Adrian open up about what it really takes to balance risk, ambition, partnership, and personal growth at the highest level.

Together, they share the stories behind their biggest climbs, the challenges of sustaining both a relationship and two elite careers, and the deep lessons they’ve learned about resilience, love, and redefining success.

In this episode, Rebecca, Emily, and Adrian discuss:

1. Emily’s historic free climb of El Capitan’s Golden Gate route in a single day
2. Adrian’s no-oxygen Everest summit and why he continues to return to the Himalaya
3. The dynamics of being partners on the mountain and at home
4. What it means to take risks together—and where they draw the line
5. Building a life that blends adventure, purpose, and presence
6. How they support each other through setbacks, injuries, and fear

Transformative Insights:

1. Growth doesn’t happen without discomfort—and sometimes failure is the best teacher.
2. True partnership means knowing when to step up and when to step back.
3. The stories we tell about our achievements are less important than the values they reflect.
4. Adventure is not just about summits—it’s about the process of becoming.

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Emily opens up about the injuries that nearly derailed her career.
2. Adrian reflects on the loneliness and pressure of leading Everest expeditions.
3. Both share what it feels like to risk their lives in the mountains while also protecting their relationship.
4. Rebecca and Emily connect over the challenge of balancing identity as athletes with evolving into new roles.

Practical Wisdom:

1. Why clear communication is as essential on the mountain as any technical skill.
2. How to prepare mentally for risk and uncertainty.
3. The role of rest, recovery, and perspective in sustaining long careers.
4. Tips for finding presence—even in the middle of high-stakes pursuits.

Personal Growth:

1. Emily’s evolution from competition climber to bold alpinist.
2. Adrian’s shift from chasing summits to finding deeper purpose in guiding and mentoring.
3. Rebecca’s reflections on partnership, identity, and letting go of the need to “prove it.”
4. The reminder that achievement without connection is never enough.

Helpful Links:

1. Emily Harrington Website
2. “Girl Climber” - live on Jolt 10/15. Streaming everywhere in November
3. Adrian Ballinger Website
4. Alpenglow Expeditions
5. Rebecca Rusch Website
6. Rebecca Rusch Instagram
7. Rebecca Rusch YouTube
8. Rebecca Rusch LinkedIn

In this deeply personal episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca reconnects with longtime teammate and multi-time world champion Anneke Beerten. From her BMX beginnings in the Netherlands to dominating Crankworx and Enduro World Series events, Anneke has done it all on two wheels. But her greatest test came off the course—when a traumatic brain injury abruptly ended her career.

Rebecca and Anneke dive into what it means to rewrite your story after the finish line, how to navigate the invisible injuries, and the power of staying in the sport—just in a different role. Now a coach, mentor, and skills instructor, Anneke is helping shape the next generation of riders, while also navigating her own ongoing recovery.

This episode is about identity, purpose, healing after an injury, and what it means to keep showing up, even when the ride looks different than you planned.

 In this episode, Rebecca and Anneke explore:

1. Starting BMX at age 4 and racing internationally as a teen
2. The evolution of a mountain bike career across disciplines—BMX, 4X, Enduro
3. The car accident that caused her traumatic brain injury
4. Letting go of a racing career before she was ready
5. Coaching for USA Cycling and mentoring Olympic medalist Haley Batten
6. Coaching from Crankworx to beginners, with equal joy and passion
7. Finding peace, purpose, and a new kind of finish line

Transformative Insights:

1. "Fun was always a non-negotiable part of my training."
2. Brain injuries are treatable—but require advocacy and patience.
3. Recovery is not linear, and it’s often invisible.
4. You can still win—by helping others rise.
5. Letting go of the comeback dream was the first step toward real healing.

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Anneke shares the fear and emotional toll of post-TBI symptoms
2. The grief of losing a lifelong identity in one instant
3. Feeling isolated in a facility surrounded by stroke survivors at age 38
4. The emotional reckoning of realizing she couldn’t race again
5. What it meant to return to Crankworx—not to compete, but to close a chapter

 Practical Wisdom:

1. Follow your gut: fear and intuition are both teachers
2. “Just give me two hours to undo what you’ve been doing for 10 years”—Anneke’s coaching mantra
3. Record videos or journal during recovery to track invisible progress
4. Helping others can bring the same thrill as racing
5. You don't need a podium to have purpose

 Personal Growth:

1. From podiums to mentorship: how Anneke found joy in coaching
2. Learning to ask for help—and accept it
3. The move to Bentonville as a radical act of healing and community
4. Letting go of plans and finding presence in the moment
5. Redefining success through connection, not competition

📚 Helpful Links:

1. Anneke’s Website
2. Crank it Up MTB Coaching
3. Anneke’s YouTube
4. Brain Storm Podcast and Resource Guide
5. Rebecca’s YT Concussion Video Resources

Sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Eternal.

Eternal is redefining athlete health with personalized, evidence-based care. From advanced blood biomarker testing to in-depth performance assessments and concierge support, they give you the tools to train smarter, recover better, and avoid injury.

Check them out at eternal.co and use promo code WTR for 10% off your performance physical today.

Support What’s the Rusch:

💬 Love the show? Share it with a friend, leave a review, or post your favorite moment on Instagram and tag @rebeccarusch. Every bit of support helps us continue these deep conversations.

Connect with Rebecca Rusch

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Substack

Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

Be Good Foundation

In this powerful episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca welcomes Lauren Fleshman—former professional runner, coach, author of the bestselling book Good for a Girl, and one of the most influential voices in women’s sport. Together, they explore what it means to push boundaries, to question the systems we inherit, and to carve new pathways for ourselves and for future generations. From racing at the highest levels to advocating for equity in athletics, Lauren’s journey is as much about courage and vulnerability as it is about speed.

This conversation dives into the deep lessons that come from showing up authentically, honoring your body, and embracing the uncomfortable process of growth.

Show Notes:

In this episode, Rebecca and Lauren discuss:

1. Why redefining success beyond medals and podiums is essential for long-term fulfillment
2. The importance of honoring your nervous system and holistic health in training
3. How Lauren’s book Good for a Girl challenges the systems that fail young female athletes
4. The transition from professional athlete to advocate, coach, and mentor
5. Why authenticity and vulnerability can be more powerful than achievement

Transformative Insights:

1. The cascade effect of living in alignment with your values
2. How sharing your story can help shift culture and create belonging
3. Why advocating for women in sport isn’t just about equity—it’s about human potential
4. The critical role of joy, play, and self-compassion in performance

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Lauren shares what it was like to face injury and the loss of her athletic identity
2. Rebecca and Lauren reflect on the pressure to perform and the cost of perfectionism
3. Both explore how adventure and movement can be grounding forces through life transitions

Practical Wisdom:

1. Introduce yourself with your values, not just your profession
2. Remove decision-making burdens by leaning into core non-negotiables
3. Recognize that nervous system health is the foundation of performance
4. Find ways to support others in non-threatening, authentic ways

Personal Growth:

1. Lauren’s evolution from chasing external validation to creating systemic change
2. Rebecca’s recognition of adventure as a lifelong throughline—for healing, growth, and connection
3. The reminder that the strongest people often need support too
4. Why embracing impermanence and discomfort can lead to lasting resilience

Helpful Links:

1. Lauren Fleshman’s Website: https://www.laurenfleshman.com/
2. Lauren on Instagram: @fleshmanflyer
3. Lauren’s book Good for a Girl: https://www.laurenfleshman.com/book
4. Wilder Retreats with Lauren

Sponsor:

This episode is sponsored by Eternal.

Eternal is redefining athlete health with personalized, evidence-based care. From advanced blood biomarker testing to in-depth performance assessments and concierge support, they give you the tools to train smarter, recover better, and avoid injury.

Check them out at eternal.co and use promo code WTR for 10% off your performance physical today.

Support What’s the Rusch:

💬 Love the show? Share it with a friend, leave a review, or post your favorite moment on Instagram and tag @rebeccarusch. Every bit of support helps us continue these deep conversations.

Connect with Rebecca Rusch

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LinkedIn

Substack

Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

Be Good Foundation

In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch and freeskiing icon Michelle Parker explore what happens when your identity is deeply tied to performance—and what it takes to unravel that. From the peaks of big mountain skiing to the quiet rebuilding after injury, Michelle has redefined what success looks like in a world that often demands constant output.

They dive into the power of friendship, the necessity of slowing down, and the ways fear can both guide and free us. Michelle shares how she’s evolved beyond athlete into filmmaker, advocate, and student of herself—and why letting go of who she thought she had to be helped her become who she truly is.

1. How fear and flow shape Michelle’s relationship with skiing and filmmaking
2. The role of friendship and community in creative and athletic longevity
3. Transitioning from athlete to producer and redefining her “why”
4. The emotional journey through concussions and identity shifts
5. Finding grounding through journaling, reflection, and intentional living

1. Adventure and joy can coexist with self-awareness and rest
2. Injury can be a portal to creativity, clarity, and reinvention
3. The stories we tell ourselves are just as powerful as the ones we tell others
4. Building a fulfilling life is not about chasing the next mountain—it’s about choosing the right one

1. Michelle shares her experience with brain injury, mental fog, and relearning who she is
2. Rebecca reflects on their shared concussion journeys and the subtle healing that comes with time
3. They both explore the tug-of-war between external achievement and internal peace
4. Michelle opens up about losing friends in the mountains—and how that changes her relationship with risk and joy

1. How to balance structure with spontaneity in creative and athletic pursuits
2. Tips for staying grounded when your identity is tied to performance
3. Why rest, reflection, and play are just as important as hustle
4. Strategies for navigating transitions—on the mountain and in life

1. Michelle’s evolution from competition skier to filmmaker, mentor, and creative leader
2. The power of saying no—and redefining success on your own terms
3. Building confidence by choosing what feels right instead of what looks impressive
4. How Michelle has learned to live more intentionally and embrace “enoughness”

1. Michelle Parker on Instagram
2. Michelle’s Red Bull Profile
3. Alpenglow keynote speech: A shift in perspective 
4. Season 1 Episode 1 of Originate with Red Bull
5. Continuum - Michelle’s first ever Director title

Check them out at eternal.co and use promo code WTR for 10% off your performance physical today.

Support What’s the Rusch:

💬 Love the show? Share it with a friend, leave a review, or post your favorite moment on Instagram and tag @rebeccarusch. Every bit of support helps us continue these deep conversations.

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

Be Good Foundation

In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch is joined by mountain biking phenom and SheSends founder Kate Courtney for an honest, high-vibration conversation about racing, reinvention, and rising to your own standard of success. From being the only girl on her high school team to becoming a world champion and Olympic athlete, Kate has reshaped what it means to lead with values—not just victories. Now, she’s charting a bold new course in her career: founding her own team, launching a foundation, and redefining what success means from the inside out.

This conversation explores what happens when you bet on yourself—on and off the bike—and how the moments that test us can often be our greatest teachers.

Show Notes:

In this episode, Rebecca and Kate discuss:

1. The founding and vision behind SheSends: a race team and a movement
2. Her evolution from factory team rider to entrepreneur and team builder
3. How Leadville became her unexpected comeback after injury
4. Cultivating intrinsic motivation in a results-driven world
5. The changing landscape of women’s cycling and why it matters
6. Letting go of external validation to focus on values-based leadership
7. The mental and physical shift that comes from playing the long game

Transformative Insights:

1. Believing in yourself—not just the outcome—is the most powerful performance tool
2. You don’t have to wait to feel confident to take the leap—just “send it”
3. Structure is the secret sauce, not sheer discipline
4. Curiosity is often the most powerful motivator we have
5. Building your own path can energize your performance in unexpected ways

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Kate opens up about the injury that sidelined her season—and sparked a reset
2. She reflects on early years of being underestimated and overextended
3. Rebecca and Kate share how they’ve both wrestled with shifting identities in sport
4. Kate talks about learning to rest, reframe, and rebuild—without losing momentum

Practical Wisdom:

1. Use values—not just metrics—to define success
2. Treat injury or detours as data, not defeat
3. Redefine goals through bronze/silver/gold tiers to keep perspective
4. Let structure support joy, not stifle it
5. Create space for the “main thing”—and know when to let the rest go

Personal Growth:

1. Kate’s shift from peak performance to purpose-driven impact through SheSends
2. Her approach to writing, reflection, and building mental clarity through Monday Mantras
3. Embracing uncertainty as a form of freedom
4. Expanding her team from just staff and support to a mission-aligned community

Helpful Links:

Kate’s Website 

SheSends Foundation

Kate Courtney's Substack – Monday Mantras

Kate on Instagram

Kate’s Interview on Rich Roll

Kate on the Second Nature Podcast

Support What’s the Rusch:

💬 Love the show? Share it with a friend, leave a review, or post your favorite moment on Instagram and tag @rebeccarusch. Every bit of support helps us continue these deep conversations.

Connect with Rebecca Rusch

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Instagram

LinkedIn

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

Be Good Foundation

Follow our Guest:

Instagram 549 Followers

Facebook 591K Followers

LinkedIn

https://katecourtney.com/

She Sends - Foundation & Race Team

In this heartfelt and illuminating episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebeccas has the JOY of talking with her friend, Mirna Valerio—known to many as The Mirnavator. Mirna is an ultra-runner, writer, skier, poet, educator, and unapologetic force of joy. Together, they trace Mirna’s journey from a Brooklyn childhood to discovering mountains and ultimately reshaping what outdoor adventure looks and feels like.

Through stories of summer camp, teaching, motherhood, poetry, and being a plus-size Black woman in spaces not designed for her, Mirna reveals the power of choosing yourself, again and again. This is a conversation about joy as resistance, belonging as birthright, and the ripple effect of being exactly who you are. It’s about introducing yourself with your values, not just your profession—and letting adventure be a lifelong thread in your story.

In this episode, Rebecca and Mirna explore:

1. Finding her voice in both poetry and the outdoors
2. The poem Trophic Cascade and how it mirrors life transformation
3. Nature as the ultimate teacher and refuge—“Nature is always the answer”
4. Core values as non-negotiables, and how to lead with them
5. What it means to take up space—on trails, in life, and in leadership
6. The strongest people often don’t get the support they need—and how to change that
7. Supporting your people in non-threatening, nourishing ways
8. How writing, community, and curiosity became Mirna’s healing practices

Transformative Insights:

1. Nature doesn’t just welcome us—it changes us
2. Your presence can shift a space, even if you weren’t invited in
3. Belonging starts with deciding you’re allowed to belong
4. Cultivating joy is a radical act of self-preservation and leadership
5. Introduce yourself by your values, not just your job title
6. You don’t need to reach the summit to feel the transformation

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Mirna shares what it felt like to not be seen in outdoor spaces—and how she kept showing up anyway
2. She talks about grief, burnout, and the internal tug-of-war of performing vs. simply being
3. Rebecca opens up about her own depression and loss of purpose during recovery from a head injury
4. The two reflect on how writing became a lifeline in the dark
5. Mirna speaks to the exhaustion of being “the strong one”—and how she’s learning to ask for help

Practical Wisdom:

1. How to identify your core values—and use them as navigational handrails
2. The importance of creating judgment-free space for processing, growth, and rest
3. Why vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness
4. Ways to build community through action, not just intention
5. How to hold space for both leadership and learning

Personal Growth:

1. Mirna’s evolution from educator to outdoor leader to published author and DEI advocate
2. Rebecca’s journey from podiums to poetry
3. The ways both women are reclaiming what it means to “perform” and to “belong”
4. Reframing the pursuit of adventure as something that starts with joy—not outcomes
5. Embracing a new season of life where permission comes from within
6. Adventure as a lifelong throughline—for Mirna and for Rebecca
7. Lifelong educator. Lifelong student. Lifelong adventurer.

Helpful Links:

1. Mirna Valerio’s website – The Mirnavator
2. Mirna on Instagram
3. Mirna’s book – A Beautiful Work in Progress
4. Camille T. Dungy’s poem “Trophic Cascade”
5. Mary Oliver’s poem “Wild Geese”

Lisa Congdon’s Live Your Values Deck

Sponsor: Momentous

Fuel your performance from the inside out. Use code RUSCH for 35% off at Live Momentous.

Support What’s the Rusch

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Leave a review. Send it to a friend. Let’s walk this path together.

Connect with Rebecca Rusch

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

Ted Talk

Be Good Foundation

Social Media Links

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In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch shares an expansive and grounding conversation with former professional skateboarder turned artist/mindfulness teacher, Teddi Dean. From a countercultural childhood in 1970s Huntington Beach to riding for the legendary Bones Brigade and eventually embracing Buddhist vows, Teddi’s path is a journey of reinvention and self-discovery. Together, Rebecca and Teddi unpack what it means to pause, to look inward, and to reclaim your identity—beyond titles, accolades, or roles.

This episode explores the transformation that happens when we stop running and start listening. Through personal stories, Buddhist wisdom, and practical tools, Teddi reminds us that stillness isn’t the absence of momentum—it’s the beginning of something deeper. Whether you're in transition, chasing purpose, or simply curious about meditation, this conversation is an invitation to begin again.

In this episode, Rebecca and Teddi explore:

1. How Teddi went from pro skateboarder to mindfulness teacher
2. Identity, reinvention, and the chapters of a lifetime
3. Why community is essential for transformation
4. The importance of pausing in a hyper-productive culture
5. Navigating midlife transitions with grace and curiosity
6. How MEA (Modern Elder Academy) supports mindful aging

Transformative Insights:

1. Identity is fluid; we live many lives within a lifetime
2. Meditation helps us observe and reset—not escape
3. The antidotes to suffering (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, equanimity) are tools for realignment
4. Vulnerability is strength—it builds authentic relationships and internal peace
5. You don’t have to “fix” yourself to start healing; just begin

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Rebecca shares how she’s learning to sit still after decades of “moving meditation” as an athlete
2. Teddi reflects on his struggles with addiction, identity loss, and rediscovery through mindfulness
3. They both explore the discomfort—and necessity—of letting go of former versions of ourselves

Practical Wisdom:

1. Why meditation is not about stopping your thoughts
2. How to apply “beginner’s mind” to aging, creativity, and career
3. Creating space for discomfort as a doorway to change
4. The role of ritual and daily practice in emotional hygiene
5. Why we must learn to forgive ourselves first

Personal Growth:

1. Teddi’s evolution from a skateboarding icon to MEA’s Head of Mindfulness
2. Rebecca’s journey from “Queen of Pain” to explorer of the inner landscape
3. How community and storytelling accelerate healing
4. Learning to be a “kook” again—embracing the beginner within

Helpful Links:

1. Teddi Dean’s Website
2. Book Recommendation: Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening
3. MEA (Modern Elder Academy)
4. Teddi on Instagram

Sponsor: Momentous

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