Kaya Turski’s story isn’t just about medals or firsts, it’s about what happens when the thing you love most gets taken away, and you’re forced to meet yourself without the helmet, goggles, and identity that once felt impenetrable. Kaya shares how pain shaped her from the very beginning, starting with a catastrophic crash at 18 that led to emergency pancreatic surgery, and how a lifetime of impact, whiplash, and chronic symptoms eventually pushed her out of competition before 2018, whether she was ready or not.

In this conversation, we explore what “Fly Always” really means when you can’t do your sport the way you used to, and how Kaya has rebuilt her life through honesty, values work, and learning to create space for herself and others. From the moment she told her coach, “I’m done…pull me out,” to the dark, quiet years of healing back home in Montreal, Kaya walks us through the hardest kind of courage: the kind that looks like surrender, asking for help, and choosing self-care on an 8/10 pain day.

In this episode, Rebecca and Kaya explore:

1. How rollerblading and skateparks became Kaya’s foundation for freestyle—and why she taught herself to ski at 17 by taking the Greyhound to Whistler every day
2. The misconception that elite freestyle athletes are fearless—and why fear is part of staying alive on “hundred-foot kickers”
3. The difference between chosen pain (growth) and unchosen pain (life, injury, heartbreak)—and why the second one is where “the real work” begins
4. The crash that sliced Kaya’s pancreas in half, the ICU in San Francisco, and being told to leave skiing behind before her career even began
5. How chronic headaches, cumulative impacts, and undiagnosed concussions became an invisible war that forced retirement a year before 2018
6. The moment at Worlds in Spain when Kaya finally said, “I surrender…this is enough,” and made the call to stop
7. Why identity can get dangerously fused to performance—and what it takes to become “more than one thing”
8. The question Dr. Mike Gervais asked that cracked Kaya open: “Why are you here on this earth?”
9. The real meaning of “Fly Always”: create space, take the leap, inspire—and why “creating space” starts with honesty
10. What “flying” looks like now: self-care, hard conversations, sitting with pain instead of escaping it, and “standing in the center of the fire” with yourself
11. How mindfulness “micro-breaks” and Rebecca’s “brain breaks” help regulate the nervous system and bring you back steadier, brighter, more present
12. The six-year healing chapter: moving back to Montreal, low capacity, and rebuilding from a dark period—one phone call at a time

1. Pain has layers. There’s pain that expands you (chosen) and pain that humbles you (unchosen)—and the second one asks for a different kind of strength.
2. Identity isn’t a job title. Kaya reframes “who I am” as what she loves, what she values, and what lights her up—not just what she did in sport.
3. “Fly Always” is a life philosophy, not a sports slogan. For Kaya, it begins with creating space (and safety) for the whole human to show up.
4. Values work is the bridge. The journey from “be the best” to “be true” runs straight through first principles and personal philosophy.
5. Presence is built in tiny moments. Five-minute resets and micro “slices of discipline” change the nervous system—and the way you move through your day.

1. Kaya relives the crash that caused pancreatic surgery at 18—and the whiplash of being told her career might be over before it started.
2. She names the invisible suffering of chronic pain—hurting internally while the outside world encourages you to push one more year.
3. The Worlds-in-Spain moment: “I’m done…pull me out,” and the catharsis of finally leaning in.
4. The dark stretch after retirement—UCLA dreams, surrendering independence, moving home, and not working for six years because survival took everything.
5. Kaya opens up about escaping pain for a long time—and then learning to sit with it, listen, and stay with herself through it.

1. Try a 5-minute reset 2–3 times a day: breathe, notice what you’re feeling, and return with a steadier pace.
2. Build “brain breaks”: step off screens, go outside, lie down, pet the dog—then come back more regulated.
3. If you don’t know what to do next: reach out anyway. Kaya describes the power of dropping the guard and calling someone who knows you.
4. Practice “create space through honesty”: tell the truth about what you’re carrying—even when it’s messy.
5. When you see someone hurting: say something simple—“I see you.” It matters more than you think.

1. Kaya moves from “queen of slope style” armor to a more integrated identity—artist, nature-lover, community-builder, coach.
2. She redefines high performance as self-care on hard days, honesty in relationships, and staying present when the body flares.
3. Her career comes full circle: from athlete with Dr. Mike to mindset coach at Finding Mastery—turning lived experience into service.

Kaya Turski

- Kaya’s Instagram

- LinkedIn:

- Threads:

- Team Canada bio:

Finding Mastery (Dr. Michael Gervais)

- About Finding Mastery (coaches/team): https://findingmastery.com/about-us/

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca welcomes explorer-author Craig Childs, a man whose life is spent listening deeply to the land. Known for tracing ancient migration routes, following water across vast deserts, flying through curtains of Virga, and biking into the darkest sky in America, Craig’s work reveals a world still full of mystery for those willing to pay attention.

This conversation moves through ghost-lit writing rooms, ritual landscapes, long bike journeys, serendipity, and the internal shifts that only happen when we slow down enough to let the world permeate us. Together Craig and Rebecca explore why immersion, not arrival, is what transforms us.

1. Why Craig must be in a place—feeling the ground, light, wind—for the story to reveal itself
2. How walking ancient routes or biking across deserts becomes a form of listening
3. The difference between reading landscape through photographs vs. letting it enter your body

Hemingway’s House & the Ghost of Influence

1. Craig’s three-week writing residency in Ernest Hemingway’s preserved home in Idaho
2. The strange, creative tension of living where Hemingway lived—and even feeling watched
3. How inhabiting another writer’s space reshaped Craig’s awareness of language and simplicity

Energy, Memory & Mystery in the Natural World

1. The ineffable sensations some landscapes hold—ritual sites, ancient paths, places marked by loss
2. How intention sharpens awareness of what we cannot explain
3. Rebecca’s story of biking 1,200 miles along the Ho Chi Minh Trail to reach her father’s crash site, and the unexpected peace found there

The Wild Dark: Riding Into the Night

1. Craig’s decision to bike—not hike or drive—from the brightest sky (Las Vegas) to the darkest sky in Nevada
2. Understanding the Bortle Scale, and how each night revealed an entirely different sky
3. What humanity loses when we stop looking upward—and the questions the night sky asks of us

Creative Curiosity & How Stories Choose Us

1. How Craig selects each new book subject: serendipity, timing, emotional bandwidth, personal readiness
2. Why some stories (such as those rooted in trauma) demand discernment, and why he sometimes says no
3. Moving from archaeology, to animals, to geology, and now to mountain lions

Internal Exploration & the Dialogue Within

1. The constant internal conversations that unfold when moving across landscapes
2. How physical exertion becomes a gateway to reflection, memory, and presence
3. Why writing is the spark—not the purpose—behind many of Craig’s journeys

Modern Disconnection & What We’re Losing

1. Craig’s experience witnessing a death on a transatlantic flight and realizing how few people noticed
2. The shrinking spaces for eye contact, curiosity, and shared humanity
3. The closing-in effect of modern life compared to the expansive awareness offered by nature

1. Immersion creates understanding—arrival alone does not.
2. Landscapes hold memory and meaning that reveal themselves when we’re quiet enough to notice.
3. Awe is not optional; it is a human requirement.
4. The night sky is one of our oldest teachers, and losing it means losing half our questions.
5. Serendipity is often guidance—if we’re paying attention.

1. Rebecca shares the emotional unraveling of reaching her father’s crash site after a long bike journey.
2. Craig opens up about choosing not to pursue certain book topics because the emotional toll would be too great.
3. Both explore the discomfort of modern loneliness and the desire for deeper connection.
4. Craig reflects on being swept into the rush of freelance life—and how he finds his way back to slower rhythms.

1. Use nature as your reset—it requires no preparation or perfection, only presence.
2. Let your curiosity—not your agenda—shape your explorations.
3. Build spaciousness into your life: dawn light, unstructured time, long walks, quiet moments.
4. Notice what your senses are telling you; they’re often wiser than your plans.
5. When life feels rushed, create friction by slowing down—sit on a boulder, look at the sky, breathe.

1. Craig’s evolution from writing about ancient worlds to exploring the immediate, living stories around him.
2. Rebecca’s ongoing shift from “rusher” to someone who seeks and protects stillness.
3. The power of long journeys—literal and internal—to peel away armor.
4. How exploration helps us remember our humanity and place in the larger world.

Craig Childs

Website: https://www.torreyhouse.org/craig-childs

Instagram: @wandercrag

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

In this episode, Rebecca welcomes her friend, author, and legendary peak-performance researcher Steven Kotler for a conversation that weaves together science, sport, creativity, and the deeper human quest for what’s possible. Steven has spent decades decoding flow, the neurobiological state where we feel our best and perform our best, but this conversation goes far beyond definitions.

Together, Rebecca and Steven explore why flow is accessible to everyone, what happens when you chase it too hard, and why recovery is a form of grit. Steven also opens up about the period of his life when Lyme disease left him bedridden, suicidal, and stripped of his identity, and how an unexpected moment in the ocean became the spark that rebuilt everything.

This is a conversation about curiosity, resilience, and how the smallest actions, walking the dog, doodling on a page, stepping outside, can literally help us find our way back to ourselves.

In this episode, Rebecca and Steven explore:

Understanding Flow & Peak Performance

1. What flow actually is from a neurobiological perspective
2. Why flow follows focus—and the 28 triggers that bring us into the present moment
3. The different forms of flow: individual, interpersonal, group, and communitas
4. Why flow operates on a four-stage cycle (and why you can’t be in flow all the time)

Chasing Flow vs. Working With It

1. The danger of using risk as a flow trigger
2. How novelty and creativity create safer, more sustainable pathways into flow
3. Why action sports athletes often “break things” chasing that feeling
4. How micro-changes—like interpreting terrain creatively—can upgrade performance without increasing danger

Recovery, Afterglow & the Science of the Come-Down

1. What happens in the brain after a massive flow state
2. Why a big flow day almost guarantees a low-performance day right after
3. The neurochemical crash that mimics the comedown of recreational drugs
4. How to use healthy recovery habits to shorten the “cost of flow”

Steven's Journey Through Illness

1. Steven recounts the years when Lyme disease left him unable to walk across a room
2. The suicidal moment when he believed he’d become a lifelong burden
3. The friend who insisted he go surfing—and the wave that triggered a full-blown, mystical macro-flow state
4. How repeated exposure to flow helped reboot his immune system and rebuild his life
5. What neuro-immunology reveals about the connection between flow, healing, and homeostasis

Flow, Longevity & Life Design

1. Why immersion in nature is one of the most potent flow triggers
2. The role of action sports and outdoor movement in mental health and aging
3. Why walking—even slowly—is medicine for the nervous system and the brain
4. How Steven teaches older adults to park-ski using creativity instead of risk

1. Flow is trainable. With the right structure, most people can increase flow by 70–80% within eight weeks.
2. Recovery is a grit skill. High performers burn out not from doing too much—but from never shutting down.
3. Creativity microdosing between tasks keeps you in flow and prevents ego spikes that knock you out of it.
4. Tragedy can be a teleportation chamber. Sometimes the hardest experiences become the doorway to the life we wanted but couldn’t reach on our own.
5. Movement + nature = neurobiological reset. Just 20 minutes outdoors begins to flush stress hormones and restore baseline balance.

1. Steven shares in detail the physical and psychological collapse brought on by Lyme disease.
2. Rebecca reflects on her traumatic brain injury and how losing access to movement shook her identity.
3. Both discuss the terrifying experience of losing cognitive function—and the slow rebuild back to themselves.
4. Steven opens up about the friends who walked him around the block when he couldn’t walk on his own.
5. Rebecca recalls calling Steven in desperation during her recovery, and how his advice helped guide her back.

1. How to recognize the difference between microflow and macroflow
2. Why doodling, sketching, or five minutes of creative play resets the brain
3. How to transition between tasks without “waking up the ego”
4. Why meditation isn’t about quieting the mind—it’s about practicing returning
5. Why “clear goals” are a flow trigger and a cue for when to stop working for the day
6. How sauna, reading, breathwork, and small rituals can switch the nervous system from drive to recovery
7. The importance of training your brain before you “inflict yourself on your relationships”

1. Steven’s evolution from punk-rock misfit to leading voice in applied performance neuroscience
2. Rebecca’s rediscovery of writing and art during her concussion recovery—and the reminder to keep creativity in her life even when sport returns
3. The lifelong pull of curiosity as a survival mechanism and a drive toward mastery
4. Embracing novelty, humility, and the willingness to start over again and again

1. Steven Kotler Website: https://www.stevenkotler.com/
2. Flow Research Collective: https://www.flowresearchcollective.com/
3. Books by Steven Kotler: The Rise of Superman, The Art of Impossible, Gnar Country, and more
4. Zen authors discussed: John Tarrant & Joan Sutherland

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

This conversation with Cam Wurf is a deep dive into the mindset, curiosity, and longevity of one of the most relentlessly adaptable athletes on the planet. Instead of simply talking results, Cam opens the door to the many evolutions of his career,  from Olympic rowing to WorldTour cycling to Ironman racing,  and the mindset that’s allowed him to thrive for decades. What emerges is a portrait of someone who never stops learning, never stops playing, and never stops believing there’s always another layer to uncover.

We explore how setbacks nudged him toward new paths, why versatility keeps him alive in sport, and what it really takes to keep showing up at the highest level in your 40s with joy, grit, and childlike enthusiasm. It’s a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and refusing to stay in any lane someone else draws for you.

In this episode, Rebecca and Cam explore:

1. Growing up in Tasmania and the importance of showing younger athletes what’s possible when you come from a small place
2. The mentorship moments that shaped his Olympic debut — including the mindset shift that changed everything
3. How injuries became directional markers rather than derailments
4. The surprising twists from rowing → pro cycling → finance → back to cycling → Ironman
5. Why variety has been the secret weapon behind his longevity
6. The psychology of coming back stronger after disappointment
7. What it takes to recover from one World Championship and qualify for Kona two weeks later
8. His love of training, playfulness, and why he still feels lucky every day he gets to move

1. Longevity isn’t about pushing harder, it’s about changing stimulus. Cam attributes his decades of elite performance to switching disciplines before burnout ever set in.
2. Your physiology stays; your ability to use it evolves. Cam’s VO₂ max hasn’t changed in 20+ years, but how he optimizes it has.
3. Belief is a skill. Cam shares how early wins cemented a lifelong ability to trust his capacity to come back from anything.
4. Transitions often follow hard moments. But instead of retreating, Cam uses setbacks as invitations to grow.
5. Curiosity is a performance multiplier. Training with boxers, triathletes, and cyclists expands what he thinks is possible.

1. Reflecting on not being fully present before the World Championship in Nice, and how family stress impacted performance
2. Opening up about the emotional weight of disappointing results and the phone calls that follow
3. Discussing fatherhood, the shift in priorities, and what “winning” looks like at home
4. His young son’s broken collarbone — and how watching his resilience mirrored Cam’s own approach to setbacks

1. “If you’re going to beat me, you’re going to work for it.” The mantra that carried him through a brutal qualification race
2. Why technique, mobility, and efficiency now matter more than simply training harder
3. How to recover fast enough to race again within 14 days
4. The importance of believing in your coach and your process — otherwise the work doesn’t matter
5. A reminder that positivity costs nothing, but negativity costs everything

1. The shift from doing three sports to mastering the details within each
2. Learning to chip away the unnecessary — using Michelangelo’s “David” as a metaphor for athletic evolution
3. Building a life outside of endurance identity: partnership, fatherhood, stability
4. Finding joy again through play, humor, community, and mentorship
5. Seeing possibility in every next chapter — including future Olympic dreams

Cam Wurf Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cjwurf/

Iron Man Series

YT - Cam Wurf Ep. 2 | Balancing Cycling, Triathlon & Family

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca dives into the deep currents of creativity, purpose, and healing with legendary kayaker, filmmaker, and musician Rush Sturges. From first descents on the world’s most powerful rivers to producing award-winning films like The River Runner (on Netflix), Chasing Niagara, and Edge of the Unknown (on Disney+), Rush has lived his life on the edge of adventure and artistry. Together, he and Rebecca explore how nature, trauma, and creativity intertwine—and how slowing down can be the most radical act of all.

Rush shares his journey from world champion athlete to filmmaker and mentor, the lessons learned from loss and risk, and how a devastating earthquake in Nepal reshaped his understanding of fear, nervous system health, and what it really means to live fully. This is a conversation about flow, healing, and the art of coming home to yourself.

Show Notes

In this episode, Rebecca and Rush explore:

1. Growing up at his parents’ kayak school, Otter Bar, and discovering a lifelong calling on the Grand Canyon at age 14
2. The parallels between rivers and life—how chaos, calm, and flow teach us who we are
3. What expedition kayaking reveals about presence, teamwork, and vulnerability
4. The evolution from athlete to filmmaker to musician, and the importance of building creative “teams” off the river
5. The transformative impact of mentoring Indigenous youth through Ríos to Rivers and the Paddle Tribal Waters project during the historic Klamath River dam removal
6. Lessons from loss—processing death, danger, and risk in the adventure community
7. Rush’s experience with PTSD after surviving a deadly Nepal earthquake and how it forced him to confront the limits of endurance
8. The healing power of therapy, meditation, and slowing down
9. Why true mastery is learning to move—and to rest—with intention

Transformative Insights

1. The river as teacher: Its turbulence and stillness mirror the flow of life.
2. Healing the nervous system: How mindfulness, breathwork, and community restore balance after trauma.
3. Creativity as connection: Music, film, and art as extensions of nature’s flow.
4. Redefining performance: Moving from risk and recognition toward service, purpose, and self-awareness.

Vulnerable Moments

1. Rush recounts surviving a catastrophic earthquake in Nepal that triggered years of tremors and insomnia.
2. He opens up about witnessing loss in the kayaking community and how grief shaped his view of risk.
3. Rebecca shares her own recovery from brain injury and how both learned the power of stillness and surrender.

Practical Wisdom

1. Small shifts—like walking more slowly or unplugging from your phone—can reset the nervous system.
2. True strength comes from knowing when to stop pushing and start listening.
3. Building “teams” in life, art, and healing creates the support needed for real transformation.

Personal Growth

1. From adrenaline and ego to empathy and awareness—Rush’s evolution as a creator and human being.
2. How service projects like Paddle Tribal Waters reconnect purpose to passion.
3. The practice of slowing down as a daily meditation—one mindful step, one quiet breath at a time.

Helpful Links

1. Rush Sturges: Website | Instagram | YouTube | Spotify
2. Films: The River Runner | Chasing Niagara | Paddle Tribal Waters
3. Ríos to Rivers: riostorivers.org
4. Concussion Resources:  Brain Storm Podcast & Resource Book | Concussion Video Resources

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Blood Road

Brain Storm Podcast

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

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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:

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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