September 2025

EP #83 Balancing Fire, Flow, and Faith: Mardae Weaver on Discomfort as Opportunity

What if discomfort wasn’t something to avoid, but an opportunity to grow? 🌱 In this episode, I sit down with Mardae Weaver — athlete, trainer, healer, and creator of Nowhere Solutions holistic retreat center in Nashville. Mardae’s path has taken him from sports and fitness to Reiki, prison work, and childhood behavioral support. Along the

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Fall Into Better Sleep: 5 Simple Habits That Work

Do You Struggle with Getting Good Sleep? You’re not alone. According to the American Sleep Association, between 50 and 70 million Americans are affected by sleep disorders. When my coaching clients bring up their sleep struggles, they often feel stuck between two choices: live with exhaustion or rely on pharmaceutical sleep aids. But here’s the

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Ep #82 Money in the Bank: Making Every Move and Every Fail Count with Anna Bruno

Description: In paddling and in life, nothing is wasted — every stroke counts, and every experience is money in the bank moving you toward your goal. In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna Levesque sits down with longtime paddler, coach, and storyteller Anna Bruno — a six-time member of the USA Freestyle Team

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Paddle Into Fall Stronger: 5 Tips Every Paddler Needs to Know

Fall boating season is here — crisp mornings, golden leaves, and rivers running cold and clear. But here’s the catch: while the water may be calling, your body and mind might not feel as steady as your strokes. Ever notice how the end of summer leaves you a little ragged? Long days on the water,

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Ep #81 Conquering vs. Connecting: Rethinking Adventure with Brett Mayer

What does it mean to honor the voice inside you that says “Not today”—even when your skills say yes? In this conversation, Brett Mayer, lifelong educator, athlete, and Policy Director at the American Canoe Association, joins Anna to explore how discomfort shows up on the river, in public speaking, and in stewardship. Together, they unpack

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Ep# 80 5 Steps to Stop Negative Self-Talk (and Paddle Out of Your Inner Critic) with Anna

Ever feel like your inner critic has you stuck in a recirculating hole? 🙋‍♀️ Same here. In this solo episode, I share the 5 steps to stop negative self-talk — the exact ones I use when my own mind starts spiraling – which it has been doing recently on my back-healing journey. Here’s what you’ll

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Ep #79 Reclaiming the Current: Ruby Williams on Indigenous Youth, Paddling, and Resilience on the Klamath

What does it mean to reconnect with your river, your culture, and your courage — all through the power of kayaking? In this episode of The Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Ruby Williams, a Quartz Valley tribal member and Kuduk person raised along the banks of the Klamath River in Happy Camp, California. Ruby’s

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