I told everyone in the eddy I was only going to ferry. When I peeled out, I was shocked by what happened next. The whitewater decision making strategy that I got from Clay Wright years ago initially sounded strange. In this solo episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast I work out why it became the
Ep#123 Take the Pressure Off: Whitewater Decision Making Read More »
How do you break through the resistance to doing the things you know will build your confidence, but you’re afraid of doing them? In this solo episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna Levesque, former professional whitewater kayaker and founder of Mind Body Paddle, takes on the hard truth that more confidence, more skill, and
Ep #122 Doing It Scared: How Confidence Actually Gets Built Read More »
How do you settle your nerves when the pressure is on and everyone is watching? In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Bryan Kirk, a former member US Freestyle Kayak Team member and Worlds medalist who has taken social media by storm with his old school boats and tricks, claims that once a paddler
Ep #121 Kayaking Is 95% Mental: Bryan Kirk on Nerves and Flow Read More »
What do you do when you catch yourself ignoring the exact advice you give everyone else? In this solo episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna Levesque shares what happened when she coached a client to celebrate her combat rolls instead of fixating on her flips, then fell into the same mindset trap just days
EP #118 Humbled by My Own Advice: Letting Go of Perfectionism Read More »
What if the language you’ve been using to help people is actually underselling them? In this solo episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna Levesque shares a perspective shift that stopped her in her tracks: after 25 years of building a brand around “empowering women,” she’s retiring the phrase. Sparked by Emma Grede’s book Start
What does it take to help someone do something they’re afraid to do? In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna sits down with Casey Bryant Jones, Director of the Ottawa Kayak School, for a conversation that gets into the real inner game of learning whitewater kayaking. Casey has spent years teaching paddlers of
Ep #115 Why Your Flip Isn’t a Failure with Casey Bryant Jones Read More »
Ann Gillard saw a gap in the paddling community and did what any good river person would do: she gathered her crew and got on the water to build a space where people can actually show up as themselves. Ann is an ACA Level 4 whitewater kayak instructor, NRS ambassador, and founder of Pride Day
Ep #111 How to Know When You’re Ready and Where You Belong with Ann Gillard Read More »
Whitewater kayaking naturally pulls us into the present moment. When you’re paddling a rapid, your senses sharpen, your mind clears, and you’re fully focused on the line ahead. But what if you didn’t have to wait for a rapid to access that state? In this solo episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, I share simple
Ep#104 Mindfulness for Paddlers: Simple Practices to Stay Calm, Focused, and in Flow Read More »
If you’ve been stuck in negative self-talk, overwhelm, or the holiday-season hustle, this episode is your fresh breath of clarity. In this solo episode of The Discomfort Zone, I share two powerful mindset exercises that have helped me peel out of stress spirals, rebuild confidence, and reconnect with ease — even in the middle of
In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna sits down with Laura Zulliger — ACA Level 5 Coastal Kayak Instructor, whitewater paddler, and Saltwater Program Director for California Watersports Collective — for a powerful conversation about surrendering through challenge, trusting yourself in uncertainty, and finding play inside discomfort. Together, they explore: 🌊 The real
Ep#92 The Only Way Out Is Through: Laura Zulliger on Surrender, Play & Paddling Read More »
