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 »
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 »
Ever feel like you need the perfect plan before you can start anything? This conversation might change that. In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna sits down with Chris Baer, a raft guide and whitewater kayaker who lives half the year out of a converted school bus and spends his winters chasing first
Ep #117 Where Is Baer: A Life Built on Showing Up and Figuring It Out Read More »
I was in the eddy at the local play wave, and my inner critic was going off. The wave felt fast and dynamic, but I was feeling nervous, hesitant and wobbly. My heart was beating fast, and I was stuck in a vicious cycle of nerves, negative self-talk and feeling off in my skills. Instead
The Story My Brain Was Telling Me (And Why It Was Wrong) Read More »
Why do some paddlers make moves look effortless while others keep missing them by inches? And when did you last give up on a move you could have made? In this solo episode, Anna shares what two recent private instruction clients discovered that changed everything: looking where you want to go isn’t as natural as
Ep #112 Why You Keep Missing Moves On the Water and In Life 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 »
What does resilience actually look like when pain isn’t occasional – it’s constant? Jak Fantastic has been kayaking since she was six years old, born with severely clubbed feet and limited mobility. By 14, she was on the GB Freestyle Kayak Team. By 19, she was facing hip dysplasia, multiple surgeries, and a prognosis that
Ep #109 Jak Fantastic: Pain, Amputation, and Radical Resilience on the Water Read More »
Today is my 52nd birthday — and I’m doing something I don’t do nearly enough: actually stopping to celebrate. If you’re someone who moves straight to the next goal, minimizes what you’ve accomplished, or quietly compares yourself out of your own wins — this one’s for you. I’m sharing a simple reflection practice that has
Ep #108 Your Younger Self Would Be Blown Away – Solo Ep Read More »
What if slowing down your progression isn’t playing it safe — it’s actually the most ambitious thing you can do? River Mutton is an extreme whitewater world champion from New Zealand who does tricks over waterfalls, runs lines most paddlers only dream about, and deliberately keeps her progression slower than her skill level. In this
Ep #107 Fear as a Tool: How River Mutton Stays Locked In Read More »
