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PODCAST

The Discomfort Zone

Do you feel called toward something bigger — a dream, adventure, or purpose — but fear keeps holding you back? Welcome to The Discomfort Zone — the outdoor, mindset, and leadership podcast where courage meets the edge. Every Tuesday, host Anna Levesque — world-class whitewater kayaker, World Championship medalist, author, and mental agility coach — dives into raw, real conversations with paddlers, athletes, leaders, adventurers, and purpose-driven humans who choose growth over comfort. From

sports wilderness

All Episodes

01:00:50

Ep#92 The Only Way Out Is Through: Laura Zulliger on...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/12/02

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 meaning of the discomfort zone — why fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome always show up at the edges of growth 🧠 How

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56:58

Ep #91 Hurricane Helene Recovery: Lessons in Rapid...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/11/25

When Hurricane Helene tore through Western North Carolina, it didn't just reshape the riverbanks — it challenged an entire community to step into the unknown and take action, even when no one felt "ready." In this powerful episode of The Discomfort Zone, I sit down with French Broad Riverkeeper Anna Alsobrook and MountainTrue River Cleanup Operations Manager Jon Stamper, two leaders who stepped straight into the chaos with courage, clarity, and a whole lot of heart. We explore: 🌧 What discomfort

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20:01

Ep #90 Fix the Foundation: Anna on Getting to the...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/11/18

Most paddlers are trying to build courage and skill on top of a shaky foundation — and they don't even know it. In this solo episode, I break down why so many paddlers (and humans!) focus on the wrong thing when they're trying to improve. Whether it's your roll falling apart, your eddy peel-outs feeling frantic, or the ever-present fear of being underwater (or in any challenge that doesn't seem to ever go away), chances are you're working on symptoms instead of the actual root. And when you build on

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01:02:44

Ep #89 Flowcharts, Fear, and Silverback Courage with...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/11/11

What if the same mindset that gets you through a Class IV rapid could help you start a business, write a book, or take a bold leap in life? In this episode of The Discomfort Zone, Anna sits down with Melissa DeMarie — international kayak coach, river guide, and founder of California Watersport Collective — to talk about how navigating the unknown on the river mirrors the discomfort we face in life, leadership, and growth. Melissa shares her "mental flow chart" — a practical, soulful framework for

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47:35

Ep #88 Say Yes Anyway: How Olympian Sofia Reinoso...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/11/04

In this episode of The Discomfort Zone, Anna Levesque talks with Olympian and extreme kayaker Sofia Reinoso, the first Mexican woman to compete in Canoe Slalom at the Olympic Games. Sofia opens up about what it takes to say yes anyway — even when fear, uncertainty, or failure show up on the path to your biggest dreams. From her beginnings paddling Mexico's Alseseca River to competing on the world stage, Sofi shares how she's built confidence through courage, community, and consistent mindset work

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47:42

Ep #87 The Power of Joy with Keeya Wiki: Indigenous...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/10/28

Can laughter on the river be a way of reconnecting to self, to ancestors, to the water itself? In this powerful episode of The Discomfort Zone, Anna sits down with Keeya Wiki, a 17-year-old Indigenous kayaker who belongs to the Yurok peoples of the Klamath river and Te Aupouri and Ngati Porou tribes of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Keeya shares the story of completing the first descent of the newly undammed Klamath River, a historic journey led by Indigenous youth reclaiming connection to ancestral

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14:03

Ep #86 Why Holding Yourself Accountable is the...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/10/21

In this week’s episode of The Discomfort Zone, Anna dives into the power of accountability as a key mental agility skill — both on the river and in life. From her journey healing a herniated disc to returning to the water with strength and gratitude, Anna shares how holding herself accountable (even when it’s hard) helped her rebuild courage, confidence, and consistency. 💪 You’ll learn why being kind to yourself sometimes means doing the hard thing, and how small daily actions — those “easy moves

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55:28

Ep #85 Dane Jackson on Fear, Flow, and Finding the Fun

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/10/14

You might know Dane Jackson as that guy in the pink boat, the G.O.A.T. of Whitewater, or the paddler who somehow manages to throw tricks off of rarely run Class V drops. But in this episode, we go deeper — into what really drives his courage, how he navigates fear, and why fun might just be the ultimate superpower. Dane opens up about: 🌊 What “comfort zone” really means to him — and how he lives right on the edge of it 🧠 How fear actually keeps him safe (and why “no fear” is a myth) 💪 The

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55:00

Ep #84 From Fighter Jets to River Rapids: Khalid Kure...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/10/07

🚀 From fighter jets to river rapids, this week’s episode of The Discomfort Zone takes you on a journey of resilience, courage, and service. Anna sits down with Khalid Kure — U.S. Air Force veteran, father of five, and leader of Team River Runner Columbia, SC — who shares how kayaking became a powerful tool for healing, community, and transformation. Khalid opens up about anxiety, fear, and facing the river with shaky legs (literally!), and how leaning into those moments of discomfort helped him

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01:00:05

Ep #83 Balancing Fire, Flow, and Faith: Mardae Weaver...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/09/30

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 way, he’s faced profound moments of discomfort, from life-threatening encounters to deep personal challenges — and he’s discovered how leaning into those moments

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01:03:35

Ep #82 Money in the Bank: Making Every Move and Every...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/09/23

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 and current Marketing Communications Manager at NRS. From pre-competition nerves that literally send her running for the bushes, to redefining her relationship with ego and identity in

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01:10:32

Ep #81 Conquering vs. Connecting: Rethinking...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/09/16

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 identity, ego, and the courage to choose connection over conquest. ✨ What You’ll Learn in This Episode 🌊 Why discomfort on the river isn’t always about skill —

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17:33

Ep #80 5 Steps to Stop Negative Self-Talk (and Paddle...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/09/09

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 learn: ✨ Get curious about your inner dialogue 🛑 Interrupt the negative loop 🌊 Replace it with affirmations + embodied feelings 📒 Gather evidence of your progress 🔄 Keep practicing — it’s a lifelong

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41:33

Ep #79 Reclaiming the Current: Ruby Williams on...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/09/02

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 paddling journey began in 2022 with Paddle Tribal Waters, and has since taken her from the first full descent of the 310-mile Klamath, to training in Chile, Canada, and Africa. Ruby shares how

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01:04:57

Ep #78 8 Strategies for Thriving in Discomfort With...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/08/26

What if the mistake you’re dreading is the very thing that sharpens your line? In this conversation, I sit down with Deborah Kane—founder of Rally Crew, a new “online eddy” for whitewater paddlers—to talk about launching big ideas, running big rapids, and staying human when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. From walking away from months of work to the power of one person saying “I’d bet on you,” Deborah offers an honest, practical playbook for courage and connection. Why listen 🧭 Discomfort as a

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01:01:13

Ep #77 From Freestyle to Lifelong Flow with Kalob Grady

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/08/19

What does it take to fall in love with kayaking for life—not just for the next big rapid? In this episode, I sit down with Ottawa River local and Head of School at World Class Academy, Kalob Grady, to talk about the evolution of freestyle, the joy of paddling for fun, and the mindset shifts that keep you in the sport for decades. We dive into: 🌊 Why the “middle ground” of freestyle fun matters for skill and stoke 🧠 How to build a growth mindset and embrace failure in low-consequence environments

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16:14

Ep #76 Injury Update: What I Wish I Had Known and...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/08/12

Ten weeks after a herniated disc sidelined me, I’m finally sitting at the mic to share my biggest recovery wins—and the hard lessons I wish I’d learned sooner. Here’s what’s inside: ✨ How my ego delayed my healing (and how yours might too) 🚣‍♀️ Why kayaking + heavy lifting can be a dangerous duo for your low back 🩻 The MRI that changed everything—and why I wish I’d gotten it sooner 🧘‍♀️ The surprising mind-body practices speeding up my recovery 🌿 Barefoot walks, yoga nidra, and the healing magic

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58:08

Ep #75 Bright Shadow: Navigating Loss in Outdoor...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/08/05

In this episode I’m joined by the co-founders of the nonprofit Bright Shadow, Chris Gragtmans, accomplished whitewater kayaker, and Somerville Johnston, licensed professional counselor. Bright Shadow creates intentional spaces for community healing and reconnection for those grieving losses to and of the natural world — a topic that’s often overlooked in high-performance communities. Together, they share how Bright Shadow came to be and why they believe it's important to acknowledge the personal

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01:08:07

Ep #74 From Boat Builder to Industry OG: Joe Pulliam...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/07/29

What happens when a paddling pioneer shares decades of quiet wisdom on business, life, and the river? You lean in and listen. This week I sit down with Joe Pulliam—whitewater legend, founder of Dagger Kayaks, and one of the most thoughtful minds in the paddlesports world. From building his first boats in the 1960s for friends, to helping shape some of the most respected brands in the industry, Joe’s story is rooted in passion, purpose, and humility. We explore: 🌊 The heart and grit behind building

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52:09

Ep #73 Trading Places: A Father-Son Story of...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/07/22

What happens when the student becomes the teacher — and your kid starts paddling harder than you ever did? In this heartfelt and often hilarious conversation, I sit down with Ken and Cashion Porter-Shirley, a father-son duo whose relationship has evolved from early river days full of coaching and “peer pressure” to deep mutual respect and role reversal. Together, we dive into: 🧠 Building confidence through discomfort — for both kids and parents 👨‍👦 The moment Cashion started ‘worrying’ about Ken

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112 results

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