x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

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

46:25

ENCORE: Sophie Gilfillan (KS U21 Paddler of the Year)...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2026/01/06

In this encore episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, I'm joined by Sophie Gilfillan, recently named U21 Female Paddler of the Year, for a powerful conversation about mindset training for kayaking, managing fear, and letting go of perfectionism—without losing the joy of paddling. Sophie is a silver medalist at the Junior Women's World Freestyle Championships and a multi-discipline paddler across freestyle, slalom, and creeking. In this conversation, she shares how she works with pressure,

en-us

59:40

ENCORE: Michelle Tennant on Creating a Year and Life...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/12/30

What if you didn't set another resolution… and instead chose a theme you could actually live into? In this bonus re-release, I'm joined by my longtime friend and entrepreneur Michelle Tennant Nicholson for a grounded, energizing conversation about creating an annual theme that becomes a true north star — not a January idea you forget by February. We talk about what it really takes to stay engaged in your life (especially when you're tired, busy, or tempted to drift back into the comfortable

en-us

47:55

Ep #95 How World Champion Freestyle Kayaker Makinley...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/12/23

In this inspiring episode of The Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Makinley Kate Hargrove, two-time Junior World Champion, World Cup gold medalist, and six-time U.S. Junior National Champion, to explore how she leans into discomfort and finds her flow both on and off the river. We dive deep into: 🌊 How elite athletes reframe pressure into purpose 😊 Why choosing joy is a daily practice — not a personality trait 🤝 The power of community for courage and resilience 💪 Navigating injury with patience,

en-us

27:12

Ep #94 From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Two Simple...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/12/16

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 a six-month injury that kept me off the river. Whether you're healing, navigating a busy season, or feeling mentally overloaded, these tools will help you shift from

en-us

01:00:41

Ep #93 Claiming Your Space: Simone Adams on Courage,...

The Discomfort Zone ·

2025/12/09

What if the real discomfort zone isn't the big rapid, the waterfall, or the leap into the unknown — but the murky middle between who you've been and who you're becoming? In this powerful, honest conversation, Anna sits down with lifelong adventurer and Color My Outdoors founder Simone Adams to explore what it really takes to navigate fear, identity, and belonging in outdoor spaces. Together they dive into: 🌿 What discomfort actually looks like Simone shares how the discomfort zone isn't the scary

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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 —

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

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

en-us

97 results

Similar Podcasts

Keeping Karlsson Fantasy Hockey Podcast

Elan Dubrofsky and Brian Kom

Daily Fantasy Sports by Ship It Nation

Ship It Nation

Fantasy Football Today

CBS Sports, Fantasy Football, FFT, NFL,...

Bring The Pain

Heat00veride

ESPN SportsCenter Update

ESPN