9 Lives

A real honour to be joined by athlete, ultra marathon runner and businesswoman - Lucy Davis - on today’s episode.  I’m so proud and feel very privileged that Lucy felt 9 Lives was a safe enough environment to open up about the impact of competing and participating in multiple endurance sporting events has had on her self esteem over the years. We discuss her life growing up as a swimmer and gymnas...

Welcoming my friend and long-time creator, Zanna Van Dijk to 9 Lives! Getting to know Zanna over the past 6 months has been an absolute joy and this conversation really encapsulates the inspiration and empowerment that I - and hundreds of thousands of others - draw from Zanna's experiences and mindset. This chat is one about finding balance after burn out, maintaining friendships in adulthood...

While I've mentioned my experience getting out of debt before, I wanted to dedicate an episode to explaining the behaviours that caused me to rack up that debt and crucially, the changes I made in order to now be fully debt free and running my own business. In this episode I talk about the price of wellness, getting control of impulsive behaviours and conquering the fear of starting something...

I'm so honoured to have Becky Briggs - an elite runner, record holder and all-round ray of sunshine - on the podcast. Reflecting on her relationship with running, how it's shifted over time and how she came to represent Britain and win(!!) the Manchester Marathon by such a young age, Becky offers some beautiful perspectives on using running as a means to reconnect with yourself and with na...

If I were to start my fitness journey from scratch - here’s what I would do and the mindset I would adopt. Whether you’re lacing up your trainers for the first time in your life, revisiting fitness after some time off or maybe simply starting to consider making changes to your lifestyle and build healthier habits - this episode is for you. I hope to give you some pearls of wisdom or help you begin...

I know so many of you are working towards running goals and whether it’s a 10k, a half marathon or a full marathon, I know how important and helpful it is to hear first-hand experience and tips from someone who has been in your shoes. Today I brought my friend - and producer of 9 Lives - Rhyanna, onto the podcast to talk about her experience going from beginner to marathon runner in 7 months.  Tha...

We've covered habit building in a number of episodes but this week I wanted to discuss how to break the bad habits that are no longer serving you. One of my most asked questions is "Cass, how did you quit smoking for good?" In this episode I break down my own experience and give you 7 tips that you can apply to any habit that you feel is holding you back from reaching your goals. Let...

I took on Paris Marathon last weekend with the goal of a sub-4 completion time. I missed out on that goal but this "failure" ended up teaching me the greatest lesson. I hope you all enjoy hearing my recap of the race as well as some of my reflections on running, races and setting goals. Hopefully my experience can encourage you to take on a new perspective and be more gentle with yoursel...

We spoke in Series 1 about The Black Dog - the metaphor I feel perfectly represents the relationship I have with depression. In today’s episode I wanted to revisit that topic but speak more specifically about how you can find - and navigate - a fitness journey while working through mental health conditions. We chat about how essential it is that you press on and grab opportunities to improve your...

When you think of the word "brave" you might think of big, bold acts with huge, transformative reward that follows, but today I wanted to talk about how you can be brave in your everyday - I give 9 tools to become braver in both big and small ways that will ultimately build confidence and see you change your life for good. How have you been brave recently? Let's chat in the comments....

Perhaps one of my most popular FAQs: Cassia, why do you train hybrid and what even is hybrid training? For me, hybrid has become a way of life and the most sustainable way to stay happy and active. In this episode I talk about the fundamentals of this training style including goal setting and how endurance running and lifting weights can compliment one another when it comes to health benefits as w...

When discussing weight loss and changing daily routines and habits, it's not often we focus on what we gain from the journey; attention often sits with the sacrifice and the grit it takes to transform your life. This week I wanted to reframe the journey and remind you of the life changing things I gained from embarking on this journey from reduced inflammation to improved cognitive function. C...

Join me at home this week as I reflect on my trip to Utah and chat to you about some thoughts I had around change, chapters in our life, seizing adventure in life and perspectives on “failure”. I also wanted to take some time in this episode to give you some practical tips and advice from my own journey to become alcohol-free as I know so many of you are sober curious, I hope this helps.  Always h...

Fast approaching 1000 days of running, Savannah Sachdev is back on the podcast! In this conversation we discuss what Savannah's run streak has taught her about accountability and commitment to herself; we also spend some time reflecting on our 20s and the mindset shifts we feel as we enter our 30s and beyond. If you've felt yourself trapped in a comparison loop, hopefully this episode give...

After a few tricky weeks for me, I wanted to chat today about getting to know - and working with - your shadow. Shadow work has been such a beneficial practice for me throughout my journey and continues to be something I do regularly. I really hope you also take away something beneficial from this episode if you're struggling to come to terms with the parts of yourself you're not so proud...

Joining us this week is my friend, colleague and multi-marathon-runner Finlay Hampton. We take this opportunity to address some FAQ we often receive from clients and our run community from avoiding injury and burnout, to how to properly fuel with food before and during a run, to our favourite running shoes. Fin is always an incredibly welcome guest on 9 Lives and so he will be back! Let us know in...

Hello dear ones! In this week's episode we dive into how to cultivate the sticking power and patience to execute your dreams. Always falling short of your goals? This episode is for you. I also delve into some buddhist teachings, as well as the neuroscience behind building trust in ourselves. With love always Cass x

The question I get most in my DMs is “How do I start running?” but I want you all to remember that for me it really started with setting smaller goals and growing them, as my confidence and self belief grew. A glimmer of hope and inspiration turned into a short walk, turned into a jog between trees, turned into a lap of the park, turned into 3K, turned into 5K.. 10K.. Half Marathon… and so it goes...

Often the biggest hurdle standing between us and our goals is our negative self-talk or the judgments and expressions of others. In this week’s episode I hope to offer you some advice on detaching yourself from these obstacles and dig into what we mean by “finding our purpose” especially when struggling with mental health and life’s responsibilities. I introduce you to the idea of “the sublime” an...

Welcome back to 9 lives Season 2! I am so happy to be back, and so thankful for you joining me here friends. In this episode we discuss building willpower. That elusive golden nugget that everybody wants but many find so hard to find. I touch on the science of creating tenacity in your life, and tell the story of the ‘cross roads’ moment from my own journey that changed everything for me. Who do y...

In this week's episode I tell the story of 'taking it too far'... how I broke out of the constant hedonistic cycle. I discuss reversing the damage I did to my body- yellowing eyes, swollen features & ankles. I also give tools to find fun in peace and quiet after extremes. Fun can be a cup of tea, a walk in the woods, or a quiet moment of stillness with yourself. Finding joy in self...

In this episode I delve into the problems with excessive social media consumption. We discuss comparing yourself to the unrealistic and somewhat unattainable lifestyles you see in online fitness. I offer some tools to create boundaries with your phone, to get offline & into the real world. I touch on why I believe 'what I eat in a day' videos might not always be helpful, and talk about...

In this weeks ' ask me anything ' I discuss the loneliness and solitude a self improvement journey can sometimes create. I give some insight on how I coped with this, and how to make peace with saying goodbye to people, places and habits that no longer serve you. I touch on grieving through running, finding peaceful love after toxicity and how to foster a 'it's never too late to ch...

Who were you before the world told you who to be? Before the hurt? Reconnecting with that childlike innocence and joy could be the key to figuring out what makes your soul sing. In this episode I give you tools to connect with your inner child. I discuss my own lifestyle change & the story of how I changed my future so drastically with the power of self talk, positive thoughts & intention....

In this episode I ask you the question, 'do you want to get better?' Sadness and self destructiveness can become an old familiar friend, but in this episode I help you challenge that behaviour. I give some science as to why eating and moving in certain ways can create the energy you need to start feeling better. Action creates energy. I cover nature therapy, basic macronutrients, and posit...