The Discomfort Zone

In this encore episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast , I sit down with Heidi Walsh , one of the most dynamic all-around female kayakers in the world and a 2025 Female Paddler of the Year finalist , for a raw conversation about mindset, resilience, and learning through failure in high-consequence whitewater . Heidi is known for charging Class V creeks, competing at the highest level of freestyle k...

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 acr...

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 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 per...

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...

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 d...

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...

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 st...

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...

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...

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...

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 unda...

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...

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...

🚀 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...

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-...

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 li...

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 co...

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 affir...

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 t...

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," Debor...

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 fo...

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 su...

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, the...

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...