The Discomfort Zone

What does it take to keep going when everything around you — the sport, the culture, the system — says this isn't your place? At the age of 13, Naina Adhikari made her way to the Ganga River, 300 km from her home village to start learning how to whitewater kayak. She couldn't swim, and was the only girl on the river with no female mentors to turn to. Although she faced many obstacles, she persisted. Naina has since represented India at the World Championships and Olympic qualifiers, won the Ganga Kayak Festival twice, and founded Ganga Girls and the Pravahini Foundation, projects that train Indian female kayakers, and that bring survivors of human trafficking to the river, and to paddling, to experience freedom, strength, and community. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever had to find their footing in a world that wasn't built for them. In this episode: The real off-river challenges of being the only woman in a male-dominated sport inside a traditional culture What Naina had to navigate alone, and why she stayed anyway The story behind Ganga Girls and Project Shakti What big volume water on the Ganga teaches about presence and showing up every day Naina's legacy word is "revolutionary." After listening, you'll understand why.

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 on the River, a volunteer-led event on the Deerfield River in Massachusetts dedicated to LGBTQ+ visibility and participation in paddle sports. It draws over 150 people for a community paddle, beginner clinics, affinity group paddling, and one of the most joyful after-parties on the river. In this episode, Anna and Ann explore: The discomfort zone continuum — how Ann uses body cues to distinguish her comfort zone, panic zone, and the growth space in between The 51% rule — Ann's personal metric for deciding when a rapid is worth running, and why purpose matters more than peer pressure Ego and the river — when ego is a useful push, when it gets in the way, and how to tell the difference Building genuinely inclusive spaces — what it actually looks like to create a container where people can show up as themselves, not as who the sport expects them to be Ann's favorite river metaphor — she shares one in rapid fire that will make you see rivers and community completely differently Cleaning up your mistakes — the courage it takes to own an error in front of a group, and why that moment of accountability can build more trust than getting it right the first time If any of this is resonating — hit play. This one stays with you.

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 said she would never kayak again. She went eight years without paddling. And then, in 2018 - unable to walk - she got back in a boat. In 2025, Jak made the decision to amputate her leg, hoping it would give her back more of her life. Before her wound had fully healed, she was back on the water. A year later, she's running remote expeditions in India and competing at the highest levels of the sport. In this episode, Jak and Anna explore what it means to keep showing up when every day includes some form of pain - physical, emotional, or both. They talk about identity loss, the dark years when kayaking stopped being possible, and what finally cracked open the door to meditation after years of resistance (hint: it started in a yoga class in Rishikesh after a Christmas that broke her open). This is one of the most honest conversations about discomfort, courage, and the choice to keep going that we've had on this show. In this episode: Why Jak says discomfort isn't the obstacle — it's just life, and how that shift changed everything The eight years she spent away from kayaking and what it took to find her way back How grief, a solo trip to India, and one quiet moment in the mountains cracked open her meditation practice Living with phantom limb pain after amputation — and what sitting with pain (instead of fighting it) has taught her What the whitewater community needs to do to make the sport more accessible for differently abled paddlers Press play and spend an hour in the discomfort zone with someone who lives there every day, and continues to choose it powerfully. About Jak Fantastic: Jak Fantastic is a British whitewater kayaker, adaptive sports advocate, and expedition paddler with over 30 years on the water. A former GB Freestyle Team member, she competed at the 2023 World Freestyle Championships and has podium finishes at World Cups and British Championships. She paddles with one leg, an ADHD brain, a dry sense of humor, and zero interest in being told what she can't do.

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 conversation, Anna talks with River about the mental game behind big water performance — and what happened when a bad swim in familiar water shook everything she thought she knew about staying safe. In this episode: How River reframes fear as hyper-focus rather than a stop sign Why she runs things well below her skill level, and what that looks like at world-champion level The swim that shook her confidence and the month she spent questioning why she paddles at all What going to Chile taught her about rediscovering joy on the water Making decisions from facts instead of fear stories What River and Anna discovered about self-criticism across generations of women paddlers Whether you're working up to your first big drop or returning to the water after a setback, this conversation will shift how you think about fear, confidence, and what it really means to progress. Listen now for inspiration on how to be confident in your process at your own pace.

What does it take to rebuild a life around what you actually love — not what looks impressive from the outside? Laura Kurup spent years as a high-performing tech executive — Chief Strategy Officer at the SEC, Chief Data Officer at the New York Fed — and somewhere along the way, paddling took a backseat. Then came a rare and aggressive breast cancer diagnosis at 40. What followed was a two-year unraveling and rebuilding that led her back to the river, into whitewater instruction, and toward a life anchored in her own intuition. In this episode, Laura and Anna explore what it really means to face discomfort — not just the dramatic kind, but the low-level stuff we spend enormous energy ignoring. Laura shares how cancer cracked open the identity she'd been clinging to, why letting go of control on the Grand Canyon led to better lines, and what she's learned about expanding her window of tolerance — on the water and in life. In this episode, you'll explore: Why high performers often ignore discomfort until it becomes a five-alarm fire — and how to work with it at lower levels instead The mental shift that transformed Laura's lines on the Grand Canyon: from controlling the plan to reading and running How identity attachment (like being "the canoeist who doesn't flip") can quietly limit your growth What a cancer diagnosis revealed about the difference between performing a life and actually living one Laura's take on using AI intentionally — and why she compares it to ketchup The river metaphor she brought home from the Grand: following the bubble line If you've ever pushed discomfort down until it exploded, played it too safe and ended up stuck on the rocks, or wondered what life might look like if you gave yourself permission to follow your intuition — this episode is for you. The river gives you a put-in and a take-out. How you run it is up to you. 🎧 Listen now and find your bubble line.

You've felt that edge before — the moment between staying in the eddy and peeling out into the current. In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, I sit down with world-class kayaker, coach, and avalanche specialist Tyler Curtis to explore what it really means to lean into uncertainty — on the river and in life. From freestyle kayaking and youth coaching, to living abroad and learning a new language, Tyler shares how following his passion shaped not just his career, but his resilience, confidence, and leadership. We talk about how fear evolves, how risk tolerance changes over time, and why modeling failure as a coach builds real trust. This conversation blends whitewater wisdom with practical mindset tools you can apply immediately — whether you're challenging yourself to run harder rivers, leading others, or navigating uncertainty in your everyday life. In this episode, you'll explore: How to tell the difference between real danger and the stories your mind creates Why modeling failure builds trust, confidence, and stronger coaching relationships How freestyle kayaking develops resilience and mental agility under pressure What youth athletes can teach us about courage and pushing comfort zones Why following your passion builds transferable life skills — from leadership to risk management If you care about building courage — in yourself or in the people you lead — this episode will change how you think about fear and growth. 🎧 Listen now to explore how passion becomes discipline, skill, and leadership.

What do polar expeditions have to teach you about conserving energy, building resilience, and showing up with real confidence? In this episode of The Discomfort Zone, Anna sits down with endurance performance coach Jon Fearne, who has trained record breaking solo polar explorers, Atlantic rowers, and elite endurance athletes for nearly 30 years. This conversation isn't about heroics. It's about what builds real confidence and resilience day after day, and it's probably not what you think. They explore: Why routine reduces mental strain and builds resilience How small energy leaks — not big mistakes — cause failure How to train your nervous system for high-stress environments The psychology of solo adventure What failure really teaches you Why waiting for perfect conditions keeps you stuck Jon shares the unfiltered truth about elite performance: it's not built in heroic moments. It's built in daily discipline. If you've been waiting for ideal conditions before taking action — this episode is your reminder: Confidence comes from preparation. And preparation happens in the mundane. 🎧 Listen now and learn how to conserve energy, build resilience, and paddle with real confidence. About Jon Jon Fearne is an adventure performance coach who has worked with 1000's of endurance athletes all over the world from Atlantic Rowers to Record breaking Polar athletes, and multiple world endurance MTB riders. He's worked in the endurance and adventure industry for 29 years, starting out as an Outdoor education instructor in surf and kayaking, and then studied Sports Science, co-writing a MSc Athlete development and peak performance. He runs an endurance coaching business called E3C, and his passions include time with family and being in the mountains on skis.

What if the river could teach you how to stay alive — and how to truly live? In this powerful episode of The Discomfort Zone, I sit down with Lauren Byrd — combat veteran, whitewater kayaker, and creator of PaddleCalendar — for an honest, courageous conversation about fear, grounding, and finding your way back to yourself through paddling. Lauren shares how kayaking became more than a sport — it became a lifeline. From learning to regulate her nervous system in an eddy before a rapid, to discovering the profound boat–body–head connection, Lauren walks us through how river skills translated directly into life-saving mental agility. We talk about: How grounding practices finally made sense — not in a classroom, but on the river Using eddies as a metaphor for pausing, breathing, and resetting in life Starting whitewater kayaking as an adult (in her late 30s) — and going all in Competing on the world stage without comparison or perfectionism Why being in the boat matters more than the outcome How playboating, presence, and progression helped shift suicidal thoughts into a desire to live This episode is for paddlers, adventurers, and anyone navigating fear, overwhelm, or big life transitions. You don't need to be running Class V to learn from the river — sometimes the most important work happens in the eddy. If you've ever felt stuck on the shore of your own life, this conversation is an invitation to get back in the boat, trust your process, and paddle forward — one intentional moment at a time. 🎧 Listen in and let the river remind you what's possible — on and off the water.

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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 kayaking, and running massive waterfalls—including 92-foot drops. In this episode, she breaks down what it actually takes—mentally and technically—to keep progressing when the stakes are high and the beatdowns are real. We dive into the story behind her now-viral switch freewheel off Spirit Falls, and what it was like to follow that iconic moment with a humbling swim while attempting to hand-paddle through Chaos after her paddle was ripped from her hands. Heidi shares the lessons she took from that moment—and why mistakes, when approached with awareness and safety, are essential for growth. In this episode, we explore: How to fail safely while pushing your limits in kayaking Why beatdowns don't mean you're doing it wrong—they mean you're learning The mental skills required to run big drops and charge hard lines How to build resilience and confidence after setbacks What "sending it with style" really means beyond the highlight reel Heidi's grounded, no-nonsense approach to risk, progression, and self-trust offers powerful takeaways for paddlers—and anyone navigating fear, challenge, and growth in their own life. 🎧 If you're ready to rethink failure, build real confidence, and lean into discomfort with more clarity, this episode is for you.

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 shallows). You'll hear stories, laughs, and practical frameworks you can use right away — like reverse-engineering your year from the future, using people / places / things to build momentum, and treating "failure" as feedback instead of proof you're behind. Michelle also shares how she navigated a major life pivot after Hurricane Helene disrupted her homestead plans — and how choosing a theme helped her realign with purpose when the path got rocky. If you're craving clarity, courage, and a simple way to steer your attention into what matters most… this episode is your eddy to reset in — before you peel out into the year ahead. ✨ Listen now, and then send me (and Michelle!) your theme for the year.

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 disempowered to empowered — which is exactly what mental agility is all about. 🌟 In This Episode, You'll Learn: 🌊 Fact vs. Story — the simple but profound tool that instantly interrupts negative spirals 💛 The Feeling Generator Exercise — how to create the emotions you want to experience, even before circumstances change 🧠 Why your brain constantly predicts danger (and how to work with it, not against it) 🚣‍♀️ How I rebuilt confidence while returning to whitewater after a herniated disc ✨ Why shifting your inner state is more powerful than positive thinking I also share the vulnerable truth about my healing journey: months of not being able to sit, lying on my stomach during coaching calls, and slowly rebuilding strength until I finally paddled my first whitewater run again — and the joy that came with it. 🌬️ These Tools Are For You If: You're tired, overwhelmed, or stuck in a stress loop You want to build a more confident mindset You want to shift your inner dialogue from harsh to empowering You're ready to navigate the rapids of life with more ease, not force These exercises are simple, accessible, and truly transformational — and you can start practicing them today. 🎧 Tune in and learn how to flip your internal script, generate confidence from the inside out, and paddle forward with clarity and courage.

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 paddling teaches surrender — and what "going with the current" looks like in everyday life 🤰 Pregnancy, recovery, and whitewater — the surprising overlap between both journeys 💪 Reframing failure as freedom — and why getting wetter might actually mean you're progressing 💫 The role of play in building courage, confidence, and resilience on the water and in life Anna and Laura weave together lessons from kayaking, surfing, and motherhood, revealing how transformation often comes not from pushing harder — but from letting go, trusting the process, and savoring the experience. 💬 Favorite Quotes "The only way out is through." "Sometimes you have to surrender to discover how strong you really are." "If you're getting wetter, you're getting better." If you're craving courage, connection, and a reminder that you're not alone on your growth journey, this is an episode you won't want to miss.