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The Discomfort Zone

Anna Levesque
Whitewater Kayaking
Mental Agility
Kayaking
Personal Growth
Discomfort Zone
Freestyle Kayaking
Mental Health
Resilience
Fear Management
Mental Agility Mastery
Fear
Grief
Community Support
Self-Improvement
Hurricane Helene
Yoga
Adventure Sports
Stand-Up Paddleboarding
Gratitude
Risk Assessment

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,... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes122Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSelf-ImprovementWildernessSports

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Artwork for The Discomfort Zone

Latest Episodes

What does it actually take to train your brain for courage, and can you do it while running a 13-mile hike-in class V expedition and going back to school full-time?

In this replay episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna Levesque revisits her c... more

Sage Donnelly just became the Queen of the North Fork, and it's the perfect time to revisit our 2024 conversation on The Discomfort Zone Podcast, recorded when she was the reigning Women's Freestyle World Champion.

Sage is a multi-discipline compet... more

Ever feel like you need the perfect plan before you can start anything? This conversation might change that.

In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna sits down with Chris Baer, a raft guide and whitewater kayaker who lives half the year... more

YouTube

What if the language you've been using to help people is actually underselling them?

In this solo episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna Levesque shares a perspective shift that stopped her in her tracks: after 25 years of building a brand ar... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Casey Bryant Jones
Kayak instructor and guide discussed in-depth during the episode
Ottawa Kayak School / Nantahala area paddling community
Episode: Ep #115 Why Your Flip Isn't a Failure with Casey Bryant Jones
James Byrd
Organizer of the North Fork Championship; registered nurse
North Fork Championship
Episode: Ep #114 James Byrd: The Passion Behind the North Fork Championship
Naina Adhikari
Paddler and founder of Ganga Girls
Ganga Girls (Pravahini Foundation)
Episode: Ep #113 Naina Adhikari: The Woman Changing What's Possible on the Ganga
Ann Gillard
Whitewater kayaker; founder of Pride Day on the River
Pride Day on the River
Episode: Ep #111 How to Know When You're Ready and Where You Belong with Ann Gillard
Seth Chapelle
Lifelong paddler, 2023 World Champion in C1 Freestyle
Freestyle kayaking community
Episode: Ep #110 C1 World Champion Seth Chapelle on Persistence, Fatherhood, and Letting Go
Jak Fantastic
Kayaker with 30+ years of experience, amputee advocate and adventurer
Independent paddler / advocate
Episode: Ep #109 Jak Fantastic: Pain, Amputation, and Radical Resilience on the Water
River Mutton
Extreme whitewater world champion kayaker from New Zealand, paddling instructor and Waka team rider
New Zealand paddling community
Episode: Ep #107 Fear as a Tool: How River Mutton Stays Locked In
Mariann Sæther
Professional kayaker and river guide with decades of competition and guiding experience
River North (rafting company, with partner Ron Fisher) and Fudalufu River property in Chile
Episode: Ep #106 Grit Over Talent: Resilience, Risk, and Paddling Hard Stuff with Mariann Sæther
Laura Kurup
Creative technologist and whitewater instructor
Paddle Sport Institute
Episode: Ep #105 From Cancer Diagnosis to the Grand Canyon: How Laura Kurup Found Her Flow

Host

Anna Levesque
Host of The Discomfort Zone; world-class whitewater kayaker, author, and mental agility coach

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 152 ratings
  • Love this podcast!

    I thoroughly enjoy Anna’s interviews, particularly the emphasis on remarkable paddlers as genuine individuals grappling with genuine fears. Anna skillfully facilitates the conversations, highlighting how we can apply these valuable life lessons to our own paddling challenges. Thank you for sharing these insightful discussions, Anna!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mmount1
    United States2 months ago
  • Awesome!

    I love Anna’s soothing voice! It reminds me of the voice in my head when I work on my forward stroke form on the flat water. Because I was lucky enough to get a kayaking class for Anna and she made my form so much better! Mental game is the hardest thing to teach and I love how she is teaching it and also getting into the heads of the best in whitewater to show us how they prepare their mental game!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dave redhead
    United States8 months ago
  • The 360 on Life as a Paddler and Athlete

    Injury recovery, doubting yourself, dealing with outside (and inside) pressure to take risks, walking the edge of fear and giving up… Anna talks about ALL of it!

    Anna offers the highs and lows of life on the white water (and as a life-long athlete). She doesn’t sugar coat the challenges of both the physical and mental aspect of paddling exhilarating and dangerous waters… and yet always leaves you feeling empowered to take on the challenges while caring for yourself.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Baboa Girl
    Canadaa year ago
  • Invaluable Information!

    I absolutely LOVE Anna’s podcast!

    Her information, and the free webinar, made all the difference in helping me to “get out of my own head”, and learn how to roll.

    Not only this, but she and the people she interviews, have a wonderful way of using practical kayaking situations as illustrations to teach other life skills and mental agility.

    I always look forward to hearing the new podcasts when they download. And a few of them I have listened to more than just once.

    Thank you so much, Anna ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Uh oh!!
    United Statesa year ago
  • So insightful

    One of my favorite podcast. Anna shares her insights about how the discomfort zone helps us growth. Love the river analogies. She brings amazing guests and is a skillful interviewer. Her last episode (#72) is so powerful about the courage to share her own experience of dealing with unexpected injury.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Susana Schwarz
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Readers highlight the show's focus on growth through discomfort and life integration as a key appeal.
Episodes are described as insightful, practical, and empowering beyond kayaking.
Fans appreciate the blend of personal storytelling with actionable mental strategies.
Listeners praise the host's interview style and ability to draw out authentic stories from high-performing paddlers.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#173
United Kingdom/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#122
Italy/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#180
Germany/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#181
Australia/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#51
Ireland/Sports/Wilderness
Apple Podcasts
#53
Mexico/Sports/Wilderness

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep #115 Why Your Flip Isn't a Failure with Casey Bryant Jones
Q: What does it feel like to challenge someone to go beyond what they think is possible?
Casey explains that guiding a learner involves taking on personal responsibility, maintaining calm, and framing the discomfort as a natural part of growth so the student can expand their limits without losing trust.
Ep #113 Naina Adhikari: The Woman Changing What's Possible on the Ganga
Q: What were the main discomforts for you as a teenager getting into kayaking, especially as a girl in a male-dominated sport?
Naina talks about being watched and stared at in the water, the challenge of wearing a wetsuit, and the embarrassment around first menstruation, all while navigating a culture that doubted women's participation in adventure sports.
Ep #109 Jak Fantastic: Pain, Amputation, and Radical Resilience on the Water
Q: What would you like the whitewater community to change to be more accessible to disabled paddlers?
Address financial barriers, integrate disabled athletes into mainstream competition, and continue pushing for systemic changes that widen participation.
Ep #109 Jak Fantastic: Pain, Amputation, and Radical Resilience on the Water
Q: How did the amputation change your relationship with kayaking and your identity as an athlete?
It forced a reevaluation of what 'fitness' and 'ability' mean, leading to a renewed commitment to the sport and to making it more inclusive for others.
Ep #109 Jak Fantastic: Pain, Amputation, and Radical Resilience on the Water
Q: What drives you to seek discomfort through long meditation retreats and risky expeditions?
A desire to understand my own limits, to transform pain into growth, and to show what people with disabilities can achieve when given access and support.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Discomfort Zone

What is The Discomfort Zone about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rugged, mindset-forward show that pairs outdoor athletes with coaches, leaders, and experts to explore growth through challenge. Episodes consistently center on facing fear, building resilience, and developing practical mental agility for high-stakes environments—on rivers, on trails, and in everyday life. Listeners get actionable tools for performance, leadership, and personal transformation, often tied to real-world adventures, inclusive communities, and meaningful pursuit of goals beyond comfort. Notable strengths include high-quality interviewing that pulls authentic, behind-the-scenes insights from elite paddlers and educators, a strong emphasis on storytelling to motivate viewers, and a community-focused ethos that champions inclusi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Discomfort Zone?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Discomfort Zone:

1. B-Flow Sessions: The Whitewater Kayaking Podcast. Presented by Pucon Kayak Retreat
2. Tales from the Cripps
3. TED Radio Hour
4. We Can Do Hard Things
5. Wild Ideas Worth Living

How many episodes of The Discomfort Zone are there?

The Discomfort Zone launched 2 years ago and published 122 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Discomfort Zone?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on The Discomfort Zone?

Recent guests on The Discomfort Zone include:

1. Casey Bryant Jones
2. James Byrd
3. Naina Adhikari
4. Ann Gillard
5. Seth Chapelle
6. Jak Fantastic
7. River Mutton
8. Mariann Sæther

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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