
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
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 122 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationSelf-ImprovementWildernessSports | |||

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
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
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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!
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!
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.
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
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.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #173 | |
Apple Podcasts | #122 | |
Apple Podcasts | #180 | |
Apple Podcasts | #181 | |
Apple Podcasts | #51 | |
Apple Podcasts | #53 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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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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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
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.
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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
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