
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 | 107 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | WildernessSelf-ImprovementSportsEducation | |||

Whitewater kayaking naturally pulls us into the present moment. When you're paddling a rapid, your senses sharpen, your mind clears, and you're fully focused on the line ahead.
But what if you didn't have to wait for a rapid to access that state?
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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 wha... more
What do you do when the pressure is on, and you don't have the answer?
In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, I sit down with longtime paddler, freestyle competitor, and squirt boater Matt Hamilton to explore what real composure looks like... more
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 recor... more
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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.
I’ve been reading Anna’s blog and listening to her podcast for years. She and her guests are sharing the conversations you have with friends on long car rides, during long hikes, and on long phone chats. Their experiences mirror our own and their insights build emotional muscle. For me, they build more comfort during periods of feeling uncomfortable.
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.
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Apple Podcasts | #249 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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A thought-provoking show that blends outdoor adventure with mindset and leadership discussions. Episodes typically feature high-performance paddlers, guides, coaches, and leaders who share how embracing discomfort fuels growth, resilience, and purpose. Across conversations, listeners gain practical mental-skills, leadership tactics, and real-world stories from expeditions, competition, and personal transformation. Notable throughlines include risk management, mentoring, and balance between high-adrenaline pursuits and everyday life, making it valuable for athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and professionals seeking courage and clarity under pressure.
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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. Following Waters
4. The River Radius Podcast
5. The Whitewater Line
The Discomfort Zone launched 2 years ago and published 107 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. Tyler Curtis
2. Matt Hamilton
3. Jon Fearne
4. Lauren Byrd
5. Jule Harle
6. Darcy Gaechter
7. Heidi Walsh
8. Sophie Gilfillan
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