Info

Sparta Chicks Radio: Mindset | Confidence | Sport | Women

Jen Brown - Running and Triathlon Coach, Author and Mindset Coach for Women SpartaChicks Radio brings inspiring stories coupled with practical, tried-and-tested-in-the-real-world advice from successful women in sport, business and life. Jen Brown from Sparta Chicks Radio is a Running and Triathlon Coach and Writer. The goal of Sparta Chicks Radio is to share inspiring stories coupled with practical, tried-and-tested-in-the-real-world advice from successful women in all walks of life about the realities of fear, self-doubt, courage, bravery, success and living life on your terms. From world class athletes, brilliant business minds to everyday women undertaking epic adventures, Sparta Chicks Radio will help you tap into your inner strength, courage, bravery and determination so you can chase your dreams and live a more fulfilling life on your terms. Find out more at www.spartachicks.com
RSS Feed
Sparta Chicks Radio: Mindset | Confidence | Sport | Women
2022
February
January


2021
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2017
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February


All Episodes
Archives
Now displaying: December, 2018
Dec 30, 2018

The #1 most popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2018 was Rebecca Stone on chronic pain, mountain biking and motherhood.

Rebecca is a busy woman. She’s a midwife, a mum, and someone who loves racing her mountain bike for 24 hours - all while living with fibromyalgia.

In 2010, after 9 months of severe pain which ultimately left her unable to work, drive or walk for more than 5m, Rebecca was diagnosed with fibromyalgia.

A chronic condition, fibromyalgia causes widespread pain and sensitivity throughout the body.

There’s no cure and it is difficult to treat.

Getting back on her beloved mountain bike plan was part of Rebecca’s initial treatment plan primarily for the mental health benefits.

In 2017 and 2018 she finished second at the Australian 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike Championships.

And then in October 2018, Rebecca finished 6th at the World 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike Championships in Scotland.

In this conversation, we discuss motherhood as well as living, training and racing with chronic pain. Plus she shares why she thinks she’s a better athlete because of it.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

Dec 29, 2018

The 2nd most popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2018 was Katee Pedicini on structuring your training for hormonal health.

Kate Pedicini has a degree in Exercise Science who specialises in managing fatigue, stress and hormones in endurance athletes to achieve not only athletic performance but optimal health and happiness.

Kate first appeared on the podcast in 2017.

In May 2018 she returned and we dived deeply into two specific issues concerning women’s hormones and health;

- peri-menopause and menopause (and how they impact on your athletic ability, strength, training and racing) and

- why you should take advantage of your natural cycle by structuring your training program around it.

The more I speak with Katee, the more I learn and the more I wish I’d been exposed to this knowledge in my 20s and 30s.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

Dec 28, 2018

The 3rd most popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2018 was my conversation with Nicole Bunyon on fear, self-talk and Running Mum’s Australia (RMA).

Nicole founded RMA in 2013. It’s an Australian wide network and community for mums who love to, or are interested in, running.

While RMA shares many women’s stories, I wanted to turn the tables (and microphone) and Nicole and share her story.

She joined me on the podcast in June to discuss:

- how she started running as a child and why it appealed to her at that age,

- her first marathon,

- how being diagnosed with a melanoma (skin cancer) in 2016 changed her perspective and why it’s so important to trust your gut instinct.

Nicole is also an ambassador for several running events including Ultra Trail Australia so we discuss whether she feels the weight of expectation of others or pressure to perform as a result of her public profile in the sport.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

Dec 27, 2018

These days, a Fitness and Sports Counsellor, and Body Positivity Advocate, Leah’s relationship with food and her body wasn't always so, well, positive.

A child who loved sport but who, because she was bigger than the other kids, was very self-conscious of her body. Leah openly admits that, as a result, she always limited the amount of effort she put into her sport (and therefore limited her potential).

It was only with the birth of her daughter in 2012 that Leah's relationship with food, exercise and her body began to shift.

Leah joined me back in February to discuss:

- her relationship with sports and her weight as a child,

- why she started running and how she then got into triathlons,

- how motherhood was a catalyst for her to change her relationship with food, exercise and her body,

- the surprising way her public role and advocacy work impacted on her running and why she stepped away from social media as a result, and

- why it's important for you to identify as and recognise that you are an athlete.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

Dec 26, 2018

The 5th most popular episode of Sparta Chicks Radio in 2018 was Steph Lowe, the Natural Nutritionist, on nutrition, performance and happy hormones.

Steph is a triathlete, Sports Nutritionist and the Founder of the Natural Nutritionist, a business based in Melbourne, Australia dedicated to teaching how easy real food living and performance can be.

The foundation of her approach is a whole foods, lower carb higher fat (or LCHF) lifestyle, which she also describes as JERF (just eat real food).

This conversation ties together with the previous conversations I’ve had with Katee Pedicini on the podcast as nutrition is one of Katee’s key recommendations for developing happy hormones.

In this conversation, we discuss:

- the profound impact removing gluten had on Steph’s physical and mental health,

- why food is medicine,

- the benefits of adopting an LCHF lifestyle (and whether you would experience the same benefits if you are not gluten intolerant),

- the most common tell-tale symptoms a person might have that would benefit from adopting an LCHF lifestyle (listen up if you have 3.30-itis, you get hangry or if you experience cravings),

- the impact of gut health on your hormonal cycle, PMS and immune system,

- the added benefits of adopting an LCHF lifestyle for athletes (including for those who struggle with weight loss despite heavy amounts of training),

- why carb-loading doesn’t make sense and why the intensity of your training should dictate your carb intake (not what stage of training you’re in),

- how to make the transition to an LCHF lifestyle and the ideal time to do it, and

- the benefits of fasting (and how to capitalise on what you’re already doing).

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

Dec 16, 2018

Caroline Buchanan's cycling bio is quite extraordinary.

Not just because she's an 8x World Champion, but also because she has achieved those titles across 2 multiple disciplines within the sport of cycling (3x in BMX and 5x in mountain biking).

She is a 2x Olympian (London in 2012 and Rio in 2016) and has now competed at the World Championships in 4 different cycling events.

Off the bike, Caroline is committed to the next generation of cyclists and to encouraging more girls to get into the sport, including through her latest venture; a children's book series called 'Girls Can B'.

Needless to say, she's a woman of many talents - both on and off the bike!

We could have spent the hour just talking about her cycling career, but I wanted to go deeper than that -- to discover the mindset and mental strategies she uses to manage her fear (in a risky and potentially dangerous sport) so she can perform on the world stage at her best.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here 

Follow Sparta Chicks Radio on Facebook: facebook.com/SpartaChicks 

Follow Caroline on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbuchanan68 

Dec 9, 2018

Lucy was my guest on the podcast back in January, 2018 (episode 45).

In that episode, Lucy shared her background; how she first started running as a way to spend time with her Dad, her first 100km race at 16 through to her victory in 2017 at the 100km Ultra Trail Australia race (also her 21st birthday).

At the time of that episode, Lucy was still getting her head around the news she had secured an entry to the Western States Endurance Run (WSER); not only one of the world’s most prestigious 100mi/160km races, but it would also be Lucy’s first attempt at that distance.

So Lucy returns to Sparta Chicks Radio this week to share how the race, and 2018, unfolded for her — including why she labelled her blog post about the race ‘Show Up, Blow Up, Grow Up’.

Here’s a #spoileralert - Lucy finished 3rd at WSER this year; an extraordinary performance for someone so young, and racing that distance for the first time, against the best in the world.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here

Follow Sparta Chicks Radio on Facebook: facebook.com/SpartaChicks 

Follow Lucy on Instagram: instagram.com/lucy_bartholomew 

Dec 2, 2018

Mel was born into an extremely violent home. Her father was physically abusive towards not only her mother but also to Mel and her sister as well.

Despite her mum eventually leaving her father when she was around 12, Mel was firmly trapped in a cycle of violence.

At High School, Mel found herself the victim of bullying, but also at times an instigator of it.

This continued into her romantic relationships too, where she found herself in several abusive relationships.

That was until, at the age of 18, when she met (as she describes him) ‘one of the good guys’ who introduced her to martial arts, which changed the course of her life.

Mel is now the founder and CEO of the KYUP! Project, a revolutionary self-worth and self-protection program created to break the cycle of violence against women and children.

She has worked with more than 10,000 students and young women around the country and is on a mission to change the devastating statistic that 40% of women over the age of 15 have been affected by domestic or family violence.

Get the full show notes for the episode here.

Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here

Follow Sparta Chicks Radio on Facebook: facebook.com/SpartaChicks 

Follow Mel on Instagram: instagram.com/kyupproject

1