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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
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Now displaying: 2018
Jul 22, 2018

Who better to ask about fear and self-doubt than one of the best stuntwomen in the world, Ky Furneaux?

Ky was raised in a small country town in South Australia and has gone onto work on many big-budget Hollywood blockbusters and become one of the best stuntwomen in the world.

In this conversation, we discuss:

* her adventure-seeking ways as a child and the grandmother who inspired her love of travel,

* the car accident at 19 and the lessons she gained from that experience,

* how she found the confidence and courage to move to Canada to pursue her dream of becoming a stunt performer with no specific skills, training or even a plan,

* how to deal with the ‘no’s’ you receive when you’re chasing your goals and dreams,

* the strategies and process she uses to manage her fears (listen for the questions she asks herself when assessing her fear),

* breaking her shoulder in a stunt in Hong Kong and the pressure and expectation (both internal and cultural) not to disclose her injury, and

* why the outdoors are so empowering for women.

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 Ky on Instagram: instagram.com/kyfurneaux

Jul 15, 2018

Born in Canada, Jill was working as a Physical Education teacher in Bavaria in September 2014 when she was hit in the head with a ball in a freak accident.

Taken to emergency and quickly discharged with only a “black eye”, Jill was later diagnosed with a fractured skull and a traumatic brain injury (amongst other injuries).

2 years, 7 hospitals and 3 countries later, Jill’s black eye never re-opened and she was left with a traumatic brain injury and just 30% of her vision.

But that was not going to stop Jill from returning to her beloved mountains.

She originally set a goal to circumnavigate the world in a year on a quest to run illustrious mountain ranges with her “differently abled” body. It’s been over a year now and she’s going!

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 Jill on Instagram: instagram.com/mtnsofmymind/

Jul 8, 2018

Alise Selsmark is a professional triathlete based in Noosa here in Australia.

Although Alise had a background as a competitive swimmer as a child, she only entered her first triathlon - a women’s only event - at 28. And just 4 years later, she qualified to race as a professional.

In this conversation, we discuss what she learnt from watching a boy called Alan at her first swim squad when she was 11, how she got into triathlons, her transition from racing as an amateur to a pro and why it’s important to define what success means to you.

We also discuss the choice we all make between fear and regret, her advice on racing in the heat (having just finished Ironman Philippines) and her advice to self-coached athletes.

Now if you’ve seen a proliferation of cupcakes on social media over the last few months for no apparent reason, Alise & her partner Callum Millward (from Cupcakes With Cal fame) are to blame.

Together earlier this year they set up a triathlon team called the Cupcake Cartel. Alise will explain what it is and what they hope to achieve in this conversation.

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 Alise on Instagram: instagram.com/aliseselsy/

Follow the Cupcake Cartel on Instagram: instagram.com/the.cupcake.cartel/

Jul 1, 2018

The tables - or microphone - is turned this week onto the host of Sparta Chicks Radio and the founder of Sparta Chicks, Jen Brown. 

Interviewed by Richelle Olsen (founder of Escaping Your Comfort Zone and who was our guest on the podcast during episode 40), Jen shares her childhood, her transition from law to coaching and some of the various projects under the Sparta Chicks umbrella including the book she wrote, the podcast and the upcoming event called Sparta Chicks Unleashed.

We also discuss her recent surgery and broader issues around women’s health and what she would say to her 13 year old self. 

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 Jen on Instagram: instagram.com/spartajen

Jun 24, 2018

Back in 2013, Michelle Hocking was 41 and “overweight and overwhelmed with depression, anxiety and panic attacks”.

Then one Saturday afternoon in July 2013, she struggled to walk 5 metres without being short of breath.

Less than 24 hours later, she was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy. Her husband was asked if her affairs were in order and a heart transplant was being discussed.

Fast forward 5 years and life is very different.

Michelle (Chell) is now a trail runner and an ultra-marathon runner, having completed the 2017 UTA 50km and in October this year, 2018, she’ll line up at the start of the 74km Taupo Ultra Marathon.

In this conversation, she shares her remarkable story and her advice to you.

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 Chelle on Instagram: instagram.com/chell_runs

Jun 17, 2018

Jamie Moreno is on a mission to empower girls and women to get involved in motorsports and to follow their dreams regardless of age, race or gender.

A Latina woman, Jamie grew up with a passion for cars after spending hours with her dad as a child in the garage working on cars but didn’t start racing until she was 25.

However, she didn’t start racing until she was 25 because - despite a love of cars - she didn’t realise it was an avenue that was open to her (sadly, another example of the effect of  ‘you can’t be what you can’t see’).

In this conversation, we discuss:

* her childhood, the time she spent hanging out with her dad in the garage working with cars,

* one of her favourite memories from childhood that involves wanting to go fast on a ride at Disneyland (but being stuck being a slow older man!),

* the pressures of growing up in a Latino family and the expectation to conform,

* her experience as a woman, and a woman of colour, in such a male-dominated sport,

* why it’s so important to her that she is a role model for young girls to help and inspire them to chase their goals regardless of the age or gender,

* how she regained her confidence after it was shattered after a particularly bad crash,

* the 4 lessons she’s learnt from racing and how those lessons are equally relevant in endurance sports.

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 Jamie on Instagram: instagram.com/theracingchica

Jun 10, 2018

Nicole Bunyon is a trail runner, mum of 3 and founder of Running Mums Australia (RMA).

RMA is an Australian wide network and community for mums who love to, or are interested in, running. You can’t go to a running or triathlon event in Australia without seeing a woman sporting their distinctive logo.

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

Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here

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

Follow Nicole on Instagram: instagram.com/nicbunyonrma

Jun 3, 2018

Amanda is a professional downhill mountain biker race based in the US.

She is also an outspoken advocate for women in sport and a vocal critic of the cycling industry for its treatment and portrayal of women.

In this conversation we discuss how cycling helped her find her sense of self and self-worth, that fear is healthy, why it’s important to remember why you are riding. Plus Amanda shares how she handles the fear associated with crashing (especially after one crash described as the worst face plant you’ll ever see) and why she continues to share her deepest darkest secrets and fears about body image on social media.

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 Amanda on Instagram: instagram.com/abattycakes 

May 27, 2018

Rebecca Stone 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, she finished 2nd at the Australian 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike Championships. And this year, she will line up at the Australian Championships in September before going onto contest the World 24 Hour Solo Mountain Bike Championships in Scotland in October.

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.

Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here

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

Follow Rebecca on Instagram: instagram.com/24hrracerchick/ 

May 20, 2018

Katee Pedicini is a triathlon coach based in Melbourne, Australia and 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 in episode 21 (our most popular episode in 2017!). You can find it here.

This time, we dive deeper 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.

Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here

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

Follow Katee on Instagram: instagram.com/katee_holisticendurance 

May 13, 2018

Sarah is an accomplished rower, rock climber, multi-day cyclist and triathlete. She’s completed the Race Across America twice, including as part of the winning Velouoos squad. And she is now returning to competition after a terrible accident left her in a coma for a month.

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

May 6, 2018

If there is one complaint I hear from women more than any other, it is their frustration about not losing weight despite the hours and hours of training involved with endurance sports (or worse, that they’ve put weight on!).

So I wanted to call in an expert for Sparta Chicks Radio this week to explain why this happens — and, most importantly, what you can do to change it.

Katee Pedicini runs Holistic Endurance in Melbourne, Australia.

She’s a triathlon coach with a degree in Exercise Science who specialises in managing fatigue, stress and hormones in endurance athletes.

But this isn’t only a conversation about weight.

It’s a conversation about your health and the widespread impact stress has on your body.

From your risk of injury and illness, the results you get (or don’t get) from your training, how quickly you recover from hard training sessions, how tired you feel, whether you hit the wall at 3pm and have to reach for coffee/chocolate/sugar, you feel like you're constantly on a short fuse to whether you need a glass of wine at the end of a busy day to wind down.

These are all factors that are influenced by the amount of stress in your life and the hormonal response your body has to that stress.

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 Katee on Instagram: instagram.com/HolisticEndurance

Apr 29, 2018

“The decision to believe in yourself can be done instantaneously. Then to become unwavering belief, it’s a daily practice.”

How do you develop self-belief?

This question is at the core of my discussion with Natalie Cook - a 5x Olympian and dual Olympic medallist, including the Gold medal in Beach Volleyball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics - this week on #SpartaChicksRadio.

Although Nat and partner Kerry Pottharst won the Bronze medal in Sydney, Nat will be the first to admit that, at the time, she didn’t believe she had the mental toughness or emotional stability to win. So she went on a 4-year journey of personal development and self-discovery to understand the power of the mind and how to develop deep-in-her-bones self-belief.

In this fun interview, we discuss everything from a fear of failure to the power of using an alter ego to find the inner strength and conviction you need. (What alter ego would you adopt?)

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 Natalie on Facebook: facebook.com/NatCookVB

Apr 22, 2018

Tanya Geisler is a Leadership Coach based in Canada who specialises in the Imposter Complex.

You may not have heard of it before but I can assure you that you’ve felt the sting of it. It is found in the stories - or lies - we tell ourselves about not being ready, good enough, that we don’t belong or that we are fooling everyone and that any moment everyone is going to find out we have NFI what we’re doing. We dive deep in this personal and revealing interview.

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 Tanya on Instagram: instagram.com/TanyaGeisler

Apr 15, 2018

How do you use your fear and self-doubt to get the best out of your yourself?

That's the question we explore in our interview with Siri Lindley who was 2x-ranked the #1 triathlete in the world and the 2002 ITU World Champion in 2002.

Since retiring, Siri has gone onto have an extraordinarily successful career as a coach and is regarded as one of the best triathlon coaches in the world.

Even if you aren't interested in triathlon, I have no doubt you'll gain a lot from Siri's heart-centred approach training, racing and life.


The author of Surfacing: From the Depths of Self-doubt to Winning Big and Living Fearlessly, in her book and this interview Siri talks openly about her struggles with self-doubt as an athlete and how recognising and challenging your fears is the key to getting the best out of yourself.

And once you hear the story of her first triathlon, I think you’ll agree that nothing is impossible with self-belief, passion and hard work. 

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 Siri on Instagram: instagram.com/SiriLindley

Apr 8, 2018

Jo Sorrenson is an age group triathlete, busy mum of 3 and lives with PTSD after a career in the police force.

In this interview, we dive deep into Jo’s career - both as an officer and as a triathlete.

We talk about mental illness and the shame associated with it and how Jo discovered cycling as a powerful form of therapy for her.

8 x Ironman 70.3 races later - including the 70.3 World Championships - Jo has discovered how to manage her condition with the support of family and friends, as well as the sport she loves.

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 Jo on Instagram: instagram.com/jo.jo.72

Apr 1, 2018

Caroline Pemberton was crowned Miss Australia in 2007 at the age of 21.

You might assume she grew up dancing, modelling and competing in pageants, only to discover outdoor adventure later in life — but nothing could be further from the truth.

A self-proclaimed “goofy tomboy girl with messy hair”, Caroline grew up with two older, outdoorsy brothers and spend most of her childhood chasing them around and trying to keep up.

At 19, Caroline accompanied her brother to Everest Base Camp which experience changed the trajectory of her life.

These days, Caroline has launched the brand Miss Adventure is on a mission to empower young girls to realise how strong and brave they are, and what their bodies are capable of doing, before the storm of adolescence kicks in (and the pressure on what you look like, more than what you can do, intensifies).

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: instagram.com/carolinepemberton 

Mar 27, 2018

Sam Lane is an award-winning journalist who specialises in covering the Australian Football League (AFL) and cycling. 

She has also covered 2 Olympic Games and the Tour de France twice.

Sam has been a member of Channel 7’s AFL broadcast team since 2013 and has spent the last 15 years writing and talking about footy.

She has recently published “Roar”, a book about the history and launch of the Women’s Australian Football League (AFLW) in Australia in 2017.

You might think Sam loved sports as a child. But nothing could be further than the truth; she describes herself as “nothing short of indifferent” to sport.

So how do you go onto become an award-winning sports journalist? Let’s find out!

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 Sam on Twitter: twitter.com/SamJaneLane 

Mar 18, 2018

Lucy Barnard set off in February 2017 to walk the length of the world.

From Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego in Argentina all the way to  Barrow, Alaska; a journey of 30,000km /20,000mi across 15 countries that will take her about 5 years. Yes, years.

My first question to Lucy is probably the same one you’re thinking right now too; why?

In this conversation we talk about the logistics as well as the lessons she’s learnt about asking and accepting help, how she manages her fear and self-doubt and especially the fear and doubts of her friends and loved ones, how she’s learning to deal with her self-talk, why she’s already accepted the fact she might ‘fail’ (air quotes) to complete the expedition and why it’s ok to quit.

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/tanglesandtail 

Mar 11, 2018

Pamela Jabbour is an amazing woman.

She founded Total Image Group at the age of just 21 with no previous business experience.

In fact, Pam’s story of establishing the business is such a rare and incredible example of pure grit - she made 100 cold phone calls, every day, for 12 months before the company won their first client.

Fast forward and in 2017, Total Image Group was selected as the official formal uniform supplier for the 2018 Australian Winter Olympic team. And over 250,000 Australians each and every day wear a uniform designed and made by her company. Maybe even someone you know — or perhaps even you!

In this conversation we discuss everything from not conforming to the expectations and stereotypes others have of us, how Pam felt the need to prove herself so much so that for the first 10 years in business, she didn’t change her official title to CEO, the importance of habit and routine, where Pam experiences the Imposter Complex in her life and how she deals with public or personal criticism.

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 Pam on Instagram: instagram.com/pamjabbour 

Mar 4, 2018

Heather Swan was a very normal, everyday woman with no experience in adventure or even camping until her 30s.

A single mum with a distinguished corporate career, her life probably would have continued on that track until she met the man who is now her husband, Glenn.

Glenn was a base jumper - and the rest, as they say, is history. 

After doing her first base jump at the age of 40, Heather was gone onto become a wingsuit pilot.

She has set a World Record for the world’s highest wingsuit base jump and has flown her wingsuit over Sydney Harbour, the Grand Canyon and, most recently, a mountain in Antartica.

We discuss fear, risk, self-doubt and the inner critic in this fun conversation. 

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 Heather on Instagram: instagram.com/heatherjswan

Feb 25, 2018

These days, a Fitness and Sports Counsellor and Body Positivity Advocate, Leah Gilbert'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.

In this conversation, we 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.

Plus we talk about 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.

Visit the Sparta Chicks Radio website here

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

Follow Leah on Facebook: facebook.com/LeahGCounselling

Feb 19, 2018

Today not only marks our 50th episode, but the first birthday of the podcast! Yes, that’s right, exactly 1 year ago today, we launched the podcast with our first guest, Siri Lindley.

So I thought this would be the perfect chance to share the top 10 most popular episodes of the podcast over the last 12 months.

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

Feb 11, 2018

Caro Ryan describes herself as the “unexpected outdoors chick”.

As a child, she wasn’t physically active. But after a 3 day experiential leadership training course in the Australian bush at the age of 21, the trajectory of Caro’s life changed and a deep love and connection with the bush was born.

These days, she is one of Australia’s top bloggers in the outdoor space via her website lotsafreshair.com.

In this conversation, we discuss why she describes herself as the “unexpected outdoors chick”, how the outdoors and “red bandana girl” changed her life, the stories we tell ourselves, including in Caro’s case that she “wasn’t a runner”, the importance of using words, labels and phrases (such as “I’m a runner”) before you believe them, how to manage and mitigate the most common fears of being in the bush and how being in the outdoors is such a powerful catalyst for change for so many women.

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 Caro on Instagram: instagram.com/lotsafreshair 

Feb 4, 2018

Brad Stulberg is fascinated with the science of human performance.

In 2017 Brad co-authored, with Steve Magness, a fantastic book I devoured on a flight called "Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout and Thrive With the New Science of Success."

This book (and this conversation) is based around the concept of periodisation (which is - or should be - the principle that any and all training you do should be based on); stress + rest = growth.

Unfortunately, this formula isn’t well understood or applied which results in injury, illness, burn out or overtraining.

In this conversation, we discuss how stress isn’t always a bad thing and how you can use it to your advantage. Plus we talk about smartphones, sleep and meditation as other factors you need to consider if you want to get the best out of yourself and feel good about it.

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 Brad on Twitter: @BStulberg 

 

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