Chasing Bravery

Episode 45: Kate Grace Apr 10, 2020

Hello! Welcome to episode 45 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast! Today I am speaking with professional runner for Nike, Olympian, and believer of sharing and engaging in the process Kate Grace! In college Kate went to Yale (she’s pretty smart, AND fast) where she broke four school records, won six Heps Championships, and was four time NCAA Division I Track and Field and Cross Country All-American. Post collegiate, Kate continued to train and race- competing in the 2012 US Olympic Track and Field Trials where she placed 20th in the 1500. For the next 4 years Kate continued to train and improve through bumps in the process. By 2016 Kate was ready to go having improved her personal best in both the 1500 meters and the 800 meter running a notable sub 2 minute prior to the trials. For those of you who are track lovers, you know how the 2016 US Olympic Track and Field Trials, 800 meter final unfolded. Kate ran a strong, smart race…winning in a time of 1:59:10. Unfortunately, the race behind her had ended in upset with multiple racers becoming caught in a fall. Kate handled this damper on her win with grace and poise and went on to place 8th at the 2016 Olympics- the top American woman and running a PR to boot. Today Kate trains with the Bowerman Track Club and is in pursuit of second Olympic Games which have been officially postponed until July of 2021 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Kate and I discuss her feelings about this major shift in training and how she is processing and moving forward. We chat about how it is ok and normal to feel disappointed while feeling 100% certain that postponing is the right thing to do. It was a pleasure to speak with this speedy, intelligent, and thoughtful lady. I know you will enjoy the conversation as much as I did! To learn more about Kate and her process, follow her on Instagram @fastkate https://www.instagram.com/fastkate/ To learn more about the podcast , follow me on Instagram @chasingbravery06 https://www.instagram.com/chasingbravery06/ As always, please leave a rating and review for the show if you are enjoying it or have constructive feedback! Be well! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Pandemic Peace, April 2nd, 2020 Apr 03, 2020

There have been 216,722 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States and 5,137 deaths. Louisiana and Georgia have the top six counties with the highest deaths per capita due to COVID-19, according to The Washington Post, New York County is 7th. FEMA relayed that the emergency stockpile of PPE is almost gone. Some ventilators sent from the federal stockpile to hospitals do not work, reports The New York Times. Mississippi and Georgia have issued “stay at home” mandates. The President stated Wednesday that he has no plans to issue a National Stay at Home The weekly number of unemployment filings will be released today and most estimates have it near 6 million. Dr. Fauci, said that social distancing can be relaxed once there are no new infections or deaths, “but the real turning point won’t come until we have a vaccine” Wellness tip- limit your news sources and very carefully consider what you take in and what you don’t. If you are particularly sensitive to the news and find you generally have a low tolerance , here’s a tip. Find a friend who you know is on top of the news and has a higher tolerance for absorption.... have a conversation about what kinds of information you would want to know ASAP , and come up with an agreement that they will text you/ call you if something changes or happens that you wouldn’t want to miss. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 44: Laura Wiley, RN, Nurse Mentor Mar 27, 2020

Episode Webpage: https://chasingbravery.com/podcast/chasing-bravery/chasing-bravery/2020/3/26/dtii0qf7xsse4ok5do6g75sgy0q2th Welcome to episode 44 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast! Today is a special episode , combining the daily Pandemic Peace episode with a regular episode of the podcast featuring a brave, inspiring woman. Laura Wiley is a registered nurse who has just recently moved from New Jersey to Pittsburgh. Laura and her fiancé had planned to spend the months of March and April taking some much needed vacation time before their wedding, but alas something called Covid-19 had other plans. Laura being a registered nurse and nurse mentor jumped quickly into action postponing her wedding, spending up to 12 hours a day speaking with her nurses on the frontline, creating resources for self care and coping, and applying to crisis nursing jobs with a simple desire to help in any way possible….because that’s what nurses and other health care workers do best. While Laura is not on the “frontlines” right now, you will hear that she has unique insight into what is happening in hospitals around the country because her job as a nurse mentor requires that she support her mentees through this unprecedented time. Laura shares with us what you can do to support your local nurses and health care workers, how you can advocate for much needed resources, and her go to self care/coping strategies. It was a pleasure to speak with Laura, and I know you will not only enjoy this episode, but learn a tremendous amount. Laura on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thebrightlybalancedrn?igshid=19hzkdmwn7w7s Brightly Balanced RN recourses and mentorship: https://linktr.ee/thebrightlybalancedrn. Chasing Bravery Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chasingbravery06/ Donate to SimplySmiles fundraiser: https://donate.simplysmiles.org/fundraiser/2719966 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Pandemic Peace, March 24th 2020 Mar 25, 2020

Episode Webpage: https://chasingbravery.com/new-blog/2020/3/24/2e6oco21kl8d3x0l3kaajgsqx0qfv3 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Pandemic Peace, March 23rd Mar 24, 2020

Episode webpage: https://chasingbravery.com/new-blog/2020/3/23/suaya8k2xz5mqpw1brg6lvpqqky2gc The National Guard has been activated and Federal disaster declarations announced for California, New York and Washington. Providing additional assistance for those states. New York State now has about 5% of all global cases according to The New York Times. New Jersey has passed California and Washington in number of diagnoses. They join Ohio, Louisiana and Delaware join 4 other states in issuing a stay at home order that effects more than 100 million U.S. residents. The U.S. has more than 35,000 cases. The 3rd most in the world, behind China and Italy. As many are aware, Congress has yet to move forward in passing the economic relief bill. WHERE SENATE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE NEXT COVID-19 RELIEF BILL STAND This evening, President Trump stressed what he called the need to reopen America for business even as he said the government also would continue tackling the spiraling coronavirus pandemic. "We're not going to let the cure be worse than the problem," Trump said. Without speaking about matters I am not well qualified enough to speak enough, I can say that multiple news platforms including CBS, NPR, ABC, and PBS have highlighted medical experts expressing concern about this statement by the president given that all estimates show the spread will be nearing its peak in two weeks. CDC Coronavirus symptom checker: Note: I have tried this self checker “pretending” I was an 85 year old male, a 26 year old female, a 50 year old male and female…and quite honestly there are 2 results you will get when asked about symptoms because the options are “ no life threatening symptoms” and a slew of very scary sounding symptoms. There are no “middle ground” symptoms to pick from, so take that as you will…. My take away is that you will either gain nothing from the self check OR you will be having a life threatening emergency and probably not using the self checker….. CDC SYMPTOM SELF CHECKER Finally…. my quick wellness tip of the day. Right now we are seeing examples of hoarding on all levels. Companies that don’t need to be capping out are…people who don’t need to be hoarding all the paper goods in their town are….and the ultimate effect of this will be the same on different scales. This self serving behavior is understandable…humans try to control what they can in times of great uncertainty….but before you buy out the shelf or get too caught up in a self serving, protect myself mode ….think about what kind if world you want to live in. You may have a months worth of toilet paper in your home, but that could literally be in the expense of a family who has none and has elderly grandparents living in the home and can you imagine the stress of not having basic toiletries in a time like now? So think about how you are responding to this understandable anxiety…..none of us control a lot right now….but we still can be good to one another and step outside of ourselves. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Pandemic Peace- March 21st and 22nd Mar 22, 2020

Episode webpage: https://chasingbravery.com/new-blog/2020/3/21/0xrtz7aszlmbtk2f8tc29v3sunbhrt A review of the most important information from the most trusted resources on Covid 19. Today’s episode features myths debunked by the World Health Information, why the next 2 weeks are crucial to stopping the spread, and a downloadable weekly wellness planner. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Pandemic Peace- March 20, 2020 Mar 20, 2020

Episode blog page https://chasingbravery.com/new-blog/2020/3/20/t6rcn79btjgd493r4h6yhcegvbh25u --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Pandemic Peace, March 19 2020 Mar 20, 2020

Hello everyone! Today is March 19th, 2020. If you have been checking the news today you may have noticed that confirmed cases of Covid 19 have increased tremendously today- in fact, they have increased by 40%. This is not because overnight 40% more individuals became infected. This is because testing has ramped up and we will continue to see what looks a dramatic rise in cases for at least another week. During this next week, keep this in mind….the number of confirmed cases of Covid WILL go up, but these cases already exist and the experts know this. Right now the CDC estimates that for every confirmed case there are 3-5 more, So what do we do with this information? The bottom line is that if you are taking social distancing seriously and doing everything within your power to stay healthy there is literally nothing else you can do. Knowing which congressman and celebrities have tested positive may be intriguing, but it does nothing to inform how you take care of yourself. By nature, we want to control what is happening around us. My wellness tip for today is to reframe what it means to be in control in your mind. Sitting in front of the television obsessing about what will/could/might happen is not being in control. Practicing social distancing, washing your hands, avoiding large gatherings of more than 10, kissing and playing with your child, moving your body (outside if it is nice), eating well, and getting plenty of rest is being in control. Let us breathe deep. Control what we can. And lead by example by living well despite this virus and respecting our fellow neighbors. I will be back tomorrow with a more in-depth review of the day's most relevant news. Be well. Governor Cuomo Pod Episode: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/podcasts/the-daily/cuomo-new-york-coronavirus.html?action=click&module=audio-series-bar&region=header&pgtype=Article Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/ World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/13-03-2020-who-un-foundation-and-partners-launch-first-of-its-kind-covid-19-solidarity-response-fund --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 43: Robin Bonomi Mar 19, 2020

Episode Webpage: chasingbravery.com/podcast/chasing-bravery/2020/3/19/episode-43-robin-bonomi Episode 43 with Robin Bonomi! Robin is a PhD, a soon to be MD, a mother to baby Wade, wife to a coast guard officer, and speedy runner. Robin was gracious enough to share her pregnancy and birth story as well as valuable insight into the birth process from the lens of a soon to be medical doctor. Robin had the unique experience of completing rounds in labor and delivery the very day that she was (unknowingly) in labor. In the course of our conversation, Robin and I spoke not only of pregnancy and birth-related topics- we also chatted about what Robin will be specializing in (psychiatry), and our shared interest in neuroimaging. We mentioned a few books : The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk M.D. : https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3MNLWVDSNPP7D&dchild=1&keywords=the+body+keeps+the+score&qid=1584650041&sprefix=the+body%2Caps%2C246&sr=8-3 And The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog: And Other Stories from a Child Psychiatrist's Notebook--What Traumatized Children Can Teach Us About Loss, Love, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry and Maia Szalavitz You can find Robin on Instagram @https://www.instagram.com/runformedicine/ You can find out more about the Chasing Bravery Podcast on Instagram @https://www.instagram.com/chasingbravery06/ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Pandemic Peace- Introduction Mar 19, 2020

My name is Kaitlin Aubin and I am coming to you from the state of Illinois. I am a social worker with a masters in social work and public health, undergraduate degrees in health science and psychology and certifications in the practice of mindfulness, heart math and biofeedback, and trauma sensitive yoga. I currently have a podcast called Chasing Bravery, and I like the rest of the nation have been entrenched in the news of the Covid 19 pandemic. Pandemic Panic- several large news outlets have reported today on the importance of keeping panic at bay. Our immunity - meaning the strength of our immune system is tied to our stress levels. The ultimate take away? As tempting as it may be...avoid sitting in front of your television or sitting on social media. Stay updated, stay informed...but set reasonable limits. I have spoken to many loved ones in the past week who have expressed high levels of anxiety directly linked to the constant influx of new information and breaking news surrounding Covid 19. It is coming from all directions and it is undeniably overwhelming. For this reason I have decided to start a daily podcast called Pandemic Peace in which I will summarize the key knowledge and updates for the day. I will draw from all reliable sources, and stick to only what is new and relevant. I will also end each episode with a positive message/takeaway, and whenever possible tips and suggestions for how to take action. My goal is to be your filter. It has dawned on me that social workers are uniquely well positioned to navigate this pandemic. My education and training has equipped me with the ability to sift through data and information and summarize those findings with the intent of supporting the common good and humanity as a whole. I have no political leanings in this endeavor and seek to simply be a (hopefully) trusted resource at days end or beginning for what you need to know and what you can do. I hope to earn your trust, and become your reliable source of what you need to know based on a compilation of reports from the day. I will link all sources of data in the show notes and episode webpage.

Episode Webpage: https://chasingbravery.com/new-blog/2020/3/19/pandemic-peace-introduction

--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 42- OTQ qualifier podcast guests updates! Feb 24, 2020

How the training has been leading into the trials, goals for the big day, support systems, dreams for the future, challenges, and more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 41: Chasing Bravery Podcast Olympic Trials Qualifiers... a trip down memory lane. Feb 18, 2020

A fun look back at memorable parts of conversations with some fast, inspiring ladies who will be running in the 2020 US Olympic Marathon Trials! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 40: Jess Lynn, Brand Representative for Flyte Bags Jan 03, 2020

Today I am speaking with Jess Lynn- the voice, and representative behind a bag that I am absolutely obsessed with. Have you heard of Flyte Bags? If you haven’t you need to listen to this episode and then go snag one for yourself with the giant discount code that will be released at the end of the episode. Of course, Jess and I talk about more than just this amazing bag… we talk about what it means to be a modern woman, how to carve your own path and the importance of trying new and exciting things just for the heck of it. Jess was an absolute pleasure to record with- as my husband said when he was editing “this woman is so happy and positive, its great!”. Enjoy this episode, and then seriously ….get yourself a bag, you will be SO glad you did! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 39: Erin Anthony Williams, A Throwback (pt.1) Jan 02, 2020

This episode is almost a year old, but it is SO good... Erin Williams at the time of recording was getting fit for a half marathon, and was in the thick of her graduate program at Harvard in Boston, and was a busy mom to her children Grace and Ben. In this episode we talk about how Erin and her husband met and made the decision to pursue their graduate degrees with the long term goal of returning to West Point to teach. We discuss Erin's evolution as a runner turned running coach, as well as her postpartum running experiences. We also discuss why she believed it's valuable to share our birth stories with other women and how you just can't plan for everything! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 38: Welcome back! Jan 02, 2020

Welcome back to the Chasing Bravery Podcast …officially! It’s been a while. It’s actually literally been a year, but who’s keeping track? This is a short episode to get listeners up to speed on where I’ve been this past year, and plans for the show moving forward! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 37: Lyndy Davis Aug 13, 2019

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Chasing Bravery Podcast. If you have listened to the show before then you may know that I haven’t recorded or released an episode since 2018. My excuse (if you even want to call it that) is that I had a complicated pregnancy which resulted is a beautiful baby boy born in mid May. I have always had every intention in getting back to recording, but it has admittedly been slower than I would have liked. All that being said- to those of you who are new listeners- Welcome! To those who are returning- bless you, thank you, and welcome back! Today’s guest is Lyndy Davis. Lyndy is a 2016 and 2020 Olympic Trials marathon qualifier who holds a PR of 2:39, a recent Guinness world record holder in the half marathon pulling a baby, and a new mama. Lyndy is someone who I have wanted to have on the show for a while, and coincidentally gave birth to her beautiful baby boy Quentin right around the time that I really started to struggle in my pregnancy. Although Lyndy had a fantastic pregnancy, her experience post-partum was not as smooth. Lyndy has struggled with postpartum depression and has recently opened up about her experience in a blog post through her elite running sponsor Oiselle. Lyndy’s honesty was brave, refreshing, and validating for me personally as both a runner and a mother now myself. I wanted to have her on to discuss both her post partum experience and running career in more detail, which we did! Listen on to hear how Lyndy used a personal goal of setting a World Record in the ½ marathon while running with her baby to begin to combat her post partum depression and start the journey forward towards the new Lyndy – a lady who will never be the same post baby, but is shaping up to be stronger (and braver) than ever before. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 36: Nadine Jolie Courtney Dec 02, 2018

Welcome to Episode 36 with Nadine Jolie Courtney. Nadine is a woman who wears many hats- author, travel blogger, Bravo TV reality show star, mother, and wife. Nadine lives in Santa Monica, California with her husband Erik and her daughter Aurelia. A graduate of Barnard college, her writing has appeared in Town & Country, Cosmo, Vogue.com, and many more. She is the author of Confessions of a Beauty Addict, Beauty Confidential, and most recently Romancing the Throne. Nadine is a dive right in, follow your heart kind of lady -jetting off to Tokyo with her now husband Erik on only their third date. So confident was she that she had found her match that she and Erik married after 7 months of dating, and had their first child Aurelia a mere 11 months later. Nadine and Erik’s love story is a whirlwind of excitement which you can watch unfold in their season of Bravo TV’s , Newlyweds: The First Year. Despite her fairy tale romance, Nadine has not been immune to heartbreak. In this episode we discuss the three back to back miscarriages she and her husband experienced on their quest to grow their family. Nadine and I discuss the reality that no individual or couple striving to have a child has any guarantee, and that planning (while important) is really up to chance and luck. Nadine is authentic, introspective, and so sweet. I for one found her perspective and reflection on her heartbreak refreshing and ultimately inspiring. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 35: Beth Gomez Oct 01, 2018

Hi everyone! Welcome to episode 35 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. My guest today is Beth Gomez of the Fresno based Elizabeth Kate studio. Beth is professional photographer who specializes in maternity, birth, newborn, and family photography. Beth lives with her husband and two boys in California and is a busy lady balancing full time work with the joys of being a mother and wife. Beth primarily serves the Fresno, Clovis, Oakhurst, and Yosemite areas capturing the intimate, precious moments of maternity and beyond. Beth is a photographer yes, but I’m guessing you like I haven’t really thought about the ins and outs of what it means to capture live births- unless of course you’ve had this experience yourself. Beth and I discuss the sensitivity that is required to be invited to such an intimate moment in another family’s life, and just how incredible it is to have the honor of capturing the beauty of childbirth. Beth rand I also discuss how while childbirth is often joyous, not all births look the same, and that it is important that a photographer understand what their limitations are when entering such a sacred, pivotal space. Beth and discuss photographers that are dedicated to capturing still births and infant loss through non-profits that are devoted to these special births that are just important to capture as any other. Beth is kind, talented, professional, and inspiring- enjoy this conversation with her! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 34: AnnMarie Kirkpatrick Sep 22, 2018

Welcome to episode 34 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. My guest today is Annmarie Kirkpatrick. I have been following Annmarie for awhile now on Instagram from afar (kind of creepy I know), but we all do it guys, so don’t judge. Annmarie, her husband and their two boys live in Fort Collins Colorado where they both work for a super cool non-profit called Mountains and Plains. The Mountains and Plains Institute for Lifelong Learning and Service is a non-profit corporation committed to providing high quality and affordable educational courses, travel, and service learning opportunities for adults. They believe that learning and giving back to others is a lifelong process and discovering new ideas, sharing challenges and experiences is the basis of lifelong rewards. Annmarie has helped people over 80 summit 1400-ers just to give listeners an idea of how amazing and rewarding this non-profit truly is. I highly encourage anyone who thinks this might be something they are interested in to check out the link to the Mountains and Plains website in the show notes. AnnMarie is also a very speedy runner- like OTQ speedy. To make her more impressive, while she did run in high school she didn’t start seriously running until after the birth of her two boys- both of whom were 9+ pound babies (this woman is a hero). She is coached by her husband, and something they are doing is working, as AnnMarie has impressive PR’s of 1:14 in the ½ marathon, and is going for the A standard OTQ qualifier of 2:37 this fall. AnnMarie is down to earth, loves the earth, is so talented in many areas, and was a pleasure to speak with. I am sure that everyone will enjoy this episode as much as I loved recording it. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 33: Dr. Katayune Kaeni Sep 14, 2018

Hello everyone, welcome back to the Chasing Bravery Podcast after a very long, but very necessary break. While I have been disappointed to not be able to devote the necessary time to this thing that I love while living on a reservation, I am not regretful of my decision to give myself some grace&space and place all my energy into the most important task at hand, which is the work I was engaged in with the sweet children of the Lakota Sioux Tribe and their community. Not all times in life require singular devotion to one commitment or responsibility, but when they do arise -it can be a hard lesson in learning when to pull the plug. With that being said my one regret is not recognizing my limits sooner, and giving myself that same grace that I give to loves ones and clients. Now let’s jump ahead, because I am back baby. I am missing my little munchkins on the rez, but using that energy to record and put out some amazing episodes with guests who are really just rocking the whole live your best life thing. Today we will be hearing from Dr. Kat, the host of one of my favorite podcasts – Mom and Mind. Now you may ask yourself, what is a 25 year old woman who has no children yet doing listening to a podcast with Mom in the title? I could come up with a hundred very valid reasons, but I think that if you check this show out yourself you will get it- this is a podcast for anyone who is a mother, has a mother, knows a mother, and loves a mother. A bit about Dr. Kat, Dr Kat is a psychologist who’s work includes adults of all ages, college students, women who are pregnant or postpartum, couples who are bringing children into their family and people who just want to feel better. Dr Kat is a Specialist in Maternal Mental Health and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and works with moms and families to heal from the difficulties of depression, anxiety and other mood changes that can happen during conception, pregnancy, miscarriage, loss of a baby, birth and postpartum. While Dr. Kat is highly trained in this subject, she also went through her own challenges in postpartum, so she gets it. That’s what u would call a win win when looking for a therapist myself. Dr. Kat writes on her website that “Working with people is in my bones. I knew from a young age that being a psychologist was my path. That passion has not faded, it’s only grown stronger. Especially when I see the transformation and healing happen right in front of me. It’s pretty cool”. Dr. Kat herself is pretty cool, and it was a pleasure to have her on the show. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 32: Alice Wright Jul 29, 2018

In this episode I am speaking with Alice Wright. Alice is a freshly signed professional distance runner for Hoka One One and was an absolute pleasure to get to know better. Alice moved from her home across the pond to the United States as a freshman in college. Her move would have been a big transition no matter where she settled, but Alice decided to go to the University of New Mexico- talk about a climate and scenery shock. Alice and I chat about how her freshman year didn’t go smoothly on the running front (she likes to say she was social networking), and how she returned home for the summer with a dedication to coming back in the fall ready to really secure her spot on the team and make her coach proud. Alice did just that, graduating as an 8x NCAA All American- including two runner-up finishes in the 10k. Alice and I talk about her decision to become a professional runner, what it’s like to live with Steph and Ben Bruce, how exited she is for her career going forward, and so much more! Alice is kind, sweet, determined, brave, and fierce and it was such a pleasure to have her as a guest on the show! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 31: Felicia Chen Jul 15, 2018

Hello everyone! Welcome to episode 31 of the Chasing Bravery podcast! I am your host Kait, and I am so happy that you are listening today. For those of you who have been listening for awhile- thank you for sticking with me. This summer has been a bit hectic, and I haven’t been able to get episodes out the way I really wanted to. For those of you who are new, welcome! I am so pleased that you are joining me, and this amazing group of women who are willing to share their brave stories. Today my guest is Felicia Chen. Felicia and I recorded a while ago – as in way back in May, but I am certain that this episode is a must listen regardless the month or time of year. Felicia is a speedy marathoner, holding a PR of 2:59. One might assume that this means Felicia is a life long runner, maybe even that she ran in high school or college, but that’s not the case. Felicia has a non-traditional intro to running story, as well as an interesting journey in the sport that included some big injuries, being underweight, and overtraining. Felicia also has a fascinating career in the city of Chicago (we live so close to each other!), and I was so intrigued by her day to day, as well as her unique perspective on some big topics. Felicia is witty, brave, kind, humble, and so intelligent and I know you will enjoy listening to her story as much as I did. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 30: Lauren Floris (and baby no.2!) Jul 07, 2018

Episode 30 with Lauren Floris and her little stowaway is out! Lauren has been on the show before (episode 8) and it’s always so lovely to catch up with this busy lady. Lauren is a mom to her beautiful daughter, and pregnant with baby number 2! We chat about how she feels about the timing of her pregnancy, what she foresees the future looking like career wise with two littles , and SO much more. Lauren is a refreshing example of a woman unapologetically living her best life- pursuing her own dreams and goals , while raising a beautiful family, and I’m so excited for you all to hear this latest episode! Thank you Lauren for being a returning guest on the podcast! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 29: Dr. Rachel Davis Jun 29, 2018

Welcome back to the Chasing Bravery Podcast after a very long hiatus. As some of you know I have been in South Dakota since the first week of May living and working on the Cheyenne River Reservation with an amazing organization called Simply Smiles. When I first decided to take on this summer position I was a bit naïve about some of the technical barriers that would exist for me (such as no Wi-Fi) as well as the general exhaustion that seems to follow me at the end of each day. While the work out here has been so rewarding and so meaningful, it has left little time for some of the more auxiliary parts of my life right now – aka anything that isn’t sleeping, eating, and occasionally running sanity miles. Now that I have gotten into a bit more of a groove, I’m so excited to bring you all episode 29 with Rachel Davis. Rachel Davis is a woman with so many amazing accomplishments under her belt. Rachel is 27 years old, and lives in Birmingham, AL with her husband and their cat. Rachel has a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology, a master’s degree in nutrition sciences, and is currently finishing up her PhD in nutrition. She hopes to use her doctoral training to educate others on proper nutrition- which I personally think she is already doing a fantastic job of. Rachel is also a very speedy runner. She ran collegiately as a 400 meter hurdler- working her way up to the 800 in which she holds a PR of 2:06. Rachel also has some endurance in her legs. In 2017 after only 1 prior marathon experience, Rachel ran a 2 hour and 48 minute Boston PR. Like any runner, Rachel was determined to quickly get back on the wagon and make that 2:45 OTQ happen…only to find herself emotionally and mentally burnt out. Join me, as I chat with Rachel about her comeback to running, her most recent Boston marathon this past April, and a deep dive into the reality that sometimes we simply can’t do it all- and that is okay. Rachel is kind, smart, funny, and warm- and I am so excited for you all to hear her message. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 28: Neely Spence Gracey, returning guest May 12, 2018

Neely Spence Gracey is back for another episode with the Chasing Bravery Podcast! As always, Neely was a joy to chat with and was totally up front and genuine about the highs and lows of pregnancy so far...oh wait...spoiler alert for those of you who didn't know- Neely is expecting her first baby in August. Neely and i also chat a bit about her impressive professional running career, her contract with Adidas, and so much more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 27: Heidi Greenwood May 04, 2018

Welcome to episode 27 with Heidi Greenwood! Heidi is a very naturally talented athlete, excelling in sports from volleyball to the marathon (you don't hear that everyday). Heidi is originally from Roseau, Minnesota , moving to the University of North Dakota as a volleyball player. While she was there she was recruited by the Fighting Hawks' track and field coach, going on to have a very successful running and volleyball collegiate career including winning a national title in the 1,500-meter run. Heidi and I talk about her surprisingly natural, organic journey to the marathon in which she holds a PR of 2:42. I think it's pretty evident that Heidi has a proclivity for all things athletic and I have to admit I am a bit jealous. Heidi and I also talk about some tough topics. We talk candidly about amenorrhea- which is a loss of a menstrual cycle common among many female athletes. Heidi shares interesting insight into some of the reasons why she believes that amennoreah is so common, and we also talk about how confusing and misleading it can be to be a so healthy physically- with the only exception being a loss of a period. This phenomenon is sometimes why female athletes don’t feel so concerned about their lack of a menstrual cycle, which of course can be problematic. Heidi and I also talk about her angel babies Leni and Jules. Heidi is a mother who experienced the loss of her daughters during gestation. While it may be difficult for people to hear her story, it doesn’t make it any less a part of who Heidi is, and it also doesn’t make her any less proud of the beautiful babies that she and her husband sadly will never watch grow. Heidi is not aone in her loss, and the courage and bravery she has shown in sharing her story is a beacon for other mothers and parents who have shared similar losses and grief. To honor theirs, and other lost babies, Heidi and her husband started the Angel Baby Mile. The Angel Baby Mile is an opportunity to honor lost babies. Mile 23 of the Fargo Marathon, on May 19, 2018, will be called the Angel Baby Mile. Those interested in honoring a baby may sponsor a balloon. The balloons will be placed along the side of the race course and will be released at completion of race. While there is limited space and helium left for balloons, there are still ways you can honor a lost baby in your life and I will put all the links to that information in the show notes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 26: Dr. Alyssa Berlin Apr 30, 2018

Hello everyone! Welcome to a episode 26 with a very special expert guest- Dr. Alyssa Berlin. Dr. Alyssa Berlin is a clinical psychologist "specializing in pregnancy, postpartum and parenting. She offers private counseling for women individually and with their partners on issues such as anxiousness and emotional fluctuation during pregnancy, postpartum blues and depression, and the complex issues that can arise between and around new and expectant parents. Dr. Berlin is the creator of The After Birth Plan Workshop, a program that prepares couples for what to expect after a baby is born and how to prepare for a physically and emotionally healthy postpartum transition for the baby, for each partner and for the evolving relationship. For all information regarding everything discussed by Dr. Berlin and I, check out the show notes or visit the Chasing Bravery Website. Discussed in this episode: Who can suffer from a maternal mental health issue? Are there individuals who are at higher risk? What are things that partners can be attuned to pre baby and post baby that can first help their partner feel supported, and second be alert if there is a problem? What role does a traumatic birth experience, or extremely difficult pregnancy play in the risk of PPD? What can individuals do to lower the likelihood of developing PPD? Can you experience maternal mental health issues after a miscarriage or abortion? Is there evidence to show that women who have experienced pronounced maternal mental health issues after one pregnancy ?will most likely experience it again in subsequent pregnancy’s? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 25: Kristen Garzone Apr 27, 2018

Welcome to episode 25 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast! This podcast is meant to be a platform for women to share their true narratives and discuss topics that we simply don't converse about enough. Today that topic is post partum depression, and my guest is Kristen Garzone. Kristen is a woman with many roles (sound like any of you ladies out there?) Kristen is a career woman, wife, mother, runner, friend, and so much more. Kristen is also a woman with a history of mental illness and post partum depression (ppd). Anyone flinch when they heard that- the mental illness, ppd thing? Maybe you didn't flinch, but you did get a funny feeling somewhere in your body. Maybe you felt funny because it was off putting to hear the words mental illness and post partum depression in connection with a woman who is smart, beautiful, capable, and accomplished. Regardless of what you feel, this is conversation that needs to be had. 1 in 5 women will experience a full blown maternal mental health illness, and this illness does not discriminate. There is no one person who is guaranteed to suffer- and no one person that isn't. I encourage you to listen, as this is a conversation that will ultimately leave you feeling inspired, informed, empowered, and maybe less alone. Kristen is currently honoring and remembering her friend Kristin who lost her battle with post partum depression in June of 2017 through a virtual 5k or 10k on mothers day weekend. All of the proceeds from this race will go towards Every Mother Counts. I am most certainly going to be taking part in this and I encourage you all to as well. The link to register can be found in the show notes of this episode. Stay tuned- this episode will be followed up with two more on the topic of Maternal Mental Health. I will release episode 26 this weekend with Dr. Berlin who is an expert in the area of MMH. Episode 27 will feature Peggy Tanous, who some of you may remember from season 6 of the Real Housewives of Orange County. Peggy sheds light on the fact that even a woman whose life seems ideal can still be gripped by this powerful illness, and the stigma needs to stop. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 24: Sarah Mahaney Boston Check In Apr 24, 2018

Sarah is BACK! And she is stronger than ever. Sarah ran the Boston marathon exactly a week ago today, and I had the pleasure to chat with her about the whole experience. Sarah was as sweet, introspective, genuine, and tough as ever- and I was so impressed about her ability to "check her pride" as she put it, and run smart race for the weather (and her body that was dealing with a sinus infection). Sarah has so much wisdom when it comes to the marathon, and she also tolerates my thought tangents- which means she is patient and kind as well! Enjoy this fantastic follow up episode with Sarah!! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 23: Dr. Stephanie Howe Violett Apr 20, 2018

Welcome to episode 23 of the Chasing Bravery podcast! Today I am chatting with Dr. Stephanie Howe Violett. Stephanie is an extremely accomplished human both in the sport of ultra-running, as well as professionally. I am actually awe struck by how much this woman has accomplished so far in her life, while remaining a totally warm and open person to chat with- I suppose that this quality of hers goes back to one of her simple rules- don’t take yourself too seriously. Stephanie and I chat about her career as a professional ultra runner, as well as what it was like working towards her doctorate degree and some of the challenges that she faced upon deciding to push forward with her chosen research proposal. If anyone is interested in checking out Dr. Violett’s published work just scroll down to the show notes for that information. Stephanie is an undeniably accomplished and motivated individual but that does not mean she doesn’t have set backs like everyone else. She was very open about some of the injury’s she has dealt with in her career, as well as the tough decision she made to just completely call it quits at one point. Stephanie did the thing that most of us dedicated athletes fear- she stopped exercising altogether and just let her body recover. Stephanie’s message was one I think many of us need to hear, which is that there is life without intense daily exercise, and that it is possible to discover who you are outside of your sport. Enjoy this fantastic conversation with Stephanie! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 22: Alana Kopelson, Boston Marathon Update Apr 20, 2018

Guess who's back? Back again. ALANA KOPELSON is back- tell a friend. I was so excited to get as much information as possible about the Boston marathon, and that of course included chatting with two previous podcast guests who braved Mondays weather for 26.2 miles. Alana and I chat about what the course was really like, how emotional it was to hear the Des Linden had won the race when she was at mile 18, and what her plans are moving forward. I love this girl, even though I've never actually met her in real life, and I know you all do as well. Enjoy!! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 21: Kaitlin Wheeler (Me!) Apr 15, 2018

Episode 21 is different because, well, it features me. Chad- my boyfriend, editor, and coach stepped into a new role today and was an amazing host. To be fair, he only had to ask me the questions that I already wrote out for him, but he for sure went above and beyond and did a fantastic job. He asked me these (and many other) questions in today's special release: Overview of what life is like for girls and women living on reservations in the United States. When did you become interested in the social and economic conditions of reservations? Where did your idea for a running program stem from/why are you interested in focusing on girls and women in particular? -Why/how the Chasing Bravery Girls Running Initiative was designed the way it was What is different about your pilot program in comparison to some of the other girls running programming out there? Can you explain EMDR and the ARC framework in a bit more depth? What can listeners do to support the initiative? Chad and I also chat about what has been going on with me lately health wise, and what that means for my running goals as well as plans for racing. Enjoy! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 20: Erin Taylor (Jasyoga) Apr 13, 2018

Hi everyone! Welcome to episode 20 of the Chasing Bravery podcast. I am your host Kait, and I am so happy that you are here listening today. As some of you know I have been struggling with some undiagnosed health issues, and while I’ve let myself off the hook a little bit till I get everything sorted out I still am very committed to getting these episodes out. As soon as I am well, I will be back on a normal schedule, and until then I’m grateful that all of you are baring with me and still listening. I’m so excited to share today’s episode with you all. I am chatting with Erin Taylor, founder of Jasyoga and Athletes for Yoga, writer of Hit Reset and Work In, momma, and overall amazing lady. Erin lives with her husband and their daughter across the pond, and she is currently quite pregnant with their son who is due in June. Erin is a fantastic combination of totally motivated work hard attitude, crossed with a healthy dose of genuine self compassion. We touched on so many great things in this episode, from how Erin became passionate about yoga, all the way to the story about how she was in labor with her daughter for a week- a week people, and stayed firm in her gut instinct to not be induced. Trust me, you'll want to listen to this episode! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 19: Sara Vaughn Mar 31, 2018

Hi everyone! Welcome to episode 19 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. I am your host Kait, and today I am speaking with a very highly requested guest: Sara Vaughn. I have been a fan of Sara’s for a few years now myself, so I knew exactly why she was so heavily requested by listeners. While she may not say so herself- Sara is a very inspiring woman. She is a mother of 3, has a consuming career that she is passionate about, and is running at the World level in Middle Distance Track and Field. While all of this is impressive standing alone, it is not Sara’s full story. Sara had her first child when she was just a Junior in college. Despite many barriers and pushback, she stayed in school and continued to compete at the Division 1 level- all while raising an infant with her then boyfriend- now husband. After school Sara went on to have two more babies, and kept right on running- improving every year on the track aside from those where she was growing humans of course. Sara has now qualified for two Worlds teams , and I believe her when she says she kind of feels like she is just getting started. This episode is a testament to the power of a positive mindset, and a solid grasp on your own self-worth- two things Sara possesses, and brings to everything that she does. I am so thrilled to be able to share this woman with you all- as I believe she is an example of one of my favorite quotes: to be a woman is to be unapologetically resilient despite everything. Before we get to the episode I have two small pieces of housekeeping. The first is the one you saw coming: if you haven’t already left the show a rating and review on itunes, please do. It is the best way for listeners to find the show, and for me to continue to grow this audience. The second is that I want to remind everyone that Sara has little ones at home, so we did have some par for the course interruptions…which I actually think is organic and genuine to Sara’s story and life- however we did do our best to edit here and there. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 18: Katherine (Katie) Mackey Mar 16, 2018

Hi Everyone! You are listening to episode 18 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. Today I am speaking with the lovely Katie Mackey, who just got back from World Indoor Track and Field championships, where she represented the United States in the 3000 meters. Katie is not only speedy- she is also kind, open, funny, and real, and it was such a pleasure to speak with her about all things running and life. Katie is someone who wears her heart on her sleeve, and while she will say this is a quality she has had to learn how to moderate and control on the track- it makes her so relatable and refreshing to the broader running community. Katie is a prime example of someone who has had their heart broken by this sport of running, yet has found a way to turn that heartbreak into an opportunity to grow and come back stronger than ever – which is pretty brave if I do say so myself. Katie and I chat about her unique training environment with the Brooks Beasts, and what it is like to have her husband as a coach. I must say that I had my boyfriend laughing after I recorded with Katie, because he could totally relate to being on the other side of some of the fiery moments she speaks of with me as an athlete. It was great to hear that even professional athletes whose coaches are their significant others (a dynamic we are seeing more and more of) sometimes struggle to maintain the balance within their own relationships, and I thought that Katie provided some great insight into how she and her husband Danny make it work. Before we get to the episode I want to give a little disclaimer that I was not the best podcast host during this episode. My hosting skills are novice at best on a good day, but today I was particularly spacey and tired after a big workout and being a bit under the weather. We could have tried to super edit up this episode, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that this is real life, and the important thing is getting this awesome, real conversation I had with Katie out to you all. Please check the show notes of this episode for links on how to follow Katie on Social Media, read her blog, and check out her awesome summer camp! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 17: Shelby Houlihan Mar 09, 2018

Hello everyone! By the time you listen to this it will officially no longer be International Women’s day, but it still is right now, and I want to take a moment to say thank you to all the strong, brave, independent, trail blazing women who have shown me what’s possible, and inspired me to dream bigger…always bigger. I also want to thank every woman who has shared their time and part of their story on this podcast. I am inspired each and every week by my guests, and their everyday bravery. Today you are listening to episode 17, and I am speaking with Olympian Shelby Houlihan. Shelby is a professional middle distance runner for Nike, who most recently represented the United States at the World Indoor Track and Field Championships in both the 1500 and 3000. Shelby is not just an extremely talented athlete, she has what I call a super power- which is her incredible ability to put her sport into perspective, and not get too worked up over the trivial things that I think many of us runners struggle with. She is so positive, and optimistic- and I am certain that everyone listening will walk away from this episode feeling like they gained some amazing insight into how they can improve their mental game. Shelby was so easy to chat with, and without giving away what we talk about in the episode, I do want to thank her for sharing some pieces of her life and story with this audience that are not well known publicly. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 16: Sarah Mac Robinson Mar 06, 2018

Today you are listening to episode 16, and my guest is Sarah Mac Robinson- known in the running world as “Mac”. Little behind the scenes secret- I send out an info packet to my upcoming guests, and there is a section with a questionnaire that I ask people to fill out, so I can get an idea of how they introduce themselves. As an introduction to Sarah I’ll read you hers- “I’m Sarah MacKay Robinson. Known by many as Mac. I’m 34, living in Tacoma WA, I place I couldn’t have found on the map for a million dollars in high school. I graduated a million years ago (2006) with a English Creative Writing BA with a` focus in Poetry from Colorado State University where I also ran XC and Track. I have worked in marketing from the first week out of school, and currently am a freelance brand storyteller (for lack of a better term). I have a 3-year-old daughter, and am pregnant with her brother”. While I love Sarah’s short and sweet introduction to herself, I’m going to throw in a few more details. Sarah is one determined lady. She made the brave decision to train in the hopes of running an OTQ when , as she put it “she had no solid grounds for believing it would/could happen”. Guess what ya’ll, it did- and when Sarah was only 14 months postpartum. I loved learning the in depth story behind her first attempt at an OTQ training buildup- in which she accosted a coach at a bar, convinced him to coach her, and then ran home because like I said- she’s a determined lady. Her second build up was catapulted into fruition when the tables were turned, and Sarah was accosted at a party by Stephanie Bruce who convinced her that she needed to be training. I was really touched by this piece of Sarah’s story because it is a true example of women supporting women, and being an ally to another mother, another runner, another woman. We could all use more friends like that in our lives. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 15: Joy Miller Feb 23, 2018

"When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say , I used everything you gave me" Hello everyone! Welcome to Episode 15 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. Today I am speaking with the lovely Joy Miller. I am so excited about this episode because it truly accomplished what I envisioned Chasing Bravery becoming. Joy is sharing her true story, and she is doing so because she believes that other women deserve to hear it. While I won’t give away any details of what that story is (it is her’s to tell after all) I will say that she showed immense bravery in doing this, and I am so honored to be the platform through which she decided to make her truth public. What I can tell you about Joy as an introduction is this. Joy comes to us from Ireland (and we are happy to have her), on a running scholarship. Joy discusses her experience making the transition into college and also to another country, as well as her subsequent run in with the police for a drinking fine that ultimately cost her her scholarship. This story has a happy ending however, and joy shares how she overcame her drinking issues, and went on to re-enroll in school and ultimately become an All American in her beloved sport of running. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 14: Shawanna White Feb 16, 2018

Hi everybody! This is episode 14, and I am speaking with Shawanna White- also known as peachrunner26.2 over on the old Instagram. Shawanna was an absolute pleasure to speak with, and I can’t wait to share this conversation with you. Shawanna is 38 years old and resides in Columbia, SC f but I am originally from Atlanta, GA. She graduated from the University of West Georgia with a B.S. in Physical Education, and is still a Physical education teacher to this day. Shawanna and I talk about the importance of our PE teachers (a profession close to my heart), as well as her own impressive running career. Shawanna is currently training in the hopes of running an Olympic trials qualifier, and I think you will all be impressed with what she herself calls her “nontraditional” training techniques. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 13: Tara Welling Feb 11, 2018

Hi everyone, You are listening to episode 13 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. Today I am speaking with Tara Welling, a professional runner for sketchers, real estate agent, and most recently a coach for the specialized coaching business- RunDoyen…guys just s everyone knows Doyen is another word for coach, but specifically means a master at something…so cool. Tara and her husband currently live in Portland Oregon where Tara trains with High Performance West. Tara first turned pro in 2012, signing with Nike and the Oregon Project, but after 3 years of enduring injuries and subpar performances, she was feeling burnt out and decided to leave the sport indefinitely. he didn’t know when or if she would return to the sport, but she knew she needed a break and a new training environment. In late 2015, Tara started to get in shape again and fell back in love with running, joining High Performance West and signing a deal with Skechers Performance. Since her comeback, Tara has set PR’s in every distance, won noteworthy road national titles, but unfortunately has not been able to escape injuries. I’m going to quote Tara here because she puts it best, she says “I never considered myself injury prone before, however, having osteoporosis and the female athlete triad I have had to alter my training to put me in the best position possible to stay healthy. I now have a lower mileage program, with lots of cross training and weight lifting. I hope those listening can gain something from my story”. I know that I gained a lot from my conversation with Tara, she is a fantastic example of how it is more than possible to come back from injury and setback with a love for the sport that is still as strong as ever. Tara is also so upfront about a really important topic- the female athlete triad, and while we don’t come up with the solution on the show today – we have a conversation that is very transparent about this issue, which I think is a great first step no matter who you are- athlete, coach, parent, the list goes on. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Journal Series 1: In Vitro Fertilzation- Lindsay's story Feb 02, 2018

You are listening to Season 1 of the mini Journal series, episode 4. Today we are speaking with Lindsay Summers. Lindsay and her husband spent almost 4 years in the pursuit of creating a family, and after lots of heartbreak finally became pregnant with their baby Madelyn on their final attempt at IVF. Lindsay shares her success story with us, as well as the failures and heartbreak that were par for the course. I want to thank Lindsay again for sharing her story!! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Journal Series 1: In Vitro Fertilization- Kelly's Story Feb 02, 2018

Hello everyone, You are listening to episode 3 of the Chasing Bravery Journal Series Season 1. Today I am speaking with Kelly, a teacher from Georgia who is expecting a baby girl this summer with her wife. Kelly walks us through some of obstacles involved in creating a family through IVF as a same sex couple, and sheds light on the importance and value of modern medicine for helping same sex couples achieve the family they want. Without further ado, I want to thank Kelly again for being willing to share her story --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Journal Series 1: In Vitro Fertilization- Eve's story Feb 02, 2018

Hi everyone, you are listening to episode 2 of the mini journal series. Today we are speaking with Eve, a teacher from Ireland who has been trying to have a baby for awhile now. Eve shares with us her unique story, as well as her gut instinct that told her there was more to her fertility struggles than met the eye initially. Thank you so much to eve for sharing your story --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Journal Series 1: In Vitro Fertilization- Caitlin's story Feb 02, 2018

Hi everyone, you are listening to the first episode of mini journal series. I am speaking with Caitlin an ER nurse from California. Caitlin's husband is a firefighter paramedic, whom she met eleven years ago, and has been married to for 4 years, Caitlin and her husband have been tying to have a baby for just over 3 years now. They love the outdoors, hiking/camping/traveling/the gym/the beach/ and their dog, "Smokey." They are sharing their IVF journey today with the message that "if you are struggling on this road, you definitely are not alone; also, to be thankful for what you do have-whether it is that you are still in the game (like ourselves), that you have embryos waiting to be transferred, or perhaps that you have accepted the next phase in the process-even if that was not in your initial plan". --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Journal Series 1, Introduction Episode Feb 01, 2018

All of the women in the journal series season 1, have had their own unique journey with In Vitro Fertilization in the hopes of realizing their dream of having a baby. I believe this is such an important topic for a few reasons. The first is that infertility is on the rise. According to the center for disease control %10 of women trying to conceive between the ages of 16 and 44 are unable to get pregnant. Both men and women can contribute to infertility and many couples struggle- in about 35% of couples with infertility, a male factor is identified along with a female factor. In about 8% of couples with infertility, a male factor is the only identifiable cause. There is currently a lot of research being conducted right now surrounding theories of why infertility is on the rise, and the truth is that there are probably many factors both environmental and physical to blame. The second reason why I believe this topic is so important is because the variation surrounding why women and men choose IVF. I will share stories of same sex couples, cancer survivors, and single parents- all of whom have used IVF, all of whom desperately want a baby- but who are different individuals with different narratives. I believe the bottom line is that there are many women worldwide who are facing the daily complications that IVF brings, and even if the choice to use ivf is not due to infertility, there is still so much that goes into the process, and really these women deserve a forum to share and advocate for themselves and others. I have decided that it would be entirely too much to try and release all 8 episodes at once, and I worry that doing so would cause some of you to miss a journal entry or two. I don’t want to overwhelm people, and I truly believe that each one of these stories has something to offer. The women in the first 4 stories are Caitlin Bear, Eve Lorigan Kelly Whitfield Bradley, and Lindsay Summers. I will not go into too much detail introducing them because these stories are focused around a very specific topic and I want them to introduce themselves to you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 12: Stephanie Rothstein Bruce Jan 28, 2018

Episode 12 is in the house! Today we are speaking with Stephanie Rothstein Bruce. I feel comfortable saying that Stephanie has been a beacon of hope, and inspiration to so many female runners out there- especially the mama’s. I myself don’t have children yet, but I have often thought about Stephanie’s journey when I think about my own desire to have babies- which conflicts with some of the life stuff I still want to do. Stephanie has been proof to me that many of the conflicts I thought existed when it comes to having babies and pursing your dreams are really all in my head. Stephanie had her two boys in a two year time span, and then went on to run an A standard Olympic trials qualifying time in the 10k- only 7 months post-partum. Stephanie kept the ball rolling from there, tackling pronounced diastis recti and other side effects shall we say of carrying and birthing two babies in short succession. She most recently finished 22nd at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships- the highest place for a non-African born runner, 10th at the New York City marathon, and was the winner of the Arizona Rock and Roll half marathon a few weekends ago. Stephanie was such a pleasure to speak with, and she was totally game for some of my stranger end of podcast questions. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 11: Ali Feller Jan 20, 2018

Episode 11 is with Ali Feller- host of one of my favorite podcasts- The Ali on the Run show. Ali and I dig deep into the topic of really breaking down what our own personal values are, and how we can live lives that most intentionally reflect this. I was really excited to speak with her about this, because as an almost mid twenty something year old, I have found that what I was taught my entire life about what I needed to achieve in order to successful and happy isn’t necessarily the case. I know I am not the only one at this point in life who is feeling this, and I think Ali has some great perspective on the topic! Ali is by no means old, so let’s just get that clear, she is however over her mid twenties, quarter life crises hump, and she is a refreshing voice on the topic. Ali and I also discuss much more, including how she views her Crohns disease, and how that as changed and altered over time. Ali is sweet, honest, and funny, and I SO enjoyed chatting with her! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 10: Alana Kopelson Jan 12, 2018

This is episode 10, and I am speaking with Alana Kopelson. Some of you may know her on social media as alanaruns26.2, which is a very accurate handle, as she has run quite a few races of that exact distance. Alana’s story is incredible, not only because she just became a marathoner in 2015, but because she has run huge personal bests in each of 3 marathons this year. Alana most recently finished the CIM marathon early in December of 2017 where she ran her most recent PR of 2 hours and 55 minutes. I knew I wanted to speak with Alana as soon as learned about her progression, because it is just not common that you hear a story like hers. Alana is up front that her training doesn’t always look perfect, and that she has plenty of ups and downs. She is also not afraid to share her big goals with the world- which just recently include qualifying for the 2020 Olympic marathon trials. My conversation with Alana is real, and inspirational. It was refreshing for me to hear the narrative of someone so new to the sport because it reminded me of that magic many of us can remember when running first clicked. Alana reminded me to not stop chasing that feeling, and I think she might just do the same for you. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 9, Pt.2: Mary Johnson Jan 10, 2018

Hi everybody! Welcome to Season 1 episode 9 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. Today you are listening to part 2 of my conversation with Mary Johnson. If you haven’t listened to part 1, I strongly recommend that you go back and listen to it…because like you wouldn’t watch toy story 2 before toy story right? Common sense people. If for some reason listening to part 1 isn’t in the cards for you, here’s what you need to know about Mary Johnson. She’s fast, she’s honest, she’s realistic, and she’s brave. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 9, Pt.1: Mary Johnson Jan 05, 2018

Hello everyone, and Happy New year! Today you are listening to Season 1, Episode 9 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. I am your host Kait, and I am so happy to have you here with me today. My conversation in this episode is with Mary Johnson, and it is actually broken down into two parts because Mary was such a blast to speak with, and we covered so much good stuff that I didn’t want to edit any of it out. I am also going to use the end of part 2 to talk a little bit about Season 2 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. I want to give listeners an idea of what to expect, as well as a deeper understanding into why I believe this is such an important topic for women nationwide and worldwide. So a bit about Mary: Mary Is the founder of Lift|Run|Perform, and currently lives with her husband in Connecticut. Mary is a natural athlete, and was a rower in college. Mary didn’t find her love for running until a few years after graduation, and quickly realized she had a knack for it. Mary brought her marathon time down to a 3:06 in only a few years, and has run 1:25 for the half marathon- this is a speedy lady. Before you get the impression that this episode is all about running- it’s not. Mary has spent the last year dealing with a frustrating injury and has ultimately learned to embrace and accept her life without the sport which is really inspiring to listen to. Mary is not done with running, and she is hopeful, but she is also grounded and realistic about her limits and she ultimately is choosing health and well being over chronic pain, which is a tough choice to make for someone as competitive and talented as she. I personally was impressed by Mary’s ability to see the perspective in her situation, and she is so refreshingly realistic. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Mary as much as I did! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 8: Lauren Floris Dec 31, 2017

In this episode I am speaking with Lauren Floris- If you listened to my last episode (which you should) you will know that she is Regina and Sabrina’s teammate who also qualified for the Olympic Trials only 16 months post-partum. I won’t try to deny that we talk a lot of baby. I have serious baby fever, and can’t wait for my first. If it’s not obvious I’m basically trying to live vicariously through Lauren who has managed to finish her masters, raise a beautiful baby girl, and qualify for the trials all in less than a year and a half. I think everyone will really appreciate Laurens honesty when it comes to just how she managed to juggle so much- hint: she doesn’t care about ironed clothes, and folding laundry can wait sometimes….she’s my kind of girl. Lauren and I talk about more than just babies of course. Lauren is a very accomplished runner, and is a also an assistant collegiate track and cross country coach. She and her husband live in Southern California with their baby girl, but Lauren is originally a new Englander like myself. Lauren was so laid back and easy to talk to, so you’ll have to forgive me for getting a bit off topic at certain points. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 7: Regina and Sabrina Lopez Dec 29, 2017

Today you are listening to Season 1, episode 7 of the Chasing Bravery Podcast. Today is two-fer! 2 speedy running chicks in 1 episode. I know that it may be difficult to distinguish between Sabrina and Regina, but we decided that it would be too awkward to have them say their names before each and every thing that they said. I do want to make sure to note that these ladies are very close, and their sisterly, twin bond is obvious, but they are distinct individuals and I could clearly see that during our recording. Today we talk about their dual Olympic Trials Qualifying times at the CIM marathon back in the beginning of December. We also talk a lot about their career aspirations- they are both in school to be behavior analysts. Of course, me being a graduate student myself, I had to ask a lot of nerdy questions- so I hope that doesn’t annoy anyone too much. Regina and Sabrina are amazing examples of women who support other women in the sport of running. I know after listening to my conversation with them you’ll wish you could run alongside the duo in your next race- I know I do. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 6: Sarah Mahaney Dec 20, 2017

My conversation in this episode is with Sarah Mahaney, who is in my opinion such a strong, badass lady. Sarah is an exceptional marathoner, who has had her fair share of ups and downs in the sport. Join us as we discuss her back to back marathon high and low- Sarah went from winning a marathon (like she broke the tape), and almost broke that three hour barrier, and then in her next race had her most challenging marathon experience to date. Sarah is so honest and open about what that experience was like, and it’s pretty inspiring to listen to her take away. Anyone out there who has had their heart broken in this sport of running will gain a lot from listening- I know I did. There is more to Sarah than just speedy legs- Sarah just recently graduated with a degree in Surgical Technology, and has relocated with her husband to start her first job in her career after graduation. Sarah and I discuss how scary it can be to go back to school a little later in life, and how she learned to balance school, life, part time work, and running. Recording this episode with Sarah was a huge reminder for me that running is a sport that can really break your heart at times, but the lessons and ultimate perspective we gain from it make it a love that is easy to fall for again and again. I was really happy to listen to Sarah's perspective on what running has done for her throughout the years, and gained a lot of insight myself on how to recover from those bad races, and bounce back with grace. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 4: Gillian Joseph Dec 12, 2017

So guys, Gillian is awesome...If you were looking at her episode cover photo you would see that she's sitting cross legged on a horse. I feel like I don't need to say anything else... Just kidding, there's plenty I can say about this amazing lady. Gillian and I spent a summer together on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota in shall we say, close living quarters. We got to know each other very well, and I'm so grateful to have met her because I gained not only a wonderful friend, but a trusted connection in a very niche field that we both have a trajectory toward. Gillian is a Lakota woman- her father grew up in South Dakota Indian Country. Gillian was raised in an intentional way that integrated her cultural background into her day to day, but she is the first to say that she would consider her upbringing privileged. Gillian grew up in a traditional, middle class environment in North Carolina, and this past summer was her first stay on a reservation. Gillian is currently attending George Washington University, and she is the co-founder/co-president for GW students for Indigenous and Native American Rights. My conversation with Gillian is tough in the sense that talking about anything related to social issues and cultural "competence" always is, but I hope your take away is that these are conversations we need to be having, and often. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 3: Neely Spence Gracey Dec 12, 2017

Neely was the first professional athlete that I interviewed with, and she was so sweet to be as patient as she was with the fact that I was clearly starstruck. I think we all have our weaknesses, or biases should I say when it comes to the individuals we admire. To me professional runners are superstars. Throw me in an interview with Jennifer Anniston-no problem- ask me to have a conversation with any human who has held an American flag behind them while wearing racing flats and spandex....whole different story. For those who don't know, Neely is a professional distance runner for Addidas. She has historically competed in distances from the 5000 to the marathon. She twice represented her country at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and was the top non-African runner in 2013. She also ran at the 2011 Pan American Games She attended Shippensburg University and won eight NCAA Division II titles while there. She ran her first half marathon in 2013 then made a marathon debut at the 2016 Boston Marathon, where she was the top American. Neely currently lives in Colorado with her husband and their dog Strider. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 2: Rachel Cotton Dec 12, 2017

Welcome to Episode 2! This episode was the very very first that I recorded and I was so nervous! I had soooooo many technical issues, and the actual episode was less of Rachel telling her story and more of a ping pong conversation. Hey, that's what happens when you put two girls diagnosed with ADHD on skype... In the end the conversation was fantastic, and I learned a lot about Impostor Syndrome, and what it is like to be a PhD. candidate at Harvard. I hope that everyone remembers Rachel's name, because I am pretty sure that we will be hearing it in the future......this chick is brilliant. Rachel is 26 years old, she resides in Cambridge, MA, and she is currently a PhD Candidate at Harvard in the Immunology Program. Rachel and I met because we are both egg donors. I actually started the real work on this podcast during the long 5 days while I waited to hear if my body was ready to complete the egg retrieval. I know that many listeners out probably view egg donation as a controversial topic, and it is….but hopefully my conversation with Rachel will open some minds to what the experience is actually like, and give a bit of insight into why some of us women decide to become donors. Rachel and I also discuss Impostor syndrome, as well as what it is like to be an adult with ADHD. My apologies to Rachel for being the guinea pig recording… and to my listeners please hang in there, this is an interesting conversation and I promise that the future episodes only get better! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

Episode 1 : Kaitlin Wheeler Dec 11, 2017

Hello everyone! Welcome to Chasing Bravery! Chasing Bravery is a platform created to share the real stories of women, as they pertain to all things related to reproductive health and “womanhood”. This platform is in support of the reality that most individuals do not experience their sexuality or identity as being binary, however very real limitations and barriers still exist that consistently challenge the ways in which women feel they can be women and overall individuals. Chasing Bravery seeks to address the stigmas and predetermined narratives many women feel stifled under. The global term of what it means to be a woman is rapidly evolving. In many ways, women are beginning to finally feel like they have the ultimate say in how they are defined. Unfortunately, there are still many areas of womanhood that remain taboo-hidden. Realities such as miscarriage, infertility, fertility, abortion, sexuality, and gender roles/ norms are not conversed about as fluidly as they should be. Chasing Bravery recognizes that living and owning our own narratives often requires bravery- we want to share, embrace, and celebrate what makes each woman brave. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/chasing-bravery/support

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