Chasing Bravery

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Episode 8: Lauren Floris Dec 31, 2017

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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.

Episode 7: Regina and Sabrina Lopez Dec 29, 2017

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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.

Episode 6: Sarah Mahaney Dec 20, 2017

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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.

Episode 4: Gillian Joseph Dec 12, 2017

Show notes

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.

Episode 3: Neely Spence Gracey Dec 12, 2017

Show notes

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.

Episode 2: Rachel Cotton Dec 12, 2017

Show notes

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!

Episode 1 : Kaitlin Wheeler Dec 11, 2017

Show notes

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.

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