Run This World with Nicole DeBoom

Sherry Cormier is a psychologist who specializes in grief mentoring. She’s the author of Sweet Sorrow: Finding Enduring Wholeness after Loss and Grief. She wrote the book over the last decade after experiencing loss and learning how to become whole again. Today we talk about that period of her life and how going through the process of grieving ultimately opened and expanded Sherry's life. She decided that writing a book in the immediate aftermath of trauma would not allow her to give people the best long-term guidance; effectively, her book took ten years to write! Today we talk about: How to grow from traumatic experiences: What it means to reboot or restart The illusion of control Different types of grief: Prolonged grief, seasonal grief, collective grief & more Post traumatic growth: how losses bring gains Her opinion on antidepressants Visitation dreams after you lose someone  Why she prefers to call it Transition not Death Strategies for early grief stages: Self-care (Move), Spiritual practice (Meditate), Connection (Connect) And so much more Sherry is a true gift to this world. She has come to this place in life where she can truly help others through a mix of life experiences and honing her specialties. As she says, “When we pull our brains back from tomorrow and our hearts back from yesterday, we find the sweetness.” I love Sherry’s approach to life, love and loss. I learned a new concept that makes so much sense to me – post traumatic growth. I just wrapped up a week during the Skirt Sports Ambassador Retreat where many women shared their stories of hardship, their struggles and came out the other side stronger. Loss helps us grow. Just ask Sherry. Her final nugget is one of my favorites ever: Remember that what you focus on expands. Love. Worry. Peace. Judgment. Positivity. When you focus on something, it becomes bigger, so when you find yourself focusing on the dark side, remember that you’re only giving it more power and find a way to shift to the good side. For more Sherry Cormier: Buy the book on Amazon: Sweet Sorrow: Finding Enduring Wholeness After Loss and Grief Sherry's website: www.sherrycormierauthor.com Twitter: @sweetsorrowbook Facebook: @SweetSorrow Instagram: @cormier1749 Mayo Clinic resource for grief and loss here

Dimity McDowell has been a friend of mine for over a decade. The first time I remember interacting with her was when she was writing for Runner’s World. She was prepping for a women's marathon, and she let her readership choose her outfit. Our 2007 Marathon Dress was in the running and  won! So Dimity wore a very short Skirt Sports dress and crushed her marathon (it was even shorter on her 6'5" body)! Anyway, we’ve been mutually respecting each other for years since. When she started her Like a Mother community which evolved into Another Mother Runner, I knew she was going to change the running world - and she's still changing it. Today, Dimity is the co-author (alongside her partner in crime Sarah Bowen Shea) of 3 books, founder of the insanely successful Another Mother Runner Podcast, a huge community of women including moms and non-moms who want support, resources and encouragement in their athletic journeys. In fact, our missions are so closely aligned that we should probably hang out a lot more than we actually do! I’ve been thinking about what makes Dimity so special and I think it’s that she is the original authentic voice. Before authenticity was a buzzword. Before people started sharing the good AND real of their lives. There was Dimity. She understand inherently that the only way to help people in this crazy world was to be her true messy self and share it in an open and honest way. That’s what I have always loved about her. Today we talk about all sorts of cool stuff in a candid dual-interview that is also posted on Dimity’s Train Like a Mother group. To further inspire your training, Dimity is giving you a discount on Train Like a Mother programs. This is no joke. They have running programs from 5k to 50 miles from beginner to advanced. Tri programs from a Sprint to an Ironman. Heart rate programs. Nutrition programs and a full on amazing community that will keep you motivated. Check out trainlikeamother.club, and use code TLAMSKIRT for 15% off any program through June 21. Other topics discussed: Being a leader of a movement Finding "what you were created to do" Reinventing yourself in middle life (after you started a running movement and can no longer run) The beauty and insanity of trying new sports How we stay motivated The importance of community within a community: finding your people And so much more! Dimity is a person that I could hang with every day. I love her take on pretty much everything. Think about how hard it must be when you have created an entire identity on being the “mother runner” and then one day you realize you can no longer run. It’s not life or death, but in a way it is, because it’s a recalibration of your identity and those are tricky things to navigate as we go through the different chapters of our lives. Thanks for sticking around to the end of the long episode today. But now it’s time to move on – it’s time to get out there and run this world. Have a great workout and I’ll see you next week!

Sarah Clarkson is the founder of Transience, a trendy bag company based in New York. This was her first-ever podcast interview. I tested out one of her cool Swing Bags and as I learned more about the brand, I thought it would be cool to showcase "one woman's path to her current purpose." At one point in the interview Sarah is talking about how she started her company. One day years ago, she sat shivering in an office, doing design work for another company and she simply realized “I no longer want to be at the mercy of someone else’s air conditioning.” I love this sentiment! There are definitely moments in our lives when it’s time for us to take control and make changes. Even, and especially, when making those changes scares you. Sarah has experienced many of those moments starting in her early years when she left home at 16 to pursue a trade. We have a great conversation about the winding path she took toward control of her own destiny.  We talk about: Growing up in a small village in the UK Leaving home at 16 to pursue floristry Rheumatoid arthritis: how she endured and eventually conquered this condition, largely through exercise Developing a relationship with her dad in her teens Moving to Columbus, OH from the UK (culture shock) The grind: Working 24/7 in NYC - helping others get rich Her accidental path toward making her own bagsTransience today Leaning into your fears & getting out of your comfort zone And much more! I met Sarah through a cool marketing campaign Transience is running called #whatsinHERbag – I didn’t realize until they reached out that I had still been using my diaper bag as my gym bag. So it was time to upgrade. Definitely head over to thetransience.com and use the code NICOLE30 on something awesome! I have a Swing Bag and I love it. Simple, streamlined, functional. I love supporting entrepreneurs, especially women who are creators. Sarah Clarkson is definitely one of these women. I hope you enjoyed learning more about one woman’s path to her purpose. I believe that while our past often informs our present, it doesn’t define us or confine us. Sarah is a shining example of a woman who has overcome obstacles and continues to pursue her dreams each day by leaning into the things that she’s afraid of.  For more Sarah Clarkson: Facebook @thetransienceInstagram @thetransiencePinterest @thetransience

Lisa Hallett is a purveyor of love, light and energy. She’s the co-founder of Wear Blue: Run to Remember a national nonprofit running community that honors the service and sacrifice of the American military. I believe that the most powerful movements are started organically by someone or a group of people who are in need of something that fills a void or makes their lives more complete. Wear Blue was started because early in her marriage, Lisa’s husband, John, was killed while deployed in Afghanistan. As she navigated her new reality, she needed to find a way to remember John. She found it through running. Lisa’s story, while tragic and difficult, is also comforting and helpful to so many others who have suffered loss. Interview note: I want to let you know that Lisa and I were besieged by those annoying little bings that were somehow getting through the airwaves. We actually stopped and started a couple times to try to solve the problem. We literally thought we nailed it and that we could start a tech company next, only to hear more bings as we went. We decided to ignore them and keep going. So you’ll hear a couple spots where we stopped and couldn’t figure out where we left off and you’ll also hear some bings. So what this really means is that we’re human, that Lisa is really popular, and that I need to figure out how to eliminate the notifications once and for all! Today we talk about: Growing up with John & realizing in high school that he was the one Lisa & John: the early romantic years in high school and college Marriage proposal on a mountain top Military life: community, support, long distance Having her 3rd baby without John (he was just deployed) John's death: how Lisa found out & the immediate aftermath Running through grief Finding solace and support with others honoring their fallen loved ones Wear Blue: Run to Remember Finding happiness again The beautiful messiness of parenting And so much more Lisa is all of these things: Powerful. Captivating. Inspiring. Human. It’s the last part that I think makes us feel so connected to her and her journey. For more on Lisa Hallett and Wear Blue, check out: Wear Blue: Run to Remember website Wear Blue: Run to Remember facebook group Local Saturday Runs in clubs around the country Officially supported Wear Blue: Run to Remember races Instagram @wearblue Facebook @wearblue Even if you don’t have a direct connection to the military, you can still support the work she’s doing to help others. Because as Lisa says, even when times are so tough it’s hard to simply function, you will survive not because you have to but because you want to. Remember that.

D’Anne Rudden is an expert in the field of audiology. She is basically a hearing therapist because what she does for people goes beyond the actual mechanics of your ears. She takes more of a holistic approach to your ears and hearing. I first met D'Anne when I saw her on stage at Evoso Live, delivering a speech called "Listen with More Than Just Your Ears." One of her messages was that sound is simply vibration; and that when you change your vibration, you change your life. This message resonated with me on a deeper level and I have a feeling it will resonate with you too. After our interview (after hours at the Skirt Sports store), I had the opportunity to visit D’Anne in her actual practice in Longmont, Colorado, the Longmont Hearing & Tinnitus Center. I went in for a few reasons. D’Anne suggests that we all get a baseline hearing check by age 50. I’m 47 so for once in my life, I’m early. I’ve been asking Tim to repeat certain words and phrases when we watch shows together and I can tell he’s sort of annoyed. An annoyed spouse is one of the signs of hearing loss so I figured I should check. A couple years ago I hit myself in the bottom of the jaw with a 20-lb slam ball which I slammed really hard and thereby bounced equally hard into the bottom of my face. My ear/jaw hasn’t been the same since, so again, a reason to check it out. D’Anne met me after-hours so we had the place to ourselves. The office is covered in brilliant emotional photos of D’Anne around the world, helping fit people for hearing aids. We went into a little sound room and she did some testing that I’ve never had done before. Afterward we went over my results and this is the nutshell. I’m on the low side of healthy hearing in both ears. Still in a normal range for most frequencies, but right on the line. My takeaway? Now I know where I stand so in a few years if I’m having more issues, I can go in and get tested again. Plus, maybe Tim’s just annoyed with me in general not because I ask him to repeat things! Today we talk about: The ear mechanism What Hearing really is: listening, comprehension, cognition, memory, balance How to overcome being lazy communicators Signs of hearing lossConfidence How yoga saved D'Anne's life: teaching yoga outside the studio Giving back: Starkey Hearing Foundation Do's & Don'ts for hearing care And so much more I was surprised at all the directions this episode took from hearing to listening to yoga to life coaching to helping others and more. I’m just so interested in how people come to find the work they do with such passion. D’Anne’s path was not obvious, yet here she is over two decades later, helping people with one of the most basic functions that so many of us take for granted. I think the quote that struck me most powerfully was when she said “We communicate most poorly with the people we love the most.” I believe she’s right and if we want to make a single change from this episode it would be to change that statement.

Beatie Deutsch is a champion distance runner. Her story is truly amazing. After getting married at 19, and having 4 children, she realized she had lost the natural fitness of her youth and decided to set her sights on a marathon because it would be a big enough goal to keep her motivated. She ran her first marathon surprisingly fast in 3:27. Two years (and her 5th child) later, she won her first marathon in 3:09. Just a year later, in 2019, she surprised everyone by winning the Israel National Marathon Championships in 2:42 the 5th best result of all time for Israeli women. That’s all amazing, right? Who else wants to PR by 27 minutes? But here’s another cool twist on her story. Beatie is an Orthodox Jew. Her faith anchors her guiding principles, one of which is that she is required to dress modestly. That means covering her body below the knee and through the arms. We all know as athletes that we are often looking for every possible advantage to shave off seconds. This usually includes wearing streamlined clothing, especially at the highest level of elites. One would think that modest clothing would work against that concept. But here’s the deal on Beatie: she wears long skirts and full length sleeves - and it doesn’t hold her back. In fact, her faith is her advantage. As I write this, she is recovering from her first ever 10k on the track which she finished in 35:15 – the 6th fastest time in history for Israeli women. Today we talk about all things Beatie including: Growing up an Orthodox Jew in New Jersey Heading to Israel after high school to study How dating works as an Orthodox Jew How her religion guides her life decisions both big and small What it means to be an Orthodox Jewish runner: What are the requirements & how do they affect her running? Why she started running & her early success What's in the future? Olympics, Ironman & more One of the reasons I do this podcast is to expand my own world, to learn about other people’s experiences, and how they find joy and fulfillment. Beatie’s world is certainly new to me. I don’t have any close friends who practice orthodox judaism, so some of my questions about her background may come off as nosy, but I was truly just curious, especially about things that relate to human relationships. What I love so much about Beatie is this. Many people would look at her faith as something that probably holds her back from achieving her potential. But she sees it as the reason she is able to find happiness and success. As she so succinctly puts it, “Fear holds us back. Belief moves us forward. What do you have to lose?” Hold that question close my friends. What do you have to lose? For more on Beatie Deutsch, the first thing to do is get over to Instagram and follow her at @marathonmother as well as her facebook page. She posts frequently with thoughtful insights that I believe are relevant to all of us as we overcome our challenges and pursue our greatest goals. All right that’s it. Time to turn off the pod and turn on your mojo and get out there and run this world. Have a great workout and I’ll see you next week!

Meet ultrarunning superstar (Winner of the 2018 Leadville 100), Outside magazine columnist, mom of two strong girls, and author of “Running Home” the incredible Katie Arnold. The universe works in crazy ways. I happened to tune into a recent Another Mother Runner podcast featuring this really interesting woman named Katie Arnold. I was listening to her story and she mentioned that her crew at Leadville included her Boulder friend Susie. I kept thinking, I wonder if I know Susie, as if I know all the people who are in the Boulder ultrarunning world! I loved the interview and thought “I need to get Katie on my podcast.” When I got home, I had an email from former podcast guest - Episode 93 - Susie Rinehart Chooses Brave Over Perfect. She is launching her first book and asked me to emcee her launch party. In the same email, she said, “I think you should interview my friend Katie Arnold!” And the circle was complete! Katie and I interviewed in person after a super muddy, annoying run in the Boulder foothills while she was visiting for a couple stops on her book tour. We had a blast and got down and dirty on many topics. I want to warn you that there may be a little hiccup partway through. You see, I outed one of the big mysteries of the book and Katie was giving me the “cut” “don’t go there” sign, so we paused and rejoined. Maybe you’ll notice; maybe you won’t. Today we talk about: Running in all its glory: how she started, why she's still going, what it means to her and how it serves the other parts of her life The Flow of Running: how to BE the thing you do Anxiety: how she got through it Dealing with her dad's death The BOOK "Running Home" - Head over to your local bookstore or grab a copy on Amazon Running & writing & how they serve each other Motherhood And so much more Katie is a complete Rockstar. Just being around her, makes me feel like I’m in the flow. I love how she says that when you are in the flow, you become the thing you are doing. You are running. You are writing. You are eating. You are breathing. It’s honestly a little too deep for me sometimes so I just sit with the concept and then guess what, while I’m sitting with the concept I become Sitting with the Concept! Yes serious mind blow right there! This episode is just so full of nuggets. I’m anxious to hear what your faves are. Please post and let me know! For more Katie Arnold: Website: katiearnold.net The Book: Grab a copy of "Running Home" at your local bookseller or on Amazon In Person: Check out a book tour event Read: her Outside Magazine column Facebook Instagram

Jennifer Brown is a crusader. Her life’s mission is to help give a voice to people who have felt marginalized. And she’s doing it in so many ways. From her own personal experience – her openness and vulnerability give so many others comfort and hope. To her community outreach through her podcast, her books and her speaking. And finally on a huge platform, as a consultant to huge fortune 500 companies that know they need to do better, to make change and to become more inclusive. I met Jen Brown through our friend Erin Weed (episode 114 Erin Weed Digs you). Jen and I were seeking our truths – trying to put a finger on our greater messages and how to get them out into the world in a more powerful way. I have to say that Jen has definitely found her truth. She is leading the tidal wave of diversity and inclusion work that can and is changing the way we view each other in this crazy world. You know what she’s really doing? She’s creating a more loving world. Today we talk about: Today's world of Diversity & Inclusion: how do we help others (& ourselves) feel less marginalized How you can make change to become more inclusive Using your voice on behalf of others Businesses have the power to lead: Gillette ad about toxic masculinity How to be an inclusive leader How to speak in a way that doesn't offend or exclude people Covering: What this means and how to avoid it Compassion Fatigue And so much more! Check out Jennifer's Inbound Bold talk about the "iceberg." Don't miss her TedX Presidio Talk "Finding Your Voice in the Workplace" I'm sure many of you wish I would do a full marathon session because we could listen to Jennifer all day long! One of my favorite Jen quotes from this episode is, “Let’s not make diversity about the pain Olympics!” We all have a diversity story; and most of us are covering in some way. There is no winning at the pain Olympics. Instead I think the overriding message is that it’s important for us to help elevate each other in our quests for happier, healthier lives. To use our voices not only on our own behalf, but on the behalf of others who we see as being treated unequally. I hope you loved this episode as much as I did. For more Jennifer Brown:  Jenniferbrownspeaks.com "The Will To Change Podcast" Preorder her new book on Amazon called “How to be an Inclusive Leader” Twitter Instagram Facebook

Liz Warner is running 30 Marathons in 30 Countries before she turns 30. If she was 20, this would be a cool and epic endeavor. What makes it way more cool and epic is that she decided to start this effort when she was 28, with just a year and a half to make it happen. Liz had already run 7 or 8 marathons in a diverse range of countries and was at a crossroads in her professional and personal lives. She decided to combine her love for running, travel and helping other cultures by creating a fairly short-term and quite ambitious project she calls Run to Reach. Liz has identified 20 local nonprofits in the final 20 countries to raise awareness and funding for as she runs through them. When I first learned about Liz, I was like “I wonder which marathon in the US she’s doing.” Then I looked at her list, and there isn’t a marathon in the US. This isn’t about doing the big-name races in countries and communities that already have lots of support. This is about showcasing places in the world that are absolutely stunning but need more support, specifically more women's empowerment programs. Liz is a beautiful soul who is following her heart to help others. I think you’ll resonate with different parts of her story depending on where you are in your life. Today we talk about: Coffee: Of course coffee - most recently a coffee tour in Guatemala after her marathon Growing up a squash player on the east coast The draw to see the world: on to Tokyo The call to live somewhere crazy, outside her comfort zone, as a coping mechanism to escape her life Letting go of toxic family relationships caused by alcoholism and addiction Running through the grief of losing her father Her first race & how long distance running became her calling Funny race stories Run to Reach: How the idea to run 30 in 30 before 30 came to be Giving back: Why this is so important to Liz's mission and how she selected her organizations There’s something about Liz’s voice that’s just so calming and soothing. Like running 26.2 times 30 is no big deal. It’s just something we do to help make the world a better place – and maybe find some personal growth along the way. I don’t know many people under 30 who are setting the world on fire like Liz. When we are lucky to find them, we need to keep them close, because there just may be a moment when we feel the fire inside and realize – "This is it. This is that thing I’ve been needing." I have a feeling that some of you may feel a little stirring of excitement right now, as you check out Liz’s list of remaining marathons. How about Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Chile, Cuba, Egypt, Antarctica, the Seychelles. Seriously! I had to google the Seychelles and how to pronounce it. These places sound magical and if you feel called to do one of these marathons – for any reason - you have a partner in Liz, reach out to her! On that note, you can find liz at liz@runtoreach.com – be sure to check out her website and consider donating to her charities. Everything can be found on runtoreach.com

Dina Griffin, also known as “The Nutrition Mechanic," is a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist based out of Boulder, Colorado. She consults with all levels and abilities of endurance athletes nationwide by fine-tuning daily nutrition strategies to optimize health & healthspan, and training and competition strategies for maximum athletic performance. Some of her specialty areas include female athlete health, type 2 diabetes, weight management, and metabolic efficiency training™.  She takes pride in treating each athlete with a personalized approach while aiming for a sustainable “food approach” that works within each person’s lifestyle. Here's the cool thing about Dina. She’s not a student or lab rat who doesn’t really understand what it’s like to be an athlete. Dina is a competitive endurance athlete. She has completed over 10 marathons (including Boston), the Leadville 100 trail run, the Comrades ultra marathon in South Africa, Ironman, and several other triathlon, ultra running and cycling events. Dina is chock full of knowledge on all sides of the spectrum. What you may find frustrating is that her belief is that there is no formula that works for all, that people have a huge array of different needs based on so many personal factors. What you may find exciting is that you can tap into your personal unique formula through testing and other methods so that you can create your own recipe for success. Today we cover: Poop: yep poop. Check out the Bristol stool chart to analyze yours. Regularity is also part of the discussion Sugar: Different types of sugar used (or abused) as fuel How to find your optimal formula: blood testing is key Check out these online labs that can order your blood tests: Econolabs, Directlabs, Athletebloodtest.com What to eat during training & racing Dina's background: Why she is so passionate about helping others Racing & training mishaps This is definitely a fun episode with a lot of information. I love that Dina focuses on laughter – I support this concept 100%! To learn more about Dina, check her out at http://www.nutritionmechanic.com and follow her on facebook and instagram at @nutritionmechanic

Pura Vida! That means pure life. It’s what they say in Costa Rica – a country that has become very special to me. It’s the place I learned a new sport that I hope to continue through the rest of my life - surfing! Today you get to meet a very special person – his name is Ismael Araya. Ish is a surfing legend, a survivor, and today a surf instructor who helps people find happiness, even though he doesn’t have full use of his legs anymore, something you might think is a requirement for a surf instructor! I asked Ish to explain Pura Vida and he said it’s the answer to everything. It means pure life and it’s possible that Costa Rica is the happiest country in the world because they share pure life with each other all day long. Good morning. Pura vida. Nice wave. Pura vida. My car broke down. Pura vida. This coffee is delicious. Pura vida. My baby won't sleep. Pura vida. Ish’s story is both heartbreaking and hopeful. He was a young, self-taught surfing prodigy who gained early fame as his surfing career started to take off. But his lack of discipline combined with a lack of support led to unhealthy drug use and an inability to control his anger. Ish didn’t reach the highest echelons in his sport at that time and instead, he floundered and simply survived. Until one day when he almost didn’t survive. Ish literally died twice under a bus when he went of out control on his motorcycle over 6 years ago. He was revived only to be told he would never walk again. That’s when the Ish I know today was born. Somehow Ish has been able to not just survive, but to thrive, as a new person in a new body. He has definitely defied the odds in many ways. Episode Note We recorded via skype on Colleen Cannon’s laptop in Costa Rica. You’ll hear a few beeps because Colleen is a very popular woman planning and running Women’s Quest retreats around the world. I have to give her some props – she is the reason I met Ish in the first place and my favorite surf buddy. She’s also episode 50 of this podcast called “Colleen Cannon on Chickens, Watermelons & Why Women Will Save the Earth.” Today we talk about: How Ish found surfing His early days on a board Ish's family life with 22 siblings How a lack of support led to anger led to drugs The accident The prospect of losing his legs entirely How Ish came back and started walking again The 2nd accident How surfing and the ocean helped Ish heal and grow Ish today: Adaptive surfing advocate, surf instructor & engaged dad Some people call Ish a surf shaman. I would agree with that. The water, the ocean, surfing, they all take on such a bigger meaning when Ish is involved. Yet he’s still just a person, trying to survive, trying to find happiness each day. As he said, he now works to accept the quiet side of life. My favorite Ish quote, and there are so many, is what he said to me on the board that day in January, “Nicole – you must look where you want to go – or at least where you’re going.”  I’d love to know your favorite part of this episode. Please share it with someone else who will benefit from hearing Ish’s story. For more Ismael Araya: Instagram @ismael_araya_surf Facebook Surf with Ish - contact him through Santa Teresa Surf School Watch "The Lion Surfer" documentary The Lion Surfer - the story of Ismael Araya . By Eye for Eye Productions from Eye for Eye Productions on Vimeo.

Fran Dunaway is the co-founder of TomboyX – a gender neutral apparel brand that made its name in undies. She describes herself as coming out of the womb a boss, but I would say that Fran is the farthest thing from bossy. She’s gracious, humble, compassionate, thoughtful. She’s also incredibly smart, one of the best strategic thinkers I’ve ever met, incredibly brave and she’s seriously disrupting an industry. She says that when they launched their first women’s boxers, they accidentally stepped into a white space that so desperately needed to be filled. Well, they filled it! And they didn’t stop at boxers either. TomboyX added a full line of underwear from thongs to mid thigh shorts; now they offer bras, sleepwear, sweats, swimwear and more. Today we uncover some of the core values that drive Fran; the stuff that makes her tick. And like so many others, that secret sauce is rooted in experiences good, bad and ugly. I will say that when we stumbled upon Fran’s journey with eye cancer which floored me, she mentioned that it was 5 years after her breast cancer journey. For some reason during the interview, that statement didn’t hit me. I think I was hung up on the eye cancer journey so I literally didn't absorb that statement. It wasn’t until after I listened to the episode on a hike that I realized, Fran is a two-time cancer survivor. This woman is an absolute gift to the world and she is meant to be here doing exactly what she’s doing. Episode DEALS! TomboyX is offering 15% off with the code BLOOM15 – the funny thing is that after the interview she said she meant to say BOOM but it came out as BLOOM which I thought was sort of a play on Bloomers! We had a good laugh about that – so BLOOM15 it is. Go get some skivvies! Skirt Sports has your back – use code RUN20 for 20% off at Skirt Sports – if we’re doing a big sale, the code won’t work, but other than that, it’s yours to get a deal on our high performance, super comfy, thoughtful women’s products that work for your insanely busy lives. I love this company I've built and hope you’ll check it out because we are doing so much good in the world! Today we talk about: TomboyX didn't start with undies - it started with button-ups! (not button-downs) The power of a name Coming out: closed doors opening & why some people weren't happy about it Naomi: Fran's wife & business partner - how they make it work plus their wedding story Eye cancer came out of nowhere TomboyX in all its glory: the origin, genesis and where they are today Gender neutral clothing: How is this possible? Leadership nuggets Side note: Do you think Skirt Sports should partner up with TomboyX and make some active undies?

Sometimes we choose to do things that push us out of our comfort zones. Sometimes those things happen to us and we have to dig in, embrace the discomfort and use all of our tools to push through. Kikkan Randall has experienced both categories. Kikkan is a lifelong skier. Her family moved to Alaska when she was young so most of her formative years were spent there. She’s a talent. Pure and simple. A natural athlete who gravitated to skiing. She has competed in 5 Olympic games. FIVE! While she raced at the top level in the world for over 15 years, it wasn’t until 2018 when she and her teammate Jessie Diggins won gold in the Team Sprint – the first ever gold medals in that event! Kikkan’s athletic career alone is something we can all glean knowledge and inspiration from. But the next chapter of her life started three months after her gold medal. She was officially retired when she felt a lump on her breast and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer at 35 years old. This is the chapter she’s still writing. Through it all, she has used exercise as a tool to help during treatments and guess what? Just for kicks, she jumped into her first endurance race – the  50km Birkie! Like me (racing the 29km Korte), she was also stepping outside of her comfort zone and doing a long distance race for the first time. Today we talk about: Alaska: Growing up in eccentric Alaskan culture as a runner and a skier What it took to become a pro/elite skier The 10 year plan Competing at the top level in the world for over 15 years How she met her husband Jeff Ellis & their evolution as a married couple pursuing athletic dreams - separately and together Becoming a mom (to now 3 year old Breck) THE RACE! What it took to win GOLD in PyeongChang 2018 Why teamwork is the key to success Cancer: how, why & what now Jumping into the Birkie & exercising through her treatments What we didn't talk about: Her non-profit Fast & Female - Kikkan is empowering girls everyday! Kikkan is a very special person. Since this interview, ESPNW wrote an article about Kikkan and described what they call “the Kikkan Effect.” Here’s how the author Bonnie Ford describes it, “a powerful vortex evident long before her diagnosis. It pulls people toward her and spins them back out, doing things they might otherwise resist. They hear her in their heads: Come on. It'll be fun. We'll be better.” I think Kikkan is just one of those people who on the outside is like the girl next door, so she’s real and approachable, but on the inside is like a superhero, able to push herself mentally and physically further than most people can ever imagine. But the effect is real. Her Positivity is contagious. Post-Note: Back to the Birkie for a minute. It’s funny. We texted before and after the start. I told her there was a bet to see who would win – me in the 29k or Kikkan in the 50k. At 2:48, she texted me this sentence, “That was hard.” I wrote back, “I can’t wait to hear about it. But the most awesome thing is that I beat you.” Of course she averaged 3:22 per k for 50k and I averaged 5:13 per k for 29k but a bet’s a bet. So the Kikkan effect has begun! How to follow Kikkan Her website kikkan.com Instagram @kikkanimal Facebook @kikkanrandall Fast & Female

Rich Roll is the host of the very popular Rich Roll Podcast which may be what he’s best known for these days. He’s also an author who just released a new edition of his book "Finding Ultra" which chronicles his tumultuous path from awkward kid to national level swimmer. It was during college at Stanford when he started drinking which really became the next chapter in his life even while going to law school and started work as a lawyer. Rich eventually went to rehab and got sober, but he still wasn’t healthy. He finally had a wakeup call the night before he turned 40 and realized that he needed to overhaul the rest of his life. That’s when he became vegan, started exercising and his true potential began to emerge. This is an awesome episode with an awesome person. Rich is everything you imagine when you hear him interviewing people. Deep, passionate, honest, self deprecating, but also hilarious and real while also somehow being a bit of a romantic. He’s the kind of guy you want to hang out with more often than a one-time skype interview! Today we cover: What drives Rich today Vulnerability: why it's important to embrace Real life today: navigating his priorities with his wife and kids Parenting: How his parents gave him tough love and how he envisions his ability to do the same Sobriety: the foundation for his mental and physical health "Gratitude is not a natural practice for me. I have to work on it every single day." Rediscovering his athleticism in his 40s Aging: the real deal behind 50 Being an "all-in" person Otillo: behind the scenes story of the race - hilarious

Louise Green is a badass. Her passion is to create a more inclusive world. Her work focuses mainly on women (including herself) who are often polarized due to their size. Louise reached out a while ago to work with Skirt Sports on one of the projects she is spearheading within her Big Fit Girl empire. I knew immediately that I needed to learn more about her work, so Louise and I finally had today's incredible conversation which really boils down to this... What it means to find happiness and health no matter what your circumstances are. Sound note: I want to apologize for the sound quality. It’s not bad but it’s not as good as in-person interviews. Louise sounds a little tinny, like she’s sitting in a metal room or something, so hang in there. The conversation is so good that I’m sure you won’t really notice too much! Today we talk about: Big Fit Girl: Louise's business and philosophy Diet culture: how the entire industry is based on failure Becoming sober Changing her life: quitting smoking and starting running! Invisibility Fitness Trauma Shaming Why All or Nothing is dangerous Louise is open and honest about her her journey to health, her struggle with alcoholism, and her quest for self-love. All she truly wants is to help others find happiness. I love when she says, “the more we can see the more we can be.” I loved it so much I named this episode after that quote! It’s all about celebrating each other as we continue to seek our full potential – at all stages of the journey. Because when we have support from positive like-minded people, we will enjoy it so much more. For more Louise Green Buy her book "Big Fit Girl" Train with Louise Sign up for her newsletter Watch her TedX Talk Facebook @louisegreen.bigfitgirl Instagram @louisegreen_bigfitgirl New Project: Now you can be a bigger part of the podcast! I just launched a project to help me improve the podcast, continue to spend time and energy on it, and someday get enough support so I can do all my interviews in person which enhances everyone's experience. It’s called Patreon. Some other well-known podcasts (like my friend Rich Roll who will be my next guest!) also use this service. Basically, if you love and appreciate what I put out on the podcast, you can now back my work with donations at whatever level you feel is appropriate. I didn’t create any tiers; you can decide. Most people are supporting with $5-10/month which is incredible. Please hop over to patreon.com/nicoledeboom – when I opened my account, Patreon asked me to describe what I am creating, and off the cuff I wrote "Nicole DeBoom is creating a more positive world." That’s how I hope you feel when you listen to my show. Thank you so much for your support!