Empowerment & Courage

For today's episode, we were lucky to get the chance to speak with Arianna Criscione. She's an American-Italian football player, currently playing for PSG in France. She's a former member of the Italian National Team and has previously won three Italian titles, one Italian Cup, and three super cups with Torres Calcio. Arianna is currently also working as the Women's Sponsorship Manager at PSG. We speak about her taking the step of moving to Europe to play professional football after finishing her college soccer career in the US. She loves to travel and talks about the many places that football has taken her and some of her best experiences abroad, discovering new cities during local festivities. Looking back at her career, Arianna shares what her definition of success is and how her approach to what it means to be successful has changed over the years. She's a big advocate for giving girls opportunities to play sports and hopes to show other girls that you can work within the sports industry even if you don't aspire to be a professional athlete. Enjoy the episode! Arianna's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today's episode, we had the honor of speaking with Katie Hoff. She’s a former professional American swimmer, an 8x World Champion, a 2x Olympian and a 3x Olympic Medalist. Today, Katie is a bestselling author, a keynote speaker and co-founder of the company Synergy Dryland. We speak about her relentless attitude of wanting to become the best from a very young age and what it was like for her to compete at the Olympics when she was only 15 years old. She also shares how to deal with expectations and what she has learnt from managing the disappointment of realizing that not all things turn out the way you want them to. Retiring from professional swimming in 2015, Katie explains what it was like having to give up her athletic career because of a health condition, and how she found her identity outside of the pool after that. Today, Katie shares her experiences and learnings with others and released her bestselling book ‘’BluePrint - An Olympian's Story of Striving, Adapting and Embracing the Suck’’ in 2020. Enjoy the episode! Katie's Instagram Katie's Website Synergy Dryland's Instagram Synergy Dryland's Website Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode, we had the great honor of speaking with Cherelle Thompson. She’s a professional swimmer from Trinidad & Tobago, currently preparing for the Tokyo Olympics. Cherelle was a 2x NCAA All-American at the University of Tennessee and has broken both national Trinidad & Tobago records and regional Caribbean records. We speak about her childhood dream of competing at the Olympic Games and the crazy journey that would eventually lead to her qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. She also talks about the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, especially when you face adversity and need encouragement to keep going and stay positive. Knowing what a major impact sports can have on one's life, Cherelle is today a mentor for young aspiring athletes worldwide and started her own infant swim school back home in Trinidad, called Aquasense. She’s very passionate about giving back to the younger generation and wants to inspire them the same way that others inspired her when she was a kid. Enjoy the episode! Cherelle's Instagram Cherelle's Facebook Aquasense's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Vincent Bezecourt. He’s a French football player, a 2013 World University Games Champion with the French Team and is currently playing for FC Alashkert in Armenia. Vincent has previously also played for New York Red Bulls in the MLS and for FC Miami in the USL. Vincent speaks about his time playing college soccer in the US and how he ended up signing his first pro contract with New York Red Bulls after thinking he was already done with football. He also talks about the mental hardships that accompany physical injuries, and what he has learnt from overcoming two injuries during his pro career. Having lived abroad for many years now, Vincent also shares how important his international experiences have been for his personal growth and how he’s gone from a shy person to now being someone who loves traveling, discovering other cultures and making connections worldwide. Enjoy the episode! Vincent's Instagram Vincent's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today's episode we had the big pleasure of speaking with Ana Gros. She’s a professional handball player and the captain of the Slovenian National Team, currently playing in Brest in France. At the club level she’s won the Championship and Cup in basically every country she’s played in, she’s been named the French Championship Right Back six times in a row and the All-Star Right Back of the EHF Champions League in 2018. We speak about her many years living abroad and how these experiences have impacted her, and also contributed to her now speaking six different languages. Ana also talks about the many lessons that handball has taught her and how it makes her happy to be able to give back and be a role model to the younger generation today. Having considered giving up on handball at one point in her career, Ana shares how she rediscovered her love for the sport again and she is now working harder than ever to realize a lifelong dream of hers: winning the Champions League. Ana's Instagram Ana's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Molly Carlson. She’s a professional high diver and member of Team Canada, and a former college diver at Florida State University - where she became a 5x NCAA All-American. We speak about her time as a diver and how she ended up transitioning into high diving after graduating from college. With only about 20 girls worldwide being professional high divers, Molly shares her views of fear and what it’s like to deal with the mental side of such an extreme sport. Having previously battled mental health issues and body dysmorphia, Molly speaks about how those experiences contributed to her creating and growing the #BraveGang community - a community of over 2.3 million followers on TikTok that both inspires and celebrates bravery at every level. Enjoy the episode! Molly's TikTok Molly's Instagram Molly's Website Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today's episode, we were fortunate to get to speak with Nicole Heavirland. She’s a professional rugby player and part of the US National Rugby Sevens team. We speak about how Nicole found her way to rugby in high school and how rugby sevens is a sport that requires some serious physical, and mental strength. She also shares her thoughts on the nutrition aspect of being a professional athlete and how she has found a balance between eating for performance and eating for pleasure, over the years. Playing sports has taught Nicole the values and mentality of hard work and she wants to show others that it’s never impossible to achieve what you want, as long as you stop making excuses and put in the work. Enjoy the episode! Nicole's Instagram Nicole's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today's episode, we had the great pleasure of speaking with the amazing Caroline Burckle. She’s a former professional swimmer and a 2x NCAA champion, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics representing the United States. Caroline is also an artist and co-founder of RISE Athletes. We speak about her background in swimming, as well as the difficulties that followed her time as a collegiate and professional swimmer. She shares what it was like for her to heal and find herself after those years and how this has led her to where she is today. Caroline is a big believer in continuous growth and self-development, and while she is still trying and learning new things herself, she also keeps growing RISE Athletes and the important work that they do - acting as a support system for young athletes worldwide. Enjoy the episode! Caroline's Instagram Caroline's Art Instagram Caroline's Website Caroline's Twitter RISE Athletes' Website Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode, we got the chance to speaks with Grant Wiggins. He’s a professional triathlete and a former college runner at Villanova University, working towards representing the United States at World Championships and at the 2024 Olympic Games. We talk about how he came up short of his own expectations during his college career and how this period of his life was a major learning experience. He also shares his journey to discovering triathlon, how he uses visualization as part of his mental preparation, and his best advice to overcome adversity. Ultimately, Grant wants to show others that you don’t have to be an NCAA Champion or college star to be an elite athlete - even if you’re not, you can still move on to become a professional athlete and compete at a very high level. Enjoy the episode! Grant's Instagram Grant's RISE Athletes Mentor Page Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode, we had the honor of speaking with Kaleigh Gilchrist. She’s a professional water polo player and a professional surfer. In college she became a National Champion in both sports and is now also an Olympic Champion and a 2x World Champion in water polo together with Team USA. We speak about how Kaleigh developed a love for sports at a young age and her journey to becoming a professional athlete in not only one, but two sports. She also shares some of the tough things she’s had to deal with after a terrible accident at the World Championships in South Korea in 2019, and how this experience has impacted her. Kaleigh wants to show people the fun side of sports and feels encouraged to pass on the legacies of her three biggest inspirations and mentors in sport: her dad, her old coach Barnett and Kobe Bryant. Enjoy the episode! Kaleigh's Instagram Kaleigh's Facebook Kaleigh's Website Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode, we’re thrilled to say that we had the chance to speak with Charlotte Clarke. She’s an ultramarathon runner from the UK, who went through 2 heart surgeries in her twenties and have completed 3 ultramarathons and 6 marathons in the past 6 months. We speak about her background in dance and the fitness industry, and about how she found her way to ultramarathon running when she wanted to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Charlotte also speaks about how to face adversity and come out stronger on the other side, and about how to stay focused on your goals instead of comparing yourself to other people. She wants to encourage others to find joy and movement in what works best for them and hopes to be part of inspiring others to live an active life. Enjoy the episode! Charlotte's Instagram Charlotte's Facebook Charlotte's Twitter Charlotte's Website/blog Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Hazal Nehir. She’s a professional parkour athlete and became the first Turkish athlete to reach the Red Bull Art of Motion finals in 2019. Hazal is also the first female parkour athlete to join the RedBull family. We speak about how she was first introduced to parkour in 2014 and how her love for parkour has taken her to new countries and to the movie set of the action thriller 6 underground. Hazal also shares her thoughts on the mental part of parkour and how to deal with and overcome the fear of doing certain jumps and moves. With parkour still being a relatively new sport, Hazal talks about the future growth she hopes to see as more people start understanding parkour and recognizing it for the sport that it is. Enjoy the episode! Hazal's Instagram Hazal's YouTube Empowerment & Courage's Patreon Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Website --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode, we had the honor of speaking with Swedish table tennis player Mattias Falck. He’s an Olympian, a World Championship silver medalist, a 3x silver medalist and 3x bronze medalist at the European Championships, and currently ranked 8th in the world. We speak about what it’s like playing a sport where the season stretches from January to December and the sacrifices Mattias has made to become one of the best table tennis players in the world. He also talks about his unique style of play and the importance of going your own way. Mattias has always dreamt about winning an Olympic medal since he was just a kid, and this goal remains his biggest inspiration today. This is an episode about doing what you love and trusting yourself, while also remembering to have fun along the way. Enjoy the episode! Mattias' Instagram Mattias' Facebook Mattias' Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Tyler Cavanaugh. He’s an American basketball player who previously played in the NBA with Atlanta Hawks and Utah Jazz, and now plays for Iberostar Tenerife in Spain. We speak about the difficulties and uncertainty that he experienced when playing both in the G-league and the NBA at the same time, but also about the amazing opportunity of getting to play against players such as LeBron James. He also shares what it was like to leave the US for the first time to pursue a basketball career in Europe and the many lessons that basketball has taught him over the years. This episode is all about appreciating the opportunities you get and never losing faith in your own ability, despite the obstacles that are thrown in your way. Enjoy the episode! Tyler's Instagram Tyler's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For this week's episode we were fortunate to speak with Ali Riley. She’s a professional soccer player and the team captain of the New Zealand National Team. She’s a 3x Olympian, has played in 4 World Cups and is currently playing for Orlando Pride in the NWSL. We speak about her soccer journey through college and also about how she moved to Europe to play when the entire women’s soccer league in the US was shut down. She shares a lot of her thoughts on equality and women’s soccer, and speaks about how she wants to use her position on the New Zealand National team and her online platform to make a change and inspire the next generation of female soccer players. Enjoy the episode! Ali's Instagram Ali's Twitter Ali's Facebook Girls With Balls podcast Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today's episode, we had the great pleasure of speaking with American rower Lindsay Dare Shoop. She’s an Olympic Champion, a 3x World Champion, a 5x World Cup medalist and a US National Rowing Hall of Fame inductee. We speak about how she was first introduced to rowing half-way through college after some time of feeling insecure and doubting her own abilities. She shares a lot of insights from experiences and things that she’s accomplished throughout her career and explains how she now uses what she’s learnt in her daily life as an elite performance coach and motivational speaker. Lindsay released her own book ''Better Great Than Never'' in 2020 and also speaks about what went into the book and what we all can learn from reading it. Enjoy the episode! Lindsay's Instagram Lindsay's Website Better Great Than Never Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today's episode, we had the great chance to speak with Jacki Gemelos. She’s an American-Greek basketball player, who has represented both Team USA and the Greek National Team, played for several teams in Europe and who is now with the Washington Mystics in the WNBA. We speak about the transition when she left the US to play basketball in Europe and what it’s been like to travel the world to play basketball professionally. Jacki shares what it was like when basketball was taken from her for the first time and how she has managed to overcome 5 knee injuries throughout her career. She also speaks about what she’s learnt from her parents, who remain special role models to her today, but also about all the things that basketball has taught her. Enjoy the episode! Jacki's Instagram Jacki's Twitter Jacki's Website Overcome Instagram Overcome Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today's episode we had the great pleasure of speaking with Maret Grothues. She’s a Dutch volleyball player, a 3x silver medalist at the European Championships, a bronze medalist at the World Grand Prix, and the captain of the Dutch National team since 2013. We speak about what it’s like being captain of the Dutch National Team and the honor and privilege it is for her to be able to represent her country at the highest level. She shares her experience from finishing fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics but also explains the different sacrifices that she has made in order to get to where she is today. Maret really likes the feeling of being under pressure and she talks about how to deal with feelings of pressure or tension, but also about how to trust your own intuition and go after what you believe in. Enjoy the episode! Maret's Instagram Maret's Twitter Maret's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For this episode, we had the honor of speaking with Danusia Francis. She’s an elite gymnast, previously representing Great Britain, now representing Jamaica, who in 2019 fulfilled her childhood dream of qualifying for the Olympic Games. She's also a former college gymnast at UCLA, where she became a 6x All-American and the 2016 National Co-champion on beams. We speak about the impact that being a college gymnast at UCLA has had on her as an athlete and as a person, but also about how she, after quitting gymnastics in 2016, found her way back to the gym and fought hard to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics. She shares her keys to positive manifestation and visualization and explains how important it is to surround yourself with people who support you and respect your dreams. Danusia really wants to inspire the next generation of Jamaican gymnasts and hopes that by doing what she loves and going after her dreams, she will be part of inspiring future Jamaican Olympic medalists. Enjoy the episode! Danusia's Instagram Danusia's Facebook Danusia's Website Strong & Sassy Girls' Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with American cyclist Samantha Bosco. She’s a 2x Paralympic bronze medalist, the 2015 Para Pan Am Games Road Race Champion, the 2017 Paracycling World Champion in the 3k Individual Pursuit and has won an additional 9 World Championship medals. We speak about Samantha's journey from dealing with her disability and chronic pain growing up, to eventually finding paracycling and becoming a professional cyclist. She also shares her advice for how to deal with adversity, based on the numerous challenges she has faced throughout her career, and explains the huge difference that surrounding yourself with the right people can make. For Samantha, sports has been a means for strength and power and today she wants to be an inspiration and help change lives by sharing her story with others. Enjoy the episode! Samantha's Instagram Samantha's Facebook Angel City Sports Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today's episode we had the honor of speaking with Swedish curler Anna Hasselborg. She's an Olympic Champion, a two-time European Champion, a two-time World Championships medalist and a 5x Grand Slam Champion with Team Hasselborg. We speak about how she’s always known that she would one day compete at the Olympic Games, about not being scared to fail and loving the feeling of pressure. Anna also shares how her perspective and approach to the sport has changed after becoming a mom and all the things that curling has taught her about herself, and also about other people, throughout her career. Being the captain of Team Hasselborg Anna speaks about teammates who become family and the importance of supporting others and being a nice friend and teammate. Enjoy the episode! Anna’s Instagram Team Hasselborg’s Instagram Team Hasselborg’s Facebook Team Hasselborg’s Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In today’s episode, we speak with German Tennis player Laura Siegemund. She competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics and has 2 singles and 6 doubles titles on the WTA Tour, including 2 Grand Slam doubles titles. We speak about memories from her career where she got to represent Germany at the Fed Cup and at the Olympics but also about all the pressure and expectations that come with competing and winning tournaments at home. She shares what went through her mind when she tore her ACL and the way that it impacted her and her mentality moving forward. Laura also speak about the meaning of success and how it's more than just awards and trophies and the importance of doing what you love and be very selective when it comes to taking other people's advice. Enjoy the episode! Laura's Instagram Laura's Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For the first episode of season 2, we had the great pleasure of speaking with Professional Disability Golfer Joakim Björkman. He’s a 2x World and 2x European Champion with the Swedish National Team, which he has represented for 15 years. We speak about how it was for him to grow up with a disability and how golf became his free space and outlet at a young age. He opens up about the tough moment where he suddenly collapsed at home one day and how this experience left him feeling reborn, changed him as a person, and played a big role in him getting to where he is today. Joakim also speaks about his winning mentality and goal to become number 1 in the world, as well as shares his advice for how to overcome adversity and find your greatness. Enjoy the episode! Joakim's Instagram Joakim's Facebook Joakim's Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For this episode we had the chance to speak with professional basketball player Julie Vanloo. Being a part of the Belgian National Team for 11 years, she’s a European Championship medalist, has played professional basketball in many different countries and is currently playing for Basket Zaragoza in Spain. We speak about the meaning and pride in representing your country at the highest level and what motivates her to keep playing but also about focusing on happiness in the moment rather than just future goals as well as the importance of learning from your mistakes and surrounding yourself with the right people. Enjoy the episode! Julie's Instagram Julie's Twitter Julie's Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For today’s episode we spoke with Canadian badminton player Michelle Li. She’s a two time Olympian, the first Canadian to ever win gold at the Commonwealth Games and has won a combined 17 medals, including 12 gold medals, at the Pan American Games and the Pan Am Championships. We speak about the difficulty of traveling the world alone to competitions and facing players who have a coach in their corner but also about being a professional badminton player coming from a country where the sport isn’t very big and how she wants to be an inspiration for the next generation to never give up. Enjoy the episode! Michelle's Instagram Michelle's Facebook Michelle's Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with American ice hockey player Amanda Pelkey. An Olympic Champion and two time World Champion with Team USA, Amanda was also part of the Boston Pride team who won the Isobel Cup at the inaugural season of the NWHL. We speak about the player boycott of professional ice hockey during the 2019-2020 season and the underlying issues of inequality and a lack of resources and salaries within women’s ice hockey but also about what it’s like to become an Olympic Champion, the importance of building relationships and her AMP hockey camps for kids. Enjoy the episode! Amanda's Instagram Amanda's Twitter Amanda's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For this week’s episode we spoke with professional soccer player Clay Dimick. He’s currently an outside back for Charlotte Independence in the USL Championship but also played over in Australia after finishing his college soccer career at Belmont Abbey College, where he served as the team captain for two years. We speak about the challenges and growth he experienced when moving abroad by himself to play soccer and his adoption and the definition of family but also about how his faith and helping others has given him perspective that has fueled his motivation and that pushed him not to give up on his dream to become a professional soccer player. Enjoy the episode! Clay's Instagram Clay's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For this episode, we had the chance to speak with retired diver Tonia Couch. Representing Great Britain, she’s a three time Olympian and a European Champion and two time silver medalist as well as a silver medalist at the Commonwealth games and she has many times been recognized as one of Great Britain’s finest female divers. We speak about her favorite memories from her 18 year long career and the issue of beauty ideals and body image specifically within sports but also about what it’s like to compete in the Olympics at home and her transition into becoming a diving coach for young kids after her career and how it has changed her approach to diving. Enjoy the episode! Tonia's Instagram Tonia's Twitter Tonia's Facebook Tonia's Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In this episode, we spoke with Italian fencer Marco Fichera. A European Games and European Championships medalist, Marco has been part of the Italian National team for 12 years and in 2016 the team won the silver medal at the Rio Olympics. We speak about his experiences competing at both the Youth and Senior Olympic Games, what it’s like to be a professional in a sport where you compete both with and against your teammates and about the importance of not only focusing on winning but also on taking the opportunity to teach kids and bring value to others. Enjoy the episode! Marco's Instagram Marco's Twitter Marco's Facebook Marco's Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

For this episode, we had the great pleasure of speaking with American swimmer Jessica Long. She’s a four time Paralympian and has won 23 Paralympic medals, including 13 gold medals, 52 World Championship medals and she has also broken multiple world records. We speak about her background of being adopted at the age of 13 months and having to amputate both legs below the knees and how the pool became the one place she was free from her prosthetics but also about making a Paralympic debut at age 12, the dangers of comparing yourself to others and how to believe in your own strength and ability to overcome difficulties. Enjoy the episode! Jessica's Instagram Jessica's Twitter Jessica's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In our third episode of the season, we were fortunate to get to speak with the first ever Spanish skeleton pilot, Ander Mirambell. He’s a three-time Olympian, the second person ever to become a two time North American Cup overall Champion and the true pioneer of Spanish skeleton. We speak about his introduction to skeleton and the road to becoming a professional athlete and an Olympian in a sport that did not previously exist in your country, the meaning of creativity and thinking outside of the box but also about the impact that sport can have on young kids and how it’s about more than just a result. Enjoy the episode! Ander's Instagram Ander's Twitter Ander's Facebook Ander's Website Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This week on the podcast, we had the chance to speak with Scottish badminton player Kirsty Gilmour. Representing Scotland and Great Britain since 2008, Kirsty is a repeat medalist at both the Commonwealth games and the European Games and became an Olympian in 2016 after competing at the Rio Olympics. We speak about the value of hard work and how her hard work mentality has brought her to where she is today, but also about how she had to learn the hard way that comments on social media (both good and bad) can have a huge impact on your performance as an athlete and that it’s extremely important to work on your mental game and maintain a proportional work-life balance. Enjoy the episode! Kirsty's Instagram Kirsty's Twitter Kirsty's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In the first episode of this season on the Empowerment & Courage podcast we had the pleasure of speaking with Dutch & Icelandic gymnast Eythora Thorsdottir. A three-time European Championship medalist, Eythora has been part of the Dutch National Team for 8 years and made her first Olympic appearance when she was only 17 years old. We speak about her gymnastics career and how to deal with injuries that have you missing out on major championships, the impact that gymnastics has had on her life and the sacrifices and life choices she has made to become a professional gymnast at the highest level. Enjoy the episode! Eythora's Instagram Eythora's Twitter Eythora's Facebook Empowerment & Courage's Instagram Empowerment & Courage's Twitter Empowerment & Courage's Facebook --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This time we had the pleasure of meeting with Serbian footballer Vladimir Rodic. He started his professional career at home in Belgrade, has previously played for the Montenegro National Team and in 2015 he was part of the Malmö FF Champions League squad. Today Vladimir plays for Hammarby Fotboll in Stockholm, Sweden. Speaking with Vladimir and listening to his journey to where he is today was incredibly inspiring. He is a very genuine and generous guy and a hard working professional with a huge passion for his sport, which also happens to be his job. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

We had the chance to meet with Casper U. Mortensen to talk about his career as a professional handball player, his future goals, the challenges that he has faced and his best advice for those facing adversity and those looking to fulfill their dreams. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app