The happy athlete

Sam Dakin, Olympic cyclist and business entrepreneur, joins Rachel for an incredibly honest chat around wellbeing, mental health, success and performing under pressure. Sam speaks about his struggles with OCD and how it has changed his perspective on sport and life. An episode you dont want to miss if you are a young athlete or someone wanting to learn more about entrepreneurship. Topics covered: Success and identity formation Building a successful culture and how to influence it Mental health Entrepeneurship

Do you have fear when you step out onto the sports field? Are you free? Do you want to be? In this episode Rachel speaks with Clinical Psychologist and performance expert, David Gilbraith on how to have more authentic sports performances. Episode topics include: Working with fear Identity Mindset training and interventions An episode that will have you thinking once you listen. 

Silver Fern, Karin Burger moved from South Africa to New Zealand at the age of 18. Leaving her family behind to pursue a dream in professional netball. A decade on, she is now a world champion and an important part of the Silver Ferns.  In this podcast we talk about mindset and values. Exploring how to live an authentic life both inside and outside of sport. 

In this podcast with Olympic gold medalist, Tyla Nathan Wong we discuss: How to challenge limiting beliefs Letting go of perfectionism in order to perform Cultivating a performance mindset Working with failure in a wholesome way. Recorded last year, before Tyla added gold to her Olympic silver medal. (Apologies for the late upload, the concussion stalled things!) "A champion is willing to admit their faults, be open, be vulnerable, someone that shares their knowledge." -Tyla Nathan Wong 

In this episode Rachel welcomes All Black Ardie Savea onto The happy athlete podcast. Ardie is one of the top players in world rugby, he continues to make his mark on the rugby field but what is so incredible about him is the mark he is making off the field.   In this wide ranging and honest conversation we spoke about Ardie's mindset of coming off the bench, how his faith has played a role in his sport and what it means to have a message he wants to share. We also discuss mental skills, vulnerability and how his faith has impacted his rugby.  We connected over a mutual desire to help others become their best and live happier lives. We deep dive into spirituality, its role in sports performance and how to feel enough as a human.           

Rachel is joined by legendary netball coach Dame Noelene Taurua for an episode focussed on team culture.  In this episode we deep dive into how Noelene developed a safe yet competitive environment that allowed the Silver Ferns to achieve world champion status at the 2018 world cup.   

Part two with World Champion, Commonwealth Games gold medalist and legend of New Zealand Netball, Katrina Rore joins Rachel on the podcast to talk about resilience, mindset and managing setbacks. In 2018, Katrina was dropped and found herself in the incredibly tough situation of having to fight for her spot in the New Zealand team she previously captained. In this podcast Katrina shares how she overcame setbacks to once more thrive in the black dress. A true inspiration and the epitome of what it means to be resilient in the face of adversity. It is an absolute privilege to bring you World Champion netballer, Katrina Rore on the Happy athlete podcast.

World Champion, Commonwealth Games gold medalist and legend of New Zealand Netball, Katrina Rore joins Rachel on the podcast to talk about resilience, mindset and managing setbacks. In 2018, Katrina was dropped and found herself in the incredibly tough situation of having to fight for her spot in the New Zealand team she previously captained. In this podcast Katrina shares how she overcame setbacks to once more thrive in the black dress. A true inspiration and the epitome of what it means to be resilient in the face of adversity. It is an absolute privilege to bring you World Champion netballer, Katrina Rore on the Happy athlete podcast.

During the lockdown, Rachel spoke with Rugby Sevens star Sarah Hirini. At the young age of 21, Sarah was given the reigns to the New Zealand Sevens team. Since then she has grown into one of the top leaders and players in the international game. Her individual accolades include world champion, Olympic silver medalist and Commonwealth gold medalist.   In this podcast, you will learn how to implement tangible ways to build a thriving culture, mindset tricks and methods to perform under pressure. Sarah, alongside her leadership team and teammates has cultivated an environment that many teams around the world aspire to operate like. Tune in to hear how they have achieved this.

Rachel is joined by back to back Olympic Champion, Lisa Carrington for part 2 of the "The Journey of A Legend." In this episode, Rachel and Lisa deep dive into body image, self-acceptance and strategies to perform under pressure. Throughout her career, Lisa has faced numerous occasions where she has had to step up into pressure. In these moments she has executed, making her a master of this skill. Lisa will go down in the history of New Zealand as one of the most decorated athletes ever. 2 Olympic gold medals, 1 Olympic bronze and 7 world champion titles to her name. There is no better athlete to learn from when it comes to performing under pressure. Tune in here to learn from the best. 

Rachel is joined by back to back Olympic champion Lisa Carrington to discuss resilience, mindset and how to become the best athlete possible. A pioneer in the sport, Lisa will go down in history as one of the greatest athletes New Zealand has ever had.  Tune in to learn about how she has developed a mindset of greatness.     

Blackstick and Olympian Elizabeth Thompson is one of New Zealand's most experienced defenders. If I were to use a word to sum her up, it would be “resilient.” Extremely resilient. Winning Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth games in the Gold Coast, Thompson is a seasoned and successful veteran of the New Zealand women's hockey team. Debuting at the age of 18 for her country, since then, the 25-year-old has accumulated 187 caps for New Zealand. Known for her silky drags and a cool head under pressure, Liz is a dynamic and lethal player on the field. In the podcast, we discuss not only the good times but the tough times too. Liz has experienced a number of setbacks in her career, and in this episode, we touch on these. Injury has been something she has had to deal with in the last four years. Tune in to hear how she has learnt to manage injuries, but more importantly, how she has cultivated and championed a mindset of resilience.

Denise Quinlan is one of the worlds leading experts in positive psychology. Armed with a Masters of Applied Positive Psychology and a PhD focussed on wellbeing in Education, she is one of the world leaders in teaching this subject. The best thing about her... she will make you laugh while you learn. Her great sense of humour is her greatest quality. She is the developer of the Awesome Us strengths programme, which has been successfully tested and implemented in New Zealand schools. Evidence-based, but practically implemented, this woman has a wonderful style of teaching practical theory that will change the way you operate on a day to day basis. In this podcast, we discuss how we can build inner resilience even when times are difficult, how we can use positive emotions to our advantage, and what we really mean by positive psychology. I'm excited to bring you this lesson in life with Denise. Thorough in her research, you can be assured you are getting the latest and greatest facts when it comes to wellbeing and the study of positive psychology.  

In 2016, Molly Meech and her sailing partner Alex Maloney achieved Olympic Glory, winning a Silver medal for New Zealand at the Rio De Janerio Games. Competing in the 49er class, they continue to strive for greatness in the water.  In this is episode Molly talks about managing expectations, pressure and how her definition of success has grown as she has developed as an athlete. Reiterating that it is about enjoying the journey, rather than focussing too much on the destination.   

With over 20 years of experience teaching mental skills to elite athletes, John Quinn is one of the most highly regarded mental skills trainers in the nation. He is currently the mental skill trainer for the three-peat super rugby champions, the Crusaders but the list is extensive for top athletes that he has helped to success. Having helped a number of New Zealand's top athletes to world titles and Olympic glory, John Quinn is an exceptionally talented person at getting the best from athletes. Helping them to unlock the potential within and form habits for success. His approach is simple yet effective.  In this podcast, he shares his knowledge and expertise in the area of performing under pressure. If you want to become a high performer, this is an incredible place to start that journey.

Recently named 2019 player of the year for the New Zealand White Ferns, Skipper Sophie Devine has found her formula for success. Tune in to hear about it and the tools she uses to help perform at her best.  In this podcast we talk about limiting beliefs, redefining success and how Soph balanced playing two sports for her country. A feat not done by many in the sports world.   

  Sophie Devine is one of New Zealand's talented sportswomen. Period. A dual international, playing for the New Zealand White Ferns and the New Zealand women's hockey team, Sophie is a clear example of how important it is for kids to play multiple sports. In this episode she urges young athletes not to specialize early in sport, highlighting the benefits of playing many.   She has the records to support her claim. Sophie holds the record for scoring the fastest-ever fifty in Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) history (from 18 balls). During a match against Pakistan at the 2017 Women's Cricket World Cup, Devine became the first woman to hit nine sixes in Women's One-day International cricket. In 2020, she became the first player (male or female) to score fifties in 6 consecutive T20Is. In this episode Sophie speaks about how she has worked on herself to overcome mental barriers and limiting beliefs. She urges athletes to focus on their strengths, building what strong, instead of fixing what's wrong. She is a clear example of being able to make it to the top without specializing as a child.

Sophie Devine – Elite athlete, professional cricketer and current captain of the New Zealand White Ferns. In this podcast she shows courage and vulnerability, talking about mental health, performing under pressure and how she has moved through tough times to find perspective on life and the game she loves. In this first part of the series, Sophie opens up about her struggles, showing how vulnerability can be a powerful tool in any athlete's toolbox. As one of the best batters in the women's game, Sophie's knowledge and advice is something that all athletes can learn from.

Olympian and Blackstick veteran, Sophie Cocks, joins me today on the podcast to talk about life after hockey, how she transitioned from elite sport to working life and what she has learnt from her time playing at the top of international hockey. Known for her speed, athleticism and grit on the field, Sophie's mental strength was something admired by many. In this episode, we touch on how she developed her mental resilience, what she did to overcome obstacles and how missing out on teams when she was younger helped her become a better athlete.  Sophie played 115 caps for the New Zealand women's hockey team and last year she was named the most valuable player for the Canterbury women's team.        

Want to know how to become a world-class athlete? In this episode, Rachel asks hockey legend, Kayla Whitelock, that exact question.  Kayla is known for her calm and composed presence on the field. In this episode, she explains how she developed this skill and how she found her voice. As 17 year old, fresh into the Blacksticks she was nicknamed "mute" by her teammates. Now, the mother of two is a far cry from that youngster that began her Olympic dream 16 years ago.  Chasing her fairy tale ending, Kayla's persistence and commitment to her dream will etch her into the history books of New Zealand hockey as one of the greatest. Proving to everyone, that age is simply a number and if you have a dream its always worth chasing it. 

In the first of a special two-part podcast, Rachel interviews one of the best hockey players in the world, Kayla Whitelock. Back for her fifth Olympics, Kayla is determined to find a way to achieve her Olympic dream, winning an Olympic gold medal. Having previously attended four Olympic Games, and now in pursuit of her 5th, Kayla is one of the most experienced players in world hockey. With many in the hockey community regarding her as the best player to ever play for New Zealand.  In this first episode find out how Kayla has become one of the best in the world. Here, you will get an exclusive look into her mindset and how she prepares for her sports performance. Tune in to hear the legend share her advice and knowledge.        

The dynamic duo of Margo and Rosa Flanagan make up the Two Raw Sisters. Christchurch based, but on a mission to inspire all people, these sisters are motivated to help educate others in how to cook in a fun, unique, and exciting way with vegetables. In this episode you will learn about gut health, nourishing your body and how certain foods can positively impact your body. Furthermore and excuse the pun, we get down to the “raw” and vulnerable topics of Rosa eating disorder, Margo's battle with chronic fatigue and the journey each of the sisters have gone on to develop a healthy and thriving relationship with food. The sister's advocate for a holistic approach to food, emphasizing that everyone is different and that we all need to cater to our own individual bodies. All you foodies out there are going to love this one.

Tune in to hear Olympian Brooke Neal speak about her journey as an athlete and mentor. We cover wellbeing, mindfulness and how to give your purest performance through applying your attention in a purposeful way. Brooke has created a business that helps young athletes have greater balance in all aspects of their life. She is respected on the world hockey stage as one of the best defenders in the game. In this episode she shares her tips and tricks on how to manage mistakes, practise resilience and work with difficult emotions. She shares her inspiring story of how she moved through a difficult injury to become the player she is today. 

Speaker, master trainer, global consultant and CEO of the Langley Institute, Sue Langley is a pioneer in the field of positive psychology and wellbeing. Having worked with thousands of global business leaders, her reach and impact all over the world is monumental. Specializing in the neuroscience of leadership, emotional intelligence and positive psychology, Sue is an extraordinary woman paving the way in the world of wellbeing. Her brain is literally global, as she works tirelessly to positively impact all corners of the world through science and evidence-based research. In this podcast you will learn how to implement positive leadership, strategies to enhance wellbeing and ways to cultivate high performers. Holding a masters in the neuroscience of leadership, Sue is recognized for her expertise and eloquent ability to capture a room full of leaders and transform cultures within organizations. Athletes, business leaders and simply all humans being this one is amazing, you don't want to miss it.

Olympian Rose Keddell has a wealth of experience playing and performing on the international stage. Over the last 7 years, she has accumulated over 150 international caps for the New Zealand women's hockey team. In 2018 she became a commonwealth games champion. In this Podcast episode, she touches on her faith, her purpose and how she arrived to place of confidence and self-belief in her sports performance. We focus on how she has moved through failures, learnt from them and grown throughout her journey. If you want some inspiration or just a good laugh this is the podcast for you. 

Balancing life and sport is a challenge most athlete's face. Jordy Grant knows all about this, playing 81 times for the national side over the last 5 years. In this podcast, she speaks about her amazing experiences with the New Zealand women's hockey team but also the tough times she has faced throughout her career. In this chat, Jordy is raw, real and vulnerable. We cover everything from chickpea cookies to missing out on Olympic selection in 2016. Tune in to hear Jordy's inspiring story of courage and commitment in her pursuit of living her best life. 

Episode #1 - Tune in to hear about Grace's rise to the top of the Rowing world. She gives insights into how she became a world champion rower, how she overcame obstacles and how she brings her best self to her training.  Grace touches on her nutrition, recovery, mindset, training and journey so far. Grace has been at the top of the rowing world for the last 4 years, winning multiple medals on the international stage. She also remains the current world record holder in the women's pair and four. If you want to know more about how to train your mind like a champion, this is the podcast for you.