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The Discomfort ZoneAuthor: Anna Levesque
Do you feel called toward something bigger a dream, adventure, or purpose but fear keeps holding you back? Welcome to The Discomfort Zone the outdoor, mindset, and leadership podcast where courage meets the edge. Every Tuesday, host Anna Levesque world-class whitewater kayaker, World Championship medalist, author, and mental agility coach dives into raw, real conversations with paddlers, athletes, leaders, adventurers, and purpose-driven humans who choose growth over comfort. From powerful stories on wild rivers and mountain trails to navigating major life transitions, these conversations explore what it truly takes to face fear, build confidence, and find your flow on and off the water. You'll hear: Stories from whitewater kayakers outdoor athletes pushing their edge Insights from guides, coaches, and leaders creating impact in their fields Practical mental-agility leadership tools you can use right away Lessons from expeditions, competition, and personal transformation How to navigate the discomfort that fuels growth, courage, and purpose Whether you're a paddler, outdoor enthusiast, emerging leader, or someone seeking more courage in everyday life, you'll walk away with practical tools to strengthen resilience, show up with confidence, and embrace the adventure of being alive. If you're ready to stop playing small and start living boldly, you're in the right zone. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Self-Improvement, Sports, Wilderness Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Ep #109 Jak Fantastic: Pain, Amputation, and Radical Resilience on the Water
Episode 109
Tuesday, 21 April, 2026
What does resilience actually look like when pain isn't occasional - it's constant? Jak Fantastic has been kayaking since she was six years old, born with severely clubbed feet and limited mobility. By 14, she was on the GB Freestyle Kayak Team. By 19, she was facing hip dysplasia, multiple surgeries, and a prognosis that said she would never kayak again. She went eight years without paddling. And then, in 2018 - unable to walk - she got back in a boat. In 2025, Jak made the decision to amputate her leg, hoping it would give her back more of her life. Before her wound had fully healed, she was back on the water. A year later, she's running remote expeditions in India and competing at the highest levels of the sport. In this episode, Jak and Anna explore what it means to keep showing up when every day includes some form of pain - physical, emotional, or both. They talk about identity loss, the dark years when kayaking stopped being possible, and what finally cracked open the door to meditation after years of resistance (hint: it started in a yoga class in Rishikesh after a Christmas that broke her open). This is one of the most honest conversations about discomfort, courage, and the choice to keep going that we've had on this show. In this episode: Why Jak says discomfort isn't the obstacle — it's just life, and how that shift changed everything The eight years she spent away from kayaking and what it took to find her way back How grief, a solo trip to India, and one quiet moment in the mountains cracked open her meditation practice Living with phantom limb pain after amputation — and what sitting with pain (instead of fighting it) has taught her What the whitewater community needs to do to make the sport more accessible for differently abled paddlers Press play and spend an hour in the discomfort zone with someone who lives there every day, and continues to choose it powerfully. About Jak Fantastic: Jak Fantastic is a British whitewater kayaker, adaptive sports advocate, and expedition paddler with over 30 years on the water. A former GB Freestyle Team member, she competed at the 2023 World Freestyle Championships and has podium finishes at World Cups and British Championships. She paddles with one leg, an ADHD brain, a dry sense of humor, and zero interest in being told what she can't do.
