Four-time Olympic sprinter Donna Fraser knows that winning and succeeding aren't always the same thing. She joins me to reflect on the heartbreak of narrowly missing an Olympic medal, the resilience that carried her through a breast cancer diagnosis, and the power of believing in yourself when life doesn't go according to plan. We explore what it means to redefine success, find strength in adversity, and turn our hardest experiences into opportunities to help others. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about how to support a friend facing a serious illness.

Four-time Olympic sprinter Donna Fraser knows that winning and succeeding aren't always the same thing. She joins me to reflect on the heartbreak of narrowly missing an Olympic medal, the resilience that carried her through a breast cancer diagnosis, and the power of believing in yourself when life doesn't go according to plan. We explore what it means to redefine success, find strength in adversity, and turn our hardest experiences into opportunities to help others. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about how to support a friend facing a serious illness.

From Olympic Heartbreak to Surviving Breast Cancer with Donna Fraser

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1af79a2c-30c3-4766-b515-b4f10151322d/transcript

On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby are joined by two of their Sigma Gamma Rho sorors: award-winning director Okema T. Moore, a three-time American Black Film Festival winner, and producer Nicole "Sassy" Harrison, who went from offering to fetch Okema's coffee to a full IMDb page and VFX credits in a single year. They get into Love Zuri, the festival favorite that brought them together, and What Kim Saw, a vertical thriller made for Juicy Shorts, a new Black woman-owned streaming platform. Okema explains why she refused to use AI to create an AI character, why Black women need sponsors and not just mentors, and how she walked away from a six-figure Wall Street job at 36 to chase this dream. She also opens up about living fully out loud, including calling off her wedding two months out: "I said I don't 'cause I knew I didn't." Plus, Terrika gets ready for her last-ever Connecticut Sun broadcast, and Okema gives Sheryl her flowers.

On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby are joined by two of their Sigma Gamma Rho sorors: award-winning director Okema T. Moore, a three-time American Black Film Festival winner, and producer Nicole "Sassy" Harrison, who went from offering to fetch Okema's coffee to a full IMDb page and VFX credits in a single year. They get into Love Zuri, the festival favorite that brought them together, and What Kim Saw, a vertical thriller made for Juicy Shorts, a new Black woman-owned streaming platform. Okema explains why she refused to use AI to create an AI character, why Black women need sponsors and not just mentors, and how she walked away from a six-figure Wall Street job at 36 to chase this dream. She also opens up about living fully out loud, including calling off her wedding two months out: "I said I don't 'cause I knew I didn't." Plus, Terrika gets ready for her last-ever Connecticut Sun broadcast, and Okema gives Sheryl her flowers.

The Long Walk Forward: Libby DeLana on Change, Clarity, and What Comes Next

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/8598998d-c939-41b6-a796-b4e301627e83/transcript

Mount Everest record-holder Lhakpa Sherpa has spent her life climbing—mountains, barriers, and her way through extraordinary hardship. We talk about becoming the first Nepali woman to summit Everest and return safely, what the mountain has taught her about resilience, and why she has returned eleven times—more than any other woman in the world. Lhakpa also reflects on the difficult chapters of her life captured in Lucy Walker’s documentary Mountain Queen, and the strength it took to build a new life for herself and her daughters. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about finding the courage to take a leap when fear tells you to stay where you are.

Mount Everest record-holder Lhakpa Sherpa has spent her life climbing&mdash;mountains, barriers, and her way through extraordinary hardship. We talk about becoming the first Nepali woman to summit Everest and return safely, what the mountain has taught her about resilience, and why she has returned eleven times&mdash;more than any other woman in the world. Lhakpa also reflects on the difficult chapters of her life captured in Lucy Walker&rsquo;s documentary Mountain Queen, and the strength it took to build a new life for herself and her daughters. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about finding the courage to take a leap when fear tells you to stay where you are.

The Mountain Is My Teacher: Everest Record-Holder Lhakpa Sherpa on Resilience

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/08388458-62cb-410b-b3c3-b4dc015a5a3a/transcript

High diver Molly Carlson knows what it means to be afraid and do it anyway. We talk about her journey from perfectionism and an eating disorder to finding joy in her sport again, how she learned to trust herself at the edge of a 27-meter platform, and why falling short of her Olympic dream ultimately helped her find a better path. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about what it really means to love yourself.

High diver Molly Carlson knows what it means to be afraid and do it anyway. We talk about her journey from perfectionism and an eating disorder to finding joy in her sport again, how she learned to trust herself at the edge of a 27-meter platform, and why falling short of her Olympic dream ultimately helped her find a better path. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about what it really means to love yourself.

High Diver Molly Carlson on Being Scared and Doing It Anyway

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9291f9b7-5cfb-417a-aa02-b4d50155548c/transcript

After watching the profoundly moving documentary Row of Life, I knew I wanted to talk with its director, Soraya Simi. The film follows Paralympian and 14-time Guinness World Record holder Angela Madsen as she attempts a solo row from Los Angeles to Hawaii—and the devastating loss that transforms her journey into something much larger. Soraya and I talk about Angela’s extraordinary appetite for life, the love story between Angela and her partner Deb, and what it means to tell an athlete’s story when there is no traditional triumphant ending. We explore why films like Row of Life matter: because the stories we preserve shape our understanding of courage, disability, athleticism, love, grief, and what it means to live a big life.

After watching the profoundly moving documentary Row of Life, I knew I wanted to talk with its director, Soraya Simi. The film follows Paralympian and 14-time Guinness World Record holder Angela Madsen as she attempts a solo row from Los Angeles to Hawaii&mdash;and the devastating loss that transforms her journey into something much larger. Soraya and I talk about Angela&rsquo;s extraordinary appetite for life, the love story between Angela and her partner Deb, and what it means to tell an athlete&rsquo;s story when there is no traditional triumphant ending. We explore why films like Row of Life matter: because the stories we preserve shape our understanding of courage, disability, athleticism, love, grief, and what it means to live a big life.

A Monument to Paralympian Angela Madsen: Row of Life Director Soraya Simi

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bbaa4166-6356-42b6-9eb1-b4ce013692ad/transcript

This week I talk with 12-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin about the mental strength behind her extraordinary swimming career, the failures that ultimately shaped her success, and what it means to keep beginning again. Natalie shares how visualization helped her become a champion, why missing her first Olympic team became a gift, and how she learned to embrace new chapters after swimming. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a woman wondering how to start over and find a fulfilling second career.

This week I talk with 12-time Olympic medalist Natalie Coughlin about the mental strength behind her extraordinary swimming career, the failures that ultimately shaped her success, and what it means to keep beginning again. Natalie shares how visualization helped her become a champion, why missing her first Olympic team became a gift, and how she learned to embrace new chapters after swimming. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a woman wondering how to start over and find a fulfilling second career.

The Courage to Start Over with Olympic Swimming Champion Natalie Coughlin

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/86c82e06-8bd8-4aa0-afad-b4c7011fdae5/transcript

Paralympic champion Christie Raleigh Crossley spent decades chasing an Olympic dream, even as accidents, motherhood, brain surgery, and disability repeatedly changed the path beneath her. Christie joins us to talk about learning to adapt, letting go of the life she thought she’d have, and finally reaching the podium in Paris. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a mother struggling to accept that parenthood looks different than she imagined.

Paralympic champion Christie Raleigh Crossley spent decades chasing an Olympic dream, even as accidents, motherhood, brain surgery, and disability repeatedly changed the path beneath her. Christie joins us to talk about learning to adapt, letting go of the life she thought she&rsquo;d have, and finally reaching the podium in Paris. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter from a mother struggling to accept that parenthood looks different than she imagined.

The Same Dream, a Different Path with Paralympic Swimming Champion Christie Raleigh Crossley

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5f039e1a-b7d8-4fcf-a5f2-b4c001126d39/transcript

Wrestling icon, writer, and mental health advocate AJ Mendez joins me to talk about what happens when we stop hiding the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to fear. AJ reflects on becoming the trailblazing AJ Lee, walking away at the height of her career, and returning to wrestling a decade later as a healthier, more whole version of herself. We talk about vulnerability, finding power in the things that make us different, and why sometimes the thing that scares us most is exactly where we need to go. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about heartbreak, emotional intensity, and learning to build the love and security we seek within ourselves.

Wrestling icon, writer, and mental health advocate AJ Mendez joins me to talk about what happens when we stop hiding the parts of ourselves we&rsquo;ve been taught to fear. AJ reflects on becoming the trailblazing AJ Lee, walking away at the height of her career, and returning to wrestling a decade later as a healthier, more whole version of herself. We talk about vulnerability, finding power in the things that make us different, and why sometimes the thing that scares us most is exactly where we need to go. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about heartbreak, emotional intensity, and learning to build the love and security we seek within ourselves.

The Thing That Scares You Most: WWE Pro Wrestler AJ Mendez on Finding Your Superpower

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0f4f508f-2a15-4a5a-9b24-b4b401871188/transcript

Professional CrossFit athlete Rebecka Vitesson joins me to talk about what it means to come back; not just from injury, but from the fear that the thing you love might be over. Rebecka shares how repeated setbacks taught her to be gentler with herself, celebrate small victories, and measure success by the effort she gives rather than the outcome she earns. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about finding the discipline to begin, and why sometimes the way forward is to make the first step a little easier.

Professional CrossFit athlete Rebecka Vitesson joins me to talk about what it means to come back; not just from injury, but from the fear that the thing you love might be over. Rebecka shares how repeated setbacks taught her to be gentler with herself, celebrate small victories, and measure success by the effort she gives rather than the outcome she earns. We also answer a Dear Sugar letter about finding the discipline to begin, and why sometimes the way forward is to make the first step a little easier.

Don’t Let the Injury Decide: Professional CrossFit Athlete Rebecka Vitesson on Starting Over

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/48352c4a-d5d3-4895-b1ed-b4b1012b0b1a/transcript

From the bestselling author of Wild and co-host of the beloved Dear Sugars podcast, Cheryl Strayed returns with a new kind of journey.

In Mind Over Mountain with Cheryl Strayed, Cheryl sits down with athletes and adventurers from the most high-adrenaline corners of the world (climbers, surfers, ultramarathoners and more) to discuss the inner landscapes that inspired these extraordinary feats, and give advice to listeners on how they too can face seemingly insurmountable moments in their own lives.

From the bestselling author of Wild and co-host of the beloved Dear Sugars podcast, Cheryl Strayed returns with a new kind of journey.
In Mind Over Mountain with Cheryl Strayed, Cheryl sits down with athletes and adventurers from the most high-adrenaline corners of the world (climbers, surfers, ultramarathoners and more) to discuss the inner landscapes that inspired these extraordinary feats, and give advice to listeners on how they too can face seemingly insurmountable moments in their own lives.

Mind Over Mountain

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