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Swimming in open water during a date, Rachael Lilienthal felt something brush across her back. At first she thought it was a kayak. Then she realized it was a huge alligator. Hear what ensues from that point on during this amazing interview. Did an angel save her life? Could Rachael relearn everything in her life after losing a limb? Could she do it with a positive attitude? Alligator-attack survivor and Masters swimmer Rachael Lilienthal joins the show to share the details of her attack, her r...

How can athletes strike a balance between normal discomfort and understanding the constraints of aging? Olympic swimmer Dara Torres joins the podcast to talk with Kelly and Maria about how she stays active but respects the boundaries of her body as she ages. She also talks about parenting and what she’s up to now. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com. ...

We have a responsibility to share our struggles with others -- even the most tragic. A Masters swimming gem. Keynote speaker and author Karen Allen joins the podcast to talk about how the still-unsolved murder of her husband drives the work she does today to help others embrace the “beauty in the mess” of their lives. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com. ...

Many thought leaders believe that to be successful we must get out of our comfort zone. And also that today's society is making us, well, soft. Kelly and Maria share concrete ideas for getting uncomfortable in life, including in athletics, relationships and ambitions. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com. Episode Topics and Mentions Do Tough by Maria Parke...

How has adversity inspired your success? Renowned cross-country coach Desmond Dunham, known to his athletes as Coach Dez, joins the podcast to talk with Kelly and Maria about how he turned pain in his childhood into a passion for mentorship. He talks about the lessons in his new book, Running Against the Odds, and how coaching is one way he gives back to the community. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/c...

Purposeful living takes us to a higher level of joy in life -- but how do we find our purpose? Health and leadership coaches Kelly Palace and Maria Parker outline eight steps to finding your life’s purpose -- and then implementing it. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com. 8 Ways to Find Your Life’s Purpose Ask yourself: What am I passionate about or what do...

Do you realize what a gift this ONE life truly is? How do you find your self worth and overcome life's challenges to enjoy that gift? How do you improve at Masters Swimming? Wellness and high performance coach Nordine Zouareg, author of the book Inner Fitness, talks with Kelly and Maria about how he overcame physical challenges and anxiety in his childhood to become a world-renowned bodybuilder -- and how he continues to motivate others today through his books and coaching. Nordine Zouareg is...

Are you moving too fast through life? Are you paying attention to your life -- or always thinking of the next thing on your list? Certified health and wellness coaches Kelly Palace and Maria Parker give 10 tangible tips for slowing down and building a mindful mindset to reduce anxiety and stress and improve physical health. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo...

Can you be afraid and confident at the same time? Confidence Coach Christen Shefchunas believes that you cannot reach a confident point without first facing your fears. She joins the show to talk to Kelly and Maria about how she coaches female athletes, and other clients, to confident outcomes. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com. MORE ABOUT CHRISTEN SHEFC...

Did you know that stress can have a profound negative effect on your physical health? Certified health coaches Kelly Palace and Maria Parker break down several ways stress in your life may be impacting your mental AND physical health -- and then offer tips to combat stress for a healthier outlook. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com. Ways that Stress is Da...

Olympic swimmer Natalie Hinds thought that she was finished with swimming in 2016 when she placed 40th at Olympic Trials. After some time away from competitive swimming she decided to compete again -- this time with new self talk, new boundaries and a new perspective on her abilities. Tune in to this exclusive interview as Natalie shares her Olympic-preparation routine and how what she does outside of the pool helps her performance. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and l...

How do you push past discomfort to meet your goals? Guinness Book World Record Holder Budimir “Buda” Šobat joins the show to talk about his record time of free diving for 24 minutes and 33 seconds -- and how his daughter and her medical issues inspire him. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com. MORE ABOUT BUDIMIR BUDA ŠOBAT Budimir Buda Šobat is a Guinness ...

The pool is just one part of Olympic legend Aaron Peirsol’s lifelong, spiritual connection to the water. He joins the show to talk about his family history of swimming, sailing and connecting to the water around them -- as well as the ways he continues to engage with his sport, and his responsibility to it, more than a decade after officially retiring from it. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com. MORE ABOUT AARON PEIRSOL Aaron Peirsol is a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic ...

This interview's guest has a NETFLIX movie made about her life! Are you living up to your responsibility to make a difference? Once terrified of public speaking, Virginia Walden Ford is now a leading advocate for expanding educational opportunities for American students and the subject of the feature film “Miss Virginia,” available on Netflix. She joins the show to talk about accepting, and eventually embracing, the call on her life to change educational outcomes for her own son -- and for ot...

Are you living up to your true potential? 2021 Olympic hopeful Michael Andrew returns to the podcast to talk about his recent success and embracing his talent and hard work so he never “wastes grace” in his life. He also talks with Kelly and Maria about his mindset change when it comes to competitively swimming the 200 IM -- and how he remains grounded in his faith and family as his clout in the swimming world continues to grow. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life ...

How does a person face, and overcome, their worst fears? How can you face your own stories about yourself -- and change them for the better? Peak performance coach Brian Bergford faced a lifelong fear of having his head submerged in water at the age of 30, when he decided to confront it. Today he is a record-setting Masters swimmer and he joins the show to share his journey with Kelly and Maria -- along with tips for listeners on confronting fears. Sign up for your free consultation on health, ...

We are all leaders, whether we know it or not. What kind of leader are you? Are you an eager leader? A target maker? A confidence carrier? Or all of them? In this episode Kelly and Maria explore 10 personas that great leaders emulate. This is a deeper dive on this topic from Kelly’s book Take Your Mark, LEAD! 10 Ways to Lead Yourself and Others like a Champion and she and Maria discuss the traits of each one in this episode. Learn ways to be a more effective leader for yourself and others. Cat...

When the pressure to perform becomes overwhelming, mental burnout, severe anxiety, and self-doubt can push an athlete to the absolute limit. How do you navigate the darkest moments of mental illness, rebuild your inner resilience, and still return to the highest levels of competitive swimming? In this episode, professional swimmer and Olympic hopeful Maddie Banic opens up about her personal journey from the brink of suicide to breaking records and advocating for athlete mental health. Maddie ...

What does it actually take to lead yourself when health scares, career shifts, or sudden life crises knock you off course? Why does the athlete or professional who isn't physically the strongest still manage to rise to the top and take the gold? ​In this special episode, co-host Maria Parker turns the mic around to interview former NCAA Division I Head Coach, Pfizer leader, and author Kelly Palace. Together, they break down the core personal leadership tools inside Kelly’s book, Take Your Mar...

Hard work can often make up for a deficit of time, or even raw talent. Two-swim-sport Olympian Jordan Willimovsky joins the show to talk with Kelly and Maria about how his work ethic keeps him at the height of his career, as he prepares for his second Olympic showing in open water and pool swimming in the summer of 2021. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on EVERY episode at ChampionsMojo.com...

Almost everything we want comes through other people and the best leaders know this principle: You can’t be a leader without others. Influencing others begins by connecting, and in order to do that, you must take an interest in them. Today’s episode explores Dale Carnegie’s timeless values and principles from his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, with some updated ideas and tips relevant to 2021. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly o...

Matt Biondi is one of America’s most decorated Olympic swimmers -- but he left the sport 30 years ago due to unhappiness with the status quo. He felt forced to give up his dreams to become a professional swimmer and earned a Masters Degree in Education, teaching math for nearly two decades. Today, he has returned to the sport as the founder of the International Swimmers Alliance, where he fights for other swimmers to have the opportunity to go professional and be compensated fairly for what the...

Consuming too much social media and news can be dangerous, taking its toll on happiness and mental health. There are benefits to taking a break from the constant flow of entertainment, information and interruption that we get from our cell phones and other screens. Kelly and Maria cover three common areas in need of a digital detox and 10 tips for accomplishing it for greater happiness. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMo...

Discipline is in the details for two-sport elite athlete Ashley Twichell who has already qualified for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in open-water swimming and will compete in June 2021 for a spot as a 1500-meter pool swimmer on Team USA. She joins the show to share her tips for discipline in the little things, leadership by example and the importance of sleep. Sign up for your free consultation on health, leadership and life coaching with Kelly or Maria at ChampionsMojo.com/cm-coaching. Catch up on...