Ep #23 Abby Holcombe on Facing Fear and Staying True to Yourself

The Discomfort Zone

Abby Holcombe, a world champion kayaker who started paddling while traveling the world with her parents in their Winnebago van, shares her strategies for overcoming fear and building confidence while pushing her limits.

Abby tells the story of running the Grand Canyon at the age of 12, and how that trip taught her the value of breaking challenges into smaller pieces, and honoring her feelings, including what she calls cry-yaking.

Abby and Anna talk about the changing culture of whitewater paddling, the impact of social media on women in kayaking and what type of support is missing for empowering up-and-coming girls in the sport.

If you’re looking for a reframing of your fear, this conversation touches on the importance of knowing the difference between irrational and rational fear, and the power of knowing when to push yourself to go versus take your time.

You don’t want to miss this conversation packed with insights and inspiration!