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The Extended Bravey Universe of Alexi Pappas: Reinvention, Joy & Glitter

The Rich Roll Podcast

Mon Nov 20 2023



Gut health importance:

  • The podcast stresses the significance of incorporating a solid, evidence-backed probiotic and prebiotic into daily routines for digestive, gut-immune, and systemic benefits.
  • Seed's signature DSO-1 Daily Symbiotic combines 24 clinically verified and naturally occurring probiotic strains with plant-based prebiotics formulated for digestive, gut-immune, and additional systemic benefits.

Evolution process:

  • Change happens slower than perceived, often taking small steps over time rather than sudden shifts.
  • Embracing patience and iteration is essential to allow gradual growth and emotional evolution alongside tangible change.

Identifying purpose:

  • Deepak Chopra's exercise involves continuously asking questions without immediately seeking answers to tap into deeper emotions and identify personal purpose beyond tangible goals.
  • Encourages identifying emotional experiences that signify living with purpose as a means to reverse engineer actions toward achieving that sense of purpose.

Expansive decision-making:

  • Monica introduces a new perspective on decision-making by considering whether choices are expansive or contractive to one's well-being at a cellular level.
  • This approach enables easier decision-making based on whether decisions feel "contractive" or "expansive," leading to surprising yet fulfilling choices aligned with personal growth.

Decision-Making and Intuition:

  • The speakers emphasize the significance of understanding why decisions are made, highlighting the value of internal investigation and self-awareness in making healthier choices.
  • They discuss how decision-making involves contrary actions that necessitate right and wrong choices, challenging the belief that it is solely based on a "hell yeah" moment.

Challenging Conventional Thinking in Running:

  • Alexi Pappas' unconventional approach to running post-retirement from professional athletics is discussed, focusing on embodying joy, community spirit, and connection rather than pursuing podium finishes or personal records.
  • The conversation highlights her transformative shift from competitive running to embracing a role as an ambassador for joyful running experiences marked by high-fives, smiles, glitter, and hugs during races.

Empowerment Through Unconventional Athletic Expressions:

  • Alexi Pappas shares her experience of dancing through the New York City Marathon course as an expression of athleticism and emotional fulfillment despite not conforming to traditional racing standards.
  • She narrates her journey of discovering newfound freedom by engaging with sports in ways that felt expansive, challenging conventional expectations while honoring her athletic capabilities.

Ultra Running and Belonging:

  • Alexi Pappas finds happiness in ultra running and movie sets as she feels it's where she truly belongs, allowing her to relax into the experience.
  • Contrasts ultra running with track and road races, highlighting the supportive and communal nature of ultras, emphasizing mutual aid and a different competitive environment.

Guiding Visually Impaired Athletes:

  • Discusses her experience guiding visually impaired athletes during races, highlighting the technical aspects and emotional rewards of being a guide.
  • Emphasizes the competitive nature of para-athletes and advocates for understanding and embracing their goals, desires, fears, and multifaceted personalities beyond their disabilities.

Creative Projects & Balancing Athletic Training:

  • Reflects on directing a film with RZA titled "Not An Artist" premiering at Austin Film Festival with Utopia distribution in 2024, marking her departure from solely athletics-related projects.
  • Describes challenges in balancing morning creativity (writing) with athletic training but prioritizes protecting writing time due to its fleeting nature compared to fitness training which can still improve despite lower energy levels.

Time Management and Stress Reduction:

  • Waking up early facilitates feeling less stressed and allows for adequate preparation without rush.
  • Being awake when others are asleep creates a calmer environment, reducing stress levels.
  • Efficient time management is crucial in locations with significant distances between places.
  • Selectivity about commitments and meetings is essential for effective time management.

Overcoming Perfectionism and Fear of Failure:

  • Recognizing the irrational belief that one mistake could lead to catastrophic outcomes is a critical step toward growth.
  • Embracing failure as part of the learning process aids in overcoming fear of making mistakes.
  • Cultivating an understanding that missed opportunities do not signify permanent failure is vital for personal development.

Mental Health Journey and Therapy Techniques:

  • Monitoring physical signs of mental health issues, such as canker sores or facial irregularities, can help identify underlying psychological distress.
  • Intensive short-term psychodynamic therapy (ISTDP) focuses on accessing repressed emotions and addressing confusion through longer sessions.
  • Using non-conventional methods like drawing emotions with the opposite hand to access deeply buried feelings in therapeutic settings.

Curiosity vs. Need as a Driving Force:

  • The distinction between being driven by curiosity versus need influences decision-making processes and goal pursuit.
  • Operating from a place of curiosity allows for more dynamic exploration and decision-making compared to fear-based needs.

Mentorship Philosophy:

  • Advocating for seeking multiple mentors across various aspects of life, whether real-life individuals or sources like podcasts or books.

Mentor Buffet podcast:

  • Aims to discuss people who have positively or challenging mentored influential figures, allowing well-known individuals to talk about those who influenced them the most.
  • Emphasizes the significance of understanding how influential figures think and make decisions rather than solely focusing on their actions.
  • Celebrates mentorship not just through renowned names but also through anonymous influencers who impact lives in unexpected ways.

Influence and mentorship:

  • Discusses the multifaceted nature of influence, encompassing both verbal advice and non-verbal presence as sources of inspiration.
  • Highlights the idea that impactful mentors are not always aware of their influence, emphasizing the unintentional yet profound impact they can have on others' lives.
  • Stresses the importance of recognizing that influence is not a consciously chosen aspect; it occurs naturally and can stem from unexpected sources such as offhand comments or observed behaviors.

"Bravey" adapted for young readers:

  • Explains the motivation behind creating a new version tailored for a younger audience, aiming to provide simplified wisdom and guidance relevant to their age group.
  • Discusses the shift towards a more instructional approach with less focus on personal memoirs, offering practical advice that resonates with young readers.
  • Mentions Maya Hawke's involvement in writing the foreword, highlighting her unique perspective related to challenges growing up.

Glop metaphor:

  • Explores the concept of "Glop" as a transformative stage akin to caterpillars turning into butterflies, symbolizing a state of change and potential growth.
  • Encourages embracing moments of feeling like "Glop" as essential stages in personal development rather than negative setbacks.
  • Advocates for proactive engagement during such transformative phases, promoting active participation in navigating change instead of passive acceptance.