In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary life and inspiring journey of Risa August, a multifaceted individual based in Colorado, USA. Risa wears many hats - she's a Gestalt practitioner, a captivating speaker, an author, and a passionate patient advocate. Her story is one of resilience, marked by her decade-long battle with a pituitary tumour and a rare disease, Acromegaly.
Risa shares candidly about her experiences, offering profound insights into overcoming adversity and embracing life with unparalleled vigour.
Risa's journey into the realm of personal transformation began with her participation in Ironman races, a testament to her fierce determination and love for physical challenges. However, her path took an unexpected turn when she started noticing troubling symptoms, eventually leading to a diagnosis that altered her life trajectory. Despite facing daunting health challenges, Risa's spirit remained unyielding as she navigated through surgeries, treatments, and the complexities of managing a chronic condition.
In her book, The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike, Risa eloquently chronicles her courageous cross-country bicycle journey, symbolising her refusal to let adversity define her.
Throughout our conversation, Risa reflects on how her perspective on life and adventure has evolved, emphasising the importance of embracing new experiences and pushing beyond perceived limits. Her insights into removing limiting beliefs and fostering a positive mindset resonate deeply, offering profound lessons for anyone navigating their own challenges.
Join us as Risa shares her story of resilience, adventure, and the transformative power of embracing life fully, no matter the obstacles. Get ready to be inspired by her unwavering spirit and her profound wisdom gained through living a life unleashed.
***
Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/
Thank you for your invaluable support!
***
Show notes
- Who is Risa
- Based in Colorado, USA
- Working as a gestalt practitioner, speaker, author and patient advocate
- Her passion for learning
- ‘CANI’ - Constant And Never-ending Improvement
- The connection with Tony Robbins
- Growing up in Cleveland Ohio and her early years
- Taking herself on adventures
- Being inspired by her dad and a buffalo head nickel
- How the meaning of adventure has changed over the years
- Why adventure means - learning and experiencing something new
- Setting out a timeline
- 2011 - completing her first Ironman race
- Starting to notice changes in her body
- Fast forward 7 years and training for another Ironman.
- Not being able to recover and not being able to keep the weigh off
- Plus dealing with severe headaches and lack of sleep
- Pushing for an MRI of her brain
- Being diagnosed with an enlarged pituitary and a brain tumour
- Looking at brain surgery and being diagnosed with a rare disease - Acromegaly.
- Processing and working through the diagnosis
- Having a mindset of getting it done and moving on with her life
- Waiting 3 months for surgery
- Acromegaly is a rare condition where the body produces too much growth hormone, causing body tissues and bones to grow more quickly.
- Being very conscious of what goes into her body
- Radiation or medication?
- Feeling very lonely even while being supported
- Battling orthorexia in her 20s
- Not being able to exercise and spend time in the outdoors
- Deciding to ride her bicycle down the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH)
- Looking back on her adventurous life and remembering what it felt like
- Starting to paint and how it became an outlet
- Instead of focusing on what she couldn’t do - focusing on what she could do
- What can I do now?
- Small steps, one thing at a time.
- Stopping judging herself and blocking out the noise from other people
- Getting back to the CrossFit gym
- Acceptance around her identity and how it’s changed
- Signing up for a semi supported tour on the PCH
- SAG - Support And Gear
- Book: The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike
- Reflecting back on the ride and some of the magical moments
- Trying to control situation and outcomes and how the universe has a completely different plan for you
- Being open to what’s possible
- To be open to letting go of limiting beliefs
- Why it was a massive learning experience
- Being present and spending time in the moment
- Naming her brain tumour and the reason behind it
- Being kind to her body
- Louise Hay Book: Heal Your Body: The Mental Causes for Physical Illness and the Metaphysical Way to Overcome Them.
- Adding humour to her situation and how it can change perspective - especially during dark moments
- Her prognosis and being on medication to control the tumour
- Dealing with the uncertainty of her future
- Making big changes in her life
- Divorcing after an 18 year marriage
- Letting go of people and things in her life, that no longer felt in alignment
- Creating a list of all the things she wanted to do, or try
- Stepping more into who she wants to be
- Being unpolished, unapologetic and unleashed
- Getting up, getting back in the saddle and doing it.
- Taking it each day at a time
- Choosing to cycle the Camino de Santiago in Spain
- The realities of the camino and why it wasn’t like she imagined
- Why it was a spiritual journey
- Challenges on the journey and wanting to quit
- What do I need to do, to make this work
- Finding moment of joy even through she physically struggled
- Wanting to be alive
- Being realistic about adventures and challenges
- Handing the frustrations and challenges
- The next adventure…. And having multiple options
- Recovery after the camino
- How to connect with Risa
- Final words of advice and wisdom for other women who are going through a tough time
- Ask yourself ‘what CAN (Capable - Able - Now) I do’
Social Media
Website: www.risaaugust.com
Instagram: @risaunleashed
Facebook: @risaunleashed
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/risaaugust
Substack: @risaunleashed
Book: The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike.