Reclaiming Life Through Adversity:

Embracing Change and Unleashing Potential with Risa August

In today’s episode, we are joined by the inspiring Risa August, an award-winning author, speaker, and patient advocate. Risa shares her extraordinary journey of overcoming a rare pituitary disease, which shifted her from a life of athletic perfection to one of profound self-discovery and resilience. From navigating the complexities of her diagnosis to challenging medical expectations with an audacious bike ride from Canada to Mexico, Risa embodies the strength of the human spirit. Join us as we discuss the importance of taking personal responsibility for health, embracing obstacles as opportunities, and finding joy in the journey of self-improvement. Whether you’re looking for motivation to tackle your own life challenges or insights into redefining success and failure, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and inspiring stories.

Enjoy the episode!

🔑 Key Themes 🔑

• Personal responsibility in health
• Overcoming limiting beliefs
• Journey towards self-improvement
• Importance of self-compassion
• Challenges with identity post-diagnosis
• Environmental and lifestyle health influences
• Redefining failure as learning opportunity

🎓 Lessons Learned 🎓 

10 Lessons from Risa August on the Social Chameleon Show

1. Personal Health Responsibility
2. Overcoming Self-Imposed Limits
3. Journey Over Destination
4. Environmental Health Factors
5. Advocacy and Awareness
6. Shifting Perspectives
7. Compassion and Open-Mindedness
8. Importance of Balance
9. Support and Encouragement
10. Redefining Failure

Risa August

The Road Unpaved – Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike

1,845 miles. 41 days. 12 cyclists. 1 brain tumor named Bubba.

After a shocking diagnosis for a rare pituitary disease, and with her eighteen-year marriage in shambles, Risa’s life has fallen far from picture-perfect. Recovering from brain surgery and desperate to get back to her former self, she signs up for the bike tour of a lifetime-six weeks from Canada to Mexico on the Pacific Coast Highway.

The old Risa could have done the ride in her sleep, but for the new Risa, trapped in a body that no longer feels like her own and stuck in the company of her brain tumor, Bubba, the ride becomes a challenge unlike anything she’s ever faced.

As Risa pedals through rain, pain, and the ghosts of her memories, she wonders if the woman she once was will ever return or whether the new woman rising up in her place might just be the person she was meant to be all along.

A remarkable story of transformation and resilience, The Road Unpaved speaks to shifting gears to navigate life’s roadblocks and live a life without limits-a life fully unleashed.

Description From Amazon

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SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

• Ryan Holiday – The Obstacle is the Way Benjamin Hoff – The Tao of Pooh Dayuse.com

More Interviews With Outstanding Guest’s

Episode Transcripts

Show notes and transcripts powered with the help of Castmagic. Episode Transcriptions Unedited, Auto-Generated.

Tyson Gaylord [00:00:04]:Welcome to the Social Chameleon Show, where it’s our goal to help you learn, grow, and transform as a person you wanna become. Today, we’re exploring personal growth and transformation, and I’m truly honored to have Risa August join us to share her incredible journey. Risa is an award winning author, speaker, the salt practitioner, and patient advocate who lives with a rare pituitary disease. She transformed her diagnosis into a powerful mission, guiding others to break through their limiting beliefs and fully embrace life. With her dynamic energy, Risa empowers her audiences through insightful talks, coaching, and creative workshops. From once being an Ironman athlete, Risa continues to explore new challenges and lives an expansive inspirational life. Her work focuses on helping others unleash their potential and live without limits. I love this interview.

Tyson Gaylord [00:00:52]:She’s very vulnerable. She absolutely lets us dig right in to all the things surrounding this tumor she had and the obstacles and everything she overcome. I really hope you guys truly enjoyed it as much as I had. Without further ado, let’s welcome Marissa. Marissa, welcome to the Social Community Show.

Risa August [00:01:09]:I am so grateful to be here, Tyson. Thanks for having me.

Tyson Gaylord [00:01:13]:You’re welcome. I’m grateful you reached out because you have some interesting things that happened in your life. I think a fun place I’d like to start is kind of a little bit back before your your tumor. I know you were an iron Ironman. You did endurance, things like that. What was life like before the tumor?

Risa August [00:01:33]:Oh, yeah. Life was extremely rigid. I strove, strove a word. I strived for perfection. I everything had to be perfect in my life, well planned, well thought out, scheduled. It it was, again, very rigid. And so, you know, my my weeks consisted of, like, eat, sleep, train, work, repeat. Eat, sleep, train, work, repeat.

Risa August [00:02:13]:And, yes. And that was my life, and that was gonna always be my life.

Tyson Gaylord [00:02:21]:I mean, that makes sense as a endurance athlete. You’re gonna go out on a I I know biking is seems to be your your your, exercise of choice. You’re gonna go The a 100 mile bike ride. You just can’t jump on your bike and just head out the door. You need to you need to know, like, where you’re going, maybe what the weather’s like. I don’t know. I’ve never wrote such a long thing. But this is what I’m thinking.

Tyson Gaylord [00:02:38]:Right? Like, you need your nutrition. You need to know, like, I’ve gotta have x amount of calories on hand. I’ve had to have x amount of water and all those things. So that makes sense.

Risa August [00:02:46]:Yeah. For sure. And I think if you’re a really how do I say this diplomatically? No. It don’t have

Tyson Gaylord [00:02:56]:to be diplomatic. Say it how you want it.

Risa August [00:03:00]:Yeah. If you’re a super serious athlete that keeps striving for even better and even better and even better. The all of a sudden it’s incredible how the tweaks and the changes can be so minute, but you’re still trying to reach that thing, you know, whatever it is, that PR, that faster time, that longer distance, whatever it is. So so yeah. So, I mean, it it took some rigidity and, like, just focus. And like I said, lots of planning. Lots of planning.

Tyson Gaylord [00:03:43]:Yeah. And in in sports in general at a high level, you know, winning in 2nd place is tenths of a second. You know? 1% here and there. You know? I know there’s a there’s a gene in our, in our DNA or something along the lines of it’s, like the power athlete gene. So if you have that gene, you you are genetically like, I think it’s, like, between 1 3% more likely to be able to win things just just because of that. And that but that’s such a minute little thing. So I can see having that rigidity and whatnot. I mean, that’s the difference between winning and losing.

Tyson Gaylord [00:04:15]:Right?

Risa August [00:04:16]:Right. Exactly. Exactly. And I can go down another direction with that, but we can get to that later.

Tyson Gaylord [00:04:23]:Yeah. No. No. Not a problem. So, being this type of person, being the rigidity, what sparks to my mind is it seems like a lot of your maybe self image or self worth, your identity could be tied up into that type of thing. Was that true for you?

Risa August [00:04:38]:Oh my gosh. Yes. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding. Yes. Like, absolutely.

Risa August [00:04:44]:I it was important for me to please other people. So if that meant, like, impressing them or, just being the best at everything. Like, I loved hearing, like, wow, Risa. I could never do that and or wow. You do that so well or you’re so good at that or, oh, I soaked that in. That was, like, that was my, acknowledgment. Like, that was the like, my affirmation of, like, okay. So, well, my worth.

Risa August [00:05:23]:Gosh. So this goes back to your call with Alan. Like, it was my worth. Like, that’s how I, yeah, filled that part of me The, for some reason, needed it. So

Tyson Gaylord [00:05:39]:I I mean, I think we all have that. Right? We have that. Guests. So you’re getting praise. You’re getting acknowledgement. You’re getting love. You’re getting whatever. Right? So what do we seek as humans? Right? We seek more of that.

Tyson Gaylord [00:05:48]:Right? So you’re like, listen. Hey. I rode a 100 miles. That’s impressive the people. Well, guess what I’m gonna continue doing? I’m gonna riding a 100 miles and that’s gonna continue, like you’re saying, to be your self worth, your self identity, and you start getting your life wrapped up into that. Like, I think we see a lot of that with, social media and stuff like that or whatever. Right? You do something funny or you do something outlandish and, like, all of a sudden you get a lot of views and you’re like, well, what do I continue doing? I continue to be outlandish. I continue to raise the bar over and over and over again.

Risa August [00:06:13]:Yeah. Absolutely. Yep. And, I mean, gosh, that’s that’s even even to this day, from where my journey started to today, I still find myself like, people saying, so, Risa, what are you gonna do next? And I’m like, oh my gosh. Now I gotta do you know, now I gotta top the, or now I gotta do it better than last time. And I I still get caught up in that sometimes.

Tyson Gaylord [00:06:37]:How do you deal with that?

Risa August [00:06:38]:How do

Tyson Gaylord [00:06:38]:you manage that? How do you say, listen. I don’t need to impress you. I don’t need to, to to prove to you anything. I need to just do what I need to do for myself.

Risa August [00:06:47]:Oh, that’s a great question. What changed for me was and and this actually popped is my head when we were talking about athletes. We were talking about athletes striving to be better and do better. Is I realized it’s it wasn’t fun for me because I was doing it for everyone else. So I started asking myself oh, I’m getting a little emotional here. Go ahead. Okay. I started asking myself, what do I want? Am I like, who’s this for? Like, am I doing this for me, or am I doing this because that’s what’s expected of me? That’s what everyone else wants.

Risa August [00:07:28]:That’s the role I put myself in and now what everyone the role everyone else expects me to be in. And so I started asking me those questions, and the answer started changing. So

Tyson Gaylord [00:07:43]:How did you how did you begin to explore that? What was what was your self talk like? What was the questions you’re asking? Were the answers you got back scary? Or they were they pleasant?

Risa August [00:07:53]:Well, it actually it was all because of a diagnosis. Mhmm. And that’s that’s what changed my life for the better. And I don’t know if you want me to dive into that now.

Tyson Gaylord [00:08:08]:You can. Please go ahead. The, I mean, the the audience knows in the intro that you you had a pituitary tumor, and this is kinda what led you down the road to why we’re talking now at all, really.

Risa August [00:08:17]:Right. Okay. So yeah. So I was diagnosed with the tumor at the base of my brain and a rare disease that essentially destroys the body over time. The disease is called acromegaly, and it just it dumps excessive growth hormone into my body. And, and eventually, well, destroys everything. So, you know, hormones are not to be messed with is, I guess, what I could say. But, but yeah.

Risa August [00:08:48]:So I suddenly, about 8 years before diagnosis, I started realizing there was something off in my body. You know, I was an athlete, so I was very in tune with what was going and I was very, like, holistic and healthy. Like, I had a very, healthy, life style, as far as what I ate for food and what I put into my body. And but I knew like, there was something going on. And I kept being told by doctors, no. You’re an athlete. You’re fine. Your blood works fine.

Risa August [00:09:23]:Everything’s fine. And I I’d say, but how do you explain this and how do you explain that? And there was always some reason or excuse or something to explain it away. And so I actually started thinking I was nuts. Like, I thought, oh my gosh. Maybe, yeah, maybe I’m a hypochondriac or paranoid or, so, so yeah. So then 8 years later, I’m finally diagnosed with this tumor. The and and mind you, I demanded an MRI from my doctor. So I had such severe headaches and I was hardly sleeping 2 hours a night.

Risa August [00:10:03]:I barely got through the iron name man race I just had done. And I couldn’t get off the couch and I was just like, something is off. And, and so yeah. So I’m finally diagnosed with this tumor. I’m looking at this big tumor between crammed between my eyeballs on the screen. And, and my doctor’s like, this has gotta come out. And so there was part of me that was like, okay. Well, what does that entail? I have my life to guests my overachieving life to get back to.

Risa August [00:10:40]:And there was a part of me like, wait. What? What? Like, I I’m not hearing you. It’s very surreal, and and I don’t have time for this. So, but yeah. So then all of a sudden, 3 months later, I’m having brain surgery and, they couldn’t get the entire tumor. So I went on to have radiation treatment, and, my life would never, never, never be the same.

Tyson Gaylord [00:11:08]:So if we could go back to the beginning, Joyce, thank you for sharing. When you feel not when you said you’re feeling nuts, what Right. What was that like? What was the self talk like? What was what was kinda going on? How did you get yourself through that to say, listen. Maybe, yeah, maybe you guests tell me I’m crazy, but I know something’s wrong. How did you keep pursuing and being persistent?

Risa August [00:11:29]:Oh, gosh. Yeah. Well, first, I started looking I like, I go inward. I’m like, okay. What am I doing? Right. And I think part of me is that’s how I grew up. Like, it was it was my fault and it was like, what am I doing? Like, so I I go to name first. And so I started looking like, I thought, okay.

Risa August [00:11:47]:Maybe I’m not eating as healthy as I thought. You know? So I would I would change my diet and try all different diets. And, okay, maybe I am overtraining. I think I even fired 1 of my a coach, the of my training coaches because I thought she was she wasn’t scheduling me appropriate workouts. I really started looking at my lifestyle, but nothing was working. It would I I actually felt like I was getting worse. And so I someone who actually never goes to doctors, I kept going back to my doctor. And the I kept getting other second opinions.

Risa August [00:12:29]:And I was started doing a ton of research online. All signs kept pointing to thyroid, but my thyroid blood work was coming back normal, and I just kept going back to the doctor. She kept, asking or telling me I’m healthy and I’m fine, and she’s not worried. And, and so one day, I think it was you know, I used to be the type of person to not cause waves. Just, you know, just keep quiet and, you know, someone in authority knows guests. And and so and this goes back to your conversation with Alan a little bit too. But Sure. I just did what I was told.

Risa August [00:13:10]:And but the again, this moment in my doctor’s office, it must have been some kind of divine higher power Risa something was like, don’t take no for an answer. And so I asked her an MRI, and I guests, like, I, like, barely got it out. I’m like, can I have an MRI? And she’s like, no. I don’t think you need 1.

Tyson Gaylord [00:13:33]:Oh.

Risa August [00:13:33]:And I was like, I don’t know. I just feel like peace of mind. You know? There’s probably nothing wrong, but I’ll have at least peace of at least I’ll have peace of mind. And and and she’s like, no. They’re really expensive. And, you know, I just don’t I just think is you don’t need the.

Tyson Gaylord [00:13:54]:Right.

Risa August [00:13:55]:And so I was like, okay. And I sat back, and she turned around, and she’s working on her computer, like, typing in whatever they’re typing in. And this is where I think, like I don’t know. My dad who’s crossed over someone came in and said, get that MRI. And I just said, you know what? My deductible’s met. Please order me that MRI. Yeah. And 1 week later, I had one sentence from her saying, you have an enlarged pituitary.

Risa August [00:14:27]:Go see an endocrinologist. And and that’s that was when my life began changing.

Tyson Gaylord [00:14:35]:Yeah. I I I, you know, I knew a little bit about the pituitary before we came name is conversation, and and I did some research yesterday. But it makes sense why you had a hard time with, you know, with pituitary. You know, it controls the thyroid. It controls the adrenal glands. Is, you know, the you know, it can have an effect on reproductive organs. So I could see how you had a hard time and people had a hard time, especially as an endurance athlete. Hey.

Tyson Gaylord [00:14:55]:You’re probably overtraining. You’re doing a 100 miles, you know, a day or every other day or a 1000 miles a week or whatever your training schedule is such a you know, to do such long Risa. I could see that being a problem. And it’s funny you say this. It’s it’s interesting because it seems like in in in American medical system, they over guests us. They they they constantly wanna do things. They wanna cover their ass. They they’re worried about getting sued.

Tyson Gaylord [00:15:16]:They’re worried about these different things. But then I can I keep hearing lately, not just from you, from, my podcast guest, Alicia? She had the same thing. And the doctors were like, you know, I don’t know about this. We should be doing this test. My daughter was in a car accident the other day, and they’re like she’s like, you know, do I need, you know, do I need the get x rays? They’re like, well, do you well, you know, I don’t know. Maybe did you want the? She’s like, what do you mean did I want one? She’s like, my ankle is killing me. She’s like, my ribs hurt. And they’re like, well so it’s interesting.

Tyson Gaylord [00:15:44]:It seems like that we’ve kinda slid maybe back a different way or something like the, but I keep hearing this from people the, like, like the my guests, Alicia, she’s she’s got some other things kinda going on. And the doctor’s like, oh, you’re fine. She’s like, my ear won’t stop ringing. She’s like, that’s normal. She’s like, what are you talking about? She’s like, that’s not normal. She’s like, my kidney she was in a car accident. She’s like, my kidney won’t stop hurting. She’s like, oh, you’re fine.

Tyson Gaylord [00:16:06]:She’s like, no. I’m not fine, but they won’t run tests. They won’t do anything. So it’s very interesting that you’ve got a similar experience.

Risa August [00:16:14]:Yeah. Yep. And, yeah, and like you said, like, I’m hearing it more and more as well. And that’s how I went on to become an advocate and really start using my voice.

Tyson Gaylord [00:16:25]:Mhmm. And and that’s a a a thing I realized, during COVID times. I I really not that health is never in my own hands, but what I realized at that point, I was like, you our health your health is is your responsibility 100%. Nobody’s gonna come to save you. And like you’re saying, nobody it sounds like nobody was really trying to help you. It’s like you had to help yourself. You had to force the issue. And I think a lot of of, like you’re like you were saying earlier as well too, you know, you’re like, listen.

Tyson Gaylord [00:16:54]:You’re the expert. You’re the doctor. I guess you’re right. But we’ve gotta take that into our own hands because our health is our responsibility.

Risa August [00:17:02]:Absolutely. I couldn’t agree more. And I think it’s also empowering. Like, we’ve somehow become so disempowered.

Tyson Gaylord [00:17:10]:Yeah.

Risa August [00:17:11]:Like, oh, we they must know. We don’t know. And it’s like, wait a minute. We live in the these are vessels every day. Like

Tyson Gaylord [00:17:19]:Right.

Risa August [00:17:20]:You know, we we actually do know, but we somehow gotten away from that. Mhmm.

Tyson Gaylord [00:17:25]:And I think also, part of that too from what I I kinda see is I think people are so the human body is so remarkable. It it can just get used to anything. Right? You can just get used to sitting and you feel fine. You can use spelling like shit and you feel fine. Right? And it’s until until you you’re really sick or you go the other way, you’re like, oh my god. This is how I’m supposed to feel. So we can get used to so so much as a human.

Risa August [00:17:51]:Oh my gosh. Definitely. Definitely. Yes. Yes. I couldn’t agree more. And, and so yeah. And for me, once I once I had that taken away, I realized, oh my gosh.

Risa August [00:18:08]:Like like, how precious, you know, our bodies and how well we take care of the, how important that truly is.

Tyson Gaylord [00:18:18]:So you got this diagnosis. I I would imagine there was some sense of relief, but was there also a sense of not me. This can’t be name. Or or or I I don’t believe this. Maybe something else is wrong or, you know, some type of maybe, you know, the the the the what is it? The 5 steps or whatever of denial. Did you go through any of that? How how did that kinda work out in the beginning?

Risa August [00:18:41]:Yes. That’s also that’s a great question too. So I definitely validation felt the most important for me at that moment, sitting in that endocrinologist’s office. And, I mean, it was 8 is, an 8 year 7 years 7 and a half year journey to diagnosis. And finally finally, someone it wasn’t me, actually. Like, and so that was extremely important, for me, that moment. But then I’d say I did go through I kind of reverted to I have old Risa and new Risa. So Is of reverted The old Risa, like, okay.

Risa August [00:19:22]:Well, snap. Snap. Let’s get this done because I gotta get back to my old life. Yeah. And so there was maybe that denial of well, okay. This isn’t gonna be a big deal for me because I’m strong. I take care of myself. You know, all the things.

Risa August [00:19:37]:And so I just need it done. And so there was that denial. And then and then there was huge grief with it. I really struggled with letting go of that perfectionist. Like, I was good at everything. I mean, listen listen to me say that. Like, that’s what I thought. I was good at everything.

Risa August [00:19:57]:And now what am I? What am I now? I I’ll no longer be able to do an Ironman race again. I can barely walk around Costco for an hour. You know? I, I started forgetting things and making mistakes. I never made mistakes in my work. And so I started getting a really big dose of my humanity. Okay?

Tyson Gaylord [00:20:26]:The humble pie.

Risa August [00:20:27]:And, yes, I was extremely humbled. And and, again, that was really the true the turning point of me stepping into new Risa and becoming a better better version of Risa.

Tyson Gaylord [00:20:40]:22.0. The like it. What what was the the self talk or how did you how did you pull yourself through The? Is, you know, that’s a lot. You know, you’re challenging your self image. You’re challenging your self worth. All those things have just been instantly shattered, you know, but then there’s relief. How did you push yourself through that?

Risa August [00:21:02]:Gosh. Well, I definitely have a strong will and determination. So I had a lot of people outside of me telling me what I should do, what’s I even had doctors telling me what my life was gonna be like moving forward. And and luckily, I had this rebellious side that was like, oh, no. No. No. No. You don’t get to decide for me.

Risa August [00:21:27]:I I get to make that decision.

Tyson Gaylord [00:21:29]:Yeah.

Risa August [00:21:29]:And and I’ll show you. I’ll show you. And, and so, yeah, there was a point gosh. It must have been 6 months into following brain surgery and radiation treatment. And I was just I’ve been stuck in these tattered gray sweatpants for what felt like years, and they were just worn and tattered and shredded at the bottom. And I like, I hadn’t left the house in months. And, you know, it’s it was a just couldn’t be further from the person out riding a 100 miles for fun on a weekend or and I remember I had these big slider sliding glass doors that looked down to my down my driveway to my mailbox, and I I just was like I remember thinking, maybe I’ll walk to the mailbox today. And then I was like, well, maybe tomorrow.

Tyson Gaylord [00:22:31]:And

Risa August [00:22:31]:I’d go back to the couch, and and I just remember this specific moment. Again, I feel a little emotional around it. It’s I felt like this was no way to live. Like, I this is like I like, I don’t wanna live this way. And, like, the doctors don’t get to tell me, like, well, this is gonna be your life. You’re no longer gonna do Ironman races or CrossFit or you know about you’re gonna lose your memory after 10 years. And, like, I’m I just excuse my language, but that’s bullshit. Like, that’s that’s crap.

Risa August [00:23:09]:Like so I decided in that moment, I was gonna ride my bike from Canada to Mexico, and nobody was gonna tell me I couldn’t.

Tyson Gaylord [00:23:20]:I mean, from that’s a little bit farther than the mailbox, but that’s amazing to just make that decision and decide. Like, this is what I’m gonna do. That’s powerful.

Risa August [00:23:29]:It really was, and it it and it it was it was something to live for. And I don’t think it’s the bike ride so much as what it symbolized for me. You know? It could be anyone’s mountain or peak or or, you know, accomplishment or goal. It would but that just so happened to be mine.

Tyson Gaylord [00:23:50]:I think I think in life, it’s not so much about the goal, the destination, or the it’s that journey you’re gonna go on. It’s that that is where real life lives, where you just lived is is in that journey. And I think we’re so we’re so, focused on getting here. I’m getting to this next thing. I’m gonna do this thing, and and it’s really about the journey. And is sounds like that’s what you are kind of embracing is that journey.

Risa August [00:24:13]:Well, yeah, because, you know, all the steps it would take me to get there. Right? I mean, I had the the first thing I had to do was get out of those dumb sweatpants and burn them. You know? Like, It was time to get off that couch and walk to that mailbox. And and so it it was all the steps that led up to it. And along the way, like, magical things happened. You know? I had a huge support from all the people around name, support I never knew I had. I, I was started surprising myself. I mean, my first bike ride was 8 miles.

Risa August [00:24:54]:Oh my gosh. I just did 8 miles on my bike. Wow. You know? Like so it was all the things, like you said, along the journey. And that’s really what it name what it became about. And and it and, again, when I went on to do the bike ride, it wasn’t around the bike ride. It was a it was the journey down the Pacific Coast that that mattered, And that was full of surprises and magic as well and hard stuff. But

Tyson Gaylord [00:25:26]:Right. I I bet. So the journey from what I read is 1,845 miles. So I don’t know what that is in kilometers. And the thing, I I of it what you did. Is looks like what you did on this ride was on your bike, you wrote pedal damage. You didn’t put Mexico. You didn’t put whatever.

Tyson Gaylord [00:25:45]:Just The next step forward, the foot in front of the other. Just keep this thing spinning. I just love that. What a great way to frame that.

Risa August [00:25:53]:Oh, you got you have me emotional again. Yes. I, you know, if I was ever you know, like, the first two weeks were pouring rain and cold. And, you know, and I’m sleeping in my tent every night, and there was just no dryness or warmth to be seen for miles. And, you know, some days, yeah, all I could do was just look down at my head tube on my bike, that sat between sits between your handlebars and just look at it. It says pet pedal dammit. Like, that’s all like, some days, that’s all I had to do.

Tyson Gaylord [00:26:30]:Sometimes is all you can do. Right? Just keep pedaling. Just keep moving forward. You know, today might you might not accomplish a goal, but you’re still headed somewhere. You’re still headed towards where you need to be going.

Risa August [00:26:40]:Yes. Absolutely. And then there’s those moments where I could look up from the head tube, from that those words on my between my handlebars and see some incredible things and, you know, witness and experience some of the magic.

Tyson Gaylord [00:26:58]:How did you how did you embrace The suck? How did you get through the suck?

Risa August [00:27:03]:Can can you reframe that? What do you mean? Like, the the hard parts? Or

Tyson Gaylord [00:27:08]:All the hard you’re you’re wet. You’re cold. You’re probably never gonna get warm for whatever it took weeks or whatever it takes. So how do you get through that? You’re like, listen. This is just the way life’s gonna be. I’m gonna be wet. I’m gonna be seed deprived, but I’m gonna get through this.

Risa August [00:27:19]:Yes. Well, I there’s something that I a quality about me that I love is that I’m able to find humor in sometimes dark times. And I think I I was always someone who took life way too seriously. And so in this Risa 2 point o, this new Risa, I wanted to laugh more. And so I’ll tell you a little bit. I’ll tell you a little bit of a story. So, there were a group of riders with me. I think there was about 5 of us.

Risa August [00:27:54]:And we’re all we stopped for break, a snack break, and we’re all kind of huddled in this trees trying to get some of, and, and everyone’s just being polite. We were about, I don’t know, a week into this ride, maybe a little more, and it’s just rainy and cold. It wasn’t like this dream trip I think we all probably imagined. None of us knew each the, so we’re all being polite. And and I just said, can we just cut the crap already? And we just swear, like Yeah. This sucks. Yeah. And I got I got everyone to scream the f bomb because it out of, like, release of like, and then it turned into laughter.

Risa August [00:28:40]:And then we all hopped on our bikes, and and we just laughed the rest of the day spelling saying these swear words. You know? And we’d chuckle if someone rode past us spelling, and it was just you know, we just, like, found the humor in the in the hard times.

Tyson Gaylord [00:28:58]:That’s gotta be it’s probably so much relief from the other people thinking the same thing you’re thinking. Like, god. This sucks. I it should have been this. I I I dreamt of this, and and we get stuck in this thing of what we expect things to be instead of embracing them for what they are.

Risa August [00:29:14]:Well, definitely. And, you know, and then there’s it’s important to know too that you don’t have to stay there. Like, you can acknowledge is, and then, like you said, keep moving forward. Keep pedaling. Like, okay. This weather sucks. Let’s scream it out, and then let’s keep pedaling. So and I think that’s a a really good, it can be translated into life.

Risa August [00:29:38]:Like, you know, we don’t have to not acknowledge it or, like, realize, okay. This really sucks right now, and it’s crappy. But, you know, my mantra is, well, what can I do? Well, what can I do now in this moment? What am I capable and able to do now in this moment? What can I do? See what I did there? I took the word can.

Tyson Gaylord [00:30:01]:Right.

Risa August [00:30:01]:I took each letter from the word, and my mantra became capable, able, now, can. What can I do? So I stopped focusing on all the crap and what I couldn’t do and what sucked and what I should what I’m told I shouldn’t do. And I started asking myself, what can I do? And so I think in life, like, that’s where you get to. Like, okay. This sucks. But what can I do? Where can I go to keep moving forward?

Tyson Gaylord [00:30:25]:And that’s that’s a hard thing for people. Like, it’s easy to just just complain or stay the. But I I I you know, I tell people a lot of times, okay. That’s great. Now what are you gonna do? So what is your response to that question? Like, what are you gonna do now? What what are you gonna do? How do you how do you start doing? Instead of just staying instead of just staying in that complaining phase or staying in that spotters. You The? Does this make sense?

Risa August [00:30:51]:Right. Right. Well, I think it’s probably a different process for everyone. For me, I stopped I started shifting my perspective. I stopped looking at obstacles is, like, roadblocks. Like, okay. Okay. Well, for example, in Santa Barbara, I there was a wildfire, and they closed 30 miles of the road.

Tyson Gaylord [00:31:17]:Oh, wow. And I

Risa August [00:31:17]:got really mad and pissed off about it, and this sucks, and this ruins my plans. Well, we just found a route to go around. I’m so quick. Yeah. You know? So I started looking at obstacles that way. It’s like, okay. It’s just something I have to either go around, go over, maybe go through, go under. Maybe I can push it out of the way.

Risa August [00:31:37]:I don’t know. You know? I I even had thoughts of, well, can they stop me if I, you know, ride through the barricades in the cover of night? You know? Like but so I think it’s just it’s a matter of shifting your perspective of, like, wait a minute. Maybe this is actually an opportunity for you to look at things differently. Maybe you’re not supposed to go forward. Maybe you’re supposed to pivot a little and go diagonal or go right or go left. And and so I think it’s just actually an opportunity for us to look at things differently.

Tyson Gaylord [00:32:16]:The reminds me of this, stoic quote I love. I believe it’s from Marcus Aurelius. It says The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.

Risa August [00:32:27]:Oh, I gotta spend some time with that.

Tyson Gaylord [00:32:31]:Yeah. And, yeah, Ryan Holiday kinda coined the phrase of, the obstacle is the way. That’s how he summarized that into into that. But it’s interesting. Right? Like you’re saying, like, this obstacle is the way. The fire was the way. You you probably rode that route in a way nobody ever will because the fire was there, and you experienced that in a way nobody will experience.

Risa August [00:32:55]:Oh my gosh. I love that. Right? I haven’t I got to have I I had got to have a whole different opportunity like the like the. Yeah. It’s exactly. I love that so much.

Tyson Gaylord [00:33:06]:But that’s what you’re saying. Right? We take this can phrase and we reframe it. Right? We we bring the power back to us and we say, yes. This sucks. Yes. Whatever. My my dog died. My family’s died.

Tyson Gaylord [00:33:17]:I’m sick. I have a tumor and say, okay. Great. Now what do we do? What’s the action step? How can we move 1 foot 4? How do I get to the mailbox? I don’t wanna get off this couch, but I’ve gotta make my way to the mailbox. Even if it’s just today, I make it to the front door, and tomorrow I step outside the front door.

Risa August [00:33:35]:Yes. Yes. And and it’s you don’t have to not be sad. Like, I cried my way through the the rain so many days. I, you know, I screamed. I yelled. I was mad. I journaled.

Risa August [00:33:50]:Like like, it wasn’t it wasn’t squeaky clean. You know? It wasn’t with full joy and ease. So it was just but it was all part of the process.

Tyson Gaylord [00:34:02]:Mhmm. And then you went again, and you went to Spain. Is said, let me do 500 miles there. How do we get there?

Risa August [00:34:08]:Yes. Well, that day on the couch, when I decided I was riding my bike down the Pacific Coast, I also started looking at all the things on my bucket list. The, again, I feel more emotions. So it was I started looking at all the things I ever wanted to try or do in life, all the things that I would like, oh my gosh. That looks so cool. I’d love to try that. But I was so rigid in the way I was living. Nope.

Risa August [00:34:37]:I’m an Ironman athlete, and this is how I live, and this is what I have time for, and this is what I have planned. And so I never got to experience all those other things I wanted to experience. And so I I pulled out that bucket list, and I started adding to it like crazy. And before I knew it, like, I was taking, like, all different kinds of dance classes, and I took, like, an a circus aerials class. I took I went I started trying axe throwing and indoor skydiving and going to the theater. And and I realized how much I had been missing out on for so many years because I was just so rigid in the way I was living my life. And then all of a sudden, I was so much more expansive. And then I was like, I wanna expand even more.

Risa August [00:35:31]:Like, what else can I do? What else can I try? But, you know, so riding some somewhere in Europe and and I’m not done. There’s more places I wanna go. But Excellent. I was like, I I’m gonna ride the Camino. And this is where the my mantra, what can I do name is to play because, physically, I couldn’t hike that far anymore? It just without extreme extreme pain, and I’m not even sure I would finish. Mhmm. But I could still bike, and I said, I’m gonna ride my bike. That’s how I’m gonna do is.

Risa August [00:36:09]:And so I found a way. And and so and so it was, yeah, it was like another bucket list item, and, it was a solo journey. This time I was on my own, and it was it challenged me in every possible way you can imagine. The only the only thing I can remember that was actually on my side was the weather. Everything else seemed to just be like like, I day from day 1, I could have quit. I could have just said, nope. This ain’t spelling, but I just kept saying, alright. What can I do? What can I do in this moment?

Tyson Gaylord [00:36:53]:And that’s the easy thing. Everybody quits. Right? It’s it’s easy to just say, ah, I I’m in Spain. I might as well just go to the beach. What am I doing? I don’t need to ride my bike. That’s easy.

Risa August [00:37:04]:Yeah. I could have easily just got a taxi, went to the end, told no the, spend Yeah. Spend the rest of my time, you know, in Spain just living it up. You know? But, but, again, I went back to, okay, who am I doing this for? I’m doing it for me. It was on my bucket list. I wanted to do it, and I wanted to accomplish it. And so I had to start shifting my perspective. Like, instead of thinking about the end, like, the end of, I think it was 7 140 kilometers.

Risa August [00:37:36]:So, like, the so instead of thinking, like, at the end is Santiago de Compostela, I was like, okay. I gotta get through tomorrow. So, like, how can I how can I set tomorrow set myself up tomorrow for success? Like, what can I do? Okay. I’ll map it out really well. I’ll figure out where I can stop. I’ll make sure I have enough food. Like, you know, it it was it was just one step at a name. One day at a time.

Tyson Gaylord [00:38:03]:Just pedal.

Risa August [00:38:04]:Just pedal. Damn it.

Tyson Gaylord [00:38:08]:So if you had a friend or a client or somebody that’s that you could hear, like, they need a shift, how would you talk to them about making that shift like you made?

Risa August [00:38:26]:I I mean, I would ask them oftentimes, our way of thinking is a result of patterns. Think like the way we’re used to thinking. So I’d I’d probably the first thing I’d ask them is, well, what if you looked at that differently or thought about that differently? Or what if you tried something different than you’re used to? Oh, I think that’s a question I ask a lot of, like, well, what if you did it different this time? I think I asked my clients that quite a bit. And they’re like, well, So The that scene, you know, starts penetrating, and they’re like, what if I did it for him? Well, I don’t know how I would do it. Okay. Well, what if you just tried spelling? You know? And what’s the next step? Well, it’s it’s amazing what people come up with. We all have the answers within us. Right?

Tyson Gaylord [00:39:26]:Right.

Risa August [00:39:26]:Oh, and all of a sudden, they’re listing on, well, I could do this and I do that, and maybe I could do that. And and they stop focusing on the actual thing, and they start focusing on the next step. Well, I could do this, and then that would lead me to that. And then and all of a sudden, they’re empowered. And they’re like, wait a and and they’re like, thank you. And I’m like, no. You came up with all the answers. Right.

Risa August [00:39:49]:And, and so, you know, we are way more powerful than we think.

Tyson Gaylord [00:39:55]:It reminds me of a a a question I saw on your website. It says, what if we unlimited ourselves and opened up to possibility? I love that. Unlimited ourselves. What a great phrase. Can you expand on that a little bit?

Risa August [00:40:10]:Yes. Well, I I mean, I remember it’s of stems from actually being in The therapy session and trying to figure out who I was now. But I was afraid to be who I was now. I was I was afraid that the person everyone was used to like, no one would accept the person I now was.

Tyson Gaylord [00:40:37]:The risk of 2.0.

Risa August [00:40:39]:The 2.0. And and I remember grabbing my chest and saying, I just wanna unleash. And and that became my handle, Arisa unleashed. And and I remember that like, that represented, like, all the places in my life I was limiting myself and all the limiting thoughts I had of, you know, which a lot of times aren’t even our own. Like, we somehow pick them up along the way. But, like, I and I just thought, you know and then there were there were times where, like I said, doctors were limiting name. And other people, oh, you shouldn’t you shouldn’t you should rest or you should do this. And I was just like, no way.

Risa August [00:41:26]:You know, if I start listening to that or listening to my own inner limiting voice, like, then I’ll just still be in the gray sweatpants on the couch. Right?

Tyson Gaylord [00:41:36]:Right.

Risa August [00:41:36]:So I I wanted to, like, unlimited. I I I believe I can have a limitless life, you know? And then so I wanted to unlimited myself from any of those outside beliefs, my own, you know, sabotaging beliefs. And and, you know, life can be what I want it to be. I get to choose the lens I view my life through. Like, I get to choose that.

Tyson Gaylord [00:42:04]:Yeah. That that’s lovely. I that like you’re spelling, right, so much of the things we we think and we believe is because somebody else imprinted onto us that. Right? From from probably from childhood. Well, meaning people that just love you to death, your mom, your dad, your grandparents, whoever it was, you know. And why do you put your shoe on left foot shoe first? Because somebody said, not that, but the other foot. And from that, you don’t even know why you do that. Right? There’s so many things we do.

Tyson Gaylord [00:42:29]:They’re all habitual. They’re just all a part of that. And having that freedom guests like, I don’t need to do it this way. I don’t have to do it because you did, because you were scared, because you failed. Doesn’t mean I can’t I I can’t experience failure. Maybe I’m gonna fail too, but I’m gonna experience that. Right? That’s that’s so powerful.

Risa August [00:42:49]:Oh my gosh. Yes. And then who gets to it’s just reshit like pivoting or redirecting. Like, okay. That didn’t go according the way I thought it was gonna go, so I’m gonna try it this way. Like but I I no longer see it as failure. It’s it’s actually a learning opportunity. Right?

Tyson Gaylord [00:43:14]:Yeah. Yeah. Whatever it’s whatever you frame it to be. Right? If you think failure is failing, then, hey. If you think failure is learning, you know, that’s that’s that’s whatever your belief is. And so so, you know, I I think it makes me think, you know, when do we realize this in life? All the things you should’ve tried and all the things I wish I would’ve did. It’s when you’re dying or when you get a diagnosis like you had, and it’s like, fuck. Now I have a tumor, and I didn’t do anything because somebody else told me not to do it.

Tyson Gaylord [00:43:44]:Or I’m on my deathbed, and I’m counting down the minutes and fuck, all that shit everybody told me not to do. I wish I would’ve just tried it.

Risa August [00:43:52]:Yeah. Well, 1, I love that you just said the f bomb twice. I’m a big fan of the

Tyson Gaylord [00:44:00]:f bomb. So That’s that’s that’s, like, that’s my top words right

Risa August [00:44:06]:there. Yes. Well, I, you know, I I couldn’t it’s like that Lewis Carroll quote, from Alice in Wonderland. I can’t go back to yesterday because I’m not the same person. And and I I might not have said The said it, exact verbatim, but, like, you know and I always love that. Like, like, I can’t go back to yesterday. So who am I now in this moment today, and what can I do? And so, again, I could be mad at my tumor, or I could name it Bubba and have a conversation with him. And, you know, and what started out to be my number the nemesis became my biggest fan.

Risa August [00:44:52]:So, again, it’s it’s all about perspective, and I I truly think I I believe I’ve been given a gift. I I’m way better. I, you know, I was kind of an asshole, you know, pre or pre, diagnosis. And and I’m I like me way better now. And I’m happier and kinder and more compassionate. And, I leave bigger tips. And I wear the clothes I want. And I love art.

Risa August [00:45:27]:And so I just feel more expansive and open to all the things, all the possibilities.

Tyson Gaylord [00:45:36]:It’s interesting that that is a very common response reaction to people that have had near death experiences or cancer, stuff that survived. It’s like, this was the best thing that never happened to me because they became the person they probably always wanted to be.

Risa August [00:45:50]:Yes. Oh, I love that. Yes. Yeah. I’m definitely becoming the person I always wanted to be. And what I what I’m really excited about is it’s not done. Like, I get to spend the rest of my life expanding and becoming the person I wanna the. And that feel to me feels exciting.

Tyson Gaylord [00:46:10]:That is that that is the essence of life. It’s so much fun to constantly be doing that. Is that reminds me of something else I I read in your site where it’s it was she wonders if the woman she once was will ever return. Do you care about that anymore? How did you deal with that?

Risa August [00:46:25]:Oh, no. I think I it was a it was a journey. It was a process, you know, because so much of me was caught up in that identity. Like, I used to be one of the strongest women in my CrossFit gym. Now I’m the weakest. I’m the absolute weakest. Physiologically, I don’t think I can ever be, that physically strong again. And so I have moments of, you know, seeing all my friends, like, PR, you know, increase their one rep max or you know? And I’m just like, oh, you know? But but then I I get to revel in well, you know what though? At one name, I was back squatting 210, and that’s pretty badass.

Tyson Gaylord [00:47:20]:Yeah. You

Risa August [00:47:21]:know? So, like and and I’ve had a big life. I’ve traveled a lot. And so I can I can either focus on what I can no longer do or I could focus on all the things I’ve actually accomplished and have done? And and it’s pretty cool. I’ve I’ve really had a big life. I’ve really had an amazing life.

Tyson Gaylord [00:47:42]:And it does from everything I’ve seen from you, it it it does. And you are an inspiration to go and and have some sense that’s so devastating to persevere and is take on these big challenges and to reinvent yourself into risk of 2.0. It it is something, you know, people that are out there, maybe you don’t you haven’t had this experience yet, but maybe don’t let it happen and reinvent yourself now. Become 2.0 version of yourself. Start living for what you want, not what your parents asked for, not what society said, not what your teacher told you you could or couldn’t do.

Risa August [00:48:13]:Oh, gosh. Exactly. And it doesn’t have to be an 1800 mile bike ride. Just take the cooking class you always wanted to take or learn to paint or draw or, like, or make sure have coffee with a friend, like, every other week. You know? It is could be anything, but start taking those steps toward the person you you wanna The. And and, I mean, watch your life unfold. It just takes one step, and then all of a sudden, you have this incredible path ahead of you.

Tyson Gaylord [00:48:46]:Yeah. You just need that momentum. Mhmm. When when you when you were diagnosed, maybe even when you were sick, now knowing what you kinda know with with the pituitary and these different types of things, was there something you think maybe you you you ate or your work or something? Because I know there’s chemicals that could be involved in pesticides and plastics and stuff that they think kinda lead to some of these things. Is there something you maybe identified or something you thought about in that realm?

Risa August [00:49:12]:Oh my gosh. This is the is really interesting that you’re bringing this up. I I mean, I’ve had someone tell me once that they believed it was it’s the soil, that we have bad soil here and and The the food we eat. And, but if you ask it was a medical intuitive who told me that. But if you ask a traditional like, a conventional doctor that they’ll say they don’t know. Yeah.

Tyson Gaylord [00:49:46]:They’re generally recognized as safe. It’s okay if you have glyphosate. There’s nothing wrong with it. A little bit of mercury is just fine.

Risa August [00:49:52]:Right. Yes. So so, and then if you look at it as on an energetic level, the the pituitary is the control center of the body. And, you know, I’ve always had this need to control my environment, and now nothing was in my control.

Tyson Gaylord [00:50:13]:Yeah.

Risa August [00:50:14]:And so, again, maybe. Maybe.

Tyson Gaylord [00:50:20]:Yeah. I just, I just was thinking. I I think, I I don’t know if you have a graduate in geology or something like that. So I was trying to think. I of I wonder if some of your work being out there, maybe being out in the fields or something or chemicals or, assays or something. I I guests was wondering maybe if you have some ideas. I don’t know. Maybe just just The maybe people that maybe we can inform people like, hey.

Tyson Gaylord [00:50:42]:Listen. Maybe you feel a little bit this way. These are some things that you’ve identified. I I I don’t know. I’m just trying to pull

Risa August [00:50:47]:it through. I don’t think there’s any rhyme or reason to to it. But what I do know is that they’re finding these tumors in 1 in 5 people, 1 in 4a half to be exact. But, but but they’re extremely difficult to diagnose. Mhmm. Let me rephrase that. I don’t think I said it properly. It’s believed that 1 in 5 people are walking around in these because they’re finding The, these tumors, in autopsies.

Risa August [00:51:18]:But, like, again, they’re difficult to diagnose. A lot of the symptoms are things like fatigue, headache. Bones do change, like, they you know, hands and feet grow, hair hair growth changes, skin changes. You know, it’s we’re dealing with the pituitary gland that controls your hormones, and hormones control everything.

Tyson Gaylord [00:51:46]:Right.

Risa August [00:51:46]:And, even sometimes the way you think. And so, but fatigue, joint pain, I don’t know, hair growth.

Tyson Gaylord [00:51:58]:Yeah.

Risa August [00:51:58]:A lot of times doctors are like, well, you’re getting older. You know?

Tyson Gaylord [00:52:02]:Right. Yeah. It’s easy to

Risa August [00:52:03]:Yeah. Miss these things. And so some I think that’s what we’re trying to do with, The there’s more diseases than I can count that are associated with pituitary, tumors. But with my is, acromegaly, it’s not it’s not always obvious. Sometimes The features change, the facial and body features, but on some people, it’s not obvious. And, and so, again, it becomes difficult to diagnose. And it could, it it could be a matter of a blood test. And so we’re you know, I’m working with some organizations where we’re trying to get the a simple blood test added to the basic metabolic panel that we often get from our, annual visits with our doctors, with our primary cares.

Tyson Gaylord [00:52:59]:Yeah. No. I I know, from my understanding, Tony Robbins had a similar thing, which made him grow really tall and big. So, you know

Risa August [00:53:06]:He he has this I have the same disease that he has.

Tyson Gaylord [00:53:09]:Right. Right. And so for him, from my understanding, you’re really doing nothing to him The maybe as severe as you have had it. You know?

Risa August [00:53:17]:Well, he is, you know, he he’s an and I’m trying to tread lightly here. He’s Sure. He’s, his I can’t say what his internal, symptoms are are. But, physically, if a doctor saw him, he would have the obvious signs of, you know, of of the disease. I don’t know how it’s impacting him otherwise. But,

Tyson Gaylord [00:53:46]:he’s spoken about it a little bit here and there. Mhmm. From my understanding, what he said, it it hasn’t really had a impact on his life. But like you’re saying, who knows? Because you could have these things that seem benign. It seemed normal. Like, oh, yeah. I’m tired. I’m getting older and and whatnot.

Tyson Gaylord [00:54:01]:And and really, really, it’s actually a problem.

Risa August [00:54:04]:Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I went from running marathons for fun. And now I like I said, I can’t walk around Costco for too long without being in pain. And, you know, when you go to Costco, like, you wanna spend The 2 hours there. Right?

Tyson Gaylord [00:54:24]:Right. Right. If you can’t enjoy Costco, what’s what’s the point of living?

Risa August [00:54:29]:Exactly.

Tyson Gaylord [00:54:31]:How how do you keep pushing forward? Like, it is would be so easy, and I don’t think anybody would blame you if they just you’re like, yeah. She sits on the couch now. I get it. I would too. How do you just keep pushing?

Risa August [00:54:46]:I mean, I I definitely have my moments. I just went through a rough few months being on a a different medication that was I was really struggling on. And, I mean, I was at I’ve really man, I support reaching out to friends, some kind of therapeutic, support, and going back to finding that spark inside of me. We all have it. We all have a spark. And and sometimes it just needs The the it needs to be fanned. You know? Like, it needs or reignited. So, again, I kept trying things.

Risa August [00:55:33]:Like, okay. That’s not that’s not working. Okay. What can I try next? And and I I just go back to the things that light me up, that relight that spark. And, and it’s not always easy. And on the days it’s not always easy, maybe I don’t get out of bed, and that’s okay. It’s okay if I stay in bed all day. Actually, what a luxury.

Risa August [00:55:58]:We should all do that more often, you know, put on Netflix and binge watch a show and eat eat my cookies and milk in bed. Like so

Tyson Gaylord [00:56:12]:I I heard of a new trend along that lines where you can get this thing. They have hotel rooms where you can just rent for the afternoon, and people just go and lounge around. So interesting.

Risa August [00:56:22]:That’s fun. Yeah. The sounds like a lot of fun. I’ll put that on my bucket list.

Tyson Gaylord [00:56:29]:I believe that the website is daypass.com. If anybody’s interested, I’ll link to that for you guys. You guys can check that out.

Risa August [00:56:36]:Yeah. And I all I mean, I also think it goes back to, also, like, kindness and giving. Like, I actually got on my I haven’t been on my bike since Spain. I got back from Spain in June.

Tyson Gaylord [00:56:50]:Okay.

Risa August [00:56:51]:And I I was like, I don’t wanna see this bike ever again. You know? It was such a challenging trip. And I got on my bike, my friend and I, on Saturday, and I was like, I don’t wanna go over 20 miles. I just I don’t wanna go over 20 miles. And, and so we rode our bikes to a pumpkin patch. Oh. And I filled my saddlebags, my panniers, with mini pumpkins. Mhmm.

Risa August [00:57:19]:And and I just started handing them out to people on our bike ride.

Tyson Gaylord [00:57:23]:Oh, how beautiful.

Risa August [00:57:24]:And it was just like, you know, happy hall it’s my Halloween’s my favorite holiday. This time of year, I love the fall. And and, man, did that fill me up. And I was just like, oh my gosh. I’m back. Like, I’m just I’m back to that place of just feeling full and full of joy. And, and now I like my bike again.

Tyson Gaylord [00:57:50]:Something that made me think about spelling when you were talking about this was, you know, I I’d also like to see people be like a cheerleader of champion for your friend or or your loved ones or your family that’s that’s wants to do something. It’s like, stop putting them down and, like, let yeah. Do go do that thing, you know, and be be people’s cheerleaders. I wanna see more of that.

Risa August [00:58:11]:Yes. Yes. And, I, yeah, I speak to that a little bit in my story too is I I remember being I was stuck in ICU for 10 days. I was only supposed to be in the hospital for 2 days, and I was in and ICU for 10 days. And, and I remember, complaining, like, day 5. And I’m just, like, so pissed. And I’m like, when do I get to go home? Because old Risa was like, gotta get back to life. Gotta do all these things.

Risa August [00:58:41]:And and my doctor comes in and and, oh, this moment, like, I’ll never forget this. He said, you know, you can you can look at it as a matter of perspective. And I was, like, gonna throat punch him because I’m, like, you’re not the one sitting in this bed right now. And I had all these tubes and stuff. And and and he said, well, you’re most likely the only person on this floor who will be going home. Only patient, I should say. And I was like, holy shit. And he was right.

Risa August [00:59:13]:And so I you know, this therapist kept coming by my room trying to get me to walk. Mhmm. You know, and I’m thinking I’m an Ironman athlete and I can’t even walk. You know? Like and and I kept telling her, no. No. And then she came on this day after I heard the. And and I’m like I don’t my god. I’m how am I gonna get out of all these constraints? Which came became a huge metaphor for me.

Risa August [00:59:38]:And and she was like, whatever. We’ll unhook them all. Like, it was no big deal to her. And but but I had, like, I had this idea of, like, no. I’m stuck in this bed. And, and and so there I am with a walker. You know? You know, mind you, a year earlier, I was crossing the finish line of an Ironman name, and now I’m like, with this walker, and I’m, like, sliding around the floor. And all of a sudden, all the nurses and the doctors and people were just cheering so loud for me.

Tyson Gaylord [01:00:10]:Oh, it’s amazing.

Risa August [01:00:12]:And they they don’t know who I am. Like right? And and so, again, I feel emotional over that, but it’s like you have cheerleaders out there that you probably haven’t even met yet. You know? There’s people out there rooting for you. And and so I’ll I’ll never I’ll never forget that, that there’s there’s always there’s always a cheerleader out there for you.

Tyson Gaylord [01:00:34]:What a beautiful story. And if there isn’t, you be 1.

Risa August [01:00:37]:Yes. Exactly. And the and that was a a beautiful example for me because I have gone on to to be 1. I mean, I’ll show up at, like, 5 k races or things with a sign that’s like, I don’t know you, but you’re fucking awesome. Or, you know, you’re hey, stranger. You’re amazing. Keep going. You know? I’ve I’ve that’s how I live my life now.

Risa August [01:01:02]:Everyone is is amazing and and awesome. And I and I you know, it’s no longer about you’re awesome, and I’m gonna beat you at The, or I’m gonna be better. You know? The old Risa who was just kinda the one upper, like, oh, gosh. Even talking about her, I’m like, oh. And and now I, like, genuinely, like, wanna build people up and support them. And and so and and and again, that’s part of where that joy comes from. Like, when you say, okay. Like, some of the days, if I can’t get out of bed for me, okay, I’m maybe maybe getting out of bed for someone who needs me.

Risa August [01:01:42]:Maybe that’s that’s what needs to happen today. I don’t know. I don’t know. Yeah.

Tyson Gaylord [01:01:48]:There’s power in that. Right? Giving yourself up to service or to or so something like that where, you know, you you you lend yourself. Like, listen. Okay. Yeah. Maybe I can’t do this today, but I I committed to this. I gotta show up for this other person or this other situation where they’re in much dire situations than you possibly are.

Risa August [01:02:07]:Yeah. I mean, oftentimes, it could get us out of our own crap. It could help us shift our own perspective of our the circumstances we’re in.

Tyson Gaylord [01:02:16]:Yeah. It’s a whole lot easier to be grateful when you’re looking at somebody else’s life and like Yeah. Dang. Like, wow. I mean, so much of the things that, you know, we we wanted for and we wish for, we have now are just thrown to the wayside. You know? We our homes are filled with these things. We we yearn for them, and you get the, and then you’re like, yeah. Okay.

Tyson Gaylord [01:02:32]:Okay. What’s next?

Risa August [01:02:33]:Yeah. Yep.

Tyson Gaylord [01:02:35]:So this incredible journey you’ve been on, if you if if if you can think of one thing, what what is the greatest lessons you’ve learned so far?

Risa August [01:02:46]:Oh, gosh. 1. First The. No one gets to tell you, what you should or shouldn’t do or what’s not possible. Like, you get to choose. Yeah. You get to choose that. Don’t limit yourself.

Risa August [01:03:08]:Again, I couldn’t hike the Camino, but I could bike it. So find find another way. If you can’t go through it, go over it or around it. Don’t limit yourself. And 3, you know, we have more power than we think. Some oftentimes, it’s just a matter of tilting your head and looking at it from a different perspective.

Tyson Gaylord [01:03:31]:Yeah. Or just coming up above it and, you know, detaching yourself and looking from 10 or 5, 15,000 feet and saying, what’s going on down there? If I just get above this problem or situation, I’ll have a whole new perspective.

Risa August [01:03:42]:Right. And then ask yourself the question, well, what can I do? What am I capable and able to do now in this moment? Absolutely. See what I need you.

Tyson Gaylord [01:03:54]:Yeah. Yeah. Is there any habits you’ve recently added or removed from from your life?

Risa August [01:04:02]:Habits. Well, I’ve definitely become really good at doing things that feed my soul. So, you know, when I used to train for Ironmans, I wasn’t I think I was enjoying being out there in the rain running 22 miles. God, no. It’s it’s it was lonely, and I was hungry and bored. And, and it was hard. So now I I find things that that bring me joy. You know, I do the things that bring me joy.

Risa August [01:04:39]:And I’ve also learned to let go of, you know, like I said, I was so stringent on plans. Well, this is the plan. Like, this is how it has to go. And now I’m just I’m way more laid back about, okay. Well, this was my plan for today, but this is what happened. And now it’s this and and allowing for whatever to come to come in. You know? Like, we were talking about that fire, how it redirected name. And and you said, yeah.

Risa August [01:05:07]:But now you got to do this whole different journey that you otherwise would have not experienced. And and so that’s really how, what I’ve opened up to in in life is not being so stringent and hard on myself. And, you know, and it’s like that quote. I’m gonna get it wrong, but it’s it’s being that light. You know, being that light, waking up and being that light in the world, and just shining. You know, that’s that’s my purpose. And then hopefully, other people will, you know, you know, it’s like the candle where you light one candle and then another another, and and then before you know it, everyone’s shining. So

Tyson Gaylord [01:05:52]:Yeah. I love that. It’s beautiful. Yeah. We gotta light up people’s candles, give them their flowers and whatnot and stuff now. Is there is there, like, a book or something you wish you would have read earlier in life?

Risa August [01:06:04]:Oh, gosh. I I’ve read so many and, like, fortunately, like like, I got really into reading probably in my twenties. And so I read all the thing, you know, all I could soak up because I was all about, like, I wanted to evolve and it was funny. I I wasn’t evolving at all, but I was reading I was reading about it. Right? And now I don’t read as much because, it’s more about doing it my way, like, not the way everyone’s saying you should everyone’s made it so complicated. Like, you should do this and try that, and here’s these tools. And it’s like, actually, if I just sit back and get into my body and be in my heart and do what feels good and right we all know what feels good and right. We all know that.

Risa August [01:06:55]:We have that in us. And so if I follow that, that’s really what guides me. But, but gosh. Yeah. What is this? What is the I know there’s a book that I’m like, that’s the one. But what’s coming to mind first is probably The Dow of Poo.

Tyson Gaylord [01:07:17]:Okay.

Risa August [01:07:19]:And I just think because it’s, it’s actually a simp I like the playful nature of simplifying life. You know? Pooh just went about his day. There were no plans. Is was just like he ended up wherever he ended up, and sometimes there was, like, crazy situations. And sometimes it was a blissful moment next to the lake fishing with, Piglet or you know? And, and he was kind of he was actually the most wise and the center of calm with all the other stuff going on around him. And so, so that’s and I’ve I did read that in my twenties, but I I think it would be really awesome to go back and read it again. So

Tyson Gaylord [01:08:08]:I I agree now that I’m thinking about it. I mean, it’s probably a good metaphor there. Right? It’s probably why they made that for children. You know, poo is the, you know, the old wise Yoda, Buddha. It’s just like, listen. Let’s just go. Piglet, it’s okay. You know, Tigger, chill out.

Tyson Gaylord [01:08:22]:You know, donkey, don’t have to be sad. It’s okay. There’s probably a lot of good metaphors in there.

Risa August [01:08:27]:Oh, for sure. For sure.

Tyson Gaylord [01:08:29]:If you think of something else, let me know, and I’ll throw them in the show notes for people. Okay.

Risa August [01:08:32]:I will. I will.

Tyson Gaylord [01:08:33]:No pressure. That’s great. So we do have your book sitting behind you, The Road Unpaid, the award winning book that you wrote. We have your website, Risa August. You have a sub stat. You’ve got Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and whatnot. All these places people could connect with you. Is there anything else you wanna point people to so that they can find out more about you, connect with you, and whatnot?

Risa August [01:08:55]:No. I get I would just say my website has it all, risaaugust dotcom, and that was truly, my website’s become really representative of, who I really wanna step into. It’s it’s not just this one thing. I’m not just an author or a speaker. You know? It’s all the things that make up Risa Guests. And so I love I love when others hold witness to that.

Tyson Gaylord [01:09:22]:No. You you there’s a lot there. You did done a good job. There’s you can see all the facets of you there. It’s not just the book or the coaching. Or you have your sparkle stuff. You have your your art and and whatnot. There’s a lot there.

Tyson Gaylord [01:09:33]:You see the layers of of you.

Risa August [01:09:35]:Yeah. And I and I love that about me. So it might be too much for others, but I love it about me.

Tyson Gaylord [01:09:41]:We we all have layers, and we need to show them. We need to let people know it’s okay. You can be this. You don’t have to be a cookie cutter thing. We can we can embrace ourselves. We can embrace our our true identities and who we wanna be.

Risa August [01:09:53]:Agreed. Thank you for saying that. Absolutely.

Tyson Gaylord [01:09:56]:Of social media show, I like to do a weekly challenge. Something it could be something we talked about or something we didn’t talk about at all, and I’d like you to issue this week’s challenge.

Risa August [01:10:07]:Oh, goodness. Okay. I I challenge you to oh, there’s so many. I I challenge you to sign up for that thing you’ve always wanted to sign up for. Like I said, that cooking class or schedule that thing you’ve always wanted to do. Yeah. Pull out that The old bucket list and pick that pick one thing. One thing.

Risa August [01:10:42]:Even if it doesn’t happen for, like, 5 months or, you know, but get it on your calendar, schedule it, do it.

Tyson Gaylord [01:10:49]:That’s beautiful.

Risa August [01:10:50]:Tell you. Yeah.

Tyson Gaylord [01:10:51]:Yeah. Go

Risa August [01:10:51]:ahead. And put it in the notes. I wanna hear. I wanna

Tyson Gaylord [01:10:54]:see Please.

Risa August [01:10:55]:What you yeah. I wanna see what you sign up for.

Tyson Gaylord [01:10:59]:Yes. That that’s beautiful. Because, you know, you you don’t know. You may not be here tomorrow. You might not be here next week. So let’s get these things done. Let’s start, you know, living without any regrets or things.

Risa August [01:11:09]:What would it be what would it be for you? What are you gonna sign up for this week?

Tyson Gaylord [01:11:13]:Oh, wow. I don’t know. I typically do what I want. So, well, that’s a great question. I I don’t publish. I like I said, I kinda I kinda do what I want. I’m very I’m very fortunate that I I can do anything I want. My wife is lovely, and and and it’s it’s really it’s really a privilege.

Tyson Gaylord [01:11:36]:I probably should say yes to more things. I think that’s what I wanna do. I’m gonna write this down. I’m gonna I I say no to all things because I I’m very protective of my time, and I probably blow things off more The I would probably probably would be a big deal and I would enjoy.

Risa August [01:11:49]:Okay. I’m I’m

Tyson Gaylord [01:11:50]:gonna say yes to things. That’s what I’m gonna do.

Risa August [01:11:52]:Okay.

Tyson Gaylord [01:11:54]:Thank you for challenging me me with that. It’s been a great pleasure. I love learning from you. I love your inspiring story. I hope somebody out there that’s either going through something similar or or just is inspired by The story alone can can really transform their life and start living in in in a better way.

Risa August [01:12:12]:Oh, thank you, Tyson. Again, I’m so appreciative and grateful to be here. So thank you so much for chatting with me.

Tyson Gaylord [01:12:19]:You’re absolutely welcome. So many great lessons, so many great things. I hope you guys implement these things we talked about here in the episode. Be PIPs cheerleaders. I think we need a little bit more of that in this world. And don’t let anybody tell you what you can’t do. At least try and at least fail. That’s all we can ask.

Tyson Gaylord [01:12:37]:And you know somebody that could use this message, someone that maybe needs to take a little bit more chances, maybe needs to fail, share this with 2 of you. Maybe you guys join together, and you guys start doing some stuff together. As always, you can connect with us all week long name your favorite social media apps, Facebook, Instagram, and all those good things. You can subscribe on your favorite podcast chat if you wish to. We’re at past episodes and links to everything we talk about here today. You can head over to socialchameleon dot show. Until next time, keep learning, growing, and transforming to the person you wanna become.

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