Champions Mojo

• A 9-Foot Gator Took Her Arm, But She Saw a Silver Lining and Maybe Angels: Rachael Lillienthal, ENCORE EP 288

  What happens when a perfect Florida swim turns into a fight for your life from a 9-foot alligator grabbing onto your arm? In this riveting encore episode, Masters Swimmer Rachael Lilienthal takes us stroke by stroke through her 2015 alligator attack, the breath that steadied her in a death roll, and the unlikely chain of strangers who became heroes with a kayak paddle, a firm grip, and a medical-grade tourniquet. From river chaos to a trauma bay within an hour, the details are visceral, human, and unforgettable.We talk about the kind of resilience that isn’t a poster—slow exhales, clear commands, and small choices that compound into survival. Rachel opens up about the ambulance regret, the angry nights, and why saying this is too hard can be the bravest move in the room. Then the story pivots to rebuilding: occupational therapy hacks, ditching zippers for simplicity, adaptive tools that return dignity, and the decision to keep swimming. Watching Paralympians changed her technique; masters coaching refined her form; breath set the rhythm. The result: a gold medal in the 200-meter butterfly and a body that moves with purpose instead of force.We also explore the quiet scaffolding, or was it Angels?,  that made “luck” possible: lifeguard instincts, community readiness, and a deputy who fought to put tourniquets in patrol cars years before this day. Rachel’s mindset is a masterclass—silver linings as daily practice, spirituality as fuel, and service as a responsibility. She even launched a simple YouTube channel to share easy raw-food recipes, betting that one healthier meal a week can shift someone’s trajectory. And she leaves us with a clear warning: don’t feed wildlife. When animals lose their fear of humans, everyone loses.If this story moved you, share it with a friend, leave a quick review, and follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next. Your support helps more listeners find real tools for mindset, health, and performance.Check out Kelly's latest book an investigative journalistic book on a denied global health epidemic at https://www.False-Cure.com Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

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• How A Busy ER Doc Swims To Win 100 National Titles: Kurt Dickson, ENCORE EP 287

  What does it take to win national swimming titles while working chaotic ER shifts and raising a competitive family? In this encore episode, we sit down with masters legend and ER physician Kurt Dixon to unpack the habits, mindset, and simple systems that keep him fast at 54—and grounded through real-life storms. Kurt’s résumé is staggering: 100+ U.S. masters national wins, world records, the Triple Crown of Marathon Swimming, and Ironman finishes. Yet his playbook is refreshingly unfancy: repeatable sets, six days a week in the water, no strength training, and a taper built on broken 200s to spark race speed. He talks candidly about racing anxiety, why practice times don’t predict his meets, and how to stay calm when the late-race pain hits in the 1000 and 1650.We also explore the mental framework that turns adversity into fuel. After job upheaval, family crises, and the pandemic, Kurt rebuilt with a three-part response: forgive to clear mental space, choose better environments and patience, then harness primal energy into training. That shift led to one of his best competitive years. You’ll hear how he uses long swims to focus, how ER trauma changes the way he defines pressure, and why consistent naps and weekly yoga matter more with age. He shares injury lessons, simple shoulder prehab, and technique tweaks that protect joints without sacrificing speed.On the personal side, Kurt’s humor shines. He loves milk chocolate and M&Ms, trains mostly alone, and jokes about buoyancy over body composition. His wife—a decorated cyclist—pushes him with epic rides, and their family has racked up miles and memories traveling to events. For masters swimmers, triathletes, and endurance fans, this conversation is packed with practical training tips, taper tactics, recovery strategies, and performance mindset tools you can use right away.If this story resonates, follow the show, share it with someone who needs a spark, and leave a quick review to help others find us. And if you’re craving more investigative health storytelling, check out Kelly’s new book, False Cure, by visiting https://www.False-Cure.comEmail us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

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• Four Pillars of Peak Performance, Olympic Sport Psychologist Colleen Hacker, ENCORE EP 286

  In an encore presentation, we sit down with Dr. Colleen Hacker, Olympic mental performance consultant and author of Achieving Excellence: Mastering Mindset for Peak Performance in Sport and Life, to unpack the real tools champions use when it counts. No fluff here—just clear methods backed by science and forged in the fire of world-class competition.We start by redefining confidence as a moving target and show how to build it by fixing your focus. If you’re replaying missed sessions, old results, or an opponent’s best times, your attention is fueling doubt. Dr. Hacker shares a practical reset: direct focus to controllables—race plans, turns, breath patterns, fueling windows—and let confidence follow. From there, we dig into the split most athletes miss: the brain that builds skill is not the brain that unleashes it. Training is analysis; performance is trust. Her race-day cue, “easy speed,” helps you shed tightness, stop micromanaging, and let your timing run.We also get honest about pain. Instead of treating it like a threat, Dr. Hacker frames discomfort as the separator—the price of entry to personal records. You can make pain go away by backing off, but you’ll also forfeit your best. For masters athletes, we explore how wisdom, intrinsic motivation, and an appetite for science become competitive edges. We break down the four pillars of peak performance and show why you must train all four systematically to avoid leaving potential on the table. Expect actionable tools: breathing and mindfulness to balance arousal, imagery and self-talk to prime performance, and precise recovery strategies around sleep, hydration, and glycogen timing.We wrap with a clear challenge: mental skills work when you do the work. If you’re ready to move from knowing to doing, this encore will give you the language, the structure, and the daily habits to get there. Follow the show, share this episode with a training partner, and leave a quick review to help more athletes find us. Want more? Grab Kelly’s new book False Cure and stay tuned for our 2026 reboot with fresh weekly conversations to keep your mojo strong. Kelly's new book www.False-Cure.comEmail us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

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• Five Swim and Life Lessons from My Late Father, EP 285

  Hello friends, it’s Kelly. You may have noticed I’ve been away from the show for over a month—the longest break I’ve taken in more than seven years of podcasting. The reason is deeply personal: my father passed away in August at the age of 95. I’ve spent these weeks with him, with family, remembering him, celebrating his life, and navigating the bittersweet gift of grief.In this episode, I want to honor my dad, who first taught me how to swim. Through his simple “swim to Daddy” lessons on Lake Barcroft, he gave me some of the most profound truths I’ve carried into every stage of my life as a swimmer, coach and person.I’ll share five swim and life lessons my late father passed on to me—about courage, trust, health, joy, and resilience. My hope is that these lessons touch your life the way they’ve touched mine, whether you’re a swimmer or not.I'm happy to be back at the mic and look forward to connecting again with you soon! Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

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• How Silence Shapes a Champion: Jennifer Comfort, Ironman Triathlete and USAT Coach, EP 284

  Jennifer Comfort is a USAT-certified triathlon coach, Ironman triathlete, and open water swim observer whose approach to performance blends endurance, mindfulness, and a deep respect for inner stillness.Jennifer didn’t start her journey as a seasoned pro. In fact, during her first triathlon 20 years ago, she basically dog paddled through the swim, terrified to put her face in the water. Today, she’s a multiple-time Ironman and 70.3 finisher, a Boston Marathon qualifier, and a respected coach guiding adult athletes at all levels. She leads open water swim workouts on the Columbia River and supports world-class endurance swims as an official observer.What sets Jennifer apart, though, is how she’s embraced silence as part of her champion’s mindset. In a surprising turn, Jennifer shares how a 7-day silent meditation retreat completely changed her life—sharpening her focus, helping her manage anxiety and depression, and giving her a deeper edge as both a coach and an athlete.Looking for a new challenge? Try silence. Whether you’re a Masters swimmer, a returning triathlete, or simply someone looking to reconnect with purpose and grit, this conversation offers insight, inspiration, and practical advice.In this episode, you’ll hear:How Jennifer went from dog paddling her first triathlon to completing full Ironman races and coaching elite athletesWhat it means to be an open water swim observer, and why that role is vital in endurance swimmingWhy her weekly “Open Water Wednesday” swims are creating a strong local swim communityWhat it’s really like to go completely silent for seven days—and the breakthroughs that can come from itHer advice for first-time triathletes, including mindset, gear, and how to start without feeling overwhelmedPractical tips for using breathwork, mindfulness, and internal awareness to enhance training and racingHow to balance parenting, training, and business with grace and mental strengthNotable Quote: "We're with ourselves 24/7… so we might as well learn to like ourselves a little bit." – Jennifer ComfortThis episode is for you if you:Are a swimmer curious about trying your first triathlon—or returning to the sportWant to bring more mindfulness and presence into your athletic routineAre intrigued by the idea of a silent retreat and what it might unlock in your lifeAppreciate hearing from women who lead, coach, compete, and rise through challengeJennifer’s story reminds us that becoming a champion doesn’t always start with winning. It starts with showing up, staying curious, and sometimes—even staying quiet long enough to hear what really matters.Tune in to learn how silence, grit, and intention shape the journey of a true endurance athlete.Email us at [email protected]. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

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