Jez Cox - "It's not who you beat, it's what you overcome along the way" from adversity in childhood to top Sports commentator
Jez Cox accidentally got in to cycling as a 12 year old who loved his neighbour's bike. In this podcast he reveals for the first time that mountain biking took him away from a really difficult and impactful part of his young life. It became his safe space.His need to escape and explore meant he was spending lots of time on two wheels and discovering he was good enough to compete.Jez tells Annie and Josie about the relationship with his dad, who was impassionate and extremely harsh. He was once told he'd never achieve anything in his life. The sentence he remembers to this day. And it led to a need to finding the best way of being the best athlete he could be. A need to prove his dad wrong.Josie's analysis is that Jez has perfectionist tendencies, always setting a high bar. He tells Josie that he believes he has ADHD with a brain that's constantly working. Jez tells the story of how he got in to commentary - again by accident. Now he can be heard at the world's top sporting events....commentating on Breaking and Surfing at the Paris Olympics.His advice on being braver comes from an Abraham Lincoln quote - "Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most".Hope you enjoy this chat!The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod
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S1 Ep7 Geoff Thomas - ex footballer on finding resilience after a life-changing leukaemia diagnosis
Today's guest is Geoff Thomas, leukaemia survivor, former Crystal Palace(amongst others) and England footballer and incredible charity fund-raiser.Geoff is about to head off on his 7th trip to ride the Tour de France route...and aims to raise another ÂŁ1 million pounds for Cure Leukaemia.He speaks with Annie and Josie in the week when Crystal Palace won the FA Cup. Geoff was a special guest, having captained the side on their last Cup Final appearance.Geoff tells us he was training to be an electrician when he was spotted by a football scout and signed for Rochdale. A move to Port Vale followed before the signficant transfer to Crystal Palace. He talks about recovering from a career-threatening injury. He retired from football in 2002 but just a year later was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia, a form of blood cancer. Geoff was given three months to live but after receiving pioneering stem cell treatment and a transplant from his sister Kay, he went in to remission.Geoff talks to Annie and Josie about his resilience and where he drew his strength from after such a shocking prognosis. His mantra is just dig in.In 2015 he was persuaded to do a charity bike ride on the Tour de France route. He hadn't ridden since he was 7. It was gruelling. But he's done it many times since and this year is the 20th anniversary of that first ride.His efforts and charity fund-raising saw him awarded the MBE and winning the Helen Rollason Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.Here are details of his Tour de France adventureswww.thetour21.co.ukAnd London to Parishttps://www.l2prevolution.com/The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod
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S1 Ep6 Rebecca Levett - tips from sports psychology to bring in to every day life
Today's guest is Rebecca Levett who gives us a glimpse in to the world of sports psychology and gives us tips on what we can take in to every day life.Rebecca has worked with international athletes from many sports and has just become a new mum.She talks about how to embrace nerves and anxiety. Annie tells her that in her days as a GB triathlete she was frequently paralysed with fear on the start-line.Rebecca tells Josie and Annie how alot of the tools she talks about are transferable to work and home life. And how to constantly change and evolve and recognising why being braver is important and understanding when moving out of the comfort zone is warranted.One technique that has proven to work well is the confidence bank - and Rebecca gives an introduction to this concept. There's also a chat about self-identity and self-worth.Josie's killer question is asking what skills Rebecca has brought from sports psychology to being a mum!There are so many take-aways in this episode. And you can find more out about Rebecca at www.sporting-success.comIn the show Annie talks about the 20th anniversary of the death of her dad and using the day to reflect on his life and also where she is in life. Her father was put in to an orphanage on the day he was born and never got to know more about his family circumstances which led to it.Josie talks about what she learnt going to her daughter's swimming gala with a discussion on healthy competition and dealing with fear.The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod
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S1 Ep5 John McAvoy - from armed robber to pro athlete. A redemption story.
Today's guest has a remarkable story, turning round his life from armed robber to professional athlete.John McAvoy tells a redemption story that is compelling to listen to. He tells us about a childhood which began with the sudden death of his father just weeks before he was born.At the age of 8, his step-sister's dad came into his life and brought him in to the criminal world. John didn't know this at the time. But when he found newspaper clippings he discovered a background of crime and armed robbery.John tells us that watching a film about a ÂŁ26million gold bullion robbery, which involved his uncle, glamourised the criminal world. As a teenager, he decided to join it and bought himself a firearm.18 months later he was arrested, place on remand in a high security prison and eventually jailed.John's life changed when he started using the gym and embarked on an intense fitness programme which led him to breaking World Records for indoor rowing and becoming a professional Ironman athlete sponsored by Nike.He talks about the impact of a prison warden called Darren and how his life now includes addressing politicians and working with young people.John's book is called Redemption.The Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod
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S1 Ep4: Nikki Freeman on taking the leap of faith to change career
Today's guest is Nikki Freeman who talks about navigating a big career change.Nikki moved from 17 years in the corporate world to do something she was truly passionate about. That's when she set up Tempr Media.Nikki talks about getting burn-out and starting to feel 'there's got to be more to life than this!'.She embraced the fear of failure and moved to set up her own business in a very different field. Nikki talks about the impacts on her life as a teenager - with her parents divorcing and her dad getting sent to prison. Annie reveals her dad also went to prison. And Josie presents them with research which shows elite athletes can often have a big adversity in teen years.We hear about how Nikki took the big leap to leave a safe job and good salary to change her career path and life. Her message is to be authentic and be happy with who you are.Nikki's business is temprmedia.co.ukThe Be Braver Podcast is presented by Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry.Annie is a former international triathlete and world champion. She's now a broadcaster and motivational speaker. She left school and education at the age of 15 after a family breakdown and that's led to a life of self-improvement.She had a transition from party-girl to a life with purpose after being robbed at knife point. She talks candidly about how she has redefined herself several times.Josie Perry's life first changed when she failed in her A levels which ended her plans to go and study law at a top university. She worked in journalism and communications before becoming passionate about performance psychology which led to a complete career change.So what's your purpose? What's your why? How can we help you on your journey?Thanks for listening!The Be Braver Podcast - because life is not a dress rehearsal. Insta: @bebraverpod
The Be Braver Podcast brings experts and guests together to tell the stories of those who have found the courage to step outside their comfort zone and chase big seemingly unrealistic goals. So if you've ever thought about changing careers, learning a new skill or language, climbing a mountain or doing an extreme sporting challenge then sit tight and hear from those who've achieved those dreams. After all, Life is not a dress rehearsal.
The hosts are Annie Emmerson and Josie Perry. Annie went from party girl to international triathletes. She's a former world number one turned broadcaster and motivational speaker.
Dr Josephine(Josie) Perry is a former Communications Director who's become a Chartered Sport Psychologist and author and often found on the gymnastic's air track trying to master handsprings.