Episode 4

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Published on:

19th Aug 2025

The Anna Levesque Story: Redefining Success and Connection in Paddlesports

Episode 4: The Anna Levesque Story

Join us for a powerful conversation with paddling and mindset pioneer Anna Levesque, who works to bring a more holistic path to paddling culture through coaching, yoga, breath work, and cultivating awareness.

About Anna Levesque

Anna is a Canadian paddler, former World Freestyle Kayak medalist, and author of Yoga for Paddling. She founded Mind Body Paddle, blending kayaking, yoga, Ayurveda, and mental agility coaching to empower paddlers—especially women—and has been named one of the “most inspirational paddlers alive” by Canoe & Kayak Magazine .

Anna hosts The Discomfort Zone podcast, helping listeners navigate fear and embrace discomfort as a path to growth and flow. She’s interviewed on other shows, including For the Love Of podcast, discussing fear, confidence, and mindset strategies.

Explore her work at annalevesque.com and follow her on Instagram: @annaclevesque

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

  • How she moved from being overlooked as a female paddler to pioneering women’s coaching in kayaking
  • The emotional and practical journey behind producing the first female-focused instructional DVD
  • Her personal system: the 5 Tenets of River Running and mental agility tools for paddling and life .
  • Why she integrates yoga, Ayurveda, and breathwork into paddling coaching
  • How Mind Body Paddle has reshaped paddling culture toward inclusivity and emotional resilience
  • Balancing flow, fear, and identity on the water and off

If Anna’s story inspired you:

Please subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen. Share her journey with fellow paddlers and anyone craving confidence, courage, and connection—on water or off.

Episode drops in two weeks!

This episode is sponsored by the American Canoe Association. Head over to the ACA and join or renew your membership today!

Mentioned in this episode:

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About the Podcast

Following Waters
Life on and off the water.

About your host

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Brett Mayer

Brett Mayer is a lifelong educator, athlete, and environmental advocate whose career bridges the classroom and the river. With over two decades of teaching experience in public, day, and boarding schools, Brett has built a reputation for integrating adventure and experiential learning into academic settings. A former Division I soccer player and accomplished whitewater kayaker, Brett has competed in elite races like the Green Race and participated in a few exploratory first descents. His passion for paddling led him to complete a master’s thesis on the relationship between whitewater kayaking and environmental stewardship, a reflection of his deep belief in learning through experience. Brett has held teaching and coaching roles at the Landon School, Hotchkiss, Episcopal High School, and currently at Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC, where he most recently developed the "Impact Asheville" project to connect students with real-world problem solving.

Off the river and outside the classroom, Brett serves as the Policy Director for the American Canoe Association, where he works nationally to protect and expand access to the nation’s waterways. He was also an early collaborator with Outdoor Alliance, helping to unite the outdoor recreation community around public lands advocacy. Through this work, Brett brings vital civic, environmental, and recreational insights back into his teaching. Above all, he is a father to three children—Aoife, Stokes, and River—and is deeply committed to raising them with a strong sense of independence, resilience, and connection to the natural world. Whether guiding students through academic inquiry, paddling whitewater, or advocating for public lands, Brett’s work is united by a single goal: to inspire people to live with purpose, courage, and connection to the places they love.