Be Braver Podcast

The Be Braver podcast

Josephine and Annie host the Be Braver podcast

Josephine and Annie host the Be Braver podcast – because they truly believe that life is not a dress rehearsal and so we need to follow our dreams – even if they are way outside of your comfort zone. 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. If you’ve ever thought about changing careers, learning a new skill or language, climbing a mountain or doing an extreme sporting challenge then this is the place to get inspired and get some ideas on how to do it. After all,. 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 retrained in her late 30s to become a Chartered Sport Psychologist and author.

Episode 1: In this episode presenters Annie Emmerson and Dr Josie Perry talk about the changes they’ve made in their lives and when they needed to be at their bravest.

Episode 2: Professor Greg Whyte on the fear of failure (and why failing if you don’t fail you clearly haven’t tried).

Episode 3: Mike Bates on how to build a wall of evidence to help you choose to do the hard things.

Episode 4: Nikki Freeman taking a leap of faith to set up her own business in a totally new career area.

Episode 5: John McAvoy talks of redemption; turning his life around from Armed Robbery to high performance sport and support.

Episode 6: Rebecca Levett, the Sport Psychologist talking about normalising performance anxiety and building confidence banks.

Episode 7: Geoff Thomas, former footballer and about to embark on his fifth Tour de France (a few days ahead of the pros) on how he raises awareness and millions in funds for Leukaemia charities, positively transforming the way the disease now impacts patients.

Episode 8: Jez Cox (former cyclist and now commentator) on the impact of a harsh parent on motivation and the importance of discipline and persistence for success.

Episode 9: John Bulleid

Episode 10: Lucy Gossage

Episode 11: Kate Silverton

Episode 12: Dr Sarah Ruggins

John Bulleid
on reverse engineering

Anything is possible if you’re a “magician – but also, I reverse engineer stuff. So if someone had to be floating on stage, my brain says they’re already floating and I work back from that position rather than how on earth am I going to make them float. And often when I’m approaching stuff that I feel is challenging or going to be difficult, I don’t think of it from where I am now. I put myself past it and go back, so I’ve already solved the problem.”

Lucy Gossage
on working hard

“I think I obviously am talented, but I work incredibly hard at whatever I do, and if I set my mind at something, I throw everything into it. So I think I do have a little bit of talent, but actually my main talent is that ability to focus and work hard and give 100% to something if I decide that’s what I want to do.”

Mike Bates
on the power of connection

“The greatest lesson is that nothing good happens alone. The visceral longing to connect to another human being, to have a conversation, to look into the white of someone’s eyes, was overwhelming and overpowering and it just took over everything. That is why I was fast. I beat the next person by a whole week, because all I was desperate to do was see it with a human being again.”

Geoff Thomas
on being braver

Don’t try and fix something too quickly. Don’t get frustrated when your first attempt doesn’t work. Take little steps. So the disappointments aren’t as disappointing. But the wins steadily, they start to grow. They give you confidence. I think just don’t rush. Don’t try and be fit enough. Don’t try and be well enough. Just listen to your body. Listen to other people who have got more knowledge about whatever you’re doing. BE

Jez Cox
on no regrets

I’ve said this to all the young athletes I’ve coached over the years. Make sure when you look back and you’re not able to be as physically active or able as you are now, make sure you look back on this time right now and you don’t have any regrets…If you find a time when you’re able to do something, make the most of it, make sure you have no regrets.

John McAvoy
on prison

“When I went to prison, it is like you’re entombed in a coffin. You’re still alive, but you’re not in society anymore. And everyone else’s lives continue and carry on and your life’s just the same in this, in this box. And then you come out again. It’s like being reborn. Like you’re back out and you’re free. So you realize that the world doesn’t revolve around you. And that is a very big life lesson that I learned. “

Rebecca Levett
on confidence banks

I talk about confidence being a bit like a bank account. You’ve got to keep putting credit in it for when you need to draw upon it. So when you do something and you take a step, think right, okay, I’m going to put that in my confidence bank and that can be metaphorical or you write it on a post it note and you then put it in the physical jar.

Nikki Freeman
on starting a business

“There are going to be challenges, there are going to be setbacks. I’ve got to have that fire in my belly. I’ve got to be bouncing out of bed every day. I’ve got to have the passion. I wanted to do something different because who doesn’t love to listen to inspiring and motivational stories? I really wanted to make an impact and go and make a difference.”

Josephine Perry