What's The Rusch

Rebecca Rusch
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What’s the Rusch is a podcast about finding stillness and shedding the armor we wear to reveal the masterpiece within. Hosted by Rebecca Rusch—a seven-time world champion, Hall of Fame athlete, celebrated endurance icon, Emmy winner, and founder of the Athlete Operating System—the show takes listeners on a transformative journey with some of the world’s most accomplished individuals. Known as the "Queen of Pain" for her unmatched grit, Rebecca shifts the spotlight to a deeper truth: the most profound growth often comes not from what we achieve, but from what we let go of.    Inspired by Michelangelo’s insight in creating the statue of David by chiseling away everything that wasn’t David, Rebecca champions the art of shedding: shedding fear, baggage, and the armor we build to protect ourselves. Each episode delves behind the scenes of high achievers, exploring what they’ve had to lose to become whole. What identities have they outgrown? What vulnerabilities have unlocked their greatest triumphs? And what lessons can we take from their private battles to shed what no longer serves us?   With conversations navigating ancient wisdom, modern science, and personal revelation, What’s the Rusch redefines the boxes we’re put in, revealing the hidden versions of who people are and the powerful truths they carry. Rebecca’s own path—marked by extreme challenges and moments of vulnerability—sets the tone for uncovering the humanity behind the headlines.   This is more than a podcast—it’s an explorer’s guide to becoming your own masterpiece by pausing and removing everything that isn’t you. Through the stories of leaders you know and the truths you don’t, What’s the Rusch invites you to embrace the courage to shed your armor, redefine your identity, and navigate your own extraordinary and adventurous path.

  1. 6D AGO

    Birthday Episode 1: Embracing Vulnerability - What’s the Rusch | EP36

    Episode Summary: To celebrate one year of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch brings together some of the most honest and courageous moments from the past year. This special episode is all about embracing vulnerability, slowing down, letting go, and sharing the real stories behind the highlight reels. Rebecca introduces and reflects on powerful clips from four guests who have opened up about their struggles, growth, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Featured Guests & Clips: Stacy Sims Stacy shares her experience of moving to New Zealand, facing postpartum depression, and reaching a breaking point that led to a suicide attempt. She talks about the importance of support systems, rebuilding, and the need to reach out for help—even when you feel you have to be stoic. Jess Kimura Jess opens up about the loss of her partner, the overwhelming grief that followed, and how she found herself again through surfing and allowing herself to be vulnerable. She discusses the pressure to appear tough in her sport and the relief of finally letting herself be seen. Rush Sturges Rush recounts a harrowing experience in Nepal, surviving a massive earthquake while on a river expedition. He describes the trauma and PTSD that followed, the physical symptoms he endured, and the long journey of healing through therapy, mindfulness, and learning to listen to his nervous system. Chris Burkard Chris reflects on a transformative darkness retreat and the power of being vulnerable with others. He shares how opening up to a stranger after the retreat changed his perspective, and how he’s learning to bring more honesty and connection into his everyday life—not just during extreme adventures. Key Themes: The strength in sharing what’s real, even when it’s uncomfortableNavigating grief, trauma, and mental health challengesThe importance of support, community, and self-compassionRedefining what it means to be strong and successful Connect with Rebecca: Website Instagram LinkedIn Substack Blood Road Brain Storm Podcast Join the Conversation: What does vulnerability mean to you? How have you learned to let go or ask for help? Share your thoughts with Rebecca on social or by leaving a review. Thank you for being part of this journey and for celebrating a year of meaningful conversations with us. If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review, and subscribe to What’s the Rusch wherever you listen to podcasts.

    29 min

  2. JAN 28

    Wild Resilience: From Surviving to Thriving with Dr. Jaimie Lusk | EP35

    Episode Summary In this episode, Rebecca welcomes Dr. Jaimie Lusk, a Marine Corps veteran, clinical psychologist, and endurance athlete, whose life’s work bridges the worlds of trauma recovery, adventure, and community healing. Their conversation moves beyond the surface of resilience, exploring what it means to truly thrive after survival. Together, they unpack the messy, beautiful process of listening to your inner wisdom, honoring the body’s need for rest, and finding clarity through movement and nature. This episode is a deep dive into the art of staying open, even after life cracks you wide open, and the power of community in the healing journey. Show Notes Rebecca and Dr. Lusk explore: The difference between surviving and thriving and how to recognize when you’re ready for more than just getting byHow Jaimie’s experience as a Marine and psychologist shapes her approach to trauma, moral injury, and complex griefThe role of nature, movement, and adventure in building resilience and self-trustWhy healing is never a solo endeavor, and how community and purpose fuel recoveryThe importance of tuning into your “inner knower” and honoring intuition, even when it runs counter to external expectationsPractical ways to integrate mind-body practices, from breathwork to outdoor experiences, into daily life Transformative Insights Healing is a practice, not a destination—one that requires both fierce compassion and honest self-reflectionSometimes the nervous system needs space and movement before words can landTrue resilience is about staying open and choosing connection, even after hardshipThe “script” of toughness can drown out our real needs; learning to listen inward is a radical act Vulnerable Moments Jaimie shares her journey from the battlefield to the therapy room, and how her own healing informs her workRebecca and Jaimie reflect on the challenges of letting go of high-performance identities to embrace rest and recoveryBoth discuss the ongoing process of moving from impenetrable strength to authentic vulnerability Practical Wisdom How to use nature as a co-therapist: simple ways to bring the outdoors into your healing processTools for checking in with your intuition and honoring what you need in the momentThe value of community, mentorship, and shared adventure in sustaining long-term growth Personal Growth Jaimie’s evolution from “mud-loving kid” to Marine, psychologist, and advocate for...

    1h 5m

  3. JAN 14

    Fly Always: Kaya Turski on Identity, Surrender, and Starting Over | EP34

    Kaya Turski’s story isn’t just about medals or firsts, it’s about what happens when the thing you love most gets taken away, and you’re forced to meet yourself without the helmet, goggles, and identity that once felt impenetrable. Kaya shares how pain shaped her from the very beginning, starting with a catastrophic crash at 18 that led to emergency pancreatic surgery, and how a lifetime of impact, whiplash, and chronic symptoms eventually pushed her out of competition before 2018, whether she was ready or not. In this conversation, we explore what “Fly Always” really means when you can’t do your sport the way you used to, and how Kaya has rebuilt her life through honesty, values work, and learning to create space for herself and others. From the moment she told her coach, “I’m done…pull me out,” to the dark, quiet years of healing back home in Montreal, Kaya walks us through the hardest kind of courage: the kind that looks like surrender, asking for help, and choosing self-care on an 8/10 pain day. Show NotesIn this episode, Rebecca and Kaya explore: How rollerblading and skateparks became Kaya’s foundation for freestyle—and why she taught herself to ski at 17 by taking the Greyhound to Whistler every dayThe misconception that elite freestyle athletes are fearless—and why fear is part of staying alive on “hundred-foot kickers”The difference between chosen pain (growth) and unchosen pain (life, injury, heartbreak)—and why the second one is where “the real work” beginsThe crash that sliced Kaya’s pancreas in half, the ICU in San Francisco, and being told to leave skiing behind before her career even beganHow chronic headaches, cumulative impacts, and undiagnosed concussions became an invisible war that forced retirement a year before 2018The moment at Worlds in Spain when Kaya finally said, “I surrender…this is enough,” and made the call to stopWhy identity can get dangerously fused to performance—and what it takes to become “more than one thing”The question Dr. Mike Gervais asked that cracked Kaya open: “Why are you here on this earth?”The real meaning of “Fly Always”: create space, take the leap, inspire—and why “creating space” starts with honestyWhat “flying” looks like now: self-care, hard conversations, sitting with pain instead of escaping it, and “standing in the center of the fire” with yourselfHow mindfulness “micro-breaks” and Rebecca’s “brain breaks” help regulate the nervous system and bring you back steadier, brighter, more presentThe six-year healing chapter: moving back to Montreal, low capacity, and rebuilding from a dark period—one phone call at a time Transformative InsightsPain has layers. There’s pain that expands you (chosen) and pain that humbles you (unchosen)—and the second one asks for a different kind of strength.li...

    1h 5m

  4. 12/31/2025

    Wild Wonder with Craig Childs | EP33

    In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca welcomes explorer-author Craig Childs, a man whose life is spent listening deeply to the land. Known for tracing ancient migration routes, following water across vast deserts, flying through curtains of Virga, and biking into the darkest sky in America, Craig’s work reveals a world still full of mystery for those willing to pay attention. This conversation moves through ghost-lit writing rooms, ritual landscapes, long bike journeys, serendipity, and the internal shifts that only happen when we slow down enough to let the world permeate us. Together Craig and Rebecca explore why immersion, not arrival, is what transforms us. Show Notes: Immersion as the Pathway to TruthWhy Craig must be in a place—feeling the ground, light, wind—for the story to reveal itselfHow walking ancient routes or biking across deserts becomes a form of listeningThe difference between reading landscape through photographs vs. letting it enter your body Hemingway’s House & the Ghost of Influence Craig’s three-week writing residency in Ernest Hemingway’s preserved home in IdahoThe strange, creative tension of living where Hemingway lived—and even feeling watchedHow inhabiting another writer’s space reshaped Craig’s awareness of language and simplicity Energy, Memory & Mystery in the Natural World The ineffable sensations some landscapes hold—ritual sites, ancient paths, places marked by lossHow intention sharpens awareness of what we cannot explainRebecca’s story of biking 1,200 miles along the Ho Chi Minh Trail to reach her father’s crash site, and the unexpected peace found there The Wild Dark: Riding Into the Night Craig’s decision to bike—not hike or drive—from the brightest sky (Las Vegas) to the darkest sky in NevadaUnderstanding the Bortle Scale, and how each night revealed an entirely different skyWhat humanity loses when we stop looking upward—and the questions the night sky asks of us Creative Curiosity & How Stories Choose Us How Craig selects each new book subject: serendipity, timing, emotional bandwidth, personal readinessWhy some stories (such as those rooted in trauma) demand discernment, and why he sometimes says noMoving from archaeology, to animals, to geology, and now to mountain lions Internal Exploration & the Dialogue Within The constant internal conversations that unfold when moving across landscapesli...

    57 min

  5. 12/17/2025

    Flow Follows Focus with Steven Kotler | EP32

    In this episode, Rebecca welcomes her friend, author, and legendary peak-performance researcher Steven Kotler for a conversation that weaves together science, sport, creativity, and the deeper human quest for what’s possible. Steven has spent decades decoding flow, the neurobiological state where we feel our best and perform our best, but this conversation goes far beyond definitions. Together, Rebecca and Steven explore why flow is accessible to everyone, what happens when you chase it too hard, and why recovery is a form of grit. Steven also opens up about the period of his life when Lyme disease left him bedridden, suicidal, and stripped of his identity, and how an unexpected moment in the ocean became the spark that rebuilt everything. This is a conversation about curiosity, resilience, and how the smallest actions, walking the dog, doodling on a page, stepping outside, can literally help us find our way back to ourselves. Show NotesIn this episode, Rebecca and Steven explore: Understanding Flow & Peak Performance What flow actually is from a neurobiological perspectiveWhy flow follows focus—and the 28 triggers that bring us into the present momentThe different forms of flow: individual, interpersonal, group, and communitasWhy flow operates on a four-stage cycle (and why you can’t be in flow all the time) Chasing Flow vs. Working With It The danger of using risk as a flow triggerHow novelty and creativity create safer, more sustainable pathways into flowWhy action sports athletes often “break things” chasing that feelingHow micro-changes—like interpreting terrain creatively—can upgrade performance without increasing danger Recovery, Afterglow & the Science of the Come-Down What happens in the brain after a massive flow stateWhy a big flow day almost guarantees a low-performance day right afterThe neurochemical crash that mimics the comedown of recreational drugsHow to use healthy recovery habits to shorten the “cost of flow” Steven's Journey Through Illness Steven recounts the years when Lyme disease left him unable to walk across a roomThe suicidal moment when he believed he’d become a lifelong burdenThe friend who insisted he go surfing—and the wave that triggered a full-blown, mystical macro-flow stateHow repeated exposure to flow helped reboot his immune system and rebuild his lifeWhat neuro-immunology reveals about the connection between flow, healing, and homeostasis Flow, Longevity & Life Design Why immersion in nature is one of the most potent flow triggersThe role of action sports and outdoor movement in mental health and agingWhy walking—even slowly—is medicine for the nervous system and the brainHow Steven teaches older adults to park-ski using creativity instead of risk Transformative InsightsFlow is trainable. With the right structure, most people can increase flow by 70–80% within eight weeks.Recovery is a grit skill. High performers burn out not from doing too much—but from never shutting down.Creativity microdosing between tasks keeps you in flow and prevents ego spikes that knock you out of it.Tragedy can be a teleportation chamber. Sometimes the hardest experiences become the doorway to the life we wanted but couldn’t reach on our own.Movement + nature = neurobiological reset. Just 20 minutes outdoors begins to flush stress hormones and restore baseline...

    1h 10m

  6. 11/26/2025

    From Rapids to Stillness: Rush Sturges on Healing Through Nature and Creativity | EP31

    In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca dives into the deep currents of creativity, purpose, and healing with legendary kayaker, filmmaker, and musician Rush Sturges. From first descents on the world’s most powerful rivers to producing award-winning films like The River Runner (on Netflix), Chasing Niagara, and Edge of the Unknown (on Disney+), Rush has lived his life on the edge of adventure and artistry. Together, he and Rebecca explore how nature, trauma, and creativity intertwine—and how slowing down can be the most radical act of all. Rush shares his journey from world champion athlete to filmmaker and mentor, the lessons learned from loss and risk, and how a devastating earthquake in Nepal reshaped his understanding of fear, nervous system health, and what it really means to live fully. This is a conversation about flow, healing, and the art of coming home to yourself. Show Notes In this episode, Rebecca and Rush explore: Growing up at his parents’ kayak school, Otter Bar, and discovering a lifelong calling on the Grand Canyon at age 14The parallels between rivers and life—how chaos, calm, and flow teach us who we areWhat expedition kayaking reveals about presence, teamwork, and vulnerabilityThe evolution from athlete to filmmaker to musician, and the importance of building creative “teams” off the riverThe transformative impact of mentoring Indigenous youth through Ríos to Rivers and the Paddle Tribal Waters project during the historic Klamath River dam removalLessons from loss—processing death, danger, and risk in the adventure communityRush’s experience with PTSD after surviving a deadly Nepal earthquake and how it forced him to confront the limits of enduranceThe healing power of therapy, meditation, and slowing downWhy true mastery is learning to move—and to rest—with intention Transformative Insights The river as teacher: Its turbulence and stillness mirror the flow of life.Healing the nervous system: How mindfulness, breathwork, and community restore balance after trauma.Creativity as connection: Music, film, and art as extensions of nature’s flow.Redefining performance: Moving from risk and recognition toward service, purpose, and self-awareness. Vulnerable Moments Rush recounts surviving a catastrophic earthquake in Nepal that triggered years of tremors and insomnia.He opens up about witnessing loss in the kayaking community and how grief shaped his view of risk.Rebecca shares her own recovery from brain injury and how both learned the power of stillness and surrender. Practical Wisdom Small shifts—like walking more slowly or unplugging from your phone—can reset the nervous system.True strength comes from knowing when to stop pushing and start listening.Building “teams” in life, art, and healing creates the support needed for real transformation. Personal Growth From adrenaline and ego to empathy and awareness—Rush’s evolution as a creator and human being.How service projects like Paddle Tribal Waters reconnect purpose to passion.The practice of slowing down as a daily meditation—one mindful step, one quiet breath at a time. Helpful...

    1h 2m

  7. 11/12/2025

    Making Humans More Human: The Future of Performance with Dr. Andy Walshe | EP30

    In this illuminating conversation, Rebecca reconnects with one of her most influential mentors and longtime collaborators, Dr. Andy Walshe — a pioneering performance scientist, surfer, father, and Chief Performance Officer at Liminal Collective. Known for his groundbreaking work with Red Bull, the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team, and elite performers across sport, military, art, and business, Andy has spent his career studying what drives human potential. Together, Rebecca and Andy explore how true performance isn’t about doing more — it’s about understanding ourselves more deeply. They dive into the paradox of progress, the intersection of technology and humanity, and why the best tools for mastery are often the simplest: movement, stillness, curiosity, and connection. In this episode, Rebecca and Andy explore: How Red Bull’s human performance program redefined the boundaries of elite trainingThe creation of Andy’s holistic Human Performance Model — integrating physiology, creativity, spirituality, and characterWhy partnership, not prescription, is the key to unlocking potentialHow discomfort and uncertainty build resilienceThe role of curiosity and purpose in sustaining long-term growthThe evolving relationship between humans and technology — and what it really means to “make humans more human”The importance of community as the ultimate performance enhancer Transformative Insights The Power of Purpose: Every high performer shares one trait — a purpose greater than themselves.Curiosity as a Practice: The best in any field stay in “beginner’s mind,” constantly challenging assumptions.Partnership Over Perfection: The most effective coaching is built on collaboration and curiosity, not control.Embracing the Unknown: Performance breakthroughs often come when certainty is stripped away.The Future of Performance: Technology can enhance insight, but only human connection creates meaning. Vulnerable Moments Rebecca shares the identity crisis following her concussion and how she rediscovered herself through stillness and movement.Andy opens up about leaving Red Bull and navigating his own professional transition.Together they reflect on the power of community, purpose, and humility in times of change.Andy reveals why his favorite experiments at Red Bull weren’t about numbers or metrics — but about what happens when the plan falls apart. Practical Wisdom True mastery is not about doing more — it’s about being more aware.The most valuable recovery tools are ancient: movement, time in nature, and intentional rest.Technology should free us to connect more deeply, not distract us from it.Building resilience starts with small, consistent practices that strengthen body, mind, and spirit.Create pauses in your day — the stillness is where insight lives. Personal Growth Rebecca’s “Athlete Operating System” reframes sport as a framework for life — a daily practice of curiosity, connection, and self-awareness.Andy’s mission through Liminal Collective is to democratize human performance, bringing world-class tools to everyday people.Both explore how to carry the lessons of high performance into the rest of life — from the mountains to the boardroom to the dinner table. Helpful Links Andy Walshe 🔗 Website 🔗a href="https://www.liminalcollective.com/" rel="noopener...

    1h 7m

  8. 11/05/2025

    Why We’re Wired to Seek Challenge with Alex Hutchinson | EP29

    In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch digs into the science—and soul—of exploration with journalist and bestselling author Alex Hutchinson. Known for his books Endure and The Explorer’s Gene, Alex unpacks why we’re wired to seek challenges, how curiosity fuels growth, and why doing hard things often leads to the most meaningful moments in life. Together, Rebecca and Alex dive into the psychology of pushing limits, rediscovering play, and finding purpose in both stillness and motion. Show Notes In this episode, Rebecca and Alex discuss: The science behind The Explorer’s Gene and why curiosity drives human progressThe tension between exploring new frontiers and exploiting what we already knowHow doing hard things gives life deeper meaningWhy we need uncertainty to grow—and how to find the right balance of risk and rewardThe surprising link between exploration, play, and creativityHow sport serves as the ultimate laboratory for self-discoveryThe difference between passive and active exploration in the age of algorithms Transformative Insights Exploration is about learning something new about yourself.The “effort paradox”: we value what’s hard because it’s hard.Play and exploration are deeply connected; curiosity is the bridge between them.The sweet spot for growth lies between fear and boredom—where uncertainty meets possibility.Hardship and learning are inseparable; meaning comes from the struggle. Vulnerable Moments Rebecca shares how her old Bronco became a symbol of independence, transformation, and letting go.Alex opens up about his struggles with anxiety before races and learning to find calm through experience.Rebecca reflects on losing her sense of play and how she’s rediscovering joy beyond performance.Both reflect on shifting from “the next challenge” to learning how to slow down and savor the journey. Practical Wisdom You can’t outsource discovery—real learning comes from active participation, not algorithms.Explore doesn’t mean “chase everything new”; it means follow what sparks curiosity.To stay engaged, add novelty in small ways: take a new route, learn a new skill, have a new kind of conversation.If a goal feels a little scary, you’re probably in the right zone for growth.The most meaningful goals are challenging and chosen, not imposed. Personal Growth How Rebecca’s athletic evolution mirrors the explore–exploit balance.Alex’s reflections on writing, family, and why building a treehouse changed how he thinks about learning.Finding stillness amid ambition: learning when to slow down without losing momentum.Why rediscovering play as adults is a powerful act of exploration. Helpful Links The Explorer’s Gene: Why We Seek Big Challenges, New Flavors, and Blank Spots on the MapEndure: Mind, Body, and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human PerformanceAlex Hutchinson’s websiteAlex on...

    1h 4m
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4.9
out of 5
39 Ratings

About

What’s the Rusch is a podcast about finding stillness and shedding the armor we wear to reveal the masterpiece within. Hosted by Rebecca Rusch—a seven-time world champion, Hall of Fame athlete, celebrated endurance icon, Emmy winner, and founder of the Athlete Operating System—the show takes listeners on a transformative journey with some of the world’s most accomplished individuals. Known as the "Queen of Pain" for her unmatched grit, Rebecca shifts the spotlight to a deeper truth: the most profound growth often comes not from what we achieve, but from what we let go of.    Inspired by Michelangelo’s insight in creating the statue of David by chiseling away everything that wasn’t David, Rebecca champions the art of shedding: shedding fear, baggage, and the armor we build to protect ourselves. Each episode delves behind the scenes of high achievers, exploring what they’ve had to lose to become whole. What identities have they outgrown? What vulnerabilities have unlocked their greatest triumphs? And what lessons can we take from their private battles to shed what no longer serves us?   With conversations navigating ancient wisdom, modern science, and personal revelation, What’s the Rusch redefines the boxes we’re put in, revealing the hidden versions of who people are and the powerful truths they carry. Rebecca’s own path—marked by extreme challenges and moments of vulnerability—sets the tone for uncovering the humanity behind the headlines.   This is more than a podcast—it’s an explorer’s guide to becoming your own masterpiece by pausing and removing everything that isn’t you. Through the stories of leaders you know and the truths you don’t, What’s the Rusch invites you to embrace the courage to shed your armor, redefine your identity, and navigate your own extraordinary and adventurous path.

Information

  • Creator
    Rebecca Rusch
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Rebecca Rusch
  • Show Website
    What's The Rusch

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