The Sonya Looney Show

Katerina Nash is a timeless force in the sport of cycling.  Not only is she a 2x Olympian in Mountain Biking, but she also has been to the Olympics twice for cross-country ski racing in 1998 and 2002.  Her first Olympics was a the age of 17 and again in London 2012 and Rio 2016.  Originally from the Czech Republic, Katerina moved to the U.S. in 2000 on a college scholarship for cross-country ski racing.  Katerina has proven to be among the world’s most versatile and enduring athletes, showing the world that women can remain competitive at the highest levels into their forties. She dominated every where she goes- CX, mtb, stage racing, Downieville... She has been on multiple World Championship and World Cup podiums in both CX and MTB and she also has won BC Bike race numerous times and competed in her first EWS in 2019. Topics Discussed in the Podcast  growing up in Czechoslovakia from Nordic Skiing to her first Olympics (mtb) in 1996 Moving to the USA and choosing mountain biking Clif Bar and her long term

Ayesha McGowan is the first African American female Professional Cyclist, riding for Liv Cycling. She's on a mission to advocate for representation and is an inspiration for the next generation of African American female cyclists.  Her bicycle has been a tool to not only help her accomplish her dreams, but as a vehicle for storytelling and social change.  Ayesha noticed that our sport of competitive cycling was being represented in the media by white men and she took action. Her tagline is "Representation Matters."  Her voice and mission have created diversity across brands, media, teams, and organizations. She's been on the cover of Outside Magazine, partnered with Nike's Dream Bigger video series, and has spoken on stages, podcasts, and articles on why it's important to have representation in sport, in the media, and in the industry. Recently, Ayesha was named to the Top 50 most influential people in cycling by CyclingNews for being an advocate for women of color in the bike i

Once per month, I'm checking in with you to talk about my journey as a new athlete mom. I'll talk about time management, how getting back to and maintaining a training schedule is going post-partum, the mental and emotional pieces too.  I'll tell you what it's really like and hopefully give you some nuggets you can apply to your own lives as well. This podcast is supported by Wahoo Fitness who have been a great partner during my journey as a pregnant athlete and new mom! If aren't an audio fan and you want to read the transcription, scroll down a bit. Key Takeaways "Your starting point isn't your endpoint and a growth mindset means that knowing that whatever that number is, you can improve on it. But if you don't ever look at that number. If you don't get up the courage to say where am I starting from, if you never look at that you'll never get better and you'll never be able to measure that improvement." "The only thing to be ashamed of is not

I'm pretty excited about today's guest.  The best thing about podcasting is I get to learn even more about a person's story, even when they are a friend!  I first met David Swain when we connected over Prokit.  Prokit celebrates adventurers and the athletic experience, whether you’re just getting started or breaking world records. The platform is designed to help cut through the noise, learn from the best, and find the community you need to reach your potential. David Swain is the co-founder of Prokit along with Angela Zaeh.  The idea first popped in his head in 2013 when he signed up for his first cyclocross race. Just like all of us when we start new things, David wondered how to train, what gear to use, where to race, what to eat, what events his friends are doing and the idea of Prokit was born.  But David is so much more than the founder of Prokit. His experience in communication and team building is unparalleled.   David's story is interesting and a wild ride- from driving cross-coun

39 trillion. That is approximately how many bacteria that are living in your gut. Guess what feeds them? You. Everything you eat is either a step towards better health or a strike against it.  If you want gut flora that help balance your hormones, reduce your chances of cancer, reverse Type 2 Diabetes, prevent neuropsychiatric conditions like ADHD, Alzheimers, and depression, then you need to eat fiber.  Yes! Fiber is about so much more than pooping regularly.  So how do you make sure you have a healthy gut?  You talk to Dr. B, you eat as many different sources of fiber as you can, and you pick up the book, Fiber Fueled. If you're a fan of this podcast, you more than likely listened to my first episode with gastroenterologist and now new author, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz.  As he likes to be called, Dr B is an MD and an internationally recognized gut health expert. He is passionate about the incredible healing power that lives inside you—your gut microbiota. Dr. B's medical training involved 16years at Ame

I really enjoy public speaking and have had the honor to give keynote speeches on the topics of positive psychology, motivation and habits, nutrition and even cycling-specific talks at business, leadership, tech, and nutrition conferences.  One of my favorite stories to include is an old Cherokee parable. I wanted to share it with you because it embodies the power of our perspective.   Perspective and choosing what stories to tell ourselves and how we interpret daily events and emotions is one of the most powerful practices you can have.   One evening an old Cherokee man told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.

Pregnancy and motherhood looks different for everyone, but in this week's podcast episode I have a chat with fellow new cyclist mother, Laura King about our pregnancies and post-partum life.  We talked about topics you may not be accustomed to hearing about like miscarriage, pelvic floor health after birth and also maybe more familiar topics like what it's like to ride during pregnancy, how we are maintaining our identities, and more! A quick bit about Laura King: Laura’s background in competitive swimming led to 12 years competing in triathlon, including the Ironman World Championships and earning a pro license. An invitation to USA Cycling's Talent ID Camp and a simultaneous job offer for a major industry position presented a fork in the road, and her decision to take the industry position and pursue racing as a passion provided the right balance of career and sport. Nonetheless, her credibility as a competitor has served her well in a successful career of over a decade in Sales and Marketing

Derek Loudermilk might be one of the most interesting people you've ever met.  He's discovered a new species of virus while in graduate school, he's traveled the world as a professional cyclist, he became an entrepreneur and digital nomad - including doing this with a wife and a child under the age of 3.  He's created his own path as an author, podcaster, speaker, coach, and guide to help people start living the life they imagined.  How did this all really start?  With a blood clot in his brain after being given a 75% chance of dying.  In his quest to understand the future of entrepreneurship around the world, Derek Loudermilk has traveled to every US state, 40 countries, and lived on four continents. He is the author of his book SuperConductors.    Topics Discussed in the Podcast  the power of community his journey to living around the world and becoming an entrepreneur falling in love with adventure at Yellowstone how to remove barriers and make changes where does confidence come from?

Stacy Sims, PhD is a leading global expert on female Physiology & endurance training.  You may be familiar with her popular book that I've personally read a few times, ROAR.  It is a science-based layperson's book explaining the sex differences in training and nutrition and addressing the dogma for women in exercise, nutrition, and health outcomes. She says that women are not small men and we should not be generalizing women when it comes to training, recovery, supplements and more because our physiology is different from men. Unfortunately, the majority of research is done on men so it's been hard to decode things like how we should alter training based on where women are in their hormonal monthly cycle.  Dr. Sims has done an incredible amount of work providing a body of information so women can make better and more informed choices.  Let me tell you more about Dr. Sims background. She is currently a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Waikato after returning to academia from a

Joel Fuhrman, M.D. is a board-certified family physician, six-time New York Times best-selling author and internationally recognized expert on nutrition and natural healing, who specializes in preventing and reversing disease through nutritional methods. He is the President of the Nutritional Research Foundation and on the faculty of Northern Arizona University, Health Sciences division. Dr. Fuhrman coined the term “Nutritarian” to describe a nutrient-dense eating style, designed to prevent cancer, slow aging, and extend lifespan. For over 25 years, Dr. Fuhrman has shown that it is possible to achieve sustainable weight loss and reverse heart disease, diabetes and many other illnesses using smart nutrition. In his medical practice, and through his books and television specials, he continues to bring this life-saving message to hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Topics Discussed in the Podcast  where his interest in nutrition started Dr. Furhman's world-class career in ice skating prevent

Yoann Barelli will make you smile. One word used to describe him by many is that he is a character. He is known for his enduro mountain bike prowess, his super fun clown-like antics, his great coaching, photography, and also his environmental efforts of lately to raise money and also pick up trash. Yoann is seen as a positive and outspoken person on the Professional Circuit as you've no doubt seen on his YouTube Channel and Instagram. He is also a Dad!  Yoann's focus has been on enduro and crushing the EWS series around the world.   He says, "I want to make you laugh, to motivate you, to give you joy, to be this kick on the ass when you need it, by being me, through my own life experiences!"  At first glance, his infectious laughter and energy will entertain you but there are many dimensions to Yoann.  In this episode, he even talked about the spiritual side of his life which he doesn't talk about that much! For Yoann, being alive is about being unapologetically true to yourself, it&a

If you're familiar with Ironman, then you've surely heard the voice of Mike Reilly.  The four words, "You are an Ironman" are some of the most powerful words uttered at the finish line of endurance sports.  Mike has been announcing Ironman events since 1989 and is fondly known as "The Voice of Ironman."  He has been inducted into the IRONMAN Hall of Fame, the USA Triathlon Hall of Fame and the Running USA Hall of Champions, and is the only person to have been inducted into all three.  He has connected with hundreds of thousands of athletes, making each one feel individual and special as they cross the finish line, but also at the start line and throughout the grueling 19 hour day of announcing.  Mike's book, Finding My Voice was published about one year ago and is an inspiring and fun read about some of the most incredible moments through Mike's career with Ironman.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll feel inspired when you read it.  It's about how

Michael Klaper, M.D. is a board-certified physician, internationally-recognized teacher, and sought-after speaker on diet and health. In addition to his clinical practice and private consultations with patients, he is a passionate and devoted educator of physicians and other healthcare professionals about the importance of nutrition in clinical practice and integrative medicine. He is the author of x books and has authored dozens of articles for both scientific journals and the popular press. Dr. Klaper is well known for taking complex medical topics and making them easy for everyone to understand.  He is also an expert in water fasting after 9 years on the medical staff at True North Health Center.  He shares a lot of great information through his website and YouTube Channel.  Topics Discussed in the Podcast  How Dr. Klaper found Plant-Based Nutrition in the 1980s Dr. Klapers initiative to educate medical doctors on curing chronic disease Moving Medicine Forward water fasting, medical fasting should ath

Our most primitive cravings and habits come down to three words: Trigger, Behavior, Reward. But our brains can trick us into creating bad habits and driving is to be addicted to technology, love, thinking, and unhealthy food and beverages.  To break the cycle, Dr. Jud Brewer believes that curiosity is our ultimate superpower.  He has his MD and PhD and is the Director of Research and Innovation at the Mindfulness Center.  He is also an associate professor in psychiatry at the School of Medicine at Brown University, as well as a research affiliate at MIT. He is the founder of the digital therapeutics platform, MindSciences, and author of the book, “The Craving Mind: From Cigarettes to Smartphones to Love—why we get hooked and how we can break bad habits.  It was one of my favorite books I read in 2019.  Dr. Jud is also a fellow mountain biker. As an addiction psychiatrist and internationally known expert in mindfulness training for treating addictions, Dr. Jud has developed and tested mindfulness programs for

Matt Fitzgerald is a runner, coach, nutritionist and acclaimed author of well over 25 books.  You may have heard of his book on mental toughness- How Bad Do you Want It.   His online training plans at 8020endurance.com have helped thousands of athletes of all experience and ability levels achieve their goals. Certified by the International Society of Sports Nutrition, Matt has consulted for numerous sports nutrition companies and he is the creator of the Diet Quality Score (DQS) smartphone app. A lifelong athlete, he speaks frequently at events throughout the United States and internationally. Frequent topics on Matt's writing cover things like diet and ideal race weight, training intensities, mental training, and so much more. The mental aspect of sports in relation to the perception of effort, fatigue, and whether limits live in our mind or our body have been frequent topics on this show.  It's one of my favorite things to discuss. If you enjoyed this episode and want more, check out some related

Being productive, getting up early to get stuff done, being organized- these are all traits I admire and aspire to do more of!  What about boundary setting, better focus, and accountability?  Yes!  If these topics are ringing a bell for you, then you'll enjoy today's podcast guest- Jeff Sanders.  Jeff Sanders is a keynote speaker, productivity coach, Podcast Host of The 5AM Miracle, author of a few books, and founder of The Rockin’ Productivity Academy.  He is both productive AND busy.  In his spare time, he is also a plant-based marathon runner and personal development junkie.  His background is surprising- it was actually in theater and you can tell with his melodic voice.   Topics Discussed in the Podcast  how Jeff's background in theater helps him in his career in personal development why he is interested in productivity, habits, and routines tracking and getting out of reactive mode how to eliminate distractions boundary setting how to set goals without burning out favorite apps and tool

Todd Sadow founded Epic Rides in 1999 and produced the inaugural 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo with 176 participants in attendance. Since then, Epic Rides has grown into one of the most successful mountain bike event promotion companies in North America.  The Epic Rides event portfolio includes six diverse venues in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and Arkansas that draw from a regional base with world-wide attendees to accent the more than 8,500 participants and 60,000 general attendees annually. The Epic Rides business model is simple. Provide the customer with an experience above and beyond anything they have grown to expect from the events industry; our events aren’t just a race, they are life-changing.  Events: 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo Whiskey Off-Road Grand Junction Off-Road Carson City Off-Road Oz Trails Off-Road Tour of the White Mountains   Topics Discussed in the Podcast  how it started how Epic Rides evolves and adds races scaling a race production company attracting newbies and course difficulty

Self-care is a major buzzword and self-care has helped a lot of people create time for themselves.  You often hear of creating a "self-care routine" that might involve things like essential oils, journaling like keeping a gratitude journal, a meditation practice, going to yoga, stretching and foam rolling, drinking tea, going to bed early and being on a consistent sleep schedule, taking supplements, having a "morning routine", using positive affirmations, reading self-help books, or even going to a Naturopath to get an IV or going to acupuncture. Just listing all of things we could or should be doing seems overwhelming to me.  Some people feel like there's a lot of pressure to do some of these things, but instead of being rejuvenating, it just turns into another stressful task on an already overflowing t0-do list.  By telling yourself that you should be doing it and then when it doesn't happen, it can add to an endless loop of more anxiety and overwhelm. That's eliminates t

Cory Muscara is a super interesting person.  Today, he is known for his work as a mindfulness teacher, author, podcaster, and speaker.  You'll find his career path interesting- he started meditating to impress his hippie girlfriend.  When that relationship didn't work out, he went all in, looked for the most challenging meditation training he could find and became a monk for 6 months in Burma where he meditated for 14+ hours per day under the instruction of Sayadaw U Pandita.  Fully engaged, he wanted more.  Not only does he have his Master's Degree in Positive Psychology from UPenn and teaches mindfulness-based leadership at Columbia University. He also currently serves as an assistant instructor for the positive psychology graduate program at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, he has a wide array of meditation training including the 2-year Spirit Rock Community Dharma Leader training,  Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), completed certification with Mindful Schools & Sear

Today's topic is an interesting one and I want to talk about it just to inspire some thought around how we talk about hard work.   It's more just a phrase or topic of conversation that is thrown around, but I don't think many people even realize they are saying it. The phrase is "it's a lot of work." This phrase is haphazardly thrown around in our regular conversations, so much so that I'm not even sure we realize we are doing it.  The fact is that saying something is a lot of work is often used as a negative caveat. If you're talking about a good experience to someone and then throw in, "but it's a lot of work," the person you're talking to might feel discouraged or might not even want to try what you are doing.  "It's a lot of work" is also an excuse people use to create a barrier to getting started. Here are some examples I've heard recently about the phrase "it's a lot of work" either being used as an excuse or