The Sonya Looney Show

This is a 2 part series on heat adaptation training.  I'm racing the Cape Epic in a few weeks and got a late entry.  The heat and the length are the two main challenges I hear with this race (and also staying healthy as with any foreign stage race).  I don't have enough time to change my training or even do a training camp somewhere, but I do have time to train for the heat.  Fortunately, one of the leading researchers in heat acclimation and acclimatization is actually on sabbatical in Kelowna this year.  His name is Dr. Stephen Cheung.  Dr. Cheung is not only a well of knowledge on the topic of environmental physiology, but he is an avid cyclist himself.  He is a professor at Brock University in the Department of Kinesiology.  He also is an author of the textbook Advanced Environmental Physiology and the books: Cutting-Edge Cycling, and Cycling Science.  If that doesn't keep him busy enough, he is the Sport Science & Training editor for www.pezcyclingnews.com. In this episode, you'l

Sometimes it's hard to have clarity around your vision or to take the big steps needed to create positive changes. There are many paths to success and I'm excited to introduce you to Andrew Sillitoe's 4 Keys. Andrew is a former professional roller hockey player turned speaker, author, and coach. His recent book, The 4 Keys is a powerful tool for implementing a unique system to be successful not only in your business, but in your relationships, your health, and in your mind. I love this episode because we discussed several ways to get unstuck, how to prioritize what's important, time management, taking person responsibility for your action, and the power of a vision board. Andrew believes in setting lofty goals so that you can take big leaps to improve who you are and what you are doing on the way to getting there.   Topics Discussed in the Podcast  Andrew's career path Passion vs obsession The 4 Keys to Success how to make time how to take responsibility for your actions the pow

This week's episode is podcast recess.  My husband, Matt Ewonus is back to co-host!  We wanted to discuss some topics that are on our minds a lot at our house.  We are both incredibly fortunate to be doing what we love for work and in our lives!  However, you can push the pendulum too far, even when you're passionate about what you're doing.  Last year, we both got really burnt-out and wanted to share the signs of burn-out and how to get better.  We also talk about new habits and goals we are setting for ourselves this year.  We talked about expectations and being happy with where you are now vs always chasing achievement in the future.  We also talked about what self-care habits we are doing more of this year and how we are ensuring that we actually do them.  This was a pretty vulnerable episode so I hope you enjoy it ! Topics Discussed in the Podcast  Dealing with burnout: signs of burnout and how to recover for burnout How to identify what really makes you happy Self-Care habits we are i

Read and hear about Kate Courtney's 2018 World Championship Win and watch the full women's World Championship replay on Redbull.TV! Kate Courtney's mantra is "WORK HARD, DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND BELIEVE ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE." Many people are inspired by Kate's work ethic, positive attitude, and ability to perform consistently at the world's highest level in mountain biking. Coming up dominating the U23 category on the World Cup circuit, 2018 was her first year racing in the Elite XCO category. Kate was immediately racing in the top 10 with her sights set on the podium. She says persistence pays off and eventually, it will all come together. And come together it did on the most important day of the year, the World Championships. Kate was crowned World Champion at her very first Elite Worlds. One of the reasons I'm a huge fan of Kate is that she is humble, approachable, and down to earth. Her win inspired many, showing that if you put in the work, you can get to the top, ev

Have you ever felt that positive momentum when you're on the right track or that something was meant to happen? This podcast episode with NYT best-selling author, speaker, and coach Christy Whitman goes deep into the 7 Universal Laws. You might be most familiar with the Law of Attraction where you manifest your energy to make something happen and then it does. focus what you want, feel what you want. Christy Whitman has appeared on "Today" as well as been featured in People, Woman's Day, and Seventeen Magazine. Christy's most recent book, Quantum Success is her roadmap to using the 7 Universal Laws and how to turn your vision into a reality. There's a lot of great insight in this book that we talk about in today's show. She has a formula for creating success as an "inside-out" approach through the thoughts we think, the energy we put out in the world, and the limits we set. Topics Discussed in the Podcast  The 7 Universal Laws How to create positive momentu

Nicolette Richer is making huge strides in the power of natural healing. She is an entrepreneur and owner of the delicious whole food, plant-based organic cafe franchise: The Green Moustache. She also is a TEDx speaker, author of her new book, Eat Real to Heal, host of the podcast Eat Real to Heal, and founder of Richer Health. She also also appeared on Dragon’s Den. Nicolette has used clean eating to personally help heal people with cancer, type 2 Diabetes, skin conditions, and more. Nicolette’s mission is to ensure that people know human health and environmental health are inextricably linked, and that we can cure our diseases through diet. Topics Discussed in the Podcast  What is Gerson Therapy? Are juice cleanses healthy? Juicing vs Smoothies Building Green Moustache Tips for balance in life, especially for entrepreneurs Her experience on Dragon’s Den How to get kids to eat a plant-based diet Hospitals and Vending Machines Importance of eating organic Must-take supplements for whole-foods plant-based di

Negotiation is a skill and something we can all practice.  I was never particularly interested in negotiation until my entire income became based on how well I could negotiate. The first year was intimidating and to be honest, I still get nervous. I wanted to know the rules and how the experts did it. I've read a few books on negotiation, but my favorite one is called Never Split the Difference.  The book is written by a brilliant man named Chris Voss. Chris Voss is the FBI’s former lead international kidnapping negotiator.  When he negotiated, peoples' lives were on the line.  In addition to being an author and former FBI negotiator, Chris regularly lectures on negotiation and is the CEO of Black Swan Group.  He has spoken at business schools across the country and has also been seen on ABC, CBS, CNN, Forbes and more.In his book, he wrote about anecdotes from his career, the tools he used in order to be successful and how it can be applied to any situation. There are some very direct and easy to im

Have you ever wondered if you could build muscle on a plant-based diet?  This week, I sat down with Derek Simnett to talk about his shift from being more of a skateboarder, runner type to calisthenics and going to the gym.  Not only does Derek have a perfectly chiseled, muscular physique and inspires others to be healthier, but he is also a certified nutritional practitioner. Derek's YouTube channel with almost a 250,000 subscribers is a great corner of the internet where you can learn workout tips, how to cook delicious plant-based meals, and see what he eats on a daily basis.  Derek also offers his own e-recipe book on his website.  Derek makes it easy to eat healthier and move your body. Topics Discussed in the Podcast  How Derek found a plant-based path what made Derek decide to focus on muscle and physique How Derek built his YouTube Channel Tips and Tricks with supplements, iron, protein, meal planning How many grams of protein Derek eats in a day  Listen Now     What Derek Eats to Stay Strong &

I recently asked people on Twitter what new habits they are trying to adopt. 95% of the responses had meditation as one of the habits.  I've read a lot of articles on how meditation physically changes the brain, how it's a gamechanger not only for performance, but simply for enjoying life and how consistency is important.  But I've struggled.  I'd do it for a week and then give up (and then beat myself up for it).  I'd find my way back to it, but I couldn't make the habit stick.  I tried to figure out why I was having trouble making meditation a regular part of my routine.  When I believe in the benefits of something, I just do it - like my plant-based diet, like my 14 year commitment to my career as a cyclist... so why couldn't I just DO meditation?  It's because I couldn't tell if it was working. I recently read the book, "Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics" by Jeff Warren and Dan Harris. By read, I mean listened.  Dan and Jeff both are narrating the book

When Kikkan Randall was 5 years old, she decided she was going to the Olympics for skiing.  Most 5 year olds have lofty and cute dreams that rarely come to fruition.  That wasn't the case for Kikkan.  Not only did she make it to her first Olympics for cross-country skiing at just 19 years old, but she has 5 Olympic Games under her belt.  Kikkan's house might tip over with all the medals as a 17x US National Champion, 16 podiums at World Cups, and to top it off - a shiny Olympic Gold medal that she won in Pyeongchang in 2018.  2 years before Pyeonchang, Kikkan gave birth to her son.  Truly, she is wonderwoman. Kikkan decided to retire after the 2018 Olympics and winter season.  She was on as major high until one night, she found a couple small lumps in her breast.  The doctors assured it was probably nothing, but Kikkan couldn't help be feel worried.  The doctor came out to talk to her after her mammogram and uttered that she had Stage 2 breast cancer. This podcast from start to finish is very p

Vanessa Van Edwards is one of my heroines.  She studies what makes people tick.  More specifically- the science of people.  Vanessa is a best selling author and behavioral investigator.  She creates compelling, super helpful, and instantly applicable advice on how to be successful in any social situation.  Vanessa has been featured on NPR, the Wall Street Journal, the Today Show and USA Today. She has written for CNN, Fast Company and Forbes and is a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine.  She also speaks across the globe to Fortune 500 companies. I discovered Vanessa from her book, Captivate.  As a professional people watcher, Vanessa created a guidebook on how to make great first impressions, how to have dazzling conversation, how to be likeable, creating social game plans, being able to read people and uncover hidden emotions, how to get the best from people and from yourself, how to speak so people will listen and so much more.  We barely scratched the surface of the massive value and gold mine of

You know that section of trail that you've never seen anyone ride?  That one spot where you wonder if it's even possible?  Jeff Lenosky, aka the Trail Boss is the guy to do it.  Jeff tackles the hardest seemingly "unrideable" trails, rides them, and documents it for his youtube channel.  And in case you aren't familiar with Jeff, he is a world-class freeride and trials mountain bike rider with three trials national titles under his belt and the world record for the bunny hop on a full-size mountain bike (45.5 inches).  He has been in the sport since the late 80s.  Not only is he one of the world's most skilled mountain bikers, he is also a dad to his 3 children.  He also performs shows for hundreds of kids all year long. In this episode, we talk about Jeff's evolution as a pro rider since the early nineties, how he has transitioned from trials to trail riding, why he decided to start a YouTube Channel, and some real life advice to help you improve your confidence and your ri

Imagine dedicating everything to your dreams and you actually achieve them.  Professional BMX Athlete Josh Perry had this life experience.  From seeing the X Games on TV to one day competing in them, Josh's path to success was one full of hard work, dedication, and tenacity.  But at age 21, Josh went to the hospital after crashing on his head.  His MRI uncovered the unthinkable.  Brain tumors.  With his whole future and dream life in front of him, Josh was forced to wrestle with the emotions, depression, and challenges of his diagnaosis and he did so by sticking to riding his bike. Josh is the definition of resilience and positivity.  After surgically removing his tumors, more came back to take their place.  But after doing research, he discovered Gamma Knife Radiation and a radical lifestyle change to take back control of his life.  In this incredibly inspiring episode, you'll hear how BMX taught Josh to get back up and keep going, even with brain tumors, how he lives with uncertainty and squashes

Have you ever driven your car 184 mph? I haven't either.  Imagine... going 184 mph on a bicycle.  Would you be scared?  "That's impossible" you might think.  I had never heard or imagined anyone going that fast on a bicycle. It seemed like you just wouldn't be able to do that.  Imagine my surprise in September when I met a woman who had done it.  Enter Denise Mueller Korenek.  On September 16, she clocked the fastest time EVER to be ridden on a bicycle: 183.932 mph to be exact.  She did this at Utah’s Bonneville Salt Flats with a very large front chain ring drafting behind a dragster. Imagine being inches off the back of a dragster at that kind of speed? (Matt Ben Stone) It wasn't her first world record either.  The 45 year old mother of three set the fastest female speed record in 2016 at 147.75  mph.  That wasn't enough, she went back for more and her current record is the fastest anyone has EVER ridden a bike.  Denise is no stranger to grand achievements.  As a racer in

How well do you know your body?  Dr. Jen Esquer (DocJenFit) believes in empowering people to heal themselves through movement and body awareness.  As a Physical Therapist with a sports focus, she has the equation to our aches and pains: mobility.  Mobility or being able to use our body through its full ranges of motion is often the most overlooked element.  Mobility is what makes up the foundation behind stretching, strength work, and yoga and every way we bend and use our body.  I recently started putting more emphasis on mobility when I realized that all of my recurring aches and pains were related to an inability to move properly.  I also couldn't understand why I could never do a proper handstand despite doing yoga for over a decade.  I learned that I actually can't put my arms over my head properly.  Wake up call: all the yoga in the world won't fix your mobility issues.  I learned mobility the key to shoulder and knee pain.  When I found DocJenFit on Instagram, I was amazed and inspired b

What really motivates us and where does motivation come from?  Motivation can wear many faces.  Sometimes we are motivated by external factors - a race result, a promotion, a leaderboard, money, or a number on a scale.  Other times, we are motivated because we simply love doing something.  Going deep into why we choose to do certain things and how to stick with our habits is a fascinating topic.  I personally think it's important to have awareness around our self-talk and understanding how to motivate others in a positive, proactive way.  I was really excited to have the chance to speak with Dr. Heather Patrick.   She earned her Ph.D. in Social Psychology.  She has contributed to health psychology in many ways including her role as the health scientist and program director at the National Cancer Institute for 5 years and the associate director of the SmokeFree.gov Initiative.  Currently, she works at Carrot to help create programs and technology around stopping smoking.  She is passionate about health co

What if I told you that there is an entire segment of training that maybe you've never considered?  When I first moved to Kelowna, I was introduced to Dr. Andrew Sellars.  Dr. Sellars is an anesthesiologist as well as a sports physiology expert.  He also is co-founder of Balance Point Racing.  When I did my first physiology assessment with Balance Point, I realized that everything I thought I knew about training and had learned from some of the top sports institutions in the US was very limited.  The crazy thing that a lot of the assessments are still done using a very old method of measuring all of your physical systems.  Balance Point taught me that there are many more factors at play.  For example, instead of wondering my wattage was low when I tired, I learned exactly what it was about my body that made me unable to generate higher power - things like how much oxygen was in my muscle, if my heart itself was tired, or if my respiratory system was tired.   There's a lot of incredibly important and

A lot of people are surprised when they find out I have Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering.  Sometimes I even forget because I finished my Master's 11 years ago.  Time flies!  I'm excited to share this story and speech with you.  It's so hard to know what we want to do in university or even when we get out of university.  I was fortunate enough to find mountain biking halfway through my undergrad.  I was in the engineering program at UNM and even rode for UNM Collegiate Cycling Team!  This was a speech I gave a couple weeks ago at the Western Michigan University to their engineering school.  It's about my path through my Master's Degree and how mountain biking began to shift my perception of what I was capable of. It's about feeling dissatisfied with a traditional path I was following because I really wasn't passionate about it.   This talk is about how I created my own path.  The thing that was interesting about this talk is that I go into detail about the life

Steph Gaudreau's mission in life is to help build unbreakable humans.  Her calling is to help women build stronger bodies and minds is what drives all of her work.  From her incredibly powerful instagram posts of over 200k followers to her best selling books, she creates meaningful content to help people change for the better. Steph is well-versed in creating changes in life.  She walked away from a secure 12 year teaching career to pursue food blogging in the Paleo world.  The diet helped her get off sugar and processed foods and she started eating healthier. She also transitioned from an 8 year span as an endurance athlete to squatting and lifting heavy weight in the gym.  After building an impressive empire, thousands of recipes, and an identity in the Paleo world, she shifted once again. What is Steph up to now?  She recently decided that diet doesn't need to be limited to a label, and is finding a new definition of nutrition as a holistic nutrition coach.  She has a book coming out next year th

Is your mind on overdrive? Are you exhausted?  Is it hard to leave your email alone on nights and weekend?  Don't worry, you're not alone.  Office workers report a burnout rate of 40 percent  in the United States and Canada.  Physicians are closer to 50%.  Burnout is not only attributed to the workplace; "keeping up with the joneses" and trying to be a "balanced" human who works more than full time, exercises regularly, eats healthy, sleeps 8 hours a night, has a family, and makes time for friends can seem overwhelming.  In a society that champions the hustle and reveres people who seem to be doing it all, it's hard to feel a sense of ease when we aren't doing something productive.  I was excited to dig into this conversation with burnout expert, previous podcast guest, and author Brad Stulberg because burnout is a regular part of the conversation amongst my peers and family.  We wanted to get to the bottom of why we feel pressure to push ourselves so hard, how to actua