When we go through life thinking Instagram highlights are the real thing, it can be terrifying to fail. Truth be told, no failure is final, and failing is the only way we can learn to grow and evolve.Today,  I’m talking to Brittany Phelan, my friend and former teammate, about overcoming fear, failure, learning and evolving, and what we love so much about sport. Brittany is a skier, an Olympic medalist, one of the kindest humans in my life, and the most natural athlete I know.One of the most incredible things about the world of professional sport is the lessons you learn about life, integrity, and conquering your most intense anxieties—often without even realizing it.Tune in and listen to episode two of Unspoken Bravery. Brittany and I talk about finding the positive side when things don’t go your way, what it’s like switching sport years into your professional career, and we reminisce together about our world cup skiing days.In this episode, you will learn:A little background on my friendship with Brittany (02:56)Some of Brittany’s thoughts on fear and how to deal with it (06:42)How the unpredictability of sport is what gives it its thrill (11:10)How  the most rewarding part of skiing is the result at the end of training  (16:27) That the lessons learned in skiing can be applied to every facet of life (17:21)Brittany views her injuries not as failures, but as learning experiences (20:06)Why I’m constantly striving to achieve balance in my life (24:31)What bravery means to Brittany (37:29)Connect with Brittany:Instagram Twitter FacebookLet’s Connect!InstagramFacebookErinMielzynski.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

I’m Erin Mielzynski, World Cup ski racer and three-time Olympian, and I’m here to celebrate imperfections. I want to build bravery through hardships, I want to show vulnerability, and I want to connect with people through it.Today,  I talk a bit about my own story, what brought me here, and why I’m so passionate about sharing with other young women and girls who may find themselves in a similar mindset. The physical and mental pressure I was putting on myself as an athlete was unsustainable, and I know many people are experiencing struggles just like mine that, with a little encouragement, they can come through the other side of. It's normal to feel fear and hardships lurk around every corner, but these roadblocks can be met with a challenger’s mindset and turned into wonderful gifts.Tune in and listen to the first episode of Unspoken Bravery. My hope is that we can come together as a community, share our experiences, speak about our bravery and uncover our own hidden superheroes.In This Episode, You Will Learn:A little about why I wanted to start this podcast, and what I hope to do with it (01:53)A story about a time in my life where I pushed myself to the brink physically and how it taught me that it’s okay to say “No” (4:55)How my health scare changed my perspective and helped me build my confidence (17:27)My favorite memory of ski racing (19:06)How I equated my personal hardships with failure—and how I realized that wasn’t true or fair to anyone involved (21:23)I’m finally able to trust my health again, and it feels absolutely amazing (26:17)Let’s Connect!InstagramFacebookErinMielzynski.com See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.