This powerful in-person episode of What’s the Rusch was recorded live at the Outside Festival in Denver, where Rebecca Rusch is joined by legendary swimmer, author, and speaker Diana Nyad. Famous for her record-breaking swim from Cuba to Florida at age 64—after four failed attempts and 35 years of persistence—Diana shares more than a story of grit. She opens up about resilience, reinvention, the importance of awe, and what it really means to live a life without regrets.

From pushing physical limits to rewriting what’s possible at any age, this conversation dives deep into the psychology of endurance, the value of failure, and the beauty of evolving with each chapter of life. Diana’s voice is clear, bold, and unflinchingly honest as she reflects on personal trauma, the pursuit of legacy, and the softening that comes with wisdom.

Whether you're staring down your next big dream or simply trying to remember that it's not too late, Diana’s story is a masterclass in finding purpose, holding onto passion, and daring to begin again.

In this episode, Rebecca and Diana talk about:

1. Why true endurance is more mental than physical—and how it applies to life beyond sport
2. How failure, not success, built Diana’s legacy
3. What it takes to dream big, assemble a team, and come back after defeat
4. Why aging is not a limitation, but an invitation to rewrite your identity
5. The role of awe, nature, and connection in fueling purpose
6. Diana’s powerful reflections on her relationship with her mother, personal trauma, and healing

Transformative Insights:

1. “Courage to fail” is more valuable than a perfect track record.
2. The physical body may falter, but the mind’s will can carry you to the shore.
3. Endurance is a human quality, not an athletic one—it lives in all of us.
4. Sometimes the longer path is the one that leads to the deepest growth.
5. The goal isn’t always to win, but to show up and discover who we are.

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Diana reflects on her childhood sexual abuse and how it shaped her drive.
2. She shares the regret of not being more forgiving to her mother—and the healing that came just before her passing.
3. She opens up about living with intensity and learning, even at 75, to soften.
4. Rebecca shares how a concussion changed her relationship with movement, identity, and purpose.

Practical Wisdom:

1. "Be in the arena.” The critic on the sidelines doesn’t count.
2. Learn to pause: sometimes slowing down helps you see more clearly.
3. Don’t buy into age limits—dreams have no expiration date.
4. Use awe—nature, connection, challenge—as a gateway to meaning.
5. Start where you are. There’s magic in beginning.

Personal Growth:

1. Diana’s shift from ego-driven achievement to team-centered leadership
2. Letting go of perfection and embracing authenticity
3. The never-too-late power of second (and third) acts
4. Being curious as you are wise—staying in the game with intention
5. Turning adversity into your greatest strength

Helpful Links:

1. Diana Nyad’s website
2. EverWalk Foundation
3. “Find a Way” by Diana Nyad

Sponsor: Momentous

Use code RUSCH at livemomentous.com...

In this episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch shares an intimate and inspiring conversation with Dr. Hebah Hefzy—a neurologist, mother of three, first-generation Egyptian American, and the first Muslim woman to complete the Western States 100 in hijab. A true trailblazer, Hebah's story is about far more than sport. It’s about rewriting the narrative, being a visual representation, and living with confidence and comfort in her identity.

Together, Rebecca and Hebah explore the intersections of identity, faith, visibility, and wellness. From struggling to run a single mile during her medical residency to finishing one of the world’s most iconic ultramarathons, Hebah’s journey is a powerful reminder that transformation doesn’t require perfection—it requires courage.

They dive into what it means to show up authentically and how she’s navigating life as a single mother, endurance athlete, and physician. Hebah’s voice brings vulnerability, warmth, and strength to conversations on cultural barriers, representation, and the importance of doing hard things to grow.

Transformative Insights

1. Owning Multiple Identities – Why claiming every part of who you are can be a radical act of self-love.
2. Running as Transformation – How sport became Hebah’s entry point to confidence, health, and spiritual growth.
3. Redefining Representation – The impact of showing up visibly in male-dominated and non-diverse spaces.

Vulnerable Moments

1. Hebah recounts the discrimination she faced wearing hijab as a medical student post-9/11.
2. She opens up about the guilt and exhaustion of raising three young kids while navigating medical residency.
3. A turning point: a patient calls her out for not practicing the health habits she preached—sparking a wellness journey.
4. Hebah shares the weight of representing an entire community on the world’s biggest endurance stage.

Practical Wisdom

1. How to build fitness and confidence from the ground up—even in your 30s with no athletic background.
2. The importance of showing your children that your well-being matters too.
3. Creative ways to fit training into family life—like running circles around a cul-de-sac or the soccer field.
4. Why doing something hard on purpose prepares you for life’s unexpected challenges.

Personal Growth

1. Hebah’s evolution from doctor to mother to athlete—and finally claiming the title of athlete out loud.
2. Learning to slow down, rest, and recognize that doing “nothing” can be deeply healing.
3. Why your identity is allowed to evolve—and how embracing change can unlock your greatest self.
4. Reframing visibility as opportunity: showing up publicly in a hijab and transforming perceptions of what an athlete looks like.

Helpful Links

1. Dr. Hebah Hefzy GU Athlete Profile
2. Hebah's Instagram

Sponsor: Momentous

Thank you to GU Energy for fueling Hebah and Rebecca’s adventures! Use code RUSCH20 to get 20% off your order of $49 or more at https://bit.ly/WTR_GUEnergy

And thanks to our partner Momentous. Listeners of What’s the Rusch get 35% off their first subscription with code RUSCH at

In this vibrant episode of What’s the Rusch, Rebecca Rusch welcomes artist, writer, cyclist, and creative trailblazer Lisa Congdon. Known for her bold use of color and voice as an artist and activist, Lisa didn’t start her art career until nearly 40—proving that it's never too late to uncover your calling. In this candid conversation, Lisa and Rebecca explore what it means to build a life you love from scratch, why imperfection is essential to creativity, and how movement and meaning are inextricably linked.

Lisa opens up about the vulnerability of starting over, navigating self-doubt, and the hard-won freedom that comes with aging. From living as a broke aspiring artist to becoming a renowned creative entrepreneur and elder Gen Xer with a powerful voice in the cycling and art worlds, Lisa’s story is an inspiring reflection of reinvention, identity, and enduring curiosity.

Together, Lisa and Rebecca discuss how to use our creativity to not only express ourselves, but also to make change—and why embracing flow, community, and self-defined success is the real masterpiece.

Show Notes:

In this episode, Rebecca and Lisa discuss:

1. Building a thriving art business from the ground up in her late 30’s without formal training
2. What cycling gave her that art didn’t—and vice versa
3. How community and connection power both endurance and creativity
4. The emotional and physical impact of aging and identity shifts

Transformative Insights:

1. There’s No Perfect Time to Begin: Lisa’s story reminds us that it’s never too late to become who you’re meant to be.
2. Imposter Syndrome Can Be Conquered: Success doesn’t eliminate self-doubt—but it can be dismantled with age, experience, and intention.
3. Movement and Art as Medicine: Both cycling and creativity offer essential healing, especially during times of physical or emotional recovery.
4. Redefining Success Through Values: Knowing your values gives you a compass to navigate the choices that shape your life.

Vulnerable Moments:

1. Lisa recalls the early years of building her business while struggling financially and feeling insecure about her skills.
2. She shares the deep impact of imposter syndrome even as her fame and recognition grew.
3. Lisa and Rebecca reflect on the emotional and identity shifts that come with physical injury, aging, and transitioning careers.
4. Lisa talks about the fear—and eventual freedom—of slowing down post-knee replacement and how art carried her through.

Practical Wisdom:

1. Flow Follows Familiarity: Mastery brings presence—when you know your tools, whether a paintbrush or a bike, you can get lost in the moment.
2. Set Boundaries to Preserve Joy: Lisa’s shift to a 4-day workweek helped her rekindle her love for art—and for life beyond work.
3. Make Space for Play and Recovery: Whether in creative practice or physical pursuits, recovery time is essential to long-term joy and success.
4. Use Your Platform for Good: Lisa uses her art to raise awareness, fundraise, and share values—because creativity can be activism.

Personal Growth:

1. Lisa’s evolution from broke, self-taught artist to respected voice in the creative and cycling worlds.
2. Embracing elderhood as a Gen Xer and using life experience as power.
3. Letting go of external validation and instead aligning with personal values and joy.

Links:

1. Lisa Congdon Website:...