Rise Resolute

On this episode we’re joined by Michelle Martinez, a deeply rooted and respected presence in the Ventura running community.With over four decades as a runner, Michelle’s journey has taken her from 5Ks to ultradistance races. But what truly sets her apart is the impact she’s made beyond her own miles. As a longtime coach working with youth, high school athletes, and adult runners, she’s spent more than 20 years helping people of all levels find their stride and pursue goals they once thought were out of reach.She currently serves as an assistant cross country coach at Ventura High School and continues to play a key role in local training programs, creating spaces where beginners, competitive athletes, and lifelong runners alike can grow, connect, and push forward together.Michelle embodies what it means to stay in it for the long run, not just chasing performance, but building people. Her coaching is grounded in experience, mentorship, and a deep belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to improve, belong

This episode of the Rise Resolute Podcast explores the power of courage with elite ultrarunner, journalist, and author Katie Arnold, who has written multiple books, including Brief Flashings in the Phenomenal World. At the heart of the conversation is the idea that courage is not the absence of fear, but choosing to keep moving forward in the presence of it. Throughout her life as a writer, athlete, and mother, Katie has embodied the practice of meeting challenges with awareness and honesty: allowing yourself to feel what you are feeling in the moment rather than resisting it, which in turn creates space for possibility. Her recovery from a severe tibial plateau fracture after a whitewater rafting accident in Idaho and her return (despite being told she may not run again) to win the Leadville 100 ultramarathon just two years later offers one powerful example of how mindset, patience, and belief can shape what the body and spirit are capable of. Woven through this episode is a reminder that the energy of our m

Connect and Rise with Brittany Simque, a certified health coach who shares her own incredible health and wellness journey. After losing over 200 pounds through a wholistic approach, she recently ran the Chicago Marathon, inspiring us all to lean into our power to be lifelong learners and embrace the path to long term happiness. When you believe you can, even the hard things are within reach. https://talitha.com/ginameyer

Connect and Rise with Liz Rucker who shares her journey into nonprofit work and calls us all to ask how we can make even a small impact in this world. Liz shares how her faith has guided and sustained her throughout her life. She helps us understand that we have to trust the reason we were placed in this moment in our lives and to be unafraid to look beyond ourselves. When we take our “eyes off self, (our) attitude (elevates) up.” Often we will need to trust, remembering to lean not on our own understanding. When we listen to our intuition and our faith, we can use our gifts to make this world better.https://talitha.com/ginameyer

Connect and Rise with Jenny Barber, survivor of exploitation and advocate/leader in anti-trafficking. Jenny is the co-founder of Talitha coffee, created as a pathway for survivors to reintegrate into society. Jenny shares her story and reminds us “what an amazing time (it is) to be alive,” when we look at setbacks as points of truth and empowerment. Jenny will inspire you to take whatever you bring to the table and use it for good. Her insight will empower you to become a thriving, fearless overcomer.

Connect and Rise with Tina, Breast Cancer Survivor, optimist, and poet. Tina discusses her Cancer journey and shares a few of her wonderful poems as they relate to this ongoing journey of life. Tina will inspire you to share your light from within. 

Connect and Rise with Lori Hauck, distance runner, accounting professor, business coach, and doctorate student as we process our feeling around the LA fires and discuss how mindset can transform everything. In the 2025 season of the podcast you can expect conversations around living authentically and with intention. This episode will leave you with hope and positivity. Never give up on the things you want most in life and continue  onward with optimism. 

Connect and Rise with Dr Ariella Parker, Doctoral Behavioral Analyst and expert in pivotal response treatment as we discuss growth through all the stages of life, pushing past fear, and giving ourselves grace as we journey through. Ariella’s insight will propel you to take action in your own life, forgive yourself along the way, and believe that growth and joy always await. 

Connect and Rise with Esther Goetz, author and creator of Moms of Bigs. Esther shares insight that is extremely empowering for moms, but truly can be applied to anyone’s life. Her platform supports giving kids the “wings of freedom to become completely themselves,” and our discussion will propel you, mom or not to do the same. She authentically shares how being at rock bottom can be a gift, moving us forward into becoming more fully ourselves and making an impact on the lives of others. She advocates that we discover parts of ourselves that may have been forgotten and reminds us that self compassion encourages resilience. So be tender with your former self. Self awareness, self compassion, and self acceptance are at the core of all she does. Don’t abandon yourself (in motherhood or at any other time in your life) but continue to embrace all parts of who you are, approaching life with flexibility, curiosity, and wonder. 

Connect and Rise with Dr. Heidi Lovett, triathlete, ultra-marathoner, author, humanitarian, and so much more! Heidi will remind you of your strength within to rise despite difficulty and struggle. She encourages movement and stepping outside of comfort zones. One cause particularly dear to Heidi is to help minority women learn to swim. Everyone is welcome and can benefit from learning to swim for the health benefits and also to prevent drowning related deaths. Heidi also assists high schoolers in pursuing advanced education. Heidi is a gift to her community and this world! “Doc Sunshine” will fill you with light. 

The Monday Magic series aims to bring a little positivity to the start of your week. Go crush your Monday! 

Enjoy the kick off episode of the Monday Magic series which aims to bring a little positivity to the start of your week. Go crush your Monday! 

We are revisiting some favorite episodes… Connect and Rise with Monique, Body Positive Advocate and Fitness Entrepreneur, who shares her  journey of opening fitness studios aimed at empowering ALL women through movement. Monique responded to a game-changing “no” in her life. She refused to accept that no and moved forward with persistence and passion to make her mark on the fitness world. Monique will encourage you to trust  your “knowing” within because each of us has something unique to give the world. She reminds us that we have to speak power and life over ourselves. We are all rich- full of blessings, capability, love, strength, and the beauty of connection.  

Connect and Rise with Chanelle Price, 2014 World Indoor 800m Champion.  Chanelle shares incredible insight on understanding the power of the mind and how changing our thoughts can have a huge impact on our lives.  Chanelle also discusses the importance of having a strong enough "why" which will propel us forward to achieving our dreams even when challenges come.  She believes that true bravery is asking for help and that we can give one another strength by sharing our growth through hard times.  Chanelle will remind you in difficult moments to reflect on all you've already overcome and remember that you are so much stronger than you know.  Keep going.

Connect and Rise with Marisha Charbonnet who shares amazing insight including her personal journey through finding out that she has the BRCA Gene which indicates a high risk of cancer.  She describes that though the “ostrich” approach to life’s challenges (burying your head in the sand) may seem easiest, we have to push ourselves to face difficulties head on and view our ability to make decisions as our power. Sometimes the worst thing that happens to you can actually turn out to be the best thing. Marisha speaks about the power of positivity to propel us forward in life and about the way our connections to one another give us needed perspective. She reminds us that everything we go through builds a foundation to fortify us to keep moving forward. Stop playing it safe, choose to be courageous, and live a life you love. 

Connect and Rise with Tami Hedrick, multifaceted leader and Community Impact Advocate. Tami shares amazing insight on growth through all of life’s  changes and stages. She challenges us to rewrite how we identify ourselves through our struggles. Tami reminds us to be unafraid to dream big and get things done. You will come away ready to go out and “be awesome.”

Connect and Rise with Alesha Brown, CEO and founder of Fruition Publishing. Alesha discusses her personal journey and how she has learned to be resilient in the face of adversity. She explains that “cultivating resilience is the path to fulfillment.” She reminds us that we get to decide what kind of lives we live. Alesha gives profound insight into relationships, explaining how to assess whether a relationship is withdrawing from or making deposits into our internal wells. You will come away not only feeling empowered to take bold action towards your dreams, but also remembering to be joyful  in all things- including the simple pleasure of waking up. If you are breathing, there is an opportunity to create a vibrant and meaningful life. 

Connect and Rise with Jaqueline Alnes, runner, writer, and author of the recently released book, The Fruit Cure. Jaqueline shares her story reminding us that our value can be found internally and intrinsically and is not based on any external demands that the world may place upon us. She advocates breaking free from an all-or-nothing mentality and invites us to celebrate all parts of ourselves.  Making space for failure frees us to explore, play, and enjoy life. Joy awaits. 

Connect and Rise with Susan Donnelly, minset and strategy coach for ultra runners who has finished 144 hundred mile races!! Have you ever wondered what it takes to finish a 100 mile race? Or to be a finisher in life? Susan tells us that you start by knowing what you are thinking instead of just reacting. You can then ask yourself if you are willing to make a change in your thinking. Susan discusses how women have been socially conditioned in ways that men have not, often keeping them off balance… Women are told to be beautiful, but not too beautiful, assertive, but not too assertive, successful, but not too successful. Women can shift their thinking and train themselves to think bold thoughts. Susan reminds us to be willing to gamble on ourselves and to also develop a relationship with discomfort and pain. Ask yourself: what am I willing to fight for? And remember, you don’t have to be perfect because you learn by failing. Holding yourself to perfection is unfair to you. You will come away from this amazing f

Connect and Rise with Jaci Wilson, runner and holistic run coach. Jaci discusses how developing and working on our mindset must be practiced throughout our lives. She is an advocate for developing a gratitude practice, especially noticing the little and specific moments of joy in our lives. We open our discussion on leadership which will be a theme on the podcast as we head into 2024. Jaci talks about how important it is for a leader to be vulnerable and to keep learning. She also shares how life will continue teaching us the same lessons until we listen. Learning from the recurring themes in our lives can be a game changer. Jaci reminds us that the little things make a big difference and that every “race” has a purpose.