Ep#92 The Only Way Out Is Through: Laura Zulliger on Surrender, Play & Paddling
Description
In this episode of The Discomfort Zone Podcast, Anna sits down with Laura Zulliger — ACA Level 5 Coastal Kayak Instructor, whitewater paddler, and Saltwater Program Director for California Watersports Collective — for a powerful conversation about surrendering through challenge, trusting yourself in uncertainty, and finding play inside discomfort.
Together, they explore:
🌊 The real meaning of the discomfort zone — why fear, doubt, and imposter syndrome always show up at the edges of growth
🧠 How paddling teaches surrender — and what "going with the current" looks like in everyday life
🤰 Pregnancy, recovery, and whitewater — the surprising overlap between both journeys
💪 Reframing failure as freedom — and why getting wetter might actually mean you're progressing
💫 The role of play in building courage, confidence, and resilience on the water and in life
Anna and Laura weave together lessons from kayaking, surfing, and motherhood, revealing how transformation often comes not from pushing harder — but from letting go, trusting the process, and savoring the experience.
💬 Favorite Quotes
"The only way out is through."
"Sometimes you have to surrender to discover how strong you really are."
"If you're getting wetter, you're getting better."
If you're craving courage, connection, and a reminder that you're not alone on your growth journey, this is an episode you won't want to miss.
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