You'd think fear is what stops you from doing hard things. At 25, with zero rowing experience, Taryn Smith crossed the Atlantic alone. 3,000 miles, 46 days, and I learned that the fear was never the obstacle. It was the signal she was finally in the right place.In this episode, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and Taryn Smith discuss:Why fear is a "metric of success," not a stop sign, and how to train yourself to move toward discomfort instead of away from itHow food becomes visible performance fuel when you're the only engine, and how...
You'd think fear is what stops you from doing hard things. At 25, with zero rowing experience, Taryn Smith crossed the Atlantic alone. 3,000 miles, 46 days, and I learned that the fear was never the obstacle. It was the signal she was finally in the right place.
In this episode, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and Taryn Smith discuss:
- Why fear is a "metric of success," not a stop sign, and how to train yourself to move toward discomfort instead of away from it
- How food becomes visible performance fuel when you're the only engine, and how to preserve muscle on limited calories using protein and daily amino acids
- The "long-term optimist, short-term realist" mindset that carries you through a slog with no end in sight
- The post-achievement crash nobody warns you about, and why the low after a big win is predictable
Whether or not you'll ever touch an oar, you'll walk away with a portable mental framework for facing anything you've been avoiding, and a clearer sense of who you are when no one's watching.
Want ad-free episodes? Subscribe to Forever Strong Insider: https://bit.ly/4u5VSRe
📱Connect with Taryn Smith:
Website: https://www.tarynsmithmovement.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarynsmithmovement/
🙌Thank you to our sponsors:
Square - Get up to $200 off Square hardware when you sign up at square.com/go/drlyon
BodyHealth - Use the code LYON20 to get 20% off your first order https://bit.ly/3TJVSsv
Upgrade your kitchen with Our Place today. Visit https://bit.ly/4q3ggRp and use code DRYLON for 10% off sitewide. That’s F-R-O-M-O-U-R-P-L-A-C-E DOT COM / D-R-L-Y-O-N and use code DRLYON for 10% off sitewide. With a 100-day trial, you can try it completely risk-free.
Branch Basics - Get 15% off the Premium Starter Kit at https://bit.ly/4q3ZYb4 with the code DRLYON.
📺Watch the “Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show” every Tuesday at 9AM EST:
YouTube: https://bit.ly/4boCFC3
Spotify: https://bit.ly/4cWTbLG
📱Connect with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon:
Instagram: https://bit.ly/4uk9adc
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3OFK3kJ
X.com: https://bit.ly/4l3YlaX
Facebook: https://bit.ly/3MBrJso
LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3N1nrdL
Website: https://bit.ly/3NdV2kT
Books: https://bit.ly/4r6ugZK
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/402QCAj
⏰Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro of show
02:44 - From landlocked Nebraska to the ocean
03:37 - Chasing discomfort and stacking bigger adventures
05:17 - Fear as the real metric of success
08:57 - The unglamorous first steps of training
10:51 - College, family, and why criminal defense
14:06 - Trusting the instinct and the "calling"
16:00 - Impermanence, grief, and losing her grandfather
19:08 - 46 days, the weather, and the daily slog
21:05 - Training the body: ERG, lifting, injury prevention
30:11 - Solitude and the voice in your own head
31:12 - Food as fuel: eating to power the boat
36:08 - Supplements, aminos, and protecting muscle
38:37 - The storm that almost capsized the boat
43:17 - Sharks, marlin, and the real ocean dangers
46:36 - Music, dolphins, and the bird named Jo
52:11 - Long-term optimist, short-term realist
59:41 - The question no one asks her
1:00:50 - Five beautiful things: a journaling reframe
1:11:17 - The post-row crash nobody warns you about
1:19:02 - Recovery, appetite, and relearning hunger cues
1:24:02 - Training now: flexibility over rigid discipline
‼️Disclaimer: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.
This episode includes paid sponsorships.
