Plucky Not Perfect Podcast

Resilience in the Messy Middle: 3 Practices for Women Navigating Change (#26)

In this first episode of Season 2 of Plucky Not Perfect, we get real about what it means to show up in the messy middle of life, especially when things don’t go as planned.
After a year marked by cancer treatments, complications, and unexpected setbacks, Carrie shares three practices that carried her through hard days:
Accepting help and letting others in — why strength isn’t about going it alone
Gaining perspective with reflection — how journaling turns hardship into growth
Taking it one day at a time — simple tools to stay present when life feels overwhelming
If you’ve ever felt stuck in a storm, this short episode will remind you that resilience isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up, one imperfect step at a time.
Let us know your thoughts and ideas for Season 2! 
Connect with your host, Coach Carrie @carriejobradley. 

#25 Permission to pause: 4 reflection questions + journal prompts to help you make resolutions that stick

Let’s embrace the gift of winter—slowing down, reflecting, and preparing for what’s next.
In This Episode:
The value of honoring the season you’re in.
How to rethink limitations as opportunities for growth.
Four reflection questions to guide your year-end review or seasonal reset.
A tip for turning your resolutions into actionable, motivating questions.
Reflection Questions Mentioned:
What worked?
What didn’t?
What did you learn about yourself?
What do you want more or less of?
Links and Resources:
Book Mentioned: Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May
Subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss Season 2 coming this spring!
Let's connect: find me on Instagram @‌carriejobradley or email thecarriejobradley@gmail.com.
Next Steps:
If you’re setting resolutions this year, try turning them into questions:
Example: Instead of “I will eat more vegetables,” ask, “What would help me eat more vegetables?”
Journal prompts–
How did last year compare to what I originally expected?
How would I describe the past year in one word?
What challenges did I face? How did I grow?
What were my proudest accomplishments? 
What brought me the most joy and meaning in the last year?
What do I want to focus on most next year? 
What resources and support do I need to reach my goals?
If I had to give a name to this season I’m in, what would it be? 
 
Join Me in Season 2:I’ll be back in the spring with more interviews and solo episodes exploring how limitations can shape who we’re meant to become. Until then, stay plucky and thank you for listening to Season 1!
 

#24 The Secret to Change

Change is inevitable, but that doesn't make it easy! Here is my advice for navigating change. 
I also give an update about life after surgery, including some exciting news. 
 
Connect with your host: Coach Carrie @‌carriejobradley.
 

#23 How rejecting self-pity and embracing self-compassion helped me reach a big goal

I didn't know if I would be able to complete the 100-kilometer Tour De Cure bike ride and raise funds for research during cancer treatment. But I'm happy to report that goal is completed! Many thanks for my supporters. 
Tune in to hear why self-compassion is more helpful than self-pity and how you can use this powerful mindset to propel you to do hard things softly. 
Links mentioned: 
Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff
Connect with your host: Coach Carrie @‌carriejobradley or email thecarriejobradley@gmail.com. 
Remember to share your #pluckynotperfect moments on social media. Tag me and use the hashtag when you show up bravely and imperfectly. I want to celebrate with you!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

#22 If you're ill or injured; "let the cat come back"

In the midst of chemotherapy, I haven't forgotten about this podcast and don't want to neglect it for too long. I'm sharing a short little story about my cat and how it relates to my athletic goals during this time. If you're ill or injured, you might relate. 
Links mentioned: 
Fundraiser for BC Cancer, Tour de Cure 100k bike ride: https://tourdecure.ca/fundraiser/carriejobradley
 
Remember to share your #pluckynotperfect moments on social media. Tag me and use the hashtag when you show up bravely and imperfectly. I want to celebrate with you!
Connect with your host: Coach Carrie @‌carriejobradley or email me at thecarriejobradley@gmail.com. 
 

#21 Two Miles to the Top: Lessons in Perseverance from Simon Marshall

It’s hard to keep going without knowing where the finish line is. 
But you can persevere more easily with some techniques like segmentation (“Two miles to the top.”) 
Simon Marshall, my former mentor and coach, who passed away from pancreatic cancer on June 1, 2024, taught me this on a fateful day in 2017.
Hear a touching story of how he impacted my life and inspired me to attempt to ride 100k in the upcoming Tour De Cure 2024 in his memory. 
He and his wife Lesley Paterson offer many other valuable lessons in enduring suffering in their book, The Brave Athlete. 
Resources and Links:
Rich Roll’s Podcast Interview with Lesley Paterson:
World Champion Athlete & Oscar-Nominated Writer Lesley Paterson On Mindset, Performance & Persistence 
The Brave Athlete Book:
The Brave Athlete, Book by Simon Marshall, PhD, Lesley Paterson 
Fundraiser for BC Cancer Foundation:
https://tourdecure.ca/fundraiser/carriejobradley

#20 Incurable Cancer Doesn’t Define You: Stepping into Courage with Monica Rosenke

First doctors told her she would go blind because of a brain tumor, but she didn't. Twenty years later they discovered a massive liver tumor and diagnosed her with a non-treatable cancer, Primary Hepatic Angio Sarcoma. Later, she found two breast tumors. Most people with this condition are given 2-6 months to live. But Monica Rosenke is living an active and thriving life as a mom of three, Personal Trainer, coach and adventurist. Tune in to hear what healing shifts she’s made to thrive and be courageous when facing death and authentically living life. 
 
Favorite quotes: 
 
“Movement is a tool to work with your body, not on your body.”
 
“I’m acutely aware of every breath anyone takes is one breath closer to death. That makes you just want to live your life and grab it by the pelotas and like, really, really live it. And you start to shed layers of appeasing to others..who other people want you to be and you start to realize that this is my one and only life I get to live.” 
 
“Thriving with cancer is living in the moment because I’m not guaranteed tomorrow. But nobody is.” 
 
“Moving into acceptance quickly for me has been key.” 
 
“It [cancer] doesn’t define what I can do. This is my F-U to cancer, not letting cancer steal my joy, my peace, my calm….That applies even to people who are afraid to do that thing…If you’re living in fear of death, you’ll never live.” 
 
“I’m enough in whatever circumstance in this very moment. When I came to that place of deeply knowing in my gut that I’m sacred and that I’m a gift…the other things became more pleasurable.” 
 
“Strong, capable, able…Hold hands with fear and step into courage.” 
 
“I’ve been brave for a very long time in my life. I just did not know that about myself.” 
 
Connect with Monica: 
@monicarosenke.wellness
www.monicarosenke.com  
 
Remember to share your #pluckynotperfect moments on social media. Tag me and use the hashtag when you show up bravely and imperfectly. I want to celebrate with you!
Connect with your host: Coach Carrie @‌carriejobradley or email carrie@carriejobradley.com.
 

#19 My cancer diagnosis; how I’m practicing courage

There is no courage without vulnerability as Brene Brown says. Vulnerability involves uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure. It feels very vulnerable to share my diagnosis with you, but I want you to be a part of the journey. 
Being plucky is about enduring the messy middle and going through the valleys to get to the finish line, the medal, the mountain top. 
While cancer is not what I expected, nor is it what I wanted at this stage of my life, I can see it as a gift. 
If you want to hear more about my story, take 20 minutes and listen. May you be encouraged to see your own challenges as opportunities as well. 
In this episode I refer to 5 levels of gratitude I learned from James Wedmore, in which he talks about on his podcast, Mind Your Business. 
Remember to share your #pluckynotperfect moments on social media. Tag me and use the hashtag when you show up bravely and imperfectly. I want to celebrate with you!
Connect with your host: Coach Carrie @‌carriejobradley or email me at carrie@carriejobradley.com.
 
 
 

#18 Coaching Corner: A Desire to Run Farther and Faster in Community: Alex Fales

We're starting something new! It's called Coaching Corner. It’s a real coaching session recorded live and shared with you. This is an insider’s look at what it’s like to work with Coach Carrie. 
In my session with Alex, you might relate if you…
* lack community and would like to find more runner friends
* are in a phase of life where running isn’t as much of a priority as it used to be
* would like to get back into running but not quite as intensely as before
* have associated running with being obsessive about body image and food. 
If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you’re subscribed to the podcast so you’ll be the first to know when more are released. 
Connect with Alex on Instagram @mindfulwithmedia and check out her podcast. 
If you want to be coached for free and are willing to share your session on the podcast (you can remain anonymous if you'd like), click here to apply. 
I would love to help you work through whatever issues you're facing in your running journey. 
We hope you find these sessions relatable and helpful. Sometimes it’s nice just knowing you’re not alone. 
I respond to every message and would love to hear your takeaways and aha moments. Email me at carrie@carriejobradley.com or send me a DM on Instagram @carriejobradley.
If you’re doing something that requires determined courage, use the hashtag #pluckynotperfect and tag me. I always love to reshare and cheer you on.

#17 How being plucky like a duck will help you be a better person...whether it's running, writing, parenting, whatever...

In this episode we dive more into the definition of “plucky” –what it is and isn’t. I give examples of plucky people including my friend, Mandy, and Susan Atkey, who writes about her stroke recovery on Medium. She is swimming 100k and raising awareness and funds for the Heart & Stroke Foundation. 
Learn to be plucky like a baby duck learns to fly–by winging it. Watch baby ducks courageously jumping from their nest here. 
Connect with me, Coach Carrie, @carriejobradley. If you’re doing something that requires determined courage, use the hashtag #pluckynotperfect and tag me. I always love to reshare and cheer you on.