Podcast
Endurance Diaries
Hosted by Ashley Ljesevic · EN
Endurance Diaries brings together athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, CEOs, thought-leaders, and everyday changemakers to share stories of resilience, pivotal moments, and lessons learned along the journey. Authentic and inspiring, these conversations remind us that while our paths look different, the endurance to keep going lives within all of us.
Whether through lived experience or topic-focused reflection, each episode invites curiosity, connection, and personal growth while highlighting the strength we carry to persevere.
24episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
EP 106: Exploring the Inner Critic and Practical Tools to Navigate Uncertainty
Apr 1400:17:15Tap to summarizeWhen is your inner critic the loudest?Trying something newDuring transition or uncertaintyWhen things are going wellAfter falling short of a goalAll of the above?In this solo episode, I explore why the inner critic gets so loud especially during transition, uncertainty, success, or after falling short, and how you can navigate it without letting it define you. I share practical tools that I've learned like cognitive defusion, naming the voice, and anchoring back to your identity and truth so you can create space between your thoughts and who you are. If you’ve ever felt stuck in self-doubt, this episode will help you move forward with more clarity, self-compassion, and confidence.
Transcribe →EP 105: Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Building a Creative Career in Sports Photography | Hannah Kevorkian
Apr 700:33:55Tap to summarizeWhat if you didn’t have to choose just one path?In this episode, I’m joined by sports photographer and physical therapist Hannah Kevorkian to explore what it really looks like to build a career that doesn’t fit into just one box.Hannah shares her journey into sports photography, capturing major events across the WNBA, Unrivaled, U.S. Soccer, the NFL, Professional Tennis, and the NCAA, all while working full-time as a physical therapist. What started as a creative passion evolved into something much bigger through years of consistency, curiosity, and behind-the-scenes work that most people never see.Together we dive into imposter syndrome, learning to trust your self, and what it takes to grow a creative career alongside a traditional path. Hannah opens up about giving herself permission to step away from expectations, pursue new opportunities, and embrace a true career blend.Her story is a powerful reminder that you can pursue more than one thing, and that some of the most meaningful opportunities come from staying open, following your curiosity, and continuing to show up.
Transcribe →EP 104: How High Performers Step Into Their Power | Kelly Lynn Adams
Mar 3000:44:46Tap to summarizeKelly Lynn Adams joins Endurance Diaries for a conversation that goes far beneath the surface of success. She takes us through her journey from Wall Street to nearly two decades in luxury fashion and retail, all while building her coaching business alongside.In our conversation we discuss the hidden cost of high achievement, what it means to take radical responsibility for your life, the difference between the being and the doing and how to navigate uncertainty without having all the answers.Kelly is an award winning entrepreneur and trauma informed business and life coach, international speaker and host of the Perfectly Imperfect Podcast.Connect with Kelly: https://kellylynnadams.com/
Transcribe →EP 103: The Tension Between Performance and Authenticity: A Conversation on Identity, Values, and Coming Back to Yourself | Tim Croll
Mar 1800:49:41Tap to summarizeIf you’ve ever felt the pull between who you are and who the world expects you to be, this conversation will meet you there.In this episode I'm joined by Tim Croll, former LEGO Masters contestant, business strategist, and leadership coach, for an honest conversation about identity, adversity, and the parts of our stories we don’t often share. Together, we explore the tension between external success and internal alignment.This episode is a reflection on resilience, perspective, and redefining what success really means.
Transcribe →EP 102: Learning to Slow Down in a Performance-Driven Culture | Pete Wright
Feb 1800:49:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode, you’ll learn what becomes possible when you expand into new ways of creating, serving, and seeing.Pete Wright is a former tennis player and teaching pro turned professional sports photographer, brand marketing manager, author, and creative entrepreneur grounded in faith. Pete reflects on his journey from competing on the court to capturing some of the biggest moments in sports, and how his focus evolved from personal achievement to mentorship and cultivating meaningful relationships.Pete is the author of several books including his latest: Growth and Structure: Thirty Days to Deeper Faith and Stronger FoundationsLearn more: https://www.petewrightphotography.com/
Transcribe →EP 101: Lessons in Leadership and Loving Yourself | Alexian Wines on the Power of Words and Sharing Your Story
Jan 2600:48:01Tap to summarizeIn this episode you’ll learn how believing beyond what you can see can expand your confidence and lead you down paths you never imagined.Alexian Wines is a global leader, international speaker, and co-author of Letters to Lilly: Lessons in Leadership and Loving Yourself. Her career spans government, international business, and strategic consulting, including working under two U.S. presidential administrations at the White House and the National Security Council. Today, she serves as Chief Operating Officer at BowerGroupAsia.In this conversation, Ali shares her personal journey of growing up with a small-town lens, the teachers and moments that helped her find her voice, and how lived experience taught her the true power of words. We talk about endurance, self-belief, storytelling, and why Letters to Lilly, a collection of letters written to a younger self, has resonated with people around the world.This episode is a reminder that you are not alone, and your story is powerful.
Transcribe →EP 100: Special Guests, Moments to Reflect, and the Endurance to Keep Going
Dec 2201:18:30Tap to summarizeIt’s the Endurance Diaries 100th Episode Celebration!If you can, this one is best experienced in the video version, with surprise drop-ins and moments you won’t want to miss.You’ll hear from special guests offering encouragement, wisdom, and perspective for wherever you are on your journey. There’s laughter, honest dialogue, and space to pause and reflect with a lot of gratitude.Featured Guests: Jeff Mallory, Kevin Rutherford, Carlos Hernandez, Nancy Gale, Van Lai-DuMone, Jenn HuffmanWatch on Spotify/YouTube.
Transcribe →EP 99: Curiosity as a Way Back to Yourself | Kelvin Wang on Healing, Identity, and Connection
Dec 1500:48:40Tap to summarizeIn this episode you’ll learn how curiosity can become a compass through pain, healing, and reinvention.Kelvin Wang is a first generation Chinese American and walking quadriplegic, whose life shifted after a near death car accident in December 2017. He reflects on the people who showed up, how small moments of humanity and connection carried him through the unknown, and how these experiences continue to shape the way he move sthrough the world today.Together we discuss living life in chapters, the ongoing nature of healing, and what it means to be mask off in a world that rewards performance. Kelvin also shares how creativity and the performing arts helped him restore a part of himself he thought he lost.
Transcribe →EP 98: How Adding Variation Helps You Perform Better | Dr. Andy Bass, Pittsburgh Pirates Mental Performance Coach
Dec 800:42:45Tap to summarizeIn this episode you'll learn why adding variation to your life and routines might be one of the most powerful tools you have for performance and self-development.Dr. Andy Bass, mental performance coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates, shares how his own experience with the YIPS reshaped the way he thinks about identity, resilience, and what athletes need beyond their sport. He reflects on why so many high performers feel trapped inside narrow definitions of success, and how small shifts in our habits and environments can open the door to creativity and freedom.Together we explore the science of motor learning, why our minds crave variation, and how small moments of trying something new can expand our capacity. We also discuss burnout, the role of therapy, and the importance of having people who help us notice what we can’t always see in ourselves.
Transcribe →EP 97: How to Walk Through Hard Seasons and Build Endurance for the Process with Former MLB Catcher Michael “The Fort” McKenry
Dec 100:43:55Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I'm joined by former MLB catcher and Pittsburgh Pirates fan favorite Michael “The Fort” McKenry for a raw conversation on faith, identity, and endurance.Michael shares his journey through baseball and the challenges that came with injuries, surgeries, and transition. He opens up about his evolving relationship with God, what it means to be planted where you are, and why he believes the process shapes us far more than the outcome.Together we explore the mental side of performance, why questions are essential for growth, and how young athletes can build resilience now, not just when adversity hits.
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