Caroline Buchanan

In this episode, Rebecca and Caroline explore:

• How Caroline transformed a life-threatening injury into a launchpad for growth

• The identity crisis that came with stepping away from racing and learning to pause

• Why slowing down can be the most powerful move you make

• The mental shift from outcome-driven goals to purpose-driven living

• Her transition from BMX Olympian to freeride pioneer and broadcast commentator

• The creation of her new Ignite mentorship and education platform for athletes

Transformative insights:

• “Effort first” — how her parents instilled a mindset of earning progress, not expecting it

• Why being “what you couldn’t see” became her lifelong mission

• How a doctor’s simple prescription—gratitude, sunrise, and connection—reignited her joy

• The “why” statement that became her compass for every decision

• Using tapping, meditation, and mindfulness to rewire her nervous system for confidence and calm

• The difference between chasing medals and living a meaningful legacy

Vulnerable moments:

• Caroline recounts her devastating 2017 crash that punctured her lungs and heart wall

• The moment she realized she didn’t have the right people supporting her recovery

• Facing depression and anxiety during two years of painful reconstruction

• The courage it took to “put her learner plates back on” and start over in freeride

• How slowing down forced her to find nurture, femininity, and emotional intelligence

Practical wisdom:

• The three healing practices that replaced medication: watch the sunrise, express gratitude, and connect with others

• How to use mantras as mental anchors in both triumph and hardship

• “This too shall pass”—a reminder that both pain and glory are temporary

• How to define your “why” so clearly that it becomes unshakable

• Viewing patience as part of performance, not a pause from it

Personal growth:

• Caroline’s evolution from BMX prodigy to mountain bike pioneer and mentor

• Building Ignite to guide the next generation of athletes on professionalism and purpose

• How her near-death experience reshaped her definition of success

• Learning to lead from the bench: impact without medals

• The strength that comes from blending mind, body, and spirit into one foundation