Episode 188: Canada to Mexico with a Brain Tumor with Risa August

“I had a decision to make. I either get up and do life, or dwell on the old self and the old life. And to me that was a matter of life and death. So I chose to live in that moment. I just chose to live.”

— Risa August

This week, we're honored to welcome Risa August, an adventurer and author based in Colorado. After receiving a life-altering diagnosis of a brain tumor in 2018, Risa faced a choice that would define her future: to retreat into fear or to embrace life with renewed purpose. She chose the latter, transforming from a rigid perfectionist into someone who lives fully in each moment.

Risa takes us on a journey through her transformation from accomplished athlete to someone facing an uncertain medical future, and ultimately to a woman who refused to let a brain tumor (affectionately named Bubba) define her limits. She describes that pivotal moment sitting on her worn-out couch in gray sweatpants, realizing this was no way to live, and making the decision to pursue her lifelong dream of cycling 1,800 miles from Canada to Mexico along the Pacific Coast. That decision sparked what would become a six-week journey of physical challenge, emotional healing, and profound self-discovery.

In this episode, we explore the power of choosing how we respond to life's obstacles, the unexpected companionship that can come from accepting rather than fighting our circumstances, and how Risa's cycling journey became a vessel for transformation. Join us for a deep and moving conversation about finding strength in vulnerability, learning to ask "what can I do?" instead of dwelling on limitations, and what it truly means to live life on your own terms, one pedal stroke at a time.

Scott and Risa also discuss: