When Your Doctor Won't Listen: Risa August on Brain Tumours, Radical Reinvention, and What Success Really Feels Like

What if you spent seven years knowing something was wrong with your body — and every doctor told you nothing was?Risa August is a two-time Ironman athlete, cyclist, author, and one of the most quietly compelling people I've ever spoken to. For seven years, her body was changing in ways she couldn't explain. She was dismissed, minimised, and told to drink more water — while completing Ironman triathlons. It was only when Risa demanded her own MRI that doctors discovered a large tumour on her pituitary gland and a rare condition called acromegaly that had been reshaping her body for years.What followed was brain surgery, radiation, lifelong medication — and six months later, Risa had signed up to cycle from Meixco to Canada, cycling 1,845 miles down the Pacific Coast Highway to Mexico. She had injections shipped to remote locations along the route. Because that's just who she is.But this isn't really a story about physical feats. It's about what happens to your identity when the version of yourself you've built everything around is no longer available to you — and who you find when you stop trying to get her back.In this episode, you'll discover:✨ How to advocate for your own health when medical professionals aren't listening (and why women are disproportionately dismissed) ✨ What identity collapse really feels like — and the surprising first step Risa took toward recovery (spoiler: it wasn't getting back on the bike) ✨ Why receiving help used to feel like weakness — and the mindset shift that changed everything ✨ How to find forward motion when you can barely get to the front door ✨ What success feels like when you stop measuring it in achievements and start measuring it in days that just flow This episode is for you if:You've been dismissed by doctors and are looking for validation that you know your own bodyYou're a high-achiever going through a health crisis, burnout, or major life disruptionYour identity is deeply tied to what you do — and that's starting to feel fragileYou're rebuilding after loss and wondering what the first step looks likeYou want to redefine success on your own terms, not someone else'sAbout Risa August:Risa August is an athlete, author, and speaker who has competed in two Ironman triathlons, completed a 1,845-mile Pacific Coast cycle six months after brain surgery, and channelled her experience of acromegaly and pituitary tumour diagnosis into her debut book, The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumour and a Bike. You can find Risa at risaaugust.com.Love this episode? Hit subscribe and leave us a review! And if you know someone who's redefining success on their own terms, nominate them at [email protected] - we're always looking for incredible people to feature.Connect with Jess:Instagram: @kalicoaching.coWebsite: www.kalicoaching.co.uk