Why I love my bad days | Alexi Pappas episode artwork

EPISODE · May 16, 2026 · 32 MIN

Why I love my bad days | Alexi Pappas

from TED Talks Daily

One month before the Rio Olympics, runner Alexi Pappas couldn't hit her splits in practice. She was begging her watch to change its mind. Then her coach told her to take it off — and shared the best advice she's ever received. That single piece of wisdom led her to break a national record and changed how she chases her goals, carrying her through ultramarathons, a memoir and three films. Bad days aren't a detour, she says — they mean you're right on track.Following the talk, host Elise Hu caught up with Alexi for a "Beyond the Talk" conversation to dig deeper – into what the rule of thirds looks like beyond sport, what it means to befriend pain rather than just survive it, and what she wants people to know about how to keep going even when you think it’s impossible. A heads up: this conversation involves mention of mental health struggles and suicide.Afterwards, check out Alexi's own podcast Mentor Buffet, where she talks to athletes, actors, movie producers, DJs, chefs, authors, and other people she admires about who has influenced them along their journey. You can find Mentor Buffet on Apple, Spotify, and YouTube. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published May 16, 2026

Embed this episode

NOW PLAYING

Why I love my bad days | Alexi Pappas

0:00 32:38

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of TED Talks Daily?

This episode is 32 minutes long.

When was this TED Talks Daily episode published?

This episode was published on May 16, 2026.

Can I download this TED Talks Daily episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!