Alexa Leary Was Told She’d Die - Now She’s a Gold Medallist

Paralympic gold medallist Alexa Leary joins us for one of the most raw and powerful conversations we’ve ever had. At just 19, Alexa was involved in a catastrophic cycling accident that left her with a severe traumatic brain injury. Doctors told her family she wouldn’t survive. She lost her memory, had to relearn how to walk and talk, and now describes herself as living a “second life.”In this episode, Alexa opens up about the reality of brain injury - the emotional highs and lows, the loss of friendships, the struggle to regulate her behaviour, and the daily challenges most people never see.She shares what it felt like to be told she might die, what recovery really looked like behind hospital doors, and how she went from ICU to standing on the Paralympic podium.We also talk about her new book Sink or Swim, why she’s chosen to tell her story so honestly, and the message she wants every woman to hear.This is a story about resilience, identity, and what it truly means to start again.

In this episode, we cover:

The accident Alexa can’t remember - and the moment everything changed
Being told she wouldn’t survive
What it’s really like living with a traumatic brain injury
Losing friendships and rebuilding relationships
Emotional regulation, anger and recovery
From hospital bed to Paralympic gold
Why she says she’s living a “second life”
The truth behind her memoir Sink or Swim
Learning to love and accept herself again

Follow & Listen Don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(50)

Why Women Need to Stop Being “Nice” with Amy Remeikis

What if being “nice” isn’t the same as being kind? And what happens when women stop making themselves smaller to keep everyone else comfortable? This week, Marie Claire Australia Editor Georgie McCou...

23 Syys 52min

Anine Bing on Life After Divorce, Finding Herself Again & Being Happier in Her 40s

Anine Bing has spent more than a decade building the kind of fashion empire most entrepreneurs dream of, launching ANINE BING from a Los Angeles garage and turning her signature blend of Scandinavian ...

16 Syys 37min

The Style Issue: Anne Hathaway, Bumpfluencers & Going Grey

What does it really mean to find your personal style? Our bodies change. Our lives change. So why do we expect our wardrobes to stay the same? In this special Style Issue episode of You're Gonna Want ...

15 Syys 35min

Drawn to the Manosphere: Tarang Chawla on Fighting Misogyny with Empathy

CONTENT WARNING: This episode covers violence, death and sexual assault. In Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support, 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 for domestic, family and sexual...

9 Syys 57min

Sabrina Elba on Finding Purpose, Marrying the Internet’s Husband & Building S’Able Labs

What happens when you refuse to be defined by just one version of yourself? This week, Marie Claire Australia Editor Georgie McCourt is joined by Sabrina Dhowre Elba for a wide-ranging conversation a...

2 Syys 1h 12min

Adrianne Palicki on Friday Night Lights, Being Underestimated & Finding Her Voice

What does it mean to define yourself when so much of your life has been shaped by other people's expectations? This week on You're Gonna Want To Hear This, Marie Claire Australia Editor Georgie McCo...

26 Elo 40min

The Friendship Issue: Hannah Waddingham, Teen-ternity & Bad Friends

What does it really take to maintain friendships as an adult, and why do we feel like failures when they fade? In this special Friendship Issue episode of You're Gonna Want To Hear This, Marie Claire ...

21 Elo 32min

Tash Sefton on Finding Love Again, Turning 50 & Reinventing Your Style | Part 2

Can starting over at 50 lead to the happiest chapter of your life? Continuing from part one, Marie Claire editor Georgie McCourt talks to fashion entrepreneur and style icon Tash Sefton about finding...

19 Elo 36min