RESILIENCE AND REDEFINING NORMS: Bald and Bold with Rachel Macpherson | S3 EP 8

Mind Cake Podcast

Breaking Norms and Running Miles: Rachel Mcpherson's Bold Journey

In this riveting episode of the Mind Cake Podcast, we delve into the transformative journey of Rachel Mcpherson, a woman who’s not afraid to break norms and push boundaries. Rachel is preparing to shave her head, a decision driven by much more than just a desire for change. Join us as we explore:

💇‍♀️ The Bold Decision: Rachel shares her motivation behind shaving her head, challenging societal norms and embracing self-expression.

🏃‍♀️ Running into the Unknown: From a non-runner to an ultra-marathoner, Rachel talks about her journey into the world of long-distance running and the mental resilience it has fostered.

🧠 Mental Health and Personal Growth: The impact of personal loss and how it has shaped Rachel's outlook on life, mental health, and the pursuit of pushing her limits.

Rachel’s story is one of courage, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of self-discovery. Tune in to hear about her upcoming charity head shave, her views on vanity and societal expectations, and her inspiring journey from drug use to ultra-running.

#MindCakePodcast #BoldMoves #UltraRunning #MentalHealthAwareness #SelfExpression #BreakingNorms

00:00 - Mind Cake is a podcast about our mental health

01:35 - What sparked the idea of shaving your head and why now

05:00 - Daniel plans to shave his head bald and then let it grow back

10:46 - After choosing to have your hair shaved, you then make the decision for charity

14:38 - Has your outlook changed since your dad's passing or since cancer diagnosis

15:52 - Rachel says losing her dad has changed her outlook on life

18:19 - You've been running for what, three years? Two and a half

19:31 - So how did you get into running? How did. Is it something you've always fancied

20:59 - Rachel is fascinated by ultras and has only done a handful of them

24:45 - You came off social media three weeks ago for mental health reasons

29:11 - Rachel has gone from couch to ultra marathon in two and a half years

34:03 - We should talk about what kind of training plan you follow

35:22 - Amy Alexander does yoga and drinks chocolate

36:06 - When you're deep into an ultra marathon, battling exhaustion or pain

38:54 - I think running is hugely psychological. To push through the limits

44:06 - Lou says slowing down has made running more enjoyable for him

47:05 - You plan to shave your hair to share a message about self expression

48:10 - You are shaving your head on the 22nd of December

49:58 - Your next big running thing is a backyard ultra

53:26 - What's the weirdest thing you've ever eaten during a race

54:38 - What's your post Race Guilty pleasure meal

55:23 - Rachel is preparing to shave her head to become a baldie

58:02 - Your Just11 podcast has raised over 1200 quid so far

Don’t forget to subscribe, share, and leave a review if you enjoyed the episode!

#BaldAndBold #MentalHealthMatters #UltraRunning #ChallengingNorms #MindCakePodcast

Links

Rachel Macpherson is fundraising for CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably)

Little Princess Trust
[littleprincesses.org.uk](https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk)

Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM)
[thecalmzone.net](https://www.thecalmzone.net)

Right Said Fred
[rightsaidfred.com](http://www.rightsaidfred.com)

Born to Run (Book)
[Amazon UK](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Born-Run-Hidden-Superathletes-Greatest/dp/1861978774)