The same year she sold the family business, Carla revisits the day she and her brother Vince jumped off a ferry into the San Francisco Bay for the Alcatraz Shark Fest swim, and what it taught her about fear, purpose, and asking for help.

Episode Navigation:

00:00 — Carla welcomes her brother Vince back to talk about the Alcatraz swim they did together, and the terrifying yes he talked her into

01:36 — Carla on losing her sense of purpose the year they sold the business, and why the swim was never her idea

03:01 — Vince on missing the challenge of running a business, and searching out marathons, backpacking trips, and open water swims instead

04:31 — How Vince talked Carla into the Alcatraz Shark Fest swim, and their shared swimming background from high school

06:21 — Training solo in the pool for an open water swim, and the mental toll of being alone with your thoughts

07:32 — Race day in San Francisco: walking barefoot to the ferry with family and friends there to cheer them on

09:27 — Jumping off the ferry into the cold, dark Bay, with sea lions, sharks, and a shifting current to contend with

11:28 — Carla's panic attack mid-swim, and the volunteer who told her, “you're already doing it”

15:04 — Finishing the swim, reuniting on shore, and finding Vince already chill and eating a banana

19:58 — Vince's advice for finding your own version of the swim: set a goal, build in structure, and use every tool available

About Our Guest:

Vince is Carla's older brother. A Navy veteran and Eagle Scout, he's spent the years since the family sold their vending business chasing physical challenges, from the Tampa Bay Frogman Swim to the Cleveland Marathon to backcountry backpacking trips, using the training and structure to stay grounded. In this episode, he and Carla revisit the day they swam from Alcatraz together, and the panic, and the payoff, that came with it.

Tool to Use:

Pick a physical challenge that scares you a little, a swim, a race, a multi day hike, and set a concrete goal, then let the training structure do the rest: it will keep your mind calm and prove to you that you can handle hard things.

Connect and Resources:

Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RewiringwithCarlaV

Website: https://5683justbe.com/

Follow Carla V. on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carla_variglotti_/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-variglotti-201b1736b/