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Alexi Pappas on Ditching Goals and Her Strategy For Maximizing Mentorship

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Feb 5, 2025

Guest

Alexi Pappas

Alexi Pappas, an Olympic athlete and filmmaker, shares her unconventional take on success by prioritizing the journey over rigid goals. She discusses how losing her mother spurred her to seek mentorship and embrace personal growth. Alexi emphasizes the importance of asking the right questions in decision-making and reflects on gender disparities in athletics. Their conversation highlights how mentorship shapes our paths and the power of vulnerability in forging strong relationships. It's a refreshing look at redefining success and the value of supportive connections.

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ANECDOTE

Kicked Off Teams

Alexi Pappas was kicked off her high school sports teams twice.
This happened because she prioritized other extracurriculars like theater and student government over attending every practice.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Sandbagging in High School

Ryan Holiday didn't take running seriously in high school and often rebelled against training.
He now views this as a form of sandbagging, avoiding earnest effort to protect himself from potential failure.

insights

INSIGHT

Simplifying Decisions

Alexi Pappas's dad helped her simplify complex decisions by asking clarifying questions.
He focused on her underlying desires and values, rather than imposing his own opinions.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Navigating Health and Routine Amidst Busy Schedules

01:43 • 2min

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Running Through Life: Growth, Dreams, and Mentorship

04:10 • 16min

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The Power of Questions in Decision-Making

19:58 • 6min

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Embracing the Journey Over Goals

25:42 • 20min

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The Journey of Self-Evolution and Cultural Reflections

46:06 • 2min

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Navigating Language Evolution and the Importance of Mentorship

47:50 • 5min

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The Power of Mentorship in Coaching

52:41 • 14min

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Exploring the Dynamics of Mentorship vs. Friendship

01:06:21 • 3min

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It’s easy to assume an Olympian would be all about external achievements, but Alexi Pappas has redefined what success means to her by letting go of goals altogether. Alexi joins Ryan to talk about falling in love with the process vs. achieving a goal, simplifying life’s decisions, and how losing her mom led her to seek mentorship everywhere.

Alexi Pappas is an Olympic athlete, filmmaker, author of Bravey, and podcast host of Mentor Buffet. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The Atlantic, and she’s been featured in outlets like Rolling Stone and New York Magazine. Alexi co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in Tracktown and starred in Olympic Dreams with Nick Kroll. She holds the Greek national record in the 10,000 meters and competed in the 2016 Olympics.

Follow Alexi on Instagram and X: @AlexiPappas

🎙️ Listen to Alexi’s podcast Mentor Buffet on Apple Podcast, Spotify, and YouTube

📕 Pick up a copy of Alexi’s book Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas

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