Champions Mojo for Masters Swimmers – Details, episodes & analysis

In one of our favorite episodes as an encore we find out: What does it really take to move from 300 pounds to a 9:15 Ironman without losing your love of great food and a full life? We sit down with chef-turned-triathlete Will Liebig to unpack the habits, community, and mindset that reshaped his health over a decade. Will is open about the grind: he swapped isolation for master swimming, built cycling and running tribes, and embraced the 80/20 training rule—keep 20 percent truly hard, keep 80 percent easy. The gains came not from punishment, but from patience.

Food is a highlight. As a classically trained chef, Will rejects fear-based nutrition and shows how fats like olive oil, butter, and cream can fuel endurance when paired with smart timing, portion control, and macro awareness. He eats smaller meals throughout the day, anchors a larger mid-day plate, often skips starch at night for better sleep, and isn’t afraid of fasted zone-2 when the plan calls for it. He also defends cheat days as motivation, not failure—a double spicy Bloody Mary after a race or a well-plated steak dinner cooked sous vide because satisfaction matters.

We also explore resilience. Will shares the setbacks that tested him—career shifts, grief after his father’s passing, and a brush with body dysmorphia—and how he course-corrected by eating enough, tracking with intention, and leaning on his wife, Lisa, for logistics and encouragement. That partnership turns races into shared adventures and keeps training sustainable. Expect practical coaching cues, real-world nutrition, and the reminder that big change demands a wider timeline. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review—then tell us what habit you’ll commit to for the next five years.

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

What happens when a perfect Florida swim turns into a fight for your life from a 9-foot alligator grabbing onto your arm? In this riveting encore episode, Masters Swimmer Rachael Lilienthal takes us stroke by stroke through her 2015 alligator attack, the breath that steadied her in a death roll, and the unlikely chain of strangers who became heroes with a kayak paddle, a firm grip, and a medical-grade tourniquet. From river chaos to a trauma bay within an hour, the details are visceral, human, and unforgettable.

We talk about the kind of resilience that isn’t a poster—slow exhales, clear commands, and small choices that compound into survival. Rachel opens up about the ambulance regret, the angry nights, and why saying this is too hard can be the bravest move in the room. Then the story pivots to rebuilding: occupational therapy hacks, ditching zippers for simplicity, adaptive tools that return dignity, and the decision to keep swimming. Watching Paralympians changed her technique; masters coaching refined her form; breath set the rhythm. The result: a gold medal in the 200-meter butterfly and a body that moves with purpose instead of force.

We also explore the quiet scaffolding, or was it Angels?,  that made “luck” possible: lifeguard instincts, community readiness, and a deputy who fought to put tourniquets in patrol cars years before this day. Rachel’s mindset is a masterclass—silver linings as daily practice, spirituality as fuel, and service as a responsibility. She even launched a simple YouTube channel to share easy raw-food recipes, betting that one healthier meal a week can shift someone’s trajectory. And she leaves us with a clear warning: don’t feed wildlife. When animals lose their fear of humans, everyone loses.

If this story moved you, share it with a friend, leave a quick review, and follow the show so you don’t miss what’s next. Your support helps more listeners find real tools for mindset, health, and performance.

Check out Kelly's latest book an investigative journalistic book on a denied global health epidemic at https://www.False-Cure.com 

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

Pro Swimmer, Author, Screenwriter, Becca Mann's journey redefines what it means to be a swimming prodigy who grows beyond the confines of early success. At just 10 years old, she completed the 15K Maui channel, becoming the youngest to do so. By her teens, she was a seven-time US National Team member and two-time national champion. But after narrowly missing Olympic qualification three times, Becca made the courageous decision to step away from competitive swimming altogether.

What happened during those five years away from racing forms the emotional core of our conversation. Becca speaks candidly about needing to discover who she was beyond the lane lines. She pursued her passion for writing, earning a BFA in screenwriting from USC and working on hit shows like "The Morning Show." She traveled solo, climbed mountains, and experienced the unstructured life she'd never known during her regimented swimming career.

Her path back began unexpectedly through Masters swimming at West Hollywood Aquatics, where she jumped into lane one and "almost died that first practice."  Becca reveals. "I was always swimming the 1500 at Olympic trials." That return to the water sparked a realization: "How did I not swim for two years? This is what I love. This is who I am."

Becca opens up about her experiences with OCD, describing how intrusive thoughts affect her and the tools she's developed to manage them. Rather than seeing her mental health challenges as obstacles, she explores how neurodivergence shapes both her athletic career and creative pursuits. Her memoir "Outside the Lanes" documents this journey with raw honesty.

Now training in North Carolina with Olympic swimmer Ashley Twitchell, Becca has her sights set on qualifying for the national team and potentially even the 2028 Olympics. At the end of our conversation, when asked what word comes to mind when she's in the water, her answer is immediate and profound: "Peace."

Ready to dive deeper into stories of athletic resilience and transformation? Subscribe to Champions Mojo and join our community celebrating comeback champions and lifelong swimmers.

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

Kelly and Maria give you 22 Takeaways from 2022 To Ring In Your New Year.  They share  the best nuggets from experiences and interviews with champions throughout the year. 

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

When things are serious, lighten the mood with fun says Dr. Lynette Charity, a retired Anesthesiologist and now a stand-up comedian and speaker.  You'll love this micro-mojo flashback from the full episode here: https://www.championsmojo.com/episodepage/lynettecharity90

MORE ABOUT DR. LYNETTE CHARITY

Lynette Charity, MD, is a medical expert and Board-Certified in Anesthesiology with over 40 years of experience. She’s also a keynote speaker, humorist and author. 

As a young girl growing up in the segregated South, Lynette dealt with discrimination on her path to becoming a medical doctor. She persevered and now wants to “wake people up” to go after their dreams through sharing her story of overcoming obstacles of racial bias, gender bias and age bias. She often uses humor to deliver her message

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

In just two minutes you'll hear some advice for when road blocks come up, from Olympic Icon Amanda Beard,  and how to turn those into confidence.  This is a micro-mojo flashback from Amanda's full interview, Episode #139 which can be found here: https://www.championsmojo.com/episodepage/amandabeard139

Amanda Beard is a decorated American swimmer who qualified for four consecutive Olympics from 1996 to 2008, earning a total of seven Olympic medals. She set a world record in the 200-meter breaststroke in 2004 at US Olympic Trials, then became the Olympic Champion in that event in Athens a few months later. 

Besides being an NCAA Champion for the Arizona Wildcats and a 2X Pan Pac Champion, she was named a co-captain of the U.S. women’s Olympic swim team in Beijing in 2008. She’s been a model gracing the pages of some of the world’s biggest magazines and has been a TV sports correspondent.  

As a young woman, Amanda battled bulimia, body dysmorphia, depression and drug use throughout her swimming career, as described in her 2012 memoir In the Water They Can’t See You Cry. 

Since retiring from competition, Amanda has been busy teaching children to learn to swim through Beard Swim Co., a swim school in Gig Harbor, Washington, which she founded in 2017.  

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

Two powerful tips in two minutes of this micro-mojo on how to deal with pain in a race from World Champion, World Record Holder (200 scm Freestyle) and Olympian for Hong Kong, Siobhan Haughey.

Siobhan is a citizen of Hong Kong and has represented Hong Kong in the Olympic Games. She is a double Olympic Silver Medalist in the 2020 Olympic Games, was the world champion in 2021 and set the world record in the women's 200 freestyle (scm). She swam in the NCAA while attending the University of Michigan, where she was a 14-time All-American and 15-time Big 10 Champion. She still holds University of Michigan school records in the 200 free and IM.

This episode is a flashback from her full interview which can be found here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1273526/7253071

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

3 minutes to relieve your anxiety from wellness and high performance coach Nordine Zouareg, author of the book Inner Fitness.  This clip is a flashback from the full episode which you can find here: https://www.championsmojo.com/episodepage/nordinezouareg127?rq=nordine

Nordine Zouareg is a French-American fitness personality, high-performance coach and author who has won Mr. France, Mr. Europe, Mr. World and Mr. Universe. He was a sickly infant, with a birth weight of two pounds. Poor health played a huge role in his childhood, resulting in a lot of spinoff problems, such as bullying. During his teens, he focused on becoming a gymnast, eventually finding bodybuilding and earning his first national title in 1985. He went on to win Mr. Universe twice - in 1986 and 1988. 

Today he is an author and promotes his “mind over body” philosophy.

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

4 minutes of mojo from Olympic Champion Mary T. Meagher Plant who talks about how a big loss has haunted her in this flashback.  

She is a swimmer who broke the mold in  how fast one can swim butterfly, earning her the nickname Madame  Butterfly. She broke the world record five times and held it for 21  years --  35 years after her top swim performances, her world record  time would have still made all Olympic teams including 2008, 2012 and  2016. In the full interview, she shares advice for people who are  currently dealing with their dreams being postponed or not living up to what they expect. 

Check out the full episode here https://www.championsmojo.com/episodepage/marytmeagher62?rq=mary

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com

10 Quick Tips to Shut Down Stress: Micro Mojo, Episode 183
4-MINUTES of micro-mojo to help you manage stress going into the holidays!

This is the best of episode 124. Listen to the full episode here https://www.championsmojo.com/episodepage/shutdownstress124

Email us at HELLO@ChampionsMojo.com. Opinions discussed are not medical advice, please seek a medical professional for your own health concerns.

You can learn more about the Host and Founder of Champions Mojo at www.KellyPalace.com