Bald and Bold: Rachel Macpherson’s Story of Resilience and Redefining Norms | EP 34

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)