The Only Way To Conquer Fear, Build Your Dream Life & Stop Caring What People Think | Sifan Hassan

Rangan Chatterjee

8 oct 2025

Episode description

This episode is brought to you by:
AG1: Get 10 FREE Travel Packs and Welcome Kit worth $80 visit: https://bit.ly/43FwxQl
BON CHARGE: Save 20% off with code LIVEMORE https://boncharge.com/livemore
WHOOP: Get WHOOP 5.0 and your first month free https://join.whoop.com/livemore

It’s easy to be inspired by success, but the real lessons often lie in what it took to get there. After all, true strength isn’t just physical; it’s found in how we face change, challenge and the unknown.

In this episode of my Feel Better, Live More podcast, I sit down with one of the most extraordinary athletes of our time, Sifan Hassan. Sifan is a Dutch middle- and long-distance runner, celebrated for her versatility and achievements in athletics.

Born in Ethiopia and raised in the Netherlands as a refugee, she is known for competing at the highest level in a wide range of distances, including the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, and the marathon. She is a two-time World Champion, an Olympic medallist, and holds multiple European Championship titles.

Her journey from refugee to Olympic and World Champion has captivated the world, not just for what she’s achieved, but for how she approaches life. Sifan’s story is one of courage, faith, and relentless curiosity.

In this wonderful conversation, we explore:
● How growing up in Ethiopia and later seeking asylum in the Netherlands shaped Sifan’s inner strength, perspective and deep appreciation for opportunity
● The role running played in navigating life in a new country, and how it offered focus, purpose and belonging
● Why failure, fear and self-doubt have been central to her journey, and how she’s learned to embrace them as essential parts of growth and performance
● How Sifan continues to find joy in running, despite the pressures of elite sport, and why staying curious matters more to her than winning
● What her training now looks like behind the scenes - including the shifts she’s made to prioritise recovery, longevity and mental balance
● Why she sees rest, sleep and routine as forms of discipline, and how simplicity keeps her grounded
● What she’s come to understand about identity, letting go of perfection, and finding peace with who she is, beyond the medals

You don’t need to be an athlete to connect with Sifan’s story; it speaks to something deeply human in all of us. In a world that often celebrates outcomes, this conversation invites us to embrace the process of becoming, adapting, and learning.

Sifan’s perspective is a beautiful example of what it means to stay rooted in who we are, even when life takes us far from where we began.

#feelbetterlivemore

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Find out about Sifan:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sifanhassan/
X https://x.com/SifanHassan
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/therealsifanhassan/

#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast
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Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: https://drchatterjee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/
Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Episode description

This episode is brought to you by:
AG1: Get 10 FREE Travel Packs and Welcome Kit worth $80 visit: https://bit.ly/43FwxQl
BON CHARGE: Save 20% off with code LIVEMORE https://boncharge.com/livemore
WHOOP: Get WHOOP 5.0 and your first month free https://join.whoop.com/livemore

It’s easy to be inspired by success, but the real lessons often lie in what it took to get there. After all, true strength isn’t just physical; it’s found in how we face change, challenge and the unknown.

In this episode of my Feel Better, Live More podcast, I sit down with one of the most extraordinary athletes of our time, Sifan Hassan. Sifan is a Dutch middle- and long-distance runner, celebrated for her versatility and achievements in athletics.

Born in Ethiopia and raised in the Netherlands as a refugee, she is known for competing at the highest level in a wide range of distances, including the 1500m, 5000m, 10,000m, and the marathon. She is a two-time World Champion, an Olympic medallist, and holds multiple European Championship titles.

Her journey from refugee to Olympic and World Champion has captivated the world, not just for what she’s achieved, but for how she approaches life. Sifan’s story is one of courage, faith, and relentless curiosity.

In this wonderful conversation, we explore:
● How growing up in Ethiopia and later seeking asylum in the Netherlands shaped Sifan’s inner strength, perspective and deep appreciation for opportunity
● The role running played in navigating life in a new country, and how it offered focus, purpose and belonging
● Why failure, fear and self-doubt have been central to her journey, and how she’s learned to embrace them as essential parts of growth and performance
● How Sifan continues to find joy in running, despite the pressures of elite sport, and why staying curious matters more to her than winning
● What her training now looks like behind the scenes - including the shifts she’s made to prioritise recovery, longevity and mental balance
● Why she sees rest, sleep and routine as forms of discipline, and how simplicity keeps her grounded
● What she’s come to understand about identity, letting go of perfection, and finding peace with who she is, beyond the medals

You don’t need to be an athlete to connect with Sifan’s story; it speaks to something deeply human in all of us. In a world that often celebrates outcomes, this conversation invites us to embrace the process of becoming, adapting, and learning.

Sifan’s perspective is a beautiful example of what it means to stay rooted in who we are, even when life takes us far from where we began.

#feelbetterlivemore

----
Find out about Sifan:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sifanhassan/
X https://x.com/SifanHassan
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/therealsifanhassan/

#feelbetterlivemore #feelbetterlivemorepodcast
-------

Order MAKE CHANGE THAT LASTS. US & Canada version https://amzn.to/3RyO3SL, UK version https://amzn.to/3Kt5rUK
-----
Follow Dr Chatterjee at:
Website: https://drchatterjee.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drchatterjee
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drchatterjeeuk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drchatterjee/
Newsletter: https://drchatterjee.com/subscription

DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

Mindsip insights from this episode:

Build confidence through physical strength and exercise

The most effective way to build confidence is to exercise and become physically stronger, as this creates a powerful brain-body connection.

Use physical collisions as wake-up calls to sprint harder

A physical collision during a race can act as a 'wake-up call' that helps you sprint harder at the finish.

Harness gratitude to boost energy during races

Feeling grateful during a difficult race can actually increase your energy levels and help you continue.

Redefine success by valuing experiences over gold medals

Success should be defined by the experience gained, not just by winning gold medals.

Upgrade AG1 with enhanced magnesium and microbiome science

The AG1 supplement has been updated to include more magnesium for muscle function and five strains of bacteria based on the latest microbiome science.

Utilize red light therapy daily to boost recovery and energy

Using a red light therapy device, like the Bond Charge Demi, for 10 minutes daily can enhance recovery, improve sleep, and increase energy.

Embrace failure to achieve greater success

The person who tries ten times and fails five is more successful than the person who tries twice and wins twice, because they have more wins overall.

Incorporate heavy lifting to enhance running performance and prevent injury

To avoid injury, become stronger, and improve your personal best, runners must incorporate heavy lifting into their gym routine.

Travel to expand intelligence and open-mindedness

Traveling and experiencing different cultures is one of the best ways to become more intelligent and open-minded, acting as a 'great university.'.

DESCARGA LA APLICACIÓN

Descubre la sabiduría de la longevidad

DESCARGA LA APLICACIÓN

Descubre la sabiduría de la longevidad

DESCARGA LA APLICACIÓN

Descubre la sabiduría de la longevidad