Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
Let's face it, life is uncomfortable. Whether it's interacting with other humans (or trying to), going after our goals and improving our lives, or understanding other people's perspectives, preferences and proclivities, being able to face the discomforts in life with courage, compassion, confidence and resilience will make life a lot more enjoyable! So join me as we DANCE IN THE DISCOMFORT ZONE! We'll explore new ideas, learn how to build our confidence, courage and resilience, and laugh a little too, because life is serious enough. We need a little cha cha, and a little ha ha every once in a while! Welcome to the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney!
Dancing in the Discomfort Zone with Anne Bonney
The Swamp, the Software, and the Self-Doubt: Finding Confidence in Chaos with Kari Sipinen
What do swamp volleyball, software debugging, and self-doubt have in common?
A lot more than you’d think. In this episode, Anne sits down with Kari Sipinen (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kari-sipinen), a Finnish-born engineer, world-champion swamp volleyball player, and all-around discomfort-zone explorer, who has turned mud, mistakes, and mindfulness into a philosophy for life.
Kari shares how wading waist-deep in the muck during the World Championship of Swamp Volleyball taught him about teamwork, humility, and the magic of taking action even when you can’t see solid ground. (Spoiler: sometimes the best life lessons happen when you’re stuck in the mud—literally.)
Drawing from his work as an embedded software engineer, Kari compares debugging to personal growth—each problem is like peeling an onion, revealing new layers of understanding beneath the surface. He unpacks his love of intuition—which he describes as being “in learning”—and how listening to your inner data can lead to surprising breakthroughs.
In This Episode
- The connection between engineering, intuition, and personal growth
- Why curiosity matters more than confidence
- Why he call it “imposter phenomenon” (not syndrome)
- How turning on your metaphorical flashlight helps you illuminate the next step toward your dreams.
Beyond engineering, Kari is a champion on and off the court, winning the Swamp Volleyball World Championship in 2019 and sharing his love of music through a 62+ hour Spotify playlist. An ordinary Savonian with a Renaissance spirit, he is committed to legacy, openness, and intellectual humility.
Please join me in welcoming to the stage — Kari Sipinen!