Tough Girl Podcast

Cadi in her own words:   “Having lost a partner to suicide in 2014 I turned to being active in the outdoors to bring joy back into my life. Challenging myself, whether it's an ultra run, white water raft racing or cycle touring somewhere fabulous bring great sparks to me. I am never happier than when I'm running on the trails with my dog, swimming in a cold lake with friends or just taking in the beauty of nature. My desire to chase positivity and help others find theirs has led me to now become a Life Coach. I plan on using the great outdoors along with my coaching to create positive change in peoples lives.”   *please note during this episode we do talk about, mental health, losing someone through suicide & dealing with frightening situations.   Show notes Growing up in Nottingham Being passionate about the outdoors Working for British Canoeing - running ShePaddles program  Re-training as a life coach  What her early years were like Her dreams as a young girl Not being a career person Working to live G

Neruja shares more about her Tamil culture and her experiences with the outdoors. How she went from someone who didn’t like being outside and never spending any time outdoors to becoming a passionate outdoor adventurer, hiker and climber.    Neruja shares more about her gap year and spending time in Borneo, Australia and New Zealand and what it was like moving from the hustle and bustle of London to the Lake District.    Neruja is passionate about diversifying the outdoors and pushing the importance of representation.    In April 2020 she started her Instagram page @so_little_a_time to inspire others like her to adventure in the outdoors.   Her thoughts:   “Hiking can feel never ending, runs can feel relentless and climbing can feel impossible. And yet these are activities I keep going back to. What I’ve realised though... it’s not the discomfort that makes these activities difficult for me but actually my fear of failing. After all it is much easier to put it down to not liking discomfort than admit I might

Natalie Warren is a Minneapolis-based author, scholar, and public speaker on environmental issues. A lifelong paddler and river lover, she canoed the length of the Mississippi River and won first place in the Yukon River Quest in the women’s voyageur division, paddling 450 miles in fifty-three hours. A contributing writer to outdoor publications, she has worked with Bancroft Arnesen Explore, St. Croix River Association, and River Management Society, and she started a nonprofit to present urban rivers as natural, dynamic classrooms for youth.    About - Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic   Unrelenting winds, carnivorous polar bears, snake nests, sweltering heat, and constant hunger. Paddling from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, following the 2,000-mile route made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 classic Canoeing with the Cree, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho faced unexpected trials, some harrowing, some simply odd. But for the two friends—the first women to make this expedition—t

Jai Bharathi, an avid women motorcyclist, who co-founded the Hyderabad chapter of ‘The Bikerni’ an all-women motorcycle club in 2013. Jai has led motorcycle expeditions to Ladakh, Kanyakumari to Kashmir, cross-country expedition across six nations covering 17,000 kms & Wheels of Will motorcycle expedition covering 10,800 miles across the United States.    Jai’s passion for travel took her to visit all the UNESCO world heritage sites in India in 2012 and the first winner of GoUnesco travel challenge.    Over the last decade, Jai has worked with several NGO’s in the fields of women's empowerment, children education, solar lighting & relief works during natural disasters.    Jai has authored a book about organising & leading all women cross country motorcycle expedition.   Jai is now on her entrepreneurial journey with MOWO Social Initiatives which aims to see more number of women in the mobility sector.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make

Ann Raiho and Natalie Warren are childhood friends who in 2011 became the first women to paddle from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay following the 2,000-mile route made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 classic Canoeing with the Cree.    Natalie has gone on to write a book about this journey - Hudson Bay Bound - Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic.    Today we hear the story from Ann’s perspective.    Ann in her own words:   I grew up outside of St. Paul, Minnesota. While I was in high school, I went to a canoeing camp in the summer called YMCA Camp Menogyn. Natalie and I met the summer of 2007 on a 50-day canoe trip in Nunavut, Canada. Then, by coincidence, we went to college together at St. Olaf College in southern Minnesota.    I majored in mathematics with a minor in environmental studies. But, mostly I was interested in playing a lot of ultimate frisbee and worrying about climate change. Natalie and I were having trouble finding jobs after college. We decided that this would be the perfect t

Alina “Abstract” Drufovka is a Colombian-American painter and illustrator based out of Philadelphia, PA.  Alina has hiked the Appalachian Trail (2015 & 2017), the Pacific Crest Trail (2019) and the Israel National Trail (2018). Alina is an outdoor professional and hopes to inspire more women and people of colour to get outside and explore the trails!   Her Mission:  Help people reconnect with their journeys in wilderness through art.  Commemorate life on trail and the culture of long distance backpacking. Promote diversity in the outdoors.    “One of the most beautiful parts of creation is that an Artist has the freedom to not just recreate the world as we know it, but to craft a portal to a new world. Perhaps a better and more equitable one. And that is exactly my intention. “ — Alina “Abstract” Drufovka   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks t

Sacha Dench (aka ‘the human swan’) is attempting something that has never been done before – a 3,000+ mile circumnavigation of Britain in a specially adapted, green electricity powered paramotor. Because she can take off and land almost anywhere, she and the team will be landing to recharge and rest with the interesting and inspirational people around the country, the ones can show us exactly how climate change is changing our country, but also show us what we can do about it.   The aim is to set and beat TWO official Guinness World Records    The first and fastest flight around Britain in a paramotor powered only by renewable energy. This is a record with real purpose. It shows Sacha is prepared to put skin in the game and push green technology to its limits, and proves that rethinking what is possible can be really exciting. The most pledges to act on climate change in 1 month via our global alliance with Count Us In. We need all ages involved, and this record helps us reach new audiences and provides anot

This episode was filmed live (via Zoom) on the 31st March 2021 at 8pm and was live on the Tough Girl Challenges Youtube Channel.   Thank you to all that attended the live event and to those who supported the 1000 Tough Women appeal!   This event has been organised to support PHASE Worldwide’s Start Strong UK Aid Match Appeal to support 1000 tough women in Nepal. The great news is that this means that any donations made to this page (until 25th June 2021) will be automatically matched by the UK government to support the Start Strong project!   The Start Strong appeal will fund a three-year project, starting in October 2021, which will improve maternal healthcare and increase the availability of high value foods. Through improving access to maternal healthcare and nutritional foods, whilst providing agricultural training for mothers, we can aim to ensure that children in Far West Nepal are given a strong start to life.    To make your donation to the Start Strong Appeal, please visit this page.    If you would

Mariam is known as the @hijabi.hiker on instagram her bio reads - A hijabi hiking around the UK to be inspired and inspire. Part time writer, wannabe runner, coffee addict #DiversifyOutdoors   Mariam in her own words:   “I’m a hobbyist writer, avid hiker and tutor in my spare time, and work full time in Oncology research. A proud woman of colour, I’m excited about sharing my journey into the outdoors to encourage more diversity and healing from the world we all share.”   During this podcast Mariam shares more about her childhood and growing up, and how she got interested in the outdoors. Mariam talks about the challenges she has faced and how her confidence has increased by taking on new challenges from running her first 5k race to completing her longest hike to-date -30km through the Shropshire Hills.    Mariam shares more about how she took her first steps into the outdoors and gives top tips and advice to inspire you to take your first step.    On the 1st April Mariam is starting the #BeBraveChallenge. Li

In May 1985, when Tania was 18 years old, she cast off from the docks of South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan and sailed 27,000 miles around the world—alone—on her Contessa 26, Varuna.    Concerned about her lack of ambition, her father offered her this opportunity as an alternative to a college education, and she took him up on it. With just a cat for company, she crossed the Caribbean, the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and the North Atlantic, stopping in 23 countries along the way. In November 1987, at 21, Tania Aebi returned to New York City, a solo-circumnavigator.   She spent the following year reliving the trip in words, writing her bestselling book, Maiden Voyage, a personal account describing her coming of age odyssey and dramatic childhood.   Nowadays, as her boys turn into young men, she continues to write, runs her businesses, and is working on her next book—in between keeping the paths shovelled and wood fires stoked in the winter, the gardens planted, weeded

Shadi is co-founder of a community interest company SHAPE Hampshire which provides Mind, Body and Education support to Hampshire Schools.    Shadi is the founder of Team GC, leading expeditions and challenge experiences which have enabled her to raise thousands of pounds for charitable causes.    Shadi has a passion for education and loves working with children, sharing tales of her remote adventures.    She runs a series of inspirational talks to schools, communities and businesses. Shadi is a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society.    Future challenge - The BIG North Pole Sea Ice Research expedition 2022    “Every experience provides us with an opportunity to grow and make a difference”. — Shadi Ganjavian-Connor    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your

Liv (pronounced ‘leave’) is a Norwegian educator, cross-country skier, adventurer, guide, and motivational speaker. Liv led the first unsupported women’s crossing of the Greenland Ice Cap in 1992. In 1994, she made international headlines becoming the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South pole – a 50-day expedition of 745 miles (1,200 km).   A self-proclaimed “keen” but not fanatical outdoors enthusiast, Liv is most interested in the development of adults and children. Through her diverse roles as a polar explorer, educator and motivational leader, Liv ignites passion in others to reach beyond their normal boundaries and achieve their dreams by sharing her own stories about exploring some of the most remote places on earth.   MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS February 2001 — Arnesen and American polar explorer Ann Bancroft become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarctica’s landmass — completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km) trek. 1996— Arnesen climbs the north side of Mou

Winnie shares her story in such a joyful and happy way, you can’t help but smile listening to her talk. You can hear the passion she has for getting outside and getting in the water.    Winnie starts by taking us back to her childhood in Pointe noire, in the Republic of Congo, where she was the second eldest child of eight. Winnie talks about spending her early years playing outdoors, however, she was not allowed to swim in the sea which was seen as a taboo by her family and the local community.    During this episode Winnie goes into more detail about her life, and how she ended up living in the Lake District, 10 mis from Lake Windermere. You will hear how she learned to swim and how it has helped her to mange her mental health. Winnie, provides great advice and top tips which will inspire you to step outside your comfort zone and to give open water swimming a try.    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t

Marie in her own words:   Hi there, my name is Marie and I'm based in the North of England in Sheffield after moving from London in November 2019.  Having spent most of my working life as a Consultant in the big smoke, I decided after 15 years it was time for a change.  Whilst I still work as a Client Relationship Manager for a Sheffield SME 4 days a week, the move has allowed me to be much closer to the hills (timely with the current Covid pandemic) giving me the opportunity to spend so much more of my time getting outdoors and enabling me to achieve the sense of work-life balance that I was craving in the City.   I describe myself on my Instagram bio as a skier, hiker and runner, but perhaps it would be more accurate to describe me as an avid outdoor and adventure enthusiast!  I have been incredibly lucky to be able to ski and go on expeditions around the world.  But I am conscious that not everyone has necessarily had that opportunity.  I am also acutely aware that the outdoor sports and adventure world ha

Sue is a passionate trail runner, cyclist and hiker.    During this episode Sue shares more about her life, the challenges she has faced as she entered her 50th decade as well as her goal to remain fit, active and healthy for the next 30 years. Sue is a lover of the outdoors and the natural world. She enjoys taking part in a variety of different adventures and challenges; from learning how to swim, taking on her first triathlon, running her first marathon and ultra marathon.    During this podcast, Sue shares more about her role models, her motivation and why she decided to apply for the Adventure Queen Grant in 2017.  Sue talks in details about her fears, and dreams and what she learnt from taking on a 1,300 mile human powered journey through the mountains along the spine of the Alps.   There are lots of top tips and advice which will motivate and inspire you, to get fit and active and to spend more time outdoors.    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - M

On Thursday 25th February myself and Laura Kennington hosted a live event for mountain sports retailer Ellis Brigham focusing on endurance and mental resilience.    You can now listen to the audio from the live event via the Tough Girl Podcast.    Laura Kennington - is a British adventure athlete, author and speaker with a passion for the endurance capability of the human body. Previous adventures include cycling all 1600 miles of the world's longest coastal route in Ireland, cycling Scotland’s North Coast 500 route, running the length of Fuerteventura (100 miles) in 4 days and circumnavigating three of the Channel Islands using three different sporting disciplines.    Her most notable adventure (so far!) has been solo cycling 3700 miles along the North Sea-facing coasts of 8 countries, from Scotland to Norway. Laura is a strong believer in the positive impact that adventure and sport can have on children and adults alike, Laura uses her human powered journeys as a platform to inspire and encourage others.  

Gerlinde Kaltenbrunner's interest in mountain climbing developed while she was growing up in Spital am Pyhrn, Austria.   Her greatest dream—climbing an 8,000-meter peak—came true at the age of 23, when she succeeded in climbing the fore-summit of Broad Peak in Pakistan, at a height of 8,027 meters. She then put the money she earned as a nurse into different trekking and climbing expeditions to the Himalaya.   After climbing the Nanga Parbat—her fifth 8,000-meter peak—in 2003, she decided to become a professional mountain climber.   Today, Kaltenbrunner has climbed all 14 main peaks in the 8,000-meter series.    When she reached the summit of K2 (8,611 meters), she became the first woman to scale all 8,000-meter peaks without the use of supplementary oxygen. During this episode Gerlinde shares more about her journey into mountaineering and takes us up on K2, she shares lessons learned and how she moved forward after dealing with a friends death on the mountain.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live

Yui is an educator, writer, and accomplished traveller who has been to more than 200 countries and territories, including Antarctica and the Arctic.   In 2017 she made history by becoming the first Asian woman to visit every sovereign country in the world. She also holds the record for being the first Singaporean to have visited all United Nations member states.   Her work centers around the use of language and she has a particular interest in world language families and comparative linguistics. She has knowledge of over twenty world languages, many of which are written in a non-Latin script.   A keen advocate of education as a means of empowerment, Yui is also the founder of a non-profit that supports education and other causes in developing countries.   Listen to Yui as she shares her story on the Tough Girl Podcast.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorsh

Ashley is a lover of the outdoors and is passionate about whitewater rafting and hiking.    Ashley has been dreaming about hiking the Appalachian Trail ever since she was a little girl when her and her father would pick up thru-hikers and give them lifts into town. After graduating college in 2018, it was the right time to commit to taking on this challenge. Ashley was sponsored by the Thru Hiking Syndicate which is where she got her gear from. After a false start on the AT, and forgetting her pants! Ashley soon got into the rhythm of daily hiking, gaining a trail name and a trail family, she completed just shy of 1,000 miles before having to leave the trail.    During this episode Ashley shares more about her dream, the challenges she faced getting to the start line, what it was like being plus size on trail, and providing lots of top tips on how to spend more time in the outdoors.    Ashley has made it her mission to help enlighten and encourage folks from every walk of like to enter the world of nature in

Dani is a storyteller, strategist, advocate, and professional big mountain athlete redefining who plays outside and how we build community with others on this planet.   Originally from Southern California, she has traveled through Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Andorra, Canada, and the USA building her craft as a split board mountaineer (plus climber, surfer, and runner) since 2014, when she graduated from corporate life with a one-way ticket to South America.   Ever since then, she's worked to build a life AND career she loves, in spite of setbacks, naysayers, and building everything from scratch.   Her goal?    To inspire individual action and collective communion through self-care and self-determination found in the outdoors.   “I want to find the limits of my possible—whether in the mountains, my creative work, or as a strategist—and travel into the higher reaches of the world that vests me with this power. To grow as individuals, communities, and a society, I think we need to embrace discomfort. This is