Tough Girl Podcast

Hetty in her own words:   I live for adventure. Being outdoors is more than a hobby to me - I thrive on it, rely on it and couldn’t imagine life without it. When I am not out exploring, I'm usually planning or daydreaming of my next adventure - which could be anything from a weekend running around my local hills to some epic endurance event or obscure challenge further afield.   I love pushing myself both physically and mentally to find my limit. I can't explain quite why this is, but I have often found this is when you discover amazing things about yourself. I am not naturally talented or gifted - in fact, at school, I was once told I would never make a long distance runner. I have achieved what I have from having big dreams, being slightly stubborn and working hard! My main inspiration and drive come from loving what I am doing and the environment I am in - whatever the weather.    I want to find adventure. See beautiful places only accessible from sheer human effort. I’d like to climb mountains and at the

Jools shares more on her award-winning blog, VéloCityGirl, which focuses on different aspects of cycling, including cycle-style, her own adventures on two wheels, and how to widen participation in cycling.   Jools’ blog and social media presence have evolved from being her ‘tiny corner of the internet’ (as she still calls it) to inspiring women and young girls around the world to get on the saddle and ride. Leading publication BikeBiz lists her as one of the most influential women in the UK cycling industry.    The well-respected US publication Bicycling Magazine touts her as one of the 107 Cycling Digital Superstars in the world to follow. Instagram named Jools as one of the most influential female storytellers in their #MyStoryUK campaign.   Jools now finds herself talking about cycling culture, and what it’s like to be a woman in that domain on platforms as varied as BBC Newsnight, the Design Museum, BBC Radio 4, and Southbank Centre’s WOW Festival.   Jools most recent book - Back In The Frame was publishe

Deana Ortega is a badass single mom who has jammed her way around the roller derby circuit for the past 12 years. Having overcome addiction, negotiated difficult relationships, and endured numerous traumatic losses within her family, she has survived against the odds to become a successful derby captain, triathlete, and hairstylist.    Hailing from the vibrant border city of El Paso, Texas, she is the author of Forget Soldadera: A Book of Personal Poetry (Ghostlight Creative, 2018) and My Derby Romance (April, 2020).   New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit that 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 favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Growing up in Texas Having a positive attitude Spending a lot of time alone  Loving being on her roller blades Dreaming for some n

Sara Safari is an author, speaker, mountain climber, college professor, Electrical Engineer and advocate for women empowerment.    Sara was born in Iran and moved to the USA in 2002 to continue her education in electrical engineering. While teaching at California State University Fullerton, Sara met the founder of the Empower Nepali Girls foundation. She decided to climb Mt. Everest to raise funds and awareness for the girls who become victims of human trafficking or are forced into early marriage. She is now a board member and director of development of Empower Nepali Girls and she dedicated her book “Follow My Footsteps” to this organisation.   Sara will be the first Iranian in history to climb the Seven Summits, the seven highest peaks in each continent.   New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit that 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 suppor

Catherine Dixon (Cat) and Rachael Marsden (Raz) – known as TandemWOW – had an ambition to raise £1 a mile as they cycled around the world on a tandem bicycle.    After 263 days they arrived back in the UK at the end of March 2020, just before lockdown.    After cycling 18,000 miles they raised a massive £37,000 for charity. They also set a new world record, beating the previous men’s record by more than 17 days.    Always with a smile they cycled through storms, monsoon rains, brutal headwinds and fires. They endured emotional and physical hardships, hunger and exhaustion and, through their incredible determination, have shown us all that anything is possible.   Listen to Cat and Raz on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes 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 favourite podcast and becoming a patron p

As a young woman from a Bangladeshi, Muslim family, Ruqsana struggled for years to balance her faith and culture with the fast, furious and brutal sport she fell in love with - even hiding her trophies. Now she's fighting to help other young Muslim women to find their own balance between fitness and faith.   Ruqsana's story is a tale of empowerment that will inspire anyone who has ever had to battle against the odds and against all the opposition to achieve their goal.    With the reluctant blessing of her parents, she completed a long journey to the top, battling against prejudice, depression, panic attacks and ME.    A role model to many, she was part of the Adidas Here to Create campaign and Karen Millen's #WomenWhoCan campaign.   You can listen to Ruqsana on the Tough Girl Podcast - new episodes are every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time, make sure you hit that 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.

On 22nd February 2020, Welsh ice swimmer Cath Pendleton made history by becoming the first person to ever swim an Ice Mile inside the polar Antarctic circle. She swam in Hanusse Bay in latitude of 66:56 South.   Cath is a single mum to two gorgeous girls and doing exercise has always helped her to manage her mental health. Cath discovered her passion for winter/ice swimming in September 2015, since then Cath has tried to go swimming everyday and she refers to it as her "Reset Button”.   Cath’s dream is to complete the IISA Ice Sevens Challenge next year and is looking to get back into long distance swimming as-well.    Cath is always up for an adventure and enjoys inspiring others to give new things a try.    After listening to Cath, she will inspire you to give open water swimming a go!!   You can listen to Cath on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free

International human-rights advocate, Cara Elizabeth Yar Khan, deep in the throes of an aggressive, fatal muscle-wasting disease, ventures out on a daring, 12-day Grand Canyon descent and expedition – on horseback and in whitewater rafts.    The journey into the Canyon mirrors Cara’s personal journey, as she and her team battle physical and mental adversities that threaten to kill, wound, or undo them without warning. But a journey that begins as a quest for representation and dramatic advocacy quickly becomes an exercise in survival.    When Cara suffers a serious head injury one hour into the descent, the team and crew realize that her life, and theirs, hang on each step, each handhold, each group decision.    Cara’s journey to live an extraordinary life and shatter stigma against people living with disabilities unexpectedly becomes a deep dive into fear, trust and vulnerability. As the entire expedition team grapples with unanticipated dangers in a truly remote wilderness, they also come face to face with t

Ashly Winchester an avid ultra-runner, backpacker, rock climber, and mountaineer. She also loves chasing FKT's (Fastest Known Times) and revels in immersing herself in solo, unsupported records in the wilderness.    Ashly created and began hosting the podcast, Womxn Of The Wild, in December 2019 with the aim to inspire, educate, and empower women in the outdoors.    Ashly in her own words:   “As I developed my skills and proficiency in the outdoors, I started meeting and connecting with a ton of really amazing ladies. I realized that I wanted to help bring more women into this world of adventure. I don’t care what anybody says, we belong out there. I want women of all shapes and colors and abilities and ages to understand that you can do these things too, and it’s never too late to start.”   New episodes 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 patron

Vedangi Kulkarni recently became the youngest woman to have circumnavigated the world on bicycle. It took her 160 days to pedal 29000km, across 14 countries. She was 19 when she started, and 20 when she finished, celebrating her 20th birthday around the halfway point in Canada. Most of her journey was solo and unsupported.   Vedangi in her own words:   My childhood was a lot about my parents and I travelling out and about through every summer/winter break. I used to write poems and short stories. My father encouraged me to explore the outdoors- mountains and sea, from his own travel experiences. From tying a rope between the safety door and gymnastic rod, experimenting with valley crossing in our own house to creating an Everest out of the high end of a wall, and mountains in the vicinity, my father has been a rockstar in my adventurous upbringing.    Of course, my school played a major role too. Although I didn’t have many friends as a kid, I definitely had an outdoorsy spirit and schools’s extra-curricular

Rosaria “Rosie” Barreto, also known as the Vitality Coach, helps women and seniors live happier and healthier through the power of exercise! With a background in clinical exercise, she is on a mission to change the mindset from 'exercise is for active individuals' to 'exercise is also for people who struggle to move due to clinical health limitations’.   Rosie runs the Vitality Hub which is a health and fitness movement encouraging people who find exercise difficult to move more, eat well and feel amazing.   You can listen to Rosie on the Tough Girl Podcast - new episodes are every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time, make sure you hit that 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 favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Running a health and wellbeing business Working with women and older adults Running a Y

Darcy Gaechter is the first and only woman to kayak the Amazon River from source to sea. She has been whitewater kayaking for twenty-one years and, for the past fifteen years, she has been considered one of the world’s best female kayakers and one of the most accomplished expedition kayakers.    Darcy has won whitewater kayaking races throughout the world, and has participated in and led kayaking expeditions in eighteen different countries. In addition, she has been a kayak, raft and adventure travel guide for two decades and has owned and operated two kayak guiding businesses. She currently spends half the year in Ecuador running Small World Adventures and showing kayakers down some of her favourite rivers in the world.    Darcy has long been a groundbreaker of women pushing the limits in both kayaking and other outdoor pursuits.    Leading by example of what women can accomplish in a predominately male sport, she has inspired other women athletes to push themselves to achieve extraordinary things.   Ne

Black Girls Hike (BGH) is a safe space for black women to enjoy the outdoors and be themselves without feeling judged or misunderstood.  It's is about removing barriers and challenging stereotypes and reinforcing the message that the outdoors is for everyone.   In Rhiane’s words:   Created in 2019, Black Girls Hike UK is an organisation that offers a safe space for black women to explore the outdoors. We know that the outdoors is great for mental and physical health but it’s not very inclusive.    For many black women, getting outdoors can feel intimidating especially when you don’t see people you identify with.    That’s why BGH was created; to empower black women to feel comfortable outdoors and create a community and sisterhood.    We believe representation matters and aim to diversify all aspects of the outdoors.   New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The tough girl podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthl

In 2009, after a crippling divorce that left her heartbroken and directionless, Kristin decided to accept an offer to live at a friend's cabin outside of Denali National Park in Alaska for a few months.  In exchange for housing, she would take care of her friend's eight sled dogs.    That winter, she learned that she was tougher than she ever knew. She learned how to survive in one of the most remote places on earth and she learned she was strong enough to be alone.  She fell in love twice: first with running sled dogs, and then with Andy, a gentle man who had himself moved to Alaska to heal a broken heart.   Kristin and Andy married and started a sled dog kennel.  While this work was enormously satisfying, Kristin became determined to complete the Iditarod -- the 1,000-mile dogsled race from Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast.   On her blog at www.kristinknightpace.com, she writes:   “What our hands do these days is shape the dream of our childhoods. There it thrived

Dr. Tekemia Dorsey is the CEO of the International Association of Black Triathletes, and Owner of IABT MultiSport Racing. Dr. Dorsey is the founder of the 2018 “Youth & Junior TRI-Conference®/EXPO*Event!”    Dr. Dorsey received her Doctorate of Management in Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix and Masters of Education in Guidance & Counseling from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.    Using her leadership principles and core pillars, Dr. Dorsey has become an established, best-selling and awarding winner author and business professional, keynote speaker, facilitator/workshop presenter, curriculum specialist, publisher, professor, entrepreneur, radio show host, executive leadership trainer/coach, community activist, athlete and Child of God.    She is a well-rounded athlete as a runner (marathoner), duathlete, triathlete, and an IRONMAN.   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!  

Carla in her own words:   I am an elite ultra runner, running coach and adventurer who seeks out events that are slightly harder than the average. I love pushing my body to the limits by running a long way, up mountains, around islands and recently running the length of Great Britain from Land’s End to John O’Groats and setting a new ladies World Record along the way. It’s safe to say that I have caught the ‘micro-adventure’ and exploration bug.   I have represented Great Britain at the 100km World Championships and I currently compete for Team Massmart, an elite woman’s running team based in South Africa.    With my experience in sport from grass roots to elite level, my degree in Science in Health, Exercise and Sport, UK Athletics Coaching, Personal Training and Sports Massage qualifications I love to work with aspiring runners and athletes to get the best out of themselves and push their boundaries!   I am happiest when on the trails carrying out my own adventure be that running around Mont Blanc or runnin

Lauren is a single mom with a propensity for adventures, travel, and nature. Lauren works as a travel writer and social media influencer who is passionate about inspiring black women to step out of their comfort zones to have experiences in travel and adventure, to use nature as healing and therapy, and to embrace outdoor recreation.   Lauren in her own words:   I don’t believe we were put on this earth just to exist. We are here to learn as much as we can and leave our imprints as we go. People have always been encouraged and even surprised at the things I’ve been able to expose my son to. Especially, because as a black single mother, exposing my son to things like hiking, snorkeling, and camping are seen as out of the ordinary in our community.   I decided that a life this blessed deserved to be shared. If I inspire anyone at all to pursue a dream, to step out of their norm, and to really take time to appreciate the beauty of the world we live in then it will all be worth it. Being the “Outdoorsy” type does

Alex in her own words:    I had my first taste of climbing mountains in March 2012 when I made a solo three-week trek in the Nepal Himalayas. The experience was life changing and inspired me to reach even greater heights by setting one of the biggest goals of my life so far – to climb the 7 summits.   I tackled the first of the 7 summits on 9 June 2014 as a very proud member of the first team to summit Russia’s Mt. Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe, from the difficult north side in pre-season.   Less than six weeks later, on the 17th of July, I successfully climbed Mont Blanc solo, without a guide, team or support. I summited at 6.45am, reaching the top in just over four hours.    I have also successfully summited Kilimanjaro in September, second of my 7summits.    On the 6th of December 2014, I stood on the top of the highest point of Antarctica, Mt Vinson.    After months of hard training and preparation I summited one of the most difficult one; North America’s highest peak Denali in June 2015.    Cont

Fighting Chance is written by Alicia Doyle, an award-winning journalist who discovered boxing at age twenty-eight in the late 1990s when she went on assignment at a boxing gym for at-risk youth called Kid Gloves.    For two years, she simultaneously worked as a newspaper reporter while training and competing as a boxer, making her one of only a few hundred women in America who infiltrated this male-dominated sport.    During her boxing career, she won two Golden Gloves championship titles and earned three wins by knockout – and her pro debut at age thirty in the year 2000 was named The California Female Fight of the Year. Fighting Chance offers an inside look at what’s considered the toughest sport known to man.   *Trigger Warning - abuse & domestic violence is mentioned during this episode.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out!   Show notes Who is Alicia Not being sporty growing up Discovering boxing at 28 Not respec

Lipa was formally a semi-professional footballer and now she's a grassroots coach and sports activist. Lipa's passion for football is constantly growing and led her to coin her catchphrase “I’m going to change the world with a hijab on my head and a ball at my feet.”    Lipa wants to be the change, and will continue to challenge herself and engage with minority communities; by doing so her catchphrase will become a reality.   Lipa is a co-founder of the podcast called ‘I Think She’s Offside’ where she and co-host Fadumo Olow talk about all things woman’s sports. The podcast aims to stay connected to the local community, discussing The FA’s Women Super League with some BPL. Lipa and Fadumo came up with the podcast to give underrepresented individuals a voice.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out!   Show notes What Lipa does Here passions for sports Playing semi-professional sports Being a little feminist  Having a suppo