Tough Girl Podcast

Ailsa, 39, is an ultra endurance athlete who has a passion for long distances races and triathlons! Ailsa holds six course records and two overall wins at the ultra-running distance. In 2017 she won the 50K and 100 mile Canadian National Champion title. In 2018 she won Ironman Canada. As well as training for her races, Ailsa also balances a full time job in an oil field in Northern Alberta.    During this podcast Ailsa shares more about her passion for running, how she got into cycling and swimming, how she coaches and trains herself, as well as sharing more about mental resilience and how she has developed her mindset over the years.   Listen to Ailsa as she shares her story 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 thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please c

Nicole purchased Girls Fight Back in 2020 because of her passion for empowering women and helping others. She is dedicated to bringing the message of living a fearless life and combating violence to millions of young women across the country.    Nicole received a full scholarship to Cal State Long Beach as a President’s Scholar, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BA in Speech Communication.  Her self-defense training includes IMPACT LA (where she is also a lead instructor), Defense Against the Armed Assailant training, FAST defense & the GFB Speaker Academy.     Nicole is an NACP Credentialed Advocate and currently sits on the board of IMPACT Personal Safety.  Nicole was featured in a self-defense instructional video by Tastemade Travel that won a People’s Voice Webby Award in May 2020 and she is the creator of Outdoor Defense, an IGTV series that aims to help people stay safe while enjoying the outdoors.     She is a collaborative partner with Difference Makers (10 Strong) and has traveled the world sp

On the 5th Year Anniversary of the Tough Girl Podcast I’ve taken this as an opportunity to share more about what’s been going on over the past 12 months and sharing more about what’s been happening behind the scenes and answering questions from the patrons and members of the tough girl tribe community.    If you would like to listen to other solo episodes these can be found here:   2016 - Reflections for 2016 & Plans for 2017 (Released 30th December 2016)   2017 - Reflecting on 2017 and the plans for 2018 (Released 30th Dec 2017)   2018 - Reflections on 2018 and the start of 2019. Plus plans for Tough Girl Challenges. (Released 4th August 2019)   ********************************************************   Marathon des Sables - Sarah Williams - psychological demands and overcoming mental challenges, being interviewed by Ali Mahoney-Johnson (6th October 2016)   Boxing - Sarah Williams - answering all your questions about Boxing! (Released 8th December 2018)   Appalachian Trail - Sarah Williams - Thru hiking

Mya-Rose in her own words:   “I love birds and wildlife & am a naturalist, conservationist and environmentalist wanting to save our planet and everything on it. I believe that we have to do everything we can to save the environment from damage and I want to try and persuade as many people about that as possible, especially those in power.    Birding in different countries has given me the opportunity to see the damage being inflicted on places and the indigenous peoples who live in them, by our consumerism in the Global North. I believe that climate activism must demand global climate justice which is not happening at the moment.   I am an anti-racism activist, writer, speaker, journalism and broadcaster. I have had over four and a half million views on my blog, www.birdgirl.com from around the world.    I am also an anti-racism activist and campaigner, fighting for Visible Minority (VME) Ethnic people to have equal access to nature and wildlife films. I also fight for the rights of indigenous peoples esp

Saray is the first black African woman to ski to the South Pole and summit Mt Everest 66 years after the mountain was first summited in 1953.     Saray is an award-winning mountaineer and a business executive with over 18 years’ experience in industry leading blue-chip companies which drive innovation and change both locally and internationally.    Through mountaineering and @summitswithapurpose, she has raised over R1.5 million towards literacy and education in Africa.  As a Mandela Libraries ambassador and a social entrepreneur Saray continues to push boundaries both professionally and in mountaineering.   You can listen to Saray on the Tough Girl Podcast, new episodes are every Tuesday at 7am UK time!   Show notes Who is Saray What life was like growing up Being 1 of 7 girls Her passion for education  The sky is the limit Being a tomboy Being part of a community Why education is so important Why the world is a global village Losing her older sister Wanting to climb Mount Kilimanjaro  Making the decision t

Zahrah is a Muslim woman of South Asian heritage, who lives in Scotland. Zahrah got into hiking three years ago when a friend took her out for a walk to reduce the stress of her chartered accountant exams. Zahrah shares her walks on instagram where she is know as @the_hillwalking_hijabi.   Zahrah is passionate about getting people outdoors, she share her walks and hopes others will be inspired to give it a go. Zahrah especially wants to help encourage other Muslim women to spend time outdoors, so that they too can experience the physical and mental benefits which she enjoys.    During this episode Zahrah shares more about how she got into walking, what it was like taking on Ben Nevis and what keeps her motivated when things get tough, she also shares more about the benefits that she has enjoyed from spending time outside.    You can listen to Zahrah on the Tough Girl Podcast, new episodes are every Tuesday at 7am UK time!     Show notes Getting into hill walking What it was like going into the hills for the

Karen Darke is a British Paraplegic adventurer, athlete and author. Karen was a keen runner and mountaineer (climbing both Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn), however, at 21 years old, she was paralysed from the chest down following an accident, whilst sea cliff climbing.    Karen has continues to go follow her interests and passions and loves going on adventures, which have included, hand cycling over 2,000 miles from Canada to Mexico down the Pacific Coast Highway, which she did in 2017.    Karen also become the first paraplegic woman to handcycle across the Himalayas, sea kayak from Canada to Alaska (1500 km, 2003), skied across the Greenland Ice Cap (a trip of over 600 kilometres, 2006), and climbed the kilometre high overhanging rock-face of El Capitan. She has also hand-cycled down the Silk Route, the length of Japan and across Tibet.    During this episode Karen share more about her personal challenges, Quest 79 and the Pole of Possibility.   You can listen to Karen on the Tough Girl Podcast, new episodes

After a year of facing her childhood fear of open seas, Lungi wrote her name in history by being the first African female to sail to the Arctic on her recent climate change and plastic pollution expedition to the North Pole.    The 34-year-old’s professional background is in banking but, after taking up sailing in 2016, she's already achieving what most people can only ever dream of.   Lungi shares more about her early life, her passions for sailing, and the environment as well as more about her big dream to sail around the world solo. Lungi has recently completed her Yachtmaster Ocean at the UK Sailing Academy and has shared her story on the TedX stage.   Lungi is inspiring girls to break free from limiting beliefs and pursue their dreams whatever they may be.   You can listen to Lungi on the Tough Girl Podcast - new episodes are every Tuesday at 7am UK time, make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out.   Show notes Who is Lungi Lungi’s passions and interests What life was like growing up

Nikki in her own words;   I’m here to do my best, be my best, have a blast and meet as many people as I can along the way. I’m Chasing Extraordinary! Since … well ever since I can remember, I’ve been into moving my body, pushing, training, looking after and loving my body.  I started ballet at the tender age of 4 and it’s been all sorts of incarnations of fitness since then.   My love, my passion, my sanity is now adventure running.  It’s the wonderment of where can my feet take me, who I’ll meet, and how I can help along the way.   My goal is to share my knowledge, experience, adventures and love along the way through my writing, speaking, and social media’ing.   I choose to live through these 3 filters … LOVE.  FUN.  ADVENTURE.   Past Adventures   2018 – Run Around Ireland – 750 miles in 32 days 2018 – DesertUltra 2018 – Runcation around Malta and Gozo 2017 – 63 marathons in 63 days throughout the UK 2016 – JungleUltra – Peru 2010 – 7 marathons in 7 days 2002, 2007, 2010 – London Marathon   Listen to Nikki

Jana was born in Russia, and her parents moved to the U.S. when she was 12. Her first experiences with hiking was heading out with her parents to New Hampshire. After college she moving to New York City and started to make some big changes to her lifestyle, and wanted to see what her body could do.    She started by getting back into running, and was hiking every weekend, sometimes twice a weekend, and that's when she decided to become a guide with Discover Outdoors as a personal "passion project."    In 2019, Discover Outdoors asked her if she would be interested in working for them on the business side. So Jana left her paralegal job at a big-law NYC firm and started as the Northeast Regional Manager. During that year she kept pushing herself in the outdoors and on August 9th, 2019 she submitted the Matterhorn!   Jana has recently started Adventure Untamed, an adventure travel company, she shares more about her motivations and why she has made this decision during Covid -19.   You can listen to Jana on the

Anoushé works as a civil servant, and also writes, speaks and campaigns to encourage people that sport can be done by everyone, regardless of physical capabilities. Anoushé was born missing her right arm below the elbow, has survived cancer, and lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.   Anoushé continues to be a role model and is an ambassador for ‘LimbPower’, the leading amputee and limb different charity, and for ‘Ehlers Danlos Support UK’. Anoushé has helped to encourage more women and girls to get into climbing by sharing her story through, ‘This Girl Can Climb’ campaign. Last year Anoushé decided she wanted to do more and helped to co-found ‘Paraclimbing London’, an initiative to make climbing more accessible for people of all abilities and backgrounds, they currently have over 160 members of all abilities.    Anoushé continues to works with ‘Grit&Rock’, a foundation which aims to get girls from socially deprived backgrounds empowered through climbing. During this podcast, we catch up with Anoushé and

Michelle Griffith-Robinson OLY is a former Olympic athlete who represented Great Britain in the Triple jump.  Michelle was the first woman in the UK to have jumped over 14 metres. Michelle is married to Matthew Robinson, an ex professional Welsh rugby player and she has three children.   In 1999 after leaving professional sport, Michelle became qualified as a personal trainer and stated to follow her passions of helping others through coaching and mentoring her own clients. Michelle is also one of the lead mentors for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust – which helps young people get their lives back on track.      During this podcast, Michelle shares more about her early years, her passion for sports, the importance of having role models and what life was like as a professional athlete before making the transition out of elite competition. Michelle provides top tips and advice to help you achieve your dreams and goals.    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go Live every Tuesday at 7am UK time!  Make sure you sub

Selene Yeager is a top-selling professional health and fitness writer who lives what she writes as a NASM certified personal trainer, USA Cycling certified coach, Pn1 certified nutrition coach, pro licensed off road racer, and All-American Ironman triathlete.   Selene has written, co-written, and contributed to more than two dozen books such as ROAR, Bike Your Butt Off!, and Get Fast! She is a frequent contributor to Runner’s World, Women’s Health, and Shape magazines, and has a regular advice column for Bicycling magazine called “Fit Chick.”    During this podcast we learn more about Selene’s early life, how she got into cycling and writing. We discuss the challenges of training for an Ironman and her top tips for mental resilience and balancing everything you have going on in your life. Selene also answers some quick fire questions and provides top tips and advice to motivate and inspire you.    You can listen to the Tough Girl Podcast on iTunes, Spotify & Soundcloud! New episodes every Tuesday 7am UK t

Paula is an adventurer, speaker and author, but, most of all, she’s a trier. For thirty years Paula suffered crippling anxiety, panic attacks and depression that would eventually rob her of even the most basic freedoms. After decades of medication and intervention, adventure became Paula’s personal therapy in 2012, when she became Paula Must Try Harder, trying the 17 Commonwealth sports, facing her fears head on and fighting her way back into the world.    Ever since, Paula has terrified herself daily in the name of recovery, and now spends all that nervous energy writing and speaking about the importance of allowing a little fear into each day. From flying a plane and wing-walking to becoming a triathlete when she couldn’t actually swim, Paula’s adventures demonstrate that even the most ordinary person can do extraordinary things when they give that little bit extra.   Paula is currently trying something new every day in 2020.    Take a listen to Paula on the Tough Girl Podcast Extra!   Show notes Who is Pa

Sabrina a 42 year young mum of 4 and grandmother of 2, comes on the Tough Girl Podcast to share more about her early life, dealing with racism from a young age, suffering from anxiety and post natal depression after her first child at 18.   Sabrina, shares more about her reasons for wanting to take on the Marathon des Sables, a challenging 250km, multi-day ultra race across the Sahara desert.    Sabrina goes into detail about planning and preparation, making the commitment to the race, dealing with anxiety during training and takes us back to the emotional moment of crossing the finish line and achieving her goal.    Sabrina also shares more on the challenges of being a mixed race woman, racialized as Black, living in a rural community and why diversifying the outdoors, and specifically the ultra running community, is so important.   Show notes Who is Sabrina Growing up in Stroud Not growing up sporty Putting on 4 stone while pregnant Getting into the gym after her first child Suffering with post natal depre

We have been following Jessica (Trail name - Dixie) since 2016 when we first spoke with her about her thru hike of the Appalachian Trial, we then caught up with Jessica in Feb 2019, when she shared more about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail.    During this episode, Jessica shares more about her most recent challenge - walking 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago, which is also known as the French Way. The journey begins at Saint Jean Pied de Port, in France, and goes through four of Spain's 15 regions, ending at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.   Jessica shares more about her experiences of this walk, what she wanted to learn and what made it such a special journey. She also shares more about future challenges, and provides top tips and advice for your next hike!   You can listen to Jessica/Dixie on the Tough Girl Podcast and watch her vlogs on the Homemade Wanderlust Channel.   Show notes Who is Jessica How she got into hiking Her passion for hiking  Wanting to travel

Sally Gunnell is an Olympian who won Olympic gold in the 1992 400-meter hurdles and took gold at the 1993 World Championships in the 400-meter hurdles.   Sally is the only woman ever to hold four major track titles concurrently – Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth! Since retiring from international athletics, Sally has gone onto become a  television presenter, keynote speaker and wellbeing advocate.   Sally shares more about her early years, her passion for running, how she has overcome setbacks and the ebb and flow of motivation. We talk about wellness, meditation, nutrition, daily routines and why confidence is everything!   Listen to Sally on the Tough Girl Podcast!   Show notes How Sally would introduce herself Learning more about her childhood Getting into running 12 years old Joining Essex Ladies Being inspired by the Olympics at 14 years old Being inspired by female role models Why it was about the journey Training for the 1992 Olympics What training looked like The ebb and flow of motivation a

Elisabet is a Swedish ultra running athlete, who is also a two time winner of the toughest footrace on the planet - the Marathon des Sables - which she won in 2015 and 2017.    We first spoke with Elisabet for the Tough Girl Podcast in 2015 when she shared more about her earlier life, working as a management consultant, how she got into running and what it was like winning her first big race.    A lot has changed in the 5 years since we last spoke; Elisabet has remarried, sold her old running business and is now living in Norway and studying sex & relationship therapy. While still coaching her running clients.    During this episode, we find out what’s been going on! We talk about dealing with pressure, going through a divorce, meeting a new man, leaving the UK to move to Norway. Plus changing her diet to plant based, and why she is wanting to transition out of competitive running.    Listen to Elisabet on the Tough Girl Podcast Extra!    Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on any new episodes!

Sunny started leading multi-day backcountry trips in the mid-2000s as a student at Harvard College.  She went on to obtain an MBA from Harvard Business School and pursue a career as a management consultant while simultaneously expanding her climbing and mountaineering skill set.     At the end of 2015, Sunny decided to leave behind the business world in order to focus full-time on climbing and running mountains.    Today, she is a professional mountain athlete with multiple speed records on Aconcagua, the Annapurna Circuit, and in the Colorado Rockies.     Sunny is a Wilderness First Responder and an AIARE Level II avalanche professional.     Listen to Sunny on the Tough Girl Podcast as she shares more about her life and the amazing adventures she has had around the world.   Show notes Who is Sunny  Not being into sports  Growing up as a couch potato Getting into running and not enjoying it Building up her running to marathon distance Deciding to run a 100km ultra race  Studying politics as an undergrad  Lov

Alex, 36, is a multi-discipline adventurer, since 2015 she has hiked over 9,400 miles across America and New Zealand on the Pacific Crest, Appalachian and Te Araroa Trails. Alex has cycled around 4,000 miles across Australia and Indonesia, she’s also climbed up to 6,500m on Mera Peak in the Himalayas and has rowed across the English Channel.    During this podcast Alex shares more about her most recent adventure rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. She talks about the preparation, the challenges, dealing with sea sickness and adventure blues and what she hopes to achieve in the future.    As always Alex gives lots of practical advice and tips to help you achieve your dreams and goals.   Listen to Alex on the Tough Girl Podcast!   Show notes Who is Alex What adventures and challenges she's done Getting the idea for rowing an ocean in 2016 Team mate wanted on explorers connect  Dealing with doubt - can I do this…. Why the timing the first time wasn’t right Rowing the Atlantic as a training row.. Signing up for 2