Tough Girl Podcast

AN ADVENTURE STORY – WITH A DIFFERENCE

Jessica Hepburn is an unlikely athlete. She hates exercise and believes the only reason to do it is for food, booze and box-sets on the sofa.

However, in her forties, following a succession of hard life experiences, she started to try and exercise her way out of heartbreak. She has now become one of the world’s most extraordinary endurance athletes.

The first and only woman on the planet to have completed the “Sea, Street, Summit Challenge” – which is to swim the English Channel, run the London Marathon and climb Mount Everest. And possibly the only woman to have listened to eighty years and over 3,000 episodes of her favourite radio programme – Desert Island Discs.

Jessica joins us for the 3rd time on the Tough Girl Podcast, to share more about her new book. “Save me from the Waves”. Which shares more about her inspirational story of physical and mental endurance which starts on the streets of London and culminates in a life-threatening event on top of the world. During the podcast, Jessica share more about the challenges on the mountain, the lesson learns and provides advice and tips to encourage you to live big and bravely especially when life doesn’t go to plan.

Previous TGP episodes with Jessica.

2nd October 2018 - Author of 21 Miles and The Pursuit of Motherhood. Swimming the English Channel.

8th February 2022 - Adventure Activist - Her journey to climbing Mt. Everest.

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcastto be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

Show notes

• Who is Jessica
• Being an author
• Working in the arts
• Going through multiple rounds of IVF
• Experiencing multiple miscarriages
• Describing herself as an adventure activist
• Swimming the English Channel
• Her journey climbing Mount Everest
• Completing final training for Mount Everest
• Climbing Kilimanjaro immediately after the channel swim
• Realising the importance of mental and physical strength
• Realising she's not fit and fast enough
• Climbing massive mountains in her 50s is a significant challenge
• Discussing pushback when climbing Everest and feeling defensive
• Recounting a conversation with a stranger
• Limited window for climbing Mount Everest due to weather conditions
• Climbing to the top of the world while listening to her favorite radio program
• The reason why she writes her books
• Why she wouldn't change anything even after everything that has happened to her
• Feeling stronger and more confident on her second attempt to climb Everest
• Finding the Khumbu Icefall challenging
• Finding the summiting experience to be terrifying
• Not feeling the expected emotions on the summit
• Feeling exhausted and sick during the summit
• Having endurance and mental strength on the mountain
• Getting hit by a free-falling oxygen bottle, breaking her leg
• Sharing the details of what happened to her in her book
• Sharing her experiences with IVF and climbing Everest, hoping to provide solidarity and a survival guide for others
• What helped her process her thoughts and emotions during her fertility journey
• Creating playlists for various occasions and people in her life
• Composing a playlist for the child she never had
• Final words of advice

Social Media
Website:www.jessicahepburn.com
Instagram: @jessica_hepburn_
Twitter: @JessicaPursuit
Facebook:www.facebook.com/jessicahepburnauthor

Celeste's love for hiking began in Maui, Hawaii, following a difficult breakup. The Lahaina Trail hike was transformative and made her feel empowered.

She quickly progressed in her hiking journey and decided to share her experiences on social media. To her surprise, she inspired other plus-sized individuals to explore the outdoors.

In 2022, Celeste embarked on a mission to hike in every US state. Her dedication to this goal, despite being a non-planner, is truly inspiring. She encourages others to find gear that fits their body types and shares her inspiration from Fat Girls Hiking.

Celeste's story is a celebration of confidence and happiness found in nature.

Listen in to learn about her magical moments while hiking and her valuable advice for women seeking joy in the outdoors.

Please be aware: In this episode, there is a single use of strong language at the end.

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Celeste
• Moving to Las Vegas in 2021 from California
• Why did she move to Vegas!
• Being born in El Salvador, Central America
• Her love for travel and living in different places
• Her early years
• When her hiking journey started as an adult
• Working at the airport in Maui, Hawaii
• Coming out of a long relationship and feeling lonely and heart broken in 2013
• Wanting to give hiking ago and deciding to hike the Lahaina Trail
• Never seeing other plus sized people out hiking or represented in the media
• Not having the right gear and running out of water
• The challenges of descending in the dark
• Why that hike changed her life
• Feeling empowered
• Progressing in her hiking journey
• Being connected in nature and feeling happy
• Hiking for fun
• Wanting to move to the US mainland to pursue her passion for hiking
• Wanting to share more of her journey on social media (2017) to document her journey for her
• Realising that by shaken her story on social media it was encouraging more plus sized people who looked like her to get outside and give hiking ago
• Wanting to hike in every state in the USA and starting in 2022
• Having a new mindset and making her hiking goal a priority
• Not being the best planner and wanting to change that
• Finding gear to fit her body type
• Being inspired by Summer from Fat Girls Hiking
• Her first time going camping as an adult
• Why you deserve to be there (in the outdoors)
• How you can connect with and follow along with Celeste
• Magical moments from hiking and spending time in the outdoors
• Connecting with herself while hiking
• Final words of advice for other women who want to experience joy in the outdoors
• Find out what makes you confident
• Why you deserve to be happy

Social Media

Instagram: @Fatgirlforthefitsoul

Meet Jacky Hunt-Broersma, a remarkable individual who's shattered expectations as an amputee ultramarathoner, endurance coach, dedicated mom, and cancer survivor. Recognised as the RRCA Road Runner of the Year, WRAL Athlete of the Year, and featured in Strong Fitness Magazine's Women to Watch in 2021, her journey is nothing short of inspirational.

In 2016, Jacky embarked on her extraordinary running odyssey. Her path to greatness was marked by a profound personal challenge—losing her leg to Ewing Sarcoma. However, she didn't let this setback define her. Instead, she set out to build an impressive portfolio of "firsts" for female amputees in trail and ultra running, even securing several world records. She's on a mission to prove the naysayers wrong and carve a path for other adaptive athletes, especially women, in the world of trail running and ultramarathons.

Among her numerous achievements, Jacky's incredible feat of running 104 marathons in 104 days stands out, raising an astounding $194,000 for Amputee Blade Runners. She's also set a new world record as the first amputee to complete a 100-mile run on a treadmill, doing so in under 24 hours (23 hours and 38 minutes).

Jacky Hunt-Broersma's remarkable journey is a testament to resilience, determination, and the power of the human spirit to overcome obstacles and achieve the extraordinary. She's not only a trailblazer but a beacon of hope and inspiration for adaptive athletes worldwide.

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Jacky
• Living in sunny Arizona, USA for the past two years
• Growing up in South Africa
• Moving to the Netherlands in her early 20s
• Being very sports orientated and spending a lot of time outdoors
• How things have changed in South Africa
• Leaving South Africa with two suitcases and living in a new country
• Struggling to learn dutch when in the Netherlands
• Being diagnosed with cancer when living in Holland
• From diagnosis to the amputation of her leg
• Hearing the news
• Figuring out the next steps and finding out what was going to happen
• Saying goodbye to her leg
• Getting to a place of acceptance
• Wishing she had taken up running sooner
• How running helped her to accept her body how it was
• Going through denial
• Having a pity party and feeling that life was unfair
• Wanting to be normal and not wanting any pity
• Dealing with anger
• Why it’s a process
• Becoming more open about her journey and her struggles
• Taking up running and why it changed her life
• Wanting to encourage more amputees to run
• The expensive cost of a running blade ($10,000)
• Fighting the system to get funding for running blades
• Wanting to make a difference and encourage more amputees to get out and active
• Being surprised at how far she could push her body
• Wanting to push boundaries and distances in running
• Running 104 marathons in 104 days in April 2022
• Being inspired by Alyssa Clark running 95 marathons in 95 days (2021)
• Wanting to see if she could do it and not knowing how her prosthetic would hold up
• The metal side of the challenges
• Dealing with chin splits at the start of the journey
• Getting through the tough days and taking the time to celebrate the milestones and live in the moment
• Having 3 different routes to choose from
• The paperwork needed for the Guinness World Record
• Being strict about recovery and following a routine
• Running 104 marathons and raising funds for Amputee Blade Runners
• Running Boston Marathon - Para elite division
• How to follow along with Jacky on social media
• Future running plans for 2024
• Running a half marathon a day for Cancer Research (for 250 days)
• Planning to run Comrades in South Africa
• Final words of advice to inspire to you in your next challenge

Social Media

Website: www.ncrunnerjacky.com

Instagram:@ncrunnerjacky

Twitter:@ncrunnerjacky

Melissa in her own words:

“After connecting with my now husband onmatch.com 20 years ago, we realized we had one key difference: he wanted a partner to ‘Sail around the world’. I, on the other hand, wasn't an adventurer. I was a professional woman with a degree in Psychology, dedicated to non-profit work and healthcare.

But my husband ignited a desire in me to embrace life's adventures while we were still healthy. The turning point came when he asked, ‘When are you going to quit your job and sail around the world with me?’

Despite my initial fears and attachments, I couldn't ignore the call to live life to the fullest. We set sail across the Pacific Ocean, and it changed me profoundly.

We continued our adventures by buying an RV and exploring the US, Canada, and Alaska, much to the surprise of our family.

These experiences made me resilient and fearless.

Returning from a sailing journey and hiking the John Muir Trail at age 62, I realized that the world was full of opportunities.

I see people looking at me differently now, sensing my quiet confidence. My adventure started late, but it's proof that life-changing decisions can happen at any age. The question remains: “Do it now or not?””

*Content Warning: This episode contains an instance of strong/abusive language that some listeners may find offensive.

***

Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

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Show notes

• Who is Melissa
• Living is San Diego, California
• Not being born into an adventurous family
• Her early years and feeling connected to her dad (who died when she was 4)
• Meeting her husband onmatch.comabout 18 years ago
• Blending 2 families together
• After 10 years of marriage starting to discuss the sailing adventure
• Being a career girl and not focused on adventure
• Not having passion in her life
• Doing little adventures but not committing to the big adventure of sailing around the world
• Waiting for the kids to go to college
• Making the commitment and putting a plan in place
• Getting the boat and needing to learn new skills
• Having a 5 year plan and changing everything about their life
• Not spending more that $25 unless speaking to another person
• Working as a team in a partnership
• Having garage sales, saving money and making it happen
• Starting to change and starting to get excited about the future adventure
• Being called ‘Captain B*tch Slap’
• Being a forgiving person
• Proving people wrong
• Noticing her confidence changing
• Dealing with tangled anchors while a storm is rolling in
• Stats from the trip - the boat (Island Packet 37)
• Starting in San Diego and sailing down to Mexico
• Stopping to take a 1,000 mile car tour throughout Mexico
• Pacific Puddle Jump from America’s to French Polynesia
• Feeling done with sailing after 11 months and wanting to go home
• The challenges of getting the boat back from Hawaii to San Diego
• The dream vs reality
• Magical moments while out sailing and the challenges while being out on the water
• Spending time on remote beautiful islands - the instagram moments
• When the autopilot stopped working and having to steer the boat in 2 hour shifts for 24/7.
• Deciding what to do next and wanting to sell the boat, take the money and buy an RV and travel around the US, up through Canada and head up to the wilds of Alaska
• The challenges of RV Life and wanting to do ‘Boondocking’
• Feeling numb after traveling and feeling lost
• Having therapy and starting to feel again
• Getting into voice overs and having a way to start earning an income again
• Learning to appreciate the little moments and the free moments
• Being done with the corporate world and being a different person
• Choosing to live a simple life and having more money than before, even though they’re earning less
• Renting out the RV
• Deciding to hike the John Muir Trail (211 miles)
• Planning and testing out all the gear
• Why it was one of the toughest things she’s ever done
• Climbing Mt Whitney and the challenges with the elevation gain and loss
• Trying to get equipment and gear to fit her height at 4′ 11″ / 150 cm
• Ending up with an Osprey EJA 58
• Trying to find trainers and shoes to fit
• Watch the videos from the Pacific Ocean on YouTube
• Final words of advice
• Why you need to take an honest look at yourself and where you are in your life
• Why you need to make a plan and get into the details
• Give yourself little mini milestones to work towards
• Start by putting your plan down on paper

Social Media

Websites:

www.theadventuretravelers.com

melissaharlowvo.com

Instagram:@theadventuretravelers

Youtube:@theadventuretravelers

Join us today as we have a conversation with Dr. Katie Myint, an eye surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. Her journey takes us from her Midlands upbringing to becoming a doctor and the role running and exercise played in promoting mental well-being.

Katie candidly shares her battle with depression during her second year as a doctor, shedding light on how exercise and medication became transformative tools for enhancing her mental health. As we explore her running journey and marathon experiences, one theme remains constant: the pure joy of movement.

Throughout the episode, Katie discusses her marathon adventures, from running alongside her husband to using races as a gateway to explore the world. She passionately underscores the importance of running as a cherished hobby, never allowing it to encroach upon her daily life.

Katie offers advice on motivation and self-compassion and encourages women to embrace exercise with the conviction that it can be an enjoyable endeavour.

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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

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Show notes

• Working as an eye surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, in London
• Her early years growing up in the Midlands
• Being focused on academics
• Learning how to swim with her dad
• Enjoying school and wanting to do well
• Finding her way into sports and exercise as an adult
• Not enjoying sports at school
• Dealing with depression in her 2nd year of being a doctor
• Feeling alone
• Using exercise to improve mental well-being
• Taking the first step to going out and doing exercise
• Not recognising in herself that she had depression
• Going to see her GP and being recommended exercise and medication
• Going on her first run in winter in the rain and the dark
• Her running journey and what that looked like
• Being a solo runner for a long time
• Running to help process her thoughts
• Not having any running goals and using running to improve her mental well-being
• Working her way up to a half-marathon and marathon
• Why it wasn’t about times or PBs but rather the joy of moving
• Running with her husband and using a marathon race as an excuse to go on holiday abroad
• Fitting in running around her job and life
• Not following a structured running program
• Wanting to keep running as a hobby
• Doing 2 or 3 shorter runs throughout the week with one long run at the weekend
• Not letting running get in the way of life
• Magical moments while running
• Running the Barcelona Marathon, Spain
• Marathon du Medoc, Bordeau, France
• Managing the tough times in a race and how to mange that
• The race is just the final victory lap and the journey is in all the runs you’ve done before it.
• Why it can be tricky between mile 16 and 18
• Loving Park Run and starting Saturdays with a run followed by brunch
• Getting involved in triathlon
• Getting her first bike
• Training solo or with her husband
• Doing her first triathlon and why it was a total wash out
• Taking the race at your own pace and not comparing yourself to others
• Being an Ambassador for ON
• Advice for when you don’t want to go out running
• Remembering why you are doing it, but also being kind to yourself
• Stretching….
• Race plans for 2024
• Where Katie is most active on social media
• Final words of advice to encourage more women to get exercise in their life
• Encouraging you to run for the love of it and that exercise can be fun!

Social Media

Instagram: @katietriestorun

Nicky is a self-confessed adventurer, loves a challenge, delights in cold shenanigans and is ready to embrace the next stage of her adventure life. Her super powers are making things happen and connecting people and she is the Queen of pushing herself out of her comfort zone.

Nicky lives in Brighton with her husband, 2 teenage boys and Daisy the camper van.

At 52 her adventure journey has changed many times over the years, from a 20-year-old canoeing and sailing instructor, to a Mum with young children teaching them to embrace the outdoors through camping, building dens and cooking on open fires. Her boys are now in their late teens now and are slowly flying the nest, it is here she finds herself, ready to embrace the next stage of her adventure journey.

Her adventures have included; fire walks, abseiling down castles, coast steering, a cross country ski marathon in the Arctic Circle, a wing walk and running a half marathon in Greenland which included training in an Environmental Cold Chamber at the University of Sussex at minus 20!

***

Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcastto be a part of this important movement. Thank you for your invaluable support!

***

Show notes

• Her love of adventure
• How her adventure journey has changed as she’s gotten older
• Where her adventurous spirit came from
• Being inspired by her dad
• Why you can have adventures on your doorstep
• What does adventure mean to Nicky
• Why adventure is so many things
• Why you can fit adventure around your life
• Why adventure is there for the taking, but you may have to be creative.
• Her first job working in a water sports centre
• Working for World Challenge
• Having children and going camping with 2 young children
• Making adventure part of family life
• Having to put solo adventures on hold with having a young family
• Parrot hunting on the Amazon (finding and taking photos)
• Going to the Artic Circle to do a cross -country ski marathon
• Doing a big challenge every year from 40 - 50 to raise money for charity
• Being drawn to the cold
• Needing to do the training to enjoy the experience
• Planning future challenges
• Running her own business for 18 years
• Deciding to go wing walking!
• Doing a fire walk
• Feeling empowered after doing challenges and stepping outside her comfort zone
• Doing a half marathon in Greenland at 50 (a big, bold, cold, challenge)
• Deciding to step down from her business
• Liking a spreadsheet and being organised with her training
• Working with a specialist performance coach
• Working with the Environmental Extremes Lab at Sussex University
• Getting to experience minus 20 and the impact on her body
• Being set up for success and learning how to manage herself in extreme conditions
• Going to Greenland and why it was outside her comfort zone
• Learning how to deal with panic on the start line
• Turning panic into power
• Wanting to run a happy race and take it all in
• Dealing with the adventure blues
• Completing a 5k sea swim
• Working with Genny Brown and helping her with her social media
• Looking at the North Pole Marathon
• Svalbard?
• Daisy
• #pinknicky
• How to connect with Nicky on the socials
• Working with Outside & Active
• Doing an International Women’s Day Sea Swim with Land & Wave in 2024
• Wanting to elevate women
• Final words of advice for other women
• Make an Adventure Action List
• Find people who inspire you
• Take mini steps

Social Media

Instagram:@daisyvw1

Facebook:@nicky.chisholm

Nicky runs an annual event in Brighton to celebrateInternational Women's Day (8th March), she organises a mega sea swim for over 500 "mermaids" supporting surfers against sewage.

Land and Waveare an Official Event Partner. Join herSaturday March 9^th 2024

Christine Yu is an award-winning journalist whose work focuses on the intersection of sports science and women athletes. Her writing has appeared in Outside, The Washington Post, Time, Runner’s World, and other publications. She’s a lifelong athlete and yoga teacher who loves running, surfing, and skiing. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

About the book:

“In the past half-century, women have achieved remarkable progress in the realm of athletics. More women are participating in sports and maintaining an active lifestyle throughout their lives. Whether they're elite athletes striving for excellence or passionate amateurs enjoying their athletic pursuits, women deserve a sports culture that empowers them.

This culture should offer training programs and equipment specifically designed to support their unique physiologies, along with nutrition and injury prevention guidelines grounded in scientific research and tailored to their individual experiences.

Unfortunately, women have often received guidance based on research that fails to consider their distinct experiences and physical characteristics. Much of what we've accepted as the standard in exercise and sports science is rooted solely in studies conducted on men.

But the landscape is changing for the better. Researchers are now conducting more inclusive studies to close the gender data gap. They're investigating how women can enhance their athletic performance, reduce the risk of injury, and maintain good health.

In 'Up to Speed,' sports and health journalist Christine Yu unravels myths and dissects gender bias in light of real science. She advocates for new approaches that empower female athletes to excel at every life stage, from adolescence through adulthood, encompassing pregnancy, menopause, and beyond.

Christine delves into the latest research findings and shines a light on the researchers, athletes, and advocates challenging the status quo. They are pioneering innovative solutions to enhance the active and athletic lives of women and girls, ushering in a new era of gender equality in sports science and performance.”

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The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO

ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.

Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.

Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.

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Show notes

• Who is Christine
• Being based in New York
• Growing up in Connecticut before moving to San Francisco
• Being sporty from a young age and always being active
• Getting into running, strength training and yoga
• Working in the non profit sector for 10/15 years before making the switch to journalism
• Wanting to write and tell more stories
• Taking time off after having her first child
• Combing her love for writing with her love for sports, science and health
• Wanting to focus on issues relating to women, women’s health and women’s sports
• Being curious and wanting to know more
• The lack of easily accessible information available for women
• Wanting to learn how to make her body more resilient
• Wanting to improve her health and wanting to move her body in a way that makes her feel good
• Wanting to be strong and healthy over the long term
• The starting point with research
• Knowledge from print magazines….. which wasn’t women specific
• Looking at more specific sports science research
• Dr Stacy Sims: ROAR
• The lack of knowledge for women who want to do strength training
• More women getting into strength training
• New Book: Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes
• Where the idea came from and how easy it was to get it published
• Only 6% of sports science (2014-2020) studies focus on issues related to women
• Why do we know so much less about women’s physiology?
• What are the implication due to the gender data gap?
• What you can expect from the book - information on the menstrual cycle, breast health, sporting gear, injury rates and chapters devoted to the life stages of a women’s life
• ‘Women are Not Small Men: a paradigm shift in the science of nutrition’ - TED Talk
• How to study women with the challenges of women’s menstrual cycle
• The blindspots in science
• Leaving women out of the narrative
• Hormones related to the menstrual cycle and how they can impact performance
• Noticing the trends when tracking your period
• Don’t blame yourself - blame your hormones
• Peri-menopause and menopause where is the science?
• Food and nutrition
• Weight and performance
• Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S)
• How to connect with Christine
• Final words of advice for women who want to learn more about the science
• Pay attention to your own body, track your cycle and see how your body responds throughout the month
• Dr Stacy Sims
• Feisty Menopause
• Be a critical consumer of the media you are consuming

Social Media

Instagram: @cyu888

Substack:christinemyu.substack.com

Book: Up to Speed: The Groundbreaking Science of Women Athletes

Nikki Love is an adventure runner, a sports psychology under-grad, and a motivator of dreaming big, taking action and achieving extraordinary goals.

Nikki turned 50 in 2017 and decided it was time to take her love for travel, marathon running, and cross-country running to a new level.

She is now on a mission to run across, around, or through as many countries that her feet can take her, bringing as many people as she can along for the run.

Her big adventures include running 63 marathons in 63 days through the UK to celebrate her 50th birthday, a craic of a 750 mile run around Ireland, a runcation through Malta and around Gozo, a jolly jaunt across the Netherlands, an extremely muddy and cow-pat laden run from top to bottom of Wales, a 40 day x 1,000 miles treadmill run, and on July 16, 2023 at the age of 56 Nikki set the women’s record for running across Australia from Perth to Sydney 4,044kms in 76 days, 3 hours and 43 minutes.

Driven by her curiosity to answer the question “I wonder if I can do that…”

Nikki shares her adventures – the highs, lows, fun, tears and her experience of overcoming fears, doubts and obstacles as she navigates perimenopause – through her writing, speaking and film-making.

Her goal is to help women know and own their place and space in the world and to keep believing and backing themselves.

Listen to the previous TGP episode with Nikki.

30th July 2020 - Adventure Runner, Ran 63 marathons in 63 days in 2017

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The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO

ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.

Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.

Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.

***

Show notes

• Who is Nikki
• Being an adventure runner
• 56 years young
• Speaking with Nikki in 2020 on the TGP
• A quick recap of Nikki’s previous challenges
• Reflecting back on 2020 and 2021
• Coming up with idea to do a ‘training run’ on a treadmill
• Running 1000 miles and tearing tendons in her toes which ended her adventure
• Learning that she could do hard things
• Setting herself up to run across Australia for real
• Dealing with multiple peri-menopausal symptoms
• 2021- deciding to run 100 marathons in 100 days
• Getting a stress fracture in her pelvis
• Starting a process to understand what was going on in her body
• Getting advice to downgrade her ambitions and dreams
• Being stubborn and wanting to figure out a way to achieve her goal at 56 of running across Australia
• Figuring out what was going on and getting advice from doctors
• Starting on different versions on HRT
• Being encouraged to stop doing her exercise
• Having bloods taken and doing MRI scans - privately
• Speaking to as many people as possible to come up with solutions
• Figuring out that her body wasn’t absorbing the hormone therapy
• Going back to basics - getting back to a good diet and doing strength training
• Taking 2 years to recover from her pelvis stress fracture
• Feeling sad and frustrated
• Not being willing to give up on her goal
• Starting to wonder if it would be possible for her to run across Australia
• Starting to do more planning and putting dates in place
• Dealing with setbacks along the way and why it wasn’t easy
• Setting the start date for 1st May 2023
• Being supported by her partner
• Hiring a camper van and driving from Jhalong to Perth and getting to see the route in reverse.
• Going after a Guinness World Record to be the fastest women to run from Perth to Sydney
• 76 days 3hrs and 43 mins * (waiting to see if it will be accepted by Guinness)
• Having to increase her running distances pretty quickly and averaging about 53km per day
• Getting into a flow with the running after 2 weeks
• Dealing with the traffic which was much more intense than she was expecting
• What a typical day looked like
• How her experiences helped her to keep on going when times got tough
• Having a mantra in the morning Start off slow and I’ll get into a flow
• Challenges with animals!
• Physically not feeling too bad, but mentally feeling very drained and tired
• Listening to binaural music to calm her body down and the importance of sleep to help with recovery
• Dealing with the adventure blues after the challenge
• Making the decision to go to university to study sports psychology
• Applying to Loughborough University
• Becoming more aware of her time line and getting older
• How you can connect with Nikki and follow along with her journeys
• Nikki is also blogging about her run on her website
• Wanting to keep her adventure passion alive
• Feeling that you can - requires that you back yourself
• Keeping telling yourself that you can.

Social Media

Website:www.nikkilove.co.uk

Instagram: @nikkiloveruns

In 1996, Sue Stockdale achieved a remarkable feat: she became the first British woman to set foot on the Magnetic North Pole, a journey she never thought possible.

What followed was a realisation that her success held a profound purpose—to inspire others to venture beyond their comfort zones and unearth their untapped potential.

Sue's captivating memoir, "EXPLORE: A Life of Adventure," chronicles her life's journey, commencing from challenging beginnings and extending into a lifetime of intrepid exploration in some of the world's harshest environments, including the North Pole, Antarctica, and Greenland.

Within these epic adventures lie invaluable life lessons that Sue readily shares, illustrating how the mindset, discipline, and commitment honed in the crucible of extreme exploration are equally applicable in the professional sphere.

"EXPLORE" serves as a wellspring of inspiration, urging all of us to embark on our personal odysseys of self-discovery. Sue firmly believes that no endeavour is too daunting when undertaken with determination, a well-conceived plan, and a readiness to embrace discomfort.

***

The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO

ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.

Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.

Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.

Show notes:

• Who is Sue
• Describing herself as an adventurer
• Not going on to guides
• Growing up and not doing adventurous things
• Going on a cycling trip at 15
• Not having any role models
• Being inspired by books like Enid Blyton's Famous Fiveand Secret Seven
• The unexpected death of her mom when she was 14
• Wanting to make the most of her life
• Challenging herself to see what she's capable of
• Sue's memoir, Explore: A Life of Adventure
• Adventure mindset, inner voice, and risk-taking
• Why did she write the book
• Becoming the first UK woman to ski to the Magnetic North Pole
• Deciding to apply despite feeling unqualified
• Being determined and believing in herself
• Overcoming fears and fundraising for an Arctic expedition
• Being part of a team of 10 people
• Her initial lack of experience in cross-country skiing
• Being very optimistic and having an adventurous mindset at heart
• Expedition leader David Hempleman-Adams
• Engaging in an exercise as a team called "what if list" to share their fears and concerns
• Advocates for facing fears by writing them down and talking about them
• Successfully securing sponsorship for her expedition
• Mental and physical challenges during her North Pole expedition in 1996
• Talking about period while she's out on the ice
• Bonding between her and Susanna, the first Swedish woman to reach the extreme
• Learning to tolerate each other's differences and frustrations during the expedition
• How her experience at the North Pole changed her perspective on life
• Deciding to set up a business as a motivational speaker
• Joining Robert Swan on an expedition down to Antarctica
• The process of evolution and building up her business
• Entrepreneurship and finding her unique calling
• Pushing herself too hard and judging herself too negatively
• Talking about her podcast
• Final words of advice

Social Media

Website:suestockdale.com

Podcast: Access to Inspiration

Twitter: @suestockdale

Youtube: @SueStockdale

A self-proclaimed late outdoor bloomer, Kimberly began exploring life outdoors after purchasing a folding kayak, which she credits with changing her life.

What started as an impulse purchase put her on a path of adventure, and she now travels around the world with her dog (Bentley), camping, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding.

Learning as she goes along, she documents her travels on her instagram page, in hopes of inspiring and empowering other women to have solo adventures.

***

The Tough Girl Podcast is being sponsored throughout January by ZOLEO. #ChallengeWithZOLEO

ZOLEO connects with your phone to provide seamless global messaging that follows you in and out of mobile network coverage — plus added safety features you can count on worldwide including industry-leading SOS alerting features. 24/7 monitoring and 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice, check-in and weather forecasts. ZOLEO offers unmatched peace of mind for you and for everyone waiting at home.

Stay connected and safe while doing what you love.

Hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of tough women. New episodes LIVE every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time.

***

Show notes

• Who is Kimberly and what does she do
• Kimberly's happy place
• Always being drawn to water, even as a child
• Learning to swim at a young age
• Discovery of her passion for kayaking
• Going on a 6-day kayaking trip in Canada
• Not having her own kayak
• Obtaining a folding kayak and practising in her living room
• Overcoming barriers, pursuing her goal of spending time on the water
• Solo kayaking safely
• Being a very introverted person
• Kayaking as therapy
• Mountain lakes kayaking
• Disconnecting from the world while connecting with nature
• Giving peace of mind to friends and family
• Bently, her little adventure buddy
• Describing Bentley and matching hats with him
• Not going into the same place twice
• Using Google Maps to see where she can go
• Paddling for hours without feeling hungry
• Usually kayaking with canned wine
• Naming her kayaks and their stories
• Feeling judged for paddling alone
• Having fears and concerns all the time
• The struggle of being a woman of colour
• Safety measures while camping
• Solo kayaking experience in Norway
• Insights on solo outdoor adventures, gear choices, and safety planning
• Finding like-minded people for outdoor adventures
• Final words of advice

Social Media

Instagram:@paddlingwithbae