Tough Girl Podcast

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we dive into the incredible journey of Fadeelah Kenny, an endurance runner, cyclist, and hiker. Fadeelah, a hijabi woman, shares her inspiring story of becoming a mother and the challenges she faced along the way.

Fadeelah opens up about her experience as a late starter, having her baby at the age of 38. She candidly discusses the struggles she encountered in adjusting to motherhood and her battle with severe postpartum depression. Despite these obstacles, Fadeelah's determination shines through as she shares her story of recovery and resilience.

As an endurance runner, Fadeelah has completed several ultra marathons, including the renowned Comrades Marathon three times. She reflects on her running journey, from discovering her endurance capabilities to pushing herself in longer distances. Fadeelah recounts the mental challenges of running, emphasising the importance of a positive mindset and self-belief.

The conversation delves into Fadeelah's experience of running the Comrades Marathon, an 89-kilometre race that changes direction every year. She shares the mental and physical obstacles she faced during the race, including the last few kilometres where she needed to dig deep to finish with only minutes to spare.

Fadeelah also discusses her struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, highlighting the importance of seeking support and opening up about one's struggles. She shares her desire to help others by sharing her own journey and offering advice to women facing similar challenges.

Don't miss this empowering episode filled with insights on endurance running, motherhood, and the strength of the human spirit.

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 Fadeelah
• Working as an electrical engineer while having a love for endurance running
• Having a new baby 14 months ago age 38
• Her early years growing up in South Africa
• Her older sisterRogeema Kenny (who has also shared her story on the Tough Girl Podcast - 4th August 2023)
• Not enjoying athletics when she was younger as she wasn’t good at it
• Learning she had a little bit of endurance while running 1,500m at school
• Only been competitive with herself
• Starting running 13 years ago and why she prefers the longer distances
• How her running journey progressed and what that looked like
• Being asked to run a 5k race on National Women's Day in South Africa (9th August)
• Getting the bug for running and starting to enter more races
• Needing a running licence - through the Athletics Association South Africa
• Deciding to join a running club and meeting so many like minded people
• Signing up for longer and longer races
• Running Comrades Marathon 3x (89 km)
• Two Oceans Ultra Marathon
• Why it’s a mental challenge running longer distances
• Keep on running - don’t stop, even if you think you aren’t going to make the cut off
• How the Comrades Marathon changes direction every year
• Needing to convince herself that she could finish the race
• The importance of having a positive mindset and having belief in herself
• Needing to understand WHY she was running and WHY she was doing this race
• Dealing with the physical pain during the race
• Running with a pacer and not being able to keep up for the final few kms
• Being encouraged to keep on running by supporters
• Completing the race with 2mins to spare!
• Sharing more about motherhood and running
• Suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety
• Not knowing where to turn
• Talking about her struggles and wanting to help others
• Starting to feel more like herself
• How to connect with Fadeelah
• Final words of advice for women listening

Social Media

Instagram:@fadeelahk

Twitter:@fadeelahk

Facebook:Fadeelah Kenny

LinkedIn:Fadeelah Kenny

Majka Burhardt is a professional climber, certified climbing guide, conservation entrepreneur, author, and filmmaker; she is also the founder and executive director of the international conservation and development organization Legado and the author of More: Life on the Edge of Adventure and Motherhood, released in 2023.

Majka currently lives with her 7 year old twins and her husband, the internationally certified mountain guide Peter Doucette, in Jackson, New Hampshire.

About the Book: More: Life on the Edge of Adventure and Motherhood.

An intense and emotional epistolary memoir by one of the world's top ice climbers, born at the confluence of motherhood, adventure, career, and marriage.

As one of the world’s leading female professional rock and ice climbers,Burhardtand her husband led globe-trotting, adventure-seeking lives. When she learns that she’spregnant—with twins—Burhardt at first tries to justify her insistence on pursuing extreme risk in the face of responsibility. But she is ultimately forced to grieve the avalanche of emotions that accompanies any major life transitions along with the physical changes in her own body.

Based on the letters and journalsBurhardtdiligently kept over the course of those six years,Moretakes the reader on an around-the-world journey as Burhardt explores the transformative, identity-shifting experience of motherhood and its irreversible impact on career, identity, marriage, and self.

In the early weeks of her children's lives, Burhardt immerses herself in adoration for her twins and grappling with the tremendous guilt and struggle around having to return to risk-laden work and that ever elusive balance mothers everywhere seek amidst it all.

As the newness of her twins fades into a permanent reality, Burhardt turns her attention towards her marriage and the collateral damage as she and her husband, Peter, struggle to navigate their new normal. As anger and resentment threaten the foundation of her family, Burhardt courageously looks to her past—and her own mother's tumultuous and confusing history of success, violence, and ragged divorce—to better understand her own way forward. How will she break free from the legacy of her own childhood to start fresh with her own family?

Raw, candid, and galvanizing,Moreis a passionate and poignant testament to the enduring power of love and our lifelong journey to understand ourselves as we strive to always pursue more.

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Don't miss out on new episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast that are released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Hit the subscribe button to stay updated.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can help increase the representation of female role models in the media especially in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to contribute. Thank you for your support!

Show notes

• Who is Majka
• Living in Jackson, New Hampshire
• Her early years growing up
• Being very sporty and adventurous
• The toughen up Majka campaign
• Doing a 45 day canoe expedition in the Arctic
• Her love for being on trail
• Mentors and role models
• Kitty Calhoun - Alpinist & Activist
• Lynn Hill
• Getting into climbing at at 15/16 years old and how it started gradually
• Taking a year off from college to climb full time
• Feeling drawn to ice climbing
• Wanting to make climbing her job
• Writing for climbing magazines to make money and to combine her passions
• Climbing in Ethiopia, Africa
• Climbing a first ascent - The Sandstone Towers of Tigray, in northern Ethiopia.
• Book: Vertical Ethiopia published by Shama Publishing, an Ethiopian Publisher.
• Legado
• Brining in scientists to climb around the vertical granite terrain on Mount Namuli in Mozambique
• Shifting the focus of Legado from being a conservation organisation to one that activates climate justice with indigenous people and local communities throughout the world
• Working in Mozambique, Kenya and Peru to help create a thriving future
• Motherhood and not being sure if being a mum was part of her agenda
• Meeting her partner, Peter in 2008 in New Hampshire at an Ice Climbing Festival
• Getting pregnant and finding out it was twins
• Book: More: Life on the Edge of Adventure and Motherhood.
• Trying to hold onto her career during pregnancy and motherhood
• Working with Patagonia
• Micro moments of balance
• Training and exercise during and after pregnancy
• The impact of pregnancy on her core
• Getting outside and adventuring with the children
• Writing the book and reflecting back over that time
• Focusing on showing up and being as present as possible
• Practical advice and tips for new mothers
• The importance of friends and community
• Dividing up domestic labour and having systems
• Waking up at 5.30am
• Morning routine
• Rest and recovery
• Mantra and words of empowerment
• Being a warrior goodness
• How to connect with Majka
• Final words of advice to encourage women to go after their own dreams

Social Media

Website:majkaburhardt.com

Instagram: @majkaburhardt

Facebook: @majka.burhardt

Legado Activates the Power of Legacy - So that people and nature can thrive together - now and into the future.

Buy the book: More: Life on the Edge of Adventure and Motherhood

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I speak with Lucy Coppack, a finance manager by day and an outdoors enthusiast by weekend.

Lucy shares her love for the hills, her experiences as a female in the outdoors industry, and her personal challenges including the loss of her mother to breast cancer.

Lucy talks about her decision to raise money for the East Cheshire Hospice by completing the Peak District 88 Trig Point Challenge, and how the outdoors helps her process her emotions and grief. She also shares advice and tips for girls who want to spend more time in the outdoors.

***

Subscribe to the Tough Girl Podcast to listen to more inspiring stories of women breaking barriers and pushing boundaries. New episodes go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time. To support the mission of increasing female role models in the media, visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

***

Show notes

• Who is Lucy
• Living in Macclesfield, just outside the Peak District, UK
• Working as a finance manager during the day
• Her love for the outdoors, the hills and living van life during the weekends
• Her early years growing up and spending loads of time outdoors
• Being into climbing, biking and hiking
• Her teenage years and spending time in Guides and Explorers
• Cheshire Hike
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Being the only girl
• Starting to see more women in the outdoors
• Female instructors and leaders
• Studying Adventure Sports at Reaseheath College
• Getting other basic qualifications for use in the outdoors
• Struggling after leaving college to find work
• PGL Summer Camps
• Doing ski seasons for 3 years
• Teaching herself how to snowboard
• Working long shifts, but having the best time of her life
• Working her summer seasons in Cornwall, UK
• Wanting a bit more of a normal job
• Losing her mum at 3 years old to breast cancer
• Deciding to raise money for
• Wanting to do a local challenge to raise money and awareness for East Cheshire Hospice
• Deciding to do the 'Peak District Trig Point Challenge’
• Wanting to complete the challenge in 88 days
• Dislocating her knee and needing to go to hospital
• The outdoors and how it helps with her mental health
• Being a mental health first aider
• Using hiking to help process her emotions and feeling of grief over losing her mum
• Van life and the realities
• Pooing and peeing
• Wanting to hike all 214 Wainwrights
• Becoming a Boobette with Coppafeel
• The importance of checking your boobs on a regular basis
• The BRCA Gene - BReast CAncer
• Starting to get breast screening at 25 years old
• Coming to terms with her risks of getting breast cancer
• Thinking about doing her Mountain Leader Qualification
• Thoughts on working full time in the outdoors industry full time
• Wanting to work with outdoor brands as an ambassador/influencer
• Thinking about the financial side of working in the outdoor industry
• Advice and tips for girls who want to spend time in the outdoors
• Starting with local walks to build up your confidence
• App: All Trails
• OS Maps
• Check out FB Groups, Meet ups and connect with people on Instagram
• How to connect with Lucy online
• Nicky - IG @nicky.walks
• Anna Blackwell - @annablackwell

Social Media

Instagram: @lucy.does.trigs

Just Giving: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lucy-coppack1

Today, I'm excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at the planning and preparation for my upcoming adventure on the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail in New Zealand. I recorded this episode, hours before I headed down to London to catch my flight to first Korea and then on to Aukland, New Zealand.

In this podcast, I'll take you through the meticulous planning and preparation that goes into making these epic adventures come to life. From the nitty-gritty details on my to-do list to managing setbacks and equipment challenges.

I share the story behind my sponsorship with ZOLEO and the invaluable benefits I've gained from their products. I'll also break down my approach to planning big adventures. Starting by dividing it down into the mental, physical, logistical, and practical aspects, offering insights that hopefully will add value as you plan your adventures.

Throughout this episode, I'll candidly share the intricacies and hurdles I've encountered and why I take full responsibly for all my decision, even when those decision put me under huge amounts of pressure/stress to deliver.

So, if you're curious about what goes into planning an adventure as massive as the Te Araroa Trail while running a business and keeping that business going while travelling. Then this podcast is a must-listen!

Join me on my journey as I navigate the world of planning, preparation, and ultimately, adventure.

Follow my Te Araroa Challenge on Instagram @toughgirlchallenges. I’ll be sharing daily updates on the main page and instagram stories.

A massive thank you to ZOLEO for sponsoring the challenge #ChallengeWithZOLEO

***

This episode is sponsored 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.

www.zoleo.com

***

Show Notes

• Planning and preparation episode for the Te Araroa hike
• 10.50pm the day before heading down to London
• Setting the scene - Working from my bed ‘aka my office’
• Why I’m not complaining - I’m just sharing the challenges and loving my life
• Blessed, lucky and very privileged
• 9th year of the Tough Girl Podcast in 2025
• Why I’m grateful and full of gratitude - This is what I dreamed about
• Do I complain all the time? Vlog 5/17 Camino Frances
• Sharing the realities of what it is like while on challenges
• Why can I do so many challenges in a year?
• Planing, planning, planning and more planning
• Pitching for work in 2024/2025
• Having to look far ahead
• Planning to go to New Zealand since April/May time
• Future adventures and challenges need to be planned quite far in advance
• The work that goes on behind the scenes
• Working super far ahead to ensure Tough Girl Podcast episodes go live every week
• Being home in March and then away on the 1st April
• National Outdoor Expo 23rd - 24th March
• Me putting pressure on myself
• These are my choices
• Wanting to walk the main 7 camino’s by the end of 2025
• Doing the Camino Primitivo as a training hike
• Total Stats from the hike
• I should have worked out the average time on feet
• Planning to do list and using my apple notes while hiking
• Very specific to do list and really breaking it down into small manageable points
• Trying to reduce the overwhelm
• Setbacks and challenges over the past 23 days
• Having a detailed daily plan of what needs to be done e.g. 4 days to edit 16 days worth of vlogs into 7 vlogs and for them to be uploaded to Youtube.
• Broken laptop and needing to send it off to be repaired - there were tears
• Editing and getting caught up with the vlogs
• Getting my laptop back up and running and setting everything up again from scratch
• Editing - loving the creative process - the stress comes from not having the time to dedicate to it
• When good enough is good enough
• Why I edit the TGP how I edit them.
• Why my priority is my guest and their story.
• Having challenging conversations and navigating through that
• Thinking about how to approach these topics, what’s the best way to support the guests
• The challenges of batch interviewing and having multiple interviews per day
• Building work being done and not being able to record during the day
• Earning money and taking a one day job in Manchester with OfftoWork and the opportunity cost of earning money and not having time to do my podcast/editing work
• Taking responsibility for my choices
• What it means being a sponsored hike. Not all my costs are going to be covered.
• First world problems
• How did the ZOLEO sponsorship come about?
• Starting to use ZOLEO in April 2023
• The benefits I’ve found
• Needing to figure out a way to attach the ZOLEO to my pack when running
• Reaching out to ZOLEO for sponsorship, putting a pitch together and having a meeting.
• New Zealand - Land Safety Code
• Carrying emergency food - apricots and walnuts
• The hiking community and the amazing supportive people out there
• Sharon Evans @freewheelingkiwi
• Breaking down the planning into 3 parts; mental, physical, logistical & practical
• Starting to plan during the covid years
• How I start off my research and using apple notes
• Facebook: Te Araroa Trail: Women's Group
• Working backwards, dates, timeframe, flights accommodation, getting to the start line and getting home from the finish line,
• Having a plan B, C, D
• Discover how to get anywhere
• Going from Auckland to the top of the North Island
• Not being able to plan for everything
• Usingbooking.comfor accommodation - cheapest in the best location for me
• Insurance
• Visa for New Zealand - British Citizens don’t need a visa - they get a 6 month visa waiver
• Having another start date for the South Island
• Booking the ferry to the South Island
• Why sometimes you can’t just go with the flow
• Gear - Upgrading my tent from a Terra Nova Laser 2 person tent to MSR 2 person tent (900g) the red palace.
• Can I get lighter in my gear? Maybe change my backpack next year
• Clothes and trainers provided by Inov-8
• Get a 15% discount - using this link
• The challenges with the waterproof trousers
• Food boxes? Why I don’t do them
• Facebook groups and why I don’t like them in relation to challenges
• Wanting to figure out stuff for myself
• Is it adding value - no - then step away
• Mental side of planning for a challenge and why I haven’t done a huge amount this time
• The tools in my tool kit
• Why the TA is in my comfort zone (which doesn’t mean it’s not going to be tough or hard)
• Feeling mentally prepared and ready but thinking I could have done more
• Am I feeling physical ready for the challenge - yes and no….
• Being joined by Sara Crosland for a walk
• Wishing I had longer to train and prepare, but doing the best I could do with the time available.
• Working with my PT - Franco @HumalForces
• Getting my hiker legs back after 7/10 days and being able to push bigger miles towards the end of the trip
• My weight and being very lean at the moment (which I like, but need to be aware of especially when taking on a big physical challenge like this)
• Having a vision board on my laptop and phone (created incanva.com)
• Flight on Sunday, Korea for 3/4 days, before flying to Auckland.
• You can follow along on Instagram @toughgirlchallenges
• Should I share my ZOLEO phone number and e-mail so people can contact me?
• Having tomorrow morning to do the final bits of work
• How to reach out - send me an [email protected] send me a DM via Instagram
• Thank you to ZOLEO for sponsoring the podcast and the Te Araroa Challenge.

Previous Challenge Solo Episodes

Apr 26, 2016 - Sarah Williams - Shares her journey of getting to the start line of the Marathon des Sables (MDS) & running the toughest footrace on earth!

Sep 19, 2017 - Sarah Williams - Thru hiking the Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles) in 100 days!

Sep 4, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Planning and Preparation for the Pacific Coast Highway & the Baja Divide!

Dec 25, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway & Baja Divide

Born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised by immigrant parents from China and Japan, Mari has always been drawn to stories that celebrate and examine identity, multiculturalism, and diversity.

After completing her Masters at the Royal College of Music in 2019, Funabashi continued to work in London, working closely with production houses Far Away Films and 84 East.

Since then she has composed for many award-winning films, particularly enjoying providing thoughtful and nuanced underscores for films that center around the human condition, although she would never say no to bombastic superhero themes with french horn solos.

Curious and creative by nature, Funabashi often mixes sound design with her musical underscores in order to create truly unique pieces of work that are inseparable from the films they were created for.

Beyond music, Mari is a dedicated outdoors enthusiast, and can be found participating in ultra-endurance cycling trips as well as competing in triathlons. Having found outdoor movement after the difficult passing of her father in 2015, introverted Mari finds the long and solo hours of ultra-endurance sports comforting—a quiet and safe space to check-in with herself.

Her most recent events include a solo bike packing trip from London to Scotland in 2020 (430 miles), the half-ironman distance Castle to Coast Triathlon in 2021 (totalling 81.2 miles) and her 24-hour Manchester to London attempt in 2022 (she made it to 177 miles).

***

Don't miss out on new episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast! Tune in every Tuesday at 7am UK time by hitting the subscribe button. By subscribing, you'll be supporting our mission to increase the number of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge. If you would like to contribute even further, please visit our Patreon page atwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you for your support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Mari?
• Growing up in Arizona in the USA
• Working as a film composer
• Living in the South of England, for the past 6 years
• Getting into the outdoors in 2016 after the death of her father
• Her childhood was very focused on music
• Learning music and playing; piano, guitar, pipe organ, flute, french horn and clarinet
• Feeling lucky to have connected with the outdoors when she was older
• Living in New York City as an introverted person
• Starting to go on long walks which turned into running
• Wanting to physically move her body forward
• Starting to run with friends and finding it enjoyable
• Finding triathlon and signing up to race in 2016
• Preferring the longer distances
• Moving to the UK in 2017
• Use a bike to commute on
• Getting into ultra distance cycling during covid
• Using running to process thoughts
• Feeling calm while moving her body and being able to connect with herself on a deep level
• Starting to do a few solo bike-packing trips
• Not thinking about distance, but rather time on the time
• Deciding to cycle from London to Scotland
• Using Strava to plan the route
• Having trust in herself to take on this challenge
• How the challenge helped to boost her confidence
• “I could probably do it and if I can’t that’s fine, I’ll figure it out someway or another”
• 24hr Manchester to London attempt in 2022
• Making it to 177 miles
• The lessons learned from the experience and trying again
• Wanting to break the 200 mile mark
• Working on a film called - Beyond Words
• Working with Play Outdoors Productions - Diversity-focused film collective
• Combining art music and the outdoors
• Composing music while outdoors
• The goal with creating the film
• Running a crowd funder and raising the £3K needed to cover the film costs
• How to connect with Mari
• Final words of advice for women who want to get into bike packing
• Struggling to get back on the bike after going through a breakup
• Women supporting women
• Being supposed and encouraged by women only Facebook Groups

Social Media

Website: www.marifunabashi.com

Instagram: @marifunabashi

Crowdfunded: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/beyond-words-combining-film-music-bikepacking#/

Dierdre grew up in New York City in the 1940s and 50s and helped care for her mother who had polio. Going to high school opened her eyes to new possibilities, and she eventually moved to California after spending time in France and Japan. Dierdre's life took a big turn when she divorced her husband and started focusing on her own goals and dreams.

At 55, she began running, and has gone on to complete multiple marathons. At 59, she began rock climbing, and at 66, she became the oldest woman to climb Yosemite’s iconic El Capitan (with her son, Alex Honnold, of “Free Solo” fame).

In 2021, she celebrated her 70th birthday by climbing El Capitan again and camping on the summit.

At the end of 2023, the documentary about her life, “Climbing Into Life,” will be available to watch.

Climbing into Life is a feature-length documentary detailing the inspiring life story of Dierdre Wolownick-Honnold, the mother of Free Solo’s Alex Honnold.

This is the story of how she went from a completely consumed mother and professor, and ended up on the wall of El Capitan. From an unhappy wife and lonely mother to the status of athlete later in life, Dierdre confronts fear and ageism and gains a wonderful new community in the outdoors.

At age 71 Dierdre pushes back against the societal norms that assume her retirement years will be spent slowing down.

***

Don't miss out on new episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast that are released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Hit the subscribe button to stay updated.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can help increase the representation of female role models in the media especially in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to contribute. Thank you for your support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Dierdre
• Being a teacher and writer
• Growing up in NYC after WW2 had ended
• Being a city girl
• Helping to care for her mother who had polio
• Her responsibilities as the girl
• How going to high school changed her life
• Having her eyes opened to possibilities
• Growing up in a Polish-American family
• Not being able to rebel
• Going to a catholic school
• Getting out into the real world
• Spending time in France and Japan
• Moving to California
• The beginning of the big change
• Doing everything for everybody
• Living in a non marriage
• Teaching herself how to swim in her 40s
• Her battle against fear
• Being able to leave her marriage
• Divorce being a dirty word
• Taking up running in her 50s
• Completing her first 1 mile run
• Pushing herself to go further
• Taking baby steps
• Climbing with her son
• Climbing the Royal Arches route in 2017
• Looking at El Cap and wondering if she could climb it
• Jugging in climbing - have her feet on the rocks but not her hands
• Needing to get specialist gear
• Training and getting fit for the climb at 66
• Going up and down El Cap in 1 day
• Feeling exhausted and getting back in the dark
• Celebrating her 70th Birthday climbing El Cap via the descent route
• Planning a trip to Spain
• Book: The Sharp End of Life: A Mother's Story.
• Documentary - Climbing into Life - out at the end of 2023
• How to connect with Dierdre
• Final words of advice

Social Media

Website:dierdrew.us

Instagram: @dierdre_wolownick_honnold

Book: The Sharp End of Life: A Mother's Story.

In this episode, we learn about Meghan J. Ward, a writer based in Banff, Canada, who is passionate about outdoor adventure and travel. Meghan is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, and the author of Lights to Guide Me Home: A Journey Off the Beaten Track in Life, Love, Adventure, and Parenting.

Meghan has written several books, as well as produced content for films, anthologies, blogs and some of North America’s top outdoor, fitness and adventure publications.

Meghan shares her journey as a writer, her love of travel, and how she balances parenting with her passion for exploration.

Meghan also provides practical advice for new moms who want to continue travelling and going on adventures with their children. We also learn about her current project, a documentary film about early 20th-century mountain explorer Mary Schäffer Warren. Finally, Meghan shares some words of advice for women who want to spend more time travelling and going on adventures.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.

You can support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast Thank you.

Show notes

• Who is Meghan
• Being based in Banff, Canada
• Having 2 daughters aged 4 and 10
• Being a writer and releasing her first travel memoir
• Her passion for travel and for being outside
• Growing up in Ottawa, Canada
• Her love of travel and where it came from
• Being inspired by National Geographic Magazines
• Meeting her husband, Paul in the summer of 2005
• Starting a writing career after university
• Being encouraged to pursue writing
• Her writing process while travelling
• Book: Lights to Guide Me Home: A Journey Off the Beaten Track in Life, Love, Adventure, and Parenting
• Advice for new mums who have children and want to continue travelling and going on adventures
• Practical pieces of advice for travelling with children
• Travelling with children on planes
• Travelling in a way which is good for the environment
• Slower travel and making micro adjustments
• Artists for Air - Brave travellers cleaning up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Raising awareness for carbon removal and carbon offsets
• Working on a documentary film about 20th-century mountain explorer, Mary Schäffer Warren
• Going on a road trip through the Baltic Nations
• How to connect with Meghan
• Final words of advice for women who want to spend more time travelling and going on adventure.

Social Media

Website:meghanjoyward.com

Substack:meghanjward.substack.com

Instagram: @meghanjward

Twitter: @meghanjward

Facebook: @meghanjoyward

Book: Lights to Guide Me Home: A Journey Off the Beaten Track in Life, Love, Adventure, and Parenting

Documentary - www.wildflowersfilm.ca

Arati Kumar-Rao is an exceptional National Geographic Explorer, independent environmental photographer, writer, and artist dedicated to documenting the slow violence of ecological degradation. With unwavering passion, she traverses the South Asian subcontinent, embarking on captivating journeys that span seasons and sometimes years. Through her profound storytelling, Arati chronicles the ever-changing landscapes, climate, and their profound impact on livelihoods and biodiversity in South Asia.

Arati's profound impact is not confined to her lens or pen; she employs a multidimensional approach, utilising the power of photos, long form narratives, and art to communicate her insights. Recently, she unveiled her debut book, "Marginlands: Indian Landscapes On The Brink," a poignant exploration now available in bookstores across India and on Amazon.

Currently, Arati is engaged in a significant undertaking as she explores forced human migration in India, supported by a prestigious National Geographic grant. Her remarkable body of work has garnered recognition and has been featured in esteemed publications such as The National Geographic Magazine, Emergence Magazine, The Hindu, #Dysturb, The Guardian, BBC Outside Source, Hindustan Times, Mint, and other reputable outlets. Additionally, her artistic endeavours have been exhibited both in India and internationally, leaving an indelible mark on the global stage.

When not immersed in her assignments, Arati finds solace and inspiration in the Western Ghats and Bangalore, where she cherishes being a loving mother to three rescued cats.

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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

• Who is Arati?
• Being based in Bangalore when not travelling
• Her role as an environmental chronicler
• Being a slow journalist or a slow storyteller
• The types of story she tells
• Her passion for photography and art
• The tools she uses to tell the story
• Working in the corporate world and making the decision to leave her job (2013) and start telling environmental stories
• Her early years growing up and spending time in nature
• Being inspired by the National Geographic Magazine
• Wanting to tell stories of the land by walking
• Making the transition from the corporate world to following her passion for storytelling
• The practical steps involved
• 2 pivotal moments in her life
• Studying for a Masters in Physical and working in a lab and deciding it wasn’t the right job for her
• Having to choose between the Arts and the Sciences
• Moving back to India and working with Intel doing Market Research
• Falling ill with Typhoid in her 30s and starting to reflect on her life and thinking about what she really wanted to do
• Needing to make new connections and build new networks
• Slowly starting to find her way and the power of social media to publish stories
• Slow story telling verses the speed of the internet
• Needing to upskill in photography, writing and art
• Taking out personal loads and writing for grants
• Getting the grant from National Geographic to study forced Human Migration across India due to environmental degradation
• Doing a transect walk from the most easterly point of India to the most Westerly point.
• Planning and starting a story - what that looks like
• Following the threads and seeing where it leads
• Knowing when you are on the right path?
• Not finding any path to be wrong - there is always something to learn
• Taking a pause to reflect on the information that’s been gathered
• Dealing with dead ends and moving on
• Her first time in Bangladesh
• New book: Marginlands: Indian Landscapes on the Brink
• The speed and impact of climate change
• Why it’s important to listen to the local geography’s
• Sounds in storytelling - Soundscapes
• Recording a sound signature throughout the journey
• Paul Salopek’s - Out of Eden Walk
• Art as part of the storytelling
• Wanting to train herself to pay attention to detail
• How to connect with Arati on the social media platforms
• Final words of advice for other women to follow their passions
• Why it’s important for women to speak up
• The stories that are in your backyard
• “Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” ~ Mary Oliver.

Social Media

Website: www.aratikumarrao.com

Instagram: @aratikumarrao

Twitter: @aratikumarrao

Facebook: @aratikumarrao

Book: Marginlands: Indian Landscapes on the Brink

Charlotte Garner is a 58-year-old runner and cyclist, living in France, who only took up sports ten years ago, aged 48. She advocates for the physical and mental benefits of sports for women in their 50s.

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, she shares her journey of getting involved in sports and how it has transformed her life.

Charlotte grew up in Wales but has lived in France all her life, working as a freelance translator and raising her two daughters. It wasn't until her early 40s that she started to become interested in sports.

After a divorce, Charlotte moved to Leon and got into running, completing her first 5km and 10km race. She felt a sense of achievement after completing the distance and proud to be part of a community of runners.

Joining a running club changed her running for the better, and having a coach and following a training plan helped her structure her running routine. Charlotte has since completed seven marathons and two ultra marathons, enjoying the challenge of pushing herself further.

Charlotte's journey is an inspiration for women who may have thought it was too late to start being active.

It is never too late to start, and the physical and mental benefits are well worth it.

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Stay updated with the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast by hitting the subscribe button. Don't miss out on inspiring stories of adventurous and resilient women.

You can also make a difference by supporting the mission to increase the representation of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to contribute and help create a more inclusive world. Thank you for your support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Charlotte
• 58 years old
• Growing up in Wales
• Living in France all her life
• Working as a freelance translator
• Mother to two daughters
• Getting interested in sports in her early 40s
• Why 50 is a great age to get involved in sports
• Her early years growing up in Wales
• Not liking sports at school and being bullied
• Making the decision to move to France at 25
• Studying French and Spanish at University
• Becoming qualified to Teach English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
• Marrying a French man and having 2 daughters
• Getting move active in her late 40s
• Going through a divorce
• Moving to Leon
• Getting into running and doing her first 5km and 10km race
• Feeling a sense of achievement after completing the distance
• Feeling proud to be a part of a community of runners
• Joining a running club and how it changed her running for the better
• Having a running coach and following a training plan
• Liking a structure and enjoying following a plan
• Running 7 marathons and doing 2 ultra marathons
• Enjoying the challenge of pushing herself further
• Running 70/80km per week in training
• Peri-menopause and menopause and the impact on running
• Not sleeping properly and going on HRT tablets
• The mental side of running longer distances
• The power of gratitude
• Turning 50 and not looking forward to it
• Getting fitter and feeling younger
• Bike touring around New Zealand for 3 months
• Starting cycle touring in Switzerland and her love of travelling this way
• Wanting to get more long term adventure in her life
• Figuring out how to do that as a freelance translator
• Working and travelling while on the road
• Heading to New Zealand in December 2022
• Having to be disciplined while on the road
• Advice for other women who want to go cycle touring
• Find a bike that fits you and suits you
• Start small with a weekend trip and build it up from there
• Learning to be happy with your own company
• Using an old folding bike to get around the city
• Buying an Avanti bike in New Zealand
• The challenges of selling the bike at the end
• Trade Me
• Words of advice for women in their 50s who want to get more physically active
• Connecting with other like minded people
• Join a running club or another inclusive group. e.g. Adventure Queens

Social Media

None

Steph set a world record for skiing the most vertical feet in a year, but that is just a small part of her story. She is also an author and a sought-after mentor and coach who helps guide people towards a deeper understanding of themselves and their stories.

Steph's work, which includes speaking and facilitating, centers around the intersection of loss, the nature of deep remembrance, and the personal journey of re-creation.

Her first book, Unbound: A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery, is not just about setting a world record for skiing, but also about growing up and claiming femininity as a super-power. It is a powerful and inspiring read that everyone should experience.

Steph's mother has late-stage Alzheimer's, and she wrote a book about their time together on a road-trip, which is called Everything Left to Remember: My Mother, Our Memories, And a Journey Through the Rocky Mountains.

This poignant and moving book is about the way we are pulled apart and the way we are re-membered.

“It is a story about mothers and daughters— a book about nature, and memory, and loss of all kinds. It’s about transforming our pain into something much larger. This is a book about love.”

***

Don't miss out on new episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast that are released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Hit the subscribe button to stay updated.

By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can help increase the representation of female role models in the media especially in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Visitwww.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to contribute. Thank you for your support!

***

Show notes

• Who is Steph
• Living on Bainbridge Island, Washington State, USA
• Growing up in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• Creating a nice life for herself
• Hitting 26 years old and knowing that something was missing
• Deciding to quit everything and sell everything
• A year of emersion in her own joy
• Deciding to go skiing and travelling
• How that 1 year away changed her whole life
• Her first Book: Unbound: A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery
• Her mum being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
• Her 2nd book: Everything Left to Remember: My Mother, Our Memories, And a Journey Through the Rocky Mountains.
• Her early years growing up in an athletic family
• Being encouraged to play sports
• Learning to ski from 3 yrs old
• Her early 20s and feeling pressure to achieve
• Being very goal and achievement orientated
• Happiness….
• Doing all the things she was told to do… and now what?
• Why the journey was stunning, but the finish line was just another ordinary day
• Making the decision to change her life and build something different and new
• What was holding her back
• Turning the dream into a plan
• Having a year to put it together
• Financial and logistically planning and getting fit for the challenge
• The Hero’s Journey - Joseph Campbell
• Women, risk taking and gratitude
• Skiing all around the world
• The grind of travel
• Magical moments - Skiing in Japan
• Finding love and taking time to physically recover from the trip
• Her mother being diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2015
• The relationship with her mum and planning a journey through the Rocky Mountains
• Are you listening for the call of adventure, and do you have the courage to say yes, when you hear it?
• How the family is coping with the diagnosis and caring for a loved one
• The ongoing process of grief
• Creating memories that won’t be remembered
• Suffering with depression and managing mental health
• How to connect with Steph
• Words of advice

Social Media

Website:stephjagger.com

Instagram: @stephjagger

Book: Everything Left to Remember: My Mother, Our Memories, And a Journey Through the Rocky Mountains.

Book: Unbound: A Story of Snow and Self-Discovery