Tough Girl Challenges is all about motivating and inspiring women and girls. In this episode I interview Ann Daniels a record breaking polar explorer. Described by the Times as “living proof that humans really can reach new peaks”.
In 2002, Ann became the first woman in history to ski to the North and South Poles as part of all women teams. She has sledge-hauled over 4000 miles, completing over 10 polar expeditions and surviving over 400 days on the ice.
During this podcast Ann talks about how she took her first steps to becoming a polar explorer. At thirty years old she’d never done anything like this before. She was going through a tough divorce and she had just given birth to triplets! Ann decided she needed to follow her dreams and she wasn’t going to let anything or anyone stop her.
She applied for a relay expedition to the North Pole in 1997. She was not one of the strongest candidates, with her limited knowledge and experience. But she made up for this with her work ethic and drive. She set her goal and she went for it, she kept on learning and she kept on adapting.
She faced huge challenges in one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet and that’s were she learnt the most about herself and what she could achieve. She built her own self confidence; she overcame monumental physical and mental challenges and became stronger and tougher because of it. She developed a mindset where she would not give up.
On this podcast you can listen to Ann in her own words as she explains in detail how she coped with serious setbacks in the Arctic. How she honed her leadership skills and empowered herself and others along the way. Ann provides tips and advice and is passionate about what she does.
She also talks about a future challenge that’s going to take place in April 2017. Her eyes were opened to the difficulties that young people face in terms of dealing with mental illnesses and the stigma that surrounds it. It was brought closer to home when her eighteen year old daughter was take ill. Ann will lead an expedition of six young people on a journey to the Arctic that they will never forget and in the process raise £3 million pounds for charity. To learn more about Ann and her challenges please visit her website www.anndaniels.com.
This podcast will inspire you, and get you to think about what you’ve always wanted to do? What chances do you need to take to go after your dreams? What’s really stopping you? What excuses are you telling yourself?
Ann will encourage you to believe in yourself and believe in the opportunities that are coming available to you.
Listen to Ann and go for it. Give it a go and see what happens. No matter what, you will learn more about yourself by saying yes, than you ever will by saying no.
Ann Daniels is on twitter @AnnDanielsGB I’m also on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL. If you’ve enjoyed this episode lets us know and send us a tweet! It would be great to hear from you.
Please checkout the website - ToughGirlChallenges.com and subscribe to the newsletter to be kept updated of future Tough Girl podcasts and challenges.
"If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn't change you."
Tough Girl Challenges is all about motivating and inspiring women and girls. In this episode I interview Emma Timmis who is a phenomenal endurance athlete. Emma has done some extreme adventures where she’s pushed her body and mind to her limits.
Emma was the winner of the National Adventurer of the Year Award in 2015 where she was recognised for her achievement in physical endeavour by running across Africa! This journey took 89 days, starting at the Atlantic Ocean at Henries Bay in Namibia with her running all the way across to the Indian Ocean at Pemba in Mozambique a total distance of 3,974km.
Emma has just made her way via bike from Manchester down to Dover, where she is catching the ferry over to France, she will then be cycling over to Italy to do a month of rock climbing before cycling home. We recorded this interview while she was waiting to board the ferry, so you’ll have to excuse the noises in the background!
In this podcast, Emma talks about how she got a love for adventure and fitness from her family and how these big challenges came about, she talks about the training and the impact on her body and mind. She also provides advice and tips for those who are looking to get out of their comfort zone.
Through her adventures, Emma has also raised a lot of money for two charities (RSPCA & The Seed Project) they are charities that are close to her heart and she explains how they have benefited from the money.
It was clear from interviewing Emma that she’s a passionate believer in getting more women and girls to be active. It doesn’t have to be massive challenges, but they do have to be fun!
Please see more about Emma by visiting her Website www.emmatimmis.com and she is also on Facebook and twitter @runemma.
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Amy Hughes is a normal girl from Oswestry in Shropshire, who did an extraordinary challenge.
Amy ran 53 marathons in 53 days and raised over £53,000 becoming a world record holder at the same time.
During this podcast, Amy talks about her start into fitness and making the decision to take up running. Initially, she was so embarrassed, she would go for runs at six in the morning so no one else would see her.
Learn how Amy persevered and went from a standing start to running marathons and beyond.
Amy also provides information, advice and tips about her mental and physical preparation. The day to day experience of running the 53 marathons, including the ups and downs she experienced.
Running from Oswestry to London, 220 miles in six days and then running the London Marathon! She also discusses her personal role models and future challenges.
Amy is a personal trainer and nutrition expert, she works with individuals in person and online. If you want to know more about Amy check out her new website. www.Amyhughes53.co.uk
Amy is also on twitter @53Marathons
Charities she supports.
The Isabelle Lottie Foundation - www.theisabellelottiefoundation.org
Dame Kelly Trust - www.damekellyholmestrust.org
The 53 Foundation - the53foundation.co.uk
Sally Kettle has always wanted to live an exciting life, she’s wanted to make the most of her time whilst she's here. She has thrown herself into numerous different challenges, from running the London Marathon, to rowing across the Atlantic twice! The fist time, never having been in a boat before and with her mum for company!
Sally talks through her different challenges, explaining what made her want to do them, how they came about and how she prepared both physically and mentally. She shares advice and tips and in the process will inspire the listener to think about what it is they want to achieve.
Sally is an Ambassador for a number of worthy charities and causes and she has raised significant sums of money over the years.
Sally also shares the details of an exciting new project she's working on, its a different kind of adventure, but one which still takes her out of her comfort zone.
For more information on Sally please see her website www.sallykettle.com, she is also on Facebook and twitter @sallykettle.
Check out the Tough Girl Challenges Website- www.toughgirlchallenges.com which is all abut motivating and inspiring women and girls.
Sophie Radcliffe from “Challenge Sophie” is currently living in Chamonix in the French Alps where she takes advantage of the mountains to run, cycle and to train for her next adventure. Sophie describes herself as a normal girl who just happens to love pushing herself both mentally and physical with various endurance challenges.
During this podcast Sophie talks about the mental and physical challenges she’s undertaken from completing the three peaks, cycling from London to Paris in twenty four hours and planning and undertaking the first Alpine Coast to Coast; a gruelling challenge which took her on a journey through eight countries, seven summits, 1,653 kilometres and 51,016 metres of ascent.
Sophie’s on a mission to show that challenge in the great outdoors are accessible and achievable for everyone.
As well as being entertaining and informative, Sophie also talks about; self competitive spirit, mental preparation, confidence training, nutrition & role models
Sophie is one Tough Girl and a real inspiration and it was a pleasure to interview her. This podcast will get you thinking about what your next challenge is going to be.
For more information about Sophie and her challenges, see her website and follow her on social media.
Twitter - @ChallengeSophie
Facebook - /ChallengeSophie
Cheryl Hunter is a motivational speaker, best selling author and transformational expert.
Cheryl left her small town in Colorado and headed to Europe with the dream of making it big in the modelling world. What happened next almost broke her, she was kidnapped, raped, abused and held captive. The experience profoundly changed her and her outlook on life.
In this episode Cheryl shares how she broke free of her mental prison and cracked the code for others to use.
Cheryl is very open and honest about who she is and what the impact was on her life. She provides advice and tips on how you can also break free from your limiting beliefs and whatever is holding you back.
This is real advise, and real tips from someone who has made it work.
Learn more about Cheryl mission and how she’s turned the negative into the positive and what she’s learnt on the way.
Her book: Use It: Turn Setbacks Into Success is available on Amazon.
Follow Cheryl on Twitter @HunterCheryl
Tough Girl Challenges is all about motivating and inspiring women and girls. In this episode I interview Jessi Stensland an elite multi-sport athlete and movement specialist.
As well as being a video journalist she is also the founder and creator of MovementU. Jessi has had a long and distinguished career over the past twenty years, with national and international wins. In 2004 she won the Half Ironman Mexico, her first attempt at that distance. The highlight of her career was the Olympic journey which culminated with the 2004 US Olympic Triathlon Trials where she finished 4th and 6th among the American women.
Jessi is a lover of life, a woman who loves learning about herself and pushing herself to the limits, she’s traveled the world and is passionate about motivating and inspiring others to lead fit and healthy lives.
Her bio on twitter says - “Requires a bit of epic in every day”. By listening to this podcast you will get that epic. Jessi discusses how she first got into fitness, what drove her to move across country at a young age to pursue her passion for triathlon and why she turned professional. She talks through challenges she faced and the choices she's made. She shares advice and wisdom and is a passionate and motivated speaker.
Jessi is still on her journey and she’s learning more about herself everyday and she willing to share the knowledge she’s gained.
For more information on Jessi please see her website www.gojessi.com, she is also on Facebook and twitter @JessiStensland.