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Tough Girl Podcast

The Tough Girl Podcast is all about inspiring and motivating YOU! I will be interviewing inspirational women from around the world, who’ve faced and overcome difficult challenges and situations, they will share their story, their knowledge and provide advice and essential tips for you to overcome your own personal challenges. Please check out the Tough Girl Challenges website - www.toughgirlchallenges.com and follow on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL
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Now displaying: December, 2017
Dec 31, 2017

What a journey it has been! There have been high points (a new baby!), low points (trying to raise £21K), focus, dedication, commitment, success and failure. New skills have been learned, new challenges ticked off bucket lists and fears overcome.

I would like to extend a massive thank you to all of the seven women who have been involved in this project since December 2016. It is not easy to put yourself out there, and to share your story with the world (the tough girl podcast is listened to in 172 countries).

These women, all stepped up, they have shared honestly about their experience, the good bits and the bad and I hope you have all managed to take something away from all of their collective experiences.

For the full show notes - please visit www.toughgirlchallenges.com

Please become a patron at www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast

 

Dec 30, 2017

2017! What a year it has been!! So much has been achieved, but where has the time gone? The weeks have disappeared and flown by! I for one am so excited to be able to look back on the year and see what I've learned on this journey! Here is to a fantastic 2018 as well!!

You can listen to my reflections on 2016 and plans for 2017 here

https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/2016/12/30/Tough-Girl-Reflections-for-2016-Plans-for-2017

Show notes

  • Tough Girl Challenges was started in 2014
  • What I do and why I do it
  • Questions to help you reflect on 2017
  • What went well? 
  • Setting the scene - writing my bio for Web Summit 
  • Not being able to admit what I wanted to do in 2017
  • Deciding to go for it
  • Breaking the year down into thirds.
  • Having the support of the Tough Girl Team
  • Getting 3.5 months of podcasts uploaded
  • Watch the vlogs from the Appalachian Trail - HERE
  • Listen to my interview about the AppalachianTrail - HERE
  • Vlog 97… the emotions…
  • October - starting my Masters…
  • Not giving 100% to everything I’m doing
  • The growth of Patreon - 150 Patrons
  • Number  - Tough Girl Daily - 22,000 downloads, Twitter 7,707, Instagram 6,677
  • What might not have gone so well?
  • Very comfortable in my bed and in my comfort zone
  • Wanting to get more into vlogging
  • What surprised me?
  • The kindness of strangers, the patrons, family & friends
  • What did this year teach me?
  • Completing 3 goals….out of 7!
  • 433,000 downloads…
  • What do you need to leave behind?
  • Knowing the value of my worth
  • It has to be a business and not an expensive hobby
  • 2018 areas of focus - podcast (500,000 downloads), masters, the tough girl tribe
  • I have to move out of home in 2018
  • 2018 is going to be the Year of the…. Tribe
  • Tribees… (Love this so much!!)
  • Big picture ideas…
  • Internship with the UN?
  • Travelling…?
  • Lots of variables…. 
  • 1000 patrons….. who knows what would happen!
  • Being open to new opportunities
  • Wanting to do another big challenge….. 
  • Top Goals…
  • Ideas for the tribe… events… leaflets…stash… meeting tribe members
  • THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!
  • Please do take the time to reflect on your own personal journey.
Dec 26, 2017

Megan has spent time working and living with native communities all around the world, from the San bushmen in Africa to the Sami reindeer herders in the Arctic to the Iban jungle dwellers in Borneo and many more.

Most of her expeditions involve working closely with native peoples and she always aims to support local communities where possible.

Megan’s primal drive to travel and explore means she can often be found breaking trail through waist deep snow, swinging in her hammock in the depths of a jungle or sharing stories sat around a campfire under the desert stars.

Megan’s Knowledge and skills make her a world leading expert in all aspects of remote wilderness area expeditions, survival and TV filming.

“In the wilderness the only person you are in competition with is yourself. You should constantly strive to be better, to push your own limits and explore your own relationship with the environment.”

 

Show notes

  • Working in the UK - for once!
  • Growing up as the oldest of 4 children
  • Heading up Snowdon at a young age
  • Finding the Military Cadets
  • Why it was never about gender
  • Careers outside academia?
  • Taking a gap year and going back to uni
  • Travelling the world
  • Going down the mountaineering route
  • Having a love - hate relationship with the jungle
  • Running into trouble
  • Developing a coping mechanism for dealing with stressful situations
  • Getting push back on decisions
  • Being chased by Drug Cartels with AK47s
  • Connecting with local communities
  • Moving back to North Wales
  • Maintaining her fitness
  • Building in yoga and stretching
  • Where the book came from
  • The mental aspects and psychology of survival 
  • What makes people resilient?
  • Advice for women trying to get into the industry
  • Do you enjoy being outside?
  • Her favourite pieces of gear
  • Plans for 2018
  • Would she leave it all for a 9 to 5 job?
  • A lifestyle or a job
  • Having a back up plan
  • Getting her dog - Tugg
  • How to get a signed copy of her book
  • Final words of advice

Learn more about Megan and visit her website - http://meganhine.com

Dec 19, 2017

Laura is a British adventure athlete with a passion for the endurance capability of the human body.  A strong believer in the positive impact that adventure and sport can have on children and adults alike, Laura uses her human powered journeys as a platform to inspire and encourage others to get outside.

Previous adventures include solo kayaking in Russia, solo cycling the world's longest coastal route in Ireland and circumnavigating three of the Channel Islands using three different sporting disciplines as part of a rather extreme triathlon!

Show notes

  • Learning more about Laura
  • Growing up on a farm then going to theatre school
  • Falling in love with sport again
  • What can I get my body to do?
  • How a pub quiz led her to wanting to kayak the longest river in Russia
  • 8 months to prepare for her first big challenge - Including funding…
  • Telling her parents about her challenge
  • Getting into Russia and the first 24hrs not going to plan
  • Having her trip go viral on social media…..
  • Tracking/being tracked? 8,000 views on her tracker map every day…
  • Where is Laura? Bring stalked? Enforced hospitality…
  • Feeling vulnerable and deciding what to do about it
  • “there is a fine line between being a badass and being a dumb-ass”
  • Her learnings from Russia and why she’s ok with failure
  • Deciding to cycle across Ireland
  • Being a women and being mindful when traveling and doing adventures
  • The Wild Atlantic Way….
  • Planning the trip and the challenges involved especially getting use to wild camping again
  • Wanting to prove something to herself
  • Dealing with the miserable days!
  • Paddling the Thames home as a fun mini challenge!
  • Making up her own triathlon around the Channel Islands!
  • Why she loved the cycling!
  • Pushing her body to her limits - her tips and tricks
  • Having a busy 2017 and working with Keen #TrailFit
  • Tackling her fear of running & why she thought she would never be a runner
  • Getting people to take the first step
  • Why fun is so important!
  • Future plans and adventures - working with schools
  • Mindfulness 
  • Struggling with balance
  • Final words of advice and why you should follow your own inner spark

Learn more about  Laura!

Website - https://www.lauraexplorer.com

Twitter @KenningtonLA 

Instagram @laurakairos  

Facebook @kenningtonlaura 

 

Dec 12, 2017

An adrenaline junkie, Della has completed marathons, 100km walks and skydives, and is currently into walking, cycling and photographing nature along the way. 

Della was a circumnavigator on Hull and Humber in the 09-10 Clipper Race and then returned for numerous legs of the 11-12 race as a videographer/producer with then Clipper Race documentary makers, North One. She now works for Clipper helping to inspire other people to take on the challenge of a life time! 

During this podcast we learn more about Della, what drives her and why she wanted to take on this challenge!

“The race was a hugely challenging, positive and inspiring experience for me. It was a huge learning curve and it did change my life”

Show notes

  • Who is Della?
  • Why she wants to live an adventurous life
  • Being happiest in nature and having a love of the water
  • What is was like for her growing up
  • Adventurous jobs and leaving home at 18!
  • How she got into sailing!
  • Wanting to make a change - but not being brave enough 
  • Having no money…
  • Starting her training and not knowing what to expect
  • Getting out of her rut and what she has leant 
  • Achieving all of her goals
  • Having a career break - Doing Camp America & doing a ski season!
  • Following her gut instinct and knowing she wanted to sail around the world
  • Making the decision and getting to the start line
  • Using your friends and working with other women to make it happen - make sure you do ask for help
  • 9 months to get ready for the first stage of the race
  • Working with local school so children could follow the race
  • Going in with an open mind and her first day stepping onto the boat
  • When reality struck… and getting to meet new people on each leg of the trip
  • The days that stand out! The good and the bad!
  • Dealing with challenges while out on the sea…
  • Reflecting back on what she learnt from the experience
  • Having more confidence in her own abilities
  • Working for the Clipper Yacht Race!

 

Social Media Links

Della

Della’s Website - http://www.dellaroundtheworld.com 

Twitter - @MissDellarella 

Clipper Yacht Race

Clipper Yacht Race Website - clipperroundtheworld.com

Twitter - @ClipperRace 

Facebook - @clipperroundtheworld 

Dec 5, 2017

Jen was born without legs & put up for adoption, her amazing adoptive family, gave her one simple rule, “Never say the word, Can’t.”

As a child, she was obsessed with gymnastics, and her idol was gold-medalist, Dominique Moceanu. 

Seemingly against all odds, she went on to compete against able-bodied athletes, and became a State Champion in power tumbling. As part of her story, and also as a twist of fate, she later learned that her childhood gymnastics idol, Dominique Moceanu, was actually her biological sister!

Jen transitioned into an accomplished acrobat and aerialist. She traveled internationally with Britney Spears’ World Tour, and appeared as the headliner at the prestigious Palazzo hotel in Las Vegas, New York’s Lincoln Center and the Shangri La Hotel in Dubai.

Jen is currently living in Los Angeles, and her goal is “to inspire & motivate others to BELIEVE that anything is truly possible.”

Show notes

  • Growing up, her childhood & the amazing memories!
  • Being passionate about community and why she is a product of her community
  • Knowing she was adopted from a young age
  • Having her identity linked to sports and being an athlete
  • Gymnastics and becoming obsessed
  • Moving away from home and leaving the protection of family and friends
  • Dealing with new reactions
  • Learning more about people and controlling her emotions
  • Writing her book - “Everything is Possible”
  • Getting a new tattoo
  • Life on the road and travelling the world
  • Working with Britney Spears
  • Dealing with the pressure
  • Developing new skills that she could apply to other areas of her life
  • The dream list
  • Her love of travel and why it has changed her life
  • Visiting the great wall of China
  • Her idol in gymnastics
  • Finding out about her biological family
  • How her whole life changed in 2008 
  • Future plans - heading to New Zealand 
  • Words of advice

 

Learn more about Jen

Visit her website 

Follow on Twitter - @JenBricker1 

Facebook - Jen Bricker  

Instagram - @Jenbricker  

 

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