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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: 2019
Jul 2, 2019

Pippa moved to Manly, just outside Sydney in Australia from the UK in 2012 with her husband Joe. She has always loved sport but only got involved in endurance events since moving. After completing 3 Peaks in Victoria (a 235km ride with 4000m of climbing) she realised that you can do anything that you put your mind to and decided to sign up for North Face 50km run! Since then she has continued to get involved with more endurance based challenges. 

In 2017, Pippa joined the Veloroos (a non professional endurance cycle team who won Race Around America in 2015) to take on the non stop 3000k Race Around Ireland (RAI) which ended up smashed the female record and coming 4th overall.

Pippa gave birth to her son Mawson in August 2018. She continued to ride throughout her pregnancy and was keen to find a come back event but nothing was inspiring her, until hearing about the opportunity to ride the Tour De France. 

Currently there is no Tour De France for women so a women’s team ‘InternationElles’ cycle the whole course but start a day before the men’s race in order to raise awareness about this inequality.

We will be speaking with Pippa after the tour for Tough Girl EXTRA to find out how she got on.

Show notes

  • Pippa introduces herself
  • Goring up in the UK and loving sports
  • Running and swimming for locals clubs
  • Moving out to Australia in 2012
  • Getting involved in sports in a big way
  • Training for the 3 peaks challenge in Australia (a 235km ride with 4000m of climbing and a 13hr cut off point) 
  • The moment when she started to believe in herself
  • Preparing and controlling what she could
  • Why self-belief is so important
  • Doing the North Face 50K Ultra Marathon
  • Fitting training in around work
  • Thinking while running
  • What she eats while trail running (3 dates = 1 gel)
  • The Big Red Run (no longer happens)
  • What happens when things no longer go to plan
  • Readjusting her expectations
  • The Veloroos 
  • The Race Around Ireland - (Watch the documentary)
  • What it was like finishing the race
  • Having a baby in August 2018
  • Staying active during pregnancy
  • Working with a coach or personal trainer?
  • The Tour de France
  • The pressure before the start - 5th July
  • Having a bit of a wobble and feeling a bit overwhelmed
  • Dealing with the logistics and challenges before the race even starts
  • Le Course  - 1 day stage for women  (112km)
  • Final words of advice and top tips for women 

 

Social media

Facebook: @theveloroos , @InternationElles  

Insta: @theveloroos , @InternationElles  , @piplyon  

Twitter: @internationEll2 

There will also be live tracking each day so you can 'dot watch'  and see where they are each day during the Tour.

 

Jun 27, 2019

Alex first came on the Tough Girl Podcast in October 2017 to share more about her life, from going from a 9 - 5 office job working as a graphic designer to leaving it all behind to go travelling and go on adventures. On the first episode, Alex shared more about her transition back in 2015, her north and south bound hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, plus other adventures. 

During this podcast we catch up with Alex who in 2018 completed the Appalachian Trail! Alex shares more about the journey, the high points and the challenges, as well as the mental and physical aspects. Alex shares more about how she recovered from the adventure blues, and what her next challenge is going to be, we talk in detail about the money and what’s going to be happening over the next 12 months to make it happen. 

It’s been fantastic to catch up with Alex and to share more about what she’s been achieving in the world of adventure and challenge!

Show notes

  • Being on the road for 18 months and wanting to come home
  • Heading back home and catching up with friends and family
  • Coming home and surprising her parents!
  • Wanting to go travelling again….
  • Trying to decided what to do next
  • Deciding to go and hike the Appalachian Trail!
  • How she Alex decides what to do next
  • Comfort zone?
  • Knowing she can deal with the mental and physical challenge
  • Expectations for the Appalachian Trail
  • Starting the trail… ‘brutal start’
  • Trail family….
  • The biggest challenge on the Appalachian Trail
  • Dealing with time pressure
  • The mental side of the challenge
  • The memories and the moments which stand out
  • Seeing a Moose!
  • Finishing the trail on the 31st August (115 days!)
  • Getting back to England!
  • The cure for the post adventure blues
  • Being so tired for 3 months after the trail
  • Feeling so much better and getting ready for the next challenge!
  • Wanting to row an ocean!
  • Searching for the cause of Parkinson's
  • 2 oceans in 1 year! 
  • Being taken out of her comfort zone….
  • The make up of the rowing crews
  • Needing a year to get to the start line of the Atlantic challenge
  • The money!
  • £85k for both oceans….
  • Start date - January 4th 2020
  • Going for a World Record! 
  • Quick Fire Questions

 

Social Media

www.masonalexandra.com

Instagram @masonalexandra 

Facebook - @alexmasonadventurer 

Twitter @masonalexandra

Jun 25, 2019

For the past two years Lucy and her dog Wombat have been walking in South America. Starting in Ushuaia (the southern most point) . They started on the 19th February 2017, and have walked the entire length of Chile through Tierra del Fuago, Patagonia, the coastal wine region, and most recently the Atacama Desert. Since then, they have continue forward with the plan to pass through the Andean Mountains of Peru, and heading towards Panama. 

By the end Lucy will have travelled through 15 countries and she expects the journey to take around 5 years…. Lucy travels only by foot, or when the terrain is impassable she will kayak or swim.  Lucy is self supported, sleeps in a tent, and is responsible for navigation and logistics, all without an on-road support team. We catch up with Lucy - 2 years into her challenge!

*Just FYI - there are a few roosters making an appearance during this podcast!

Show notes

  • Going to university and doing what was expected of her
  • Being inspired to live a different life at 33
  • What we need to know about Lucy
  • Dealing with a neurological condition - Prosopagnosia (face blindness) and being diagnosed at university
  • How she coped with the condition 
  • Roosters/chickens…..
  • Staying in a hostel in Peru 
  • How did she turn the dream into a reality
  • Getting to the start line
  • Dealing with a water crossing close to the start
  • Figuring out the logistics
  • Why you have to pick the people you tell what you want to do….
  • Her biggest concern before she started the walk
  • Learning Spanish
  • Let’s talk about the Money and being frugal
  • Dealing with financial stress, as the expedition goes on 
  • Starting in 2017 - taking us back to the start
  • How she handles her personal safety
  • Her dog - Wombat! - Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog)  
  • Learning to not be polite
  • How’s she handling everything mentally
  • Walking through the night in the desert
  • How her body is coping after 2 years on the road
  • Enjoy the food!
  • Staying on trail
  • Visa’s!
  • Having to change her route in Peru
  • Quick fire questions…

Social Media

Website - https://tanglesandtail.com 

Instagram - @tanglesandtail  

Twitter - @tanglesandtail  

Jun 18, 2019

Liz Thomas is among the most experienced female hikers in the US and is known for backpacking light, fast, and solo. 

In 2011, she broke the women’s unsupported speed record on the 2,181-mile long Appalachian Trail, besting the previous record by almost a week. She has completed the Triple Crown of Hiking–the Appalachian Trail, the 2,650 mile Pacific Crest Trail, and the 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail–and has backpacked over 20,000 miles across the United States on 20 long distance hikes, including the pioneering traverse of the Chinook Trail across the Columbia River Gorge and the pioneering traverse of the Wasatch Range, which she did solo. 

Liz is affectionately known as the “Queen of Urban Hiking,” having pioneered and completed routes in 5 cities across the U.S.

Show notes

  • How Liz would explain what she does
  • Being passionate about getting people outdoors
  • Growing up and being inspired by her teacher
  • Starting to go on bigger and bigger hikes!
  • The first thru-hike!
  • Hiking the Appalachian Trail
  • Back packing in the rail!!
  • What changed after she walked the Appalachian Trail
  • Reaching Mt. Katahdin 
  • Getting diagnosed with Lyme Disease
  • Going  through the adventure blues and how she coped with it
  • Hiking the PCT and the Continental Divide Trail (10 years ago!).
  • The biggest learning from the trail and dealing with the challenging weather conditions
  • Advice for other women to get out hiking
  • Trail names!! 
  • Why she got the name Snorkel!
  • Let’s talk about gear!
  • Treelike Review
  • The question she gets asked the most!!
  • Where do you get the time and money!
  • How she affords to thru hike
  • Making the commitment to thru hike
  • What is life like on the trail
  • Physical training before starting a hike
  • The struggle on hikes!
  • Sharing on social media
  • Book — “Long trails - Mastering The Art of The Thru Hike”
  • The idea for urban hiking!
  • The challenges of urban hiking….
  • How are her feet!
  • How urban hiking works…from the route planning and accommodation
  • The next hike in New York City and why it’s intimidating!
  • Quick Fire Questions!!!
  • Final words of advice 

Social Media

Website - www.eathomas.com 

Twitter - @EAThomas  

Facebook - @LizThomasHiking 

Jun 11, 2019

Tracy knows how to overcome adversity. At age 17 she was diagnosed with a disease that every medical expert said would kill her within 20 years. Tracy was diagnosed with childhood diabetes, which is now known as Type 1 diabetes. She uses the knowledge gained from living with Type 1 diabetes for almost 40 years to help encourage others to prevent, reverse, or control their own diabetes, Tracey wrote her first best selling book - "Diabetes Tragedy to Triumph".

Tracy recently rode her bicycle 3,527 miles from San Francisco to New York City to spread awareness about diabetes while providing hope for others who are suffering. She has also written about this challenge, “Ride for Hope: One Woman's Solo 3,527 Mile Bicycle Ride that Inspired the Nation”.

*Please note this is not medical advice, neither myself nor Tracey are medical doctors!!  

Show notes

  • The worst day of her life
  • Being diagnosed at 17 years old
  • Learning all about Type 1 Diabetes 
  • “You can be bitter or you can be better”
  • Doing something crazy every decade
  • Where did the positivity come from?
  • Mind - Mouth - Move
  • Having the right mindset
  • Positive quotes
  • Diabetes and what it is, the difference between Type 1 and Type 2
  • Proving the doctors wrong!
  • Audacious goals and doing things that frighten her
  • Being afraid of water and signing up for a triathlon!
  • “I probably can’t do it,but I’ll at least try it”
  • Why it all starts with the mind and having the right mindset
  • Deciding to go for a big bike ride!
  • Why she has changed her thinking
  • Dealing with fear
  • Planning her big solo cycle ride from San Fransisco to New York City.
  • Dealing with people who tell her - You Can’t Do That!!!
  • Training for 40 years for this moment.
  • Getting physically fit for the cycle ride
  • Her self care contract with her daughter.
  • Having bike issues 10 mins into the start of the cycle ride!!
  • Being lost and lonely in Nevada
  • Having to deal with the “killer hill”
  • Inspiring the younger generation
  • Doing a lot of self reflection while on the bike ride
  • Her new mantra - “Don’t lose hope”
  • Dealing with loneliness 
  • Being on the road for 90 days.
  • Riding into New York City!
  • Dealing with the emotions of finishing the ride
  • Dealing with the adventure blues
  • Writing books!
  • Quick Fire Questions!
  • Final words of advice

Social Media

Website - www.tracyherbert.com 

Twitter - @TracyHerbert  

Instagram - @tracyherbertdiabetesride  

Bestselling Author of two books:

◦Diabetes Tragedy to Triumph: Lessons From 40 Years of Beating the Odds

◦Ride for Hope: One Woman's Solo 3,527 Mile Bicycle Ride that Inspired the Nation

 

Jun 6, 2019

We first spoke with Stephanie back in 2016, where she shared more about her early years growing up, how she got into sports and running, she also discusses what it’s been like living and working in active conflict zones, including working in Afghanistan with the UN. Stephanie also shares more about her charity Free to Run, which supports women and girls in areas of conflict through running and outdoor adventure.

On 1 January 2017 Stephanie was in a life-threatening accident in the mountains, which is where we pick up with Stephanie for this podcast. Stephanie takes us back to the beginning of 2017 and shares more about what happened, the impact on her physically and mentally, as well as sharing more about her recovery and attitude to getting back to running and competing in ultra races. 

Since March 2018, Stephanie has been based back in Afghanistan (which is where she was for this interview) working for the UN. Stephanie shares more about her life and how she trains for ultra marathons while living in an armed compound. We also do a quick fire question round at the end, which reveals some surprising answers!

Show notes

  • Moving back to Kabul, Afghanistan
  • Living the life she had always wanted 
  • Leaving paradise behind
  • Going back to the start of 2017
  • Starting the year off in the Mountains
  • Being in an accident
  • Going through the options of what she could do
  • Waiting for 30 mins for the helicopter to come
  • Breaking 6 ribs, punctured lung and grade 3 liver laceration, hypothermia, an internal bleeding
  • Recovering mental from the experience
  • Getting over the feeling of being alone
  • Being in intensive care
  • Why she needed to get back to running as soon as she could
  • Listening to your body
  • Not changing her race schedule for 2017 & how it ended up being the best year she’s ever had!
  • Racing Tor des Géants (338km with 31000m of ascent) in 2017 and 2018
  • “You’ve got to find the reason why you came here”
  • Knowing the difference between damaging pain and normal pain
  • Why you have to - reset your pain threshold - create the new normal 
  • Wanting to run in Western States 100!
  • Winning a contest with Strava
  • Crossing the finish line and aiming to do it under 24hrs!
  • Coke cola  & pickle juice…
  • Barkley Marathon… why she entered in…
  • Let’s talk about failure - what does it mean to Stephanie? 
  • Training in Afghanistan while living in an armed compound
  • Future races 2019
  • Quick fire questions
  • Free to Run 

Social Media

Say hi on twitter @runningcase 

Learn more about free to run & support on twitter @FreeToRunNGO

Jun 4, 2019

Hollie has ticked off NZ's iconic Coast to Coast (both the 1-Day race and 2-Day race). Hollie has run 260km through the Sahara Desert in Morocco doing the Marathon des Sables and completed 240km in the Amazon Jungle in Peru! Her latest challenge involved crossing the Greenland Ice Cap which involved walking 560km, over 29 days while pulling a 60kg sledge!

Hollie grew up in rural Mid-Canterbury, New Zealand and spent her childhood outside exploring the mountains and rivers. An Outward Bound experience at the age of 27 led her to set 4 goals; the main one was to complete one BIG challenge each year that would take her outside of her comfort zone. 

Listen to the podcast to learn more about Hollie, the adventurers and challenges she’s been on and what she’s learnt along the way. Hollie shares the high points the low points, the lessons and provides advice and top tips to help you to achieve your dreams.

Show notes

  • Growing up on a farm in New Zealand
  • Doing outward bound at 27 
  • Writing a letter to herself with 4 goals…
  • What outward bound is and what’s involved
  • How it changed her life 
  • Loving sport at school
  • What the 4 goals were
  • What is the iconic NZ Coast to Coast Race (multi-sport race)
  • The difference between the 1 day race and the 2 day race
  • Why it’s an incredible race
  • The biggest challenge from the coast to coast race
  • What she learned from the experience
  • Why kayaking was so challenging
  • Why she thinks the 1 day event is easier!
  • What she has learned from doing these experiences
  • Marathon des Sables 2015 and having no idea what they were in for!!
  • The top two inches and the bottom two inches
  • How Hollie mentally prepares for races
  • Greenland - where the idea came from
  • Getting down to the final 6!
  • Family and friends reactions….
  • Skiing?!
  • Taking us to the start line of the challenge
  • Dealing with the cold, sorting out food and getting to grips with the final bits of preparation
  • Too big of a challenge?
  • The first day and being in shock
  • Trying to figure out how to cope
  • Stats about the challenge
  • What she’s doing when walking
  • Getting into a state of flow
  • The last week of the challenge, and the issues from extreme weather to running out of food!
  • Team dynamics
  • Strengths and weaknesses
  • Spending 29 days on the ice!
  • Not having anything to prove anymore
  • Dealing with the adventure blues
  • Quick fire questions!
  • Say Yes to Adventure

 

Social Media

The Adventurous Kiwi

Read about her  adventures: www.holliewoodhouse.com

Follow Hollie on Facebook & Instagram

 

May 30, 2019

Melissa was first on the Tough Girl Podcast back in 2017 where she shares more about her life, how she got into fitness and doing ultra challenges, such as EPIC 5 (the what, the how, the learnings & the challenges faced and overcome).

This audio was taken from a Facebook Live I did with Mel in Melbourne from February 2019. This episode is broken down into 2 parts, with the first part focusing on ultra man and the second half focusing on her training for ultraman, we talk a lot about food, nutrition, and the mental and physical aspects of training. 

Melissa also provided lots of top tips and advice for you to help you train for your next challenge. 

Show notes

PART 1 ULTRA-MAN - Hawaii

  • Melissa living in Melbourne, working as a mental health nurse, 34 years old
  • How she started doing endurance racing
  • Deciding to focus more on herself and making sure she was looking after herself 
  • Being inspired by her friend who did a triathlon 
  • How she fell in love with the sport
  • How she progressed in her running and cycling
  • Dealing with stress
  • Finding the right distance for you and why it matters
  • EPIC 5 - 5 Ironman in 5 days on 5 different islands (This was covered in the first Podcast episode)
  • Ultra-man Hawaii (Nov 2018)- what’s involved
  • No comparison allowed!!!!
  • The challenges on Day 1
  • Dealing with changes which happen on race day
  • Not worrying about things which are outside of her control
  • Working with a coach and having complete faith in them
  • Working on her running strength and getting back into the gym
  • Pace and feel training while running
  • Keeping going when she’s not in the mood
  • Keeping moving no matter what!
  • Not making day 2 bike cut-off 
  • Nutrition and still trying to figure it out
  • Cycling and vomiting for 4 hours….
  • Part of the fun is figuring out your body and what works for you
  • Dealing with not achieving the goal and how she deals with it personally (and why she doesn’t care about what other people think)

PART 2 - UBERMAN

  • What is Uberman (33km swim - 633km bike - 240km run)
  • Where do you start with a challenge like this
  • Why it is not ridiculous in her mind
  • Reframing the challenge
  • Training for a challenge like this….
  • Having 8 months to train
  • Dealing with a week’s training at a time
  • Focusing on what you need to do now
  • Working full time and fitting in training
  • Waking up at 4.35am….
  • Going at bed at 8.30pm 
  • Trying to spend time with her husband
  • Having company while training
  • Night time routine and being a good napper
  • Being a vegan - How do you get your protein?
  • Chocolate and ice-cream…..
  • What she eats during the day and why
  • Go to naught snack (but no food is naught FYI!)
  • Vegan gels….
  • Do you like vegemite???!!
  • Focusing on real food while riding on the bike
  • Refuelling while swimming  - what she has and how feet zones work
  • Mental Preparation - how to get your head in the hame and why reflection is very important
  • Never taking her mental strength for granted
  • Visualisation…. and picturing the finish line
  • Vision boards….
  • Biggest challenge/what she’s most concerned about 
  • Managing sleep during Uberman and why she won’t know how it’s going to be until she’s in it
  • Why it’s ok not to know
  • 3 guys have done it in 6/7 days
  • No other women have completed it
  • 10th October start date
  • Can we track her during the race?
  • Follow along with Melissa  - she has a blog and does regular race reports.
  • Mel’s top tips and advice for you!!!

 

Learn more about Melissa

Follow her blog - https://rangamel.wordpress.com

 "Slightly mental triathlete who is allergic to the sun"

Follow on Twitter @rangamel

Follow me on twitter @_TOUGH_GIRL

May 28, 2019

Sydney resident Sarah Davis became the first woman to lead an expedition down the Nile River, one of the world’s longest and most dangerous rivers. 

Sarah’s expedition involved over 1,000km of rafting and 3,000km of kayaking through Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan and Egypt. 

Along the way, Davis, faced immense personal dangers, including a hippo attack, being arrested and detained by military police in Burundi and unexpected, life threatening river rapids in Tanzania. 

During the podcast Sarah shares more about the biggest challenge of the adventure which was getting to the start line, this involved almost 2 years of preparation while working a full time job and doing other small challenges. 

Sarah goes into detail about planning and preparation, and how she broke down the different areas of risk, she shares more about overcoming  her own personal fears and self-doubt to achieve this incredible human powered adventure!

Show notes

  • Growing up in the UK and being big into sport
  • Moving out to Melbourne, Australia 
  • How the idea came about
  • Why she decided to do this challenge
  • Taking 4 years out as a Personal Training
  • Figuring out what hasn’t been down before
  • The Desire Map (Book)
  • Expectations for the challenge
  • What is involved - the countries, the distance
  • The start of the Nile?
  • The blue Nile
  • The white Nile
  • The planning, the preparation and the logistics
  • Taking 2 years to plan - the how!
  • The money - how she paid for the challenge
  • Setting up a ‘gift registry’ instead of a marriage registry
  • The biggest challenge of the planning
  • The security and the safety aspects
  • Risk management
  • Getting insurance?
  • Dealing with stress
  • Quitting her job!
  • Mental preparation
  • 10 seconds of courage - Ted Talk Nadine Champion 
  • Training….
  • Confidence
  • Getting to the start line - leaving Sydney 26th September 2018
  • Getting out on the river for the first time
  • What where the days like
  • Hippo’s are not cuddly and friendly!!!!
  • The people she met along the way
  • Dealing with injury and mentally being ready to finish 
  • Problem solving and dealing with organisation daily
  • Missing out South Sudan
  • Winning Women
  • Wanting to write a book….
  • Homeless and jobless.
  • What’s going to be next
  • Final words of advice
  • New website coming soon!!

 

Social media

Website - https://www.paddlethenile.com 

Instagram @paddlethenile 

Twitter @PaddletheNile 

Facebook  @PaddletheNile  

 

May 23, 2019

Anna, is a British born adventurer, motivational speaker, influencer and author.

She was recently named by Condé Nast Traveller as one of the 50 most influential travellers of our time, and by the the Guardian as one of the top modern female adventurers.

She is also proud to be the UK Ambassador for Girl Guiding, and the co-founder of Adventure Queens.

During this podcast we learn more about the Kathmandu Coast to Coast challenge in New Zealand, how it came about, the challenge she had to face and what she learnt form the experience. Anna shares more about her life as an adventurer, her ‘survival’ work and her ‘soul’ work. She also shares more about her next challenge and why she has decided to take this on!

We have spoken to Anna in 2016 (running the length of New Zealand) and 2018 (cycling the Andes) you can catch up and listen to these episodes on the tough girl podcast!

Show notes

  • Where is Anna and what is she up to?
  • Why the past year has been ridiculous! 
  • Having Jamie running for 1 year in America!
  • Spending time in New Zealand 
  • Teaming up with Katmandu to do the Adventure Race  - Coast to Coast in New Zealand (243 km race across the South Island - Cycling, running & Kayaking)
  • Doing Kayaking for the first time!
  • How she met Holly Woodhouse 
  • The biggest challenges on the race…
  • Making a BIG mistake on Day 1!!!
  • The pain cave…
  • Tips and tricks for mental resilience and why you have to take it one step at a time
  • The biggest learning from doing the coast to coast
  • Why Day 2 was so amazing!
  • The logistics and the importance of the support crew
  • The next book!!
  • The life of an adventurer - the realities and the money
  • The soul work and the survival work
  • Being inspired by Seth Godin
  • Barefoot Britain - 100 Barefoot Marathons!
  • The spark of inspiration for this idea
  • What it’s like running barefoot!
  • June 2nd in the Shetland Islands
  • 5 month wiggles through the country
  • What to do if you want Anna to come and speak at your girl guides club (about 3 a week)
  • The logistics of the route
  • Anna’s Angels
  • Dealing with the pressure (which is self inflicted)
  • Filming a documentary about the run at the same time
  • Quick fire Questions….

Connect with Anna - Support & follow!

Website - www.annamcnuff.com 

Twitter - @AnnaMcNuff

Instagram - @Annamcnuff

Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/AMcNuff/ 

Get involved with Barefoot Britain  - https://www.annamcnuff.com/barefootbritain/ 

 

May 21, 2019

After being diagnosed with epilepsy in 2015, Fran set out to walk the Camino de Santiago two years later, solo. Since then, she has worked more adventure into her life. 

In 2017, Fran founded Seize Your Adventure  to advocate for epilepsy awareness in the adventure community, and for the benefits of adventure for those with epilepsy and to demystify the condition and encourage others to try new things and challenge themselves. 

May 20th is the start of National Epilepsy Awareness week, and it is also the start of Fran’s next challenge: the '30 at 30 Challenge'  In her 30th year Fran plan to do 30 new adventures.

Some of these will be small, micro adventures (such as foraging for dinner or SUP in London) whilst others are quite daunting - one of the biggest being the Race to the Stones in July.

For each of the 30, Fran is hoping to work closely with the activity providers to spread epilepsy awareness. Fran also wants to invite 87 people to join in the adventures (because every day, 87 people in the UK are diagnosed with epilepsy.)

*Please note we are not medical doctors and Fran is sharing just her own personal story - this is not medical advice in any shape or form!!

Show Notes

  • Looking to do 30 challenges over her 30th year
  • Epilepsy and what it is
  • Being diagnosed in 2015
  • Having her first seizure
  • Being 22 years old and dealing with the not knowing 
  • Getting into hiking and adventure
  • The Camino de Santiago and deciding to do the walk
  • Managing adventure and epilepsy
  • What’s the right way to describe epilepsy
  • Telling people about her epilepsy 
  • Handling the added complexity of doing a challenge with epilepsy 
  • What was happening before she started the walk
  • Struggling with the language 
  • Why the hike was so much more than she could imagine
  • What was the biggest challenge while out on the Camino
  • Dealing with post trip blues
  • Coming back to not having a job
  • Talking about the money
  • Saving up money to pay for rent while she was away
  • What she did after she got back
  • Starting - Seize Your Adventure
  • Hearing from other people who also have epilepsy 
  • Deciding to start a podcast!
  • What you can expect from the podcast
  • 30 challenges before turning 30th
  • Training for the race to stones (100km race over 2 days)
  • Looking for size 5 trainers 
  • Working through a training plan
  • Mental preparation for the race….
  • Dealing with brain fog
  • Deciding to invite 87 people to come and join her on her challenges throughout 2019
  • The Dos and Don’t when someone is having a seizure 
  • Be kind
  • Final advice and tips 

 

Social media

Website - https://www.francescaturauskis.co.uk 

twitter @franict  

Instagram personal -  @frantictwalks 

Instagram podcast - @SYAdventurers 

May 14, 2019

In need of a break from her career as a dentist and needing to go on an adventure, Memnia signed up to take part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Memnia only had limited sailing knowledge prior to the race and had never been out at sea for more than a few hours. For that reason she had originally only signed up for the first leg of the race, crossing the Atlantic, travelling from London to Rio de Janeiro (28 day at sea). 

During the crossing, she fell in love with the sport and the sea, so she carried on signing up for more legs. She continued sailing through some of the most treacherous weather systems and isolated areas of the planet, facing not only the extremes of weather, from boiling to freezing temperatures, but also life threatening situations. She sailed to Cape Town, Albany, Sydney, Hobart, till she reached her final destination, Airlie Beach, Australia - 5 months later. She has covered more than 18,000 Nautical Miles in total, becoming the first and only Cypriot to have sailed from the UK to Australia on a racing sailing boat. 

Today, Memnia splits her time between England and Cyprus, combining dentistry with her love of adventurous activities, including sailing, scuba diving, trekking etc. She has been invited on various stages to share her story, including TEDxNicosia and has evolved as a motivational speaker and workshop trainer, inspiring others through her unique experience to go after their dreams and to reconsider their own lives. She has just completed an all-female expedition (Led by Felicity Aston) trekking on iced river in the remote Zanskar Valley, in Jammu and Kashmir.

Show notes

  • Memnia introduces herself
  • Growing up in Cyprus 
  • Deciding to sail around the world
  • The unfortunate events that happened in her life which led to making this decision
  • Having no regrets
  • Thinking about doing the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race when she was 31
  • Deciding to take the first step and send in her application
  • How she funded the race 
  • Forget about her house deposit!
  • What training was involved 
  • The next steps
  • Her mindset and mental preparation
  • The challenges of being on the boat
  • What the start line was like!
  • Crossing the English Channel
  • What life was like on the boat
  • Figuring out which position suited each person
  • How the break down of the shifts worked
  • How you occupy time while on the deck
  • The power of thinking time
  • The route and taking part in 4 legs
  • Only planning on going to Rio… but ending up in Australia
  • Finding out she was the first Cypriot to sail from the UK to Australia
  • Having her story go viral & getting a sponsor for the final leg
  • Reflecting back on the journey 
  • The memories that stand our for her - the positive and the not so positive
  • Spending 5 months on the water
  • What happened after the end of the race… what was next
  • Being exhausted at the end and needing time to rest and recover
  • Deciding to make some changes to her life
  • Deciding on what makes her happy
  • Doing  a TEDx talk!
  • What Memnia has learned about fear
  • Coming back from an all female expedition with Felicity Aston
  • What she learned about leadership from Felicity
  • How you can following along with Memnia on social media

Social Media

Website: www.memniatheodorou.com

Facebook:@MemniaTheodorou 

Instagram: @memniatheodorou 

Twitter: @MemniaTh

Memnia also has a newsletter where she share monthly inspiration and motivation to "have the courage to lead the life you've always wanted” Sign up —>> HERE!!

May 9, 2019

We first spoken with Katie in March 2018, where she shared more about her transition from a model to adventurer, she goes into detail about the challenges she faced and overcame while doing the longest crossing of the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap, and being the first woman to walk the entire length of the wall of China! 

Since then Katie has continued to fill her life with many more adventures. Despite her accolades, Katie would still not class her self as the 'typical adventurer type', as she admits she is frightened of everything and is inherently lazy by nature! Her default setting (that she has to constantly override) is to lay on the sofa with a cup of tea, dunking biscuits, watching the likes of Strictly and X Factor on the telly. Getting started is always the hardest bit.

During this podcast we discuss in more detail how the idea came about for completing the 1911 version of the Tour de France as well as the planning, logistics and go into detail about nutrition and having to consume 9,000 calories per day. Katie shares more about her gear, and why she loved being involved in the Silk Road Mountain Race.

Show notes

  • Learn more about Katie-Jane
  • Living in the French Alps
  • Examples of some of her challenges…. Walking the Great Wall of China,  cycled Africa, LEJOG, Fast packing the GR5 plus many many more!
  • Le Grand Boule - The Big Loop - how the idea came about and being inspired by a 1911 postcard of France
  • Making life harder for herself….
  • Deciding to do 5,500km  tour in 23 days….with no support
  • Where do you start with a challenge like this?
  • Mental preparation and overcoming the fears of what other people think of you
  • Not telling people about the challenge until stage 5
  • The first 5 stages?
  • Nailing her nutrition and how it changed the whole challenge
  • Eating 9,000 per day!!
  • Dealing with mouth ulcers
  • Sleep deprivation!
  • Deciding to follow a 36 hour day - instead of a 24 hour day! (Easy on paper - hard in real life!)
  • Recovering from the ride and getting ready for the next challenge
  • The Silk Road Mountain Race - what it is and why she wanted to do it!
  • Why does she think she finished….
  • Dealing with the cold
  • The medical kit and why she took everything she took
  • Finishing the race in 14 days
  • The smallest tent in the world and how it held up - 500 grams 
  • The biggest highlight from doing the race
  • Plans for 2019 and making new decisions
  • Going after her Mountain Leader and International Mountain Leader Qualifications
  • Heading to Iceland in July for a solo adventure
  • What Katie has learnt from going on adventures
  • The power of sharing experiences

 

Social Media

Website: www.katiejaneendurance.com

Instagram: @katiejaneendurance 

Facebook: @katiesenduranceadventures   

 

May 7, 2019

Anna was a 30-something accountant who dreamed of cycling, hiking and paddling her way around the world, she decided to start with her own country, Australia. But weighing in at 130kgs (285lbs), she’s would say herself that she’s not exactly the poster child for human-powered travel.

During the podcast we talk to Anna about her 3 different challenges, a 1,100-kilometre (700-mile) solo, self-supported cycle tour of the south west of Western Australia, a 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) solo thru-hike of the Bibbulmun Track in Western Australia, and a 3,100-kilometre (1,000 -mile) solo, self-supported cycle tour through the Northern Territory.

After these practice run throughs, Anna end up in Melbourne, which is where she has been ever since. 

Due to a series of mistakes and bad decisions her life takes a turn and not in the direction she wants to go. Anna ends up being a 40 something single women, who is now living below the poverty line, with no family to rely on and no way out, she end up being homeless and going dumpster diving for food and survival. 

Anna shares more about how she views adventure and why she is still living her most adventurous life.

Show notes

  • Living 3 lifetimes in one
  • Planning to travel around the world
  • Life and living in Perth, Australia
  • Hating being sat behind a desk
  • Trying to figure out what she wanted to do
  • Loving to travel….
  • Wanting to make a change to her life
  • Not knowing what planning is….
  • 3 separate trips - “AWOL” (Away With Out Leave)
  • Deciding to get a recumbent bike/trike
  • What family and friends though
  • What the first day was like
  • Almost stopping before she started
  • “It’s too hard, it’s too scary”
  • Meeting road angels
  • Grey Nomads
  • Getting on the road for the first time
  • Knowing she had made the right decision and was on the right track
  • Not believing she would ever make it to the end
  • Dealing with her biggest challenge - Hills
  • Daily routine while out cycling
  • 8 weeks on the road and doing her trip her whole way
  • The negative voices in her head
  • Her weight
  • How completing her first challenge impacted on her self confidence
  • Changing her next challenge to a hike
  • Starting to work with a personal trainer
  • The challenges of hiking
  • “I’m not doing that”
  • What kept her going when she wanted to quit
  • Positive or negative? How she changed her mindset.
  • Training or practice trips….
  • The 3rd AWOL - Getting the train up to Darwin and cycling from Darwin to Porthedland (3100Km / 2000 miles)
  • Dealing with remoteness and why the challenge wasn’t easier
  • Things just kind of workout…
  • Ending up homeless in Melbourne and dumpster diving for food
  • What adventure means now
  • Having an interesting life even though she isn’t travelling
  • Dealing with stress? 
  • Not being desperate to leave 
  • Advice for other women who may be in a challenging situation

Social Media

Website - http://www.fatchickgoesawol.com

Facebook @fatchickgoesawol  

 

Apr 30, 2019

Born and raised in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sara is a passionate climber who spends her weekends and holidays exploring the mountains of her homeland mapping out new boulder fields and establishing first ascents. With the help of her husband, Sara has assisted in establishing almost 100 new boulder problems in the UAE and has outlined 200 more boulders ready for developing.  Sara is currently working with her husband on creating a UAE bouldering guidebook.

In an era when outdoor sports are diversifying and becoming more inclusive, Sara wants to provide inspiration for those, like herself, who have had little representation in the past, and to highlight to Arab women that they need to play an active role in how their country's outdoor sports scene develops. 

When she is not practicing law or exploring the mountains, Sara spends her time empowering young Arab women to pursue a career in law, and has recently been invited to speak on TEDx about this topic further.     

Show notes

  • Who is Sara
  • How the past 2 years have changed her life
  • What life was like growing up in Dubai
  • The emphasis on fitness specifically horse riding
  • What happens when you get older
  • Why outdoor sport aren’t encouraged
  • Why it all changed for her 4 years ago
  • Studying Law in the UK
  • The bad weather in the UK!
  • Loving the discovery of climbs
  • Wanting to create a bouldering guide book for the UAE
  • Why she decided to join the climbing club
  • What she found most challenging at the start
  • Dealing with her fear of flights
  • After graduating and moving back to Dubai and trying to pursue climbing again
  • The challenges of climbing 
  • Being a role model for other women
  • Why aren’t there more Arab women climbing ?
  • How do women get into the climbing scene in Dubai
  • The mountain project 
  • The best spots to climb in the UAE
  • Overcoming the impossible
  • Her role models in climbing
  • What’s next for Sara
  • Night climbing in Dubai
  • Building her website at the moment
  • Final words of advice 
  • Encourage other women especially in the climbing space
Apr 25, 2019

In 2018, Laura rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic ocean, unsupported, in a team of four other women. The challenge took 43 days to complete and when the crossed the finish line in Antigua they were the fastest female team in 2018.

“A shopaholic, beauty salon owner - turned minimalist in training endurance athlete" 

Laura was part of the tough girl - 7 women - 7 challenges in 2017 and we followed her row around Great Britain, a rowing journey of 1,800 miles in a mixed team of four, which took 56 days to complete. We interviewed Laura 6 times throughout 2017 and Laura shared the whole journey with us, from having the idea, to turning this dream into a reality, the ups and the downs, the challenges faced and what she learnt along the way, she demonstrated resilience, determination, focus and a strong belief in herself and showed everyone what goes into making your dreams a reality.

During this podcast episode, Laura shares more about what it was like to fulfil her ambition of rowing across the Atlantic ocean, she shares more about the training, the team, fundraising and the realities of being out on the water in such an extreme and challenging environment.

Show notes

  • How Laura changed her life at 30
  • Trying to buy happiness and not finding it 
  • Getting rid of stuff and filling her life with experiences
  • Becoming a runner and doing ultra marathons
  • Where the idea for rowing across the Atlantic came from
  • Where is the Atlantic again?!
  • Seeing the opportunity to row around GB
  • Putting a video out on the internet asking to join a rowing team to row the Atlantic
  • How 30 mins and making one decision changed her future 
  • Why she kept on going after this dream and how being stubborn helped her
  • Fundraising £100K to row the Atlantic
  • Joining a new team and team dynamics
  • Going to work for Rannock Adventures and becoming part of the Ocean Rowing community 
  • 8 months of planning and preparation
  • Having dedicated jobs
  • How she balanced everything and why she just had to get on with it
  • Getting up at 5am!
  • Rowing on Sunday’s for 2 hours on a rowing machine 
  • Putting her rowing machine in interesting places
  • Rowing in the challenging situations
  • Getting out to the start line 2 weeks before the start
  • Trying to balance the extreme emotions she was feeling 
  • Being able to relax when she was rowing on the boat
  • The biggest challenges over the 6 weeks
  • The challenges of team dynamics
  • Goals for the crossing the Atlantic - safety and winning and how that helped with decision making
  • Dealing with headwind….
  • The mental side of rowing 
  • “Just get on with it”
  • The breathtaking and astounding moments!
  • Why the scary moments were also the highlights as well!
  • Why rowing the ocean wasn’t what she expected
  • Day 37 when her mind gave up and she didn’t want to do it anymore
  • Crossing the finish line and reaching Antigua
  • Transitioning back to “normal life” after the adventure
  • Plans for 2019 and looking for some little adventures in the UK

Social media

Website - www.ltfactor.com

Instagram - @lauratryuk  

Facebook - @lauratryuk  

 

 

Apr 23, 2019

Caroline Van Hemert, PhD, is a biologist, writer, and adventurer whose journeys have taken her from the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean to the swamps of the Okavango Delta 

In March of 2012 she and her husband (Pat) set off on a 4,000-mile wilderness journey from the Pacific rainforest to the Alaskan Arctic, traveling by rowboat, ski, foot, raft, and canoe.  Together, they survived harrowing dangers while also experiencing incredible moments of joy and grace -- migrating birds silhouetted against the moon, the steamy breath of caribou, and the bond that comes from sharing such experiences.

During this podcast, Caroline shares more about her love of nature and birds. Plus,why she decided to embark on this adventure, she talks through the planning, logistics, finances, the challenges faced and what she learned from this experience. Caroline has also published her first book about this challenge - The Sun is a Compass. 

Show notes

  • Caroline introduces herself
  • Growing up in Alaska
  • Studying for her PHD - birds and bird beaks!
  • How she met her now husband, Pat
  • Getting married in 2008 at a cabin they build in South East Alaska
  • Where the idea came from for this challenge
  • Coping with a variety of different challenges from her PHD to family illness
  • Working as part of a team with her husband and being focused on the logistics
  • Getting the maps out and starting to plan!!
  • Telling friends and family about the challenge….
  • Why she starts telling people - accountability
  • The power of lists
  • Coping with the unknowns during planning
  • Hard core stats 
  • Having 1 year to plan and prepare
  • Money?
  • Hotels..in the Arctic!
  • Starting at the beginning
  • Bellingham - the start line and being overwhelmed
  • When reality set in 
  • Getting back to nature
  • An overview of the trip and the different segments
  • Dealing with the physical transitions 
  • The biggest challenge and why it was a mental challenge
  • The impact of adventure on relationships while out in stressful environments 
  • The one moment which made it all worthwhile
  • Getting back to “normal” life
  • Her transition into motherhood 
  • Advice and tips for other women  - “Don’t be afraid to DREAM BIG”
  • Her NEW book - The Sun is a Compass
  • 10 years studying a scientific mystery…

Social Media

Website  www.carolinevanhemert.com 

Instagram @sunisacompass 

Facebook  @carolinevanhemertauthor  

Apr 18, 2019

During this podcast we catch up with Leanne Spencer who we first spoke with in June 2018.

Since we last spoke Leanne and her partner Antonia have gone on to complete the world toughest ski race - the arctic circle race in Greenland. We learn more about the reasons behind the challenge, how they trained and prepared, what it was like when they were over there, the challenges they faced, from going to the toilet to dealing with the stress and anxiety from the race. They share top tips and advice which you will be able to apply to your own personal challenge. 

Leanne are Antonia are super down to earth, very friendly and have a wealth of experience to share! Enjoy!  But be warned listening to this episode will encourage you to go after your own personal challenge! 

Leanne Spencer

Leanne is an award-winning entrepreneur, Six Signals® Coach, double-bestselling author and TEDx Speaker. Along with Antonia, she is the co-founder of Bodyshot. Leanne regularly speaks to audiences all over the UK on topics around fitness, health, wellbeing, burnout and corporate resilience. Leanne is an advocate for gender equality.

Antonia Bannasch

Antonia is a health and fitness expert and Six Signals® Coach. Antonia loves health, fitness, skiing and challenging herself. Personal interests are in supporting charities that are searching for a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Show notes

  • How the seed got planted to do the Arctic Circle Race
  • Racing in the Rat Race Coast to Coast in Scotland
  • Wanting to get away from running and cycling
  • The power of google..
  • “Let’s challenge ourselves and learn how to cross country ski!”
  • Wanting to raise funds at the same time
  • 18 months to plan and prepare
  • Learning how to ski on roller skates!
  • Feeling of fear and starting to feel uncomfortable
  • Struggling to find the hours to train during the day
  • The challenges of fundraising while running a business
  • Costs involved from doing a challenge like this
  • Antonia on fitness and how she added to her fitness routine
  • Hacking movement into their day
  • Active transport
  • Raising funds for Alzheimer's Research UK
  • Top tips for raising funds
  • Being in a partnership - the pro’s and the cons’
  • Heading over to Greenland
  • Dealing with pre race nerves
  • Race strategy and wanting to finish the race
  • Dealing with the challenges of the changing weather and trying to regulate your body temperature
  • The structure of the race and how it works
  • How do you pee? 
  • Reflecting back and what was the biggest challenge that they had to overcome
  • The kindness of other people
  • Wanting to stop after day 1
  • How to cope with anxiety during an event
  • Providing emotional support for your partner during challenging times
  • Reflecting back on the challenge - the worlds toughest ski race
  • Top tips for the Arctic Circle Race
  • What was the best piece of kit?
  • Mantra’s or counting?
  • Best item of food?
  • Bodyshop Performance
  • Podcast  - Remove the Guesswork
  • Next challenge for 2021 - The Iceman Polar Challenge….

 

Social Media

website - https://www.bodyshotperformance.com

Instagram - @bodyshotperformance  

Twitter - @BodyshotPT 

Podcast - Remove The Guesswork 

The Remove the Guesswork podcast is for busy professionals who want to improve their health, fitness and wellbeing using the latest science and technology to cut through the noise and get better results, faster. In each 30 minute episode Leanne will talk with some of the leading names in the health and wellbeing industry about the latest innovations, interview people who have transformed their health to find out how they did it, and share her own personal story of chronic stress, burnout, career change and subsequent lifestyle transformation. Other popular topics include personalisation; optimizing human performance; work/life blend; the importance of recovery; finding consistency; thriving not surviving; becoming a health warrior; biohacking and intelligent training. 

 

Apr 16, 2019

Sara is an Adventurer at Heart. She is a woman who believes in truth, inspiration and hope in life. Sara believes that we all have the power within to become our best self and Live Life Boldly. 

During this podcast Sara shares more about the challenges she has faced, how she overcame them and why getting back to nature helped her. Sarah shares more about hiking and guiding in the Grand Canyon and how she recently supported Shawn Cheshire in her world record to become to become the fastest blind woman to hike Rim to Rim to Rim (42 miles in 24 hrs 15 mins)

Sara also shares why age is just a number and why she is joy junkie.

By listening to this episode you will be motivated and inspired to go after your own personal challenges

*Please be aware during this episode we do talk briefly about rape (we don’t go into specifics).

Show notes

  • Sara introduces herself 
  • Being born and raised in a small town, with 2 brothers
  • Being a teacher and getting married at a young age
  • Moving to California
  • Being cheated on by her husband for over 14 years
  • Spending time out in nature
  • To think or not to think
  • The time it took before she started to feel the benefits in her life
  • Being an intention setter
  • The two pivotal moments in her life which helped her to move forward
  • Staying present and why grounding is so important
  • Providing support for her boys
  • How past experiences helped her to cope
  • Find the people who will support you 
  • Coaching and becoming a Wilderness First Aid Responder at 42
  • Why age is just a number
  • Hiking and guiding in the Grand Canyon 
  • Helping bling Paralympic - Shawn Cheshire break the world record for going - rim to rim to rim in the grand canyon (42 miles in 24 hrs 15 mins) 
  • What she learnt from this experience
  • Starting her life over after her marriage was over
  • Red heels!
  • Not being defined by her situation and why it’s important you create your own life
  • Climbing Mt Whitney
  • Living life and living boldly - living by choice
  • Being a joy junkie
  • What’s going to be bringing her joy over the coming months
  • New book coming out soon!
  • Say hi to Sarah in Arizona at the Grand Canyon - not the big Canyon!
  • Final words of advice for you & why the time is now!
  • Wanting to go to Africa to build homes and schools

Social Media

Website - https://www.liveboldlycoaching.com 

Instagram - @saraschultingkranz  

Facebook @liveboldly 

 

Apr 9, 2019

Chrissie Wellington is the world's No 1 female Ironman triathlete, a four times World Champion. In 2009 she was voted 'Sunday Times Sportswoman of the Year' and in 2010 was awarded the MBE. She is the undefeated champion of Triathlon, having won thirteen Ironman titles from thirteen races. She set a new World Record of 8 hours19:13 at Quelle Roth Germany in 2010. 

Chrissie has displayed unprecedented levels of stamina, strength and competitiveness in becoming Ironman World Champion in only her second event at Ironman level. Her victory in Kona, Hawaii in 2007 finishing five minutes ahead of her nearest rival was described as the 'biggest upset in Ironman history' and 'a remarkable feat, deemed to be near impossible task for any athlete racing as a rookie at their first Ironman World Championships'. 

During this podcast we talk more about her early life, growing up, changing her career direction, going on a 2 year gap year, the reasons behind why she started running and how it evolved into triathlon. Chrissie also shares more about her life now as a mother, making the transition from a professional athlete and why she’s so passionate about getting people moving.

Chrissie is Global Head of Health and Wellbeing at Parkrun. 

* please note during this podcast we do talk about eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia - we do not go into specifics but rather talk about the how and the why

Show notes

  • How she would describe herself
  • being passionate about self mastery 
  • Growing up in Norfolk
  • Being focused on academic excellence
  • Being an active child and joining the local swimming club
  • Leaving university and not doing any sport
  • Graduated from University of Birmingham and wanting to take a break
  • Taking a 2 year gap year and travelling
  • Looking for validation and signing a law contract in London
  • Starting to question her decision to go into law
  • Working out what she was passionate about
  • Wanting to drive positive change
  • Telling friends and family that she was no longer going to be a lawyer 
  • How her running journey progressed
  • Having a desire to control her weight and relapsing into an eating disorder. 
  • Starting to fall in love with running and deciding to run the London marathon in 2002
  • The evolution into triathlon
  • Aiming to go faster in her 2nd marathon and beat her time of 3 hrs 8 mins
  • Getting hit by a car 2 weeks before her 2nd London Marathon
  • Being injured and deciding to take up swimming
  • Doing her first super sprint race in 2004 at Eton
  • The importance of role models and being encouraged to try new things
  • An accidental athlete?
  • Being shaped by so many different factors and different life experiences
  • Taking a sabbatical from her job and heading to Nepal 
  • Having a capacity to endure
  • Making the decision at 30 to become a professional athlete
  • Mental resilience and mental determination and why Nepal was so pivotal 
  • Cycling 1200km from Tibet to Katmandu, Nepal and going via Everest Base Camp
  • What happened at the Ironman World Championships in 2010
  • Why out of adversity there can be positive experiences
  • Making the hard decisions
  • Making the transition from professional athlete and moving on to the next stage of her life
  • Being a role model and inspiring others
  • Her daughter Esme
  • Why she is focused back on running
  • What park run is and what her role is
  • Publishing her autobiography in 2012 - “Life without Limits”
  • For training advice check out her second book - to the finish line
  • Find word of advice to motivate and inspire you 

Social Media 

Website - https://www.chrissiewellington.org 

Twitter- @chrissiesmiles 

Park Run http://www.parkrun.org.uk 

Apr 2, 2019

Alice took a year long sabbatical from work and since then has walked 1300km across the Te Araroa South Island in New Zealand, wild camped on the Great Wall of China and walked for 10 days along the Tokai Nature Trail in Japan. 

During this podcast Alice shares more about growing up, not being sporty but loving the outdoors, how a car accident helped to motivate her to make a change in her life, how she planned for her time off, as well as giving advice and tips for you on enjoying the simple life, hiking and dealing with challenges as they come up. 

Show notes

  • Who is Alice
  • Growing up in the Malvern Hills
  • Not being great at sports but loving the outdoors
  • Spending time in Cornwall
  • Navigating through Dartmoor…
  • Wanting to spend time in the mountains and found it harder as she got older
  • Not finding her thing while at university
  • Deciding to take a sabbatical work 
  • Being in a car accident in Norway 
  • How she came to the decision to take a sabbatical
  • Reflecting back on the car crash
  • Deciding on which hiking trail to do 
  • Why the Te Araroa trail stood out
  • Having 6 months to plan the trip and taking into account the seasonal nature of the challenge
  • Not doing much hiking before heading off to New Zealand
  • Not knowing how much of the trail they would do 
  • Having 60 days to complete the South Island hike 
  • Enjoying the simple life of the trail
  • Routes and daily life on the trail
  • Navigation
  • Guthook App
  • The biggest challenge while on the trail
  • Getting lost in the fog
  • Why they wanted to focus on the South Island
  • Heading off to Japan to hike a small section of the Toki Nature Trail
  • The languages challenges in Japan and why google translate was amazing!
  • Camping on the great wall of china…. with gunfire going off at night!
  • Being happy in her job and just needing to make a few changes
  • Having the time to reflect on their lives
  • Spending time outdoors
  • Going back to work after so much time off
  • Doing the Cape Wrath Trail in Scotland
  • Why you should do a sabbatical
  • Practical tips and advice 
  • Support from friends and family

Social Media

Instagram is: @Alicebond0

Mar 26, 2019

Adventurer

Her passion for adventure is evident with two world records under her belt so far, including being the first woman to skydive Everest and race semi-wild horses 1000 kms across Mongolia in just nine days. She has raised over £300k for charities through her adventures so far. 

Conservationist 

Few people know that 96 African elephants are poached each day for their ivory. At this rate they will be extinct in the next decade. Holly has turned this disheartening statistic into a powerful and award-winning campaign, entitled 'How Many Elephants', which presents a physical commentary on the devastating impact of the elephant ivory trade.

2008: WORLD RECORD: FIRST WOMAN TO SKYDIVE MOUNT EVEREST

2009: WORLD RECORD: RACED 1000KMS ACROSS MONGOLIA ON HORSEBACK

2017: SUMMITED MOUNT EVEREST (8848M)

Show notes

  • Turing 40
  • Combining her passions
  • What life was like in her early 20s
  • How 60 seconds of pure terror changed the direction of her life
  • The boldness of youth
  • Working as a sky diving camera women 
  • How her dream job changed
  • Deciding to go back to university at 24
  • Deciding a sky diving computer program and selling the company
  • Deciding to get more active in the world of adventure 
  • £24,000 needed….in 9 months!
  • Falling out of the plane!
  • Dealing with the media!
  • Getting back to the UK and not having a plan
  • Dealing with the adventure blues
  • Being invited to take part in another world first expedition
  • Having 9 months to train for a 1000km horseback ride across Mongolia
  • Why it was more about the experience rather than winning
  • Being scared in the mountains
  • Putting everything into perspective
  • What a typical day was like out in Mongolia
  • Picking the craziest horses!
  • Galloping with 400 wild horses!
  • What she learned from spending time in Mongolia
  • Doing a first ascent of a mountain in Western Mongolia
  • Accidents in remote places
  • Having too much reliance on luck
  • Qualifications and experience 
  • Setting up the charity - How Many Elephants
  • Going back to university to study for a Masters in Sustainable Design 
  • 96 elephants poached every single day in Africa
  • Being on the front line and working with the Black Mambas
  • How she fits it all in 
  • Being able to travel with work
  • Building up a team of ambassadors
  • Plans for 2019
  • Moving to New Zealand
  • What a typical day is like
  • Final words of advice - “Think Big - Dream Bigger"

Social Media

Holly

Website - http://www.hollybudge.com 

Instagram @hollybudge 

Facebook @hollybudgeadventure  

How Many Elephants Campaign

Website - https://www.howmanyelephants.co 

Instagram - @howmanyelephants 

Mar 19, 2019

Kate grew up largely in Scotland, bar a few years in Penzance, and now lives in Cumbria with her partner, Chris. She is a keen sea kayaker – preferably around remote, wildlife-rich islands – hill walker and bookworm, as well as a cyclist. 

A former university lecturer, first in environmental philosophy and then outdoor education, Kate now works freelance. Her overall aim is to help deliver a massive wake up call: raising awareness and inspiring effective, intelligent action on some of our most urgent environmental challenges. 

Kate has written widely on environmental issues. Her book, The Carbon Cycle, Crossing the Great Divide s based on a bike ride from Texas to Alaska exploring climate change. She is currently writing her next book on her last adventure, cycling South America on a bamboo bike!

Show notes

  • Who is Kate
  • Growing up being outdoorsy but not being sporty
  • Taking a gap year after school and falling in love with bikes
  • Her first big cycle challenge (1986)
  • Being inspired by - The Crane Cousins - Bicycling up Kilimanjaro 
  • Quitting smoking 
  • Being a post grad at Glasgow University in Environmental Ethics 
  • The Bamboo bike - “Woody” - how it came about & building the bike!
  • Getting passionate about climate change 
  • 2006 - Cycling from Texas to Alaska - to raise awareness for Climate Change - 
  • Writing the Carbon Cycle Book (2006)
  • What Adventure Plus is  
  • Highlights from the trip & the challenges faced while being on her own in Alaska
  • What’s changed in relation to climate change 
  • The Andes Cycle Ride in relation to bio-diversity 
  • Doing challenges solo
  • Doing research, blog, social media, arrange visits 
  • Deciding to cycle South America - how it came about 
  • Having to quit her job to go on the adventure
  • The money - how much does it cost to do adventures
  • No children and having a very supportive partner 
  • Spending approx. - £10,000 over the year 
  • Travelling on a cargo ship  - (The Cruise People)  
  • Wanting to take unpaid leave (and expecting to get it)
  • Not feeling prepared for the ride
  • Trying to learn Spanish.. 
  • Ageing and the judgement of others
  • Taking us back to the start… Columbia
  • Having a challenging beginning and why it was so chaotic at the start!
  • Accommodation and camping…
  • The biggest challenge while on the bike
  • The beauty of the landscapes
  • Safety while in South America
  • Reaching the end of the trip and running out of time!
  • Being even more passionate about the environment
  • Writing her next book - The Life Cycle 
  • Life of a freelancer
  • Future cycle plans and why she’s loving the UK
  • Final advice and top tips for you and why you don’t have to be an expert
  • Find out more about Kate

Social Media

Website  - http://www.outdoorphilosophy.co.uk 

Twitter - @CarbonCycleKate 

Mar 14, 2019

In April 2018, Anna Blackwell and Kate Culverwell set out on a world first tandem kayak expedition from England to the Black Sea. This journey saw them paddle over 4000km along canals and rivers through 11 countries, including navigating almost the entire length of the Danube River, Europe’s second longest river.

The expedition was raising money for Pancreatic Cancer Action in memory of Kate's father, David Culverwell. While paddling, Kate and Anna also collected data to contribute to the research of FreshWater Watch, an Earthwatch research project investigating the health of global freshwater ecosystems.

Show notes

  • Being a full time adventurer
  • Dedicating her life to adventure
  • Learning more about Anna
  • Deciding on the next challenge
  • Explorers Connect - Belinda Kirk
  • How she ended up partnering up with Kate Culverwell
  • Hitting it off straight away
  • Funding the expedition
  • 6 months to finish the route, sort out the kit, training and financing the challenge
  • Budgeting and costs for the trip
  • £15,000 of financial sponsorship
  • Focusing on local companies
  • How people became personally invested in what they were doing
  • Training for the event and getting comfortable paddling for hours
  • The relief of getting to the start line
  • Starting from Westminster Bridge from London
  • Crossing the English Channel
  • Wearing adult nappies!
  • Getting use to the new reality of life 
  • Dealing with over 250 locks…
  • Wild camping by the canals
  • Having to make drastic changes in order to make it to the finish line
  • Reaching Serbia and getting ill
  • Being frustrated and demoralised on the water by lack of progress
  • Making changes to the plan and having to commit to an end date
  • Feeling like failures  
  • What Anna learnt from the experience
  • Friendship and teamwork
  • Post expedition blues
  • Raising funds for charity

 

Social media

Website/Blog - www.kayakingthecontinent.com 

Instagram @kayakingthecontinent  

Kate - @kateculverwell 

 

Mar 12, 2019

Di is a global leader and award-winning woman of influence who has inspired more than 30,000 people off the couch through shared hiking adventures, while raising over $30 million for charity and helping women lead adventurous lives they love. She does work she loves with people she loves the way she loves and she’s keen to help families, friends and workers do the same. She is passionate about motivating women to lead adventurous lives they love, creating pleasure, power and productivity from hiking adventures.

She has climbed many extreme altitude peaks and holds the record for the world’s highest handstand on Mt Ama Dablam, 6,982m, Nepal.

Show notes

  • Growing up and having an adventurous spirit
  • Having a difficult time as a teenager 
  • Looking for alternative places to achieve her dreams
  • Being called - bossy when she was younger
  • Learning about leadership
  • Getting injured after becoming the Australian National Champion in Gymnastics
  • Deciding to become a PE teacher
  • Discovering adventure in her 40s
  • Turning 40 and why it was worse than turning 30!
  • Going to climb the highest mountain in the Southern Hemisphere!
  • Being told she was a bad mother…
  • Not summiting Aconcagua and what she learned from this ‘failure’
  • The importance of having a goal booked in the calendar
  • How she handled the haters
  • Not making decisions based on fear
  • Maintaining the motivation over the 6 months before the challenge
  • Having a goal buddy
  • How she was feeling at the start of the challenge
  • Life on the mountain, fearing for her life and learning about herself
  • The disappointment of not making the summit
  • Deciding to start - Wild Women on Top
  • The power of failure and why you learn the most from failure
  • Going back 8 years later to summit Aconcagua!
  • Having a surprise baby in her 40s
  • Being a mum to 3 children and dealing with the end of her marriage
  • Coming up with the idea for Coast Trek 
  • Inspiring over 30,000 women and raising over AUS $30,000,000 for charity 
  • Using adventure to help her over come the challenges in her personal life
  • Walking 100K and how it pushes you mentally and physically 
  • Building your own inner strength
  • Words alone are not enough - you need to take ACTION
  • Going to climb Mount Kilimanjaro & Mount Elbrus
  • Living and breathing the mountains and trekking
  • The fear of going back to Aconcagua and not making it to the summit again
  • Working as part of a team
  • Turning 60 next year! (60 adventures in one year)
  • Turning 50…. and heading to Everest base camp
  • Turning a negative into a positive
  • Advice for younger women - trying new things and trusting your body
  • Coast trek  - Sydney & Melbourne 
  • Book - How to prepare for world class treks

 

Social Media

Twitter - @DiWestaway 

Instagram - @diwestaway

Facebook - @DiWestawayCEO 

Wild Women on Top

Website - https://www.wildwomenontop.com 

Twitter - @wildwomenontop 

Instagram - @wildwomenontop  

Facebook - @wildwomenontop 

 

 

 

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