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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: April, 2021
Apr 29, 2021
Zelzin was born in Mexico city in the Iztapalapa neighborhood in Nov 1993. Since she was a girl, she was passionate about outdoor sports such as rowing, running, mountain biking, a sport in which she excelled in National and International competitions and forged her determination and love for the mountains. Zelzin graduated in Communications and Electronics Engineering from the Instituto Politecnico Nacional.
 
In 2017 she traveled to the USA for the first time alone, without speaking the language to hike the second longest trail in the US the PCT. On April 4 she started the adventure and despite her little knowledge of hiking, being new to the high mountains, and dealing with snow. Zelzin completed her first thru hike in 153 days, covering a distance of 4,277 km. In 2018, Zelzin thru-hiked from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail in 100 days. In 2019, she completed the Continental Divide Trail in 145 days. Zelzin was the first Mexican person to have thru-hiked the three longest trails in the US. 
 
Zelzin goals is to promote thru- hiking in Mexico and her dream is to create the first long-distance trail in Baja, California.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
 
Show notes
  • Growing up in Mexico City
  • What the triple crown in hiking is
  • Her childhood
  • Being the oldest of two brothers
  • Growing up in a dangerous neighbourhood
  • Starting working at 11 years old
  • Hearing about the PCT for the first time
  • Studying engineering at university 
  • How her family reacted to her wanting to go to America and hike
  • Being worried about the snow and black bears
  • Not speaking English
  • Her worries before the hike
  • Getting a visa for America
  • Research and planning for the trail
  • Not being able to find information in Spanish
  • The support of Facebook Groups
  • Going to the mountains in Mexico 
  • Learning about the gear and the animals
  • Trail name?
  • What it was like doing her first thru hike
  • The challenging and difficult sections on the PCT
  • Dealing with a lot of snow
  • Facing river crossings
  • Making a few mistakes on the trail
  • Lessons learned from those mistakes
  • Finding someone to walk in the mountains with 
  • Having good luck and trying to catch up with other hikers
  • Dealing with the cold
  • Keeping her clothing simple
  • Food on the trail
  • Eating “trash food”
  • Her love of cheese!
  • Hiking the Appalachian Trail 2nd
  • Leaving the Continental Divide Trail to the last 
  • The challenges on the CDT
  • What happens when times get tough
  • Has she ever wanted to quit?
  • Learning from her mistakes
  • Feeling passionate about hiking
  • Her favourite hiking trail is the Hayduke Trail
  • Paying for her hikes
  • Struggling to find sponsorship in Mexico
  • Her dream of starting a new thru-hiking trail in Mexico
  • Figuring out the new trail and having support with water and food
  • The goals of the project
  • Finals words of advice for other women who want to get into hiking
  • “Don’t be afraid and live your dreams”
 
Social Media
 
Website www.zelzinaketzalli.com 
 
Instagram @zelzin_aketzalli 
 
Facebook @unquetzalennorteamerica
 
Apr 27, 2021
Cadi in her own words:
 
“Having lost a partner to suicide in 2014 I turned to being active in the outdoors to bring joy back into my life. Challenging myself, whether it's an ultra run, white water raft racing or cycle touring somewhere fabulous bring great sparks to me. I am never happier than when I'm running on the trails with my dog, swimming in a cold lake with friends or just taking in the beauty of nature. My desire to chase positivity and help others find theirs has led me to now become a Life Coach. I plan on using the great outdoors along with my coaching to create positive change in peoples lives.”
 
*please note during this episode we do talk about, mental health, losing someone through suicide & dealing with frightening situations.
 
Show notes
  • Growing up in Nottingham
  • Being passionate about the outdoors
  • Working for British Canoeing - running ShePaddles program 
  • Re-training as a life coach 
  • What her early years were like
  • Her dreams as a young girl
  • Not being a career person
  • Working to live
  • Going to university 
  • Trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life
  • Starting to go travelling more
  • Losing her partner to suicide 
  • Wanting to be more of an independent traveller 
  • Dealing with the shock of losing someone a partner
  • Making a decision on how it would affect her
  • Wanting to carry on doing adventures
  • Her first trip with Bob to Egypt
  • Getting her first bike
  • Cycling in Cuba
  • Deciding to do the coast to coast challenge in a day
  • Being supported by friends and family 
  • The benefits of blogging and how it helped her process her feelings
  • Joining a local group SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide 
  • Seeking out support and finding people to speak to 
  • Going to Nepal in 2015 after the earthquake 
  • Spending time in Tibet 
  • Mount Kailash Kora Trek 
  • The challenges of getting a visa for Tibet
  • How her definition of adventure has changed 
  • Blogging at Adventurous Girl and sharing beautiful pictures
  • Dealing with Covid and it’s impact on time outdoors and mental health
  • Focusing on the joys and positives of the situation
  • Summer 2017 and heading up to the Lake District
  • Handling setback when things go wrong on an adventure 
  • Dealing with disappointment and feelings of failure
  • Running across Iceland and the lessons learned
  • Why it’s worth trying new things
  • Making the decision to run across Iceland - East to West
  • The lessons learned from the Iceland experience 
  • Feelings of disappointment 
  • Running around Malta solo
  • Dealing with frightening situations while being solo on an adventure
  • Being followed and flashed at. 
  • Taking a knife?
  • Further solo challenges?
  • Being aware of her surroundings
  • Training before trips
  • She Paddles - what it is and what the goals are
  • Funding to coach women and girls in leadership positions
  • Building a positive community for paddlers
  • Making the decision to leave British Canoeing and transition into self employment
  • Losing her mum last year and making changes to her life
  • Training to be a life coach and gaining new skills
  • Turning 40 on the 1st January
  • Wanting to cycle tour in Japan
  • Final words of advice and why you should go with your heart
  • What do you really want to do?
 
Social Media
 
Blog - anadventurousgirl.co.uk
 
Instagram @adventurousgirl  
 
Twitter @cadilambert  
 
Shine Life Coaching - If you have a change you want to make in your life I’ll help you get there. Person centred coach & NLP Practitioner
 
Website - www.shinelifecoach.co.uk
 
Instagram @shinelifecoach  
 
Facebook  @CadiShineLifeCoaching 
 
Apr 22, 2021
Neruja shares more about her Tamil culture and her experiences with the outdoors. How she went from someone who didn’t like being outside and never spending any time outdoors to becoming a passionate outdoor adventurer, hiker and climber. 
 
Neruja shares more about her gap year and spending time in Borneo, Australia and New Zealand and what it was like moving from the hustle and bustle of London to the Lake District. 
 
Neruja is passionate about diversifying the outdoors and pushing the importance of representation. 
 
In April 2020 she started her Instagram page @so_little_a_time to inspire others like her to adventure in the outdoors.
 
Her thoughts:
 
“Hiking can feel never ending, runs can feel relentless and climbing can feel impossible. And yet these are activities I keep going back to. What I’ve realised though... it’s not the discomfort that makes these activities difficult for me but actually my fear of failing. After all it is much easier to put it down to not liking discomfort than admit I might fail.” 
 
“My biggest enemy is myself. Giving myself a hard time actually stops me from being the best version of me. So currently I’m on a journey where I embrace the failures and remind myself that at the end of the day I really love doing these things!"
 
"There are times when your mission is clear. You can see it and are overwhelmed by the long journey ahead of you, but what keeps you going? Sometimes it can be as simple as wanting to witness and celebrate the beauty of success at the finish line and to look back at the hard but rewarding journey you have gone through.”
 
“These journeys may not be easy but personal growth during these times, no matter how you do it and how far you get, are almost certain. Every experience makes you grow.”
 
You can listen to Neruja share her story on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
 
Show notes
  • Who is Neruja
  • What being Tamil means 
  • Family expectations on her upbringing and what she will do
  • Not being encouraged to spend time outdoors when she was younger
  • Not being able to speak English when she moved to the UK
  • Moving to the Lake District from London
  • Going walking for the first time
  • Deciding to have a year out in 2013
  • Being a volunteer in Borneo with Raleigh International
  • Living out of a rucksack
  • Spending time in Australia and being ready for anything
  • Going around New Zealand in a camper van
  • Getting into the outdoors with her husband
  • How spending time in Borneo solo changed her
  • Being uncomfortable in that environment
  • Magical moments in Australia 
  • Spending time in Sydney and doing house/dog sitting 
  • Doing a bungee jump and jumping when she was ready
  • Moving back to the Lake District and hiking all the time
  • Lessons from the Tour de Mont Blanc hike
  • Planning and preparation for the 11 day hike
  • Meeting like minded people 
  • A typical day in the mountains
  • Getting through the tough moments
  • Starting her Instagram account - @so_little_a_time 
  • Why your holidays don’t just have to be sitting on a beach
  • Advice for other women who want to get outdoors more
  • Try everything once
 
Social Media
 
Instagram - @so_little_a_time  
 
 
Tour de Mont Blanc Cicerone Guidebook - www.cicerone.co.uk/trekking-the-tour-of-mont-blanc-fifth 
 
Apr 20, 2021
Natalie Warren is a Minneapolis-based author, scholar, and public speaker on environmental issues. A lifelong paddler and river lover, she canoed the length of the Mississippi River and won first place in the Yukon River Quest in the women’s voyageur division, paddling 450 miles in fifty-three hours. A contributing writer to outdoor publications, she has worked with Bancroft Arnesen Explore, St. Croix River Association, and River Management Society, and she started a nonprofit to present urban rivers as natural, dynamic classrooms for youth. 
 
About - Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic
 
Unrelenting winds, carnivorous polar bears, snake nests, sweltering heat, and constant hunger. Paddling from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, following the 2,000-mile route made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 classic Canoeing with the Cree, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho faced unexpected trials, some harrowing, some simply odd. But for the two friends—the first women to make this expedition—there was one timeless challenge: the occasional pitfalls that test character and friendship. Warren’s spellbinding account retraces the women’s journey from inspiration to Arctic waters, giving readers an insider view from the practicalities of planning a three-month canoe expedition to the successful accomplishment of the adventure of a lifetime. 
 
Along the route we meet the people who live and work on the waterways, including denizens of a resort who supply much-needed sustenance; a solitary resident in the wilderness who helps plug a leak; and the people of the Cree First Nation at Norway House, where the canoeists acquire a furry companion. Describing the tensions that erupt between the women (who at one point communicate with each other only by note) and the natural and human-made phenomena they encounter—from islands of trash to waterfalls and a wolf pack—Warren brings us into her experience, and we join these modern women (and their dog) as they recreate this historic trip, including the pleasures and perils, the sexism, the social and environmental implications, and the enduring wonder of the wilderness.
 
Warren is a great storyteller and she brings readers a very fun, youthful, and adventurous book. But this book is more than just an expedition journal—Warren devotes quite a bit of her focus to reflections on changes in climate, societies, and issues surrounding our most valuable resource: water. 
 
You can listen to both Ann and Natalie on the Tough Girl Podcast!
 
New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
 
Show notes
  • Growing up in an urban area
  • Not coming from an outdoorsy family 
  • Being into music 
  • Wanting to try new things 
  • Falling in love with canoeing
  • Becoming friends with Ann Raiho
  • Heading off to college with Ann
  • Her dreams as young woman
  • Where her appreciation for the environment came from 
  • Being inspired by a book called - Canoeing with the Cree
  • 2011 and being in the senior year of college
  • How the expedition evolved
  • Getting sponsorship for the trip
  • Making the decision to go on this trip
  • Saying yes now and asking questions later 
  • Thinking about writing a book
  • Wanting to have fun and do something crazy
  • Concerns before the adventure
  • Hearing all the worst case scenarios 
  • Telling friends and family about the canoe trip
  • Camping in urban areas and close to big cities
  • Magical moments from the journey 
  • Having a baby and what helped her through the birth
  • Handling the daily frustrations
  • Reflecting back on the journey
  • What lessons have been learned
  • Not always wanting to go with the flow
  • Roles in the team and how they changed and evolved during the journey 
  • Cooking in the wilderness 
  • Deciding to write a book about the adventure
  • Reading Ann’s journal
  • How canoeing is part of her life
  • Advice for other women to take on their own challenge
 
Social Media
 
Website www.natalie-warren.com 
 
Instagram @nwarren_writes
 
 
Apr 15, 2021
Jai Bharathi, an avid women motorcyclist, who co-founded the Hyderabad chapter of ‘The Bikerni’ an all-women motorcycle club in 2013. Jai has led motorcycle expeditions to Ladakh, Kanyakumari to Kashmir, cross-country expedition across six nations covering 17,000 kms & Wheels of Will motorcycle expedition covering 10,800 miles across the United States. 
 
Jai’s passion for travel took her to visit all the UNESCO world heritage sites in India in 2012 and the first winner of GoUnesco travel challenge. 
 
Over the last decade, Jai has worked with several NGO’s in the fields of women's empowerment, children education, solar lighting & relief works during natural disasters. 
 
Jai has authored a book about organising & leading all women cross country motorcycle expedition.
 
Jai is now on her entrepreneurial journey with MOWO Social Initiatives which aims to see more number of women in the mobility sector.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Who is Jai
  • Growing up in the early 80s
  • Being involved in ‘The Bikerni’ an all-women motorcycle club
  • Falling in love with 2 wheels
  • Learning how to ride a motorbike in the streets
  • Working as an architect
  • Wanting more passion in her life
  • Realising that she wanted to travel more
  • 2012 Go UNESCO Travel Challenge 
  • Visiting all 28 UNESCO sites in India
  • Visiting Turkey in 2013 and visiting UNESCO sites
  • Having 2 siblings
  • Being inspired to ride around East Asia on a motorbike
  • Wanting to inspire others to ride bikes
  • Riding from the northern tip of India to the southern tip of India
  • Wondering how she can give back and inspire the rest of the community 
  • Starting her journey as a social entrepreneur
  • MOWO - MOving WOmen 
  • Writing a book about her experiences 
  • Travelling in India
  • What UNESCO is
  • Getting the opportunity and making it a reality 
  • Taking 8 months to plan the trip
  • Documenting the journey 
  • Being in a leadership position
  • Taking the first step
  • Feeling safe while riding a motorcycle
  • Not riding in the dark
  • Breaking stereotypes 
  • Inspiring women
  • Encouraging women to work as tour guides 
  • Heading over to the USA 
  • Losing sponsorship the day before the flight 
  • Going to the USA with $100 in her pocket
  • Riding 11,000 miles across the USA in 35 days 
  • Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you
 
Social Media
 
Facebook - www.facebook.com/jai.bharathi
 
Instagram @jaibharathi 
 
Twitter @jaibharathi 
 
Link to the book: 
https://amzn.to/31BPrHh
 
A short video on our journey so far https://youtu.be/qQijuiNuZWY
 
MoWo - We promote women empowerment and safety through mobility. #MovingWomen #WomenInMobility 
 
Links to our social media handles:
 
Website - www.mowo.in
Facebook @mowo.in 
Instagram @mowo.in 
Twitter @MOWO__Hyd 
 
Apr 13, 2021
Ann Raiho and Natalie Warren are childhood friends who in 2011 became the first women to paddle from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay following the 2,000-mile route made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 classic Canoeing with the Cree. 
 
Natalie has gone on to write a book about this journey - Hudson Bay Bound - Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic. 
 
Today we hear the story from Ann’s perspective. 
 
Ann in her own words:
 
I grew up outside of St. Paul, Minnesota. While I was in high school, I went to a canoeing camp in the summer called YMCA Camp Menogyn. Natalie and I met the summer of 2007 on a 50-day canoe trip in Nunavut, Canada. Then, by coincidence, we went to college together at St. Olaf College in southern Minnesota. 
 
I majored in mathematics with a minor in environmental studies. But, mostly I was interested in playing a lot of ultimate frisbee and worrying about climate change. Natalie and I were having trouble finding jobs after college. We decided that this would be the perfect time to go on a longer canoe trip. 
 
In the summer of 2011, we paddled 2,000 miles in 85 days to Hudson Bay. During the trip, we both had a lot of time to think about what we wanted to do next. I decided to pursue a career as an ecologist and after the trip got my master's in ecology from Colorado State followed by my Ph.D. in Biology from Notre Dame. 
 
My dissertation work focuses on connecting field-collected paleoecological data with predictive models. Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher at Colorado State working for the National Park Service in Alaska. I use my skills in mathematics and statistics to understand nature's complexities. Specifically, I identify landscape types in Alaska that may be robust to accelerating climate changes. 
 
My early experiences with long-distance canoeing have given me the ability to persist through hard research tasks and a passion for preserving the wilderness by improving our knowledge of the importance of nature.
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
Show notes
  • Who is Ann
  • Family life and growing up
  • Spending time outdoors 
  • Having access to a cabin in the wilderness
  • Her dreams as a little girl and wanting to go on crazy adventures
  • Getting into canoeing 
  • Being inspired at YMCA Camp Menogyn
  • Deciding to go on a big adventure and challenge
  • January 2011 and graduating from college
  • Planning and preparation for the trip
  • Equipment and paying for the trip
  • Building a website 
  • Spending 85 days together on the river
  • The biggest challenge on the expedition
  • Resolving disagreements 
  • Figuring out how to make decisions
  • The plan for writing a book after the journey
  • Sending the journals from the trip…
  • Picking up a stray dog for the trip
  • 2011 and recreating the journey and meeting people along the way
  • Lessons learned from the adventure 
  • How canoeing is still a part of her life
  • Advice for other women who want to get into canoeing
  • The power of believing in yourself
 
Social Media 
 
Twitter @annraiho 
 
Instagram @annraiho
 
Myhan The Canoe Dog @myhan_the_canoe_dog
 
Apr 8, 2021
Alina “Abstract” Drufovka is a Colombian-American painter and illustrator based out of Philadelphia, PA. 
Alina has hiked the Appalachian Trail (2015 & 2017), the Pacific Crest Trail (2019) and the Israel National Trail (2018). Alina is an outdoor professional and hopes to inspire more women and people of colour to get outside and explore the trails!
 
Her Mission: 
  • Help people reconnect with their journeys in wilderness through art. 
  • Commemorate life on trail and the culture of long distance backpacking.
  • Promote diversity in the outdoors. 
 
“One of the most beautiful parts of creation is that an Artist has the freedom to not just recreate the world as we know it, but to craft a portal to a new world. Perhaps a better and more equitable one. And that is exactly my intention. “ — Alina “Abstract” Drufovka
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
 
Show notes
  • Growing up as a city girl
  • Going to a summer camp in New Jersey
  • How her life changed
  • Stepping foot on the Appalachian Trail
  • Knowing that she wanted a life of hiking and adventure
  • Getting into the book and the movie of “Into the Wild”
  • Growing up artistic
  • Not wanting to put herself out there in case she failed
  • Heading to college in Colorado
  • Getting injured on her fist attempted thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2015
  • Planning for the trip and taking a semester off college
  • Her first trail name “Swol” 
  • Walking 1200 mils and having to leave the trail
  • Dealing with knee injuries 
  • Getting through the tough time period of recovery
  • Heading back to the trail in 2017 and feeling nervous
  • Meeting her boyfriend of day 1 of the trail
  • Wanting to hike solo
  • Self reflection on the trail
  • Having 6 months of freedom
  • Getting though the not so good days
  • Living the dream and feeling very fortunate to be out there
  • Feeling gratitude
  • Doing art on the trail
  • The end of the trail
  • Heading to hike The Israel National Trail in 2018
  • Needing another goal in the diary
  • Working for 6 months to save up the money
  • Resupply, accommodation and water on The Israel National Trail
  • The amazing network of trail angels
  • Magical moments
  • Hiking the PCT with her boyfriend
  • The differences between the AT and the PCT
  • Flip & flopping on the PCT and the frustrations
  • Taking a step away from thru-hiking to focus on her art
  • Blogging and sharing on social media 
  • Wanting to be present on the trail 
  • Nutrition on the trail
  • Packing only 1 snickers!
  • Finishing a hike and what happens next
  • Writing a book!
  • Wanting to share her experiences from trail
  • The judgement on social media
  • Becoming a full time artist
  • Being stuck in Costa Rica at the start of the pandemic
  • Building up her on-line business
  • Connect with Alina and order her artwork
  • Looking at a new stage of life
  • Thinking about starting a family
  • Motherhood and settling down
  • Having a different dream to others
  • Live your own life
  • Accidental Van Life!
  • Figuring out where home is going to be
  • Wanting a simple life
  • Final words of advice - “being one choice away from living a different life”
  • The sliding doors moment by listening to a podcast and how it could change your life
 
 
Social Media
 
Website - www.thrudesigns.com 
 
Instagram @abstract.hikes 
 
Facebook @abstract.hikes 
 
 
Apr 6, 2021
Sacha Dench (aka ‘the human swan’) is attempting something that has never been done before – a 3,000+ mile circumnavigation of Britain in a specially adapted, green electricity powered paramotor. Because she can take off and land almost anywhere, she and the team will be landing to recharge and rest with the interesting and inspirational people around the country, the ones can show us exactly how climate change is changing our country, but also show us what we can do about it.
 
The aim is to set and beat TWO official Guinness World Records 
 
  1. The first and fastest flight around Britain in a paramotor powered only by renewable energy. This is a record with real purpose. It shows Sacha is prepared to put skin in the game and push green technology to its limits, and proves that rethinking what is possible can be really exciting.
  2. The most pledges to act on climate change in 1 month via our global alliance with Count Us In. We need all ages involved, and this record helps us reach new audiences and provides another, clear, media hook. The global target for pledges is 1 billion people this decade and we want to get this off to a flying start! 
 
Learn more about Sacha and the Round Britain Climate Challenge by listening to her story on the Tough Girl Podcast. 
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
 
Show notes
  • Who is Sacha 
  • Why she is known as the “Human Swan”
  • What Sacha has been unto since 2018
  • Setting up a charity in November 2019
  • Having a model of conservation and wanting to do more
  • Becoming a UN Ambassador for Migratory Species
  • Thinking about the issues the migratory species face
  • The impact of climate change and its impact on the birds
  • Being in Australia during the bush fires in 2020
  • How her mum lost her home and is now living in a caravan
  • The Round Britain Climate Challenge 
  • Coming up with the idea in September 2020
  • Count us In 
  • How people are turned off by the message of doom and fear
  • Being excited by the challenge message
  • Flying a paramotor with a petrol engine - could it be powered by batteries?
  • Wanting to speak with people on the journey around Great Britain
  • Getting the project off the ground to start in May
  • The challenges of the project
  • Not earning an income for 20 months
  • Needing self belief to continue
  • Being supported by volunteers and supporters 
  • The challenges of fund-raising 
  • Collaborating with numerous organisations
  • Struggling to get hold of the batteries needed
  • Joanna Lumley
  • Feeling excited about the challenge and starting in a few weeks
  • The challenges of electric power - Charing the battery and waiting for it to cool down
  • Starting in Glasgow and going anti-clockwise around the country
  • G7 Summit Cornwall, from 11-13th June 2021 
  • How individuals can get involved and support the campaign 
  • Race to Zero 
  • Planning a safe expedition with Covid
  • Engaging with people while they are at home
  • Starting on May 17th 2021 (maybe!)
  • Planning for the expedition to take 6 weeks (maybe 8 weeks)
  • The plan for the next 10 years
  • The 2030 Global Challenge 
  • What would success look like?
  • Wanting to change the narrative around the climate challenge
  • The Green Revolution led by the UK?
  • Being inspired by the Orkney Islands 
  • Advice and tips to encourage people to get involved with climate change
  • The power of local solutions
 
Social Media
 
Website 
 
www.sachadench.com 
www.conservation-without-borders.org
 
Instagram 
 
@sachadench 
@conservation_without_borders  
 
Facebook
 
@sacha.dench 
 
Twitter
 
@sachadench 
@C_no_borders 
 
Crowdfunder Campaign for Round Britain Climate Challenge 
 
Apr 3, 2021
This episode was filmed live (via Zoom) on the 31st March 2021 at 8pm and was live on the Tough Girl Challenges Youtube Channel.
 
Thank you to all that attended the live event and to those who supported the 1000 Tough Women appeal!
 
This event has been organised to support PHASE Worldwide’s Start Strong UK Aid Match Appeal to support 1000 tough women in Nepal. The great news is that this means that any donations made to this page (until 25th June 2021) will be automatically matched by the UK government to support the Start Strong project!
 
The Start Strong appeal will fund a three-year project, starting in October 2021, which will improve maternal healthcare and increase the availability of high value foods. Through improving access to maternal healthcare and nutritional foods, whilst providing agricultural training for mothers, we can aim to ensure that children in Far West Nepal are given a strong start to life. 
 
To make your donation to the Start Strong Appeal, please visit this page
 
If you would like to find out more about the PHASE Worldwide Start Strong Appeal, you can do so via the Phase Worldwide website.
 
Show Notes
  • Introducing Rosie
  • Why Rosie is planning on going to Nepal
  • Heading back to the UK 
  • Running LEJOG
  • Being inspired by her family
  • Running 20,000 miles around the world
  • Being heartbroken and struggling
  • Being inspired by total strangers
  • The amazing people
  • “The impossible is possible”
  • Speaking with Rosie in November 2019
  • Meeting Rosie in Turkey
  • Slick Chick
  • Wanting to run from Lands End to John O’Groats
  • Running North
  • The kindness of strangers! Getting a cheese boards at midnight!
  • “You can always do something”
  • Sleeping out at night
  • Being inspired by England and Scotland!
  • Her plans to reach Nepal
  • The old planned route to Nepal
  • Going back to Istanbul to run the marathon in 2023
  • Being a patron of Phase Worldwide
  • Helping people to help themselves
  • Maintaining her positivity 
  • Being all alone and having to save herself
  • Struggling to find food
  • Almost drowning in a flash flood
  • The power of thinking of lovely people
  • Thinking of Clive
  • Meeting the Guardians of the Road
  • Wolves…..
  • Thinking about her perspective on life
  • 40 shades of silence…..
  • Wanting to write a book from the heart
  • Nepalese women
  • Small beginnings….
  • Dealing with extreme cold temperatures 
  • PHD designs  
  • Breaking her hip a few years ago!
  • Making sure you look after yourself 
  • Shout out to members of the Tough Girl Tribe
  • The biggest lesson that Rosie has learned 
  • Feelings are not the same as facts
  • NEVER GIVE UP
  • Being worried about doing the podcast today
  • Wanting to have fun for Clive
  • Questions
  • Loving Wales
  • Getting through tough moments
  • The power of stopping to breath and think
  • My plans to visit Rosie in Nepal
  • Final words of advice from Rosie
  • Why 2021 is going to be a great year
  • Only do things you love!!!
 
 
Social Media
 
Rosie Swale Pope
 
Website rosieswalepope.co.uk 
Instagram @rosieswalepope 
Twitter @RosieSwalePope  
Facebook Rosie Swale Pope 
 
Phase Worldwide - Changing lives in Nepal 
 
Instagram @phaseworldwide 
 
Donate https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/1000ToughWomen 
 
Apr 1, 2021
Mariam is known as the @hijabi.hiker on instagram her bio reads - A hijabi hiking around the UK to be inspired and inspire. Part time writer, wannabe runner, coffee addict #DiversifyOutdoors
 
Mariam in her own words:
 
“I’m a hobbyist writer, avid hiker and tutor in my spare time, and work full time in Oncology research. A proud woman of colour, I’m excited about sharing my journey into the outdoors to encourage more diversity and healing from the world we all share.”
 
During this podcast Mariam shares more about her childhood and growing up, and how she got interested in the outdoors. Mariam talks about the challenges she has faced and how her confidence has increased by taking on new challenges from running her first 5k race to completing her longest hike to-date -30km through the Shropshire Hills. 
 
Mariam shares more about how she took her first steps into the outdoors and gives top tips and advice to inspire you to take your first step. 
 
On the 1st April Mariam is starting the #BeBraveChallenge. Listen to the Tough Girl Podcast to find out how you can get involved! 
 
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. 
 
The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
 
 
Show notes
  • Who is Mariam
  • Her childhood and growing up being active
  • Being the youngest of 4
  • Getting into hiking
  • Doing stuff with the Scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh Award
  • Her role models
  • Wanting to encourage more Muslim women to get into hiking
  • Hiking solo at the start
  • Feeling unsafe and scared
  • Barriers to getting into the outdoors
  • Not seeing women who looked like her
  • The benefits of getting in the outdoors
  • Feeling a sense of freedom when outside
  • Being able to get perspective
  • Feeling a sense of achievement when reaching the top
  • Friends and family and what they think
  • Building confidence in other areas of her life
  • Taking on a 5k running challenge
  • Advice for other runners
  • Why it’s important to enjoy it
  • The journey and the progression 
  • 30km hike through the Shropshire Hills
  • Strive - Spring Charity Challenge 
  • Not having much time to plan or prepare
  • Concerns before the challenge
  • Slowing down and enjoying the time out on the hills
  • Magical moments from the hike
  • Talking about gear when you start out hiking
  • Looking after her feet and dealing with blisters
  • April Challenge…
  • #BeBraveChallenge 
  • Final words of advice

 

Social Media
 
 
Instagram - @hijabi.hiker  
 
Facebook - @aHijabiHiker  
 
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