From the jungles of India to the global stage of wildlife conservation, Dr Latika Nath has spent her life studying and protecting big cats, becoming the first woman in the world to study tigers in the wild. Known as Nat Geo’s “Tiger Princess,” she shares stories from deep in the forests where she observed tigers using tools, hunting porcupines, and navigating complex human-wildlife conflicts.
In this episode, Latika takes us on her journey from a childhood spent exploring the outdoors to pursuing her dream in a male-dominated field, studying elephants and tigers in the wild. She shares the challenges of working in remote areas, the lessons learned from female tigers, and her tireless efforts to combat poaching.
We also dive into her work as a conservation photographer, using images to tell stories that inspire action, and her advice for women and girls aiming to make their mark in conservation. Latika’s story is one of courage, dedication, and the belief that one person’s passion can make a world of difference.
This episode is for you if:
- You love wildlife and big cats
- You’re curious about conservation and sustainability
- You want inspiration from a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated field
- You’re motivated by stories of courage, resilience, and following your passions
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New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/
Your support makes a difference. 
Thank you x
***
Show notes
- Who is Dr Latika
- Working as a Conservation Ecologist and conservation photographer
- Being based out of Indian
- Studying big cats all over the world
- Using her photography to share stories about conservation
- Working as an expert on Tourism and sustainability
- Working with the Indian Planning Commission as an in-house advisor
- Being an only child and spending most of her time outdoors
- Living close to a National Park
- Deciding at 6 years old that she wanted to be an ecologist
- Being encouraged to pursue her dreams
- People in the 1970s not knowing what an ecologist was
- Not being able to study the subjects she wanted to
- Being a girl in a male dominated field
- Being the first woman in the world to study tigers
- Moving over to the UK to continue her education at Bangor University, Wales
- Doing her masters thesis on elephant and human conflict in Indian
- How elephants follow the old memories
- Her passion and interest in tigers
- Wanting to study snow leopards initially
- Terrorism in Kashmir and how it changed the direction of her life
- Being inspired by Dr HS Pabla
- The tiger population in India currently
- Project tiger - being responsible for the conservation of the tiger in the wild
- Being the only person in the park and being truly on her own in the wild with the animals
- What it was like studying the tigers and the relationships that developed
- Discovering new knowledge about tigers
- Seeing tigers using tools
- How tigers eat porcupines
- The expedition logistics
- Lessons learned from female tigers
- The biggest danger to tigers going forward
- How to combat poaching
- Getting the nickname - The Tiger Princess
- Being filmed by National Geographic for a 1hr documentary
- Advice and tips for women and girls who want to enter the space of conservation
- Advice for women around self belief and self confidence and why there work is important
- What’s next for Dr Lakita
- Writing her next book
- Having a photography expedition in London in June 2026
- How to connect with Dr Lakita
- Final words of advice around following your passions and interests
- Having good days and bad days - go one day, one step at a time and why it can make a big difference
- Hang in there and take that one step everyday
Social Media
Website: www.latikanath.com
Instagram: @latikanath
Facebook: @nathlatika
What does it take to return to the top of the ultra running world after major life changes and a “career-ending” surgery? Kaytlyn Gerbin knows.
In this episode, Kaytlyn shares her journey from a scientist with a love for the outdoors to a world-class trail and ultra runner. Growing up active but without formal running experience, she discovered her talent in her mid-twenties and quickly fell in love with the 100-mile distance. Since then, she’s set course records, tackled some of the most technical alpine trails in the Pacific Northwest, and stood on podiums at legendary races like UTMB, Western States 100, and Transgrancanaria.
But Kaytlyn’s story isn’t just about running. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and balance. After the birth of her daughter Era in 2024 and undergoing surgery to correct hip dysplasia—a procedure many thought would end her running career—Kaytlyn came back stronger than ever, winning the Cascade Crest 100 and taking on the epic 330km Tor des Geants race in Italy.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- How she discovered her running talent and found her passion for ultra distances
- Overcoming setbacks, starting over, and learning to meet herself where she is
- The mental strategies that help her tackle 100-mile races and multi-day alpine challenges
- Balancing motherhood with elite-level running
- Her plans and goals for 2026, including Hardrock 100 and UTMB
Whether you’re an aspiring ultra runner, a parent chasing big goals, or someone who loves stories of grit, perseverance, and adventure, Kaytlyn’s story will inspire you to push your limits—on the trails and in life.
Tune in to hear how Kaytlyn combines mountains, motherhood, and science-backed training to redefine what’s possible, one long run at a time.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
- Who is Kaytln
- Ultra runner and trail runner for the North Face
- Living in the foothills outside of Seattle, US
- Having a degree in Bioengineering and previously working as a scientist
- Having her first daughter, 14 months ago
- Reflecting back on her childhood and early years
- Growing up in rural US
- Being the oldest of four and being very active as a kid
- How her running journey progressed
- Playing soccer in high school
- Being good at running on the field, but not enjoying the running for training
- Making friends with other students at college who ran
- Discovering her running talent in her mid-twenties
- Entering her first small, local race and finishing 2nd female
- Having fun and feeling strong while running
- Finding her distance
- Loving the 100 mile distance
- Figuring out training for races
- The longer she ran, the stronger she felt
- Feeling overwhelmed by the running distances
- Having to start over with her running
- Remembering how hard it is to start running again after set backs
- Having a hard time with running
- Never having a running coach and getting to make all the rules
- Tracking her training
- Meeting yourself where your at ie being ok with walking
- Bringing in science to her running?
- Lessons on failure and how it applies to running
- Staying humble with her running
- Why the hardest part of the race, is just before it starts
- The anxiety before a race, struggling to sleep and eat before
- Staying relaxed while running and settling into the run after 50k
- Running through the night
- Taking some time before doing the hard thing, and thinking about the mental challenges which may come up and how to handle it
- Running a 220 mile race over 4 days
- Dealing with the guilt of being away from her baby while running
- Anticipate what some of the mental challenges might be during a race and how best to approach it
- Taking a step back from the running during pregnancy
- Not feeling the pressure to go back to running
- Her ‘A’ race in 2025
- Tor des Geants 330km race in Italy
- Winning the Cascade Crest 100 mile race
- Seeing the 2nd placed woman - starting to race
- Wanting to run hand and push herself
- Plans for 2026
- Applying for Hardrock 100 mile race
- Wanting to go back and race at UTMB
- Having a pregnancy deferral for UTMB
- How to connect with Kaytlyn
- Advice for women wanting to take on a 100 mile race
Social Media
Instagram @kaytlyn_g
Sheryl Ramstad’s story is nothing short of extraordinary. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash with less than a 1% chance of survival, Sheryl’s life was forever changed. What began as her first solo flight at age 29 became a harrowing journey through life-threatening burns, multiple surgeries, overwhelming grief, and two years of excruciating rehabilitation.
But this isn’t just a survival story—it’s a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and the unbreakable human spirit.
In this powerful conversation, Sheryl shares how she transformed unimaginable trauma into a life of purpose, service, and adventure. From shifting her mindset from “Why me?” to “What’s next?” to supporting burn survivors in Peru, going back to school at 62, raising three children, becoming a grandmother, and even climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro—Sheryl embodies what it means to live fully, bravely, and without regrets.
With her first book “Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving, and Summiting” published in January 2025, Sheryl reflects on a decades-long journey of healing, reinvention, and choosing courage over fear. Her story will inspire you to embrace challenges, pursue new beginnings at any age, and live life full throttle.
If you’re looking for a reminder of what’s possible—even in your darkest moments—this episode will stay with you long after you’ve listened.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
- Who is Sheryl
- Being based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
- Being retired and writing her first book
- Surviving her first solo plane flight at 29 years old
- How this impacted how she lived the rest of her life
- Leaving work and no longer having an excuse not to write her story
- Having 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren
- Having the book published in late January of 2025
- The key moment when life changed
- Changed her focus from survival to service
- Being grateful for everyday and wanting to make her life meaningful for herself and for others
- Supporting burn survivors in Lima, Peru
- Being given a 1% chance of survival
- The importance of her faith, friends and family
- Applying for nursing school at 62
- Learning new skills
- Instead of asking why me - I ask - what’s next
- Looking towards the future
- Having a strong family support system
- Having her faith to fall back on
- Reflecting back on writing her book
- Why it’s been a life long process
- Serving
- Books for Africa
- Deciding to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa
- Deciding what to do with life
- Following a few simple principles
- Living life with no regrets
- Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all
- Do nothing in moderation - give your whole heart to everything that you want to try
- Going back to school at 62 and being a student again
- Don’t be afraid to ask others for help
- Getting back on a plane
- Mental health and support for people going through traumatic experiences
- Raising her children
- What’s next
- Being a life long learner
- Maybe writing another book
- Wanting to encourage people to live their life full throttle
- Why it’s a matter of perspective
- How to connect with Sheryl
- How to buy her book
- Being happy to connect with people
- Final words of advice for women listening
- Don’t be guided by your fear, be guided by the facts and the evidence - do what you feel led to do, so you don’t go to your grave with any regrets.
Social Media
Website: www.
Book: Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving and Summiting A Memoir
Hillary Allen, famously known as the “Hillygoat,” is a world-class ultrarunner celebrated for her fearless climbs on steep, technical terrain. But in 2017, at the peak of her career as the #1 ultrarunner in the world, Hillary faced a life-changing setback: during a race in Norway, she fell 150 feet off a ridge, breaking 14 bones. Doctors told her she’d never run again.
Yet Hillary didn’t just defy the odds—she redefined them. Today, she’s back competing at the elite level and inspiring others to rewrite their own stories of resilience.
With a background in neuroscience and a master’s in physiology and structural biology, Hillary combines science, grit, and empathy in her work as an author, coach, and speaker.
Her book, Out and Back: A Runner’s Story of Survival Against All Odds, chronicles her incredible comeback.
In this episode, Hillary shares:
- How her lifelong love of running and science shaped her journey
- The mental and physical challenges of recovering from a life-threatening fall
- Practical tips on mindset, self-belief, and self-compassion
- Why she believes your best athletic days can be ahead of you
Whether you’re an athlete, adventurer, or someone looking to overcome setbacks in life, Hillary’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience, courage, and persistence can take you farther than you ever imagined.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/
Your support makes a difference. 
Thank you x
Show notes
- Who is Hillary
- Growing up in Boulder Colorado, USA
- Being an athlete all her life
- Coming from an outdoorsy, academic family
- Describing herself as a science nerd
- Currently in a Masters Program for Applied Sports Psychology
- Having an older sister
- Growing up camping with her family
- Her parents both being professors
- Studying chemistry and neuroscience
- Not finishing her Phd
- Getting her first running sponsorship
- Her running journey to get to being a sponsored athlete
- Starting running in graduate school
- Needing an outlet to reset
- Starting to run with a running group
- Discovering the trail running scene
- When things clicked after running a road marathon
- Wondering if she could do it…
- Being drawn to running and feeling satisfaction in the challenge
- Working hard on her weaknesses
- Working on her ability to run on technical trails and push herself when feeling tired
- Getting into skyruning
- Being named the Hilly Goat!
- Why its a skill you need to practice
- The challenges of 2017
- Heading over to Europe to race
- Tromsø Skyrace
- Thinking she was dying
- Falling 150ft, breaking 14 bones, damaging ligaments and being lucky to be alive
- Book: Out and Back: A Runner's Story of Survival Against All Odds
- Being depressed
- Starting to think about running again
- Believe that your best athletic days are ahead of you
- Helping her mindset and the mental side of the challenge
- Working with a counsellor
- Working past fear
- Breaking her ankle and dealing with another injury
- Going back to do the race again
- Getting her nervous energy out
- Closing the chapter off
- Practical tips around mindset
- The power of self compassion and self belief
- The next plan/goals
- Signing up for a road marathon in January
- Working on building up some speed
- Podcast - Trail Society
- How to connect with Hillary
- Final words of advice for other women
- The importance of daily practices
- Journalling
- Mantra - believe your best athletic days are ahead of you
- Affirmations - I am statements “I am a runner”
- Start small, and start with self belief
Social Media
Website www.hillaryallen.com
Instagram @hillygoat_climbs
Facebook @hillaryallenrunner
Podcast - Trail Society
Lani Woods is a passionate cyclist, adventurer, and creative force behind a vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts. Known for blending her love of cycling with a flair for design, Lani leads initiatives like Triple Crown Adventures to inspire others to explore the world on two wheels. Whether organizing group adventures in Hawaii or crafting unique cycling gear, she’s dedicated to building an inclusive, adventure-loving community.
* Marked as explicit — just one F bomb!
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
- Who is Lani
- Being based in Hawaii
- Being a full time adventurer
- Loving to travel and explore
- Being a curious soul
- Growing up in Southern California
- Not being athletic when she was younger
- Getting into athletics in her 30s
- What happened in her 30s
- Having kids at a young age and being in a long term relationship
- Deciding to leave an abusive relationship
- Wanting to feel stronger and release the relationship stress
- Getting back into running and how it made her feel better
- Getting back into the gym and how it helped her mental health
- Deciding to try an obstacle course race
- Dealing with injury and needing to rehab after 3 surgeries
- Getting into bike riding
- Deciding to ride 20 miles to the beach and back
- Feeling the rewards after doing something hard
- Deciding to ride a 100 miles
- Being inspired by the Race Across America
- The self confidence piece
- Being attracted to challenge
- Gaining new knowledge about cycling
- Hosting 2 podcasts :-
- Podcast - Unrelenting Humans
- Podcast - Black with Endurance
- Joining Major Taylor Cycling Club, Los Angles
- Riding from San Francisco to Los Angles
- Wanting to do more business with women
- Tripe Crown Adventures - where the name came from (the California triple crown, riding 3 double centuries in a year)
- Adventure Femmes
- Hosting her first event in Hawaii
- Honolulu Century Ride
- Lanikai Pillbox Hike
- New event happening in 2026
- Training….
- Working with different mentors
- How many bikes…
- Making the decision to move to Hawaii
- Dealing with the heat in Hawaii
- Bucket list races
- Being in a place where she knows what she’s capable of and want she can accomplish
- Wanting to create her own challenges
- Wanting to create more than be apart of other people races and challenges
- Her love for road cycling
- Travelling in Europe
- Bike packing adventures?
- Lael Wilcox
- Jenny Graham
- Lael Rallies
- How to connect with Lani
- Final words of advice for women who want to get into cycling and go on more adventures
- Stay curious, fail big and don’t wait for anyone else
- Don’t be afraid to make your own way—do what you feel is right for you.
Social Media