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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: June, 2018
Jun 28, 2018

Felicity's Polar career began in the year 2000, when she travelled to Antarctica for the first time with the British Antarctic Survey as a Meteorologist. Aged just 23 she spent a continuous period of two and a half years (including two consecutive winters) at Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula to monitor climate and ozone.

Felicity went on to organise and lead numerous expeditions to remote places around the world, but particularly to the Polar Regions. Her expeditions have included the first British Women’s crossing of Greenland, a 6000km drive to the South Pole, a 36,000km drive to the Pole of Cold, and leading the largest and most international team of women ever to ski to the South Pole.

Felicity continues to explore, specialising in new and exciting ways to communicate the expedition experience to the wider world. Her Kaspersky Lab Commonwealth Antarctic Expedition was the first to ‘Tweet to the Pole’ and material from her Pole of Cold expedition has been developed into a travelling art exhibition. She has written three books Call of the White: Taking the World to the South Pole (2011), Alone in Antarctica (2013), Chasing Winter: A Journey to the Pole of Cold (2014).

Most recently she was behind, The Women's Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition 2018. Which was an international team of women from across Europe and the Middle East who set out to ski the last degree to the North Pole in April 2018. The expedition faced many physical challenges – with temperatures down to -40°C, polar bears and shifting pack ice - but the core purpose of the expedition was to foster greater dialogue and understanding between women from Western and Arabian cultures. In addition, the expedition worked to inspire all women to reach beyond the expectation of others to fullfil their own ultimate life ambitions.

Show notes

  • First speaking back in November 2015!
  • Putting together expeditions to visit very cold places
  • Why the Arctic?
  • Spending the summer on a Russian Icebreaker going back and forth to the North Pole
  • Wanting to put together another expedition with a new set of challenges
  • The new challenges in the Arctic!
  • Her role on the icebreaker 
  • The Women's Euro-Arabian North Pole Expedition 2018
  • Turning her idea into a reality
  • Taking the first step in finding a team
  • Putting it out on her website and getting over 1,000 responses!
  • Meeting the team for the first time at a training expedition in September 2016
  • Teamwork and why it is so important for expeditions in the Arctic
  • Trying to understand their motivation and why they wanted to do this challenge
  • September 2016 and the first time the team comes together.
  • Handing the cold and the extreme temperatures
  • Dealing with a cold injury and having frostbite
  • The expedition and what was involved
  • Having to be prepared for Polar Bears while out on the ice and dealing with the cold!
  • The journey to the pole - sponsorship, fitness and the costs involved.
  • Training in the desert and why there was benefits especially in regards to navigation and team bonding
  • The costs of the expedition & getting sponsorship 
  • The challenges of having a large team of 12
  • Physical training…. and getting fit for the challenge
  • Mental fitness - and not wanting to be over confident or complacent
  • Leadership style and how Felicity leads and why she was not the guide 
  • What Felicity learned from the expedition 
  • Plans for the future
  • Documentary and books!
  • Advice for women who do want to step outside their comfort zone
  • Why there is never a good time to do what you want to do
  • The book she has been meaning to write for 10 years!!

Social Media

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

Twitter - @felicity_aston 

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You can listen to the Tough Girl Podcast on the go via iTunes, Soundcloud & Stitcher!

Feeling inspired week after week? 

You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast!

  1. Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode
  2. If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment!
  3. Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love. 

Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!

Want to do more?

Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs. 

https://www.patreon.com/ToughGirlPodcast?ty=h

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Jun 26, 2018

During this podcast we do discuss content, that some listeners could find disturbing, although nothing explicit happens or is discussed, it is more around the fears that women have going on solo adventures, and the threats that they may come across, Olivia talks very personally about her fears and how they developed, and how she took steps to overcome them.  It is discussed in a very sensitive manor, but I just want to make you aware before you listen further that any women who has faced these threats, or been a survivor may not wish to listen to this episode.

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Olivia Round is a storyteller, artist, and cyclist currently living in Seattle, Washington, USA. Originally raised in the small town of Ketchikan, Alaska, Olivia enjoyed many grand adventures... and never stopped. In 2011, at the age of twenty two, she embarked on a 5,000 mile solo bicycle journey across the United States, in an effort to face her deep-seated phobia of men. Olivia is now writing a memoir of that transformative cross-country adventure. Learn more about her story, and the stories of other cycling women, at www.oliviaround.org.

“Overcoming FEAR through ADVENTURE”

Show notes

  • Where Olivia is based
  • Being a writer and a biker (bicycle!)
  • Growing up in Alaska with only 40 miles of road, on a small island with only 12,000 people
  • Christmas presents….. of flights & family holidays!
  • Not talking about biking!
  • Being inspired by her mum and wanting to be a wild eccentric!
  • Thinking she would be the first woman to cross the USA on a bike
  • If you can’t see it - how can you become it?
  • Her secret - being afraid of men
  • Where her fears came from and trying to understand them
  • Feeling doomed and horrified about the world
  • I was Olivia the little girl who was afraid of men
  • Not wanting to let go of her phobia of men 
  • Why it was more scary not to face this
  • Tackling the phobia with a 5,000 mile bike ride!
  • Wanting to figure it out for herself and why solo travel was the decision she made
  • Heading to Chile for 3 months to volunteer on organic farms
  • Where the idea came from for her big cycle ride
  • The next step she took to make her dream a reality
  • Research via the internet, the library and speaking to anyone who had a bike!
  • Why she never thought that she’d be able to make it
  • Why she decided to try
  • Dealing with other fears before the start line
  • Practising meditation and thinking about worst case scenarios and how to deal with them
  • The logistics behind the journey
  • Making use of warmshowers.org
  • The start of the adventure!
  • Having a spot tracker and why she was so glad she had it
  • Routines while on the road
  • The magic moments from her trip
  • Wanting to quit many times!
  • Getting to the end of the trip
  • Missing out the last 15 miles!
  • Taking the time to reflect back on her journey!
  • Being inspired by Cheryl Strayed 
  • Her book and looking for an agent! 
  • New story on the Out There Podcast

 

Social Media

Website: www.oliviaround.org 

Facebook:  @oliviaroundbikes 

Instagram: @roundolivia  

Twitter: @0liviaR0und  

Jun 19, 2018

Leanne was a City exec until March 2012, when she resigned after suffering from burnout and alcoholism. She spent a few weeks in rehab before coming out and redesigning her entire lifestyle at age 37. Leanne trained to be a personal trainer, and worked as a sole trader for a while before setting up her company Bodyshot Performance. 

During that time, she build up a team and stepped away from personal training herself. She’s written two bestselling books, done a TEDx Talk, won a business award, contributed to Thrive Global and is paid to speak.

Leanne, has run the London Marathon 4x, Completed the Scotland Coast to Coast Races 3x. Which involves – 105 miles across Scotland over two days via bike, foot and kayak. She’s also done, Man v Mountain – which is a 22 mile run up Snowdon and down via obstacle course. Leanne is currently training on roller-skis for the Arctic Circle Race for 2019 which is– a 160km cross-country ski race where participants are entirely self-sufficient (3 day event).

Show notes

  • Where Leanne is based, & her gorgeous dog!
  • Who Leanne is ?
  • Growing up and what life was like when she was younger
  • Working in the city and balancing health and fitness
  • Drinking, and having a party lifestyle in her 20s
  • Deciding to leave the city and changing her life
  • Giving up alcohol and deciding to do what she was passionate about - business and health
  • Becoming a personal trainer and starting her company BodyShot
  • Going to rehab for 6 weeks
  • Not having a plan when she resigned from her job
  • What she changed when she came out of rehab
  • Doing her own personal challenges while being a PT
  • Training for the London Marathon
  • Her second marathon and the challenges she faced!
  • Running in fancy dress, during the hottest ever London Marathon!
  • Advice for other runners who want to do a marathon!
  • Why having a coach is a good idea!
  • Fundraising and fundraising fatigue
  • Doing the Arctic Circle Race in 2019!
  • Why she wanted to do this challenge!!
  • Training via roller-skiing!!
  • Planning as a pair for the Arctic Challenge
  • Looking at funding and sponsorship
  • The mental side of the preparation
  • Fear… and why you have to be mindful of it - her tips and tricks for managing it
  • Meditation and why having a daily session works for her
  • Books  - Rise and shine & Remove the Guess Work
  • Remove the Guess Work Podcast - what it is and who it is aimed for
  • Being strong of mind, body and spirit

Social Media

Website - www.bodyshotperformance.com 

Facebook - @BodyshotPT 

Twitter @bodyshotpt 

Instagram @bodyshotperformance 

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You can listen to the Tough Girl Podcast on the go via iTunes, Soundcloud & Stitcher!

If you have questions about me, the podcast, what I’m doing… then please check out my website

If you want to do more to help increase the amount of female role models in the media, please, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode.

If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review and share the podcast with your friends, to spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love. 

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If you have questions regarding the Marathon des Sables - Please read  - Tough Girl Sahara Challenge 

If you have questions regarding climbing Kilimanjaro - Please read - Kilimanjaro Tips for The Top

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Want to do more?

Become a Patron and donate every month to help fund my mission

If you want to support the mission - you can also donate via PayPal 

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Jun 12, 2018

Mirna’s transformation into a long-distance runner happened slowly. It started with doing a mile at a time and then eventually she worked her way up to a 5-kilometer race. Then that led to a 5K, then a 10K, which led to a half marathon, which led to her first marathon in 2011.

Mirna started her blog in 2011, Fat Girl Running while training for this marathon as a way to share stories with her friends and family. The blog is about being an active larger girl in a thinner world via the individual yet universal sport of running.

Mirna, uses the blog to write about her training routines, race experiences and obstacles that she faces as "an active larger girl in a thinner world.” Her personal accounts have helped her become a source of inspiration for other female athletes. "People took comfort in the fact that I was experiencing the same things that they were but I was still out there running. It didn't stop me.”

As her story grew, so did her running goals. Marathons turned into ultra-marathons. The longest race she has run so far is 100K; that's 62 miles. And she's not looking to slow down anytime soon. Mirna, continues to challenge stereotypes and inspires others to do the same.

Mirna’s ultimate running goal, is the Trans Rockies Race, which is a multi-stage, 6-day, 120-mile run through the Rocky Mountains!

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"I think most people who are my size and in athletic pursuit, we exude something different. There is a joy in what we do and we love to spread that joy to other people. Especially if it motivates them and inspires them to be athletes."

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Show notes

  • Being based in the North Georgia Mountains
  • Preparing to move house back to New Jersey
  • Growing up in NYC
  • Being known as - Fat Girl Running & the Mirnavator
  • Blogging about being a larger women who runs
  • Representing plus sized women in athletics
  • Being sporty as a child
  • Why she started running in high school
  • Why she loves running
  • Making transitions from high school to college and from college to work
  • Having her son and how it changed her life
  • Being discouraged from sports by the adults in her life
  • Going after her first marathon
  • Starting the blog and wanting to share her adventures with her friends and family
  • Not wanting to focus on weightless
  • Training for the marathon while blogging
  • Dealing with a fractured ankle
  • Getting hooked on running and wanting to do more marathons
  • Dealing with the physical pain while running
  • Dealing with criticism about her size
  • Deciding to go after her first ultra marathon in 2012
  • What her training looks like
  • Working with a coach
  • Being invited to run at the Boston Marathon
  • Speed work!
  • Her mantra - “small steps - big distance”
  • The Boston Marathon - Taking it in 2 mile chunks 
  • Fuelling her long runs and working on her nutrition 
  • Dealing with chaffing
  • How her running has impacted on her friends and family
  • Spending time in Portugal doing a trail race
  • Dealing with a DNF
  • Dealign with the pressure of being a public figure while out running
  • Wanting to run a stage race in Colorado! The Trans Rockies Race 
  • Saying yes to new opportunities
  • What’s she’s learnt from running these races and distances
  • Advice for other women
  • Why you should buy her book -  A Beautiful Work in Progress

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Social Media

Blog - Fat Girl Running

Instagram @TheMirnavator 

Facebook - Personal Page  @MirnaValerio

Facebook - Athlete Page -  Mirna Valerio - The Mirnavator 

****************************************************

Feeling inspired week after week? 

You can do 3 easy things to help me continue to grow the podcast!

  1. Subscribe to the podcast in iTunes, so you won’t miss a single episode
  2. If you’re loving the podcast, please leave a 5-star review on iTunes! I read every single comment!
  3. Share the podcast with your friends, especially if you think it could help them, and spread the #ToughGirlPodcast love. 

Your support helps me continue to grow the podcast and do inspiring things in this space! Already done all 3? You’re a rockstar! Thank you!

Want to do more?

Please become a Patron and donate a small fixed amount every month to help fund the runnings costs. 

****************************************************

 

 

Jun 5, 2018

Moire is a a bit of an extreme sports junkie. She’s been involved in the mountain running scene in Ireland for over a decade. In 2013, she got into a relatively new sport: multi-sport adventure racing, where individual races can involve disciplines such as biking, running, and kayaking, on both smooth road and rocky mountain surfaces. Moire has adventure raced the Quest GlendaloughGaelforce West and Westport Sea2Summit.

Moire ended up winning the Irish National Adventure Racing Series in 2014, 2016 and 2017. At the same time, her husband and her were starting a family, with her first son Aran being born in 2013 and her second son Cahal being born in 2015. 

Moire has written two books, the first in 2011,  Mud Sweat and Tears and her second, Bump, Bike and Baby in 2018, where she shares more of her journey with having a family while juggling training and racing across the country!

Show Notes

  • Living in Northern Ireland
  • Growing up in Derry 
  • Being a juggler and balancing many different roles
  • Being a mother, a runner, an adventure racer and author
  • What she was liking growing up
  • Living in Kenya for her 20s before moving back to Ireland in her 30s
  • Getting into mountains running for the first time (both hating it and loving it at the same time)
  • Irish Mountain Running Association (IMRA)
  • What she loves about mountain running and why she likes who she is while running
  • Managing the fear of running down hill at speed
  • The Wicklow Round - the history of the challenge and the planning involved for it
  • 2008 giving it ago and learning huge amounts.. What if I….
  • Mentally getting over setbacks and making the transition to wanting to give it another go
  • Why she doesn’t overthink challenges and focuses on breaking them down
  • Training schedule and working with a coach
  • Pregnancy, babies and the impact on her life and training
  • Judgement about doing exercise (running, mountain biking weight lifting), while being pregnant 
  • What it was like after having her first child…
  • Susie Mitchell -Book “Pregnancy to Podium” and 4 months later winning a world masters track cycling title!
  • Training for her next adventure race and breast feeding!
  • Losing bladder control while racing and what you can do about it
  • Having a 2 year old and a 4 year old
  • Her love of bike rollers!
  • The next challenge - Quest Wales (Adventure race!)
  • The Dennis Rankin Round - the challenge, 24 hrs, 40 peaks and starting at 3 am
  • Lets talk about pooing and getting your period while out running
  • Books - Mud Sweat and Tears, Bump Bike & Baby 

 

Social Media

Twitter: @moireosullivan

Blog: https://moireosullivan.com/ 

Books!

Mud, Sweat and Tears

Bump, Bike and Baby

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