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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: 2021
Jun 10, 2021
A lover of all things outdoors, Cathy is an explorer, mother, wife and USA Operations Lead at global drone-based inspection company, CyberHawk - and that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.
 
Back in 2014, Cathy led a climbing expedition to a remote part of East Greenland, establishing four new, never-before-explored routes. 
 
Cathy passionately believes that these kinds of life-changing experiences don’t just fall into your lap - you have to work hard for them. 
 
Expeditions are born from a book full of notes and ideas, endless nights of planning, and more spreadsheets than any outdoor-lover cares to imagine.
 
Australian-born and adopted-Scot, Cathy currently splits her time between Colorado and California, where she’s learning to both snowboard and surf, while spending time with friends and family. 
 
It’s safe to say that she’s really taking advantage of every opportunity life throws at her.
 
Listen to Cathy on the Tough Girl Podcast! New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - 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
  • Who is Cath?
  • Currently based in Denver, Colorado, USA
  • Living in Scotland for the past 20 years with her husband and children
  • Working for CyberHawk using drones 
  • Growing up in Adelaide in South Australia
  • Spending time in the outdoors and climbing trees at a young age
  • Leaving Australia to go to Canada in her early 20s
  • Meeting her husband in Canada and moving to Scotland
  • Starting climbing in her mid thirties after having her 3 children
  • Making progress in climbing 
  • Having an accident and spending 9 months in recovery
  • Building her confidence back up
  • Finding people to climb with 
  • Venturing outside to climb
  • Not giving up when challenges happen
  • Dealing with fears and building confidence
  • Deciding to head to East Greenland in 2014
  • Wanting to climb in a remote and challenging location
  • Needing to find a team and get people on board
  • Starting with the research
  • Struggling to find women to come and climb
  • Spending 5 weeks in East Greenland
  • Planning the new routes
  • The tent sent up and what base camp was like
  • Feeling confident but apprehensive
  • Paying and funding for the expedition
  • Being supported by Tiso 
  • Figuring out the food requirements for 5 people for 5 weeks
  • Human waste and dealing with poo!
  • The wildlife considerations from crows to polar bears
  • Her physical preparation and working with a personal trainer 
  • Being part of a “fit-family”
  • Reflecting back on Greenland and the lessons learned
  • Being careful of the people who you surround yourself with
  • Being open to the learning 
  • The next challenge…. and wanting to head to South America
  • Final words of advice to encourage other women to take the next step
  • The power of talking about what you want to do 
 
Social Media
 
Website - cathyalldred.com 
 
Instagram - @cathyalldred 
 
Twitter @cathyalldred 
 
Jun 8, 2021
Before summiting Everest, Tima had climbed 18 high mountains around the world including 6 out of the 7 summits (highest mountain on every continent) and became the 1st Arab woman to climb Ojos del Salado, the highest active volcano in the world. With her passion for exploring and redefining limits, mountaineering came as a second nature to her. Staying true to her wanderer spirit, she aims to continue leading an adventurous lifestyle and never stop climbing.
 
Tima grew up traveling the world collecting bungee jumps and memories of nature and extreme sports. She pursued her licenses in both skydiving and advanced scuba-diving as she made both the skies and the oceans her playgrounds. But, for her, nothing compares to being on the mountains. When on Elbrus, her first summit, Tima knew that this was not yet another hobby; but a natural and essential aspect of her life- just like breathing. It’s where her soul sparkles and her light shines. It’s where she feels she is the best version of herself. And so, it was no surprise that after Elbrus, she decided to focus on mountaineering.
 
The once-finance professional working in a multinational firm, gave up her career ladder for the love of mountains. Life changing decision is an understatement as she threw herself in a new path she knew barely about. Yet, she explored and excelled and later ventured into entrepreneurship by launching two startups while still climbing around the world. 
 
When she’s not on a mountain, Tima, founder of Mountain Gipsy and a professionally certified coach, believes that her mission is to give back to the world what the mountains gave to her. As such, she works with people from all backgrounds and circumstances to develop an invincible mindset so they can achieve their most ambitious goals by becoming more resilient, creative, confident, and courageous. 
 
Moreover, she dedicates her time to support and raise awareness for essential socio-economic topics that are shaping our world. She’s an advocate of children, youth, and women’s rights, and an activist of environmental issues. She works with various organizations to equip children, youth, and women with the means to follow their passion, develop their leadership skills, and carve their own path for a better future. In parallel, driven by her love of nature, Tima campaigns on environment issues such as climate change, deforestation, and waste recycling.
 
Tima’s priority remains being in the outdoors and going for any adventure that life has to offer.
 
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
  • Her mission for Arab Women
  • Going back to her childhood
  • Being into sports and wanting to try everything
  • Thinking it wasn’t for her 
  • Turning 19 and getting into scuba diving and sky diving
  • Enjoying extreme sports and living on the edge
  • Feeling the most alive when she was under pressure
  • Never thinking she would climb mountains
  • Being Nomadic and wanting to explore more of the world
  • Going travelling with her family to Nepal at 14
  • Deciding to go and climb mountains at 23
  • Making her dream come true
  • What her first steps are
  • Why you need to be determined and serious about wanting to climb mountains
  • Climbing Mt Elbrus - the highest mountain in Europe
  • Not knowing what she was getting into….
  • Deciding to focus exclusively on mountaineering
  • Not reaching the summit on Mt. Aconcagua 
  • Dealing with failure in the mountains
  • Learning to control her confidence 
  • Making a promise to herself
  • Working as an accountant and climbing mountains
  • Having a vision board
  • Getting the deposit for Mt. Everest from her family
  • Heading to Mt Everest in 2019 and becoming the first Lebanese Woman to summit the mountain
  • Going to Kilimanjaro with 8 young women
  • Wanting to use her platform to give back to others
  • Struggling to find role models in mountaineering 
  • Going against society and the expected norms of society
  • Being very focused on what she wants
  • Confidence and being supported by her parents 
  • Dealing with sickness while out in the mountains and coughing up blood
  • The push to reach the summit of Mt. Everest
  • The practicalities of the journey 
  • Why every move counts at high altitude
  • Being stuck in the bottleneck on Everest for 2hrs
  • Deciding to go to Lebanon after the blast (2020)
  • Working for an (NGO) - Non-Government Organizations
  • Training for the mountains and figuring out what works for her
  • Working as a mindset coach
  • Values….
  • The power of gratitude
  • Planning her next climbs in Nepal & Africa
  • Final words of advice for women who want to get into the mountains
 
Social Media
 
Website www.timaderyan.com 
 
Instagram - @mountaingipsy 
 
Facebook - @Mountaingipsy
 
Jun 3, 2021
Angela started running at the age of 53 as part of a series of ‘small steps’ she took to improve her health and quality of life.  A friend then introduced her to the world of ultra running and she become fascinated with what the human body can achieve when asked.
 
Since then she has completed events of varying distances including 50 miles, a 100 mile race and the 190 mile Northern Traverse and a number of 24 hour races as well as taking up cycling and swimming.
 
A former surgeon, Angela has a passion to inspire others to take their own ‘small steps’ to adopt healthy lifestyle choices throughout life and has set up a social enterprise to encourage and motivate people to improve their future health.
 
Prior to medicine Angela had a first career in the computer industry but in her early thirties she went to medical school and retrained as a doctor. Thereafter she undertook surgical training and specialised in trauma and orthopaedics. She developed a special interest in older people and hip fracture. She combined her skills from both careers throughout her practice to improve services for patients. Among other roles, she has been a Trustee with an Age UK charity and chaired a Local Authority Health and Wellbeing Board. Each of these roles gave her different perspectives on issues affecting us as we age but a predominant concern is the level of long term health problems people develop through life.
 
Angela says that age really is just a number and, with increased life expectancy, it’s really important that we change our expectations of older age and remain healthy and continue to pursue our dreams and ambitions. 
Setting ourselves goals of one sort or another can help give us purpose and a sense of achievement.
 
In September 2019, to raise awareness of the need to look after ourselves, Angela challenged herself to run from John O’Groats to Land’s End, ‘the JOGLE’, a distance of 875 miles. Overcoming extreme weather and injury, she found herself re-framing her expectations on the run.
 
Completing the JOGLE in 18 days, 10 hours and 3 minutes, at the age of 60, Angela set a new Guinness World Record as the oldest female to do so.
 
Angela has three children and three little granddaughters for whom she hopes she is a worthy and positive role model.
 
‘You’re never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream’
 
 
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 Angela
  • Having 2 careers, first in the computer industry and then becoming a Doctor in her early 30s
  • Developing an interest in trauma in older people
  • 2006/2007 losing 3 close family members within 4 months of one another
  • Throwing herself into work and becoming unfit and unhappy
  • 2009 dealing with personal illness and needing to make a change in her life
  • Taking - Small Steps
  • Taking up running at 53 years old and being introduced to ultra running
  • Learning how to cycle and swim and doing triathlons
  • Being fascinated by what the human body can do
  • 190 mile Northern Traverse  
  • Losing her husband to a brain tumour 
  • Wanting to find a way to help others
  • Setting up a social enterprise to encourage other people to take their own small steps to improve their own quality of life
  • Wanting to change the perception of ageing
  • Going for Old Community Interest Company to help improve the quality of life for all of us as we age (Company Number: 11481424)
  • Starting with walking
  • Renewing social contacts with old friends
  • Having trouble sleeping
  • How can I make it fun? How can I make it enjoyable?
  • Progressing with her running!
  • Joining a running group for mature ladies
  • The Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge - 30 summits over a distance of 48 miles and climbs 17,000 feet (77km, 5182m).
  • Lakes in a Day - 50 miles, 4000m ascent  
  • Mental resilience during tough times
  • JOGLE - 875 miles running from John O’Groats to Lands End
  • Dealing with the bodies response to trauma
  • Running 40 miles a day in training
  • Running 74 miles on the first day of JOGLE
  • Supplementation
  • Food and snacks to fuel the JOGLE run!
  • Dealing with adverse weather conditions - of heat and a North Atlantic Storm!
  • Costs of JOGLE 
  • The challenge of gathering the evidence for Guinness to prove the World Record
  • Advice for women who think they are too old to take on a new challenge
  • Why you are never too old to set a new goal or a new dream
  • Having to make the social enterprise dormant due to covid
  • Taking on a new challenge for her 62nd birthday! 
  • Running the 62 highest lake district peaks back to back in 62 hours on the 6th June 2021
  • Feeling anxious about the upcoming challenge
  • Racing the Montane Lakeland 100 at the end of July  
  • Advice and top tips for other women 
 
Social Media
 
To find out more about Angela and The Running Granny:
 
 
Instagram @therunninggranny 
 
Twitter @running_granny  
 
If you’d like to make a donation to support Angela’s social enterprise:
 
 
Jun 1, 2021
Amira in her own words: 
 
“My name is Amira I’m 28 years old and I’m from Bolton. I’m a Muslim British Indian. I currently work at a Spa retreat, and when I’m not working you’ll find me somewhere in the mountains or on an adventure. I’m the founder of The Wanderlust Women Group which is a hiking and adventure group for Muslim women. My aim is to break down the barriers and stereotypes of the niqab and to break down misconceptions of Muslim women. The niqab to me is liberating and dignifying. It gives me strength and freedom. I wear the niqab as a personal act of worship and I deeply believe it brings me closer to god.”
 
Amira shares more about her passion for the outdoors, why she spends time outside and how she is encouraging other Muslim women to get outdoors and try hiking. 
 
“Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life; it’s about what you inspire others to do.” 
 
“It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform.”
 
Listen to Amira 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
  • Who is Amira
  • Living in Bolton
  • Combing her passions for photography, videography and the outdoors
  • Doing community based work with other Muslim women
  • Being the oldest child and getting to travel a lot
  • Not wanting to do anything in her teenage years
  • Being encouraged by her mum to go hiking 
  • Going solo travelling and backpacking after college
  • Getting to explore more of England
  • Finding her own route into the outdoors
  • How her mum found more people to go hiking with
  • Being a “good scared’ about going solo travelling
  • Deciding to go on a road trip around England
  • Planning a trip to Paris which then expanded to more of Europe
  • Studying art & design at university
  • Being questioned about her decisions
  • How the name for Wanderlust Women came about
  • Researching and answering questions about her safety
  • Lessons learned from being on her own
  • Trying to find out who she is
  • Needing to get out of her comfort zone
  • Wanderlust Women and how it came about
  • The benefits from joining the group
  • Encouraging women to sign up for new challenges and adventures
  • Why the outdoors is for everyone
  • What the niqab is and what it means to her
  • Advice and tips for Muslim women who want to solo hike
  • Finding appropriate clothing to wear to dress modestly
  • Syndeed Clothing 
  • Food while hiking
  • Magical moments from the mountains
  • Doing the 3 Peaks Challenge in the UK
  • Connecting with God when outdoors
  • Needing a pause and spending time in nature
  • Wanting to do more in the outdoors
  • Dealing with anxiety on Ben Nevis
  • Bucket List Dreams
  • Who her Muslim role models are
  • Don’t let your fears get in the way
 
 
Social Media
 
Instagram
 
@amira_thewanderlust 
 
@the.wanderlust.women 
 
May 27, 2021
Nalini in her own words:
 
“I’m a grants manager at a nonprofit that focuses on youth development by day and an outdoor enthusiast by weekend. Whether I’m tending to my balcony garden, walking in parks in my hometown of the Washington, D.C. area, hiking iconic trails in National Parks, or carrying everything I need for a week or six-month long backpacking trip, I love spending time in the outdoors (and sharing stories of everything that goes wrong during my adventures).
 
  • Backpacking. It’s nothing short of a gift to have time to be in your head, carry no other worry than the miles ahead for the day and feel the freedom that comes with with carrying everything you need in a pack.
  • Hiking. The remarkable view from the summit of a mountain feels different when your body’s efforts get you to the top.
  • Walking. Nothing makes me feel more connected to all the beauty and possibility of nature than a walk in a park close to home.”
 
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 DC Area
  • Not growing up going to green spaces
  • Being the daughter of immigrants
  • Not having time to explore the outdoors
  • Getting into the outdoors in 2014
  • Going through tough times 
  • Watching a documentary on the Appalachian Trail
  • Not seeing herself in the traditional narrative of what’s seen as outdoorsy
  • Wanting to change the narrative of what it means to be in the outdoors
  • Starting the blog and instagram account - Hiking Misadventures 
  • Spending time with her mum in the garden
  • Her earliest memories
  • Being a quiet child
  • Looking after her mum while she had cancer
  • How her parents fled Sir Lanka
  • Deciding to hike the Appalachian Trail
  • Always following a road map and needing to change something
  • Not liking new things
  • Deciding to go solo on the hike
  • Sleeping in the shelter for the first time
  • Focusing on the next step, the next mile and the next day
  • Dealing with her feelings of fear
  • The planning and preparation time
  • The privilege of being able to do a long distance hike
  • Being a good planner
  • Dealing with imposter syndrome
  • Learning to believe in herself
  • The challenge of being 4’9 tall
  • How her body needed to adjust to the trail
  • Getting to the summit of Mt. Katahdin
  • How the Appalachian Trail changed her and helped her to believe in herself
  • How her priorities changed
  • Wanting to share more of her story and starting her next blog in 2018
  • How the Appalachian Trail was also an isolating time for her
  • Connecting with an amazing community online
  • What adventure means to Nalini
  • Feeling isolated and dealing with those feelings while on the AT
  • Racism on the Appalachian Trail and not feeling safe 
  • Taking time off and using her support networks off the trail
  • Life after the trail and not wanting to make work her entire life
  • The Wonderland Trail (93 miles)
  • Applying to be a thru hiking ambassador 
  • Being rescued from the trail
  • Making the right decision even though it was tough to make
  • Ending the hike early 
  • Dealing with feelings of shame
  • How her mum is doing
  • Advice for other women who want to spend more time in the outdoors
  • Words to encourage you to try new things
 
Social Media
 
Website - hikingmisadventures.com 
 
Instagram @hikingmisadventures  

 

May 25, 2021
Earlier this year, On January 22, Brooke Thomas an ultra runner and nurse, finished running the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail. Which starts at Cape Regina in the North Island and runs through to Buff, which is the bottom of the South Island. 
 
Brooke started her journey (supported) on November 26, 2020 and ran for 57 days, 12 hours, breaking the Te Araroa women’s route record by almost nine days! 
 
During this episode, Brooke shares more about her love of running and why she wanted to take on this challenge, she shares the high points; running 100km in one day and finishing the challenge. To reflecting back on when she ending up in hospital and not knowing if she would be able to carry on. We talk about the logistics and the physical and mental preparation. Brooke also shares more about her heart condition and how having a pacemaker/defibrillator installed has impacted on her life and running. 
 
Brooke was raising money for Heart Kids, a nonprofit organisation in New Zealand that supports children living with heart defects. 
 
Brooke in her own words:
 
“At age 22 I was diagnosed with a heart condition and became the recipient of an inserted cardiac pacemaker/defibrillator. Being told you have a long term condition at that age, I reckon it's probably pretty normal to go through the journey of feeling hard done by, asking 'why me', then eventually learning to accept and embrace it. 
 
One of my favourite quotes is that "it's not the throw, but the catch". You can't always choose what life might chuck at you, but you decide how to receive it, and what to do next.
 
Being a nurse and witnessing the enormous challenges some patients go through has also definitely helped me to stay grounded when it comes to my own condition, and 100% inspired me to keep pushing my own boundaries.
 
I guess the best thing I've learned through my own experiences is that you never know how long you're going to get in life to do all the things you want to do. We've just got to make the most of what we’ve got and embrace any opportunity you get while you can.
 
For me, anything that both scares me and makes me question myself is definitely something I want to try!”
 
“Running the length of a country is without doubt the toughest challenge I have ever undertaken before. Yet somehow all the moments of struggle, exhaustion, frustration and disbelief in myself are so quickly forgotten in comparison to the excitement, raw happiness and gratitude that I have experienced throughout this journey.” - Brooke Thomas
 
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 Brooke
  • Not thinking of herself as an athlete
  • Going running with her dad when she was younger
  • Living in Queenstown 
  • Coming from a close family
  • Having a twin sister 
  • Her running journey 
  • Being into rowing at a competitive level 
  • Using running as an outlet 
  • Training 2x a day for rowing 
  • Quitting rowing due to a heart condition
  • Having a pace maker fitted to help her heart beat
  • What her pace maker does
  • Not being able to compete in the world championships
  • Fundraising for Heartkids
  • The transition period from professional athlete to having a pace maker fitted
  • Finding your own limits 
  • Building back her confidence with running
  • Deciding to run the full length of New Zealand
  • Being inspired by Mina Holder and Lucy Clark 
  • Meeting her running coach - Adam Keen
  • The planning and preparation for the trip
  • Wanting to start the trail in November
  • Getting 2 months off work
  • Thinking about the record
  • Wanting to prove something to herself
  • Feeling the pressure from being behind schedule
  • Feeling like a failure every day
  • The magical moments while on the trail
  • Mental preparation
  • Dealing with the challenging sections and moments
  • Fuelling her body!
  • Getting into flow while running
  • The beauty of trail running and community
  • Dealing with the challenging river crossings
  • Dealing with food care
  • Documenting her journey in order to get the FKT (Fastest Known Time) 
  • Wearing a Coros watch
  • The finish line...
  • The final 100K - a nice round number
  • The biggest lesson learned from running the TA
  • The power of believing in yourself 
  • Thinking about the worst case scenario 
  • Getting back to work straight away
  • Follow Brooke and donate to Heart Kids - links down below.
 
 
Social Media
 
Instagram - @brooke_bt_thomas 
 
Charity donation link - onebigjog.wixsite.com/onebigjog/where-s-wally
te-araroa-for-heart-kids.raisely.com/brooke-thomas 
 
Brooks Running Coach - Aerobicedge Coaching
 
Listen to Mina Holder on the Tough Girl Podcast 
 
May 20, 2021
Jessie’s lifelong outdoor odyssey began with Duke of Edinburgh walks in the Peak District. 
 
This segued into long hill hikes in the Yorkshire Dales, multi-day treks in the Lake District, scrambles in North Wales and adventures scaling alpine pinnacles. 
 
When not walking, she can be found rock climbing, wild swimming, cycling, photographing, filmmaking, writing and modelling. 
 
Jessie in her own words:
 
“It’s so so important to be championing a greater diversity of voices and lenses that show a different narrative on the world.”
 
“For me, trad climbing helps me slow everything down. When I have deadlines on, worrying about where my next job comes through or trying to give my head a bit of space, I find nothing helps concentrate me more than heading to my local crag and putting all the mind chatter in a box. Being on the sharp end and taking a deep breath, committing to the move above my gear - that is what gives me energy”
 
 
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 Jessie
  • Juggling a lot of things as a freelancer
  • Being British-born Chinese 
  • Her family and growing up in Essex
  • Being encouraged by her parents to get into a good university
  • Doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award through Air Cadets
  • Getting mini expeditions under her belt in the local area
  • Heading out to the Peak District for the DoE Silver Award
  • Going on to do the Gold Award and doing the expedition to the Pyrenees Mountains!
  • The spark for hiking, trekking and exploration 
  • Her future plans and dreams
  • Being the oldest in her family and being a rebel
  • Having a desire to spend time outdoors
  • Where her drive and ambition comes from
  • Her passion for photography 
  • Being inspired by amazing and supportive teachers
  • The realities of being a professional photographer in the outdoors
  • Heading up North to Leeds to get a degree
  • Working in a commercial studio 
  • Getting involved in a hiking club 
  • Starting as a social hiker and how it evolved into climbing
  • The loss of a climber from the hiking club and its impact
  • Finding solace in the mountains
  • Gaining Alpine Skills
  • Getting Trad Climbing experience in 2015
  • Having good friends
  • Heading to the Alps for her first Alpine Adventure 2016
  • Being an OS #GetOutside Champion 
  • Dealing with the Beast from the East in the UK while climbing
  • Encouraging people to see what adventures are available on their doorstep
  • Advice for other women to achieve their goals
  • 2020 goals
  • Taking her ML assessment and her challenging experience 
  • Advice for those who want to take their ML 
  • New film….with the Pinnacle Club 
 
 
Social Media
 
Website jessieleong.co.uk 
 
Instagram @jessielphoto 
 
Facebook @jessieleongphotographyuk 
 
Twitter @JessieLPhoto 
 
Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UC2JgkubKdHJmdNhciVbfc2Q 
 
May 18, 2021
Jessi (Jessilynn) was born in a small town in Southern Alberta Canada. She grew up on a ranch and has always loved being in the mountains. She moved around quite a bit as a child and is now living in Sandy, UT, USA. 
 
Jessi started competing in cross country in high school but stopped due to illness, which later was diagnosed as Lyme Disease. After going through treatments in the United States, Jessi spent three consecutive summers in Kerala, India where she learned the value of meditation and building a relationship with herself. 
 
After having her daughter, who is now seven, Jessi decided to run her first marathon. She went on to compete in many ultra-marathon distances and recently won the female division at Moab 240 in October 2020. 
 
Jessi recently wrote a book called, Defying the Odds, which talks about her journey and how she used mental fortitude to become the person she is today. 

CONTENT WARNING - Rape is mentioned and miscarriages are discussed in detail.

 
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 Alberta, Canada on a farm
  • Moving to Texas with her mum when she was in the 10th grade
  • Going to 15 different high schools
  • Her passion for ultra running, yoga and meditation
  • Staying in Utah
  • Trying different sports but never sticking at any one sport
  • Getting into running and falling in love with it
  • Becoming a PT
  • Having her daughter and running her first marathon
  • Not being a natural runner
  • Doing the mile test 
  • Running at night around the farm
  • Running while pregnant
  • Having multiple miscarriages 
  • Being active during pregnancy
  • Running her first marathon 4 months after having her daughter 
  • The Boston Marathon bombing 
  • 48 hr labour
  • Why her first marathon was a disaster 
  • Signing up for her first 50 mile race
  • Using running for therapy 
  • Feeling healed
  • Increasing the mileage and going outside her comfort zone
  • Feeling so nervous doing her first 100 miles
  • Hearing about the Moab 240 race 
  • Breaking down the race into smaller distances
  • Why she enjoys the longer distances
  • Nutrition and problems with digestion
  • Having chronic lyme disease
  • Staying on top of hydration
  • Mindset and mental resilience 
  • Why running ultra’s is like life
  • Being the fastest woman running Moab 240
  • The final stretch
  • Winning her first race
  • Being humble and wanting to be relatable 
  • Book - Defying the Odds 
  • Final words of advice
 
Social Media
 
Instagram - @jessimortonlangehaug 
 
May 13, 2021
Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel – Kul Wičasa Lakota, a citizen of Kul Wicasa Oyate (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe) as well as a passionate and devoted advocate for Indian Country and all people. 
 
Nationally known for her advocacy and grassroots organization for anti-pipelines/climate justice efforts, change the name/not your mascot, the epidemic and crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, two spirits and relatives (MMIWG2S), and native youth initiatives. 
 
Her experience in grants and project management, policy, blogging, and organizing has been leveraged by both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to quality healthcare, MMIWG2S, the Violence Against Women Act, and a variety of other worthy causes.
 
Jordan is the founder and organizer of Rising Hearts, an Indigenous led grassroots group devoted to elevating Indigenous voices and promoting intersectional collaborative efforts across all movements with the goals of racial, social, climate, and economic justice. 
 
The primary focuses are to inform, elevate, mobilize, and organize through strategic and targeted advocacy, establishing collaborative partnerships to help create a better and safer future and environment for all of our relatives who inhabit this planet, past, present and future. Jordan sits on the Board of Directors with the PowerShift Network and ReNew Earth Running, to work with passionate individuals to influence change and to help increase Indigenous visibility. She was also awarded the NCAIED Native American 40 Under 40 in the fall of 2018. 
 
In 2019, she served on the Womxn’s March – Ending Violence Against Womxn and Femmes Policy Committee with other Native womxn representing on multiple committees. She is also a 2020 Society fellow with Return to the Heart Foundation. As well as sitting on the Intersectional Environmentalists Council, and Runner’s World Alliance Ambassador program.
 
Currently, she is using her running platform, to help raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives by dedicating the miles she runs to a missing or murdered Indigenous person, #RunningForJustice and is now intersecting this effort and prayers for Black Lives Matter and calling an end to police brutality. She is among many Indigenous people working to elevate this crisis and to bring justice to the families and victims. And creating programming to build community and focus on wellness through Indigenous Wellness through Movement while continuing the heart work in supporting communities. 
 
Now, she is continuing this running journey and advocacy, as a professional runner with Altra Team Elite and Rabbit. She is an Ambassador with Ultimate Direction for her running and advocacy. Jordan has launched, Mitakuye Oyasin (We Are All Related), a COVID19 relief program since June 2020 for Indigenous communities, to send masks to Indigenous relatives and communities to help protect and keep the communities safe and organizing virtual running and wellness events to support Indigenous communities and expand community through allyship. 
 
Jordan is consulting on documentaries as Indigenous advocate, producer on films focused on Indigenous Earth Protectors, BIPOC runners, and supporting families impacted by MMIW, Executive Producer and co-director of #RunningWithPurpose. She consults with outdoor organizations to develop content on social media to protect sacred lands and promote health and wellness for Indian Country. Jordan is an Outreach and Project Manager with the UCLA, supporting researchers with their project proposals and with the new pivot to COVID-related studies and clinical trials, and continuing to organize in the community she lives on, homelands to the Tovangaar people, also known as Los Angeles, CA.
 
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
  • What Jordan does
  • What her early years were like
  • Moving to the state of Maine
  • Trying to figure out life 
  • Experiencing racism for the first time
  • Being different
  • How her life changed at college
  • Her dreams as a little girl
  • Living in DC and being an advocate for Indigenous Women
  • Learning to love and accept herself
  • Making it through high school
  • How running became her identity
  • Finding her community 
  • Moving to DC and making the transition from college to work
  • Building her network 
  • Running and fitting it into her life
  • Why her community comes first
  • Combing her passions for running and advocacy
  • Running the Boston Marathon and doing a prayer run
  • Giving up
  • The red hand print symbol
  • 2 spirits
  • What can I do?
  • Self care
  • The challenges of 2019 
  • Being mentally and physically exhausted before races
  • Taking 2 months off
  • Founding Rising Hearts in 2016
  • Why the wellness industry needs to reflex diversity 
  • Being inclusive
  • Running on native lands 
  • Dealing with an injury for the past 2 years
  • Words of advice to encourage you to start running 
 
 
Social Media
 
Website  www.jordanmariedaniel.com 
 
Instagram @nativein_la 
 
Twitter @_NativeInLA 
 
May 11, 2021
Ellie in her own words:
 
“I am a Mental Health Personal Trainer based in East Sussex. I started my business WellbeingFIT last year because I want to raise awareness of the many benefits of exercise on our mental health and wellbeing. I also want to make exercise more accessible and positive to people - especially if they usually feel that exercise isn’t for them.
 
All of this was inspired by my own mental ill-health. I have suffered with depression and anxiety for the last 10 years, and have also received treatment for PTSD. I did get to the point when I began planning my suicide.
 
Exercise was my saviour through my toughest times. I am still on my journey of recovery and I am using my experiences to help people; to provide empathy and compassion; alongside emphasising how exercise can really help our mental health.
 
Alongside WellbeingFIT I have also started my mental health blog #WeGotThis. My aim here is to raise awareness, challenge stigma and to provide a safe space to share stories.
 
I want people to know that you can go through a really tough mental health journey and still come out the other side. There is hope when you are able to share what you are going through. Stigma still tells us that we should feel guilt or shame when we are experiencing mental ill-health - this alone adds a huge amount to our suffering which is completely unnecessary.
 
Exercise can provide relief from symptoms of mental ill-health and can be a space for sharing how you are feeling. It can also be a way of maintaining good mental health - regularly giving yourself priority and challenging what you are capable of.”
 
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 Ellie and what she does
  • Being a Mental Health Personal Trainer
  • Her journey into fitness and how it started
  • How exercise helped her with her mental health
  • Getting though the toughest times
  • Feeling alone with her mental health and not being able to talk to people
  • Realising that becoming a PT could be a way of helping people
  • Wanting to help people with their recovery
  • Signing up to a PT course after her first child
  • Starting her own business - WellbeingFIT
  • The exciting and challenging times at the start of her business
  • Trying to get paying customers
  • Knowing the reasons why you are doing this
  • Being supported by her Brother in Law who built her website
  • The power of asking for help
  • Enjoying all types of exercise
  • Exercise after having your baby
  • Sleep deprivation
  • Mum guilt
  • Depression and anxiety after having her first child
  • Seeing a therapist every week
  • Getting professional help
  • Being told she had ‘mild depression’
  • Talking therapy by the NHS
  • Needing to know the core reason of why she was feeling how she was
  • The stigma of mental health and how it’s changed over the past 8 years
  • What makes a Mental Health PT different
  • Dealing with stress
  • Coping with lockdowns
  • Comparing situations with other people
  • Wellness and kindness
  • Final words of advice
 
 
Social Media
 
Website - www.wellbeingfit.co.uk 
 
Facebook @wellbeingfitwithellie 
 
Instagram @wellbeingfitwithellie
 
 
May 6, 2021
Patricia Alcivar (Patty Boom Boom) was born on December 12, 1983 from parents who emigrated from Barranquilla, Colombia. She is one of four sisters who grew up in a small two bedroom apartment in Woodside, Queens, N.Y. Her father was removed from their home when she was 10 years old leaving her mother to take care of four girls.
 
Patty left an abusive home at the age of 16 after completing her first NYC Marathon. She knew that if she could complete 26.2 miles on her own, she could do anything! She completed High School with honours while working after school to support herself.
 
Patty is a 2-time NYC Golden Gloves Champion, USA Nationals Champion, NY Metro Champion, Western States Champion and the first Female ever to be voted and win “Athlete of the Year,” as voted by the United States Olympic Committee. As a Professional Boxer, she captured the New York State title.
 
Patty’s passion is Alpine/Mountain Climbing and one of her goals is to be the first Latina from Queens, New York to climb the 7 Summits of the World. She has already successfully summited 3 of the 7 thus far: Kilimanjaro-the highest peak in Africa (in 2 days!), Aconcagua-the highest peak in South America and in the Western & Southern Hemispheres and Mount Elbrus in Russia-Highest Peak in Europe.
 
When Patty is not out climbing, running or boxing, she supports herself by working in a variety of ways which include being Spanish Interpreter/ Translator, EMT, Event Manager, Group Fitness Instructor & Print Ad & Commercial fitness model.
 
In Patty’s free time, she is an animal activist and is also active in Fighting Hunger & Poverty through NYCARES, Meals on Wheels and NYC Harvest which provide Food to homebound elderly or New Yorkers in need.
 
Patty hopes to go back to school in the near future for a Nursing degree and continue giving back and be a positive role model to athletes and women of all ages around the world. 
 
Upon completion of her project " Climbing for a Dream-7 Summits" she would like to help build a foundation to educate people around the world about the great outdoors and how to use the challenge and beauty of nature to heal physically, mentally and spiritually.
 
  • CONTENT WARNING - we discuss leaving an abusive situation.
 
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
  • Her nickname and professional boxing name
  • Who Patty is and what she does
  • Her goal to climb the 7 summits
  • 3 done, with 4 more to go
  • Living in NYC on her own 
  • Running her first marathon at 16
  • Being 1 of 4 sisters
  • Being inspired by the Boston Marathon and knowing she would run it one day
  • Coming from Colombia in South America
  • Being laughed at for her dream of running a marathon
  • Going for her first run at 5am
  • Joining the NYC Road Runners
  • Living in a bad situation at home
  • How running helped her leave an abusive situation
  • Being diagnosed with ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Being enrolled in sports at a young age
  • Getting into martial arts 
  • Winning a world title in martial arts
  • Deciding what to do next
  • Lying about her age to get her first job
  • How she got into Boxing
  • Not being able to support herself through boxing
  • Taking the opportunity to focus on mountaineering
  • Falling in love with the mountains
  • Climbing in Ecuador
  • Wanting to take climbing to the highest level
  • Becoming more patient 
  • Having to turn back from a summit
  • Her though process while climbing 
  • Needing to be fully focused while climbing
  • Climbing Kilimanjaro in 2017 in 2 days!
  • Climbing Aconcagua in South America and why it was so challenging 
  • Training for 12 months
  • Carrying all her own equipment at high altitude
  • The power of visualisation 
  • Getting back to normal after summiting Aconcagua
  • Money and paying to climb mountains
  • Maintaining her motivation levels
  • The power of praying
  • Living in NYC during the pandemic
  • Making the most out of her time
  • Getting up at 3:30am
  • Her plans to go and climb Denali 
  • Documenting and sharing her journey 
 
Social Media
 
Website - www.climbingforadream.com 
 
Medium - link.medium.com/TqkCgkXDfcb
 
Instagram 
 
@pattyboxer12 
 
@climbingforadream
 
 
May 4, 2021
A lover of adventure: climbing, hiking, camping and fun, Frankie started biking in lock down and with very little experience took her second hand bike on a squiggly loop of the UK to interview 51outdoorsy folx older than her about how they kept the adventure alive, and showing that you don't have to "do it whilst you're young”. 
 
These stories were recorded and the conversations shared via the Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn Podcast*
 
*Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn - has had a rebrand and has changed its name to Extraordinary Ordinary You - this transition is taking place now. The reason for the name change will be discussed during this episode. 
 
Listen to Frankie now on the Tough Girl Podcast! You can listen on itunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify & iheartradio.
 
New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure to 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 visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast
 
 
Show notes
  • Who is Frankie
  • What she loves
  • Growing up in the countryside in Devon
  • Moving to rural France when she was young
  • Wanting to live in the city 
  • Moving to Brighton, UK at 17/18 years old
  • Living in France
  • Doing an exchange to New Zealand
  • Being broke and living on a tight budget
  • Investing in a pair of hiking boots, sleeping bag and backpack
  • Getting into hiking in New Zealand
  • Having fun on a budget
  • Connecting with awesome people
  • Not planning on going to university 
  • Studying childcare in college
  • Working seasons for 2 years as a kids rep
  • Wanting to move up or move on
  • Deciding to go to university to study Tourism
  • Wanting to work and travel!
  • Not having a plan for the future
  • Doing a placement year in Chamonix - Action Outdoors 
  • Playing catch up and wanting to do as much as she could
  • Heading back to the UK to finish her degree
  • Having a go with the flow plan for after university 
  • Starting working as a freelancer and wanting to work from her van
  • Getting injured at the climbing gym
  • Having a tough few months in rehab in 2019
  • The start of 2020 and dealing with the UK lockdown
  • Moving to Hastings to stay in a holiday home
  • Having negative thoughts about prioritising adventure
  • When things go wrong, while living an alternative life
  • Wanting to ask people for advice
  • Wanting to do a cycling trip
  • Buying a bike for £70
  • Wanting to find more role models
  • Deciding to cycle around the UK and interview as many women as possible
  • Taking the first step and putting herself out there
  • Dealing with imposter syndrome and feeling anxious about putting herself out there
  • Was the trip too big and too cool for her?
  • Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn
  • Speaking to 51 amazing women and non-binary folk
  • Judging the success of the podcast 
  • Re-branding to Extraordinary Ordinary You
  • Reflection on using the term “Womxn”
  • Reaching out to her community 
  • Book: What the T?: The no-nonsense guide to all things trans and/or non-binary for teens 
  • Book: Life Isn't Binary: On Being Both, Beyond, and In-Between  
  • Womxn Instagram post on @Extraordinaryordinaryyou 
  • Moving to Sheffield 
  • Plans for 2021
  • Supporting Frit (@frit_tam) on their 2 month trip doing a zig-zag across the UK - starting on the 15th May 2021 - #glideforpride Rollerblading England tackling the issue of belonging in the LGBTQIA+ community 
  • LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual and/or Ally.
  • Working with RachelSarahM 
  • Final words of advice 
 
 
Social Media 
 
Personal 
 
Website - www.frankiedewar.co 
 
Instagram @frankie_dewar
 
 
Extraordinary Ordinary You
 
 
Instagram @extraordinaryyou 
 
 
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  
 
Mar 30, 2021
In May 1985, when Tania was 18 years old, she cast off from the docks of South Street Seaport in lower Manhattan and sailed 27,000 miles around the world—alone—on her Contessa 26, Varuna. 
 
Concerned about her lack of ambition, her father offered her this opportunity as an alternative to a college education, and she took him up on it. With just a cat for company, she crossed the Caribbean, the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and the North Atlantic, stopping in 23 countries along the way. In November 1987, at 21, Tania Aebi returned to New York City, a solo-circumnavigator.
 
She spent the following year reliving the trip in words, writing her bestselling book, Maiden Voyage, a personal account describing her coming of age odyssey and dramatic childhood.
 
Nowadays, as her boys turn into young men, she continues to write, runs her businesses, and is working on her next book—in between keeping the paths shovelled and wood fires stoked in the winter, the gardens planted, weeded and productive in the summers.
 
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
  • Sailing solo around the world when she was 18
  • Living in the countryside 
  • Getting into sailing when she was a teenager
  • Sailing across the Atlantic Ocean with her dad
  • How she gained her sailing skills
  • Reflecting back on her teenage years
  • How the opportunity came up to sail around the world
  • Leaning new skills along the way
  • Sailing to Bermuda
  • Trying to figure out how to fix the engine and how to navigate
  • Figuring out that she was ok being alone on the ocean 
  • Having to learn how to sail better
  • Being sad that the adventure was over
  • What happened next after arriving back in NYC
  • Sitting down to write the book
  • Going back to university 10 years later
  • Figuring stuff out while writing about her experience of sailing around the world
  • Having a cat on the boat
  • Introducing her 2 sons to the world of sailing
  • Romance while sailing!
  • Doing a big sailing trip with her boys
  • Feeling protected and looked after while being a solo female sailor
  • Being fuelled by the negative comments
  • Being inspired by Laura Dekker 
  • Ignore the negativity and do it
  • Not being active on social media
 
Social Media 
 
Website www.taniaaebi.com
 
Mar 25, 2021
Shadi is co-founder of a community interest company SHAPE Hampshire which provides Mind, Body and Education support to Hampshire Schools. 
 
Shadi is the founder of Team GC, leading expeditions and challenge experiences which have enabled her to raise thousands of pounds for charitable causes. 
 
Shadi has a passion for education and loves working with children, sharing tales of her remote adventures. 
 
She runs a series of inspirational talks to schools, communities and businesses. Shadi is a fellow of the Royal Geographic Society. 
 
Future challenge - The BIG North Pole Sea Ice Research expedition 2022 
 
“Every experience provides us with an opportunity to grow and make a difference”. — Shadi Ganjavian-Connor 
 
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
  • Living in the South Coast of England
  • Her former life
  • Wanting to make a change in her life
  • Discovering her passion for the outdoors
  • Living with the Bedouin for 6 years
  • Having 2 children 
  • Undertaking personal challenges which push her limits
  • Growing up and being a rule breaker
  • Living in multiple countries while growing up
  • Being able to make friends easily and learning how to fit in and adapt to new situations 
  • Having a supportive family and a safety net
  • Being encouraged to go for it
  • Wanting to take more risks in her life
  • Being scared of the ocean and facing her fear
  • Learning how to scuba dive in Egypt
  • Starting a family and having to re-evaluate life
  • How having children impacted on her desire to go on adventures
  • Wanting to be a role model for the children
  • Doing expeditions for charity 
  • Getting into mountaineering
  • Climbing Mount Blanc
  • Figuring out what to do next
  • Loving the mental side of the challenge
  • Her routines and habits and setting herself up each day
  • Working with a sports psychologist
  • Being vulnerable and relying on other people
  • Needing to know what is going on
  • Dealing with exhaustion 
  • The BIG North Pole Sea Ice Research expedition 2022
  • Her plans for dealing with the cold weather
  • The cost of the expedition and finalising the funding
  • Training and getting physical ready for the challenge
  • Role models and being inspired by her friends
  • Going with the flow….
  • Why the first step is saying YES!!
  • Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you
     
Social Media
 
TeamGC - Educate, Collaborate and Dare to be Different. Collaborating with schools, charities and ethical partners. Inspiring others to push their personal safety barometer a few degrees and living on the edge of their comfort zone.
 
Website www.teamgc.co.uk
 
Instagram @ganjavianconnor 
 
Facebook @teamgc.co.uk 
 
Mar 23, 2021
Liv (pronounced ‘leave’) is a Norwegian educator, cross-country skier, adventurer, guide, and motivational speaker. Liv led the first unsupported women’s crossing of the Greenland Ice Cap in 1992. In 1994, she made international headlines becoming the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South pole – a 50-day expedition of 745 miles (1,200 km).
 
A self-proclaimed “keen” but not fanatical outdoors enthusiast, Liv is most interested in the development of adults and children. Through her diverse roles as a polar explorer, educator and motivational leader, Liv ignites passion in others to reach beyond their normal boundaries and achieve their dreams by sharing her own stories about exploring some of the most remote places on earth.
 
MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  • February 2001 — Arnesen and American polar explorer Ann Bancroft become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarctica’s landmass — completing a 94-day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km) trek.
  • 1996— Arnesen climbs the north side of Mount Everest, getting to within 6,200 ft (1,900 m) of the summit before altitude sickness forces her to descend.
  • 1994 — Arnesen makes international headlines by becoming the first woman in the world to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole — a 50-day expedition of 745 miles (1,200 km)
  • 1992 — Arnesen leads the first unsupported women’s crossing of the Greenland Ice Cap.
Take a listen to Liv as she shares more about her life and adventures on the Tough Girl Podcast.
 
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Show notes
  • Who is Liv
  • What Liv is up to at the moment
  • Her childhood dream of skiing to the South Pole
  • Growing up in the outskirts of Oslo and loving the outdoors
  • Their religion was Mother Nature
  • Being divorced with 3 girls and 6 grandchildren 
  • Her dreams when she was younger
  • “That’s a boy’s dream”
  • Being inspired by other women in the world 
  • Doing the first unsupported women’s crossing of Greenland Ice Cap
  • Getting the funding together for the South Pole crossing 
  • Not being able to get any Norwegian sponsorship
  • Having to take out a personal loan to pay for the trip
  • When her dream became a reality 
  • Why it felt like a holiday!
  • Being scared of the crevasses 
  • Staying for an extra 10 days in the South Pole and working washing dishes
  • Adventure blues?
  • Wanting to combine adventure and education 
  • Doing a Master of Management
  • Teaming up with Ann Bancroft
  • Creating a program called ‘Dare to Dream’
  • Visiting Ann in the USA
  • Finding her ‘Sister Soul’
  • Risk management in extreme situations 
  • How the world of adventure has changed over the past 30 years
  • Feeling very privileged
  • What adventure means to Liv
  • The Access water project 
  • Mental resilience 
  • Mastering patience
  • Wanting to paddle down one river on each continent 
  • Being a Wings Fellow 
  • Quick Fire Questions
  • Final words of advice
 
Social Media 
 
Website - www.livarnesen.com 
 
Facebook  - Bancroft Arnesen Explore @BancroftArnesen 
 
Instagram  @livarnesen_com 
 
Twitter @LivArnesen 
 
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