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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: May, 2023
May 30, 2023

Zahra Rose, a brand ambassador for Sports Shoes and The North Face, and has achieved incredible feats such as trekking to Everest, Broad Peak, and K2 Base camps, as well as summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. 

In addition to her love for adventure, Zahra is an active member of the Muslim Hikers Community and uses her social media platform to promote representation of Muslim women in outdoor activities. 

Zahra is a strong advocate for breaking down stereotypes of the "Hijabi woman" and inspiring the next generation to pursue their dreams.

 

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 

Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast Thank you.

 

Show notes

  • Who is Zahra Rose
  • Being raised in Hastings, South England
  • Having 2 younger sisters 
  • Feeling out of place
  • Struggling to make friends locally
  • Seeing people who looked like her for the first time
  • Moving to London to study fashion design
  • Feeling confident and knowing herself well
  • Being inspired by her father who was a runner
  • Getting involved in sports
  • Wearing the headscarf at 14
  • Feeling the need to change her personality
  • Feeling confident and self assured
  • Representing her faith and feeling a sense of responsibly 
  • Starting travelling after university 
  • Why travelling is an important part of life
  • Getting into hiking at 14
  • Her first charity trip to Snowdon
  • The struggle of climbing her first mountain 
  • Wanting to encourage other muslim women to get outdoors
  • Creating a vision board every year
  • Connecting with Haroon Mota from Muslin Hikers 
  • Planning to go to Everest Base Camp, Nepal 
  • Training and preparation for the trip
  • The importance of training your mind
  • Starting her day with yoga
  • The power of acceptance 
  • Checking in with yourself on a regular basis
  • Spending time in Nepal
  • The challenges on the hike to base camp
  • Dealing with the adventure blues
  • Planning the next challenge/adventure 
  • Needing something to look forward to
  • Climbing Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa
  • Summit night
  • Praying while on adventure
  • Heading to Broad Peak and K2 Base Camps
  • The final push to get to base camp
  • Being supported and encouraged at the the tough moments
  • Being a member o fMuslim Hikers - Inspiring Muslims to get OUTDOORS. 
  • How to connect with Zahra Rose
  • Final words of advice to motivate and inspire other women and girls to get active and spend more time in the outdoors
  • Why nothing is beyond your limits
  • Her plans to reach 40 countries 

 

Social Media

Instagram: @ZahraRosea

Muslim Hikers - Inspiring Muslims to get OUTDOORS. 

Website: muslimhikers.com

Instagram: @Muslim.Hikers 

 

 

May 23, 2023

Allie Mason is an autistic children’s author and micro-adventurer who has just published her first book, The Autistic Guide to Adventure: Active Pursuits from Archery to Wild Swimming for Tweens and Teens. 

Allie lives in the English countryside with her partner and their beloved Labrador. The purpose of her writing is to give neurodivergent young people a place where they recognise themselves and feel that they belong.

Allie in her own words:

“When I was 23 years old, I was diagnosed as autistic. It was a bittersweet moment for me. On the one hand, it answered a lot of questions that had been accumulating since I was a child. On the other, it highlighted that a lot of the struggles I had faced when I was younger could have been avoided with the right support.

I was (and still am!) an avid reader, but I never felt that I recognised myself in the pages of a book. The characters didn’t face the same struggles as me, didn’t think the same way, so as much as I tried to immerse myself in these fictional worlds, there was always something missing.

Now, as an adult, I write books that neurodivergent kids and teens, like I once was, can see themselves in.”

***

About the book:The Autistic Guide to Adventure: Active Pursuits from Archery to Wild Swimming for Tweens and Teens. 

Outdoor adventuring can be life changing - it makes you physically and mentally stronger, takes you to new places and introduces you to new friends, as well as being an exhilarating challenge - but it can be stressful when there are unexpected social and sensory challenges involved. Allie Mason, autistic adventurer extraordinaire, is here to help.

Join Allie as she introduces activities ranging from archery to stargazing, sailing to fossil hunting, snorkelling to nature-writing - and so much more. Each easily digestible factsheet comes with a short introduction, a summary of the sensory experiences involved, suggestions on approaching activities for when you're just getting started, as well as a handy budgeting system.

With personal anecdotes and interviews with awesome autistic athletes, this book will give you the support you need to take on the great outdoors.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 

You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. 

 

Show Notes

  • Who is Allie
  • Chilling with her dog at home
  • Her early years growing up 
  • Being diagnosed as autistic at 23 (Feb 2020)
  • Feeling strange from a young age and knowing she was different
  • Feeling isolated and being bullied 
  • Why her diagnoses was liberating
  • Understanding that she wasn’t broken and that there is nothing wrong with her
  • Her outlook on life 
  • Being trusting, truthful and taking things at face value
  • Not understanding social etiquette very well
  • Wanting to gentle educate people by just being herself
  • Understanding different Neurotypes 
  • Getting an assessment done to diagnose autism
  • Signing up for a roller-skate marathon in Berlin
  • Training for 18 months and what that looked like 
  • Thriving on structure 
  • Raising money for charity - Ambitious About Autism
  • Taking any reference to the roller-skate marathon out of the book
  • What happened on the day of the marathon and why things didn’t go according to plan 
  • Dealing with injury and still wanting to do the challenge
  • Being told to get off the course after 5km
  • The lessons learned from the negative experience 
  • Feeling emotions of frustration, resentment and feeling wronged
  • How can organisers of the event could have handle having to take people off the course 
  • Support for autistic people who enter larger events 
  • Wanting to do the event again
  • Equality and Equity
  • Having the idea for her book while thinking about doing the roller-skate marathon
  • New book: The Autistic Guide to Adventure: Active Pursuits from Archery to Wild Swimming for Tweens and Teens 
  • The contents of the book and how to use the guide
  • Highlights from the Autistic and Adventure manifesto - “Trying the thing, asking for support, respecting your limits and being an adventurer”
  • Top tips for “trying the thing”
  • Not being afraid to fail
  • Who the book is aimed at
  • The importance of representation and sharing stories from autistic athletics 
  • Future projects in 2023
  • Working on book 2
  • Wanting to take a sensory space on tour around the UK
  • How to connect with Allie
  • Final words of advice 
  • Being inspired by Al Humphreys

 

Social Media

Website: www.alliewrote.com 

Instagram: @alliewrote  

TikTok: @alliewrote  

 

 

May 16, 2023

A couple of years ago, Julia embarked on a solo hike along England's 630-mile South West Coast Path. Since then, she has cycled King Alfred's Way, a 217-mile mainly off-road cycle route in southern England, and walked the Camino Frances and Camino Portuguese!

But Julia's adventures don't stop there. In between her travels, she's been busy writing about her experiences, hoping to inspire others to embrace their own bucket lists. 

During this process, she's discovered a love for hiking and is also writing walking guidebooks to encourage others to get outdoors and explore.

Julia's story is a testament to the power of setting goals, pursuing your passions, and living life to the fullest.

 

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 

To support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Sign up as a Patron -  www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. 

 

Show Notes

 

Social Media

Website www.juliags.com 

Instagram @juliagsauthorspeaker 

Facebook @juliagsauthor 

Youtube @JuliaGSAuthorSpeaker 

 

Listen free of charge to the first three chapters of Live Your Bucket List: www.juliags.com/liveyourbucketlist 

Free Pilgrimage Planner pdf: www.juliags.com/camino
Julia's books: www.juliags.com/writing
15 short walks on the Malvern Hills: www.cicerone.co.uk/short-walks-on-the-malvern-hills-first 

 

 

 

May 11, 2023

India Pearson, is an Outdoors Advocate, Presenter, and Yoga Teacher based on the Kent coast. 


India's passion for wellbeing and nature has lead her to produce and host the podcast 'Start a Ripple ...' which celebrates the power of moving in nature for the mind, body and environment. Guests have included TV adventurer Ben Fogle, Olympian Michelle Griffith Robinson, BBC Spring Watch Presenter Megan McCubbin and Emmy Award Winner Doon Mackichan.

You can also find India presenting in front of the camera, on the highly successful Youtube Channel Holiday Extras Travel Guides, which over the last 4 years, has taken her all over the world making documentary style videos on sustainable tourism. 

During her time with Holiday Extras India co-founded a sustainable travel podcast 'Green on the Go' which saw her speak to industry professionals and travellers about eco tourism. In 2019 India won the Holiday Extras Difference Award for her efforts to encourage customers and colleagues to travel and live more sustainably.

As a lifestyle model India has worked with a variety of brands across different industries both nationally and internationally. 

India uses social media for discussions based around her passions and expertise in paddle boarding, yoga, environmental activism, and getting outdoors as a new mum to her daughter Malou. India has been featured in publications such as Women's Health and Women and Home, and is also also an ambassador for Gill Marine and Hatha Paddle Boards.

When she's not presenting, India can mostly be found by the sea, either on her stand up paddle board or practicing yoga on the beach. 

In 2020 India founded Fin & Flow, a hub for like minded people to connect through wellbeing activities by the sea such as yoga, paddle boarding, and beach cleans.

 

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 

You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. 

 

Show Notes

  • Who is India?
  • Living in Kent with her partner and daughter
  • Her love of the sea
  • Working as a SUP and Yoga teacher
  • Being an Outdoor Advocate and being passionate about the outdoors
  • Having a very outdoorsy childhood 
  • Her podcast - 'Start a Ripple ...' which celebrates the power of moving in nature for the mind, body and environment.
  • Wishing she learnt how to surf when she was younger
  • Memories of playing in the waves
  • Going to college and studying dance, before moving to London
  • Dealing with anxiety and getting into yoga for the breathing
  • Feeling the benefits and knowing that she wanted to teach it
  • Doing the 200hr teaching training inThailand
  • Doing a SUP/Yoga Teacher Training Course
  • Doing a refresher water safety course
  • What can people expect from a SUP/Yoga class
  • The benefits of moving in nature and wanting to share it with others
  • The ripple effect of spending time in nature
  • Deciding to start the podcast and being on it’s 5th Series 
  • Pregnancy and being active and spending time outdoors
  • Dealing with Postnatel Anxiety 
  • Self care tips for new mums during stressful times of the year
  • Why comparison is the thief of joy
  • How her views of adventure have changed since having a baby
  • Dealing with a change in her identify and how she viewed herself
  • The challenges of going back to work after maternity leave
  • Taking her daughter on adventures 
  • Future plans for 2023
  • Armchair Adventure Festival 2023 (Use TG10 to get a 10% discount)
  • How to connect with India
  • Final words of advice for new mums and parents

 

 

Social Media

Website: www.finandflow.co.uk 

Instagram @with_india 

 

The Start a Ripple podcast was founded on the belief that ripples are made when we connect movement with nature, not only for our mind and body, but also the environment too. Every episode India speaks to a guest who shares their story and approach to moving in nature, with the hope that these conversations will encourage you to get outside, move, dream big, and start making your own ripples.

 

Listen here - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1718611

 

 

May 9, 2023

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Saanvi Sita Mylavarapu, a seasoned hiker, backpacker, rock climber, and youth advocate for the great outdoors. Since the age of six, Saanvi has been exploring the stunning landscapes of the United States, and has completed some of the most challenging hikes in the country, including Kala Pathar, Half Dome, and Mt. Whitney. She recently accomplished the feat of reaching the Everest Base Camp, and is now gearing up for a 120-mile trek across the Tour du Mont Blanc in Europe this summer.

Saanvi has hiked over 800 miles and has visited more than 25 National Parks, making her a true champion of nature conservation. Her passion for the environment has been recognized by national media outlets, who have featured her on the front page of newspapers and in articles in major magazines.

As a National Park Trust Ambassador, Saanvi has been supported by the National Park Service, renowned conservationists, mountaineers, and wildlife photographers. She is also the founder of 'Young Roots', an environmental and ecology club at Frisco ISD, and runs 'Nature Worthy', a non-profit organization that aims to raise awareness of the benefits of connecting with nature. 

Join us as Saanvi shares her insights on the transformative power of nature, and her vision for a more sustainable future.

 

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 

You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. 

 

Show Notes

  • Who is Saanvi
  • Moving from Dallas to Texas
  • Planing to complete the Tour du Mont Blanc trek in Europe 
  • Turning sixteen 
  • Reflecting on her childhood and growing up 
  • Her first road trip at 6 years old and visiting the National Parks
  • Her love for hiking and spending time outdoors
  • Enjoying the peace and quiet
  • Feeling under pressure at school 
  • Being self motivated and driven 
  • Being a National Park Student Trust Ambassador 
  • Going to the Junior Ranger Programs 
  • Climbing Mt. Whitney and why it was so strenuous 
  • Breaking through mental barriers 
  • Feeling mental drained and how to change her state
  • Getting into rock climbing and what she enjoys
  • Hiking and climbing Half Dome and why it was so tough
  • Being inspired by her mum
  • Hiking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal
  • Wanting to climb the mountains in the future
  • Dealing with cold hands and feet
  • Using the phrase “you can do this”
  • Future dreams and ambitions 
  • Preparing to hike Tour du Mont Blanc
  • Doing high altitude running
  • The Saanvi Speaker Series 
  • The importance of spending time in nature 
  • Founder of 'Young Roots', an environmental and ecology club
  • Her views on carbon footprints and climate change
  • The power of making little changes in their life
  • Being inspired by Emily Harrington 
  • How to connect with Saanvi
  • Final words of advice 

 

Social Media

 

Instagram: @chalkbagsntents 

 

 

May 2, 2023

Jen Price, is a former British Army Officer who spent the entirety of 2022 undertaking an extreme set of adventure and endurance challenges on behalf of the Veteran’s Foundation. 

The solo challenge she set herself was to complete 12 challenges in 12 months, in quick succession. The challenges were multi-discipline and included the Devizes to Westminster international canoe race, an ironman, a multistage desert ultra-marathon, summit of Aconcagua, and a 1000 mile self supported Lands’ End to John O’Groats cycle. None of the challenges were events she had attempted before and, in total, she covered over 3500km and climbed two of the Seven Summits. 

Jen has raised nearly £35,000 for the Veterans’ Foundation and she continues to fundraise in her spare time by speaking about the challenges at schools, universities and business. She also has two outstanding challenges to go this year (replaced due to severe weather) which she will also fundraise for: paddle boarding across the English channel and climbing the famous Matterhorn.

 

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Subscribe so you don’t miss out. 

You can support the Tough Girl mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media - especially in relation to adventure and physical challenge by signing up as a patron. www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Thank you. 

 

Show Notes

  • Joining the Army in 2012
  • Why she joined the Army 
  • Deciding to raise funds for the Veterans’ Foundation 
  • Being inspired by the Tough Girl Podcast!
  • Her role in the Army and being physical robust
  • Doing cross country ski racing and competing for the Army
  • Joining the cadets at university 
  • Deciding to leave the army after 10 years
  • How the dream was turned into a plan - the practical steps that were taken
  • Starting with the desert marathon and building the rest of the challenges around it
  • Paying for the adventures and challenges 
  • Being able to borrow equipment to help keep costs down
  • Being supported by her friends and family 
  • Being frugal to keep costs down
  • The stress of planning and doing challenges throughout the year
  • Training for the variety of challenges 
  • The challenges of the desert marathon (challenge 10) and feeling broken
  • Self appreciation and not putting so much pressure on herself to achieve
  • Dealing with the feelings of shame
  • Her experience with climbing Aconcagua and the challenges she faced with the cold and the altitude
  • 28% oxygen!!
  • Doing a 1000 mile solo self supported Lands’ End to John O’Groats cycle
  • The 2 remaining challenges left for 2023
  • The lessons learned from the challenges
  • Sharing more about experience addiction 
  • Taking a step back from adventuring and figuring out the next steps in her life
  • If you’re not on an adventure, you should be planning your next one”
  • How to connect with Jen
  • Wanting to write a book about the challenges
  • Final words of advice for other women and girls
  • Not caring what other people think and why it can be powerful 

 

Social Media

Website: jennevolve.co.uk  

Instagram: @jennevolve

Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/team/teamridge  

 

 

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