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Titre
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Anna Wells – Medicine, Mountains and the First Woman to Complete a Winter Munro Round in Scotland.
22 Sep 2026
00:44:25
Anna Wells is a mountaineer, former doctor, and outdoor instructor based in Inverness, Scotland. Her life has been shaped by a deep love of the mountains, beginning with indoor rock climbing at the age of 12 and growing through years of study, sport, and exploration.
Although she followed a traditional academic path—studying maths and medicine and later working as a doctor—Anna eventually realised that her true passion lay in the outdoors. After time spent living in Chamonix and working as a mountaineering instructor, she made the decision to leave medicine behind and pursue a life more aligned with her values and love of adventure.
In this episode, Anna shares her journey from medicine to the mountains, including her time competing in ice climbing, navigating injury, and rethinking what a fulfilling life looks like. We dive into her incredible Winter Munro Round in Scotland, inspired by Martin Moran, where she took on the challenge of climbing all 100+ Munros in winter conditions over just a few months.
She talks about the realities of spending long days in the mountains, averaging multiple Munros per day, dealing with weather, injury, nutrition, motivation, and the mental challenges that come with endurance adventure. Anna also reflects on the kindness of strangers who supported her along the way, and the importance of flexibility, self-belief, and listening to your body.
More recently, Anna has stepped into a new chapter of life as a mother, exploring how adventure, skiing, and time in the mountains can evolve alongside motherhood.
Listen to this episode to hear what it takes to leave medicine for the mountains, how a Winter Munro Round pushes both body and mind, and why thinking outside the box can lead to a life that feels truly your own.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Anna
36 years old
Based in Inverness in Scotland
Currently on maternity leave
Her love for adventure and being outside
Growing up in Inverness and not coming from a particularly outdoorsy family
Starting indoor rock climbing at 12 years old and falling in love with the sport
The Girl Guides and the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme
Being addicted to rock climbing and feeling everything click
Her progress in the sport
Meeting more like minded people at university in Aberdeen
Being a student for 9 years - studying Maths for 4 years and doing a medical degree for 5 years
Deciding to leave medicine after 2 years of working as a doctor and moving in a different direction
Spending 2 years living in Chamonix
Deciding to give up her license to practice medicine
Wanting to focus on ice climbing competitions
Dealing with a shoulder injury and not being able to climb that hard
Take a year and don't force yourself to make any decisions
Starting to consider a career in the outdoors
Wanting to live a life that makes you happy
Thinking more about confidence
Working as a mountaineering instructor for a number of years
Natasha Sones – Wild Swimming, SUP Adventures and Writing Swimming Wild in London and South East England
15 Sep 2026
00:37:55
Natasha is a year-round wild swimmer, qualified Stand-Up Paddleboarding instructor, freelance travel writer, and outdoor adventurer with a deep love of water in all its forms. Based in Suffolk, she is also a volunteer for the Bluetits Chill Swimmers and an Ordnance Survey Champion.
Natasha's journey into the outdoors began early, swimming in the sea as a child, but like many people, her connection to sport and adventure faded during her 20s and 30s. It wasn't until her 40s that she rediscovered the water, found her community, and stepped into a completely new chapter of adventure.
In this episode, Natasha shares how she went from feeling like she wasn't "outdoorsy" to becoming immersed in wild swimming and paddle boarding, including getting involved with inclusive swimming communities, discovering cold water swimming, and building confidence in outdoor spaces. She opens up about being diagnosed as autistic in her 40s, and how understanding herself better helped her find her tribe and her confidence.
We also talk about her progression into Stand-Up Paddleboarding, from early lockdown experiments to completing endurance challenges such as the Race to the Castle, and preparing for a 162-mile coast-to-coast SUP journey across England. Natasha shares what it's really like training around work and family life, the realities of cold water swimming, and why time on the water has become so important for her wellbeing.
Alongside her adventures, Natasha is also the author of the upcoming guidebook Swimming Wild in London and South East England, featuring 100 incredible swimming spots across beaches, rivers, lakes, lidos, and hidden wild locations.
Listen to this episode to hear how Natasha found confidence through cold water and community, why it's never too late to become an adventurer, and how simple steps—like saying yes and asking for help—can open the door to a whole new way of living.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Natasha
46 year old adventurer and Mum of three
Passionate year round wild swimmer, outdoor adventurer, and freelance travel writer with a deep love of all things water
Living in Suffolk
Swimming in the sea from a young age
Moving out to a small village into the countryside, which was 5 mins from the seaside
Not being involved in sports or the outdoors in her 20s and 30s
What changed in her 40s?
Making new friends when your older
Being shy when she was younger
Discovering she was autistic about 5 years ago
Finding the swimming and outdoorsy community
Feeling like she has found her tribe
Getting into paddle boarding during lockdown
Being introduced into wild swimming but not really enjoying it at first
Sylvia Malan-Gonzalez: Why Hiking is for Every Body | Fat Positive Hiking, Confidence & Community
08 Sep 2026
00:30:28
Sylvia Malan-Gonzalez is a Fat Positive Hiker from Portland, Oregon, on a mission to show that hiking really is for every body.
Although she enjoys being active, Sylvia didn't fall in love with hiking straight away. Getting started wasn't easy. Finding affordable gear that fit, overcoming self-doubt, and navigating the outdoors in a body that isn't often represented in the hiking world all presented their own challenges.
Instead of giving up, Sylvia set herself a simple goal: hike twice a month. One trail at a time, she built confidence, found supportive communities, discovered the gear that worked for her, and eventually climbed Mt. St. Helens—proving to herself that she was capable of far more than she ever imagined.
In this episode, Sylvia shares what it means to be a Fat Positive Hiker, why she embraces body neutrality over chasing weight loss, and how learning to trust herself has transformed both her relationship with the outdoors and with her own body.
We also talk about overcoming fear, dealing with judgement, finding hiking partners, using hiking poles, building strength in the gym, and why losing your hiking mojo doesn't mean your adventure is over.
Whether you're completely new to hiking, returning after time away, or simply looking for encouragement to take that first step, Sylvia's story is a reminder that the outdoors belongs to everyone.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Helen Watson – Author of Tea and Grit and Cycling 15,000km Along the Silk Road from Scotland to China with Her Husband
01 Sep 2026
00:36:32
Helen Watson is a traveller, writer, and conservationist based in the Scottish Highlands. Born in Scotland and raised in Switzerland, she has always been drawn to adventures that are both physically and culturally challenging.
In 2009, shortly after completing her PhD, Helen and her husband Ed set off on an extraordinary bicycle journey from Scotland to China. Over the course of a year, they cycled 15,000 kilometres across Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and China, following sections of the ancient Silk Road and relying on paper maps, curiosity, and the kindness of strangers.
The journey took them through countries including Syria, Iran, and the Central Asian 'Stans', where they experienced incredible hospitality and forged meaningful connections with people from vastly different cultures and backgrounds. The trip would later inspire Helen's first book, Tea and Grit: A Bicycle Journey along the Silk Road, published in January 2026.
In this episode, Helen shares the spark behind the adventure, the logistics of planning a long-distance cycle journey, and the realities of life on the road. We discuss what it means to become comfortable with discomfort, the privileges and challenges of travelling as a woman, and how her experiences in Syria took on a new significance in the years that followed during the refugee crisis.
Helen also reflects on the importance of storytelling, why she felt compelled to write her book, and the lessons she has learned from a life shaped by travel, endurance, and human connection.
Listen to this episode to hear about cycling 15,000km along the Silk Road, the generosity of people across cultures, and why stepping just outside your comfort zone can lead to the most transformative adventures.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Being based in the Scotland Highlands
2009/2010 - cycling from Scotland to China
Being born in Scotland and moving to Switzerland at 5 years old
Going to St. Andrews for University
Speaking; English, Swiss-German and German
Growing up in Switzerland and spending time in the outdoors
Growing up with a lot of cultures
Wanting to take on this adventure and where the spark came from
Gaby Dijkstra – Outdoor Enthusiast and PhD Researcher Studying the Role of Gender in the Extreme Mountaineering Industry.
25 Aug 2026
00:45:40
Gaby Dijkstra is an outdoor enthusiast, solo traveller, and researcher with a passion for remote mountain environments. Whether climbing, skiing, or paragliding, she feels most at home in the mountains and has travelled to all seven continents, breaking barriers as a solo female adventurer.
After years of working in education and girl empowerment projects, Gaby became increasingly curious about the construct of gender and how societal expectations shape our behaviours, opportunities, and experiences. This curiosity ultimately led her to pursue a PhD at Rotterdam School of Management, designing her own research project to investigate the role of gender in extreme environments.
In 2024, Gaby spent 191 days in the Himalayas, including 132 days living on the mountains, conducting fieldwork during a full climbing season in Nepal. Her research explored the role of gender in the extreme mountaineering industry, particularly among the people who work and operate in these challenging environments.
Along the way, she joined a commercial expedition to climb Ama Dablam, visited the Khumbu Icefall and the Manaslu region, and was invited to take part in an exclusive winter expedition to Annapurna I. Through interviews, observations, and lived experience, Gaby gathered what she describes as "a mountain of data" on how gender norms continue to shape the culture of mountaineering.
In this episode, Gaby shares what she learned from her time in the Himalayas, why the traditional heroic narrative of mountaineering can be harmful to both men and women, and how understanding gender as a social construct can help us rethink leadership, decision-making, and belonging in extreme environments.
Listen to this episode to learn about conducting a PhD in one of the world's most challenging landscapes, the hidden gender dynamics within the mountaineering industry, and why talking to other women and pursuing your curiosities can open doors to entirely new adventures.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Designing her own study project - the role of gender in extreme environments
Gender as a social construct
How social constructs can limit us in who we are and how we behave
What is appropriate behaviour for societies gender expectations
Study something that is interesting for you
Looking at gender and not understanding the construct
Loving all types of outdoor sports.
Being most happy when in the mountains
Where are all the women - always being surrounded by men
Starting to work in leadership project. Girl empowerment projects.
Introducing girls to sports
Getting frustrated and wanting to learn more about the construct of gender
Wanting to know how this plays out in extreme environments
If there are no obstacles - where would you like to go for your PhD?
Wanting to go back to the Himalayas
191 days in the field, spending 132 days on a mountain
Conducting fieldwork in the mountains of Nepal for a full climbing season
Looking at the role of gender in the climbing industry - especially for people working in the mountains
Studying only from the Nepal side
Taking part in a commercial climbing expedition - climbing Ama Dablam (6,812 metres (22,349 ft))
Doing a participant observation study - What it means to be a client in the industry
Being invited to join an exclusive winter expedition - visiting Annapurna I
Visiting the Manaslu Region
Vistiting Mt. Everest and the Khumbu icefalls
Speaking with women climbing and working
The lessons and learning from the research - having "a mountain of data!"
Her PnD based on three articles
The first article based on doing a discourse analysis based on 100 years of expedition reports - looking at gender norms and how they can be identified
The 2nd and 3rd articles based on her experience
Looking at the theory of sense making, decision making
Not looking at the different between men and women
The heroic sense of mountaineering - the summit above all else….
The traditional norms and how it can harm both men and women
Women being extra tough on other women
How to connect with Gaby to find out more about her work
Wanting to be outside rather than on social media
Words of advice for other women who want to purse their interests
Holly Budge: From Extreme Adventure to Protecting Elephants and Empowering Women Rangers
18 Aug 2026
00:50:35
Holly Budge is a global keynote speaker on risk, innovation, and human potential, operating at the intersection of conservation, science, and bold ideas. As an Everest summiteer and the first woman to skydive Everest, she now focuses less on surviving extremes and more on solving the complex conservation challenges shaping our future.
As founder of international NGO How Many Elephants and World Female Ranger Week, Holly explores how nature, technology, and innovation can work together to design smarter systems, from using bees as bio-engineers to reduce human-elephant conflict in Africa, to empowering women as front-line wildlife rangers. Her work has reached over 500 million people globally, been featured in Forbes, and praised by Sir David Attenborough.
In this episode, Holly shares powerful insights from her journey between extreme adventure and global conservation work, including how her definition of risk and purpose has evolved over time.
We dive into the real-world impact of wildlife conservation projects, from elephant corridors and bee-based deterrents to the rise of female ranger teams protecting some of the world's most vulnerable ecosystems.
Listen to this episode to hear how adventure can become a force for global change, why women are reshaping the future of conservation, and what it takes to turn bold ideas into real-world impact at scale.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Holly
Being an adventurer and passionate conservationist
Founder of How Many Elephants, Wildlife Positive Travel and World Female Ranger Week
Devin Brown - Learning to Endure on the Mississippi River and Reconnecting People to Water
11 Aug 2026
00:44:45
Devin Brown is a Minneapolis-based paddler and founder of Sovereign Waters, an emerging organisation focused on connection, access, and purpose through time spent on the water.
In 2024, Devin set out on an ambitious source-to-sea journey along the Mississippi River, paddling 1,025 miles before high water forced an early end to the expedition. What remained was not failure, but a powerful experience of resilience, learning, and deep connection to the river and herself.
Her journey into paddling began long before that expedition, rooted in childhood summer camps, early experiences on the water, and a growing understanding of how time in nature supports her mental health. Over the years, she developed her skills step by step, eventually building the confidence to attempt one of North America's great river journeys.
In this episode, Devin shares the realities of endurance paddling, from long days in the rain and logistical challenges on the Mississippi to moments of fear, uncertainty, and unexpected support from "river angels" along the way. She also opens up about feeling like one of the only women on the water, and why creating more inclusive access to paddling has become central to her mission.
We explore the founding of Sovereign Waters, her vision for helping more people connect with rivers in ways that feel safe and empowering, and why building community around water is essential for both wellbeing and environmental connection.
Listen to this episode to hear what it really takes to learn endurance one stroke at a time, why connection to rivers can be life-changing, and how one woman is working to bring more people—especially women—into the world of paddling and wild water.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Devin
Living in Minneapolis in Minnesota
Being a passionate paddler and loving spending time on the water
Spending her early years going to summer camps
Learning that kayaking was essential for her mental health
Moving to the twin cities
Sending out on her long term goal of paddling the Mississippi River
The freedom on being on the river and the river angels
Gina Johansen – Endurance Athlete Preparing for a Solo Unsupported South Pole World Record
04 Aug 2026
00:39:23
Gina Johansen is a Swedish-born endurance athlete, adventurer, and a track work rider based in Sydney and Norway. She is currently preparing for a world record attempt to become the fastest woman to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole in 2026.
She grew up on a horse farm in Sweden, where her love for horses and the outdoors began early. Gina spent eight years riding trackwork for leading Thoroughbred racing stables in Australia and is now back riding racehorses in Sydney alongside her polar training.
Her previous expeditions include becoming the first woman to cross Lake Baikal in Siberia solo by foot, skiing solo from North Cape to Jäckvik, crossing Svalbard on skis, cycling 2700km from Sydney to Cairns, and hiking the full length of Norway with her partner and their dog. She also spent eight years living near North Cape, the northernmost point of Europe, training in extreme Arctic conditions.
Through her journey, Gina hopes to inspire others—especially women—to push beyond their limits, take on big challenges, and discover what they're truly capable of.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
From Sweden originally
Being based in Northern Norway (North Cape) for the past 8 years before moving to Sydney in December 2025
Riding racehorse in the early morning and training for her South Pole Expedition in the afternoon
Her goal - to ski solo and unsupported to the South Pole, attempting to break the women's speed record
Gina shared her story on the Tough Girl Podcast - April 28th 2020 - Walking 3,000km the length of Norway, plus a solo crossing of Lake Baikal in Siberia
Denise Leonard - The World's Toughest Row, 50 Days at Sea and Inspiring Women into Adventure
28 Jul 2026
00:44:29
Denise is part of a team of women who have just successfully rowed 3000 miles, unsupported, across the Atlantic Ocean as part of the 'World's Toughest Row'. Rowing 12 hours a day for over 50 days, Denise drew on decades of experience from white water and sea kayaking, alongside years spent as an outdoor instructor.
Driven by a deep belief that adventure belongs to everyone, Denise champions the visibility of women in outdoor spaces. She's passionate about showing that ordinary women can achieve extraordinary things, and that authentic role models have the power to inspire the next generation of adventure-loving women.
In this episode, Denise shares what it really takes to row across an ocean, from raising the funds and building the right team to coping with exhaustion, fear and the mental challenges of spending 50 days at sea.
She opens up about the power of mindset, learning to be kinder to herself, and why focusing on what you can control can make all the difference in the toughest moments.
Listen to this episode to discover how adventure can transform your perspective, why saying yes to opportunities can lead to extraordinary experiences, and why Denise believes that adventure truly is for everyone.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Clare Dyson: Mountain Leader, Slow Adventure Advocate and Creating Space for Women in the Outdoors
21 Jul 2026
00:45:12
Clare Dyson is a Mountain Leader, outdoor facilitator, and founder of the Women's Adventure Academy, based in the Lake District where she has spent over 20 years guiding people through the mountains and valleys she calls home.
With a deep passion for slow adventure, Clare is dedicated to helping people reconnect with nature, move at their own pace, and build confidence in wild spaces. Her work blends outdoor leadership, education, and storytelling, creating opportunities for others—especially women—to step outside, explore remote places, and feel at home in the outdoors.
In this episode, Clare shares her journey from growing up with a love of sport and horses to becoming a Mountain Leader, working across the Lake District, and shaping a life rooted in nature, freedom, and connection. She opens up about the challenges and opportunities of working in the outdoors, and why slowing down can often lead to the most meaningful adventures.
We also explore the creation of the Women's Adventure Academy, how it came to life, and why building confidence, community, and skills in the outdoors is so important for the next generation of women adventurers.
Listen to this episode to hear how Clare has built a life around slow adventure, why nature can be a powerful space for healing and growth, and how you can start creating your own outdoor adventures—no matter your pace or experience.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Living in Kendal in the Lake District for the past 22 years
Living with her dog and partner
Working in the outdoors as a Mountain Leader and Gardener
Catherine Breed – From the Pool to the Pacific Ocean: Swimming the Length of California and Redefining What Adventure Looks Like Today
14 Jul 2026
00:50:53
Catherine Breed is an endurance athlete, ocean explorer, and visionary storyteller redefining what modern adventure can look like — where human performance, environmental connection, and community impact meet.
Drawn to the water from an early age, Catherine's journey began in elite competitive swimming, representing UC Berkeley and the U.S. National Team. Years of disciplined training shaped her understanding of resilience and focus, but her true evolution began when she stepped beyond the structure of the pool and into the vast unpredictability of open water.
In 2016, Catherine found her home within San Francisco's historic open-water swimming community at the Dolphin Club, where cold water, powerful tides, and a culture of bold exploration challenged her to redefine limits. Surrounded by legendary swimmers and lifelong adventurers, she began pursuing ambitious endurance swims that transformed swimming from competition into exploration — and ultimately into a platform for storytelling and impact.
From this transition emerged a guiding philosophy: Beyond the Blackline — a mindset rooted in stepping beyond certainty, embracing discomfort, and forging new paths without predefined boundaries. What began as a personal journey evolved into a broader vision: using human-powered adventure as a catalyst for connection — between people, between communities, and between humanity and the ocean.
Today, Catherine's work extends far beyond individual achievement. She is the founder of purpose-driven initiatives that combine endurance sport, storytelling, and ocean advocacy to inspire meaningful engagement with the natural world. Her projects invite audiences to rethink what is possible — not only physically, but emotionally and collectively — demonstrating how bold goals can spark curiosity, resilience, and environmental stewardship.
At the heart of her mission is a belief that access to the ocean should be inclusive and transformative. Catherine advocates for greater equity and representation in ocean spaces, particularly for women and underrepresented communities, while championing the protection of marine ecosystems through experiential storytelling and community engagement.
As a speaker, expedition leader, and storyteller, Catherine brings audiences into the raw realities of exploration — the uncertainty, the risk, and the profound clarity found when we step beyond familiar boundaries. Her work challenges conventional ideas of endurance, shifting the focus from records alone toward purpose-driven adventure that leaves lasting impact.
Going beyond the black line was never just about swimming.
It was about choosing a life guided by curiosity, courage, and connection — and creating pathways for others to do the same.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Catherine 'Cat'
33 years old living in California, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge
Identifying as ultra endurance athlete
Loving to push herself, especially doing big marathon swims
Her early years growing up in the middle of nowhere, but next to a lake
Starting to get into age group swimming at 4 years old
Sailing and spending time in and around the Pacific Ocean
Her love for the water
The discipline and commitment to swimming and why it is such a gruelling sport
The sacrifice and not seeing it as a sacrifice at that age
Being surrounded by like minded people
Body issues and dealing with periods
Building self confidence
Breaking records in the marathon swimming space and how that builds confidence in her ability
Ria Xi - Running 20,000km Across the Silk Road to Redefine What's Possible
07 Jul 2026
00:44:30
Two years ago, Ria was burnt out from her tech career in Silicon Valley, coming out of a difficult relationship, and struggling with mental health issues. Running became her way out.
Within a year, she went from struggling to finish a half marathon to setting ultramarathon records on world-renowned routes.
The Via Francigena: 1,014 km in 21 days
The Camino de Santiago: 780 km in 12 days
And now she has just started her journey to become the first human to run across Eurasia on the silk road, or what she calls: the 20000km Experiment.
In this episode, Ria shares how running helped her rebuild her life, the mindset shifts that enabled her to go from beginner to record-breaking ultrarunner, and the enormous logistical challenge of planning a 20,000km expedition through 17 countries.
Listen to this episode to learn about resilience, finding purpose after burnout, taking bold leaps into the unknown, and why sometimes the most "delusional" dreams are the ones worth pursuing.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Ria?
Trying to run across the Asia and Europe on the Silk Road
Currently being in her support vehicle in the northeast of China, approx. 17 days into her journey
Calling in from the road after running 50km
Growing up in China as a child figure skater
Trying to make the Olympics
Living on the edge of Beijing
Moving to the USA at 14 for school
Suffering from some knee injuries and not being into running
Her final year of high school and trying out running in nature
Going through a significant breakup
Starting to run everyday for 30 days
Struggling with depression and reaching the point where nothing made sense
Having no control over the situation of her life
Not knowing what to do with herself
Being in Chamonix and being inspired by the humans running the UTMB
Dr Irene Molina-Gonzalez - Running Beyond Burnout and Finding a New Purpose
30 Jun 2026
00:33:48
Irene is a sports scientist, endurance coach, and ultra-runner originally from Spain, now based in the UK. She moved to the UK in 2013 to pursue a Master's degree, intending to stay only briefly, but quickly fell in love with the country and never left.
Her journey into ultra-running was entirely unplanned. She only started running consistently in 2017 during her PhD in Neuroscience, initially as a way to cope with academic stress. Distances gradually increased, and without even realising ultramarathons existed, she found herself constantly curious about how far she could go. Once she ran beyond 21 km, something clicked—and she never looked back.
Running became both a coping mechanism and, at times, a source of imbalance. A combination of PhD stress, under-fuelling, disordered eating, and overtraining led to injury after her first ultramarathon in 2021. While challenging, that injury marked a turning point. Although her academic career appeared highly successful from the outside, Irene was experiencing severe burnout and quietly drifting away from neuroscience.
In January 2023, she left academia altogether after a period of profound burnout. Ultra-running remained a constant during this time and ultimately helped her rebuild. By then, she had already completed coaching and sports rehabilitation qualifications, and the transition into applied sport felt natural. She founded Train4BodyMind, combining science, performance, and a more holistic approach to endurance sport.
Later that year, Irene began a second MSc in Sport and Exercise Science and Medicine, while simultaneously building her coaching business and working in a physiotherapy clinic. Throughout this journey, she became increasingly aware of a major gap in sports science: the lack of research and evidence-based guidance for women.
While searching for answers about her own body, she realised how little research existed on female endurance athletes—particularly in ultra-running.
This led her to investigate how the menstrual cycle affects performance in female ultrarunners, an area that had been largely overlooked despite the extreme demands of the sport.
Today, Irene is passionate about supporting women in endurance sports through evidence-based coaching and education. She is particularly focused on countering the widespread misinformation surrounding women's physiology and rigid cycle-based rules, which often create fear rather than empowerment. Her work aims to help women understand their bodies better, train with confidence, and use their physiology as a strength rather than a limitation.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Originally from Spain, now living in Edinburgh, Scotland in the UK
Working as a running coach for women, specialising in ultra marathons
Being a sports scientistic and science nerd
Her early years growing up in Spain
Developing an eating disorder and spending time in hospital
Not being able to get involved in sports
Getting into running when she moved to the UK
Starting her Neuroscience PhD in 2017
Wanting to do an ultra marathon
Becoming addicted to the ultra distances
Experiencing burnout
Deciding to do a shift in her career and move into coaching
Getting into running to be able to disconnect
Being an ultra runner before she knew about ultra marathons
Using running to help manage stress
Not fuelling enough during running and dealing with niggles and injuries
Being very alone and not having support around her
Getting injured and having to stop running
The turning point in her life
Working with a physiotherapist
Starting to study coaching ultra marathons
Losing the attachment with her career and starting a different path
Leaving academia, her job and becoming unemployed at 33 years old
Learning how to coach herself
Going deep into the science of ultra running
Studying for her masters in Sports Science
Researching into the menstrual cycle and ultra runners
Why the menstrual cycle is a health marker
Dr Stacy Simms - Tough Girl Podcast episode
Coaching women on an individual basis
The importance of educating women about periods and menstruation
Helen Spencer – Vet, Polar Explorer & South Pole Ski Adventurer
23 Jun 2026
00:45:29
Meet Helen Spencer, a veterinarian from Kent who swapped clinic life for the extremes of the world. From hiking in Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Yemen to caring for orangutans in Borneo, Helen has chased adventure across the globe.
In this episode, she shares her journey to ski the last degree to the South Pole, including:
Training, kit prep, and polar skills courses
The physical and mental challenges of long polar expeditions
Coping with loss, vulnerability, and finding strength on the ice
Lessons in perseverance, confidence, and small steps toward big dreams
Helen's story is a testament to courage, resilience, and pursuing your goals—even when the journey is long and demanding.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Helen
Being based in Kent
Growing up on a farm and having a lot of freedom
Becoming a vet
Wanting more adventure
Working for the charity: World Wide Veterinary Service
In her free time loving to travel
Leaving school and travelling with her backpack, and staying in hostels
Starting to do a few solo and group expeditions
Hiking in Afganistan, Madagascar, Mongolia, Yemen, Palestine, North Korea
Dr. Shawna Pandya – Canada's First Named Female Commercial Astronaut & Space Medicine Pioneer
16 Jun 2026
00:45:37
Meet Dr. Shawna Pandya, Canada's first named female commercial astronaut and a leading figure in space medicine. From emergency medicine to aquanaut missions and suborbital research flights, Shawna has trained to thrive in some of the most extreme environments on Earth—and soon, in space.
In this episode, she shares her journey from a childhood inspired by Dr. Roberta Bondar, through neuroscience and medical training, to testing spacesuits in zero gravity and completing multiple NEPTUNE aquanaut missions.
We dive into:
The challenges of spaceflight on the body and mind
The "RIDGE" framework Radiation, Isolation, Distance, Gravity, Environment
Using emergency medicine, diving, and piloting to build operational readiness
Maintaining balance, avoiding burnout, and living a life aligned with values
Preparing for her upcoming flight with Virgin Galactic
Shawna's story is a masterclass in perseverance, curiosity, and aiming for the stars—literally.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Shawna
Being Canada's first named female Astronaut
Her early years and growing up in the 90s
Wanting to be an Astronaut since she was a child and being inspired by Dr. Roberta Bondar
Doing outdoor education during junior high and building her spirit of adventure
Inheriting her work ethic from her parents - thinking the normal work day was from 7am to 10pm
Sharing her goal and telling people what she wanted to achieve
Taking a family trip to Australia at 12 years old and being obsessed with the Southern Night Sky
Not knowing if it will work out or not - Having to love the grind and the journey
Keeping focused on the goal
Not letting other people opinions stop her
Her parents wanting her to have a realistic career ambition
The roadmap included medicine
After doing her undergrad in neuroscience and applying for medical school
Having a back up plan - just in case
International Space University - Masters Program
Asking medical school for a deferral
Doing an internship at the European Space Agency European Space Centre and making a meaningful contribution to space medicine
Dealing with criticism
Having balance in her life and not suffering from burnout
Pursuing the trajectory as a research astronaut - and still maintaining her clinical hours in emergency medicine
Work life balance
Why she does't burn out
Living her life according to her values
Having complete control over her schedule
Being surrounded by good people
Finding fulfilment and loving what she does
Being inspired to be a better version of herself everyday
Fitness and health in space
Bone density and muscle mass
Space Medicine
The challenges of space flight environment and why it's trying to kill you
The "RIDGE" Framework short for Space Radiation, Isolation and Confinement, Distance from Earth, Gravity fields, and Hostile/Closed Environments.
Altered day night cycles - 1 sunrise/sunset every 90 mins - 16 sunrise - sunset cycles per 24hr period every and how it interferes with your sleep cycle
Micro-gravity and how it affects your bodily systems
Physical activity as therapy and using it as a way of investing in herself.
The days she doesn't make it to the gym
Needing to change something up - or end up burning out
Learning diving skills and spending time underwater
Looking for transferable skills
Being operational good and a good team mate
Operational environments: - emergency medicine, diving, sky diving and piloting
The importance of having aqua-naught experience
Going on 2 NEPTUNE Missions
NEPTUNE (Nautical Experiments in Physiology, Technology and Underwater Exploration)
Building her space flight readiness
Learning to handle stress in challenging situations
Why there is no room for ego
Using emergency medicine as an example
Escalation patterns of communication
Question - Suggestion - Statement - Command
Why there is a time and place for everything
If everything is urgent - nothing is urgent!
Urgency fatigue - not knowing what do first
Being aware of what tools you have at your disposal
High risk - high reward scenarios
The countdown to flight
Since 2021 - the launch of private companies into space
Going to space for research
What kind of astronaut do you want to be?
Being a research astronaut
Training flights as a team - and getting to fly with her good friends
Book inspiration - Chris Hatfield - An Astronaut's guide to Earth
Music inspiration - liking high adrenaline workout play lists
Liking the John Wicks Soundtrack
Beach or mountains..
Favourite food at home and in space
High RPM skipping
Rest and relaxation
Her love for birds - having a 56g Lovebird - 'Jules'
Mantra and words she lives by - 'You've got this"
Words from mum - "Keep going" - "Keep moving"
Words from dad - "What's the difference between success and activity? Success is eating tomato soup with a spoon, activity is eating tomato soup with a fork"
How to connect and follow along on social media
Final words of advice and wisdom for other girls who want to pursue
Pick what you want to do, aim to be really, really good at it.
Aim to become the hardest working person in the room. Because the work ethic is free.
Work really hard to get to where you want to be and then act like you belong there, because you do.
Jeannette McGill: Everest at 52, Leadership at Altitude & The Truth Above 8,000m
09 Jun 2026
00:46:51
Jeannette McGill is a seasoned mountaineer and executive leader who, at 52, became the oldest South African woman to summit Everest in May 2025. With more than 30 years of global climbing experience—including leading expeditions across four continents—she knows deeply that the summit is never just about standing on top.
Jeannette's journey is a testament to patience, resilience, and the quiet power of backing yourself, no matter how many setbacks you face. Beyond her personal achievements, she is passionate about demystifying the modern-day myths of Everest and advocates instead for the very real challenges mountain terrains face through climate change globally. Having been there herself, she brings an informed, honest perspective on what is truly happening above 8,000m.
Today, Jeannette combines her love for high-altitude adventure with leadership on Boards and helping others explore their own limits. She also supports future generations through leading snow camps in the Victorian Alps and mountaineering scholarships, believing that mountains are powerful teachers of courage and humility. Her story is not just about conquering peaks but about becoming the kind of person who dares to try.
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Jeanette
Corporate executive, board director and most importantly a mountaineer
South African by origin, located in Melbourne and spending up to 5 months in Nepal
Lauren Burnison – Pioneering the Sober Travel Movement and Adventures of a Single Mum
02 Jun 2026
00:44:35
Lauren Burnison is the founder of We Love Lucid, the UK's first alcohol-free travel company, and a trailblazer in the sober travel movement. From couch-surfing with nomads on the Mongolian steppe to snorkelling with sharks in Oman, Lauren has spent her life seeking off-the-beaten-path adventures—and this year, she took a two-month road trip through Spain and Portugal in a micro camper with her four-year-old daughter to celebrate ten years of sobriety.
In this candid conversation, Lauren shares her journey from self-destructive habits to sobriety, how travel became her school of life, and the joys and challenges of being a single parent exploring the world. She talks about starting We Love Lucid, the lessons learned while traveling solo and with her daughter, and how adventure can transform the way we see ourselves.
Explicit content: We touch on drugs, drinking, and addiction.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Lauren
Coming from Northern Ireland Originally
41 years old
Founder of We Love Lucid - The UK's First Alcohol-free Travel Company
Being a single mum to a very energetic 4 year old girl
Being an aspiring writer
Reflecting back on her early years
Being very creative, loving animals, and growing up in the countryside
Where her love of travel came from
Starting to learn Spanish in school and how her teacher inspired her
Having a knack for learning languages
Finding a diary entry from when she was 15 years old
Having an ambition to learn Spanish and French and wanting to live in Spain
Getting to visit Spain at 16 on a sports camp
Having her eyes opened and feeling invigorated while travelling on the road
Why A'Levels were such a slog and hated being told what to do
Being confident about travelling
Deciding to travel around South America
Getting into drugs and going down a self destructive path
Heading back home to go to university
Spending 6 months in Barcelona - working in a pizza restaurant and living in a tent
Getting her degree
Being taken further down the path and still being self destructive
Making changes at 32
Wanting to explore and see more of the world - spending time in South Africa
Getting in more and more trouble
Turning 30 and heading to South Korea to work as an English Teacher
Having the best and worst moments of her life
Hitting rock bottom and deciding not to drink ever since
Getting in trouble, and having the fear of losing her life
Partying with Chinese Dwarfs
Seeing how bad her behaviour had gotten
Feeling and being alone on this part of the journey
Drinking 4 nights a week
The hardest part - being faced with this situation of not knowing who she was
Who is Lauren? Having to deal with difficult emotions.
Feeing so vulnerable
The night she decided to quit drinking
Creating 'We Love Lucid' and how it helped her stay connected with the sober community
Visiting the vast empty spaces in Mongolia
Growing up with horses and riding horses
Wanting to ride horses in Mongolia and how it turned in to a trip of self discovery
Trying to figure out the next steps
Why life is not just good or bad - it's a mixture of everything
Heading to the South of Spain and doing a workaday experience over there
How the idea for - We Love Lucid came about
Not having a positive view of sobriety
Thinking about her experiences as a sober person travelling
Starting to run the trips
Why the trips are all about connecting with sober people
Cycling from Beer to Soberton….
Why not all projects turn out how you want them to
Not wanting to be a quitter
Getting to 70 miles…..
Why it was a bit of a failure, but also a valuable lesson at the same time
Riding up the East Coast of Korea on a bike to North Korea
The goodness of people
How travel and adventure changed after having her daughter
Feeling as though her world has been shrinking
How it affected her mentally - with not being able to travel
The realities of being a single mum in Scotland
How her life seems so normal
Starting to go away with her daughter
Being on a road trip in Portugal for 1/2 months
Trying to escape the winter in the UK
Needing to stay in the UK and going with that
Starting to accept the reality
Wanting to start her blog - "Adventures of a single, sober mum"
Being able to afford a micro camper
Why trips are a condensed school of life
The beauty and joy of the quiet moments
Walking with 12 women on the Santiago de Compostela
Helen Dainty – First Woman to Cycle Across Libya & 9 Years Living on £50 a Week by Bike
26 May 2026
00:38:41
In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode, we catch up with Helen Dainty — solo female cyclist, self-described "full-time global hobo," and one of the most committed long-distance bike travellers you'll ever meet.
For the past decade, Helen has spent nine years on the road, travelling exclusively by bicycle and living on around £50 a week. She's cycled across Australia, ridden from London to Nordkapp and back, travelled extensively through the Middle East and North Africa — and in 2025 became the first woman to cycle across Libya.
When war in Sudan forced her to abandon an overland route into East Africa, Helen adapted and rerouted — because that's what life on the road demands: flexibility, resilience, and the ability to trust the process.
In this episode, we dive into what's happened since we last spoke in January 2022. From navigating complex visa systems (including Algeria and Libya), to travelling with police security details, being detained in Libya, and accepting incredible hospitality through the Warm Showers community — Helen shares the raw, practical realities of long-term cycle touring.
We also talk about:
The logistics of visas with a British passport
Working with visa agents and last-minute plan changes
Cycling in Algeria and Libya
Budget travel (sticking to AUD $100 per week)
Her bike setup — switching from chain to belt drive
Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres and long-distance reliability
Not collecting souvenirs and living with less
Documenting her journey on YouTube (and the time spent editing!)
Saying yes to unexpected opportunities
Helen also opens up about going through perimenopause and menopause while cycling through deserts — dealing with extreme sadness, brain fog, hot sweats in the middle of the night, and coming out the other side feeling stronger and more balanced. At 47, she believes she has another strong decade of adventure ahead — and she's not slowing down.
Looking forward, Helen plans to spend the next two years cycling down the west coast of Africa in an attempt to circle the continent, before eventually heading back towards Australia through Asia.
Her advice for women wanting to do something different?
Say yes to the opportunity — you can work out the details on the way. Accept without hesitation.
Raw, honest, practical and deeply inspiring — this is a powerful catch-up with a woman who has built her entire life around two wheels.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Helen
Catching up since we last spoke
Cycling through the Middle East and Africa
TGP Episode - January 2022 -
TGP Extra Episode -
What's changed?!
Going back to the start of 2022
Taking the ferry from Turkey to Lebanon
Flying home to surprise her family for Christmas
Setting off toward Iran in 2022
The practical side of travel - visa's, entering and leaving countries (with a British Passport)
Saudi Arabia and Oman using a E-visa system
Getting a visa for Algeria - paperwork, needing to be in your home country while applying for the visa, face to face visit to the Embassy in London
Visa's for Libya - not being issues and needing to work with a contact to get a visa
Chloe Stead – From Navy Life to Nomadic Living, Caminos, Grief & Choosing a Simpler Way
21 May 2026
00:59:32
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Chloe Stead — 42 years old and currently living in a rustic tiny shack in the bush in Tasmania with her husband — but her journey to this simple life has been anything but ordinary.
Since 2008, Chloe has been living a travelling, nomadic lifestyle. After leaving school at 18 to join the Navy and later working in health and safety in Perth, Australia, she reached a quiet breaking point while staying at the Whim Creek Hotel in 2006. A simple but powerful thought surfaced: There has to be more to life than this.
Within a week, she sold her house, packed up a shipping container, took her dog, and began driving solo around Australia with just $500 AUD — despite being petrified of sleeping in a tent. That leap of faith set the course for the next chapter of her life.
But Chloe's story is not just about adventure — it's about grief, reinvention, and learning to live on her own terms.
After the sudden death of her partner Willy in 2013, everything stopped. In the depths of grief, Chloe stepped away from social media, let go of her old life, and slowly began again. Meditation, yoga retreats, and eventually walking the Camino de Santiago in 2014 became turning points. Carrying everything on her back, she discovered a deep love for minimalism, simplicity, and self-reliance.
Over the years, Chloe has:
Walked multiple Caminos including the Camino del Norte, Camino Primitivo and Via de la Plata
Hitchhiked and walked along the beaches of Uruguay
Taken a 10,000km road trip with her dog Dexter
Lived off less than $100 AUD per week
Worked seasonally to fund months of adventure
Cycled from Alaska to San Francisco (86 nights in a tent!)
Walked the Wales Coast Path and the Portuguese Camino
Chosen to stay off social media to be fully present on trail
Now married, Chloe continues to design a life built around freedom, movement, and intentional simplicity. With big adventures planned for 2026 — including walking the South West Coast Path and the GR10 — she shares honestly about navigating partnership on trail, managing knee issues, strength training gains, and why getting to the start line is often the hardest part.
This conversation is about:
Letting go of possessions and expectations
Living with uncertainty
Processing grief through movement
Creating "trail life" off-trail
Why you don't need technology to experience adventure
Trusting that the universe conspires to keep you going
And why you should "give it a crack and get to the start line."
Chloe's message is simple but powerful:
Life is uncertain. Don't put things off. If there's something you want to do — take the plunge.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Chloe
42 years old, currently living in Tasmania in a rustic tiny shack in the bush with her husband
Living a travelling lifestyle since 2008
What was the lead up to making changes in her life
Leaving school at 18 and joining the Navy
2006 living in Perth, Australia and having a job in health and safety
Starting to feel different when staying at the Whim Creek Hotel
Thinking that there has to be more to life
100 things to see and do in Australia before you die
Selling her house within a week, filling up a shipping container
Taking her dog and starting to drive solo around Australia
Being encouraged by a friend - to just do it!
Not being in tune with herself
Highlights from spending time on the road, driving around Australia
Starting off with $500 AUD and getting a job
Spending the trip just driving around
Being petrified of staying in a tent
Pitching her tent and staying in it for the first time
Meeting a boy, Willy (which wasn't part of the plan!)
Deciding to move to New Zealand (2009 - 2010)
Backpacking around Europe for 3 months
Planning every day and having a very tight schedule
Feeling disheartened with her experience
Needing to do something spontaneous
Backpacking around Cambodia for 3 weeks with no plan
Seeing a flyer about yoga and meditation
Struggling with mental health and things in life
Doing a yoga retreat in Australia and doing a deep dive into meditation
Starting to work in farming around Australia
2013 and the year of her 30th birthday
Deciding to go to South America to visit Machu Picchu
Willys death and how it stopped everything
Not knowing how to cope
The funeral and not wanting to live where she was living or work where she was working
Getting rid of her phone and getting off social media
Starting again and wanting to forget
Needing to deal with the grief
Going back to mediation and doing a workshop which helped
Learning about the Caminos in Spain
Walking the camino in April 2014 (The way of st James)
Not knowing what she was doing and carrying far too much stuff
Learning a lot on the way
Not being very open on the French Camino
Learning a lot from Willys death and making a promise to him
Doing what she wanted to do with her life - no excuses
Falling in love with a minimalistic, simple way of life
Waling with everything on her back and how it agreed with her
Finding her passion and purpose
Living this simple life
Needing to create trail life, while off trail
2016 - waling the Camino del Norte and the Camino Primitivo
2017 - hitchhiked and walked along the beaches in Uruguay
Feeling safe and not feeling alone
2018 - ten years since starting her nomadic journey and taking a 10,000km road trip with her dog - Dexter
Needing to sort out her stuff in the shipping container
Feeling so much lighter without all of her possessions
Losing Dexter in 2019
Doing a silent retreat in Bali
Wanting to do a 5 year walk around the world
Not having any more responsibility and having ultimate freedom
Working in Tasmania in 2020 and dealing with Covid and why it was so difficult
Buying a block of land and a 1976 Volkswagen Kombi Van
Self reliance and simplicity
2022 and the world starting to open up again
Starting to work again to make money and giving up on the idea of the 5 yr walk around the world
Her 40th birthday and wanting to walk 2,000km to celebrate it
Meeting Will
2023 - Walking the Wales Coast Path and the Portuguese Camino
Discovery the Tough Girl Youtube Channel!
Buying the Cicerone - Wales Coast Path Guidebook
Trying to plan the first few days
Wild camping on her first night
How things just kept working out
Heading to Bali in 2024
Doing some backpacking in 2025, throughout Vietnam, Laos and Thailand
Needing to thru hike these caminos by herself
Finishing the Camino Via de la Plata.
Getting married!
Being the planner in the relationship
Deciding to do a bike trip in America - cycling from Alaska to San Fransisco (86 nights in the tent)
The challenges of adventures with a partner and navigating them together
Needing to focus more on recovery and needing to put more effort into training before adventures
Adventures booked for 2026 - Walking the SWCP and the GR10! Starting 1st June!
Thinking this is crazy and how am I going to do this!
Why you just need to start and the rest will unfold
Why getting to the start line is always tricky - mentally
Noticing her improvements in running at park run after strength training
Having some knee problems
Starting on the creatine and having more energy during the summer
Not being on social media and being in the moment.
Final words of advice for other women who want to live life differently and live life on their own terms
Life is pretty uncertain, and definitely our time here is uncertain.
Don't put things off to the future. If there's something that you want to do, take the plunge.
The universe conspires to keep you going
Learning to live with less over the years and how money has become more abundant
Working for 6/7 months of the year, and 1 month of earnings goes towards her future
Living off less than $100 AUD a week
Stopping working after earning $20,000 dollars and coming back to a $3,000 dollar tax cheque
Give it a crack - get to the start line.
Keep that dream at the front of your mind
Don't be afraid NOT to use technology on trails - walking the trails with just a guidebook or map
Social Media
None.
Aisyah Rafaee - 2x Olympic Rower on Comebacks, Mental Strength & Redefining High Performance in Your 30s
19 May 2026
00:46:39
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Aisyah Rafaee – a two-time Olympic rower from Singapore who competed at the Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the single scull.
After taking an eight-year break from the sport, Aisyah made the bold decision to return—qualifying for Paris 2024 as one of the oldest athletes in the field and redefining what it means to be a high-performing athlete in your 30s.
Originally from Singapore and now based in Boston, USA, Aisyah grew up with four brothers and discovered rowing after being scouted during an indoor competition at school. With limited rowing culture and opportunities in Singapore, she carved her own path—training overseas in Sydney, qualifying through a fiercely competitive Asian selection process, and representing Singapore on the world stage.
But her journey hasn't been linear.
From struggling with pressure at her first Olympics to working with mental skills coach Hansen Bay, from stepping away from elite sport to rediscovering her love for movement, from fracturing her ribs a month before Paris to qualifying with just six months to go—this is a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, vulnerability, and growth.
Now working as a HYDROW Athlete and Mental Performance Coach with 3HP Athlete Coaching, Aisyah shares insights on:
Building confidence and resilience
Letting go of expectations
Separating identity from performance
The realities of returning to elite sport after time away
Training and mindset during pregnancy
Why rowing is a lifelong sport
Her philosophy of the 3Hs: Happy, Healthy & High Performing
This episode is about trusting your timing, embracing new chapters, and asking yourself: Is this smart for me?
Aisyah's story is proof that it's never "too late" to chase a dream — and that high performance can evolve with you.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Lauren Roerick "Longway" – Thru-Hiking the World: PCT, HexaTrek & Te Araroa
12 May 2026
00:42:37
Lauren Roerick, known on trail as Longway, is a long-distance backpacker, filmmaker, and outdoor educator who has hiked across North America, Europe, and Oceania. From the Pacific Crest Trail to New Zealand's Te Araroa, and becoming the first North American woman to thru-hike France's 3,034 km HexaTrek, Lauren shares her adventures and the lessons they've taught her.
In this episode, she talks about stepping into the world of long-distance hiking in her 30s, navigating challenges on remote trails, making decisions in the moment, and learning to trust herself. Through her storytelling and filmmaking, Lauren inspires women to build confidence, resilience, and a deeper connection with the outdoors—proving that it's never too late to take that first step.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Lauren
Long distance backpacker and film maker
Currently in California, but normally based out of Vancouver, Canada
Her early year growing up in a small city in Southern Alberta called Lethbridge
Not getting into backpacking until her 30s
Playing a lot of sports, being a gymnasts, playing rugby and doing jujitsu
What changed in her 30s
A walk in the books by Bill Bryson - the classic thru-hiker read
Having the courage to take the step to make her dreams come true
Why the first step is the hardest
You get one life….
Being willing to sacrifice the other things
What's really important to you
Support from family
March 2020 and being on the trail when the pandemic started
Moving in with her mum in Southern California for 4 months
Making the decision to leave the trail
Why it wasn't an easy decision to make
Heading back the following year (2021) and not knowing if she would get the chance to hike again
Being made redundant after 6 months
Finding a southbound permit for the PCT at the end of June
Being drawn to hike on long trails
Making life long friendships and building community while hiking
Starting to document her hikes as soon as she started
Advice and tips for new hikers - the tropics that should be talked about me
Don't get overwhelmed by the whole trail
How to connect with Lauren online
Final words of advice for women to step outside their comfort zone
It's okay to want things for yourself. It's okay to prioritise yourself and your dream - even it that sometimes means putting them ahead of other people's goals.
Paula McGuire – Stroke, Autism Diagnosis & Why She's Still Saying Yes to Adventure
05 May 2026
00:44:34
In this Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode, we catch up with Paula "Must Try Harder" McGuire — author, speaker, triathlete, wing-walker, double TEDx speaker, mental health ambassador… and proudly, a trier.
Based just outside Glasgow, Paula has been adventuring since 2015 and has built a reputation for trying something new every day — including completing 366 new experiences in 2020. But the years since we last spoke have brought extraordinary challenges.
Paula shares openly about being diagnosed as autistic at 44, having a stroke at the end of 2021 and developing epilepsy, going through a divorce after 15 years of marriage, losing her home to a flood, and navigating post-stroke fatigue — all while spending six months in enforced van life.
We talk about how adventure supported her through the hardest moments, how her neurodivergent brain fuels her love of planning and trying, and why you don't need to be the best at something to enjoy giving it a go. Paula also reflects on writing her book Adventures for Bored Adults (commissioned by Penguin), rediscovering her love of swimming, and learning acceptance in the face of uncertainty.
Honest, funny and deeply human, this conversation is about resilience, identity, and continuing to say yes — even when life doesn't go to plan.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Paula
Being based just outside of Glasgow
Being adventuring since 2015
TGP Episode
Working as an electronic note taker and captioner for deaf people
TGP Extra Episode
6 years since we last spoke
How things have changed over the past few years in quite negative ways before eventually turning to a positive thing
In 2020 trying something new every day 366 new things (leap year!)
Starting off the year really positively
How it became an adventure in creativity
Feeling exhausted after the year was over
What that the last few years have taught her
Figuring out her place in the world of adventure
Being ready to relax
Social media not coming naturally to her
Struggling with the negativity of social media
Paula has tried hard enough - Paula is done.
Being diagnosed with Autism at 44
6 months of enforced van life (November 24 - May 25)
At the end of 2021 having a stroke and developing epilepsy
Her husband leaving her after 15 years and going through a divorce
Losing her house after a flood
One thing after another
Feeling that the universe had turned against her
Feeling very lucky
Brain tumour??
Start to prepare for Paula last Christmas
Moving on with a stroke and the potential for more strokes in the future
How the adventures from before really supported her
Reminding herself of things she achieved, things that she'd failed at and survived
Adventure and acceptance
Continuing to do fun things
A to Z of Adventure
Post stroke fatigue
Not sticking to things - buying all the gear
Getting the most mental stimulation in the trying
Wanting to be the person who tries it all
Her love for swimming and going back to it again and again
Her neurodivergent brain - the planning, the execution, the reflecting
Being butterfly minded
Why you don't need to be the best at everything to enjoy having ago
Coping with how your brain works
How her entire life has become clear after her diagnosis
Advent(ure)
Writing a book commissioned by Penguin
Book: Adventures for Bored Adults: Games. Challenges. Activities. Treats.
Rebecca Dent: High-Performance Dietitian for Ultra Runners & Mountain Athletes
28 Apr 2026
00:47:47
Rebecca Dent is a high-performance dietitian specialising in ultra runners and mountain sport athletes — from passionate recreational runners to world-class professionals. Based in the Chamonix Valley for the past 10 years, she combines her expertise in performance nutrition with a life immersed in ski touring, trail running, mountaineering, and the mountains she loves.
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Rebecca shares her journey from the Forest of Dean to the French Alps, balancing elite-level training with everyday life, and the nutrition strategies that help athletes optimise performance, recovery, and health — particularly for women navigating hormonal changes and perimenopause.
We talk race day fuel, strength training, managing limiting beliefs, and why it's never too late to start a new adventure.
Whether you're chasing your first trail race or aiming to summit Mont Blanc, Rebecca's insights will inspire you to push your limits while taking care of your body.
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time).
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Manika Gamble — an Atlanta-based trail runner who thrives on testing her limits in some of the world's toughest ultra races.
Manika's running journey started with casual neighbourhood runs, but soon she found herself racing 155-mile desert ultras in Africa, tackling Mongolia's Gobi March, and pushing through multi-stage, extreme endurance events. She shares the highs, the lows, and the mental grit it takes to keep moving when every muscle is screaming.
We dive into:
Training by feel, without a watch or GPS
Fueling, hydration, and surviving the desert heat
Coping with pain, blisters, and fatigue without relying on painkillers
Recovery strategies, sleep, and balancing life with training
The mental challenges of multi-day ultra races
Staying motivated and tackling new adventures outside your comfort zone
Manika's message is simple: don't let fear hold you back. Find what excites you, lean in, and see what you're capable of.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Manika
Being based out of Atlanta, USA
Trail Runner
Currently training for a race our in Morocco
Running every since she was a child but being new to long distance running
Always being an active child
Going out for the track team and how it became her whole life
Focusing on 100 m and 400 m hurdles
Wanting to run further
Dreaming of the day she would be able to run casually
Starting with 20 min runs throughout the neighbourhood
Signing up for more and more races from 5k, up to Marathon distance
Deciding to take on an ultra race
Seeing a YouTube video of a man running in Namibia, Africa
Signing up for the race and giving herself a 1 year time line to train for
The running logistics and what her training looked like
Being a laidback person when it comes to a training schedule
Not running with a watch or gps tracking device
Training based on feel and time
Leaning about fuelling and nutrition and how to manage herself in the desert
Carrying everything she needed on her back for 7 days while running through the desert
Lisa Jackson: Still Running After All These Tears — Grief, Running & the Triumph of Tenacity
14 Apr 2026
00:51:16
Lisa Jackson is a hypnotherapist, running writer, Runner's World columnist, and the author of three bestselling running books, including Your Pace or Mine?, Running Made Easy, and her deeply personal latest release, Still Running After All These Tears – A Runner's Journey Through Grief.
Originally from South Africa and now based in Worthing, UK, Lisa is a veteran of over 100 marathons and two 56-mile ultramarathons — despite often coming last. A proud reminder that endurance sport isn't about talent or speed, but about showing up, again and again.
In this powerful and emotional episode, Lisa shares her journey into running, from hating sport as a child to rediscovering running at 30, navigating disastrous races, and learning to reset expectations through walk-run strategies. She opens up with raw honesty about her husband's terminal lung cancer diagnosis, how running helped her survive the darkest moments of caregiving and grief, and what it means to lose — and slowly rebuild — your running mojo.
We dive into running through trauma, comfort eating and wine, the power of a ten-minute run, and why sometimes one mile is more than enough. Lisa also speaks openly about death and dying, dignity at the end of life, writing living wills, DNR decisions, death doulas, and how facing mortality can bring clarity, purpose, and peace.
This is a conversation about resilience, realistic goals, choosing hope over fear, and why tenacity will always beat talent. Lisa's story reminds us that running doesn't need to look impressive to be meaningful — especially when it helps carry you through loss and into hope.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Lisa
Writer and Author of 3 running books
Her latest book: Still Running After All These Tears – A Runner's Journey Through Grief
Being based in sunny Worthing
Her early years and coming from a running family
Hating sports at a young age
Doing a 5k fun run when she was 10
Not running again for 20 years
Turning 30 and realising her life was at a crossroads
Meet Dr. Erin Ayala, a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant from Minnesota, specialising in supporting female endurance athletes. With over a decade of research and clinical experience, she's a published author, sought-after speaker, and advocate for mental health in sport.
In this episode, Erin shares insights on:
Building mental resilience for endurance challenges
Strategies for coping with performance pressure and burnout
Balancing high-level competition with wellbeing
Lessons from her own journey as a competitive cyclist
A must-listen for anyone looking to strengthen their mind while chasing big goals.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Dr Erin - Licensed Psychologist and certified mental performance coach
Being based in the twin cities, Minnesota, USA
Her love for working with female athletes
Her backstory and being a multi-sport athlete in High School
Getting to grad school and starting to get into running
Joining a run club and getting the running bug
Working her way up to marathons
Meeting her spouse and getting into cycling, triathlons and doing Ironman
Moving to Minnesota in 2016
Joining a cycling club and being encouraged to start racing bikes
Gravel racing for the past 10 years
Growing up in a small, midwestern town.
Wanting to look after herself better
Being a workaholic and not prioritising her health or wellness
Stretching herself to thin and not feeling proud of what's going on inside
Being very achievement driven
Needing to match the internal to external
Being consistent with therapy since undergraduate
Why running and riding can be therapeutic but it can never replace working with a licensed therapist.
Thoughts while running and how they have changed over the years
Being a smoker, waking up coughing and not feeling good
Starting running to be healthy and fit again
Why it became so much deeper so much quicker
External motivation can only get us so far
The internal motivation is what keeps us going
How running helps her prioritise her "me" time
Figuring out the WHY
Wanting to get off Strava, not following anyone on it, and not worrying about the social comparison game
Getting sucked into the world of social media
Starting with your WHY and what does that actually mean
What words do you want people to use to describe you as a person
Setting herself up for success
Why her favourite clients are women in their 50s
Getting the balance right between going after your goals and managing a relationship
Being supported on her bike adventures, both on and off the road
Doing really long road trips and going back country hiking together
Doing 2 big events per year
Planning a race strategy and what the mental side of a race strategy looks like
Nothing new on race day and why the same applies to mental work and mental skills
It's never too soon to start.
Doing meditation every day via a free app
3/4 weeks out and getting series about her race goals
Being ready to reassess her goals based upon life circumstances
Taking into account- life - when setting race goals
Life gives us training scores too
Tips and tricks while being on the start line to get into the zone.
The cognitive piece and psychological piece
Here are my pre-race jitters
Feeling anxious at the start line e.g. going to the bathrooms multiple times before the start.
Take a deep breath? Breathing
The importance of low and slow breathing and how it helps to balance out the nervous system.
Jennifer Doohan – Founder of The Adventure Wellness Club, Helping Women Challenge Themselves and Connect in Nature
02 Apr 2026
00:42:02
Jennifer is an adventurer, wellness professional, and founder of The Adventure Wellness Club, helping women connect with nature, challenge themselves, and build lasting friendships through experiences grounded in the 3 Cs: Challenge, Connection, and Community.
She designs international hiking adventures and UK-based experiences that blend movement, mindfulness, and wellness. Her work spans everything from planning logistics and designing programs to facilitating group hikes, yoga, sauna and ice-bath sessions, and breath work.
Jennifer lived in Trentino, Italy for four years, where she learned to speak Italian and fell in love with the mountains and the sports within them, including ski touring. Over time, she has also run ultra marathons and bike packed long distances. Adventure is what makes her feel alive!
As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, her adventures are rooted in wellness and informed by research like the 3 Day Effect, showing that just three days immersed in nature can boost attention, creativity, and emotional resilience — benefits especially meaningful for neurodivergent women. Each international trip ends with a sauna experience, which she considers essential for physical and emotional wellbeing.
Her experiences encourage women to step outside their comfort zones while feeling supported, mindful, and fully present. Through adventure, movement, and shared experiences, Jennifer helps women slow down, feel capable, and reconnect with themselves and each other.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
Show notes
Who is Jennifer
Original from Manchester, but now based in Sheffield
When her running journey started
Maintaining a good level of base fitness
Running 50k in January
Feeling the need to go for a run
Getting into ultra running
Supported a guy who did the Bob Graham Round and running one of the legs
If he can do it - I can do it to
Knowing that she was capable of achieving
Breaking down the goal
Seeing the behind the scenes of planning a run and how it inspired her
Marie "Lootie" Leautey – Solo, Unsupported & Fastest Woman to Run Around the World
31 Mar 2026
00:53:50
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Marie "Lootie" Leautey, the second woman in history to run around the world solo and unsupported — and the fastest woman to do it.
Lootie's journey began in France, far from the running world. A former smoker and corporate finance professional, she swapped cigarettes for daily runs at 25, building up to her first marathon in just eight months. That spark turned into an audacious dream: to run across the globe — 26,000+ km, across four continents, relying entirely on herself.
Starting her run in Europe in December 2019, Lootie faced deserts, mountains, and long stretches between resupply points, carrying only a 12–15kg stroller packed with her essentials. Along the way, she experienced the kindness of strangers, the thrill of new cultures, and the incredible mental discipline required to run a marathon every day for years.
Beyond the physical feat, Lootie shares how her journey is rooted in purpose: raising funds for Women for Women International, honouring her grandmother's legacy, and inspiring women to ask themselves, "Why am I doing this, and is it aligned with who I want to be?"
This is a story of grit, adventure, and the extraordinary power of chasing your own path — a reminder that there's very little you can't achieve once you set your mind to it.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Lootie
Becoming the 2nd woman to run around the world - solo and unsupported
Fastest women to run around the world
Her early years growing up in France
Coming from a sporty family but not being interested in running
Her love for team sports
Being a smoker
Being out of shape at 25/26 years old
Swapping her cigarettes for a run ever day
Her wake up call in Greece while learning how to windsurf
Building up to a marathon distance- 8 months later
Leaving France when she was 20 - working in finance for big corporates
Having the idea to run around the world
Going on Google - has anyone run around the world before
The challenges of running in Australia: - road trains, distances between resupply points
The kindness of strangers
Running in Australia between May and August - which is Autumn time
Finishing the world run in Sydney, Australia and coming to the end of the run and the experience.
Feeling a little bit of satisfaction and also wanting the run to continue - a cocktail of strong and contradictory emotions
Feeling at peace now - 3 years after the run
The day after and not needing to run anymore
Never missing the running, even though she enjoyed it everyday
Struggling to run casually after the end of the world run
Flying back to France and going back to the normal world
Having a publishing contract in France and being ready after 2/3 months to start writing about the experience
Feeling that the adventure was so rich - that she wanted to write the story in English and finding a publisher in the United States
The next challenge….
Deciding to run across Africa
Wanting to be a teacher
How to connect with Lootie on social media
Final words of advice for other women who want to take on their own personal challenge
Whatever you're doing — at work or in your life — pause and ask yourself: Why am I doing this? And how aligned is it with who I am, or who I want to become?
There's very little you can't do once you set your mind to it.
Her motto - Wanting to see the world, enjoy it and appreciate every step of the way.
Stephanie Ho: Adventurer and Endurance Athlete Skiing Solo to the South Pole & Pushing Beyond Limits
24 Mar 2026
00:32:54
Stephanie Ho is a 24-year-old adventurer, endurance athlete, and exercise physiologist based on the Gold Coast, Australia. From rock climbing and ocean swimming to triathlons and mountain expeditions, Stephanie has always chased the outdoors — but her biggest goals lie in the polar regions.
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Stephanie shares her journey from discovering hiking and camping as a teenager to trekking Everest Base Camp, running 43km a day for a week, and skiing 540km across Greenland. She opens up about the mental and physical challenges of polar expeditions, the lessons she's learned in extreme environments, and what it takes to keep motivation alive when the goal seems impossible.
Stephanie is now preparing for a solo 1,200km expedition to the South Pole in 2026 — hauling a 100kg sled through temperatures as low as -50°C — a feat that, if successful, will make her the first Australian woman to achieve it. Along the way, she talks logistics, training, nutrition, dealing with fears and unsolicited advice, and the importance of listening to your body while chasing what sets your soul on fire.
This conversation is a masterclass in mental toughness, gratitude, and stepping beyond your comfort zone. Stephanie's story will inspire you to dream big, push limits, and embrace adventure — no matter your age or background.
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time).
Birgit Hermann – Turning Extreme Endurance into Bolder Leadership for People and Planet
17 Mar 2026
00:45:28
Birgit Hermann is a global leadership coach, speaker, executive leader, ocean advocate, professional freediver, and extreme endurance athlete who translates lessons from the edge into meaningful impact for people and planet.
She supports purpose-driven leaders to turn bold challenges into grounded, values-led action.
She has raced the Marathon des Sables, run a marathon in Antarctica, freedived beneath Arctic ice without a wetsuit, and cycled across the African continent — often as the only woman on the start line.
Alongside these edge-tested experiences, Birgit brings over 20 years of leading and coaching teams across marine conservation, climate resilience, international development, and peace building in more than 20 countries.
Based between Timor-Leste, Germany, New Zealand, and Egypt, she is the founder of Inspired by Nature and the author of B.O.L.D.E.R.™ — a leadership framework forged at the edge and built for real-world change.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Birgit
Growing up in Germany
Spending a lot of her life in Asia- Pacific, specifically New Zealand
Considering herself a change maker
Working in management positions in relation to climate change adaptions, marine conservation, supporting livelihoods and communities to make changes for the better
Growing up sporty and active
Becoming an outdoor lover after moving to New Zealand
Being a competitive swimmer for many years
Trying all sports from judo, to volleyball and cycling
Being interested in different cultures and travelling
Amanda Duling: Endurance Sport After Gastric Bypass — Grit, Fueling & Radical Honesty
10 Mar 2026
00:39:50
Amanda Duling is an endurance athlete, writer, and founder of One Gear Short of Normal™.
A post-bariatric, perimenopausal gravel cyclist and Ironman 70.3 finisher, Amanda uses grit, science, and unapologetic humour to tell the stories no one else is telling about endurance sports, women's bodies, and doing hard things later in life.
Through her writing and community work, she challenges the "suffer in silence" culture of endurance athletics and advocates for smarter fueling, better hygiene, realistic training, and radical honesty—especially for women navigating menopause, major weight loss, and endurance sport at the same time.
When she's not riding gravel roads or lifting heavy things, Amanda writes research-backed, laugh-out-loud essays on endurance life, parenting, and why choosing your hard matters more than perfection.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Amanda
Living in Kansas City, USA
Working as an IT professional during the day
Mum to a special needs son
Building a brand in relation to being a post-bariatric endurance athlete
Publishing an e-book in relation to saddle sores
Why reinvention is possible
Growing up in a small rural community
Being into reading, writing and art
Having a lot of anxiety about her body and body image
Enjoying being active
Not having the confidence when she was younger
Getting married and settling down
Having gastric bypass surgery in her early 40s
Having an Roux-en-Y gastric bypass - having a large portion of her stomach removed along with a large portion of her small intestines
Having the surgery at the beginning of COVID and being stuck at home
Her journey with food, health and fitness
Going for walks with her husband
Finding the motivation for the next step
Feeling uncomfortable wearing shorts and form fitting clothes
Starting to walk a little quicker
Hiring a personal trainer at the gym to gain some of the lost muscle back
Seeing her strength coming back
Thinking about doing a half marathon
Finding a couch to 5k program
Not making a lot of progress due to not being able to eat a lot
Starting to work with a dietician
Having to re-learn eating
Passing out after exercise and having no energy
Dumping syndrome - when the body is not able to process sugar
UCAN and Waxy Maize
Finding support through community
Joining a run club and meeting new people
Being able to complete the half marathon
Confidence and having confidence around her body
Building her self confidence
When things started to change
Showing up to different races
Doing hard things
Wanting to encourage individuals starting out to volunteer at a couple of events
Overcoming a challenge during a race
Gravel cycling/racing, and why it's the hardest disciple in endurance sports
Growing up near Boston, Sugar discovered hiking in her early twenties while exploring the White Mountains of New Hampshire. After getting sober at 30, she found herself with the clarity, time and capacity to pursue the life she truly wanted. What followed was a decision to live authentically, prioritise long-distance hiking, and become what she proudly calls a professional dirtbag.
In 2021, Sugar set out on the Appalachian Trail. While she knew she was a strong hiker, she also faced the uncertainty of what it would mean to walk the trail as a trans woman. Feeling the isolation of not seeing many stories like her own pushed her to begin writing, speaking openly, and becoming someone other queer and trans hikers could reach out to.
Since then, she has become the first known trans woman to complete the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking, founded TrailQTs – a free mentoring programme supporting first-time queer and trans thru-hikers – and in 2024 pioneered the Divide to Crest Route, a 3,000-mile backcountry journey from the Mexican border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Washington.
In 2025, Sugar set a new women's self-supported speed record on the Appalachian Trail southbound, breaking the previous record by more than a day and a half.
In this episode, we dive into sobriety, transition, representation, burnout, post-trail blues, building community, and what it really takes to push the body day after day. Sugar also shares practical advice on training, fuelling on a budget, protecting your feet, and why big dreams are built through small, steady steps.
This is a conversation about courage, visibility, and creating the path you wish had existed when you started.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time). Hit subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Lyla
Using she/her programs
From the North East of the USA
Living in New Hampshire
Working with kids and doing bar tending and other odd jobs
Growing up just north of Boston, on the North shore, about 3 hrs away from the Appalachian Trail
Playing team sports
Getting into hiking in her early 20s, with the help of a friend
Hiking in the White Mountains in New Hampshire
Getting sober at 30 years old and being sober for over 8 years now
How it changed her life, having more time and capacity to do more hiking
Spending time exploring the local trails in the area
Starting her gender transition
Knowing she was trans in her late 20s but not having the capacity to do anything about it
Getting sober and how it opened up lots of doors for herself
Living her authentic life
Deciding to leave her job, sell her car and go and hike the Appalachian Trail
Hiking the Appalachian Trail in late March 2021
Spending the past 5 years making long distance hiking her priority
Being a professional dirtbag
Channeling all of her energy and resources into hiking
Managing fears and concerns before taking on the Appalachian Trail
Knowing she was a strong hiker
Having concerns related to being a trans woman on trail and what unique challenges she would face
Trying to learn more about other trans experiences on the Appalachian Trail
Feeling a bit alone and not wanting others to feel the same way
Deciding to write for an outdoor website called the trek
Sharing more of her life online
The power of seeing trans people in the outdoors
Speaking publicly and telling her authentic story
Trying to be someone queer and trans folk can reach out to
Sara Eydmann - Ultra-marathon runner on attempting to run 500 miles, mental health and changing the narrative
02 Mar 2026
00:40:30
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Sara Eydmann — ultra-marathon runner, counsellor and therapist based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
At 30 years old, Sara is no stranger to pushing her limits. From attempting to run 500 miles to taking on the North Coast 500, her journey into ultra-running has been anything but straightforward. But behind the miles is a powerful and deeply honest story about mental health, identity, resilience and learning to change the narrative.
Growing up as an only child, Sara was always active — until an eating disorder at 14 forced her to stop exercising completely. Years later, she found her way back to running, initially using it as a way to control her weight. During lockdown, her running became increasingly intense, driven and compulsive. With the support of therapy and a coach, she began learning how to train with more structure, balance and self-awareness — eventually making it to the start line of her first marathon in 2023.
Shortly after, she signed up for her first ultra.
In this episode, Sara shares her experience of being late diagnosed with Autism at 27 and ADHD at 29 (AuADHD), and how that diagnosis helped her better understand herself, her anxiety, and the way her brain works — particularly in high-stress, high-performance environments.
We dive into:
Attempting to run 500 miles — and the reality of getting injured 256 miles in
Managing anxiety at the start line
Working with a crew and handling the overwhelming admin side of big challenges
Dealing with a stress fracture and the emotional fallout of stopping
The mental battle of ultra-distance running — self-talk, fear, surrender and staying rational
The financial and logistical realities of funding endurance challenges
Having her dad there for support
Trusting the process instead of fearing the outcome
Sara speaks candidly about what it feels like to "lose your head" mentally during a challenge, the lessons she's taken from injury, and how she's learning to run from a place of curiosity rather than compulsion.
Now preparing to move to France for a year to focus on training, immerse herself in the culture and learn French, Sara is continuing to explore what's possible — on her own terms.
This is an episode about endurance, identity, healing, and redefining success.
Trust the process. Don't fear the outcome.
*there is mention of eating disorders and running for weight loss - we do not go into specifics
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Sara; 30 years old, Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Moving to France later on in the year
Ultra runner and working as a counsellor and therapist as a day job
Mum to 2 cats
Late diagnosed with Autism (27 years old) and ADHD (29 years old) (AuAHDH)
Growing up as an only child and doing lots of sports at a young age
Needing to stop exercise at 14 due to an eating disorder
Getting back into running over the past few years
Training for her first marathon and managing the driven compulsion
Listening to her coach, not overtraining and being more structured in her training
Doing therapy throughout the years
Only running to control her weight
How running got very intense over lock down
Making it to the start line of her first marathon in 2023
Signing up for an ultra distance on a loop course on the month after.
Her journey with anxiety and getting to the start line of races
Getting to a point of just wanting to do - wanting to try and see
Shifting her mindset by surrendering to what could happen
Reflecting on her first marathon in Scotland
Being diagnosed with AuADHD and how it changed things
Muddling through life and finding school really difficult
Building her confidence to voice her needs
Learning to understand herself more
Running the North Coast 500
Dealing with a stress fracture in her knee
Wanting to take on this challenge
Dealing with the admin side of the challenge and why it was so stressful
Making the best of the situation
Road running and your bones…
Getting injured 256 miles in….
The lessons from the experience
Figuring out the financials to fund a challenge like this with AuADHD
Wanting to focus on the running
Being in a high stress, high performance situation
Running strategy for the challenge
Working with a crew and how it would work
All of the issues and challenges that came along
The mental side of the challenge and what's going on inside her head
Self talk - you've got this - keep going
Not hitting the wall, but mentally losing her head and not being rational anymore
Having her dad there to support
Managing her fear and putting plans in place to manage them
Making the decision to move to France for a year
Spending time focusing on her training
Being introverted and wanting to immerse herself in the culture and learn french
Starre Vartan: The Stronger Sex — Women's Bodies, Endurance, and the Science We've Been Missing
24 Feb 2026
00:52:07
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm joined by Starre Vartan — science and environment writer, author, and lifelong question-asker whose work sits at the powerful intersection of the human body and the natural world.
With a background in geology and biology, Starre began her career as an environmental geologist before pivoting into journalism to tell the stories behind the science. Over the past 15+ years, she's written for publications including National Geographic, Scientific American, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and New Scientist, becoming known for her ability to make science both rigorous and deeply human — especially when it comes to women's bodies.
We dive into Starre's latest book, The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body, a myth-busting, research-driven celebration of women's endurance, longevity, adaptability, and strength. From the messages girls receive about their bodies at a young age, to puberty, bone density, menopause, and why women often excel in endurance sports, Starre unpacks the science that has been overlooked — and what it means for women's health, sport, and everyday life.
We also talk about Starre's upbringing between Australia and the U.S., the influence of her formidable grandmother, growing up active and outdoors, and how reconnecting with strength training later in life has left her feeling more powerful than ever. This conversation is about listening to your body, trusting its wisdom, and reclaiming strength — physically, mentally, and scientifically.
If you've ever been told women are the weaker sex, this episode will change how you think about the female body forever.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Starre
Working as a scientist journalist focusing on women's health recently
Being based in a beach town south of Sydney, Australia
Growing up in NYC
Being a dual citizen with Australia and America
Book: The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells us about the Power of the Female Body
The dedication to her grandmother -the strongest women's she's ever known
Growing up with her grandmother
Doing her age appropriate chores; stacking wood, working in the garden, being involved and active in the running of the house
The messages that young girls receive about their bodies from a young age
Heading off into the woods to go on adventures
The lessons learned from her grandmother
Muscles and bone density for women and why puberty is such an important age for girls
Puberty in girls and athletics
The knowledge gap for women in sports
Women, endurance and the longer races
Differences between all human beings
The science and muscle and getting surprising results
Women's body fat and location
Visiting Japan to research longevity
How women's body handle diseases
The risks that men take
Finding purpose in life and figuring out your life goal
Making changes in her own life
Starting to weigh lift 3 years ago
Can you grown bone once you are at the stage where you have more extreme bone loss
Emma Karslake, FRGS, is an adventurer, writer and cycle tour guide who has spent much of the past eight years exploring the world by bike.
17 Feb 2026
00:45:25
From ultra-light hotel bikepacking on a road bike to six-month expeditions in remote regions on a heavily laden hybrid, Emma has experienced nearly every form of bike travel, including ultra-endurance racing.
She is a passionate advocate for slow travel as a means to reconnect with nature, embrace minimalism, and discover alternative ways of living. Her travels have shaped a deep commitment to sustainability, wild camping with minimal impact, and challenging the idea of nature as a park or playground, separate from our everyday lives. You can sign up to her newsletter for monthly updates and tips.
She is particularly keen to empower others, especially women, to embrace solo adventures, and she shares both practical guidance and philosophical reflections through her writing and events.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Emma
Working as a cycling journalist and tour guide
Moving around a lot and not really having a home base
Currently writing a guidebook on French Guiana
Having a normal childhood and not being particularly sporty
Growing up in France and starting running at 16
Running and rowing throughout university
Taking a gap year after university and heading to South America in 2016/2017
Fundraising for 6 months before starting from Ushuaia and heading to Lima in Peru.
Having a very small/tight budget
Wild camping as much as possible
What it was like on the trip - starting in January and dealing with prevailing winds all the way
Travelling in a group of 3 and what it was like
Being totally tolerant for a month
Doing a few more little trips, before heading with her partner on a European cycle trip
Journaling on the trip and writing a little bit each evening
Her bike set up and how it's changed over the years
Getting a vintage road bike, a carbon road bike, a gravel bike….
Dealing with saddle sores
Brooks Leather Saddle
Planning and logistics
Spreadsheets….
Route planning and starting with google, to find official routes, or to see if other people have created a route
Lorraine Lewis: Author of Dare to Dream, Ultra Runner, and Co-founder of The Lewis Foundation
10 Feb 2026
00:56:31
Lorraine Lewis is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Lewis Foundation, an award-winning cancer charity providing free gift packs and ongoing support to adult cancer patients across 17 hospitals in the Midlands. Founded from lived experience, the charity has become a lifeline for thousands of people diagnosed with cancer.
Beyond her role as a charity leader, Lorraine is a highly sought-after motivational speaker, inspiring audiences ranging from school children to corporate professionals. She has delivered talks for organisations including The Eden Project, the European Chartered Institute of Fundraising, and AJ Bell, sharing powerful messages of resilience, purpose and hope.
Lorraine's remarkable journey has captured national attention. She has been featured in publications such as The Sun and HELLO! Magazine, and has appeared on Channel 4 News, highlighting her work and personal story.
Her dedication to community service has been recognised through numerous accolades, including the HELLO! Magazine Inspiration Award, Great British Entrepreneur Award, and the prestigious Prime Minister's Point of Light Award. In recognition of her services to cancer, Lorraine was recently invited to meet Their Majesties The King and Queen.
In addition to her charitable work, Lorraine is an author, with her memoir Dare To Dream chronicling her journey from lawyer to charity founder. She also hosts the podcast "See Through The Big C", amplifying the voices of those living with cancer, their loved ones, and healthcare professionals.
A passionate artist, Lorraine discovered her love for art in her forties and continues to explore creativity alongside her enthusiasm for fitness, including HYROX competitions, running, and ultra-distance challenges—living proof that it's never too late to dream, create, and push beyond perceived limits.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Alexandra Nemeth: Beyond the Seven Summits — Highs, Lows, and Life in Extreme Places.
03 Feb 2026
00:42:59
Alex is a qualified International Mountain Leader, Polar Guide, and a professional Photographer based in St. Moritz, Switzerland. From scaling the world's highest peaks to leading expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica, she thrives where the wild meets the extreme.
Her passion for high-altitude exploration took her on a relentless quest; climbing the highest mountain on every continent, culminating on the summit of Mt. Everest in 2018. She became the first ever Hungarian to climb the Seven Summits. This journey ignited her mission to guide others through the raw beauty of the mountains and beyond.
In the winter, she guides private snowshoe and fat bike around St. Moritz; in the summer, she leads exhilarating hiking and mountain biking adventures across the Alps. Between her Alps seasons, she's found working in the Polar regions (Antarctica: guide, zodiac driver, lecturer and lead crevasse rescue guide. Arctic: guide, zodiac driver, lecturer and polar bear guard)
Her expertise extends far beyond Europe, guiding bespoke expeditions across the globe.
An endurance athlete at heart, Alex is always chasing the next adventure—whether Polar ski crossing, racing mountain bikes, or pushing limits in the mountains.
As a professional photographer and drone pilot, she uses her lens to capture the world's most remote landscapes, advocate for environmental conservation, and document the stories of the Polar regions. Her work is deeply inspired by mountains, polar history, pioneering female explorers, and the delicate balance of nature.
In her recent book: Beyond the Seven Summits: Finding Strength Where the Air is Thin, Alex shares her experiences of climbing these mountains, and she also explores the journey that shaped who she is today: all the highs and lows. I hope to bring these peaks closer to readers by including short historical notes alongside each climb and sharing everything she learned along the way. The book is also rich in photographs, helping to bring both the stories and these beautiful mountains vividly to life.
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Alex
Being born in Hungary, but spending most of her adult life in the UK
Deciding to move to the Swiss Alps to work as an International Mountain Leader
Climbing the 7 Summits and becoming the first Hungarian to do so
Bonita Norris – Mountains, Mindset, Motherhood and Mastering the Impossible
27 Jan 2026
00:51:20
Bonita Norris became the youngest woman to reach both the summit of Mt Everest at just 22 and the North Pole at 23, and her story is nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, she shares the journey that took her from school trips in North Wales to climbing some of the world's highest peaks, navigating extreme environments, and pushing the limits of what's possible.
Bonita reflects on the early steps that built her career in mountaineering—starting with beginner climbing courses, funding her expeditions, and preparing for the Himalayan peaks. She opens up about the mental and physical challenges of summiting Everest, managing fear in remote and hostile environments, and how these experiences shaped her life and perspective.
Now a mother of two, Bonita also discusses how she balances adventure with family life, inspiring her children to embrace courage and curiosity. From attempting K2 to climbing the Matterhorn after an eight-year hiatus, she emphasises the importance of showing up, trusting the process, and meeting opportunity with determination.
Whether you're chasing literal mountains or metaphorical ones in your own life, Bonita's insights, lessons in bravery, and personal stories will motivate you to take the next bold step.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Bonita
The youngest person to have reached both the summit of Mt Everest (age 22) and the North Pole (age 23)
Jacquetta Megarry – Founding Rucksack Readers, Walking Adventures, and Building Confidence in the Outdoors
19 Jan 2026
00:41:06
Jacquetta Megarry didn't grow up in the outdoors, and she certainly didn't see herself as an adventurer—or a publisher. But turning 50 sparked a journey that would transform her life. From walking the West Highland Way with friends to summiting Mt Kilimanjaro, Jacquetta discovered the power of pacing yourself, listening to your body, and building unshakeable self-belief.
Her adventures inspired her to found Rucksack Readers, a guidebook company that helps hikers navigate trails around the world. Over 25 years later, Jacquetta shares stories from her experiences—from hiking in the UK during Storm Amy, to trekking the Inca Trail, to exploring Antarctica—along with lessons on making mistakes, learning from them, and embracing challenges at any age.
In this episode, Jacquetta shares how stepping outside your everyday life can open doors to new passions, transform confidence, and even create a career doing what you love. She offers practical tips for hikers, insights into publishing, and encouragement for women ready to explore the world on their own terms.
This episode is for you if you:
Want inspiration to start a new adventure at any age
Dream of hiking, trekking, or exploring the outdoors
Are curious about publishing guidebooks and sharing your knowledge
Believe it's never too late to embrace challenges and grow
Ready to be inspired? Hit play and let Jacquetta take you on a journey of mountains, maps, and life-changing adventures.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Sabrina Pace-Humphreys – UTMB, Trail Running, and Building Community: The Journey of a Runner and Advocate
15 Jan 2026
01:03:49
Sabrina Pace-Humphreys is back on the Tough Girl Podcast for her third appearance, sharing her incredible journey as a runner, coach, and advocate for representation in trail running. From being a mum of four and grandmother of three, to taking on some of the toughest ultramarathons in the world, Sabrina's story is one of resilience, community, and the relentless pursuit of goals.
In this episode, Sabrina reflects on her time at the UTMB, the challenges of race preparation, and the lessons learned when things don't go to plan. She also shares updates on her work with Black Trail Runners, supporting women and runners of the global majority, and gives a sneak peek into her new book, Start Where You Are: The Beginner's 5k Running Guide for Women.
Whether you're chasing your first 5k, dreaming of ultra distances, or passionate about creating inclusive running communities, Sabrina's insights, advice, and personal stories will inspire you to lace up and claim your mantle as a runner.
Listen to past episodes with Sabrina on the Tough Girl Podcast
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Sabrina Pace-Humphreys
Run coach, personal trainer and community builder
Advocate for representation in running
Mum of 4, grandmother of 3
3rd time on the Tough Girl Podcast!
Speaking with Sabrina on August 30th 2022
The final things we talked about - Back to the Trails, creating a vision board, wanting to participate in the UTMB race and wanting to write a 2nd book about running
What's happened over the past few years
2023 Survivor!
Not being able to hide being a hype woman!
Why you will either love it or hate it
Being voted out in the 2nd week
Why it was such a bizarre experience seeing herself
Having an episode of poor mental health after the show and feeling out of control
Using her voice to motivate a team
Coming out of the low moments and the connection to running, community and friendships
Her go to tools
Update on Black Trail Runners
Running social runs with students of the global majority
Becky Wandell – Reinvention, Solo Travel, and Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at 55
13 Jan 2026
00:48:51
Becky Wandell is a Teacher, Writer, Tour Guide, Volunteer, and Solo Traveler. At 47, while weathering a difficult divorce and the death of four close relatives, she clawed her way up from the depths of grief and, in her words, set out to "find her way back to Becky again".
To do this, she quit her job, sold all of her belongings and charted a plan to complete a series of adventures she had always dreamed of doing. Joining the US Peace Corps, learning to speak Spanish and gaining her confidence in solo travel and living abroad set the stage for several years of living her best life throughout South America; a life rich with opportunities to learn, grow, serve others through volunteering, integrate deeply into cultures, and make connections - especially with women.
Then, in 2024 at the age of 55, she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.
It was there, with thousands of footsteps across the desert, over the mountains and back home to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, she was finally able to release the last of her regrets, coming away from the trek feeling lighter, freer, more confident and beautiful than ever before.
Turns out, living life to the fullest and fulfilling all your dreams brings joy.
Now, Becky works as a seasonal Tour Guide in Alaska which allows her to spend the rest of the year living out of her backpack, always ready for the next adventure.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Becky
Teacher, writer, solo traveller, volunteer and tour guide
Starting her life in the Mid-West
Knowing she always wanted to live by mountains
Starting to work for the forest service in environmental programs
Having a wonderful career and life
Needing to make a pivot in her life and needing to figure out what she really wanted to do
Joining the Peace Corps at 47
Wanting to travel more, learn a new language and experience more of the world
Deciding to hike the Pacific Crest Trail at 55 from Mexico to Canada
Gaining a huge amount of confidence
Wanting to slow travel more and working as a tour guide in Alaska
Living her dream and being the best beaky she can be
The pivot at 47
The love letters….. the origin story to her relationship
Giving up her dreams and "compromising"
Typing out all the things that she wanted to do back then
Denisa Krásná – Flow, Fear, and Female Adventure: Redefining Women's Stories in Extreme Sports
06 Jan 2026
00:48:05
What does it mean to challenge the limits of both body and mind—and to redefine what success looks like along the way? Denisa Krásná, scholar, author, and adventurer from the Czech Republic, takes us on a journey into the world of women in extreme sports.
From her early days trekking with her parents to highlining hundreds of meters above the ground, Denisa has always been drawn to adventure, isolation, and pushing herself beyond comfort. She co-edited Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock, and Sky, an inspiring anthology celebrating diverse women's voices in adventure sports—whitewater kayaking, climbing, mountaineering, and highlining—challenging stereotypes and redefining what it means to be successful in the outdoors.
In this episode, we explore:
Denisa's path from scholar to adventurer and author
How fear, frustration, and failure can become tools for growth
The mental game behind highlining and extreme sports
Stories of resilience, creativity, and empowerment from women across the globe
Why inclusivity, mentorship, and community are key to thriving in adventure sports
Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a woman seeking inspiration, or simply curious about the stories behind extreme adventure, Denisa's insights will leave you reflecting on your own limits—and inspired to push past them.
Tune in for a conversation about courage, flow, and the power of women redefining adventure on their own terms.
***
🎙️ New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
💪 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
🙏 Your support makes a difference. 💖 Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Denisa
Growing up and living in the Czech Republic
Working as a scholar at university
Loving research and writing about her adventure
Writing books and academic articles
Her early years growing up
Travelling with her parents all the time
Going on trekking adventures around the world from places like lapland to Nepal
Her love for being outdoors and being isolated
Being introverted
Wanting to talk to adults and discuss ideas
Her passion for reading, researching and academics
Being active every single day
New Book: Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock, and Sky
How the book came about with her friend Alena Rainsberry
Getting a grant to work on outdoor counternarratives
Being do-ers and getting things done
Reaching out to potential authors
The gap in the literature
What does counternarratives mean?
What the typical story of success currently is in outdoor sports
Wanting to show that success is something that should be defined by the individual - it should be fluid.
Including stories from professional athletes who define success in the more conventional way
Representation of women in adventure stories
The stories that resonated and made her think in a different way
Sarah Williams: Solo Reflections Episode, GR10, the Numbers and Plans for 2026
01 Jan 2026
00:33:28
Happy New Year! I'm taking a moment to look back at the last six months of 2025—what's worked, what hasn't, and what the numbers tell me about the year so far. I reflect on the journey I've been on, the adventures, the challenges, and the mindset shifts that have shaped my life.
I talk about working in longer blocks, thinking in decades not years, and the balance between pushing hard and giving myself space to rest. I share what I'm learning about consistency, structure, and getting intentional with my time, energy, and goals.
I also get real about needing magic, wanting change, and how to show up even when life throws curveballs. If you're looking for a little reflection, motivation, and some Tough Girl honesty, this episode is for you.
Thank you for all your support! Love Sarah x
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Dr Latika Nath – Nat Geo's Tiger Princess: Pioneering Conservation and Studying Big Cats in the Wild
30 Dec 2025
00:38:09
From the jungles of India to the global stage of wildlife conservation, Dr Latika Nath has spent her life studying and protecting big cats, becoming the first woman in the world to study tigers in the wild. Known as Nat Geo's "Tiger Princess," she shares stories from deep in the forests where she observed tigers using tools, hunting porcupines, and navigating complex human-wildlife conflicts.
In this episode, Latika takes us on her journey from a childhood spent exploring the outdoors to pursuing her dream in a male-dominated field, studying elephants and tigers in the wild. She shares the challenges of working in remote areas, the lessons learned from female tigers, and her tireless efforts to combat poaching.
We also dive into her work as a conservation photographer, using images to tell stories that inspire action, and her advice for women and girls aiming to make their mark in conservation. Latika's story is one of courage, dedication, and the belief that one person's passion can make a world of difference.
This episode is for you if:
You love wildlife and big cats
You're curious about conservation and sustainability
You want inspiration from a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated field
You're motivated by stories of courage, resilience, and following your passions
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Dr Latika
Working as a Conservation Ecologist and conservation photographer
Being based out of Indian
Studying big cats all over the world
Using her photography to share stories about conservation
Working as an expert on Tourism and sustainability
Working with the Indian Planning Commission as an in-house advisor
Being an only child and spending most of her time outdoors
Living close to a National Park
Deciding at 6 years old that she wanted to be an ecologist
Being encouraged to pursue her dreams
People in the 1970s not knowing what an ecologist was
Not being able to study the subjects she wanted to
Being a girl in a male dominated field
Being the first woman in the world to study tigers
Moving over to the UK to continue her education at Bangor University, Wales
Doing her masters thesis on elephant and human conflict in Indian
How elephants follow the old memories
Her passion and interest in tigers
Wanting to study snow leopards initially
Terrorism in Kashmir and how it changed the direction of her life
Being inspired by Dr HS Pabla
The tiger population in India currently
Project tiger - being responsible for the conservation of the tiger in the wild
Being the only person in the park and being truly on her own in the wild with the animals
What it was like studying the tigers and the relationships that developed
Discovering new knowledge about tigers
Seeing tigers using tools
How tigers eat porcupines
The expedition logistics
Lessons learned from female tigers
The biggest danger to tigers going forward
How to combat poaching
Getting the nickname - The Tiger Princess
Being filmed by National Geographic for a 1hr documentary
Advice and tips for women and girls who want to enter the space of conservation
Advice for women around self belief and self confidence and why there work is important
What's next for Dr Lakita
Writing her next book
Having a photography expedition in London in June 2026
How to connect with Dr Lakita
Final words of advice around following your passions and interests
Having good days and bad days - go one day, one step at a time and why it can make a big difference
Kaytlyn Gerbin – Motherhood, Mountains, and 100-Mile Runs: Her Ultra Running Comeback
23 Dec 2025
00:46:36
What does it take to return to the top of the ultra running world after major life changes and a "career-ending" surgery? Kaytlyn Gerbin knows.
In this episode, Kaytlyn shares her journey from a scientist with a love for the outdoors to a world-class trail and ultra runner. Growing up active but without formal running experience, she discovered her talent in her mid-twenties and quickly fell in love with the 100-mile distance. Since then, she's set course records, tackled some of the most technical alpine trails in the Pacific Northwest, and stood on podiums at legendary races like UTMB, Western States 100, and Transgrancanaria.
But Kaytlyn's story isn't just about running. It's about resilience, reinvention, and balance. After the birth of her daughter Era in 2024 and undergoing surgery to correct hip dysplasia—a procedure many thought would end her running career—Kaytlyn came back stronger than ever, winning the Cascade Crest 100 and taking on the epic 330km Tor des Geants race in Italy.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
How she discovered her running talent and found her passion for ultra distances
Overcoming setbacks, starting over, and learning to meet herself where she is
The mental strategies that help her tackle 100-mile races and multi-day alpine challenges
Balancing motherhood with elite-level running
Her plans and goals for 2026, including Hardrock 100 and UTMB
Whether you're an aspiring ultra runner, a parent chasing big goals, or someone who loves stories of grit, perseverance, and adventure, Kaytlyn's story will inspire you to push your limits—on the trails and in life.
Tune in to hear how Kaytlyn combines mountains, motherhood, and science-backed training to redefine what's possible, one long run at a time.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Kaytln
Ultra runner and trail runner for the North Face
Living in the foothills outside of Seattle, US
Having a degree in Bioengineering and previously working as a scientist
Having her first daughter, 14 months ago
Reflecting back on her childhood and early years
Growing up in rural US
Being the oldest of four and being very active as a kid
How her running journey progressed
Playing soccer in high school
Being good at running on the field, but not enjoying the running for training
Making friends with other students at college who ran
Discovering her running talent in her mid-twenties
Entering her first small, local race and finishing 2nd female
Having fun and feeling strong while running
Finding her distance
Loving the 100 mile distance
Figuring out training for races
The longer she ran, the stronger she felt
Feeling overwhelmed by the running distances
Having to start over with her running
Remembering how hard it is to start running again after set backs
Having a hard time with running
Never having a running coach and getting to make all the rules
Tracking her training
Meeting yourself where your at ie being ok with walking
Bringing in science to her running?
Lessons on failure and how it applies to running
Staying humble with her running
Why the hardest part of the race, is just before it starts
The anxiety before a race, struggling to sleep and eat before
Staying relaxed while running and settling into the run after 50k
Running through the night
Taking some time before doing the hard thing, and thinking about the mental challenges which may come up and how to handle it
Running a 220 mile race over 4 days
Dealing with the guilt of being away from her baby while running
Anticipate what some of the mental challenges might be during a race and how best to approach it
Taking a step back from the running during pregnancy
Sheryl Ramstad – Surviving the Impossible: A 1% Miracle, Radical Resilience, and Rebuilding Life After a Plane Crash
16 Dec 2025
00:46:00
Sheryl Ramstad's story is nothing short of extraordinary. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash with less than a 1% chance of survival, Sheryl's life was forever changed. What began as her first solo flight at age 29 became a harrowing journey through life-threatening burns, multiple surgeries, overwhelming grief, and two years of excruciating rehabilitation.
But this isn't just a survival story—it's a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and the unbreakable human spirit.
In this powerful conversation, Sheryl shares how she transformed unimaginable trauma into a life of purpose, service, and adventure. From shifting her mindset from "Why me?" to "What's next?" to supporting burn survivors in Peru, going back to school at 62, raising three children, becoming a grandmother, and even climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro—Sheryl embodies what it means to live fully, bravely, and without regrets.
With her first book "Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving, and Summiting" published in January 2025, Sheryl reflects on a decades-long journey of healing, reinvention, and choosing courage over fear. Her story will inspire you to embrace challenges, pursue new beginnings at any age, and live life full throttle.
If you're looking for a reminder of what's possible—even in your darkest moments—this episode will stay with you long after you've listened.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Sheryl
Being based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US
Being retired and writing her first book
Surviving her first solo plane flight at 29 years old
How this impacted how she lived the rest of her life
Leaving work and no longer having an excuse not to write her story
Having 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren
Having the book published in late January of 2025
The key moment when life changed
Changed her focus from survival to service
Being grateful for everyday and wanting to make her life meaningful for herself and for others
Hillary Allen – Ultrarunner and Author of Out and Back: A Runner's Story of Survival Against All Odds
09 Dec 2025
00:47:40
Hillary Allen, famously known as the "Hillygoat," is a world-class ultrarunner celebrated for her fearless climbs on steep, technical terrain. But in 2017, at the peak of her career as the #1 ultrarunner in the world, Hillary faced a life-changing setback: during a race in Norway, she fell 150 feet off a ridge, breaking 14 bones. Doctors told her she'd never run again.
Yet Hillary didn't just defy the odds—she redefined them. Today, she's back competing at the elite level and inspiring others to rewrite their own stories of resilience.
With a background in neuroscience and a master's in physiology and structural biology, Hillary combines science, grit, and empathy in her work as an author, coach, and speaker.
Her book, Out and Back: A Runner's Story of Survival Against All Odds, chronicles her incredible comeback.
In this episode, Hillary shares:
How her lifelong love of running and science shaped her journey
The mental and physical challenges of recovering from a life-threatening fall
Practical tips on mindset, self-belief, and self-compassion
Why she believes your best athletic days can be ahead of you
Whether you're an athlete, adventurer, or someone looking to overcome setbacks in life, Hillary's story is a powerful reminder that resilience, courage, and persistence can take you farther than you ever imagined.
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
Show notes
Who is Hillary
Growing up in Boulder Colorado, USA
Being an athlete all her life
Coming from an outdoorsy, academic family
Describing herself as a science nerd
Currently in a Masters Program for Applied Sports Psychology
Having an older sister
Growing up camping with her family
Her parents both being professors
Studying chemistry and neuroscience
Not finishing her Phd
Getting her first running sponsorship
Her running journey to get to being a sponsored athlete
Starting running in graduate school
Needing an outlet to reset
Starting to run with a running group
Discovering the trail running scene
When things clicked after running a road marathon
Wondering if she could do it…
Being drawn to running and feeling satisfaction in the challenge
Working hard on her weaknesses
Working on her ability to run on technical trails and push herself when feeling tired
Lani Woods – Inspiring Women to Ride, Explore, and Belong Through Cycling Adventures
02 Dec 2025
00:41:46
Lani Woods is a passionate cyclist, adventurer, and creative force behind a vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts. Known for blending her love of cycling with a flair for design, Lani leads initiatives like Triple Crown Adventures to inspire others to explore the world on two wheels. Whether organizing group adventures in Hawaii or crafting unique cycling gear, she's dedicated to building an inclusive, adventure-loving community.
* Marked as explicit — just one F bomb!
***
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Lani
Being based in Hawaii
Being a full time adventurer
Loving to travel and explore
Being a curious soul
Growing up in Southern California
Not being athletic when she was younger
Getting into athletics in her 30s
What happened in her 30s
Having kids at a young age and being in a long term relationship
Deciding to leave an abusive relationship
Wanting to feel stronger and release the relationship stress
Getting back into running and how it made her feel better
Getting back into the gym and how it helped her mental health
Deciding to try an obstacle course race
Dealing with injury and needing to rehab after 3 surgeries
Charlotte Fisher – From Zero Running Experience to Elite Ultra Runner
27 Nov 2025
00:55:35
From a council estate on the Isle of Wight to conquering some of Europe's toughest mountain ultras, Charlotte Fisher's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Less than three years ago, she had never run competitively. Today, she's a full-time ultra runner chasing elite races like UTMB and Western States 100, proving that it's never too late to find your path.
In this episode, Charlotte shares how a charity ultra challenge sparked her running journey, the lessons learned from 50km races to brutal 100-mile mountain ultras, and how running transformed her mindset, confidence, and life. She opens up about the highs, the lows, and the mental toughness required to push through physical limits — from hospitalised near-sepsis to standing on podiums in Europe's toughest races.
Whether you're a seasoned runner, an aspiring adventurer, or someone searching for purpose, Charlotte's story is a powerful reminder that mountains, miles, and mindset can transform your life.
What you'll hear in this episode:
How Charlotte went from zero running experience to winning her first ultra
Lessons learned from extreme races and mountain ultras
Mental toughness, mindset shifts, and life transformation through running
Training, fueling, and recovery strategies for endurance athletes
Why adventure, self-discovery, and community make ultra running so addictive
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
Show notes
Who is Charlotte?
From the Isle of Wight, UK – where she now lives, works, and trains
Runs her own dog-walking business
On a mission to become a full-time professional ultra runner
Began running less than 3 years ago, starting with a charity ultra with no running experience
Paula Ralph – Cycling Solo from Cape Town to Nordkapp: 12,290 km Across 17 Countries - When Everything Seemed Impossible
25 Nov 2025
00:54:59
What happens when a dream is so big, so audacious, that you commit to it long before you have the skills, money, or confidence to make it happen?
For Paula Ralph, that dream was to cycle from Cape Town, South Africa to Nordkapp, Norway— a 12,290 km journey across 17 countries. What began as a Guinness World Record attempt soon transformed into something far more powerful: a test of courage, resilience, and self-belief.
Paula set off with one goal — to become the fastest woman to complete the route. But along the way, reality hit hard. Injuries, financial setbacks, fear, loneliness, and a traumatic collision with a truck in Zambia forced her to confront a heartbreaking truth: the record might no longer be possible. At this crossroads, Paula had a choice — stop, or redefine what success looked like.
She chose to keep going.
In this episode, Paula shares the raw truth behind the miles: the moments of doubt, the joy of human connection, the quiet sunrises that kept her pedalling, and the inner strength she discovered when everything else was stripped away. Her story is not just about endurance on a bike — it's about holding on to your "why" when the original plan falls apart.
If you've ever had a dream that felt too big, or found yourself at the edge of giving up, Paula's journey will remind you that progress isn't always measured in records — sometimes it's measured in courage, growth, and the refusal to quit.
This episode is for you if:
You're chasing a big goal or adventure
You've experienced setbacks or self-doubt
You want inspiration to keep going when life gets tough
You love stories of resilience, solo travel, and human grit
Ready to be inspired by what's possible when you simply refuse to stop? Hit play and let Paula take you on the road with her.
New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.
Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.
Your support makes a difference. Thank you x
***
Show notes
Who is Paula
Doing the Long Ride - Cape Town to Nordkapp, Norway
Being based in the UK
Growing up in South Africa in the middle of nowhere
Not being very adventurous
Getting sporty in her adult years
Getting married and putting on weight
Deciding to join a gym to lose weight in
Paying a Personal Trainer
How her outlook on fitness changed
Wanting to encourage other people to live a healthy life
Getting into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Becoming a sports therapist in 2009
Going into retail after college
Getting her personal training qualifications
Advice and tips for women who aren't feeling comfortable in their body
Encouraging women to find something they'd enjoy
Getting the idea for the ride in 2020
Being inspired by the longest walkable road in the world - from cape town to a tiny town in Russia
Sharing her dream on Facebook
Giving herself 4 years to plan and train
Deciding to do a cycling camp in Italy
Meeting her coach - Ian
Deciding it was now or never and starting the ride
The challenges of getting to the start line
Getting divorced in 2012 and not having children
The challenges of being self employed
Struggling financially
Creating a go fund me, to fund the challenge
Wanting to start a foundation to help children in disadvantaged communities
Needing to take a little diversion to get back on track
The start line of the long ride
Being driven to the start line at 5am
Dealing with the nerves at the start
Wanting to beat the record and complete the challenge in 72 days
Not having a support crew anymore due to the sponsorship falling through
Having an 8kg pack on her back while cycling
Crossing the border into Botswana
Her cycle route through Africa
The anxiety heading up to the Ethiopia border
Border crossing
Heading through the Middle East and making it to Europe
Mental resilience during the ride
Reflecting on each day, how the day went and how she was feeling
Why the only way is forward
Smiling through the pain
Being on the bike and where her focus was
Getting hit by a truck in Zambia
Needing to set the world record aside
Feeling overwhelmed and not wanting to continue the ride - being completely done
The end of the journey and knowing the end was insight
Feeling proud of herself
Going live on Instagram to thank everyone
Adjusting back to life after the trip
Leaving everything in the UAE
Heading back to the UK after the ride
Finding a contract job
Trying to enjoy the downtime after the ride and struggling with not moving forward