Tough Girl Podcast Jessie Leong - Award winning filmmaker, brand ambassador for Montane and current Ordnance Survey #GetOutside Champion
May 20, 2021
51:54
Jessie’s lifelong outdoor odyssey began with Duke of Edinburgh walks in the Peak District. This segued into long hill hikes in the Yorkshire Dales, multi-day treks in the Lake District, scrambles in North Wales and adventures scaling alpine pinnacles. When not walking, she can be found rock climbing, wild swimming, cycling, photographing, filmmaking, writing and modelling. Jessie in her own words: “It’s so so important to be championing a greater diversity of voices and lenses that show a different narrative on the world.” “For me, trad climbing helps me slow everything down. When I have deadlines on, worrying about where my next job comes through or trying to give my head a bit of space, I find nothing helps concentrate me more than heading to my local crag and putting all the mind chatter in a box. Being on the sharp end and taking a deep breath, committing to the move above my gear - that is what gives me energy” New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out. The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. Show notes
- Who is Jessie
- Juggling a lot of things as a freelancer
- Being British-born Chinese
- Her family and growing up in Essex
- Being encouraged by her parents to get into a good university
- Doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award through Air Cadets
- Getting mini expeditions under her belt in the local area
- Heading out to the Peak District for the DoE Silver Award
- Going on to do the Gold Award and doing the expedition to the Pyrenees Mountains!
- The spark for hiking, trekking and exploration
- Her future plans and dreams
- Being the oldest in her family and being a rebel
- Having a desire to spend time outdoors
- Where her drive and ambition comes from
- Her passion for photography
- Being inspired by amazing and supportive teachers
- The realities of being a professional photographer in the outdoors
- Heading up North to Leeds to get a degree
- Working in a commercial studio
- Getting involved in a hiking club
- Starting as a social hiker and how it evolved into climbing
- The loss of a climber from the hiking club and its impact
- Finding solace in the mountains
- Gaining Alpine Skills
- Getting Trad Climbing experience in 2015
- Having good friends
- Heading to the Alps for her first Alpine Adventure 2016
- Being an OS #GetOutside Champion
- Dealing with the Beast from the East in the UK while climbing
- Encouraging people to see what adventures are available on their doorstep
- Advice for other women to achieve their goals
- 2020 goals
- Taking her ML assessment and her challenging experience
- Advice for those who want to take their ML
- New film….with the Pinnacle Club