Hurdle
Join veteran journalist and wellness coach Emily Abbate, on Hurdle — a wellness-focused podcast where she talks to inspirational people about everything from their highest highs and toughest moments to essential tips on how to live a healthier, happier, more motivated life. We all go through our fair share of hurdles. Emily's goal through these discussions is to empower you to better navigate yours and move with intention so that you can stride toward your own big potential and of course — have some fun along the way. Tell us: What's your #hurdlemoment?
Latest episodes
Jun 9, 2025 • 42min
359. Becoming Your Best Self: How To Write Your Own Blueprint, Trust Your Gut & Meet The Moment With Coach Diljeet Taylor
There’s something beyond special about coach Diljeet Taylor; as the head of BYU’s women’s track and field program, she’s made a massive impact on young women. But Coach Taylor’s leadership goes well beyond the BYU campus, as a leader for Nike’s Swoosh TC in Utah and a figurehead for women in sport. In today’s episode, she talks about the difficult decisions she had to make as the daughter of Indian immigrants to deviate away from the blueprint that was set out for her. She shares how she garnered the self-belief and courage to carve her own path, leading her to pursue her passion for running and ultimately become one of the most respected coaches in her field. We talk about the importance of “in order to be her you need to see her,” and how she shows up on the days where she doesn’t feel so confident. Plus: What you will and won’t catch her talking to her women about, and how meaningful it was for her to be a part of Nike’s After Dark Tour. IN THIS EPISODE(3:15) Why going to Mumbai to cheer on runners as part of Nike’s After Dark series meant so much to her(4:14) Diljeet talks about the blueprint that was laid out for her as a young Indian girl when no one looked like her(5:36) Diljeet talks about deviating from the roadmap that was created for her by her parents(7:10) Diljeet talks about what her purpose is, and how she felt compelled to be involved in track and field(9:05) Diljeet talks about how she articulated what her dreams were from a young age(11:27) Diljeet talks about the importance of “seeing her to be her” and the importance of having good role models from a young age(17:05) Why Diljeet stays at BYU instead of taking on other opportunities(19:18) What Diljeet wants her legacy to be(21:04) How Diljeet recharges when she’s not feeling so shiny or bright(21:38) Why as a coach Diljeet will never tell you she’s exhausted(27:16) What it was like for Diljeet to be in Paris for the Olympics and how she didn’t think about how it would feel like for her to walk into the stadium. (31:18) What it’s like for Diljeet to raise two boys(35:35) How it felt for Diljeet to “fail” last year(38:50) What’s the biggest lesson Diljeet has learned from running(39:15) The biggest piece of advice that Diljeet offers to someone who is approaching their own starting line, in and beyond sport.(40:00) What does it mean for Diljeet to live her purpose(41:10) Advice that Diljeet would offer her younger selfSOCIAL@kristinacentenari@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastOFFERSInsideTracker | Go to InsideTracker.com/Hurdle to and use code "ITHURDLE" to get 20% off. Plus, enter to win a free one-year membership, the Ultimate Test, and a Healthspan Category TestLMNT | Lemonade has ARRIVED! Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack with your purchaseJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle NewsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to ask me a question!
Jun 6, 2025 • 7min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Who's Helping You Rally When Things Feel Hard?
A lesson from a tough Wednesday morning workout. Plus: Answering a listener question about what I wish I knew at 27 now that I'm officially the big 3-7.intuition.SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSUBSCRIBE TO: The Weekly Hurdle newsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question.
Jun 2, 2025 • 1h 2min
358. Everything You Need Is Within You: How To Use Your Breath To Improve Performance & Manage Stress With Kristina Centenari
Fun fact: We breathe approximately 22,000 times per day, and most individuals are only aware of a handful of those breaths. Today, Kristina Centenari — a Tonal and Nike Running coach, as well as breath work facilitator — and I talk about what happens when you take advantage of one of your most important tools, and how becoming more aware of your breath can help you cope with daily stressors and navigate challenge — as well as improve performance. This episode’s so special to me, not only because KC is a good friend, but also because we talk about another thing that’s so important and under appreciated when It comes to performance: Mindset. Kristina talks us through how we can use our breath to our advantage within sport and stressful situations, and also shares about her backstory as a competitive tennis player. She also gets vulnerable about dealing with disordered eating, and we have this great conversation about what it takes to become a master of your craft.IN THIS EPISODE(5:22) Kristina shares about her tennis career through college and how the sport shaped her into who she is today.(5:48) Kristina talks about being an anxious teenager and the pressure she put on herself as a college athlete(6:05) What is arrival fallacy? (10:20) Kristina talks about where she thinks the root of her anxiety stemmed from and talks about the societal pressures on performing at the highest level(17:10) Kristina talks about what she wishes she knew about breath work when she was younger(17:32) What’s it mean to regulate your emotions and how does someone begin?(20:36) Kristina shares when she was first exposed to mindfulness and breath work(24:32) How breath work makes Kristina feel in real time(25:00) Kristina shares her crazy goal for after knee surgery to run the New York City Marathon — and how she ultimately snagged a personal best(29:05) Kristina helps to reframe the difficult components of injury and offers advice to pick yourself back up(35:00) Where Kristina did her education on breath work (36:16) We breathe 22,000 times per day, how to curate an optimal environment to breathe better(39:25) What longer exhales versus inhales do for your nervous system(45:38) Kristina details a resonance frequency breath and how to do it(50:55) How to get over the hurdle of starting and combat beginner’s anxiety(56:30) Why Kristina’s big on considering herself a constant student over an expertSOCIAL@kristinacentenari@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastOFFERSFUTURE | Go to future.co/hurdle to get 50% off your first month of personal training!LMNT | Lemonade has ARRIVED! Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack with your purchaseJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle NewsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to ask me a question!
May 30, 2025 • 9min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The Butterfly Effect Is Crazy Because ...
You've seen everyone sharing videos on the butterfly effect lately on social, right? Talking about how it relates to my life, and answering a listener question about following your intuition.SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSUBSCRIBE TO: The Weekly Hurdle newsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question.
May 27, 2025 • 59min
357. Championing Women In Sport: How To Take Up Space & Better Support Mothers With Alysia Montaño
Alysia Montaño has never stood down from a challenge. Making waves when she ran the 2014 USATF Championships at 34 weeks pregnant, the activist, mother, and Olympian wants other women to know that they have value exactly as they are. That's the driving force behind her non-profit, For All Mothers, that aims to eliminate the motherhood penalty — the phenomenon by which women face economic, social, and health disadvantages after becoming mothers — through the public lens of sports. In this week's episode, we talk about how life is for Alysia now that her work is focused own her activism instead of getting after it on the track, she shares how she takes care of herself while juggling motherhood, business, and so much more. Plus: The emotions that come with getting exactly what she deserves after finding out last year that she’s a bronze medalist from the 2012 London Olympics after a competitor was banned for doping. IN THIS EPISODE(5:15) Alysia shares what the Childcare So They Can Get Out There grant looks like(5:46) Why Alysia started For All Mothers+(9:45) Alysia talks about what it was like for her to make "motherhood visible" running the USATF championships at 8 months pregnant(15:26) How motherhood has influenced Alysia's perspective on sports and competition as a whole(20:28) Alysia talks about what it was like to win indoor nationals six months postpartum, navigating contract negotiations(26:45) How Alysia feels about asking for help and why it's important to her juggling so many roles(34:22) What are the barriers for childbearing women in sport and how For All Mothers+ is addressing those(39:52) Why it's important for all women to share their stories(45:32) The conversations Alysia is having with her three children on how to express their emotions(45:58) What does success look like for this Olympian?(51:32) What's Alysia's personal philosophy?(56:58) What advice would Alysia offer her younger self?MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEStrava Partners With For All Mothers+SOCIAL@alysiamontano@forallmothersorg@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastOFFERSASICS | Join me for the 5th annual ASICS Blue Jean Mile. Each mile is a step towards awareness and funds for mental health awareness. Learn more at Asics.com.LMNT | Lemonade has ARRIVED! Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack with your purchaseJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle NewsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to ask me a question!
May 23, 2025 • 7min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: You Don't Have To Go It Alone, OK?
Talking about the power of community and how we don't have to be so strong all of the time. Plus: Answering a listener question on Oura Ring versus Whoop.SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSUBSCRIBE TO: The Weekly Hurdle newsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to ask me a question!
May 19, 2025 • 56min
356. Owning Your Narrative: How To Navigate Burnout & Adopt A Healthier Inner Dialogue With Liz Beecroft, LCSW
Join Emily as she welcomes back Liz Beecroft, LCSW, for a powerful conversation about the mental and emotional landscape of pursuing a healthier lifestyle. Liz brings her expertise to unpack the common hurdles we face when striving for well-being, offering practical strategies for building resilience, managing expectations, and cultivating a kinder inner dialogue. Emily and Liz offer up insights on the challenges of burnout and struggling with identity, plus how to squash negative self-talk. IN THIS EPISODE(6:45) Liz talks about what it was like for her to play sports without the guidance of someone like a sports therapist(7:06) Liz talks about what it was like for her to grow up with anxiety in a small town(10:05) How to get to a place where you can be more present when anxiety feels heavy(11:45) How to identify helpful versus harmful emotions(16:30) Liz recommends an app called How We Feel(20:00) How to avoid damaging your relationships by taking ownership over your actions while navigating burnout(24:18) What the difference is between a sports therapist and performance coach(35:50) Conversation on identity and how to cope with being a multifaceted person(38:45) How to reflect on your core values and beliefs to articulate the different parts of your identity (42:37) What It looks like for Liz to be a solopreneur and own her own practice(46:55) What Liz struggles with when it comes to what she shares on the Internet(51:10) What Liz sees when she looks in the mirror and why this question makes her emotionalMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEHow To Make An Action Plan & Beat OverwhelmSOCIAL@lizbcroft@mentl.sesh@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastOFFERSASICS | Join me for the 5th annual ASICS Blue Jean Mile. Each mile is a step towards awareness and funds for mental health awareness. Learn more at Asics.com.Lagoon Sleep | Head on over to LagoonSleep.com/Hurdle and use code “HURDLE” at checkout for 15% offPILLAR | Head to PillarPerformance.shop, or for North American customers, head to TheFeed.com and use the code "HURDLE" for 15% off your first purchase.JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle NewsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to ask me a question!
May 16, 2025 • 7min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The Harmful Potential Of The Word 'Should'
Just because someone else does something doesn't mean you should. Talking about an impactful conversation I had this week with Liz Plosser of Best Case Scenario. Plus: Answering a listener question on my go-to running warm-up.MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEEmily & Liz's conversation on morningsSahil Bloom's Real Life Diet for GQSOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSUBSCRIBE TO: The Weekly Hurdle newsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to ask me a question!
May 12, 2025 • 1h 3min
355. Does Your Diet Suck? Building A Better Relationship With Food & Debunking Nutrition Noise With Zoë Rom & Kylee Van Horn, RDN
In this episode, Emily sits down with Zoe Rom and Kylee Van Horn, RDN, the best friend duo behind the Your Diet Sucks podcast. They do a deep dive into debunking diet culture myths and share practical, science-backed tips to fuel your body and boost performance. From breaking down the ideal macronutrient balance to demystifying creatine, hydration hacks, and the lowdown on supplements, Zoe and Kylee bring their signature wit and wisdom to the table. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or just starting your fitness journey, this conversation’s packed with actionable advice to help you feel your best.IN THIS EPISODE(5:36) Why Zoë and Kylee started 'Your Diet Sucks' podcast(15:15) Kylee talks about her experience working with athletes with eating disorders(17:00) Emily talks about her history with weight loss and sheds light on her relationship with food(18:01) Where someone starts with viewing food as fuel(24:30) Everything a beginner should know about creatine(30:18) How to take stock on whether or not a supplement is working for you(38:40) The biggest myths that exist within nutrition(43:55) An important question Kylee asks all of her clients(45:30) Kylee breaks down the macronutrient needs for women 21 to 45, and notes that there's a big range of where someone 'should be' depending on your goals(49:35) Does the protein window of 30- to 60-minutes post-exercise actually make a difference?(57:30) Kylee breaks down the importance of electrolytes and explains what they areMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE195. Chrissy King, Writer, Fitness Coach & Creator of The Body Liberation ProjectSOCIAL@yourdietsuckspod@carrots_flowers_z@flynutrition3@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastOFFERSASICS | Join me for the 5th annual ASICS Blue Jean Mile. Each mile is a step towards awareness and funds for mental health awareness. Learn more at Asics.com.LMNT | Lemonade has ARRIVED! Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack with your purchaseJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle NewsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to ask me a question!
May 9, 2025 • 10min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The Gift Of Solitude — If You Choose To See It That Way
Talking about the benefit of getting well-acquainted with self. Plus: Answering a listener question about how to make friends as an adult.SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE#HURDLEMOMENT: How To Make Friends As An Adult With Kristina RodulfoJOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG ChannelSUBSCRIBE TO: The Weekly Hurdle newsletterASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question.
