Hurdle with Emily Abbate

This week I'm sitting down with Nia Akins, a Brooks professional runner who recently won the 800m race at the Olympic trials, punching her ticket to the Paris. We talk about her epic run at the trials and her feelings for the Games, but we start our conversation with Nia’s together love, which is music and songwriting. We chat about the intersection of her two passions and how they play into one another as well as her new song ‘Petals To The Fire’. We have a beautiful conversation about Nia’s faith and the realization she had when she felt she was putting too much pressure on herself as an athlete and artist. Her advice to anyone looking to make a big life change and her commitment to surrendering to perfectionism is mega inspiring, sure to assist you through your next hurdle. IN THIS EPISODE Nia’s passion for songwriting and singing (4:30) Her feelings around making Team USA and the upcoming Olympic Games (6:58)  Nia’s journey in college studying nursing, exploring music, and excelling in sport (13:40) How sacrifices and challenges prepped her for a professional running career (15:55) Nia on surrendering perfectionism and her emphasis on faith (18:30) Managing intrusive thoughts and Nia’s response when they get in her head (26:52) A lesson on trust and how faith plays a role for Nia (32:30) What’s exciting Nia right now and her perspective on owning your decisions (40:03) SOCIAL @nia_akins @niaakinsmusic ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When life feels really crazy, I ask myself if I'm acting in a way that would make myself proud on a less hectic day. Reflecting for this week's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY about what showing up looks like for me these days, and answering a listener question about how to navigate a slow season. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've been asking for more solo episodes, so here we are! Welcome to the first episode in a four-episode set on goal setting — one will launch every month moving forward! For this month's installment, I'm chatting about how to set a goal: What makes a SMART goal, how to figure out what's the right goal for you, and why it's important to understand your values and passions for ultimate success. Plus: A look inside my goal-setting process and how it's helped me in the past few years. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to ⁠drinklmnt.com/hurdle⁠ to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!)  JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An interesting conversation earlier this week has me reevaluating my approach to exciting moments. Plus: Answering a listener question about the first-ever episode of Hurdle. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BMX Racer Nikita Ducarroz is no stranger to differentiating anxiety and fear. Heading for her second Olympic Games in Paris in just a few short weeks, she's on the show this week talking about how she's managed to navigate crippling anxiety from a young age and turn her fear into her power. Plus: What it was like for her to sign with Red Bull before her first Games, how she feels about cultivating community with M1ndtricks, and what she's excited for now beyond sport. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE How Nikita’d relationship with her anxiety is treating her these days (4:30) How she copes with the stress that goes with the Olympics (5:00) Nikita breaks down her anxiety symptoms including heart rate increase, loss of breath (5:48) How saying positive words and affirmations helps keep her focused in the moment (12:22) How Nikita first found BMX on YouTube and what it felt like (13:56) How it felt for Nikita to share openly about her struggles with other members of the extreme sports community (18:04) Exactly how Red Bull became her sponsor before the Olympics (24:12) How does someone train to ride BMX? What Nikita’s workouts look like including bike time, mobility, injury prevention, and strength training (27:30) How Nikita defines what her “best” performance really looks like (31:56) The strategy Nikita uses to fight fear and trick her mind to do hard things (36:50) What is exciting right now outside of the Olympics (43:40) The importance of young women and girls picking up sport (45:12) SOCIAL @nikita.duccaroz ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to ⁠drinklmnt.com/hurdle⁠ to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!)  JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finding patience and grace as things feel a little bit hectic at the moment. Plus: Answering a listener question about how to home in on a capsule, staple wardrobe. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I am sitting down with olympian and Hoka sponsored professional runner Rachel Smith, who toed the line at the trials in the 5K final. We talk about Rachel’s resiliency throughout her career as she’s navigated loss and injury, and how she turned to running in those challenging times. Rachel shares her journey to motherhood, her comeback to sport, and how the definition of success changed after having her little girl.  IN THIS EPISODE  How Rachel feeling heading into the Olympic trials (3:58) Navigating pressure and loss throughout her running career (8:01)  How Rachel has learned to process grief throughout different aspects of her life (12:40) What hasn’t come naturally for Rachel and how she embraces the challenge (16:30) How she navigated injury leading into the trails and her practice on letting go (23:26) Rachel’s definition of success (27:02) The journey to motherhood for Rachel (32:18) Her reflection on being in such good company with other mothers in the sport (41:30) Rachel’s plans for after the summer (45:30) SOCIAL @rachelschneid18 ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!)  JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week had its highs and lows, but on my run Thursday morning, I was reminded that really — it's not that serious. Talking about that moment on today's episode, plus answering a listener question about where the idea for Hurdle came from and what's my why for continuing with it. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I couldn’t be more excited to share my conversion with professional climber Sasha DiGiulian on the eve of her documentary premiere “Here to Climb” on HBO Max. We talk about what it’s like to look back on the last 4 years of Sasha’s story and the journey toward a career that’s been nothing short of stellar. She talks about her goal setting process, what it looks like to go after something that scares you, and how to recognize when goals don’t serve you anymore. Sasha also shares what excites her right now, which includes her nutrition bar business, Send Bars.  IN THIS EPISODE  What it’s like for Sasha to watch herself back in the documentary (5:20) The lessons from Sasha’s all-female expedition in South Africa (7:40)  What goal setting looks like for Sasha (12:30) A perspective on reflection and the importance of both success and failure (17:14) How to navigate when things don’t go according to plan (22:15) Sasha’s experience with hip surgery how she was able to focus on the controllables (26:30) Navigating body image through a major surgery and recovery process (36:12) The importance of gaining clarity and accepting reality in order to move forward (39:20) What’s exciting Sasha right now and what it’s like to work with friends (43:20) Why it’s ok to stay in the ‘figuring it out’ phase (49:15) What Sasha’s next chapter is all about (53:10) SOCIAL @sashadigiulian @sendbars ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!)  JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Birkenstock campaign comes out today. What an entirely wild and crazy sentence. Talking about the feelings that come hand-in-hand with this, and also answering a listener question about my favorite book recommendation. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.