Hurdle

Look up the word "goat" in the dictionary, and you'll see a photo of Joan Benoit Samuelson. OK, maybe not really — but Joan's the first woman to ever with the Olympic Marathon in its inaugural year for women in 1984. We had the opportunity to sit down in Orlando this year during the Olympic Trials, and this was definitely a pinch-me moment. With a plethora of wise takeaways, we chat through so many things in this week's episode: Nike’s Project Dreamweaver, navigating injury and longevity, how she balanced the sport with growing her family, and her opinion on how the culture of the sport has changed.  IN THIS EPISODE All about Nike’s project dreamweaver (7:55) What is was like to be one of the first women in this sport chasing big olympic dreams (10:01) Why Joan denotes the 1984 Olympic trials as ‘the race of her life’ (15:30) How Joan frames her mindset when faced with things outside of her control (17:45) Joan’s advice to anyone navigating injury (21:00) A reflection of the 1984 Olympic games (22:01) How Joan prioritizes sport with personal life and sharing her joy for running with her family  (27:35) What keeps Joan running after all of this time (32:40) How her experience and role has evolved through the years as a Nike athlete (38:05) What’s in Joan’s daily wellness routine (42:50) What keeps her motivated to show up in pursuit for excellence (44:45) Joan’s opinion on the current state of women in sport (47:00) MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Nike's Project Dreamweaver SOCIAL @joanbenoitsamuelson ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS BANDIT | Head on over to banditrunning.com and use code HURDLER15 to take 15% off your first order AG1 | Head to drinkag1.com/hurdle to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 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!⁠

Wheels up, it's go time! Sharing a bit about my experience embracing solo travel, and a story about how scared I was at first before going on my inaugural trip. Plus, answering a question about what to do with training when you have a faraway goal. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Every Women's Marathon 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!⁠

Last week, I had the opportunity to go to San Francisco to offer a keynote at Athleta's corporate conference, Athleta Quest. During that week, I had the chance to sit down with WNBA star and member of Athleta’s Power of She Collective Monique Billings. We got to chat about her exciting news about coming home to play for the LA Sparks (previously with the Atlanta Dream), how she stepped into basketball at young age, and how she has made a very international effort to not let sport define her. Monique shares what keeps her grounded and offers up solid advice on how to cultivate a positive inner dialogue.  IN THIS EPISODE  Why she’s most excited to come back to the west coast to play for the LA Sparks (5:35) Continuing on in sport after Monique’s dad passed two years ago (6:18) When Monique knew she was going to pursue sport through college (8:15) How Monique has embraced a go-with-the-flow mindset as a natural planner (12:30)  All about draft day and the uncertainty that comes with professional sport (19:00) Why Monique wanted to write a book (24:30) Why it’s OK not to be for everyone (31:38) Monique’s biggest values and what it means to live on purpose (33:38) How to choose thoughts that lift you up (36:30) Her journey as an Athleta ambassador (39:25) What FLOW means for Monique (42:05) What to do when intrusive thoughts sink in (44:28)  The importance of the why behind any goal  (49:05) SOCIAL @monique.billings ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to drinkag1.com/hurdle to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠

If you want love, ask yourself: Are you giving love? Talking about how to be truly open this week and act in a way that will get you what you want. Also: Answering a listener question about what makes me feel the most creative. 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!⁠

Every conversation with today’s guest is a clarifying breath of fresh air, and this conversation is no different. Co-CEO and founding teacher at The Class Natalie Kuhn is full of wisdom when it comes to the concept of resilience. She opens up about how she dealt with a multitude of hurdles in her personal life while maintaining a positive perspective, and her ability to detach herself from an outcome. Trust me, Natalie is going to forever change the way you think about challenge.  IN THIS EPISODE  Natalie’s relationship with social media (5:30)  How Natalie chooses to focus on growth amidst uncertainty (10:50) Why every hard decision needs to start with coming back to yourself (14:30) Natalie’s experience with the ‘in between’ and setting herself up to move forward (19:30)  The power of radically simplifying (22:50) Natalie’s approach to journaling (29:30) How to know when to take advice to heart and when to leave it at the door (34:45) Why we need to accept that different doesn't mean it’s bad (41:40) Advice for implementing what we learn while overcoming hurdles (43:15) Natalie’s experience with imposter syndrome (48:30) The concept of responsible vulnerability and leadership (51:00) SOCIAL @thisisnatalie @theclass ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any order. The Class | Head to theclass.com/natalie to try The Class digital platform for FREE for 30 days.  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!⁠

Just because you're not where you thought you'd be doesn't mean the ride isn't epic. Also: Answering a listener question about energy and what I'm hoping to attract in 2024. 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!⁠

Today I welcome my dear friend, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire, Nikki Ogunnaike. We met through the industry what seems like forever ago, and I can truly say that she is someone who makes me want to be a better person. In today's episode, Nikki opens up about her career journey, her relationship with exercise, and what she does day-to-day to feel at home in her body. She also provides some guidance to anyone trying to find their way in their own profession, and answers the always popular questions of how to own your no.  IN THIS EPISODE Owning what it feels like to ‘be in charge’ at a place like Marie Claire (4:24)  How Nikki broke from the anxiety of caring about what others thought of her and stepped into her power (10:50) Nikki’s relationship with wellness over the years as she advanced her career (14:30) How to feel comfortable about running your own race (18:00) Why Nikki strives to fill her community with those who are smarter than her (22:55) Now to be your most confident self and get out of your own way (29:45)  Accepting failure as something that happening for you (32:30) The art of interviewing and what is takes to create a good interview (36:30)  How to give more of yourself in conversation when you’re not use it giving more of yourself  (39:55) How to have grace with outgrowing relationships and owning your boundaries (41:55) What Nikki’s biggest ‘failure’ in her career taught her (46:43) MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Self Checkout, Nikki's Newsletter SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack with purchase. 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!⁠

This has been ringing in my ears all week. Talking about my CHOICE to get up at 5 a.m. and run long before an 11 a.m. flight, and the why that makes that difficult move easier. Plus: Answering a listener question on what my nighttime routine looks like. 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!⁠

Tone It Up co-founder Karena Dawn has had her fair share of hurdles, both personally and professionally, evolving the popular workout brand and product line over the last 15 years. Through the highs and lows, she always comes back to one word: resilient. This week, I sit down with Karena and go deep into her upbringing, plus the chance encounter Tone It Up co-founder Katrina Scott at the gym, and how the duo evolved the company throughout the years. Plus: She talks openly about her experience navigating mental health struggles within her family, and how she hopes to impact others for the better moving forward. Note: We discuss some sensitive topics in this episode, including suicide. Know that there are resources available below.  RESOURCES The Big Silence IN THIS EPISODE How Karena is feeling about her move to Austin right before the pandemic (4:45) Why she started The Big Silence Foundation and later wrote a memoir to share her story  (6:10) What progress can look like when taking the step towards bettering your mental health (12:03) The peaks and valleys of growing personally alongside a brand like Tone It Up (15:35) What comes with starting something from ground zero, both the good and the hard (17:25) How to deal with (unsolicited) feedback and embrace change in yourself  (23:30) Turning to empathy amidst the hurdles that come with mental illness (29:05) How Tone It Up changed come March 2020  (35:30) How to create space for yourself and set smart boundaries (38:30) What excites Karena right now (46:25) Strategies for navigating grief and how to stay resilient when you feel incapable (48:20)  Karena’s word of the year (58:15) SOCIAL @karenadawn @the.big.silence ⁠⁠⁠@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!⁠

There's someone you care about right now that's navigating something you have no clue about. Same with your boss, the barista, or even your favorite morning news anchor. In today's episode, chatting about the interaction that brought this to light for me earlier this week. Plus: Answering a listener question about productivity. 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!⁠