
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

Jan 6, 2025 • 57min
337. Finding The Joy: 2X Olympian Elise Cranny Talks Working On Her Relationship With Running, Who's at Her 'Table,' & The Importance Of Trusting Your Gut
I'm in awe of Elise Cranny. After a difficult year filled with unexpected challenges like injury and relocation, she's emerged more passionate about sport and sure of herself than ever. In today's episode, which we recorded in Austin this past December, Elise opens up about where she's at and how she's landed on a more empowered mindset headed into 2025. Plus: How she feels about her recent (ish) coaching change, how she slows down and identifies what works for her, and learning from the hurdles as they arise.
IN THIS EPISODE
(3:58) Feedback on the upcoming Nike Vomero 18
(11:35) How is Elise doing now?
(12:45) Elise talks about her year, joining Team Boss, leaving group training, then pick up a new coach and work on her relationship with running
(15:07) What was going on for her emotionally during this period of transition, the importance of family
(24:46) What it was like in the Olympic village in Paris
(25:50) How Elise felt after running her Olympic final 5K
(28:12) Who is at Elise’s “table” - the people who she feels like have her best interest in mind
(33:55) What Elise’s goal setting process looks like
(37:50) What she wants to focus on in 2025 and how she uses her curiosity to her advantage
(40:05) Emily and Elise talk “I am” statements
(43:51) What does “gritty” mean to Elise
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Nike Vomero 18, launching in February
SOCIAL@elise.cranny
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the chocolate LMNT for the colder months!)
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ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!

Jan 4, 2025 • 33min
336. TURNING THE PAGE: Emily's 'Great' Year In Review, Biggest Learnings From 2024 & Takeaways From The 'Bet On Yourself' Era
Finishing off this week's Turning the Page series with a special Saturday episode reflecting on the year that was. From the Bet On Yourself Era including a trip to the Paris Olympics to running two marathons in Tokyo and New York, Emily catches you up on the highlights from her year, what she hopes will shift in 2025, and reveals her biggest lessons from the past 365.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
ASICS | Go to Asics.com and use code HURDLE10 for $10 off your purchase of $100 or more
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!

Jan 3, 2025 • 50min
335. TURNING THE PAGE: Heptathlete Taliyah Brooks Talks The Power Of The Reframe, Using Faith To Fuel Her Fire & Her First Olympics
There is nothing more powerful than a woman with a goal, and from a young age today's guest Taliyah Brooks had a big one — to get to the Olympics. For episode 335, she's talking about how she rose through challenge after not making it to the 2021 Olympics to show up big in Paris last summer. Plus: What it's like to train for such a complicated event with multiple modalities, what she's feeling most excited about going into 2025, and what exactly she sees when she looks in the mirror.
SOCIAL
@love_tbrooks
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
ASICS | Go to Asics.com and use code HURDLE10 for $10 off your purchase of $100 or more
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!

Jan 2, 2025 • 41min
334. TURNING THE PAGE: Nikki Ogunnaike On Her First Year As The Editor in Chief Of ‘Marie Claire’, Owning Your ‘No’ & Letting Go Of Guilt
It’s always a good time in the studio when Nikki Ogunnaike comes in to chat. This second installment of the TURNING THE PAGE SERIES is full of great takeaways, as Nikki reflects on her first full year as an editor in chief, what she’s looking forward to most in 2025, and the most beneficial habit she picked up over the last year.
(5:35) How it felt for Nikki to actually take time off this year.
(10:18) Stop, Start, Keep doing in 2025
(14:45) Nikki’s talks about how Hillary Kerr has helped her step into her power as an EIC
(17:21) How to approach looking for a mentor
(26:22) How to get honest with yourself with where you’re at
(29:15) How Nikki chooses her guests for ‘Nice Talk’
(29:55) What Nikki thinks about Brynn Whitfield
(30:15) Why ‘flexibility’ is Nikki’s word for 2025
(39:15) Nikki’s SMART goal for the new year
SOCIAL
@robinnyc
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
ASICS | Go to Asics.com and use code HURDLE10 for $10 off your purchase of $100 or more
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!

Jan 1, 2025 • 37min
333. TURNING THE PAGE: Robin Arzón Talks 2025 Goal Setting & The Power Of Embracing 'Boring' Moments To Really Move The Needle
Season 19, 2025, A LOT to celebrate today! Hurdle's back from season break with the show's annual Turning the Page series: A celebration of the past 365 with interviews celebrating strong, wonderful female voices. Our first episode features Peloton's Robin Arzon, who's also the Jarrow Formula's Chief of Superior Starts, a New York Times best-selling author, and a mother-of-two.
IN THIS EPISODE
(4:15) What Robin’s intention is for 2025
(7:25) How is Robin doing, really?
(8:30) Robin’s first year contributing to Good Morning America
(13:10) Robin shares her word of 2024
(14:43) How to stop comparing yourself to your past self
(23:13) How Robin approaches rest days
(30:00) How Robin felt about her first solo HYROX race
(33:49) How action verbs can completely change your goal-setting process
(34:30) Robin talks about her upcoming cookbook
SOCIAL
@robinnyc
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
ASICS | Go to Asics.com and use code HURDLE10 for $10 off your purchase of $100 or more
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Jarrow Formulas
FUTURE Training, 50% Off Your First Month
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
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ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!

Dec 13, 2024 • 7min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The 2024 Finale
Can't believe I'm typing this: Last episode of 2024, coming at you! Hurdle's going on a well-deserved two week season break before coming back January 1 in full force, and I'm talking today about how it feels to round out another year and what I'm looking forward to accomplishing in 2025. Plus: Answering a listener question about my go-to hair products for post-workout.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
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ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!

Dec 9, 2024 • 44min
332. From Recovery Tourism To 'Hard' Wellness: An Expert On The Top Wellness Trends That Will Shape 2025
On the cusp of a new year, it's time to talk about what's coming down the pipe in the world of wellness. I sat down with my dear friend Amy Eisinger, Head of content at Well+Good, to talk about their annual wellness trends report and what we should look to focus on in the new year. We talk about the concept of hard vs. soft wellness, the rise of recovery tourism, the power of alone time, and why we should be prioritizing biophilia in 2025. I always learn something new from Amy and this conversation also allowed us to look at what we personally want to prioritize as we look to kick off another year of wellness.
IN THIS EPISODE
Amy’s road that led to Well + Good (5:03)
What women can expect when they go to Well + Good (9:15)
Amy and Emily look back at their 2024 wellness journey (11:05)
‘Soft’ vs. ‘hard’ wellness and how to integrate both into your routine (14:30)
Recovery tourism and the importance of restorative breaks in 2025 (20:15)
The emotional relationship with money and how we find financial freedom (26:03)
A rebrand for alone time + solo travel (30:40)
What is biophilia and why we need more of it in the new year (37:31)
SOCIAL
@aeisinger
@iamwellandgood
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the chocolate LMNT for the colder months!)
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!

Dec 6, 2024 • 9min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: It's MORE THAN OK If You Don't Have It All Figured Out
Are you worried that you should have it all figured out? You're not alone. Talking about my plans going into 2025, and getting intentional about the down time. Plus: Answering a listener question about how to become a morning workout person.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!

Dec 2, 2024 • 1h 5min
331. Turning Pain Into Purpose: Paralympian Noelle Lambert On The Moped Accident That Changed Everything, Going On 'Survivor' & Finding Power In Perspective
Noelle Lambert is grateful that she lost her leg in a tragic 2016 accident. Without that hurdle, she says that she wouldn't be the person she is today. For episode 331, the two-time Paralympian opens up about what life's been like coming into her own as an adaptive athlete, and how she needed to grieve the loss of her limb to truly be able to move forward despite wanting to be "strong." She also shares how her village helped her during her toughest moments, what it was like competing at the Paralympics in both the 100m and long jump events, as well as some insight onto her time on Survivor and what it was like integrating back into society post-reality TV.
SOCIAL
@noellelambert
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the chocolate LMNT for the colder months!)
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!

Nov 29, 2024 • 7min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Meeting Yourself With Where You're At Is Pretty Empowering
What happens when you're honest with yourself about where you are now? Well, what ~can~ happen is change, and some fun results. Reflecting on Thursday's turkey trot, landing a new personal best, and letting go of the past. Plus: Answering a listener question about my go-to book gift.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Pivot Year
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!
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