

Hurdle
Emily Abbate
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?
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 20, 2020 • 10min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: How to Come Back Stronger After An Injury — Or Any Hurdle
In last night's Hurdle Session, we had a really special conversation about navigating life post-injury. I knew that I needed to share my sentiments on it on the feed. Injuries, and all of life's hurdles, are tough. They make us feel like we're not good enough, and it's hard to figure out the "right" way to move forward. Even harder (sometimes), when you're "back" to yourself, life and things that used to feel easy feel ... not. I've been there. I get it. I'm talking about the right way to move forward post-setback for today's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY.
PROMPT: What's one SMART wellness goal you can set for yourself today?
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
A Promised Land by Barack Obama
Armchair Expert with Halsey
Hypervolt GO
Athleta Activate Face Mask 2-Pack, $40, Lululemon Double-Strap Mask, $10, Under Armour Mask, $30
Hurdle Feedback Survey
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Use code "PODCAST" for $5 off, limited to first 25 redemptions, on either of the below:
End of Year Goal Setting Workshop, November 23 @ 7 p.m.
Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS, December 2 @ 7:30 p.m.
SUPPORT THE SPONSORS: Athletic Greens! Four Sigmatic! Daily Harvest! WHOOP! SO many more!For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors — including a ton of GREAT offers and discount codes — click here.
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
Our next book club gathering will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. and we’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here.

Nov 18, 2020 • 32min
#HURDLEMOMENT: Is The Keto Diet for You? An Expert Explains All
I've been making a big effort to talk to different experts in the wellness space to dive into popular trends when it comes to #HURDLEMOMENT. The keto diet is something we hear about all the time, so today I'm chatting with Primal Kitchen's Mark Sisson, a New York Times bestselling author, to get all the information. We chat about what it is, how it works, the potential side effects, what foods (and beverages) it includes, and more.
SOCIAL
@marksissonprimal
@primalkitchenfoods
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
OFFERS
Athletic Greens | Head to AthleticGreens.com/hurdle to get a year’s receive the FREE D3/K2 wellness bundle with your first purchase.
Beam | Go to BeamTLC.com and use code "HURDLE" at checkout for 15 percent off.
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/hurdle to check out my go-to electrolyte beverage today. My favorite flavor? Orange citrus is a MUST-TRY!
Hurdle Feedback Survey
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Also, there are ton of new, FUN exciting Sessions coming down the pipe. Use code "PODCAST" for $5 off, limited to first 25 redemptions:
Take Your Running to the Next Level, November 19 @ 7 p.m.
End of Year Goal Setting Workshop, November 23 @ 7 p.m.
Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS, December 2 @ 7:30 p.m.
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle here.
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
Our next book club will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. We’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here.

Nov 16, 2020 • 51min
137. Emily Harrington, Pro Rock Climber
This conversation is magical. This week, I am so elated to bring you my chat with Emily Harrington, pro rock climber and adventurer. On Election Night, when most of us were glued to CNN and other coverage, she was making history — starting a free climb of the route Golden Gate on El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. Over the course of the next 21+ hours, she became the first woman to free climb this route in under 24 hours, a huge accomplishment. I knew instantly that I had to have her on the show, ASAP.
For episode 137, Emily talks to me all about this impressive goal — from the planning to the execution — and details a super scary moment when she fell during her climb, completely puncturing her forehead. She also gives me some of her backstory — how she got involved in climbing in the first place growing up in Boulder, Colorado — and how at one point she was deciding between becoming a lawyer or taking on the sport professionally. You want some motivation? This episode is full of it.
SOCIAL
@emilyaharrington
@thenorthface
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
OFFERS
Athletic Greens | Head to AthleticGreens.com/hurdle to get a year’s receive the FREE D3/K2 wellness bundle with your first purchase.
Daily Harvest | Go to DailyHarvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box.
Hurdle Feedback Survey
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Also, there are ton of new, FUN exciting Sessions coming down the pipe. Use code "PODCAST" for $5 off, limited to first 25 redemptions:
Intro to Freelance Writing, November 17 @ 7 p.m.
Take Your Running to the Next Level, November 19 @ 7 p.m.
End of Year Goal Setting Workshop, November 23 @ 7 p.m.
Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS, December 2 @ 7:30 p.m.
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle here.
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
Our next book club will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. We’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here.

Nov 13, 2020 • 11min
5-MINUTE Friday: An Honest Look In the Mirror
For years now, I've had this mental block about wearing my hair naturally. You see, when I was overweight back in high school and college, I wore it that way all the time. For years, I associated this hairstyle with that Emily. This week on 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I'm talking about a newfound appreciation for the woman I am today — curls and all.
PROMPT: What’s a story you’ve been telling yourself that you need to stop believing, ASAP?
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle!
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
READ: Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man by Emmanuel Acho
LISTEN: Coffees Over Cold Brew with Emma Abrahamson
WATCH: The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix
WRITE: Baronfig’s Letters to the Future Confidant Limited Edition Journal ($24)
Hurdle Feedback Survey
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Also, there are ton of new, FUN exciting Sessions coming down the pipe. Use code "PODCAST" for $5 off, limited to first 25 redemptions:
Intro to Freelance Writing, November 17 @ 7 p.m.
Take Your Running to the Next Level, November 19 @ 7 p.m.
End of Year Goal Setting Workshop, November 23 @ 7 p.m.
Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS, December 2 @ 7:30 p.m.
SUPPORT THE SPONSORS: Athletic Greens! Four Sigmatic! Daily Harvest! WHOOP! SO many more!For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors — including a ton of GREAT offers and discount codes — click here.
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
Our next book club gathering will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. and we’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here. In a few weeks, I’ll share the Zoom registration link. Please, only register at that time if you can definitely make our session!

Nov 11, 2020 • 29min
#HURDLEMOMENT: The New York City ~Virtual~ Marathon, A Recap
It still doesn’t feel real, TBH. On October 31, I ran myself a virtual marathon, and managed to snag myself a personal best time of 3:23:56. In today’s #HURDLEMOMENT episode, I’m giving the full recap — from the preparations before the big day and how I fueled to the biggest mistakes I made and how I felt when I … didn’t cross any actual finish line. Plus, how this big milestone felt different from last year’s (previous) personal best marathon in Chicago. Warning: tears, a few expletives, and a bunch of feels ahead.
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
#HURDLEMOMENT: Chicago Marathon Recap
My Marathon Route on Strava
OFFERS
Goodr | Head on over to Goodr.com/Hurdle and use code "HURDLE" for $10 off your order.
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/hurdle to check out my go-to electrolyte beverage today. My favorite flavor? Orange citrus is a MUST-TRY!
Sign up for the Weekly Hurdle!
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Upcoming workshops include:
Intro to Freelance Writing
Take Your Running to the Next Level
End-of-Year Goal Setting Workshop
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLERS BOOK CLUB
Our next book club gathering will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. and we’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here. In a few weeks, I’ll share the Zoom registration link. Please, only register at that time if you can definitely make our session!

Nov 9, 2020 • 1h 4min
136. Marielle Hall, Olympic Runner
Olympian Marielle Hall and I have a few things in common. We both navigated the pandemic living solo, for starters. We both also have spent a chunk of our lives in the northeast. And, we also both love running, she just does it a lot faster than me. In episode 136, we chat about her upbringing and love for all things active from a young age, what it was like to run in college in Texas, and her path to the 2016 Olympic Games. We also talk about her recent pieces for Runner's World, and she gives me her honest feedback on how she feels about the Olympics being pushed back. One note: We recorded this last Thursday, November 5, 2020, and it’s really, really insane how much can change in four days.
SOCIAL
@mariellehalll
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Running From the Fire This Time
Racing to Stay Alive As a Black Runner
OFFERS
Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get a year’s receive the FREE D3/K2 wellness bundle with your first purchase.
Beam | Go to BeamTLC.com and use code "HURDLE" at checkout for 15 percent off.
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/hurdle to check out my go-to electrolyte beverage today. My favorite flavor? Orange citrus is a MUST-TRY!
Sign up for the Weekly Hurdle!
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. New sessions will be announced soon!
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLERS BOOK CLUB
Our next book club gathering will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. and we’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here. In a few weeks, I’ll share the Zoom registration link. Please, only register at that time if you can definitely make our session!

Nov 6, 2020 • 9min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Finding Small Hints of Joy Amidst the Chaos
This has been a week. On Thursday, I found myself flipping through my journal, seeking out highlights from 2020 to counteract the anxiety I'm feeling courtesy of all of this election uncertainty. Chatting about a happy memory on today's episode, and encouraging you to find some joy this weekend as well.
PROMPT: What's one small joy that you can be thankful for today?
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
READ: Ohio Father Runs Full Marathon Around Hospital Treating His 4-Year-Old Son for Cancer
LISTEN: What a Day podcast
GIFT: The Nice Plant ($39.99)
Sign up for the Weekly Hurdle!
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. New sessions will be announced soon!
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLERS BOOK CLUB
Our next book club gathering will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. and we’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here. In a few weeks, I’ll share the Zoom registration link. Please, only register at that time if you can definitely make our session!

Nov 4, 2020 • 28min
#HURDLEMOMENT: How to Combat Stress & Anxiety
IMPORTANT. EPISODE. I know. I know. I promised you a recap of the marathon. That's coming. But stress is at an all-time high, between the election, COVID, and just — life. Hence, this chat with Emily Fletcher, meditation expert and founder of Ziva Meditation, felt pretty timely and important to release right about now. In today's installment of #hurdlemoment, we chat about exactly how to let go of stress, from meditation to screaming (seriously) — offering up actionable tips, tricks, and strategies to aid you in letting go.
SOCIAL
@emilystellafletcher
@zivameditation
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
Athletic Greens | Head to AthleticGreens.com/hurdle to get a year’s receive the FREE D3/K2 wellness bundle with your first purchase.
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/hurdle to check out my go-to electrolyte beverage today. My favorite flavor? Orange citrus is a MUST-TRY!
Daily Harvest | Go to DailyHarvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box.
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. New sessions will be announced soon!
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLERS BOOK CLUB
Our next book club gathering will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. and we’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here. In a few weeks, I’ll share the Zoom registration link. Please, only register at that time if you can definitely make our session!

Nov 2, 2020 • 1h 1min
135. Remy Park, Creator of @Veggiekins & Holistic Nutritionist
Remy Park's authenticity is refreshing as all hell. We met at The Big Quiet last year — hosted by past hurdler Jesse Israel — and have enjoyed keeping up with one another since. Today, she's garnered quite a following, sharing her vegan recipes, wellness tips and tricks, and New York City life over on her website Veggiekins. But her day-to-day hasn't always been matcha lattes and gluten-free desserts. In episode 135, she talks about her constantly evolving relationship with food, and details disordered eating habits that started at age 7 and lasted through her first year of college.
We chat about what it was like for her to attend her first AA meeting, talk with a therapist on the regular, and begin keeping track of her day-to-day intake. She tells me how she developed embraced a healthier day-to-day, ultimately becoming a holistic nutritionist and sharing her eats with strangers (and friends!) near and far. Plus: dealing with long distance love, navigating online critics, and so much more.
SOCIAL
@veggiekins
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
OFFERS
Athletic Greens | Head to AthleticGreens.com/hurdle to get a year’s receive the FREE D3/K2 wellness bundle with your first purchase.
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/hurdle to check out my go-to electrolyte beverage today. My favorite flavor? Orange citrus is a MUST-TRY!
Daily Harvest | Go to DailyHarvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box.
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. New sessions will be announced soon!
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLERS BOOK CLUB
The choice has been made! Our next book club gathering will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. and we’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here. In a few weeks, I’ll share the Zoom registration link. Please, only register at that time if you can definitely make our session!

Oct 30, 2020 • 10min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: A Very Different Starting Line
Tomorrow morning, I’m going to lace up and run 26.2 miles. There are a lot of thoughts that go through a person’s head in the days and hours leading up to lacing up and tackling a full marathon. Those thoughts, for me, are slightly different today than they have been before starting lines past. In 5-MINUTE FRIDAY this week, I'm talking it all out — the nerves, the feelings, and my attitude toward taking on a hard challenge in a hard year.
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
BUY: Tracksmith’s New York Pioneer Club Collection
LEARN: Nutrition for Runners Workshop
TAKE: Virtual Cycling and Sculpt Classes with Nichelle
READ: I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown
WRITE: Gray Malin Journal: Make Every Day Count
SUPPORT: My Virtual NYC Marathon
Sign up for the Weekly Hurdle!
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. New sessions will be announced soon!
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLERS BOOK CLUB
The choice has been made! Our next book club gathering will be Wednesday, December 9 at 8 p.m. ET. and we’re going to read I Thought It Was Just Me” (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown. To sign up for the book club email list, click here. In a few weeks, I’ll share the Zoom registration link. Please, only register at that time if you can definitely make our session!