

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

Sep 30, 2020 • 26min
#HURDLEMOMENT: Your Biggest Listener Questions, Answered
Have a lot of extra special guests on the show today! Thanks so much to everyone that submitted listener questions for this episode. I had a lot of fun putting it together and I'm looking forward to doing these more regularly — with your help. In today's episode, I'm chatting about everything from my morning routine and finding my fast to making money as a freelance journalist and how I'm navigating this pandemic (and life in general) as a single 30-something.
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Episode One: Emily Abbate, Creator of Hurdle
Runner's World: In Defense of Walking More and Running Less
131. Emily Infeld, Olympic Runner
#HURDLEMOMENT: The Chicago Marathon, A Recap
OFFERS
Goodr | Head on over to Goodr.com/Hurdle and use code "HURDLE" for $10 off your order. They've NEVER done a promotion like this, so it's a big deal (and only valid for the first 200 orders)! At that link you can peep all of my favorites!
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Other upcoming sessions that I would love for you to be a part of:
Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals, 9/30 at 7:00 p.m.
October Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS Workshop: 10/7 at 7:00 p.m.
Check out the SECRET Hurdlers Facebook group.
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
This month, we’re reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Book club will be on October 20 at 8 p.m. Register to join, here! First come, first serve, up to 100 attendees!
ALSO! Don’t forget about our One Million Miles for Justice team! This time around, a portion of the race proceeds will support the Children's Defense Fund, national child advocacy organization that works to uplift all children — especially poor children and children of color.
Click the link above to join team “Hurdlers." First time joining? Use the code “HURDLERS5” for $5 off registration. If you participated previously, use “RETURNPHASE2” for a discount.

Sep 28, 2020 • 1h 5min
131. Emily Infeld, Olympic Runner
It's never easy to be on the injured list. Emily Infeld knows this well. These days, she's a middle-distance runner crushing 80+-mile weeks, but since turning pro after graduating from Georgetown, she's navigated a slew of injuries that have tested her confidence and will. In episode 131, we talk about the lessons that they've taught her, what it was like training alongside greats like Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher, the importance of good nutrition, and how she keeps negative self talk at bay when things feel out of her control. She also shares her recovery strategy (important when you're logging so many miles!) and what it was like to medal at World Championships and make it to an Olympic games.
SOCIAL
@emilyinfeld
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get a FREE D3/K2 wellness bundle with your first purchase.
Four Sigmatic | Go to foursigmatic.com/HURDLE or enter code “HURDLE” at checkout to receive 10% off your order.
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Other upcoming sessions that I would love for you to be a part of:
Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals, 9/30 at 7:00 p.m.
October Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS Workshop: 10/7 at 7:00 p.m.
Check out the SECRET Hurdlers Facebook group.
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
This month, we’re reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Book club will be on October 20 at 8 p.m. Register to join, here! First come, first serve, up to 100 attendees!
ALSO! Don’t forget about our One Million Miles for Justice team! This time around, a portion of the race proceeds will support the Children's Defense Fund, national child advocacy organization that works to uplift all children — especially poor children and children of color.
Click the link above to join team “Hurdlers." First time joining? Use the code “HURDLERS5” for $5 off registration. If you participated previously, use “RETURNPHASE2” for a discount.

Sep 25, 2020 • 12min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Stop Worrying About Being 'Good Enough'
At the end of last year, I almost avoided signing up for something that — these days — brings me a lot of joy. In today's installment of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I talk about letting go of worry and embracing uncertainty in favor of growth, and how sometimes that first hurdle is really the most difficult part of the whole shebang (even what sprinting is involved).
PROMPT: When was the last time you needed to give yourself a pep talk? What was it about, and how did you feel after?
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
WATCH: The Atlantic & Land Rover Present: John Mayer Goes Outside
READ: What Your Favorite Teen Heartthrobs Look Like Now
LISTEN: Masego
Sign up for the Weekly Hurdle!
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Other upcoming sessions that I would love for you to be a part of:
Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals, 9/30 at 7:00 p.m.
October Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS Workshop: 10/7 at 7:00 p.m.
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
This month, we’re reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Book club will be on October 20 at 8 p.m. Register to join, here! First come, first serve, up to 100 attendees!
ALSO! Don’t forget about our One Million Miles for Justice team! This time around, a portion of the race proceeds will support the Children's Defense Fund, a national child advocacy organization that works to uplift all children — especially poor children and children of color.
Click the link above to join team “Hurdlers” (or — make sure to enter the team name at checkout). First time joining in the fun? Use the code “HURDLERS5” for $5 off registration. If you participated previously, use “RETURNPHASE2” for a discount.

Sep 23, 2020 • 36min
#HURDLEMOMENT: Essential Lessons in Self Confidence with a Master Certified Life Coach
Meet Kara Loewentheil, master certified life coach and host of the wildly popular UnF*ck Your Brain podcast. Today, I'm chatting with her all about strategies for building self confidence. From the importance of positive self talk and neutral thoughts to Loewentheil's stance on affirmations and mantras, this conversation is g-o-l-d. We're definitely not holding anything back.
SOCIAL
@karaloewentheil
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
OFFERS
Goodr | Head on over to Goodr.com/Hurdle and use code "HURDLE" for $10 off your order. They've NEVER done a promotion like this, so it's a big deal (and only valid for the first 200 orders)! At that link you can peep all of my favorites!
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Other upcoming sessions that I would love for you to be a part of:
Building a Social Media Presence, 9/23 at 7:00 p.m.
Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals, 9/30 at 7:00 p.m.
October Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS Workshop: 10/7 at 7:00 p.m.
Check out the SECRET Hurdlers Facebook group.
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
This month, we’re reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Book club will be on October 20 at 8 p.m. Register to join, here! First come, first serve, up to 100 attendees!
ALSO! Don’t forget about our One Million Miles for Justice team! This time around, a portion of the race proceeds will support the Children's Defense Fund, national child advocacy organization that works to uplift all children — especially poor children and children of color.
Click the link above to join team “Hurdlers." First time joining? Use the code “HURDLERS5” for $5 off registration. If you participated previously, use “RETURNPHASE2” for a discount.

Sep 21, 2020 • 45min
130. Miles Chamley-Watson, Olympic Fencer
Miles Chamley-Watson never wanted to blend in with the crowd. Moving to the United States from London at a young age, he picked up fencing to deal with the criticisms he faced from his classmates when it came to "fitting in." That decision changed his life, excelling at the sport early on and eventually becoming world champion as well as a two-time Olympian. In episode 130, I chat with the Red Bull-sponsored athlete about how he got to where he is today, fending off the naysayers and staying the course to do what he loves, despite "not looking like anyone in his sport." He talks to me about the ins and outs of sponsorships, his lofty goal to be the first-ever fencer to make $1 million, and how he navigates the newfound fame that comes with success. Plus: How he's been managing the pandemic (including his big decision to move to the west coast) and what it was like to sit next to Madonna at the Met Gala.
SOCIAL
@fencer
@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.
Thrive Market | Go to thrivemarket.com/hurdle and join today and you’ll get a FREE gift of your choosing, up to $22 dollars in value.
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. Other upcoming sessions that I would love for you to be a part of:
Building a Social Media Presence, 9/23 at 7:00 p.m.
Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals, 9/30 at 7:00 p.m.
October Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS Workshop: 10/7 at 7:00 p.m.
Check out the SECRET Hurdlers Facebook group.
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
This month, we’re reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Book club will be on October 20 at 8 p.m. Register to join, here! First come, first serve, up to 100 attendees!
ALSO! Don’t forget about our One Million Miles for Justice team! This time around, a portion of the race proceeds will support the Children's Defense Fund, national child advocacy organization that works to uplift all children — especially poor children and children of color.
Click the link above to join team “Hurdlers." First time joining? Use the code “HURDLERS5” for $5 off registration. If you participated previously, use “RETURNPHASE2” for a discount.

Sep 18, 2020 • 11min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Getting Unstuck
This was one of those weeks where I felt like I was staring at my computer for far too long without doing anything. After day two of experiencing minimal wins at my desk, I made the conscious decision to do something about it and step away. In today's episode, I'm talking about how I got unstuck, and the lessons I learned along the way. TLDR; There is always something that you can do to move forward from a hurdle (even if it's slower than you'd like).
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LISTEN: The Tim Ferriss Show: #462: Guy Raz — Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs, The Story of ‘How I Built This,’ Overcoming Anxiety and Depression, and More
EAT: Kaari Foods Dips
WATCH: Certified Young Person Paul Rudd Wants You to Wear a Mask
BALL OUT: Book the Original House from The Fresh Prince
SEND: Sugarwish
SUPPORT THE SPONSORS: For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors and discount codes — click here.
Check out the SECRET Hurdlers Facebook group.
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. Other upcoming sessions that I would love for you to be a part of:
Building a Social Media Presence, 9/23 at 7:00 p.m.
Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals, 9/30 at 7:00 p.m.
October Handling #HURDLEMOMENTS Workshop: 10/7 at 7:00 p.m.
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
This month, we’re reading Untamed by Glennon Doyle. Book club will be on October 20 at 8 p.m. Register to join, here! First come, first serve, up to 100 attendees!
ALSO! Don’t forget about our One Million Miles for Justice team! This time around, a portion of the race proceeds will support the Children's Defense Fund, national child advocacy organization that works to uplift all children — especially poor children and children of color.
Click the link above to join team “Hurdlers." First time joining? Use the code “HURDLERS5” for $5 off registration. If you participated previously, use “RETURNPHASE2” for a discount.

Sep 16, 2020 • 19min
#HURDLEMOMENT: An Honest Mental Health Check-In & 5 Strategies for Boosting It
Man, the last six-or-so months have been a rollercoaster, eh? In today's episode, I'm getting candid about where I'm at — the good and the bad. Opening up about some challenges I've dealt with, especially lately, and how I'm reframing my perspective to get the most out of every day despite uncertainty. After my real-talk check-in, I'm offering up the strategies that can help you boost your own mental health and bring about more positivity into your routine. TLDR; mental health is just as important as physical health, and if you're not looking at it that way — you're making a major mistake.
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
We're Not Really Strangers
SUPPORT THE SPONSORS: For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors, their respective vanity URLs, and discount codes — click here.
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website.
September 23: Building a Social Media Presence
September 30: Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals

Sep 14, 2020 • 1h 8min
129. Briohny Smyth, Yoga Teacher
Briohny Smyth knows a thing or two about overcoming hurdles. In fact, today’s conversation is full of so many hurdles, that at one point I was sitting next to my microphone literally holding my hands over my heart. Today, she’s an Alo Moves instructor, yoga teacher, and mother of two based in Los Angeles. But growing up, Smyth was actually a young pop star in Thailand, creating 10 albums in 10 years. For episode 129, she tells me all about the challenges that came hand-in-hand with fame at a young age, battling drug abuse and disordered eating while trying to keep it all together, create music, and perform. Smyth talks to me about how she first tried yoga in India during a work trip, and how that experience ultimately changed her life forever. We also chat the hardships of divorce, figuring out how to make a living doing what you love, and the scary side of pivoting during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m telling you, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.
SOCIAL
@yogawithbriohny
@alomoves
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
Please note: There are some sensitive topics discussed in this episode. If you or someone you love is struggling from disordered eating or drug abuse, you are certainly not alone.
National Eating Disorder Association national helpline: 1 (800) 931-2237
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national helpline: 1 (800) 662-HELP (4357)
OFFERS
Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get a FREE D3/K2 wellness bundle with your first purchase.
Beam | Go to BeamTLC.com and use code "HURDLE" at checkout for 15 percent off.
Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle here.

Sep 11, 2020 • 12min
5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Different Is NOT a Bad Thing
This week, I've been reflecting on 2020 versus 2019. Let's be real: The pandemic has thrown us a lot of curveballs. And while a lot of things are different, different isn't necessarily a bad thing. Chatting on this topic today for 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, triggered by Hurdle's book club pick — Mindset, by Carol Dweck, Ph.D.
PROMPT: What’s one thing that happened in this month you didn’t expect — but are better for?
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
@emilyabbate
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
LISTEN: Ali on the Run 279. Justin Grunewald
SIGN UP: One Million Miles for Justice
LISTEN: “Dynamite” by BTS
OFFERS
Beam | Go to BeamTLC.com and use code "HURDLE" at checkout for 15 percent off.
SUPPORT THE SPONSORS: For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors, their respective vanity URLs, and discount codes — click here.
CHECK OUT: HURDLE SESSIONS
All past Sessions are now available on the Hurdle website. I’ll be releasing some information on new, upcoming Sessions very, very soon!
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
Now taking all suggestions for the next Hurdle book club! Drop your recs in an email to me, at emily@hurdle.us.
Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle here.

Sep 9, 2020 • 13min
#HURDLEMOMENT: Feeling Overwhelmed? Listen to This, ASAP
I find that September is a time that everything happens at once. Summer is winding down, everyone is trying to get on top of their to-do list, and life feels hard to catch up with. Which — can be exciting! However, it can also be mega overwhelming. In today's #HURDLEMOMENT, I'm chatting my five strategies for beating the anxiety-ridden feeling of overwhelm when the going gets tough. Remember: You are not alone in ever feeling this way, and beating it starts by recognizing and admitting that feeling.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
Thrive Market | Go to thrivemarket.com/hurdle and join today and you’ll get a FREE gift of your choosing, up to $22 dollars in value.
HURDLE BOOK CLUB
This month, we’re reading Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph.D. Want to get in on our recap chat tonight, 9/9? Register, here.
Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle here.