Hurdle

Ariana Grande. Charlie Puth. Jessica Simpson. Harley Pasternak’s lengthy list of celebrity clientele is impressive (total understatement). But long before Pasternak was training A-listers and working with big-name brands like Reebok, Propel, Four Seasons, and more — he thought he wanted to be a doctor. In episode 77, we chat about the frightening experience that made him change his major back in college, and how he started lecturing about performance enhancing substances at just 19 years old. We also talk about something that he really struggled with until recently, and that was intense sugar cravings He tells me about a recent #hurdlemoment involving one-too-many chocolate chip cookies that inspired him to create an essential tool, an all-natural mint called Sweetkick. Trust me: Pasternak’s got a lot of information to give. This is one episode you don’t want to miss. SOCIAL @harleypasternak @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate OFFERS Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE SweetKick

Recovery for many athletes — runners included — is a lot like warming up or cooling down. Most of us know the benefits of it, but many don’t take the time to put in the real work. Fact is, there are a lot of things we can do to give back to our bodies, and doing them can make a major difference. For this week’s #hurdlemoment, I sit down with Dan Giordano, DPT, CSCS, and co-founder of Bespoke Treatments, to chat all things recovery. From foam rolling and percussive therapy to cold water immersion and nutrition, we demystify it all in hopes to give all types of athletes the knowledge they need to rest up and get back out there. Plus, Giordano has some serious thoughts about cryotherapy that you've gotta hear.  SOCIAL @dangiordanodpt @bespoketreatments @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE  Bespoke has a lot of great instructional videos for proper movement and foam rolling strategies. Check them out, here.

For four years, Brittany Driscoll spent her time learning everything she could from Alli Webb as the vice president of marketing at Drybar, taking the company from $30M to more than $100M. Now, she’s helping launch the brand’s newest concept — Squeeze, the DryBar for massages where treatments cost between $39 and $129, depending on the length of the session, which can run between 20 and 80 minutes. Clearly, she’s passionate about self-care, but she’s also an advocate for overall physical wellbeing. In episode 76, she talks to me about the #hurdlemoment of both her and her husband going through cancer, and how that has influenced her perspective on prioritizing health. We talk about how she managed to make a major career transition while supporting her husband through his cancer battle, and the big lessons she learned along the way that have made her a better partner and executive. We also rap on how often you should get body work and the 27-minute workout she swears by. SOCIAL @britdrisc @squeeze @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate OFFERS Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout. CHICAGO MARATHON WEEKEND MEET-UP | So excited to see the Chicago-based hurdlers. Come join in for a 5K shakeout and post-run brews on 10/11 at 4:30 p.m. at Lululemon Lincoln Park, sign up by clicking here.

This week's #hurdlemoment is a must-hear, regardless of if you're running a race this fall or not. Whether it’s your first or your hundredth, marathon race day gives runners the same nervous butterflies every single time. For today’s episode, I sit down with Robin Arzon, 26-time marathoner, Vice President of Fitness Programming and instructor at Peloton, and author of the New York Times bestseller Shut Up and Run. We rap about everything you need to do to prepare before and ON race day, from the best things you can do the day before you toe the starting line to exactly how much fuel you should be taking in along the 26.2 miles. This RRCA-certified running coach and marathon veteran has the tips you need to successfully conquer 26.2 miles, then bring that same swagger along with you in everyday life.  SOCIAL @robinnyc @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE WOLACO | New York local? Click to be kept in the loop on WOLACO Wednesday, their weekly free workout series. WOLACO Women is also releasing some fun new stuff in October. Click this link get 15 percent off your purchase on launch day!

To describe Ally Love with the word “boss” would be an understatement. She is a do-it-all kind of woman: The in-arena host for the Brooklyn Nets, founder of LoveSquad, Adidas global ambassador, and Peloton instructor (among other talents). In episode 75, she tells me all about the #hurdlemoment which framed her “I can” mindset: A horrifying car accident at age nine which landed her in critical condition with a broken femur. We talk about how she came back from the unthinkable, rising up as a dancer and making her mark on New York City. She tells me about how she discovered her voice with the help of hosting classes, the three books she read that helped to guide her in her career, and the unexpected text message that landed her in the saddle at Peloton. If you’re looking for a little motivation to go after you passions, look no further — Ally is a ball of energy and she wants to empower you to be everything you dream of and more. SOCIAL @allymisslove @onepeloton @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate OFFERS Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout.

Aya Kanai is a powerhouse, at the helm of fashion content for Hearst as the publishing company’s Chief Fashion Director. In today’s special live episode, in collaboration with Trellis Health, Aya gets really vulnerable about her journey to have her daughter. We chat about how a miscarriage encouraged her to brave training for her first full marathon (a #hurdlemoment, no doubt), and what it was like for her to go through the egg freezing process. For anyone who has ever had fertility struggles, this episode will remind you that you are definitely not alone. For those who aren’t sure what the whole process entails? Aya spares no details with her open, honest story. SOCIAL @ayakanai @hurdlepodcast @trellishealth @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Trellis Health | Learn more about the egg freezing fertility studio by visiting their website, trellishealth.com.

It took me a really long time as an adult to feel good with spending time by myself. In today’s episode, I tackle a topic that I get a lot of questions about: loneliness. Important distinction: There is a difference between feeling lonely and being alone. In today’s episode, I dissect that, and offer up four strategies to help you truly embrace your time solo. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE WOLACO | New to the brand? Check out their Walker Crop (but really, I have it in three colors). They’re also releasing some fun new stuff in October. Click this link to be kept in the loop and get 15 percent off your purchase on launch day!

This guy isn’t busy at all (sarcasm alert): The CEO of Los Angeles-based Five Four Group works tirelessly building a slew of fashion brands (including Menlo Club, Young & Reckless, Grand Athletic Club, New Republic). He also chimes in regularly on his own podcast, DEETOUR, as well as a thrice-weekly news show with his business partners — Chris ‘Drama’ Pfaff and his brother Anand — called Group Chat. But back in 2007, life looked really different. Struggling to keep his business afloat during the financial crisis, Murthy decided to do some self-work and sign up for a triathlon. That race happened at a critical point for him, and come 2014, Murthy and his team were launching more and more brands and he was really coming into his own. In episode 73, we talk about what he says is the single best thing he's done in his career — create a run club to coincide with his athletic wear brand — and how that has changed him as a business person. The serial entrepreneur offers up must-hear advice for anyone struggling to find their way, and we share a bunch of laughs along the way. SOCIAL @deemurthy @groupchatpod @menloclub @shopnewrepublic @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate OFFERS Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Trellis Health  |  LIVE Podcast with Aya Kanai, Hearst Chief Fashion Director; September 17, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. {Free tickets here}

I chatted all about injury in #hurdlemoment a few weeks back, but in today's episode I'm bringing in reinforcements. Meet Blake Dircksen: a physical therapist at Bespoke Treatments in Midtown Manhattan. We're focusing on how to navigate pain as a runner, and the best way to handle the most common injuries. Spoiler alert: You can often run through it, he says. We also rap on the benefits of cross-training and when is the RIGHT time to seek help when you're feeling like something's off.  SOCIAL @blake.dirck @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE WOLACO | Had the best time at last week's run co-hosted by WOLACO women.  New to the brand? Check out their Walker Crop (but really, I have it in three colors). And if you're an NYC local, click to be kept in the loop on WOLACO Wednesday, their weekly free workout series.

These days, Betina Gozo makes a living with a side of sweat as a Nike Master Trainer. But not all that long ago, the Philippines-born bombshell was playing bass in a rock band. In episode 72, we talk about the workout class that changed her life entirely (and ultimately, her career path), and how she went from hardly being able to do exercises with 5-pound dumbbells to crushing barbell-friendly workouts on the Nike Training Club app. We also talk about one of the hardest parts of adulting — balancing a career and your personal life, and the tough decisions she made after spending some time cell phone free on a work trip. SOCIAL @betinagozo @dancewithmweyne @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate OFFERS Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Trellis Health  |  LIVE Podcast with Aya Kanai, Hearst Chief Fashion Director; September 17, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. {Free tickets here} Dance with Mweyne  |  Donate and learn more about Betina’s foundation here.