Tough Girl Podcast

Helen in her own words:   “Full time global hobo cycling the world on AU$100/week creating vlogs, blogs, and photo’s as I go.   On the road in one form or another since 2004. I left the UK with a round-the-world ticket on what should have been my ‘year out’ but never properly returned.    Living out of a backpack ever since, I taught English in South Korea, travelling back overland along the Silk Road before emigrating to Australia in 2007 where a travel fundraising job meant I continued to move from place to place every week or two.   In Australia I took up bicycle touring and in 2016 set out on an ambitious first bike tour through the outback along the Gibb River Road, Tanami, and Oodnadata tracks.    In 2017 I returned to work for a year while training for and running the New York Marathon, before returning to full-time bicycle touring.   In spring 2018 I set out into The Beast From The East to ride a loop of the UK coast and down to Sicily and back.   In 2019 I rode up the Norwegian coast to the North Cape and back through the Baltic states.    In early spring of 2020 I set out to Istanbul getting caught in lockdown in Germany, waiting and changing course as borders closed and reopened, finally arriving in Istanbul a year late in September 2021.   Totalling 58,000kms over 5 years so far..    From here the plan is to continue on riding to Africa, via the the Middle East (pandemic & borders permitting!)"   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Being a full time global hobo Where she is at the moment Her childhood and growing up in the UK Living in Australia for 10 years Going on a round the world gap year at 26 years  Why she’s never stopped travelling Taking up cycling over the past 4/5 years Taking the train from Asia back to Europe Finding a job teaching English in Korea Travelling back to the UK along the Silk Road Making the move to Sydney, Australia  Not being into sports or fitness at a young age Getting into running in her early 30s Living on her bike since 2018 What are the realities of travelling on the road full time Her day to day routine while riding Cycling in the desert in Australia  Enjoying her own company  Magical moments from her trip Enjoying the type 2 fun Interacting with people from different countries  Using Warmshowers  Safety while travelling Using a spot tracker in Australia but not in Europe Getting robbed while in Greece The lessons learned from the experience  Insurance…and the challenges of getting it while bike touring Bike gear and equipment  Learning bike maintenance  Wanting to spend time in Africa How covid impacted Hels while travelling  Starting up Youtube and how it’s going  Travelling on AU $100 per week Living off savings and earnings from Patreon and Paypal Keeping costs down and budgeting Staying in her tent or Warmshowers hosts How she’s uses her mobile phone and the power of free wifi Sharing her story on social media  Being supported and encouraged by people online Thoughts while cycling  Quick Fire Questions What to remember when things are getting hard Advice for wanting to be a full time Hobo and travelling full time Why you should start of small How to follow along with Hels and be kept upto date with what she’s up to   Social Media   Instagram: @hels.on.wheels    Facebook: @Helsonwheelswithmlt    Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/helsonwheels?fan_landing=true   Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UChGPMqRpwEtIHsDWR50pGZA

Nocciola The Drawer (Hazel Oakes) is an artist and designer from the UK. She has lived in 8 different countries, visited almost 40 countries between 5 continents. She’s hiked the peaks of the Balkans, completed half marathons and the Athen’s marathon.    Hazel is military trained and has a joy for life, for sharing and inspiring other women to become more adventurous.    Hazel has a nomadic spirit and feels her sense of community with women anywhere in the world.   She specialises in bright, colourful, bold artwork that combines female characters with lively patterns. All with the aim to uplift, inspire, empower and celebrate women.   She is inspired by the seasons, women, childlike imagination, travel, making the most of the moment, street art and graffiti. She spends her time illustrating, creating large murals and drawing on anything (paper, canvas, plates, walls).    Nocciola The Drawer is spreading her joy of life one splash of colour at a time!      New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Who is Hazel Being based in Italy at the moment Her aims and goals  Spreading her joy for life - one splash of colour at a time! Wanting to move her body and to follow her passions Being a creative explorer Where her passion for art and adventure came from Getting her creative side from her mum Getting her adventurous side from her dad Doing all the dance classes from a young age Her teenage years - and the pressure to get a normal job Loving art at school Wanting to learn about fashion design Joining the Officer Training Core OTC Following both of her passions The next step in her career Deciding to do a Masters course at Kingston University  Working with brides and helping them to feel comfortable in their bodies Wanting more adventure and booking a one way ticket to Australia  The different pathways and journeys that can be taken Spending time in Australia! Loving to travel and spending time in Canada and Italy What does Adventure mean to Hazel The why and the how of challenge The power of taking small steps Don’t compare yourself to how other people have done it Living a nomadic lifestyle  Taking advantage of the travel opportunities that become available Getting to know a new place  Her love for walking and exploring Peaks of the Balkans Working as a trip manger in Italy  Taking on new challenges every few years Dealing with the heat Why Nocciola? What it means Being a full time artist… Tips for being more creative Curiosity and amazement  The Tough Girl Mural and how it came about  Follow Hazel on line  Future plans for 2022 Top tips and advice to motivate and inspire you   Social Media   Website: www.nocciolathedrawer.com   Instagram:   @nocciolathedrawer @nocciolatheexplorer    Facebook: @nocciolathedrawer    Youtube: Nocciola The Drawer

Bio written by her friend:   “Sam, 47, has an interesting and diverse background, having Indian and English heritage and growing up between the UK, USA and Middle East.    Over the past few years she has set herself multiple challenges raising money for charity or just doing for fun.    In 2019, Sam set herself 12 challenges:  Cold Water Swimming Championships 10K Winter run Climbing one of the more challenging routes up Snowdon Swimathon (5k swim) Great Northern SwimRun (Lake Windermere) Selkie Henley Classic - night / dawn swim SwimRun Tooting Bec Running a half marathon Not drinking any alcohol for 28 days Marathon run North Downs 50k walk Trekking two marathons in two days through the desert   Unfortunately in late 2020, she was diagnosed with stage four cancer which was a huge blow to her, her family and friends. I certainly thought that would be the end of her adventuring and it felt immensely sad.    However Sam has a remarkable positive energy and outlook on life and has been determined to carry on as normal.    This year, while managing ongoing cancer treatment, she has already completed the Arcticbear swim challenge over winter, the 100km jurassic coast walk challenge, the great north 5km swim in lake Windermere, the lake Windermere trail walk challenge, The Selkie Henley classic 2km upstream swim at dawn, and Henley mile swim (I’ve probably missed more!).    I have been lucky enough to share some of these adventures with her and have learnt so much along the way.    From learning to enjoy those precious moments in the outdoors or in the water, to persevering even when things seem impossible.    I think a lot of your listeners would benefit from hearing her story, knowing where she has come from, what she is battling today and her vision for the future.”     New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Who is Sam Living inLondon with her husband and 2 boys Not being sporty growing up but enjoying spending time in the outdoors Moving to America at 8 years old Being put off running at a young age Going to boarding school in the UK Spending time abroad with family How her parents met Studying psychology and music at university  Not following her passion at a young age Meeting her husband and moving to London Having her children at 39 and 42 Asking herself - What am I doing with my life? Needing to get her life back on track How having children changed her priorities  Loosing her identity Signing up for a 100k walk from London to Brighton Getting to the half way point… Mind over matter and how it has played a huge part in her life especially in recent years Being inspired by Dr. Joe Dispenza  Learning to believe in herself again Needing to make a lifestyle change Setting out in 2019 to do 12 challenges Cold water…. The challenges of lockdown and not being able to swim The power of consistency Planning 12 challenges at the end of 2018 Wanting to be prepared  Involving her family in the training and the challenges Doing something that she’s not good at The South Down’s 50k Walk and taking on the desert Doing events with Ultra Challenge Going through woodland at nighttime Dealing with the heat of the desert 2020 and the challenges faced Wanting to make a career change Being diagnosed with breast cancer  Stage 4 cancer and being given all the options Going through the menopause in 3 weeks Getting back into cold water and how it helped  Starting treatment at home Taking on a 5k swim in Lake Windermere Balancing life, challenges, family and treatment Making sure the children are aware of what’s going on The next 2 challenges… Wanting to take on a relay swim across the channel! Putting the group together Swimming for an hour at a time Getting swimming lessons Connect and follow with Sam Final words of advice for other women Do things that bring you joy  Believe you can do it   Social Media   Website: walkingwithsam.com    Coaching Website: www.samanthaturner.co.uk    Facebook: @samantha.turner.1042    Linkedin: @samantha-jane-turner    Fundraising pages with details about her challenges:   www.justgiving.com/Samantha-Turner22   www.justgiving.com/fundraising/samantha-turner42

About Person Irresponsible in her own words:   "In 2020 the world went to hell in a handbag. This isn’t exactly headline news - although it was then. I went from perfectly locatable in the Cotswolds to utterly baffled in the American wilderness when I embarked on a quest to walk from Mexico to Canada for reasons that escape me. It was most probably nothing more dramatic than a mid-life crisis.   Perhaps I should have come ‘home’ but I lived in the deluded optimism the pandemic would all be over by the summer. Besides, I’d given up my home: shoving my belongings into storage, persuaded someone to look after my cat and someone else to look after my car.    I did think about returning but each time I popped into civilisation to top up my supplies, I discovered a new reason to run for the hills. So 'home' became a tent: a mere flimsy bit of fabric to protect me from every conceivable terror that exists in the wilderness - bears, rattlesnakes, deserts, avalanches and other human beings. Most dangerous of all was the racket inside my head.   Everything you ever taught me is my journey, relying on nothing other than the twelve steps of recovery, teaching me to take it one day at a time, one step at a time, and one bloody ginormous mountain at a time as I staggered my way along the Pacific Crest Trail.    As mid-life crises go, I remain utterly clueless why mine took me from my sofa to the Canadian border via the fridge, powered only by two chubby legs and a fat arse.”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Being called Person Irresponsible (PI) What life was like before the mid-life crises Getting married and getting divorced How her home drinking increased and how it took over her life Turning 41 and failing at dry January and dry February  Having a bigger problem than she wanted to admit to Joining Alcoholics Anonymous Following the 12 step program Learning more about herself Why it’s never too late to make changes Applying for a permit for the Pacific Crest Trail  Taking life more as it comes Being inspired by the film - “Wild” Getting obsessed with the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) 6 months to plan and prepare Funding the challenge March 17th…. Learning to deal with her anxiety  Learning to not worry about the future The ethics behind the decision to walk the PCT during the pandemic Trail angels and life on the trail The first mile on the PCT When the doubts crept in What it was like spending time alone in nature  Learning how to switch off her thoughts Attending online AA meetings while on the trail Making connections on the trail and waking with other people Wanting to write a book about the journey  Carrying a laptop on the trail!!! Magical moments from the trail Losing a close friend Wanting to quit every single day Not knowing how she would finish the final 500 miles The simple joy of a hot bath Putting the book together Connect with PI and how to buy the book Final words of advice for women going through a mid-life crisis   Social Media   Website: www.mlconaquad.com   Instagram: @person_irresponsible    Facebook: @person.irresponsible.3    Twitter: @BikeMlc    Book: Everything You Ever Taught Me: If you've a lot on your mind, go for a walk…

Leah was born in Canada, conceived in Israel, and raised in Vancouver, B.C. by new immigrant parents.   Growing up in Richmond, B.C., daughter of a boxer. Leah became involved in martial arts, Tae Kwon Do and Kickboxing. After being told she should never fight again because she had herniated disks in her back, Leah won the Bantamweight World Kickboxing Championship at age 17, against a 25 year old fighter a foot taller than she was!   Leah felt a deep desire to serve her time in the Israeli Army, (a mandatory 2 years for women and 3 years for men).    Leah knew that she wouldn’t be satisfied just being a soldier, she wanted to become the first woman ever to be an Elite Commando. She didn't just become an elite commando, she became a Krav Maga specialist, and became the first female Elite Commando Instructor.   After leaving the Army, Leah pursued a career as a professional cyclist in Europe and North America. After a serious accident in 2005, Leah spend 2.5 months in the hospital where she was informed by doctors that she would never race again, let alone walk without a cane.    Leah proved them all wrong, and came back stronger than ever before, she went on to win the Women’s Solo Division of Race Across America (RAAM) - the Ultra Endurance, 3000 Mile, 12 day, single stage race in 2011, and coming in second in the women’s division and fifth overall in 2019. She came back again in 2021 and at 52 years old made history by becoming the 1st female ever to WIN the overall SOLO division of RAAM.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Her background in athleticism  Joining the IDF - Israel Defence Force Discovering the bike Wanting to become a pro racer at 30 Discovering ultra endurance racing  Her childhood and growing up Dealing with bullies Her dreams for the future Being one of the only female instructors Training the elite soldiers/commandoes   Krav maga as a martial art Learning how to defend yourself How you can train your mind Making the transition from the military to a different way of life Deciding to become a pro racer and taking 8 years to get to her goal Wanting to stay and keep physically active  Being a professional cyclist and living out of her bag The pressure to perform and to reach the podium Her love and passion for cycling Using cycling as therapy Race Across America (RAAM)  Needing to qualify for RAAM Why it’s a one year process and why you need a good crew The planning and preparation for the race Why your crew is the most important thing Replicating the race in her training  Working with trainer - John Howard Why you have to cross the finish line Learning lessons from her first experience of RAAM in 2011 Recovery from training and keeping her body injury free Keeping fit and active and doing things for fun Not smoking, not drinking and being plant based Focusing on core work and strength work The key of being consistent The challenging condition of RAAM in 2021 Dealing with extreme heat Limits and suffering Being 52 and dealing with menopause The mental side of challenges and mental resilience Learning to be comfortable being uncomfortable Being prepared for the worst in every scenario  Being mentally ready for the challenge Staying focused and looking at the positive things Working with her crew Nutrition and bodily functions Needing to feel comfortable on the bike Suffering from Shermer's Neck Dealing with failure and going after it again Doing the things she has a passion for  Not wanting to live a life of regret Writing her book No Limits Quick Fire Questions Connect with Leah     Social Media   Website: leahgoldstein.com   Instagram: @goldstein_leah_    Facebook: @leahgoldstein1    Twitter: @NoLimitsLeah    Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCJh1irQOXvIYF-tnn370IlQ   Book: No Limits: The powerful true story of Leah Goldstein-World Champion Kickboxer, Ultra Endurance Cyclist, Israeli Undercover Police Officer

Kristen (she/her) is originally from Toronto and has been living in the Northwest Territories for nearly four years.    Kristen is a former journalist that enjoys writing about social issues and outdoor lifestyles.    When she's not cooking delicious meals, Kristen can be found exploring the Northwest Territories and promoting diversity in outdoor spaces with her organization Amplify Outdoors.   About Amplify Outdoors:   “Amplify Outdoors was established to elevate and encourage diversity in outdoor spaces. Recognizing a lack of representation of people of colour (POC) and marginalized groups in marketing campaigns geared towards outdoor lifestyle, Amplify Outdoors hopes to change existing narratives that perpetuate societal stereotypes about 'who' should enjoy nature and 'who' is considered outdoorsy.   Amplify Outdoors believes that representation is important, and we strive to provide products that empower and amplify diversity in outdoor landscapes and activities.    Ultimately, our goal is for outdoor spaces to be inclusive and safe for everyone to enjoy, because 'Nature is for Everyone’."   Listen to Kristen now!   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Who is Kristen Relocating to the Northwest Territories in Canada (the subarctic) Making the decision to make a change in her life Growing up in Toronto Being a city girl at heart Not being given the opportunity to spend time outdoors hiking and camping Wanting a more laid back lifestyle and a slower pace of life Looking for a new job  Moving to Yellowknife Wanting to take advantage of the opportunity Wanting to have new experiences Moving in January Going with the flow of life The transition from the city to the country Being shocked at how expensive housing was Getting use to the darkness Creating a routine and making new friends Her first experience with hiking and spending time outdoors Wanting to bring people with her on the journey  Feeling the power of nature and the benefits for her mind Seeing the beauty in nature Documenting her journey  The women who inspire Kristen Matthew Henson - 1st person and first Black man to reach the North Pole Founding Amplify Outdoors and what’s its goal and purpose is Building a supportive community  Looking to create more events in 2022 Advice for Black women for getting into the outdoors Acknowledging the barriers for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) who want to go outdoors Why you should start slow Nature makes me feel…. Chasing waterfalls How you can connect with Kristen Plans for the future   Social Media   Personal Website/blog: www.Twentiesandfabulous.com   Personal Instagram: @Travel_Adventurehers    Amplify Outdoors. 𝙉𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚. 𝐀𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬   Website - www.amplify-outdoors.com    Instagram - @AmplifyOutdoors

Eleanor Carey is the first Australian woman to row across the mid-Pacific Ocean. Rowing 2,400 miles from California to Hawaii. Spending 62 days at sea in a 7.5m ocean rowing boat with two other women, as she battled extreme seasickness, sleep deprivation, multiple hurricanes and forty foot waves to set two Guinness World Records as part of a trio.   A true adventurer at heart, Eleanor has also cycled solo across Europe, conquered a 100km ultra-marathon and completed many more multi-day human powered journeys worldwide.   Through these extreme journeys, Eleanor has learned the power of adventure therapy and nature’s ability to assist in healing, overcoming trauma and to fuel personal growth.   Eleanor is driven to help others experience the power of adventure for themselves, improve wellbeing and nurture the ability to step into the unknown.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Being based in Australia on the gold coast Using adventure to help people build grit and resilience Her adventure story What her childhood was like Moving over the UK and not knowing anyone Being inspired by - Cycling home from Siberia by Rob Lilwall  Taking a year before taking action Not knowing many women doing these types of challenges Taking action - the HOW Thinking about taking on a cycle journey  How her Europe cycle trip came about Booking a one way flight to Norway… The fears and concerns before the trip Having 3 months to get sorted Wanting to try The reality of cycling day after day Why it was one of the best things she’s ever done The challenges while out on the road The internal dialogue and dealing with it Using adventure as a building block Looking for a career change Being a planner and a goal setter? Being willing to try anything once Making a career change Moving back to Australia and setting up an innovation hub The path to ocean rowing and being inspired by Losing site of Shore Connecting with Pacific Terrific  Saying yes to the opportunity with 6 weeks to go Would it be possible to get the qualifications in time The mental side of preparation Team dynamics…. in a trio Having open conversations Expectations versus reality of the row Learning to get comfortable with being uncomfortable  Tips for getting through the day  Managing her mental health while out on the ocean Being better while on the ocean The simple way of living while rowing Magical moment from rowing across the Pacific Ocean Feeling safe while out on the water and being at peace How the row changed her  Writing a book about her experience Crossing the finish line Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you    Social Media   Website: www.eleanorcarey.com   Instagram: @eleanorjcarey   Twitter: @eleanorcarey

Born the youngest of 6 children and raised in small town in Northern B.C. Canada, Julie never expected she would end up in Mongolia, feeding, caring for and educating hundreds of Mongolian children in need at her two Children of the Peak Sanctuary or Narnii Huuhduud charity kindergartens. She and her husband, Chelvan, a Mining Engineer and the President of Veloo Foundation, have lived and worked in Indonesia, Australia and The United States before settling in Mongolia.   During her 10 years here, Julie has taken up horse back riding and now, every year, with Saraa and Baagii of Horse Trek Mongolia hosts and rides the longest annual charity ride on the planet – The Gobi Gallop – along with a suite of other charity rides across Mongolia.    In 2022 she will ride the record breaking 3,600 km / 84 day Blue Wolf Totem Expedition to raise funds for her charity project projects.    All of the money the people pay for these rides stays in Mongolia and helps the children, local businesses, artists and artisans and local herders. Julie, herself, works running these rides and the charity projects on a volunteer bases. Since first riding here at the age of 50 Julie has logged in excess of 35,000 km on horseback across the wilds of Mongolia and all of it to help the children.   Julie is passionate about Mongolia and all things Mongolian and is committed to sustainable and fiscally transparent philanthropy. She is thrilled to be able to incorporate her love of Mongolian culture and history into Veloo Foundation’s Soaring Crane Summer Camp out in the countryside of Sonjin Boldog.    The camp is a traditional Mongolian themed camp experience in English and Mongolian alike and offers 3 paying camps a year in English to fund the remaining camps for 250 Mongolian children in need. In addition to the two Narnii Huuhduud Kindergartens and the Soaring Crane Summer Camp, Veloo Foundation also operates the Fran London Centre for the Fabric Arts.   Now 60, Julie expects to continue her epic long distance riding her in Mongolia and will continue making a difference in the lives of children in need as long as she is able.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes   Who is Julia Being based in Mongolia, Central Asia for the past 10 years Growing up in a small town in Northern Canada Being the youngest of 6 Being fascinated with the idea of travel Being stuck in hospital for 4 years as a child The plight of the children in the garbage dump Being terrified of horses growing up Sitting on a horse for the first time at 50 and falling in love Her life before Mongolia  The work the Veloo Foundation does in Mongolia Moving to Mongolia in 2010 Dealing with harsh winters due to over grazing and climate change Magical moments and how the idea for the Gobi Gallop came about  Using the Gobi Gallop as a fundraiser for the Veloo Foundation Working with Horse Trek Mongolia  Taking on a solo challenge… Riding 700km in 8 days The Blue Wolf Totem Expedition happening in 2022 - 3,600 km challenge in Mongolia  The mental side of the challenge Training with Sarah Cuthbertson - Ride Like an Athlete Program  Get back on the horse Riding with a rockstar… Having a weak moment in your endurance adventure doesn’t mean it’s over Life in Mongolia and what it’s like Starting a new project  Eating traditional Mongolian food Learning the language  How to connect with Julie #AdventurerForGood   Social Media   Veloo Foundation - Helping Mongolian children and families in serious need through a series of educational, health and vocational programs.   Website: www.veloofoundation.com   Instagram: @VelooFoundation    Horse Trek Mongolia - Ride. Explore. Help Children. We connect travellers to authentic Mongolian adventure . Home of the #gobigallop - 700 km / 10 days for charity!   www.horsetrekmongolia.com    Instagram: @HorseTrekMongolia    Personal IG: @JulieVeloo    Mongolist, Sharing horseback & other adventures with you all.  LIFE PLAN= DO Good. HELP Children. KEEP going. No plans to stop… #AdventurerForGood

Gowri is a naturalist and environmental educator who loves finding an excuse to be outdoors in nature—and climbing is one of her favourite excuses.    Gowri grew up climbing trees and scrambling on rocks in India, she went on to become an outdoor guide in the Peruvian Amazon.    Gowri currently teaches nature connection to kids in Upstate NY and India and also teaches Indian women climbing.    A few years ago she received the Live your Dream Grant given by American Alpine Club and the North Face to climb her hardest project to date, called French Indian Masala (7b+/5.12c), in India.   In 2018 she initiated the first-ever Indian women's climbing meet up in India to mentor and teach women climbing, called CLAW or Climb Like A Woman. She hopes to keep teach climbing, inspire more women to climb, and teach nature connection to the larger outdoor community through her new initiative Wilderness Ways.    Listen to Gowri now!!!   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Who is Gowri Her passions and her work Growing up in India Going to a non conventional school Being obsessed with snakes  Getting into nature and wildlife from a young age Her dreams as a little girl Going to college over in America Her journey into climbing Working in Peru as a guide Going to an indoor rock climbing gym in the US Her first climb outdoors Climbing the French Indian Masala route Applying for a grant CLAW - Climb Like A Woman  Wanting to teach Indian women how to climb Holding the first event in 2018 Going against gender norms Climbing in Hampi Women teaching women The false stories we tell ourselves Dealing with fears when climbing The women who have inspired Gowri in climbing and nature Being inspired by Flash Foxy Planning a climb and starting a new project Producing a film of the French Indian Masala route climb Starting training 2 months before Figuring out your weaknesses and strengths The importance of rest  Taking on a new challenge every 2 years The next project….. Training for one move  The move…. Watch the video on Youtube - French Indian Masala - Gowri Varanashi Wilderness Ways Teaching children - Nature connection How to connect with Gowri Final words of advice  Be curious, observe and ask questions!     Social Media     Women's Climbing Meet Up in India.    CLAW     Breaking barriers through rock climbing   www.climblikeawoman.com    Instagram:   @gowrivaranashi    @climblikeawoman    Wilderness Ways - reconnects you to the power of nature through unique experiences in the outdoors promoting love & care for the natural world.    Website - www.wildernessways.org    Instagram: @wilderness__ways.

Anna is an up and coming British trad climber based in the Lake District. She has multiple climbs in the E6-E8 range on her CV and favours bold and often unprotectable climbs   Anna started climbing at age 10.    Competitions didn't really suit her, and she quit the sport in her teens for a while before getting into outdoor bouldering age 17.    At 19, on a family holiday, she discovered she had a taste for hard trad and hasn't looked back.   Anna has lived in the Lake District all her life and works as a route-setter at Kendal Wall.     Anna's 2019 climbing spree* Lake District climbs   8 July, Disorderly Conduct E8 6c, lead, Reecastle Crag, Cumbria 26 June, Hare Today, Gone Tomorrow E5 6b, solo onsight, Hare Crags, Cumbria 27 May, Right Hare, Right Now E7 6c, lead, Hare Crags, Cumbria 22 May, Scrogbank Ravers E7 6c, lead, White Mines, Rusty Wall, Cumbria 20 May, No Nuts (Just Balls) E7 6b solo, Harrop Tarn Crag, Cumbria 4 May, Relentless Rage E7 6a, lead, Gouther Crags, Cumbria 29 April, Hang the Gallows High E6 6b, lead, Black Crag (Wrynose), Cumbria 17 April, Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid E6 6b, lead, Tilberthwaite Quarry, Cumbria 21 April, Big Tree Corner, E1 5b, lead, Tilberthwaite Quarry, Cumbria   Notable climbs from trips away   22 June, Bad Life Choices E7 6b solo, Polldubh Crags, Glen Nevis 17 May, My Halo E7 6b, lead, Serengeti, North Wales slate 13 April, Nosferatu E6 6b, lead, Burbage South, Peak District   Info from - www.thebmc.co.uk/disorderly-conduct-the-latest-in-anna-taylors-spree-of-e7s-and-e8s   Commenting on Instagram, Anna wrote about her challenge:    'Well that's that. Two months ago I set off from Penzance with the intention of linking all of the Classic Rock routes together by bike. I didn't have a clue how to cycle tour, or how I was going to get all the climbs done if the weather crapped out, but bit by bit I learned, and here we are. So that's just over 1,500 miles on the bike, and 83 out of 83 climbs (68 of which were solos, either free or with rope), in a mostly continuous round (I did have to duck out for a work trip at one point).   'Big thanks to @neil.gresham for coming up to do the last few climbs with me in appalling conditions. The weather has often been unkind throughout this trip, and because of this things were difficult and pretty treacherous right up until the very last second. Still, we had a fun, mildly epic adventure sliding around on the Cioch, and the Cuillin Ridge was, to put it frankly, f**king grim. It wasn't quite the scenic finale I had in mind, but was quite a fitting ending in the sense that virtually nothing about this trip has ever gone according to plan. 'There's been some good and very memorable moments though. Climbing The Long Climb on the Ben in a bubble of mist feeling like I was the only person in the world was ace, as was the watery fight to get out of The Chasm (though that was perhaps more of a type 2 fun sort of day). Routes like The Devils Slide on Lundy and The Clean Sweep on Hells Lum were also highlights, and all that definitely made up for the times I was frozen, wet and off-route, or regretting my life choices cycling up endless hills. It's not been a perfect trip by any means, but I've learnt a lot (mostly about soloing), and I'm looking forward to putting some of that knowledge to good use on future projects. For now however, I'm just appreciating being warm and dry, and I'm pretty relived to have got this over with before it starts snowing.'   Anna was also part of a large expedition in 2019 to climb the prow of Mount Roraima (a giant Tepui deep in the Amazon rainforest).   Take a listen to Anna now!   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    The Tough Girl Podcast is sponsorship and ad free thanks to the monthly financial support of patrons.    Support the mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast and subscribe - super quick and easy to do and it makes a massive difference. Thank you.   Show notes Who is Anna Just finishing the classic rock tour Her childhood growing up in Windermere Where the idea for the challenge came from Wanting to try cycle touring Telling her friends and family about the challenge Wanting to start in April 2021 but having to push it back to August  Working as a full time climber Figuring out how to take 2 months off How much would it cost and paying for the challenge Why it wasn’t an expensive trip Figuring out how to keep costs down Filming the challenge and getting pictures of the climbs Getting to the start of the challenge Feeling overwhelmed by the challenge Dealing with the reality of the situation  Taking it one day at a time The biggest challenge on the trip Why the Scottish climbs were so challenging Being solo on a rock face What’s going on inside her head while climbing Magical moments from the experience  The physicality of the challenge The challenges of going with someone else The rough route throughout the UK Finishing in the Isle of Skye Celebrating the end of the challenge and settling back into normal life What’s next?! Advice for women who want to get into climbing Working on improving her skills What type of climbing Anna does Follow and connect with Anna on Instagram Her first big expedition to South America Connecting with Leo Houlding Lesson learned from taking on climbing challenges Final words of advice and why you should go and do it!   Social Media   Instagram: @anna_taylor_98