Tough Girl Podcast

Jessi (Jessilynn) was born in a small town in Southern Alberta Canada. She grew up on a ranch and has always loved being in the mountains. She moved around quite a bit as a child and is now living in Sandy, UT, USA.    Jessi started competing in cross country in high school but stopped due to illness, which later was diagnosed as Lyme Disease. After going through treatments in the United States, Jessi spent three consecutive summers in Kerala, India where she learned the value of meditation and building a relationship with herself.    After having her daughter, who is now seven, Jessi decided to run her first marathon. She went on to compete in many ultra-marathon distances and recently won the female division at Moab 240 in October 2020.    Jessi recently wrote a book called, Defying the Odds, which talks about her journey and how she used mental fortitude to become the person she is today.  CONTENT WARNING - Rape is mentioned and miscarriages are discussed in detail.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you 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. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Growing up in Alberta, Canada on a farm Moving to Texas with her mum when she was in the 10th grade Going to 15 different high schools Her passion for ultra running, yoga and meditation Staying in Utah Trying different sports but never sticking at any one sport Getting into running and falling in love with it Becoming a PT Having her daughter and running her first marathon Not being a natural runner Doing the mile test  Running at night around the farm Running while pregnant Having multiple miscarriages  Being active during pregnancy Running her first marathon 4 months after having her daughter  The Boston Marathon bombing  48 hr labour Why her first marathon was a disaster  Signing up for her first 50 mile race Using running for therapy  Feeling healed Increasing the mileage and going outside her comfort zone Feeling so nervous doing her first 100 miles Hearing about the Moab 240 race  Breaking down the race into smaller distances Why she enjoys the longer distances Nutrition and problems with digestion Having chronic lyme disease Staying on top of hydration Mindset and mental resilience  Why running ultra’s is like life Being the fastest woman running Moab 240 The final stretch Winning her first race Being humble and wanting to be relatable  Book - Defying the Odds  Final words of advice   Social Media   Instagram - @jessimortonlangehaug

Jordan Marie Brings Three White Horses Daniel – Kul Wičasa Lakota, a citizen of Kul Wicasa Oyate (Lower Brule Sioux Tribe) as well as a passionate and devoted advocate for Indian Country and all people.    Nationally known for her advocacy and grassroots organization for anti-pipelines/climate justice efforts, change the name/not your mascot, the epidemic and crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, two spirits and relatives (MMIWG2S), and native youth initiatives.    Her experience in grants and project management, policy, blogging, and organizing has been leveraged by both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations in the areas of environmental sustainability, access to quality healthcare, MMIWG2S, the Violence Against Women Act, and a variety of other worthy causes.   Jordan is the founder and organizer of Rising Hearts, an Indigenous led grassroots group devoted to elevating Indigenous voices and promoting intersectional collaborative efforts across all movements with the goals of racial, social, climate, and economic justice.    The primary focuses are to inform, elevate, mobilize, and organize through strategic and targeted advocacy, establishing collaborative partnerships to help create a better and safer future and environment for all of our relatives who inhabit this planet, past, present and future. Jordan sits on the Board of Directors with the PowerShift Network and ReNew Earth Running, to work with passionate individuals to influence change and to help increase Indigenous visibility. She was also awarded the NCAIED Native American 40 Under 40 in the fall of 2018.    In 2019, she served on the Womxn’s March – Ending Violence Against Womxn and Femmes Policy Committee with other Native womxn representing on multiple committees. She is also a 2020 Society fellow with Return to the Heart Foundation. As well as sitting on the Intersectional Environmentalists Council, and Runner’s World Alliance Ambassador program.   Currently, she is using her running platform, to help raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous relatives by dedicating the miles she runs to a missing or murdered Indigenous person, #RunningForJustice and is now intersecting this effort and prayers for Black Lives Matter and calling an end to police brutality. She is among many Indigenous people working to elevate this crisis and to bring justice to the families and victims. And creating programming to build community and focus on wellness through Indigenous Wellness through Movement while continuing the heart work in supporting communities.    Now, she is continuing this running journey and advocacy, as a professional runner with Altra Team Elite and Rabbit. She is an Ambassador with Ultimate Direction for her running and advocacy. Jordan has launched, Mitakuye Oyasin (We Are All Related), a COVID19 relief program since June 2020 for Indigenous communities, to send masks to Indigenous relatives and communities to help protect and keep the communities safe and organizing virtual running and wellness events to support Indigenous communities and expand community through allyship.    Jordan is consulting on documentaries as Indigenous advocate, producer on films focused on Indigenous Earth Protectors, BIPOC runners, and supporting families impacted by MMIW, Executive Producer and co-director of #RunningWithPurpose. She consults with outdoor organizations to develop content on social media to protect sacred lands and promote health and wellness for Indian Country. Jordan is an Outreach and Project Manager with the UCLA, supporting researchers with their project proposals and with the new pivot to COVID-related studies and clinical trials, and continuing to organize in the community she lives on, homelands to the Tovangaar people, also known as Los Angeles, CA.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you 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. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes What Jordan does What her early years were like Moving to the state of Maine Trying to figure out life  Experiencing racism for the first time Being different How her life changed at college Her dreams as a little girl Living in DC and being an advocate for Indigenous Women Learning to love and accept herself Making it through high school How running became her identity Finding her community  Moving to DC and making the transition from college to work Building her network  Running and fitting it into her life Why her community comes first Combing her passions for running and advocacy Running the Boston Marathon and doing a prayer run Giving up The red hand print symbol 2 spirits What can I do? Self care The challenges of 2019  Being mentally and physically exhausted before races Taking 2 months off Founding Rising Hearts in 2016 Why the wellness industry needs to reflex diversity  Being inclusive Running on native lands  Dealing with an injury for the past 2 years Words of advice to encourage you to start running      Social Media   Website  www.jordanmariedaniel.com    Instagram @nativein_la    Twitter @_NativeInLA

Ellie in her own words:   “I am a Mental Health Personal Trainer based in East Sussex. I started my business WellbeingFIT last year because I want to raise awareness of the many benefits of exercise on our mental health and wellbeing. I also want to make exercise more accessible and positive to people - especially if they usually feel that exercise isn’t for them.   All of this was inspired by my own mental ill-health. I have suffered with depression and anxiety for the last 10 years, and have also received treatment for PTSD. I did get to the point when I began planning my suicide.   Exercise was my saviour through my toughest times. I am still on my journey of recovery and I am using my experiences to help people; to provide empathy and compassion; alongside emphasising how exercise can really help our mental health.   Alongside WellbeingFIT I have also started my mental health blog #WeGotThis. My aim here is to raise awareness, challenge stigma and to provide a safe space to share stories.   I want people to know that you can go through a really tough mental health journey and still come out the other side. There is hope when you are able to share what you are going through. Stigma still tells us that we should feel guilt or shame when we are experiencing mental ill-health - this alone adds a huge amount to our suffering which is completely unnecessary.   Exercise can provide relief from symptoms of mental ill-health and can be a space for sharing how you are feeling. It can also be a way of maintaining good mental health - regularly giving yourself priority and challenging what you are capable of.”   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you 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. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Who is Ellie and what she does Being a Mental Health Personal Trainer Her journey into fitness and how it started How exercise helped her with her mental health Getting though the toughest times Feeling alone with her mental health and not being able to talk to people Realising that becoming a PT could be a way of helping people Wanting to help people with their recovery Signing up to a PT course after her first child Starting her own business - WellbeingFIT The exciting and challenging times at the start of her business Trying to get paying customers Knowing the reasons why you are doing this Being supported by her Brother in Law who built her website The power of asking for help Enjoying all types of exercise Exercise after having your baby Sleep deprivation Mum guilt Depression and anxiety after having her first child Seeing a therapist every week Getting professional help Being told she had ‘mild depression’ Talking therapy by the NHS Needing to know the core reason of why she was feeling how she was The stigma of mental health and how it’s changed over the past 8 years What makes a Mental Health PT different Dealing with stress Coping with lockdowns Comparing situations with other people Wellness and kindness Final words of advice     Social Media   Website - www.wellbeingfit.co.uk    Facebook @wellbeingfitwithellie    Instagram @wellbeingfitwithellie

Patricia Alcivar (Patty Boom Boom) was born on December 12, 1983 from parents who emigrated from Barranquilla, Colombia. She is one of four sisters who grew up in a small two bedroom apartment in Woodside, Queens, N.Y. Her father was removed from their home when she was 10 years old leaving her mother to take care of four girls.   Patty left an abusive home at the age of 16 after completing her first NYC Marathon. She knew that if she could complete 26.2 miles on her own, she could do anything! She completed High School with honours while working after school to support herself.   Patty is a 2-time NYC Golden Gloves Champion, USA Nationals Champion, NY Metro Champion, Western States Champion and the first Female ever to be voted and win “Athlete of the Year,” as voted by the United States Olympic Committee. As a Professional Boxer, she captured the New York State title.   Patty’s passion is Alpine/Mountain Climbing and one of her goals is to be the first Latina from Queens, New York to climb the 7 Summits of the World. She has already successfully summited 3 of the 7 thus far: Kilimanjaro-the highest peak in Africa (in 2 days!), Aconcagua-the highest peak in South America and in the Western & Southern Hemispheres and Mount Elbrus in Russia-Highest Peak in Europe.   When Patty is not out climbing, running or boxing, she supports herself by working in a variety of ways which include being Spanish Interpreter/ Translator, EMT, Event Manager, Group Fitness Instructor & Print Ad & Commercial fitness model.   In Patty’s free time, she is an animal activist and is also active in Fighting Hunger & Poverty through NYCARES, Meals on Wheels and NYC Harvest which provide Food to homebound elderly or New Yorkers in need.   Patty hopes to go back to school in the near future for a Nursing degree and continue giving back and be a positive role model to athletes and women of all ages around the world.    Upon completion of her project " Climbing for a Dream-7 Summits" she would like to help build a foundation to educate people around the world about the great outdoors and how to use the challenge and beauty of nature to heal physically, mentally and spiritually.   CONTENT WARNING - we discuss leaving an abusive situation.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you 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. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Her nickname and professional boxing name Who Patty is and what she does Her goal to climb the 7 summits 3 done, with 4 more to go Living in NYC on her own  Running her first marathon at 16 Being 1 of 4 sisters Being inspired by the Boston Marathon and knowing she would run it one day Coming from Colombia in South America Being laughed at for her dream of running a marathon Going for her first run at 5am Joining the NYC Road Runners Living in a bad situation at home How running helped her leave an abusive situation Being diagnosed with ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder Being enrolled in sports at a young age Getting into martial arts  Winning a world title in martial arts Deciding what to do next Lying about her age to get her first job How she got into Boxing Not being able to support herself through boxing Taking the opportunity to focus on mountaineering Falling in love with the mountains Climbing in Ecuador Wanting to take climbing to the highest level Becoming more patient  Having to turn back from a summit Her though process while climbing  Needing to be fully focused while climbing Climbing Kilimanjaro in 2017 in 2 days! Climbing Aconcagua in South America and why it was so challenging  Training for 12 months Carrying all her own equipment at high altitude The power of visualisation  Getting back to normal after summiting Aconcagua Money and paying to climb mountains Maintaining her motivation levels The power of praying Living in NYC during the pandemic Making the most out of her time Getting up at 3:30am Her plans to go and climb Denali  Documenting and sharing her journey    Social Media   Website - www.climbingforadream.com    Medium - link.medium.com/TqkCgkXDfcb   Instagram    @pattyboxer12    @climbingforadream

A lover of adventure: climbing, hiking, camping and fun, Frankie started biking in lock down and with very little experience took her second hand bike on a squiggly loop of the UK to interview 51outdoorsy folx older than her about how they kept the adventure alive, and showing that you don't have to "do it whilst you're young”.    These stories were recorded and the conversations shared via the Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn Podcast*   *Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn - has had a rebrand and has changed its name to Extraordinary Ordinary You - this transition is taking place now. The reason for the name change will be discussed during this episode.    Listen to Frankie now on the Tough Girl Podcast! You can listen on itunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher, Spotify & iheartradio.   New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure to 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. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast     Show notes Who is Frankie What she loves Growing up in the countryside in Devon Moving to rural France when she was young Wanting to live in the city  Moving to Brighton, UK at 17/18 years old Living in France Doing an exchange to New Zealand Being broke and living on a tight budget Investing in a pair of hiking boots, sleeping bag and backpack Getting into hiking in New Zealand Having fun on a budget Connecting with awesome people Not planning on going to university  Studying childcare in college Working seasons for 2 years as a kids rep Wanting to move up or move on Deciding to go to university to study Tourism Wanting to work and travel! Not having a plan for the future Doing a placement year in Chamonix - Action Outdoors  Playing catch up and wanting to do as much as she could Heading back to the UK to finish her degree Having a go with the flow plan for after university  Starting working as a freelancer and wanting to work from her van Getting injured at the climbing gym Having a tough few months in rehab in 2019 The start of 2020 and dealing with the UK lockdown Moving to Hastings to stay in a holiday home Having negative thoughts about prioritising adventure When things go wrong, while living an alternative life Wanting to ask people for advice Wanting to do a cycling trip Buying a bike for £70 Wanting to find more role models Deciding to cycle around the UK and interview as many women as possible Taking the first step and putting herself out there Dealing with imposter syndrome and feeling anxious about putting herself out there Was the trip too big and too cool for her? Extraordinary Ordinary Womxn Speaking to 51 amazing women and non-binary folk Judging the success of the podcast  Re-branding to Extraordinary Ordinary You Reflection on using the term “Womxn” Reaching out to her community  Book: What the T?: The no-nonsense guide to all things trans and/or non-binary for teens  Book: Life Isn't Binary: On Being Both, Beyond, and In-Between   Womxn Instagram post on @Extraordinaryordinaryyou  Moving to Sheffield  Plans for 2021 Supporting Frit (@frit_tam) on their 2 month trip doing a zig-zag across the UK - starting on the 15th May 2021 - #glideforpride Rollerblading England tackling the issue of belonging in the LGBTQIA+ community  LGBTQIA+ – Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and/or Questioning, Intersex, and Asexual and/or Ally. Working with RachelSarahM  Final words of advice      Social Media    Personal    Website - www.frankiedewar.co    Instagram @frankie_dewar     Extraordinary Ordinary You   Website www.extraordinaryordinarywomxn.co   Instagram @extraordinaryyou    Facebook @ExtraordinaryOrdinaryYou

Zelzin was born in Mexico city in the Iztapalapa neighborhood in Nov 1993. Since she was a girl, she was passionate about outdoor sports such as rowing, running, mountain biking, a sport in which she excelled in National and International competitions and forged her determination and love for the mountains. Zelzin graduated in Communications and Electronics Engineering from the Instituto Politecnico Nacional.   In 2017 she traveled to the USA for the first time alone, without speaking the language to hike the second longest trail in the US the PCT. On April 4 she started the adventure and despite her little knowledge of hiking, being new to the high mountains, and dealing with snow. Zelzin completed her first thru hike in 153 days, covering a distance of 4,277 km. In 2018, Zelzin thru-hiked from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail in 100 days. In 2019, she completed the Continental Divide Trail in 145 days. Zelzin was the first Mexican person to have thru-hiked the three longest trails in the US.    Zelzin goals is to promote thru- hiking in Mexico and her dream is to create the first long-distance trail in Baja, California.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you 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. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Growing up in Mexico City What the triple crown in hiking is Her childhood Being the oldest of two brothers Growing up in a dangerous neighbourhood Starting working at 11 years old Hearing about the PCT for the first time Studying engineering at university  How her family reacted to her wanting to go to America and hike Being worried about the snow and black bears Not speaking English Her worries before the hike Getting a visa for America Research and planning for the trail Not being able to find information in Spanish The support of Facebook Groups Going to the mountains in Mexico  Learning about the gear and the animals Trail name? What it was like doing her first thru hike The challenging and difficult sections on the PCT Dealing with a lot of snow Facing river crossings Making a few mistakes on the trail Lessons learned from those mistakes Finding someone to walk in the mountains with  Having good luck and trying to catch up with other hikers Dealing with the cold Keeping her clothing simple Food on the trail Eating “trash food” Her love of cheese! Hiking the Appalachian Trail 2nd Leaving the Continental Divide Trail to the last  The challenges on the CDT What happens when times get tough Has she ever wanted to quit? Learning from her mistakes Feeling passionate about hiking Her favourite hiking trail is the Hayduke Trail Paying for her hikes Struggling to find sponsorship in Mexico Her dream of starting a new thru-hiking trail in Mexico Figuring out the new trail and having support with water and food The goals of the project Finals words of advice for other women who want to get into hiking “Don’t be afraid and live your dreams”   Social Media   Website www.zelzinaketzalli.com    Instagram @zelzin_aketzalli    Facebook @unquetzalennorteamerica

Cadi in her own words:   “Having lost a partner to suicide in 2014 I turned to being active in the outdoors to bring joy back into my life. Challenging myself, whether it's an ultra run, white water raft racing or cycle touring somewhere fabulous bring great sparks to me. I am never happier than when I'm running on the trails with my dog, swimming in a cold lake with friends or just taking in the beauty of nature. My desire to chase positivity and help others find theirs has led me to now become a Life Coach. I plan on using the great outdoors along with my coaching to create positive change in peoples lives.”   *please note during this episode we do talk about, mental health, losing someone through suicide & dealing with frightening situations.   Show notes Growing up in Nottingham Being passionate about the outdoors Working for British Canoeing - running ShePaddles program  Re-training as a life coach  What her early years were like Her dreams as a young girl Not being a career person Working to live Going to university  Trying to figure out what she wants to do with her life Starting to go travelling more Losing her partner to suicide  Wanting to be more of an independent traveller  Dealing with the shock of losing someone a partner Making a decision on how it would affect her Wanting to carry on doing adventures Her first trip with Bob to Egypt Getting her first bike Cycling in Cuba Deciding to do the coast to coast challenge in a day Being supported by friends and family  The benefits of blogging and how it helped her process her feelings Joining a local group SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide  Seeking out support and finding people to speak to  Going to Nepal in 2015 after the earthquake  Spending time in Tibet  Mount Kailash Kora Trek  The challenges of getting a visa for Tibet How her definition of adventure has changed  Blogging at Adventurous Girl and sharing beautiful pictures Dealing with Covid and it’s impact on time outdoors and mental health Focusing on the joys and positives of the situation Summer 2017 and heading up to the Lake District Handling setback when things go wrong on an adventure  Dealing with disappointment and feelings of failure Running across Iceland and the lessons learned Why it’s worth trying new things Making the decision to run across Iceland - East to West The lessons learned from the Iceland experience  Feelings of disappointment  Running around Malta solo Dealing with frightening situations while being solo on an adventure Being followed and flashed at.  Taking a knife? Further solo challenges? Being aware of her surroundings Training before trips She Paddles - what it is and what the goals are Funding to coach women and girls in leadership positions Building a positive community for paddlers Making the decision to leave British Canoeing and transition into self employment Losing her mum last year and making changes to her life Training to be a life coach and gaining new skills Turning 40 on the 1st January Wanting to cycle tour in Japan Final words of advice and why you should go with your heart What do you really want to do?   Social Media   Blog - anadventurousgirl.co.uk   Instagram @adventurousgirl     Twitter @cadilambert     Shine Life Coaching - If you have a change you want to make in your life I’ll help you get there. Person centred coach & NLP Practitioner   Website - www.shinelifecoach.co.uk   Instagram @shinelifecoach     Facebook  @CadiShineLifeCoaching

Neruja shares more about her Tamil culture and her experiences with the outdoors. How she went from someone who didn’t like being outside and never spending any time outdoors to becoming a passionate outdoor adventurer, hiker and climber.    Neruja shares more about her gap year and spending time in Borneo, Australia and New Zealand and what it was like moving from the hustle and bustle of London to the Lake District.    Neruja is passionate about diversifying the outdoors and pushing the importance of representation.    In April 2020 she started her Instagram page @so_little_a_time to inspire others like her to adventure in the outdoors.   Her thoughts:   “Hiking can feel never ending, runs can feel relentless and climbing can feel impossible. And yet these are activities I keep going back to. What I’ve realised though... it’s not the discomfort that makes these activities difficult for me but actually my fear of failing. After all it is much easier to put it down to not liking discomfort than admit I might fail.”    “My biggest enemy is myself. Giving myself a hard time actually stops me from being the best version of me. So currently I’m on a journey where I embrace the failures and remind myself that at the end of the day I really love doing these things!"   "There are times when your mission is clear. You can see it and are overwhelmed by the long journey ahead of you, but what keeps you going? Sometimes it can be as simple as wanting to witness and celebrate the beauty of success at the finish line and to look back at the hard but rewarding journey you have gone through.”   “These journeys may not be easy but personal growth during these times, no matter how you do it and how far you get, are almost certain. Every experience makes you grow.”   You can listen to Neruja share her story on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you 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. To find out more about becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Who is Neruja What being Tamil means  Family expectations on her upbringing and what she will do Not being encouraged to spend time outdoors when she was younger Not being able to speak English when she moved to the UK Moving to the Lake District from London Going walking for the first time Deciding to have a year out in 2013 Being a volunteer in Borneo with Raleigh International Living out of a rucksack Spending time in Australia and being ready for anything Going around New Zealand in a camper van Getting into the outdoors with her husband How spending time in Borneo solo changed her Being uncomfortable in that environment Magical moments in Australia  Spending time in Sydney and doing house/dog sitting  Doing a bungee jump and jumping when she was ready Moving back to the Lake District and hiking all the time Lessons from the Tour de Mont Blanc hike Planning and preparation for the 11 day hike Meeting like minded people  A typical day in the mountains Getting through the tough moments Starting her Instagram account - @so_little_a_time  Why your holidays don’t just have to be sitting on a beach Advice for other women who want to get outdoors more Try everything once   Social Media   Instagram - @so_little_a_time     Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UCxEF7jyILbx81BF_jSxT7yw/featured    Tour de Mont Blanc Cicerone Guidebook - www.cicerone.co.uk/trekking-the-tour-of-mont-blanc-fifth

Natalie Warren is a Minneapolis-based author, scholar, and public speaker on environmental issues. A lifelong paddler and river lover, she canoed the length of the Mississippi River and won first place in the Yukon River Quest in the women’s voyageur division, paddling 450 miles in fifty-three hours. A contributing writer to outdoor publications, she has worked with Bancroft Arnesen Explore, St. Croix River Association, and River Management Society, and she started a nonprofit to present urban rivers as natural, dynamic classrooms for youth.    About - Hudson Bay Bound: Two Women, One Dog, Two Thousand Miles to the Arctic   Unrelenting winds, carnivorous polar bears, snake nests, sweltering heat, and constant hunger. Paddling from Minneapolis to Hudson Bay, following the 2,000-mile route made famous by Eric Sevareid in his 1935 classic Canoeing with the Cree, Natalie Warren and Ann Raiho faced unexpected trials, some harrowing, some simply odd. But for the two friends—the first women to make this expedition—there was one timeless challenge: the occasional pitfalls that test character and friendship. Warren’s spellbinding account retraces the women’s journey from inspiration to Arctic waters, giving readers an insider view from the practicalities of planning a three-month canoe expedition to the successful accomplishment of the adventure of a lifetime.    Along the route we meet the people who live and work on the waterways, including denizens of a resort who supply much-needed sustenance; a solitary resident in the wilderness who helps plug a leak; and the people of the Cree First Nation at Norway House, where the canoeists acquire a furry companion. Describing the tensions that erupt between the women (who at one point communicate with each other only by note) and the natural and human-made phenomena they encounter—from islands of trash to waterfalls and a wolf pack—Warren brings us into her experience, and we join these modern women (and their dog) as they recreate this historic trip, including the pleasures and perils, the sexism, the social and environmental implications, and the enduring wonder of the wilderness.   Warren is a great storyteller and she brings readers a very fun, youthful, and adventurous book. But this book is more than just an expedition journal—Warren devotes quite a bit of her focus to reflections on changes in climate, societies, and issues surrounding our most valuable resource: water.    You can listen to both Ann and Natalie on the Tough Girl Podcast!   New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you 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. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.     Show notes Growing up in an urban area Not coming from an outdoorsy family  Being into music  Wanting to try new things  Falling in love with canoeing Becoming friends with Ann Raiho Heading off to college with Ann Her dreams as young woman Where her appreciation for the environment came from  Being inspired by a book called - Canoeing with the Cree 2011 and being in the senior year of college How the expedition evolved Getting sponsorship for the trip Making the decision to go on this trip Saying yes now and asking questions later  Thinking about writing a book Wanting to have fun and do something crazy Concerns before the adventure Hearing all the worst case scenarios  Telling friends and family about the canoe trip Camping in urban areas and close to big cities Magical moments from the journey  Having a baby and what helped her through the birth Handling the daily frustrations Reflecting back on the journey What lessons have been learned Not always wanting to go with the flow Roles in the team and how they changed and evolved during the journey  Cooking in the wilderness  Deciding to write a book about the adventure Reading Ann’s journal How canoeing is part of her life Advice for other women to take on their own challenge   Social Media   Website www.natalie-warren.com    Instagram @nwarren_writes

Jai Bharathi, an avid women motorcyclist, who co-founded the Hyderabad chapter of ‘The Bikerni’ an all-women motorcycle club in 2013. Jai has led motorcycle expeditions to Ladakh, Kanyakumari to Kashmir, cross-country expedition across six nations covering 17,000 kms & Wheels of Will motorcycle expedition covering 10,800 miles across the United States.    Jai’s passion for travel took her to visit all the UNESCO world heritage sites in India in 2012 and the first winner of GoUnesco travel challenge.    Over the last decade, Jai has worked with several NGO’s in the fields of women's empowerment, children education, solar lighting & relief works during natural disasters.    Jai has authored a book about organising & leading all women cross country motorcycle expedition.   Jai is now on her entrepreneurial journey with MOWO Social Initiatives which aims to see more number of women in the mobility sector.   New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go live every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you 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. To find out more about supporting your favourite podcast and becoming a patron please check out www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.   Show notes Who is Jai Growing up in the early 80s Being involved in ‘The Bikerni’ an all-women motorcycle club Falling in love with 2 wheels Learning how to ride a motorbike in the streets Working as an architect Wanting more passion in her life Realising that she wanted to travel more 2012 Go UNESCO Travel Challenge  Visiting all 28 UNESCO sites in India Visiting Turkey in 2013 and visiting UNESCO sites Having 2 siblings Being inspired to ride around East Asia on a motorbike Wanting to inspire others to ride bikes Riding from the northern tip of India to the southern tip of India Wondering how she can give back and inspire the rest of the community  Starting her journey as a social entrepreneur MOWO - MOving WOmen  Writing a book about her experiences  Travelling in India What UNESCO is Getting the opportunity and making it a reality  Taking 8 months to plan the trip Documenting the journey  Being in a leadership position Taking the first step Feeling safe while riding a motorcycle Not riding in the dark Breaking stereotypes  Inspiring women Encouraging women to work as tour guides  Heading over to the USA  Losing sponsorship the day before the flight  Going to the USA with $100 in her pocket Riding 11,000 miles across the USA in 35 days  Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you   Social Media   Facebook - www.facebook.com/jai.bharathi   Instagram @jaibharathi    Twitter @jaibharathi    Link to the book:  https://amzn.to/31BPrHh   A short video on our journey so far https://youtu.be/qQijuiNuZWY   MoWo - We promote women empowerment and safety through mobility. #MovingWomen #WomenInMobility    Links to our social media handles:   Website - www.mowo.in Facebook @mowo.in  Instagram @mowo.in  Twitter @MOWO__Hyd