Tough Girl Podcast

Namira Salim, a Space Diplomat, Future Astronaut, Pioneering Polar Explorer and Artist, is a prominent Pakistani based in the Principality of Monaco since 1997. She is well renowned as the First South Asian and First person from Monaco to go to space aboard Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic –the first private space-line of the world.   In March 2006, Sir Richard Branson, Chairman Virgin Group, personally introduced Namira to the world press as one of the earliest Founders and Future Astronauts of Virgin Galactic. As an example of early consumer confidence, Namira’s membership landed Virgin its biggest investor from Abu Dhabi, worth US$380 million. In August 2006, the Government of Pakistan, officially launched Namira to the nation as the “First Pakistani Astronaut” making her an instant source of inspiration for women and youth. In October 2007, she successfully qualified to go to space after completing her spaceflight training at the worlds largest centrifuge in the United States.   Namira became the first Pakistani and first woman from Monaco and Dubai (where her parents moved in 1981), at the North Pole in April 2007 and the South Pole in January 2008, as well as the first Asian to skydive (tandem) over Mount Everest (third pole) in October 2008. At all three poles, she hoisted the Pakistani and a universal peace flag.   In November 2015, Namira launched her non-profit organization, Space Trust to promote Space as the New Frontier for Peace. Since then she has engaged ten governments and five former and sitting Heads of State to advocate Space as a sustainable tool for peacemaking on Earth on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.   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 Pakistan  Her dream of going into space Being inspired by NASA Keeping her motivation of going to space Not being the person to pursue science education Falling in love with the stars Moving to the South of France and wanting to live in solitude Writing poetry and spending time being creative Calling Virgin Galactic Paying $200,000 for a seat as a founder Astronaut   Being part of the global press launch Being launched as the first Pakistan Astronaut The importance of dreams Doing astronaut training in 2007 Taking sub orbital flights  Why it’s not as challenging on the body Taking on the poles and sky diving over Mt. Everest  The challenges of sky diving over Mt. Everest - October 2008 Waiting for the prefect weather window The power of believing in herself The highest drop zone in the world  Free falling during sky diving at 153mph Managing risk Believing in fate, destiny and God. Being a Space Diplomat Space as a new frontier for peace Visiting the North Pole and dealing with the cold Spending 3 weeks in the South Pole Peace Expeditions and inspiring women and youth around the world Space Trust  Space Diplomacy  O G Summit 2030 Current project Funding projects and expeditions Why Space can help with climate change Final words of advice    Social Media   Websites    Personal - www.namirasalim.com  Space Trust - www.spacetrust.com   Twitter @namirasalim    Instagram @namirasalimofficial    Facebook @namirasalimofficial

Jean Muenchrath's passion for hiking, skiing and exploring wild places began as a child in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In 1982 she skied 223 miles along California’s John Muir Trail using skinny Nordic skis without metal edges. Her strength, courage and determination helped her survive a near fatal mountaineering accident on Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States, and a five-day epic to self-evacuate.   Her love for nature and travel has take her to South America and Asia. Jean has worked as a trekking guide in Nepal and Thailand and as a consultant in Bhutan with the World Wildlife Fund. She was a park ranger with the U.S. National Park Service for over thirty years.    Today she gives inspirational talks about pursuing one's dreams, outdoor adventures and what she’s learned from her tragedy. Through sharing her story, she hopes to give others the strength and courage to transform their own life’s challenges and the moxie to follow their dreams.   Her book, If I Live Until Morning, A True Story of Adventure, Tragedy and Transformation, was a finalist in the 2018 Best Book Awards in the Travel: Guides & Essays Category sponsored by the American Book Fest.    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 Jean Becoming an author later on in life Working as a Park ranger for the US National Park Service Spending her 21st birthday in a tree! Growing up in Colorado  Being in love with the mountains from a young age Her dreams as a young girl Going to college and making some changes in her life Spending time alone and living in remote places Starting to take on her own personal challenges The 1982 expedition  The John Muir Trail - 240km/211miles Concerns regards the adventure  Having to delay the trip by 1 month due to avalanches  Background to the ski trip Getting ahead of schedule by 1 week Deciding to climb Mt. Whitney (14,505ft) Reliving the trauma and being able to health  Dealing with an lightening strike Changing plans due to the storm and needing to get down the mountain fast Falling 45/50m down the mountain and having very sever injuries Going unconscious… Breaking a lot of bones… Not having mobile phones or GPS “I’m going to live” Hope and despair Pain and not being able to pee The recovery process Making it to the Himalayas  Lessons learned from the challenges faced The journey of writing the book Wanting to go back to Mt. Whitney  Getting back into the mountains Learning how to process your traumas Wanting to inspire people   Social Media   Website www.jeanmuenchrath.com

Tazneem is a UKA Run Leader, and works with ASICS Frontrunner. Her aim to inspire more women from the Black and Minority Ethnic communities to run. Tazneem works as full time Pharmacist and is mum to 3 boys.   Tazneem in her own words   “My name is Tazneem, but most people call me Taz. I live in Buckinghamshire and I'm a pharmacist working in the pharmaceutical industry. I started running in 2017 as a complete beginner and ran my 1st half marathon within 6 months of starting.    I'm a runner who wears hijab and that in itself does mean I dress a bit differently when running, but my hijab has never been a barrier for me at all.    I'm not a super fast runner, but I train hard to achieve the running goals I set myself”   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 Taz What her childhood was like Not being that sporty growing up Getting into running at 36 Having 3 children Giving running ago while on holiday Wanting to stay active and healthy  Running with a Hijab  Running as a muslim woman Cultural barriers to running Doing her first park run and going along by herself Focusing on running her first 5k Setting a running goal of doing a half marathon Having 6 months to train for the Birmingham Half marathon in October 2017 Finding a running plan on line Running early on in the morning Making changes in her life to fit running in The balancing act of being a wife, mother and an employee Feelings of mum guilt Concerns before the Birmingham Half Marathon  Being supported by her new friends from Park Run Feeling emotional at the end of the half marathon Booking her next half marathon Running in Marrakesh, Morocco Deciding to join a running club Becoming a run leader Deciding to run a marathon Turning 40 and wanting to mark the occasion  Deciding on the Loch Ness Marathon in Scotland! The challenges faced during the marathon Starting to struggle at mile 18 The mental side of running Running the Virtual 40th London Marathon in October Doing a lap course  Advice for runners who want to run a marathon  Deciding to do Race to the Stones 2021    Social Media   Blog - thishijabiruns.wordpress.com    Instagram @thishijabiruns    Twitter @thishijabiruns    To learn more about Muslim Women in Sport  visit - www.mwsf.org.uk

Katie Visco, who has been called a "bubbly and offbeat running, biking, soup-making, people-loving, community-building exclamation mark," started running when she was in middle school, duped into the sport thinking it was some kind of soccer conditioning camp. Oops. She quickly fell in love with running, and then...   In 2009, promoting the importance of a bold and passion-driven life, Katie ran solo across America, from Boston to San Diego, and became the 2nd youngest and 13th woman overall to make the crossing. During, and the year after her transAmerican crossing, she raised funds for the charity, Girls on the Run, and also stopped to visit more than two hundred audiences en route to spread her message to young and old alike. Running has been a versatile cornerstone of her wellbeing for years, and she especially loves the trails!   Besides trail running, biking, creating delicious food, and traveling, Katie loves her husband and family very much and enjoys getting to hear the stories of others. She's been writing since she was six and hopes to publish a book one day. She's stoked to share her journeys with you in hopes that you will glean something special from them for your own growth and joy.    New episodes 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 Katie in her own words What she loves in life Growing up in Chicago, USA Being empowered as a young girl Having creative and wild ideas Being supported in her dreams  Deciding to run across America at 23 years old Loving running Wanting to empower young people to follow their passions Figuring out the why and understanding the motivation behind the challenge Figuring out the funding and the logistics The power of breaking down challenges Why it’s ok to ask for support Training the body for big endurance challenges Dealing with stress in life Lessons learned from running across America in 2009 Respecting everyone’s story What happened between 2009 and 2019 Wanting to put some roots down and starting a company Wanting to run across Australia since 2013 Dealing with injury setbacks and having to postpone the Australia run 2x Figuring out the training for for a big ultra run Figuring out the money and taking time off  Being part of a team with her husband Getting to the start line in Australia! Why failure is just feedback The biggest challenge of running across Australia  The mental side of the challenge Giving herself grace on the challenge Mental tips and tricks “Tedious but brief” What a typical day was like Reflecting back on the journey  Adventure blues No more ambitions to run across a country but wanting to do a big cycle around the world Doing a different type of adventure Final words of advice    Social Media   Website - www.katievisco.com   Instagram - @katievisco

Amazin LêThi was born in Saigon where she was left in an orphanage by her mother. Amazin was then adopted by a white Australian family and became a trans racial adoptee and grew up in Australia. As a young adult, she was homeless for a period of time and it was at this lowest point, contemplating suicide, Amazin realized her passion and love for sport could help her survive.    Amazin got into weightlifting as a young age and through this, she gaining physical and mental strength, which in turn helped her with her confidence. Amazin shares more from her personal journey of homelessness and having to fight against all the odds to overcome enormous barriers to become a leading global rainbow (LGBTQ) sports activist and thought leader.    Amazin is a former competitive natural bodybuilder, TV/Film star, entertainment executive and the first Vietnamese internationally published health and fitness author. Currently focusing on the sport of shooting with her goal of reaching the Olympics in this sport.    Amazin is the first Asian ambassador for Athlete Ally, a nonprofit dedicated to champion LGBTQI+ equality, and Stonewall U.K., Europe’s largest LGBTQ charity. Her own Amazin LeThi Foundation uses sports to develop leadership skills for “rainbow youth” and advocates for LGBTQ allyship in the athletic community.   Amazin in her own words:   Sport has always been part of my life but I never saw myself in sports, let alone as an LGBTQ athlete, which made me feel very alone and isolated. I never felt I could ever be out because I was always bullied as that one Asian person in sport.   Sport should be welcoming to everyone and no one should feel they should hide their sexuality or gender identity. Sharing my story and living authentically and unapologetically gives me the freedom to realise that my emotions are real, that how I feel inside matters and that I’m worthy of owning the space that I’m in.    I want my story to provide a positive message for any Asian athlete who wants to be openly out in sports and to remind them they are not alone.   New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7am UK time - Make sure you hit that 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 Amazin How sport has played apart in her life Being bullied from a young age Being a trans racial adoptee  Being brought up in Australia  Not fitting in anywhere and living in limbo Falling into bodybuilding at a young age Being dropped off at the gym The power of sports Wanting to be a competitive body builder Being your authentic self in sports Reconnecting with the Vietnamese language, country and culture Leaving Australia and being homeless for a while Wanting to create an impact but not being sure what or how to do it Why sports helped her to survive  Deciding to pilot a sports program in Vietnam The start of the Amazin Lethi Foundation Plans for the future Training in shooting and hoping to go to the Olympics Wanting another challenge in sports Becoming a global advocate All major sporting events over the next few years being held in Asia Lack of Asian Representation Wanting to make sports welcoming  The role sports media plays  Final words of advice   Social Media   Website - https://www.amazinlethi.com   Facebook @AmazinLethi    Instagram @amazinlethi    Twitter @amazinlethi

Amy is a professional athlete, career-woman, mother and the founder of the One Step Ahead Foundation.    After losing her left leg below the knee due to a motorcycle accident that occurred in 1994, Amy compiled a tremendous portfolio of world records and firsts for a female amputee in marathons, ultramarathons, triathlons, and ultra-triathlons. As she attained more and more achievements, she found herself in the position of being a role model, especially for young people with physical disabilities of their own. She soon found herself working extensively with children, introducing them to sports and athletics as a way of helping them overcome their physical limitations. After several years, Amy founded the One Step Ahead Foundation in order to provide even more opportunities for children with physical disabilities.   In 2011, Amy became the first female amputee to finish the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile course starting at 282 feet below sea level in the Badwater Basin, in California's Death Valley, and ending at an elevation of 8360 feet (2548 m) at Whitney Portal, the trail head to Mount Whitney.   In February 2014, Amy completed Ultraman Florida.  This performance during the 6.2 mile swim, 261.4 mile Bike and 52.4 mile run earned her yet another world record for female para-athletes. Later that same year, Amy was the first para-athlete to complete the 2014 Obstacle Racing World Championships, a mandatory obstacle completion format, earning her second place in her age group.   As an AGOGE and two time Death Race Finisher,  Summer 2014 and Summer 2018,  Amy continues to push the boundaries of what is perceived as a limit.  Durning the 2018 Death Race,  36 hours into the event after countless miles, task and 3500 burpees, Amy set the longest distance crawled under barbed wire for 12 consecutive hours for both female and para-athletes.     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 and loving the outdoors Playing outside all day, everyday How running became a big part of her life How running was an equaliser  Not taking anything seriously The next steps after high school Getting a scholarship  Dropping out of college and getting a full time job to support herself Deciding to run a marathon Running her first marathon in 3hrs 24 mins…. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon Starting to run longer distances Getting hit by a car and fighting to save her leg for 3 years Being worries about losing her job Having her leg amputated at 21 years old Not being able to afford counselling  10 years to find the right prosthetic leg for her Running the Chicago Marathon in 2006 Being given a second chance A step A head Prosthetics "What do you want to do with your life?” Having a goal to run 100 miles Believe Helping to get someone else through the marathon The journey of getting to run 100 miles Having trouble breathing while running fast miles Running at a slower pace for longer distances Becoming a Mighty Mum and doing her first obstacle race Wanting to run at Western States in California and be the first athlete with an prosthetic to cross the finish line Managing pain and dealing with pain The recovery process after big races Working full time (60-70 hrs per week), with 6 children aged from 9 years old to 18 years old Helping other people to achieve their goals Beta-alanine Supplement Being a single mum to two children  What training looks like  Running on a treadmill versus running on the road Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you   Social Media   Website www.seeamyrun.com    Facebook @seeamyrun    Instagram @amybkw1    Twitter @runamyrun

Loretta was one of 9 children, and lived with her single mum and siblings. Loretta was born partially blind and intellectually challenged, she was unable to walk or talk until the age four. Through the support and commitment of her mum, Loretta eventually began to speak, walk and soon started to follow her big brother into running.    After being introduced to the Special Olympics her life started to change. She introduced President Bill Clinton at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games has won multiple medals in dozens of its events, and also holds the current women's record in her age group for the 5000 meters at seventeen minutes.   Loretta has also crossed the finish line of twenty-six marathons, twice placing among the top one-hundred women in the Boston Marathon. Loretta holds a 4th-degree black belt in karate, communicates in four languages, including American Sign Language, and holds three honorary doctorate degrees from Quinnipiac University, Villanova University, and York College of Pennsylvania, making her the first person with an intellectual disability known to receive such honours, according to Special Olympics Incorporated.       Today, Loretta is a celebrated athlete who was honoured in 1996 with ESPN's ESPY Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Her life story was told in Walt Disney Productions The Loretta Claiborne Story and in the biography, "In Her Stride" published by WorldScapes.   Loretta at 67 years young, still runs every day and is very active in her community. Her motto for life is, “God is my strength, Special Olympics is my joy”.   Listen to Loretta on the Tough Girl Podcast. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 am 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 Loretta Growing up in the 1950s Dealing with discrimination all her life Her strong and powerful mother who had big dreams for Loretta Making the transition from school to work Looking after her mother when she got sick Moving into her first apartment  Advice from her mother Finding out about the Special Olympics Not being allowed to quit the Special Olympics Starting going running with her brother Getting into road racing in the late 70s and early 80s Running in the Boston Marathon Being told she was too good to compete in the Special Olympics as a runner Starting martial arts and self training Not being able to go to the gym because of Covid Book - In her Stride Having a film made about her life Dealing with anger Turning her anger into a positive  Learning to control her anger through martial arts Deciding to learn sign language Loving sports 2 mottos that Loretta lives her life by The joy in her life Being the Chief Inspiration Officer for the Special Olympics  Women who have inspired Loretta Having good people in her life Quick Fire Questions Final words of advice    Social Media   Website www.lorettaclaiborne.com

Tracy was expelled from school at the age of 15 and with no exams or qualifications she left to travel the world. She began working on charter yachts in Greece at the age of 17 and learned how to sail.    Tracy took part in her first Whitbread Round the World Race as cook aboard ‘Atlantic Privateer’ in 1985/86 becoming the first woman to race around the world on a Maxi.   Upon completion she decided to enter the first all-female crew in the 1989/90 Whitbread and ‘Maiden’ crossed the start line on 2nd Sept 1989 and sailed into the history books. ‘Maiden’ went on to win two of the legs and came second in class overall. The best result for a British boat since 1977 and the best result for an all-female crew ever.    Tracy was awarded the MBE and became the first woman in its 34 year history to be awarded the Yachtsman of the Year Trophy.   Tracy founded The Maiden Factor in the process of rescuing her beloved yacht Maiden. In 2016 she decided she wanted to do more than just restore Maiden, she also wanted to make sure she was used for something special.    Tracy is Patron of, fundraises for and supports a number of small but effective charities who facilitate the education of girls around the globe.   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 Tracy Growing up in Reading and losing her father at 10 years old Being expelled from school at 15 How she fell into sailing Saying yes to opportunities Female role models in sailing  Having amazing male mentors Learning how to navigate Fighting for gender equality and against injustice Deciding to race around the world in the 1985/86 Whitbread Race Taking the first steps into sailing as a cook Gaining new skills and learning as much as she could Finding out that she was tough enough Wanting to prove that women could sail around the world Turning the dream into a reality  Dealing with the negative pushback  Struggling to find the money Getting Maiden to the start line! Competition and collaboration  Why women are STRONG TOGETHER The power of women working together Dealing with the pressure of performance Having to prove that women could sail around the world safely Using the fear to motivate  Struggling to deal with stress The Maiden Factor Foundation  Finding Maiden and getting the boat back Starting a 3 year world tour on Maiden in 2018 Inspiring the next generation of girls  The impact of Covid on the charity The process of making - Maiden The Movie  “Girls have got to see success in it’s raw form” “Success can be messy” The impact of Covid and having to cancel the American part of the tour Doing a tour of UK and Ireland in April 2021 Missing people Final words of advice    Social Media   Website https://www.tracyedwards.com    Twitter @TracyEdwardsMBE    The Maiden Factor - The Maiden Factor's mission is to continue Maiden's iconic legacy and inspire the next generation of girls through education   Website - https://www.themaidenfactor.org    Twitter @maidenfactor    Facebook @TheMaidenFactor

Susan took up cycling as a hobby about 10 years ago and since then has gone on to spend over 2 and a half years on a cycle tour around the world.    Susan visited 15 countries on four different continents. Meeting amazing people along the way and having fantastic experiences, which she has shared on her blog.    Since then, Susan has gone on to become a Breeze Champion and she set up Leicester Women’s Velo with a few other Breeze Champions in Leicester.    Susan is also one of Cycling UK’s “100 Women in Cycling 2019”. Susan hopes to inspire you to go on your own adventure!   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 Getting back into cycling 10 years ago Coming back from a round the world cycle tour Family life and learning how to ride a bike Wanting to be a ballerina Health and fitness and being the fat kid at school Dislocating her shoulder Going on holiday to NYC The struggle of getting into a routine Leaving her job to become a full time personal trainer How work took over her life Making the transition to becoming a full time personal trainer Getting back into cycling Building up the courage to join a cycling club Sky Ride Locals Being willing to try new things Starting to think about bigger rides Breeze Rides and becoming a breeze champion Getting a group of women to cycle across France  Learning how to cycle tour Gaining new skills Trying to find the right bike  The rush of getting from A to B Where the idea came from to cycle around the world Going back to work to earn money for the trip Starting to tell people about the cycle tour Trying to decide on cycle routes How her journey and plan changed Why New Zealand started to appeal Taking 2 years to plan the adventure  Decluttering the house to rent it out Saving money and the budget for the trip Gaining knowledge regarding bike maintenance Cycling around Taiwan The magical moments from the trip Transitioning back to a normal life Living with her mum Not wanting to come home Thinking about the next cycle adventure A cycle around the coast of Great Britain  Final words of advice      Social Media   Website pfaffingandcycling.wordpress.com/   Instagram @susanlonghaultrucker    Twitter @Susan_Doram

Kerri Andrews is Senior Lecturer in English Literature at Edge Hill University. She writes about literary history, particularly untold or forgotten histories, and has published widely on women’s writing. Her book, Wanderers: A History of Women Walking, published by Reaktion in September 2020.    Tracing the footsteps of ten women walker-writers from eighteenth-century parson’s daughter Elizabeth Carter – who desired nothing more than to be taken for a vagabond in the wilds of southern England – to modern walker-writers such as Nan Shepherd and Cheryl Strayed, Wanderers offers a beguiling, alternative view of the history of walking.   Kerri is also one of the leaders of Women In The Hills, an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded project aimed at exploring the factors enabling and inhibiting women's access to upland landscapes. The project brings together people from all areas of walking, mountaineering, land access and management, to drive change in women's access and experiences.   Kerri is the General Editor of Nan Shepherd’s letters, the first ever edition of Shepherd's, which will be published in 2023 by Edinburgh University Press. She is also a keen hill-walker and a member of Mountaineering Scotland.   You can listen to Kerri on the Tough Girl Podcast, NEW episodes 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 Getting interested in writing about women and walking Living in Scotland Getting into walking  Heading off to university and doing her PhD Deciding to get down to a healthy weight Starting to play squash Her first trip up Snowdon Connecting with people via Meet Up Co-Leader of Women in the Hills - Research Network. What hinders & enhances women's experiences of the hills?  What the research is showing Wanderers: A History of Women Walking Starting to write the book in 2012 Doing the research over the years Focusing on women over the past 300 years Being inspired by; Sarah Stoddart Hazlitt   The power of walking  Having her first child and the struggles of finding child care The power of Cheryl Strayed writing  What it means to be female on the trail Female bodies and how they open up new possibilities Finding the information for the book Why women’s walks don’t get taken notice off Doing other kinds of walking Getting the book published  The Literary Consultancy  Reaktion Books  Being inspired by Nan Shepherd First edition of Nan Shepherd’s correspondence to come out in 2023  Key takeaways from the book The idea of a female tradition   Social Media   Website www.edgehill.ac.uk/englishhistorycreativewriting/staff/dr-kerri-andrews/    Twitter @kerriandrewsuk    Book  - Wanderers: A History of Women Walking   This is a book about ten women who, over the past three hundred years, have found walking essential to their sense of themselves, as people and as writers.   In a series of intimate, incisive portraits, Wanderers traces their footsteps, from eighteenth-century parson's daughter Elizabeth Carter ‐ who desired nothing more than to be taken for a vagabond in the wilds of southern England ‐ to modern walker-writers such as Nan Shepherd and Cheryl Strayed.    For each, walking was integral, whether it was rambling for miles across the Highlands, like Sarah Stoddart Hazlitt, or pacing novels into being, as Virginia Woolf did around Bloomsbury.   'With the absorbing voice and attention to detail of a favourite hiking companion, Andrews unearths the forgotten women who have walked for creativity, for independence and self-discovery, to remember, to forget, to escape violence, to find physical and emotional strength.' Rachel Hewitt, historian, trail-runner and author of Map of a Nation