Tough Girl Podcast

After a year of facing her childhood fear of open seas, Lungi wrote her name in history by being the first African female to sail to the Arctic on her recent climate change and plastic pollution expedition to the North Pole.    The 34-year-old’s professional background is in banking but, after taking up sailing in 2016, she's already achieving what most people can only ever dream of.   Lungi shares more about her early life, her passions for sailing, and the environment as well as more about her big dream to sail around the world solo. Lungi has recently completed her Yachtmaster Ocean at the UK Sailing Academy and has shared her story on the TedX stage.   Lungi is inspiring girls to break free from limiting beliefs and pursue their dreams whatever they may be.   You can listen to Lungi on the Tough Girl Podcast - new episodes are every Tuesday at 7am UK time, make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out.   Show notes Who is Lungi Lungi’s passions and interests What life was like growing up Her dreams of travelling  Her passion for climate change and where it came from  Making a difference in the fight against climate change Having a fear of open seas What would you do if you weren't’ afraid Getting into sailing Loving the water Making her dream come true Having a full time job and trying to fit in sailing Being inspired by female sailors Finding her tribe in sailing Her BIG dream for sailing Getting her qualification in sailing Being involved in her local community Plastic pollution in the seas Making a career change from working in banking Becoming a full time sailor Wanting to sail around the world solo Training at the UK Sailing Academy Doing a fast track program to get her Yacht Master Qualification The next steps & applying for crewing positions Having trails with the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race Working towards her next goal Funding her current lifestyle Thoughts and lessons on sustainable living The biggest challenge faced over the past few years Role models in sailing  Being inspired by Tracy Edwards Advice for girls and women who want to get into sailing TedX - The Beauty of the Unknown Quick Fire Questions   Social Media   Website - https://lungisails.wordpress.com   Instagram @lungisails   Facebook @lungisails

Nikki in her own words;   I’m here to do my best, be my best, have a blast and meet as many people as I can along the way. I’m Chasing Extraordinary! Since … well ever since I can remember, I’ve been into moving my body, pushing, training, looking after and loving my body.  I started ballet at the tender age of 4 and it’s been all sorts of incarnations of fitness since then.   My love, my passion, my sanity is now adventure running.  It’s the wonderment of where can my feet take me, who I’ll meet, and how I can help along the way.   My goal is to share my knowledge, experience, adventures and love along the way through my writing, speaking, and social media’ing.   I choose to live through these 3 filters … LOVE.  FUN.  ADVENTURE.   Past Adventures   2018 – Run Around Ireland – 750 miles in 32 days 2018 – DesertUltra 2018 – Runcation around Malta and Gozo 2017 – 63 marathons in 63 days throughout the UK 2016 – JungleUltra – Peru 2010 – 7 marathons in 7 days 2002, 2007, 2010 – London Marathon   Listen to Nikki on the Tough Girl Podcast! New episodes every Tuesday at 7am UK time. Enjoy!   Show notes Being an Adventure Runner Doing lots of different sports when she was little Getting into running Growing up in Australia before moving to the UK Why it all changed at 30 Dealing with a marathon DNF at 19 miles Running the London Marathon in 2002 Having a new baby and how it impacted on running Running 7 marathons in 7 days Listening to the wrong people Maybe that was the limit? The motivation of having a big birthday Not being supported  Having a gap of 6 years with no adventure Figuring out priorities  Becoming a sports massage therapist Working as a running coach Turning 49 years young… Taking on the Judge Ultra in Peru Coming up with the ideas for 63 marathons in 63 days Breaking her leg… Taking 12 months to recover  Developing strategies to develop mental strength and resilience What if you do - What if you don’t The reason Why - What it came down to… Wanting to strive for the next level Perspective on failure Running 63 marathons in 63 days - the logistics and how it worked Focusing on the distance and not the speed Learning more about her body Being peri-menopausal The dream to run across Australia The logistics and funding of the challenge Deciding on a new physical challenge Treadmill Oz - 2,500 miles in 63 days Treadmill strategy for running Having a support team around  Figuring out how to make it work while on the treadmill Chasing Extraordinary    Social Media   Website - https://nikkilove.co.uk    Instagram @nikkiloveruns    Twitter @nikkiloveruns

Jana was born in Russia, and her parents moved to the U.S. when she was 12. Her first experiences with hiking was heading out with her parents to New Hampshire. After college she moving to New York City and started to make some big changes to her lifestyle, and wanted to see what her body could do.    She started by getting back into running, and was hiking every weekend, sometimes twice a weekend, and that's when she decided to become a guide with Discover Outdoors as a personal "passion project."    In 2019, Discover Outdoors asked her if she would be interested in working for them on the business side. So Jana left her paralegal job at a big-law NYC firm and started as the Northeast Regional Manager. During that year she kept pushing herself in the outdoors and on August 9th, 2019 she submitted the Matterhorn!   Jana has recently started Adventure Untamed, an adventure travel company, she shares more about her motivations and why she has made this decision during Covid -19.   You can listen to Jana on the Tough Girl Podcast - new episodes are every Tuesday at 7am UK time, make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out.    Show notes Who is Jana, what she does and what she loves Getting into fitness, running and spending time outdoors Making a change in her career Starting a travel company during the pandemic The importance of the culture and the people  Dealing with change Growing up in Russia and moving to the USA at 12 years old Being excited about new adventures and new experiences The learning curve of hiking How her passion/hobby for guiding evolved Getting into running Having a terrible fear of heights Dealing with the fear of failure  Making the transition from a 9-5 job to guiding  Deciding to climb the Matterhorn  The challenges of climbing the mountain and overcoming obstacles  Dealing with feelings of doubt Leaving at 4.08am to start the climb Taking it one step at a time Starting Adventure Untamed during a pandemic! Dreams and plans for the future Final words of advice to get more adventure in your life   Social Media   Adventure Untamed - Explore the wild. Escape your comfort zone. Northeast day and multi-day outdoor trips departing from NYC.   Website - https://www.adventureuntamed.com    Instagram @adventure_untamed   Facebook @adventureuntamed

Anoushé works as a civil servant, and also writes, speaks and campaigns to encourage people that sport can be done by everyone, regardless of physical capabilities. Anoushé was born missing her right arm below the elbow, has survived cancer, and lives with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.   Anoushé continues to be a role model and is an ambassador for ‘LimbPower’, the leading amputee and limb different charity, and for ‘Ehlers Danlos Support UK’. Anoushé has helped to encourage more women and girls to get into climbing by sharing her story through, ‘This Girl Can Climb’ campaign. Last year Anoushé decided she wanted to do more and helped to co-found ‘Paraclimbing London’, an initiative to make climbing more accessible for people of all abilities and backgrounds, they currently have over 160 members of all abilities.    Anoushé continues to works with ‘Grit&Rock’, a foundation which aims to get girls from socially deprived backgrounds empowered through climbing. During this podcast, we catch up with Anoushé and find out what she’s been up to since we last spoke with her in October 2017.   You can listen to Anoushé on the Tough Girl Podcast and Tough Girl Podcast Extra. New episodes are every Tuesday at 7am UK time.    Make sure you hit that subscribe button so you don’t miss out.   Show notes Finding out more about Anoushé Husain Dealing with multiple health conditions  How Covid has impacted on her life Focusing on what she can control Making sure that she is ok Having to social distance to the extreme Looking for the positives in the situation Dealing with a knee dislocation and having mobility problems The importance of climbing on a regular basis Training for a secret special project! Maintaining a positive focus and overcoming obstacles Getting outside for a short walk  Meeting her fiancé and getting married Reflecting back on 2018 and outdoor climbing! Making a short film - If I Can The difference and challenges of climbing outside Ranking 3rd in the UK for her category Reflecting back on the past 3 years and changes to climbing Para Climbing London Blok Fest Feeling the pressure to perform when climbing Dreams and ambitions for the future Wanting to cater for more people with mental health conditions Why it's ok to climb in a three Plans for 2020 Quick Fire Questions   Social Media   Website - https://anoushehusain.com    Instagram @anoushehusain   Facebook @AnousheHusain1   Twitter @AnousheHusain

Michelle Griffith-Robinson OLY is a former Olympic athlete who represented Great Britain in the Triple jump.  Michelle was the first woman in the UK to have jumped over 14 metres. Michelle is married to Matthew Robinson, an ex professional Welsh rugby player and she has three children.   In 1999 after leaving professional sport, Michelle became qualified as a personal trainer and stated to follow her passions of helping others through coaching and mentoring her own clients. Michelle is also one of the lead mentors for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust – which helps young people get their lives back on track.      During this podcast, Michelle shares more about her early years, her passion for sports, the importance of having role models and what life was like as a professional athlete before making the transition out of elite competition. Michelle provides top tips and advice to help you achieve your dreams and goals.    New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast go Live every Tuesday at 7am UK time!  Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out!    Show notes Who is Michelle Having 3 older brothers Coming from a sporty family Why doing just sport, wasn’t something you just did The importance of education Dreaming of a career in sports… Attending the Youth Olympics The importance of female role models The importance of working hard and doing your best Being encouraged and supported by her mum Joining a local running club Being the first woman in the Commonwealth to jump over 14m What it was like going to the Commonwealth Games The pressure of performance in the sporting world Needing a support team What it was like being a professional athlete The power of being supported  Deciding to leave university Dealing with financial stress Pensions, houses and sponsorship money Being dropped by the National Lottery Deciding to become a Personal Trainer Building a new career  Developing new skills What exercise looks like now A new Youtube channel - The Fit Family Robinsons! Being an Ambassador for Diabetes UK Needing to make changes to her diet Wanting to raise awareness and make a difference Diet and nutrition (one size does not fit all) Starting as a mentor at the Youth Sport Trust 2009 Working for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust in 2012 Words of positivity and encouragement The importance of having a plan  Measure your plan  SMART - Specific - Measurable - Achievable - Realistic - Time Bound Meeting her husband Quick Fire Questions   Social Media   Instagram @michellegriffithrobinson    Twitter @RobinsonOly

Selene Yeager is a top-selling professional health and fitness writer who lives what she writes as a NASM certified personal trainer, USA Cycling certified coach, Pn1 certified nutrition coach, pro licensed off road racer, and All-American Ironman triathlete.   Selene has written, co-written, and contributed to more than two dozen books such as ROAR, Bike Your Butt Off!, and Get Fast! She is a frequent contributor to Runner’s World, Women’s Health, and Shape magazines, and has a regular advice column for Bicycling magazine called “Fit Chick.”    During this podcast we learn more about Selene’s early life, how she got into cycling and writing. We discuss the challenges of training for an Ironman and her top tips for mental resilience and balancing everything you have going on in your life. Selene also answers some quick fire questions and provides top tips and advice to motivate and inspire you.    You can listen to the Tough Girl Podcast on iTunes, Spotify & Soundcloud! New episodes every Tuesday 7am UK time!    Show notes About Selene Early family life Loving to ride her bike everywhere Not having female role models growing up Leaving high school and going to college and not playing sport Studying and partying Getting into publishing and writing Being surrounded by incredible people Transition into an Ironman 16 weeks to Ironman…. Hiring a swim coach & an ironman coach… “The year I did everything right” Not loving competition Being goal orientated and liking challenges Dealing with set backs Being single minded Balancing family, marriage, and training 2015 - starting to race independently  Moving into gravel racing  Mental resilience and focus Being a co-author on the book ROAR Meeting Dr. Stacey Sims Tracking periods What a typical week looks like now Doing weights and yoga Diet and nutrition  Life as an author and writing books about cycling and bikes Racing with Rebecca Rush in Brazil Dealing with frustrations via communication  Quick Fire Questions   Social Media   Website - https://www.seleneyeager.com    Instagram @FitChick3   Facebook @FitChickSeleneYeager   Twitter @FitChick3

Paula is an adventurer, speaker and author, but, most of all, she’s a trier. For thirty years Paula suffered crippling anxiety, panic attacks and depression that would eventually rob her of even the most basic freedoms. After decades of medication and intervention, adventure became Paula’s personal therapy in 2012, when she became Paula Must Try Harder, trying the 17 Commonwealth sports, facing her fears head on and fighting her way back into the world.    Ever since, Paula has terrified herself daily in the name of recovery, and now spends all that nervous energy writing and speaking about the importance of allowing a little fear into each day. From flying a plane and wing-walking to becoming a triathlete when she couldn’t actually swim, Paula’s adventures demonstrate that even the most ordinary person can do extraordinary things when they give that little bit extra.   Paula is currently trying something new every day in 2020.    Take a listen to Paula on the Tough Girl Podcast Extra!   Show notes Who is Paula What she had done Dream Jobs Challenge Becoming an everyday adventurer  Being terrified of failure  Walking away from the Big Mad Swim around Great Britain  Dealing with post adventure blues The Year of Fear Becoming a different person The process of dealing with loss TedX Talks Writing a list of all her fears Having a support team  Adventure as a full time job Writing her second book Trying something new everyday  The start of 2020 Starting with a beach clean Trying to fit in the adventures/challenges around everyday life Feeling exhausted in the first two weeks Having a purpose Dealing with Covid  Knowing her trigger points and keeping herself well Therapist? Getting use to the new ‘normal’ Quick Fire Questions   Social Media   Website http://www.paulamusttryharder.co.uk    Facebook @pmusttryharder    Instagram @pmusttryharder   Twitter @pmusttryharder   Youtube  @paulamusttryharder

Sabrina a 42 year young mum of 4 and grandmother of 2, comes on the Tough Girl Podcast to share more about her early life, dealing with racism from a young age, suffering from anxiety and post natal depression after her first child at 18.   Sabrina, shares more about her reasons for wanting to take on the Marathon des Sables, a challenging 250km, multi-day ultra race across the Sahara desert.    Sabrina goes into detail about planning and preparation, making the commitment to the race, dealing with anxiety during training and takes us back to the emotional moment of crossing the finish line and achieving her goal.    Sabrina also shares more on the challenges of being a mixed race woman, racialized as Black, living in a rural community and why diversifying the outdoors, and specifically the ultra running community, is so important.   Show notes Who is Sabrina Growing up in Stroud Not growing up sporty Putting on 4 stone while pregnant Getting into the gym after her first child Suffering with post natal depression  How exercise helped Depression and anxiety  Her goal to help 1 Million people to use their anxiety to accomplish Discovering the Marathon des Sables Creating a 10 step program for herself to help achieve a life changing goal  Celebrating her 40th birthday!! Becoming very focused on her goal Developing personal strategies to help manage her anxiety The power of research  Being coached by Elisabet Barnes (Winner of MDS 2015 & 2017) Getting focused and immersed in what you want to do Committing to the challenge & paying money Having a good support network in place Choosing who is part of the inner circle Anxiety and mental resilience  Feeling uncomfortable in her own skin Training to run in sand What finishing the race was like Adventure blues The importance of having focus Rural racism and Black lives matter Diversifying the outdoors   Social Media   Instagram @sabrunsmiles

We have been following Jessica (Trail name - Dixie) since 2016 when we first spoke with her about her thru hike of the Appalachian Trial, we then caught up with Jessica in Feb 2019, when she shared more about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail.    During this episode, Jessica shares more about her most recent challenge - walking 500 miles on the Camino de Santiago, which is also known as the French Way. The journey begins at Saint Jean Pied de Port, in France, and goes through four of Spain's 15 regions, ending at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.   Jessica shares more about her experiences of this walk, what she wanted to learn and what made it such a special journey. She also shares more about future challenges, and provides top tips and advice for your next hike!   You can listen to Jessica/Dixie on the Tough Girl Podcast and watch her vlogs on the Homemade Wanderlust Channel.   Show notes Who is Jessica How she got into hiking Her passion for hiking  Wanting to travel abroad to hike Thinking about the Camino Hiking with her sister - Montana Getting her first passport at 30 Planning to head over to Europe Preparation for the trip Not wanting to over research Not booking a return flight The Wine Fountain! Taking the time to think The culture shock of Paris Getting homesick Ketchup!! Comparing thru hikes in America to the Camino Hiking Vs a pilgrimage Appreciating home more Stepping outside her comfort zone Heading over to New Zealand in October… Homemade Wanderlust Youtube Channel Reaching Santiago! Heading to “the end of the world!” Heading off to Italy after the walk Quick Fire Questions Final words of advice    Social Media   Website - https://homemadewanderlust.com    Facebook @homemadewanderlust   Instagram @homemadewanderlust   Youtube - Homemade Wanderlust

Sally Gunnell is an Olympian who won Olympic gold in the 1992 400-meter hurdles and took gold at the 1993 World Championships in the 400-meter hurdles.   Sally is the only woman ever to hold four major track titles concurrently – Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth! Since retiring from international athletics, Sally has gone onto become a  television presenter, keynote speaker and wellbeing advocate.   Sally shares more about her early years, her passion for running, how she has overcome setbacks and the ebb and flow of motivation. We talk about wellness, meditation, nutrition, daily routines and why confidence is everything!   Listen to Sally on the Tough Girl Podcast!   Show notes How Sally would introduce herself Learning more about her childhood Getting into running 12 years old Joining Essex Ladies Being inspired by the Olympics at 14 years old Being inspired by female role models Why it was about the journey Training for the 1992 Olympics What training looked like The ebb and flow of motivation and maintaining it Why confidence is everything in the world of sport Dealing with setbacks and self doubt  The mental side of training  The power of the mind Having to put the work in  The Olympic Race for gold in 1992 The gold medal! The sacrifice involved to achieve olympic gold The transition moving on from being a professional athlete How much exercise plays a part of her life now Dealing with the menopause  Running the London Marathon in 2006 after her 3rd baby Sports Day Challenges! Tips for wellbeing What happiness is for Sally Meditation Food & Nutrition  Quick Fire Questions Sally’s Run Club Final words of advice    Social Media   Website https://www.sallygunnell.com    Facebook @sally.gunnellobe   Instagram @sallygunnell   Twitter @SallyGunnell   Sally’s Run Club