Tough Girl Podcast

Jo is known by her twitter and Instagram handle @HappyHealthy50 which is where I first discovered her.    Jo is 53 years young and lives on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. Jo is a single mum, after getting divorced in her early 40s and has two sons aged 21 and 17.    In May 2014, after the loss of her mum, Jo decided to row a million metres and marathon for Macmillan Cancer Support. For eight months Jo would head down to her local gyn and hop on the rowing machine. She would then row 10,000 metres. She would do this every other night after work - through her dedication and hard work, Jo raised £10,000 for charity.   During this podcast Jo also shared more about her experiences with menopause and peri menopause and how exercise helped her both physically and mentally and how she began to incorporate more of it into her life.    In September 2016 Jo picked up a paddle board for the first time and she had no idea where it would lead! Since that moment, Jo has gone on to become the first women to stand up paddle board (SUP) 162 miles /260km from coast to coast (Liverpool to Goole) across Great Britain.    Jo talks more about self confidence, dealing with grief, living her dreams, joy and learning to be proud of herself.   Show notes   Who is Jo More about her family Her greatest joy at the moment Learning more about her childhood Growing up in North Yorkshire Her love of the sea What life was like in her forties Going through a divorce “I can’t do this anymore” - “I just want to sleep” Getting through the tough times Getting an old indoor rowing machine Starting to be able to sleep Fitting in the exercise Taking the first step  Having no expectations Why fitness wasn’t a priority  Raising money in memory of her mum Deciding to row 1 million metres and a marathon!!! Rowing 10,000 every over night for 8 months (200 days)!! Dealing with her grief and needing to get it out of her body What is was like turning 50 Jo’s experience of menopause and peri menopause  Having to put herself on the priority list The power of exercise  Doing stuff (exercise) that she love Learning how to say no to stuff Joy! Jo’s paddle boarding journey Rain or Shine 30 - getting outside for 30 mins everyday Paddle board the North - 162 miles coast to coast in Great Britain Putting her dream away Needing to have a big dream to pull her into the future To trust in the timing of your life The planning and preparation for the coast to coast challenge Getting the time off work Working backwards from the start date Facts make dreams possible  Why it didn’t feel hard The physical challenges of the expedition Living her dream Picking up litter on the journey Having people question her ability while on the water The positive impact on self confidence and believe Being proud of starting the challenge Trusting in herself more Creating a short 1 min film Final words of advice for women around being brave   Social Media   Website   https://healthyhappy50.com   Instagram @healthyhappy50   Twitter @healthyhappy50

We first spoke with Arita on February 8th 2016. Since then Arita has continued to follow her passions. She has recently returned from her 2nd expedition to the rainforest in Papua New Guinea.    While in Papua’s New Guinea, Arita has been focusing on life in the forest. This has involved taking sound recordings of ambient sounds, birds, etc. with the goal of producing a podcast in which the forest is the main character. There has also been a focus on the birds and how they communicate with each other and the local people.   For the past two years Arita has also initiated a landscape project in the Netherlands to rewild Dutch minds and to innovate mainstream cartographic maps. Arita also shares more about starting the - Dictionary for the Future.   Arita in her own words,   “Thirty years of exploration in wild places taught me that the separation between man and nature is an idea that exists in the western mind only. Nature is not ‘out there’, we are part of it. During my travels I was struck by the intimate way herders and nomadic people relate to the natural environment. Land in those regions has agency, intelligence and spirit. Closer to home, in the Netherlands, nature is considered a resource or at best a pleasant decor. We are stuck with an outdated model of reality. Let’s explore new narratives and in doing so create the world we want to live in!”   This is a fascinating podcast which will get you to explore more of your mind and the different way of explaining the world.   Show notes Welcoming Arita Who is Arita What is her background? Exploring difficult ways of explaining the world Different realities at the same time Starting a project in Holland Nature spirits A new way of mapping Mapping subjective experiences Deep mapping The impact of the virus on our lives How everyone and everything is connected Needing to explore new places Heading out to Papa New Guinea in 2016 The challenges of the jungle Communication with the birds in the jungle Studying bird language Making a podcast with the sounds Doing pioneering research  What it was like on expedition Making sure there were women in the team What is ecological intelligence? Not being spiritual or religious Believing in nature spirits Funding the expeditions The power of setting a deadline Money is important - but - Believe in your own mission Trust in yourself Getting all the information she needed  The next steps after the expedition Needing discipline in order to get the work done Working on the podcast  Dealing with loneliness  The dictionary for the future Special words Quick Fire Questions Final words of advice   Social Media   Website  http://www.aritabaaijens.nl    Facebook - Arita Baaijens   Twitter - @aritabaaijens

Louise is a Dundee based person trainer and endurance athlete. She has spent her career focusing on improving the mental and physical health of women, utilising her expansive knowledge to adapt recommendations to allow each individual to strive for an improvement in their health.   Louise has struggled with depression throughout her life. This in turn has been the driving motivation for the fundraising Louise has undertaken over several years. To give an example of the extent of her running ability, one of the races she ran in 2016 was the Marathon des Sables, raising over £5,000 for Dundee Association for Mental Health, covering 154 miles over 6 days in gruelling conditions.    Louise describes herself as a ‘middle to back of the pack’ runner, loving to chat with fellow runners along the way, to hear their stories and what has brought them to take on their current challenge.   Louise is passionate about raising the profile of mental health, holding talks in schools and businesses as well as the general public. 2017 saw the launch of Dundee mental health awareness week – Heart Tay Heart, started by Louise herself.   2020 will see Louise take on her biggest challenge to date #2020RunNorthSea it involves 7 countries, 2 feet and over 3,000 miles in approximately 100 days.   Show notes Who is Louise and what she does Her passion for rugby and running Deciding to become a personal trainer Sports and self esteem Sharing more about her journey of mental health Managing her own mental health Taking photos while out running Having alternatives to manage your mental health apart from exercise Needed to get out of her own head Continuing to learn about herself and what works Having a gratitude journal - A positivity journal The 100 Day Run in the Cotswolds  Having her eyes opened to a whole new world of people and challenges Starting to do fundraising Running the Marathon des Sables in 2016 Going back to university while working full time The MDS - “Being brilliant and awful in equal measures” Having too much time in her own head Rolling her ankle on the first day of MDS  The horrific sandstorm on the 1st day Having a good cry and letting it all out Growing into the challenge Wanting to go back and do the challenge again 2017 - The West Highland Way Race - 95 miles in 35 hrs Dealing with some of the worst weather in Scotland How having a 20 min power sleep made all the difference Finishing the race in 30 hrs with thanks to her support crew Key lessons learned from extreme endurance events Having physical fitness and being able to go to the next level mentally  2017 - Launching Dundee mental health awareness week – Heart Tay Heart Focusing on the services that are being provided to help support mental health #2020RunNorthSea Starting the run from her home town in Dundee Aiming to do 100 days - approx 40 miles per day - with a rest day every 7 days Key aims and objectives from doing this challenge Hopping that people will come and join her on the route Getting support from so many people in the local community Deciding to do this challenge… Doing the challenge solo Dealing with other peoples fears and concerns Don’t let other people limit you and your dreams How to fund and pay for the challenge - Feed Me Days - £25 The challenge of female hormones on training and day to day life Working with your monthly cycle Follow Louise on Social Media Final words of advice   Social Media   Instagram @silverfoxm3h Facebook @louisejohnstoneOCR

Carolin Botterill is a 54 year old mom of 3 grown daughters. She lives with her husband and dog in Calgary, Canada.    Carolin loves taking herself on ultra-running and backpacking adventures to far-flung corners of the globe, and she is passionate about shining the light on mental illness as a member of the Bigger Than the Trail team.    During this podcast episode we catch up with Carolin, who we first spoke to in November 27th 2018.  Since then Carolin has gone on to her first 100 mile race a dream she has been working towards for over 8 years! Carolin shares more about that experience, what she did differently and how positivity helped her during the race.    Carolin also shares more about dealing with her first DNF (Did Not Finish) at the start of January 2019 during the Spine Race in the UK, plus camping solo in the back country and what it was like running the Jungle Ultra with a friend.    Show notes Who is Carolin Her achievements in 2019 Smashing a 100 miles (her 5th attempt) How she trained differently Having a goal for 8 years and continuing to work towards it Getting over the mental block in doing a 100 mile race The power of staying positive during the race The Spine Race - January 2019 Dealing with a DNF Bouncing back from failure blog post Doing the canal walk from Liverpool to Leeds Respecting the race The British Weather… Getting back out to running pretty quickly Preparing for the next challenge the Jungle Ultra in Peru The benefits and challenges of doing a race with a friend. Wanting to be brave and have courage Going camping in the back country solo Why being out in nature by yourself is very empowering Being alone with your own thoughts The start of 2020  Escape from the Jungle Wanting to take her races to the next level Doing the challenge solo  14 competitors with 2 women What the survival training was like Feeling unprepared before the start… What the race was like Getting outside her comfort zone with a 200ft waterfall Not enjoying the experience Managing fears while being out in the jungle Quick Fire Questions   Social Media   Website/Blog - https://accidentalultrarunnerblog.wordpress.com  Facebook: @accidentalultrarunner Instagram: @carolinbotterill

Rosie, 25, a fell runner, climber, wild swimmer and all-round mountain lover from the Lake District in the UK is currently running to Mongolia! While running, she’s searching for stories about new ways of living and working while meeting our needs in a time of climate crisis.   "I will also cross as many mountain ranges and areas of wilderness, remoteness and natural beauty as I can”   Rosie started her solo and self supported run on the 17th August 2019. Along the way, Rosie will be meeting with people from projects who are creating a new, and a more sustainable way of living, and who are dedicated to tackling the climate crisis and its related issues. Rosie will share these stories through her website.   "By exploring the climate crisis and it’s solutions through a story of adventure, I aim to explore these issues in a fresh and personal way."   Show notes Who is Rosie Starting on the 17th August Being stuck in Kosovo  Where the idea for the run came from  Looking for a job after university Keeping the plan very vague and loose Moving the start date from October to August The planning and preparation Trying to be flexible with the route Creating her own website  Contacting brands for sponsorship Trying to get local media interested Planning the first couple of weeks of the route Paying for the challenge Deciding to set up a Go Fund Me account Having a budget of £50 per week… Problems with sticking to the budget Only planning to run for 1 year…. Why she decided to finish her run in Mongolia The route so far The physicality of the challenge Having a running buggy for parts of the challenge Meeting people and seeing a different range of projects What it’s like wild camping The biggest challenge while out on the run How to cope with the tough days Food and music Daily routines Being stuck in Kosovo due to the Corona Virus Final words of advice for other women    Social Media   Website  - https://newstoryrun.wordpress.com    Go Fund Me Page - https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-new-story-run-a-climate-activism-adventure    Instagram @RosieWats   Facebook @RosieWatson:TheNewStoryRun.    Twitter @r_birdshouts

Audrey in her own words..   In November 2013, I made a bit of running history when I became the first Scot (and second British woman) to complete my Antarctic Odyssey — the Antarctic Ice Marathon and Antarctic 100km double — in the space of three days, and this is one of my greatest achievement.   Crossing that 100k finish line marked both the end of a journey and the beginning of a new one...   In 2015, I completed the North Pole Marathon and became the first Scot to complete all 3 polar races. I also added the West Highland Way Race and West Highland Way Triple Crown and 100 miles in 24 hours at the Glenmore 24 hour trail race to my tally of achievements.   In January 2017 I became the first person to complete the double extreme marathon event of the Namibian Sand Marathon and Genghis Khan Ice Marathon: 36 degrees to minus 32 degrees.   During this podcast we will be focused on what Audrey has been up to since 2017. Audrey will share more details about the double extreme marathon event of the Namibian Sand Marathon and Genghis Khan Ice Marathon. Audrey will share more about the challenging races and what she has learned on the way, she will also share more about the global odyssey and how her dreams and goals have evolved over time.    If you are a passionate runner and enjoy hearing tales of adventure and challenge, then this is the perfect episode for you! Enjoy!   The Global Odyssey story so far: Antarctica - 2013, The Antarctic Ice 100k and The Antarctic Ice Marathon.  Europe - 2017, Grand Raid Des Bogomiles 100k. I have run a number of marathons in Europe. Asia - 2018, The Gobi Desert Global Odyssey 100k and 2017 The Mongolian Ice Marathon Africa - 2019 The Moroccan Global Odyssey 100k and 2017 The Namibian Sand Marathon. South America -  2019 The Patagonian Global Odyssey 100k and 2014 The Volcano Marathon. Oceania - 2020 The New Zealand Global Odyssey 100k and the Global Odyssey New Zealand Marathon.   Show notes Who is Audrey How she got into running Trying an ultra! Reflecting back on 2017 Her goal to run an ultra on all 7 continents and having someone else do it first How it change her ultimate goal Needing a different dream Taking the sense of urgency and time out of the goal Dealing with the extreme heat and extreme cold of running challenges David Scott from Sandbaggers  Menstruation and menopause and impact on training The Global Odyssey  Failing the first challenge Getting some of the basics wrong from hydration to taking salt tablets Dealing with the aftermath of failure  Going to the Gobi desert in August Starting to run without headphones What a normal training week looks like 3rd time lucky with running in Africa Heading to Argentina in April 2019 Losing her mum and not being able to run Deciding to head to New Zealand for the next ultra and marathon race Quick Fire Questions Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you   Social Media   Website www.audreymcintosh.co.uk.   Instagram - @aa_mcintosh   Facebook - Audrey McIntosh   Twitter - @audreymcintosh

Gina 28, from Sweden has a passion for travel and adventure, and for pushing herself outside of her comfort zone. Her goal is to “Escape the Ordinary”. Over the past few years, that is what Gina has done!   On May 14th 2016 Gina left Sydney on a bicycle, with everything she would need to be self sufficient as she cycled 2,700km up the east coast of Australia to Cairns, where she stayed for 2 months.   In early 2018 Gina decided to take on her first big solo winter expedition, skiing 60 days from North Cape to Jäckvik  in Sweden, having never skied before. Since then she has gone on to cross  Lake Baikal in Siberia (Russia), 692 km  over 14.5 days - Going solo from South to North and most recently she did the NORGE PÅ LANGS a 3,000km walk over 3.5 months, from the southernmost point in Lindesnes to North Cape the northernmost point of Norway.   During this episode, Gina shares more about her early life, how she got into adventure, how she picks future challenges and what she has learned on the way. Gina also provides top tips and advice to motivate and inspire you as you go after your next challenge.   Show notes Who is Gina Growing up in Sweden around horses Why she decided to enter the world of adventure Leaving school at 16 and starting to work with horses in a professional capacity Getting into Thai boxing and trail running Being inspired by podcasts Not being excited by work anymore Starting to look for a new challenge in her life The process behind getting more adventure in her life Deciding to cycle the East coast of Australia with her now ex boyfriend Spending 3 months living in the mountains Dealing with injury Starting to be scared when riding horses What she would do differently on a big cycle trip Where the idea came from for the ski expedition Wanting to see more of her own country Having no experience in skiing Deciding to start at North Cape - the northern most point in Sweden Starting 3 week later than planned due to delayed equipment and bad equipment Doing the challenge solo and unsupported Walking for days in a whiteout  Not being able to make any mistakes while in the extreme cold Think 3 x before you act How this challenge changed her life going forward Thinking about happiness Moving back to Norway Meeting a new man! 2019 - Hiking across Lake Baikal in Siberia  Dealing with the extreme cold in Siberia The importance of good quality gear Getting to the start of Lake Baikal  Dealing with feelings of loneliness  Deciding on the next big challenge Travelling with her partner and a dog! The amazing moments Dealing with winter storms Final words of advice   Social Media   Website  - https://www.ginajohansen.com    Instagram @ginajohansen91   Twitter @ginajohansen91   Facebook @ginajohansen91

Alice in her own words…   “I am an adventurer and an explorer. I travel to the furthest places on earth and walk through its toughest habitats. I have been described as ‘Indiana Jones for girls’  (which I liked!) We live in a time when the world is in crisis in so many ways. I want to bear witness to what is happening to the planet as our climate and our society changes and I want to tell the stories that bring we humans together rather than the ones that drive us apart. Together, we can strive towards solutions and a happier world.  What better place to start than with the places and people that are furthest away.”   During this episode Alice will share more about her walk across the Sahara Desert. Alice left Draa at Oued Chbika on the 26th November 2019 and walked over 1000 miles (with three Amazigh (Berber) companions and six camels) to Guerguerat on the Mauritanian Border and finished part 2 of the adventure at the end of February 2020.    Show notes Who is Alice The Sahara Expedition - the toughest challenge to date The team of camels The 2nd part of the trilogy The planning and preparation  Starting in November 2019 Using an expedition organiser  The challenge of getting water and food The goals and the purpose Reclaiming the word explore Wanting to travel slow and to take in all the details Being a woman and how she can interact with everyone Not doing enough training The start line and what it was like Finding sponsors and getting media attention Thank you to Craghoppers    How expectations didn’t match the reality Team dynamics Getting into routine Walking at 5km per hour Looking for trees in the desert Tent life Being a team member and not just a client Getting water from Nomads Being on an expedition with 6 camels Starting a podcast! Alice in Wanderland   Spending the New Year in the desert Making Christmas special  Walking into the nothingness of the desert Climate change and desertification  Key lessons from the experience  Learning patience Hoping to take on part 3 of the expedition at the end of June Final words of advice    Social Media   Website : www.alicemorrison.co.uk   Twitter: @aliceoutthere1 Instagram: @aliceoutthere1 Facebook: @AliceHunterMorrisonAdventures 

“Slow down. Stop running. Pregnant and postpartum women have heard this advice since the beginning of time. Many runners have no idea what they can and cannot do during pregnancy and postpartum, leaving them unsure, scared, and susceptible to injury.”   During this podcast, we talk with Kate and Blair about their first book. Go Ahead, Stop and Pee: Running During Pregnancy and Postpartum. This book throws out all those old wives’ tales and proves that women can keep running—during and after pregnancy. All they need is the right information.   More info about the book:   Written by two moms and physical therapists who also have a passion for running, Go Ahead, Stop and Pee is a fresh voice that empowers women to maintain their running lifestyle during pregnancy and postpartum. Combining first-hand experiences as well as science.   During this episode we discuss:  Common myths about running pregnant and postpartum A few key exercises for pregnant runners What the pelvic floor is and why it’s so important The 4th Trimester Tips for running with a stroller/pram   Plus much more!   This podcast episode is ideal for any soon-to-be or new mom who wants to keep on running and wants to be as informed as possible.    Show notes Meeting Kate and Blair Finding out more about their running backstories How running became a lifestyle Getting pregnant during triathlon training Myths around running while pregnant Myths around postpartum running Key things that pregnant women need to know about running Pelvic floor muscles The power of the breath What is the 4th trimester? Postpartum is forever The reasons for writing the book Kate’s story of returning to running after pregnancy Ending up with a stress fracture Being at a higher risk of stress fractures when you’re breast feeding Blair’s story of returning to running after pregnancy Dealing with a hip injury Taking years to be able to run without pain Having a plan to get back into running Top tips for new mothers Getting a pelvic health check done Running with a stroller Check out this Youtube video for running with a stroller Favourite exercise and where to start  Barefoot training  Final words of advice   Social Media   Dr. Kate Edwards Endurance athlete guru, PT, author, biz owner & educator helping PTs widen the lens on treating endurance athletes   Website:  www.katemihevcedwards.com     Instagram @katemihevcedwards    Facebook @KateMihevcEdwards.      Dr. Blair Green  - Pelvic Guru   Website www.catalystga.com    Facebook @CatalystGA    Twitter @Catalyst_GA      Go Ahead, Stop and Pee   Facebook @goaheadstopandpee    Instagram @goaheadstopandpee.   

Phoebe Smith is an adventurer, presenter, broadcaster, author, editor, photographer, speaker and filmmaker.   By day she is award-winning travel writer, broadcaster and presenter, host of the Wander Woman Podcast, Sleep Storyteller-in-Residence at Calm.com and contributing editor for Wanderlust Travel Magazine. By night she’s an extreme sleeping outdoors adventurer who thrives on heading to the wildest locations she can find to sleep in the strangest places she can seek out.   She was the first person to sleep at all the extreme points of mainland Britain – including the centremost point – which she did solo, on consecutive nights in 2014. In December 2017 she gave up her Christmas to complete the self-devised Sleep the Three Peaks challenge – in which she overnighted on the summits of the highest mountains in Wales, England and Scotland - successfully raising over £8,000 and awareness for Centrepoint (the young people's homeless charity) ending on Christmas morning on the summit of Ben Nevis. In 2018 she gave up Christmas again to walk the Hadrian Hundred for Homeless dressed as Wander Woman.   In 2020 she will embark on a world first in Antarctica with her teammate Dwayne Fields, in a bid to raise awareness about climate change and how it effects the wildlife who call the place home, and as part of a bigger project to take a group of underprivileged young people to the White Continent in 2021 with her #WeTwo Foundation (LINK wetwoexpedition.com).   She is the author of 10 books including the bestselling Extreme Sleeps: Adventures of a Wild Camper,Wilderness Weekends: Wild Adventures in Britain's Rugged Corners, The Wilderness Cookbook and the Travel Writer’s Field Guide.   Show notes   Who is Phoebe Extreme Sleeping Getting more involved in charity work Deciding to sleep the 3 peaks What was involved and the challenges involved Deciding to sleep off 10 UK Landmarks Walking the width of Britain dressed as WanderWoman The WE TWO Foundation  What it was like on Snowdonia in winter Being in a cloud inversion Dealing with gale force winds  Her motivations Sleeping better outdoors  Sleep stories for an app called calm.com  The process behind sleep stories  Becoming a slow traveller Portaledges… Sleeping in a harness How to poo and pee from the tent Using a pee bowl… The Night Vision Challenge in 2019  What Three Words  Not having any kayaking experience  We Two Foundation The challenges of talking about gender and race with companies Having to change the goal due to lack of funding Doing the challenge in the UK - Seabirds to South Planting seeds for the next generation The challenges of the UK weather and dealing with the rain… Human kindness seen on the trip Maintaining moral during the tough times The Wander Woman Podcast  Wanting to go to Easter Island in Chile Katherine Routledge who helped us understand the origins of the Easter Island moai. Getting mad and getting even by telling women’s stories Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you   Social Media   Website www.phoebe-smith.com   Instagram @phoebersmith   Facebook @ThePhoebeRSmith   Twitter @PhoebeRSmit