Tough Girl Podcast

Sarah Williams
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Sep 19, 2019 • 52min

Kiko Matthews - KIK PLASTIC 2019 - Cycling 6,900km around the UK and Ireland’s coasts, beach cleaning and building a community against plastic!

We first spoke with Kiko on the 1st May 2018, where she shared more about her solo and unsupported row, 3000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean. Kiko tells more about her life, the challenges she faced and overcame, from being diagnosed with Cushing's Disease and having brain surgery only months before the Atlantic row. Kiko achieved the impossible, she broke the women's record by 5 days and crossed the ocean in 49 days, 10 hours and 13 seconds. Kiko had never rowed before deciding on this challenge! In this Tough Girl Extra podcast episode, we catch up with Kiko to find out what’s she’s been up to, how she decided on her next challenge - Kik Plastic, how she funds her life, what motivates her and what the future looks like.  Kiko does not hold back and shares all the details, she’s authentic and as real as they come! Enjoy this episode!  Show notes Kiko shares more about her backstory Deciding what to do next after her Atlantic row Doing a beach clean in Portugal  Cycling around the world and doing beach cleans… Deciding to keep it local  The logistical challenge Getting a team together to help with the planning Fundraising and needing help Biking experience! Starting the challenge on 5th May 2019 Getting into her rhythm and getting fitter  The importance of having a purpose The stand out moments from the tour Giving up hope Showing up and doing what needs to be done What the learning from Kik Plastic was The fishing industry Getting use to the hills  Talking money The power of networking  Knowing your why and building a community  The cost of Kik Plastic  The Wadi Rum Ultra  Hating running! Team Like a Girl - set up by Lauren Morton  Doing 70k in a day Shuffle running Why it was so hard walking  Comparison between the row, the run and the ride Quick Fire Questions  Final words of advice Social Media Website:  www.kikomatthews.co.uk  Twitter:  @Kikomatthews Instagram:  @kikomatthews 
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Sep 17, 2019 • 1h 1min

4 Women Overlanding the World! Expert tips and advice: Money, Menstruation and Magical Moments of the road.

Women Overlanding the World began as a Facebook group where traveling women could congregate for information and community related to all things overlanding. After the first year, they had grown to an active group of over 1,600 members around the world.  They started to realised that they had created something amazing and that something exciting was happening in the space.   “Women were no longer listening to messages that say “you can’t” or “you won’t.”  They are refusing to stay quiet in the predominantly male worlds of overlanding, off-roading and exploration.  Women are out on the road.  They are going where they want to go.  They have expertise and knowledge.  They are defining their own lives and redefining their own limits.”    Women overlanding hopes that the group, the website, the book, the meet ups and overland retreats will serve as a source of inspiration, and be a catalyst for you to have courage as you start your overlanding journey.  During the podcast we speak with the 4 founders: Sunny Eaton, Karin Balsley, Taylor Pawley, Ashley Giordano. Sunny Eaton is a criminal defense attorney and social marketing manager who travels with her wife, Karin Balsley, as the Vagabroads.  Sunny’s mother is the original Vagabroad and introduced her to travel at an early age. She went to high school in Germany, and after college had planned a round-the-world trip, starting with a trek from Istanbul to Cairo. She bought a plane ticket, gave notice at work – and a week later, the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks occurred.  Parts of the world were no longer safe for Americans, and the whole world seemed much scarier. She cancelled her ticket, retracted her notice, and put that trip on a tall pile of "some days". A few years later, she realized that when you look back at a year in your life and can’t distinguish one day from the next, it’s time to make a change. Within a year, they had sold everything, quit their jobs and headed south in their ’97 Toyota FZJ80 Land Cruiser with their dog, Gracie. Karin Balsley is a systems architect who grew up in Franklin, Tennessee. She got into the offroading community at the young age of 15 when she bought her first 1978 Jeep CJ-5. Since then she's owned and rebuilt 6 jeeps and is currently building a Jeep Scrambler. She's always loved cars and enjoys seeing what they are capable of.  Recently her and her wife, Sunny, decided to sell everything they owned and buy a 1997 Toyota Land Cruiser. They built it out over six months and hit the road with their dog, Gracie, in November 2015. They traveled for two years throughout Mexico and Central America. They enjoyed it so much that they turned around and drove the same route home instead of shipping the car. Afterwards they traversed the United States, east to west and south to north, stopping in Canada along the way. Future plans include overlanding throughout South America and traveling via motorcycle across Southeast Asia. Taylor Pawley grew up in Eastern Oregon on a cattle ranch where hiking, fishing, hunting, and off-roading were just a normal everyday activity. But travel was the thing that really called to her. She married her high-school sweetheart at the young age of 19 and together they traveled across the Mediterranean on a 10-day cruise, backpacked through Uganda, and rented a Hi-Lux to chase desert elephants through Namibia. When it came time to choose between settling down and starting a family, or being kids themselves a little longer, they chose to sell their house and everything they owned and travel the Pan-American Highway. She also took the opportunity to compete in the inaugural Rebelle Rally, an all-women’s navigation rally, and took second place out of 36 teams. Taylor’s Pan-Am journey ended in Uruguay in 2018 when she and KP decided to split amicably, but she has continued to travel on her own as often as possible, with plans to complete the remaining part of the Pan-Am journey solo someday as well as a trek through Africa. Ashley Giordano recently (okay, 3 years ago) completed a 48,800km overland journey from Vancouver, Canada to Buenos Aires, Argentina with her husband Richard in their well-loved but antiquated Toyota Pickup. On the zig-zag route south they hiked craggy peaks in the Andes, discovered diverse cultures in 15 different countries, and filled their tummies with spicy ceviche, Baja fish tacos and Argentinian Malbec. You can usually find Ashley buried in a pile of travel books, pouring over maps, or researching wild medicinal herbs. Ashley grew up in Kelowna, BC, Canada, and spent most of her time training as a competitive figure skater. She worked in Vancouver, BC as a Paralegal for eight years while completing a Diploma in Holistic Nutrition. She is currently studying herbal medicine with a focus on women’s health. Show notes Getting introductions from Taylor, Ashley, Karin and Sunny How everyone knows each other - the power of social media! How connected the overland community is and the power of Facebook Groups How to manage your period on the road The need to have specific space for women to connect How groups on line can become a lifeline for travellers Let’s talk about periods! Advice and top tips for being on the road and having your period Tampons, pads, Dixie Cups? Pain management and comfort management Stocking up in major cities and having a stock box The biggest challenge they needed to overcome to start on their journey Being terrified of Mexico  Deciding to quit her job and leave everything behind Struggling with the lack of purpose and a lack of routine Money and financing the trip illegal smuggling?! Having start over money Being high maintenance girls Enjoying the local drinks! The realities of how far you can make your money go Budgeting and understanding where your money goes Van lifers verses the overland community Spending money on crap and stuff that wasn’t making us happy Learning a cheaper way to live and why it is cheaper on the road Magical moments on the road  Learning how and when to say yes more The freedom to see these amazing places The unplanned and random situations! Advice and top tips Trust other people who have done what you are doing START!!! Make a list and START! Bring lots of underwear! Be ok with making the trip about you Facebook groups and what a great resource it was  How the book came together How an idea became a reality in 24 hrs I’m older can I do this? Social Media Website - www.womenoverlandingtheworld.com  Facebook Group - @womenoverlandingtheworld  Instagram - @womenoverlandingtheworld  Instagram - @wowoverlandretreats  Twitter - @womenoverland   
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Sep 12, 2019 • 43min

Fiona Quinn - Paddle boarding the length of Great Britain, plus setting 3 world SUP records!

We first spoke with Fiona back in February 2018, where Fiona shared more about walking Great Britain; 993 miles, solo and unsupported over 57 days in 2017. This was followed in September by cycling almost 1200 miles, solo and unsupported, from Lands End to John O’Groats. Fiona has come back on the Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode to share more about her most recent challenge, which involved setting 3 world records in 2018 for stand up paddle boarding the length of Great Britain!  Fiona shares more about the challenge, from the logistics of getting a support crew together, funding the challenge as overcoming her deep seated fear of the sea. Fiona goes no to share more about her ambition for cycling around the coast of the Mediterranean, and what she has learned so far by cycling from Gibraltar to France.   When she's not outside adventuring, Fiona runs the Adventure Book Club to inspire and support people to take on their own adventures. Fiona also coaches entrepreneurs to utilise the power of action to bring their own story to life. “Getting to the start line is often the hardest part. You’ll never be 100 per cent ready so making that decision to just go and figure it out along the way is hugely liberating. Adventure has taught me more than anything else in life, that if I keep believing something is possible, I can push forward and make it happen.”  Show notes Finding out more about Fiona We first spoke with Fiona in February 2018 Living a life of adventure  Reflecting back on 2018 Being in the planning stages of SUP from Land’s End to John O’Groats Being scared of the sea Having the crazy idea and making it happen Dealing with bad weather Facing her fear of the sea and deep open water Being able to manage her fear and the practical steps she took Paying for the adventure  Sponsorship?! Taking out a personal loan Why time is the precious resource  Dealing with the winds on the first few days SUPs across the Irish Sea Accommodation, food and resupply The challenges of having a support crew Being focused when on the adventure  3 New World Records! Finishing the challenge! Facts and figures from the challenge Overcoming her fear of the sea? The Mediterranean Challenge Travelling from Gibraltar to Nice in France Part 2 of the challenge The impact of doing public adventures Why it’s ok to change your goals Struggling to meet people on the trip The next challenge! Writing her first book - about SUP Britain Start before you are ready Quick Fire Questions   Social Media  Website: www.fionalquinn.com Twitter: @FionaLQuinn  Instagram: @FionaLQuinn   FaceBook: /FionaLQuinn  Medium: @FionaLQuinn   Book Club: http://fionalquinn.com/adventure-book-club   
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Sep 10, 2019 • 52min

Kate Swoboda - Author of The Courage Habit: Sharing more about how to accept your fears, release the past, and Live Your Courageous Life

In 2012, Kate was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and for the most part, doctors weren’t particularly optimistic about how she could improve her quality of life. Kate was living in the no-man’s land of having received a diagnosis, but nothing was relieving her symptoms.  It took her a few years to find out what the combination of things would be that that would get her system working again. In 2015, Kate began training for her first triathlon, following her fist success a few months, later she had set her sights on doing an half-Ironman! Training for Kate was really intense, and she often found it frustrating, because she felt sick and fatigued more often than other athletes, it was also taking her longer to recovery. Nonetheless, she persisted, and for Kate her goal of finishing a half-Ironman was her way of saying to the world that she was in charge of her body.  Kate made the decision that it was all about her mindset and deciding to make the conscious choices to practice courage even after setbacks. During this podcast, Kate will teach you how to change your old patterns of self-doubt and create new courageous habits, which is turn will help you lead a more courageous life. Kate will share more detail about the powerful principles of habit-formation, psychological courage and emotional resilience. Show notes Being an endurance geek What she loves about sport and why she is all in Why she started to run Running her first mile  Using running for stress management until she over did it  Not being able to walk  Have serious issues with her Cuboid Bone (bone in the foot) Getting through tough times and how she coped Dealing with perfectionism  Being treated as disabled Seeing Dr. Paul Walton Chiropractor Dealing with pain for over a year  Getting back to running again and deciding to run a marathon Getting a stress fracture Getting over mental blocks and the importance of a strong foundation Flirting with self destruction Balancing the drive and ambition with listening to your body The importance of listening to your body e.g. energy levels, sleeping, HR monitor, wearing a Fitbit everyday Getting into cross fit  Burnout - over training? The courage habit and linking it to the first step Dealing with her inner critic Starting at zero Why she got into triathlon Her first Ironman….. Why stopping was not an option Setting BIG GOALS  Being diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and how it changed her life (2012) The power of the mind/body connection The Courage Habits - BOOK The Courage Habit Podcast Quick Fire Questions   Social Media Web :: https://www.yourcourageouslife.com Instagram :: https://www.instagram.com/katecourageous FaceBook :: https://www.facebook.com/YourCourageousLife Community :: https://TeamCLCC.com   *Please note this episode has been marked as explicit.   
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Sep 5, 2019 • 45min

Katie-Jane L’Herpiniere - Iceland Traverse - Hiking/FastPacking - 600km journey on foot traversing the land of fire and ice, from its most Southerly point to its most Northerly.

Katie-Jane is a British adventure girl living in the French Alps. She’s addicted to type 2 fun, powered by sugar and sunshine, and a lover of marzipan! Katie is mostly known for her organisation and planning skills (a queen of lists and highlighters), and her unwavering belief that anything is possible, whilst bringing a touch of pink and girly glamour to adventure. Katie in her own words… “My friends often refer to me as slightly crazy! But don’t be fooled… I’m not very brave, nor an adrenaline junkie or a daredevil, I’m just a normal girl, that through adventure is perpetually learning that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they just can be bold enough to begin. When I am not busy at my desk designing websites for clients, or organising expeditions, you might find me looking out of my tent on a mountain summit, snuggled deep in my sleeping bag, drinking a cuppa, watching the sun creep up over the mountains at dawn. I have a passion for exploring this wonderful world in which we live. Having visited over 50 countries on 5 continents so far, I still feel there’s so much more to explore. I have often found that stripped of comforts and faced with hardships and adversities, the completion of each journey becomes so much more rewarding. My life goals are to fill my day’s with wonderful adventures, making memories, seeing new places, meeting new faces, doing things that are difficult, and scaring myself a little, so that nothing feels familiar & therefore everyday becomes extraordinary.” Show notes Who is Katie Living in the French Alps Living a life of adventure for over 15 years Having a passion for suffering Getting addicted to challenges How her recent challenge came about Deciding to do the Iceland Traverse Doing adventure for adventures sake Have a tight budget and wanting to go somewhere wild and remote Enjoying the adventure! Sponsorship and raising money The planning and preparation Planning too much? Figuring out water and river crossings Taking ski googles while hiking in summer! Preparing for the dust storms 2 months of planning for 2 weeks hiking North to South or South to North - does it matter?! Money and costs Being super relaxed at the start of the challenge Having to start again! Starting on tarmac Navigation in Iceland Dealing with the wind and rain Not feeling lonely and enjoying her own company  Daily routines Solar charger was it worth it? What Katie learned from the whole experience  Doing her Mountain Leader Qualification - training course Final words of advice for women who want to go on their own solo adventure  Social Media Website: www.katiejaneendurance.com Instagram: @katielherpiniere  Facebook: @katiesenduranceadventures  
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Sep 3, 2019 • 49min

Mara Hafezi - The Fit Londoner: Ironman UK, Wadi Rum Ultra marathon 2018 & The Speed Project running from LA to Las Vegas as fast as possible in 2019!

Mara had a massive year of big challenges in 2018, from training for her first triathlon and Ironman UK. She then  ticked off completing a multi-stage ultra marathon off her bucket list by taking part in the Wadi Rum Ultra marathon in 2018.  The race was held in the desert in Jordan, and involved running just over 250km in five days!  During the podcast Mara shares more about her triathlon training, how she bought all the gear she needed with a budget of £1000! Mara then goes into more detail about her biggest challenge to date - The Speed Project which she did in March 2019, involving a 340 mile (550K) relay race from the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles all the way out to Las Vegas. There are no rules and the only aim is to run from LA to Vegas as fast as possible! This is a jam packed episode filled with motivation and top tips! Show notes Her aim is to encourage women and women of colour to step outside their comfort zone The speed project What life was like growing up Being sporty and giving everything ago from Irish Dancing to horse riding Playing netball for her school team Hating PE lessons  Having a phobia of deep water and doing everything she could to avoid the water Dealing with bullying  Being more academic  Starting to get balance between sport and being academic Getting into running and doing 4 Marathons Wanting to do something exciting but not sure what she wanted to do Doing an Ironman? Did she want to do this? Deciding to do a marathon and experience a new city at the same time Wanting to encourage more women to do marathons Having a supportive family  The barriers to doing an Ironman (no bike, limited money) Why the distances inspired her  Wanting to conquer her water phobia Her first step after signing up  Buying her first bike for triathlon Doing all of her research before hand Getting a triathlon coach Building confidence in the water and how she got passed her phobia Having a budget of £1,000 for her triathlon  How the event went and why is was tough going Starting to think about the next challenge!! Not wanting to get the post ironman blues The London Duathlon The mental side of challenges Wadi Run Adventure with Team Like a Girl #DefyExpectationsTogether Dealing with the heat How she helped to prevent injury How the team worked together The Speed Project - the race, the challenge and dealing with the lack of sleep Training for a middle distance triathlon and thinking big for 2020! Advice and tips for other women to step outside their comfort zone Who inspired Mara Quick Fire Questions   Social Media Website - www.thefitlondoner.com  Instagram - @mara.thefitlondoner   Twitter - @thefitlondoner  Facebook - @thefitlondoner     
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Aug 29, 2019 • 1h 4min

Zoe Langley-Wathen - Her love for long distance walking, #100mappydays & Head Right Out

Since 2010, Zoe has been working on inspiring others to get out and get their soles active to get their souls revived - particularly through this year’s challenge of #100MappyDays.    HeadRightOut is the brand new face of WathWalk and it’s here to encourage YOU to head out and try something new...                                                                                                                                 *Do you need to give yourself more outside time?                                                                                                                                                                            *Do you need to step out of your comfort zone a little more?                                                                                                                                      *Are there things that you deliberately avoid doing in your daily life in case you get it wrong?                                                                                                                                                               *Would you love to find a ‘braver’, more confident you? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then take a listen to this podcast episode because it is for you!   HeadRightOut is about inviting everyone to become braver on a micro level, in order to face those bigger challenges that may seem unreachable at present. As Zoe says, “Do something that scares you every day!” - Enjoy!  Show notes Who is Zoe? Her love of walking  Getting married in 2016! Deciding to do the ‘up north triple crown’! (Pennine Way, Hadrian’s Wall & the Coast to Coast) Having the most horrendous weather!!! 16 days of British Rain Keeping motivated Going solo… Walking thoughts and thinking about the future Being able to support her parents Needing to find a way of getting outside #100MappyDays - where the idea came from 2018 and the challenges faced at the start of the year Doing the 50th Mappy Day on New Years Eve Starting 2019 with a different perspective on life Making time for yourself and why it can be hard to do  Spending time reflecting back on life Getting back on the bike! When things don’t go to plan!! Having 6 weeks off work… Asking herself the tough questions Making a massive decision that would change her life!  The minimalists  Making changes to save money and time How everything is starting to come together now Feeling empowered by the unknown How WathWalk is evolving! HeadRightOut Launch date! Heading off to hike the Coast to Coast! Final words of advice  Social Media Website - www.headrightout.com  Instagram - @headrightout   Twitter  @headrightout   Facebook @headrightout  
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Aug 27, 2019 • 49min

Wendy Searle - Attempting to break the women's speed record for solo expedition to the South Pole, November 2019.

Wendy is setting out on a journey to the South Pole, her aim is to break the women’s speed record. This involves covering a total distance of 700 miles, approx. 17 miles each day, pulling kit and equipment in a pulk behind her, through the ice and snow, while avoiding crevasses and dealing with the challenging katabatic winds. Antarctica is twice the size of Australia, and is officially a desert, it is the only continent with no permanent human inhabitants. Wendy will be solo, unsupported and unassisted.  During this podcast, we learn more about Wendy her background, growing up, being a mum to 4 children and working a full time job. She shares more about where the idea came from, what’s going to be involved as well as sharing more of the detail behind the planning and preparation and what she has sacrificed in order to turn this dream into a reality.  We will be speaking to Wendy again in 2020 after her challenge, make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss out!  Show notes 41, doing a big polar expedition in November Heading off to South America in the next few weeks Being inspired by polar history Having a full time job and having 4 kids Not being a professional athlete Planning for over 5 years  How she turned her dream into a goal What she has learned along the way Wanting to inspire other women along the way How she got into sports Her background in Adventures Working backwards from her end goal… Starting her Polar training Maintaining her motivation over the 5 year period Being driven as a person How this challenge has taken over her whole life Dealing with the logistics How her family have stepped up and supported her Breaking down the challenge into manageable chunks Making marginal gains How it occupies her mind all of the time Let’s talk about the money (& how brexit may impact on it) The hard graft of getting the money together  How/why everyone has focused on her being a mum (of 4) The mental preparation  Being on her own for 38 + days Starting everything on Christmas Eve and throwing herself into it Her focus on mindfulness, and staying present in the moment Dealing with tiredness The physical training and how she’s been avoiding injury Building up her strength and being the strongest she’s ever been Example of her daily routine Working with a nutritionist Her first expedition/training trip in Norway How she’s feeling about heading off in November Flying into Antarctica on the 18th November 2019 Aiming to be the 7th woman to do this journey  Advice and tips for other women who want to step outside their comfort zone Social Media Website - https://southpole2020.com Twitter - @betweensnowsky  Instagram @betweensnowandsky 
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Aug 22, 2019 • 41min

Natalie Moore - quitting her job and heading to Madagascar for 6 weeks on a marine conservation program! & Carola Fekter - Running 12 marathons in 12 months!

Natalie Moore - quitting her job and heading to Madagascar for 6 weeks on a marine conservation program! The ending of a bad relationship was the catalyst for Natalie taking back control of her life. Her first step was to sell the joint house, quit her job, and go to Madagascar for six weeks, where she volunteered in a marine conservation program. Since then, she's been pushing herself and her boundaries further and further, and completed her first ultra and multi day race in June. She's not fast, but she's determined.  Words from Natalie,  “I've been a long time listener of the podcast, and started supporting it almost after the first episode I listened to. It was so inspiring to me to hear about women doing amazing things, and I love knowing that we're all out there, doing them, even if it doesn't make the news, or the magazines.  My happiness and my confidence have increased so much, and whenever I feel a bit of a wobble, I remember that if all these other amazing women can push themselves and achieve amazing things, I can at least try.” Show notes How she first heard about the tough girl podcast Finding out more about Natalie  How sports and exercise played apart in her life Deciding to do her first triathlon  Progressing in the triathlon Being terrible at training  Deciding to focus on running Not getting the fear Having a challenging 2018 Deciding to leave her relationship and quit her job Not realising she wasn’t herself anymore Heading off to Madagascar for 6 weeks Having thinking time and time to reflect on life Letting go of time and getting a sense of calm The episodes which have resonated - Polly Vacher & Richelle Olsen Not comparing herself with anyone else Advice for other women and why you need to believe in yourself What’s next…. and wanting to get back into triathlons or maybe an ultra… Advice and tips for training needed!!!!   Carola Fekter - Running 12 marathons in 12 months on 4 continents to raise money for charity! In 2017 Carola decided on a new challenge, completing in the World's Toughest Mudder a 24 hour Obstacle Race where each lap was 10 miles. Her goal was to do 5 laps, making it a total of 50 miles. It was while she was training for this race that she discovered the Tough Girl Podcast and she has been a huge fan ever since. In 2018 she ran 12 Marathons in 12 months on 4 continents to raise money for charity. Shortly after Marathon number 10 she found out that she was pregnant, and had to decide whether to continue or abandon her big project. During this episode, Carola shares more about the World's Toughest Mudder,how she kept motivated and why she decided to run 12 marathons in 12 months, plus what happened when she found out she was pregnant with 2 marathons to go!  Show notes Living in Austria  Her background Discovering the tough girl podcast and Facebook group Deciding to run in the Worlds Toughest Mother - 24 hr Obstacle Course Race Being inspired by Sophie Radcliffe How her race went! Deciding not to quit half way through The toughest obstacle  Dealing with her fear of heights Her big challenge in 2018 12 marathons in 12 months for charity! Going public with the challenge Dealing with the negative pushback  Dealing with the logistics and planning Making compromises Her background in running and running her first marathon in 2015 Learning from her new approach to running Finding out she was pregnant with 2 more marathons to go… Advice for other women who want to step outside their comfort zone Social Media Website  - www.aerialspartan.com (available in both English & German) Twitter - @aerialspartan  Instagram - @aerialspartan   Facebook  - @aerialspartan 
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Aug 20, 2019 • 39min

Monika Sattler - Management Consultant turned World Record Holder - 1st Women to cycle the Vuelta a España - 3,058km with 49,337m of climbing!

Monika made history in 2019 when she became the first woman to ride the entire 3,058km route of the Vuelta a España. Which is know as one of cycling’s toughest grand tours. Monika started riding every morning at 6 am hours before the men started, she rode the full 21 stages which included a staggering 49,337m of climbing! This was all done in the blistering Spanish heat.  Her mission was to prove her own RAD (Real, Adventurous, Daring) Method and to inspire other women to live a more adventurous life!  During this podcast Monika shares more about her journey, studying over in America, not knowing if she was making the right decisions, trying to become a professional cyclist and realising it wasn’t for her. Monika is super passionate and positive about living an adventurous life! She goes after her goals with unbelievable focus - whether it is writing a book in 5 weeks or moving on a whim to a country she doesn’t speak the language of with just her bike and one nights accommodation booked.  Show notes Who is Monika Growing up in Germany until she was 19 Wanting to be a CIA agent when she was younger Deciding to move to America with a full time scholarship to play volleyball Figuring out what she wanted to do with her life Having to decide between a career in the World Bank or being a professional cyclist Going back to her childhood and what life was like for her Moving around a lot when she was younger and living in multiple places Having a lot of energy and having a love for sports Getting into volleyball in a big way Not having a passion and struggling to decide what she wanted to do with her life Figuring out how to pay for school and needing to get a scholarship Spending 9 years living in America Being unemployed at 30, with no mortgage, no plan and trying to decide what to do with her life Moving with her bike to Spain (not speaking Spanish and not knowing anyone) Trying a wide variety of different jobs Making a positive impact on other people’s lives Coaching other to live to their full potential  Making the change to professional cycling in 2011 What she loves about cycling How her friends and family reacted to her decision What her definition of happiness is Figuring out that professional cycling was not for her Going back to a career - working for IBM as a management consultant as a management consultant Giving herself one year to make it happen Being scared that she had made a mistake Being motivated to make it work and trying everything she could Creating the RAD Method Figuring out your purpose in life Deciding to ride the in the Vuelta a España  Getting funding for the race  Everyone telling her she would fail What a typical day looked like while riding in Spain How she coped mentally with the pressures Writing a book about the experience in 6 weeks What the next challenge is going to be and why she wants to make a move into ultra running Top tips and advice for other women Inspiring others The next big challenge!! Social Media Website - http://www.radmonika.com  Instagram - @rad_monika  

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