Lisa Jackson is a hypnotherapist, running writer, Runner's World columnist, and the author of three bestselling running books, including Your Pace or Mine?, Running Made Easy, and her deeply personal latest release, Still Running After All These Tears – A Runner's Journey Through Grief.

Originally from South Africa and now based in Worthing, UK, Lisa is a veteran of over 100 marathons and two 56-mile ultramarathons — despite often coming last. A proud reminder that endurance sport isn't about talent or speed, but about showing up, again and again.

In this powerful and emotional episode, Lisa shares her journey into running, from hating sport as a child to rediscovering running at 30, navigating disastrous races, and learning to reset expectations through walk-run strategies. She opens up with raw honesty about her husband's terminal lung cancer diagnosis, how running helped her survive the darkest moments of caregiving and grief, and what it means to lose — and slowly rebuild — your running mojo.

We dive into running through trauma, comfort eating and wine, the power of a ten-minute run, and why sometimes one mile is more than enough. Lisa also speaks openly about death and dying, dignity at the end of life, writing living wills, DNR decisions, death doulas, and how facing mortality can bring clarity, purpose, and peace.

This is a conversation about resilience, realistic goals, choosing hope over fear, and why tenacity will always beat talent. Lisa's story reminds us that running doesn't need to look impressive to be meaningful — especially when it helps carry you through loss and into hope.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Lisa
• Writer and Author of 3 running books
• Her latest book: Still Running After All These Tears – A Runner's Journey Through Grief
• Being based in sunny Worthing
• Her early years and coming from a running family
• Hating sports at a young age
• Doing a 5k fun run when she was 10
• Not running again for 20 years
• Turning 30 and realising her life was at a crossroads
• Wanting to walk in the footsteps of her parents
• Being invited to a Race for Life event
• Being supported by other women
• Entering the Great North Run
• Everything that went wrong!
• Being offered a place in the London Marathon
• Wanting to do another marathon….
• Running the Edinburgh Marathon and having an horrendous experience
• Trying a walk run strategy
• Her recovery after the Paris Marathon
• Writing her first book: Running Made Easy
• Jeff Galloway
• Book: Your Pace or Mine?
• Having her husband diagnosed with terminal lung cancer
• Learning a lot about cancer, mindset and dealing with medical professionals
• Turning wounds into wisdom
• How running played an important role during her husbands illness
• Dealing with her loss of running mojo
• Giving people a roadmap; through trauma, grief and through terminal illness
• Life lessons for help in a challenging situation
• Running through trauma and grief
• Being a goal orientated person
• Wanting to run 100 marathons and visit 100 countries
• Throwing her goals out of the window and focusing on keeping her husband alive for as long as she could
• Turning to comfort eating and drinking wine
• The power of a ten minute run
• Running mojo - "Running will be your salvation"
• Being told to stop running
• Needing to reset and recalibrate her expectations for herself
• Setting the target of running 1 mile
• Running a park run
• Running her first marathon in 7 years
• Peter Rook
• Being a cancer thrivers partner
• Writing her book - running after all these tears
• Why it was the most difficult book she's written
• Feeling drained by the writing
• Why the tears were healing and necessary
• Being a supporter for Dignity in Dying
• The realities of death
• What stage the bill (Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill) is at
• Talking about death and dying
• Making peach with our lives
• Anything that needs to change with our lives going forward
• Making the decision to live in hope not fear
• Marie Curie
• Writing a living will
• Signing a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) for her husband while he was in hospice.
• How to have a good death
• Living her life with a sense of purpose
• Wanting to have someone hold her hand at death
• Having a death Doula
• Wanting to die at home in her own bed
• Future plans in relation to running and travel
• The importance of goals
• Why its the journey and not the destination
• Heading to visit Libya
• Running the Brighton Marathon in 2026
• Wanting to 100 Park Runs
• Wanting to run 100 Half Marathons
• Doing a half ironman…..
• Being inspired by IronGran
• Writing her bucket list
• Being very good with money
• Running a 100 mile race…..
• Not being a naturally talented runner
• The triumph of tenacity over talent!
• Wanting to preserve her body as much as possible
• Treating her body with respect
• Coming last in 25 marathons
• How to connect with Lisa on social media
• Funny moments in the book!
• Final words of advice
• Start every run with a 5 minute walk
• Make it as fun as you can
• Enjoy youself as much as you can
• Don't live your life with regrets
• Why a 10 min run will make you feel like a new person
• Why running can be your salvation to

Social Media

Instagram: @lisaflamingojackson

Facebook: @LisaFlamingoJackson

Meet Dr. Erin Ayala, a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant from Minnesota, specialising in supporting female endurance athletes. With over a decade of research and clinical experience, she's a published author, sought-after speaker, and advocate for mental health in sport.

In this episode, Erin shares insights on:

• Building mental resilience for endurance challenges
• Strategies for coping with performance pressure and burnout
• Balancing high-level competition with wellbeing
• Lessons from her own journey as a competitive cyclist

A must-listen for anyone looking to strengthen their mind while chasing big goals.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Dr Erin - Licensed Psychologist and certified mental performance coach
• Being based in the twin cities, Minnesota, USA
• Her love for working with female athletes
• Her backstory and being a multi-sport athlete in High School
• Getting to grad school and starting to get into running
• Joining a run club and getting the running bug
• Working her way up to marathons
• Meeting her spouse and getting into cycling, triathlons and doing Ironman
• Moving to Minnesota in 2016
• Joining a cycling club and being encouraged to start racing bikes
• Gravel racing for the past 10 years
• Growing up in a small, midwestern town.
• Wanting to look after herself better
• Being a workaholic and not prioritising her health or wellness
• Stretching herself to thin and not feeling proud of what's going on inside
• Being very achievement driven
• Needing to match the internal to external
• Being consistent with therapy since undergraduate
• Why running and riding can be therapeutic but it can never replace working with a licensed therapist.
• Thoughts while running and how they have changed over the years
• Being a smoker, waking up coughing and not feeling good
• Starting running to be healthy and fit again
• Why it became so much deeper so much quicker
• External motivation can only get us so far
• The internal motivation is what keeps us going
• How running helps her prioritise her "me" time
• Figuring out the WHY
• Wanting to get off Strava, not following anyone on it, and not worrying about the social comparison game
• Getting sucked into the world of social media
• Starting with your WHY and what does that actually mean
• What words do you want people to use to describe you as a person
• Setting herself up for success
• Why her favourite clients are women in their 50s
• Getting the balance right between going after your goals and managing a relationship
• Being supported on her bike adventures, both on and off the road
• Doing really long road trips and going back country hiking together
• Doing 2 big events per year
• Planning a race strategy and what the mental side of a race strategy looks like
• Nothing new on race day and why the same applies to mental work and mental skills
• It's never too soon to start.
• Doing meditation every day via a free app
• 3/4 weeks out and getting series about her race goals
• Being ready to reassess her goals based upon life circumstances
• Taking into account- life - when setting race goals
• Life gives us training scores too
• Tips and tricks while being on the start line to get into the zone.
• The cognitive piece and psychological piece
• Here are my pre-race jitters
• Feeling anxious at the start line e.g. going to the bathrooms multiple times before the start.
• Take a deep breath? Breathing
• The importance of low and slow breathing and how it helps to balance out the nervous system.
• The concept of the pain cave
• Courtney Dauwalter
• Taking it to the next level- finishing strong - the final push over the finish line
• Figuring out - What is the most difficult or most important part of the race?
• Visualising success…. Toxic positivity
• How am I going to respond once the feeling hits?
• If - then - situation
• Responding and dealing with failure and set backs
• Letting the disappointment settle in
• Reminding yourself that just because you didn't reach your goal didn't mean you are a failure and did anything wrong
• Doing everything right and still not hitting your goals
• Outcome goals are how we compare to other people
• Set process goals and why they are more effective than outcome goals
• Starting a new podcast with Fiesty Media
• Focusing on what she can do
• The noise on the internet
• The Feisty Women's Podcast - January 12th 2026 was the launch date - with weekly episodes going forward.
• Women and sleep and why women are more efficient sleepers than men
• Focus on the basics
• Taking on the more taboo topics
• Book: The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells us about the Power of the Female Body. By Starre Vartan
• Sports psychology and why there is so much work to do in this space for women
• Research which is specific for women
• The lack of large scale studies in sports psychology for women
• How to connect with Erin online
• "Skadi"- The Norse Goddess of ice, snow and mountains
• Words of advice to motivate and inspire other women and girls
• Being willing to ask the hard questions around where our expectations are coming from
• Why it's ok to make our own rules and break them
• Going back to your value system
• Does leaning into this experience make sense for me?

Social Media

Website: www.skadisportpsychology.com

Instagram: @skadisportpsychology

@feisty_womens_performance

Fiesty Media Podcast: feisty.co/podcasts

Jennifer is an adventurer, wellness professional, and founder of The Adventure Wellness Club, helping women connect with nature, challenge themselves, and build lasting friendships through experiences grounded in the 3 Cs: Challenge, Connection, and Community.

She designs international hiking adventures and UK-based experiences that blend movement, mindfulness, and wellness. Her work spans everything from planning logistics and designing programs to facilitating group hikes, yoga, sauna and ice-bath sessions, and breath work.

Jennifer lived in Trentino, Italy for four years, where she learned to speak Italian and fell in love with the mountains and the sports within them, including ski touring. Over time, she has also run ultra marathons and bike packed long distances. Adventure is what makes her feel alive!

As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, her adventures are rooted in wellness and informed by research like the 3 Day Effect, showing that just three days immersed in nature can boost attention, creativity, and emotional resilience — benefits especially meaningful for neurodivergent women. Each international trip ends with a sauna experience, which she considers essential for physical and emotional wellbeing.

Her experiences encourage women to step outside their comfort zones while feeling supported, mindful, and fully present. Through adventure, movement, and shared experiences, Jennifer helps women slow down, feel capable, and reconnect with themselves and each other.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

Show notes

• Who is Jennifer
• Original from Manchester, but now based in Sheffield
• When her running journey started
• Maintaining a good level of base fitness
• Running 50k in January
• Feeling the need to go for a run
• Getting into ultra running
• Supported a guy who did the Bob Graham Round and running one of the legs
• If he can do it - I can do it to
• Knowing that she was capable of achieving
• Breaking down the goal
• Seeing the behind the scenes of planning a run and how it inspired her
• The Japanese Odyssey
• Doing the next best thing - signing up to a race in Italy
• Being supported by people along the way
• Running the Edale Skyline with Barefoot John
• Digging into the planning and learning new planning skills
• Being impulsive and spontaneous
• Being determined enough to do it
• Why it's not just about the planning, but also about the execution
• Coming up with a rough plan
• Planning, hormones, structure
• Not having the energy for hill reps and feeling fatigued
• Beating herself up for not achieving it
• Having to reframe the situation
• The night before the race and doing a race strategy with Chat GPT
• Working with a coach - S&C and following a 12 week running plan
• Why there isn't a right and a wrong - why it's what works for you
• Looking at the training plan and listening to her body
• Running the ultra marathon while menstruating
• Fitting training into life and work
• Running to her cleaning job
• Starting a marketing contract for 4 days a week
• Having a rest day on Monday
• Being forced to find the time
• Combing running with life
• Starting with a running coach and training for a 50k in April in Wales (She Ultra)
• The Ultra Race in Italy - being the only British women running
• Her aim for the race
• Why it's not about the other people racing - it's about you
• Treating it as a fun day out - chatting to people in the mountain huts, changing her top, taking things steady
• Teaching herself that she could do it
• Sprinting towards the end, just trying to get there
• Gaining new experience
• SheUltra Race
• Wanting to build her confidence in her physical abilities
• Getting into plyometrics - for building bone density
• Founding the Adventure Wellness Club and what it's goals are
• Wanting to bring people together to share her passion
• Being diagnosed with ADHD and starting to understand how her brain works and working on her self confidence
• Pushing herself out of comfort zone with travel and adventure
• Delivering her first trip in 2025
• Teaching herself that you can make your idea a reality
• Ending each trip with a sauna and spa experience
• The "3 Day Effect" - spending 72 hours disconnected from technology and surrounded by nature has a breadth of benefits for your mind.
• Why adventure is key to wellness
• Looking at herself with more compassion
• Why it's not just a focus issue
• Why a diagnosis does change everything
• Trying medication and working with a nurse practitioner
• Starting to realise how awesome she is
• Seeing yourself in a different way
• Issues with ADHD, perimenopause and mental health
• Her feelings with turning 40
• Becoming more comfortable with not having children
• Being more comfortable with how her life is
• Wanting to age as strong as she can - keep pushing it, keep learning what it is capable of
• Wanting to go ski touring in New Zealand
• How to connect with Jennifer on social media
• Developing her website at the moment
• Final words of advice for other women who want more adventure in their life
• The thing that you're thinking of doing that seems scary, follow the thread of that curiosity, it's there for a reason.

Social Media

Website: www.adventurewellness.club

Instagram: @adventurewellness.club

Facebook: @adventurewellnessclub

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Marie "Lootie" Leautey, the second woman in history to run around the world solo and unsupported — and the fastest woman to do it.

Lootie's journey began in France, far from the running world. A former smoker and corporate finance professional, she swapped cigarettes for daily runs at 25, building up to her first marathon in just eight months. That spark turned into an audacious dream: to run across the globe — 26,000+ km, across four continents, relying entirely on herself.

Starting her run in Europe in December 2019, Lootie faced deserts, mountains, and long stretches between resupply points, carrying only a 12–15kg stroller packed with her essentials. Along the way, she experienced the kindness of strangers, the thrill of new cultures, and the incredible mental discipline required to run a marathon every day for years.

Beyond the physical feat, Lootie shares how her journey is rooted in purpose: raising funds for Women for Women International, honouring her grandmother's legacy, and inspiring women to ask themselves, "Why am I doing this, and is it aligned with who I want to be?"

This is a story of grit, adventure, and the extraordinary power of chasing your own path — a reminder that there's very little you can't achieve once you set your mind to it.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Lootie
• Becoming the 2nd woman to run around the world - solo and unsupported
• Fastest women to run around the world
• Her early years growing up in France
• Coming from a sporty family but not being interested in running
• Her love for team sports
• Being a smoker
• Being out of shape at 25/26 years old
• Swapping her cigarettes for a run ever day
• Her wake up call in Greece while learning how to windsurf
• Building up to a marathon distance- 8 months later
• Leaving France when she was 20 - working in finance for big corporates
• Having the idea to run around the world
• Going on Google - has anyone run around the world before
• The World Runners Association (WRA)
• Her route and the rules and how they gave her structure
• Needing to cross a minimum of 4 continents, and run in one continuous direction
• Running a minimum distance of just under 30,000 km (The runner must cover a total of at least 26,232 km on foot)
• Making the decision and the commitment
• Understanding her WHY and having it at the forefront of her mind
• Self financing the challenge
• Deciding to run a marathon per day
• Taking 2 years in the planning and preparation
• Running without time pressure
• The daily thoughts, the novelty of running
• Never thinking of giving up as this is exactly what she wanted
• Her running set up - and keeping it as light as possible (12 - 15kg)
• Researching with google maps - trying to figure out her location every 40km
• The longest distances without resupply - and knowing she would need to camp and to be self sufficient.
• Having a stroller with waterproof bags
• The mental side of the challenge while running
• Having a sensory experience while running
• Not being bored on any of the days - even while crossing the desert in Australia
• Speaking French, English, German and Greek
• Starting her run in Europe and why it was such a challenge (covid)
• Starting 6th December 2019
• After leaving Europe and heading to America (Getting an exception from the WRA)
• Arriving in New York in Mid November 2021
• What daily life was like on the road
• Starting running at dawn and being done by lunchtime
• What the afternoons would look like
• Carrying 2 GPS trackers - and updating the info daily (or as often as possible when wifi was available)
• Going to bed by 9pm and sleeping very well throughout the challenge - going from sleeping 5hrs a night to 9/10 hours of sleep at night
• Eating what you find, eat until you are not hungry anymore
• Not being dependent on certain types of food, drinks, gels, supplements etc
• Running in South America (her first visit was on the run), starting in Patagonia
• Running up to 4,000m of altitude
• Being inspired by her Grandmother who was the director of the first feminist library in France
• Being taught the differences between the treatment between men and woman
• Being encouraged to do what ever she wanted
• Wanting to use her voice to share that message with women
• Running for Women for Women International
• Wanting to rise $1 per km run
• The challenges of running in Australia: - road trains, distances between resupply points
• The kindness of strangers
• Running in Australia between May and August - which is Autumn time
• Finishing the world run in Sydney, Australia and coming to the end of the run and the experience.
• Feeling a little bit of satisfaction and also wanting the run to continue - a cocktail of strong and contradictory emotions
• Feeling at peace now - 3 years after the run
• The day after and not needing to run anymore
• Never missing the running, even though she enjoyed it everyday
• Struggling to run casually after the end of the world run
• Flying back to France and going back to the normal world
• Having a publishing contract in France and being ready after 2/3 months to start writing about the experience
• Feeling that the adventure was so rich - that she wanted to write the story in English and finding a publisher in the United States
• The next challenge….
• Deciding to run across Africa
• Wanting to be a teacher
• How to connect with Lootie on social media
• Final words of advice for other women who want to take on their own personal challenge
• Whatever you're doing — at work or in your life — pause and ask yourself: Why am I doing this? And how aligned is it with who I am, or who I want to become?
• There's very little you can't do once you set your mind to it.
• Her motto - Wanting to see the world, enjoy it and appreciate every step of the way.

Social Media

Website: lootie-run.com

Instagram: @lootierun

Facebook: @lootierun

Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/48402997

Stephanie Ho is a 24-year-old adventurer, endurance athlete, and exercise physiologist based on the Gold Coast, Australia. From rock climbing and ocean swimming to triathlons and mountain expeditions, Stephanie has always chased the outdoors — but her biggest goals lie in the polar regions.

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Stephanie shares her journey from discovering hiking and camping as a teenager to trekking Everest Base Camp, running 43km a day for a week, and skiing 540km across Greenland. She opens up about the mental and physical challenges of polar expeditions, the lessons she's learned in extreme environments, and what it takes to keep motivation alive when the goal seems impossible.

Stephanie is now preparing for a solo 1,200km expedition to the South Pole in 2026 — hauling a 100kg sled through temperatures as low as -50°C — a feat that, if successful, will make her the first Australian woman to achieve it. Along the way, she talks logistics, training, nutrition, dealing with fears and unsolicited advice, and the importance of listening to your body while chasing what sets your soul on fire.

This conversation is a masterclass in mental toughness, gratitude, and stepping beyond your comfort zone. Stephanie's story will inspire you to dream big, push limits, and embrace adventure — no matter your age or background.

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time).

Support the Tough Girl mission via Patreon: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast

***

Show notes

• Who is Steph
• Being based on the Gold Coast, Australia
• 24 years old
• Working as an exercise physiologist - both in the office and in a clinical setting
• Her love for any activity that is outdoors from rock climbing to hiking, cycling, ocean swimming, skiing and doing triathlons
• Her main goal is to train for big skiing expeditions and big mountain expeditions
• Her early memories and not being encouraged to be that active
• Growing up as an only child
• Wanting to do more running
• How things changed at 14 and going camping for the first time in her life
• Finding friends who wanted to go hiking and camping
• Heading over to Nepal to do the Everest base camp after graduating high school
• Wanting to spend some time alone reflecting on the past 18 years
• Having a good reset before starting university
• Why her trip to Nepal was so formative
• Trekking to Everest Base camp in Winter
• Getting up to 5,500 metres
• Climbing Kala Patthar, Nepal
• Enjoying being in the cold, remote environment
• Knowing that her next big adventure was going to be Antarctica
• Starting to plan her training trips to Norway and Greenland
• Having everything put on hold until 2023
• Doing her Polar Training course in Norway
• Skiing across Greenland in 2023
• Doing more solo expeditions in the polar regions
• Planning to head to the South Pole at the end of 2026
• Polar training and the lessons learned
• Being part of a team to do the Greenland crossing in May 2023
• 30 days on the ice - starting on the west coast and heading to the East coast
• Learning how to cope in the cold and the wind
• Dealing with polar thigh
• Why the journey has been rewarding and feeling a lot of pride with what's been achieved.
• Thinking about what's next and struggling to be satisfied with the achievements
• Running for 43k a day for 7 days…
• Learning how to suffer mentally while out on the ice
• Staying positive and the other lessons learned to help mentally
• Practicing gratitude and being grateful for where she it
• Keeping the motivation alive
• The logistics and finances to pay for the expedition
• Working with ALE
• Training and what that looks like
• Recovery and paying more attention to nutrition
• Being vegetation, but eating some white meat, such as chicken and fish
• Having cold showers
• Concerns and fears to mange before the trip
• Managing unsolicited opinions and advice
• How to connect with Stephanie
• Advice to motivate and inspire other women to step outside their comfort zone
• Don't be afraid of what other people might think of you.
• Listening to your body and what you want to do
• Do something that sets your soul on fire

Social Media

Website: solosouth.com.au

Birgit Hermann is a global leadership coach, speaker, executive leader, ocean advocate, professional freediver, and extreme endurance athlete who translates lessons from the edge into meaningful impact for people and planet.

She supports purpose-driven leaders to turn bold challenges into grounded, values-led action.

She has raced the Marathon des Sables, run a marathon in Antarctica, freedived beneath Arctic ice without a wetsuit, and cycled across the African continent — often as the only woman on the start line.

Alongside these edge-tested experiences, Birgit brings over 20 years of leading and coaching teams across marine conservation, climate resilience, international development, and peace building in more than 20 countries.

Based between Timor-Leste, Germany, New Zealand, and Egypt, she is the founder of Inspired by Nature and the author of B.O.L.D.E.R.™ — a leadership framework forged at the edge and built for real-world change.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Birgit
• Growing up in Germany
• Spending a lot of her life in Asia- Pacific, specifically New Zealand
• Considering herself a change maker
• Working in management positions in relation to climate change adaptions, marine conservation, supporting livelihoods and communities to make changes for the better
• Growing up sporty and active
• Becoming an outdoor lover after moving to New Zealand
• Being a competitive swimmer for many years
• Trying all sports from judo, to volleyball and cycling
• Being interested in different cultures and travelling
• Deciding to do her Masters Degree in New Zealand
• Deciding to take on Tour d'Afrique
• Cycling 12,000km from north to south Africa
• Feeing unsettled and wanting more from life
• Getting her courage together to sign up for the challenge
• Planning and training for a 4 month challenge
• Changing her perspective on what's possible
• The physical achievement and trusting herself
• Realising how all the small steps accumulate over time especially at the end of the journey and looking back on what's been achieved
• Knowing that there was more to what she believed she could achieve
• Deciding to spend more time in Africa
• Freeing herself up to be open to something new
• Testing herself in a new environment
• Making something close to impossible happen
• Starting to think and dream big
• Why the physical experience can change your mindset
• Knowing that the next step was the right step
• Why it wasn't easy
• Deciding to head back to New Zealand
• Being a pioneer and looking to find a role model
• Continuing to take on big challenges
• Living in Timor-Leste in 2016
• Wanting to share her experiences of traveling the world while doing endurance challenges
• Her experience in Antarctica and wanting to raise awareness and funds for climate change
• Learning how to free-dive and the benefits experienced
• The importance of relaxing - truly relaxing
• The journey over the last 3 years and putting all the lessons together
• Boosting her confidence and starting to work for herself
• Deciding to write her book
• Being a trail blazer, and shifting culture
• The lessons to be learned
• Inspire change, shift culture and build sustainable impact - without burnout!
• Who would benefit from reading from the book
• Wanting to make a positive change in the world
• Shout out for the Tough Girl Podcast!
• How to connect with Birgit
• Final words of advice for other women who want to live bolder
• Talk about it!!
• Why it's the first step - talking about it out loud.
• There will be people who will support you.

Social Media

Website: www.birgithermann.com

Instagram: @b_inspiredbynature

Facebook: @b.inspiredbynature

Youtube: @b.inspiredbynature

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/birgithermann

Direct link to the book: www.birgithermann.com/bolder.html

Amanda Duling is an endurance athlete, writer, and founder of One Gear Short of Normal™.

A post-bariatric, perimenopausal gravel cyclist and Ironman 70.3 finisher, Amanda uses grit, science, and unapologetic humour to tell the stories no one else is telling about endurance sports, women's bodies, and doing hard things later in life.

Through her writing and community work, she challenges the "suffer in silence" culture of endurance athletics and advocates for smarter fueling, better hygiene, realistic training, and radical honesty—especially for women navigating menopause, major weight loss, and endurance sport at the same time.

When she's not riding gravel roads or lifting heavy things, Amanda writes research-backed, laugh-out-loud essays on endurance life, parenting, and why choosing your hard matters more than perfection.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Amanda
• Living in Kansas City, USA
• Working as an IT professional during the day
• Mum to a special needs son
• Building a brand in relation to being a post-bariatric endurance athlete
• Publishing an e-book in relation to saddle sores
• Why reinvention is possible
• Growing up in a small rural community
• Being into reading, writing and art
• Having a lot of anxiety about her body and body image
• Enjoying being active
• Not having the confidence when she was younger
• Getting married and settling down
• Having gastric bypass surgery in her early 40s
• Having an Roux-en-Y gastric bypass - having a large portion of her stomach removed along with a large portion of her small intestines
• Having the surgery at the beginning of COVID and being stuck at home
• Her journey with food, health and fitness
• Going for walks with her husband
• Finding the motivation for the next step
• Feeling uncomfortable wearing shorts and form fitting clothes
• Starting to walk a little quicker
• Hiring a personal trainer at the gym to gain some of the lost muscle back
• Seeing her strength coming back
• Thinking about doing a half marathon
• Finding a couch to 5k program
• Not making a lot of progress due to not being able to eat a lot
• Starting to work with a dietician
• Having to re-learn eating
• Passing out after exercise and having no energy
• Dumping syndrome - when the body is not able to process sugar
• UCAN and Waxy Maize
• Finding support through community
• Joining a run club and meeting new people
• Being able to complete the half marathon
• Confidence and having confidence around her body
• Building her self confidence
• When things started to change
• Showing up to different races
• Doing hard things
• Wanting to encourage individuals starting out to volunteer at a couple of events
• Overcoming a challenge during a race
• Gravel cycling/racing, and why it's the hardest disciple in endurance sports
• Unbound Gravel Race
• Breaking down the challenge into smaller and smaller steps and grinding it out
• Logistics of gravel racing in relation to hydration and fuelling
• Electrolytes
• UCAN Fuel— ucan.co
• Running on sheer grit
• What training looks like and why she needed a lot of structure
• Training Peaks
• Learning about heart rate training
• Training in the morning and making training work for her and her family
• The importance of social interactions during workouts
• Being surrounded by the right people and how it can help with motivation
• How to connect with Amanda on social media
• Her love for writing and sharing her stories on Substack
• Final words of advice to motivate and inspire you
• The importance of showing up

Social Media

Website: onegearshortofnormal.gumroad.com/l/prrdc

thecookiewaitlist.com

Instagram: @onegearshortofnormal

Facebook: Amanda McMahon

Substack: @onegearshortofnormal1

Youtube: One Gear Short of Normal

Growing up near Boston, Sugar discovered hiking in her early twenties while exploring the White Mountains of New Hampshire. After getting sober at 30, she found herself with the clarity, time and capacity to pursue the life she truly wanted. What followed was a decision to live authentically, prioritise long-distance hiking, and become what she proudly calls a professional dirtbag.

In 2021, Sugar set out on the Appalachian Trail. While she knew she was a strong hiker, she also faced the uncertainty of what it would mean to walk the trail as a trans woman. Feeling the isolation of not seeing many stories like her own pushed her to begin writing, speaking openly, and becoming someone other queer and trans hikers could reach out to.

Since then, she has become the first known trans woman to complete the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking, founded TrailQTs – a free mentoring programme supporting first-time queer and trans thru-hikers – and in 2024 pioneered the Divide to Crest Route, a 3,000-mile backcountry journey from the Mexican border in New Mexico to the Canadian border in Washington.

In 2025, Sugar set a new women's self-supported speed record on the Appalachian Trail southbound, breaking the previous record by more than a day and a half.

In this episode, we dive into sobriety, transition, representation, burnout, post-trail blues, building community, and what it really takes to push the body day after day. Sugar also shares practical advice on training, fuelling on a budget, protecting your feet, and why big dreams are built through small, steady steps.

This is a conversation about courage, visibility, and creating the path you wish had existed when you started.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time). Hit subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Lyla
• Using she/her programs
• From the North East of the USA
• Living in New Hampshire
• Working with kids and doing bar tending and other odd jobs
• Growing up just north of Boston, on the North shore, about 3 hrs away from the Appalachian Trail
• Playing team sports
• Getting into hiking in her early 20s, with the help of a friend
• Hiking in the White Mountains in New Hampshire
• Getting sober at 30 years old and being sober for over 8 years now
• How it changed her life, having more time and capacity to do more hiking
• Spending time exploring the local trails in the area
• Starting her gender transition
• Knowing she was trans in her late 20s but not having the capacity to do anything about it
• Getting sober and how it opened up lots of doors for herself
• Living her authentic life
• Deciding to leave her job, sell her car and go and hike the Appalachian Trail
• Hiking the Appalachian Trail in late March 2021
• Spending the past 5 years making long distance hiking her priority
• Being a professional dirtbag
• Channeling all of her energy and resources into hiking
• Managing fears and concerns before taking on the Appalachian Trail
• Knowing she was a strong hiker
• Having concerns related to being a trans woman on trail and what unique challenges she would face
• Trying to learn more about other trans experiences on the Appalachian Trail
• Feeling a bit alone and not wanting others to feel the same way
• Deciding to write for an outdoor website called the trek
• Sharing more of her life online
• The power of seeing trans people in the outdoors
• Speaking publicly and telling her authentic story
• Trying to be someone queer and trans folk can reach out to
• Wanting to be accessible for other people
• Documenting and sharing her story while hiking
• Blog post - Trans competent on trail
• Magical moments while being on the trail
• Getting her trail name "Sugar"
• Suffering with burnout and adventure blues?
• Post trail depression and planning for it
• Mental health and the importance of spending quality time in nature
• Mental health habits and what's worked for her
• Having a rich community of people in her support network
• Having people who understand where you're coming from
• Having good friends
• Spending time along
• Self supported FKT SOBO on the Appalachian Trail
• Pushing yourself hard while on the trail
• Day 1 of the project and why it was a year before starting on the trail
• The first couple of weeks and the challenging terrain
• Why it's fun for her
• The physical challenge for her body and thinking more about millage
• Wanting to know how much she could push her body
• The planning and preparation before the start of the hike
• The Divide to Crest route
• Trying to figure out how to make it financially viable
• Looking for sponsorship from outdoor brands
• Physically training and breaking it down into 3 separate chapters
• The Arizona Trail
• Why your feet are everything
• The New England Trail
• Using her home as basecamp
• Dealing with a little tendonitis at the start
• Getting hiker legs
• Food and nutrition while on the trail
• Taking a B vitamin supplement every day to help with energy
• Taking electrolytes especially with the hot weather
• Maple syrup and salt
• Doing the trail on a budget - salt, fat, carbs….
• Eating foods that she can stomach while on the trail
• The importance of getting calories in
• The idea behind the Divide to Crest Route
• Getting into route creation
• The Great Basin Trail
• Finding out more info about the Divide to Crest Route
• How to connect with Lyla on social media
• Finals words of advice for women who want to take on a new challenge and step outside their comfort zone
• Think about scaffolding
• Why you don't need to do everything at once.
• Build your skillsets over time
• What can you do this year to move you closer to your goal.

Social Media

Instagram @seltzerskelter

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Sara Eydmann — ultra-marathon runner, counsellor and therapist based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

At 30 years old, Sara is no stranger to pushing her limits. From attempting to run 500 miles to taking on the North Coast 500, her journey into ultra-running has been anything but straightforward. But behind the miles is a powerful and deeply honest story about mental health, identity, resilience and learning to change the narrative.

Growing up as an only child, Sara was always active — until an eating disorder at 14 forced her to stop exercising completely. Years later, she found her way back to running, initially using it as a way to control her weight. During lockdown, her running became increasingly intense, driven and compulsive. With the support of therapy and a coach, she began learning how to train with more structure, balance and self-awareness — eventually making it to the start line of her first marathon in 2023.

Shortly after, she signed up for her first ultra.

In this episode, Sara shares her experience of being late diagnosed with Autism at 27 and ADHD at 29 (AuADHD), and how that diagnosis helped her better understand herself, her anxiety, and the way her brain works — particularly in high-stress, high-performance environments.

We dive into:

• Attempting to run 500 miles — and the reality of getting injured 256 miles in
• Managing anxiety at the start line
• Working with a crew and handling the overwhelming admin side of big challenges
• Dealing with a stress fracture and the emotional fallout of stopping
• The mental battle of ultra-distance running — self-talk, fear, surrender and staying rational
• The financial and logistical realities of funding endurance challenges
• Having her dad there for support
• Trusting the process instead of fearing the outcome

Sara speaks candidly about what it feels like to "lose your head" mentally during a challenge, the lessons she's taken from injury, and how she's learning to run from a place of curiosity rather than compulsion.

Now preparing to move to France for a year to focus on training, immerse herself in the culture and learn French, Sara is continuing to explore what's possible — on her own terms.

This is an episode about endurance, identity, healing, and redefining success.

Trust the process. Don't fear the outcome.

*there is mention of eating disorders and running for weight loss - we do not go into specifics

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Sara; 30 years old, Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Moving to France later on in the year
• Ultra runner and working as a counsellor and therapist as a day job
• Mum to 2 cats
• Late diagnosed with Autism (27 years old) and ADHD (29 years old) (AuAHDH)
• Growing up as an only child and doing lots of sports at a young age
• Needing to stop exercise at 14 due to an eating disorder
• Getting back into running over the past few years
• Training for her first marathon and managing the driven compulsion
• Listening to her coach, not overtraining and being more structured in her training
• Doing therapy throughout the years
• Only running to control her weight
• How running got very intense over lock down
• Making it to the start line of her first marathon in 2023
• Signing up for an ultra distance on a loop course on the month after.
• Her journey with anxiety and getting to the start line of races
• Getting to a point of just wanting to do - wanting to try and see
• Shifting her mindset by surrendering to what could happen
• Reflecting on her first marathon in Scotland
• Being diagnosed with AuADHD and how it changed things
• Muddling through life and finding school really difficult
• Building her confidence to voice her needs
• Learning to understand herself more
• Running the North Coast 500
• Dealing with a stress fracture in her knee
• Wanting to take on this challenge
• Dealing with the admin side of the challenge and why it was so stressful
• Making the best of the situation
• Road running and your bones…
• Getting injured 256 miles in….
• The lessons from the experience
• Figuring out the financials to fund a challenge like this with AuADHD
• Wanting to focus on the running
• Being in a high stress, high performance situation
• Running strategy for the challenge
• Working with a crew and how it would work
• All of the issues and challenges that came along
• The mental side of the challenge and what's going on inside her head
• Self talk - you've got this - keep going
• Not hitting the wall, but mentally losing her head and not being rational anymore
• Having her dad there to support
• Managing her fear and putting plans in place to manage them
• Making the decision to move to France for a year
• Spending time focusing on her training
• Being introverted and wanting to immerse herself in the culture and learn french
• How can people follow along and connect with Sara
• Trust the process and don't fear the outcome

Social Media

Website: mind-and-miles.com

Instagram: @saraeydmann

Youtube: @Saraeydmann

Substack: @saraeydmann

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm joined by Starre Vartan — science and environment writer, author, and lifelong question-asker whose work sits at the powerful intersection of the human body and the natural world.

With a background in geology and biology, Starre began her career as an environmental geologist before pivoting into journalism to tell the stories behind the science. Over the past 15+ years, she's written for publications including National Geographic, Scientific American, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and New Scientist, becoming known for her ability to make science both rigorous and deeply human — especially when it comes to women's bodies.

We dive into Starre's latest book, The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells Us About the Power of the Female Body, a myth-busting, research-driven celebration of women's endurance, longevity, adaptability, and strength. From the messages girls receive about their bodies at a young age, to puberty, bone density, menopause, and why women often excel in endurance sports, Starre unpacks the science that has been overlooked — and what it means for women's health, sport, and everyday life.

We also talk about Starre's upbringing between Australia and the U.S., the influence of her formidable grandmother, growing up active and outdoors, and how reconnecting with strength training later in life has left her feeling more powerful than ever. This conversation is about listening to your body, trusting its wisdom, and reclaiming strength — physically, mentally, and scientifically.

If you've ever been told women are the weaker sex, this episode will change how you think about the female body forever.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Starre
• Working as a scientist journalist focusing on women's health recently
• Being based in a beach town south of Sydney, Australia
• Growing up in NYC
• Being a dual citizen with Australia and America
• Book: The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells us about the Power of the Female Body
• The dedication to her grandmother -the strongest women's she's ever known
• Growing up with her grandmother
• Doing her age appropriate chores; stacking wood, working in the garden, being involved and active in the running of the house
• The messages that young girls receive about their bodies from a young age
• Heading off into the woods to go on adventures
• The lessons learned from her grandmother
• Muscles and bone density for women and why puberty is such an important age for girls
• Puberty in girls and athletics
• The knowledge gap for women in sports
• Women, endurance and the longer races
• Differences between all human beings
• The science and muscle and getting surprising results
• Women's body fat and location
• Visiting Japan to research longevity
• How women's body handle diseases
• The risks that men take
• Finding purpose in life and figuring out your life goal
• Making changes in her own life
• Starting to weigh lift 3 years ago
• Can you grown bone once you are at the stage where you have more extreme bone loss
• Bone loss in women during menopause
• Prof Belinda Beck
• Feeling empowered by lifting heavy weights
• Becoming a stronger runner and dancer
• Starre's ultimate life goal and purpose
• Using AI in scientific ways
• Wanting to be as strong as her grandmother
• How to connect with Starre online
• Starting a new newsletter—Palimpsest of Flesh
• Vodcast
• Words of advice and wisdom for the stronger sex
• Reflecting back on life in her 20s
• Listen to your body and the wisdom it holds

Social Media

Website: starrevartan.com

Instagram: @starrevartan

Bluesky: @starrevartan.bsky.social

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/starrevartan/membership

From ultra-light hotel bikepacking on a road bike to six-month expeditions in remote regions on a heavily laden hybrid, Emma has experienced nearly every form of bike travel, including ultra-endurance racing.

She is a passionate advocate for slow travel as a means to reconnect with nature, embrace minimalism, and discover alternative ways of living. Her travels have shaped a deep commitment to sustainability, wild camping with minimal impact, and challenging the idea of nature as a park or playground, separate from our everyday lives. You can sign up to her newsletter for monthly updates and tips.

She is particularly keen to empower others, especially women, to embrace solo adventures, and she shares both practical guidance and philosophical reflections through her writing and events.

***

New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.

Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.

Your support makes a difference. Thank you x

***

Show notes

• Who is Emma
• Working as a cycling journalist and tour guide
• Moving around a lot and not really having a home base
• Currently writing a guidebook on French Guiana
• Having a normal childhood and not being particularly sporty
• Growing up in France and starting running at 16
• Running and rowing throughout university
• Taking a gap year after university and heading to South America in 2016/2017
• Fundraising for 6 months before starting from Ushuaia and heading to Lima in Peru.
• Having a very small/tight budget
• Wild camping as much as possible
• What it was like on the trip - starting in January and dealing with prevailing winds all the way
• Travelling in a group of 3 and what it was like
• Being totally tolerant for a month
• Doing a few more little trips, before heading with her partner on a European cycle trip
• Journaling on the trip and writing a little bit each evening
• Her bike set up and how it's changed over the years
• Getting a vintage road bike, a carbon road bike, a gravel bike….
• Dealing with saddle sores
• Brooks Leather Saddle
• Planning and logistics
• Spreadsheets….
• Route planning and starting with google, to find official routes, or to see if other people have created a route
• bikepacking.com
• komoot.com
• Thoughts on being brave
• Managing personal fears
• Encountering risk in everyday life
• Following gut instinct
• Moving away from being a nice girl
• Travelling on your own
• Being allowed to change your mind
• Deciding to do more cycling competitions
• Ultra races and why the winners are the ones who sleep the least
• Trying out new challenges
• How expensive ultra endurance races can be
• The joy of long trips and how it can change your perspective of time
• The dream 6 month to a year trip
• Wanting to go back to South America or cycling from Europe to Asia
• Being content with taking her time on trips
• The cycling guidebook about French Guiana.
• How to connect with Emma online
• Final words of advice for other women who want to go on adventures and discover more of the world
• Do it in a simple and gradual way.
• The power of keeping it simple

Social Media

Website: www.emmakarslake.com Newsletter: www.emmakarslake.com/newsletter Insta: @emma_up_cycles Linkedin: Emma Karslake