Hurdle
Emily Abbate
Join me, Emily Abbate, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for a good time. Hurdle is a wellness-focused podcast where I sit down with inspiring individuals to talk about everything from their big wins to how they’ve gotten through some of life’s toughest moments. On the show, you can expect vulnerability, motivation, and candid discussions with everyone from top athletes to aspiring entrepreneurs on what it really takes to follow your passions. My mission is simple: To inspire you to be your best self, move with intention — and have some fun along the way. Tell me: What's your #hurdlemoment?
- 59 minutes 10 seconds249. I'm Possible: How To Own Your Leadership Style & Make Difficult Decisions With Brooks Running Chief Marketing Officer Melanie Allen
Last week, Melanie Allen was working on plans for fall 2026. As the Chief Marketing Officer at Brooks Running, she's always thinking three steps (or, at least four seasons) ahead. In this week's episode, she's talking us through how she arrived to this role, and what it’s like to own her power as a leader and make decisions without “a safety net.” Plus: The important lessons she learned from her mother, what it was like to run her first half-marathon, and how she manages to tame negative self-talk.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
IN THIS EPISODE
(4:54) Melanie talks about her time working at Starbucks and how she was the mastermind behind the PSL marketing boom and making it a chilled offering
(7:40) Melanie talks about the decision to train for her first half-marathon because of her co-workers when her daughter was 5 years old
(18:34) Melanie talks about how it felt to take action once she transitioned into her role at Brooks, and no longer having a safety net to make important decisions
(21:55) Melanie talks about how she makes importance of having grace when making difficult decisions
(26:54) What balance looks like in practice for Melanie, plus takeaways from corporate development programming she did at P+G
(39:15) What it’s like for Melanie to own her mistakes and lead with compassion
(44:04) Melanie talks about what it was like to grow up with a deaf mother, and the lessons that relationship has taught her about tenacity
(48:15) How to move from managing at work to truly leading
(52:10) Some of the best career advice that Melanie has ever received
OFFERS
Brooks Running | Loving my new Glycerin 22, grab yourself a pair at BrooksRunning.com/
SEQUEL | Head to trysequel.com/ and use HURDLE at checkout for 15% off a box of super
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!
31 March 2025, 8:15 am - 9 minutes 20 seconds5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Can't We All Be Excited For The Journey, Together?
Food for thought, plus answering a listener question about my tips for navigating tax season as an entrepreneur.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
CHECK OUT
LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
SUBSCRIBE TO: The Weekly Hurdle newsletter
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question.
28 March 2025, 8:15 am - 1 hour 57 seconds248. How Dare I Not: Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts On How Yoga Changed Her Life & Letting Go Of 'Should'
I could listen to Dr. Chelsea Jackson Roberts talk all day. Welcoming the Peloton instructor — who's celebrating five years teaching on the platform — to the show this week! We're chatting about everything from processing grief through movement and how to show up for yourself when negative self-talk has got you down to better-sleep tips and letting go of "should"ing ourselves.
IN THIS EPISODE
(4:05) What Chelsea’s yoga practice looks like today
(5:42) Chelsea talks about fainting in her first ever hot yoga class
(8:30) Chelsea opens up about losing her college roommate Misty to run violence
(11:20) Chelsea talks about how she persevered with yoga even after a tough first go, and the feelings she got from pain and rage to happiness
(16:40) When Chelsea decided to pursue yoga as a career beyond just a passion
(17:40) Chelsea talks about how coming from Dayton, Ohio influenced her to stick with her practice, admits to not having any 5-year plan with her work
(18:50) She says “If you lead with your purpose in life, something will eventually happen.”
(20:27) Chelsea talks about how her yoga practice helps her in life, with public speaking, grounding her.
(36:00) How Chelsea stays present
(37:24) How Chelsea struggles with her view of what she “should” look like, and gets honest about comparison
(38:25) Chelsea talks about teaching in china as a lululemon ambassador
(39:45) Chelsea talks about the fear she had before starting at Peloton and her struggle with imposter syndrome
(41:20) How do you get out of the “should” spiral, negative self-talk
(43:30) Chelsea confesses her biggest challenge since starting at Peloton five years ago.
(48:05) Chelsea talks about her relationship with sleep since having her son Noble
(54:20) Chelsea talks about the most transformational parts of this career path for her
(56:30) What are Chelsea’s goals now?
(1:00:04) What advice she’d give her younger self
SOCIAL
@hurdlepodcast
OFFERS
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack.
BROOKS | Head to BrooksRunning.com to check out the Glycerin 22
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!
24 March 2025, 8:15 am - 10 minutes 12 seconds5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The First Step To Getting What You Want
Food for thought, plus answering a listener question about how to make time for yourself when it feels like there's no room for it in your schedule.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
CHECK OUT
LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
SUBSCRIBE TO: The Weekly Hurdle newsletter
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or email hello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question.
21 March 2025, 8:15 am - 55 minutes 18 seconds247. The Mountain Is You: Author Brianna Wiest On The Power Of Self-Belief & Her Journey To Topping Best Seller Lists
Some amazing things can happen when you believe in yourself, and that's what Brianna Wiest — author of the new book The Life That's Waiting — is here to talk about today. Brianna's perspective on personal betterment and the power of self-belief is so valuable, providing helpful tips in this week's episode on how to conquer the hurdle of self-doubt and embrace your flaws to get to the next level. Plus: Brianna talks about how writing saved her life, the biggest challenges about working with a smaller publishing company, and how it feels to share her inner-most thoughts and work with millions.
SOCIAL
OFFERS
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack.
BROOKS | Head to BrooksRunning.com to check out the Glycerin 22
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!
17 March 2025, 8:15 am - 7 minutes 31 seconds5-MINUTE FRIDAY: When All You've Got Is 50%, Give 100% Of That
When things feel heavy, there's an opportunity there to do the best you can considering the circumstances. Talking about how to recharge your own battery today, plus answering a listener question about my favorite tights and shorts to run in.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
lululemon fast and free tight, 25”
lululemon Wunder train high-rise short
My Favorite Target $20 Run Short
Athleta Salutation Stash Short
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
CHECK OUT
LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or emailhello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!
14 March 2025, 8:15 am - 1 hour 1 minute246. The Greatness Equation: 4x Olympian Katie Ledecky Shares Her Recipe For Gold, Goal Setting Tactics & Feelings On Inspiring The Next Generation
Katie Ledecky, welcome to Hurdle. (That's a sentence I've wanted to write for 7+ years now.) To be able to have this conversation during Women’s History Month, coming out shortly after International Women's Day, is a dream come true. In today's episode, Ledecky brings us back: Talking about her first-ever goals in swimming and how she got into the sport in the first place. The 4-time Olympian shares her perspective on the work that’s been required of her to get to where she is today, spending 20+ hours in the water a week not to mention time out of the pool. Plus: Family impact, what it’s like to drop into a pool and swim during open swim for an Olympian, and what balance looks like. She also touches on what it means for her to be a role model, and how that got a lot more meaningful when she joined Athleta's Power of She collective.
IN THIS EPISODE
(6:42) How does Katie Ledecky befriend pain
(9:55) Katie talks about how she feels about what she’s achieved in her 22-year career in sport
(10:55) What is Katie Ledecky’s why in swimming
(22:50) How Katie Ledecky fuels to train and perform
(22:51) How much sleep does Katie Ledecky get and what she does when she doesn’t get as much as she’d like
(25:00) What it was like for Katie to follow in her brothers footsteps in the pool
(25:28) Katie Ledecky confesses she didn’t get her drivers license until college
(35:52) What Katie Ledecky’s relationship is with goal setting and how that has evolved since she started swimming
(37:00) What are Katie Ledecky’s current goals
(39:15) How does Katie Ledecky reframe negative self talk
(42:40) How Katie Ledecky shifted her mindset after she got to a point where she realized that she can’t break a world record every single race
(44:21) What does self talk look like for Katie Ledecky
(52:00) Katie talks about the most difficult hurdle of her professional career
SOCIAL
OFFERS
SEQUEL | Head to trysequel.com/ and use code HURDLE at checkout for 15%
BROOKS | Head to BrooksRunning.com to check out the Glycerin 22
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!
10 March 2025, 8:15 am - 10 minutes 28 seconds5-MINUTE FRIDAY: How To Trust Your Gut & Make Difficult Decisions
This week's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY covers joy and the tough stuff. Offering up a few actionable tips that can help you through making your next difficult decision, hinging on a listener question that came in this week.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
CHECK OUT
LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or emailhello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!
7 March 2025, 9:15 am - 1 hour 3 minutes245. Learning True Balance: Jess McClain On Finding The Fun In Running & The Power Of The Reframe
Welcoming Jess McClain to the show! Jess is a pro runner for Brooks, and she made big waves last year when she came in fourth in both the Olympic Marathon Trials and the 10K at the Olympic Track and Field Trials. In this week's episode, she talks so beautifully about rediscovering the fun in running by involving herself in other activities and pursuits. Jess shares what it’s like to work full-time for a non-profit while also following her passions within sport, and she gives some really beautiful advice on the importance of listening to your body.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
IN THIS EPISODE
(8:00) How pressure got the best of Jess early in her career.
(10:13) Jess reflects on her 20+ years of running.
(12:50) How Jess finds the joy on the days that don’t feel so exciting and easy.
(14:55) Jess talks about walking away from professional running for a bit during the pandemic.
(18:00) How Jess found the fun in running again.
(20:18) Jess shares what it was like to run her first marathon.
(24:09) Jess talks about her new coach David Roche.
(39:15) What changed for Jess McClain in 2023 that unlocked her potential in 2024.
(42:47) How Jess felt about coming in fourth at the Marathon Olympic Trials.
(44:30) How Jess re-imagined her relationship with failure.
(50:10) How Jess felt about flying to the Olympics in Paris as an alternate and not racing.
(55:49) What Jess sees when she looks in the mirror.
SOCIAL
OFFERS
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack, and click HERE to nominate a family in LA to recieve a pack, too.
BROOKS | Head to BrooksRunning.com to check out the Glycerin 22
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!
3 March 2025, 9:15 am - 8 minutes 22 seconds5-MINUTE FRIDAY: A Love Letter To Bagels & My Younger Self
Kind of weird that this fixation meal is actually me giving my younger self a hug? Maybe? Anyone else? Also: Answering a listener question on how long it took for me to start running races once I picked up running.
SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
CHECK OUT
Receipts | Join me on Receipts, a new app that helps you earn gift cards simply by working out
LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, or emailhello@hurdle.us, to ask me a question!
28 February 2025, 9:15 am - 1 hour 4 minutes244. Taking Back Control: Cross Country Skier Jessie Diggins Talks Befriending Pain, Conquering Her Eating Disorder & Embracing Imperfection
Jessie Diggins knows that perfection isn’t reality. But as the most decorated cross country skier in U.S. history, her record’s pretty close. In this week’s episode of Hurdle, Emily sits down with the 3-time Olympic medalist to talk about her journey to the top of her sport, what it’s like to embrace the pressure of competition and push close to her physical breaking point (blurry vision and all). She also gets candid about her experience with an eating disorder, including a relapse in 2024, and what support looks like for her in her day to day. Plus: How she feels with under a year left until the Winter Olympics, and what it’s like training regularly in Italy leading up to World Championships after her recent World Cup win.
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
The Emily Program: Eating Disorder Treatment
SOCIAL
@jessiedigginsOFFERS
LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle to get a free sample pack, and click HERE to nominate a family in LA to recieve a pack, too.
AG1 | Head to drinkag1.com/hurdle to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops
JOIN: THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP
SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter
JOIN: The Daily Hurdle IG Channel
ASK ME A QUESTION: Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!
24 February 2025, 9:15 am - More Episodes? Get the App