Will Ahmed thrived as a college athlete at Harvard. But at least once a season, the top squash player would work so hard that he’d dabble in overtraining, seeing mono-like symptoms that dramatically effected his performance and body. In episode 92, the WHOOP founder and CEO talks about his inspiration for creating the wrist-worn heart rate monitor, and how he took it from an unwearable device the size of a shoe box to a strap worn by everyone from top athletes to average Joes (myself included). We chat about how he handled the negative criticisms as a young entrepreneur — including a daily meditation process, and why it’s important to avoid a fear of failure.

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WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout.

Ask and you will receive. “What sneakers should I buy?” is one of the most popular questions I get over email or in my DMs. Fun fact: There is no Goldilocks running sneaker that every single person should get, ASAP. However, there are a slew of popular mistakes that many consumers make when purchasing their next pair. I dive into what you need to know about purchasing your best pick, from sizing tips to science-backed suggestions. Plus: I reveal some of the go-to styles that I wear on the regular.

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Ashwagandha. Rehmannia. Maca. Pearl Extract. Try to say some of the ingredients on a Moon Juice label, and you may wonder if you’re speaking a foreign language. But in her 20s, the frequently used adaptogens were part of the all-natural puzzle that helped to heal Amanda Chantal Bacon of an autoimmune condition — inspiring her to create the cult-favorite brand. What started as a stand-alone fresh pressed juice bar in Venice back in 2011 is now a global holistic company, selling everything from medicinal mushroom, herb, and mineral dusts to skin care essentials everywhere from Sephora to Nordstrom.

In episode 91, Amanda talks to me about what caused her to stop eating gluten at age 5 and what life was like during her teenage years as a New Yorker, traveling abroad to Italy, and culinary school in Vermont. She also tells me about the  situation surrounding that first Los Angeles shop, and the science that stands behind the products she’s selling that helps her shut out the non-believers. To anyone that’s ever had a gut feeling about doing something because it just feels right, this episode is for you.

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Daily Harvest | Go to DailyHarvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box.

Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary.

I am valuable. I am important. Today, we’re practicing affirmations and working through a few exercises that reinforce your sense of self-worth. This week’s #hurdlemoment hinges on a quote that I read not all that long ago: “Don’t beg people to sit at the table with you.” Plain and simple: We all deserve to feel worthy, and today I’m chatting about how to better invest your time in the scenarios and individuals that build you up. Because once you own your worth, you're ready to vibrate at a higher frequency.

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Season two, episode one! Latoya Shauntay Snell calls herself a “recovering self defeatist.” Today, she’s thriving as a freelance chef, sponsored athlete, and writer. In episode 90, the Brooklyn native tells me about how she found a life drenched in sweat, leaving behind her days as an alcoholic in favor of running. We also chat about what it was like when she became viral sensation after speaking out against hecklers at the 2017 New York City Marathon, running through the emotional pain of multiple miscarriages, and how she handles unwelcome criticism that comes with being such a public person.

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@iamlshauntay

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HURDLE! Two years ago, Hurdle hit iTunes. In this combo anniversary/new year's episode, I’m giddily recapping eight of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from the past 365 days behind the microphone, including some gems from fan-favorites including Joe Holder, Dorothy Beal, Tia-Claire Toomey, and more. A huge, huge thank you to all of the listeners, guests, and everyone else who helped to make my second year as a podcaster one for the charts (literally). 

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Take a quick peak at Robin Arzon’s Instagram, @robinnyc. It’s hard to imagine a time when activity wasn’t a part of her everyday life. After a near-death experience at age 20 when Arzon was held hostage at gunpoint in New York City’s East Village, she leaned into movement and running for the first time to help her process the trauma. Soon enough, the then-lawyer turned away from her conventional 9-to-5 with hopes to turn her passion for sweat into her career. That’s when she found Peloton. 

Today, she’s the brand’s Vice President of Fitness Programing and Head Instructor, also author of the 2016 book Shut Up and Run, and a 26-time marathoner. In this repost of episode 28, the Adidas global brand ambassador gets honest about how tough times have shaped her perspective and helped her home in on her inner swagger. She also offers essential, actionable advice for runners of all levels on race day best practices and tips on how to take their stride to a whole new level.

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A Christmas morning car accident was the #hurdlemoment that changed Andy Puddicombe’s life forever. Looking to process sudden loss, he went to Asia to study as a Buddhist monk. After 10 years of practice, Puddicombe wanted to help others understand the benefits of meditation. That’s when he met co-founder Rich Pierson, and Headspace was born. What once started as an events company, Headspace now has more than 30 million users and 1 million paid subscribers. In episode 30, we dive into the endless benefits of meditation, how to shift our perspective on failure in life, the exciting newly developed Headspace Health programming coming in 2020, and finish things off with an easy, quick meditation perfect for beginners. 

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I did something last week that really made me think. This is that thing. In today's #hurdlemoment, I'm chatting all about what I'm letting go of in the new year. After you listen to this episode, hit me up on Instagram @emilyabbate or @hurdlepodcast, and share with me what it is that you want to release in 2020. 

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Sit down next to Katie Sturino, and you’ll instantly feel like you’ve got a new best friend. The body positivity advocate, Megababe founder, and creator of the blog The 12ish Style has a way about her that’s entirely charming, which is no wonder why 419K people are following her on social media. In episode 87, we chat about the divorce #hurdlemoment from a few years ago that lead to a life-changing weight gain. Sturino tells me about how the extra pounds made her feel more like herself, comfortable in her own body, and eventually lead her to start the #makemysize movement. We also chat about how Megababe came to be, what excites her right now and for the new year ahead, and what really goes down in the DMs.

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