Hurdle with Emily Abbate

Yesterday I got to sit down with the "Quad God", Ilia Malinin. Reflecting on that event—and a specific question about whether or not I have a manager—led me down a path of gratitude for the "hustle" and the career I've built by simply putting myself out there and treating people well.

I’m diving deep into why we need to stop the comparison trap and start giving ourselves more credit for how far we’ve come. Plus, I answer a listener question from Tara, who is trading the Philadelphia for the Big Apple and needs the scoop on the best neighborhoods for safety and transit.

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@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@iheartwomenssports

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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

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In this episode of Hurdle, host Emily sits down with professional runner Jess McClain fresh off her monumental performance as the top American finisher at the 2026 Boston Marathon. Recorded in London, where the duo got to run in the upcoming Brooks' upcoming Hyperion Elite 6 and cheer at the 2026 London Marathon, Jess unpacks the physical and mental evolution required to clock a personal best of 2:20:49 on one of the world's most challenging courses. From navigating the "what if" game to handling mid-race mishaps like dropping a fueling bottle, Jess shares a grounded, authentic perspective on what it means to find joy in professional sport. 

IN THIS EPISODE

• The Boston Breakthrough: Jess breaks down her strategy for the "Crest of Heartbreak Hill" and how her focus on downhill training and pace changes paid off in the final 10K.

• Silencing the "What If" Game: A deep dive into the mental shift Jess made during training—moving away from obsessing over variables she couldn’t control and focusing on being 1% better incrementally.

• Resilience Under Pressure: Jess reflects on the chaos of the Half Marathon Championships where she was directed the wrong way, and how that experience actually built her confidence for the high-stakes friction of Boston.

• Life Beyond the Miles: An honest conversation about the "other things" that bring joy, including Jess's experience with egg freezing, her thoughts on family planning, and the importance of a supportive partner who sees her greatness.

• The "My Way" Philosophy: Why Jess decided to stop trying to be a "robotic" athlete and instead leaned into her own unique rhythm, finding that her way is the best way for her.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"I think it’s being okay where you’re at and doing the most that you can day-to-day, week-to-week, to just be 1% better incrementally and not put so much pressure on the big dream."

"I spent so much time being told that I shouldn't do anything else... that I'm not dedicated enough. And it's just so not true. You can plan for your future and still have a really kick-ass time running and racing at a high level."

"Running's not going to go well all the time. You should be able to tap into other things that bring you joy."

"I’ve put my health and the 'fun meter' on the front burner. It feels good to be like, my way is the best way for me, instead of trying to fit myself into so many different molds."

SOCIAL
@jesstonn
@emilyabbate
@iheartwomenssports

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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about how to focus on feel versus external data and validation. Plus: Answering a question about the best shoes to wear for a HYROX.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
Nike Pegasus 42

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@hurdlepodcast
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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

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This week's guest is a true powerhouse in the sports media landscape: Sarah Spain. An Emmy, Gracie, and Peabody Award-winning journalist, Sarah spent over a decade as a mainstay at ESPN, becoming one of the most versatile and respected voices in the industry. She recently made waves by joining iHeartMedia to launch the iHeart Women’s Sports Network, where she serves as the content director and host of the industry’s first daily women’s sports podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain.

Sarah talks about the "cognitive dissonance" of navigating the current news cycle while finding personal joy, and what it’s like to move from a sports giant to building a brand new audio behemoth from the ground up. She pulls back the curtain on the "one man band" mentality—explaining why she keeps her hands in every piece of production, from scriptwriting to editing, despite her veteran status. We also dive into her background as a heptathlete at Cornell, which instilled a "problematically competitive" edge she still carries today, the grief of navigating chronic injury, and her tireless advocacy for journalistic integrity in women's sports coverage.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• Navigating the transition from a legacy brand like ESPN to a startup environment at iHeart

• The daily grind of producing the first daily women’s sports podcast and the "one man band" mentality 

• Why Sarah insists on treating women's sports with "journalism with a capital J" rather than just "cheerleading"

• Her background in comedy and how that shaped her "edgy and snarky" broadcasting style

• Dealing with the physical and mental toll of an athletic career-ending Achilles injury and chronic back pain

• Training the brain for gratitude through neuroplasticity and finding "glimmers" in the everyday

• Facing the harsh realities of sexual harassment and online toxicity in sports media 

• Finding self-trust and the power of saying "I don't know" with confidence

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"I want the listeners that want a show that really respects and gives respect to the people participating in all these sports and doesn't trade on their name and their stories without giving it a good journalism-with-a-J look first."

"I call it the four S's: story, stakes, stats, and stars. We do that every day for men’s sports... and without having that in women’s sports, expecting people to show up game after game without providing them the information they need to care—there’s a reason it hasn’t always clicked for everyone."

"I am built to swim upstream, but holy sh*t is it nice to just lazy river it for a while and be surrounded by people who agree and want to help women's sports." 

"How much of my life do I want to waste being sad about [not looking the part] or do I want to be like: 'Hey, I'm going to make it regardless of that.' And if I miss out on jobs they're hiring based on looks, great. Let me go get a job based on brains."

SOCIAL
@spain2323
@emilyabbate
@iheartwomenssports

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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a week! Recapping, talking jury duty, a fun run of a 5K, and answering a listener question about my latest workhorse sneaker, the Pegasus 42.

SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@iheartwomenssports

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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

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This week on Hurdle, I’m sitting down with Jasmine Caccomo, an entrepreneur and elite personal stylist who has spent over 15 years redefining the intersection of fashion and professional sports. Jasmine has built an incredible career styling some of the biggest names in the industry, most notably Alex Morgan, whom she’s worked with for the past 13 years.

In this episode, Jasmine talks about how playing soccer from a young age instilled the discipline, accountability, and “figure it out” mentality necessary to navigate the world of entrepreneurship. We also chat about her early days working in the fashion closets of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, and the bold leap she took to establish her own styling business. Plus, she gives me the lowdown on how she handles high-pressure moments—like styling Hilary Knight for the Oscars just days after an Olympic season—and how she sets boundaries as a business owner and mother. Also: Why presence is absolutely vital for her to do both well, and the essential lesson of learning to ask for help.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:

• The Athlete Mentality: How her background as a hurdler and soccer player provided the work ethic for her business.

• The "Editorial Trenches": Realities of working in fashion closets and the 80/20 split between business and styling.

• Transitioning to Freelance: Taking the leap from a steady editorial job to building a personal brand.

• Styling Elite Athletes: The process of onboarding clients like Alex Morgan and translating an athlete's power into a wardrobe.

• Modern Athleisure: Defining "upscale athleisure" and why leggings will never truly be dead.

• The Glass Ball Theory: Managing the juggle of motherhood and entrepreneurship by identifying what can drop and what can’t.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS:

• "I’ve always had that ‘figure it out on my own’ mindset. You have to figure out how to train that works for you."

• "It’s about bringing out that inner personality through, externally, their wardrobe."

• "There’s always something to be done, there’s always another hurdle to overcome, there’s always something bigger, something shinier that I want to do."

SOCIAL
@jasmine.caccamo
@emilyabbate
@iheartwomenssports

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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diving into the highs and lows of the Scottsdale trip for the Final Four. Plus: How what started as an ambitious plan for a high-mileage run along the canal turned into a powerful lesson in grace, body awareness, and the "both/and" of recovery.

Also! Answering a listener question from Christine about navigating energy slumps after long runs, offering practical advice on recovery windows and the essential role of post-run nutrition.

SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@iheartwomenssports

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This week Emily's sitting down with Laila Edwards, a true pioneer in the world of women’s hockey. Edwards recently made history as the first Black woman to compete for—and win gold with—Team USA Hockey. Beyond her Olympic success, she is a national champion and was a prolific scorer during her final collegiate season at Wisconsin, leading the nation with 35 goals.

In this conversation, Laila opens up about the whirlwind experience of winning gold in Milan and navigating the sudden surge of media attention that followed. She shares the nerves and pressures that come with being a trailblazer and how she has learned to transform those challenges into a platform for inspiring others. We also dive into her transition from high school to a decorated collegiate career, the mental resilience required to earn her ice time, and how she stayed even-keeled while switching positions on the world stage. Plus, she addresses the viral conversation surrounding the USA men's hockey team and why she believes that if you love a space, you belong in it—regardless of who else is in the room.

In this episode:

• The whirlwind of winning Olympic gold and returning to college life

• Navigating the pressures and responsibilities of being a trailblazer in hockey

• The mental shift required when transitioning to a high-level collegiate program

• Switching from forward to defense on the national team and trusting the process

• Techniques for staying calm and "even-keeled" during high-stakes moments

• Her reaction to the media cycle surrounding the men’s team at the White House

• The importance of representation and her message: "If you love it, you belong"

• Her experience as a Red Bull athlete and the transition to the PWHL draft

Quotable Moments:

"Don’t ever feel like you don’t belong. Don’t let that be the reason you don’t do it."

"I have the opportunity to change someone’s life essentially, and I think that is so cool. So any chance I get to do that, I’m going to take it."

"If you love something ... then you belong. No matter who looks like you and who doesn’t."

"Pressure is a privilege... look at all the good that’s coming out of it."

"I was a person before I was a hockey player... I want to leave an impression as a good person."

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@emilyabbate
@iheartwomenssports

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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode, I'm talking about my spontaneous decision to go to Phoenix for the NCAA Final Four! As a proud UConn alum, I couldn’t pass up the chance to cheer on the Huskies and spend some quality father-daughter time. I dive into the power of listening to your "whispers"—those gut feelings that nudge you toward exciting possibilities—and challenge you to shift your mindset from "what if it goes wrong?" to "what if it goes right?" Plus, I answer a listener question about navigating the mental and physical hurdles of getting back into a fitness routine after a break.

SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@iheartwomenssports

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Andraya Carter knows a thing or two about resilience and reinvention. After three ACL injuries cut her basketball playing career short, the University of Tennessee graduate transitioned into broadcasting, where she now covers both all things basketball for ESPN. In this episode, we dive into how Andraya navigated these career transitions and found new ways to stay connected to the game she loves. She shares her perspective on overcoming physical setbacks, the mental fortitude required to deal with repeated injuries, and the importance of authenticity when working on some of sports media's biggest stages.

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Andraya’s Journey: From playing at Tennessee to becoming one of the most recognizable faces on ESPN.
• The Power of Preparation: Why Andraya believes in "reps" and how she prepares for different roles, from sideline reporting to color analysis.
• Defining Success on Your Own Terms: Navigating outside opinions and social media while staying true to yourself.
• The Importance of Connection: How Andraya’s grandmother influenced her desire to make others feel seen and heard.
• Mindfulness and Movement: Why movement and meditation (even in small moments like inside an Uber or on a plane) are essential to Andraya's wellness routine.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

On Career and Transition

• "Chasing a dream is a transferable skill. My dream was to be a professional athlete, I chased it, I didn’t get it, but the idea of having a goal and going for it to me is a skill."
• "Every rep was good for me because it was a rep. It was an opportunity to have a microphone, to speak, to be on camera, and it was fun."
• "The story of having a job to pay the bills while having a dream in the back of your mind is actually not uncommon."

On Resilience and Preparation

• "The ones who can be uncomfortable the longest are the ones that make it. You have to push through this discomfort."
• "I just started judging my performance based on—was I prepared? If I was prepared, I had my notes ... I was ready for this moment."

On Mindfulness and Authenticity

• "I hope that what translates to viewers ... is just my passion. I've been able to be myself on air ... Connecting to people has always been something that I try to take a lot of pride in."
• "Being present is so important. I hope people start to understand more how you really are your best self when you're present."
• "There's value in feeling valued, and value in being paid what you feel like you're worth and not what other people say that you're worth."

SOCIAL
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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.