** This episode contains themes surrounding eating disorders that some may find distressing. If you would like to access free and confidential support you can contact the Butterfly Foundation on 1800 33 4673. https://butterfly.org.au

As a teenager growing up in New Zealand, Lydia O’Donnell fell in love with running. And on that running journey she found great success – winning New Zealand’s national titles in the 10,000 metre and half marathon events.

But along the way she found herself showing symptoms of disordered eating, as she faced pressure to train in a way that was right for men and that didn’t take her unique female physiology into account.

As a result she lost her menstrual cycle, and was hospitalised, almost losing her ability to run altogether.

Now Lydia is the co-founder and CEO of Femmi, a women’s running app designed to unite a community of women and teach us how we can move our bodies in a way that makes us feel confident.

Welcome back to the Female Athlete Project, my name’s Sophie, the producer here at TFAP. This week Chlo sits down with Lydia, who’s also a NIKE run coach, to discuss changing the narrative around women’s health and how Femmi is creating a space to educate women on how to run and move with confidence.

Whether you’re a running fanatic, thinking about going for your first jog or have never been at all - this episode’s for you and we hope you enjoy it.

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

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#womenssport

A weekly podcast covering women’s sports news.

This week: The Central Coast Mariners are A-League Women’s Champions, the NSW Blues have won the State of Origin Series and the Wallaroos have beaten the USA in the PAC4 Series.

For the key story, we discuss protests in the sport of Camogie, in the lead up to a special Congress being held this week where the association will vote on whether players can wear shorts while playing the sport.

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

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Molly Picklum and Caity Simmers are quickly becoming professional surfing's favourite rivalry. But, they're also great friends and are the first to celebrate each other's wins.

Caity Simmers is the current World Surf League Champion, the youngest-ever in the history of the sport. Meanwhile, Aussie Molly Picklum is hot on her heels, having scored the first-ever perfect 10 in the women's event at Pipeline.

Currently ranked 2nd and 3rd in the world, surfing's two young guns sat down with Bez and Chloe for a live podcast event during the 2025 Gold Coast Pro.

Molly and Caity chat about all the upcoming changes to the WSL Tour, how they each other on tour, what they're doing for future generations of female surfers and not to mention, why pipe is for the f****ng girls.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Get the wrap delivered into your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the newsletter + don’t miss a merch drop.

Shop TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Find us on Instagram: @thefemaleathleteproject
#womenssport

A weekly podcast covering women’s sports news.

This week: The Central Coast Mariners have snapped Melbourne City’s 24-game unbeaten streak to qualify for the grand final, the Opals have completed a series sweep over the Tall Ferns and Australia has won silver in the World Athletics Relays Mixed 4x400m event.

For the key story, we’ll discuss the results of the 2024 Bloody Big Survey that show nearly 70% of women skip sport because of their period.

Hey there! If you're in Sydney and keen to attend Women's State of Origin Game 2, come have a drink with us beforehand.! We'll be at the London Hotel in Paddington Sydney from 5:30pm and will walk to the game together.

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Get the wrap delivered into your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the newsletter + don’t miss a merch drop. bit.ly/tfapsubscribe

Shop TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Maya Stewart is the Wallaroos all time-leading try scorer - a special feat made all the more impressive considering she first picked up rugby union ball at eighteen years old.

Maya is now a key member of the NSW Waratahs side who are the most successful team in Super W history and finished off her 2024 season being crowned Wallaroos player of the year.

In this chat, Chlo and Maya chat all things Rugby Union and what it means to have such a quick rise in the sport after overcoming two ACL injuries along the way. We hope you enjoy this episode.

*Just a quick note, Chloe caught up with Maya before the Wallaroos first test match of the year. But in that match against Fiji, Maya was injured so while she won’t get to play this weekend against New Zealand we’ve got all our TFAP fingers and toes crossed for her return as soon as possible.

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Get the wrap delivered into your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the newsletter + don’t miss a merch drop.

Shop TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Find us on Instagram: @thefemaleathleteproject
#womenssport

A weekly podcast covering women’s sports news.

This week: NSW have won Game One of State of Origin, the Wallaroos are back in action, and Chelsea have won the Women’s Super League in England

For the key story, we’ll discuss … news out of the Ironman World Champs returning to a one-day, one-location format.

Hey YOU! Come spend a night with TFAP and two of the world's best professional surfers.

Chloe and Bez will be hosting TFAP's first-ever live podcast, interviewing surfers Caity Simmers and Molly Picklum.

Wednesday 7th May @ Kirra Beach House, Queensland. This is not one to miss. Grab your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/a-night-with-tfap-and-red-bull-athletes-tickets-1324669134039

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Get the wrap delivered into your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the newsletter + don’t miss a merch drop. bit.ly/tfapsubscribe

Shop TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Find us on Instagram: @thefemaleathleteproject
#womenssport

A weekly podcast covering women’s sports news.

This week: Aussie Isabella Nichols has won surfing’s Bells Beach Pro, Alexa Leary has broken her own swimming world record and Arsenal have qualified for their first Champions League final in 18 years!

For the key story, we’ll discuss … the WNBL’s new CBA that will see the minimum wage more than double over four years!

You're invited to TFAP's first EVER State of Origin Watch Party! This Thursday 1st May 7pm @ Wayward Brewing Company, Sydney. Grab your tickets here: Watch Party Tickets

QUEENSLANDERS! Come spend a night with TFAP and Red Bull athletes! Chloe and Bez will be hosting TFAP's first-ever live podcast, interviewing Aussie surfer Molly Picklum. Wednesday 7th May @ Kirra Beach House Queensland. This is not one to miss. Grab your tickets now: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/a-night-with-tfap-and-red-bull-athletes-tickets-1324669134039

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Get the wrap delivered into your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the newsletter + don’t miss a merch drop. bit.ly/tfapsubscribe

Shop TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Find us on Instagram: @thefemaleathleteproject
#womenssport

Australia's Minister of Sport, Anika Wells, was born and raised in Queensland. She grew up playing many sports including netball, touch football, tennis and was even a gymnast.

While she spent the early years of her career practising as a lawyer, when her daughter was born, she decided she wanted to make the world a better place for her and ran for her local seat of Lilley.

In 2019, Wells became Australia’s youngest female MP when she was elected to parliament. She is currently the Minister for Aged Care and Sport, and has a particular love for the way that sport ‘makes you want to hug strangers’.

Chloe chats with Anika about a variety of the Australian government’s polices that affect women in sport, including: Play Our Way, Sport Diplomacy and – Sports Horizon. We hope you enjoy this episode.

Come to our first EVER Watch Party in Sydney for Game One of the Women's State of Origin series on May 1!

Grab your tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/tfap-watch-party-womens-state-of-origin-game-one-tickets-1332069659209?aff=oddtdtcreator

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Get the wrap delivered into your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the newsletter + don’t miss a merch drop.

Shop TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Find us on Instagram: @thefemaleathleteproject
#womenssport

*For full transparency, the Female Athlete Project was approached by the Minister for Sport’s Office for this interview. The minister was not provided with any interview questions before hand and was only briefed on the broad topics we wanted to discuss within her sports portfolio. The Female Athlete Project also reached out to the Shadow Minister for Sport, however, at the time this episode dropped, we are yet to hear back regarding her availability.

Thank you for understanding that TFAP strives to provide you with transparency around the political side of women’s sports.

Marlee Silva is a renowned Australian Rugby League journalist. Her love for the game began practically from the moment she was born, which was just three days before her dad won a premiership with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

As a Dunghutti and Gamilaroi woman, storytelling has been part of Marlee’s Indigenous Australian culture for over 60,000 years. So as a proud supporter of the NRLW, it only felt natural that telling stories about women’s rugby league is what Marlee was destined to do.

But now she’s dipped into Longform storytelling to tackle some of the biggest issues within the game. 

This week Chloe caught up with Marlee following the release of her new documentary: Skin in the Game.

Skin in the Game examines the role that Rugby League has played in Australia’s history of domestic and family violence and what the sport can do to be part of the solution.

You can watch Skin in the Game for free here: https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/tv-program/skin-in-the-game/2412109891542

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Get the wrap delivered into your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the newsletter + don’t miss a merch drop.

Shop TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Find us on Instagram: @thefemaleathleteproject
#womenssport

A weekly podcast covering women’s sports news.

This week: UConn have won this year’s March Madness in the U.S, the NSW Waratahs and QLD Reds are through to the Super W Grand Final and the Griffith University Queensland Thunder have won back-to-back Australian Water Polo titles.

For the key story, we’ll discuss … Football Australia’s decision this week to officially recognise the 1975 Matildas and why it’s taken so long.

Buy our kids book The A to Z of Who I Could Be, or book for adults GIRLS DON’T PLAY SPORT. www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Get the wrap delivered into your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the newsletter + don’t miss a merch drop. bit.ly/tfapsubscribe

Shop TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shop

Find us on Instagram: @thefemaleathleteproject
#womenssport