This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm joined by Sharon Jessop — an ultra-endurance athlete, conservationist, keynote speaker, and serial entrepreneur whose running adventures are driven by a mission to protect rhinos in Africa.

From growing up barefoot in the South African bush to covering over 3,500 miles across some of Africa's wildest landscapes, Sharon has used her extraordinary endurance to raise awareness and funds for rhino conservation. Her journey is as inspiring as it is challenging, blending adventure with purpose.

In this episode, Sharon shares how she turned her love of running into a powerful tool for wildlife conservation, the highs and lows of multi-day expeditions, and the unforgettable encounters she's had along the way — from navigating tough terrain to seeing Africa's incredible wildlife up close.

We also explore her personal story, the losses that have shaped her, and how she finds motivation and meaning in every mile.

Whether you're drawn to ultra-running, conservation, or simply pursuing your passions with purpose, this episode is packed with inspiration and insight.

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 Sharon
• Living in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape of South Africa
• Her passion and obsession with rhinos
• Running for Rhinos
• Growing up barefoot in the brush
• Being 16 and her first experience seeing a rhino
• Deciding to study law….
• Hosting a television show
• Going back to conservation
• Making changes to her life at 48
• Always being a runner
• Discovering her ability to run long distances day after day
• Losing her dad and good friend to cancer in 2017
• Running from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth
• How one running expedition led to the next
• The mental side of running and why its super important
• Doing the running expedient in her mind, before she even starts
• Her motto - Failure is not an option
• Running multiple half marathons (2020) for rhino conservation
• What have I committed to?
• Having a really big WHY
• And why it makes it easier
• Not wanting to let the rhinos down
• Planning and logistics for the expeditions
• Having the accommodation and food sponsored
• Travelling with a small team
• 2022 adventure
• Recovery each day
• Not being a big supplement taker
• Believing in real food
• Trying to stay away from processed food
• Taking electrolytes
• The importance of hydration and fuelling your body
• The importance of sleep and its impact on recovery
• The magical moments while out running
• Being scared of ostriches and baboons
• The 5 animals - Lions, Elephants, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard
• The adjustment back to 'normal' life
• Starting training for Comrades Marathon in 2026
• Row for rhinos
• Ted X talk in San Diego - The Race for Green Spaces and Wild Places
• Where do the funds raised go
• Self funding her running expeditions
• Future projects for the Rhinos
• The Great World Race - 7 Marathons on 7 Continents in 7 Days
• How to connect with Sharon and her projects
• Final words of advice
• Using affirmations and why we need more women doing these adventures
• Be Brave, Be Fearless, Be Bold.

Social Media

Website: www.sharonjessop.com

Instagram: @runwildwithsharon

Facebook: @sharon.jessop1

YouTube: @sharonjessop1

Meet Regine Goh, a national triathlete and endurance athlete from Singapore who has spent her life mastering the art of consistency, resilience, and performance.

From starting competitive swimming at just four years old to transitioning into triathlon, Regine has learned firsthand the power of showing up, pushing through plateaus, and enjoying the process every step of the way.

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Regine shares her journey of balancing elite-level training with a professional career, the mental and physical lessons she's learned along the way, and how the principles of endurance sports can help anyone sustain productivity, build confidence, and achieve ambitious goals.

Whether you're an aspiring athlete, a professional, or someone striving to be more consistent in your life, Regine's insights are a masterclass in resilience, focus, and long-term growth.

***

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 Regine
• Living in Singapore
• National athlete specialising in the sport of triathlon
• Starting off in the sport of swimming at 4 years old
• Really enjoying spending time in the water
• Knowing all the strokes at 8 years old and starting to do competitive swimming
• Being spotted by a swim coach
• Enjoying the grind of swimming and making new friends
• Doing a decade of hardcore competitive swimming
• Joining the Singapore Sports School (boarding school)
• Starting to plateau in swimming and making the transition to triathlon at 16
• Trying open water swimming
• Dealing with the plateau of not improving in her sport
• Having understanding coaches
• Starting to ask herself, why she was doing the sport
• Figuring out what her motivations where
• Figuring out her goals did not align with her core values
• Reflecting back on why she got into sport in the first place
• Deciding to take running a bit more seriously
• Why her cycling journey was a bit scary
• Getting into road cycling at 19
• Why it was a steep learning curve
• Wanting to prove everyone wrong and make it to the national team
• Making the national team for triathlon
• Getting burnt out in swimming chasing the goal of reaching the national team
• The importance of showing up every day and trying your best
• The mindset change when moving over to triathlon
• Getting some good mentors
• Enjoying the process at every step
• Gen Z perspective on mental health
• Zone 2 training, Periodisation, Progressive overload
• The importance of focusing on recovery
• Fuelling and eating the right foods
• Being here for the long game
• Sleep as a performance enhancing drug!
• Being a working professional and managing her training
• Doing morning and evening training sessions
• The importance of planning ahead to get your training sessions in
• Managing stress
• Control what you can control
• Working with a coach
• Empowering aspiring professionals to boost consistency and sustain productivity using the principles of endurance sports
• Consistency and it's importance
• The compounding effect of training
• Communication expectations
• Favourite moments from swimming and triathlon
• Her short term and long term goals
• Thinking about doing an ironman and returning to open water swimming
• Wanting to complete the English Channel Crossing
• The Oceans Seven in swimming
• The importance of having big, ambitious goals
• How to connect with Regine
• Final words of advice for women and girls to follow their passion in endurance sports
• Have fun and enjoy the process

Social Media

Instagram: @weezuine.tries

Facebook: Regine Goh (吴宣萱)

LinkedIn: Regine Goh

Anna Humphries is an adventurer, expedition leader, and founder of The Mountain Girl, whose life is dedicated to getting people outdoors and showing them what's possible when you push past your comfort zone.

A trained Mountain Leader, Scout Leader, and key member of the Bear Grylls Survival Academy team, Anna has designed and led survival programmes across the UK and around the world. Her work spans everything from logistics and programme development to standing on the frontlines with groups of young people, teaching them resilience and grit in the wild.

Adventure runs through her veins. She has hiked to Everest Base Camp, raced through the National Three Peaks Challenge multiple times — her fastest in under 20 hours — and was part of the first female team to Stand Up Paddle Board across the English Channel. Whether it's trail running, paddle boarding, or exploring high peaks, Anna thrives on testing her own limits while inspiring others to do the same.

Through The Mountain Girl, Anna champions accessibility in the outdoors, especially for women and young people. She believes in the power of nature to build confidence, connection, and courage.

Her mission is simple: to encourage more people to experience the wild, to discover their inner strength, and to prove to themselves that they are tougher than they think.

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 Anna
• Founder of Mountain Girl
• Growing up close to the Malven Hills
• Being the role model that she needed when she was growing up
• Her early years
• Having an older sister and a twin sister
• Why the Malvens were an adventure playground for her
• Why her teenage years were tough
• Not being in love with herself
• Never feeling as though she fitted in
• Losing her way
• Role models
• Trying 27 jobs….
• Dealing with the doubt in her brain
• The stories she was telling herself
• Describing yourself in different adjectives
• Wanting to be strong and adventurous
• Starting to follow people who inspired her on instagram
• Needing to lose weight and feeling unhealthy
• Tapping into her inner child
• Taking 2 years to lose weight, and getting rid of the hate in her head
• Adventure - Love - Happiness
• I am - I am - I am
• Developing Mountain Girl
• Duke of Edinburgh Award
• Receiving her gold award
• Volunteering in Scouts
• Badge motivation!
• Starting to head off on her own adventures
• Getting her qualifications and upping her skills
• Becoming a Mountain Leader and how it opened up future opportunities
• Future events happening in 2026
• Visiting Mt. Everest Base Camp
• Setting herself big challenges
• Wanting to share her adventures
• Being adventure driven and not ego driven
• Paddle Boarding across the English Channel
• Becoming a SUP coach
• Overcoming her fear of heights
• Taking on the National Three Peaks Challenge
• The importance of rewards
• How you can connect with Anna
• Final words of advice
• Be the person you needed when you were growing up
• Start to explore social media see what it going on
• Find the inspiration and follow it
• BE IT!!!

Social Media

Website www.themountaingirl.co.uk

Instagram @themountaingirluk

Facebook: @themountaingirluk

X: Mountaingirl_UK

Bear Grylls Survival Academy - beargryllssurvivalacademy.com/team/anna-humphries

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm joined by Margie Goldsmith — an award-winning writer, journalist, and adventurer who proves that it's never too late to reinvent yourself or chase new challenges.

At 81 years old, Margie is still boxing, biking, climbing mountains, and living life with unstoppable energy. Her new book, Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce, shares her remarkable journey from a fearful young woman growing up in a dysfunctional family to a confident, adventurous storyteller who's visited 150 countries and built a life full of courage and curiosity.

In this episode, we talk about how Margie learned to turn fear into fuel, why Paris was the turning point in her life, how she's stayed strong and active through the decades, and why movement, recovery, and mindset are key to living fully at any age.

Tune in for a funny, fearless, and deeply inspiring conversation that celebrates the power of saying yes to life — no matter how old you are.

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 Margie
• Living in New York City
• Writer, journalist, novelist, essayist
• Her new book: Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce
• Visiting 150 countries
• Her early years
• Coming from a dysfunctional family
• Being told she was not good enough
• Escaping by going into the woods
• Moving all the time and having to make new friends
• Getting into sports to make friends
• Proving that she was good enough, and not less than
• Being on her own from a young age
• Graduating from college and seeing a flyer to go to Europe for the summer
• Wanting to escape her mother
• Heading to Paris for the summer in 1965
• Deciding to stay in Paris and beginning her grown up life
• Her transition to Margie the Adventurer
• 81 years old - boxing, riding her bike, moving,
• Climbing Mt Etna at 80
• Moving from feeling fearful to fierce
• Why Paris was the turning point
• Not wanting children
• Meeting an older man, (27 years older…)
• Smoking back in the day
• Travelling in the 1960s
• Deciding where to go and what to do
• Starting her first novel (Screw Up)
• Working as an extra in films
• Meeting husband number 1!
• Pressure from family/society to get married?
• Learning to hold her own
• Meeting husband number 2!
• Living the high life and getting bored
• How going rafting on the Colorado river changed things
• Trying things that scared her
• Gaining new confidence
• Going to advance base camp at Mt. Everest
• Getting into marathon running!
• Trying a triathlon in Cuba
• Being diagnosed with a tumour in her pancreas
• Becoming a type 1 diabetic
• Getting through the operations
• Still feeling the feelings of fear
• Writing her book and why she loved it
• Deciding to give her body to science
• Being in her 80s and moving towards the end stages
• Doing everything she wants to do
• Living life day by day
• Keep doing the little adventures
• Talk yourself into things, not out of things
• Why you don't need to travel to find the fun and the adventure
• Keeping her goals inside her
• Doing everything she can to stay healthy and why it means physical movement
• The trends of fitness and how they have changed
• Move it or lose it
• Getting weekly massages
• Aim Health - Treatments
• The importance of recovery
• How to connect with Margie
• Going on to TikTok!
• Advice for people who do feel/have felt less than
• Find a mentor who you trust
• Listen to yourself and your gut
• Go find something to make you feel good

Social Media

Website: margiegoldsmith.com

Facebook: Masters Of The Harmonica

Book: Becoming a Badass: From Fearful to Fierce

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm joined by Veronica White — a PhD student, photographer, and outdoor adventurer who is combining academic research with exploration in a truly unique way.

For her final year at the University of Exeter, Veronica set out on an extraordinary journey: cycling more than 2,000 miles across England to explore how women envision the future of farming. Her Farming Futures Tour— meeting and interviewing 50 women along the way who are shaping the future of food and agriculture.

Born in the US and raised in the Netherlands, Veronica's path into farming wasn't traditional. With a background in environmental science and food security, she's found her passion in connecting people, place, and purpose — and using adventure as both a research method and a personal challenge.

In our conversation, we talk about how she planned and trained for the project, what it was like to balance the mental and physical demands of fieldwork on the move, and why she believes surrounding yourself with people who say "yes" can make all the difference.

Tune in to hear how Veronica turned her PhD into a pedal-powered exploration of England's rural landscapes — and how adventure can open new ways of seeing, learning, and connecting.

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 Veronica?
• Final year PhD student at the University of Exeter
• Cycling over 2,000 miles across England for her PhD fieldwork
• Being born in the US and raised in the Netherlands
• Her interest in food and farming
• Studying environmental science for her undergraduate degree at the University of East Anglia
• Reading up more on food waste
• Deciding to do a Masters in Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
• Not having a background in farming, but doing volunteer work on farms
• Doing cycling as a social activity
• Starting her blog during the pandemic in 2020
• Spending time exploring the South West Coast Path
• Naming her blog - Coves to Cliffs
• Using the blog to get away from social media
• Not getting sucked into the world of SEO and affiliate marketing
• Wanting the blog to be a collection of memories and stories and not just another marketing tool
• What The Farming Futures Tour is
• Speaking to 50 women on the tour
• The reasons for cycling
• Being supported and encouraged by her supervisors
• Spending a year planning and training for the project
• Finding the women to speak with
• What the fieldwork looked like
• The futures triangle
• Autoethnography method - reflecting on your own personal experiences - while cycling through the landscapes
• Planning and logistics for such a long trip
• Receiving funding from the Royal Geographical Society and a charity organisation, Act Big Live Small
• Setting off on the journey
• Balancing the mental and physical sides of the challenge
• Dealing with fatigue
• Finding new strategies to cope with the work load
• Doing voice notes instead of writing field notes
• The bike and gear set up
• Off Cut Gear
• The highlights from the trip
• Still having to write the PhD!
• Food and farming
• Finding lunch in rural areas
• Cycling hunger
• How to connect with Veronica
• Planning the next adventure?
• Final words of advice
• Surround yourself with people who say yes

Social Media

Blog www.covestocliffs.com

Instagram @farmingfutures_cycle

Youtube: @veronicaa_white

Captain Preet Chandi MBE is a world record breaking explorer, former British Army officer, and physiotherapist. She served in the Royal Army Medical Corps for 16 years before embarking on groundbreaking polar expeditions.

In 2022, Preet became the ninth woman in history to ski solo to the South Pole, and the first woman of colour to complete a solo expedition on the continent. Less than a year later, she set out on her next adventure, breaking two Guinness World Records for the longest solo unsupported one-way ski expedition, both for a woman and overall, covering 922 miles in 70 days.

She returned to Antarctica in December 2023 to set her fourth world record: the female speed record to the South Pole, completed in 31 days, 13 hours, and 19 minutes.

Preet's expeditions are driven by her mission to inspire others to push boundaries. She champions the message that everyone starts somewhere, and that no matter your background or starting point in life, you are capable of breaking barriers and redefining what's possible.

In 2025, she established her Community Interest Company, Adventure is Ours CIC, which supports expeditions that promote education, inspiration, climate awareness, and diversity in exploration. Through the CIC, she also delivers outreach, mentorship, and school visits to empower people of all ages.

In 2022, Preet started delivered her school talks across the UK, reaching more than 18,000 students. That same year, she was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours.

Her achievements have been widely recognised: she received the 'Inspirational' and 'Woman of the Year' awards at the inaugural Women in Defence event in 2022, was named 'Explorer of the Year' in 2023, and in 2025 was awarded the prestigious Geographical Award by the Royal Geographical Society.

Past TGP episodes

July 8th 2021 - Preet Chandi - Army Physiotherapist, Ultra Runner, first solo unsupported expedition to South Pole!

Feb 15th 2022 - Preet Chandi - aka Polar Preet - 1st woman of colour to reach the South Pole

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 Preet
• Originally from Darby, but basically living everywhere
• Spending 16 years in the Army
• Chatting to Preet previously on the Tough Girl Podcast
• Making the decision to leave the Army
• Coming back in debt
• Getting straight back into work
• Starting the next fundraising cycle
• Trying to get unpaid leave
• Doing her 3rd expedition without telling anyone
• Trying to cross the landmass on Antarctica on her 2nd trip
• Not making it
• The voice in her head, telling her she had failed
• Feeling the relief when she finished
• Getting 2 records from the trip
• Why it's ok to fail
• Being slated by an article
• Feeling worried about what people in the adventure community would think of her
• Wondering if she could get the female speed record? (Needing to break 33 days)
• Why you don't need to be the best to succeed
• Learning as she goes on
• Why 2023 was a tough year and struggling
• The impact on weight loss on your brain
• Burnout
• Starting to feel recovered
• Wanting to train for the North Pole
• Having time off
• Losing her granddad and hearing the news after the trip
• Building momentum
• Getting to sleep 8 hrs per night
• Talking about failure
• Making mistakes and being able to pinpoint them
• Being nervous to get started
• Needing to get going and hitting some storms at the start
• The voice in her head - being scared to fail, and being called a failure
• Using her pain relief before she though she would need to
• Getting a polar thigh industry
• Starting to move more slowly towards the end
• Focusing on the next 2hrs
• Getting home
• Traumatic growth?
• The daily pain cave…
• Being made to slow down
• The costs of doing these trips
• Getting help and support
• Trip 3 - the women's speed record
• Dealing with the hunger
• The next big challenge - the north pole
• Why there is a high chance of failure
• You can not fail, unless you try
• Preparing for the misery and suffering
• The privilege of being on the start line of adventures
• Lying to herself
• Why not Preet!
• Needing luck on the next adventure
• Wanting to show show much than you can do anything
• You go and you try
• Why her trips are bigger than her
• Why adventure is for anyone
• Being very driven and being an encourager
• How to connect with Preet
• MBE and what it means
• What's been achieved in 4 years
• Why you do belong in every single room
• The importance of the first step

Social Media

Website: www.polarpreet.com

Instagram: @polarpreet

Facebook: @polarpreet

Robyn Godfrey is an accomplished runner, pacer, RRCA Certified Level 1 coach, and motivational speaker who began her running journey at the age of 47.

What started as a personal quest to improve her health and overcome her relationship with alcohol soon evolved into a remarkable achievement: completing seven marathons, including the prestigious World Marathon Majors — London, Chicago, Berlin, Boston, New York, and Tokyo.

A dedicated member of the Wilmington Road Runners Club since 2013, Robyn has made a significant impact by coaching and pacing runners, helping them unlock their potential and reach their goals. In addition to her coaching, she has volunteered with organisations like Girls on the Run, empowering young girls to grow both physically and personally through running.

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 Robyn
• Making a change in her life at 47
• Starting running for 30 seconds on a treadmill
• Facing serious life hurdles over the years
• Reinventing herself
• Chasing after her dream
• Her early years and not being sporty
• The why before making the change
• Not being able to stop over indulging
• Continuing the journey
• Starting to run outside and why it was such a different experience
• Run the 10K Cooper River Bridge Run
• Training for a year to run a 10K
• Getting hooked on running
• Why motivation isn't enough
• Starting to think about taking on a marathon
• Running the London Marathon for her 50th Birthday
• Getting a place through a lottery ticket
• How the structure of marathon training fitted in well with her mentality
• Breaking down big challenges into smaller more manageable goals
• Not being a fast runner, but enjoying the process of marathon training
• Fitting in training around life and work
• Carrying a fork
• Being a party girl and drinking
• Being social and not needing to drink a lot of wine to do that
• The Tokyo Marathon
• Following strict cutoff times
• 27.8 miles….
• Recovering after running
• Core work and conditioning
• Strength training for women
• The mental side of running
• Being a goal orientated person
• Run the mile you are in
• Keep going - things will turn around
• The lessons learned from running which can be applied to challenging situations
• Why running can't save you from everything
• Feelings of guilt
• Completing her goal of running all of the World Marathon Majors
• Training on trails and running a 50k at elevation
• Turning 60 next year
• Planning to run Sydney Marathon
• Writing her book
• How to connect with Robyn
• Wanting to inspire people to go after their dreams
• Final words of advice - on how to take the first step
• Why you can't just rely on motivation
• The power of community

Social Media

Website - www.worldmajormarathonfinisher.com

Instagram @beachy_runner

LinkedIn - www.linkedin.com/in/robyngodfrey

Facebook www.facebook.com/robyn.godfrey.3

Book: Running the World: A Runner's Odyssey of Struggle and Triumph in the World Marathon Majors

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm joined by the incredible Julie Weiss — also known as The Marathon Goddess. Julie's story is one of resilience, healing, and purpose. After losing her father to pancreatic cancer, she set out on an extraordinary mission: to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks, raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research along the way.

Her journey captured hearts around the world — from the Today Show and O Magazine to countless finish lines across the US. But behind the medals and media attention is a woman who found strength, joy, and hope through running.

Now in her fifties, Julie has completed over 118 marathons, raised more than $1 million for research, and continues to inspire others with her message that it's never too late to chase your dreams, honour your loved ones, and find purpose in every step.

In this conversation, Julie opens up about:

How running helped her heal from grief and depression The challenges and triumphs of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks What it takes to stay motivated and injury-free through massive goals Her empowering "7 C's to Defy Your Limits" — Create, Certainty, Connect, Commit, Consistent, Cause, and Courage

Julie's story is a beautiful reminder that transformation begins with one small step — and that every mile can make a difference.

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 Julie
• Living in Santa Monica, California, USA
• Being known as the Marathon Goddess - Running 52 marathon in 52 weeks
• Raising over $1 million for charity
• Being excited to share the wisdom she has leaned from running marathons
• Her childhood and early years
• Being tall with long legs
• Starting running at 37 years
• Not being at athlete at school
• Taking a different path
• Becoming a mother at 18
• Not doing a lot of exercise in her younger years
• Feeling at a very low point in her life
• Going for that first run on the beach
• Wanting to feel good
• Keeping on running
• Coming off anti-depressants
• Fitting running into her life and making it work for her
• Joining a running group LA Road Runners
• Connecting with other people
• Training for a triathlon first
• Running her first marathon in March 2008
• How running makes her feel
• Her relationship with her dad
• Raising funds for Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research
• Taking 10 years to raise the funds
• Project Purple
• Deciding to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks
• The Marathon Guy
• Being determined
• Feeling overwhelmed at the start of the goal
• The start and the different steps involved
• Reaching out to charities, speaking to her boss
• The power of having purpose
• The physicality of the challenge
• Protein, stretching, foam rolling, strength training, rest, compression tights, physio
• The standout marathons from the challenge
• The Leadville Marathon and the challenges of running at altitude
• The Lake Tahoe Marathon
• The New York Marathon in 2012 - being cancelled
• Marathon proposal!
• Being coached by her husband
• Qualifying for the Boston Marathon
• Losing her dad
• 19th attempt of getting into Boston Marathon
• Making the decision to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks
• Not giving up
• The mental side of the challenge
• The importance of creating a goal that is important to you
• The 7Cs - Create, Certainty, Connect, Commit, Consistent, Cause, Courage
• Enjoying what you've accomplished
• Writing her book
• BOOK: The Miles and Trials of a Marathon Goddess: 52 Weeks, 52 Marathons
• Advice for deciding what to do?
• The importance of fun
• Chasing speed and wanting to quality for Boston again
• Running during peri-menopause and menopause
• Struggling with the lack of sleep and dealing with a lack of iron
• Compassion
• Reaching her 100th Marathon at the LA Marathon
• Needing to keep on going
• Being supported by her friends
• The importance of enjoying the journey and finding the joy
• How to connect with Julie
• Words by ― CS Lewis "You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream."

Social Media

Website: www.julie-weiss.com

Instagram: @marathongoddess

Facebook: @Julie-WeissMarathonGoddess

In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we meet Susan Norman — a former National and World Champion in whitewater kayaking and rafting, hydrologist, coach, and now author of RISK: A Life Saved by the River.

Susan's story is one of courage, flow, and resilience. From the roaring rapids of international whitewater competition to the quiet, uncertain waters of parenting her young nephew, she's navigated life's toughest challenges with the same instinct, grit, and grace that made her a world-class paddler.

Now retired from her career with the U.S. Forest Service and living in Lake Tahoe, California, Susan reflects on how rivers shaped her identity — not just as an athlete, but as a woman learning to make her own risk assessments, trust her judgement, and face fear head-on.

In this conversation, Susan opens up about:

• Finding belonging and strength in the early days of women's paddling
• The lessons whitewater taught her about resilience and decision-making
• Her journey into writing and how storytelling became an extension of adventure
• What it really means to take good risks — on the river and in life

Get ready for a deeply thoughtful episode about flow, fear, and finding freedom through the wild power of water.

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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

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Show notes

• Who is Susan Norman
• Living in Lake Tahoe, California
• Working for the US Forest Service
• Being retired for 7 years
• Starting her journey and learning new creative writing skills
• Book: RISK: A Life Saved by the River
• Her childhood (with her twin brother) and early years
• Her interest in rivers and how her father inspired her
• Her transition from teenager to adult
• White water paddling as an amateur sport
• Competing as a teenager
• Jamie McEwan
• Wanting to increase her skill set
• Going to high school in the early 1970s
• Not having many older female role models
• Dads and daughters on the river
• Forming a tribe and connecting with the other girls during her teenage years
• The relationship with her mum who was diagnosed with MS
• Being raised by a single father
• Replacing family with the paddling community
• Being part of the first wave of women getting into a high level of paddling
• Paddling amongst the best paddlers in the world
• Analysing and making decisions based on her own risk assessments
• Learning to trust her own judgement
• A life saved by the river
• Working with a writing coach
• Telling her story, while raising her nephew
• Taking her nephew on river trips
• Taking 6 years to write the book
• Trying to figure out how to raise a child
• Facing hard things and not being able to see a path through
• Not knowing how things will turn out and taking it one day at a time
• Taking challenging in small steps
• Giving an ultimatum to her partner
• Going through the teenage years
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
• Adventuring with children and why you should go as soon as you can
• The power of outdoor adventure sports
• Managing fear while on adventure and parenting
• River boarding and learning about the flow of the river water
• How to connect with Susan
• Final words of advice with regards to risk and making tough decisions
• Find the good risk

Social Media

Website www.susannormanauthor.com

Facebook: Susan Norman

In this candid and raw Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA episode, we reconnect with the unstoppable Vedangi Kulkarni — the youngest woman to have cycled around the world, who's recently returned from doing it again.

Now based in Inverness, Scotland, Vedangi opens up about her second attempt at cycling around the globe — this time not just for the journey, but in pursuit of a Guinness World Record.

From racing Lael Wilcox to navigating border delays, funding pressures, and the relentless physical and mental toll of riding across five continents, Vedangi doesn't hold back.

This conversation is about pushing limits, embracing failures, and finding strength when things don't go to plan.

Highlights from the episode include:

• Breaking a record in the Himalayas (Manali–Leh Highway) in 2023
• Preparing to cycle the world again in 2024 — and finding sponsorship, gear, and coaching
• Struggles of travelling on an Indian passport and the challenge of visa logistics
• Being delayed at borders, detained, and ultimately forced to return to the UK mid-ride due to visa expiry
• Restarting in 2025, finishing the ride under the blazing Indian summer sun
• Dealing with the post-expedition blues and finding her footing again

Vedangi's story is one of resilience, honesty, and fierce determination. Despite knowing she wouldn't get the world record, she kept going — driven by passion, grit, and the belief that stories worth telling are born from adversity.

Now, she's looking ahead to her next expedition, ramping up her YouTube and Substack presence, and continuing to speak openly about the realities of life as a woman of colour in adventure sport.

Heads-up: This episode includes some strong language.

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 Vedangi
• From India but currently based in Inverness, Scotland
• The Adventure Shed
• Coming back from her 2nd ride around the world
• Speaking to Vedangi in Sep 22, 2020 - Vedangi Kulkarni - The youngest woman to have circumnavigated the world on bicycle.
• Tough Girl Extra Oct 27, 2022 - Vedangi Kulkarni - Adventurer and endurance athlete moving into mountain biking and crossing Svalbard.
• The focus of this episode - what Vedangi has been up to over the past couple of years
• Deciding to cycle around the world again
• 2023 - visiting the Himalayas and going after a point to point record. GWR for being the fastest women to cycle the Manali-leh Highway
• Getting her win
• June 2023 - starting to be vocal about her goals in 2024
• Getting the sponsorship and funding in place
• Needing £20k
• Working with Canyon Bikes
• Speaking to the bike experts
• Getting a gravel bike and specking it like a road bike
• Being an Ambassador for RAB
• Working with Tailfin - and having custom build gear
• 3D printed mounts
• Struggling to get sponsorship from Indian companies
• Getting only 1 Indian Sponsor at the last moment
• Training and working with Jon Fearne from E3 Coaching
• Following a training plan and putting in the best effort with it
• Applying for visas and planning the route with an Indian passport
• The challenges of getting to the start line
• Racing against Lael Wilcox (who was attempting the same record at the same time)
• "Why do I think I can do this? I don't stand a chance"
• Mental blocks and challenges
• The challenges of travelling on a weaker passport
• Having no room for errors - everything needs to go to plan
• Why it wasn't a level playing field
• Speaking with Lael before heading off - women supporting women
• Knowing that she wasn't going to get the record and keeping on going
• Having a good story to tell
• Dealing with setbacks and failures and keeping on going
• The route and how it was slightly different to the first time
• Starting on the East Coast of India
• Riding across Mongolia and then on to Australia
• Challenges with border crossings and getting detained and delayed
• Needing to fly back to the UK on Christmas Eve due to UK visa regulations
• Needing to stay in the UK for 2 months
• Getting back to India in March 2025 to finish the ride
• The challenges of the heat - going from Scottish winter to an Indian Summer
• Feeling satisfied once the ride was finally done.
• Adventure blues after the ride
• Planning her next record attempt and expedition.
• Wanting to push her limits further
• Why health isn't guaranteed
• One precious life and you've got to get out there and live it
• Balancing everything that's going on
• How to connect with Vedangi on social media
• Kickstarting her YouTube again
• Getting more active on Substack
• Final words of advice for women who want to push on through their barriers
• Embracing failure and not letting it dim your light - it's not always going to go to plan
• Be motivated to try your best
• The journalling process and how it can help mentally with self-esteem

Social Media

Website: vedangi.info

Instagram: @thisisvedangi

LinkedIn: Vedangi Kulkarni

Twitter: @thisisvedangi

Facebook: @wheelsandwords

YouTube: @thisisvedangi

Link to donate me a small amount: [Buy Me A Coffee]