What role does storytelling play in who feels like they belong inmountain biking?

In this episode, Mia sits down with Molly Hurford —cycling journalist, author, and founder of Strong Girl Publishing.

They talk about the Shred Girls book series, building awomen-focused publishing company, podcasting as a tool for connection, and howearly representation can shape confidence and participation in sport.

This episode explores writing, media, mountain biking, and what it reallytakes to build something that lasts in the cycling world.

🎙️ Follow Women’s MTB Network for more conversations with women shaping thefuture of mountain biking.

Follow Molly:
Website
https://mollyhurford.com
Strong Girl Publishing
https://stronggirlpublishing.com
Podcasts
The Strong Girl Talk Podcast – https://stronggirlpublishing.com/podcast/
The Consummate Athlete Podcast – https://consummateathlete.com/category/podcast/
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/mollyjhurford

Follow us: www.womensmtbnetwork.comwww.instagram.com/womensmtbnetwork

In this episode of the Women's MTB Network podcast, we interview Anneke Beerten, world renowned mountain biker and coach. Anneke shares her journey from elite racing to coaching in Bentonville, Arkansas, discussing the importance of community, mental strength, and overcoming fears in mountain biking. She reflects on her recovery from a traumatic brain injury and the impact it had on her life and career. Anneke also reveals her exciting new venture in launching a mountain bike apparel line, emphasizing the need for functional and stylish gear for riders. The conversation highlights the significance of having fun and trusting the process in the sport of mountain biking.Takeaways from this episode:• Anneke Beerten has a rich history in mountain biking, spanning multiple disciplines.• Bentonville offers a unique community and trail system that supports all levels of riders.• Coaching is about sharing special moments and helping riders overcome fears.• Mental barriers are common in mountain biking, especially among women.• Community engagement is vital for fostering a love for mountain biking.• Recovery from injuries requires patience and self-advocacy.• Anneke's accident in 2020 profoundly impacted her life and career.• The importance of mental strength and confidence in mountain biking cannot be overstated.• Anneke is launching her own mountain bike apparel line to address gaps in the market.• Trusting the process and having fun are key to longevity in mountain biking.Follow Anneke on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annekebeerten/ Check out her clinics and coaching: https://www.crankitupmtb.com/ Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womensmtbnetwork/00:00 Introduction to Anneke Beerton00:01 Annekaes Journey in Mountain Biking00:22 Introduction to Anneke Beerten03:20 Anneke's Journey to Bentonville06:19 The Mountain Biking Community in Bentonville09:15 Coaching Philosophy and Experiences12:32 Overcoming Mental Barriers in Riding15:24 Community Engagement and Group Rides18:18 Fear and Confidence in Riding21:25 Inspiring Stories of Recovery24:24 Legacy and Impact on Women's Mountain Biking32:59 Adrenaline and Resilience: A Race Against Time35:53 Finding Closure: A Journey Back to A-Line38:42 Understanding Traumatic Brain Injuries42:33 The Importance of Patience in Recovery47:47 Mental Strength in Mountain Biking51:17 Innovating Mountain Bike Apparel55:12 Trusting the Process: A Message for Riders

In this episode of the Women’s MTB Network Podcast, Mia sits down with Sarah Bergstrom, Head of Operations at Togethxr — a media and commerce company dedicated to amplifying women’s sports and celebrating women athletes.

Sarah shares her path into the sports industry, the mission behind Togethxr, and how storytelling plays a critical role in shifting perceptions around women’s sports. Together, they discuss the growth of women’s sports as a legitimate business opportunity, the importance of representation in decision-making, and the misconceptions that still exist today.

This conversation is a reminder that supporting women’s sports doesn’t have to be complicated — it starts with watching, engaging, and investing.

Key Takeaways:

• Togethxr exists to amplify women’s sports and celebrate women athletes

• “Everyone Watches Women’s Sports” began as a community-driven message

• Storytelling is essential to changing how women’s sports are perceived

• Women’s sports should be viewed as a business opportunity, not charity

• Representation and diversity in leadership lead to better outcomes

• Supporting women’s sports can be as simple as watching, buying tickets, or purchasing merch

• The next generation is growing up with a completely different perspective on women’s sports

  
  

  Watch & Follow:
  
  Follow the Women’s MTB Network on Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify for more conversations with athletes, leaders, and change-makers in women’s sports
  Follow Togethxr to support and stay connected with their work amplifying women’s sports

  🎧 Subscribe, share, and keep showing up for women’s sports.

In this episode, Mia interviews Janette Sherman, a longtime marketing leader in the outdoor + bike world who now heads bike marketing for the Americas at Continental.

Janette shares her journey from journalism to Liv Cycling and Yeti Cycles, opening the door on what it’s like to build a career inside niche brands and global corporations. The conversation covers:

• Her path into the bike industry

• Navigating leadership as a woman in a male-dominated space

• The evolution of women’s representation in cycling

• Why storytelling matters more than ever in outdoor marketing

• Mentorship and developing future women leaders

• Current trends shaping the bike industry

• A memorable rattlesnake story you won’t forget 🐍

This is an honest, thoughtful look at the realities of working in the bike industry — and what needs to happen next to make it more inclusive, community-driven, and representative.

📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube
🌐 Explore more stories at womensmtbnetwork.com

The Hard MTB League officially launched on October 25, and today we’re digging into the story behind it with its founder, Braydon Bringhurst.

In this episode, we talk about the vision behind the Hard MTB League, why Braydon wanted to create a new competition format, and how inclusivity shaped the course design from day one. We also dive into athlete feedback from the pilot event, the importance of mental performance, and where the league is headed next — including building community, supporting athlete development, and elevating the women lining up for future Hard MTB events.

If you want to understand the why behind Hard MTB and where this project is going, this conversation covers all of it.

🌐 Learn more about Hard MTB:
https://www.hardmtbleague.com/

🌐 Learn more about Women's MTB Network:

https://www.womensmtbnetwork.com

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www.instagram.com/womensmtbnetwork

In this episode of the Women's MTB Network podcast, host Mia and co-host Candice sit down with photographer Dominique Powers, who has made significant contributions to the representation of women in cycling and outdoor sports.

They discuss Dominique's journey into photography, her experiences in cycling, the challenges women face in media, and her work covering the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. The conversation highlights the importance of storytellingin action sports and the barriers that still exist for women in the industry.

In this engaging conversation, Dominique Powers shares her experiences as a sports photographer, focusing on the emotional intensity of racing moments, the camaraderie among women athletes, and the creative challenges she faces in different environments. She discusses the importance of safety in extreme sports photography and reflects on her future projects, emphasizing the need for storytelling that resonates with audiences. The dialogue highlights the unique aspects of women's sports and the powerful narratives that emerge from them.

Connect with Dominique:
Website: dominiquepowers.com
Instagram: @dominiquepowers

Connect with us:
womensmtbnetwork.com
Instagram: @womensmtbnetwork
YouTube: Women’s MTB Network

Today I’m joined by Natasha Woodworth, founder and creative force behind Curious Creatures, the women-led outdoor apparel brand known for small-batch production, bold design, and a deep commitment to responsibility.

Natasha created Curious Creatures because she wanted bike gear that felt fun, expressive, and true to the weird, wonderful humans who ride. In this episode, we talk about how the brand started, the realities of small-batch production, why transparency matters, how tariffs impact independent outdoor companies, and what it means to build a creative business with intention.

We’re also featuring Natasha as part of our Women-Led Wednesday spotlight next week, highlighting women who are shaping the outdoor industry in powerful, thoughtful ways.

In this episode:
• How Curious Creatures began
• The inspiration behind the brand’s playful, creative identity
• What “responsibility” means to Natasha and how it guides production
• The real impact of tariffs and supply-chain challenges on small outdoor brands
• Staying true to small-batch values while growing
• The importance of transparency and thoughtful sourcing
• Building a women-led company in the outdoor space
• Natasha’s favorite sports, creative hobbies, and outdoor rituals
• Fun rapid-fire questions

Connect with Curious Creatures:
wearecuriouscreatures.com
Instagram: @wearecuriouscreatures

Connect with Women’s MTB Network:
Instagram: @womensmtbnetwork
womensmtbnetwork.com

In this episode, we sit down with freeride powerhouse Hannah Bergemann — a rider, builder, and event organizer who continues to shape the future of women’s freeride on and off the bike.

After breaking her ankle last year, Hannah spent months rebuilding her strength and confidence before returning to Red Bull Rampage, where she once again proved why she’s one of the sport’s most respected voices.
We talk about her recovery, her approach to line-building and risk, and how she’s turning freeride into a more inclusive space through her event, Hangtime — now a cornerstone of women’s freeride progression.

We also dig into the hidden work behind Hangtime, the emotional side of big-mountain riding, and what real support for women in freeride should look like.

🎧 Topics covered:

• The mental and physical process of coming back from injury

• Choosing lines and digging at Red Bull Rampage

• Building Hangtime and supporting progression without pressure

• Leadership and visibility for women in freeride

• What’s next for Hannah in 2026

Follow Hannah:

• Instagram: @hannahbergemann

• YouTube: Hannah Bergemann

Follow us:

• Instagram: @womensmtbnetwork

• YouTube: Women’s MTB Network

• Website: womensmtbnetwork.com

In this episode, Mia sits down with Eliot Jackson—World Cup downhill racer turned commentator, host, and changemaker.

We talk about:

• Eliot’s motocross roots and his path into elite downhill MTB racing

• Career highlights and lessons from years on the World Cup circuit

• The origins of the Grow Cycling Foundation and how it’s building access and opportunity in cycling

• His current work as a Red Bull TV commentator—including covering and interviewing athletes at Red Bull Rampage 2025

• What it means to elevate women’s freeride and create space for new voices in the sport

• The future of MTB media, storytelling, and representation

Eliot’s story reminds us that the biggest impact often happens off the bike—through action, access, and community.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

👉 Follow Eliot:

• Grow Cycling Foundation

• Just Ride Podcast

• You Inspire Us Podcast

👉 Follow Women’s MTB Network:

• Instagram

• YouTube

• Website

Today on the Women’s MTB Network Podcast, we sit down with Syd Schulz — professional mountain-bike athlete, writer, and all round bad ass, who made history this year alongside Kait Boyle and Krysti McBride at one of the toughest single-day MTB races in the U.S., the Marji Gesick 100.

Together, Syd, Kait, and Krysti became the first three women ever to finish under 12 hours — working together through 100 miles of rocky, rooty Michigan backcountry to shatter a long-standing barrier in endurance mountain biking.

We talk about:

• The teamwork and mental strength behind their sub-12 finish

• What it takes to push through 100 miles of unpredictable terrain

• The shift from racing to ultra endurance racing

• Building community through Syd and Macky on YouTube

Connect with Syd & Macky:

• YouTube: Syd and Macky

• Instagram: @sydandmacky

• Website: sydandmacky.com

Connect with Women’s MTB Network:

• Instagram: @womensmtbnetwork

• YouTube: Women’s MTB Network

• Website: womensmtbnetwork.com

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube.