Tough Girl Podcast Sarah Williams

In this episode, we sit down with Audrey Payne, a long-distance backpacker, acclaimed writer, and nature enthusiast who calls Boulder, Colorado, her home. Audrey's incredible journey from overcoming a debilitating back injury to thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT) forms the heart of our conversation. Raised in Upstate New York and inspired by her transformative experiences abroad in New Zealand and Madagascar, Audrey has always had a deep love for the outdoors. Her passion led her to pursue environmental science and journalism, but the pressures of her studies and early career eventually led to burnout and a severe back injury. Undeterred, she found inspiration in Bill Bryson’s "A Walk in the Woods" and set her sights on the AT, a journey she chronicles in her newly published memoir.
Throughout our chat, Audrey shares the highs and lows of her trail life, from the supportive community she found to the physical and mental challenges she faced. We explore her trail name ‘Glowstick,’ her trail family dynamics, and the lessons learned from her trek. Audrey also opens up about the post-trail depression she experienced and how writing her memoir helped her process the journey. As she plans future hikes, including the possibility of tackling the Pacific Crest Trail, Audrey’s story is a powerful reminder of resilience and the joy of embracing life’s adventures. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and gain insights into the life of a dedicated thru-hiker and nature lover.
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 Don't miss the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 AM UK time!  Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women. 
This episode of the Tough Girl Podcast is proudly sponsored by INOV8, pioneers in cutting-edge sportswear.
Use code TOUGHGIRL15 to get your 15% discount.  Click here: https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/marchdailymile 
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Show notes
Who is Audrey  Being a hiking and backpacking enthusiast  Living in Boulder Colorado, USA Growing up in Upstate New York Her early years and her passion for the outdoors Spending a summer abroad in New Zealand at 16  How it changed her life Spending time in Madagascar for a semester abroad during college Staying environmental science and journalist with a minor in anthropology  Dealing with burnout and how it happened.  Moving to Washing DC to study for a Masters Degree in Public Relations.  Working for an entertainment communications firm  Dealing with a back injury while having to work all the time Starting to think about the Appalachian Trail (AT) Getting inspired by Bill Bryson and his book; Walk in the Woods Making the decision to start taking the first steps towards achieving her goal of walking the AT Getting to the start line  Landing her dream job at World Wildlife Fund Connecting with an old friend from college who also wanted to hike the trail Having a good boss 1 month before the start! On the start line of the Appalachian Trail in 2018 Loving every moment and feeling so happy and grateful Getting her trail name, ‘Glowstick’ Day to day life on the trail and being part of a trail family Food and nutrition on the trail and eating on a budget Craving and what it’s telling your body The ice cream challenge… Key lessons learned from taking on this challenge Dealing with conflict on the trail and the break up of the trail family Being anaemic  Wear and tear on your body on a thru-hike Writing her book 5 years after the hike Post Trail Depression/Post Trail Blues  Getting the urge to write and writing non stop Hiking on a regular basis and making it apart of her life Future hiking dreams and planning to hike the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) in the future  Hiking the John Muir Trail and why the PCT might be the wrong trail for her Taking the time to figure out which trail to walk in the future How you can connect with Audrey and follow along with her future journey

Mirelle in her own words:
“My name is Mireille and I’m a certified run coach, autoimmune athlete, and podcast host based in Los Angeles, California.
I have been an athlete all my life but I found myself in distance running while in college. 
As an exercise science major, I was immersed in the world of bio-mechanics, physical performance, and health. 
However it was also in college where I was diagnosed with Lupus; an autoimmune disorder that left me sidelined from physical activity for 1.5 years. 
Luckily after treatment, I was able to use running to gain back my health and then some! 
Over the last ten years, I have experienced so much of what running can bring; determination, fun, discipline, adventure, and confidence." 
Some accomplishments include:
-   Completed 12 marathons (& counting)
-   First Black women to run from Boston to NYC (200 miles in 11 days as part of the FALKE team)
-   Completed a relay from Santa Monica to Las Vegas. (The Speed Project 2023 - with Unlimited Women)
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This episode of the Tough Girl Podcast is proudly sponsored by INOV8, the pioneers in cutting-edge sportswear. 
Learn more about INOV8 and get your 15% discount. Click Here.
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Show notes
Who is Mireille Living in LA, California, but originally from Cameroon, West Africa Growing up in Cameroon before moving over to America at 6 years old Wanting to finish school and to go on to college Being inspired by her dad who was active and loved to ride bikes Playing basketball, and enjoying being active Having ambitious dreams and a love for learning  Wanting to have a safe profession  Being interested in science and wanting to pursue college Studying exercise science for her undergraduate degree Running track in high school and being curious about distance running at college Wanting to pursue physical therapy and the challenges of trying to progress in the career Enjoying running and feeling healthier while doing it  Dealing with stress while at college Being diagnosed with Lupus an auto immune disease and the impact it had on her life The impacts of Lupus on her body Making changes and how Lupus impacted on her life Needing to pivot and make a change in her life Having a year left in school and needing to make some key decisions about her future Doing what she thought was best Needing to take a semester off from school/college Working as a PT assistant and getting back into running  Balancing health and fitness while having Lupus Turning to vegetarianism to help manage her Lupus Training for her first marathon Magical moments while running  Running in the Speed Project (2023) - running from LA to Las Vegas over a weekend Unlimited women - a team of 10 women, bringing diversity and awareness into the running sphere Dealing with challenges on the Speed Project Mental tips and tricks for when it gets tough  Race strategy and how the race worked  Starting to eat meat again and dabbling in veganism  Nutrition while running and racing and making it easy.  Running from Boston to NYC and becoming the first Black woman to be involved in the project with FALKE Working with FALKE  Running the Berlin Marathon Entering the lottery for the London Marathon The Los Angeles Marathon Working as a running coach and her coaching philosophy and values Coaching road, trail and autoimmune athletes  Education, communication, commitment and joy.  Why it’s more than just a training plan Making the training adaptable to your life Hosting the “Running in Public” Podcast - combining messages about running and public health. How to connect with Mireille on social media Final words of advice for other women who want to get into running Speaking up and the power of advocating for yourself  The importance of making it fun!  
Social Media
Website: www.coachedbymireille.com 
Instagram: @heycoachmireille 
Ko-Fi: ko-fi.com/coachmireille 
 

After many years of adventure Carly found work as a Tour Leader in the Middle East for a couple of years and Syria became her home, immersing herself in to the community and culture she lived in Aleppo, Syria until March 2012.
Adventure, solitude, nature, and love for the deserts draw her back to the Middle East again and again. Gaining further knowledge and experience she worked as a freelance guide and led horse riding tours in Jordan and Georgia, and hiking and adventure tours in Sudan, Pakistan, Algeria, Oman, aswell as guiding in the ‘No go’ areas of Southern Iraq and finally back into Syria.
Over 10 years experience as a Tour Leader in the Middle East she is Qualified HEFAT (Hostile Environment Awareness Training) and Wilderness First Aid trained, an experienced horse rider and Paraglide licence holder.
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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
 By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. 
Thank you for your invaluable support!
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Show notes
Who is Carly Living a unique lifestyle Working as a freelance guide in the Middle East and Central Asia Wanting to simplify her life so that she can live it Her love for adventure and travel Moving every 2 years due to her dad being in the Army Turning 18  Deciding not to go down the university route and wanting to travel instead Feeling liberating  Being a scared child Deciding to face her fears  Going on lots of solo adventures and being inspired to do even more Figuring it out as she went travelling around the world Facing the fear by doing it Changing in a shared dorm 42 years young! Wanting to explore the world and keep on travelling Henry David Thoreau quote Age 27 and having another pivotal trip in Namibia  Being inspired by other people living as guides Working as a tour leader in the middle east Living on the brink of the unknown Wanting to experience and feel communities  Going with her feelings Falling in love with the middle east Knowing there was more than her 9 to 5 life Living in Syria before the conflict (2010)  Why it’s all about the people  Making friends and building a community  Working as a tour leader Living in different communities in Canada, Switzerland and Florida  Why time is more important than money  Her love for running in the mountains, sleeping in a bivvy bag Wanting to live a life, where she is able to do all the things that are really important to her Learning how to paraglide Saying yes to lots of things Living a frugal life Riding horses and taking a horse riding tour to Mongolia  Women and safety while travelling in the middle east The importance of having respect Setting up downtoearthtravel.co.uk with Kara Cheshire Can you travel too much? Feeling travel burnout  When travel lost its purpose  Advice for women who want to make a change Letting go of attachments Starting to doubt her life choices during covid Training to run around Mount Blanc The covid years  Having a routine and taking a big rest from the world Feeling scared and anxious before travelling again  Getting older and dealing with the future Building a tiny home in an orchard Doing mini adventures and finding the sweet spot Guiding in Mongolia  Getting serious with her running and building up time on feet Ultimate Direction - Fast Packing Pack  Advice for women who want to be more adventurous and travel more How plans can change and evolve and why you don’t need to have it all figured out before you start.  
Social Media
Website: www.downtoearthtravel.co.uk 
Instagram: @

Carol Devine embodies a diverse array of roles, seamlessly intertwining her work as a researcher, writer, artist, climate activist, humanitarian professional, and explorer. Her pursuits range from spearheading groundbreaking ecological expeditions to championing causes such as combating plastic pollution and empowering women in adventure sports.
She spearheaded the first civilian volunteer ecological expedition in Antarctica, collaborating with the Russian Antarctic Expedition. Additionally, Carol has actively participated in and documented environmental initiatives, such as Clean Up Svalbard, near the North Pole.
Despite limited sailing experience, Carol eagerly embraced the opportunity to learn alongside seasoned sailors and fellow advocates combating plastic pollution. She recently embarked on an all-female expedition with eXXpedition, circumnavigating Scotland to conduct research and raise awareness about the global plastic crisis while championing women's presence in adventure sports.
Carol's dedication to environmental and social causes is further evidenced by her membership in prestigious organizations such as The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research Humanities and Social Sciences Expert Group and The Explorer's Club.
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 Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
 By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. 
Thank you for your invaluable support!
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Show notes
Who is Carol  Her early years Growing up in Canada  Going to university to study English Literature  Wanting to visit Antarctica, but going with a purpose Being inspired by people around her  Taking the opportunity when it came available Wanting to help clean up Antarctica  The Antarctic Treaty Collaboration and working with others Working with Wendy Trusler https://www.wendytrusler.ca/ Book: Ode To Antarctica - Antarctic cultural history book based on a civilian ecological cleanup expedition 42 recipes, pix, journals. HarperDesign.  Crossing the Drake Passage How the experience changed her  Applying to Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)  How art fits into the work  Telling the story of their Antarctica expedition through food and imagery while discussing serious issues Heading to Svalbard, to do a clean up operation  Using art to talk about serious stories  Getting involved with eXXpedition (a non-profit organisation that runs pioneering all-female sailing research expeditions at sea and virtual voyages on land to investigate the causes of and solutions to ocean plastic pollution)  Emily Penn - Tough Girl Podcast (Jul 12, 2016)  Emily Penn - Tough Girl Podcast EXTRA (Jan 9, 2020)  Wanting to learn how to sail  The challenges of sailing and dealing with sea sickness The lessons learned and the takeaways from the experience  Having an international scope but working locally  Presenting their finding to the Scottish Parliament  TEDxMontrealWomen: Ocean Love: Cleaning Up Our Plastic Mess  Advice for people regarding plastic pollution  #OceanOptimism The little things/small actions you can do to make a difference Project: Hello/Goodbye Glaciers  Learning about glaciers in Iceland, Canada, Switzerland, Alaska and Argentina Code Red for Humanity  The impacts of the glaciers receding  Future projects See Change Initiative  How to connect with Carol Final words of advice for other women and girls  Taking the opportunities when they come Making a commitment and seeing it through  Risk, discomfort and challenge  LEAP!!!   
Social Media

Gráinne Moss is arguably Irelands most accomplished female open water swimmer. 
At 16 she was the first female to represent Ireland in open water swimming at the World Championships. 
At 17 she became the first Irish woman to swim the English Channel. She has continued to achieve many firsts including the first Irish woman to swim Cook Strait (2001) Foveaux (2022), Lake Taupō (2021) and the Channel of Bones in Hawaii (2023). 
Gráinne holds three Triple Crowns of Open Water Swimming (awarded when a swimmer has completed three of the toughest swims in any nation) - including appropriately the Irish and New Zealand Triple Crowns given she was born in Ireland and moved to New Zealand in 1998.
Since 2022 Gráinne has teamed up with Kenzie's Gift to use her swims as an opportunity to raise vital funds for this important charity which cares for children and young people who have experienced serious loss and grief. 
Her next adventure is in May this year when she will swim the famous straits of Gibraltar crossing from Africa to Spain.
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 Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
 By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. 
Thank you for your invaluable support!
***
Show notes
Who is Gráinne Being born in Ireland Emigrating to New Zealand at the end of the 90s Living in Wellington, New Zealand Representing Ireland and the first Open Water Swimming Championships (1986) Her early years and memories of water  Being spotted as talented at swimming at 6 years old Wanting to better herself and try new things Swimming for Bangor Swim Club  Making the transition to open water swimming Meeting people from around the world who loved open water swimming The pressure of swimming competitively and wanting to swim well Getting married and having 4 children  Swimming through out the years Getting back into big swims in 2021 Lessons learning from the big swims Making an emotional commitment to the swim Keeping motivated while waiting to compete the big swims Having her family involved in the big swims What the journey of a swim looks like  Swimming the Channel of Bones in Hawaii (43km) Having anxiety and neves before the swim and feeling full of doubt  Taking medication for sea sickness Swimming for charity - Kenzie’s Gift  Training and maintaining swim fitness Working with a swim coach (Phillip Rush) and the importance of stretching The importance of recovery  Handing changes in her body over the years Being aware of her body Not using a watch or GPS Learning how to train smart  Nutrition while swimming and getting the fuel needed to complete the big swims Homemade leek and potato swims for the cold swims PURE Sports Nutrition  The importance of feeding fast  Digging deep and getting through the dark/tough moments Taking it one stroke at a time The next swim challenge in May Swimming from Spain to Morocco - The Straits of Gibraltar  How to connect with Gráinne  Final words of advice for new swimmers and swimmers who want to take it to the next level The power of finding your community  
Social Media
Website: grainnemoss.com 
Instagram: @swimirishkiwi 
Charity: Kenzie’s Gift supports the mental health of tamariki (children) and mātātahi (young people) affected by serious illness or grief.
Link to Fundraising: winter-swim-challenge-2024.raiselysite.com/grainne-moss
 

In this episode of Tough Girl Podcast, we explore the incredible journey of Fatima, from her early years in Afghanistan to her pursuit of education, independence, and empowerment in Italy.
Fatima's childhood was marked by challenges, but her curiosity and determination to learn led her to secretly educate herself. As Afghanistan's first female tour guide, she defied expectations and empowered herself economically.
Threatened by the Taliban, Fatima made the courageous decision to flee to Italy, where she faced new obstacles but persisted in pursuing higher education. Now, as a refugee with a passion for sharing her experiences, she continues to inspire others as a unique tour guide.
Fatima's story is a testament to the power of resilience and the unwavering spirit of women. Tune in to Tough Girl Podcast to hear her journey firsthand.
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Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.
 By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement. 
Thank you for your invaluable support!
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Show notes
Who is Fatima Studying in Italy and working as a tour guide Her early years in Afghanistan Having 4 older brothers and 2 older sisters Working with the sheep as a shepherdess at age 7  Not having school and not being able to study  Being inspired by hearing people on the radio  How her curiosity grew and her desire to learn more  Starting to learn secretly  Practicing her reading and writing in the sand Being able to go to school and study Thinking about her own future  Witnessing the suffering of women in Afghanistan Wanting to live for herself Wanting to be independent and the person of her choice Becoming Afghanistan’s first female tour guide Graduating high school and wanting to go to University to become a journalist  Convincing her mother first Researching the history of Afghanistan Making a Facebook account and connecting with people who travel and how that connection led to her tourist work Untamed Borders - an adventure travel company providing unparalleled access to some of the world’s most interesting and inaccessible places.  Being able to earn more than her brothers and help to support her family Wanting to encourage more women to enter the tourist industry in Afghanistan  Sharing her story on CNN  Her journey to Italy  Receiving warning that she was a target of the Taliban  Not being able to say a proper goodbye to her family  The challenges of getting into the airport to get on the plane Moving to Italy and building a new life  Feeling mentally and physically lost and struggling to sleep Dealing with the aftermath and reliving the trauma Deciding to make changes in her life; getting a job, sorting out a university place, reading books and focusing on improving herself  Her passion for continuing her education and getting accepted with a fully funded scholarship to study at University in Milan (BA in International Politics and Government) Being a refugee and having travel documents which allows her travel in Europe Visiting Iran and meeting up with her family Continuing to be a tour guide in a unique way How to connect with Fatima Her reason for wanting to travel to every country in the world.  Final words of advice  “You are powerful as a woman, don’t underestimate your power.”    
Social Media
Instagram: @fatima.haidari786 
Youtube: youtube.com/@fatimahaidari?si=6Tep5bklgaTWCUr4