Tough Girl Podcast

Happy New Year! I'm taking a moment to look back at the last six months of 2025—what's worked, what hasn't, and what the numbers tell me about the year so far. I reflect on the journey I've been on, the adventures, the challenges, and the mindset shifts that have shaped my life. I talk about working in longer blocks, thinking in decades not years, and the balance between pushing hard and giving myself space to rest. I share what I'm learning about consistency, structure, and getting intentional with my time, energy, and goals. I also get real about needing magic, wanting change, and how to show up even when life throws curveballs. If you're looking for a little reflection, motivation, and some Tough Girl honesty, this episode is for you. Thank you for all your support! Love Sarah x  ***  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 Happy New Year - Welcome to 2026 Reflection blog post  Looking at the numbers in 2025 - Because data sometimes tells the story better than feelings.  Looking ahead to 2026 Working in longer blocks  Thinking in decades, not years 2025 to 2035 - The purple decade  Level 2 Psychology Course The importance of structure Where it may lead Consistency Gym, Aim, Mone  New Tough Girl Buffs! Adventure Funds and Emergency Funds Editing the GR10 vlogs!! (2 left to be edited)  Booking in future guests for the Tough Girl Podcast Editing the SWCP Vlogs Consistency Digital clense - laptop and phone  Boring… Need some magic, needing a timeline shift Needing for something to be different The power of reframing situations Continuity or seasons Do I need more down time? 2 - Sarah's…. Wanting to be busy and productive Wanting to be in my soft girl era Why a lot can change over the next 6 weeks What is going to happen?1 Leaving it up to fate, the universe, to magic Drive it, make the decisions, you take the steps to make it happen, put in the work Getting intentional  Ebbing and flowing between the two The journey I've been on, from where I've started The journey that you're on Dealing with life curveballs  Words of comfort  The future is exciting Go in with our best foot forward Keep positive, keep showing up Thank you for your support  Thank you to the amazing women who have shared their story on the podcast  How can I live my life differently? Scrolling through the past episodes on the website  Evergreen episodes  Thank you!    *** Previous Reflections/Solo Episodes  Jan 2nd 2025 -  Sarah Williams: Reflections on the South West Coast Path, Health, Money & Future Plans for 2025 Aug 1, 2024 - Sarah Williams: Reflecting on the Past 6 Months and Future Plans for 2024 – Insights, Challenges, and Adventures. Mar 14, 2024 - Sarah Williams - Reflections & Learnings from the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand. Nov 2, 2023 - Sarah Williams - Planning and Preparation for thru hiking the 3,000 km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand. #ChallengeWithZOLEO Sep 10, 2023 - Sarah Williams - Solo Reflections: A Look Back at the End of 2022, Adventures and Challenges in 2023 Aug 4th 2022 - Sarah Williams - Reflects on the end of 2021 and the start of 2022. Aug 4th 2021 - Sarah Williams - Reflects on the end of 2020 and the start of 2021. Aug 7th 2020 - Sarah Williams - Reflections on 2019 & and the start of 2020.  Aug 4th, 2019 - Sarah Williams - Reflections on 2018 and the start of 2019. Plus plans for Tough Girl Challenges. Dec 25, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway & Baja Divide    Sep 4, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Planning and Preparation for the Pacific Coast Highway & the Baja Divide! Sep 19, 2017 - Sarah Williams - Thru hiking the Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles) in 100 days!  Apr 26, 2016 - Sarah Williams - Shares her journey of getting to the start line of the Marathon des Sables (MDS) & running the toughest footrace on earth!   Social Media Instagram @toughgirlchallenges  Facebook @toughgirlchallenges  Youtube @toughgirlchallenges  Patrons www.patreon.com/c/ToughGirlPodcast  

From the jungles of India to the global stage of wildlife conservation, Dr Latika Nath has spent her life studying and protecting big cats, becoming the first woman in the world to study tigers in the wild. Known as Nat Geo's "Tiger Princess," she shares stories from deep in the forests where she observed tigers using tools, hunting porcupines, and navigating complex human-wildlife conflicts. In this episode, Latika takes us on her journey from a childhood spent exploring the outdoors to pursuing her dream in a male-dominated field, studying elephants and tigers in the wild. She shares the challenges of working in remote areas, the lessons learned from female tigers, and her tireless efforts to combat poaching. We also dive into her work as a conservation photographer, using images to tell stories that inspire action, and her advice for women and girls aiming to make their mark in conservation. Latika's story is one of courage, dedication, and the belief that one person's passion can make a world of difference. This episode is for you if: You love wildlife and big cats You're curious about conservation and sustainability You want inspiration from a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated field You're motivated by stories of courage, resilience, and following your passions ***  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 Dr Latika Working as a Conservation Ecologist and conservation photographer  Being based out of Indian  Studying big cats all over the world  Using her photography to share stories about conservation  Working as an expert on Tourism and sustainability Working with the Indian Planning Commission as an in-house advisor  Being an only child and spending most of her time outdoors  Living close to a National Park Deciding at 6 years old that she wanted to be an ecologist  Being encouraged to pursue her dreams People in the 1970s not knowing what an ecologist was Not being able to study the subjects she wanted to Being a girl in a male dominated field Being the first woman in the world to study tigers Moving over to the UK to continue her education at Bangor University, Wales Doing her masters thesis on elephant and human conflict in Indian  How elephants follow the old memories Her passion and interest in tigers Wanting to study snow leopards initially Terrorism in Kashmir and how it changed the direction of her life Being inspired by Dr HS Pabla The tiger population in India currently  Project tiger - being responsible for the conservation of the tiger in the wild Being the only person in the park and being truly on her own in the wild with the animals  What it was like studying the tigers and the relationships that developed Discovering new knowledge about tigers Seeing tigers using tools How tigers eat porcupines  The expedition logistics Lessons learned from female tigers  The biggest danger to tigers going forward How to combat poaching  Getting the nickname - The Tiger Princess Being filmed by National Geographic for a 1hr documentary  Advice and tips for women and girls who want to enter the space of conservation  Advice for women around self belief and self confidence and why there work is important What's next for Dr Lakita Writing her next book Having a photography expedition in London in June 2026 How to connect with Dr Lakita Final words of advice around following your passions and interests Having good days and bad days - go one day, one step at a time and why it can make a big difference  Hang in there and take that one step everyday   Social Media Website: www.latikanath.com  Instagram: @latikanath Facebook: @nathlatika  

What does it take to return to the top of the ultra running world after major life changes and a "career-ending" surgery? Kaytlyn Gerbin knows. In this episode, Kaytlyn shares her journey from a scientist with a love for the outdoors to a world-class trail and ultra runner. Growing up active but without formal running experience, she discovered her talent in her mid-twenties and quickly fell in love with the 100-mile distance. Since then, she's set course records, tackled some of the most technical alpine trails in the Pacific Northwest, and stood on podiums at legendary races like UTMB, Western States 100, and Transgrancanaria. But Kaytlyn's story isn't just about running. It's about resilience, reinvention, and balance. After the birth of her daughter Era in 2024 and undergoing surgery to correct hip dysplasia—a procedure many thought would end her running career—Kaytlyn came back stronger than ever, winning the Cascade Crest 100 and taking on the epic 330km Tor des Geants race in Italy. In this episode, you'll hear about: How she discovered her running talent and found her passion for ultra distances Overcoming setbacks, starting over, and learning to meet herself where she is The mental strategies that help her tackle 100-mile races and multi-day alpine challenges Balancing motherhood with elite-level running Her plans and goals for 2026, including Hardrock 100 and UTMB Whether you're an aspiring ultra runner, a parent chasing big goals, or someone who loves stories of grit, perseverance, and adventure, Kaytlyn's story will inspire you to push your limits—on the trails and in life. Tune in to hear how Kaytlyn combines mountains, motherhood, and science-backed training to redefine what's possible, one long run at a time. ***  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 Kaytln Ultra runner and trail runner for the North Face Living in the foothills outside of Seattle, US Having a degree in Bioengineering and previously working as a scientist  Having her first daughter, 14 months ago Reflecting back on her childhood and early years Growing up in rural US Being the oldest of four and being very active as a kid How her running journey progressed Playing soccer in high school Being good at running on the field, but not enjoying the running for training Making friends with other students at college who ran Discovering her running talent in her mid-twenties Entering her first small, local race and finishing 2nd female Having fun and feeling strong while running  Finding her distance  Loving the 100 mile distance  Figuring out training for races The longer she ran, the stronger she felt  Feeling overwhelmed by the running distances  Having to start over with her running Remembering how hard it is to start running again after set backs Having a hard time with running  Never having a running coach and getting to make all the rules Tracking her training  Meeting yourself where your at ie being ok with walking  Bringing in science to her running? Lessons on failure and how it applies to running Staying humble with her running Why the hardest part of the race, is just before it starts The anxiety before a race, struggling to sleep and eat before Staying relaxed while running and settling into the run after 50k Running through the night Taking some time before doing the hard thing, and thinking about the mental challenges which may come up and how to handle it Running a 220 mile race over 4 days Dealing with the guilt of being away from her baby while running  Anticipate what some of the mental challenges might be during a race and how best to approach it Taking a step back from the running during pregnancy  Not feeling the pressure to go back to running Her 'A' race in 2025 Tor des Geants 330km race in Italy   Winning the Cascade Crest 100 mile race  Seeing the 2nd placed woman - starting to race Wanting to run hand and push herself Plans for 2026 Applying for Hardrock 100 mile race Wanting to go back and race at UTMB  Having a pregnancy deferral for UTMB   How to connect with Kaytlyn Advice for women wanting to take on a 100 mile race   Social Media Instagram @kaytlyn_g  

Sheryl Ramstad's story is nothing short of extraordinary. After surviving a catastrophic plane crash with less than a 1% chance of survival, Sheryl's life was forever changed. What began as her first solo flight at age 29 became a harrowing journey through life-threatening burns, multiple surgeries, overwhelming grief, and two years of excruciating rehabilitation. But this isn't just a survival story—it's a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and the unbreakable human spirit. In this powerful conversation, Sheryl shares how she transformed unimaginable trauma into a life of purpose, service, and adventure. From shifting her mindset from "Why me?" to "What's next?" to supporting burn survivors in Peru, going back to school at 62, raising three children, becoming a grandmother, and even climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro—Sheryl embodies what it means to live fully, bravely, and without regrets. With her first book "Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving, and Summiting" published in January 2025, Sheryl reflects on a decades-long journey of healing, reinvention, and choosing courage over fear. Her story will inspire you to embrace challenges, pursue new beginnings at any age, and live life full throttle. If you're looking for a reminder of what's possible—even in your darkest moments—this episode will stay with you long after you've listened. ***  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 Sheryl  Being based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, US Being retired and writing her first book  Surviving her first solo plane flight at 29 years old How this impacted how she lived the rest of her life Leaving work and no longer having an excuse not to write her story Having 3 adult children and 6 grandchildren  Having the book published in late January of 2025 The key moment when life changed Changed her focus from survival to service Being grateful for everyday and wanting to make her life meaningful for herself and for others Supporting burn survivors in Lima, Peru Being given a 1% chance of survival The importance of her faith, friends and family  Applying for nursing school at 62 Learning new skills  Instead of asking why me - I ask - what's next Looking towards the future Having a strong family support system Having her faith to fall back on Reflecting back on writing her book Why it's been a life long process Serving  Books for Africa  Deciding to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa Deciding what to do with life Following a few simple principles Living life with no regrets  Better to have tried and failed than never to have tried at all  Do nothing in moderation - give your whole heart to everything that you want to try Going back to school at 62 and being a student again Don't be afraid to ask others for help Getting back on a plane  Mental health and support for people going through traumatic experiences  Raising her children  What's next Being a life long learner Maybe writing another book Wanting to encourage people to live their life full throttle Why it's a matter of perspective  How to connect with Sheryl How to buy her book Being happy to connect with people Final words of advice for women listening Don't be guided by your fear, be guided by the facts and the evidence - do what you feel led to do, so you don't go to your grave with any regrets.    Social Media Website: www.sherylramstadauthor.com  Book: Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving and Summiting A Memoir  

Hillary Allen, famously known as the "Hillygoat," is a world-class ultrarunner celebrated for her fearless climbs on steep, technical terrain. But in 2017, at the peak of her career as the #1 ultrarunner in the world, Hillary faced a life-changing setback: during a race in Norway, she fell 150 feet off a ridge, breaking 14 bones. Doctors told her she'd never run again. Yet Hillary didn't just defy the odds—she redefined them. Today, she's back competing at the elite level and inspiring others to rewrite their own stories of resilience.  With a background in neuroscience and a master's in physiology and structural biology, Hillary combines science, grit, and empathy in her work as an author, coach, and speaker.  Her book, Out and Back: A Runner's Story of Survival Against All Odds, chronicles her incredible comeback. In this episode, Hillary shares: How her lifelong love of running and science shaped her journey The mental and physical challenges of recovering from a life-threatening fall Practical tips on mindset, self-belief, and self-compassion Why she believes your best athletic days can be ahead of you Whether you're an athlete, adventurer, or someone looking to overcome setbacks in life, Hillary's story is a powerful reminder that resilience, courage, and persistence can take you farther than you ever imagined. ***  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 Hillary Growing up in Boulder Colorado, USA Being an athlete all her life Coming from an outdoorsy, academic family Describing herself as a science nerd Currently in a Masters Program for Applied Sports Psychology Having an older sister Growing up camping with her family Her parents both being professors  Studying chemistry and neuroscience Not finishing her Phd Getting her first running sponsorship  Her running journey to get to being a sponsored athlete Starting running in graduate school  Needing an outlet to reset  Starting to run with a running group  Discovering the trail running scene  When things clicked after running a road marathon  Wondering if she could do it… Being drawn to running and feeling satisfaction in the challenge Working hard on her weaknesses  Working on her ability to run on technical trails and push herself when feeling tired Getting into skyruning  Being named the Hilly Goat! Why its a skill you need to practice The challenges of 2017 Heading over to Europe to race Tromsø Skyrace  Thinking she was dying Falling 150ft, breaking 14 bones, damaging ligaments and being lucky to be alive Book: Out and Back: A Runner's Story of Survival Against All Odds  Being depressed  Starting to think about running again Believe that your best athletic days are ahead of you  Helping her mindset and the mental side of the challenge Working with a counsellor Working past fear Breaking her ankle and dealing with another injury Going back to do the race again Getting her nervous energy out  Closing the chapter off Practical tips around mindset The power of self compassion and self belief The next plan/goals Signing up for a road marathon in January  Working on building up some speed Podcast - Trail Society  How to connect with Hillary  Final words of advice for other women  The importance of daily practices  Journalling  Mantra - believe your best athletic days are ahead of you Affirmations - I am statements "I am a runner" Start small, and start with self belief     Social Media Website www.hillaryallen.com  Instagram @hillygoat_climbs  Facebook @hillaryallenrunner  Podcast - Trail Society