Tough Girl Podcast

Bonita Norris became the youngest woman to reach both the summit of Mt Everest at just 22 and the North Pole at 23, and her story is nothing short of extraordinary. In this episode, she shares the journey that took her from school trips in North Wales to climbing some of the world's highest peaks, navigating extreme environments, and pushing the limits of what's possible.
Bonita reflects on the early steps that built her career in mountaineering—starting with beginner climbing courses, funding her expeditions, and preparing for the Himalayan peaks. She opens up about the mental and physical challenges of summiting Everest, managing fear in remote and hostile environments, and how these experiences shaped her life and perspective.
Now a mother of two, Bonita also discusses how she balances adventure with family life, inspiring her children to embrace courage and curiosity. From attempting K2 to climbing the Matterhorn after an eight-year hiatus, she emphasises the importance of showing up, trusting the process, and meeting opportunity with determination.
Whether you're chasing literal mountains or metaphorical ones in your own life, Bonita's insights, lessons in bravery, and personal stories will motivate you to take the next bold step.
***
 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 Bonita 
The youngest person to have reached both the summit of Mt Everest (age 22) and the North Pole (age 23)
Book: The Girl Who Climbed Everest (2022) 
Mother of 2 children
Growing up and her early years 
Going on a school trip to North Wales and loving every moment of hiking in the mountains 
Finishing her A'levels and going off to South America to climb to Machu Picchu at 18
Not realising she could make a career out of mountaineering
Alison Hargreaves's dying on K2 in 1995 
Mothers and taking risks
Being in her 2nd year at university and going to a mountaineering talk at the Royal Geographical Society 
Realising that she wanted to climb and wanting to climb Mt Everest 
I don't know how, but I'm going to make it happen
Being inspired and maintaining the inspiration/motivation
Why it felt so meaningful 
2 years - 24 months to gain the skills, knowledge and funding
Starting with a beginners climbing course
Working backwards from her goal
Completing the smaller milestones and trusting in the process
Funding and paying for everything
Heading off on her first Himalayan Expedition - Manaslu (eighth-highest mountain in the world at 8,163 metres (26,781 ft))
Getting a job, using her student loan and receiving a grant from her university
Having 6 months to find £50k to join her team going to Everest.
Getting out of bed bad making another call
Speaking with Capital FM on the radio
How everything turned around
Getting the money, getting the sponsorship
Why you don't need to be an Olympic Athlete to climb Everest 
Why you need to work on the actual problem - don't work around the problem 
Fitness before heading of to Nepal 
Doing multi-days of training without rest
If you want to get good at climbing mountains, climb mountains
Reflecting back on the experience 
Worrying about what may go wrong on the mountain
Reaching the summit and how it's changed her life
Understanding the risks at 22
Thoughts on letting her children climb Everest
Climbing Everest with her daughter in the future
Attempting to climb K2 and managing fear in remote, hostile environments
Encouraging bravery and courage in her children 
Climbing the Matterhorn in 2025 after 8 years off climbing 
Not knowing if she would still enjoy it
Taking the time to figure out what is next
How you can connect with Bonita
Final words of advice 
Put yourself out there and luck will meet you half way 
You have to show up
 
Social Media
Website: www.bonita-norris.com 
Linkedin: Bonita Norris

Jacquetta Megarry didn't grow up in the outdoors, and she certainly didn't see herself as an adventurer—or a publisher. But turning 50 sparked a journey that would transform her life. From walking the West Highland Way with friends to summiting Mt Kilimanjaro, Jacquetta discovered the power of pacing yourself, listening to your body, and building unshakeable self-belief.
Her adventures inspired her to found Rucksack Readers, a guidebook company that helps hikers navigate trails around the world. Over 25 years later, Jacquetta shares stories from her experiences—from hiking in the UK during Storm Amy, to trekking the Inca Trail, to exploring Antarctica—along with lessons on making mistakes, learning from them, and embracing challenges at any age.
In this episode, Jacquetta shares how stepping outside your everyday life can open doors to new passions, transform confidence, and even create a career doing what you love. She offers practical tips for hikers, insights into publishing, and encouragement for women ready to explore the world on their own terms.
This episode is for you if you:
Want inspiration to start a new adventure at any age
Dream of hiking, trekking, or exploring the outdoors
Are curious about publishing guidebooks and sharing your knowledge
Believe it's never too late to embrace challenges and grow
Ready to be inspired? Hit play and let Jacquetta take you on a journey of mountains, maps, and life-changing adventures.
***
 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 Jacquetta
Growing up in London and going to school there
Living all her adult life in Scotland 
Living in Edinburgh
Founding Rucksack Readers a guidebook company 
Not being sporty or into the great outdoors at a young age
Turning 50 and deciding to go and walk the West Highland Way with 4 female friends to celebrate 200 years of womanhood 
Feeling dissatisfied with the official guidebook
This frustration lay dormant for 18 months 
Heading off to climb Mt Kilimanjaro for the first time and why the altitude was a great leveller
How climbing Kilimanjaro gave her the self belief in order to make a career change 
Going from working in IT to starting a guidebook company 
The importance of pacing yourself and listening to your body
Building self belief on the mountain 
How only 9 out of the 16 made it to the summit
Feeling health, taking photos and enjoying the experience 
Doing something so far outside your normal everyday life and how it can make you think differently about life
Becoming a publisher and having the confidence to think you can write a guidebook after one experience
Deciding to do the Inca Trail in 2001 and the challenges involved in gathering the info for a guidebook 
Why would you not want the paper to be rainproof?
Hiking the Dales Way during Storm Amy
Creating little map booklets for hikers (waterproof)
Apps verses Guidebooks 
Planning a walk with ChatGPT
The structure of the guidebook
Mapping and keeping route information updated
Being a volunteer - on the Xtreme Everest Project  
Dealing with altitude sickness - keeping well hydrated and monitoring her heart 
Maintaining a base level of fitness…
Celebrating 25 years of Rucksack Readers
Writing about the mistakes made in publishing
Talking about failure and mistakes and the lessons made 
Visiting Antarctica and wanting to go sea kayaking and see the emperor penguins 
Dealing with the cold and the conditions on the ship 
How her hiking has changed now entering her 70s
The joy of being a publisher and being able to follow her passions
Future challenge and revisiting the Dales Way
Succession planning for Rucksack Readers
Having a year of consolidation and looking after the future
How to connect with Jacquetta and Rucksack Readers
Discount code for the listeners of the Tough Girl Podcast—use toughgirl for a 20% discount of all books 
Final words of advice for other women who want to go on more adventures and challenges around the world
Mistakes and being afraid of getting it wrong. 
Get out there, make the mistakes, and be sure to learn from them. 
 
Social Media
Website: rucsacs.com
use toughgirl for a 20% discount off books - valid until 20th January 2027
Instagram: @rucksack_readers
Facebook: Rucksack Readers

Sabrina Pace-Humphreys is back on the Tough Girl Podcast for her third appearance, sharing her incredible journey as a runner, coach, and advocate for representation in trail running. From being a mum of four and grandmother of three, to taking on some of the toughest ultramarathons in the world, Sabrina's story is one of resilience, community, and the relentless pursuit of goals.
In this episode, Sabrina reflects on her time at the UTMB, the challenges of race preparation, and the lessons learned when things don't go to plan. She also shares updates on her work with Black Trail Runners, supporting women and runners of the global majority, and gives a sneak peek into her new book, Start Where You Are: The Beginner's 5k Running Guide for Women.
Whether you're chasing your first 5k, dreaming of ultra distances, or passionate about creating inclusive running communities, Sabrina's insights, advice, and personal stories will inspire you to lace up and claim your mantle as a runner.
Listen to past episodes with Sabrina on the Tough Girl Podcast 
July 7th 2020 - Sabrina Pace-Humpreys - Ultra runner, going from Anxiety to Accomplishment - Running the MDS
August 30th - 2022 - Sabrina Pace-Humphreys - Co-founder of Black Trail Runners and running Britain's most brutal race 
***
 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 Sabrina Pace-Humphreys
Run coach, personal trainer and community builder 
Advocate for representation in running 
Mum of 4, grandmother of 3
3rd time on the Tough Girl Podcast!
Speaking with Sabrina on August 30th 2022
The final things we talked about - Back to the Trails, creating a vision board, wanting to participate in the UTMB race and wanting to write a 2nd book about running 
What's happened over the past few years
2023 Survivor! 
Not being able to hide being a hype woman! 
Why you will either love it or hate it
Being voted out in the 2nd week 
Why it was such a bizarre experience seeing herself
Having an episode of poor mental health after the show and feeling out of control
Using her voice to motivate a team
Coming out of the low moments and the connection to running, community and friendships 
Her go to tools
Update on Black Trail Runners
Running social runs with students of the global majority
Creating a sustainable charity and model
HERE FOR THE WOMEN'S RACE
Being involved in a steering committee to get more women in the trail running space 
Creating the black and gold t-shirt - "Here for the women's race"
Her journey to the UTMB
Running stones and collecting them 
UK race - Arc of Attrition and Ultra Trail Snowdonia
Applying via the ballot 
The planning and preparation for UTMB
B and C races, planning weekends in Snowdonia and France
Using an altitude chamber for training 
Booking accommodation for the UTMB a year in advance
Financial access to races 
£15,000 for races, accommodations, travel costs, gear, supplements etc
August on the start line of the UTMB
Working on a film to be released next year
Not wanting to let anyone down
Not liking the pre-race faff
Why it was different to what she thought it would be
The brutal conditions and being timed out 
Tweaking her calf the week before
The weather challenges and the impact on the racers
Not being able to get out of the slump
How the race made her question everything 
Being supported by her husband and friends
Battling cutoffs 
Not having it in her and the end of the race
Working on her running book!
New Book: Start Where You Are: The Beginner's 5k Running Guide for Women
How you can connect with Sabrina
Final words of advice and wisdom
You can do hard things 
Claiming the mantle - I am a runner
 
Social Media
Website: www.sabrinapacehumphreys.com
Instagram: @sabrunsmiles 
New book: Start Where You Are: The Beginner's 5k Running Guide for Women

Becky Wandell is a Teacher, Writer, Tour Guide, Volunteer, and Solo Traveler. At 47, while weathering a difficult divorce and the death of four close relatives, she clawed her way up from the depths of grief and, in her words, set out to "find her way back to Becky again". 
To do this, she quit her job, sold all of her belongings and charted a plan to complete a series of adventures she had always dreamed of doing. Joining the US Peace Corps, learning to speak Spanish and gaining her confidence in solo travel and living abroad set the stage for several years of living her best life throughout South America; a life rich with opportunities to learn, grow, serve others through volunteering, integrate deeply into cultures, and make connections - especially with women.
Then, in 2024 at the age of 55, she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada. 
It was there, with thousands of footsteps across the desert, over the mountains and back home to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, she was finally able to release the last of her regrets, coming away from the trek feeling lighter, freer, more confident and beautiful than ever before. 
Turns out, living life to the fullest and fulfilling all your dreams brings joy.
Now, Becky works as a seasonal Tour Guide in Alaska which allows her to spend the rest of the year living out of her backpack, always ready for the next adventure.
***
 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 Becky 
Teacher, writer, solo traveller, volunteer and tour guide 
Starting her life in the Mid-West
Knowing she always wanted to live by mountains 
Starting to work for the forest service in environmental programs 
Having a wonderful career and life
Needing to make a pivot in her life and needing to figure out what she really wanted to do
Joining the Peace Corps at 47 
Wanting to travel more, learn a new language and experience more of the world
Deciding to hike the Pacific Crest Trail at 55 from Mexico to Canada
Gaining a huge amount of confidence 
Wanting to slow travel more and working as a tour guide in Alaska
Living her dream and being the best beaky she can be
The pivot at 47
The love letters….. the origin story to her relationship 
Giving up her dreams and "compromising" 
Typing out all the things that she wanted to do back then
Sacrificing her dreams 
What the Peace Corps is
Learning so much about herself, other people and cultures 
Living in Ecuador with a family and leaning the language 
Her new path and dealing with lonely moments
Losing her parents 
Slow travel and volunteering around South America 
Workaway 
Spending 2 years travelling around Patagonia 
Her dream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)
Feeling ready to take on the hike
Not having fears or concerns before the hike
Letting go of fear
Getting her trail name
Challenging sections on the PCT
Why 700 miles in the desert was the real challenge 
Being supported by her friends during the tough moments
The mental game
Doing hard things 
Writing a letter to herself 
Can she push her body that hard to make the hike happen
Preparing for the trail really well
Needing to hike her hike her way
Learning about her last name
Sharing a little video from the end of the PCT
Finally identifying as a tough girl 
How to connect with Becky 
Final words of advice
Give up the fear, your going to be ok 
Start planning, take the step.
 
Social Media
Blog: onthewingadventures.com
Instagram: @beckysonthewingadventures

What does it mean to challenge the limits of both body and mind—and to redefine what success looks like along the way? Denisa Krásná, scholar, author, and adventurer from the Czech Republic, takes us on a journey into the world of women in extreme sports.
From her early days trekking with her parents to highlining hundreds of meters above the ground, Denisa has always been drawn to adventure, isolation, and pushing herself beyond comfort. She co-edited Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock, and Sky, an inspiring anthology celebrating diverse women's voices in adventure sports—whitewater kayaking, climbing, mountaineering, and highlining—challenging stereotypes and redefining what it means to be successful in the outdoors.
In this episode, we explore:
Denisa's path from scholar to adventurer and author
How fear, frustration, and failure can become tools for growth
The mental game behind highlining and extreme sports
Stories of resilience, creativity, and empowerment from women across the globe
Why inclusivity, mentorship, and community are key to thriving in adventure sports
Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a woman seeking inspiration, or simply curious about the stories behind extreme adventure, Denisa's insights will leave you reflecting on your own limits—and inspired to push past them.
Tune in for a conversation about courage, flow, and the power of women redefining adventure on their own terms.
***
🎙️ 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 Denisa
Growing up and living in the Czech Republic 
Working as a scholar at university 
Loving research and writing about her adventure 
Writing books and academic articles
Her early years growing up 
Travelling with her parents all the time
Going on trekking adventures around the world from places like  lapland to Nepal 
Her love for being outdoors and being isolated 
Being introverted 
Wanting to talk to adults and discuss ideas 
Her passion for reading, researching and academics 
Being active every single day
New Book: Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock, and Sky
How the book came about with her friend Alena Rainsberry 
Getting a grant to work on outdoor counternarratives 
Being do-ers  and getting things done
Reaching out to potential authors 
The gap in the literature 
What does counternarratives mean?
What the typical story of success currently is in outdoor sports
Wanting to show that success is something that should be defined by the individual - it should be fluid.
Including stories from professional athletes who define success in the more conventional way 
Representation of women in adventure stories 
The stories that resonated and made her think in a different way
Why every story can make you think 
The unique view of Rae Raptor aka Cheryll Glotfelty 
The advantages that her age gives her from money and time 
Talking about fear and how fear manifests in so many different ways 
Rocky Mountain Books
Denisa view on fear and how she experiences it 
Why her view on fear is very rational and being able to distinguish between the objective and subjective fear
Highlining and slacklining 
Her journey into highlining 
Buying a slackline during covid
Why the improvements were related to the frequency of training 
Having quick initial progress
Being introduced to the local slacklining community and getting a mentor
The state of flow 
Why flow is also a word game and why it has multiple meanings
The photo on the cover of FLOW - with Brenda Gor 
What free style highlining is and how it is different from walkers
The mental side of highlining  - zoning out 
The importance of preparing before you even get on the line 
Using rituals to get mentally into the right state of mind 
The number one cause of death in highlining 
Human mistakes and how it can happen to experienced professionals 
Why it's good to be slightly afraid 
Always respect that you are doing an extreme sport 
Why the mental game is different for everybody 
Needing to take a few steps to get into the mental zone 
Specific training needed for the sport 
Frustration with slacking and not seeing progress 
Why you should't give up when you first start
Why the start can be very painful
Why you need to trust the process 
Focus on the positive things
Don't lean into the frustration 
Needing to work on the mental side of highlining 
Walking 200m lines and falling once at the end on the seemingly easy part
The struggle at the end 
Fighting the doubts in her mind 
Why these sports are like a mirror into our inner selves 
Flow, Fear, Frustration, Falling - dealing with a sense of Failure 
The lessons learned from failure - Dorothea Hamilton 
Women being framed as too ambitious and that being seen as a negative 
Climbing half dome with Alena Rainsberry
Why it was amazing and traumatic! 
How to connect with Denisa
Final words of advice for other women who want to take on more adventure sports
Why it's important to find people to do the activity with, people who support you and people who motivate you. 
Reading memoirs written by other women 
 
Social Media
Website: www.riversrocksky.com
Instagram: @vegi.deni.slacks
Book: Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock, and Sky