Dee Anna: From Survivor to Disabled Adventuress – Finding Strength in Nature.
Release Date: 04/24/2025
Rebecca Devereux – Mum, Vet, Trail Runner, and 3rd Place Finisher at the Montane Winter Spine Sprint
Tough Girl Podcast
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by the incredible Rebecca Devereux — a dedicated mum, a vet, and a passionate trail and ultra runner. Rebecca shares her journey into endurance running, her training highs and lows, and what it took to place third in one of Britain’s most brutal races — the Montane Winter Spine Sprint, a 46-mile challenge across the rugged Pennine Way in the depths of winter. We dive into Rebecca’s approach to training and mindset, how she balances family life with her love for the trails, and her growing involvement with Black...
info_outline
Helen Ryvar – Running Through Grief, Finding Strength & Breaking Records | 1,000 Consecutive Half Marathons (May 2022 – Jan 2025) 🙌 Inspiring Others to Be Their Best ❤️
Tough Girl Podcast
What began as a way to cope with grief became a world record-breaking journey that’s taken Helen Ryvar across the globe — from sunrise runs in North Wales to volcanic trails in Fuerteventura and the ancient deserts of Petra. A single mum of three and a self-described non-athlete in her youth, Helen’s transformation into a Guinness World Record holder for running consecutive half marathons is nothing short of awe-inspiring. In this deeply personal episode, Helen opens up about the heartbreak that sparked her first streak, how running became her therapy, and the mental and physical...
info_outline
Caroline Livesey – Extreme Triathlete and Elite Gravel Cyclist: Winning Races, Breaking Limits, and Giving Back
Tough Girl Podcast
Caroline Livesey is an adventurer, extreme triathlete, ultracyclist, elite gravel cyclist and triathlon and life coach. Caroline started her journey into triathlon while serving with the Royal Engineers in the British Army. After 10 years service she left as a Major in 2013 and pursued a career as a professional triathlete (while working full time as a geotechnical design consultant), originally in Ironman events. In 2019 circumstances conspired to throw her into her first extreme triathlon, Canadaman XTRI. Winning this event was the catalyst for her to work on her mindset and...
info_outline
Dr. Sheridan Lathe - Sailing the World to Deliver Veterinary Care to Remote Communities
Tough Girl Podcast
In this inspiring episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we set sail with Dr. Sheridan Lathe, aka Dr. Sheddy — a wildlife veterinarian, sailor, YouTuber, and passionate advocate for both animal and human wellness. After years of working with domestic and exotic animals in Australia and rescuing bears in China, Dr. Sheddy took her expertise to the seas. Now based on her 37ft sailboat Chuffed, she delivers free veterinary care to animals in remote coastal communities across Central America and Mexico — reaching places where traditional care simply doesn’t...
info_outline
Tinuke Oyediran: Adventure Presenter, Survivor UK Star. Committed to showing diverse audiences that anyone, regardless of background, can experience life to the fullest.
Tough Girl Podcast
In this episode, we sit down with Tinuke Oyediran, an extraordinary adventure presenter and thrill-seeking daredevil who’s breaking barriers in the world of extreme adventure. You may recognise Tinuke from her recent stint on Survivor UK on BBC1, but her journey goes far beyond reality TV. Tinuke is on a mission to show that anyone, regardless of background, can embrace life’s greatest adventures and that the most rewarding experiences often come from stepping out of your comfort zone. From sleeping on the side of a mountain and walking the wing of an aeroplane to climbing glaciers,...
info_outline
Ann Whatmore: A Fearless Adventurer Who Proves Severe Asthma Doesn’t Set Limits – Cycling 3000km Across the UK on a Recumbent E-Trike
Tough Girl Podcast
In this episode, we’re joined by the fearless Ann Whatmore, an adventurer who proves that asthma doesn’t have to set limits on what you can achieve. Ann has faced numerous health challenges, but rather than letting them hold her back, she’s embraced adventure in a big way. In May 2024, she cycled over 3,000km across the UK on her recumbent e-trike, “Bob,” completing a solo journey from Land’s End to Orkney before speaking at Yestival. This was no easy feat – Ann had only a sixth of her lung function available and had to rely on determination, resourcefulness, and a...
info_outline
Aisling Byrne: International Showjumper and Businesswoman on Surviving a Devastating Riding Accident and Defying the Odds to Walk and Compete Again
Tough Girl Podcast
In this powerful episode, we meet Aisling Byrne — an international showjumper, successful businesswoman, and an extraordinary example of resilience in the face of life-altering adversity. After a devastating horse riding accident left her with multiple broken bones, internal injuries, and the prognosis that she would never walk again, Aisling refused to accept defeat. Over the course of a gruelling three-year recovery, she not only walked again — she returned to the international showjumping circuit, proving that mindset, grit, and determination can overcome even the most impossible...
info_outline
Pamela Lee: Irish Offshore Sailor, World Record Holder, Empowering Women Through Sailing, Training for Route du Rhum 2026.
Tough Girl Podcast
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we’re joined by Pamela Lee, a professional offshore sailor from Ireland who’s breaking records and barriers in one of the most extreme, male-dominated sports on the planet. Now based in Brittany, France—the heart of short-handed offshore racing—Pamela has carved out her path with grit, determination, and a clear vision for empowering women through sailing. Pam shares her journey from growing up beside the sea in Ireland to becoming the first Irish woman to skipper the Transat Jacques Vabre Race, setting three world records...
info_outline
Bianca Fernandez-Clark: 7x Ironman Finisher and Founder of Women in Tri UK, Making Triathlon More Inclusive for Women.
Tough Girl Podcast
Bianca Fernandez-Clark is a 7x Ironman finisher, Chair, and co-founder of Women in Tri UK, a charity on a mission to bring more women into triathlon and break down barriers in the sport. With no background in sport, Bianca laced up her trainers at age 29 to tackle a 10km as a way to manage her mental health. From there, she progressed to marathons and, in 2016, took on the challenge of learning to swim and cycle to complete her first triathlon. As a Black/mixed-race woman, Bianca has been vocal about the lack of diversity in triathlon, especially at long-distance events, and has worked to...
info_outline
Harriet Frost: 2x Arc of Attrition 100 mile finisher, Race Director, Business Owner of Grit Culture, Co-parent of Sea+Flo supporting people to upgrade their periods.
Tough Girl Podcast
Harriet Frost is a force of energy, endurance, and entrepreneurial grit. From completing the notorious Arc of Attrition 100-mile ultra twice, to directing multiple trail races, to co-founding a menstrual cup company focused on sustainable period care for athletes — Harriet is redefining what it means to pursue hard things, in business and on the trail. In this episode, Harriet shares her journey from growing up in Cornwall to discovering a love of endurance sport later in life — despite hating running at first. With no formal coaching, she’s built her own training strategy...
info_outlineDee Anna's story is one of resilience, adventure, and refusing to let society define her limits.
Born with a genetic mutation that affected her mobility, she faced a lifetime of challenges—from intensive physiotherapy as a child to being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2022. Along the way, she also navigated severe autism, trauma, and life-altering setbacks that could have stopped her in her tracks. But instead, she turned to the outdoors.
In this episode, Dee shares how thru-hiking the South West Coast Path became the turning point that changed everything. With no home, no job, and facing immense personal struggles, she took a leap of faith and embarked on a 71-day journey that helped her reclaim her life.
We talk about the power of movement, nature’s role in healing, and why adventure should be accessible to everyone.
Now, as a scientist, outdoor journalist, and founder of The Introvert Magazine, Dee is on a mission to inspire others to embrace nature, break barriers, and live life on their own terms.
This is a powerful and deeply moving conversation about survival, self-discovery, and the courage to forge your own path. Don’t miss it!
*Please be aware that this episode contains discussions of suicidal thoughts, severe trauma, and sexual assault.
***
Catch the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, dropping every Tuesday at 7 am UK time! Don’t forget to subscribe so you won’t miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women.
Want to play a part in uplifting female representation in the media? Support the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon! Your generosity helps shine a spotlight on female role models in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Join us in making a positive impact by visiting www.patreon.com/
Thank you for your amazing support!
***
Show notes
- Who is Dee
- Disabled Adventuress, scientist, outdoor journalist, writer, naturalist and photographer
- Living in South Wales, surrounded by wonderful nature
- Being born in Poland and growing up in Sussex
- Her early year and growing up with severe autism and being mute
- Not socialising with other people but spending time in the outdoors
- Being interested in the natural world from a young age
- Feeling safe in nature
- Studying biology and chemistry at a high level
- Being born with a genetic mutation
- Being severely disabled and going through intensive physical therapy to be able to walk
- Building internal resilience and mental strength
- Her first big solo adventure in 2023
- Walking the South West Coast Path
- Dealing with severe trauma and complicated medical conditions
- Losing her job, her house and partner and having no where to go
- Wanting to end her life, after being sexually assaulted while at work
- Fighting to get her case heard
- Wanting to be alive
- Trying to fit in and realising that life hasn’t being build for her and deciding to live the life she wants to live
- Deciding to go for it and making a decision overnight
- Focusing on a goal
- Dragging herself to the train station to get to the start of the SWCP
- How her body started to become stronger while walking
- Spending 71 days on the trail and why it was the greatest adventure of her life
- Why it was a healing experience
- Movement, nature, animals and being exposure to nature
- Meeting good people on the trail
- Walking every day and noticing the positive changes in her body
- The theory that people who have ADHD are people who come from hunter gatherers
- How the trail will provide
- Starting The Introvert Magazine
- The impact of stress on her body
- Working on an Adventure Guide
- Wanting the book to be as inclusive as possible
- Wanting to bring as many people as possible to experience nature
- Interviewing people and taking over 200 photos for the book
- Going snorkelling with the Scottish Wildlife Trust
- Looking at it as a life project
- Having a shorter life span compared to others
- Wanting to work on projects that are a passion
- Embracing her life as a gift and a blessing
- Wanting to be grateful for every moment
- Wanting to giveback to society
- Building her instagram community
- What can people expect from her social media
- Sharing her life as it is
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- You have to be tolerant with others but strict with yourself - Marcus Aurelius
- Feeling isolated and alone
- Advice for women with autism and ADHD
- Struggling to get outside and advice and tips to do so
- Meet ups?
- Women’s Safety
- Planning or not planning for adventures
- Being pulled in 2 different directions
- Allowing flexibility on the adventure
- Finding out what works for you
- Women’s safety while on the trail
- Her 10 year career in the police
- Words of advice
- Why its about believing in yourself
- Don’t compare yourself to others
- Start small
Social Media
Website www.deecrute.com
Instagram @deedee.reporter
Facebook @dee.crute
YouTube @dee.crute