Libsyn Directory

Sarah Williams - 800th Episode Special – 10 Years of the Tough Girl Podcast, 7,400 Miles of Adventure & What’s Coming Next!

Tough Girl Podcast

Release Date: 08/04/2025

Denisa Krásná – Flow, Fear, and Female Adventure: Redefining Women’s Stories in Extreme Sports

Tough Girl Podcast

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...

Sarah Williams: Solo Reflections Episode, GR10, the Numbers and Plans for 2026

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,...

Dr Latika Nath – Nat Geo’s Tiger Princess: Pioneering Conservation and Studying Big Cats in the Wild

Tough Girl Podcast

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...

Kaytlyn Gerbin – Motherhood, Mountains, and 100-Mile Runs: Her Ultra Running Comeback

Tough Girl Podcast

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,...

Sheryl Ramstad – Surviving the Impossible: A 1% Miracle, Radical Resilience, and Rebuilding Life After a Plane Crash

Tough Girl Podcast

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...

Hillary Allen – Ultrarunner and Author of Out and Back: A Runner’s Story of Survival Against All Odds

Tough Girl Podcast

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...

Lani Woods – Inspiring Women to Ride, Explore, and Belong Through Cycling Adventures

Tough Girl Podcast

Lani Woods is a passionate cyclist, adventurer, and creative force behind a vibrant community of outdoor enthusiasts. Known for blending her love of cycling with a flair for design, Lani leads initiatives like Triple Crown Adventures to inspire others to explore the world on two wheels. Whether organizing group adventures in Hawaii or crafting unique cycling gear, she’s dedicated to building an inclusive, adventure-loving community. * Marked as explicit — just one F bomb! *** New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so...

Charlotte Fisher – From Zero Running Experience to Elite Ultra Runner

Tough Girl Podcast

From a council estate on the Isle of Wight to conquering some of Europe’s toughest mountain ultras, Charlotte Fisher’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Less than three years ago, she had never run competitively. Today, she’s a full-time ultra runner chasing elite races like UTMB and Western States 100, proving that it’s never too late to find your path. In this episode, Charlotte shares how a charity ultra challenge sparked her running journey, the lessons learned from 50km races to brutal 100-mile mountain ultras, and how running transformed her mindset, confidence,...

Paula Ralph – Cycling Solo from Cape Town to Nordkapp: 12,290 km Across 17 Countries - When Everything Seemed Impossible

Tough Girl Podcast

What happens when a dream is so big, so audacious, that you commit to it long before you have the skills, money, or confidence to make it happen? For Paula Ralph, that dream was to cycle from Cape Town, South Africa to Nordkapp, Norway— a 12,290 km journey across 17 countries. What began as a Guinness World Record attempt soon transformed into something far more powerful: a test of courage, resilience, and self-belief. Paula set off with one goal — to become the fastest woman to complete the route. But along the way, reality hit hard. Injuries, financial setbacks, fear,...

Sharon Jessop – Ultra-Endurance Runner & Conservationist: Running 3,500 Miles Across Africa for Rhino Conservation

Tough Girl Podcast

This week on the Tough Girl Podcast, I’m joined by Sharon Jessop — an ultra-endurance athlete, conservationist, keynote speaker, and serial entrepreneur whose running adventures are driven by a mission to protect rhinos in Africa. From growing up barefoot in the South African bush to covering over 3,500 miles across some of Africa’s wildest landscapes, Sharon has used her extraordinary endurance to raise awareness and funds for rhino conservation. Her journey is as inspiring as it is challenging, blending adventure with purpose. In this episode, Sharon shares how she...

More Episodes

I can’t quite believe it, but here we are — the 800th episode of the Tough Girl Podcast!

In this special solo episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes for a personal catch-up and reflection on everything that’s happened so far in 2025 — from January through to August. I talk about what life has looked like lately (yes, still living at home with my parents!), working part-time at AIM Health, the adventures I’ve been on, the challenges I’ve faced, and the exciting things coming up next.

This episode is a bit of everything: gear chat (flat-lay photos and a new Atom Pack!), health updates (peri-menopause, gut health, strength training, and more), financial planning (Patreon, pensions, broken laptops!), plus reflections on my time walking the English Camino, Snowdonia Slate Trail, and tackling the GR20 in Corsica — which was honestly tougher than the Marathon des Sables.

I’m also talking about my motivations for taking on the GR10, what I’ve learned in 10 years of podcasting, and why the mission — to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges— is stronger than ever.

Thank you for being here with me on this journey. Whether you’ve listened from the start or are just finding the show now, I’m so incredibly grateful. This is a celebration of us — of consistency, resilience, growth, and dreaming big.

🎧 Tune in to hear what I’ve learned over 10 years, what’s changed (and what hasn’t), and where I see the podcast — and my adventures — heading next.

Let’s go!

🎙️ 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

Intro to the podcast - solo reflections episode with me - Sarah Williams
800th episode!
Reflecting back from January 2025 - to August 2025
Setting the scene - chaos in my room - kit and gear everywhere
Taking photos for the flat lay gear post
New backpack - atom pack - needing to go on a test hike
Agenda and plans for this episode
Behind the scenes and what’s been going on
Living at home with my parents since 2014
Working at AIM Health - structure, regular hours, income, access to therapies
Aim Health therapies - Cryotherapy, compression trousers, red light, HBOT, rebalance bed
Impact on my wellness and recovery
Saving money, emergency funds, breaking my laptop, spending money…
Saving money for my pension
Funds from patreon - paying for the website, music, search function, auphonic, Zoom costs
Root canal - and teeth looking good
Health - consistent with training, mobility and strength with Franco
Not trusting my ankles - needing to strap them up
Adult ballet
Yin yoga - not being as consistent as I would like (Kassandra Yin Yoga - Youtube)
Reflecting back - longevity - turning 44 - big jump in aging
Peri-menopause and menopause
Bioresonance, OligoScan
Feeling slightly fatigued - anaemic again? Blood test coming back normal
Too much cryotherapy? And stopping for the summer so as not to loose my heat adaption
Feeling everything is coming together and feeling strong and well
Gut health issues; belches, bacteria overgrowth, wheat free
October focus will be gut health and working with a nutritionist and Dr Cath
Home based for 7 months.
Adventures
April - Walking The English Camino with Gemma Smith - stats and filming and not having time to share online
Snowdonia Slate Trail - 5 day practice hike - getting back into the mountains again
Watch the Snowdonia Slate Trail - vlogs on YouTube
Why I recommend the Snowdonia Slate Trail
Public transport back from the trail
Wanting to get mountain fit
Hiking the GR20 with Alex Mason end of June, beginning of July
Cicerone Guidebooks
Abbie Barns Vlogs on the GR20
Meeting at Gatwick for a super early flight to Corsica
Watch the Tough Girl GR20 Vlogs on Youtube
Harder than Marathon des Sables
Mentally wanting to quit the challenge every day
Starting to doubt myself
Why I didn’t quit
Never quit on a bad day
The challenges of the first 3/4 days
The early starts - 5am starts
Not eating and feeling rough
Double stages….
Having the same goal to finish on the Friday
Needing more recovery at the start of the challenge
Always being able to push it on the final day
Change the plan, not the goal.
Why I’m taking on the GR10
The incredible trails in Europe, UK
Wanting to walk trails and spend time in the mountains
FKT website for GR10
BMC Women’s Adventure Film Competition - ‘Make a Difference Award’
Kendal Mountain Film Festival
Get involved in the film! Send in your clips! Has the tough girl podcast inspired you to take on your own adventure? (Filmed Horizontal)
YouTube Channel- update - slow growth
Being behind with editing the South West Coast Path Vlogs - 40 days of footage - 40 mins per day
Needing to get into flow with film/vlog editing
Are you an editor?! E-mail me!
Podcast update and next recording date in October
Tough Podcast Extra
Tough Girl Tribe - 1,600 strong
Shout out to Patrons - thank you so much for your support.
What I have learned in 10 years of podcasting
Why you need to start
Showing up and being consistent
Being a learning and continuing to learn and getting better
How quickly has the past 10 years gone
How has the mission changed? - It hasn’t! Still the same mission
Being more motivated than ever before
Feeling more pressure in relation to getting older
Being proud of the women who listen to the podcast, being proud of the guests and the women who are going through tough times.
Website changes and updates!
Thank you to Rebecca ‘Beck’ Mcpherson for creating the new artwork
The next 10 years - the Purple Decade
Over 7,400 miles of hiking and cycling, 13 countries and doing 31 challenges - Pink Decade
Putting all my goals out there
What’s going to happen?!
Would you want to go mega viral
Founder Marketing and why it’s good for your business
Goal - 10 Million Downloads
Goal - 100k followers on Youtube?
Awards? Film Festivals?
What’s going to happen?!
Loving my life and wanting to continue to travelling and going on adventures
Questions from listeners
How easy was it wild camping on the South West Coast Path
Wild Camping Principles
Bucket List Goal or challenge?
Pacific Crest Trail
Group/Team Challenge
Responsibility and stress
Repeating any hikes?!
Appalachian Trail in 100 days now? Easier or Harder?
Favourite country for camping and free hiking
Safety and managing the fear on trails.
Things you can control in advance
Things you can do while on the trail
GR10 - I’ll be sharing daily updates
Thank you for everything you are doing
10 years!!!
Time for you to think about what you want to achieve over the next 10 years
Have you created your list of goals, your vision board?
What excites you? There is no right or wrong.
I believe in you!