Julie Weiss – The Marathon Goddess: 52 Marathons in 52 Weeks for Pancreatic Cancer & a Legacy of Hope
Release Date: 10/09/2025
Alexandra Nemeth: Beyond the Seven Summits — Highs, Lows, and Life in Extreme Places.
Tough Girl Podcast
Alex is a qualified International Mountain Leader, Polar Guide, and a professional Photographer based in St. Moritz, Switzerland. From scaling the world’s highest peaks to leading expeditions in the Arctic and Antarctica, she thrives where the wild meets the extreme. Her passion for high-altitude exploration took her on a relentless quest; climbing the highest mountain on every continent, culminating on the summit of Mt. Everest in 2018. She became the first ever Hungarian to climb the Seven Summits. This journey ignited her mission to guide others through the raw beauty of the mountains...
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Bonita Norris – Mountains, Mindset, Motherhood and Mastering the Impossible
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...
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Jacquetta Megarry – Founding Rucksack Readers, Walking Adventures, and Building Confidence in the Outdoors
Tough Girl Podcast
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...
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Sabrina Pace-Humphreys – UTMB, Trail Running, and Building Community: The Journey of a Runner and Advocate
Tough Girl Podcast
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,...
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Becky Wandell – Reinvention, Solo Travel, and Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at 55
Tough Girl Podcast
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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
info_outlineIn this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, I’m joined by the incredible Julie Weiss — also known as The Marathon Goddess. Julie’s story is one of resilience, healing, and purpose. After losing her father to pancreatic cancer, she set out on an extraordinary mission: to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks, raising awareness and funds for pancreatic cancer research along the way.
Her journey captured hearts around the world — from the Today Show and O Magazine to countless finish lines across the US. But behind the medals and media attention is a woman who found strength, joy, and hope through running.
Now in her fifties, Julie has completed over 118 marathons, raised more than $1 million for research, and continues to inspire others with her message that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, honour your loved ones, and find purpose in every step.
In this conversation, Julie opens up about:
How running helped her heal from grief and depression
The challenges and triumphs of running 52 marathons in 52 weeks
What it takes to stay motivated and injury-free through massive goals
Her empowering “7 C’s to Defy Your Limits” — Create, Certainty, Connect, Commit, Consistent, Cause, and Courage
Julie’s story is a beautiful reminder that transformation begins with one small step — and that every mile can make a difference.
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.
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Thank you x
Show notes
- Who is Julie
- Living in Santa Monica, California, USA
- Being known as the Marathon Goddess - Running 52 marathon in 52 weeks
- Raising over $1 million for charity
- Being excited to share the wisdom she has leaned from running marathons
- Her childhood and early years
- Being tall with long legs
- Starting running at 37 years
- Not being at athlete at school
- Taking a different path
- Becoming a mother at 18
- Not doing a lot of exercise in her younger years
- Feeling at a very low point in her life
- Going for that first run on the beach
- Wanting to feel good
- Keeping on running
- Coming off anti-depressants
- Fitting running into her life and making it work for her
- Joining a running group LA Road Runners
- Connecting with other people
- Training for a triathlon first
- Running her first marathon in March 2008
- How running makes her feel
- Her relationship with her dad
- Raising funds for Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research
- Taking 10 years to raise the funds
- Project Purple
- Deciding to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks
- The Marathon Guy
- Being determined
- Feeling overwhelmed at the start of the goal
- The start and the different steps involved
- Reaching out to charities, speaking to her boss
- The power of having purpose
- The physicality of the challenge
- Protein, stretching, foam rolling, strength training, rest, compression tights, physio
- The standout marathons from the challenge
- The Leadville Marathon and the challenges of running at altitude
- The Lake Tahoe Marathon
- The New York Marathon in 2012 - being cancelled
- Marathon proposal!
- Being coached by her husband
- Qualifying for the Boston Marathon
- Losing her dad
- 19th attempt of getting into Boston Marathon
- Making the decision to run 52 marathons in 52 weeks
- Not giving up
- The mental side of the challenge
- The importance of creating a goal that is important to you
- The 7Cs - Create, Certainty, Connect, Commit, Consistent, Cause, Courage
- Enjoying what you’ve accomplished
- Writing her book
- BOOK: The Miles and Trials of a Marathon Goddess: 52 Weeks, 52 Marathons
- Advice for deciding what to do?
- The importance of fun
- Chasing speed and wanting to quality for Boston again
- Running during peri-menopause and menopause
- Struggling with the lack of sleep and dealing with a lack of iron
- Compassion
- Reaching her 100th Marathon at the LA Marathon
- Needing to keep on going
- Being supported by her friends
- The importance of enjoying the journey and finding the joy
- How to connect with Julie
- Words by ― CS Lewis “You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.”
Social Media
Website: www.julie-weiss.com
Instagram: @marathongoddess
Facebook: @Julie-WeissMarathonGoddess