Tough Girl Podcast Podcast By Sarah Williams cover art

Tough Girl Podcast

Tough Girl Podcast

By: Sarah Williams
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The Tough Girl Podcast is all about inspiring and motivating YOU! I will be interviewing inspirational women from around the world, who've faced and overcome difficult challenges and situations, they will share their story, their knowledge and provide advice and essential tips for you to overcome your own personal challenges. Biographies & Memoirs Exercise & Fitness Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Hygiene & Healthy Living Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Jennifer Doohan – Founder of The Adventure Wellness Club, Helping Women Challenge Themselves and Connect in Nature

    Jennifer Doohan – Founder of The Adventure Wellness Club, Helping Women Challenge Themselves and Connect in Nature
    Apr 2 2026
    Jennifer is an adventurer, wellness professional, and founder of The Adventure Wellness Club, helping women connect with nature, challenge themselves, and build lasting friendships through experiences grounded in the 3 Cs: Challenge, Connection, and Community. She designs international hiking adventures and UK-based experiences that blend movement, mindfulness, and wellness. Her work spans everything from planning logistics and designing programs to facilitating group hikes, yoga, sauna and ice-bath sessions, and breath work. Jennifer lived in Trentino, Italy for four years, where she learned to speak Italian and fell in love with the mountains and the sports within them, including ski touring. Over time, she has also run ultra marathons and bike packed long distances. Adventure is what makes her feel alive! As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, her adventures are rooted in wellness and informed by research like the 3 Day Effect, showing that just three days immersed in nature can boost attention, creativity, and emotional resilience — benefits especially meaningful for neurodivergent women. Each international trip ends with a sauna experience, which she considers essential for physical and emotional wellbeing. Her experiences encourage women to step outside their comfort zones while feeling supported, mindful, and fully present. Through adventure, movement, and shared experiences, Jennifer helps women slow down, feel capable, and reconnect with themselves and each other. *** 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 JenniferOriginal from Manchester, but now based in SheffieldWhen her running journey startedMaintaining a good level of base fitnessRunning 50k in January Feeling the need to go for a runGetting into ultra running Supported a guy who did the Bob Graham Round and running one of the legsIf he can do it - I can do it toKnowing that she was capable of achieving Breaking down the goal Seeing the behind the scenes of planning a run and how it inspired herThe Japanese Odyssey Doing the next best thing - signing up to a race in Italy Being supported by people along the way Running the Edale Skyline with Barefoot John Digging into the planning and learning new planning skillsBeing impulsive and spontaneous Being determined enough to do it Why it's not just about the planning, but also about the execution Coming up with a rough plan Planning, hormones, structure Not having the energy for hill reps and feeling fatiguedBeating herself up for not achieving itHaving to reframe the situation The night before the race and doing a race strategy with Chat GPT Working with a coach - S&C and following a 12 week running plan Why there isn't a right and a wrong - why it's what works for youLooking at the training plan and listening to her body Running the ultra marathon while menstruating Fitting training into life and work Running to her cleaning job Starting a marketing contract for 4 days a weekHaving a rest day on MondayBeing forced to find the timeCombing running with life Starting with a running coach and training for a 50k in April in Wales (She Ultra) The Ultra Race in Italy - being the only British women running Her aim for the raceWhy it's not about the other people racing - it's about youTreating it as a fun day out - chatting to people in the mountain huts, changing her top, taking things steadyTeaching herself that she could do itSprinting towards the end, just trying to get there Gaining new experience SheUltra Race Wanting to build her confidence in her physical abilities Getting into plyometrics - for building bone density Founding the Adventure Wellness Club and what it's goals areWanting to bring people together to share her passion Being diagnosed with ADHD and starting to understand how her brain works and working on her self confidence Pushing herself out of comfort zone with travel and adventureDelivering her first trip in 2025Teaching herself that you can make your idea a reality Ending each trip with a sauna and spa experience The "3 Day Effect" - spending 72 hours disconnected from technology and surrounded by nature has a breadth of benefits for your mind.Why adventure is key to wellnessLooking at herself with more compassionWhy it's not just a focus issueWhy a diagnosis does change everythingTrying medication and working with a nurse practitioner Starting to realise how awesome she isSeeing yourself in a different way Issues with ADHD, perimenopause and mental health ...
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    42 mins
  • Marie "Lootie" Leautey – Solo, Unsupported & Fastest Woman to Run Around the World

    Marie "Lootie" Leautey – Solo, Unsupported & Fastest Woman to Run Around the World
    Mar 31 2026
    In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, we're joined by Marie "Lootie" Leautey, the second woman in history to run around the world solo and unsupported — and the fastest woman to do it. Lootie's journey began in France, far from the running world. A former smoker and corporate finance professional, she swapped cigarettes for daily runs at 25, building up to her first marathon in just eight months. That spark turned into an audacious dream: to run across the globe — 26,000+ km, across four continents, relying entirely on herself. Starting her run in Europe in December 2019, Lootie faced deserts, mountains, and long stretches between resupply points, carrying only a 12–15kg stroller packed with her essentials. Along the way, she experienced the kindness of strangers, the thrill of new cultures, and the incredible mental discipline required to run a marathon every day for years. Beyond the physical feat, Lootie shares how her journey is rooted in purpose: raising funds for Women for Women International, honouring her grandmother's legacy, and inspiring women to ask themselves, "Why am I doing this, and is it aligned with who I want to be?" This is a story of grit, adventure, and the extraordinary power of chasing your own path — a reminder that there's very little you can't achieve once you set your mind to it. *** 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 LootieBecoming the 2nd woman to run around the world - solo and unsupportedFastest women to run around the world Her early years growing up in FranceComing from a sporty family but not being interested in runningHer love for team sports Being a smokerBeing out of shape at 25/26 years oldSwapping her cigarettes for a run ever dayHer wake up call in Greece while learning how to windsurfBuilding up to a marathon distance- 8 months laterLeaving France when she was 20 - working in finance for big corporates Having the idea to run around the worldGoing on Google - has anyone run around the world beforeThe World Runners Association (WRA) Her route and the rules and how they gave her structure Needing to cross a minimum of 4 continents, and run in one continuous direction Running a minimum distance of just under 30,000 km (The runner must cover a total of at least 26,232 km on foot)Making the decision and the commitment Understanding her WHY and having it at the forefront of her mind Self financing the challenge Deciding to run a marathon per day Taking 2 years in the planning and preparation Running without time pressureThe daily thoughts, the novelty of running Never thinking of giving up as this is exactly what she wantedHer running set up - and keeping it as light as possible (12 - 15kg)Researching with google maps - trying to figure out her location every 40kmThe longest distances without resupply - and knowing she would need to camp and to be self sufficient. Having a stroller with waterproof bags The mental side of the challenge while running Having a sensory experience while running Not being bored on any of the days - even while crossing the desert in AustraliaSpeaking French, English, German and GreekStarting her run in Europe and why it was such a challenge (covid)Starting 6th December 2019After leaving Europe and heading to America (Getting an exception from the WRA)Arriving in New York in Mid November 2021What daily life was like on the road Starting running at dawn and being done by lunchtime What the afternoons would look like Carrying 2 GPS trackers - and updating the info daily (or as often as possible when wifi was available)Going to bed by 9pm and sleeping very well throughout the challenge - going from sleeping 5hrs a night to 9/10 hours of sleep at nightEating what you find, eat until you are not hungry anymoreNot being dependent on certain types of food, drinks, gels, supplements etcRunning in South America (her first visit was on the run), starting in Patagonia Running up to 4,000m of altitude Being inspired by her Grandmother who was the director of the first feminist library in France Being taught the differences between the treatment between men and woman Being encouraged to do what ever she wantedWanting to use her voice to share that message with women Running for Women for Women International Wanting to rise $1 per km run The challenges of running in Australia: - road trains, distances between resupply pointsThe kindness of strangers Running in Australia between May and August - which is Autumn time...
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    54 mins
  • Stephanie Ho: Adventurer and Endurance Athlete Skiing Solo to the South Pole & Pushing Beyond Limits

    Stephanie Ho: Adventurer and Endurance Athlete Skiing Solo to the South Pole & Pushing Beyond Limits
    Mar 24 2026
    Stephanie Ho is a 24-year-old adventurer, endurance athlete, and exercise physiologist based on the Gold Coast, Australia. From rock climbing and ocean swimming to triathlons and mountain expeditions, Stephanie has always chased the outdoors — but her biggest goals lie in the polar regions. In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Stephanie shares her journey from discovering hiking and camping as a teenager to trekking Everest Base Camp, running 43km a day for a week, and skiing 540km across Greenland. She opens up about the mental and physical challenges of polar expeditions, the lessons she's learned in extreme environments, and what it takes to keep motivation alive when the goal seems impossible. Stephanie is now preparing for a solo 1,200km expedition to the South Pole in 2026 — hauling a 100kg sled through temperatures as low as -50°C — a feat that, if successful, will make her the first Australian woman to achieve it. Along the way, she talks logistics, training, nutrition, dealing with fears and unsolicited advice, and the importance of listening to your body while chasing what sets your soul on fire. This conversation is a masterclass in mental toughness, gratitude, and stepping beyond your comfort zone. Stephanie's story will inspire you to dream big, push limits, and embrace adventure — no matter your age or background. New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time). Support the Tough Girl mission via Patreon: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast *** Show notes Who is StephBeing based on the Gold Coast, Australia 24 years oldWorking as an exercise physiologist - both in the office and in a clinical setting Her love for any activity that is outdoors from rock climbing to hiking, cycling, ocean swimming, skiing and doing triathlons Her main goal is to train for big skiing expeditions and big mountain expeditions Her early memories and not being encouraged to be that active Growing up as an only child Wanting to do more runningHow things changed at 14 and going camping for the first time in her lifeFinding friends who wanted to go hiking and camping Heading over to Nepal to do the Everest base camp after graduating high school Wanting to spend some time alone reflecting on the past 18 years Having a good reset before starting university Why her trip to Nepal was so formative Trekking to Everest Base camp in Winter Getting up to 5,500 metresClimbing Kala Patthar, Nepal Enjoying being in the cold, remote environmentKnowing that her next big adventure was going to be Antarctica Starting to plan her training trips to Norway and Greenland Having everything put on hold until 2023Doing her Polar Training course in NorwaySkiing across Greenland in 2023Doing more solo expeditions in the polar regionsPlanning to head to the South Pole at the end of 2026Polar training and the lessons learned Being part of a team to do the Greenland crossing in May 202330 days on the ice - starting on the west coast and heading to the East coast Learning how to cope in the cold and the windDealing with polar thighWhy the journey has been rewarding and feeling a lot of pride with what's been achieved.Thinking about what's next and struggling to be satisfied with the achievements Running for 43k a day for 7 days…Learning how to suffer mentally while out on the iceStaying positive and the other lessons learned to help mentally Practicing gratitude and being grateful for where she it Keeping the motivation aliveThe logistics and finances to pay for the expedition Working with ALE Training and what that looks likeRecovery and paying more attention to nutrition Being vegetation, but eating some white meat, such as chicken and fishHaving cold showersConcerns and fears to mange before the tripManaging unsolicited opinions and advice How to connect with Stephanie Advice to motivate and inspire other women to step outside their comfort zoneDon't be afraid of what other people might think of you. Listening to your body and what you want to do Do something that sets your soul on fire Social Media Website: solosouth.com.au
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    33 mins
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