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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. Personal Development Personal Success Social Sciences
Episodes
  • 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.

    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.
    May 20 2025
    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 based on experience, discipline, and gut instinct — and it’s taken her to the finish lines of some of the UK’s most brutal ultra events. We also dive into the founding of Sea+Flo, a period care company created by women, for women, aiming to empower people to better understand and manage their menstrual health during sport. Harriet speaks candidly about the mental strength required to train alone, run in the dark, and manage periods while racing, as well as her mission to bring more female voices to the forefront of adventure and endurance media. This is a conversation about grit, vulnerability, and showing up — again and again — even when the path ahead is long, muddy, and uncertain. 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 Harriet?Completing her 2nd Arc of Attrition 100 mile ultraRace Director to 2 current races and soon to be a 3rdRunning her own business called, Grit Culture - focused on business management Launching a menstrual cup company called Sea+Flo in 2024 with her best friendDog mum to NovemberBeing surrounded by an amazing network of friends and familyHow things connect togetherSpeaking with Harriet mum, Theresa Frost on the Tough Girl Podcast Having parents to everyone Childhood and growing up in CornwallLearning resilience and grit from a young ageBeing supported by her parentsLoving school and heading off to University in Southhampton to study fashion and journalismNot really knowing what she wanted to doTravelling and working on super yachts Heading off to London for 3 years Spending time in Australia for 2 years, and New Zealand for 2 years, before moving back to CornwallHating running…. And finding running really hard Living in London and doing her first triathlon in 2012/2013Doing her first marathon during her first 100kRace to the Stones 2017 Doing her next ultra in 2023 - Isle of Wight in April Arc of Attrition on the South West Coast Path. 100 miles. Entering the raceThe Plague 64 miles race (toughest races she’s ever done) Planning her own training and talking things through with her mumGoing on how her body feels and past experience Working backwards from the race start dateFocusing on back to back runsThe mental toughness of training and training soloOut and back runs and the mental challengeKnowing there is still more in herFitting running into her lifeTraining in winter and in the dark The stress of running in the dark as a female and the wasted energyWhy it’s discipline over motivationRecovery…. And what it looks likeHaving big toe strainWhy the Arc was different in 2025 after being taken over by UTMB Feet and blistersNutrition, food, fuelling The struggle of eating foodPracticing eating on 20 milers Training and periods Sea + Flo reusable menstrual cup companyWhich menstrual cup?How using a menstrual cup came aboutPutting herself out there a bit moreWomen doing amazing things and not getting enough airtimeNikki Love breaking the women’s record for running across Australia “It’s not about beating the men it’s about winning for the women” - Hannah Paradise Jasmine Harrison - swimming the length of Great Britain and not being able to to get a book deal - The lack of stories of women in the news The women who inspire Harriet Lucy Gossage - “It’s a privilege to choose to suffer” How to connect with Harriet onlineFinal words of advice for women who want to pursue endurance sportsBeing inspired by Sarah WilsonBuilding your resilience in sport or physical challenges and how it can help you in your everyday lives Social Media Website grit-culture.com seaandflo.com Instagram @harriet__frost @grit.culture @seaandflo
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    54 mins
  • Celebrating Junko Tabei and 50 Years of Women on Everest – with Tori James, Jo Bradshaw & Rosemary J Brown

    Celebrating Junko Tabei and 50 Years of Women on Everest – with Tori James, Jo Bradshaw & Rosemary J Brown
    May 16 2025
    This special episode of the Tough Girl Podcast brings together three incredible women—Tori James, Jo Bradshaw, and Rosemary J Brown—for an inspiring conversation about legacy, mountains, and the enduring spirit of women in adventure. We’re diving deep into the story of Junko Tabei, the first woman to summit Mount Everest in 1975, and celebrating the 50th anniversary of her historic climb. Despite her groundbreaking achievement, Junko’s name is still unfamiliar to many. Tori, Jo, and Rosemary are determined to change that. In this episode, we talk about how Junko inspired a life-changing all-female expedition to Yala Peak in Nepal, the launch of the First Females Podcast (May 16th 2025), and the wider mission to highlight the stories of women who were the first from their countries to stand on the roof of the world. You’ll hear about: Rosemary’s journey to the mountains in her 70s.Tori’s return to Nepal, 18 years after climbing Everest.Jo’s vision for a meaningful anniversary tribute.The power of visibility, representation, and saying yes to adventure—at any age. This episode is a beautiful tribute to Junko’s legacy, a reminder of the power of community, and a call to action for anyone ready to find their own summit. #MyJunkoJourney *** Past episodes with Jo, Tori & Rosemary: Tori James - https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/2015/09/29/tough-girl-tori-james-first-welsh-women-to-climb-everest Rosemary J Brown - https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/brown-1 Jo Bradshaw - https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/2016/09/15/tough-girl-extra-catching-up-with-mountaineer-expedition-leader-jo-bradshaw-discussing-he Jo Bradshaw TGP Extra - https://www.toughgirlchallenges.com/single-post/jo-bradshawtge *** 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 Speaking to 3 incredible tough girls! Rosemary Brown - Journalist & writer - drawing attention to women adventurers who have been forgotten. Working on her next book - women who have mountains named after them Tori James - 1st Welsh Woman to climb Mt. Everest, plus other record breaking expeditions over the years, mother of 2 children, living in Cardiff and working as a motivational speaker. Starting a new podcast - The First Females Podcast - launching 16th May 2025 Jo Bradshaw - Everest summiter in 2016 (2nd attempt) on Everest, camp 1 when the earthquake struck in 2015. Working as an expedition leader and motivational speaker. Yala Peak - a mountain that Junko Tabei climbed in 1977 - 2 years after climbing Mt Everest. Individual connectionsWomen’s Outdoor Expo Meeting Tori at the end of the the Wales Coast Path How Jo & Tori first connected at St. James Palace in 2016How Rosemary met Tori & JoThe History of Women in Exploration Conference in 2018Junko Tabei having mountains named after her on Pluto First Females - and celebrating the 1st female ascent of Mt. Everest Tori climbing Mt. Everest back in 2007 and not knowing about Junko and her achievement Why didn’t we know about Junko?Wouldn’t it be great to know who the other first females are from around the world who have summited Mt. Everest Junko passed away in 2016Putting the First Females Podcast together Speaking to Rebecca Stephens as the first British woman who climbed Mt. Everest. 800 women’s stories for the Tough Girl Podcast - 10 yearsThere are still so many women’s stories that I haven’t shared yetJo coming up with the idea to climb Yala Peak located in Langtang National Park in north Nepal. Making it at all female commercial expeditionConnecting a team of 13 awesome women Adventurous EweWhat Rosemary’s experience was like climbing Yala Peak Deciding to make the commitment and finally saying yes to go on the trek!Climbing Kilimanjaro 13 years ago, and now being in her 70sWhy each day was specialSetting off an hour earlier on summit dayThe joy and experience of climbing the mountain The universe is your friend Feeling very grateful for her belief in herselfWhy it was a life changing experience.Making the trek work for youTori heading back to Nepal after 18 years since climbing Everest Spending time at Yala Basecamp (2 days)Wanting to spend more time there!What Junko said on climbing Everest “here is the summit, and I don’t have to climb anymore”Junko’s story Book: Honouring High Places: The Mountain Life of Junko Tabei Her early years and being quite an ill child Her resilience shining through. ...
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    39 mins
  • Angela Maxwell: Walking 20,000 Miles Around the World — Choosing Courage Every Step of the Way

    Angela Maxwell: Walking 20,000 Miles Around the World — Choosing Courage Every Step of the Way
    May 13 2025
    Angela Maxwell spent nearly seven years walking around the world — solo. Covering over 20,000 miles across four continents and 16 countries, she braved the Australian outback, battled dengue fever in Vietnam, and faced the daily challenge of finding safe places to sleep, often in a tent. A self-described introvert and novice adventurer when she began, Angela’s journey was as much an inner transformation as a physical one — fuelled by fear, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to explore what it means to live with courage. Angela walked with purpose, raising funds to support girls rescued from human trafficking, and continues that mission through mentoring and women’s empowerment workshops. She’s been featured by Lonely Planet, BBC Travel, and Outside Magazine, and most recently became one of the first women to swim across the Caspian Sea — a feat that took 28 days and redefined her relationship with fear and endurance. Now based in Wales (for the moment), Angela is writing a book about her world walk and sharing her philosophy that “courage is a verb.” Whether she’s walking, swimming, or simply choosing the unknown, Angela lives by example — proving that adventure doesn’t require expertise, just the decision to begin. *** 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 Angela Spending 6.5 years walking west around the world Setting a world record by swimming across the Caspian Sea Being settled in Wales for the WinterHaving a mutual friend - Miriam Lancewood Her childhood and growing upGetting chicken pox at 30Not having any friends and being an introvert as a young kidHer love for nature coming later on in lifeLiking her own company Daydreaming about travelSpending time aloneBeing inspired from a young ageWHY?!Starting walking because she was terrifiedWhere does an idea come from?The route and what the journey looked likeStarting in Australia and walking North to South on the West CoastHeading over to Vietnam Heading to Europe and the UKFlying back and forth due to visa issuesWriting a book about the walkThe challenge of writing a bookNot wanting to share the journey on social mediaWanting to be totally present and have the journey for herselfRaising funds for women and girls Self funding the walkBeing inspired by Rosie Swale Pope who ran around the world Book: Just a Little Run Around the World: 5 Years, 3 Packs of Wolves and 53 Pairs of Shoes Living on a budget of $5 per dayWomen for Women International Adventuring with a purposeBad days while walking Thriving on the little daily adventures The joy of not knowing and what might be around the cornerStill enjoying walking nowThe classic thru-hikesWalking the Pennine Way in the UKWalking part of Te Araroa in New ZealandHer thoughts on courageDealing with self doubt, before and during the walkTed Talk - “Courage is a verb” Making the decision to continue The most dangerous place for a woman is in the home The fear at the end of the walk, what was going to be nextLittle feeling of depression at the endSwimming across the Caspian Sea Swimming V walking Having a fear of open water and not being a good swimmerFunding the challengeWhat it was like day to day on the waterTaking 28 days to do the crossing, swimming 6hrs per dayOther around the world challenges?!Not having a compulsion to share her stories Living on very little and funding her current lifestyleUsing Trusted HousesittersRunning workshops for womenGuilty pleasures….Injuries?Book: Wilder Journeys: True Stories of Nature, Adventure and Connection Future plans for 2026How to connect with AngelaFinal words of advice on courageChoosing courage on a day to day basis Social Media Website www.SheWalksTheEarth.com Instagram @AngelaMarieMaxwell
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    49 mins

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