Tough Girl Podcast

Lisa Jackson is a hypnotherapist, running writer, Runner's World columnist, and the author of three bestselling running books, including Your Pace or Mine?, Running Made Easy, and her deeply personal latest release, Still Running After All These Tears – A Runner's Journey Through Grief. Originally from South Africa and now based in Worthing, UK, Lisa is a veteran of over 100 marathons and two 56-mile ultramarathons — despite often coming last. A proud reminder that endurance sport isn't about talent or speed, but about showing up, again and again. In this powerful and emotional episode, Lisa shares her journey into running, from hating sport as a child to rediscovering running at 30, navigating disastrous races, and learning to reset expectations through walk-run strategies. She opens up with raw honesty about her husband's terminal lung cancer diagnosis, how running helped her survive the darkest moments of caregiving and grief, and what it means to lose — and slowly rebuild — your running mojo. We dive into running through trauma, comfort eating and wine, the power of a ten-minute run, and why sometimes one mile is more than enough. Lisa also speaks openly about death and dying, dignity at the end of life, writing living wills, DNR decisions, death doulas, and how facing mortality can bring clarity, purpose, and peace. This is a conversation about resilience, realistic goals, choosing hope over fear, and why tenacity will always beat talent. Lisa's story reminds us that running doesn't need to look impressive to be meaningful — especially when it helps carry you through loss and into hope. *** 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 Lisa Writer and Author of 3 running books Her latest book: Still Running After All These Tears – A Runner's Journey Through Grief Being based in sunny Worthing Her early years and coming from a running family Hating sports at a young age Doing a 5k fun run when she was 10 Not running again for 20 years Turning 30 and realising her life was at a crossroads Wanting to walk in the footsteps of her parents Being invited to a Race for Life event Being supported by other women Entering the Great North Run Everything that went wrong! Being offered a place in the London Marathon Wanting to do another marathon…. Running the Edinburgh Marathon and having an horrendous experience Trying a walk run strategy Her recovery after the Paris Marathon Writing her first book: Running Made Easy Jeff Galloway Book: Your Pace or Mine? Having her husband diagnosed with terminal lung cancer Learning a lot about cancer, mindset and dealing with medical professionals Turning wounds into wisdom How running played an important role during her husbands illness Dealing with her loss of running mojo Giving people a roadmap; through trauma, grief and through terminal illness Life lessons for help in a challenging situation Running through trauma and grief Being a goal orientated person Wanting to run 100 marathons and visit 100 countries Throwing her goals out of the window and focusing on keeping her husband alive for as long as she could Turning to comfort eating and drinking wine The power of a ten minute run Running mojo - "Running will be your salvation" Being told to stop running Needing to reset and recalibrate her expectations for herself Setting the target of running 1 mile Running a park run Running her first marathon in 7 years Peter Rook Being a cancer thrivers partner Writing her book - running after all these tears Why it was the most difficult book she's written Feeling drained by the writing Why the tears were healing and necessary Being a supporter for Dignity in Dying The realities of death What stage the bill (Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill) is at Talking about death and dying Making peach with our lives Anything that needs to change with our lives going forward Making the decision to live in hope not fear Marie Curie Writing a living will Signing a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) for her husband while he was in hospice. How to have a good death Living her life with a sense of purpose Wanting to have someone hold her hand at death Having a death Doula Wanting to die at home in her own bed Future plans in relation to running and travel The importance of goals Why its the journey and not the destination Heading to visit Libya Running the Brighton Marathon in 2026 Wanting to 100 Park Runs Wanting to run 100 Half Marathons Doing a half ironman….. Being inspired by IronGran Writing her bucket list Being very good with money Running a 100 mile race….. Not being a naturally talented runner The triumph of tenacity over talent! Wanting to preserve her body as much as possible Treating her body with respect Coming last in 25 marathons How to connect with Lisa on social media Funny moments in the book! Final words of advice Start every run with a 5 minute walk Make it as fun as you can Enjoy youself as much as you can Don't live your life with regrets Why a 10 min run will make you feel like a new person Why running can be your salvation to Social Media Instagram: @lisaflamingojackson Facebook: @LisaFlamingoJackson

Meet Dr. Erin Ayala, a Licensed Psychologist and Certified Mental Performance Consultant from Minnesota, specialising in supporting female endurance athletes. With over a decade of research and clinical experience, she's a published author, sought-after speaker, and advocate for mental health in sport. In this episode, Erin shares insights on: Building mental resilience for endurance challenges Strategies for coping with performance pressure and burnout Balancing high-level competition with wellbeing Lessons from her own journey as a competitive cyclist A must-listen for anyone looking to strengthen their mind while chasing big goals. *** 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 Dr Erin - Licensed Psychologist and certified mental performance coach Being based in the twin cities, Minnesota, USA Her love for working with female athletes Her backstory and being a multi-sport athlete in High School Getting to grad school and starting to get into running Joining a run club and getting the running bug Working her way up to marathons Meeting her spouse and getting into cycling, triathlons and doing Ironman Moving to Minnesota in 2016 Joining a cycling club and being encouraged to start racing bikes Gravel racing for the past 10 years Growing up in a small, midwestern town. Wanting to look after herself better Being a workaholic and not prioritising her health or wellness Stretching herself to thin and not feeling proud of what's going on inside Being very achievement driven Needing to match the internal to external Being consistent with therapy since undergraduate Why running and riding can be therapeutic but it can never replace working with a licensed therapist. Thoughts while running and how they have changed over the years Being a smoker, waking up coughing and not feeling good Starting running to be healthy and fit again Why it became so much deeper so much quicker External motivation can only get us so far The internal motivation is what keeps us going How running helps her prioritise her "me" time Figuring out the WHY Wanting to get off Strava, not following anyone on it, and not worrying about the social comparison game Getting sucked into the world of social media Starting with your WHY and what does that actually mean What words do you want people to use to describe you as a person Setting herself up for success Why her favourite clients are women in their 50s Getting the balance right between going after your goals and managing a relationship Being supported on her bike adventures, both on and off the road Doing really long road trips and going back country hiking together Doing 2 big events per year Planning a race strategy and what the mental side of a race strategy looks like Nothing new on race day and why the same applies to mental work and mental skills It's never too soon to start. Doing meditation every day via a free app 3/4 weeks out and getting series about her race goals Being ready to reassess her goals based upon life circumstances Taking into account- life - when setting race goals Life gives us training scores too Tips and tricks while being on the start line to get into the zone. The cognitive piece and psychological piece Here are my pre-race jitters Feeling anxious at the start line e.g. going to the bathrooms multiple times before the start. Take a deep breath? Breathing The importance of low and slow breathing and how it helps to balance out the nervous system. The concept of the pain cave Courtney Dauwalter Taking it to the next level- finishing strong - the final push over the finish line Figuring out - What is the most difficult or most important part of the race? Visualising success…. Toxic positivity How am I going to respond once the feeling hits? If - then - situation Responding and dealing with failure and set backs Letting the disappointment settle in Reminding yourself that just because you didn't reach your goal didn't mean you are a failure and did anything wrong Doing everything right and still not hitting your goals Outcome goals are how we compare to other people Set process goals and why they are more effective than outcome goals Starting a new podcast with Fiesty Media Focusing on what she can do The noise on the internet The Feisty Women's Podcast - January 12th 2026 was the launch date - with weekly episodes going forward. Women and sleep and why women are more efficient sleepers than men Focus on the basics Taking on the more taboo topics Book: The Stronger Sex: What Science Tells us about the Power of the Female Body. By Starre Vartan Sports psychology and why there is so much work to do in this space for women Research which is specific for women The lack of large scale studies in sports psychology for women How to connect with Erin online "Skadi"- The Norse Goddess of ice, snow and mountains Words of advice to motivate and inspire other women and girls Being willing to ask the hard questions around where our expectations are coming from Why it's ok to make our own rules and break them Going back to your value system Does leaning into this experience make sense for me? Social Media Website: www.skadisportpsychology.com Instagram: @skadisportpsychology @feisty_womens_performance Fiesty Media Podcast: feisty.co/podcasts

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 Jennifer Original from Manchester, but now based in Sheffield When her running journey started Maintaining a good level of base fitness Running 50k in January Feeling the need to go for a run Getting into ultra running Supported a guy who did the Bob Graham Round and running one of the legs If he can do it - I can do it to Knowing that she was capable of achieving Breaking down the goal Seeing the behind the scenes of planning a run and how it inspired her The 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 skills Being 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 fatigued Beating herself up for not achieving it Having 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 you Looking 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 week Having a rest day on Monday Being forced to find the time Combing 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 race Why it's not about the other people racing - it's about you Treating it as a fun day out - chatting to people in the mountain huts, changing her top, taking things steady Teaching herself that she could do it Sprinting 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 are Wanting 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 adventure Delivering her first trip in 2025 Teaching 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 wellness Looking at herself with more compassion Why it's not just a focus issue Why a diagnosis does change everything Trying medication and working with a nurse practitioner Starting to realise how awesome she is Seeing yourself in a different way Issues with ADHD, perimenopause and mental health Her feelings with turning 40 Becoming more comfortable with not having children Being more comfortable with how her life is Wanting to age as strong as she can - keep pushing it, keep learning what it is capable of Wanting to go ski touring in New Zealand How to connect with Jennifer on social media Developing her website at the moment Final words of advice for other women who want more adventure in their life The thing that you're thinking of doing that seems scary, follow the thread of that curiosity, it's there for a reason. Social Media Website: www.adventurewellness.club Instagram: @adventurewellness.club Facebook: @adventurewellnessclub

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 Lootie Becoming the 2nd woman to run around the world - solo and unsupported Fastest women to run around the world Her early years growing up in France Coming from a sporty family but not being interested in running Her love for team sports Being a smoker Being out of shape at 25/26 years old Swapping her cigarettes for a run ever day Her wake up call in Greece while learning how to windsurf Building up to a marathon distance- 8 months later Leaving France when she was 20 - working in finance for big corporates Having the idea to run around the world Going on Google - has anyone run around the world before The 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 pressure The daily thoughts, the novelty of running Never thinking of giving up as this is exactly what she wanted Her running set up - and keeping it as light as possible (12 - 15kg) Researching with google maps - trying to figure out her location every 40km The 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 Australia Speaking French, English, German and Greek Starting her run in Europe and why it was such a challenge (covid) Starting 6th December 2019 After leaving Europe and heading to America (Getting an exception from the WRA) Arriving in New York in Mid November 2021 What 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 night Eating what you find, eat until you are not hungry anymore Not being dependent on certain types of food, drinks, gels, supplements etc Running 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 wanted Wanting 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 points The kindness of strangers Running in Australia between May and August - which is Autumn time Finishing the world run in Sydney, Australia and coming to the end of the run and the experience. Feeling a little bit of satisfaction and also wanting the run to continue - a cocktail of strong and contradictory emotions Feeling at peace now - 3 years after the run The day after and not needing to run anymore Never missing the running, even though she enjoyed it everyday Struggling to run casually after the end of the world run Flying back to France and going back to the normal world Having a publishing contract in France and being ready after 2/3 months to start writing about the experience Feeling that the adventure was so rich - that she wanted to write the story in English and finding a publisher in the United States The next challenge…. Deciding to run across Africa Wanting to be a teacher How to connect with Lootie on social media Final words of advice for other women who want to take on their own personal challenge Whatever you're doing — at work or in your life — pause and ask yourself: Why am I doing this? And how aligned is it with who I am, or who I want to become? There's very little you can't do once you set your mind to it. Her motto - Wanting to see the world, enjoy it and appreciate every step of the way. Social Media Website: lootie-run.com Instagram: @lootierun Facebook: @lootierun Strava: www.strava.com/athletes/48402997

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 Steph Being based on the Gold Coast, Australia 24 years old Working 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 running How things changed at 14 and going camping for the first time in her life Finding 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 metres Climbing Kala Patthar, Nepal Enjoying being in the cold, remote environment Knowing 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 2023 Doing her Polar Training course in Norway Skiing across Greenland in 2023 Doing more solo expeditions in the polar regions Planning to head to the South Pole at the end of 2026 Polar training and the lessons learned Being part of a team to do the Greenland crossing in May 2023 30 days on the ice - starting on the west coast and heading to the East coast Learning how to cope in the cold and the wind Dealing with polar thigh Why 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 ice Staying positive and the other lessons learned to help mentally Practicing gratitude and being grateful for where she it Keeping the motivation alive The logistics and finances to pay for the expedition Working with ALE Training and what that looks like Recovery and paying more attention to nutrition Being vegetation, but eating some white meat, such as chicken and fish Having cold showers Concerns and fears to mange before the trip Managing unsolicited opinions and advice How to connect with Stephanie Advice to motivate and inspire other women to step outside their comfort zone Don'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