Hurdle with Emily Abbate

If you want to feel hyped to go after your next big goal, this episode is for you. Sat down with Olympians and Brooks athletes Chari Hawkins and Josh Kerr in New York recently for a life show, and debriefed a crazy summer and the work went into showing up in Paris. Chari — Olympic heptathlete — opens up about mental health after a disappointing Games. And Josh? The silver medalist and current mile record holder on US soil gives his perspective on hard work and the importance of trusting the process. These are two unbelievable athletes with inspiring advice and unique perspectives on training for success and overcoming the hurdles that come with striving for greatness. IN THIS EPISODE Josh’s recollection of his silver 1500 meter race in Paris (4:40) Executing your plan A and how to pivot when you need to refocus on your plan B (6:15) How to show up again after not getting the result you wanted (11:10) Chari’s ‘why’ and her perspective on the heptathlon (15:06) Josh’s self belief and the importance of trusting the process (17:50) How to focus on positive self talk when negative thoughts creep in (24:05) Chari’s biggest takeaway from the Paris Games (31:40) Advice for anyone having to navigate injury (35:10) The opportunity costs that goes with performing and such an elite level (39:10) What Chari and Josh are doing to stay excited for what’s ahead after Paris (47:10) Chari on vulnerability and relatability (54:12) SOCIAL @_charihawkins @joshhkerr ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the chocolate LMNT for the colder months!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've been trying to be more mindful about how I get from point A to point B, and it's making a major difference. Sharing some insights, plus answering a listener question about sneaker shopping and what every runner should have in their rotation. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Sneaker Shopping Guide JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, or email [email protected], to ask me a question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s no one I’d rather debrief the marathon with than the ever-inspiring Kirsten Ferguson. We're sitting down to talk through those special 26.2 miles in detail and the journey to the marathon starting line over the past 16 training weeks with her. Beyond the training cycle, we also get deep into Kirsten’s journey from a holistic view, starting with a gnarly injury and major setback that paused her marathon journey for a while. The Peloton instructor takes us through the months on the road to recover where she truly struggled both physically and mentally and how she turned to her community for strength. We talk about the nerves that come with stepping into the unknown and how Kirsten keeps those feelings at bay as well as what she’s excited about and looking forward to post 26.2. IN THIS EPISODE The moment Kirsten committed to the marathon (4:02) Kirsten’s mentality post-hip surgery and how she turned to her community for strength (7:12) How to know when you are fully ready to move on and recognizing growth (10:45) Finding grace and cultivating positivity to meet yourself with where your at (15:23) Feelings from finishing her first half marathon and most unexpected lessons from training (18:15) The reason Kirsten chose to run most of her training runs solo (31:27) A glimpse inside Kirsten’s headspace in those 26.2 miles of her inaugural marathon (38:08) How Kirsten’s vision came to life running up to her Peloton family (48:34) The memory of embracing her daughters at the finish line (51:00) Kirsten’s biggest takeaway from the race and what’s next for her (56:50) SOCIAL ⁠@iamkirstenferguson⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | LMNT | Head to ⁠drinklmnt.com/hurdle⁠ to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the chocolate LMNT for the colder months!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠ or send an email to [email protected] to ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I did a bit of catastrophizing this week. I don't think I'm alone in that. But what if my first inclination, rather, was to be a little more positive? Talking about a tough week, answer "how are you?" honestly, and answering a listener question about how to cope AND give your body the rest it needs. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, or email [email protected], to ask me a question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome Shalane Flanagan, Olympic medalist, 2017 New York City Marathon Champion, Coach for the Bowerman Track Club and University of Oregon to the show! Loved the opportunity to sit back down with Shalane at this year's New York City Marathon, on behalf of her sponsor at Mastercard. We chat about what's the latest in her life, how it feels to step into her role as a coach, and her feelings about running this year's NYCM. Plus: Best-practice marathoning tips and her best pep talk to date. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 183. Shalane Flanagan, Live At the New York City Marathon SOCIAL @shalaneflanagan ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠drinkag1.com/hurdle⁠⁠ to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops with your first purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Firstly: Dakotah Lindwurm is now Dakotah Popehn after getting married last weekend! Welcoming her back to the show to talk about Dakotah’s Olympic experience and all that went into her impressive race before diving into the early days of her running career, how her Olympic dream came to be, and what it’s been like since her "running glow up." Dakotah talks about leaving her career as a paralegal to go all in as a pro runner and how she’s been able to focus on her body in all aspects to both prepare for big race days and recover quicker than ever. Dakotah’s sense of self belief is so inspiring and we talk about her why0not-me perspective and the tools and tricks she uses when that self doubt creeps in. Dakotah’s first time on Hurdle Podcast IN THIS EPISODE A reflection on Dakotah’s Olympic experience (4:30) How Dakotah’s upbringing sparked her "why not me" mentality and how to channel the same self belief (9:05) Dakotah’s decision to self away as a paralegal (12:45) The power of a pro/con list when making big decisions (17:25) Combating intrusive thoughts when reaching for big goals (21:35) Dakotah’s early running days and her first glimpse at the Olympic dream (23:30) The pieces that have helped her thrive in running the past few years (29:18) The story behind Dakotah’s biggest fan at the Olympics and how they united in NYC (31:46) Getting to her dream without her mom by her side (43:24) Dakotah’s perspective on dealing with grief (46:11) SOCIAL @dakotahlindwurm ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the chocolate LMNT for the colder months!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listened to a really powerful conversation the other night, some of which I'm excerpting here on the brink of New York City Marathon Weekend. Plus: Answering a listener question of how to show up and be your authentic self online. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, or email [email protected], to ask me a question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the heels of the New York Liberty's championship win, amped to have Adidas athlete Betnijah Laney on the show! We chat through how it feels to be a champion, the parade in downtown Manhattan, and how Barclays Center felt on that epic winning night. Betnijah lets us in on her backstory, the hurdles she’s overcome to get to this point, and just how monumental her friends and family’s support means in pursuing her dreams. IN THIS EPISODE A reflection on game five and Betnijah’s mindset going into big moments (4:40) The biggest strength of this year’s championship team and what made this team great (7:00) What support looks like for Betnijah and the impact it has on her success (9:05) The early days of Betnijah’s basketball career (15:13) Betnijah’s advice on motivation and resilience (18:45) The biggest hurdles of Betnijah’s career and how she shifts focus when the doubt starts to creep in (23:16) When things really started to click for Benijah on the court how the she feeds off the support of the Liberty community (32:23) What it’s like to be an adidas athlete and what their support means to the athletes they support (36:43) Amplifying the message of female athletes and how it feels to be part of the future and growth of women in sport (38:30) SOCIAL ⁠@najlaney⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠drinkag1.com/hurdle⁠ to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops with your first purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Landed my first pull-up in eight years yesterday! Talking about the process that got me there in today's episode, plus answering a listener question about how to navigate the frustrating process of taking time off. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ⁠Self-Audit Instagram Post⁠ SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, or email [email protected], to ask me a question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I recently shared some sentiments on my personal struggle with burnout and depression, and I heard from so many of you experiencing the same thing and looking for some answers. Enter Dr. Elizabeth Sharp, the founder and medical director at Health Meets Wellness. We do a dive deep into the topics of burnout and seasonal depression, and we talk the signs and symptoms, how to distinguish between the two, treatment options (with or without medication), and helpful daily practices to improve overall wellbeing and mental health. IN THIS EPISODE Dr. Sharp’s background and her Health Meets Wellness practice (4:07) A deep dive into burnout: what it is and why it happens (9:30) The difference between burnout and seasonal depression (11:40) What happens to our bodies during seasonal shifts (16:15) Symptoms of seasonal depression (21:25) What to expect when going on medication for something like seasonal depression (25:05) Evaluating whether it’s time to revisit medication (31:40) Alternatives to medication when suffering from burnout or seasonal depression (32:56) The impact of gratitude practices on overall wellbeing and mental health (36:55) Dr. Sharp’s tips for combating burnout throughout the day (39:21) SOCIAL @dr.elizabethsharp @healthmeetswellness ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the chocolate LMNT for the colder months!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's something happening right now that I didn't expect, and it's something that I can't quite explain. Talking about how I'm feeling going into the New York City Marathon on November 3, and answering a listener question on how to do a self-audit. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Self-Audit Instagram Post SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, or email [email protected], to ask me a question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Had the priveledge to bring Des Linden, Boston Marathon Champion, Olympian, and a Captain for Every Women's Marathon, back onto Hurdle this week. We're catching up, sharing some laughs, and going in-depth on everything you may need to know if you want to run a marathon. Whether you're a beginner or a veteran, this episode is packed with best-practice tips for everything from fueling to recovery; execution to navigating pre-race jitters. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Every Women's Marathon SOCIAL @des_linden ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠drinkag1.com/hurdle⁠ to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops with your first purchase JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠ or send an email to [email protected] to ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of World Mental Health Day, I'm talking about my experience navigating anxiety over the past few years. Plus: Answering a listener question about how to avoid the comparison trap when going through a weight loss transformation. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, or email [email protected], to ask me a question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many of you know today's guest as a professional tennis player, but these days she’s spending more time on the roads and in the water. Monica Puig is a 2016 Olympic gold medalist and has found herself challenging her mind and body in a whole new way, pushing her way to the Ironman World Championships in Nice. We talk about the pivot from professional tennis to triathlon, starting from the beginning of how she got into tennis in the first place. Monica also gets real with us about the internal dialogue when she made the difficult decision to step away from tennis and how she continues to develop mentally to push through an entirely new challenge in the triathlon. IN THIS EPISODE The decision to pivot from tennis to the world of triathlons (4:45) A reflection on the 2016 Rio Olympic Games (9:30) Feeling comfort in knowing your support system during life’s challenges (16:48) Finding yourself and feeling of purpose (19:36) The mentality needed to push through and how Monica harnesses the right mindset (22:23) Moncia’s first world major marathon experience (32:30) Garnering the courage to keep going when everything is telling you otherwise (38:59) The peach and pit of this transition in Monica’s life (42:23) The art of being kind but firm and the importance of setting boundaries (48:30) SOCIAL @monicaace93 ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to drinkag1.com/hurdle to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops with your first purchase JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we make certain tasks or projects the monster? Talking about that, plus the benefit of clarity in tough situations today. Plus: Answering a question about Every Women's Marathon and what I'd advise someone to do immediately post-race. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, or email [email protected], to ask me a question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Believe in the run" is the name of the game for today’s guest, Melissa Ortiz. She’s a former pro soccer player, Olympian, and current broadcaster and host who’s had her fair share of hurdles getting to this point. We talk about her career journey, the highs and lows of professional soccer, what it was like to get to the Olympic level and how she segued her passion for sport from the field to the big screen. Melissa shares her advice on how to show up day in and day out with confidence and the reward of working diligently to master your craft. Melissa also completed her first marathon while in Paris and I am happy to report that not only did she finish, but she had a remarkable time and her Instagram recap is a must see. IN THIS EPISODE Melissa’s biggest hurdle to date and how she pushed out of her lowest point (5:35) The power of self talk during difficult moments (8:22) The transition from professional athletics and graduating from sport (13:20) Navigating the feelings of feeling like ‘other’ personally and professionally (22:20) Melissa’s first experience creating content and how that lead to her current career (25:20) How it feels to be in a position with a unique perspective and being a first generation in her role (30:35) Melissa’s go-to’s when she’s not feeling at her best but needs to show up (35:28) A piece of advice for anyone wanting to get into broadcasting and content creation (38:35) Melissa’s biggest takeaways from her highest hurdles (54:02) SOCIAL @melissaortiz5 ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to drinkag1.com/hurdle to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops with your first purchase JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message or send an email to [email protected] to ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Procrastination gets the best of me, whether it's leading into a work out or getting up and out in the morning. Today, I'm talking about the tool I use to beat it lately, and challenge you to do the same. Plus: Answering a listener question about ~how~ to run a faster half-marathon. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, or email [email protected], to ask me a question!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let’s just get this out of the way from the start: We are talking about the menstrual cycle this week, but this conversation goes so much deeper than the monthly cycle. I had the opportunity to sit down with Amanda Calabrese in Paris, founder of Sequel — a spiral tampon that creates a longer flow path for better absorption and no leak protection. We talk about her journey in developing Sequel, which started as a class project at Stanford and the hurdles involved with creating a D2C product. Amanda opens up about her experience with burnout and how she leans on her years as an athlete to inform her daily decisions as an entrepreneur. IN THIS EPISODE Amanda’s background and how Sequel came to be (3:28) A lesson on the sport of life saving and how her athletic career introduced her to the first Sequel investor (7:20) The first steps to put Sequel in motion and how Amanda used her skills as an athlete to develop a company (16:15) Amanda’s go-to when overcoming burnout (24:45) Biggest hurdles in early stages of product development (27:42) A crash course on raising money and angel investors (31:15) The defining moment of the first Sequel tampon and where you can purchase Sequel (38:24) The branding behind Sequel and Amanda’s biggest lessons in creating a brand (41:15) A piece of advice for every female founder (45:12) Sequel’s partnership with Athleta and what it’s looked like in Paris and beyond (46:50) SOCIAL @apcalabrese @trysequel ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message or shoot an email to [email protected] to ask a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What mantra or words of affirmation do you repeat to yourself when things feel hard? Talking about how I navigated a downward spiral earlier this week, and answering a listener question about how to identify purpose within career. SOCIAL ⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This entire conversation could be a life coach session. I sat down with Vanessa Garcia, Chief Impact Officer at Nike, at the Paralympic Games, and I feel truly honored to share her immense amount of knowledge and advice with the Hurdler community. Vanessa started out as a human rights lawyer before pivoting to Nike and we talk about her non-traditional career path while keeping her mission of advocating for women and girls at the center of her journey. She sheds light on how her upbringing helps to inform how she makes decisions, where she gets her confidence from, and gets real about navigating the nerves that come with the nature of her role at Nike and what she does to "train for her job like an athlete." MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ⁠⁠Nike's GameOn Program⁠ IN THIS EPISODE Vanessa’s feelings to be in Paris at her FIRST Paralympic games (4:35) What inspired her to make the transition from a human rights lawyer to team Nike (5:40) Keeping your composure during big, impactful conversations (10:18) How Vanessa’s upbringing informed how she shows up for herself and others every day (13:35) A fresh perspective on a support system and understanding your value (17:45) Advice for chasing the next level of your career (23:29) How Vanessa keeps a balance in order to live her life in purpose on purpose (28:30) Integrating a love for movement into your family (32:20) Training for your job like an athlete (34:20) The power of the pivot and defining what success looks like to you (37:40) SOCIAL ⁠Vanesa Garcia-Brito on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠drinkag1.com/hurdle⁠ to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops with your first purchase JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does balance look like when you're pouring too much into one cup? Answering that question, as well as a listener question about what it could mean to be a certified health coach and how that's different than a certified trainer. SOCIAL ⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠ ⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarah Reinertsen knows a thing or two about getting things done. The Paralympian is the world's first female amputee to complete the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, and that 2005 hurdle conquered is just one of her lengthy list of accomplishments. In this week's special episode, she talks about how she turned her passions into her profession working in sports marketing at Nike, and she also sheds light on what it takes to keep showing up when times get tough. Plus: Advice for harnessing your own tenacity, and what she hopes the future looks like for other disabled people. IN THIS EPISODE Learn about Nike’s GameOn Program (2:30) What Sarah does in her role of sports marketing at Nike (4:30) Sarah explains her T63 classification: An above the knee amputation (7:16) Sarah talks about the bone growth disorder she was born with (8:33) Sarah’s experience being othered as a child playing soccer (9:20) How September 11 really influenced her to make a dream happen and follow her passions (13:15) Sarah talks about her first attempt at Kona in 2004 (15:32) Sarah explains the World Marathon Challenge (22:40) MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE ⁠Nike's GameOn Program⁠ SOCIAL ⁠@alwaystri⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or email [email protected] to ask me a question — and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's the confidence in this episode for me. Meet Em Johnson: A proud, multi-hyphenate content creator who has been behind the camera working with some of the top female athletes in sport. In this week's episode, she talks about how she got her start while playing college basketball, channeling her effort into something creative when she wasn't getting the playing time she deserved. The Brooklyn-based creative shares what it was like to be employee No. 2 at TOGETHXR, what it was like for her to transition into working for herself, and how she navigated extreme anxiety and mental health struggles and came out on the other side better. Plus: Her feelings on the lack of other female photographers on popular sidelines, what it's like to work with Breanna Stewart, and what she's looking forward to most in the next few years. IN THIS EPISODE How Em first got into photography (4:40) How Em feels about being a stand alone or othered in her career path (5:52) The disadvantage in sport that actually helped Em get started in photography (7:50) What Em did when she got to college and wasn’t getting playing time on the basketball team (10:00) Em opens up about dealing with anxiety and panic attacks, how she navigated that in college (13:46) The tools that Em used to deal with her depression (17:50) What the “Bet on Yourself” era looks like for Em (18:30) How Em got involved with building TOGETHXR as employee No. 2 (32:00) How to deal with repetitive No's, and what kept Em knocking on doors when it didn’t click (36:16) SOCIAL ⁠@em.johnson⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to ⁠DrinkLMNT.com/Hurdle⁠ to get a free sample pack with any purchase JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠⁠⁠ or email [email protected] to ask me a question — and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's the healthiest approach to every day life, and is it different than what I'm used to? Answering this question after spending a week living out of a suitcase, as well as one from a listener about how to know whether running is the "right" activity for her. SOCIAL ⁠@emilyabbate⁠ ⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you look up "hard work" in the dictionary, you may just find a photo of Athleta's Chief Marketing Officer Ilona Aman. This conversation truly touches on so many of my favorite topics: Careers, entrepreneurship, wellness, women in sport, a fresh perspective on imposter syndrome, and so much more. In today's episode, Ilona gets real about the challenges that go hand in hand with being so career motivated, how she structures her family for balance, and her motivation to inspire her daughter and the next generation. IN THIS EPISODE What Ilona has been up to in Paris and what it means for her to be at the Games with Athleta (3:36) What 'getting it right' looks like to Ilona (6:35) Showing up to a challenge and feeling confident in what you have to offer (10:55) The career journey that propelled Ilona to her role at Athleta (17:40) Tools for self compassion and avoiding negative self talk (23:24) What Ilona looks for in emerging talent and the importance of soft skills (30:35) A new perspective on imposter syndrome (33:10) A moment to reflect on Ilona's Beyonce moment (40:36) The balance of firm but kind in the workplace (42:45) Ilona's motivation to inspire the next generation (49:06) SOCIAL ⁠Ilona Aman on LinkedIn⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠drinkag1.com/hurdle⁠ to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops with your first purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do I manage my anxiety in situations that scare me? Answering a listener question about this, and giving some details from my experience running Hood to Coast. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Katie Hoff Anderson has a lot of exciting projects on deck. But that doesn’t mean she didn’t have her reservations about returning to this year’s Games in a different capacity. Embracing being a spectator instead of a competitor, Katie talks about the tools she used to get to a grateful place — and her feelings on gratitude as a whole. Plus: what it’s like to be a Team USA creator, the excitement she has about her new podcast, and the way she feels about calling Nashville home. IN THIS EPISODE What it’s like to be a Team USA creator (3:26) What it was like to compete in her first Olympics (7:20) How it felt for Katie Hoff medal, but not get gold, in 2008 Olympics despite being called “the female Phelps” (7:40) The tool she uses to return to the moment and get more present when things feel hectic (17:44) Her feelings on the word gratitude versus good (18:05) What is The Hoffman Process and how did she feel before vs. after (23:00) What her new relationship is with sport and wellness is like now after her career as a professional athlete (28:50) How she felt after completing the New York City Marathon (31:15) SOCIAL @kthoff7 ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | LMNT | Head to ⁠drinklmnt.com/hurdle⁠ to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Dana Mathewson: One of the most prominent wheelchair tennis players in U.S. history. Currently ranked No. 1 in the United States, Dana is the first American woman to win a grand slam title in wheelchair tennis and is gearing up for this year’s Paralympic Games which start on August 28th. Dana shares her remarkable story when she was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition at the age of 9, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. When her mom introduced her to wheelchair tennis at the age of 13, Dana quickly fell in love with the sport and never looked back. We talk about how tennis became a quick passion for her as a way to reclaim her independence, her opportunity to attend the University of Arizona on an athletic scholarship, and why she chose to put her academics on hold to chase her Paralympic dream. Dana shares valuable advice around the mental side of training for performance, and sheds light on how she puts her mental skills training into practice on a daily basis, both on and off the court. IN THIS EPISODE What brought Dana to wheelchair tennis and the emotions around those early playing years (3:50) Self confidence and Dana’s mindset around continually showing up for yourself (12:10) How Dana’s passion with tennis came to be and a conversation on independence (14:15) A peak into Dana’s training as a professional wheelchair athlete (22:50) The excitement around her third paralympic games (26:30) Dana’s first professional season and how it grew her love for the game (31:45) Accepting the ‘what is’ and the mental side of training for performance (36:05) Mental skills training in practice (42:40) SOCIAL @dana.mathewson ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Overwhelm is something we all deal with. It can feel paralyzing at times, especially after a big high (read: My recent trip to the Olympics). Talking about how I navigate the low times after high times, and answering a listener question about what I wish I knew back when I started creating content. SOCIAL JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ari Chambers knows a thing or two about hard work. Today, she's behind the desk on-air at ESPN, but not all that long ago she was building HighlightHER from the ground up. Ari and I sat down together in Paris while she was working with Team USA, aiming to give fans a behind the scenes look at all things Olympic Games. We talk about how Ari got to this point in her career as a journalist, what motivates her to focus on the mission of sharing stories of women in sport, and the proudest moments of her work thus far. She also gets real about the highs and lows of being so ambitious, how to start something from nothing without letting overwhelm win, and how she relies on movement as medicine in times of struggle. IN THIS EPISODE A look into what Ari was up to in Paris and what’s on her vision board (3:20) Ari’s early years and how she instilled such a go-getter mindset in herself (8:35) Her challenging transition from professional cheerleading to sharing women’s stories in sport (13:45) The birth of HighlightHER (18:50) Ari’s experience of burnout and how she relies on movement as medicine (23:08) A confession about balance and Ari’s motivation behind her constant push to perform (32:10) The importance of gratitude and reflection so you can show up for yourself (38:00) What excites Ari about women in sport right now (42:03) A moment in gratitude for Ari’s support system (48:20) SOCIAL @ariivory @highlighther ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes in the moment it's hard to accept that one day, the tough stuff is going to help shape your being and help. It's impossible to think about the past 14 days in Paris without finding gratitude for the difficult moments I experienced in 2022. Talking about that, and sharing a new strategy for how I'll be answering your questions moving forward. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE My Experience With Depression SOCIAL JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Extra special guest host alert! Welcome Lauren Nemeroff to the hot seat, co-founder of Flow State Creative (and, Emily's Paris partner-in-crime). Lauren's asking Em about her trip to The Games: How it happened, what it was like, how she felt about the long work days, and what she's looking forward to now that this major goal is checked off the bucket list. Plus: Emily offers some great advice to her younger self, and gets emotional talking about what it's like to work for herself. SOCIAL @l_nemeroff @flowstate_creative @emilyabbate OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hurdlers! Welcome to Season 18! I’m back from Paris and stoked to bring you so many unbelievable conversations I had while at Athleta’s Power of She Creator Hub. We are kicking off the new season with Natalie Coughlin, 12-time Olympic medalist and the first female swimmer to bring home six medals in a single olympiad. We cover so much in this conversation — of course hitting on all of Natalie's experiences at The Games; also how she first found the pool, her unwavering positive perspective amidst struggle, and how she navigated the transition from full-time athlete to her next chapter — which includes owning a winery. IN THIS EPISODE How it feels to be back at the Olympics as a spectator (and her first time at opening ceremonies!) (4:30) Natalie’s first memories of getting in the pool (5:40) Goal Setting and how Natalie was able to map out her road to the Olympics at the age of 13 (10:43) The injury that derailed Natalie’s first Olympic dreams and how that hurdle was ‘the best thing that happened to her’ (16:45) Actionable advice for getting into a positive mindset when going through the thick of it (21:20) How Natalie handled the pressure that came with striving for an Olympic dream and medal (30:40) A reflection on Natalie’s historic Beijing Olympics and record 6 medals (39:04) Natalie’s current projects and passions (48:50) SOCIAL @natalicoughlin @gaderianwines ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IT'S TIME! Talking about the self-talk I'm using to get through a hectic moment, and answering a listener question about a YouTube future. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Athleta Run in Paris on 8/1 OFFERS OFFERS LMNT | Head to ⁠drinklmnt.com/hurdle⁠ to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You know her, you love her, please welcome Becs Gentry to our GOING FOR IT series. In today's episode we talk about her big opportunity with NBC in Paris, how TV broadcast is different than her work at Peloton, and what she’s most excited about at the Games. We also chat about how she feels toeing the line again for another 26.2 miles for the Marathon Pour Tous and her new, powerful running mantra. I absolutely loved getting Becs back in the studio and can’t want to see her do big things in Paris. IN THIS EPISODE What Becs will be doing in Paris (3:45) How Becs got to a place to feel confident in her new mantra ‘forward is a pace’ (6:58) Her emotions around getting the opportunity to run marathon pour tous (13:30) The opportunity with NBC and how it came to be (16:40) How Becs hypes herself up for difficult moments (24:25) Her perspective on feedback when trying something new (30:20) Speaking to a different audience and how to navigate new platforms (33:30) What’s she most excited about in Paris (35:05) SOCIAL @becsgentry ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome The New York Times Reporter Talya Minsberg to Hurdle! This year's Games are not Talya's first rodeo reporting for the greatest sporting event in the world. We talk about what her experience has been in covering the news during such a monumental time in sport, why she thinks this year’s Olympics are going to be different, and what a typical day is like for a journalist on the ground at the Games. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Talya's Author Page on The New York Times IN THIS EPISODE Talya’s background in sports journaling and how she shifted to cover Israel this last spring (5:30) Her process in preparing for something like the olympics (10:15) What covering up to 10(!) Olympic stories looks like for Talya (16:40) A day in the life of an Olympic reporter and ‘the mix zone’ (20:30) Stand out moments for Talya in her career reporting in sport (29:15) Talya's inspiration for finding her voice in storytelling and reporting (31:30) What she’s most excited for at this year’s Olympic Games (37:01) How Talya finds time for herself in what can be the most hectic weeks of her career (39:20) What’s next for Talya after the Olympics (42:50) Who would be a dream get during these Games and what events Talya is most looking forward to watching (45:50) SOCIAL @tminsberg ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s ‘Going For It’ episode welcomes Puma pro-runner Fiona O’Keefe, who punched her ticket to Paris by winning the Olympic marathon trials in February. We talk about how she’s had some time to regroup and get her game face ready for Paris, even with so many eyes on her after the big debut win. Fiona opens up about what helps her stay grounded in the chaos of uncontrollables, and how she gives back to herself so she can remain focused amidst all the outside pressure that comes with representing your country for the biggest moment in sport. IN THIS EPISODE What the last 3 months have looked like for Fiona since punching her ticket to Paris (3:06) Fostering a sense of self belief when striving for lofty goals (6:13) What about the marathon made it ‘the race’ for Fiona (9:02) How running makes Fiona feel and when she realized running could be a career (10:50) Navigating mental health with sport and academics (14:10) Fiona’s journaling practice and her biggest non negotiables for her to be her best (18:30) How she gives back to herself within phases of pressure (25:30) What excited Fiona the most about being able to complete that the Olympic Games (29:25) What success looks and feels like for Fiona at the Olympic Games (33:50) The mental pivot to let go of the uncontrollables and refocusing on what’s ahead (36:01) Rapid fire Q/A with Fiona (47:03) SOCIAL @fiona_okeeffe ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we are kicking off the limited series ‘Going For It’, which celebrates this monumental time for women in sport as people are rightfully paying more attention to her and what lights her on fire. Leading into Paris, I am bringing conversations to the forefront from women who will be involved in the Games from all perspectives, from athletes to journalists to even your favorite peloton instructor. Kicking off the series Is Regan Smith, who made headlines in June when she set a new record in the 100m backstroke on her way to punching her ticket to Paris. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Nulo & Regan's Partnership IN THIS EPISODE Regan’s reaction to breaking a (second) world record (3:40) Managing pressure after early success (8:10) What gives Regan an edge on her competition (9:30) How Regan makes sure her nutrition ensures that she can perform her best (13:32) The moment Regan was able to bring her high school swim coach to the Olympic Games in Tokyo (15:58) How Regan gets her mind ready for big races with amplified pressure (17:20) Regan’s Olympic idol (21:18) How she gives back to herself outside of the pool (23:55) SOCIAL @regansmith4 ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

So, I've been battling a little something offline. The good news: I've got great experts on my team helping me navigate some unexpected issues with my body. Talking about how I'm using this less-than-stellar side-step to my advantage, and then, answering a question about how I set my priorities. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Dr. Lobkova at Step Up Footcare OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week I'm sitting down with Nia Akins, a Brooks professional runner who recently won the 800m race at the Olympic trials, punching her ticket to the Paris. We talk about her epic run at the trials and her feelings for the Games, but we start our conversation with Nia’s together love, which is music and songwriting. We chat about the intersection of her two passions and how they play into one another as well as her new song ‘Petals To The Fire’. We have a beautiful conversation about Nia’s faith and the realization she had when she felt she was putting too much pressure on herself as an athlete and artist. Her advice to anyone looking to make a big life change and her commitment to surrendering to perfectionism is mega inspiring, sure to assist you through your next hurdle. IN THIS EPISODE Nia’s passion for songwriting and singing (4:30) Her feelings around making Team USA and the upcoming Olympic Games (6:58) Nia’s journey in college studying nursing, exploring music, and excelling in sport (13:40) How sacrifices and challenges prepped her for a professional running career (15:55) Nia on surrendering perfectionism and her emphasis on faith (18:30) Managing intrusive thoughts and Nia’s response when they get in her head (26:52) A lesson on trust and how faith plays a role for Nia (32:30) What’s exciting Nia right now and her perspective on owning your decisions (40:03) SOCIAL @nia_akins @niaakinsmusic ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When life feels really crazy, I ask myself if I'm acting in a way that would make myself proud on a less hectic day. Reflecting for this week's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY about what showing up looks like for me these days, and answering a listener question about how to navigate a slow season. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've been asking for more solo episodes, so here we are! Welcome to the first episode in a four-episode set on goal setting — one will launch every month moving forward! For this month's installment, I'm chatting about how to set a goal: What makes a SMART goal, how to figure out what's the right goal for you, and why it's important to understand your values and passions for ultimate success. Plus: A look inside my goal-setting process and how it's helped me in the past few years. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to ⁠drinklmnt.com/hurdle⁠ to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An interesting conversation earlier this week has me reevaluating my approach to exciting moments. Plus: Answering a listener question about the first-ever episode of Hurdle. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BMX Racer Nikita Ducarroz is no stranger to differentiating anxiety and fear. Heading for her second Olympic Games in Paris in just a few short weeks, she's on the show this week talking about how she's managed to navigate crippling anxiety from a young age and turn her fear into her power. Plus: What it was like for her to sign with Red Bull before her first Games, how she feels about cultivating community with M1ndtricks, and what she's excited for now beyond sport. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE How Nikita’d relationship with her anxiety is treating her these days (4:30) How she copes with the stress that goes with the Olympics (5:00) Nikita breaks down her anxiety symptoms including heart rate increase, loss of breath (5:48) How saying positive words and affirmations helps keep her focused in the moment (12:22) How Nikita first found BMX on YouTube and what it felt like (13:56) How it felt for Nikita to share openly about her struggles with other members of the extreme sports community (18:04) Exactly how Red Bull became her sponsor before the Olympics (24:12) How does someone train to ride BMX? What Nikita’s workouts look like including bike time, mobility, injury prevention, and strength training (27:30) How Nikita defines what her “best” performance really looks like (31:56) The strategy Nikita uses to fight fear and trick her mind to do hard things (36:50) What is exciting right now outside of the Olympics (43:40) The importance of young women and girls picking up sport (45:12) SOCIAL @nikita.duccaroz ⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to ⁠drinklmnt.com/hurdle⁠ to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message⁠, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finding patience and grace as things feel a little bit hectic at the moment. Plus: Answering a listener question about how to home in on a capsule, staple wardrobe. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I am sitting down with olympian and Hoka sponsored professional runner Rachel Smith, who toed the line at the trials in the 5K final. We talk about Rachel’s resiliency throughout her career as she’s navigated loss and injury, and how she turned to running in those challenging times. Rachel shares her journey to motherhood, her comeback to sport, and how the definition of success changed after having her little girl. IN THIS EPISODE How Rachel feeling heading into the Olympic trials (3:58) Navigating pressure and loss throughout her running career (8:01) How Rachel has learned to process grief throughout different aspects of her life (12:40) What hasn’t come naturally for Rachel and how she embraces the challenge (16:30) How she navigated injury leading into the trails and her practice on letting go (23:26) Rachel’s definition of success (27:02) The journey to motherhood for Rachel (32:18) Her reflection on being in such good company with other mothers in the sport (41:30) Rachel’s plans for after the summer (45:30) SOCIAL @rachelschneid18 ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week had its highs and lows, but on my run Thursday morning, I was reminded that really — it's not that serious. Talking about that moment on today's episode, plus answering a listener question about where the idea for Hurdle came from and what's my why for continuing with it. SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I couldn’t be more excited to share my conversion with professional climber Sasha DiGiulian on the eve of her documentary premiere “Here to Climb” on HBO Max. We talk about what it’s like to look back on the last 4 years of Sasha’s story and the journey toward a career that’s been nothing short of stellar. She talks about her goal setting process, what it looks like to go after something that scares you, and how to recognize when goals don’t serve you anymore. Sasha also shares what excites her right now, which includes her nutrition bar business, Send Bars. IN THIS EPISODE What it’s like for Sasha to watch herself back in the documentary (5:20) The lessons from Sasha’s all-female expedition in South Africa (7:40) What goal setting looks like for Sasha (12:30) A perspective on reflection and the importance of both success and failure (17:14) How to navigate when things don’t go according to plan (22:15) Sasha’s experience with hip surgery how she was able to focus on the controllables (26:30) Navigating body image through a major surgery and recovery process (36:12) The importance of gaining clarity and accepting reality in order to move forward (39:20) What’s exciting Sasha right now and what it’s like to work with friends (43:20) Why it’s ok to stay in the ‘figuring it out’ phase (49:15) What Sasha’s next chapter is all about (53:10) SOCIAL @sashadigiulian @sendbars ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS LMNT | Head to drinklmnt.com/hurdle to get a free sample pack with any purchase (including the new LMNT sparkling!) JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My Birkenstock campaign comes out today. What an entirely wild and crazy sentence. Talking about the feelings that come hand-in-hand with this, and also answering a listener question about my favorite book recommendation. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE A Gentle Reminder by Bianca Sparacino SOCIAL ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠DrinkAG1.com/Hurdle⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a year's supply of Vitamin D and five free travel packs with your purchase. JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s one thing to get back up after a single fall, it’s another to fall repeatedly and get back up with more tenacity each time. Pro skateboarder Mariah Duran is one of the best in the game, and I had the chance to sit down with her in Paris earlier this year to chat about her unshakable persistence. Mariah takes us back to her early years skating, how she fell in love with the sport and what her ‘why’ is for getting up despite the many falls and spills that come with both the sport and a professional career. We talk about her hopes for this year’s olympic games and her conscious choice to take time off after the Tokyo games to renew her love for the sport. IN THIS EPISODE How it felt when skateboarding was brought to the Olympic Games in 2020 and what it takes to qualify for the games (3:40) Mariah’s background in sport and why she ultimately chose skateboarding (6:30) The moment Mariah realized she could take her skateboarding ‘hobby’ to the next level (9:30) How to harness your inner grit and continue forward despite the falls (12:18) Mariah’s perspective on imposter syndrome, Trusting your inner voice and cultivating presence (15:30) What keeps Mariah showing up after the falls (30:23) Sponsorships in skateboarding and how they help advance the sport (33:05) A day in the life of training for Mariah (36:05) How to pick yourself up when you have a fall and the importance of giving yourself a moment (38:25) The importance of filming and capturing content for inspiration in skateboarding (43:15) The hardest part about being a pioneer in a sport untraditional for women (46:05) How Mariah is approaching this year’s Olympic Games (54:20) SOCIAL @mariahduran_ ⁠⁠⁠@emilyabbate⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠@hurdlepodcast⁠⁠⁠ OFFERS AG1 | Head to drinkag1.com/hurdle to get 5 free travel packs and a year’s supply of vitamin D3 + k2 drops with your first purchase JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Leave me a voice message, ask me a question, and it could be featured in an upcoming episode!⁠See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.