Hurdle

This week, I'm sitting down with professional runner Amanda Vestri, and she opens up about the mental grit required to perform at the highest level, the tricky balance between self-criticism and self-appraisal, and how she’s learning to celebrate her wins while staying hungry for future gains. We talk her impressive 2:24 PR at the Boston Marathon—only her second time tackling the 26.2-mile distance—and why even bettering your best can be a disappointment sometimes. IN THIS EPISODE Reframing Self-Criticism: How Amanda navigates her internal dialogue after big performances and learns to appreciate her progress rather than immediately reaching for the next goal. The Long-Term View: Why prioritizing physiological health, consistent fueling, and mandatory rest days takes precedence over quick, short-term fixes. The Power of Community: How having supportive teammates like Jess McClain keeps her grounded, keeps training in perspective, and reminds her that individual success never diminishes the win for others. Finding the Fun in the Grind: What it takes to enjoy 25-mile long runs in the Florida humidity and why surrounding yourself with family makes all the difference. Social Media & Public Visibility: Navigating the vulnerability of putting yourself online, balancing authenticity with performance, and staying present amidst future goal-setting. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "Don't put yourself in these black-and-white categories. Just get up, it's another day, and try again." "Every workout is not going to be a home run and doesn't need to be a home run... those workouts that are really tough that you have trouble getting through, those are the ones that help you for the marathon." "I'm going to run the best when I'm the happiest, so that's just kind of what I'm going to do." "If you learn from [an injury], it's not a waste." SOCIAL@a_vestri@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Checking in four weeks out from the Sydney Marathon and reflecting on a foundational mental practice: joy spotting. After an off-feeling weekend interaction, Emily shares how she made a conscious choice to respond instead of react—focusing on present-moment joys like fresh journals, good coffee, homemade shakshuka, and time at the track. Plus, she answers a listener question from Anna about how to overcome intimidation and launch a podcast of your own. In This Episode: Sydney Marathon Countdown: Emily reflects on her training build as she gets ready to travel to Australia for the big race. The Power of "Joy Spotting": How to consciously steer your focus toward micro-moments of joy when stress or negative interactions try to take over. Responding vs. Reacting: Recognizing that your body can't always distinguish between physical and emotional stress, and why choosing how you respond is a superpower. Listener Q&A: Emily breaks down how she launched Hurdle in 2018, her go-to gear recommendations for beginners, and why consistency is the most important factor in starting your own show. Weekly Prompt: What is one thing on your joy list that you can do this weekend? SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Hurdle, Emily sits down with Olympic and Indoor World Champion Julien Alfred. The track and field star opens up about navigating the mental ups and downs of elite competition, moving away from home at age 14 to pursue her dreams, and learning how to protect her inner peace amid massive international success and public attention. Julien shares how she overcomes self-doubt, handles the pressure of representing Saint Lucia on the global stage, and why giving herself grace has been key to her growth both on and off the track. IN THIS EPISODE Navigating Mental Rough Patches: Julien reflects on starting the season in a difficult mental space, questioning her abilities, and how stepping back helped her reset and realign. Overcoming Loss & Finding Drive: How losing her father at a young age shaped her resilience and continues to inspire her athletic journey today. Handling High Pressure: What it’s like to carry the expectations of an entire country while learning to focus on her own personal growth and goals first. Protecting Inner Peace: Why Julien steps away from social media and media noise to surround herself with a strong support system that values her for who she is, not just what she accomplishes on the track. The Move at Age 14: The immense sacrifice of leaving Saint Lucia as a teenager for Jamaica to train, and how that leap of faith prepared her for college and professional success. Game Face vs. Real Life: The contrast between Julien’s calm, peaceful personality off the track and her focused, "all business" alter ego on race day. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "I am just such a resilient person, a strong person, that if I'm down for a short time, I know I'm going to find my way to get back to the top." "It's okay to give yourself grace. It's okay to mess up sometimes. That's part of being human." "Small island, big things—you can just do whatever you put your mind to, no matter where you're from." "On the track, I'm a different person. It's all business... There's nothing to smile about until I cross that line first." SOCIAL@julien.alfred@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When NYC air quality made outdoor running impossible, I faced a choice: split up my 19-mile long run, or take on the "unhinged" challenge of tackling it all on a treadmill. In this 5-Minute Friday, I’m talking about the mental gymnastics of long-distance running, why we need to collect "evidence" of our past resilience to get through hard moments, and how I'm balancing running four days a week with strength training as I prepare for the Sydney Marathon. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Emily sits down live at Rivian HQ in New York City with long-time friend of the show, Peloton instructor, and HOKA Global Brand Ambassador Becs Gentry. In front of a live audience, Becs opens up about stepping away from the road-racing spotlight and returning to her trail-running roots as she prepares for two of the biggest, high-altitude, high-heat races of her life. She shares how turning 40 has changed her physical relationship with her body, what diligence looks like while juggling motherhood and a full-time career, and why giving yourself grace to rest is just as important as putting in the miles. IN THIS EPISODE Training for Extreme Heat and Altitude: Becs shares the reality of preparing a sea-level body for thousands of feet of elevation gain in 90+ degree heat while balancing her daily responsibilities. The Return to the Trails: Why returning to trail running after years of elite road racing serves as a mental reset, offering much-needed solitude and peace away from constant visibility. Navigating 40 and Body Changes: Becs candidly reflects on how hitting age 40 made her feel more vulnerable to stress and fatigue, and how she's learning to listen to her body's evolving needs. Redefining Diligence and Grace: How juggling motherhood, partnership, and professional commitments reshaped her definition of success—and why showing up on an "A" level isn't always possible or necessary. A Wild Appalachian Trail Run: The unbelievable story of a solo trail run that included close encounters with a bear, a snake, a snapping turtle, a dog, and a porcupine. Recovery and Unplugging: The daily recovery habits keeping her grounded, including acupuncture, Normatec boots, magnesium, reduced screen time, and getting back into reading fiction. Best Advice for Her Younger Self: The piece of wisdom Becs would offer her 30-year-old self looking back on a decade of growth and career transitions. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "Diligence isn't always about showing up on that 'A' level. Diligence is about showing up for all of the hats and the roles that you have Coast to play in your life, and being okay with that." "When you're juggling, you need to know which balls are glass and which balls are rubber—and allow yourself to know which one is which each day." "The world is tough right now, but there is a chance for all of us to see it as a happy place. We just have to consciously correct our algorithms." "Don't be overconfident, but don't undersell yourself." SOCIAL@becsgentry@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily is pulling back the curtain on a massive, exciting new project she’s producing for Nike’s Global Running Head Coach, Coach Bennett, in celebration of their After Dark series. Diving into this international production has Emily reflecting on what it’s like to work within a team again after nearly a decade of being her own boss. She breaks down her go-to strategy for staying productive when the calendar gets packed (hello, timed to-do lists!) and shares a personal "story time" about conquering a tough running workout on the treadmill when Canadian wildfire smoke compromised the local air quality. Plus, Emily answers a listener question about preparing for a first marathon, offering invaluable advice on mindset, expectations, and the importance of putting in the work. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECoach Bennett's podcast: Introducing, The After Dark Series SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Emily sits down in Paris with Laura Thweatt, three-time US Cross Country National Champion, top-10 finisher at major marathons like New York and Chicago, and the assistant roads team coach for the On Athletic Club (OAC). Fresh off her stellar 13-year professional running career, Laura discusses transitioning from elite athlete to coaching world-class talent, navigating injury cycles, and why she is passionate about helping female athletes understand their own physiology to unlock peak performance. IN THIS EPISODE The Transition to Coaching: Laura explains her role with OAC, helping to construct and build out a specialized marathon team alongside coach Dathan Ritzenhein. A Lifelong Passion: Why a stint coaching high school cross country at Monarch High School made Laura realize she wanted to stay on the coaching side of the sport after hanging up her own competitive sneakers. The Power of Female Physiology: Laura opens up about why women need spaces to comfortably discuss their menstrual cycles, recovery, and training adjustments to treat their bodies like a superpower. Tracking and Biofeedback: How OAC is working with tools like the Oura Ring to help athletes track data, optimize their schedules, and actively reduce injury risks. Navigating Chronic Injury: A deep dive into Laura's battle with osteitis pubis (inflammation of the pubic symphysis) and how complete time away from running reshaped her listening relationship with her body. Small Wins and Journaling: Why tracking tiny daily progression points became a vital mental health tool when facing an extended recovery with no clear return date. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "So many of my hardships in my running, in life, have always taught me that in the moment it’s so hard to see, but it’s what sets you up for the things that come later." "If you don't schedule breaks for yourself, your body will eventually force you to take one." "I believe in myself the way that I want my athletes to believe in themselves. We’re a team... I have to believe in myself that I can help them get there." SOCIAL@lthweatt@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this edition of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, Emily dives deep into a word that gets tossed around a lot in the wellness world: alignment. Stripping away the superficial aesthetics of social media, she shares what true alignment actually feels like in practice—and why she is finally experiencing it after seasons of feeling out of it. Plus, she shares a powerful mindset shift for handling good seasons, plugs a new project, and takes a listener question about crafting the ultimate New York City summer vision board. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODECoach Bennett's podcast: Introducing, The After Dark Series SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome Olympic Champion Masai Russell back to Hurdle! Fresh off her historic performances in the 100-meter hurdles, recently clocking a 12.14 for the second fastest time in history and a win at Pre Classic, Masai opens up about her rapid rise to the top and the evolution of her mindset. Emily and Masai dive deep into the essential difference between having confidence and being cocky, and how Masai protects her peace by switching her focus from standard expectations to execution. Masai reflects on transitioning from an underdog mentality to navigating the pressure of being the one to beat, sharing how she trains her mind to view every performance—good or bad—as an opportunity to sharpen her greatness. From tracking meticulous micro-improvements to redefining what "speed" truly means to her, Masai reveals what it takes to relentlessly pursue her potential and become an undeniable legend in her sport. IN THIS EPISODE The Reality of Expectations: Masai reflects on her transition from the "underdog" to the reigning Olympic Champion, sharing how she had to learn to navigate the immense weight of external expectations. Confidence vs. Cockiness: How to separate knowing what you bring to the table from being arrogant, rooted in humble beginnings, hard work, and a tight-knit connection to her community. Silencing the Outer Noise: Masai opens up about her mental strategy for keeping the blinders on, treating every major competition as "just another day with the same ten hurdles," and turning down the volume on her own mind. The No Bad Days Protocol: A look at how shifting her perspective allowed her to stop looking at setbacks as failures, choosing instead to view every statistical loss as a critical lesson that sets up future greatness. The Next Chapter: Masai chats about the microscopic physical adjustments that unlocked her 12.14 performance, why she welcomes the pressure of world-record predictions, and her ultimate vision to become an undeniable legend in the sport. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "When that gun goes off, like whatever everyone else says, like none of that matters... at the end of the day, Masai is the one that has to get on that line, execute it, do it, and really not talk about it, but really do it." "I have had very humble beginnings. I have not come from a winning background. I have had to work for everything that I've gotten, which is why I think that my audience... they're so tight-knit because of the confidence that I exude, but it's also in a way that I'm so sure about myself." "I feel like I will never lose ... statistically I may lose, but everything from a loss, I always take it as a lesson to just set me up for where I'm at." "Your thoughts are just your thoughts, and what you put flesh into or what you put life into, that's the reality that you'll get out of it. Quiet your brain down sometimes." SOCIAL@masai_russell@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this installment of Five-Minute Friday, Emily checks in from the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. After a whirlwind week of travel—flying from Paris back to Brooklyn, and then straight to Oregon—she opens up about overcoming the mental hurdles of getting back onto the running track. Emily reflects on pushing past old narratives of self-doubt during a challenging interval workout, using the experience as a powerful reminder to practice self-grace. Plus, she answers a listener question on how to safely navigate outdoor solo runs while traveling in unfamiliar territory. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Hurdle, host Emily Abbate sits down with two-time Olympian and 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden for a conversation about redefining limits. Fresh off completing the legendary Marathon des Sables (MDS)—a grueling, self-supported 167-mile stage race across the Sahara Desert—Des takes listeners directly inside her tent. She shares the realities of surviving on grit, managing endless blisters, and navigating the longest run of her life: a staggering 62-mile day. Des breaks down the exact mindset it takes to avoid "negotiation mode" when the going gets tough and explains how her recent transition into the ultra-trail world has altered her relationship with the sport. Plus, she gives us a behind-the-scenes look at running the Boston Marathon as a "commoner" alongside her husband, Ryan, and her recent trip to the London Marathon. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS The Reality of MDS: Why Des swapped the roads of Michigan for the Sahara, how she managed self-supported gear, and what it’s really like to share a rudimentary tent with seven other runners. Silencing the Inner Negotiator: Des outlines her mental strategy for pushing through low moments and why reaching a state of self-pity only slows down forward momentum. The Blister Protocol: A look at managing the inevitable physical toll of a multi-day desert race and choosing to stay positive through the discomfort. Boston as a one of us: What it felt like to start further back in the corrals, weave through massive crowds, and burn extra matches to finish right before her husband, Ryan. The Next Chapter: Des chats about her strategic pivot to media and storytelling with her podcast Nobody Asked Us, her upcoming plans for the Chicago Marathon, and her sights set on the Havlina 100. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "The guardrails are off. Let's see where this goes." "This is literally what you signed up for... make the decisions to make the right choices because that's really what the event for me is all about." "As soon as we start to feel sorry for ourselves, it's like, you're just not going to be productive. So, take the little wins." "No one's going to fight for you as much as you... if you're not believing in yourself even more than everyone else, you've got to really think about what you're doing." SOCIAL@des_linden@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, Emily checks in from a very warm Paris after a whirlwind trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen. She dives deep into her experience spectating her first-ever HYROX World Championships, as a guest of Red Bull, sharing her top takeaways on the booming fitness phenomenon, the unique dynamics of competing in doubles, and why running endurance might just be your secret weapon to crushing a HYROX event. Plus, Emily answers a listener question about maintaining healthy routines and supplement games while constantly traveling for work. Highlights & Takeaways: The HYROX Breakdown: A run-down of the 8km format and its functional fitness stations, including the ski erg, sled push/pull, rowing, sandbag lunges, farmers carry, and wall balls. Doubles Strategy: Why competing with a partner might be the way to go, and how you can strategically split up stations based on your individual strengths. The Endurance Advantage: Why an aerobic running base is a massive asset in HYROX, and how it differs from a pure strength-focused training approach. Q&A—Routine on the Road: Emily’s top tips for maintaining your workout schedule, journaling habits, and supplement routine (from creatine to AG1) while traveling. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to Season 21 of Hurdle! To kick off this brand-new chapter, host Emily's going solo to share the deeply personal evolution of her relationship with running, her career, and herself. From being cut from the JV volleyball team in high school to weighing 200+ pounds as a college freshman, Emily opens up about the pivotal moment that changed everything and the simple decision that started it all: learning to keep showing up for herself, one step at a time. Whether you are a seasoned marathoner, balancing the demands of a freelance career, or looking for the inspiration to conquer your own current hurdles, this episode serves as a powerful reminder that you belong exactly as you are. Key Takeaways & Highlights The Turning Point: Emily revisits her freshman year at the University of Connecticut, stepping on a dusty scale under her bunk bed, and the counter-intuitive sprint that sparked her health journey. The "Half-Mile" Summer: The hilarious and humbling realization that the "mile" she thought she was running every day at summer camp was actually just a half-mile—and why being bad at something is the first step to getting good. The Career Hustle: A winding look through Emily’s nearly 20-year journalism career—from associate editor at The Stir to fitness editor roles at Rodale and Self, and finally, the leap of faith into full-time freelancing and starting Hurdle. Understanding Opportunity Cost: How a casual glass of wine and a conversation on a New York rooftop redefined the sacrifices required to achieve big athletic and personal goals. Looking Ahead to Sydney: Emily gives an update on her current training block for the upcoming Sydney Marathon on August 30th, balancing high-mileage goals with a busy travel schedule. Memorable Quotes "I am talking about what happens to your mind, and your confidence, and your life when you decide to keep showing up for yourself, one step at a time." "You belong exactly as you are." Links & Resources Follow Hurdle: @hurdlepodcast Follow Emily: @emilyabbate Subscribe to the Newsletter: The Weekly Hurdle on Substack Email the Show: hello@hurdle.us If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and don't forget to share it with a friend who might need a little extra inspiration to conquer their own hurdles this week! SOCIAL@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

News: Hurdle is heading into a brief summer season break for the next two weeks! This week: Talking about the powerful feelings of purpose and intention that accompany the start of a new training cycle as she gears up for the Sydney Marathon. Emily reflects on the concept that we become better at the things we do repeatedly—whether that means running, writing, or even letting anxious thoughts drive our decisions. She challenges listeners to audit what they are pouring their energy into and reminds everyone that they have the power to choose the words and behaviors that define their lives. Later in the episode, Emily answers a listener question from Joan about post-marathon recovery. She offers practical, reassuring advice on handling "fitness FOMO," the importance of taking a full two weeks off from running to let the body absorb its hard work, and how to safely cross-train with low-resistance cycling. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Emily sits down with her own fertility specialist, Dr. Michelle Kappy, a board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at Spring Fertility. After undergoing her own egg freezing journey under Dr. Kappy's care, Emily opens up about the intimate, often overwhelming logistics and physical realities of the procedure. Together, they pull back the curtain on the entire process—demystifying everything from medication protocols and managing your physical movement during stimulation, to understanding the biological changes to egg quality and quantity as women head into their mid-30s. Whether you are actively considering preserving your fertility, are currently in the middle of a cycle, or simply want a better grasp of reproductive health and science, this deep dive offers a comforting, text-book level understanding of the choices available to you. Dr. Kappy brings a patient-centric, empowering approach to the conversation, explaining that information-gathering is the first and most critical step to taking control of your reproductive autonomy. IN THIS EPISODE Emily's personal recovery timeline, physical side effects, and how she safely modified her strength training and running habits post-procedure. Why scaling back physical movement—and avoiding high-stress abdominal workouts—is medically critical to prevent safety risks like ovarian torsion as follicles grow. Demystifying the "35-year-old cliff" and looking honestly at how egg quality and quantity naturally shift as women age. Step-by-step breakdowns of standard stimulation medications, the daily purpose of monitoring appointments, and what actually happens during a 15-minute extraction procedure. Managing expectations around the natural "attrition rate"—from the initial follicle count visible on an ultrasound to the final number of mature, genetically viable eggs that make it to deep freeze. Navigating the intense financial and emotional burdens of the process, and the unique mental load of choosing to freeze your eggs independently. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "It's okay to just get information and just to make a consult and talk to an expert and then decide from there." "Information gathering is one of the biggest goals that I have for patients... so they can feel armed with that empowerment." "The ominous 'cliff' is this biological clock that unfortunately really is a thing. It is a biological change... but you don't fall into a black hole where you are no longer fertile." "People do hang their hats on a number... but it really doesn't define someone. You could have a high number and have done everything wrong in your life, or you could have a low number and have done it all right." "Don't let the number define you... [Egg freezing] is the only thing that you can do to protect your reproductive autonomy and to give yourself optionality." SOCIAL@springfertility@michellekappymd@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can you even believe that it is about to be June? As I approach my 38th birthday, I'm feeling a certain way and doing a lot of reflecting. Sharing a powerful prompt from my Substack newsletter to help you do a personal inventory of your own life. Plus, answering a listener question from Shannon about running shoes, breaking down the difference between a classic neutral shoe and plated carbon-fiber options. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samirah Moody is a professional runner for On, recednt USC graduate, and a founding member of the newly minted OAC (On Athletics Club) Sprint team. Coming off a stellar collegiate career—including a 2025 NCAA championship in the 100 meters—Samirah is stepping onto the global pro circuit with a fresh perspective, a deeply hardened sense of resilience, and a powerful inner drive. In this episode, Samirah pulls back the curtain on the intense physical and mental grind of elite training under renowned head coach John "JB" Bolton. She details the dramatic shift from the college routine to the professional world, where the job requires balancing world-class track workouts with photo shoots, media appearances, and constant networking. Samirah opens up about the devastating meniscus injury that threatened her trajectory, the grueling rehabilitation process that followed, and the exact moment she shifted her mindset from "I have to do this" to "I get to do this." Plus, she shares what it’s like to navigate a high-pressure environment as the only short sprint woman on the OAC roster, and how journaling helps her process the weight of big expectations. IN THIS EPISODE The Leap to the Pros: Samirah breaks down what it really looks like to move from a collegiate schedule to the OAC Sprint team, balancing elite physical training with the commercial obligations of a professional athlete. Finding Your "No": Why learning to set boundaries and protect her personal bandwidth has been an essential part of stepping into her own power on and off the track. Overcoming the Hurdle: A transparent look at her severe meniscus injury during her junior year, leaving the stadium in a wheelchair, and the psychological journey of rebuilding her body from ground zero. Mindset Shift: How she reframed her inner dialogue from a place of obligation to an appreciation for the opportunity to compete at the highest level. Being the Only One: What it feels like to hold down the short sprints on the OAC roster, staying even-keeled through high stakes, and the everyday power of processing pressure through a personal journal. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "If I could do all that, why not me?" "You have to believe that you’re a big dog to really line up with the best of the best." "I don’t know when something’s going to click, but I’m just going to keep chugging along because I’ve seen really, really highs and really, really lows, and I’ve been everywhere in between." "The world can put a lot of pressure on you ... but it is really about how much do you want something? I need that pressure to succeed." SOCIAL@samirahmoody_@on@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Checking in from sunny Los Angeles! Talking about OAC's new Sprint team, and reflecting on a recent run at the Silver Lake Reservoir following my Brooklyn Half Marathon completion. Talking about my journey of embracing grace, slowing down, and practicing mindfulness during seasons of flux. Plus: Answering a listener question from Jen in Seattle regarding heart rate spikes and mastering diaphragmatic breathing while running. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's rewind episode, Emily sits down with four-time Olympian Katie Ledecky, the most decorated American female Olympian in history. Ledecky brings us back to her roots, talking about her first-ever goals in swimming and how she originally fell in love with the sport at age six. The swimming legend shares her perspective on the grueling work required to maintain excellence over a two-decade career, regularly logging 20+ hours a week in the water and another 6 to 7 hours in the gym. Katie opens up about how she handles pre-race nerves, her mental strategies for befriending pain in the final meters of a race, and how she breaks down monumental goals into small, doable pieces. Plus: The deep impact of her family, what it’s like to drop into a random local pool for lap swim, and what true lifestyle balance looks like for her outside of training. She also touches on what it means to be a powerful role model and how that mission became even more meaningful when she partnered with Athleta’s Power of She collective. IN THIS EPISODE How does Katie Ledecky befriend pain? She recalls a defining 1500-meter race from the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships where she hit a wall of pain at the 900-meter mark but pushed through to pick up her split times. Katie talks about how she feels about what she’s achieved in her 22-year career in sport. Having far surpassed her childhood dreams, she shares how she continues to set bigger goals while maintaining her passion. What is Katie Ledecky’s "why" in swimming? She discusses balancing her personal drive to find the best version of herself with a deep joy for inspiring the next generation of athletes. How Katie Ledecky fuels to train and perform. She walks through her daily nutrition schedule, navigating early morning practices, and structuring a balance of protein and carbs. How much sleep does Katie Ledecky get and what she does when she doesn’t get as much as she’d like. Katie discusses aiming for 8 to 9 hours a night and the sacred role of her daily midday nap. What it was like for Katie to follow in her brother’s footsteps in the pool. She reflects on looking up to her older brother, Michael, and following him into the sport. What Katie Ledecky’s relationship is with goal setting and how that has evolved since she started swimming. She explains her childhood habit of writing down "want times" to gamify her progress. What are Katie Ledecky’s current goals? She focuses on the upcoming World Aquatic Championships in Singapore and building consistency in her training block. How does Katie Ledecky reframe negative self-talk? She shares her approach to managing off-days in practice by finding small technical elements to adjust and relying on the positive energy of her teammates. Katie talks about the most difficult hurdle of her professional career—navigating the uncertainty, isolation, and training adjustments brought on by the 2020 Olympic postponement. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "Nerves are a good thing. It means you care about what you're about to do... Knowing that you're prepared for the biggest stage and you're ready—that’s one of the best feelings in the world." "Even if you hit that point in that race, you can push past it and maybe even go faster. It's always interesting to learn those things, and I'm still learning at this age. That's what keeps it fun for me." "I'm always just trying to push myself and trying to be the best version of myself that I can be... If we can encourage each other to pursue those passions, pursue those big goals, beautiful things happen." "I can't be at 100% every single day. But if I'm at 80%, I've got to give 100% of my 80%. I just try to be as consistent as I can be on a day-to-day basis." "Keep it moving. If you keep moving forward, you're going to make progress, you're going to have a good day." SOCIAL@katieledecky@womenshealthmag@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As she prepares for the Brooklyn Half, Emily's looking back at her first 13.1-mile race in 2008 and the massive health transformation that led her there. Today, Emily discusses the beauty of progress and the reality of "readiness." She's sharing her perspective on why being a beginner is a prerequisite for greatness and how she maintains her fitness routine today—not for a specific time goal, but to feel like her most capable self. Plus, she answers a listener question from a new business owner about how to design a productive schedule and find motivation when you are your own boss. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amanda Lucci is the Director of Special Projects at Women's Health, where she has spent the last decade evolving the brand’s digital presence and spearheading their expansive coverage of women’s sports. From the sidelines of the WNBA to the mixed zones of the Paris Olympic Games, Amanda is on a mission to tell the stories of the women transforming the future of the industry—both on the court and behind the scenes. In this episode, Amanda opens up about her career pivot from entertainment journalism to becoming a powerhouse in sports media. She shares the raw reality of navigating a male-dominated press room and the importance of having women’s voices in those spaces to tell more nuanced, relatable stories. We also dive into her personal journey through a grueling multi-year fertility battle, how it reshaped her perspective on success, and how she balances the high-octane world of sports reporting with her newest role: being a mom. MENTIONEDThe HuddleGame Changers IN THIS EPISODE The Evolution of Women’s Sports: How Women's Health transitioned from standard fitness tips to deep-dive reporting on elite athletes and industry game-changers. Navigating the Press Room: Amanda describes the Olympic mixed zone and why female journalists are essential for asking the questions that actually resonate with athletes. A Personal Hurdle: The mental and physical toll of three rounds of IUI and four rounds of IVF, and how her passion for women's sports acted as a lifeline during that time. The Power of "No": Why her 2026 "word of the year" is focused on being selective with her energy and projects to show up fully for her family. New Ventures: The launch of The Huddle podcast and the excitement of moving from behind the camera to in front of the microphone. Predictions for the Future: Why Amanda believes sports like flag football and volleyball are on the cusp of a massive cultural explosion. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "If you're a sports fan, then you'll love women's sports. It is for you." "I want people to read our coverage and watch the game through a new lens... knowing who the people are and what makes them tick makes me so much more locked in." "I had to face the reality that at any point, this could go wrong. The entire experience is totally out of your control... but I realized I have such a full life that I will be okay, and I will be happy." "If you worry about something that hasn't happened, then it does happen, you just worried twice. You should live now, and we'll deal with it later." "I don’t look in the mirror every day and say, 'You go girl'... but ultimately, I am so proud of what I have overcome and the way I've grown personally and professionally." SOCIAL@alucci@womenshealthmag@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's absolutely beautiful in Brooklyn right now. After a whirlwind of travel to Boston, London, and Portland, being back home feels like a massive exhale. But as the weather warms up, social calendars tend to fill up fast. Today, Emily's evaluating how she navigates this busy season without overcommitting. She's sharing a couple essential gut-checks: asking yourself if an event provides energy or requires an unaffordable "withdrawal," and the importance of the "White Space Rule" to allow for spontaneity and mental resets. Plus, she answers a listener question about how to prioritize both time for self and socializing. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Hurdle, host Emily sits down with elite volleyball champion, Carli Lloyd. Carli shares her journey of grit and professional longevity, from a decorated 13-season international career to leading LOVB Austin to back-to-back League One Volleyball (LOVB) championships. She opens up about the "hurdle" of being cut from the national team multiple times before ultimately reaching the Olympic podium and discusses how she maintains an elite mindset through personal tragedy and the transition into motherhood. IN THIS EPISODE The Power of One Ball at a Time: Carli explains how her team overcame a rocky regular season by staying committed to the micro-process, eventually securing the 2026 LOVB title. Embracing the Hardship: Why she views failures and professional setbacks as mandatory opportunities for human evolution. The "Hurdle" of the National Team: Carli details the grueling four-year cycle of being cut and released from her dream, only to re-commit and finally earn her spot on the 2016 Olympic roster. Healing the Mind: An inside look at her multi-year investment in therapy, life coaching, and energy work to overcome the "not good enough" narrative. Legacy on Home Soil: The significance of playing professionally in the U.S. after over a decade abroad, and what it means for the next generation of young athletes to see the sport within reach. The Morning Routine: How meditation and journaling serve as non-negotiable "reps" for her mental health. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "I’m here and still playing because I’ve been committed to the hard things. I’ve been committed to getting through them and welcoming them so I can learn and grow." "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." "Hardship is where we learn the greatest lessons. When it presents itself, it’s here for a reason." "The way you’re talking to yourself—the story you’re telling yourself—is the most important thing you’re going to hear. It will change your life if you nurture it." SOCIAL@carlilloyd3@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday I got to sit down with the "Quad God", Ilia Malinin. Reflecting on that event—and a specific question about whether or not I have a manager—led me down a path of gratitude for the "hustle" and the career I've built by simply putting myself out there and treating people well. I’m diving deep into why we need to stop the comparison trap and start giving ourselves more credit for how far we’ve come. Plus, I answer a listener question from Tara, who is trading the Philadelphia for the Big Apple and needs the scoop on the best neighborhoods for safety and transit. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Hurdle, host Emily sits down with professional runner Jess McClain fresh off her monumental performance as the top American finisher at the 2026 Boston Marathon. Recorded in London, where the duo got to run in the upcoming Brooks' upcoming Hyperion Elite 6 and cheer at the 2026 London Marathon, Jess unpacks the physical and mental evolution required to clock a personal best of 2:20:49 on one of the world's most challenging courses. From navigating the "what if" game to handling mid-race mishaps like dropping a fueling bottle, Jess shares a grounded, authentic perspective on what it means to find joy in professional sport. IN THIS EPISODE The Boston Breakthrough: Jess breaks down her strategy for the "Crest of Heartbreak Hill" and how her focus on downhill training and pace changes paid off in the final 10K. Silencing the "What If" Game: A deep dive into the mental shift Jess made during training—moving away from obsessing over variables she couldn’t control and focusing on being 1% better incrementally. Resilience Under Pressure: Jess reflects on the chaos of the Half Marathon Championships where she was directed the wrong way, and how that experience actually built her confidence for the high-stakes friction of Boston. Life Beyond the Miles: An honest conversation about the "other things" that bring joy, including Jess's experience with egg freezing, her thoughts on family planning, and the importance of a supportive partner who sees her greatness. The "My Way" Philosophy: Why Jess decided to stop trying to be a "robotic" athlete and instead leaned into her own unique rhythm, finding that her way is the best way for her. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "I think it’s being okay where you’re at and doing the most that you can day-to-day, week-to-week, to just be 1% better incrementally and not put so much pressure on the big dream." "I spent so much time being told that I shouldn't do anything else... that I'm not dedicated enough. And it's just so not true. You can plan for your future and still have a really kick-ass time running and racing at a high level." "Running's not going to go well all the time. You should be able to tap into other things that bring you joy." "I’ve put my health and the 'fun meter' on the front burner. It feels good to be like, my way is the best way for me, instead of trying to fit myself into so many different molds." SOCIAL@jesstonn@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about how to focus on feel versus external data and validation. Plus: Answering a question about the best shoes to wear for a HYROX. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODENike Pegasus 42 SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's guest is a true powerhouse in the sports media landscape: Sarah Spain. An Emmy, Gracie, and Peabody Award-winning journalist, Sarah spent over a decade as a mainstay at ESPN, becoming one of the most versatile and respected voices in the industry. She recently made waves by joining iHeartMedia to launch the iHeart Women’s Sports Network, where she serves as the content director and host of the industry’s first daily women’s sports podcast, Good Game with Sarah Spain. Sarah talks about the "cognitive dissonance" of navigating the current news cycle while finding personal joy, and what it’s like to move from a sports giant to building a brand new audio behemoth from the ground up. She pulls back the curtain on the "one man band" mentality—explaining why she keeps her hands in every piece of production, from scriptwriting to editing, despite her veteran status. We also dive into her background as a heptathlete at Cornell, which instilled a "problematically competitive" edge she still carries today, the grief of navigating chronic injury, and her tireless advocacy for journalistic integrity in women's sports coverage. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: Navigating the transition from a legacy brand like ESPN to a startup environment at iHeart The daily grind of producing the first daily women’s sports podcast and the "one man band" mentality Why Sarah insists on treating women's sports with "journalism with a capital J" rather than just "cheerleading" Her background in comedy and how that shaped her "edgy and snarky" broadcasting style Dealing with the physical and mental toll of an athletic career-ending Achilles injury and chronic back pain Training the brain for gratitude through neuroplasticity and finding "glimmers" in the everyday Facing the harsh realities of sexual harassment and online toxicity in sports media Finding self-trust and the power of saying "I don't know" with confidence QUOTABLE MOMENTS "I want the listeners that want a show that really respects and gives respect to the people participating in all these sports and doesn't trade on their name and their stories without giving it a good journalism-with-a-J look first." "I call it the four S's: story, stakes, stats, and stars. We do that every day for men’s sports... and without having that in women’s sports, expecting people to show up game after game without providing them the information they need to care—there’s a reason it hasn’t always clicked for everyone." "I am built to swim upstream, but holy sh*t is it nice to just lazy river it for a while and be surrounded by people who agree and want to help women's sports." "How much of my life do I want to waste being sad about [not looking the part] or do I want to be like: 'Hey, I'm going to make it regardless of that.' And if I miss out on jobs they're hiring based on looks, great. Let me go get a job based on brains." SOCIAL@spain2323@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What a week! Recapping, talking jury duty, a fun run of a 5K, and answering a listener question about my latest workhorse sneaker, the Pegasus 42. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Hurdle, I’m sitting down with Jasmine Caccomo, an entrepreneur and elite personal stylist who has spent over 15 years redefining the intersection of fashion and professional sports. Jasmine has built an incredible career styling some of the biggest names in the industry, most notably Alex Morgan, whom she’s worked with for the past 13 years. In this episode, Jasmine talks about how playing soccer from a young age instilled the discipline, accountability, and “figure it out” mentality necessary to navigate the world of entrepreneurship. We also chat about her early days working in the fashion closets of Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire, and the bold leap she took to establish her own styling business. Plus, she gives me the lowdown on how she handles high-pressure moments—like styling Hilary Knight for the Oscars just days after an Olympic season—and how she sets boundaries as a business owner and mother. Also: Why presence is absolutely vital for her to do both well, and the essential lesson of learning to ask for help. IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS: The Athlete Mentality: How her background as a hurdler and soccer player provided the work ethic for her business. The "Editorial Trenches": Realities of working in fashion closets and the 80/20 split between business and styling. Transitioning to Freelance: Taking the leap from a steady editorial job to building a personal brand. Styling Elite Athletes: The process of onboarding clients like Alex Morgan and translating an athlete's power into a wardrobe. Modern Athleisure: Defining "upscale athleisure" and why leggings will never truly be dead. The Glass Ball Theory: Managing the juggle of motherhood and entrepreneurship by identifying what can drop and what can’t. QUOTABLE MOMENTS: "I’ve always had that ‘figure it out on my own’ mindset. You have to figure out how to train that works for you." "It’s about bringing out that inner personality through, externally, their wardrobe." "There’s always something to be done, there’s always another hurdle to overcome, there’s always something bigger, something shinier that I want to do." SOCIAL@jasmine.caccamo@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diving into the highs and lows of the Scottsdale trip for the Final Four. Plus: How what started as an ambitious plan for a high-mileage run along the canal turned into a powerful lesson in grace, body awareness, and the "both/and" of recovery. Also! Answering a listener question from Christine about navigating energy slumps after long runs, offering practical advice on recovery windows and the essential role of post-run nutrition. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week Emily's sitting down with Laila Edwards, a true pioneer in the world of women’s hockey. Edwards recently made history as the first Black woman to compete for—and win gold with—Team USA Hockey. Beyond her Olympic success, she is a national champion and was a prolific scorer during her final collegiate season at Wisconsin, leading the nation with 35 goals. In this conversation, Laila opens up about the whirlwind experience of winning gold in Milan and navigating the sudden surge of media attention that followed. She shares the nerves and pressures that come with being a trailblazer and how she has learned to transform those challenges into a platform for inspiring others. We also dive into her transition from high school to a decorated collegiate career, the mental resilience required to earn her ice time, and how she stayed even-keeled while switching positions on the world stage. Plus, she addresses the viral conversation surrounding the USA men's hockey team and why she believes that if you love a space, you belong in it—regardless of who else is in the room. In this episode: The whirlwind of winning Olympic gold and returning to college life Navigating the pressures and responsibilities of being a trailblazer in hockey The mental shift required when transitioning to a high-level collegiate program Switching from forward to defense on the national team and trusting the process Techniques for staying calm and "even-keeled" during high-stakes moments Her reaction to the media cycle surrounding the men’s team at the White House The importance of representation and her message: "If you love it, you belong" Her experience as a Red Bull athlete and the transition to the PWHL draft Quotable Moments: "Don’t ever feel like you don’t belong. Don’t let that be the reason you don’t do it." "I have the opportunity to change someone’s life essentially, and I think that is so cool. So any chance I get to do that, I’m going to take it." "If you love something ... then you belong. No matter who looks like you and who doesn’t." "Pressure is a privilege... look at all the good that’s coming out of it." "I was a person before I was a hockey player... I want to leave an impression as a good person." SOCIAL@laila_edwards@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode, I'm talking about my spontaneous decision to go to Phoenix for the NCAA Final Four! As a proud UConn alum, I couldn’t pass up the chance to cheer on the Huskies and spend some quality father-daughter time. I dive into the power of listening to your "whispers"—those gut feelings that nudge you toward exciting possibilities—and challenge you to shift your mindset from "what if it goes wrong?" to "what if it goes right?" Plus, I answer a listener question about navigating the mental and physical hurdles of getting back into a fitness routine after a break. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andraya Carter knows a thing or two about resilience and reinvention. After three ACL injuries cut her basketball playing career short, the University of Tennessee graduate transitioned into broadcasting, where she now covers both all things basketball for ESPN. In this episode, we dive into how Andraya navigated these career transitions and found new ways to stay connected to the game she loves. She shares her perspective on overcoming physical setbacks, the mental fortitude required to deal with repeated injuries, and the importance of authenticity when working on some of sports media's biggest stages. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Andraya’s Journey: From playing at Tennessee to becoming one of the most recognizable faces on ESPN. The Power of Preparation: Why Andraya believes in "reps" and how she prepares for different roles, from sideline reporting to color analysis. Defining Success on Your Own Terms: Navigating outside opinions and social media while staying true to yourself. The Importance of Connection: How Andraya’s grandmother influenced her desire to make others feel seen and heard. Mindfulness and Movement: Why movement and meditation (even in small moments like inside an Uber or on a plane) are essential to Andraya's wellness routine. QUOTABLE MOMENTS On Career and Transition "Chasing a dream is a transferable skill. My dream was to be a professional athlete, I chased it, I didn’t get it, but the idea of having a goal and going for it to me is a skill." "Every rep was good for me because it was a rep. It was an opportunity to have a microphone, to speak, to be on camera, and it was fun." "The story of having a job to pay the bills while having a dream in the back of your mind is actually not uncommon." On Resilience and Preparation "The ones who can be uncomfortable the longest are the ones that make it. You have to push through this discomfort." "I just started judging my performance based on—was I prepared? If I was prepared, I had my notes ... I was ready for this moment." On Mindfulness and Authenticity "I hope that what translates to viewers ... is just my passion. I've been able to be myself on air ... Connecting to people has always been something that I try to take a lot of pride in." "Being present is so important. I hope people start to understand more how you really are your best self when you're present." "There's value in feeling valued, and value in being paid what you feel like you're worth and not what other people say that you're worth." SOCIAL@andraya_carter@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emily shares an update following her egg retrieval procedure on Tuesday. She discusses the physical and emotional transition from the procedure to recovery, reflecting on the importance of self-care and the empowerment that comes with being proactive about her future. She also addresses the financial realities of fertility treatments and why she views this as her greatest act of self-love yet. Plus, she answers a listener question about managing negative comments on social media and shares a helpful boundary setting tip from a recent interview with ESPN’s Andrea Carter. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODESpring Fertility SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week’s episode, Emily’s sitting down with Anna Gibson, a powerhouse athlete who is truly redefining what it means to be well-rounded. Anna is a professional runner for Brooks and a newly-crowned 2026 Winter Olympian in ski mountaineering—or "skimo," as it’s affectionately known in the mountains. Growing up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Anna was practically raised on skis, but it wasn't until she was already a seasoned professional runner that she decided to take on the world of competitive skimo—only seven months before her Olympic debut. Anna's journey is a testament to the fact that when you lean into curiosity and joy, the sky's the limit. IN THIS EPISODE The "What If I Succeed?" Mindset: How reframing the fear of failure allowed Anna to embrace new challenges with zero hesitation. The Power of Being a Beginner: Why accepting she had room to grow became her greatest competitive advantage on the world stage. Plan B Philosophy: How having multiple passions and professional pursuits actually fuels her focus in each individual discipline. Tactical Crossover: The surprising ways track racing tactics and "jostling" translated to the start line of an Olympic skimo race. Nervous System Recovery: The importance of mental and physical decompression between high-intensity efforts, from Brooks Trail to Brooks Beast. Defining Success: How Anna moves beyond results to focus on becoming a well-rounded athlete and person. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "You can simultaneously prepare for things, you don't know when they're going to happen. If you believe that you can do something, you can and you will." "I just had this feeling deep down that it would all work out. And it's very gratifying to feel like, okay, it actually did." "Trying to reframe it as 'what if I succeed?' and imagining what those two things look like and comparing them has been a very useful skill for me." "I think that the guiding principles have to be things that are renewable resources, and I think that curiosity and joy are two of those things." "Being a better athlete to me does not just mean winning the big trail races in the world... it’s really just a feeling in my body of gaining competence in every category that I’m able to." SOCIAL@annaagibsonn@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Emily shares how she’s feeling during the final phases of preparation for her egg retrieval, and how she's been making an effort to be slower and connect with herself. Also discusses the importance of disconnecting and finding joy in offline activities, and answering a listener question on apps she uses for her morning routine, including Open for meditation, Strava for running, and Future for strength training. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEFollow Me On StravaCheck out the Open AppJoin me on Future! Get your first month FREE. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Haley Adams is back. After a ten-year career in CrossFit that started when she was just 14 years old, the 2018 Fittest Teen on Earth took a much-needed break in 2023. Today, she opens up about the weight of expectations and the intense pressure she felt after moving to the individual division. She discusses how negative social media comments impacted her body image and relationship with food, and how stepping away allowed her the space she needed to focus on both her mental and physical health. Haley shares the joy of rediscovering her love for training, learning to prioritize wellness over burning calories, and the excitement of joining the Red Bull family. We also touch on her fifth-place finish at the 2024 CrossFit Games and her life beyond the box, (that's CrossFit-speak for gym) — including her love for Disney movies and her ever-growing family of animals. IN THIS EPISODE Haley’s early start in CrossFit at age 14 and her transition from gymnastics. Winning the teenage division and the onset of intense pressure as an individual competitor. The impact of social media on her body image and mental health. Her decision to take a year off in 2023 and the "total mental breakdown" that led to it. The healing process, returning home to North Carolina, and rediscovering the fun in fitness. Learning to fuel her body properly and moving away from disordered eating habits. Her current training routine, recovery strategies, and the importance of a support system. Life outside the gym: Disney movies, her two cats, Australian Shepherd puppy, axolotl, and hermit crabs. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "By taking that step back, I chose myself. And that’s the most beautiful example. I think so many amazing things came from that." "I realized like, sure I was at rock bottom, but it can’t get worse. Things get hard, but don’t give up on yourself." "I was training so much because I was scared that someone was going to outwork me ... just a tunnel vision, nothing else in the world mattered to me. That’s all I cared about." "It’s okay to still have bad days. It’s not the end of the world. It doesn’t mean that you’re taking a step backwards or going into your old ways." "Try to enjoy the whole process because it could be gone tomorrow. Once I learned to enjoy competing again, it was like a whole different experience." "I’ve learned to be a lot nicer to myself because, at the end of the day, this is the voice that you’re stuck with in your head. So you might as well make it nice." SOCIAL@haleyadamssss@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I’m getting real about a lesson I’ve been learning the hard way lately: you don't always know what you need until you need it. I dive into the vulnerability of my current journey with egg freezing, the mental weight of the unknown, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is simply surrender to the process. I also answer a listener question from Avery about a struggle many of us share—sleep anxiety. I break down my non-negotiable "3-2-1 Rule" for better rest, the physiological benefits of a cool, dark room, and exactly what I do when I find myself wide awake at 3:00 a.m. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Emily sits down with Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion surfer Caroline Marks. Fresh off the premiere of her new film Now Days, Caroline discusses the incredible evolution of female surfing and what it’s like to travel the world competing against her closest friends and biggest rivals. She dives deep into the "savage mode" mindset required to win, the courage it took to step away from the tour at age 19 to prioritize her mental health, and how she learned to embrace the discomfort of being out of her comfort zone to eventually stand on top of the podium in Paris. Whether you're a surfer or just looking for a spark of motivation, Caroline’s journey of self-belief and tenacity is sure to inspire you to find your own flow state. In this episode: The making of the film Now Days and bringing female surfing to a mainstream audience. The unique camaraderie and rivalry among the world's top female surfers. Growing up as the only girl among four brothers and how it shaped her competitive edge. The transition from Florida to California and the pressure of early professional success. Navigating the "savage mode" mindset: turning competition on and off. Coming up short in Tokyo 2021 and the four-year mental game leading to Paris 2024. The decision to take a break from the tour at 19 for mental health and the healing process. Caroline’s personal "I Am" statements and her morning routine for success. Learning to appreciate life beyond the board: sunsets, family, and simple joys. What it feels like to finally be an Olympic Gold Medalist and a member of the Hall of Fame. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "The beauty of life is you just keep evolving and growing, and you’ve just got to ride the roller coaster." "When I’m in the water, I just turn into a different person ... you just go into savage mode. I’m trying to win." "Good things happen outside your comfort zone. The best moments of my life have been from when I’ve been uncomfortable." "I’m brave, I’m confident, I put the work in, I’m powerful, and I am doing what I love." "Knowing that you’re the only one that’s you—that’s like a superpower." SOCIAL@carolinemarks@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about owning the things that I'm good at and surrendering to the things that I cannot control. Plus: Answering a listener question on what to take into consideration when signing up for a half-marathon. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Emily sits down with Alexandria Gilleo, a celebrity makeup artist and wellness entrepreneur who has worked with icons like Sue Bird, Ali Krieger, and Breanna Stewart. Alex shares the story of her sudden health crisis—a diagnosis of endometriosis that nearly led to emergency surgery on leading up to a what was supposed to be an epic trip to the Paris Olympics. The conversation explores how Alex navigates the high-pressures of her work with balance living in th Hudson Valley. She details her #hurdlemoment following the loss of her father, which served as the catalyst for her deep dive into holistic wellness. IN THIS EPISODE The "Sue Bird Method" of varying glam levels. Alex's non-negotiable morning and night rituals, featuring red light therapy and classical music. The power of manifestation and "execution boards." Why skin prep is the most important part of a long-lasting look. The evolving synergy between beauty and women's sports. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "I really try to sit down with them and look at their face and see what is going to help with making them feel the most beautiful, confident person on the field, off the field, on the court, whatever it is." "I feel like this generation of athletes understands that beauty can be utilized as a tool. Makeup is not necessarily a mask ... it’s more about amplifying the look and showing the world every side of who they are." "In order to get what it is that you want, you have to act like you already have it. You have to own it and be so confident with it." "Everything is figure-outable. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how dark, how lonely, how sad, how heartbreaking something can feel, it's always going to get better." SOCIAL@alexgill@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reflecting this week on a recent realization about the "disclaimer trap"—the habit of minimizing our own struggles or joys by comparing them to others' seemingly "bigger" life events. Also, answering a listener question on science of sauna use, covering its cardiovascular benefits and how to properly integrate it into a fitness routine without compromising muscle growth. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, I’m sitting down with the incredible Becs Gentry. Many of you know her as a powerhouse Peloton instructor, but she is stepping into a massive new chapter as a HOKA Global Brand Ambassador. It’s a synergy that marks her return to the trails and ultra-running—the place where she first fell in love with the running community. In this episode, Becs gets real about the logistics of being a global athlete and a mother. We dive deep into her discipline and how she manages to schedule high-stress training alongside her non-negotiables. She shares a powerful perspective on priority, noting that while she is deeply disciplined, she has learned that training isn't always the highest priority—the health and happiness of herself and her family, especially her daughter Talulah, always come first. We also discuss the lessons she’s learning in this chapter, from the importance of protecting her mental health by setting boundaries with social media to the value of reassessing goals when the passion starts to fade. Becs reminds us all that life is too short not to enjoy what we do in our spare time, and sometimes, the best thing you can do for your growth is to step away and find a new route to the top of the mountain. IN THIS EPISODE This episode is a masterclass in navigating life's major pivots with grace and a "family-first" filter. Here are the highlights and most quotable moments from your conversation with Becs Gentry: "In This Episode" Highlights The HOKA Era: Becs discusses her new role as a HOKA Global Brand Ambassador and how the brand's focus on community and versatile performance aligns with her current chapter. The Reality of Discipline: A deep dive into how Becs manages a grueling training schedule, highlighting that discipline isn't about being "perfect" every day, but about making things happen within the reality of your current life. Family as the North Star: Becs opens up about how her daughter, Tallulah, has completely reframed her "why," and why she chooses to set strict boundaries with technology to remain present. The Power of "No": She shares the vulnerable story of why she walked away from a marathon goal in June 2025 because she realized she was "climbing a slippery wall" with no passion for the project. New Representation: The transition to being represented by Always Alpha and how having a team helps her value her own worth in a "dog-eat-dog" business world. Intentional Living: From using a "Brick" to block social media apps to recording memories on a vintage camcorder, Becs shares her strategies for reclaiming her time from the "pocket computer". QUOTABLE MOMENTS "HOKA is a brand that blends performance with a very welcoming community to every type of runner... It is not just about having the fastest, flashiest, most expensive shoe on the market. It is about so much more than that." "Burnout doesn't come from overtraining or overdoing something. It comes from trying to achieve something that you have no passion for. It's like trying to climb up a slippery wall. You may get there, but you're going to be so exhausted and cut up and bruised and defeated by the time you get to the top." "Humans get a sense of having done it—this sense of achievement—when we tell somebody what we're working toward. The more and more people you tell and they give you that same response, it waters down and lessens your want to feel that thing when you've actually done it." "Everything I do as a woman in sport and business is striving to help my daughter not have to go through what our generations and all the generations before us have had to go through, which has been struggling to get ourselves heard and recognized for the goodness that we have and do." SOCIAL@becsgentry@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about how I navigate a blizzard of thoughts, and the coping strategies I use to negate burnout. Plus: Answering a listener question about leaning into exercise to deal with a breakup. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we're sharing an episode from Olympic medalist and cross-country skiing legend Jessie Diggins, which originally aired in 2025. Jessie opens up about her journey to the top of her sport, what it’s like to embrace the intense pressure of elite competition, and how she pushes herself to her physical breaking point — sharing vivid details of the "blurry vision" and sheer grit required to win. She also gets candid about her mental health journey, specifically her experience with an eating disorder and a relapse in 2024, discussing what support looks like in her daily life today. When we had this conversation — there was just under a year left until the Winter Olympics, and Jessie reflected on training in Italy, her recent World Cup wins, and her decision to retire at the end of 2026. IN THIS EPISODE The Physical Breaking Point: Jessie describes the sensation of pushing her body to its absolute limits during a race, including the "blurry vision" that often accompanies her hardest efforts. Mental Health & Recovery: A vulnerable discussion on her history with an eating disorder, navigating a relapse in 2024, and the importance of a strong support system. The Final Stretch: Jessie shares her mindset heading into her final Olympic run in Milan-Cortina and why she has decided to retire after the 2026 season. Legacy & Integrity: Reflecting on being awarded the Holmenkollen Medal, Jessie explains why racing with integrity and being a role model outside of the sport is as important to her as her results on the snow. Training Philosophy: How she and her team plan "super peaks" every four years for the Olympics and the unexpected benefits of "toe yoga." QUOTABLE MOMENTS "I’ve realized that I don’t have to be a perfect person to be a good role model. I just have to be an honest one." "The 'pain cave' is a place I know well, but I’ve learned that you can’t live there. You have to have a home to come back to that is full of joy and balance." "Winning is amazing, but it’s the feeling of crossing the line knowing you gave every single thing you had—that’s the part that stays with you." "I want the next generation of skiers to see that you can be the best in the world and still be a human being who struggles and asks for help." SOCIAL@jessiediggins@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, I'm reflecting on the empowering act of setting boundaries and challenging the common perception of boundaries as "walls," — reframing them instead as "bridges" that guide others on how to successfully navigate a relationship with us. Also: I answer a question about my regular nail care routine. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Aisha McAdams—photographer, filmmaker, and former competitive runner—shares her journey of navigating the transition from elite athlete to creative visionary. She dives into the making of her documentary Learning to Fly, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, and the founding of Rhoam Creative Studio to elevate women in the creative industry. IN THIS EPISODE The Pivot to Creative Arts: Aisha discusses the shift from being the subject of the lens as an athlete to capturing the stories of others through photography and film. "Learning to Fly": A behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and production of her documentary, which explores the human spirit and the pursuit of greatness. Empowering Women in Media: The mission behind Rhoam Creative Studio and the importance of increasing female representation in male-dominated creative spaces. The Athlete’s Mindset in Art: How the discipline, resilience, and focus learned through years of competitive running fuel her creative process today. Redefining Success: Aisha reflects on finding fulfillment outside of race results and learning to embrace the "uncomfortable middle" of career transitions. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "I realized that the same tenacity I had on the track was exactly what I needed to survive the uncertainty of a creative career." "With Learning to Fly, I wanted to show that the finish line isn't the only part of the story worth telling." "Starting Rhoam wasn't just about taking pictures; it was about taking up space in an industry where women's voices are often sidelined." "You have to be willing to be a beginner again. The transition from athlete to artist is essentially learning a new way to breathe." "Photography allows me to stay connected to the sport I love, but from a perspective that celebrates the vulnerability behind the performance." SOCIAL@ai.shoots@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Emily's talking about how she navigated a recent unexpected hurdle and the looming pressure of Valentine’s Day. She shares a personal story about a new neighbor (read: a vocal infant) triggered a spiral of "catastrophizing," leading to a powerful reminder on the importance of shifting from a victim mindset to one of control. Also: Answering a listener's question about tackling the "hurdle" of being single during a holiday focused on romantic success. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Hurdle, Emily sits down with Erika Gabrielli, the Vice President of Global Marketing at HOKA. Erika shares the story of HOKA’s meteoric rise from a niche ultra-running brand to a $2 billion global powerhouse. She delves into the importance of brand authenticity, the power of listening to the community, and why "maximalism" in footwear is about more than just aesthetics—it's about performance and comfort. Erika also opens up about her professional journey, offering tactical advice for those looking to break into the sports industry, the importance of trusting your intuition, and how she balances the demands of a high-profile executive role with being a mother. IN THIS EPISODE The Evolution of "Maximalism": Erika traces HOKA's journey from being "counter-culture" in a minimalist era to leading the industry with its focus on solving the problem of running downhills faster. Scaling with Soul: How the brand reached its $2 billion revenue milestone while maintaining core values like curiosity and inclusivity. Marketing via Experience: Why Erika believes experiential marketing is the most powerful tool for building emotional connections and lasting memories with consumers. Co-Creation over Control: Shifting the marketing narrative from "talking at people" to "world-building" alongside the running community. Career "Harmony": Erika's perspective on rejecting the myth of work-life balance in favor of finding a daily "harmony" that allows for both professional leadership and motherhood. QUOTABLE MOMENTS On Marketing & Community "It’s not about controlling the narrative ... it’s much more about embracing that idea of co-creation. It’s a shift from talking at people to being in a space where we’re doing more world-building." "In terms of greatest brand building, it comes from an experience because it evokes a memory ... that memory evokes emotion, and that’s what always is going to bring people back to a brand." "The work is never done. We can talk about ourselves all day long, but if it's not directly drawn to that consumer insight and how we're solving problems for them, it's not going to pass the bar." On Leadership & Intuition "The paranoid survive. You're always looking around corners to where there's opportunity but also where there's risk. Part of that to me is also tied to trusting your intuition." "It's not always the loudest voice in the room, it's not always the most senior voice in the room that is sharing the right paths or the right ideas." "The only person that's truly going to bet on you is you. Have the inner confidence to know that. You won't know until you try, and sometimes you won't know until you fail and you try again." On Life "Harmony" "I stopped looking for balance a few years ago. I think it's unrealistic. I switched my language into finding harmony. Harmony is about the acknowledgment that I’m not going to be perfect at all the roles I have to play, and that’s okay." MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEHoka Cielo X1 3.0 SOCIALErika on LinkedIn@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Talking about the power of a reset, and answering a listener question about how to handle "no" and think of it as redirection. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when your body, the very thing you've spent nearly two decades teaching others to harmonize with, begins to fail you in a way you never saw coming? This week on the show, I'm sitting down with meditation teacher, and author Megan Monahan. Megan first appeared on Hurdle back in 2019, and today she returns to share a profoundly personal update. In late 2024, Megan faced a life-altering health hurdle: a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Megan takes us inside the raw moments of her diagnosis—from the sudden loss of vision in her right eye to an eight-hour wait in an UCLA emergency room. We discuss the power of the "meditation muscles" she built over 16 years and how they allowed her to meet this challenge with resilience instead of a victim mindset. In this episode, we discuss: The sudden symptoms and 36-hour journey to an MS diagnosis. How a decade of spiritual practice reframed a "devastating" diagnosis into a "resurgence of purpose". The 4-7-8 breathwork framework and somatic shaking for navigating high-stress moments. Unmasking personality traits that are actually trauma responses. What it truly means to be authentic and "come home to yourself". Lessons learned from spiritual giants like Deepak Chopra and Wayne Dyer. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "You get to choose how a life-changing moment changes you. We all have the ability to author our story in whatever way we want." "There is a part of you that can't be diagnosed with MS, that can't be broken up with, that can't be broke, that can't be relocated. That is who you are." "We mistake the need to enjoy the experience or the process with finding value in it." "You are not your thoughts. You don't have to believe every thought you have." SOCIAL@megmonahan@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.