Sparta Chicks Radio: Mindset | Confidence | Sport | Women

A few weeks before recording this conversation in 2022, Sparta Chicks Radio celebrated its 5th birthday. And there is no one I'd rather share that celebration with than this week's return guest, Lucy Barnard! Lucy is attempting to become the 1st woman to walk the length of the world.She set off in February 2017 from Tierra Del Fuego in Argentina to walk to Barrow, Alaska; a journey of 30,000km /20,000mi across 15 countries that she anticipated would take about 5 years. When Lucy first joined me on the podcast in March 2018, I realised we share a unique connection; we both started our respective journeys - Lucy started walking and I published the first podcast - on the very same day in 2017.That conversation turned into our first anniversary / birthday celebration and we agreed to catch up each year for an update on her progress! Needless, the pandemic has interrupted her plans again in 2021. But that wasn't going to stop us from talking - and in fact, this could be my favourite of all our conversations! It's very different from our previous conversations. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss everything from what happens when you're derailed or blindsided by things outside your control to identity, goal setting, values, fear, comparison, self-reflection and the power of community.------This episode also included the announcement that I was taking a sabbatical from Sparta Chicks Radio. Since then, I made the decision to close the door on my coaching and the podcast. A bittersweet decision for me - yet there is no one I would have rather ended the podcast with than Lucy. Thanks for listening and for your support over the years,With love, Jen xx

Today you're going to meet the awesome Gill Castle (you'll understand the significance of the ‘awesome' once you listen to this conversation!Gill describes herself as a very ordinary person and Police Officer before the birth of her son in 2011 changed her life. His premature birth left her with traumatic injuries, the full extent of which weren't identified by doctors for 5 days. Those injuries included a fistula, a hole in the wall between her rectum and vagina that left her with faecal incontinence and needing to use a stoma bag (a colostomy bag) for the rest of her life.A very long physical and mental recovery followed.Then one day she read an article - she'll tell you about it in this conversation - that changed the trajectory of her life. And the rest, as they say, is history.Since then, she's done triathlons, scuba dived, skydived, sea kayaked and taken up ocean swimming.And now she's training for her next challenge: 5 years ago Gill couldn't swim in the ocean without opening her eyes and now she's training to swim across the English Channel!You might be tempted to call her an inspiration, but she actually hates that term. She describes herself as the most ordinary person who just had a life-changing experience that has made her appreciate everything and want to try everything. And she will leave you wanting to do the same.

Kate Bevilaqua returns to Sparta Chicks Radio this week!Kate is an endurance coach, triathlete, an Ultraman Triathlon World Champion and the first woman in history to win an Ultraman triathlon event overall. She shared her story in episode 3 of the podcast. However one topic we didn't explore in that conversation is that Kate is also a coach. In fact, the idea for this conversation came from one of her athletes who also happens to be one of our most popular podcast guests - ⁠Melissa Urie⁠!So this episode, Kate shares her experience as a coach and we discuss, from a coach's perspective, working with athletes towards ultra events.Even if you aren't training for an ultra-distance event, I have no doubt you'll benefit from Kate's wisdom regardless of what distance or event you are training for.  In this conversation Kate shares:* how to find the right coach,* some of the biggest mistakes athletes make when setting goals or choosing races, * the importance of having a strong ‘why' (and how to work out if your ‘why' is strong enough)* how you only need to do 85% of your program and why you shouldn't feel guilty if you don't or can't tick every box on your program* how to decide when to push through your fatigue and train versus when you should rest, * how to make sure you can fit your training around your life, * the biggest mistakes athletes make in training, and* her advice on how to handle pre-race nerves (and yes, Kate still struggles with them too after 16 years of racing as a professional!).* how to prevent spiralling mentally when things get tough on race day.

This week on the podcast I'm delighted to welcome Bonnie Hancock.This episode is very timely because today - December 19 - Bonnie sets out on an epic quest: to paddle her surf ski around Australia. Her goal: to become the fastest and youngest person to do it.It's a journey of 16,000km that will take her around 6 months, along some of the most remote parts of Australia and not to mention through (in places) shark and crocodile-infested waters.Bonnie grew up in the same coastal town of Sawmill and was joining in activities at her local surf club from the time she was 5. At the age of 17, she (and her sister Courtney) moved to the Gold Coast to train and attempt to join the professional (surf life saving) Ironwoman series here in Australia which she did, just a few months later.After competing in the professional ranks for close to a decade (and a bout of overtraining and burnout), Bonnie switched her attention to ocean ski paddling and finished the Molokai Challenge - a 52km ocean ski race between the islands of Molokai and Oahu in Hawaii, finishing fifth - in her first race in the sport.Sometime later, she read a book written by the first woman to paddle around Australia, the seed was planted and the rest, as they say, is history!

Jo Lum is a Sydney-based triathlete and busy mum who has been a regular on the triathlon scene in Sydney for years.Jo and her friend Katie were originally training for Ironman Australia in 2020.That race was postponed 4 times - twice in 2020 and then twice in 2021 - before it was eventually cancelled.So Jo and Katie decided not to let their fitness go to waste and designed and completed a DIY Ironman distance event in May 2021.They swam 3.8km in a pool, then hopped on their bikes and rode 180km primarily along bike paths, before heading to their respective homes to finish their ‘race' by running 42km around their neighbourhoods.There were even race bibs, finisher's t-shirts and (to their surprise) finisher's medals!I've shared this story multiple times over the last few months because it's a powerful example of two important things: focusing on what you can control and asking for help (and being willing to accept it when offered). 

I'm delighted to welcome Dr Anita Heiss to Sparta Chicks Radio this weekAnita is a proud member of the Wiradjuri Nation of central New South Wales and one of Australia's most prolific and well-known authors. She has written 18 books including her latest novel, an epic tale called Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (or River of Dreams).It's also the first time in Australia, a commercially published book has used a First Nations language for the title.Anita enjoys eating chocolate, running and being a 'creative disruptor'.Initially, I wanted to talk to Anita to explore her running career and how she uses running as a tool to support herself and her work. Yet the more research I did, the more I realised I wanted to speak to her about:-  awareness, history and truth-telling, - the importance of getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and - the power of using your voice, sharing your story and telling your truth.

I'm delighted to welcome Dr Erin Ayala to the podcast this week.Erin is a Licensed Psychologist, a certified Mental Performance Consultant and is listed as a licensed mental health provider on the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee's Mental Health Register. What I love about Erin's perspective is that it's holistic: she recognises that daily life, health and athletic performance are intertwined and inseparable from one another.When she's not at work, Erin is also an endurance athlete (having completed 9 marathons and 1 Ironman) and these days is focused on life as an elite cyclist. On top of that, she recently co-founded a cycling team called Stamina Racing Collective which prioritises people who would traditionally struggle to find a home in cycling (especially, black, indigenous, people of colour and non-binary and trans athletes)In this conversation, we discuss the power of values, the difficult decisions she had made based on those values and her surprising definition of self-care.

You'll meet Lauren Tischendorf on Sparta Chicks Radio this week.In 2021, Lauren because the first woman to swim around Lord Howe Island - a distance of 32.2km that she completed in 13 hours and 50 minutes. Lauren's story is captured in an award-winning documentary called "I Just Went For a Swim”.Lauren is a school teacher by day and an endurance athlete outside school hours.An ultra-marathon runner, she started focusing on her ocean swimming about 5 years ago.In that time, she's become an accomplished ocean swimmer and is the reigning 5km ocean swimming champion of NSW.And yet, an off-handed comment by another swimmer about the fact she couldn't keep up with them prompted her to ask herself what she was capable of.The result: a 32km swim around the shark-infested waters of Lord Howe Island.

Lucy Bloom is an award-winning leader, international keynote speaker, consultant and author. Her website says that “she uses her superpowers for writing and speaking about courage, trust, failure, change, maverick thinking, generosity and fun” -- all of which makes her the perfect guest for Sparta Chicks Radio!Lucy went from being a volunteer to the CEO and founding director of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia) that raised funds to support the extraordinary work of Dr Catherine Hamlin to treat and prevent terrible childbirth injuries in Africa.So she has a heart as big as the hot pink mohawk that she proudly rocks. She is honest, funny and open and I knew she'd be the perfect guest, even before I read her brilliant memoir ‘Get The Girls Out' (which I highly recommend).In this conversation, we discuss confidence, change, scars, bouncing back from setbacks and why she doesn't worry about what other people think.

This week on Sparta Chicks Radio, I'm delighted to welcome data scientist, athlete and the Founder and CEO of Wild.ai, Helene Guillaume.Helene has combined her vast experience to found Wild.ai, an organisation dedicated to supporting active women through every phase of life.There are two things I love and admire about Helene's work. First, the brilliant Wild.ai app gives you personalised training, nutrition and sleep recommendations based on your specific physiology. And secondly, Helene has also established a research department within Wild.ai that carries out groundbreaking research on women's health (including a study currently underway about the impact of the Covid vaccines on women).Helene is a talented athlete in her own right - she has done everything from trail ultras to triathlons to ice swimming to rugby and surfing. And she's a data scientist who studied mathematics, her background was in using algorithms and AI to make smart investment decisions. She now brings her vast experience to help you understand your body and to maximise your potential.

Sarah Davis is a professional risk manager with a passion for risk-taking.And she's back for her 4th visit to Sparta Chicks Radio!In 2019, Sarah became the first woman to lead an expedition along the length of the Nile (and joined me on episodes 34 and 134 to share that story).Then in February, 2021 (episode 155) she returned to share details of her next epic adventure, in which she planned to swap her paddles for pedals and ride (with her friend Tara Lal) 5,000km unsupported across Australia for charity.She's back today to share how the epic adventure unfolded!

This week on the podcast I am joined by Strongwoman competitor, Leigh Holland-Keen. As the name suggests, Leigh competes in what traditionally would be called Strongman competitions. How strong is Leigh? Well, in 2018 Leigh became the first woman in history to be awarded a clean lift of the Dinnie Stones.They are two legendary stones located in Scotland that less than 100 men have lifted in history.They weigh a combined total of (are you sitting down?) 332kg. That's 733lbs!Yes, you read that correctly —332kg Leigh was introduced to Strongman competitions by her step-father and was encouraged and inspired to compete by her mum. Leigh's mum was a pioneer of the sport of Strongwoman in Australia and found her strength through the sport after an abusive relationship in her younger years left her with profound PTSD.Leigh is one of four women featured in a documentary released in 2021 on ABC iView appropriately called “Strong Women”. You can find that series here. 

Kelli Jackson was first on the podcast in 2019. In that conversation, she shared how she transformed herself from (and I quote) an “unassuming middle age, overweight, unfit accountant who smoked” and who couldn't ride a unicycle into an athlete and adventurer who planned to ride a unicycle around the world! This time, Kelli returned to share her most recent adventure - becoming the first Westerner to ride a unicycle inside North Korea!I have never met or spoken with someone who has been to North Korea so I was very excited to hear about it. 

This week on Sparta Chicks Radio you'll meet Ally Orr. Ally brings a unique perspective to the podcast; she is both a competitive Jiu-Jitsu player and an Exercise and Sports Scientist.A talented musician growing up in regional NSW, Ally moved to Sydney at 16 to attend music school. Not long after, her then-boyfriend introduced her to strength training and weight lifting - and the rest, as they say, is history.She then found the sport of Judo before moving onto Jiu-Jitsu and has won (amongst other things) the lightweight Pan Pacific Championship and in 2021, she became  Australian Champion in the 60kg division. At about the same time she discovered her love of combat sports, Ally transferred her studies from music to Exercise and Sports Science. In this conversation Ally and I discuss:* how she transitioned from studying music to exercise and sport science,* where her love of exercise and movement came from (given that she wasn't an active or sporty kid)* what she loves about the sport of Jiu-Jitsu and the common misconceptions about it,* the personal power that grows in women when they are physically strong,* how she manages the fear of being physically hurt* the female athlete triad and why it's common in combat sports* the impact of needing to ‘cut weight' to compete in your weight division and the impact of that on body image and mental health,* whether you can maintain a healthy body image in a sport that requires you to cut or reduce your weight,* the 3 biggest misconceptions she hears that undermine women's health and performance, and* how to find ways to incorporate recovery into your busy life.

Kathryn Bertine is an author, athlete, activist and filmmaker and you'll meet her on Sparta Chicks Radio this week. In 2006, Kathryn was a journalist who had been racing as a professional triathlete, when a journalism assignment with ESPN changed the trajectory of her life. The task: to be a guinea pig and see if she could qualify for the Olympic Games in a sport within 18 months. And she chose the sport of road cycling. Now, a spoiler alert: she didn't make the team - but as she writes in Stand, “something wild happened”. She “almost” did. And the “almost” changed her.“[I]t is not the victories or losses that define our paths in life but the Wonder and What Ifs that lie between”Not only did she come to fall in love with road cycling during the ESPN assignment, but she also became aware and started to question the inequities she could see in the sport. So she set 3 goals - to become a professional cyclist, to get women into the Tour de France and to quiet the demons of worthlessness in her head.She shares the stories of this — and much more in her compelling new memoir, Stand: A memoir on activism. A manual for progress. What really happens when we stand on the front lines of change. 

Josie Askin is a New Zealand based runner and Holistic Wellness Coach who grew up watching her Dad compete in running events.As she tells the story in this conversation, she was a chubby kid who was teased about her weight so she started running during her teenage years to lose weight.Unfortunately, she soon found herself in a cycle of overtraining, under-recovery & under-eating for about 9 years which culminated in her experiencing the female athlete triad (as it was referred to then, which is a combination of disordered eating, amenorrhea and osteoporosis or low bone density) and ultimately a stress fracture in her hip.These days, the concept of the female athlete triad has been replaced by RED-S (relative deficiency in sport) - Josie will explain the difference in this conversation.In this conversation, she shares: * how she approached her running and recovery (and how the goal of wanting to lose weight influenced that)* the symptoms and red flags of RED-S and the surprising statistics about how common RED-S is,* the confronting reality of recovering from RED-S (especially when you've associated food with gaining weight)* how she felt shame and regret about her story and what's prompted her to speak openly about it now* how she's come to see her experience as a strength, not a weakness* the similarities between RED-S and burnout, and* her awareness of her tendency towards perfectionism and how it has impacted her life (including RED-S and burnout).

Neanne Alnafta doesn't like labels. But it is hard to introduce someone without them. So for this moment, I will share that she is a proud Muslim woman, a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney, an ocean swimmer and a volunteer surf lifesaver.She is also someone who is (and I quote) “freakishly scared” of the ocean.I came across Neanne's story after reading an article about an organisation called ‘Swim Sisters', an all-female swimming squad that empowers women, especially those from Islamic backgrounds, to feel more confident and comfortable in the ocean.You may know Swim Sisters by its former name - Burkini Babes, a group launched in France in 2016 by a group of women who were banned from wearing burkinis on the beach.In this conversation, Neanne and I discuss:- her love of soccer growing up,- why she felt like swimming and beach life weren't for her after she started wearing the hijab, - the power and importance of representation,- what prompted her to become involved in ocean swimming and then surf lifesaving (despite being “freakishly” scared of the ocean), - the healing impact of ocean swimming on mental health,- why fear is not a bad thing.

Growing up exercise was a source of shame and embarrassment for Brooke Nolan. It was only in her late 20s that she discovered a love of outdoor adventure.Fast forward a few years and in March 2020, Brooke found herself on the first all-female team to cross the Finnmark Plateau, which is an ice plateau in Arctic Norway.The crossing was a journey of 250km 14 days that required the team to drag sleds weighing up to 50kgs up to 20km each day in temperatures as cold as -30.Oh, did I mention? Before committing to this expedition, Brooke had never seen snow before, and certainly didn't know how to ski!Now we could have spent the entire episode talking about the expedition, but as I said, this was March 2020 and Brooke and her team were off the grid for 14 days.When they left, Covid-19 was a blip on the radar.By the time they returned, it had become a pandemic, borders were closing and it was a race to the airport to try and get a flight home, which ultimately took her over 4 months. 

Jamie Mittelman is the host of my new favourite podcast - Flame Bearers: The Women Athletes Carrying Tokyo's Torch.  The podcast celebrates the journeys of unsung women Olympians & Paralympians.And she joins me on Sparta Chicks Radio this week!We discuss: - the role sport and outdoor activities played in her family growing up,- sport as a mental health tool, - her struggle with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) particularly during College and how it affected her love of soccer, - where the idea for the podcast came from and why it's so important,- the episodes that have left a lasting impression on her,- some of the common lessons or themes her guests have shared, and- why she feels “athletically unqualified” to host the podcast and her experience with the Imposter Complex.

Based in Boulder, Colorado Erin is the head coach for EC Fit. Her clients include the dynamic duo of Mirinda Carfrae (3 x Ironman World Champion) and  Tim O'Donnell (fastest American ever at Kona). Aside from the World Champions she coaches, Erin also coaches everyday people - like me! She's a visionary who is changing what it means to be a strong athlete and the best strength training for endurance athletes. In this conversation we discuss:* her career as a basketball player, including playing professionally in Europe, * how her love of strength training started from a need to become stronger for basketball,* her transition into strength training endurance athletes,* why addressing hormonal responses and creating more energy (rather than strength or speed) is at the heart of her philosophy, * why strength training for performance is about how well you can move, not how much you can lift,* the importance of rest and recovery and the easiest way to incorporate it into your busy schedule (essentially, forget all the tech; just do things that you find relaxing or that calm you down - which is *not* spending time on social media),* that she has the opposite of the Imposter Complex and why she's thought that she's “good enough” since the 5th grade,* why you can come last and still be victorious, * how she came to meet Dr Stacy Sims and how they came to collaborate on a strength program for women,* how her philosophy and approach to strength training has changed after learning from Dr Sims, and* her experience through peri-menopause and menopause as an athlete in her 50s.

Selene is a professional health and fitness writer who is also the author or co-author of 6 books including the incredibly popular ‘Roar' with Dr Stacy Sims.Selene is also an extraordinary athlete in her own right. She's been a semi-professional athlete since her late 30s and has competed in everything from Hawaii Ironman to 7 day mountain bike stage races and 200 mile (that's 320km) gravel classics.And she hosts the popular podcast ‘Hit Play Not Pause' for active performance-minded women in their 40s and beyond.In this conversation we discuss:* how riding her bike helped her find herself after a series of abusive relationships and a really bad eating disorder left her feeling lost,* the line between having a healthy drive and an unhealthy one,* her advice for women interested in mountain biking or off-road cycling, and* how she came to meet and work with Dr Stacey Sims, and the changes she made as a result of what she learnt.Plus we discuss the new project she's working; another book with Dr Stacey Sims on menopause.

Leadership expert and outdoor adventurer, Ingrid Messner, joins me on Sparta Chicks Radio this week.An avid hiker, she has travelled to over 50 countries and most recently hiked Australia's 10 highest peaks, carrying about 18kg of gear and equipment, over the space of a week.She's come along way from the story she shares in this episode of twice having to learn to walk again. The first time after a hiking accident in 2017 (which took 11 months of recovery) and the second after contracting a viral infection in 2019.In this conversation, we discuss:* the hiking accident that resulted in needing to learn to walk again (for the first time),* the importance of being patient and persistent during your recovery from injury, especially when you don't have a timeline for recovery (and why she outsourced her patience),* why you need to be careful about who you get advice from (ie, experts or people who have the same experience), * why she says walked (pun intended) out of the experience physically and mentally better and stronger than she was before the accident, * the viral infection that forced her to learn to walk again (less than a year after returning to full strength following her accident) * the importance of having a sequence or series of goals to maintain your motivation through your recovery (and training process) and* how she has been inspired by ancient wisdom and traditional knowledge in her work and life.

A few weeks before recording this episode, Sparta Chicks Radio celebrated its 4th birthday. And there is no-one I'd rather share that celebration with than Lucy Barnard! Lucy is attempting to become the 1st woman to walk the length of the world.She set off in February 2017 from Tierra Del Fuego in Argentina to walk to Barrow, Alaska; a journey of 30,000km /20,000mi across 15 countries she anticipated would take her 5 years. Yes, years.Lucy was first on the podcast in March 2018.When I was preparing to speak to Lucy for that episode, I realised we share a unique connection; we both started our respective journeys - Lucy started walking and I published the first podcast - on the very same day in 2017.That conversation turned into our first anniversary / birthday celebration and we agreed to catch up each year for an update on her progress! This is our 4th annual episode and Lucy joins me to share how 2020 unfolded for her.

In 2019, Sarah Davis became the first woman to lead an expedition along the length of the Nile and joined me on the show in episodes 34 and 134 to discuss it.This time she returns to share her next epic adventure, in which she's swapping her paddles for pedals and will ride 5,000 unsupported across Australia!In this conversation, we discuss:* why, just 8 months after finishing her Nile expedition, she decided to paddle the length of Australia's longest river, the Murray - a journey of 2,500km* where (and when) the idea to ride across Australia came from,* the logistics involved and how she's preparing her body - and butt! - for the ride,* what she the Nile expedition taught her about risk management and how you can manage the risks associated with your adventures, * mental health challenges, eating disorders and developing a deeper appreciation for what your body can do, as opposed to what it looks like.

Tara Diversi is a woman of many talents.A Sports Dietitian and an Accredited Practising Dietitian, Tara is also an accomplished athlete and marathon swimmer, having completed the English Channel, the Gibraltar Straight, the Rottnest Island swim and the Palm Beach to Manly swim here in Sydney (amongst many others).But the focus of today's conversation is on her most recent, and coldest, challenge - becoming the first Australian woman to complete an Ice Mile. That is swimming one mile (1.6km) in water that is 5 degrees or less. To put that into perspective, ice baths used by athletes to help with recovery generally sit around 14 degrees.So why does a woman who lives in tropical Far North Queensland set a goal to swim a mile in ice water?Let's find out!

Mimi Anderson started running at the age of 36 (after a long battle with anorexia).Over the next 20 years, she went on to set multiple Guinness World Records.Her achievements include: * completing the Badwater Double; the return trip from Death Valley where the race starts to Mt Whitney, and back - a journey of 469km,* winning outright the 6633 Extreme Ultramarathon, a self-supported non-stop race over 560km in the Arctic Circle in which you drag on a sled everything you need to survive that took her almost 6 days to finish, and* setting Guinness World Record for the fastest time by a female running the length of England and the record for a woman running across Ireland.Now it hasn't all been smooth sailing.In 2017, she attempted to set the record for running across America - that's over 5000km. Sadly, that attempt ended due to injury and it also brought an end to her ultrarunning career.But you can't keep a woman like Mimi down for very long!So in her late 50s, she learnt to ride a bike, overcame a life-long fear of open water and finished her first triathlon.

Alexx Stuart is on a mission to help people want to (not *have* to) make changes for the better in their lives.She launched 'Low Tox Life' back in 2010 a few years after discovering she had a gluten allergy and going on a personal mission to find out what she was putting in, on and around her body.Since then, Low Tox Life has become a thriving online education hub and Alexx has become a 4x best-selling author and podcast host (with over a million downloads), by the same name.This is a conversation about conscious choice, hormones & why you should change your pillow :)I love that Alexx adopts a judgement-free perspective, that she recognises that it can be overwhelming when you start to realise the extent of changes you could make and that she encourages people to change one thing at a time.This might seem like an unusual conversation to have on this podcast.But I think there are two common themes.The first is around hormones and how easily they can be disrupted (in line with my previous conversations with Katee Gray (Pedicini) over the years).And secondly around awareness and being conscious of the decisions we make.I talk about that in the context of our mindset and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and what we can and can't do.Alexx talks about awareness in the context of being fully informed and conscious of what you put in, on and around your body. Alexx is a passionate woman with a big heart and I'm excited to share her story with you

Eliza Ault Connell was a (self-described) normal kid with a pretty average childhood until she was 16.It was then, in 1997, she contracted and nearly died from meningococcal disease.She spent 2 weeks in a coma during which time her parents had to make the heartbreaking decision to amputate both of her legs to save her life.Eliza later decided to have her fingers amputated for reasons she'll share in this conversation.During her recovery, Eliza was introduced to parasports and started as a runner, before she transitioned across to wheelchair racing - and she hasn't looked back.She has since won 3 World Championship medals, 3 Commonwealth Games medals and placed 2nd in a demonstration event at the Athens 2004.After a 10 year break from racing to raise a family, at the age of 36 Eliza returned to the sport to chase her Olympic dreams once more.And a few weeks before this episode was recorded in 2020, it was announced that Eliza was one of the first 4 athletes selected to represent Australia at the 2021 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

I'm back

Amazingly, Chloë didn't learn how to swim until she was 11.Yet within 2 years, she was swimming at State level and eventually had her eye on Olympic qualification.Sadly, that wasn't to be.But during her university years, she discovered triathlons which led to marathon swimming.The year was 2006 and the rest, as they say, is history!She now holds multiple world records including for the longest ever unassisted swim by any person - a mind-blowing 124.4km which she swam in the Bahamas in 2014.At the start of 2020, Chloë arrived in England with 31 crossings of the English Channel under her belt, and a plan to break the men's record of 34 crossings.Postscript: this conversation was recorded in 2020. In 2021, Chloe set a new world record for the most English Channel crossings - with an incredible 44 crossings. It's a record that still stands in 2025!

A runner since childhood, Suzy's (injury-plagued) track career culminated when she competed at the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games in the 800m and 1500m.In the months that followed, Suzy and her husband moved to Singapore for her work (she was an accountant).Not long after, and on a whim, she entered a stair running race.The prize for winning it; a trip to New York to compete in the famous Empire State Building Run-Up, an iconic race that garners media attention from around the world.And she won — both her first race in Singapore and then her debut at the Empire State Building.And at the age of 33, a new career as a stair running champion was born.Since then, she's gone onto win 10 x titles at the Empire State Building event (the most race victories of any athlete, male or female) as well as 9 x Tower Running World Cup titles.

Katee returns to the podcast for another important conversation about mental health.We begin by briefly discussing her experience as a first time mum during a pandemic.Next, we dive into the research and statistics around the impact that the pandemic has had on mental health in Australia (and some of the numbers are, quite frankly, shocking).Then we transition over to talking about what we can do to look after our own, and others, mental health, primarily around the idea of ‘holding space' (or debriefing as I call it).Katee and I then discuss:- what it means to ‘hold space'- the power of connection and conversation especially during difficult times.- how to resist the urge to ‘fix' how someone is feeling,- what you say after someone has shared how they're feeling,- how to set boundaries and/or look after yourself if you don't have the capacity to hold space for someone else (especially important if you're struggling too), and- why it's important to accept how you feel, regardless of how you feel (essentially, that it's ok not to be ok).Whether your mental state or life has been directly affected by the pandemic or you're someone who has thrived this year, I know you will take a lot away from this important and, at times, uncomfortable conversation.We have two ‘asks' of you after listening to this episode:- ask someone how they are, and- do something to hold space for yourself today.If you or someone you know needs help, in Australia you can contact:Lifeline 24 hours per day on 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or the Black Dog Institute.

Yewande Adesida grew up in London and is a self-described “up-and-coming amateur” cyclist who is currently undertaking her PhD on wearable technology in sport.Previously a former competitive rower, Yewande switched her focus to cycling - specifically track cycling in a velodrome - in 2016 and started racing in 2017.Just 2 years later, in 2019, and while still a relatively unknown face on the global stage, SRAM (which is one of the biggest and most well-known brands in cycling) decided to feature Yewande as the star of one of its global marketing campaigns.As you can imagine, in a sport where marketing imagery has traditionally involved skinny white men, SRAM's campaign featuring Yewande both very quickly raised her profile in the sport and the discussion about the importance of the representation of people of colour in a sport and industry that desperately needs more diversity.

Peter Baines joined the NSW Police Force at 19 and worked first as a uniformed officer before he transferred across to join the Forensic Services Group and become a real-life crime scene investigator (long before it was cool).Little did he know that decision would change the trajectory of his life.He is now an author, speaker, consultant and the co-founder of an amazing charity called ‘Hands Across The Water'.Peter's work as a forensic investigator took him first to Bali to identify victims following the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.Then 2 years later in 2004 he made his first trip to Thailand to assist with the identification of victims following the Boxing Day tsunami that killed between 250,000 and 300,000 people.In a strange yet beautiful twist of fate, during his third rotation in Thailand, he agreed to raise money to fund a home for a group of children he had met who had been orphaned by the tsunami.And so ‘Hands Across The Water' was born; a charity that now owns and operates 7 homes across Thailand and cares for hundreds of at-risk children.In his conversation, we discuss:- why action leads to clarity and that if you wait long enough you'll find reasons not to do the thing,- the ‘postevent' blues and the struggle with adjusting to ‘normal' life after an experience that shifts your view of yourself and/or the world,- the importance of understanding your measures of ‘success' and making sure they align with your ‘why',- where the idea for the charity rides originated from, and- the impact that bushfires and COVID-19 have had on their fundraising efforts in 2020.

Raised in India to adventure-loving parents, Vedangi Kulkarni set out on her first epic ride - crossing the Himalayas - when she just 17.Then in 2017 at the age of 19, she set out on her quest to become the fastest person to circumnavigate the world and to complete the journey in 100 days.And while she missed both of those goals, after riding 29,000km / 18,000mi and 160 days, 14 countries and 1 birthday later, she became the youngest woman to ever circumnavigate the world on a bike. She was 20.In this conversation she shares:- her 850km solo cycling adventure across the Himalayas at 17 and what gave her the confidence to attempt it,- where the idea to circumnavigate the world came from,- the role visualisation played in helping her mentally prepare for the ride,- how she still struggles with worrying about what people think,- being told “this adventure jam is for white people” and the importance of not automatically taking on other people's stories and beliefs,- her experience as a woman of colour in endurance sports, and- whether she felt like an imposter when asked to be part of a new book called ‘Tough Women Adventure Stories” that will be published later this year.

Janine Garner grew up on a poultry farm in the north of England and worked her way up the corporate ladder to become the Marketing Manager for high-profile brands like Citizen Watches, Oroton and Ralph Lauren.But ultimately the lifestyle and burnout prompted Janine to walk away from her career and pursue her own business.Fast forward 9 years and she is now a sought-after international keynote speaker and trainer who fulfils her childhood dreams to be on the stage, albeit in a different capacity (you'll have to listen to this episode to hear that story!).Janine is the author of 3 books including her new release ‘Be Brilliant: How to Lead a Life of Influence' which we discuss in-depth in this conversation.

Melissa Browne first joined me on the podcast way back in early 2017 and then spoke at our conference, Sparta Chicks Unleashed, in 2018.And now she's back with a vulnerable new book and for a very personal and brave conversation.Mel has just published a new book - her fourth book - called “Budgets Don't Work (But This Does)”. It's the culmination of her career first as an accountant and now a financial advisor.Her philosophy; just like diets and one-size-fits-all eating plans or training programs don't work, budgets don't work either.So Mel has developed a process that helps you discover (what she calls) your “Financial Phenotype”. It's the combination of your Money Stories, your Money Environment and your Money Type. Knowing these things about yourself then allows you to custom design your own financial plan, habits and tactics that draw on your natural strengths (while minimising the impact of your weakness). Simply genius!What makes this book so powerful is Mel's vulnerability around her history and her story and how it has shaped her financial decision making over the years.From the outside looking in, Mel appeared to have it all. Yet as she reveals in this conversation, for years Mel was stuck in a ‘sabotage loop' in her business and that she carried a victim mentality and story that she wasn't “good enough” that caused her to work so hard she ultimately experienced burnout and a breakdown in 2017.So she initially started working with a coach to help her navigate her 'sabotage loop' in her business.However, Mel quickly realised she would also need to unpack the trauma she's experienced and the way it and the stories she's carried with her have shaped her personal life as well.

Dianne Whelan is the first to admit she is not an ‘extreme' or endurance athlete. She describes herself as “just an artist from Vancouver”.But there is no doubt the project she's currently undertaking is pretty extreme.In 2015, she set out to travel the length of the Great Trail (or the Trans Canada Trail) which stretches from one side of Canada to the other and is the longest trail in the world.It's a 24,000km / 15,000mi journey across Canada - including 7,000km of water - that she is travelling by foot, bike, canoe and snowshoe.Dianne initially thought it would take her about 500 days and so she named the project, and the documentary film she is simultaneously making in the process, ‘500 Days in the Wild'.5 years later, she is about 3,000km from finishing her epic journey.And when she does so, she'll become the first person to complete this epic traverse of Canada.What makes Dianne's perspective unique (at least to this podcast) is that this journey is not about the challenge or the athletic achievement.Instead, she describes as an ecological pilgrimage to honour both the land and to pay respects to the First Nations people of Canada, to learn their stories and share their lessons.

Jeanette McGill grew up in South Africa and mountains and the outdoors were a massive part of her life up until her mid-late 20s.And then her career took over - and took off.A geologist by training, Jeanette began working in the mining industry and she has gone onto to become a senior mining executive and was named as one of the Top 100 most influential women in mining in the world.But unfortunately, that came at the cost of her health, fitness and her time in the outdoors.However, some soul-searching and a moment of synchronicity while channel surfing in 2013 reignited her passion for the mountains and she set a seemingly audacious goal; to summit an 8,000m mountain!In this conversation, we discuss the importance of understanding your ‘why' and the role it plays in securing your self-confidence, and how she was able to reframe her biggest ‘Imposter' moment.

Hanny is no stranger to the trail running and outdoor adventure communities in Australia.In 2006, Hanny won the Junior and Senior World Orienteering titles. In doing so, she became the first non-European to win an Orienteering World Championship and the first person, male or female, to hold both the Senior and Junior title in the same year.In the years since, she's achieved a long list of victories, records and placings in the worlds of mountain and trail running, ultramarathon running and sky running.She's also the co-founder of my favourite retail and online store - Find Your Feet - based in Tasmania with her husband Graham.And on top of all that, she's a performance coach and the host of an incredible podcast also called ‘Find Your Feet.We cover all of that, and more, in our first conversation for the podcast. This conversation is very different.This is a conversation about Hanny finding her feet.She has just released a memoir - her first memoir - called ‘Finding My Feet'.I was lucky enough to read an advance copy. And the best way to describe it as soul-full.It's Hanny's incredible story (so far) that is brave and vulnerable and heartbreaking and awe-inspiring. It will make you laugh and you cry. It's one of the most honest memoirs and autobiographies I've read in a long time.

Eloise grew up in a family of runners and, while watching the Olympics at the age of 10, set the goal to become an Olympian.By 16, she had qualified for her first Olympics; the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000.But sadly, Eloise's early career was beset by injuries.As one article I read so painfully wrote, ‘it would be 12 years, 11 stress fractures and 3 failed attempts later' before she finally made her Olympic debut at the London Olympic Games in 2012.Eloise and I recorded this conversation in midst of the Covid-19 crisis and so that's where we start our conversation today - with how she's navigated the impact of it with two small children at home and how it's affected her training and her attempts to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (now being held in 2021).Eloise is also the co-founder of an extraordinary organisation called the Love Mercy Foundation which she co-founded with Ugandan Olympian and former child soldier, Julius Achon that works to empower communities in Northern Uganda to overcome poverty caused by the horrors of war.Eloise shares how you can help to support the work of Love Mercy by participating in their virtual “Mother Run” which is on this month (May, 2020).

Michelle was a business owner, gym junkie and busy mum when she broke a foot in December, 2017.After experiencing balance and walking issues she attributed to a second broken foot in December 2018, Michelle was eventually diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disorder (CMT) in March 2019.Both neurological conditions, MS and CMT have left Michelle unable to run or move her legs quickly.But that didn't stop her from entering - and finishing - her first (and last) triathlon at the Husky Triathlon in February 2020.Michelle tells the story in this conversation of what unfolded, her experience of crossing the finish line and what that race means to her.And trust me when I say this — you're going to need a tissue ;)

Mel is an inventor and adventurer who has tried it all: kayaking, climbing, caving, mountain biking and, her favourite, skiing.Mel also has a rare form of Dwarfism and so most commercially available sporting and outdoor adventure equipment doesn't fit or suit her.Luckily Mel grew up with an interest in fixing things (initially with sticky tape) and parents who taught Mel and her two sisters - who also have Dwarfism - from an early age to adapt and find ingenious ways to get around the challenges their height presented them.That interest not only led Mel to get a Masters Degree in Mechanical Engineering but develop the skills to adapt or make from scratch her sporting and adventure equipment including kayaks, paddles and wetsuits.Mel starred in a fantastic documentary called (you guessed it) ‘Mel' which aired at the Gutsy Girls Adventure Film Tour in 2019.

The TransCon is a self-supported, single-stage bike race across Europe. The clock starts and doesn't stop until you arrive at the finish. And aside from a few checkpoints, there's no set route. Participants map and plan their way across Europe and decide where and when to ride, eat and sleep along the way.In 2016, the race started in Belgium. And 3,800km and 13 days, 10 hours later, Emily arrived in Istambul, winning the women's category in the process!While we discuss some of the events and adventures she's had over the years, there are 2 key themes throughout this conversation.First, why it's important not to let what you've done (or not done) in the past define or limit what you think you're capable of in the future.And secondly, being open to the idea that things which currently seem impossible actually aren't.

Molly Galbraith's love affair with strength training began in 2004 when she discovered powerlifting.A few years later, she began competing in figure competitions.And yet it was during this time that she began a vicious cycle of stripping weight to compete, then binging and regaining weight for several years until her “body hit a wall” and she was diagnosed with Hashimotos, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and adrenal issues.What began as a mission to change how her body looked, Molly now leads the team at Girls Gone Strong on a mission to educate and encourage women to have agency and autonomy over their bodies.

10 days before recording this conversation, Sparta Chicks Radio celebrated its 3rd birthday. And there is no-one I'd rather share that celebration with than Lucy Barnard!Lucy is attempting to become the 1st woman to walk the length of the world.She set off in February 2017 from Tierra Del Fuego in Argentina to walk to Barrow, Alaska; a journey of 30,000km /20,000mi across 15 countries she anticipated would take her 5 years.Yes, years!Lucy was first on the podcast in March 2018. When I was preparing to speak to Lucy for that episode, I realised we share a unique connection; we both started our respective journeys - Lucy started walking and I published the first podcast - on the very same day in 2017.That conversation turned into our first anniversary / birthday celebration and we agreed to catch up each year for an update on her progress! This is our 3rd annual episode and Lucy shares how her expedition has unfolded over the last 12 months.

Lisa Blair was 22 when she discovered a passion for sailing.Just 6 years later, she completed her first circumnavigation of the world as part of the Clipper Round the World Yacht race.Since then she's gone on to sail solo to New Zealand twice, to skipper the first all-female team in 16 years to race the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race and set not one but two World Records in the process of becoming the first woman to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around Australia.In the midst of that, in 2017 Lisa set out on her most ambitious project to date;  to become the first woman to sail solo unassisted and non-stop around Antarctica and to break the men's World Record in the process.As you'll hear in this conversation, that expedition did not go to plan and on a stormy night 72 days into her trip and 1,000 nautical miles from shore, her boat lost its mast and Lisa had to fight for 4 hours to save her boat -- and her life.Not only did she survive the night and spend 9 days limping back to port in Cape Town, South Africa for repairs, Lisa then found the courage to head back into the Southern Ocean and finish the challenge - in doing so become the first woman to sail solo and unassisted (with one stop) around Antarctica.

Ultra-endurance cyclist Tiffany Winchester returns to Sparta Chicks Radio for the second part of our conversation about her race at the iconic 1,200km Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) cycling race in 2019.This time, Tiff returns to share the aftermath of the race - the physical, mental and emotional trauma it inflicted on her, the depression that followed and how she was able to recover from it and get back on her bike.This is a very different conversation from part 1.It's a very raw and vulnerable conversation and I truly appreciate Tiff's honesty in sharing her struggles after PBP, the support she received and how she found her way through.

Tiffany Winchester (aka Tiff or Tiffo) was first on the podcast in June 2019.In that conversation, Tiff shared her background and her preparations for an iconic event called Paris-Brest-Paris (or PBP) - a 1,200km event held in France every 4 years considered to be the Olympics of the ultra-endurance cycling world.This time, Tiff returns to share how the event unfolded, the trauma it inflicted on her, the physical, mental and emotional toll it took on her and how she was able to recover from it.An iconic race - and a great storyteller - requires a long conversation. So I have divided this episode into two parts.In Part 1, Tiff shares the final stage of her preparation and how the race unfolded - including why she had to apply white wine vinegar to her “lady parts”.

[TW/CN: this post and episode discuss suicide]One of our most popular guests, Katee Pedicini, returns to Sparta Chicks Radio this week.Yet this is a very different conversation from our previous episodes.This time, Katee shares the story of her mental health journey over the last 20 years.In her 20s, Katee was (finally) diagnosed with a condition called Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (or PMDD).Katee describes PMDD as extreme PMS “wrapped up with anxiety, depression, sometimes psychosis and suicidality or suicidal tendencies”We begin this conversation with Katee's story. Her experience of the symptoms of PMDD, including suicidal ideation.Then we transition into a broader conversation about suicide and mental health; why suicide is often still seen as a ‘taboo' and what Katee believes needs to change to enable it to be discussed more openly, and with less shame.Finally, we step back and discuss the intersection between mental health and endurance sports.This was an extremely difficult conversation, for both of us. I'm in awe of Katee's bravery and vulnerability. If you or someone you know needs help, in Australia you can contact Lifeline 24 hours per day on 13 11 14. Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 or the Black Dog Institute.

In October 2019, Melissa Urie became the first woman to line up at the start of Uberman.Described as the world's most challenging ultra triathlon, it consists of a 34km swim, 644km ride and 217km run which Mel finished - becoming the first woman to do so - in a total of 135hr 15min - that's over 5 1/2 days! In the process, she also set a new swim course record for the event, finished second overall and smashed the previous course record by 31 hours. A long race requires a long conversation; Mel and I spoke for 2 hours about all-things Uberman so I have divided this conversation into two parts.In Part 1, we covered her preparation and training, the logistics of the event and how the swim leg unfolded - here.This is the second half of our conversation, in which Mel and I cover how the 644km bike, the 217km run leg and her recovery.