These days, a Fitness and Sports Counsellor and Body Positivity Advocate, Leah Gilbert's relationship with food and her body wasn't always so, well, positive.
A child who loved sport but who, because she was bigger than the other kids, was very self-conscious of her body.
Leah openly admits that, as a result, she always limited the amount of effort she put into her sport (and therefore limited her potential).
It was only with the birth of her daughter in 2012 that Leah's relationship with food, exercise and her body began to shift.
In this conversation, we discuss her relationship with sports and her weight as a child, why she started running and how she then got into triathlons, how motherhood was a catalyst for her to change her relationship with food, exercise and her body, the surprising way her public role and advocacy work impacted on her running and why she stepped away from social media as a result.
Plus we talk about why it's important for you to identify as and recognise that you are an athlete.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Today not only marks our 50th episode, but the first birthday of the podcast! Yes, that’s right, exactly 1 year ago today, we launched the podcast with our first guest, Siri Lindley.
So I thought this would be the perfect chance to share the top 10 most popular episodes of the podcast over the last 12 months.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Caro Ryan describes herself as the “unexpected outdoors chick”.
As a child, she wasn’t physically active. But after a 3 day experiential leadership training course in the Australian bush at the age of 21, the trajectory of Caro’s life changed and a deep love and connection with the bush was born.
These days, she is one of Australia’s top bloggers in the outdoor space via her website lotsafreshair.com.
In this conversation, we discuss why she describes herself as the “unexpected outdoors chick”, how the outdoors and “red bandana girl” changed her life, the stories we tell ourselves, including in Caro’s case that she “wasn’t a runner”, the importance of using words, labels and phrases (such as “I’m a runner”) before you believe them, how to manage and mitigate the most common fears of being in the bush and how being in the outdoors is such a powerful catalyst for change for so many women.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Brad Stulberg is fascinated with the science of human performance.
In 2017 Brad co-authored, with Steve Magness, a fantastic book I devoured on a flight called "Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout and Thrive With the New Science of Success."
This book (and this conversation) is based around the concept of periodisation (which is - or should be - the principle that any and all training you do should be based on); stress + rest = growth.
Unfortunately, this formula isn’t well understood or applied which results in injury, illness, burn out or overtraining.
In this conversation, we discuss how stress isn’t always a bad thing and how you can use it to your advantage. Plus we talk about smartphones, sleep and meditation as other factors you need to consider if you want to get the best out of yourself and feel good about it.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Terra Roam will, in 2018, also become the 1st woman to walk around Australia, solo and without the assistance of a support vehicle.
For much of her walk, she was accompanied only by Dory, her bright blue and yellow custom-build barrow.
Terra’s story is of a girl who discovered a love of, and connection, with nature from a very young age. But who didn’t realise until later in life that she had been using walking as a form of therapy to recover from the trauma she has experienced and the social anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) she has since been diagnosed with.
This is a story about hope and recovery and the importance of connection to nature.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Hayley Nixon could swim before she could walk. She then discovered, and fell in love with, rowing at University and was on track to make the team to represent South Africa in rowing at the London Olympics.
But sadly just 3 months before the Games were to commence, she was informed she hadn’t been selected and missed out by one spot.
After such heartbreaking disappointment, Hayley lost her love for rowing. But fortunately, she soon found flat water ocean paddling and then canoe ocean racing (which is like a surf ski). Then only two years after taking up that sport, and only a month ago, Hayley won the World Championship.
Of course, as she rightly points out, that title has twenty years in the making.
In this conversation we discuss resilience and how you bounce back from heartbreaking disappointment, why it’s important to remember everything you’ve achieved, done or accomplished in your past and why you shouldn’t assume the race is over if you have a bad start.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Lucy Bartholomew was just 16 when she completed her first 100km race, after only taking up the sport the year before. By 18, she was the Sky Running Junior World Champion.
Then in 2017, on her 21st birthday Lucy won the Ultra Trail Australia 100km race and again proved she was a force to be reckoned with on the international trail running scene with her victory at Ultra Trail Cape Town 100km in December, 2017.
And while Lucy’s rise in the sport of trail running has been rapid, it hasn’t been easy. She has been the subject of much criticism for her decision to take up ultra running at such a young age.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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I don’t know anyone more passionate about the sport of triathlon — and getting more women into the sport — than this week’s guest, Bel Fong.
An institution in the Sydney triathlon scene, Bel has been involved in the sport since 2007.
Her passion for the sport is only exceeded by her passion to get more women into the sport (she describes it as her “calling”).
In this conversation we discuss how she got into the sport (despite being a kid who would do anything to avoid PE at school), how she is only just realising after 10 years in the sport that she has more potential than she has ever given herself credit for, her experience with the Imposter Complex and why its so important to be aware of your thoughts and stories you tell yourself (especially during a race).
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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A Clearance Diver in the Australian Navy, in 2009 Paul was working in Sydney Harbour when he was attacked by a bull shark (the first attack inside the Harbour in 60 years).
Paul lost his right hand in the attack and his right leg was amputated a week later.
What’s remarkable about Paul is not that he was attacked.
What’s remarkable is what he has done since then.
Not only has he returned to the open water, he confronted his fear and dived with bull sharks and even learnt to feed them by hand. He’s also become an advocate for the protection of sharks and has hosted documentaries for the Discovery Channel during Shark Week.
In this conversation, we discuss his troubled childhood, what he gained when he joined the Army, his decision to become a Clearance Diver despite a “massive” fear of sharks and how he was able to overcome his fear to get back in the water.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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We all experience the voice of the Inner Critic.
This week on Sparta Chicks Radio, Tara Mohr, a women's leadership and wellbeing expert, will help you not only recognise your Inner Critic but share some practical tools so you can learn to live with your fear, self-doubt and Inner Critic, but not be held back by it.
Tara specialises in helping women to 'play big' which is also the title of her book, which was named by Apple's iBooks as a "best book of the year". She has been featured in the New York Times, the Today Show in the US, Harvard Business Review & Oprah.com.
We spend much of this conversation dedicated to the Inner Critic.
Tara also turns the tables on me and we discuss my struggles with the Inner Critic around this podcast.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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From growing up in Canada then spending her teenage years in the Middle East, completing a PhD in women’s history through to a successful career as a professional triathlete and becoming President of Tri Equal, Sara has a diverse background which has given her a unique perspective on the involvement of women in sport and the importance of sharing stories about women.
Since her retirement, Sara has established a media company, Live Fiesty Media which creates unique content around women in sport, including via the popular podcast, Ironwomen.
In this conversation, we discuss her awareness at a young age of the gender differences in society, how she spent a long time feeling scared and afraid she would never win an Ironman race as a pro athlete, the importance of changing the narrative or story you’re telling yourself, her experience with the Imposter complex, the obstacles to equality for women in sport and what you and I can do to advance it.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Listen to the Ironwomen podcast here.
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Richelle Olsen is a force of nature.
A 30-something plus-sized Aussie, Richelle is on a mission to introduce more plus-sized women to the outdoors and adventure through her non-profit organisation, Escaping Your Comfort Zone.
In her own right, Richelle has done everything from hiking the Inca Trail and to Everest Base Camp as well as riding the 5,000km from Canada to Mexico (yes, Canada —> Mexico!).
In this conversation, we discuss comparison, the fact she still didn’t think of herself as a ‘cyclist’ even after completing her epic 5,000km ride across America, fear of judgement, body image and how you can’t get the best of something you hate (like your body).
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Abby Ehler is a professional sailor and, at the time this episode goes live, currently on a yacht racing down the west coast of Africa during the second leg of the Volvo Ocean Race.
This is Abby’s 3rd time competing in this prestigious round-the-world yacht race, described as one of the longest and toughest professional sporting events in the world.
In this episode, we discuss how Abby discovered sailing and ocean racing in particular, the fear, doubt and the dangers associated with it and how she manages the guilt she feels at being away from her family and her 6 year son in order to work and compete in the sport she loves.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Jo Bailey is just like you and I. An age group athlete and busy mum who only discovered running in her mid-30s.
Since then, she's completed 9 ultra-marathons and is about to attempt her first 100mi/160km race through the Victorian Alps.
Jo has openly discussed her struggles with the Imposter Complex and comparison, her fear of coming last and the “stories she tells herself” about her speed on her blog and on social media so I knew she would be the perfect guest for the podcast.
We also talk about how being a runner has changed her as a woman and mother, how she’s come to proudly own the fact she is an athlete as well as her mental state ahead of her first 100mi/160km race.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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#037: Stacey Copeland on the Power of Role Models, Language and Women’s BoxingStacey Copeland has represented England at the highest levels in both football and boxing. These day, Stacey is a professional boxer, having gained her professional licence earlier this year.
Stacey began training in the boxing gym run by her Granddad when she was 6 or 7. But she was too young to realise that, at the time, boxing was banned as a sport for women. So when the boys in her training squad turned 11 and were allowed to compete, Stacey was left on the sidelines outside the ring, watching.
An incredible football career followed. And by the time Stacey retired from football, the ban on women’s boxing had been lifted so she returned to the sport she loved.
In this episode, we don’t discuss boxing so much as Stacey’s experience of being a girl and woman involved in two sports that are traditionally seen as “male sports”.
Stacey talks openly about how she’s struggled with the perceptions and labels given to her by others who think that boxing isn’t suitable for women and how that lack of recognition fed a longstanding struggle with the Imposter Complex.
We also talk about what it was like growing up in a boxing gym, the impact that having no female role models in her sport had on her, why role models are so critical, the power of language and why it’s so important to be aware of the words we use and the labels we give others.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Carin and her sons have a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). A rare condition related to the connective tissue in the body that results in many hospital visits and many stitchers and check-ups for her and her boys.
This condition, together with the fact she didn’t think she was “allowed to do sports” because she was “bigger than average” as a kid, meant it wasn’t until Carin was in her 30s that she signed up for her first 5km fun run, with a secret goal to run the whole distance.
Carin credits that race with changing her life and she’s since gone on to complete multiple Half Marathons and triathlons.
Carin has also shared her story, experience and insights around body image, self-doubt and dealing with critics and online trolls on her blog so I knew she would be perfect for Sparta Chicks Radio.
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If there is one person to ask about fear and doubt, it’s Rhiannan Iffland.
In 2016, in her rookie season and with a wildcard entry, she walked away with the 2016 Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series title. And this past weekend, she has just successfully defended her title after victory at an event in Chile.
Rhiannan grew up on Lake Macquarie, just north of Sydney, Australia and now travels the world high diving off everything from cliffs, bridges, platforms, waterfalls and even helicopters.
We discuss fear and self-doubt, how to control your thoughts in order to manage your fear and why you need to choose your thoughts.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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In January 2018, Sarah will set out on her journey to paddle the length of the Nile, from it's source in Rwanda, all the way to Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast in Egypt; a journey of 6,850km / 4,200 miles over 7 months.
In this conversation, we discuss how she is using her corporate experience in risk management to mitigate the risks associated with this journey (including injury, disease and illness, the human threat as well as the threat posed by the crocodiles and hippos that occupy parts of the river). We also discuss how you can use a risk management perspective to reduce your fears around ocean swimming, trail running or cycling, her experience with the Imposter Complex and why it’s so important to share your stories.
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Jessica Douglas isn’t your typical elite athlete.
She wasn’t a sporty kid. She was diagnosed Hodgkins Lymphoma when she was 14, had her daughter at 20 and only got serious about her riding in her 30s. But that didn’t stop her from discovering a love of mountain biking and then going on to become a 3 x World Champion in the incredibly gruelling 24-hour solo event in just 4 years after taking up the sport.
These days, she’s a cycling coach who is passing her unique perspective and experience onto her athletes and is passionate about getting more women on bikes.
In this conversation we talk about why she describes being diagnosed with cancer as a “beautiful time in her life”, the powerful way she uses role models to gain courage in situation where’s she’s feeling scared or doubtful, why it’s so important to understand your why, her struggle with depression and her 1% rule which was the key to her fast progression in the sport (and how you can use it too).
Get the full show notes for the episode here.
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Karley Cunningham has a diverse background and a unique perspective on the world. At 8, she was being groomed to be one of the top pairs figure skaters in Canada (and the world). After quitting, she went on to compete in equestrian, cross country and golf (all at a high level) before discovering mountain biking. She became an elite mountain biker and raced for many years and now she’s come over to the dark side and discovered trail running.
Karley grew up in what she describes as a gender-neutral household, playing a lot of sport with boys, and it’s given her a unique perspective on the female brain, what she calls “female hesitation” and the way gender (and specifically our conditioning) affects our mindset and our success.
We discuss perfectionism, crashing, the worst mistake ever, the importance of keeping your focus on what’s right in front of you, why she says she’s hardly ever failed and, of course, the Imposter Complex.
Amanda Batty is a professional downhill mountain biker race based in the US.
She is also an outspoken advocate for women in sport and a vocal critic of the cycling industry for its treatment and portrayal of women.
In this conversation we discuss how cycling helped her find her sense of self and self-worth, that fear is healthy, why it’s important to remember why you are riding, how she handles the fear associated with crashing (especially after one crash described as the worst face plant you’ll ever see) and why she continues to share her deepest darkest secrets and fears about body image on social media.
Natalia Cohen is a member of the Coxless Crew, the first fours boat (and all-female team) to row, unsupported, across the Pacific Ocean (the largest ocean in the world).
The journey, which took 257 days at sea, is documented in the film "Losing Sight of Shore" (available on Netflix).
In this conversation, we discuss why she decided to apply (despite not having any rowing experience), her interesting struggle with the Imposter Complex now that the journey has been completed, how she used mindfulness to get through the tough times, how the sharks that kept them company on the journey were a highlight and why it’s important not to be afraid of the unknown and instead to embrace it.
Lisa Tamati is one of the world’s most experienced ultra marathon runners, especially when it comes to racing in hot conditions. She’s competed in over 130 ultra marathons, traversed almost every desert in the world, cycled through 20 countries, run the length of New Zealand for charity and is a successful businesswoman, running coach and New York Times best selling author.
She also suffers severe asthma, broke her back at 21 and struggled with self-doubt and self-esteem throughout much of her younger life.
In this conversation we discuss her severe asthma and the surprising advantage it has given her as an endurance athlete, what she learnt from a disastrous (and potentially life threatening) crossing of the Libyan desert, how ultra running helped to heal her self-esteem and self-confidence, why you should start working towards your goals even before you know how you’re going to achieve them and what she wished someone had told her as a young girl.
Chloe Chick is the Founder of Sisu Girls, an organisation I love and support that is dedicated to the empowerment of girls through sport and outdoor adventure in order to foster bravery, resilience, determination and self-confidence in them.
Chloe founded Sisu Girls in 2014 after seeing her daughter Olive start to show signs of a lack in self-confidence in certain situations (including being intimidated by boys in the playground or not wanting to play “boys” sports).
In this conversation we discuss Chloe’s experience attending an all-boys primary school and what she learnt, the importance of story telling, role models and the impact they have on shaping who we are, her fear, self-doubt and experience with the Imposter Complex and why you should recognise and celebrate your everyday acts of Sisu.
Our first return guest, Kirrily Dear, is about to set out on a mammoth challenge - The Run Against Violence in 2017 will take Kirrily 1,300km / 807 miles throughout remote and regional Australia over 19 days on a mission to raise awareness and start conversations about family violence.
This time we talk about how she has prepared, mentally and physically, for such a demanding and challenging event, her powerful and profound new perspective around comfort zones she recently gained on top of a mountain pass in the Andes as well as the Run Against Violence itself; the community and commercial support it has received and the logistics involved (including how many pairs of shoes she’s going to pack)