Tough Girl Podcast

Jacquetta Megarry – Founding Rucksack Readers, Walking Adventures, and Building Confidence in the Outdoors

Jacquetta Megarry didn't grow up in the outdoors, and she certainly didn't see herself as an adventurer—or a publisher. But turning 50 sparked a journey that would transform her life. From walking the West Highland Way with friends to summiting Mt Kilimanjaro, Jacquetta discovered the power of pacing yourself, listening to your body, and building unshakeable self-belief. Her adventures inspired her to found Rucksack Readers, a guidebook company that helps hikers navigate trails around the world. Over 25 years later, Jacquetta shares stories from her experiences—from hiking in the UK during Storm Amy, to trekking the Inca Trail, to exploring Antarctica—along with lessons on making mistakes, learning from them, and embracing challenges at any age. In this episode, Jacquetta shares how stepping outside your everyday life can open doors to new passions, transform confidence, and even create a career doing what you love. She offers practical tips for hikers, insights into publishing, and encouragement for women ready to explore the world on their own terms. This episode is for you if you: Want inspiration to start a new adventure at any age Dream of hiking, trekking, or exploring the outdoors Are curious about publishing guidebooks and sharing your knowledge Believe it's never too late to embrace challenges and grow Ready to be inspired? Hit play and let Jacquetta take you on a journey of mountains, maps, and life-changing adventures. ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Jacquetta Growing up in London and going to school there Living all her adult life in Scotland  Living in Edinburgh Founding Rucksack Readers a guidebook company  Not being sporty or into the great outdoors at a young age Turning 50 and deciding to go and walk the West Highland Way with 4 female friends to celebrate 200 years of womanhood  Feeling dissatisfied with the official guidebook This frustration lay dormant for 18 months  Heading off to climb Mt Kilimanjaro for the first time and why the altitude was a great leveller How climbing Kilimanjaro gave her the self belief in order to make a career change  Going from working in IT to starting a guidebook company  The importance of pacing yourself and listening to your body Building self belief on the mountain  How only 9 out of the 16 made it to the summit Feeling health, taking photos and enjoying the experience  Doing something so far outside your normal everyday life and how it can make you think differently about life Becoming a publisher and having the confidence to think you can write a guidebook after one experience Deciding to do the Inca Trail in 2001 and the challenges involved in gathering the info for a guidebook  Why would you not want the paper to be rainproof? Hiking the Dales Way during Storm Amy Creating little map booklets for hikers (waterproof) Apps verses Guidebooks  Planning a walk with ChatGPT The structure of the guidebook Mapping and keeping route information updated Being a volunteer - on the Xtreme Everest Project   Dealing with altitude sickness - keeping well hydrated and monitoring her heart  Maintaining a base level of fitness… Celebrating 25 years of Rucksack Readers Writing about the mistakes made in publishing Talking about failure and mistakes and the lessons made  Visiting Antarctica and wanting to go sea kayaking and see the emperor penguins  Dealing with the cold and the conditions on the ship  How her hiking has changed now entering her 70s The joy of being a publisher and being able to follow her passions Future challenge and revisiting the Dales Way Succession planning for Rucksack Readers Having a year of consolidation and looking after the future How to connect with Jacquetta and Rucksack Readers Discount code for the listeners of the Tough Girl Podcast—use toughgirl for a 20% discount of all books  Final words of advice for other women who want to go on more adventures and challenges around the world Mistakes and being afraid of getting it wrong.  Get out there, make the mistakes, and be sure to learn from them.    Social Media Website: rucsacs.com use toughgirl for a 20% discount off books - valid until 20th January 2027 Instagram: @rucksack_readers Facebook: Rucksack Readers   

Sabrina Pace-Humphreys – UTMB, Trail Running, and Building Community: The Journey of a Runner and Advocate

Sabrina Pace-Humphreys is back on the Tough Girl Podcast for her third appearance, sharing her incredible journey as a runner, coach, and advocate for representation in trail running. From being a mum of four and grandmother of three, to taking on some of the toughest ultramarathons in the world, Sabrina's story is one of resilience, community, and the relentless pursuit of goals. In this episode, Sabrina reflects on her time at the UTMB, the challenges of race preparation, and the lessons learned when things don't go to plan. She also shares updates on her work with Black Trail Runners, supporting women and runners of the global majority, and gives a sneak peek into her new book, Start Where You Are: The Beginner's 5k Running Guide for Women. Whether you're chasing your first 5k, dreaming of ultra distances, or passionate about creating inclusive running communities, Sabrina's insights, advice, and personal stories will inspire you to lace up and claim your mantle as a runner. Listen to past episodes with Sabrina on the Tough Girl Podcast  July 7th 2020 - Sabrina Pace-Humpreys - Ultra runner, going from Anxiety to Accomplishment - Running the MDS August 30th - 2022 - Sabrina Pace-Humphreys - Co-founder of Black Trail Runners and running Britain's most brutal race  ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Sabrina Pace-Humphreys Run coach, personal trainer and community builder  Advocate for representation in running  Mum of 4, grandmother of 3 3rd time on the Tough Girl Podcast! Speaking with Sabrina on August 30th 2022 The final things we talked about - Back to the Trails, creating a vision board, wanting to participate in the UTMB race and wanting to write a 2nd book about running  What's happened over the past few years 2023 Survivor!  Not being able to hide being a hype woman!  Why you will either love it or hate it Being voted out in the 2nd week  Why it was such a bizarre experience seeing herself Having an episode of poor mental health after the show and feeling out of control Using her voice to motivate a team Coming out of the low moments and the connection to running, community and friendships  Her go to tools Update on Black Trail Runners Running social runs with students of the global majority Creating a sustainable charity and model HERE FOR THE WOMEN'S RACE Being involved in a steering committee to get more women in the trail running space  Creating the black and gold t-shirt - "Here for the women's race" Her journey to the UTMB Running stones and collecting them  UK race - Arc of Attrition and Ultra Trail Snowdonia Applying via the ballot  The planning and preparation for UTMB B and C races, planning weekends in Snowdonia and France Using an altitude chamber for training  Booking accommodation for the UTMB a year in advance Financial access to races  £15,000 for races, accommodations, travel costs, gear, supplements etc August on the start line of the UTMB Working on a film to be released next year Not wanting to let anyone down Not liking the pre-race faff Why it was different to what she thought it would be The brutal conditions and being timed out  Tweaking her calf the week before The weather challenges and the impact on the racers Not being able to get out of the slump How the race made her question everything  Being supported by her husband and friends Battling cutoffs  Not having it in her and the end of the race Working on her running book! New Book: Start Where You Are: The Beginner's 5k Running Guide for Women How you can connect with Sabrina Final words of advice and wisdom You can do hard things  Claiming the mantle - I am a runner   Social Media Website: https://www.sabrinapacehumphreys.com/  Instagram: @sabrunsmiles  New book: Start Where You Are: The Beginner's 5k Running Guide for Women 

Becky Wandell – Reinvention, Solo Travel, and Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail at 55

Becky Wandell is a Teacher, Writer, Tour Guide, Volunteer, and Solo Traveler. At 47, while weathering a difficult divorce and the death of four close relatives, she clawed her way up from the depths of grief and, in her words, set out to "find her way back to Becky again".  To do this, she quit her job, sold all of her belongings and charted a plan to complete a series of adventures she had always dreamed of doing. Joining the US Peace Corps, learning to speak Spanish and gaining her confidence in solo travel and living abroad set the stage for several years of living her best life throughout South America; a life rich with opportunities to learn, grow, serve others through volunteering, integrate deeply into cultures, and make connections - especially with women. Then, in 2024 at the age of 55, she hiked the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada.  It was there, with thousands of footsteps across the desert, over the mountains and back home to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, she was finally able to release the last of her regrets, coming away from the trek feeling lighter, freer, more confident and beautiful than ever before.  Turns out, living life to the fullest and fulfilling all your dreams brings joy. Now, Becky works as a seasonal Tour Guide in Alaska which allows her to spend the rest of the year living out of her backpack, always ready for the next adventure. ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Becky  Teacher, writer, solo traveller, volunteer and tour guide  Starting her life in the Mid-West Knowing she always wanted to live by mountains  Starting to work for the forest service in environmental programs  Having a wonderful career and life Needing to make a pivot in her life and needing to figure out what she really wanted to do Joining the Peace Corps at 47  Wanting to travel more, learn a new language and experience more of the world Deciding to hike the Pacific Crest Trail at 55 from Mexico to Canada Gaining a huge amount of confidence  Wanting to slow travel more and working as a tour guide in Alaska Living her dream and being the best beaky she can be The pivot at 47 The love letters….. the origin story to her relationship  Giving up her dreams and "compromising"  Typing out all the things that she wanted to do back then Sacrificing her dreams  What the Peace Corps is Learning so much about herself, other people and cultures  Living in Ecuador with a family and leaning the language  Her new path and dealing with lonely moments Losing her parents  Slow travel and volunteering around South America  Workaway  Spending 2 years travelling around Patagonia  Her dream of hiking the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Feeling ready to take on the hike Not having fears or concerns before the hike Letting go of fear Getting her trail name Challenging sections on the PCT Why 700 miles in the desert was the real challenge  Being supported by her friends during the tough moments The mental game Doing hard things  Writing a letter to herself  Can she push her body that hard to make the hike happen Preparing for the trail really well Needing to hike her hike her way Learning about her last name Sharing a little video from the end of the PCT Finally identifying as a tough girl  How to connect with Becky  Final words of advice Give up the fear, your going to be ok  Start planning, take the step.   Social Media Blog: onthewingadventures.com Instagram: @beckysonthewingadventures  

Denisa Krásná – Flow, Fear, and Female Adventure: Redefining Women's Stories in Extreme Sports

What does it mean to challenge the limits of both body and mind—and to redefine what success looks like along the way? Denisa Krásná, scholar, author, and adventurer from the Czech Republic, takes us on a journey into the world of women in extreme sports. From her early days trekking with her parents to highlining hundreds of meters above the ground, Denisa has always been drawn to adventure, isolation, and pushing herself beyond comfort. She co-edited Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock, and Sky, an inspiring anthology celebrating diverse women's voices in adventure sports—whitewater kayaking, climbing, mountaineering, and highlining—challenging stereotypes and redefining what it means to be successful in the outdoors. In this episode, we explore: Denisa's path from scholar to adventurer and author How fear, frustration, and failure can become tools for growth The mental game behind highlining and extreme sports Stories of resilience, creativity, and empowerment from women across the globe Why inclusivity, mentorship, and community are key to thriving in adventure sports Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a woman seeking inspiration, or simply curious about the stories behind extreme adventure, Denisa's insights will leave you reflecting on your own limits—and inspired to push past them. Tune in for a conversation about courage, flow, and the power of women redefining adventure on their own terms. *** 🎙️ New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries. 💪 Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast. 🙏 Your support makes a difference. 💖 Thank you x *** Show notes Who is Denisa Growing up and living in the Czech Republic  Working as a scholar at university  Loving research and writing about her adventure  Writing books and academic articles Her early years growing up  Travelling with her parents all the time Going on trekking adventures around the world from places like  lapland to Nepal  Her love for being outdoors and being isolated  Being introverted  Wanting to talk to adults and discuss ideas  Her passion for reading, researching and academics  Being active every single day New Book: Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock, and Sky How the book came about with her friend Alena Rainsberry  Getting a grant to work on outdoor counternarratives  Being do-ers  and getting things done Reaching out to potential authors  The gap in the literature  What does counternarratives mean? What the typical story of success currently is in outdoor sports Wanting to show that success is something that should be defined by the individual - it should be fluid. Including stories from professional athletes who define success in the more conventional way  Representation of women in adventure stories  The stories that resonated and made her think in a different way Why every story can make you think  The unique view of Rae Raptor aka Cheryll Glotfelty  The advantages that her age gives her from money and time  Talking about fear and how fear manifests in so many different ways  Rocky Mountain Books Denisa view on fear and how she experiences it  Why her view on fear is very rational and being able to distinguish between the objective and subjective fear Highlining and slacklining  Her journey into highlining  Buying a slackline during covid Why the improvements were related to the frequency of training  Having quick initial progress Being introduced to the local slacklining community and getting a mentor The state of flow  Why flow is also a word game and why it has multiple meanings The photo on the cover of FLOW - with Brenda Gor  What free style highlining is and how it is different from walkers The mental side of highlining  - zoning out  The importance of preparing before you even get on the line  Using rituals to get mentally into the right state of mind  The number one cause of death in highlining  Human mistakes and how it can happen to experienced professionals  Why it's good to be slightly afraid  Always respect that you are doing an extreme sport  Why the mental game is different for everybody  Needing to take a few steps to get into the mental zone  Specific training needed for the sport  Frustration with slacking and not seeing progress  Why you should't give up when you first start Why the start can be very painful Why you need to trust the process  Focus on the positive things Don't lean into the frustration  Needing to work on the mental side of highlining  Walking 200m lines and falling once at the end on the seemingly easy part The struggle at the end  Fighting the doubts in her mind  Why these sports are like a mirror into our inner selves  Flow, Fear, Frustration, Falling - dealing with a sense of Failure  The lessons learned from failure - Dorothea Hamilton  Women being framed as too ambitious and that being seen as a negative  Climbing half dome with Alena Rainsberry Why it was amazing and traumatic!  How to connect with Denisa Final words of advice for other women who want to take on more adventure sports Why it's important to find people to do the activity with, people who support you and people who motivate you.  Reading memoirs written by other women    Social Media Website: www.riversrocksky.com Instagram: @vegi.deni.slacks Book: Flow: Women's Counternarratives from Rivers, Rock, and Sky   

Sarah Williams: Solo Reflections Episode, GR10, the Numbers and Plans for 2026

Happy New Year! I'm taking a moment to look back at the last six months of 2025—what's worked, what hasn't, and what the numbers tell me about the year so far. I reflect on the journey I've been on, the adventures, the challenges, and the mindset shifts that have shaped my life. I talk about working in longer blocks, thinking in decades not years, and the balance between pushing hard and giving myself space to rest. I share what I'm learning about consistency, structure, and getting intentional with my time, energy, and goals. I also get real about needing magic, wanting change, and how to show up even when life throws curveballs. If you're looking for a little reflection, motivation, and some Tough Girl honesty, this episode is for you. Thank you for all your support! Love Sarah x  ***  New episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast drop every Tuesday at 7 AM (UK time)! Make sure to subscribe so you never miss the inspiring journeys and incredible stories of tough women pushing boundaries.  Do you want to support the Tough Girl Mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media in the world of adventure and physical challenges? Support via Patreon! Join me in making a difference by signing up here: www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast.  Your support makes a difference.  Thank you x *** Show notes Happy New Year - Welcome to 2026 Reflection blog post  Looking at the numbers in 2025 - Because data sometimes tells the story better than feelings.  Looking ahead to 2026 Working in longer blocks  Thinking in decades, not years 2025 to 2035 - The purple decade  Level 2 Psychology Course The importance of structure Where it may lead Consistency Gym, Aim, Mone  New Tough Girl Buffs! Adventure Funds and Emergency Funds Editing the GR10 vlogs!! (2 left to be edited)  Booking in future guests for the Tough Girl Podcast Editing the SWCP Vlogs Consistency Digital clense - laptop and phone  Boring… Need some magic, needing a timeline shift Needing for something to be different The power of reframing situations Continuity or seasons Do I need more down time? 2 - Sarah's…. Wanting to be busy and productive Wanting to be in my soft girl era Why a lot can change over the next 6 weeks What is going to happen?1 Leaving it up to fate, the universe, to magic Drive it, make the decisions, you take the steps to make it happen, put in the work Getting intentional  Ebbing and flowing between the two The journey I've been on, from where I've started The journey that you're on Dealing with life curveballs  Words of comfort  The future is exciting Go in with our best foot forward Keep positive, keep showing up Thank you for your support  Thank you to the amazing women who have shared their story on the podcast  How can I live my life differently? Scrolling through the past episodes on the website  Evergreen episodes  Thank you!    *** Previous Reflections/Solo Episodes  Jan 2nd 2025 -  Sarah Williams: Reflections on the South West Coast Path, Health, Money & Future Plans for 2025 Aug 1, 2024 - Sarah Williams: Reflecting on the Past 6 Months and Future Plans for 2024 – Insights, Challenges, and Adventures. Mar 14, 2024 - Sarah Williams - Reflections & Learnings from the 3,000km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand. Nov 2, 2023 - Sarah Williams - Planning and Preparation for thru hiking the 3,000 km Te Araroa Trail, New Zealand. #ChallengeWithZOLEO Sep 10, 2023 - Sarah Williams - Solo Reflections: A Look Back at the End of 2022, Adventures and Challenges in 2023 Aug 4th 2022 - Sarah Williams - Reflects on the end of 2021 and the start of 2022. Aug 4th 2021 - Sarah Williams - Reflects on the end of 2020 and the start of 2021. Aug 7th 2020 - Sarah Williams - Reflections on 2019 & and the start of 2020.  Aug 4th, 2019 - Sarah Williams - Reflections on 2018 and the start of 2019. Plus plans for Tough Girl Challenges. Dec 25, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Cycling the Pacific Coast Highway & Baja Divide    Sep 4, 2018 - Sarah Williams - Planning and Preparation for the Pacific Coast Highway & the Baja Divide! Sep 19, 2017 - Sarah Williams - Thru hiking the Appalachian Trail (2,190 miles) in 100 days!  Apr 26, 2016 - Sarah Williams - Shares her journey of getting to the start line of the Marathon des Sables (MDS) & running the toughest footrace on earth!   Social Media Instagram @toughgirlchallenges  Facebook @toughgirlchallenges  Youtube @toughgirlchallenges  Patrons www.patreon.com/c/ToughGirlPodcast