Today, Iskra Lawrence is a household name in the modeling industry. She got into it at 13 in England where she grew up, and for years she struggled with being told she wasn’t “small enough” to land jobs. At 21, after years of crash dieting and exercising, she finally heard about plus size modeling for the first time - which seemed like it could be the perfect fit — until she was turned away time and time again because she was “big enough.” Iskra decided to stop basing how she felt about herself ...
Jun 14, 2021•58 min•Season 6Ep. 163
I missed all of the feels that I get in hot yoga and my first class in 14 months DELIVERED those, plus a really, really special reminder. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE READ: Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey WATCH: “Changing the Game” on Hulu GEAR: Specialized RBX Shorty Short with SWAT Cycling Short CHECK OUT: @ironcowboyjames on Instagram Lyons Den Power Yoga JOIN : THE *Secret* FACEBOOK GROUP SIGN UP: Weekly Hurdle Newsletter ASK ME A QUESTION : Leave me a voic...
Jun 11, 2021•9 min
To say that Sam Gash is inspiring is the understatement of the year. But before I tell you more about her, what I want to make sure I mention right off the bat is that this weekend — June 11 through June 13, 2021 — Sam is helping to put together an awesome event called Relief Run to benefit World Vision Australia’s India COVID-19 appeal, which will see funding provide more beds, oxygen machines and medical supplies in hospitals in some of the worst hit districts. While things are feeling more no...
Jun 09, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Season 6Ep. 162
What do you get when you combine camo pants, a fiery passion for dance, sweat, and a good time? Meet Caleb Marshall, known to his 3.25 million (and growing) YouTube subscribers as The Fitness Marshall. For episode 161, I talk to Caleb all about his journey to becoming a top YouTube creator, where he uses his platform to spread joy, self-love, and confidence to as many people as he can through his one-of-a-kind — as he calls them — ”fitertainment” routines. We also chat about what it was like for...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 6Ep. 161
When I laid out the content for this week, there was no doubt in my mind that I A. Wanted to talk about run culture and B. Would need to do that with Knox Robinson. For his second appearance on the show, I'm chatting with the runner and writer about how run crews came to be and what he took into account when co-founding Black Roses NYC. We also chat about how runners around the country can get more involved locally, the difference between run crews/collectives and training groups (hint: culture ...
Jun 04, 2021•47 min
Once a week, I get a message or email from a listener asking me "how do I start?" Today, I'm addressing this with Jess King of Peloton, an old friend of mine and a newer Tread instructor. We're chatting about everything from the importance of buying the right gear and finding community to the value of a run/walk approach (and more!). SOCIAL @jesskingnyc @onepeloton @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Run Week: Getting Through the Crappy Runs With Aisha Praught-Leer Run Week: Ho...
Jun 03, 2021•33 min
Time flies when you're on the move. Today for Run Week, I'm sharing the biggest takeaways that I've learned from 13 years (!) of running, from the importance of the right gear to the good things about the bad days — and so much more. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Run Week: Getting Through the Crappy Runs With Aisha Praught-Leer Run Week: How to Master the Long Run With Coach Jess Movold SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast OFFERS Tracksmith | Do some good (and look good, too). Head to Tracksmith.com/h...
Jun 02, 2021•19 min
Welcome to Run Week on Hurdle! In celebration of global running day on Wednesday, June 2, I’m bringing five back-to-back episodes dedicated to the sport that changed my life. For today’s episode, I’m chatting with Aisha Praught-Leer, she’s a professional middle-distance runner for Puma, a world finalist, and olympian, and seriously one of the kindest, most down to earth interviews. She’s been on the show before, but this time around we’re chatting about the bad runs. That’s right — the days wher...
Jun 01, 2021•31 min
Welcome to Run Week on Hurdle ! In celebration of Global Running Day on Wednesday, June 2, I’m bringing five back-to-back episodes dedicated to the sport that changed my life. That’s not an exaggeration. As many of you know, I started running back in college with a half-mile every single day for a summer. Over the years, that half mile became a mile, that mile became a 5K, and well — now I’m a nine-time marathoner and certified run coach via the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy. I know w...
May 31, 2021•42 min
I went to my first fitness class in something like 14 months on Wednesday night, and it just so happened to pour rain on me. Fun fact: It was amazing — and an essential reminder that sometimes you can't control everything and that's OK. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED LISTEN: ON Purpose with Jay Shetty: “Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Perry ON: Healing From Childhood Trauma And Becoming Self Aware, Confident Adults” WATCH: Money: Explained on Netflix WATCH: The Me You Can’t See on Apple TV+ ...
May 28, 2021•11 min
You asked, I answered. Popping in today to answer a slew of listener questions, talking about marathon training, working alone (and how to stave off loneliness), nutrition myths, running shoes, and so much more. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED Weekly Hurdle: 4 Years, 300+ Pairs of Sneakers & These Are My 12 Favorites OFFERS LMNT | Head to DrinkLMNT.com/ hurdle to get a FREE LMNT Sample Pack, including two citrus, two raspberry, two orange, and two raw unflavored. You only pay $5...
May 26, 2021•21 min
Today I’m talking with Lori Harder. She’s a self-love specialist, host of the Forbes top-rated podcast ” Earn Your Happy ,” founder of the bliss project, author of A Tribe Called Bliss , founder of Lite Pink , a new spiked seltzer company — yeah, she does a lot. Her story is super inspiring — raised in a very small town with an extremely restrictive religion, she struggled with depression, obesity, and being bullied by the other kids. As she came into her own, she decided to go after what excite...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 6Ep. 160
Things are opening. Life is happening. Masks are less frequent. (You get the idea.) For today's episode of #HURDLEMOMENT, I'm offering up my best-practice tips for easing back into the swing of things at your pace. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast CHECKOUT: HURDLE SESSIONS Couldn't make this week's So, You Think You Want To Run a Marathon? Session? Get it on demand, here. Info: It's official, you've committed to the 13.1- or 26.2-mile race that will change your life. As the reality sinks in, s...
May 19, 2021•12 min
Excited to welcome Victoria Garrick to the show today, host of Real Pod , former D1 volleyball player at USC, mental health advocate (the list goes on!). Garrick went viral after she gave a Ted Talk as a junior, highlighting the mental struggles many college athletes go through — labeling these as the “hidden opponent." In today's episode, she talks me through how she navigated her mental health journey, at times battling disordered eating, deep depression, and a packed schedule leaving little-t...
May 17, 2021•59 min•Season 6Ep. 159
I never thought that I'd move to Brooklyn. Ever. But, here we are. I've never been more sure of something in my life, but that doesn't mean I'm not scared and experiencing ALL of the feels. In today's episode, I'm talking you through a teary-eyed run I had on Thursday, and sharing where my head's at going into a huge transition. PROMPT : When was the last time you felt equal parts scared and excited? SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast REGISTER So, You Want to Run a Marathon? , May 17 @ 7:30 p.m....
May 14, 2021•10 min
This is probably one of the most popular topics I get DMs and emails about. I totally get it, because making friends as you get older is tough stuff! I'm calling in my dear friend Kristina Rodulfo to chat about this: She's the beauty director at Women's Health (and your new BFF!). We rap about tips for making friends and best-practice strategies that have worked for both of us. We also talk about the importance of not having surface-level relationships, and how to know when you should walk away ...
May 12, 2021•39 min
It was a no-brainer for me to kick off season six (!) with Hillary Allen, an ultra runner who survived a near-fatal #hurdlemoment in 2017. During a skyrace in Norway — which is essentially a run that involves massive vertical gain and direct ascents over steep, technical terrain — she slipped and fell from a ridge. Cue a 50-foot free fall followed by a nasty tumble, more than 100 feet further down jagged rocks. In today's episode, she talks to us about how she got to that point — born in Colorad...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Season 6Ep. 158
It's Mother's Day, so what better time than now to bring a conversation with my mom to the feed. Part of this week's MOTHERHOOD IN FOCUS series, I'm grateful for the opportunity to finally sit down with my mom and a microphone to hear more about her story. We talk about a bunch of stuff, from what life was like for her before having me, what it was like to move back and forth between the two coasts and wind up in Connecticut, how she felt going back to work after having my brother and me, and wh...
May 09, 2021•47 min
Leading up to Mother's Day, I'm chatting with six extraordinary women. Some moms. Some not. But, each has a story to tell, forever shaped by the women that came before them. Today on the show I’m talking to Annie Thorisdottir, CrossFit’s 2x Fittest Woman on Earth. The Reebok-sponsored athlete is, like Sarah Larson Levey who I spoke with earlier this week, a new mom of a pandemic-born baby. We talk about how Annie navigated critical feedback on her workouts during pregnancy as well as her timelin...
May 07, 2021•44 min
Leading up to Mother's Day, I'm chatting with six extraordinary women. Some moms. Some not. But, each has a story to tell, forever shaped by the women that came before them. Ten years. That's how long Steph Bruce has been chasing her Olympic dreams. During that time, she had two sons within a 15-month period (not planned), has dealt with injuries, launched a successful business (what's up, Picky Bars ), and so much more. In today's episode, she explains how — how she's stayed so steadfast on her...
May 06, 2021•52 min
Leading up to Mother's Day, I'm chatting with six extraordinary women. Some moms. Some not. But, each has a story to tell, forever shaped by the women that came before them. To say that I am better for having the opportunity to chat with Peloton's Tunde Oyeneyin is an understatement. Today, she's back on the show ( listen to our first conversation here ) to celebrate her late mother. In our conversation, she talks about what it was like to lose three family members within a 6-year span and how s...
May 05, 2021•38 min
This week, I'm hosting six conversations as part of a special series on motherhood here on Hurdle. Although I'm not a mom just yet, my talks with Hurdlers over the years have taught me so much about this life chapter. I've learned that motherhood itself is both beautiful and challenging, exhausting and rewarding. Whether or not children are in the cards for you, it's safe to say that we've all been dramatically impacted by a mother — whether it be our own or another — in our lives. So, leading u...
May 04, 2021•45 min
Over the next seven days, I'm hosting six conversations as part of a special week of content on motherhood here on Hurdle. Although I'm not a mom just yet, my talks with Hurdlers over the years have taught me so much about this life chapter. I've learned that motherhood itself is both beautiful and challenging, exhausting and rewarding. Whether or not children are in the cards for you, it's safe to say that we've all been dramatically impacted by a mother — whether it be our own or another — in ...
May 03, 2021•43 min
Earlier this week I had a difficult battle with the comparison trap at the track. I'm talking about it for this week's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, and how to pull yourself out of a rut and refocus when things are going south. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE READ: 3 of the Best Neck Pain Exercises To Nix Soreness, According to a Physical Therapist by Tamara Pridgett on Well + Good LISTEN: T he Rich Roll Podcast : “Roll On, Notes From Minneapolis” TAKE: The 5 Love Languages Quiz ...
Apr 30, 2021•14 min
Today, I'm bringing Eve Lewis Prieto, Director of Meditation and mindfulness teacher at Headspace , onto the show to chat about the benefits of meditation when it comes to our sleep. It's a perfect time to connect as we head into Global Stress Awareness Month and today marks the premiere of " Headspace Guide to Sleep " (Eve narrates the series). She offers up her best-practice tips for meditating for improved ZzZs, talks about when you should be doing it, and sheds some light on an important que...
Apr 28, 2021•29 min
When Alex and I recorded together for episode two of the show back in 2017, she had no idea of the hurdles that lay ahead in her journey. My first-ever guest back in 2017, we recently agreed that it was time to have her back for round II. For episode 157, the New York-based trainer and "human" (listen to find out where that's coming from) is getting really vulnerable about the bumps in the road over the last few years, including falling in love (and then ending an engagement), leaving her job, a...
Apr 26, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Season 5Ep. 157
Thanks so much to everyone who hit me up with feedback last week about 5-MINUTE FRIDAY. This week, I'm explaining what I've learned from all of your emails and explaining why I'm thankful that I got caught in the rain (literally) on Wednesday. PROMPT : When was the last time going with the flow worked in your favor? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE WATCH : Billie Eilish - The World’s A Little Blurry LISTEN: Girlfriends & Business WATCH: John Mayer on Songwriting VISIT: Jane Motorcycles in Noho 76. ...
Apr 23, 2021•12 min
An estimated 64 million Americans have tried CBD in the last 24 months. So, today I'm having an expert come in to answer your CBD-related questions, appropriate for the week of 4/20. Meet Max Poling, the Director of Innovation at Beam . We talk about what is CBD, what are the benefits, what happens when you use it topically versus ingest it, what some of the biggest CBD myths are, and how much a standard serving size is (+ more!). SOCIAL @beam @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast OFFERS Beam | Go to Beam...
Apr 21, 2021•33 min
Renée Rouleau is a pink-haired warrior. You may recognize her name from an episode we did a few weeks back, answering your biggest skincare questions. I was really excited to record this with her as well because man, this woman has had her fair share of hurdles — personally and professionally — especially over the last few years. For episode 156, Renée explains how she got into the skincare industry and the challenges she conquered becoming a direct-to-consumer business and ultimately shifting h...
Apr 19, 2021•53 min•Season 5Ep. 156
The last week was a lot. I finally found my next home, an apartment in Brooklyn after almost a month of looking and a hole lot of "maybe" options. Today for 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I'm telling you a story about how much my new home means to me, and detailing what apartment hunting (and applying!) was like. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE CELEBRATE: Des Linden’s 50K World Record READ: “How to Create a Happier, Healthier Living Space During Springtime” from Shape SUPPORT: Bir...
Apr 16, 2021•15 min
