Hurdle with Emily Abbate

Andraya Carter knows a thing or two about resilience and reinvention. After three ACL injuries cut her basketball playing career short, the University of Tennessee graduate transitioned into broadcasting, where she now covers both all things basketball for ESPN. In this episode, we dive into how Andraya navigated these career transitions and found new ways to stay connected to the game she loves....

Emily shares an update following her egg retrieval procedure on Tuesday. She discusses the physical and emotional transition from the procedure to recovery, reflecting on the importance of self-care and the empowerment that comes with being proactive about her future. She also addresses the financial realities of fertility treatments and why she views this as her greatest act of self-love yet. Plu...

In this week’s episode, Emily’s sitting down with Anna Gibson, a powerhouse athlete who is truly redefining what it means to be well-rounded. Anna is a professional runner for Brooks and a newly-crowned 2026 Winter Olympian in ski mountaineering—or "skimo," as it’s affectionately known in the mountains. Growing up in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Anna was practically raised on ski...

This week, Emily shares how she’s feeling during the final phases of preparation for her egg retrieval, and how she's been making an effort to be slower and connect with herself. Also discusses the importance of disconnecting and finding joy in offline activities, and answering a listener question on apps she uses for her morning routine, including Open for meditation, Strava for runnin...

Haley Adams is back. After a ten-year career in CrossFit that started when she was just 14 years old, the 2018 Fittest Teen on Earth took a much-needed break in 2023. Today, she opens up about the weight of expectations and the intense pressure she felt after moving to the individual division. She discusses how negative social media comments impacted her body image and relationship with food, and...

Today I’m getting real about a lesson I’ve been learning the hard way lately: you don't always know what you need until you need it. I dive into the vulnerability of my current journey with egg freezing, the mental weight of the unknown, and why sometimes the best thing you can do is simply surrender to the process. I also answer a listener question from Avery about a struggle man...

This week, Emily sits down with Olympic Gold Medalist and World Champion surfer Caroline Marks. Fresh off the premiere of her new film  Now Days , Caroline discusses the incredible evolution of female surfing and what it’s like to travel the world competing against her closest friends and biggest rivals. She dives deep into the "savage mode" mindset required to win, the courage it took...

Talking about owning the things that I'm good at and surrendering to the things that I cannot control. Plus: Answering a listener question on what to take into consideration when signing up for a half-marathon. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast @iheartwomenssports JOIN :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week, Emily sits down with Alexandria Gilleo, a celebrity makeup artist and wellness entrepreneur who has worked with icons like Sue Bird, Ali Krieger, and Breanna Stewart. Alex shares the story of her sudden health crisis—a diagnosis of endometriosis that nearly led to emergency surgery on leading up to a what was supposed to be an epic trip to the Paris Olympics. The conversation expl...

Reflecting this week on a recent realization about the " disclaimer trap "—the habit of minimizing our own struggles or joys by comparing them to others' seemingly "bigger" life events. Also, answering a listener question on science of sauna use , covering its cardiovascular benefits and how to properly integrate it into a fitness routine without compromising muscle growth. SOCIAL @emilyabba...

This week, I’m sitting down with the incredible  Becs Gentry . Many of you know her as a powerhouse Peloton instructor, but she is stepping into a massive new chapter as a HOKA Global Brand Ambassador . It’s a synergy that marks her return to the trails and ultra-running—the place where she first fell in love with the running community. In this episode, Becs gets real about...

Talking about how I navigate a blizzard of thoughts, and the coping strategies I use to negate burnout. Plus: Answering a listener question about leaning into exercise to deal with a breakup.  SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast @iheartwomenssports JOIN :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week, we're sharing an episode from Olympic medalist and cross-country skiing legend Jessie Diggins, which originally aired in 2025. Jessie opens up about her journey to the top of her sport, what it’s like to embrace the intense pressure of elite competition, and how she pushes herself to her physical breaking point — sharing vivid details of the "blurry vision" and sheer grit re...

This week, I'm reflecting on the empowering act of setting boundaries and challenging the common perception of boundaries as "walls," — reframing them instead as "bridges" that guide others on how to successfully navigate a relationship with us. Also: I answer a question about my regular nail care routine. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast @iheartwomenssports JOIN :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

In this episode, Aisha McAdams—photographer, filmmaker, and former competitive runner—shares her journey of navigating the transition from elite athlete to creative visionary. She dives into the making of her documentary  Learning to Fly , which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, and the founding of Rhoam Creative Studio to elevate women in the creative industry. IN THIS EP...

In this episode, Emily's talking about how she navigated a recent unexpected hurdle and the looming pressure of Valentine’s Day. She shares a personal story about a new neighbor (read: a vocal infant) triggered a spiral of "catastrophizing," leading to a powerful reminder on the importance of shifting from a victim mindset to one of control. Also: Answering a listener's question about tackli...

In this episode of Hurdle , Emily sits down with Erika Gabrielli , the Vice President of Global Marketing at HOKA . Erika shares the story of HOKA’s meteoric rise from a niche ultra-running brand to a $2 billion global powerhouse. She delves into the importance of brand authenticity, the power of listening to the community, and why "maximalism" in footwear is about more than just aesthetics&...

Talking about the power of a reset, and answering a listener question about how to handle "no" and think of it as redirection. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast @iheartwomenssports JOIN :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

What happens when your body, the very thing you've spent nearly two decades teaching others to harmonize with, begins to fail you in a way you never saw coming? This week on the show, I'm sitting down with meditation teacher, and author Megan Monahan . Megan first appeared on Hurdle back in 2019 , and today she returns to share a profoundly personal update. In late 2024, Megan faced a life-alterin...

How are you looking at the small wins in your day-to-day, and are you even noticing them at all? Plus: Answering a listener Q about being gentle with yourself in different seasons of life. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast @iheartwomenssports JOIN :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

#389! Lexi Rodriguez knows a thing or two about the importance of trusting your gut. After famously committing to the University of Nebraska as an eighth-grader, she went on to become an integral part of their legendary volleyball program. Now a professional player for  LOVB Nebraska , she’s navigating a new era of the sport while staying true to the qualities that make her a standout l...

We all have them: "Monster" tasks on our to-do lists that we avoid for weeks or even months. For 5MF this week, I'm sharing a personal story about how I tackled mine by doing something I used to consider weak: Asking for help. Aside from talking about "body doubling"—simply having another person in the room to keep you focused and anchored while you work, I also answer a listener question on...

Listen to this episode, and upgrade your quality of life in 2026. In this week's podcast, Emily dives deep into a concept she calls Energy ROI—Return on Investment. As we navigate the start of a new year, it’s common to feel pressured to do more, but Emily challenges us to look at our calendars and ask: "What is the cost of this entry versus the payoff?" Emily breaks down her "Four Qua...

At the gym this week, had myself a lesson in not being so hard on myself and appreciating the journey. Plus: Answering a listener question about what to do when you inevitably fall off of your New Year's Resolutions. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast @iheartwomenssports JOIN :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

How do you transition from the world’s most promising talent to a triple Olympic gold medalist while balancing a Master’s? For Gabby Thomas, the path to Paris was paved with a refined commitment to her own longevity. After the intense physical toll of the Tokyo cycle and the subsequent seasons of high-stakes racing, Gabby opens up about the essential "choice to choose me"—the del...