The Mettleset Podcast

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance and Dr.stretch . Dr Sarra Lajnef-Taylor made history as the first Tunisian woman to qualify for the Olympics in swimming, competing at London 2012. Since then, she's refused to be defined by one sport, becoming a six-time FINA Masters World Champion, a five-time Guinness World Record holder, a UAE rowing champion, and a meda...

This episode is brought to you by New Balance and Dr.stretch . What does it take to see something others don't? In this episode, host Dawn Barnable sits down with visionary designer, entrepreneur and brand builder Johan Lindeberg, whose influence has shaped the worlds of fashion, sport and culture for more than three decades. From helping build Diesel into a global phenomenon to redefining golf st...

This episode is brought to you by Dr.stretch and New Balance . At just 18 years old, Zamzam Al Hammadi is already making history. The Emirati athlete is set to become the first Emirati woman to compete for a major regional MMA promotion when she steps into the cage at PFL MENA: Pride of Arabia in Dubai on May 24. In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we sit down with Zamzam ahead of her profes...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 Lindzi Nader has built her career in triathlon the hard way, without infrastructure, without consistent funding, and often against the realities of living and training in Lebanon. But what she does have is consistency. And resilience. We sat down with one of Lebanon’s leading triathletes to talk about what it really takes...

This episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance Recorded at the Aramco Championship, part of the PIF Global Series at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, this episode features one of the most consistent and respected players in the game, Carlota Ciganda. With 11 professional wins across the LPGA and LET, two Solheim Cup wins and seven appearances, and over 15 years on tour, Carlota s...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance What do you do when you get a call telling you you're going to the Olympics… with six weeks to go? For 18-year-old Emirati swimmer Maha Alshehhi, you put your head down, block out the noise, and mentally break a 200m freestyle into a ‘grocery run’. Host Dawn Barnable sat down with Maha to trace her journey from beach fun to...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 What does life really look like after more than two decades competing at the highest level of professional golf? Recorded live in Riyadh at the PIF Saudi Ladies International, host Dawn Barnable sits down with Ladies European Tour veteran Marianne Skarpnord to talk about life on tour, the evolution of women’s golf, and wh...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 How does one of the most followed golfers on the planet handle the grind golf is known for when her life looks like a permanent highlight reel? To kick off 2026, The Mettleset was live from Riyadh at the PIF Saudi Ladies International. Host Dawn Barnable sits down with LPGA star Muni “Lily” He to talk about the reality of...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 Ever wondered what it feels like to sky surf over Mount Everest or leap from 21,000 feet with nothing but a parachute and your courage? On this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, Olga Naumova - Guinness World Record skydiver, ultra runner, and fitness coach - shares the highs, the fear, and the mental grit that keep her pu...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 Happy Eid Al Etihad! 🇦🇪 Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast takes us trackside with Maryam Al Farsi, one of the UAE’s youngest Olympians. From picking up sprinting just five years ago to running the 100m at Paris 2024, Maryam’s journey is full of grit, laughs, and a few moments that will make you feel like you’re rig...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 Today, we roll into a story about community, connection, and a love of the game. 🎳 In collaboration with Zayed Sports City , we spotlight the athletes and grassroots groups shaping Abu Dhabi’s women’s and community sports scene. And there’s no better example than the Abu Dhabi Filipino Bowling Club, more than a league fo...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 One of the biggest myths in sport? That women experience stress more intensely than men, and cope less effectively. In this episode recorded live at the Emirates Sports Medicine Conference, sports psychologist and researcher Dr. Mariana Kessler breaks down why that long-held belief simply isn’t true.  Drawing from ye...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 This week, we’re joined by Dr. Margo Mountjoy, sports physician, clinical professor at McMaster University, and one of the world’s leading experts on RED‑S - Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport. Recorded live at the Emirates Sports Medicine Conference, Dr. Mountjoy breaks down what RED‑S really means, how it affects both...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 This week, we’re turning the mic inward to one of our own, Nourelhoda Arafa, Egyptian national rower and record holder, and Olympic hopeful. At 13, she picked up rowing for the first time. By 15, she was chasing Olympic dreams. Then came a sudden stop, no boats, no water, no access. For seven years, Nourelhoda couldn’t ro...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 We’re taking you straight to Abu Dhabi for a conversation that had everyone talking. Recorded live at the Sport Industry Forum 2025 (October 1–2, Yas Marina Circuit), this special episode features Alexis Ohanian - entrepreneur, investor, and, as we like to call him, women’s sport’s biggest hype man - in conversation with...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 In this episode, we head back to Chamonix for Part 2 of our UTMB special with Karis Miriam Brown , former lawyer, podium-finishing ultra trail runner, and certified coach. This summer, Karis lined up at the CCC 100K, one of UTMB’s toughest races. Her journey is raw and real: battling a meniscus tear, reshaping expectation...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we dive into UTMB – Ultra Trail du Mont-Blanc, one of the world’s most iconic trail running festivals. We sat down with three remarkable women from the region who took on the UTMB World Series Finals, sharing their journeys of pushing limits, chasing personal bests, and soaking in...

Join us as we chat with Maria Khan, captain of the Pakistan women’s football team, about her incredible journey from an early love of football (or soccer) as a kid in the U.S. to signing her first professional contract at 32 in Saudi Arabia.  Maria opens up about the influence of her sporting family legacy, the lessons learned as a Division 1 backup goalkeeper, and the moment she rediscovered...

Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 At The Mettleset, we exist to celebrate and empower women in sport, and what better occasion than Emirati Women’s Day to spotlight six incredible athletes who embody courage, resilience, and pride. In this special episode, you’ll hear their journeys: the struggles, the triumphs, and the moments that make them proud to be...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟 We’re closing out our Summer Series with Melina Timson-Katchis, triathlete and coach, sharing expert advice for experienced athletes stepping into triathlon. In this episode, Melina dives into the key lessons for transferring your existing athletic skills to triathlon: why the swim is often underestimated, why triathlon should be...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟 Ever thought about doing a triathlon but didn’t know where to start? In part one of this two-part series, Melina Timson-Katchis, long distance swimmer, triathlete and coach, shares her journey from signing up for a full Ironman on a whim to racing all over the world. Now, she’s helping others step into the sport she loves. In thi...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance . 👟 Welcome back to The Mettleset Podcast! In Part 2 of our running episode for the Summer Series, we're pushing past the 5K and exploring the incredible world of long-distance and ultra running with Dr. Sara Talia, a family medicine doctor and New Balance Run Club Doha Coach.  Dr Sara kicks off by sharing why ultra running is...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance . 👟 Welcome back to The Mettleset Podcast! For our Summer Series, we're helping you jump into a new sport, and this week, we're leaping into the world of running. And who better to guide us from zero to 5K than the incredible Dr. Sara Talia.  She's not just a family medicine doctor; she's also a New Balance Run Club Coach in D...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟 We’re back with Saudi record-holding freediver Nada Alrasheed for Part 2 of our Summer Series deep dive exploring not just how to freedive, but why the ocean is worth protecting. Nada takes us through some of her most unforgettable underwater moments from growing up by the vibrant reefs of the Red Sea to diving in the icy waters...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟 In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we’re diving into the world of freediving with Saudi record-holder and instructor, Nada Alrasheed as part of our Summer Series focused on helping more women try new sports. Nada holds multiple national records and an Arab women’s record for reaching 65 meters in the constant weight bifin...