The Mettleset Podcast

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟 In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we kick off our Summer Series - a special “How To” series focused on giving you the tools, info and inspo to get started in a new sport. From running your first 5k to training for a Triathlon, to going deep into the world of freediving, we’re sharing real advice, inspiring journeys, and e...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance . 👟 In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we’re joined by Stephanie Rogers, Executive Vice President of Marketing for the San Francisco 49ers,  one of the NFL’s most storied and valuable franchises. Stephanie takes us inside the 49ers’ global brand strategy, sharing how a legacy team balances tradition with forward-thinkin...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance . 👟 In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast , host Dawn Barnable heads off-road with two riders helping shape the future of cycling in the UAE. Emirati gravel cyclist Rawdha Alfalasi has created something quietly radical: Seek. All, a new women-led cycling group dedicated to building confidence, connection, and community -  o...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance . 👟 In this inspiring episode, we chat with Stacey Leawood, who just a few years ago, made headlines as the world’s youngest NBA player agent. who made a remarkable leap from small-town Newfoundland to managing athletes in the world’s top basketball league. Stacey takes us on her incredible journey of perseverance, self-belief (or...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance . 👟 The third edition of the Saudi Games concluded in October 2024, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts and minds of those who took part. Some 9,000 local and expatriate athletes competed in 52 sporting disciplines, among them Elisa Grassi. The Italian expat, competing in her second Games, took gold in the women’s road cycling e...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance . 👟 ** Originally aired 27 May, 2024 and worth a (re)listen** Hello everyone.  Today’s guest is one of the region’s most prominent sports journalists.  She and I met years ago while I was working in public relations, managing the communications for Yas Marina Circuit for the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance . 👟 In this episode, host Dawn Barnable is joined by Monika Staab, a true pioneer in women’s football, to discuss the incredible journey of developing women’s football in Saudi Arabia. Recorded late last year, Monika reflects on her incredible role as the technical director for the Saudi women’s national football program, a role sh...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟 In this episode, host Dawn Barnable sits down with motorsport athlete Aliyyah Koloc, who has already made racing history, and she’s only just getting started. Born and raised in Dubai, Aliyyah became the youngest-ever competitor in the Dakar Rally at just 18 - but before that, she had already secured two truck racing speed recor...

At just 10 years old, Atiqa Mir is one of the most exciting young names in global motorsport. The first Indian and Asian girl selected to the F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive program, she’s already won at Le Mans and collected over 30 trophies. But her journey hasn’t been easy. In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, Atiqa opens up about overcoming bullying on and off the track, staying focused...

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we take you into the world of BASE jumping with two of the sport’s top athletes, Katie Hansen and Cornelia Mihai. Fresh off their participation in EXIT 139—a historic two-day event where 31 jumpers from 15 countries completed an astonishing 437 jumps from the Burj Khalifa—they share what it means to take that leap, both physically and mentally. Beyond the...

The UAE Tour Women (Feb 6-9) is the Middle East’s first and only Women’s WorldTour race, where the world’s best cyclists battle it out over four intense stages covering 540km across the UAE’s desert landscapes. In this special three-part series, In Episode 3 of our three part BTS series  we celebrate UAE Team ADQ’s incredible victory, with insights from key figures who made it happen: 🚲 Meli...

Welcome to The Mettleset Podcast! This is Episode 2 of our special three-part series taking you behind the scenes at the UAE Tour Women—the Middle East’s first and only Women’s WorldTour race, held from February 6-9, 2025.   I go BTS in Human Powered Health  team’s support car during Stage *, the final stage of the race. Riding alongside Communications Director Oscar Skarsbrook and...

The UAE Tour Women is the Middle East’s first and only Women’s WorldTour event—where the best cyclists in the world battle it out across four days and 540km of intense racing in the UAE’s desert landscapes. In this special three-part series The Mettleset takes you behind the scenes of the race (Feb 6-9). In Episode one of three,  I speak with journalist Emma Cole, who has been covering the ra...

Happy New Year! After a much-needed break, we’re kicking off 2025 with a truly inspiring story. Host Dawn Barnable sits down with Jola Chudy, an ultra-runner and former luxury fashion editor who transformed her life to embrace adventure, resilience, and self-discovery. Jola’s journey—from the glamorous fashion industry to conquering one of the toughest foot races in the world, the Marathon des Sab...

In this episode, we sit down with Martine Grael, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, World Champion, and Pan-American Games champion, who is now making history as the  first female driver in SailGP . Martine is also leading the  Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team , the first-ever South American team to compete in the high-stakes SailGP Championship. We caught up with Martine in the team hangar in...

In this episode, we dive into the triathlon journey of Hana AlNabulsi, a trailblazing triathlete on the UAE National Team. Hana made history as the youngest Emirati woman to ever compete in and complete a 70.3 Ironman race. She’s also the first Emirati woman to qualify for the Asian Games in Triathlon. We caught up with Hana at the T100 World Tour Press Conference in Dubai, just ahead of the Tour’...

Published on Friday, November 8th, this is an episode packed with women’s sports news from the Middle East and beyond as well as an interview with Saudi Arabia’s first pro cyclist, Moroj Adil. Catch Moroj’s first appearance on the podcast:  🎙️ EP. 61 - The Mettleset Podcast with Moroj Adil  This week we discuss: 🏉 Dubai Rugby Sevens : November 30 - December 1. Olympic medalists New Zeal...

Get the latest on women’s sports in the Middle East and beyond! This week we discuss: Egyptian Fencing Controversy - Egyptian Olympian Nada Hafez and her teammates speak out against age-based discrimination from the Egyptian Fencing Federation. More info:  Nada Hafez’s social media post  Egyptian Fencing Federation Response ECWR Statement on Discrimination UAE Women's Jiu-Jitsu Triumph -...

Published on Friday, October 25, this is an episode packed with women’s sports news from the Middle East and beyond. No interview this week, but make sure to catch our last two episodes! 🚲 Episode 70: Interview with two-time Saudi Games Gold Medalist, cyclist Elisa Grassi. 🤿 Episode 71 : Journey with Nada AlRasheed, who just set three national records and an Arab women’s record in freediving. Fo...

In this episode, we dive deep into the incredible journey of Saudi Arabian freediver Nada Al Rasheed. Nada shares her passion for the ocean and her remarkable achievements in the sport of freediving, including her recent participation in the CMAS World Championship for Freediving Depth in Greece. From her childhood experiences in Jeddah to becoming a multiple national record holder and Arab record...

The date is Friday, 18 October 2024 and women’s sports news discussed on the podcast today include:  ⛰️ Two GCC women completed the Explorer’s Grand Slam this week:  🇶🇦 @atalthani 🇵🇹 @mariatrugrit 🏉 Women’s Rugby: Spain took home the WXV3 Championship Title after defeating Fiji at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai last weekend:  https://www.world.rugby/wxv/   https://www.thesevensst...

The date is Friday, 11 October 2024 and women’s sports news discussed on the podcast today include:  🐪 The C1 Championship, the world's first all-women camel racing series: https://adcrc.me/c1-championship/   🎙️ To listen to our chat with founder Linda Krockenberger: https://open.spotify.com/episode/35PULNn8MBmCzveatxLtQW?si=ac5b588068bb4b2a   🏁 Saudi rally driver Yosra Jazzar def...

In this episode I’m joined by Sports Physiotherapist and New Balance Run Club Coach, Melissa Abbey, to break down everything you need to know about running—whether you’re just starting, getting back into it, or aiming for bigger distances. Melissa, who’s currently training for the New York Marathon, shares her expert insights into injury prevention, strength and conditioning, and how to make runni...

Hello,  Welcome to our new format, featuring the news headlines for the week, centering women and women’s stories! We hope you like this new format.  The Mettleset is now two years old so a big thank you to everyone who has supported us, followed and engaged and liked our content, especially the athletes who have entrusted us to share their stories.  More info on the news shared thi...

In Part 2 of this special episode we continue exploring the transformative power of The Alpine Run Project (supported by Nike, JD Sports & Strava) and the incredible journeys it has enabled.  In this episode, we hear firsthand from Eleana Matos and Nimrah Sohail,  two inspiring young women who went from inner-city life to the French Alps as part of this trail running initiative. Thei...