Sparta Chicks Radio: Mindset | Confidence | Sport | Women
Episodes
#80: Pip Candrick on Why You Should ‘Max Your Life Out’
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hearing Pip Candrick share her love of trail running, it’s hard to believe she only took up the sport in her late 40s after being diagnosed with bra...
#79: Elly McLean on Plant-Based Nutrition, LCHF & Marathon Running
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elly is a marathon runner and nutritionist who (at the time of recording this conversation in 2018) worked with Steph Lowe (episode 69) at The Natural...
#78: Kate Ross on Self-Doubt, Motherhood & Riding like A Girl
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An age group mountain biker and mum of 3 in her 40s, Kate was scrolling through Instagram while breastfeeding her youngest daughter in 2017 when she ...
#77: Grant Giles on Psychology for the Awakened Athlete
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Grant Giles is obsessed with understanding what happens between an athlete’s ears.Grant has 25+ years of experience in triathlons, starting with a 1...
#76: Ellie Greenwood on Ultra Running, Injuries & Course Records
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ellie Greenwood is ultra running royalty. I also got the impression from our chat that she’s incredibly humble and I suspect that description may no...
#75: Tracey Croke on Mountain Biking, Travel and Timmy the Tumour
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you follow Tracey on social media, you would have seen stunning photos from her work assignments in Far North Queensland, Jordan, Finland, Sweden, ...
#74: Hayley Talbot on the Greatest Lesson You'll Ever Learn
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Back in episode #17, Hayley shared her story and experience of becoming the first person - male or female - to kayak the length of the Clarence Riv...
#73: Heather Hawkins on Cancer, Running & Her Adventurous Spirit
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Back in 2007, Heather Hawkins was, by her own admission, a desperately unfit and busy mum of 2.Then one day she visited her doctor after noticing some...
#72: Lisa Bentley: Why Attitude is More Important Than Fact
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Attitude is more important than fact” might seem like one of those weary and overused motivational slogans.But Lisa Bentley lives it every day.A ...
#71: Steph Jeavons on Fear, Confidence & Asking for Help
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In April 2018, Steph became the first British woman to circumnavigate the world and ride a motorbike (affectionately called Rhonda the Honda) on all 7...
#70: Ali Hill on Failure, Feeling Like a Fraud & Living a Stand Out Life
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Australia’s coolest psychologist, Ali Hill is a CEO, sought-after speaker, author, podcaster, mum of 2 and runner.Perhaps it’s no wonder that afte...
#69: Steph Lowe on Nutrition, Performance & Hormones
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Steph Lowe is a triathlete, Sports Nutritionist and the Founder of the Natural Nutritionist, a business based in Melbourne, Australia dedicated to tea...
#68: Jacqui Holth on Living With an Adventurous Spirit
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jacqui Holth is the co-founder of the Adventurous Life Project - a community with a commitment to harness the power of play and the psychology of adve...
#67: Ky Furneaux on Fear, Regret & Life as a Stuntwoman
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Who better to ask about fear and self-doubt than one of the best stuntwomen in the world, Ky Furneaux?Ky was raised in a small country town in South A...
#66: Jill Wheatley on Losing Sight yet Gaining Vision
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Born in Canada, Jill was working as a Physical Education teacher in Bavaria in September 2014 when she was hit in the head with a ball in a freak acci...
#65: Alise Selsmark on Regret, Success & the Cupcake Cartel
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alise Selsmark is a professional triathlete based in Noosa here in Australia.Although Alise had a background as a competitive swimmer as a child, she ...
#64: Jen Brown on Balancing Big Dreams and Self-Doubt
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The tables - or microphone - is turned this week onto the host of Sparta Chicks Radio and the founder of Sparta Chicks, Jen Brown. Interviewed by Ric...
#63: Michelle Hocking: From Heart Failure to Trail & Ultra-Marathon Runner
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Back in 2013, Michelle Hocking was 41 and “overweight and overwhelmed with depression, anxiety and panic attacks”.Then one Saturday afternoon in J...
#62: Jamie Moreno on Depression, Role Models & Motor Racing
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jamie Moreno is on a mission to empower girls and women to get involved in motorsports and to follow their dreams regardless of age, race or gender.A ...
#61: Nicole Bunyon on Fear, Self-Talk & Running Mums Australia
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nicole Bunyon is a trail runner, mum of 3 and founder of Running Mums Australia (RMA).RMA is an Australia-wide network and community for mums who love...
#60: Rebecca Stone: On Chronic Pain, Mountain Biking & Motherhood
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rebecca Stone is a busy woman. She’s a midwife, a mum, and someone who loves racing her mountain bike for 24 hours - all while living with fibromyal...
#059: Katee Pedicini on Structuring Your Training For Hormonal Health
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katee Pedicini is a triathlon coach based in Melbourne, Australia and has a degree in Exercise Science who specialises in managing fatigue, stress and...
#58: Sarah Matthews on Pride, Resilience & Getting Back on the Bike
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah is an accomplished rower, rock climber, multi-day cyclist and triathlete. She’s completed the Race Across America twice, including as part of ...
#57: Jo Sorrenson on Life as a Triathlete & Mum with PTSD
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jo Sorrenson is an age group triathlete, busy mum of 3 and lives with PTSD after a career in the police force.In this interview, we dive deep into Jo’...
#56: Caroline Pemberton: From Miss Australia to Miss Adventure
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Caroline Pemberton was crowned Miss Australia in 2007 at the age of 21.You might assume she grew up dancing, modelling and competing in pageants, only...
#55: Sam Lane: From Indifference to Passionate Sports Journalist
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Lane is an award-winning journalist who specialises in covering the Australian Football League (AFL) and cycling. She has also covered 2 Olympic ...
#54: Lucy Barnard on Walking the Length of the World
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy Barnard set off in February 2017 to walk the length of the world.From Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego in Argentina all the way to Barrow, Alaska; a ...
#53: Pamela Jabbour on Celebrating Your Success
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Pamela Jabbour is an amazing woman.She founded Total Image Group at the age of just 21 with no previous business experience.In fact, Pam’s story of ...
#52: Heather Swan on Deconstructing Fear & Self-Doubt
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Heather Swan was a very normal, everyday woman with no experience in adventure or even camping until her 30s.A single mum with a distinguished corpora...
#51: Leah Gilbert on Unleashing Your Athletic Potential
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
These days, a Fitness and Sports Counsellor and Body Positivity Advocate, Leah Gilbert's relationship with food and her body wasn't always so,...
#50: 10 Most Popular Episodes from the 1st Year of Sparta Chicks Radio
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded in 2018, this episode marked not only the 50th episode, but the first birthday of the podcast! So I thought this would be the perfect chance ...
#049: Caro Ryan on Life as an Unexpected Outdoors Chick
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Caro Ryan describes herself as the “unexpected outdoors chick”.As a child, she wasn’t physically active. But after a 3 day experiential leadersh...
#048: Brad Stulberg on Stress, Rest & How to Perform at Your Best
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Brad Stulberg is fascinated with the science of human performance.In 2017 Brad co-authored, with Steve Magness, a fantastic book I devoured on a fligh...
#047: Terra Roam on Recovery, Resilience & Walking Around Australia
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Terra Roam will, in 2018, also become the 1st woman to walk around Australia, solo and without the assistance of a support vehicle.For much of her wal...
#046: Hayley Nixon on Olympic Disappointment to World Championship Redemption
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hayley Nixon could swim before she could walk. She then discovered, and fell in love with, rowing at University and was on track to make the team to r...
#045: Lucy Bartholomew on Running, Criticism & Daring to Dream
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lucy Bartholomew was just 16 when she completed her first 100km race, after only taking up the sport the year before. By 18, she was the Sky Running J...
#044: Bel Fong on Passion, Triathion and Realising Your Potential
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
I don’t know anyone more passionate about the sport of triathlon — and getting more women into the sport — than this week’s guest, Bel Fong.An...
#043: Paul de Gelder on Confronting Your Fears
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A Clearance Diver in the Australian Navy, in 2009 Paul was working in Sydney Harbour when he was attacked by a bull shark (the first attack inside the...
#042: Tara Mohr on the Inner Critic and Playing Big
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all experience the voice of the Inner Critic.This week on Sparta Chicks Radio, Tara Mohr, a women's leadership and wellbeing expert, will help ...
#041: Sara Gross on the Fear, Language & the Power of Women’s Stories
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From growing up in Canada then spending her teenage years in the Middle East, completing a PhD in women’s history through to a successful career as ...
#040: Richelle Olsen on Comparison, Body Image & Cycling to Mexico
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Richelle Olsen is a force of nature.A 30-something plus-sized Aussie, Richelle is on a mission to introduce more plus-sized women to the outdoors and ...
#039: Abby Ehler on Ocean Racing, Fear & Motherhood
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Abby Ehler is a professional sailor and, at the time this episode goes live, currently on a yacht racing down the west coast of Africa during the seco...
#038: Jo Bailey on Comparison, Resilience & Running
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jo Bailey is just like you and I. An age-group athlete and busy mum who only discovered running in her mid-30s.At the time this interview was recorded...
#037: Stacey Copeland on the Power of Role Models, Language and Women’s Boxing
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stacey Copeland has represented England at the highest levels in both football and boxing. These day, Stacey is a professional boxer, having gained he...
#036: Carin McCoy on Running, Body Image and Trolls
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Carin and her sons have a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). A rare condition related to the connective tissue in the body that re...
#035: Rhiannan Iffland on Fear, Mindfulness & Cliff Diving
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
f there is one person to ask about fear and doubt, it’s Rhiannan Iffland.In 2016, in her rookie season and with a wildcard entry, she walked away wi...
#034: Sarah Davis on Risk & Paddling the Nile
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In January 2018, Sarah will set out on her journey to paddle the length of the Nile, from its source in Rwanda, all the way to Alexandria on the Medit...
#033: Jessica Douglas on the Power of 1%
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jessica Douglas isn’t your typical elite athlete.She wasn’t a sporty kid. She was diagnosed Hodgkins Lymphoma when she was 14, had her daughter at...
#032: Karley Cunningham on Female Hesitation & Whether Your Stories Work For You
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Karley Cunningham has a diverse background and a unique perspective on the world. At 8, she was being groomed to be one of the top pairs figure skater...
#031: Amanda Batty on Finding Self-Worth Through Cycling
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amanda Batty is a professional downhill mountain biker race based in the US.She is also an outspoken advocate for women in sport and a vocal critic of...
#030: Natalia Cohen on Embracing the Unknown & Losing Sight of Shore
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Natalia Cohen is a member of the Coxless Crew, the first fours boat (and all-female team) to row, unsupported, across the Pacific Ocean (the largest o...
#029: Lisa Tamati on Self-Doubt and Pushing Your Limits
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lisa Tamati is one of the world’s most experienced ultra marathon runners, especially when it comes to racing in hot conditions. She’s competed in...
#028: Chloe Chick on Raising Brave Daughters with Sisu
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chloe Chick is the Founder of Sisu Girls, an organisation I love and support that is dedicated to the empowerment of girls through sport and outdoor a...
#027 Kirrily Dear on the Run Against Violence
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Our first return guest, Kirrily Dear, is about to set out on a mammoth challenge - The Run Against Violence in 2017 will take Kirrily 1,300km / 807 mi...
#026: Nadine Champion on Fear, Regret & Using 10 Seconds of Courage
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nadine Champion is a Thai Boxing and Kickboxing Champion, an author, speaker and cancer survivor. In her new book called “10 Seconds of Courage” a...
#025: Michelle Lee on Learning Acceptance over Resistance (also, to Row the Atlantic)
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michelle Lee is a quintessential ordinary Australian woman who has set out to do something extraordinary. In December 2017, she’ll attempt the Talis...
#024: Margie Warrell on Finding Your Courage
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Margie Warrell is a best-selling author, keynote speaker and Women’s Leadership Advocate whose clients include NASA, the United Nations Foundation, ...
#023: Michael Milton on Fighting Your Natural Instinct
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michael Milton knows all about fear, self-doubt, bravery and courage. After losing his leg to bone cancer at the age of 8, he has gone onto become one...
#022: The Veloroos on Setting Goals So Big They Scare You
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Julie-Anne Hazlett and Sarah Anne Evans are two members of the Veloroos, an Australian non-professional cycling team. The team broke the course record...
#021: Katee Pedicini on Hormones, Happiness and Health
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Katee Pedicini is a coach with a degree in Exercise Science who specialises in managing fatigue, stress and hormones to achieve optimum performance. S...
#020: Ness Hartge on Overcoming Her Imposter
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ness Hartge is just like you and I. An age group athlete, a busy mum, small business owner and runner. She’s also someone who struggled to call hers...
#019: Dr Simon Marshall & Lesley Paterson: Brave Athlete, Calm the F*ck Down
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In Memoriam: Dr Simon Marshall In 2017, I was lucky enough to record this conversation with the dynamic duo of Dr Simon Marshall and Lesley Paterson.S...
#018: Melissa Browne on the Rocky Road from Resilience to Wellness
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Browne’s website describes her as an introverted, socially awkward, shoe-loving accountant. All of those things might or are true. But there...
#017: Hayley Talbot on Motherhood, Fear & Kayaking the Clarence
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hayley Talbot is the first person to kayak the length of the Clarence River in Australia - all 400km / 248 miles - which she also did solo, unassisted...
#016: Alyssa Azar on Self-Doubt, Criticism and Mt Everest
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alyssa Azar is the youngest Australian to climb Mt Everest which she did at the age of 19.But her journey hasn’t been easy; she only summited Everes...
#014: Melissa Urie on Using Your Mind to Achieve the "Impossible"
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Melissa Urie is only the second woman (and first Australian woman) to complete the Epic 5, an (appropriately named) event consisting of 5 Ironman dist...
#015: Hanny Allston on the Power of Play and the Meaning of Success
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Hanny Allston is an insightful, soulful woman with a passion for running, the outdoors and sharing that passion with as many people as possible.Back i...
#013: Stef Hanson on the Importance of Listening to Your Body
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stef Hanson is a triathlete and the Founder of Witsup (Women in Triathlon) - an online and real life community for women in triathlon. Established in ...
#012: Beth White on How the Reward Always Outweighs the Fear
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Beth White is a mother of 3, remedial massage therapist and the 2016 ITU Paratriathlon World Champion in the PT1 category.Beth began losing her sight ...
#011: Laura Siddall on How Your Assumptions Can Sabotage You
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Laura Siddall is a professional triathlete with a difference. With her gap year spent as an Officer in the British Army and a degree in Mechanical Eng...
#010: Kirrily Dear on Achieving What Seems "Impossible"
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kirrily Dear is an ultra-marathon runner, a lover of trail running and the co-founder of the Run Against Violence; a volunteer association established...
#009: Natalie Cook on the Search for Mental Toughness and Emotional Stability
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Natalie Cook is a 5-time Olympic and winner of two Olympic medals in Beach Volleyball; Bronze in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and Gold in the 2000 Sydney...
#008: Masha Gordon on Failing PE at School to the Summit of Everest (and beyond)
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Masha Gordon failed PE at school and admits that she “opted out” of sport from her pre-teen years until her mid-30s when she discovered hiking. Ju...
#007: Tanya Geisler on the Imposter Complex and the Lies and Stories We Tell Ourselves
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tanya Geisler is a Leadership Coach based in Canada who specialises in the Imposter Complex.You may not have heard of it before but I can assure you t...
#006: Shirin Gerami on the Privilege of Sport and Breaking Down Barriers
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Born and raised in Tehran, Shirin Gerami only became involved in sport when she settled in the UK at the age of 15.After discovering triathlons in Uni...
#005: Janine Shepherd on Being Defiant and Overcoming the Odds
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Back in the 1980s, Janine Shepherd was an elite cross-country skier and member of the Australian ski team training for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic...
#004: Di Westaway on the Secret to Living an Adventurous Life
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Di Westaway is an Adventure Coach, the founder of women’s adventure training company Wild Women on Top and a team trekking event called Coastrek. Sh...
#003: Kate Bevilaqua on Achieving More Than You Can Possibly Imagine
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Bevilaqua is a professional triathlete, the 2016 Ultraman World Champion and the first woman in history to win an Ultraman title overall.From her...
#002: Lydia Lassila on Controlling Your Fear So You Can Fly
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Aerial skier and Olympic Champion Lydia Lassila knows a thing or two about how to manage and control fear.The Gold Medalist from the Winter Olympic Ga...
#001: Siri Lindley on the Power of Self-Belief and Dancing With Your Fears - Sparta Chicks Radio
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you use your fear and self-doubt to get the best out of your yourself? That's the question we explore in our interview with Siri Lindley who wa...
#00: Welcome to Sparta Chicks Radio
16 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A new weekly podcast that will share inspiring stories coupled with practical, tried-and-tested-in-the-real-world advice from professional athletes, e...