Sarah Williams: Reflecting on the Past 6 Months and Future Plans for 2024 – Insights, Challenges, and Adventures.

In this special reflections episode, I, take you through my journey over the past six months and share my plans for the rest of 2024. Celebrating nine years of the Tough Girl Podcast, I'm recording from my bedroom on the Wirral, UK, offering a personal insight into my life. I'll recount my adventures, starting the year in Wellington, New Zealand, and returning to the UK in March. You'll hear about the highs and lows of walking the Camino via De La Plata, dealing with physical and emotional challenges, and my personal health journey, including gut health improvements and medical support. I'll also discuss the financial challenges of maintaining the podcast, the support from my Patreon community, and my strategies for growth on Instagram and YouTube. With nearly 3.5 million downloads, I'm focused on reaching over 1,000 episodes and continuously improving my craft. Looking ahead, I'll talk about walking the South West Coast Path, participating in the Armchair Adventure Festival, Tremula Festival in Brighton and continuing my health and fitness regimen. As I prepare for new podcast episodes in September, I'll express my gratitude to you, my listeners and supporters. Join me for an honest, inspiring, and motivational episode as I reflect on my journey this year and share my future aspirations. Thank you for being part of the Tough Girl Podcast community and for your unwavering support. ***  Don't miss out on the latest episodes of the Tough Girl Podcast, released every Tuesday at 7am UK time! Be sure to hit the subscribe button to stay updated on the incredible journeys and stories of strong women.    By supporting the Tough Girl Podcast on Patreon, you can make a difference in increasing the representation of female role models in the media, particularly in the world of adventure and physical challenges. Your contribution helps empower and inspire others. Visit www.patreon.com/toughgirlpodcast to be a part of this important movement.  Thank you for your invaluable support! *** Show notes Intro 9 year Anniversary of the Tough Girl Podcast Based on the Wirral, UK Recording from my bedroom Snake Plant benefits Recording from my bed Find out more info about me Quitting my job in 2013 Travelling for 2 years Starting Tough Girl Challenges Taking on challenges from the Marathon des Sables, to hiking the Appalachian Trail in 100 days My mission to increase the amount of female role models in the media especially in relation to adventure and physical challenges Sharing my adventures  Sharing my stories on other podcasts Ask me a question via Instagram Sharing to be more transparent Why I'm not complaining Recording at the end of July Where have the past 6 months gone? Starting the year in Wellington, New Zealand Listen to the New Zealand episodes Back to the UK in March  Camino V New Zealand  YouTube shorts and why it didn't work for me Total stats and tracking my walks (distances, accommodation, costs etc) Getting stung by bag charges The challenges on the Camino Emotional wobble Dealing with negative thoughts Blisters, and feet issues  Nutrition and food and the challenges and consequences Not feeling good Am I tired or just being lazy Starting to note appreciate what I was doing What am I doing? Am I enjoying this? Do I need to take a step back and do something different? Having plans change and cancelled Cotswold Way with Gemma Not being able to make any more decisions  Watch the Cotswold Way Vlogs on Youtube Getting a Drs appointment and having a blood test done Blood test results Going to AIM - Hoylake  Using the rebalance bed for sleep Seeing Doctors, and naturopath All the tests being done. Vitamin I Needing to improve my gut health  July…. Needing to make money Patreon numbers declining  Off to Work  Starting to feel better and having more energy Armchair Adventure Festival  Running an Adventure Planning Workshop Live podcast episodes from the festival coming out in the late September  Walking the South West Coast Path (SWCP) - UK National Trail (630 miles) Making my way to Minehead  Working with ZOLEO #ChallengewithZOLEO  Not having a hard deadline Tremula Festival 20th September, Brighton  Francesca Turauskis - Advocate for Adventure & Epilepsy, walked the Camino de Santiago solo. May 21st 2019.   Catching up with friends September and planning to be home for October, November and December Needing to stop and take a moment.  Trying to do to much  Trying to figure out how I can fit everything in Mobility training with Franco  Strength training Run club?  Editing the vlogs for New Zealand and SWCP Health, fitness, vitality, strength  New Tough Girl Podcasts interviewing happening in September   Podcast numbers  Coming up to 3.5 million downloads  Patreon - regular source of income which helps to fund the running costs of the podcast  Focusing on what I can control  How can I add value? How can I get better? Being able to talk to people  Goal to get over 1000 episodes  Instagram - 13.1k followers Facebook - over 5k Youtube growth….  Editing and the creative process  The next reflections episode to happen at the end of the year  Thank you for listening and for your support    Social Media Website: www.toughgirlchallenges.com Instagram: @toughgirlchallenges Facebook: Sarah Williams