Mind Over Mountain

On this episode we're joined by Olympian heptathlete Louise Hazel for a personal conversation about strength, grief, endurance, and what our bodies are truly capable of. Louise reflects on her journey from a sports-obsessed kid in rural England to competing at the 2012 London Olympics and what led her to opening her own gym, SLAY, in Los Angeles. We talk about loss and grief, navigating miscarriage, and how movement became her way through heartbreak. Our advice this week focuses on body image, women’s health culture, resilience, and why learning what your body can do matters far more than what it looks like.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we talk to trailblazing polo player Shariah Harris to discuss resilience, identity, and the unexpected journey that led her from a chance encounter with horses in Philadelphia to making history as the first Black woman to compete at the highest level of the U.S. Women’s Polo Championship. Shariah reflects on growing up through the Work to Ride program, navigating predominantly white spaces in elite sports, and balancing the demands of being both a professional athlete and an operating room nurse. Together, we explore the lessons horses can teach us about patience, courage, and trust — and what it means to pave the way for the next generation while staying grounded in your love for the sport.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Olympic heptathlete Chari Hawkins opens up about what it really feels like to keep going when everything falls apart. What begins as a reflection on Chari’s career unfolds into something much more vulnerable—her struggles with identity, the quiet devastation of missing the Olympic team, and a moment where she wasn’t sure she wanted to keep going at all. Together, we explore fear, failure, and the small, brave decisions that shape a life. Our Dear Sugar letter this week touches on what it means to start before you feel ready, reminding us that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s learning how to live alongside it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maddy Schaffrick joins Cheryl for a deeply personal conversation about identity, resilience, and rediscovering purpose. Maddy reflects on becoming a professional snowboarder at just 14, the pressure and injuries that led her to retire at 20, and how she rebuilt her life afterward. She discusses what it's like to go from teen prodigy to burning out and how coaching young athletes helped her discover a new mindset rooted in self-belief rather than external validation. Together they explore the importance of finding your “why,” navigating self-doubt, and learning how to fall and get back up, both on and off the mountain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.