The Toughest Finish Line

Nikki Bartlett - The Race She Never Planned For

This week on The Toughest Finish Line, I'm joined by professional triathlete Nikki Bartlett for an honest and inspiring conversation about a career that was never part of the plan. From learning to swim later in life to becoming one of the UK's top professional triathletes, Nikki shares the twists, turns and setbacks that shaped her journey. We dive into the challenges she's faced along the way, the mindset that's helped her keep moving forward, and why success in triathlon is often about much more than physical fitness. We also uncover the surprising story of how a pair of marigolds became part of her training, discuss practical tips for athletes of all levels, and explore how to stay motivated when things don't go to plan. Whether you're training for your first event, chasing a personal best, or simply looking for inspiration to keep going through life's challenges, this episode is packed with lessons on resilience, perseverance and finding your own path.

From Hospital Beds to Helping Athletes Thrive | Lara Giusti

This week on The Toughest Finish Line, we’re joined by Lara Giusti to talk about how one life-changing experience led to the creation of a nutrition brand now helping endurance athletes around the world. Lara shares the story of how her husband’s health suddenly changed after being admitted to hospital and undergoing major surgery. Following this, he struggled to tolerate food in the same way, something that had a huge impact on his cycling and ability to fuel properly during endurance sport. Frustrated by the lack of natural, stomach-friendly options available, Lara decided to create her own solution. What started from a deeply personal challenge has since grown into a mission to help others fuel better, perform stronger, and achieve their own toughest finish lines. In this episode, we talk about resilience, entrepreneurship, balancing family life with building a business, and why nutrition can completely change both performance and confidence in sport. A brilliant conversation for anyone interested in endurance sport, business, and turning adversity into purpose.

From England Rugby to Fighting for Something Bigger | Andy Long

This week on The Toughest Finish Line, we’re joined by Andy Long for a powerful conversation about identity, resilience, and finding purpose beyond elite sport. Andy opens up about life as a professional rugby player, earning England honours, and the difficult reality of being forced to step away from the game he loved. From the highs of elite sport to the challenges of transitioning into the corporate world, he shares the mental battle of redefining who you are when your career changes overnight. But everything shifted after meeting Alex, who was living with Motor Neurone Disease. That relationship completely changed Andy’s perspective on challenge, resilience, and what really matters. Since then, Andy has taken on incredible endurance events to raise awareness and support for the MND community, including the brutal Marathon des Sables. This episode is about far more than sport, it’s about perspective, purpose, and discovering strength through life’s toughest finish lines.

Toxic workplaces and anxiety but finding resilience with Dan Tresman

In this episode of The Toughest Finish Line Podcast, Dan shares how a toxic work environment left him battling anxiety, self-doubt, and a loss of confidence that affected every part of his life. Through endurance sport, he slowly rebuilt his resilience, mindset, and belief in himself, lessons that would help him become a successful CEO of a school supporting children with special educational needs. We talk about what happens when work nearly breaks you, the parallels between endurance events and life’s hardest moments, and how pushing through discomfort can help you rediscover who you are. A powerful conversation about resilience, recovery, leadership, and finding strength through your toughest finish lines.

Chloe McNiven - From the Darkest Days to the Strongest Finish Line

What happens when you achieve everything you thought you wanted… but still feel like you’re fighting on the inside? In this powerful episode, we hear the story of a woman who survived childhood abuse and neglect, and went on to chase her dream of becoming a professional dance, performing on some of the biggest stages in the world. From the outside, it looked like she’d made it. But behind the scenes, the battle with an eating disorder and unresolved trauma was still very real. Now, she’s rewriting her story in a completely different way. From the stage to the start line, she’s taken on a new challenge, pushing through a 50km ultra marathon while pushing her son in a buggy, setting a world record in the process. But this isn’t just about endurance. It’s about healing, purpose, and using her voice to support others who may be facing similar struggles. This is a conversation about resilience, identity, and what it really means to rebuild yourself—one step at a time. If you’ve ever felt like your past is still holding you back, this episode will remind you: your story isn’t over yet.