Welcome to Strong Girl Talk, where we dive into the latest in sports science, performance, and well-being—all with a focus on women and girls in sport. This week Sasha and Molly have a conversation about challenging conversations - you know those awkward things you don’t want to talk about but we let fester inside of us!?
Before we dive in, do us a huge favor and make sure you give the podcast 5 stars and click follow:
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1000 days to LA2028! On Saturday, it is 1000 days to the opening ceremonies of LA2028. In honour of this milestone, Strong Girl Publishing is launching 1000 Days to LA—a new project tracking the road to the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Follow along for big dreams, big training days, and even bigger heart. 💫🇺🇸 #1000DaysToLA
Marley Blonskey’s debut children’s book Ragtag Bicycle Friends is now available for preorder! This joyful, beautifully illustrated story celebrates inclusivity, body diversity, and the magic of finding your people on two wheels. Whether you’re new to cycling or a lifelong rider, Ragtag Bicycle Friends reminds us all that there’s no one way to be a cyclist—and that the best rides are the ones we take together.
Why are the hardest conversations often the ones we need most?
Whether with coaches, teammates, friends, or ourselves challenging conversations can feel so uncomfortable… and why leaning into them matters. From sport to everyday life, we unpack the science behind conflict avoidance, the social pressure to stay “nice,” and how silence often protects comfort, not connection. Plus, we share real stories, strategies, and a few stumbles of our own. Whether you’re gearing up for a tough talk or still avoiding it—this one’s for you.
Remember, you can listen to our previous episode on creating psychologically safe spaces so that everyone in the conversation feels seen and heard. Plus, go back to our conversation on Goal Setting, so you can set some objectives for the outcome (think: I want us to get along so we can be the best version of a team together)
Sports Highlights:
Athlos, you showed up and delivered; she lit the city. This is the future of track and field and it is so much fun. Do yourself a favour and Google ‘Athlos Time Square.’ As Molly said these photos look like they were AI generated, but they are IRL and fabulous!
Women’s sports fans are growing and you want them to get your $$! Research by Wasserman’s The Collective surveyed 7,100 women across 10 countries, finding women sports fans make 85% of household purchasing decisions and will control 75% of global discretionary spending by 2030. Despite this economic power, 66% of women sports fans say sports organizations don’t understand or appeal to them, with women having 13% less free time than men requiring different engagement strategies.
And finally, we leave you with this 🎤 drop of a comment from Caster Semenya from the 2025 Play the Game conference when asked about what is one thing she would change in women’s sport: “I would stop men regulating women’s sport.”
Remember you can follow Molly and Sasha on Social Media including:
Molly - @mollyjhurford @stronggirlpublishing
Sasha - @SGollishRuns @Yellow_Running_Shoes
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A few new preorders have dropped on Strong Girl Publishing, don’t miss out!
