The Mettleset Podcast

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟

Ever thought about doing a triathlon but didn’t know where to start? In part one of this two-part series, Melina Timson-Katchis, long distance swimmer, triathlete and coach, shares her journey from signing up for a full Ironman on a whim to racing all over the world. Now, she’s helping others step into the sport she loves.

In this episode, Melina breaks down:

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

Welcome back to The Mettleset Podcast! In Part 2 of our running episode for the Summer Series, we're pushing past the 5K and exploring the incredible world of long-distance and ultra running with Dr. Sara Talia, a family medicine doctor and New Balance Run Club Doha Coach. 

Dr Sara kicks off by sharing why ultra running is as much a mental game as a physical one, highlighting that your biggest competitor is often yourself. She reveals the two biggest mistakes people make when steppi...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

Welcome back to The Mettleset Podcast!

For our Summer Series, we're helping you jump into a new sport, and this week, we're leaping into the world of running. And who better to guide us from zero to 5K than the incredible Dr. Sara Talia.  She's not just a family medicine doctor; she's also a New Balance Run Club Coach in Doha and a former competitive middle-distance runner who even tackled the steeplechase.  

This is Part 1 of our essential running guide.

Sar...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟

We’re back with Saudi record-holding freediver Nada Alrasheed for Part 2 of our Summer Series deep dive exploring not just how to freedive, but why the ocean is worth protecting.

Nada takes us through some of her most unforgettable underwater moments from growing up by the vibrant reefs of the Red Sea to diving in the icy waters of Norway alongside humpback whales. She reflects on what it means to share space with marine life and how these encounters have shaped her passion...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we’re diving into the world of freediving with Saudi record-holder and instructor, Nada Alrasheed as part of our Summer Series focused on helping more women try new sports.

Nada holds multiple national records and an Arab women’s record for reaching 65 meters in the constant weight bifin category at the CMAS World Championship. Her journey didn’t begin with records or rankings, it started with a simple love for the ocean.

In this Part 1...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance 👟

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we kick off our Summer Series - a special “How To” series focused on giving you the tools, info and inspo to get started in a new sport. From running your first 5k to training for a Triathlon, to going deep into the world of freediving, we’re sharing real advice, inspiring journeys, and expert tips to help you get started.

To launch the series, we’re joined by Jess Towl, Head of HYROX at GymNation and...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we’re joined by Stephanie Rogers, Executive Vice President of Marketing for the San Francisco 49ers,  one of the NFL’s most storied and valuable franchises.

Stephanie takes us inside the 49ers’ global brand strategy, sharing how a legacy team balances tradition with forward-thinking innovation, from data-driven marketing to fan engagement that spans millions of people worldwide.

We dive into Stephanie’s impressive career across the PGA Tour, NHL, and now NFL, and how the world...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, host Dawn Barnable heads off-road with two riders helping shape the future of cycling in the UAE.

Emirati gravel cyclist Rawdha Alfalasi has created something quietly radical: Seek.All, a new women-led cycling group dedicated to building confidence, connection, and community -  one trail and one adventure at a time. We join Rawdha and fellow cyclist Sunshine Salgado Fearn at Dubai’s Mushrif Park, fresh off one of Seek.All’s very first group rides.

Toget...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

In this inspiring episode, we chat with Stacey Leawood, who just a few years ago, made headlines as the world’s youngest NBA player agent. who made a remarkable leap from small-town Newfoundland to managing athletes in the world’s top basketball league. Stacey takes us on her incredible journey of perseverance, self-belief (or delusion), and innovation, sharing how she broke into the world of sports management with no prior connections and little formal guidance.

From a childhood dream of playing in the WNBA...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

The third edition of the Saudi Games concluded in October 2024, leaving a lasting legacy in the hearts and minds of those who took part.

Some 9,000 local and expatriate athletes competed in 52 sporting disciplines, among them Elisa Grassi. The Italian expat, competing in her second Games, took gold in the women’s road cycling event.

Grassi, 28, is originally from northern Italy. A biomedical researcher by profession, she discovered a passion for cycling not at home, but after moving to Saudi Arabia in 2019...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

** Originally aired 27 May, 2024 and worth a (re)listen**

Hello everyone. 

Today’s guest is one of the region’s most prominent sports journalists. 

She and I met years ago while I was working in public relations, managing the communications for Yas Marina Circuit for the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Reem was working as a journalist with Sport 360.  

Since that time, Reem’s career has flourished. She is a sports writer, columnist and video journ...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

In this episode, host Dawn Barnable is joined by Monika Staab, a true pioneer in women’s football, to discuss the incredible journey of developing women’s football in Saudi Arabia. Recorded late last year, Monika reflects on her incredible role as the technical director for the Saudi women’s national football program, a role she has since stepped down from but whose impact continues to shape the sport in the Kingdom.

Since the establishment of the Saudi Women’s Premier League (SWPL) in 2022...

Today’s episode is brought to you with the support of New Balance. 👟

In this episode, host Dawn Barnable sits down with motorsport athlete Aliyyah Koloc, who has already made racing history, and she’s only just getting started.

Born and raised in Dubai, Aliyyah became the youngest-ever competitor in the Dakar Rally at just 18 - but before that, she had already secured two truck racing speed records. Since then, she’s added a GT4 endurance championship title to her name, continuing to make her mark on motorsport. 

They talk about:

At just 10 years old, Atiqa Mir is one of the most exciting young names in global motorsport. The first Indian and Asian girl selected to the F1 Academy’s Discover Your Drive program, she’s already won at Le Mans and collected over 30 trophies. But her journey hasn’t been easy.

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, Atiqa opens up about overcoming bullying on and off the track, staying focused in a male-dominated sport, and how she’s training — physically and mentally — to reach Formula 1. Her father, former national karting champion Asif Mir, joins to share the behind-t...

In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we take you into the world of BASE jumping with two of the sport’s top athletes, Katie Hansen and Cornelia Mihai. Fresh off their participation in EXIT 139—a historic two-day event where 31 jumpers from 15 countries completed an astonishing 437 jumps from the Burj Khalifa—they share what it means to take that leap, both physically and mentally.

Beyond the spectacle, BASE jumping isn’t just about adrenaline—it’s about trust, presence, and embracing life at full intensity. In a short but sweet episode, Katie and Cornelia reflect on their experiences...

The UAE Tour Women (Feb 6-9) is the Middle East’s first and only Women’s WorldTour race, where the world’s best cyclists battle it out over four intense stages covering 540km across the UAE’s desert landscapes. In this special three-part series,

In Episode 3 of our three part BTS series  we celebrate UAE Team ADQ’s incredible victory, with insights from key figures who made it happen:

Welcome to The Mettleset Podcast! This is Episode 2 of our special three-part series taking you behind the scenes at the UAE Tour Women—the Middle East’s first and only Women’s WorldTour race, held from February 6-9, 2025.  

I go BTS in Human Powered Health  team’s support car during Stage *, the final stage of the race. Riding alongside Communications Director Oscar Skarsbrook and Soigneur Jose Leite—also known as a swanny,the ultimate Swiss Army knife of a cycling team—I get an exclusive look at the inner workings of a pro cycling team on race day.  

In...

The UAE Tour Women is the Middle East’s first and only Women’s WorldTour event—where the best cyclists in the world battle it out across four days and 540km of intense racing in the UAE’s desert landscapes. In this special three-part series The Mettleset takes you behind the scenes of the race (Feb 6-9).

In Episode one of three,  I speak with journalist Emma Cole, who has been covering the race for Cycling News. Recorded just ahead of the final stage, we discuss Emma’s impressions of the event, the growth of women’s cycling, and...

Happy New Year! After a much-needed break, we’re kicking off 2025 with a truly inspiring story. Host Dawn Barnable sits down with Jola Chudy, an ultra-runner and former luxury fashion editor who transformed her life to embrace adventure, resilience, and self-discovery. Jola’s journey—from the glamorous fashion industry to conquering one of the toughest foot races in the world, the Marathon des Sables—reminds us all that it’s never too late to pivot, dream big, and chase extraordinary goals.

In this episode, Jola shares:

👠 ➡️ 👟 How she transitioned from the high-paced fashion world to the rugged trails of...

In this episode, we sit down with Martine Grael, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, World Champion, and Pan-American Games champion, who is now making history as the first female driver in SailGP. Martine is also leading the Mubadala Brazil SailGP Team, the first-ever South American team to compete in the high-stakes SailGP Championship.

We caught up with Martine in the team hangar in Dubai, just days before the season opener. During our conversation, Martine takes us on an inspiring journey:

In this episode, we dive into the triathlon journey of Hana AlNabulsi, a trailblazing triathlete on the UAE National Team. Hana made history as the youngest Emirati woman to ever compete in and complete a 70.3 Ironman race. She’s also the first Emirati woman to qualify for the Asian Games in Triathlon.

We caught up with Hana at the T100 World Tour Press Conference in Dubai, just ahead of the Tour’s grand finale (16-17 Nov) During our conversation, Hana shares how a simple dare sparked her entry into the world of triathlon during the pandemic. She take...

Published on Friday, November 8th, this is an episode packed with women’s sports news from the Middle East and beyond as well as an interview with Saudi Arabia’s first pro cyclist, Moroj Adil. Catch Moroj’s first appearance on the podcast: 

🎙️ EP. 61 - The Mettleset Podcast with Moroj Adil 

This week we discuss:

🏉 Dubai Rugby Sevens: November 30 - December 1. Olympic medalists New Zealand, Canada, and Australia in action. Tickets & info

🎾 Ons Jabeur in Riyadh: Guest of honor at the WTA Finals, hosting tennis clinics and inspiring future stars. Full interview: Arab New...

Get the latest on women’s sports in the Middle East and beyond! This week we discuss:

Egyptian Fencing Controversy - Egyptian Olympian Nada Hafez and her teammates speak out against age-based discrimination from the Egyptian Fencing Federation. More info: 

UAE Women's Jiu-Jitsu Triumph - UAE’s female Jiu-Jitsu athletes shine at the World Championships, securing podium spots.

Tennis - Ons Jabeur Returns! -The "Minister of Happiness" is back for the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open. Related Links: Get Tickets

WTA...

Published on Friday, October 25, this is an episode packed with women’s sports news from the Middle East and beyond. No interview this week, but make sure to catch our last two episodes!

🚲 Episode 70: Interview with two-time Saudi Games Gold Medalist, cyclist Elisa Grassi.

🤿 Episode 71: Journey with Nada AlRasheed, who just set three national records and an Arab women’s record in freediving.

Follow us on social @themettleset for more women’s sports updates, and check the show notes for links to everything discussed on today’s show. Now, onto the news!

F1 Academy...

In this episode, we dive deep into the incredible journey of Saudi Arabian freediver Nada Al Rasheed. Nada shares her passion for the ocean and her remarkable achievements in the sport of freediving, including her recent participation in the CMAS World Championship for Freediving Depth in Greece.

From her childhood experiences in Jeddah to becoming a multiple national record holder and Arab record holder, Nada discusses the various disciplines of freediving, the mental preparation required, and the personal growth she has experienced along the way. This episode is not just about athletic accomplishments; it’s about finding on...

The date is Friday, 18 October 2024 and women’s sports news discussed on the podcast today include: 

⛰️ Two GCC women completed the Explorer’s Grand Slam this week: 

🏉 Women’s Rugby: Spain took home the WXV3 Championship Title after defeating Fiji at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai last weekend:  https://www.world.rugby/wxv/  https://www.thesevensstadium.com 

🏁 The NEOM McLaren Formula E Team this week confirmed that Bianca Bustamante and Ella Lloyd  will drive for the team in the upcoming Women’s Test: https://www.mclaren.com/racing/formula-e/2024/bianca-bustamante-and-ella-lloyd-for-the-2024-25-formula-e-womens-test/ 

🥋...

The date is Friday, 11 October 2024 and women’s sports news discussed on the podcast today include: 

🐪 The C1 Championship, the world's first all-women camel racing series: https://adcrc.me/c1-championship/ 

🏁 Saudi rally driver Yosra Jazzar defends her Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge - T4 category title this weekend. More info via Arab News: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2573681/sport 

⚽ Finaa, a...

The date is Friday, 11 October 2024 and women’s sports news discussed on the podcast today include: 

🐪 The C1 Championship, the world's first all-women camel racing series: https://adcrc.me/c1-championship/ 

🏁 Saudi rally driver Yosra Jazzar defends her Abu Dhabi Baja Challenge - T4 category title this weekend. More info via Arab News: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2573681/sport 

⚽ Finaa, a...

In this episode I’m joined by Sports Physiotherapist and New Balance Run Club Coach, Melissa Abbey, to break down everything you need to know about running—whether you’re just starting, getting back into it, or aiming for bigger distances. Melissa, who’s currently training for the New York Marathon, shares her expert insights into injury prevention, strength and conditioning, and how to make running enjoyable at any level.

You’ll also hear about Melissa’s journey as a triathlete, her experience as a sports physiotherapist, and the exciting rollout of the New Balance Run Club across the r...

Hello, 

Welcome to our new format, featuring the news headlines for the week, centering women and women’s stories! We hope you like this new format. 

The Mettleset is now two years old so a big thank you to everyone who has supported us, followed and engaged and liked our content, especially the athletes who have entrusted us to share their stories. 

More info on the news shared this week: 

In Part 2 of this special episode we continue exploring the transformative power of The Alpine Run Project (supported by Nike, JD Sports & Strava) and the incredible journeys it has enabled. 

In this episode, we hear firsthand from Eleana Matos and Nimrah Sohail,  two inspiring young women who went from inner-city life to the French Alps as part of this trail running initiative. Their stories offer a deep look into how sport and nature have helped them discover their potential, redefine their futures, and build a sense of belonging and purpose.

We’re also joined by Darr...

In this special two-part episode, we’re diving deep into the incredible story of The Alpine Run Project—a transformative trail running initiative designed to empower young people from inner cities in the UK through nature, community, and sport.

In this, Part 1 of 2, we chat with John McAvoy the founder of The Alpine Run Project and a Nike-sponsored athlete. John’s own journey from a notorious armed robber to an endurance athlete is nothing short of remarkable. Having broken eight British and three World indoor rowing records while serving a double life sentence, John has transformed his life t...

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Noemi Romero, Spain’s champion trampoline gymnast and first-time Olympian who recently competed at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. 

Noemi’s story is a remarkable journey of resilience, hard work, and triumph.

From discovering her passion for trampoline gymnastics at just six years old to making history as one of the first Spanish trampoline gymnasts to qualify for the Olympics since the sport’s debut in 2000, Noemi shares her inspiring path. 

In our conversation, she opens up about the highs and lows of her nonlinear Olympic journey, the chal...

Hello Everyone,

Today's topic is a sport that some of you may or may not be familiar with: Pickleball.  And my guest is none other than one of the world’s top players, Megan Fudge. 

With roots in Europe, the American has had a meteoric rise in the sport, since she started it four years ago going from insurance advisor to now being ranked #1 in the world. 

I caught up with Megan in Dubai just prior to the Olympics at the launch of the Pickleball World Rankings (PWR), the PWR World Series and the P...

Today’s guest is the youngest athlete I’ve had on the podcast. At just 8 years-old Zarah Ann Gladys was also the youngest competitor at the World Skateboarding Tour 2024 from Arada, which took place earlier this year in Dubai.  

The event, which covered  both park and street skateboarding disciplines, saw skateboarders from all over the world compete to improve their Olympic World Skate Ranking ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.  It was here that I caught up with Zarah - who is India’s highest ranked female skateboarder in the park discipline of the sport, as well as her mom An...

Hello everyone. 

Today’s guest is one of the region’s most prominent sports journalists. 

She and I met years ago while I was working in public relations, managing the communications for Yas Marina Circuit for the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and Reem was working as a journalist with Sport 360.  

Since that time, Reem’s career has flourished. She is a sports writer, columnist and video journalist for UAE's The National and Saudi Arabia’s Arab News, a tennis contributor to CNN and Eurosport, a contributor to wire agency AFP, as well...

The Mettleset is back, We have an amazing array of guests lined up, and kicking off this new era is a guest who is simply remarkable. 

Moroj Adil is Saudi Arabia’s first pro cyclist and you’d be forgiven for not knowing her name yet as she only started cycling two years ago. Yes, that is right, from not knowing how to ride a bike, to being on the Liv Alula Jayco Continental team, her story is one that needs to be heard and what’s most exciting is that it's just getting started. 

In this...

This is the fourth episode in a series to commemorate International Women’s Day because for us, every day is International Women’s Day, as we work to help create a more welcoming, equitable and just sports industry for all athletes.  

We’ve taken some of the best moments from the 50+ episodes that we’ve recorded to share with you tales of joy, mettle, courage  and wisdom from an amazing array of women in sport from across the region. 

If you haven’t checked out the first and second in the series, Episode 57, 58 and 59, please go do that HER...

This is the third episode in a series to commemorate International Women’s Day because for us, every day is International Women’s Day, as we work to help create a more welcoming, equitable and just sports industry for all athletes.  

We’ve taken some of the best moments from the 50+ episodes that we’ve recorded to share with you tales of joy, mettle, courage  and wisdom from an amazing array of women in sport from across the region. 

If you haven’t checked out the first and second in the series, Episode 57 & 58, please go do that HERE a...

This is the second episode in the Women of Wisdom, a series to commemorate International Women’s Day. For us, every day is International Women’s Day, as we work to help create a more welcoming, equitable and just sports industry for all athletes.  

We’ve taken some of the best moments from the 50+ episodes that we’ve recorded to share with you tales of joy, mettle, courage  and wisdom from an amazing array of women in sport from across the region. 

If you haven’t checked out the first in the series, Episode 57, please go do that HER...