From a horrific cycling accident to now racing motorbikes off road across remote deserts and inspiring millions of people to take on challenges, Vanessa Ruck is a trailblazer.

The first guest in our new series, Vanessa is a motorcycle racer and adventurer, rally driver, content creator and motivational speaker, also known as The Girl On A Bike.

Hit by a car while cycling in 2014, Vanessa underwent seven years of recovery with seven surgical procedures, before she discovered motorcycles.

Since, she's taken part in countless iconic races including the gruelling 6,000km 2024 Africa Eco Race across the Sahara, all the while navigating chronic pain.

As well as taking part in races, she visits schools to inspire young girls to take part in different sports and is on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough.

Expect to hear:

• What happened in 2014
• Why she chose to share her journey publicly
• The power of mindfulness
• Getting back on the bike and navigating fear of the road
• Her evolving relationship with risk
• Carving out a future of motherhood, racing and writing a book

Vanessa is incredibly humble, honest and inspiring, full of wisdom and passion. An episode not to miss.

Follow Vanessa Ruck on Instagram

Visit her website

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Check out her ⁠website⁠

Thanks to Tune Tank for the tunes

This week, Emma is joined by trailblazing British snowboarder Katie Ormerod, fresh off her Olympic commentary debut with TNT Sports.

At 15, Katie became the youngest girl to land a double backflip on a snowboard, and at 16, she made history by landing the first-ever female backside double cork 1080, one of the most complex tricks in the sport. She’s claimed World Cup victories, won bronze at the X Games, and made history again in 2020 when she came back from a horrific injury and became the first British snowboarder to take home the FIS Crystal Globe in slopestyle.

In this episode, Katie shares her snowboarding journey, from learning on plastic as a youngster to her greatest achievements so far, what it was like swapping the board for the mic at the Olympics and what her future looks like as a snowboarder, sports commentator and climate change advocate.

Expect to hear:

• What it takes to become a world-class snowboarder
• The details of her nearly career-ending injury
• Her motivation and evolving mindset
• Her thoughts on the impact of climate change on snow sports
• Career reflections so far and what's next

Humble and brilliantly passionate, Katie Ormerod is a powerful voice on and off the board, and this episode will get your heart racing and mind thinking.

More about the visuals? Watch the episode on ⁠YouTube⁠.

Follow Katie Ormerod on Instagram

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✨🎙️ Make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast now to know when the next episode with a wonderfully passionate person drops in a fortnight.

Keep up to date on all things Passion Stories podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠ and sign up to the monthly newsletter ⁠here⁠ for some epic exclusive content.

Follow your host Emma Cole on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠, check out her ⁠website⁠.

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Thanks to Protect our Winters UK for supporting the winter sports series. ⁠Sign the Clean Miles Campaign now ⁠

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Purchase a pair of Shokz headphones here and use the discount code EMMACOLE for £10 off

Thanks to Tune Tank for the tunes

The Passion Stories will be taking a two episode break and return in April.

This week Emma is joined by Dani Aravich, a trailblazing cross-country skier and biathlete representing Team USA.

Born missing her left hand and forearm, Dani has been to both Summer and Winter Games. She made her Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020 in the women’s T47 400m, and just six months later, lined up at the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 in biathlon and cross-country skiing. Next stop is the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.

Dani is an incredibly passionate and talented sportswoman. When she’s not racing Nordic skiing or biathlon, she’s on the trails and using her platform to amplify para sport in mainstream culture and through her media collective, Culxtured.

Expect to hear:

• What biathlon is and how it works
• Dani’s sporting career so far and what she hopes to achieve
• Paralympic classifications explained
• How Dani is changing the narrative on para sport
• Her best bits of advice for chasing big goals (grab a pen and paper, this stuff is gold)

Dani is brimming with passion and infectious energy, and this is an episode not to miss.

Follow Dani Aravich on InstagramFind out more about Culxtured here

Follow the Paralympics on Instagram

More about the visuals? Watch the episode on ⁠YouTube⁠.

-

✨🎙️Make sure you subscribe and follow the podcast now to know when the next episode with a wonderfully passionate person drops in a fortnight.

Keep up to date on all things Passion Stories podcast on ⁠Instagram⁠ and sign up to the monthly newsletter ⁠here⁠ for some epic exclusive content.

Follow your host Emma Cole on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and check out her ⁠website⁠.

-

Thanks to Protect our Winters UK for supporting the podcast. ⁠Sign the Clean Miles Campaign now ⁠

-

Purchase a pair of Shokz headphones here and use the discount code EMMACOLE for £10 off

Thanks to Tune Tank for the tunes