The Mettleset Podcast

Today’s guest is playing a big role in the development of cycling in the UAE, particularly for women.  Melissa Moncada is the Head of Team  at UAE Team ADQ - that’s the UAE’s Women’s WorldTour Cyclin…

What does it feel like to row across the Atlantic Ocean? 

What motivates you to do something like that? 

Toby Gregory, the Founder and Director of the Arabian Ocean Rowing team,  is here to tell us exa…

Hello Dawn here, 

So here it is, my Race Around Rwanda race report - part 2.

If you follow the podcast, it comes as no surprise that it is a DNF story. For background, the Race Around Rwanda is a self…

Hello Dawn here, 

So here it is, my Race Around Rwanda race report. If you follow the podcast, it comes as no surprise that it is a DNF story.  I did not finish the race. I peddled - and walked - some…

Hey guys, Afshan here!

The Mettleset is doing its first running race as a team…and it’s all for a good cause. 

Dawn and I have signed up for the amazing annual Wings for Life World Run, which supports …

Hello, it is us again 

Ever wondered what three things your favourite athlete would take with them on a deserted island? Or what their favourite food is? Or perhaps the worst advice they’ve ever recei…

Today’s guest is Safiya Al Sayegh, and if you don’t know that name yet - where have you been hiding? Remember it because this Emirati cyclist is the heroine we need! 

Safiya is the first Emirati and f…

Hello Dawn here, 

Today we have a special bonus episode that’s a little different to our usual athlete interviews as we touch upon the business of sport and sport leadership here in the United Arab Em…

Emirati CrossFitter Shahad Budebs doesn’t shy away from telling women - “Let’s get bulky”.  Because getting swole is exactly what will get you to the top of the sport. The four-time Fittest in the UA…

Ultra running and adventure sports athlete Ivana Kolaric is back with us for this episode where she talks about her most recent and very exciting multi-day, non-stop adventure in New Zealand - Godzon…

Hi Dawn here, 

As you may know, I recently took part in the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self supported cycling race in early February. It was my fourth ultra cycling race in total, and my first since…

Hi Dawn here, 

As you may know, I recently took part in the Race Around Rwanda, a 1000km self supported cycling race in early February. It was my fourth ultra cycling race in total and my first since …

Our guest on today’s episode has had an illustrious career in gymnastics, starting at a young age when most Olympics hopefuls spend uncountable hours in the gym perfecting routines to now coaching yo…

We have hosted athletes from across the Middle East, and some of the common factors among them has been their growth mindset, positive competitive spirit and, importantly, the guidance of good coache…

I am just back from Race Around Rwanda and Afshan and I are busy working on a whole bunch of new episodes for you. Expect a full race debrief from me and other women on the race, as well as a host of…

In this episode with our guest Faranak Partoazar, a mountain biker from Iran with several accolades to her name, Dawn and I want to first acknowledge the challenges and obstacles women in Iran contin…

July 22, 2022 – On this day our guest, Nelly Attar, became the first Arab woman to summit K2.

This is historic for the Arab world. Not only is this the world’s second-highest peak after Mount Everest…

Former Paralympian Jessica Smith joins us on the episode for a very honest discussion on diversity, and inclusion for people with disabilities. 

As an elite swimmer who represented  Australia in the 2…

Dubai-based mountaineer Tima Deryan joins us today, a month after she became the first Lebanese woman to ski the last degree of the South Pole and only a few months away from skiing the last degree o…

So hopefully you have listened to our earlier episode (Episode 16) this week where we chat with my coach Niel Copeland on all things ultra-cycling. Well, almost all things. One major aspect of these …