This week we’re joined by Esmée Gummer, endurance athlete, fitness coach, and the force behind one of the most ambitious running challenges in the UK right now.

After being told she’d never walk again following a life-changing accident, Esmée has rebuilt her life through movement.

Now, she’s taking things to an entirely new level with the Nation’s 5k - a 99-day challenge which includes hosting a 5k in every city in the UK (plus one in Dublin) and also running in between all the locations.

Starting in Inverness, the UK’s northernmost city, she’ll run south, across, and around the nation before finishing in London, clocking up 5,000km.

But this challenge isn’t about distance, it’s about impact and getting 1 million people moving, whether running, jogging, walking or wheeling.

Expect to hear:

• The story behind the Nation’s 5K and how it all came together
• What 5,000km really looks and feels like, both physically and mentally
• Her journey from paralysis to taking on ultra-endurance challenges
• The power of community through The Say Yes Club
• Why accessibility in running matters more than ever
• What it means to be a woman taking on extreme endurance in the spotlight

Esmée is full of gratitude and passion, and this episode is going to inspire you no end.

Follow Esmée on Instagram @esmee_ldn and YouTube for more details about the Nation’s 5k.

The Nation's 5k challenge runs from 27 June to 3 October 2026 and to join any of the free 5K events, sign up via realbuzz

You can also support Esmée's fundraising efforts via her GoFundMe page and vote for additional charity partners via the realbuzz The Nation's 5k website page too.

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Thanks to Tune Tank for the tunes

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

Follow the Passion Stories podcast on Instagram / TikTok / YouTube

Sign up to the monthly newsletter ⁠The Power of Passion

Follow your host Emma Cole on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠

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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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.