The Mettleset Podcast

The Mettleset Podcast is on a mission to bring you stories of tenacity, courage and mettle from athletes in the Middle East and beyond. From women’s sports and motorsports to adventure, action- and ultra- endurance sports, and everything in between, listeners will get a dose of the region’s most compelling - fun and funny - underreported sports stories every week.Hosts Dawn Barnable (Sports Communications Professional & Ultra Cyclist) is joined by friends who range from record - and boundary – breaking athletes, world-class explorers, community sports leaders and pro athletes at every stage of their career.For more info, visit www.themettleset.com and find us on all major socials at @themettleset.

The Mettleset Podcast is a sports podcast hosted by The Mettleset, with 137 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

The Mettleset hosts The Mettleset Podcast, a sports show with 137 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #115

  115. "If You Can, Why Not?" - Pro Cyclist Mavi García on Making Tour de France History, and The Gift of Racing On

  Sep 10, 202638 minS1

  Today's episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance and Dr.stretch . Mavi García didn't turn professional until she was 31, after more than a decade working a full-time job and nearly ten years away from organized sport altogether. Since then, she's become a four-time Spanish national road champion, a four-time national time trial champion, and — at 41 — the oldest woman ever to win a stage of the Tour de France Femmes. Now 42, she's extended her contract with UAE Team L'IMAD — the team she first rode for in 2022, then known as UAE Team ADQ, rebranded this August — through the 2027 season. In this episode, Mavi opens up about the fear that nearly derailed her cycling career before it started, the moment she realized she'd made history, mentoring the next generation of riders, and why, well into her forties, she still treats every day on the bike as a gift. Follow Mavi on Instagram: @mavi_garcia_c Stay Connected with - and support - The Mettleset Newsletter: Sign up for athlete stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and women's sports news from MENA and beyond Instagram: @themettleset LinkedIn: The Mettleset on LinkedIn Credits: Host: Dawn Barnable Guest: Mavi García Produced by: The Mettleset The Mettleset is a multimedia platform and online community dedicated to sharing stories of underrepresented athletes and underreported sports from the Middle East and beyond. With a mission to diversify the sporting ecosystem, it is one of the first and only sports platforms in the Middle East to put women in sport first, while also featuring niche sporting communities such as action and endurance sports. I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn

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  Episode #114

  114. "Losing is Never the End" - 🇹🇳 Dr. Sarra Lajnef-Taylor, Olympian & 5x Guinness World Record Holder

  Jul 9, 20261h 8mS1

  Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance and Dr.stretch . Dr Sarra Lajnef-Taylor made history as the first Tunisian woman to qualify for the Olympics in swimming, competing at London 2012. Since then, she's refused to be defined by one sport, becoming a six-time FINA Masters World Champion, a five-time Guinness World Record holder, a UAE rowing champion, and a medalist in triathlon and obstacle course racing. In this episode, recorded at the Khalifa International Bowling Center at Zayed Sports Center in Abu Dhabi, Sarra opens up about leaving Tunisia for France at 15, the punctured lung that nearly cost her the London Games, the mental toll elite sport rarely talks about, and why she's now pushing for athlete safeguarding on the world stage. This is the first of what we hope will be a series of conversations with Sarra, stay tuned for round two. Follow Sarra on Instagram: @sarralajnefofficial 🌍 Stay Connected with - and support - The Mettleset 📥 Newsletter: Sign up for athlete stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and women’s sports news from MENA and beyond 📸 Instagram: @themettleset 💼 LinkedIn: The Mettleset on LinkedIn Credits: Host: Dawn Barnable Guest: Dr. Sarra Lajnef-Taylor Editor: Diya Vergis Produced by: The Mettleset 🚲 The Mettleset is a multimedia platform and online community dedicated to sharing stories of underrepresented athletes and underreported sports from the Middle East and beyond. With a mission to diversify the sporting ecosystem, it is one of the first and only sports platforms in the Middle East to put women in sport first, while also featuring niche sporting communities such as action and endurance sports. I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn

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  Episode #113

  113. "Riyadh Is The New NYC" — Jay3lle Founder Johan Lindeberg on Intuition, Community and Changing Golf from Saudi Arabia

  Jun 15, 20261h 15mS1

  This episode is brought to you by New Balance and Dr.stretch . What does it take to see something others don't? In this episode, host Dawn Barnable sits down with visionary designer, entrepreneur and brand builder Johan Lindeberg, whose influence has shaped the worlds of fashion, sport and culture for more than three decades. From helping build Diesel into a global phenomenon to redefining golf style through J.Lindeberg, Johan has built a career on challenging convention and trusting his intuition long before others could see what he saw. Today, he's embarking on a new chapter with Jay3lle, a luxury golf and lifestyle brand being built from Riyadh alongside CEO Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud. Together, they're reimagining what golf can become through the lenses of fashion, luxury, wellness and community, while drawing inspiration from the energy and ambition shaping modern Saudi Arabia. In this conversation, we discuss: Why intuition has been the guiding force throughout Johan's career The leap from Sweden to Italy and knocking on Diesel's door Building one of the most influential fashion brands in golf Why community is at the heart of every successful brand Saudi Arabia's emergence as a global hub for sport, creativity and culture The vision behind Jay3lle and why Johan chose Riyadh for his next chapter Golf as a lifestyle, a creative canvas and a vehicle for connection Entrepreneurship, risk-taking and seeing opportunities before others do Whether you're an entrepreneur, athlete, creative or simply someone navigating your next chapter, this conversation offers a fascinating perspective on vision, courage and trusting your instincts. More about Jay3lle: https://www.jay3lle.com/ https://www.instagram.com/jay3lle/ Learn more about the Aramco Championship via The Mettleset 🌍 Stay Connected with - and support - The Mettleset 📥 Newsletter: https://themettleset.com/subscribe/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themettleset/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/themettleset/ Credits: Host: Dawn Barnable Guest: Johan Lindeberg Social Media: Diya Vergis Produced by: The Mettleset 🚲 The Mettleset is a multimedia platform and online community dedicated to sharing stories of underrepresented athletes and underreported sports from the Middle East and beyond. With a mission to diversify the sporting ecosystem, it is one of the first and only sports platforms in the Middle East to put women in sport first, while also featuring niche sporting communities such as action and endurance sports. I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #112

  112. “Go For It”: The UAE’s First Pro Female MMA Fighter - Zamzam Al Hammadi & PFL MENA GM Jerome Mazet

  May 5, 202615 minS1

  This episode is brought to you by Dr.stretch and New Balance . At just 18 years old, Zamzam Al Hammadi is already making history. The Emirati athlete is set to become the first Emirati woman to compete for a major regional MMA promotion when she steps into the cage at PFL MENA: Pride of Arabia in Dubai on May 24. In this episode of The Mettleset Podcast, we sit down with Zamzam ahead of her professional debut to talk about pressure, purpose, representation, and the mindset required to compete at one of the highest levels of combat sport. A Youth MMA World Champion and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu standout, Zamzam opens up about growing up in a family of fighters, the influence of her mother and coach, and why she hopes this moment inspires the next generation of girls in the UAE to step into sport. We’re also joined by Jerome Mazet, GM of Professional Fighters League, who discusses the rise of MMA across the GCC, the UAE’s growing pipeline of talent, and the increasing presence of women both inside the cage and in the crowd. From Saudi Arabia’s Hattan Alsaif to Zamzam’s debut in Dubai, this episode explores how women’s MMA is becoming one of the region’s most exciting emerging sports stories. 🌍 Stay Connected with - and support - The Mettleset 📥 Newsletter: Sign up for athlete stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and women’s sports news from MENA and beyond 📸 Instagram: @themettleset 💼 LinkedIn: The Mettleset on LinkedIn Credits: Host: Dawn Barnable Guests: Zamzam Al Hammadi & Jerome Mazet Editor: Diya Vergis Produced by: The Mettleset 🚲 The Mettleset is a multimedia platform and online community dedicated to sharing stories of underrepresented athletes and underreported sports from the Middle East and beyond. With a mission to diversify the sporting ecosystem, it is one of the first and only sports platforms in the Middle East to put women in sport first, while also featuring niche sporting communities such as action and endurance sports. I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #111

  111. “We Don’t Stop. I Don’t Give Up.” – Lebanese Triathlete Lindzi Nader on Samla, suffering, and staying in the race

  Apr 15, 20261h 3mS1

  Today’s episode of The Mettleset Podcast is brought to you by New Balance 👟 Lindzi Nader has built her career in triathlon the hard way, without infrastructure, without consistent funding, and often against the realities of living and training in Lebanon. But what she does have is consistency. And resilience. We sat down with one of Lebanon’s leading triathletes to talk about what it really takes to compete at an elite level - not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and logistically. From visa rejections that blocked world championship starts to racing 20 times in 13 months, Lindzi shares what it means to keep going when the system isn’t built for you. Her story spans more than a decade - from starting in swimming to discovering triathlon in 2014, to now competing internationally and closing the gap to the top tier. We also go inside Samla , one of the toughest endurance races in the region, where finishing alone is an achievement. Lindzi placed in the top 10, navigating sand, heat, technical terrain, and a race that demands far more than physical preparation. Alongside competing, she’s building something bigger, coaching and developing the next generation of Lebanese triathletes through her academy. This is about more than results. It’s about performance, persistence, and pushing forward, even when everything around you makes it harder. 🌍 Stay Connected with - and support - The Mettleset 📥 Newsletter: Sign up for athlete stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and women’s sports news from MENA and beyond 📸 Instagram: @themettleset 💼 LinkedIn: The Mettleset on LinkedIn Credits: Host: Dawn Barnable Guest: Lindzi Nader Editor: Diya Vergis Produced by: The Mettleset 🚲 The Mettleset is a multimedia platform and online community dedicated to sharing stories of underrepresented athletes and underreported sports from the Middle East and beyond. With a mission to diversify the sporting ecosystem, it is one of the first and only sports platforms in the Middle East to put women in sport first, while also featuring niche sporting communities such as action and endurance sports. I hope you enjoy the episode! Dawn

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