Girls Gone Gravel podcast

In this episode, Kathryn and Kristi are joined by professional cyclist and advocate Austin Killips. They explore Austin’s journey from racing to community organizing, highlighting the vision behind her upcoming Grit Mountain Bike Festival. Austin shares her cycling origin story and discusses how community has shaped her career, offering deep insights into the challenges and triumphs of navigating professional cycling as a trans athlete.
Throughout the conversation, Austin details her work with All Bikes Welcome, an organization dedicated to fostering inclusivity in the sport. The group discusses the vital importance of grassroots events like Gritfest, which emphasize connection, accessibility, and meeting participants where they are. Austin also reflects on how failure and vulnerability have been instrumental in her growth, and shares strategies for creating beginner-friendly, sustainable spaces that prioritize diversity and representation. The episode offers valuable lessons on how to build a cycling community where everyone can belong and thrive.
Find more information at All Bikes Welcome and the Gritfest page.
Follow Austin on Instagram @austintrace and visit her website.
Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/
Follow us on Instagram:
@feistycycling
@feisty_media
Girls Gone Gravel Website:
https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/
Support our Partners:
Wahoo: Learn about the ELEMNT ROAM 3 at https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/6kn0Eb
Momentous: Use code GIRLSGONEGRAVEL for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com
Tifosi: Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at tifosioptics.com
Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/

In this episode,Kathryn and Kristi are joined by Gretchen Powers, an influential filmmaker, photographer, and sports industry veteran. They explore Gretchen’s career journey, beginning with her roots in Vermont and her transition from an aspiring Olympic skier to a professional photographer and filmmaker. Gretchen shares insights into her work within the outdoor and cycling industries, including her experiences with the US ski team and how she discovered her unique niche in sports storytelling.
Throughout the conversation, the group discusses the crucial role of diversity and representation in sports media, especially for women. Gretchen highlights how major events, such as Unbound and the Olympics, provide powerful opportunities to share impactful narratives. She also pulls back the curtain on the reality of race day, detailing the logistics, the long mornings, and her commitment to capturing the authentic, human side of the athletes she covers.
Finally, Gretchen delves into the importance of community, kindness, and advocacy among media crews and athletes, explaining how building authentic relationships allows photographers to access pivotal moments. She also reflects on the challenges of her profession, sharing strategies for balancing race coverage with relationships and the necessity of self-care during long event days. Her journey offers a compelling look at the power of storytelling in the evolving landscape of women’s sports.
Follow Gretchen on Instagram @gpowersfilm.

On this week’s episode we hear from Kristi live from SBT GRVL with U23 rider Samantha Campbell. This year is Samantha’s second season on the U23 Life Time Grand Prix, and this year she is racing on the Velocio/ENVE team. She talks about how the team members support each other, and how each of them use their own unique backgrounds to the development of all of the team’s riders. Samantha has been riding bikes all of her life, and grew up racing on the mountain bike through middle and high school. Now in college in Grand Junction, CO, Samantha has found her way into gravel and she talks about what she loves about the discipline as well as why it suits her style of racing.
Follow Samantha on Instagram @samanthajcampbell_
Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/
Follow us on Instagram:
@feistycycling
@feisty_media
Girls Gone Gravel Website:
https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/
Support our Partners:
Wahoo: Learn about the ELEMNT ROAM 3 at https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/6kn0Eb
Momentous: Use code GIRLSGONEGRAVEL for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com
Tifosi: Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at tifosioptics.com
Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/

On our episode this week Kathryn and Kristi welcome gravel new-comer Lizzie Hermolle. Hailing from the UK, Lizzie won the British gravel national championship in 2025 in just her second season racing gravel. Lizzie was a soccer player growing up. She started cycling in her late 20’s during the COVID lockdown and was hooked. She raced on a continental road team in 2025, but after claiming the gravel national champion title she decided to focus on gravel for the 2026 season. Lizzie has raced a bunch of different gravel events this year to try and find when she likes best including Unbound 200, Traka 560, and some UCI events in Europe. Lizzie talks about her experience at Unbound, and what her plans are for the rest of the season.
Follow Lizzie on Instagram @lizziehermolle
Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/
Follow us on Instagram:
@feistycycling
@feisty_media
Girls Gone Gravel Website:
https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/
Support our Partners:
Wahoo: Learn about the ELEMNT ROAM 3 at https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/6kn0Eb
Momentous: Use code GIRLSGONEGRAVEL for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com
Tifosi: Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at tifosioptics.com
Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/

This week on the show we have a special two-part episode with professional cyclist Maddy Nutt. We first hear from Maddy live from Emporia in the days leading into her Unbound XL race. Maddy talks about her win at the Traka 560, and why she was drawn to gravel to begin with. She also goes through a few pre-race details for Unbound, including her bike setup and the recipe for her favorite race day breakfast. Kathryn then catches up with Maddy after she is back home in London following her second place finish at the Unbound XL. Maddy goes over some of the highlights, and lowlights, of her race including dodging lightning strikes and hiking through mud. Listen in to find out if Maddy actually had fun during the Unbound XL, and if she will go for the cast iron frying pan.
Follow Maddy on Instagram @maddynutty and check out her YouTube channel @maddynutt
Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/
Follow us on Instagram:
@feistycycling
@feisty_media
Girls Gone Gravel Website:
https://www.girlsgonegravel.com/
Support our Partners:
Wahoo: Learn about the ELEMNT ROAM 3 at https://wahoofitness.pxf.io/6kn0Eb
Momentous: Use code GIRLSGONEGRAVEL for up to 35% off your first order at livemomentous.com
Tifosi: Use the code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at tifosioptics.com
Register for Feisty Fest at https://feisty.co/events/