The goal of this project was to weave together several concurrent threads: the struggle to overcome a devastating epileptic condition, the physical challenge of outrunning a horse over the course of fifty miles, and deepest of all, the need to push the
mind and soul to new limits and to understand what one is truly capable of.
The hope was to convey a story about much more than running or a medical condition: one that speaks to the most profound aspects of who we are. It aims to answer weighty questions: how do we ever truly know what we can do if we’ve ever been pushed to the brink? How do we respond when confronted with mortality or frailty? How do we find that extra strength to dig deep and transcend what we’ve long been conditioned to believe about ourselves?
GIRL v. HORSE does not shy away from how being female influences Nicole’s experiences with health and sports. It addresses complex topics head-on, such as the intersection of Nicole’s identity as a queer woman with her health, and boldly
delves into topics often considered taboo, like her menstrual cycle’s influence on seizures and the relationship between physical activity and menstruation. These topics provide insights into the unique health and sports challenges women face.
However, this story isn’t just for women audiences, it’s designed to be an entertaining sports story—and through that—it expands its reach, fostering an inclusive dialogue and championing the voices of all women. By integrating these powerful elements, the podcast becomes a story that successfully empowers, informs, and entertains.
While many 30 for 30 podcasts cover traditional sports topics in the professional or college space, GIRL v. HORSE was an entry in the series that pushed the boundaries of what people consider a sports story. The story covered Nicole Teeny’s ambitious objective to defeat a horse in a long distance race. Audiences resonated with this pursuit as tens of thousands of listeners downloaded the podcast within just the first 72 hours. Nicole was also interviewed in ABC’s coverage of the New York City Marathon where she talked about her journey to almost 300K viewers older than the age of 2 in addition to thousands more lining the finish line to view the event in person.
