WHAT DOES AMBITION REALLY LOOK LIKE?

In this episode of the 4TG Podcast, Kylie Lynch sits down with Dr. Bridie O'Donnell, former professional cyclist, medical doctor, world record holder, and one of Australia's leading advocates for women in sport.

Bridie's journey has never followed a traditional path. She left a career in surgery to race professionally in Europe in her 30s, experienced the challenging early years of women's professional cycling, and later became the inaugural Head of the Victorian Office for Women in Sport and Recreation.

This conversation explores far more than elite performance.

Bridie shares how her definition of ambition has changed over time, why perfectionism often holds athletes back, and what it really means to pursue excellence without losing yourself in the process.

Together, Kylie and Bridie also discuss the structural barriers that continue to affect women in sport, the importance of long-term investment, and why creating lasting change depends on people who are willing to become "upstanders" by speaking up when something isn't right.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, leader, parent, or simply passionate about creating better opportunities for women and girls, this episode is filled with practical insights and honest reflections that extend well beyond sport.

IN THIS EPISODE

✔ Leaving medicine to become a professional cyclist in Italy

✔ Redefining ambition beyond medals and results

✔ Why perfectionism can limit performance and enjoyment

✔ The reality of women's professional cycling before full-time support

✔ Building confidence through consistency instead of overtraining

✔ Creating lasting gender equality through better leadership and investment

✔ Why being an "upstander" matters in sport and everyday life

✔ Advice for young women chasing ambitious goals

ABOUT THE GUEST – DR. BRIDIE O'DONNELL

Dr. Bridie O'Donnell is a medical doctor, former professional cyclist, UCI Hour Record holder, broadcaster, author, and one of Australia's leading advocates for women in sport. She previously served as the inaugural Head of the Victorian Office for Women in Sport and Recreation, helping shape policies that improve participation, leadership, and equality across Australian sport.

Connect with Bridie on Instagram: @bridie_od

Support the show

ABOUT THE HOST

Kylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.

A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: @kylie__lynch
• LinkedIn: Kylie Lynch
• Website: www.4tg.com.au
• Email: kylie@4tg.com.au

JOIN THE 4TG COMMUNITY

4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.

Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.

• Instagram: @4tg_podcast
• TikTok: ...

WHY ARE FEMALE ATHLETES MORE LIKELY TO SUFFER ACL INJURIES?

In this episode of the 4TG Podcast, Kylie Lynch sits down with physiotherapist, researcher, former AFLW player, and injury prevention expert Dr. Brooke Patterson to unpack one of the biggest challenges in women's sport.

Female athletes are significantly more likely to experience ACL injuries than men, yet for decades, sports science has been built around male bodies. Dr. Patterson explains how this research gap has affected generations of female athletes and shares what the latest evidence tells us about preventing injuries before they happen.

As the lead researcher on a $4.9 million national injury prevention project involving more than 10,000 women and girls, Dr. Patterson offers practical advice for athletes, coaches, parents, and anyone passionate about keeping girls in sport.

This conversation also tackles common misconceptions about the menstrual cycle, why strength training matters more than extra running, concussion awareness, and the simple changes that could reduce ACL injuries by up to 60%.

Whether you're an elite athlete, community coach, parent, or simply someone who cares about the future of women's sport, this episode is packed with practical knowledge that could help keep more girls healthy, confident, and competing for longer.

IN THIS EPISODE

✔ Why female athletes are 2 to 6 times more likely to suffer ACL injuries

✔ The research gap that has shaped women's sport for decades

✔ How the Prep to Play program can reduce ACL injuries by up to 60%

✔ The truth about the menstrual cycle and injury risk

✔ Why strength training is one of the best injury prevention tools

✔ Concussion awareness and why teammates play an important role

✔ Practical advice for coaches, parents, and young athletes

✔ Building a healthier future for women's sport through better research

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. Brooke Patterson is a physiotherapist, researcher at La Trobe University, former AFLW player, and one of Australia's leading experts in female athlete injury prevention. Drawing on both elite sporting experience and cutting-edge research, she is leading one of Australia's largest studies focused on reducing injuries in women and girls through evidence-based training programs.

This episode is for anyone committed to making women's sport safer, stronger, and better supported for the next generation.

Connect with Dr. Brooke Patterson on Instagram: @brooke_patterson24

Support the show

ABOUT THE HOST

Kylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.

A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: @kylie__lynch
• LinkedIn: Kylie Lynch
• Website: www.4tg.com.au
• Email: kylie@4tg.com.au

JOIN THE 4TG COMMUNITY

4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.

Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.

• Instagram: @4tg_podcast
• TikTok: ...

WHAT DOES REAL ALLYSHIP IN SPORT ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE?

In this episode of the 4TG Podcast, Kylie Lynch sits down with Damian “Damo” Hopper, creator of Prune Masters and one of the strongest public supporters of women’s football in Australia.

What started as social media content turned into something bigger.

Damo shares how visibility, public pressure, and speaking up can create real change inside sport. From helping amplify women’s teams that were being overlooked to challenging gambling culture and calling for stronger accountability, this conversation asks difficult questions about the future of sport and who gets supported.

This episode goes beyond headlines.

We talk about influence, responsibility, leadership, and what happens when people stop waiting for someone else to fix the problem.

Whether you’re an athlete, coach, parent, sports fan, or someone trying to create change in your own space, this episode will stay with you.

IN THIS EPISODE

✔ How social media created real sporting change
✔ Why male allyship requires action
✔ Challenging gambling culture in AFL
✔ Protecting women’s voices in public spaces
✔ Accountability and leadership in sport
✔ Building stronger environments for future athletes
✔ Creating momentum through everyday actions

ABOUT THE GUEST – DAMIAN HOPPER

Damian “Damo” Hopper is the creator behind Prune Masters and an advocate for women’s sport and positive cultural change. Through content, public conversations, and community influence, he has become an important voice supporting greater visibility and equity across Australian sport.

Connect with Damo on Instagram: [@d___hop]

Support the show

ABOUT THE HOST

Kylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.

A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: @kylie__lynch
• LinkedIn: Kylie Lynch
• Website: www.4tg.com.au
• Email: kylie@4tg.com.au

JOIN THE 4TG COMMUNITY

4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.

Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.

• Instagram: @4tg_podcast
• TikTok: ...

Watch & subscribe now on 4TG's YouTube 📺

Follow & subscribe to 4TG on all your favourite platforms here so you never miss an episode 🔔

4TG is on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport through inspiring conversations, practical insights, and stories from athletes, coaches and industry leaders who have lived it.

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WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LOVE A SPORT THAT THE SYSTEM NO LONGER SUPPORTS?

In this episode of the 4TG Podcast, Kylie Lynch sits down with elite Australian indoor cricketer Taylah Gregory to explore one of the most underrepresented stories in women’s sport today.

Taylah has represented Australia across U17, U22, and Open levels and was part of the 2025 World Cup winning squad. But unlike many elite athletes, her journey has been entirely self funded, often requiring her to balance training, work, and the financial demands of international competition.

This conversation goes beyond performance.

Taylah opens up about what it really takes to stay in a sport that receives little visibility, the burnout that comes from doing everything yourself, and the emotional toll of fighting for something that still struggles for recognition.

Alongside teammate Chelsea Gan, she co-founded the Australian Indoor Cricket Collection, a digital archive created to preserve the forgotten history, records, and legends of indoor cricket.

This episode is a powerful look at women’s sport, athlete identity, burnout, leadership, and what happens when athletes stop waiting for support and start building it themselves.

IN THIS EPISODE

✔ The reality of self-funded elite sport
✔ Competing for Australia while managing work and costs
✔ Why indoor cricket is fighting for visibility
✔ Athlete burnout beyond training load
✔ Building the Australian Indoor Cricket Collection
✔ Preserving women’s sport history
✔ What it means to love a sport that doesn’t give back equally

ABOUT THE GUEST - TAYLAH GREGORY

Taylah Gregory is an Australian indoor cricketer who has represented her country at U17, U22, and Open level. A World Cup champion, athlete advocate, and co-founder of the Australian Indoor Cricket Collection, she is dedicated to preserving the history and future of her sport while competing at the highest level.

Connect with Taylah on Instagram: @taylahgreg3 and @australianindoorcricketcollection

📺 Watch the 2026 Indoor Cricket Nationals from 27 June to 11 July here

Support the show

ABOUT THE HOST

Kylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.

A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: @kylie__lynch
• LinkedIn: Kylie Lynch
• Website: www.4tg.com.au
• Email: kylie@4tg.com.au

JOIN THE 4TG COMMUNITY

4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.

Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.

• Instagram: @4tg_podcast
• TikTok: ...

Watch & subscribe now on 4TG's YouTube 📺

Follow & subscribe to 4TG on all your favourite platforms here so you never miss an episode 🔔

4TG is on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport through inspiring conversations, practical insights, and stories from athletes, coaches and industry leaders who have lived it.

---

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FUTURE YOU PLANNED DISAPPEARS OVERNIGHT?

In this episode of the 4TG Podcast, Kylie Lynch sits down with Paralympic Gold Medallist Nikki Ayers OAM PLY to share one of the most powerful comeback stories in Australian sport.

After a devastating rugby injury changed the course of her life, Nikki endured 16 surgeries, years of uncertainty, and the challenge of rebuilding her identity beyond the athlete she thought she would become.

Rather than walking away from sport, she discovered para rowing and went on to become Australia's first Paralympic gold medallist in the sport.

This conversation goes far beyond medals.

Nikki opens up about long-term recovery, perfectionism, mental health, identity, trust, leadership, retirement, and finding purpose after adversity.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or someone navigating a setback, this episode is a powerful reminder that your identity is bigger than any one moment.

IN THIS EPISODE

✔ Recovering from a career-changing injury

✔ Surviving 16 surgeries and rebuilding confidence

✔ The mindset of controlling what you can control

✔ Separating identity from performance

✔ Psychological safety and trust in elite sport

✔ The road to Paralympic gold

✔ Retirement, reinvention and what's next

ABOUT THE GUEST - NIKKI AYERS

Nikki Ayers OAM PLY is a Paralympic Gold Medallist, world champion para rower, former rugby player and passionate advocate for resilience, inclusion and high performance.

Connect with Nikki on Instagram: @nearlyleglessnikki

Support the show

ABOUT THE HOST

Kylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.

A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: @kylie__lynch
• LinkedIn: Kylie Lynch
• Website: www.4tg.com.au
• Email: kylie@4tg.com.au

JOIN THE 4TG COMMUNITY

4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.

Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.

• Instagram: @4tg_podcast
• TikTok: ...

At just 16, Indra Brown is already competing at the highest level in freestyle skiing, reaching World #1 status and representing Australia at the Winter Olympics. In this episode of the 4TG Podcast, she shares the reality behind elite sport, mental pressure, and what it takes to perform on the world stage at such a young age.

Indra opens up about the mental grit required to stay consistent under pressure, the sacrifices behind a full season of overseas competition, and the importance of focusing on process over results. She also reflects on the role of family support and how identity beyond sport helps her stay grounded.

This conversation goes beyond medals and rankings. It explores mindset, resilience, and the emotional side of elite performance that most people never see.

In this episode, we cover:
• Building mental strength in high-pressure environments
• Why process matters more than rankings
• The cost of chasing elite sport at a young age
• Family sacrifice and support systems in athlete development
• Staying grounded while competing at the top level

If you’re interested in athlete mindset, sports psychology, or the real story behind elite performance, this episode will connect with you.

🎧 Listen now to hear the journey of one of Australia’s most exciting young athletes.

📌 📩 Sponsorships and collabs: kylie@4tg.com.au

✨A big thank you to our partners:

Snap Fitness -(https://www.snapfitness.com/au?utm_source=4tg&utm_medium=website)

Project Better - ( https://projectbetter.com.au/)

Toorak Hotel - ( https://www.toorakhotel.com.au/)

Podcast Socials: https://linktr.ee/4tg_podcast?

Support the show

ABOUT THE HOST

Kylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.

A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: @kylie__lynch
• LinkedIn: Kylie Lynch
• Website: www.4tg.com.au
• Email: kylie@4tg.com.au

JOIN THE 4TG COMMUNITY

4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.

Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.

• Instagram: @4tg_podcast
• TikTok: ...

Watch & subscribe now on 4TG's YouTube 📺

What do you do when the thing that makes you you is suddenly gone? For Britt Furlanis, the answer took fifteen years to find.

Britt grew up competing in showjumping before walking away at 15. What followed was a corporate career in gas trading, bodybuilding competitions, and years of high performance that masked a quiet truth she wasn't ready to face. In 2023, she left it all behind, moved to a property in Queensland, and went all in on her dream of becoming a professional showjumper and Olympic gold medallist.

This conversation is about identity, resilience, and what it really takes to go after something you buried a long time ago. It is also one of the most honest episodes we have had on 4TG.

In this episode, we cover:

• Losing your sporting identity and what the recovery really looks like
• How Britt used gratitude journalling at fifteen to pull herself through a dark period
• Her experience with binge eating and bulimia during the transition to university and corporate life
• Leaving a successful corporate career to pursue an Olympic dream in showjumping
• Rebuilding a relationship with failure and why she now treats it as data
• The fear of voicing your goals out loud and who you should tell first
• Navigating friendship groups when your ambitions outgrow your environment

📱 Follow Britt on Insta @britt.furlanis

Support the show

ABOUT THE HOST

Kylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.

A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: @kylie__lynch
• LinkedIn: Kylie Lynch
• Website: www.4tg.com.au
• Email: kylie@4tg.com.au

JOIN THE 4TG COMMUNITY

4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.

Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.

• Instagram: @4tg_podcast
• TikTok: ...

Nya Lok was born in an Ethiopian refugee camp after her South Sudanese parents fled civil war. She arrived in Australia at age five, speaking no English, with nothing but her family and a quiet, unshakeable belief that she could figure it out.

She went on to captain the first South Sudan women's basketball team in international competition, earn a spot with the Southside Fliers after training on with no contract, and sign with the Perth Lynx. Along the way she picked up three degrees, a role as multicultural officer at Basketball Victoria, and a mindset that most athletes spend careers trying to build.

This is not a pity story. Nya is clear about that. It is a story about what you build when nothing is handed to you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Growing up between two cultures and why identity is Nya's greatest strength
• What it actually felt like to walk into the WNBL with no contract and no guarantees
• Why surrendering the outcome was the thing that finally got her on the floor
• The role of therapy and sports psychology in shifting from perfectionism to performance
• Captaining the first South Sudan women's basketball team and the ripple effect on girls back home
• How one coffee meeting led to her role driving diversity and inclusion at Basketball Victoria
• What Nya would tell her 16-year-old self about control, courage and letting go

Follow Nya

Instagram: @nyaduothlok

Visit the Toorak Hotel - Toorak Hotel is your go-to local for a proper pub feed, cold drinks, and a great atmosphere in the heart of Toorak.

Support the show

ABOUT THE HOST

Kylie Lynch is the Founder and Host of 4TG (For The Girls), a podcast and platform on a mission to keep more girls and women in sport.

A VFLW athlete, Australian representative in Polocrosse, coach, mentor and media/communications professional, Kylie has spent her career at the intersection of sport, media and community impact. Through 4TG, she shares the stories, lessons and experiences of elite athletes, coaches and industry leaders to help girls and women build confidence, navigate challenges and stay involved in sport for longer. Because sport doesn't just build athletes. It builds confidence, resilience, leadership, connection and opportunities that positively impact girls and women both on and off the field.

Connect with Kylie:

• Instagram: @kylie__lynch
• LinkedIn: Kylie Lynch
• Website: www.4tg.com.au
• Email: kylie@4tg.com.au

JOIN THE 4TG COMMUNITY

4TG exists to help keep more girls and women in sport.

Through powerful conversations with athletes, coaches, experts and industry leaders, we're building a community where girls and women feel inspired, supported and empowered to stay in the game.

• Instagram: @4tg_podcast
• TikTok: ...