This week, two-time Olympic medalist, four-time Diamond League champion, and Emmy Award–winning analyst Dawn Harper-Nelson joins the show. From standing atop the podium in Beijing and London to navigating devastating falls, major career transitions, and the vulnerable leap into motherhood, Dawn’s journey is a masterclass in true resilience.

In this conversation, Dawn breaks down what it really takes to build your "second act," how she pivoted from world-class competitor to commanding the mic for NBC and Athlos, and the daily mindset shifts required to navigate self-doubt. We unpack the power of owning your "no" without guilt, protecting your energy, and building relationships anchored in trust and good intentions. Whether you’re stepping into a new career chapter or learning how to give yourself permission to pursue what fulfills you, Dawn’s perspective delivers the exact dose of motivation you need today.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Finding the Second Act: How Dawn navigated the identity shift from elite hurdler to broadcast analyst and event MC with Athlos.

• Reframing Failure: The lessons learned from falling at the Beijing World Championships and how Bobby Kersee’s high-stakes training prepared her to handle heartbreak.

• Stepping Away & Returning: The decision to step away from the sport to start a family, learning to accept an evolving body, and coming back to competition on her own terms.

• Intentional Relationships & Communication: How radical trust, assuming good intentions, and clear communication carried her marriage through six years of living apart while competing.

• Energy Management & Owning Your “No”: Why setting boundaries and taking guilt-free pauses isn't an inconvenience to others, but a necessary practice to avoid emotional burnout.

• Redefining Female Competition: Embracing the fierce, "killer" edge required to win at the highest level while staying grounded, kind, and authentic off the track.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"When the world is burning and crashing around you, will you still say fight for your dream? Will you still say, ‘It’s possible’? Will you still believe you’re a good person? Can you still see the brighter side of tomorrow?"

"You don't put in that type of work to have it not come true... but one, you will realize, 'Oh, I'm stronger than I ever thought I was.'"

"If you take your losses this hard, you will never make it in this sport."

"I am a woman forever. That will never change. But I'm an athlete when I step out there, and I'm ruthless. I'm a killer."

"Chase your dream, because you can’t come home with that void. I can’t fulfill that for you."

"Permission from others to not care gives you permission to have your own permission."

SOCIAL
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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.