GIRL v. HORSE

4 Episode Podcast Series

ESPN 30 for 30

About

About: Runner Nicole Teeny wants to do something possibly absurd: race an ultramarathon against a horse. It all started with a theory and a diagnosis.

In GIRL v. HORSE, a four-part podcast from 30 for 30 Podcasts, Teeny comes to terms with being diagnosed with epilepsy and, hating the loss of control, decides to push her body to the limit. 

In the process, she investigates how evolution drove humans to become runners—and what horses have to do with it—all while training to beat a steed and settle the battle between mind versus body and girl versus horse.

Who will win? Official 30 for 30 podcasts website

Episodes

GIRL v. HORSE Episode 1: I WANT TO RACE A HORSE

Meet Nicole Teeny, a long-distance runner with a wild dream: to outrun a horse. It all started with a book, Born to Run, a theory, and an epilepsy diagnosis. After experiencing several life-altering seizures, Nicole must come to grips with a new normal and a new body. In this reality, the seizures begin to take on a greater significance, like raging animals—horses—inside her mind. • 41 mins

GIRL v. HORSE Episode 2: RIDE OR DIE

With her epilepsy somewhat under control, Nicole sets her sights on racing a horse. She begins by exploring a theory known as “The Endurance Running Hypothesis.” To understand how this theory works, Nicole explores the long history of humans outracing four-legged animals, like persistence hunters that track and chase kudus in Namibia. Then she travels to Arizona to witness the human vs. horse races of today: meeting horse riders and ultramarathoners who compete alongside each other in impressive, 50-mile runs.  • 41 mins

GIRL v. HORSE Episode 3: TIME ON LEGS

In order to run a 50-mile race against a horse, Nicole must first figure out how to safely train by herself and how to run next to horses. Her epilepsy makes this challenging. Some days are good, and some days are bad. So Nicole does what most athletes do when they hit a low: she gets a trainer. Enter Coach Sarah Scozzaro. •. 44 mins

GIRL v. HORSE Episode 4: RACE DAY

Race Day arrives. Nicole travels to Big Hill Lake, Kansas to compete in a 50-mile race against horses. All the training, medications, and strife have built up to this moment. The trail opens, and Nicole begins the race of a lifetime. But can she beat even one horse?  •. 47 mins

Team

From Teeny Motion Pictures
Creator, Host, and Executive Producer: Nicole Teeny
Additional editing support: Audrey Quinn
Associate Producer: Mariah Dennis
Original music and theme: Morgan Kibby
Story Editor: Jazmine (JT) Green
Sound Design and Mix Engineering: Michelle Macklem
The Mysterious Horse was played by Summer Banks.
Production Assistant: Mariel Sarkis
Additional Production Support: Julia Furlan, Neena Pathak, Emily Locke, Bornila Chatterjee, Lina Suh, and Kathryn Beaudet.
Fact-checking: Spoorthy Raman
Legal: Seema Tilak

From 30 for 30 and ESPN
Lead Producer: Adizah Eghan
Senior Editorial Producer: Preeti Varathan
Line Producer: Catherine Sankey
Associate production: Gus Navarro with Isabella Seman
Production assistants: Andrew Distler, Diamante McKelvie, and Anthony Salas, and Andrea Gomez Carrio
Executive Producers for ESPN Films and 30 for 30: Heather Anderson, Marsha Cooke, Brian Lockhart and Burke Magnus
Senior Producers for ESPN Films: Marquis Daisy and Gentry Kirby
Producer for ESPN Films: Carolyn Hepburn
Director of Development: Tara Nadolny
Rights and clearances: Jennifer Thorpe and Kaal Griffith
Legal: Dave Mayer, Scott Siedor & Callie Riotte
Additional Production Support: Trevor Gill, Julia Lowrie-Henderson, Adam Neuhaus & Eve Troeh