Dr. Kerri Andrews is a writer, academic, and passionate walker whose work explores the deep connection between women, walking, and storytelling. She is the author of Wanderers: A History of Women Walking and editor of Way Makers: An Anthology of Women's Writing about Walking. Her latest book, Pathfinding: On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom, is a deeply personal and thought-provoking exploration of how motherhood reshapes a woman’s identity, freedom, and relationship with the outdoors.
Having developed a love for walking in the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District, Kerri has since climbed over 100 Munros in Scotland, though she has yet to convince her two young children to join her.
In this episode of the Tough Girl Podcast, Kerri shares her journey through postnatal depression, the challenges of early motherhood, and how walking became a vital tool for self-discovery, healing, and empowerment. She also sheds light on the often-overlooked stories of historical women walkers, offering a fresh perspective on the intersection of movement, motherhood, and independence.
Tune in to hear Kerri’s inspiring story and how she found her way back to herself—one step at a time.
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Show notes
- Who is Kerri Andrews
- Working as a writer and planning to move into the charity sector
- Catching up with what’s been happening since 2020
- Welcoming her daughter in 2021
- Being made redundant last year and now working as a freelance writer and teaching creative writing
- Dealing with the stress of life
- Having a supportive partner and dealing with post natal depression after her first child was born
- Working with a doula
- The stress of being a new parent
- The transition into motherhood
- New Book: Pathfinding on walking, motherhood and freedom
- Dealing with Post Natal Depression…
- Being frightened of losing herself
- Finding bodily sensations overwhelming
- Working with the charity - Nurture the borders
- Having a different perspective the second time she gave birth
- Going to some deep and scary places and knowing that her brain was lying to her
- Motherhood and childbirth - and losing your identity
- Finding yourself again after childbirth
- Learning how to bond with her son
- Going through the motions of motherhood and not feeling it
- Mum befrienders
- Feeling very lonely and abandoned
- Being expected to know what to do
- Working on a women’s anthology
- Not having an agent and not knowing what was next
- Seeing Sarah Rigby advertising book coaching
- Producing a submission for a book agent
- Getting a boost in her confidence
- Receiving lots of guidance and support from other women
- Being vulnerable in sharing her story
- Dedicating the book to her ‘mothers’
- New job and feeling wanted again in an employment context
- Working with an incredible gifted and talented team
- Working on her confidence
- The crafting of the book and the chapter title
- The anger which came after her second pregnancy
- Welcome to motherhood!
- Not feeling like she mattered
- Allowing mothers to have ambition
- Why hope had to be the last chapter
- Wanting to make it better for the women who come after her
- Walking and spending time in nature
- The physical changes in her body and not being as fit as she was
- Walking with her children
- Researching about the history of walking in Scotland
- Women in the hills Network
- How to connect with Kerri
- Final words of advice
- The importance of being kind to yourself and being accepting of your body
- “Don’t let go of your dreams, don’t let go of your ambitions, hold onto them, they are valid, they matter, go pursue them.”
- Try to find your tribe
- Get in touch with Girls on Hills
- You matter.
Social Media
Website kerriandrews.co.uk
X/Twitter: @kerriandrewsuk
Bluesky: @kerriandrewsuk.bsky.social
Book: Pathfinders: On Walking, Motherhood and Freedom