Podcast 680: Isle of Man TT and the Tour of Awesome Women

The Isle of Man TT isn’t just the world’s most dangerous race—it’s the only one where women are still treated as outsiders, despite leading a historic 150-woman parade lap on the Mountain Course, a moment that redefined what female motorcycling can be. Liza’s 'Tour of Awesome Women' wasn’t just a ride across the UK and the Isle of Man; it was a defiant celebration of female resilience, forged in the wake of tragedy—three deaths, including the paralysis of legendary racer Maria Costello—yet still blooming in karaoke-filled 'pamper tents' and on the set of a Brad Pitt-produced film starring Channing Tatum. Amidst vintage Norton Mercs and the Steve McQueen Great Escape bike, Liza confronted a deeper paradox: why is the TT branded 'deadliest' while Sturgis, with 7–13 annual deaths, escapes the same stigma? Her answer? A cultural double standard that equates risk with masculinity and marginalizes women’s presence in high-stakes motorcycling. What emerged wasn’t just a journey, but a global sisterhood of riders from 10+ countries who found freedom not in avoiding danger, but in embracing it together. Her solo 15-hour Midwest ride proved that riding alone isn’t reckless—it’s empowering, especially when full gear saves lives after blowouts and bird strikes, and when strangers wave, help, and connect on the open road. The real revolution? A community that thrives on spontaneity, where 'just say yes' isn’t a slogan but a survival instinct.