Tough Cookie Talks

Today I'm back and I'm talking about something that doesn't usually get a lot of air time on my podcast: dance! I hope you'll stick around even if you think it doesn't apply to you (it's all just different flavors of the same shit sandwich, really). On this episode we talk about: Why I'm excited to talk about dance right now and how it might apply to you even if you're not a dancer. Why I think I (and many other dancers I know) retired from performing too early.What I wish I had known about strength and mobility training and sports nutrition when I was dancing professionally. Ageism and sizeism in the dance world and how the body standards are different when you're an athlete/performer.Why we're not going back to the destructive shit we used to do to our bodies in the 90's and 2000's.How we, as the adults in the room can change the narrative around bodies for the future generation (in spite of skinnytok bullshit).How much joy dance is bringing me as I come back to it at this stage of life and how I want that for you too (in whatever you do). So many other good things!⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Register for my Adult Tap & Jazz classes in Arlington HeightsRegister for my Adult Tap class in Lake Forest⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠

My favorite podcast episodes are the ones where I read a really great book and then get to pick the brain of the person who wrote it. Today I am talking to Anna Rollins--the author of Famished: On Food, Sex, and Growing Up as a Good Girl (out December 9, 2025 from Eerdmans). Her groundbreaking debut memoir examines therhyming scripts of diet culture and evangelical purity culture, both of which direct women to fear their own bodies and appetites. Her writing has appeared in outlets like The NewYork Times, Slate, Electric Literature, Salon, Joyland, and more. She’s also written scholarly articles about composition and writing center studies. She’s an award-winning instructor who taught English in higher education for nearly 15 years. She is a 2025 Tamarack Foundation for the Arts Literary Arts Fellow. A lifelong Appalachian, she lives with her husband inWest Virginia where they’re raising their three small children.On this episode we talk about: The protestant work ethic and how it plays into exercise. The problem with fundamentalist thinking and we often unknowingly apply it to food and bodies.The different ways we both bought into different aspects of diet culture and purity culture as kids and teenagers. How purity culture and hookup culture are two sides of the same coin. How we see fundamentalism playing out in America today and how we can try to stop it. How to navigate being a part of a religion without getting sucked into the worst parts of it. What Anna wishes someone would have told her when you were younger and struggling with an eating disorder.The ways her religious upbringing contributed to her eating disorder.So many other good things!⁠Follow Anna On SubstackGet Anna's Book⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠⁠

It's been a few weeks and now I'm back. I've truly felt like I have nothing to say about fitness or the other usual topics due to the continued ridiculous news. I've also felt like I have nothing to add to the conversation about said ridiculous news because every time I form a coherent thought about something, there is a new flavor of fuckery needing commentary. On this episode we talk about: How impossible it feels to talk about fitness OR the news at this time. What I've been up to in real life.Understanding what we can control and what we can't--in fitness, in our lives, and in the world. How to take meaningful action with that knowledge in mind, especially in the aftermath of No Kings a few weeks ago.Why we all need to start asking our neighbors to borrow lemons and other such things. My new podcasting space (including floral wallpaper)!The joys of theatre jazz.My newfound love of astrology and witchy shit.So many other good things!⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠

This episode is a replay--in light of upcoming No Kings Rallies on Saturday 3/28, I wanted to bring back a conversation I had with my friend and fellow Indivisible member Ishaan Srivastava. While the dates and details I mention in the intro and outro are correct and current, the ones within the episode are from last fall. Everything else is still very much relevant! We are here because when I found myself feeling hopeless a few weeks ago, I got involved with my local Indivisible chapter and it gave me a sense of purpose and community in a world that often feels irreparably fucked. I met Ishaan there and immediately knew we needed to come together to spread the word about No Kings and building a peaceful resistance.Ishaan Srivastava is a GenZ progressive activist, and has been very active in Illinois politics. He has also been the host of The Ishaan S. Show, his political news podcast, since 2021. Ishaan is an advocate for GenZ involvement in politics, and informing people about ways to get involved! On this episode we talk about: How Ishaan got into the work he's doing as a GenZ political activist. Why I came out of podcasting hiatus to talk to him about it. How so many people (especially GenZ!) got pulled to the right in the last election cycle and what we on the left need to do differently. All the different ways to participate in peaceful resistance when things feel hopeless. What to do if you want to protest but are concerned about your safety. Why we continue to gather to push back against the current administration and how you can build community of your own (or join ours!)What No Kings is and why you should come to one of our events on October 18th. So many other good things! **Please know that this conversation represents the views of myself and Ishaan and may or may not reflect the diverse views of Indivisible as an organization or its members.⁠Ishaan's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Ishaan on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Ishaan on TikTok⁠⁠No Kings Chicago Suburban Rally 3/28⁠Find a No Kings event or Indivisible chapter near you⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Resistance training ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠

Today's episode is brought to you by antifa wine moms. LOL. But seriously, today's guest and I met this year thanks to Instragram, but quickly realized that we were both doing a lot of similar work in our local community. When I heard about the work she's done to advocate for better policy around things like mental health, addiction recovery, and even mammogram coverage, I knew I needed to have her on the podcast! Chelsea Laliberté Barnes is a mom, social worker, psychotherapist, advocate, organizer, and change-maker at the forefront of the movement for compassion, justice, and equity for people and families impacted by substance use, overdose, and mental health. After losing her brother to an accidental polysubstance overdose in 2008, Chelsea channeled her grief into action — co-founding Live4Lali, a suburban Chicago-based organization delivering peer support, harm reduction outreach, advocacy, and education to thousands of people each year. In long-term recovery herself, Chelsea brings both lived experience and professional expertise to every space she enters. She is also the co-founder of the Lake County Opioid Initiative, the Illinois Harm Reduction & Recovery Coalition, and, most recently, Liberal Moms of the Northwest Suburbs, a grassroots community of progressive moms organizing for mutual support and advocacy. Chelsea holds a BA in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University and a Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA) with a Child & Family Mental Health specialization from Case Western Reserve University. She served as a Policy Fellow with the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy, shaping evidence-based approaches to drug policy at the state level. A certified Overdose Education & Naloxone Distribution (OEND) trainer since 2013 and SMART Recovery Facilitator since 2016, she remains deeply committed to meeting people where they are — and helping systems do the same. When she is not caring for her 7-year-old and infant sons, reading, writing, or eating as much pasta as possible, Chelsea supports individuals and communities through her psychotherapy practice and provides nonprofit consulting and lobbying services through CLB Strategies. Follow her journey on Instagram at @mentalhealth.chels. On this episode we talk about: What led her to start a nonprofit and get involved with advocacy at such a young age.How "getting political" might actually help us solve some of our biggest health problems.Small ways we can advocate for ourselves, our neighbors, and a better world overall. Why we feel imposter syndrome as women and what to do about it. Why so many people (moms especially) had many of the same concerns as us around health and landed on MAHA as a solution instead.How to build a village. So many other good things!Follow Chelsea on Instagram Liberal Moms of the Northwest SuburbsCheck out Chelsea's voter guide ⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠⁠

Today's episode almost didn't happen. Then I remembered that much like a workout, a 15 minute podcast episode still counts and is better than nothing. And also sometimes I have good ideas that don't get shared often enough. So here we are! On this episode we talk about: How I almost didn't record it, but then I remembered my own advice. Why "no excuses" is lazy coaching, IMO.Why I actually want to hear my client's excuses.Turning phrases like "excuses only satisfy those who give them" into something that can be helpful for YOU.The fact that some excuses are actually bullshit and how to tell if that's what yours are. How shame thrives in the dark and how putting things out there in the open take a lot of pressure off.The difference between a legit excuse and a barrier (that can be moved).What your excuses can tell you about what you about what you actually value and what's not working for you right now. So many other good things!⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠

Dr. Mel is back and this time we're not talking about our usual fitness and physical therapy stuff. We're talking shit about the Epstein files. Or more specifically, how we're coming to terms with the fact that the beauty standards pushed on us as teenagers were created by literal pedophiles. Dr. Melissa Cioffi is a physical therapist, women’s fitness coach, and owner of New Quest Physical Therapy. As a pelvic floor PT, Melissa is passionate about helping vagina owners discover the power they hold within their bodies that they never realized existed. Using a mix of movement and no-nonsense education, she helps folks learn how to finally use their body in ways they’ve never dreamed they could, instead of being afraid of it.On this episode we talk about: How we're feeling in the aftermath of the Epstein files.Les Wexner--the man behind the brands that shaped our millennial youth. The messages we received from the clothes, body splashes, and images we were sold and how that shaped our body image and self worth in our teens. The ways we normalized the horrible behavior in men and tried to impress them. Even the ones with dumpster mattresses and dirty sheets. Whether all of our youth obsessed beauty standards are actually rooted in pedophilia. The cringe things we did and said for the male gaze when we were younger. How these revelations are shaping the way we think about beauty standards now. How we distinguish whether or not we're doing things like shaving our legs or painting our nails for ourselves or for the male gaze. How we're reclaiming our style for our younger selves by dressing like unhinged My Little Pony and Demented Tinkerbell.The ways that all of this is related to many of our pelvic floor issues. The things that are bringing us joy and keeping us sane in these times. So many other important and hilarious things! Follow Dr. Mel on TikTokGet Dr. Mel's Core & Pelvic Floor Jumpstart Freebie⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Today's episode is inspired by a post I saw on Instagram last weekend where someone was asking if having a weight loss goal made them fatphobic. The comments section was interesting because a lot of people seemed very confused about what that word even means. I was tempted to write a novel in response, but them I remembered that I have a podcast. So I decided to turn my comment into content. In a world where every other person you know is taking a GLP-1 and being super skinny is cool again, we need to talk about the very real pull you might be feeling to lose weight. On this episode we talk about: What fatphobia even is (and why we shouldn't take the word literally). The difference between systemic fatphobia and internalized fatphobia.Why you might feel shame around having a weight loss goal even if nobody is actually shaming you. Why we need to stop considering being called "fatphobic" an insult and instead look at it for what it actually is. How our individual lived experiences about our weight and its correlation with our health and happiness affects our perception of weight loss. Why it's so important to not conflate health, fitness, and weight/body size. Better questions to ask yourself besides when part of you does want to lose weight. 3 books I recommend to help you unpack all of this for yourself. So many other important things! Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠

It's the second week in February and I know why your New Year's goals (or resolutions or intentions or whatever) didn't stick. It's the same reason they usually don't, and if you're more of a "New Year Same Me" kind of person, maybe you've known this all along. On this episode we talk about:The mind blowing realization I had when I realized that my goals for the New Year have been the same (and largely unachieved) for a few years now. The harsh reality of trying to work towards health, fitness, wellness, relationship, and even leisure related goals in a world that wasn't designed for us to be well or relax.How we've lost the plot (and perhaps been misled?)What needs to happen if we want next year to be different. So many other good things! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram

Today my good friend and former podcast guest Liz Brinkmoeller is back from her year off the internet! Or rather her year off Instagram and most other forms of social media. This is something that I and many other people I know have contemplated in the past few years, so I'm excited for her to share her experience with all of us. Liz Brinkmoeller has been a trainer/fitness instructor since 2014. She to be very diet culture and hustle culture focused but she slowly realized that it was getting her deeply burned out and depressed. Now she is a personal trainer with a full schedule of (mostly) ideal clients and much better work boundaries. She loves teaching people to get strong enough to smash the patriarchy. She has also recently started scull rowing and loves it! On this episode we talk about: ​What brought Liz to quit the internet (ok mostly just Instagram) for a whole year and what that looked like logistically. ​How being online too much was contributing to her burnout as a trainer.​Our hot takes on what the best and worst parts of the internet right now. ​What brought her back and how she's doing things differently this time.​How to reconcile staying informed with the news without burying your head in the sand or getting consumed by it.​Our predictions for the future of all things internet, social media, and tech. ​What's bringing Liz joy + small actions we can take to make the world a better place AND keep ourselves more sane. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠Download Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram

We are officially BACK for season 4 and I am feeling ever emboldened to keep running my mouth while I still can. On this episode we talk about: My origin story and how we got here.How some people still don't know what diet culture is but need to. Bringing things full circle for the new people who are already "political" but need to upgrade their approach to fitness to reflect those values. What you can expect for Season 4! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with meDownload Resistance Training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram

I am so thrilled to be able to share this conversation with Tia Levings with you today because if you don't know her and her work, you need to!Tia Levings is the New York Times Bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, her memoir of escape from Christian Patriarchy. She writes about the realities of religious trauma and the Trad wife life, decoding the fundamentalist influences in our news and culture. Her work and quotes have appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, the Huffington Post, and Newsweek. She also appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in North Carolina, she is mom to four incredible adults and likes to travel, hike, paint, and daydream. Find her on social media @TiaLevingsWriter and Substack at DeconstructingFundamentalism.com. Her second book releases with St. Martin’s Essentials May 5, 2026.On this episode we talk about: Tia's incredible life story that led her to be doing the work she does today.How we see it playing out in religion, in our homes, in our own lives, in our country as a whole. What could cause a person to gravitate to fundamentalist thinking and things we can do in our lives to push back against and avoid that.Parallels between what she experienced in her religion and home and what we sometimes get sucked into in fitness and wellness spaces.The pipeline from wellness to getting red pilled and how it happens.How to embrace more both/and thinking when our own experiences (a religion, dieting, our identity, life in general) have impacted us so profoundly that we just want to scream "NO YOU'RE WRONG!". How to reconcile doing that when some people are just terrible people with harmful ideas.Simple daily practices to keep ourselves grounded in a both/and sort of reality in a world that is increasingly polarized.How to we show up in our relationships when our loved ones see things so differently than we do.Insider info she wants to share with people as someone who was in a high control religion and marriage and got out.What to do if you see yourself in her story.So many other important things! ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to Tia's Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Tia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Read Tia's book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week we are diving deep into the world of eating disorders and recovery, and much like all of the work I do here, Mallary Tenore Tarpley is here to help us embrace the gray area between being sick and fully recovered. She's here to normalize living in the in between place when you're trying to heal, and share some things that you may not have known about eating disorders. This topic is hard to talk about without dipping into some potentially triggering topics, so honor yourself and your own journey as you listen, especially if you are in early eating disorder recovery. Mallary Tenore is an assistant professor of practice at The University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism and Media and McCombs School of Business, where she teaches writing and reporting courses for undergraduate and graduate students. Mallary specializes in a variety of topics, including longform feature writing, creative nonfiction, solutions journalism and nonprofit journalism.A longtime journalist, Mallary's articles and essays have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Tampa Bay Times, Harvard University’s Nieman Storyboard and more. She also maintains a weekly newsletter, Write at the Edge, where she shares writing tips and best practices. Mallary’s debut nonfiction book, “SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery,” will be published by Simon & Schuster's Simon Element imprint and is now available for pre-order. The book blends immersive reporting, emerging science and social history around eating disorders alongside Mallary’s own harrowing journey from a childhood with anorexia to her present-day reality as a mother in recovery. While working on the book, Mallary received a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support her reporting and writing. On this episode we talk about: Mallary's experience developing an eating disorder as a child that led her to write this book.  The most surprising discoveries she made about eating disorders while researching for her book?The social history of eating disorders. (And the wild parallels to what's happening today.)How anorexia can reduce your brain size, specifically gray matter.Things is life that can cause "slips" in recovery. How she hopes to redefine how we see slips and eating disorder recovery as a whole.The biggest things that are perpetuating eating disorders today.Getting treatment for your eating disorder when you don't fit the traditional mold of what we think an eating disorder looks like.What she wishes society knew and did differently when it comes to eating disorders.So many other important things! ⁠Subscribe to Mallary's Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Mallary on Instagram⁠⁠⁠Watch Mallary's TV interview⁠⁠Pre-order Mallary's book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

I can't seem to let go of the need to talk about the current social and political climate, the rise of fascism and authoritarianism, and how it relates to fitness, wellness, diet culture, and everything I do here. I wanted to approach this topic from a historical lens, so I knew that Jen Borruso was the person I needed to talk to. We've known each other for years professionally, but as a friend she has always be my go-to person when I want to learn more about the historical context behind something. I'm so excited for you to learn from her today! Jen Borruso is a personal trainer and nutrition coach who helps people build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with their bodies. Before entering the fitness world, Jen studied history and literature at the University of Central Florida, earning a Bachelor’s degree in History (with a focus on post-Civil War U.S. history) and a minor in English, with an emphasis on American Literature. Originally planning to become a high school teacher and possibly pursue law school, Jen developed a strong foundation in critical thinking, analysis, and understanding how historical and cultural forces shape the present. Reading Fearing the Black Body by Dr. Sabrina Strings was a pivotal moment in Jen’s learning journey, deepening her understanding of how diet culture is rooted in systems of control and oppression, including racism and the policing of bodies.Today, Jen works at the intersection of fitness and social justice, exploring how we can resist harmful narratives about health, worth, and perfection; and build a more inclusive, body-positive world.On this episode we talk about: Jen's origin story as a history major turned fitness professional. Ways that diet culture and fascism are two flavors of the same shit sandwich. What fascism is, why we need to be concerned, and whether or not we're being too dramatic. Historical examples of fascist regimes as a cautionary tale for what we're slipping into today.How purity culture, whiteness and national identity play into this and how it's showing up right now. The dangers of seemingly innocent things like hyperfemininity, tradwife content, and skinnytok. How things like fat liberation, body neutrality, and feminism, are a way to reject both diet culture and fascist ideals and participate in political resistance. How capitalism plays into all of this.Attempts to whitewash history and demonize intellectualism, and books we can read to further our knowledge.So many other important things! ⁠Work with Jen ⁠⁠Follow Jen on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

Lunges. Probably one of the most hated exercises, second only to burpees. I have solutions for you!On this episode we talk about:Common reasons people hate lunges.Solutions, workarounds, and swaps based on each.Why there is no one right way to lunge.The importance of understanding why you are doing certain exercises.What I teach my clients so that they can make swaps without me.How to apply this knowledge to any exercise you aren't a fan of. So many other good things! ⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠-December Deals ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠

This episode is a bit of a crossover episode--a sneak peek at something I shared with my clients on my private podcast (yes I have one of those for my clients!) the other day. Today I'm letting you in on the habits and qualities of my most successful clients. On this episode we talk about: Defining "success". What does this even mean for each of us?The value of being resourceful and scrappy.Why the way we view and bounce back from failure is more important than how often we fail.Passively consuming content vs. actively implementing it. Why I want you to reach out when you're struggling. The ever important reminder that progress isn't linear.Why small actions over a long period of time matter.The importance of self-awareness. Being more curious than judgmental.Scope of practice for trainers! The value of being coachable. Changing your opinion when presented with new information.Problems (and good things!) about program hopping. Why I want my clients to befriend each other. Advocating for yourself and asking for what you need.Why I LOVE when my clients question my choices for their workouts. Going DEEP into this work. So many other good things! ⁠Work with me⁠-December Deals! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠⁠

Today's podcast is brought to you by listeners like you! Or at least the conversations I've had with you in response to last weeks episode with Vinny Welsby. Apparently weight loss drugs are a popular topic and you all have a lot of your own thoughts and opinions about them. After dedicating a whole episode to talking about the research behind medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, I'm back to talk about feelings. Like the complicated ones you have around whether or not to try these drugs. Or the fact that you want to lose weight in general.On this episode we talk about: Some of the conversations I've had recently with clients, family, and friends around weight loss medication and intentional weight loss in general.Why there is no shade or shame to anyone who chooses to try this. AND why you need to have alll the information before you go all in with it--including the failure stories we don't usually hear about. The reasons you might be feeling the pull to lose weight at this point in time. The questions you need to be asking yourself and your medical provider before going down this path.So many other good things! ⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠

Vinny Welsby is here today, and I could not think of anyone better to talk to about weight loss drugs with. They have done a really deep dive into research and know these GLP-1 meds inside and out. We all deserve to go into big medical decisions armed with all the information and we're so glad to be able to share what we know with you today! Vinny Welsby (they/them) is a fat activist and diversity, equity and inclusion leader. They are a world-leading expert on dismantling anti-fat bias and diet culture, a TEDx speaker, podcast host and best-selling author. Vinny is trans-non-binary and is dedicated to shifting how society views fat and queer bodies through education and compassion.When Vinny isn’t talking about DEI stuff they love snuggling with their dog, cross-stitching swear words and singing in a pop choir. On this episode we talk about: All the different names & varieties that weight loss drugs go by these days.Why they may not be the "miracle" drug we think they are.The latest research surrounding them and why it may not be showing is the full picture.How much weight you can expect to lose on a GLP-1.What happens when you go off it.Side effects you may experience that nobody talks about.How to talk to your doctor about it. Why you might be feeling the pull to try one and why we don't fault you for that. Diets and weight loss drugs throughout history--is this just another flavor of the same shit sandwich??So many other good things! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with & Follow Vinny In All the Places⁠⁠⁠Get Vinny's Size Diversity Resource Guide ⁠⁠Get Vinny's Fat At Work Report⁠⁠Get Vinny's Fat In Healthcare Report⁠⁠Diets Through the Decades Post⁠⁠Wegovy/Ozempic Research Post⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

Erin Lingle is here this week to teach us how to manage our stress better. I don't know about you, but I always laugh at the suggestion of lowering my stress levels. Ummm hello! I am the mom of a 4 year old. I live in America! What I appreciate most about Erin is her incredible sense of humor and her very realistic approach to handling the inevitable stress that's gonna come our way. Erin Lingle, founder of Find Your Strength, is a personal trainer on a mission to equip women with the tools they need to not just survive, but thrive, no matter how messy life gets. Through her integrated approach of strength and conditioning and stress resilience training, she empowers women to build inner and outer strength. Her compassion extends to her three rescued pups, "team R," highlighting her belief in resilience and love.On this episode we talk about: Erin's origin story and what managing grief and anxiety helped her learn about how to handle stress better.What it means to "stress better".Stress resilience training and the parallels between that and strength training. Simple ways to manage your stress differently in those moments when it's simply unavoidable.The duality of working out/strength training as stressor on the body AND stress relief.How to approach your workouts differently in high stress vs. lower stress times. What to add more of and/ortake away from your workouts when life get's stressful or you're experiencing specific mental health challenges.The most underrated things we can do to support our minds and bodies.The joy of coffee naps, improvisation, and generally doing weird shit. So many other good things! ⁠⁠⁠Work with Erin⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Erin on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn how to stress better ⁠⁠Get a free week inside Erin's online community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

Ashantis Jones is back this week and we're talking all about the relationship between healthism and the rise of fascism. I know, fun right? But as we often discover, it's all different flavors of the same shit sandwich. And if we really wanna be healthy, we need to talk about the hard stuff too! Turns out it's not all just organic hemp seeds and kale chips.Ashantis Jones (she/they) is a weight-inclusive Licensed Therapist, Mental Health Coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, and Educator. She supports individuals seeking mental health + fitness support and businesses seeking to create more efficient and equitable practices. Specialties include Body Image/Eating Disorder Recovery, Executive Functioning, and Navigating Systems of Oppression.The Wellness Financial Fund provides full or partial financial assistance for individuals seeking personal training and/or wellness consultations (coffee chats) from Ashantis. The fund prioritizes financial support for Black women, but anyone is eligible to request sponsorship.On this episode we talk about: The problem with the new potential surgeon general.Why many wellness influencers say things that seem to make sense on a surface level but don't actually work in practice or have evidence to back them up.How many of the ways we think about health can be rooted in bad things like eugenics, and how it's a slippery slope.Why we need to embrace nuance and let go of black and white thinking when it comes to wellness and public health policy.Why it's important to dig a little deeper and look at the root cause of our health problems as Americans (which is more systemic than we realize.Why we think Americans rely so heavily on processed foods and what our solutions would look like.Why we need to look at the wellness media we're consuming with a more critical eye.So many other good things! ⁠Work with Ashantis⁠⁠Follow Ashantis on Instagram⁠⁠Follow Ashantis on TikTok⁠⁠Check Out Ashantis on Sunroom⁠⁠Join Body Kind Nutrition⁠⁠Donate to The Wellness Fund⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠

I finally decided to stop rolling my eyes and record an episode about what it takes to get toned arms. Because while I had hoped we were all past this, the amount of questions I've gotten about this over the years, plus the amount of garbage information still being fed to you on the internet made me cave. If you don't need to hear this, I am certain that there is someone in your life who does. Please share this episode with your mom, your best friend, or your client. This episode shares info that might be considered "triggering" to some in the anti-diet community. I'm sharing it anyway, because it feels like the same thing as why offering sex education to teenagers is better than preaching abstinence. Knowledge is power! On this episode we talk about: The surprising amount of times I am told "I don't want to get too muscular, I just wanna get toned."Why there are no "3 best exercises for toned arms".Why you literally have to build muscle if you want to look "toned". The actual exercise science behind what it takes to change your body composition.Why I don't typically recommend obsessing over this for most clients. How much control we actual have over our body composition (some, but not as much as we think.)My take on "calories in/calories out". So many other important things!⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠

This episode with Toni Rudd blew my mind and filled in all sorts gaps in my understanding of intuitive eating, and I can't wait to share it with you! Turns out that lack of willpower and food restriction might not be the only reasons you can't seem to stop overeating, and Toni is here to shine a light on it today.Toni Rudd is a UK-registered dietitian and binge eating specialist. She works with people who feel stuck in the cycle of dieting and bingeing, helping them heal their relationship with food and body. Through a compassionate, non-diet approach, Toni supports her clients to let go of food guilt, eat with more ease, and stop obsessing over food. Her work focuses on building consistent, satisfying eating habits and shifting the focus away from control towards self-trust and care.On this episode we talk about: Toni's origin story and how she came to be doing the work she does today. Why dieting and bingeing are two sides of the same coin.Why willpower and discipline might not be the solutions you're looking for. Secret eating, nighttime eating, food shame, falling off the wagon, and other flavors of eating issues that aren't quite binge eating. Some of the surprising things that could lead to binge eating beyond just dieting.Why so many of us know so much about food and nutrition but can't seem to apply it. How content around intuitive eating can trick us into thinking we're doing it, except we're not.What's missing in the current intuitive eating space, and how can we fill those gaps for ourselves and/or our clients.So many other good things! ⁠⁠⁠Work with Toni⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Toni on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠

This week I have not one but TWO of my clients on the podcast! Miranda and Steph are here to talk about all things fitness trackers. Specifically how we've been using our Apple watches to enhance our experience of our workouts, daily movement, working towards performance goals, recovery, and more. We've been working on these things together in our 1:1 sessions and now we're ready to share our insights with you. On this episode we talk about: Our early (obsessive) fitness tracking experience.How it evolved as we started giving up diet culture.What made us come back around to it and where we are in our relationship to it now. What helped us get to that place. Things that still annoy us about our Apple watches vs. things we think are cool/neutral data. Advice for someone on the fence about tracking fitness data. Avoiding triggers vs. curiosity.So many other good things! ⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠

I am back from my podcasting hiatus because things in Chicago and across the country are getting pretty bad pretty fast and I wanna run my mouth while I'm still allowed. We are here because when I found myself feeling hopeless a few weeks ago, I got involved with my local Indivisible chapter and it gave me a sense of purpose and community in a world that often feels irreparably fucked. I met Ishaan there and immediately knew we needed to come together to spread the word about No Kings and building a peaceful resistance.Ishaan Srivastava is a GenZ progressive activist, and has been very active in Illinois politics. He has also been the host of The Ishaan S. Show, his political news podcast, since 2021. Ishaan is an advocate for GenZ involvement in politics, and informing people about ways to get involved! On this episode we talk about: How Ishaan got into the work he's doing as a GenZ political activist. Why I came out of podcasting hiatus to talk to him about it. How so many people (especially GenZ!) got pulled to the right in the last election cycle and what we on the left need to do differently. All the different ways to participate in peaceful resistance when things feel hopeless. What to do if you want to protest but are concerned about your safety. Why we continue to gather to push back against the current administration and how you can build community of your own (or join ours!)What No Kings is and why you should come to one of our events on October 18th. So many other good things! **Please know that this conversation represents the views of myself and Ishaan and may or may not reflect the diverse views of Indivisible as an organization or its members.Ishaan's Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Ishaan on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Ishaan on TikTokNo Kings Chicago Suburban Rally 10/18No Kings Sign Making Party in Arlington HeightsFind a No Kings event or Indivisible chapter near you⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Resistance training ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠

⁠⁠Another shorty episode coming at you today. I'm sharing a topic that comes up a lot for my clients and a concept that I came up with called the "fitness hierarchy of needs". Many of us obsess over small details that don't really matter when it comes to our fitness. On this episode we talk about what you wanna have in place first to build a strong fitness foundation, so that you can keep things moving even when life kicks you in the ass.⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠

Forget training for your bikini body. Ali Kreider is here today to talk about training for our old lady bodies and I couldn't be more excited to share this episode! Ali Kreider is a certified personal trainer & group fitness coach, empowering women to develop a self-compassionate approach to movement. She helps clients build strength & resilience that allows them to handle life outside of the gym with more confidence & ease. On this episode we talk about: How Ali got interested in her training niche. Ways the fitness industry has failed previous generations.What we both hope to do differently to influence our clients for the better. Things to focus on & keep in mind when training clients and yourself to be a strong old lady.Our concerns with "heroin chic" body trends coming back around and how this harms our chances of staying strong and independent as we age. Myths she'd like to bust about strength training as we get older.So many other good things! ⁠⁠⁠Work with Ali⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Ali on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠

Julie Duffy Dillon is here today for an episode that feels very full circle to me. I originally heard her on several other anti-diet podcasts when I was very new to this work, and I am so excited to be able to share her on mine. Her new book, "Find Your Food Voice" just came out, and it's filling such an important void in the intuitive eating space. If you've ever felt like intuitive eating didn't work for you, or that you have a hard time connecting with what your body is asking for, this episode is for you! Julie Duffy Dillon is a seasoned dietitian trained as a mental health counselor and podcast host of Find Your Food Voice®, a Top 100 Nutrition Podcast on Apple Podcasts. Featured on TLC's My Big Fat Fabulous Life, Julie helps people with a complicated relationship with food better access non diet tools like Intuitive Eating and strategize how to remove the shame and blame dumped on them from diet culture. She teaches dietitians, counselors, doctors, and other health professionals to do the same through clinical supervision, writing, media, and speaking engagements. Julie holds a MS degree in Community Counseling, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and a Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Supervisor.On this episode we talk about: Julie's origin story and what led her to doing the work she's doing today.The client work that led her to write her book Find Your Food Voice.The very important gaps her books is filling in the current anti-diet/intuitive eating space.Food noise. What it is, how it shows up, and how we can start to quiet it. Our opinions on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic. Diet trauma and how it may have affected us without us even realizing it. How our diet trauma affects our ability to hear what our bodies are saying.Why some people feel like intuitive eating doesn't work for them.Food addiction. Is it real?So many other mind blowing things! ⁠Buy Julie's book⁠⁠Find Julie online⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠

Emily Decker is here to talk about something that I know has been on a LOT of our minds lately: How do we stay informed and get involved in activism in a way that makes a difference without burning ourselves out?Today we are talking about that and so much more! Emily Decker is a somatic-based, trauma-informed, body-neutral personal trainer with a master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern California. She works with people in person in Los Angeles and virtually across the country to shift how they conceptualize exercise and find empowerment and fulfillment in movement. On this episode we talk about: How Emily became the brilliant somatic trainer that she is and how she started integrating activism into her business. How to get involved with activism without while still protecting your peace and supporting your mental health.Examples of the little (and big!) ways we can take action as individuals and as communities depending on our capacity.What somatic resourcing for activism is and how it can help us prevent burnout. How we can set boundaries and be strategic about the information we consume. How our voices really DO matter and how all the little things count. How all of this relates to the way we approach fitness.So many other good and important things! ⁠⁠Work with Emily ⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Emily on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠

Chelsea Clarke is here today! Our conversation was inspired by something she posted in her Instagram stories a few weeks ago that hit a little too close to home for me. The very real struggle that happens when Western medicine isn't helping you but wholistic wellness feels like a scam. Chelsea is here to help us navigate the gray area in between. Chelsea Clarke is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Personal Trainer, and owner of Balance Chaos Nutrition + Fitness. She's based in San Diego, California, and works with clients virtually across many states in the U.S. Chelsea holds a Master’s degree in Food Policy and Applied Nutrition from Tufts University and completed her dietetics training at Simmons University. Her fitness career started over 14 years ago at Equinox luxury gyms, where she gained extensive experience as a personal trainer. She's been a registered dietitian for over six years, and loves combining her knowledge of nutrition and fitness to help clients thrive. Now, as a dietitian specializing in sports performance, she helps athletes of all ages navigate nutrition in a way that supports their health, prevents RED-S, and fosters recovery from eating disorders or disordered eating. When she's not working as a nutrition & fitness coach, you can find her strolling the beach with her dog, Waldo, training Olympic lifts in the gym, practicing aerial ropes, and expressing herself through her nail art!On this episode we talk about: Chelsea's backstory and how she got into the work she's doing today. Her personal experience seeking medical care and what led her to seek out more wholistic wellness options. How Western medicine sometimes fails us AND how alternative medicine options can also be scammy. Red flags to watch out for when it comes to grifty things in wholistic wellness and how to not get scammed.How this stuff gets dismissed by people in our anti-diet community and why we need to approach this stuff with more nuance as providers.How we can prevent disordered eating when using some of these approaches.How to navigate the gray area between both worlds. So many other important things! ⁠Work Chelsea⁠⁠Follow Chelsea on Instagram⁠⁠Follow @soberishnutrition on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack

If you haven't already heard of today's guest, it's about time you did! I've been singing Damali Fraiser's praises as one of the wisest and most thorough kettlebell coaches I've had the privilege of learning from. Today she's sharing all that goodness with us! Meet Coach Damali, pronouns she/her. Damali is a compassionate Kettlebell Expert, author, speaker, fitness / nutrition coach and founder of Lift off Strength & Wellness. Damali is known for her unapologetic opposition to diet culture in the kettlebell community and as a passionate educator who will help you learn to train with kettlebells safely. Through her Inclusive Kettlebell Coach course and certification programs, you learn to teach kettlebells from an intersectional lens that's size-inclusive, trauma-informed, judgement-free and for every BODY (emphasis on the body because humanity has always had body diversity)You can connect with Damali on her website liftoffstrength.ca, on Instagram @‌Damali.Fraiser, TikTok and on YouTube @‌liftoffstrength or through her retreats for Black Women and women of colour (WOC) in Kettlebells @‌kettlebellsinblack.On this episode we talk about: ⁠⁠Work with Damali⁠⁠⁠Follow Damali on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack

Today I am thrilled to be talking to Dr. Jen Hosler--a genius of a physical therapist and strength coach whose work I am constantly referring my clients to. What she has to share about pain science is absolutely mind blowing.Dr. Jen is a physical therapist and strength coach dedicated to bridging the gap between fitness and rehab. With degrees in exercise science and physical therapy, combined with her own experience of chronic pain and injuries, Jen’s mission is to help people move better, build resilience, and achieve their goals without pain or limitations. She works with everyday gym-goers to overcome nagging injuries and movement restrictions while mentoring fitness & movement professionals to confidently do the same for their clients.On this episode we talk about:What Jen learned from her experience as a teenager with scoliosis, knee injuries, and chronic pain.What physical therapy school missed and how she filled those gaps to help her clients healing better.Bridging the gap between rehabbing injuries & getting back to high level activities.How lifestyle factors and mindset affect our experience of pain.Why we both hate the phrase "be careful".Things to consider before you resort to surgery or settle for a lifetime of braces and orthotics.How mobility work (different than stretching) can benefit just about everyone.Why you can't "Amazon Prime" your recovery from injury.Why your chronic pain isn't hopeless.So many other good things!⁠Work with Dr. Jen⁠⁠Follow Jen on Instagram⁠⁠Listen to Jen's Podcast⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack

Today's conversation is with one of the most interesting humans I've ever met: my longtime friend Maria Tate! Our personal history goes way back to when we met working with the same Chicago dance company in 2009. I'll let their professional bio speak for itself! Maria recently returned to the US  after spending two years with the internationally recognized Phare Ponleu Selpak Association, home of Phare The Cambodian Circus. During their time in Cambodia Maria directed, produced and choreographed a world premiere circus for Phare, toured Cambodia with Circo Inzir, led a tour and performed with Spark! Circus in Thailand, and served on the board of Caravan Circus Network based in Brussels, Belgium. Maria is a member of the Professional Training Program at Aloft Circus Arts, where they also coach kids classes. Once an elementary music teacher, Maria has been teaching music, dance, circus and theatre to kids since they were 13 and assisted with their little sister's ballet class, dressed up as a baby elephant. Maria's other skills include clowning, choreography, opera, ballet, contemporary dance and reading too way many books at the same time. Maria also REALLY loves tacos. On this episode we talk about: Their "Eat Pray Love" style journey of getting divorced and running off to join the circus.Their adventures performing overseas and how it's shifted their perspective and worldview around so many things. How she got into circus and how it compares to their previous experience as a professional dancer.Breaking age and body standard barriers in the circus.Discovering your true gender identity and living as your most authentic self.So many other good things! ⁠Follow Maria on Instagram⁠⁠Help fund Maria's circus training⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠

If you're anything like me, your nervous system needs some serious help right now, because it's January 2025. (Need I say more?!) Kate Zanoni is here to help us get outside to calm the fuck down.Kate Zanoni is a movement coach for outdoor athletes, specializing in injury reduction, rehabilitation, mobility, and strength training for return to sport. With more than a decade of experience in orthopedics and sports medicine, she teaches sustainable habits to help you train for longevity so you can continue enjoying your favorite activities for years to come. She finds joy in connecting with nature and building community through a love for wild and beautiful places. Kate is also a writer and author. Her debut children’s book will be released in late 2025. On this episode we talk about: The science behind spending time in nature for nervous system regulation. The power of grounding & what it's all about. The benefits of going barefoot/barefoot training. How to find nature in an urban area. How to get yourself out in nature & what to wear in the winter when you live someplace cold. So many other good things!⁠Work with Kate⁠⁠Follow Kate on Instagram⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram

Christina is back with another crossover/collab episode after a long hiatus! I wanted to share a convo that I've been having a lot behind the scenes: what happens when you get bored with consuming all the anti-diet content out there? You just BE.On this episode we talk about: How hard it can be to live your life and truly embody anti-diet culture when you have to perform it on the internet as a part of your business. The full circle journey of going from diet culture, to anti-diet, to incorporating what you've learned into other areas of your life as a whole human. All the random things we've both been into lately. The parallels between different kinds of creative expression and having an intuitive movement practice. So many other deep AND frivolous things! ⁠Work with me⁠⁠Follow me on Instragram⁠⁠Work with Christina⁠⁠Follow Christina on Instagram

This week Jo Piazza is here, and if you don't know her, you need to!! I discovered her podcast, Under the Influence last year, and was drawn in by the way she exposes social media bullshit in the same way I call out the fitness industry. She introduced me to mind blowing stories about tradwives, the wellness to right wing conspiracy theory pipeline, and all the ways social media makes women feel like garbage. My hope is that it will help you become a more critical consumer of social media and avoid going down conspiracy theory rabbit holes the next time you're just looking for a banana bread recipe. Jo Piazza is the international bestselling author of The Sicilian Inheritance and twelve other books. She is also the creator of the wildly popular Under the Influence podcast. She lives in Philly with her husband and three feral children.On this episode we talk about: The work Jo is doing and who she is as a whole human (because that matters too!)What exactly a "tradwife" is, in case you didn't know. The wellness to right-wing conspiracy theory pipeline, and the path that people typically follow to get there.How content like this can suck women into believing disinformation that can cause them to act/vote against their own best interests.Red flags to watch out for when you want to make sure you don't get scammed into weird shit on the internet. How the broken U.S. medical system and lack of support for women and moms can cause us to turn to internet grifters for advice. How trad-wife and wellness content makes us feel about ourselves as regular ass women in the world. ⁠⁠Follow Jo on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen To Under the Influence⁠⁠⁠⁠Listen to We've Got Issues⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy the Sicilian Inheritance⁠⁠⁠⁠Preorder Everyone Is Lying To You⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me-Kettlebell Social ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me 1:1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow & tag me on Instagram⁠⁠

The season 3 finale is here! On this episode we talk about: A recap of season 3 of this podcast + life lessons I've learned along the way.Where my head's been at and why there's been such an uptick in political content this season. The surrealness and joy of being able to talk to cool people and record the conversations for you all. When we're coming back for season 4 and what you can expect while you wait. So many other good things! ⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠

I am so thrilled to be able to share this conversation with Tia Levings with you today because if you don't know her and her work, you need to!Tia Levings is the New York Times Bestselling author of A Well-Trained Wife, her memoir of escape from Christian Patriarchy. She writes about the realities of religious trauma and the Trad wife life, decoding the fundamentalist influences in our news and culture. Her work and quotes have appeared in Teen Vogue, Salon, the Huffington Post, and Newsweek. She also appeared in the hit Amazon docu-series, Shiny Happy People. Based in North Carolina, she is mom to four incredible adults and likes to travel, hike, paint, and daydream. Find her on social media @TiaLevingsWriter and Substack at DeconstructingFundamentalism.com. Her second book releases with St. Martin’s Essentials May 5, 2026.On this episode we talk about: Tia's incredible life story that led her to be doing the work she does today.How we see it playing out in religion, in our homes, in our own lives, in our country as a whole. What could cause a person to gravitate to fundamentalist thinking and things we can do in our lives to push back against and avoid that.Parallels between what she experienced in her religion and home and what we sometimes get sucked into in fitness and wellness spaces.The pipeline from wellness to getting red pilled and how it happens.How to embrace more both/and thinking when our own experiences (a religion, dieting, our identity, life in general) have impacted us so profoundly that we just want to scream "NO YOU'RE WRONG!". How to reconcile doing that when some people are just terrible people with harmful ideas.Simple daily practices to keep ourselves grounded in a both/and sort of reality in a world that is increasingly polarized.How to we show up in our relationships when our loved ones see things so differently than we do.Insider info she wants to share with people as someone who was in a high control religion and marriage and got out.What to do if you see yourself in her story.So many other important things! ⁠⁠Subscribe to Tia's Substack ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Tia on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Read Tia's book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

This week we are diving deep into the world of eating disorders and recovery, and much like all of the work I do here, Mallary Tenore Tarpley is here to help us embrace the gray area between being sick and fully recovered. She's here to normalize living in the in between place when you're trying to heal, and share some things that you may not have known about eating disorders. This topic is hard to talk about without dipping into some potentially triggering topics, so honor yourself and your own journey as you listen, especially if you are in early eating disorder recovery. Mallary Tenore is an assistant professor of practice at The University of Texas at Austin's School of Journalism and Media and McCombs School of Business, where she teaches writing and reporting courses for undergraduate and graduate students. Mallary specializes in a variety of topics, including longform feature writing, creative nonfiction, solutions journalism and nonprofit journalism.A longtime journalist, Mallary's articles and essays have been published in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Tampa Bay Times, Harvard University’s Nieman Storyboard and more. She also maintains a weekly newsletter, Write at the Edge, where she shares writing tips and best practices. Mallary’s debut nonfiction book, “SLIP: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery,” will be published by Simon & Schuster's Simon Element imprint and is now available for pre-order. The book blends immersive reporting, emerging science and social history around eating disorders alongside Mallary’s own harrowing journey from a childhood with anorexia to her present-day reality as a mother in recovery. While working on the book, Mallary received a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to support her reporting and writing. On this episode we talk about: Mallary's experience developing an eating disorder as a child that led her to write this book.  The most surprising discoveries she made about eating disorders while researching for her book?The social history of eating disorders. (And the wild parallels to what's happening today.)How anorexia can reduce your brain size, specifically gray matter.Things is life that can cause "slips" in recovery. How she hopes to redefine how we see slips and eating disorder recovery as a whole.The biggest things that are perpetuating eating disorders today.Getting treatment for your eating disorder when you don't fit the traditional mold of what we think an eating disorder looks like.What she wishes society knew and did differently when it comes to eating disorders.So many other important things! Subscribe to Mallary's Substack ⁠⁠Follow Mallary on Instagram⁠Watch Mallary's TV interviewPre-order Mallary's book⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

I can't seem to let go of the need to talk about the current social and political climate, the rise of fascism and authoritarianism, and how it relates to fitness, wellness, diet culture, and everything I do here. I wanted to approach this topic from a historical lens, so I knew that Jen Borruso was the person I needed to talk to. We've known each other for years professionally, but as a friend she has always be my go-to person when I want to learn more about the historical context behind something. I'm so excited for you to learn from her today! Jen Borruso is a personal trainer and nutrition coach who helps people build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with their bodies. Before entering the fitness world, Jen studied history and literature at the University of Central Florida, earning a Bachelor’s degree in History (with a focus on post-Civil War U.S. history) and a minor in English, with an emphasis on American Literature. Originally planning to become a high school teacher and possibly pursue law school, Jen developed a strong foundation in critical thinking, analysis, and understanding how historical and cultural forces shape the present. Reading Fearing the Black Body by Dr. Sabrina Strings was a pivotal moment in Jen’s learning journey, deepening her understanding of how diet culture is rooted in systems of control and oppression, including racism and the policing of bodies.Today, Jen works at the intersection of fitness and social justice, exploring how we can resist harmful narratives about health, worth, and perfection; and build a more inclusive, body-positive world.On this episode we talk about: Jen's origin story as a history major turned fitness professional. Ways that diet culture and fascism are two flavors of the same shit sandwich. What fascism is, why we need to be concerned, and whether or not we're being too dramatic. Historical examples of fascist regimes as a cautionary tale for what we're slipping into today.How purity culture, whiteness and national identity play into this and how it's showing up right now. The dangers of seemingly innocent things like hyperfemininity, tradwife content, and skinnytok. How things like fat liberation, body neutrality, and feminism, are a way to reject both diet culture and fascist ideals and participate in political resistance. How capitalism plays into all of this.Attempts to whitewash history and demonize intellectualism, and books we can read to further our knowledge.So many other important things! Work with Jen Follow Jen on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

Today's podcast is brought to you by listeners like you! Or at least the conversations I've had with you in response to last weeks episode with Vinny Welsby. Apparently weight loss drugs are a popular topic and you all have a lot of your own thoughts and opinions about them. After dedicating a whole episode to talking about the research behind medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, I'm back to talk about feelings. Like the complicated ones you have around whether or not to try these drugs. Or the fact that you want to lose weight in general.On this episode we talk about: Some of the conversations I've had recently with clients, family, and friends around weight loss medication and intentional weight loss in general.Why there is no shade or shame to anyone who chooses to try this. AND why you need to have alll the information before you go all in with it--including the failure stories we don't usually hear about. The reasons you might be feeling the pull to lose weight at this point in time. The questions you need to be asking yourself and your medical provider before going down this path.So many other good things! ⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠

Vinny Welsby is here today, and I could not think of anyone better to talk to about weight loss drugs with. They have done a really deep dive into research and know these GLP-1 meds inside and out. We all deserve to go into big medical decisions armed with all the information and we're so glad to be able to share what we know with you today! Vinny Welsby (they/them) is a fat activist and diversity, equity and inclusion leader. They are a world-leading expert on dismantling anti-fat bias and diet culture, a TEDx speaker, podcast host and best-selling author. Vinny is trans-non-binary and is dedicated to shifting how society views fat and queer bodies through education and compassion.When Vinny isn’t talking about DEI stuff they love snuggling with their dog, cross-stitching swear words and singing in a pop choir. On this episode we talk about: All the different names & varieties that weight loss drugs go by these days.Why they may not be the "miracle" drug we think they are.The latest research surrounding them and why it may not be showing is the full picture.How much weight you can expect to lose on a GLP-1.What happens when you go off it.Side effects you may experience that nobody talks about.How to talk to your doctor about it. Why you might be feeling the pull to try one and why we don't fault you for that. Diets and weight loss drugs throughout history--is this just another flavor of the same shit sandwich??So many other good things! ⁠⁠⁠Work with & Follow Vinny In All the Places⁠Get Vinny's Size Diversity Resource Guide Get Vinny's Fat At Work ReportGet Vinny's Fat In Healthcare ReportDiets Through the Decades PostWegovy/Ozempic Research Post⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

Erin Lingle is here this week to teach us how to manage our stress better. I don't know about you, but I always laugh at the suggestion of lowering my stress levels. Ummm hello! I am the mom of a 4 year old. I live in America! What I appreciate most about Erin is her incredible sense of humor and her very realistic approach to handling the inevitable stress that's gonna come our way. Erin Lingle, founder of Find Your Strength, is a personal trainer on a mission to equip women with the tools they need to not just survive, but thrive, no matter how messy life gets. Through her integrated approach of strength and conditioning and stress resilience training, she empowers women to build inner and outer strength. Her compassion extends to her three rescued pups, "team R," highlighting her belief in resilience and love.On this episode we talk about: Erin's origin story and what managing grief and anxiety helped her learn about how to handle stress better.What it means to "stress better".Stress resilience training and the parallels between that and strength training. Simple ways to manage your stress differently in those moments when it's simply unavoidable.The duality of working out/strength training as stressor on the body AND stress relief.How to approach your workouts differently in high stress vs. lower stress times. What to add more of and/ortake away from your workouts when life get's stressful or you're experiencing specific mental health challenges.The most underrated things we can do to support our minds and bodies.The joy of coffee naps, improvisation, and generally doing weird shit. So many other good things! ⁠⁠Work with Erin⁠⁠Follow Erin on Instagram⁠⁠Learn how to stress better Get a free week inside Erin's online community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Where my fellow DIY girls at? If you know anything about me, you know that I love a good home improvement project. For the past few summers, I've been doing ongoing maintenance on my deck.Working on things like this always gives me time to let me mind wander, and as I was painting a few weeks ago, I had so many lightbulb moments that I knew I needed to record a podcast episode about it! On this episode we talk about: Why our goals often take way longer to achieve than we think they will, and maybe that's ok?Doing anything well takes wayyyyy longer than a quick fix, but it's so worth it. How strength training prepares you for things in real life outside the gymWhy you don't need to stress so much about "good form".Why reaching your goals doesn't always feel the way we think it's going to. How allll of this related to fitness, of course. ⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠⁠

Ashantis Jones is back this week and we're talking all about the relationship between healthism and the rise of fascism. I know, fun right? But as we often discover, it's all different flavors of the same shit sandwich. And if we really wanna be healthy, we need to talk about the hard stuff too! Turns out it's not all just organic hemp seeds and kale chips.Ashantis Jones (she/they) is a weight-inclusive Licensed Therapist, Mental Health Coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, and Educator. She supports individuals seeking mental health + fitness support and businesses seeking to create more efficient and equitable practices. Specialties include Body Image/Eating Disorder Recovery, Executive Functioning, and Navigating Systems of Oppression.The Wellness Financial Fund provides full or partial financial assistance for individuals seeking personal training and/or wellness consultations (coffee chats) from Ashantis. The fund prioritizes financial support for Black women, but anyone is eligible to request sponsorship.On this episode we talk about: The problem with the new potential surgeon general.Why many wellness influencers say things that seem to make sense on a surface level but don't actually work in practice or have evidence to back them up.How many of the ways we think about health can be rooted in bad things like eugenics, and how it's a slippery slope.Why we need to embrace nuance and let go of black and white thinking when it comes to wellness and public health policy.Why it's important to dig a little deeper and look at the root cause of our health problems as Americans (which is more systemic than we realize.Why we think Americans rely so heavily on processed foods and what our solutions would look like.Why we need to look at the wellness media we're consuming with a more critical eye.So many other good things! Work with AshantisFollow Ashantis on InstagramFollow Ashantis on TikTokCheck Out Ashantis on SunroomJoin Body Kind NutritionDonate to The Wellness Fund⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠

I finally decided to stop rolling my eyes and record an episode about what it takes to get toned arms. Because while I had hoped we were all past this, the amount of questions I've gotten about this over the years, plus the amount of garbage information still being fed to you on the internet made me cave. If you don't need to hear this, I am certain that there is someone in your life who does. Please share this episode with your mom, your best friend, or your client. This episode shares info that might be considered "triggering" to some in the anti-diet community. I'm sharing it anyway, because it feels like the same thing as why offering sex education to teenagers is better than preaching abstinence. Knowledge is power! On this episode we talk about: The surprising amount of times I am told "I don't want to get too muscular, I just wanna get toned."Why there are no "3 best exercises for toned arms".Why you literally have to build muscle if you want to look "toned". The actual exercise science behind what it takes to change your body composition.Why I don't typically recommend obsessing over this for most clients. How much control we actual have over our body composition (some, but not as much as we think.)My take on "calories in/calories out". So many other important things!⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠

This episode with Toni Rudd blew my mind and filled in all sorts gaps in my understanding of intuitive eating, and I can't wait to share it with you! Turns out that lack of willpower and food restriction might not be the only reasons you can't seem to stop overeating, and Toni is here to shine a light on it today.Toni Rudd is a UK-registered dietitian and binge eating specialist. She works with people who feel stuck in the cycle of dieting and bingeing, helping them heal their relationship with food and body. Through a compassionate, non-diet approach, Toni supports her clients to let go of food guilt, eat with more ease, and stop obsessing over food. Her work focuses on building consistent, satisfying eating habits and shifting the focus away from control towards self-trust and care.On this episode we talk about: Toni's origin story and how she came to be doing the work she does today. Why dieting and bingeing are two sides of the same coin.Why willpower and discipline might not be the solutions you're looking for. Secret eating, nighttime eating, food shame, falling off the wagon, and other flavors of eating issues that aren't quite binge eating. Some of the surprising things that could lead to binge eating beyond just dieting.Why so many of us know so much about food and nutrition but can't seem to apply it. How content around intuitive eating can trick us into thinking we're doing it, except we're not.What's missing in the current intuitive eating space, and how can we fill those gaps for ourselves and/or our clients.So many other good things! ⁠⁠Work with Toni⁠⁠⁠Follow Toni on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠

Another short solo episode for you this week, after a cookbook Photoshop scandal sent me on a spicy rant. On this episode we talk about: The cookbook that fell into my lap a few weeks ago, and the scandalous mistake inside.Why we are so much more than toned arms. Why most of the images you look at are fake. My problem with the way society treats women, especially as we age. So many other important things!⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠

This week I have not one but TWO of my clients on the podcast! Miranda and Steph are here to talk about all things fitness trackers. Specifically how we've been using our Apple watches to enhance our experience of our workouts, daily movement, working towards performance goals, recovery, and more. We've been working on these things together in our 1:1 sessions and now we're ready to share our insights with you. On this episode we talk about: Our early (obsessive) fitness tracking experience.How it evolved as we started giving up diet culture.What made us come back around to it and where we are in our relationship to it now. What helped us get to that place. Things that still annoy us about our Apple watches vs. things we think are cool/neutral data. Advice for someone on the fence about tracking fitness data. Avoiding triggers vs. curiosity.So many other good things! ⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠⁠

⁠Another shorty episode coming at you today. I'm sharing a topic that comes up a lot for my clients and a concept that I came up with called the "fitness hierarchy of needs". Many of us obsess over small details that don't really matter when it comes to our fitness. On this episode we talk about what you wanna have in place first to build a strong fitness foundation, so that you can keep things moving even when life kicks you in the ass.Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠

Forget training for your bikini body. Ali Kreider is here today to talk about training for our old lady bodies and I couldn't be more excited to share this episode! Ali Kreider is a certified personal trainer & group fitness coach, empowering women to develop a self-compassionate approach to movement. She helps clients build strength & resilience that allows them to handle life outside of the gym with more confidence & ease. On this episode we talk about: How Ali got interested in her training niche. Ways the fitness industry has failed previous generations.What we both hope to do differently to influence our clients for the better. Things to focus on & keep in mind when training clients and yourself to be a strong old lady.Our concerns with "heroin chic" body trends coming back around and how this harms our chances of staying strong and independent as we age. Myths she'd like to bust about strength training as we get older.So many other good things! ⁠⁠Work with Ali⁠⁠Follow Ali on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the Kettlebells & Chaos Challenge⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow me on Substack⁠