Sober, Strong, & Slightly Unstable

The finale of season 2 is here! Our hosts wrap up the season with a talk on gym etiquette, some highs and lows of the season, and what they learned about each other.  Our hosts want to thank everyone who listened to this season's episodes. If you have any topics you'd like discussed next season, message Jen or Alana on instagram or send them an email with suggestions! They will take a short break and then begin recording season 3.  Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen!   

In this episode, Jen and Alana talk about the most important relationship you will ever have, which is the relationship with yourself. They talk about the evolution of their relationship with themselves and how that has affected their dating lives. The two also talk about ways they continue to nurture their relationship with themselves and how you can, too. And they discover their shared passion for Lego's and how Jen built Lego's with her now finance on their second date.    Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen!   

Today's episode talks about why coaches, therapists, and helpers are often the ones holding space, offering guidance, and supporting others through growth, healing, and transformation. But who supports them? In this episode, we explore why even the most knowledgeable, self-aware professionals still need coaches, mentors, and therapists of their own.  You’ll learn why seeking support is not a weakness—but a powerful act of self-leadership, regulation, and sustainability.  Whether you’re a coach, therapist, trainer, or caregiver, this conversation is a reminder that growth is not meant to be done alone, and that being supported makes you better at supporting others. Because even the guides need guidance—and even the healers deserve healing.   Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen!   

Jen and Alana break down a talk Alana gave at the NSCA Mid-Atlantic Conference for certified strength and conditioning coaches. The talk was called: The Female Athlete – What I Wish I Knew. We discuss what actually matters when coaching women—periods, hormones, strength training, and how the fitness industry got here. We unpack outdated narratives, common mistakes, and the things Alana wishes she’d known earlier, as both a coach and an athlete. This episode is for coaches, athletes, and anyone who wants to better understand women in strength and sport.   Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

In today's episode, our hosts talk about what active listening is, how you can practice doing it, and why it's important to just have someone to talk to, even if you can't "fix" what their going through.    Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

Welcome back for part 2 of Jen and Alana talking about the toxic side of exercise. They cover their own experiences with a toxic relationship to exercise and how to identify if you have a toxic relationship with exercise. It wouldn't be an episode without a tangent--> our hosts dive into how to do pull-ups if your ceiling is too low, so Jen can have a killer back for her wedding.    Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

Exercise can empower us — but sometimes it can control us. In this episode, Jen and Alana explore how the pursuit of strength, health, or aesthetic goals can drift into unhealthy territory. We share signs to watch for, stories from our own journeys, and practical ideas for reconnecting with movement in a way that feels supportive, not punishing.   Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

This episode dives into CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), a traditional talk therapy model that you may have heard of. Our hosts talk about what CBT is, how it works, who it can work for, and how Alana also utilizes parts of CBT with her athletes.    Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

On this week's episode, Jen and Alana get real about prioritizing movement: the barriers, the excuses, the mindset shifts, and the tiny habits that make a huge difference. No perfection. No grind culture. Just honesty, humor, and a reminder that you’re not the only one figuring it out.   Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

On this episode Alana and Jen talk about what it means to be an introvert vs. an extrovert, how introverts are misunderstood, how social anxiety can mimic introversion, and why it's important to surround yourself with people who bring out other parts of your personality.     Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

In this episode, Jen and Alana breakdown several different styles of training. They talk about powerlifting, lifting like an athlete, bodybuilding, and lifting for the general population. Topics include what are the differences and similarities between all of these, how do you know what is best for you, and small steps to help you get started.    Call the Better Hotline!  609-375-8377    Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

This episode dives into EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), the therapy Jen specializes in. We talk about what EMDR is, how it works, who it can work for, and why we felt it was important to talk about it on this podcast.    Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

Jen and Alana are back for season 2! In this episode, they talk about getting toned. What does that even mean? What are their journey's with getting toned? Whether you want to get toned or not, this episode sparks great conversation and ideas about strength training, no matter what your goals are. Whether they are physical goals or not, the benefits of strength training are endless. (And you can lift more than you think you can!)   Follow us on Instagram:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach   Work with us:  Jen's website Alana's website   Rate and review our podcast anywhere you listen! 

Welcome to the final episode of season 1 of The Better Health Podcast! Thank you to all of the listeners for welcoming our hosts into your ears this season! Jen and Alana reflect on the time recording this season's episodes, check in around Alana's sleep after using the sleep diary, check in about how the Opal app is helping Jen avoid social media use more, and comment on their highs and lows of the season. We hope you'll join us back here for Season 2 in the Fall! As a reminder, a rating wherever you listen to podcasts is so helpful, so please give the podcast a rate and review!    Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

This week our hosts are joined by their second guest, incredible Registered Dietician, Sydney Greene. They set the record straight on the differences between a RD and a Nutritionist, nutrition myths, discuss pre-workout snack options, why dry scooping pre-workout is a dangerous idea, simple ways to make nutritional changes in your lift, and so much more. You don't want to miss this episode!    Learn more about Sydney's practice and work with her: https://www.sydneygreenehealth.com/ Follow Sydney on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenehealth/   Make sure you follow our hosts on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Please like and review our podcast if you enjoyed this episode! 

Jen and Alana talk more about stress in this week’s episode. They dive into why sometimes you can use logic to push through stress and anxiety, while other times you may not-and that’s okay! That’s why it’s good to have a big tool box of different coping skills. Our hosts also focus on the skill of sleep in this episode, (listen to last week’s episode on stress for more skills), how sleep can help stress, how to develop better sleep hygiene, why Alana can’t sleep on planes, and how Jen doesn’t like to sleep in public. If anyone knows if they make space camp for adults, our hosts are eager to find out and would love to go!    Want to track your sleep hygiene? DM Jen or Alana on Instagram for your free Sleep Hygiene PDF!    Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

This episode Jen and Alana talk about all things stress. They discuss how they individually cope with stress, the difference between eustress and distress, emotions, and acceptance. Stress is normal, we all will experience it at some point and to some extent. How do you know when it's time to do something about it, though? You don’t want to miss this one!    Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

In this episode our hosts cover all things therapy. Jen is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice since 2017 and both she and Alana have years of their own personal experiences in therapy. As a reminder, therapy is the absolute best gift you can ever give yourself.  If you're looking to start therapy, WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. Here's the easiest website to locate a therapist in your area: www.psychologytoday.com    Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

In this week’s episode, Jen and Alana have their very first guest! Dr Sassy Weinstein is a Primary Care Sports Medicine physician specializing in the treatment of acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries and owner of CORE Sports Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine. Dr. Sassy joins our hosts to chat about what she does as a sports medicine physician, what lifestyle medicine is, and relates to our hosts on what it's like to start her own business. This episode wouldn't be complete without discussing the best state ever, Colorado.    Find more information about Dr. Sassy's practice at CORE Sports Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine  Follow Dr. Sassy on Instagram: drsassyweinstein Make sure you follow our hosts on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach

This week's episode begins to dive into strength training, our two hosts favorite form of exercise. They touch on topics like rep ranges, progressive overload, and lifting heavy as a woman.    Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

This is a special and vulnerable episode, recorded on Jen's 17th recovery anniversary. Jen and Alana spend this episode talking about recovery from addiction & alcoholism, and how fitness plays a pivotal role in their recovery today.    If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or alcoholism, please know there is help out there. Visit https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/helplines/national-helpline for help.    Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

In this episode, Alana and Jen discuss the big topic of social media. They tackle all aspects of it: the good, such as connection to others and the bad, such as potential addictions to it. Other topics include how it affects mental performance not just on the field, but in all areas of life, how it affects the ability to be present, and why social media breaks can be really important. Because the truth it social media is not all bad and it's also not going anywhere, anytime soon. Alana and Jen share their own tips and tricks they use to help balance their relationship with it.    Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

This week Alana and Jen dive back into bulking and cutting from last week's episode, they also discuss how sugar can be addictive, why fueling your body helps with cravings, and how most things that are worth it take time to get. Stay tuned to the end of the episode for the continuation of this week's question of the day.    Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

In this episode, we’re diving into the emotional rollercoaster that comes with stepping on the scale and why it’s time to stop letting a number define your worth. We explore the psychological impact of fixating on weight, the myths behind what the scale really measures, and how to shift your focus toward healthier, more empowering markers of success. Join us as we discuss why the scale doesn’t tell the full story of your health or fitness journey and how to embrace body positivity, strength, and mental well-being over arbitrary numbers. Whether you're ready to ditch the scale or just want to change the way you view it, this episode will leave you feeling motivated, supported, and inspired to reclaim your relationship with your body.   Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach  

On this episode Alana and Jen discuss the common fear that a lot of people have: venturing into the weights area of a gym! They'll provide tips and tricks for conquering this fear and encourage you to take a risk and grab those weights!   Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach

Meet the creators of The Better Health Podcast, Alana Asch and Jen Halper. Alana is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach specializing in mental performance. Jen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Personal Trainer. This episode introduces our hosts, how they know each other, their professional lives, and a bit into their stories of recovery.     Make sure you follow us on Instagram!  @jenlaurenhealth @thebettercoach   Find out about all of the services we both offer and work with us:  Jen Lauren Health The Better Coach