Thrive for Life Podcast

In this episode, I sit down with my midwife to explore what midwifery care truly looks like and why home birth can be a safe option especially for low-risk pregnancies. We talk about how she determines who’s a good candidate, what holistic care means from prenatal through postpartum, and the role of movement and body awareness for smoother births. She also debunks common myths, happens in an emergency, how midwives are highly trained in complicated birth situations—and shares how emotional support at home shapes the birth experience. And so much more! If you’re curious about home birth or want a deeper look at women’s health beyond the hospital, this conversation is for you!Contact info:Jasmine Merritt, Certified Professional Midwife and Certified Birth and Postpartum DoulaInstagram: @essenceofbirthEmail: [email protected]

Ever wonder why your tendon pain won’t go away with rest or stretching? In this episode, we break down what tendinopathy really is, clear up the confusion around treatment, and share simple, evidence-based rules to guide your recovery. Whether you’re a runner, lifter, or weekend warrior — this one's for you.

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jenna Mullen, an expert pelvic floor physical therapist, to talk about a topic that doesn’t get nearly enough attention—bladder health and exercise during pregnancy and postpartum. We dive into what’s actually normal (hint: leaking when you sneeze isn’t supposed to be part of motherhood), common signs your body might need more support, and how to stay active safely through every stage. Whether you're expecting, recently postpartum, or just curious about optimizing your pelvic health, this conversation is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

This episode, I interview Pediatric Physical Therapist, Dr. Suma Metla. She's redefining pediatric physical therapy in our community here in Hawaii and we are so lucky and grateful! Listen in on when it's appropriate for your child should see a physical therapist, differing perspectives between PTs and pediatricians, common misconceptions about pediatric PT and more!

In this episode, I share my interview I had with Laura Turner on her podcast Move Better. We discuss the guidelines I created and followed for a safe and healthy return to exercise for the postpartum woman. Download my free return to exercise postpartum checklist: https://learn.the-movement-doc.com/sales-3150 Laura also has a number of free exercise resources! Check them out below: You can find more of Laura Turner's work on: Instagram: @movebetterptandfitness Website: https://linktr.ee/lauraturner5/

In this episode, I interview fellow rock climbing friend, Michelle Montemayor. We discuss the ways Michelle has stayed active throughout her motherhood and how it has looked differently with each child. Disclaimer - emotions may have run high in our conversation...but that's life sometimes. I hope you all enjoy this episode, especially for the mama's out there.

In today's episode, I'm joined by Athletic Trainer, Kelly Wescott. She was formerly an athletic trainer for college athletes and now has opened up her own practice to serve the active adults of her community to help them feel better and move better so they can show up in their life as their best self. We discuss what bodywork is and what holistic healthcare can look like. Contact Kelly here: Email: [email protected] Instagram: @wescott.kelly

It was requested by some people that I share my exercise journey throughout my pregnancy on the pod so here goes! This is the first solo episode just sharing my journey of exercising throughout my pregnancy and how postpartum return to exercise was. I also discuss yellow and red flags to be aware of when exercising while pregnant. Please note this is NOT medical advice and you should always consult with your medical provider on the best course of treatment and exercise recommendations made for YOU. The harness that I used to climb in when I no longer fit my own was the Petzl 8003 full body harness. Highly recommend for the growing belly of all you soon to be moms!!! Link to download the free infographic on yellow and red flag symptoms when exercising pregnant: https://learn.the-movement-doc.com/sales-3150-3929 Stay moving well, Adrienne

Have you had an injury that led you to contemplate surgery? Or injections? Have you been to physical therapy using your insurance and just didn’t get where you wanted? Every experience is different and in this episode, I interview my patient as she wanted to share her experience in insurance based PT and out of network/cash pay PT with me. You’ll learn what key differences in the quality of care you can get in this non-traditional/cash pay model. Stay tuned in this episode as you hear about her journey living with a hip labral tear that left her in pain for over a year and then dominating a race she’s been longing to do.

This episode I interview Dr. Jenna Mullen of Nalu Physical Therapy. Dr. Jenna shares some of the most intimate details about her birth experience that in my opinion, every woman needs to hear this! It was such a unique experience and I hope you all find it not only entertaining but also insightful and inspiring! Learn how to prepare your pelvic floor and body for giving birth, learn about the role of a doula, what the Ferguson Reflex is, the importance of relaxation and how to properly bear down, how the traditional medical model does not advocate for women enough, and what pelvic floor physical therapy is and how it can be THE most valuable thing you do to prepare your body for birth. I personally saw Jenna in preparation for my birth and I am so grateful that I did. It prepared me both mind and body and I totally attribute my healthy condition in postpartum to this preparation. I truly hope you enjoy the episode! Find Jenna Mullen: www.naluphysicaltherapy.com

On today's episode I am joined by Brooke Czarnecki of Intentful Nutrition. Brooke is a registered sports dietitian and run coach and she is passionate about helping runners and athletes stay properly fueled to not only perform better but to stay healthy throughout our life. We discuss challenging times during her pregnancy, tips to help runners know if they are fueling efficiently, common eating issues with runners, why you shouldn't freak out if the numbers on the scale increase, and so much more!