Shows
StrongHer CollectiveWhy Motivation Fails, And What Actually Makes Exercise Stick (Part 1: The StrongHer New Year Series)⭐ WORKSHEET DOWNLOAD: How to Start Your Exercise Habit ⭐Most people start each new year full of motivation—but that motivation fades fast. According to this study on LinkedIn, 50% of new gym memberships purchased in January are cancelled within 6 months. In this episode, I am laying out concrete tools so that this doesn't happen to you! Don't forget to download the free worksheet that goes with this episode! This is Part 1 of the StrongHer New Year Series, a three-part series to help you create a sustainable, personalized exercise habit—without relying on willpower, guilt, or “new year, new y...
2025-12-1024 minStrongHer CollectiveHypermobility, Injury Patterns & Proactive Care for Women with Dr. Olivia PetryIn today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Olivia Petry, chiropractor, yoga teacher, and lead singer of the Dancing Hearts Band. Olivia brings a modern, sports-based approach to women’s injury care, and we dive into so much that every active woman needs to hear.We talk about hypermobility (which affects an estimated 10–25% of women), gender differences in injury patterns, and why so many women delay getting the care they need. Whether you’re dealing with chronic pain, rebuilding after an injury, or just trying to keep your body strong for the long run, this conversation will give...
2025-12-031h 15StrongHer CollectiveCaring for Your Body for the Long Haul: Women’s Strength, Recovery, and Health with Dr. Kate Mihevc EdwardsIn this episode, I sit down with Dr. Kate Mihevc Edwards, physical therapist, author, and co-host of The Interdisciplinary Case Miles Podcast, for a thoughtful conversation about how women can navigate strength, recovery, and identity through every stage of life.Kate and I talk about how her experiences as both clinician and patient reshaped her approach to healthcare—emphasizing curiosity, compassion, and seeing the whole person. We explore how to reframe “starting over” after injury, burnout, or major life transitions; how understanding our bodies’ physiology can build confidence instead of confusion; and how to fuel, rest, and move in...
2025-11-1253 minStrongHer CollectiveProtein Can't Do All The Heavy Lifting - Only Your Muscle Can Do ThatIn this episode, we’re talking about one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s fitness: protein. Protein plays an important role in changing your body composition, but it’s not the magic solution many influencers make it out to be.I break down what protein actually does in your body—how it supports muscle repair, helps you feel full, and slightly increases your energy expenditure—and what it can’t do (spoiler: it doesn’t “burn fat”). You’ll also learn why resistance training, recovery, and consistency—what I call the“boring basics”—are still the real miracle tools for b...
2025-10-1516 minStrongHer CollectiveWhen Wellness Gets Shady: The Ethics of Selling Supplements OnlineInfluencer marketing has exploded in recent years, and supplements are one of the most profitable products promoted on social media. But when profit is the priority, consumers are often left with exaggerated claims, hidden risks, and misleading information.In this episode, we look at how influencers make money from supplements through commissions, brand deals, and white labeling. We discuss the ethical concerns when influencers and even licensed physicians sell supplements online, and how conflicts of interest can blur the line between education and marketing.Links for the nerds:Disinformation on dietary...
2025-10-0321 minStrongHer CollectiveWhy Women Get Injured More Than Men (And How to Prevent It)Injuries are a part of life and they’re almost unavoidable. But did you know women are more prone to certain injuries than men? In this episode, we talk about what injuries women are prone to, discuss theories on why this is the case, talk about what you can do to prevent injury, strategies for working around an injury, and how to build resilience.Timestamps0:00 Introduction2:20 Episode overview 2:47 Injuries can happen anywhere!6:02 Common injures in woman athletes (Harvard Health provides a list, )8:46 Why are some injuries more common for women? (Her...
2025-09-1136 minStrongHer CollectiveSupplement Safety: What Every Woman Should Know in an Under-Regulated MarketSupplements line the shelves of every health store and flood our social media feeds with promises of fat loss, energy, and better performance. But how safe are they really? In this episode, we break down how dietary supplements are regulated in the U.S., noting important difference in consumer protections with supplements vs. drugs.Timestamps0:00 Intro2:43 What I'm reading right now! Let's Get Physical by Danielle Friedman7:30 FDA's treatment of Drugs vs. Supplement12:40 The story of Ephedra ResourcesFDA's Statement on the ban of Ephedra (2004)Memorial S...
2025-08-3030 minStrongHer CollectiveSupplement Basics for Women: Protein, Creatine, and Avoiding the BSThe supplement industry is massive—worth over $60 billion in 2024 in the U.S. alone—and chances are you’ve come across it in your daily life, whether at the grocery store, on Instagram, in a doctor’s office, or even from a well-meaning mother-in-law. But with so many powders, pills, and potions out there, how do you know what’s worth your money and what’s just clever marketing?In this episode, I break down the world of dietary supplements in a way that’s clear, evidence-based, and practical. We’ll cover:What counts as a supplement (acco...
2025-08-2226 minStrongHer CollectiveTargeted Fat Loss Is a Scam (Let’s Talk About the Science)Have you ever seen a workout that promises to get rid of belly fat with three moves? In this episode I explain that targeted fat loss is a complete lie, because that is simply not how biology works. However, for decades we have heard about workouts to blast belly fat, "bounce back" from pregnancy, "tone up" arms, "reduce" inner thighs, and so much more. This can be confusing, so let's dive into the science so you can understand how fat loss actually works. Further reading: Seminal study that looked at arm fat in tennis pl...
2025-07-3126 minStrongHer CollectiveThe Summer Body is BullshirtIt’s summer, which means the weather’s hot and the pressure to have a “summer body” is even hotter. In this episode, we unpack where that idea comes from, how it harms women, and what we can do to push back. From magazine covers to crash diets, we're shifting the focus from appearance to strength, function, and confidence.PS - Any Good Place fans out there? If you don't get the "Bullshirt" reference in the episode title, this is your sign to discover one of TVs best shows! Further reading:Read Anna...
2025-07-1028 minStrongHer CollectiveFrom Marketing to Movement: The Truth Behind 10,000 StepsThink you need 10,000 steps a day to be healthy? Think again. In this episode of the StrongHer Collective podcast, I’m breaking down where that magic number really came from (hint: it wasn’t science), what the research actually says about step counts and health, and why small, consistent movement matters more than hitting an arbitrary target. We’ll dive into the real benefits of walking, the importance of making fitness accessible, and why strength training still reigns supreme for overall health.Major takeaways:More steps correlate with better health...
2025-06-2629 minStrongHer CollectiveListener Q & A: Recovery, Cycle Syncing, How Often to Train, and More!This week we tackle YOUR questions about women's fitness, and fitness in general. We cover considerations for perimenopause and menopause (also check out the episode titled Menopause & HIIT: Science vs. Social Media claims), cycle syncing (surprise - don't spend money on "miracle" programs), lifting heavy and the effects on joints as we age, sleep and sleep debt, what it actually means to lift heavy, and how often to train vs. rest. Resources:1-1 Virtual Training Application formRate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Cheat Sheet - Downloadable PDFEmail newsletter subscribe ...
2025-06-1935 minStrongHer CollectiveEating for Health and Strength with Registered Dietician Suz SteinThis week, I’m joined by Suz Stein, a registered dietitian, former D1 athlete, and fitness instructor, to dive deep into the complex world of nutrition and fitness. Together, we explore all things nutrition related, from fueling your workouts with carbohydrates, optimal protein intake to build muscle, health beyond weight loss, and so much more.Suz’s refreshing perspective will support your approach to nutrition—whether your goal is health, performance, or simply feeling your best.Connect with Suz at suzanne.stein@usenourish.com or on Nourish: https://signup.usenourish.com/providers/suz-stein
2025-06-121h 24StrongHer CollectiveMenopause & HIIT: Science vs. Social Media ClaimsA client recently told me her friend said women in menopause should skip HIIT and stick to lifting weights and zone 2 cardio. Ever heard that? My gut reaction was that lifting is essential, but there’s no blanket reason to avoid higher-intensity workouts. So I did some digging! 🔬 Key Topics:What is menopause? Natural decline of estrogen and progesterone (plus some testosterone), typically starting with perimenopause and bringing symptoms like hot flashes, sleep issues, and mood changes.Why the anti-HIIT hype? Many influencers claim HIIT spikes cortisol, worsens belly...
2025-06-0621 minStrongHer CollectiveCortisol: The Hormone Influencers Love to HateYou’ve heard the warnings—“HIIT spikes cortisol!” “Stop doing intense workouts or you’ll never lose weight!” In this episode, I’m diving into these claims to separate social media myths from science. What is HIIT, what is cortisol, and what do experts and peer-reviewed research actually say about the two? If you’ve ever felt confused about whether high-intensity training is helping or hurting your hormones, this one’s for you.What We Cover in This EpisodeA definition of HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training)What cortisol actually is and why we need itHow cortisol natur...
2025-05-2328 minStrongHer CollectiveYour Smartwatch is Lying to You (About Calories)Think your Apple Watch is telling you how many calories you’re really burning? In this episode of StrongHer Collective, we break down how energy expenditure is actually measured — and why your smartwatch might be giving you the wrong idea.You’ll learn: ✅ What a calorie really is and where the concept came from ✅ How scientists measure calorie burn using indirect calorimetry ✅ How fitness trackers (like the Apple Watch and others) estimate energy expenditure ✅ Why smartwatches can drastically miscalculate calories burned — especially during strength training ✅ Why relying on your watch to guide how much you eat can...
2025-05-1521 minStrongHer CollectiveIs BMI BS? A Deep Dive into a Flawed MetricDelve into the complexities of Body Mass Index (BMI), exploring its historical origins (all the way back to the 1830s!), practical applications, and significant limitations. Our discussion highlights how BMI, while a widely used metric for assessing body fatness, fails to account for individual differences in body composition, particularly among women and diverse populations. We emphasize the importance of understanding BMI's limitations and encourages listeners to advocate for more personalized health assessments.Chapters00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Setup Challenges01:08 Episode preview02:12 What is BMI, exactly?03:32 The Historical Context of BMI: Adolphe...
2025-05-0821 minStrongHer CollectiveMore Than Muscle: How Your Mindset Shapes your StrengthIn this episode, we dive into how our mindset shapes our strength. Using research psychologist Carol Dweck's theory of mindsets, we discuss fixed vs. growth mindsets and how that applies to us as women building strength. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro1:07 - How parents impact our mindsets as children2:25 - Self-theories can determine our success2:47 - Carol Dweck and growth and fixed mindsets5:31 - Trait-based praise. Mueller & Dweck (1998) article on this. 8:34 - How does growth and fixed mindset impact us as women cultivation our strength?12:51 - Growth mindset tips for women li...
2025-05-0117 minStrongHer CollectiveOur Obsession with ThinnessIn this episode, we’re taking a deep dive into the origins of the United States' obsession with thinness—and how that century-old mindset still impacts the way many of us think about our bodies today.We’ll explore how cultural ideals shifted in the early 1900s, from a time when softness and fullness were signs of health and wealth, to an era where thinness became tied to patriotism, morality, and self-control. From wartime food messaging to early dieting books, life insurance statistics, fashion trends, and media portrayals, we trace how these factors converged to create a powerf...
2025-04-1733 minStrongHer CollectiveWhy Should You Care About Building Muscle? The StrongHer Origin StoryWelcome to the very first episode of the StrongHer Collective Podcast! In this episode, I’m sharing the story behind why I created StrongHer Collective. As someone who learned to lift weights in my 30s and now helps other women do the same, I started noticing a pattern—so many of us were taught to exercise in order to be smaller, not stronger.When some of my clients worried that lifting heavy would make them "bulk up," I realized just how deeply those messages run. This lit a fire in me to start educating and empowering women abou...
2025-04-1022 min