The EMPWR Podcast

In this episode of The EMPWR Podcast you'll learn how this single broccoli-derived molecule can transform your gut health, detox microplastics, fight inflammation, and potentially extend your lifespan. The story starts with a cancer diagnosis that sparked a mission to find real solutions, not just supplements that claim to work, but ones backed by rigorous science and actual bioavailability. We co...

Kenzie built 4 fitness studios by 25, here's how she did it. In this episode, she breaks down the real difference between Pilates and weight training for body recomposition, why she opened True Form and The Format from scratch, and how pregnancy changed her entire approach to fitness and nutrition.  Timestamps: 0:00 - Meet Kenzie: 4 studios at 25 4:22 - From college dancer to Pilates studio owner...

In this solo Q&A episode, I’m answering your questions on everything from ADHD, anxiety, and time management to body recomposition, cardio, weight training, and what life looks like right now behind the scenes. I share some of the struggles I don’t talk about often, including how ADHD impacts my day-to-day life, why structure and time blocking are essential for me, and how I navigate anxiety durin...

In this episode, I’m joined by Roxie Nafousi for such an honest conversation around self-worth, manifestation and personal transformation. Roxie shares the highs and lows of her journey, from navigating addiction and depression to rebuilding her relationship with herself, and the mindset shifts that helped her move through those seasons. We dive into why manifestation starts with believing you’re...

3 months out from my wedding and smack in the middle of Ironman training so yeah, this era is a LOT. In this solo episode I'm pulling back the curtain on everything I'm doing right now to feel my best walking down that aisle: the workouts, the nutrition, the recovery stack, the skincare treatments, and how I'm protecting my mental space through all of it. What we cover: 00:00 Introduction 02:18 We...

Sperm counts have dropped 60% in 60 years and if nothing changes, they could reach zero by 2045. Yet we still only talk about women when it comes to fertility. In this episode, I sit down with Ronit Menashe and Vida Rahim, the founders of WeNatal, to have the conversation the fertility world keeps skipping. In this episode, we cover: Why 50% of miscarriages and infertility are linked to male facto...

This one's for the military families, the military spouses, and anyone who has ever wondered what it actually takes to become, and stay, a Navy SEAL. In honor of Memorial Day, Ian is in the hot seat. Sam kicks things off sharing her own mini Navy SEAL experience at a PLT summit in Montauk -45- degree water, burpees in the sand, and a whole new level of respect for the man she's marrying. Then Ian...

What if every symptom you've been dismissed for actually had an answer? Mila Magnani spent over a decade being told her acne, facial hair, irregular cycles, and fatigue were just genetics, just stress, just part of being a woman. It wasn't until her body completely broke down during COVID that she finally got real answers, and decided to find her own solution. In this episode, Mila takes us all th...

What if the thing you've been dealing with for years could be fixed in 12 weeks? In this Q&A episode, Ian and I are back answering your questions with zero prep and zero filter. I'm sharing my full update on the 12-week gut healing protocol I did with practitioner Amy Williams, what we found in my bloodwork, and what it actually felt like to cut caffeine, strip back to whole foods, and rebuild fro...

In this episode, I sit down with Micaela Riley, a functional nutritionist and women's health specialist who transformed her own life after years of struggling with PCOS, Hashimoto's, hypothyroidism, SIBO, and leaky gut. Her story starts at 14 years old when a quick doctor's appointment led to birth control, weight gain, hair loss, exhaustion, and a decade of being told she just wasn't working out...

What if the thing you thought was keeping you clean was actually making you sick? In this episode, I sit down with Kristina Velkova and Sara Douglas, the co-founders of Vitaclean, a revolutionary vitamin C filtered shower head company that's changing the way we think about water, skin health, and wellness. Their story starts with a shocking discovery: sludge in their London shower that was wreakin...

What if the thing you thought you could control was actually the thing keeping you trapped? In this episode, I'm getting more vulnerable than I ever have before. I'm sharing my full story with my eating disorder, disordered eating, and body dysmorphia. From my childhood and the way food was framed in my home, to college when everything spiraled, to the years I spent restricting, binging, and purgi...

What if optimism is not about pretending everything is fine, but about learning how to stay strong when life gets hard? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Deepika Chopra, also known as The Optimism Doctor, to talk about what real optimism actually is and why it matters so much for our mental health, relationships, parenting, and everyday lives. We unpack the difference between optimism and toxic...

In this episode, Ian and I are sitting down for a full Q&A covering everything you've been asking about: fitness, nutrition, training, wedding planning, business, motherhood, and all the behind the scenes of our lives right now. This one is honest, practical, and packed with real answers to the questions flooding my DMs. We dive into the biggest mistakes women make when trying to lose body fat, wh...

I used to think being smaller meant being better. That if I could just control my body, I would finally feel confident, happy, and enough. But the truth is, that mindset kept me stuck. In this episode, I sit down with Senada Greca to talk about what actually changed everything. From growing up in Albania with limited resources, to moving to the US and facing bullying, to struggling with eating dis...

In this episode, Sam and Ian sit down to recap their four-day stay at Miraval Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona — a luxury, all-inclusive, adults-only wellness retreat that turned out to be way more transformative than they expected. This one is personal, fun, and packed with real talk about relationships, mindfulness, goal-setting, and what happens when you're forced to put your phone in a bag. The...

In this episode, I sit down with Matt Choi: content creator, endurance athlete, and one of the most inspiring voices in the running community. Matt's journey is anything but linear. From playing college football to losing his job during the pandemic, he found running as a form of therapy and self discovery. What started as a casual four mile run turned into marathons, ultramarathons, and a thrivin...

What if the bloating, stomach pain, and exhaustion you've been dealing with for years weren't just something to manage, but a signal that something deeper was going on? In this episode, I'm getting vulnerable and sharing the full story behind my gut health journey: the decade of symptoms I couldn't explain, the tests I finally took, and the protocol that's changing everything. For years, I dealt w...

What if the fear of not being enough, the pressure to do it all perfectly, were the exact things keeping you from stepping into the version of yourself you're meant to become? In this episode, I sit down with Olivia Adriance: content creator, recipe developer, soon to be cookbook author, and founder of an upcoming beauty brand built on skin nourishing ingredients. Olivia's journey is anything but...

What if the fear of being perceived, the pressure to do it all perfectly, and the weight of staying comfortable were the exact things keeping you from stepping into the life you're actually meant to live? In this episode, I sit down with Michael Smoak: content creator, speaker, communication coach, and one of the most authentic voices in the personal development space. Michael's journey is anythin...

What if the products you're using to clean your home, wash your clothes, and freshen the air are the very things quietly disrupting your hormones, draining your energy, and keeping you from feeling your best? In this episode, I sit down with one of the co-founders of Branch Basics, a non-toxic cleaning company that's helping families across the country ditch harmful chemicals and create healthier...

What if the secret to a lasting relationship isn't perfection, but choosing each other every single day, even when life gets messy, busy, and blended? In this Valentine's Day episode, Ian and I are pulling back the curtain on our relationship: how we keep the spark alive, navigate life as a blended family, handle conflict, blend finances, and stay best friends through it all. We're also giving you...

What if the bloating, fatigue, skin issues, and brain fog you've been dealing with aren't separate problems at all, but symptoms of one root cause you've been overlooking? In this episode, I sit down with Tina Anderson, attorney-turned-entrepreneur and co-founder of Just Thrive, a research-based gut health company that's completely disrupting the probiotic industry. Tina spent years in the pharmac...

What if the secret to feeling more productive, centered, and present isn't doing more, but structuring your day with intention? In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my full day: from my 5 a.m. wake-up to my nighttime wind-down routine. This isn't a highlight reel. It's the real, unfiltered look at how I balance being a mom, running a business, training for a 70.3, creating content,...

What if the fear of not being enough, the pressure to have it all figured out, and the weight of past trauma were actually the very things keeping you from becoming who you're meant to be? In this episode, I sit down with Courtney Shields: content creator, founder of Dibs Beauty, wife, mom, and one of the most real, grounded voices in the wellness and beauty space. Courtney's journey is anything b...