Fitness and Family Podcast

What happens when you trust God enough to follow a path you never expected? In this episode of The Fitness and Family Podcast , I’m joined by Melissa Wilkinson, a mom of two beautiful children living in New York. Melissa’s journey has taken her through retail management, motherhood, direct sales, blogging, and some unexpected turns along the way—but through every season, one thing has continued to...

Welcome back to the Fitness and Family Podcast! In this episode, I’m joined by Stacy Smith. Stacy knows firsthand what it feels like to struggle with body image, weight, and self-confidence . Her turning point came when she looked in the mirror and realized she no longer felt like herself. Instead of continuing to focus only on the number on the scale, Stacy began shifting her mindset toward what...

Welcome back to the Fitness and Family Podcast! In this episode, we’re joined by Kirsten Leigh , a mom of two from Ohio who knows firsthand how challenging it can be when your body doesn’t feel like it’s working the way it should. Several years ago, Kirsten began experiencing unexplained symptoms that significantly affected her health, forced her to step away from her career, and impacted her fami...

Welcome back to the Fitness and Family Podcast! In Part 2 of this heartfelt episode, we're joined by Ray Vest, Ryan's dad, a retired firefighter from Australia and father of three boys. Throughout his career, Ray was trained to remain calm in emergencies and respond when others needed help. But nothing could have prepared him for the day his teenage son was diagnosed with a brain tumor and require...

Welcome back to the Fitness and Family Podcast ! In this inspiring episode, we're joined by Ryan Vest from Sydney, Australia. At just 17 years old, Ryan's life changed forever when he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. After undergoing not 1 but 3 brain surgeries , he is now tumor-free and focused on rebuilding his life with gratitude, purpose, and resilience. Ryan opens up about the physical, ment...

Welcome back to The Fitness and Family Podcast and thank you for listening! If you are new here, thank you for joining. I am very excited for this episode because it is about WELLNESS and what it means for you. When you hear the word wellness , what comes to mind? Nutrition? Exercise? Sleep? Mental health? The truth is that wellness means something different for everyone. I decided to breakdown wh...

Welcome back to the Fitness and Family Podcast ! In this episode, we talk to MarieClaire Dorinksy, who is a student at The Bowling Green State University. After struggling with an eating disorder in high school— fueled by the pressures of social media and the isolation during COVID —she has turned her experience into a mission to help others. Through her ongoing recovery, MaryClaire has developed...

Welcome back to The Fitness and Family Podcast and thank you for listening! Our next guest is Emily. She is a student at The Bowling Green University and also on the Executive team of the Self Love Club. Emily is responsible for leading the club by creating a positive pathway for members and also mentoring future executive leaders. I’ve had the privilege to teach them a Pilates class, and I’m exci...

Welcome back to The Fitness and Family Podcast and thank you for listening! A few months ago, I had the opportunity to welcome Sherri Herman, a licensed clinical psychotherapist, onto the podcast. In Episode 26, we had a powerful conversation about overcoming perfectionism and people-pleasing. She gave me the opportunity to write a guest blog post for her email community focusing on fitness and ov...

Welcome to The Fitness and Family Podcast ! If you’re new here, thank you for tuning in—and if you’re a returning listener, thank you for trusting me and my guests to be part of your wellness journey. Don’t forget to follow the show for new episodes, download your favorites to revisit, and leave a comment if you have a question for me or my guest. In this episode, I’m joined by Cloe Parker of Park...

Welcome back to The Fitness and Family Podcast and thank you for listening! In this episode, we’re joined by Sarah Pettitt from Ontario, Canada, whose story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to rebuild and redefine your life. After facing a difficult season of life, I will let her explain, she focused on creating a healthy balance with food, fitness, and her relationship with herself...

What if creating the life you want starts with seeing it clearly ? In this episode, you'll learn: How visual boards and manifestation affect your physical, social and mental health What a visual board really is How manifestation actually works How to create a visual board Why visual boards build motivation I'm going to break down my personal example of creating a visual board, why I've been doing...

Welcome back to The Fitness and Family Podcast and thank you for listening. Today, we’re talking about AI—but from a positive perspective. In this episode, you’ll learn: How faith and AI can coexist in a modern world How to use AI as a helpful tool to simplify daily tasks Create more balance in your life Why protecting your freedom of thought matters more than ever How to use AI with intention ins...

Welcome back and thank you for listening. In this episode, we’re talking about Seasonal Depression and how it shows up in everyday life — especially in your fitness routine, mental health, motivation, and work-life balance . You’ll learn why this happens (hint: it’s not a discipline problem), how seasonal changes affect your mood and energy, and what you can do to support yourself without forcing...

Hello again welcome back! Our next guest is Lori Leigh. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and always made movement a priority, but after COVID—and listening to her body’s call for something new—she embraced a fresh challenge. Now, powerlifting at 66, Lori feels stronger and more empowered than ever. You won’t want to miss her inspiring journey of perseverance and proof that age is just a numbe...

Welcome back! In this episode we talk about Motivation and how to keep it, even when it feels hard. Staying motivated isn’t about willpower — and it’s definitely not about being “on” all the time. In this episode, I’m sharing 7 realistic ways to stay motivated , even when life feels busy, overwhelming, or exhausting. 1. Motivation isn't Constant 2. Reconnect with your "Why" 3. Set Small, Achievabl...

Welcome back! If you are new here, thank you for listening :) Our next guest is Sherri Herman. Sherri is a married mom who lives outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a licensed clinical psychotherapist whose mission is to help you live your healthiest and most fulfilling life. Having grown up in a family marked by alcoholism and dysfunction, Sherri knows what it’s like to feel unworthy, alone...

Welcome back! Our next guest is Juniper Devecis. Juniper lives outside Boston, Massachusetts and is a Dietician with a Masters in Biochemistry. She struggled with her weight in her teens trying numerous diets for years. Her life changed when she saw a picture of herself at a friend’s wedding and decided enough was enough. Through her nutrition background, hypnosis, and learning to love herself fir...

Happy New Years 2026! Ready to make this the year your resolutions actually stick ? In this short episode, Ashley will break down the mindset shifts, simple habits, and realistic strategies that turn January intentions into long-term success. You’ll learn how to set goals you can sustain, overcome the motivation drop-off, and build daily routines that support real change—without burnout or perfect...

Ashleigh Grave is based in the Niagara Region of Canada,close to Buffalo, NY, with her husband, two dogs, and two cats. Her journey has been anything but easy. She’s held various roles throughout her life, I am going to let her dive deeper into those, but her biggest one is currently a caretakerfor her loved one following a Dementia diagnosis. Driven to turn her personal experience into purpose, A...

Welcome back! Kerry Komarov is a married mom of two young boys based in Pennsylvania. Formerly a middle school reading teacher, she found it challenging to juggle work and family life after the birth of her second son. Wanting to be more present with her kids, she tapped into her English degree and launched her own virtual business as a Creative Business Strategist , helping entrepreneurs with ema...

Welcome back to The Fitness and Family Podcast! Our next guest, Jenna Hodge, is a married mom of 4 boys under the age of 7 living in Georgia. Movement has always been part of her life but after her 2nd baby, her body told her a different story. As she struggled with her physical and mental health , her decision to listen to her body instead of what doctors were having her try was the turning point...

Glad to have you back! In this episode, we travel to Switzerland to meet Manouchka Elefant. After living and studying around the world, she returned home to build her career and family. When her partner faced cancer during her pregnancy, she learned the true value of time and balance. Now, Manouchka helps moms create harmony between family and business through her social media projects and masterm...

Welcome back! In this episode we talk with Kelly Beveridge. Kelley is 47 years old and lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada with her partner of 10+ years and adorable dog. She has a degree in International Business and has been an entrepreneur for the last 15 years. She has traveled the world from Canada her hometown to South Africa and South America, where she has coached and mentored thousands. Her...

In this episode, I’ll guide you through a calming meditation designed to ease anxiety , release tension, and help you feel grounded in the present moment . Together, we’ll practice gentle breathing techniques, body awareness, and visualization to create a sense of inner peace you can carry into your day. Whether you’re new to meditation or looking for a steady way to manage stress, this session wi...