Danielle Rancourt, RD

But first, Pivot.

Health EN ↓ 96 episodes

I’m Dani Rancourt, registered dietitian, certified sports dietitian, and founder of Pivot Nutrition Coaching. In But First, Pivot, we cut through diet culture and break down what actually works for sustainable fat loss, better nutrition, and a healthier relationship with food. You’ll hear real client success stories, practical nutrition strategies, and honest conversations about mindset, metabolism, and long-term weight maintenance. If you’re tired of starting over every Monday and want a realistic approach to nutrition that actually fits your life — this podcast is for you.

Author

Danielle Rancourt, RD

Category

Health

Latest episode

Jul 11, 2026

Where to listen?

Podcasts in the app Replaio Radio Coming soon

Podcasts are coming to the app soon. Install now and be the first to see a whole new take on podcasts

Get it on Google Play Install for free Android 5M+ downloads · 4.8 rating iOS soon

Episodes

Episode 96: Behind the Scenes: What Dietitians Actually Do on Vacation 11.07.2026

Ever wonder what a dietitian's habits actually look like on vacation? You might picture us ordering grilled chicken salads and drinking water all weekend. Spoiler alert... that's not what happened. In this episode, Pivot Dietitians Danielle and Sam give you a behind-the-scenes look at how dietitians eat, move, and make food decisions while away from home. No food rules, no calorie counting, and no...

Episode 95: We Tracked Our Food for a Week... and Even Dietitians Underestimate Their Calories 19.06.2026

Think you're eating a certain amount of calories each day? You might be surprised. In this episode, Pivot dietitians Danielle and Sarah share what happened when they tracked their food for over a week for the first time since becoming moms. From random bites while cooking to finishing toddler leftovers, they quickly realized those little things add up, especially when your focus is elsewhere. In t...

Episode 94: She Lost 33 Pounds…Then Stopped Trying to Lose Weight 15.05.2026

In this episode, Danielle sits down with Pivot client Sarah to share one of the most refreshing weight loss success stories you’ll hear. Sarah is a mom of two boys and former physique competitor who spent years trapped in all-or-nothing dieting, restrictive meal plans, binge/restrict cycles, and believing she always needed to push harder to be successful. After losing 33 pounds through sustainable...

Episode 93: We Ate 1200 Calories for a Day… That Was Long Enough 17.04.2026

Someone once told me, ‘I’ve been eating 1200 calories for 2 years and I’m not losing weight!’” That statement sparked this entire episode. As dietitians, we hear this all the time—so Sam and I decided to put it to the test. We each followed a fully planned, measured 1200-calorie day to see what it actually feels like—physically and mentally. What we found wasn’t just hunger. It was constant food t...

Episode 92: The Mental Load & Mom Guilt: How to Lighten the Load 03.04.2026

Do you feel like you’re doing everything at home and still feeling guilty taking time for yourself? In this episode, Danielle sits down with relationship identity coach Nicole Carney to talk about over-functioning, the mental load, and mom guilt — and how these patterns are keeping so many women stuck, exhausted, and overwhelmed. We dive into: what the “mental load” actually is (and why it’s so ex...

Episode 91: From Food Fear to Food Freedom: When “Healthy Eating” Goes Too Far (A Mother-Daughter Story) 20.03.2026

This episode is a really special one. I’m joined by a mom and daughter I’ve had the privilege of working with over the past year: Kristen and Brooklyn. Brooklyn is a middle school athlete, and her story is one I know so many families are going to relate to. One year ago, Kristen was working out listening to a podcast I was a guest on… and something just clicked. As she listened, she thought, “This...

Episode 90: VBAC, Induction & C-Sections: An OB-GYN Q&A with Dr. Collette Lessard 06.03.2026

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Collette Lessard, MD, FACOG, an obstetrician-gynecologist who is passionate about helping women understand their bodies and make informed decisions about their health. Dr. Lessard believes every patient deserves the knowledge and understanding needed to confidently navigate pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Her approach is rooted in evidence-based medicine while...

Episode 89: I Went 100% Dairy-Free for 8 Days…Here’s What Actually Happened 23.02.2026

When my 3 month-old was constantly spitting up, the most common advice I received was simple: “Try going dairy-free.” Even though Remi showed no other signs of milk intolerance and my pediatrician said, “He’s just a happy spitter — it’ll pass,” I figured it would be a worthwhile experiment… especially as a dietitian. So for 8 full days, I removed all dairy — no yogurt, no half & half in my cof...

Episode 88: Breaking the Plateau: How Bri Finally Lost 25 lbs After Years of Being Stuck 30.01.2026

In this lighthearted episode, I’m joined by my client Bri to share how shifting her mindset finally got her unstuck after years of not seeing results. When Bri reached out in summer 2025, she was working a demanding job as a lawyer, training with a personal trainer three times per week for nearly two years, and feeling beyond frustrated. She was getting stronger in the gym, but her body compositio...

Episode 87: NEW (2026) Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Pros, Cons and Dietitian Thoughts 16.01.2026

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans are out and I genuinely can’t believe the food pyramid is back 👀 In this deep-dive episode, I’m joined by my fellow registered dietitians Sam and Hannah for an honest, real-life breakdown of the 2026 guidelines. We go page by page through the new 10-page document (link below), separating what actually changed from what just looks different, and what this a...

Episode 86: Building balanced meals: PCC vs PFF 21.11.2025

In the But First, Pivot podcast, we talk a lot about PCC (Protein–Color–Carb) and PFF (Protein–Fiber–Fat) — two simple frameworks we use to teach clients and athletes how to build balanced, satisfying meals without tracking. In this episode, Dani and Sam break down what these frameworks are, how they’re similar, how they’re different, and when to use each one. You’ll learn: Why both PCC and PFF wo...

Episode 85: If I wanted to lose 8 lbs. by Christmas, I would... 31.10.2025

We’ve got about 8 weeks until Christmas, which means losing 8 lbs or about one pound per week is totally realistic! In this episode, fat loss dietitians Dani and Sam share exactly what they’d focus on if they wanted to lose 8 pounds by Christmas without cutting out pumpkin Reese's and Christmas cookies. If your goal is to enjoy the holidays, feel good in your body, and still make progress, this ep...

Episode 84: VBAC Redemption: Rémi’s Birth Story 10.10.2025

After a traumatic first birth with Chloé, I spent my entire second pregnancy hoping for a VBAC, but also being terrified of it. At 39 weeks and 3 days, I scheduled a backup C-section “just in case,” but prayed that baby Rémi would come early on his own. In this episode, I walk you through the full story from the first contraction at 2:30 a.m. to delivering our big 9-pound boy at 12:15 p.m. the sam...

Episode 83: PCOS Blueprint: Simple Strategies With a Big Impact 26.09.2025

PCOS affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age — but it’s so much more than just a fertility issue. In this episode, we’re breaking down the root drivers of PCOS, including insulin resistance, inflammation, and hormonal imbalances, and how they impact weight, mood, energy, and long-term health. My colleague Sam joins the show to walk through the five key areas every woman with PCOS should focus on...

Episode 82: How Jess Lost Over 50 Pounds Without Feeling Restricted 12.09.2025

Jessica’s story is proof that while calories (always) count, mindset plays a huge role in weight loss. When she came to me, Jess was lifting 5–6 days a week, tracking her macros, and still couldn’t lose weight. She felt stuck in an all-or-nothing cycle...drop a few pounds, gain it right back, and repeat. She avoided photos, felt disconnected from her body, and was tired of starting over every Mond...

Episode 81: Weight Maintenance: How to Keep the Weight OFF! 29.08.2025

Most people can lose weight — but 80–90% regain it within 1–5 years. Why? Because losing it and keeping it off are two completely different skill sets. In this episode, Dani and Sam break down research from the National Weight Control Registry (10,000+ successful maintainers) and share the 7 key habits that separate regain from long-term success. From daily movement and consistent eating to streng...

Episode 80: Tough Love from Dietitians – Things You Need to Hear (Even if You Don’t Want To) 15.08.2025

Sometimes the truth stings… but it’s exactly what you need to hear to finally get results. In this episode, Sam and I are serving up some tough love on the most common excuses, unsustainable diets, and mindset traps holding you back — and sharing the realistic strategies that actually work. Nothing changes if nothing changes, and if you need help, we’re here with no judgments and a little tough lo...

Episode 79: 6 tips I gave my dad when I saw his A1C results 01.08.2025

In this episode, I’m sharing a personal story about helping my 62-year-old dad make changes after his recent labs showed an A1C of 6.4—officially in the prediabetic range. After decades of walking 30,000 steps a day as a mailman, retirement has slowed him down a bit. And while he’s still active (hello, 18 holes of golf five days a week!), his diet needed a major upgrade. So we sat down and came up...

Episode 78: Transitioning Off Birth Control? 5 Key Ways to Support Your Body 18.07.2025

Thinking about coming off hormonal birth control? Or maybe you already have and you’re wondering why your energy, skin, or cycle feel a little off? In this episode, I’m joined by my colleague and fellow dietitian, Hannah, to break down 5 key areas to focus on when transitioning off birth control so you can feel your best and support your body through this big shift. We’ll start by explaining how h...

Episode 77: Taking a GLP-1? Don’t Skip These 5 Habits! 02.07.2025

GLP-1s like Ozempic and Wegovy can be game-changers for weight loss — but they’re not magic. In this episode, we break down 5 lifestyle changes that actually help you keep the weight off long term. We cover: GLP-1 overview Why strength training is non-negotiable Getting enough protein Why skipping meals can backfire The role of mindset and your relationship with food The long game: What to do afte...

Episode 76: Advice We’d Give Our 20-Year-Old Selves: Health, Hormones, Mindset & Nutrition 13.06.2025

In this special episode celebrating Pivot’s 4th anniversary, we’re getting personal: our dietitian team is sharing the nutrition, fitness, and mindset advice we wish we had in our 20s! We cover period health, why you don’t have to fear carbs, learning to love (and respect) your body, the truth about “healthy” foods, and why real nourishment comes from consistency — not control. Whether you’re 20 o...

Episode 75: Boring or Effective? The first steps to start seeing RESULTS! 30.05.2025

Feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start? This episode is your roadmap. We’re cutting through the noise and breaking down the real first steps to improving your health and sustainable fat loss—no crash diets, no extremes. You’ll learn how to build awareness around your habits, create simple balanced meals, move with purpose, and ditch the all-or-nothing mindset. This isn’t sexy, but it works...

Episode 74: Top Weight Loss Myths and Diet Reviews 09.05.2025

A few weeks ago, someone asked me: "Dani, what's the worst weight loss advice you've ever heard?". All I could think of was "this needs to be a podcast episode"...So here we are! In this episode, we're diving into some not-so-great weight loss advice as well as top weight loss myths that we want to debunk! This one is a lot of fun and packed full of the random tips you see on social media or alway...

Episode 73: What is the Sperm Theory? Can I really influence my baby's gender? 25.04.2025

In this episode, we're diving into the sperm theory (aka the Shettles Method) — can timing sex really influence your baby's gender? I’m sharing our gender reveal, how my friend Bri survived keeping the secret for six whole days, and her hilarious reaction caught on audio. Plus, I explain how the sperm theory lined up with both of my pregnancies — no planning, just wild timing. This one’s a fun mix...

Episode 72: Postpartum Weight Loss & Pregnancy Success Story with Molly King 11.04.2025

In this episode, I'm joined by Molly King, one of our inspiring clients who shares her powerful postpartum journey from navigating the ups and downs of early motherhood to healing her relationship with food, embracing weight loss with compassion, and nourishing her baby through breastfeeding. We also discuss both of our current pregnanies and my upcoming gender reveal prediction! We dive deep into...

Listen to the But first, Pivot. podcast in Replaio

Radio and podcasts in one app - free, with no sign-up. Install today and do not miss the launch

Get it on Google Play

Replaio is not a podcast publisher; show names, artwork and audio belong to their authors and are distributed through public RSS feeds.