Pursuing Health

Today, I’m joined by two of the most accomplished athletes in CrossFit history, Annie Thorisdottir and Katrin Davidsdottir, both two-time CrossFit Games champions who have been an absolute joy to compete alongside.  Now that we've all retired from elite competition, we’re discussing embracing new chapters of life, including motherhood, pregnancy, staying active through life’s transitions, and how...

Dr. Bill Chun is a board-certified OB/GYN who trained and has spent his entire career in Boston, where he has practiced solo for the past two decades. He is the founder of Empowering Pregnancy and Doula Unbound, and the host of Sunday with Chun. A Korean immigrant and U.S. Navy veteran, he is currently writing a literary memoir, The Accidental Obstetrician.   Follow Dr. Chun via his website drbill...

In this special solo episode, I’m sharing a personal update on the experiences that have shaped my life over the past several years. From the inner work that transformed my approach to relationships and personal growth, to meeting my husband, building a family with our adopted son, and finding a deeper sense of joy and connection, this chapter has been full of unexpected blessings. I also open up...

In this special compilation episode, we explore the evolving science of pregnancy, exercise, and recovery through conversations with two innovative voices in women’s health: Dr. Shon Rowan and Dr. Lindsey Mathews. Dr. Shon Rowan, an OB-GYN and researcher, shares groundbreaking insights from his work studying heart rate variability (HRV) throughout pregnancy and postpartum. His findings reveal fasc...

Natalie Crawford, MD is board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and is co-founder of Fora Fertility, a boutique fertility practice in Austin, Texas. Dr. Crawford is CEO and co-founder of Pinnacle, a professional network for women in medicine. She completed her undergraduate at Auburn University obtaining a degree in Nutrition Science, Medica...

In this special compilation, former CrossFit Games athletes Lindsey Valenzuela, Kara Saunders, Annie Thorisdottir, and Camille Leblanc-Bazinet share their experiences transitioning from elite competition to motherhood, and back again.   They discuss how training evolved before pregnancy, what changed during pregnancy, and how they approached postpartum recovery and return to performance.  Enjoy th...

In this episode of Pursuing Health, Julie shares what she learned from a year-long experiment of starting 100 conversations with strangers.   As an introvert, this challenge pushed her beyond fear, discomfort, and self-doubt.   She reflects on rejection, surprising moments of connection, and why first impressions rarely tell the full story.   This episode explores how helping others feel seen open...

In this episode of Pursuing Health, Dr. Julie Foucher Brown explores direct primary care as a model that restores time, trust, and relationship to medicine. Through conversations with physicians practicing DPC, Julie examines what becomes possible when care is no longer driven by insurance—but by people. Related Episodes: Ep 111 - A New Model for Primary Care with Dr. Kenneth Rictor Ep 128 - Dr. J...

What do you do when your mind is racing, emotions feel overwhelming, and meditation doesn’t help? In this episode of Pursuing Health, I share a personal moment of overwhelm and the simple, unexpected technique that helped me regulate my nervous system in just minutes. When sitting quietly felt impossible, I turned to Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), or tapping—and experienced a powerful shift. I...

What if medicine focused less on naming diseases and more on understanding why the body falls out of balance in the first place? This episode brings together some of the most respected thinkers in functional medicine: Dr. David Haase, Dr. Mark Hyman, Chris Kresser, and Dr. Bob Rountree.  Together, they explore how a systems-based approach—one that looks at root causes rather than isolated symptoms...

In this solo episode, Julie shares a deeply personal story about discovering the profound connection between physical movement and mental health.  What began as a lesson in self-care during her early medical training became a lifelong understanding that our physical habits—exercise, sleep, nutrition, and recovery—are essential to maintaining emotional resilience.  This experience reshaped her appr...

How do meditation, breathwork, and tapping influence the brain—and what can they teach us about healing, connection, and resilience? In this episode, I speak with four thought leaders exploring the neuroscience and practice of inner calm: Niraj Naik, creator of SOMA Breath, on breathwork rooted in Pranayama and how rhythmic breathing and brief hypoxia strengthen mitochondria and balance energy. Ni...

Have you ever felt trapped in a thought you couldn’t shake? In this episode, Julie shares how the belief “I’ll never be organized” kept her stuck in anxiety and overwhelm—and how Byron Katie’s The Work helped her break free. Through four simple questions, she discovered a way to shift limiting beliefs into empowering ones. Listen in to learn how this tool can open new possibilities in your own lif...

What matters more—quality or quantity when it comes to nutrition? And how does diet connect to stress, longevity, and overall health? In this episode, we’re bringing together highlights from some of my favorite past conversations on nutrition and lifestyle. You’ll hear from: Brigid Titgemeier on how changing her diet transformed her health and why food quality comes first Dan Buettner, author of B...

I first learned visualization as a young gymnast, used it in CrossFit, and now I’m finding it just as powerful in everyday life.  In this week’s episode, I share how this simple tool can help you show up with more confidence, presence, and joy—no matter what challenge you’re facing. Please share your thoughts with info@pursuing-health.com , or connect with me on Instagram @JulieFoucher . Related E...

In this special episode, I’m sharing a compilation of some of my favorite conversations with five of the most decorated athletes in CrossFit Games history: Rich Froning, Tia-Clair Toomey, Mat Fraser, Katrin Davidsdottir, and Annie Thorisdottir. These episodes span the past ten years of the podcast—starting with my very first recording ever, with Rich Froning. It’s been incredible to reflect on how...

I’m sharing a personal story from one of the most challenging seasons of my life—balancing the intense demands of medical school with training for the CrossFit Games, all while navigating grief and major life transitions. A pivotal conversation with my mom forced me to pause and ask a question I had never truly considered: Why was I doing all of this? What followed was a powerful realization about...

As we celebrate 10 years of the Pursuing Health podcast, I’m filled with gratitude—for where we’ve been and where we’re headed. What started in 2015 as a way to stay connected to the CrossFit community has grown into a space for conversations around all aspects of health—physical, emotional, and beyond.   Looking ahead, I want to make this next chapter even more intentional and meaningful—and I’d...

As we celebrate nearly 10 years of Pursuing Health, I’m thrilled to share another solo episode! This week I’ll be sharing insights into the shadow sides of social media, and the need for digital boundaries. I’d also love to hear from you! What topics or guests would you like to see featured on the podcast in years 10 and beyond? Are you interested in more solo episodes, or is there something speci...

Avanti Kumar-Singh, MD, is an internationally recognized Ayurveda and integrative medicine practitioner, a certified yoga therapist, and a former ER doctor. Her approach brings together Western medicine with the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda from her South Asian lineage. Dr. Avanti is the former co-lead facilitator at Northwestern Medicine's Osher Center for Integrative Health, hosts The Healing Cata...

As we near the 10-year mark of Pursuing Health, I’m excited to bring you another solo episode! In this one, I reflect on how my mindset evolved throughout my competitive CrossFit career, and how I came to understand the powerful role our internal narratives play in shaping our lives. I’ll also share the strategies I still use today to cultivate the best version of myself. I’d love to hear from you...

Ronit Menashe and Vida Delrahim are the visionary co-founders of WeNatal, a pioneering prenatal supplement company dedicated to supporting both women and men on their fertility journeys. Their partnership began over 15 years ago at Nike, where they forged a deep friendship that would later evolve into a shared mission. After experiencing miscarriages just a week apart, Ronit and Vida were struck b...

Steve Bierman, MD is the Director of the Noetic Medicine Institute at the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine (University of Arizona, College of Medicine). He is also the author of two award-winning books on Noetic Medicine: HEALING (2020) and The END of WORRY (2023). Dr. Bierman is a graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Medicine and was board certified in and practiced Emergenc...

Jody Luke is the President of Love Does – a nonprofit founded by Bob Goff over 20 years ago that fights for human rights, cares for the vulnerable, and provides education in conflict zones around the world. Under Jody’s leadership, the organization has expanded internationally to fourteen countries, while also broadening its reach domestically to further help refugees, teen moms and the incarcerat...

Jason H. Karp is the Founder and CEO of HumanCo, a mission-driven company investing in and building brands focused on healthier living and sustainability. He is also the Co-Founder of Hu Kitchen, which created the #1 premium organic chocolate in the U.S. After spending over 21 years in the hedge fund industry, where he led a $4 billion investment fund, Jason shifted his focus to fixing the broken...