The Psyche Behind the Physique

In this powerful and refreshingly real episode, Madison Michielssen sits down with Jodi Stabile, founder of Sweat in St. Pete, to unpack the unspoken truth behind burnout, balance, and building a life that actually fits you. Whether you're a high-achiever spinning ten plates, a fitness junkie stuck in go-mode, or a woman wondering if it’s okay to just slow down —this conversation is going to hit h...

In this honest, reflective episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Bikini Pro and MPowered Coaching Collective founder Maddy Michielssen unpacks a struggle many women face: how to stay committed to your goals when the people closest to you are in a totally different phase. 🌀 Fresh off a trip to LA with assistant coach Alexa—one in a cut, one in a build—Maddy dives into what it means to h...

In this honest, empowering episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Bikini Pro and MPowered Coaching Collective founder Maddy Michielssen sits down with her athlete Haley Morfin to tackle a mindset trap many high-achieving women fall into: waiting for life to “calm down” before they commit to themselves. 🎯💭 If you've ever caught yourself saying, “I’ll get back on track after this trip…”...

In this special episode, I’m joined by someone who’s known me longer than anyone—my mom. Together, we’re diving into a topic that most people avoid but desperately need: criticism. Let’s be real—being coachable is a skill. And in a world that glamorizes “protecting your peace” and tuning out the noise, it’s easy to write off all feedback as hate. But what if learning to receive criticism with curi...

🎙️ In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Bikini Pro and MPowered Coaching Collective founder Maddy Michielssen is joined by head assistant coach, wellness girlie, and two-time bikini overall champion Alexa Sotere for a raw, refreshing conversation on what it really means to be a “hot girl” in today’s wellness culture. We’re pulling back the curtain on the curated aesthetics, ima...

In this raw, reflective episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , host Maddy Michielssen—IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective—is joined by licensed mental health counselor and fellow competitor Claudia Mayes to explore a topic that’s rarely discussed in the fitness world, but deeply felt: when control, discipline, and “doing everything right” become your way of avoidin...

In this heartfelt and practical episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , Maddy Michielssen, IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective, is joined by two-time overall bikini champ and longtime athlete Alexa Sotere. Together, they peel back the layers on a topic that hits home for so many: the fear of losing progress while on vacation. 🌴💪 If you’ve ever stressed about food,...

In this full-circle episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Bikini Pro and MPowered Coaching Collective Founder Maddy Michielssen is joined by the one and only Celeste Rains-Turk —mental health counselor, author, and the voice behind Confessions of a Bikini Pro . Together, they dive deep into what it really looks like to enjoy a prep, how to know when it’s time for an offseason, and how t...

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , host Maddy Michielssen, IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective, is joined by Gregge Stewart, a seasoned neurolinguistic programming coach and a trusted guide in her own personal journey. Together, they dive deep into the powerful link between mindset and success in fitness, bodybuilding, and life. From navigating relation...

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Bikini Pro and MPowered Coaching Collective founder, Maddy Michielssen, is joined by her long-time athlete and two-time overall bikini champion, Alexa Sotere! Together, they dive into the all-too-relatable “Someday” trap — that mindset that convinces you to keep putting off your dreams until the timing feels perfect. Spoiler alert: that perf...

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective, Maddy Michielssen, sits down with Dr. Kuhn, founder of Elevate Wellness , to explore the power of acupuncture beyond just pain management. Dr. Kuhn unpacks the science behind acupuncture , how it optimizes hormones, digestion, autoimmune health, and nervous system regulation , and w...

What happens when stepping away from the competitive stage doesn’t mean stepping away from the bodybuilding lifestyle? In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , host Maddy Michielssen —IFBB Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective—sits down with Allegra Sims , fellow IFBB Pro, to discuss how they’ve evolved beyond the stage while still embracing the discipline, structure, and...

Welcome back to The Psyche Behind the Physique ! In this episode, Maddy Michielssen and dives into a game-changing mindset shift—learning to distinguish between ought to , have to , and want to in our lives. Maddy shares a deeply personal story that forced her to reassess how she was operating—constantly stuck in a cycle of productivity and external obligations, losing sight of what truly mattered...

For years, both Alexa and I have navigated the challenges of amenorrhea, and in this episode, we’ll share our journeys to recovery, the pivotal role your cycle plays in overall health, and why it’s so much more than just fertility. From discussing the science behind hormonal balance to sharing mindset shifts, actionable tips, and lifestyle strategies, this episode is packed with everything you nee...

In this inspiring episode, host Maddy Michielssen, IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective, is joined by two-time overall bikini champion Alexa Sotere to discuss the emotional and mental intricacies of breaking out of "the cycle" as a competitor. 🎙 Through personal stories, pivotal moments, and practical insights, Maddy and Alexa explore: The allure and challenges of stayin...

This week, host Maddy Michielssen, IFBB Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective , dives into one of her most transformative rituals—one she’s been practicing every December for the past five years. This simple yet powerful exercise will help you reflect on the past year, uncover invaluable insights, and gain clarity on your goals for 2025. Through six thoughtfully crafted questions, Ma...

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , host Maddy Michielssen, IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective, dives into the parallels between running and pursuing health and fitness goals. Inspired by her experiences at a local run club, Maddy shares five transformative lessons that apply to any journey—whether you’re chasing a pro card, recovering from burnout, or...

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective, Maddy Michielssen, breaks down why relying on willpower might be holding you back from true progress. With the holidays in full swing, it’s tempting to lean on grit and determination to stick to your goals, but willpower alone is a limited resource—and one that often leaves us feeli...

Welcome to The Psyche Behind the Physique with your host, Maddy Michielssen—IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective! This week’s episode dives into the holiday season, a time that should be filled with joy and connection but often becomes a battleground for perfectionism and self-doubt. Maddy shares personal insights and actionable strategies to help you break free from foo...

In this heartfelt episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , Maddy Michielssen is joined by a very special guest—her mother, Terry—to explore the transformative power of holistic health in fitness and life. Together, they dive into Terry’s journey with natural medicine, how it influenced Maddy’s coaching philosophy, and the essential balance of mind, body, and spirit in achieving lasting success....

In this week’s episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Pro and head coach Maddy Michielssen sits down with her athlete and friend, Miki, fresh off her first competition stage. Together, they tackle a topic often overlooked yet crucial for competitors: the mental and physical challenges of reverse dieting post-show. From the science behind neural pathways in prep to the struggle of re-esta...

In this week’s episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , IFBB Pro and MPowered Coaching Collective head coach Maddy Michielssen gets real about something that might hit close to home—and ruffle a few feathers. Maddy opens up about her own struggles with control disguised as "health," the hidden challenges of post-show transitions, and how she redefined her relationship with food. If you’ve ever...

In this week’s episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique , host Maddy Michielssen dives into the power of extreme ownership and self-accountability . Building on last week's discussion on how we can unconsciously thrive in dysfunction, Maddy shares personal insights from a recent family trip to Watsonville, CA. She reflects on how shifting from rigid expectations to intentional, realistic actions...

In this episode, MPowered Coaching Collective Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen discusses why we always feel like the journey -- to lose weight, get healthier, feel more confident in our skin, step on stage -- has to be hard and the three areas in which this "obsession" takes root in our lives. Join Maddy as she provides you with actionable tools that you can leverage so that your fixation on the "har...

In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen discusses how she leverages her anxiety as her superpower -- for productivity and success and provides you with the tools and explanations as to how you can harness this superpower for yourself! IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ | YT: @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠madsmichiefitness⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Join⁠⁠⁠⁠ Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where...