To Your Health

Brenda Ridgley never imagined herself competing in a pageant, but a chance conversation in 2020 led her to enter Mrs. America and step far outside her comfort zone. In this episode of the To Your Health podcast, Brenda shares what it looked like to go from an immediate “no” to fully committing, including six months of preparation, hiring a coach, and navigating the vulnerability of putting herself...

Whitney Merchant was nearing 40 when her life unraveled—within weeks, she experienced a divorce, the loss of her pets, and a sudden layoff. Searching for an outlet to process grief and rediscover herself, she made an unexpected decision: she signed up for a pole dancing class. What began as a bold step outside her comfort zone evolved into a transformative journey of healing, confidence, and self-...

Melanie Michaelchuk spent nearly 30 years thinking about climbing Mount Kilimanjaro before she finally decided to go for it. When she committed, she didn’t have perfect timing, unlimited resources, or peak fitness—she had doubts, obstacles, and a goal she couldn’t ignore any longer. In this conversation, Melanie shares what it actually looked like to follow through, from rebuilding her fitness ste...

Morgan joins me to share her journey from battling an eating disorder as a teenager to becoming an ultramarathoner, author, and mom committed to modeling a healthy relationship with food and fitness. We talk about what recovery really looked like after inpatient treatment in 2010, how her struggles evolved in college and early adulthood, and the surprising mindset shift that happened when she bega...

Kara shares how starting a simple book club during a season when she barely had an hour to herself became a source of connection, identity, and momentum during frequent moves and overwhelming stages of motherhood. We talk about what it actually looks like to build community from scratch, why book clubs work so well for adults craving deeper connection, and how reading can be a surprisingly powerfu...

Content note: This episode includes discussion of emotional abuse and coercive control, which may be difficult for some listeners. Please take care as you listen. After 29 years in a marriage marked by covert narcissism, control, and emotional abuse, Mia made the decision to leave and start over. She shares what life was really like behind closed doors, why leaving felt so complicated, and what it...

Zoe Price, CEO of Resume Pilots, joins me to share why she chose to buy an existing business instead of starting one from scratch. We talk about how she discovered buying a business was even an option, what appealed to her about stepping into something already established, and what the process actually looked like. Zoe also shares the less talked-about realities of business ownership, including de...

Tammie joins me for a candid conversation about earning her master’s degree at 50 while working full time, managing ADHD, and parenting kids in different stages of leaving the nest. We talk honestly about what the experience was actually like — finding a program that fit real life, being twice the age of most classmates, managing the mental load, and staying connected to herself while pursuing a d...

In hindsight, Edie can see the warning signs leading up to her heart attack. But in the moment, the self-described workaholic finished her drive home, called work to cancel clients, and only then headed to the hospital. At 55, despite exercising regularly, Edie survived heart attack that forced her to confront the cost of chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and unrelenting responsibility. In this e...

The To Your Health podcast is kicking off a new series called Women Who Did, featuring everyday women who followed through on something meaningful, not because they’re extraordinary, but because they decided to try. In this short intro episode, I share why I stepped away from expert interviews, how this idea came together, and what surprised me most when I asked women to nominate themselves (spoil...

Paul Quinn joins me to talk about why asking for what you want feels so uncomfortable for so many people—and how much we leave on the table because of it. We explore the idea of the “big ask,” why people often want to be asked more than we realize, and how clarity and respect can completely change the outcome of a request. Paul shares real-life stories that show how asking can strengthen relations...

You’ve probably heard the quote that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Well, today’s episode digs into why that idea actually matters. We're exploring how the expectations of the people around us shape what feels normal, possible, and worth trying. We cover how being intentional about your circle can change the way you show up for your goals without needing to...

Most of us do everything we can to avoid rejection—but what if there are actually some positives to it? Writer and podcast host Alice Draper joins me to talk about why rejection hurts, what it can teach us, and how to build your “rejection resilience muscle.” We cover the difference between rejection and failure, why it’s important not to let rejection stop you, and the surprising upside of hearin...

Yes, I'm actually making a case for doing things that might feel “extreme”, not for the sake of pushing limits endlessly, but because of how those experiences can permanently change what feels hard. I talk about why “extreme” is relative to the person, and how challenges that stretch you can recalibrate your perspective on effort, discomfort, and what you’re capable of. This episode isn’t abou...

This episode digs into entrepreneur & author Trunnis Goggins’ “4 Ps of You.” We cover how having a clear sense of purpose can guide your choices, why planning is so much more effective than just winging it, and how persistence can carry you through when progress feels slower than you’d like. Trunnis also shares how the 4 Ps—purpose, planning, passion, and persistence—work together as a simple...

In this episode, I talk about a simple mindset shift that makes follow-through easier: learning how to make tomorrow easier by doing small favors for your future self. We often assume future us will be more motivated or have more time, but she’s just as busy as you are now. I share why relying on willpower backfires and how small, everyday actions that reduce friction build self-trust and consiste...

Jon Weiss, lawyer and conflict resolution expert, joins me to talk about how to apologize in a way that actually improves relationships. Instead of seeing apologies as weakness, Jon uses negotiation skills and empathy to show how “sorry” can become a tool for trust and connection. We dig into why so many of us avoid apologizing (even when we know we should), how to tell when an apology is really n...

Sometimes more structure helps. Sometimes it makes things harder than they need to be. In this bite-sized episode, I share a pattern I noticed with two different clients around running and how adding expectations too soon can change how something feels, even when it’s been going well. We’ll talk about how to know when structure supports your goals and when leaving things intentionally unstructured...

Relationship dynamics are always complex, but especially between men and women. Whether you feel like you know the man in your life inside and out or what’s going on in his head feels like a total mystery, this episode will be enlightening. Psychologist and author Dr. Avrum Weiss joins me to share what women often don’t realize about men and the hidden dynamics that shape their closest relationshi...

When's the last time you did something new as an adult (without being forced)? In this episode, I talk about what it’s been like to intentionally be a beginner again, using my recent (very humbling) return to the pool as the example. I share why so many of us avoid being new at things once we’re adults, how that avoidance limits us, and why choosing discomfort on purpose can build confidence,...

Between current events, politics, and everyday fears about the future, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and distracted from the things you actually can control. You may not have heard it before, but this kind of worry has a name: anticipatory anxiety, and it can drain your energy and make it harder to follow through on life and health goals. In this episode, we’re diving into what anticipatory anxiet...

I’m sharing 4 gym mistakes I see all the time as a trainer: why they happen, how they hold you back, and what to do instead so you actually get the results you’re working for. Whether you’re brand new to lifting or just want to make sure you’re getting the most out of your workouts, this quick listen will help you feel more confident and capable in the gym. Tune in each week for practical, relatab...

Self-care doesn’t necessarily mean spa days or vacations; in fact, the smallest moments often make the biggest difference. In this episode, health & wellness coach Amanda Bearce introduces us to the idea of daily self-care “snacks.” Amanda shares why these tiny, intentional practices are essential for nurturing your emotional battery, how slowing down creates lasting shifts in well-being, and...

This episode challenges the idea that weight loss has to be done the same way you will maintain it forever. We talk about why short term or structured approaches are not the issue, as long as you are intentional and have a plan for what comes next. I share examples like food tracking and 75 Hard to explain how building awareness and skills matters more than following rules long term If you are thi...

What if you had the ability to create more breathing room in your week? My guest today, Louisa Hollingsworth is here to show us exactly how to do that using her simple, four-step Weekly Reset Method. Louisa shares how emptying your head, spotting patterns, finding a quick win, and stacking it onto a habit can help you feel less overwhelmed and more in control of your time. Hi, I’m Louisa, Your Bus...