In this latest episode with podcast host, nutritionist, and coach Rachel Gregory, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about cardio - the best kind depending on your goal; how to know when you’re overdoing it; if you can be a high-performing endurance athlete and eat low carb; when to implement it for fat loss; and so much more. Head to my website, ashleighvanhouten.com, to submit more questions for an upcoming podcast!
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
My #JackedBack Pull-Up Program, designed to get you functional strength, mobility, and beautiful strict pull-ups, is available now! Sign up for lifetime access to the program, a full exercise video library, and access to me, your personal pull-up coach, HERE.
Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MUSCLE10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!
Today Ashleigh speaks with Dr. Ben Bikman, author of Why We Get Sick, about insulin resistance, optimal diet, and the nearly universal contributing factors as to why we get sick - so we can approach health from the ground up, address the root issues, and truly understand how our bodies work.
They discuss why we should be focusing more on our insulin than our blood sugar; why a lower carb diet is still the best approach for most people; why animal sources of protein and fat (always together) are ideal; how insulin resistance can impact hormonal health, fertility, and a host of other chronic and all-too-common diseases; and most importantly: how we can start learning about our health and our bodies to take ownership and control over our health.
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
My #JackedBack Pull-Up Program, designed to get you functional strength, mobility, and beautiful strict pull-ups, is available now! Sign up for lifetime access to the program, a full exercise video library, and access to me, your personal pull-up coach, HERE.
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at here and use the code MM20 for a massive 20% discount!
In this episode with podcast host, nutritionist, and coach Rachel Gregory, Ashleigh and Rachel do a deep dive on the mental aspect of health and goal setting. Information and enthusiasm are both important for making positive health changes, but having the right outlook and a plan for sustained behavior change is even more crucial. Ashleigh and Rachel draw on their extensive experience as coaches and athletes to discuss why behavior change can be so difficult (even when we want to change!), why managing expectations and creating consistent habits matters more than hard work, and the tough questions we must ask ourselves before we set out for any goal. Don’t miss this one!
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Primally Pure is my favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!
Today Ashleigh learns from former WBO World Boxing Champion and ISKA+WKA World Kickboxing Champion and author of The Fighter’s Kitchen, Chris Algieri. From practical tips for at-home boxing practice; nutrition for athletes; and their favorite fighter movies, two cover it all. Being inspired by an elite athlete and training and eating like one are two completely different things, but in this episode, Chris and Ashleigh break down the fundamentals of fueling for performance and how you can take inspiration from your favorite athletes and use it to realistically inform your own diet and training plans.
Chris has a bachelor’s degree in healthcare science and a master’s degree in clinical nutrition, and he provides nutrition services for elite and recreational athletes alike. Check out his book, The Fighter’s Kitchen, and follow him on Instagram @chris_algieri
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!
Primally Pure is my favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
In this episode Ashleigh talks more about her newly-launched Jacked Back Pull-Up Program with her collaborator and founder of Volv, Brent Totty. They dive into the details of the program (how it works, what you’ll learn, the process of putting it together) as well as discuss the technology aspect of this online program: how you can use tech to really connect with other people, learn, and build better habits, especially in times like these where in-person connection is increasingly rare. Technology gets a bad rep, and it can certainly be a time drain; but if you use it as a tool, rather than letting it use you, you can reap incredible benefits.
Brent Totty is a human behavior technology entrepreneur -- and is the founder and CEO of VOLV, a virtual habit formation platform for wellness content creators, coaches and trainers. Over the last 8 years Brent has founded a handful of different companies in the human performance and creative industries while also working as a trainer, nutrition coach, private chef an digital creator for brands. Brent’s career as an entrepreneur has always been founded on building platforms for the undiscovered potential of those that strive to make the world a better, brighter and healthier place.
My Jacked Back Pull-up Program is available now - sign up here!
Thanks to our show sponsors: BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder here and use the code MM20 for a 20% discount!
Primally Pure is my favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
In this episode Ashleigh breaks down the process of writing her cookbook, It Takes Guts, with her cookbook photographer (and long time friend) Heather MacDonald. They talk about imposter syndrome, learning while doing (instead of waiting for the “perfect time”), what it meant to work on a big project with a friend, insider tips on food photography, and how to overcome all the obstacles in your way - including finishing a tight deadline in the middle of a global pandemic! This is a fun inside look at the power of friendships and support, and how rewarding it can be to take risks and try something new.
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Thanks to our show sponsors: BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at https://www.bubsnaturals.com/pages/musclemaven and use the code MM20 for a discount!
Primally Pure is my favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
Kari is a six times CrossFit Games athlete and four time Fittest American Female. She is currently the 3rd fittest woman on earth and has been in the top 10 the last five years. She has a long athletic career in gymnastics, and she earned her degree in Movement Science from the School of Kinesiology and was three time Academic All Big Ten.
In addition to being a full time athlete, she has developed PowerAbs, which is a core program thousands of people are doing. It incorporates many of the things she learned in her 18 years of gymnastics and through her education to get people stronger and better looking midsections.
In this episode Ashleigh and Kari talk about her recent CrossFit Games experience, including her training, diet, recovery, and mindset approach; being an older athlete at 31; why we love and hate burpees, and we dig into her Power Abs program too.
Find more at karipearce.com and follow Kari on Instagram at @karipearcecrossfit
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at https://www.bubsnaturals.com/pages/musclemaven and use the code MM20 for a discount!
Anders Varner co-hosts the uber popular Barbell Shrugged podcast, and creates programs for folks to get shredded, get muscular, and get fit. The Shrugged team is embarking on a totally new area of fitness: they are launching a series of workout programs that will be available in WalMart stores, effectively bringing high-end fitness programs to a mass market. It’s the first time it’s ever been done, and I wanted to chat with my friend about the business of fitness, the challenges to entering new markets, the importance of balance and perspective in the fitness world, and how to be a “diesel dad” (or mom) and still have other hobbies and interests outside of the gym.
Learn more about their programs, podcast, and other free resources at barbellshrugged.com
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Are you looking to learn more about your health? Maybe you want to try a new style of eating, or understand how different foods effect you. It turns out, you can learn a lot about your body using a continuous glucose monitor, even if you aren’t diabetic or have insulin sensitivity issues. It helps you to understand how your body uniquely reacts to different foods, workouts, and other stressors; it can help you see how insulin sensitive or resistant you are during different times, and how well your body returns back to homeostasis; and it can help you individualize your diet and lifestyle to better support your unique physiology and goals.
Ashleigh experimented with a NutriSense CGM for two weeks, tracked the data, and asked Kara Collier, director of nutrition for NutriSense, to help interpret her results as well as answer questions from listeners. They also discussed the differences in results if you’re keto or not keto; the time of your monthly cycle, if you’re a female; and possible “experiments” you can try with your CGM. If you’d like to try NutriSense for yourself, head to this link and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN to save $25!
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at https://www.bubsnaturals.com/pages/musclemaven and use the code MM20 for a discount!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Today Ashleigh chats with integrative dietician, holistic nutritionist and author Esther Blum about the ongoing complexities of gut health, hormonal health, and getting to the root of your problems to achieve sustainable positive health outcomes. So often we try to rush to a solution, or focus on addressing symptoms rather than a root cause; reframing our health goals as a life-long journey helps us slow down and truly understand ourselves, our bodies, and our challenges. We talk about digestive health, autoimmune issues, tracking and testing, continuous glucose monitoring, and much more!
Connect with Esther on Instagram @gorgeousesther or on her website, estherblum.com
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Learn more about the book and nose to tail eating in my episode with Paul Saladino, and my episode with Beth Lipton.
Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
In this solo episode, Ashleigh talks about her experience with bodybuilding: how she got into the sport and what she learned; common mistakes and her recommendations; competition day drama and unexpected challenges; and she answers listener questions about what competing is really like, including sharing how she eats when prepping; whether or not you can be a competitive bodybuilder and eat keto or paleo; if there are special concerns for women; ways to put on muscle while losing fat, and much more.
Man or woman, if you’ve ever thought about prepping and competing in an amateur bodybuilding competition but aren’t sure if you’re ready or if it’s right for you: listen to this episode first, as Ashleigh shares behind the scenes insider knowledge with some humor, transparency, and helpful tips thrown in.
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MM20 for a discount!
Primally Pure is my favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
In this Q&A episode with coach and low-carb/keto diet expert, nutritionist, and host of the Metflex and Chill podcast Rachel Gregory, Ashleigh and Rachel dive into listener questions around flexible dieting, macro counting, emotional eating, food shame, and so much more. Please share this episode with someone you think could benefit!
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!
Primally Pure is my favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
This week Ashleigh speaks with Ede Fox, an educator about the carnivore diet who has created an inclusive space for black people and people of color to learn about the carnivore diet, health and nutrition.
Ashleigh and Ede talk about Ede’s health journey, how she eats now and what she’s learned, and why it’s important to her to create space for people of color to connect with each other in the health world. They also speak more broadly about what the carnivore diet means to them, the potential issues around macro counting, why women need to get over their fear of dietary fat, and more.
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
You can now purchase Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and Ashleigh’s muscle-centric-medicine course that took place in Summer 2020! Learn on your own time by accessing more than 8 hours of video lectures with the two and other fitness and nutrition experts, as well as more than 50 pages of course material and a Gabrielle-and-Ashleigh-approved high protein recipe e-book! The material is only available for a short time, but you can access it here
Thank you to my awesome show sponsor, Santa Cruz Medicinals, offering high-quality, third-party-tested CBD products including MCT-based tinctures, CBD-infused coconut oil, skincare, and so much more! Head to scmedicinals.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN15 for a 15% discount.
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Ashleigh sits down with her doctor, and one of the world leaders in functional medicine, the creator of the Muscle-Centric-Medicine approach to health and longevity, Dr. Gabrielle Lyon. In this episode, they take listener questions about the efficacy of a ketogenic diet for women; optimal protein intake; optimal carb intake and what a “carb threshold” is; understanding and managing “hedonic” eating, even during times of extreme stress; and much more.
If you’d like to learn more about muscle-centric medicine and how to optimize your protein and muscle for health and longevity, you can download the full course materials from Dr. Lyon and Ashleigh’s muscle-centric-medicine course that took place in Summer 2020. Learn on your own time by accessing more than 8 hours of video lectures with the two and other fitness and nutrition experts, as well as more than 50 pages of course material and a Gabrielle-and-Ashleigh-approved high protein recipe e-book! The material is only available for a short time, but you can access it here
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MM20 for a discount!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Ashleigh sits down with Cristi Bartlett, an assistant strength coach for the Tennessee Titans to talk about coaching, confidence, powerlifting, and football - not necessarily in that order! We learn about Cristi’s background in sports, how she decided her career path and the steps she took to get there; what it’s like being one of the few women in her position in the NFL; and how competence, confidence, and passion will always matter more than luck or gender. Of course, having a great squat never hurts!
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Today Ashleigh chats with her friend and personal trainer/ fitness consultant /brand builder Sam Pogue about balancing our desires for a “magic pill” or quick fix with the reality of long-term, consistent habits. They talk about the trend and subculture of biohacking; what’s snake oil and what’s really helpful; the importance of clearly understanding your goals before you can reverse engineer the steps needed to get there; and when “biohacking” can be fun and helpful, and when you need to simply get back to basics and build the foundation first.
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Connect with Sam on Instagram @spogue86 at and sampogue.com, and stay tuned for his Be Less Unfit 12-week lifestyle program dropping soon!
Want to ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
You can have beautiful, effective, and healthy skincare - it’s really a thing! Primally Pure has natural deodorant that actually works, beef tallow-based body butter that is the most decadent and deliciously scented I’ve ever tried, and a host of other amazing products from dry shampoo to face oil and so much more - all with ingredients you can pronounce and at an affordable price. Shop at primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for 15% off!
This week’s episode is one everyone can learn from and use immediately to become happier - no small claim! Ashleigh speaks with Rob Mack, an ivy-league-educated Positive Psychology expert, happiness coach, and Author. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the relationship between happiness and success. He helps individuals and organizations achieve an energizing balance of authentic personal happiness and effortless professional success, based on time-tested, face-valid, empirical data and timeless, transcendental wisdom.In this episode, Rob walks us through his journey to his current work, including struggling with suicidal depression as a younger person, to dedicating his life to helping people find “peaceful aliveness.”
They talk about the importance of understanding for your self what “peace” and happiness means to you; how to balance internal and external validation and pleasure; how to reframe challenge and adversity so your struggles work for you instead of against you; and the stunning concept that your perception of your health and success matters more than quantifiable, extrinsic measurements. This episode is the best free therapy out there - if you enjoy it, please share it with someone you care about, and check out Rob’s book, Happiness from the Inside Out.
My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!
Connect with Rob online at coachrobmack.com and on social media @robmackofficial, and buy his book, Happiness from the Inside Out
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grass fed collagen and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MM20 for a discount!
Today Ashleigh welcomes back her friend Dr. Elly Michelle Lieppman, a licensed naturopathic doctor who specializes in individualized women’s medicine, optimizing hormones, digestion, and energy. Dr. Elly Michelle is passionate about restoring balance in the body naturally and sustainably through lifestyle medicine, nutrition, and strategic supplementation, by uncovering the root cause of health concerns and understanding what is going on in your body at a deeper level. With specific expertise in eating disorders, Elly brings so much to table and the two women answer audience questions about vitamin deficiencies, overcoming body insecurity, what your cycle is telling you about your health, and misconceptions over what it takes to achieve that “toned” look so many women are after. All that and more in this info-packed episode!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MM20 for a discount!
Try Sweet Apricity’s Paleo and AIP friendly sweets, like amazing caramels and marshmallows, for a treat that won’t make you feel gross. Use the code MUSCLEMAVEN at sweetapricity.com for 15% off!
Follow Dr. Elly Michelle on Instagram @dr.ellymichelle and check out her website, www.drellymichelle.com
This week Ashleigh chats about organ meat, optimizing health, and the carnivore diet with the carnivore MD himself, Paul Saladino, author of the Carnivore Code. They break down listener questions about the healthiest animals to eat, how to eat them, how to optimize immune and gut health, how to train on a low carb or carnivore diet, using a carnivore approach as a health reset, insulin sensitivity, and a lot more. If you’re interested in the benefits of a nose-to-tail diet, optimizing your animal protein intake, and possibly upgrading your health, you’ll want to listen all the way through to this one!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Thank you to my awesome show sponsor, Santa Cruz Medicinals, offering high-quality, third-party-tested CBD products including MCT-based tinctures, CBD-infused coconut oil, skincare, and so much more! Head to scmedicinals.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN15 for a 15% discount.
In today’s episode Ashleigh speaks with anti-aging expert Dr. Amy Killen about all the fun stuff: sexual health, skin health, and longevity, for men and women. They talk about stem cell therapy, peptides, hormone therapy, and all the ways Dr. Killen is researching and implementing bio-optimization with her clients. Often, addressing sexual health or even cosmetic anti-aging treatments can be a gateway into a deeper understanding of true health and longevity, so this is a fun intro into all the ways we can look at our health and address the myriad challenges or questions we all have.
This is a great chat about anti-aging with an expert in the field, and a good reminder that we shouldn’t be trying to “stop” the natural process of aging; rather, we can address some of the negative aspects of getting older that we take for granted are inevitable, when they don’t have to be. We can have beautiful skin, great sex, and robust health as we age - listen to this episode to find out how to do it!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!
Today on Muscle Maven Radio, Ashleigh speaks with Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and a professor in the department of neurobiology at the Stanford university school of medicine. He studies brain development, brain plasticity, neural regeneration as well as things like controlling your brain state, tangible ways to manage fear, stress and anxiety, and at his lab he also works on strategies for halting and reversing vision loss ad how visual perceptions and autonomic arousal states impact behavioral responses.
In this episode we dive into practical ways to immediately control brain state and help mitigate acute stressors, rewiring your brain for positivity, we talk about neurotransmitters, breath work, and even how your vision impacts your stress response. All that and much more, you might want to take notes on this one!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount!
Try Sweet Apricity’s Paleo and AIP friendly sweets, like amazing caramels and marshmallows, for a treat that won’t make you feel gross. Use the code MUSCLEMAVEN at sweetapricity.com for 15% off!
Today’s episode is about the many forms that strength can take, the power of perspective, and ultimately the story of a pretty remarkable human being who has been through more than most and has come out of it all a stronger, wiser person. Nikki Balkau is a powerlifter, but like all of us she’s a lot more than that. We discuss her experience being diagnosed with Leukemia has an otherwise healthy twenty-something, and how she dealt with that diagnosis physically and mentally (including continuing to train, literally, while undergoing chemo).
We talk about her background with and recovery from an eating disorder, and how different sports throughout her life have shaped her attitudes towards her body and her self-worth and identity. Her openness and willingness to share the good and the bad of her deeply personal story with the world is incredibly inspiring, and may help anyone who’s listening and going through something tough - it’s a reminder that whatever you’re going through, you’re not alone, and there are lessons to be learned even in our darkest times.
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount!
On this episode of Muscle Maven Radio, Ashleigh speaks with Dr. Fit and Fabulous, Dr. Jaime Seeman. A functional OBGYN and surgeon, she also calls herself the vagina doctor so it only makes sense that they talk about nutrition and health for pregnancy and women who wish to become pregnant; what your monthly cycle can tell you about your health; metabolic flexibility, carbs, and keto for women; and hormonal health in general. They also discuss Dr. Seeman’s participation in the Titan Games, and is The Rock really as cool in person as he seems? This is a must-listen for any woman looking to learn more about health and hormones.
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
The problem with most health tracking apps is that they tend to influence people to rely more on external data than their own thinking. Today’s guests are Paul Oneid and Jay Nera, the founders of MetriLife, a mobile app that teaches you how your daily behaviors affect your life and provide you with actionable feedback to improve your mental and physical health and performance. They join us on the show to talk about their app, but also the idea that all health goals are contingent on mindset, behaviors, and our ability to understand and be honest with ourselves. We begin by hearing how our two guests met before diving into a fascinating conversation about what mental health is all about and how to approach it. Jay and Paul talk about journaling, the need for reflection along with introspection, and the freedom of being in the present. We also discuss how to get past faddy understandings of conscious living and what we can learn about growth from a place of self-love rather than insecurity and obsession. We touch on defining what being good means for ourselves and how to start the process of breaking bad habits that are self-serving. From there, we take a deeper dive into MetriLife and how it differs from other tracking apps by holding an up a mirror based on feedback you give it, thereafter providing tools to form associations between where you are and want to be. Join us for all these amazing philosophical insights into the role of accountability and technology in health today!
Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten@gmail.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com
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Key Points From This Episode:
Tweetables:
“Living consciously is becoming a fad phrase and I honestly haven’t heard one person talk about it on a non-superficial level. It involves a lot more things than, ‘Oh, living consciously means not operating on a subconscious level.” — @jay_nera [0:15:12]
“If I’m working and I’m busy, I don’t have to think about my problems, but the reality is that those problems and that friction within your life is where all of your personal growth is going to be. You need to take time to reflect.” — @pauloneid [0:26:10]
“Our tagline for MetriLife is that it’s an intelligent approach to living healthier, living happier, and living stronger, and the reason why it is an intelligent approach is because you’re the one in the driver’s seat.” — @pauloneid [0:52:36]
“This is a reality check and look in the mirror to see where are you today, and then it’s a helping hand to guide you along a journey that you’re creating for yourself.” — @pauloneid [0:53:47]
“Through technology, we’re inundated with so many external connections that we lose this connection with the inside. We don’t look inside and that’s where the revolutionary act is.” — @jay_nera [0:55:05]
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
‘Behaviors to Monitor and Practice’
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind
Seneca the Younger
Marcus Aurelius