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Muscle Science for Women

Hosted by health coach and author Ashleigh VanHouten and nutritionist and strength and conditioning specialist Rachel Gregory - co-creators of the Muscle Science for Women training program - this podcast dives into all aspects of fitness including nutrition, training, recovery, fitness culture, and so much more, all with a focus on addressing women's unique goals and challenges. It's conversational, interactive, and will help listeners understand their bodies and how to achieve their goals.
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Now displaying: 2021
Dec 14, 2021

In the last episode of 2021, Ashleigh talks about her pregnancy and birth story:  her experiences being pregnant; including how she adjusted her diet and workout regimen; her actual birth experience, which involved an unmedicated birth at a birth center with a midwife and doula (and a couple surprises); and how she approached recovery, health, and life in the fourth trimester, aka the first few months after birth.

While this episode is not meant to be formal advice to any potential or new mom, it is a deeply personal story where Ashleigh shares her thoughts, feelings, experiences, and some suggestions or things to think about when you're going through this incredible journey - questions to ask yourself, and areas you may want to research more, learn about, or ask your care provider about. This episode is for moms-to-be and also their support people, spouses, and family.

If you'd like to know more specifics about Ashleigh's birth preparation, recovery, fitness plan, products used, and so on, send her a message through her website: ashleighvanhouten.com

Dec 7, 2021

Ashleigh is back with another episode co-hosted by her friend and Muscle Science for Women co-creator Rachel Gregory! In this episode the two podcast hosts and health coaches answer questions from listeners about the differences between muscle building and strength building; how to get back into the gym after injury; how to start working out in your 40's and 50s, and they talk about the next round of their Muscle Science for Women course starting again in January 2022.

If you want to learn more and sign up for this 12-week course all about the theory and application of strength and muscle building, sign up here to be notified when spaces open up.

If you want to learn more about Kabuki Education Week and register to listen to our lecture, you can do that here. 

Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at here (www.bubsnaturals.com) and use the code MM20 for a massive 20% discount!

Nov 30, 2021

Jill Coleman is a veteran of the fitness industry, with a history in figure competitions, fitness magazine cover modeling, personal training, and more - now, she has her own range of programs and certifications and offers business coaching for people looking to grow and level up in the health and fitness industry. Ashleigh worked with Jill personally on a fitness business consultation, and they got together recently to talk all things efficiency, work/life balance, the importance of daily commitments to your health and your business, how to approach investing in yourself, and so much more. 

In this episode Ashleigh and Jill chat about: 

  • How to prioritize a few thing (instead of trying to prioritize everything) to become more productive
  • What moderation in life, nutrition, and exercise means for Jill
  • What "anchor actions" are and how they help productivity 
  • Why she thinks you should play to your strengths instead of focus on your weaknesses
  • A discussion on investing in yourself as an entrepreneur - how to know when to spend money
  • And more!

Learn more about Jill and her programs at jillfit.com, her #moderation365 course, and check out her business podcast Fit Biz U.

Please check out our show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make Ashleigh's new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!

Nov 23, 2021

Dr. Carrie Jones is a Naturopathic Physician who is board certified in Naturopathic Endocrinology (FABNE) with a Master's in Public Health (MPH) and over 15 years in the field of functional and integrative medicine. She lectures all over the world on the topic of hormones and helps "hormonally challenged people feel less crazy." Ashleigh brought her on the show to explore the complexity of our hormonal cycles and what we can do to optimize them so we feel and perform our best.

In this episode Ashleigh  and Dr. Jones discuss:

  • The natural cycles of our hormones, and what they do for our body
  • Options for hormonal testing if you think something is off
  • The impact of cortisol on your body and your hormones
  • Lifestyle factors that play important roles in optimal hormone health; how to reduce your toxic load
  • And more!

Speaking of reducing toxins, shoutout to show sponsor Primally Pure, 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.

If you want to learn more about hormonal health, check out the three day workshop I did with women's naturopathic doctor Dr. Elly Michelle. This workshop consists of three in-depth lectures and discussions around key aspects of female hormonal health, and additional reading material and resources for you to keep. This intimate and thorough workshop allows you inside access to a naturopathic doctor who specializes in hormonal, sexual, and fertility issues, as well as an experienced health and wellness coach.

Nov 9, 2021

Cassy Joy Garcia is the bestselling author of Cook Once Dinner Fix, Cook Once Eat All Week, and Fed and Fit as well as the creative force behind the popular food blog Fed + Fit, which she started in 2011 and has grown exponentially. Eager to share her healthy living secrets with the world, she started Fed + Fit in 2011. She is a holistic nutrition consultant and mom, and wrote her new book to address the challenges that many people have with creating healthy meals for their families that are inexpensive, easy, and delicious. 

In this episode Ashleigh and Cassy chat about: 

  • How to save time, money, and energy when trying to get a home-cooked dinner on the table
  • Her experience with eating and cravings during pregnancy, and how to get young kids to eat the same healthy foods you're eating
  • As a holistic nutritionist, Cassy shares how to sneak in healthy choices for your family in addition to special diet modifications

Please check out our show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!

Oct 26, 2021

The question, "can you build muscle and lose fat at the same time?" may be one of the most pervasive in the fitness industry, and the answer, as usual, is more complex than many of us would like. But it's not all bad - there is plenty to be learned about our bodies and how they work while we explore the most efficient and healthy ways to achieve these two separate (but often combined) goals.

In this episode Ashleigh covers:

  • Who may be able to gain muscle and lose fat at the same time, and who may have a harder time
  • The ways in which these two goals can work with each other, and against each other
  • A discussion on the practical applications of caloric surpluses/deficits, and how to apply them to your life in a realistic way
  • A better, more sustainable solution to the "gain muscle, lose fat" question
  • Resources to learn more about how to apply this to your lifestyle

If you'd like to dive even deeper into this topic, sign up for the Muscle Science for Women program - our second run will begin in January 2022 and tickets are limited! Add your name to the "first to know" list here: https://www.metflexlife.com/muscle-science-women  

Try the Precision Nutrition calorie/macro calculator: https://www.precisionnutrition.com/nutrition-calculator

Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at here (www.bubsnaturals.com) and use the code MM20 for a massive 20%  discount!

Oct 19, 2021

Stan Efferding is an IFBB Professional bodybuilder and World Record Holding Powerlifter. He is one of only 10 men in the world to ever total over 2,300 pounds raw in competition. Stan holds the title as the World's Strongest Bodybuilder. 

He conducts seminars all over the country for various sports and nutrition and training techniques, and he coined the Vertical Diet - his book, The Vertical Diet, just came out and in this episode Ashleigh and Stan talk all things diet, muscle building, and what we can all take from the regimens of elite athletes. 

In this episode:

  • Stan's morning/daily routine
  • His new book, The Vertical Diet
  • Some of his key nutrition tips around fiber and protein
  • Practical tips for the rest of us gained from the worlds of powerlifting and bodybuilding
  • Stan's experience dealing with depression and anxiety, and how he addressed it
  • Working with elite athletes like Hafthor Bjornsson and Jon Jones
  • And much more!

Please check out our show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!

Oct 5, 2021
In this episode Ashleigh and Bethany, the founder of natural skincare brand Primally Pure, discuss specific animal-based skincare ingredients: how they’re processed and used, their benefits, how they’ve been used historically, and much more.
 
Bethany McDaniel started Primally Pure by personally rendering tallow from the animals at her family’s organic lifestock farm in Southern California, and has grown the brand exponentially to offer high-quality, luxurious natural skincare without any harmful ingredients - and specifically highlighting healthy animal ingredients. Just like with food, “animal-based” ingredients don’t have the same healthy reputation as plant-based, but humans have been using ingredients like tallow to address skin issues for generations.
 
In this episode:
  • Why grass-fed beef tallow is good for your skin
  • How it’s processed for use in skincare
  • What is emu oil and why it’s a great skin care ingredient
  • How to simplify and detoxify your skin care routine
  • And much more!
For more information about the company, head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN to save money on anything you buy.
 
A big thank you to our show sponsor, Medicine Man Plant Co, maker of uniquely formulated herbal supplements to support optimal health and immune function. Their products are rigorously third party tested and contain ingredients like elderberry, vitamin c, echinachea, and cordyceps - incredible natural ingredients that humans have used for generations to support their health. Learn more at https://medicinemanplantco.com/ and use the discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 20% off!
Sep 28, 2021
Core and pelvic health is a hugely important, and deeply under-respected aspect of health - but especially women’s health, and especially for post-partum women who have undergone drastic changes during pregnancy and childbirth. While pelvic physical therapy SHOULD be a standard of care for women who have given birth, more often we’re just told that women who have had babies will “pee a little” when they sneeze or exercise, and to deal with it; while this is common, it’s not normal and doesn’t have to be a life sentence.
 
In today’s episode with pelvic health physiotherapist Anita Lambert, Ashleigh asks her about:
  • What it means to have diastasis recti, pelvic organ prolapse, or other pelvic dysfunction issues
  • Why pelvic health isn’t JUST a pregnant woman’s issue
  • How to minimize pelvic issues before, during, and after pregnancy and child birth
  • Why the common advice for women to “just do kegels” isn’t a good idea
  • How to improve pressure management and core strength for everyone
  • And much more!
Anita is a Registered Physiotherapist (Pelvic Health and Orthopaedic) with a focus on women’s health, specifically prenatal and postpartum care as well as a Certified Pilates Instructor and Certified in Acupuncture. She graduated from McMaster University with an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology and a Masters of Science in Physiotherapy in 2009. Anita is passionate about helping pregnant clients connect more with their body including pelvic floor plus keep you active and comfortable during pregnancy while you prepare for birth which will give you a head start on your postpartum recovery. She enjoys helping postpartum clients navigate their recovery and return to activities they love including exercise, sports and dance without pain and pelvic floor symptoms.
 
Learn more or work with Anita - check out her website https://www.holistichealthphysio.com/about and listen to her on the To Birth and Beyond Podcast https://tobirthandbeyond.com/podcast/
 
Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!
 
Learn more about Ashleigh, suggest an idea for the podcast, or sign up for one of her health coaching programs at ashleighvanhouten.com
Sep 21, 2021
Autumn Smith is the co-founder of Paleovalley, a certified eating psychology coach, former fitness trainer, professional dancer, yogi and all around wellness warrior! Five years ago, she healed her IBS and anxiety with high quality FOOD and strategic lifestyle shifts. Ashleigh chats with Autumn about all this and more:
  • Her process of improving digestive issues and anxiety though diet and lifestyle
  • Ingredients in “healthy” food products that could be causing you issues
  • What a “Pleasure inventory” is and how to use it to make positive health changes
Learn more about the important work she is doing with her company at paleovalley.com (and use code MMR to save 15% on anything you purchase).
 
Level up your gut health game with BiOptimizers, makers of Ashleigh’s favorite probiotic, digestive enzymes, and other gut health promoting products. After using their P30M and MassZymes product for the past year and noticing a significant improvement in digestion especially during times of stress, Ashleigh has not looked back and recommends thee product to everyone (their Magnesium supplement is excellent as well). Even those of us with optimal diets can use some help now and then - check out their products here and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
 
Check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!
Sep 14, 2021
Dr. Steven Lin is a board-accredited dentist, author of The Dental Diet, and TEDx speaker. He coined the term functional dentist and is doing incredibly innovative work in this emerging area to prevent dental disease and overall health issues that are related to jaw and facial structure, improper breathing, gut and digestive health, and so much more. As we learn in this episode, oral health is about so much more than flossing and eating less sugar.
 
In today’s episode with functional dentist Dr. Lin, he and Ashleigh discuss:
  • What a functional dentist does that’s different from traditional dentistry
  • The prevalence and danger of sleep apnea in all different types of people
  • The importance of nasal breathing for oral and overall health
  • The importance of “tongue posture”
  • Can you proactively and positively impact things like jaw structure?
  • Can you reverse cavities and tooth decay?
  • What are some of the issues with crooked teeth and jaw problems aside from aesthetics
  • So much more!
Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!
 
Learn more about Ashleigh, suggest an idea for the podcast, or sign up for one of her health coaching programs at ashleighvanhouten.com
Sep 7, 2021

You may not be aware that many of our culinary herbs and spices started out as medicine. I asked chemist and plant expert (and product developer for Medicine Man Plant Co) to do a deep dive on a spice everyone knows, but many may not know the benefits of: black pepper. Yes, it tastes great with salt on french fries, but it also works with other healthy compounds to enable them to work better: things like turmeric and cayenne pepper, for example, by helping your body absorb more of those healthy compounds. Find out more about how black pepper works in this episode, and check out the previous episode with Mark all about another common pantry item: sage.

Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D. grew up in the wilds of Minnesota where his parents and grandparents utilized the amazing wild foods and medicinal plants found in local woods, fields, and lakes. He received a BS in professional chemistry from South Dakota State University followed by a MS in medicinal chemistry and a PH.D. in physical organic chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest technical university in the US.

After graduation a strange twist of fate set him traveling the world as a petroleum chemist rather than in pharmaceuticals. However, his knowledge of natural products blessed him with the ability to tap natural compounds to replace traditionally hazardous oilfield chemicals. During this career he earned fourteen chemical patents that made the petroleum industry safer for all. After 20 years of that he moved on to the position of R&D Manager for a consumer chemical product company. Here Dr. Vorderbruggen reinvented their line of construction chemical products, safely and effectively replacing the dangerous compounds the industry had been using. He also spearheaded the company’s R&D efforts for a whole new line of personal care products designed to protect people from the toxins they encounter daily. Mark wrote Idiot’s Guide Foraging and The Medicinal Plants of Texas (to be published 2022).

To learn more about Medicine Man Plant Co’s products and the ingredients they use, click here and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a 20% discount on anything you purchase.

Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!

Learn more about Ashleigh, suggest an idea for the podcast, or sign up for one of her health coaching programs at ashleighvanhouten.com

Aug 31, 2021
In this short episode Ashleigh offers up practical, tangible, and experience and science-backed tips for improving your sleep. Sleep is often the toughest and most under-appreciated aspect of the health puzzle, and considering Ashleigh has struggled with this element the most, she’s done her research and is sharing with you her own struggles as well as what’s worked for her. She covers key elements of sleep hygiene and sleep science around:
  • Room set up/temperature/lighting
  • Diet
  • Exercise and lifestyle
  • Why cultivating a night time routine is just as important as your morning routine
  • Supplements, and more!
 
If you want more holistic health advice around sleep and all aspects of wellness, consider signing up for Ashleigh’s online habit coaching platform - every day she’ll send you information and resources, and you have one-on-one access to her as your personal health coach to ask questions!
 
 
Here is the direct link to the BiOptimizers Magnesium breakthrough product Ashleigh endorses - use the code MUSCLEMAVEN to save on this and anything else you buy! https://bit.ly/3dPW7uh
 
Other resources to check out:
 
BLUBLOX: eye masks, light blocking and computer glasses, warmer light bulbs: https://www.blublox.com/?currency=CAD
 
Natural Stacks GABA Brain Food: https://www.naturalstacks.com/products/gaba
 
Effects of Light on Circadian Rhythms, Sleep and Mood: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6751071/
 
Aug 24, 2021
Let’s talk about sex! 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.
 
In this short episode, Dr. Elly and Ashleigh tackle the complex and spicy topic of sexual health and libido - discussing topics like:
  • How libido is an indicator of overall health
  • The many physical and emotional layers that contribute to libido
  • What our sex hormones are telling us
  • Dietary issues that can contribute to low libido
  • Why women especially should prioritize their sexual health more 
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. Learn more at drellymichelle.com
 
If you liked this episode and want to learn more, consider downloading the In Harmony with your Hormones online workshop - it contains more than four hours of lectures hosted by Dr. Elly and Ashleigh on women’s physiology and hormones; understanding your cycle; optimal dietary and exercise approaches for hormonal health; and a deeper dive on sexual health, two healthy recipe ebooks, as well as a number of downloads and resources. Check it out here: https://gumroad.com/l/UipbQY
 
Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen and MCT powder at here (www.bubsnaturals.com) and use the code MM20 for a massive 20% discount!
 
Learn more about Ashleigh, suggest an idea for the podcast, or sign up for one of her health coaching programs at ashleighvanhouten.com
Aug 10, 2021

This week Ashleigh sits down with functional medicine practitioner and co-author of the book Hangry, Dr. Brooke Kalanick, to talk about hormonal health, managing stress, and why muscle is the gift that keeps on giving. They cover practical tips on how to not let your health take the back burner no matter how busy you are; learning how to listen to your body and make adjustments without guilt or fear; and how the past year has made people more proactive about their health. They also touch on the challenges of peri-menopause and how to combat them, and Dr. Brooke backs up Ashleigh’s most common tips on the importance of eating protein and lifting weights. These aren’t fads, people!

A licensed Naturopathic Doctor (ND) and functional medicine practitioner, Dr. Brooke attended Seattle, Washington’s Bastyr University, where she earned a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and Masters in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine. Her areas of expertise include female health, hypothyroidism and autoimmunity with specialties in PCOS, Hashimoto’s, menopause and weight loss. Learn more and work with Dr. Brooke - check out her website Betterbydrbrooke.com

Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!

Learn more about Ashleigh, suggest an idea for the podcast, or sign up for one of her health coaching programs at ashleighvanhouten.com

Jul 27, 2021
We often hear that fasting doesn’t work as well for women - but we rarely get the details as to WHY it may be more complicated, or how we could be doing it differently to reap the myriad benefits of fasting. If you’re a woman looking to improve health and body composition, or you’re a coach or someone who works with women on their health, this podcast is for you.
 
Ashleigh speaks with Cynthia Thurlow, an intermittent fasting expert, nutrition educator, and nurse practitioner about fasting, covering many topics like:
  • Rules for when fasting is NOT a good idea
  • How to start fasting in a measured and intelligent way to maximize your chances for success
  • Misconceptions/things we do wrong when we try to fast
  • Can you fast and grow muscle at the same time?
  • Hormonal change throughout our lives and how that can impact fasting, and more
 
Find out more about Cynthia, her work, and her new book at https://cynthiathurlow.com/
 
Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!
 
Learn more about Ashleigh, suggest an idea for the podcast, or sign up for one of her health coaching programs at ashleighvanhouten.com
Jul 13, 2021

Robb Wolf is a 2 x New York Times best selling author of The Paleo Solution and Wired to Eat, co-authored Sacred Cow with Diana Rodgers, is a former research biochemist and one of the world’s leading experts in Paleolithic nutrition. Wolf has transformed the lives of tens of thousands of people around the world via his top ranked iTunes podcast and wildly popular seminar series as well as his The Healthy Rebellion online community.

Robb is also one of the first people Ashleigh listened to and learned from when she began her health writing, podcasting, and coaching career, and this episode is a meta-conversation: talking about the state of the health community while being a part of it. This episode is less about a Q&A with Robb about ideal food and exercise and more about a high-level (and at times provocative) conversation about the current environment and culture around ancestral health.

We cover it all: politics, the pandemic, the changing nature of communication and teaching (and why Robb briefly considered giving up his work), cancel culture and community, how subtle messaging can be more insidious than aggressive anti-meat marketing, how to make a positive impact in such an emotionally-charged industry, veganism for pregnant women and children, and so much more. You’ll want to listen to this one all the way to the end!

TIME STAMPS:

0:00 - Intro message

5:59 - What’s going on in Robb’s life

21:40 - How COVID-19 changed the way Robb works + implications of the online world

37:23 - Is there any point in coming to a middle ground with people online?

48:40 - Censorship and when personal opinions, emotion, and misinformation matter more than cold hard facts

1:02:00 - Common theme of anti-meat / veganism continued; how to get your opinion across when cancel culture triumphs

1:19:33 - The misconception of meats in regards to women; normalizing styles of eating as “healthy eating”

1:32:33 - Outro message

Please check out our newest show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make my new favorite healthy snacks, 100% grassfed and fermented beef sticks and Superfood bars made with bone broth protein and packed with plant-based superfoods (while still managing to taste like a delicious, chocolatey treat). This company doesn’t cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - learn more at paleovalley.com and use the code MMR to save 15% on anything you buy!

Please connect with Ashleigh and learn more about her new projects, recipes, programs and more at ashleighvanhouten.com

Jul 6, 2021

Did you hear the one about the plant-based coach and the meat-based coach who sat down together for a podcast? Well, the punchline is, they have an open conversation about making informed dietary choices, eating disorders, getting enough protein on a plant-based diet, how to adjust your body back to animal protein after years of vegan eating, how to know when someone is using dietary protocols to “excuse” disordered eating, and identity issues around diet, among other topics.

Ashleigh chats with Tiana Pollari, a Holistic Nutritionist and Certified Personal Trainer who specializes in the integration of functional strength training and holistic living. She believes that food should nourish and fuel you and is always in the kitchen creating nutritious and delicious meals to satisfy any skeptic. When she isn’t in the kitchen creating recipes she is also coaching women on how to build sustainable habits and feel confident and sexy in their bodies through her online programs. You can find more information at www.tianapollari.com including access to her workouts, meal plans, and coaching.

A big thank you to our show sponsor, Medicine Man Plant Co, maker of uniquely formulated herbal supplements to support optimal health and immune function. Their products are rigorously third party tested and contain ingredients like elderberry, vitamin c, echinacea, and cordyceps - incredible natural ingredients that humans have used for generations to support their health. Learn more at https://medicinemanplantco.com/ and use the discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 20% off!

And don’t forget to check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource! Get one-on-one access to Ashleigh and her expertise, as well as daily info on her favorite health and wellness resources - no micromanaging, just a support system for the enthusiastic health nerd looking to optimize their wellness.

Jun 29, 2021

You may not be aware that many of our culinary herbs and spices started out as medicine. Ashleigh asks chemist and plant expert (and product developer for Medicine Man Plant Co) to do a quick but deep dive on a specific herb: sage. You may be only familiar with sage as a tasty seasoning for chicken or turkey, but turns out it has a long list of incredible benefits around brain health and focus, antibacterial benefits, digestive support, hormonal balance, and even more. Find out why you might want to start adding more sage to your recipes!

Mark “Merriwether” Vorderbruggen, Ph.D. grew up in the wilds of Minnesota where his parents and grandparents utilized the wild foods and medicinal plants found in local woods, fields, and lakes. He received a BS in professional chemistry from South Dakota State University followed by a MS in medicinal chemistry and a PH.D. in physical organic chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the oldest technical university in the US.

After graduation a strange twist of fate set him traveling the world as a petroleum chemist rather than in pharmaceuticals. However, his knowledge of natural products blessed him with the ability to tap natural compounds to replace traditionally hazardous oilfield chemicals. During this career he earned fourteen chemical patents that made the petroleum industry safer for all. After 20 years of that he moved on to the position of R&D Manager for a consumer chemical product company. Here Dr. Vorderbruggen reinvented their line of construction chemical products, safely and effectively replacing the dangerous compounds the industry had been using. He also spearheaded the company’s R&D efforts for a whole new line of personal care products designed to protect people from the toxins they encounter daily. Mark wrote Idiot’s Guide Foraging and The Medicinal Plants of Texas (to be published 2022).

To learn more about Medicine Man Plant Co’s products and the ingredients they use, head to medicinemanplantco.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a 20% discount on anything you purchase.

Thanks to show sponsor BiOptimizers - level up your gut health game with the makers of my favorite probiotic, digestive enzymes, and other gut health promoting products. I’ve been using their P30M and MassZymes product for the past year and have noticed a significant improvement in my digestion especially during times of stress. Even those of us with optimal diets can use some help now and then - check out their products here and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.

And don’t forget to check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!

Jun 15, 2021

In this solo episode, Ashleigh breaks down her key tips for healthy, beautiful, resilient skin - for both men and women - from a nutritional lifestyle perspective, as well as her key topical skincare tips. She breaks down some skincare ingredients you should avoid and some you may want to try, ways to think about sun exposure, and much more. (Please note that Ashleigh is not a dermatologist and this is not medical advice; please use your own discretion when trying new products or nutrition protocols).

Some resources that may help you:

Cosdna.com

https://primallypure.com/pages/find-your-skin-state

https://philmaffetone.com/sun-and-brain/

Speaking of skincare, one Ashleigh’s favorite companies and partners is Primally Pure - 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.

Jun 8, 2021

Steve Liberati is the Founder of Steve’s, a healthy snack food company, and the non-profit organization Steve’s Club Camden. Steve’s is a small, family-owned business that Steve started in 2007 when he saw an opportunity to help make a real and positive impact in his community. Ashleigh has been a fan of Steve’s products and company ethos of fitness, wellness, and giving back to the community for a long time, so she asked Steve on to talk about the origin and growth of his business, how to manage the business side of a company that is founded on non-profit and philanthropic principles, and why it’s so important and rewarding to teach and encourage kids and teenagers about healthy living and eating.

Steve’s Club provides fitness, nutritional guidance and personal development to at-risk youth. Since that day, Steve’s has devoted themselves to creating zero-sugar jerky and other paleo and Keto friendly snacks using the proceeds to fund Steve’s Cub Camden. Learn more at https://stevespaleogoods.com/

A big thank you to our show sponsor, Medicine Man Plant Co, maker of uniquely formulated herbal supplements to support optimal health and immune function. Their products are rigorously third party tested and contain ingredients like elderberry, vitamin c, echinachea, and corcyceps - incredible natural ingredient that humans have used for generations to support their health. Learn more at https://medicinemanplantco.com/ and use the discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 20% off!

And don’t forget to check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!

Jun 1, 2021

Dr. Kellyann Petrucci is a New York Times bestselling author, weight-loss and natural anti-aging expert, and a concierge doctor for celebrities in New York City and Los Angeles. She is a board-certified naturopathic physician and a certified nutrition consultant. She is a massive proponent of using food to encourage robust health and beauty, and challenging what we think about “natural aging.”

In this episode Dr. Kellyann and Ashleigh discuss eating for beauty; addressing gut health as a means of overall health but also anti-aging; how to slow down brain aging; and ways we can switch our perspective from thinking of aging as an inevitable declone, to thinking of it as an opportunity for growth, improvement, and continued vitality. Aging well doesn’t happen by accident, and there’s so much we can do to feel, look, and perform well as move through life. Learn more about her work at drkellyann.com.

Speaking of looking great, shoutout to show sponsor Primally Pure, Ashleigh’s 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.

And don’t forget to check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!

May 18, 2021

In this episode Ashleigh and Kristin, a former lawyer turned nutritional therapy practitioner and coach, talk about stomach acid deficiency; stress management among type A athletes and professionals; how to massively increase your muscle-building potential with less time in the gym; when “biohacking tools” can actually be really effective; and what she means by “nutrition frequency” (spoiler alert - it’s more about the energy and mindfulness you bring to eating rather than actual meal timing)

Kristin Rowell is a former business litigator turned Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and the founder of Energetically Efficient. She consults for companies and organizations around the country on a variety of nutrition, lifestyle and wellness topics as well as works with individual clients one-on-one.

During Kristin’s 16 years as a business litigator, she ran 24 marathons, became an IPE Natural Professional Bodybuilder, became 2018 Ms. Natural Minnesota (Figure) by the National Amateur Natural Bodybuilding Federation, successfully litigated numerous complex business cases to conclusion and, in 2019, was identified by Super Lawyers on the list of Minnesota’s Top 50 Women Attorneys. Now, her passion is helping people get fit, healthy and to finally take control of their lives. Learn more at https://energeticallyefficient.com/

Level up your gut health game with BiOptimizers, makers of my favorite probiotic, digestive enzymes, and other gut health promoting products. I’ve been using their P30M and MassZymes product for the past year and have noticed a significant improvement in my digestion especially during times of stress. Even those of us with optimal diets can use some help now and then - check out their products here and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.

Check out The Muscle Maven’s brand new, interactive online coaching resource!

May 11, 2021

Dr. Marc Bubbs is a Naturopathic Doctor, Performance Nutrition Lead for Canada Basketball, and Performance Nutrition Consultant for a portfolio of professional and Olympic athletes. Marc is the author of the best-selling book Peak: The new science of athletic performance that is revolutionizing sports - An integrated and personalized approach to health, nutrition, training, recovery and mindset. His new book, Peak40 is all about building a leaner, stronger body and sharper mind in mid-life - and you can check it out here: https://drbubbs.com/peak40

In this episode Ashleigh and Marc talk about the differences, and similarities, in training - both from a mental and physical standpoint - between general population and high level athletes; how crucial the fundamentals are, and how the less time you have to do them, the greater the indication that you SHOULD be doing them; and why happiness and fitness tends to bottom out for people in their 40s, and what we can do about it.

A big thank you to our new show sponsor, Medicine Man Plant Co, maker of uniquely formulated herbal supplements to support optimal health and immune function. Their products are rigorously third party tested and contain ingredients like elderberry, vitamin c, echinachea, and corcyceps - incredible natural ingredient that humans have used for generations to support their health. Learn more at https://medicinemanplantco.com/ and use the discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 20% off!

May 4, 2021
In this solo episode, Ashleigh answers questions from former vegans and vegetarians who are looking to incorporate more, or healthier animal-based food sources into their diets. She covers:
  • The mindset shift required to change views and try something new and how to work through uncomfortable feelings about eating meat
  • Testing, tracking in order to understand if your dietary changes are working or in your best interest
  • Supplements and tricks for a healthy transition from plant-based to plant-and-animal based eating
  • Practical tips on how to gradually and healthily incorporate more animal protein into your diet
  • Information about animal protein sourcing, quality, and further resources to learn more about sustainable agriculture and regenerative farming
Thanks to show sponsor BiOptimizers - level up your gut health game with the makers of my favorite probiotic, digestive enzymes, and other gut health promoting products. I’ve been using their P30M and MassZymes product for the past year and have noticed a significant improvement in my digestion especially during times of stress. Even those of us with optimal diets can use some help now and then - check out their products here and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.
 
If you’d like to learn more about eating nose to tail, you can purchase my book It Takes Guts in-stores and online on AmazonBarnes and Noble, and Chapters. You can also download my FREE ebook online here.
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