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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: 2020
Dec 15, 2020

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 AmazonBarnes 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!

Dec 8, 2020

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 AmazonBarnes 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.

Nov 17, 2020

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 AmazonBarnes 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!

Nov 10, 2020

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 AmazonBarnes 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

Nov 3, 2020

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 AmazonBarnes 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

Oct 27, 2020

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 AmazonBarnes 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

Oct 20, 2020

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 AmazonBarnes 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

Oct 13, 2020

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

Oct 6, 2020

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

Sep 29, 2020

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

Sep 22, 2020

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

Sep 8, 2020

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 AmazonBarnes 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!

Sep 2, 2020

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 bookHappiness from the Inside Out.

 

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on AmazonBarnes 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!

 

Aug 18, 2020

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

Aug 11, 2020

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. 

 
Aug 4, 2020

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!

Jul 28, 2020

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!

Jul 21, 2020

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!

Jul 14, 2020

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

Jul 7, 2020

Because sexual health is an important part of overall health and wellness, In today’s episode Ashleigh speaks with writer Wednesday Martin about her groundbreaking book Untrue.

They dive into complex topics like women’s sexuality and how stereotypes about women’s sexuality are created and perpetuated. They talk about the historical and anthropological bases for a lot of our ideas about sexuality; why common tropes about women and sex and relationships tend to be vastly different from how women speak about these thing amongst themselves; and how female autonomy, rather than attempting to define the “best” way to be a sexual person in this world, is a more practical and helpful goal for all of us.

And, because this is Muscle Maven Radio, we also talk about pull-ups. Don’t miss this provocative and eye-opening conversation!

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 MUSCLEMAVEN for a 15% discount.

Jun 30, 2020

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 

My favorite CBD is Santa Cruz Medicinals; their products are third-party tested and the most effective I've used. They offer flavored CBD tinctures, CBD-infused pain lotion, coconut oil and soaps, and a bunch more - check them out at scmedicinals.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.

 

Key Points From This Episode:

  • Jay and Paul’s background in the fitness space and cofounding 1-Life Inc.
  • How our guests met through powerlifting and combined strengths in a business partnership.
  • Lessons about mental health Paul takes from his job and applies in the business.
  • How Jay got into stem journaling leading to writing Sisyphus is Smiling.
  • Journaling practices and the use of them for achieving better mental health.
  • The fad of living consciously and the deep introspection this habit really involves.
  • Leveling up without becoming neurotic by learning from Sisyphus and powerlifting.
  • Learning that freedom and growth are about being present in the moment, even if it’s difficult.
  • The challenge of approaching growth from a place of loving, not hating yourself.
  • Moving past stoicism to define your version of good using broader philosophy.
  • Our tendency react to problems by depressing and never taking action.
  • Getting past self-serving negative habits by being aware of the need they serve.
  • How MetriLife works by holding up a mirror and helping users reflect on their feelings.
  • The problem with many fitness tracking apps’ data gathering methodology.
  • A story where a user’s bad attitude caused him to give MetriLife a bad review.
  • Overall positive responses that MetriLife receives from the fitness community.
  • The value of being open with struggles and taking initiatives to change them.
  • The age range and demographic of users who are downloading MetriLife.
  • The ins, outs, and benefits of Paul’s get shredded program!
  • How Paul and Jay are training at this time where everybody is staying at home.
  • Free resources from Jay and Paul, and new projects in the pipeline!

 

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:

Paul Oneid

Jay Nera

MetriLife

Sisyphus is Smiling

'Is it OK to Not Be OK?'

‘Behaviors to Monitor and Practice’

Shane Church

Nathaniel Branden

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind

Tony Robbins

Seneca the Younger
Marcus Aurelius

Lost Connections

Johann Hari

Atomic Habits

James Clear

simonhybrid

Unplugged

Dr. Andy Galpin

Brian Mackenzie

Muscle Maven Radio on YouTube

Ashleigh VanHouten

Ashleigh VanHouten Email

Ashleigh VanHouten on Instagram

Santa Cruz Medicinals

Santa Cruz Medicinals on Instagram

Jun 16, 2020

Covering all aspects of the carnivore movement, today’s episode is flipped on its head with Muscle Maven Radio host Ashleigh Vanhouten as today’s guest! Beth Lipton, chef, recipe developer, and wellness writer is today’s host and asks Ashleigh all the questions you’ve ever wanted to ask about a carnivorous diet. We cover health, safety, and sustainability, especially for women interested in following this lifestyle, and Ashleigh shares how a carnivorous diet can work as a tool for building muscle and living a longer, healthier life. We also talk about convenience and where to source what some would consider unusual animal proteins, including organ meat, which Ashleigh endorses as a delicious and nutrient-rich source of protein, as well as some personal stories about cooking with animal protein and recipe development from both Ashleigh and Beth. For all you’ve ever wanted to know about the carnivore movement, and to find out more about Ashleigh’s upcoming book, Nose-to-Tail, tune in 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 

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!

 

Key Points From This Episode:

  • What the carnivore movement means to Ashleigh.
  • Whether a carnivorous diet is safe and sustainable for women.
  • Beth’s experience of a carnivorous diet as a reset method, not something permanent.
  • Ashleigh explains how and why a carnivorous diet can work as a tool for women specifically.
  • Beth weighs in on why stressing about food is unhealthy and counterproductive.
  • Protein in meat as the most satiating macronutrient for Ashleigh, preventing overeating.
  • How a carnivorous diet can be simpler and easier while traveling.
  • Women, muscle, body composition, and a protein first approach on a carnivorous diet.
  • Losing fat versus building muscle and the importance of muscle for health and longevity.
  • What Ashleigh’s process is for recipe development, prioritizing health and familiarity.
  • Ashleigh relates to how scary working with new ingredients can be, especially organ meat.
  • Where Ashleigh’s interest in organ meat and a carnivorous diet came from.
  • Ashleigh’s advice for someone interested in this lifestyle but is struggling to get started.
  • Beth suggests asking your butcher to integrate organ meat into your regular order.
  • Ashleigh describes the process of sourcing ingredients for her recipes.
  • Ashleigh’s experience of having difficulty with organ meats and how she got through it.
  • Beth’s experience of cooking with organ meats or unusual animal proteins.
  • Why Ashleigh will or won’t eat specific animal proteins, focused on safety and ethics.
  • Ashleigh summarizes what she wants to impart about animal protein and organ meat.

 

Tweetables:

“For me, the carnivore approach is someone who is deciding to eat animal products only” — @Ashleigh_VH [0:07:47]

“The point is to find an approach to diet that best suits your goals, your physiology, how you want to live” — @Ashleigh_VH [0:18:42]

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bubs Naturals Website

Ashleigh Vanhouten on Twitter

Ashleigh Vanhouten Website

Ashleigh Vanhouten Instagram

Beth Lipton Website

Beth Lipton on Twitter

Beth Lipton on Instagram

Michaela Petersen Website
Mark Bell Website

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Website

Paul Saladino Website

Diana Rodgers: Sustainable Dish Website

Tara Couture: Slow Down Farmstead

Jun 9, 2020

The conventional agricultural system, with its focus on efficiency and mass scale, is harmful to animals, the environment, and humans. Belcampo is the only fully vertically integrated meat supply company in the US with a carbon positive impact and fully regenerative processes, and they are a shining example of a business that is moving the needle in healthy and sustainable directions. Anya Fernald, its CEO, joins us today, and her passion for the industry, healthy living, and conscious consumption is palpable. We begin the episode by getting to know Anya and the Belcampo founding story. After spending several years in Italy, where high-quality food is prioritized, Anya realized that the US paradigm was an entirely different one. This prompted her to take matters into her own hands. From there, look at Anya’s ‘radical’ approach to food, which includes nose-to-tail and seasonal eating. We then take a deeper dive into Belcampo’s holistically sustainable approach where Anya sheds light on the cascading benefits of their regenerative practices. Along with this, we also hear about some of the challenges Anya has faced going against the industry norms, positive COVID-related changes that she has noticed both in her business and her personal life, and what it’s like being a woman in the male-dominated meat game. This was an incredible conversation that we learned so much from, and we know you will too. Tune in 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

Thanks to our show sponsor Ancestral Supplements for providing animal-based superfoods in capsule form: try their grass-fed beef organs or beef liver supplements for 15% off with the code MUSCLEMAVEN at ancestralsupplements.com

Key Points From This Episode:

  • Learn more about Anya’s background, her company, Belcampo, and what they do.
  • What Anya’s time working and living in Italy taught her about food quality.
  • Anya’s return to the US and the different ventures that led to founding Belcampo.
  • Why the current consumption paradigm has to shift for the food system to be sustainable.
  • What we can learn from our ancestors about seasonal and nose-to-tail eating.
  • Find out why the industrial agricultural system produces bad offal.
  • Insights into Belcampo’s regenerative approach to agriculture and what it entails.
  • Belcampo’s species-specific ethos: Evolutionary diet, natural mothering, and natural mating.
  • The biggest challenges Anya has encountered when getting her message out there.
  • Why Anya has chosen to steer clear of focusing on her competition.
  • How COVID — through the challenges it brings — will teach us all much-needed lessons.
  • Some of the positive changes COVID has brought for Belcampo.
  • Encouraging shifts around food waste, slowing down, and conscious consumption.
  • Belcampo Meat Camps: Why they started, what they are, and their goal.
  • What it’s been like as a woman in a male-dominated industry for Anya.

 

Tweetables:

“My heart is in revolutionizing meat and changing the system for the better.” — @anyafernald [0:14:16]

“We make choices every day that support a certain style of meat eating.” — @anyafernald [0:19:29]

“I really do think of Belcampo as an animal wellness company trying to create a system where animals thrive and that’s to the benefit of human wellness and to the benefit of our animals’ quality.” — @anyafernald [0:35:13]

“From my perspective, nothing good comes from reflecting on your competition.” — @anyafernald [0:50:46]

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Anya Fernald on Instagram

Anya Fernald on Twitter

Belcampo Inc

Belcampo Meat Camps

Ancestral Supplements

Ancestral Supplements on Instagram

Ashleigh VanHouten

Ashleigh VanHouten Email

Ashleigh VanHouten on Instagram

Jun 2, 2020

No matter how we eat, the way we participate in the food cycle in the most ethical, sustainable, and healthy way is a really important conversation to have. Joining me to talk about cooking what you hunt is Bri Van Scotter, a true renaissance woman with degrees in art, communications, and cuisine – and the force behind Wilderness to Table, through which she teaches people about making, enjoying, and also sourcing delicious and healthy food. We chat with Bri about her journey to becoming a self-sustained food maker through harvesting and hunting, hearing about how she felt unfulfilled with her initial education and career before learning about cuisine and becoming fascinated with self-sourced ingredients.

She talks about how she learned to hunt and reconcile her hesitance to kill with her belief that it’s more humane than mass farmed approaches, recounting the story of her first kill and how she overcome the initial shock. We consider the contrasts between factory farms, slaughterhouses, and sustainable harvesting, and Bri weighs in on our culture's damaging eating habits, how organic food helped her health journey, and that self-harvesting results in a more meaningful cooking process. Bri speaks about the contrast between Instagram’s culture of trophy hunting and her approach, according to which the whole hunt is geared toward the meal, and the work she is doing to advocate it with women's hunting groups and a course in the pipeline. Bri’s current career also takes center stage, and we chat about her show, the hunts she goes on, her favorite game meat, the new recipe book she is working on, and the nose-to-tail message behind all her projects. For this and a whole lot more on the topic of self-sustained cooking, tune in today!

Want to improve your skin health with ingredients you can actually pronounce? Want a natural deodorant that actually works? Check out show sponsor Primally Pure and treat yourself to their beautiful and luxurious natural skincare products with discount code MUSCLEMAVEN for 15% OFF

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 

Key Points From This Episode:

  • Culinary school, rearing a chicken, bowhunting, spearfishing: how Bri found her passion.
  • The contrast between the evils of slaughterhouses and rearing/catching your own food.
  • How Bri overcame her hesitance to kill; learning humane practices, and her chef background.
  • Bri’s perspective that cooking becomes more respectful if you have harvested the meat.
  • Bri’s approach to ethical questions of Instagram trophy shots, and the backlash she still gets.
  • How Bri learned her bow skills, her first hunt, and what the hunts she goes on involve.
  • Bri’s work with women hunters promoting approaches centered around cuisine, not trophies.
  • How Bri dealt with feelings of shock after killing and field dressing a doe on her first hunt.
  • The influence of Bri’s childhood and chef/hunter mentality to her nose-to-tail approach.
  • The need for ‘normal’ people being the face of the organ meat movement.
  • Bri’s career since leaving the restaurant industry: focusing on her show and personal brand.
  • The message behind Bri’s brand; bridging the gap between wild game hunting and cuisine.
  • Bri’s renaissance woman status with five degrees in photography, cuisine, and more!
  • Some of the recipes Bri is working on using duck fat and wild boar lard.
  • How eating organic protein helps Bri manage rheumatoid arthritis and stop taking meds.
  • Side effects of the eating habits of our culture and the importance of eating organic foods.
  • Bri’s thoughts on making her recipe-dense wild game cookbook and when it will drop.
  • Why Bri loves moose and bear so much and which periods their meat tastes best.
  • Perspectives on the quality of organic food and the need for farming to become more humane.
  • New projects that Bri is working on which teach how to cook meat you harvested.

 

Tweetables:

“I need to pay respect to these animals and if I had my hands on them since the beginning, I need to have only my hands on them in the end.” — @Chefbrivs [0:06:19]

“Even when I hunt, if I can’t get a good shot, I am not going to take it, because the last thing I want is for that animal to suffer.” — @Chefbrivs [0:10:46]

“It’s been my dream to have a cookbook. As a chef, that’s my goal, but I never thought I was going to have a wild game cookbook.” — @Chefbrivs [0:43:35]

“Farming could be transformed into something really amazing.” — @Chefbrivs [0:54:18]

“You have to know what to cook before you harvest your animal because that determines how you butcher in the field.” — @Chefbrivs [1:00:37]

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Bri Van Scotter on Instagram

Wilderness to Table

The Culinary Institute of America

Slow Down Farmstead on Instagram

Steve Rinella

The Ritz-Carlton

The Magic Pill

hunter-ed.com

Primally Pure Skincare

Primally Pure Discount Code

Ashleigh VanHouten

Ashleigh VanHouten Email

Ashleigh vanHouten on Instagram

May 19, 2020

Discovering the intricacy of the female body is a beautiful process. Our delicate hormonal balance affects all aspects of our health and wellbeing, from the condition of our skin to the quality of our sleep and sex lives. In this episode, I interview Dr. Anna Cabeca who is board certified in genealogy and obstetrics, integrative medicine, and anti-aging and regenerative medicine and who is also an authoritative voice in the realm of functional medicine, menopause, and women’s sexual health. Dr. Cabeca unpacks the three major hormones and how an increase or decrease in their levels affect us and explains how they can be managed and even optimized for healing. We get into the variables that affect the efficacy of oxytocin supplementation, the use of exogenous hormones such as melatonin, and the relationship between adiponectin and weight loss resistance. Turning our attention to her newly released book Keto-Green 16, Dr. Cabeca explains how her approach to the ketogenic diet differs from the mainstream understanding, highlighting her views on alkalizing foods, the need for digestive enzymes, consuming greens versus proteins, intermittent fasting, and much more. 

Want to connect, ask questions for the podcast, or offer feedback? Drop me a note on Instagram @themusclemaven, send me an email at ashleighvanhouten.com, and sign up for my weekly newsletter at ashleighvanhouten.com

Check out our show sponsor Sweet Apricity and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for 15% off. Get a digital subscription to Paleo Magazine for as low as $1.25 a month!

 

Key Points From This Episode:

  • How Dr. Cabeca’s personal experience informed her approach to her OB-GYN practice.
  • Three major hormones—insulin, cortisol, and oxytocin—and how the levels change with age.
  • The impact of the stress hormone (cortisol) on other hormones and our health in general.
  • An explanation of the role of oxytocin in the body and how it can be optimized for healing.
  • The dangerous cortisol-oxytocin disconnect that occurs amid prolonged stress and trauma.
  • Suggestions for the lifestyle practices that can help you regulate oxytocin and cortisol levels.    
  • The variables that can affect our physiological response to oxytocin supplementation.
  • Advice about the correct use of exogenous melatonin: dosage, timing, and more.
  • The relationship between adiponectin levels and weight gain in menopausal women.
  • The four key markers that women need to pay attention to when it comes to their hormones.
  • How Dr. Cabeca’s approach to the ketogenic diet differs from the traditional view.
  • Distinguishing between foods that have an alkalizing effect versus those that are alkaline.
  • The importance of increasing your digestive enzymes and not diluting them with liquids. 
  • The ideal amounts of protein versus greens in Dr. Cabeca’s approach to the keto-green diet.
  • Guidelines around the best times to eat, intermittent fasting, and stabilizing your blood sugar.
  • Caloric restriction versus fasting and how each affects our basal metabolic rate.
  • Using metrics and tracking in a way that is non-dogmatic and serves your goals.

 

Tweetables:

“It takes more than hormones to fix our hormones. That’s where lifestyle medicine becomes really powerful.” — @AnnaCabeca [0:05:18]

“We really need to look at the major hormones and for me, those are insulin, cortisol, and oxytocin. Those three hormones are the most powerful hormones in our body, with oxytocin being the crowing hormone.” — @AnnaCabeca [0:05:57]

“It is our own activities and our perceptions and our lifestyle practices that increase our own natural oxytocin. We manage cortisol and do practices that increase oxytocin.” — @AnnaCabeca [0:18:25]

“Increasing your digestive enzymes is one of the key things that we need to do and focus on, especially as we get older.” — @AnnaCabeca [0:43:06]

“These low-calorie days that we have, destroy our metabolism. We are better to fast than eat small meals.” — @AnnaCabeca [0:59:42]

 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Dr. Anna Cabeca

Dr. Anna Cabeca on Twitter

Dr. Anna Cabeca on Instagram

Keto-Green Community on Facebook

Keto-Green 16

The Hormone Fix

Macro Calculator

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

Ashleigh VanHouten

Ashleigh VanHouten Email

Ashleigh vanHouten on Instagram

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