Feisty Women's Performance

Latest Episodes:

The Silent Costs of Psychological Harm for Women in Sport with Dr. Gretchen Kerr Jul 20, 2026

Show notes

What does athlete safety look like beyond preventing physical injury?

In this episode, Erin Ayala, PhD, speaks with Dr. Gretchen Kerr, professor of kinesiology at the University of Toronto and an internationally recognized expert on psychological abuse, interpersonal violence, and maltreatment in sport.

They explore why psychological harm is the most common—and often the least recognized—form of abuse in athletics, how win-at-all-costs cultures can normalize harmful behavior, and why some safe-sport reporting processes may unintentionally re-traumatize athletes.

Dr. Kerr also shares evidence-based strategies for prevention, including shifting the definition of success toward athlete well-being, enjoyment, and belonging; strengthening communication among coaches, parents, and administrators; and using practical tools that address harmful behavior before it escalates.

This conversation offers clear, actionable guidance for coaches, athletes, parents, sport leaders, and anyone invested in creating healthier, safer, and more positive sport environments.

In this episode:

Why psychological abuse is so common in sport—and why it often goes unnoticed
How safe-sport reporting systems can unintentionally cause additional harm
Why athletes need ongoing support beyond the initial reporting process
How win-focused performance metrics can contribute to unhealthy environments
The importance of prioritizing well-being, enjoyment, and belonging
Preventive approaches, including quality-coaching tools and restorative practices
How transparent communication can help protect athletes

About Dr. Gretchen Kerr

Dr. Gretchen Kerr is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education at the University of Toronto. Her research focuses on psychological abuse, interpersonal violence, athlete maltreatment, and the development of safer, more supportive sport systems.

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Why "Push Through It" Is the Worst Advice for Autoimmune Athletes with Mireille Siné, MPH Jul 13, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Mireille Siné, MPH — a certified running coach, lupus endurance athlete, and advocate for athletes living with autoimmune and chronic conditions.

Mireille has lived with lupus for 13 years and now coaches athletes who are navigating autoimmune disease, chronic illness, flares, fatigue, and identity shifts — while doing endurance sports.

Together, Erin and Mireille discuss:

Why autoimmune athletes carry a “double load”
How training stress can interact with immune dysregulation
How to distinguish overtraining from a possible flare
Why “push through it” can be harmful advice
The importance of symptom tracking and medical self-advocacy
What coaches should ask athletes with autoimmune conditions
How to build flexible training plans
Why performance is not just pace, PRs, and finish lines
How to stop chasing the athlete you used to be and build toward who you can still become

Mireille Siné is a USATF and 80/20 Endurance-certified run coach, 14-time marathoner, and ultramarathoner based in Los Angeles. She is the founder of Coached by Mireille LLC, a virtual coaching practice specializing in runners and endurance athletes managing autoimmune conditions and chronic illness. Mireille coaches with the philosophy "train with compassion" — building training plans that account for the full reality of her athletes' lives, not just their race goals. She has been featured in Runner's World and has spoken at the AIP Summit and Skadi Sports Psychology Athlete Summit. Living with lupus herself, Mireille brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, helping athletes redefine what strength and performance can look like with a chronic illness diagnosis.

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Fibermaxing, Ozempic: Which 2026 nutrition trends should you actually care about? with Alex Larson (Replay) Jul 06, 2026

Show notes

We're welcoming registered dietitian Alex Larson to help us dive deep into the critical (and less critical) nutrition trends of coming in 2026.

Alex and your host, Dr. Erin Ayala, discuss the realities of the supplement industry, bust myths surrounding women's sports nutrition, and explore evidence-based nutrition strategies to enhance your performance.

Key Takeaways

What supplements should you really be taking? Learn how to evaluate supplements critically and determine which ones really matter.
Creatine benefits: The latest research on creatine, particularly its effects on female athletes and why it's worth considering.
How women can effectively implement high-carb fueling strategies for running, biking, and getting the most out of themselves.
GLP-1s: What should you know about the rise of GLP-1 weight loss medications and their implications for active women.
Fiber Maxing: Is this the craziest nutrition trend hitting the internet!

Alex Larson is a registered dietitian and founder of Alex Larson Nutrition. With a focus on practical nutrition strategies for athletes, Alex empowers her clients to achieve their goals while maintaining a balanced lifestyle.

Resources mentioned:

Alex Larson Nutrition: alexlarsonnutrition.com
Endurance Eats Podcast: Listen Here

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe and leave a review! Your feedback helps us reach more women who are eager to elevate their performance. Join our community and stay connected for more evidence-based nutrition conversations!

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CrossFit Games champion Annie Thorisdottir on motherhood & performance postpartum Jun 29, 2026

Show notes

Annie Thorisdottir has stood on the CrossFit Games podium six times and built a career as one of the most recognizable and respected athletes in the world. But some of the most defining moments of her life happened far from the competition floor.

In this episode, Annie opens up about the raw and disorienting experience of seeing herself just days postpartum and not recognizing the woman in the mirror. That moment became part of a much bigger story — one not just about winning, but about identity, resilience, recovery, motherhood, and learning how to rebuild on the other side of elite sports.

Annie shares:

why she waited years to write a book
what her sports psychologist taught her about the “neutral zone,”
why setbacks often became her most reliable path forward.
the cultural shift needed around postpartum recovery and how she is now channeling what she's learned into programming that helps women work with their bodies

Order Annie's memoir Iceland Annie

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The medical warning signs of underfueling with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani Jun 22, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani (“Dr. G”), a leading expert in medical complications of eating disorders and underfueling, joins us to explain what female athletes need to know about the many effects of fueling on your performance and health.

She explains how underfueling can significantly impact your bodies and mind — and what signs you should be aware that you might not even realize are actually related to your nutrition.

Key Takeaways:

The physiological signs of undernourishment and how they can affect athletic performance
Actionable strategies for athletes to fuel their bodies effectively
Misconceptions around eating disorders and athletes
How to navigate the complexities of nutrition in sports

Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani, “Dr. G”, is a renowned expert in medical science and physiology, specializing in the medical complications of eating disorders and underfueling. As the founder of the Gaudiani Clinic, she combines her extensive clinical experience with a compassionate approach to empower individuals on their health journeys.

Links and Resources:

If you found value in this episode, please subscribe to our podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with your network. Engage with us on social media to continue the conversation and stay updated on future episodes!

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Female injury prevention finally gets its own research with Dr. Margo Mountjoy Jun 15, 2026

Show notes

What does it really take to keep women athletes healthy, performing, and in sport for the long haul?

Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Margo Mountjoy, one of the world’s leading voices in sports medicine, female athlete health, injury prevention, and athlete advocacy. Dr. Mountjoy has contributed to more than 20 International Olympic Committee consensus statements and recently served on the steering committee for the FAIR (Female Athlete Injury Prevention) consensus statement — a major global effort to close the research and implementation gaps in women’s sports.

She explains why the old “shrink it and pink it” approach to female athlete science doesn't work and why injury prevention is about far more than doing a few extra exercises. It's about neuromuscular training, load management, REDs, recovery, menstrual cycle tracking, sociological barriers, pregnancy and postpartum athlete support, and the systemic-level changes needed to make sport safer for girls and women.

What you need to know as a female athlete:

Neuromuscular training for ACL injury prevention, balance, landing mechanics, and performance
Training load management and why rapid load changes increase injury risk
Periodization, recovery, and the importance of long-term athlete development
REDs, fueling, sleep, stress, and sustainable performance
Why menstrual cycle-based training should be individualized
Warning signs that an athlete may need more recovery
And the gap in research and implementation when it comes to women's sports

Plus, some practical guidance for recreational athletes, who may not think they're "serious enough" to need coaching, strength training, or nutrition support. If you have a goal, then you deserve the tools to pursue it well. We need more than scaled-down male science!

If you found this conversation valuable, hit subscribe so you never miss an episode, and leave a review on your favorite platform. Have questions or topics you’d like us to explore? DM us on Instagram.

Watch on YouTube

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Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:

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Support our Partners:

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Why weight-inclusive care changes everything for athletes with Heather Bergeson, MD, FAAP, CAQ Jun 08, 2026

Show notes

What is weight-inclusive care? And why does it matter for *all* active women's health and performance?

Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Heather Bergeson, a sports‑medicine physician and co‑director of the TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program, to unpack five decades of fitness and diet fads. Past trends still shape today's wellness culture — and even if you think you're immune, you're not.

Key Takeaways

Follow the evolution of fitness and diet fads from the 1970s thin‑ideal to today’s protein-heavy, weighted‑vests—and understand how each era reinforces or challenges body‑image norms.
Why BMI is an unreliable health metric and how weight‑inclusive care improves patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Actionable steps for clinicians and coaches (e.g., avoid routine weighing, use neutral language, provide size‑accessible equipment)
And practical tips for listeners to break free from diet culture: ditch diet apps, focus on intuitive eating, prioritize sleep, and limit comparison‑driven fitness tracking.

Episode Resources:

TRIA Women’s Sports Medicine program: https://www.healthpartners.com/care/tria-orthopedics/services/womens-sports-medicine/

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Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:

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Support our Partners:

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BONUS: Take the Leap: Kate Veronneau on Adventure and Trying Something New at FeistyFest Jun 07, 2026

Show notes

In this bonus episode, Hit Play Not Pause host, Selene Yeager welcomes longtime friend, cyclist, and women’s sports powerhouse Kate Veronneau to the show for a preview of the first-ever FeistyFest in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania.

For Kate, the location is personal. The Valley Preferred Cycling Center is where she first fell in love with bike racing, found her cycling community, and eventually launched a career in the sport. She shares how a casual Friday night trip to watch track racing turned into an entry-level “try the track” class, a relocation to the Lehigh Valley, and years immersed in one of the most magical cycling communities around.

Selene and Kate talk about what makes the Lehigh Valley so special: quiet roads, covered bridges, gravel before gravel was “gravel,” beautiful trails, and a deep community of people who love to ride, run, explore, and support one another.

They also dig into what attendees can expect at FeistyFest: track riding, gravel, trail running, lifting, swimming, pickleball, community, laughter, and the kind of grown-up summer camp energy that reminds women how good it feels to try new things.

Kate also shares why women-only spaces can be so powerful, especially when women feel safe, supported, and encouraged to step outside their comfort zones. Whether you’re a seasoned athlete or brand new to an activity, there is something magical that happens when women come together, lift each other up, and give each other permission to live a little bigger.

Learn more and register for FeistyFest

Is Strava sabotaging your mental game? with Dr. Hayley Russell Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

Ever compare yourself to others on Strava? Feel yourself pushed to do more to hit a "streak" or online badge? This episode's for you.

Sport psychology professor Dr. Hayley Russell dives into the upsides and pitfalls of fitness‑tracking apps like Strava.

She explores how self‑tracking can boost motivation, community, and self‑awareness — but can also fuel comparison, pressure, and body‑image concerns.

What can you do to make the most of your online fitness tracking?

Balance function over appearance: Use data to celebrate what your body can do, not how it looks.
Set intentional goals: Focus on consistency and health‑supporting habits rather than perfection or daily “streaks.”
Curate your feed: Mute or unfollow accounts that trigger negative social comparison; follow supportive communities instead.
Take digital breaks when needed: Recognize signs of obsessive tracking and give yourself permission to step away without guilt.
Leverage community features: Join or create niche groups (e.g., postpartum athletes, larger‑body runners) to find relatable peers and reduce isolation.
Protect privacy: Adjust route‑sharing settings to hide start/end points and consider the safety implications of public activity logs.

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GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs: The science vs. the marketing with Dr. Rebecka Peebles and Nathalia Trees, RD May 25, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Rebecka Peebles and registered dietitian Nathalia Trees dive into the booming world GLP-1 medications and the complex intersection of weight loss, body size, eating disorders, and marketing.

They unpack the rapid rise of these weight loss drugs, the scientific and ethical dilemmas for clinicians, and practical strategies for navigating weight loss treatments.

Whether you're on GLP-1s right now or considering the pros and cons of the medications, this episode will give you a clearer understanding of the risks, benefits, and long‑term considerations of these drugs.

Key Takeaways

Prescriptions for GLP‑1 drugs have surged since 2023, especially for adolescents, but long‑term safety data at high doses remains limited.
Clinicians have to weigh metabolic benefits for diabetes against potential harm for patients with eating‑disorder histories.
Transparent communication about side‑effects—GI issues, rare ocular events, and possible mood changes—is critical.
Sustainable weight management, including the popular "microdosing" of GLP-1s, requires a holistic approach.

Dr. Rebecka Peebles – VP of Adolescent Medicine at Monte Nido, obesity‑medicine certified, expert in GLP‑1 therapy and its application to youth.

Nathalia Trees – Registered dietitian at Monte Nido, specialist in eating‑disorder treatment, weight‑inclusive care, and nutrition‑focused performance coaching.

Links & Resources

Guest email contacts: rpeebles@montenido.com | ntrees@montenido.com

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Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:

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Support our Partners:

Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first order

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Tifosi Optics: Use code FEISTY2026 for 20% off at https://tifosioptics.com/

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Orca: Use the code FEISTY15 for 15% off at https://orca.avln.me/c/HzUkzIfxsmYo