Stronger U Radio

Latest Episodes:

Behind the Scenes with Coach Adina: Health Goals and Perseverance Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Welcome to another episode of Stronger U Radio! Join Registered Dietitian Gianna and Coach Adina as they delve into the intricacies of working through set backs and adjusting goals, perfectly timed for the holiday season. In this episode, they explore the ongoing challenge of maintaining equilibrium amid life's complexities.
With a blend of nutritional expertise and life insights, Gianna and Coach Adina share strategies for remaining flexible when applying your goals to living a real life—especially pertinent with the holidays looming.
The spotlight is on Adina's personal journey, revealing how she rediscovered joy in movement and adapted her exercise routine after confronting health challenges. This candid discussion provides valuable insights into resilience and flexibility, particularly relevant as we approach the diversity of the holiday season.
Beyond the realms of food and exercise, the episode delves into the influence of mental well-being and relationships on overall health. Gianna and Adina discuss the highs and lows of pursuing a healthy lifestyle, offering tips for finding joy no matter where you are in your health journey.
If you've grappled with the complexity of integrating health into your hectic life or seek inspiration for a balanced approach that you can easily apply to your holiday season, this episode is for you.
Ready to elevate your wellness strategy? Tune in now for practical wisdom from Gianna and Adina.
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Going Beyond Symptoms: Navigating Holistic Wellness with Dr. Matt Tolstoy Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

Could there be a link between a health challenge, chronic pain, or behavior pattern and another seemingly unrelated area of your lifestyle or past trauma? The short answer is yes, there could be because of the interconnectedness of the various systems of the body, one imbalance can create another. Healthcare is moving away from the model of isolating the symptoms and instead looking at the body, mind, and emotions as a whole to uncover the root of the problem to support healing. This emerging approach to health refers to holistic wellness. In this episode of Stronger U Radio, Stronger U Registered Dietitian Gianna Masi sat down with Dr. Matt Tolstoy to discuss the elements of holistic wellness and why he believes it’s the future of healthcare.
Dr. Matthew Tolstoy is a pain rehab practitioner, licensed acupuncturist, and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) with a private practice in NYC and virtually. Additionally, he’s been on staff at New York City Ballet and an educator for Equinox Health Clubs. He helps many people with chronic pain and post-traumatic pain or stress-related conditions.
This multi-faceted conversation covers a lot of ground and touches on many important points including:

The pros and cons of holistic wellness.
The ethical gray areas in wellness and mental health due to the lack of boundaries (both personal and professional).
The definition of wellness heartbreak: how it happens, how you can prevent it, and what’s important to consider.
How to find a qualified and evidence-based holistic provider that you align with, plus the red flags to look for.

The traits of a healthy therapeutic relationship.
What Trauma is and isn't
The effects of stress, and anxiety accumulation on the body
What conventional and holistic medicine get right and wrong
The idea of “destination happiness” and how in some cases it can be a response from your body to keep you safe and from experiencing something you’re trying to avoid.

This is one discussion you’ll want to tune into if you’re interested in taking a more well-rounded approach to your well-being or if you’ve struggled with unresolved health issues or behavior patterns.
Head to the Stronger U Community to share your thoughts.    
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Choosing Grace of Over Perfection with Coach Jodi Burchill Oct 18, 2023

Show notes

Stronger U Radio’s Coach Series has been about getting to know some of our inspiring, knowledgeable, relatable coaches. These individuals are a big part of what makes the magic of the Stronger U community so special (in addition to our members, of course). In this episode, we caught up with our first international coach, Jodi Burchill. Hailing from Canada, Coach Jodi gives a little background on how she stumbled upon Stonger U through the CrossFit community. A powerlifting competitor and former decade-long CrossFit gym owner, she became a Stronger U Coach after realizing her passion for the nutrition side of fitness. Her longtime tenure in the industry, working with many members and everyday athletes, has given her a unique perspective. In her chat with Branden, Stronger U’s resident Member Experience Specialist, she offers tips on prioritizing quality of life over losing those last 5 pounds and how to approach vacations, travel, and alcohol. She closes out the episode with solid advice on choosing grace over perfection.
Listen to the short episode and then, head to the Stronger U Community to share your thoughts.    
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Exclusive Interview with Book Club Author Matt Fitzgerald Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

We're thrilled to bring you a special Stronger U Radio episode! Our very own Gianna Masi and Glen Schleehauf sit down with this month's community book club author, Matt Fitzgerald.
Join us as we delve into the world of peak performance and nutrition. Matt shares unique insights and details about his writing process. He also reveals how he created a running club that welcomes runners of all skill levels to come and improve their abilities.
In this enlightening conversation, we explore motivation, determination, and the science behind pushing your limits. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting your fitness journey, Matt's expertise will inspire you to reach your full potential.
Don't miss this episode; it's the perfect prelude to our upcoming book club discussions on "How Bad Do You Want It." Plus, mark your calendar for a community live with Matt on October 26th in the Stronger U Community!
Prepare to be inspired, educated, and motivated to elevate your performance to new heights!

Walking for Weight Management: Coach Dean’s Not-So-Secret Weapon Sep 20, 2023

Show notes

“Make walking great again.”
That’s the slogan that Stronger U Coach Dean Guedo lives by. In this Stronger U Radio episode, he joined SU Registered Dietitian and Manager of Nutrition Education, Gianna Masi to chat about his unique approach to coaching members towards success. Dean is a nutrition coach driven to find a better and more efficient way to help people optimize their lives. His mantra is “doing more, eating more and moving more.”
Hear about how he came to be known as the “walk more king”, and the science that supports why increasing steps can be so impactful. During their conversation, they discussed a study of a population whose high steps and general daily movement counteracted their higher-than-recommended daily calorie consumption in terms of weight.
Additionally, Dean heavily touched on alternative strategies beyond decreasing calories or eliminating certain foods. He drives home the message that while food is an integral piece, it’s not the only avenue to weight or fat loss, and how other lifestyle factors can play a major role.
The biggest takeaway: adherence and the importance of making changes that you’ll enjoy and stick to whether they involve caloric intake changes, movement or other components.
Tune into this entertaining, informational, and motivational episode that may leave you with a new perspective on how you approach your goals.
Head to the Stronger U Community to share your thoughts.    
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Diverse Journeys, Common Goals: Coaching with Dru Aug 16, 2023

Show notes

The Stronger U Radio Summer Series continues with another coach feature hosted by Branden Hazelwood. In this episode, we hear from Coach Dru Madrid, a longtime Stronger U coaching veteran. You’ll get the details of his background in powerlifting and how it eventually led him to nutrition coaching. Most importantly, he shares how his work with Stronger U and helping thousands of members from all different backgrounds has shifted his mindset in how he approaches supporting members through challenges. Spoiler alert: he’s realized that taking a tougher approach doesn’t always deliver better results. Listen to the episode to hear Coach Dru’s wisdom on how to handle:

struggles and difficult situations
vacations
reducing alcohol at social events
incorporating cultural cuisine and comfort foods while sticking to your goals

Then, head to the Stronger U Community to share your thoughts.    
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The Impact of Small Consistent Actions and Shifting Your Mindset with Coach Juli Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

One theme from many Stronger U Coaches is that they started as members overcoming challenges – giving them a different perspective and making them relatable. This rings true for Coach Juli Young, who recently sat down with Branden during our Stronger U Radio Summer Series. A self-proclaimed life-long gym rat, Coach Juli has always loved exercise but spent years struggling with her weight despite her active lifestyle. Enter Stronger U, where she joined as a member of Coach Katie Leahy, and everything just clicked for her. The two hit it off immediately and connected personally. She walks us through her long journey of changing her relationship with food to get to where she is today.
Coach Juli and Branden dive into the impact of small, consistent steps that lead to a significant outcome and how she approaches this tactic with her members to help them gradually make changes in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Additional episode highlights include:

Mindset and how coaching can play a role in shifting it for success.
Some of the ways having a coach can help you when you’re struggling.

Coach Julie’s profound advice for approaching vacation.

Listen all the way through to the end of this discussion to hear some incredibly inspiring, encouraging and wise parting words that reveal the difference in the school of thought between Stronger U Coaches and other programs. Then, head to the Stronger U Community to share your thoughts.    
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Thrive Through Your Greatest Challenges with Coach Candace Jul 19, 2023

Show notes

The Stronger U Summer Series hosted by Member Experience Specialist Branden Hazelwood continues! In this inspiring episode, he gets personal with Coach Candace Reed, who’s been with us since 2020. You’ll get a front-row seat to her incredible story of overcoming a significant health challenge and adversity that resulted from a childhood injury. You’ll hear how she’s proven to herself (and doctors!) that she could do what was once believed to be impossible. In their candid conversation, Candace takes us through her journey from injury to healing and how sharing her struggles with the Stronger U members she coaches was a comforting experience that brought an outpouring of support.
You’ll also hear:

how fitness and nutrition played a crucial role in helping her achieve physical milestones
the reason perspective plays a role in success regardless of your goals
which struggles many members face, from moms to competitive athletes

the importance of recognizing your value, what you’re truly capable of, and how a coach can help

Then, in the 2nd half of their conversation, Branden and Coach Candace dive into alcohol. You’ll walk away with practical tips on navigating social situations where alcohol is front and center while staying true to yourself and on track with your goals.
This episode is relatable, inspiring, and filled with actionable advice that leaves you feeling like you can conquer anything. Listen to it here, then head to the Stronger U Community to share your thoughts.    
      
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Finding Balance with Foods You Love with Coach Amelia Jul 05, 2023

Show notes

“Eat real, [delicious] food and eat it in moderation. That’s where the sweet spot is.”
During this episode of Stronger U Radio’s Summer Series, host Branden Hazelwood (Member Experience Specialist) chats with SU Coach Amelia McMillen. She dives into her story of going from working in the culinary world at a three-star Michelin restaurant in California to becoming a Stronger U Coach. Upon being introduced to our nutrition philosophy and tracking macronutrients for the first time, Coach Amelia shares how she began seeing improvements in her own health and gut issues by eating a balance of nutrients while still enjoying foods she loves. Their conversation was filled with actionable takeaways, including:

The many variables that can impact someone’s results and the importance of not letting comparison of other people’s stories take away from your own success.

Why it’s crucial to focus on things outside of the scale
Tips for travel days and returning from vacation, and how to set expectations during your time away.

This episode is filled with reminders that food should be satisfying, delicious and nutritious and it’s important to have that balance in experiences that matter. Listen to it all here, then head to the Stronger U Community to share your thoughts.    
      
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Summer Series Kickoff and Travel Tips with Coach Jack Purdom  Jun 07, 2023

Show notes

Introducing the inaugural episode of Stronger U Radio’s Summer Series hosted by Member Experience Specialist Branden Hazelwood. One of the characteristics that sets Stronger U apart is the personalization that goes into each member’s experience. PEOPLE, not AI, drive that personalization. Get to know the people behind the brand who’ve been where you are and are ready to help you get where you want to be. As part of this series, Branden will take you behind the scenes with some of our coaches to give you a glimpse into who they are, how they got started, and what led them to Stronger U.
The first of this series kicks off with longtime Stronger U Coach Jack Purdom. Coach Jack holds a master’s degree in nutrition with over a decade of experience in fitness. Like many of our coaches, he joined Stronger U in 2018 as a member and became a part of the team in 2019.
During this conversation, Coach Jack candidly shares his story including:

The reason for his change of heart from pre-med to exercise science
His personal nutrition journey (spoiler alert: coaches have their own struggles just like us!)
What coaching means to him
Why building sustainable habits is a long game
His approach to helping members meet their goals and how each individual’s lifestyle plays an essential role in that approach.

Most importantly, you'll leave with excellent tips to apply for your summer vacations, travel, and long days away from home (we’re looking at you, sports parents!)
During this episode, Branden and Coach Jack drop a lot of great wisdom. Listen to it all here, then head to the Stronger U Community to share your thoughts.    
      
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