Muscle Science for Women (Ashleigh VanHouten & Rachel Gregory)

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!

In this solo episode, Ashleigh talks about her experience with bodybuilding: how she got into the sport and what she learned; common mistakes and her recommendations; competition day drama and unexpected challenges; and she answers listener questions about what competing is really like, including sharing how she eats when prepping; whether or not you can be a competitive bodybuilder and eat keto or paleo; if there are special concerns for women; ways to put on muscle while losing fat, and much more.

Man or woman, if you’ve ever thought about prepping and competing in an amateur bodybuilding competition but aren’t sure if you’re ready or if it’s right for you: listen to this episode first, as Ashleigh shares behind the scenes insider knowledge with some humor, transparency, and helpful tips thrown in.

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

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

Primally Pure is my favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.

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

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!

In this episode, Rachel and Ashleigh dive deeper into the topic of hormone replacement therapy for women, attempting to clear up some misconceptions and provide information for listeners to better inform their own further research. (As a reminder, this episode does not contain medical advice and is meant for general information and entertainment purposes only.)

The ladies cover topics including:

• Some common misconceptions around the health risks of HRT for women, and where these misconceptions stemmed from;
• An overview of The Women’s Health Initiative, the largest-ever hormone replacement therapy clinical trial, the results that came from it and the limitations and issues with this study;
• The differences between synthetic and bio-identical hormones;
• Some concluding thoughts on how to conduct your own research and speak to your care provider if you're interested in learning more about HRT.

If you have topic ideas or questions for the hosts, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Check out our new program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop.

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women.

And thank you to show sponsor BUBS Naturals! They offer the best quality collagen and powdered MCT on the market, and they give 10% of their earnings to charity-supporting veterans.

They've also recently launched some new products, including their Origin Blend coffee beans, so now they're a one-stop shop for your boosted caffeine needs :) Try their new brews and related products at bubsnaturals.com and get a full 20% off your order with the code MSW20.

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more here and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Further reading and resources:

In this episode of Muscle Science for Women, Ashleigh and Rachel dive into a case study of a woman looking to start over again in her fitness and strength journey, after kids and taking time away from the gym. They provide practical tips on how to overcome obstacles and mental hurdles, identify small wins and how they add up to big change over time, and how much time and effort a busy person really HAS to dedicate to their workout program to see results. They also chat about Rachel's new part time job and a work trip Ashleigh is excited about!

If you've always wanted to test some things out and try a CGM, Muscle Science for Women is partnering with NutriSense to help you!  Nutrisense combines cutting-edge technology and human expertise so you can see how your body responds to different food, exercise, stress, and sleep in real time. By pairing a CGM with their app and expert nutritionist guidance, you can help understand which foods impact your glucose levels and how you respond to foods, stress, exercise, and sleep changes. You simply pair a continuous glucose monitor with their Nutrisense app, where you can keep all your data around food, exercise and so on, and their subscription plan also includes a month of free nutritionist support. 

Go to Nutrisenseio.com/MSW or use the code MSW at checkout to receive a $30 discount off your first month which includes 2 CGM sensors, free shipping, and a month of professional Nutritionist support.  

If you have questions or topic ideas, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

In the final episode of 2024, Rachel and Ashleigh answer a question about weight loss from a male listener, highlighting some of the differences and similarities men and women face in their struggles to change body composition.

The women discuss the accuracy of various body-fat measurement tools, and they also dive into a slightly different take on the age-old question, "how can I train for endurance but also build muscle," from a serious endurance hiker. Lastly, Ashleigh has a pro-tip for how to make your homemade, high-protein ice cream EXTRA tasty.

Thank you to everyone who has listened and supported the show by subsribing, rating, reviewing, and sharing the podcast - and if you haven't yet there's still time! Also, please send any questions, topic ideas, embarassing fitness stories, or gym etiquette nightmares to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is brought to you by Active Stacks. They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 or use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Check out our programs below, and if you're a member of the military, first responder team, or medical industry, send us a message for a discount on our programs.

MSW Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

MSW Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

And our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

This week is all about reverse dieting: Ashleigh and Rachel discuss what a reverse diet is, and why you should do it after spending time in a caloric deficit. They also talk about what many people get wrong about reverse dieting; how changing your body size changes your nutritional and metabolic needs; and how to find your new "maintenance" calories after you've changed your body composition. This is an important episode for anyone who's lost weight or changed their body composition, hit their goal, and thought, "now what do I do?"

You'll also want to listen to this episode to find out why Rachel has a black eye...

AND the Muscle Science for Women: Grow your Glutes Workshop is now open! Sign up here: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Email your questions, comments, topic ideas and feedback to musclescience4women@gmail.com

We are so excited to announce a new show sponsor: BUBS Naturals! They offer the best quality collagen and powdered MCT on the market, and they give 10% of their earnings to charity-supporting veterans.

They've also recently launched some new products, including their Origin Blend coffee beans, so now they're a one-stop shop for your boosted caffeine needs :) Try their new brews and related products at bubsnaturals.com and get a full 20% off your order with the code MSW20.

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!

In this episode, Ashleigh speaks with Dr. Bill Schindler, an archaeologist, primitive technologist, chef, and author of the book, Eat Like a Human.

They cover:

• His journey from having an unhealthy approach to food and body image in his younger years, to learning how to enjoy a more nourishing and less punishing relationship with food;

• The ONE food humans are actually perfectly designed to eat, and why human beings are actually not very efficient eaters;

• The science of digestion in animals and humans;

• His experience on a survival-based reality show called The Great Human Race;

• His food trips to places like Ireland, Sardinia, and beyond, and how he shares these adventures with his family;

• Why fermentation is such a crucial food preparation tool - and how to ferment foods you never imagined could be fermented!

• Some of the most "challenging" foods he's ever tried (fermented shark and maggot cheese, anyone?)
  
  
• How he came to his current work in understanding and teaching the benefits of ancestral forms of food preparation, and why this dying art is important to capture now, which leads to
  
  
• The work he's doing at his Eastern Shore Food lab, which he founded to preserve and revive ancestral dietary methods to create a nourishing, ethical, and sustainable food system.

You might want to take notes for this one! Learn more about Bill at eatlikeahuman.com and @drbillschindler.

Thank you to our show sponsor, the Primal Health Coach Institute, an online health and fitness coaching certification school founded by Mark Sisson with a mission to develop highly skilled coaches who are proficient in guiding their clients toward lasting behavior change and excellent health outcomes. Ashleigh was one of the first 50 coaches certified through the program, and she has since developed her own Strength Training for Women Coaching Certification program for coaches through the PHCI. Head to  https://www.primalhealthcoach.com/msw/

Use the code MSW25 at checkout to get 25% off the price of either the Strength Training for Women course or the flagship Primal Health Coach course. 

Check out our newest program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer questions about:

-the importance (or lack therof) of dynamic warm-ups for strength training;

-why some coaches program "ego" workouts and whether they're helpful or a waste of time;

-whether sweating, exhaustion, and soreness is an accurate indicator of a good workout;

-what crossfit gets wrong about strength training

Thank you to our show sponsor, Optimal Carnivore, the makers of high-quality, nutrient-dense whole food supplements. We love their grass-fed organ complex, and you'll get 10% off your first order with the discount code MUSCLESCI on their Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/optimalcarnivore  

If you want to sign up for the MSW program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: musclescienceforwomen.com

Email your questions, comments, and feedback to musclescience4women@gmail.com

In this episode of Muscle Science for Women, Ashleigh gives an update on her short but intense photo shoot prep and fat loss plan, revealing the challenges she's having (they're not what you think!) and they talk about the importance of motivation in goal setting - as well as what to do when motivation fails.

They dig into the role cardio can play in fat loss, and how to implement it in a strategic, sustainable, and healthy way.

Email us with your thoughts, comments, topic suggestion to musclescience4women@gmail.com

Learn more about the Muscle Science for Women flagship program at http://musclescienceforwomen.com 

Thanks to our show sponsor, BUBS Naturals! They offer the best quality collagen and powdered MCT on the market, and they give 10% of their earnings to charity-supporting veterans. They've also recently launched some new products, including their Origin Blend coffee beans and creamer, so now they're a one-stop shop for your boosted caffeine needs :) Try their new brews and related products at bubsnaturals.com and get a full 20% off your order with the code MSW20

Follow and learn more about Rachel at https://www.metflexlife.com/ and on IG at https://www.instagram.com/rachelgregory.cns/

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at https://ashleighvanhouten.com/ and on IG https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/ 

Today is another re-release of a popular episode from a while back you may have missed: in this one, Ashleigh and Rachel discuss the nuances between training for strength and training for muscle growth (hypertrophy). These goals can be achieved together, but don't necessarily have to; you can get bigger without getting much stronger, and you can get stronger without your muscles getting much bigger. They talk about training differences and approaches to make sure you get the most out of your workouts.

Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast, leave a rating or review, and sign up for notifications so you know when a new episode is available!

Send your feedback, questions, or topic ideas to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 or use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Don't forget, we offer program discounts to first responders, military, and medical personnel. Send us an email for the code.

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes  

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com  

If you have any questions for the pod, comments or funny stories, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Learn more about Ashleigh and Rachel at their websites: ashleighvanhouten.com and rgfit.com 

Join the Build Your Glutes Workshop interest list HERE!

This week, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about training around your cycle; Rachel shares details about her business rebranding; and the two ladies announce their first new workshop product since Muscle Science for Women was born...hint, it's all about the glutes :) Learn more about the new course and how you can sign up for a bigger, stronger backside.

Reach out with any questions, comments, or topic ideas by emailing musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Learn more about the Muscle Science for Women flagship program at musclescienceforwomen.com

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Follow and learn more about Rachel at https://www.metflexlife.com/ and on IG at https://www.instagram.com/rachelgregory.cns/

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at https://ashleighvanhouten.com/ and on IG https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/ 

Ashleigh and Rachel answer some of the most commonly asked questions they get about:

• How much protein can you really metabolize at once? How do you know how much protein you should be eating per meal? They provide actionable strategies to help you figure it out for yourself
• How to come back to training after injury and illness in a safe smart way and how to minimize muscle loss during injury
• What do they think of cold water therapy, including when it can be helpful and when it can be harmful
• New protein ice cream recipes (squash ice cream anyone?)

If you have questions you'd like the hosts to answer or discuss, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Thank you to our show sponsor, Optimal Carnivore, the makers of high-quality, nutrient-dense whole food supplements. We love their grass-fed organ complex, and you'll get 10% off your first order with the discount code MUSCLESCI on their Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/optimalcarnivore  

If you want to sign up for the MSW program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: musclescienceforwomen.com

Follow and learn more about Rachel at https://www.metflexlife.com/ and on IG at https://www.instagram.com/rachelgregory.cns/

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at https://ashleighvanhouten.com/ and on IG https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/ 

Since May is a busy month for the Muscle Science for Women ladies, please enjoy the re-release of one of the most popular podcast episodes Ashleigh ever recorded: her interview with Dr. Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and a professor in the department of neurobiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine. If you haven't heard this episode before, it's full of usable, accessible tools to understand and manage your stress response - and if you have heard it before, we really think this one is worth listening to again!

Dr. Huberman 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.

Questions, comments, feedback? Send us a note at musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Check out our flagship training and education program, Muscle Science for Women.

Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grassfed collagen, delicious, high-quality coffee, and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MM20 for a discount!

Coaching is big business - perhaps even more so now, when our options for going to the gym and working out can be more limited. As a professional in the health and fitness industry for more than a decade, Ashleigh has worked as a coach and has experience as a client; she’s also worked with, observed, interviewed, and learned from some of the top coaches in the industry.

When a coaching experience doesn’t go well, it’s easy to chalk it up to an unmotivated client, or a crappy coach - sometimes this is true, but more often it boils down to miscommunication and unclear goals. A coach/client relationship requires understanding, open-mindedness, respect, and communication (just like every relationship) but often we don’t focus on this; instead we focus on how much money we’re spending, how fit the coach looks, and how long this “getting healthy” process will take.

In this episode, Ashleigh breaks down what she sees as the biggest “failures” of both coaches and clients, and how she thinks we can improve the culture and understanding and approach to coaching to improve outcomes and create healthier, happier people.

You can learn more about Ashleigh’s coaching services at ashleighvanhouten.com, or https://www.volv.ai/channels/-12/musclemaven

TIMESTAMPS:

[08:33] - Part 1: The problem with coaches

[34:41] - Part 2: The problem with clients

[1:02:17] - Part 3: How to fix the client/coach relationship

If you care about immune health and nutrient density as much as I do, you’ll want to give my new partner, Organifi, a try. The makers of a line of superfood blends that are low in sugar and high in nutrition, I love their Organifi Red Juice the best - it’s loaded with veggie and fruit-derived antioxidants and adaptogens like cordyceps, reishi, and rhodiola, so I can get all these superfoods in one convenient, tasty place (and save more room in my belly for steak). They also offer some of their products (currently Organifi Green and Gold, and more) in single serving packs so you can take them with you on the go! Head to http://www.organifi.com/musclemaven and use the code musclemaven for 15% off your order!

In this episode Ashleigh and Rachel dive into a variety of topics around nutrition, including understanding the difference between a food "sensitivity" and an actual allergy; they talk about whether foods that are widely touted as unhealthy (like gluten) should be avoided even if you don't seem to be sensitive to them; and they discuss their own recent experiments with continuous blood glucose monitors - including what raised their blood sugar and what didn't, how stress and exercise impacted their results, and some other surprising findings. 

If you've always wanted to test some things out and try a CGM, Muscle Science for Women is partnering with NutriSense to help you!  Nutrisense combines cutting-edge technology and human expertise so you can see how your body responds to different food, exercise, stress, and sleep in real time. By pairing a CGM with their app and expert nutritionist guidance, you can help understand which foods impact your glucose levels and how you respond to foods, stress, exercise, and sleep changes. You simply pair a continuous glucose monitor with their Nutrisense app, where you can keep all your data around food, exercise and so on, and their subscription plan also includes a month of free nutritionist support. 

Go to Nutrisenseio.com/MSW or use the code MSW at checkout to receive a $30 discount off your first month which includes 2 CGM sensors, free shipping, and a month of professional Nutritionist support.  

If you have questions or topic ideas, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

Some other links discussed in today's show:

US-based:

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

In this re-released episode, Ashleigh discusses what she's seen/experienced as the issues in the coaching industry today, and what we can all do to improve it.

As a professional in the health and fitness industry for more than a decade, Ashleigh has worked as a coach and has experience as a client; she’s also worked with, observed, interviewed, and learned from some of the top coaches in the industry. When a coaching experience doesn’t go well, it’s easy to chalk it up to an unmotivated client, or a crappy coach - sometimes this is true, but more often it boils down to miscommunication and unclear goals. A coach/client relationship requires understanding, open-mindedness, respect, and communication (just like every relationship) but often we don’t focus on this; instead we focus on how much money we’re spending, how fit the coach looks, and how long this “getting healthy” process will take. In this episode, Ashleigh breaks down what she sees as the biggest “failures” of both coaches and clients, and how she thinks we can improve the culture and understanding and approach to coaching to improve outcomes and create healthier, happier people. 

Have more questions or topic ideas for us? Email them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Check out our new program, the Grow your Glutes Workshop.

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women.

Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - use code MM20 to save on anything you buy: grassfed collagen, MCT, and their new amazing coffee!

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel chat with Functional Bodybuilding Master Coach Bri Lamb about her journey from college athlete to CrossFitter to training for health and aesthetics.

She talks about her struggles with overtraining and how she's worked to find balance while still chasing goals and, of course, wanting to look good naked...and how she applies her experiences and training to help her clients do the same. Connect with Bri on Instagram @briannalamb

But first, the ladies dive into some current events, weighing in on the "Liver King controversy" and also a discussion on whether the rise in cosmetic procedures in women is part of women's empowerment or just another way for women to feel like they aren't good enough without some kind of outside intervention. We'd love to hear your thoughts on these topics! Please send your feedback to musclescience4women@gmail.com and we may read your comments on the show!

Thanks to our show sponsor Optimal Carnivore, the makers of high-quality, nutrient-dense whole food supplements. We love their grass-fed organ complex, and you'll get 10% off your first order with the discount code MUSCLESCI on their Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/optimalcarnivore

If you want to sign up for the MSW program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: musclescienceforwomen.com

Today Ashleigh speaks with Dr. Ben Bikman, author of Why We Get Sick, about insulin resistance, optimal diet, and the nearly universal contributing factors as to why we get sick - so we can approach health from the ground up, address the root issues, and truly understand how our bodies work.

They discuss why we should be focusing more on our insulin than our blood sugar; why a lower carb diet is still the best approach for most people; why animal sources of protein and fat (always together) are ideal; how insulin resistance can impact hormonal health, fertility, and a host of other chronic and all-too-common diseases; and most importantly: how we can start learning about our health and our bodies to take ownership and control over our health.

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

My #JackedBack Pull-Up Program, designed to get you functional strength, mobility, and beautiful strict pull-ups, is available now! Sign up for lifetime access to the program, a full exercise video library, and access to me, your personal pull-up coach, HERE.

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

In this latest episode with podcast host, nutritionist, and coach Rachel Gregory, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about cardio - the best kind depending on your goal; how to know when you’re overdoing it; if you can be a high-performing endurance athlete and eat low carb; when to implement it for fat loss; and so much more. Head to my website, ashleighvanhouten.com, to submit more questions for an upcoming podcast!

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

My #JackedBack Pull-Up Program, designed to get you functional strength, mobility, and beautiful strict pull-ups, is available now! Sign up for lifetime access to the program, a full exercise video library, and access to me, your personal pull-up coach, HERE.

Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MUSCLE10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!

A lot has happened since the last time I published a podcast episode, so I want to thank all of you for sticking around despite all the chaos in the world right now. I hope that you guys missed me as much as I missed talking to you. Today I’m introducing you to the new name and brand of the show and explain to listeners the reasons for all these changes.

In short, Paleo Magazine is undergoing some big transformations and part of their restructuring resulted in much uncertainty about the future of the podcast. But loving this show and the community we’ve created, I jumped in and purchased the podcast, and decided to rebrand it as Muscle Maven Radio! This is an exciting journey that I hope to take all the current listeners on with me and hopefully gain a whole lot more as we continue building out the community. In this episode, I walk you through the aspects that will stay the same, and those that—I’m certain—will be even better than before! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• The exciting news: I purchased the Paleo Magazine Radio podcast!
• Hear about Paleo Magazine’s transformation and what they decided about the podcast.
• Rest assured: You will still be getting the same quality, high-value content as before.
• Why I feel so strongly about the podcast and the community we’ve built together.
• Find out which elements of the show will remain the same and which will change.
• The perks of a new brand—we can talk much more broadly about health and wellness.
• I need all of you to help me make the podcast a viable and helpful resource!
• What I’m currently envisioning for the show in terms of its structure and featured guests. 
• Let me know which topics you’d like to see covered and any other suggestions you have.
• Monthly giveaways, special offers, and more for those actively participating in the show!

Tweetables:

“I have purchased the Paleo Magazine Radio podcast and I have rebranded it under my own name aka the Muscle Maven, which is my nickname.” — Ashleigh VanHouten [0:01:01]

“All I knew was that putting the podcast on hold or permanently getting rid of it was just too sad for me to bear.” — Ashleigh VanHouten [0:01:58]

“I wanted to make a space that is for everybody who is a health and fitness and food nerd and just likes to learn.” — Ashleigh VanHouten [0:04:26]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Ashleigh VanHouten

Ashleigh VanHouten Email

Ashleigh vanHouten on Instagram

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

In today's episode, Ashleigh and Rachel talk all things High Intensity Interval Training:

• What exactly is it, and what are the common ways people do it wrong?
• What are the potential benefits?
• What are the potential downfalls?
• Can it be effective for women looking to lose fat, build muscle, and who have limited time for workouts?
• What are their favorite HIIT workouts?

The ladies also discuss their new offering, the Grow Your Glutes workshop, and introduce a potential new intro theme song, hope you love it!

Learn more or sign up for the Grow your Glutes workshop here: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Sign up for the Muscle Science for Women course here: http://musclescienceforwomen.com 

Email your hosts any feedback, funny stories, questions or topic ideas to musclescience4women@gmail.com

 Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

 And thank you to show sponsor BUBS Naturals! They offer the best quality collagen and powdered MCT on the market, and they give 10% of their earnings to charity-supporting veterans.

They've also recently launched some new products, including their Origin Blend coffee beans, so now they're a one-stop shop for your boosted caffeine needs :) Try their new brews and related products at https://bubsnaturals.com  and get a full 20% off your order with the code MSW20.

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!

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

In this episode Rachel recaps a fun Vegas weekend, they talk about some of their favorite "on the go" snacks, and they answer a listener question about balancing strength training and marathon training.

The girls also go through a case study from a listener who is also a VERY common client profile: a woman in her 50's who has spent decades undereating, being extremely rigid and strict with their diet, over training and under recovering, and practicing a negative and fear-based mindset around food and training. This client is now, in menopause, struggling with minor weight gain and wondering if decades of habits are impossible to fix or change. There's a lot to unpack here and we hope you find it helpful!

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 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 treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

This week’s episode is one everyone can learn from and use immediately to become happier - no small claim! Ashleigh speaks with Rob Mack, an ivy-league-educated Positive Psychology expert, happiness coach, and Author. He is one of the world’s leading experts on the relationship between happiness and success. He helps individuals and organizations achieve an energizing balance of authentic personal happiness and effortless professional success, based on time-tested, face-valid, empirical data and timeless, transcendental wisdom.In this episode, Rob walks us through his journey to his current work, including struggling with suicidal depression as a younger person, to dedicating his life to helping people find “peaceful aliveness.”

They talk about the importance of understanding for your self what “peace” and happiness means to you; how to balance internal and external validation and pleasure; how to reframe challenge and adversity so your struggles work for you instead of against you; and the stunning concept that your perception of your health and success matters more than quantifiable, extrinsic measurements. This episode is the best free therapy out there - if you enjoy it, please share it with someone you care about, and check out Rob’s book, Happiness from the Inside Out.

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now for pre-order on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

Connect with Rob online at coachrobmack.com and on social media @robmackofficial, and buy his book, Happiness from the Inside Out

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

Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - stock up on the best quality grass fed collagen and MCT powder at bubsnaturals.com and use the code MM20 for a discount!

Nutritionist, coach, podcast host and honorary co-host of Muscle Maven Radio Rachel Gregory joins Ashleigh again to answer listener questions about nutrition! They cover topics like eating for healthy hormones; how sleep and food cravings are connected; “keto” sweeteners; tips for snacking, why moderation sounds great but rarely works, and a lot more.

Learn more about Ashleigh’s brand-new habit coaching service - where she provides you with all of her healthy habit routines and resources, and you have direct access to her to get all of your nutrition, training, and lifestyle questions answered.

And a big welcome 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!

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel talk about cutting and bulking in tandem with the seasons; whether or not you can/should try to change your body composition without losing or gaining weight; how to know when it's time to move on from a current goal and start a new challenge; and of course, they talk about healthy protein treats for those of us who are trying to chaise gains but who also need ice cream.

Here's a link for how to make the BEST protein ice cream:  https://www.rgfit.com/blog/ninja-creami-protein-ice-cream-low-calorie

Here's the link to get on our Grow Your Glutes workshop waitlist: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Want to share your funny fitness stories, suggest topic ideas or guests, or give feedback? Email musclescience4women@gmail.com

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Shoutout to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals! They offer the best quality collagen and powdered MCT on the market, and they give 10% of their earnings to charity-supporting veterans. They've also recently launched some new products, including their Origin Blend coffee beans, so now they're a one-stop shop for your boosted caffeine needs :) Try their new brews and related products at bubsnaturals.com and get a full 20% off your order with the code MSW20.

Follow and learn more about Rachel at https://www.rgfit.com/ and on IG at https://www.instagram.com/rachelgregory.cns/

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at https://ashleighvanhouten.com/ and on IG https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/ 

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

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of intra-workout fuel (I.e., eating something during a workout). We dive into the details of why it might help performance, what intra-workout fuel is best, and how it could promote unhealthy attitudes toward food if you're unaware of how you're using it. They also answer questions about rehabbing injuries, and the two hosts have some differing opinions on what does and does NOT count as dessert.

If you have questions you'd like the hosts to answer or discuss, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

We're excited to introduce our podcast partner, Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Thank you to our show sponsor, Optimal Carnivore, the makers of high-quality, nutrient-dense whole food supplements. We love their grass-fed organ complex, and you'll get 10% off your first order with the discount code MUSCLESCI on their Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/optimalcarnivore  

If you want to sign up for the MSW program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: musclescienceforwomen.com

Follow and learn more about Rachel at https://www.metflexlife.com/ and on IG at https://www.instagram.com/rachelgregory.cns/

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at https://ashleighvanhouten.com/ and on IG https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/ 

“If you can work your way into poor posture, you can work your way out of it.” - Words of hope from today’s guest, Annette Verpillot, the founder of Posturepro, a health company specialized in restoring the brain-body connection through some of the world’s most advanced rehabilitation and injury prevention techniques. She has created the Posturepro Method which has gained global recognition for eliminating chronic pain, optimizing children’s development, and improving sports proficiency. Additionally, Annette actively works with children, clients, professional athletes, trainers, practitioners, and researchers to develop solutions to tackle global health issues.

You may already know that the way you move, sit, and your footwear can contribute to posture issues and pain, but this episode will open your mind to how much more is involved in proper movement patterns - from your eyes, to your jaw and “tongue” posture,” to your breathing patterns, and so much more. Nearly all of us are misaligned in some way, contributing either to daily chronic pain or suboptimal movement patterns, sports related injury, and other issues, but the good news is there is SO much you can do in your daily life to start making improvements.

Check out Annette’s work, her website, and her Ted Talk here.

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

Check out my brand new website here!

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

Today Ashleigh speaks with a family dedicated to ancestral health and lifestyle, including natural home birth: Colin Stuckert, founder of Wild Foods Co, and his wife, Allison Bingham. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about the current culture and education around childbirth in America, and why a focus on empowerment, understanding our bodies, and trusting in our ability to birth is needed.

This podcast is not meant to discourage anyone from a hospital-based birth, it’s about empowering individuals to advocate for themselves, research different options, and know that there are many ways to have a successful, positive birth. Allison talks about the differences in her first c-section birth and her second home birth; the ways in which she ate, exercised, researched, and labored, and some of the questions we should be asking as we prepare for our own labor and deliveries. Because birth is a family affair, this one isn’t just for moms and moms-to-be, but for birth partners and anyone who loves or cares about a potential birthing person!

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.

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

My #JackedBack Pull-Up Program, designed to get you functional strength, mobility, and beautiful strict pull-ups, is available now! Sign up for lifetime access to the program, a full exercise video library, and access to me, your personal pull-up coach, HERE.

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

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

This week Ashleigh and Rachel recap Ashleigh's San Diego visit; they respond to a critical email about Botox; they answer a question about whether or not you should cut or bulk first, and a deeper conversation about how to know when you have "enough" muscle. What does enough muscle even mean? How do you know if you have enough to maintain health - and should we be at all worried about too much muscle - what are the potential downsides?

This is a fun episode - if you have any feedback or topic ideas send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Sign up for our NEW workshop, Strong & Sculpted Shoulders: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Check out our specialized program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

And shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

While we wait for Ashleigh to recover from her second birth, we decided to re-release an episode from before the rebranding of the podcast. Back in 2021, when the podcast was called Muscle Maven Radio, Ashleigh did a long deep dive about her pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience with her son Magnus. If you're pregnant, looking to become pregnant, know someone going through this, or simply love hearing these kinds of stories, this one is for you. 

She covers a lot of her decision-making processes around how she decided to eat, workout, her birth plan and birth team, her mindset, how she specifically "prepared" for birth, her recovery journey, and so much more. Hopefully this episode helps you get more clarity on making your own decisions around your birth story.

Thanks for listening and please send your feedback, questions, or topic ideas to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 or use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Don't forget, we offer program discounts to first responders, military, and medical personnel. Send us an email for the code.

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes  

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com  

If you have any questions for the pod, comments or funny stories, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Learn more about Ashleigh and Rachel at their websites: ashleighvanhouten.com and rgfit.com 

• 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!

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer questions from listeners:

• What are coregasms? How and why do they happen in the gym, and if they're happening, how can you stop them so you don't hurt yourself during a heavy back squat? (yikes!)
• What is a deload week? How do you program them properly? When do you know you need one, and what does it consist of?
• If you had money allocated specifically for health or fitness improvement, what would you spend it on?

All that and more - email musclescience4women@gmail.com with your questions, topic ideas, and feedback!

Don't forget, we offer discounts to first responders, military, and medical personnel for all of our programs. Send us an email for the code.

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes  

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com  

• 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

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!

Anders Varner co-hosts the uber popular Barbell Shrugged podcast, and creates programs for folks to get shredded, get muscular, and get fit. The Shrugged team is embarking on a totally new area of fitness: they are launching a series of workout programs that will be available in WalMart stores, effectively bringing high-end fitness programs to a mass market. It’s the first time it’s ever been done, and I wanted to chat with my friend about the business of fitness, the challenges to entering new markets, the importance of balance and perspective in the fitness world, and how to be a “diesel dad” (or mom) and still have other hobbies and interests outside of the gym.

Learn more about their programs, podcast, and other free resources at barbellshrugged.com

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!

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

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about:

• Why creatine may be making you sick;
• The fun of coming up with new workout challenges;
• Resources for overcoming hypothalamic amenorrhea;
• Why most people shouldn't try competitive bodybuilding;
• New experiences with therapy and how it can improve overall health

The ladies get personal in this one, we hope you enjoy it and learn something that helps you! If you have any thoughts, comments, or feedback, please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen protein in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

• 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!

In today's episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about whether or not three meals per day is optimal for protein/nutrient absorption; if some builds or anatomies just aren't cut out for certain exercises (and if so, how do we pick the best movements for our bodies?); Ashleigh rants about a particularly bad take on the carnivore diet; and more.

If you have questions, comments, feedback, or want to add a topic for "Ashleigh's Rant Corner," send it to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 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 treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

In this episode, Ashleigh speaks with Erin Power, the coaching and curriculum director at the Primal Health Coach Institute about the complex and layered relationship between a health/fitness/nutrition coach and their client. They dive into topics like:

• How to get the most out of your coach (and pick the right one)
• Goal-setting: when it's useful, when it's not, and how to feel good in between goals
• What does mindset mean? Can we really change our mindset to help reach our health goals?
• Why isn't there more attention paid to longevity and sustainability in the health industry? (spoiler, because if more coaches actually taught clients to be self-sufficient they'd be out of work!)
• Some tips on how to work smarter, not harder, on your health

And a lot more! This is like a brief mastermind into how coaching works, a behind-the-scenes look at the human beings who work to improve the lives and health of their clients - because we have failures and worries about it too.

Today Ashleigh asks an expert all the questions about red light therapy: Having dealt with health challenges in childhood and early adulthood, Scott Chaverri has always been passionate about all things health and wellness. After earning a BA in Psychology from Cornell University and a MBA in Finance from the Simon School of Business, Scott worked for several Fortune 500 companies, in the business services, medical device, financial services and ecommerce industries before founding his company, Mito Red Light, that delivers a range of red light and infrared products (at a very competitive price point) delivering science-backed and specific wavelengths and red light therapies to help improve skin health, recovery, sleep, and more. 

We cover topics including:

• what is the difference between red light and infrared light?
• What is the difference between near and far infrared?
• What are some of the studies backing the actual efficacy of these products?
• How can a consumer tell they are getting a good red light product? Some red flags to pay attention to
• How often can/should you use red light panels - can you overdo it?
• How can red light therapy help with things like acne, fine lines, muscle or injury recovery, hormonal health, and sleep?
• Dive into some of the science between wavelengths and how the different types penetrate skin
• For those of us unable/unwilling to buy red light therapy, what are some lifestyle things we can be doing to improve our red:blue light ratios?

To learn more about Mito Red Light Therapy and purchase your own, click here. http://www.MitoRedLight.com/discount/MUSCLEMAVEN?redirect=%2F%3Fafmc%3DMUSCLEMAVEN 

Send your feedback, topic ideas, questions, and funny gym stories to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Don't forget, we offer discounts to first responders, military, and medical personnel for all of our programs. Send us an email for the code.

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes  

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com  

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!

In this episode Ashleigh asks the CEO and co-founder of Kion, Angelo Keely, to do a deep dive on essential amino acids. As a life-long meat eater, Ashleigh is skeptical about EAA supplements, so they talk about:

• What essential amino acids are and why they're important
• The differences between BCAA's and EAA's
• How much you're actually getting from your food
• How to make sure you're getting enough to optimize your health
• How to best incorporate EAA's to optimize intake, muscle growth, and overall health
• Can you overdo it and ingest too many EAA's?
• Are supplemental EAA's necessary, and if you want to use them, how best to incorporate into a well-rounded diet

All that and more - if you enjoyed this specific deep dive with a subject matter expert let us know and we can do more like this. Email musclescience4women@gmail.com with your questions, feedback, and topic ideas.

If you want to try Kion's Essential Amino Acids products (which Ashleigh is currently using, as well as their creatine) you can get up to 20% off here: getkion.com/musclescience

Check out our specialized program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

In this fun episode Ashleigh and Rachel show off some summer fashion (follow us on YouTube to watch the episodes!) and answer listener questions including:

• How to fix bloating, and how much stomach bloat is normal
• How to optimize good digestion
• How to find a doctor who understands the importance of nutrition
• What is nutritional yeast and is it good for you?
• Are good mornings a good exercise?

And more! 

Thanks to our BRAND NEW sponsor, Goodr! These super cute, polarized, quality sunglasses are incredibly well-priced, and some with a one year warranty. These comfortable sunnies come in a ton of styles, colors, shapes, and sport-specific styles - all with incredible names (one of our favorites is the "Sells House, Buys Avocados" style.) Head to goodr.com/MSW and use the code MSW for free shipping!

If you have topic ideas or questions for the hosts, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Check out our new program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop.

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women.

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

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

Today Ashleigh chats with integrative dietician, holistic nutritionist and author Esther Blum about the ongoing complexities of gut health, hormonal health, and getting to the root of your problems to achieve sustainable positive health outcomes. So often we try to rush to a solution, or focus on addressing symptoms rather than a root cause; reframing our health goals as a life-long journey helps us slow down and truly understand ourselves, our bodies, and our challenges. We talk about digestive health, autoimmune issues, tracking and testing, continuous glucose monitoring, and much more!

Connect with Esther on Instagram @gorgeousesther or on her website, estherblum.com

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

Learn more about the book and nose to tail eating in my episode with Paul Saladino, and my episode with Beth Lipton.

Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!

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

In this week's episode, Ashleigh and Rachel chat about how they manage their colds (including what they do to minimize sickness). They also answer questions from listeners about

• how to improve bone density: what exercises should we be doing? At what age is it too late? Why is bone density important? What foods help?
• Do partial range of motion reps help hypertrophy even more than full range of motion? Prepare for a deep dive!
• And Ashleigh tells a Planet Fitness story

Download Rachel's sick protocol: https://www.rgfit.com/blog/sick-protocol 

All that and more - if you have questions, comments, or funny stories for the Muscle Science ladies, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 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 treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

And shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

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

In this re-released episode, 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. Learn more at drellymichelle.com.

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

Have more questions or topic ideas for us? Email them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Check out our new program, the Grow your Glutes Workshop.

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women.

Thanks to our show sponsor BUBS Naturals - use code MM20 to save on anything you buy: grassfed collagen, MCT, and their new amazing coffee!

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer more listener questions, like:

• What to do when your training goals conflict with your work requirements
• How to optimize training around high-stress jobs and shift work
• How to know when you're too sore to work out
• How to continue to traing your glutes even if they're already "too big"....

And much more! Remember, if you're a first responder, medical professionl or military member you get a special discount on all Muscle Science for Women programs. Email us a musclescience4women@gmail.com for the discount or to send in a question or topic for the podcast.

Thank you to our new show sponsor, CanadianProtein.com, where you can find everything you need to help you reach your fitness goals: creatine monohydrate, whey protein in every flavor you can think of, vegan protein (if you're into that), greens powder, all high quality and incredibly affordable prices. Get free shipping in Canada when you spend more than $99 and free shipping to the U.S. on orders over $149. Check out our favorite creatine product here:  https://canadianprotein.com/products/creatine-monohydrate?sca_ref=4752819.iCBCZXTM7A

Or you can try the new flavored collagen peptides from Active Stacks - same amazing ingredients and delicious chocolate and vanilla flavors, with 22 grams of collagen per serving to support gut health and strong skin, hair, and nails. Mixes easily and easy to digest for folks who have trouble with whey protein! Visit activestacks.com and use the code MSW10 to save.

 Check out our lower body specialist program, Grow Your Glutes: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Find more info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Who is the best and most well-rounded female athlete? What does it mean to be a well-rounded athlete anyway? Why are some "fitness" standards different for men and women (it must be the uterus...) Is cardio really "out" now, or are there types of cardio that can still be beneficial for building muscle and losing fat? Does exercise count as "therapy"? Ashleigh and Rachel discuss all these topics and more - plus, we have some more music playlist ideas for you. We hope you have as much fun listening to this episode as we did making it!

Send your thought experiments, funny gym stories, questions, and feedback to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is brought to you by Muscle Science for Women! Check out our programs below, and if you're a member of the military, first responder team, or medical industry, send us a message for a discount on our programs.

MSW Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

MSW Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

And our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

In the LAST episode of 2023, Ashleigh and Rachel talk about goals and answer listener questions about:

• Training around injuries: how to keep training, how to avoid making injuries worse, and how to know when it's time to back off or keep going
• Reverse dieting - what it means, how to do it, and why your diet may be holding you back from your goals
• Running training (and how you can train for endurance and strength at the same time

All that and more! Email your comments, feedback, topic suggestions and questions to musclescience4women@gmail.com

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen protein in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

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

This week Ashleigh chats with chef James Berry, founder of Pluck, which is an organ-meat based seasoning blend. James is also a former private chef for celebrities including Tom Cruise and George Clooney! Ashleigh and James chat about how subtle dietary changes can reap big rewards, and James offers tips to make meal planning and cooking at home easier and less of a chore. He also shares some pretty crazy stories of his time making meals for some of the world's biggest celebrities! 

If you'd like to try Pluck organ meat seasoning, head to eatpluck.com and use the code MAVEN10 to save money on your first order. 

Muscle Maven Radio is sponsored by 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.

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel talk about some of the ways their beliefs and behaviors around fitness and nutrition have changed over the past ten years; they discuss what may be missing from your plan if you seem to be doing everything right but just aren't seeing progress; and what the margin of error is when trying to determine your optimal macro ratio. 

If you have any questions you want answered, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

We're excited about our new show sponsor: Genova Diagnostics is a direct-to-consumer testing company that allows you to order specific testing online that you can do easily at home and receive personalized recommendations based on the results.

Testing options include a GI Effects gut health test that provides insight into digestive function and intestinal inflammation; Metabolomix+ nutritional testing that can identify individual needs for certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids; a hormonal health test that measures sex and adrenal hormones for men and women, and more.

Genova provides educational resources to help you understand results, and you can also work with your own healthcare provider to help further interpret and make use of your findings. Genova makes the testing process easier, so you can do your own research, advocate for yourself, and empower yourself to find the answers you’re looking for to improve your health. Learn more about the options at https://connect.gdx.net/ and use our code, MSW10 for 10% off any of the tests.

And shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

In their second live webinar/podcast episode, Ashleigh, Rachel, and their guests discuss the fears, misconceptions, and tactics around eating during the holidays. They cover topics including:

• Do people actually tend to gain weight around the holidays, or is it a myth?
• How to balance enjoying special meals with loved ones while also feeling good and sticking to your goals and boundaries
• How to manage peer pressure around eating and drinking with family and friends
• Straightforward strategies to plan ahead around holiday meals, and also what you can do during meals to enjoy your food without guilt, and without the junk food hangover the next day!

The hosts also decode some of their dreams and ask the question: is it ever ok to approach strangers in the gym?

If you have questions, topic ideas, or suggestions you'd like the hosts to answer or discuss, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

We're excited to introduce our new podcast partner, Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more at activestacks.com and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

If you want to sign up for the MSW program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: musclescienceforwomen.com

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.

Having a bad day? Feeling frustrated and annoyed with life? Things not going your way? Listen to this podcast and prepare to have your perspective drastically changed.

Callie Russell is a survival expert, ancestral skills instructor, hunter, goat herder, and true renaissance woman. She came into the public eye when she became the runner up for groundbreaking reality Show Alone, Season 7, spending 72 days on her own in the Canadian Artic, surviving with only 10 tools she brought along and her own wits. Throughout the course of her time on the show, she demonstrated a level of competence and understanding and respect for nature that is truly awe-inspiring (even if it is our natural tendency, it’s something most of us have grown away from in the modern world). Her perspectives on connecting with nature, killing animals for food, feeling gratitude in the toughest moments, and learning and smiling through everything - these are lessons we can all learn from her story, whether we plan to become survival experts or not.

She also shares her story of going from a vegetarian to a professional hunter; how life-changing tragedy in her childhood shaped her adult perspective; and tons of behind-the-scenes insider knowledge about what it’s like to be on Alone, like how you recover and reintegrate back into society, her friendships with other contestants, and what she missed most while she was out in the wilderness.

NEW SPONSOR ALERT! If you care about immune health and nutrient density as much as I do, you’ll want to give my new partner, Organifi, a try. The makers of a line of superfood blends that are low in sugar and high in nutrition, I love their Organifi Red Juice the best - it’s loaded with veggie and fruit-derived antioxidants and adaptogens like cordyceps, reishi, and rhodiola, so I can get all these superfoods in one convenient, tasty place (and save more room in my belly for steak). They also offer some of their products (currently Organifi Green and Gold, and more) in single serving packs so you can take them with you on the go! Head to http://www.organifi.com/musclemaven and use the code musclemaven for 15% off your order!

This one is spicy! In this Q&A episode, Rachel and Ashleigh start out by discussing workout and exercise order selection, but then dive deep into a fun, but respectful, debate about whether or not you should “pre-exhaust” your muscles before doing your big lifts, or whether you should keep it simple and do the big, challenging lifts first and exhaust your muscles at the end.

They also get into whether more people could benefit from machine-assisted movements or if we should prioritize old-school compound lifts with barbells. Wherever you fall in this debate, it’s a good lesson that there is never a one-size-fits-all approach to fitness and that the best approach is the one that works for you.

The ladies also decide to come up with a Spotify workout playlist – if you want to send in your suggestions, email your fave songs to musclescience4women@gmail.com

If you want to sign up for the program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: https://www.metflexlife.com/msw

And thank you to our show sponsor, Optimal Carnivore, the makers of high-quality, nutrient-dense whole food supplements. We love their grass-fed organ complex, and you'll get 10% off your first order with the discount code MUSCLESCI on their Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/optimalcarnivore 

In this episode Rachel and Ashleigh are asked by a special listener to design the "perfect human meal;" they talk about what to do if whey protein and whey products are causing skin issues; and they chat about folic acid supplementation for women who may look to become pregnant - can you get enough from your food? Should pregnant women really be eating liver? What's the difference between folic acid and folate? 

If you have any comments, feedback or questions for the podcast, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com

For more information on the folic acid supplementation question, we recommend you give Lily Nichols, RDN a follow on social media and her website can be found here: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/?s=folic+acid

Here's an article from her website on folate/folic acid: https://lilynicholsrdn.com/?s=folic+acid

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 or use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes  

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com  

This week Ashleigh chats about organ meat, optimizing health, and the carnivore diet with the carnivore MD himself, Paul Saladino, author of the Carnivore Code. They break down listener questions about the healthiest animals to eat, how to eat them, how to optimize immune and gut health, how to train on a low carb or carnivore diet, using a carnivore approach as a health reset, insulin sensitivity, and a lot more. If you’re interested in the benefits of a nose-to-tail diet, optimizing your animal protein intake, and possibly upgrading your health, you’ll want to listen all the way through to this one!

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

Thank you to my awesome show sponsor, Santa Cruz Medicinals, offering high-quality, third-party-tested CBD products including MCT-based tinctures, CBD-infused coconut oil, skincare, and so much more! Head to scmedicinals.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN15 for a 15% discount. 

In this episode, Rachel and Ashleigh catch up after the holidays and talk about their new year’s challenges and resolutions and some things they’re working on.

Rachel talks about improving gut health and Ashleigh discusses a new exercise goal she's scared to try. They also answer a very unique listener question about spot REDUCING muscle, rather than spot reducing fat: can you do it, and if so, how? Why might you want to spot reduce muscle in the first place?

This is a fun one - please email your feedback and any questions you want answered on the show to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

We are so excited to announce a new show sponsor: BUBS Naturals! They offer the best quality collagen and powdered MCT on the market, and they give 10% of their earnings to charity-supporting veterans.

They've also recently launched some new products, including their Origin Blend coffee beans, so now they're a one-stop shop for your boosted caffeine needs :) Try their new brews and related products at bubsnaturals.com and get a full 20% off your order with the code MSW20.

If you want to sign up for the MSW program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: https://www.metflexlife.com/msw

Follow and learn more about Rachel at https://www.metflexlife.com/ and on IG at https://www.instagram.com/rachelgregory.cns/

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at https://ashleighvanhouten.com/ and on IG https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/ 

• 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!

Muscle Maven Radio is sponsored by 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.

• 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

Today's podcast is a big one, and comes with an announcement: Ashleigh is officially changing the Muscle Maven Radio podcast to the Muscle Science for Women podcast!

First: please sign up for the Muscle Science for Women e-mail list to be the first to know about our program, new launches, and more: https://www.metflexlife.com/msw

Moving forward, Ashleigh and her co-host Rachel Gregory, the creators of the Muscle Science for Women program, will answer listener questions and address key elements of wellness and fitness including nutrition, training, recovery, hormonal health, and more - all with a focus on women's unique physiology, goals, and challenges. We encourage EVERYONE, male and female, to continue to listen, engage, and learn, because the more we all know about strength and fitness, the better!

Reach out to us with questions and comments at musclescience4women@gmail.com.

And thank you to our show sponsor, Optimal Carnivore, the makers of high-quality, nutrient-dense whole food supplements. We love their grass-fed organ complex, and you'll get 10% off your first order with the discount code MUSCLESCI on their Amazon Store: amazon.com/optimalcarnivore

Follow and learn more about Rachel at metflexlife.com and on IG at @rachelgregory.cns

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at ashleighvanhouten.com and on IG @themusclemaven

In this episode, the girls nerd out about the benefits and uses of creatine and collagen; they discuss the nuances of nutrition timing when in a deficit; Ashleigh talks about her experience with Rachel’s Training program so far, and more.

If you have any questions, topic ideas, comments or feedback, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Sign up for the MSW program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: https://www.metflexlife.com/msw

Follow and learn more about Rachel at https://www.metflexlife.com/ and on IG at https://www.instagram.com/rachelgregory.cns/

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at https://ashleighvanhouten.com/ and on IG https://www.instagram.com/themusclemaven/ 

In this episode, Rachel and Ashleigh answer listener questions about the efficacy of BCAA's for muscle building and recovery, the concept of "macro thresholds" ie, how much wiggle room do you have with your macros if you're trying to lose fat, and whether or not you should really be doing a coffee detox. 

If you want more information on BCAA's and EAA's, check out episode 59 of the podcast.

If you have any questions or topic ideas for the ladies, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com

Get on the waiting list for their NEW Strong & Sculpted Shoulders Workshop waitlist: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Check out our specialized program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Thank you to our sponsor Purity Coffee! Quality coffee can be health promoting and help fight inflammation. Purity Coffee is certified organic and lab tested for pesticides, mold, and heavy metals. They use a proprietary roasting protocol that results (when tested) in up to 65% more antioxidants on average vs other organic coffees. It truly is the best of the best - and it tastes great, with a number of options for you to choose from - even a decaf and a 1/3 caffeinated option! Use our link or the discount code MSW25 to get a full 25% off your first order of the best coffee out there: https://puritycoffee.com/discount/MSW25

This episode marks the first time that Rachel and Ashleigh recorded a “live” podcast, allowing listeners to attend the zoom call and participate, asking questions and giving input. It was super fun, so watch out for more of these in the future! This week, they discuss overcoming body composition plateaus, focusing on challenges with fat loss. They cover:

• How to ensure your goals align with your lifestyle and your behaviors
• How to conduct a “body composition” audit on yourself to ensure you’re actually doing the right things to meet your goals
• How to know the difference between a fat loss stall and your body just being happy where it is
• Different ways to monitor success aside from the weight on the scale
• How to know when you need to change your plan, or stick to it a little longer

We also gave away the biggest discount EVER on our Muscle Science for Women program…so make sure you sign up for our next live podcast/workshop so you don’t miss special discounts and offers. Sign up here: https://www.metflexlife.com/registration-page

Thank you to our show sponsor, Optimal Carnivore, the makers of high-quality, nutrient-dense whole food supplements. We love their grass-fed organ complex, and you'll get 10% off your first order with the discount code MUSCLESCI on their Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/optimalcarnivore  

If you want to sign up for the MSW program and have Ashleigh and Rachel as your personal coaches, along with a comprehensive 12-week training plan and hours of high-level content on nutrition, training, recovery, and much more, you can sign up now by going to this link: musclescienceforwomen.com

Email your questions, comments, and feedback to musclescience4women@gmail.com

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer a listener's question about a recent study claiming that high leucine (and dietary protein) intake can cause atherosclerosis or cardiovascular disease. The links below provide more information on the study and their response. 

The ladies also chat about some recent injuries, Ashleigh's upcoming trip to San Diego, and more. If you have questions, comments, feedback, or want to add a topic for "Ashleigh's Rant Corner," send it to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 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 treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

Link to the study discussed in this episode: 1. Zhang X, Kapoor D, Jeong SJ, et al. Identification of a leucine-mediated threshold effect governing macrophage mTOR signalling and cardiovascular risk. Nat Metab. 2024;6(2):359-377.

Link to Dr. Peter Attia's response, also mentioned: https://peterattiamd.com/protein-and-ascvd/

In this episode with podcast host, nutritionist, and coach Rachel Gregory, Ashleigh and Rachel do a deep dive on the mental aspect of health and goal setting. Information and enthusiasm are both important for making positive health changes, but having the right outlook and a plan for sustained behavior change is even more crucial. Ashleigh and Rachel draw on their extensive experience as coaches and athletes to discuss why behavior change can be so difficult (even when we want to change!), why managing expectations and creating consistent habits matters more than hard work, and the tough questions we must ask ourselves before we set out for any goal. Don’t miss this one!

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

Primally Pure is my favorite skincare company - they use a few natural ingredients like beef tallow, shea butter, and essential oils, and their products are beautiful and luxurious like high-end skincare without the pricetag or the sketchy ingredients. The natural deodorant and body butter are lifechanging! Head to primallypure.com and use the code MUSCLEMAVEN for a discount.

Want the health benefits of organ meats but not ready to eat them? I use Ancestral Supplements grass-fed desiccated organ supplements. I love the company and the quality of their offerings - check them out at here, use the code MAVEN10 for a discount and let me know if you have any questions about their products before you buy!

Dr. Mike T. Nelson is a body composition and performance expert. He has spent 18 years of his life learning how the human body works, specifically focusing on how to properly condition it to burn fat and become stronger, more flexible, and healthier. He has a PhD in Exercise Physiology, a BA in Natural Science, and an MS in Biomechanics. He’s an adjunct professor and a member of the American College of Sports Medicine.

In this episode Ashleigh and Mike talk about metabolic flexibility as well as physiologic flexibility; whether intuitive eating is a realistic expectation in today’s world; the psychology of positive behavior change; and his online programs that Ashleigh is currently taking to learn a pragmatic approach to helping people improve their health.

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

My nose-to-tail cookbook, It Takes Guts, is available now in-stores and online on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Chapters!

My #JackedBack Pull-Up Program, designed to get you functional strength, mobility, and beautiful strict pull-ups, is available now! Sign up for lifetime access to the program, a full exercise video library, and access to me, your personal pull-up coach, HERE.

In this episode Rachel shares some big life news, Ashleigh discusses recent conversations about health and fitness with family members, and they answer some fun questions from listeners, including questions about the pros and cons of creatine cycling, and how to know if your strength training and sports-specific training is well balanced. The ladies may have also found one of the coolest podcast listeners ever...

Have questions, comments, feedback for us? Send it all to musclescience4women@gmail.com

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 or use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

In this episode Ashleigh and Rachel talk technology (including some new fitness-related tech Ashleigh is loving, and their thoughts on the health risks of EMF's) but the big conversation today is about goals and standards. They discuss how important it is to have quantifiable goals (vs vague or purely emotional ones); the difference between having high standards and unrealistic ones; and how to audit your life and your goals so they match - because the alternative is always feeling like you're failing, not good enough, or not successful. It turns out, your goal is just as important as the plan you make to get you there - make sure you have the right goal AND the right training.

Questions, comments, or feedback? Send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

This episode is also brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 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 treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex.

They have a special Anniversary Sale offer from August 11-18 only: use this link for 35% off and get a free gift with purchase! https://paleovalley.com/anniversary-sale?oid=17&affid=2103

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

In this episode of Muscle Science for Women, Ashleigh and Rachel discuss Kim Kardashian's new job as "chief taste consultant" for Beyond Meat, and also talk about Rachel's experience with a doctor giving her bad nutrition advice. We dive into advocacy, misleading marketing, and why understanding and listening to your own body is so important.

Please sign up for the Muscle Science for Women e-mail list to be the first to know about our program, new launches, and more: https://www.metflexlife.com/msw

Reach out to us with questions and comments at musclescience4women@gmail.com.

And thank you to our show sponsor, Optimal Carnivore, the makers of high-quality, nutrient-dense whole food supplements. We love their grass-fed organ complex, and you'll get 10% off your first order with the discount code MUSCLESCI on their Amazon Store: amazon.com/optimalcarnivore

Follow and learn more about Rachel at metflexlife.com and on IG at @rachelgregory.cns

Follow and learn more about Ashleigh at ashleighvanhouten.com and on IG @themusclemaven

Dr. Will Cole is a leading functional medicine expert who consults people around the world via webcam, having started one of the first functional medicine telehealth centers in the world. Named one of the top 50 functional and integrative doctors in the nation, Cole specializes in clinically investigating underlying factors of chronic disease and customizing a functional medicine approach for thyroid issues, autoimmune conditions, hormonal imbalances, digestive disorders, and brain problems.

He is also the bestselling author of Ketotarian, The Inflammation Spectrum, and the New York Times bestseller Intuitive Fasting. In this episode, Will and Ashleigh cover the following topics:

• What is Intuitive Fasting and why is it so misunderstood?
• What is functional medicine
• The impact he sees clinically on wellness with consistent incorporation of mindfulness/meditation/gratitude/spiritual practices
• Why he thinks we need a cultural reframing around alcohol consumption 
• Social media, raising healthy kids, and more!

Learn more about Dr. Will Cole, his work, podcast, and books at www.drwillcole.com

Please check out our show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make Ashleigh's 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!

Today the ladies answer questions around the optimal time to work out, how to make the best of a poor workout schedule, and they provide a lot of actionable tips on how to approach binge eating at night and consistent sugar cravings. 

That and more - make sure you're subscribed, leave a rating or review, and sign up for notifications so you know when a new episode is available!

Send your feedback, questions, or topic ideas to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 or use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Don't forget, we offer program discounts to first responders, military, and medical personnel. Send us an email for the code.

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes  

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com  

If you have any questions for the pod, comments or funny stories, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Learn more about Ashleigh and Rachel at their websites: ashleighvanhouten.com and rgfit.com 

In this episode Rachel tells us about her "mini cut" for an upcoming vacation, which leads to a discussion on pool party fashion; Ashleigh has a wellness industry rant about "girl dinner;" they talk about their favorite (and most embarrassing) music to listen to while working out, and they get into the business and branding side of Muscle Science for Women. This one is a real mixed bag of fitness and funny - submit your questions and topic ideas to the ladies at musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Thanks to our new sponsor, Goodr! These super cute, polarized, quality sunglasses are incredibly well-priced, and some with a one year warranty. These comfortable sunnies come in a ton of styles, colors, shapes, and sport-specific styles - all with incredible names (one of our favorites is the "Sells House, Buys Avocados" style.) Head to goodr.com/MSW and use the code MSW for free shipping!

Check out our newest program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Ashleigh and Rachel are VERY excited to answer questions from some younger listeners! They answer questions from a high school listener about weight gain and birth control, training plans for weight loss, training around injury, and optimal nutrition for younger people. 

They also dive into pesticides in your coffee (and how to avoid them); why they don't give out free workouts to help sell their programs, and more.

Any more teens have fitness questions? Looking for advice? Do you have questions about how to talk to your teens about fitness or encourage them? Send us your thoughts about today's episode or any questions you have to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Get on the waiting list for their NEW Strong & Sculpted Shoulders Workshop waitlist: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders 

Check out our specialized program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Thank you to our sponsor Purity Coffee! Quality coffee can be health promoting and help fight inflammation. Purity Coffee is certified organic and lab tested for pesticides, mold, and heavy metals. They use a proprietary roasting protocol that results (when tested) in up to 65% more antioxidants on average vs other organic coffees. It truly is the best of the best - and it tastes great, with a number of options for you to choose from - even a decaf and a 1/3 caffeinated option! Use our link or the discount code MSW25 to get a full 25% off your first order of the best coffee out there: https://puritycoffee.com/discount/MSW25

In this episode Ashleigh shares her struggles with burnout, comparing her current self to her former self, and struggling with balancing her current goals and responsibilities with her training plan. She and Rachel dive into concepts like identity and fitness, the importance of training in an organized and progressive way, and how to move past boredom and even burnout.

They also answer questions about training with lower back pain, including which exercises may help and setting expectations around recovery time, and Rachel talks about her own struggles with back injury. 

Finally, Ashleigh talks about a nutritional assessment test she's taking through Genova Diagnostics.

Send us your thoughts about today's episode or any questions you have to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Check out our specialized program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com

Genova Diagnostics is a direct-to-consumer testing company that allows you to order specific testing online that you can do easily at home and receive personalized recommendations based on the results.

Testing options include a GI Effects gut health test that provides insight into digestive function and intestinal inflammation; Metabolomix+ nutritional testing that can identify individual needs for certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids; a hormonal health test that measures sex and adrenal hormones for men and women, and more.

Genova provides educational resources to help you understand results, and you can also work with your own healthcare provider to help further interpret and make use of your findings. Genova makes the testing process easier, so you can do your own research, advocate for yourself, and empower yourself to find the answers you’re looking for to improve your health. Learn more about the options at https://connect.gdx.net/ and use our code, MSW10 for 10% off any of the tests.

Thank you to our sponsor Purity Coffee! Quality coffee can be health promoting and help fight inflammation. Purity Coffee is certified organic and lab tested for pesticides, mold, and heavy metals. They use a proprietary roasting protocol that results (when tested) in up to 65% more antioxidants on average vs other organic coffees. It truly is the best of the best - and it tastes great, with a number of options for you to choose from - even a decaf and a 1/3 caffeinated option! Use our link or the discount code MSW25 to get a full 25% off your first order of the best coffee out there: https://puritycoffee.com/discount/MSW25

Enjoy this re-release of one of our more popular episodes with Stan Efferding, 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. Stan conducts seminars all over the country for various sports and nutrition and training techniques, and he coined the Vertical Diet - in this episode Ashleigh and Stan talk all things diet, muscle building, and what we can all take from the regimens of elite athletes. 

They cover:

• Stan's morning/daily routine
• His 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 new show Sponsor, Palleovalley - they make amazing healthy snacks, like 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 treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Let us know your thoughts, or pose more questions or topic ideas to Rachel and Ashleigh at musclescience4women@gmail.com

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

In this Q&A episode, Rachel and Ashleigh catch up on what's going on in their lives after a brief break and chat about:

• Impactful glute exercises
• Learning new skills
• The misconceptions around hormone replacement therapy for women

And that's just the tip of the iceberg! If you have more questions for Ashleigh and Rachel, send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com

Check out our new program, the Grow Your Glutes Workshop.

More info on our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women.

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality beef protein isolate in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. Beef protein is often easier to digest than whey protein for many people, and it's high in glycine, an amino acid that is the main building block for collagen and can help improve sleep and muscle building. Learn more here and use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

And thank you to show sponsor BUBS Naturals! They offer the best quality collagen and powdered MCT on the market, and they give 10% of their earnings to charity-supporting veterans.

They've also recently launched some new products, including their Origin Blend coffee beans, so now they're a one-stop shop for your boosted caffeine needs :) Try their new brews and related products at bubsnaturals.com and get a full 20% off your order with the code MSW20.

In this week's episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer listener questions about how to juggle, prioritize, and properly rank all the big healthy lifestyle factors, especially as your life and goals change - we talk about the "Healthy Decision Tree" and how to determine when your priorities should change or when you should make adjustments to your plan. We also discuss how to stick to your goals and healthy habits if you happen to live with people who are not supportive, and in some cases seem like they're actively trying to sabotage you! 

All that and more - please rate, review, subscribe, leave a comment on the podcast if you're listening in Spotify, and send all your questions or comments to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Shoutout to our show sponsor Active Stacks! They make high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. They're made with cocoa and vanilla paste, not that unexplained "natural flavoring" you see listed everywhere, so it tastes better and mixes well into your protein shakes or baking. The chocolate flavor literally tastes like chocolate milk - it's a great way to get a collagen boost in your daily diet.

Learn more at https://activestacks.com/discount/MSW10 or use the code MSW10 to save 10% on your purchase!

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

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!

The Women of Muscle Science are back from their summer break! Get ready for fun life updates, some silliness, and as always, plenty of education mixed in. This week the ladies answer questions about how to stay consistent with your fitness when you travel a lot for work; how to improve your workouts in general; and the age-old question: is it really harder for women to lose fat than men? And if so, WHY?! (and what can we do about it?)

Don't miss it - and please email musclescience4women@gmail.com with any feedback, questions or comments.

Here's the link to Ashleigh's blog post with three ways to improve your workouts now, without even changing your programming: https://ashleighvanhouten.com/blogs/news/three-ways-to-improve-your-workouts-today-without-changing-your-programming 

We have an epic Amazon Prime deal from our show sponsor, Active Stacks - makers of high-quality collagen peptide powder and beef protein powder in two delicious flavors, chocolate and vanilla. Head to this link and use the claim code 05PRIMEMSW https://www.amazon.com/promocode/A2PBCGF48UL6FT

This episode is also brought to you by Paleovalley. They make amazing healthy snacks, like 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 treat). They also have a range of real-food supplements, like Fish Roe and an Organ Complex. This company doesn't cut corners, they combine the best that plants and animals have to offer for our health, and it shows - get 15% off your order at https://paleovalley.com/musclescience

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Or check out the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Learn about our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

• 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!

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!

The term "aging," to many, is a bad word, associated with negative changes and a general decline in health. But many of the negative aspects we associate with aging aren't inevitable. In this episode re-release, Ashleigh speaks with New York Times bestselling author, weight-loss and natural anti-aging expert Dr. Kellyann Petrucci.She is a concierge doctor for celebrities in New York City and Los Angeles, 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 decline, 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.

Let us know your thoughts, or pose more questions or topic ideas to Rachel and Ashleigh at musclescience4women@gmail.com

Sign up for our new Strong & Sculpted Shoulders workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/shoulders

Get fit with us in 2024 - sign up for the Grow Your Glutes Workshop: https://www.rgfit.com/glutes 

Or our flagship strength training program, Muscle Science for Women: http://www.musclescienceforwomen.com 

In preparation for Ashleigh’s upcoming second cookbook all about protein-forward recipes, she interviews chef, butcher, entrepreneur, author, and educator Ryan Farr about some basic rules and mistakes folks make in the kitchen when it comes to preparing, cutting, handling, and cooking meat. This super practical episode is a must-listen for any amateur chef and meat-lover who wants to get the most out of their cooking. The two cover ideal equipment and utensils; biggest mistakes many at-home chefs make; questions to ask your butcher, and much more.

Ryan is the founder of San Francisco’s 4505 Meats, an artisan whole-animal meat company devoted to sustainable practices (and making delicious chicharrons and other tasty products!) He started 4505 Burgers and BBQ, opened a butchershop, and authored two books: Whole Beast Butchery: The Complete Visual Guide to Beef, Lamb, and Pork and Sausage Making: The Definitive Guide.

Don’t forget Ashleigh already has a meat-based cookbook out: It Takes Guts is a meat-eater’s guide to cooking, eating, and enjoying organ meats and it’s available wherever books are sold!

If you care about immune health and nutrient density as much as I do, you’ll want to give my new partner, Organifi, a try. The makers of a line of superfood blends that are low in sugar and high in nutrition, I love their Organifi Red Juice the best - it’s loaded with veggie and fruit-derived antioxidants and adaptogens like cordyceps, reishi, and rhodiola, so I can get all these superfoods in one convenient, tasty place (and save more room in my belly for steak). They also offer some of their products (currently Organifi Green and Gold, and more) in single serving packs so you can take them with you on the go! Head to http://www.organifi.com/musclemaven and use the code musclemaven for 15% off your order!