Below Her Surface

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with coach and long-time fitness industry insider Chloe Rentifis to peel back the curtain on what really happens when “doing everything right” still leaves your body falling apart. From chronic gut pain at 16 and nine months without a period to cystic skin flares, relentless fatigue and the pressure to “look the part” in the fitness industry, Chloe shares the unfiltered truth about what happens when you ignore the whispers your body gives you, until they turn into screams.

Together, Lily and Chloe discuss:

If you’ve ever felt burnt out, dismissed, misdiagnosed or trapped in the belief that you “should be fine,” Chloe’s story is a powerful reminder that you’re not meant to survive on fumes and that real healing often starts when you’re brave enough to stop.

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with Madonna, founder of Kaelon, one of Double Bay’s most sought-after skin clinics, to unpack the real science behind breakouts, pigmentation, hormones and why your skin mirrors your internal state. Madonna shares how evidence-based care, precision treatments and a truly individualised philosophy have earned her a devoted following, and why good skin is never just “skin deep.”

Together, Lily and Madonna discuss:

• The evolution of Kaelon – from a fascination with beauty to mastering dermal science and building a clinic grounded in integrity and individualisation.

• Evidence-based skincare – why Madonna rejects “one-size-fits-all” and instead blends clinical data with holistic, personalised plans.

• Hormonal health on the skin – why all true acne is hormonal, how insulin, cortisol and contraception impact breakouts, and what to know when coming off the pill.

• Pigmentation truths – the two types of hormonal pigmentation, how melasma presents, and why lifestyle shifts often matter more than diet.

• Over-treatment culture – the rise of inflammatory procedures, why more isn’t better, and the dangers of stock-standard needling schedules.

• Nutrition foundations for great skin – protein, fibre, omegas, zinc, vitamin A, microbiome diversity and how “clean eating” can go too far.

• Collagen, omegas & supplements – what’s actually effective, what’s marketing, and how to choose high-quality, bioavailable products.

• The Korean skincare craze – why barrier-first routines help some people and harm others, and what most social media advice gets wrong.

• Skin as a reflection of the nervous system – why stress, lifestyle and emotional load show up on the surface long before we notice them.

This episode is a deep dive into the real drivers of healthy skin, balanced hormones, supportive nutrition, evidence-based treatments and a provider who actually listens.

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with strength coach and educator Janis Blums to unpack what really drives resilient, functional and healthy bodies in a culture obsessed with shrinking them. From his background in elite sport, biomechanics and fascia to his work with some of Australia’s top models, Janis shares how he builds strong women in an industry that often rewards the opposite.

Together, Lily and Janis discuss:

• From bootcamps in the rain to Sweaty Soul - how Janis went from lugging tyres in parks to building a niche studio and becoming the go-to coach for major modelling agencies.

• Athletic roots and rehab – the high-jump, AFL and gymnastics background that shaped his obsession with movement, injury prevention and human performance.

• Fascia, length–tension and “storage for the nervous system” - how connective tissue, posture and bone position change strength, tightness and pain

• Mind–muscle connection and irradiation - the science behind his “10-second plank” and why gripping your hands, glutes and legs can wake up hard-to-reach muscles and stabilise your joints.

• Blocking, tempo and smarter squats – practical tweaks like shin blocks, isometrics and single-leg work that shift women out of quad dominance and into safer, hip-driven strength..

• GLP-1s and the new starvation culture – what worries him about Ozempic-style drugs

• Eating disorders, safety and re-feeding – the physiology of a starving brain and heart, the dangers of rapid re-feeding

• Raising the bar for coaches – why Cert III/IV is only the starting line, and Janis’ call for trainers to invest in neuroscience, women’s physiology and collaborative

• Strength as emotional armour – how lifting, breath work and honest coaching help women build the resilience

• Turning obsession into education – the story behind

• Turning obsession into education – the story behind his Delta X

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with personal trainer, former pro athlete and founder of RHISE Performance, Ben Seymour, to uncover what drives someone to push beyond the limits most people would never dream of crossing. From ultramarathons in the Atacama Desert to building a fast-growing performance supplement brand, Ben shares the mindset, discipline and purpose behind everything he does, and why integrity matters more than ever in the fitness industry.

Together, Lily and Ben discuss:

• The evolution – Ben’s journey from professional rugby to online coaching, recovery therapy and now launching RISE Performance.

• Fuel, focus, performance – why he created RISE products, how endurance training exposed gaps in the supplement market, and why women deserve better performance formulas too.

• Carrying 16kg through the desert – the wild reality of a 250km self-supported ultramarathon across Atacama, dehydration, altitude, torn-open shoes and the mental battles in 45-degree heat.

• Internal vs external purpose – how charity work, family, and a bigger “why” helped him push through some of the darkest points on the course.

• From rut to resilience – life after sport, rebuilding identity, and finding new challenges after leaving the team environment of rugby.

• The discipline blueprint – lessons from childhood, travel, and elite sport that shaped his work ethic and integrity today.

• The danger of “fitness influencers” – why clickbait, fake marathon times and unqualified coaches are harming the industry and how to find credible guidance.

• Moving forward with RHISE – building a media-led performance brand, showcasing everyday athletes, and creating space for female-focused performance products.

• Purpose in action – Ben’s passion for Kids Foundation, supporting children with trauma, and how he plans to integrate charity into future RHISE events.

In this solo episode of Below Her Surface, Lily answers your most-asked questions from Instagram, covering PCOS, insulin resistance, training, hormone balance, nutrition, and mindset. From demystifying medical testing to unpacking myths around fasting, gym classes, and metformin, she dives deep into the science and the strategy behind sustainable health and fat loss.

Lily explores:

• PCOS without cysts: why you can still have PCOS even without ovarian cysts, and how insulin resistance plays a key role.

• When the weight won’t budge: how mismatched training intensity and diet can stall progress, and how to fix it.

• Metformin and beyond: understanding what it does (and doesn’t) do, and when lifestyle changes can achieve the same results.

• Testing for PCOS and hormones: what to ask your doctor, which labs to request, and how to interpret results for real insights.

• Training for hormone balance: how to know when to push harder, and when your body needs nervous system regulation instead.

• Fasting, Ozempic, and muscle loss: Lily’s no-BS take on what actually causes muscle loss and how to protect your strength.

• Non-toxic swaps: why simple changes to plastics, cookware, and beauty products matter, but shouldn’t come before the basics.

• Cycle syncing myths: why you don’t need to overhaul your training every few days, and what actually works instead.

• Calorie counting and mindset: how to use tracking as a tool (not a trap), and why separating emotion from evidence is key to long-term success.

• Final takeaway: fat loss is a physical process, but we sabotage it when we lead with emotion instead of science and consistency.

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with FMG Figure Pro Champion, Coach, and gym owner Connie Louise to explore what it really takes to build an elite physique while keeping your health and your sanity intact.

From her early bodybuilding days in the UK to running the all-female Sydney gym Glute Station, Connie shares the truth about comp prep, hormones, food freedom, and why looking the part shouldn’t come at the cost of feeling good.

Together, Lily and Connie discuss:

• The comp prep reality - how extreme leanness impacts hormones, sleep, libido, and mood, and why honest coaching conversations matter from day one.

• Building the foundation - why slow, well-planned preps protect your health and deliver better results than crash dieting ever could.

• The mindset shift - transforming your relationship with food from restriction and guilt to balance and freedom.

• Glute obsession done right - the birth of Glute Station, Sydney’s first women’s strength space focused on lower-body training and confidence.

• Muscle versus leanness - why you can’t build and shred at once, and how to fuel properly for your phase.

• Healing from all-or-nothing - how Connie helps women unlearn “good” and “bad” food rules and reconnect with eating for strength and longevity.

• Social media and body image - the hidden cost of comparison and why transparency around what it really takes to look stage-ready matters.

• Her vision for women’s health - more education on hormones, less glamorising of extremes, and a reminder that there’s more to life than macros and mirror checks.

If you’ve ever chased the “perfect” body, struggled with food guilt, or wondered what’s behind the stage tan and sparkle, this conversation will remind you that real strength is built below the surface.

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with boutique owner and founder Lia to unpack how she’s reshaping fashion culture from the shop floor to social feeds. From launching her in-house label Sneaky Link to the wildly popular “same outfit, different size” videos, Lia shares how authenticity, size-inclusive design, and real community engagement built a 37-person business and what it really takes to grow without burning out.

Together, Lily and Lia discuss:

• Finding the voice: why Lia ditched glossy editorial shoots for organic, useful content women actually shop from and how that choice powered growth.


• “Same outfit, different size”: the lockdown-born series that lets shoppers compare fits on a size 6 and size 12 body, demystifying inconsistent brand sizing.


• Normalising the tag: embracing size 12–14 as typical, not “maxed out,” and expanding the label from 16 to size 20 so more women can wear what they love.


• From two people to 37: building a team, opening an office and ops facility, and moving Lia off the shop floor into high-leverage work.


• Community as strategy: open DMs, direct feedback loops, and the joy of making women feel confident.

• Beating tall poppy syndrome: why sharing factories, numbers, and playbooks lifts everyone and how to build a circle of like-minded founders.

• The next chapter: ahead of production and design, big creative plans for Sneaky Link, and a brighter, more inclusive future.


• Fashion as fuel: dressing as a daily confidence practice - and kicking the stigma around “the number on the tag.”


If you’ve ever wrestled with body image, fit frustration, or the pressure to “look the part,” this conversation will remind you what real confidence and community can build.

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with longstanding client Jenna, tracing her 15 year journey with anorexia and exercise obsession to a completely different place - one defined by peace, strength, and genuine self acceptance.

What started as “healthy eating” and daily cardio spiralled into years of restriction, amenorrhea, and a constant battle with her body. But through her work with Lily, Jenna rebuilt trust with food, restored her health, and redefined what fitness means - discovering freedom, confidence, and a physique she never thought possible.

Together, Lily and Jenna reflect on what it really takes to heal your body and your mindset, and why lasting change is so much more than macros and gym plans.

They discuss

• The early spiral: From teenage “clean eating” and cardio marathons to a diagnosis of anorexia at 17

• The turning point: How working with Lily shifted everything, from rigid control to true nourishment and strength

• Building structure, not obsession: Three to four strength sessions, daily movement for joy, and rest days without guilt

• Letting go of numbers: Releasing the scale, simplifying food, and focusing on how strength feels, not what size it looks like

• The transformation: Hormones balanced, digestion repaired, cycles regular, and self worth finally unhooked from appearance

• For anyone stuck in the cycle: Why you cannot “think” your way out of disordered habits, and what happens when you finally let your body lead

Jenna’s story is a reminder that healing is never about willpower. It is about support, patience, and learning to feel safe in your body again. For anyone still caught between fear of change and the desire for freedom, this conversation is proof that it is possible to come home to yourself, rebuild from the inside out, and live in a body that finally feels like yours.

In this solo episode of Below Her Surface, Lily dives into the questions she’s asked most often, especially from the women who joined the free 3 Day Metabolic Reset. From PCOS to thyroid, cravings to calories, this is a no-fluff, evidence-informed conversation that unpacks what’s actually going on beneath the health trends.

Lily answers listener questions on:

• PCOS and insulin resistance: Why “gluten free, dairy free” isn’t a protocol and what really drives results.

• The truth about carbs: How to calculate your needs, reintroduce them without weight gain, and why 65g isn’t a magic number.

• Thyroid and weight loss: How metabolism adapts and what to do before cutting calories again.

• Cortisol, progesterone, and fatigue: Why your testing day matters and how to support recovery.

• Preconception and fertility: Why insulin, minerals, and metabolism all play a role before pregnancy.

• Fasting myths: What works, what backfires, and how stress and hormones change the equation.

• Gluten, dairy, and inflammation: How to know what your body’s really reacting to.

• How long you can safely be in a calorie deficit: What happens before your metabolism pushes back.

• What blood work actually matters for women: How to interpret it beyond the basics.

• The smarter, calmer path to weight loss: Less hustle, more clinical precision.

Whether you’re working on your metabolism, managing PCOS, or simply craving a grounded take on women’s health, this episode is your listener-led masterclass in making sense of the noise.

In this episode of Below Her Surface, Lily sits down with entrepreneur and business coach Jade Spooner to explore the raw truth behind building, scaling, and selling a multimillion-dollar wellness company. From early bodybuilding days to Silicon Valley accelerators and finally navigating a three-year exit, Jade shares the unfiltered lessons she’s learned about ambition, resilience, and what it really costs to chase big goals.

Together, Lily and Jade discuss:

- The shift from bodybuilding meal plans to evidence-based nutrition and why it changed everything

- Leaving a corporate role at Google to pursue a health start-up full-time

- What accelerators and the Silicon Valley hustle really teach you—and what they don’t

- Scaling to a 30-person team, the culture challenges, and the power of hiring well

- Evolving from “just numbers” to a more holistic view of women’s health and hormones

- The turbulence of a multi-year exit and how Jade stayed the course

- Why success requires seasons of both hustle and softness

- Her next chapter: building a business app to support online coaches

Whether you’re a practitioner, founder, or simply curious about the reality behind glossy business headlines, this episode is a candid look at what it takes to grow—and let go of—a company while staying true to yourself.