Body and Mind Strong Podcast

Ever start a diet feeling unstoppable, only to fall off two weeks in? The problem probably isn't the plan — it's your relationship with food. In this episode, I break down why most diets ignore the mental side of eating: trigger foods, stress eating, and the habits driving them. Then share my own honest (and slightly embarrassing) food confessions, walks through a simple self-awareness practice you can start today, and give you real strategies for handling cravings without white-knuckling your way through them. Because food isn't bad — the goal is just to know yourself better.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at www.bodyandmindstrong.com and on IG @bodyandmindstrong

We've all been there — stuck in a moment we can't change and fighting it with everything we've got. In this episode, I break down radical acceptance, a concept from Dialectical Behavior Therapy that's become one of the most powerful tools she uses with clients. Learn what radical acceptance actually means (hint: it's not giving up), why resisting reality takes a real toll on both your mental and physical health, and how to start practicing this skill in your everyday life — one small moment at a time.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at www.bodyandmindstrong.com and on IG @bodyandmindstrong

Cravings aren't a sign of weak willpower — they're a signal. In this episode, we bust the myth that ignoring cravings makes them go away, and walk through six practical ways to work with your cravings instead of against them — from satisfying swaps to smart pairings to simply riding it out. Plus: why your sweet tooth isn't permanent, and how your taste buds actually recalibrate as your eating habits shift.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at www.bodyandmindstrong.com and on IG @bodyandmindstrong

Perfectionism doesn't feel like a flaw, it feels like ambition. But chasing "flawless" often keeps us stuck in place while progress passes us by. In this episode of the Body and Mind Strong Podcast, I break down where our need to be perfect really comes from, including some surprising research on gender and double standards, and I share practical, real-world ways to loosen perfectionism's grip so you can move forward, one "good enough" step at a time.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at www.bodyandmindstrong.com.

Today’s episode is another interview from Athena’s Listening Crew where we sit down with Lisa Swanson, founder of Body & Soul Coaching. A single mom turned successful entrepreneur, Lisa brings over 40 years of experience helping women navigate fitness and weight loss.

After noticing a major gap in support for women over 50—especially post-menopause—Lisa shifted her focus to empowering this often-overlooked group. Through her three-pillar approach of aligned nutrition, progressive overload, and empowered thoughts, she helps women embrace where they are now and build vibrant, healthy lives.You can find Lisa at www.bodyandsoulcoaching, IG/FB @lisaswansonfit 

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at www.bodyandmindstrong.com.

If you've been waking up exhausted even after a full night's sleep, snapping at the people you love, or going through the motions without feeling like yourself, this episode is for you. Renee breaks down what burnout actually is, why it tends to sneak up on the women doing the most rather than the least, and four practical strategies you can start using today to protect your energy before you hit empty. Plus, a teaser for next week's episode all about boundaries, one of the most powerful (and hardest) tools for preventing burnout.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at www.bodyandmindstrong.com.

Resources

NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11496429/

NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9180705/

NIH: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9180705/

Journal of Neuropsychiatry: https://www.jneuropsychiatry.org/peer-review/gender-differences-in-different-dimensions-of-common-burnout-symptoms-in-a-group-of-clinical-burnout-patients-12860.html

With summer officially here, especially in the desert, I cover a topic that goes hand in hand with this season. On today’s episode on Body and Mind Strong podcast, I dive into answering the question: how much water is needed for your mental and physical health. I discuss how to decide what the proper amount is, and why we need to stay hydrated for both our bodies and our minds.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at www.bodyandmindstrong.com.

Research Articles:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/what-percentage-of-the-human-body-is-water

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/british-journal-of-nutrition/article/effects-of-hydration-status-on-cognitive-performance-and-mood/1210B6BE585E03C71A299C52B51B22F7

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6848126/

In this episode on Body and Mind Strong podcast, I sit down with Amy Jones where we discuss the impact of nutrition on our health, both mentally and physically.

Amy Jones is a Certified Functional Nutrition Practitioner and Certified ADHD Life Coach. She works with neurodivergent and overwhelmed adults who are trying to make food, energy, and self-care feel more manageable in real life. Her work looks at how nutrition, executive function, nervous system regulation, stress, hormones, burnout, and daily routines all affect a person’s ability to follow through on the things they already know would support their health.

You can find Amy at www.amyjonesnutrition, and on IG/FB @amyjonesnutrition.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at www.bodyandmindstrong.com

In this episode on the Body and Mind Strong podccast, we're breaking down one of the most popular — and most misunderstood — topics in health and wellness: fasting. We cover what fasting actually is, the different forms it takes, and why shifting your mindset from "fasting as a diet" to "fasting as a tool" can completely change your results and your relationship with food.

We also get honest about the pros and cons — from metabolic benefits and blood sugar regulation to hormonal considerations and the behavioral trap that keeps so many people stuck. If you've ever used fasting to avoid dealing with how you eat, this episode will challenge you in the best way.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. You may also find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at Body and Mind Strong.

Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out at [email protected]

Resources:

Pennington Biomedical https://www.pbrc.edu/news/media/2024/fasting-terminology-consensus.aspx

PubMed Central: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12309044/

Frontiers: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1664811/full

MDPI: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/11/2343

Science Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240624125628.htm

PubMed: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12740946/

Feeling drained, stuck in cycles, or struggling to stay consistent—even when you know what to do? This episode dives into decision fatigue, a hidden form of mental overload that quietly impacts your energy, focus, and ability to follow through. You’ll learn what decision fatigue is, how it shows up in everyday life, and why it can leave you feeling disconnected from your body and routines.

We also walk through simple, realistic strategies to reduce the constant mental load—from building supportive routines and simplifying daily choices to improving sleep and creating space for recovery. If you’ve been feeling off but can’t quite explain why, this episode will help you make sense of it and give you practical ways to reset.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to my podcast, or tell someone else about it, I would greatly appreciate it. You may also find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at Body and Mind Strong.

Also, if this episode resonates with you and you’re ready for more clarity, balance, and support in your wellness journey, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out at [email protected] or at www.bodyandmindstrong.com.

Resources:

https://www.ama-assn.org/public-health/behavioral-health/what-doctors-wish-patients-knew-about-decision-fatigue

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/decision-fatigue