By Iris, Meri, & Amy
4.8
2121 ratings
The podcast currently has 102 episodes available.
In today’s episode, the spotlight is on Meri as she shares her personal journey through the world of fitness, nutrition, and mindset. Meri opens up about her upbringing in a household with contrasting food and lifestyle beliefs, shaped by her parents' diverse economical backgrounds, and how that has impacted the rest of her life.
She shares her transformative experiences as an adult, how a pivotal moment in her 40s led her to a healthier relationship with fitness, nutrition, and her own self-worth, and a more sustainable, balanced, evidence-based approach. Through candid anecdotes, Meri reveals how small but powerful changes became the catalyst for lifelong health improvements, both for herself and her family. Meri's story is not just about physical transformation (to the tune of losing and keeping off over 100 lbs) but also about the powerful and necessary mindset shifts that came with it.
From navigating yo-yo dieting to breaking away from generational patterns, we dive into struggles and triumphs, things we weren’t taught growing up, and offer wisdom for anyone looking to overcome similar challenges.
"If you have never lifted and you start, and you get to a point where you think you can't do any heavier and then all of a sudden you break out from that, the feeling of accomplishment is topped by almost no other life experience. It's tangible proof that you can do beyond what you think you can do."
- Meri
“I was like, I don't wanna live like this… and I don't want my daughter to lose that smile on her face because she's gonna have to live like this one day."
- Meri
This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:
Connect with Us:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, Registered Dietitian and Intuitive Eating Counselor Jessy Barron joins us to dive into the nuances of disordered eating and shares her journey from having and eating disorder to finding peace and real health through intuitive eating. We discuss the impact of diet culture and social media, addressing the misconceptions around "clean eating" and the influence of childhood beliefs on adult behaviors.
Jessy’s candid approach highlights her mission to help people eat consistently and mindfully, without the guilt or rigid diet structures that often accompany traditional dieting. Jessy explains the dangers of orthorexic tendencies, explores the gut health consequences of food restriction, and provides perspective on managing food anxiety during the incoming holiday season.
“People think eating intuitively is a free-for-all. No, it’s about listening to your body and not punishing yourself when it doesn’t align with what you think it should be like.”
- Jessy Barron, RD, MS, RD
“Once you admit that what you’re doing is destructive, you realize change is needed - and that’s terrifying because it might mean losing control.”
- Jessy Barron, RD, MS, RD
This week on Here’s the Deal:
Connect with Jessy Barron, RD:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, we interview Amy! We have a candid and heartfelt conversation about her journey from physical therapist to coach, as well as some of her personal experiences with diet culture, Weight Watchers, and a few pivotal moments that helped shape her mindset.
We explore Amy’s evolution through motherhood, divorce, career pivots, life pivots, and how she learned to trust herself and take action even when the path forward seemed uncertain.
"Regardless of what has happened in the past, you are fully capable of doing something different. So do it. Stop questioning yourself."
- Amy Rudolph
“We need to cut that cord. We need to not be deprived and we need to be okay with slower results that will actually stick."
- Amy Rudolph
This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:
Connect with Us:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, Dr. Marie Whitt, DPT, joins us to dive deep into the importance of movement, even after injury. We challenge the common advice to stop moving when pain strikes, emphasizing how the right kind of gentle movement can be the key to recovery. Marie shares her expertise on building strength for runners, reframing rehab as a training opportunity, and the role of breath work in managing pain and calming the nervous system.
We chat about the impact of strength training for overall health, longevity, and injury prevention, especially for runners, and why our bodies are designed to move and why staying still can lead to more pain and setbacks. Whether you’re an athlete, a new runner, gen pop who doesn’t run at all, or someone looking to maintain mobility as you age, this episode offers valuable insights into how to stay active and healthy.
“When you stop moving, your body stops remembering how to move. Gentle movement is what takes away the pain.”
- Dr. Marie Whitt
“You are stronger than you give yourself credit for. Let’s teach your brain how strong you are.”
- Dr. Marie Whitt
This week on Here’s the Deal:
Connect with Dr. Marie Whitt:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, we interview Iris! We dive into Iris’s personal story, uncovering the deeply ingrained struggles many of us face around food, body image, and exercise, and the path to self-acceptance. The conversation takes us through the early influences of her childhood, the pressures of dieting, and how she eventually found balance and peace in a world that often pushes extremes.
This episode is packed with personal anecdotes, valuable lessons, and a deep exploration of how our relationships with food and exercise are shaped from childhood… and what we can do about it. This episode is an inspiring reminder that our journeys are ever-evolving and that embracing the basics with consistency can lead to profound changes both physically and mentally.
"Every day you decide to go in and do something hard is another day where you're proving to yourself that you can handle something hard."
- Iris Deadlifts
“If people could understand that it always comes back to their choices and their personal responsibility in any situation, they would be amazed at the progress they can make."
- Iris Deadlifts
This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:
Connect with Us:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, Matt Van Der Laar joins us for a deep conversation on the topics of obesity, processed foods, and the shame-driven messaging often found on social media. We explore how fear-mongering and oversimplified comparisons—like equating processed foods to smoking cigarettes—overlook deeper issues such as emotional regulation, mental health, and societal factors that contribute to obesity.
We share our frustration with harmful narratives that ignore the true root causes of obesity, and we highlight the roles of empathy, proper education, support systems, and even GLP-1s in making lasting, meaningful changes. We also discuss how parenting plays a pivotal role in building healthy relationships with food and movement, emphasizing that the obesity conversation must move beyond shaming and judgment to focus on support, mental health, and practical solutions for both children and adults.
“It's almost never the food. It's the way we're using food to cope with everything that we have going on in our lives.”
- Matt Van Der Laar
“If you’re only taking these drugs, but you’re not addressing the mental and emotional side of things, then it’s just another fad diet for you.”
- Matt Van Der Laar
This week on Here’s the Deal:
Connect with Matt Van Der Laar:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, we chat about some of the most common misconceptions floating around the health and fitness world.
Does muscle really weigh more than fat? Is eating fruit just the same as eating plain sugar or highly processed food? Should everyone be taking creatine? How important is protein beyond muscle building? Can you really only digest 35 grams of protein at a time? Should you rely on collagen supplements for better hair, skin, and nails, or is a varied diet a more effective solution?
We address all of these, and more, in this episode, which is a must-listen for anyone looking to soften the overwhelming amount of noise in the health, fitness, and fat loss space.
“The human body is resilient and amazing. And if we treat it well, it will treat us well..”
- Iris Deadlifts
“You do not have to buy something extra to add to your diet. Just start with your food.”
- Meri
“With supplements, you have really no idea what you are ingesting.”
- Amy Rudolph
This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:
Resources Mentioned:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, Team BFF Coach Peggie Larsen joins us again to dive into the challenges and mindset shifts that come with fitness, weight loss, and body image, especially for women navigating midlife and beyond. Peggie shares her personal journey of achieving a lean physique, only to realize it wasn’t sustainable for her health or happiness. Now, she focuses on feeling strong, healthy, and confident, debunking societal pressures that push women to chase unattainable ideals.
The conversation also touches on the importance of finding balance, learning to listen to your body, and letting go of the numbers on the scale. We explore how movement, nutrition, and mental well-being go hand-in-hand, highlighting the critical need to trust the process and embrace your own unique fitness journey.
And so much more…
“It’s not worth it to feel like shit just to be lean. I’d rather be strong, sleep well, and have a healthy relationship with food.”
- Peggie Larsen
“Quit looking back and just be the best you can be now. Keep moving forward.”
- Peggie Larsen
This week on Here’s the Deal:
Connect with Coach Peggie Larsen:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, we dive deep into the realities of fitness expectations, dismantling the idea that in training, "more is always better." We share insights on training frequency, and explain that even one to two days of intentional strength training per week can yield incredible health benefits. The conversation expands into how listeners can adapt workouts to their individual lives and goals, reminding them that doing what’s doable trumps chasing the so-called “optimal” routines often promoted on social media.
We chat about the concept of "training age" and how workout routines evolve as experience and goals shift. We also discuss taking time off the gym, and the common fears surrounding that. What if you have to turn down the gym during a busy season? What if you’re forced to be sedentary due to an injury or surgery? How fast does muscle and strength loss happen?
“If you replace 'optimal' with 'doable,' you'll find a lot more success.”
- Meri
“You are far more capable than you think you are—stay on the path even when life is hectic.”
- Amy Rudolph
“You know what's really bad for your health overall? Stressing about everything. It's awful for your gut, your brain, your sleep.”
- Iris Deadlifts
This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:
Resources Mentioned:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
In today’s episode, Coach Brandy Schroeder from Team BFF joins us to share her journey from battling weight issues as a tween to becoming a seasoned health and fitness coach. Brandy opens up about struggles she faced, including the mental and physical toll of competitive bodybuilding and her fight to find a healthier relationship with food and her body. Brandy shares the harsh realities behind the seemingly glamorous world of fitness competitions and the importance of focusing on sustainable, long-term health.
"I wasn't happy—it was actually the worst time of my life. Being lean doesn't fix the broken pieces.”
- Coach Brandy Schroeder
“You have to understand that the journey you're on through your fat loss phase applies to your maintenance. It’s not just about losing weight; it’s about learning how to keep it off.”
- Coach Brandy Schroeder
This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:
Connect with Coach B:
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and tag us!
Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.
The podcast currently has 102 episodes available.
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