Taylor Townsend was once asked to take time off from playing tennis competitively by the USTA to go "work on her health" (despite being the No. 1 junior tennis player in the world). Fast forward, today she's a new mom and recently played in the doubles final at the US Open. For episode 223, I'm talking to Taylor all about body acceptance and how she stands as a role model to women everywhere. We also chat about what it was like coming back to sport after pregnancy, the badass catsuit she dawned in her recent matches, and what she's looking forward to next. 

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I spent the last three months going to Motiv, a physical therapy studio, on Wednesday mornings. With the London Marathon on Sunday, I'm bringing my physcial therapist, Luke Greenberg — co-founder of MOTIV — on the show to talk about what the experience was like for me. Super grateful for the five big lessons I learned throughot this experience, which we recap in this episode. From the importance of body awareness and commitment to "homework," to what Luke learned from working with me, this is an important listen for anyone in pursuit of a goal (especially, when dealing with some wonkiness of their own).

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For the past 5 years, Sarah Sturm has trusted her gut and pursued a career as a professional cyclist. But it wasn't until recently that she took the leap of faith, leaving her 9-to-5 job as a designer to hit the saddle full-time. For episode 222, she tells us about that transition, and how she got started — stumbling into the best collegiate cycling program in the country. She also talks about what "doing good" means to her, gives us the lowdown on enneagrams, and dishes on all the expert-backed tips that beginner cyclists need to know. Hint: Leave the underwear behind.

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One week left, and the emotions have definitely arrived.

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Today I am sitting down with Daina Trout. She’s the co-founder and Chief Mission Officer of Health-Ade, as well as their in-house nutritionist. Daina has spent her adult life dedicated to finding and sharing health and wellness through food. Founded in 2012, Health-Ade Kombucha is a multi-million-dollar success that retails in 45,000 stores across the country. Known for their bubbly beverages that are good for your gut, Health-Ade is one of the fastest-growing refrigerated functional beverage brands in the country. For today’s episode, of course Daina and I talk about how she got into the kombucha business, but most of our chat is focused on how diet and mood are connected — plus the difference between pre-pro-and postbiotics. (I have a feeling some of you have never heard of post  biotics before.)

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Season 11, we've made it! 221 numbered episodes, 530+ in the catalogue — and a whole lot of gratitude. To celebrate: Welcome the most decorated track and field athlete of all time, Allyson Felix, back to the show (peep her first appearance, here). For today's season premiere episode, we talk about what it feels to be retired, explore the word "legacy" and how Felix wants to be remembered, plus unpack what it's been like for her to start her company Saysh with brother Wes Felix from scratch. She also talks about one of the most challenging moments in her career as an athlete. Plus: A little bit on Saysh's maternal returns policy and what the 7-time gold medalist is looking forward to next. 

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Ran into an unexpected surprise on Wednesday, and it was a necessary and welcomed reminder. Plus: How to better organize your day for max productivity.

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Got a listener question recently that prompted me to flesh out a #hurdlemoment on how to navigate anxiety and worries that go hand-in-hand with gearing up for a big, scary [insert life event]. This particular hurdler wanted to know about navigating pre-run jitters, but the lessons and takeaways in this episode are certainly applicable for anyone gearing up for a big, scary hurdle.

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For Valarie Allman, discus wasn't something she anticipated getting into from a young age. Once a dancer, she fell into the sport when offered a plate at her high school team's pasta party. The rest? Is history. Now an Olympic Champion and recently earning bronze at the World Championships, Allman — an Asics athlete —opens up about her journey in episode 220. She shares what it's been like training as a throwing athlete, and her big hopes for the future. Plus, we have a lengthy discussion about how it feels to come up short on your goals, and how to shift your mindset going forward to use your #hurdlemoments to your advantage.

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Dr. Elizabeth Fedricks asked me a few important questions in Wednesday's #HURDLEMOMENT episode that I'm reflecting on for 5-MINUTE Friday. Three questions that could dramatically change that feeling of "ugh" you may have now that work's picking up and summer is coming to a close ... 

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