Mikkipedia

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This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Aram Grigorian, the straight-talking coach behind 4 Weeks 2 the Beach, whose refreshingly honest approach cuts through the noise of modern fitness culture. Aram has built a loyal following by calling out quick fixes, influencer myths, and the glorification of self-neglect — and replacing them with evidence-based, practical strategies that actually help people change.

In this episode, Aram and Mikki dive deep into the realities of sustainable fat loss, the emotional rollercoaster of dieting, and why the basics — sleep, food quality, and consistency — are often overlooked. They also tackle the trap of chasing aesthetics over health, the truth about fasting, and why regaining a bit of weight after a diet doesn’t mean you’ve failed. If you're tired of magic pills and motivational fluff, this conversation is the antidote.

Aram Grigorian is a nutrition and mindset coach and the founder of 4 Weeks 2 the Beach, a coaching platform built on cutting through wellness industry hype with honesty, clarity, and science. With certifications from Precision Nutrition and the Nutrition Coaching Institute, Aram blends a no-nonsense approach with deep empathy for the real-world challenges people face.

After leaving a career in finance, he found his purpose in helping others build sustainable habits around food, training, and recovery — without relying on detoxes, macros "fairy dust," or influencer fads. Known for his candid takes on diet culture, the psychology of fat loss, and the importance of behaviour change, Aram is redefining what it means to pursue health in a world full of distraction.

https://www.4weeks2thebeach.com/

Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/other-side-lifestyle/id1623447851

IG : https://www.instagram.com/4weeks2thebeach/ and https://www.instagram.com/real.coaches.summit/ 

Contact Mikki:
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Mikki dives into a common but often uncomfortable experience: unsolicited comments about your food choices. Whether it's a passive-aggressive remark, a guilt-laden plea to “just eat it,” or an offhanded judgment disguised as a joke, food commentary can derail your confidence and progress. Mikki breaks down why people make these comments—spoiler: it’s usually about them, not you—and gives you practical tools to respond in the moment. From boundary-setting one-liners to mindset shifts that build resilience, this is a must-listen for anyone trying to stay aligned with their goals in social settings. If you’ve ever felt judged, awkward, or second-guessed a choice because of someone else’s comment, this episode will leave you feeling empowered.

Highlights:

• Why food comments are more about the other person than you
• The difference between restriction and cognitive restraint
• How to respond with confidence and without apology
• The power of planning and mantras in navigating social food pressure
• Building identity and long-term transformation through small decisions

Contact Mikki:
https://mikkiwilliden.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutrition
https://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/
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NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com
Curranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com

This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Dr Claire Badenhorst — researcher, associate professor and athlete — about the often-overlooked intersection of iron status, performance, and menstrual health in women. Claire’s research dives deep into why iron deficiency is so prevalent among active women, and how factors like menstrual cycle phase, hormonal fluctuations, and even menstrual fluid loss can all influence iron markers.

In this conversation, Claire breaks down complex concepts like luteal phase defect and hepcidin regulation in a way that’s incredibly accessible — and relevant — for anyone who trains hard or supports female athletes. She also shares insights from her recent studies, including novel approaches to defining heavy menstrual bleeding and exploring whether menstrual fluid could be used as a tool to assess broader health markers. If you’ve ever felt fatigued, foggy, or flat in training and wondered if iron could be the missing piece — this one is a must-listen.

Dr Claire Badenhorst is an associate professor in exercise physiology at Massey University and a leading researcher in female athlete health, with a particular focus on iron metabolism, menstrual health, and performance. With a background as both an endurance athlete and academic, Claire brings a unique perspective to her work — combining scientific rigour with real-world athletic insight.

Her recent research explores the impact of menstrual cycle status on iron markers, the role of hepcidin in active women, and novel approaches to assessing menstrual fluid loss and defining heavy menstrual bleeding. Claire is passionate about improving the health, performance, and clinical care of active women by advancing the conversation around hormones, iron, and recovery.

https://www.instagram.com/claire_bades/?hl=en

Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours
NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz

Contact Mikki:
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In this episode of Mini Mikkipedia, Mikki dives into the ongoing debate: should you train fasted or fed? With new research in hand—including a recent 12-week resistance training study and insights from Abby Smith Ryan's lab—Mikki breaks down what science actually says about strength, fat loss, and muscle gains depending on your pre-training nutrition. She also explores the real-world implications for early morning exercisers, especially those juggling tight schedules and body composition goals. Most importantly, Mikki highlights how mindset and context matter more than rigid rules. Whether you're a "train and go" type or someone who fuels before fitness, this episode will help you make informed, flexible choices that suit your goals—and your biology.

💡 Highlights:

• What the latest research says about fasted vs. fed resistance training
• Why the context of your day matters more than the clock
• Common pitfalls of fasted morning workouts (and how to avoid them)
• The importance of fuelling for energy availability and recovery
• How to evaluate if your current strategy is working for you

Contact Mikki:
https://mikkiwilliden.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutrition
https://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/
https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden
NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com
Curranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com
Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours

NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz

This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Michelle Hurn — clinical dietitian, endurance athlete, and author of The Dietitian's Dilemma. In their conversation, Michelle shares how her lived experience with severe anorexia and disordered eating led her to question the very nutrition guidelines she was trained to promote. From confronting the failures of conventional dietetics to advocating for a low-carb, animal-based approach to health and performance, Michelle's story is one of true transformation. She opens up about the pivotal moments that reshaped her life, why she walked away from the system, and how she now helps others find food freedom and real recovery — especially those who’ve done everything “right” and are still unwell. With a background in both clinical nutrition and elite-level running, Michelle offers a rare and refreshing take on fuelling the body, reclaiming health, and redefining what healing truly looks like.

Michelle Hurn, RD, LD is a registered and licensed dietitian, author, and endurance athlete who has become a leading voice in challenging conventional nutrition guidelines. After battling a severe eating disorder and experiencing firsthand the failures of the system she was trained in, Michelle began questioning mainstream dietary advice — particularly its emphasis on low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets. Her personal recovery and professional observations led her to explore low-carbohydrate, animal-based nutrition as a therapeutic tool for both physical and mental health.

Michelle is the author of The Dietitian’s Dilemma, a powerful memoir-manifesto that blends science, personal experience, and patient stories to advocate for a radical shift in how we approach health through food. She has since dedicated her career to helping others find real recovery and vitality through nutrient-dense, bioavailable foods — particularly those who've struggled with chronic illness, disordered eating, or metabolic dysfunction. Michelle is also an accomplished ultrarunner and a passionate speaker on nutrition, mental health, and the future of dietetics.

https://www.instagram.com/runeatmeatrepeat/?hl=en

https://www.thedietitiansdilemma.net/

https://www.americandiabetessociety.org/leadership

Contact Mikki:
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Mikki takes a deep dive into the myth of the "ideal body weight" and why it’s not as simple—or helpful—as a single number on the scale. She unpacks the origins of the concept, tracing it back to life insurance tables and BMI metrics designed for populations, not individuals. Mikki explains why these outdated markers fall short and offers evidence-based alternatives that better reflect health: body fat percentage, appendicular lean mass index (ALMI), and waist-to-height ratio. She also discusses why context—like genetics, lifestyle, and functionality—matters far more than any textbook range. Whether you're on a fat loss journey or simply trying to feel better in your skin, this episode is a must-listen for redefining your health goals with clarity and compassion.

Contact Mikki:
https://mikkiwilliden.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutrition
https://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/
https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden
NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com
Curranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com

 This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Dr Sarah Hancock, a public health researcher whose work sits at the powerful intersection of oral health and metabolic disease. In this conversation, Sarah unpacks the often-overlooked links between what’s happening in our mouths and what’s unfolding systemically in the body.They explore how gum disease and blood sugar dysregulation are deeply intertwined, why your dentist might be the first person to flag insulin resistance, and how the microbiome of the mouth plays a much bigger role in chronic disease than we’ve given it credit for.

Sarah also challenges conventional public health approaches which you’ll find super interesting.

This is an eye-opening episode for anyone interested in prevention, systems thinking, and redefining the silos of health.

https://drsarahhancock.com/

Dr Sarah Hancock is a public health researcher. She has a PhD in public health: her research interests focused on the role of nutrition in oral health and general health, and how to design nutrition interventions to improve population health.

Sarah is an advocate for dietary lifestyles incorporating a whole food eating pattern that minimises the intake of highly refined, ultra-processed foods for the prevention of chronic diet-related disease. She currently works as an analyst at the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide in South Australia.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34959913/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36296949/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30318791/ 

Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours
NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz

Contact Mikki:
https://mikkiwilliden.com/
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Mikki dives into the complex and controversial topic of sucralose—one of the most common non-nutritive sweeteners—and whether it interferes with hunger and satiety signalling in the brain. Prompted by a new study published in Nature, Mikki explores how sucralose might increase activity in brain regions associated with hunger and reward, particularly in women and individuals with obesity or insulin resistance. She unpacks the mechanisms at play, discusses the relevance of acute vs long-term data, and weighs these findings against the broader scientific literature on artificial sweeteners. If you've ever wondered whether your sweet tooth could be tricking your brain, this episode is for you.

Highlights:

• New brain imaging study shows sucralose increases hypothalamic activity linked to hunger
• Differences in appetite response between individuals with healthy weight vs. obesity
• Potential long-term impacts of sucralose on gut health and insulin sensitivity
• Why context, diet quality, and individual response matter more than blanket rules
• How to decide if sucralose supports or hinders your own health goals

https://www.nature.com/articles/s42255-025-01227-8
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7817779/#s4
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39015535/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7155288/

Contact Mikki:
https://mikkiwilliden.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutrition
https://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/
https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden
NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com
Curranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order

Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKIPEDIA at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com
Curranz Supplement: Use code MIKKIPEDIA to get 20% off your first order - go to www.curranz.co.nz  or www.curranz.co.uk to order yours

NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz

This week on the podcast, Mikki speaks to Tara Ellis, one half of the powerhouse duo behind Team Ellis Running. Alongside her husband Tim, Tara has run marathons all over the globe, chasing not only finish lines but experiences, connection, and the elusive 6 Star Abbott World Marathon Majors medal. What started as a personal passion has evolved into a lifestyle, a community, and a platform for inspiration.

In this conversation, Tara shares how running became a shared purpose, the highs and lows of marathon life, and what it means to stay motivated through travel, training blocks, and the occasional curveball. She opens up about her struggles with GI issues in hot races, how she overcame them with the help of Curranz, and the mission behind their podcast The Flying RuNR. Whether you're a seasoned marathoner or still wondering if you could go the distance, Tara’s journey proves it’s never too late to start running toward something big.

Tara Ellis is a passionate marathoner, storyteller, and co-founder of Team Ellis Running. Alongside her husband Tim, she has completed marathons across the globe, earning the prestigious Six Star Abbott World Marathon Majors medal and inspiring a global community of runners along the way. Tara is also one of the four hosts of The Flying RuNR podcast, where she and her fellow Six Star finishers—Tim, Tony, and Lucia—share stories from the road, race recaps, and the friendships forged through the sport.

Known for her warmth, grit, and ability to make even the toughest training blocks sound like an adventure, Tara brings a relatable and uplifting voice to the running world. Whether she’s chasing finish lines or helping others take their first steps, Tara’s mission is clear: to connect, inspire, and prove that running is for everyone—no matter where you start.

https://flyingrunr.com/

https://www.instagram.com/team_ellis_running/ 

Contact Mikki:
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Mikki dives deep into the often-overlooked challenge of weight maintenance. While fat loss gets all the glory, maintenance can feel like a grind—no more scale victories, compliments, or clear finish lines. Drawing on Seth Godin’s concept of The Dip, Mikki explains why maintaining your results is not the easy street people expect but rather the phase where the real work begins. She unpacks six key reasons maintenance feels harder than dieting and offers practical strategies to shift your mindset, build resilience, and find satisfaction in staying the course. This is a must-listen for anyone who’s reached their goal and now wonders, “What’s next?”

Episode Highlights:

• Why the absence of visible results makes maintenance feel harder than fat loss
• Seth Godin’s The Dip and how it relates to body composition goals
• Six psychological and physiological challenges during the maintenance phase
• How to set new goals and metrics to stay motivated
• Practical tips to maintain progress without burnout or rigidity

Contact Mikki:
https://mikkiwilliden.com/
https://www.facebook.com/mikkiwillidennutrition
https://www.instagram.com/mikkiwilliden/
https://linktr.ee/mikkiwilliden
NZ listeners - save 10% off Calocurb by using the code Mikkipedia10 at www.calocurb.co.nz
Save 20% on all Nuzest Products WORLDWIDE with the code MIKKI at www.nuzest.co.nz, www.nuzest.com.au or www.nuzest.com
Curranz supplement: MIKKI saves you 25% at www.curranz.co.nz or www.curranz.co.uk off your first order