The Backstage Bikini Podcast

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Here is episode 23, and we couldn’t wait to share this incredibly raw and honest chat with IFBB Bikini Pro @becdean_ifbbpro

Bec’s journey is very much one Grace and I followed and Grace in particular was present with, and no doubt it will be one our listeners will be familiar with too. What Becky shares within this episode however is incredibly vulnerable, she opens up about the realities of her achieving her pro status, how that impacted her mindset and she explains the turbulent road she’s had to endure since winning her pro card. It’s not one to miss; the lessons she has been forced to learn are lessons we should all keep at the forefront of our minds when navigating this sport!  

We cover:

— Becky’s background, how she entered the sport, the appeal, her successes and what her expectations were;
-her goals in that pinnacle season, was a pro card the goal? 

- Self doubt and self belief, at what point in her journey to achieving her pro status, did each have a role in her push towards that goal?

- Life after winning her pro card; sharing the challenges she faced and is still managing even to this day;

- How that has shaped her post show period and subsequent time away from stage, what mental and physical obstacles has she had to face and find a way to overcome and how has that impacted her view on competing and her status as a professional athlete;

- Pressures which turning pro has brought about, social media, external expectation and managing the madness; 

- Becky’s diagnosis of Hashimoto’s disease and how her life has changed inside and outside of the sport as a result;

- What her training and life looks like now? How she is approaching this phase of her life and future goals, if there are any at this stage;

- Take home advice for first time athletes and athletes who have the ultimate goal of becoming a professional athlete.  

And so much more.

These are the conversations we live for on this podcast; sharing the things that matter and creating a platform for difficult conversations so that they may serve to support other people in similar circumstances or help prepare athletes for what might come in their journey for greatness. 

You can contact Becky for all your coaching and posing needs at @becdean_ifbbpro and to keep up  with her journey!

As always, your feedback is hugely appreciated! Please like, share, subscribe and let us have your thoughts!

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

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EP 22 is now live and we had the honour of speaking with one of if not the most successful prep coach in the UK,  owner of @team_procoach , head coach and educator, Calum Raistrick. We would hope he needs very little introduction at this stage! 

This conversation was one we truly thought needed to be had and with Calum’s extensive experience coaching athletes at all levels, from grass roots, to Olympia qualified athletes, we could think of nobody better to discuss the intricacies of the athlete mindset.

This discussion was not limited to the bikini division alone and instead captured all athletes, and Calum provided an enormous amount of value which we know will serve athletes at any level and in any division. 

We cover: 
-  Calum’s background, where he began coaching, how that transformed specifically into physique development and how his environment contributed to the coach he is today;
-  The importance of distinguishing between internal and external pressures and how to manage those as an athlete;
-  Managing athlete disappointment around placings, the pressures of maintaining performance to keep up appearances, how that impacts his clients and him as a coach;
-  Supporting clients with fluctuating mindsets, bearing the weight of that burden for the client, providing support and sharing the pressure;
-  Self doubt, are the pros as bullet proof as they might seem?
-  Amateur vs Pro mindsets, is there a distinct difference? How does that level of support change subject to where in the process the athlete is?;
-  Stress and peak week, mitigating pressure leading into a show, preserving the look and ensuring the athlete steps on stage fully prepared, mentally and physically… 

And so much more.

As an athlete in a subjective sport, we are challenged physically. But the mental battle is often the difference between achieving our goals, or running for the back door.

Calum has armoured us as hosts and athletes, with so many tools in such a short discussion and we couldn’t wait to share this with you all. 

You can find Calum on Instagram at @calum_teamprocoach @team_procoach and keep up with him and his athletes journeys on YouTube!

As always, don’t forget to like, follow/subscribe and let us know your thoughts.

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

Got some feedback? Drop us a message!

In this  episode, Jade opens up for the first time in relation to her decision to step back from bodybuilding for an indefinite length of time, to prioritise other people and elements of her life.

This episode exposes much of Jade's ongoing struggles with her identity beyond being an athlete, the feelings and thoughts she has had to experience and try and come to terms with, whilst she navigates a stressful and emotional time in both hers and her family's life.

These thoughts and feelings can materialise in different parts of an athletes journey, whether that is dealing with and recovering from an injury, the post show period where the loss of one specific and direct goal can often leave us feeling a little lost, redirecting our priorities to building a family or committing to other endeavours, and so many other areas in our lives. It's for that reason that Jade has taken the opportunity to share something extremely personal and often painful, in the hope it makes others feel less alone in these circumstances.

In this episode, Jade covers:

• Her most recent competitive season and how her life has changed over the last 9 months;
• The impact this has had on her commitment to bodybuilding
• Choices she had made as a result of a change in priorities and how that made her feel 
• Current actions she is taking to try and mitigate the impact and what her training looks like now 
• What the future looks like, aspirations and goals in bodybuilding and a realistic look at how achievable that might be

This is a vulnerable topic for Jade, one that has felt very isolating but she hopes that in sharing it, she will make it okay for others to speak out about this topic. Please let us know or feel free to reach out to Jade directly if you have been impacted by this episode or have any feedback.

 It’s important to remember that all that makes you an incredible athlete, also makes you an incredible friend, partner, family member, colleague etc and that will always be enough. If there is anything Jade wants to hammer home in sharing this story, it’s exactly that! 

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

Got some feedback? Drop us a message!

For the full experience, we recommend you watch this one on Youtube!

The first UK Pro/AM show to kick off the bodybuilding calendar for this year went ahead this weekend, with 9 Pro Cards up for grabs and both shows did not disappoint.

This week we wanted to cover not only the pro placings but also celebrate and discuss the incredible talent coming through the amateur ranks.

As always, make sure you tune in, and let us know your thoughts about the show. What did you think of the placings? Did it meet your expectations? Let us know! 

The standard continues to grow and these athletes are a perfect example of how much the bikini criteria is improving and developing in the UK. It was an incredible show and set a fantastic standard for the sport.

Huge shout out to the newest crowned IFBB bikini pro, @marniefit , we are so proud of you!

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

Got some feedback? Drop us a message!

EP 19 is now live and we had the pleasure of speaking to an athlete and educator that needs very little in the way of introduction as her work speaks for itself. Cory Hageman, J3U educator, student nurse and IFBB bikini Pro! 

This was a truly incredible conversation. Cory has a wealth of knowledge and experience, and it is evident in the way that she speaks not only about herself but her clients, that she leaves no stone unturned.

We wanted to delve specifically into Cory’s education and ethos around PED usage and in particular the impact of non androgenic and androgenic steroid use in the bikini division. 

We cover: 

- Introduction to Cory’s background, her career studies, where did the passion for learning come from and how that compelled her to educate a wider audience;

- Is there a preferred way to introduce an athlete to compound use? How individual is that experience?

- Bloodwork and athlete analysis when it comes to choosing the best path? Other considerations?

- Thyroid therapies, long term effects, uses in and out of season;

- Optimal deployment of androgenic compounds, how soon is too soon, off season vs prep and the advantages of deployment at certain windows;

- Overprescribing for females and the bikini division;

- Impacts of assistance on reproductive health, considerations to be made;

- Common misconceptions in relation to use of assistance; 

- Questions you should be asking your coach;

And so much more.

This episode is definitely one where you will need a pen and paper! 

If you’re new to understanding the uses of performance enhancement, we strongly recommend  you track back to episode 6, to brush up your knowledge.

You can find Cory at @cory_fit and further education can be sourced via access to J3 University. 

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

Got some feedback? Drop us a message!

In this raw and vulnerable episode, Grace discusses her experiences with low body image and body dysmorphia, and how therapy has helped her understand her thought processes, rationalise, and become more self-aware.

It is not uncommon for competitors to experience body image struggles. It is something we can all go through at varying points in our journey. However, many competitors do not do the crucial mental work beyond just bodybuilding. Grace believes that doing so can ultimately help many competitors understand their feelings about their body, improve their relationship with the process of competing, and manage post-prep challenges.

In this episode, Grace covers:

• Her childhood, body image growing up, and what exercise meant to her
• How she felt in previous preps and how post-shows led her to struggle with weight gain
• The difference in her 2022 prep and why she struggled so much with weight gain and seeing her body change
• The work with her new coach, therapy, and understanding her mental health
• Where she is at now with bodybuilding and her future competing goals

If you found this podcast helpful or have feedback on this particular topic, please let us know or feel free to reach out to Grace directly. We are also happy to guide people in the right direction for more professional support should they need it; just reach out.

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

Got some feedback? Drop us a message!

You asked, we delivered! This week we have top amateur IFBB athlete and host of The Pocket Rocket Podcast, Hannah Wares - sharing the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to prep.

It’s no secret that prep presents its challenges but we wanted to speak with Hannah in particular to get her views and experience, having competed at a high level for a number of years.

In particular we love Hannah’s transparency and we wanted listeners, whether first time or experienced competitors, to get a true and raw picture of what you can encounter during and after a prep.

We cover:

- Different approaches to food post-show, over-eating vs. over-restricting
- Managing social occasions, work, the need to be selfish and preserving your energy on prep
- Dealing with comments and how to protect your physical and mental space
- The impact of extreme dieting externally and internally
- What Hannah has learnt over the years and how this current prep is different
- Hannah’s goals and expectations from this season


And so much more.

Don’t forget to follow Hannah @hannahwares for updates on her current prep for stage and updates with her podcast. 

As always, your feedback is hugely appreciated! Please like, share us on your story and follow us across all platforms.

If you have any further questions on this topic or anything else you would like to share with us, we would leave to hear from you!

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

Got some feedback? Drop us a message!

EP 16 is live and this week we have had the pleasure of speaking to a leading UK Prep Coach Josh Mchale. Josh has extensive experience in coaching, and in particular, coaching bikini athletes so this was a highly anticipated chat for both Jade and Grace. 

We really wanted to understand Josh’s methods, how he prepares his athletes not only for stage but for their individual athlete experience.

We cover:
- Josh’s background, how did he come to be a bikini coach, did he always intend to coach female athletes specifically and what does he enjoy most about it?
- The bikini division, how it’s developed over his time as a coach and how does he keep up
- Coaching athlete mindsets from amateur to pro; Josh’s thoughts on key characteristics for longevity in the sport
- Natural vs PED athletes, approaches to prep, longevity, coaching an athlete at all stages not just during a prep.
- Off season management and post show experiences, his protocols and how they are for the most part, client led; why he does this and the impact it has on the athlete
- His emerging and newly turned pro athletes, @mickaelafit and @samminshull_ifbbpro - plans and vision for the future

And so much more.

Don’t forget to follow Josh on @coachjmchale and @teamcjm for any coaching enquiries you may have. 

As always, your feedback is hugely appreciated! Please like, share, subscribe and let us have your thoughts!

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

Got some feedback? Drop us a message!

EP 15 Arnold Classic Recap and Review is now live on all platforms!


One of the most anticipated shows of the season. This show springboards off the back of the Olympia with only a matter of weeks for the athletes to prepare, apply feedback and improve on the back of their Olympia showing, so it’s easy to assume that the placings will be very similar. But this is bikini. 


This week we talk through the placings and athletes individually and provide our own views about the results and why we think athletes placed where they did.


As always, make sure you tune in, and let us know your thoughts about the show.


What did you think of the placings? Did it meet your expectations? Let us know! 


Nothing but admiration for these athletes, they bring an incredible show and set a fantastic standard for the sport. Huge congratulations to them all.

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.

Got some feedback? Drop us a message!

EP 14 will be dropping anytime now and this week’s guest created the very road map for Grace and Jade’s very first prep season in this sport. She is the proud owner of @Kompakwomen and @kompakmen , host of @notjustabikinigirl podcast and athlete in her own right, Jasmin Jeffery.

Jasmin is responsible for creating a community and hub of information, advice and support in the bikini space and has helped navigate not only her own journey, but hundreds and thousands of other bikini athletes, so we couldn’t wait to sit down and talk about her why. 

We cover:

— why bikini? Her own competing background, what introduced her to the space and what motivates her to step on stage, after so many years

-KOMPAK, the community, what motivated her to create this space and why did she feel it was so important to do so

-growing through the sport, her ups, and downs, her mindset when approaching things that didn’t and don’t go to plan and how that has shaped her most recent prep

-being coached by her partner, how does it differentiate to other preps. Are there pros and cons? 

-work life and bodybuilding balance, has she achieved it and what steps does she take to protect her space so that she can continue to be an incredible athlete, business woman, wife, family member and friend

And so much more.

Jasmin as a brand is known to so many people but we wanted you to get to know her, because her journey and tenacity is something that will be unrivalled for years. This one gave us so much to ponder on, so much value and we know it will for you too. 

Don’t forget to follow Jasmin on

@notjustabikinigirl

@kompakmen

@kompakwomen

@physiquecollective 

As always, your feedback is hugely appreciated! Please like, share, subscribe and let us have your thoughts! 

Make sure you keep up with the podcast on social media for previews and details about upcoming guest speakers.

Instagram: @thebackstagebikinipodcast
Host: @jadeleahegarty

Available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Youtube and Amazon Music.