The Core Connect Podcast

Most women are asking the wrong question when it comes to diastasis recti.

It’s not: “How big is my gap?” It’s: “Is my body actually not functioning?”

Because those two things are not the same.

In this episode, Marianne walks you through 8 cases: 4 where surgery can be the right call. And 4 where it absolutely isn’t.

So you can stop guessing.

And start recognising where you actually stand.

From early postpartum changes to long-term dysfunction, from higher body weight to highly trained bodies: when is diastasis recti repair surgery actually indicated? And does width alone matter as much as we’ve been led to believe?

🎙If this topic resonates with you, you might enjoy:

Crunches or No Crunches for Diastasis Recti? What the Research Really Says

Listen here ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/crunches-or-no-crunches-for-diastasis-recti-what-the/id1766482868?i=1000747334957⁠

Diastasis, Low Ab Pooch, or Saggy Skin? 5 Things to Do Before a Tummy Tuck

Listen here ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000737725673⁠

Tackling C-Section Overhang, Avoiding Surgery and Reclaiming Mobility with Scar Treatment Specialist Emma Holly

Listen here ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/tackling-c-section-overhang-avoiding-surgery-and/id1766482868?i=1000672460863⁠

🔗 Connect with Marianne 

On Instagram 

⁠https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/⁠

On LinkedIn 

⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannetafani/

Earlier return to running.

Later return.

Symptom-free standards.

Mental health.

The guidelines for postnatal women keep shifting - and so does the debate.

In this episode, Dr. Rachel Selman helps us ask smarter questions.

What are signs to look out for to ensure that physiological healing and mental health are respected? 

Are women's requests still dismissed?

Is the push for earlier postpartum return to impact truly empowering women?

Dr Rachel Selman is a physiotherapist, strength and conditioning specialist, and published clinical voice in perinatal return-to-sport.

In this episode, Rachel and Marianne discuss the concept of mismatch - what happens when the demand placed on a postpartum body doesn't match where her tissues actually are in recovery.

They dig into the research and clinical expertise together, highlighting the need for excellence in both so new mothers are better served.

They also discuss what it truly means to advocate for yourself when the system doesn't yet do it reliably for you.

And the question everyone wants answered: how do you actually know when your pelvic floor is ready to run?

Rachel gives us the clinical signs - not a date on a calendar, but a set of real, simple markers.

You might also enjoy:
🎙 GLP-1 Medication, Breathwork & How to Create Lasting Change — with Rose O'Donovan
🎙 Breathing, Bracing & Motherhood: What Most Postnatal Guidelines Miss with Brittany Williams

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/breathing-bracing-motherhood-what-most-postnatal-guidelines/id1766482868?i=1000741298970

------Did this change how you think about your recovery - or a client's? 

♻️ Share it with one person who needs to hear it. And if Rachel's answer sparked a question of your own, send it our way - it might just become the next episode.

-----

🔗 Connect with Rachel: 

https://www.instagram.com/dr.rachelselman/

🔗 Connect with Marianne 

https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/

Day 3 you're sobbing at nothing.

Week 6 you're told you're cleared.

Month 4 you still don't feel like yourself.

The hormones are hard enough. But the story we tell ourselves about the shifts we experience postpartum, whether it's baby blues, breastfeeding irritability, or full-blown postpartum anxiety, that's where much of the real suffering lives.

We tell ourselves that something is wrong with us, that we're broken, that this shouldn't be happening, which adds a layer of stress to the physiological changes we are going through. 

In this episode Marianne walks you through exactly what your body is doing in the weeks and months after birth, so you can feel what you feel without the added weight of fear on top of it.

🎙️You might also enjoy:

C-section Recovery, Racial Disparities & Postpartum Advocacy with Dr Lashonda Jones 

Beyond the 6-week check: Rethinking Perinatal Fitness and Postnatal Recovery with Dr Margie Davenport

Breathing, Bracing & Motherhood: What Most Postnatal Guidelines Miss with Brittany Williams

If this episode resonated, please share it with a new mum in your village. She probably needs it.

What if you could train your brain to notice more than stress, urgency, and what could go wrong?

Not through toxic positivity. Through a simple exercise in neuroplasticity.

The average person is estimated to have between 60,000 and 70,000 thoughts per day, many of them repetitive. Over time, the brain strengthens the pathways it uses most often.

In this solo episode, Marianne explores why writing not 3, not 5, but 20 things you are grateful for can begin to shift perception, calm the nervous system, and help us move through difficult seasons differently.

Because somewhere after item 10, the brain stops reaching for the obvious answers… and starts searching differently.

----

If you'd like to receive the Gratitude Template, email Marianne at [email protected].

How much of postpartum recovery is about the body… and how much is about the systems around us?

Can recovery truly happen when healthcare, fitness, and support systems are working in separate lanes?

Why are women still being underserved, unheard, and overlooked in the perinatal space?

---

In this episode, Marianne sits down with physical therapist and Dr. Lashonda Jones for a conversation that goes far beyond exercise prescriptions and rehabilitation protocols. 

They discuss the gaps that can exist between healthcare, rehabilitation, and fitness, and what that means for women navigating recovery after birth.

They explore C-section recovery and low back and pelvic concerns, but also spend time on a much bigger conversation: the realities of racial disparities affecting Black and Brown women in the perinatal space.

Last, they move into a more personal space, discussing faith, surrender, and what it means to release the pressure of controlling every step of the healing journey.

This episode is a reminder that recovery is not simply physical.

It's influenced by the systems surrounding us, the communities supporting us, and the beliefs that carry us through difficult seasons.

This episode is for you if you're interested in:

• Bridging the gap between rehabilitation and fitness
• C-section recovery and postpartum healing considerations
• Low back and pelvic concerns in the postpartum period
• Racial disparities in the perinatal space
• Advocacy and improving support for all mothers
• Faith, surrender, and navigating uncertainty
• Supporting the whole person, not just the diagnosis

🎙If this topic resonates with you, you might enjoy:

Tackling C-Section Overhang, Avoiding Surgery and Reclaiming Mobility with Scar Treatment Specialist Emma Holly

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/tackling-c-section-overhang-avoiding-surgery-and/id1766482868?i=1000672460863

Crunches or No Crunches for Diastasis Recti? What the Research Really Says

https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/crunches-or-no-crunches-for-diastasis-recti-what-the/id1766482868?i=1000747334957

Is It Evidence or Is It Culture? The Science of Babywearing and Breastfeeding with Emily Little, PhD

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/is-it-evidence-or-is-it-culture-the-science/id1766482868?i=1000746297978

🔗 Connect with Dr. Lashonda

On Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/ptrainershonda/

Get Dr. Lashonda's C-section resource for professionals

https://www.coreelevationfitness.com/clinical-professional-c-section-recovery-guide

🔗 Connect with Marianne 

On Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/

On LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannetafani/

Should everyone who can take GLP-1s… actually take them?

What do these medications really change and what do they leave untouched?

And how can busy families practice breathwork?

In this episode, Marianne sits down with weight management specialist Rose O’Donovan to bring nuance back into a conversation that’s quickly becoming black and white.

Rose has recently completed research on the use of GLP-1 medication as part of a multidisciplinary approach to weight management.

With a background in the military, a childhood shaped by the demands of the hotel industry, and years of hands-on experience in weight management, she understands discipline, stress, and adaptation from the inside out.

In this episode, Marianne and Rose also touch on the deeper links between addiction and weight management, the role of therapy in creating lasting change, and how the nervous system -particularly the vagus nerve- shapes everything from cravings to emotional regulation.

From humming and prayer, to a simple, gamified breathing practice that even busy families can integrate into their day, this episode is about doing the work in a way that feels possible.

You can’t medicate your way out of disconnection.

But you can build your way back.

One small, consistent practice at a time.

🔗 Connect with Rose 

On Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/rosebodonovan/

On LinkedIn 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-o-donovan-3a215a48/

🔗 Connect with Marianne 

On Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/

On LinkedIn 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannetafani/

Most women are asking the wrong question when it comes to diastasis recti.

It’s not: “How big is my gap?”
It’s: “Is my body actually not functioning?”

Because those two things are not the same.

In this episode, Marianne walks you through 8 cases: 4 where surgery can be the right call. And 4 where it absolutely isn’t.

So you can stop guessing.

And start recognising where you actually stand.

From early postpartum changes to long-term dysfunction, from higher body weight to highly trained bodies: when is diastasis recti repair surgery actually indicated? And does width alone matter as much as we’ve been led to believe?

🎙If this topic resonates with you, you might enjoy:

Crunches or No Crunches for Diastasis Recti? What the Research Really Says

Listen here https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/crunches-or-no-crunches-for-diastasis-recti-what-the/id1766482868?i=1000747334957

Diastasis, Low Ab Pooch, or Saggy Skin? 5 Things to Do Before a Tummy Tuck

Listen here https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000737725673

Tackling C-Section Overhang, Avoiding Surgery and Reclaiming Mobility with Scar Treatment Specialist Emma Holly

Listen here https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/tackling-c-section-overhang-avoiding-surgery-and/id1766482868?i=1000672460863

🔗 Connect with Marianne 

On Instagram 

https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/

On LinkedIn 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariannetafani/

More squeezing, more exercises, more control.

We’ve been taught to “fix” our core with more effort.

But what if better core function and aesthetics didn’t come from doing more, but from doing a few things differently, consistently, throughout your day?

In this short solo episode, Marianne shares 3 simple shifts that can support:

• Reduced lower back discomfort
• Better pelvic floor function 
• Improved abdominal connection
• And yes, better tummy aesthetics as a result

These are not workouts.

They’re small, practical adjustments you can integrate into your everyday life.
The kind that change how your body functions between sessions.

If your core feels inconsistent, disconnected, or like it’s not responding the way it used to… this is a powerful place to start.

Go deeper with these episodes 👇

🎙️ Beyond Kegels: 3 Simple Pelvic Floor Exercises – Marianne’s solo episode

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000674250480

🎙️ Healing Your Pelvic Floor - A conversation with Claire Sparrow

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/the-core-connect-podcast/id1766482868?i=1000684337595

🎙️"I am 41 and I wear pads at the gym" The Core Clinic

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/im-41-and-i-wear-pads-at-the-gym-understanding/id1766482868?i=1000751857272

Please help support other women ❤️

Help us raise awareness.

♻️ Share this episode!

📩 Contact Marianne at [email protected] or send a message on Instagram.

What does it really take to build a Pilates business with integrity?

How (and why) has Pete Pallai made Pilates more accessible to men? 

What does it mean to be "a real man"?

In this conversation, ever so slightly interrupted by the conflict in Dubai, you’ll hear how a former athlete found Pilates at a time of both personal and professional crisis, and how that moment quickly reshaped the course of his life.

A central theme of this episode is Pete’s mission to make Pilates more approachable for men - challenging perceptions, breaking down barriers, and creating spaces where more people feel they belong.

As he puts it, “being approachable is inspiring.”

Together, they explore:

• The transition from corporate and events into a purpose-driven career
• The role of authenticity and continued education in teaching
• Why accessibility is not a compromise, but a responsibility
• The beautiful influence of Peter’s father on his life and values

This episode is a reminder that meaningful businesses aren’t built overnight but can happen quickly.

And that sometimes, the most powerful growth happens when you stay close to who you are.

Whether you’re a teacher, studio owner, or simply someone navigating a turning point, this conversation will leave you thinking differently about what it means to build a purposeful business that lasts.

And possibly what it means to be a strong, healthy man.

More Pilates legends and their journeys below  👇

🎙Mobility, Motherhood, Master with Ava Rodriguez

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mobility-motherhood-mastery-with-ava-rodriguez/id1766482868?i=1000728588133&l=vi

🎙 Jill Harris on 30 Years in Pilates, Building FitSprings, and Resilience in Entrepreneurship

https://podcasts.apple.com/ae/podcast/studio-owner-series-jill-harris-on-30-years-in-pilates/id1766482868?i=1000676912363

🎙 Mobility, Instructor Burnout, and The Mc Donald's Era of Pilates with Mila Aleshina I Studio Owner Series

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mobility-instructor-burnout-and-the-mc-donalds/id1766482868?i=1000749545729

🔗 Connect with Peter

https://www.instagram.com/mypilateslondon/

https://mypilateslondon.com/

🔗 Connect with Marianne

https://www.instagram.com/marianne.coreconnect/

https://www.coreconnectstudio.com/

From peptides to protocols, it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out on the “next best thing.”

But Dr Tamara brings a different perspective, one rooted in clinical experience, holistic care, and a deep understanding of how the body actually responds over time.

Dr Tamara is a chiropractor, back pain specialist, and founder of DISC, with multiple clinics across the Gulf.

In this episode, she and Marianne move between two worlds we're navigating right now:

The rise of complex health trends… and the very real need to come back to basics.

At a time of intense conflict in the region they call home.

They explore:

• The growing conversation around peptides
• Why back pain is rarely just about the back
• Dr Tamara’s journey from wanting to work holistically to building DISC as a multi-clinic practice across the region
• The fundamentals that still matter most
• If IHHD, ice baths, and infrared are worth the hype
• How they navigate stress, uncertainty, and daily life in Dubai right now

Throughout the episode, one message becomes clear:

Meals with friends.

Running in the sun.

Sleeping well, even if imperfectly.

Paying attention to what actually works for your body.

Especially in times like these.

That's what works.

-----

Connect with Dr Tamara

Connect with Marianne

Let the outstanding teams at DISC and Core Connect fix you. 

Stay safe. Stay strong. ✨