The Empowered Athlete

The Empowered Athlete

By Body By Boss, LLCHealth & Fitness
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The Empowered Athlete episodes

  • Leadership, Community Building, and Female Empowerment (Interview w/ AJ Clingerman)

    In this episode, I chat with female brown belt and Pan Am Champ, AJ Clingerman, about her story, her signature Roll Model Grappling Camp and what it takes to become a leader and roll model in jiujitsu and build an intimate, inclusive and engaged community.


    About AJ:

    Based out of Indiana, AJ is a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Head Roll Model in Charge! AJ is also the Co-Owner of Roll Model Grappling Academy. She trains Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and competes in many grappling tournaments. As a Purple Belt AJ won such notable tournaments as No-Gi Worlds and Gi Pans. AJ teaches multiple BJJ classes per week as well as coaches business owners on how to grow their businesses.


    What You'll Learn: 

    • Who AJ is and her BJJ journey
    • What the Roll Model Grappling Camp is
    • Her inspiration and mission behind creating the Roll Model Grappling Camp is
    • How the Camp has evolved over the years and her creative process is creating camps every year
    • Her journey and unfolding of becoming a leader in jiujitsu
    • What she feels are the top skills or traits needed to be an effective leader
    • What she feels makes for an ineffective leader
    • How she deals with and addresses conflict within her academy
    • Her tips for those looking to step into an instructor role at their academy
    • Her insight on what she believes is the key to creating an engaged community
    • How to get started in being more inclusive in your academy
    • Her tips for cultivating a community from scratch and where to start
    • Her stance on authenticity and how it relates building an engaged community
    • Her advice for dealing with imposter syndrome
    • Her tips for athletes in feeling more confident on the mats and in their BJJ journey
    • What her current BJJ goals are and her future vision for Roll Model Camps


      • Episode Resources:

      Register For Female Only Roll Model Camp: https://rollmodelswanted.com/ 

      AJ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajclingerman/

      Roll Model Grappling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rollmodelgrappling/


      Podcast Links:

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/

      56 min
    • Using TEA to Optimize Longevity, Recovery, & Performance (Interview with Vince LaPelusa)

      In this episode, I chat with Vince LaPelusa - a BJJ purple belt and Tea enthusiast. We learn about his story and discuss the benefits of tea for longevity, health and performance. 


      About Vince:

      Vince is a chemical engineer & Brazilian jiu jitsu purple belt with a mission is to teach athletes how tea can optimize longevity, recovery, & performance. He hosts the podcast OpTEAmized to provide free information & founded Fresh Steeps to offer premium, functional, & delicious teas for your athletic pursuits.


      What You'll Learn:

      • His story as a lifelong athlete and how he was first introduced to tea
      • What got him into BJJ and details of the injury hardships he endured at purple belt
      • Why he is passionate about tea and what led him to create Fresh Steeps
      • The benefits of tea for recovery and performance
      • Interesting facts about tea and the amazing potential it has for athletics
      • What adaptogens are and how they work
      • The tea blends he recommends athletes to include in their regimen


        • Episode Resources:

        FreshSteeps.com (currently Fresh Steeps is redirecting to the OpTEAmized website while I finish up some the details)

        OpTEAmizedPod.com

        Instagram

        TikTok

        Twitter

        Facebook


        Podcast Links:

        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/

        54 min
      • Making the Switch: 5 Tips for Becoming a Plant-Based Athlete

        In this episode, I share the benefits of being a plant-based athlete along with my top tips for how to get started.


        What You'll Learn:

        • A little of my background in becoming plant-based
        • Four benefits to being a plant-based athlete
        • The difference between an unhealthy and healthy plant-based eater
        • My top 5 tips for making the transition to eating less meat and more plants


          • Episode Resources:

          Watch on Netflix: Game Changers Documentary


          Podcast Links:

          Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/

          46 min
        • Overcoming Adversity with Autism (Interview w/ Richie Jewell)

          In this episode, I chat with new blue belt Richie Jewell about both his jiujitsu and life journey overcoming adversity with autism.


          About Richie:

          Richie Jewell is a 29 years young BJJ blue belt with autism. Richie faced adversity with autism since he was a kid: having speech issues as a kid, struggling with horrible social anxiety and battles through depression. His hobbies got him through his struggles like pro wrestling, movies and animals. However when he found jujitsu, it developed an unexpected positive change for him and was committed to getting his blue belt. His journey in this combat sport came with lots of unexpected set backs but he was determined to beat the odds stacked against him + eventually achieved his goal of being able to compete in his first tournament ever, where he was gifted his blue belt on the podium. He uses his platform to empower and inspire others with disabilities that you can achieve anything you put your mind to, so long as you follow your heart and never give up. 


          What you'll learn:

          • His background and story growing up with autism and developmental disabilities
          • What got him into jiujitsu
          • The obstacles he overcome that are specific to autism
          • How jiujitsu challenges him and benefits he has gained
          • What keeps him motivated in jiujitsu
          • The journey of preparing for his first tournament + what it meant to him
          • How it felt to get promoted on the podium + what his blue belt symbolizes to him
          • His personal message of what he'd like people to know, hear, or understand about autism


            • Episode Resources:

            Richie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richie_jewell92/ 


            Podcast Links:

            Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/

            47 min
          • Generational & Mind-Body Healing through Breathwork (Interview w/ Kristina Nicolaj)

            In this episode, I chat with Kristina Nicolaj, Breathwork Coach, about what she does as a breathwork coach, her journey becoming a breathwork facilitator, how she uses the breath to in BJJ, and her perspective of the importance of breathwork for healing generational trauma and finding self-empowerment.


            About Kristina:

            Based out of Detroit, Michigan, Kristina is a BJJ blue belt, podcast host of Talk Healing To Me, and breathwork guide and life coach to help people heal from generational trauma and conditioning.


            What You'll Learn:

            • Her background and story of what got her into both breathwork and BJJ
            • What generational trauma is and how it shows up in our adult lives
            • How she personally uses breathwork for BJJ
            • Her favorite breath blend to use in BJJ to regulate her nervous system between matches
            • Her perspective of the benefits of breathwork
            • The most important elements of breathing
            • The Bolt Score: how to test how well you breathe
            • Her advice to those looking to heal on a deeper level using breathwork


              • Episode Resources:

              Kristina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristinanikolaj/ 

              How to Measure your Bolt Score with Oxygen Advantage: https://oxygenadvantage.com/measure-bolt/

              ENROLLMENT IS OPEN: Empowered Athlete Academy - A 6-month Trauma-Informed Program  for female athletes who desire a deep, healing journey of spiritual and personal development | Click HERE to apply.


              Podcast Links:

              Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/


              56 min
            • The Ultimate Self-care Practice: Setting Boundaries

              In this episode, I talk about what boundaries are, why it's so hard for us to set them, and a step by step process to build confidence when setting boundaries.


              What You'll Learn:

              • Defining what boundaries are
              • Defining what boundaries are not
              • Why we struggle to set boundaries without guilt
              • How to set healthy boundaries
              • How to remain in your power when setting boundaries
              • A few important reminders about boundaries


                • Episode Resources:

                Empowered Athlete Academy - A 6-month Trauma-Informed Program  for female athletes who desire a deep, healing journey of spiritual and personal development | Click HERE to apply.


                Podcast Links:

                Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/


                25 min
              • Why We Binge Eat + How To Stop

                In this episode, we dive into understanding the root of binge eating and how to heal from it.


                Here's what you'll learn:

                • What binge eating is and where it stems from
                • The root to all self-sabotaging behaviors
                • The feast or famine cycle
                • My eating disorder story
                • Binge eating as a coping mechanism
                • What self-awareness and emotional intelligence are
                • Why emotional intelligence is a critical step in healing binge eating
                • A practical exercise to use in the moment of having the "urge" to binge
                • Final note around binge eating behavior
                • Invitation to join Empowered Athlete Academy


                  • Episode Resources:

                  Empowered Athlete Academy - A 6-month Trauma-Informed Program  for female athletes who desire a deep, healing journey of spiritual and personal development | Click HERE to apply.


                  Podcast Links:

                  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/

                  41 min
                • Becoming a Badass in Life and Jiujitsu (Interview w/ Megan Jimenez)

                  In this week's episode, I interview new brown belt Megan Jimenez, Fellowship trained Orthopaedic Surgeon who specializes in Sports Medicine, Master Worlds Champ and 2022 PanAm Champ. She talks to us about her story, personal development journey, and wisdom as an expert in sports medicine.


                  About Megan:

                  Megan Lisset Jimenez is a Fellowship trained Orthopaedic Surgeon who specializes in Sports Medicine, based out of Georgia. She’s a certified Ringside Doctor and Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt. She finished her 14 years of schooling in 2019 and has been a practicing Orthopaedic Surgeon for almost 2 years. She currently works for Emory University and am an Assistant Professor of Orthopaedics. She’s been involved in martial arts since she was 5 years old, from Kenpo to amateur boxing to muy thai and now jiu jitsu - she’s been training jiu jitsu for 8 years and is the 2021 Masters World Champ, and NEW 2022 Pan American Champ at Brown belt.

                  More recently her focus has gone to recovery and cross training, as well as diet, meditation, and mindfulness to round out my life as a surgeon and athlete.


                  Episode Resources: 

                  Megan's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.jiujitsu14/ 

                  Megan's Book Recommendations: 

                  • Kelly Starrett - Becoming a Supple Leopard 
                  • David Goggins - Cant Hurt Me
                  • Aubrey Marcus - Own the Day, Own Your Life
                  • Wim Hof - The Wim Hof Method
                  • Paul Check - How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy


                    • Podcast Links:

                    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/

                    58 min
                  • The Upper Limit Problem

                    In this episode, I explain what the Upper Limit Problem is, how it keeps us stuck from reaching lasting change, and how to identify and re-write your limiting beliefs so you can truly become limitless and successful in every area of your life. 


                    What you'll learn:

                    • Who coined the Upper Limit Problem (ULP)
                    • What the Upper Limit Problem is and where it comes from
                    • Examples of common self-sabotaging scenarios that can stem from the ULP
                    • The essential steps to rewiring our limiting beliefs and allowing success to be our norm
                    • The thermostat vs thermometer analogy
                    • A personal example of how I've shifted my own limiting beliefs around money
                    • A journaling exercise for you to gain clarity on your own limiting beliefs
                    • An invitation to apply to the Performance Blueprint, if you desire to get mentorship in pursuing your goals


                      • Episode Resources:

                      Gay Hendricks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hendricks.gay/

                      Gay Hendricks Book: The Big Leap (link to Amazon)

                      ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!

                      The Performance Blueprint - Our 12-week lifestyle transformation program for female BJJ athletes designed to help you create balance and structure in your life, heal your relationship with your self, and unlock your performance potential. Click HERE to apply. Next Cohort starts May 1st.


                      Podcast Links:

                      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/

                      25 min
                    • How to Heal from Emotional Triggers

                      In this episode, we dive into understanding, identifying, and healing from our emotional triggers - so that we can have the tools to heal from our past and empower ourselves in the present moment.


                      What you'll learn:

                      • What a trigger is
                      • Where triggers come from and what purpose they serve
                      • A note about trauma and how we all have it to varying degrees
                      • What happens when we are fused with a trigger
                      • Common reactionary responses when we act from a trigger activation
                      • The key to de-identifying from a trigger
                      • My 6-step process (CATIAM) to processing an active trigger and empowering yourself in the present moment
                      • Invitation to enroll in the Empowered Athlete Academy, if you desire to embark on an inner healing journey

                        • Episode Resources:

                        ENROLLMENT IS OPEN!

                        The Performance Blueprint - Our 12-week lifestyle transformation program for female BJJ athletes designed to help you create balance and structure in your life, heal your relationship with your self, and unlock your performance potential. Click HERE to apply. Next Cohort starts in May.

                        Empowered Athlete Academy - A 4-month Trauma-Informed Program  for female athletes who desire a deep, healing journey of spiritual and personal development | Click HERE to apply.


                        Podcast Links:

                        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodybybossllc/

                        30 min

                      About The Empowered Athlete

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