How can understanding the body’s electrical and nervous systems unlock vitality, accelerate healing, and transform the way we move?


Episode Summary

In this episode of The Mindful Trainer Podcast, host Melanie Webb sits down with Jennifer Schwartz, founder of Impact Your Fitness Studio and host of Think Fit. Be Fit. | Podcast Network. Together, they explore the cutting-edge role of electricity in fitness progression and how it influences muscle activation, movement, and recovery. Jennifer shares her personal journey as a professional in the fitness industry, the emotional impact of grief, and how her experiences shaped her unique approach to healing and wellness.You’ll also hear how podcasting has become a powerful tool for education and connection in the fitness space, helping leaders like Jennifer and Melanie share their knowledge while building authentic communities. This conversation blends science, emotion, and curiosity — leaving you inspired to rethink how the body heals and thrives.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode


The science behind electricity in fitness and its impact on vitality.

Why understanding the nervous system is key to movement and recovery

Jennifer’s personal journey through grief while building a thriving fitness community.

The evolution of fitness podcasting and its role in professional growth.

How emotional healing is inseparable from physical wellness.

Practical insights on stabilizing joints, activating muscles, and re-engaging the body after injury.

Resources and Mentions

Train with Jennifer through Impact Your Fitness Studio Jennifer’s training studio in Alexandria, Virginia
Access hundreds of Jennifer's podcasts through the Think Fit. Be Fit. | Podcast Network — Jennifer’s show exploring fitness innovation
Jumpstart Your Wellness Journey with the WebbWell 21-Day Self-Care Challenge™
Download My Free Guide: 5 Steps to Healing from InjurySave 15% On Your First Order of Hammer Nutrition by shopping this link: https://hammernutrition.com/?snowball=MELANIE91601

How can training like an athlete — no matter your age or fitness level — unlock strength, bone health, and lasting performance?

In this episode of The Mindful Trainer Podcast, host Melanie Webb talks with award-winning performance coach and Certified Personal Trainer Rafal Tokicz about the philosophy of “training like an athlete” at every stage of life. Rafal shares why movement patterns, impact training, and power development aren’t just for professional athletes but essential for building bone density, preventing injury, and maintaining vitality as we age.

The conversation turns personal as Melanie gets vulnerable about her own diagnosis of osteopenia and the strategies she’s using to rebuild bone health, from backpacking with heavy loads to smarter recovery. Together, they explore biohacking tools like compression boots, supplements, and sleep optimization, while emphasizing that fitness ultimately comes down to self-improvement and competing against yourself.

Whether you’re 20, 70, or anywhere in between, this episode will inspire you to challenge your physical limits safely, prioritize recovery, and see training as a lifelong path to better health.
Key Takeaways

Training like an athlete is for everyone — the patterns may look different, but the benefits are universal.

Bone density matters at every age — impact, resistance, and load are your allies.

Wellness hacks add up — small daily tweaks can have a big impact on long-term health.

Biohacking isn’t complicated — tools like compression boots, creatine, or better sleep can accelerate recovery.

Fitness is self-improvement — progress means competing with yourself, not others.

Resources and Mentions

Connect with Rafal on Instagram at @ Last_set_fitness

Make Strength Training Part of Your Week with the WebbWell 21-Day Self-Care Challenge™
 
Download My Free Guide: 5 Steps to Healing from Injury

Save 15% On Your First Order of Hammer Nutrition by shopping this link: https://hammernutrition.com/?snowball=MELANIE91601

Who is Melanie Webb beyond the brand—and how did her journey through injury, awe, and nature shape the WebbWell Way of Life?

In this special episode of The Mindful Trainer Podcast, the roles are reversed—host Amie Kane-Lee turns the mic on Melanie Webb, giving listeners a rare inside look at the woman behind WebbWell.

Melanie shares stories about her transformative experiences hiking Below the Rim of the Grand Canyon, her recovery from a traumatic brain injury, and how she applies nature, movement, and mindfulness as her medicine. Together, Amie and Melanie explore the discipline of digital detox, the role of awe in nature and mental wellbeing, and why preparing physically helps us grow mentally and emotionally for life’s challenges.

Melanie’s passion for fitness, healing, and Mother Nature’s Gym, combined with a behind the scenes conversation with her long-time colleague Amie Kane-Lee, makes this an inspiring and intimate conversation you won’t want to miss.


What You’ll Hear in This Episode:
Why hiking Below the Rim of the Grand Canyon became Melanie’s personal pilgrimage.

How a traumatic brain injury changed her relationship with movement.

The role of mindfulness and visualization in overcoming fear and building resilience.

Insights into why awe matters—and how it sparks compassion and community.

The challenges of digital distractions and the attention economy.

Melanie’s vision for healing, fitness, and interconnectedness through nature.


Resources and Mentions
Connect with Amie Kane-Lee on Instagram @ peakMVMT and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amie-kane-lee/

Take a Remote Pilates Class and Learn More about Amie and Peak MVMT at https://www.peakmvmt.com/

Prepare to Take Your People Outside with Mother Nature’s Gym Outside Fitness Guide by Melanie Webb

Learn More About Your Nature Connection by Reading Blue Mind by Wallace J. Nichols

Make Nature Part of Your Wellness Habit with WebbWell 21-Day Self-Care Challenge™

Download My Free Guide: 5 Steps to Healing from Injury

Save 15% On Your First Order of Hammer Nutrition by shopping this link: https://hammernutrition.com/?snowball=MELANIE91601

How do you inspire young athletes to not only perform better, but also grow as people?

In this episode, Kelvin Everett shares his journey from corporate America to youth coaching — and the lessons he carried with him about leadership, teamwork, and motivation.

Kelvin gets real about why every athlete needs a sense of belonging, and how creating an inclusive environment allows kids to be vulnerable and thrive. He also breaks down the importance of meeting athletes where they are, understanding different maturity levels, and building trust with parents to support kids both on and off the field.

If you’re a coach, parent, or mentor, this conversation is packed with insights on leadership, growth, and the transformative power of community in sports.

Key Takeaways

True leadership in coaching means supporting and understanding your team.

Building relationships with young athletes is the foundation of effective coaching.

Every athlete matures at a different pace — recognizing this is essential.

Inclusive environments create safety, belonging, and vulnerability.

Parents are powerful partners in shaping their children’s sports experience.

Word of mouth referrals remain a cornerstone of small business growth.
Resources & Links
Connect with Kelvin Everett on Instagram @ Kelvin_nextstepsolutions

Take Your Coach with You Anytime, Anywhere, with WebbWell 21-Day Self-Care Challenge™

Download My Free Guide: 5 Steps to Healing from Injury

Save 15% On Your First Order of Hammer Nutrition by shopping this link: https://hammernutrition.com/?snowball=MELANIE91601

What if numbness wasn’t the absence of feeling—but your body’s way of keeping you alive?

In this powerful episode of The Mindful Trainer, I sit down with my longtime friend, therapist Jason Durtschi, LCSW, for a raw and illuminating conversation about trauma, dissociation, and healing. Jason opens up about surviving an avalanche in the Utah backcountry, how numbness carried him through that near-death experience, and the way decades of therapy, medication, and mindfulness have shaped his perspective on resilience.

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel “disconnected” in the face of challenge—or how to reconnect—Jason’s wisdom will help you honor your experience instead of judging it. Together, we also explore how nature resets the nervous system and why self-care is essential for both therapists and anyone navigating life’s transitions.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Jason and I cover both the science and the soul of mental health, weaving in his avalanche story, clinical insights, and daily practices. In this episode, you’ll learn:
How numbness and dissociation serve as protective trauma responses,

Why awareness is the first step to healing and reconnection,

How nature offers perspective, grounding, and nervous system reset,

The role of medication in mental health care—and why it’s not “weakness,” and

Why therapists need radical self-care to show up fully for clients.
Key Takeaways From This Episode

Numbness Isn’t Nothing
As Jason says, “numbness is an emotional state”—one that protects us when experiences feel too overwhelming. It deserves respect, not judgment.

Nature Resets the Mind & Body
From skiing Mount Hood to hiking Portland’s green forests, Jason describes the profound clarity and perspective nature offers.

Healing Is Multifaceted
Medication, therapy, mindfulness, and connection all play complementary roles in creating long-term resilience.

Connect with Jason
TreeofLifeCounselingandCoaching

Have you looked in the mirror and realized...your next project is you?
Download My Free Guide: 5 Steps to Healing and take your first step toward becoming your best project yet.

What happens when fitness leaves the gym—and meets the outdoors?

In this episode of The Mindful Trainer, I talk with Chris Kirchoff, Certified Personal Trainer and global outdoor fitness retreat leader, about how movement, nature, and travel can completely transform a person’s life. Chris opens up about her own path in the fitness industry, the evolution of her functional training philosophy, and what it means to build a community through adventure.

From the impact the Nepal earthquake had on her first outdoor fitness retreat to the emotional shifts she witnesses on the trail, Chris shares powerful stories about the ways outdoor fitness reconnects people with their bodies, their purpose, and each other.

What if life’s biggest detours are the very thing that lead us to the trailhead?

In this episode of The Mindful Trainer, I sit down with Certified Personal Trainer and AMGA guide Ryan Gentry for a conversation about resilience, recovery, and the adventures that shape us. From supporting friends through the 2025 California wildfires to navigating injury and career pivots, Ryan’s story is a powerful reminder that our biggest growth often happens outside the gym—and outside our comfort zone.

If you’ve ever wondered how to stay grounded when everything’s burning down (literally or metaphorically), or how to listen to your inner compass when you're at a crossroads, you’ll find something here that speaks to your own journey.
What You’ll Hear in This Episode

Ryan opens up about how childhood dreams of exploration inspired his path from the stage to the wilderness, and how community, humor, and inner work kept him going through tough times. Together, we unpack:
How wildfires shape Ryan’s approach to life, leadership, and mental preparation,

Why your fitness journey isn’t just physical—it’s emotional and relational, too,

How reframing injury can become a path to personal growth,

What makes or breaks a great adventure team—and how to choose yours wisely, and

The logistics, mindset, and movement strategies that go into guiding successful trips.

Whether you’re training for your next outdoor expedition or rebuilding after a setback, this episode offers insights that go way beyond reps and routines.