The MINT Prjct

On this episode we chat with Millie Bonilla and hear about her transformative journey to becoming a midwife.  She tells us how her own birth experiences lead her to become a doula and from there, go on to invest in herself as a midwife. She opens up about the challenges of providing dedicated care while also maintaining personal well-being, threading in discussions about the importance of self-care practices. If this is a profession you're interested in, have a listen!

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

Today we talk about the inevitable fitness rut that we all fall into, especially as mamas and even as trainers. Jess goes into her struggles as a single mom working full time. She talks about all of her hacks, including trying a personal trainer, group classes, accountability tactics and following our very own MomStrong Full Body Workout Plan in her basement. Cara talks about her slump after Wodapalooza this year and her mind-blowing hacks for making it work with 3 kids at home. Betsy talks about her own venture into redefining fitness to fit her life today after 12 years in the industry.

If you're a mama struggling to find inspiration or a trainer needing perspective for your clients, this is a great episode for you!

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

As trainers, we have all clients with low back pain.  The MINT girls specifically have all worked to help alleviate that pain from many clients, including moms.  Commonly, there has been correlations between diastasis recti and low back pain. It only makes sense that core instability would result in that kind of injury!  Right? But there's some question on that.

We at MINT are  committed to keeping up with the research and sharing what we learn with all of you. Today we’re going over a review of studies that are questioning the connection between DR and low back pain. We talk about the finds of the studies and our take on the breakdown. If you've wondered before what the harm of DR could be aside from aesthetics, this is one conversation to consider. Check out the review below to read for yourself!

Is Diastasis Recti Abdominis Associated With Low Back Pain? A Systematic Review

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

Today we talk about how to navigate the difficulties of comparing yourself to others. We touch on body image comparisons and how we all handle those thoughts, as well as social media's effect on things you many not even notice. If you're a mama comparing your house to the perfections of others, your drop-off fashion, or lunch box standards, this is a great episode that was basically a therapy session for us all!

Mama Method Wellness with Jess Durando

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

Join us as we review last year's events! We had plenty of triumphs, learning experiences and memories made. Hear about our Changemaker Grant with Gymshark, our first year at TYR Wodapalooza, the development of our relationship with Pliability and Tia-Clair Toomey, and plenty of personal stuff too! We couldn't be more proud of the events of last year and are so looking forward to growing more in 2024!

MINT Trainer's Course
Pliability Pregnancy Path
Tina Cardio

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

We are BACK after a hiatus and with a really exciting new type of episode!

Our biggest mission at MINT is to help moms and trainers become more educated and aware.  For the longest time, it's been very tough to find actual studies done on pregnant women as it relates to exercise.  However, that's changing and today we talk about a recent study featured by Emily Beers in a Morning Chalk Up article.  The study was done on a small group of pregnant women and their babies, testing how high intensity interval training and moderate intensity training effect health markers of the baby.  If you're interested in the age old doctor's advice to "keep your heart rate below 150" and what new evidence is telling us, listen in as we go over the hilights!

Morning Chalk Up Story
Link to Article

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

Ever had a moment when your professional and personal lives collided in ways you didn't expect? That's what happened to today's guest, Ray Forrester, a licensed clinical social worker, former professional rugby player, and spouse to Cara, Director of Education at The MINT Prjct. His journey from New Zealand to America and his experiences in the fitness industry offers a unique perspective on how he intertwines his clinical therapy expertise with sports conditioning to assist clients. This uncensored chat brings to light the influential role of mindset in fitness and overall well-being.

He journeys into the realms of parenting, discipline and communication,  including his own personal struggles and victories. He also shares some heart-wrenching experiences - from coping with the trauma of a difficult birth, the emotional turmoil of having a baby in the NICU, to juggling work, family life, and maintaining a gym. It's a raw, emotional rollercoaster ride that many parents would find relatable. We also delve deep into the sensitive issue of teen addiction, drawing upon Ray's vast experience in residential youth treatment and addiction recovery.

As our conversation winds down, we shift focus towards the critical aspect of self-care, expression, and connecting with heritage as levers for mental well-being. Ray shares how he balances family, work, and fitness, and the importance of finding fulfilling outlets like baking and wood carving! You don't want to miss this episode!

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

Today we talk with Betsy's husband, Andre Jones who is the co-founder of our very own at-home strength and conditioning program, MomStrong. He opens up about owning a gym while experiencing the highs and lows that came with the news of becoming a parent. He talks about his own experience with their son's birth, the wave of emotions holding his son for the first time, the struggle with sleep training, and how these experiences have reshaped his life. Andre also sheds light on the crucial role of a supportive husband to his wife, as a new mom.

One huge topic we get into is the  shift in fitness priorities that comes with parenthood. Balancing a competitive mindset with an approach centered on health and wellness became essential as parents. In this episode we'll hear how Andre and Betsy adapted their workouts to accommodate their new lifestyle as parents. Their fitness goals   and now are focused on being  fit and healthy enough to be an active part of their son's life. This shaped how Andre programs for MomStrong, allowing moms everywhere to reach those same goals! If you're a dad needing someone to relate to, a mom looking for insight to the man's perception, or a mom curious about the person behind the program, tune in to this one!

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

Who says fitness and health care can't go hand in hand? That's the question we're exploring with our guest, Mary Banks, the Chief Strategy Officer at Active Life. Mary brings an insightful perspective on how Active Life is bridging the gap between fitness and healthcare, empowering individuals to live positively, and without compromise. She shares powerful stories about her clients, including a 64-year-old woman who experienced hanging from a bar without pain for the first time, testament to the transformative nature of Active Life's mission.

As we navigate the conversation, Mary unveils her personal journey through pregnancy and postpartum while maintaining an active fitness routine and coaching others. She highlights the significance of continuing education in addressing health issues such as chronic diseases and knee replacements, and the necessity for a specialized focus on women's health, particularly for pregnant and postpartum mothers. 

The chat takes a turn as we discuss balancing work, fitness, and postpartum recovery. Mary emphasizes the importance of proper breathing during pregnancy for a healthier recovery. She generously shares her experiences, highlighting the need for grace and adjusted expectations during the journey of motherhood. Mary shares her experience of coaching moms to bridge the gap between healthcare and fitness and stresses the importance of a good coach to guide and make fitness more accessible for moms and coaches. Get ready for a high-energy talk with Mary Banks, full of actionable insights and inspiration!

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit

Meet Christy Cannon, a certified nurse and midwife who not only delivers babies but also dreams of bridging the gap between home births and hospital births. As a mama to five children herself, Christy has an intimate understanding of the highs and lows of parenthood and birth!  In today's episode we'll learn about her journey from being an aspiring nurse influenced by her large family, to realizing her true calling during a home birth, and then charting her own course in the world of midwifery. 

Christy also shares her experiences of prenatal care, supporting parents through language barriers, and even the emotionally taxing experience of helping a woman surrender her baby safely.  Hear about the differences between a doctor and a midwife, and the emphasis on trusting the body and the process in midwifery. Whether you’re considering a career in midwifery, expecting a baby, or simply fascinated by the world of childbirth, this episode is super insightful!

Support the show

To learn more about The MINT Prjct and check out our programs and courses, head to TheMINTPrjct.com and follow us on Instagram, as well as your hosts, @bets.inthewild, @_coach.cara_ and @jesscarr.fit