Women Empower Active

What if progress isn't about how fast you reach your goals, but how you keep moving forward when life gets in the way?

In this solo episode of Women Empower Active, I'm talking about the reality of setting goals, navigating life's unexpected changes, and learning that progress doesn't always follow the timeline we have in mind.

From setting a personal goal for my birthday in 2027 to finding consistency in the repetitive, sometimes boring parts of training, I'm sharing what it looks like to keep showing up when motivation isn't always there.

We also dive into the challenges of injuries and recovery, adjusting expectations when life gets busy, and navigating body image when our fitness doesn't look or feel the way it once did.

Because sometimes progress isn't another mile, a faster time, or a new personal record. Sometimes it's getting on the treadmill when you'd rather be anywhere else, giving your body the rest it needs, or accepting that your goals might need to change.

This episode is a reminder that you don't need January 1 to start something new, and you don't have to follow anyone else's timeline to be successful.

Your goals can change. Your priorities can shift. And your adventure is still yours to define.

Host: Jacalyn Gross @jacalyngross

Producer: Jeremy Canaria @jeremycanary

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by Pete Alba

#WomenEmpowerActive #ConsistencyOverPerfection #RunningMotivation #ProgressNotPerfection #WomenWhoRun

Tiffany Gayle Chenault never considered herself a runner. Running began as a way to move through grief after losing her mother—and eventually became a journey that would take her across all 50 states.

Now, Tiffany returns to Women Empower Active as the published author of Black Woman Runner: A Memoir.

In this episode, we talk about what it was like to enter running culture as a complete beginner, the unexpected lessons she learned along the way, and the moment she finally realized, "I am a runner."

Tiffany also shares what it meant to travel and run across the country as a Black woman, why representation and belonging matter in the running community, and how finding her "running family" helped her reconnect with herself and her father while navigating grief.

From Turkey Trots and bears on Florida trails to running in places she never imagined visiting, Tiffany's journey is about much more than checking 50 states off a list. It's about curiosity, healing, community, and defining what being a runner means on your own terms.

Her message to women is simple: you don't need anyone's permission to move your body, take up space, or call yourself an athlete. There is a community out there where you can be seen, belong, and unapologetically do it your way.

Host: Jacalyn Gross (@jacalyngross)

Guest: Tiffany Gayle Chenault (@runisee50)

Producer: Jeremy Canaria (@jeremycanary)

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by Pete Alba

#WomenEmpowerActive #BlackWomanRunner #WomenWhoRun #RunningCommunity #WomenInRunning

The farther you chase the horizon, the more you discover just how far you're capable of going.

From collegiate hurdler to ultrarunner, Manika has transformed her passion for running into a life of exploration—taking on extreme distances and challenging landscapes around the world.

In this episode of Women Empower Active, Manika shares her journey into ultrarunning, what continues to draw her toward bigger adventures, and how running has become more than a sport. It's a way to experience the world, embrace the unknown, and discover what's possible with every step.

Every mile has taken Manika somewhere new, and along the way, she's encouraging others to chase horizons of their own.

Host: Jacalyn Gross (@jacalyngross)

Guest: Manika (@manikaruns)

Producer: Jeremy Canaria (@jeremycanary)

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by Pete Alba

#WomenEmpowerActive #ManikaRuns #Ultrarunning #WomenWhoRun #TrailRunning

What if your greatest adventure is still ahead of you?

Virginia "Ginny" MacColl is living proof that it's never too late to pursue something extraordinary. From doing her first pull-up at age 63 to becoming an American Ninja Warrior competitor and Guinness World Record holder, Ginny has spent the last decade redefining what's possible later in life.

In this episode of Women Empower Active, Ginny shares how she embraced new challenges, built incredible strength, and discovered that growth has no finish line. Her story is a reminder that age is never a barrier to adventure—it can be the beginning of your greatest chapter yet.

Host: Jacalyn Gross (@jacalyngross)

Guest: Virginia "Ginny" MacColl (@ginnymaccoll)

Producer: Jeremy Canaria (@jeremycanary)

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by Pete Alba

#WomenEmpowerActive #AmericanNinjaWarrior #HealthyAging #ActiveLifestyle #NeverTooLate

Photo Credit: NBC American Ninja Warrior

Today's guest is Gwen Rudy — a member of the USA Ski Mountaineering National Team, sports acupuncturist, coach, and mountain athlete whose journey proves that big goals are achieved through consistent effort and small daily steps.

In this episode, Gwen shares how she found her way into ski mountaineering, what drives her passion for moving through the mountains, and how her work as an acupuncturist helps athletes recover, perform, and return to the activities they love. We talk about perseverance, finding joy in the process, and why her favorite motto, "Many little steps gets you there," continues to guide her both on and off the mountain.

Whether you're training for a race, tackling a new challenge, or simply looking for inspiration to keep moving forward, Gwen's story is a reminder that progress happens one step at a time.

Host: Jacalyn Gross (@jacalyngross)

Guest: Gwen Rudy (@gwen_rudy)
@alpine_start_acupuncture

Producer: Jeremy Canaria (@jeremycanary)

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by Pete Alba

#WomenEmpowerActive #SkiMountaineering #MountainAthlete #WomenInSports #OutdoorAdventure

In this episode of Women Empower Active, Jacalyn sits down with Lynn Barlow, a mental performance coach helping athletes strengthen the one muscle we often overlook: the mind.

Through her work with Mindfullsend, Lynn helps athletes navigate fear, build confidence, and perform under pressure in some of life’s most demanding moments. With a background rooted in outdoor sports and high-risk environments, she understands what it feels like to stand at the edge — where fear and possibility meet — and how powerful it can be to move forward anyway.

But this conversation goes deeper than performance. Today, we get to know the person behind the mindset work: Lynn’s journey, the experiences that shaped her, and the passion that led her to help others unlock their potential.

Because performance isn’t just physical — it’s mental. And when the mind is trained, everything else follows.

🎙️ Tune in for a conversation about fear, resilience, confidence, and finding strength from within.

Host: Jacalyn Gross (@jacalyngross)

Guest: Lynn Barlow (@mindfullsend_mpc)

Producer: Jeremy Canaria (@jeremycanary)

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by Pete Alba

What does it really take to become a national champion in streetlifting—and what does strength look like beyond the podium?

In this episode of Women Empower Active, host Jacalyn Gross sits down with Danae Morgan, a national champion streetlifter, record-holding athlete, and powerful presence in the world of calisthenics. From dominating the USA Streetlifting National Championships to competing on the world stage, Danae has built her reputation through discipline, consistency, and relentless effort—one muscle-up, one pull-up at a time.

But this conversation goes deeper than medals and records.

We get to know the person behind the performance—Danae’s journey into streetlifting, the mindset required to compete at an elite level, and what it really takes to keep showing up when things get hard. From building confidence to pushing past physical and mental limits, Danae shares how strength is developed over time—and why the most powerful move you can make is continuing to lift yourself up.

If you're passionate about fitness, strength training, calisthenics, or finding your own version of an active adventure, this episode will leave you feeling motivated and ready to take action.

In this episode, we cover:

• Danae Morgan’s journey into streetlifting and calisthenics
• Competing at the USA Streetlifting National Championships
• The mindset of a champion athlete
• Building strength, confidence, and consistency
• Overcoming challenges and staying committed

 Women Empower Active is a podcast dedicated to empowering women to find their own active adventure through movement, mindset, and real stories.

Host: Jacalyn Gross (@jacalyngross)
Guest: Danae Morgan (@queenofgainz)
Producer: Jeremy Canaria (@jeremycanary)
Editor: Jacalyn Gross
Original Music by Pete Alba

Today’s guest knows what it means to push past limits—both physically and mentally. Maiki Cofer is a triathlete who has taken on the grueling challenge of Ironman 70.3 Hawaii multiple times, a race that tests endurance, resilience, and grit at every level.

In this episode, we dive into the mindset behind endurance racing, the journey to the start line, and what it really takes to keep showing up for something this demanding—again and again.

Host: Jacalyn Gross (@jacalyngross)

Guest: Maiki Cofer (@kahuku)

Producer: Jeremy Canaria (@jeremycanary)

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by Pete Alba

In this episode of Women Empower Active, Jacalyn sits down with Kristina — a fitness professional who truly embodies resilience in motion.

Kristina’s journey into the fitness industry began with rebuilding her own strength after serious injuries early in life, including a broken back and hip surgery before graduating high school. Determined to understand how the body moves, heals, and grows stronger, she turned her recovery into a calling.

Now the founder of KFIT, Kristina has built a studio rooted in one powerful belief: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to movement. Every body carries its own story, and training should honor that. Through personalized coaching and intentional programming, she helps people move better, train smarter, and build strength that lasts.

If resilience had a workout plan, Kristina would be coaching it.

Tune in for a conversation about rebuilding, redefining strength, and finding your own active adventure.

Host: Jacalyn Gross (@jacalyngross)

Guest: Kristina (@ttrainingwithcoachkristina)

Producer: Jeremy Canaria (@jeremycanary)

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by Pete Alba

On this episode of the Women Empower Active Podcast, we’re reframing the idea of a “new year, new you.” This is about recalibration, not reinvention—honoring your growth, grounding into your strength, and moving forward with intention. No pressure. No erasing. Just empowered alignment with who you already are and where you’re headed.

Because your power isn’t new, it’s already within you.

Host: Jacalyn Gross ⁠@jacalyngross⁠

Producer: Jeremy Canaria ⁠@jeremycanary⁠

Editor: Jacalyn Gross

Original Music by: Pete Alba