Fit2B Radio: Recent Episodes
Beth Learn & Chris Behnke
Welcome to Fit2B Radio! Slip on your sneakers, hook your headphones into your ears, tuck your smartphone into your pocket, and take us along for a walk while we talk OR just grab a cuppa your favorite drink and get on the floor and stretch a bit while we bring you all things fitness, core and diastasis recti related.
What is intuitive eating? How does it compare to other “diets” or is it totally different? Should you give it a try or stear clear of this “fad” food consumption method? How can it work well for some people yet go sideways for others? We brought intuitive eating coach, Anna Surrey, onto our show to [...]
Join Beth as she interviews her very own pelvic floor physical therapist, Dr. Christina Trautman of The Pelvic Floor Place. In this intimate episode, Dr. Trautman shares how she came to be a PFPT and what it was like to have Beth as a patient and treat her birth scars and pelvic floor symptoms. If [...]
Imagine what it would be like to live with a prognosis of imminent death. How would you live? How would you parent? How would you eat and exercise? Would you crawl into bed and wait for the end or would you fight? Listen in as we talk to Marissa Froese of Wyndelin Farms in Nova [...]
No farm? No problem! Come along with us as we interview Kate Schat, founder of "Venison For Dinner" and one of Beth's favorite homesteaders to follow on social media. Wait, what does farming have to do with women's core fitness? Well, maybe you didn't know this, but Beth has a farm herself. The physical work and activity that farming offers is multi-faceted, but Beth is more of a hobby farmer with a lot of blueberries and barn cats, while Kate has homesteading down to an approachable science. Kate is to farming what Beth is to fitness. Her down-to-earth demeanor and advice for those who don't even have farms but might want to start a garden on their balcony is brilliant and inspiring. We'll be shocked if you aren't at least digging in some dirt or considering buying a cow after this fun episode about farm life and fitness. Scroll down to watch the video version of this episode!Follow Kate on Instagram hereVisit Kate's website here
What if you could tone your body AND brain without weights or cardio, at least not in the traditional sense? What if you could just toss a ball around? A few years ago, we began adding "ball workouts" to the Fit2B library of exercise videos, but a lot of people are still learning the benefits of playing with balls as a type of fitness and the science behind this practice, so brought Kara Rice onto our show to discuss it with us. Kara is the Founder of Brain Connex Therapy, and she has a degree from th University of Illinois in Kinesiology plus a masters degree in Occupational Therapy from Midwestern University. Kara spent the beginning of her career treating adults with neurological conditions before transitioning to children. Once her son demonstrated significant developmental delay and subsequently diagnosed with autism, Kara switched gears in her career and solely focused on pediatric neurological treatment. She specializes in a root-cause treatment approach to neurological developmental delays and symptoms. We discussed many things on the show, including:* how ball-play impacts the vestibular, visual, and proprioreceptive systems of the body * how balls can help strengthen neural pathways and myelinate them at any age * how doing sudoku is different than walking for the brain * how right side movement changes the left side of the brain, and vice versa * Visit Kara's website here
We encourage you to watch the LIVE recording of the show to see her coach Beth through a couple of exercises and see the video of brain cells that Chris shared. Our favorite thing Kara said during this show was, "Movement is what truly changes the brain."Fit2B workouts that utilize balls include the following:* Purple Passing * Lime Launching * Black Bouncing * Tabata Ball * Catching Connections
Can you make your tongue look like a pickle? Can your roll your tongue? What do these abilities have to do with your core and pelvic floor? Well, as it turns out, a lot! One of our longtime members, Chris Church, joined us to share her interesting journey with tongue-tie and its connection to her [...]
“Little by little. A little becomes a lot.” That’s the African proverb that LaToya Edwards quoted as her inspiration during our member spotlight with her. LaToya is an author and single mother to 4 boys. When her life took a traumatic turn a few years ago, she found herself dealing with adrenal fatigue. Although she’s [...]
When we decided to focus a few podcast episodes on members with unique stories, Becky was high on my list. Please, if you need to feel a bit better about yourself and your body, give this episode a listen today. We laughed. We cried. We talked about our bodies and all the things they’ve been [...]
If you’ve dealt with a painful pubic bone – like you feel like there’s a knife in your crotch whenever you step over something – or a super sore lower back, aching hips, and feel like you can barely walk during pregnancy and beyond, then you need to give this show a listen. We brought [...]
How good are you at doing Kegels? Do you know how often pelvic floor exercises should be done? How to do a proper Kegel? Myra Robson is a pelvic health physiotherapist working for the NHS in London, the co-creator of the Squeezy App, and co-founder of the physiotherapy-led campaign group, Pelvic Roar. That’s actually where [...]
What if relaxation is less than relaxing? What if you hate the word “relax” and what works for others doesn’t work for you? We recorded this podcast on the most stress-filled Tuesday, also known as Election Day. But don’t worry, we didn’t get political, and we DID offer two calming meditations right there in the [...]
When dealing with a Diastasis Recti, making progress can be challenging. How do we know when to move forward in our workouts or perhaps step back and return to the basics? If someone is stuck in fear of making a progression forward, what signs can they watch for in their bodies to know how to proceed? What about people who are way ahead, doing challenging things that may not be wise for their abdominals?
If you don’t know what a pessary is, let’s start by saying it’s a quality-of-life-saving device, and in this episode of Fit2B Radio, we interview the maker of one: Gaynor Morgan started out as a nurse and invented a leading pessary called “Incostress” that stops incontinence and helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Gaynor’s original [...]
For this walking meditation: Find a place to recline on your bed or couch. Press play and get comfortable while the introduction to the track plays. Then let my voice guide you on a “pretend” walk. You will visualize how your body moves while walking, practice your alignment in your mind, and imagine the terrain [...]
How should you exercise when you’re stuck at home trying to avoid a pandemic? What should you be aware of when looking for online workouts? How about setting up your own workouts at home? In this special episode of Fit2B Radio, Chris and Beth discuss appropriate exercise intensity levels, home workout options, and what to [...]
Twin pregnancy and recovery is NOT the same as carrying and recovering from just one baby, and we found a women’s health physical therapist who has had twins herself to talk about it. Missy Gallow joins us in this 12 episode of Season 2 to discuss the nitty gritty of what being pregnant with multiples [...]
People with Diastasis Recti have more non-surgical treatment options now than ever before. However, surgery is still needed and wanted sometimes, so what should you know if you’re considering this invasive option. Coach Lisa Ryan joined us to share her story in this podcast about how she loved her belly and explored every option for [...]
Life isn’t easy, and it’s okay to talk about the hard times. As fitness professionals whose lives have “built in” workouts, we still have to choose to press through tough days, but what about the work at home mom who is struggling to keep her head above water with kids, paying bills, staying married, illness, [...]
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a hotly debated topic. It has benefits and risks, and we found a very interesting person to discuss all of that with: Katie Taylor, founder of The Latte Lounge and daughter of an eminent breast cancer surgeon, Professor Michael Baum. Katie recently went to Westminster with some of her colleagues, [...]
If a hernia is a hole in the muscles while Diastasis Recti is a thinning and stretching of the fascia, what does a woman do when she has both during pregnancy? What if surgery has already been done because the hernia existed in childhood? How does a person proceed forward in fitness when surgery isn’t [...]
Have you heard about low pressure fitness? We recorded a podcast about hypopressives in season 1 of Fit2B Radio, and now we’re back to talk about this breathing exercise more in depth. Beth is now Level 1 certified, and she is joined by Dr. Tamara Rial, founder of Low Pressure Fitness. Be sure you watch [...]
I have always thought that mothers who give birth prematurely are given just as good care as their babies while they’re both recovering after delivery. I was wrong. I am grateful that preemie babies receive such excellent neonatal care in my country (for the most part) but — the world over — we have a [...]
We know that people deal with “brittle bone disease” as they age, but why do females have it worse? Why are women more likely to die from complications due to osteoporosis than breast cancer?? Our bones frame every motion of our daily lives. They make our blood, and they’re storehouses for calcium and other minerals. [...]
Core strength impacts the voice AND you can also use your voice to improve your core strength!? This mind-blowing episode with Dr. Susan Clinton, founder of Embody Physiotherapy & Wellness, will teach you ways to connect your talking to the tone of your pelvic floor and more! She has a very unique and internationally known [...]
Urgency of mind and body are connected. The frequent need to pee without being to go very much is called urge incontinence. The urges our mind has to act in our own self-interest are sometimes called temptations. The stress in our over-scheduled lives can play into both of those – bladder and battles of all [...]
Aging is happening right now to you and me. Can our exercise reverse some of the effects of aging? If we workout WITH people, do we get more out of our motions? How can we help people who are already suffering from lack of motion in their senior years? Patrice Hazan, physical therapist and founder [...]
Welcome to Season 2 of Fit2B Radio. In this first episode, we open the show back up with a chat about our theme for this season: biopsychosocial fitness. We will have a wide variety of guests covering topics that all dovetail into one larger conversation about how our biology, psychology, and sociology (and even spitituality) [...]
What were your favorite episodes from Season 1 of Fit2B Radio? Join us as we discuss our awesome guests and the wild ride of podcasting. We’ll also drop a couple spoilers about Season 2 which will launch in September, 2019 with an all new cast of guests and topics related to women’s health, fitness, core, [...]
It’s a condition that affects bladders in big ways, but would you know how to recognize it and seek help? Nicole Cozean is a women’s health PT and author of the book, The Interstitial Cystitis Solution, treating both men and women at Pelvic Sanity which is her clinic in California. In this enlightening episode we [...]
You know exercise improves heart health, but why? And is it just cardio that does the trick? What about weightlifting? This episode has the sweetest info on female heart health, and we’re pretty sure that listening to it (and using our home workout videos) will lower your blood pressure a tad as one of our [...]
What does weight loss have to do with diastasis recti? How does weight loss impact our bodies and minds? What is the best diet? Is dieting even all that great? Let’s talk about allll that, including the difference between fad diets and good diets (if there are any) and how to form healthy habits for [...]
Birth recovery often involves dealing with issues that are difficult to discuss and address: Bladder weakness. Scar tissue. Prolapse. Painful intercourse. Diastasis Recti. Lynn Schulte is the founder of The Institute For Birth Healing where she is training practitioners in a unique style of “hands on” treatments. In this podcast you’ll learn some very interesting [...]
What defines weightlifting? Must it be done at a gym, or can it be done more than adequately at home? What are some considerations for core dysfunctions such as diastasis recti or prolapse? The co-founders of Fit2B answer all this plus banter about their favorite tips and techniques in this informative episode. Join Fit2B today! [...]
What should you look for in a GOOD physical therapist? What can you expect at the first appointment? Yes, we have briefly discussed physiotherapy (physical therapy in the States) on this podcast many times – because we interview a lot of them – but this an entire episode devoted to helping you find the BEST [...]
Hypopressives are currently trending in the world of core training and pelvic floor rehab, but what are they? They’re more than a stomach vacuum. They’re definitely low pressure fitness for the abs. Finding out how to do them is hard, though, so we invited previous Fit2B Radio guest expert, Kim Vopni, the Vagina Coach, back [...]
What if shoes protect us a little too much? What if they shape us more than we realize? What if less is more when it comes to footwear? Join us as we interview the founder of Unshoes, Terral Fox, and discuss how footwear affects our gait, alignment, sensory input, and how our feet affect the [...]
As we talk about all things fitness, core and diastasis recti-related here on Fit2B Radio, we also want to discuss the evidence. What does the research say? Grainne Donnelly, also known as Absolute Physio, has such a beautiful way of interpreting all the research on our abs, making it understandable and applicable. She joined us [...]
How does a core specialist deal with a cancer diagnosis? Mary Vidal is a registered Yoga teacher and personal trainer who got the worst news while alone, and she was gracious enough to let us interview her about her experience. Did she exercise through it? Meditate more? How did she tell her family? How did [...]
We usually stick to female core fitness here on Fit2B Radio, but males deal with core dysfunction and pelvic pain, too! We asked Dr. Susie Gronski, author of Pelvic Pain: The Ultimate Cock Block, to be a guest on our show and discuss what guys need to know about their pelvic floor. Dr. Susie Gronski is [...]
How is regenerative medicine helping moms and athletes and athletic parents and active baby boomers? What might a naturopath & chiropractor have to say about stem cell injections and platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy? Well, if he’s the doc who did Beth’s prolotherapy dextrose injections around her herniated disc to keep her moving leading up [...]
Remember that time we did a podcast from a car, and we talked about our first 8 years because it was our anniversary of launching Fit2B Studio? Oh wait, that’s this episode! Haha! Join us for a wild ride – literally – as we discuss traveling exercises, the effects of travel on the body, and [...]
We almost called it “The One About Borborygmas” because that’s the sound our colons make as they process poop which is really the focus of this whole episode — that is, how it impacts our cores. One of our very favorite pelvic floor physios, Michelle Lyons, is back to discuss how the pooping process {or [...]
If only there was a magic formula for recovering moms right after they have their baby? Oh wait, there might just be one! This show’s guest, Leah Outten, has birthed 5 babies and loves to encourage women through their postpartum recovery. She is the founder of The Grace Bond, and she has so many wonderful [...]
What role does Pilates play in fixing dysfunctional cores? Does it help or hurt the process of narrowing a diastasis rectus abdominus? Carolyne Anthony is the founder of The Center For Women’s Fitness, and she has some very clear thoughts to share on what diastasis is, how it happens, how it can be prevented. Having [...]
Beth had a disc replaced just 2 days after Jill had a hip replacement. That’s right: Fitness doesn’t save us from problems. Even the strongest bodies must cope with injuries, so how do fitness professionals handle deteriorating joints? How did we decide we needed surgery? How did we pursue recovery? Where are we 9 months [...]
It can be a divisive touchy subject, but “the pill” does have side effects that impact female fitness, energy levels, connective tissue integrity, and gut health. So we found someone who can talk objectively about the evidence for and against chemical birth control options while offering hope and practical advice. Nicole Buratti is a Lifestyle [...]
Hysterectomies… the word alone is enough to make some shudder while others get excited at the thought of no more periods. How simple are they? What’s the recovery like? Are there alternative treatments when endometriosis or leaky bladder is the reason for considering one? And what happens to the cervix? Women need to ask more [...]
Does a good rhythm make you want to move, tap your foot, swing your hips? Did you know that combining learning with music and movement improves our memory of that information or experience? What about how core strength (or lack thereof due to diastasis recti) impacts the mechanics of making music? This interview with Kathryn [...]
She told herself she’d never open a private studio. Now she runs a hugely successful female-focused gym in New York. She was told she couldn’t grow her business if she had another baby. She was told many things about female fitness that she no longer believes, and she continues to fight those lies every day. [...]
What might a certified aromatherapist and former owner of an essential oil lab and manufacturing company have to say about the impact of essential oils upon exercise? What are the risks of using EO’s while working out? Which ones help with muscle soreness? Kayla Fioravanti of Ology Essentials is also the author of the Art, [...]
Hands down, Heba is the most interesting, bias-shattering guest we’ve had, and you can bet we’ll have her back! She is completely unafraid to tell it like it is, so we went there. Oh, we so went there because, friends, POP affects people globally, from all backgrounds, regardless of their beliefs, culture, sexuality, etc. Seriously, [...]
Many issues women deal with can be traced back to their exercise and nutrition habits during their adolescence. Young female athletes face many challenges, especially if they are in “aesthetic” sports like gymnastics or dance where weight is queen and body image issues abound. Enter Dr. Julie Granger, author of “Fueled And Fabulous: The Girl Athlete’s [...]
Squats are more than squats, and this short podcast is FULL of super squatting info. We used to think they were simple: Just drop down, hover for a moment, and then stand back up again, right? Yeah, but how do they impact our daily life? How can we do more of them naturally? How can [...]
Is there a difference between masculine and feminine energies in fitness? In how we approach parenting, running a business, getting better when we’re sick, and facing life? Dr. Lisa Holland has worked as a pelvic floor physical therapist and business mentor for years, and she loves to talk about “curvy hustle.” She believes that the [...]
Yoga is perhaps the only style of mainstream exercise that holds space for the spiritual aspect of wellness. In this episode, we go deep with one of the lead trainers of Holy Yoga. Christina Mroz and Beth first connected when they were both seeking to understand the ramifications of diastasis recti and other symptoms of [...]
What is is like to deliver babies without electricity in Amish country? Are these women who have so many babies stronger than most? Do they recover quicker? In this podcast, we interview the author of “A Midwife In Amish Country” to learn about stigmas in birth, dysfunctional labor, and core rehab in quiet communities. What [...]
Quite possibly our sauciest show ever, this episode gets real about what it’s like to crank out kettlebell exercises with prolapse. As you know training with a bell can be super strenuous, and the breathing mechanics can be tricksy. Haley has solid, authentic insights for you, and she says it like it is. She and [...]
She has done every Fit2B workout and reviewed each one on her blog while raising and homeschooling 3 little ones. She is active in her community MOPS group and loves to dance. She might be our biggest fan, as well as one of our top affiliate earners, and she also shares Beth’s name. Find out [...]
Is it enough to tell women to listen to their bodies, especially when they are high-level athletes accustomed to pushing through pain? Brianna Battles is a strength and conditioning coach who is changing the landscape for female CrossFit athletes. She believes we have to do more than say “do this” or “don’t do that” when [...]
What does a rubber chicken have to do with core fitness? You really need to WATCH this episode with top-notch pelvic floor physiotherapist, Michelle Lyons, so you can laugh and learn at the same time. Michelle is one of those wonderful experts who makes you feel comfortable talking about anything, so we did! This podcast [...]
Track & Field is more than one sport, each of which requires immense core control and coordination with the entire body. However, many coaches default to old school ab work that can result in core dysfunction because they aren’t educated about other options. Rachel Zupke is a coach who has figured out how to train [...]
Meet the maker of one of our favorite therapeutic splints for diastasis recti and core rehabilitation. As a mom and runner, Celeste saw a need for a splint that would meet the needs of athletes. In this episode we discuss core fitness progression for postpartum women, training elite athletes to everyday athletes, and splinting an [...]
Known for her polarizing views on diastasis recti, Julie Tupler is famous worldwide for her pioneering work with DR and hernias, her ceaseless endeavors to create the perfect abdominal splint, and her methodical Tupler Technique rehab program. Julie is hilarious, passionate and unafraid to share what she believes and knows about cores. Listen in as [...]
Women are typically led to believe that menopause is the end of their best life – that night sweats, vaginal dryness, loss of energy, and weight gain are normal – However, Dr. Jessica Drummond has the experience, information and evidence to prove that your best life can come after 40 and 50 years. She’s a [...]
How does fitness impact depression? Are there foods that can help fight mood swings? What tests should you have your doctor do to help you solve {not just medicate} your real root issues? Dr. Timothy Hyatt is a functional medicine naturopathic doctor who also works in a lab, providing feedback on organic acid and saliva [...]
We’re taking a break from all the seriousness to chuck a bunch of questions at Beth, the founder and face of Fit2B, forcing her to answer them really fast. You’ll learn everything about her including her choice in pickles, diapers, personal workout style, but no politics. We didn’t go there! Okay, maybe just a little… [...]
Can guys be midwives? Sure, and this one (who has 7 kids) is rocking this model of birth care + he likely knows more about pelvic floor rehab than most female midwives and physical therapists. Jacob has a passion for getting more men into this field, and his perspectives on perinatal care will blow your [...]
What if you stop “gritting” your way through your workouts and try something different? The founder of Couch To Active, Lyn Lindbergh, believes that getting and staying in shape takes LESS than grit. She is so full of ideas about how you can leverage your everyday life and relationships to firm up your fitness routine, [...]
What is needed for a strong birth and recovery? What choices and plans can be made ahead of time to facilitate an empowered, informed labor, delivery and recovery? Adriana Lozada, a doula and founder of The Birthful Podcast, joined us to offer her wisdom. We learned some new things, such as the impact of closing [...]
Every woman needs a vagina coach. That got your attention didn’t it? While taboos inhibit talk around this private area, Kim joined us to talk openly about her work to raise awareness of all the ways women can find help, hope and healing for their pelvic-related problems. It’s more than kegels. It’s more than estrogen [...]
Does an athletic childhood spent doing hundreds of backbends predispose a kid to having diastasis later in life? Join us with our special guest from New Zealand, Lorraine Scapens, founder of Pregnancy Exercise and Turning Baby as we discuss how she handles being mum to THREE bendy gymnasts while also being a diastasis recti expert. [...]
(a.k.a. The Double-Beth Show) Is your life so crazy-busy that your workouts are always cast aside or delayed? Hey, as the 3 business-owning parents on today’s show will demonstrate, we get it. How do we juggle all of our hats and stay sane AND also fit? Well, we and our special guest from Colorado each [...]
Fit2B Radio Cam We always “video” the podcast being produced! Here’s your chance to get the behind the scenes view!
Have you ever considered how your friendships affect your fitness? What about all those times you were told to “find a buddy” as a kid? How many times have you skipped a workout because you just didn’t want to do it alone? Maybe fitness is your alone-time, and you don’t need accountability to exercise BUT [...]
Walking naturally flexes and stretches ALL the muscles in the core. Power walking and race walking are two “faster” kinds of walking. Beth, the founder of Fit2B, is a competitive race walker. Her team “Toe Jammin” has placed numerous times in the Portland To Coast Relay, and she talks about the method, the trials, the [...]
Hormones are … wow, where do we start? These chemical messengers affect us on EVERY level of our bodily functions. We brought in a special guest for this podcast, Dr. Michelle of Females in Fine Fettle, to chat with us about the cray-cray that hormones can cause. She’s awesome in how she points out how [...]
Chris is a runner. I am not a runner. We have clients who want to run, but they have been told they can’t due to diastasis recti. We have clients who run regardless of their diastasis. So what’s best? Is running the greatest thing ever, so we should all be doing it? Is there a [...]
Diastasis recti – also known as abdominal separation, mummy tummy, the ab gap, and many other misnomers – is pretty much our main thang here, so we wanted to get right down to it in this second episode of Fit2B Radio. What is it? What does it mean for your fitness? Does it require surgery? [...]
What is Fit2B Studio about? How did we get started? Why do we do what we do? Get the inside scoop on all things Fit2B in this first episode that has the co-founders bantering and jamming. Scroll down for the video version! Fit2B Radio Cam We always “video” the podcast being produced! Here’s your chance [...]
Guest Post by Fit2B Co-Founder, Chris Behnke. Not only has Chris worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep our website running smoothly, he’s also a runner. And we have a LOT of clients who rave about Fit2B and how it’s helped them make a safe return to running. So when Chris told me he was [...]