Balanced and Boujee: Recent Episodes
Brooke & Erica
Join besties, Erica and Brooke, as they dive into topics about wellness, pursuing big dreams, navigating the joys and stressors of life in their mid-20s, and reflect on ways to continuously strive for personal growth. They believe that life is just chasing the right balance between living healthy and being as extra as possible. So put on a facemask, grab your green juice or venti iced coffee, and tune in for a conversation with your two new best friends.
In this second episode of our Balanced and Boujee Book Club, we dive into the second half of Fourth Wing—and things definitely heat up. From character growth to those unexpected plot twists, we unpack Violet’s journey through danger, trust, and the ever-complicated dynamics with Xaden, as well as the world she’s navigating as a rider. We chat about the power of friendships, the ups and downs of relationships, and the choices—both by the characters and the author—that kept us turning pages way past bedtime.
For our very first B&B Book Club episode, we’re diving into the first 15 chapters of Rebecca Yarros’ wildly addictive fantasy hit, Fourth Wing. 🐉✨ From Violet’s grit and resilience to her ride-or-die friendship with Rhiannon—and our hopes for where characters like Dain and General Sorrengail are headed—we’re unpacking all the dynamics that kept us hooked (and up way past bedtime). And of course, we can’t forget Xaden—the brooding, morally complex heartthrob who has us all rethinking our real-life standards for men.
Join us for a cozy book club convo where we squeal, speculate, and swoon together. 🔥
Miss us? We missed you!
Summer got busy - so we thought we’d get back into it with a catch up on all the things — evolving beauty standards, funny stories from a recent weekend in MKE, a not-so-great movie review, some shocking news we recently received, PLUS - we reveal our newest idea for the B&B community.
Basically, it’s a little bit of pop culture, a little bit of personal chaos, and a whole lot of laughs.
This week on Balanced and Boujee, we’re spilling the toxictea—literally.
Brooke sits down with health and wellness coach, Lauren Gilchrist, to chat all things toxin-free living. From sneaky chemicals hiding in everyday products to why your dog might need a cleaner shampoo too, Lauren breaks it all down in a way that’s approachable and empowering.We talk about how to spot when brands are just greenwashing, share resources that make your toxin-free product research quicker and easier, and explain why going toxin-free doesn’t mean you have to toss your entire bathroom cabinet overnight. It’s about simple swaps, building awareness, and making better choices when you can.✨ Episode Highlights:
- Toxic-free living is more important (and more doable) than you might think- Your products might be packing more than just fragrance...- The EU bans way more ingredients than the U.S. in food, cosmetics, and everyday products- Greenwashing 101: what it is and how not to fall for it- Helpful tools to protect yourself (and your fur babies!) from harmful ingredients- The power of starting small and staying curious about how your body reacts to the products you useLinks to resources mentioned: Get in touch with Lauren: https://www.wellandfreecoaching.com/EWG website & Skin Deep Database: https://www.ewg.org/ Yuka: https://yuka.io/en/ CosDNA: https://cosdna.com/
In this episode, we dive into the magic of slow mornings—the kind that actually set you up for a better day. We swap stories, share what’s worked (and what hasn’t), and talk about how you can create a morning routine that feels good, no matter what season of life you're in. Whether you’re solo, sharing space with a partner, or navigating chaos with kids, there is a way to carve out time for you. Spoiler: it doesn’t have to be complicated, and yes—you deserve it.
Episode Highlights
✨ How slowing down in the morning can change the whole vibe of your day
🕯️ Simple ways to build a morning ritual that actually feels good
💬 Why talking to your partner about your needs can make mornings smoother
👶 How to find “me time” in even the busiest households
💖 A reminder: prioritizing yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary
🌅 Tips for adapting a slow morning routine to your current season of life
Friendships are always complicated, but creating and fostering male friendships can feel like another beast entirely. After a few episodes focused predominately on our female listeners, Erica decides to try her hand at navigating something she has only ever witnessed - creating and fostering a bromance. The male loneliness epidemic is still a prominent issue in America and men deserve the support and connection of friendship.
Erica discusses a young man's brave moment of vulnerability where he admits past mistakes that have impacted his ability to make and maintain friendships as well as his struggle adapting to life after college.
We hope this episode encourages men to seek community beyond traditional social settings and to embrace the journey of making new friends.
Just a girl hoping everyone can find connection and meaning - even the boys.
In this episode, Brooke is joined by Rosie Fonti—an online fitness and transformation coach dedicated to helping women feel unstoppable and build the life and body of their dreams. Rosie shares how her own health and fitness journey led her to launch her business and support other women on theirs.
Together, Rosie and Brooke unpack the common (and often harmful) misconceptions women face in the fitness world—like the pressure to “stay small,” the fear of building “too much” muscle, or the tendency to under eat to avoid weight gain. They also explore how perfectionism can disguise itself as discipline and end up sabotaging your well-being.
The conversation expands into entrepreneurship, touching on the power of taking action before you feel fully “ready,” and why trusting the process is key.
Episode Highlights:
- The truth about dieting—and why under-eating is one of the biggest mistakes women make for their health, aesthetic goals, and overall wellness
- Why gaining weight doesn’t have to be scary
- How perfectionism can hide behind “healthyhabits”
- The power of investing in yourself before it"makes sense"
- Why the perfect moment is a myth—and how to take action anyway
Connect with Rosie:
Instagram: @roseliftsss
In this episode, we dive headfirst into the wild world of healthcare, wellness trends, and why navigating the health and wellness sphere feels more confusing than ever. From the complexities of wellness influencer culture, the control of insurance companies, and the blurred lines of health-related marketing, we get candid about staying sharp, trusting yourself, and cutting through the noise in a world full of wellness “experts.” At the end of the day, it’s a balance of trusting your gut feelings, alongside your logic, when making health-related decisions. Episode Highlights: 📈 Medical norms don’t always account for your unique performance and needs— so knowing your baseline health data can is key for self-advocacy❌ How social media has skewed “skinny” to be the new “healthy”. 🚩 Do wellness influencers have a responsibility to disclose their health choices when selling us products and services? 💸 The wellness industry is starting to look a lot like traditional healthcare—with profit often taking the front seat.🕵️♀️ Authenticity in marketing can get a little fuzzy when money’s involved, so it’s worth asking: what’s the real motive behind that health product?🧘♀️ Your gut feelings are important piece in making health decisions!
Have you ever found yourself feeling a little off in a friendship—like something’s missing, but you can’t quite name it? In this episode, Erica unpacks the subtle dynamics of unbalanced friendships, inspired by an honest online post.
She explores the different types of friendships, the importance of communication, and the need for self-reflection in understanding our emotional responses.
It’s a thoughtful look at how our needs in relationships evolve, how friendships vary in terms of expectations and engagement, why it's important to evaluate what you truly want from your relationships.
We went rogue this week 👀 —no outline, no agenda, just a real and raw convo that turned into something we didn’t expect: a full-on love letter to feeling deeply and letting people be passionate about the things they love. 💌
We’re talking about why it’s cool to care, the emotional rollercoaster of loving things out loud, and how joy (yes, even the glittery, mainstream kind) gets policed—especially when it comes to the interests of women and girls.
From being made to feel “cringe” for loving a boy band, to being judged for reading spicy romance novels, to adult women side-eyeing TikTok fandoms, we’re asking the big question: Why are people so uncomfortable letting girls like things?
Whether it’s a music artist, hobby, a literary genre, or crying public because the experience of something got you in your feels—this episode is your permission slip to love what you love.
Episode Highlights:
✨ Why Liking Things Matters
Joy builds identity, community, and belonging. When we let ourselves love freely—and let others do the same—we make space for deeper connection and a more expansive kind of self-expression.
🔥 The Joy Police & Internalized Misogyny
Why do some people hate what others love? Whether it’s side-eye glances or blatant comments from others, women are constantly told their joy is invalid. We unpack the shame, jealousy, and internalized misogyny that cause women to tear down other women’s interests.
📚 Romance Isn’t “Just Smut”
Romance and Romantasy novels are rich with world-building, emotional depth, and complex characters—yet it’s often dismissed as frivolous or “just smut”. We explore how this genre gets unfairly written off, and why that says more about society than the books themselves.
🎬 The Media Double Standard
Physical intimacy scenes in a romance? It’s “ unnecessary obscenity.”
Graphic sexual scenes in a male thriller? “Gritty and profound.”
We call out the double standard in how stories centered on female pleasure and emotional connection are judged.
💫 A Core Memory at a Harry Styles Concert
In the stands at Wembley, a dad dancing with his daughter reminded us how powerful it is when men create emotional safety. That kind of love—quiet, steady, supportive—can shape a girl's self-worth for life.
We’re back, baby! 🎉In the first episode of Season 3, we discuss exciting details about the new direction the Balanced and Boujee podcast is taking. From conversations about building your community to the non-linear nature of personal growth, we’re dialing in on leading a life that balances self-improvement, enjoyment, and simply being.And it wouldn’t be a B&B episode if we didn’t dive into some general girl talk. From funny stories during our hiatus to realizing our lack of chill when it comes to our self-described "go-with-the-flow" travel style, we’re kicking off Season 3 with the same laughs and real talk you know and love.Episode Highlights:New segments on B&B, including guest interviews with Brooke and friendship Q&A/advice with Erica – where we want to hear from YOUWe heard you! The episode topics we’ll be diving into again (or for the first time) based on your Season 2 feedbackWhat we've been up to over the past yearHow romance literature is getting a bad rep right nowOur realization on a recent trip to Disney (spoiler alert – we are not chill travel girlies after all)Our celebrity encounter at the happiest place on Earth
In this episode, Brooke interviews Julie Reisler—a certified health and wellness coach, author, podcast host, and Founder of the Life Designer®️ Coach Academy that Brooke completed this past fall. They discuss all things intuition: what it is, how to get in touch with yours, how to discern intuitive guidance, and much more. We hope this conversation informs, inspires, and empowers you to cultivate a stronger relationship with your own intuition, leading to greater connection, confidence, and self-knowing.
Episode Highlights:
- Julie provides quick practices to engage your intuition for answers and guidance
- How intuition is built into our human design
- Intuition as a practice and tool, rather than an overwhelming spiritual concept
- Understanding the difference between intuitive guidance and fear-based thought patterns
- How to start building your intuitive muscle if you are completely new to it
- How curiosity can help you heal past parts of yourself and serve as the key to exploring and expanding your intuition
- Why building an intentional, loving, and compassionate relationship with yourself is a cornerstone to discerning and utilizing your intuition more fully
- How cultivating your intuition can lead to more self-trust, self-love, and longevity
Connect with Julie
Website: https://juliereisler.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliereisler/
The You-est You®️ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@JulieReisler
In this episode, Erica updates us on her healing journey after her traumatic brain injury last March. Despite significant progress, Erica and Brooke discuss how external issues within the healthcare system are adding stress and frustration to her recovery.
Episode Highlights:
- Details on Erica’s progress in her traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery, including its effects on her emotions and emotional regulation
- The negative impact of discounting patients' emotions, particularly women, in healthcare settings
- Why attempting to "fix" someone’s emotions is unhelpful
- The importance of holding space for others to express emotions during stress or overwhelm to ensure psychological safety, especially in collaborative environments
- The non-linear nature of healing—whether physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual—and the importance of embracing and using emotions at each stage of recovery to move forward
In this episode, our friend Mar joins Erica to discuss howbecoming a mother can impact friendships. As the first in her group to have a baby, Mar offers valuable insights into the changes she observed and experienced in her friendships from her first pregnancy to now, as she raises a toddler.
Episode Highlights:
- How to support friends who are pregnant, newmoms, or experienced moms and keep your friendship strong
- The necessary growth and evolution offriendships when a friend starts a family and changes priorities
- Making new friends as a new mom, the pros andcons of mom networking groups, and choosing continued connections wisely
- The evolving sense of self during pregnancy andmotherhood
- The mental health benefits of maintaining yourfriendships and hobbies as a new mom
Follow/Connect with Mar: (and stay tuned for her NEW book coming soon!)
https://linktr.ee/ninavoss
https://ninavossauthor.wixsite.com/neon-nina
https://www.instagram.com/nina.author
https://www.threads.net/@nina.author
In this second episode of our friendship series, we dive into the ways we've felt our friendships evolve from high school or college into adulthood. We all evolve as individuals throughout our lives. And oftentimes, in order to maintain valuable friendships, the style of our relationships needs to evolve as well.Episode Highlights:
- Navigating the emotions that arise when friends enter new, friendship-altering seasons of life
- Being mindful about caring for friends who are on a different life path from your own
- Concrete strategies for assessing the current state of your friendships and tips for initiating conversations about adjusting friendship expectations
- Strategies for accepting and navigating 'friendship jealousy' when your friend's priorities shift, and you feel relegated to a lower priority
In this premiere episode of our friendship series, we dive into how intentionally cultivating meaningful friendships has become a cornerstone in both of our lives and we provide listeners with tangible action steps to find and forge the meaningful connections they crave.
Episode Highlights:
- Brooke and Erica share their unique experiences making and keeping their most important friendships
- Erica shares the super intentional (and maybe not-so-common) way she and Brooke became friends
- How friendships grow and evolve over time, and ways to reflect on your friendships during different seasons of life
- The differences that make up trusting, meaningful friendships vs surface level, lonely friendships
- How being authentic and intentional is the cornerstone of building lasting and fruitful friendships
- Tangible tips to help you find like-minded individuals and navigate the vulnerability and anxiety that comes with putting yourself out there to make new friends
- Actionable steps, and practical strategies to help you find and forge genuine connections
In this episode, Brooke and Erica discuss the impacts that the Ozempic craze is having on health and beauty standards, and social media's role in magnifying those standards.
They also discuss ways we can protect ourselves from the negative effects that diet culture and social media comparison can have on our mental health.
In this episode Erica and Brooke dive into setting intentions, finding a mantra, or deciding on a "word of the year" to anchor you in the year ahead.
Episode Highlights:
- How uncertainty or low seasons can affect setting your goals and the importance of showing yourself grace during those times
- Why it’s important to acknowledge and allow yourself to feel the lows of low seasons, and not just bypass them
- How your words carry the power to empower you
- How dedicated self-reflection can unlock doors to internal wisdom and guidance
- Brooke provides prompts for a 2023 reflection & setting intentions for 2024
- Erica shares her experience utilizing the prompts which led her to find her mantra for 2024
- The importance of using ability-focused wording in your goals and self talk for success
In this episode, Erica and Brooke break from routine topics to discuss a recent pop culture controversy that's thrown them into a spiral: Harry Styles cut off all of his hair.
Erica breaks down the timeline of how the news broke, speculation as to why this may have occurred, and shares hilarious examples of how Harry fans are taking the news.
Erica shares her academic research on the history of yoga and it's benefits as a healing modality, as well as her personal experience using yoga to manage symptoms of PTSD and heal from her traumatic brain injury.
Episode Highlights:
- Brooke shares a non-yoga related PSA for the next time you need to get your drivers license picture taken
- Erica shares how yoga has helped her in the past year while recovering from her traumatic brain injury, as well as, years ago when dealing with anxiety and PTSD
- Erica dives into the history of yoga - it's origins, the westernization of it's practices, and resources to learn more about the foundations of yoga as a spiritual practice
- Erica shares her academic research into trauma-sensitive yoga and it's ability to help individuals suffering from anxiety, PTSD, or other mental health conditions
- Erica describes the ways that yoga can serve as a therapeutic practice for anyone looking to reduce overall stress and overwhelm
- Brooke and Erica discuss the importance of incorporating multiple modalities when thinking about healing and wellness, including a modality that may often be overlooked- human connection.
Isabelle Knight, a former UK-based publicist of 20 years, joins Brooke to discuss building a personal brand and crafting your unique brand story. Isabelle shares the wisdom and insights she's gained from being an entrepreneur and chaser of the next challenge for over 20 years to encourage and provide women in (or entering) the workforce with tools to promote their unique brand stories and build their confidence to push through imposter syndrome and other misconceptions to follow their dreams.
Episode highlights:
- What a personal brand truly is
- The importance of developing your brand story to help you confidently communicate your message to the world
- Prompts to get started in crafting your brand story
- How narrowing down your target audience lays the groundwork for professional success
- Why you need to step into new opportunities, even when you’re scared, and not be held back by imposter syndrome
- The power of learning from “doing it” - even experienced professionals are always learning
- The importance of honesty and vulnerability in professional relationships
- The power of asking questions and knowing the value you bring, no matter your age or experience level
- The reality of having to put in the work before you start to see success
About Isabelle:
Isabelle Knight is a former publicist of 20 years having worked with some of the biggest names in Film, TV & Publishing, that include JK Rowling and BBC. Isabelle now works exclusively with authors, helping them learn the tools and strategies to grow their readership, increase their impact, and build success through publicity, promotion and marketing tools and strategies.
www.buildyourbrandwithpr.com
https://linktr.ee/isabellepr
https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabelle-knight-pr/
https://www.instagram.com/isabelle.knight.pr/
Tik Tok @isabelle_knight_pr
Let's be real, the holiday season brings all the emotions: joy, happiness, love - but also stress, frustration, and anxiety. In this episode, Erica and Brooke discuss navigating feelings of stress and anxiety around food, routine changes, lack of movement, and overstimulation during the holidays in hopes of helping you have a more peaceful and mindful holiday season.
Episode highlights:
- Ways to plan ahead for movement and fitness during the holidays
- Overstimulation during the holidays - how taking time for yourself can help you feel your best
- Tips to advocate for alone time with family and friends - addressing it & brushing off comments
- Packing healthy food for holiday travels & bringing feel-good foods to holiday meals
- How to mindfully approach holiday food & meals when you struggle with food anxiety or overwhelm
- The risks of over restriction during the holidays
In this episode, Erica and Brooke recap the past 6 months of their lives and the factors that caused their radio silence on Balanced & Boujee's channels.
Episode Highlights:
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Brooke recaps the final months of her time in London
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Erica and Brooke discuss entering transition seasons with their careers, and the feelings that go along with not knowing what's coming next
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Erica shares her journey healing from a brain injury
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Brooke and Erica share a bit of what's to come in Season 2 of Balanced and Boujee
In this episode, Brooke is joined by long-time friend Hannah Formella-Zdroik to talk about pursuing your unique life path. Hannah is a Doctor of Audiology graduate student with a passion for music and theatre. After years of grappling with the feeling that a traditional audiology career path isn't meant for her, Hannah is boldly stepping into the opportunity to carve out her own career path and make a unique impact using her gifts and passions.
Highlights from this episode:
- Hannah shares her story about progressing through the world of graduate school and work placements while learning to listen to the internal spark calling her to do something different
- The importance of letting yourself think outside of the preset boxes of career choices and life paths when following your calling
- What a higher calling can feel like physically, mentally, and emotionally
- How prioritizing what brings you joy, and connecting it with service to others, might just be the golden ticket to determining your unique career path
- How to network as an entrepreneur
- The importance of learning the unique career stories of people you admire to inspire you about what's possible in your own life
Connect with Hannah Formella-Zdroik on Instagram at @dr.hannah.aud2b to learn more about Hannah's story, audiology and theatre accessibility, and inclusivity in the arts.
Join Brooke and Erica as they work through the process of setting intentional goals for Erica's current season.
Episode highlights:
- Journaling prompts to help you approach life with more intentionality
- Examples of how to turn intentions into tangible goals
- A flexible look at goals and learning how you can incorporate them into your life, no matter what season you are in
- Erica discusses the common struggle of trying to force control of certain things when other areas of life feel out of control
- Brooke shares some tips for creating a morning ritual that helps you start your day with intentionality
As a follow up to episode 10, Erica and Brooke share some of the actionable steps they are taking to navigate current stressors in their lives.
Topics in this episode:
- Being intentional about your living space - how your environment affects you and your peace/well-being
- Managing disappointment and sadness during the holidays
- Using movement to help manage anxiety and stress
- Finding movement you enjoy and can fall back on when you feel unmotivated
- Allowing yourself to escape into creative imagination during times of overwhelm
- Proactive coping mechanisms - journaling, regular movement, meal prepping, etc.
- How regular journaling can help you connect to yourself and identify the root of anxious feelings, frustration, and sadness
- The difference between setting goals and forcing rigid plans
Brooke and Erica share some of their current struggles in what they consider to be particularly challenging seasons.
Topics in this episode:
- The importance of building trust with ourselves
- Navigating the feeling of needing external validation and approval for big life decisions
- Balancing what's important to you with the expectations of others
- Not feeling selfish about choosing to honor yourself
- The dangers of not allowing yourself to process your feelings during difficult times
- The importance of finding the root cause of overwhelming feelings
- How overusing a 'push' mentality of just working harder, being better, and muddling through can ultimately push you to a breaking point
- How to determine if you're overcompensating with control mechanisms when life feels out of control
- How to navigate the guilt that comes with not feeling good or happy during difficult seasons
- Overcoming the fear of disappointing the people who believe in you
Plus, Erica shares tangible tips on how to manage negative self talk and train your inner voice to be more positive.
In this bnb mini episode, Erica and Brooke recap their Disneyland Paris trip and discuss the following highlights:
- Walkable, offsite accommodations
- Why the Park Hopper ticket is a necessity
- How they snagged a reservation at the best restaurant (and how you can too!)
- What healthy food options you can expect (including vegan and vegetarian options)
- Sweet treat recommendations when inside the park
- Disneyland Paris's unique differences compared to the United States parks
This episode also includes an important public service announcement for coffee lovers headed to the park... or anywhere in Europe. Tune in to find out more!
In this episode of Balanced and Boujee, Erica and Brooke share some of their favorite things right now. This includes skincare and makeup products they are loving, new foods they have implemented into their diet, daily practices for wellness and self-care, and much more.
Check out the @balancedndboujee instagram page for more information on the episode and to find links to the products mentioned.
The links will not provide a commission to Balanced and Boujee, but rather they are direct links to the stores where Brooke and Erica purchased these items
In this episode, Erica and Brooke discuss the reality of having bad days (or weeks). Because let's be honest, no matter how hard you work to proactively care for yourself and your mental health, we all still experience crummy days and low seasons.
Highlights from the episode:
- Erica shares her strategy to identify and understand the root cause of the overwhelming feelings that come with having a bad day
- Brooke and Erica discuss how finding the root cause of your feelings can help you determine the best way to navigate through them
- Define what it means to have a 'Sad Girl Night' and why you should probably plan one, asap.
- Discuss riding the highs and lows of life and the importance of allowing yourself to fully experience both ends of the spectrum
In this episode, Brooke and Erica decide to forgo their originally planned topic to discuss a recent event heavy on their hearts and minds; the passing of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Recorded just 3 days after Her Majesty’s death, Brooke and Erica unpack the many layers of this incredibly sad, yet historic time.
In this episode:
- Brooke provides an update on the experience of living in London during this time, attending the funeral-related ceremonies that have occurred so far, and her experience being outside of Buckingham Palace when the Queen’s death was officially announced and the flag was lowered to half mast
- The B&B ladies discuss Queen Elizabeth II’s life and legacy and her personal impact on both Brooke and Erica
- They share their thoughts on where the British Monarchy is headed with King Charles III as the new Sovereign and discuss the expectations of the British Monarch that people may not realize
- Analyze the recent re-emergence of the Fab Four during the Queen’s funeral ceremonies and speculate the likelihood of seeing them back again in the future
Resources from this episode:
Brooke’s official London instagram account: @_brookeinlondon
In this episode, Erica and Brooke are doing what they call a “b&b mini”. With no set topic, they catch up and get you up to speed on their recent life events.
Here's the rundown:
- Brooke recently made a move...to LONDON!
- Brooke provides some updates on her new home for the next 12 months, shares how packing tested her ability to embrace her boujee side and not give into the fear of judgement, and reflects on some of the initial feelings she's experience since entering this new season.
- Erica and Brooke dive into their boujee plans for when Erica goes to visit Brooke and chat about how getting excited for the trip is half of the fun!
- They discuss trying new things by yourself and share how vulnerable it can feel to put yourself out there and try to make new friends.
- Finally, they talk about why it’s important to lean on good friends during times of change and how to not overthink it. (Spoiler alert: your friends love you, and WANT to be there for you. Even if your inner voice tries to convince you otherwise. ❤️ )
We hope you enjoy this more spontaneous episode of Balanced & Boujee!
Join Brooke and Erica as they respond to listener feedback about Episode 2 "What does "Healthy Eating" even mean?" and share some of their favorite tips and tricks to make creating and maintaining your healthy eating routine easier. They also dive deeper into the misconceptions about "healthy eating" and discuss ways in which you can manage your mindset around this topic to ensure you aren't going to extremes.
Books mentioned in this episode:
Grain Brain: The Surprising Truth about Wheat, Carbs, and Sugar--Your Brain's Silent Killers by David Perlmutter and Kristin Loberg
Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life by Max Lugavere and Paul Grewal
In this episode, Erica and Brooke discuss the importance of finding a fitness routine that serves you.
They share free & affordable resources to help you get started in a fitness routine. (Resources linked below)
Discuss the ways in which regular exercise supports all areas of your life. (Mental & Physical Health, Relationships, etc.)
Share tips for avoiding overthinking and intimidation at the gym.
Explore different types of fitness that may work for you. (Group Fitness, App-based workout plans, at-home workouts, etc.)
Discuss the importance of adding strength training into your exercise regimen for overall health benefits and increasing your BAD B!+{h ENERGY!!!
Plus, Brooke shares an encounter at the gym that still makes her cringe....
Fitness Resources:
Moves by Madeline: https://madelinemoves.com/
MadFit: https://www.youtube.com/c/MadFit
The Pelaton App: https://www.onepeloton.com/app
Allie Bennett Treadmill Strut Playlists on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/12137516903
The Berkshire Room - Chicago (a SUPER cute bar): https://www.theberkshireroom.com/
In this episode, Erica and Brooke discuss one of Brooke's favorite topics: Goals.
They share tips & tricks for creating meaningful goals you'll want to stick with.
Explain how determining the why behind your goals is so important to your success.
Share how striving to achieve goals is a healthy practice that can turn unhealthy without proper balance and awareness.
Explore how semantics plays a crucial part in communicating your goals to yourself and other people.
Discuss what to do when you "fail" at achieving one of your goals.
Dive into how the definition of a goal can look different for everyone.
Plus, Brooke shares her favorite yearly goal planner (the PowerSheets goal planner by Cultivate What Matters) and how you can utilize this tool to help you set, work towards, and achieve your personal goals.
In this episode, Erica and Brooke discuss one of their favorite topics: Food
Food is meant to be enjoyed, yet it also plays an important role as fuel and medicine for our bodies. So how do we navigate all of the rules and expectations that society has sold us around food and eating?
Brooke and Erica dive into the oversaturated topics of "healthy food" and "healthy eating" and discuss what they feel it means to eat healthy from a Balanced, yet Boujee approach. They'll explore ways you can identify what feeling healthy means for you, share their personal routines that help them feel their best, and provide some tips on how maintain a balanced diet while traveling.
Join us in our FIRST EVER Balanced and Boujee Podcast Episode where we dive into how Balanced & Boujee came to be.
We'll talk about:
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How B&B was born out of waiting in line for hours to ride the same 3 roller coasters at Universal Orlando Studios (and how we somehow enjoyed waiting in line almost as much as the rides themselves)
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What does being Balanced and Boujee even mean?!
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Our hopes for this podcast and the Balanced & Boujee community
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Plus, we share some of our favorite life-hacks to get the most out of your day - especially when traveling.