006 - Suzette Escobar

006 - Suzette Escobar

From office to platform, Suzette Escobar went from “not a sports kid” to a national-level USA Powerlifting athlete in her 40s, all while working as an engineering program manager at Google. In this episode, she shares how she discovered her strength, built a 360 lb squat in just a few years, balances elite lifting with a demanding tech career, and why lifting weights is the best long-term investment you can make in your future self. This one is for every woman who thinks it’s “too late” or “too intimidating” to step into the weights area—Suzette will change your mind. Follow her on instagram @travelersuz [https://www.instagram.com/travelersuz?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==] 00:00 – Intro, who Suzette is, and how she and Ania met 00:32 – Career journey: from event planner to Google engineering program manager 02:11 – Discovering powerlifting at Google and qualifying for Regionals and Nationals 05:59 – Powerlifting 101: what squat, bench, and deadlift look like in competition 06:14 – Breaking her toe, falling in love with bench, and technical bench tips 11:54 – Balancing powerlifting with a demanding tech job and life outside the gym 13:41 – Working with a remote coach, communication, and navigating stress and recovery 18:15 – The inclusive powerlifting community and being a Masters lifter over 40 30:07 – Strength progress: from a 75 kg squat to 165 kg and big bench/deadlift gains 34:58 – Meet-day strategy, attempt selection, weight cuts, and big future goals #WhatMovesHer #WomenWhoLift #StrongWomen #MastersPowerlifting #USAPL #PowerliftingWomen #WomenInTech #GoogleLife #EverydayAthlete #StrengthAtAnyAge #Over40AndStrong #BarbellClub #LiftHeavyBeKind #GirlsWhoPowerlift #FutureSelfInvestmen

005 - Karla Renteria

The conversation explores the theme of pushing limits and breaking bottles, emphasizing the importance of overcoming fear and supporting each other. It delves into the concept of breaking the bottle and embracing change, leading to the creation of an eco-friendly fashion brand and overcoming adversity. The discussion also highlights the significance of support and paying it forward in times of need. The conversation delves into the power of intentional support, addressing alcoholism and addiction, seeking help, finding stillness and routine, exploring individual neurotransmitter dominance, overcoming challenges and achieving goals, and the importance of gratitude and attitude. Follow Karla on instagram @karla.renteria.guevara and her eco sustainability business @ecopersonallc and ecopersona.com [http://ecopersona.com] Takeaways * Overcoming fear and pushing limits * The importance of support and paying it forward Intentional support can have a profound impact on personal and professional growth. * Gratitude and attitude play a crucial role in overcoming challenges and achieving goals. Chapters * 00:00 Pushing Limits and Breaking Bottles * 08:12 Breaking the Bottle and Overcoming Limitations * 14:16 Embracing Change and Finding Support * 20:06 Eco-Friendly Fashion and Overcoming Adversity * 26:38 Support and Paying It Forward * 32:05 Breaking the Bottle: Seeking Help * 39:13 Exploring Individual Neurotransmitter Dominance * 46:53 Overcoming Challenges and Achieving Goals * 54:56 Gratitude and Attitude

004 - Corrine Astroff

Corinne Astroff shares her journey of overcoming adversity and finding strength through fitness. Her dedication to fitness and rigorous training regimen is an inspiration to others. The conversation delves into the role of a personal trainer, surprising achievements in fitness, commitment and accountability, balancing fitness and relationships, the impact of professional life on fitness, nutrition and endurance workouts, fueling for endurance workouts, fitness as stress relief, finding confidence and structure in fitness, high rocks and fitness challenges, advice for getting into high rocks, the accessibility of Orange Theory, body benefits vs. weight loss benefits, personal victories in fitness, and advice for starting a fitness journey. Follow her on instagram @c.astroff92 as she prepares for another HYROX event! Takeaways * Overcoming Adversity * Dedication to Fitness Fitness journey and personal growth * Accountability and support in fitness * Balancing fitness and professional life Chapters * 00:00 Dedication to Fitness and Training Regimen * 18:41 The Role of a Personal Trainer * 24:34 Fueling for Endurance Workouts * 29:37 Advice for Getting into High Rocks * 35:06 Personal Victories in Fitness

003 - Kat Dybdahl

The podcast episode features an engaging conversation with Kat Dibdall, a fitness enthusiast and through hiker. Kat shares her journey into sports and fitness, her transition to powerlifting, training for a 50K ultra, and her experience with through hiking and grieving. The conversation also covers safety concerns, wildlife encounters, the geography of the Pacific Crest Trail, fitness and mental health, and Kat's recent diagnosis with Graves' disease. The conversation covers the challenges of physical and mental fatigue, managing an autoimmune condition, the importance of listening to one's body, personal running experiences, internal monologue and self-encouragement, and an upcoming trail adventure. Ania shares her journey of overcoming physical challenges and highlights the significance of self-encouragement in achieving her goals. Takeaways * Facing fears and self-doubt * Community support and encouragement Overcoming physical challenges * Importance of self-encouragement Follow Kat on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thefunsizedbackpacker/ [https://www.instagram.com/thefunsizedbackpacker/]

002 - Michele Santihano

WHAT MOVES HER – EPISODE 2: MICHELE SANTILHANO In this inspiring episode, host Ania Wronski sits down with Michele Santilhano — a pediatric oncology nurse, ultra-endurance athlete, and one of the rare people to have both swum the English Channel and completed it as part of a full triathlon (arch to arc: run, swim, cycle from London to Paris). Michele shares her journey from growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, to becoming one of the most accomplished multi-sport ultra-endurance athletes in the US, including completing solo cycling's Race Across America (RAAM), 200-mile trail runs, and open-water channel swims. The conversation covers injury recovery, training philosophy, fueling strategies, mental resilience, and her ambitious goal of one day completing the Iditarod Trail Invitational in Alaska. ---------------------------------------- KEY TAKEAWAYS * "If you can't go fast, go long." Michele's endurance career was born from the realisation she had endurance genes over speed genes — a mindset that fuelled an extraordinary athletic journey. * Community is everything. Whether crewed by triathlon teammates, paced by a patient, or supported by friends across thousands of miles, Michele attributes much of her success to the people around her. * Injury doesn't mean stopping. After snapping all four quadricep muscles off her patella mid-race in 2024, Michele immediately shifted focus to upper body training and was swimming within two weeks, returning to running within months. * A great coach makes all the difference. Michele uses Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) and credits having a coach who listens, adapts to your lifestyle, and balances training with life as essential to longevity in the sport. * Fueling is non-negotiable. The key formula: drink every 5 minutes, eat something solid every 15, and target 60–90 grams of carbohydrates per hour during endurance events. * Running mechanics matter. Proper form — shoulders over hips, over knees, over ankles — and a gradual return-to-run protocol (start with walk/run intervals) are critical for injury prevention. ---------------------------------------- RESOURCES MENTIONED * 📘 Training Essentials for Ultrarunning [https://trainright.com/ultrarunning/] by Jason Koop (Carmichael Training Systems) — The benchmark book for ultramarathon training, covering evidence-based methodologies for runners of all levels. Michele wrote to the author, who connected her with her current coach. * 📘 The Feed Zone Cookbook [https://www.skratchlabs.com/products/the-feed-zone-cookbook] by Dr. Allen Lim & Chef Biju Thomas — Wholesome, athlete-friendly recipes for endurance fueling; Michele references "the Alan Lim book on fueling on the go". * 📘 The Lost Art of Running [https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lost-art-of-running-the-shane-benzie/1138853845] by Shane Benzie — A deep dive into natural running mechanics and biomechanics from a movement coach and anthropologist; Michele recommends Shane Benzie for learning proper running form. * 📱 Fuelin App [https://www.fuelin.com/] (F-U-E-L-I-N) — A nutrition app Michele recommends for athletes to dial in the right amounts of protein and carbohydrates without the fuss. * 🏋️ Carmichael Training Systems (CTS) [https://trainright.com/] — Michele's current training and coaching platform, specialising in endurance sports including ultra-distance trail running.