FIO with Maddy Forberg

Today, Maddy Forberg sits down with meditation teacher & podcaster, Kelly Smith. Kelly is the founder of Yoga for You, her yoga and meditation school that focuses on meditation teaching, training yoga teachers, and sharing her passion via her podcast.  She is E-RYT 500, YACEP, and location independent yoga and meditation teacher.  Kelly has studied over 16 styles of yoga and meditation during her time as a yoga student and teacher.  She has taught over 5000 hours and led thousands of students on 5 different continents.  She believes that there isn't a one-size-fits-all approach and the secret to success is finding what works for you.  Her podcast, Mindful in Minutes, really exemplifies this mindset by eliminating the barrier of entry and offering her personal guided meditations for anyone who chooses to listen.   In this podcast, we talk about Kelly's experience with yoga & meditation, what inspired her, her time when she lived with monks!!!!, how she continues to practice today, and her advice on getting started with your own personal practice! We hope you love this episode and feel empowered to try your hand at your own mindfulness meditation or yoga practice to benefit your life. Make sure to comment your thoughts about this episode, subscribe, and let us know who to have on next!

Today, Maddy Forberg sits down with friend, fellow bodybuilder & entrepreneur, Stan Efferding. Stan is an IFBB Professional bodybuilder and World Record Holding Powerlifter.  Stan holds the title of World's Strongest Bodybuilder and is one of only ten men in the world to ever total over 2300 pounds raw in competition.  Stan has a degree in Exercise Science from the University of Oregon and has been a trainer of all ages/levels of athletes for 25 years.  Stan now speaks at seminars across the country - leading discussions on various sports, nutrition, and training techniques.  He has appeared in and writes for many publications, including Muscular Development, Flex Magazine, and Power Magazine.  Stan has built three businesses from the ground up and turned them into multi-million dollar companies.  He is the Founder of the Vertical Diet.  Stan, like Maddy, works with Marek Health.   In this podcast, we talk about Stan's experience in the competitive bodybuilding world, his current training, successful business endeavors, and the focus of his book, "The Vertical Diet"! We hope you love this episode and learn something new!  Thank you to Marek Health for helping make this one come to life by way of sponsorship. Make sure to comment your thoughts about this episode, subscribe, and let us know who to have on next!

Today, Maddy Forberg sits down with her Youtube & Podcast video editor and friend, Sierra Dexter, owner of The Valley Imagery & Productions (The VIP Studios, for short) from Water Valley, MS. Sierra is new to the business owning world - as she opened her photography and videography business just under two years ago now.  She created it as a major change to her lifestyle following the wild year of 2020 and her love for risk taking and change.  She is a social worker by degrees, having gotten her Bachelors in Social Work from The University of Mississippi and her Masters in Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington.  She has spent the last eight years in the hospitality and sales industries as she worked to obtain her degrees and after as a way to supplement her income.  She is a crossfit-enthusiast turned olympic weightlifter turned powerlifter.  She loves empowering women through her current creative work; focusing quite a bit on her boudoir photography niche.  She says that this is her way of doing social work now.  Sierra and Maddy connected when Maddy posted at the beginning of 2023 that she was searching for a video editor.  They became fast friends and have now been working together almost 9 months.  Sierra is expecting her first child in October 2023.  We encourage you to follow Sierra on Instagram (@sierradexter) and her photography business (@thevalley.imagery.productions and @thevipboudoir) to keep up with her work, book a session, and for constant reminders that you are beautiful and strong just the way you are.   In this podcast, we speak on owning a creative business, empowering women through embracing their flaws, training as a woman and while pregnant, and much more! We have an in-depth conversation focusing on Sierra's firsthand experience in business with minimal experience before going all in, letting go of control, and becoming more confident through accepting yourself. We hope you love this episode and learn something new! Make sure to comment your thoughts about this episode, subscribe, and let us know who to have on next!

Today, Maddy Forberg sits down with friend and business mentor, Zack Bartell, owner of SoCal Powerlifting in Irvine, CA. Zack is an entrepreneur through-and-through.  He has owned SoCal Powerlifting in Irvine, California for 5+ years, is a business coach and mentor, and is a retired powerlifter turned Jiu Jitsu competitor and hobbyist.  Maddy and Zack met circa 2018 at USAPL RAW Nationals in Spokane, WA.  They began working together closely the past year and a half to grow Maddy's business, but became instant friends upon meeting.  We encourage you to follow Zack on Instagram (@bartellbarbell) and his gym on Instagram and Youtube ( @SoCalPowerlifting [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCNQsyoL6EjbInGHonjBkAEA]) to keep up with his work, drop in to train while in CA, and for potential business mentorship when his openings allow.   In this podcast, we speak on entrepreneurship, how training choices correlate to life and career choices, having goals, back up plans equate to planning to fail, and more! We have an in-depth conversation focusing on Zack's firsthand experience in business with quick growth, way of overcoming obstacles and pivoting to move with change, and advice on mindset. We're so thankful to have the opportunity to speak with the knowledgable, addiction advocate, Lindsay.  We hope you love this episode and learn something new! Make sure to comment your thoughts about this episode, subscribe, and let us know who to have on next!

Today, Maddy Forberg sits down with Duncan French, Vice President of Performance at the UFC Performance Institute. Dr. French is a high-performance specialist that has supported medallists at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Commonwealth Games; obtained a PhD in Exercise Physiology; is an author and co-author of over 50 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts.  He holds the 2010 Terry J. Housh NSCA Outstanding Young Investigator of the Year Award and a full accreditation as a strength and conditioning coach with UKSCA, ASCA, and NSCA.  He sits on many strength & conditioning and performance boards.  These are just some of his many accomplishments and roles.  We encourage you to follow Dr. Duncan French on instagram (@dr_duncan_french) to keep up with his work, research, and continued influence.   In this podcast, we get to know the success story of Duncan and how he came to be so highly ranked at the UFC! We get an exclusive look at the culture of the UFC, what fighters are like, and what it takes to be a great leader. We're so grateful to speak with the funny and intelligent Dr. D, and we hope you love this episode. Make sure to comment your thoughts about this episode, subscribe, and let us know who to have on next!