Feisty Women's Performance

What do athletic performance and entrepreneurship have in common? Turns out, a LOT.Sara Gross welcomes athlete and business founder, Carina Hamel to discuss the parallels between high performance and running a business. Carina has been a lifelong athlete, achieving national success as an NCAA Nordic skier at the University of Vermont and as a member of the US World Junior Ski Team. As a business professional prior to co-founding Bivo, Carina founded a footwear development company that specialized in helping brands from creative direction to manufacturing. At Bivo, Carina is responsible for strategic planning, hiring, community outreach, and more. Together, as female CEOs, former professional athletes, and parents, Sara and Carina discuss:How has an athlete prepared you for the entrepreneurial journeyHow she and her husband developed the idea of BivoA “Day in the Life” as a parent and entrepreneurJuggling personal time with work timeCreating a business plan and strategic plan to grow the businessHer Hiring Process and how to find the right peopleLearning from her biggest failuresThe 80-20 ruleHow she manages the stress and risk of running a businessAdvice for turning a side hustle into a full-time gigHer struggles with motivation or making tough decisionsA great athlete, like a successful entrepreneur, has the ability to create a plan, execute on the plan, adapt when necessary, and trust the process. Equipped with this mindset, Bivo is on course to continue to succeed for years to come. Learn more at DrinkBivo.com Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Direct from France, Sara Gross catches up with two females affecting change at the 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, Kate Veronneau (Zwift) and Cassondra Spring (Liv Cycling).The 2nd Annual Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift took place Sun, Jul 23, 2023 – Sun, Jul 30, 2023, an eight-day event that has rapidly become the biggest stage race in women's cycling history and, while there have been iterations of a women’s Tour de France in the past, they have never been as organized, funded, and supported as the event is now. In 2022, the Tour de France Femmes staged its first edition in the current format with the support of Zwift as a title sponsor.As Director of Women’s Strategy for Zwift, Kate Veronneau is often credited for making the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift happen, although she would never say that.Cassondra Spring is the Global Brand Manager at Liv Cycling, another major sponsor of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.Together with Sara, they discuss:Behind-the-scenes details and unfolding drama from the eventWhy the female 8-day race format is so dynamic, exciting, and captivatingThe vibe, reaction, and response from spectators and fans on the ground and at watch parties around the globeThe positive ROI for these companies that go well beyond just increased sales and visibilityThe global excitement of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and how this event is part of an overall wave of popularity in women’s sportsThe pride in working for companies that put women first and how their work has opened doors for more global female participation across cycling and all sports.The 2023 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift wrapped up on July 30th but there’s no doubt, with leaders like Cassondra and Kate, the impact and results will resonate for events and generations to come. Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Sara welcomes Dr. Emma Ross to the Women’s Performance Podcast. Dr. Ross is an exercise physiologist and the Head of Physiology at the English Institute for Sport where she leads a team of sports scientists in their support of British Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Through her leadership, Great Britain was described as a “sporting superpower” after the 2016 Rio games, winning more medals than ever before.Dr. Ross is also a founder of The Well HQ, helping female athletes thrive in health, sport, and life through their online resources, courses, and debut book, The Female Body Bible.Yes, female athlete research has improved in the last few years, but Dr. Ross continues to push the envelope on how she can increase education and knowledge of this latest research to help coaches, trainers, parents, and athletes take agency for their health and put the research into action.  Today, she and Sara discuss:-Their takeaways from the recent Female Athlete Conference-The intersection and individuality of your menstrual cycle on exercise performance-What we do know about the role of estrogen and progesterone in the cycles and how this may affect performance-Hormonal contraception and its potential impacts on athletic performance-Making informed decisions about your body -How best to educate female athletes on new research, along with getting this knowledge into the hands of coaches, trainers, and parents-Creating performance gains from a foundation of health - good sleep, nutrition, proper fueling, and stress management-The recent release of the Female Body Bible book - what response and impact has it had?-What’s surprising Dr. Ross in the world of female research these days?-Why women are often seen as "fragile" to researchersAs she notes, “The fragility is not your body. The female body is AMAZING. The fragility is in the system which has completely overlooked the fact that you need to know about sports bras, menstrual cycles, and pelvic health. It’s important to celebrate the female body and we do that by understanding it better."The Female Body Bible Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

*Note: This episode originally dropped on March 20, 2023*Lauren Fleshman has many titles - from being one of the most decorated American distance runners ever to recently releasing her book, Good for a Girl - a New York Times best-seller. But all of this accomplishment doesn't come without difficulty. This week, Lauren gets real with us and shares her experience of disordered eating, motherhood, and mental health. Discussing the stereotypes placed upon female athletes, Lauren explains why an "ideal race weight" doesn't exist. Further, she and Sara share their experiences of depression, and what it means to find yourself again through movement. Finally, Lauren highlights the importance of confidence for performance and how she’s helping the next generation of women and girls excel. Follow Lauren on Instagram @fleshmanflyer Purchase her book at https://www.laurenfleshman.com/Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

*Note: This Episode originally dropped on November 21, 2022*Intimacy and sexual satisfaction are important factors when discussing women's performance. That's why this week we bring you North America's top sex and relationship expert, Dr. Jess O'Reilly. Sara and Jess discuss all things sex, and how satisfying sex can enhance performance in your daily life. Jess gives us an outline for how we can discuss sexual intimacy with our partners, and truly get to the root of what we want. With communication at the forefront, Jess gives space for all types of "wants", and provides a non-judgmental and open approach to understanding our deepest desires. Follow Jess on Instagram @sexwithdrjesshttps://www.sexwithdrjess.com/ Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

In mid-June, Feisty Media was proud to be a sponsor of the 2023 Female Athlete Conference in Boston, which is the epicenter of academia and research as it relates to women’s performance. The self-described goal of the FAC is to close the disparity in research and treatment of female athletes and promote the understanding of female athletes' unique and understudied physiology and lived experience, as well as clinical best practices and interdisciplinary calls-to-action.Feisty’s own Sara Gross, Kelly O’Mara, and Selene Yeager attended the conference and, today, they share with you some of their personal thoughts and key takeaways from the three-day conference, along with some wish list topics that certainly warrant more discussion and research. They recap:What we continue to learn about the menstrual cycle and its effects on performanceHow to close the gap between new research and communication to coaches and trainersWhy we still don’t know enough about nutrition, even with continued research on REDS and LEA (Low Energy Availability)Why we need a better frame of reference when describing painThe disconnection between body composition and performanceMost agree that we are at an inflection point with women’s sports and performance which is why, now more than ever, it’s important to keep asking the right questions and creating ways to communicate research quickly and efficiently to those up-and-coming performers for years to come. Read Selene Yeager's Recap of the Female Athlete ConferenceLearn more about the Female Athlete ConferenceJoin us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Louise Green envisions a world where everyone can achieve their athletic potential regardless of size and, for 17 years, she’s been creating that world for people in larger bodies through her coaching, programming, and education at bigfitgirl.com and the Size Inclusive Academy.She joins Sara Gross to discuss athleticism in a larger body. Weight bias is still so rampant in our culture that it’s normalized, but imagine navigating a world that is not made for you — from small doors and cramped fitness studios, to buff trainers and classes focused only on getting lean and “earning a bikini body.” You’re literally walking into a space where people don’t want to look like you.It’s a traumatic experience, which is why some in larger bodies avoid fitness altogether, especially in public spaces.It’s not laziness or lack of dedication. It’s not an unwillingness to do the work. It’s the impossible task of trying to fit into an unrealistic “one size fits all” standard and this is the cultural divide Louise is working to close. She and Sara discuss:Louise’s personal entry into the fitness space and the stereotypes she had to overcome to be recognizedOur culture’s obsession with thinness Why avoiding fitness is often a trauma responseWhy people in larger bodies are often devalued How she started working with this population and why she feels it’s still important to create safe spacesThe details of developing curriculums for trainers and fitness centers on how to work specifically with larger-bodied athletesIdentifying Body positivity vs. body neutralityOur complicated relationship with the word, “fat” and the value of owning your own languageHow to work with companies and industries in helping them change and expand their offeringsFuture courses, programs, and books to support this audienceAs she says, “If you're hating on yourself all the time, there's no way that you can rise to your highest potential.” This is why she creates programming specifically for women in larger bodies because she undoubtedly believes that anybody and any body can be an athlete. Follow Louise on Instagram: @bigfitgirlJoin us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

Are sports the last bastion of the patriarchy? Our guest, Macaela MacKenzie thinks so. Her new book, Money Power Respect: How Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism explores how the role of sports is shaping cultural attitudes towards women and their value, and how sports can promote and encourage women's equality - both in changing external policies and institutions and internally empowering women. Sara and Macaela explore:How women's sports have been traditionally viewed as less valuable than men's sports, but the reality is that women's sports are an important avenue for empowering girls and women, challenging gender norms, and promoting gender equality.The unique challenges that women face in sports, including sexism, harassment, and discrimination, and why it's important to address these issues in order to create more inclusive and equitable sports environments.The fallacies behind the arguments that women’s sports are boring, or that women are biologically inferior to men, especially when it comes to sports. The role the media plays in shaping attitudes toward women's sports, especially with coverage, representation, and accessibility. The pitfalls of white feminism in sports.Why investment from stakeholders, sponsors, and fans will continue to drive change and increase power and respect for female athletes.How sports provide a training ground for future female leaders.Ways to grow female sports and increase viewership and engagement. Women's sports have the potential to transform cultural attitudes toward gender and power, but this requires investment and support from a range of stakeholders, including sports organizations, media outlets, and individual athletes and fans.By understanding the challenges facing women in sports, and advocating for change, we can create a more just and equitable society for all women. And, no doubt, we owe much of this progress to the women athletes who have shown us what is possible. Money Power Respect: How Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism - comes out on June 27, 2023, but you can pre-order today. http://www.macaelamackenzie.com/Follow Macaela on Instagram: @macaelamacJoin us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

An integral part of the Feisty Women's Performance brand is education and Feisty focuses their education on the four pillars of: physiology, nutrition, social/cultural influences, and mental health. In the Spring of 2023, Feisty successfully launched its first online course entitled FUELED: A Comprehensive Nutrition Course for Active Women. Today, CEO Sara Gross talks with Feisty Business of Fitness host, Molly Hurford about the details of creating an e-course:Why did Feisty go down the road of comprehensive online courses?How did they land on a topic?What and who went behind the content creation strategy?Who built the course?What was the launch and marketing strategy?What valuable lessons have you learned about creating courses?Knowing what you know now, what would you change?Creating a comprehensive online course may look easy, but as Sara notes, "there is no such thing as passive income" and a good course is in a constant state of evolution.Speaking of, the new Summer School session of Fueled starts in mid-June and you can sign up now.Join us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr

As much as she loves running, Jessica Michalofsky wishes her purpose was different. Jessica runs in memory of her son, Aubrey, who died in August of 2022 of toxic fentanyl poisoning and her mission is clear - we need the drug supply to be safe in order for people to stop dying. Toxic drugs are now the leading cause of death in British Columbia in people ages 10-59 and the problem is that the criminal supply of opioids has become increasingly synthetic and toxic. Yes, the cultural perception that “this won’t happen to me” and social stigma still play a massive role, but as she says, toxic drug use isn’t just killing "traditional" addicts. These drugs are killing first-time users and recreational users. Sara and Jessica talk about her “Marathon a Day for Safe Supply” campaign and the response to her efforts to bring awareness and solutions. They discuss the way that our culture tends to blame bad parenting and specifically “bad mothering” if your child becomes a user. (In fact, Jessica wrote a piece for Feisty Media on the concept of "Bad Enough Mothers.")They also talk about using running to deal with her grief, the ups and downs of these daily runs, and what it truly means to be "feisty" when you're running against the status quo. So, yes, as much as she would love to eradicate addiction, her purpose is to, first, provide a safe supply in order to preserve life…a life like her late son’s.Bad Enough Mothers and the Illicit Poisoning CrisisFollow Jessica's Journey on Instagram: @marathon.for.safe.supplyJoin us at Feisty Fest - September 18-20th, 2026: https://feisty.co/events/feisty-fest/Sign up to Receive The Feisty Women's Performance Newsletter:https://feisty.co/newsletters/feisty-womens-performance/Follow us on Instagram:@feisty_womens_performanceVisit the Feisty website at https://feisty.co/ for info on all of our events and podcastsSupport our Partners:Eternal: Get 15% off services with code FEISTY15 at https://eternal.co/ Hettas: Use code STAYFEISTY for 20% off at https://hettas.com/ Momentous: Head to https://www.livemomentous.com/ and use promo code PERFORMANCE for up to 35% off your first orderWahoo: Learn more about Wahoo Fitness Products at: Wahoo: Learn more at https://shorturl.at/WVhdr