233. On the Job with Amanda LaVergne, Broadway Performer

"There are a lot of people who put a lot of pressure on themselves — maybe you, maybe me — to do it all. So if you do have problems postpartum, we can treat that at seven months, we can treat that at three years, we can treat it when you're ready. I want to treat my moms when they're ready — not when they're feeling overwhelmed." Dr. Abigail Bales is the founder of Reform Physical Therapy in New York City, where she specializes in pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation, primarily focused on pelvic floor health. In this episode, Abby, who is a board-certified licensed physical therapist, breaks down everything you need to know about the pelvic floor in an easy to understand way. She talks about exercise modifications during and after pregnancy, and explains why peeing yourself after giving birth is "common, not normal." Abby, who is a mom of two (Henry, 5, and Caitlyn, almost 2), also talks about mothering with a chronic illness (ulcerative colitis), her experience with postpartum depression, what her marriage was like after having children, body image, breastfeeding, going back to work after baby, and learning to ask for help. Thank you to Sweaty Betty for sponsoring Motherhood Mondays on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to sweatybetty.com and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your purchase.   What you’ll get on this episode: What exactly does a pelvic floor physical therapist do? (4:00) Signs you may have a weak pelvic floor, and when people should see a pelvic floor physical therapist (7:00) What to know about exercise modifications during pregnancy (8:30) Why, no, peeing yourself after pregnancy isn’t normal according to Dr. Abby (14:30) Why I didn’t see Abby after giving birth — and her response to my confession (19:20) How having a chronic illness has affected Abby during her pregnancies and in motherhood (25:45) Abby’s experience with postpartum depression after her second baby (30:00) Abby reflects on new motherhood, marriage, and body stuff (35:00) On going back to work after having babies (41:00) What we mention on this episode: Abby on Episode 49 of the Ali on the Run Show Reform Physical Therapy The ACSM pregnancy guidelines Antony Lo PelvicRehab.com Global Pelvic Health Alliance directory Sara Blakely on Instagram Jenny Mollen on Instagram Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

5 Mai 201952min

"I was smiling the whole time — even when it hurt really bad. I was so happy and thankful to be out there." Lindsey Hein, host of I'll Have Another with Lindsey Hein, is a returning guest on the Ali on the Run Show. Last month, Lindsey and I — along with fellow podcast hosts Carrie Tollefson and Tina Muir — did a live show during Boston Marathon weekend. But we wanted to keep the fun going! So Lindsey and I reconvened this week to talk about how Lindsey's Boston Marathon went (her first postpartum race since having baby number four!), what her training leading up to Boston looked like, and what's next on her race calendar. Then, we talk all things podcasting, including our most-downloaded episodes, biggest surprises, and rejections. Thank you to the New York Road Runners Virtual Dog Jog 5K for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE to register (it’s free!) and complete your run today. Everybody’s doing it!   What you’ll get on this episode: Lindsey reflects on the 2019 Boston Marathon, including her training leading up to the race and how race day went (2:40) Is there pressure that comes with knowing people are tracking you and following along during races? Plus, what’s next on Lindsey’s race calendar (17:00) Lindsey’s expert advice for a 4-ish-hour marathoner who wants to maybe Boston Qualify someday (22:00) Rehashing the Boston live show (28:30) Lindsey chats all things podcasting, including her most popular episodes, the potential guest who turned her down, and dream guests (34:35) Lindsey’s take on the current state of the running podcast world (45:00) How Lindsey gets it all done (52:00) What we mention on this episode: Lindsey on Episode 37 of the Ali on the Run Show Women Behind the Mic LIVE in Boston Boston Marathon Mary Johnson Ashley Fizzarotti Heather Jensen on I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein Kristen Garzone on I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein Amelia Gapin on I’ll Have Another with Lindsey Hein Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson Follow Lindsey: Instagram @lindseyhein626 Facebook Twitter @lindseyhein Podcast Blog Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

3 Mai 20191h 1min

"I was like, really?! I just launched a podcast, I have a live show coming up, I grew my blog, I’m killing myself to kill it in my career — and you’re going to congratulate me on this? On being out at a bar with a cute guy? Do not congratulate me for having a boyfriend!" Grace Atwood is the creator of the wildly popular blog The Stripe and the co-host of the Bad on Paper podcast. With more than 110,000 followers on Instagram, it's safe to say Grace, who is also a multiple-time marathoner, has made it as a successful full-time blogger and influencer — but that was never the goal or the plan, and when she first dove head-first into full-time blogging, Grace was embarrassed to own the title. But now, not only does she own it, she's also vocal about the hard work that goes into this lifestyle. (Turns out, it's not all glamorous photo shoots and exotic press trips.) On this episode, Grace talks about shifting her career from marketing at P&G to late nights at BaubleBar to a Gossip Girl-inspired DIY site that eventually became a six-figure business. She talks about learning the business side of blogging, about what takes up most of her time (hint: "Where's that from?"), and about everything you ever wanted to know about the lives of your favorite Instagrammers and bloggers. She keeps it real, light, and hilarious. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: Was going into business for herself always Grace’s vision? (2:45) The road to becoming a full-time blogger (8:00) How Grace grew her site and her brand, and how she learned the business side of blogging (18:00) What a day in the life of an influencer is actually like (25:00) Grace on dating, marriage, and whether or not she wants kids — and how her readers have reacted to her personal opinions (36:00) The very lucrative offer Grace recently turned down (44:40) On podcasting, confidence, and body positivity (50:00) Grace the runner! (58:00) What we mention on this episode: Coty BaubleBar rewardStyle DojoMojo Chinae Alexander Katie Sturino Honestly WTF Say Media A Day in Her Life series on The Stripe Girls Gotta Eat Team in Training 167 Raw The Correct Order to Apply Your Skincare Products via The Stripe The Devil in the White City The Idea of You Follow Grace: Instagram @graceatwood Twitter @graceatwood The Stripe Facebook Group The Stripe Bad on Paper podcast Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

1 Mai 20191h 7min

"We talk so much about the physical changes — but I wish we talked more about the emotional pieces in pregnancy." Welcome to the first episode in a 10-part Motherhood Mondays series on the Ali on the Run Show. The minute I found out I was pregnant in February 2018, my brain was consumed with all things pregnancy, childbirth, and Buy Buy Baby coupons. But once I gave birth, my world was rocked. I'd prepared for pregnancy, but had no idea what I was in for when it came to new motherhood. The breastfeeding, the hormones, the hair loss, the sleep deprivation — all things people had told me about, but that I don't think I ever could have fully prepared for. And so I struggled — hard. I've been at this new mom thing for six months now, and while I'm no expert, many of the guests on this series are. This series is all about new motherhood: the struggles, the intensity, the big wins, and little victories. It's a judgment-free, no-such-thing-as-TMI look at survival mode, thriving mode, and everything in between.  First up: Kristin Mallon, a board certified nurse midwife and founder of Integrative Obstetrics in Jersey City, NJ, who has delivered more than 4,000 babies in her 16 years of experience. Kristin is a mom of four and a four-time marathoner — and she was my midwife! I had an amazing pregnancy and delivery under Kristin's care, and I'm thrilled to welcome her to the show.  Thank you to Sweaty Betty for sponsoring Motherhood Mondays on the Ali on the Run Show! Go to sweatybetty.com and use code ONTHERUN for 20 percent off your purchase. What you’ll get on this episode: How Kristin became a midwife, and what the difference is between an OB/GYN and a midwife (3:30) Common misconceptions about midwifery (8:05) Who might want to consider using a midwife during pregnancy and delivery? (11:00) On first-time moms and pregnancy FAQs (13:55) Kristin’s top dos and don’ts during pregnancy (18:10) What Kristin wants to say to women trying to get pregnant after miscarriage or loss (22:20) How to advocate for yourself during pregnancy (25:00) All about “birth plans” and birth disappointment (31:30) What is a midwife’s role during the childbirth process? (41:00) On pooping and tearing (46:00) What women and their partners should understand about recovering from childbirth — physically and mentally (48:30) What Kristin’s four birth experiences were like (54:00) What we mention on this episode: Integrative Obstetrics Expecting Better by Emily Oster Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin Ovia Health app The Birth Partner Vibrant Beginnings prenatal and postnatal supplements Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

28 Apr 20191h 1min

"I’m in a position where I can help make decisions that put images out there of diverse people. That’s very special, and it’s an important job." Rozalynn "Roz" Frazier is the senior health editor at Health magazine, where she's worked for the past decade. On this episode, Roz talks about breaking into the publishing industry (and that time she interviewed a mostly unknown-at-the-time Alicia Keys while working at Essence), and everything that comes with being a fitness editor. She talks about the state of the fitness industry, and her mission to get more women of varying shapes, sizes, and colors represented. And she shares her running story: how she got started, what her road to becoming a ten-time marathoner has looked like, and what's up with everyone's obsession with time goals. Finally, Roz — a self-proclaimed sneakerhead — shares her favorite gear picks, from sports bras to shorts to her favorite shoes for every distance. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: Roz shares her career journey from college to Essence to her current position at Health (3:25) On confidence, maturity, and getting cut from the soccer team (13:30) What’s kept Roz at Health for 10 years? And how she’s advocating for diversity on the job, in the industry, and beyond (16:20) All about press trips — the amazing, the Alps, and the “no thanks” (23:00) How Roz’s workouts have changed over the past 10 years — and how a journalism class assignment made her want to run a marathon (34:45) That time Roz hung out with little-known-at-the-time Alicia Keys (57:15) What we mention on this episode: Coach Cane Columbia Publishing Course Robin Stone Spelman College Bowery Mission Soles 4 Souls Nike Run Club Finish Line Physical Therapy Tokyo Marathon Berlin Marathon Miami Marathon Tone House Adidas Stan Smith Asics Gel Kayano Brooks Adrenaline Nike Epic React Brooks Fiona Bra Brooks Greenlight 7" Short Tights Nike Epic Luxe Tight Follow Roz: Instagram @rozalynnfrazier Twitter @rozalynnfrazier Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

24 Apr 20191h 11min

"This community brought me back to life." I was thrilled to share the Generation UCAN stage during Boston Marathon weekend alongside fellow running podcast hosts Lindsey Hein of I'll Have Another, Tina Muir of Running For Real, and Carrie Tollefson of C Tolle Run. We sold out more than 600 tickets to this show in just a few days — a true testament to this amazing and supportive community. We had so much fun together and loved meeting everyone in the audience. Thank you to everyone who joined us in person, congratulations to everyone who ran Boston (including Lindsey and Tina!), and YAY for another live show in the books. Enjoy! Thank you to Generation UCAN for sponsoring this episode and our live show in Boston! Click here and use code ONTHERUN25 for 25 percent off your first UCAN order. Then, when you realize how much you love this stuff, go back and order more! Code ONTHERUN gets you 15 percent off for life!   Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

22 Apr 20191h 5min

"If there could be a dining critic, a theater critic…why couldn’t there be a wellness critic?" —Melisse Gelula Melisse Gelula is the co-founder of the health and fitness mega-brand Well+Good. On this episode, she talks about starting — and growing — something you believe in, and how Well+Good went from an idea to fill a hole in the publishing industry to a brand reaching more than 12 million readers every month. She talks about Well+Good's focus, and why it's more than green juice and SoulCycle but isn't weight loss or looking a certain way, and talks passionately about why wellness should be taken seriously.  Big congratulations to Melisse and the Well+Good team for the launch of the Well+Good Cookbook. Head to my Instagram — @aliontherun1 — for your chance to win a copy! Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: Was Melisse’s plan always to be a journalist? Plus how Well+Good became a reality (5:00) How Melisse got people to take a wellness website seriously (13:45) What Well+Good looks like now (18:30) What wellness-related things people are obsessed with right now (21:40) What is it like to work at Well+Good? (28:00) Looking at the wellness industry as an inclusive place, and what is there for people who can’t afford the fancy green juices and SoulCycle classes? (39:45) All about Well+Good’s annual Wellness Trends (43:00) What’s next for Well+Good? (47:40) What we mention on this episode: Well+Good in The New York Times Well+Good Cookbook The Best and Worst Nutrition Bars via Well+Good Well+Good's 2019 Wellness Trends Expo West Forward Space Follow Melisse: Instagram @melissejoy Twitter @melisseg Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

17 Apr 20191h 4min

"I had never been driven by my own desire to get help. It was always other people pushing me to do it. Once I decided on my own and hit that rock bottom, everything got better very quickly." —Kate Landau Kate Landau is a 42-year-old single mom and physician's assistant living in Florida with her daughter, Grace. She's also a 2:33 marathoner. But the road to becoming an elite-level runner in her forties hasn't been easy for Kate, who is set to run the Boston Marathon this Monday (and is gunning for a "2:30-ish" time). Kate started running competitively as a young age, and was a star athlete at her high school. She competed in the Junior Olympics and graduated as valedictorian of her class. But, not wanting her running progress to be halted by puberty, Kate dove headfirst into an aggressive eating disorder, which became a mainstay in her life for nearly 20 years. She endured more than 25 stress fractures in seven years, and battled serious exercise addiction. It wasn't until after having Grace that Kate started to run again — and run fast. She won the Eugene Marathon last year, and the Miami Marathon earlier this year. She finished eighth at the 2018 Chicago Marathon, and was the third American female to finish. At the USATF 15K championships, Kate came in fourth — and she was the oldest in the top 10 by more than a decade. Next year, she'll compete at the 2020 Olympic Trials in the marathon. On this episode, Kate talks openly about her history with anorexia and how it shaped her life, and talks about her relationship with competition and why she always wanted to "be the best." If you or someone you know is currently suffering from or struggling with an eating disorder, please click here for help and support. Thank you to AfterShokz for sponsoring this episode of the Ali on the Run Show! CLICK HERE for $50 off your wireless headphone endurance bundle!   What you’ll get on this episode: What the road to a 2:33 marathon looks like, including how Kate got into competitive running at a young age (3:45) Kate opens up about her long history with an eating disorder, including lying to the New York Times (11:55) Kate’s eating disorder road to recovery (19:15) Kate’s advice for men and women struggling with eating disorders (31:20) How Kate’s relationship with her body changed during and after pregnancy (35:00) How Kate got back into competitive running after having her daughter (40:00) Kate shares her 2019 Boston Marathon goals (47:15) What we mention on this episode: Kate in the New York Times Tacoma City Marathon McKirdy Trained Follow Kate: Instagram @katelandau Follow Ali: Instagram @aliontherun1 Facebook Twitter @aliontherun1 Blog Strava Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Spotify SoundCloud Overcast Stitcher Google Play SUPPORT the Ali on the Run Show! If you’re enjoying the show, please subscribe and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Spread the run love. And if you liked this episode, share it with your friends!

10 Apr 201957min