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PODCAST

The Psyche Behind the Physique

Maddy Michielssen

Welcome to "The Psyche behind the Physique," the podcast led by IFBB Bikini Pro and Team MPowered Fitness head coach, Maddy Michielssen. Aimed at lifestyle and bodybuilding athletes, this podcast offers tips, inspiring stories, and practical advice to enhance your mindset, physique, and preserve your longevity as an athlete. Whether prepping for a competition or pursuing a healthier lifestyle, join Maddy and guests as they share experiences and insights to keep you motivated & connected. Tune in

health & fitness fitness

All Episodes

70:55

Softening to Heal: Why Letting Go Was the Hardest...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/04/26

What if the very thing you’ve been praised for your entire life… is the very thing quietly holding you back?In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with Kate Hastings to unpack the concept of “softening”—and why it may be the missing piece for so many high-performing women.From being raised to push harder, achieve more, and stay in control… to living in a constant state of stress, rigidity, and disconnection—this conversation explores what happens when strength becomes

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66:27

The Real Reason You Can’t Change (It’s Not What You...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/04/12

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy is joined by coach and HYROX athlete Doug Stossmeister for a raw, powerful conversation on identity, resilience, and what it actually takes to change your life.Doug shares what it was like growing up in extreme scarcity in rural Alaska—where survival wasn’t a mindset, it was reality. From driving boats to school to navigating food insecurity, his upbringing shaped a deeply ingrained belief: everything is on me.But what happens when that

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56:24

The Truth About Fertility, Toxins, and Modern Motherhood

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/03/29

What if fertility isn’t something you prepare for when you want a baby… but something you’ve been building your entire life?In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, I’m joined by Dr. Carolyn Nygaard, naturopathic doctor and midwife, to break down the real drivers of fertility, pregnancy health, and early childhood development — through a functional, root-cause lens.We dive into how autoimmunity, inflammation, environmental toxins (like microplastics), and nervous system health all play a

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56:56

HYROX Worlds Pro, Boston Marathon Qualifier—And Still...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/03/15

In this episode, I sit down with Kierin Hopping, a HYROX Worlds Pro and Boston Marathon qualifier, for an honest conversation about what it really looks like to train at a high level as a woman.We talk about the shift from aesthetic goals to performance goals, how Kierin’s relationship with food changed after bodybuilding, what it means to fuel for endurance and hybrid performance, and why having a menstrual cycle is one of the clearest signs that your body feels safe and supported.This episode also

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55:11

Healing Without Extremes: Inside the Naturopathic...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/03/01

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, host Maddy Michielssen sits down with naturopathic physician and founder of Naturopathic by Design, Dr. Corina Dunlap, for an honest and deeply educational conversation about what healing actually looks like when we stop chasing quick fixes and start addressing root causes.After experiencing her own breaking point with chronic infections, digestive pain, hair loss, and debilitating fatigue, Dr. Dunlap discovered the transformative power of

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41:29

When the Number Isn’t Neutral: Healing Your...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/02/15

Why does a single number have the power to change your entire mood?In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, we’re unpacking the psychology of the scale — and why weight is rarely just about weight.If you’ve ever stepped on the scale and felt your stomach drop… If you’ve ever felt proud of yourself until a number told you otherwise… If you’ve ever let a reading determine what kind of day you were allowed to have…This episode is for you.Today, we’re diving into why certain “trigger numbers”

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57:59

When Life Says ‘Not Yet’: Burnout, Capacity, and...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/01/31

When life tells you “not yet,” how do you respond?In this powerful episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with Christian to talk about capacity, burnout, emotional resilience, and what it really means to rebuild yourself when life forces you to slow down.This conversation goes far beyond fitness.We dive into: ✨ How to recognize when you’re operating beyond your capacity ✨ The hidden signs of burnout and emotional exhaustion ✨ Why “not yet” seasons are often necessary for growth ✨

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61:45

I Did Everything Right — and Still Felt Awful

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/01/18

What happens when the smallest version of you isn’t the strongest — or the happiest?In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with Halle, a lifelong athlete and coach, to unpack what it really means to be strong in a world that rewards shrinking, over-training, and constant intensity.Halle grew up in organized sport — swimming, gymnastics, track — and swam competitively in college. Like many former athletes, the transition after sport left her searching for identity,

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33:06

Keep, Change, or Flip: A Smarter Way to Set New Year...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2026/01/04

In this reflective and empowering solo episode, Maddy shares a conversation she didn’t plan — but felt deeply called to record.What started as a last-minute pivot turned into an opportunity to speak on something that has quietly changed the lives of her clients, friends, and herself for years: how we approach change at the start of a new year.In a wellness culture that often mocks New Year’s resolutions — or frames growth as either “do nothing” or “reinvent everything” — Maddy offers a more

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52:55

Breaking the Binge Cycle Without More Rules

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/12/21

In this deeply honest and grounding episode, Maddy sits down with podiatrist, practice owner, HYROX athlete, and longtime client Taylor Staudt to unpack a truth that’s rarely talked about in the health and fitness space:Coaching isn’t just for weight loss — it’s support infrastructure for change.Taylor shares her full journey: from rapid weight gain during a season of intense life stress, long-distance marriage, and business ownership… to years of binge eating that felt like part of her identity… to

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64:45

Inflammation, Fertility & the Female Body: Why ‘Doing...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/12/08

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with St. Pete–based PA, fertility specialist, and functional women’s health practitioner Hannah Newman to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s health: the quiet, chronic inflammation that can quietly sabotage ovulation, hormones, and your ability to conceive—even when you’re “healthy” on paper.Together, they zoom out on allostatic load—your body’s cumulative stress bucket—and break down how under-fueling,

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55:19

Stop Quitting Early: How to Push Through Mental Walls...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/11/22

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with St. Pete performance coach and HYROX specialist, Coach Caleb, to unpack the mental side of going hard in the gym, on the road, and on the race course. Fresh off her HYROX Chicago race, Maddie shares how a former ballet dancer and wakeboarder discovered she’s actually “kind of good” at sport—and how much of that breakthrough came down to mindset, not genetics.Together, they break down why your brain taps out before your body,

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73:49

Underfueled & Overtrained: How Female Athletes...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/11/08

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with friend and fellow athlete Rosie—a semi-pro soccer player and recent half-marathoner—to unpack the quiet crisis of female athletes: training like a pro while fueling like a hobbyist. Together they explore the identity shift from perfection to performance, how to spot under-fueling (hint: your brain knows first), and why carbs and fats are the unsung heroes in a protein-obsessed culture.You’ll hear real talk on nervous-system

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71:42

She Quit Bodybuilding & Got Fitter: Sobriety, Hybrid...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/10/25

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with friend and fellow athlete Paige Michael, RN, to talk about what really happens when you outgrow the bodybuilding identity and step into a life rooted in balance, strength, and longevity.Both former competitors, Maddy and Paige open up about the years spent chasing perfection—rigid macros, two-a-day training, and the illusion that more discipline always equals more results. They share how stepping away from extremes became the

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58:33

No Time, No Routine, Still Progress: The Busy Girl’s...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/10/11

What do red-eye flights and bikini preps have in common? More than you think. In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, host Maddy Michielssen (IFBB Bikini Pro & Founder of MPowered Coaching Collective) sits down with her client Kait — an airline pilot, athlete, and just days from her first OCB bikini show — to unpack how preparation and adaptability outrun even the busiest schedule.From living on reserve and landing red-eyes from Hawaii, to food going bad in hotel fridges, rolled

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58:49

When the Race Doesn’t Go as Planned: Resilience in...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/09/27

What do marathons and bodybuilding preps have in common? More than you think. In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, host Maddy Michielssen (IFBB Bikini Pro & Founder of MPowered Coaching Collective) sits down with her friend Corin — marathon runner, coach at Run Unlimited, and Booty Gym trainer — to unpack the highs, lows, and mental grit it takes to push past your limits.From prepping for hills while living in flat Florida, to blowing out her quads on a downhill stretch, to

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62:18

The Company You Keep — Building a Circle That Fuels...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/09/13

In this heartfelt conversation, host Madison Michielssen (IFBB Bikini Pro; founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective) sits down with her close friend Savannah—former personal trainer turned lifestyle athlete—to unpack how the company you keep can elevate (or erode) your health. From leaving bodybuilding’s “grind at all costs” mindset to finding community in St. Pete through Brickyard classes, run clubs, and church, they explore why friendships influence what you eat, how you move, how you manage

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61:12

Beyond the Stage: How Life Alignment Fuels Fitness...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/08/30

What happens when you stop trying to juggle it all — and start aligning your life instead? In this episode, I sit down with MPowered athlete Dani Henderson, a mom of two and wife who’s just weeks away from stepping back on stage for her second bodybuilding season. Dani’s story goes far beyond macros and training: it’s about learning to slow down, redefine identity, strengthen her marriage, and show up fully as a mom — all while thriving in one of the most demanding sports out there.If you’ve ever

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81:06

Where Physique Goals Meet Functional Health:...

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/08/16

What if the secret to building your dream physique wasn’t more workouts or stricter dieting — but actually slowing down, listening to your body, and supporting it from the inside out?In this episode, IFBB Bikini Pro, functional nutritionist, and founder of The MPowered Coaching Collective, Maddy Michielssen, joins 1st Optimal founder, Joe Miller, to unpack the myths holding women back from true hormonal balance and lasting results. We dive into:The truth about women’s hormones (and why “just deal

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53:50

Burnout, Boundaries, and the Power of the Pivot

The Psyche Behind the Physique ·

2025/08/02

This episode is your permission slip to pause. Whether you're deep in prep or simply trying to stay afloat in your fitness journey, The Psyche Behind the Physique is diving deep into the whispers of burnout—before they turn into screams.Maddy is joined by powerhouse coach and athlete Sham Haynes for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the emotional unraveling that can happen when we operate from misalignment, not authenticity. Together, they explore:What burnout really feels like (and how to

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