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Alright friends, this one’s a juicy flex of an episode. If you've ever thought about strength training as just “working out,” you’re gonna leave this convo seeing your muscles as the badass miracle tissue they actually are. My guest today is journalist and author Bonnie Tsui, who wrote a brilliant book all about muscle. Like, the science and the soul of it.

We dig into why women have historically been sidelined when it comes to muscle building and how we’re finally flipping that script. Like, did you know women used to avoid swim team because they didn’t want their shoulders to look “too big”? (Insert a big ol’ eye roll here.) And Bonnie’s not just talking aesthetics. She’s going deep on muscle as essential to longevity, confidence, emotional resilience, and yeah, even your identity.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever stepped into a gym and felt like they didn’t belong or who’s just curious about why grip strength is suddenly a thing your doctor actually cares about.

Plus, we get into puberty, menopause, and the myths of the Marvel six-pack. Hint: Your glutes are more than just a good angle on Instagram. They might actually be the reason humans evolved the way we did. Mind. Blown.

I left this convo totally rethinking how I teach strength to my clients, and I guarantee it’ll change how you move through the world (maybe literally). So grab your kettlebells or your coffee, and let’s get into it.

What’s Inside:

• Why muscle isn’t just for meatheads and why we all need to give it more credit
• The real story behind women ditching sports during puberty (and why we’ve got to change that)
• How strength training intersects with politics, beauty ideals and power
• Why a visible six-pack doesn’t mean what you think it does and why grip strength might actually be your new favorite metric

Quick gut check…

Are you still thinking muscle is just about how you look in a tank top? Have you been seeing strength as a chore instead of a gift? Let’s flip that. This episode might just be the nudge you need to start lifting heavy and owning your power. I want to know what strength feels like to you these days. DM me on Instagram and let’s talk muscles.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Bonnie Tsui
• Bonnie on Instagram
• Bonnie Tsui’s book “On Muscle: The Stuff That Moves Us and Why It Matters”
• Healthy As Fck*
• Oonagh Duncan on Instagram
• Fit Feels Good Strong AF
• Leave me a voice note on Speak Pipe!