In this episode of SMTF Coaches Corner, Sean and Jarvis speak directly to first-time competitors, the athletes standing at the starting line of their very first contest prep.

We dive into one of the most important decisions you’ll make before ever stepping on stage: choosing the right coach. From understanding coaching styles and communication, to setting clear expectations on both sides, we explain what coaches and competitors must do to create a smooth, productive, and sustainable prep.

We also talk openly about the financial reality of contest prep—what most people underestimate, what costs add up quickly, and how to prepare mentally and financially before committing to a show.

Throughout the episode, we share the lessons we wish we knew before starting our own competitive journeys: mistakes, surprises, and realities that can make or break a first prep, or any prep, if you’re not prepared.

This is Part 1 of a two-part series designed to give first-time competitors a real-world roadmap, not hype, not sugar-coating, just honest guidance to help you enter prep informed, prepared, and confident.

In this episode, we’re back with Christina to dive into a core belief that defines everything we do at Self Made: personal training is personal first.

We break down the meaning of the words personal training, because the person always comes before the program. Before the sets, reps, macros, or scale weight. When you truly take care of people, the training always falls into place.

Too often, hiring a trainer is framed as a short-term fix: lose 10-20 pounds, look better, move on. But real coaching goes far deeper than aesthetics. This conversation explores how working with a trainer should be a complete lifestyle shift, one that helps individuals grow holistically, not just physically.

In this episode, we cover:

• Why the person matters more than the protocol

• Coaching the human behind the habits, stress, and schedule

• How trust and connection create long-term results

• The role of fitness in mental health and emotional resilience

• Why great trainers influence confidence, discipline, and decision-making

• How physical training spills into business, relationships, and family life

• Building humans first, bodies second

Christina shares her perspective as both a coach and a mother, highlighting how true transformation happens when trainers lead with empathy, awareness, and care, not just workouts.

This episode is for trainers who want to coach with purpose, and for clients who are ready for more than a number on the scale.

At Self Made, we don’t just build physiques.

We build people.

In this episode, Chandler sits down to share the chapter most people don’t talk about: the slow loss of passion for something you once loved.

Chasing financial stability, Chandler stepped into a new career as a traveling construction project manager. On the surface, it checked all the boxes: structure, income, security. But behind the scenes, the constant travel disrupted his routine, distanced him from the gym, and slowly pulled him away from the thing that once gave him purpose: helping people through fitness.

As the days stacked up, Chandler realized something was missing. The fulfillment wasn’t there. The spark was fading. And no amount of “doing the responsible thing” could replace the feeling of changing lives inside the gym.

This episode dives into:

• How losing structure leads to losing identity

• Why routine matters more than motivation

• The cost of chasing security at the expense of purpose

• Recognizing when you’re drifting instead of progressing

• The mental switch required to stop playing small

• Getting out of your own way and committing fully

• Why returning to Self Made meant choosing growth over comfort

Chandler opens up about the mindset shift it took to come back all-in, no backup plans, no half-measures, and what it truly means to flourish once you stop fighting who you’re meant to be.

This episode is for anyone who’s felt stuck, disconnected, or torn between “what makes sense” and “what feels right.”

At Self Made, we believe the comeback starts the moment you choose alignment over fear.

In this episode of SMTF Coaches Corner, Sean and Jarvis pull back the curtain on the world of contest prep—the truth, the struggles, the growth, and everything in between.

We break down why people feel called to step on stage, and the real pros and cons behind the journey. From how non-competitors view prep, to the hard conversations about sacrifice, routine, and the temporary selfishness required to bring your best physique to life.

But more importantly, we talk about the part most people miss:

How that same “selfish” season leads to becoming more selfless afterward…

How the process builds confidence, discipline, and emotional resilience…

And how the real win isn’t the plastic trophy—it’s the mental and physical progression you earn along the way.

Whether you’re prepping for your first show, your tenth, or simply curious about the lifestyle, this episode gives you the honest reality of what it takes to chase greatness — and how to make sure the journey makes you a better version of you.

In this episode, Christina opens up about one of the most misunderstood chapters of a woman’s life—pregnancy, birth, and the identity shift that comes after.

Too often, mothers are told they should “love every moment” of being pregnant. That if they struggle, feel disconnected, or don’t glow the way social media glamorizes… they’re somehow doing it wrong. Christina breaks down the truth: you can love your baby deeply and still struggle through pregnancy. You can be grateful and still feel overwhelmed. You can be a great mother without loving every part of the journey.

This is a real conversation about:

• The highs and lows of pregnancy no one warns you about

• The pressure women feel to appear perfect, glowing, and joyful 24/7

• Why it’s normal—not shameful—to have difficult emotions during pregnancy

• How to seek support instead of suffering in silence

• The role of fitness in mental health, physical recovery, and rebuilding identity

• How training helped Christina stay grounded through pregnancy, delivery, and her return to herself

• The transition from trainer → mother → trainer again—and finding strength in each phase

Christina shares her experience with honesty and vulnerability, reminding mothers everywhere that their feelings are valid, their struggles don’t define them, and they’re not alone.

This episode is for any woman who’s felt unseen during pregnancy, any mother carrying silent guilt, and any trainer wanting to better understand and support postpartum clients.

At Self Made, we believe strength is built in every season—even the ones that break you open.

Welcome back to the SMTF Comeback Series.

Where real stories create real connection.

In the premiere episode of the SMTF Comeback Series, we sit down with Chandler and Christina to unpack the real stories behind their journeys away from Self Made—and what ultimately brought them back home.

Chandler opens up about stepping away from the fitness industry to pursue a project-manager role in construction. On paper, it was the “right move.” Good pay, stable path, clear ladder. But fulfillment? Gone. Purpose? Missing. After months of trying to force himself into a life that didn’t align with who he was, Chandler realized his true passion was still rooted in helping people change their lives. That calling led him back to the place where he first found it—Self Made Training Facility.

Christina shares a different path. She began her career in a small mom-and-pop gym, grinding to build her name and brand on her own. When she joined Self Made, she found the support, structure, and community she needed to grow as a trainer. After taking time off to welcome her baby girl into the world, Christina returns with a renewed fire—ready to level up, expand her brand, and continue her journey as part of the Self Made family.

Together, we dive deep into:

• What they learned working outside of SMTF

• Why fulfillment and purpose matter more than titles

• How personal evolution leads people back to where they truly belong

• The role Self Made plays in building trainers into business owners

• The mistakes we’ve made, the strategies that work, and the marketing lessons we wish we knew sooner

• How branding, content, and client acquisition all change when trainers operate inside a community built for growth

This series will spotlight transformation, transparency, and the reality of rebuilding. Because at Self Made, we don’t just give trainers a place to work—we help them build businesses, brands, and futures.

Welcome to the SMTF Comeback Series.

Where leaving is part of the story… but growth is why you return.

Episode 1 sets the stage: who we are, why we’re here, and what it means to live the Self Made lifestyle. Sean “The Cannon” Shannon and Coach Jarvis dive into the origins of SMTF Temecula Valley’s coaching culture, the lessons we’ve learned in the trenches, and the vision behind this podcast.

This is the foundation — mindset, mission, and the real conversations that shape great coaches.