Stronger by Design for Women with Michelle MacDonald cover art

Stronger by Design for Women with Michelle MacDonald

Stronger by Design for Women with Michelle MacDonald

By: Michelle MacDonald
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No one is going to “save” you. In today's world, it's up to us to save ourselves!

Hosted by top fitness expert and coach Michelle MacDonald, the Stronger by Design podcast is for women who want to take radical ownership of their bodies, nutrition, and mindsets.

Michelle, known worldwide for her Transformation Programs, shares world-class insights to help women redefine aging by focusing on longevity, empowerment, fitness, resilience, and muscle-building, all while fostering a positive mindset about nutrition and health.

Since 2012, Michelle has been coaching women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. In 2016, she co-founded Tulum Strength Club, an online Physique Contest Prep Team. She later established The Wonder Women (TWW) in 2020 and the TWW coaching academy in 2022. Michelle’s work has inspired countless women, including her mother, Joan MacDonald (Train With Joan™), who lost 70 pounds in her 70s and became a fitness influencer.

Michelle now brings her expertise to the Stronger by Design Fitness App, launching in fall 2024, alongside this podcast of the same name.

Join us on Stronger by Design to explore how to cultivate a resilient mindset, maintain optimal nutrition, and achieve lasting fitness for a healthier, more vibrant future. This podcast is designed for women committed to longevity, strength, and nutrition, empowering them to transform their lives from the inside out.

© 2025 Stronger by Design for Women with Michelle MacDonald
Exercise & Fitness Fitness, Diet & Nutrition Hygiene & Healthy Living Personal Development Personal Success Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Aging STRONGER Starts Here | David Stewart
    Jul 29 2025

    What if your most empowered, energized years are still ahead of you? Discover how thriving after 50 isn’t just possible—it’s a strategy.

    Michelle MacDonald welcomes back David Stewart, founder of Ageist and Super Age, for part two of their dynamic conversation. A pioneer in the space of modern aging, David shares science-backed insights into optimizing physical health, mental clarity, and personal agency after 50. From strength training and protein intake to managing stress and cultivating a growth-driven community, this episode is packed with actionable tips and inspiring mindset shifts. Perfect for women looking to fuse fitness with personal growth, it’s a powerful reminder that aging well is a skill—and a choice.


    Favourite Moments:

    3:17 Sleep as the Cornerstone of Longevity

    7:32 How HRV Can Help You Train Smarter

    13:28 Using Breathwork and Body Awareness to Recharge

    18:19 The Two Core Beliefs That Hold People Back

    "You are the sum of the five people around you—choose wisely."


    GUEST: DAVID STEWART

    Ageist Magazine | Super Age | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook

    David is a media innovator and a passionate advocate for redefining aging. With decades of experience in high-profile creative work and a bold personal philosophy on living fully, David launched Super Age to champion imagination, curiosity, and the science of living long while living well.

    CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

    Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X

    Michelle MacDonald is the creator of the FITNESS MODEL BLUEPRINT™ and host of the Stronger By Design™ podcast. Known globally for her transformation programs, Michelle empowers women to redefine aging through evidence-based strength training, nutrition, and mindset practices. Since 2012, she has coached thousands of women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She co-founded Tulum Strength Club and established The Wonder Women (TWW), inspiring countless transformations including her mother, Joan MacDonald (Train With Joan™). Michelle continues to lead the charge in women's fitness, launching the Stronger by Design™ fitness app in fall 2024.

    Where to Watch/Listen:

    Website

    Apple Podcasts

    Spotify

    YouTube

    Leave a rating for this podcast with one click https://ratethispodcast.com/michellemacdonald

    Show More Show Less
    26 mins
  • Resilience is AGELESS | David Stewart
    Jul 15 2025

    What if everything you've been told about aging is wrong—and your best, boldest chapter is just beginning?

    Michelle MacDonald welcomes David Stewart, founder of Ageist and Super Age, a pioneering voice in the pro-aging movement. Once a world-traveling fashion photographer, David’s life was upended by a rare autoimmune disorder at 49. His recovery sparked a mission to redefine aging through fitness, health, and mindset. Michelle and David explore how physicality fuels optimism, the dangers of comfort culture, and how reinvention is not only possible but vital at any age. With decades of wisdom and cutting-edge longevity insights, David shares how to thrive beyond 50 and become the most powerful version of yourself yet.

    Favourite Moments:

    0:09 The Death Trap of Comfort Culture

    4:54 Hospitalized at 49: A Life-Changing Health Crisis

    13:11 Hard Isn't Impossible: Rebuilding Strength at Any Age

    23:05 Reinvention is Real: Creating Your Next Chapter

    "Our greatest obstacle is our poverty of imagination about what’s possible." - David Stewart


    GUEST: DAVID STEWART

    Ageist Magazine | Super Age | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook

    David is a media innovator and a passionate advocate for redefining aging. With decades of experience in high-profile creative work and a bold personal philosophy on living fully, David launched Super Age to champion imagination, curiosity, and the science of living long while living well.

    CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

    Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X

    Michelle MacDonald is the creator of the FITNESS MODEL BLUEPRINT™ and host of the Stronger By Design™ podcast. Known globally for her transformation programs, Michelle empowers women to redefine aging through evidence-based strength training, nutrition, and mindset practices. Since 2012, she has coached thousands of women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She co-founded Tulum Strength Club and established The Wonder Women (TWW), inspiring countless transformations including her mother, Joan MacDonald (Train With Joan™). Michelle continues to lead the charge in women's fitness, launching the Stronger by Design™ fitness app in fall 2024.

    Where to Watch/Listen:

    • Website
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Spotify
    • YouTube

    Leave a rating for this podcast with one click https://ratethispodcast.com/michellemacdonald

    Show More Show Less
    33 mins
  • Lessons Learned from Contest Prep | Courtney Ustrzycki
    Jul 1 2025

    What if true progress means actively seeking failure?

    Michelle MacDonald sits down with Courtney Ustrzycki—IFBB Pro athlete, posing coach, and former powerlifter—for a deep dive into the mental and physical evolution required for elite competition. Courtney shares her journey from resisting bodybuilding to becoming a professional, all while navigating mindset shifts, vulnerability, and the messy realities of growth. They explore how discipline trumps motivation, why balance isn’t always the answer, and what it means to push past self-imposed limits.


    WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

    0:32 Redefining failure in the gym as a goal for growth

    17:35 “Growth is messy—and the gym is the one place where failure should be your goal.”

    32:27 Train to true failure to unlock real progress

    41:08 Overcoming jealousy and self-doubt on the pro stage


    "Growth is messy—and the gym is the one place where failure should be your goal."


    GUEST: COURTNEY USTRZYCKI

    Website | Email | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | Posing mobility program | NPC Bikini & Fit Model posing manual

    I’m a passionate and dynamic leader in the bodybuilding world, specializing in posing and competition prep within the NPC Federation. My journey started in the world of powerlifting, where I first built my foundation as both an athlete and a coach for lifestyle clients. In 2019, I made the leap into bodybuilding—a transformation that reshaped not only my physique but also my mindset and approach to life. This evolution drove me to become the coach I am today, bringing a blend of real-world experience, research-backed strategies, and genuine, relatable insights to every athlete I work with.


    CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

    Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook

    Michelle MacDonald is the creator of the FITNESS MODEL BLUEPRINT™ and host of the Stronger By Design™ podcast. Known globally for her transformation programs, Michelle empowers women to redefine aging through evidence-based strength training, nutrition, and mindset practices. Since 2012, she has coached thousands of women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She co-founded Tulum Strength Club and established The Wonder Women (TWW), inspiring countless transformations including her mother, Joan MacDonald (Train With Joan™). Michelle continues to lead the charge in women's fitness, launching the Stronger by Design™ fitness app in fall 2024.

    Leave a rating for this podcast with one click https://ratethispodcast.com/michellemacdonald

    Where to Watch/Listen:

    • Website
    • Apple Podcasts
    • Spotify
    • YouTube
    Show More Show Less
    51 mins
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