Feisty Women's Performance

The outdoor barriers immigrant women face that no one talks about with Gabriela Hydle

In this episode, we sit down with Gabriela Hydle, a Mayan‑Guatemalan immigrant who discovered cycling at 41 and has since become a fierce advocate for equitable access to

'Not committed enough': The myth holding mother-coaches back with Dr. Tara-Leigh McHugh

Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Tara‑Leigh McHugh, a Canada Research Chair in sport and physical activity at the University of Calgary. They explore the hidden challen

Stop Blaming Hormones for Postpartum Depression with Dr. Gabe Mauren

Erin Ayala, PhD sits down with Dr. Gabe Mauren, PhD, LP, PMH‑C, a leading psychologist in reproductive mental health, to unpack the complexities of postpartum mental heal

[BONUS EPISODE] Can self-compassion actually beat self-sabotage? with Drs. Tess Kilwein & Erin Ayala

In this bonus episode from Feisty's sister podcast, Another Mother Runner, hosts Sara Bowen Shea and Amanda Loudin sit down with sport psychologists Dr. Tess Kilwein and

Body liberation practices that every female athlete needs with Chrissy King

Host Erin Ayala sits down with writer, speaker, and educator Chrissy King to unpack “body liberation” and how racism, diet culture, and the relentless “maxing” mindset in

Women's sports supplements: what every athlete needs to know with Dr. Susan Kleiner

Dr. Erin Ayala talks with Dr. Susan Kleiner, a pioneering high‑performance sports dietitian, to cut through the noise surrounding women’s sports supplements. She debunks

Women are forced to be resilient: The gender tax on female athletes with Dr. Emily Matheson

Dr. Emily Matheson dives deep into the hidden “gender tax” that female athletes pay and why the sport system is unintentionally building their resilience. She reveals ho

Why driven female athletes burn out faster — and what to do with Dr. Erin Haugen

Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with sport psychologist Dr. Erin Haugen to explore strategies for managing pre‑race anxiety and building sustainable performance habits for femal

Inside the Pain Tolerance of Ultra-Endurance Women with Britta Maria Sorensen, PhD

How do female ultra-endurance athletes experience, interpret, and cope with pain—and when does pushing through become too much? Erin Ayala, PhD, speaks with sport psycho

The Silent Costs of Psychological Harm for Women in Sport with Dr. Gretchen Kerr

What does athlete safety look like beyond preventing physical injury? In this episode, Erin Ayala, PhD, speaks with Dr. Gretchen Kerr, professor of kinesiology at the Un

Why "Push Through It" Is the Worst Advice for Autoimmune Athletes with Mireille Siné, MPH

In this episode, Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Mireille Siné, MPH — a certified running coach, lupus endurance athlete, and advocate for athletes living with autoimmune a

Fibermaxing, Ozempic: Which 2026 nutrition trends should you actually care about? with Alex Larson (Replay)

We're welcoming registered dietitian Alex Larson to help us dive deep into the critical (and less critical) nutrition trends of coming in 2026. Alex and your host, Dr. E

CrossFit Games champion Annie Thorisdottir on motherhood & performance postpartum

Annie Thorisdottir has stood on the CrossFit Games podium six times and built a career as one of the most recognizable and respected athletes in the world. But some of th

The medical warning signs of underfueling with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani (“Dr. G”), a leading expert in medical complications of eating disorders and underfueling, joins us to explain what female athletes

Female injury prevention finally gets its own research with Dr. Margo Mountjoy

What does it really take to keep women athletes healthy, performing, and in sport for the long haul? Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Margo Mountjoy, one of the world’s

Why weight-inclusive care changes everything for athletes with Heather Bergeson, MD, FAAP, CAQ

What is weight-inclusive care? And why does it matter for *all* active women's health and performance? Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Heather Bergeson, a sports‑medic

BONUS: Take the Leap: Kate Veronneau on Adventure and Trying Something New at FeistyFest

In this bonus episode, Hit Play Not Pause host, Selene Yeager welcomes longtime friend, cyclist, and women’s sports powerhouse Kate Veronneau to the show for a preview of

Is Strava sabotaging your mental game? with Dr. Hayley Russell

Ever compare yourself to others on Strava? Feel yourself pushed to do more to hit a "streak" or online badge? This episode's for you. Sport psychology professor Dr. Hayl

GLP-1 Weight Loss Drugs: The science vs. the marketing with Dr. Rebecka Peebles and Nathalia Trees, RD

Dr. Rebecka Peebles and registered dietitian Nathalia Trees dive into the booming world GLP-1 medications and the complex intersection of weight loss, body size, eating d

Avoid burnout and say goodbye to toxic productivity with Israa Nasir, MHC-LP

What are the hidden costs of “toxic productivity?” And how does it sabotages women’s performance in their careers, relationships, and athletic endeavors? Psychotherapist