The EMPWR Podcast

What if the thing you thought was keeping you clean was actually making you sick?
In this episode, I sit down with Kristina Velkova and Sara Douglas, the co-founders of Vitaclean, a revolutionary vitamin C filtered shower head company that's changing the way we think about water, skin health, and wellness. Their story starts with a shocking discovery: sludge in their London shower that was wreaking havoc on their skin and hair. What began as a personal problem turned into a mission to help people experience cleaner, healthier water without spending thousands on full house filtration systems.
We dive into the difference between hard water and soft water, how chlorine, minerals, and sediment in your shower water could be causing your dry scalp, eczema, acne, brittle hair, and skin irritation, and why filtering your shower is just as important as filtering your drinking water. Christina and Sarah share the science behind vitamin C filtration, how their triple filtered technology works, and why their innovation is different from every other shower filter on the market.
This conversation gets real about the wellness routines that actually matter, from hair syncing your workouts to jaw release massages, red light therapy, breath work, and why showering should feel like a spa experience every single time. We also talk about stretching out wash days, protecting color treated hair, and the simple daily rituals that keep your skin glowing and your hair thriving.
If you've ever dealt with unexplained skin issues, hair breakage, or felt like your expensive products weren't working, this episode will change the way you think about your water. Your shower should be restoring you, not depleting you. Let's make that happen.
About Vitaclean:Vitaclean is a female founded wellness company specializing in vitamin C filtered shower heads that remove chlorine, sediment, and impurities while infusing water with skin and hair nourishing vitamins. Founded by Christina Wittike Volkova and Sarah Kate Douglas after discovering sludge in their London shower, Vitaclean has helped thousands achieve healthier skin, hair, and scalp through clean, filtered water.
Find Vitaclean:Website: https://vitaclean.coInstagram: @vitaclean_officialTikTok: @vitacleanUse code SAMCFIT for 20% off their Starter Kits at https://vitaclean.co
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Sam's LINKS:https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Samcfit
EMPWR by Sam App | *free 7 day trial*https://www.empwrbysam.com/
My Macro Guide:https://samcfit.com/macro-guide-only
Running Programs:https://www.samcfit.com/running-programs
Follow Sam:Insta: @samcfit_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Samantha_Christine
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Thank you to our sponsors!
Treat yourself to the flavor and nutrition your body craves. Go to kachava.com and use code SAMCFIT for 15% off your first order. 
Visit Carawayhome.com/EMPWR to take an additional 10% off your next purchase or use code EMPWR at checkout.
Head topaleovalley.com/samcfit (https://paleovalley.com/promos/empwr-multi-product-page)  for 15% off your first purchase.
Use our exclusive link to save 20% off Honeylove at honeylove.com/SAMCFIT 

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What if the thing you thought you could control was actually the thing keeping you trapped?
In this episode, I'm getting more vulnerable than I ever have before. I'm sharing my full story with my eating disorder, disordered eating, and body dysmorphia. From my childhood and the way food was framed in my home, to college when everything spiraled, to the years I spent restricting, binging, and purging in secret. This is the part of my story I've never fully told, and honestly, preparing for this episode brought up a lot of emotion. But I knew it was time.
I walk you through how my ADHD medication suppressed my appetite growing up, how I gained over 20 pounds in college when I went off Adderall and had no structure or education around food, and how that led to a cycle I couldn't break. I talk about the shame, the secrecy, the moment I finally told my mom, and the weekend that changed everything. I also share how my pregnancies, my home birth, and my journey into fitness coaching helped me rebuild my relationship with my body and food.
This episode also dives into how social media fueled my body dysmorphia, why comparing yourself to stage-ready physiques is so damaging, and how I shifted my mindset from chasing aesthetics to chasing strength. I talk about losing my period, getting it back, and what it took to truly heal. I also answer your questions about food noise, weight fluctuations, tracking macros, supporting a friend with an eating disorder, and how to raise kids with a healthy relationship to food.
If you've ever struggled with control, body image, or feeling stuck in a cycle you can't escape, this episode is for you. Healing is possible. You are stronger than the thoughts trying to break you. And you don't have to do it alone.
Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image. Please listen with care or feel free to come back to this when you're in a better place.
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Sam's LINKS:https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Samcfit
EMPWR by Sam App | *free 7 day trial*https://www.empwrbysam.com/
My Macro Guide:https://samcfit.com/macro-guide-only
Running Programs:https://www.samcfit.com/running-programs
Follow Sam:Insta: @samcfit_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Samantha_Christine
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Head to https://AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code SAM to get UP TO $300 off today! 
Get your health in check and save 20% on your first order at https://justthrivehealth.com/SAMCFIT with code SAMCFIT 
Go to https://shopremi.com/SAMCFIT and use CODE SAMCFIT for 50% off at checkout.
Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://SHOPIFY.com/samcfit 
Book a stay and start your journey toward Life in Balance at Miraval Resorts.
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What if optimism is not about pretending everything is fine, but about learning how to stay strong when life gets hard?
In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Deepika Chopra, also known as The Optimism Doctor, to talk about what real optimism actually is and why it matters so much for our mental health, relationships, parenting, and everyday lives. We unpack the difference between optimism and toxic positivity, how to regulate your emotions in hard seasons, and why resilience is a skill you can build.
This conversation hit home for me because it is not just about mindset. It is about how we move through grief, fear, uncertainty, motherhood, health struggles, and personal growth without losing ourselves in the process.
We also talk about manifestation, affirmations, purpose, visualization, and the small daily rituals that can help us feel safer, stronger, and more grounded.
If you have ever felt stuck in negative thought loops, overwhelmed by life, or unsure how to keep going through hard things, this episode is for you.
Dr. Deepika Chopra is a clinical health psychologist, behavioral scientist, visual imagery expert, and author of The Power of Real Optimism. Known as The Optimism Doctor, she helps people build resilience, emotional strength, and hope through science-based tools and practical mindset work. 
Follow Dr. Deepika Chopra
Instagram: @drdeepikachopra
Website: Dr. Deepika Chopra official site
Book: The Power of Real Optimism
Podcast: Looking Up with Dr. Deepika Chopra  
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Sam's LINKS:https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Samcfit
EMPWR by Sam App | *free 7 day trial*https://www.empwrbysam.com/
My Macro Guide:https://samcfit.com/macro-guide-only
Running Programs:https://www.samcfit.com/running-programs
Follow Sam:Insta: @samcfit_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Samantha_Christine
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Thank you to our Sponsors!
Go to https://AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code SAM
Get 15% off Branch Basics with the code EMPWR at https://branchbasics.com/EMPWR #branchbasicspod
Go to https://CLEARSTEM.com/SAMCFIT and use code SAMCFIT at checkout for 15% off your first order.
Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code samcfit for up to 20% off.
Use code SAMCFIT at checkout for 20% off starter kits at https://vitaclean.co.
Miraval Resorts - Book a stay and start your journey toward Life in Balance at Miraval Resorts.
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In this episode, Ian and I are sitting down for a full Q&A covering everything you've been asking about: fitness, nutrition, training, wedding planning, business, motherhood, and all the behind the scenes of our lives right now. This one is honest, practical, and packed with real answers to the questions flooding my DMs.
We dive into the biggest mistakes women make when trying to lose body fat, why under eating and over training is keeping you stuck, and how reverse dieting and lifting weights are the real game changers. We talk about macros, fasting, snacking, electrolytes, and what a full day of eating actually looks like when you're dialed in. I also break down my favorite gym shoes for running and lifting, the supplements I'm taking right now, and my full skincare routine that keeps my complexion glowing.
But we also get personal. We talk about peptides and which ones we're using, why we don't fast, how we balance growing a business while being parents, and what time blocking has done for our productivity and sanity. We give you a full wedding update: the flowers, the food, the dress, the vibe, and why we're keeping things minimalistic and intentional. Plus, we open up about bachelor and bachelorette parties, cosmetic procedures I've had done, and why I'll never hide what I've chosen to do with my own body.
This conversation is raw, unfiltered, and full of the little details that actually matter. If you've ever wondered how we structure our days, stay consistent with training, fuel our bodies, or manage life as a blended family while building multiple businesses, this episode will give you the blueprint.
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Sam's LINKS:https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Samcfit
EMPWR by Sam App | *free 7 day trial*https://www.empwrbysam.com/
My Macro Guide:https://samcfit.com/macro-guide-only
Running Programs:https://www.samcfit.com/running-programs
Follow Sam:Insta: @samcfit_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Samantha_Christine
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AM Skincarehttps://shopmy.us/collections/4545309
PM Skincarehttps://shopmy.us/collections/4552627Granola Recipehttps://www.instagram.com/reel/DWcHw3BCQfe/?igsh=d21kOTYyNmYxanRp
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Sponsors:CarawayVisit https://Carawayhome.com/EMPWR or code EMPWR to take an additional 10% off your next purchase.
ClearstemGo to https://clearstem.com/SAMCFIT and use code SAMCFIT at checkout for 15% off your first order.Just ThriveSave 20% on your first order at https://justthrivehealth.com/SAMCFIT code SAMCFIT 
RemiGo to https://shopremi.com/SAMCFIT and use code SAMCFIT to get up to 50% at checkout.
WildgrainVisithttps://Wildgrain.com/SAMCFITcode SAMCFIT for $30 off your first box and free Croissants for life
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I used to think being smaller meant being better. That if I could just control my body, I would finally feel confident, happy, and enough.
But the truth is, that mindset kept me stuck.
In this episode, I sit down with Senada Greca to talk about what actually changed everything. From growing up in Albania with limited resources, to moving to the US and facing bullying, to struggling with eating disorders, anxiety, and body dysmorphia, her story is powerful and deeply relatable.
What makes this conversation different is that it is not about quick fixes or extreme routines. It is about shifting your mindset, healing your relationship with your body, and building real strength from the inside out.
We break down why so many women feel stuck in cycles of restriction, overtraining, and frustration, and what it actually takes to create lasting change.
If you have ever felt like you are doing everything right but still not seeing results, this episode will change the way you approach fitness, nutrition, and self-worth.
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Sam's LINKS:https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Samcfit
EMPWR by Sam App | *free 7 day trial*https://www.empwrbysam.com/
My Macro Guide:https://samcfit.com/macro-guide-only
Running Programs:https://www.samcfit.com/running-programs
Follow Sam:Insta: @samcfit_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Samantha_Christine
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PaleoValley
Head to https://paleovalley.com/samcfit for 15% off your first purchase.
Fond Bone Broth
Go to https://fondregenerative.com/samcfit code SAMCFIT for 10% off your first order
Ka’Chava
Go to https://kachava.com and use code SAMCFIT for 15% off your first order.

Just ThriveSave 20% on your first order at https://justthrivehealth.com/SAMCFIT 
with code SAMCFIT 

Vitaclean
Use code SAMCFIT at checkout FOR 20% OFF STARTER KITS at https://vitaclean.co 
Miraval
Book a stay and start your journey toward Life in Balance at Miraval Resorts.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices