Stronger by Design for Women with Michelle MacDonald

You’ve trained every part of your body—except the one that matters most.
Michelle MacDonald is joined by pelvic health expert Kim Vopni, also known as The Vagina Coach. Together, they dive into the often-overlooked world of pelvic floor health and its essential role in female strength, performance, and longevity. From incontinence and back pain to breathwork and bracing, this conversation breaks down the myths and gives women empowered tools to train smarter, lift confidently, and age powerfully...and a compelling case for why pelvic floor work belongs in every fitness plan. 

Favorite Moments
5:10 Back Pain’s Surprising Connection to Pelvic Health
10:14 Why Every Woman Should See a Pelvic Floor Therapist
27:31 Pelvic Floor and Aging: The GSM Conversation
44:03 Strength Training Without Sacrificing Pelvic Health

"Tight isn’t strong. Strength is knowing how to contract and let go."– Kim Vopni 
GUEST: KIM VOPNI (THE VAGINA COACH), WOMEN'S PELVIC HEALTH AND MENOPAUSE SUPPORT PRACTITIONER
Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Between Two Lips Podcast
Full Guest Bio:
Kim Vopni—also known as The Vagina Coach—is a certified fitness professional and pelvic health expert. She specializes in helping women improve core and pelvic floor function across every life stage. Kim is the creator of the Buff Muff Method and host of the Between Two Lips podcast.
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE
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Full Michelle Bio:
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 
https://events.thewonderwomen.com/ 
Join The Wonder Women for a transformational week in Tulum, Mexico at the Amansala Resort & Spa. This retreat blends fitness, mindset, and community to help you reset your body, restore your energy, and reignite your confidence. Learn, move, and connect in paradise, with the women who understand your journey.

What would happen if you treated your midlife like the start of your athletic prime?

Michelle MacDonald sits down with longtime client and PR executive Jodi Echakowitz to uncover how one woman redefined her relationship with health, aging, and ambition. From a scary brush with brain fog during perimenopause to transforming her body, mindset, and daily habits, Jodi shares how prioritizing her health not only gave her a new physique but a new life. Together, they unpack what real consistency looks like for women who travel, work, parent…and still make time to train like athletes. They also discuss Jodi’s decision to pursue cosmetic surgery after extreme weight loss, what self-discipline actually feels like in real life, and how chasing excellence, rather than perfection, is the most joyful form of self-respect. It's a masterclass in midlife reinvention.

Favorite Moments
1:48 Redefining Consistency on the Road and Under Pressure
5:21 “I thought I had early-onset Alzheimer’s”
11:24 The Trifecta of Transformation: Mindset, Nutrition, and Strength
43:40 Why the Gym is Her Meditation Now

"Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change." – Jodi Echakowitz

GUEST: JODI ECHAKOWITZ, FOUNDER & CEO OF BOULEVARD PUBLIC RELATIONS
Instagram | LinkedIn | Website | X | Website
Full Guest Bio:
Jodi Echakowitz is the founder and CEO of Boulevard Public Relations, a leading tech PR agency based in Toronto. With decades of experience in strategic communications, she’s built a career helping innovative companies tell their stories.
In her 50s, Jodi transformed her own story—losing 55 pounds, reclaiming her health, and embracing strength training as a non-negotiable part of life. Now a passionate advocate for women’s health in midlife, she leads with the mindset of an athlete and proves that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.
 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE
Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X
Full Michelle Bio:
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 moth
https://events.thewonderwomen.com/ 
Join The Wonder Women for a transformational week in Tulum, Mexico at the Amansala Resort & Spa. This retreat blends fitness, mindset, and community to help you reset your body, restore your energy, and reignite your confidence. Learn, move, and connect in paradise, with the women who understand your journey.

What if your brain is the reason your goals aren’t sticking and there’s a science-backed way to fix it? 

Michelle MacDonald welcomes back neuroscience-based practitioner and communication expert Michelle Baty for a powerful conversation on the Neurology of Goal Setting. As the creator of the Neuroscience of Coaching, Baty breaks down why most goals fail, not due to laziness, but due to overlooked neurological barriers. Together, they explore the 3 critical brain-based elements of effective goal pursuit, the What, Why, and How, and the 4 nervous system triggers that sabotage follow-through. This episode blends personal growth, a fitness mindset, and practical neuroscience into a conversation that’s as inspiring as it is actionable. Whether you're a coach or someone chasing change, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a roadmap that actually works. 

Favorite Moments
1:34 The Brain Needs Specific Targets: Why Vagueness Destroys Progress
14:28 Everyone’s in Survival Mode—Start Coaching Like It
27:13 The Push-Pull Neurology Behind Motivation and Meaning
53:19 The Quick Goal-Setting Audit Every Woman Needs
 
“The best coaches out there have suffered. They’ve wrestled with things. They have deep, personal insight on top of professional skills. That’s when we win.” – Michelle Baty
GUEST: MICHELLE BATY, NEUROPSYCH PRAC (IFS, PVT, SE)
Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Neuroscience of Coaching Instagram | Website
Full Guest Bio:
Michelle Baty is a neuroscience-based practitioner, communication expert, and founder of The Neuroscience of Coaching. With nearly two decades of experience, she helps high-performing coaches, athletes, and leaders break through mental barriers using brain-based strategies and precision communication. Michelle is known for translating complex neuroscience into practical tools that drive sustainable transformation, personal growth, and a powerful coaching mindset.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE
Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X
Full Michelle Bio:
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 e
https://events.thewonderwomen.com/ 
Join The Wonder Women for a transformational week in Tulum, Mexico at the Amansala Resort & Spa. This retreat blends fitness, mindset, and community to help you reset your body, restore your energy, and reignite your confidence. Learn, move, and connect in paradise, with the women who understand your journey.

What if your strength training routine is doing more harm than good—without you even realizing it?
Michelle MacDonald welcomes Dr. Tony Boutagy, one of Australia's most respected strength and conditioning educators. With decades of experience and over 50,000 programs written, Dr. Boutagy dives deep into how women can train smarter, not harder, through movement literacy, mobility assessments, and intelligent programming. From debunking trendy fitness myths to explaining why personalized training should trump gender-based advice, this conversation is packed with gold for any woman looking to build strength, maintain joint health, and cultivate a healthy, empowered mindset in midlife and beyond.

Favorite Moments
1:52 Mastering Movement: The Real Reason to Assess Your Body
10:41 Why Women Aren’t Inflexible—They’re Just Weak in the End Ranges
19:01 How to Know When to Progress Your Training
36:13 The Hidden Signs You're Out-Training Your Recovery
"Your program should be symptom-based, not gender-based—because good training principles work for everyone." - Dr. Tony Boutagy
 
GUEST: TONY BOUTAGY
Website | Courses | Instagram | YouTube | X | Facebook
Full Guest Bio:
Dr. Tony Boutagy is a PhD-qualified Exercise Physiologist and one of Australia’s most respected strength and conditioning experts. With over 25 years of experience and more than 50,000 sessions delivered, Tony has written programs for elite athletes across 24 sports and is renowned for his science-based, practical approach to training. He’s a longtime educator, having lectured at multiple universities and at Australia’s largest fitness conference, FILEX, for 17 consecutive years. Tony also runs one of the country’s longest-standing internship programs and continues to lead in coaching, education, and industry development.
 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE
Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X
Full Michelle Bio:
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:

https://events.thewonderwomen.com/ 
Join The Wonder Women for a transformational week in Tulum, Mexico at the Amansala Resort & Spa. This retreat blends fitness, mindset, and community to help you reset your body, restore your energy, and reignite your confidence. Learn, move, and connect in paradise, with the women who understand your journey.

Are you prepping for a show or planning your comeback season? What if the difference between winning and wasting your time was strategy?
Michelle MacDonald welcomes elite coach and two-time world champion Jean Jacques (JJ) Barrett. Known for shaping champions across divisions and federations, JJ brings a wealth of experience in women’s health and fitness. The conversation dives deep into the most misunderstood phases of physique prep for women: choosing your show strategically, maximizing your improvement season, and avoiding peak week mistakes. JJ shares expert insights on how to build a competitive physique with a healthy and sustainable fitness mindset. Whether you’re stepping on stage soon or mapping out your next season, this episode delivers game-changing advice every female athlete should hear.

Favorite Moments
5:09 How to Strategically Choose the Right Competition for Your Physique
10:54 When to Postpone Your Show—and Why It Might Save Your Season
24:42 The Biggest Mistake Women Make During Improvement Season
1:11:20 Why Competing Is About More Than Just Winning a Trophy

"Create urgency in your improvement season  because that's the work that actually builds your next stage body."– Jean Jacques Barrett
 
GUEST: JEAN JACQUES BARRETT, EXPERT COACH | ISSA STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING SPECIALIST | 5X PRO FITNESS MODEL CHAMPION
Instagram | Talum Strength Club | Facebook | FMG Show Registration | Tickets to FMG Mexico
Full Guest Bio:
Jean Jacques Barrett is a top-tier physique coach, two-time world champion, and seven-time titleholder known for his precision-based coaching and transformative results. With over a decade of experience shaping elite-level athletes across divisions and federations, JJ specializes in strategic physique development with a deep understanding of female physiology. He co-leads Tulum Strength Club and is a key promoter with FMG Mexico, where he continues to elevate the standard for women’s health and fitness on and off the stage. JJ is respected for his disciplined approach, athlete-first mindset, and commitment to coaching with clarity, purpose, and impact.
 
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE
Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X
Full Michelle Bio:
Michelle MacDonald is the creator of the FITNESS MO
https://events.thewonderwomen.com/ 
Join The Wonder Women for a transformational week in Tulum, Mexico at the Amansala Resort & Spa. This retreat blends fitness, mindset, and community to help you reset your body, restore your energy, and reignite your confidence. Learn, move, and connect in paradise, with the women who understand your journey.