In this heartfelt episode, I’m joined by the incredible Sheetal Story — a grief counselor, psychic medium, and expert in human design and astrology — for a powerful conversation on how grief, spirituality, and running intersect in the most meaningful ways.

We dive into how emotions live in the body, and how movement, especially running, can help us process and release what we’re carrying — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Sheetal shares her own personal journey with loss, healing, and transformation, and offers practical tools and spiritual insights to help us navigate the many layers of grief.

Together, we explore the role of intention, energy, community, and professional support in healing. Whether you’re grieving a loved one, a version of yourself, or simply moving through a hard season, this conversation is an invitation to stay open, grounded, and connected — to your body, your spirit, and the road ahead.

Sheetal Story is a Psychic Medium, Spiritual Grief Support Counselor, and Professional Astrologer with a Master’s in Coaching and a Business Degree from the University of Alberta. She empowers women—from entrepreneurs and professionals to stay-at-home moms—to break through blocks, trust their intuition, and uplevel to the next stage of their lives. Specializing in navigating grief and life transitions, Sheetal combines spiritual insight with grounded expertise to help her clients transform challenges into opportunities for growth, alignment, and joy-filled success.

If you want to connect with her, you can find her at the links below!

storys@shaw.ca
www.sheetalstory.com
http://instagram.com/sheetalstory
https://www.facebook.com/SheetalStoryMedium/
The Story of Spirit Podcast

00:48 Sheetal's Journey and Spiritual Gifts

03:20 Understanding Psychic Mediumship

04:41 Navigating Grief and Spiritual Counseling

07:34 Connecting Spirituality and Religion

12:29 The Physical Manifestation of Emotions

18:10 Healing Through Movement and Intention

29:18 Choosing the Right Therapist

29:38 The Importance of Professional Therapy

31:10 Understanding Grief Beyond Death

33:01 Grief in Life Transitions

36:10 Embracing Body Changes

39:46 Connecting with Your Body

43:18 The Holistic Approach to Healing

51:18 The Power of Community Support

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

In this solo episode of the Real Life Runners podcast, Coach Kevin gets real about the role of discomfort in growth—on the run and in life. Sharing takeaways from a tough birthday run and the powerful ideas in The Comfort Crisis by Michael Easter, Kevin unpacks how stepping outside our comfort zones can lead to real transformation.

He talks about why chasing big goals matters, how to avoid falling into the “arrival fallacy,” and the difference between pain that builds you up and stress that wears you down. You’ll also hear thoughts on recovery, resilience, and the underrated power of community support.

This episode isn’t just about pushing harder—it’s about choosing challenges that mean something. Kevin closes with a personal call to action: reflect on where you might be holding back, and consider what discomfort you might need to lean into to grow stronger—not just as a runner, but as a person.

00:00 Introduction: Embracing Discomfort

03:05 Pushing Boundaries: Is It Worth It?

05:18 The Arrival Fallacy

08:35 Training and Growth

14:42 Mental Strength and Support Networks

19:19 The Comfort Crisis

22:09 Practical Tips for Embracing Discomfort

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

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Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

Pushing Through Life’s Challenges: How Running Builds Your Resilience

In this episode of The Real Life Runners Podcast, I’m getting real about feeling overwhelmed — from home repairs to family chaos to just life piling up. Honestly? My first instinct is often to shut down. But that’s not where growth happens.

Today, I’m sharing how running teaches us to keep moving forward, even when life feels heavy. The same skills we use on the run—taking one small step, focusing on the next breath, shifting “I have to” into “I get to”—can help us navigate life’s messier moments too.

I’ll walk you through how I’m leaning into these strategies myself right now, and how you can use them to stay grounded, find your strength, and keep showing up… both on the run and in life.

00:00 Introduction: When Life Feels Overwhelming

01:10 A Messy House and a Heavy Heart

02:34 Pushing Through the Tough Times

05:06 The Power of Gratitude and Reframing

05:55 Running as a Metaphor for Life

08:46 Zooming In and Zooming Out

12:58 Taking the Next Right Step

18:51 Embracing the Journey

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

As women runners over 40, we often face a wave of confusing (and sometimes extreme) advice about menopause and fitness — especially on social media. In this episode, we cut through the noise and dive into what really matters when it comes to training during perimenopause and beyond.

We break down the most common menopause myths circulating in the running community and explore the physiological shifts happening in midlife. From hormone changes to training adaptations, we highlight what women truly need to feel strong, empowered, and capable — not just now, but for the long run.

In this episode, we cover:

• The problem with social media extremes & one-size-fits-all advice
• Hormonal changes and their real impact on training and recovery
• Why strength training is non-negotiable in midlife
• The truth about weight gain, metabolism, and cortisol
• How to balance intensity, recovery, and mindset for lifelong performance
• The trend of “cycle syncing” vs. what’s actually helpful for aging runners
• Why personalized training matters more now than ever

Whether you're running through hot flashes or just looking to stay consistent through the transitions of midlife, this episode will leave you informed, empowered, and supported.

02:01 Menopause Myths and Social Media

06:23 Understanding Hormonal Changes

08:07 Training Adaptations for Menopausal Women

12:06 Menopause Myths in Training

14:20 Cycle Specific Training

18:31 Progressive Overload and Recovery

22:42 Training Intensity Debate

27:14 Understanding Exercise Intensity for Aging Bodies

27:47 Weight Gain and Menopause: Myths and Realities

29:08 The Role of Cortisol in Weight Management

34:03 Strength Training: Essential for Midlife

35:11 Balancing Strength and Cardio for Runners

41:03 The Importance of Recovery and Nutrition

45:41 Mindset Shifts for Sustainable Health

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

In today’s episode, I’m joined by the incredible Holly Bertone — a former FBI Chief of Staff turned certified holistic health coach — who now helps midlife women break free from emotional eating and step into their power.

Holly shares her deeply personal journey, from leading high-stakes intelligence operations to uncovering the root causes of her own struggles with food. With a unique blend of counterintelligence tactics and brain science, she teaches how to identify emotional triggers, interrupt destructive patterns, and rewire your brain for long-term freedom — all without relying on willpower or restrictive diets.

Together, we dive into the lies we’ve been told by the diet industry, why food feels so emotionally loaded (hello, childhood conditioning and clean plate club!), and how to create lasting change through awareness, forgiveness, and self-compassion.

Holly also walks us through her signature 3-step process — See It, Stop It, Shift It — and shares a powerful tool to help you reclaim your relationship with food.

Whether emotional eating has been a quiet companion or a daily struggle, this episode will help you feel seen, understood, and empowered with tools that truly work.

🎁 PLUS: Don’t miss Holly’s free Emotional Eating Tactical Blueprint — available exclusively to our listeners!

00:13 – Meet Holly: From FBI to holistic health coach
02:00 – Her personal journey and struggles with food
12:57 – Exposing the lies of the diet industry
18:48 – Why we turn to food for comfort
23:56 – Food, emotions, and celebrations
26:18 – The Clean Plate Club and early conditioning
27:08 – Holly’s 3-step process: See It, Stop It, Shift It
36:48 – The power of rewriting your food story
42:23 – How to get Holly’s Emotional Eating Blueprint

Ready to feel more in control and at peace with food? Let’s crack the code together.

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

https://www.realliferunners.com/team

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Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

Let’s set the record straight: pain and injury are not just things runners have to live with. In this episode of the Real Life Runners podcast, we’re taking on one of the most damaging myths in the running world — the belief that hurting is normal, expected, or even necessary if you want to improve.

Spoiler alert: it’s not.

Yes, injuries are common — but that doesn’t make them inevitable. And accepting them as “part of the process” only keeps runners stuck in a frustrating cycle of pain, inconsistency, and burnout. We’re here to break that cycle.

We’ll share real-life stories from our own journey and from runners we’ve coached — and we’ll unpack some of the most common injury drivers, including muscle imbalances, overtraining, poor recovery habits, underfueling, and chronic stress.

More importantly, we’ll give you practical tools to run strong and stay healthy:
✅ Why strength training is non-negotiable
✅ How to personalize your plan to fit your life and body
✅ What proper recovery really looks like
✅ Why underfueling is sabotaging your progress (and how to fix it)
✅ How to stop outsourcing your intuition to your watch
✅ And the mindset shift that will help you run for the long haul, not just the next race

Running shouldn’t hurt. And it’s time we stop normalizing it. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been running for decades, this episode will challenge how you think about pain, progress, and what’s actually possible for you.

00:43 The Trigger: Challenging Common Narratives

02:02 Understanding Pain vs. Discomfort

04:31 The Harmful Impact of Some Medical Advice

05:32 Rant: Misguided Medical Opinions

08:56 Reframing Pain and Injury in Running

10:38 The Elite Athlete Dilemma

19:22 Consistency Over Intensity

22:45 5 Common Causes of Running Injuries

39:41 5 Ways To Avoid Injuries

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

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Thanks for Listening!!

Be sure to hit FOLLOW on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast player

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one!

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

What would it look like to pay yourself first when it comes to your health?

In this episode, we explore how the Profit First principle—typically used in business—can be a powerful tool to help you shift how you think about your time, energy, and well-being. Instead of letting health be what’s leftover, we talk about putting it first—so you can show up stronger in all areas of life.

We share personal insights, practical examples, and actionable strategies to help you prioritize what matters most—sleep, training, nutrition, and recovery—even in a busy life full of obligations. From blocking off time in your calendar to conducting a “time profit audit,” you’ll walk away with tools to create more balance, consistency, and sustainability in your health journey.

We also dive into:

• Why so many of us struggle to prioritize ourselves—and how to change that
• The importance of boundaries, saying no, and asking for help
• How consistency beats intensity for long-term health and performance
• Ways to build a support system that lifts you up
• Why recovery isn’t a luxury—it’s essential

This is your reminder that your health isn’t selfish—it’s foundational. And it doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Let’s reframe the way we show up for ourselves—one small choice at a time!

00:10 Profit First: Applying Business Concepts to Health

01:40 The Fence Metaphor: DIY Projects and Running

03:27 Prioritizing Health: A Common Struggle

04:51 The Profit First Equation: Flipping the Script

10:26 Real-Life Application: Prioritizing Sleep and Training

16:00 Balancing Obligations: Work, Family, and Health

20:30 The Importance of a Support System

24:04 Recovery Time: The Overlooked Priority

27:43 The Importance of Saying No and Setting Boundaries

29:53 Prioritizing Nutrition for Health and Performance

32:52 The Power of Consistency in Health Habits

37:10 Practical Tips for Scheduling and Meal Planning

44:43 The Importance of Boundaries and Self-Care

49:27 Join the Real Life Runners Team

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.

In this episode of The Real Life Runners Podcast, we’re diving into a real-life backyard issue—our deteriorating fence—and what it taught us about boundaries, both literal and personal. We use this everyday challenge as a powerful metaphor for the invisible structures that support our lives, our training, and our overall well-being.

How often do we let little things slide—like a creaky fence or a nagging ache—telling ourselves we’ll deal with it later? But that “later” rarely comes without consequences. In this episode, we explore the hidden costs of procrastination, the signals our bodies send when we’re under-recovering, and how ignoring those signs can chip away at our physical and mental strength.

We talk about what it really means to set healthy boundaries—both in our training and our personal lives—and how honoring those boundaries can lead to stronger results and greater resilience. From understanding your training load and recovery needs to navigating body changes and emotional stressors, we’re bringing it all together.

We also emphasize the value of community and support, because just like a fence, we weren’t meant to hold everything up on our own. Whether it’s a running coach, a trusted friend, or a team that truly gets you, support makes all the difference in staying strong, grounded, and moving forward.

So, if you’ve been ignoring a few creaky boards—metaphorically or literally—this episode will help you recognize what needs attention and give you the tools to start rebuilding with strength, intention, and support.

02:09 – A Fence Story with Bigger Meaning
05:22 – The Real Costs of Waiting Too Long
06:56 – What Overtraining and Under-Recovery Really Look Like
22:25 – Why Boundaries Matter
23:35 – Creating Smarter Training Limits
24:16 – Balancing Effort with Recovery
25:10 – Setting Boundaries in Life and Relationships
26:19 – Respecting How Your Body Changes Over Time
28:05 – Tuning Into Your Body’s Signals
38:40 – Why You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

Join the Real Life Runners Team today!

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Thanks for Listening!!

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Don't forget: The information on this website is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition or to provide medical advice. It is intended for general education in the areas of health and wellness. All information contained in this site is intended to be educational in nature. Nothing should be considered medical advice for your specific situation.