Pursuing Health

Three months into motherhood, I’m sharing a personal update on life with baby Jax, my postpartum experience, and what this new chapter has been teaching me about time, priorities, and what matters most. After 11 years of Pursuing Health, I’m also taking some time to step back and reevaluate the podcast—what role it plays in my life, how I want to spend my limited time, and what direction it might take next. It’s not goodbye. It’s see you later.   Resources: www.pursuing-health.com   Related Episodes: Ep 335 - Empowered Motherhood with Annie Thorisdottir and Katrin Davidsdottir Ep 333 - Life Update: We’re Having a Baby!   If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.   Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this episode, I’m sharing conversations with experts in fertility and nutrition to explore how we can better support reproductive health before and during pregnancy. Functional nutritionist Brigid Titgemeier shares practical, evidence-based recommendations for pregnancy nutrition and discusses how maternal nutrition influences both immediate and long-term health outcomes. WeNatal founders Ronit Menashe and Vida Delrahim examine the growing fertility crisis, highlighting trends in reproductive health, common barriers to conception, and the importance of fertility awareness and education. Together, these conversations offer valuable perspectives on preparing for pregnancy, supporting reproductive health, and building a foundation for healthier families.   Related Episodes: Ep 291 - Nutrition for Pregnancy with Brigid Titgemeier Ep 314 - The Fertility Crisis + Support for Couples with Ronit Menashe + Vida Delrahim   If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.   Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Pregnancy was an incredible learning experience, and nothing made me dive deeper into the research than going through it myself. I’m sharing the eight areas I focused on during pregnancy that I found most helpful: movement, nutrition, hydration, supplementation, sleep, mindset and nervous system, body work, and choosing my birth team and environment. I also share one of the most important lessons I learned along the way: aim for an A-, not an A+. Pregnancy doesn’t have to be perfect, and trying to optimize every detail can create unnecessary stress. This is a personal reflection on my experience—not medical advice—and I hope it gives you a helpful starting point for your own research and conversations with your healthcare team. Resources: Empower by Dottir Ina May's Guide to Childbirth Birthing from Within Hypnobirthing: A Natural Approach To A Safe, Easier, More Comfortable Birthing The First Forty Days Spinning Babies WeNatal Seen Nutrition Calcium Chews https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/13765/ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adn5421?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=sugar_restriction https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/healthy-eating-during-pregnancy https://www.dsm-firmenich.com/en/businesses/health-nutrition-care/news/talking-nutrition/highlights-from-acog.html https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21857221/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5524288/ https://www.cochrane.org/evidence/CD005123_antenatal-perineal-massage-reducing-perineal-trauma https://evidencebasedbirth.com/the-evidence-for-doulas/ https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6491161/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23857334/ Related Episodes: Ep 314 - The Fertility Crisis + Support for Couples Ep 335 - Empowered Motherhood with Annie Thorisdottir + Katrin Davidsdottir If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health. Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this compilation episode, I’m bringing together insights from four experts to explore pelvic floor health during pregnancy and postpartum. Pelvic floor physical therapist Julie Wiebe, DPT shares a broader perspective on how the pelvic floor works as part of the entire movement system and why pressure management matters for athletes, both male and female, at every stage of life. Dr. Alexis Morgan and Dr. Christina Prevett discuss what current research says about CrossFit, exercise, and pelvic floor function during pregnancy, helping separate evidence from common misconceptions. Lisa Kozian Ryan offers practical guidance on training during pregnancy, recovering postpartum, and healing diastasis recti while building strength and confidence along the way. Together, these conversations provide evidence-based education and empowering strategies to help women stay active, resilient, and informed throughout pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and beyond. Related Episodes: Ep 83 - Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes: Dr. Julie Wiebe Ep. 285 - What the research says about CrossFit + pregnancy: Dr. Alexis Morgan + Dr. Christina Prevett Ep 82 - Training During Pregnancy and Healing Diastasis Recti: Lisa Kozian Ryan If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health. Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Today, I’m joined by two of the most accomplished athletes in CrossFit history, Annie Thorisdottir and Katrin Davidsdottir, both two-time CrossFit Games champions who have been an absolute joy to compete alongside.  Now that we've all retired from elite competition, we’re discussing embracing new chapters of life, including motherhood, pregnancy, staying active through life’s transitions, and how our identities have evolved beyond the competition floor.   You can follow Annie @anniethorisdottir, Katrin @katrintanja, learn about their EMPOWER community at https://empowerbydottir.com/, Drink Dottir at https://drinkdottir.com/, and pre-order Annie’s book, Iceland Annie, on Amazon.  You can connect with Brianna Battles at https://briannabattles.com/. Related Episodes: Ep 83 - Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes with Dr. Julie Wiebe Ep 141 - From the CrossFit Games to Pregnancy with Annie Thorisdottir and Camille Leblanc-Bazinet If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health. Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Dr. Bill Chun is a board-certified OB/GYN who trained and has spent his entire career in Boston, where he has practiced solo for the past two decades. He is the founder of Empowering Pregnancy and Doula Unbound, and the host of Sunday with Chun. A Korean immigrant and U.S. Navy veteran, he is currently writing a literary memoir, The Accidental Obstetrician.   Follow Dr. Chun via his website drbillchun.com, and Instagram @dr.billchun   Related Episodes: Ep 291 - Nutrition for Pregnancy with Brigid Titgemeier Ep 333 - Life Update: We’re Pregnant! With Julie Foucher Brown If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.   Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this special solo episode, I’m sharing a personal update on the experiences that have shaped my life over the past several years. From the inner work that transformed my approach to relationships and personal growth, to meeting my husband, building a family with our adopted son, and finding a deeper sense of joy and connection, this chapter has been full of unexpected blessings. I also open up about my fertility journey, the challenges we faced along the way, and the incredible surprise of becoming pregnant shortly after our wedding. As we prepare to welcome a baby boy into the world, I’m excited to share what’s ahead for our family and for the next chapter of Pursuing Health. Thank you for being part of this journey and for your support through every season of the podcast.   Please share your thoughts with [email protected], or connect with me on Instagram @JulieFoucher. Related Episodes: Ep 321 - Visualization: A Simple Tool to Show Up Fully   Ep 309 - How I Created My Life Plan   If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health. Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this special compilation episode, we explore the evolving science of pregnancy, exercise, and recovery through conversations with two innovative voices in women’s health: Dr. Shon Rowan and Dr. Lindsey Mathews. Dr. Shon Rowan, an OB-GYN and researcher, shares groundbreaking insights from his work studying heart rate variability (HRV) throughout pregnancy and postpartum. His findings reveal fascinating physiologic adaptations—including measurable changes in HRV and resting heart rate that begin almost immediately after conception, reverse in the weeks leading up to delivery, and may ultimately rebound postpartum to levels even higher than pre-pregnancy. Dr. Lindsey Mathews, a Doctor of Chiropractic and prenatal movement specialist, offers practical guidance on how women can use HRV as a tool to better understand stress, recovery, and readiness—helping inform training intensity during pregnancy and postpartum in a way that honors the body’s changing needs. Together, these conversations challenge outdated beliefs about pregnancy and exercise, highlight the incredible adaptability of the female body, and offer a more informed, empowering perspective on movement during one of life’s most transformative seasons. In this episode, we discuss: How HRV and resting heart rate change during pregnancy Why postpartum HRV may exceed pre-pregnancy levels Using HRV trends to guide training and recovery Why pregnancy research has historically been limited The future of wearable technology in women’s health How exercise can support—not hinder—a healthy pregnancy and recovery Related Episodes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1019070179?i=1000532952176Ep 210 -  HRV + Pregnancy with Dr. Shon Rowan  Ep 263 - Resilience, Recovery + Performance with Kristen Holmes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1019070179?i=1000564649843 If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health. Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Natalie Crawford, MD is board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and is co-founder of Fora Fertility, a boutique fertility practice in Austin, Texas. Dr. Crawford is CEO and co-founder of Pinnacle, a professional network for women in medicine. She completed her undergraduate at Auburn University obtaining a degree in Nutrition Science, Medical School at UTMB, OBGYN Residency at UTSW, and REI Fellowship at UNC, concurrently obtaining a Master of Science in Clinical Research. Dr. Crawford is a digital health educator on social media, YouTube, and hosts the podcast  “As a Woman” with over 6 million downloads. Her debut book, “The Fertility Formula”, will be released by Penguin Random House.   Follow Dr. Crawford on Instagram at @nataliecrawfordmd and check out her book, The Fertility Formula.   Related Episodes: Ep 155 - Dr. Marguerite Duane on FACTS about Fertility Ep 314 - The Fertility Crisis + Support for Couples with Ronit Menashe + Vida Delrahim   If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.   Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this special compilation, former CrossFit Games athletes Lindsey Valenzuela, Kara Saunders, Annie Thorisdottir, and Camille Leblanc-Bazinet share their experiences transitioning from elite competition to motherhood, and back again.   They discuss how training evolved before pregnancy, what changed during pregnancy, and how they approached postpartum recovery and return to performance.  Enjoy this honest conversation about identity, expectations, and redefining strength as a mom. Related Episodes: Ep 81 - Lindsey Valenzuela on Postpartum Training and the Road Back to the CrossFit Games https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pursuing-health/id1019070179?i=1000406935633 Ep 110 - Kara Saunders on CrossFit and Expecting Baby She-Bear https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1019070179?i=1000435062288 Ep 141 - Annie Thorisdottir and Camille Leblanc-Bazinet: From the CrossFit Games to Pregnancy  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1019070179?i=1000472870644 If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health. Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.