Living Your Best (And Fittest) Life With Denise Austin

Denise Austin is one of the original fitness influencers. And she's as passionate about getting America moving as she was in the early 1980s. Denise got her TV start as the first fitness correspondent on the Today Show. She was a natural and quickly became a household name. That led to a daily 30 minute exercise show that aired for more than 20 years. She went on to sell more than 25 million exercise VHS tapes and DVDs. She authored 12 best selling books. More than 40 years later, Denise is still sharing workouts on social media and YouTube. And, her daughter Katie is a popular fitness influencer for Gen Z and millennials. How'd she stay passionate about her job for more than four decades? "You go to meet the people, you feel the love . You think, yeah, this is why I'm doing it. They tell you their stories, and how much better they feel," says Denise. In this episode, Denise shares how she maintains her positivity no matter what obstacle life throws her way. We're going beyond fitness and getting advice on growing a business, growing a family and growing older with her community.   On this Dying to Ask: Find out how Denise cold-called her way into becoming the first fitness reporter on the Today Show How she turned that opportunity into a 40 year empire How she keeps up her famous energy Why she still believes 30 minutes a day is the key to aging well And how her daughter Katie is following in her footsteps as a Gen Z and Millennial fitness influencer

You are what you eat. And if you're stressed or depressed, you might be able to blame your lunch. Dr. Candice Seti is the author of Shatter the Yoyo. She's a food psychologist. She studies the brain-body food link. "It's the idea of nutritional psychiatry and the idea of connecting how food makes us feel. And there are certain foods that make us feel better than others," says Dr. Seti. Omega 3 rich foods like salmon are great for brain health. Fruits, veggies and seeds? All good. But other foods can be a torpedo to your mental health. No surprise, it's anything sugary or processed. Dr. Seti says, "People don't always make the connection that when your brain is healthy your body tends to be healthy, and when you're lacking these things we're more likely to be depressed." Understanding the why might be exactly what you need to make better choices. And shifting your behavior can really help in stressful times. On this Dying to Ask: Foods to boost your mood Foods most likely to bum you out or increase anxiety How your food choices impact your mental health Ways to make the mind-body connection between what you eat and how you feel And a deep dive into the field of food psychology

Need a pick-me-up? Skip the coffee and try a movement bite. Jessica Schatz is a celebrity trainer and biomechanics and ProACTIVE Aging expert. She's trained professional athletes, Broadway stars and Hollywood actors for decades. Those athletes and performers need to maintain energy to perform. Jessica says the key to maintaining energy and aging well isn't destroying yourself in a two-hour gym workout. It's a lot easier than that. It's incorporating five-minute exercise breaks frequently into your day. Even 30 seconds of jumping jacks, pushups or squats can go a long way. Jessica calls them movement bites. "They increase your blood flow. They increase your heart rate. And they start to release these proteins, these Myokines, and they also release a protein called BDNF, Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor. It's like fertilizer for your brain," Schatz said. It's good news for anyone not crazy about chasing the elusive runner's high. Creating a positive neurfeedback loop doesn't have to leave you exhausted. It just needs to be consistent. "You're literally teaching yourself to foster a relationship with movement that's positive," Schatz said. Follow Jessica: Facebook: @thecoreexpert Instagram: @TheCoreExpert YouTube: @TheCoreExpert On this Dying to Ask: A deep dive into the science of hope molecules 5 movement bites you can do sitting in your car or at your desk How to plan your own "pick-me-ups" to improve mood and energy And what it's like to be a celebrity trainer to stars like Ashley Olsen and NBA players Other places to listen CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

A summer bucket list is like a personal manifesto of fun in the sun.  It's a list of ideas, big and small, of things you'd like to do or accomplish over the summer.  The goal is to collect your thoughts in one place so you can seize the day when you find free time.   Writing down your list improves the likelihood you'll actually follow through on those activities and not just scroll Instagram! And it's a great way to spend time with your family and friends while ditching your screens.   On this Dying to Ask:  A three step plan to starting your summer bucket list How to make it a summer tradition with your kids And how to create one as an adult that focuses on fun and productivity Where to find pre-done bucket lists for families with little kids

Stop the summer brain drain by getting your kids hooked on reading this summer. This is part two of the 10th annual KCRA summer beach reads series. Last week, we took a look at the best summer beach reads for adults with Tina Ferguson, owner of "Face in a Book" bookstore. This week, we're focusing on books for kids of all ages. Tina says the key to getting a kid to put a screen down is to offer a book that's more compelling than any video. And there are lots to choose from. Have a reluctant reader? Tina says it's helpful to let your child drive the book bus. Let them pick out what interests them. Graphic novels continue to be a huge trend for kids who aren't naturally drawn to reading. Her favorite this year is a book called "The Cartoonists Club." "I chose this one because graphic novels are great for reluctant readers. A lot of parents might think graphical novels aren't what they would choose for their child. But graphic novels actually have great vocabulary," Tina says.  Titles mentioned: "The Secret Letters," Margaret Peterson Haddox "Rebellion 1776," by Laurie Halse Anderson "The Cartoonists Club," by Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud "El Nino," by Pam Munoz Ryan "A Wolf Called Fire," by Rosanne Parry "Sharks Unhooked," by Patricia Newman Other places to listen CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

It's time for our annual "Summer Beach Reads" episode on Dying to Ask. The 2025 summer titles will not disappoint. Tina Ferguson, owner of Face in a Book bookstore, is back as our guide to all things literary. Tina and I have been doing a beach reads segment or podcast episode for 10 years now. And her pics this summer are a delightful blend of non-fiction and fiction. But our episode starts with a reality check on what the publishing industry looks like these days. Are people reading as much as they were during COVID-19 after they finished Netflix? Are romance sales as steamy as they were last year? Is Mark Twain about to follow in Hamilton's steps and be the next great musical thanks to a hot new offering from Ron Chernow? Don't miss this episode and please be sure to share it with your bookish friends and book clubs! Titles mentioned: "Headshot" "Glorious Exploits" "River of Lies" "We Solve Murders" "Mark Twain" "Tartufo"     Other places to listen CLICK HERE to listen on iTunes CLICK HERE to listen on Stitcher CLICK HERE to listen on Spotify        

Feeling blah? Head outside. Mother Nature may be the ultimate mood booster. Science has long backed the health benefits of the great outdoors. In this re-release, we're looking at how spending time outdoors impacts your physical and emotional health. Going outside can fight depression and lower blood pressure. Feel cranky after a long day indoors at school or work? A 10 minutes walk outside soaking in some sun can radically change how you feel and ultimately perform. Can't think? Go outside. Feeling down? Go outside. Can't sleep? Go outside. You get the idea. On this Dying to Ask: The viral video from Finland prompting more interest in the health benefits of spending time outside. The vitamin you'll increase naturally by soaking up some sun. And the link between your eyes, age, sun and sleep.

Can you fidget your way to fitness? You can if you're a NEAT person. We're not talking about the organized type of neat.  NEAT stands for non-exercise activity thermogenesis. It's the energy you burn when you're moving about the day and *not when you're in a purposeful workout at the gym. It's things like walking to your car, folding the laundry, pacing on a phone call, taking the garbage cans out, and yes even fidgeting. Those are the calories a lot of us aren't burning enough and they are crucial to weight management and longevity. A Mayo Clinic study found people who sit at a job for six or more hours a day have a 35-40% increased risk of shorter lifespan. You can offset that by moving more. The key is being active in small spurts all day longer and not just an hour in a workout class. On this Dying to Ask  How to figure out if you're not moving enough  And easy ways to burn more calories by simply living your life

Move over, hustle culture. An Ivy League school says we're not lazy enough. Yale University researchers studied stressed-out students. They discovered that a scheduled day of doing nothing had powerful health benefits. Read more about the study here. Students reported improvements in mood, sleep, and anxiety almost immediately. Love being productive? That's great. But scheduling some downtime might make you happier, healthier and ultimately more motivated to get things done. On this Dying to Ask: Why laziness (in scheduled doses) could be a superpower And a 4-step plan to doing nothing

Say this, not that. Knowing what to say in the heat of the moment is key to defusing workplace drama. Karin Hurt and David Dye should know. They wrote the book on it. Karin and David are leadership experts and the founders of Let's Grow Leaders. They surveyed 5,000 people in 45 countries to gauge the most common forms of workplace conflict. The results aren't good. Workplace conflict is more complicated than ever before, thanks to an uncertain economy, remote work and a changing workforce. "And so that is all of that really combines to make complex conflict cocktails," says David. Karin Hurt and David Dye are the authors of "Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict." It offers 300 phrases to diffuse everything from micromanagers to bullies to passive-aggressive types. "Well, the first thing you do is don't call them passive-aggressive," says Karin. "One of the most important things that you can do there is to start with a connection, you know. So start, you know, making the human connection. 'You know, hey? I know we both want the same thing here.' And then you give the thing." It's like having a script for difficult people. The advice works for a workplace and your personal life, too. David says, "sometimes people will say, well, you can't script a whole conversation, can you? And no, you can't, because we're human beings and we're messy. But if we can open the door with connection by introducing clarity and getting curious about the other person's perspective, then we can land on a firm commitment that opens the door to a meaningful conversation." On this Dying to Ask: Why workplace conflict is up What to say to bullies, micromanagers, and passive-aggressive types Why these phrases work so well How to avoid what Karin and David call a "conversation cocktail." How to tell a boss you're not happy with something without coming off as lazy or a whiner And how Karin and David found the perfect partnership in work and in real life