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Stronger by Design for Women with Michelle MacDonald

Stronger by Design for Women with Michelle MacDonald

Michelle MacDonald

Health & FitnessEducationSociety & Culture

No one is going to “save” you. In today's world, it's up to us to save ourselves! Hosted by top fitness expert and coach Michelle MacDonald, the Stronger by Design podcast is for women who want to take radical ownership of their bodies, nutrition, and mindsets. Michelle, known worldwide for her Transformation Programs, shares world-class insights to help women redefine aging by focusing on longevity, empowerment, fitness, resilience, and muscle-building, all while fostering a positive mindset about nutrition and health. Since 2012, Michelle has been coaching women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. In 2016, she co-founded Tulum Strength Club, an online Physique Contest Prep Team. She later established The Wonder Women (TWW) in 2020 and the TWW coaching academy in 2022. Michelle’s work has inspired countless women, including her mother, Joan MacDonald (Train With Joan™), who lost 70 pounds in her 70s and became a fitness influencer. Michelle now brings her expertise to the Stronger by Design Fitness App, launching in fall 2024, alongside this podcast of the same name. Join us on Stronger by Design to explore how to cultivate a resilient mindset, maintain optimal nutrition, and achieve lasting fitness for a healthier, more vibrant future. This podcast is designed for women committed to longevity, strength, and nutrition, empowering them to transform their lives from the inside out.

Episodes

The Pelvic Floor Fix ALL Women Need to Know | Dr. Rachel Selman

The Pelvic Floor Fix ALL Women Need to Know | Dr. Rachel Selman

What if the reason your lifts, runs, or rotational power feel off has nothing to do with motivation—and everything to do with pelvic floor coordination? Michelle MacDonald sits down with pelvic health and performance specialist Rachel Selman for a conversation that bridges the gap between rehab and real athletic training. Together, they explore how the pelvic floor functions in loaded movement, why Kegels alone are not enough, and how women…especially midlife female athletes, can progress fro...
39min•Mar 17, 2026
Are You Destroying Your Shoulders Without Even Knowing? | Dr. Patrick Denard

Are You Destroying Your Shoulders Without Even Knowing? | Dr. Patrick Denard

Your shoulders are not invincible and waiting until something breaks is not a strategy! Michelle MacDonald sits down with Dr. Patrick Denard, board-certified orthopedic surgeon and founder of the Oregon Shoulder Institute. This episode is for every woman who is serious about building strength and wants to keep training for life. Dr. Denard breaks down what damages women's shoulders, why 50% of people over 65 have a rotator cuff tear without knowing it, when physiotherapy is enough and when s...
47min•Feb 24, 2026
Why Muscle Matters More Than Motivation | Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

Why Muscle Matters More Than Motivation | Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

What if the problem isn’t discipline, but outdated health advice? Michelle MacDonald sits down with Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, board-certified physician and leading voice in muscle-centric medicine. Dr. Lyons explains why muscle, not weight, is the foundation of healthy aging for women. They cover protein targets, carb tolerance, type II muscle fibers, and why strength training matters for lifelong independence. Favorite Moments 1:41 Muscle Is Agency, Not Just Fitness7:10 Why Muscle-Centric Protei...
56min•Feb 10, 2026
Women, STOP Ignoring Your Pelvic Floor | Kim Vopni

Women, STOP Ignoring Your Pelvic Floor | Kim Vopni

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 powerfu...
1h 4min•Jan 27, 2026
Her Body Was Failing…So She Reclaimed It | Jodi Echakowitz

Her Body Was Failing…So She Reclaimed It | Jodi Echakowitz

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...
1h 6min•Jan 13, 2026
Train Your Brain to Finally Reach Your Fitness Goals | Michelle Baty

Train Your Brain to Finally Reach Your Fitness Goals | Michelle Baty

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 effe...
1h 3min•Dec 30, 2025
Are You Training Smart or Just Training Hard? | Dr. Tony Boutagy

Are You Training Smart or Just Training Hard? | Dr. Tony Boutagy

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 traini...
54min•Dec 17, 2025
What Every Woman Needs to Know About Peak Week, Prep, and Progress | Jean Jacques Barrett

What Every Woman Needs to Know About Peak Week, Prep, and Progress | Jean Jacques Barrett

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 you...
1h 12min•Dec 2, 2025
What Are the Secrets Struggles in Women's Bodybuilding? | Loz Vickers

What Are the Secrets Struggles in Women's Bodybuilding? | Loz Vickers

What does it truly take to step on stage as a female bodybuilder? Hint: it’s not just muscle. Michelle MacDonald sits down with Loz Vickers, a natural bodybuilding phenom and a grounded voice in the women's fitness space. Together, they unpack what it really means to train hard, build muscle, and create a healthy, resilient mindset as a woman in fitness. Loz shares her raw experiences with body image struggles, recovering from disordered eating, and transforming into a figure competitor...
1h 15min•Nov 11, 2025
Why Do Women Struggle with Sleep and How Can They Fix It? | Dr. Woganee Filate

Why Do Women Struggle with Sleep and How Can They Fix It? | Dr. Woganee Filate

What if your sleepless nights weren’t just a part of aging but the silent accelerator of it? Michelle MacDonald welcomes Dr. Woganee Filate, physician, sleep researcher, and women's health advocate, to tackle one of the most overlooked pillars in women’s health: sleep. Dr. Filate unpacks why women experience a unique midlife sleep crisis, what’s really behind it from biology to social dynamics and how to reclaim restorative rest. They discuss evidence-based strategies for improving sleep duri...
49min•Oct 28, 2025
The 6 Health Metrics that Could Save Your Life | Dr. Amy Louis Bayliss

The 6 Health Metrics that Could Save Your Life | Dr. Amy Louis Bayliss

What if your menstrual cycle, cholesterol, and even your VO₂ max could predict your future health? Most women aren’t tracking what really matters—until it’s too late. Michelle MacDonald welcomes Dr. Amy Louis-Bayliss, a MD and women's preventive health expert, to uncover the six key metrics that can radically improve how women age. With decades of experience in emergency medicine and specialized training in menopause, Dr. Amy breaks down complex topics like cholesterol, A1C, body compos...
1h 0min•Oct 14, 2025
Why Clients Ghost Their Coaches and How to Bring Them Back | Kasey Jo Orvidas

Why Clients Ghost Their Coaches and How to Bring Them Back | Kasey Jo Orvidas

Why do some clients suddenly disappear—even when they’re paying for coaching? The answer lies deeper than you think. Michelle MacDonald sits down with Dr. Kasey Jo Orvidas, Ph.D. in Psychology and expert in behavior change, to uncover the real reasons why clients ghost their coaches. From mindset shifts and discomfort avoidance to better expectation-setting and behavior-based communication tools, this conversation dives into the psychology of coaching that actually creates long-term cha...
52min•Oct 7, 2025
Strong, Not Small: Redefining Women’s Fitness | Lena Cheng

Strong, Not Small: Redefining Women’s Fitness | Lena Cheng

What if the key to your transformation wasn’t losing weight—but gaining strength? Michelle MacDonald welcomes Lena Cheng, a physician-turned-entrepreneur and long-time TWW client, whose journey from hesitant lifter to competitive powerlifter redefines what it means to be strong. What began as a goal to “lean out” quickly evolved into a full-on identity transformation. Lena opens up about the challenges of breaking cultural norms, navigating injury, setting values-based goals, and embrac...
52min•Sep 23, 2025
Why MENOPAUSE Conversations MATTER | Angela Macgregor

Why MENOPAUSE Conversations MATTER | Angela Macgregor

Is menopause the end of your vitality—or the beginning of your most empowered chapter yet? Michelle MacDonald sits down with Angela Macgregor, founder of the National Menopause Show, to discuss how personal pain can fuel a powerful movement. At age 57, Angela launched the first national event of its kind to combat stigma, educate women, and connect them with trusted, science-backed healthcare providers. From navigating her own perimenopause struggles to challenging a fragmented healthcare sys...
34min•Sep 9, 2025
Muscle, Menopause & Metabolism | Dr. Stuart Phillips

Muscle, Menopause & Metabolism | Dr. Stuart Phillips

What’s the truth about protein, strength training, and women’s health past 40? Michelle MacDonald is joined by world-renowned muscle metabolism expert, Dr. Stuart Phillips, a leading researcher from McMaster University. They dive deep into what women over 40 need to know about muscle loss, optimal protein intake, and the truth about strength training. Dr.Phillips shares the science behind aging and metabolism, dispels persistent fitness myths, and explains how to actually preserve muscle and...
38min•Aug 26, 2025
Science-Backed Fitness for Women Over 40 | Lauren Colenso-Semple

Science-Backed Fitness for Women Over 40 | Lauren Colenso-Semple

Are women being misled by flashy fitness trends that ignore the science? Michelle MacDonald welcomes Dr. Lauren Colenso-Semple, one of the world’s leading researchers in female exercise physiology. Together, they dismantle popular but unproven trends like cycle syncing, oversimplified menopause nutrition hacks, and hormone-based fear messaging. Lauren explains what the evidence truly says about training, fat loss, and muscle growth for women in all life stages, including the menopause transit...
57min•Aug 12, 2025
Aging STRONGER Starts Here | David Stewart

Aging STRONGER Starts Here | David Stewart

What if your most empowered, energized years are still ahead of you? Discover how thriving after 50 isn’t just possible—it’s a strategy. Michelle MacDonald welcomes back David Stewart, founder of Ageist and Super Age, for part two of their dynamic conversation. A pioneer in the space of modern aging, David shares science-backed insights into optimizing physical health, mental clarity, and personal agency after 50. From strength training and protein intake to managing stress and cultivating a...
26min•Jul 29, 2025
Resilience is AGELESS | David Stewart

Resilience is AGELESS | David Stewart

What if everything you've been told about aging is wrong—and your best, boldest chapter is just beginning? Michelle MacDonald welcomes David Stewart, founder of Ageist and Super Age, a pioneering voice in the pro-aging movement. Once a world-traveling fashion photographer, David’s life was upended by a rare autoimmune disorder at 49. His recovery sparked a mission to redefine aging through fitness, health, and mindset. Michelle and David explore how physicality fuels optimism, the dangers of...
32min•Jul 15, 2025
Lessons Learned from Contest Prep | Courtney Ustrzycki

Lessons Learned from Contest Prep | Courtney Ustrzycki

What if true progress means actively seeking failure? Michelle MacDonald sits down with Courtney Ustrzycki—IFBB Pro athlete, posing coach, and former powerlifter—for a deep dive into the mental and physical evolution required for elite competition. Courtney shares her journey from resisting bodybuilding to becoming a professional, all while navigating mindset shifts, vulnerability, and the messy realities of growth. They explore how discipline trumps motivation, why balance isn’t always the a...
50min•Jul 1, 2025
Midlife Muscle, Minus the Myths | Dr. Allan Bacon

Midlife Muscle, Minus the Myths | Dr. Allan Bacon

Are women being sold a myth about fitness during menopause? Michelle MacDonald welcomes Dr. Allan Bacon—a former surgeon turned physique coach—to dismantle the pervasive myths sabotaging women’s health and fitness over 35. From misleading menopause advice to social media pseudoscience, Dr. Bacon breaks down the real science behind sustainable fat loss, muscle building, and mental resilience. They tackle how evidence-based strategies—not fear-mongering fads—empower women to take charge o...
46min•Jun 17, 2025