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 composition, VO₂ max, blood pressure, and cycle health in a way that is both actionable and empowering.

She shares how understanding these markers, not just your weight, can shift you from reactive care to proactive, personalized health optimization.

Favorite Moments:

2:33 The Six Tests Every Woman Over 40 Needs to Take

11:27 Why Women Shouldn’t Fear Cholesterol Meds—Or Estrogen

21:50 Think You Feel Fine? Your Blood Pressure Might Say Otherwise

34:56 The Shocking Truth About Thin Women and Muscle Loss

"You can feel good, but that’s not the same as measuring." – Dr. Amy Louis-Bayliss

GUEST: DR. AMY LOUIS-BAYLISS BHSc, MD, FRCP©, CEO LUME WOMEN + HEALTH

Website | Contact | LinkedIn | Instagram | Newsletter

Full Guest Bio:
Dr. Amy Louis-Bayliss has been an MD for almost 20 years, spending most of her career as an emergency medicine specialist with two additional years of training as a menopause specialist in Hamilton and Oakville. Dr. Louis-Bayliss is an advocate for women’s healthy aging – her interest in menopause and healthy aging stems from years of treating and managing disease in the ER once it was already “too late”. Amy sits on the advisory board for the National Menopause Show. She is passionate about educating women to build self-agency when it comes to disease-prevention.

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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

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 change. Whether you're a health coach, fitness trainer, or someone invested in Women’s Health and Fitness, this episode reveals essential strategies to foster accountability, build trust, and support sustainable personal growth. Get ready for real talk, practical tools, and inspiration to level up your coaching impact.

Favorite Moments:

• 5:27 "You're Paying Me Big Bucks—Get Your Piece of the Pie!"
• 10:39 The 10-Minute Call That Can Reignite Client Engagement
• 19:38 Why Knowledge Alone Doesn’t Change Behavior
• 46:12 You're Not Broken: Mindset Reframes for Women in Midlife

“You’re not broken—you’re just you now.”

GUEST: KASEY JO ORVIDAS

Website | Email | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook

Full Guest Bio:
Kasey holds a Ph.D. in Psychology and is a certified health and fitness coach. She has spent a good chunk of her life developing some serious expertise in mindset and health behavior change. She has racked up numerous publications in a variety of peer-reviewed scientific journals (aka you can Google scholar her name and even cite her research in APA format for your high school paper–wow!). Although Kasey is no longer tethered to the chains of an academic career (if you know, you know), she still can’t quite break free from the lure of p-values and scientific jargon. Knowing that most (normal) people aren’t obsessed enough to get a Ph.D. in this stuff, Kasey created The Health Mindset Coaching Certification.

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

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 embracing her power—literally and figuratively.

This conversation dives deep into the intersection of Women’s Health and Fitness, cultivating a Healthy Mindset, and the kind of Personal Growth that comes from lifting heavy and living bold.

Favorite Moments Audio:

• 1:52 Why Barbells Changed Everything
• 5:49 “I can take up space”—Rejecting Cultural Norms
• 7:14 Discovering the Power of Core Values
• 21:06 The Deadlift Breakthrough That Changed It All

"I'm not training for the mirror—I'm training for me."

GUEST: LENA CHENG, MD

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | X

Full Guest Bio:
Lena Cheng, MD is a former board-certified physician turned serial entrepreneur, brand strategist, and powerlifting enthusiast. With over two decades of experience in health-tech and marketing, she brings a rare blend of medical expertise, executive leadership, and personal transformation. Lena is also a passionate advocate for women’s health, fitness mindset, and personal growth—using strength training as a vehicle for empowerment at any age. Whether she’s building businesses or lifting barbells, Lena leads with boldness, purpose, and unapologetic authenticity.

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

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 system, Angela shares how she transformed her frustration into a platform for personal growth, community, and lasting impact.

Favorite Moments Audio:

• 1:53 Launching a Movement at 57
• 4:06 The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
• 9:13 The Treatment That Transformed Her Life
• 27:34 Building a Community That Heals

"We don't have to just sit and be silent anymore. It's not acceptable."

GUEST: ANGELA MACGREGOR

Website | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Full Guest Bio:
Angela Macgregor began her career managing major tradeshows and later led a North American registration company. After two decades in her family’s real estate business, she returned to events with a personal mission: addressing the lack of accessible menopause information. This led her and her husband Bob to create The National Menopause Show, blending expert-led education with a curated exhibit floor. The event empowers women with trusted knowledge, resources, and confidence to navigate their health journey.

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:

• Website
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Leave a rating for this podcast with one click https://ratethispodcast.com/michellemacdonald

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 stay powerful into your fifties and beyond. The duo share tips for anyone serious about cultivating a healthy mindset, building a fitness mindset, and pursuing sustainable personal growth through evidence-based training and nutrition.

Favorite Moments:
0:12 Why most women aren't lifting — and why that’s a bigger problem

6:43 The real recommended protein intake for women over 40

13:56 What the research actually says about 40g of protein post-workout

33:11 The quality of life case for building strength and power after 40

"I'm more afraid of women not lifting weights at all than I am of them lifting the wrong way."

GUEST: DR. STUART PHILLIPS

McMaster University | X | Linktree | Instagram

Dr. Stuart Phillips is a distinguished professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Skeletal Muscle Health at McMaster University. His research focuses on how nutrition and exercise impact skeletal muscle protein turnover, especially in the context of aging and sarcopenia. He is also the director of the Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE) and the McMaster Centre for Nutrition, Exercise, and Health Research.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X

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

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 transition. Listeners will walk away with science-backed strategies for building strength, protecting metabolic health, and avoiding common fitness traps.

Favorite Moments (timestamped bullet points):

• 2:30 From Fitness Professional to Female Physiology Researcher
• 6:44 Why Cycle Syncing Misses the Mark for Strength Training
• 19:46 The Truth About Fat Loss During Menopause
• 28:22 The Trade-Off Between Extreme Leanness and Quality of Life
• 34:42 Why Muscle Growth Matters More Than Constant Fat Loss

“The basics work. Don’t let fear-based or overcomplicated messaging distract you from the fundamentals that build strength and health.”

GUEST: LAUREN COLENSO-SEMPLE

MASS Research Review | LinkedIn | Instagram

Full Guest Bio:
I am a muscle physiology researcher and science communicator with a Ph.D. in Integrative Physiology from McMaster University and a M.S. in Exercise Science from the University of South Florida. My work focuses on the influence of ovarian hormones on exercise-induced adaptations. I am also an expert fitness professional with years of practical experience in strength & conditioning and sports nutrition, and I am a co-owner of the MASS Research Review.

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:

• Website
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Leave a rating for this podcast with one click https://ratethispodcast.com/michellemacdonald

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 growth-driven community, this episode is packed with actionable tips and inspiring mindset shifts. Perfect for women looking to fuse fitness with personal growth, it’s a powerful reminder that aging well is a skill—and a choice.

Favourite Moments:

3:17 Sleep as the Cornerstone of Longevity

7:32 How HRV Can Help You Train Smarter

13:28 Using Breathwork and Body Awareness to Recharge

18:19 The Two Core Beliefs That Hold People Back

"You are the sum of the five people around you—choose wisely."

GUEST: DAVID STEWART

Ageist Magazine | Super Age | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook

David is a media innovator and a passionate advocate for redefining aging. With decades of experience in high-profile creative work and a bold personal philosophy on living fully, David launched Super Age to champion imagination, curiosity, and the science of living long while living well.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X

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

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 comfort culture, and how reinvention is not only possible but vital at any age. With decades of wisdom and cutting-edge longevity insights, David shares how to thrive beyond 50 and become the most powerful version of yourself yet.

Favourite Moments:

0:09 The Death Trap of Comfort Culture

4:54 Hospitalized at 49: A Life-Changing Health Crisis

13:11 Hard Isn't Impossible: Rebuilding Strength at Any Age

23:05 Reinvention is Real: Creating Your Next Chapter

"Our greatest obstacle is our poverty of imagination about what’s possible." - David Stewart

GUEST: DAVID STEWART

Ageist Magazine | Super Age | X | LinkedIn | Instagram | You Tube | Facebook

David is a media innovator and a passionate advocate for redefining aging. With decades of experience in high-profile creative work and a bold personal philosophy on living fully, David launched Super Age to champion imagination, curiosity, and the science of living long while living well.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X

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