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The OptimizeYou Podcast
Coaching & mindset strategies on some of the biggest health topics
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Featured Podcast Episode
The Power of
Self-Discovery
ft. Antoinette Leis // Ep. 22
Antoinette Leis, patient and client, shares her journey toward self-discovery and self-love after years of struggling with chronic health challenges.
Her honest conversation around physical health, body image, and reconnecting with personal potential offers encouragement and inspiration for anyone navigating their own healing journey or rebuilding self-worth.
Featured Podcast Episode
How to Be Your Own
Health Advocate
// Ep. 21
When facing a health issue or injury, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and search for quick answers.
In this episode, Steph and Sarah explore the importance of becoming an active participant in your own healing journey — reminding listeners that while every practitioner has different tools and perspectives, you always have a voice in your care.
Featured Podcast Episode
Coming Out, Perfectionism
& the Power of Story
// Ep. 20
Steph Saffer, cofounder of OptimizeYou, opens up about her experience as a “recovering perfectionist” and the life experiences that shaped that pattern.
In this honest and vulnerable conversation, she reflects on losing a parent at a young age, growing up questioning her sexuality, and how storytelling and self-awareness became part of her healing journey.
Featured Podcast Episode
Fitness, Nike NTC &
Empowering Women in Health
ft. Marie Purvis // Ep. 19
Marie Purvis, fitness professional and former Nike trainer, shares her journey through sport, movement, and the fitness industry.
In this inspiring conversation, she discusses the lessons she’s learned along the way and her passion for empowering women to feel stronger, healthier, and more confident in their bodies.
Featured Podcast Episode
Finding a Way Through
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
// Ep. 18
Ten years ago, Sarah Hayes, co-founder of OptimizeYou, was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis — an autoimmune disease affecting the thyroid.
After navigating countless treatments, therapies, and setbacks, she gradually forged her own path toward healing and better health.
This episode offers hope, encouragement, and insight for anyone living with chronic or complex health challenges.
Featured Podcast Episode
Road to
Healing
ft. Kendall Johnson // Ep. 17
Kendall Johnson, former Portland Thorns soccer player, shares her journey through recovery after sustaining multiple concussions and a traumatic brain injury.
In this powerful conversation, she opens up about the physical, emotional, and mental challenges of healing — and the resilience it takes to rebuild your life and health after trauma.
Featured Podcast Episode
Redefining
Health
ft. Sadie Lincoln // Ep. 16
In this episode, Sarah sits down with Sadie Lincoln, Co-Founder and CEO of Barre3, for a heartfelt conversation about movement, wellness, and redefining what health truly means.
As longtime friends of over 11 years, Sarah and Sadie reflect on personal growth, entrepreneurship, and empowering women to feel stronger and more connected to their bodies through movement.
Featured Podcast Episode
Healing After
Trauma
ft. Tania Culver Humphrey // Ep. 15
Mature audiences.
In this deeply personal episode, Tania Culver Humphrey shares her powerful story of trauma, healing, and finding the courage to speak her truth.
She reflects on how sharing her experiences and no longer feeling the need to hide has become an important part of her healing journey.
While trauma may never fully disappear, this conversation reminds us of the importance of listening, acknowledging, and creating space for stories to be heard with compassion.
Featured Podcast Episode
Challenging Your
Negative Cognition
ft. Gail Hardman-Woung // Ep. 14
In this episode, Sarah and Steph sit down with Gail Hardman-Woung, LCSW, to explore the impact of negative thought patterns and how they shape our emotional well-being.
Gail shares how she supports her patients in recognizing limiting beliefs, working through negative cognition, and gradually rewiring the brain toward healthier patterns and perspectives.
This conversation offers valuable insight into the connection between mental health, self-awareness, and healing.
Featured Podcast Episode
Create Solid
Health Habits
// Ep. 13
In this episode, Sarah and Steph discuss the power of daily habits and how small, consistent changes can create long-term transformation in your health and well-being.
They reflect on the evolution of their own routines, the challenges of building sustainable habits, and the importance of finding an approach that works for your lifestyle.
Because better health isn’t built overnight — it’s created through simple choices repeated over time.
Featured Podcast Episode
From Surviving
to Thriving
ft. Sarah Ochoa // Ep. 12
In this heartfelt episode, Sarah Ochoa — single mom, project manager, and breast cancer survivor — shares her experience navigating cancer treatment, healing, and life afterward.
She reflects on her journey through the Surviving to Thriving course and the impact it had on her mindset, resilience, and overall well-being during an incredibly challenging season of life.
A powerful conversation about hope, healing, and finding strength through adversity.
Featured Podcast Episode
Improve Connection
with Active Listening
// Ep. 11
In this episode, Sarah and Steph explore the importance of active listening and how meaningful conversations can deepen our connection with others.
They discuss the power of asking thoughtful questions, being fully present, and creating space for people to feel heard and understood.
Because strong relationships and genuine connection can have a profound impact on both emotional and physical health.
Featured Podcast Episode
Identify Your
Limiting Beliefs
// Ep. 10
In this episode, Sarah and Steph explore the impact of inner dialogue and how negative self-talk and limiting beliefs can shape the way we experience our lives.
They discuss how these thought patterns influence our health, confidence, relationships, and ability to fully thrive — often without us even realizing it.
A thoughtful conversation about self-awareness, mindset, and creating healthier patterns from the inside out.
Featured Podcast Episode
Identify How
You Want to Feel
// Ep. 9
In this episode, Sarah and Steph explore the importance of understanding your “why” and how your sense of purpose influences your overall health and well-being.
They discuss the connection between emotional fulfillment, personal values, and the way we care for ourselves on a daily basis.
A thoughtful conversation about creating a life that feels aligned, meaningful, and supportive of the person you want to become.
Featured Podcast Episode
Healing Through
Movement
ft. Margo Lightburn // Ep. 8
In this episode, Sarah and Steph sit down with yoga instructor Margo Lightburn to explore the connection between movement, healing, and overall well-being.
Margo shares how yoga became an important part of feeling stronger, more grounded, and more connected to both her body and mind.
A calming and inspiring conversation about movement as a tool for healing, self-awareness, and long-term wellness.
Featured Podcast Episode
How to Create Big Impact
with Small Changes
// Ep. 7
In this episode, Sarah and Steph explore what it really means to “optimize” your daily life and support your health in a sustainable way.
They discuss how meaningful transformation doesn’t always require dramatic changes — often, small intentional shifts can create a powerful ripple effect over time.
Because feeling better starts with simple choices that support you consistently, day after day.
Featured Podcast Episode
How Struggle
Can Serve You
// Ep. 6
In this episode, Sarah and Steph reflect on the balance between doing and being — and the challenges many of us face while trying to slow down, grow, and simply be present.
They explore how struggle, discomfort, and difficult seasons can often become powerful opportunities for self-awareness, growth, and deeper connection to ourselves.
A thoughtful conversation about embracing the journey instead of constantly striving for perfection.
Featured Podcast Episode
Why Meditation
Gets Easier
// Ep. 5
In this episode, Sarah and Steph share their personal experiences with meditation and the challenges they faced when first building the practice into their lives.
They discuss how consistency, patience, and self-compassion can gradually transform meditation from something difficult into something grounding and supportive.
A calming conversation about mindfulness, mental well-being, and creating space to reconnect with yourself.
Featured Podcast Episode
Optimize Energy
Using Nutrition
ft. Rajiv Harry // Ep. 4
In this episode, Sarah and Steph sit down with health and wellness coach Rajiv Harry to talk all things food, nutrition, and energy.
Together, they explore nutrients, plant-based eating, and how the foods we choose can directly influence how we feel physically, mentally, and emotionally.
An informative and approachable conversation about using nutrition as a tool to support long-term wellness and vitality.
Featured Podcast Episode
Surround Yourself
with the Right People
// Ep. 3
In this episode, Sarah and Steph discuss the importance of relationships, connection, and surrounding yourself with people who support your growth and well-being.
They reflect on the challenges that can come with friendships, boundaries, and finding meaningful connections that align with the life you want to create.
A thoughtful conversation about community, emotional health, and the impact relationships can have on our overall wellness.
Featured Podcast Episode
Why You Have to
Move Every Day
// Ep. 2
In this episode, Sarah and Steph discuss the importance of daily movement and the role exercise plays in supporting both physical and mental well-being.
They share approachable ways to begin incorporating movement into your routine, even if you’re starting small or rebuilding consistency.
A motivating conversation about creating sustainable habits that help you feel stronger, healthier, and more energized every day.
Featured Podcast Episode
Define Your
Core Values
// Ep. 1
In this very first episode, Sarah and Steph explore the importance of defining your core values and how they influence the way you live, grow, and make decisions.
They reflect on the evolution of their own values over time and why living in alignment with what matters most can create a more meaningful and fulfilled life.
A foundational conversation about self-awareness, purpose, and building a life that feels true to you.