Muscle Science for Women

In this episode with renowned thyroid expert Elle Russ, bestselling author of The Paleo Thyroid Solution, Ashleigh and Elle discuss:

-why it can be so difficult to get a proper diagnosis; 

-symptoms to look out for, including less common symptoms;

-a detailed dive on the proper testing and how to advocate for these tests with your healthcare provider;

-lifestyle, nutrition, and environmental changes that can have a big impact on th...

In this episode Ashleigh and Rachel discuss the differences in body fat percentages between men and women, including what's healthy and sustainable, and how they will look different depending on a range of factors; they dive into the concept of "mental fitness" and how it applies to overall health and fitness; they discuss changes they're making to Muscle Science for Women in 2026, and Ashleigh chats about her newest personal ventu...

This week Rachel and Ashleigh answer questions from listeners including:

• Advice for vegetarians on how to optimize health and muscle
• How to train around your cycle when your birth control prevents you from having a cycle
• How long does it take to lose muscle (and gain it back) when you have to take a break due to injury or surgery
• Thoughts on THC as a replacement for alcohol, and any possible training benefits

All that an...

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel have an impromptu mental health chat, talking about their own personal struggles and ways in which we can all face our challenges head on rather than looking for ways to numb or distract ourselves. Mental health is such a huge part of physical health (and vice versa) and it's helpful to take a step back from muscles and macros every now and then to talk about the bigger picture. After all, most ...

In this quickie episode, Ashleigh talks about five key ways to make fitness, strength, health, and body composition improvements even when you have no time - maybe you have young kids, a demanding job, or are just going through a period with very little time to meal prep, work out, or do the things you normally do to feel good. We have answers - because there are always choices to make, and the more informed you are about what fact...

In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer user questions about whether or not powerlifting is bad for teenagers' growing bodies; talking about body image with your kids; can you build muscle with a back injury, and more. Plus they talk about some of the exercises they've been loving lately. 

We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit! If you have comm...

In this solo episode (a re-release of a popular episode from Rachel's other podcast, MetFlex and Chill) Rachel discusses what happens when your diet stops working for you, and how to fix the problem.

We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit! If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Check out the B...

In this brand-new episode, Ashleigh and Rachel share big life and fitness updates; they give their unfiltered answer to a listener question who wonders if she's being insane about her body recomp goals; they share how to balance cardio and lifting to best support your goals, and more.

We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit! If you have comments, fee...

In this solo episode (a re-release of a popular episode from Rachel's other podcast, MetFlex and Chill) Rachel talks about the mistakes women make when trying to build muscle.

We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit! If you have comments, feedback, or questions please send them to musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Check out the BRAND NEW program from Mu...

In this episode of the Healthy Aging Series, Ashleigh and Beth discuss mental health: how it impacts physical health and vice versa; how it changes through the decades; how our hormonal changes impact mental health; how to manage the mental health of loved ones, and so much more - see timestamps below. You can watch every episode of the Healthy Aging Series on ...

In this solo episode, Ashleigh weighs in on whether or not weighted vests are worth it; she talks about starting a CrossFit support group for folks trying to leave, and answers a question from the podcasts #5 male listener about supporting your partner through tough times. 

We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe and share it with someone who could benefit! If you have comments, feedback, or q...

This week is a mixed bag of listener questions: Rachel and Ashleigh discuss ideas about wellness retreats or traveling events; they answer a question from a listener who thinks they're "skinny fat", they talk about what "consistency" really looks like and how to get there, and how we can all learn to work smarter rather than harder on our fitness goals. 

We hope you find this episode helpful; if you do, please rate/review/subscribe...

In this episode the ladies talk about "maintenance," - what does it mean, how do you get to maintenance, how do you stay there, how long do you stay there, why is maintenance a good thing and when is it hindering your goals? Why is it so hard to get to and stay there? How do you know if you're really eating for maintenance? If you've been wondering about a maintenance plan, or are thinking you want to maintain your current body com...

In this vulnerable episode, Rachel and Ashleigh talk about the intersection of grief and health - it's a topic that we'll all deal with at some point, but isn't often discussed. Behavioural and lifestyle changes can dramatically impact our health in times of acute grief, which can exacerbate the pain we're already feeling. In this episode, the women share personal stories and go over some of the ways grief can negatively impact our...

This episode is a deep dive into pelvic health, an incredibly important aspect of overall health, function, and quality of life for women that many of us don't know enough about (and aren't taught). In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel cover:

• The basic anatomy and function of the pelvic floor
• The most common pelvic floor issues, from pain to prolapse to incontinence and more
• Risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction
• How to tel...

This week is another episode of the Healthy Aging Series, and this time Ashleigh and Beth are diving into motherhood, a deeply personal and lifechanging event. They discuss the ways motherhood changed them (and the ways they have stayed the same), the experience of being "older" mothers, the balance of caring for children and aging parents, managing your kids' hormonal shifts at the same time as their own, and much more. See timest...

In this episode, Ashleigh answers listener questions about:

-how to work around "limiting factors" like grip strength and weaker muscles when trying to challenge the lower body

-can you heal and "tighten" fascia in your stomach and get rid of "mommy pooch" after multiple pregnancies

-how to avoid being "skinny fat" when you're looking to lose fat and change body composition

-advice for people looking to become a professional health...

In this vulnerable episode, Ashleigh shares her pregnancy and birth story from the recent birth of her daughter. She covers topics including:

• Her symptoms and overall experience during pregnancy, and how it differed from her first
• How she managed severe pubic symphysis pain, and her experience with pelvic floor physiotherapy
• All the details of her unmedicated water birth and the immediate postpartum period
• Information on her e...

In this exclusive sneak peek, Ashleigh shares the first full episode of a new series on Healthy Aging she has developed with friend, Carnivore-ish co-author, wellness writer, and chef Beth Lipton. Over the course of seven episodes they dive deep on topics like beauty, motherhood and pregnancy, relationships, nutrition, mental health, and more, all through the lens of healthy aging for women: what does it mean to age in a healthy wa...