Whether I'm volunteering on the trails, cheering at an ultramarathon, catching up with friends, or heading out for dinner, I still love feeling polished without overpacking.

In this episode of Bad Ass Besties, Michele shares exactly what made it into her travel makeup bag for an active race weekend. From the products she couldn't live without to how she packs everything to help keep it protected while flying, you'll get a peek inside the makeup bag she actually travels with.

In this episode:

• 💄 My complete race weekend travel makeup bag
• ✈️ How I pack makeup to help prevent products from breaking during flights
• 🎒 The products that earned a spot in my bag (and what stayed home)
• ✨ My go-to makeup look that works for long days outdoors and evenings with friends
• ❤️ My favorite multi-tasking products that save space without sacrificing style
• Part two of this show covers travel skincare

If you've ever wondered how to pack for an active adventure without bringing your entire vanity, this episode is for you.

Bestie Approved: The Bronzy Summer Makeup Edit

Grab your besties and your bronzer — this one's all about that sun-kissed summer glow. We're breaking down our go-to bronzing tips, the products actually worth your money, and how to get that lit-from-within warmth without looking like you fell asleep in a tanning bed.

From the perfect cream-vs-powder debate to where you should really be placing your bronzer, we're spilling everything we've tried, loved, and tossed. Easy, honest, no-gatekeeping beauty talk between friends — because the best recommendations always come bestie-approved.

So whether you're a five-minute-face kind of girl or you live for the full glam, we've got the warm-weather edit to keep you glowing all summer long. ☀️

Have you heard people talking about rucking and wondered what all the fuss is about?

In this episode of Bad Ass Besties, Michele and Irene dive into the growing trend of rucking: walking with a weighted backpack. We talk about what rucking is, why so many people are adding it to their fitness routine, and how it can help build strength, endurance, and confidence without requiring you to run a single mile.

We also share why we love activities that combine movement, friendship, and adventure, and why rucking has caught our attention.

Most importantly, we're inviting YOU to join us. Whether you're a runner, walker, hiker, gym-goer, or someone just looking for a fun way to move your body, rucking is accessible, social, and surprisingly empowering.

So grab a backpack, lace up your shoes, and come along as we learn, laugh, and explore something new together.

Because sometimes the best conversations happen while carrying a little extra weight and spending time with great people. 🎒🩷

Real friendship. Real conversations. Real life.
And hopefully, a few new rucking buddies along the way. 💪✨

🎙 Listen to the Podcast
📱 Follow Michele & Irene
🩷 Join the Glam & Grit Community

Have you ever set a big goal, felt excited for a few weeks, and then watched it quietly disappear?

You're not alone.

In this episode of Bad Ass Besties, Michele Hartwig and Irene Kok dive into what makes goals sustainable and why consistency almost always beats intensity. We talk about the common mistakes people make when setting goals, how to create habits that fit into real life, and why giving yourself grace is often the secret ingredient to long-term success.

Along the way, Michele and Irene walk through their own goal-setting process and challenge themselves with a fun new goal to work toward together.

Whether your goals involve fitness, nutrition, business, confidence, or simply becoming the person you want to be, this episode will help you build a plan that feels achievable and sustainable.

Because the best goals aren't the ones that make you perfect. They're the ones that help you keep showing up.

Join us for real conversation, real friendship, and practical advice you can start using today. 💕🎙️

🎙 Listen to the Podcast
📱 Follow Michele & Irene
🩷 Join the Glam & Grit Community

Ever wondered what it really takes to start a business?

In this episode of Bad Ass Besties, Michele and Irene answer 10 of the most common questions people ask about becoming a business owner. From taking the leap and finding your first customers to handling self-doubt, mistakes, finances, and everything in between, we're sharing our honest experiences from building our own businesses.

As the founders of Ornery Mule Racing and Get U Fit Nutrition, we've learned a lot through trial and error, and we're pulling back the curtain on the realities of entrepreneurship.

Whether you're dreaming about starting a business, growing a side hustle, or simply curious about what happens behind the scenes, this conversation is packed with practical advice, personal stories, and lessons we've learned along the way.

Join us as we answer questions like:
• How do you know when you're ready to start?
• What mistakes did we make?
• How do you find customers?
• What fears did we have?
• What would we do differently?

If you've ever thought, "Maybe I could do that someday," this episode is for you.

🎙 Listen to the Podcast:

📱 Follow Michele & Irene:
Michele: @MicheleHartwigRuns | @OrneryMuleRacing
Irene: @GetUFitNutrition

🩷 Join the Glam & Grit Community:
RunGlowRepeat.com

✨ Real friendship. Real conversations. Real life. Join us! ✨

In Episode 3 of Bad Ass Besties, FDN Practitioner Irene Kok gives us a practical and easy-to-understand lesson on menopause. We talk about what is actually happening in our bodies during perimenopause and menopause, why so many women experience symptoms that seem to come out of nowhere, and what we can do to feel more like ourselves again.

From hot flashes and brain fog to weight gain, sleep struggles, and changes in confidence, we discuss the symptoms many women experience but often don't talk about enough. Irene shares insights on nutrition, exercise, hormones, and lifestyle habits that can help women navigate this season with more knowledge and less frustration.

Whether you're just beginning to notice changes or are well into menopause, this conversation is designed to help you better understand your body and know that you're not alone.

🎙️ Bad Ass Besties
Real conversations about health, confidence, fitness, friendship, and navigating life as women who are still learning, growing, and figuring it out together.

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Two best friends, trail runners, and fitness business owners dive into the world of perfume while learning about Commodity fragrances, signature scents, and how fragrance connects to confidence, memories, and emotion. We go down memory lane talking about the "going out" perfumes we wore 25 years ago and how our tastes have evolved into sporty, everyday scents that fit our active lifestyles today. We are not perfume experts… just two women learning, exploring, and appreciating the artistry behind scent together while finding fragrances that make us feel confident and like ourselves. ✨🎙️💄

🎙 Listen to the Podcast
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Bad Ass Besties is a podcast hosted by best friends and fitness business owners Michele Hartwig and Irene Kok. Both women are passionate about helping others become stronger, healthier, and more confident in their everyday lives.

Michele is the founder of Ornery Mule Racing, a trail and ultrarunning company that hosts races throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Irene Kok is an FDN Practitioner and nutrition coach who helps people improve their health and reach sustainable weight loss goals.

Over the years, Michele and Irene have become each other's sounding board for life, business, self-improvement, confidence, wellness, and all the messy in-between moments that come with being women trying to grow through life. Eventually they realized… maybe other women would enjoy being part of these conversations too.

So they hit record.

In this first episode, they sat down with absolutely no plan and let the conversation naturally unfold. What followed was an honest discussion about making sustainable goals, building habits that actually fit your life, and learning how to grow without constantly chasing perfection.

Real conversations.
Real friendship.
Real life.
With a little sass, a lot of encouragement, and two besties figuring it out together.

🎙 Listen to the Podcast
📱 Follow Michele & Irene
🩷 Join the Glam & Grit Community