Season One of the Macro Lounge is officially wrapped, and what a ride it has been. Twenty six episodes, countless sparkles, a few near cancellations, and a community that grew faster than Chris adds carbs in a reverse.

In this final episode of the season, Chris and Rachel look back on the highs, the lessons, the chaos, and the moments that shaped 2025. From insane prep stories and athlete breakthroughs to behind the scenes insights from the bikini business and guests who brought serious knowledge and hilarious honesty, this show has become something far bigger than we expected.

A huge thank you to every listener who tuned in, shared the episodes, sent messages, laughed with us, cried with us, and gave us the courage to keep showing up imperfectly but consistently. You built this community with us.

A special shout out to Valerie, Mrs B - producer, editor, thumbnail queen and the very patient third member of this podcast. Without Valerie, there would be no polished episodes, no Canva magic, no crisp audio and probably no YouTube at all. She keeps the chaos in line and the podcast alive.

Season Two lands late January or early February. Bigger topics, more guests, more honesty, more sparkles.

Thank you for making Season One unforgettable.

See you in 2026!!!

🎧 Follow the Macro Lounge on Spotify
📸 Instagram macro_lounge_podcast

PLEASE leave us a rating or review. It really does help! See you next year!

From PNBA World Champion to IFBB Pro League judge to founder of the Australian Posing School, Becc Gwilliam has shaped the posing game across Australia and beyond.

In Episode 25, she joins Chris and Rachel for a deep dive into bodybuilding, posing, judging and how APS became the global standard for stage presentation.

Becc shares how she went from investigative journalist to international posing coach, how APS grew from a solo idea into a worldwide team, and why posing remains the most underestimated part of competing. She also opens up about athlete transformation stories, backstage emotions, judging insights and the trends she hopes will disappear forever!

Expect wisdom, sass, storytelling and a lot of laugh out loud moments.

Find Becc here:
📱 Instagram: @becctheposer🏫 Australian Posing School: https://www.australianposingschool.com.au/
📸 APS Instagram: @australianposingschool

Find us here:
🎧 Follow The Macro Lounge on Spotify
📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast
📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com

Dr Susan Baxter, PhD in movement science, award winning educator, former bikini competitor, global presenter and founder of the AHA Method, joins Chris and Rachel for a deep dive into the worlds of bodybuilding, coaching, business systems and longevity.

In this episode we cover:
👉 Susan’s wild origin story from Highlanders TV host to national stage winner
👉 How competing shaped her discipline, resilience and academic career
👉 Why so many PTs struggle with skill set and structure
👉 The rise of wellness and recovery and what gyms are getting wrong
👉 Identity loss after competing and how to transition without blowing up your life
👉 How bodybuilding systems can improve every part of your world

Susan also shares her best gym horror stories, her favourite movement pattern, and why she once ended up on a newspaper cover in a bikini she regretted immediately.

🎧 Subscribe for new episodes every Saturday
📸 Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/macro_lounge_podcast/
If you want to get in touch with Dr Susan Baxter PHD - find her links below! She'd love to hear from you.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drsuzbaxter/
Website: https://www.drsuzsquad.com/

This week, Chris and Rachel sit down with Cam - founder of UglyFace - the brutally honest supplement brand shaking up the industry with zero sugarcoating (and maybe a few paper bags).

From dodgy fat burners and “detox teas” to collagen hype and influencer fakery, nothing’s off-limits in this caffeine-fuelled deep dive into the realities of the supplement world.

💥 What you’ll hear:

• The origins of UglyFace (spoiler: caffeine + chaos)

• The worst supplement scams still selling

• Why collagen protein is basically useless

• What brands get wrong about transparency

• Influencer horror stories and shady formulas

• How small NZ brands can do it better

If you’ve ever felt lost reading a supplement label, this one’s your crash course in spotting the red flags.

Big thanks to Cam for his honesty on the subject and for giving up his valuable time to chat with us!

🎙️ New episodes every Saturday at 8am.
📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast
📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com

You’ve nailed show day - now what? The hard part isn’t the prep, it’s the after.

This week, Chris and Rachel dive deep into reverse dieting – or as they call it, the recovery phase. They unpack what actually happens when the tan fades and hunger hits, and why this stage can make or break your next season.

💬 What you’ll hear:
👉 Why “reverse dieting” isn’t magic – and what the science really says
👉 How fast to raise your calories without wrecking your headspace
👉 When to chill vs when to push for recovery goals
👉 How to handle body image shifts and post-show binges
👉 Why blood work and hormone health belong in every athlete’s plan

If you’re feeling lost, tired, or just “off” after comp season, this one’s your lifeline back to balance.

🎧 New episodes drop every Saturday
📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast
📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com

If you are looking to get blood work done, Chris mentions Strom Sports in this podcast - you can find all the information on their website, here: https://stromsports.co.nz/pages/strom-athlete-blood-testing-nz

The final wrap-up of 2025 is here - and what a finish it was!

This week, Chris and Rachel dive into the ICN Oceania Championships in Christchurch and the NZIFBB Tournament of Champions in Palmerston North, wrapping up an epic season of sparkles, tiaras, and some seriously stacked lineups.

Inside this episode:
✨ Rachel’s Pro debut (and win!) at ICN Oceania🥇 Who earned new Pro Cards - Brooke, Taylor, Nicole, Maki, and more🎭 Why dress design and posing can make or break Runway
🤔 Judging trends, show formats, and a few controversies along the way
🏋️‍♀️ TOC highlights — Jamie vs Kate, pros bringing the heat
🍳 Post-show mindset & smart reverse dieting tips

😂 Behind the scenes — colour-matching suits, jewellery fails & “Team Dapper”

It’s our last comp recap of the year - and a huge celebration of everyone who stepped on stage this season.

🎧 New episodes every Saturday at 8AM (NZT)
📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast
📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com

From Naturals to Nationals — we’re breaking down everything.
Chris was ringside, notebook in hand (and spelling names phonetically as always 🤭), while Rachel was in full sparkle analysis mode.

We cover:
✨ The new IFBB Pro Card winners — including Corrie, Chantal, Louise, Sian, Carolyn and Tayla.
👙 Trends in judging and conditioning — bigger delts, fuller looks, red bikinis everywhere.
🏆 What’s next heading into the TOC and Moe’s Muscle Pro Shows.

🎧 Listen now

📸 Instagram: @macro_lounge_podcast
📩 Email: hello@boldphysique.com