In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with St. Pete performance coach and HYROX specialist, Coach Caleb, to unpack the mental side of going hard in the gym, on the road, and on the race course. Fresh off her HYROX Chicago race, Maddie shares how a former ballet dancer and wakeboarder discovered she’s actually “kind of good” at sport—and how much of that breakthrough came down to mindset, not genetics.

Together, they break down why your brain taps out before your body, what the central governor theory actually means for your training, and how to know when to keep pushing vs. when to back off to protect your joints, hormones, and long-term progress. From redlining in group fitness, to building true endurance, to recognizing the subtle “whispers” of burnout and adrenal fatigue, this episode is a masterclass in mental toughness with boundaries.

You’ll hear practical strategies for:

• Rewriting what “hard” actually looks like in your training
• Using breathwork and micro-goals to get through mental walls
• Training at lactate threshold without frying your nervous system
• Pushing to failure safely for strength, hypertrophy, and performance gains
• Navigating fear of looking stupid, being “the slow one,” or doing it wrong in class

🎧 If you’re a runner, hybrid athlete, group fitness regular, or lifter who knows you’ve got more in the tank—but your mind keeps hitting the brakes—this one will change the way you show up for your workouts.

🎯 Join MPowered Coaching Collective for lifestyle & contest prep — where physique goals meet functional health and community.

📲 DM @madsmichiefitness with your biggest takeaway or topic requests. Connect with Caleb here

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with friend and fellow athlete Rosie—a semi-pro soccer player and recent half-marathoner—to unpack the quiet crisis of female athletes: training like a pro while fueling like a hobbyist. Together they explore the identity shift from perfection to performance, how to spot under-fueling (hint: your brain knows first), and why carbs and fats are the unsung heroes in a protein-obsessed culture.

You’ll hear real talk on nervous-system regulation as the new pre-workout, the tightrope between discipline and obsession, and how “optimal” becomes unsustainable when it ignores your actual life. If you’ve ever hit your numbers and still felt foggy, flat, or fried—this one’s your permission slip to eat for clarity, capacity, and consistency.

You’ll learn:

• Fueling as mindset (not math) and using hunger as data—not danger
• Why cognitive fatigue shows up before physical fatigue
• The role of carbs + fats in hormones, thyroid, recovery, and mood
• Red flags that “discipline” has slid into obsession
• How 80% consistency beats 100% control for long-term performance

🎧 If this helped, share it with the teammate who’s learning to soften without slowing down.

🎯 Join MPowered Coaching Collective for lifestyle & contest prep — where physique goals meet functional health and community.

📲 DM @madsmichiefitness with your biggest takeaway or topic requests. Connect with Rosie here

In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with friend and fellow athlete Paige Michael, RN, to talk about what really happens when you outgrow the bodybuilding identity and step into a life rooted in balance, strength, and longevity.

Both former competitors, Maddy and Paige open up about the years spent chasing perfection—rigid macros, two-a-day training, and the illusion that more discipline always equals more results. They share how stepping away from extremes became the gateway to real health, deeper self-trust, and performance that actually lasts.

From rebuilding hormones and metabolism to finding joy in hybrid training, community, and rest, this conversation is for the women who’ve done it “right” on paper but still feel burnt out. You’ll hear about:

• The identity shift that comes after the stage
• Relearning how to fuel for performance, not punishment
• Why nervous system regulation is the new pre-workout
• How community and simplicity can make fitness fun again

This episode is your permission slip to let go of the death grip, redefine what “fit” really means, and start building a body—and life—you can sustain.

🎧 Tune in, take notes, and share this with the friend who’s learning to soften without slowing down.

🎯 Join MPowered Coaching Collective for lifestyle & contest prep — where physique goals meet functional health and community.

📲 DM @madsmichiefitness with your biggest takeaway or topic requests. Connect with Paige here