Are you still trying to use your 20-year-old fitness routine to solve your 50-year-old body's challenges? In this episode, Samantha chats with fitness powerhouse Hailey Babcock, founder of Haley Happens Fitness, about why the "cardio is king" era we grew up in is officially over.

If you’ve felt intimidated by the new "heavy lifting" trend or confused by the conflicting advice on social media, this conversation is the breath of fresh air you’ve been waiting for.

Hailey breaks down why muscle is the ultimate currency for longevity and how to safely navigate the musculoskeletal shifts that happen when estrogen begins to leave the building.

This isn't just about "looking toned" (though Hailey has some spicy truths about that marketing buzzword!). It’s about building a bulletproof body that can survive a trip off a curb, a heavy suitcase, or a health crisis.

From the secret importance of grip strength to the "dosage" of recovery you didn't know you needed, Hailey provides a roadmap for women over 40 to feel strong, energized, and—most importantly—capable for the next forty+ years.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

1. The Recovery Mandate: Why you can no longer "crush it" in the gym on four hours of sleep and a stressful schedule.
2. Lifting Heavy vs. Lifting for You: How to find your personal "heavy" without risking injury or feeling like you have to be a powerlifter.
3. The "Long and Lean" Myth: The scientific truth about muscle growth and why "toning" is a misleading concept.
4. The Mozart Method: Why strength is a skill that requires a foundation before you try to play the "masterpieces" of max-strength training.
5. Hidden Weak Links: Why your grip strength and your foot stabilizers are likely the "limiting factors" holding back your progress.
6. The Bone Density Blueprint: Why your bones need "torque" and why pogo-jumps might be the most important move you aren't doing.
7. Polarized Training: The reason 15 minutes of "sprint" training—though miserable in the moment—is essential for your brain and your reaction time.
8. Strength Vs Skinny: Why strength training isn’t just for younger women—and why “strong beats skinny” is the new rule.
9. Hormonal Nuance in Midlife: How hormonal shifts after age 40 change recovery, performance, and exercise needs.
10. The Babcok App Differnece: How expert insights from Dr. Stacy Sims and Dr. Vonda Wright integrated into her programs (Be sure to catch those episodes a well -- Ep. 51 for Dr. Sims, Ep. 56 for Dr. Wright!)
11. …and much more about how to feel strong, capable, and energized at every stage of midlife.

About Our Expert, Hailey Babcock:

Hailey Babcock is the founder of Hailey Happens Fitness, an online fitness and nutrition brand dedicated...

Is your body starting to feel like a stiff, achy "prison"? For many women in midlife, rolling out of bed in the morning has become a symphony of pops, cracks, and "grumpy" joints.

In this episode, Samantha sits down with mobility expert Vanja Moves to challenge the cultural lie that physical decline is an unavoidable part of the aging process. Vanja shares the striking inspiration behind her philosophy and explains why "decades of neglect" are often mistaken for "getting older".

This conversation is a deep dive into reclaiming your physical agency. Vanja reveals why your one-hour gym session might not be enough to save your joints if you’re sedentary for the other 23 hours, and she introduces the "Movement is Medicine" framework. This episode isn't just about fitness; it’s about building a body that allows you to remain independent, vibrant, and capable well into your 80s and 90s.

What You’ll Learn:

1. The Grandmother Test: The simple floor-movement metric that predicts your long-term physical independence.
2. The "Medicine" Dosage: Why your current injuries aren't a reason to stop moving, but a reason to change your "dosage" of movement.
3. Western vs. Eastern Mobility: The hidden reason why Eastern cultures don't suffer from the same "age-related" mobility issues we see in the West.
4. The Squat Myth: Why common gym advice about "protecting your knees" might actually be making your joints weaker and more prone to injury.
5. Movement Snacks: How to integrate "organic" human movement into your busiest days without ever stepping foot in a gym.
6. The Estrogen Connection: How building lean muscle mass can act as a powerful ally for your body when hormones begin to shift.
7. Mind-Muscle Literacy: The secret to "rewiring" your brain to control your body’s end-range of motion safely.
8. 
   

About Our Guest Expert:

Vanja Moves is a movement and longevity expert who teaches a transformative approach to living in your body. Through her Movement is Medicine philosophy, she combines movement science, nervous-system literacy, strength training, and identity reprogramming into practical tools anyone can use to move better, feel stronger, and reclaim their physical life.

Vanja brings a unique perspective by treating movement as more than exercise—it’s a catalyst for mental clarity, stress relief, and personal growth. Her approach helps people reset, build discipline, expand capacity, and rewire their identity from the ground up.

Through Instagram, YouTube, and her podcast Making Moves, Vanja reaches millions with insights that cut through trends and misinformation, providing simple, actionable strategies that stick. She is a trusted guide for anyone looking to feel capable, grounded, and fully in charge of their body and life.

Connect with Vanja:

Instagram: vanja.moves

Website:

Exercise Oncology, Targeted Menopause Workouts, and the Life-Changing Movements You Should Be Doing -- with guest expert Aaron Leventhal

Thriving after breast cancer or in menopause, in general, can feel impossible—but it isn’t. Feeling doubtful, then listen in!

Hormonal changes, treatments, and all health challenges can feel overwhelming—but with the right strategies, movement, and mindset, you can take control.

Whether you’re navigating menopause, perimenopause, or post-cancer recovery (did you even know that "exercise oncology" exists?!!), this episode is packed with insights that will reshape the way you think about exercise, aging, and health.

In this episode, you will learn:

1. How exercise oncology can reduce cancer recurrence risk and boost mental wellbeing.
2. Why hormone therapy affects men and women differently—and what it means for you.
3. Smart ways to create a hormone-focused lifestyle without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Using exercise as medicine for anxiety, depression, and post-treatment recovery.
5. Why sitting too much ages you—and how tiny daily moves can reverse the clock.
6. Hormonal shifts, muscle, and strength: what to do today for long-term health.
7. The “sit and stand” test: a quick check for balance, mobility, and lifespan.
8. The six-minute walk test: simple at-home insights for heart and lung health.
9. Why lean muscle is essential for metabolism, hormones, and aging with energy.
10. Life-changing movement doesn’t have to be intense—consistency beats perfection.

… and so much more that will reshape the way you think about exercise, aging, and health.

About Our Guest Expert:

Aaron Leventhal is an expert in exercise oncology, fitness for people over 40, and targeted workouts for menopause. He also brings a deeply personal perspective—he is a male breast cancer survivor, giving him unique insight into navigating cancer, hormone therapy, and recovery.

His book, The New Fit, compels you to approach fitness in midlife differently and better.

Aaron combines science-backed strategies with practical guidance to help individuals build strength, improve hormone balance, and enhance overall health. His experience makes his insights both inspiring and actionable for anyone looking to thrive at any stage of life.

ABOUT "THE NEW FIT" BOOK:

The New Fit by Aaron Leventhal is a revolutionary guide to fitness for individuals over 40, offering a science-backed approach to help readers redefine their strength and performance at any age. The book dives deep into the natural changes that come with aging, such as muscle loss and decreased performance and provides strategies to combat these challenges. Leventhal shares practical tools for creating personalized fitness plans that focus on strength, mobility, and resilience, empowering readers to embrace the changes in their bodies and unlock their full potential. The New Fit is not just about getting fit—it’s about transforming how we view aging and taking control of our wellness journey to thrive well into the...