"Each One Of Us Has Majesty Within Us" Kathy Smith

Recorded a week before Kathy left for Rio Brazil to cheer and support her daughter Kate Grace in the Olympics, Kathy and I sat down to talk about her past, her present and her magnificent future both inside and out of the fitness industry.

Side note Grace made it to the Olympic finals while also running a personal best. 

Kathy shares how that at a very early age she lost both her parents. It was this tragedy that propelled her into running, and she shares how movement also helped her heal through this challenging time.

We go back to where her fitness career began and how she is always learning, evolving and reinventing both her career and life's journey.

As with all my guests, Kathy reveals how important her morning rituals are. She shares how she spends her mornings and reveals her favorite B.LT (no it is not what you are hoping it is - it's better)

Kathy talks about the power of intuition and shares how she stays in the present so that she can hear the whispers from the world and be open and available to the new opportunities all around her. She reminds us of the importance of not taking anything personally and how we can be rejected, but it has nothing to do with us.

I love that at about 30 minutes in Kathy really begins to dive into the good stuff. She talks about learning to make peace with the fact that not everyone is going to love what we do and how challenging yet important that lesson is to learn.

Kathy discusses the power of gratitude and how she finds time to marvel in the smallest of moments and finds the extra-ordinary in the seemingly ordinary of days.

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More about Kathy

Kathy Smith, New York Times bestselling author, has stood at the forefront of the fitness and health industries for over 30 years. She has sold more than 20 million exercise DVDs, and she has been featured on countless media outlets, including The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The View and Good Morning America.

They call Kathy Smith “A Fitness Revolutionary” for a reason. Several, actually…

Her new podcast, On Health: The Art Of Living ranked as the #18 podcast on iTunes’ overall New and Noteworthy list, and the #12 best show in Fitness & Nutrition. Its radio-on-demand format highlights the latest research and information on how to lead a healthier lifestyle, break bad habits and instill positive new behaviors in order to have a fit body and fit brain!

With a passion for providing healthy food on a budget, Kathy recently released a protein powder, Kathy Smith Wellness, a formula that is clean, natural, and delicious.

And, Kathy developed a 90-day weight loss app, ReShape. This wellness program offers downloadable workouts, food plans, shopping lists, hundreds of recipes, and is topped off with BrainTap, a brain-based approach to enhancing focus and relaxation.

As a sought-out educational and motivational speaker, Smith has appeared at events for the American Heart Association, American Diabetes Association, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, and is currently touring nationally with her presentation “The Stress Solution: Train Your Body, Train Your Brain.” She recently gave the keynote address at Edward Jones’ annual Managing Partners Conference in Phoenix and St. Louis.

Ageless Energy, Smith’s latest TV special, aired nationally on PBS. With her “Four Pillars of Fitness Success at Any Age,” she inspired viewers to shift their perspectives on fitness with a series of tools for boosting energy, stamina, strength and vitality.

She’s the mother of two daughters, Kate and Perrie, and when she’s not on the road, Kathy can usually be found hiking or skiing in the mountains of Park City, Utah.

"Be Compassionate, Be Honest, Be Funny" - Gin Miller

To have had the opportunity to sit down with Gin Miller and catch up with her after not spending time in person for several years was such a treat. The minute Gin opened the door to her home it was as though we had seen each other yesterday. She is one of the hardest working, kindest and most authentic fitness icons I know. Here are my five favorite takeaways and self-reflections from this week’s conversation with the inventor of step aerobics and a pioneer in the world of health and fitness Gin Miller

1. Gin talked about the importance of staying grounded: Who or What keeps you grounded? Is there a practice like meditation or deep breathing that you can use to center and ground you?

2. Gin mentioned the importance of human touch – Do you need more daily human touch in your life? Can you give more hugs throughout the day?

3. Gin talked about the importance of Community and being in a Tribe. Who is in your Tribe? Write down the names of the people that you know you could call at 2 am if you needed help. Take some action steps over the next few days to reach out to the people in your Community and let them know how much they mean to you?

4. Gin and I discussed how important it is to share what we know. Is there someone you know that could use your advice, your help, your skillset?

5.Gin talked about the gift of giving unsolicited compliments. Have you paid someone a compliment today? Over the next few days can you increase your compliment quota?

"Remember, When You Don't Think You can Do Something, You Have 9 More Something's Left"

Gin Miller

If you have ever been in a health club, you have seen a step. And if you have ever been in a step class or a sculpt class you have exercised on a step. And if Gin Miller had not gone to Reebok for the 7th time, there would never have been Step.

In this episode, Gin and I discuss the backstory and journey that it took to develop Step Reebok. Learn how Gin had to persevere while burning a hole in her bank account, and what kept her going before her “overnight success."

By happenstance, I was at the first ever Step Reebok workshop in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and in an instant I knew I was witnessing something special. Gin shares how she went from housewife to a household name and how she stayed grounded during her meteoric rise.

Gin shares some of her highlight moments including the day she signed her first contract with Reebok and whether or not you have ever taken a step class, you will love hearing Gin’s laugh again and peeking behind the scenes of step aerobics.

In this show, I talk with Gin my memory of talking with her for the first time at the Reebok headquarters, and I share the best piece of advice she gave me in my career.

Gin discusses the importance of being a part of a tribe and in a community, especially for women. She talks about how we can share kindness and spread compassion outside of the gym, and she discusses her new passion - the pursuit of happiness.

More about Gin:

Gin Miller is one of the industry’s top professionals, best known as the innovative force behind the Step Training revolution – one of the most significant fitness phenomena of the last century. Her concepts and creativity laid the foundation for “step aerobics”, earning her the worldwide reputation as a preeminent fitness program creator and exercise professional.

Gin currently runs her own company, Gin Miller Productions, LLC and serves as a consultant for corporations in wellness programming and fitness product development. Past projects include product design, programming and inbox workouts for Fitness EM – a product developer for the Empower brand of home exercise equipment, available at major retailers nationwide. Gin is actively involved in fitness product and program design and is about to launch her newest creation, the Kushh.

"Small Steps Over Many Days Build More Momentum Than You Think." Jenny Blake

Jenny Blake is quite possibly my favorite millennial that I know. Young at heart, with and old soul she shared so much wisdom this week on how to balance work and recovery, purpose and play. Here are my five favorite questions and takeaways from this week’s conversation with the author of Pivot – the only move that matters is your next one Jenny Blake.

1. What is something you know for sure that you can double down on? Write down your strengths and take a moment to see if there are one or two innate strengths that you could develop and strengthen to help you create a more stable foundation from which to build a life of passion and purpose.

2. Is there a pivot of any size happening in your life right now, forced or by choice? If this pivot brings on a sense of urgency or anxiety can you reframe it in your mindset to view it as an opportunity versus a challenge? And who can you ask to be your accountability partner in this pivot and someone you can both ask for help and have you stay on track and on task which in turn will move you closer to creating a life of possibility and potential

3. Jenny mentioned that her body is her business, how well are you taking care of your business?  I know for me personally that when I take care of my body by feeding it good thoughts, high-quality nutrition and getting the sleep I need that I operate at a much higher level of focus and energy. Is there something in your life that you need to adjust to help you maximize your output? Perhaps more sleep, maybe reducing the amount of sugar or processed foods, or simply drinking more water? What is one small tweak you can make to elevate the quality of what you are putting into your body, be it your food or the nutrition for your mind – your thoughts.

4. Small steps every day will build more momentum than you think. Can you do a 30-day challenge? 15 minutes every day where you pick one small step that will move you closer to your goal or vision. One small thing, everyday and take no more than 15 minutes. I look forward to hearing how you do. Perhaps use the same accountability partner and support each other each day on the pivot journey.

5. With it being January and the beginning of the year it is the perfect time to revisit these additional questions Jenny mentioned on Tuesday:

What does your one-year vision look like?

What is your ideal average day look like?

Who are your ideal clients or community?

What kind of impact do you want to have on others? Don’t need to be too specific –no pressure here

What is working well for your life right now?

"Double Down On Your Existing Strengths!" Jenny Blake

Learn how Jenny Blake came to write her second book Pivot, The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One, with zero dollars in her bank account and how she turned a potential crisis into a pivot. Through self- discovery and research she came to a conclusion that “Pivot” is both gender and judgment neutral. She shares with us how she does not view a Pivot as a plan B, and rather she sees pivoting as the new normal in today’s world.

In this interview, Jenny reminds us to be compassionate as we go through the ups and downs of life. She also teaches us how to stay resilient as we go through times of change and teaches us how to remain empowered by staying in the moment versus looking too far into the future. The latter, which can lead to a disempowered mindset.

Jenny shares her morning routine and how she protects her am hours so that she can create a great day. Her wind up rituals can last up to three hours, and she creates a start to her day that empowers her mind, her life, and fuels her amazing work.

You may be surprised at what time Jenny opens her first e-mail and when she reads her last message of the day. A great habit for all of us to learn.

More About Jenny

Jenny Blake is an author, career and business strategist and international speaker who helps people organize their brain, move beyond burnout, and build sustainable, dynamic careers they love. She is the author of PIVOT: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One (Portfolio/Penguin Random House, September 2016), and Life After College (Running Press, 2011), which is based on her blog of the same name. With two years at a technology start-up as the first employee, five years at Google on the Training and Career Development teams, and over five years of running her own business, Jenny combines her love of technology with her superpower of simplifying complexity to help clients pivot their career or business.

Jenny created her first website, Life After College, in 2005, then released a book of the same name in 2011 that was featured in Target’s 2012 graduation display. She has been featured on Forbes.com, US News & World Report, Real Simple magazine, and has spoken at major universities and top companies such as Columbia, TEDxCMU, Yale, Parsons, MIT, UCLA, Google, Intuit, KPMG and Best Buy.

Today you can find her at JennyBlake.me, where she explores systems at the intersection of mind, body and business. Jenny is a yoga fanatic and avid bookworm. Dogs, dancing, gadgets, writing, traveling, and long meals with friends all make her pretty happy too. Jenny is based in New York City, where she imagines she’s starring in a movie whenever she walks through its crowded streets.

A side note: Jenny is a big reason that this podcast is up is that Jenny shared one of her spreadsheets with me, that contained all her podcast tips. #grateful

"The Right People Will Come, So Why Not Love This Moment?" Tamilee Webb

I had such a fantastic time talking with Tamilee that it felt as though we were two girlfriends catching up over a cup of tea. We talked about so many important topics that it was challenging for me to pick just five ideas. After a lot of thought, here are the five questions we explore in this week's Friday Five. All of these were inspired by my recent conversation with Tamilee.

Are you fully present? This weekend pause and ask yourself throughout the day – “Am I awake”

Do you have a role model that inspires you? Is there someone already out there doing what you would love to be doing? Can you find the courage to reach out to them and ask if you could mentor under them?

How is your internal dialog?  What was the last thing you said to yourself when you looked into the mirror or you made a mistake? This weekend take a mirror brake and be impeccable with your language, especially when having a conversation with yourself.

When is the last time you did something for the first time? Learn something new or try something that you have not done in a long time.

What are you grateful for this weekend? Send at least three gratitude texts, to different people this weekend.

"If I Can't Bet On Myself, Who Can I Bet On?" Tamilee Webb

Tamilee Webb is perhaps best known as the Buns, in the Buns of Steel Video series. To date, she has sold over 14 million workout videos and DVD's, and is recognized as one of the pioneers in the world of health and fitness. In this episode, we talk about how she got started, her role models during her early days and how she stayed grounded as her fame grew. We also chat about how Tamilee she has made peace with getting older, while always being known for her body as well as her body of work.    

Pre-Instagram and pre-social media there was a brand new world of fitness that was moving into the mainstream and Tamilee Webb was at the forefront. This conversation takes us down the path of fitness history and many of the fitness legends are mentioned in this show.

In this show, you will learn how Tamilee became her own agent, negotiated on her own behalf, and spread her message of wellness throughout the world. From Mambos to Menopause we discuss it all and along the way find that we both have a lot in common, including the fact we were both out of the house and on our own studying or working at the age of 16.

More About Tamilee

Tamilee Webb, MA is America’s Most Trusted Fitness Instructor.  Her no-hype down to earth attitude has endeared her to millions of fans worldwide.  Tamilee is best known as the star of the famous “Buns of Steel™ & Abs of Steel™” fitness video series!  Combined sales of Tamilee’s video titles are over 14 million units.  Besides repeatedly topping the Billboard Video sales charts, Tamilee has published four best-selling books; “The Original Rubber Band Workout & (sold in six countries and five languages); Step up Fitness, Workouts for Dummies, and “Defy Gravity Workout”.

Tamilee truly brings fitness home.  She appeared daily on Fit TV previously known as Health Network Channel.  She was host of ESPN’s Fitness Pro series and consulted for Fox Sport Body Squad fitness shows.

Tamilee’s most recent accomplishment was her induction into the Fitness Hall of Fame 2008 alongside fitness greats; Kathy Smith, Judi Missett, Jack LaLane, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jane Fonda and Joe Weider.

With over 65 products to her name, Tamilee continues to mentor, manage and produces for other fitness professions and Influencers.  She continues to motivate millions with her Speaking Engagements and coaching services.  You can join one of her social media platforms to get daily messages, tips and workouts.  

Tamilee grew up on a farm in Northern California where she was surrounded by farm animals.  Her love for animals has taken her to volunteer at animal shelters, invested in an up-scale pet boutique called Muttropolis™, and donates to many animal charities.  A little trivia; Tamilee is not her birth name, she changed it to Tamilee when she was singing and playing her guitar for her love of country music!

"What Are You Willing To Do With Your Gifts?" Todd Durkin

Todd shared so many nuggets this past week that it was hard for me to pick just five action steps, but here are the five questions we explore in this week's Friday Five. All of these were inspired by my recent conversation with Todd Durkin.

How can you become 1% better? What is one thing you can change this weekend to move the needle 1% closer to being the best version of you?

What do you know for sure that you can do? We all have our strengths but most of us tend to focus on the things that we feel need improving. What do you know for sure that you are good at?

How do you use the power of music to power your life? - Make a soundtrack for the weekend

How do You, "Get Your Mind Right?” Manage your mornings, manage your mind and manage your life!

What is Your Mantra – or a saying that empowers You? Our words direct our focus and our attention. Choose the good ones.

"To much is given, to much is required." Todd Durkin

Lying on his back on a football field in France with so many injuries that his budding NFL career was officially over, Todd Durkin realized that in a split second that both his body and his dreams were shattered. To avoid surgery, Todd went through five years of intense and painful therapy. As he healed he gained a deeper understanding of what it took to get back up after a life changing injury and he made a choice to become better and not bitter. One step at a time he built his business from just 1 person to a team of 38 change agents. Along the way he found a renewed passion to help others get through adversity and build a life of Wow!

In this episode, we talk about his recent turn on the NBC hit series Strong, how he was eliminated early on only to come back a few weeks later and end up as the runner-up in season one. Todd discusses his morning rituals to "get his mind right" and what he thinks about the word balance. We also ponder the idea of what he would be doing if he were not one of the world's greatest trainers.

More about Todd

Todd Durkin, MA, CSCS, is an internationally recognized strength, speed and conditioning coach, personal trainer, body worker, motivational speaker, and author who motivates, educates, and inspires people worldwide. He is the founder of Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA, a world-class facility that provides personal training, strength, and conditioning, therapeutic massage and bodywork, Pilates, yoga, nutrition, chiropractic and physical therapy programs.

Todd works with a high-profile clientele of elite professional athletes.

This includes NFL MVPs, Super Bowl Champions and MVPs, Heisman Trophy Winner, Olympic and X-Game Gold Medalists, and many other champion athletes. He is a 2 Time Personal Trainer of the Year (IDEA & ACE) and has received numerous industry accolades.Greatist has named Todd one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Health & Fitness for the past three years.

His gym, Fitness Quest 10, was named one of “America’s Top 10 Gyms” by Men’s Health for the past 5 years, and in addition to high-profile athletes, attracts many fitness enthusiasts of all ages, shapes, sizes, and levels who want to improve their overall health and fitness performance. His team of 38 trainers, coaches, and therapists deliver results to over 500 clients weekly.

Todd has appeared on 60 Minutes, ESPN, the NFL Network and has been featured in Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, ESPN the Magazine, Stack Magazine, the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and many others. He was also featured trainer on NBC’s hit fitness show STRONG.

Todd earned his BS degree in Kinesiology from The College of William & Mary in Virginia and his MA degree in Exercise & Nutritional Science with a specialty in Biomechanics and Sports Medicine from San Diego State University.

He and his wife Melanie reside in San Diego, CA, with their three children, Luke, Brady, and McKenna.

This episode was recorded in Todd's office at his facility Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, California. The sounds in the background of his clients working out to build a WOW lifestyle are our gift to you

This is a short show, in which I give a brief overview of what to expect in The Perfection Detox podcast. I also share a little bit about why this show and why now. Learn a little bit about my highlight reel and more importantly my backstory. I am excited and honored to be beginning this new adventure with you. I will be sharing a new conversation on iTunes each Tuesday. The following Friday I will drop a short 5-minute show in which I give you 5 tips, questions or strategies to take with you into the weekend. This format is designed to give you mid-week inspiration and then weekend implementation