Open Mic #4!! Today we welcome Sarah Hipps back to T&T to discuss race, the world right now, and the power in showing up. Sarah is an incredible fitness and mental wellness advocate and knows how much a certain environment can impact one’s health- physically and mentally. Sarah shares her journey as a person of color in this world thus far and highlights ideas of shaking up our own realities and realizing a degree of brainwashing has occurred. We can justify things if the history books say so right? No. Reality is nothing more than applied meaning, OG philosophy, as I always say. We (my fellow white folks) need to question what realities we currently subscribe to and be open to shifting them greatly. We discuss specific examples on how things have been “marketed” a certain way (#propaganda) and how we have been fed certain “truths”. We cover privilege, colorism, ageism, the difference between a white person’s experience in certain situations vs. a black person’s, and businesses working to do things the right way with inclusivity, diversity, and equality at the forefront of the conversation. In the meantime- work hard to show up, do your homework, research, and keep the heart and mind open. Great, in-depth and enlightening perspective is provided- thank you Sarah, appreciate you and I can’t wait to see what is next for you!!
Sarah A. Hipps
Hello! I am a Certified Personal Trainer and Behavioral Change Specialist who facilitates clients to be their best selves. I received a Division 1 volleyball scholarship to George Mason University and after moving to Denver, CO, it became my mission to not only pursue my goals, but to use everything I’ve learned and lived through to help others see their best selves through.
My focus is about the entire you. The mental, emotional, and physical health all need to be present for you to truly feel fulfilled. Speaking about mental health, growth, and fulfillment are my passions and I love helping people seek those by being a more dedicated person to their health.
Sarah’s Coming Events:
· TBA (SOON) Self-defense session with Vital Proteins at Apex Combat Center
· March 21st, Adidas Denver Fit Squad session on March 21st
· April, restorative session at Modern Acupuncture Belmar.
Check out Sarah’s IG and site for event details! @sahipps and www.sahipps.com
You are what you eat ! AND we are home consuming right now… food, media, oxygen… at least the air is cleaner during this time! What is the real impact of the food we are putting into our bodies? Are there larger questions we should be asking? What about our kids and youth nutrition? So. Many. Things!
Join me, Dr. Teddy Brose, and former nurse, Karla Jones, as we discuss food as medicine and how we navigate these conversations with medical staff, kids, and ourselves. They share their journeys to a healthier lifestyle and how simple changes (while tough at first) can change the trajectory of your health journey and the loved ones you look out for. We talk about responsibly and why taking charge of your own health and knowledge around what you’re consuming is so important. We discuss how to lead the way for kids to make better nutritional choices, even while at school or at a friend’s house and how to provide space for further conversation so they really understand why. We talk about little changes you can make now to eat cleaner and change the trajectory of your health. The wellness, health, and fitness spaces are all business- arm yourself with knowledge!
Highlights
Questioning a better way. Why don’t doctors and nurses know more about nutrition? They are not nutritionists:) Kids and food. Kids and sugar. Plant based vs. the standard American diet. Changing one small thing vs. everything. Wellness, fitness, and business. What to do now?
Dr. Teddy Broseis a physician in Appomattox, Virginia. She specializes in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine and works closely with her patients in the application of evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine for the prevention, treatment and reversal of chronic diseases. She further facilitates the Complete Health Improvement Program in her community, a three month comprehensive lifestyle medicine program which aims to educate and arm its participants with the tools necessary for success in their journey to health and wellness. She further teaches numerous free class’s in her community and does a monthly Walk with a Doc program where she discusses various health related topics while taking a walk with community members.
Karla Jones is a mom of 3 young kids and wife to a college baseball coach. She is a master’s prepared nurse turned mama on a mission from Central VA. She loves running, a good book, building things with her hands, and sharing her simple tips for a healthier lifestyle. After learning the relationship between nutrition and disease, something she wasn’t educated on in nursing school, she’s been on a mission to pay forward this important information. She’s partnered with a company whose mission is to inspire health living around the world. Most people strive to live a healthier lifestyle, but find where to start a challenge. Karla is able to help people ignite their journey with one simple change. This incredible partnership has allowed her to live her best life and inspire others to do the same. She is all about making impact for good in helping families thrive! This is what has lead her to become a #mamasetfree.
One of the hardest things to do in life is to let go. Often times you know it’s coming or it’s necessary, but it doesn’t make the process any easier. We have no training in this, so the natural inclination is to hold on… personally, professionally, spiritually, relationships, ideas, narratives, etc. We cling to what we think we need. Change is hard all the way around and to admit that something is no longer serving you- something that you love, have created, spent a lot of time on, are committed to, or is part of your identity, is WORK. We often get to a space where we can literally no longer bare the situation and come to a choice point. Ideally, you let go, have some time, and can positively reflect on a hard decision that was the right decision and realize how happy you are in moving on. This process will continue throughout our lives no matter what and the sooner we can be aware of the need to let go in situations, the better. It’s a constant check in point on all things with ourselves. How is XYZ really serving me? If it’s not, we need to let go.
On the cast fitness and wellness rock star, entrepreneur, leader, and longtime friend, Andria Bever, and I discuss scenarios in our worlds where it was HARD, but necessary to move on. Both of us are entrepreneurs, contractors, and creators- anyone in that space knows, things move fast and are constantly changing. Business plans change, people change, budgets change, lots of variables… but that’s also what makes it fun:). We dive into the personal and professional, but focus on businesses and situations that we have built from the ground up and at some point, had to let go and move forward. Like me, Andria is someone that bleeds the brand. There is no middle ground, we are either all in or all out… balance is also a learning process:). We are both a bit type A, so we’ll commit until it’s right… or until we make it right. Right? Naa, we have both acquired an awareness on when it’s time to LET GO. Hopefully this cast can somewhat streamline your process in moving on if that is a current space you are in or choice point you are at. Let our work, work for you!!
Whatever you believe, you can rest assure that there is a larger order to things. Often times our hardest decisions are the ones that point us in the right direction. Trust yourself, your gut, and the good people around you and advise you accordingly. The next thing WILL serve you.
Highlights
Letting go. It’s in the stars. Larger order. Bleeding the brand. Creating, building, and establishing a brand, only to let it go. Choosing your own path, even when it’s not the popular choice. Trusting your young self and being aware of how what you should be doing (or what you love) shows up early in life… go back to that kiddo!! Breakdown, breakthrough. Evolution and revolution. The next big thing.
Andria Bever:
My love for sports began at a young age, which allowed me to discover my calling early in life. I found a passion for wellness and discovered the value of taking care of our bodies in order to obtain peak performance.
My career began in 2001 as a Soft Tissue/Stretch Therapist at Exos (teamexos.com, formerly Athletes Performance) from 2004-2011. This setting taught me the value of Recovery for optimal on-field performance. My experience working with professional athletes gave me unique insights into helping the weekend warrior reach his/her potential. This belief became one of the guiding principles of Denver Sports Recovery. As Co-Founder of DSR my work extended far beyond the realm of Soft Tissue and Stretch Therapy. I tapped into my entrepreneurial spirit and ran all aspects of the business. I defined the brand and led the business culture by hiring like-minded professionals, created and implemented all Systems and Processes, managed vendor relationships and established strategic partnerships.
When the universe quits encouraging you to follow your heart and finally makes you… this cast is about a conscious career change that highlights one person’s journey to his most purposeful space:)
On this cast I sit down with long time lax and fitness fam brother, Dave Loudenslager. We have known each other for over ten years, both played lacrosse and then both got swooped into CrossFit and weightlifting. We have certainly seen each other “grow up(ish)” over the years, so this was a very cool conversation to highlight the personal and professional evolution (or lack thereof, HA). Dave is a long-time educator, coach, and mindful human being. His journey is the perfect example of consciously blending passion and professional worlds to fuel his new business venture, The Athlete Mindset. I won’t say too much from there, but it’s a fun one. If you are looking to truly do a job that highlights all your natural gifts and acquired skill sets, but are not sure how or when to make that leap, this is a great cast for you!
After looking into promotion gates (requirements for students to advance grades) Dave found that it is not a federal mandated program but up to the individual states to set their own policies. Find your states promotion gate policy HERE .
Highlights
Fitness/sports makes friends. Truly living the turmeric and tequila lifestyle. Aka enjoying life and leading fellow humans. The education system. When you get into a job to help people, but lack the agency to do so. Finding and creating a better way. School and what they do and don’t teach us. The evolution of the student and the curriculum. What do our kids need now? Sports and mindfulness. Merging the physical with the mental. Fun.
DaveLoudenslager
Dave Loudenslager is a coach, teacher and former college lacrosse player that is committed to helping young adults realize and achieve their potential. As a teacher Dave helped launch APS Avenues, an alternative education option for students in Aurora Colorado that focuses on teaching social emotional skills along with challenging academic curriculum. With over twelve years’ experience as a coach he has worked with competitive athletes in lacrosse, Olympic weightlifting and Crossfit and is driven by a passion to help others.
Athlete Mindset is a performance mindset company determined to help athletes find purpose in sport while providing them the skills needed to discover their untapped potential and achieve success on and off the field.
We teach athletes how to develop the skills of self-reliance, honest self-evaluation and reflection. And that in order to have a successful and sustainable career athletes must find a healthy balance between sports and life. It’s our mission to teach them the tools to thrive in both.
If you are in health and wellness, you know at this point it’s not just about diet and exercise. It’s about a full, well rounded approach to how you live and how you consume. Fitness, nutrition, sleep, mindfulness… and now toxins! Who knew there was more to worry about? Until recently, we let the majority of our purchasing behaviors be steered by our family and friend (our immediate environment aka influencers) or straight up marketing. Until recently, we didn’t even know what to question or how…. Our make-up, detergent, air fresheners? Again, it’s overwhelming to know how much you need to know to live as clean as you can. AND the more you dig in and do the research you really see how much you don’t know. Hello outsourcing. Find someone who lives and works in the space and consult them accordingly. That person is Karen for me. She is a long time, great friend that I met while training at FRCF #fitfam. She has all the makings of a great advisor/coach… certifications, degrees, AND she lives it. She talks about training, tips, tricks, sources on where to find the right stuff, questions to ask… and if you don’t need the ENTRIE clean life 411, she can just tell you what to do and what not to do:). I have come to her many times over the years for nutrition, recovery, supplement advice and now beauty products! I had no idea how many toxins were in the things we were consuming every day and how much is absorbed in our skin. AND a lot of companies know this… WTF. So just like the nutrition and fitness space, transparency is not the highest priority. Karen and I chat all things clean beauty, questions to ask, why she loves and supports Beautycounter (google them if you don’t know already) and how they are taking things to the next level fighting for further beauty regulations federally. I highly recommend everyone watch the NetFlix Doc, Stink, it sums up why you should be wondering what we are putting on our bodies, cleaning our houses with, and what products that are not consumer packaged goods are treated with. Its mind blowing. Cheers to clean living, one convo and product at a time!
Highlights
Clean beauty. Holding companies accountable. Questioning a better way. Ramifications of these toxins? Karen’s fitness and wellness journey. Good options. What you can do to help make a difference. Balance and beauty. Out spoken women and pups:)
Karen Rylander
Karen is a certified nutrition consultant passionate about helping clients uncover their innate, primal health buried under all of our modern toxins.
She’s a native Texan, but has called Colorado home the past 20 years. She’s been working as a certified nutrition consultant since 2011 when she graduated from Bauman College. She also has a Food and Wine certification from CookStreet and a B.A. in Anthropology from University of Colorado. In 2017, Karen joined forces with Beautycounter, a skincare company on a mission to get safer products into the hands of everyone. She lives in Denver, CO with her husband who is a chiropractor and their dog, Ginger.
To drink or not to drink? In a social world (literally and digitally), alcohol is EVERYWHERE! You probably don’t even notice all things alcohol is involved with until you stop drinking- for the night, the year, or forever. You drink to celebrate, to mourn, to relax… there is even alcohol at church. When we know all the negative effects of alcohol, why do we not only drink it, but drink it alongside all the emotions of life? It’s a depressant! Is it culture or marketing or just plain social norms? As you know, I am a tequila fan and I love a libation or two:) and rarely say no to a good time. In addition, I am a lover of fitness and wellness- generally aiming to feel as good, healthy, and clear as I can. Hence, Turmeric and Tequila (the brand is authentic folks, the juxtaposition is real:). Many mornings after long party nights, waking up with a hangover and filing through receipts in my purse, I am not pumped about the costs around alcohol (energy, money, calories etc… #noregrets). Finding balance in work and play is a juggling act we all face one way or another and continuous self-check in points on all things that can get excessive, including fitness, wellness, and work, are necessary.
On this cast, myself and longtime BFF, fellow entrepreneur, and fitness lover, Jessica Crow, rap about the impact of alcohol and discuss where the line is in balancing alcohol in our lives. We also touch on people who have given up alcohol or meat or anything that is “out of the norm” and how to support their decision to do so. Is the social influence so strong that it’s just easier to go with the flow? It can be, but hopefully this convo sheds a little light for those who are seeking balance with booze and/or have people in their lives that are non-drinkers. Proudly, Jessica and I are masters of fun AND love our health, family, and fitness… so on NEW YEAR’S EVE, we discuss the importance of balance. Cheers!
Highlights
Influencers under the Influence, The impact of alcohol. Memory lane back to kindergarten! Drinkers and non-drinkers. The social norms of drinking. Balance in all things. Excess. Your surroundings. Your normal. The things we tell ourselves. Partying, it’s fun. Be responsible.
Jessica Crow
Jessica Crow is an entrepreneur, a wife, mom of two young boys, a former foster parent, current yoga teacher, a lifelong student, and creator of the M3™ wellness framework (movement, meditation, mindset). Her mission is to “power transformation by empowering people” through expanded awareness and understanding, whether it’s in the workplace or at the individual level.
Jessica is the founder of Apogy, an online training company for people who want to up-level their professional skill set and immediately add value in the workplace. Jessica started Apogy in 2019 after spending 15 years climbing the corporate ladder. She attributes her career success in part to ongoing training and professional development, which gave her the necessary skills and confidence to perform as she took on new opportunities. Jessica believes that access (time / money) to information should never be a limitation to advancement, and wants to make it easier for more people to acquire the skills they seek by providing high-quality, battle-tested training people can actually afford.
Apogy also offers wellness awareness (M3™) and “conscious leadership” training to help people bridge the gap between human “doing” and human “being. As a former workaholic and “stress addict”, Jessica leverages M3 to maintain health, alleviate stress, and strengthen her connection to self / others.
A THROWBACK CAST! KO, Amanda Pettas, Tera Pettas, and Jenn Ryan sit down to share their fitness journey over cinnamon rolls… is there any other way? We get to life as we know it and how fitness has played a major role in the journey- from training, to career inspiration, to self-discovery, to sacrifice. When we find the balance in too much and not enough… it just might not be about fitness after all!:) Here are 4 different perspectives on navigating life inside and outside the gym and how staying mentally and physically fit (most days) complimented our lives thus far. Two married, two CrossFit games athletes, all sticky, sugary, carb lovers.
Highlights
The joys of eating, cinnamon rolls, balance, love, life, fit biz, dedication, pulling back, the CrossFit Games, fitness making friends, self discovery. Priorties, this cast might help you organize your list!
My story starts as a teenager, obsessed with playing sports and kinda being one of those people that just never quite felt like I was good enough, like there was more I should be doing. I was the kid that would play a sport every season of the year, and after practice each night, would go run for an hour on the treadmill in my grandparents’ basement. As much as I was concerned with my athletic performance, I was paying a lot of attention to my body image as well. And it wasn’t a good one. Sure, I had an athletic build, but I didn’t like the way I looked in my school uniform and I would rather wear stretch pants than jeans. I thought cutting out certain foods like milk and red meat would help me be ‘healthier’ and ‘skinnier’ – of which this did neither. I lived through some of the crazy fad diet times and believed them all at one point or another throughout my 20’s. You wouldn’t find many days that I skipped going to the gym, but that doesn’t mean I had the best lifestyle habits. I was a student and a bartender, and there were more often than not late nights of heavy drinking. Sometimes I would eat very little, sometimes I would binge eat because I restricted myself so many other times from the foods that I thought were ‘bad.’ All the while, I stressed about the way I looked and couldn’t do enough working out (a.k.a. cardio) to make the changes I wanted. I read every magazine and article out there that I could find during all of this, yet wasn’t putting it all together. I started doing Crossfit the Summer of 2009, and during my second year, I competed in my first Crossfit-style competition. I was hooked. I loved being an ‘athlete’ again, and focusing on my performance. I learned more about the Paleo and Zone diets that were the big things in Crossfit nutrition around that time. I finally started to understand that I should be trying to put on some lean muscle mass and learned how to get stronger with both bodyweight movements and the barbell. Things were starting to make more sense, and my body composition was changing. But I was still lost as to what my body truly needed, a bit scared of eating too many carbohydrates, and still having many days when I didn’t want to ‘overeat.’ I was definitely too self-conscious to be the girl at the gym or competition working out without a shirt on. In 2014 I started focusing more on fueling my body for performance, learning about macronutrients, and how food could be viewed as fuel instead of something to be afraid of. Finally!! I had a breakthrough in what led to me breaking the cycle of disordered eating and a low self-image. I felt empowered, and my performance in strength and metcons went up, as well as recovery and mood. Lots of areas of my life were benefitting from this, and with the structure I now had, I found what I was looking for: freedom. Freedom from being afraid of food, freedom from a negative self image, and the freedom to teach others as well. Looking at food from a performance standpoint was such an exhilarating experience that I was set on helping anyone else interested in finding a healthy relationship with food and consequently themselves.
Tara Pettas
Tara is a head coach, personal trainer, NASM certified nutritionist, and helping sell all the stretchy pants over at a local lululemon here in Pasadena, California! She loves being able to share her knowledge and her story with anyone who is willing to listen and learn.
Amanda Pettas
Amanda is currently a 3rd year Doctor of Physical Therapy Student at the University of Southern California. She got into Physical Therapy to help people get back to their lives following an injury, no matter how big or small. Outside of her passion for Neurologic Physical Therapy, she loves fitness, trying new restaurants, and hanging out with her wife and pup!
KO and LONG-time lax homie, Katie G., sit down to discuss bleeding the brand- for yourself, your team, and your business. From the sports field to the boardroom: same mentality, different outfit:) We cover the importance of trial and error, the people around you, and getting to know yourself before anything else. We also highlight embracing your personal idiosyncrasies and the things that authentically give you your competitive edge- and letting those drive the impact, wins, and sales. AND the importance of the relationships in business, thank you sports!
Highlights
Varsity vs. JV, Maslow’s hierarchy, sharing energy and passion, building your team post college, the power of connection, Madonna, getting uncomfortable, beer, and verbal vs. body language.
Katie Gerhard
Katie is a Colorado Native who was a tiny yet tenacious multi-sport athlete growing up. As the youngest of 5, her competitive nature and do-or-die mentality helped her earn a Division I lacrosse scholarship where, like KO, she played at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. She later transferred to Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT where she earned her undergrad. Katie studied marketing and minored in both business administration as well as sports management with the hope of one day becoming the brand director for Under Armour. Today, Katie is a sales executive for MillerCoors—a Fortune 500 company and a respected powerhouse within the beer industry. This kid is known for her loyalty and can often be seen supporting the brands she sells via wearable’s and/or consumption. Katie’s still active, recently getting back into CrossFit, and comes back to Colorado every few months to not only breathe in Rocky Mountain fresh air but also crush some authentic Coors Lights. Cheers!
KO and Heidi sit down to solve the world’s problems… AKA sip tequila, share our journeys (thus far), and reaffirm that world change starts with getting to know ourselves and evolving from the inside out. If you are not #FollowingHeart and out of alignment personally, professionally, athletically- how is that missed out fulfillment really costing you energetically AND financially? Shift from what you are supposed to do to what your want to do (responsibly) and the world just might evolve alongside you.
Thankfully, over time we have (started to) further develop a sense of self and begin to prioritize goals, time, hopes, dreams… and tequila/botox budgets. Take notes AND bring an eraser:)
Highlights
Sustainability, communication, balance, environment… all as global AND personal conversation. Universe vs. plan, money vs. time vs. impact, getting uncomfortable, and building a global network. Recognizing your influencer and taking responsibility for it. If you want to break free, please do-here is how we did it/are constantly in process of doing it.
Heidi is a freelance business owner who specializes in writing and marketing in the Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) space. She owns Manifest Ink, LLC, a writing and marketing strategy company. She is one of those rare unicorns who was born in Colorado and still lives here, although she travels enough to know that there are plenty of other magical places to be. She earned her BA in Technical Journalism from Colorado State University and holds an MA in Sustainable Development and Responsible Management from the University for Peace in Costa Rica. She has logged time in corporate and non-profit offices and has lived in worked in Chile, Argentina, Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica. Her mission is to connect people to stories and write words that compel people to make a positive impact on the world.
KO and fitness studs, Katie Corio, and Amber Dodzweit Riposta, both Oxygen Mag cover models, share their journeys in the health and fitness world thus far. We touch on how more people follow fitness influencers than any other category and the social media impact on our youth. Highlights include: battling digital editing, skinny marg recipe, taco bell, and what is next for them!
I am a NASN Certified Expert-Level Personal Trainer and Licensed Sports Nutritionist, with a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology. I compete in the Bikini division of Women’s Bodybuilding and work as a fitness model for Live Fit Apparel! Connecting with people through my social media platforms and having the opportunity to meet them in person while traveling to various expos has proven to be the most rewarding job, and I am truly grateful!
Raised in a missionary family in the Congo Africa. Amber Dodzweit Riposta is an All -American track and field athlete, national champion professional tackle football player, 13x fitness cover model, and women’s circuit training expert. She created BUILT FOR HER (an online women’s athletic training club) in 2014 to teach women how to find freedom and a deeper sense of purpose through athletic training and empowerment. Currently residing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Married to Holistic Nutritionist Andrew Riposta – Amber hosts women’s events and creates athletic training content for women from all over the World.
