Feisty Women's Performance
by Dr. Erin Ayala
Latest episode
Sport Psychology Needs Feminists, Too with Dr. Carole Oglesby, PhD…
Sport Psychology Needs Feminists, Too with Dr. Carole Oglesby, PhD…
About this podcast
Tired of fads, quick fixes, and performance advice that wasn’t designed for you? So are we. Feisty Women’s Performance cuts through the noise to bring you credible, science-backed insights to live your best, healthiest, active life.
Hosted by Dr. Erin Ayala, this is your go-to resource for tackling the challenges of being an active woman today—whether you’re hoping to PR your next marathon or just trying to understand how much protein women actually need to be eating.
We’ll move beyond the male-dominated lens of sport science to deliver honest conversations and actionable advice from women for women, to improve women’s health. Each episode dives deep into one of our four pillars—physiology, nutrition, mental health, and cultural issues—with leading experts to explore topics that are often left undiscussed.
If you’re an active woman who cares about your sustainable health, performance growth, and long-term progress, these conversations are for you.
No fads, no quick fixes. Just real science and legit experts.
Re-launching January 2026.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 217 episodes
- Sport Psychology Needs Feminists, Too with Dr. Carole Oglesby, PhD and Dr. Phyllis Solon · 1 h 4 minIn this powerful conversation, Dr. Carole Oglesby (PhD, PhD) and Dr. Phyllis Solon (PsyD, LP) reveal why sport psychology needs a feminist lens. They unpack how patriarchal…
- The overlooked triathlon skills every athlete needs with Alison Freeman · 1 h 4 minErin sits down with Alison Freeman, a USATriathlon Level 3 coach, author of Unlocking Triathlon, and co‑owner of NYX Endurance, to uncover the hidden skills that turn good…
- The cost of using exercise to cope with Clara Hughes, 6-time Olympic medalist · 60 minIn this candid conversation, Olympic medalist and author Clara Hughes reveals how the “push‑through” mindset that powered her six Olympic medals became a hidden coping mechanism…
- The periodization myth: What female endurance athletes actually need with Colette Berry, ACSM-CPT, FMS, GGS-CPPC · 57 minColette Berry—ACSM‑CPT, RRCA‑certified coach, and doctoral researcher—debunks the myth that rigid periodization is essential for female endurance athletes. S he shows how a…
- The health intervention hiding in your Saturday morning run group with Tiffany Hoffman & Mary Arnold · 1 h 7 minDr. Erin Ayala sits down with community‑building champions Tiffany Hoffman, licensed professional counselor and co‑founder of Peace Runners 773, and Mary Arnold, sports‑industry…
- Recognizing the stress symptoms in sport and life, and what balance actually means (live panel at FeistyFest) · 1 h 2 minIn this live panel from FeistyFest, four leading women—Marty Munson, Alison Freeman, Lyn Benoit, and Elizabeth Allen—unpack how stress from work, life, and training converges in…
- Your Brain on the Bike: How Cycling Improves Your Mental Health with Dr. Esther Walker · 56 minDr. Esther Walker, PhD, shares the science behind why cycling boosts brain health and mental performance. She breaks down the short‑term neurochemical spikes and the long‑term…
- The outdoor barriers immigrant women face that no one talks about with Gabriela Hydle · 1 h 2 minIn this episode, we sit down with Gabriela Hydle, a Mayan‑Guatemalan immigrant who discovered cycling at 41 and has since become a fierce advocate for equitable access to the…
- 'Not committed enough': The myth holding mother-coaches back with Dr. Tara-Leigh McHugh · 1 h 1 minDr. Erin Ayala sits down with Dr. Tara‑Leigh McHugh, a Canada Research Chair in sport and physical activity at the University of Calgary. They explore the hidden challenges faced…
- Stop Blaming Hormones for Postpartum Depression with Dr. Gabe Mauren · 1 h 2 minErin Ayala, PhD sits down with Dr. Gabe Mauren, PhD, LP, PMH‑C, a leading psychologist in reproductive mental health, to unpack the complexities of postpartum mental health…
- [BONUS EPISODE] Can self-compassion actually beat self-sabotage? with Drs. Tess Kilwein & Erin Ayala · 57 minIn this bonus episode from Feisty's sister podcast, Another Mother Runner, hosts Sara Bowen Shea and Amanda Loudin sit down with sport psychologists Dr. Tess Kilwein and Dr. Erin…
- Body liberation practices that every female athlete needs with Chrissy King · 1 h 2 minHost Erin Ayala sits down with writer, speaker, and educator Chrissy King to unpack “body liberation” and how racism, diet culture, and the relentless “maxing” mindset intersect…
- Women's sports supplements: what every athlete needs to know with Dr. Susan Kleiner · 1 h 8 minDr. Erin Ayala talks with Dr. Susan Kleiner, a pioneering high‑performance sports dietitian, to cut through the noise surrounding women’s sports supplements. She debunks common…
- Women are forced to be resilient: The gender tax on female athletes with Dr. Emily Matheson · 54 minDr. Emily Matheson dives deep into the hidden “gender tax” that female athletes pay and why the sport system is unintentionally building their resilience. She reveals how…
- Why driven female athletes burn out faster — and what to do with Dr. Erin Haugen · 1 h 5 minDr. Erin Ayala sits down with sport psychologist Dr. Erin Haugen to explore strategies for managing pre‑race anxiety and building sustainable performance habits for female…
- Inside the Pain Tolerance of Ultra-Endurance Women with Britta Maria Sorensen, PhD · 1 h 5 minHow do female ultra-endurance athletes experience, interpret, and cope with pain—and when does pushing through become too much? Erin Ayala, PhD, speaks with sport psychology…
- The Silent Costs of Psychological Harm for Women in Sport with Dr. Gretchen Kerr · 1 h 1 minWhat does athlete safety look like beyond preventing physical injury? In this episode, Erin Ayala, PhD, speaks with Dr. Gretchen Kerr, professor of kinesiology at the University…
- Why "Push Through It" Is the Worst Advice for Autoimmune Athletes with Mireille Siné, MPH · 1 h 3 minIn this episode, Dr. Erin Ayala sits down with Mireille Siné, MPH — a certified running coach, lupus endurance athlete, and advocate for athletes living with autoimmune and…
- Fibermaxing, Ozempic: Which 2026 nutrition trends should you actually care about? with Alex Larson (Replay) · 1 h 19 minWe're welcoming registered dietitian Alex Larson to help us dive deep into the critical (and less critical) nutrition trends of coming in 2026. Alex and your host, Dr. Erin…
- The medical warning signs of underfueling with Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani · 1 h 2 minIn this episode, Dr. Jennifer Gaudiani (“Dr. G”), a leading expert in medical complications of eating disorders and underfueling, joins us to explain what female athletes need to…
