In the debut episode of The Curiosity Exchange Podcast, host Ish Barri sits down with IFBB Figure Pro Ana Santos. Ana opens up about her incredible journey from her childhood in Mexico, where access to sports and education was a daily challenge, to becoming a world-class athlete in Texas. She shares the realities of her sport: the long road to earning her pro card, the difficult decision to use Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs), and the constant balancing act of navigating different bodybuilding divisions.

This is a raw and honest conversation covering the lack of initial support from family, the positive and negative reactions she gets in public and online, and the importance of mental peace. Ana also details her training preferences, her goals for the upcoming season, and her mission to give back to the bodybuilding community that supported her. Whether you're deep into the fitness world or just curious, this episode is a powerful look at dedication, identity, and the price of chasing a dream.

The Curiosity Exchange Links:

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Ana Santos Links:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ana.ifbbpro

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ana.ifbbpro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ana.santos.904108

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:01:01 - Roots in Mexico

00:03:51 - Introduction to Sports

00:05:29 - Family Reaction to Bodybuilding

00:09:38 - Earning Support

00:11:39 - Navigating Bodybuilding Divisions

00:15:20 - A Look Back

00:19:16 - Winning the Pro Card

00:22:13 - Why Figure is "Home"

00:25:06 - Training & Weaknesses

00:26:45 - The PED Conversation

00:32:42 - Recent Competition

00:34:25 - Public Perception

00:37:59 - Handling Online Hate

00:42:30 - What's Next

00:45:08 - Legacy

00:46:42 - How to Find Ana

00:48:15 - Outro