What would happen if you treated your midlife like the start of your athletic prime?

Michelle MacDonald sits down with longtime client and PR executive Jodi Echakowitz to uncover how one woman redefined her relationship with health, aging, and ambition. From a scary brush with brain fog during perimenopause to transforming her body, mindset, and daily habits, Jodi shares how prioritizing her health not only gave her a new physique but a new life. Together, they unpack what real consistency looks like for women who travel, work, parent…and still make time to train like athletes. They also discuss Jodi’s decision to pursue cosmetic surgery after extreme weight loss, what self-discipline actually feels like in real life, and how chasing excellence, rather than perfection, is the most joyful form of self-respect. It's a masterclass in midlife reinvention.

Favorite Moments

• 1:48 Redefining Consistency on the Road and Under Pressure
• 5:21 “I thought I had early-onset Alzheimer’s”
• 11:24 The Trifecta of Transformation: Mindset, Nutrition, and Strength
• 43:40 Why the Gym is Her Meditation Now

"Change happens when the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of change." – Jodi Echakowitz

GUEST: JODI ECHAKOWITZ, FOUNDER & CEO OF BOULEVARD PUBLIC RELATIONS

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Full Guest Bio:
Jodi Echakowitz is the founder and CEO of Boulevard Public Relations, a leading tech PR agency based in Toronto. With decades of experience in strategic communications, she’s built a career helping innovative companies tell their stories.

In her 50s, Jodi transformed her own story—losing 55 pounds, reclaiming her health, and embracing strength training as a non-negotiable part of life. Now a passionate advocate for women’s health in midlife, she leads with the mindset of an athlete and proves that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

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Full Michelle Bio:
Michelle MacDonald is the creator of the FITNESS MODEL BLUEPRINT™ and host of the Stronger By Design™ podcast. Known globally for her transformation programs, Michelle empowers women to redefine aging through evidence-based strength training, nutrition, and mindset practices. Since 2012, she has coached thousands of women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She co-founded Tulum Strength Club and established The Wonder Women (TWW), inspiring countless transformations including her moth

https://events.thewonderwomen.com/

Join The Wonder Women for a transformational week in Tulum, Mexico at the Amansala Resort & Spa. This retreat blends fitness, mindset, and community to help you reset your body, restore your energy, and reignite your confidence. Learn, move, and connect in paradise, with the women who understand your journey.

What if your brain is the reason your goals aren’t sticking and there’s a science-backed way to fix it?

Michelle MacDonald welcomes back neuroscience-based practitioner and communication expert Michelle Baty for a powerful conversation on the Neurology of Goal Setting. As the creator of the Neuroscience of Coaching, Baty breaks down why most goals fail, not due to laziness, but due to overlooked neurological barriers. Together, they explore the 3 critical brain-based elements of effective goal pursuit, the What, Why, and How, and the 4 nervous system triggers that sabotage follow-through. This episode blends personal growth, a fitness mindset, and practical neuroscience into a conversation that’s as inspiring as it is actionable. Whether you're a coach or someone chasing change, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and a roadmap that actually works.

Favorite Moments

• 1:34 The Brain Needs Specific Targets: Why Vagueness Destroys Progress
• 14:28 Everyone’s in Survival Mode—Start Coaching Like It
• 27:13 The Push-Pull Neurology Behind Motivation and Meaning
• 53:19 The Quick Goal-Setting Audit Every Woman Needs

“The best coaches out there have suffered. They’ve wrestled with things. They have deep, personal insight on top of professional skills. That’s when we win.” – Michelle Baty

GUEST: MICHELLE BATY, NEUROPSYCH PRAC (IFS, PVT, SE)

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Full Guest Bio:
Michelle Baty is a neuroscience-based practitioner, communication expert, and founder of The Neuroscience of Coaching. With nearly two decades of experience, she helps high-performing coaches, athletes, and leaders break through mental barriers using brain-based strategies and precision communication. Michelle is known for translating complex neuroscience into practical tools that drive sustainable transformation, personal growth, and a powerful coaching mindset.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

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Full Michelle Bio:
Michelle MacDonald is the creator of the FITNESS MODEL BLUEPRINT™ and host of the Stronger By Design™ podcast. Known globally for her transformation programs, Michelle empowers women to redefine aging through evidence-based strength training, nutrition, and mindset practices. Since 2012, she has coached thousands of women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She co-founded Tulum Strength Club and e

https://events.thewonderwomen.com/

Join The Wonder Women for a transformational week in Tulum, Mexico at the Amansala Resort & Spa. This retreat blends fitness, mindset, and community to help you reset your body, restore your energy, and reignite your confidence. Learn, move, and connect in paradise, with the women who understand your journey.

What if your strength training routine is doing more harm than good—without you even realizing it?

Michelle MacDonald welcomes Dr. Tony Boutagy, one of Australia's most respected strength and conditioning educators. With decades of experience and over 50,000 programs written, Dr. Boutagy dives deep into how women can train smarter, not harder, through movement literacy, mobility assessments, and intelligent programming. From debunking trendy fitness myths to explaining why personalized training should trump gender-based advice, this conversation is packed with gold for any woman looking to build strength, maintain joint health, and cultivate a healthy, empowered mindset in midlife and beyond.

Favorite Moments

• 1:52 Mastering Movement: The Real Reason to Assess Your Body
• 10:41 Why Women Aren’t Inflexible—They’re Just Weak in the End Ranges
• 19:01 How to Know When to Progress Your Training
• 36:13 The Hidden Signs You're Out-Training Your Recovery

"Your program should be symptom-based, not gender-based—because good training principles work for everyone." - Dr. Tony Boutagy

GUEST: TONY BOUTAGY

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Full Guest Bio:
Dr. Tony Boutagy is a PhD-qualified Exercise Physiologist and one of Australia’s most respected strength and conditioning experts. With over 25 years of experience and more than 50,000 sessions delivered, Tony has written programs for elite athletes across 24 sports and is renowned for his science-based, practical approach to training. He’s a longtime educator, having lectured at multiple universities and at Australia’s largest fitness conference, FILEX, for 17 consecutive years. Tony also runs one of the country’s longest-standing internship programs and continues to lead in coaching, education, and industry development.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | X

Full Michelle Bio:
Michelle MacDonald is the creator of the FITNESS MODEL BLUEPRINT™ and host of the Stronger By Design™ podcast. Known globally for her transformation programs, Michelle empowers women to redefine aging through evidence-based strength training, nutrition, and mindset practices. Since 2012, she has coached thousands of women online, leveraging her expertise as a Physique Champion and ISSA Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She co-founded Tulum Strength Club and established The Wonder Women (TWW), inspiring countless transformations including her mother, Joan MacDonald (Train With Joan™). Michelle continues to lead the charge in women's fitness, launching the Stronger by Design™ fitness app in fall 2024.

Where to Watch/Listen:

https://events.thewonderwomen.com/

Join The Wonder Women for a transformational week in Tulum, Mexico at the Amansala Resort & Spa. This retreat blends fitness, mindset, and community to help you reset your body, restore your energy, and reignite your confidence. Learn, move, and connect in paradise, with the women who understand your journey.