What if true progress means actively seeking failure?

Michelle MacDonald sits down with Courtney Ustrzycki—IFBB Pro athlete, posing coach, and former powerlifter—for a deep dive into the mental and physical evolution required for elite competition. Courtney shares her journey from resisting bodybuilding to becoming a professional, all while navigating mindset shifts, vulnerability, and the messy realities of growth. They explore how discipline trumps motivation, why balance isn’t always the answer, and what it means to push past self-imposed limits.

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

0:32 Redefining failure in the gym as a goal for growth

17:35 “Growth is messy—and the gym is the one place where failure should be your goal.”

32:27 Train to true failure to unlock real progress

41:08 Overcoming jealousy and self-doubt on the pro stage

"Growth is messy—and the gym is the one place where failure should be your goal."

GUEST: COURTNEY USTRZYCKI

Website | Email | TikTok | Instagram | YouTube | Posing mobility program | NPC Bikini & Fit Model posing manual

I’m a passionate and dynamic leader in the bodybuilding world, specializing in posing and competition prep within the NPC Federation. My journey started in the world of powerlifting, where I first built my foundation as both an athlete and a coach for lifestyle clients. In 2019, I made the leap into bodybuilding—a transformation that reshaped not only my physique but also my mindset and approach to life. This evolution drove me to become the coach I am today, bringing a blend of real-world experience, research-backed strategies, and genuine, relatable insights to every athlete I work with.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

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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.

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Where to Watch/Listen:

• Website
• Apple Podcasts
• Spotify
• YouTube

Are women being sold a myth about fitness during menopause?

Michelle MacDonald sits down with Dr. Allan Bacon—a former surgeon turned physique coach—for a frank, science-backed conversation on women’s health and fitness, the damaging fads targeting midlife women, and the importance of cultivating a healthy mindset over quick fixes.

They explore the psychological traps of crash diets, the false promises of hormone-focused programs, and the influence of social media pseudoscience.

Dr. Bacon breaks down how personal growth comes from evidence-based training, not magical shortcuts, and offers empowering truths about body composition, strength training, and navigating menopause with resilience and logic.

Leave a rating for this podcast with one click https://ratethispodcast.com/michellemacdonald

WHAT TO LISTEN FOR

0:38 Why Smart Women Fall for Fitness Fads

3:14 Menopause Marketing A Feeding Frenzy

11:44 Just Lift Heavy The Most Misleading Advice

13:29 Do Men and Women Build Muscle the Same

20:32 Age-Related Muscle Loss What's Really Happening

28:22 Women Are Not Large Mice

32:39 The SWAN Study Hope for Midlife Women

GUEST: DR. ALLAN BACON, DDS, CPT, PBC, USAPL-CC, CNC, PN1

Website | Instagram | YouTube | Facebook Group

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

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What does it take to rebuild your life from the inside out?

With host Michelle MacDonald, Tiffany reveals the turning point that forced her to choose between continuing a destructive path or finally taking full ownership of her healing.

Tiffany Owen opens up about the series of traumas that once defined her — from discovering at 29 that her father wasn’t her biological dad, to surviving sexual abuse, multiple toxic marriages, addiction, and suicide attempts.

But this isn’t just a story of suffering. It’s one of courageous transformation.

Through personal responsibility, radical honesty, and daily mindset work, she emerged not just sober, but spiritually and emotionally empowered.

Leave a rating for this podcast with one click https://ratethispodcast.com/michellemacdonald

KEY MOMENTS

2:49 “Congratulations, you’re at rock bottom—transformation starts here.”

3:55 Inside the victim mindset and functional chaos

6:45 “Extreme giving” as a masked cry for self-worth

11:01 The moment her husband said, “You can’t come home.”

16:45 How self-help podcasts and books saved her life

21:11 Dismantling perfectionism and building authenticity

24:00 The non-negotiables that rewired her mindset

30:11 Meditation, Joe Dispenza, and the power of daily practice

GUEST: TIFFANY OWEN

Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | TikTok

Wounded To Warrior: How to Participate in Your Own Rescue Book

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE

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