December doesn’t look the same for everyone. Here’s what it means to choose rest, rebuild your strength, and find support when the holidays feel heavy.

Bethany Busch and Auria Zahed tackle societal pressures on women to have children, the childless-by-choice stigma, and how opting out can be an empowered, thoughtful decision for mental, emotional, and professional well-being.

Self-love isn’t indulgence or aesthetics—it’s self-respect. In this episode of UpLift Women’s Wellness Podcast, licensed therapist Ilona Varo, LMFT joins Bethany and Auria to explore why self-love feels elusive, how identity and labels keep women stuck, and practical ways to rebuild trust with your body and mind. From chronic pain to burnout, this conversation reframes self-care as daily rituals that actually support women’s strength, boundaries, and emotional safety.

Employees want more than a paycheck — they want to feel supported, heard, and valued. In this article, we look at simple, meaningful strategies inspired by top health keynote speakers to help workplaces become healthier, happier, and more inclusive for everyone.

Modern dating is messy. Between ghosting, endless swiping, and the pressure to perform vulnerability on command, it’s easy to feel disconnected—even when you’re constantly “connected.” In this episode of the UpLift Women’s Wellness Podcast, hosts Bethany Busch and Auria Zahed sit down with licensed therapist Emily Kirkbride, LMFT, to unpack the emotional toll of dating apps, the four levels of intimacy, and how to find—or become—the secure “Anchor” in your relationships.

We didn’t plan to start Head 2 Toe Strength. We built it because nothing else felt like enough—and now we’re featured in VoyageLA.

In Episode 26 of UpLift Women’s Wellness, Bethany Busch and Auria Zahed, LMFT, take on the myths that keep women stuck—from bloating and metabolism to hormonal chaos and diet culture. This episode isn’t about fixing your body—it’s about finally listening to it.

They unpack the science behind digestion, movement, and hormones, and reframe wellness as something you feel—not something you perform.

🔍 Highlights include:

•  Why bloating isn’t just about food—it’s about how you eat

•  What metabolism actually does as you age (hint: it’s not your birthday—it’s your muscle)

•  Why intermittent fasting may backfire for women

•  How diet culture gaslights your symptoms

•  What your hormones are trying to tell you—and how to listen

You don’t need to earn your health.

You just need to come home to it.

Motherhood isn’t just a milestone—it’s a mental health reckoning. From preconception therapy to birth trauma and postpartum depression, LMFT Alexa Levine exposes the emotional cost of pregnancy and the pressure to perform wellness while unraveling. With 1 in 5 mothers facing perinatal mental health challenges and 1 in 4 experiencing miscarriage, this episode affirms the need for advocacy, self-compassion, and support systems that actually support.

Bethany and Auria expose the systemic abuse female athletes face—from coaches to peers—and discuss the mental, physical, and cultural consequences. Learn how to support athletes, advocate for safety, and promote positive coaching practices.

Holli Howard joins Bethany and Auria for a transformative conversation about healing the inner critic, overcoming trauma, and rebuilding self-worth. Discover the AIBL Method, layered healing, and practical tools for trusting yourself and embracing your authentic identity.

Representation isn’t just visibility—it’s identity. In this episode, Auria and Bethany break down how media images shape self-worth, career dreams, and the possibilities we believe are available to us. The “Scully Effect,” mirror neurons, body image, and personal stories bring this conversation to life.

Millennials aren’t lazy—they’re financially trapped by systemic inequality. Explore wage stagnation, unaffordable housing, student debt, and wealth concentration, plus actionable strategies to build financial and personal resilience.

Discover the rare kind of coaching that blends emotional intelligence with physical strength. A space where women feel safe, seen, and supported—without scripts or gimmicks.

Go behind the scenes of veterinary nutrition with Kim, VTS (Nutrition), one of only 36 specialists in North America. Learn about dog nutrition myths, the emotional toll on vet staff, and practical tips for supporting your pet’s health.

The gym has held every version of me—powerful, ashamed, exhausted, hopeful. It’s my longest relationship, and still the hardest one to love. This isn’t a transformation story. It’s a confession.

The “perfect woman” checklist is crushing us—and it’s not real. In this episode, Auria Zahed and Bethany Busch explore how to reclaim your confidence, set boundaries, and break free from societal pressure. For every woman who’s ever felt othered, unseen, or “not enough.”

Progress isn’t a straight line. At Head 2 Toe Strength, we coach consistency that adapts to your real life—not rigid rules. Learn how non-linear progress builds strength that actually holds.

Burnout isn’t just exhaustion—it’s your body finally demanding to be heard. Most women don’t burn out because they’re “bad at stress,” but because they’ve been carrying invisible loads, managing symptoms no one took seriously, and pushing past what their bodies could sustain. Real restoration requires strength training that supports your biology, fueling that isn’t restrictive, and coaching that considers your whole life. At Head to Toe Strength, this is the foundation of everything we do. If you’re ready to rebuild instead of push through, this is where real restoration begins.

Autoimmune disease affects over 24 million Americans—80% of them women. In this raw behind-the-episode reflection, Bethany shares her decade-long journey through misdiagnosis, medical gaslighting, and chronic illness. This post expands on the podcast’s emotional core, offering validation, advocacy, and a call for trauma-informed, scope-aligned care.

Working motherhood isn’t just a balancing act—it’s a survival feat wrapped in invisible labor, mental load, and a whole lot of love. In this episode, Kathia Aviles, LMFT, names the quiet truths behind burnout, bias, and the radical strength it takes to keep showing up.