On this episode UpLift Women’s Wellness Podcast, Auria and I tackled the beast that eats most of us alive: the grind. Western culture tells us we’re only valid if we’re hustling, producing, and monetizing every second of our lives. But what if we’re here just to be alive — beautiful, strange, and unapologetically human?
🌿 What We Dug Into
Purpose vs. Grind: We love our work — coaching, therapy, science — but the grind steals time from our actual purpose. Auria would do therapy for free. I’d coach strength until my last breath. But bills don’t pay themselves.
Balance Looks Different:
My version is “work‑hobby balance” — bikes, video games, beach walks with science podcasts. My brain never shuts off, and I believe success requires Simone Biles‑level intensity.
Auria’s version is “work‑rest balance” — coffee in silence, staring at trees, intentional stillness. She protects her mental health first, always.
American Work Culture: We called out the absurdity of needing five side hustles just to survive, the myth that remote workers are lazy, and the chronic stress that’s literally killing people.
Health + Nature: We wrapped with science: sunlight resets circadian rhythm, outdoor sounds ease Seasonal Affective Disorder, and even squatting (yes, squatting) is better for digestion than modern sitting.
💪 Why This Conversation Matters
This episode isn’t just about balance. It’s about reclaiming humanity from a system that tells us we’re only worth our output. That’s the same philosophy behind:
Strength Coaching — training without toxic culture.
Therapy with Auria — care that prioritizes mental health.
Soft Start Series™ — easing back into strength without pressure.
Rooted in Strength™ — programming that blends science and lived experience.
🛒 Support the Movement
Every podcast episode is part of our rebellion against grind culture. Keep us loud and visible by checking out the Head 2 Toe Strength Shop. Every tote, tee, and sticker fuels the fight for inclusive wellness.
📞 Ready to Connect?
If you’re tired of being defined by the grind, book your Alignment Call. It’s free, it’s 15 minutes, and it’s the easiest way to see if our model fits your life.
🌿 Bottom line: Balance isn’t one‑size‑fits‑all. Whether it’s hobbies, rest, or rebellion against toxic work culture, the point is to reclaim your humanity.
🎧 Episode 10 Show Notes
In this episode, Bethany Busch and Auria Zahed dive into a profound discussion about the meaning of work, the elusive concept of "balance," and the systemic pressures of the American work culture. They compare philosophies of purpose, contrast their personal self-care strategies, and challenge the notion that success must come at the expense of mental health.
Key Discussion Points & Timestamps:
01:07 | Purpose Beyond the Grind: Discussing a quote that contrasts the Western belief in working for a purpose (and money) with the indigenous idea of simply existing, "to be here, to be beautiful and strange," much like nature.
03:46 | Passion vs. Profit: The hosts explore the conflict between a passion for their work (fitness and therapy) and the financial necessity that pushes them to work longer hours—the "grind."
04:51 | The Education Investment: Bethany and Auria discuss the value of their master's degrees, with Auria noting she needed hers for her career, while Bethany shares she pursued her master's in Exercise Physiology more for passion and to "get a leg up," not for a required job credential.
09:32 | Defining Work-Life Balance: Auria shares her philosophy of prioritizing time and rest, ensuring she is fully present for every client—a "work and rest" balance.
11:34 | Work-Hobby Balance: Bethany admits she has no true "work-life balance" due to the demands of a small business but finds her self-care in high-energy activities like biking, gaming, and working out—a "work and hobby" balance.
19:26 | The Brain That Won't Stop: Bethany reflects on her chronic need to be busy, a trait she links to past trauma, and the inability to "piddle paddle" even if she were to become a millionaire.
23:18 | The Necessity of Hustle: Bethany recounts the years she worked 5-6 side hustles just to pay bills, highlighting the financial pressures that force many Americans into constant overwork.
29:22 | The Cost of Living Fallacy: A discussion on why moving away from an expensive state doesn't solve financial problems, as the cost of necessities and relative wages often remain similar across the country.
40:49 | The Reality of Remote Work: Challenging the belief that working from home is less productive, arguing that in-office work is often hindered by constant interruptions and that commuting time is essentially unpaid work.
50:30 | Chronic Stress and Health: They connect the non-stop, high-stress American work culture to high rates of chronic health issues, especially heart disease, describing it as "running from the tiger 100% of the time."
52:30 | Nature as Self-Care: Bethany shares the scientific and biological benefits of being outside, even for just a few minutes, on the circadian rhythm, emotional health, and digestive system.
