🎙️ Behind the Episode: Belonging, Bias & Breaking Barriers: Race, Healthcare & Identity

Some conversations stay with you long after the recording stops. This episode of the Head 2 Toe Strength Podcast reflects the heart of what we believe at Head 2 Toe Strength — real connection, honest dialogue, and the courage to talk about the parts of life that shape who we are.

In this conversation, Bethany and Auria open up about belonging, identity, and what it means to grow up in spaces where you don’t fully fit the mold. It’s a conversation rooted in lived experience — not theory — and it shows why whole-body health is inseparable from the environments that shape us.

If you’re new to our mission, learn more here:
👉 https://www.head2toestrength.com

Growing Up Between Cultures: Auria’s Story

Auria shares what it was like growing up Persian and Indian in North Carolina and later Southern California — navigating cultures that were hers, yet rarely reflected around her. Her story mirrors what so many multiracial and first-generation women face: you belong everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

This conversation reinforces why our coaching isn’t one-size-fits-all. Women bring lived history, stress, expectations, and cultural layers into their wellness journey — and they deserve support that acknowledges that.

See how our coaching honors the whole person:
👉 https://www.head2toestrength.com/strength-coaching

Bethany’s Perspective: Growing Up Without a Place to Fit

Bethany speaks honestly about growing up in a community where differences weren’t welcomed — even among people who looked the same on the outside. That experience shaped her belief that belonging isn’t about matching the room; it’s about being seen for who you are.

That belief is built into every strength program we offer:
👉 Move to Mend Strength Coaching
https://www.head2toestrength.com/shop/move-to-mend-strength-coaching

👉 Strong From Within Guide
https://www.head2toestrength.com/shop/strong-from-within-strength-guide

Healthcare Inequity: The Reality We Need to Talk About

The episode moves into a direct, honest discussion about racial disparities in healthcare — a topic most women have experienced but rarely see addressed openly.

Some of the patterns discussed:

  • Preventative care is not equally accessible.

  • Insurance gaps impact long-term health.

  • Maternal health outcomes differ significantly across racial groups.

  • Representation in care directly affects safety and trust.

This isn’t political — it’s factual, and it affects real women every day.

This is why we built a wellness space that prioritizes individualized support and real-world context, not generic advice:
👉 https://www.head2toestrength.com

And if you’re ready for coaching that adapts to your life rather than asking you to shrink into a template:
👉 Book a session
https://head2toestrength.practicebetter.io/#/5f25b89f2a90290754277200/bookings

Representation Matters — In Fitness, Health, and Everyday Life

Auria highlights why culturally informed therapy and healthcare are essential. Pretending not to see differences doesn’t create fairness — it erases the experience of people who need to be seen the most.

Belonging isn’t optional in someone’s wellness journey. It shapes mental health, confidence, safety, and the willingness to seek support.

Our mission reflects that:
👉 About Us / Contact
https://www.head2toestrength.com/contact

Why This Episode Still Matters Today

Even though this is an older episode, the themes are foundational to who we are now. Belonging, identity, accessibility, fairness — they all directly affect a woman’s ability to build strength, move confidently, and trust her own voice.

At Head 2 Toe Strength:

  • We see the whole woman — not just the physical body.

  • We believe strength includes identity, environment, and lived experience.

  • We coach with intention, not assumptions.

  • We prioritize accessibility and equity in every service we offer.

Explore all programs and support options here:
👉 https://www.head2toestrength.com/shop

SHOW NOTES

Episode Title

Belonging, Bias & Breaking Barriers: Race, Healthcare & Identity

Hosts

Bethany & Auria

What We Discuss in This Episode

  • Navigating identity as a multiracial woman

  • Growing up unseen, misunderstood, or “othered”

  • What belonging actually means

  • Cultural expectations vs lived experience

  • Why representation changes outcomes

  • Racial disparities in U.S. healthcare

  • How identity affects wellness and confidence

  • How Head 2 Toe Strength creates a different kind of space

Links Mentioned