The Powerhouse Mentality

Kaitlyn Kenna Smith
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement

We all have a story. My mission in life and with this podcast is to help you stop tolerating your own b******t to finally win in life. This podcast will teach you how to become the best version of yourself; mind, body and soul. When you never stop learning, keep the commitments you make to yourself and intentionally seek discomfort; you are truly limitless. I'm here to show you through my story and the story of others that anything is possible when you are willing to suffer a little bit more. 

  1. Oct 19

    From Rock Bottom to Building a Brand | NYO Founders Rick Lastner & Brandyn Alejos

    Send us Fan Mail What does it REALLY take to stop building someone else's dream and start building your own? I'm joined by Brandyn Alejos and Rick Lastner, co-founders of NYO (Not Your Ordinary Foods), a new functional food brand looking to shake up an increasingly crowded industry. With decades of combined experience in sports nutrition, Brandyn and Rick have seen the good, the bad, and the downright questionable sides of the supplement business. Now, they're taking everything they've learned and putting it into a company of their own. We dive into the explosion of protein-packed foods, the challenges of product development, the realities of launching a brand without massive financial backing, and why great marketing means absolutely nothing if the product doesn't deliver. But this episode goes WAY beyond functional foods. Rick opens up about his battle with alcoholism, the devastating personal setbacks that led him to rock bottom, and the recovery journey that helped him rediscover his purpose. Brandyn shares his own experiences with sobriety, getting laid off, and finally finding the courage to pursue something he'd spent years dreaming about. We also get into the power of relationships, the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, and why failure is an essential part of building something extraordinary. Because the biggest opportunities in life rarely come without risk. And sometimes the thing you're most afraid to do is exactly what you need to do next. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a sports nutrition enthusiast, or someone trying to find the courage to make a change, this conversation is for you. Support the show

  2. Oct 12

    The Work Behind the Win: Building Fit Butters & Breaking Limits | Danielle Bucki

    Send us Fan Mail Everybody wants the results. Not everybody is willing to do what it takes to earn them. This week I'm joined by Danielle Bucki; runner, mother, and co-owner of Fit Butters, for a conversation about what it REALLY takes to build something you're proud of. Danielle recently demolished her half-marathon PR, running faster than she ever has, even before having kids. But the breakthrough wasn't an accident. It came from changing her approach, embracing intentional training, prioritizing recovery, and putting in the work long before race day. And that same mentality carries directly into entrepreneurship. What started as an experiment in the kitchen has grown into Fit Butters, a nationally distributed brand competing for shelf space against some of the biggest names in the food industry. But getting onto retail shelves is one thing. STAYING there? That's an entirely different battle. We get into the realities most people never see: rising ingredient costs, manufacturing challenges, major licensing partnerships, the pressure to scale, and the difficult decisions that come with refusing to sacrifice quality for profitability. We also talk about taking risks before you have all the answers, learning to pivot when things don't go according to plan, and why confidence isn't something you can manufacture with a motivational quote. Confidence is earned through execution. You build it by keeping the promises you make to yourself. By doing the work when nobody's watching. By showing up prepared enough that when opportunity comes knocking, you're ready to deliver. Whether you're building a business, chasing a PR, or trying to take your life to the next level, this conversation is about something bigger than peanut butter or running. You don't get to skip the work and expect to earn the win. Follow Danielle on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/queenbucki/ Follow Fit Butters on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fitbutters/ Shop Fit Butters (code: kaitlynkennafitness saves you dollars) - https://fitbutters.com/ ----------------- Thank you to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to listen to this podcast. It means more to me than you will ever know.  Any questions or recommendations on who I should have on next? Email them to: thepowerhousementality@gmail.com Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynkennafitness/ Follow the Powerhouse Journal - https://www.instagram.com/thepowerhousejournal/ Shop Natural Body Inc: https://naturalbodyinc.com/?aff=kaitlyn Save 10% on all of your energy drink needs using code: kaitlynkennafitenss at energydrinkcity.com Read The Powerhouse Journal - https://www.powerhousejournal.com/ Support the show Support the show

  3. Oct 3

    How MuscleSport Became the King of Protein | Jason Mancuso & Rob "Franky" Oberholzer

    Send us Fan Mail You probably know MuscleSport for Lean Whey, wild limited-edition flavors and some of the most creative products in sports nutrition. But the story behind the brand is a hell of a lot bigger than protein. In this episode of The Powerhouse Journal, Kaitlyn sits down with MuscleSport founder Jason Mancuso and Rob “Franky” Oberholzer to unpack nearly three decades of experience in the supplement industry; from retail, distribution and manufacturing to formulation, brand building and the modern MuscleSport comeback. Jason shares how MuscleSport was built, the moments that nearly ended it, losing roughly $100,000 in inventory after Hurricane Sandy, and why he refused to sacrifice product quality just to hit a cheaper price point. They also get into the “sorcery” behind MuscleSport’s flavor development, how inclusions helped change the protein experience, the story behind the Vault, the rise of Cream of Rice, Rob’s role in the brand’s resurgence, and why storytelling matters just as much as KPIs when you're trying to build something people actually care about. Plus: what’s next for MuscleSport, the expansion of Lifted into the energy category, upcoming products, Black Friday insanity — and a few things Jason and Rob probably weren’t planning to reveal. But this episode is about more than supplements. It’s about taking risks, surviving failure, finding the right people, constantly evolving and refusing to let fear make your decisions for you. Or, in Jason’s words: F**k fear. Follow MuscleSport on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/musclesportusa/ Follow Jason on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/suppchefofficial_/ Follow Rob "Franky" on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/franky_musclesport/ Follow Lifted on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/liftednutra/ Check out Musclesport (code: KAITLYN saves dollars) - https://musclesport.com/ Check out Lifted - https://www.liftedsupps.com/ --------------- Thank you to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to listen to this podcast. It means more to me than you will ever know.  Any questions or recommendations on who I should have on next? Email them to: thepowerhousementality@gmail.com Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynkennafitness/ Follow the Powerhouse Journal - https://www.instagram.com/thepowerhousejournal/ Shop Natural Body Inc: https://naturalbodyinc.com/?aff=kaitlyn Save 10% on all of your energy drink needs using code: kaitlynkennafitenss at energydrinkcity.com Read The Powerhouse Journal - https://www.powerhousejournal.com/ Support the show

  4. Sep 17

    They’ll Call You Obsessed Until It Works

    Send us Fan Mail What if you’re not doing too much? What if you just want more? In this episode, I'm talking about what happens when your ambition, discipline, standards, and intensity start making other people uncomfortable - and why that doesn’t automatically mean you need to tone yourself down. We get into the difference between obsession and self-destruction, why uncommon goals require uncommon inputs, being careful whose advice you allow to shape your life, and learning to stop needing everyone around you to understand what you’re building. You don’t need to prove you’re normal. You need to find out what you’re capable of. Let them think you’re crazy. Let them call you obsessed. Keep building. ------------ Thank you to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to listen to this podcast. It means more to me than you will ever know.  Any questions or recommendations on who I should have on next? Email them to: thepowerhousementality@gmail.com Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynkennafitness/ Follow the Powerhouse Journal - https://www.instagram.com/thepowerhousejournal/ Shop Natural Body Inc: https://naturalbodyinc.com/?aff=kaitlyn Save 10% on all of your energy drink needs using code: kaitlynkennafitenss at energydrinkcity.com Read The Powerhouse Journal - https://www.powerhousejournal.com/ Support the show

  5. Sep 5

    Persistence Over Perfection: Building VMI Sports with Tom Reilly

    Send us Fan Mail What does it actually take to build something that lasts? I sat down with Tom Reilly, one of the founders of VMI Sports, for a conversation about supplements, entrepreneurship, and the one thing he believes matters more than getting everything right: persistence. We get into the story behind VMI, the intention behind their formulas, the explosion of creatine, and why Tom describes VMI as a “supplement company that markets, not a marketing company that supplements.” For him, innovation isn’t throwing something new on a label just to be different, it’s identifying a real problem and creating a product that actually solves it.  But we also talk about the part of entrepreneurship social media doesn’t make sexy: years of work with very little to show for it. Working two jobs. Making mistakes. Hearing no. Nearly two years without paying themselves. Continuing anyway.  Tom doesn’t call that discipline. He calls it persistence. Because you’re not going to execute perfectly. Your plan is going to change. You’re going to make mistakes.  The people who ultimately build something meaningful are the ones willing to learn, adjust, and keep going. This one goes way beyond supplements. Follow Tom on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tom_vmisports/ Follow VMI Sports on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmisports/ Shop VMI products (code: KAITLYN saves you dollars): https://www.vmisports.com/ -------------------------- Thank you to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to listen to this podcast. It means more to me than you will ever know.  Any questions or recommendations on who I should have on next? Email them to: thepowerhousementality@gmail.com Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynkennafitness/ Follow the Powerhouse Journal - https://www.instagram.com/thepowerhousejournal/ Shop Natural Body Inc: https://naturalbodyinc.com/?aff=kaitlyn Save 10% on all of your energy drink needs using code: kaitlynkennafitenss at energydrinkcity.com Read The Powerhouse Journal - https://www.powerhousejournal.com/ Support the show

  6. Aug 27

    5 Questions to Ask Before Buying Any Supplement

    Send us Fan Mail Before you spend money on another supplement, take a step back and evaluate what you’re actually buying. In this episode, I break down five essential questions that can help you look beyond bold claims, trendy ingredients, flashy packaging, and influencer marketing. You’ll learn how to evaluate a supplement based on its purpose, formula, ingredient doses, and overall value - not simply what appears on the front of the label. We cover: What is your goal? Why every supplement decision should begin with a clearly defined purpose—and why even a well-formulated product may be a poor choice if it doesn’t match what you’re trying to accomplish.Is every ingredient dosed to work? How to look beyond an ingredient’s name and consider whether the amount included is supported by relevant evidence for the product’s intended purpose.Does the formula match what it claims to do? How to determine whether the complete formula logically supports the benefits being advertised—or whether the marketing is making promises the formula can’t reasonably support.Does every ingredient have a job and purpose? Why longer ingredient lists aren’t automatically better, how unnecessary additions can make a formula look more impressive, and why every active ingredient should contribute to the product’s central goal.Are you paying for quality or marketing? The ultimate test: If the label were completely blank, would the formula, quality, serving size, and price still convince you to buy the product?By the end of the episode, you’ll have a practical five-question checklist you can use whenever you shop for supplements online or in-store. The goal isn’t to tell you which product to buy - it’s to help you slow down, examine the facts, and make a more informed decision about what deserves a place in your routine. **This episode is intended for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting a supplement, especially if you take medication, have a medical condition, are pregnant or nursing, or are preparing for surgery** ---------------- Thank you to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to listen to this podcast. It means more to me than you will ever know.  Any questions or recommendations on who I should have on next? Email them to: thepowerhousementality@gmail.com Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynkennafitness/ Follow the Powerhouse Journal - https://www.instagram.com/thepowerhousejournal/ Shop Natural Body Inc: https://naturalbodyinc.com/?aff=kaitlyn Save 10% on all of your energy drink needs using code: kaitlynkennafitenss at energydrinkcity.com Read The Powerhouse Journal - https://www.powerhousejournal.com/ Support the show

  7. Aug 20

    The State of the Supplement Industry: Transparency, Collabs & B******t With Shaun Hawley

    Send us Fan Mail The Bearded Gorilla is BACK. Shaun Hawley returns to the podcast for another completely unfiltered conversation about the supplement industry - where it’s been, where it’s going, and what’s actually winning right now. We get into the rise of transparency and why proprietary blends have become nearly impossible to defend, what separates a great product from a great BRAND, why flavor matters even though taste is completely subjective, and how collaborations and nostalgia have become some of the biggest forces shaping supplements and energy drinks. We also break down some of the brands we believe are doing things right, the problem with consumers reacting to headlines without doing the research, and why media has a responsibility to educate instead of simply chasing outrage. Plus, Shaun catches us up on his bodybuilding season, moving from Classic into Open, bringing his best package ever despite not winning the show, his upcoming growth phase, and what he’s learned from building his own platform and doing content his way. This is less of an interview and more of two supplement-industry nerds sitting down and talking shop - formulas, flavor, branding, collabs, social media, bodybuilding, b******t and everything in between. Because at the end of the day, there’s enough room for all of us to win. The goal is to make the industry better. Follow Shaun: https://www.instagram.com/thebeardedgorilla/ ---------------- Thank you to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to listen to this podcast. It means more to me than you will ever know.  Any questions or recommendations on who I should have on next? Email them to: thepowerhousementality@gmail.com Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynkennafitness/ Follow the Powerhouse Journal - https://www.instagram.com/thepowerhousejournal/ Save 10% on all of your energy drink needs using code: kaitlynkennafitenss at energydrinkcity.com Read The Powerhouse Journal - https://www.powerhousejournal.com/ Support the show

  8. Aug 13

    From Entry-Level to Executive: The Reality of Success with Aaron Summers

    Send us Fan Mail What does it actually take to build one of the most respected brands in sports nutrition? In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Summers, Executive at 1st Phorm, to talk about the 13-year journey of helping build the company from the ground up. We go far beyond supplements and into the principles that create lasting success—discipline, culture, leadership, delayed gratification, and holding yourself to a higher standard. We discuss why so many people chase titles instead of earning them, how 1st Phorm's Legionnaire program changed influencer marketing forever, the power of playing the long game, why consistency beats motivation, and how small daily actions compound into extraordinary results. Whether you're building a business, advancing your career, chasing athletic goals, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, this conversation is packed with practical lessons you can apply immediately. In this episode, we cover: Aaron's journey from a small-town kid to 1st Phorm executiveThe vision that built 1st PhormWhy culture is your greatest competitive advantageThe philosophy behind the Legionnaire programEntrepreneurship vs. building an incredible career inside a companyWhy most people quit before success has a chance to compoundThe Chinese bamboo tree lesson on patience and consistencyLeadership through accountabilityThe daily standards that create extraordinary resultsBalancing career, family, faith, and fitnessIf you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who's committed to becoming better every single day Follow Aaron on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aaronsummers/ ---------------------------------------- Thank you to everyone who has taken the time out of their day to listen to this podcast. It means more to me than you will ever know.  Any questions or recommendations on who I should have on next? Email them to: thepowerhousementality@gmail.com Follow Kaitlyn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynkennafitness/ Follow the Powerhouse Journal - https://www.instagram.com/thepowerhousejournal/ Save 10% on all of your energy drink needs using code: kaitlynkennafitenss at energydrinkcity.com Read The Powerhouse Journal - https://www.powerhousejournal.com/ Support the show

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About

We all have a story. My mission in life and with this podcast is to help you stop tolerating your own b******t to finally win in life. This podcast will teach you how to become the best version of yourself; mind, body and soul. When you never stop learning, keep the commitments you make to yourself and intentionally seek discomfort; you are truly limitless. I'm here to show you through my story and the story of others that anything is possible when you are willing to suffer a little bit more. 

Information

  • Creator
    Kaitlyn Kenna Smith
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    333
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Powerhouse Mentality
  • Show Website
    The Powerhouse Mentality

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