Behind the Bluff

Jeff Ford
  • 4.8 (33)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Behind the Bluff is where wellness meets community. Through conversations with experts, leaders, and members, we explore health, longevity, leadership, and the intentional choices that help us live with purpose. Every episode closes with Healthy Momentum—practical inspiration to help you live with greater intention.   

  1. 1d ago

    What's Your Eating Personality? | Lindsay Ford

    Food can turn into a test you either “pass” or “fail” and that pressure shows up in ways most of us don’t notice until we’re exhausted by it. Jeffrey Ford is joined by registered dietitian Lindsay Ford to talk about the part of nutrition that gets overlooked: not just what we eat, but how we eat, what we believe about food, and the emotions we bring to the table. We break down four eating personalities Lindsay sees again and again in her work with individuals and families: the Compensator (the “I’ll make up for it Monday” cycle), the Perfectionist (rigid rules that look like discipline but can quietly steal your energy and joy), the Floater (inconsistent, fad-driven, nutrition as an afterthought), and the Intuitive eater (attuned, content, able to enjoy food without spiraling). You’ll hear how these patterns can overlap, how they shift across seasons of life, and why body image and self-talk often sit at the root. We also get practical about mindful eating without making it overly “touchy-feely”: reduce distractions, slow down, check in before you eat and halfway through, and notice what stress is doing to your appetite and choices. Jeffrey closes with a simple challenge for the week: spot where food creates pressure, then replace judgment with curiosity. If this helped you name your pattern, share it with a friend, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

    What's Your Eating Personality? | Lindsay Ford

  2. Aug 12

    Making Big Events Feel Small | Stephanie Sekula

    A 2,000-person Fourth of July party with limited power and no kitchen sounds like a nightmare on paper, yet at Palmetto Bluff it can still feel strangely personal. I’m joined by Stephanie Sekula, our Director of Special Events, to talk about what it really takes to build experiences that members remember years later, from the first planning meeting to the last shuttle ride back to the car. We dig into the philosophy behind “member experience first” and why familiar faces matter so much in hospitality. Stephanie shares how our teams bring a small, cared-for feeling into huge outdoor events, how themes like Bluffstock come to life, and what she listens for when defining whether an event was actually successful. Then we flip the script to something wildly intimate: the Off-Course dinner series, where 12 guests win a lottery, receive a hand-delivered invitation, and get transported to a secret location for a fully curated five-course dinner complete with clues, storytelling, and immersive design. After our main conversation, I leave you with a mindset tool I keep coming back to: asking “Is this a fact or a belief?” when imposter syndrome and limiting stories creep in. If you care about event planning, community building, leadership, wellness, and human connection, this one is packed with practical insight and perspective. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

    Making Big Events Feel Small | Stephanie Sekula

  3. Aug 5

    Why Leg Strength Matters More Than You Think

    One fall can change everything, and that’s why we’re putting the spotlight where it belongs: your legs. After months away from recording together, we’re back in a new space and diving into a topic that hits home for anyone who wants to stay active, mobile, and independent for decades. We share a personal story about a hip fracture and the quiet slide into inactivity that can follow, then zoom out to what you can do now to protect your future. We unpack the difference between muscle strength and muscle power. Strength is force. Power is producing that force fast, and that “fast” is often what saves you when you trip, miss a step, or need to stand up quickly. We talk through research and real world examples, plus how power training shows up in practical movements like swings, step ups, and agility work that challenges coordination and your nervous system, not just your muscles. You’ll also get simple, no-frills ways to measure progress, including the 30-second sit-to-stand test you can do at home, and how to think about benchmarks without getting trapped in comparison. Then we give you our most actionable starting point: split squats, a unilateral lower body exercise that builds strength, balance, and control that carries into daily life. We wrap with a 15-minute lower body plan, twice a week, and a Healthy Momentum reminder that results come from accumulation, not one perfect workout. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s one leg strength habit you’re starting this week?

  4. Jul 29

    Great Experiences Don't Happen By Accident | Ashley Turner

    Something always goes sideways when you’re running an outdoor event, and that’s exactly why this conversation matters. I’m joined by Ashley Turner, golf tournament and events director at Palmetto Bluff, to unpack the behind the scenes reality of building golf tournaments that feel seamless for members while juggling three courses, packed tee sheets, food and beverage coordination, gifting, themes, and the constant wildcard of Lowcountry weather. Ashley shares how a tournament goes from a wild idea to a real schedule, why Cane Break planning starts the moment the prior year ends, and how her team uses feedback and a SWOT style debrief to keep improving without losing the heart of the club. We also talk about what members may not realize: Ashley manages access and planning for dozens of corporate and resort golf groups through the Montage partnership, which adds another layer to the event planning and hospitality puzzle. The most powerful moments, though, aren’t about scorecards. We get into how pairings can create real friendships, including a father son pairing that turned into something bigger than a round of golf. Ashley explains her definition of hospitality as a servant’s heart, the small details that make people feel seen, and what it takes to make gut wrenching calls like canceling a major tournament for safety during hurricane conditions. We even have some fun with a rapid fire round, including the story behind the Peacemaker signature drink. If you care about event management, hospitality, private club culture, golf community, or simply getting better at pivoting when plans change, you’ll take something useful from this. Subscribe to Behind the Bluff, share this with a friend who leads events or teams, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

    Great Experiences Don't Happen By Accident | Ashley Turner

  5. Jul 22

    Constant Corrections | Pete Cawley

    Flying a plane is not about locking the controls and hoping for the best. It’s about noticing drift and making constant, small corrections, and that single idea turned into one of my favorite metaphors for wellness, discipline, and living with purpose. I’m joined by Pete Cawley, a third-generation Navy man, former fighter pilot, entrepreneur, investor, and longtime CrossFit athlete, for a conversation that goes way deeper than credentials.  We talk about how discipline actually works in real life: it shows up when you have an objective worth chasing. Pete shares why freedom matters so much to him, how family shaped his standards, and what it looks like to be “a rock” for other people while still having the humility to ask for help. We also dig into the practice of staying humble through coaching and curiosity, including the question that can change your relationships fast: “Was it me?”  From there, we zoom out to decision-making under uncertainty, including lessons from real estate cycles and a meaningful pivot into assisted living with a simple mission: taking care of the people who used to take care of us. We finish with tactical mindset tools for staying calm under pressure, plus Pete’s definition of wellness through longevity and the environment you build around you. If you got value here, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

    Constant Corrections | Pete Cawley

  6. Jul 15

    Happy, Never Satisfied | Michael Gardner

    Retirement is supposed to be the finish line, but what happens when the freedom starts to feel like you’re drifting? We’re joined by Michael Gardner, Director of Retail Operations at Palmetto Bluff, to talk about purpose, progress, and the real work of building experiences that keep people connected to a place and to each other. Michael shares how retiring at 49 taught him that wellness isn’t only about what you eat or how you move, it’s also about having a reason to get up and show up. We dig into the transformation of RT’s Market from a neighborhood stop into a destination for gathering, seasonal traditions, and memorable moments. Michael breaks down his north star for the member experience: quality product plus signature service, delivered in a way that still feels fresh for residents who walk in every day and impressive for guests who might visit once. You’ll hear the practical realities of retail operations in a 1,400 square foot footprint, why behind-the-scenes upgrades like walk-in coolers, freezers, and a second point of sale matter, and how the team thinks about sales, profitability, and staffing without losing the heart of hospitality. We also get specific about what’s working right now: local sourcing, wellness-forward options like microgreens, partnerships with the Palmetto Bluff Farm to reduce waste, and giving back through Bluffton Self-Help. From holiday turkey pickups to a Christmas tree “farm” at RT’s and even dog-treat gumball machines, the big takeaway is simple: be happy with progress, but never satisfied with staying the same. If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. What’s one small change you’ll make with your next 86,400 seconds?

    Happy, Never Satisfied | Michael Gardner

  7. Jul 8

    A Sound Bath Can Teach You To Slow Down | Sydney Donaldson

    Your body might be tired, but your brain is still sprinting and that’s the problem. We sit down with Palmetto Bluff yoga teacher Sydney Donaldson to talk about why sound baths have become a surprisingly powerful doorway into real rest, especially for people who struggle with traditional meditation. She explains what actually happens in a sound bath, from getting comfortable on a mat to experiencing crystal singing bowls, gongs, chimes, and vibration that can quiet the “monkey mind” and invite a deep exhale. We also get specific about sound healing and the nervous system. Sydney breaks down the idea of shifting brainwaves from busy beta into calmer alpha, theta, and delta states and why that matters for sleep, recovery, stress relief, and anxiety reduction. Along the way, she shares how certain sounds can “shake things loose,” sometimes leading to emotional release that catches people off guard in the best possible way. Underneath it all is a theme we keep coming back to: meeting yourself where you are. We talk about the masks we wear in daily roles, the pressure to show up the same way every day, and how mindfulness can feel uncomfortable at first but becomes freeing when you bring curiosity and a little “divine play” to your wellness routine. If you know you need to slow down, Sydney offers a starting point you can try today: take off the watch, put away the phone, and notice your breath with real attention. If this conversation helps you, subscribe for more, share it with a friend who needs rest, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What’s one small way you can choose yourself today?

    A Sound Bath Can Teach You To Slow Down | Sydney Donaldson

  8. Jul 1

    Wellness Built Together | Jason Alexiou

    They moved 15 bikes into a chapel, opened the doors, taped out spacing, and kept a community training when the world shut down. That story is just the start of my conversation with Jason Alexio, a coach and leader who helped shape the wellness program at Palmetto Bluff and now serves as Director of Sports Management at Colleton River Club. We talk about what it really takes to build a modern private club wellness program: relationships that earn trust, programming that respects recovery, and a clear shift from “fitness classes” to a true wellness experience. Jason shares what he learned while juggling personal training, group cycling, and member needs during rapid change, plus why education matters as much as effort. If you care about sustainable health, you’ll hear practical ideas around sleep, nutrition, training structure, and why “one step at a time” beats going all-in for 30 days and burning out. We also zoom out on the industry trends we’re seeing right now: wellness usage rising alongside golf, recovery services like infrared and red light therapy becoming real infrastructure, and fitness directors evolving into multi-layered leaders who touch recreation and even food and beverage. We close with a definition of wellness that goes beyond the gym and a reminder to lead with “we,” not “me.” If you enjoy thoughtful conversations on active lifestyle, wellness coaching, and leadership, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a quick review so more people can find the show.

    Wellness Built Together | Jason Alexiou
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About

Behind the Bluff is where wellness meets community. Through conversations with experts, leaders, and members, we explore health, longevity, leadership, and the intentional choices that help us live with purpose. Every episode closes with Healthy Momentum—practical inspiration to help you live with greater intention.   

Information

  • Creator
    Jeff Ford
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    137
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Behind the Bluff
  • Show Website
    Behind the Bluff