B. Real Podcast

Brittany Bijan

We live in a performative world where it's getting harder to tell who's real and who's just playing the part. We're making ourselves sick — literally — by not confronting the things that are slowly breaking us down. We hold so much in our bodies. Trauma, stress, grief, anger — things we don't even have names for yet. Things nobody ever taught us to deal with. It's hard to find the real ones these days. It's hard to trust what people say when their behavior tells a completely different story. And it's hard to take care of yourself in a world that profits from keeping you unhealthy, disconnected and running on empty. B Real — The Sh!t Nobody Told Me is for the woman who is trying to gain knowledge and strength, its for the Women who is trying to heal and grow. This is a podcast about authenticity and the search for it. It's about trauma — what it does to your body, your mind and your life — and how we actually heal from it. It's about finding ways to feel strong as hell from the inside out. And it's about fighting back against a world that is working overtime to keep us sick. Every episode is a real and raw conversation. The shit nobody told us. Because somewhere along the way nobody told us the truth about our bodies, our trauma, our strength or our potential to heal. We're telling you now and we’re gonna figure this shit out together.

Episodes

  1. 9. Why are we so disconnected from nature Part 2, with Dr. Lena Dicken

    3d ago

    9. Why are we so disconnected from nature Part 2, with Dr. Lena Dicken

    In this episode of the B.Real Podcast, host Brittany Bijan sits down with psychologist and self-described “outdoor mom” Dr. Lena Dicken to explore how therapy gave her the “language” of emotion, why honest conversations deepen relationships, and how simple nature-based rituals can calm our nervous systems. They talk about raising kids to love the outdoors, navigating friendships with real honesty instead of avoidance, and what it means to “do the work” emotionally as adults. 5 Key Takeaways • (0:00:00) - Emotional language is a learned skill, like a new language, and it deepens relationships when practiced regularly. • (0:01:29) - Simple practices like leaving your phone at home, eating outside, and opening windows can create daily moments of calm and connection. • (0:02:33) - Modeling an outdoor lifestyle—beach days, hikes, and star-watching—helps kids associate nature with feeling calm and connected. • (0:07:33) - The “OV method” centers on slowing down, being present, reaching for optimism, and having hard emotional conversations instead of avoiding them. • (0:09:47) - Many adults never learned healthy communication growing up, but we’re still responsible for doing the work and choosing honest conversations in our relationships. “You have to learn how to articulate your feelings, how to listen to somebody else's feelings, and it is a skill… it’s like a muscle. The more you do it, the stronger it gets, and the more you are open to having those conversations, the deeper your relationships.” – Dr. Lena Dicken  Guest & Resources Guest: Dr. Lena Dicken – Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Founder, The Outdoor PsychologistLearn more: outdoorpsychologist.com Connect with B: Instagram: @brittanybijan Join the B. Real Community : https://brittanybijan.myflodesk.com/brealcommunity Know more about 40Fit blueprint:  https://stan.store/BBijan?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio

    15 min
  2. 8. Why are we so disconnected from nature Part 1 with Dr. Lena Dicken

    Jun 3

    8. Why are we so disconnected from nature Part 1 with Dr. Lena Dicken

    In this episode of the B.Real Podcast, host Brittany Bijan sits down with Dr. Lena Dicken, a licensed clinical psychologist and creator of The Outdoor Psychologist, to explore how nature, awe, and intentional daily practices can transform mental health. Dr. Dicken shares her journey from surf therapy and addiction treatment work in Los Angeles to developing the OP Method, a nature-based framework rooted in mindfulness, awe, gratitude, and neuroplasticity. Together, they discuss why modern life disconnects us from the natural world, how simple sensory practices outdoors can regulate the nervous system, and why regularly “zooming out” into awe helps us remember we’re part of something much bigger than our everyday stress. 5 Key Takeaways • [0:00:00] – Modern life has layered over our innate connection to nature, leaving many people who feel disconnected more likely to harm the planet. • [0:01:50] – Dr. Lena’s path from clinical practice to The Outdoor Psychologist is rooted in research on nature’s benefits and years of surf therapy with people in recovery. • [0:04:37] – Surf therapy emerged organically when an addiction center asked Dr. Lena to build a program, leading to her manualized “Saltwater Sessions” focused on resilience and confidence. • [0:11:02] – The OP Method blends mindfulness, awe-based practices, gratitude, and neuroplasticity education to help people repeatedly choose habits that reshape their brains and lives. • [0:13:16] – Daily, distraction-free time outdoors—tuning into temperature, breeze, smells, and colors—can reduce anxiety and depression and support sleep, immunity, and brain function. “It’s like almost anything that ails you, being outside will help with it.” – Dr. Lena Dicken  Join the B. Real Community : https://brittanybijan.myflodesk.com/brealcommunity Guest & Resources Guest: Dr. Lena Dicken – Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Founder, The Outdoor PsychologistLearn more: outdoorpsychologist.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/theoutdoorpsychologist?utm_source=qrSubstack: https://substack.com/@theoutdoorpsychologist?r=5xcnw3&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=stories&shareImageVariant=blur Connect with B: Instagram: @brittanybijan

    17 min
  3. May 13

    5. The stories we tell ourselves

    In this episode, Brittany opens up about her own history with negative self-talk and how the “stories” we internalize in our hardest moments shape our identity, health, and daily choices. She breaks down the biology of chronic self-criticism, why so many women struggle with it, and offers simple, actionable steps to recognize, challenge, and rewrite these old narratives into ones rooted in truth, compassion, and self-worth. 5 Key Takeaways • (00:00) – The stories you tell yourself were often written in your hardest survival moments and are not the truth of who you are. • (02:30) – Negative self-talk, especially formed in childhood and trauma, becomes the lens through which you see your worth, relationships, and capabilities. • (06:45) – Your body responds to harsh self-talk like a real threat, keeping stress hormones high and impacting inflammation, weight, immunity, and aging. • (10:10) – You can interrupt negative narratives by naming them, questioning their truth, and finding concrete counter-evidence. • (12:40) – Writing a new story for yourself—and getting support from trusted friends or professionals—helps you show up as the version of you that you’d want your daughter to see. —---- “The story you’ve been telling yourself was most likely written during your hardest moments by the part of you that was just trying to survive… but you’re not in survival mode in that anymore, and that story, however long you’ve carried it, is not the truth about who you are.” – B Resource Links: Connect with B: Instagram: @brittanybijan

    15 min
  4. 4. Burnout, Boundaries and the power of the word NO

    May 6

    4. Burnout, Boundaries and the power of the word NO

    In this powerful episode of the B.Real Podcast, host Brittany Bijan unpacks the hidden cost of people-pleasing, burnout, and the cultural pressure on women to always say “yes.” She explores how chronic stress, suppressed emotions, and lack of boundaries can impact women’s physical and emotional health—especially mothers and caregivers—and offers practical, body-based tools to start honoring your limits, setting clear boundaries, and reclaiming your energy without guilt. Key Points (00:00) – Brittany introduces the episode’s core theme: why honoring your limits and saying “no” is essential for being fully present and genuinely available to others.(05:12) – She connects women’s higher rates of burnout and autoimmune issues to lifelong conditioning to be agreeable, selfless, and quiet about their own needs.(12:45) – Brittany shares personal stories of people-pleasing in her 20s, the toll it took on her body, and how motherhood amplifies the pressure to put everyone else first.(19:30) – She defines healthy boundaries with real-life examples—like taking 20 minutes alone, saying no to extra commitments, and not over-explaining when you decline.(27:05) – Brittany offers concrete action steps: doing a full-body check before saying yes, giving yourself 24–48 hours to decide, naming your non-negotiables, regulating your nervous system first, and seeking supportive, grounded help when needed. “Saying no is not selfish. It’s the most loving thing you can do for the people in your life, because when we honor our own limits and give back to ourselves, we have so much more real to give to other people.” - B Resource Links: Connect with B: Instagram: @brittanybijan

    19 min
  5. Apr 29

    3. The Shit Nobody Told us about getting stronger with Bec Taylor Part 2

    This is Part 2 of a 2-part series with strength and run coach Bec Taylor on the B.Real Podcast. Host Brittany Bijan continues the conversation on living pain-free, training with your female physiology, and building a lifestyle that supports you through your 30s, 40s, and beyond. In this second half, Bec breaks down her three pillars—movement, nutrition, and sleep—and shares how simple, consistent habits and progressive strength training can transform the way you feel in your body. They dive into realistic strategies for busy moms, why skipping breakfast is hurting your hormones, how to use bands and dumbbells at home or while traveling, and how lifting heavy can radically shift your mindset, confidence, and long-term health. Learn more about: [00:07:36] – Women shouldn’t live in pain: movement and working with your female physiology can keep you pain-free for life.[00:01:38] – Fuel yourself, don’t restrict: eat to support your energy, roles, and hormones—instead of dieting or skipping breakfast.[00:03:48] – Sleep is non‑negotiable: consistent bed and wake times are critical for hormone health, muscle repair, and brain function.[00:05:15] – Start small and build habits: simple goals like two 30‑minute walks a week and watching protein for a couple of days can compound over time.[00:14:43] – Progressive overload & lifting heavy: begin with bodyweight, then add bands and dumbbells and build toward lifting heavy to support perimenopause and beyond.“Guess what? You shouldn’t live with pain. So if you are in pain, let’s get you out of pain so you can live the lifestyle that you want.” – Bec Taylor Resource Links: Connect with Bec: Instagram: @becwilcock HER SPORTS CLUB:https://hersportsclub.com/ To run with Bec, connect with her at the Nike Run Club https://www.nike.com/nrc-app?referrer=singular_click_id%3Dbe84dac9-69ea-440c-9423-251c4a118c58 Connect with B: Instagram: @brittanybijan

    25 min
  6. Apr 22

    2. The Shit Nobody Told us about getting stronger with Bec Taylor Part 1

    In this episode of B.Real: The Shit Nobody Told Us, Brittany talks strength and conditioning with coach Bec Taylor. They touch on what women in their 30s and 40s really need for strength, energy, and longevity. Bec shares her journey from an active childhood in Australia to training women for Nike, and breaks down how to start strength training without getting overwhelmed, why you won’t “get bulky,” and how protein, carbs, and simple bodyweight workouts can support your hormones and long-term health—even with a packed schedule. Learn more about: (02:09) Bec’s Australian roots & Nike journey – Growing up active near the beach, multi-sport childhood, and moving to the U.S. to work for Nike.(07:03) How and when women should start strength training – Why bodyweight work (squats, hinges, pushes, pulls) 2–3x/week is the smartest entry point.(13:11) The “bulky” myth, debunked – Why it’s actually hard for women to gain significant muscle size and what really happens when you lift 2–4x per week.(14:46) Protein, carbs, and under-fueling – How most women undereat both protein and carbohydrates, and why timing and spreading intake across the day matters.(21:12) Prime to build: A realistic starting plan – Bec’s simple framework: two full-body bodyweight sessions plus two walks per week to build consistency and confidence. “I have never done a workout or a run or a hike that I've regretted. I've always appreciated how I feel afterwards.” – Bec Taylor Resource Links: Connect with Bec: Instagram: @becwilcock HER SPORTS CLUB:https://hersportsclub.com/ To run with Bec, connect with her at the Nike Run Club https://www.nike.com/nrc-app?referrer=singular_click_id%3Dbe84dac9-69ea-440c-9423-251c4a118c58 Connect with B: Instagram: @brittanybijan

    26 min
  7. Apr 16

    1. Why B.Real: The Trauma, and Healing Behind the Mic

    In this powerful debut episode of B.Real, B opens up about her turbulent childhood, teenage years marked by excessive drug use and alcohol abuse and instability, and the long, hard road to building a safe, loving life for herself and her family. From being sent to rehabs and boarding schools as a pre-teen, to escaping an abusive relationship and unexpectedly becoming a young mother in Los Angeles, she shares how these experiences shaped her deep commitment to health, wellness, and motherhood. Now a coach, mother of four, and grandmother, B explains why she started the B.Real podcast: to create an honest space for women to share their stories, feel less alone, and learn practical ways to become strong—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Key Takeaways From chaos to compass: B’s unstable childhood—marked by excessive drug use, mental health struggles at home, and constant relocation—became the foundation for the mother and mentor she is today.Survival to self-worth: Early life was pure survival mode; meeting her husband at 24 was a turning point that finally gave her safety, love, and room to grow.Movement as medicine: Even in the middle of teenage mayhem, movement and exercise were a lifeline that later evolved into a full commitment to health and wellness.Breaking generational cycles: B is intentional about parenting differently—using self-awareness, accountability, and open communication to give her kids a life she never had and breaking generational cycles in the process.Why “B.Real” exists: This podcast is designed as a raw, judgment-free space for women with “real stories and real grit” to share what they’ve been through and how they’ve built strength and resiliency. “You have all the odds stacked against you, and you figured that f*****g shit out anyway. And how amazing is that?” – B  Connect with B: Instagram: @brittanybijan

    36 min
5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

We live in a performative world where it's getting harder to tell who's real and who's just playing the part. We're making ourselves sick — literally — by not confronting the things that are slowly breaking us down. We hold so much in our bodies. Trauma, stress, grief, anger — things we don't even have names for yet. Things nobody ever taught us to deal with. It's hard to find the real ones these days. It's hard to trust what people say when their behavior tells a completely different story. And it's hard to take care of yourself in a world that profits from keeping you unhealthy, disconnected and running on empty. B Real — The Sh!t Nobody Told Me is for the woman who is trying to gain knowledge and strength, its for the Women who is trying to heal and grow. This is a podcast about authenticity and the search for it. It's about trauma — what it does to your body, your mind and your life — and how we actually heal from it. It's about finding ways to feel strong as hell from the inside out. And it's about fighting back against a world that is working overtime to keep us sick. Every episode is a real and raw conversation. The shit nobody told us. Because somewhere along the way nobody told us the truth about our bodies, our trauma, our strength or our potential to heal. We're telling you now and we’re gonna figure this shit out together.