Broads: The Bold & Badass Fitness Podcast for Women

Tara LaFerrara
  • 4.9 (158)
  • FITNESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to BROADS: The Bold & Badass Fitness Podcast for Women. I’m Tara and I’m here to empower you to feel strong in your body, be confident to take up space, and cultivate that badassery you’ve been holding back (yes, I did just make up the word badassery). You’re here because you know there is more to life and you’re ready to go after it … you just need some support and guidance along the way. So tune in, stay a while, and I promise to be right here alongside you as we figure this shit out, together.

  1. 3D AGO

    131: Accessory Exercises That Fix Squat, Bench, and Deadlift Plateaus

    You’re stuck at the same weight on your squat or bench, so you assume the answer is more reps, more volume, more grind. But piling on more work without fixing the weak link is exactly how you stay stuck. In the latest episode of Broads, I break down why your core’s job isn’t crunches, why knees cave in your squat, and how Bulgarian split squats force your glutes to finally do their job. And when your hips shoot up in your deadlift, I unpack what that says about your hamstrings and how to fix it so your strength actually shows up at lockout. Fix the weak link, and the lift follows. What's Discussed: (03:22) Why doing more squats won’t fix a squat plateau (05:03) Bulgarian split squats fix knee cave and glute weakness (08:27) Paused bench press builds strength at your sticking point (11:52) RDLs fix weak deadlift lockout and hip hinge issues (12:26) Why squatting your deadlift limits hamstring strength (15:33) Press more than you pull and your shoulders pay (18:40) Your core’s job is resisting movement, not crunching (22:56) Accessory work fixes weak links and prevents injuries Check out more from Broads: Website: https://www.broads.app Instagram: @broads.podcast @broads.app Head to https://www.broads.app/broadscoach and apply for BroadsCOACH. Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Website: http://taralaferrara.com Instagram: @taralaferrara Youtube: @TaraLaferrara Tiktok: @taralaferrara

    22 min

  2. MAR 3

    130: Build Strength Without Perfect Form or Fear of Getting Hurt - Dr. Susie Spirlock

    You’ve been told perfect form prevents injury and rounding your back will ruin your spine. But what if the real problem isn’t the movement? What if it’s fear, outdated advice, and expecting your body to heal like it’s Amazon Prime two-day shipping?  We dive deeper into this in the latest episode of the Broads Podcast with strength coach Dr. Susie Spirlock.  We also chat about why “perfect form” doesn’t exist, how to return to lifting after injury or chronic conditions like POTS and hypermobility, and why strength training is non-negotiable for women heading into perimenopause and beyond.  Dr. Susie Spirlock is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and strength coach with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. She is Barbell Rehab Method certified, Precision Nutrition Level 1 certified, and a Pain Free Performance Specialist. She provides online rehab and fitness coaching and serves as an instructor for the Barbell Rehab Method. What's Discussed: (08:44) Why “perfect form” doesn’t exist and how anatomy shapes technique (10:15) Gradual exposure to load and why rounding your back isn’t automatically bad (12:08) Fear of lifting heavy and how graded exposure reduces injury anxiety (14:00) Why fear predicts pain more than tissue damage after injury (18:25) Junk volume, overprogramming, and how smarter structure drives results (25:03) Why lifting advice from doctors lags 10-15 years behind research (32:26) Strength training, menopause, and what happens to bone density if you don’t lift (48:43) Clickbait rehab content and how to spot black-and-white misinformation Check out more from Broads: Website: https://www.broads.app Instagram: @broads.podcast @broads.app Head to https://www.broads.app/broadscoach and apply for BroadsCOACH. Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Website: http://taralaferrara.com Instagram: @taralaferrara Youtube: @TaraLaferrara Tiktok: @taralaferrara Check out more from Dr. Susie Spirlock: Instagram: @dr.susie.squats Tiktok: @dr.susie.squats Youtube: @dr.susie.squats Facebook: @dr.susie.squats

    54 min

  3. FEB 24

    129. How Your Rest Periods Are Limiting Your Strength Gains

    Rest periods are one of the most ignored parts of training, and they’re often the reason you’re exhausted but not actually getting stronger. This episode of Broads is about removing the guesswork. We break down what rest periods do, why more sweat doesn’t equal better results, and how mismatching your rest to your goal can stall progress without you realizing it. If your lifts feel inconsistent, your workouts feel randomly hard or way too easy, or you’re spending forever in the gym without seeing results, your rest between sets might be the missing piece. That’s what this episode is all about. What's Discussed: (00:48) Why rest periods are an overlooked driver of strength and muscle gains (03:25) ATP, creatine phosphate, and what actually recovers between sets (05:03) How rest determines strength, hypertrophy, or endurance outcomes (06:51) Why heavy lifts require three to five minutes of rest (07:46) Using shorter rest to create metabolic stress for muscle growth (09:13) How short rest trains fatigue tolerance and muscular endurance (10:52) What breaks when rest is too short or too long (15:41) Why timing rest separates training from random workouts Head to https://www.broads.app/broadscoach and apply for BroadsCOACH. Check out more from Broads: Website: https://www.broads.app Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Website: http://taralaferrara.com  Instagram: @taralaferrara  @broads.podcast Youtube: https://youtube.com/@TaraLaferrara

    23 min

  4. FEB 17

    128: Finley Amato Funsten: How Chronic Under Eating Shapes Women’s Metabolism and Energy Recovery

    A lot of women are stuck in a cycle of eating less, pushing harder, and starting over every Monday, only to feel more frustrated each time. The surprising part is that this isn’t a lack of discipline, but a predictable outcome of years of under-eating and following advice that was never built for women’s physiology. We dive deeper into this in the Broads podcast with Finley. We talk about why intermittent fasting often backfires for women, how sugar cravings are usually a fueling issue, what chronic under-eating does to your metabolism, and what sustainable nutrition actually looks like without diet culture noise. Finley Amato Funsten is a nutrition and strength coach, the founder of U****k Your Diet, and the owner of MADabolic Charlotte. Her work focuses on evidence-based nutrition, behavior change, and sustainable training practices. What's Discussed: (05:53) Diet Coke, aspartame safety, and why fear-based nutrition science still sticks(07:12) Why intermittent fasting often backfires for active women hormonally(09:04) How hunger hormones adapt when breakfast is skipped for years(11:04) Why named diets fail women by ignoring physiology and skill building(14:32) Skinny culture’s return and how wellness marketing keeps women shrinking(19:20) Sugar cravings explained through protein and fiber deficiencies(24:39) Why detoxes and cleanses don’t work the way people think(32:03) Chronic under eating signs including low energy, poor recovery, and cycle disruptionCheck out more from Broads: Website: www.broads.app Instagram: @broads.podcast @broads.app Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Website: http://taralaferrara.com   Instagram: @taralaferrara Youtube: https://youtube.com/@TaraLaferrara Check out more from Finley Amato Funsten: Website: https://unfuckyourdiet.co Instagram: @unfuckyourdiet   Check out some of Finley’s favorite accounts for nutrition, fitness, and real talk: Tara LaFerrara: https://instagram.com/taralaferrara Sheridan Skye, MSc: http://instagram.com/sheridanskyefit Beth Wilkas Feraco: http://instagram.com/bethferacofitness Amanda Howell, MPH: http://instagram.com/amandahowellhealth Jessica Knurick, PhD: http://instagram.com/drjessicaknurick Dr. Stacy T. Sims: http://instagram.com/drstacysims Kate Lyman, MPH: http://instagram.com/klnutrition Jordan Syatt: http://instagram.com/syattfitness Layne Norton, PhD: https://www.instagram.com/biolayne

    55 min

  5. FEB 10

    127: Tempo Training for Women Who Want More Strength Without Longer Workouts

    Training harder and moving faster doesn’t automatically make you stronger, especially when your progress has stalled. For many women, the real issue is that reps are rushed, stimulus is cut short, and effort looks intense without actually driving adaptation. We dive deeper into this in the latest Broads Podcast solo episode. We also chat about why slowing down builds more strength, why rushing reps makes people feel weaker than they should, why you are actually stronger during the lowering phase of a lift, and how tempo training works best when used strategically instead of everywhere. If your workouts feel hard but your strength is not moving, or you keep chasing heavier weights without feeling more solid or confident, this episode will shift how you think about effort.  What's Discussed: (02:24) Why tempo training increases results without longer workouts(03:26) The four phases of every lift and why each phase matters(04:02) How to read tempo prescriptions like 3110 in real training(09:14) Where tempo fits best, accessories, deload weeks, and plateaus(15:18) Why tempo should be limited to one to three exercises per workout(15:55) Example lower body programming using tempo selectively(16:58) Example upper body programming with tempo for accessories only(17:49) Why using too much weight defeats the purpose of tempo trainingCheck out more from Broads: Website: https://www.broads.app Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Website: http://taralaferrara.com   Instagram: @taralaferrara Youtube: https://youtube.com/@TaraLaferrara

    20 min

  6. FEB 3

    126: How to Build Muscle Fear of Getting Bulky or Food Guilt - Jessica Burke

    Training starts to feel heavy when the goal is shrinking instead of becoming capable. What began as a viral moment around a meatball sub exposed something deeper: how diet culture, fear of “bulking,” and quiet food rules slowly erode confidence and self-trust long before real change has a chance to stick. We dive deeper into this in the latest Broads Podcast with Jessica Burke. We also chat about why “toning” is misleading, the real difference between exercising and training with intention, what actually drives gym intimidation, and why taking up space changes far more than just the body. Jessica Burke holds a Master’s degree in Kinesiology and is CSCS certified. She is the host of The Strength Chick Podcast and works as a strength and conditioning coach. Her work centers on dismantling diet culture and encouraging women to take up space in the gym and in strength and conditioning. What's Discussed: (03:39) The meatball sub moment, diet culture, and the food guilt women live by (09:19) Why training to be smaller limits what women’s bodies can do (11:16) The truth behind “toning” and how language shapes fear around building muscle (13:34) Fear of bulking as a form of avoiding discomfort and justifying inaction (17:42) The male gaze, gym intimidation, and reclaiming the right to take up space (19:33) Why exercising feels productive but training creates lasting change (34:41) Redefining effort, intensity, and what “hard” actually means in the gym (52:00) Taking up space as an identity decision, not a confidence trait Check out more from Broads: Website: http://broads.app Instagram: @broads.podcast @broads.app Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Website: http://taralaferrara.com Instagram: @taralaferrara Youtube: @TaraLaferrara Tiktok: @taralaferrara Check out more from Jessica Burke, CSCS, M.S.: Instagram: @coachjburke Tiktok: @coachjburke Youtube: @coachjburke

    54 min

  7. JAN 27

    125: Q&A: Why HIIT Stops Working, Why It’s Harder to See Results After 30, Why You Need More Recovery & More

    You’re training hard and pushing through, yet your energy is crashing and your body feels more resistant than ever. The problem isn’t effort, it’s that your body has outgrown the strategy you’re using. In this Broads Q&A episode, I answer the questions you keep asking. We get into why HIIT is keeping you tired, sore, and wired, why training like you’re 25 while living like you’re 45 stops working, and why rest isn’t lazy. It’s how your hormones stabilize. If you feel exhausted, inconsistent, or like your drive disappeared, this episode connects recovery, nervous system regulation, and real strength so you can stop forcing progress and start adapting to the body you’re actually living in. What's Discussed: (03:28) Why energy crashes are not a motivation problem but a recovery issue(07:04) Why your body stopped responding to chaotic workouts after 30(08:35) HIIT, cortisol, inflammation, and why always training hard keeps you tired and wired(09:42) Strength training as a higher return signal without frying your nervous system(10:01) Motivation explained through dopamine, blood sugar, sleep, and safety signals(12:20) Training like you’re 25 while living a 35 to 45 year old life(13:46) Why rest supports hormone regulation and nervous system downshifting(14:15) What real self-care looks like in midlife and why it is not selfishCheck out more from Broads: Website: https://www.broads.app Instagram: http://instagram.com/broads.podcast http://instagram.com/broads.app Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Website: http://taralaferrara.com  Instagram: http://instagram.com/taralaferrara  Youtube: http://youtube.com/@TaraLaferrara Tiktok: http://tiktok.com/@taralaferrara

    15 min

  8. JAN 20

    124: How to Shape Exercise Habits Without More Motivation - Kasey Jo Orvidas

    Consistency doesn’t fail because of bad programming or weak discipline. It breaks down when stress, fear of failure, and identity-level beliefs override decision-making before habits ever have a chance to form. We dive deeper into this in the latest Broads episode with Kasey Jo Orvidas. We also chat about why identity drives exercise habits more than motivation, how stress shuts down self-control at the brain level, and why “I’m too busy” is usually a signal problem, not a time problem. Kasey Jo Orvidas, PhD, holds a doctorate in Psychology and is a certified health and fitness coach. She has published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals on mindset and health behavior change. She is also the creator of The Health Mindset Coaching Certification. What's Discussed: (06:04) Fitness identity and why seeing yourself as “not an exerciser” keeps you stuck (10:28) Intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation and why wanting results isn’t enough (18:12) The prefrontal cortex and how overload shuts down self-control (22:05) Why willpower fails under chronic stress and emotional fatigue (26:41) The real reason people ghost their coach and how shame kills consistency (31:54) Authority vs psychological safety in coaching relationships (36:48) Why “I’m too busy” is usually a signal problem, not a time problem (41:32) Reducing friction for habits that stick and increasing friction for the ones that don’t Check out more from Broads: Website: www.broads.app Instagram: @broads.podcast @broads.app Check out more from Tara LaFerrara: Instagram: @taralaferrara Youtube: @TaraLaferrara   Check out more from Kasey Jo Orvidas, Ph.D.: Website: www.kaseyorvidas.com Instagram: @coachkaseyjo Facebook: @coachkaseyjo

    55 min
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About

Welcome to BROADS: The Bold & Badass Fitness Podcast for Women. I’m Tara and I’m here to empower you to feel strong in your body, be confident to take up space, and cultivate that badassery you’ve been holding back (yes, I did just make up the word badassery). You’re here because you know there is more to life and you’re ready to go after it … you just need some support and guidance along the way. So tune in, stay a while, and I promise to be right here alongside you as we figure this shit out, together.

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