Season 1
Is it a good time to prep? | Relationships with non-competitors
Why Willpower Won't Work & The Keys to Lasting Success
Self Sabotage & Overcoming Limiting Beliefs
In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen & Assistant coach discuss how to discern if you are ready or not for a contest prep and why some athletes push themselves prematurely into their seasons. Join us as Maddy and assistant discuss why they both took breaks from the stage and why Maddy is returning but Joely is taking a step back. Explore how Maddy and her AC have made peace with their decisions and how they have navigated their seasons in relationships and marriages with non-competitors. IG: Madsmichiefitness | YT: @madsmichiefitness Join Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health
In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, IFBB Bikini Pro and founder of the MPowered Coaching Collective, Maddy Michielssen, breaks down why relying on willpower might be holding you back from true progress. With the holidays in full swing, it’s tempting to lean on grit and determination to stick to your goals, but willpower alone is a limited resource—and one that often leaves us feeling burnt out. Maddy dives into practical strategies to replace willpower with actionable habits that create lasting consistency, including: The power of planning and preparation to stay on track. How to establish calm, productive morning and evening routines (a.k.a. "beautify your bookends"). Developing healthier coping mechanisms to manage stress without turning to food, alcohol, or avoidance. Why celebrating small wins is essential to staying motivated and avoiding burnout. This episode is your permission slip to ditch the "all-or-nothing" mindset and embrace a more sustainable, compassionate approach to your health and fitness goals. Tune in for actionable advice, inspiring insights, and a fresh perspective on staying consistent during busy seasons. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe for new episodes every Saturday. IG: Madsmichiefitness | YT: @madsmichiefitness Ready to take your journey to the next level?Book a 1-on-1 discovery call using the link below or connect with Maddy on Instagram at @madsmichiefitness to learn more about coaching opportunities. Join MPowered Coaching Collective for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health
In this episode, Team MPowered Head Coach: Maddy Michielssen & her AC discuss where self sabotage comes from, how to squander and put "limiting beliefs to bed", and how to start to believe in yourself by "building legs for your table". Tune into this week's episode to tap into your potential & overcome your mental setbacks. IG: Madsmichiefitness | YT: @madsmichiefitness Join Team MPowered for your lifestyle & contest prep needs -- where physique goals meet functional health
What if the very thing you’ve been praised for your entire life… is the very thing quietly holding you back? In this episode of The Psyche Behind the Physique, Maddy sits down with Kate Hastings to unpack the concept of “softening”—and why it may be the missing piece for so many high-performing women. From being raised to push harder, achieve more, and stay in control… to living in a constant state of stress, rigidity, and disconnection—this conversation explores what happens when strength becomes survival, and survival becomes a prison. Maddy shares her personal journey through burnout, hormonal dysfunction, and loss of her cycle—and how learning to soften, slow down, and rebuild trust with her body ultimately led to true healing. Kate expands on this through the lens of identity, femininity, and emotional safety—highlighting how many women have only ever known how to operate in “go mode,” and why stepping out of that can feel unfamiliar, even unsafe. This episode will help you understand: The hidden cost of always being “on” Signs you may be stuck in a chronic stress or control pattern How nervous system regulation impacts hormones and overall health The difference between discipline and self-trust Practical ways to begin softening without losing yourself If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right—but still not feeling your best—this conversation is for you. 🎯Inside 1:1 coaching at MPowered Coaching Collective, we don’t just focus on your physique—we help you rebuild your body, your hormones, and your relationship with yourself from the inside out.Apply to work with us 1:1 below. Join HERE. 📲 DM @madsmichiefitness with your biggest takeaway or topic requests and connect with Kate here