Myth of Motherhood

Shout out to my fellow type A, high-achieving woman who feels like you have to say yes to everything. This is your permission slip to reclaim your time, energy, and personal power without guilt. Join me, Alissa Alter, pelvic health expert and powerhouse coach for high-achieving women, as I share a  personal story about growing up as an indoor kid and riding bikes, protecting my energy while my son transitions to kindergarten, and how these moments taught me a powerful truth: You don't just HAVE power...you ARE the power. We'll dive into: Treating your energy like the luxury item it is Why saying "no" is a radical act of self-leadership How to stop outsourcing your power and start insourcing it A mindset shift that will help you grow, lead, and show up for yourself first If you're running on empty, overcommitted, or feel disconnected from your own needs, this episode will inspire you to create boundaries, find joy, and own your full strength. If you want real growth, no BS advice, and expert guidance to create lasting change visit my website www.alissaalter.com and join my email list ASAP. Now hit play, reclaim your energy, and step into your power—because you're worth it.  

Are you tired of the internet telling you what you should or shouldn't do with your body? From "women over 40 shouldn't run" to "HIIT is bad for your hormones," the noise is endless. In this episode, I share why it's time to ignore the internet and start listening to the only expert who actually lives in your body: you. You'll learn: ✅ Why outsourcing your power keeps you stuck in burnout ✅ 3 simple practices to tune into your body's wisdom daily ✅ How trusting your inner cues leads to better health, performance, and joy This episode is for high-achieving women, parents, and professionals who feel like they can't afford to fail — but know that true success starts with reconnecting to themselves. Your body is talking. This episode will help you listen. Learn more at www.alissaalter.com 

High-achieving women are often told to keep it together, never fail, and always perform at the highest level. But what if the very thing you're trying to hide — your humanity — is exactly what will unlock your next level of success? In this episode, I get real about what it means to walk the walk in my own life. From starting piano lessons again after 30+ years (yes, I'm a true beginner!) to sending out queries to literary agents for my book, I'm putting myself in positions where judgment, rejection, and vulnerability are inevitable. And guess what? It feels exhilarating. Because the truth is: you cannot expand, grow, or get what you deeply want without risking vulnerability. If you've ever felt like you can't afford to fail… this episode is for you. I'll share what I'm learning as I embrace beginner's mind and risk rejection — and why you'll never regret betting on yourself. Because vulnerability isn't weakness. Vulnerability is leadership. And it's the key to building the life, career, and relationships you're craving. 👉 Ready to embody this in your own life and leadership? Email me to join the waitlist for my upcoming professional mastermind. 👉 Connect with me on Instagram @alissaalter 👉 If you loved this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review — it helps more women like you walk their own walk.  

Let's talk about beauty standards and how they've been designed to keep women busy, distracted, and questioning themselves so we can't spend that time and energy fighting the patriarchy. Here's the thing: you do not need Botox. AND—you get to choose Botox. Or fillers. Or a breast reduction! Or none of it!!! Because the power isn't in whether you do it, the power is in choosing how you invest your most valuable resources: your thoughts, energy, time, and money. In this episode, we'll explore: ✨ How beauty culture hijacks women's attention and resources ✨ The difference between unconscious conformity and intentional choice ✨ Why self-investment (whatever form it takes) can be an act of resistance ✨ How to align your choices with your values and mission—without shame You get to decide what supports you in building a life in alignment with your purpose. You get to be in charge of your body and your resources. And you get to refuse the lie that there's only one right way to show up in this world. Because when you're living in your alignment? You're a whole lot harder to control. 🎧 Listen now, follow/subscribe, share with a friend and reclaim your right to choose—from a place of power, not pressure. If you're picking up what I'm laying down, CLICK HERE to get on my email list!

Alissa is joined by her friend, across the street neighbor, and client Jean Hannah Edelstein. Jean also happens to be an accomplished journalist and author of her new memoir Breasts: A Relatively Short Relationship. Jean shares her candid, funny, and fierce experience navigating life with Lynch Syndrome, receiving a breast cancer diagnosis, and choosing to undergo both a double mastectomy and hysterectomy. Jean shares how her relationship to her body changed from something to tolerate, to something to train. She also talks about how CrossFit, Pilates, and getting super freaking strong helped her reclaim her body and advocate more confidently in medical settings. Her journey is a testament to resilience, body autonomy, and redefining what strength truly means. In This Episode, We Talk About: Lynch Syndrome and Jean's predisposition for different forms of cancer shaped her medical decisions What it's really like to navigate advocating for your body in work and medical settings Her path to self-described "CrossFit weirdo" and Pilates enthusiast How physical strength changed her approach to medical appointments and self-advocacy Why she no longer sees her body as just a "vehicle for her mind" About Jean Hannah Edelstein: Jean is a journalist and author whose work has appeared in The Guardian, The New York Times, The Cut, and more. Her latest book, Breasts: A Relatively Short Relationship, is a memoir that examines womanhood, illness, identity, and the cultural weight of having (or not having) breasts.  She is also Alissa's across the street neighbor! Follow Jean: 📖 Buy the book 📸 Instagram: @jeanhannahedelstein 🌐 Website: www.jeanhannahedelstein.com Connect with Alissa: Website: www.alissaalter.com Instagram: @alissaalter YouTube: Strategic Training with Alissa Alter Listen & Subscribe: If you love this episode, please subscribe, rate, and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It helps other people find the show — and lets us keep bringing you honest conversations like this one.

In a world that constantly demands more of us, setting boundaries can feel like a radical act of self-care. Alissa shares her journey of learning to respect her own limits, a lesson hard-won over years of experience. Alissa reflects on her past, where saying "yes" to every client led to burnout. "I've done this dance before," she admits, recognizing the cycle of overworking and resentment. But this time, she's doing it differently, starting with a waiting list instead of overextending herself. Respecting her own boundaries has allowed Alissa to show up fully in all areas of her life. "I have the space that I need to be my full self," she says, emphasizing how boundaries teach others to respect them too. Saying no to more work might seem counterintuitive, especially in a service industry. Yet, Alissa highlights the importance of aligning work with personal values and goals, ensuring that her energy and passion remain intact. Setting boundaries isn't just about saying no; it's about creating space for growth and clarity. As Alissa puts it, "We don't do ourselves dirty like that anymore." Embrace the power of boundaries and watch your life transform. Subscribe now! And share this episode with a friend! As always, I've got your back. I've got your front. And I've got your undercarriage. Learn more and download your free workout at www.alissaalter.com

How you do one thing is how you do everything, right? Right.  As much as current media (social and otherwise) speaks in flashy absolutes like the title of this episode, real life health and strength is more nuanced.  Or as I like to say…it's interdisciplinary. In this episode… Your partner is NOT the only person you need It takes a village to raise a child, support YOU, and nurture YOUR body While Pilates isn't the only workout you need, it is the workout that will make everything else easier, more accessible, and more successful Why I created a strength training program for my client CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! Follow along on IG @alissaalter As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage.  

There is so much that movement and fitness culture gets right and wrong about women and how things evolve when you're over 40. No matter what or how you move your body, someone is going to say you're doing it wrong. In this episode… Breaking free from the confines of classical training (dance and yoga) How your yoga practice can inform lifting weights Yoga doesn't mean asana, you can apply your practice to other things! Rigidity doesn't equal strength CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! Trisha is a movement coach, yoga teacher, and author who helps people move more comfortably, kindly, and competently. Specializing in 1:1 training, she focuses on creating accessible, personalized movement experiences that encourage people to get back to doing what they love, without rigid rules—just options that feel good and make sense for their bodies. Trisha also works with empowering yoga teachers to lead with authenticity, courage, and skill. She created the CHART Movement Mastery workbook to help teachers expand their expertise, and her tiny book, Movement Snacks, offers simple, accessible ways to integrate meaningful movement into everyday life. Learn more at www.trisha.yoga and on IG @trisha_moves Follow along on IG @alissaalter As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage.    

Even when the world outside of your body is literally on fire or under a new political administration, you are safe INSIDE you body. Or at least, you can be. Download your free workout to start building your deepest strength front the inside out and harness the powerhouse hidden between your legs. Your pelvic floor. In this episode… I've never been THIS vulnerable Working with a client in LA and how she made her biggest gains yet in the most unlikely of circumstances YOU ARE SAFE INSIDE YOUR BODY! CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! Follow along on IG @alissaalter As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage.  

Reading Emily's book Hey Hun helped me SO much to make sense of my experience in Mary Kay Cosmetics. She is exquisitely brilliant and she shares her experience with MLM indoctrination, alcohol abuse, sobriety, supremacy, capitalism, motherhood, and marriage.  In this episode… How your need to be right can distort reality Accepting nuance and multiple truths Sharing an opinion is different than manipulating people  There are no quick fixes in life or business If it looks like an MLM, and smells like an MLM, it's probably an MLM. Trusting yourself through change Applying what we know about building new movement practices and patterns to building new behavioral practices and patterns CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! Follow along on IG @alissaalter Emily Lynn Paulson is the author of Highlight Real: Finding Honesty and Recovery Beyond the Filtered Life, and Hey, Hun: Sales, Sisterhood, Supremacy, and the Other Lies Behind Multilevel Marketing. She is the founder of Sober Mom Squad, a digital community for moms in recovery, and has given two powerful TEDx talks, both challenging the status quo of parenting, alcohol use, and feminism as we know it. Paulson has also been featured in major publications such as the Today Show, New York Times, Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Chicago Tribune, Next Question with Katie Couric, and the Tamron Hall Show. She resides in Central Oregon with her husband and their five children. Follow her on instagram @emilylynnpaulson As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage.    

There are a variety of definitions of consistency depending on the context. Consistency of food is different from the consistency of the quality of my moisturizer which is still different from the consistency with which I take care of myself. Not just working out, but fully, wholly, holistically taking care of myself from every direction. For the purpose of this think piece I'm going to lean more on definitions that reflect consistency in terms of harmony and logical coherence within a logical system.  In the episode… Three clients who had huge success from a small dose of consistency THIS doesn't have to be hard Read more on the BLOG! Redefining consistency Why it's so hard in adulthood and parenthood  My advice on how to get started Consistency IS possible and you deserve it! CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! Follow along on IG @alissaalter If you're picking up what I'm laying down… SHARE this episode with a friend!  As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage.  

I'm in love with this episode. I don't know if it's the intimacy resulting in knowing each other for 20+ years through so many seasons of life or the sheer brilliance of Lisa. The beautiful way she speaks will give you a peak into her gorgeous mind, voice, and talent. Her newest album RADIATE came out in October and…do yourself a solid and download it NOW! Well, listen to the episode and THEN download it! In this episode… Creating ritual for yourself The power of consistency (which feels impossible) Doing what you came here to do Creating an environment for creativity Sharing your self allows others to do the same…including your kids! CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! Follow along on IG @alissaalter Lisa Piccirillo almost gave up on songwriting, but the muse wouldn't let her. The inspiration for her forthcoming record came to her as a vision: the silhouette of a woman, backlit by the sun, alongside the word RADIATE. Fueled by this idea and the desire to reclaim her creative identity, Lisa devoted herself to daily songwriting sessions at sunrise and the new record was born. An unapologetically loud follow-up to her mellow and folky 2008 debut (momentum), RADIATE chronicles Lisa's vast emotional landscape with her signature blend of vulnerable songwriting and powerhouse vocals. Learn more at www.lisapmusic.com and follow her on instagram @lisapicirillo  

I accidentally took a few months off from the show! Like I share in the episode, I can't put out ALL the time. Sometimes I need to be on the receiving end. While I can't promise I won't take another break, I can promise to communicate more clearly in the future ;) In this episode… Why I accidentally took a break from the show The best way to stay connected! Hint: click here Some meaningful intentions as we enter the holiday season CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage. Follow along on IG @alissaalter

I ask this question all the time and I want you to understand why! So that's what we are talking about today! CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! And send it to a friend! Sharing is caring <3 In this episode… Why I get weird about marketing and promoting my own work The reason why sharing this video feels important and VULNERABLE to me How working in this way will revolutionize your relationship with your workouts I'm not only the creator, I'm also a client! How this work led me back to my body and self CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage. Follow along on IG @alissaalter  

Whenever I come across the latest food and exercise trends I can't help but feel like they are the newest way to get women to ignore their intuition.  In the episode… What horrifies me about our family trip to the farmer's market (it's not what you think) Why cutting out the main source of energy for your brain makes no sense Too much protein is also a thing Control isn't the end of the road, it's part of the process Using exercise to numb out instead of connect CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! Follow along on IG @alissaalter If you're picking up what I'm laying down… SHARE this episode with a friend!  As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage.  

Courntey and I met doing 42nd Street together in 2008. We remained friends through the next audition season and then she joined my Mary Kay team. Yup! Did you know I was a Mary Kay consultant?! I was. And so was Courtney.  In this episode… What MLM life taught us about ourselves, our art, and parenting Control FEELS like it will solve things, but it often distracts us from the lessons and the  path through hard things How kids f*cked us up Searching for structure and control as an artist and parent The impact of high control mind groups How we, two very smart women, ended up in an MLM, high control group How motherhood and other stages of instability leave you so so vulnerable You aren't learning if you're not failing Courtney Romano is a filmmaker, writer, and podcast host. She wrote the creative manifesto "The First Ten Years: A Philosophical and Practical Guide to Creative Longevity" after a decade-long career as an actor in everything from Off Broadway to commercials. That book was optioned, which kicked off her screenwriting portfolio. In 2020, Courtney wrote and directed the short film "Screen Test" and launched the podcast "The Break Breakdown" which tracked the making of that film. In 2023, Courtney released the award-winning 7-episode series "Kinsley Vs.", which to her great delight won Best Writing and Best Dark Comedy among others at the Baltimore Next Media Web Fest. Her podcast "Let's Go Again" released in 2023. Courtney lives in New York City with her husband and two young kids. Learn more at www.queensbirdfilms.com and on IG @queensbirdfilms CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage. Follow along on IG @alissaalter

Moments of alignment and clarity come only after a buildup of traction, energy, struggle, tension and finally finding that release. Yes, alignment is just like an orgasm! I didn't know that's where this episode was going to go, but I'm here for it!  When was the last time you experienced the sweet, sweet climax of alignment? In this episode… Floundering and not floundering at the same time Building slash rebuilding my work life after baby Client wins as I ask myself "What am I even DOING?" When everything clicks into alignment Alignment is like an orgasm Finding a good teacher The importance of a USED body CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage. Follow along on IG @alissaalter

OOOOOOOOHHH are we lucky? Or ARE WE LUCKY?!?! To have this week's guest share her deeply empathetic, knowledgeable, and HUMAN approach to medicine and providing care. As a new mother herself, Dr. Fatima Daoud shares her insights from instagram, the operating room, and life. Follow her on IG @doctordaoud In this episode… The weight of surgical responsibility Perfection being the baseline How motherhood changes things Showing up in a competitive and demanding career as a pregnant/postpartum person The problematic history of OBGYN and how that relates to social media now We are ALL doing our best with the information that we have Ways to collaborate and get what you need  CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage. Follow along on IG @alissaalter

My baby becomes a toddler this week and I'm one year post cesarean. We did it! In this episode… What I mean what I ask this question! Both physically and energetically and WHY it is SO important! Why this is the perfect time for me to ask myself where MY vagina is pointing! Emotional constipation vs emotional alignment The ways in which I am supporting my own alignment during this transition Thoughts on weaning CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage. Follow along on IG @alissaalter

I'm so glad I make a habit of NOT googling clients because I would have been a total weirdo when I met Nicola. She's smart, funny, REAL, and a practitioner of Pilates For Her Privates. Learn more about Nicola and her work at www.nicolakrausauthor.com and on IG @nicolakrausauthor In this episode… How reading Brene Brown can make you less irritating to be around Handling the imaginary panel of judges in your head Valuing control over experiences with your children We don't have to fuck up our kids like we talked about here. We can actually NOT fuck them up!  From the Nanny Diaries to her next novel and how childhood experiences continue to inform today Being an artist requires you to be a little bit of a weirdo CLICK HERE to download your FREE Where Is Your Vagina Pointing workout! As always I've got your back, I've got your front, and I've got your undercarriage. Follow along on IG @alissaalter