In today’s episode, we explore what it really looks like to rebuild your identity when the version of you that once felt solid starts to crumble. From childhood athletics to college rowing to navigating an exercise-driven eating disorder, Bri shows us why identity isn’t fixed - it’s shaped, stretched, broken, rebuilt, and reclaimed over and over again. Instead of asking “Who am I without achievement?” we shift the focus to intuition, communication, boundaries, and choosing the next best step even when the big picture makes zero sense.

We get super real about caregiving, grief, burnout, and the messy process of learning how to show up for yourself without guilt. You’ll hear exactly how Bri created a rhythm while caring for her mom, why movement became a grounding force rather than punishment, and how open communication - with family, partners, and yourself - becomes the backbone of emotional resilience. Think: honest check-ins, “floor vs. ceiling” goals, silence without distractions, ten-minute walks, and the courage to trust your gut when life hands you something you didn’t ask for.

“You don’t avoid regret by having the perfect plan - you avoid regret by communicating, showing up honestly, and taking the next right step.”

- Coach Bri

“I learned I could still show up for myself even while losing the most important person in my life… and that shifted everything.”

- Coach Bri

This week on Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck:

• Identity isn’t lost - it evolves, especially when life forces you to slow down
• What exercise addiction really looks like beneath the surface
• How treatment, journaling, and reflection helped Bri rebuild her relationship with movement
• The power of open, honest communication with family during hard seasons
• Navigating caregiving, grief, and showing up for yourself without guilt
• Floor vs. ceiling goals: how to keep showing up during chaotic seasons
• Why silence, stillness, and curiosity are underrated tools for self-trust
• Treating your life like a science experiment: change variables, observe, adjust

Connect with Us:

• Coach Bri on Instagram
• Iris Deadlifts on Instagram
• Amy Rudolph on Instagram

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of Here’s the Deal: Fitness, Nutrition, and Mindset for People Who Don’t Want Life to Suck, where we challenge the common understanding of what it means and what it takes to be fit and healthy! If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.

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Join Iris Deadlifts on Instagram, Meri on Instagram, and Amy Rudolph on Instagram.