What happens when your identity as an athlete evolves, but your passion for movement, innovation, and challenge stays the same?

In episode 134 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast, I’m joined by Jennifer Maxwell, co-founder of PowerBar and creator of JAMBAR, to talk about running, entrepreneurship, fueling a large, active family, and finding new passions later in life.

Jennifer helped launch the global bar category back in 1985 with her husband, long before fueling strategies became a core part of endurance performance. But this conversation goes far beyond the history of energy bars.

Jennifer and I discuss:

• How she ran her first marathon at the age of 13
• Her early interest in cooking and food science
• What it was like building PowerBar out of her apartment while still in college
• How she balanced running a business, training, and raising 6 children
• How her relationship with running changed after having kids, and especially after her husband's sudden death in 2004
• Why learning the drums later in life became such an important outlet
• What inspired her return to the bar business decades later with JAMBAR

Jennifer’s story is a powerful reminder that your identity is never fixed. How you move and fuel your body as well as how you spend your time is meant to evolve across different seasons of life.

🎧 Tune in to hear the full conversation!

Note: This podcast is NOT sponsored by JAMBAR. I just wanted to share Jenny's unique story!

Links & Resources

• Visit the official JAMBAR website
• Fill out my podcast survey by May 15th, and enter to win some great prizes
• Interested in comprehensive, in-depth 1:1 coaching? Fill out a new client inquiry form (limited spots available)
• Join my membership, Fuel for Life Crew, for just $39/month (cancel anytime)
• Grab my Eat for Endurance Mini Guide Bundle (these are included in FLC)
• Check out my free nutrition downloads
• Support the podcast by shopping all my affiliate links (e.g. Skratch, Tailwind, Momentous) and joining my Patreon community
• Have a topic you’d like to request? Email me at claire@eatforendurance.com

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to help more athletes fuel smarter!

Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition recommendations.

Want to get in touch? Send Claire a message!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@eatforendurance).

What if your low energy or stubborn performance plateau have little to do with your training, and everything to do with your thyroid?

In episode 133 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast, I’m joined by Katie Morra, MS, RD, LDN, IFMCP, to talk all about thyroid health for athletes.

Katie is a Registered Dietitian and former Division 1 athlete who specializes in complex chronic illness. Her practice, Gut Honest Truth, focuses on the identification and treatment of root causes behind chronic inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disease, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and thyroid dysfunction.

In this episode, Katie and I discuss:

• What the thyroid actually does and how it impacts almost everything in the body
• Common signs of thyroid dysfunction in active people
• The connection between underfueling, stress, and thyroid function
• Why looking at TSH alone doesn’t tell the full story, and what you should get tested instead
• Key nutrients for thyroid health
• How gut health impacts nutrient absorption and thyroid function
• When someone may need thyroid medication
• The difference between Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism caused by underfueling
• Practical nutrition and lifestyle strategies to support the thyroid

This is a complex topic and we only scratch the surface, but it’s a really helpful starting point if you’ve ever wondered whether your thyroid could be playing a role in how you feel or perform.

🎧 Tune in to hear the full conversation!

Links & Resources

• Follow Katie on Instagram, read the Gut Honest Truth Blog (more info on thyroid), and visit GHT Academy (for clinicians)
• Fill out my podcast survey by May 15th, and enter to win some great prizes
• Interested in comprehensive, in-depth 1:1 coaching? Fill out a new client inquiry form (limited spots available)
• Join my membership, Fuel for Life Crew, for just $39/month (cancel anytime)
• Grab my Eat for Endurance Mini Guide Bundle (these are included in FLC)
• Check out my free nutrition downloads
• Support the podcast by shopping all my affiliate links (e.g. Skratch, Tailwind, Momentous) and joining my Patreon community
• A listener requested this topic! If you have a topic you'd like to request, get in touch at claire@eatforendurance.com

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to help more athletes fuel smarter!

Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition recommendations.

Want to get in touch? Send Claire a message!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@eatforendurance).

With so many new sports nutrition brands and supplements hitting the market each year, how do you know what’s actually worth using?

In Episode 132 of The Eat for Endurance Podcast, I’m joined by Sports Dietitian Meghann Featherstun of Featherstone Nutrition for a timely conversation about sports nutrition trends for 2026.

After attending The Running Event (TRE), Meghann brings a behind-the-scenes perspective on where performance fueling seems to be headed, which products stood out, and what felt overhyped.

Meghann also wrote an entire blog post on her findings, which you can check out here.

In this episode, Meghann and I discuss:

• What to look for when choosing a gel, chew, sports drink, or other sports fueling product
• How there's no one "right" way to create a training or race fueling plan
• The biggest sports nutrition trends showing up across brands right now, including changing amounts of carbs, caffeine, and sodium
• Non-US sports nutrition brands that caught her eye
• Why high carb fueling is not appropriate for all athletes
• The importance of being intentional with supplementation
• And so much more!

🎧 Tune in to learn how to evaluate sports nutrition trends through an evidence-based lens and make smarter fueling decisions for your training and racing.

Links & Resources

• Follow Meghann Featherstun on Instagram and visit Meghann's Website
• Fill out my podcast survey by May 15th, and enter to win some great prizes
• Interested in comprehensive, in-depth 1:1 coaching? Fill out a new client inquiry form (limited spots available)
• Join my membership, Fuel for Life Crew, for just $39/month (cancel anytime)
• Browse my library of nutrition masterclasses (all are included inside the Fuel for Life Crew membership)
• Grab my Nutrition Mini Guide Bundle
• Check out my free nutrition downloads
• Support this FREE content by shopping all my affiliate links (e.g. Skratch, Tailwind, Momentous), buying my fueling stickers, and joining my Patreon community
• Get in touch at claire@eatforendurance.com

Enjoyed this episode? Please leave a 5-star review and subscribe to help more athletes fuel smarter!

Disclaimer: All information provided is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical or nutrition recommendations.

Want to get in touch? Send Claire a message!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Follow me on Instagram and Facebook (@eatforendurance).