In this episode, I sit down with Bethany Flores, a seven-time CrossFit Games athlete and new mom, to talk about her journey through pregnancy, postpartum recovery, and returning to high-level competition.

We dive into what it really looks like to balance athletic goals with motherhood, and how Bethany has learned to navigate the physical and mental challenges that come with this transition. From training during pregnancy to rebuilding strength postpartum, this conversation highlights the importance of listening to your body, honoring your intuition, and embracing a slower, more intentional approach to recovery.

Bethany also shares honest insight into the mental side of this journey—body image, resilience, and the pressure to return to performance. Together, we explore how redefining expectations and focusing on long-term athleticism can support both performance and overall well-being.

This episode is a reminder that postpartum recovery isn't a race—it's a process. And when approached with patience and self-awareness, it can become a powerful foundation for growth as both an athlete and a mother.

Connect with Bethany:

IG: @bethanycf

YouTube: @bethany_flores

Want to better support pregnant and postpartum athletes? Get on the waitlist for the Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coaching Certification Course so you're the first to hear when doors open.

👉 Sign up here: https://join.pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism.com/waitlist

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Practice Brave podcast brings you the relatable, trustworthy and transparent health & fitness information you're looking for when it comes to coaching, being coached and transitioning through the variables of motherhood and womanhood.

You will learn from athletes and experts in the women's health and coaching/performance realm as they share their knowledge and experience on all things Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism.

Whether you're a newly pregnant athlete or postpartum athlete, knowing how to adjust your workouts, mental approach and coaching can be confusing.

Each week we'll be tackling questions around adjusting your workouts and mindset, diastasis recti, pelvic health, mental health, identity, and beyond. Through compelling interviews and solo shows, Brianna speaks directly to where you're at because she's been there too!

Tune in every other week and share the show with your athlete friends!

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Practice Brave podcast brings you the relatable, trustworthy and transparent health & fitness information you're looking for when it comes to coaching, being coached and transitioning through the variables of motherhood and womanhood.

You will learn from athletes and experts in the women's health and coaching/performance realm as they share their knowledge and experience on all things Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism.

Whether you're a newly pregnant athlete or postpartum athlete, knowing how to adjust your workouts, mental approach and coaching can be confusing.

Each week we'll be tackling questions around adjusting your workouts and mindset, diastasis recti, pelvic health, mental health, identity, and beyond. Through compelling interviews and solo shows, Brianna speaks directly to where you're at because she's been there too!

Tune in every other week and share the show with your athlete friends!

• IG: @resilient.mama.fitness
• Website: https://www.resilientmamafitness.com/

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Practice Brave podcast brings you the relatable, trustworthy and transparent health & fitness information you're looking for when it comes to coaching, being coached and transitioning through the variables of motherhood and womanhood.

You will learn from athletes and experts in the women's health and coaching/performance realm as they share their knowledge and experience on all things Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism.

Whether you're a newly pregnant athlete or postpartum athlete, knowing how to adjust your workouts, mental approach and coaching can be confusing.

Each week we'll be tackling questions around adjusting your workouts and mindset, diastasis recti, pelvic health, mental health, identity, and beyond. Through compelling interviews and solo shows, Brianna speaks directly to where you're at because she's been there too!

Tune in every other week and share the show with your athlete friends!

In today's episode, we dive into the inspiring journey of Shanna Birchett, a dedicated runner and mother of six, who is navigating the unique challenges of training during her seventh pregnancy. With a focus on long-term goals and adaptability, Shanna shares her experiences and insights on maintaining an athletic lifestyle while embracing the physical, emotional, and logistical changes that come with pregnancy.

This episode serves as a reminder that pregnancy can be a time of growth and opportunity, allowing athletes to explore new dimensions of their fitness while preparing for the exciting journey ahead.

Connect with Shanna:

Instagram: @motherhood_running

Want to elevate your coaching skills? Join the waitlist for the Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism Coaching Certification Course and be the first to hear when enrollment opens! 👉 Sign up now: https://join.pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism.com/waitlist

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Practice Brave podcast brings you the relatable, trustworthy and transparent health & fitness information you're looking for when it comes to coaching, being coached and transitioning through the variables of motherhood and womanhood.

You will learn from athletes and experts in the women's health and coaching/performance realm as they share their knowledge and experience on all things Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism.

Whether you're a newly pregnant athlete or postpartum athlete, knowing how to adjust your workouts, mental approach and coaching can be confusing.

Each week we'll be tackling questions around adjusting your workouts and mindset, diastasis recti, pelvic health, mental health, identity, and beyond. Through compelling interviews and solo shows, Brianna speaks directly to where you're at because she's been there too!

Tune in every other week and share the show with your athlete friends!

In this episode, I sit down with Kristi O'Connell to explore what it really means to have an "athlete brain" and how that identity evolves over time. Kristi shares her journey from being a Division I swimmer to a seven-time CrossFit Games athlete, and how stepping away from high-level competition forced her to reassess her relationship with training, performance, and self-worth.

We talk about the pressure many athletes feel to constantly push harder, the fear of losing fitness or identity when priorities shift, and why learning to adapt training to fit your current season of life is a form of growth—not weakness. Kristi offers thoughtful insight into finding balance, redefining success, and staying active in a way that supports both physical and mental well-being.

This conversation is especially for anyone who has ever struggled with letting go of who they used to be as an athlete and is learning how to build a healthier, more sustainable relationship with fitness moving forward.

Connect with Kristi:

IG: @kristioconnell_

Website: https://ibextrained.com/

Ready to coach pregnant & postpartum athletes with confidence?

This is your last chance to join us for the Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism LIVE Coaching Certification—a hands-on, in-person experience built for coaches who want real-world skills, not just theory.

📍 San Diego, CA

📅 February 21–22, 2026

👉 Save your spot: https://join.pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism.com/ppa-live-certification

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Practice Brave podcast brings you the relatable, trustworthy and transparent health & fitness information you're looking for when it comes to coaching, being coached and transitioning through the variables of motherhood and womanhood.

You will learn from athletes and experts in the women's health and coaching/performance realm as they share their knowledge and experience on all things Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism.

Whether you're a newly pregnant athlete or postpartum athlete, knowing how to adjust your workouts, mental approach and coaching can be confusing.

Each week we'll be tackling questions around adjusting your workouts and mindset, diastasis recti, pelvic health, mental health, identity, and beyond. Through compelling interviews and solo shows, Brianna speaks directly to where you're at because she's been there too!

Tune in every other week and share the show with your athlete friends!

In this episode, I sit down with longtime friends and CrossFit athletes Annie Thorisdottir and Katrin Davidsdottir to talk honestly about their journeys into motherhood as elite athletes. We reflect on how pregnancy and postpartum seasons have reshaped how they view training, identity, and long-term athletic sustainability.

We discuss the importance of shifting expectations, letting go of the pressure to "prove" anything during pregnancy or postpartum, and instead focusing on building a strong foundation for health, recovery, and longevity. Annie and Katrin share real experiences—both physical and mental—that highlight how transformative these seasons can be, even for the most seasoned athletes.

This conversation is a reminder that pregnancy and postpartum aren't detours from athletic life—they're powerful catalyst seasons that can ultimately make you a more adaptable, resilient, and grounded athlete.

Connect with Annie & Katrin:

👉 Annie Thorisdottir: @anniethorisdottir

👉 Katrin Davidsdottir: @katrintanja

🌐 Empower by Dottir: https://empowerbydottir.com/

Ready to coach pregnant & postpartum athletes with confidence?

Join us for the Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism LIVE Coaching Certification, a hands-on, in-person experience built for coaches who want real-world skills, not just theory.

📍 San Diego, CA

📅 February 21–22, 2026

👉 Save your spot: https://join.pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism.com/ppa-live-certification

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Practice Brave podcast brings you the relatable, trustworthy and transparent health & fitness information you're looking for when it comes to coaching, being coached and transitioning through the variables of motherhood and womanhood.

You will learn from athletes and experts in the women's health and coaching/performance realm as they share their knowledge and experience on all things Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism.

Whether you're a newly pregnant athlete or postpartum athlete, knowing how to adjust your workouts, mental approach and coaching can be confusing.

Each week we'll be tackling questions around adjusting your workouts and mindset, diastasis recti, pelvic health, mental health, identity, and beyond. Through compelling interviews and solo shows, Brianna speaks directly to where you're at because she's been there too!

Tune in every other week and share the show with your athlete friends!

In this solo episode, I unpack a conversation that's been building for over a decade—one sparked by a recent post that stirred both strong agreement and strong reaction. I reflect on how the pregnant and postpartum athlete narrative has evolved, especially within the CrossFit and strength-training space, and why so many women still feel confused, frustrated, or unsupported during these seasons.

This episode is about finding the middle ground. Pregnancy and postpartum aren't about fragility or invincibility—they're about adaptability. I talk about why these seasons are powerful catalysts for growth, how ego and identity get challenged, and why long-term athleticism should always be the goal. More than anything, I emphasize the importance of coaching and messaging that considers the whole person: mindset, physiology, and future performance.

If you're an athlete, a coach, or a mom navigating these transitions, this episode is a reminder that athleticism doesn't end when motherhood begins—but it does evolve. And when we respect that process, outcomes improve not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.

Join us for the Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism LIVE Coaching Certification, a hands-on, in-person experience built for coaches who want real-world skills, not just theory.

📍 San Diego, CA

📅 February 21–22, 2026

👉 Save your spot: https://join.pregnancyandpostpartumathleticism.com/ppa-live-certification

Are you a pregnant combat athlete? Check out my free resource for BJJ during pregnancy and postpartum: https://go.briannabattles.com/bjj-freeguide

Learn more about the Practice Brave Fitness Program: https://briannabattles.com/practicebrave

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Practice Brave podcast brings you the relatable, trustworthy and transparent health & fitness information you're looking for when it comes to coaching, being coached and transitioning through the variables of motherhood and womanhood.

You will learn from athletes and experts in the women's health and coaching/performance realm as they share their knowledge and experience on all things Pregnancy & Postpartum Athleticism.

Whether you're a newly pregnant athlete or postpartum athlete, knowing how to adjust your workouts, mental approach and coaching can be confusing.

Each week we'll be tackling questions around adjusting your workouts and mindset, diastasis recti, pelvic health, mental health, identity, and beyond. Through compelling interviews and solo shows, Brianna speaks directly to where you're at because she's been there too!

Tune in every other week and share the show with your athlete friends!