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Cutting calories is often the first thing people try when they want to lose weight, but for many, it’s the very thing keeping them stuck. In this After Show episode of the All In Wellness Approach podcast, the hosts unpack why calorie cutting alone backfires and how healing your relationship with food requires more than restriction.
Following the conversation with Dan Stein, this episode explores how isolation makes healing harder, why perfectionism and shame derail progress, and how faith and community play a foundational role in long-term wellness. The discussion breaks down the emotional and social weight of food, why support systems matter, and why true healing was never meant to happen alone.
You’ll hear honest reflections on asking for help, rebuilding trust with food, and shifting from control-based habits to sustainable practices rooted in compassion and connection. The episode closes with practical wellness reminders, including hydration tips and reframing food as nourishment instead of fear.
If you’ve felt frustrated, burnt out, or stuck in the cycle of dieting and starting over, this conversation offers a grounded, faith-forward perspective on what actually leads to lasting change.

GUEST: Dan Stein - From recruiting at Google, Snapchat, and Andreessen Horowitz to being featured in Men’s Health for his personal wellness journey, Dan has launched Pax; an athletic apparel brand rooted in mental health, and has traveled to more than 30 countries along the way.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Cutting calories alone often leads to burnout and stalled progress
• Isolation makes healing harder and support accelerates growth
• Faith provides a foundation for freedom from perfectionism
• Food is deeply social and emotional, not just physical
• Sustainable wellness is built through connection, not control

CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to the AIWA After Show
02:09 Reflections from the Dan Stein conversation
04:10 Faith, healing, and perfectionism
06:22 Why community support matters
08:32 Isolation vs connection
14:08 Rebuilding a healthy relationship with food
27:46 Final thoughts and hydration reminders

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Connect with Us

https://linktr.ee/AIWAcollective

If You Enjoyed This Episode

• Subscribe + turn on notifications
• Share this episode with someone who’s navigating burnout
• Follow us on socials for upcoming After Show Q&As
• Comment or DM us: What signs of burnout have you noticed in yourself lately?

Thanks for listening.
Let’s live well—for the long haul.

— Your AIWA Team

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One of the most overlooked contributors to chronic pain, limited mobility, and recurring injuries is soft tissue dysfunction.

Many people treat pain as a skeletal issue — focusing on bones, joints, or posture — without realizing that unresolved soft tissue restrictions are often the real root cause. In this episode, soft tissue specialist Ted Plasko explains how muscles, fascia, and scar tissue directly impact movement, recovery, and long-term joint health.

Amanda and Ted break down why rest and recovery are not the same thing, how scar tissue forms after injury or surgery, and how stress becomes stored in the body — often showing up as pain, tightness, or restricted range of motion. They also explore why preventative soft tissue work isn’t a luxury, but a necessary part of sustainable wellness and injury prevention.

Whether you’re an athlete, desk worker, or living in a high-stress body, this episode will help you understand how movement, recovery, and intentional care work together to support long-term health.

In This Episode

• What soft tissue is and how it affects skeletal health
• Why soft tissue issues often show up as joint pain
• The difference between rest and true recovery
• How movement supports mobility and injury prevention
• Scar tissue’s role in chronic pain
• How stress contributes to physical dysfunction
• Why prevention beats reactive treatment

Key Takeaways

• Soft tissue issues often precede skeletal pain
• Recovery requires intention, not just rest
• Scar tissue can restrict movement long after healing
• Stress can amplify pain and tension
• Soft tissue work is maintenance, not indulgence
• Prevention improves mobility and quality of life

Guest: Ted Plasko
Expertise: Soft Tissue Specialist

Hosted by: Amanda Norcott – Co-Founder, AIWA Collective

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Soft Tissue & Skeletal Health
07:51 – Why Soft Tissue Is Overlooked
15:31 – Movement & Recovery
22:26 – Scar Tissue & Healing
29:56 – Stress & Pain
38:19 – Finding the Right Specialist
45:16 – Prevention vs Treatment

Keywords

soft tissue health, injury prevention, recovery vs rest, scar tissue pain, movement and mobility, pain management, holistic wellness, functional movement, AIWA podcast, All In Wellness Approach

Sound Bites

“The body keeps the score.”
“You can find that person.”
“Choose your hard.”

Connect With AIWA

https://linktr.ee/AIWACollective

Support the show

Connect with Us

https://linktr.ee/AIWAcollective

If You Enjoyed This Episode

• Subscribe + turn on notifications
• Share this episode with someone who’s navigating burnout
• Follow us on socials for upcoming After Show Q&As
• Comment or DM us: What signs of burnout have you noticed in yourself lately?

Thanks for listening.
Let’s live well—for the long haul.

— Your AIWA Team

Send us a text

Episode Summary

In this All In After Show mini-series of The All In Wellness Approach, Aubrey and Amanda go deeper into the conversation behind building something meaningful before you feel prepared — using the real-life journey of opening True Fit Georgetown as the backdrop.

This episode centers on the truth that growth rarely starts with confidence — it starts with action. Through honest reflection and lived experience, the hosts unpack what it actually looks like to begin with limited resources, navigate setbacks, and create a safe, supportive environment rooted in community rather than perfection.

They explore bravery as a practice, not a personality trait; how setbacks strengthen resilience; and why finding your “why” is essential for sustained motivation. The conversation also introduces the Five Whys Method as a powerful self-discovery tool — helping listeners uncover deeper purpose beneath surface-level goals.

This After Show is about momentum, meaning, and building spaces — gyms, communities, and lives — where people feel safe enough to show up, struggle, and grow together.

In This Episode

• What it really means to start before you feel ready
• Why perfection isn’t required for progress
• Building a safe and supportive gym environment
• How setbacks shape resilience instead of stopping growth
• Why bravery is action taken in fear, not confidence
• The role of community during hard seasons
• Finding your “why” and how it fuels long-term motivation
• Using the Five Whys Method for deeper self-discovery
• Why meaningful change doesn’t require massive goals
• Bringing others along as part of your growth journey

Key Takeaways

• You don’t need all the tools to start — you need momentum.
• Failure is not final; it’s part of the process.
• Bravery is doing the work even when fear is present.
• Community support is essential during setbacks.
• A strong “why” transforms motivation and direction.
• The Five Whys Method helps uncover deeper purpose.
• Safe spaces foster connection, trust, and growth.
• Setbacks often become the foundation for resilience.
• Growth is meant to be shared, not carried alone.
• Small, intentional actions can create meaningful change.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction to the All In After Show
02:58 – The Journey of Opening True Fit Georgetown
06:08 – Creating a Safe and Supportive Gym Environment
08:45 – Overcoming Setbacks and Building Resilience
11:45 – Finding Your Why and Why It Matters
14:57 – The Five Whys Method for Self-Discovery
18:11 – Bravery and Taking Risks in Life
21:05 – The Power of Community and Support
24:05 – Closing Reflections and Takeaways

Keywords

wellness, fitness, community, resilience, personal growth, gym environment, self-discovery, motivation, bravery, support, mindset, purpose, growth, intentional living

Support the show

Connect with Us

https://linktr.ee/AIWAcollective

If You Enjoyed This Episode

• Subscribe + turn on notifications
• Share this episode with someone who’s navigating burnout
• Follow us on socials for upcoming After Show Q&As
• Comment or DM us: What signs of burnout have you noticed in yourself lately?

Thanks for listening.
Let’s live well—for the long haul.

— Your AIWA Team