2026 Goals: Dopamine Reset and Finding Alignment

2026 Goals: Dopamine Reset and Finding Alignment

Author: Ashleigh VanHouten & Rachel Gregory January 13, 2026 Duration: 50:14

Welcome to 2026! In this episode, Rachel and Ashleigh catch up on their holiday breaks, share personal reflections on growth and alignment, and announce an exciting new product launching soon.

In This Episode:

  • Rachel shares about her Costa Rica adventure (and travel mishaps)

  • The power of journaling and self-reflection

  • 2026 personal goals and intentions

  • Announcing a new challenge launching soon

  • Why low-effort rewards are harming our focus and progress

  • Breaking phone addiction and being more present

  • How to fall back in love with the process of building muscle

If you want to submit a question, offer feedback or just say hi, email musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Join our Substack here: https://substack.com/@musclescienceforwomen

Learn more about our programs here: https://musclescienceforwomen.com

Subscribe to our new YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@musclescienceforwomen 

Resources Mentioned:

  • The Stutz documentary (Netflix)

  • "The Tools" by Phil Stutz

  • Whisper app (talk-to-text journaling)

 


Ashleigh VanHouten and Rachel Gregory, the co-creators behind the Muscle Science for Women training program, bring their combined expertise as a health coach and a nutritionist-strength specialist into a regular, down-to-earth conversation. This isn't about generic fitness advice; it's a deep, practical look at how women can build strength and wellness on their own terms. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair with two knowledgeable friends who genuinely understand the specific physiological and cultural landscape women navigate in gyms and kitchens. They tackle the real questions-from optimizing nutrition for energy and recovery to designing effective training sessions and critically examining fitness trends. The dialogue is always rooted in science but delivered without jargon, making complex topics like metabolism, hormonal influences, and sustainable habit change both accessible and actionable. Tuning into this podcast offers a reliable source of clarity amidst the noise, transforming the principles of muscle science into a personalized roadmap for anyone looking to feel stronger and more confident. You'll hear honest discussions that blend evidence with experience, all aimed at empowering your individual health journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Muscle Science for Women
Podcast Episodes
Ep 92: How to talk to your doctor about menopause [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:03
In this important episode, Rachel and Ashleigh walk listeners through how they can have the "menopause" conversation with their doctor: the information you should have and bring to them, including symptoms and family his…
Ep 90: How much muscle do you REALLY need? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:27
In the final episode of 2024, Rachel and Ashleigh answer a question about weight loss from a male listener, highlighting some of the differences and similarities men and women face in their struggles to change body compo…
Ep 89: A deep dive on red light therapy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:28
Today Ashleigh asks an expert all the questions about red light therapy: Having dealt with health challenges in childhood and early adulthood, Scott Chaverri has always been passionate about all things health and wellnes…
Ep 88: Gym Etiquette and Mukbang Videos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:05
Proper gym etiquette (ie, manners and common sense) is so important, but often overlooked - Rachel and Ashleigh get fired up over some of the most egregious issues we see in the gym. They also talk about Mukbang videos (…
Ep 87: Ashleigh answers your pregnancy questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:22
In this solo episode, Ashleigh updates you as she hits the halfway mark of her second pregnancy, including what's different or the same this time around, what's easier and what's more difficult, and anything that's surpr…
Ep 86: There's more to gut health than what we eat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:19
In this episode, Ashleigh speaks with Alison Mars, a Nutritional Therapy Practitioner and Cookbook author of The Paleo Gut Healing Cookbook, about managing Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and PCOS; how fertility, pregnancy, and…
Ep 85: Can you increase calories without gaining fat? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:04
In this episode, Ashleigh gives an update on her pregnancy; the ladies answer a question about how to slowly increase calories without gaining fat; dive into the benefits of magnesium supplement; discuss the pros and con…
Ep 84: Let's talk about coregasms [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:08
In this episode, Ashleigh and Rachel answer questions from listeners: What are coregasms? How and why do they happen in the gym, and if they're happening, how can you stop them so you don't hurt yourself during a heavy b…
Ep 83: PCOS and Pumpkin Spice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:57
In this episode, we discuss training and nutrition for women with PCOS, and also how to think about food cravings during your period; we discuss one of the biggest food-related challenges for women in losing fat that isn…