6 Feet Above with Megan Armstrong

on January 18, 2022, Brody Michael Lazar was born still. In this episode, Brody's mom, Katherine shares her emotional journey of meeting Brody's dad, being pregnant, the day she found out Brody had passed and what life has been like ever since. As a Loss Mom, Katherine shares why she started the podcast, "At a Total Loss" and how she is helping other families with similar experiences connect (and survive) through grief, pain and humor. @thekatherinelazar

Dr. Brian Yee is a Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist and Doctor of Physical Therapy who believes that physical therapy can (and should) come well before you're faced with an injury, surgery or ongoing pain. In this episode, Dr. Yee shares his process of getting to know his patients on a personal level instead of just addressing and assigning a treatment along with how physical pain can greatly affect someone's mental and emotional state. He discusses that truly helping a patient goes so much deeper than simply resolving pain. IG: @brianyee_dpt www.motionstability.com

Fresh off of her 17th surgery (a full hysterectomy) Jessie Magaro shares her incredible story and painful battle with Crohn's disease and endometriosis. Jessie was first diagnosed at just 15 years old and in this episode we learn about the ups and downs of her 22 year journey, how it has affected her mental health, the impact it's had on her relationships and the hope she has to live a pain-free life with her husband and 2 daughters. @jessiemagaro

Allie McAllister has made a name for herself in the aesthetic injector world and it's just the beginning. As a fairly new entrepreneur and newlywed, 2022 has been the biggest year of Allie's life but in this episode she opens up about how success can lead to guilt and how she navigates that world. Allie contributes some of this to her parent's divorce when she was a teenager and how dealing with an alcoholic father growing up inspired her to create a life much different than the one she was handed. @theatlantainjector @lemmonavenueatlanta

On February 13, 2008, FP was sexually assaulted and brutally attacked after being drugged at her college food hall. When she woke up several hours later and realized what happened, she tried to take her own life. In this episode, FP shares how this traumatic experience along with years of emotional neglect and victim shaming actually inspired her to become a criminologist and suicidologist. As the Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Cal State, Los Angeles, FP is working to build a community around suicide prevention, education and intervention to help destigmatize a very isolating human experience. @withoutasafetynet **Please listen with discretion

TEDx speaker and author of "Free and Clear: Get Unstuck and Live the Life You Want," Shira Miller opens up about her personal and professional struggles on this week's episode. From financial ruin to prosperity, chronic health challenges to a state or wellness, obesity to healthy weight loss and divorce to lasting love, Shira is no stranger to feeling stuck. In this episode we learn how Shira has taken her own life experiences to inspire others to take control of their lives, how she teaches them to get unstuck and how her own path has led her to a purpose-driven life. Website: shiramiller.com IG: @theshiramiller

After 25 years of helping others as a nurse, Daniela Ezratty became the patient when she found a large lump on her scapula. While she prayed and waited for the results, Daniela vowed to leave her job and follow her dream of opening her own wellness and medical aesthetic company where she would provide integrative treatment and curated plans for her clients to look and feel better. In this episode Daniela shares why she was inspired to change her life at 41 and how Ezratty Integrative Aesthetics came to life. @danielaezrattyaesthetics; https://eiaesthetics.com/

A self-proclaimed overachiever, Alethea Tinkle spent most of her life craving her parent's attention and approval in a very strict Christian household. In this episode, Alethea shares her story of how growing up in a hands-off household motivated her to become an entrepreneur, a loving wife and a very hands-on mother of 3. Alethea also shares how she balances being the owner and manager of 2 Bella Medspa locations, how she runs a small farm with her husband and how she is continuously inspired to be the parent she never had. @alethea.laser.guru @bella_medspa_atl

Down and out in the middle of 2019 after losing the biggest job of her life, our host, Megan Armstrong shares her journey over the last 3 years. When you don't have a determined path or even know what the next day will bring, it means truly anything can happen. In this episode we hear how Megan learned to pivot during the pandemic, how she built a personal training business and how saying YES to a network marketing opportunity with Nu Skin has completely changed her life. Megan will be doing more of these solocasts to inspire change, motivate our listeners and will gladly accept questions or topic ideas to 6feetabovepodcast@gmail.com or DM her @megstagram11 @6feetabovepodcast

In this episode, Pietro Gianni convinces us all that's it's never too late and you're never too old to take responsibility for your mental health. Originally from Rome, Italy, Pietro shares his story of going against his family's wishes as he became a young entrepreneur at 17, left the family business a few years later and moved to the US to follow his dreams of opportunity. As the co-owner of Storico Fresco, Forza and Storico Vino in Atlanta, Georgia, Pietro opens up about how his anger began to control his life, how it affected his relationships and how he came to terms with making the changes necessary to regain control of his life.

On November 18, 2020, Eva Lipman lost her short but mighty 68 day battle with T-Cell Lymphoma. In this episode her daughter, Emily Lipman Mahar shares what those last few months were like, who she met along the way (spoiler alert - her now husband) and how her mother's death has inspired her fundraising campaign to become Woman of the Year for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. IG: @emilylmahar Donations: https://pages.lls.org/mwoy/ga/atlanta22/elipmah

Lacey Odom is the founder and owner of Live Fit ATL, a boutique fitness studio with 2 locations in Atlanta. In this episode, Lacey shares much more than the challenges associated with becoming a business owner - she openly shares her struggle of becoming a mom. Lacey graciously discusses the stages of IVF so far as she is currently in the depths of it, the strain it can place on a marriage, the refuge she has found through her Live Fit community and the faith she has knowing God is in charge. @laceylivefit @livefitatl https://www.livefitgym.net/

Not only did she lose her job during the pandemic but she lost her mother, too. In this episode, Erika Carter shares her story of losing her job at Flywheel Sports after 9 years when the world shut down in 2020 and then how her mother lost her battle to Pancreatic cancer less than a year later. Erika's story is one of finding strength in community, purpose through death and setting the best example for your children while going through the most traumatic time of your own life. Check out Erika's online workouts at www.erikacarterfitness.com or IG @erikacarterfitness

Carly Durst learned early on that her life was different and that if she wanted anything in life it was up to her to make it happen. In this episode, Carly shares what it was like growing up in two different world's amidst her parents' divorce, coping with anxiety and depression along the way and learning how to take care of herself at a very young age. Carly also talks about leaving the corporate finance world to build a successful business in network marketing and what she practices both personally and professionally to be the best leader she can be. @carly.durst

Jessica Goldstein is the founder and owner of JGold Salon - one of Atlanta's most sought after hair salons for color and extensions. In this episode Jessica talks about the struggle to find work-life balance, the opportunity to create a positive culture inside the salon walls and her deep passion to truly help women feeling confident inside and out. Jess also talks about her dating life, her favorite ATL hot spots and the future of JGold Salons as she continues to grow and lead the way for up and coming hairstylists. @jgoldthesalon @jessgoldhair

Elizabeth Schmitt is the founder and creative genius behind ATL Boards - a candy board charcuterie company that has exploded nationally over the last 2 years. But life hasn't always been as sweet as it is now. In this episode Elizabeth shares he journey with IVF, the emotional and physical pain of having a hysterectomy and how she started her company from a place of insecurity. Elizabeth also talks about what it's like to build a company from scratch, balancing business and family as well the role social media has played in helping her business grow. Check out ATL Boards online at www.atlboards.com or Instagram and TikTok @atlboards

In the height of the pandemic, Molly Reagan's life was turned upside down when her (then) husband filed for divorce after 10 years of marriage. Although 2021 was the most challenging year of her life, Molly poured her soul into building her art business and making her local community a more colorful place. In this episode, Molly shares what helped her through the toughest days, how she still copes today, the challenge of staying strong for her 2 boys and how her motto of "loving thy neighbor" is the best medicine for a broken heart. Molly is a beautiful artist and can be commissioned through her website, www.goodneighborart.com or through Instagram @goodneighborart

At 5 years old, Stacy and Matt's son, Andrew, was diagnosed with PANDAS - a rare syndrome that can cause a child to turn into a different person overnight. PANDAS can make a child irritable,, moody, anxious, aggressive and angry, have obsessive compulsive behaviors and cause body movements that can't be controlled. In this episode, Stacy shares what it was like in the years leading up to Andrew's diagnosis, the nightmare it was to watch her child suffer, how helpless she felt and the challenges it created in her marriage. Stacy talks about finding light in the darkest of places and how important it was for her to "let go" of being perfect in this inspirational episode. @stacymol33

When James Gillespie was 16 years old, he watched his father take his last breath. It was at that moment, James went into auto pilot and assumed his role as man of the house. But, it wasn't until a friend's death 4 months later that the grief from his dad's death actually hit him. In this episode we hear how James dealt with his dad's death and how losing the strongest man he knew completely changed the course of his life. James shares his inspirational story of taking responsibility for his life over the last 10 years and what he does to make sure he stays healthy both mentally and physically. @jamesmgillespie

Growing up, Ryan Makely-Phillips always knew he was different but it wasn't until he was about 13 or 14 that he could identify what that meant. As a gay son in an Italian Catholic family from Long Island, Ryan struggled to find his identity and never felt like he measured up to his family's expectations. In this episode we hear how Ryan "found his people," how he pursued his passion in music and theater and how he fell in love with fitness. We also learn about Ryan's struggle as a COVID-19 long hauler and how his physical and mental health have been affected over the last year. @makelymagic

As a plus sized model, Paige Castor got to experience some of the nation's biggest cities during the summers in her late teens and early 20s. But it wasn't until her weight got to a point where it affected her joints and the way she felt physically and mentally that she made the choice to change. In this episode we hear how Paige took the steps to take control of her physical well being, how that turned into a passion for fitness and how she inspires others to take control of their own lives - in the gym as well as in the kitchen as a nutrition coach. @fit_with_paige

Like most college students, Kate Lipton wasn't sure what she wanted to major in at FSU but when a counselor suggested Recreation Therapy she knew it was the perfect fit. After working with Veterans in San Diego, Kate made the decision to move back home to Atlanta and 11 years ago, received some terrifying news when the dermatologist called to tell her she had cancer. In this episode Kate shares her journey of creating healthy habits to beat cancer and how how she is serving the Veteran community again at a local non-profit called Camp Twin Lakes. Kate shares her inspirational story of how service helped her deal with the diagnosis and quest to find purpose. @k8liptonwellness www.camptwinlakes.org

What happens when a prescription drug takes control of your life? In this episode, Adair Viella shares the moment she realized she was addicted to Adderall and the negative effects it had on her body as well as her relationships. Adair explains how at first Adderall did what it was supposed to do but after years of over-medicating it became a problem she had to deal with head on. Adair spent years working with functional medicine doctors as well as with holistic gurus to heal her body from the inside out. We learn how Adderall did major damage to her gut health and the steps she takes today to make sure she is living her best life - Adderall free! @adairsway

Jesica Smith looked like she had it all - the marriage, 2 healthy kids and the corporate dream job. In this episode we hear how Jessica felt stuck in her own life, unfulfilled at her job and how being unhappy affected all aspects of her life and relationships. She shares how she took responsibility for her own happiness first and how personal growth strategies led to her passion and purpose. Jessica has since left her corporate job to build her own business as an accountability coach helping other women create and maintain healthy habits for life. She also shares other women's stories on The Fit Life with Jessica Podcast!@thefitlifewithjessica

Why are professional female athletes treated differently than males? Why are girls in sports looked at as second best? In this episode Donna Burke and host, Megan Armstrong, discuss their personal experiences growing up as female athletes, how those experiences affected their mental health and what the next generation faces if we don't make some societal changes. We hear how Donna and Megan both found careers in the fitness industry and are making a difference in the way females think about their physical health as well as promoting food as fuel and the need to teach our children the same. @yogainheels@FORMEstudios  www.formestudios.com

As a self-proclaimed "band geek", Madeleine Conti spent more time playing piano, percussion and reading music than on a sports field. It wasn't until college when a recurring ganglion cyst forced Madi to take a look at her lifestyle and put her health first. In this episode we hear how Madi found a love for fitness and wellness and how after some self-reflection, realized she's been dealing with bouts of depression her whole life. Madi shares how forgiving others has played a huge role in her mental health, how she continues to work on it today and how she has ultimately forgiven herself in the process.@mcontifitness

There was a time in Greer Howard's life when having the husband was "the goal." In this episode we hear how Greer lost herself in her ex-husband's life and why it wasn't until she had a son that she decided to file for divorce. Greer discusses her emotional journey that led to divorce, how she manages being a single mom, co-parenting and what happens when love just isn't enough. She shares the hope that comes after a divorce and how life can actually be more fulfilling when you honor yourself. @greer.howard

Abbey Griffith was first body shamed in just 1st grade in front of her whole class. By 5th grade, Abbey was working out with a personal trainer several times a week and became obsessed with "perfection." After years of body dysmorphia and eating disorders, Abbey has done the work to heal and inspires others to do the same. As the founder and CEO of Clarity Fitness, Abbey has found a new role in entrepreneurship and helps promote body positivity by smashing the scale. www.clarityfitness.com@claritydecatur @abbeygrif.fit

In 2020, Heather Repp came to the conclusion that happiness and success wasn't about the job, the money, the house, the kids, the car or the degree. She realized that true happiness was finding her purpose in the world. In this episode we hear how Heather has had the rug pulled out from her many times throughout life and how she has learned to handle it both personally and professionally. We also learn how she is doing her part in helping humanity thrive again in the midst of COVID-19 as the COO of Wellness 4 Humanity (www.w4humanity.com).@heath_n_wellness@w4humanity

In this week's episode we hear from Erin Meason who shares what it's like to grow up feeling unnoticed, shy and full of shame. We hear how Erin's comparison to her older, very successful brother affected her as well as feeling like she had no support system. Erin shares how these feelings morphed into an eating disorder, how birth order played a significant role in her emotional journey and how she just wanted to have control over something and feel noticed. @turn_erinmeason

There is a special bond between a mother and daughter but unfortunately, Gretchen Clark has never experienced that. In this episode, Gretchen opens up about growing up with a mother who suffers from depression, how that has emotionally shaped her and her inspirational journey to succeed on her own. We also hear how Gretchen manages her anxiety, how she loves her dogs more than (most) people and why her motto is "Don't be a dick." @gbclark

This year has been an emotional roller coaster for so many people and maybe not everyone is ready or comfortable to talk about how they feel, but people are listening. In this episode, our host, Megan Armstrong reflects on the first two seasons of this podcast, opens up about falling back into some old habits she's worked so hard to overcome and how maybe 2020 is actually an opportunity to help our next generation. We learn about the goals for season 3 and how this series will always be about hope - hope that you don't have to struggle forever.  IG: @megstagram11; @6feetabovepodcast Email: 6feetabovepodcast@gmail.com

At 21 years old, Candice Cunningham Scott was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. The autoimmune disease not only affected her physical well being but her mental health as well. In this episode we hear how Candice took control of her health through self-education and exercise and how her disease actually inspired her to become a fitness trainer to help others. We also learn how Candice navigated a positive COVID-19 test earlier this year, how it took a toll on her mental health and what steps she is taking to stay healthy moving forward. 

As a local fitness instructor and personal trainer, Sarah Brown Laderberg inspires clients daily. But just a few years ago her love of healthy foods became a very unhealthy obsession that took over her life. In this episode we hear how Sarah has struggled to deal with her father's relationship with alcohol, how she is still coping with her anxiety and how she took back control of her relationship with food.  @sarahbrownladerberg

Growing up as a first generation Taiwanese American, Jonathan Chen had many expectations placed upon him and struggled to find the balance between doing what made him happy and pleasing his parents. In this episode we hear how Jonathan went against the grain of his cultural expectations to find happiness as a professional ballroom dancer and fitness instructor.  @jonkchen

It wasn't until Ashley Francis lived in San Diego that she realized making a ton of money and living in paradise wouldn't change the way she was feeling about herself and her life. In this episode we hear how Ashley completely changed her career path going from corporate America to fitness studio owner and how she channeled her dad's entrepreneurial spirit to open TURN Studio on August  30, 2018. @turn_atl @turn_ashley 

When we think of disordered eating and body image issues we usually think of girls and women in their teens and 20s. But, it wasn’t until 41 when Allison Hare struggled with her relationship with food and severe body dysmorphia. In this episode we learn what happened to Allison to trigger this trauma and how she learned to cope with her disorder. As a mother of two, loving wife, podcast host & coach and technology sales badass, Allison Hare gets real, vulnerable and even flips the script on host Megan Armstrong in this week's episode.  @allison_hare

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Chris Thompson’s birth mother dropped him off at an orphanage when he was a year and a half. He was lucky enough to be adopted at two years old but growing up as the only Asian boy in rural Mississippi to caucasian parents definitely had some challenges. In this episode we learn about how adoption, divorce and his adopted mom’s death have all played a role in Chris’ depression and how he has worked to change the narrative to make the most of his life.

Kelly Henderson was expecting twin girls but at her 25 week checkup she knew something was wrong. Hope Isabella Henderson never made it to her due date but her memory lives on in twin sister Shelby, brother Pace and baby Henderson due this fall. In this episode we learn what it's like to lose a child, how it affects a marriage, the pain a family goes through dealing with life and death at the same time and finding hope in tragedy. 

There is a stigma that comes with being an NFL player but Brandon Chubb is breaking that in this episode. As a black man growing up in Marietta, Georgia we learn how football shaped Brandon both professionally and personally, how race has played a factor in his life and how he has struggled with depression over the last year and a half.  IG: @chubb @chubbfoundation Website: www.chubbfoundation.com

Did you know there is a direct correlation between our gut health, hormones and genetics when it comes to mental health and illness? In this episode, STAT Wellness Founder, Kristin Oja, DNP, FNP-C, IFMCP discusses how the foods we eat could actually be contributing to our mental health or lack thereof. She also talks about how stress and physical fitness can play a big part in depression and anxiety and why it’s important to know what’s really going on with our own physiology. Kristin provides tangible ways to take control of your own health with a balanced combination of medicine, mindfulness and movement because wellness feels good!

Kim Schaper’s mental health journey began at the age of 7 years old when she was molested by her grandfather. For years she struggled with eating disorders, depression and finding self love. From trips in and out of treatment centers, being over medicated for years, to educating herself about mental health and wellness Kim is an inspiration. She uses her experiences to help others on their physical and mental health journeys as a way to find overall wellness.

From the outside, it looked liked Kristin Mize had the perfect life. Married to her high school sweetheart she had a beautiful baby boy who was one and a half, she was pregnant with 2 more twin boys on the way, had a great career living in a suburb of Atlanta and even had the picket fence to go with it. But it wasn't until she finally told her husband he'd be better off without her that she was able to get the help she needed after being diagnosed with Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder. With the help of doctors, medication and close friends Kristin gave birth to twin boys and became a counselor to help women going through similar issues she had experienced. She specializes in helping other women along their journeys of motherhood from prenatal through postpartum and beyond because she truly believes you have to take care of yourself first to be the best mother and wife you can be. Kristin owns her own practice (www.kristinmize.com (http://www.kristinmize.com/) ) and recently launched the Good Vibe Mom Tribe (@good.vibe.mom.tribe) with the goal of creating a fun, honest and real-life community promoting maternal mental health and supporting women, mothers and hopeful moms-to-be.

On November 9th, 2018, Dan Curran's dad took his own life. Dan is the friend who encouraged our host, Megan, to share her story which inspired this podcast. In this episode we learn how depression and suicide affect our loved ones and why it's a final act of desperation. Dan also sheds light on his own struggles with anxiety and the steps he took to overcome panic attacks. As a high school physical education teacher, Dan shares his perspective on what our youth are going through as anxiety and depression are more prominent than ever. He talks about ways we can help the next generation with their mental health and how he hopes that sharing his story will help normalize the conversation. 

Denae Olberding found confidence and true happiness in running. But after daily training, malnutrition and anorexia, and running over 13 marathons in just a few short years her body began to shut down. In this episode Denae talks about walking away from the one thing she loved the most and how it affected her both physically and mentally. She also discusses the healing process, finding joy in creating a run club for others and shares that the struggle is still present today.

In Part 2 of Phillip's story, we learn about the moment he hit rock bottom and planned to end his life. Phillip now uses his story to help others from all walks of life. He encourages people to ask for help to get through the hardest times and is leading by example by being vulnerable and sharing his emotional journey.

Phillip Blow is most well-known for his Mr. Olympia title, his larger than life smile, and his impact on the fitness community - but that is just the surface. In Part 1 of Phillip's story, we learn how his self-confidence has been continuously challenged his whole life from his relationship with his dad growing up to his relationships with women since he was assaulted at 17. We also learn that the death of his first born daughter taught him the value of life after she passed away at just 10 months old.

Renee Klein's story begins with her sister, Sandy. When Sandy was just 2.5 years old she was hypersensitive to people and things in her environment, and her family knew she was atypical for her age. At 8 years old, Sandy had a psychotic break and her family's lives would never be the same. Renee shares how the struggles of a family member very much affects the entire family and their group of friends. Her family turned that challenge into something good in bringing awareness and action to help support other families dealing with mental illness by working with NAMI (the National Alliance on Mental Illness) and the housingtaskforce.org (http://housingtaskforce.org/) as well as supporting the genetic research with the Prechter Family Fund. Renee has made it her life mission to share her family's story to bring light to a sometimes dark subject and show compassion to everyone she meets - because you never know what someone is going through.

As one of Atlanta's top trainers and community creators, Heath Ward struggled for years with his own sense of self worth. After years of abuse in his childhood, Heath found healing in friends, fitness, accountability and being vulnerable. In this episode we hear how Heath uses his own story to help mentor young men struggling physically, emotionally and spiritually. 

Kinsey Trzcinski went through more in her first 26 years than most people do in a lifetime. From being a caregiver to her mother until her dying day, getting divorced just months after her mom's death to learning her dad was not the person she thought, Kinsey is resilient to say the least. In this episode we learn how Kinsey found a new role in taking care of herself, how she strives to find the positive in the most devastating times and how she is bringing her energy and light to her new found career in fitness.

Garett Sakahara went from weighing 400 pounds to becoming a DDP Yoga instructor. He struggled with PTSD in his 20s after he was held up at gun-point and found therapy, music and being honest with his family were necessary to cope and get through it. His weight has been a rollercoaster and his life is a work in progress but in this episode Garett shares how surrounding himself with a supportive community and helping others through their struggles makes him feel happy and healthy.