The Ninjababes Podcast

This is the final episode of Ninjababes. I've been so honored and grateful to be a part of this community for the last 4 years. Ninjababes has been my passion project and a truly life-changing experience. I poured my blood, sweat, and tears into this community, but everything has a beginning, middle, and end.  In this episode, I'm going to share with you everything on my heart and mind, give my thanks, and look forward to the future. Thank you listeners for all your support over the years. If you've been inspired by this community and this message, bring it to your own gyms and your own spaces, whether it's creating a girls group or being a supportive and inspiring friend and teammate to the girls around you, I want to keep the core message of Ninjababes alive. It's never been about me. Ninjababes has always been a collaborative, inspiring community. You are what makes Ninjababes awesome, and this community will stay alive because of you. Be strong. Be you. Be a Ninjababe.

I'm back with Amy Harski to continue our discussion about pregnancy and post-partum training. We're going to talk more about what's actually going on during your pregnancy and what you need to know when you're training while pregnant. Amy's also going to answer some listener questions related to this topic! 10% off with code NINJABABES www.propellolife.com

Neighborhood Ninjas is a nonprofit organization and community outreach program. Their mission is to “increase access to ninja warrior training for low income and underrepresented groups while fostering community and connection.” Neighborhood ninjas partners with ninja training facilities nationwide to spread community, connection, and compassion, one kid at a time. In this episode, Cara talks with Alex Katz and Whitney Miller about their mentorship program, their partners in prevention, and more. For more information, visit NeighborhoodNinjas.org Use coe NINJABABES for 10% off at Propello Life!

Sarah Avery is a physical therapist who specializes in women's health and pelvic floor rehabilitation. In this episode, we're going to talk about the female athlete triad, how hormones can affect your performance, and how to properly fuel your body and work with your menstrual cycle to maximize your performance. Visit Moon Cycle Seed Co.: www.mooncycleseedco.com

Chances are, you know someone in the Ninja community who is currently pregnant or has been pregnant during their career. My guest this week is Amy Harski, a pregnancy and postpartum coach. She works with athletes looking to stay fit during their pregnancy and helps them get back into their sport postpartum. Amy's career as a Ninja didn't start until she was postpartum herself, and that experience navigating Ninja after her own pregnancies helped inspire her to help other ninja athletes. Pregnancy does not have to be the end of your athletic career. There is a lot you can safely do, both during pregnancy and postpartum. In this episode, we're going to talk about how athletes can navigate their training throughout and after their pregnancy, common postpartum issues, and how we can unravel the stigma of pregnancy in sports.

Alex Katz is a Certified Personal Trainer with a Master's Degree in Psychology and she's super active in the ninja world as a competitor and coach, which gives her a unique, multidimensional insight and perspective in the Ninja world. Often in this sport, we want to go full steam ahead, 100% of the time and we tend to fall into some unhealthy habits.  In this episode, Alex and I are going to talk about the habits and warning signs of overtraining and how to step into a healthier training mindset, how to properly recover from injuries, and how we as a Ninja community should reevaluate what it means to have a supportive training environment. Read more: https://iconrefined.com/life-and-limb-navigating-life-after-sports-injury/ Bonus Content: www.patreon.com/ninjababes

Emerson's first exposure to ninja was when she had her 11th birthday party at a ninja gym, and she was instantly hooked. Inspired by the likes of Jessie Labreck and Kacy Catanzaro, she's been training consistently for the last two years and was selected for ANW junior this year.  Her ninja name is Food is Fuel: which has been her motto since her struggle with anorexia.  ANW Junior announced another season, and she used that as motivation to get healthy so she could compete and share her story. Eating disorders are still taboo, especially among athletes, and ninja is no different. Emerson wants to end the stigma and open the dialogue to encourage the ninja community to talk about eating disorders more openly, and encourage healthy attitudes about food (because food is fuel!).  

Megan Budway shares her insights and practice for getting her mind ready for the ninja season! Megan describes what she has learned from “With Winning In Mind” by Lanny Bassham.  She journals and mentally prepares for each competition by following the Mental Management System.  Today Cara and Megan discuss how to follow this technique and how it has helped Megan compete at her best.  Cara and Megan also discuss the upcoming National Ninja League season.  Read "With Winning In Mind" for yourself! Amazon Link here: https://amzn.to/3gx6SDd

My guest this week is New Jersey's Rachel DeGutz! Rachel discovered Ninja while she was in college studying to be a teacher. She followed a lot of ninjas on social media, listened to this podcast, decided to sign up for a class, and the rest is history! Now Rachel is a guest on the show she has always listened to- talk about full circle!  In this episode, we're going to talk about how Rachel prepared for ANW and what it was like competing on the course, the Jersey Girls origin story, whether or not obstacles should be different for males and females, NNL rule changes, and more! Head over to Patreon for bonus content with Rachel! www.patreon.com/ninjababes

We have a full house in the Ninjababes Studio today! I'm pleased to welcome Michelle Warnky Buurma, Chris Wilczewski, and Mary Leighton on the show today to discuss the National Ninja League and the changes made for NNL season 7. We discuss what the changes are and the need for standards and parameters, making it a sport for both amateurs and professional athletes, how we can work to design courses that work for both men and women, and how we can grow our sport.  

Cara and Mary were honored to be presenters at the NNL World Championships to discuss a topic nearly two years in the making. Over the course of the competition, they presented the seminar 6 times. About 2 years ago, Cara and Mary started diving into the topic and concept of males and females in Ninja. Why do we compete on one course? Could we split into two courses? What are the implications on having two courses for men and women? Cara and Mary interviewed with professionals from both outside and inside of ninja and presented their findings during the seminars. In this episode, we're going to talk about the responses and feedback we got from presenting this seminar. View the seminar: https://youtu.be/JLBiYLeZCok Support http://www.patreon.com/ninjababes

15-year-old Addy Herman is a former ANW Junior competitor who was one of the teen competitors featured in the current season of ANW13. In this episode, Addy shares her experiences with NNL, competing as a teen against adults, grip gauntlets, and why she has really been focusing on honing her mental game.  Find the BONUS content here: www.patreon.com/ninjababes

Ninja moms, moms-to-be, or future moms: this episode is for you! Ever wondered how you can balance motherhood and family life with the demands of Ninja training? Lindsay Eskildsen did, and she's here to talk with Cara about how she took a break from Ninja to focus on family and motherhood, her return to competition and ANW, her life as a new mom, and her advice to women and moms who still want to pursue their passions and dreams.

Meet Megan, the axe-throwing ninja! Megan's first season on ANW was Season 11, and she's been involved with ninja for 3 years. In this episode, we'll talk about her experiences on the show, her axe collection & how she got into axe throwing, defining your worth as an athlete and as a ninja, and the importance of growing the sport outside of the show.

Isabella Wakeham has been a part of the ninja community for a while, both on ANW Jr. and on ANW season 13. In this episode, Cara and Isabella talk about how delaying from season 12 to 13 affected her, her relationship with her ninja brother, the story behind her outfit, dealing with disappointment and failure, what was going through her mind while she was on the course and her advice to teenage ninjas. Isaiah's designs: www.luckystripedesigns.com Support Ninjababes on Patreon: www.patreon.com/ninjababes

Megan Budway is an elementary school music teacher and a rookie on American Ninja Warrior season 13. Megan grew up singing in chorus and theater and later became a classical vocalist singing opera. Besides discussing Megan's musical life, Cara talks to Megan about athlete identity and why it is important to understand who you are as a person outside of ninja. Check out the Neighborhood Ninjas Mentorship Program www.neighborhoodninjas.org   Support us on Patreon and find the BONUS content here!  

Zuri Hall has been the sideline host on American Ninja Warrior for 3 seasons. Learn how she landed her spot as host and what it's like interviewing for Access Hollywood.  Zuri shares all the behind-the-scenes secrets from American Ninja Warrior about wardrobe, the interview process for ANW, what is in her on-set trailer, her favorite ninjas, and more! Support Ninjababes on Patreon! THANK YOU!! http://www.patreon.com/ninjababes Check out Zuri's podcast: https://www.hothappymess.com/

Nicolette was cast for ANW season 13, but then life took an unexpected turn.  Find out how this mom and nurse tackled one of the most disappointing moments of her life.  We talk about the mindset and circumstances that got her through. 

Meagan Martin is an 8-time competitor on American Ninja Warrior who has LOT to say about females crushing it on the course.  Today she shares her passion for supporting girls and women in sports. We discuss her article on ESPN from 2019 about retaining girls in sports, what she values about coed competition on ANW, what is special about competing female-only, and advice to other ninjas.  Check out Eleviia! www.duonamic.com  Patreon- Bonus Material: *Best training advice for ninjas A look at Meagan's at-home rock wall *How do you push through the days you don't feel like training?

Ready to crush the competition and looking forward to the National Ninja League New England Regionals?! Ultimate Obstacles is setting up a competition experience to remember.  Today we talk with Robert Perry, Mary Leighton, Beth Gionfriddo from the UO team about their course design philosophy and what to expect at regionals. This is MORE than just a competition; it's an event you don't want to miss! 

Let's celebrate and pass the mic! It has been 100 episodes and we are BEYOND excited.  Let's hear from all of you! Why do you love and listen to this podcast? What has this community meant to you? Get involved with our big NB Insiders community project! https://www.theninjababes.com/insiders Support us here: https://www.patreon.com/ninjababes 

Let's talk about all the gear you need for a ninja warrior! Best ninja shoes, ninja holds, hand-balm for rips, recovery ice methods, how to take care of ninja rips. WATCH this talk on YouTube: https://youtu.be/SguznD9kLj0 Use our Amazon link-- Awesome shoulder-ice device: https://amzn.to/3gfgqTS New Balance Zantes V4: https://amzn.to/3wX3Xdv What else would you like me to make videos about?

Shelle Edge and Cara Mack talk about the upcoming 100th episode and how you can be a part of the celebration. Go to www.theninjababes.com and click the pink bar to submit your audio message!  Shelle and Cara talk about what empowerment is and how it can be useful to others beyond our own ambitions.  Learn about the upcoming empowerment event for females at Strive Ninja Fitness in Franklin, MA.  https://striveninja.com/events 

Today we talk all things American Ninja Warrior! *How do you make a great submission video? *How did Jenn feel as a rookie during ANW12? *What do Cara and Jenn think of the new course changes for ANW13? ✨Want MORE advice about making your ANW submission video?✨ Become a Patreon subscriber and listen to our whole list of advice and discussion casting! www.patreon.com/ninjababes

Avery Glantz was an American Ninja Warrior Jr. competitor and now is heading towards her rookie season on ANW13.  Avery is a top competitor in the ninja world and is hyped for her chance to bring her skill to the next level.  Learn how Avery is preparing for ANW and what it's like going from the Jr. stage to the adult stage.

"Ladies, your physiology, training, and nutrition needs change throughout the month.  It's time to leverage this information to work smarter, not harder, for better results," -A'nna.  Dr. A'nna Roby has been a lifelong athlete and now works as a nutritionist for athletes.  She is the Chief Research Officer at Athlete Blood Test and has a passion for exercise science as it relates to females.  Today she shares how Athlete Blood Tests can help support women athletes in their performance, energy, and overall health.  This is our time to show our strength and skill!  Discount: Ninjababes50 $50 off www.athletebloodtest.com www.DrAnnaroby.com

Sarah Avery is a professional yoga therapist and teacher, founder of Moon Cycle Seed Company, and a physical therapist.  Today she shares insight on injury prevention for ankles and ACLs.  We talk about some practical tips for ankle strengthening after you've had an injury like a sprained ankle and how to be a proactive athlete in avoiding and training against injury.  Contact Sarah here: www.inmotionintegrativept.com  Support Ninjababes here: www.patreon.com/ninjababes

Dr. Elspeth Hart is not only a ninja who will be competing on this season of American Ninja Warrior, but she also treats injured ninjas! Elly is a physician assistant who works in sports medicine. Learn how she has developed "Gymnastics Medicine" which gives the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of gymnastics injuries. Elly is working on developing the same type of clinic for ninja. Find the BONUS content here: https://www.patreon.com/ninjababes Contact Elly! @elspethhart Boston Sports and Performance Center Gymnasticsmedicine@gmail.com

Taylor is a fierce competitor! At the time of this interview, she is ranked 2nd for Elite Female athletes in the National Ninja League. She has competed on American Ninja Warrior seasons 11 and 12 and is looking forward to competing in season 13! Hear how Taylor trains and her outlook on competing. Want to Keep The Ninjababes Podcast Going Strong!?

Kendra has a story that is raw, real, and relatable.  She explains how the drive to be accepted and valued led her down a destructive road. Kendra is now 8 years sober and is celebrating life free of a mind clouded by alcohol addiction. With her renewed mind, Kendra is crushing the course and ready to take on any obstacle.  www.thesoberninja.com Want the BONUS content? www.patreon.com/ninjababes  

Jordan Thurston joins Mary Leighton on today's discussion of the future of female ninja athletes. Jordan coaches top ninjas at Vitality Obstacle Fitness in Massachusetts.  Jordan believes that ninja warrior courses should be separated by gender for many reasons. He argues that it will benefit everyone involved including male and female athletes, coaches, and course designers.  Hear how his elite female athletes perform on the course, how he trains them, and what he sees as their challenges and their strengths.  Love the NB Podcast? Help us produce MORE by supporting on www.Patreon.com/ninjababes Check out Rachel's Article on Send City

Want to know the future of ninja? Sometimes you need to look back to look forward. Learn some history about the roots of the ninja warrior community and what the first big backyard competition was like with Jason Huewe.  Not only has Jason competed on American Ninja Warrior and worked with the notorious ATS crew that designs the obstacles on ANW, but he is also now an executive producer and challenge designer for USNL.  The big USNL competition is coming up April 23-25 and will be aired on BEIN Sports. Jason tells us all about the upcoming event! Register here for USNL! Use code NINJABABES for $100 off 

Michelle is the host of the upcoming United States Ninja League competition which will be televised on Bein Sports.  She started teaching fitness 23 years ago. Her background is in dance, fitness group classes, she is a WBFF Pro Worlds top 10 winner, and she is currently a master Pound Fitness trainer.  Michelle shares how she came to be involved with USNL and ninja, her life-changing back surgery, and her encouragement to the female community. @michelleDesOrmeaux Register for USNL for $100 off with code NINJABABES

Two-time American Ninja Warrior Megan Johnson is a med student by day and a ninja warrior by night.  Megan is in the midst of her medical program and is learning that there is more to being a doctor than just science and medicine. Megan has also learned valuable lessons from her time competing on ANW. Hear what she has to say about defying gravity in parkour, being on set at ANW filming, and what it is like if you are not aired on the show. 

Taylor Amann is a 3-time Big Ten Pole Vault Champion and a 2-time competitor on ANW.  In season 11 she crushed it in Oklahoma City and advanced to the Vegas Finalist.  She then competed on ANW season 12.  Taylor puts her creative brain to work on and off the course whether she is analyzing an obstacle or capturing a beautiful moment in her wedding photography.  Hear Taylor's whole story about how she started ninja, competing on ANW, and her passion for photography. https://www.tayloramann.com/ www.theninjababes.com

Ashley McConville is a 2-time American Ninja Warrior competitor.  This year on season 12 she hit her first buzzer! Ashley wildly changed her mindset approach from season 11 to season 12. Find out what gives Ashley her focus, strong mindset, and a competitive edge. Ashley shares about her disappointment from season 11 and how she overcame that the next year and BEAT THAT WALL! Change your habits- Transform your life! Use code NINJABABES for 15% off!

Periods are awesome! Let's talk about the unique characteristics of females. Did you know there is a point during your menstrual cycle that your athletic performance is typically best?  That's because females have a testosterone boost during ovulation that allows them to build muscle and perform at their peak athletically.  In this episode, we are joined by Nardeen Faragalla, a certified health coach with a focus on hormones and how they affect our sports performance.  Contact Nardeen here! tinyurl.com/nardeenf Tea for period cramps: www.drinkofnature.com

Jesse Labreck was the "last woman standing" on this season of American Ninja Warrior. Hear how this champ felt on the course and how she strategized. She was the only woman who made it to the Power Tower and she raced up the tower against Daniel Gil. Jesse shares her favorite obstacle from this season and what it's like competing alongside her fiancé, Chris DeGangi. Jesse and Cara talk about tips for new and seasoned ninjas, and how to balance your ninja mentality between fun and competitive. NinjaPassport: 15% off with code ninjababes15 

Want to fight FOMO in your life?  Does looking at other people's lives on social media make you feel bad about your own life? Sometimes we get stuck letting the negative affects of comparison make us feel less-than. The result is that being truly thankful is hard, because we don't actually recognize or appreciate the good things we do have in life.  On today's episode Cara teaches strategies for breaking this negative cycle and using comparison to build confidence instead of self-negativity. 

Let's debunk some myths: Women have more lower body strength and men have more upper body strength. Men have more fast-twitch muscle movement, and women have more endurance.  We are designing ninja courses with mens' bodies in mind, not womens'.  Kids do not produce lactic acid in their muscles. Are these true or false?  Listen to learn all this and more.

How can women ninja athletes optimize their performance on the course?  Dr. Blade is an expert in sports performance and has a PhD. in Kinesiology with a focus in human morphology and the differences between male and female bodies in their growth process.  Today we discuss in depth the differences that we see in the physical training and capabilities of male and female athletes.  How can these factors affect ninja warriors in the way we train and compete? 

Olivia finished 6th place overall in the Grand Final of season 4 of Australian Ninja Warrior! In Grand Final Stage 1, Olivia beat the course for the first time! Season 4 was Sarah's first season competing on Australian Ninja Warrior.  Both ladies had a long history in gymnastics and share their reaction to the documentary, "Athlete A" and their personal stories with gymnastics and abuse.  They also discuss season 4 of Australian Ninja Warrior. 

Cara Poalillo and Dr. Fitni Destani, a professor at Keene State College who specializes in mental performance in athletes, talk about all things mindset and gender in ninja. We discuss how we can empower girls and women in our sport to reach their full potential in training and competition.  When should we be training and competing coed? Should we separate by gender? How can we best set female athletes up for success?    www.propellolife.com 10% off and free shipping code: NINJABABES

Sara Heesen and Cara Poalillo have a vulnerable discussion about the pressures they have felt related to how they portray themselves on social media and in person.  Cara and Sara Heesen talk about role models, expectations, and living authentically.  When should or shouldn't you confirm to others' views of you?   www.propellolife.com 10% off code NINJABABES

Casey Rothschild and Cara reflect on the last 2 years of ninja and life. Today Casey shares all about: *How she has learned to keep calm before competition and on the course *Why it's ok to want to WIN *Casey's career goals for the future *What's new happening with the Neighborhood Ninja mentor program *What is Queer Ninjas Unite   www.propellolife.com 10% off code Ninjababes

On today's teen episode of The Ninjababes Podcast, teen host Marie Young interviews Maggie Owen about her time during quarantine and how she is crushing it as a ninja athlete.   Maggie has competed in NNL Worlds for 4 seasons, she was a UNX Majors 2nd place winner, competitor on ANW Jr. season 1, and originally got the call to compete in ANW12.  Not all of those who were originally called for ANW12 were actually able to compete because of COVID and the limited number of athletes allowed on set. None-the-less Maggie explains her incredible reaction to being called to compete with her heros and how honored she has been to train at such a high level. 

Incredible gym culture: there is something so amazing about helping young girls feel strong.  How do we foster healthy gym environments? How to do support the females AND the males in such a way that we are working together to empower one another, promote safety, and produce stellar athletes?  It's all here in today's part 2 episode with Shelle Edge. 

In the world of ninja warrior most often men & women and boys & girls compete together and train together.  Is this always the best option? This is a topic that we have explored a lot on The Ninjababes Podcast.  Today Shelle Edge shares her perspective on girls and boys training ninja together and why she started a teen girls' ninja program at her gym.  Shelle is from England, she is a personal trainer and a ninja coach, listen to her story today!

Gloria Orta talks with Cara Poalillo about her time on American Ninja Warrior season 12.  Her rookie year was filled with excitement as she hit the course for the first time, proving that dreams do come true.  Gloria, age 20, shares today about her experience coming to America as an immigrant and growing up with big dreams. She is passionate about building her future career around supporting the immigrant community, and inspiring girls to go after their dreams.  Gloria's Recommendations: Netflix: 30 Minute Hug Netflix: Immigration nation Texas Civil Rights Project https://texascivilrightsproject.org/action/ www.HHS.gov @gloriasofit

Rebekah Cornwall is the singing ninja, but did you know that she is the strategy and technique queen?  She has spent hours reviewing skilled ninjas' competition runs and obstacle work. Rebekah has an eye for technique and strategy.  Marie Young and Rebekah talk about her time on ANWJr. Rebekah explains her life-changing moment of standing on the ANW Jr. course for the first time. She shared advice for other teens.   

What does being a bystander of abuse mean? As a bystander what can you do to help stop a situation of sexual abuse or violence?   How can we normalize bystander culture like: checking in with friends, telling others when something seems wrong, and being respectful in talking to each other about our observations and feelings.  What can we do better at our gyms?  Today Cara Poalillo and Rachel Stewart talk all about learning how to recognize red flags in situations and how to speak up and tell people when something seems "off". We discuss ideas for gyms in making their environments more safe and building a culture of open communication.