81: The Psychology of Exercise Motivation: With Dr. Sabrena Jo, PhD
Release Date: 04/15/2025
81: The Psychology of Exercise Motivation: With Dr. Sabrena Jo, PhD
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
In this episode of The Girls Talk Healthy Aging podcast, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski are joined by Dr. Sabrena Jo, the Senior Director of Science and Education at the American Council on Exercise. Dr. Jo brings her extensive research and expertise on the psychology of exercise, particularly focusing on the factors that motivate individuals, especially older adults, to stay active. In this conversation, she breaks down the three basic psychological needs that must be met for us to remain motivated and achieve our fitness goals. Dr. Jo's research delves deep into understanding...
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80: Discovering Your True Self: With Carrie Genzel
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
In this episode of The Girls Talk Healthy Aging podcast, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski sit down with actress and mental health advocate Carrie Genzel to discuss her inspiring journey from a shy child to a successful actress who has faced and overcome immense mental health struggles. Carrie opens up about her early years in the industry, starting with print work and modeling, and eventually landing a coveted role on the iconic soap opera *All My Children*. Her experience in the acting world, where success can quickly turn into uncertainty, led to emotional rollercoasters that Carrie...
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79: Why Obesity Doesnât End With Weight Loss: With Dr. Robyn Pashby
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
Today we are learning from Dr. Robyn Pashby, a Clinical Health Psychologist specializing in weight management and obesity. Dr. Pashby sheds light on the long-standing stigma surrounding obesity and how medical professionals are shifting the conversation to focus on treating the person first rather than just the disease. She discusses the complex emotional toll that individuals living with obesity experience and how our societyâs harsh judgments often lead to negative self-talk, shame, and mental health struggles. Dr. Pashby also explores the rapid changes happening in the field of obesity...
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78: Reinventing Yourself At Every Age: With Maria Gonzalez
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
Today on *Girls Talk Healthy Aging*, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski sit down with Maria Gonzales, CEO of Club Fitness Greensboro, to explore how fitness evolves as we age. Mariaâs fitness journey began at just five years old when she was a competitive swimmer in Colombia. She dedicated a decade to the sport before transitioning to water polo at age 15. This early reinvention set the stage for a lifetime of transformationâboth in fitness and in her career. Now, as a woman over 45, Maria shares how she has adapted her workouts, recovery methods, and mindset to align with her changing...
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77: Concierge Medicine & Direct Primary Care Explained: With Dr. Jennifer Evans
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
In this episode of *Girls Talk Healthy Aging*, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski sit down with Dr. Jennifer Evans from Rejuvinant Family Health Care to discuss a revolutionary approach to healthcare: Direct Primary Care. Dr. Evans, a primary care physician, spent the first nine years of her career working in a traditional health system where patient visits were limited to just 15 minutes, and high patient loads made it difficult to provide the personalized care she felt patients deserved. Four years ago, she made the bold decision to branch out on her own and start a Direct Primary Care...
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76: How To Get Stronger With Age: With Lisa Bullock
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
In this inspiring episode of *Girls Talk Healthy Aging*, co-hosts Shawna Kaminski and Alli Kerr sit down with Lisa Bullock, a 60-year-old competitive powerlifter who has defied the odds and reshaped her life and body after menopause. Lisa holds several Australian titles and records, but her journey to powerlifting began only after turning 50. Faced with physical challenges and a changing body, she discovered the empowering world of powerlifting after realizing she could no longer engage in activities like boxing or CrossFit due to her body's transformation and two total knee...
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75: Why Women Tear Each Other Down: With Lisa Dixon Wells
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
In this powerful episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging, co-host Shawna Kaminski sits down with Lisa Dixon Wells, a trailblazer in bully prevention and mental health advocacy. Lisa and Shawna dive deep into the unique ways bullying manifests among women, particularly through relational social bullying such as gossip, exclusion, and rumor-spreading. With the rise of text groups and social media, these behaviors have become even more pervasive and damaging. Womenâs relationships often operate with a delicate balance, making indirect aggression more common. Many of us may unknowingly...
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74: Why I Had My Sister-in-Laws Baby: With Jenna and Laura Stevenson
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
In this heartfelt episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging, Shawna Kaminski and Alli Kerr sit down with 2 guests today. Laura and her sister-in-law, Jenna Stevenson are here to share an extraordinary journey of love, resilience, and unexpected miracles. Laura always dreamed of carrying her own child, but due to a chronic cancer and the treatments keeping her in remission, pregnancy posed too great a risk to her health. Just when hope seemed out of reach, Jenna made a life-changing offerâto carry Lauraâs child as a surrogate. Though Laura continued exploring every possibility to carry a child...
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73: Why Women Need More Protein & How to Get It: With Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
In this episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging, co-hosts Shawna Kaminski and Alli Kerr break down all the confusion around protein for women. How much do we really need? Why is it so important for healthy aging? And how can we make sure weâre getting enough? The ladies tackle common myths about protein, share their own journeys to upping their intake, and reveal how consistency makes it easier over time. Plus, Shawna shares a simple trick to quickly determine if a food is a good source of protein! You'll also get expert insights and resources to help you fuel your body properlyâso you...
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72: Fitness For Women, By Women: with Ann Gilbert
Girls Talk Healthy Aging
We are hosting a fitness industry veteran on today's episode of Girls Talk Healthy Aging. Co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski sit down with Ann Gilbert. She has 42 years in womenâs fitness and as the owner of Fit Herâa female-only gym in Florida thatâs been thriving for 35 yearsâAnn has seen it all. From starting her own journey as an obese mom at 27 to becoming a trailblazer in womenâs strength training, Ann shares the shifts sheâs witnessed in how women approach exercise and nutrition. She dives into why more young women are embracing strength training, how she...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Girls Talk Healthy Aging podcast, co-hosts Alli Kerr and Shawna Kaminski are joined by Dr. Sabrena Jo, the Senior Director of Science and Education at the American Council on Exercise. Dr. Jo brings her extensive research and expertise on the psychology of exercise, particularly focusing on the factors that motivate individuals, especially older adults, to stay active. In this conversation, she breaks down the three basic psychological needs that must be met for us to remain motivated and achieve our fitness goals.
Dr. Jo's research delves deep into understanding motivation in older adults, specifically those aged 50 and above, though the definition of "older adult" can vary. She explains how factors like the freedom to make decisions, the belief in one's abilities, and the need for social connection, all play crucial roles in encouraging consistent exercise habits. Dr. Jo emphasizes that social interaction is particularly important, as having a supportive network or group to engage with can be a powerful motivator for physical activity.
As part of her research, Dr. Jo explored the significance of goal-setting in the fitness journey. She highlights that setting achievable goals is key to maintaining motivation, as unrealistic expectations can lead to frustration and burnout. She also examined how the exercise environment and the individual leading the session can impact motivation. Whether in a group class or one-on-one session, the setting and the support from others can either inspire or deter participants, particularly older adults.
Dr. Jo also addresses the reality that exercise can often be the first thing to be dropped when life gets busy or stressful. However, she reminds us that regular physical activity can help us cope with stress and improve our mental state, making it even more essential during tough times. Finally, Dr. Jo shares her advice for women, especially, about being realistic with their expectations, particularly when it comes to aesthetic goals. By focusing on the bigger picture of health and well-being, we are more likely to stay committed to exercise for the long term. Tune in for an insightful conversation that provides valuable strategies to stay motivated and consistent in your fitness journey, no matter your age.
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