Pursuing Health

Today, I’m joined by two of the most accomplished athletes in CrossFit history, Annie Thorisdottir and Katrin Davidsdottir, both two-time CrossFit Games champions who have been an absolute joy to compete alongside.  Now that we've all retired from elite competition, we’re discussing embracing new chapters of life, including motherhood, pregnancy, staying active through life’s transitions, and how our identities have evolved beyond the competition floor.

 

You can follow Annie @anniethorisdottir, Katrin @katrintanja, learn about their EMPOWER community at https://empowerbydottir.com/, Drink Dottir at https://drinkdottir.com/, and pre-order Annie’s book, Iceland Annie, on Amazon.  You can connect with Brianna Battles at https://briannabattles.com/.

Related Episodes:

Ep 83 - Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes with Dr. Julie Wiebe

Ep 141 - From the CrossFit Games to Pregnancy with Annie Thorisdottir and Camille Leblanc-Bazinet

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Dr. Bill Chun is a board-certified OB/GYN who trained and has spent his entire career in Boston, where he has practiced solo for the past two decades. He is the founder of Empowering Pregnancy and Doula Unbound, and the host of Sunday with Chun. A Korean immigrant and U.S. Navy veteran, he is currently writing a literary memoir, The Accidental Obstetrician.

 

Follow Dr. Chun via his website drbillchun.com, and Instagram @dr.billchun

 

Related Episodes:

Ep 291 - Nutrition for Pregnancy with Brigid Titgemeier

Ep 333 - Life Update: We’re Pregnant! With Julie Foucher Brown

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this special solo episode, I’m sharing a personal update on the experiences that have shaped my life over the past several years. From the inner work that transformed my approach to relationships and personal growth, to meeting my husband, building a family with our adopted son, and finding a deeper sense of joy and connection, this chapter has been full of unexpected blessings. I also open up about my fertility journey, the challenges we faced along the way, and the incredible surprise of becoming pregnant shortly after our wedding. As we prepare to welcome a baby boy into the world, I’m excited to share what’s ahead for our family and for the next chapter of Pursuing Health. Thank you for being part of this journey and for your support through every season of the podcast.

 

Please share your thoughts with info@pursuing-health.com, or connect with me on Instagram @JulieFoucher.

Related Episodes:

Ep 321 - Visualization: A Simple Tool to Show Up Fully

 

Ep 309 - How I Created My Life Plan

 

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

In this special compilation episode, we explore the evolving science of pregnancy, exercise, and recovery through conversations with two innovative voices in women’s health: Dr. Shon Rowan and Dr. Lindsey Mathews.

Dr. Shon Rowan, an OB-GYN and researcher, shares groundbreaking insights from his work studying heart rate variability (HRV) throughout pregnancy and postpartum. His findings reveal fascinating physiologic adaptations—including measurable changes in HRV and resting heart rate that begin almost immediately after conception, reverse in the weeks leading up to delivery, and may ultimately rebound postpartum to levels even higher than pre-pregnancy.

Dr. Lindsey Mathews, a Doctor of Chiropractic and prenatal movement specialist, offers practical guidance on how women can use HRV as a tool to better understand stress, recovery, and readiness—helping inform training intensity during pregnancy and postpartum in a way that honors the body’s changing needs.

Together, these conversations challenge outdated beliefs about pregnancy and exercise, highlight the incredible adaptability of the female body, and offer a more informed, empowering perspective on movement during one of life’s most transformative seasons.

In this episode, we discuss:

How HRV and resting heart rate change during pregnancy

Why postpartum HRV may exceed pre-pregnancy levels

Using HRV trends to guide training and recovery

Why pregnancy research has historically been limited

The future of wearable technology in women’s health

How exercise can support—not hinder—a healthy pregnancy and recovery

Related Episodes:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1019070179?i=1000532952176Ep 210 -  HRV + Pregnancy with Dr. Shon Rowan 

Ep 263 - Resilience, Recovery + Performance with Kristen Holmes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1019070179?i=1000564649843

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice. I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.

Natalie Crawford, MD is board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and is co-founder of Fora Fertility, a boutique fertility practice in Austin, Texas. Dr. Crawford is CEO and co-founder of Pinnacle, a professional network for women in medicine. She completed her undergraduate at Auburn University obtaining a degree in Nutrition Science, Medical School at UTMB, OBGYN Residency at UTSW, and REI Fellowship at UNC, concurrently obtaining a Master of Science in Clinical Research. Dr. Crawford is a digital health educator on social media, YouTube, and hosts the podcast  “As a Woman” with over 6 million downloads. Her debut book, “The Fertility Formula”, will be released by Penguin Random House.

 

Follow Dr. Crawford on Instagram at @nataliecrawfordmd and check out her book, The Fertility Formula.

 

Related Episodes:

Ep 155 - Dr. Marguerite Duane on FACTS about Fertility

Ep 314 - The Fertility Crisis + Support for Couples with Ronit Menashe + Vida Delrahim

 

If you like this episode, please subscribe to Pursuing Health on iTunes and give it a rating or share your feedback on social media using the hashtag #PursuingHealth. I look forward to bringing you future episodes with inspiring individuals and ideas about health.

 

Disclaimer: This podcast is for general information only, and does not provide medical advice.  I recommend that you seek assistance from your personal physician for any health conditions or concerns.