TRAINED

The fear of taking a solo trip or even just a late-night walk can be very real — especially for women and people of color. Self-defense expert and Girls Fight Back CEO Nicole Snell has had her own share of scary encounters. But through her passion for going it alone, she’s also had life-changing and life-affirming experiences. Tapping into hundreds of hours of mental and physical self-defense training, she knows how to spot danger and take control of a rapidly changing situation. Now she’s educating others — especially those in BIPOC communities — to do the same. On this episode, she breaks down why self-defense is rarely about eye gouges and groin kicks, explains why you don’t need Karate Kid–level fighting skills to have your own back, and gives firsthand testimony on why solo travel is totally worth it.  Learn MoreShocked by the stats on women runners being harassed? Get all the numbers here.Check out Nicole’s full credentials and the various programs she leads.Motivated to get after it outside? Nike’s got just the shoes for that.

With workloads spinning out of control and workers not always getting the support they need, it’s no wonder “burnout” has become a buzzword. Enter Christina Maslach, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley, and a pioneer in the field of burnout research. In this episode, she explains just what burnout means — and what it doesn’t. She reveals some hard truths about what “mental health days” can do — and what they can’t. But most importantly, she offers a way forward, laying out six paths to a healthy workplace. Drawing on Dr Maslach’s decades of research, we can all learn to change our work environments for the better. Mind-Body LinksWe weren’t kidding when we called her “burnout royalty.” See Dr Maslach’s full credentials, accomplishments and awards.  Geek out with host Jaclyn Byrer on the research methods behind the full Maslach Burnout Inventory. Feeling stressed or frustrated? Check out this article to learn how exercise can help.

Less than 1 percent of kids grow up to be pro athletes. But the point of getting kids involved in sports isn’t to raise the next Serena or LeBron, says sport psychologist and parenting expert Jim Taylor, PhD. It’s to give them the mental tools to be healthy, happy and successful for the rest of their lives. On this episode, the former alpine ski racer breaks down the benefits of youth sports and shares advice on how parents can get — and keep — kids involved. The secret, he says, is creating positive athletic experiences and  not buying into the “youth sports industrial complex.” Drawing on his  experience as a father of two athlete daughters, he also digs deep into all the factors that can hold girls back in sports and identifies ways that each of us can help close that gender gap. Mind-Body LinksAs promised, here’s Dr Taylor’s credentials and accomplishments — plus a ton of his articles.An active family culture starts with our Made to Play Coaching Girls Guide.Want to help the girls in your life get moving? Here’s how to get them hooked on sports.

“Living your best life” isn’t about trading your 9-to-5 for margs on the beach (sorry). For Angela Manuel Davis, chief motivational officer (it’s a thing!) and co-founder of indoor-cycling and boot camp studio AARMY, it means figuring out what motivates you and then going all in. On this episode, the former USA Track & Field star shares how she went from being intimidated by cycling to teaching Jay-Z and Oprah, and how — thanks to advice from Dad — her class became known as “church on a bike.” She also explains why accountability and affirmations are total game-changers, how to create group-class vibes at home, and what she does to recharge. In short? She tells  us how we can all get the life we deserve.Mind-Body LinksIf you’re feeling ready for Angela to take you to church, here’s a link to AARMY.Consult the original texts in the Harvard article that Jac and Angela discuss.And oh — did you know that Nike makes an indoor cycling shoe?

Very rarely does a freak accident become a life highlight. But for pro CrossFit and Nike athlete Logan Aldridge, losing his left arm on a wakeboarding boat — at age 13 — was not only “the best thing that ever happened” to him, it was also the foundation for his purpose: to help anyone build confidence. To kick off season 9, the cofounder of adaptive-equipment company All Things Adaptive and training director at the Adaptive Training Academy details the mental and physical journey that helped him become the third-Fittest One-Armed Man on Earth. He also shares the four words his mom spoke that transformed his perspective, the goofy sense of humor that keeps a smile on his face, and the five-second rule he swears by for taking action. No matter your body, ability or sport, his insight and try-anything attitude can help us all grab our goals, one rep at a time. Mind-Body LinksIf you’re interested in training any athlete — that’s anyone with a body — check out the Adaptive Training Academy, which Logan mentions. Jac gives a shout out to Chandler Smith’s work for racial equality in CrossFit. You can hear more about that in Chandler’s own Trained episode. This whole episode makes us think about one of our favorite articles on the psychology of confidence. Give it a read.  

Most of us see stress and anxiety as problems to be solved. But according to clinical psychologist Chloe Carmichael, PhD, these mind-body responses are Mother Nature’s way of giving us the energy boost we need to be not only productive, but also successful. On this episode, Dr Chloe (as she’s known to her clients) shares how being a yoga instructor in New York City inspired her counseling career and breaks down the differences between stress and anxiety — then explains why high achievers will always experience both. The best part: We all get a mini therapy session packed with specific try-it-now techniques to turn nervous, paralyzing energy into nonstop forward momentum. Inspired to move? Check out the Nike Training Club app, where you’ll find workouts for all fitness levels created and led by Nike trainers, as well as holistic health tips from Nike Performance Council members—all to help you take your wellness to the next level. Clink on the link below to get the app for iOS or Android.Download Now

Information is accelerating faster than ever before, according to organizational psychologist Adam Grant. And the only way to keep up with it, he says, is by learning to rethink our assumptions. On this episode, the best-selling author teaches us how to open our minds. He starts with advice from his childhood diving coach that helped him reframe his fear (of heights!) and understand that work ethic matters more than natural talent (or grace) — which eventually led Grant to an All-American title. Then he digs into the reason we should never agree to disagree, the danger of getting wrapped up in health and wellness cults, and the power of having what he calls a “challenge network.”  Inspired to move? Check out the Nike Training Club app, where you’ll find workouts for all fitness levels created and led by Nike trainers, as well as holistic health tips from Nike Performance Council members—all to help you take your wellness to the next level. Clink on the link below to get the app for iOS or Android.Download Now

Let’s get one thing clear: Coaches aren’t just for athletes. This might be brand-new information to some of us. But Margaret Moore, aka “Coach Meg,” has been helping people from all walks of life discover their strengths and identify opportunities to maximize their potential — on the job, in relationships, and in life — for over 20 years. The former biotech exec founded the Wellcoaches School of Coaching in 2000 to help wellness professionals best serve their patients. Since then, she’s added leaders, front-line healthcare workers, and now all of us to her roster of students. On this episode, the Coach’s Coach details what effective coaching really means; how leaning into doubt, or “our shadow,” can help us reveal patterns we need to change; and why organizing our minds can set us up for sustainable success (plus, how to do it). She also shares her story of not making it and how we can all be better coaches for ourselves, kids, mentees or even friends. Inspired to move? Check out the Nike Training Club app, where you’ll find workouts for all fitness levels created and led by Nike trainers, as well as holistic health tips from Nike Performance Council members—all to help you take your wellness to the next level. Clink on the link below to get the app for iOS or Android.Download Now

Life is full of BS, but fitness shouldn’t be. That’s why truth-teller and Nike trainer-to-the-stars Ben Bruno is on a mission to clear up misconceptions, like “More is more” and “No days off,” and help everyone — including Chelsea Handler and Justin Timberlake — streamline their sweat to get results in the weight room. On this episode, the Columbia grad and self-proclaimed “meathead” shares how a bad back launched his training career, what he’s learned from working with Hollywood’s finest, and why some of us may want to break up with burpees (we said “some”!). He also details his supersimple method — which involves repeating just a handful of “similar but different” exercises, his “KISS” formula, and his take on the 80/20 rule — so we can all become Bruno Strong on our own. Inspired to move? Check out the Nike Training Club app, where you’ll find workouts for all fitness levels created and led by Nike trainers, as well as holistic health tips from Nike Performance Council members—all to help you take your wellness to the next level. Clink on the link below to get the app for iOS or Android.Download Now

We all develop a wide range of skills in school, but one major topic your syllabi likely lacked? How to handle all your feels. So when life throws the truly tough stuff at us — in Lewis Howes’ case, that included sexual abuse, a brother in jail, and an injury that ended his pro football career — we don’t know how to cope, let alone thrive. After sulking on his sister’s couch for a hot second, Howes decided to face his biggest fears (those aforementioned feelings) and get vulnerable. Now a popular podcast host, best-selling author, business coach and Team USA handball player, Howes is on a mission to help others find greatness by confronting what they’re afraid of. On this episode, the JOAT shares how he’s achieved mental and physical health by working through shame and an identity crisis, and how relying on mentors has turned him into an “athlete of life.” His advice for creating a fear list, shedding personality masks (he has some powerful words for all you male listeners on this one), and thinking exponentially can help us all create our own course on emotional intelligence. Better late than never. Inspired to move? Check out the Nike Training Club app, where you’ll find workouts for all fitness levels created and led by Nike trainers, as well as holistic health tips from Nike Performance Council members—all to help you take your wellness to the next level. Clink on the link below to get the app for iOS or Android.Download Now