Ever wonder if you’re actually lifting heavy enough or just going through the motions? In this episode of BROADS, I’m joined by my girl Emily (aka ATX Cake Bae and the marketing + ops queen behind Broads) for a raw, unfiltered fitness Q&A. We’re tackling the real questions you send me every week: how to build mind–muscle connection, how to stop second-guessing your workouts, and how to finally feel strong and confident in your body. We talk about what it means to “train smarter, not harder”, how to push through gym anxiety, and why maintenance seasons are actually a sign of progress, not failure. Emily opens up about her own health and hormone journey, and I share what it felt like stepping back into competition mode at APEX and finding that athlete fire again. If you’ve ever felt like a newbie in the gym, questioned your form mid-set, or battled imposter syndrome under the bar, this one’s for you.