In this episode of "The Women in the Arena" podcast, host Paige Rene interviews Amanda, known as Simply Mander on Instagram, a nutritional therapy practitioner and fitness coach with a following of 116,000. Amanda shares her journey from feeling discouraged in competitive CrossFit to exploring boxing as a new challenge, discussing the pressures of maintaining a public image and the complexities of navigating personal life events, such as her divorce and coming out, in the public eye. The conversation also touches on the realities of performance-enhancing drugs in sports and the importance of being authentic and unapologetically oneself despite societal pressures or the expectations of others. Amanda's story is a testament to finding strength and empowerment in staying true to oneself and overcoming challenges in both professional and personal arenas. Takeaways: Amanda's journey highlights the importance of staying true to oneself amidst societal pressures and expectations. Her transition in professional focus and personal revelations underscores the empowerment that comes from embracing one's authentic self. The discussion reveals the complexities of managing a public persona online, where social media offers both opportunities for connection and challenges related to privacy and scrutiny. Amanda's story is a testament to resilience, showing how overcoming personal and professional hurdles, including confronting societal taboos and changing athletic paths, leads to growth and self-discovery. In this episode: [00:59] Amanda discusses her reluctance to be labeled just as a fitness influencer and shares her professional background as a nutritional therapy practitioner, detailing her diverse coaching roles from CrossFit kids to strength and conditioning at a boxing gym. [02:03] The conversation shifts to Amanda's exploration of boxing, highlighting her desire for a new challenge and discussing the transition from CrossFit due to feelings of discouragement. [03:08] Amanda traces her entry into the fitness world back to an initial interest in law enforcement, detailing how safety concerns and a crossover with first responders led her to CrossFit and ultimately to a career in fitness and nutrition. [04:02] Paige asks Amanda about her participation in the 2024 CrossFit Open, leading to a discussion on the impact of focusing on strength training and Amanda's curiosity about her competitive standing. [05:20] The conversation delves into the realities of performance-enhancing drugs in competitive CrossFit, with Amanda sharing insights into the prevalence of PEDs and the impact on her motivation and perception of fairness in the sport. [11:06] Amanda talks about the ups and downs of sharing her life publicly, touching on the balance between connection and negativity on social media, and the personal impact of public scrutiny and online bullying. [14:20] Paige and Amanda discuss the challenges of maintaining authenticity and privacy online, particularly in relation to personal relationships and life events, with Amanda sharing her experiences navigating a public divorce and coming out. [18:43] Amanda reflects on feeling empowered by being unapologetically herself, despite societal and personal challenges, emphasizing the strength in authenticity and self-acceptance. [20:21] Amanda shares the motivation behind her decision to come out publicly, highlighting the desire to reclaim her narrative and the importance of speaking her truth in the face of speculation and rumors. [22:48] Paige and Amanda discuss the importance of aligning with one's core beliefs and morals, with Amanda sharing insights from navigating her divorce and the realization that surrounding environments and relationships must reflect one's true self for genuine happiness and fulfillment. [25:56] Amanda defines what being a "woman in the arena" means to her, encapsulating the episode's themes of empowerment, authenticity, and resilience in the face of societal expectations and personal challenges. Resources The Women In The Arena Rise Facebook Community Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Google Podcasts Listen on Spotify Watch on YouTube Amanda’s Instagram Simply Mander YouTube Amanda’s TikTok Simply Mander's Website Black Iron Nutrition Website Quotes "Being a woman in the arena is saying like, 'Hey, I can show up and I can do this too. And I can be me and I can just crush it being a woman.'" - Amanda, Guest "If you're in a place where you feel like the people around you don't really know the real you, or don't really love the real you, or you don't really align morally with like, your surroundings...it's probably not where you're supposed to be." - Amanda, Guest "You have to just be like, okay, I don't care. I don't care what anyone says about it. Like I'm gonna try to do it and you just have to literally like go for it." - Amanda, Guest
