In this episode, we have our first installment of a special new mini series titled Living Your Activism. In this series, we're talking to activists and advocates across a wide variety of missions and passions about how they found their thing, what they do to stay grounded and connected with joy amidst all the chaos in the world, and what it means to truly live their activism, not just as a checkbox or some burnout inducing giant commitment, but as something that's interwoven throughout their life in a nourishing, sustainable way.

Our guest for this first installment is Ella Magers, MSW, a holistic fitness rebel on a mission to ignite fierce compassion and revolutionize what it means to be healthy and fit.

She’s a thought-leader, professional speaker, podcast host, and the dynamic creator and host of the Evolution of Fitness with Ella YouTube show—a space where strength meets soul and transformation goes way beyond the physical.

Vegan since 1995, Ella holds a Master’s in Social Work and is a certified personal trainer, yoga instructor, and food freedom coach. With over two decades of experience in the wellness space, she’s helped thousands break free from toxic diet culture, rewire self-sabotaging patterns, and build powerful, plant-strong bodies they love living in.

Ella is a former bikini bodybuilding champion and lifelong athlete who blends mindset, movement, and plant-based nutrition into transformational coaching that sticks. She was named one of the world’s top trainers by Bodybuilding.com and Shape Magazine, and serves on the board of Hogs & Kisses Farm Sanctuary.

Based in Miami Beach, you’ll find her training, teaching, filming, and adventuring with her beloved rescue chihuahua, Fiona.

This episode covers:

• 01:39 - Tea & Crumpets: Emerson’s experience with trying hair glossing
• 05:07 - Step Into My Office: Can seasonal depression happen in summer?
• 10:26 - Living Your Activism Interview with Ella Magers
• 40:46 - Fire Dumpster Phoenix: A triple organ transplant recipient met with his donors family

Resources + Stuff Mentioned in This Episode:

• Triple organ transplant recipient meets with donors family

Connect with Ella Magers:

• Website: https://www.ellamagers.com
• IG: @sexyfitvegan

Connect with Us:

• Send a story or ask for advice: butforrealpod@gmail.com
• But For Real on IG: @butforrealpod
• Now That's What I Call... OKAAAAY Playlist
• The Gaia Center on IG: @thegaiacenter
• Val on IG: @valkaymartin
• The Gaia Center website:...

Spirituality, religion, and being “woo-woo” are all hot topics these days – especially here in Nashville!

In this episode, Val and Emerson tackle WTF spirituality actually means, how it differs from religion, how it intertwines with existentialism, and low-stakes ways to engage with it while also avoiding spiritual bypassing.

And, as always, we get into other good stuff, including a spooky airBNB story from Val’s cousin (and The Gaia Center’s Director of Operations) Rebecca 👻

This episode covers:

• 06:04 - Tea & Crumpets: Val’s new cooking routine + Emerson’s obsession with Swig
• 10:32 - Step Into My Office: Impermanence and Existentialism
• 14:32 - The Lore: Rebecca’s Spooky AirBNB experience
• 19:54 - The DSM: The Spirituality, Religion + Woo Woo Conundrum
• 50:26 - Now That's What I Call...OKAAAAY!
• 52:48 - Val Pick: "Goose Snow Cone" by Aimee Mann
• 53:50 - "Older" by Lizzy McAlpine
• 54:58 - Fire Dumpster Phoenix: How a music conductor is navigating Parkinson’s Disease + South Africa’s ‘soccer grannies’ take the field for kicks and camaraderie

Resources + Stuff Mentioned in This Episode:

• Pew Research on Millennials and Religion
• John Welwood (spiritual bypassing)
• Goose Snow Cone by Aimee Mann
• Older by Lizzy McAlpine
• Conductor with Parkinson’s Gets Brain Stimulation Device to Stop Shakes so He Can Lead Orchestra Once Again
• South Africa’s ‘soccer grannies’ take the field for kicks and camaraderie

Connect with Us:

• Send a story or ask for advice: butforrealpod@gmail.com
• But For Real on IG: @butforrealpod
• Now That's What I Call... OKAAAAY Playlist
• The Gaia Center on IG: @thegaiacenter
• Val on IG: @valkaymartin
• The Gaia Center website: www.gaiacenter.co

DISCLAIMER: But For Real Podcast is not a substitute for individualized mental health treatment or healthcare. This podcast is solely for entertainment and educational purposes. If you are in crisis, please utilize crisis support services, such as the Crisis Text Line (Text START to 741741 in the US) or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: (Call 988 in the US), or visit www.findahelpline.com for international resources.