<p>🎙️ <b>EPISODE OVERVIEW</b></p><p>In this energising conversation, Bryony sits down with Pieta McCrum - Founder of Body by Pieta, former MTV Senior Director, and women's wellness evangelist, to explore one of the most overlooked pillars of career success: your physical foundation.</p><p>Pieta's journey is anything but linear. From New Zealand's first reality TV show, Treasure Island, to a decade at MTV Viacom, to building a thriving online fitness community for women 40+ from a playground during school drop-off - her story is a masterclass in following what truly serves the soul. </p><p>Now she helps busy professional women feel leaner, stronger, and more confident without crazy cardio or crash diets and her message has never been more relevant.</p><p>This episode bridges the gap between physical strength and professional performance in a way that will make you look at your wellbeing strategy (and your workplace's) completely differently.</p><p></p><p>🔑 <b>KEY THEMES COVERED:</b></p><ul><li>Pieta's pivot from TV celebrity and MTV Senior Director to wellness entrepreneur and why kids and a growing corporate environment were the catalyst</li><li>Building a business from a playground: how community and consistency created a loyal following long before a formal launch</li><li>Why COVID became a gift - taking Body by Pieta fully online and unlocking real scale</li><li>The 5 ways a stronger body directly improves your performance at work: energy, mental clarity, emotional regulation, confidence &amp; presence, and fewer sick days</li><li>Brain fog, perimenopause, and why women are leaving the workforce and what physical strength has to do with all of it</li><li>The case for bespoke wellness: why generic gym culture fails women and what cycle-aware, hormone-led training actually looks like</li><li>The two-pronged approach to keeping women in work: educating the woman AND reforming the workplace culture</li><li>The 4.5 million women aged 50–64 in the workforce and why their peak career years collide dangerously with hormonal transition</li><li>Why wellbeing strategies in most workplaces are "lip service" and what real support looks like</li><li>Getting back to fundamentals: strength training, protein, healthy fats, and treating your mindset like a muscle</li><li>How Pieta looks after herself: the 5am start, the hot tub, the wine, and why laughing is her favourite tonic<p></p></li></ul><p>💬 <b>STANDOUT QUOTES:</b></p><p><i>"It's the foundation to everything. If we want to perform really well at work, we've got to have that strong foundation and stamina to be able to juggle everything else."</i></p><p><i>"The more muscle you have, the better you think. You're going to be sharper, more alert, clearer in your thinking - and that's hugely helpful."</i></p><p><i>"Stop with the silly calorie counting. It's got to be hormonally mindful - and mindset, treating your mind like a muscle too."</i></p><p><i>"We're not a straight line - particularly women are not. You just need your toolbox. Go back to your fundamentals."</i></p><p><i>"A lot of the reasons why women are leaving work is because they are suffering massively from health and fitness struggles connected to their hormone changes."</i></p><p></p><p>🔗 <b>CONNECT WITH PIETA:</b></p><ul><li>Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bypieta.com/" target="_blank">bodybpieta.com</a> </li><li>Instagram: @bypieta </li><li>LinkedIn: Pieta McCrum</li></ul>