Podcast Host (2:42)

We have a lot of mutuals.

Katie Austin (2:43)

We do.

Taylor (2:44)

Go Lions.

Katie Austin (2:45)

Go Lions. I'm just by association, my best friend, but go Lions.

Taylor (2:49)

Yeah, I mean, me too, technically, but no, it's.

Katie Austin (2:53)

It's fun to be a fan of a team though, you know?

Taylor (2:55)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (2:56)

I love sports and I love knowing someone on the team and so that's been really fun.

Taylor (3:00)

Yeah, I know. I feel like this. I'm kind of similar. I. I'm an only child and I grew up my. Obviously my dad, like, raised me like a son. Like, I just watched all of the sports, did all of the things, and it's kind of hard to be like a sports fan, football wise. I feel like in la because all the teams have always just like moved and gone. So. Yeah, when my husband I started dating and he was a Lions fan because he's from Michigan, that was like, fun to like. It's really fun to go to the games.

Podcast Host (3:29)

Totally there, even.

Taylor (3:30)

Like, we have friends that were with the Saints organization for a long time, so we've been going to like, games there. Like games where the city is. So for that team, yes, it just completely changes it.

Katie Austin (3:44)

No offense to la, but it doesn't have the same energy. You know, I've been to a lot of basketball stadiums, football stadiums, and the arenas and stadiums in other cities, just like, it's everything. And I feel like LA just doesn't match that. And so I fully agree with that. The Lakers are pretty loved here.

Taylor (3:58)

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I like what you said about knowing people on the team because now we've become friends with so many people on the Lions. And when Aiden Hutchinson got hurt, that was the first time we knew someone like Per. On a, like, very personal level that got injured. And it really just changed my view of sports after that because, like, people just get injured. Like, so, like, it's such a very, very common thing. Every game someone gets injured. Like, it's just something that I feel like we're numb to in a sense, like, as the viewer, but when you actually, like, know the person and they're injured and you see how much it changes their life. Like every time someone gets injured now I'm like, I really think about it.

Katie Austin (4:39)

And you're actually thinking about your friend and it's like this like, personal tie where it's just like, oh, you know, so and so got Injured, so and so got traded or they lost. It's like, oh, boo, that team. Oh, this athlete sucks.

Podcast Host (4:49)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (4:49)

It's like, no, do not say that. I actually grew up. My dad is a sports agent, so I grew up with an affinity to his players a lot. Like, you know, Chris Paul, I was like, I. Very close to Stephen Curry and all the Curry family and all those. The players that I'm a huge fan of, that my dad represented, that I've known, you know, David Robinson since I was born type thing. And so with all these players, people call me, like, people. My. My audience sometimes dms me like, you're the biggest bandwagon in the whole entire world. I'm like, no, you don't understand. As an agent's daughter, you are just truly tied to your friends when they get traded or they're on another team. That's who you have an affinity for because you want to cheer for your friends, of course. And it's like, such a deeper love towards the player and the game.

Taylor (5:30)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (5:30)

Yeah, that's so true. Oh, wow. Yeah. So you've been really connected to sports.

Katie Austin (5:34)

Yeah. But basketball mainly. You know, my dad's, He. He has football, but basketball mainly is his main. His main thing in tennis, so I played tennis my whole life, too. I ended up choosing lacrosse.

Taylor (5:44)

Okay.

Katie Austin (5:44)

And so I played that in college. But it, of course, same amount of pressure. I felt immense pressure my entire life as an athlete. But, like, nothing in my head compares to tennis because it was so individual. I feel like maybe the same go for golf as well, just because you don't have teammates to relate to. Like, I was so lucky in lacrosse. I had all my teammates to kind of, like, you know, banter with, to, like, talk smack with or something. Wasn't going right with the coach or whatever. Like, we were on the same team. Like, 11 girls. We shared that same field, and we were against the opponent. And, like, for tennis, it's so mental. It's so heady.

Taylor (6:16)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (6:17)

No, that.

Taylor (6:18)

Yeah, I. I could not ever. Can I ever do that.

Podcast Host (6:21)

Wait.

Taylor (6:22)

Lacrosse is so cool. How did you get into that?

Katie Austin (6:24)

I know it feels random when I say it now. People like, dang, you are a tough girl. And I'm like, no, it's a very graceful sport. And so I grew up in Virginia, and it was, you know, the main sport where I'm from, my high school. I'm, like, living in my glory days. I just turned 32, and I'm still, like, my high school was number one in the nation. Truly. It was number one in the nation. We were really good. And so I played since I was 7 years old and it was just really ingrained in my hometown. And it was like you. I felt like I was D1 in high school and I was doing run tests. I was lifting in sixth grade, which if you think about how tiny I was, I was. I had to do the mild test in fifth grade. Do you understand how tiny a fifth and sixth grader are? I was like 12 and 13 years old. So I felt like I was just constantly under this like athletic pressure. And we had 10 girls in our class and all 10 went D1. So it was like this like, you know, very crazy, pressure filled, high performing environment. And so when I got to college, I, you know, I actually quit early. I didn't play awful four years because I just already felt so burnt out from it. Yeah, and it's hard with athletics because I feel like, you know, I love the sport so much, but sometimes at a different level, it just takes the fun out of it and the passion out of it.

Taylor (7:37)

Yeah. How did you, how did you get to that point of quitting? Because I could.

Katie Austin (7:42)

That was a really hard decision.

Taylor (7:44)

I was gonna say, like, especially just hearing you talk and knowing the mentality of. Yeah. Type of athlete and especially if you're doing a D1, like there's, it's, it's.

Katie Austin (7:55)

It'S a whole identity crisis. Like I fully strug my identity and I didn't even realize how much I would struggle with it until really afterwards because like I said, I played since I was seven. And so, you know, even when I got to college and to like tell anybody that I'm lacrosse player, I'm lacrosse player, it was my entire identity. I mean, I played for four hours a day in college, we played for two and a half hours in high school. And it was, I was trained, always training for something, always thinking about it. A daily occurrence for me. Like even when you got injured, you would be, you know, for two extra hours in PT and then you're tutoring and like it was everything. And so after I quit, it was like this major identity crisis of like, what am I doing with my life? And I don't think people really talk about that enough. Like what, how you go from being an athlete to not being an athlete anymore. And also not having a coach that trains you every single day, not having your teammates. My teammates were my roommates. And so it was really hard to see them going and having so much fun and practice and games and winning these insane games. And I was like, oh my gosh. Like, when I. By the time I graduated, we were top 10 in the nation, but I wasn't on the team anymore. So it was like this sense of like, oof, I should have just stuck it out. But to be fully honest with you, I knew my mental health was so not okay. I cried 70% of the time. I had cold sores all the time. Like, literally would wake up in like full night sweats. And by the way, this was on me. I put too much pressure on myself to like, be a starter and be better. And like, everything was just so consuming to me. And to be fully honest with you, like, I, I would. I graduated college in 2016 and going back this far, you know, a decade ago, just to age myself. But we weren't really talking about like, athlete mental health. You know, such a, it's such a bigger thing now. I mean, it even needs to be a bigger thing in male athletes and mental health. But like, back then, for me to be like, I'm anxious, there was no, like, you know, help as no one's around. Like nowadays, like USC has therapists on site and, and there's people to talk to and you can actually go to your coach and talk about the stress and anxiety you're feeling. And to me, it just felt like my world was, was literally ending and I was so unhappy. And I, like, was so grateful that my parents allowed me to move on from the sport, but it was hard, but I knew it was the right time because I was so unhappy.

Taylor (10:05)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (10:05)

Wow.

Taylor (10:05)

Was this the first time that you had struggled with your mental health like, that?

Katie Austin (10:10)

I would say, I'm in high school, it's pretty hard. I was always questioning playing lacrosse in college because I was so unhappy. Like, for example, this is just who I am. I am a very, very high achieving human. That's my perceive myself.

Taylor (10:23)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (10:24)

But literally when I was a sophomore in high school, like I said, my team was number one in the nation and I made varsity and all my friends were on jv. I asked the coach to be moved down to JV because I was so unhappy. It was too high intensity for me. I was like, I'll get there next year. Junior and senior year is when I should be on varsity. It's like when I should take that next level mentally. But I wanted to be with my friends. I wanted to have fun. I was like, so alone, so lonely and crying every day. I was only on varsity for like 10 days. And I literally went and my coach was like, we've never had someone make varsity and asked to be taken down to jv. I'm like, no, that's just who I am because I. I couldn't handle the pressure. And it's funny because I think I'm so, so good in pressure. And I think I'm so high performing. When I really strip it back and think about it, I am so unhappy with it. And so, yeah, pros and cons of definitely being an athlete. And I think it taught me so much, and I'm so grateful for it because I feel like it taught me how to work with other people and time management and learn a lot of skill. Life sk skills and, you know, hard work and determination and, like, if I want a goal, I. I could work for it.

Podcast Host (11:32)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (11:32)

But at the same time, it was tough.

Taylor (11:34)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (11:35)

I'm not really. I was talking to my sister about this. I feel like I was, like, meant to be a theater kid. I'm so serious.

Taylor (11:42)

That's so interesting. You take this step for your mental health because you know that it's not good, but then when you do that, then you've kind of just, like, lost your identity.

Podcast Host (11:52)

Totally.

Katie Austin (11:52)

And it's so weird, especially with what I do now is fitness. And fitness was. This is a very dramatic word, but traumatic for me because being an athlete, I mean, my freshman year, I would do sprint tests until I threw up. Like, I literally remember throwing up my shirt and then flipping it inside out, flipping up my shirt. And I got in trouble because the boys were around and I'm flipping up my shirt. So, like, fitness always to me was. I was maxing out lifting. I was trying to, like, be better constantly, and was always with training to beat my opponent in mind. And so I had this, like, weird, you know, view about fitness that, like, I'm working out because I. I have to go hard. If I'm not doing it for four hours a day, then is it anything? And so I almost had to unlearn that training style and like, fully reteach myself. That, like. No. Fitness can be for your mental health. It actually can make you feel really good. It can actually relieve anxiety. It doesn't need to cause anxiety. And so it was really this weird moment for me after I stopped playing lacrosse. I didn't work out for, like, nine months. I literally did not move my body.

Podcast Host (12:53)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (12:54)

And it was. It was like this crazy thing because I've been working out, technically training my entire life.

Taylor (12:59)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (12:59)

And not having a coach anymore telling you what to do. And so it is this, like, very huge identity crisis to relearn how movement is actually good for your mind.

Taylor (13:09)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (13:12)

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Taylor (14:33)

For a dinner party.

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Taylor (19:58)

How was that process of reframing your view of working out to be more mental health instead of for like physical training like that?

Katie Austin (20:07)

Yeah, well there's two parts too that I had to kind of unlearn. I feel like, you know, of course my athlete mentality always training for something. And also even through my till I was like 27, I would say if I wasn't sweating and doing burpees till I like could cry. That's not a real workout.

Taylor (20:24)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (20:25)

And I like wasn't until recently that I'm like, no, 20 minutes of Pilates is wonderful for you. And so it's not only my athlete training mentality that I had to unlearn, but it was also like I grew up in a very my mom per se was a very like aesthetics reason to work out.

Taylor (20:39)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (20:39)

You know she has been in the fitness industry for 42 years and all her DVD and her books she's like, the highest. She sold, like, you know, 35 million DVDs and VHS, and they're all like, how to lose that last 10 pounds. How to get rid of your cottage cheese booty. And it was like, oh, my gosh, this is insane. This is wild. Like, the 90s theme of working out of, like, to be skinny. And now it's like, kind of coming back into skinny talk. And I'm terrified of it.

Taylor (21:03)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (21:04)

And so it was two things that I had to really unlearn. And I won't sit here and be like, oh, yeah. It was an overnight thing. Like, I mean, we're talking a decade of work to, like, learn how to be working out for my mental health. And I realized how much better I feel when I reframe it. And it's all about your mentality. If you're telling yourself, like, I'm working out to lose weight, I'm working out to lose weight. It just feels. And of course, that can be a thing. If you weight loss is your goal in mind. That's beautiful. And whatever you are reason, whatever your reason to working out is, finding that purpose is really, really beneficial. And my purpose for working out is my mental health, because I know how much better it makes me feel. I know how much better of a person I am and how much I can better give to others when I take care of myself. And so it really just goes back to that purpose. And it's okay. If your purpose is training for a marathon is like athlete training. If that's your purpose, that's wonderful. And the only workout I really like this quote. The only workout that you should be doing is the one that you will be doing. You'll actually stick to. And I will actually stick to something that I enjoy. I'm not gonna be sticking to a workout anymore again. I'm 32. I'm not sticking to a workout that is gonna make me so sore and unhappy and dread. If I'm about to dread my workout class, I'm not gonna be sticking to it and doing it. If I know that I'm gonna love it, that's how I'm sticking to it.

Taylor (22:25)

Oh, that's such good advice.

Katie Austin (22:26)

And it doesn't have to be a crazy thing, like 25 minutes, 30 minutes goes a long way.

Taylor (22:31)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (22:32)

And walking. Walking is so good for your mental health.

Taylor (22:34)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (22:35)

It's one of my favorite things because it's free and you could do it.

Taylor (22:39)

You can get out in the sunlight too.

Katie Austin (22:40)

Vitamin D and nature take note of little things around You. It's one of my favor. If you are having, like, a bad day or if you are, like. Just feels so consumed with so much around you, is going outside for a walk and looking at little things that spark joy. I love. I call these, like, sparks of joy. It's like, oh, my God. Wow. That lemon is really, really beautiful. Oh, my goodness. That flower is really pretty. And it's just like immersing yourself in nature, which for some reason we have a struggle we're struggling with these days.

Taylor (23:10)

Yeah, no, no, we definitely do. Yeah. How do you keep, like. I mean, I. I think. I think I know the answer to this, but how do you. How do you keep your love for fitness alive? Because it is, like, so much of your everyday life and your job. Like, how do you. How do you make sure you're working out for yourself?

Katie Austin (23:28)

That's a good question. I feel like everyone. I also go through phases. Like, I'm in, like, a big Pilates phase or a big strength phase or, like a big running. Whatever it is. Like, I do go through phases for sure. I think that's very normal for anybody. I definitely say I will do, like, at least once a week a workout that's, like, fully for me. And it is hard, by the way. I'm. I'm actually in a phase right now, especially just, like, with so many programs and workouts coming out from my app. I'm in a phase right now where I'm forgetting to work out for my mental health because I have to show up for work every day and film the workouts and, like, be so on. And so I'm, like, trying to commit to myself right now. I'm trying to do two times a week. But one time we. Feels realistic. Something that's out of the box. Like you said, like taking a hip hop class or. For me, I love to play tennis, so I actually, like, have tennis lessons, and I love to do that once a week.

Taylor (24:16)

Oh, that's great.

Katie Austin (24:16)

And I actually just started doing, like, once a week doing, like, a new Pilates studio and, like, trying out a new yoga studio or just like, trying new studios. Yeah. And different ones every single week. And I feel like that's kind of kept me, I don't know, just a little bit more alive with fitness just because I film so many workouts and I do live workouts and I have, like, hundreds from my community that I'm constantly doing.

Podcast Host (24:38)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (24:38)

That I forget to do it for myself.

Taylor (24:41)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (24:41)

You know.

Taylor (24:42)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (24:42)

I'm working on it.

Taylor (24:43)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (24:44)

No, that's.

Taylor (24:44)

That's that's good advice. I want to talk about this whole swim search process.

Katie Austin (24:50)

Yes. I think I am the biggest petitioner for everyone to try and do it, because for me, I first started to try to do it in 2017. I always knew it was, like, a huge dream of mine.

Podcast Host (25:02)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (25:02)

And it became more apparent, like, the purpose, why. And I feel like you have a big purpose to do it. And I feel like that more than ever would be really important because. Because, like, you said, yes, SI swimsuit's all about, like, being sexy and sexy sexy, but at the same time, there's so much more to that now. Like, I do feel like in the early, you know, the 90s, early 2000s, it was like, mainly just, you know, the iconic SI swimsuit, what you would think of. But now it's like, no. Every single girl tied to the brand has a purpose.

Taylor (25:28)

Exactly.

Katie Austin (25:28)

And a brand message, like, why they want to help other women. So I petitioned for you to do it. I audition for anyone to do it.

Taylor (25:35)

Okay, so fill me in. Tell me what this is.

Katie Austin (25:37)

Just try for it. Right. Like, for me, my story is I auditioned since 2017. When I say auditioned, they actually opened it up in 2017 to the public. So you can put a video on Instagram or online, submit a tape. And that's never been the case. It's always been, like, through a modeling agency or, like, you had to be signed and have them reach out to your agency and, like, a very exclusive thing. And so when they first opened it up in 2017, I was like, I'm auditioning, and usually my first one. Hi, I'm Katie Austin, and here's why I should be in SI swimsuit. It's, like, literally full, like, audition. And I did this every year until I got it, which is, if you think back, like, oh, Katie, you're really posting it to the public here. And I have.

Taylor (26:16)

Does this live on the Internet?

Katie Austin (26:17)

Delusional confidence, by the way. Absolutely delusional. Because I was like, really? Like, year four, I'm going for it again. Like, I don't know if I would still be going for it at this, I don't know, this stage of my life. You know what I mean? So I'm really happy I did because I remember filming it, and in 2020, I filmed it and the tape, my audition tape for the fourth time. And basically, I was surrounded by my friends, and I was like, I'm just not really gonna do this. I was on a trip to Vail, and I was like, I'm not gonna Post this. It's just kind of embarrassing to do it for the fourth time. Like, yeah, I already have this. I don't know. It's just not really. Doesn't feel like the right time. And thank God I was surrounded by my best friends and they were like, post it. And then like, put your phone down and like, let's go grab a drink. It was like, okay. So I posted it and I didn't hear back. I posted it in August and I didn't hear back until March that I was casted, which was crazy.

Taylor (27:08)

When you say posted it, you mean like on Instagram?

Katie Austin (27:10)

Oh, yeah, on Instagram again. Hi, I'm Katie Austin and I'm. This is why I should be in si. And I had like this messaging around, like I was after being an athlete and why I started my brand to empower women and yada yada, why my brand aligns with si. And I think that's why that I stood out because I had this, like, purpose behind it, of course. Like a message on why our brands aligned, how their platform could amplify my audience and yada yada.

Podcast Host (27:36)

So.

Katie Austin (27:36)

So I first heard back in March that I got. It was on other castings. Out of 22,000 girls, it got narrowed down to 15, and then we shot from there. And then they picked two girls, me and Kristen, who's now my best friend.

Podcast Host (27:49)

Shut up.

Katie Austin (27:49)

Yeah, so we won together. Yeah. Kristin Gough, who. Yeah. Who's just the best in the entire world.

Taylor (27:54)

Oh, my gosh.

Katie Austin (27:54)

Wait. Okay.

Taylor (27:55)

I just figured you guys met in that world. Wait, that's so special.

Katie Austin (27:58)

Yeah, no, it was honestly, like, if I had to say one thing that really has come out of it is she's my best friend of life and I'm so grateful for that. And so that's also what's really cool about sports illustrators is like, I think I get the question a lot. Like, are these girls actually friends? I'm like, no, literally, like Ellie Thuman. Love that girl. Love that girl to death. Like Jenna Sims, like all these girls. Nicole Williams. Like, oh, my gosh. Like these girls. I'm not kidding. You feel like very close to now. And it's really cool for me because I feel like I work alone, like 90% of the time and to have this, like, cool co worker sisterhood of like, supporting each other and it's. It's really real. It's been fun. I won't lie. The swim search part of it, it is like, like, you know, you question yourself a lot because it's an audition process at the end of the day. But I think, thank God I never got it before because I, like, didn't understand really who I was, my purpose in 2017, 2018, even 2019. And then when I got it, I was like, okay, this is fully aligned with who I am now, and I'm confident about it.

Taylor (28:57)

Yeah. Oh, I love that.

Katie Austin (28:59)

Yeah, it was fun. And now I'm coming up on and. Yeah, another year. Yeah. Yeah.

Taylor (29:05)

I'm sure there was probably thoughts of your body being looked at even more so, like, at that time than ever before. How was that for you?

Katie Austin (29:14)

You know, it really wasn't about Sports Illustrated putting that pressure on. Because the thing about Sports Illustrated is. Yes. Everyone's like, oh, you're a model, Kate. I'm like, well, yes, I know I am. But at the same time, Sports Illustrated doesn't put that body image pressure on. They want you to literally show up as you are. Like, I'm sure everyone's seen last decade the amazing change of representation that they've done at the same. I kind of put that on myself. I also put this pressure on my body of myself because I'm in the fitness industry where in this weird, subconscious way, my product is me.

Taylor (29:46)

Exactly. Yeah.

Katie Austin (29:47)

And it's like this weird mental f up.

Podcast Host (29:50)

Totally understandable.

Katie Austin (29:51)

And so I have really learned that my worth goes so much beyond what I look like. And I just. It's kind of just a value you upheld uphold to yourself that you know your value. You're not valued by your looks. Your worth is not based on that at all. And I'm in it for different reasons, you know?

Taylor (30:10)

Yeah, I love that.

Podcast Host (30:11)

Have you had to set boundaries at.

Taylor (30:13)

All with social media? Like, what is your relationship with, like, with social media? One, after doing si, but also because I feel like so much of your work is over social media.

Podcast Host (30:24)

What is.

Taylor (30:24)

What is your relationship?

Katie Austin (30:25)

I mean, it's hard. I battle with it. Like, I. I go through phases. I go through, like. Like, months where I'm like, I could care less about social media. And then I go through weeks where I'm like, I need to be better. I need to do this and post everything. And I'm kind of in a phase right now where I don't really. I'm not even. Like, I don't even have a story out for the last three days.

Podcast Host (30:41)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (30:41)

Like, I don't even care. So I definitely go through phases for sure. And I've started to figure find that I'm, like, less private. It's kind of odd. Like, I Have been doing so many things offline, which, if you're listening to this and you're like, yeah, we're. Everyone does things offline. But, like, I've really found so much more peace and just keeping everything in, keeping, you know, my family and opinions and all these things like that. I usually would just be so snap. Happy to share. I've felt like I'm happier when I don't really read DMs that are so terribly awful and, like, threads about myself that are, like, horrific. And so I found just happiness in being a little bit more private recently.

Podcast Host (31:25)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (31:26)

And that's new. That's very new for me. I've always been really, really, really good. I won't lie about being in the moment, though. I'm not the type of person I. I'm very grateful that my job is fitness and recipes where basically I can film and then, like, offline with my friends.

Taylor (31:40)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (31:40)

Like, I'm not gonna be ruining a night at dinner because I'm trying to get a vlog in.

Taylor (31:44)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (31:44)

Type vibes. That's never been me. And so. Yeah. And my friends always say I'm really good about it. Like, if I even take photos, I won't edit anything till later. Like, I'm not really usually posting in the moment. I think posting the moment is wonderful for your engagement, for your mental health. Just do it when you're in bed alone later.

Taylor (32:01)

Yeah, I know. I feel like we've kind of had a little bit of a swing. Like, I think some creators, they are, like, posting in real time, and I literally could never do that and have the utmost respect for them. But I feel like there's also a lot of people now that have tried it, and it is, like, so much. And I think people are starting to realize that they are missing out on the moments because they're trying to do all these things. And it's kind of swung the other way where I have some girlfriends that will literally post about a trip they took, like, two months ago, and they're like, I've completely, like, forgot to post it because they were just, like, offline, enjoyed the trip, and then they came home and then kind of got back to work, but then just never, like, got around to doing it.

Katie Austin (32:37)

Something for me, too. Like, I don't really have a huge block with. You know, I will say, yes, I've been more private. But, like, I do think more than ever realizing how phone addiction is just crazy and you never want to admit you're addicted to anything. But, like, our phone addictions I'm sure anyone even listening to this, like, they don't realize how addicted they are to their phone.

Podcast Host (32:58)

Absolutely.

Katie Austin (32:59)

And so I've been really watching that recently because I do think I consume good food, I move my body, I. You know. But yeah, social media is also what you consume. And that to me, it's not even me with my audience that I have more of a mental, you know, health. You know, what I really think about, it's more so the fact that. Of what I'm consuming.

Podcast Host (33:18)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (33:19)

Is kind of.

Taylor (33:20)

You're just scrolling and then it's like 20 minutes going by and then it's like another 40 and you're like, wait, how did I.

Katie Austin (33:25)

How.

Taylor (33:26)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (33:26)

And it's not good. Like I'm consuming things that in my back of my mind, I'm like subconsciously comparing my life to.

Taylor (33:33)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (33:33)

And it's like that to me is more detrimental than anything. So, yeah, I. I'm really trying to cut back. It's hard, though. It's so hard because all you want to do is roll on your phone at night in your bed and you're like, like, how do I not rot on TikTok at night?

Taylor (33:48)

No, that's. That is such an honest thing. Because I think that is. Myself included. I was just talking to my girlfriends about this is like, we are so addicted to our phones and we don't even like actually realize. But I think when we see like the screen time and it's like an hour on social media or like an hour and a half on Tik Tok, you're like, oh, that's not that bad. But like actually like thinking about one the things you could do in that time but also like, like, what if you just took that time to like go do a workout or go do like go clean your closet or like actually spent that time doing something different. And we were. My one girlfriend, she gets like, she's in the 90s, her sleep score of her aura ring what's great literally every single night.

Podcast Host (34:28)

And we're all.

Taylor (34:28)

I'm like low 70s every night, but I don't get enough sleep, which we're working on in the new year.

Podcast Host (34:35)

But she's like like mid-90s every night. And we're like, what is your.

Taylor (34:39)

Like, we all. I had some girlfriends over there the other night and we were all like, what? What are you doing? Like, tell us what you're doing. She's like, well, she goes to bed early, but she's like, I'm in bed between like nine, like between nine and ten is like when she gets into bed but she will put the little like block the on her phone and.

Podcast Host (34:59)

Everyone'S like, I just click. 15 more minutes.

Taylor (35:01)

I haven't even set that up yet and I just need, I need to do it. But she's like, I set it to go, go off at 7 because she knows, knows that she gets in bed and she's scrolling. Then it's, she's so tired but she's so awake scrolling. And that's like, like zombie state. And I find myself in that a lot. But she said she sets it at 7, have dinner, do whatever. Then she, wow, she gets in bed and she'll just rate her Kindle and then she'll fall asleep like instantly. And then she sleeps.

Katie Austin (35:27)

So much willpower. I know, which is so sad that that's. But it's so true. I don't know if I could do that. Press seven is like, oof. Wow.

Podcast Host (35:37)

I know.

Katie Austin (35:37)

I'm like, oh, I miss out on so many group chat messages. I'm like, I like have to check my group chat. Like her, she only care.

Taylor (35:42)

She only does Instagram and TikTok though she still will use the phone but it's just social media wise, that's what.

Podcast Host (35:48)

She will block off.

Katie Austin (35:49)

It's hard though because even if you're, if you're on social media for an hour, you probably consume, you know, upwards of over 60 videos. Because our attention span is so bad these days.

Taylor (35:57)

Oh yeah, no, I'm like 60 videos and probably like 55 minutes.

Katie Austin (36:01)

Like first five seconds it's like yeah, scroll. Yep, scroll, scroll. Brain rot. Like literal, literal brain rot. And so I am working on that for sure because I think what we consume is just as important as, you know, if I'm talking about like nutrition and like that's a huge focus of my brand. Like why am I not talking enough about also consuming horrible things on my phone?

Taylor (36:21)

I don't.

Katie Austin (36:21)

Scary.

Taylor (36:22)

I don't like it. That is scary.

Podcast Host (36:26)

Lately it feels like my days are.

Taylor (36:27)

Packed from start to finish.

Podcast Host (36:29)

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Taylor (40:50)

To talk about this because this is. We talk about therapy a lot on the podcast.

Podcast Host (40:54)

I'd love to hear your journey with.

Taylor (40:55)

Therapy because did it take you three, like three different people.

Katie Austin (40:58)

Yep.

Taylor (40:59)

To find a therapist.

Katie Austin (41:00)

I think therapy to me was always something in my 20s where I was like, I had to do it because I thought it was helping. And so I would be going to therapy, you know, bi weekly for an hour. And it wasn't really ever helping. But in my head I was like, I just felt like this like thing that I had to do to be mentally healthier, if that makes sense. It was like, oh, I'm going. Well, I go to therapy, so I'm fine. I go to therapy, so I'm fine. And there was never really a huge reason of my why it was just like a upkeep for my mental health and I never really saw a big impact for it. And I finally found an amazing girl that literally I've recommended like so many of my friends too. I'm not gonna Say who? But like, I have recommended her. My, this therapist, she's really, she's really a. What do you call it? Not a psychiatrist, but she's psychologist. Psychologist. She's a career psychologist.

Podcast Host (41:56)

Okay.

Katie Austin (41:57)

She specializes in decision making of a career. And like, what if you feel lost? And I feel like that, that has created so much purpose and she's helped someone very, very, very close to me with her entire career path and now is so happy. And I'm not kidding you, she's just like everything. Because she is not the type of therapist to say, like, your feelings are validated. This is why you should be feeling this way. I just felt like my therapist was just listening to me and not giving me actions. And now my amazing girl actually has homework for me that I do and is so beneficial. And I could not recommend her more. And I w. In this entire world could have her because she's perfect.

Podcast Host (42:38)

Oh, wow.

Katie Austin (42:39)

And it took me a while to figure it out. Right. Like it took me, I would say upwards of five years to be like, oh no. This is my purpose of why I am seeing somebody. And when you find a good therapist to me, you do this. Everyone's different. But I mean my personal opinion on what I personally need, I don't need her every week. I don't even need her bi weekly. I need her once a month because she's that good.

Taylor (43:01)

Yeah.

Podcast Host (43:02)

Oh, wow. Yeah.

Taylor (43:03)

That's great. What made you like, hopeful to keep looking? Cuz I think that's the biggest thing. I have friends that are like.

Podcast Host (43:09)

And people that are lemon drops. Those are our listeners, we call them lemon drops.

Taylor (43:14)

People are like, I tried therapy. I've seen multiple therapists. Like it just hasn't clicked. Like, what, what gave you the confidence to kind of keep looking and not give up hope?

Katie Austin (43:24)

I would say the people in my life. My sister is a spiritual healer, so she's a really big believer in therapy and asking for help. And then my best friend is getting her doctor right now. And so she's also really big on it. And I feel like the people around me who have found really good therapists.

Taylor (43:40)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (43:41)

Have really advocated for it. And I just felt like I was going through a really hard time earlier this year and so I needed to find someone new. And I asked my friend who was getting her doctorate right now if she had any friends. And I just felt like it was time. I don't know. The people around you need to be big advocates, I think as well is really helpful.

Taylor (44:00)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (44:02)

And just keep trying. And I always say too. And this goes for anything in your life, not just therapists, but it's knowing when to be patient, if something is going to work versus when to pivot. And I wish I pivoted earlier with some of my therapists and some things in my life because I was just being patient to find it work. But I think with anyone who you're asking for help with, they have to be a right vibe and an energy is really important to me and vibing correctly with the person. And if I didn't vibe with the person, then like, it's okay to like stop asking for help from them.

Podcast Host (44:35)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (44:36)

So I think that was important to me.

Taylor (44:37)

Yeah, I love that. I love like the having a therapist that will actually like give you things because that's a big thing with my therapist. I love that he listens to me. But he's also like, he calls me out when I'm like being not dramatic. But if he's like, he probably shouldn't have done like, he will call me out on stuff which I thrive off of.

Katie Austin (44:59)

For me, I feel like my, my therapist has taught me something that like was really shift in my mind around stress, anxiety. So I went to her because I get so stressed out about my career, like so anxious. I put so much pressure on myself for like literally no reason. And it's like this immense amount of pressure. I think it's also stemming from being an athlete and high achieving parents and like this like, I don't know, microcosm of just very high performance anxiety. And so that's why I first started going to my. And basically what I really want to work on is like I have these like moments where I like stress out so hard and it's like over something super minor. Like basically like, like this morning, my car didn't start like literally this morning and I had to take my husband's car here. And like usually and I kind of did. I was like, oh my God, whatever. But like something like that, I would freak out and I'd stress out like in my head. Like my heart would tense up, my whole chest would tense up for like three minutes.

Taylor (45:53)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (45:53)

And I'd be like totally fine. And if there's like something wrong in like work or business or whatever, I would like get so stressed. And then in like three, five minutes later, like, okay, we'll figure it out. It's fine, it's fine. But she taught me that even if it's a minute worth of stress, even if it's three minutes, it lasts in your body for 40 minutes. And so if you're taking a meeting right after, if you are, have an important call. Or for me, like, if I'm stressed because I have an audition later and my car's not starting, then that stress will go into my audition. And so, basically, for me, knowing that it lasts for 40 minutes was like a, whoa, let's not get there yet. Because that's gonna go into and bleed into a lot of my work. And when my stress and anxiety bleeds into my work, it's, to me, very obvious. And, like, even my followers sometimes on Snapchat will be like, you seem really stressed, Katie. I'm like, yeah, I am. Thank you so much. So that's. That's. You know, she's helping with that, and she's just doing amazing about it, because I think, like you said, it's a muscle. And for me, like, mindfulness has been something I need to practice.

Podcast Host (46:51)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (46:51)

And, like, being mindful and being intentional and not getting to that point of freaking out over a little thing is really important.

Taylor (46:59)

Yeah, I know.

Podcast Host (47:01)

I think that's just, like, a hormonal thing, too.

Katie Austin (47:03)

Yeah. It also depends on the time of month. Let me tell you.

Taylor (47:05)

I. I went off my birth control probably, like, six months ago. Is. I'd been on it for, like, 10 years, and I was just like, I need to. Just, like, I need to figure out what's happening in my body. Body. And I had tried. I tried switching to a different one, and it. My body just. I did not like it. So then I went off of it. And I really feel now when I get, like, an actual period, and I'm like, yeah, I haven't had this for a very long time. Like, this is crazy what this is like. But also just the mood of it.

Katie Austin (47:31)

All time of the month.

Taylor (47:32)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (47:32)

It really matters. No, sometimes I'm like, cool as a cucumber. And then the following week, I literally am insane. And then I get my period, and I'm like, thank you. I understand.

Taylor (47:41)

Yeah, it all makes sense. Taylor's like, the fact that you guys have this every month is crazy. Crazy. I'm like, thank you for appreciating that.

Katie Austin (47:47)

And my emotions truly are different every single week.

Taylor (47:51)

Let's talk about your app.

Katie Austin (47:53)

Yeah, tell me about it.

Podcast Host (47:54)

Where.

Taylor (47:54)

Where did this idea come from?

Katie Austin (47:56)

So I started it 10 years ago, which is crazy, when I was in college still. And it's been this platform where it's grown. I mean, obviously, it's grown a lot and evolved a lot in the last 10 years, but I have hundreds of workout classes on there that you kind of just press, play, follow along too. They're like, they're full follow along classes. So it's like a studio but in your home. And I mean, technically my mom has really done this her entire life, so it's not a new concept. Like she kind of created with Jane Fonda the whole home workout kind of thing and so really just taking it digital and nowadays it's like so such a basic concept. But I feel like 10 years ago when I was first starting out, I was one of the first to really feel like I had an app and a platform like this, like a subscription model. And so it's been really fun to watch it evolve. And now I have nutrition on there and I do, you know, hundreds of recipes. I'm a recipe developer as well and I do nutrition guides. We bring in different people on it as well. We just did our amazing new program which has been so exciting. The most work I've ever put into anything program in my life. And it's been fun because I feel like my app is. It's grown so much and it's grown so fast that it's also been this new role that I take is also like a CEO and founder role. And now I like manage a lot of people and there's a lot of moving parts to it. Like we're like hiring for different like roles and it's like, whoa, this is, this is crazy. So that's also been, you know, a little part of my mental health and stress anxiety of why I've seen my girl.

Taylor (49:20)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (49:21)

So it's good though. It's really fun because I feel like the community is growing a lot and I feel like the cool thing about what I do is it's so rewarding because I can actually see that like girls and women that I'm helping and we have this community group chat in the app which has been really fun because every time, you know, I do a workout or someone connects with someone and they're keeping each other accountable and they're, you know, doing a selfie in the app, which is really cool. Like I just finished my workout or I just made these chicken meatballs or whatever it is. And so it's really cool to like have the sense of connection online with people who are doing the same workouts as you and doing the same recipes. And I also do a lot of classes like around the US from there. So I already did three workout tours, which is very tiring, but amazing. Yeah, so I did one for. It was 12 cities. One was 10 and Emma was 6. So I just did 6 this past year. And it's just really, really cool to meet your audience in real life.

Taylor (50:13)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (50:13)

Like girls who've been working out with me for years that come up to me and I can actually hug them. It's been really cool.

Taylor (50:18)

Yeah. That's so special. We just did our first like, in person summer. I saw that and it was really so fun.

Katie Austin (50:25)

Right.

Taylor (50:25)

It's really special to get to like, really me and I'm such like a.

Podcast Host (50:28)

As you can tell, I have a podcast.

Taylor (50:30)

I love talking with people. So getting to actually talk with people who, who have gained something from this passion project that I've been doing is like so rewarding and really reminds me of the why I started everything. It's such good.

Katie Austin (50:46)

It's such good motivation. And you know, over DM, I'm sure you get like so many DMs being like, oh my God, this episode changed me this way, this way. But like hearing it in person, there's just, and like hugging the girl, there's just a different energy, a part of it and connecting with them. And now literally some of the girls, like, I go to Chicago and New York a lot and like some of the girls, girls like, come keep coming back to my class. They like, know them by name. Like, hey, what's up, Ashley, you're coming back. Yay. Rosa, Katie, shout out to my girls. And so like, the people that I'm really connecting with in my audience too has been really, really cool because I'm actually becoming like friends with them. Yeah, I did like a retreat with my followers early this year and it's just fun. It's really fun when your followers become friends.

Taylor (51:24)

Yeah. That's so special. Yeah, I love that. Is there a recipe that you're loving right now?

Katie Austin (51:30)

Ooh, I love one pan anything. So, like, I'm a huge one pan girl and a huge bowl girl.

Taylor (51:35)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (51:36)

But I love throwing any. Anything and whatever. You have like fridge clean out style in either like a cast iron or something. A dish that's like also oven safe. You throw like rice, chicken, a vegetable. You put a little chicken broth, seasoning, you boil it and then you put some cheese on top and you bake it. And like, that is my always go to if I'm in like a very busy day and I just don't really have say, you know, a lot of ingredients that I'm working with or like, I don't want to do a full blown recipe. One pan hands everything oh, that's good.

Taylor (52:06)

I need. Taylor is the chef of the house.

Podcast Host (52:09)

He loves.

Katie Austin (52:09)

Wait, that's so nice.

Taylor (52:10)

He's like, that's his like mental health time is cooking. Cuz he, he's done it for years, but he lived alone for a long time, so that was kind of like what do you do to keep himself to decompress?

Podcast Host (52:21)

Yeah.

Taylor (52:21)

And he's really good at it too, which is really fun.

Katie Austin (52:23)

Well, you're so lucky. My husband does not cook.

Podcast Host (52:25)

I know.

Taylor (52:26)

And I, it's, it's funny because I come from a Greek family who like, my mom is an incredible, incredible chef. My nan is an incredible chef, my aunt's an incredible chef. And so I feel like I'm like the like ugly duckling that like doesn't cook out of the family.

Katie Austin (52:40)

But it's because you married someone who can, so you never have.

Podcast Host (52:43)

Yeah.

Taylor (52:43)

So Taylor and I's joke is always like, I can cook if I want to. Like over Thanksgiving I made like four sides, which I've never. It was our first time hosting and I had never done it. And I had so much appreciation for my mom because I grew up and we were always hosting Christmas and Thanksgiving and all the holidays. And I literally, I made my nana's mashed potatoes, which is my first time ever making her recipe, and they tasted just like. And I was so proud of myself. So I always tell Taylor I'm like, no, I can cook, but you enjoy it and you don't clean. So that is the role that you have taken on is.

Katie Austin (53:17)

And that's totally great. That's fine. Yeah, I love it.

Podcast Host (53:19)

That's fun.

Taylor (53:20)

What, what is your favorite self care tools? Obviously, obviously fitness is one of them. But besides that, like what do you do to kind of turn your brain off or if you're feeling burnt out from fitness?

Katie Austin (53:31)

I love my walks. I know that's still fitness, but like walking.

Taylor (53:34)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (53:36)

Honestly it's not really. Actually, I disagree. I was about to say something, I was gonna say going out and like going to dinner with my girlfriends is not like a mental health like hack, but at the same time it is because as we're just talking about, connection is like everything. And I, I think, think like socializing is something that resets me.

Podcast Host (53:55)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (53:55)

And like getting out of the house and talking to my friends in real life is something that we don't see as a mental health or self care thing. But at the same time it so is because like you're getting off of your phone, you're not thinking about the thing that, like, has, like, maybe you know, has taken a toll on your mental health or whatever it is. And I think, you know, connection is a huge hack.

Taylor (54:15)

Yeah.

Katie Austin (54:15)

And I think more people need to be connecting, getting off their phone. Phone.

Taylor (54:18)

Yeah. That's so true.

Podcast Host (54:19)

I know.

Taylor (54:19)

I was just telling you I just had some girls over, and every time we meet for, like, a monthly Bible study here, and every. Every time, like, we leave, I will get a text from, like, five of them just saying how much they needed it. And I feel it.

Katie Austin (54:32)

Yeah.

Taylor (54:32)

The same way. But it's. It's so sweet to, like, take that time with each other and just, like, have intentional conversation with other women that you feel, like, loved.

Katie Austin (54:43)

And you never know how much you need it, you know, like, every time you get together with a group of girls, I feel like. I know this can sound, I don't know, maybe not the right thing to say, but, like, sometimes I'm, like, not looking forward to it because I'm so tired. And, like, I live pretty far from a lot of my friends, so I have to drive an hour and I'm just like, oh, I'm so tired. I just wanna lay on the couch. And then every time I get home, like, I'm so happy I did that. That was like a reset to me and fully lit me up. And so I think girl time is really important. And as much as we love our husbands, girl time, friendships. Yeah, Girl friendships are so important.

Taylor (55:18)

That's good. That's good.

Podcast Host (55:20)

Sweet. Well, I'll leave a link down below for people to. Yay.

Taylor (55:23)

Check out the app.

Podcast Host (55:24)

I love that.

Taylor (55:24)

I love that you incorporated recipes in it because it really just, like.

Katie Austin (55:28)

Yeah.

Taylor (55:29)

Fully encompasses. Because what you said too, like, we don't even realize the food aspect of it of, like, what we're putting in.

Katie Austin (55:36)

Totally. And it's also, like, I make it really approachable for both, like, you know, at home classes. And also the recipes. Yeah, like, they're simple, they're low ingredient. They're not like, asking you to get a whole ton of ingredients and something that we focus on too. Just another part of it is like grocery lists and to limit food waste. And so basically, like, what we've really, you know, recently in the last six months is to really incorporate recipes per week that have the same list of ingredients and how you can reuse them for different meals. And so because reducing food waste is a huge thing for me. And so also little things like that that you don't realize, like, hey, if you bought zucchini, let's reuse it in this, this, this, the ways. If you bought salsa, reuse it in this, this, this ways. And you don't have to, like, keep eating the same leftovers because I. So it's how to really cook with the same ingredients too.

Podcast Host (56:20)

That's so good.

Katie Austin (56:21)

Yeah.

Taylor (56:21)

I mean, I love these.

Katie Austin (56:23)

Yeah. I, like, put me on a chop show. I'm like, how can you know? Eight ingredients? And I'm like, let me give you this.

Taylor (56:28)

That's so good. Have you done it? You should.

Katie Austin (56:30)

I'm dying to. Book me on a cooking show, please.

Taylor (56:33)

Oh, my gosh.

Podcast Host (56:34)

We.

Taylor (56:34)

We need to make that happen. Well, thanks for coming and thanks for having me. This is so fun.

Katie Austin (56:38)

Thanks for having me and love you guys. Thanks for listening.

Taylor (56:42)

Go Lions.

Katie Austin (56:42)

I got Go Lions.

Podcast Host (56:44)

Woohoo.

Katie Austin (57:05)

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