Podcast Summary

What Are You Made Of?

Host: Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco
Episode: More Than Fit: Building Strength Without Burnout with Jenna Jozefowski
Release Date: January 5, 2026

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike "C-Roc" Ciorrocco welcomes Jenna Jozefowski (dance teacher, personal trainer, kettlebell instructor, and host of the Tough Cookie Talks podcast). They dig into Jenna’s journey from the professional dance world through the extremes of the wellness industry, busting myths about one-size-fits-all fitness, and her hard-won insights on building strength without burning out. This conversation is a blend of practical fitness wisdom, personal anecdotes, and candid reflections on self-discovery and resilience in both life and entrepreneurship.

Key Discussion Points

1. Jenna’s Ingredients: What She's Made Of

• Opening Reflection
  • Jenna describes herself as made of “curiosity, bluntness layered on deep care, resilience, whimsy, sparkle, and warmth.”
  • She shares, “I’m full of more curiosity than I think my body can contain... I am full of color. I’m definitely made of something very resilient and buoyant because I feel like I’m real good at bouncing back from struggles.” (00:19)
• Contradictions and Complexity
  • Embracing contradictions and integrating seemingly opposing aspects form her identity.

2. Calling Out the BS in Wellness (02:05 – 07:20)

• From “Healthy Obsession” to Health Problems
  • Jenna’s deep dive into “clean eating” and elimination diets like Whole30—which led her to anxiety, health issues, and ultimately a diagnosis of hypothyroidism.
  • She reflects, “I took that whole 30... a little bit too far” and realized her approach was making her less healthy.
• The Role of Anxiety and Somatic Symptoms
  • Relief after allergy tests revealed the issue was not food allergies—her physical symptoms ceased:
    “The minute I got the allergy test and they told me that I wasn’t allergic to any foods, itching stopped, never got itchy again.” (05:47)
• Myth-Busting
  • Both agree that trends and “hot takes” on fitness/diet are misleading:
    Mike: “There’s a myth that this is good for everybody... The biggest thing for everybody to pick up here is, is that there’s not one diet that fits everybody.” (07:20)
  • Jenna emphasizes individualized approaches and intuition:
    “You are the expert on your own body, you are the expert on your own lived experience.” (08:13)

3. Fitness Industry Experiences & Evolution (09:24 – 18:44)

• Professional Dance Background
  • Jenna shares her years as a contemporary and tap dancer in Chicago and her transition to teaching and choreography.
• Kettlebell Journey
  • Enamored by the versatility and efficiency of kettlebells, she became certified and started teaching others, especially as gyms closed during COVID (11:52).
• Favorite Kettlebell Movements
  • Swings: “They get that nice, hip hinge movement... it sort of feels like strength and cardio combined into one.” (12:18)
  • Turkish get-ups and kettlebell complexes: functional, full-body, and “worth investing time into learning.”
  • Jenna and Mike enthusiastically share tips, favorite movements, and practical advice (“start light!”) (13:46 – 14:28)

4. Transition to Online & Hybrid Fitness (15:10 – 18:44)

• Pandemic Pivot
  • Jenna started an online component in 2019, making fitness more accessible with just a few kettlebells.
• Post-Pandemic Shifts
  • In-person training surging back as people crave real connection:
    “I’ve been finding more people are craving that realness like that in person connection, that one on one connection with an actual human.” (17:25)
  • Hybrid model: sees clients in-person at a small gym and on Zoom.

5. Podcasting: Connection and Impact (18:47 – 24:10)

• Origins and Purpose
  • Tough Cookie Talks was born from conversations with allied professionals Jenna wanted to share publicly:
    “The work that they’re doing isn’t necessarily within my scope of practice, but they’re the kind of person that I would want to refer my clients to... We needed to do it.” (18:53)
• Personal Impact of Podcasting
  • Podcasting simultaneously gave her connection, expanded her network, and created tangible resources for her clients.
  • On the unexpected reality:
    “I don’t think having a podcast feels the way that I thought having a podcast would. ... Now I’m doing it, and it just feels, like, regular.” (23:18)
• Podcasts as Double-Edged Sword
  • Podcasts once fueled her obsessions but later helped her heal:
    “[Podcasts] pulled me out of a really dark place... Listening to a podcast can... change the trajectory of your life.” (22:13)

6. Chasing Goals: Money, Body Image, and the ‘Why’ (24:25 – 30:59)

• The Money/Goal Post Analogy
  • Discussion on how the pursuit of money, weight loss, and similar goals can be empty if not tied to a deeper “why.”
    Jenna: “If you’re not clear on what outcome you want as a result of that particular number, you might get to that number and realize that that actually didn’t help you reach a goal.” (27:52)
• Body Image & Weight Loss Insights
  • Jenna unpacks her own body image struggles, sharing vulnerable reflections about body dysmorphia:
    “I think I was chasing the feelings and the emotions and the privileges that I thought that body would bring for me.” (28:36)
  • Emphasizes that real fulfillment comes from confidence, not a specific number or look.

7. Looking Forward: Vision and Ambitions (31:08 – End)

• Force for Good
  • Jenna’s personal mission: “to create good in the lives of others and help people experience meaningful change...”
• Goals for the Future
  • Expresses a desire to write a book someday, combining her passion for self-expression and the wellness space:
    “I do feel like there’s going to be a time where a book pours out of me. It’s still marinating... But I do feel like at some point in my future there’s a book, I think, I think that’s maybe my dream.” (32:25)
• Connecting With Jenna
  • Podcast: Tough Cookie Talks
  • Website: itsjennajay.com
  • Instagram: @itsjennaj
  • Open for new in-person and virtual clients, particularly those interested in a compassionate, strength-based approach.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Chasing Wellness Extremes:
  “I basically, like, ran myself into the ground in pursuit of being healthy and fit, and then realized that the opposite was true.” (05:49, Jenna)
• On Individualized Fitness:
  “There’s not one diet that fits everybody. There’s not one workout that fits... You gotta find what works for you.” (07:20, Mike)
• On Social Media Fitness Trends:
  “Things that are polarizing and like hot takes and quick little hits, that’s what gets traction. People don’t necessarily have the time... to sit down and have a nuanced conversation like we’re having here.” (08:13, Jenna)
• On Body Image:
  “I was chasing the feelings and emotions and privileges that I thought that body would bring for me... I came out, like, jacked. But there’s a place for that.” (29:48, Jenna)
• On Vision and Purpose:
  “I just want to be somebody who can create good in the lives of others and to help people to experience meaningful change.” (31:08, Jenna)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:19 – 01:39: Jenna describes what she’s made of
• 02:05 – 07:20: Her wellness journey, diet extremes, and medical challenges
• 08:09 – 09:24: The myth of one-size-fits-all fitness advice
• 09:24 – 11:09: Dance and performance background
• 11:52 – 15:10: All things kettlebells: favorites, advice, and teaching
• 15:10 – 18:44: Online fitness business evolution and in-person return
• 18:53 – 24:10: Podcasting’s real and unexpected impact
• 24:25 – 27:52: Money, goals, and the danger of “arrival fallacy”
• 28:36 – 30:59: Body image, dysmorphia, and real confidence
• 31:08 – 32:25: Jenna’s vision and writing aspirations
• 33:47 – End: Where to find Jenna and wrap-up

Overall Tone

Candid, insightful, and conversational—the episode is full of both warmth and hard-truths, with humor and integrity. Jenna shares her story vulnerably and with a mission of empowering others to find what works for them, while Mike keeps the discussion lively and accessible.

For Listeners

This episode is a must for anyone navigating the intersections of fitness, wellness, entrepreneurship, and self-acceptance. It busts myths, shares hard-earned lessons, and reminds us all that the path to both strength and fulfillment is often non-linear and deeply personal.