If you own a pair of breasts, this episode is for you. 😉In this episode, Dr. Laura Wright sits down with Sheri Higbee of Advanced Thermal Imaging of Alaska to discuss breast thermography, a non-invasive imaging technology that uses infrared heat patterns to assess physiological changes within breast tissue.

Sheri explains how thermography differs from mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRI, and why she believes combining multiple screening tools can provide women with a more complete picture of breast health.

Together they discuss:

• What breast thermography is and how it works

• The difference between physiological and anatomical imaging

• Dense breast tissue and why it matters

• Breast self-exams and routine screening

• Estrogen dominance and breast health

• Lifestyle factors that may influence breast cancer risk

• Exercise, stress management, and lymphatic health

• Environmental exposures and breast health

• Why prevention and risk reduction deserve more attention

Sheri also shares her personal journey into breast thermography and the experiences that inspired her mission to educate women about breast health.

Connect with Sheri Higbee & Advanced Thermal Imaging of Alaska:

Advanced Thermal Imaging of Alaska

Connect with Ascent Health & Performance:

Website: ⁠https://www.ascentak.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠@ascenthealth_ak

Will lifting weights make me bulky? How heavy is "heavy enough?" And what's really keeping so many women from strength training?

In this episode of On the Ascent Health, Dr. Laura Wright sits down with Alysa Horn, strength and conditioning specialist, basketball development coach, and owner of The Sweat Lab in Anchorage, Alaska.

Together, they unpack the biggest myths surrounding women's strength training—from the fear of getting bulky to the misconception that lifting heavy is only for athletes. Alysa shares why building muscle is one of the best investments women can make for their long-term health, how to train for longevity instead of exhaustion, and why consistency beats perfection every time.

Whether you've never stepped foot in a weight room or you've been lifting for years, this conversation will leave you feeling empowered to train with confidence.

In this episode:

• Why every woman should strength train

• The difference between resistance training, weight training, powerlifting, and Olympic lifting

• Why lifting heavy doesn't make most women "bulky"

• Strength vs. power—and why both matter as we age

• How muscle supports metabolism, bone density, and longevity

• Finding the right balance between consistency and intensity

• Why recovery and sleep are just as important as your workouts

• How community helps people stay consistent with exercise

• Alysa's personal journey from a herniated disc to lifting heavy again

• The biggest excuses keeping women out of the weight room—and how to overcome them

  
  

  
  

Timestamps:

00:00 – Meet Alysa Horn and The Sweat Lab

02:00 – Resistance training vs. weightlifting vs. CrossFit

07:30 – How The Sweat Lab differs from a traditional CrossFit gym

11:45 – Should women lift heavy?

15:30 – The myth of "bulking up"

20:15 – Strength, power, and why they matter for longevity

24:00 – Preventing injuries and learning proper technique

28:30 – Community, accountability, and staying consistent

31:45 – Alysa's back injury changed her perspective on lifting

34:15 – The biggest excuses holding women back

36:00 – Recovery, sleep, and building sustainable fitness habits

Connect with Alysa Horn:The Sweat Lab – Anchorage, Alaska

Website: https://www.makeyourselfak.com

Instagram: @thesweatlabak

Connect with Ascent Health & Performance:

Website: https://www.ascentak.com

Instagram: @ascenthealth_ak

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend who has been curious about strength training. And if you enjoy the podcast, leaving a rating or review helps more people discover conversations that empower them to move, feel, and live better.

Exercise shouldn't be punishment—it should be something that helps you feel stronger, more confident, and more at home in your body.

In this episode of On The Ascent: Health, Dr. Laura Peterson Wright sits down with Gwen Swanson, movement coach and founder of Mind + Muscle, to discuss how women can build a healthier relationship with exercise—one focused on strength, confidence, and longevity rather than guilt or chasing a certain body size.

They cover:

• Why women should strength train at every age

• How to build a healthier relationship with exercise

• Moving beyond diet culture and exercising to "get skinny"

• The benefits of strength training for longevity, bone health, and everyday life

• Why mobility, foam rolling, and walking still matter

• How to know if you're lifting enough weight

• The difference between discomfort, soreness, and pain

• Recovery and why getting stronger happens between workouts

• Why form matters—but perfection isn't the goal

• Building confidence and self-trust through movement

• Simple ways to create an effective full-body workout

• How to stay motivated when you don't feel like exercising

• Why movement should be a lifelong practice, not a 12-week challenge

This episode is for women who:

• Feel intimidated by lifting weights

• Have struggled with consistency or motivation

• Want to build strength without obsessing over the scale

• Are looking for a sustainable approach to fitness

• Want to feel stronger, more capable, and more confident in their bodies

Whether you're just getting started or have been exercising for years, this conversation offers practical advice and a refreshing perspective on making movement something you enjoy—not something you have to endure.

Connect with Gwen & Mind + Muscle
Website: https://mindmuscleak.com

Instagram: @gwendianne

On The Ascent: Health is produced by Ascent Health & Performance in Anchorage, Alaska—a clinic dedicated to helping people stay strong, active, and adventurous for life.

Connect with Dr. Laura & Ascent Health & Performance
Website: https://ascentak.com
Podcast: https://ascentak.com/podcast
Instagram: @ascenthealth_ak