OptiCast 06 - STEROIDS & Femininity (What NO ONE is Telling You) w/IFBB Pro Emily Nosler

In this episode of the OptiCast, Nathan and Aubrey sit down with IFBB Pro Emily Nosler to explore the side of bodybuilding that rarely gets discussed—the emotional cost of chasing strength, identity, and perfection.
Emily opens up about her evolution from powerlifter to professional bodybuilder, and the mental transformation that came alongside the physical one. She shares the reality of living with an inner bully, struggling with binge eating, and using bodybuilding as both a shield and a mirror. Together, they unpack how healing begins when you stop running from pain, the fine line between discipline and self-punishment, and how femininity can exist within strength rather than in opposition to it.

This conversation goes far beyond sets, reps, or macros. It’s about redefining what it means to be strong—inside and out. From confronting self-worth to reframing identity, Emily’s story is an honest look at how bodybuilding can break you down before it builds you back up.

Listen as Nathan and Aubrey guide Emily through her journey of awareness, forgiveness, and self-reclamation, showing how true transformation starts long before you ever step on stage.

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