At just 24, Maddie Pollack faced a life-changing Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis—and transformed her healing journey into a mission to empower women through holistic health and entrepreneurship.
In this episode of She Leads, Maddie shares how her battle with cancer became the wake-up call that shifted her from an unhealthy lifestyle to becoming an integrative nutrition health coach. Now, she helps women reconnect with their bodies through a balanced approach that weaves together nutrition, mindful movement, and self-care. Her story is not only one of survival, but of reclaiming purpose and aligning wellness with leadership.
Maddie dives into the personal health challenges that can arise in the wake of illness, from hormonal imbalances to stress-related symptoms. Maddie candidly reflects on her own experience with recovery and the lifestyle changes that helped her restore balance, including shifting from high-intensity workouts to strength training and yoga, and prioritizing protein-rich meals to stabilize energy and hormones. The conversation expands to highlight the overlooked realities of women’s health, from PCOS and irregular cycles to the ways traditional studies have ignored female physiology.
Listeners will gain practical insights into building sustainable wellness habits: nourishing the body with balanced meals, syncing workouts with menstrual cycles, managing cortisol through mindful movement, and embracing daily rituals like journaling, gratitude, and deep breathing to calm the nervous system. Maddie emphasizes that health is not about rigid routines, but about tuning into the body’s signals and making adjustments that support long-term vitality.
At its core, this episode reframes leadership and entrepreneurship through the lens of well-being. Maddie challenges the outdated narrative that success requires burnout and sacrifice, instead advocating for a model where women prioritize health as the foundation for growth, freedom, and fulfillment. Her reflections serve as a powerful reminder that honoring your body is not just a personal practice—it’s a leadership strategy.
Tune in to hear Maddie’s inspiring story and learn how to cultivate balance, resilience, and true alignment in both business and life.
Chapters
👩 00:56 Meet Maddie Pollock A Journey of Resilience
💧 03:22 Diving into Wellness Maddie's Transformation
⚖️ 06:26 Understanding Hormonal Health
🌿 12:18 Practical Tips for Hormonal Balance
🏋️♀️ 22:03 Navigating Menopause with Strength Training Tips
📈 23:36 Balancing Work and Exercise for Entrepreneurs
🧘 26:30 The Importance of Mindfulness
😌 29:50 Managing Stress and Cortisol Levels
👩💼 33:07 Leadership and Self-Care for Women Entrepreneurs
Links
Website: maddypollackhealth.com
Social Media: @maddypollack_health
Email address: maddy@maddypollackhealth.com
Check out Maddy Pollack’s website, connect with her on Instagram, and explore her coaching resources to start living in sync with your body today.
Reach out to Adrienne: hello@sheleadsmedia.com
Visit our website: www.sheleadsmedia.com
Join us at the upcoming She Leads LIVE 2025 conference in NYC on November 6th & 7th. Learn more at sheleadsmedia.com
"I love ♥️ listening to The She Leads™ Podcast!” If that thought crossed your mind at any time while listening to our special show, I’d love it if you would take a moment and give our podcast some love too. To do so, simply Rate, Review & Follow Us on Apple Podcasts & Spotify. Taking this simple action helps my team and I to spread the word about all the incredible guests featured on The She Leads Podcast and contributes overall to helping women leaders and entrepreneurs everywhere! 🗺 Also, if you haven’t done so already, please +follow the podcast so you never miss an episode. Thank you so much!!
— Adrienne