More Than Muscle: Strength Survival & Feeling Safe In Your Body with Danielle Bartlett (Part 1)

What does it mean to feel strong and safe in your own body? In the first of this two-part conversation, Cat Duff sits down with Danielle Bartlett—a trauma-informed strength coach, military veteran, and competitive powerlifter whose story deserves your time. Danielle speaks bravely and candidly about growing up in foster care, serving in Iraq, and living with PTSD. She shares how lifting became part of her healing and helped her reconnect with her body, alongside the grief, fertility challenges, and transitions that have shaped her experience of motherhood. Together, Cat and Danielle explore why strength training deserves a place in women’s lives: building muscle, supporting bone health, and learning about the body that carries you through every season. They also talk about making room for yourself when life asks a lot of you—and discovering that you don’t have to feel strong to begin. Come for the conversation about why & how we should be lifting. Stay for Danielle’s honesty, perspective, and what it really means to be a freaking badass. In Part 1, we cover: Danielle’s childhood experiences and her path into military service Serving in Iraq and navigating being a woman in a combat environment The role lifting played in her personal recovery from PTSD Navigating grief, IVF, and motherhood Finding space for herself through martial arts and movement Why strength training matters for women’s bone health, muscle mass, and longevity Meet Coach Dannie Danielle Bartlett is a trauma-informed strength coach, military veteran, and competitive powerlifter with more than 13 years of coaching experience. She has helped hundreds of women build strength and develop a more confident, connected relationship with their bodies. Follow along and learn more about her . Keep listening Follow Off With Your Coat so you don’t miss Part 2, and join Cat and the gen-well community on Instagram @genwellofficial.